#noah hendrix / interaction.

[softlcve]

deep brown eyes stare daggers at her for the smallest of moments before his hands rub roughly over his face in pure frustration. "you are unbelievable," he mutters and turns to walk away from her. long strides only take him deeper into her place with eyes trailing around to take in everything he's seen so many times before and knows so well. it's all gone to him now though. "i told you this would be hard. i told you this would be so hard and you said you understood that." sharply turning around, he feels his stomach twisting in the most uncomfortable way. "my career is a transition that you said you would understand. i'm not playing anymore, ada. this is a change and you said you would be here with me." hand lifts to wave it in her direction, as if to brush aside everything. "you didn't even want to. you never wanted to be here with me. you were done the second i couldn't play anymore. you were done before that."

" so you're saying that this was me ? that i asked for this ? " the brunette questioned, delicate eyebrows furrowing together. deep down, she knows there's no point in bringing up the past. not when all it does is hurt them and drive them further apart, but she can't help herself. " you never wanted us, you wanted you. you wanted your career, your ambitions, your life ... and i was supposed to just fit into the cracks, wasn't i ? " her voice wavers and she lets out a forced laugh, heart clenching in her chest as a painful reminder of the love she'd given so freely only to feel it slip through her fingers. " you told me it would be hard, you just never told me it would be this hard. "

[its-nwarden]

Ardan’s Descendants: Book 1 Demo Update

Ardan’s Descendants

Ardan’s Descendants is a WIP interactive fiction game set in the land of Ardan where the world and nearly every living thing are filled with an energy called aether. You start off as a child contained in a lab within the snow biome (one of the regions in Ardan). After escaping that prison you end up in Gairo, Lycras located in the desert biome where you’re enrolled in an academy and trained to become a member of an elite task force that’s been assigned the mission of ending the string of kidnappings taking place across all five regions of Ardan.

Having previously been a victim of the kidnappings in your younger years, this mission may help unlock the blurry memories of your past. Who were you before being kidnapped? What happened to the others who were held captive alongside you?

Features:

- Create your MC!

- Choose how you manipulate aether.

- Pick your weapon.

- Grow your MC’s Personality.

- Romance one of the 12 ROs- 6 male, 4 female, 2 nonbinary.

- Shape your story.

DEMO: (Prologue)

The ROs

Dax Ikarus(He/Him)- The Leader of your unit was born in the forest biome in the capital of Koteva. He has golden brown eyes, coily black hair cut low into a fade, and dark brown skin. Three silver earrings hang from his left ear.

There’s no denying he’s a great leader who looks after and cares for his squad. He’s quite popular amongst the trainees in the academy. He’s dead set on rising quickly through the ranks and takes his job seriously, but he’s pretty laid back when he’s around friends. Which is why it’s easy to sense he doesn’t seem to like you very much.

Noah Hendrix(He/Him)- The leader of a different unit. Comes from a wealthy and powerful family in the desert biome. The eldest of the Hendrix siblings and best friend of Dax. He has brown dreads with the sides shaved, hazel eyes, and light brown skin.

Known as the life of the party. Whereas Dax is popular, Noah is Infamous. A nonstop flirt and reckless. He may seem a little chaotic, but gets deadly serious when it comes to his siblings.

Naomi Hendrix(She/Her)- Was one of your classmates at the academy and joined your unit after graduating. The middle child of the Hendrix siblings. She has curly brown hair that’s cut into a bob, dark brown eyes, and light brown skin.

The embodiment of nope. Not really interested in the whole task force thing because she rather not be in any line of fire. When she’s not being dragged on missions you can find her at the nearest mall.

Noel Hendrix(They/Them)- Joins your unit along with Naomi. They’re the youngest of the siblings and are the most likely to take over the family business. They have curly brown shoulder-length hair, dark brown eyes, and light brown skin.

Smart, strategic, and quick on their feet. They’re not much of a fighter but if you go to them with a problem, nine times out of ten they’ll find the solution to it.

Gem Caten(He/Him)- Potentially the first friend you make at the compound. He grew up there and started going to the academy at the same time as you. He changes his hairstyle a lot, but his natural hair is straight and jet-black. He’ll usually put it in a half-updo. He has smokey black eyes and pale skin.

He’s a carefree, go-with-the-flow type of guy. His mom is the head of medicine at the compound so he kind of just naturally joined the task force.

Cameron Nadir(He/Him)- Basically lives at the compound. He’s a junior medic in training when you first meet him. He has dark blue eyes, shoulder-length blonde hair that’s shaved on the right side, and lightly tanned ivory skin. He has tattoos all along his left arm.

People’s first impression of him may be that he’s a bit of a troublemaker, which he is, but he’s also very caring.

Fay Webster(She/Her)- The team’s gear maker. Gets all the uniforms and weapons mission-ready. Born and raised in the desert biome in the city of Nelens. She has fiery red shoulder-length wavy hair, dark green eyes, and a rosy complexion.

She's creative, outgoing, and her mind runs a mile a minute coming up with new ideas. She admires the members of the task force and does her best to supply them with the latest technology.

Audrey Rokk(She/Her)- An ambassador of the water biome. Was born in the snow biome but moved to the water biome for work. She has naturally blonde and long silky hair, but she dyed it blue. Her eyes are light blue and has an olive skin tone.

Honest and hard-working. Unlike the majority of government officials you've met, she's down to earth and seems to care about more than just her own personal gains.

LIMITED DATA

Vin(He/Him)- You met him as a child at the lab. He had ivory skin and dark brown eyes, but his right eye had speckles of blue in it. His straight dark brown hair went a little bit past his shoulders and was pulled back into a bun.

You vividly remember how soft-spoken he was. He would cling to anyone in your little group that would allow him to.

Yara(She/Her)- She is the first kid you met in the lab. She had long dark brown braids, dark brown skin, and amber eyes.

You remember her being aloof and unwilling to get involved in any of the other's shenanigans.

Zeke(He/Him)- Was brought to the lab a year after you were. He had short slightly curly black hair, green eyes, and pale skin.

He was always grumpy, but one thing he seemed to enjoy was giving you a hard time.

Iris(They/Them)- An assassin you meet on a mission in the water biome. They have white hair, stormy grey eyes, and very pale skin.

[softlcve]

"never. in fact, i love it when you get feisty." a wink is sent her way and noah can't hold back a growing smile. that's always the case when he's with tatum and it's no surprise that it happens again now. she brings out a playful side to him that isn't always easy to see. as she's in thought, he steps an inch closer and wraps his arms around her waist while leaning down enough to press a kiss to the top of her head. "yeah?" a bit of laughter comes from him and noah's head nods. "oh, we so got this. no more tree accidents around here." hands rub up and down her sides before he cups her cheeks. "want to take a break first? get a drink and then get back to it? i know being stubborn about asking for help much have tired you out." the playful banter never goes away.

"i vaguely remember you saying you like it when i'm feisty—is that compliment being revoked now?" the playful banter continued between the pair, something that definitely brought a smile to tatum's lips. not that it ever took much effort from him to make that happen. returning the peck on the lips, she immediately changed the expression on her face as she debated the proposition he brought up to her. "after the chaos of the tree nearly falling on top of me, i'm definitely going on your shoulders. we got this, babe," she declared, her tone light but determined. the memory of the tree incident was still fresh, and she wasn't about to risk another near-miss.

[btsqualityy]

BTS Second Pregnancy Series #18: Meeting Their Siblings

Author’s Note: This is the final part of the Second Pregnancy Series! Even though I will not be doing any more series pertaining to this universe, I do have multiple drabbles and extras planned so be on the lookout for those! Also, I will be doing another Baby Q&A for the second set of new babies so please be on the lookout because I’ll need for you guys to send me whatever questions you want answered! Thank you all for your love and support and I hope you enjoy it!

Kim Seokjin

“Y/N-ah, look who’s here,” Jin announced as he led Kaiden into your hospital room. You looked up from Carson, who was laying in your arms and you smiled as you watched Jin and Kaiden walk over to your bed.

“Hi Kade,” you greeted him, leaning over so that you were able to kiss his cheek.

“Hi Mommy,” Kade smiled, getting up on his top toes to try and get a look at Carson. “Is this the baby?”

“Yeah, it’s a boy,” you told him, moving Carson’s blanket a little so that his face was more exposed. “His name is Carson.”

“Like Kaiden,” Kaiden exclaimed as he looked up at you and you shook your head slightly as you smiled.

“Kind of, but it’s spelled differently,” you said. 

“Here, you can sit up here with Mommy,” Jin said, picking Kaiden up and setting him on the bed with you. As he did so, you noticed that Kaiden was holding a piece of construction paper in his hands.

“What’s that Kade?” You asked him, nodding towards the paper and he gasped lightly.

“Oh, I drew this for you!” He replied excitedly as he unfolded the paper and held it up for you to see. On the paper, there were three stick figures and what looked like a loaf of bread, except it had a head on top. “It’s Daddy, Mommy, me and Carson.”

“I told him that it kind of looked like a loaf of bread,” Jin laughed and you giggled as you nodded.

“It’s supposed to be Carson though, right?” You said and Kaiden nodded his head rapidly. 

“I told Daddy that you would know what it was,” Kaiden said triumphantly, and you didn’t have the heart to tell him that you agreed with Jin so you just let it go. Kaiden then started talking quietly to Carson, and you and Jin both smiled as you watched your boys interact.

Min Yoongi

“Hey hey,” your best friend called out as she stepped into your hospital room with Kinsley sitting on her hip. You looked up and smiled widely, watching as your best friend set Kinsley down on the ground before shutting the door behind her.

“Come here sweetheart,” you called as you held your hands out and Kinsley didn’t hesitate to rush over to the bed, climbing up onto it and immediately snuggling into your side, which made you laugh. “Did you miss me Kins?”

“A lot,” she whispered back with a nod and you leaned down to press a kiss to the top of her head.

“I missed you too sweetheart,” you replied. 

“What about me?” Yoongi called out and Kinsley lifted her head to look over to where Yoongi was standing with Kamryn in his arms.

“You too Daddy,” Kinsley giggled and Yoongi nodded.

“You better,” he grumbled playfully. Your best friend gasped and walked over to where Yoongi was standing, looking over at her second god daughter.

“Oh, she is beautiful,” your best friend whispered in awe. “I see that she took after Yoongi though and came out super tiny.”

“Don’t make me curse in front of Kam when she’s only been in the world for 24 hours,” Yoongi chuckled.

“You’d have to stand on a chair in order to say it to my face anyways,” your best friend laughed and you cleared your throat in order to stop Yoongi from saying anything back.

“Yoongs, bring Kam over here so that Kins can see her,” you told him and he nodded, walking over to the bed and sitting down on the opposite side of your body from where Kinsley was sitting.

“Babygirl, this is your sister,” Yoongi whispered as he held Kamryn out towards Kinsley, which made Kamryn start to fuss a little. Kinsley moved forward and looked over her little sister, looking up at you after a few seconds. 

“She’s pretty,” Kinsley whispered and you and Yoongi both smiled.

“She is pretty, just like you,” you told her, which made Kinsley blush and look back down at her sister. All of a sudden, you saw a camera flash go off and when you looked up, your best friend was holding her phone up towards the four of you.

“This was too cute of a moment not to catch,” she shrugged and you just shook your head and smiled before looking back down at your girls. 

