#no honestly I had to go look up bonnie's name because I keep forgetting it

[andiatas]

This is part 2 of Ask & You Shall Receive a.k.a. Saga is procrastinating by making quickly edited memes. Today, we're pretending that Liquid Gold by @0shewrites0 is a season of the show, and we're even featuring a Queen Ana reaction this time!

I'm actually up to date with this fic (everyone who knows me is very impressed by this statement because I tend to be at least a few weeks, if not months, behind on fic updates; just ask @silverhallow *hides behind shame pillow*), but since it kicks off in Casa Amor I made things easy for myself & made these either vague or referencing things that have so far happened in the fic

Part 1, with my unhealthy obsession with Unhealthy by @mrsbsmooth can be found here.

[honestgrins]

if you're doing prompts... Mates Trope?! something during s1-2 of TO where part of the reason the wolves (or maybe just the elders who are very righteous about tradition) don't trust klaus is because he wanders around with everyone but his mate (which for this purpose i guess they can sense when a wolf is mated)

Oh || Klaroline

Elijah frowned deeply. “I’m not sure which scenario would be less tolerable to the pack, you being disrespectful to the mate bond or being mated to a vampire.”

Cradling the noticeable swell of her baby bump, Hayley snorted. “I might very well be carrying the next alpha with his disrespectful ass, so they’ll get over it eventually,” she pointed out. “But the vampire thing is always going to be a problem.”

“Not if Miss Forbes stays away from New Orleans.”

That was the crux of it, truly. Whether or not he had a mate, there was precious little Klaus could do about it in the eyes of the pack while she gave his city a wide berth. Honestly, her absence would likely make it all easier for them to swallow - perhaps to forget entirely with a few generations of distance. The thought left a hollow feeling in his chest, one far more noticeable since learning of his…predicament.

Learning he was to be a father after a millennium of running from the only one he’d ever known had been difficult enough. He’d ingratiated himself into the fabric of New Orleans in order to situate it to his needs, even softening the wolf pack to the idea of his leadership outside of the traditional hierarchy - at least, until he returned from Mystic Falls with a freshly established mate bond he apparently left behind.

A mate bond he could only imagine began with a defiant kiss and a slow-rising smile as bright as a sunlit afternoon.

Unfortunately, he didn’t know a thing about it until Hayley broke the news as to why the pack had turned against him. It was small comfort to know her use as a direct line in the camp, but he needed more. He knew so little about life as a wolf, that having been denied him for so long. “How can they know that I’ve found my mate?” Suspicion was a long-earned habit, and nothing was adding up. “How can they sense it here when I had no idea with her right in my arms?”

With a delicate cough, Elijah leaned forward to take some of his focus off Hayley. “I understand this is a difficult revelation, and there’s much to be learned about the mate phenomenon. However, I feel there’s a decided advantage in ensuring Miss Forbes is a non-factor in the politics of the city.”

His hand was around his brother’s throat before he could consciously think to do it, his hybrid strength more than enough to pin Elijah to the wall. “Stop. Talking.”

“Klaus.” Hayley’s voice was shaking, and her hands now covered her belly in a protective gesture. “You feel it now, don’t you? The need to protect her above all else?” She stood slowly, careful not to spook him further. “Even over your own brother?”

With excruciating control, he loosened his grip, finger by finger. “Alright,” he breathed once he could manage it past the sudden onslaught of rage. “I’m listening.”

.

“Caroline, you’re up!”

For at least the third time that afternoon, Caroline reminded herself there were too many witnesses at the Fall Festival to eat her sorority sisters. "I'm all for scamming money out of sleaze bags in the name of philanthropy, but I still think there are better ways to go about it than a kissing booth."

Amber just scoffed. "Suck it up, pledge, we all had to pay our dues," she said, divesting herself of the Gamma blue sash that said Kiss me! and handing it to Caroline. "If it helps, there's a total hottie in line. I almost extended my shift to get a chance at him."

Rolling her eyes, she forced a pageant smile as she slipped the sash over her head. "Thanks for your sacrifice."

"Funny," a familiar voice noted behind her. "You never thanked me for any of the sacrifices I made."

With a deep breath, she tried to make herself count to ten before turning. Call it personal growth that she made it to six when her glare fell on Klaus waiting at the booth. "I'm sorry, are we including the time you literally tried to sacrifice me? Because I'm so not in the mood to deal with you today, in case you can't tell."

"Oh my god, Caroline!" Amber looked mildly scared, but she took a step in front of her anyway, a stance she recognized from other sisters at any number of frat parties when a creep made himself known. "Who is this guy? Do I need to call security?"

She glanced back to Klaus, who remained uncharacteristically quiet as she decided what to do. Reluctantly, she met Amber's eyes with widened pupils. "Everything is fine, but someone needs to cover my shift. You never saw him, and I went home sick." When Amber obediently repeated her words, she also returned the sash. "Thanks!" she called out, quick as she was to flash away from the crowd, knowing he would follow.

Her dorm wasn't exactly a safe bet, given Elena and Damon's constant sexiling, and she didn't want to risk Bonnie catching them on campus. The only place she could think of was the wooded trail behind the chemistry building, where she found a quiet bench for them to sit. Well, for him to sit and for her to pace in front of. "We had a deal, Klaus. You weren't supposed to come back."

"To Mystic Falls," he clarified, his hands pressed together between his knees. At her decided frown, he allowed himself a sigh of discomfort. "Unfortunately, I have good reason to violate the spirit of our agreement."

She crossed her arms and waited.

He sighed again. "Sweetheart-"

"Just rip the band-aid off, Klaus!"

"I need you to accompany me back to New Orleans, and I need you to trust me enough to keep you safe," he said. With eyes intent on hers, his energy seemed barely contained, like he wanted nothing more than to grab her and go. "I would like you to do so freely. And quickly."

Her arms tightened, and she sank onto her jutted hip as she took in his plaintive request. "Points for being polite, I guess, but I doubt you would be if I were in any real danger. What I don't know is if this is you being overly cautious or just being a dick."

Rubbing two fingers at his temple, there was an ancient exhaustion in his face. "Neither of us can truly know what this is," he muttered to himself more than anything. He spoke up with more resolve. "Elijah wanted to hide you away in one of our many properties throughout the world, and Rebekah suggested a less involved plan that offered you an anonymous scholarship across the country - anything to keep you far away from me."

"Why are your siblings trying to get rid of me?" she demanded. "I didn't even do anything."

He shifted on his feet, and he couldn't quite meet her eyes. If he weren't Klaus Mikaelson, she might think he were embarrassed. "Your absence in New Orleans has been noted."

Confused, she pressed her hands to her face. "I seriously doubt that, since I've never been there. The only people I know in New Orleans is your family, and you've already established they don't want me there."

His ears flushed red, and then she knew he was embarrassed. "Hayley has found a home with nearby pack," he explained with a wince, "a pack that could prove necessary to the balance of the city. However, they are disinclined to negotiate with me at the moment."

"Gee, I wonder why. How many of them have you killed so far?"

Klaus gave a ferocious glare. "None, actually. But perhaps you missed the fact that a wolf with a known grudge against you is well placed to inform any number of enemies of your name and location."

The scoff burst out of her without permission, an absolute confidence emboldening her. "Like you'd let that happen."

Then he took a step closer, and that confidence withered into a new understanding - one that scared her. His voice lowered, soft in its menace. "Why do you think I'm here, Caroline?"

She swallowed, the tension unbearably thick between them. "I'm no one," she said, her voice shaky as she fought for the calm she felt only moments before. "Even if they could use me against you-"

"They can," he answered, deadly serious. "And they will. Maybe not now, but someday." He watched her closely; for what, she didn't know. His whole face softened whenever he found whatever he was looking for. "I'm only just beginning to understand myself," he admitted. "But you're far from no one, and I need to establish that you're firmly under my protection."

"Why?" He never really answered her questions, Caroline realized. This one, though... This, she needed to know. "Why me?"

His eyes seemed to burn with gold, and she held her breath as he stared. "Wolves know when another has found their mate, and this pack has judged my character unfit for abandoning mine."

If she weren't a vampire, she would swear her legs might collapse beneath her. As it was, her head felt suddenly light. Her mouth fell open, and she finally remembered to breathe. When she exhaled, it escaped as a sigh. "Oh."

"Yes, oh."

[acklesterritory]

That Kind of Love Never Dies_Chapter 1

Hey guys, Now that more voted to split my fictions in 2 parts, I'm back with the first part. I hope you like it. Don't forget to leave me feedbacks. I'll always appreciate them. Love you all.

This is for writing event @tvdspngirl314

My quote is "That kind of love never dies"

Dean x Reader series (just 2 parts)

This chapter words: ~5k

Series warning:

Angst, fluf, smut, angry Dean, hurt Reader, hurt Dean, there's some more but I hate spoilers so I insist on "Angst & Hurt"

It all started with a stupid argument at home. What was it? Three months ago? Sam couldn't remember the exact date but after years, it was the first time this awkward coldness between Dean and Y/n had started to build. He could remember the first time he and his brother came across Y/n like it was yesterday, they were hunting a very nasty creature who used to kidnap young and lonely women at night, then got them wrapped in ropes and ties on a bed in a warehouse to rape, torture and feed on their blood until the victim either died or accepted to turn into one of his kind.

Sam could remember the helplessness in people's eyes too. The pain of the victims' families, the frustration and anger on cops' faces when no one could find the criminal yet, even after the sixth missing girl.

"Sammy, he just kidnapped another girl. And I think I know where he's gonna take her. Let's hunt this son of a bitch."

When Dean was saying that, Sam never expected him to fall in love with the woman they would save that night. Well, unfortunately they weren't fast enough to prevent any harm to the girl. When they arrived and Dean killed the nasty creature, Y/n was almost dead. The monster had already raped her, tortured her … and when he felt the hunters enter the place, he drank almost all of her blood, to gain more energy to fight. So as always, Dean was up to blaming himself. Of course only in his own eyes, not anyone else's.

"Call Cas to come home. Tell him it's an emergency."

Dean told his brother when he finally could get Y/n out of those ropes. And Sam knew he was right. At that point, no one could save Y/n unless God or his angels. Maybe she was not so lucky coming across a nasty supernatural creature like that but she was lucky enough that Cas arrived just on time and healed her. However, angels can only heal physical wounds. But Y/n was hurt much more than that. She couldn't just move on from the things that the bastard had put her through. Even after Cas tricked her brain to forget some certain things, she still had bad nightmares and had this dark shade of hopelessness in her eyes. Soon, she started to eat and talk less and less. And Dean just couldn't let her go. He really wanted to fix all of that for her but she kept shutting him out… until the depression hit her. It was so bad that Cas felt the need to tell them to prepare themselves for her death. Because after all those days and unlike everything else in their lives, The Winchesters were already used to her presence around them; like the way a lonely person can get used to a wounded cat more and faster than anyone else.

"I'm not gonna hunt until I'm sure she can live her normal life." When Dean stated that, Sam really thought he was joking. But after a few days he started to believe it. Dean truly would do anything to keep her alive. From cooking vegetables to laughing at his own dad jokes in front of Y/n to make her smile. That was when Sam started to feel that they can be more than a random hunter/rescued victim relationship! It felt like his brother had finally found his motivation in life: "Saving Y/n."

Gradually Y/n started to respond to this special attention from Dean with trust and smiles. Soon they became a power couple that could motivate each other so easily that sometimes Charlie would call them out. And honestly Sam had no problem with it. In fact Y/n had become his other sister.

"My God, Dean! You're burning up!" It was two day after a werewolf hunt in which Dean had got hurt. At first it was just some scratches on his arms and chest. Yet as the time passed, more symptoms started to appear: headache, pain, fever, cold sweat, even nose bleeding and before they could figure it out, Dean fell unconscious. Apparently the claws of the werewolf were poisonous. However Sam wasn't sure. The only thing he got no doubts about was the fact that it was already too late. Dean couldn't make it to the hospital. So either Sam had to do anything possible to save him or Cas should've picked up his God damn phone.

"No. no, no, no, no. Dean … Dean!!!"

That was when Sam got to hear Y/n's helpless cry and see her true feelings. She was already in love with his brother.

Luckily, unlike typical love stories; no one died that night. Sam's antidote worked. And Dean opened his eyes an hour later.

"Sammy … Y/n?" As soon as the words were out of his mouth, Y/n grabbed his face and put her thirsty lips on her beloved hunter's, letting the tears stream down on her face… and then his.

"Never do that again." She begged, breaking the kiss, her trembling hands holding Dean's face so she could look into his eyes.

Sam couldn't stop his smile remembering how cute they were. Y/n literally had Dean wrapped around her little finger, to the point he accepted to teach her how to hunt and soon she was part of their team too. Until … a few months ago. After two years of them being constantly close to each other, Sam could tell something was off when Dean started to go out without eating breakfast with Y/n. Of course she got suspicious after the third time and that was when their endless arguments started.

"Why don't you just tell me what's wrong?"

"Because nothing is wrong, Y/n."

Actually there was. Something was VERY wrong. Anyone could tell that just by the change in Dean's eyes whenever he wanted to look at Y/n. Day by day he was getting more quiet and cold. Now they didn't even eat pie together or watch movies late at night. And Sam couldn't ignore his brother being grumpy or drunk on hunts, not anymore.

"Ok man, I've had enough. You either tell me what's wrong with you or next time I won't make any excuses so you can leave Y/n out of our hunt plans. I'm serious, Dean, I'll tell her the truth." He finally said, when they were alone in the impala, on their way to do their next hunt.

"She wants more."

"More?"

"Yeah. Sometimes it's like she sees more in me. She thinks we can have a different life. There's no need for any saying, I can see it in her eyes whenever we accidentally come across some family at a diner that try to feed their kids or people's wedding photos whenever we go to talk with some witnesses or whoever during the research! Sometimes she even looks up wedding dresses or kid stuff on the net!" Dean blew his anger out of his nostrils and sighed, shaking his head.

"Wow." Sam couldn't find the proper word to say but he couldn't hide his surprised face either.

"What?" Dean gave him an annoyed look.

"I mean …" Sam chuckled. "… are you telling me you're actually angry with her for imagining the things you always dream about?!"

"Sam …"

"No, really. I'm just curious. What's wrong with you, man?" Sam asked genuinely, waiting for an answer.

"What's wrong with me?! You think something is wrong with me just because I'm the rational one in this relationship; who's actually able to see the difference between a dream and the reality?"

Yeah, anyone could take that earnest speech, but not Sam. He'd seen and knew enough about his brother.

"What's the reality? Aren't you and Y/N living that dream life already?"

"What?! No. No … that's not the same." Dean shook his head.

"Really? How is it not? It's been two years, Dean. You two are constantly with and/or around each other. Always worried when the other one is in trouble and still looking at one another like there is nothing in the world that can make you happy as much as this relationship. So … excuse me if I won't buy your pretty speech; man ." Sam said, Rolling his eyes.

"Ok, let's say you're right but ... is it gonna be like that forever? With all the supernatural crap that we have to take care of … and the constant danger and chaos in this hunter life we have… I …"

"You what?" Sam asked when Dean didn't finish his sentence. He was lost in his thoughts, staring at this unknown point in the depth of the road. Finally he blew out his despair.

"I just can't let her fall for the things I know I can't provide for her. It's not fair, Sammy. It's not fair to lock her up in this dark life with me just because she loves me … especially while I know there is a whole bright future out there waiting for her."

"Here we go, the old Dean's self-doubt" Sam thought to himself as he took a deep breath before finding the best words to wake his brother up from this nightmare

"Yeah, I know but I don't think it's your call. If Y/n wants to go to hell with you instead of living in heaven with someone else, it's her choice. Not your responsibility. Right?"

Dean shook his head while his lips curved up a little to fake a smile but he never answered or said anything about that conversation ever again. He kept his silence for like three weeks … until someone new showed up: "Gary Smith". A tall man with the most stylish haircut and the most perfect teeth and smile.

They saw him for the first time at their hangout bar, as the new bartender who almost jumped in Y/n's way as soon as they entered the bar.

"Oh my God, bunny! Is this really you?" He said, pulling her in his embrace. Like she was the long time missing piece of his beloved puzzle!

"Bonny? You're wrong. Her name is Y/n." Dean said, pretty annoyed by the way Gary tightened his arms around Y/n's little shoulders, making him chuckle.

"No, uh … it's just a nickname." Y/n said as soon as the guy let her go.

"Yeah, actually the most fitting nickname that I could think of. I mean … you have to agree. She got the most cute little ears in the world." The guy explained, chuckling and pulling on her little star earring. Well, if Sam wanted to be honest, he had to agree with him. He never paid any attention to it before but now that Gary mentioned it, he could tell Y/n's ears were truly small.

"I see … So … I guess this means you were close friends?" Dean said, already hating the way Y/n e's blushed with hearing her old nickname.

"Uh … well, no. Actually more than that." The guy grinned, ruffling his own hair while he was awkwardly laughing and looking at Y/n. Just like a proud embarrassed teen!

"We used to date." Y/n said.

*oh* Sam tried his best not to let that stupid grin sit on his lips but Dean's frown and his sudden heavy silence didn't let him do so.

"Yeah. We are kinda each other's first. Like … you know? prom date." The man added, giving Y/n a wink while Dean's gaze was still locked on his large arm around her shoulders.

"Yeah. It's been years, Gary."

"I know. But believe me, bunny. you still look the same." He said, bending to put a kiss on her right cheek.

Dean would kill him. Sam just knew that. Because his brother's eyes were already burning with jealousy.

"By the way, don't you wanna tell me who these gentlemen are ?" The guy asked Y/n, giving her his softest smile.

"Of course. This is Sam and this is Dean. My colleagues who are my friends now. I live in their place."

After they met, everything got even more complicated. Y/n, the girl who was still trying to get old-happy-days Dean back suddenly stopped whatever she used to do. No more complains, no waiting at nights to see Dean before going to bed, no more effort to get involved in hunts, no nothing. And despite what Dean had claimed before, it was making Dean even more frustrated. Day to day he and Y/n were getting colder towards each other and there was nothing he could do to fix it. That was what made him even more furious. Sam already knew all of that and he still had to live with both of those grumpy faces. So last night when they began to fight, he could see this was coming: Y/n left the bunker after Dean let some hurtful things out of his mouth, just because he didn't know how to deal with all the heartache anymore. He now was convinced that Y/n didn't love him anymore. Yet the next day after drinking whatever strong drink they had, he begged Sam to come with him. Apparently Jodie texted Dean about Y/n being in her place for that night. Just to make sure that her crazy step son won't sell his soul over a tracking spell! So Dean almost begged his brother to be there with him, cause Dean believed that as much as Y/n didn't care about him, she still respected Sam and cared about him. Like a little sister and her elder brother.

So here they were, In Jodie's living room, in front of her and Y/n.

"Considering your sleepy eyes, I think we caught you at bed time, huh?" Sam asked, checking Y/n's obvious eye bags.

"Who says that? I'm totally good, Sam."

She said with a small smile, looking much more in control and stronger than before. So Sam knew it was a lie. Y/n Just had made her peace with what had happened last night. The realization۹ kicked Dean in the gut. Y/n always used to be stronger and bolder when she got hurt.

"I'm gonna make some coffee for us. Why don't you guys take a seat till I come back?"

Jodie interrupted, to ease the heavy and sharp silence that suddenly had fallen over all of them.

Y/n gave her a smile.

"Of course."

It was so fake. Her smile didn't even curl her lips completely. She was still badly hurting.

Sam swore in his head when he looked over his brother who sank silently into the nearest seat at the end of the table like a broken shell that he was too . One of Dean's hands was in the pocket of his jacket, the other formed a fist on the table. Sam was sure Dean knew it too. He knew everything was almost past saving. "Almost". Sam tried to stick to their small chance.

"So …" He cleared his voice before he put some (semi fake) hope into his words."You're … you're gonna come back home today or did Alex and Claire made you promise them otherwise?" He laughed and tried to make it funny but the truth was he asked this for Dean's sake, knowing he already was struggling to find the words … to let Y/n know how much he wanted her back … to ask her to come back.

"To be honest … I don't think I can live in the bunker anymore." Y/n said and as Dean's head snapped up to look at her in horror, she raised her hand to stop his (likely) protests.

"I applied for a job 3 weeks ago and to my surprise they called me this morning to tell me I'd actually got it."

*What?*

No one had to ask it. The question was already hung in the air. She snored mockingly in her nose. "Perfect timing, right?"

She moved her gaze from her interlocked fingers on the table to Dean's eyes.

He didn't answer, he didn't move but he got tense. Still staring back at Y/n.

"Why didn't you tell us?" Sam asked, once again saving Dean from asking the question he was itching to ask with some other words that for sure couldn't be nice.

"I wanted to but I didn't think I could actually get it and even if I did, I never figured out how to tell you. Besides, I never considered the "move out" option before..." She looked at Sam for a second before she turned her gaze on Dean. "... But I actually appreciate that you bring it up. I think now I can take the advice. I'm gonna move on."

Sam's heart dropped in his stomach when he heard those words. Because he knew what this meant. It felt something like having to watch Dean get stabbed in the heart.

"Is this … because of that Bartender?" Dean asked, staring deadly at Y/n with his bloodshot eyes. He was already chewing on his bottom lip. And Sam knew a heavy storm was on its way to hit them.

"I don't want to answer that question."

*shit*

"Why? Because you can't just simply say no?" Dean scolded and Sam could see how it pushed on Y/n boundaries.

"No. Because it's not your fucking business and it's not Gary's business either. But at least he knows his limits."

*well, fuck*

"By "limits" you mean when he drools on you just because for God knows whatever the reason, you started to wear leather jackets when we go there?"

"WHAT?!"

*Oh, fuck* Sam thought to himself, watching Y/n rise from her seat.

"You think … you really think that I …" she laughed nervously and Sam could tell she would punch Dean in the face if she wasn't a sweet, super nice person.

"How you can even …"

"I can even what, Y/n? Are we now going to pretend like I'm a blind man who can't see how you got attracted to your ex again? Did you really think I couldn't see how your hands were shaking when his filthy face lighted up by seeing you for the first time after all these years?"

Sam wanted to interrupt him or at least leave the room but everything was happening so fast.

"So what? Why and since when you care about my private life?"

"Since you stopped drinking bunker's beers just because you rather drink those crappy poisonous cocktails he makes at the bar!"

Dean was on his feet now as well. And despite his will, Sam couldn't stop his smile. He never saw his brother this jealous before. It was fun.

"Poisonous? … You … of all people, you are the one who says this? cause as much as I know, you're the one who puts dormitives in my guest's food so the poor guy gets tired and can't spend his time with me!"

"Yeah, because your poor guy is not welcomed in MY PLACE!" Dean yelled, punching the table with so much power that made everyone almost jump out of their skins.

"Dean!" Finally Sam interrupted but as soon as he stood up, someone rang the doorbell and Sam could hear Jodie welcoming someone inside.

"Guys … I know it's not my place to interfere but you two really need to sort things out somewhere private … of course that's when both of you can be much calmer than this."

"No, we have nothing to say or to talk about, anymore. Your brother was clear enough when he said he wants me to move out, so I'll move out. And that's it."

Y/n declared, looking at Sam to resist any eye contact with Dean, probably to make him even more crazy.

"And that's it? You wanna ignore that part where you were too eager and ready to accept that suggestion and leave the bunker instantly like your pants were on fire?!"

Dean retorted while Y/n was shaking her head like she couldn't believe him.

"Whose pants are on fire?" Jodie interrupted as soon as she re-entered the room with the coffees she'd made, this time a man was with her. Y/n's guy. The famous bartender.

*Oh, No!*

Sam sighed, closing his eyes for a second so the guy couldn't read his face.

"Obviously not mine." Dean hissed through his teeth, looking first at the guy and then at Y/n with such a disappointment and rage that no one could ignore.

"Hey, what's wrong?" The guy asked, choosing the worst spot to stand on: right next to Y/n.

"My typical life I guess. Nothing's new." She mumbled in reply to him but her eyes were still on Dean.

"No, nothing is wrong with your life, Y/n. It's about your choices. That's what's wrong with you. As always." Dean said bitterly. As sharp as a knife, as cold as ice. Sam could see how it drained color from Y/n's face.

"You better watch your mouth, buddy." The Gary guy warned Dean and Sam could tell that if it wasn't for the sudden thud sound that stole everyone's attention, Dean would throw a fight right there. But …

"Y/n!" Jodie almost screamed. Y/n was laying on the floor, seemingly unconscious.

"Oh, God." Sam said as Jodie rushed to her.

"Y/n? … Y/n can you hear me?"

As she sat next to her, Gary's fingers already were on Y/n's carotid pulse point. So Sam couldn't stop himself from looking up at his brother, who was still standing where he was. In shock.

"Oh, shit!" Gary's worried voice made Sam check Y/n's pale face again but Jodie was the one to dare ask the question which was on everyone's minds.

"What? What's wrong?"

"Her pulse ... too faint." He said before turning to Dean: "Is she bleeding?"

"Bleeding?" Dean blinked and mumbled in confusion.

If it was up to Sam, he'd ask *What bleeding?* & *Why are you asking this from my brother?*

"Oh my. You still don't know. Do you?" Gary sneered.

"Know what? What's happening?" Jodie was freaking out now and Sam actually felt the same. He didn't like the way this stranger pretended like he knew her better than them. However what happened next was much more unexpected. And … rude!

To everyone's surprise, the guy reached out to Y/n's jeans and drew his hand between her legs but before anyone could react, he spread her legs open so it could be possible for everyone to see that big red stain there. Then he raised his hand. It was all wet and red in blood!

"She's having a miscarriage." He revealed.

Sam's gaze instantly caught Dean's ... Burning. Dean was burning inside with his heavy silence.

"Don't you worry. It's not mine." Gary added more fuel to that hell with such a mocking tone, staring right back at Dean's eyes.

Now Sam could feel it. The storm was there: rising in his brother's roar!

Before Sam could've moved any muscles, Gary was already pinned to the wall, Dean's hands on his now-ripped-out collar.

"Dean, no!" Sam jumped in, trying to catch his brother's arm before his fist make any contact with the guy's nose but all he could do was changing the direction of the punch which landed on Gary's shoulder, making a painful cracking sound.

"I said no … Dean, stop it." Sam had to literally cage Dean in his arms so the furious man couldn't tear Gary apart.

"Get off me, Sam. This son of a bitch has to learn his place."

"Enough!" As Dean just broke himself free, Jodie's scream stopped everyone in their tracks.

"It's enough!" Jodie warned all three men, pointing at them one by one.

"You want to fight? Not here. Not in my house!"

"But ..."

As soon as Dean opened his mouth to protest, Jodie cut him:

"And you … you should know Y/n is pregnant with your twins. So … you'll be a responsible man who will try his best to save them or you can get the hell out of here and never come back!"

"What?" Sam was too shocked to suppress his reaction while Dean couldn't even find any words to say. His confused look darted between Jodie's face and Y/n's figure while his parted lips kept moving without making any noise, just like a dying fish on the shore!

"I promised her not to tell anyone but it was a promise under normal conditions, not this." Jodie sighed, struggling to keep her emotions under control. Sam saw the worry in her frown. Like a real mother, worried for her children. However it was nothing in comparison to his brother's blank eyes and pale face.

"Dean, It's ok. We just need to take her to hospital. … it's ok, man. I promise."

He had to grab Dean by his jacket, as his brother was struggling to process all of these in his head.

"Come on, man. We got no time. Do I need to do this alone or you'll …"

"Get the car, Sammy."

It was just a simple sentence. Yet it had enough power to make Sam's heart sank. Since Dean had put the car keys in his hand saying that, Sam couldn't stop thinking about that tone. Dean never had called Baby a "car" In years. And Sam had never heard that crack in his voice since their Dad's death.

"You ok?" He finally let himself ask, two hours after they arrived at the hospital.

"I want to be." Dean closed his eyes and put his head against the cold wall, letting the dim light to darken the shadows under his eyes.

"I'm sure she'll be good. She's strong, Dean. You know that."

He smiled and Sam looked away not to watch him. He knew that smile. Dean used to give him that, whenever everything was gone so wrong that Dean couldn't promise him anything good. Like when both of them were still kids. Hungry, cold and all alone in a rusty motel room where John had left them on their own for a one day long hunt but then a heavy snow had crashed the roads and kept them apart for half a week. So Dean had to wash the dishes and do the laundry in the motel to rent the room for another day and provide some snacks so they wouldn't starve to death. But after three days, the hotel managers didn't want them to be around. And Sam could vividly remember that smile on his brother's face when he asked: *Where should we go then?*

"You were always such a father material. You know?"

Sam admitted with a broken smile on his face.

"You were always responsible, kind and caring with me as a kid. And I can't imagine anyone who deserves to be a father more than you."

Dean took a deep breath and opened his eyes without looking at him: "But I don't want ... I really can't, Sammy."

All, it certainly wasn't the response Sam had expected. He used to believe that Dean would never turn down any chance to start a family with Y/n. Especially after everything in the world was back to normal.

"Are you kidding me? You always wanted this."

"No …" Dean finally turned his gaze to meet his brother's confused eyes. "No, Sammy. Not like this. I don't want to raise another kid without his mom. I'm not that strong anymore."

Dang. Once again Sam's heart dropped in his stomach. Dean was really helpless.

"Mr. Winchester?"

Dean was on his feet as Sam just realized the doctor's presence.

"It's me."

Sam prayed for any good news as doctor took a glance of Dean and fixed his glasses on his face …

"To be continued …"

READ CHAPTER 2 HERE

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@jay-and-dean @adoptdontshoppets @akshi8278

The next and also ultimate chapter will post on Sunday, April 25. Thanks for reading.

Feedback are always appreciated.

[auroracalisto]

for the love of you—part one

i had been wanting to do a multi-part story for some time now.  i’m not really sure where this is heading—especially because i haven’t written down who the reader will end up with in the end.  it could literally be any of the mikaelsons.  the soulmate mark that you will read about has further connotations that i will discuss in the next part so there aren’t any spoilers!!  but anyway, please enjoy and tell me what you would like to see happen.  i’ll see if i can integrate it into what i already have planned

pairing: ??? x reader

word count: 1.4k words

warnings: uhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh reader wakes up in a new world,,,, magic.  vampires.  it is literally the vampire diaries

Waking up with a start, [Your name] frantically looked around.  A wave of panic rushed through her body and she forced herself to her feet as she tried to figure out where she was.  She felt around in her pockets; no phone, no wallet.  There wasn’t anything she could use to try and figure out what the hell was going on.   One thing she knew, for sure, was that the mark on her shoulder that she had been born with was burning.  And she didn’t know why.  

Trees surrounded her.  She was definitely in the forest.  An old, stone staircase was just across from her, but she quickly moved past it, hoping that the trail would lead to somewhere—a town, a house, anything.  

—

“Bonnie, what the hell did you do?” Elena asked, her eyes wide as she watched her best friend looking over a grimoire.  

Bonnie looked up with a deep frown.  “Elena.  I don’t… I don’t know.  I thought this was just for—”

“Bonnie, something had to happen.  Something bad,” she said, coming over to try and read the grimoire.  “What does this even say?”

“It was a summoning spell.  I thought it would help me summon a ghost,” she said, looking around the bedroom.  Nothing was there.  The candles were completely burnt out, but there was no sign of a spirit there with them.  

“Read it again,” Elena said, moving to grab her phone.  “What if you did something—”

Bonnie shot her friend a look as she began to reread the grimoire.  There was so much to it—but a word popped out to her that hadn’t in her first couple of readings.  

“Elena,” she said, standing up and bringing the book over.  She pointed to a sentence, her face paling.  “I swear, I read ghost.  But this says alternate universe.”

Elena let her hand drop to her side as she held onto her phone.  “Wait.  Like,” she let out a curt laugh.  “Like the ‘universe’ we learned about in English class? I don’t even understand what you mean, Bonnie.”

Bonnie’s face was sullen, and she swallowed thickly.  “Elena, I think I may have summoned someone from a different reality…”

—

[Your name] came to a park, very close to a small town.  It looked familiar, but she couldn’t quite place her finger on it.  She quickly rushed towards the sidewalk, ignoring the weird looks people were giving her.  Glancing towards a window, she noticed that she was completely covered in what looked to be dirt. No wonder people were looking at her weird.  

Across from the street where she looked in the window stood a restaurant.  As she looked at the name, her face paled.  The Mystic Grill. 

“No,” she whispered, her hands gripping onto her shirt.  This cannot be happening, she thought to herself.  I have no fucking clue where I am.   

