#oc : jacob lane

[toasttt11]

family skate

December 15, 2024

Gemma laughed at something Luca said as she drove them to the prudential center for her family skate.

Luca had just finished school up for the semester and came up to New Jersey with some friends but he was staying with Gemma and he was joining her family skate and than heading to Columbus in a couple days for the Devils at Blue Jacket game.

Gemma was glad Luca is staying with her for a few days because Macklin left for a road trip last night so it would be nice to have someone stay with her.

Gemma pulled her into parking spot and hopped out of her car. Gemma was wearing a white sweater, blue dark wash jeans and red adidas that match the red bow in her hair that was holding her hair in a half up half down.

She grabbed two red bags from the back of her car and walked into the arena with Luca following her.

They walked into the locker room seeing a lot of players already and a few kids running around.

Gemma walked Luca to Luke before heading over to Stefan and his wife and two kids.

“Gemma!” Little Leighton beamed from where she was sitting on her Dad’s stall and was hugging gingerbread stuffed animal.

“Hi Leighton.” Gemma smiled slightly awkwardly waving softly, “Hi Liam.” She spoke softer having not really met the one year old boy yet.

“I have a present for both of them if that’s okay?” Gemma asked checking with Stefan and Alyson, Alyson quickly nodded with a fond smile and Stefan nodded too.

Gemma put the smaller back in front of Liam and she sat the set the bigger bag in front of Leighton. She wasn’t sure what to get Liam but she didn’t want to get Leighton something and not Liam.

Leighton opened her gift quickly and gasped loudly when she pulled out a little red Devils Gemma Jersey, “It’s yours!” She giggled softly making Gemma smile.

Leighton pulled out the last thing a little red bow, “We match!” Leighton beamed and she immediately handed it to her mom to put in her hair.

Stefan helped Liam pull out his present and there was a Devil beanie and a cute little teddy bear stuff animal and Liam immediately cuddled with the bear.

“Thank you.” Alyson softly said to Gemma, Gemma was beyond sweet to her kids.

Gemma smiled and nodded and she waved bye to the two kids before heading to the stall seeing Luca happily chatting with Jack, Luke and Nico. The three didn’t have any family at the family skate as Nico’s family was so far and Jack and Luke are family.

Gemma sat down on her stall talking witty the four boys when Jesper and Nicole came over and Nicole asked Gemma, “How was the Jingle ball?” Jesper had told Nicole Gemma went and Gemma posted a story.

Gemma immediately smiled more, She went two days ago to the Jingle ball purely because of Gracie Abram was performing but it really was fun, “Oh it was amazing!” Gemma gushed she had the best time.

The tickets were an anniversary present from Macklin and they went together and stayed in a suite so no one saw them.

“That’s great! Who did you go with?” Nicole asked with genuinely curiousness.

“Oh my boyfriend.“ Gemma answered with pink cheeks but a proud smile. Luca looked at his sister fondly, he is glad to see how comfortable she is with the Devils, “It was for our anniversary.” Gemma told Nicole, Gemma fully trusts Jesper meaning she trusts Nicole.

“Oh Congratulations. How long have you been together.” Nicole asked kindly with a gentle smile.

“We just celebrate a year.” Gemma easily replied.

“After crushing on each other for almost two years.” Luca playfully coughed teasing his sister.

“Oh it was so long.” Luke immediately groaned remembering hearing so much about Macklin from Gemma.

“Really.” Gemma deadpanned the two, Luca, Adam and Luke always tease her about her long crush on Macklin.

Luca and Luke both just grinned.

“Put your skates one.” Gemma sassed her older brother making Nico, Jack and Jesper just start laughing because it is so rare to hear Gemma sassy.

Luca put his hands up and did what she asked.

Soon they were all out on the ice and the Fantilli siblings stayed close with the Hughes and Nico.

Gemma just shook her head seeing Luca and Luke messing around with each other the second they both got a hockey stick.

They just skated around for a couple hours until they all eventually got off the ice.

Nico and the Hughes were coming over to Gemma’s for dinner and Nico offered to pick up take out for them so Gemma didn’t have to cook.

Gemma and Luke got to her apartment first and she changed her jeans for a pair of Macklin’s sweatpants and put on the Rangers game that was about to start.

Luke and Jack got their next and they both got comfortable on the couch and a few minutes later Nico knocked on the door and Gemma got up.

She opened the door seeing Nico holding a giant bag of food and she grabbed it from him and headed towards the kitchen.

Gemma didn’t notice Nico leaning down and grabbing something that was left on her doormat.

Gemma opened the bag taking boxes out of the counter as Jack, Luke and Luca all came into the kitchen and Luke grabbed plates.

Nico walked in with a bouquet of blue and red daises, “Flowers for Gemma?” Nico said with a small teasing smile.

Gemma turned around and her cheeks warmed knowing who the flowers were from, she gently took the bouquet and smiled reading then note from Macklin.

“Shush.” Gemma mumbled knowing all the boys were waiting to say something and she set her flowers on the counter and grabbed a plate for food.

The boys listened to her and they all got plates of food and sat around Gemma’s couch as the Rangers at St. Louis game.

Gemma was cuddled under her blankets lying on Luca’s shoulder by the time the third period came out around. The game was tied 2-2.

Gemma paused watching Macklin join a scuffle and she sat up seeing Macklin genuinely scuffling with another player and his helmet got knocked off and he brought the player to the ice.

Gemma coughed clearing her throat seeing Macklin looking annoyed and running a hand through his hair and being guided to the penalty box, she could not have these thoughts when she is near her brother and three boys who are like her brother.

“You good over there Emmie?” Luke asked with a teasing smirk seeing her red cheeks and how she was looking at the TV.

“Shut up.” Gemma just mumbled hiding her face in her blanket.

[countrymusiclover]

60 - Missing What We Had

Part 61

Family is More than Blood

@melvia-ito @vavafaure1994 @kmc1989 @tallrock35

Missy’s pov

Ethan parked his truck outside of the lake house before I vamped behind opening the tailgate and taking out our suitcases. It had been five years since we had graduated high school. And we were doing our best to work in our small town. But most free weekends we were spending our time out here with our friends. “Landon just texted and said they’re almost here.”

“That’s good to know. We can set up the bonfire after the sun sets. My aunt Caroline said that they’d always start the school year off with a bonfire in the woods. And I think we should make that a tradition here, what do you think?” Grabbing the fireplace lighter stuffed inside one of the kitchen drawers I turned back to face my boyfriend.

My boyfriend smiled back at me. “That sounds fun. Let’s get everything set up before they get here.”

A few hours later we stood in the yard and down by the edge of the lake water with a burning pile of firewood at our feet. It was our whole little group of family and some friends gathered together which included me, Hope, Ethan, Landon and Andrea. Josie and Lizzie were back at Mystic Falls catching up with each other. “So what exactly are we doing with a fire? Are we going to be camping outside?”

“Not this time, Landon. This is actually a Mikaelson family tradition.”

Ethan made a confused face. “What kind of tradition?”

“Our auntie Bex said that we would write down our wishes and then burn them for luck.” Hope explained sitting on a log with Andrea and Landon seated on either side of her.

Landon smiled, scribbling down something and throwing it in the fire before anyone else could see it. “Sounds like fun.”

“Dang Landon, I guess we don’t get to know what you’re writing over there.” Andrea was the first to notice what he had just done.

The rest of us paused our wish writing focusing on the former supernatural boy. “What don’t you want us to know, Landon. I mean I thought we were all friends here.”

“He doesn’t have to answer if he doesn’t want to.” Hope defended.

Landon nervously rubbed the back of his neck. “It’s just embarrassing. I wished for some more muscles - like a certain Avenger.”

“The Hulk, Captain America or Thor?” I asked him with a cheeky grin.

Ethan pointed his index finger at him. “It’d be hard to pick between Thor and Steve Rogers.”

“Nah it wouldn’t be hard for me. God of Thunder, all the way.” Ethan and Landon shifted their gazes at me. Ethan gave me a weak smile until I responded back to him. “He’s a hot God. Oh don’t worry, E. You’re the only guy for me.”

Andrea slightly rolled her eyes, chuckling. “You guys are such cute nerds.”

The laughter in the room began to fade with my sister seeing some sadness welling in my eyes. “Missy, what’s wrong?”