Kim Namjoon

“Mommy!” You heard someone call out and you looked up, grinning widely when you saw Mason running into your hospital room. However, before he was able to launch himself up onto your hospital bed, Namjoon came running in behind him and picked him up off the floor, effectively stopping his plan.

“Daddy, I want Mommy,” Mason huffed, wiggling in his daddy’s arms and Namjoon chuckled before nodding his head.

“I know buddy but you have to be really careful with Mommy, remember?” Namjoon told him. “Mommy had a hard time getting Maia here so you have to be gentle with both of them, ok?”

“Ok Daddy,” Mason nodded and Namjoon walked over to your bed and set Mason down next to you. You opened your arms and smiled when Mason fell into them, being as gentle as he could as he wrapped his little arms around you.

“Oh, I missed you Myungie,” you whispered, pressing a kiss to his forehead before pulling away from the hug. 

“I missed you too Mommy,” Mason smiled and you brushed his fringe back away from his forehead. “Where’s Maia?”

“Right here,” Namjoon said as he pushed the little bassinet that Maia was resting in closer to the bed. He then slowly picked her up before handing her over to you. 

“This is your sister Myungie,” you said, leaning over so that Mason could get a good look at her face, even though Maia was asleep.

“Oh, she’s pretty Mommy,” Mason whispered as he looked up at you. 

“Do you wanna hold her?” You asked and Mason nodded his head rapidly. Namjoon showed him how to hold his arms and you gently set Maia into his hands, making sure to keep your hands on her as well. 

“Hi Maia,” Mason whispered to her and Maia whimpered in response. “I’m Mason, your oppa. I can’t wait for you to get bigger so that we can play together.”

“Oh, my heart,” Namjoon said dramatically, making you laugh at him before the two of you continued listening to Mason talk to Maia. 

Jung Hoseok

“Are you guys ready to meet your brother?” Hobi asked as he stood outside of your hospital room with the twins. 

“I’m ready!” Lennox exclaimed and Hobi smiled at him before looking over at Berkeley, who had been relatively quiet. 

“What about you Berk?” He wondered and Berkeley shrugged. “Nervous huh?”

“Yeah,” she nodded and Hobi chuckled before pulling her into a soft hug.

“You’ll be fine, ok?” He assured her. “Hendrix is gonna love you and Lennox.”

“Ok,” Berkeley whispered and Hobi pressed a kiss to her cheek before taking each of their hands in his hands and walking inside of your hospital room. You were sitting up in bed, holding Hendrix to your chest as you fed him. When you heard the door open, you looked up and smiled as you watched Hobi lead the twins inside.

“Hi babies,” you grinned. Lennox rushed over to the bed and climbed up onto it, while Berkeley stayed stationed at Hobi’s side. 

“Is that Hendrix?” Lennox asked and you nodded, pulling him away from your chest and covering up before turning Hendrix around so that Lennox could see him. 

“Come on Berk,” Hobi encouraged and he led her over to the bed, picking her up and setting her down next to Lennox. Berkeley moved over and looked down at Hendrix, a tiny gasp coming out of her mouth. 

“What do you guys think?” You questioned. 

“He’s too tiny,” Lennox summed up. “We can’t play with him yet.”

“Your mom didn’t think he was too tiny when she was having him,” Hobi muttered under his breath and you shot him a small glare.

“Lenny is right. He is little,” Berkeley said in awe and you smiled at her.

“He’ll get bigger,” you told her. “He’s about the same size that you two were when I had you.”

“Wow,” Lennox whispered and you smiled, looking up at Hobi who had been watching the four of you .

“You ready for how crazy our life is about to get now?” You wondered and he nodded.

“I’ve got you, so definitely,” Hobi grinned before leaning over and kissing your lips softly. 

Park Jimin

“Come on mini me,” Jimin called as he walked down the hallway to your hospital room. Noah caught up to his daddy, grabbing onto his hand as Jimin opened the door to your hospital room. You were sitting up in bed, having just finished feeding Sydney when they walked in. 

“Mommy,” Noah chirped as he dropped Jimin’s hand and ran over to the bed, where you helped him climb up before gathering him up in a hug. 

“Hi Noey,” you giggled, hugging him as tight as you could.

“Mommy, you’re squishing me!” Noah squealed and you let him go, smiling down at him.

“Did you have fun with Uncle Tae Tae?” You asked him and he nodded.

“Me and Spence made pictures for you and the baby,” he told you and you gasped playfully. 

“You did?” You said and Noah nodded his head. “I think your sister is gonna love them.”

“Sister?” Noah gasped and you nodded. You motioned to Jimin and he pulled the little baby bed that Sydney was resting in closer to where you and Noah were sitting on the bed. Jimin then picked her up and handed her off to you, and you turned her towards Noah so that he could see her.

“This is your little sister Sydney,” you told him and he leaned over to look at her, a small smile spreading over his lips. 

“Can I hold her?” He wondered and you nodded. Jimin fixed Noah’s arms for him and you then set Sydney against his chest.

“Hi Sydney,” Noah whispered. “I’m Noey.”

“What do you think mini me?” Jimin questioned and Noah looked up at him with a wide smile.

“I love her,” Noah said and he then leaned down and pressed a gentle kiss to Sydney’s chubby cheek. You felt tears well up in your eyes and when you looked up at Jimin, tears were already streaming down his face.

“Jimin-ssi” you chuckled, reaching up with one hand and wiping his tears away from him which made him laugh and do the same for you. 

“These are our babies jagi,” he grinned and you nodded, puckering your lips and giving him a soft kiss.

Kim Taehyung

“Where’s the baby?” Spencer asked as soon as Taehyung had shut the front door behind her. The day after Elijah’s birth, Taehyung called your parents and told them that their grandson had arrived and that they could drop Spencer back off at home.

“He’s upstairs with Mommy,” Taehyung chuckled as he helped her take her boots and jacket off. “Wanna go meet him?”

“Yes,” she replied quickly and she grabbed onto Taehyung’s hand as he led her  upstairs. They walked down the hallway to your and Taehyung’s bedroom, and you looked up from where you were holding Elijah to smile as you watched the two of them walk in.

“Hi Spence,” you said as the two of them walked over to the bed, and Taehyung sat down next to you before lifting Spencer up and setting her on his lap.

“Hi Mommy,” Spencer smiled as she leaned over and kissed your cheek. 

“Here’s your brother Munchkin,” Taehyung said and you turned to the side so that Spencer was able to see Elijah’s face. 

“He’s chunky,” Spencer giggled and you nodded, reaching down and stroking his cheek with your fingertip. 

“Do you think he looks like Mommy or Daddy?” You asked and Spencer titled her head as she examined Elijah’s face.

“Like Daddy,” she finally answered, looking up at Taehyung afterwards. “And hal-abeoji.”

“I think so too,” Taehyung smirked. 

“He’s cute,” Spencer smiled and Elijah opened his mouth, a large yawn coming out of his mouth. “Is he sleepy?”

“Probably, he just finished eating not too long ago,” you said. 

“We should let him sleep Daddy,” Spencer said as she looked up at Taehyung, who nodded in agreement.

“You’re right Munchkin. Do you wanna come help Daddy make lunch?” He wondered and she nodded. Spencer gave you one more kiss before she and Taehyung climbed out of bed, and you waved at them before they walked out of your bedroom.

Jeon Jungkook

“Hey baby,” Jungkook called and you turned your head away from the tv to look over at the door, where he was sticking his head inside. “Angel’s here.”

“Bring her in,” you smiled, turning off the tv and sitting up in bed.

“Just wanted to make sure that you were decent first,” he chuckled before opening the door all the way and ushering Ava inside. Ava stayed close to Jungkook’s side and you could tell by her body language and by the look on her face that she was nervous.

“Come here Avie,” you called as you held your hands out and Ava walked over to the bed, letting you lift her up onto the bed before you gave her a big hug. “I missed you my sweet girl.”

“I missed you too Mommy,” Ava replied, a giggle escaping her when you kissed her cheek multiple times. You looked up and saw that Jungkook was picking Aria up out of her small bassinet, which made her cry and fuss in his arms. 

“Is that Aria?” Ava wondered and you nodded your head as Jungkook walked over to the bed and sat down next to you. He adjusted Aria in his arms so that she was facing outward and Ava gasped as she looked down at her. 

“Her full name is Aria Jade Jeon,” Jungkook told Ava.

“Does she have a Korean name too? Like me?” Ava questioned.

“Yep, its Jia,” you said and Ava continued to look over Aria. 

“She’s really tiny,” Ava whispered.

“She is, but you used to be really tiny too when you were a baby,” Jungkook smiled. Aria started to cry again at that moment, and you looked down at her to see that she was smacking her lips together. 

“Looks like she’s hungry,” you said before looking down at Ava. “Do you wanna feed her?”

“Can I?” Ava gasped and you nodded.

“Kook, do me a favor and get one of the bottles that I pumped earlier please,” you requested and he nodded his head. Ava moved off of your lap to sit next to you and Jungkook handed Aria to you before getting up to retrieve the bottle. Once he had it, he walked back over to the bed and handed the bottle off to Ava, who then looked up at you for direction.

“Just put it into her mouth, but gently,” you reminded her and Ava nodded before doing so. Aria latched on immediately, making Ava gasp again.

“She’s eating so fast,” she murmured. 

“She must’ve been hungry,” Jungkook whispered, leaning down and pressing a kiss to Ava’s forehead before looking up at you and winking. 

[jvnex]

favorite family relationships/friendships you’ve played out?

Brace yourselves.

Empire is a very special place where I’ve been able to play s o m a n y amazing relationships out, let’s compile a list, shall we~

First and foremost— JJ & Harv Jarv the main man. Rip Marv Jarv the best uncle to ever exist unkno. I really do adore Autumn for playing my character’s father bc like who does that, no one. I appreciate that she can bring to life a father figure and make him so believable and accurate? Despite being in her twenties and... not.... a father... yeah. He truly is a lovable character and the fact that we can play off each other for inspiration/how our characters act and react to things is AMAZING. We’re like a guide for each other, ily and Harv mwah.

Liam & JJ have this incredible dynamic that I think is so fun to write out, he’s so human and you can clearly see that in everything he does. A true man. Accompanied with Millie the Jarvis fam is complete and we love all its members and everything they choose to do with their characters. I like that we’re able to headcanon things about their past without talking in depth about it with each other because we just know the family, we always figure a way for it to work out and fit in with their crazy shapeshifter hating asses. Liam making bets he can’t win and JJ taking advantage of that, Liam getting attacked by wildlife or spending all his money on Arizona tea— it just works.

Juju (JJ & Julian), JJ & Jonah— connections with the Rhodes are quite possibly the most important for her and Julian and Jonah are among those. I’m grouping them together bc I see them hanging out and doing random shit together don’t fight me. Junie B can be playful, sassy, serious or bitter with either of them and they always have the most entertaining (random?) threads. We still have SO MANY plots to explore with them and there is SO MUCH more potential, but we will get to that yes, yes we will. The shapeshifter hatred is strong in Juju, and burrito love is strong in JJonah.

CJ & JJ, the unholy,,, duo. They’re the best of both worlds, the brains and the brawn, the skill and the looks. Fight me. The hunting thread we had that lasted for literally 8 months will forever be engrained in my fucking memory, it has impacted JJ a lot and she’ll always bring up that evil sai blade, believe me. CJ pushes her where any other character couldn’t, it wouldn’t make sense, but with her it does. Among the most important characters for her to interact with for sure, period.