Taking in a deep breath and looking both ways, she made her way across the street.  She swung open the door and beelined to the bar.  

“Excuse me,” she said, taking no notice at the people sitting by the bar.  

A blond man turned around to face her.  His name tag read Matt.  

“How can I help you?” he asked, raising an eyebrow.  

“Do you, uh, do you have a phone that I could borrow really quick?  I have no idea where mine is, and I really need to make a phone call.”

He nodded and motioned for her to come over to the side as he handed her the telephone.  “Here.  Take all the time you need.  Do you want something to drink?”

“Uh,” she frowned up at him, “I’ve misplaced my wallet—”

“Get whatever you want, love,” a British accent came from beside of her.  “I’ll gladly pay if you mind telling me what in the hell happened,” he chuckled softly as he leaned up against the counter.  

[Your name] looked up at the man who owned the voice and her eyes widened. Two men stood there.  The one who had talked to her stood closer to the woman and he couldn’t help his smile.  

“I—”  

The girl took a slight step back before she nodded.  “Okay.  Okay, uh, just a water, then,” she mumbled, dialing in the number she had yet to forget.  She looked up before she hit the call button.  “What…” 

Although she felt anxious, she felt that it was her right to know the names of the people breathing down her neck.  

“I… what are your names?”

“I’m Klaus,” he grinned.  He pointed back to the other man.  “This is my brother, Kol.” 

“It’s… nice to meet both of you,” she said, averting her gaze.  She was blushing.  She returned her attention back to the phone, checking over the number once more. 

The number she had dialed was her best friend’s number.  She put it to her ear, listening to it ring as the men watched her intently, obviously curious about her state.  

“Hello?”

Someone answered.  But it wasn’t her friend. 

[Your name]’s face paled once more, and she quickly hung up the phone.  

Klaus rose an eyebrow.  

“Wrong number?” snickered Kol.

[Your name] frowned at him.  “Yeah.  You could say that.”

Matt sat down a water in front of the woman and she thanked him, hesitantly sitting down in a stool.  

“Not anyone you’d like to talk to?” smiled Klaus.  His dimples showed, and it made [Your name] blush, but she was obviously more nervous than anything.  

Her mark was burning again, and she had no idea why.  But then again, she had never understood why.  If it had been a normal day, she would know why; in her world, there were “fated” soulmates.  The chosen few were rather unlucky; fated to be with someone for the rest of your life.  But [Your name] had never found her other half.  And, get this, her mark was different than everyone’s.  

“Are you going to answer him?” Kol raised an eyebrow, nursing his glass of whiskey.  

[Your name] cleared her throat and she looked at the two of them.  “My friend must have gotten a new number, is all.  It wasn’t her.”

“Hm,” Klaus chuckled softly, keeping his eyes on her.  “Well, tell me about yourself, love.  I’ve never seen you around here, before.  What brings you to Mystic Falls?”

She shrugged and sipped at her water.  “I… don’t know.  Honestly.  I, uh, I’m not from around here.”

“Where are you from?” Kol asked, leaning against his hand.  

She frowned over at the man.  “I’m from [town name].  It’s in [state/country/province].”

“You’re a bit far away from home, aren’t you?” Klaus grinned.  “Seriously, you must know why you’re here.  No one just shows up to Mystic Falls—”

“—well, I did,” [Your name] blurted.  “I just…”  She took in a deep breath, refusing to stop herself from spilling her day to the two.  Something deep inside of her told her that she could trust the two of them.  “I just woke up and I was in the… I was in the forest.”

Klaus’ smile fell and he furrowed his eyebrows.  “Excuse me?”

“I’m not lying…”

“Well, then,” Klaus cleared his throat.  “Maybe… maybe you could come back with my brother and me.  Our other brother might know exactly what’s going on,” he chuckled softly.  

The same feeling of unanticipated trust rushed through him.  Kol felt the same way.  But Kol rolled his eyes and downed the rest of his drink.  He threw a couple dollars down on the counter and he looked at Klaus.  

“I’ll get a head start.”

Kol had left the two of them sitting there.  

Klaus hesitantly smiled at [Your name].  “Surely, you can trust me.  I bought you your drink, after all.”

“Actually, water is free,” Matt said from where he stood, cleaning some glasses. 

Klaus tilted his head and he stared the man down.  “Let’s not.”

Matt rolled his eyes and he sighed, throwing a towel over his shoulder.  He grabbed a plastic bin and went off to bus some of the tables throughout the restaurant.  

“But I am being serious, love.  I… I do believe that I actually might be able to help you.  If you woke up in the wrong place, we can surely help you.”

[Your name] frowned but she nodded.  “I’ve… nothing to lose, now, do I?” she asked, tilting her head.  

Klaus smiled a bit.  

“Yes, I suppose not.”

part two

[imagine-darksiders]

Old Timer

Chapter 4 - Together again.

-----------

“Eideard?” 

His name tiptoes from your lips in a whispered breath.

You stare at him, your mouth hanging slightly agape and refusing to close, as though the very muscles in your jaw have forgotten how they're supposed to work.

There had once been a thousand things you would have wanted to say to him, if ever given the chance, yet now, in the moment where that chance has actually come about, you find yourself devoid of any words or thoughts.

“You all right there, bonnie?” the maker asks, his lips twitching into a hesitant smile, “Look like you've seen a ghost.”

'A ghost!.... Ha!' 

You'd laugh if you didn't think you might faint at any moment. Instead, your mouth opens with the intention to scoff at the dramatic irony of his statement, but what comes out instead is a strangled sob that causes the maker's ears to tilt down in alarm.

“Hey, hey now...” he utters softly, lifting his hand up towards you, his gaze darting to the tears that have begun to roll down your cheeks, “What's this about? Eh? Did old Cruim scare you? Is it your leg?”

Covering your mouth, it’s all you can do to just stare back and shake your head.

As far as Eideard knows, something truly horrific must be happening to you that would warrant the spilling of this many tears. Makers are seldom known to cry, even under the most terrible, unimaginable duress. 

Guided by something that's not quite instinct, but stronger than a simple urge to help, to fix, he reaches up to his shoulder until a careful finger hovers gingerly just inches from the skin of your cheek. Then, sucking down a steadying breath, Eideard wills himself to close the distance, hardly daring to inhale again as he sweeps the very tip of his forefinger over your cheekbone and brushes away the wet tear tracks that linger there.

To his utmost dismay, the action only makes you start to cry even harder and he quickly withdraws his hand, worried that he'd somehow managed to hurt you.

He has no idea that by wiping away your tears, he'd unintentionally echoed the very last moments you'd spent with the Eideard from your timeline.

He’d collapsed, laying prone in the soft grass. Your tears had mingled with the blood pooling in his clavicle as you knelt on his chest and wailed, your fists pounding above his heart in the desperate hope that you could bully the fading organ into beating strong and steady once again. You'd gone still however, weeping hopelessly when Eideard's thumb swept gently over your cheek and gathered up the tears there.

The memory is a powerful one, and you have to blink furiously until the blurred image of a dying Eideard is replaced by the very much alive maker staring at you with concern lining his youthful features.

You've seen that expression so often, you never thought you'd miss it so much after you stopped seeing it.

All of a sudden, through no real cognitive decision of your own, you promptly launch yourself sideways along the maker's broad shoulder and collide with his head.

Though reflex tells him to flinch, Eideard forces himself to keep still as thin, delicate arms are slung around his face and a warm body squashes into his cheek shortly after.

He's monumentally glad that he has yet to venture down into the village proper. Standing up here next to the entrance, none of his fellows will be able to make out the rosy flush that has shot up into his ears, should they happen to look.

It isn't as though makers are a species for whom intimacy is a foreign concept, but intimacy outside of social circles is a rare and seldom-witnessed occurrence, whilst intimacy between members of two separate species is all but unheard of.

Despite his uncertainty, Eideard's heart flutters at the thought that he's managed to earn this splendid reward and he momentarily forgets that he's supposed to be worried about you, too distracted by the realisation that he has never known a touch so gentle, yet so fierce at the same time. If he dwells on it for too long, he'll probably grow sad to consider how he's lived his whole life deprived of the sensation of hands pressing indents into his skin.

Of their own accord, his fingertips come to rest on your fragile spine and '...Oh,' he thinks as you bury your face even more firmly against him, '...I could get used to this.'

But when a hitching sob suddenly causes you to jerk beneath his fingers, he springs to attention once more and banishes the desire to push his head urgently into your touch.

“I didn't thank you...”

Eideard freezes at the sound of your voice, trembling and small next to his ear.

“What's that you say?” he swallows.

But it's as though you don't even hear him. From his angle, the maker can't see that your eyes are wide open and staring out towards the village beyond, yet you're completely blind to everything happening around you whilst the same, terrible memory plays cruelly in your mind's eye. 

Eideard, laying on the ground, blood trickling from his nose, mouth and even from behind his eyelids, like little rivers running off the face of a mountain. His once pristinely white beard had been so stained with blood, your hands became soaked with it when you clawed your way up his chest, delirious beyond coherency.

“I-I can't remember if I ever thanked you,” you say again in a warbling whisper that causes Eideard's ears to perk up attentively, “For saving us - For... for everything.”

Your slip-up doesn’t even catch his notice, not that you really notice it either, though. 

Another sob catches like a rock in your throat and you turn your face away from the village, burying it into a soft, fluffy beard and letting your eyes dampen the old maker's cheek. A cheek that's warm and flushed with colour, a far cry from the cold, pale cheek you remember crying into at the centre of the valley all those long months ago.

Eideard's familiar smell fills your nostrils as you draw a deep inhale through your nose and let yourself bask in the unplaceable scent that reminds you of wood and soil.

You've missed him.

Shit... You've missed him so much.

It's perhaps a blessed thing that you hadn't said that last part out loud and baffled the maker even more than you already have, because not a second later, his throat rumbles with an uncertain chuckle and he says, “S'this how you thank everyone who saves you from a demon? Or am I just a special exception?”

And just like that, the reality of the situation comes flooding back to hit you with the force of a speeding bullet-train, smacking you from your memories and dumping you unceremoniously into Tri Stone once again.

Lurching away from the maker, your eyes snap open and you tear your arms from his face and sputter out a nonsensical string of sounds, earning a bemused grin from Eideard, who twists his head sideways to watch you raise your hands to your face, covering it slowly as rationality cuts through the haze of shock and a horrifying realisation dawns on you.

This is Eideard. But this is not your Eideard. Not yet.

He has no idea that you're thanking him for so much more than he could possibly imagine.

“I-I'm sorry,” you stammer at last, swiping furiously at your eyes, “I just... wanted to thank you for saving me from the stalker. Yeah. B-but, I didn't mean to, uh, hug you like that. I'm... honestly not sure what came over me.”

His expression softens and he quirks his lips into a playful smirk. “Hmm, well, whatever it was, I hope there'll be more.”

'Oh for god's sake.' Mortally embarrassed, you turn away from him and hope that the heat in your cheeks isn't obvious.

For all he knows, you've just draped yourself across his face like a lovesick fool, all because he saved you from a stalker.

But perhaps most mortifying of all, what really disturbs you, is that Eideard – your Eideard, the kindly maker with the disposition of a doting father – is, or rather, used to be a shameless flirt.

An attractive, shameless flirt.

Oh God... You're fairly certain you flirted back.

And it's Eideard...

Your vision starts to swim.

Just then, an enormous fingertip slides beneath your chin and you find yourself helpless to resist as your face is guided back towards him. Red-tinged eyes meet ethereal blue and for one, jarring moment, the stern yet fretful tilt of his golden brows ages the maker's face enough that you catch a glimpse of the old Eideard hidden underneath.

“Hey. Don't you go hiding that pretty face from me,” he rumbles, “I need to know you're all right.”

Your heart does a somersault.

“I'll be fine,” you slur, swaying on his shoulder, “Think I just need to lay down..”

Eideard's bemused expression quickly shifts to alarm when your body goes limp and you begin to tilt sideways, gradually slipping from the maker's broad shoulder. Fortunately for you, Eideard has always been an exceptionally attentive maker, even at this young age, and without missing a beat, he spins his hand around to capture you gently between his fingers.

The motion jerks you back to full consciousness again and you give your head a shake, blinking up into the pale, blue eyes of a highly concerned maker.

“Think it's time I got you to the Shaman,” he suggests.

Sagging heavily against his fingers, you can't help but agree. “I think that's a good idea.”

You wish you could just disappear, save yourself from the mortifying ordeal of knowing that you've been receiving advances from Eideard of all people.

That's... going to take some adjusting to.

Eyeing the village ahead, the maker turns his focus onto the eastern side, where the lights are dimmest and the gaps between each stone hut are frequent and draped in shadow. He hums pensively and begins to walk.

It isn't that he doesn't want his fellow makers to meet you – but he'd prefer to get you to the shaman sooner rather than later and get your leg tended to....

…

And... though he isn't proud to admit it, he wouldn't mind keeping you to himself just a little while longer.

Slowly, steadily, he carries you down the village steps, casting frequent glances down at you to ascertain your condition. Every time, he finds you staring back at him with a spell-bound look in your eyes.

Glowing under the attention, he spares a moment to waggle his brows at you, relishing the squeak that jumps out of your mouth as you hurriedly avert your gaze.

With a warm chuckle, Eideard returns his attention to the walled garden at the far end of the village – and promptly stiffens at the sound of voices calling his name.

“Eideard!”

“You're back!”

He doesn't miss that you turn rigid in his palm, prompting him to lift you a little higher into the air as he shoots you an apologetic glance, slowing his gait just in time to avoid tripping over a trio of tiny, excitable younglings who appear from nowhere and fall into step around him.

“Where've you been!?” a maker boy shouts, and grinning so widely, his cheeks start to turn red. “Did you kill any baddies!?”

Curious, you lean forwards over Eideard's fingers and peer down, only to find yourself biting back the urge to coo out loud at the endearing sight.

The youngling who'd spoken looks as though he'd barely stand a few heads higher than you and he's jogging backwards to avoid Eideard's boots as the older maker continues to advance cautiously down the path. A mess of shocking, copper hair sticks up from the top of his head, though it's clear that at some point, another maker has tried to gather the unruly mess into some semblance of a braid that hangs down to his shoulders and is sloppily tied off with a blue ribbon. The moment your face pokes out from behind Eideard's fingers, the youngling lets out a loud gasp and nearly trips over his own feet, eyes growing round.

“What. Is. That!?” he exclaims, pointing up at you.

“Mind your manners,” the older maker scolds gently, “It's not nice to point. This is my new friend – Oh.” Swivelling his gaze back onto you, he blinks, looking the slightest bit sheepish. “I don't think I ever did catch your name.”

“Huh? Oh, I guess we never really introduced ourselves properly, did we?.” Scratching at the back of your neck, you introduce yourself. “Y/n. My name’s Y/n.” 

“Y/n...” he repeats in a dulcet murmur, his attention never leaving you, even as he addresses the boy at his feet, “This is my friend, Y/n, Ulthane.”

The youngling's eyes remain wholly fixed upon you and he utters a small 'oooh' of wonder, standing on the toes of his boots to see you better. And whilst you're just as intrigued with the maker-in-miniature, it's his name that catches your ear.

“Wait... Did you just call him Thane?” you blurt, incredulous.

All of a sudden, another voice pipes up from Eideard's left. “He's not Thane, I am!”

Startled, you glance down to find another maker youngling frowning back up at you and jabbing a finger towards the copper-haired boy. “That's Ulthane. He's my brother.”

With a slow blink, you take in the new youngling as he trots along at Eideard's side.

“No way,” you breathe, letting your jaw drop further and further with each passing second.

Well. It's Thane alright - from the steely eyes that regard you warily, to the walnut-brown hair sticking up from his head like a bird's nest, much akin to his brother's. There's a purple bruise colouring one of his cheekbones, worn proudly, no doubt the mark of accomplishment from a bout of rough-housing with his fellow younglings.

Slowly, with the kind of hesitancy that's fostered from sheer disbelief, you work your lips into a half-smile and utter, “Hi... Thane.”

Flicking his gaze between you and Eideard, Thane fidgets under your stare and drops back a little until he's partially hidden behind the larger maker's boots.

“Ha!” Ulthane jeers, “He's scared!”

In an instant, his brother raises his voice and retorts, “I AM NOT!”

You pick your jaw up and rub tentatively at your forehead, sensing the beginnings of a headache coming on. To think, one day, this boy will turn into the herculean warrior who once bested Death in combat...

“You're pretty,” an airy, feminine voice suddenly pipes up, and you whip your head around and down once again, catching sight of yet another, even younger maker beaming back at you, so small that she's practically jogging to keep up with Eideard's lengthy strides.

“Told you,” the elder in question murmurs smugly, pushing his thumb into your ribs.

Momentarily forgetting about Thane, you flop your jaw around for a few seconds before any sort of thought finally occurs. “Uh... Thanks?” you reply, hastily adding, “Y-you too.”

Pawing her long, blonde hair behind one of her ears, she giggles and ducks behind Eideard and out of sight, though the pitter-patter of her feet mixed between the heavy stomps of his own betray the fact that she's keeping pace close at his heels.

Meanwhile, Thane has finally left the safety of Eideard's shadow and has joined his brother in trying to walk as tall as he can on his toes to see over the older maker's hands, evidently curious about the newcomer in his midst now that your attention has turned elsewhere.

After a moment, he pipes up. “What are you?”

You don't think you'll ever get used to looking down at Thane.

Before you can open your mouth to reply, Ulthane suddenly blurts out a question of his own. “How come you're so small?”

“Um.. well, I -” you attempt, but no sooner do you try to speak than questions begin to take turns flying from their tongues, each fired off far too quickly for you to formulate a single response.

“Are you a maker?”

“Where'd Eideard find you?”

“Where are your tusks?”

“How old are you?”

“Why do you -”

“All right now, you lot. That's enough,” the older maker interjects, coming to a stop at the foot of a staircase that leads up towards the luscious garden you'd seen on your arrival, “I didn't bring Y/n back to the village to be interrogated. Why don't you three wait here while we go and find the shaman, eh?”

Almost instantly, his suggestion is met with a chorus of disappointed moans and objections.

“Aw, but Eideaaaard!” Ulthane whinges, putting a broad grin on your face.

Thane, in the meantime, steps forward to grab Eideard's trouser leg, tugging at it imploringly. “We promise to not ask any more questions!”

You risk a subtle glance up at the maker's face, admittedly curious to find out whether he has always been a pushover, even from an early age. And from the press of his lips and rapidly-tilting brow, it looks as though his resolve is already starting to waver.

“I... I don't mind if they come along,” you suggest at last, earning a delighted gasp from the younglings and a skeptical look from the older giant.

“You sure?” he asks, “Don't want you to be-” Something abruptly tells him that you won't appreciate it if he says 'scared.' So, instead, he mumbles, “- overwhelmed.”

You almost want to laugh aloud. How in the world could you be any more overwhelmed than you already are? You're sitting in a young Eideard's palm, being stared at by a much younger Thane, in a Tri Stone that's twice the size of the one you left.

'Overwhelmed' is a gross understatement.

Instead of voicing that thought however, you simply brush it aside and offer a shrug. “I don't mind,” you say again. And honestly? You really don't mind. There are far more pressing matters weighing on your conscience than a couple of adorable, curious younglings.

Eideard however, still seems hesitant, a direct contrast to the three young makers who, at your words, promptly dart up the steps, with Ulthane in the lead.

“Muria!” he hollars her name boisterously, “You'll never guess what we've found!”

At hearing the confirmation of Muria's presence, your heart soars into your throat but you're quick to rein in your enthusiasm, aware that she, like Eideard, will have no idea who you are.

“We?” you mouth at him, echoing Ulthane's claim.

Eideard's moustache twitches and the corners of his eyes lift up until they're wrinkled with a friendly smile. “Ah, don't mind the boys. They just like to be included.”

Gradually, he begins to take the steps after the youngest maker, watching vigilantly as she struggles to keep up with the brothers, whose legs are far longer than her own.

Sadly, she must have misjudged the distance between herself and one of the steps, because when she leaps up onto it, only half of her boot makes it with her, and there's a heart-lurching second where she begins to tip backwards again, her chubby arms flailing as she tries to propel herself out of losing her balance.

“Careful!” you gasp.

But then, to your relief, Eideard stoops and throws his hand out, halting her fall with the back of his knuckles. “Easy there, Elanya. What’ve I said about looking where you’re going?”

Gently, he pushes her upright once again and she tosses him a bright grin over her shoulder before scampering up the stairs, as though she hadn't almost fallen down them mere seconds ago.

Standing to his full height, the maker watches her all the way up the stairs, releasing a sigh of relief when she arrives at the top with no further incident. Tipping his head down, he's about to begin his own ascent when he catches your eye and hesitates with one foot poised to carry him forward. You're lounging back against his fingers, an elbow balanced on the edge of his thumb and your fist propping up your chin, giving the maker your most knowing stare.

“What?” he asks.

In response, you merely lift your shoulders in a shrug and say, “Oh, nothing. It's just nice to know I'm dealing with a gigantic softie, that's all.” Of course, you've known that all along – but it does provide you some comfort to know that it won't be age that softens Eideard's heart. Evidently, he's always been of a gentler nature than most.

Furrowing his brow doesn't hide the glint of playfulness in his eyes as he begins to take the steps two at a time, shaking his head.

It doesn't escape your notice however, that he never disputes the claim.

[wiypt-writes]

Riding On

Ch 16- A Whole Fucking Hand Of Aces Part 1

Summary: It’s the run up to Christmas now for our favourite family, but it isn’t all happiness and smiles as Greg brings Fliss and Frank some worrying news about their adoption application. When Fliss enrols Bonnie’s help and the two women turn detective they uncover something that leaves Fliss both stunned and shocked. But, after a little contemplation, her and Frank realise that maybe, just maybe, they can work this to their advantage after all.

Warnings: Some VERY Bad Language words (Frank has a potty mouth…) Descriptions of panic attack-please avoid if this triggers.

Pairing: Frank Adler x Fliss Gallagher

A/N:  Some nitty, gritty action and angst over this chapter so I hope you’re ready… buckle up! Big thanks to @icanfeelastormbrewing for reading this (sorry Frank had to put a shirt on) and @southerngracela for helping me with a crucial bit here that I have very limited experience on.

Disclaimer: This is a pure work of fiction and classified as 18+. Please respect this and do not read if you are underage. I do not own any characters in this series bar Fliss Gallagher and the other OCs. By reading beyond this point you understand and accept the terms of this disclaimer.

Riding On Masterlist // Main Masterlist

Chapter 15

When you’re weak, I’ll be strong. When you let go, I’ll hold on. When you need to cry, I swear that I’ll be there to dry your eyes. When you feel lost and scared to death, like you can’t take one more step, just take my hand, together we can do it. I’m gonna love you through it.

December 2019

Fliss set the mug down on the coffee table in front of where Greg sat in the arm chair. Their friend had called earlier that day to say he had finally had a response from an attorney representing Bradley Polland, Mary’s biological father regarding the Adoption.

And it hadn’t been good news. Frank’s worse fear had been realised, the man was contesting. Frank hadn’t received the news particularly well, storming out of work and straight home, blazing in a fit of anger that was very unlike him, and Fliss had taken charge and asked Greg to come over later that night once Mary was in bed so they could discuss it in a calm and hopefully logical manner. As always, he was happy to oblige.

Greg flashed Fliss a smile and thanked her before she sat next to Frank on the sofa, her hand reaching for his. Their fingers laced together and she gave a little squeeze and he looked at her, giving her a tight smile.

“Don’t get too despondent yet.” Greg sighed, “I know it’s shitty but like I said on the phone Frank, we have a damned good chance on winning this in court.”

“I just don’t fucking understand Greg.” Frank shook his head “Why? Why is he contesting? He doesn’t give a shit about her, we know that. He’s never even laid eyes on her in person. Fucking ass hole.” His tone we venomous, his face creased in anger and Fliss gently squeezed his fingers again. He took a deep breath and shook his head “Sorry, I’m just…” “Buddy, I can’t begin to imagine how you feel.” Greg sighed, “And I’m sorry I can’t answer your question because I don’t know what his reasoning is.” The man shrugged as he took a sip of his tea. “Maybe the fact that the adoption would completely remove any rights he has to her has sparked some deep buried paternal instinct...” “Bull shit.” Frank scoffed, leaning back in his chair. Greg looked at Fliss who took a deep breath.

“So, what happens now?” she asked, trying to keep calm. One of them had to have a level head after all.

“Well, there’ll be a little to-ing and fro-ing before court but my first action, which I did as soon as that letter landed this morning, was to get onto Child Welfare. They’ll prep a report on Mary, how settled she is, happy, basically in support of the adoption.” Greg licked his lips “But I want you both to know, that there is absolutely no way that Mary is gonna get taken away from you.” He looked at Frank straight in the eyes as Frank looked back. “Even if Polland petitions for custody, which he won’t…” he held his hand up, cutting Frank off before he could start again “No Court in their right mind is gonna rip her out of her home here and put her with him, not now. You have Legal Guardian Status Frank, that’s not gonna change. At most he will get visitation.”

“What if Mary doesn’t want to see him?” Fliss asked as Frank looked away, his eyes roving over the garden are which was light up by the various solar lights speckled around the decking and lawn, the pool lights turning the whole area to the left of the garden a vivid shade of aqua, desperately trying to keep his cool.

“Then the CWD will reflect that in their report.” Greg nodded. “But this is absolute worst case scenario. You both need to understand that there is a really, really high chance that the court will overrule his objection and allow the Adoption to go through anyway. She’s been with you all her life Frank, whilst he may have a biological link to her, he has nothing else. And the court won’t look favourably on his actions. We saw that in the case versus your mother.” “So this might actually not mean a thing?” Fliss looked at Greg.

“Exactly.” Greg smiled “You’re in a very good position. This…it’s just a little bump in the road.”

“Then why does it feel like a huge fucking road block?” Frank looked at Greg and his best friend sighed.

“Because you’re panicking.” Greg said simply “You’re over thinking it, like you always do. Trust me Frank, this is going to change nothing…” “How can you say that?” Frank looked at him. “Of course it’s gonna change something, that little girl up there thinks we’re gonna be adopting her and now I’m gonna haff to tell her that that might naht be the case…”

His accent grew thicker, the way it always did when he was emotional and Fliss squeezed his hand once more and turned to face him.

“Frank, nothing changes from our home front, that’s what Greg means.” She said, and Greg nodded in agreement. “And as for telling her, then we do what we always do. We be honest, we explain it simply and we reassure her if she gets anxious. That’s all we can do for now. And then, whatever happens we face it together as a family.” Frank sighed and looked down at his feet before he looked at Greg, shaking his head “Sorry man, I didn’t mean to snap.” “Don’t sweat it.” Greg shook his head “But I mean what I say pal, this isn’t like last time when, I’ll be honest, I didn’t think we had a cat in hells chance of keeping her from your mother, despite how much I was behind you, and you know that. This time, well, not only have your entire circumstances changed now in that she has a perfect home, a family, stability…” he took a deep breath, “And you are her legal guardian. No court will strip that from you unless there’s exceptional circumstances. And these are not. The only card Polland has to play is that he still has his Parental Rights, he’s got nothing else. He has never met her, never talked to her, never paid a dime towards her. In contrast, you on the other hand have a whole fucking hand of Aces to play back. There’s no way she’s going anywhere, adoption or not, which is the main thing here. That she stays with you. You two are her parents in everything but name and the court and CWD will see that.”

There was nothing much more that Greg could tell them at that point, other than to walk them through the next steps in a little more detail. He talked them through how the CWD would be in contact and that they’d want to speak to Mary alone, then they’d want to speak to both of them too, and that was as far as he was prepared to go, refusing to even think about anything beyond that. Which in itself was frustrating the hell out of Frank, but Fliss understood exactly why Greg was being so reserved. It was information overload, and Frank being the very analytical and cerebral person he was would end up even more frustrated as Greg would have no answer to the barrage of questions he was likely to have.

It was only when Alex made the familiar noises of hunger that the 3 of them called time on their discussion and Fliss stood up and headed to the bassinet to the side of the sofa. 

"He's getting so big." Greg beamed and Alex, momentarily forgetting his hunger, locked his eyes onto his godfather's and gave him a huge smile. "Hey fella!" Greg ran a finger down his cheek and Alex wiggled his arms in response. "He looks like you pal." Greg looked at Frank as he grinned. "Poor little bugger." 

“Fuck you.” Frank snorted, and Fliss pouted dramatically.

"I happen to think is daddy is very handsome." She looked at Frank whose lips curled into a smile at one side for what felt like the first time that day before he turned to Greg. 

"I'll see you out."

Greg looked at him and then nodded, and with a final goodbye to Fliss, he left the family room with Frank behind him

“Tell me honestly Greg, and no bullshit…” Frank looked ad his friend as they strode towards Greg’s silver benz which was parked behind Fliss’ Cherokee “Am I gonna lose her?”

“Have you just listened to a damned word I said Frank?” Greg looked at him. “Read my lips. Not a chance. Honestly Frank, you have the upper hand here. This is nothing like last time.”

Frank nodded and gave his friend a tight smile as he climbed into his car, turning and heading back inside giving a whistle for Thor to follow him, the dog having wandered outside at the same time he had. But despite his friend’s assurances, he just couldn’t shake the worry from the back of his mind that this entire thing was going to rip their family apart.

He paused in the doorway and watched Fliss who was now feeding Alex his bottle, her eyes locked on that of their son and he felt a little lump in his throat. He swallowed and spoke, his voice sounding strangely far away to him.

“Want me to do that?” he asked. Fliss looked at him, immediately recognising his offer for what it actually was, a request. He wanted to do it. And she knew why. It was a way to keep himself grounded, away from the spiralling thoughts in his mind.

“Sure.” She nodded as Frank sat down. She handed Alex over and then kissed Frank’s cheek. “Try not to worry sweetheart, I know it’s a shitty set back but it’ll work out.”

“You’re optimistic.” Frank looked down at Alex as he took his milk before he glanced up at Fliss “I wish I was.”

“You heard Greg.” She gently lay her hand on his neck, her fingers softly stroking at his skin of the nape “This isn’t like last time.”

“I know.”  He nodded, before he fixed a smile on his face “Why don’t you go for that bath you were talking about before?”

“You gonna be ok?”

He nodded “Yeah, I’ll be up once he’s finished.”

“Ok.” Fliss nodded, kissing him again before she stood up and left Frank alone with his son.

**** Try as he might Frank couldn’t sleep that night, his mind was whirring at 100 miles an hour, and in the end he gave up before his tossing and turning disturbed either Fliss or Alex. He climbed out of bed, pulled on a pair of sweats and a t-shirt before he peered down at Alex who was asleep in his crib. As he headed to the door he reached down and gave Thor’s ears a scratch as the dog looked up from his spot in his basket before he padded silently into the hallway and softly pushed Mary’s bedroom door open. She too was fast asleep, Fred curled up next to her head on the pillow. She looked so peaceful, so content. And Frank knew that’s because she was. She was safe, she was loved, she was wanted- boy was she wanted- and the thought that her life, that their lives might be upturned by that shit head Polland made Frank’s stomach churn.

He knew he was over thinking things. He had always been the same. He retreated into his mind, and no matter how many times Fliss or Greg had told him not to worry that night he just couldn’t help it. He’d almost lost her once, and the thought that he might actually lose her for good this time was unbearable. His mouth suddenly became dry and he needed a drink, so closing the door behind him softly he headed down the stairs and pulled open the fridge, reaching for a bottle of water.

He drained the bottle in one but that did nothing to help the hot and clammy feeling that was now washing over him, causing a light beading of sweat to dust his brow. He wiped it away with the back of his hand and as he did so his belly dropped out from him and a sick feeling spread across his body, almost like he was going to puke. He gripped the edge of the counter, hovering over the sink, eyes closed as the room began to spin and his chest suddenly began to hurt. He found himself unable to catch his breath as his throat tightened and he scrunched his eyes shut as they were burning from the unshed, salty tears. Then, he could hold the feeling of desperation and panic no more and he turned, sliding to the floor in a dishevelled heap, his back banging painfully against the lower kitchen cabinets as he struggled to ground himself. When his chest finally released enough for him to take a huge, shaky, painful breath it was all too much and his anxiety poured out in a flood of uncontrollable tears, the deep emotions stirring with no other outlet but his silent crying.

How long he was there he had no idea, locked in his own mind and worries, but then a voice broke through the cloud in his mind and a familiar presence filled his senses.