“I wish Alina and Jackson were here. Along with the rest of our family.”

My sister nodded her head yes in agreement looking up at the stars above our heads. “Yeah, me too. I wonder if Alina is happy back in New Orleans.”

Raelyn’s pov

“Alina Mikaelson, you open the door this instant!” Vamping inside the cabin I heard my husband’s voice shouting down at the end of the tight hallway.

Striding up to him I grabbed him gently by the shoulder. “Klaus, yelling at her isn’t going to help us any faster.”

“She shouldn't have done what she did. She lied to us for five years. She didn't tell her son, our own grandson, about us. Oh and now to top it off she has another offspring that will probably know nothing about us!” He shouted back at me throwing his hands up in the air.

Running my hands down my face I sighed heavily knowing he had every right to be furious with her. I know I was but what would that anger solve, absolutely nothing. “I'm angry with her too. But if we don't have her on our side then I can’t do the spell to help my brother have another baby.”

“So that's what this trip was all about. My idiot brother in law can't wrap his head around the fact that he can't have any more children. Oh I feel so sorry for him.”

Glaring at my husband I remarked. “Niklaus, be nice. Remember he is my brother and I care about him just as much as I do you.”

“If he really cared about you he would have told you what Alina had done.” He turned his head back towards the door shouting again. “We're still your parents regardless of you legally being an adult now!”

Slapping my hand over his mouth I shut him up, turning his face with my other hand. “That’s not going to get us anywhere. Besides you can't dagger her for this, Nik.”

“Freya - could use - a boundary - spell.” He muffled against my palm.

Shaking my head he knew I was right. “And she'll break it in a second because she's half siphon witch in case you've forgotten.”

“What do you suggest we do then, Raelyn?” He removed my hand from his mouth holding it in his larger one.

Leading him over to the living room coach with our hands still together I dragged him down to sit with me. “We just wait for her to come talk to us.”

“You can't be serious, Rae?” He knitted his brows at me.

Nodding my head I laid down on my back on the coach staring at him. “I am 100% serious, Nik. She's old enough to make her own decisions even if we don't agree with them. We have to listen to what she has to say. Now can we please cuddle while we wait?”

“I have a better idea, we could go have sex on your brother's bed.” He smirked down at me.

Covering my mouth with my hands I attempted to hold back the fit of laughter that escaped my lips. “Nik, no!”

“Why not?” He pressed on leaning down to connect our lips together, his body hovering over mine.

Breaking the kiss I held his face in my hands I lightly smiled. “Because with our luck we'd get me knocked up and be on our way to child number 7.”

“What’s wrong with that? We both love our children don't we?” He questioned with a tilt of his head.

Lazily running my fingers through his dirty blonde locks I replied hoping he would understand. “I adore them with all my heart. It's just - we never have time to ourselves anymore. Like we used to when my cousins were alive and -”

“And you were always horrified you'd die and kill your entire coven.”

Rolling my eyes it all seemed so foreign now for me to be afraid of death. Looking back now I was born to be a vampire. I was born to be a heretic. “Yes, that too. But my point is I want us to go back to those moments. The moments where it was just you and me against the world. Where we aren't responsible for other people, just you and me.”

“I'll find a way to make that happen, my heretic Queen. You have my word on that because I love you.” Nik closed the gap between us, connecting our lips in a heated kiss.

Threading my fingers deeply into his curls I let myself get lost in the passionate kiss. “I love you too.”

[4milly]

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[katuschka]

Olalla – Chapter Four

Josh Kiszka x female OC

6.432 words

Disclaimer: This is a work of fiction, intended for adult readers. Any resemblance to real persons is purely coincidental. Also, if you're under 18, go find some other entertainment elsewhere.

One more chapter until Jacob makes an appearance again, so bear with me. Some shit still needs to happen...

Warnings: alcohol consumption, junk food, lots of fluff, heavy petting, oral sex, masturbation, unprotected penetrative sex, some rough sex too, but not too much, orgams (self) denial, depression, allusions to trauma, some arguing going on, the main character being a bit insufferable

Taglist

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Feel the vibe Feel the terror Feel the pain It's driving me insane I can't fake For God's sake why am I driving in the wrong lane Trouble is my middle name But in the end I'm not too bad Can someone tell me if it's wrong to be so mad about you

Josh protested weakly for a short while but gave up soon, because he didn’t really have enough strength to fight with her. All he wanted to do was to wash the sticky sweat off his exhausted body and crawl in bed. He had a throbbing headache, his feet were swollen and his calves felt as if he set them on fire, not to mention the hollow ache deep inside his chest. The first panic attack had scared him shitless, but he learned to cope since then and could feel this one subsiding already. He hoped she didn’t recognize it, thinking that he was probably just upset by what happened…

He was also so hungry it hurt, but the idea of going anywhere and just being seen by any more people made him even more nauseous. He generally loved people, so this scared him too. He didn’t feel like himself anymore. 

“Could you please at least tell me where we’re going?” he asked after a while, still clutching his forehead with his elbow sticking out of the window. 

“We’re nearly there,” was all she said as she drove through the last sharp bend. They were now at the top of a bare, grassy hill with just a few trees here and there. The sun was setting right in front of them and if he just turned his head left, he would see a truly breathtaking view. It was a warm, breezy, fairytale evening. One of those summer evenings that make you forget about tomorrow; when you stay outside a bit too long, wrapped in a blanket, until early birds and the sun re-emerging on the other side tell you it’s finally time to go get some rest. 

Not today though. The magic was lost somehow. He just didn’t care. He didn't want to care right now…

They soon arrived at a wrought iron gate that separated the main road from a driveway which led to several log chalets. They were obviously new, but looked sufficiently traditional at the same time, built in the picturesque goralski style, with just a few modern enhancements. It looked fairytale-ish AND expensive.

In his dreamlike state, he watched her miraculously procure the keys from the glove box, step out of the car and open the gate. 

She did the same thing again after she parked the car in front of one of the smaller chalets. This time she motioned him to follow her inside. He groaned and slowly dragged himself out of the car. He wasn’t in the mood for whatever she’d been plotting or whoever she wanted to meet here. 

The plank wall interior looked bright and cozy and was moderately furnished with just a large and comfy-looking modern gray couch that contrasted with a wooden dining table and chairs carved in the rural style. There was also a fully equipped kitchenette, a large TV and stereo system and a wooden staircase with iron-wrought banister that led upstairs. It was also completely empty. 

“What is this?”

“Our shelter for the night,” she answered and switched the lights on because it was already getting dark inside. “I figured you’d appreciate a bit more privacy today.”

She wasn’t wrong, he couldn’t deny that. He knew he was a mess and if they went back, there would be questions, and the people who’d ask them, and he feared couldn’t deal with that right now. He was sure she didn’t want to, either. And this place was actually quite nice, but…

“So, it’s just the two of us? Is this place yours?” He asked tentatively. He thought it unlikely, but really hoped it was. 

“No, not mine. I couldn’t afford it even if I wanted to. And I don’t,” she replied matter-of-factly, as if that explained everything, and turned on the oven to let it pre-heat.

Joshua, however, looked positively alarmed now. Still clutching his backpack in one hand, he tried to stop her in her tracks with the other. “Seriously, Olalla! What is this place and how could you get us inside? Please, tell me we’re not trespassing. I don’t want more trouble. If we can pay for this, I definitely will! I don’t want you to…”

“Relax, Mr. I-will-pay-for-it-all. It’s been already paid for. This is a private resort. People pay yearly rent so they can come anytime they want. Anyway, this one belongs to a guy who owns a small chain of bakeries. I’m the housekeeper,” she finally started to explain while rummaging in the fridge and kitchen drawers. “Here, have some water. And stop bouncing around me like a yo-yo. Sit and relax, for fucks sake!” She grabbed his shoulders and gently pushed him in one of the chairs before she dived her nose in the freezer, searching for boxes with frozen pizza. She threw one on the table in front of him “Margherita?” 

He nodded weakly and she put it in the oven. “That’s why I couldn’t go to dinner with you the other day. I was here. Even when they’re not here, I come in here every week to keep this place spotless, because his wife is scared of spiders. Also, it just needs to be ready all the time in case they just decided to come here on a whim.” She noticed his alarmed face and added: “Not now! Don’t worry. They’re currently in Egypt…There’s some wine, too. Would you want some?”