JJ & Hendrix are kinda like Liam & JJ in a way but also not because he’s, like, old. From inappropriate to childish jokes and jabs, they cover it all. It’s just rp crack like, we write mostly dialogue of random shit they bring up and I feel like I’m rping Wronah again. Again, we can headcanon shit and it makes sense right away. Let me picship my tvd universe fcs in peace, thanks.

Moving onto my witch bitch— Corrina & Lucian: two incredibly similar yet somehow different witchy woo siblings, very close in age and personality. They’re both so completely bitter and pretentious it kills me, it makes their interactions ridiculous and gives me drive to rp Corrina whenever I get the chance. I’m ready to explore future plots with them, there is so much we can do (Bordeauxs, vamp biz, Tallis family line bullshit) that I think will blow up the dash. Let’s do more six paragraph threads.

Hudson & Corrina make me wanna kms lbr. Her complex makes no sense but somehow Beca understands it and plays it out so beautifully in game. Hudson is a model older brother, even now as a serial killer black magic witch gone awry, he looks out for his siblings’ best interests at every waking moment which makes it difficult for me to be mean to him in replies like? I want to hug him, but I also want to jump him, climb him like a tree bc why are you using Justin Hartley the man, the myth, the legend. Planning out threads is like... a no, because somehow we figure out where they’re going through crude jokes and assumptions, and their relationship has evolved into the most extra thing on this planet.

Corrina & Kels are like, idk, I love Kels bc he’s normal in comparison to everyone else in the family idgi. He makes me happy, he makes Corrina happy. Nothing she holds against Hudson could ever be held against him, nothing she punishes Lucian for could ever be applied to Kelsey the main man because he is so good it hurts. Guardian angel plant brethren with a heart of gold, just living his life and helping others, being a good big brother (little brother, too) and mentor. With the recent addition of Laine there is more of this to come.

Elise & Corrina, Lola & Corrina— my very favorite friendship trio. I can say with the utmost certainty that my favorite species to play are witches. The power and the connection to the earth they have is really therapeutic?? w/e I really enjoy writing them, so to have three amazing witches to explore this with outside of immediate family connections is just astonishing. Coco and Lolo met and were friends before Eli and the gang were, but I feel such strong pulls from both of them. It was only when Elise came to the city that they became the best friends they are today. With the similarities between the Blossom and Buttercup, Bubbles is a breath of fresh air. A bright light shining on a field of flowers, keeping them strong, showing different perspectives and bringing some much needed niceness and humility to the table. Elise will always have two loving, supporting witch families to fall back on, the Carringtons and Tallises welcome her.

Corrina & the Vales. Close from a young age, exploring the frey and subways together, casting spells and shifting into bears—- these supernatural clusterfucks have it covered. Sheamus, the newest edition to the Vales (god bless an Autumn), is what I would call the perfect big brother, and I can see Corrina envying the Vales for their relationship with their eldest brother, wishing she could let go of her superstitions to go back to how she used to view things, *cough cough hudson*. Addison, fav vale of resident bratty Tallis, they have a very nice relationship. Maybe they can bond over Noah fucking them up ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ or maybe just more over ice cream. She’s seen her in diapers, Addison was a mess after Halloween and Devon’s death and the bitch was there to see her then, too. We are a #teamAddison fanbase over here, or I’d like to say Corrina is, but family is important to her so I really need to explore that with her and figure out where she stands on that— #teamHudson can choke. Levi is like,, idk she had a crush on him when she was younger but she’s comfortable enough around him to this day that she can almost forget about that. Threatens to kill him on the daily when he brings it up, their dynamic has me over the moon. Where a stranger with his personality would undoubtedly annoy her, she finds him charming and happens to see him as good company. And last but not least, Rosalie. The youngest Vale has a special spot in Corrina’s heart, a spot reserved for the ‘you-annoy-me-but-i-would-also-kill-for-you’ type people in her life. One day she loves her, the next she can’t stay far enough away from her. But they’re the same age and are family friends, I’d like to think they’d do anything for each other given the right circumstances.

As for characters from past rps it’s literally all wren who am i kidding,, here I go. Once again, BRACE.

Wren & Savannah, let’s talk about wREN AND SAVANNAH. Cousins turned siblings when we moved rps, but I could argue the cousin dynamic was better, don’t hate me. I used Ansel why? Idk, but it was a good choice, and Savannah was his reason for doing everything idc. She cared for him like a cousin, sister, and mother all in one— from when he had not-so-great parents to when they were siblings and had the BEST parents in all the land. Savannah Fontaine was a fucking rock, she never let up, never let anyone see her at her worst, never said anything she didn’t want to and she was so amazing. I love this bitch I could talk for hours and I will. Their dynamic was like,, well, Wren as the youngest was very goofy, he had his own way of thinking and was basically in his own little world. But Sav somehow brought him out of that and made him look at the bigger picture, asked impossible things of him (take over the coven why don’t you) and didn’t treat him like a stupid kid whereas so many others did. The overwhelming pain and love we felt when we played them was special, because I’ve never rped siblings that impacted me or my character so much, as weird as that sounds. Much love, xoxo your favorite brother

Bonnie & Wren are the best brotp I’ve ever played out to this day. Kori and I have a knack for playing best friend duos (enter Junny), but Wronnie was a special one. People shipped them which was.. weird, but Bonnie was a fucking mess and idk why they were friends other than we just made them friends. It developed into something so fucking amazingly beautiful that it killed me. I still read their threads whenever I think about them and envision so many things we could do with them now. Having a past like her’s wasn’t something that always pushed them closer but separated them at times. A hunter and a witch, weird unlikely friends I’d say, but would have done anything for each other. They were there for each other through parental struggles, advice about ship shit, supernatural problems, and just about anything you can think of. I wanna thank this bitch for playing the best best friend I’ve ever had in or out of rp, my life is sad.

Jonah & Wren, Benji & Wren. banjo bonjo, bingo bong the best times of my fucking life. Here I am praising Autumn again, my fucking queen, #1 bitch back off. Ok. I’m gonna put Jonah in a trash can. Benji is a friend with stilts. National egg day. Rp crack at its finest, I can’t make this shit up. Ted Cruz is an icon— these are just inside jokes sorry.

Wrenny (Wren & Lenny) were uh............ they had issues like, she was bad juju magic he was light shit and he hated that she did it. A good brotp until he went searching through her mind and she sent him flying fifteen feet backwards, then they were a notp. Like severely, Wren could probably kill her bc he hates the bitch. What reason, you ask? idk. Can we talk about Wriana (Wren & Diana) in the same paragraph,, I’m gonna do it. They’re both played by Marty anyway what do I care. I literally never have ships and when you ship with marty it’s an experience. Like I said: rainbow ringlets, mind blown, I am nothing. Mozzarella fucking fiends, they’re in love, virgin prince and princess.

Vince & Ivan and I’m mentioning this bc when do I play siblings with Martha. Rat kings, kings of not bathing, kings of vampiric murder, kings of hating original vampires. Uh idk I really liked that they were from Bulgaria or some shit, google translate is my friend tbh, their whole predicament was a lot. Surprise bitch, I bet you thought you’d seen the last of me, sike. Vince couldn’t control him, it was a lot, Ivan hated him, but also like his only living relative so whatever we’re brothers let’s go have some fun. U feel.

honorable mentions bc I’m too fucking dead to write anymore: tatum & wren, tatum & danny, shelby my bitch, ethan, TATE, caity cait, every sibling I’ve ever played to arianna. the delacroixs are thriving

[softlcve]

the man sighs in frustration because he's sure she's drunk, knowing she likely wouldn't be there without a little liquid courage to push her along. not that he's any better since he would end up doing the same if he had one too many drinks. shaking his head, he steps aside with the door held open until she walks in, then he shuts the door behind her. "you shouldn't be here," he speaks. long strides carry him towards his kitchen where he grabs her a glass of water and holds it out. "drink it. sober up," he insists. "i haven't heard from you in months and now you want to show up?"

"i am NOT drunk!" she complained, even though she knew that to appear in his doorway this late, she had to take a few shots. in cora's mind, though, the shots weren't enough to fully withdraw her conscience. "i wanted to see you. to talk to you. to... hell, i don't even know! all i know is that i've missed you. and i know you missed me too." with a step forward, she furrowed her brows in a serious expression. "will you please let me in?" though she asked, there's a slight mandatory tone to it.

[echobcrn]

🎊👍👌💭☺✍✍✍✍✍✍✍

munday interactions.

NO, WE CAN’T HAVE MORE THREADS. That’s straight bullshit and we both know it, wow. Obviously I absolutely love all of our babies considering we have like… 300 ships and will probably come up with more if my ass keeps adding muses. ( I’m so dramatic, we only have 6 ships but the other half of my dramatic response was still correct ). And because we have so many, I don’t think I can fully express how much I love all of them, tbh. But a bitch will try. Alasdair & Emma are… fabulous. She’s such a cutie pie and he’s gonna try to give her the entire world tbh. Oliver & Nicasia are the most amazing married couple and no one can tell me otherwise. They’re just so dedicated to each other and they act like high school sweethearts and they’re absolute Marriage Goals. I refuse to talk about Hendrix and Ivy because a Queen breaks my heart. Mikah & Aria are a hot mess but once they stop acting like idiots, they’re gonna be GOLD. And I can’t put Noah & Mia in a single sentence, I just can’t. They were our first ship and they’re always going to have a special place in my heart and it’s probably entirely because I love Mia so much omg. Anyway, I need to wrap this up because I could go on forever. So, to my point, this Turtle is amazing and I will give anyone that follows this amazing person a cookie tbh. ( an internet one.. real cookies won’t survive the travel. )

[easiestwaytoloseweight]

Book Reviews Part 2 Non-Fiction Audible books – Podcast 115

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Android | Google Podcasts | Stitcher | RSS

Today I’m sharing 11 non-fiction books that are a very interesting mix. The list includes books that can be considered among the BEST ever written, interesting stories, sad ones and funny books! Something for everyone! And I’m trying this new thing – Review in 2! I’m going to review all the books in 2 minutes or less – each, not total! I have a lot!

Follow @RunEatRepeat for more and check out RunEatRepeat.com for the show notes and links to all the books mentioned. 

Let’s start with a warm-up:

Updates… 

I have the Samsung Galaxy Note phone… I love it because it’s big and I’ve always used an android. But… I wanted the apple ear buds… air pods… ear pods? 

I was thinking about changing phones for that reason alone! But – I spotted the Samsung Galaxy Buds and my life has been better ever since (2 weeks ago). 

I recommend them! 

I recently updated RunEatRepeat to be easier to navigate – it seemed like it was hard to search on mobile. So I changed the homepage to break down the blog posts, recipes, podcast posts, training plans and discounts page.

Please let me know if it’s the worst. I’m open to constructive feedback and suggestions! 

I’m supposed to ask you for a favor… can you give me a ride to the airport at 5am next Tuesday? 

No? Oh, okay. 

Well instead – Can you please leave a 5K review for the podcast in your podcast app. I use Stitcher so I only know how to walk you through that… but whatever you’re on right now – I’d appreciate it. 