“Frankie…” Fliss gently placed her hand on Frank’s shoulder as she knelt down next to him. “Oh Baby…”

He mumbled something incoherent, choking on his sobs, his face buried between his arms as they hugged his knees to his chest, and she moved to wrap her arms around him. His own arms moved and he wrapped them around her back, clinging to her with a desperation she’d never seen or felt from him before as he pressed his face into the crook of her shoulder.

“Shhhh, I got you…” she whispered to him, kissing his head. “I got you.”

The two of them sat on the kitchen floor, Fliss soothing him, pressing the odd kiss to his head, running her hand up his spine over his t-shirt with one hand, the fingers of the other fingers brushing the back of his neck, a movement she knew he found comforting. Knowing from her own experiences, there was nothing else to be done other than stay with him and let him cry it out she did just that. Eventually, she felt his broad shoulders begin to relax a little as his sobs turned into smaller cries, which then morphed into small hiccups, until eventually they subsided completely and there was no sound in the room bar his deep, ragged breathing. After a moment or so of relative quiet,  he pulled away and Fliss turned her head towards him, taking in his appearance and it broke her heart. His face was red and blotchy, those blue eyes she could drown in were bloodshot and looked at her sadly from beneath puffy eyelids. He moved his arm to wipe at his nose and then took a deep, stuttering breath.

“You with me?” Fliss asked gently and he nodded, taking another shaky breath.

“Sorry, I didn’t want to wake you.” He spoke, his throat felt raw and his voice was gruff and croaky, not sounding like his own. Fliss shook her head.

“Don’t you dare apologise Frank.” She said gently “There’s nothing to be sorry for.”

“We had such a wonderful Thanksgiving a few weeks ago, and we should be looking forward to Alex’s first Christmas and now…” “Hey, hey…” Fliss cut him off, her hands taking his face gently, pads of her fingers threading into his beard. “Thanksgiving was wonderful, because we were all together. Christmas is gonna be wonderful because we will still all be together.”

“I can’t lose her Liss, I can’t lose any of you, I just…” “And you’re not gonna.” She said, her voice calm and quiet. “Greg told you this before. The worst that can happen is Polland is gonna get visitations.” “But what if she wants to live with him? What if she-“ “Oh Frank.” Fliss sighed “That’s not even a remote possibility. Mary worships the ground you walk on. She adores Alex. She loves her home, her life…if anything, I think she’s going to refuse to even see him. You saw how heartbroken she was that day we had to talk her out of the bathroom during the court-case. She won’t have forgotten that.”

Frank raised his eyes to Fliss’ and she smiled at him softly, her hands still on his face “Baby, she might only be 9 but she’s not stupid. She knows you gave everything you had to make sure she’s had a good life. You kept her safe, loved. I’ll say it over and over till I’m blue in the face Frank, you ARE her father. In everything but biology. And Bill and I are proof here that biology doesn’t mean a fucking thing.”

“She adores you too you know.” Frank said, and Fliss smiled softly pressing her forehead to his

“Good because I adore her right back. And her big, soft, lump of an uncle-slash-father who happens to be a wonderful man with a huge heart, who knows he isn’t perfect but doesn’t try to be.” Her hands slid down from his face, one resting on his shoulder, the other back to stroking the nape of his neck. Frank closed his eyes, taking a deep breath as her touch washed over him. “A man who strives every day to be the best version of himself, but doesn’t really need to because he’s already the best daddy and partner in the world.”

“Liss I’m not-“ “You’re not perfect, yes I know.” She smiled “But that makes you perfect to me.”

Frank took a deep breath and closed his eyes as her fingers continued to gently stroke at his neck, all the time her movements sending gently sparks of warmth down his back. His breathing had settled down now, his tears stopped. He felt calmer.

“I love you.” He said softly and Fliss smiled, pulling back a little

“I know.” She looked at him “I love you too.”

His hand reached up for the one that was resting on his shoulder and his fingers tangled with hers, and he squeezed gently, relishing the feel of her engagement ring as it pressed against his middle and ring finger. And then, almost by magic, a soft gurgle came from the baby monitor on the side in the kitchen.

“See, Bean loves his daddy too.” Fliss smiled and Frank gave a little chuckle. “Wanna come back to bed?”

He nodded.

Fliss stood up and offered Frank her hand, tugging him up beside her. Without a word she led him down the hall and up the stairs. Frank headed straight to Alex who was on his back, his eyes flickering as he slept, his head turned gently to the right, little hand curling by his cheek. Frank tenderly ran a finger over his soft skin and the little boy reacted to the touch, his limbs stretching a little before he settled back down, his breathing even, his eyes closing.

“I still don’t know how we made something so special.” Fliss whispered, her arms curling round Frank’s waist from behind.

“He’s part you.” Frank replied softly, and Fliss gave a chuckle.

“Yeah, well, like I said, his daddy’s pretty awesome too.” Frank turned round to face her and dropped a gentle kiss to her mouth, his nose sliding against hers before he gave a little yawn. “Sorry…” he said as Fliss chuckled.

“Come on Sailor, let’s try and get some sleep before he wakes us up.”

Frank moved and slid into the covers, settling down as Fliss led besides him. He turned onto his side to look at her and she brushed her hand through his untidy, fluffy hair and then opened her arms. With the air of a small child he sank into them, his head resting against her chest, arms moving so that they wrapped around her, like a koala bear. Her hand once more resumed its gentle stroking on his neck and it wasn’t long before Fliss felt his tense shoulders relax, his breathing grew even and she glanced down to see those long eyelashes resting against his freckled cheeks as he slept. She pressed a kiss to his head and closed her eyes and finally let her own emotion crash over her as she let out a few silent tears of her own.

***** “I just don’t get it Bonnie.” Fliss sighed gently, as Bonnie took the coffee she was offering, the two women heading over to the breakfast bar. “Why now? Why after so fucking long is he suddenly interested?”

“I wish I could answer that for you.” Bonnie was sympathetic, as Fliss’ eyes flicked over to Mary who was led on the play-mat by the TV with Alex. He was led on his back and Mary was playing peek-a-boo with him, hiding her face behind his large stuffed Elephant pillow which had been a present from Steve and Sian when they’d taken the kids to the zoo.  Alex showing his appreciation by smiling at her and giggling, his arms and leg waving as he shrieked with happiness.

“I just can’t shake the feeling that there’s more to it.” Fliss bit her lip and Bonnie looked at her.

“What do you mean?”

“Well…” Fliss shifted a little, dropping her voice even more. “When Polland turned up in the Custody case, Frank was always adamant that Evelyn had paid him, even though he denied it and she denied it and we had no evidence. Frank’s still to this day 100% convinced that’s why he came forward. He wasn’t interested in Mary…”

“Has he asked Evelyn since?”

“No.” Fliss shook her head. “They’re in a good place. It’s not perfect but its ok, and they have this unspoken agreement now that they don’t talk about it. They moved on so…”

“Maybe you should ask her.” Bonnie said.

Fliss shrugged “I don’t know if I want to drag it all back up.”

“Yeah, but if you think someone is putting him up to this…”

“I don’t, well, I do, maybe…”  Fliss hesitated as she tried to put what she was thinking into words “I don’t know, what I think to be honest, other than there must be something else in it for Pollland. Sorry, I’m not making much sense.” “No, I get it.” Bonnie assured him. The two women sat in silence before Bonnie clicked her fingers as she looked at Fliss “Facebook. Have you checked him out?”

“Already tried, he’s blocked me and Frank…same on Instagram. Not that I’m sure it would help but…”

“Well he won’t have blocked me…” Bonnie shrugged “Might be a dead end but you never know. Worth a good old social media stalk, don’t you think?”

Fliss looked at Mary, then to Bonnie again before she nodded “Ok…do it.”

Bonnie pulled her phone out and scrolled down, tapping open the App. “What’s his name?”

“Polland.” Fliss said gently “Brad…”

Bonnie tapped at the screen and then turned it to Fliss, “That him?”

Fliss nodded. “Yeah…”

“Damned it his profile is locked down…” Bonnie said, her eyes roving over the screen. “Let me try his insta…” She continued to tap at her phone and grinned “Well he hasn’t locked this down…”she started to scroll down the screen and then stopped, frowning a little “Hang on…why do I recognise this woman?”

“Let me see?”

She pushed the phone over the counter and Fliss stared at it for a moment. It was a picture of Polland in a suit, with a team of people she assumed must be work colleagues. “Which one?”

“The one 2 down from him to his right.”

Fliss looked closer and then she felt her heart skip a beat. “I don’t fucking believe it…”

“What?”

“That’s Anna.” She said gently “Richard’s wife.” “Richard as in…” Bonnie trailed off as Fliss swallowed and looked at her.

“My ex brother in law. We saw them in Miami…” The realisation crashed over Fliss in a huge wave as she stared at the photo, the ghosts once again of her past back to haunt her only this time in a way she could never have imagined. This was the link, the Stazikers. She’d bet her life on it.

“Why now?” Bonnie asked gently “I mean this photo is from a few years back, so…” “I wasn’t with Frank when the case went down, not fully anyway.” Fliss said, biting her lip “None of them would have made the connection back then, they didn’t even know where I was. This will be their way of punishing me. John died whilst in prison for an attack on me, Richard did a few months inside too for his part. They’ve always blamed me, even when John pleaded guilty.” She took a deep breath and looked at Bonnie “Ok, can you go through and screen shot ANYTHING you see that links him to the Stazikers, then send it to me.” “What you gonna do?” Bonnie asked “Tell Frank?”

“Not yet.” Fliss said, “I need to speak to Evelyn first.”

“Why?”

“Because I’m gonna ask her once and for all if she paid Polland.” Fliss looked at Bonnie, her eyes blazing “Because if she did, it makes it all the more likely he’s taking a back hander again.” *****

“Fliss?” Evelyn’s voice hit Fliss’ ears as she sat in the study, sitting at the desk.  

“HI Evelyn.” Fliss said, taking a deep breath “Have you got a minute?”

“Yes, of course…what’s the matter?”

“I need to ask you something. And I want an honest answer. Bradley Polland…” “What about him?” Evelyn’s voice took a gruff turn.

“Did you pay him?”

“What?”

“When he appeared at Mary’s case. Did you pay him?”

“Why are you asking me this?”

“Because yesterday we had notification he’s actively contesting the Adoption application.” Fliss said, keeping her voice calm “And I’m trying to understand why. I have a theory but…”

“It’s nothing to do with me if that’s what you think…” “No, I don’t.” Fliss appeased as Evelyn’s voice was harsh. “I’m just trying to gather the facts before I go back to Greg. But I need to know honestly Evelyn, did you pay him.”

She sighed “Not exactly, no.” “Well what exactly did you do?”

“Polland works for an accountancy company.” Evelyn hesitated slightly before she continued “He’s in charge of their New Business department. I had a word with my contacts at the University and it ended up in a very lucrative deal for his firm, meaning he got a promotion. I’m not proud of it…but…”

Fliss took a deep breath. There was some satisfaction that her suspicion had been correct but also an underlying sense of frustration at how Evelyn could have ever been so damned sneaky. But, she had to remind herself that this was all in the past now. They had all moved on, and made some pretty monumental steps in that department. But this was now threatening to blow all of this out of the water.

“Thank you for being honest with me.” She replied after a second or two.

“Fliss, you have to understand, I was desperate.” Evelyn said gently. “I’d do anything to take it all back.”

“Look, I’m not interested in dragging this up for an argument.” Fliss shook her head as she spoke “As we all keep saying, what’s done is done. I just needed to know if I was right.” “You think someone is paying him to do this?”

“Yes.” Fliss said bluntly “And I have a good idea who.”

“Are you going to tell me?”

“Not yet.” Fliss licked her lips. “I need to talk to Frank first.”

“Ok, well if there’s anything I can do please let me know.”

“Of course, I’ll let you know.

After bidding her mother-in-law goodbye, Fliss hung up and dropped the phone onto the desk before she let out a little groan and stood up, heading back into the living room. Mary looked up at her where she was sat on the sofa, and Fliss smiled as she saw Alex was curled up on-top of his comforter on the play-mat, cuddling to his beloved elephant.

“He fell asleep” Mary said, “I was watching him but you said not to try and lift him without you here so…” “Mary, he’s fine babe.” Fliss smiled, “Honestly, you did good. Top babysitter.” She leaned over and gave the girl a hi-five before she took a quick photo and sent it to Frank. Placing her phone on the coffee table she dropped down besides Mary. “What you looking at?” Fliss nodded at the laptop.

“I’m chatting to Rosie.” Mary said, turning the Macbook so Fliss could she see had the instant messenger service from the school network open “We were talking about Christmas and stuff. She asked if I can go and sleep over tomorrow night seeing as it’s the holidays.”

“You wanna?”

“Yeah.” “Then fine by me.” Fliss said, giving a little yawn “I can’t see Frank having a problem with it. I’m teaching in the afternoon so I can drop you either before or after.”

“Ok, I’ll tell her you said yes.” Mary smiled, “See what time she says I can go over. I can ride Monty in the morning again like I did today.”

“Sounds like plan, kiddo.” Fliss nodded “We can do the trail if you want when I’ve done the classes for the morning.”

“Awesome!” Mary grinned.

“Oh, and I know I said I was gonna make chicken parm for dinner but I seriously cannot be bothered. I’m thinking I might throw some frozen pizzas in and do some dirty fries instead.”

Mary grinned “I love dirty fries.” “So does Frank.” Fliss smiled

“He needs cheering up.” Mary nodded “He looked sad this morning.”

“He just has some stuff going on at work.” Fliss said, batting the question away “He’ll be fine.”

At that point her phone went off, it was a message back from the man in question responding to her photo of Alex.

Lucky little bastard!  I’d kill for a nap right now, I’m exhausted. Finishing early so should be home in an hour or so. Love you all xxx

“See.” She showed it to Mary “Just tired.”

“Can we bake some brownies?” Mary asked, her face hopeful “They always cheer him up.”

“Sure.” Fliss smiled, standing up, completely not bothering to point out to Mary that was more hassle than the chicken parm, it was such a thoughtful thing to want to do that Fliss instantly felt her heart melt as she agreed. “Go get the bowls and stuff ready, I’ll put Bean in the crib.” To be fair it only took half an hour to mix the batter and get it in the oven. They then turned their attention to the fries and pizzas, shoving those in too before they returned back to the sofa, Fliss finding “Miracle on 34th Street” on one of the channels so they settled down to watch, the Christmas tree lights twinkling in the corner of the room. And that was how Frank found them when he came in from work about 20 minutes or so later. Both of them sat on the sofa, Mary snuggled into Fliss as they were giggling at the TV in the now dim-light of the room.

“Hey.” He smiled and Fliss looked up at him, taking the kiss he offered before he ruffled Mary’s head “Again?” he nodded to the TV and Mary glared at him.

“It happens to be one of my favourites.” “Don’t I know it.” He rolled his eyes. He then paused, the smell of baking hitting his nostrils, and looked around, before he glanced back at them, grinning “You made brownies?”

“Not just any brownies…” Mary grinned “Salted caramel ones.” Frank groaned “I love you both.”

Mary sniggered “Fliss said you would say that.”

Frank smiled “Imma take a shower ok? Be down in a second.”

“Actually, I need to talk to you.” Fliss said, looking at him significantly.

“Ok.” He frowned.

“You ok here Mary?” Fliss looked at her. “Keep an eye on Alex for me again?”

“What are you going to talk about?”

“Nonya.” Frank looked at her.

“Nonya?” Mary frowned.

“Yeah, Nonya-business.” He said, straightening up as she gave a groan.

“That’s so lame.” Mary sighed, rolling her eyes. Fliss and Frank headed upstairs into their bedroom, where Fliss took a deep breath. She didn’t even bother telling Frank to stay calm, because she knew it was futile. And, true to her prediction, when she explained what she’d found out he reacted exactly how she had predicted. Angry, upset, frustrated. He grit his teeth, swore and then started stomping around the room.

“I know, I know…” she soothed as he slammed a drawer shut, tossing a pair of joggers onto the bed. “But, this is good Frank.” “Good, how is any of this good Lissy?” he seethed “I…” “Because it gives us an angle.” She said gently “If we tell Greg about this…whilst we may not have any solid proof it provides him with a line of attack. Raises questions. And we have Evelyn too, I’m pretty sure she’ll go on record about what went down last time. It’s a total smear on his character.”

Frank took a deep breath, running his hand through his hair. “You know what, I can’t…I can’t process this now, I need to think.”

“Ok.” Fliss said, looking down at the carpet, swallowing a little as she took a deep breath. “I’m sorry.” “Sorry?” Frank frowned “What are you sorry for?”

“Because this is my fault isn’t it?” she stated, more than asked, and Frank was horrified to see the tears in her eyes. “It’s all down to John, again.” “Stop.” Frank said firmly, shaking his head as he strode round the side of the bed to where she was stood. “Lissy, this isn’t your fault baby. Not at all. I’m not mad at you, I promise.”

“Maybe, but if I wasn’t involved, this wouldn’t be happening and…” she took a deep breath and Frank shook his head once more, wiping her tears away. “He’s fucking dead Frank and still…” “Look.” Frank sighed, “You don’t control what that shit head family do now any more than you did back then, ok? I’m sorry for snapping I just…” “I know.” She nodded, her hands wrapping around his wrists as his calloused fingers caressed her cheek.

“But please don’t for one second think I blame you for any of this. This is down to him, and if the Stazikers are the only reason he’s doing this then he’s an even bigger shit head than we thought.”

“You know, Steeb says he can make him vanish.” Fliss shrugged “Concrete shoes, bottom of the ocean.”

Frank chuckled and his hands dropped to her hips “Don’t tempt me.”  

“So what do you want to do about it?” Fliss asked. Frank bit his lip for a moment as he considered his play and then he looked back at her, determination on his face.

“Once I’ve showered I’ll call Evelyn and check she’s ok, as no doubt she’s pacing the floor at home now, panicking.”

“You not mad at her?”

“Mad? I’m fucking raging but what’s the point of going over it all?” he sighed, “I always knew deep down she’d done something and we worked so hard to put it behind us…”

“And the rest of it?”

“Well after I speak to Mother, I’ll get onto Greg, tell him what we know.” He spoke determinedly “If the fucking cunts want a dirty fight, then they can have one.”

**** Chapter 16 Part 2

[what-is-your-plan-today]

Riding On

Ch 16- A Whole Fucking Hand Of Aces

Part 1

Summary: It’s the run up to Christmas now for our favourite family, but it isn’t all happiness and smiles as Greg brings Fliss and Frank some worrying news about their adoption application. When Fliss enrols Bonnie’s help and the two women turn detective they uncover something that leaves Fliss both stunned and shocked. But, after a little contemplation, her and Frank realise that maybe, just maybe, they can work this to their advantage after all.

Warnings: Some VERY Bad Language words (Frank has a potty mouth…) Descriptions of panic attack-please avoid if this triggers.

Pairing: Frank Adler x Fliss Gallagher

A/N:  Some nitty, gritty action and angst over this chapter so I hope you’re ready… buckle up! Big thanks to @icanfeelastormbrewing​ for reading this (sorry Frank had to put a shirt on) and @southerngracela​ for helping me with a crucial bit here that I have very limited experience on. And to @sweater-daddiesdumbdork​ for her opinions and also being as in love with dirty boat daddy as I am...

Chapter Song: I’m Gonna Love You Through It by Martina McBride (Ok, so this song makes me damned cry due to the sentiment behind it, and fits Frank and Fliss here so much…)

Series Masterlist //  WIYPT Masterlist

When you’re weak, I’ll be strong. When you let go, I’ll hold on. When you need to cry, I swear that I’ll be there to dry your eyes. When you feel lost and scared to death, like you can’t take one more step, just take my hand, together we can do it. I’m gonna love you through it.

December 2019

Fliss set the mug down on the coffee table in front of where Greg sat in the arm chair. Their friend had called earlier that day to say he had finally had a response from an attorney representing Bradley Polland, Mary’s biological father regarding the Adoption.

And it hadn’t been good news. Frank’s worse fear had been realised, the man was contesting. Frank hadn’t received the news particularly well, storming out of work and straight home, blazing in a fit of anger that was very unlike him, and Fliss had taken charge and asked Greg to come over later that night once Mary was in bed so they could discuss it in a calm and hopefully logical manner. As always, he was happy to oblige.

Greg flashed Fliss a smile and thanked her before she sat next to Frank on the sofa, her hand reaching for his. Their fingers laced together and she gave a little squeeze and he looked at her, giving her a tight smile.

“Don’t get too despondent yet.” Greg sighed, “I know it’s shitty but like I said on the phone Frank, we have a damned good chance on winning this in court.”

“I just don’t fucking understand Greg.” Frank shook his head “Why? Why is he contesting? He doesn’t give a shit about her, we know that. He’s never even laid eyes on her in person. Fucking ass hole.” His tone we venomous, his face creased in anger and Fliss gently squeezed his fingers again. He took a deep breath and shook his head “Sorry, I’m just…” “Buddy, I can’t begin to imagine how you feel.” Greg sighed, “And I’m sorry I can’t answer your question because I don’t know what his reasoning is.” The man shrugged as he took a sip of his tea. “Maybe the fact that the adoption would completely remove any rights he has to her has sparked some deep buried paternal instinct...” “Bull shit.” Frank scoffed, leaning back in his chair. Greg looked at Fliss who took a deep breath.

“So, what happens now?” she asked, trying to keep calm. One of them had to have a level head after all.

“Well, there’ll be a little to-ing and fro-ing before court but my first action, which I did as soon as that letter landed this morning, was to get onto Child Welfare. They’ll prep a report on Mary, how settled she is, happy, basically in support of the adoption.” Greg licked his lips “But I want you both to know, that there is absolutely no way that Mary is gonna get taken away from you.” He looked at Frank straight in the eyes as Frank looked back. “Even if Polland petitions for custody, which he won’t…” he held his hand up, cutting Frank off before he could start again “No Court in their right mind is gonna rip her out of her home here and put her with him, not now. You have Legal Guardian Status Frank, that’s not gonna change. At most he will get visitation.”

“What if Mary doesn’t want to see him?” Fliss asked as Frank looked away, his eyes roving over the garden are which was light up by the various solar lights speckled around the decking and lawn, the pool lights turning the whole area to the left of the garden a vivid shade of aqua, desperately trying to keep his cool.

“Then the CWD will reflect that in their report.” Greg nodded. “But this is absolute worst case scenario. You both need to understand that there is a really, really high chance that the court will overrule his objection and allow the Adoption to go through anyway. She’s been with you all her life Frank, whilst he may have a biological link to her, he has nothing else. And the court won’t look favourably on his actions. We saw that in the case versus your mother.” “So this might actually not mean a thing?” Fliss looked at Greg.

“Exactly.” Greg smiled “You’re in a very good position. This…it’s just a little bump in the road.”

“Then why does it feel like a huge fucking road block?” Frank looked at Greg and his best friend sighed.

“Because you’re panicking.” Greg said simply “You’re over thinking it, like you always do. Trust me Frank, this is going to change nothing…” “How can you say that?” Frank looked at him. “Of course it’s gonna change something, that little girl up there thinks we’re gonna be adopting her and now I’m gonna haff to tell her that that might naht be the case…”

His accent grew thicker, the way it always did when he was emotional and Fliss squeezed his hand once more and turned to face him.

“Frank, nothing changes from our home front, that’s what Greg means.” She said, and Greg nodded in agreement. “And as for telling her, then we do what we always do. We be honest, we explain it simply and we reassure her if she gets anxious. That’s all we can do for now. And then, whatever happens we face it together as a family.” Frank sighed and looked down at his feet before he looked at Greg, shaking his head “Sorry man, I didn’t mean to snap.” “Don’t sweat it.” Greg shook his head “But I mean what I say pal, this isn’t like last time when, I’ll be honest, I didn’t think we had a cat in hells chance of keeping her from your mother, despite how much I was behind you, and you know that. This time, well, not only have your entire circumstances changed now in that she has a perfect home, a family, stability…” he took a deep breath, “And you are her legal guardian. No court will strip that from you unless there’s exceptional circumstances. And these are not. The only card Polland has to play is that he still has his Parental Rights, he’s got nothing else. He has never met her, never talked to her, never paid a dime towards her. In contrast, you on the other hand have a whole fucking hand of Aces to play back. There’s no way she’s going anywhere, adoption or not, which is the main thing here. That she stays with you. You two are her parents in everything but name and the court and CWD will see that.”

There was nothing much more that Greg could tell them at that point, other than to walk them through the next steps in a little more detail. He talked them through how the CWD would be in contact and that they’d want to speak to Mary alone, then they’d want to speak to both of them too, and that was as far as he was prepared to go, refusing to even think about anything beyond that. Which in itself was frustrating the hell out of Frank, but Fliss understood exactly why Greg was being so reserved. It was information overload, and Frank being the very analytical and cerebral person he was would end up even more frustrated as Greg would have no answer to the barrage of questions he was likely to have.

It was only when Alex made the familiar noises of hunger that the 3 of them called time on their discussion and Fliss stood up and headed to the bassinet to the side of the sofa. 

"He's getting so big." Greg beamed and Alex, momentarily forgetting his hunger, locked his eyes onto his godfather's and gave him a huge smile. "Hey fella!" Greg ran a finger down his cheek and Alex wiggled his arms in response. "He looks like you pal." Greg looked at Frank as he grinned. "Poor little bugger." 

“Fuck you.” Frank snorted, and Fliss pouted dramatically.

"I happen to think is daddy is very handsome." She looked at Frank whose lips curled into a smile at one side for what felt like the first time that day before he turned to Greg. 

"I'll see you out."

Greg looked at him and then nodded, and with a final goodbye to Fliss, he left the family room with Frank behind him

“Tell me honestly Greg, and no bullshit…” Frank looked ad his friend as they strode towards Greg’s silver benz which was parked behind Fliss’ Cherokee “Am I gonna lose her?”

“Have you just listened to a damned word I said Frank?” Greg looked at him. “Read my lips. Not a chance. Honestly Frank, you have the upper hand here. This is nothing like last time.”

Frank nodded and gave his friend a tight smile.

“Thanks for coming over.” he nodded and Greg smiled.

“Any time, I got your back. You know that.” he promised as he climbed into his car. Frank watched him leave, tossing a hand at the tailgate to the car before he turned and headed back inside, giving a whistle for Thor to follow him, the dog having wandered outside at the same time he had. But despite his friend’s assurances, he just couldn’t shake the worry from the back of his mind that this entire thing was going to rip their family apart.

He paused in the doorway and watched Fliss who was now feeding Alex his bottle, her eyes locked on that of their son and he felt a little lump in his throat. He swallowed and spoke, his voice sounding strangely far away to him.

“Want me to do that?” he asked. Fliss looked at him, immediately recognising his offer for what it actually was, a request. He wanted to do it. And she knew why. It was a way to keep himself grounded, away from the spiralling thoughts in his mind.

“Sure.” She nodded as Frank sat down. She handed Alex over and then kissed Frank’s cheek. “Try not to worry sweetheart, I know it’s a shitty set back but it’ll work out.”

“You’re optimistic.” Frank looked down at Alex as he took his milk before he glanced up at Fliss “I wish I was.”

“You heard Greg.” She gently lay her hand on his neck, her fingers softly stroking at his skin of the nape “This isn’t like last time.”

“I know.”  He nodded, before he fixed a smile on his face “Why don’t you go for that bath you were talking about before?”

“You gonna be ok?”

He nodded “Yeah, I’ll be up once he’s finished.”

“Ok.” Fliss nodded, kissing him again before she stood up and left Frank alone with his son.

**** Try as he might Frank couldn’t sleep that night, his mind was whirring at 100 miles an hour, and in the end he gave up before his tossing and turning disturbed either Fliss or Alex. He climbed out of bed, pulled on a pair of sweats and a t-shirt before he peered down at Alex who was asleep in his crib. As he headed to the door he reached down and gave Thor’s ears a scratch as the dog looked up from his spot in his basket before he padded silently into the hallway and softly pushed Mary’s bedroom door open. She too was fast asleep, Fred curled up next to her head on the pillow. She looked so peaceful, so content. And Frank knew that’s because she was. She was safe, she was loved, she was wanted- boy was she wanted- and the thought that her life, that their lives might be upturned by that shit head Polland made Frank’s stomach churn.

He knew he was over thinking things. He had always been the same. He retreated into his mind, and no matter how many times Fliss or Greg had told him not to worry that night he just couldn’t help it. He’d almost lost her once, and the thought that he might actually lose her for good this time was unbearable. His mouth suddenly became dry and he needed a drink, so closing the door behind him softly he headed down the stairs and pulled open the fridge, reaching for a bottle of water.

He the cool liquid in one but that did nothing to help the hot and clammy feeling that was now washing over him, causing a light beading of sweat to dust his brow. He wiped it away with the back of his hand and as he did so his belly dropped out from him and a sick feeling spread across his body, almost like he was going to puke. He gripped the edge of the counter, hovering over the sink, eyes closed as the room began to spin and his chest suddenly began to hurt. He found himself unable to catch his breath as his throat tightened and he scrunched his eyes shut as they were burning from the unshed, salty tears. Then, he could hold the feeling of desperation and panic no more and he turned, sliding to the floor in a dishevelled heap, his back banging painfully against the lower kitchen cabinets as he struggled to ground himself. When his chest finally released enough for him to take a huge, shaky, painful breath it was all too much and his anxiety poured out in a flood of uncontrollable tears, the deep emotions stirring with no other outlet but his silent crying.

How long he was there he had no idea, locked in his own mind and worries, but then a voice broke through the cloud in his mind and a familiar presence filled his senses.

“Frankie…” Fliss gently placed her hand on Frank’s shoulder as she knelt down next to him. “Oh Baby…”

He mumbled something incoherent, choking on his sobs, his face buried between his arms as they hugged his knees to his chest, and she moved to wrap her arms around him. His own arms moved and he wrapped them around her back, clinging to her with a desperation she’d never seen or felt from him before as he pressed his face into the crook of her shoulder.

“Shhhh, I got you…” she whispered to him, kissing his head. “I got you.”

The two of them sat on the kitchen floor, Fliss soothing him, pressing the odd kiss to his head, running her hand up his spine over his t-shirt with one hand, the fingers of the other fingers brushing the back of his neck, a movement she knew he found comforting. Knowing from her own experiences, there was nothing else to be done other than stay with him and let him cry it out she did just that. Eventually, she felt his broad shoulders begin to relax a little as his sobs turned into smaller cries, which then morphed into small hiccups, until eventually they subsided completely and there was no sound in the room bar his deep, ragged breathing. After a moment or so of relative quiet,  he pulled away and Fliss turned her head towards him, taking in his appearance and it broke her heart. His face was red and blotchy, those blue eyes she could drown in were bloodshot and looked at her sadly from beneath puffy eyelids. He moved his arm to wipe at his nose and then took a deep, stuttering breath.

“You with me?” Fliss asked gently and he nodded, taking another shaky breath.

“Sorry, I didn’t want to wake you.” He spoke, his throat felt raw and his voice was gruff and croaky, not sounding like his own. Fliss shook her head.

“Don’t you dare apologise Frank.” She said gently “There’s nothing to be sorry for.”

“We had such a wonderful Thanksgiving a few weeks ago, and we should be looking forward to Alex’s first Christmas and now…” “Hey, hey…” Fliss cut him off, her hands taking his face gently, pads of her fingers threading into his beard. “Thanksgiving was wonderful, because we were all together. Christmas is gonna be wonderful because we will still all be together.”

“I can’t lose her Liss, I can’t lose any of you, I just…” “And you’re not gonna.” She said, her voice calm and quiet. “Greg told you this before. The worst that can happen is Polland is gonna get visitations.” “But what if she wants to live with him? What if she-“ “Oh Frank.” Fliss sighed “That’s not even a remote possibility. Mary worships the ground you walk on. She adores Alex. She loves her home, her life…if anything, I think she’s going to refuse to even see him. You saw how heartbroken she was that day we had to talk her out of the bathroom during the court-case. She won’t have forgotten that.”

Frank raised his eyes to Fliss’ and she smiled at him softly, her hands still on his face “Baby, she might only be 9 but she’s not stupid. She knows you gave everything you had to make sure she’s had a good life. You kept her safe, loved. I’ll say it over and over till I’m blue in the face Frank, you ARE her father. In everything but biology. And Bill and I are proof here that biology doesn’t mean a fucking thing.”