He sucked in a breath and exhaled dramatically, which made her roll her eyes. “I take care of their groceries and other supplies. There’s a monthly budget and they don’t keep track, so they won’t notice. Besides, I can keep the change, so all in all you’re my guest… Now come have a look.”

She took his hand and led him to a small terrace outside a glass door at the southern side of the chalet. That’s when he finally saw it. The whole Tatra mountain range was stretching right in front of them. The setting sun was now illuminating just the tops of it, painting the peaks in fiery red, while the valley below was already shrouded in shadow. The glimmering streetlights of Zakopane looked surreal from where they stood, almost inappropriate…like a fake illusion that civilization could possibly surpass the power of the surrounding nature. We don’t control life, life controls us – that’s what Agnieszka thought. Josh, on the other hand, believed in divine symbiosis. Even now, all he could see was beauty. This was much bigger than him, much more important.

She watched with joy as his expression finally relaxed and a weak smile played on his lips.  “This is beautiful,” he breathed out at last. “You still didn’t explain why we’re really here.”

“I already told you. The privacy.” His crossed arms and raised eyebrows and the whole oh-come-on look on his face told her that he wasn’t buying. He didn’t look so drained anymore, though, already going back to his charming, bubbly self. And even if he wasn’t, she wouldn’t mind. 

She took a deep breath and told him that this was the exact reason. “We’re here so that you could just be yourself. You don’t need to feign anything tonight.”

If they went back to Eulalia, he would no doubt be forced to smile and act normal, at least until he’d reach the confines of his small and stuffy attic room. He had been upset, and she just wanted him to breathe and smile in earnest. This place was perfect for that. She would go here on her own sometimes – or stayed a bit longer than necessary after having done her chores – just to enjoy a private moment of peace, unbothered by anyone. That’s what she told him. 

She did not tell him that she feared that they would just part in the hallway and that would be it. There were still some things that were left unsaid and there might not be another opportunity to say them. She would resume her role of a receptionist/slash/maid and he’d be her guest again, engaging in polite conversations about the weather until he’d be gone for good. The whole ride here, the devil on her shoulder kept telling her that it would be better that way and that this was foolish. Or was it the angel? She couldn’t tell. She also couldn’t let go of him that easily. Maya was wrong. A lot of things could have happened…and they did. She needed closure. 

She did not need to tell him that, though. She brought him here not as her guest, but as her…whatever he was. A friend, most probably. Someone who she cared about, in spite of her resolve. 

He knew that, and that was what really made him smile, not just the view. 

“Thank you, Olalla,” he said in a low tone after a while and brought her from her reverie. “I truly love it here. Can we eat outside? he added, motioning to a set of fake rattan chairs and a small table right beside Agnieszka. He looked like an excited, mischievous boy again. 

“Of course,” she smiled kindly and the stove clock buzzed, telling them the pizza was ready. 

It was already dark when they finished eating, the wine was almost gone, too. It was getting chilly and they had to wrap themselves in blankets from the couch. Their bare and swollen feet, already freed from their heavy boots, were already getting uncomfortably cold, but neither of them wanted to leave yet. The pizza was okay, but small and they were still a bit hungry after, so Agnieszka quickly made some microwave popcorn. They were now munching the last handfuls, each of them lost in their thoughts, and watching the stars mirror the lights below. 

“Do you want to talk about what happened?” she finally broke the silence. 

“You’ll have to be more specific,” he smiled warmly and reached out to stroke the back of her hand that lay on her armrest... 

“The bus…” Her hand slid from under his fingers to reach for her wine, leaving them hovering in mid air awkwardly for a split second before he retracted them and clenched his fist unconsciously. 

His previously relaxed face clouded again. “What’s there to talk about? People are jerks, you can’t avoid them. End of story, I guess.” His tone was not unpleasant, but it sounded definitive. He wasn’t going to discuss his breakdown with her. She nodded and looked away, so he continued in his honeyed voice: “Don’t worry, I’m fine. I’m just impulsive. And I’d rather talk about our trip. The valley, it was a truly beautiful place. How many times have you actually been there?” 

Her heart sank and she watched him playing with the hem of his shirt for a while. It was OK if he didn’t want to talk about the bus ride, but the way he just dismissed the kiss stung her.  She cleared her throat because the lump in it threatened to choke her, and answered politely:  “A few times. I think I was six or seven when my dad took me there for the first time. We needed passports back then. 

“Well, that makes it easier now,” he nodded absentmindedly, still playing with his shirt. 

“Nothing is easier!” Her sudden outburst made him look up in annoyance, but his expression quickly softened when he saw her own. He wanted to hug her, but didn’t dare, too afraid that she would pull away from him again. 

He was about to suggest that they should probably call it a night. The wine obviously didn’t have the best effect on her. However, she took a deep breath and continued. It was a sudden outburst of words, totally out of her character, but he listened eagerly as she told him about the solace she found up there; how the weather made the same places look a bit different each time; how she knew every place accessible on foot and how Dominik – her fiance – once convinced her to get a climbing permit so that he could show her more; how she avoided going up there for nearly two years after he fell and left her here; how she finally learned that it’s just people’s stupidity that makes bad things happen, and nothing else…

She had no idea why she told him all that, but she suddenly felt so much lighter. It was just like the first night all over again. He was her confessor. 

“Is that why you’re running from love? he whispered.

“No,” she huffed in protest. “I’m just seeking joy elsewhere. Love is overrated.” 

“What? Oh no! Love is everything, dear. You cannot live without it. It’s the ultimate knowledge. ‘The more you love, the more you know’ – a dumb man once said. Love IS joy!”

“Yeah, you’re positively glowing,” she responded sarcastically.

“Even when it hurts, it’s worth it.”

“I’d rather never known that pain,” she mumbled. 

“I regret nothing.” His face betrayed him, though. This was clearly not true. He could feel her eyes on him as he chewed the inside of his cheek. She opened up to him, he should do the same. It just wasn’t easy, not when this ugly, fake and pixelated version of him kept defeating him and its tentacles could reach this place too if he weren’t careful. It had destroyed his love and it still threatened to destroy his life…or at least it felt that way sometimes.  “…well, almost…but that has nothing to do with love,” he added when the silence became unbearable.

“So, what’s his name?” The question made him smile, albeit ruefully. He loved how straightforward she was from day one. Some might think it rude, but her questions were always laced with pure interest and concern, nothing more. He appreciated that. She was clever, too…although not clever enough. 

“Who? The love I don’t regret?” It was obvious that she wasn’t going to repeat the question. They both knew exactly what she meant, so he looked at her at last and added, finally telling her much more than just a name: “Christopher.”

“Do you still love him?”

“I don’t believe in falling out of love…unless it turns to hate. And I could never do that.”

“That sounds a bit evasive.”

“Yet it’s the most truthful answer I could give you. Everyone I’ve ever loved has left a mark. Some may be a bit faded, but love just doesn’t leave. Don’t your vain attempts to run from it prove my point?” 

She huffed in annoyance and emptied her glass of wine. “He didn’t leave me intentionally. He died. Isn’t it natural to feel resentful when someone breaks your heart? They’re not gone, they just don’t want you anymore. I’m pretty sure it’s much easier to let go.”

“He didn’t break my heart. I broke his…and mine, in the process. I’m to blame. And I’m pretty sure he’s resentful, but it didn’t make it any easier for either of us. Besides, didn’t you just say a moment ago that it was all about human stupidity? We’re supposed to learn from it, not hide.” 

She had no answer to that. She just tightened the blanket around her, acting like they were just talking about the weather. “It’s getting a bit chilly.”

He gave her a long, scrutinizing look, but she kept avoiding his eyes. “Ok, let’s go inside,” he sighed.

They washed the dishes together in silence and then she reluctantly led him upstairs, sad that their day would – after all – end in what felt like an argument. 

The upper bedchamber was not much different from his attic room, with just the most essential furnishings, the double bed taking up most of the space. It was also equally stifled after the hot day. The bathroom, however, was large and cool and fully equipped.. Agnieszka once again started making everything ready with alacrity. She turned on the boiler, opened up the window to let some fresh air in, reached into the closet and handed him several clean towels, showed him where to find spare toothbrushes…and all that time he watched her with visible concern in his eyes which she masterfully ignored.  