And be sure to subscribe to the show by adding it to your favorites or whatever so the episodes show up auto-magically and you never miss a beat! Thank you!! 

Top Non-Fiction Books Review Podcast…

The review of a book shouldn’t be longer than the actual book, right? Right. So I’m going to try and keep it short by reviewing all of these books in 2 minutes. I call it a Review in 2!! As in 2 minutes. Because it rhymes. If ‘Review’ rhymed with 9 it would be a nine minute review…so thank Mr. Webster or whoever made up the word ‘review’ for that one. 

You can see my previous podcast episode 114 with Fiction Book Reviews here.

Let’s go… 

Book Review Scale… 1 to 5

1 = Didn’t like it. Didn’t want to finish it. Wouldn’t recommend. 

2 = Assigned reading. Tedious.

3 = Okay. Either – good story w/ okay writing OR meh story w/ good writing. 

4 = Good! Liked it. Would recommend.

5 = Great! Loved it. Will recommend/force on everyone I talk to for a week after reading it. 

Non Fiction Books on Audible

Born a Crime: Stories from a South African childhood

by Trevor Noah

Rating: 4.5

Great. Loved this book. Loved that Noah read it – he was fun and animated. Love learning about his experience growing up in South Africa. Thought it was very interesting how he was treated differently because he was light skinned. 

Becoming

By Michelle Obama

Rating: 5

Loved. Love that she read the book. Love the insights into behind the scenes of the White House. I can’t imagine! I want more of that. All the little things that completely changed – like taking her daughters to school and going out to dinner – so interesting! 

Educated 

by Tara Westover

Rating: 5

GREAT. Also – heartbreaking and horrible. Ugh. I got so mad. If I think about it I’ll be mad again. I’m really upset with her parents. I cannot believe her brother. 

I’m going to give a spoiler: He adult brother KILLS his dog Diego. Stabs him to death. I hate it. It’s bullshit and he’s a violent person with an anger issue that’s a ticking time bomb. 

The Glass Castle

by Jeannette Walls

Rating: 5

Heartbreaking and frustrating. The reader’s voice sounded like my mom’s friend so it was a little distracting though. There’s an interaction with her mom towards the end that’s super frustrating. 

Small Fry 

by Lisa Brennan-Jobs

Rating: 3.9 while reading it… but later 4.

Go-kay. While I was listening to it I didn’t really love it. I text my bookie friend and she said she liked it. So I decided to make a bigger effort to give benefit of the doubt. As the book went on I started to like her more. 

Maybe You Should Talk to Someone 

by Lori Gottlieb 

Rating: 4.5

Great. So interesting to hear about a therapist going to therapy. BUT didn’t think it was super believable that she struggled over basic things like… does her therapist like her?… 

I Might Regret This: Essays, Drawings, Vulnerabilities, and Other Stuff

by Abbi Jacobson

Rating: 4.3

Great. I loved it, but it was too short. If you’re a fan of Abbi Jacobson you’ll like this. It feels like you’re on a road trip with her just chatting. I wish there was more.

Man’s Search for Meaning

By Viktor E Frankl

Rating: 5

Amazing. Perspective yo. 

Road to Jonestown 

by Jeff Guinn

Rating: 3.4

Okay. Read this because I wanted to start a book club with my 1 friend and he was already reading it. I didn’t know anything about Jonestown before reading it – and I think that was a drawback. A lot of the book told the story about Jim Jones and how he built his church and following in the US. It wasn’t interesting. It was like a boring history lesson at times? And if I would have known this guy is going to lead a cult and kill a bunch of people… maybe in that context he’d be more interesting. 

You’ll Never Blue Ball in This Town Again 

by Heather McDonald

Rating: 4.3

Life is a Marathon 

by Matt Fitzgerald

Rating: 4.8

Unexpected life story from a running coach sharing his life, relationships and running.  

You can click here to check out all the books on this list and more on Amazon:  Books – Reading or Listening on the Run. 

Currently Listening to…

Big Little Lies – by Liane Moriarty

and Getting the Love You Want – by Dr. Harville Hendrix and Dr. Helen LaKelly Hunt

Want more reading or listening suggestions? 

Podcast 114 – Fiction Book (Audible) Reviews

Podcast 111 – Reviewed Ladies Who Punch and Duped (both non-fiction)

   What books should I read next?

If you have any book recommendations please share them!! 

Comment on my IG post about this episode or DM me!! I like interesting non-fiction, light mysteries but nothing super violent, funny books, books that will change my life and make me a better person.  

Awards: 

Last place: Me.  

If you have a question for me… 

email [email protected] or 

call the podcast voicemail 562 888 1644 

Remember to tag @RunEatRepeat on instagram and let me know what you’re doing right now or what was the BEST part of your month so far. 

!function(f,b,e,v,n,t,s){if(f.fbq)return;n=f.fbq=function(){n.callMethod? n.callMethod.apply(n,arguments):n.queue.push(arguments)}; if(!f._fbq)f._fbq=n;n.push=n;n.loaded=!0;n.version='2.0'; n.queue=[];t=b.createElement(e);t.async=!0; t.src=v;s=b.getElementsByTagName(e)[0]; s.parentNode.insertBefore(t,s)}(window,document,'script', 'https://connect.facebook.net/en_US/fbevents.js'); fbq('init', '1461656587312254'); fbq('track', 'PageView');(function(d, s, id){ var js, fjs=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0]; if(d.getElementById(id)) return; js=d.createElement(s); js.id=id; js.src="http://connect.facebook.net/en_US/sdk.js#xfbml=1&version=v2.0"; fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js, fjs); }(document, 'script', 'facebook-jssdk')); Source link

.fb_iframe_widget_fluid_desktop iframe { width: 100% !important; } from EasiestWaytoLoseWeight http://easiestwaytoloseweight.com/book-reviews-part-2-non-fiction-audible-books-podcast-115/

[viralhottopics]

Everything You Need To Know About Choosing The Right Guy

The following is excerpted from the book Everything You Need To Know If You Want Love That Lasts.

Women cannot complain about men anymore until they start getting better taste in them. ~ Bill Maher

All the relationship advice in the world wont make any difference if youre choosing the wrong guy. This is the step that often gets missed or overlooked. Women hammer away, trying to pound the proverbial square peg into a round hole, then wonder what theyre doing wrong, why they cant seem to make it fit, why they cant get the love they want. You cant turn a losing stock into a winning stock. You cant force someone to change and to want what you want. You cant convince someone to feel a certain way about you.

I spent way too long chasing after guys who wouldnt or couldnt give me what I wanted, and then I wondered what was wrong with me when it didnt get me lasting love! The problem was simple: I was choosing the wrong men. It sounds straightforward enough, but its a very tricky thing. We fall for these guys because it feels so right, because were swept up in the passion, the chemistry, and the intoxicating aura of unavailability; we get sucked into the space that exists when someone is just beyond our reach and it makes us yearn for him. We convince ourselves that this is it, that hes the one and we just need to make him see it.

This is where the problems develop. This is where all the questions and tears and doubt and uncertainties and fears start to consume you. You mistake these feelings for true love because maybe youve never felt this way before, and you think it must be because this guy is different and this relationship is meant to last.

This is just a glimpse into the confusion that ensues when you choose the wrong guy. If youre hung up on a man who cant commit or wont commit or who is mean to you or who is just a mean person in general, a guy with baggage, a guy with serious issues, a guy who you think would be perfect if only he changed such and such, then youre setting yourself up to lose before you even begin, and you are blocking yourself from ever finding the love you want.

Where Healthy Relationships Begin

Before we talk about what to look for in a guy, its important to look at how relationships begin. The start of a relationship can oftentimes color our lenses and sometimes lead us down a bad path and into a toxic relationship.

Here’s a situation that may sound familiar to you (it was certainly a recurring theme for me in my single life!) You meet someone, something clicks, and suddenly it feels like a force outside of you has taken over.

After this encounter you can’tfor the life of youget this guy out of your head. You try to think about other things but nothing works. You ruminate over every detail of your interaction with himwhat he said, what you said, what his body language said. You think about the things you wish you had said.

You check your phone constantly to see if he called or texted. If he does, your stomach drops, your heart races, you want to leap off your seat and shout for joy. And then of course you need to figure out the exact right thing to say back to him, the perfect quip to show him that you’re perfect for each other.

The high continues as you venture into a relationship, and it becomes even more intense. You never quite know where you stand with him. The uncertainty keeps you on your toes, constantly on alert for something that looks like a bad sign or an ominous foreshadowing. This emotional rollercoaster is as thrilling as it is exhausting. You’re hooked. The worst possible thing that could happen is him leaving. It’s a fear you can’t quite shake no matter how promising the situation looks, a fear that drives everything you say and do.

Now another scenario.

You meet a guy, you think he’s nice and all, you have a good conversation, and he gets your number. While you’re pleased, you don’t go into a tizzy over it. You may check his Facebook profile, but only for a few minutes. You are happy to hear from him if he calls or texts, but you don’t notice the hours that pass in between your interactions. You go out a few times, not expecting much, but soon enough your interest and attraction begin to grow. Things feel calm, there’s no drama, no heart palpitations and it feels really nice.

Which relationship do you think has a stronger chance of survival?

Instinctively, you would say the second one. In real life, you would fall for the first. That’s because the first scenario illustrates everything we’ve ever been told about love.

In movies and romance novels, love is this grand, all-consuming force that takes you over in the most dramatic of ways. There are huge obstacles to overcome, but it’s OK because love conquers all! I mean, would any of us have cared for “The Notebook” if Ali and Noah were of the same social status, went on a few lukewarm dates, then got to know each other and developed a deepening connection over time? Don’t think so.

Unhealthy Relationships Start With a Pull

Relationships that start from a place of pure, unadulterated passion can seldom survive unless they have some substance and depth of connection to stand on. Explosive chemistry isnt what creates a lasting, healthy relationship. It can lead to great sex and feelings of euphoria, and you may come to understand why they say love is a drug, but no matter how intense and all consuming, that sort of thing is seldom sustainable long term.

When you feel a strong and sudden pull towards someone else, the kind that causes you to turn him from mere mortal to deity-like being, something sinister is usually at play. OK, maybe not sinister, but something that isnt exactly what you would term romantic. There are a few good reasons why we might become inexplicably drawn to someone who isnt good for us.

Imago Theory

This theory, developed by clinical pastoral counselor Harville Hendrix, Ph.D., posits that the pull we feel towards another person is guided by our unconscious desire to rectify some issue from our past. Imago is Latin for image, and the theory essentially states that we unconsciously seek partners who reflect the image of our primary caregivers so that we can try to heal lingering wounds inflicted by them by working through issues with someone in their image. These relationships present the opportunity to heal ourselves and become whole again, but they also pose the risk of continuing to pour salt into open wounds.

How it pans out is something like this: if your parents always made you feel like you weren’t good enough, you may seek out guys who make you feel like youre not good enough, then try to win them over in an attempt to rectify those painful feelings from your past.

If your father was very critical, you may find yourself drawn to a man who is very critical, trying to win his love and approval in order to heal from the hurt of your fathers rejection. These decisions aren’t conscious, they happen very deep beneath the surface in areas we can’t easily access. When we meet someone, we immediately sense everything about him, especially the way he makes us feel (again, this happens unconsciously).