“She adores you too you know.” Frank said, and Fliss smiled softly pressing her forehead to his

“Good because I adore her right back. And her big, soft, lump of an uncle-slash-father who happens to be a wonderful man with a huge heart, who knows he isn’t perfect but doesn’t try to be.” Her hands slid down from his face, one resting on his shoulder, the other back to stroking the nape of his neck. Frank closed his eyes, taking a deep breath as her touch washed over him. “A man who strives every day to be the best version of himself, but doesn’t really need to because he’s already the best daddy and partner in the world.”

“Liss I’m not-“ “You’re not perfect, yes I know.” She smiled “But that makes you perfect to me.”

Frank took a deep breath and closed his eyes as her fingers continued to gently stroke at his neck, all the time her movements sending gently sparks of warmth down his back. His breathing had settled down now, his tears stopped. He felt calmer.

“I love you.” He said softly and Fliss smiled, pulling back a little

“I know.” She looked at him “I love you too.”

His hand reached up for the one that was resting on his shoulder and his fingers tangled with hers, and he squeezed gently, relishing the feel of her engagement ring as it pressed against his middle and ring finger. And then, almost by magic, a soft gurgle came from the baby monitor on the side in the kitchen.

“See, Bean loves his daddy too.” Fliss smiled and Frank gave a little chuckle. “Wanna come back to bed?”

He nodded.

Fliss stood up and offered Frank her hand, tugging him up beside her. Without a word she led him down the hall and up the stairs. Frank headed straight to Alex who was on his back, his eyes flickering as he was clearly still sleepy, his head turned gently to the right, little hand curling by his cheek. Frank softly ran a finger over his soft skin and the little boy reacted to the touch, his limbs stretching a little before he settled back down, his breathing even, his eyes closing.

“I still don’t know how we made something so special.” Fliss whispered, her arms curling round Frank’s waist from behind.

“He’s part you.” Franks replied softly, and Fliss gave a chuckle.

“Yeah, well, like I said, his daddy’s pretty awesome too.” Frank turned round to face her and dropped a gentle kiss to her mouth, his nose sliding against hers before he gave a little yawn. “Sorry…” he said as Fliss chuckled.

“Come on Sailor, let’s try and get some sleep before he wakes us up.”

Frank moved and slid into the covers, settling down as Fliss led besides him. He turned onto his side to look at her and she brushed her hand through his untidy, fluffy hair and then opened her arms. With the air of a small child he sank into them, his head resting against her chest, arms moving so that they wrapped around her, like a koala bear. Her hand once more resumed its gentle stroking on his neck and it wasn’t long before Fliss felt his tense shoulders relax, his breathing grew even and she glanced down to see those long eyelashes resting against his freckled cheeks as he slept. She pressed a kiss to his head and closed her eyes and finally let her own emotion crash over her as she let out a few silent tears of her own.

***** “I just don’t get it Bonnie.” Fliss said gently, as Bonnie took the coffee she was offering, the two women heading over to the breakfast bar. “Why now? Why after so fucking long is he suddenly interested?”

“I wish I could answer that for you.” Bonnie sighed, as Fliss’ eyes flicked over to Mary who was led on the play-mat by the TV with Alex. He was led on his back and Mary was playing peek-a-boo with him, hiding her face behind his large stuffed Elephant pillow which had been a present from Steve and Sian when they’d taken the kids to the zoo.  Alex showing his appreciation by smiling at her and giggling, his arms and leg waving as he shrieked with happiness.

“I just can’t shake the feeling that there’s more to it.” Fliss bit her lip and Bonnie looked at her.

“What do you mean?”

“Well…” Fliss shifted a little, dropping her voice even more. “When Polland turned up in the Custody case, Frank was always adamant that Evelyn had paid him, even though he denied it and she denied it and we had no evidence. Frank’s still to this day 100% convinced that’s why he came forward. He wasn’t interested in Mary…”

“Has he asked Evelyn since?”

“No.” Fliss shook her head. “They’re in a good place. It’s not perfect but its ok, and they have this unspoken agreement now that they don’t talk about it. They moved on so…”

“Maybe you should ask her.” Bonnie said.

Fliss shrugged “I don’t know if I want to drag it all back up.”

“Yeah, but if you think someone is putting him up to this…”

“I don’t, well, I do, maybe…”  Fliss hesitated as she tried to put what she was thinking into words “I don’t know, what I think to be honest, other than there must be something else in it for Pollland. Sorry, I’m not making much sense.” “No, I get it.” Bonnie assured him. The two women sat in silence before Bonnie clicked her fingers as she looked at Fliss “Facebook. Have you checked him out?”

“Already tried, he’s blocked me and Frank…same on Instagram. Not that I’m sure it would help but…”

“Well he won’t have blocked me…” Bonnie shrugged “Might be a dead end but you never know. Worth a good old social media stalk, don’t you think?”

Fliss looked at Mary, then to Bonnie again before she nodded “Ok…do it.”

Bonnie pulled her phone out and scrolled down, tapping open the App. “What’s his name?”

“Polland.” Fliss said gently “Brad…”

Bonnie tapped at the screen and then turned it to Fliss, “That him?”

Fliss nodded. “Yeah…”

“Damned it his profile is locked down…” Bonnie said, her eyes roving over the screen. “Let me try his insta…” She continued to tap at her phone and grinned “Well he hasn’t locked this down…”she started to scroll down the screen and then stopped, frowning a little “Hang on…why do I recognise this woman?”

“Let me see?”

She pushed the phone over the counter and Fliss stared at it for a moment. It was a picture of Polland in a suit, with a team of people she assumed must be work colleagues. “Which one?”

“The one 2 down from him to his right.”

Fliss looked closer and then she felt her heart skip a beat. “I don’t fucking believe it…”

“What?”

“That’s Anna.” She said gently “Richard’s wife.” “Richard as in…” Bonnie trailed off as Fliss swallowed and looked at her.

“My ex brother in law. We saw them in Miami…” The realisation crashed over Fliss in a huge wave as she stared at the photo, the ghosts once again of her past back to haunt her only this time in a way she could never have imagined. This was the link, the Stazikers. She’d bet her life on it.

“Why now?” Bonnie asked gently “I mean this photo is from a few years back, so…” “I wasn’t with Frank when the case went down, not fully anyway.” Fliss said, biting her lip “None of them would have made the connection back then, they didn’t even know where I was. This will be their way of punishing me. John died whilst in prison for an attack on me, Richard did a few months inside too for his part. They’ve always blamed me, even when John pleaded guilty.” She took a deep breath and looked at Bonnie “Ok, can you go through and screen shot ANYTHING you see that links him to the Stazikers, then send it to me.” “What you gonna do?” Bonnie asked “Tell Frank?”

“Not yet.” Fliss said, “I need to speak to Evelyn first.”

“Why?”

“Because I’m gonna ask her once and for all if she paid Polland.” Fliss looked at Bonnie, her eyes blazing “Because if she did, it makes it all the more likely he’s taking a back hander again.” *****

“Fliss?” Evelyn’s voice hit Fliss’ ears as she sat in the study, sitting at the desk.  

“HI Evelyn.” Fliss said, taking a deep breath “Have you got a minute?”

“Yes, of course…what’s the matter?”

“I need to ask you something. And I want an honest answer. Bradley Polland…” “What about him?” Evelyn’s voice took a gruff turn.

“Did you pay him?”

“What?”

“When he appeared at Mary’s case. Did you pay him?”

“Why are you asking me this?”

“Because yesterday we had notification he’s actively contesting the Adoption application.” Fliss said, keeping her voice calm “And I’m trying to understand why. I have a theory but…”

“It’s nothing to do with me if that’s what you think…” “No, I don’t.” Fliss appeased as Evelyn’s voice was harsh. “I’m just trying to gather the facts before I go back to Greg. But I need to know honestly Evelyn, did you pay him.”

She sighed “Not exactly, no.” “Well what exactly did you do?”

“Polland works for an accountancy company.” Evelyn hesitated slightly before she continued “He’s in charge of their New Business department. I had a word with my contacts at the University and it ended up in a very lucrative deal for his firm, meaning he got a promotion. I’m not proud of it…but…”

Fliss took a deep breath. There was some satisfaction that her suspicion had been correct but also an underlying sense of frustration at how Evelyn could have ever been so damned sneaky. But, she had to remind herself that this was all in the past now. They had all moved on, and made some pretty monumental steps in that department. But this was now threatening to blow all of this out of the water.

“Thank you for being honest with me.” She replied after a second or two.

“Fliss, you have to understand, I was desperate.” Evelyn said gently. “I’d do anything to take it all back.”

“Look, I’m not interested in dragging this up for an argument.” Fliss shook her head as she spoke “As we all keep saying, what’s done is done. I just needed to know if I was right.” “You think someone is paying him to do this?”

“Yes.” Fliss said bluntly “And I have a good idea who.”

“Are you going to tell me?”

“Not yet.” Fliss licked her lips. “I need to talk to Frank first.”

“Ok, well if there’s anything I can do please let me know.”

“Of course, I’ll let you know.”

After bidding her mother-in-law goodbye, Fliss hung up and dropped the phone onto the desk before she let out a little groan and stood up, heading back into the living room. Mary looked up at her where she was sat on the sofa, and Fliss smiled as she saw Alex was curled up on-top of his comforter on the play-mat, cuddling to his beloved elephant.

“He fell asleep” Mary said, “I was watching him but you said not to try and lift him without you here so…” “It’s fine babe, he looks comfy enough.” Fliss smiled, “Honestly, you did good. Top babysitter.” She leaned over and gave the girl a hi-five before she took a quick photo and sent it to Frank. Placing her phone on the coffee table she dropped down besides Mary. “What you looking at?” Fliss nodded at the laptop.

“I’m chatting to Rosie.” Mary said, turning the Macbook so Fliss could she see had the instant messenger service from the school network open “We were talking about Christmas and stuff. She asked if I can go and sleep over tomorrow night.”

“You wanna?”

“Yeah.” “Then fine by me.” Fliss said, giving a little yawn “I can’t see Frank having a problem with it. I’m teaching in the afternoon so I can drop you either before or after.”

“Ok, I’ll tell her you said yes.” Mary smiled, “See what time she says I can go over. I can ride Monty in the morning again like I did today.”

“Sounds like plan, kiddo.” Fliss nodded “We can do the trail if you want when I’ve done the classes for the morning.”

“Awesome!” Mary grinned.

“Oh, and I know I said I was gonna make chicken parm for dinner but I seriously cannot be bothered. I’m thinking I might throw some frozen pizzas in and do some dirty fries instead.”

Mary grinned “I love dirty fries.” “So does Frank.” Fliss smiled

“He needs cheering up.” Mary nodded “He looked sad this morning.”

“He just has some stuff going on at work.” Fliss said, batting the question away “He’ll be fine.”

At that point her phone went off, it was a message back from the man in question responding to her photo of Alex.

Lucky little bastard!  I’d kill for a nap right now, I’m exhausted. Finishing early so should be home in an hour or so. Love you all xxx

“See.” She showed it to Mary “Just tired.”

“Can we bake some brownies?” Mary asked, her face hopeful “They always cheer him up.”

“Sure.” Fliss smiled, standing up, completely not bothering to point out to Mary that was more hassle than the chicken parm, it was such a thoughtful thing to want to do that Fliss instantly felt her heart melt as she agreed. “Go get the bowls and stuff ready, I’ll put Bean in the crib.” To be fair it only took half an hour to mix the batter and get it in the oven. They then turned their attention to the fries and pizzas, shoving those in too before they returned back to the sofa, Fliss finding “Miracle on 34th Street” on one of the channels so they settled down to watch, the Christmas tree lights twinkling in the corner of the room. And that was how Frank found them when he came in from work about 20 minutes or so later. Both of them sat on the sofa, Mary snuggled into Fliss as they were giggling at the TV in the now dim-light of the room.

“Hey.” He smiled and Fliss looked up at him, taking the kiss he offered before he ruffled Mary’s head “Again?” he nodded to the TV and Mary glared at him.

“It happens to be one of my favourites.” “Don’t I know it.” He rolled his eyes. He then paused, the smell of baking hitting his nostrils, and looked around, before he glanced back at them, grinning “You made brownies?”

“Not just any brownies…” Mary grinned “Salted caramel ones.” Frank groaned “I love you both.”

Mary sniggered “Fliss said you would say that.”

Frank smiled “Imma take a shower ok? Be down in a second.”

“Actually, I need to talk to you.” Fliss said, looking at him significantly.

“Ok.” He frowned.

“You ok here Mary?” Fliss looked at her. “Keep an eye on Alex for me again?”

“What are you going to talk about?”

“Nonya.” Frank looked at her.

“Nonya?” Mary frowned. “Who’s Nonya.”

“Nonya-business.” Frank retorted, straightening up as Mary gave a groan.

“That’s so lame.” she sighed, rolling her eyes. Fliss and Frank headed upstairs into their bedroom, where Fliss took a deep breath. She didn’t even bother telling Frank to stay calm, because she knew it was futile. And, true to her prediction, when she explained what she’d found out he reacted exactly how she had predicted. Angry, upset, frustrated. He grit his teeth, swore and then started stomping around the room.

“I know, I know…” she soothed as he slammed a drawer shut, tossing a pair of joggers onto the bed. “But, this is good Frank.” “Good, how is any of this good Lissy?” he seethed “I…” “Because it gives us an angle.” She said gently “If we tell Greg about this…whilst we may not have any solid proof it provides him with a line of attack. Raises questions. And we have Evelyn too, I’m pretty sure she’ll go on record about what went down last time. It’s a total smear on his character.”

Frank took a deep breath, running his hand through his hair. “You know what, I can’t…I can’t process this now, I need to think.”

“Ok.” Fliss said, looking down at the carpet, swallowing a little as she took a deep breath. “I’m sorry.” “Sorry?” Frank frowned “What are you sorry for?”

“Because this is my fault isn’t it?” she stated, more than asked, and Frank was horrified to see the tears in her eyes. “It’s all down to John, again.” “Stop.” Frank said firmly, shaking his head as he strode round the side of the bed to where she was stood. “Lissy, this isn’t your fault baby. Not at all. I’m not mad at you, I promise.”

“Maybe, but if I wasn’t involved, this wouldn’t be happening and…” she took a deep breath and Frank shook his head once more, wiping her tears away. “He’s fucking dead Frank and still…” “Look.” Frank sighed, “You don’t control what that shit head family do now any more than you did back then, ok? I’m sorry for snapping I just…” “I know.” She nodded, her hands wrapping around his wrists as his calloused fingers caressed her cheeks.

“But please don’t for one second think I blame you for any of this. This is down to him, and if the Stazikers are the only reason he’s doing this then he’s an even bigger shit head than we thought.”

“You know, Steeb says he can make him vanish.” Fliss shrugged “Concrete shoes, bottom of the ocean.”

Frank chuckled and his hands dropped to her hips “Don’t tempt me.”  

“So what do you want to do about it?” Fliss asked. Frank bit his lip for a moment as he considered his play and then he looked back at her, determination on his face.

“Once I’ve showered I’ll call Evelyn and check she’s ok, as no doubt she’s pacing the floor at home now, panicking.”

“You not mad at her?”

“Mad? I’m fucking raging but what’s the point of going over it all?” he sighed, “I always knew deep down she’d done something and we worked so hard to put it behind us…”

“And the rest of it?”

“Well after I speak to Mother, I’ll get onto Greg, tell him what we know.” He spoke determinedly “If the fucking cunts want a dirty fight, then they can have one.”

PART 2 

[ijustwant2write]

Sweet Boy-Bonnie Gold x Reader x Finn Shelby

(GIF credit to @aintthatakick)

Summary: Since Finn and (Y/N) split, she has been desperate to leave the Shelby business, it's awkward seeing his face everyday; however, there is one face she doesn't mind seeing. Though Finn starts to feel an intense jealousy.

Characters: Bonnie Gold x Reader, Finn Shelby x Reader

Meanings: (Y/N)=Your name

Warnings: Swearing, guns, threatening, arguing

(A/N: I wouldn't mind making another part or turning this into a series)

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

'Honestly, I don't understand how you can be in the same room as him' my friends would say. 'How are you not ripping that girl's hands off him?' and 'Don't let it get to you, he misses you just as much as you miss him'.

Bullshit, utter and complete bullshit.

Never trust a Shelby. I had been warned, even by my own family, but I didn't listen. Finn and I had a connection, something had pulled him and I closer. Both of us just as innocent as each other, people had said we were the cutest pair, young lovers who had no idea of the cruel world around them. Well, that beautiful image was smashed as we grew older.

They say that when you find your soul mate, you'll just know. That's what I thought I felt when I laid eyes on the youngest Shelby. Perhaps I was just naive, maybe even bored, or I was jealous of the fact that most of my friends were in sturdy relationships and I wasn't. Nevertheless, he was the one to chat me up, and I was the one who flirted back. Never did I think we would break up, it just hadn't seemed possible, especially after being in a relationship for just over a year. It almost felt like I was locked in, not in a bad way, but I had gone through a lot with Finn and his family; breaking up with him made me realise how much I had left behind for Finn, and it angered me.

"(Y/N) there's no point going in there." Michael sighed, not even looking at me as he spoke, too focused on the papers in front of him.

"Tommy must understand! Why would he still keep me around if I'm no longer dating his brother? It was a favour from Finn for me to work here, and that's only because my parents kicked me out!"

"Because you're a good employee and he won't bother running around for new ones."

I groaned, flopping back into the chair adjacent to him."It's so awkward!"

"It's been over two months since you split right? You're almost twenty one. I'm sure you can survive seeing your ex."

"Everyday for practically the rest of my life?"

He finally lifted his eyes from the paper, dropping the pen and leaning back in his chair. But as he opened his mouth to speak, I heard Tommy's voice outside the door. Springing to my feet, I walked as I quick as I could in my heels to catch up with him.

"Mr Shelby!" I grabbed his attention before he opened his office door.

Slowly turning around, his general non-expressive face looking at me."Yes (Y/N)?"

"May we speak in your office?"

"No."

I refrained from scoffing."It's more of a personal matter that I need-"

"You can schedule an appointment if you wish, but I'm a very busy man. So speak now or wait another two weeks."

I couldn't help the huff that escaped my nostrils."I wanted to speak to you about resigning."

He started to show a little interest."Resigning? Why?"

"You know why."

"(Y/N), what you and Finn had was in the past. Everyone has moved on and forgotten. And it's not like its effecting your work."

"I know sir but-"

"And I can't afford to lose another member of staff at the moment."

"Why?"

"Cause Lottie has only gone and got herself knocked up. Got in a terrible state about it. So I need you here."

"Yes Mr Shelby."

He was about to enter his office when he froze, speaking over his shoulder."Actually, I need you to do something for me this afternoon."

"Yes sir?"

"There will be important documents delivered here this afternoon. I need to you collect them and bring them to the Garrison."

"Shouldn't you be getting one of the lads to get them?"

He raised an eyebrow at me, a warning sign.

"Yes sir, I can do that."

"Good."

Tommy never asked me to leave the shop. I was always the one to stay behind; whether that meant he trusted me or just wanted to make sure I was out of the way, I had always accepted it. No special treatment for Finn's girlfriend. But if there were files needed at the Garrison, that definitely meant something more than drinking was going to be happening. Why didn't he want one of the lads going out to get it? Or just to wait for it himself? I hadn't quite learned that you couldn't question Thomas Shelby, he looked at the world in his own way, and we all had to follow suit.

For some unknown reason, I could feel an uneasy sensation deep in my stomach, as if my instincts were warning me of something. I put it down to being upset that I was still having to see Finn everyday, though I willed myself to forget about him. There would be times where I thought I was over him, but something would remind me of a special moment; we were each others firsts for practically everything, that meant a lot to me. Time ticked by ever so quickly, so fast that I found one of the junior peakys handing over the mentioned documents already.

"Take it straight to Tommy, yeah?" he had mumbled.

I nodded, grabbing my coat and handbag to head out. Of course, every ounce of me wanted to see what these documents entailed. Were they the plans to one of Tommy's great schemes? Perhaps secrets he had collected to blackmail someone with? Most likely they were a jumble of numbers that made little to no sense to me, and it was part of a business move of Tommy's. There might have been a poor businessman sat with Tommy, discussing some sort of proposition that Tommy would throw completely out the window for his own benefit. Once at the doors, I knocked out if politeness, letting myself in when no one replied.

In the middle of the room was a table, sat at it was Tommy, Arthur and their guest opposite them, their back to me. Men surrounded them, obviously there to keep guard. I saw our lot, Finn, Isaiah and Bonnie, amongst others. There was no  one else in the pub, making my footsteps louder than what they should have been. Silently I walked over, handing the files to Tommy.

"You didn't mention anyone else joining, let alone a woman." the man grumbled, ignoring the way I glared at him.

"We didn't establish who would be present at the beginning. She was merely delivering these files for me. They're essential to this meeting."

I stayed still, not sure whether to stay or go, or to wait for some sort of instruction.

"Well, what are you waiting for?" the man snapped at me."You can go now."

Tommy put out the cigarette he had been using, eyebrows furrowed."Don't speak to my employees like that. She does what I say."

"Then you tell her to leave."

"(Y/N), you will stay until these documents are signed, understand?" his head slowly tilted upwards, watching as I nodded.

"This is bullshit, I'm not signing anything!"

"Yes you will." Arthur smirked.

"These documents state that you will give us sixty percent of what your company earns, as a debt to us. Oh, and so that we don't release those pictures we spoke of." Tommy calmly stated, reaching into his blazer to get a pen, though the opposition misinterpreted that as a threat.

Guns were pulled out on either side, Bonnie quickly grabbed me, pulling me behind him; my hands gripped onto his arm holding me back. My eyes were wide with terror, anyone could open fire, and I had little to no defence. Tommy and the man intensely stared at each other. He groaned before raising his hand, signalling to stand down. They lowered their guns, our men slowly doing the same. I hadn't let go of Bonnie still to frightened. As the documents were signed, Bonnie held me closer, still keeping me behind him.

"There, it's signed. Are we finished here?"

"Steady your horses mate, we're not done with you yet." Arthur leaned back in his chair.

"Bonnie, take (Y/N) back to the shop. These are to be put away somewhere safe." Tommy instructed, handing me the documents back in their envelope.

"Yes sir." I said, allowing Bonnie to lead me out of the Garrison.

We walked in silence for a few minutes, waiting to get further away from the pub. Bonnie gently put his arm on my back as I hugged the papers to my chest.

"You alright?" he asked.

"Yeah." I squeaked out."Just haven't been around guns in a while."

He said nothing back, still walking with me to the shop. As we arrived, he pulled out a chair for me.

"Here, let me take those from you, before you give yourself a nasty papercut."

Bonnie prised the documents from my hands, laying them on the desk beside us. He knelt down next to me, that lovely smile still on his face.

"I'll be fine, honestly."

I felt him looking at me, causing me to blush under his stare. Polly quickly broke the trance.

"What happened?"

I waved my hand dissmissively."No one is hurt. Just boys playing with their toys."

"Of course they pulled their guns out. You alright?"

"Yeah, just scared me a little."

"That's cause our Finn didn't expose you to those things, just like I taught him to." Polly casually stated as she took the documents.

I had tensed up at her comment, Bonnie noticed this."Someome as lovely as you shouldn't be exposed to that anyway."

Unable to hide a smile, I thanked him for escorting me. With a cheeky grin, he bowed his head in respect, the peaky cap staying firmly on. He looked less like a gypsy boy now, the only way you could tell was one was from his carefree personality. He was different from the other lads, he didn't want to grow up so fast, he didn't want to be part of some big business plan; he wanted to box. That was it.

"Shame Tommy has a grasp on him, eh?" Lizzie suddenly spoke.

Looking over my shoulder, I saw her approaching me. She sighed as she sat in the chair next to mine.

"He would have been such a lovely boy."

"Since when do lovely boys box for a living?"

"You can't deny it. He's the sweetest of them all."

"Yeah, now he is."

"Now? Oh, you're referring to the baby of the family."

"Finn's changed. Always knew he would be like his brothers, just wished I was wrong for once."

Lizzie chuckled."You're better out of it darling."

"I'm not exactly out of the life though am I?"

"No, suppose not. But us girls have to stick together, right? Men aren't the important things in life."

"Well I know that now."

The rest of the day seemed to continue as normal, no one batted an eyelid over whatever illegal (or maybe they were legal) plans Tommy had just completed; a usual day in the office. When I began packing up my things, coat in hand ready to walk out, we heard the men coming back, their loud shouts and laughter being heard from the end of the street. A few minutes later, they disturbed the quiet, and I saw Lizzie and Polly roll their eyes, making me giggle.

"How you feeling?" Bonnie suddenly appeared beside me as I put on my coat.

"Oh, uh, fine thank you." I simply replied.

"Good, good." he tucked his hands into his trouser pockets.

A silence hung in the air, I wasn't sure whether to leave or stay."So....how did the rest of the meeting go?"

"Fine. The man practically pissed himself."

"Wouldn't expect any less from the Peaky Blinders."

"Still strange to think that I'm actually a blinder myself."

"Yeah, it is actually. Seems like only yesterday you walked in here, the cock of the walk, telling us all about your boxing dreams."

"Well those dreams are a reality now. Actually, I was going to ask you something-"

"Bonnie!" Finn called out, his tone harsh."Come on, let's get going."

"Where we going?"

"Out."

"Where-"

"Stop asking fucking questions, let's go."

Bonnie turned his head back to me."We're not on duty anymore, we're probably going drinking."

"Not to be rude, but I don't really want to hang around with my ex."

"Oh, course not."

"Bon!"

"Maybe just us two sometime, yeah?"

Taken back by his question, I could only nod, looking like a fool. With that lovely smile, he sauntered back to the boys, though I didn't miss the glare on Finn's face, directed towards Bonnie before landing on me. Giving him a blank face back, I watched them walk out, giving it a few minutes before leaving myself.

Bonnie's P. O. V

Finn was pissed, though he had no reason to be. (Y/N) was his ex, he was the one who lost her, he was the one that claimed he didn't need to be tied down to any women at the moment, he liked his whores too much. (Y/N) didn't deserve that, she was a smart, beautiful woman, Finn was too dumb to see what he had lost.

"What the fuck was that about?" Finn snapped as we walked through the streets, Isaiah stood in between us.

"What?"

"You know what."

"I'm allowed to speak to (Y/N), and she's allowed to speak to other men."

"That wasn't speaking, that was flirting."

"So? I'm a natural flirt."

"You did that on purpose!"

Finn was getting more and more worked up, his pale skin turning red. But he didn't scare me, he was a scrawny lad, one punch and he was a goner.

"And what the fuck are you going to do about it?" I stopped walking.

"Come on guys, enough." Isaiah tried to stop what was about to be a nasty argument.

"The fuck you talking about?" Finn was quieter.

"Well, tell me what you'll do then. What's going to happen to me in your jealous rage?"

He advanced towards me."I'm not jealous!"

"Then why are you so upset? I was just talking to her, you two broke up."

"It's only been two months."

"She doesn't seem bothered."

I knew that would get under his skin, and I felt bad as soon as the words slipped out.

"I know she doesn't! That's the fucking problem."

"Finn mate, if you don't want me going with her then-"

"Why would you do that anyway?! You're supposed to be my mate, you don't date your friend's ex."

"Yeah, it is a little low." Isaiah added.

"Well," I thought carefully about my next words,"what if I told you both that I really liked her? She isn't someone I want to mess around with."

"I'd still saying fucking no! How awkward would that be, seeing my best mate with my ex?"

"Don't you think it's awkward for her too? Having to work for your brother, technically work for you too?"

Finn scoffed, turning away from me. Isaiah sighed, stepping between us.

"Look, why don't we just go get some drinks, eh? Forget about this whole thing?"

"No Is, we can't just forget this."

I groaned at Finn."Come on! You left her! You didn't love her!"

"I do!"

"Do?"

"I mean did. I did love her."

"Right. I'll see you lads tomorrow." I spun on my heel, heading in the opposite direction.

"You're headed to her house!"

"I don't even know where she lives!" I lied.

"Bonnie, don't you dare ask her out!"

"Fuck off Finn."

It felt stupid to fight over a girl, even though that girl was (Y/N). I didn't want to fall out with Finn, he had become a good mate of mine. But this was ridiculous. It was obvious that he still had feelings for her, though I couldn't be sure if they had resurfaced because of me or whether he truly still loved her. However, I wasn't one to be told what to do (unless my father or Tommy instructed me), especially from someone younger and more immature than me. If I wanted to do this, then I was going to.

I saw her blue coat, her hair tied up in a bun, her usual handbag swinging on her elbow. She was about to enter her block of flats, a dirty, old place she moved to after the split. She hated it, but never expressed it, she was too stubborn to let Finn know she was sad.

"(Y/N)!" I shouted, causing her to flinch.

"Bonnie?"

"Sorry," I breathed out as I caught up to her,"didn't meant to scare you."

"That's alright. What you doing in my part of the town?" she smiled, and I almost forgot what I was going to say.

"About us going for some drinks."

"Oh, I really don't want to go if Finn's there-"

"No, he won't be."

"So who will be there?"

"Just us two."

[mrs-maximoff-kenner]

Ride or Die My Way

I clicked the button on the side of my phone turning the screen to black before I threw it into the back seat with an angry huff. The same old headlines just kept circling through those damn journals. ‘Cold-blooded killers.’ ‘Murdering maniacs.’ They don’t even know us! They aren’t in our shoes! I must have been turning red and clenching my fists again because I feel that callused hand on my thigh right before that soothing voice, I’ve come to love with all my heart drifts right into my ears.

“Now darlin’ If you’re gonna let that shit get to ya it’s best ya don’t read it.”

Clyde Barrow. He can read me like a wide-open book. Always could. But, I s’pose that’s what happens when you fall in love with someone.

Clyde and I met about four years ago. He came into the diner where I was workin and ordered a cup a coffee. Next thing I knew we’re driving to Oklahoma on our way to the first bank in a string of many more to come. One look in his eyes and… well I just knew.

“Bonnie? You alright there doll? You still with me?”

“Oh! Yeah, yeah. I was just thinkin back on when we met. Back in that diner. You remember?”

“Course I do! Like it was yesterday! Why, you were the most beautiful dame I had ever seen. I fell in love with you the minute I opened the door. Honestly though, I still wake up every mornin thinkin that this was all a dream and I’m gonna be all alone. That you never agreed to come with me.”

Clyde sighs and rubs his face with the hand that was previously on my thigh. As soon as it’s gone I miss the warmth and comfort that it brought to me. But still I stay silent. Because just like Clyde can read me, I can read him and I know he ain’t done talking.

“Maybe you shouldn’t have come. You wouldn’t be caught up in all this bull. I see how it gets to ya. And I hate it. All those things they call you. I know they ain’t true but… it don’t seem like anyone else does.”

I don’t know if I should smile or frown. Leave it to Clyde to be concerned not for himself, but strictly for me and my self-image.

“My love, I don’t care. I know who we are. I know who you are. The law… the law has just fucked you over one too many times that’s all. Ain’t that what you said to me?”

It was true. When we had met those years ago Clyde had been arrested once or twice on burglary charges but nothing more serious than that. But it seemed like his name kept popping up no matter what he did. He and I tried our best to keep our heads up but in the end what can you do. So, we ran. And they chased. Pinned anything and everything on us that they could. Did we do some of it, sure. All of it, hell no. But in Clyde’s own words ‘we would never be free’ so what was the point in playing by the rules of the law. I didn’t see it and neither did he.

“Yeah. I suppose I did say that. Still, are you sure this is the life that you want? On the run from the law? Always movin, havin the press tell as many lies as they do the truth about us?”

“What I want is for us to be together. To have the life that we pictured all those years ago when you first held open the door and said, ‘After you Miss Bonnie Parker’. That’s what I want. Yeah, it’s gonna take time. But we’re together ain’t we? And that’s all that really matters.”

Clyde just smiles and takes my hand in his pulling it up to place a small kiss on my knuckles before the silence once again engulfs the car. I try to forget about the horribly exaggerated headlines and the police and just focus on where we’re going. Clyde’s brother and sister-in-law told us about this bank not too far from a place they stayed a while ago. Marvin and Blanche have done some light theft of their own, petty theft in my opinion, and the four of us have done some things together but we all split recently. That doesn’t mean we don’t still look out for each other though. They contacted us about this bank about a week ago and we’ve been planning since then. Besides that security guard last week that Clyde took out, completely in self-defense, we’ve been laying low for a few days. In other words… we need cash. So, this bank is our best bet. It’s away from our normal area and it’s pretty small. So that means little security and best of all, only Clyde, Marvin, Blanche and I know the plan. Better yet, only Clyde and I know when we are hitting the place. This plan is full-proof. We’ve thought of everything.