She was finally done. Standing in the middle of the room with her hands on her sides, she exhaled audibly. “Unfortunately, there’s just one bedroom here, but I can sleep downstairs.”

“Don’t be ridiculous Olalla, the bed is big enough for both of us. If you don’t wanna share it, I understand…but in that case I should be the one sleeping on the couch.”

“I don’t mind sharing the bed with you, I just thought…”

“Good, it’s settled then. Now let’s go take a shower,” he interrupted her matter-of-factly and pulled off his shirt. Her breath hitched as he started unbuttoning his shorts. 

“What? Together?”

“We’re gonna sleep in one bed, we have no spare clothes, what difference does it make?” He tried to act nonchalantly, but there was some underlying tension building up under the surface, as if he was testing her, but losing his temper already.

“It makes a difference to me Joshua. I do…”

His face contorted in frustration and he threw his arms up in the air. “And what makes you think that I don’t? What exactly do you want? If you brought me here just as a friend, fine. I can cope with that. You obviously made some assumptions about me along the way, and you weren’t completely wrong. But the kiss…I meant it. And I think you did too, that it’s what you want, but your walls are too high. You’ve been dodging me ever since that happened, even before that, actually… Yet, here we are. I’ve been acting like an idiot too, you haven’t met me at my best, but I do like you, ok? So please, stop overthinking this and fucking tell me. Why does it make a difference to you?”

All the time, she just stood there, watching him flailing his arms around, shocked. If only it were so easy – not overthinking it. Was she really pushing him away today? She wasn’t aware of that. She wanted to touch him again. Badly. The yearning was strong, and past the point of it being purely physical. It kept frightening her.

He was wrong, though. This wasn’t really what she wanted. When she saw him for the first time, he was just another guy that she could potentially have some fun with…if he wanted. Just another handsome body to fill the void for a while. But that changed very quickly. And what the hell did he want, anyway? 

“I’m scared.” She was crying now, overwhelmed by his confession as well as her over emotions. 

“Of what, baby?”

I’m scared of the fact that for the first time in years, I care. And I’m scared of having to admit that, if you asked. And no matter what happens now, you’re going to leave me. I don’t know what this is yet…definitely not a date…we have no future. But I already know that I’m going to miss you.

She couldn’t say any of it aloud though. 

He cupped her cheeks in his hands and looked into her eyes, searching for cues. “Do you want me to go sleep on the couch, baby? It’s ok, you know.”

“No,” she whispered. No, she couldn’t possibly let him do that. It was something in his touch. Every time he made a slightest contact with her skin, her brain short-circuited, making her mind do mental backflips. Because, screw that…If she’s going to miss him, she wants to miss everything about him. “Can you kiss me again, please?” 

He barely touched her at first. Just a fleeting brush of his lips against hers. It would be almost innocent if it weren’t for the shaky exhale, almost a moan. It was controlled, and he did it on purpose. He was teasing her before he looked at her again and whispered: “Is this what you want, hm? Just a kiss?” 

“You can take whatever you want.”

“I’m not going to be taking anything today, baby,” he responded, caressing her cheek in a loving way. She leaned into his touch and ran her fingertips up his bare chest, tracing his collarbones and then his jaw as she tried to commit every detail of his face in her memory. “We’re gonna take it slow, what do you think? he whispered. 

“Yes…,” she whispered back. 

He reached for the hem of her tank top, motioning her to lift her arms up, which she was reluctant to do. 

“I stink like a pig,” she sniffed, but a soft smile was already forming on her lips. 

“You smell divine, my dear.” He kissed her again, this time with more passion. They stood there for a while, reveling in their newly found intimity, licking and moaning into each other’s mouths. He cupped her bare breast in his hand, running his fingers along her nipple before he bowed down to do the same thing with his tongue. She tilted her head back. “Joshua…”

“Yeah,” he muttered with her nipple still in his mouth. 

“I’d really like to shower first…” He smiled against her skin and straightened up. He took her hand, grabbed the towels with the other and led her into the bathroom. 

He did as he promised, and took it slow. They took off the rest of their clothes and stepped in the shower together. She unbraided his hair, helped him disentable the dreadlock beads from his hair, before she started rubbing shampoo into his curls. “Coconut ice-cream again?” he chuckled softly. She smiled back. “I told you I take care of the supplies. That includes my supplies. I get a wholesale discount for this.” 

“You’re a hell of a housekeeper,” he laughed. 

When they got back to the bedroom, she just turned off the lights and climbed in bed. He followed suit. They cuddled at first and explored their bodies in the darkness. Listening to his heavy breath was intoxicating. The silky softness of her skin, in contrast with her calloused palms, moved him in a way he never expected. But as soon as their kisses deepened and his cock hardened, they couldn’t wait any longer. She cupped his balls and kneaded them gently, making him whimper. 

“I need to feel you,” he whispered.

“Come inside then.” 

“What a nice way to put it,” he chuckled against her shoulder. “How do you want me?”

“Spoon me.”

“Alright.” 

She turned on her side and he positioned himself, pushing in slowly. He tried to do everything slowly, but it became almost unbearable after a while, and when she whispered “more,” he quickened his pace. He wanted to do just what she asked for, and just listening to her reactions was making him lose his mind. So, when she whimpered “tough me more,” he was delighted to oblige. He grabbed her leg and lifted it up, resting her shin against his knee. His hand sneaked down her thigh until he found that precious little button. It didn’t take long and he soon felt her contracting around him. He diligently took her there, pushed her over the edge with one last flick of his finger and held her tight while she reached the dizzy heights and then came back to him.

It took her a while to realize that he had stopped completely. “Joshua…go on…” Her voice was like a jingle bell, feeble and high and a little breathy. 

“Shhh, just let me savor the moment, it’s ok” he murmured into her hair. She exhaled heavily and relaxed as the fatigue threatened to overcome both her mind and body at last. With their limbs still intertwined and their bodies still connected, she felt his chest rise and fall against her back. It was getting cold in the room. He moved just a little to grab a blanket, threw it over both of them and buried his face in her hair again. Almost involuntarily, he moved his hips just a little a few times and whimpered weakly, still chasing the feeling before he finally stopped. “Get some rest, sweet Olalla,” he whispered and his fingertips stroked the baby hair that covered her temple. She fell asleep before he got limp, feeling both peaceful and full.

The sun emerged from behind the clouds and its morning rays hit Josh straight in the face, waking him. He was a bit disoriented at first. He also had a painful erection.

The planks on the ceiling looked just like those in his attic room, but the light coming from the outside, as well as the smell of new wood and furniture were different…then he remembered. 

Her side of the bed was empty and cold and no sounds were coming from below. That made him start…only to notice a piece of paper with a quickly scribbled message placed carefully on her pillow. 

I had to go back to Eulalia, but I will be back VERY soon with some clean clothes and breakfast. Feel free to make yourself some coffee.

He checked his phone on the nightstand to see what time it was, only to find it dead. Perfect, so she was keeping him hostage now. 

That made him huff. He had no idea what time it was, but he had faith in her, so…first things first. He had to take care of himself. He wrapped his fingers around his hard-on and started stroking himself. It was slow at first, but he soon became impatient. All the pent-up energy, all the emotional whiplash he experienced recently, all the hurt and newly found pleasures…he needed to release the tension that had only intensified the night before. 

For the first time in months, he didn’t picture Christopher’s mouth enveloping the tip of his hard dick while he was pumping himself. The events of the previous night occupied his mind instead. He enjoyed sex with women, but it had been a couple years now…and to be honest, it had never infiltrated his deepest fantasies…until now. He just couldn’t help it now. He could feel it again – her tight walls, smooth like velvet, warm and tight…but not too tight. Different.

The way she moaned with each thrust; it was so melodic. So sincere. All the hurt she had tried to hide, it seeped out of the pores of her silken skin and evaporated in the air above them. He made her feel better. She made him feel better. 

He closed his eyes and he could see her face clearly again, as if it was tattooed on the inner surface of his eyelids. He thought about their first kiss as he twisted his wrist, stroking the head of his cock in a circular motion. The electricity when the tip of her tongue met with his was real. It made him moan loudly and his heart started to beat faster. He was getting close already. 

He ran his second hand past his abdomen to cup his balls, kneading them gently just like she had done yesterday. He longed for her to do it again, but right now he had to get this over with so they wouldn't burst. A few more strokes – together with a memory of her dark ponytail flailing in the wind – before spurts of his cum landed on his belly and chest. 