On a conscious level, you may assess the things he says, but on an unconscious level, you’re looking at his body language, his tone, the way he phrases things, how much eye contact he makes, his whole demeanor. If your unconscious finds something familiar in that person, something that reminds you of an unresolved hurt from the past, it will light up and push you towards that person.

You may also unconsciously seek out partners who have some quality that is underdeveloped in you. For example, if you’re a Type A workaholic and always wished you could ease up, you may be drawn to a laid-back partner who isn’t so driven.

Maybe this sounds a little too New Agey to you, or maybe it doesnt describe your situation at all, but its a powerful concept and it has gained a

lot of praise and recognition in the field of psychology so its worth considering. I know Ive seen some of this at play in my own dating life.

Infatuation

Being infatuated sounds like a grand, romantic thing, but it can actually be quite dangerous. The problem with infatuation is it isnt based on anything real. Infatuation causes you to fall in love with an image rather than an actual person. It causes you to put someone on a pedestal and overlook his flaws. Since he’s so “perfect,” you become afraid to be yourselfI mean, how could your true self ever compete with perfection? You don’t want to say the wrong thing and scare him off, so you aren’t genuine in your interactions. You rely on his approval so desperately that you also become a bit needy. You may not act needy, but it’s something that lurks beneath the surface and he will pick up on it … men always do. You lose your sense of worth because it becomes so wrapped up in how he feels about you.

Healthy Relationships Build Slowly

Healthy relationships usually begin with mutual interest and attraction that grows over time. This is the complete opposite of unhealthy relationships, which usually start out with a grand light show that quickly simmers into ash. If you can internalize this, it will change the way you date forever.

The most important trait to develop is objectivity. No one really talks about that because its not so sexy, but if you want to find lasting love and prevent yourself from getting hurt, youll need to learn how to use your head a little more than your heart, at least in the beginning. Your heart can lead you into all kinds of bad places. Your heart is the one that tells you its a great idea to go for the bad boy whos just so dreamy, even when hes out on parole and struggling with addictions, or has told you he wont be in a committed relationship, ever. Your heart convinces you that the heart wants what the heart wants and who are you to deny your heart? Your heart doesnt operate according to reason or rational. It makes you do things that you later look back on and wonder, what was I thinking? But you werent thinking, thats not what the heart does. OK, I know Im being mean to the heart. It does have its benefits, but that comes later. In the beginning of a relationship, its best to remain as objective as possible and try to keep your emotions mostly contained.

The best way to do this is to try to go slowly. Ease into the relationship instead of diving in head first. This will create an environment for you to allow your level of interest and attraction to grow steadily over time, rather than flooding you all at once in a big emotional tsunami.

If you spend all your time with him, you risk overlooking critical information about who he really is and if the relationship is built to last. Just because two people feel strongly for each other it doesn’t always mean they can be together.

It is imperative to have a foundation of compatibility, shared goals and interests, and common values. Some things simply can’t be negotiated. Before you emotionally invest, it is wise to determine if you are fundamentally compatible. And the best way to do this is to go slowly. I dont necessarily mean physically, I mean emotionally.

When you first meet someone, you want to spend every minute of every day with him. You talk for hours and hours on the phone, text all day, you can’t get enough. The obvious reason this is problematic is because you may end up relying too heavily on the relationship for your happiness, but also, you don’t get a break from the emotional excitement and stimulation of it all. Then, if you realize this guy may not be right for you, you’ll be in too deep to get yourself out of the situation. You’ll instead rely on some clich like “love conquers all” to justify staying with him.

I am not saying to stay away from guys you feel a strong immediate attraction to and only date guys you’re only “meh” about. I think you should date both kinds of guythe infatuation guy could turn out to be a loser and the “meh” guy could turn out to be the love of your life. (I’ve seen it happen countless times!)

Either way you have to date smart. This will come more naturally with “meh” than it will with the object of your infatuation.

If you just met or just started seeing someone, I strongly advise that you try to limit how much time you spend with him early on. Try to not go on more than two dates a week or engage in marathon texting sessions that go all day. When you do this, you never get a break from the emotional high and you dont get a chance to come back down and recalibrate.

So many girls make the mistake of getting caught up in how the guy feels about them rather than focusing on how they feel about him.

You can avoid falling into this trap by doing regular reality checks. Make sure you see him and the situation clearly. The best way to do this is to make sure you can recognize his flaws. The way you know you’re infatuated is if you see no flaws. has flaws.

Why It Matters

When you get in over your head, you may convince yourself that something like him wanting to live only in the country and you wanting to live only in the city is not such a big deal. Someone who maintains a more objective perspective would acknowledge that she would be miserable living in the country, and since this guy wouldn’t choose to live anywhere else, she would get out of the situation.

I’ve seen (and personally experienced) many situations where a couple breaks up after a long period of time because of some issue that was apparent right from the beginningtheyre different religions, want to live in different states, one person doesn’t want kids. In every one of these situations, the couple believed that things would magically just work out. Imagine how much time and effort they would have saved and heartbreak they would have avoided had they been dating with their heads instead of their hearts from the beginning.

Qualities That Make Him a Keeper

A lot of women write to me begging to understand why their relationships always fail why guys treat them badlywhy they always get hurt … why they can’t get a guy to commit. The common thread in most of these cases is that these women are choosing men who clearly are not husbandor even relationshipmaterial and hoping that by some chance the men will suddenly transform into the knights in shining armor they want. This type of situation doesn’t exist anywhere aside from cheesy romantic comedies. If you choose to pursue a relationship with a guy who clearly isn’t relationship material, then you’re setting yourself up to fail before you even begin.

Trust me, I know all too well how enticing those damage cases can be. Sure, he has emotional issues, he’s jaded, he’s struggling at work, he has no direction, he still acts like a frat boy even though his acting-like-a-drunk-idiot-and-getting-away-with-it days expired years ago, but there’s a really great guy underneath all that and as soon as we deal with all this other stuff, then we’ll have an amazing relationship. I’m sorry, but no.

The problem with these damage cases is that they often have a lot of the qualities we want, but not the ones we actually need. There is a big difference between wants and needs when it comes to relationships, but it’s not always easy to make the distinction. You might want a guy who is tall and strapping and charismatic and a CEO of a major company, but a guy with those credentials might have a host of other qualities that arent good for you and dont fulfill your fundamental emotional needs. My husband is the opposite of the “ideal man” I had envisioned for myself, but even though he doesn’t have certain qualities I used to consider requirements, he is exactly what I need. That was clear to me and everyone around me very early into our relationship.

When I hit that stage in life where I realized I was done dating for the sake of dating and wanted to settle down and find “the one,” I realized that the kinds of guys I liked to date weren’t necessarily husband material, and I had to really examine my list of wants and needs and figure out the differences between the two. Doing so made all the difference. Suddenly the damage cases who were once oh so appealing did nothing for me.

Whether you’re single, dating, or in a serious relationship, these are the most essential qualities you need to look for in a man, the ones that tell you beyond a shadow of a doubt that he’s the one and this is it.

He loves your good qualities and accepts and embraces the bad without making you feel guilty for having flaws. You don’t need to hide your true self from him and put on a front in order to be what you think he wants. You can share your true self and be vulnerable and feel safe doing so, knowing that if anything it will make him feel even closer to you.

He is there for you when you need him, even if it’s inconvenient for him. A partnership will sometimes require sacrifice and compromise. Life is unpredictable and unexpected. You can’t predict what will happen and nothing can possibly go as planned 100% of the time. A guy who is husband material will be there for you when you need him. He will be in it with you; he will be your partner in whatever happens and will weather the storm with you, even though he might prefer to stay in the sunshine.

He considers you when making decisions, both big and small. A relationship is a partnership, not a dictatorship. Factoring you in shows that he respects you and that he wants to create a life with you, not simply envelope you in his world. Our worlds can be comfortable when we dont have to compromise, so it’s not always easy taking someone else into account and factoring in their wants and needs and preferences, but that’s what a relationship is.

He is growth oriented. No one is perfect; we all have flaws. And these flaws aren’t black and whiteusually a person’s greatest strength is linked to his greatest weakness. In a relationship, his behavior affects you (and vice versa) and sometimes his less developed traits will have a negative impact on you. A growth-oriented guy will want to work to strengthen his character. A guy who isn’t growth oriented will say its your problem and that this is just the way he is and you need to deal with it.

For example, let’s say you’re dating a guy who can be insensitive at times. Maybe he doesn’t give you emotional support when you’ve had a rough day and instead just gives you matter of fact advice in a direct way. His no-nonsense approach to solving problems might be useful to him in the workplace, but it might be hurtful to you sometimes when he doesn’t empathize with what you’re going through and instead just tells you what to do about it, or gets impatient by the fact that you’re upset over something he doesn’t consider to be that big of a deal.

You want a guy who will accept that his tone can come across as harsh and hurtful to you and who actually tries to work on it, not one who says it’s your problem and you need to deal with it. He probably won’t get it right every time, but if he’s growth oriented he will at least try.

He has similar beliefs and values. This one seems so obvious yet it’s so often overlooked. Love does not in fact conquer all. If you are not fundamentally compatible, you will face major hurdles ahead. If he is going to be your life partner, you have to make sure you are both on the same page when it comes to issues that matter. And if you aren’t on the same page, then make sure he respects where you stand (and vice versa) and that youre both willing to work together to reach a mutually fulfilling understanding about your differences.

Everyone’s values are different. For some, their values will be rooted in religion. Other people value a strong work ethic, while some value a commitment to a healthy lifestyle. It may sound trivial, but I’ve seen very serious, long-term relationships end because one person couldn’t deal with the other’s lack of ambition or motivation.

He views you as his partner. The relationship is something more than each of you individually … together, you and he are a team. And as that team, you are both individually stronger than you could be on your own. He sees you as his equal, as a person of great value, someone he can grow with. Not someone who is there to feed his ego, give him validation, be his emotional crutch, or be there solely to satisfy his needs.

He respects everything about youyour thoughts, ambitions, opinions, the things you say, the company you keep, your job. He doesn’t make you feel bad about your life circumstances and he appreciates the person you are and the choices you have made.

He wants to make you happy. One of a mans most fundamental needs in a relationship is to make his girl happy. It may not always feel like it or look like it, but its true. In order to truly bond with a woman, a man needs to feel like he can make her happy. And when a man truly cares for a woman, he wants to do whatever it takes to make her happy. Love is a selfless thing. If you love people because they make you feel great about yourself, then it isnt real love. When a man shows he genuinely cares about you and your happiness, even if it sometimes comes at the expense of his own happiness, then you know his feelings are for real.

He communicates with you, even about tough issues and even if one of you is upset with the other. With the right guy, you won’t be afraid of bringing up certain things for fear of rocking the boat. You know he respects you and will see what you have to say as valid and important. Every relationship will face its share of obstacles. There will be fights, miscommunications, arguments, and also times when one partner isn’t feeling loved. The only way to emerge from the tough times better and stronger is to work through them together, and this starts with open communication.

He wants the same kind of commitment you want. A guy can have all the qualities on this list, but if he doesn’t want to marry you (or commit in the way you want), or maybe doesn’t want to get married in general, then he is not for you. When a guy is ready to get married and meets a girl he thinks he can spend his life with, he knows pretty early on. That’s not to say hell get engaged right away, but he knows this is it and she knows it too. Maybe he tells her or maybe it’s so obvious he doesn’t even need to. It might be the wrong time, maybe he wants to wait until he’s more established in his career or more financially stable, but he will still convey his level of commitment; she won’t be left hanging and guessing and wondering.