We parked the car in this dense grove of trees off the side of the road overnight to get some sleep. We still had about a days-worth of driving until we got to our destination and so we wanted to get as much sleep as possible before we got there. We also could use the extra time to make sure that we had all of our bases covered and there were no cracks in the plan. It was an easy job, in and out, but everything had to go off without a hitch. We’re pretty low on money so our lives really could depend on this gig.

We took off around 10 the next morning, our car blending easily into the rest on the road. Of course, nature had to call around 11 and we both got hungry so where else could we go but to McDonalds. Thank God for drive throughs and dumb teenagers who pay more attention to snapchat and their DM’s than the news. We were able to get a decent breakfast before getting back on the road. I decided to drive for the first half of the day since Clyde knows I hate driving at night. He’s such a gentleman like that. Always making sure that I’m taken care of first and that when we do things my opinions and concerns are taken into consideration. The guy I was with before him… He wasn’t at all like Clyde. In fact, he was the opposite. A real ass if you ask me. Now he wasn’t abusive, but he just wasn’t there. I think we were together for convenience and not love. But Clyde and me? That’s total love. Like, the epic ride or die together forever kind of love. What we have is special. No one can change that.

Around two or three we decide to switch so Clyde can drive. We’re gonna pull over somewhere tonight again to… ‘sleep’. Anyway, we’ll get to the bank around 8am tomorrow and from there it’s pretty simple. Walk in, guns out, give us the money. No one gets in the way then no one gets hurt. We don’t hurt people unless they ask for it. That’s the way that it’s always been. The media just… they just play it up and make us look like we’re heartless. Like we woke up one morning and decided to start killing for sport. No! I’m not that way and I know Clyde ain’t that kinda way. We just don’t like it when people get in our business. Come to think of it, it seems like lately people have been gettin in our business a lot more then usual…

“Hey Bonnie? Darlin? Can I uh… Can I ask you somethin?”

I snap out of my daydreaming and turn my head to look at Clyde. He’s holding my one hand in his lap, as he usually does when he drives but besides that he seems…off. For starters, the other hand has a grip like death on the wheel. And he’s sweatin bullets. It’s sure as shit got to take a lot to make my Clyde nervous.

“Course love. You know you can always ask me anything. What’s goin on? Is… is everythin alright?”

“Everything is fine. I promise. I just been thinkin. Scary, I know. But uh, we’re gonna hit this place tomorrow and then get the hell outta dodge and then we don’t gotta set place to go. So, I was thinkin… I was thinking we could go get married. Whadda ya say Bonnie Parker?”

What do I say? Of course I say yes but I’m so speechless I can barely contain a scream. Clyde, the poor thing must take my gaping stupid look for a no and starts to back pedal.

“A’course if you don’t want to get married that’s alright too. I was jus thinkin that, ya know, we been together for four years now…”

“No! Yes! Of Course!”

“Doll… I’m a bit confused. Mind trying to clear that up a bit for me?”

“Clyde, I want nothing more than to spend the rest of my life with you! Of course I’ll marry you!”

Before I can even realize what just happened Clyde has pulled the car over, across traffic mind you despite the many angry drivers, to the shoulder of the road. As soon as he can he pulls me to him and we share what is probably the best kiss I’ve ever had in my entire life.

“I promise Bonnie. Right after we hit this bank. We’ll leave and go to this buddy I have up north. He’s ordained. He can marry us later tomorrow.”

With a huge smile and another kiss, Clyde and I are back on the road towards the future. Everything seems to be looking pretty damn good I would say.

Just as planned we arrive outside the bank at 7:55am. We wanted to be here five minutes before they opened so we can go in right at eight. Less people inside, less people to get in the way, less chances for casualties. For some reason though it should feel easy, this job feels… off. I can’t help this feeling like something bad is going to happen today. I look down at my phone. May 23rd. Our future wedding anniversary. How can today be a bad day? Bonnie, focus! You have other priorities right now. I watch the numbers change from 7:59 to 8:00. Clyde and I share a look, a kiss and we exit the car. We quickly cross the mostly empty street and thrust open the newly unlocked bank doors.

“Alright. Y’all should know the drill by now. My name is Clyde. This here is my girl Bonnie…”

I give my gun a little wave, making sure that everyone knows while Clyde may be in charge, I’m sure as hell no pushover.

“…And this is gonna be nice and simple. Y’all are gonna give us the money nice and easy. Anyone steps a toe out of line… Bang! You get to meet one of the guns here. But you see, we don’t want that to happen. So just behave and follow directions and everyone will have a good day.”

I smile at Clyde and move beside him keeping my eyes fixed on the bank staff and the few people who managed to enter before us. Clyde moves over to the counter with the duffle bag, throwing it to the tellers who immediately start to fill it with as much money as they can. Years of practice have taught us to work as a well-oiled machine. Each move one of us makes complimenting the other. It’s like a dance that we have perfected over time. It takes what seems to be only seconds for the duffle to be full to the point of bursting. Clyde grabs it and backs towards me. We then start to back towards the door.

“Well folks, it’s been fun but I’m afraid my lady and I must leave you now. We have other matters to attend to. Thank y’all for your assistance and have a nice day.”

With that Clyde and I make a dash for the car. Not even bothering to fully shut the doors before the tires squealing and our laughter can be heard as we drive away, towards our next destination.

I roll my window down, laughing and enjoying the way that the wind whips my hair around my face. I don’t know if it’s because we had to lay low for so long or because of what we’re doing now but for some reason this gig was more fun than most. I’m still riding the adrenaline high. We’re done so many banks in the last few years that usually by the time we get to the car with the loot that euphoric feeling has worn off. It’s almost like a drug in that way I guess. I just need more and more. Stronger and stronger hits to feel the same thing. This time though. This time felt almost like the first time all over again but with a practiced ease mixed in as well. Damn. I wish every time felt like this time. I’m shaken out of my thoughts by Clyde’s voice.

“If I’m right we ought ta be to my buddies place in a few hours. Unless we stop that it. But that’s your call darlin. I think we can make it by twelve if we keep drivin. Later if we pull over for a bit.”

I mull over my options. It would be nice to get right to his friends and get married. It’s what I’ve been thinkin about since last night. But, we could pull over somewhere and take a little bit of time to celebrate our success. After all, it wouldn’t set us back that far. We’re only a couple hours away, it’s not like we’re days away. Plus, this plan was spur of the moment. Ain’t nobody knows where we’re going.

“I saw we pull over for a while. Do some celebratin. Then we can get back on the road. Make it to your friends before it gets dark, get married and then have a nice wedding dinner. We got the cash for it after all.”

Clyde’s eyes light up as he presses a kiss to the back of my hand.

“You got it Miss Bonnie.”

We pull into a small abandoned car lot, thankful that this hunk of junk car we stole blends in so well and spend the next few hours celebrating our successful heist.

Around three pm we decide it’s about time we get back on the road if we want to make it up north before it gets too dark. We fix ourselves up and move to the front seats before Clyde starts up the engine and we sneak back onto the road. My hand is once again nestled in the hand Clyde doesn’t have on the wheel and I reach forward to turn on the radio. I don’t do this very often but when I do it’s because I’m in a damn good mood.

“That CD I made ya on our first anniversary is in the glove box. Why don’t cha pop it in? What better time to listen to it then now?”

My fiancé, ever the romantic. I smile that goofy grin of a girl in love and release his hand only long enough to grab the CD and place it in the player before slipping my hand back into his. All off my favorite songs fill the car as we keep traveling towards our destination. In between each of those is a love song that Clyde once told me reminded him of me. It doesn’t take long before the sounds of the music aren’t the only thing filling the car. Clyde, bless his heart, has always loved to serenade me. But that poor boy couldn’t be any more tone deaf. I love him for it. He sings to me like he’s the best singer since Frank Sinatra. My heart melts into a puddle of goo every time he sings like this. He knows I love the classic crooners, Sinatra being my favorite. So of course as we are nearing our destination, and the end of the CD he turns to me briefly to wink.

“Ready for the grand finale darlin?”

“Aren’t I always?”

I don’t think I can smile any wider as those telltale notes play before the love of my life begins his Frank Sinatra impression of My Way. This was the song that we danced to on our first date and every anniversary since. I couldn’t take my eyes off of him. This was the man I was determined to spend the rest of my life with. I loved him. No matter what we did. No matter where we went, who we stole from, who we killed. I loved this man with all my heart. This was truly the beginning of our forever.

We were about halfway into the song when Clyde kissed my hand as he took a breath before he kept singing. We never saw it coming. The first bullet hit him in the shoulder and caused us to swerve off the road and hit a tree. I don’t know if the music was louder or my screams. Maybe neither. Maybe it was the sound of all the bullets. There were so many bullets. I reached for Clyde’s hand, it had been ripped from mine in the crash. We locked eyes. So, this was it. The final curtain. Gunned down on the side of the road. No more running, no more hiding. Well, at least we were together. As the music came to an end and our breaths came in shorter and slower gasps, I could hear the police getting closer.

“I love you Mrs. Bonnie Barrow.”

“I love you too Mr. Clyde Barrow.”

Assumption Pioneer

Murderous Couple Finally Stopped

By: B. Jones

May 25rd 2016

Two days ago Clyde Barrow (25) and Bonnie Parker (23) were gunned down in a police ambush a few miles outside a small rural Louisiana town. Barrow and Parker have been on the run from police for the past four years following many illegal offences. Theirs charges are as follows. Barrow was charged with 13 counts of murder; some of these murders including police officials, an unknown number of robberies and burglaries but it is suspected to be upwards of 15, and 5+ kidnapping changes. Parker was charged as an accomplice to those 13 murders, multiple robberies and burglaries (although it is suspected to be less than Barrow), and at least 3 proven kidnapping charges.

Barrow and Parker had robbed a small local bank on the morning of the 23rd and then proceeded to head north. No one knows their plan or intended destination. Witnesses outside the bank saw the car leave and were able to identify it and report it to police. Later in the day another witness reported the same car leaving an abandoned car lot and once again heading north. Police were able to set up an ambush point as the road from the car lot has no deviations. A while later an officer spotted the car.

This officer confirmed that Barrow and Parker were the only two in the car and radioed to the team up ahead, as the car approached the ambush they were taken completely by surprised and were taken out easily. Officers neutralized both targets within one-two minutes. As an aside, one officer noted that a Frank Sinatra song was playing in the car during the exchange.

Private services have already taken place and for the safety of Barrow and Parker’s families no further details are being released to the public.

[werezmastarbucks]

Whitmore Guy claims his last victim (it’s not Damon)

(moodboards made yet again by @stfudipz​ who gets me and Mal like no one else)

Whitmore Guy masterlist

word count: 2537

warnings: clinical insanity

music: good things fall apart by illenium, jon bellion and travis barker, afraid to forget by hammock, hope is gone by moby, a part of me by neck deep

this is the last chapter

She woke up to him singing. Her eyes were burning as if she’s been crying and then stopped, and Mr Sandman brought his dry salt and sprinkled some into her eyelids. Her head leaned against the door, vibrating with the friction of the wheels with the road. Sunrise was on. From the east, long coral pattern of light fog was stretching, lighting the sky. The air must smell like dew and tears, but there’s the sun behind the low roofs in the straight streets of Lavonia. She wondered how Kai (the name was strange; she had to remind herself it’s Kai, not Mal) hasn’t woken her up earlier, with the music blasting so loud, and with his unapologetic singing. He did have the sense of rhythm, but didn’t use it too often. He mainly preferred to squeal like tires.

“I know I can be dramatic, but everybody said we had it”, his head snapped to her, as he saw her move, “hmmm, hmmm. You’re up? What did you see?”

“Them two killing Atticus Shane”, she whispered. Kai’s vampire ears caught the sound. She could now explain a lot of things. Now that she knew. She looked at him. Her head was heavy, as if she’d banged it several times. Although she’s apparently been out for no less than three hours, she didn’t feel rested. It was like a fever that’s just stepped back, and the heavy afterglow was still lingering. Even blinking was hard.

“How did you give me that vision? And what was she doing, giving you magic? How?”

Kai frowned.

“Don’t say ‘she’. It’s you. It was you”.

“I’m sorry, she just felt like another person. I don’t remember her, either. Together with you, it’s like I’m robbed of the memories of myself”.

She looked at the long, thick scar on her hand, crooked like a hook. The cat’s sharp teeth. It was white and bulgy now, several years later.

“That’s what Malivore does. It robs of memories” he shrugged. Then he granted her with a long glance. Rows of houses were flying by outside, as they strode through a housing estate. There were fields ahead. Y/N didn’t want to think about where they were going. At the same time, she wanted to be there.

“But it can’t take away the feelings. I mean, you should record me say it, hehe”, he grinned, “me talking about feelings. Anyway, you kinda feel empty, right? All those times you told Mal… your best friend in the world and your lowkey crush… about you missing something, and that thing about the reverse doorframe syndrome. You were missing me, poor thing. But now it’s over. There’s no spell to reverse the Malivore effect, but thankfully, you and I, we were meant to be together, by nature. So, I will fix that. You know, I can just show you whatever you want”.

“And by nature, you mean that weird thing she… I was doing? The zip?”

“You’re feeling it?”

Kai smiled and took her hand. The light sensation was there again.

“It’s me taking magic from you. You’re a vessel. Ever heard of that?”

“That’s the first time I ever hear this. I think Bonnie would’ve told me if it was a thing?”

The witch vampire shrugged dismissively.

“Vessels are rare. They’re hidden. They’re only meant to feed siphoners. A vampire can’t spot it, especially if the vessel doesn’t know what it is. A witch can only detect it if she knows what she’s looking for. Bonnie could touch you all she wanted, you’re just a human on the outside”.

He bit his lip hard, and looked like he was deeply, fundamentally proud.

“You only work when I’m near you”.

She sat up, stretching her back.

“Is that why you are so obsessed with me?”

Kai shot her a warning gaze.

“And what’s with all the psychotic behavior? You think you can control me? Bae?”

He laughed out.

“Of course not. It’s just… now, unfortunately, I’m the only adult in this relationship. And you know I’m not very good at being an adult. I need to steer you in the right direction, but it takes patience and finesse, and honestly, I feel like I’ve used up all my patience while being that… Mal Osbourne. That’s us”.

He stopped the car where the housing estate ended, and the road took deeper into the countryside. The long line of fields stretched forward on, but on the left, below the whitening sky, there was a mass of trees so dark it mesmerized the sight. The motel Y/N stayed at last year was further on, about two miles down the road. Here, it was quiet and absolutely empty. No birds even.

She couldn’t wait anymore. She left the car, her feet trembling at the sensation of hard, cold asphalt cooled up during the night. The grass was already dry and pricky, ready to die for the winter. Kai slapped the door closed and went around the car.

She was looking at the forest.

“Is that where Malivore is?”

“Uh-huh”.

He was standing at the trunk of the car, looking at her. In the complete silence, she asked herself what he had there. Without another word, he opened the trunk, but she couldn’t see from here. Her heart sunk. It was pounding so hard her eyes went blind for a second. Kai bowed and started pulling something out.

God please let it be my things. Let it be a suitcase with my things.

It was Damon Salvatore.

She realized Mystic Falls was left behind, five hours exactly. And that her phone was still in the pocket of his jacket. It wasn’t a choice of one or two, it was now a complete mess. Her head was still numb with the night vision. She watched herself in the rearview mirror of the car, excited eyes, the mouth that keeps crooking in an entertained smile, the tilt of her head leaning towards Kai. She was completely smitten by him, he had possessed her. She was trapped.

“Up”, Kai threw Damon’s body on the ground and crouched above him, slapping him on the side of his face gently. “I want you to be awake for that. Come on, it wasn’t that much vervain”.

He looked up at her and smiled as if saying, what a weakling! and expecting her to share his scornfulness . She was mute, walking up to them. She knew that was exactly what Kai’s been talking about earlier. The choice.

Damon moved, his face distorted with pain, and opened his eyes slowly. He was weak. Like a wounded animal, he looked at them both, trying to focus, to make his limbs move, but the poison in his blood was too strong.

“Interesting how it took all of you, and a spell, to take me out”, Kai said, venom in his voice, “but it took only one of me to knock down both you and your little brother. I can’t help thinking you’re a bitch ass baby compared to me”.

He looked at Damon with indifference, his eyes opaque, like the vampire was an insect. Before she could say anything, he put his hand into Damon’s pocket and pulled out a piece of paper. He then handed it to her without raising his head. Damon’s eyes shifted on her, and he did what he always did. First of all, he checked up on her.

She took the paper with hard hand, unsure if she even wants to see it.

Listen here, Damon, it’s me. I mean, you. You’re sitting in your car outside the cave in Georgia right now, confused about what you’re doing here. The first thing you do now is, you leave and read this completely and utterly alone. Bon Bon wanted to know, too, because she’s a brave soul, but honestly, he’s not worth it. Don’t tell her.

The lines were jumping in front of her eyes. To take a breath, she looked at Damon whom Kai was trying to get to stand, pulling on his shoulders. Damon was forced to take his hand for support, and was furious about it.

“What is this? Is it a letter to yourself?” she cried.

Damon sniffed like a wolf, his eyes hard silver. He wasn’t sorry.

“I’m not sorry”, he said. Kai clicked his tongue.

Her heart was breaking again, and again, as she looked at Damon. Always, he has been there to cover her, and he’s always had that way about it, the way that expressed that he knew better. That he had it all under control, regardless of what others think. His decisions were always authoritative. He didn’t really care for her, he cared for his version of her wellbeing. She had to comply with what he thought was best.

How was Damon different from a psychopath kidnapping her barefooted then?

“Read it, read it”, Kai waved his hand, “I need to say something to Damon”.

“I’ll be damned”, the vampire growled. Damon was strong. He was a strong, skilled fighter. But apparently, there was something that broke in Kai, like a string that let out this hurricane of power. He seemed untouchable, like the earth itself was giving him strength. As her eyes were sliding down the lines, she realized he’s been to hell, she realized all the things Damon was describing must have made him the ultimate killer, inescapable.

Damon charged at him, his strong hands wrapping around the witch’s throat, but Kai motioned his hand like witches do.

“No touchy, please”, he said shortly. With a sweet whistle, Damon flew through the air and crashed on the field meters away. Kai followed him.

“You know what?” he said, a bit louder.

She walked after them both.

“Kai, please, don’t kill him!”

Damon was getting up. He got up again and again, as Kai put him on the ground effortlessly time after time. One was resilient and refusing to back down. The other had all the power in the world, fueled by anger.

“I almost had it all together, you know”, Kai snapped. He sure didn’t realize who he was yelling at.

“And then this”, he pointed at Damon, “took it all away from me. And I almost felt for you, bastards. You liked Mal so much, what a bunch of losers. I almost forgave you, can you believe it? I was about to call the whole thing off. Then I remembered how we were so happy and normal – a luxury that my girlfriend here”, in the heat of the moment, Kai grabbed her by the neck, and she yelped again, with surprise. He shook her like she was a ferret. “Doesn’t have. What am I supposed to do about her? You know, Damon, you’re the villain here. I was just trying to get it all together”.

“You’re a fucking psycho”, Damon grumbled. There was dry grass in his hair. Y/N fought out of his clutch. “I would chain you up to a mountain in Malivore myself if I had a chance, anything just to keep you away from here”.

“Joke’s on you, idiot”, Kai chanted, “there are no mountains in Malivore. No lakes, no cities, no nothing. There’s just… nothingness. And you. Alone”.

Damon panted, showing his teeth.

“All your family is dead”, Kai said, and the hammering silence fell again. Damon and Y/N froze.

“What?” Salvatore uttered. Kai snickered.

“They’re all dead. Your brother, Elena, the witch, the bossy blonde, the teacher. They’re gone. But you don’t get to join them”.

“Dead?” Damon repeated, like wind flew off his mouth.

“The hunters I brought into Mystic Falls. The FBI guys. They were mine”.

He turned to Y/N and looked at her. He reckoned, at that moment he had the same look that he usually gave Sandy when he didn’t want her to scream. He tried to imagine tearing Y/N’s jaws apart and was upset. She’ll be sore now for a long time. This whole relationship thing is such work.

She was clutching Damon’s letter in her fist so hard her nails were hurting her hand. She didn’t ask why. She knew why. She understood him perfectly, but at that moment, the last pieces of her were stomped away. She realized he took away everything from her, everybody, punishing her, somehow, for forgetting him. There was nothing now: only him and this eternal pink sky stretching in all direction of the cosmos. And nothing else.

She saw in a slow motion as Damon jumped forward, his face a mask of pain. Y/N was rooting then for Damon, knowing perfectly well the bad guy shall have the upper hand. Like in the movie, she felt distant, unpresent. She knew these were the last moment she would see him. She looked at his silhouette in the air, black ink spot on the light morning background. She thought of that time he ripped a heart out of a vampire to save her, and stood with it, scarlet blood dripping from his fist. She was falling into the abyss, slowly, her mind leaving her. As Damon reached Kai, they both disappeared, and she was left alone in the field, and only then she let out a shriek.

She decided she would kill Kai Parker. One day, when he’s lost caution. When he thinks it’s finally over, and she’s over it. When they live somewhere else, in Ohio, because Ohio is for lovers. When he thinks life is finally good, and everything he’s done is justified, that it’s all for love, she will kill him somehow. Of course, it will take a lot of thinking, because he seems like he has no weak points. But she’ll come up with something.

The sun was now blazing on her cheek with the first rays, rolling up above the field and spreading golden newborn light, brilliant and clear, over everything. She was shredded; like a vegetable, she was now peeled of her layers, and only the animalistic red core was left, all instincts and no reason. She undid her fists and pushed away some garbage laying at her hand.

She watched Kai return from the forest, picking and pulling at the flowers as he went. He rubbed his face like a sleepy child. She stood up, rubbing her knees, and took full lungs of air. She will kill him one day, that is how it will end. She has no choice. But now, she’s incapable of that. All she can do is love him, for now.

Kai approached her, taking her in his arms, and they kissed, morning sunlight sneaking between their lips. The car was waiting for them on the side of the road, warming up slowly.

“Where now?” he asked. His hand was slowly caressing her shoulder, and she shivered with pleasure, snuggling close to him. The air was still a little chilly.

“How about a shoe store? You fucking brute. My feet are cold”.

Kai chuckled. As they reached the car, he turned back as if admiring the sight.

“Babe, what was I doing there?”

She got into a car and tried to close the door but Kai was in the way.

“I don’t know. Taking a leak?”

Kai shrugged. He looked at his left palm, puzzled. Turned it and showed it to her, a smudged word in a black marker.

“Who’s Damon?”

She blinked.

“No idea. Get in! Come on, Kai”.

“You’re driving”, he winked. She puffed and crawled over to the driver’s seat. Kai Parker got into the car with a wide smile on his face and closed the door.

[reactingwithexo]

Bonnie & Clyde (8) - Baekhyun

Part 1/ 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / 6 / 7

Summary: “Bonnie & Clyde. One night”

genre: mafia/gang au!, angst, fluff sometimes, smut

warnings: filthy smut(again), +18 , handcuffs, sligjt exhibitionism, orgasm denial i guess, a little bit of dominance, dirty talk, curses,etc.

word-count: 2.8K

A/N: Guys it is backkk, I swear next part will have more plot and won’t be another full smut but yeah... it’s not like you guys don’t like it anyways. Thank you so much for everyone who has shown support for this fic since the last part was posted, i’m truly grateful.

The rest of the trip went by very smoothly, you’d stop somewhere to sleep and grab food, then drive right when the sun was up the next night.

The mood was oddly good for two people who were running away from criminals and the police at the same time.

You still didn’t know exactly where you two were heading but the feeling that it was a trap was out of your chest by now, “why so quiet?” he asked you.

“I hm” you paused and decided to take the chance “don’t you think it’s time you tell me where exactly we are going? as in actually tell me”

“Okay...” he bit his lips to think how he would choose his next words “I guess it’s safer now that we’re close to the destination, don’t freak out ok?”

“I won’t freak out if there’s no reason t-”

“My grandma’s” he blurted out midway.

You frowned, you didn’t even know he had family “your grandma? b-but why?”

“I need to get something there” he turned to you and smiled “also i miss her, she’s a great cook”

You laughed at his remark “does she know about your....hm job?”

“Not really...but she’s really smart so I don’t doubt that she has found out someway”

“Aren’t you scared of that?”

He shook his head “She wouldn’t do anything to harm me, even if she found out I killed someone, she has always protected me for as long as she could”

“Hmm, I see you’re very affectionate of her” you examined his face as he concentrated “and not just for the food” you added.

“Yea” he smiled “I admire her a lot, she’s really taken care of me” he nodded his head.

Noticing a hint of sadness in him you combed his hair with your fingers “everything alright?”

“I just miss her that’s all, don’t worry” he took the hand you had on his hair and kissed it gently. You jokingly took his hand too and kissed it multiple times until it tickled.

“Ah ah, I’m driving you lunatic” he exclaimed while he laughed “let’s not cause an accident”

“What can I do?” you shifted closer to him “I can’t resist you” you whispered while bitting his earlobe jokingly. His hand went immediately to the place you had touched “ah seriously y/n..we won’t get there as quickly if you keep doing these things”

“Awww is someone sensitive?” you pouted at him as you saw his frustration build up “Can’t THE Byun Baekhyun take a little bit of teasing?”

He shook his head “y/n...stop”

“You’re not getting mad are you baek?” you asked with a cuter voice just to annoy him further on. You saw him grip the steering wheel tighter “I’m fine”

“Are you really?” you caressed his arm while asking to check how he’d react.

“Don’t test me baby” he mumbled but made sure you listened to it. “You don’t want me to take you here in this car again do you? There aren’t many empty streets around here, someone would see us, you don’t want that do you?”

“What if I do?”

He smirked at your answer and you could have sworn he slowed down the car for a little bit. “Don’t lie baby, you’re a good one, you wouldn’t”

“You’d be surprised” you furthered him on so he wouldn’t have the last word.

“Well in that case” he stopped the car in the next avaiable spot he found and turned to you. “Show me what you wanna do”

“What?” you looked at him in shock, the place you two were parked was full of people passing near you and you could see a gas station not that far. “Are you crazy? No way” 

He smirked at you “Where’s that confidence from moments ago?”

His expression only made you wanna punch his face and you rolled your eyes “seriously? how childish are you? just start the car again”

“Have I told you-” he gets closer to you “how cute you look when you’re angry?”

“Thanks, now let’s go, we have a schedule right? your grandma and all”

“You’re right let’s go” he started the car again “but I think we’re gonna have to make one more stop”

“Ah what is it now?” you asked still annoyed

“I need to take that pout out of your pretty face” he answered with his eyes focused on the road.

“Wh-what?” you weren’t able to hide the effect his words had on you, but you were still mad, how could he be so annoying but still so sexy to you? honestly you blamed your crazy hormones and his looks.

He asked to take your hand and kissed it gently as he has done earlier only this time he guided your hand to his crotch “Don’t think everything you say doesn’t have a consequence y/n”

You let out a tiny gasp and you swear to god you considered going down on him that exact second.“You’re so sensitive though” you tried to show you weren’t caring as much as you did. 

“It’s you” he mumbled and you two looked at each other for a second, you saw the glint of desire in his eyes and wanted him to just get to where he wanted to take you already so you could focus on him fully

He released your hand and you brought your fingers to your mouth so you could tease him further, needless to say it worked and he watched with a very pleased expression as you sucked two fingers while your eyes fixated on his.

Thankfully he didn’t get too caught up to forget he was driving and let out a laugh after smiling “you want to kill us both in all ways possible”

You let out a giggle as he turned to check you two somewhere you could stay the night or somewhere with a bed anyways. Apparently the destination really was pushed one more day ahead.

Can’t say you’re feeling too guilty, it was so nice and easy to be with him like this, without all this heavy background surrounding his history or your brother or the way you two met and crimes and running away from the police. It was just you and him, feeling crazy about one another in the midst of lust and giggles.

And that was an accurate description of how you two looked like right now stumbling upon the room, someone could say you were a drunk couple but truth was the only thing you two were getting drunk of were each other kisses and caresses.

“Now you” he kissed you with his hands holding your face and his body guiding you closer to the bed in every word he spoke “need to learn a lesson”

You both fell onto the bed and Baekhyun broke the kiss, he shushed you with his finger before you whined and said “I wanna try something, you tell me if you don’t like it ok princess?” you nodded in agreement and melted over his touch.

He detached his body from yours and reached for the bag he had been carrying the past few days since your “getaway”

You could tell he wanted to laugh but tried to keep the atmosphere also to check your reaction, he slowly took out a pair of handcuffs from the bag and played with it with his fingers before turning to you. “So what do you think?”

“Hmmm my instincts should say no but suprisingly all I am feeling is a big yes”

He smiled at your answer “glad to hear that, but not so fast, you can’t get what you want that easily just because now you’ve decided to be the good girl you are, what kind of lesson would that be? Afterall we have all night now that you’ve made me delay our first stop right?”

You pouted “you don’t have to be cruel though baek, I was just trying to distract you”

“That’s all you do, distract me” he got closer to you, handcuffs placed on the bedside table for now.

“With your perfect skin” he kissed all over your collarbones and unbuttoned your shirt “delicious smell” he inhaled near your neck as your shirt was gone and he moved his touches to your pants “soft lips” he pecked your lips and procceded to take off your pants, now leaving you a breathless mess in just your underwear.

You whined “not fair, you’re still all dressed”

“Go ahead and take my shirt off for me” he said and you eagerly went for it “that will be the last thing you’ll be able to touch for a while” 

He kissed your eagerly after you’ve taken his shirt off and it seemed like you two were trying to get as physically close to the other as possible. You enlaced fingers and he laid you down again, the nature of the gesture opposing his previous behavior.

Reaching for the handcuffs, he looked at you once again to make sure you were comfortable with the whole thing, when he got your reasurement, he rushed to cuff your wrists to the bed, making you on full display for him. 

Seeing him this excited about it made you even more turned on and you couldn’t stop thinking about all the things he’d do to you like this.

He stopped to admire you “fuck y/n, you look just beyond perfect right now”, he took off his pants and you saw how turned on he seemed through his underwear.

Noticing you were eyeing his hard on, he opted not to take off his shorts and instead he touched his dick above the fabric, releasing a moan and throwing his head back.

Your first reaction was to let out a little whine as your hips moved on their own in baekhyun’s direction. 

He seemed to enjoy your reaction even more than the pleasure he was giving himself “I might get addicted to your whines if you keep doing that princess”

“Please touch me” you pleaded and he smirked, he then didn’t seem to take much as well and took off his underwear, now touching himself directly, the moans only got louder and your mouth salivated, your eyes no knowing which part of the scene in front of you to focus on, your breaths only got heavier along with his, specially when you heard him mumble your name from time to time.

“I could keep coming all night like this while you watched, do you want that baby?”

You shook your head and whined a no “i want you inside me”

He ceased his hand movements and climbed back to you, his hands focused on undoing your bra at first, and his mouth attacking your nipples while his fingers caressed your breasts. That was already enough for you to release pleasured moans and you felt yourself ready for him. “Baek, please touch me more” you managed to get it out with the little breath you had.

Not figthing you this time, he cupped your pussy with hiis right hand and delighted himself in your reaction, with your legs opening more and your hips thrusting the air, he then placed his thumb on your clit and strarted making circle movements with it.

That was more than enough to make you even wetter and you were just dying to feel something inside you. Almost as if he sensed you’d request for that, he said “be patient baby, you’re doing so well, don’t want to spoil it by being to greedy hm?”

You nodded in distress and saw his little smirk as he got rid of your panties and slid one finger from your clit to your entrance, “you’re so wet fuck, makes me wanna skip to just feeling you around me”

“Yes please” you moaned eagerly at his idea but he just shook his head “nah ah, there we go again with this rush”, he entered his finger in you and didn’t take long to enter a second one “you’re so slippery, think you can take a third one?” he asked before entering a third finger and by this time your moans were almost turning into screams of pleasure.

He alternated between slowing down and then getting really fast with his movements, which made you incredibly frustrated, he was making sure you wouldn’t come right now regardless of how much you wanted it to.

“Don’t come yet” he warned before he took out his fingers, licked each of them clean and went straight to envelop you with his mouth, he held your hips down slightly so you wouldn’t thrust on his mouth as much and so you would have less chance of coming. “You taste so good, I could spend all day doing this”

You felt yourself shaking as much as you tried to held your orgasm, you could feel it approaching with all this stimulation.