The hurt he had felt – it somehow ceased to matter the very moment she decided to try to make it go away without even asking what he had done to feel that way. Her whole being left an imprint on him. Her teary eyes, her ringing laugh, the softness of her skin and her calloused hands. His vision of her was not purely sexual, but it made him emotional. She was a born caretaker, who – for some reason – chose to live without love. He couldn’t forget the way she was looking at him the night he gave her the pendant. Like deer in headlights. She begged to be seen, yet she was trying to make herself invisible. He became convinced that he had to fix it. 

Again. He hadn’t learned a single thing…

He lay there for a while with his eyes closed, enjoying the feeling of warm sun rays on his skin, but the relief he had sought was short-lived and he started to feel on edge once again. Groaning in annoyance as his release on his stomach started to get crusty, he finally scrambled out of bed and trudged over to the bathroom.

The quick shower he took to clean himself did not make him feel more relaxed, on the contrary. It once again reminded him of last night. He lathered up a drop of the coconut shower gel between his hands to wash his torso with it and the smell only made him dizzy. He needed her. 

He wandered naked around the chalet, searching through empty drawers for a compatible charger, knowing too well it was futile. He made himself a coffee and then just let it get cold on the table. He opened a bottle of beer, took two sips and then just held the cold bottle on his forehead while he sat sprawled on the couch. He started gnawing on his lower lip out of impatience when he finally heard a key in the lock and his eyes snapped open. 

She was beautiful, with her long dark locks just hanging down this time. She was wearing a white madeira sundress and flip flops. He had never seen her like this. 

“I’m SO sorry, it took a little longer than I expected, I hope you didn’t…oh!”

At first she thought he was angry, the way he leaped from the couch and darted towards her, with that look on his face. She instinctively backed away, but he just took the bags she was holding, put them on the table and literally pounced on her, grabbing her sides and making her stumble backwards and collide with the wooden door. 

“Joshua! Wait a second,” she bursted out, grabbing his shoulders in an attempt to regain her balance. He disregarded her feeble resistance, grabbed her wrists and pinned them against the door at both sides of her head.

“For what exactly? I’ve waited for hours. Now I don’t need to anymore. I think I”m going to take what I want after all,” he grunted against the soft skin right below her earlobe and pushed his leg between her things. “And don’t tell me you dressed like this to make me wanna hold your hand again, so don’t play coy,” he added, while licking a long stripe from her collarbone back up to her earlobe, earning a high pitched moan when he bit it. Her heart started beating wildly, sending tingling waves of arousal throughout her whole body. He was already rock hard, rutting against her pelvic bone. 

“Aren’t you hungry?” she whimpered, nodding towards the table. She was referring to the food she brought, but they both knew she was teasing him with double meaning. She arched a little, pressing her still clothed pussy down on him a bit more. It was exhilarating to feel his hands tightening around her forearms, digging his fingernails in her flesh. He looked at her, nostrils flaring, and she reciprocated with intense glare. 

“I’m starving. Feed me.” He let go of her arms, grabbed her jaw instead to force her mouth open and licked into it, claiming it. Her own hands immediately travelled up his back, kneading his tight flesh in a sudden frenzy, pulling him even closer to her chest.   

Still locked in a searing kiss, he turned her around and they slowly made their way towards the couch. When her calves collided with it, he just pushed her down and kneeled in front of her, pushing the hem of her dress up to her waist with one swift motion. She had no panties on, which made grin like a madman, shaking his head with a mischievous “tsk”. 

With just his fingertips, he pushed her thighs further apart and licked his lips absentmindedly, seeing her in all her glory for the very first time. He couldn’t take his eyes off of her, while the same fingertips travelled further up her inner thighs until his thumb brushed gently against her clit, sending a jolt of electricity up her spine. 

She moaned melodically and he hummed in unison with her. “You said you liked my singing?” 

The question brought her back to earth and she looked down at him in confusion. “You want to sing to me now?” 

He locked his eyes with her and they gleamed with mischief as he brushed his cheek against her inner thigh and planted a soft kiss on her labia. “Uh huh.” 

“What do you mean?”

“Just this…” he whispered, pressed the tip of his tongue on her exposed bud and really, really started singing…

He had to push her abdomen down with his hand to keep her steady as her whole body twitched in shock, her hands frantically grabbing at the pillows around her. He had her moaning loudly in no time. She had never held any man’s head between her legs, but she entangled her fingers in his curls almost involuntarily, in fear that he would stop. He hummed in approval and quickened the vibrations of his tongue even more and she cried out, eyes open wide. He slowed down a bit when her legs started shaking, enveloped her clit with his lips and started sucking on it gently. That was a terrible mistake, because instead of prolonging the experience, it pushed her over the edge immediately. 

She watched him in a haze as he emerged from between her legs and hovered above her, his facial hair completely wet. She immediately reached out to wipe it off with her palm, but he grabbed her wrist and smiled devilishly. “Leave it!” It sent her mind reeling. 

“What is it, baby? You look completely ruined,” he crooned maliciously. 

“Oh god, Joshua, just shut up and fuck me!” she exclaimed impatiently, grabbing the back of his neck and pulling him closer. 

“Oooh, I will!” he bit his lip and shook his head maliciously. Before she could react, he buried his dick in her to the hilt. They both groaned loudly, exchanging a quick look. He swallowed audibly and rested his forehead between her breasts. “Your body’s made of silk, baby,” he murmured against her skin. “It’s driving me nuts.”

She clenched around him deliberately, making him groan again. “Don’t get too sentimental now. I’m not ruined enough yet!” 

“Dear lady, you’re a beast,” he whimpered through his teeth and straightened up. “As you wish.” He grabbed her hips and started thrusting into her with an unexpected force.  

She watched him, mesmerized. She literally saw him in a completely new light now. His parted lips, his furrowed brow. Just seeing him like that was an intensively sensual experience, and it turned her on even more. She could soon feel another orgasm building deep inside her low abdomen. It was becoming almost overwhelming and she grabbed his upper arms to steady herself, digging her fingernail into his skin. That did it for him and his movements became erratic. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath, trying to regain control over his bbody, but she clenched around him again and hissed: “Go on. Fill me up!” 

With a few last spasmic thrusts and a long, high-pitched moan, he did, taking her with him one more time. They collapsed together on the couch, breathing heavily. 

“Joshua?” 

“Yeah?

“I like you too.”

He didn’t say anything, just pulled her even closer to him and kissed her forehead lovingly.

“What do you think is going to happen now?”

“I don’t know,” he answered truthfully, stroking her hair “but literally anything’s possible. Let’s not worry about it now.”

“I assume you can’t stay longer, can you?”

“No, I’m afraid I can’t. But we still have a week. Let’s make it the time of our lives.”

And they started immediately. The weather was capricious that day. The morning sun soon hid behind the clouds and heavy shower rains kept drumming on the roof. It was a perfect day for ceaseless fucking. It was as if nature played along. Once they got the taste of each other, they just couldn’t stop. 

They fucked three more times that afternoon. At first he bent her over the dining table right after lunch. It was animalistic and quick and she feared she’d leave scratch marks on the wooden table as she cried out with each violent thrust against her cervix. His hands on her hips were gentle though, kneading her flesh like velvet cushions, the pressure of his fingers  on her skin more aggressive only when he came. 

The second time was slow and gentle, as they lay in bed under the roof. Rain kept falling as he showered her with kisses. 

They lay there for another half an hour before they concluded it was finally time to take another shower. That’s where he pressed her against the tiles and filled her with his seed one more time. 

The day wasn’t over yet, but it was time to go back, so they cleaned up the chalet, got dressed, packed their things and soon were on their way back, arriving at Eulalia before supper. 

Maya greeted them at the reception with a smile, but something was off. She was all smiles and giggles when she and Agnueszka talked briefly earlier that day. She looked almost apprehensive now. 

“I need to talk to you,” she hissed at Agnieszka in Polish after Josh excused himself and ran up the stairs to his room. 

“Can it wait?”

“No, I’m afraid it can’t. 

“Well, it will have to. We’re going out soon in half an hour. You promised me. I’ll be back in the kitchen tomorrow morning.”

“Olalla!”

“See you in the moooorning,” Agnieszka trilled over her shoulder, already on her way up. 