If he still feels like he has wild oats to sow and is drawn to the single, bachelor, party-boy lifestyle, he is not commitment minded and you are setting yourself up for disappointment. If what you want is a serious, lasting commitment, make sure he is on the same page before you become invested. When a guy is ready for a serious commitment, it’s usually pretty obvious. And if it isn’t, then bring it up and discuss it with him. If he’s husband material, he’ll understand. If he isn’t then at least now you know before it’s too late! And yes, I understand that not every woman makes getting married a goal and I respect that. But Im speaking to those who want a lasting commitment, be it marriage or a partnership without a legal piece of paper.

But the Most Important Quality of All Is

He wants to make it work. Hes willing to put in any amount of effort. If there is a problem, he wants to find a way to solve it. He wants to work harder, to be better, to be his best self. The important thing to keep in mind is that people have different ideas about what it means to put effort into a relationship. He might believe that working hard and being good at his job is putting in effort because he wants to provide for you and give you nice things and a comfortable lifestyle. (I use this as an example because it’s a classic point of contention between men and women: she will often view him working too much as him putting no effort into the relationship and being married to his work).

I remember the exact moment I knew my husband was the one. After about a month of everything being perfect (as they usually are in the beginning), we had our first conflict. It was nothing major; we just started experiencing areas where our personalities clashed and seeing how we process things differently. I tend to be more intellectual and straightforward in my thinking, while he’s more emotional and dynamic in his thinking. I would get impatient with this, and my impatience was hurtful to him. The details don’t really matter, what matters is that I remember the way he brought the issue up and how sincere he was about working through things and getting to a place of better understanding.

I have seen countless variations of this kind of scenario: girl is dating a guy, things are going great (again, as they often do in the beginning), but then they hit that inevitable point of conflict. Maybe she acts needy or maybe he gets distant, but whatever happens suddenly things aren’t as seamless as they were the week before. Then he decides he can’t hang anymore and tells her he “doesn’t have time for a relationship” or he can’t give her what she needs. The girl racks her brain trying to figure out what she did wrong, what she could have done differently.

She thinks if she hadn’t been so needy, if she had been a little more chilled out, if she hadnt done this and instead done that. Really, the only way things would have turned out differently is if she had behaved perfectly according to his script, if shed never disagreed or been unhappy with him, if shed been perfectly in alignment with his thoughts and what he wanted in a partner. That sounds reasonable, right? (That’s sarcasm in case it didn’t come across!)

If a guy leaves when things get a little rocky, it means he is lacking in the most important quality you need in a partner, and that is a man who is committed not only to you, but to making it work. It’s easy to be in a relationship when everything is all sunshine and roses. The truth comes out after time goes on, when you let your guard down, when you can be more of yourselves instead of the absolute best version of yourselves. Even the best couples don’t seamlessly fit together. There is always a certain degree of work involved in order to create that deep and meaningful connection, and it has to come from both people.

When a guy is ready to settle down and sees you as a good potential partner, he wants to make it work. He wants to overcome the differences, to get to a place of better understanding. My husband and I are so different. The way we think and feel is different, and the way we communicate is different. In the beginning of our relationship this definitely caused problems, but now, after really committing to working on it, we have hit this amazing place of understanding and are so much more in sync. The differences still exist, but we were able to meet in the middle. Even when things got difficult, I wasn’t any less sure he was the guy for me because of how deeply committed he was to making it work.

A big mistake I see women making is blaming themselves when a relationship falls apart. They torture themselves with could haves and should haves. I should have been less needy, I should have been more agreeable, I could have been more supportive, etc. Yeah, you could have done all that, but it wouldn’t have mattered if he wasn’t committed to making it work.

There will always be differences, there will always be problems, you will not always behave exactly how he wants a partner to behave (same for him).

A relationship isn’t about finding the perfect match, it’s about finding someone you can form a meaningful, lasting partnership with. Notice the word form. It’s an active process; it doesn’t just exist. It’s about working together, being a team, and overcoming the challenges.

Some people have deal-breakers and that’s that. Maybe it’s religion or where to live or lifestyle preferences. But all the other stuffpersonality quirks, your nature, your ways of interacting in social settings, your fundamental traits … either he’s in it or he’s not. And if he’s not, then there is nothing you can do.

Red Flags You Should Never Ignore

Every relationship is different and comes with a unique set of circumstances. However, there are some universal standards that indicate a guy isnt the right one for you, a few red flags that should never be ignored but usually are.

You Don’t Trust Him

Without trust, there is no relationship. Period. In a good, strong, healthy relationship you feel at ease. You feel safe. You feel secure. You do not feel constantly panicked and on edge, always anticipating the proverbial other shoe to drop.

If you don’t believe the things he tells you or are always questioning his motives and his whereabouts, there is something majorly amiss. You can’t spend your life constantly on the lookout; that’s just exhausting.

Sometimes a lack of trust develops because of something substantial. Maybe he cheated, maybe you caught him in a few too many lies. And sometimes it’s something that lingers in the pit of your gut. Even though you can’t quantify the reason, you just don’t feel like you can trust this person. Either way, it’s a big red flag and a major sign that your relationship isn’t going to last.

If he cheated on you or lied to you, then you’ll have to be honest with yourself when you decide if you can truly move past it and if you really, genuinely believe that he’ll never do the same thing again. If you can’t get to that place, then there isn’t much point in sticking it out. You’re just setting yourself up for a life in which you always feel paranoid and insecure. Relationships are supposed to bring out your best, not your worst.

If you can’t quite pinpoint the reason for your trust issues, you should listen to your gut. Our gut instincts can be incredibly powerful. Just make sure you aren’t projecting your own insecurities onto him and aren’t making him pay for the sins of a cheating/lying ex.

There Is No Depth of Connection

Sexual chemistry is great and is definitely important, but that alone can’t sustain a relationship. An amazing sex life is only one piece of the puzzle, yet for a lot of couples it’s the only leg the relationship has to stand on. I know so, so many women who got so engulfed by the intoxicating chemistry they experienced with their partner that they overlooked every sign that clearly showed he wasn’t the one and wasnt even that great of a person.

For a relationship to last, you need to have depth of connection. You need to know your partner intimately, and this goes way beyond his bedroom skills. You need to know who he is, what he wants out of life, and what his hopes, dreams, and fears are. You need to connect to each other in an honest, unguarded way.

Each person is composed of many layers. In our lives, some people see the surface layer, a select few see what lies beneath the exterior, and very few see straight to the core. Your life partner should be in the last group.

Knowing the basics about someone isn’t knowing who they are. If you know the same things about your guy as most of the other people in his life, then you don’t have much depth of connection. Fortunately, this issue is one that can be fixed. Try to make an effort to connect to him in a real way. If he resists, or you still don’t feel like youre connecting in a significant way, then it means he’s probably not that invested in you or the relationship. Or maybe you’re just not the right fit for one another.

Attraction and sexual chemistry are never enough to sustain a relationship. If that’s all you have thats fine, but you might want to move on if you’re serious about finding the one.

Lack of Respect

Respect is the most overlooked element when it comes to making a relationship work, but it’s one of the most essential. If you’re going to have a long-lasting, healthy relationship, you must respect your partner and he must respect you.

Respect is huge for guys. In fact, I’d say it’s the number one thing men want out of their relationship. Just as most women need to feel loved and adored, men need to feel respected and admired. A man needs to feel like the man; he needs to feel respected. If you don’t respect him or the way he lives his life, he will resent you and will not want to be with you long term.

At the same time, you need to be with a partner who respects you. This means he respects you as a person: your beliefs, your aspiration, and especially your boundaries.

Eye rolling has actually been shown by famous relationship researcher John Gottman to be a big predictor of divorce, and it’s no surprise eye rolling is a manifestation of contempt, which is the opposite of respect.

He Brings out Your Worst

As I mentioned earlier, relationships are supposed to bring out your best.

The sad fact is, a lot of women end up shackled to a person who brings out their worst.

Sometimes you might not even recognize the person that your relationship has turned you into. That was definitely the case for me many years back before I knew any better. I made the same mistake countless women make. I got so caught up in my feelings for the guy that I overlooked the fact that I didn’t really like myself all that much when I was around him.

Throughout the course of my yearlong relationship with Eric, I was unrecognizable from my previous confident, happy, positive self. Instead I felt insecure, panicked, anxious, and perpetually on edge, but I couldn’t let go because of my strong feelings for him. Those feelings locked me in a tight grip, and it was only when the relationship inevitably imploded that I was able to see just how toxic the situation truly was.

It wasn’t that he was a bad guy; he was just bad for me. It’s a fact that would have saved me years of heartache had I realized it sooner. While getting myself out of that relationship felt impossible, the end was always inevitable because we brought out the worst in each other.

The point is, a relationship should lift you higher, not drag you down. It should help you reach your potential and become the best version of yourself. Of course relationships can’t be all sunshine and roses all the time. They take patience and work. But this work leads to a positive place, a place of growth and understanding and more love and connection. Bad relationships are ones where the work involved is expending energy on fighting and arguing and trying to win. A relationship wont always feel perfect and pleasant, but overall it will help you grow into a better person, as long as youre with a good guy who is committed to making it work and loves and appreciates you for who you are.

He Doesn’t Take Responsibility

One of the biggest relationship red flags is when someone wont take responsibility for anything and instead blames you, maybe using a justification along the lines of, “Well I wouldn’t yell at you if you weren’t being so annoying.” Rather than admitting when hes wrong, he comes up with excuses and justifications for his behaviors and reasons to blame you.

One of the biggest indicators of psychopaths or sociopaths is not being able to take responsibility; its a fundamental lack of empathy that prevents them from ever being able to see the other persons perspective. However, it doesnt always start out this way. In the beginning hes enraptured by you and everything you do is right. Then suddenly he’s unhappy and he blames you for everything that’s wrong. If you erroneously reason that youre the problem, he may feed this mentality. You don’t inspire him enough, you don’t give him what he needs, you arent supportive enough, youre always negative. It’s always you, never him.

Im not saying every guy who cant take responsibility is a psycho; he could just be immature. But it is something to keep in mind because narcissists are out there and this is one of their key features.

Hes Selfish

I have a friend who was seeing a guy she really liked, and she continued to date him even though he was clearly a bit immature and selfish and not ready to settle down (we joked that he had her sexmotized and thats why she wasnt able to break free of his spell). There were signs of trouble all over the place, but most were little things and thats why they were easy to sweep under the rug.

For example, one night she suggested they go to a vegetarian Indian restaurant she loved, and he got all pissy and said there wasnt a point in going out for Indian food if he couldnt eat meat. Never mind the fact that he always chose the restaurants, that they always did what he wanted, that they always slept at his apartment because thats what he wanted, or the fact that he had told her to pick a place for dinner. It was the one time she got to decide something, and she was overruled because it wasnt what he wanted.

This may seem like a silly example, but it demonstrates the essence of selfishness, one that will continue to pop up when dealing with a selfish person. And in that relationship, it did, over and over until finally she couldnt take it anymore and ended it. (This launched the make-up and break-up cycle for a while, because thats what happens when you linger in a relationship with the wrong guy, but eventually they cut it off for good.)