Noticing that, Baekhyung distanced his mouth from you and stared at your fucked out state, this time you got to check his dick again and it seemed as if he was as desperate as you were “what should I do with you now?” he mumbled and took his dick on his hand again “ah you just don’t learn, instead of paying attention to the lesson I am trying to teach, you’re just lusting over dick”

“That’s because I really really really want it” you made sure to answer, thrusting your hips in the air in every ‘really’ you said.

“Ok” he nodded and continued “I’ll fuck you if you tell me what you’ve learned babygirl” he was eye to eye to you “hmm i shouldn’t distract you so much?”

“Yes good, what else?”

“I shouln’t doubt you..”

“And... what got us here?”

You thought hard until you remembered what exactly got you two there.

“I shouldn’t promise things I can’t keep?”

“Really good, seems you payed attention to some things at least, things will be way easier to you if you just don’t insist on challenging me baby”

You wanted to get that stupid smirk out of his face so bad but you were so turned on your brain was clouded with other thoughts, he then whispered in your ear “now I’m gonna fuck that little pussy, is that what you wanted?” he teased with his dick on your entrance “fuck yes”, you almost screamed back at him from so much built up frustration.

You saw him discretly put on a condom and proceeding to tease you again.

It seemed as if you were both almost there when he entered you fully, you felt youself involuntarily clenching around his dick and he released grunts from trying to fight the sensation and move.

Eventually he did start moving faster and you felt your bodies hit the bed harder as he increased his pace inside you. 

From both your moans the only thing that was heard were a mixture of incomprehensive words, each other’s names and curses.

As you were both getting closer to your highs, he managed to uncuff your wrists just so he could enlace your fingers with his as he did earlier, you were in the verge of coming when he urged you on by giving deep kisses to your neck, the last thing you heard before coming was him saying “look at me when you come”.

And you did. Seeing his lustful gaze so close and intense to you was what missed to make you come undone with his name on your lips.

Feeling you so tight around him and watching you come so beautifully to him was what he need to reach his high with grunts mixed with the sound of your name.

He laid next to you as you two breathed heavily, he turned to your side and asked “ is everytime we have sex gonna be like this?”

You frowned and asked him “like what? like you really do love me?” you mentioned as previous words he has said to you

“Not just that” he smiled “but like the best sex of my life”

“Well, it better be” you answered confidently which only made him laugh and suddenly attack you with sweet kisses everywhere he could reach “you’re such a brat” he mumbled while he held you closer.

You giggled at his affection and a feeling of happiness filled your chest, you never thought living a bonnie & clydish life, running away from both the police and the criminals could feel so peaceful and loveable.

A/N: Hope this is good enough for your expectations! Any feedback is welcome and I’m sorry it’s not really revised but it’s almost 2AM so bare with me.

[luckysevenwrites]

Let’s Run Away Together

Just a fluff peice about you and Mark are talking about what you would do if the two of you could run away together. 

             Laying out on a blanket looking up at the stars you let your thoughts wonder as you wait for your boyfriend Mark to show up. He had messaged you to let you know that he would be running late but would be there as soon as he could. You took this time to think about your weekend and what you would do. You had already made the decision that you were going to sleep away your Saturday morning, work has been busy for you and your new boss was driving you and everyone else in your office crazy. If you didn’t love your job as much as you did, you’d probably quit.

           Maybe what you needed was a vacation, a chance to get away from everything and everyone and to truly unwind. Then when you returned to work your boss might not seem as evil as they were looking now. When they were hired everyone thought they would be great but that nice persona they were giving off quickly disappeared and their true colors started to really shine through. As you were thinking about your job you heard the sound of approaching footsteps. Marks smiling face soon showed in your line of sight and you smiled back up at him.

           “You look like you’re enjoying yourself,” Mark comments as he moves to lay down next to you. He puts his arms behind his head and take a deep breathe. You roll over onto your stomach to watch him while he looks up at the night sky.

           “I am, it’s relaxing out here,” you tell him as you continue to watch him. Mark and you had only been dating for a few weeks now. When you had first met you thought that he was a little awkward and goofy. But as time went on you started to fall for him, awkwardness, and all.

           “Work still suck? Is your new boss still being evil?”

           “Their getting worse,” you sigh as your thought drift back to them and how you were counting down the hours and then minutes until you got to leave today, “I don’t think I’ve ever clocked out of work so fast before and I am not looking forward to going back on Monday. All they do is stress me and everyone else out.”

           Mark rolls onto his side to face you, he reaches out and tucks a strand of hair behind your ear and gives you a soft smile. You can tell that wishes he had the answers for you, some magical way to fix your boss being a jerk but he didn’t have a magic wand to make them better.

           “We could always run away together. Just you and me, we’ll be like a modern-day Bonnie and Clyde,” he tells you with the most serious face you have ever seen on him.

           “I don’t think robbing banks is the answer to my problem. Besides didn’t those two end up getting caught and shot?” You laugh, Mark scrunches his face up at the comment about getting shot.

           “Okay forget being Bonnie and Clyde” Mark smiles, “we could still run away together and just leave out the crime spree.”

           “What would we do instead of robbing banks?” You mock causing him to shake his head at you and chuckle.

           “Maybe we could do the tourist thing and work odd jobs here and there whenever we start to run out of money,” you like the sound of that, the two of you traveling together and not having any true plan.

           “You could try being a bar tender and I’ll be a waitress and we’ll both get shitty tips but won’t mind because our boss is renting the place above the bar to us for half the price!” you excitedly explain as you start to picture your adventure together.

           “And even though I don’t know the first thing about making drinks and screw up the orders often they keep me on because the customer like me anyway. And you make friends with the cook and manage to always get us at least one free meal,” Mark plays along and you smiley brightly at him.

           “We won’t stay at one place to long because we don’t want to settle down, so we’ll only stay a month at the most and then move onto some new country.”

           “New country or new town?” Mark questions.

           “New country, if there’s a country we really like though we can just move to a new town,” you decide.

           “But it has to be at least two towns over from the one we were at and if it feels like the town we were just in we can’t stay,” Mark suggest and you nod along with him in agreement.

           “How long we would we be gone?” You question thinking that if you were running away with Mark you wouldn’t mind being on the run or traveling with him for the rest of your life.

           “For as long as you want to be gone,” he tells you. You lean over and give him a kiss when you pull away Marks looking at you with questioning eyes.

           “I kissed you because I liked your answer, and just so you know I would run away and be gone with you for as long as you would like as well,” you assure him.

           You roll back onto your back and look up at the stars once again. You hear Mark moving besides you. Once he’s settled you move over so you’re closer to him move so your head is resting on his stomach. He reaches out for your hand that is resting on your stomach and laces your fingers together.

           “Where do you want to run off to first?” He asks you; you tilt your head to the side to look at him. He’s already watching you waiting for your answer.

           “I honestly don’t know. I just know that wherever we do run away to it’ll be an adventure.”

           “You are not wrong about that,” Mark gives your hand a squeeze and the two of return to looking back up at the stars.

           “We’ll have to sneak out of the country though when we do decide to run. Otherwise we’ll have Haechan with us and then I’ll have to fight for your attention, and I don’t want to share you. Especially when this is our get away and not his.”

           Mark laughs at you knowing that you are right if Haechan knew that the two of you were planning on running away he’d find a way to join the two of you. In fact once he found out that the two of you ran away he would be on the next plan out of here to find the two of you to first whine about how you left him out and then to join you both.

           “We might have to change our identity,” Mark suggest.

           “Should we change our names to Bonnie and Clyde?” You suggest.

           “Let’s do it! No one will suspect a thing!”

           Even though the two of you weren’t actually going to run away together you like the idea of it and planning your get away with Mark. You also knew that if you really did want to run away Mark would follow you, and Haechan would be joining the two of you at some point on your adventure. You smile up at the night sky thinking about what fun you two would have and then eventually the three of you.

[brbjustdying]

Owen/Avery - 14/03/2021

You

15:47 - got a favor to ask 

Dancer

15:50 - call me when u want love 

He tapped the phone icon, hoping she would pick up the first time. she liked to let him wait. 

“Hello Order. It’s been a while, I saw the news, how are you dealing with the loss of your nemesis?”

Of course everyone would know about it… 

“Pretty well. It’s about that, the favor.”

“Oh, pretty boy switched sides because of you? Can’t say I’m surprised. He’s your type.”

“It’s absolutely not what happened, stop. Can you handle his file? And I’ll forget about the waterfall incident. No more debt. Just this one favor.”

“Sounds like I’m getting more than I’m giving. Why do you care?”

“Because there’s a lot of good in it for me. It’s always nice when someone switches sides and you get all their knowledge don’t you think?”

“I see. Give me some time for the pictures, and see for any name change, or family names or whatever. Have it by 3 AM, I’ll be done with the pictures by then. But I won’t make any kind of ID or anything, I sold all my equipment a few months ago.”

“No worries, I’ll talk to Demeter about it.”

He heard the woman laugh on the other end of the line. 

“They’re out of business, you should know it.”

“Favors don’t disappear when you go out of business, you should know that. I’ll text you the details, bye.”

“Bye Order, don’t get used by Adam, he might be nice but you never know if it’s a ruse.” 

He hung up, not wanting to hear more. 

He wasn’t stupid, but he also knew he wasn’t important enough to be used in such a scheme. 

His ties with the villain world weren’t the strongest, and he had very little influence there. He was mostly known for getting in the way, but always having people owe him for some reason. That’s what he got for being gifted with such a strong power he guessed. 

*

“Are you sure? I don’t mind helping you know.”

“Stop it, I like cooking. Besides, I have something else for you to do.”

“Oh?”

He laid down the paper he’d printed at work.

“This is your current identity. Everything I could find in your public record. Now, I’ve asked a friend to help me change it. It’s something we do pretty often when someone switches sides, to protect them. This friend is going to change every record of you, altering your picture so it’s different but similar. People won’t notice the difference, but if they see the real you they will just think you look similar. It helps a whole lot trust me. If there’s anything you want to change, you can just cross it out and rewrite it. I got some colorful pens somewhere… Dancer hates purple so use it as much as you want.”

“Dancer?”

“My friend. She’s currently doing the pictures.”

Adam grabbed the pen, looking unsure at the idea. 

“Is it really necessary?”

“You’ve been declared a criminal by the administration, and with a really high bounty. everyone will be trying to get you as soon as you step a foot outside.”

“Oh.”

Owen internally sighed. This was all new for the guy. Of course it would feel weird. 

“What am I supposed to change? What’s the things that matter the most basically.”

Well, that was a quick change of attitude. Weird. 

“Usually, place of birth, names of closest family, but also some people in the extended family. They didn’t have a file on your family so don’t worry about it, it’s not public knowledge. Things like height, weight, but just slightly. We can’t do anything about the power obviously, but you’re only supposed to use it when having a mask on so it’s usually not a problem. Most people also change their names and find an alias.”

That was the biggest one. People didn’t like changing their names, but he heard it happened very often in the academy, or even when they started as heroes. since they didn’t have aliases, they tried to have names that meant something relating to their powers or their values. Though it seemed to be marketing more than anything, it worked great and people loved to theorize around destiny and if giving your child a specific name could improve their chances at becoming a great hero one day. The number of articles made about the subject was astounding. 

“You think I should change my name?”

He shrugged.

“It’s your choice. It’s very common, but it’s super personal so most people don’t want to do it. It means too much to them. You have a fairly common name, so you might be fine keeping it.”

“No I think I’d like to change it.”

“Okay, need ideas?”

He nodded. 

Owen went to his office, giving Panda a scratch on the head on the way, and retrieved three books from the top shelf. They were super dusty. 

When he came back, he dropped them on the table, smiling at the puff of dust that rose from them, and the disgusted expression on Adam’s face. 

“Looks like the bible. Let’s see. Girls name, alphabetical order. Boy’s name, alphabetical order, Gender neutral names, alphabetical. Gender neutral?”

“Names you can give to a boy or a girl, usually a lot of non binary people like those more than heavily gendered names. It’s been changing in recent years, but it’s still difficult to be accepted if your name is closely tied to a specific gender so people often choose to change it. Have a look while I make dinner.”

He wanted to make something really nice, because he still hadn’t slept in ages, and he needed to have at least that. Then he’d have to get some sleep, because he’d had way too much coffee. Maybe one day he’d even manage to get a schedule for his sleep. Right now it couldn’t be called a schedule, it was all over the place, there was no pattern. And it made work even more intolerable. 

As he was slicing a cucumber, Adam spoke again. 

“I think I found one I like.”

“Hmm.”

“Avery. I really like it, or Wren. But I’m not sure, what do you think.”

“It’s your choice, you’ll be the one wearing it every day. Avery is closer to Adam so it might be easier to get used to but honestly I’m not sure.”

Chosen from the gender neutral book. Interesting. 

“You think it needs to be close to the previous name?”

“Not really. I almost changed mine to Clarence so…”

“You did? Why? And why not really. If you don’t mind telling me.”

“Don’t worry. I really wanted to be called chaos, and the convention is to choose an alias with the same first letter as your name. It was really stupid though.”

“Chaos would fit you. What made you decide against it?”

“Uuuuh…”

“It’s fine.”

The truth was… A little shameful. 

His mom found out about it, and told him that she’s almost named him Clyde, after the famous Bonnie and Clyde story. She also said Chaos was super corny, and didn’t suit him at all. “You’re an orderly boy Owen, and you should know yourself better. What you want is justice and peace, not chaos and destruction.”

“It’s because of my mom. God I still can’t believe you met her! I texted her and she only answered with an emoji, and now she won’t answer my calls.”

“She was really nice, don’t worry she didn’t tell anything weird about you or whatever.”

He grumbled and turned back to his cucumber. The betrayal of it all! No one was supposed to know where he lived or anything. But he’d rather have Adam know about where he lived than where his mom lived. Not that it really mattered now. 

“Anything else you changed on the paperwork?”

“Made hero me a little taller, not sure how believable it is but I’m pretty small so… Also changed the date of birth by two days, and the place of birth to a city with a really similar name i found online. Do you think it’s enough?”

“Sure. Do you have allergies?”

“Not that I know of, why?”

“Just to be sure I don’t accidentally kill you, it would suck.” 

Adam snickered. 

“So, settled on a name?”

“I think I’m going to go with Avery. I really like the sound of it.” 

Owen wished they had more time to think about this, he really did. It was a big thing, hopefully he wouldn’t change his mind in a few days or weeks. 

“Alright, take pictures of the picture and send them to me, I’ll transfer them to Di- Dancer.”

Almost spilled the real name of one of his friends, great. He was getting a little too comfortable around the ex-hero.

His phone chimed, and he knew it was already done. He dressed the plate and put them on the table, Avery having moved the books out of the way to the coffee table. 

“Can you take them back to my office? Last door, I think it’s open. Panda is probably sitting on the chair but you can move him if you want.”

“Are you sure? I don’t want to intrude.”

“I mean you’re probably going to stay here for a while so might as well get used to the place. Go, or I’ll eat your food!” 

He dashed to the office, talking to Panda once he was there, and Owen smilled. 

I really need to sleep. I can’t just be his friend so easily. God what even is happening.

Dinner went really well. They talked about a whole bunch of different things, but Owen couldn’t help but notice that Avery always avoided the subject of his family. He loved to tease Owen about his mom, but didn’t offer any information about his potential family. It could be from a desire to protect them, but seeing as the administration didn’t have any file on them, and they’d never been quoted in interviews, not even mentioned as refusing to comment for articles, he had another idea. 

“Why did you call yourself order then?”

Owen looked up from his phone, trying to forget the text from Dancer that said “got the papers. fuck u for the purple, also avery is a really nice name for a really cute boy, give him my number” 

“What?”

“Why order, why not something else, like… Offense? Omen? Omelet?”

“Oh I’d be a terrifying villain if I was named omelet, for sure. Told you, my mom.”

Panda walked into the room like he owned it, which he pretty much did, distracting Avery from the discussion. 

The boy crouched down, smiling brightly when the cat purred and asked for more pets, meowing softly from time to time. 

Damn friendly cat, already forgot me and everything I do for him.

“Well, looks like you just found your first kid. Good luck being a parent, he’s a brat.”

“How dare you! Panda has been nothing but an adorable gentleman since I met him.”

“Hmm, wait for the day where you need to take him to the vet because he knocked down an entire shelf and looks like he broke his bones but really he’s just being dramatic and messing with you.”

“Not cool Panda, not cool.”

Panda only looked smug, as usual, probably not seeing the problem in doing anything for attention. 

Owen flopped on the couch, wanting nothing more than for his brain to just shut off, sleep for about a week, and not have a single thought. That never happened of course, but maybe today would be the day.

“So, what’s your villain name going to be?”

“You think I need one?”

“Unless you plan to sit on your ass while I use all the info you gave me do to something, yeah you need one.”

“True.” 

He took Panda in his arms, and came to sit next to Owen.

Too close.

“Got any ideas? I don’t know how I can choose something like that… At the academy we could put suggestions, but I didn’t think they’d call me that.”

“Adam’s not your original name?”

“Nah. Don’t remember what it was though. I’ve been there for a long time.” 

Weird. 

“Okay. Strange.”

“They have this dude that can replace memories. He usually only uses his powers to change minimal memories from students, the name is one of them. He hates doing it, but if he’s not on the side of the administration I guess they’d hunt him down because it’s such a dangerous power.”

Huh.

“Probably yeah. Are you curious to know what the name before Adam was?”

“Kind of? I guess yeah. It might be able to tell me something about myself. Don’t know how I’d ever get that information.”

“Good thing that’s what I do then! Hang on, I’ll get my laptop so we can find you a cool villain name.”

He let Avery cuddle Panda to death, and quickly sent another text to Dancer, asking her to dig up anything she could about that. 

Dancer

20:44 - this is really big Order, real big 

20:45 - fuck imagine what they can do about it 

20:46 - I’m getting Neon on it with me 

He wouldn’t mention it to Avery unless they came up with something interesting. He didn’t need more things to worry about. He’d already offered to cover half of the rent despite staying only a day, and a bunch of unnecessary things. Where did he get his awesome morals? 

“So! Most people have an idea because you don’t just decide to become a villain like that. But sometimes it happens, in that case you go online, and look up lists of words until you find one you resonate with. Here, have a loot. You can choose any letter, but I really recommend something that starts with an a.”

“Alright, let’s see.” 

Panda moved to Owen, disappointed that he wasn’t the center of attention anymore. Sadly it wouldn’t be much better from his owner, who fell asleep without even knowing, only to wake up a few hours later, gently being shaken by his new friend. 

“Hey Owen. It’s really late, I think you should go to sleep in your bed.”

He grumbled his answer, not sure himself what he intended to say. For once he’d actually fallen asleep, curse him for waking him up. He was comfortable too, something warm next to him. 

He abruptly stood up when he realized that he’d been sleeping laying on Ad-Avery. Oh no. Oh my god no what an idiot.

The guy smiled softly, and then grabbed his hand to lead him to his room, thinking his foggy mind probably prevented him from finding his way. 

Panda only moved a little, not wanting to leave the warm blanket that had ended up on both of them at some point. 

When the warm hand that was holding his let go, pushing him gently towards his bed, he knew he wouldn’t be able to sleep any more that night. 

*

Owen was waiting for his coffee to brew, in a bigger french press than the previous day. He’d done his bets to be silent, but Avery still heard him. 

He looked like death. Weird, considering he’d been sleeping so well the previous evening. Did he not go back to sleep after he went to his room? He didn’t make any noise, so Avery assumed he’d fallen asleep again. Did he have insomnia problems? Maybe he shouldn’t have woken him up… 

He shook his head and closed the bathroom door, intending to take a short shower and then plan his next move. 

It had been a weird few days. 

When he stumbled here the other night, broken and lost, he didn’t expect Order to help him. Of all people, he probably should hate him the most, they had fought so much and he always got in his way. 

But instead he was faced with an almost stranger. someone kind, calm, thoughtful and resourceful. Who had a pretty good fashion sense too! 

He glanced at the simple cream shirt and grey sweatpants and underwear the other hand lent him, refusing his protests. He’d been so nice, Avery felt bad. What had he done that was so great to deserve such kindness? Because it seemed like his whole life had only been a lie. 

Trained by the academy since he was a kid, through summer camps, special classes, coaches, everything, he’d grown up to become a powerful hero, with a lot of potential, or so everyone said. But it never really felt right. Then he moved on to the actual academy, taking as many classes as he could, always doing his best. It was a good education, and he needed as much of it as possible if he wanted to be a good hero, who did the right thing. 

His dedication and drive started to become annoying traits of his, rather than what teachers and coaches praised. Hewanted to know too much, he realized now. It wasn’t like he ever suspected there was something so bad hiding behind. 

And now, they had destroyed everything in just one night. Everyone thought he was an insane person who just wanted to believe in the conspiracy, and bring people down. The public opinion had swayed very easily, a couple false articles being enough to change people’s mind. 

He couldn’t even be angry at them, he’d fallen for it too, when he’d seen other heroes switch sides and read about their reasons in the pres. he never questioned it. The press had always been fairly nice to him, he didn’t have many enemies in the journalists. 

It was probably because the administration controlled them too. 

He wiped his tears and rinsed his hair one last time, before turning off the water. 

He had to at least pretend it was fine. Owen was nice enough to let him stay around even if he had no reason to, and he couldn’t be any kind of a burden. He was glad Panda was around, he was great at comfort. Even if he did bite his fingers a couple times. He wouldn’t tell that to Owen, it would make him right. 

He got dressed and messed with his hair for a while, before giving up. It was a mess like it always was no point in trying now. Sometimes he really hated whoever gave him genes for such fluffy hair. It was impossible to handle. One of his friend had theorized it was because he was of east asian descent, and that he had to try different ways of taking care of it to find what was the best. But he hadn’t, because it felt too much like something his actual parent should have taught him, not something to look up online. and that made him really sad, for some reason. 

“Whatever, let’s find Panda and get a hug,” he whispered to himself. 

He had hoped the cat would be on the couch, here he’d last seen him, licking his butt after having his breakfast, but he wasn’t there anymore. 

Owen was sitting at the kitchen island, writing furiously on his laptop, and barely sparred him a glance. 

For some reason, Avery suddenly felt really heavy, an intense sadness filling him, and he wondered when this would end. It was probably just a bad time, things would get better after a while, but he could sense that something else was about to fall on him and destroy everything again, and he didn’t look forward to that. 

Why does it never stop?

“Hey.” 

Owen was standing in front of him, concern on his face, definitely awake despite his lack of sleep. 

Avery didn’t say anything. He knew if he tried, he would start crying again, and he couldn’t have that. Not now. Not in front of him. It wasn’t - 

Owen slowly wrapped his arms around him, giving him plenty of time to move or push him away. But he didn’t. It felt nice. He hugged him back, enjoying the warmth of his friend. He’d always been taller, something Avery hated when they had to fight a little too close, but right now it was really nice. He was whispering reassurances to him, telling him it would be alright, they’d find solutions and it wouldn’t always suck this much. 

It felt really nice, and he hoped it would last forever. For once, his thoughts had stopped racing. 

*

He had barely slept, and kept turning and tossing in his bed, wondering if he had fallen asleep so easily because he was so tired, or if it was because of the person next to him. 

He already knew the answer, but didn’t want to think about it, much less go ask the other for a hug so he could sleep again. 

God he really needed to talk to a new doctor about this. One who wouldn’t ask too many questions about what could possibly be stressing him out, or preventing him from going to bed at reasonable hours. 

When a reasonable time came, he got up and made the biggest pot of coffee he could find. He thought he had a bigger pot, but couldn’t remember where it was, and didn’t want to make even more noise than he had. Avery had woken up anyway, so it wasn’t like it mattered. But he didn’t have the mental energy to dedicate to it all. So he just made his coffee, giving his guest some clothes and squashing his complaints. If he didn’t want him to stay around, he was very capable of kicking him out, regular person way or villain way. He’d like to keep his apartment clean and Panda calm though. 

The first cup of coffee felt like drinking that water that was supposed to give eternal youth, the name of which he couldn’t remember or bother to look up. The second one was more for pleasure than out of necessity. 

He’d gotten a text from his boss, saying the shop had been damaged in a fight last night, and he didn’t need to come in for work for at least two weeks. The administration would cover the wages of the employees as well as the cost of repairs. 

A blessing truly, he just had to fill in a form with his information, as well as a formal declaration that he wasn’t present when the incident happened. 

Easy peasy. 

But then Avery walked out of the bathroom, eyes still red from crying, and looking really sad. He wasn’t sure what to do, so he didn’t mention it, but from the way his face fell, it was clearly not the right thing to do. 

He looked like the weight of the world was on his shoulder. And maybe it was a little bit after all. His whole world had come crashing down just two days ago. 

“Hey.” 

He tried to keep his voice soft, and not cold as it apparently always was. According to his friends at least. 

Avery looked like he needed a hug, so without overthinking it, Owen did just that. He gave him time to push back of course, he didn’t have to accept, but he did. He even clung to him like he was the last person on earth, relaxing visibly, and even smiling a little against his neck. 

Oh this was bad, really bad. Owen would never be able to squash his feelings now, they’d refuse to go away, reminding him of this moment. 

They stayed like this for a long time, Owen doing his best to make Avery feel better, giving him empty promises of making things better and finding solutions. It seemed to work, because he stopped breathing so fast and being so tense. 

It was going well until Panda decided he wanted some of that attention for himself too, and literally jumped from the counter onto Avery’s shoulder, making him gasp in surprise. 

“Is that…?”

“Yep. That’s Panda, jealous that he’s no longer the center of attention, despite being the king of this house. Come on Panda, that’s just rude now. Do you even have an ounce of manners in that fluffy body of yours?” 

The cat meowed, making Avery laugh. 

“I don’t think Panda has a lot of respect for you.”

He shifted a little, but didn’t seem ready to let go yet, so Owen just rubbed little circles on his back, considering his answer carefully. 

“Panda don’t take it personally okay? You’re right, he has no manners. Honestly he’s super friendly, but also really bratty ? I don’t know where he got that. I tried to educate him but…”

“Aw, be nice to him. He’s sweet. He let me pet him so much! I really like him. I always wanted to have a pet but couldn’t. It’s so nice.” 

He finally let go, quickly wiping his eyes, and then grabbing Panda from his shoulder, and carrying him like a baby instead. 

“I’m going to be off of work for at least two weeks, so I will be around to see how much of a betrayal Panda is, and just how much cuddling he can accept from other people.”

“He doesn’t accept it from you?”

“Oh he does, but I think he found a new favorite person.”

Avery blushed, and OWen couldn’t help but notice just how cute that was. 

Before they got the chance to say anything else, the landline started ringing. 

The only person who called on this line was his mom. So she was done with ignoring him. 

“Ah, the traitor finally stops ignoring me!”

“The traitor?”

He grabbed the phone, ready to give his mom a piece of his mind. 

“Hi baby! Am I bothering you? I saw the place where you work got blown up, it was night and no hospital texted me, so I guess you’re doing fine.”

“Hi mom, or should I call you traitor?”

“Oh Owen that’s a bit strong, makes me reconsider my offer too, such an ungrateful son!” 

Her voice contained no heat, only amusement. Clearly she didn’t care what he thought. He only raised an eyebrow, waiting for her to elaborate.

“You’re going to be off work right?  I’m going to your uncle’s house, if you want to come with me and take some holidays!” 

Oh. So that was what it was about. 

“Can I bring someone?” 

On the other end of the line, he heard his mother choke on her drink, cough it out for a solid minute before talking again. It made him smile. He was full of surprises. 

“Yes, of course. do I know that person?”

“Yeah, it’s what I’ve been trying to call you about for two days now.”

“Oh, that nice boy I met once. Really sweet and polite, Adam I think? The press isn't kind to him lately.”

“His name is Avery now. I’ll take the ferry as usual. Get ready for Panda, he misses you.”

“Wonderful, I look forward to seeing you boys. Oh this promises to be interesting, you have to give me details alright? I know I’m your mom, but I wanna know.”

“Nope, definitely not. Bye mom, see you tomorrow, love you.” 

She chuckled but said her goodbyes. 

Why didn’t I tell her it’s not like that. Oh god she probably thinks we’re dating. Oh no she’s going to make this so awkward. I’m such an idiot.

He stopped his internal panic when he noticed Avery looking at him curiously. 

“Wanna spend a week at a beach house?”

*

I will write them more, just maybe not tomorow (I’ve been procrastinating my homework a whole lot)

[nightwingshero]

HELLO LOVE. How does "Don't fucking touch what is not yours?" for Dahlia/Alfie and "Behave" + "Why don't you come over here and make me?" for Wren/John sound? 💕

That sounds fucking fantastic! Whew, here we go!!! This is gonna be a long one, my friend! And listen...I’m just gonna say this now...I don’t know what happened...it just happened. So...I’m gonna post this...and then run and hide. Right? Right. 

He was new. That’s the excuse I use. He was younger, somewhat naive, but also very full of himself, which most men were. I honestly could never bring myself to remember his damn name. But Alfie had been so swept up in something on the side, that he hadn’t noticed we even had a new baker. I had taken it upon myself so show him the ropes, to explain the rules, just not as...enthusiastically as Alfie had so long ago. We’re bakers, it’s called bread, and no Jewish women. I had covered all the bases, and he seemed rather fine with all of it. I had believed it would be easy. That he wouldn’t give any problems. And at first, I had been right.

But things started to change. He would greet me every morning, which didn’t seem like such a big deal until I began to notice him going out of his way to do so. Then the small treats began to show on my desk, until he would hand them to me personally. It wasn’t as if he were...being rude or uncalled for, it just...accepting them felt wrong to me, and it didn’t go unnoticed that whenever he would do these things, Alfie was nowhere insight. It only added to the odd feeling I had. Then there had been flowers on my desk, and Alfie had seen it. He didn’t say anything, just eyed them all confused, making a face. But he walked away without ever mentioning it again.

But when Ollie had told me that I needed to come in with him to do a special order, I was perturbed. I pushed back for the first time, even though it was subtle. I didn’t want to indirectly raise concern or catch Alfie’s attention for this. He would dig and ask questions until I told him why I was so bloody against it. And when it came down to the fact that the majority of the community had important things to do, it left just a handful of us left available. So...I yielded. 

“I think that’s the last of it, yeah?” he asked, throwing me a look for validation. I gave him a sharp nod in return. 

“Yeah, that about does it, I think.” I replied, double checking to make sure. He threw me a dimpled smile, which I couldn’t help but return. It’s hesitant because I know that, by now, we’re alone. The rest of the men took off the second they could to enjoy whatever was left of their Saturday. I had nowhere to be, I was in no rush. But I was now regretting it with the way he was coming closer. 

“Is it true?” he asked, fidgeting with his hat as he stood before me. “That you don’t have anyone? That’s what I’ve heard.”

My eyes widen at his abruptness, caught off guard because I hadn’t pegged him as the type. “Yes, I suppose.”

“Yeah.” he laughed to himself while glancing down. “I was hoping you’d say that.”

“Oh.” I’m unsure, so I grip a barrel next to me. I don’t know if it’s to keep my balance or to anchor myself to reality. My heart is pounding. “Right. Listen, I don’t think that’s the best--”

“I know who you are.” he shot me a look, his brown eyes full of determination and I almost admired him for it. This was dangerous. Very dangerous. “I know you’re a Shelby. I’m not scared of your family, Dahlia. In fact, I plan to earn their trust and respect.”

My name rolling off his tongue hits me differently. I was mostly addressed as Ms. Strong, rarely by my first name. It was Ollie that would slip it here and there, and I always hated how it always made Alfie throw us a look when he heard it. There was a fear that it perhaps broke a rule of Alfie’s that I wasn’t aware of. 

He takes another step forward and I step back, hitting a wooden pillar behind me. I’ve walked myself into a corner, between him, a pillar and a fucking barrel of rum. The curses on my tongue don’t get past my lips, however, and I study him. He smells of mint and cologne, his face clean shaven with his hair combed back. Before, I would have considered him handsome, but...I don’t. And it frustrates me because I know why.

Dark eyes instead of light, no beard, his voice and the way he talks, clear and controlled. It’s in this moment that I realize that Alfie Solomons has ruined me and the only thing we’ve ever done is share a bottle of whiskey for business. It angers me, that I find this man unattractive because I want something that I shouldn’t. It’s then that my pride takes over. Why shouldn’t I enjoy myself? Why not allow this man to show me a fun time? What was Alfie’s business with knowing what I did in my free time?