Back in her room, she checked her phone briefly, only to notice she had a whatsapp message from Bartek. It was a link to some article one of his buddies allegedly found somewhere. She opened it and gasped in shock. 

Josh knocked on her door ten minutes later. He definitely did not expect her to open it with teary eyes.

“What happened,” he frowned. 

She showed him the screen and he went pale immediately. “OK, let me explain.”

“Yeah, you do that…and while you’re at it, feel free to introduce yourself, because clearly, I don’t know you…”

Give me all your true hate and I'll translate it in your bed Into never seen passion That is why I am so mad about you

Previous Chapter Olalla masterlist

@its-interesting-van-kleep @edgingthedarkness @writingcold @thewritingbeforesunrise @lvnterninthenight @fleet-of-fiction @takenbythemadness @myownparadise96 @gvfstuddedmajesty @josh-iamyour-mama @jazzyfigz @tripthelightfantastix @sanguinebats @love-isnt-greed @klarxtr @kiszkas-canvas

[tip-top-cloud-surfer]

What is L-O-V-E? - Hangman

Pairing: Hangman / Bradshaw!Fem!OC (Lena) (Ex-Wife!OC)

Word Count: 4.2k

Warnings: Divorce and Separation; Angst; References to Child Custody Agreements; One Sided Feelings; Toxic/Conflictual Dynamics; References to Goose and Carole; Female Bradshaw OC and Named Son OC

This work, all of my works, and my entire blog is 18+ Only!

Summary: Lena Bradshaw (formerly Seresin) struggles once again to keep the peace between her ex-husband Jake and her older brother Bradley for her son's sake. And the uranium facility mission only seems to heighten the stakes of it all.

A.N. Everyone's a little toxic here. Just so we're clear.

Part 2 Part 3

Master List

Lena Bradshaw was not the best when it came to dealing with conflict.

If she were to see a therapist, they probably would have blamed that on the fact that she was an orphan before she was even a teenager and didn’t remember her biological father. Childhood trauma and all that. But either way, she was horrible at dealing with conflict.

Especially in her personal life.

There was the fight between Bradley and Maverick over the Naval Academy. Then there were the fights between Bradley and her now ex-husband Jake. And then, of course, there was her divorce. She simultaneously was both too compromising and too difficult at the same time.

But regardless, Lena had one main priority in her life now. And that was her son, Nickie. Nicholas Jacob Seresin-Bradshaw. The ‘Bradshaw’ got added on after the divorce.

Nickie was on the cusp of turning four now and quickly growing more curious about the world around him. And that raised a lot of maternal anxiety in Lena. Especially when it came to Nickie’s fascination with aviation. Particularly naval aviation. She shouldn’t have been surprised. Every single important male figure in Nickie’s life was a naval aviator. But it still scared her.

“Look at all the planes, Mommy!” Nickie shouted, causing Lena to snap out of her thoughts.

“I know, there’s a lot of them,” she agreed softly.

Lena turned back to the road and changed lanes, heading for the San Diego International Airport to pick up her brother. Bradley called her yesterday to tell her that he was returning to Top Gun for some mission and Lena was sure that her blood pressure hadn’t returned to a normal level since then.

“Is Uncle Roos on one of those planes?” Nickie questioned excitedly, pressing his face to the window.

“He should have landed by now.”

Lena pulled out her phone and pressed on Bradley’s contact. Nickie peeled his face off of the window, leaving marks where his nose and forehead were leaned up against it.

“Are you calling him?”

“Yes, because your uncle never tells me where he is,” Lena replied dryly.

She was also waiting for a text or call from her ex-husband, but so far it was radio silence. That wasn’t necessarily odd, however. After one of Jake’s deployments got extended last minute and Nickie was inconsolable when Lena broke the news to him, Jake didn’t call her until he was actually standing on American soil.

But if Bradley got the call back to Top Gun for some big mission, Lena had to assume that Jake would also be returning to Miramar. Lena didn’t want to wade into the rivalry between her brother and her ex-husband, but Jake was the better pilot.

Don’t tell Bradley that she said that. Ever.

“Hello, this is your captain speaking,” Rooster answered the call in a mock-pilot voice. Lena rolled her eyes as Nickie giggled from the backseat.

“Where am I picking you up again?” she asked, glancing at the sidewalk.

“Aw, you’re no fun,” Rooster jokingly whined.

“Hi, Uncle Roos!” Nickie shouted from the backseat.

“Hey, buddy! How are you?” Bradley asked, reverting back to his normal voice.

“Good! There’s lots of planes here!”

“There are,” Rooster agreed.

“Look, if you want the free ride and meal that I promised, you do have to tell me where you are so that I can pick you up,” Lena sighed, driving slowly through the terminal.

“I’m down at the end. Right past the last set of speed bumps before you get to the next airline.”

“Okay, then we’ll see you in a few seconds.”

“No, no, Mommy, you’re supposed to say, ‘copy that’,” Nickie corrected her.

“You tell her, Nickie!”

“Goodbye,” Lena stressed, ending the call.

She plopped her phone into the cupholder and looked through the crowded mess on the sidewalk. Lena slowly rolled over the last set of speed bumps before Nickie began to eagerly bounce in his seat and press his hands against the window.

“There he is!”

“Still dressed like its 1986,” Lena mumbled under her breath.

Rooster waved comedically to Nickie as he followed Lena’s car, causing Nickie to laugh and wave back to him just as dramatically. Lena slowed the car down before putting it into park. Rooster walked around to the back, opened the trunk, and placed his duffel bag down.

“Uncle Roos!” Nickie called excitedly.

“Is that Nickie? Nah, you’re too big to be Nickie,” Rooster teased his nephew.

“It’s me!” Nickie huffed as Rooster walked around the car.

“Thanks for picking me up, Sis. You’re too kind,” Rooster joked, sliding into the passenger seat.

“I know, I am,” Lena replied with a small smile.

She leaned over and tugged her brother into a tight hug that Bradley happily returned. It had been a solid eight months since the Bradshaw siblings were in the same city. And even though Bradley called and emailed her whenever he could, it was nice to have her brother sitting beside her again.

“How was your flight?” Lena asked, turning to pull out of the airport.

“Not too bad. Long. But now I get to hang out with my favorite nephew all day!” Rooster replied, spinning around to face Nickie.

“I’m your only nephew!”

“Still counts!”

“Seatbelt,” Lena stated, smacking Rooster on the arm. “Even fighter pilots need to wear their seatbelts.”

“Yeah, Uncle Roos!”

Lena drove them away from the airport, chatting casually with Rooster about his most recent deployment and any other life updates. But Nickie quickly butted into the conversation and informed Uncle Rooster all about his life. Rooster listened along intently, adding commentary where necessary, and genuinely making Nickie feel heard.

After all, Nickie was Rooster’s godson. Jake was more than a little annoyed about it at the time, but Rooster was Nickie’s godfather. And Rooster absolutely adored Nickie. He hated the fact that Nickie’s dad was Jake, but he wouldn’t hesitate to spend any time with Nickie. Ever.

“And Daddy promised to take me to a football game soon!” Nickie yelled out excitedly, missing how Rooster’s expression changed.

“Did you get that in writing?” Rooster asked Nickie dryly.

Lena immediately smacked Rooster on the arm, causing him to huff and rub the tender skin. Nickie was a little confused about the shift in the atmosphere, but he just laughed off the interaction between his mom and his uncle. Lena shot her brother a look before turning back to the road.

“Do not talk bad about J-A-K-E in front of Nickie,” she stated, leaving no room for argument.

The only time that Lena ever saw her brother turn purple with rage, minus the paper pulling situation, was when she told him about her and Jake. Rooster spouted off just about every bad word that he ever heard about Jake, told Lena that she was making the biggest mistake of her life, and swore up and down that Jake was just going to break her heart.

Rooster quieted down about his distaste for Jake around the time that Nickie was born and they both used Nickie as a buffer between them when they were forced to be around each other. But Lena just wished that they would just bury the hatchet already. And she definitely would not tolerate either of them talking bad about the other in front of Nickie.

Absolutely not.

“I’m just saying—”

“—And you’re going to stop saying whatever it is,” Lena interjected, shooting her brother a sharp glare. “He apologized for that and he made it up. So, drop it.”