Selfish people also tend to engage in selfish love. That is, they love you when you make them feel good; when youre behaving how they want you to, theyre the best partners ever. When you go off script, then they withdraw and wont do anything for you in a sort of tit-for-tat retaliation.

Thats not how a relationship works. A relationship isnt there to serve one person. Its a partnership and its about working together, not one person working for the other.

Let Your Gut Be Your Guide

I mentioned the importance of listening to your gut earlier and want to get into it a little deeper because its an essential skill, one that can keep you out of sticky situations. f At the end of the day, you usually already know the answers to your dating questions. The lists I provided of qualities to look for and red flags to watch out for can help you see things more clearly, maybe making it harder to hide from whats right in front of you, but oftentimes you already know. You know when a guy isnt worthy of youwhen youre wasting your time, when youre not being treated the way you would like to be treated or the way you know you deserve to be treatedbut you push this knowledge down because you just dont want to deal with it. You dont want to deal with a breakup, with putting yourself back on the market, with dating more guys, navigating the waters, trying to find a guy who cares about you. You dont want to because its exhausting! It seems somehow easier to stick with whats broken and try to just make it work.

In a good, strong, healthy relationship, you feel loved and secure. You don’t question whether your man is using you and if the things he says are genuine. You just feel at ease. Feeling constantly on edge, waiting anxiously for the other shoe to drop, is usually a sign that something is amiss and your instincts are trying to open your eyes to a reality you don’t want to see.

Your gut is a powerful tool in relationships. It’s something we all possess and it can be fine-tuned to work optimally. The way to get in touch with it is to listen to what it’s telling you. Listen to that small, quiet voice that gently tells you: “You deserve more than this, you don’t need this guy.”

The voice of your ego is loud and overpowering. It tells you “Of course hes the guy for you! So what if he disappears for days at a time, he told you that you were the most amazing women he’s ever met, so I mean, DUH! He loves you.”

Your ego shouts over the noise and convinces you that the outcome you want is reality because it has a lot at stake should this not be the case.

Most people allow their egos to get so entangled in their relationships that when the relationship collapses, their ego comes crashing down with it and then absolute misery ensues.

Our unconscious mind has a whole arsenal of information that our conscious mind doesn’t have easy access to. It has stored up pretty much everything that’s ever happened to us and makes decisions accordingly.

Have you ever met someone and liked him right away even though you barely knew him? Or maybe you meet someone who seems perfectly nice, but you just can’t stand her? This is the unconscious at work. The people we’re drawn to oftentimes remind us of people we’ve had positive encounters with in the past. So too with the people we don’t like right off the bat.

You can pick up on things subconsciously without even realizing it, and it will cause you to have a feeling that you can’t quite pinpoint or explain.

The point is, most of the time you already know the answer. The problem is that you wish it were a different answer so instead of accepting it you whittle away what you know with rationalizations.

Here are a few tips to help you get better acquainted with your gut:

Ask yourself a question and listen for the immediate answer. For example, if you’re debating whether or not to dump your boyfriend, ask yourself: “Should I break up with him?” and listen to what first pops into your head. The real answer will most often come first, and then the excuses and justifications will pile on top.

Make the decision and then listen to your body. If it’s a bad decision you’ll feel an aversion to it, usually in the pit of your stomach.

Check with a friend. It can help to get an outsider’s perspective because sometimes we can mistake wishful thinking for our gut instincts. Talk to a friend you trust for a dose of objectivity.

Practice mindfulness. Most people live their lives bouncing from one thing to the nextwork, errands, happy hour. There isn’t that much time to listen to our own thoughts. Try to stay mindful and conscious throughout the day and check in with yourself to see what you’re thinking and feeling. It also helps to set aside some reflection time. You can use this time to meditate, do yoga, journal, take a walk around the parkanything that will give you the space to check in with yourself.

Remember this: Choice is everything. It will largely determine if a relationship succeeds and lasts or fails and leaves you broken-hearted. The good news is that you have the power to choose the man you let into your life. Choose wisely!

Love doesnt have to be that hard, by Sabrina Alexis is available here.

Read more: http://ift.tt/2hb4wcI

from Everything You Need To Know About Choosing The Right Guy

[softlcve]

"what i wanted?" that feels comical to him, making it so he lets out a laugh that isn't filled with an ounce of humor. "don't you dare." the moment she turns to face him, he has to turn away. steps take him a few inches elsewhere, so he doesn't have to stand so close while knowing it was hard enough just to come pick up his things. noah has been putting it off, but only because he hopes he doesn't have to actually do it. "i told you that this was going to be hard. work is going to take over in the beginning. i told you that," he speaks. the man turns just enough to finally look at her, seeing sad eyes looking back at him and it breaks him a little more. "i didn't want this–" a hand gestures to motion between them. the mess that came from it all and the way it broke them. "i wanted us."

the question registers with her and ada can't bring herself to move, honeyed hues fluttering shut as she tries to steady herself. she wants to scream, to lash out at him for the way things ended between them, for making her feel like an afterthought, like someone who could just be discarded when it no longer suited him. but instead, she stands there, frozen, the silence between them growing louder by the second. " isn't this what you wanted, noah ? " she finally murmurs, honeyed hues finally meeting his as she turns around to face him, his taller frame towering over him. " what's there even left to say ? "

[btsqualityy]

BTS Second Pregnancy Series #8: Interacting With The Baby

26 weeks, or 6 and a half months, pregnant 

Kim Seokjin

“Jeez,” you muttered, setting your hands on your bump and rubbing in the spot that your baby had just kicked. This baby was definitely more active than Kaiden had been when you were pregnant with him, and it was times like this that made you realize that.

“You ok Y/N-ah?” Jin wondered and you nodded slowly. 

“This baby is definitely busier than Kade was,” you chuckled. 

“Are you in pain?” He checked as he sat down on the couch next to you and set his hand on your belly.

“No, it just always surprises me,” you replied. You heard a noise and then looked up, seeing Kaiden walking into the living room and then climbing onto the couch next to you.

“Are you ok Mommy?” Kaiden asked, noticing the look on your face and you chuckled when you saw the mini pout on his face.

“I’m ok sweetie,” you assured him. “The baby is just kicking Mommy a little bit too hard.”

“Oh,” he murmured, moving closer to you so that he was face to face with your stomach and he watched as the baby kicked you again. “I saw their foot!”

“Yeah?” You giggled and Kaiden nodded excitedly. He then lifted his hand, poking your stomach where you had felt the baby kick last. The baby then kicked in that spot again, making Kaiden giggle as he felt the outline of their foot. 

“That feels weird,” he said and you nodded in agreement.

“It feels weird for me too,” you told him and you watched as your two babies played “tag” back and forth with each other.

Min Yoongi

“Mommy, I’m ready!” Kinsley announced happily and you looked away from the mirror of your vanity to examine her outfit. The two of you were getting ready to head to the BigHit building to pick Yoongi up before heading out for lunch.

“Sweetheart, you don’t have on your shoes,” you chuckled and she looked down at her bare feet. “Go get your socks from your bottom drawer and then put on your converse.”

“Ok Mommy,” she nodded before running off to her room. You then turned back to the mirror, putting the finishing touches on your makeup before straightening up all of your products and putting them back in their rightful places. Kinsley then walked back into your bedroom just as you were closing the last drawer, her socks and converse on her feet.

“Here, come here and I’ll tie them for you,” you said as you stood up and Kinsley walked over to you. You then lifted her up and set her on the edge of the bed, bending down to tie her shoelaces. 

“Mommy?” Kinsley called and you hummed in reply. “Does it hurt having Kammie in your tummy?”

“Mm, sometimes but only when she moves around too much,” you told her. 

“Do you like having her in there?” 

“Sometimes,” you repeated as you looked up at her. “I like having her in there to keep her safe but like I said, it can hurt sometimes.”

“If it hurts, why is she in there?” Kinsley wondered and you bit your lip as you tried to figure out an age appropriate way to explain it to her. 

“You know how Daddy teaches you how to play new things on the piano sometimes? And it can be really hard to do right at first but when you do play it like Daddy, it makes you feel really happy?” You said and Kinsley nodded in understanding. “Well, having Kammie in my stomach is kind of the same thing. It can be hard but when she’s finally done growing and can come out, it’ll make me really happy.”

“And Daddy too? And me?” She asked and you smiled softly, nodding your head.

“Daddy and Kinsley too,” you confirmed, leaning up and pressing a kiss to her forehead. “Here, you wanna feel her moving?” You asked and Kinsley nodded. You grabbed her hands and set them on the side of your bump, where Kamryn was having a field day. 

“Cool,” Kinsley murmured.

“See, it’s hard but it’s cool too, to feel her moving around,” you told her and she nodded with a small smile on her face.

Kim Namjoon

“What story do you think Maia wants to hear tonight?” Namjoon asked you and you hummed slightly as you thought for a few seconds.

“Mm, surprise us,” you finally shrugged. Namjoon nodded and turned around to face the books that were laid out on the dresser in your bedroom. Just like during your pregnancy with Mason, Namjoon loved reading to Maia as a way to bond with her. Just then, he walked over to the bed and climbed in next to you, smiling when you immediately cuddled up to his side and laid your head on his shoulder. 

“Ready?” He chuckled, and you nodded as you noticed that he had the book “Cinderella” in his hands. 

“All set,” you nodded and Namjoon opened the book before beginning to read. You set your hands on top of your bump and rubbed it softly as you felt your baby girl’s legs kicking away. 

“Mommy?” You suddenly heard and you looked up to see your bedroom door being pushed open, Mason’s head peaking inside. “Daddy?”

“Hey, what are you doing up out of bed buddy?” Namjoon wondered as he stopped reading. 

“Scary dream,” Mason murmured and you sighed softly. 

“Come here Myungie,” you called as you held your hands out and Mason immediately barreled into the room, climbing up onto the bed and squishing himself in between you and Namjoon.

“You wanna listen to the story?” Namjoon asked him and Mason looked up at him. “We’re reading to Maia.”

“Can I read it?” Mason asked and you smiled softly. 

“Yeah, go ahead buddy,” Namjoon chuckled as he handed the book to Mason. Mason had been doing pretty good with his sight words and the book was worded pretty simply so Mason was able read it pretty easily. Even when he came to a word that he didn’t know, Namjoon was right there to help him figure it out and it made you smile to see how much your oldest baby was growing up. 

“Did Maia like the book Mommy?” Mason asked once he finished reading and you smiled as you reached over and pushed his fringe back out of his eyes.

“She did. Look, feel,” you said as you grabbed his little hand, placing it on your bump. “She fell asleep.”

“It’s a good story,” he nodded, making you giggle. 

“You wanna sleep with Mommy and Daddy tonight?” Namjoon asked him and Mason nodded quickly, and you knew his nightmare still had him a little shaken up. 

“Come here then,” you said as you moved to lay down, holding your arms open to Mason who snuggled up as close to you as he possibly could. Namjoon reached over and turned off the lights in the room, laying down next to the both of you.

“Good night Mommy, good night Daddy, and good night Maia,” Mason yawned loudly and you kissed his forehead.

“Good night buddy,” Namjoon said as he ran his hand over the top of Mason’s head. 