“I’ve seen you perform before. All dressed up in feathers and pearls.” His hand brushes my face before cradling it, his thumb barely touching my bottom lip, and my spine straightens. I don’t like it. I don’t like it at all. It felt...disgusting, with those words falling from his tongue. 

“I don’t do that anymore.” I replied, ice subtly entering my tone.

His hand is smoother than I imagine Alfie’s and I don’t ever want this man to touch me again. All delusions of losing myself in him to forget Alfie is out the window, and I’m a fool for thinking it in the first place. “I’d like to see it again.”

“I don’t do that anymore.” I replied, ice subtly entering my tone.

“Right...Mmm, I think that’s enough, yeah?”

I inhale sharply, jerking my head at the sound of his voice, and the hand is retreated with a scowl on the baker’s face before throwing Alfie a smile. “Mr. Solomons. Didn’t think you’d be joining us today.”

“Yeah, well, it’s my bakery, innit?” he asked, but it didn’t really seem like a question and I had a feeling he was referring to something else entirely. “And that’s the thing, right, about ownership, yeah. When you own somethin’, you check up on it, make sure its being taken care of.” Alfie stalks forward, and my heart beats harder with each step as he glowers at the man before him. I can see him swallow, nervous. He should be. “You know what happens when you don’t take care of something that’s yours?”

“What?” he whispers. 

Alfie cleared his throat, tucking his cane under his arm as he holds up his hands, talking with them like he always does. “It falls apart, mate, it just...crumbles, right? You gotta...you take pride in the things you own, the things that belong to you. And well, when you have nice things, beautiful, shiny things well...” He raised his head, catching his gaze head on. “Well, people like to touch them, don’t they?”

My breath leaves me entirely as my chest tightens and it becomes very clear that he’s no longer referring to the bakery and my thighs press together tightly as a shiver runs up my spine.

“Sometimes...well, you can’t always tell, can you?” the man sneered. “Who is to say it belongs to anyone? Is there proof of purchase?”

And that, right there, is the wrong thing to say because I’m immediately offended. I snap my gaze at him, my blood pressure rising and I’m ready to cut his tongue out. Alfie nodded thoughtfully.

“Hmm, right, yeah you won’t get that, mate.” Alfie moved so he was towering over him, his dark gaze worse than the night he had talked down to Buddy after he joked about the difference between bread and rum. I’m almost scared for the man, but he has none of it. “Because she’s not paid for, is she? No. Does this look like a stage to you? No, no. This is a bakery, and the exit, is on Bonnie Street.” He scoffed, rolling his eyes and went to walk away, but Alfie punched him hard, and before he could fall back, Alfie gripped his shirt as he pointed in his face. “My bakery, my people, my rules. I trust Dahlia did a good job going over that with yah, but I’m guessing she left a little somethin’ out, yeah? You don’t fucking touch her. She’s off fucking limits.” Alfie leaned in just a tad closer, and even from here, I could feel the fear of God. “Don’t fucking touch what’s not yours. Right?”

He nodded, thoroughly terrified. Scrambling away, he practically runs to the exit. I release a breath I hadn’t realized I had been holding. My hands are shaking as I try to process what had just happened or what could have happened. I had let myself get swept up in it...I swallow, trying to push the thoughts aside.

“Alfie--” I start, taking just a step forward, but he’s faster than I expect, and his cane is on my chest, pushing me back against the pillar. I exhale heavily as his attention shifts fully on me, and I become the victim of his heated gaze. Except I’m not scared. I’m thrilled. The emotions I had felt earlier was nothing in comparison, and I’m a fool for ever thinking differently. 

“Is that the cunt who left you flowers? The one that’s been givin’ you all the attention, eh?” I frowned at him, unsure how to respond, but he continues as if he read my mind. “Yeah, no, I knew. Ollie...sees a lot, doesn’t he?” The end of the cane travels down between my breasts and stops again. I bite my lip to keep the whimper from escaping. “You didn’t tell him not to touch you, right, and that’s what he did, didn’t he?”

“You said no Jewish women--”

“I said you.” He pressed harder and my heart pounded harder as my breathing became heavier and heavier. “Right. Yeah, I said you.”

My sexual frustration turns into anger, and I do the only thing I can: lash out. “Well, maybe I just wanted to be kissed, Alfie.” I snapped. “Maybe I want to be touched.”

The cane drops as he furrows his brow and a deep frown appears as he steps into my space. I have to tilt my head back to meet his gaze, and he’s so close, I can feel the heat from his body. Breathing in, I can smell the oak, a hint of spice, and just...him. I feel the urge to press my face against his neck, desperate for my lips to meet his skin. 

“Mmm...you want him to touch you?” his deep voice is barely above a whisper, but it shakes me. 

“No.” I replied softly. “No, I don’t like it when he touches me.”

“But that’s it, right, just a kiss and a touch?” Alfie asked, his hand coming up as his ringed fingers play with the ends of my hair. 

“No.”

I can tell he’s trying to figure me out, and my heart squeezes in fear as he pulls away, scratching his beard. “Then what do you want, Dahlia?”

“Proof of purchase, Alfie.” I play innocent, even though I know for a fact that it doesn’t fool him. He can see it in my eyes, or at least, I’m hoping he does. “I think that’s important, don’t you? Don’t you have to show something belongs to you?”

His hand is around my neck, pressing me into the pillar, not unlike the night I had confronted him about Arthur after he got him arrested. I remember it clearly: the clawing, the angry tears pouring down, all of it. The difference lies in the way his hand feels like a caress despite the pressure, but I know he can feel my pulse and I almost let out a moan at just the feel of him.

Leaning in even closer, his hot breath fans my face and I can feel is body closer than ever, lightly brushing mine. “And what if I touch you, yeah?”

Our eyes are burning as we study each other, and I am on fire. I didn’t realize how bad I wanted this until now. “What if you didn’t stop?” I asked, and I knew I should have been mortified, but I can’t keep the words from coming out. “I want you to touch me. Is that wrong? That I want you to kiss me, and I think about it often when I watch you.” I pull my face forward, and he allows me and I whisper more to him. “Is it wrong that I imagine you, Alfie? Imagine how you’d feel? How you’d feel between my legs...is that your proof of purchase? Fleeting fantasies? What if you fucked me, Mr. Solomons?" If he’s shocked he doesn’t show, but I continue, my voice becoming more heated. “Perhaps you should know that I don’t care for his touch, because I’m too preoccupied with craving yours.”

I’m pushed back into place again, his hand still around my neck, and I moan, pressing my thighs together before his lips are against mine. My fingers are relentless as I go for his pants. It’s forward of me, but I’m practically dripping for him. All this back and forth, the wanting and craving. I needed him now. 

And he was on the same page. The dress is shoved up just as I undo his pants, and his hand is gone from my neck and he grabs the back of my thighs to hoist me up, causing me to squeal. “Fucking you, yeah?” he grunted before entering me without warning, causing me to gasp loudly and tighten my hold on his shoulders.. “Fucking hell.”

Validating. That’s what it felt like, but it wasn’t the most prominent sensation I was feeling with his hard thrusts. But it gave me a small sense of it, because Alfie is on his own time, but now, he’s moving so quickly I can’t help if maybe he was just as desperate. I’m screaming, moaning his name, begging for more, because I can’t get enough of him and the way he feels. It was better than I had ever imagined. 

It’s fast, a quick moment between us, both of us climaxing together his head buried in my neck and his name on my lips. Our heavy breathing is music to my ears, and I don’t want it to end. I want more and I know deep down that I always will. His lips brush my ear and I shiver.

“Proof. Right, no one touches what’s mine, yeah? Off fucking limits.”

“Oh fuck yes.” I breathed out. “As long as you keep touching me, darling, that won’t be a fucking problem.”

I was bored. I hated the meetings, though I would never admit it. I knew it was important, but on the days that Joseph didn’t need me, I constantly missed John. Especially when the right mood hit. And it was late, he should have been home an hour ago, but here I was, waiting for my husband. 

Becoming the Judge came with responsibilities, just like any other Herald, and I took them on seamlessly. Of course, that also meant that John had his own duties, and it was nights like this that almost made it unbearable. When all I wanted was to go to bed with John, he was being pulled away by his brother while I mindlessly scrolled through my phone. 

I paused, an idea occurring to me as a devious smirk graced my lips. Jumping up, I rush around, changing quickly and making sure my hair and makeup was still in decent condition from earlier today. Grabbing my phone, flipping the camera on, I snapped a pouty selfie, making sure to hide my outfit. Selecting his contact, I send the picture with a quick ‘miss you’ and waited for the response. It’s rather fast, and I’m not shocked, John has always been quick to respond to texts, despite Joseph and Jacob. 

Miss you too, beautiful.

My smirk widens even more. He didn’t suspect a thing. Getting up, I start to search for that gag gift Randy had gotten me for my birthday as I send him a reply asking how long he’s going to be. Rummaging through my closet, I finally find the selfie stick as John’s text comes through, telling me it’ll just be a little longer, 30 minutes tops. Which meant an hour in Joseph’s time, I knew them well enough. And if I had to suffer, waiting and wanting my husband, so would he. Eye for an eye, love. 

Attaching my phone, I set it up and lay down, positioning myself perfectly before taking the picture. Quickly, I check the picture just to make sure and excitement rages in my veins and a squeal releases from me. The black lacy lingerie hugs my curves beautifully, my dark hair a black halo of a fallen angel as my legs and breasts give just enough of a tease that I know would get a rise out of him.

Pun intended, of course. Ugh, Jane and Ro would be so proud of me in this moment.

I send it without a word, no innuendos or puns. Not even a warning. He doesn’t deserve it, I decide. Retribution has never felt so damn sweet and I’m on the verge of combustion from the sheer thrill of playing with fire. And his response is more swift than the first.

Behave.

It sends a shiver down my spine and I wish for nothing more than for him to be here to whisper it harshly in my ear. But he’s not, and he’s going to pay dearly for it. Angling myself, I shift so I’m laying on my stomach, my breasts pushed for an excellent cleavage shot with a strap falling off my shoulders. It’s suggestive enough to set him up for the fall. My devious smirk painted still on my face after I take the picture, shifting again to remove the thong. 

I take a deep breath, because I haven’t done this before, but I trust John. So I push my reservations to the side, and take the shot, my cheeks burning red. It’s foolish, because he has seen every inch of me, traced every bit of ink on my body with his tongue. But this felt...this was different. 

You want me to behave? I send with the first picture, setting up for the spike. And adding the last picture, I only hesitate for a second before typing: Why don’t you come over here and make me? I hit send before I chicken out.

Biting my thumbnail, I wait. And seconds turn to minutes. Once it hits the 20 minute mark, I’m deflated and embarrassed. I have to fight the urge to send him an apology, maybe it was too much. I toss my phone on the bed out of frustration and shame. Whatever. I grab my robe, putting it on as I grab the book on my nightstand and get settled for the night. My game over and pride wounded, I decided to just give up. Might as well relax and sleep while I still had a chance for a good night’s sleep.

I inhale deeply as I awaken suddenly, coming to just enough to be somewhat aware and for me to stretch, moaning as my muscles stretch sweetly and my joins pop satisfyingly as if I were a lazy cat. I must’ve fallen asleep while reading, and I’m cradling my head under my pillow as I lay face down. Part of me is wondering what happened to the book while I tossed around in my sleep, and another wants me to fix the robe that isn’t doing it’s job anymore, but as I began to lull myself back to sleep, I find myself caring less and less.

There’s a sound of someone shifting, their clothes hitting the ground with the sound of a belt buckle, and I realize that it was probably the bedroom door that had awoken me, alerting me of John’s return. I want to become snarky, sarcastic, or teasing. But I can’t bring myself to do so, even if there’s a nagging in the back of mind. I can’t grasp it in my groggy mind, but I do feel goosebumps because I can feel his gaze on me and the light on my nightstand is giving him just enough light to do so.

I stop myself from falling back asleep as I shiver again, finally noticing how much of my skin was exposed. Sleeping naked or falling asleep naked was something that happened, but the last I remembered, I had a pair of sweatpants on with a tank top. My legs were very much exposed and I look down on the ground on my side and freeze when I see a black thong laying innocently. I furrowed my brow in confusion for only a second before it hits me, and I reach my hand out from under my pillow just enough to feel my cold cell phone laying next to me.

Oh. OH.

My eyes widen, sleep long forgotten, but John had an advantage. I had given up the upper hand, I realize as the bed dips quickly. My mind tells me to move, but before my body can respond, his hand is in my hair, his body hovering over mine, and his lips on my ear.

“Hello, darling. Miss me?”

I whimper, my thighs pressing together hard, because his voice is low and dark, threatening just enough throw my body in a frenzy. I feel him tug away at the robe, pulling it from my body, and a shiver goes down my spine again, but it wasn’t from the chill. No, because I can feel his heat against me and god, did I crave it.

“I told you to behave. You didn’t listen.” John growled in my ear, his beard scratching my skin and I moan before smirking.

“Oh, sweetie, you like it when I don’t.” I taunt. “What’s wrong, Johnny? Saw something you liked?”

His other hand goes to my hip, and I help him get me on my knees, my legs shaking. Shifting, he uses his knee to knock my legs apart, and that alone has me melting. I gasp as his fingers rub against the apex of my thighs, a dark chuckle escaping.

“Tsk. You know I have to punish you for that, don’t you?”

I don’t respond, because I can’t. He’s made it impossible as he picks up speed and I’m a moaning mess against my pillow. My legs are shaking worse than before and I press into him, half expecting him to pull away, but he doesn’t. He adds pressure and I can hear his heavy breathing. I smile, because I know that the game didn’t end when he didn’t respond, no. It was won.

He slips two fingers in me without warning, making jump just a bit, and I know that was part of my punishment. John wasn’t going to be easy tonight. He pulled my hair, forcing my head back and my moans come out louder. He quickly removes his fingers before I could reach my climax, and instead lines himself before entering me and stretching me in the best way. 

His fingers are digging into my hips so hard, I’m also certain his nails pierced skin, but I don’t fucking care. I’m lost in his touch, his everything, and I cry his name as if he was God himself. And it takes almost no time to make me come undone, absolute bliss running through my veins as he shortly follows. 

Normally, we could go on for hours, but we’re both too worked up to make it last, and we’re both satisfied enough that we just enjoy the sounds of our breathing mixing with the chorus of the crickets outside, but there’s a hint of a smile on my lips as John finally pulls out, collapsing next to me before I lay my head on his chest. 

I won.

[chickensarentcheap]

Best Part of Me -Chapter 60

Warnings: none

Tagging: @innerpaperexpertcloud​, @c-a-v-a-l-r-y​, @alievans007​, @ocfairygodmother​

When she finally wakes, it's with sunshine streaming through the bedroom windows and the digital bedside clock advertising that it’s 10:35. The latter nearly sends her into a blind panic; bolting into a sitting position, eyes still blurry from sleep and her brain groggy as it tries to orientate itself with the unfamiliar surroundings. Momentarily oblivious to the fact that she isn’t at home. Briefly  not only forgetting that she’s actually thousands of miles away, but just WHY she is.

She’d spent the last nine hours in a deep and peaceful slumber; a feat she hasn’t managed to achieve once in the past six years.  Worn out not just from the lack of adequate rest over the course of the last month and a half or from  the gruelling twelve hour flight from Australia, but the hours after the conversation with Tyler that she’d spent dwelling over the pain and the worry that not only tinged his words, but dripped from his voice. He’d never admit just how things are; preferring to suffer in silence under the misconception that he's somehow a burden. It’s a hard habit to break someone of, if not entirely impossible. She’s been working at it for almost seven years now; attempting to not only break down that final barrier he’d long ago built up around himself, but convince him that the second they decided to have a life together, his issues and problems stopped belonging to JUST him. But he’s ferociously stubborn, and years of being raised in an abusive home by an extremely toxic and volatile man,  followed by military life,  has done a lot of damage.  The last effects and scars from physical injuries left behind, but the deepest and most painful wounds festering just under the surface.

She casts a furtive glance towards the cradle at the side of the bed; appreciative of the fully furnished and exquisitely decorated nursery that Anil had provided, but needing the baby as close as possible, at least for the few nights. And her eyes widen and her heart immediately begins thundering in her chest when she finds Addie’s bed empty; devoid of even the stuffed koala -which had once belonged to Millie when she was just newly born- that had been tucked into the corner of the cradle. And she’s ready to toss off the blankets and jump out of bed when a tiny voice pipes up from beside her and puts her worst fears to rest.

“She’s downstairs. With Prisha.”

Esme frowns. “Who’s Prisha?”

Tanner shrugs. “I dunno. I think she’s a nanny or something. But she’s old. Like grandma and Nana Bonnie. Why are there so many people living here? Why do they all do so much work? They clean, they cook, they watch kids. At home, you and daddy do all that stuff.”

“Because Anil has a lot more money than we do and he’s so busy, that he needs to have people taking care of things around the house. Which is bigger than ours. WAY bigger. And when you have a place that’s this big, you need help keeping up with it.”

“Our house is big.”

“By most peoples’ standards. But compared to THIS house, it’s tiny.”

Tanner shrugs. “I like our better, anyway.”

“You don’t like it here? I thought you’d find it pretty cool. TWO pools, a home theatre, all kinds of awesome animals…”

“I like home better. Because it’s home. Because all our stuff is there. I don’t want new stuff, I want OUR stuff. And the beach is there and the smell of the water and the sound of the waves and none of that is here.”

“And it will all still be there when we get back,” she assures him.

“What if we never go back? What if we have to stay here? I don’t wanna stay here. I wanna go back to our house. I wanna go back to our furniture and eating OUR food and sharing a room with TJ. I don’t like not sleeping with him. I’ve always shared a room with him. And I was with him in your tummy too.”

Esme lies back down and rolls onto her side, watching him. One his stomach beside her, knees bent and his bare feet slowly kicking back and forth. Brow furrowed in concentration as he uses a pencil to carefully circle things and fill in blank spaces in the workbook open in front of him. And she reaches out and pushes his hair out of his eyes and off his forehead, then runs a fingertip down the bridge of her nose and taps it against the tip.

“Anyone ever tell you that you’re really cute?” she asks,

“There’s a couple girls in my class that say it all the time.”

"Really?"

He nods. “But I told them I can only be friends because I don’t like girls in THAT way yet. I told them I only love one girl, and that’s mommy.”

“No wonder you’re my favorite.  Sweet talking me like that. What are you doing?”

“Homework.”

“Why?”

“‘Cause I want to.”

“Let me see…” she pulls back the corner of the cover to read the title. “Where did you get this? It’s for kids in grade three.”

“Daddy bought it for me the last time we were in town. ‘Cause he said the stuff at school is way too easy for me”

“And you actually understand what you’re reading?”

“Ummm...yeah…” Tanner gives a heavy sigh and a roll of his eyes. “...of course I do! I’m not stupid. Besides, daddy made me read some to him and made me answer some of the questions before he’d buy it. He said I have a huge brain pan, whatever that means.”

“You honestly can read it and understand it?”

“Mommy, I’m smart like you. Just ‘cause Millie and TJ as dumb, doesn’t mean I am,”

“Okay first off, that’s a little harsh. You brother and sister are not dumb. Far from it. But you? You’re insanely smart. Scary smart. You’re also very grumpy this morning.”

“I’m not grumpy.”

“You ARE. And I have seen that exact frown and those lines in your forehead and those serious eyes a thousand times. You are sounding and looking more like your daddy every day. He gets that same look on his face when he’s grumpy. And what are you wearing?” She tugs at the sleeve of the black and gray Emery t-shirt he sports; miles too big on his slight frame.

“It’s daddy’s. I asked him if I could have one of his shirts before he left and he picked this one and packed it in my bag for me. I wanted something that smells like him ‘cause it helps not miss him so much.”

Tears sparkle in her eyes. That honesty; so pure and so innocent. A little boy that possesses such huge emotions and loves so fiercely. “Oh little nugget…” she tousles his hair. “...you have such a big, sensitive heart. Come here; let me make it so it fits better.”  

She gathers him into her arms and rolls onto her back, and he sits crossed legged on her stomach while she gathers the bottom of the shirt and draws it around his waist; securing it in a knot before doing the same with each shoulder. “We’ll have to buy daddy a new shirt. Something tells me you won’t give him this one back.”

“Imma keep it,” Tanner says, then wraps both arms around her neck and stretches his legs out; pressing himself tightly against her, face nestled against the side of her neck, feeling the soft tickle of those ridiculously long lashes against her skin when he closes his eyes.

Despite how much he hates hearing it, he IS still so very little. Four inches shorter than his brother and at least fifteen pounds lighter; limbs not as long and shoulders much more narrow. But it makes for good cuddles, and she can still pick him up relatively effortlessly and carry him if she has to. And his personality matches his appearance. Softer and more tender hearted than his twin; affection and loving and breathtakingly sensitive and heartbreakingly wise. An old soul in such a little boy. And while TJ is rough and wild and carefree, Tanner is more cautious. Wary, almost. Fiercely protective of his own self. And her own eyes close when she wraps both arms around his slender body and drops a kiss on the top of his head.

“I don’t want to be the little one,” he laments.

“Where did THAT come from?”

“I want to be the big one. I want to be tall and strong. Like daddy. How come I have to be the small one?”

“You’ve always been small, nugget. Even when you were a baby. There’s nothing wrong with being small. I’m small.”

“But you’re a girl. How come I had to be the sick one?”

“It’s just the way it worked out. Sometimes things go wrong when mommies are having babies. And we didn’t know you’d be sick; it just happened. You guys were born too early and you ended up being the much smaller one.”

“And why couldn’t I come out first? I wanna be named after daddy.”

“What does it matter?”

“‘Cause it does. I want daddy’s name. It’s a good name.”

“You don’t like being named Tanner?”

“I’d rather be named Tyler.”

“I have a secret to tell you,” Esme says. “But you have to promise to never tell your brother. Because it would hurt his feelings and we don’t want that, right?”

Tanner nods.

“When you were in my tummy? When daddy and I found out it was two babies and not just one? We decided that I’d pick one name and he’d picked the other. So when we found out we were  having two boys, I said I would name the first that came out and daddy would name the next one. And I decided that I wanted the first to be named Tyler.”

“It was your idea?”

“Yep.” She combs her fingers through his hair and presses a kiss to his forehead. “Daddy didn’t want either of you named after him, but I got my way. And he picked the name Tanner. So you know what that means? You have the name you do because that’s what daddy chose. He wanted you to be named Tanner.”

He raises his head to look at her. “Really?”

“Really. He picked your name. That’s how much he liked it. That’s what he wanted you to be named. And you know what else? You were so sick when you were born, that daddy was the only person allowed to hold you before they took you to take care of you. And he stayed with you for two whole days in the NICU. He slept in a chair beside your bed and he never left; he didn’t want you to be alone and I was too sick too and I wasn’t allowed to see you yet. So it was just you and daddy for a whole forty eight hours.”

“Just us?”

“Just the two of you. And you remember what the doctor told us to do with Addie? When you place her against bare skin? Do you remember? What animal is it named after?”

“A kangaroo. Kangaroo care.”

“That’s it. Well daddy got to that with you, too. Even though you were hooked up to all kinds of wires and tubes, he still got to hold you like that. And the nurses said that was the only time you were nice and calm and never cried.”

“Never?”

“Never. And daddy was really, really sad. Because he was so worried about you. But stayed there  with you the whole time because he already loved you THAT much, and he would have stayed even longer, but someone needed to take care of Millie and TJ and I wanted to spend time with you. But see? Daddy’s always loved you. IT doesn’t matter how small you are or what your name is. He still helped make you. And that’s what matters, right?”

Tanner nods.

“He loves you so much, nugget. Right from the beginning. Right back to when you were still in my tummy and he used to talk to you guys and you’d both kick like crazy whenever you heard his voice. And you were strong even then. You kicked HARD.”

“I did?”

“Daddy would always say that you were going to be a professional soccer player.  Or an MMA fighter. That’s how hard you kicked! And you’re still strong; even stronger than your brother. You’re small, but you’re mighty.”

“Like you. And Addie.”

“Well  maybe not THAT small. But you’re probably going to have a growth spurt when you’re fifteen and end up as tall as daddy. I want you to stay small, though. It’s easier to cuddle you. I LIKE cuddling you. What if you grow big and strong and you don’t want to cuddle me anymore?”

“I will always want to cuddle with you. You’re my mommy. No one gives better cuddles than mommy. No one.”

“So when you are six foot five and weight two hundred pounds and you ARE a bad ass MMA fighter, you’re still going to want to cuddle mommy?”

“Always,” he promises, and presses a kiss to her lips before settling his face against the side of her neck once more.

“Is everyone else downstairs too?” Esme asks.

Tanner nods.

“How come you’re not down there?”

“I was. But I left and came back upstairs.”

“Why?”

Because Anil is trying to be daddy and I don’t like it.”

She frowns. “Trying to be daddy? How…?”

“He made breakfast for us. But nowhere near as good as daddy’s. And he let us sit outside while we ate and he told us cool stories and talked all about the animals he has and told us we could go swimming later. All the stuff daddy does with us, but not as fun. With daddy it’s different. It’s more fun. We get to go surfing and we walk on the beach and collect rocks and shells and stuff. And he’s nice and all that, but he is NOT daddy and I don’t like that he’s trying to be.”

“I don’t think he…”

“I don’t want him taking daddy’s place. I don’t want him thinking he can steal you away from daddy. ‘Cause I like him and all that, I don’t want him to be my dad. I already have a dad and he’s the best dad ever, so…”

“Okay, you know what, nugget? You and I need to have a talk. Sit up. I want you to look at me when I talk to you, alright?”

Tanner nods, then sits up and settles himself between her splayed thighs when she does the same.

“Now listen to me, alright?” She pushes his hair off his forehead, then places her hands on his shoulders. “No one is taking daddy’s place. Because for that to happen, I’d have to be okay with it. And that’s something I will never…ever...be okay with. I don’t want anyone taking his place. Because you know what, your daddy is perfect the way he is. He’s perfect for me and you guys and...”

“But if he dies…”

“Tanner, listen to me. He is NOT going to die. And even if he did...and that’s a huge if...I still wouldn’t be okay with someone taking his place. No one could ever do that. If something happened to him, it would me and your brothers and sisters. That’s it. Understand?”

He nods.

“Your daddy is way more than just your daddy. He’s my husband AND he’s my best friend. And I love him more than I even love myself. And there’s no one earth that could take his place.”

“Ever?”

“Ever. Anil is NOT trying to be your dad. He’s not trying to take anyone’s place. He’s a friend of daddy’s and he promised daddy that he’d give us a nice, safe place to stay while he works. And it’s a really awesome place isn’t it.”

Tanner nods.

“Daddy trusts Anil to look after us because he can’t right now. Anil’s just trying to make this easier on your guys. Because he knows how sad you all are and how hard it is to be away from home and away from daddy. He’s just being nice and trying to make us feel comfortable and welcome. That’s it. Understand what I’m saying?”

“I understand.”

“So stop worrying so much about all this other stuff, okay? Daddy’s not going to die, no one is going to take his place, and eventually we’ll all get to go home. You believe me, right?”

“I believe you, mommy. But I still don’t want to go downstairs without you. It’s bad enough I can’t do things with daddy. I don’t want to do things with you EITHER.”

“Well can I least go pee and put on something other than pjs first?”

“I suppose.”

“You suppose, do you?”  She smothers his face with kisses until he’s shrieking and giggling, then tousles his hair. “You want to call daddy? I told him I’d call when I got up. You want to talk to him first?”

Tanner nods enthusiastically, then scrambles across the bed on his hands and knees to retrieve her phone from the night table. “Can I dial it?”

“You know his number?”

“Mom, I know how to get into your contacts. I’m five. I know this stuff.”

“You are way too smart for your own good,” she declares, then presses a kiss to his temple as he settles himself between her legs, back against her stomach.

****

Tyler excuses himself from the team briefing when his cell phone vibrates against the tabletop and his wife's name appears on the screen. When she’d promised to call when she woke up, he’d expected it to be a lot sooner; mornings come quick with five, especially with an infant. With the lingering uneasiness from last night’s confession and subsequent conversation, it had been easy to let his paranoia and worst fears get the better of him; growing more and more concerned with each passing minute, yet resisting the urge to call incessantly and left umpteen messages. He’d KNOW if something was wrong. Nik is there. Anil had even gone personally to make sure that everyone is settled and comfortable and being treated well and to  check that things are running smoothly. Had something gone down...IF they were in any danger...he’d be the first one to find out.

He snags his half full take out cup of coffee from the table before heading into the central courtyard;  blinking against the harsh, brilliant sun, and groaning inwardly when two of Anil’s people -heavily armed- followed closely behind. None of the rooms that overlook the area have balconies OR windows that open; the only real threat could come from the roof, and that’s sixteen floors above and Anil has even more guards stationed up there. And he grimaces as he takes a seat on one of the concrete benches; an ache across the small of his back and stiffness in his knee.

Nothing a couple of hours in the gym won’t solve; working up a sweat and getting all the kinks out.

“Hey,” he says as he answers the call. “You sleep in or something? ‘Cause…”

“Hi daddy!” Tanner cheerfully greets, and a smile immediately plays on his lips. Six months ago he would never have been able to tell the twins apart on the phone. Now it’s more than obvious who is who; Tanner’s accent coming in much thicker and more pronounced.

“Hey, mate. What’s going on? What’cha up to?”

“Mommy said I could  call you. Are you busy?”

“I’m never busy when it comes to you.”

“You’re not beating up any bad guys?”

“Not yet. Later. Once you go to bed. You okay? Sleep alright?”

“Not really,” Tanner admits. “I didn’t like sleeping without Teej. The room is nice and all that and the bed is huge, but I’ve been with Teej for forever. Even when we were in mommy’s tummy. I don’t like being without him. I can’t sleep proper.”

“Well maybe tonight, just go in and sleep with him in his bed,” Tyler suggests. “He won’t admit it. But he’s probably missing you too. He’s used to you always being around. You having fun? What’s the house like?”

“Alright, I suppose.”

“Just alright? Your mom made it sound pretty awesome. Lots of cool stuff to do there, yeah?”

“I guess. I don’t know. I miss home. I miss our stuff. I miss the beach. I miss you making breakfast and waiting for the school bus with us.”

“When this is all over, we can go back to all that stuff.”

“How long?” Tanner asks. “Until it’s over?”

“I don’t know, mate. Not too long I hope.”

“We don’t have to stay here forever, do we? I don’t want to stay here forever. It’s nice and all that not, but it’s not as nice as home. Everything I know is at home. I don’t know any of this stuff. And there’s too many people here.  I don’t like lots of people around.”

“I know it sucks to be away from home, but I need you to do me a favor. I need you to at least give the place a chance. I know you miss home. I miss it too. But this will all go a lot faster and easier if you try to enjoy it. Can you do that? For me? At least try?”

“Just for you,” Tanner promises. “And I don’t want another dad.”

Tyler laughs, coffee cup poised against his lips. “What?”

“I don’t want another dad,” his son repeats. “Anil’s a nice guy, but I don’t want him as my new dad.”

“Tanner,” Esme sighs in the background. “We talked about this. Stop.”

“I’m telling daddy about it. He should know if someone is trying to take his place.”

“No one is trying to take his place. We JUST talked about this.”

“Anil is trying to be you,” Tanner explains. “Not you, exactly. But a daddy. He’s trying to be a daddy. MY daddy. And I don’t like it. I already have a dad. I don’t need another one. Can I come stay with you wherever you are?”

“I don’t think he’s trying to do that,” Tyler says. “I think he’s just trying to be nice.”

“What if he tries to steal mommy from you?”

“Well if he wants her that bad…”

“I can hear you,” Esme pipes up. “He has you on speaker phone.”

“No one is going to steal your mom away,” Tyler assures his son. “Or even try. Especially if they know what’s good for them.””

“You’ll beat them up?”

“I was thinking they wouldn’t be able to handle her cooking. But if you rather I beat them up…”

“You’re both on my shit list,” Esme declares.

“Anil isn’t trying to be your dad,” Tyler says. “He’s trying to be dad like, but not A dad. Know what I mean?”

“Not really,” Tanner admits.

“He’s trying to do things for you guys that a dad would do. So you’ll be comfortable there. So you’ll be happy.  That’s all. He’s not trying to be your dad or take my place. And unless your mom is planning on getting rid of me, you’re kind of stuck with me.”

“But what if you die?”

“Tanner!” Esme scolds. “What’s wrong with you?”

“It’s a valid question, mom. What if daddy dies? Then what? Then I have no dad.”