“I’m just saying that he’s an A-S-S-H-O—”

“—Brad, I know, okay?” Lena huffed, getting a little aggravated with her brother. “I left him for a reason. But don’t talk bad about him in front of your nephew. He’s still part of our lives whether you like it or not. So, don’t talk about him like that. Got it?”

“Fine,” Rooster replied, dropping the discussion. He turned back to Nickie with a new and slightly forced smile. “We can toss a ball around in the backyard when we get to your house, Nickie.”

“Yay!”

Lena pulled up to her and Nickie’s home a few minutes later. The house that actually used to belong to Maverick and was the house that she and Bradley lived in after their mom passed. When Lena called Maverick crying about her divorce, he gifted her the house. Unprompted and despite the fact that Lena told him that it was too much.

Maverick called it a fresh start. And, so, Lena took it.

“I’ll race you inside,” Rooster told Nickie, who hurriedly tugged at his car seat.

“There’s a child lock on his door,” Lena sighed, causing Rooster to glance back at her.

“Well, then I’ll get you out and then we’ll race, Nickie.”

Rooster pulled Nickie out of his car seat and set him on the ground. But Nickie wasn’t going to wait for anyone and took off for the house. Rooster was right behind him, which caused Nickie to squeal. Lena smiled to herself and slid out of the car. Lena walked up after them and unlocked the door.

“The baseball stuff is in that closet. Do not trek dirt into my house, Bradley.”

“Copy that,” Rooster replied, barely listening, as Nickie ran over to his toy closet.

Nickie and Rooster headed outside to toss a baseball around while Lena started on lunch. She was in the middle of pulling out ingredients for sandwiches when her phone started to buzz. Noting the contact, Lena let out a sigh and answered the call.

“Hello?”

“Are you at work?” Jake asked as Lena moved around her kitchen.

“No, I took the day off. My brother is in town.”

“Did he get called back to Top Gun?” Jake immediately questioned, unable to hide his distaste.

“Yes, why?”

“I got called up too. And so did Javy.”

Lena paused for a moment, staring out the window. If the Navy already called in Jake, Bradley, and Javy, she had to assume that something big was happening. And by ‘big’ she meant dangerous. And Lena preferred to stay away from the danger zone. Very far away from the danger zone.

“So, are you coming to Miramar soon then?” Lena asked, refocusing on the phone call.

“I’m driving down from Lemoore now. It says that I’m about four hours away.” There was a beat of silence before Jake asked, “Am I allowed to come over since the chicken is there?”

“Jake,” Lena pleaded quietly, “he’s still Nickie’s uncle. We haven’t seen him in nearly a year.”

“Well, I’m Nickie’s dad.”

“I’m aware,” Lena sighed, leaning on the countertop. “And Nickie knows that too.” Lena glanced out the window before turning back to her call. “Bradley isn’t staying for dinner. He should be gone by the time that you get here.”

“Thank you.”

“Did you want me to tell Nickie that you’re coming here?”

“No, I’ll surprise him.”

“Okay. Text me when you get to Miramar.”

“I will. Bye.”

“Bye, Jake.”

Setting her phone down on the countertop, Lena held her head in her hands and took a breath.

She didn’t plan on getting divorced. She didn’t want to get divorced. She tried to make it work. She tried to get them into counseling, she tried to communicate how she was feeling and what she needed from their relationship, and she reminded herself over and over again about how miserable her mom was as a single mom.

But she wasn’t her mom. She wasn’t strong like her mom. She didn’t lose Jake like Carole lost Goose. She lost Jake while he was standing right there in front of her. The fantasy that she had in her head shattered and there were too many pieces to pick up and put back together.

And even though her ex-mother-in-law accused her of enjoying the divorce, Lena didn’t take any pleasure in it. But she tried and she failed. And she tried again and she failed. And there were only so many times that she could try before she lost it. So, she got divorced.

Turning back to the bread, Lena simply focused on making lunch. She eventually set the plates down on the table and walked over to the sliding door. Pushing it open, she stuck her head outside.

“Lunch is ready. But leave your dirty shoes on the steps,” she called, shooting a look at Rooster.

“Copy that, Mommy!” Nickie shouted happily.

They all sat around the table, enjoying lunch and catching up. Taking a sip from her drink, Lena turned to her brother.

“So, what time are you leaving?”

“Before dinner time. I should see who else got the call up. And they’ll all be at the Hard Deck.”

“Say ‘hi’ to Penny for me,” Lena replied, wiping at Nickie’s face.

“I will,” Rooster promised.

“I like Penny,” Nickie announced, pushing his vegetables around on his plate. “She gave me a pop-sickle. And let me ring the bell!”

“I’ve always wanted to ring the bell,” Rooster told Nickie, as if he were sharing top-secret government information. “What was it like?”

“Really loud! Mommy didn’t like it.”

Rooster laughed as Lena shook her head at the memory. She distinctly recalled dragging Nickie away from the bell because he wouldn’t let go. Luckily, it was just Penny, Jimmy, and Amelia in the bar at the time. But poor Theo the dog had to run for cover.

“Because you did it when I was standing right next to the bell, Nickie. And you wouldn’t let go,” Lena reminded her son, poking his cheek.

“‘Cause it was fun!”

“Mhmm,” Lena teased her son. Glancing down at his plate, she sighed and set down her utensils. “Nickie, can you try eating some of the vegetables?”

“I don’t want broccoli. It’s gross!”

“What about the carrots then?” Lena tried to negotiate. “If you eat two carrots, we’ll have some ice cream. How about that?”

“Ice cream?” Nickie repeated, perking up instantly.

“Now that sounds like an even trade to me,” Rooster agreed, earning a thankful nod from Lena.

“I think so. Here, we’ll all eat one together.”

Lena and Rooster picked up a carrot each and Nickie begrudgingly followed along. And even though he looked like he hated his life while he chewed on the carrots, Nickie still ate two of them without too much protest. Quickly hopping up when he was done, Nickie turned to his mom.

“Ice cream!”

Lena shot her son a look, earning a sheepish smile in return that definitely came from his dad’s side of the family.

“Please,” Nickie added on at the end.

After Nickie scarfed down a scoop of ice cream, they headed outside. Nickie happily ran around the driveway. Sometimes he would toss a ball to Rooster and sometimes he would shoot it at the small basketball hoop, but Nickie happily entertained himself while on his sugar high. And that left Lena and Rooster some space to catch up on topics that Lena didn’t want Nickie to hear.

“So, is he coming?” Rooster asked, causing Lena to sigh.

“Yes, he’s coming,” she confirmed quietly. “Don’t tell Nickie. He wants to surprise him.”

“Do you need me to leave?”

“No, I told him to come around dinner. He’ll text me when he’s close and ready,” Lena replied, fiddling with her necklace. “But please don’t antagonize him if you see him.”

“It’s usually the other way around.”

“Just please don’t try and make things worse,” Lena sighed, turning to her brother.

“I’m always on my best behavior.”

Lena let out an incredulous laugh that immediately had Rooster rolling his eyes. It was the godawful laugh that Lena always used when he was being an asshole to piss him off even more. He hated it. And he knew that Hangman hated it too. And Bradley guessed that their mom Carole and Maverick hated it as well because it always made them go ghost white when they heard it.