Jung Hoseok 

“Mommy, Mommy!” You heard both Lennox and Berkeley shouting and you closed your eyes before taking a deep breath. 

“Just when I think that I can start a new book,” you huffed as you closed the book in your hands before reaching over and setting it on the bedside table next to you. Just as you did, Lennox and Berkeley burst into your bedroom with Hobi trailing close behind them.

“What’s going on kiddos?” You giggled as you watched them crawl up onto the bed and sit on either side of you. 

“Can we play with the baby?” Lennox asked excitedly.

“What do you mean ‘play with the baby’ Len?” You wondered.

“Daddy told us how,” Berkeley spoke up and you looked at her before looking up at Hobi. 

“They told me that they wanted to figure out a way to play with Hendrix while he’s still inside of you so I googled it and we found a way that we’d like to try,” Hobi explained. “Only if you feel like it, though. I told the kiddos that you were relaxing.”

“Does it involve me having to move?” You checked and Hobi shook his head with a laugh. “Alright then, go for it.” Hobi nodded and walked over to the bedside table that was on his side of the table, opening it and rummaging inside for a few seconds before pulling out a flashlight. 

“So babies can see light just like we do while they’re in the womb,” Hobi started to explain as he sat down on the bed next to Berkeley. “If we put this flashlight on your belly, he should be able to see it and move towards it.”

“Well, he’s on this side,” you said as you rubbed the left side of your belly next to where Lennox was sitting. “So try the right side.” 

“Here Princess, hold it to Mommy’s belly,” Hobi said as he turned the flashlight on and handed it to Berkeley. She then pressed it to your belly and you all waited with bated breath, until you finally felt your youngest son moving towards your right side. 

“Did you guys see him?” You checked and Lennox and Berkeley both nodded rapidly. 

“My turn!” Lennox exclaimed and Berkeley reluctantly handed the flashlight over to him. You watched with a smile as Lennox held the flashlight to your bump again, and you were happy that the twins were getting to ‘play’ with their little brother. 

Park Jimin

“Baby, it’s ok,” Jimin whispered softly as he held you in his arms, your face hidden in his chest as you cried. This pregnancy was just as hard, if not harder, as your pregnancy with Noah was and you found it a little bit more difficult to deal with the changes to your body this time around.

“It’s not ok,” you shot back, angry at the fact that you were crying but you were still upset so that just caused more tears to stream down your face. “I feel fucking terrible and I just want them out.”

“I know baby, I know,” he murmured softly. “I know you’re tired and you have a right to be, but you’ve still been doing an amazing job in looking after our baby despite that.”

“Really?” You whispered as you lifted your face to look up at him, and he nodded with a small smile.

“Of course you have,” he replied, leaning down and leaving a soft kiss to your nose. “Our baby is so lucky to have such an amazing mom.”

“Jimin-ssi,” you giggled softly as he left gentle kisses all over your face. 

“Want me to pamper you tonight? Help you feel a little better?” He wondered and you nodded quickly. He then had you lay down on the bed and he went to grab some cocoa butter before rolling your shirt up so that the hem sat above your bump.

“Little one’s getting pretty big huh?” Jimin smiled as he rubbed a generous amount of cocoa butter onto his hands before beginning to gently rubbed the skin of your bump. 

“Yeah, they are,” you nodded in agreement, a soft moan escaping your lips when Jimin began to rub a little harder which made him chuckle. “Sorry.”

“Don’t apologize jagi,” he assured you, moving down to the side of your bump and massaging there firmly. You just closed your eyes and laid there, enjoying the feeling when you suddenly felt your baby moving. 

“Jimin-ssi,” you called as you opened your eyes and looked down at him. “Did you feel them?”

“Yeah,” he murmured in awe and you groaned lightly when you felt the baby move over to the side of your stomach that Jimin was massaging. 

“Someone wants to be closer to Daddy,” you pointed out, making Jimin grin widely before he leaned down and kissed your bump multiple times. 

Kim Taehyung

You were asleep in your and Taehyung’s bed alone, Taehyung still off at the studio with the members. Usually, you would’ve still been awake to wait for him to get home, but your pregnancy made you easily tired so staying up was almost impossible for you these days. 

“Jagi?” You heard a deep voice whisper quietly and you opened your eyes, seeing that Taehyung was tiptoeing into your bedroom. 

“Mm, hey Tae,” you mumbled, reaching up to wipe your eyes. “How was your day?”

“Good, good. Got a lot done,” he murmured as he quickly stripped out of his clothes, putting on his pajamas and climbing into bed with you afterwards. He immediately moved over to you, laying his head on your chest and setting both of his large hands on your belly.

“How was your day? Was Munchkin good?” He asked in quick succession, making you chuckle.

“It was good,” you nodded. “I picked Spence up from school and then once we got back here at home, I helped her paint you a picture. It’s downstairs on the kitchen table for you too, by the way.”

“Cool. How’s Squirt doing in here?”

“He’s doing good. He’s been pretty calm all day, except for when Spencer was listening to Hobi’s mixtape and was screaming all of the lyrics and dancing around the house. I don’t know if he was trying to dance along or if he was trying kick his way out of my stomach to turn off the music.”

“Aww Squirt,” Taehyung laughed as he looked back down at your bump. “Your sister’s just a little out there, like Daddy is.”

“Isn’t that the truth?” You teased with a laugh.

“But you’ll get used to it, just like your Mommy did,” he continued on. You then shut your eyes, the sound of Tae’s deep voice talking to your son lulling you back to sleep again. 

Jeon Jungkook

“Hey Kook?” You called out as you gently knocked on the door of his home office, making him look away from the screen of his computer. While you were putting Ava down for her nap, Jungkook had popped his head into her room and told you to come to his office after Ava fell asleep because he had something to show you.

“Come here,” he beckoned you inside with a wave of his hand, and you stepped into the room and walked over to stand next to his chair. 

“What’s up?” You wondered as you looked at the screen of the computer, noticing that it was on his recording software. “Did you record a new song?” 

“First off, sit down,” he said as he set his hands on your hips, guiding you down to sit on his lap. “Secondly, yes I did record a new song.”

“You want me to listen to it?” You asked as you made yourself comfortable against him. 

“Actually, I wanted Aria to listen to it,” he chuckled as he grabbed the pair of headphones that were sitting on his desk. “I wrote it this morning and recorded it right after.”

“Ah, I figured that’s why you were MIA all day,” you giggled. 

“It’s not perfect or anything yet, but it’s a slow tempo song and I think it’ll be nice for her to hear,” he explained and you nodded. He then set the headphones over the expanse of your belly before leaning over to his computer and pressing play on the song. You could hear the music through the headphones and you understood why Jungkook wanted the baby to hear it,, given how soothing the melody sounded. You felt your baby girl start to move around and you smiled as you looked over at Jungkook.

“She’s definitely hearing it,” you chuckled. “Can’t tell if she likes it yet or not, though.”

“With how much you complain about how hard she can kick, I think she’d definitely let us know if she didn’t like it,” Jungkook laughed, making you do the same. 

“You’re such a good Daddy Kook,” you told him, and he looked up in mild surprise. 

“Where’d that come from?”

“I don’t know,” you shrugged lamely. “I just know that I can be a lot when I’m pregnant, with the hormones and all, so I just wanted to remind you just in case I haven’t lately.”

“Well, thank you Y/N-ah,” he smiled, puckering his lips for a kiss. You playfully rolled your eyes before leaning down and pressing your lips to his. 

[softlcve]

"ohhh. someone's feeling a little feisty," he teases right back around a smile that reaches his eyes. a hand reaches out and rests against the side of her neck while his head tilts down to look at her. this woman can send him to the couch and he will go willing if she demands it, only with slight complaints along the way. "yeah?" he grins and brushes a kiss to her lips. "i feel like you put up the majority of the tree, so you should give yourself a little more credit." noah presses another kiss to the top of her head and tilts his head to look over at the tree, as if to exam it for a moment. "i don't think you need to climb up on my shoulders, but you can if you feel like it's needed this time, babe."

"please keep it up and we'll see who ends up sleeping on the couch tonight," she teased, her voice dripping with playful sarcasm. nothing about her threat was meant to be taken seriously; it took far more than a lighthearted exchange to make her genuinely upset with him. in fact, their playful banter was one of the things she loved most about their relationship. she considered his offer for a few seconds, knowing deep down that she wouldn't be able to resist. "you know what, yeah. it would make me feel like i at least contributed to the tree if i put the topper up there," she agreed, a smile tugging at the corners of her lips.

[softlcve]

"what are you doing here?" noah can't remember the last time he's seen her. thinking back days, weeks, months. it didn't end well, so they left it at that and moved on. seeing her now throws him for a loop. "you're drunk, cor. don't do this."

closed spotify starter for @softlcve !

"for you, i'd cross the line. i'd even waste my time, lose my mind" with her heart racing, she knows she shouldn't be there. hell, she knows how far she's going, how far people tell her not to go, and yet, standing on their door... it all seems possible. real, even. "and don't even begin to blame me."

{ song: don't blame me - taylor swift ; muse: coraline henderson }

[softlcve]

the brunette starts on and he can feel it building up. as if simply walking through her front door to do the one thing she has been asking him to do is enough to make things worse. his back is facing her with hands on his hips, head ducks down to look at the boxes rather than looking directly at her. that seems easiest. "so, this is it?" the question floats in the air between them and noah doesn't stop himself from turning around to look at her. "grab my things and go and we never talk again?" why does the idea of that crush him even more?

plump petals press into a thin line, a sharp exhale escaping as slender arms cross over her chest. " you told me ? " she repeated, " you must have told one of your other ex-girlfriends, you didn't even bother to call back. i've been stuck here with your stuff like some kind of storage united while you … " she paused, shaking her head. " forget it, doesn't matter. " but it did, and the way her voice cracked ever so slightly betrayed her. turning away from him, she gestures vaguely toward the boxes. " yeah, that's all of it. now, if you'd just take them and go, i'd really appreciate it. "

[softlcve]

"i can't see it, but i can only imagine." he laughs in return with a grin in place. once he's got it up enough so she doesn't have to carry it all on her shoulder, noah shifts the tree a little so it's standing up straight. his hand extends out to help pull tatum up to her feet. "are you saying you don't want to try reaching the top of the tree?" he grins, teasing her with ease because he knows she doesn't want to. "if you want to put the topper up there, i can lift you up so you can do it. i know you love that part."

"you can't see it, but i'm so flipping you off right now," she said, laughter erupting from her chest. she somehow managed to balance the branches in her hand despite her strong urge to toss them to the ground. "how about you shut up and just help me, jerk," she added playfully, though her desperation for him to take the load off her shoulders was clear. "listen, i wanted to be festive and try to decorate it myself. clearly, that was the worst idea I've ever had, but you can definitely take charge of the topper."

[softlcve]

two seconds with him stepping through the door was all it would take and somehow noah could see it coming. the annoyance was clear and has him letting out a huff. "i told you that i'd be busy this week," he mutters with eyes on the boxes rather than on her. "is this all of it?" deep brown eyes meet hers and he already regrets it.

" are you finally here to get your stuff ? " annoyance is clear in her features as honeyed hues focus on the familiar figure. long legs step to the side , creating a clear path to the boxes stacked neatly by the door. " i have been calling you all week, did you not see my calls ? " / @softlcve ♡ 1/2