“Well then your mom would have to find you a new one, I guess,” Tyler tells him.

“No frigging way! I’d rather no dad than a new one. I don’t want some shitty new dad.”

He can’t help but chuckle. “How about you stop worrying about this kind of stuff? You’re five. You’re way too young for gray hair and an ulcer.”

“I can’t help it,” Tanner laments. “It’s how my brain works. I worry. It’s what I do.”

“You sounded so much like your mom just then. Why don’t go and be a kid? Go swimming. Watch a movie.  Go see the animals. There’s all kinds of stuff to do there. Go do one of them.”

“Nothing’s fun without you, though. It’s boring. You do cool stuff with us and now it’s boring as shit!”

“What did I say about giving things a chance?”

Tanner sighs. “Fine. I’ll try. But I’ll hate every second.”

“You’ll be saying that same thing when you’re older and you have to work for a living.”

“Not if I do your job. I’d like to beat up bad people.”

“Well there’s more to it than that and I’d rather you NOT do it. For now, you’re only five. Be a five year old, yeah? Leave worrying about adult shit to actual adults, hear me?”

“I hear you. And I miss you.”

“I miss you, too. Let me talk to your mom, okay? You go be a  kid. I love you.”

“I love you, daddy. Will you call me later? Before you go beat up the bad guys?”

“I promise I’ll call you. Try and have fun. Please?”

“I’ll try. But it won’t happen…”

“Tanner…”

“I’m nothing if not honest.”

“You’re grumpy is what you are. I’m serious; be a kid. Leave adult stuff to adults. Try to have fun. I’ll see you in a few days, alright?”

“Can you stay when you come? Even just for a couple of days?”

“I can’t. I want to. But I can’t.”

“Just for ONE day?”

“Not even for one day,” he reluctantly admits.

“Can you stay overnight at least? Then you can make breakfast in the morning before you go?”

“I’ll see, okay? I’ll find out if I can. I’m not making any promises, though. But I’ll find it. Let me talk to mommy. And NOT on speaker phone.”

“She’s in trouble, isn’t she.”

“You’re trouble, you know that?”

“What are you talking about? I’m the good one.”

Tyler smirks. “Tell that to the fifteen bucks you scammed out of me.”

“Listen, I did that fair and square. Not my fault you fell for it.”  His giggling stops and he turns seriously once again. “I miss you, daddy. My heart is sad.”

“Mine is too, mate. But I’ll see you soon. I promise. Now let me talk to your mom and you go be a kid.”

“Fine.” Tanner huffs. “But I still don’t want another dad.”

“Go downstairs,” Esme gently orders. “And be nice. Quit being such a grump. And don’t give me that look because I don’t put up with it from your father and I sure as hell won’t put up with it from a five year old. Just go. I’ll be down in a minute. I swear…” she sighs into the phone. “...he is five going on fifteen. Hi, by the way. I miss you.”

“I miss you, too. And what the hell is going on over there that he’s got it in his head that he’s getting a new dad?”

“Nothing. Nothing is going on. I haven’t even been downstairs yet. I don’t even know where downstairs is and if I can’t find it. I  need a map or a GPS to locate the kitchen. And you know what Tanner is like. He worries about things that aren’t even happening and probably never will. He IS going to give himself an ulcer. And you say he’s not like you?”

He sips his coffee. “What about the other ones?”

“They’re fine. I mean, as fine as they can be. They’re at least  embracing the whole thing and making the best of it. But I don’t know how much of this I can take. All these people around; maid and cooks and nannies and all that shit. I woke up this morning and Addie was gone. I almost had a stroke. I guess one of the nannies came in and got her.”

“It’s what he’s hired all these people to do,” Tyler reasons. “To take care of you guys.”

“She could have at least said she was taking her instead of just coming in and doing it. And I don’t need people watching my kids. This isn’t my first baby; I’ve taken care of four other ones, including two at once. It’s just weird. I don’t know how people live like this.”

“And you call Tanner grumpy?” he chides.

“I don’t like strangers just up and taking my children. I’m used to it being us. Not twenty different people I can’t even communicate with. And I’m sorry; I didn’t call to bitch at you, I swear.”

“I’m used to it. It’s been seven years. Nothing new to me.”

“You're such a smart ass,” she mutters, then turns serious. “Are you okay? Did the night get any better?”

“A little.”  He won’t tell her about the bottle of whisky he’d polished off, or how guilty he feels about it now. Some things are better left unsaid.

“Do you want me to come there?” Esme asks. “I could stay for a couple of days. Just to make sure you’re okay.”

“I’m fine,” he insists.

“That’s horseshit and you know it. If you want me to come…”

“It’s not that I DON’T want you to. It's that I also want you to say with kids. Where I know you’re safe.”

“I’m safer with you. I trust you. These people are strangers and I can’t just blindly trust them. I at least know...one hundred percent...that I’m safe with you.”

“They’re not all strangers,” he argues. “Nik’s there.”

“Nik isn’t you. Seriously, if you want me there…”

“I do. You have no idea how much. But I want you to stay with the kids. MY kids. Bad enough I’m gone; they don’t need the two of us taking off.”

“And you’re going back out tonight?”

“Yeah,”

“Alone?”

“Don’t start.”

“How dangerous is it? Is it something you should be doing alone?”

“On a scale of one to ten? Maybe a three.”

“I don’t trust your scale. What you can handle and what a normal person can handle are two entirely different things. How many people this time?”

“Four.”

“Four? By yourself? Tyler, what the fuck?”

“It’s not hands on. Sniper work. It’ll be easy. Four shots and I’m done. Nothing to worry about.”

Esme sighs heavily. “I think you just gave me a hundred more gray hairs. This is insane. Four people? By yourself?”

“I just told you…”

“I know what you told me. I think it’s too much. Even for you. Take someone with you. Please? For my own peace of mind.”

“Esme…”

“Tyler…”

“I’ll see what I can do.”

“Now is NOT the time to be stubborn. I’m just worried. You know that.”

“I do know that.”

“And I know that you won’t take anyone with you. Just be careful, okay? These people are smart. And that makes them even more dangerous. Just be careful and be safe, okay?”

“I will,” he promises. “I gotta go. I walked out in the middle of a team meeting.”

“You could have just said that at the beginning and you could have called me back.”

“You’re more important than any meeting. And I needed to talk to you. To hear your voice.”

“I needed that too,” she admits. “Maybe later you can phone and I can hear it again. This time saying more ADULT stuff.”

Tyler grins. “I could do that.”

“Oh I know you can. I know the filth that is capable of coming out of your mouth. I better go; before Tanner starts planning my wedding to Anil.”

“Well he could give you a better wedding than I gave you” Tyler reasons.

“Ours was perfect. It was small and it was quaint and it was very us. I love you. We’ll talk later.”

“Yeah, we will. And I love you, too.”

“Be safe. Call me as soon as soon as it’s done. So I know you’re okay.”

“I will,” he promises. “Let me know where you’re registered so I can get you and your second husband  a wedding gift.”

“You’re not funny. In the slightest.

“That’s ‘cause I’m fucking hilarious.”

“In your own mind, maybe. Talk later.”

“For sure,” he says, then presses end on the phone. And he sits there for several minutes; eyes fixated on the blackened screen of the cell clutched tightly in his hand. Attempting to control the profound ache that settles deep in his chest.  That overwhelming loneliness. And impending sense of doom.

[justlightlysedated]

137. “You know I could never leave you alone on your favorite holiday.”

dedicated to @fraudulentzodiacs and @bisexualalienblast and 😊❤💜

*

one.

Michael is working on the last chapter due in Calculus before the winter break starts when he hears someone clear their throat.

He looks up and Alex Manes stands in front of him wearing all black, with a long red and green patterned scarf and a Santa hat that has the words, bah humbug, stitched in gold on the brim.

His messenger bag is hanging by his hip, and he's holding something that is definitely guitar shaped and wrapped in silver foil wrapping paper.

His cheeks are pink, and Michael doesn't know if it's from the cold or something else, but Alex just exhales roughly and takes a few steps closer.

"I'm not too big on this whole Christmas thing and when I got you for the Secret Santa, I swore that the world was just trying to punish me for daring to be out and proud, because I know how much you love Christmas," he pauses and Michael tries not to flush as Alex eyes the tinsel garlands that he has draped around the truck bed.

"But I put on my big boy pants and did some research, which you owe me so many milkshakes for the amount of years speaking to Isobel Evans has taken from my life, but anyway, Merry Christmas," he finishes and holds out the guitar shaped package.

Michael looks at it with wide eyes for five full seconds before he looks back up to Alex, who is frowning at him.

"Are you for real?" Michael asks when Alex just shakes the guitar in his hold, obviously waiting for Michael to take it.

"Isobel told me you like music and both Max and Maria confirmed it, and I've seen you messing around with the guitar in the music room, but I kind of figured you didn't have one of your own. It isn't brand new or anything, but it'll be of more use to you than hidden in my closet."

Michael reaches for the guitar with shaking fingers, and Alex pushes it into his hands.

Michael undoes the wrapping paper carefully, and he can tell from the way Alex starts fidgeting that he's fighting with himself so that he doesn't reach forward and help Michael open his gift.

Michael uncovers the guitar case and it's an old and fading leather, but it looks well taken care of.

He sets the guitar on his lap, and unzips the case carefully. The guitar is well used, but also well taken care of, and looks like it was restrung recently. There is a sticker whose edges are fading into the wood of the guitar itself that says, Bonnie Ruins.

He passes his fingers over it and looks up at Alex who is biting down on his bottom lip.

"Bonnie Ruins?" He questions.

Alex gives him a half smile, "It's the name of the band my mom wanted to form when she was my age. The guitar was hers. It's the first one I ever held in my hands."

Michael exhales roughly, shaking his head and getting ready to hand the guitar back, but Alex is shaking his head.

"I want you to have it," he says, looking at Michael intent and serious. "I have my own, and I know my mom wouldn't mind."

Michael licks his lips and swallows hard and then looks back down at the guitar.

He inhales deeply and nods his head looking back up at Alex. "Thank you."

Alex smiles wide and bright and it very nearly knocks Michael back, stealing all of the air from his lungs.

"You're welcome," he answers and pulls out several folded sheets of paper and holds them out as well.

"Just a few songs, I didn't know if you knew and others I think you'll like."

Michael can't help but smile back at Alex. He sets the papers down beside him and takes the guitar out of the case, setting the case aside with the papers.

"Any requests," he asks, strumming along the strings carefully.

Alex just laughs and drops down to sit beside him, pushing the papers and case back further into the truck.

Michael listens to him talk while he strums the strings and thinks that maybe Christmas is going to be different from now on.

two.

Michael usually spends his Christmas with Max and Isobel, but there is something about this year that makes him hesitate, which is the only reason why he's walking out of the Airstream that late.

Alex stops as he looks up and sees Michael standing in the doorway. 

He’s wearing his uniform and the same red and green scarf from the previous year with the same hat, but even with it covering his head, Michael can see how short his hair is.

Michael hasn't really seen him since that day in the tool shed. He'd heard about Alex joining the Air Force from the rumors going around town. The only time that Michael had tried to approach him since then, Alex had looked so terrified out of his mind, like he was expecting his father to materialize just because they were near each other, that Michael had just left him alone.

He had thought that they would have had more time then. And right now, watching as Alex looks at him with a look on his face that looks both ecstatic and upset, he had thought that there was no time left, but of course, Alex was here to prove him wrong.

Alex takes a step forward and accidentally kicks a small stone, that hits the side of the Airstream with a low metal plink.

It's that, that confirmation that Alex is actually there that sends Michael into motion.

Alex inhales like he's going to say something, but Michael needs something else first.

He digs his fingers into the back of Alex's neck and pulls him in, and Alex exhales roughly, eyes going a little wide.

"Wha-?" He breathes and Michael muffles the rest of the words with his mouth.

Alex makes a low noise at the back of his throat, and then wraps his arms around Michael’s waist, fingers snagging against the fabric of Michael’s sweater as he pushes into him, kissing Michael back.

Michael feels the kiss sink through him, hot and heady like molten wax, lighting up parts of him that he had no idea could still be reached.

Michael parts their mouths, keeping their heads close together and  inhales deeply.

Alex sighs and nudges their noses together. Michael’s eyes flutter open and Alex is staring right at him with bright eyes.

“Hey,” he whispers.

“Hey,” Michael says back, sliding his hands down the back of Alex’s neck and wrapping his fingers in the collar of his shirt.

“Merry Christmas,” he whispers next, words pressed into the space between their mouths.

Michael finds his mouth twitching at the corners. “You got a present for me.”

Alex nods his head, brushing their noses together. “It’s in my car.”

Michael hums low in his throat, and slides his hands down to play with the buttons on Alex's shirt. "I was kind of hoping for something else."

Alex laughs, a soft startled sound, and Michael licks into his mouth, kissing him deeply.

He tugs Alex inside of the Airstream wordlessly, and Alex follows after him, eyes on Michael's mouth, trapping him right against the entrance, and kissing him hard and fast before nudging both of their faces up, "Mistletoe."

He smiles as he looks back at Michael and he sounds fond and happy, and Michael pushes him deeper into the trailer, closing the door shut.

*

When Michael wakes up, his phone is ringing to the tune of Oh Christmas Tree and Alex is nowhere to be found.

On top of the counter next to ringing phone is a black cowboy hat, the green and red scarf tied like a bow around the rim, a note taped to the scarf:

Isobel told me about the job at Fosters. Found this old hat while cleaning out my room. Hope you like it. xA

three.

Michael only remembers that Alex had mentioned having a roommate when he’s knocking on the door again and a voice he doesn’t recognize is telling him to hold the fuck on.

Michael hadn’t really thought things through beyond, Alex can’t come to him and he’s sad about it so, the logical thing to do was to go to him.

So here Michael was after several hours on the road after being awake for about five days running, standing right in front of Alex’s door, the ridiculous green and red scarf wrapped around his neck, the cowboy hat pulled low over his brow so he has to tip his head up and back when the door opens and this mountain of a man fills up the space, dressed in a tank top and a pair of shorts, wearing a seriously annoyed expression on his face.

Michael is trying to remember his name, when Alex’s voice comes from somewhere behind him.

“Hey Eddie, who’s at the door-”

Eddie moves back so that Alex can see, and Alex stops speaking, eyes going wide, lips parting in surprise.

Michael can’t help the way that his lips twitch up at the corners as he’s flooded with warmth at just the sight of him.

It had been roughly five hours since he’d hung up the phone on Alex after Alex told him that he wasn’t going to be able to make it home for Christmas.

“Guerin,” he says sounding breathless and like he can’t actually believe that Michael is actually there.

“Wait,” Eddie says. “Guerin as in Michael,” he turns from Alex to Michael. “You’re Michael Guerin?” he asks and his voice is full of disbelief.

Michael bristles immediately. “Sorry to disappoint you.”

Eddie laughs a booming laugh. “Oh no, I just expected you to be taller. The way that Alex talks about you-”

“Okay,” Alex says cutting him off. “Didn’t you say you have an early morning tomorrow?”

Eddie just rolls his eyes and shares a look with Michael before walking inside and leaving the door open.

Michael watches him as he walks into his room and closes the door behind himself, and then Alex steps into his line of vision and Michael forgets that anyone else exists.

He hasn’t seen Alex since last Christmas, and while seeing him once a year is definitely not the way that he wants things to be, at least it’s more than he expected when Alex had left Roswell the first time.

“What are you doing here?” Alex asks as he takes a step forward.

“I have no idea,” Michael answers honestly, moving in tandem.

They eat up the space between them easily, and Alex’s fingers are reaching out and snagging on the scarf and Michael’s hands are twisting into the excess fabric at Alex’s waist, and they meet in a kiss that is probably a little more desperate than usual, but Michael gives into it immediately.

Alex pulls away from his mouth. “I thought-” he starts on an exhale, and Michael presses his hands into his lower back bringing him in close and tipping his chin back to kiss him again.

Alex’s fingers press into the hollow of his throat and he kisses him harder, licking into his mouth when Michael gasps.

Alex tugs Michael through the unfamiliar room and into his room, and Michael cheats a little, and he's definitely more than a little reckless, but by the time they make it into Alex's bedroom, it's too late to actually be worried about it.

The door closes behind them with a click and Michael drags Alex into another kiss, distracting him immediately.

Alex kisses him, pushing him further into the room until Michael's shins hit the side of the bed.

Michael pulls away from the kiss with a gasp, and opens his mouth to talk about how presumptuous Alex was being when he notices the way the room is dimly lit with a soft multicolored glow.

He finds the source quickly and feels his heart skip a beat in his chest.

In the corner, right on top of the desk that Alex uses to study for his required coding degree, is a small artificial Christmas tree, the one that has the fiber optic lights.

They cycle through the rainbow as Michael watches, and he can see the too big ornaments that were a part of a Christmas present Michael had given Alex two years ago, so that he had a little piece of Christmas wherever he went.

Michael turns his gaze back on to Alex's face, who is staring at Michael with his bottom lip trapped between his teeth, like he's worried about Michael's reaction.

Michael swallows down around his heart that he can feel in his throat, and smirks. "Been thinking about me, I see."

Alex scoffs and pushes him back, making him trip and fall onto the bed.

Michael bounces slightly on the mattress and Alex is climbing up on the bed and straddling his lap before Michael can even lean up on his elbows to look at him.

Alex bends over him, his weight settling along Michael's lower stomach as he leans over Michael and kisses him again.

Michael settles his hands low on Alex's thighs and opens his mouth to Alex's questing tongue.

"You're the best present I could ask for," Alex whispers, words brushing against Michael's lips. "And I didn't get you anything."

Michael drags his hands up to the waistband of Alex's pajama pants and tugs on them a little.

He tips his head back and pushes their noses together.

"I think that you're doing a good job so far."

Alex presses his smile to Michael's mouth, and then sits up.

Michael makes a low noise in protest, tugging even more on his pants, but Alex leans up on his knees and reaches for something he's got hanging on the headboard.

Michael hears the soft tinkling sound of metal and Alex settles back down on his lap, holding whatever he got in one hand.

"I've been trying to figure out how to give this to you for a long time, so don't make a big deal about it, or anything."

Michael furrows his brow in confusion and just looks at Alex expectantly.

Alex opens his hand and lets the necklace drop.

It hangs from his fingers and he shakes it slightly.

Michael stares at the pendant hitting against his chest blankly for a few seconds and then realizes what he's looking at.

He darts his eyes back to Alex who is wearing the same look on his face from before, but more, like this is really important and he's afraid of how Michael is going to react.

Michael swallows hard and looks back at the dog tags. He can just make out Alex's name and a string of numbers.

He looks back at Alex's face and leans up on his elbows.

Alex moves with him and gives him a disbelieving little smile, but he pulls Michael's hat off his head and tugs the scarf and throws it aside before he slips the chain over Michael's neck, pressing his hand down on the tags that hang directly over Michael's heart.

Michael feels his heart skip a beat and he moves, wrapping his fingers in the collar of Alex's soft cotton shirt, and he pulls him in as he lies back down, just barely brushing their lips together.

Alex settles his hands on either side of Michael's head and pushes into him, dragging Michael into a slow deep kiss.

Michael slides his hands to Alex's back, slipping his fingers beneath his shirt and gets lost in the taste of Alex's mouth and the feel of his warm smooth skin.

An alarm sounds out and Alex jolts in his hold, biting down on Michael's lip a little too hard.

He pulls back and says, sorry, before he leans over and shuts off his alarm.

Michael notes the time and looks back to Alex raising an eyebrow.

Alex rolls his eyes a little, his cheeks going pink, and he just sighs. "I was going to call you at midnight."

Michael can't help the slow smile that spreads across his face.

Alex drops their foreheads together and smiles back at him, soft and private. "Merry Christmas."

Michael just slides his hands up to the back of Alex's neck and tugs him in for another kiss.

four.

Michael is on his falling apart flip phone, trying to tell Isobel that he's busy and won't be making it to her and Noah's first Christmas brunch as a married couple, when he spots the package taped to his front door.

He hangs up on Isobel calling him a bad brother and pulls the package off with a loud noise.

He shakes it a little, and when nothing happens, he walks into the Airstream with it tucked beneath his arm.

He sets it down on his desk and finds a letter opener and opens it up.

There is a big plastic bubble stopping the smaller white box from moving around too much.

Michael spots a charger and he knows that the box is the same dimensions as a phone, but he doesn't know who on earth could possibly send him a new phone.

He opens the small white box and the phone slides out into his hands, smooth and black and silver and he puts it to charge, wanting to turn it on to see if there are any clues.

He gets the biggest clue, when the phone blinks on, and the lockscreen is a picture of Alex, obviously a selfie, wearing his Santa hat and Michael can just make the scarf out from where the picture cuts off at his neck. He's smiling, wide and bright, the opposite of his soft Michael smile, but it still sends Michael's heart racing.

He unlocks the phone, but before he can do any exploring, a message pops up to remind him to call Alex🖤.

Michael clicks on the contacts and the only two numbers listed are Izzy and Alex with a black heart emoji.

Michael presses the call button, accidentally calling him via video and trying to close out of it, but Alex responds before he can, appearing on his screen with the same wide smile, but his hair is wet from what Michael assumes is a recent shower, and there are bags beneath his eyes, and he looks like he's in need of a few good nights of sleep.

Michael feels a small jolt go through him at the fact that Alex looks like he hasn't had a good night's sleep since he came and disrupted their routine for three nights in October before he had to leave because he was going overseas.

"Merry Christmas," he says, leaning back against what looks like dull grey painted bricks. "I hope you like your gift and that you don't mind that I put you on my phone plan. It'll make communicating much easier."

Michael wants to protest, but he can't really find it in himself to.

"Thank you," he says instead, gratefully.

Alex's smile goes soft, and he looks away, over the phone camera. "It's no problem at all, Guerin.You know I could never leave you alone on your favorite holiday.” 

Michael shakes his head slightly and has to give Alex a smile, like he has no idea what he's talking about, because he really doesn't.

“It’s only my favorite holiday because I get to spend it with you," Michael admits, and Alex stops, freezing so absolute that Michael thinks for a second that the call is stalling, but then Alex blinks a few times, rapidly and looks away.

He swallows and then exhales and looks back at Michael with a determined expression on his face, eyes dark and serious.

"Three more years of this and then I'm done," Alex says, and Michael feels his heart thud hard in his chest.

"Are you saying what I think you're saying?" Michael asks feeling breathless.

Alex opens his mouth to answer and then he actually freezes, and then the screen goes dark and starts blinking that the call was disconnected.

Michael exhales roughly and drops the phone on top of the counter, taking in a deep breath.

The heavy silence is broken by the roll of thunder, and Michael nods his head, figuring that he was just that lucky.

The phone beeps and Michael picks it up immediately, unlocking the phone and pulling up the message.

From Alex🖤: Bad reception on my end. I'll call you when I can. There are two more presents heading your way. See you when I can.

Michael just turns the phone off and looks at his other phone which starts ringing immediately, Isobel's name flashing across the screen.

The other phone vibrates and beeps in his hands again.

From Alex🖤: Go have brunch with your sister, and eat some waffles for me.

Michael just rolls his eyes and answers Isobel's call.

"Fine," he says before she can say anything. "I'll go, but only if you made waffles."

Isobel scoffs, "What am I, an amateur?"

Michael just rolls his eyes and hangs up the phone.

five.

Maria stands between the door and his bed with her arms crossed. She’s glaring at him and her arms are crossed over her chest and she’s wearing a black beanie over her head and thick brown jacket and orange and brown and turquoise patterned scarf.

She looks kind of adorable, and Michael would tell her, except he thinks that if he says something wrong right now she’s going to kick his ass.

“Look,” she says sighing. “I’m not only here because Isobel asked me to come here. I’m here as your friend. And you shouldn’t be alone during Christmas. It’s not right.”

Michael bites down on the automatic caustic remark at where was she last year when he spent Christmas getting too drunk to think straight since Alex refused to see him.

He’s about to tell her that he never spends Christmas alone when there is a knock on his door.

Maria raises her eyebrow at him and he just shrugs. He already knows who is at the door.

“Hey Guerin,” Alex says, and Maria goes so still Michael thinks she might actually have stopped breathing. “I know you’re in there acting like an asshole and ignoring your sister’s invitation for brunch-”

Maria gives Michael a judgemental look probably at the fact that Isobel has to recruit more than one person to talk him into spending Christmas with her.

“-but I have waffles and coffee and those weird peppermint chocolates that you like, plus,” he continues and his voice goes a little tight with tension. “The present that you didn’t open last year.”

Michael frowns and looks at the door with a furrowed brow.

They haven’t talked about what happened last year, and Michael had been pretending that it wasn’t all that he was thinking about as December had gotten closer.

“He got you a present last year?” Maria asks, throwing a rag from the counter at Michael.

Michael gives her a confused look. “He gives me a present every year?”

Maria purses her mouth and just eyes him in a way that Michael can’t really understand, so he just turns back towards the door, and narrows his eyes like he’ll be able to see Alex if he concentrates hard enough.

“I thought we were pretending last year didn’t happen,” Michael says, and he can almost see the way that Alex exhales and clenches his jaw.

“I’m sorry for not acting rationally while I was healing from an injury,” Alex says, and Michael rolls his eyes, pushing himself to his feet and walking pass Maria to open the door and glare at Alex properly.

“You know that that’s not what this was about,” Michael says, and ignores the way that Alex smiles at him, like he’s happy that Michael is out of bed. “If you had just spoken to me instead of assuming I wouldn’t care-”

“That is not what I did,” Alex says cutting him off and taking a step towards him. “I didn’t want you to see me like that.”

Michael scoffs. “I didn’t care then, and I don’t care now. You should’ve just told me, but instead you made me believe that you never wanted to see me again.”

“I’m sorry,” Alex says, and he’s looking at Michael with wide pleading eyes, wearing that stupid bah humbug Santa hat, and the scarf, and Michael just wishes that he could bundle him up into his bed and never let him go again.

“I’m sorry,” he repeats again like he can see the crack in Michael’s armor. “But I’m here now. And I have waffles.”

He lifts the take out bag in his hand, and Michael stares at it and then looks up at him. “Just waffles?”

Alex rolls his eyes. “Waffles topped with strawberry jam and powdered sugar,” he says, with an obvious tone in his voice.

Michael just rolls and takes the last few steps down to grab the bag.

“There’s enough for all of us to share,” Alex says to Maria, who Michael had actually sort of forgotten about.

Maria just shakes her head as she walks out of the Airstream, moving pass Michael and half smiling at Alex. “Don’t worry about me. I’m going to have lunch with my mom.”

Alex smiles back at her and then turns back to Michael. “I’m going to get the coffee from my car.”

He turns towards his car, and Maria turns to Michael.

“You could’ve said you were waiting for Alex,” she tells him, eyeing him a little intensely like she’s trying to get into his head.

Michael licks his lips and stares as Alex looks around in the passenger seat like he’s giving them privacy.

“It’s not like it’s a secret, but I’ve kept it one for so long that it’s difficult to tell anyone else about it.”

Maria nods her head and she looks at Alex, and there is a sad turn to her mouth as she asks. “How many-?”

She trails off, but Michael already knows what she’s trying to ask. “Every Christmas since he was my Secret Santa senior year.”

Maria makes a low noise of disbelief and she just rolls her eyes upwards and then walks away towards her car.

She tells Alex something that he can’t hear, but makes Alex laugh, and then she’s getting into her truck and leaving and Alex is walking towards him, a carton tray in one hand and a small box in the other.

“Merry Christmas,” Alex says and hands the box over, taking the plastic take out bag from him as he pushes past him and walks into the Airstream.

Michael just inhales deeply and opens the box.

Inside is another small square box with Michael knows is for a watch.

He opens it up and finds that it is a watch, but one that apparently times the alignment of the planets instead.

He passes a thumb over the glass surface and then jumps a little when a burst of static comes out of his ancient speakers, before the sweet sounds of Christmas music fills the air.

Michael just closes the box again and heads back inside closing the door behind himself.

six.

“We’re going to be late,” Alex says as he manages to slip away from where Michael had trapped him at the door with a slight tug against the red and green scarf he’s wearing and an, oh look it’s mistletoe.

He manages to get out of the door and halfway to the car before Michael even realizes that they're not kissing anymore.

Michael follows after him, pushing the tinsel falling from the brim of his hat, back to where it belongs, and closes and locks the door with a flick of his wrist.

"Izzy isn't going to care," Michael says as he gets into the passenger side of Alex's car.

"Your sister wants everything to be perfect and it won't be unless you and Max are there, and you don't have any reason to not spend Christmas with her."

Michael sighs and just leans back in his seat, putting the seatbelt on when Alex clears his throat meaningfully, only then does he put the car in reverse and pull out of the driveway.

Alex finds a radio station playing Christmas songs, and Michael relaxes a little bit more, closing his eyes and inhaling deeply.

If he stays still, and keeps his eyes shut, he can just pretend with Alex's low humming and the low whir of the heater that they're back in the Airstream, waiting for Michael's ancient coffee machine to finish percolating and not heading to Isobel's.

It's not that Michael doesn't want to spend Christmas with Isobel, it's that he'd gotten so used to just spending Christmas with Alex, that it was weird to share it with anyone else. 

Alex doesn't say anything until they're parking outside of Isobel's new apartment.

"It's only going to be for a few hours," he says, and Michael opens his eyes and turns his face to look at him. "And if you behave and act like you're enjoying yourself, just a tiny bit, I'll let you try out any of the gifts we got from Cameron."

Michael feels his whole body perk up at that promise, leaning in close to Alex, who is smiling at him, mostly with his eyes. "You promise?"

Alex just smirks and leans in a little closer, like he's going to brush their mouths together only to move away and out of the car.

Alex is laughing when Michael catches up to him and he traps him right against the door, nudging his face up by pressing his nose to Alex's cheek.

"Mistletoe," he whispers, and before Alex can confirm it, Michael is kissing him.

Alex makes a low muffled sound against his mouth but he wraps his arms around Michael's shoulders and kisses him back, leaning fully against the door.

Isobel, of course, opens the door, right when Michael knows that Alex forgot where they were.

They stumble a little, but Michael keeps their balance, glaring at Isobel who sighs like she's been through enough.

"I miss the days when you were just friends who could barely even look at each other."

Alex pushes away from Michael and kisses Isobel on the cheek as he walks past her inside of the house, and Michael just pouts at her.

"I was miserable then," he points out and she gives him a look like that's not her problem.

Michael just sighs and walks in as well.

Isobel keeps her eyes on him, but she has a full house. Michael finds himself surrounded by Max and Liz who are arguing about a book they're reading and trying to get Michael to side with the other, and then caught up in a game of darts between Kyle and Cameron.

He looks at Alex trapped in a game with Liz and Maria and they're all arguing over each other over the actual rules of the game, and feels warm and content.

It's not that he didn't enjoy himself when it was just him and Alex, but this wasn't something that he'd thought he'd ever had.

He spots Isobel standing by herself and looking at everyone and moves away from the others to go talk to her.

She raises an eyebrow when Michael leans next to her on the wall, and then takes a sip of her drink.

"Thank you," he tells her. "For doing this even though this year has been tough."

Isobel shrugs a little. "We all need some happiness and cheer every now and then, and besides, your boyfriend was the one who asked me to plan this whole thing."

Michael exhales a little in surprise and looks over to where Alex is laughing, bright and happy, throwing his head back in delight.

Isobel roll her eyes and pushes him, "God you're gross. Can you please go make moon eyes somewhere else? I'm trying to keep my drinks down."

Michael just rolls his eyes and pushes away from the wall.

Alex pulls away from Liz and Maria at the same time and meets Michael in the middle of the room.

He pulls something from out of his pocket, and opens his mouth, eyes shining bright, but before Alex can say anything, Michael is tugging him in for a kiss.

"Mistletoe," Alex says when he pulls back, blinking at Michael a little stupidly, lips parted, eyes wide, cheeks pink.

Michael looks above them and sees that Alex is holding a plastic sprig of mistletoe hanging from a string.

Michael looks back at him with a smile, "Izzy told me."

Alex's cheek go even more pink and he shrugs a little, reaching up to mess with the brim of Michael's hat. 

"I like it when it's just us, but I know that Christmas is your favorite holiday, and it's a community thing. I would explain it some more, but-" he cuts himself off and gasps dramatically.

"Is that mistletoe hanging from your hat?" He asks and drapes his arms around Michael's shoulders. "You know what that means?"

Michael smiles bright and happy and leans in close, and kisses him.