“Oh, you kill me, you really do,” Lena sighed, wiping fake tears away.

~~~~~

Jake knew that as soon as Rooster started up the piano routine, he was going to leave.

He studied the competition, caught up with Javy, and had a nice cold beer for the first time in five months. So, when the chord to the jukebox was pulled, Jake left the Hard Deck.

Hell, if he had it his way, he would have already been with Lena and Nickie, but Jake didn’t get his way.

He didn’t get his way when he was served with divorce papers. He didn’t get his way when Lena moved with Nickie down to San Diego. He didn’t get his way when Lena was awarded primary custody by the courts because he was active-duty.

Jake Seresin just didn’t get his way when it came to Lena Bradshaw.

If Jake had it his way, he would still be married to Lena, living in Lemoore in the house that he handpicked for them, and the damn chicken would mind his fucking business. He would see Nickie every day that he was in the States. Maybe they would have even had a second or third kid by now.

But Jake didn’t get his way.

Pulling up to Lena’s house, Jake headed for the side door. It was unlocked and Jake let himself inside the house. he took a few steps until he saw Lena cooking dinner in the kitchen. She glanced up and smiled when she spotted him.

“Nickie, sweetie, can you come in here for me?” Lena called, wiping her hands on a dish towel.

Nickie walked into Jake’s view from the family room, where he was probably playing with his toys or watching cartoons. Nickie held the coyote plushie—even though Jake was a hundred percent sure that it was actually a wolf—that Javy got him to his chest as he walked over to the kitchen, completely unaware of Jake’s presence.

“Hey, who’s that?” Lena asked Nickie, pointing in Jake’s direction.

Nickie turned around, following his mom’s finger. But when he spotted Jake, his dad who he hadn’t seen in nearly five months, Nickie let out a little delighted gasp and ran over. Jake bent down and caught Nickie as he flung himself forward.

“Daddy!” Nickie yelled out.

“Hey, little man,” Jake called, scooping Nickie up into a tight hug.

Jake held his son to his chest and pressed a kiss to the top of his head. Rocking his son back and forth, Jake tried to keep a lid on his own emotions.

“I missed you.”

“I missed you too, Daddy.”

“God, you’re getting so big,” Jake murmured, mostly to himself, as he brushed Nickie’s hair back.

“Bigger than you!” Nickie stated, sitting up straighter.

“Someday, maybe,” Jake agreed with a light chuckle. “Are you being a good boy for Mommy?”

Nickie nodded quickly with a small, mischievous grin. It was the grin that always popped up when Nickie got caught doing something that he wasn’t supposed to do. It also usually resulted in Lena turning to Jake with an exasperated ‘he gets that from your side of the family’ expression.

“Most of the time,” Lena joked, standing a few steps away.

Jake straightened up a bit more and nodded to his ex-wife with a small smile. He tried to not let his eyes linger on her bare left ring finger and turned to meet her gaze. And even though it had been about seven years since he met Lena Bradshaw—though she was still Lena Seresin in his mind—he still got that same warm feeling crawling up his neck whenever he saw her.

“Lena,” Jake greeted her softly.

“It’s good to see you, Jake,” she returned quietly. “We were just about to eat. Are you hungry?”

“I could definitely eat,” Jake agreed with a nod. “Thanks.”

“Of course.”

“Are you staying all night, Daddy?” Nickie called, redirecting Jake’s attention.

“I don’t think so, Nick,” Jake replied, fixing Nickie’s shirt for him.

“Aw,” Nickie complained, causing both Lena and Jake to wince. “Why not?”

“I’ve got training tomorrow morning. Super early,” Jake explained, not even completely lying.

“Can he stay another night, Mommy?” Nickie asked Lena, causing her to freeze for a moment.

“Yeah, he can stay another night,” she agreed, nodding along. “But let’s eat dinner first, okay?”

They sat around the table as a family. It was times like those that Jake sometimes forgot that they weren’t married anymore. This house wasn’t his home. It wasn’t their home. And well, Jake could never dwell on those feelings anyways. Not without whiskey on hand, anyways. Jake helped Nickie cut the bigger piece of chicken into little bits while Lena placed a scoop of vegetables on Nickie’s plate.

“How was the Hard Deck?” Lena asked, turning to her ex.

“It was fine. Scoped out the competition. Played a little pool. Made an early exit,” Jake replied, causing Lena to nod along. “Maverick got thrown out.”

Lena picked her head up sharply at the news and Nickie started to bounce in his seat at the mention of his great uncle. Though more often than not, Nickie called Maverick something along the lines of ‘Grandpa Mav’ because Maverick was the closest figure to a grandfather that Nickie had. Jake’s parents stopped visiting after the divorce, after all.

“Maverick is in town?” Lena asked Jake quietly.

“He didn’t tell you?” Jake returned, raising an eyebrow.

“No, he didn’t,” Lena stated, shaking her head. “And he got thrown out?”

“He left his phone on the bar and couldn’t pay his tab.”

“I told him not to go there,” Lena sighed, shaking her head.

“And your brother was there too,” Jake replied, causing Lena to reluctantly meet his gaze.

“How was that?” she asked quietly, glancing down at her plate.

“It was how it normally goes,” Jake muttered, causing Lena to wince.

“Daddy, can we watch a movie together? Please!” Nickie asked, grabbing Jake’s arm.

“Yeah, we can watch a movie, Nick. But we have to finish eating first, okay?”

“Okay!”

Jake asked Nickie about how things were going at daycare. Nickie happily told his dad everything that was going on in his life and held onto every single word that Jake spoke about aviation. Lena glanced between her son and Jake, easily picking out the similarities between them. After all, Nickie was quickly growing to look like his dad’s twin.

They eventually cleaned up and Jake settled on the couch with Nickie, who picked out a movie for them to watch. Lena gave them their space and went back to her office to catch up on some work. Lena poked her head out once to remind Jake about Nickie’s bedtime, but Jake was already giving Nickie a bath, so she just went back to work.

Jake came and knocked on the door to her office when it was time to put Nickie to bed. They walked into Nickie’s bedroom together like the divorce was just some bad dream that they already forgot about. Lena pulled back the blankets on Nickie’s bed and stepped aside for Jake.

“Alright, time for bed, Nickie.”

Jake laid Nickie down on his bed and pulled up Nickie’s blankets over him. Tucking Nickie into bed for the night, Jake handed Nickie his coyote plushie and ruffled Nickie’s still wet hair.

“Are you coming back, Daddy?” Nickie asked, causing Jake to nod quickly.

“Yeah, I’m coming back. I’ll see you tomorrow, okay?”

“Okay,” Nickie replied, immediately perking up.

“I love you, Nickie.”

“Love you too, Daddy.”

Nickie sat up and wrapped his little arms around Jake’s neck to hug him. Jake quickly hugged Nickie back and pressed a kiss to Nickie’s head. After holding onto Nickie for a bit longer, Jake reluctantly released his son and stepped aside. Lena walked over, pressed a kiss to Nickie’s head, and told him that she loved him before she and Jake headed out of Nickie’s bedroom.

Carefully shutting the door, Lena waited a moment before she turned to Jake.

“I’m working tomorrow, so if you get out before four, you can pick him up if you want. Just text me,” Lena offered as she and Jake walked towards the door.

“I will if we get out,” Jake replied immediately.

“Do you still have the car seat your truck?”

“Never took it out,” Jake assured her, grabbing his wallet and keys.

“Okay,” she agreed softly, nodding along. Wrapping her arms around herself, Lena nodded to him before stepping to the side. “Goodnight, Jake.”

“Night,” he whispered back, reaching for the door. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”

“See you tomorrow,” she returned quietly.

Jake nodded to her one last time before taking his leave and heading over to his car. Lena closed the door behind him and locked it for the night. Watching Jake’s truck drive off into the night, Lena sighed and leaned on the door, resting her head against the wood.

“Talk to me, Mom,” she murmured, glancing up at the ceiling with a conflicted expression. “What do I do?”

Part 2 Part 3

[skauni]

My OC’s in Alphabetical and Pairing order:

Andre(Nikto) MLW:

- Mikah

Alex MLW:

- Nadia

Alex MLM:

- Lue

Alex Kids:

- Daisy(g)

- Delilah(g)

- Farris(b)

Alejandro MLW:

- Mora

Alejandro MLM:

- Alexander

- Nero

Alejandro Kid:

- Angel(b)

Barrage MLW:

- Yasmine

Barrage Kid:

- Sam(b)

Bova MLW(yes I know he’s not a real CoD character—SHUSH):

- Nyra

David(Hesh) MLW:

- Cain

David MLM:

- Jacob

- Kasha

David Kid:

- Payton(b)

Experiments:

- ‘Riptide’(b)

- Yanis Crow(g)

Frank MLW:

- Lexy

Farah MLW:

- Amir

Gabriel(Rorke) MLW:

- Athena

Gary(Roach) MLW:

- Nora

Gary MLM:

- Daniel

Ghoap Adopted Kid:

- Holly(g)

Horangi MLW:

- Osani

Horangi MLM:

- Azuro

- Sato

John MLW:

- Lyre

John MLM:

- Corden

- Max

John Kids:

- Jasper(b)

- Maya(g)

Johnny MLW:

- Mila

Johnny MLM:

- Matt

- Ryan

Johnny Kid:

- Constance(/Connie)(g)

König MLW:

- Lily

König MLM:

- Rourke

König Kids:

- Cora(g)

- Louis(b)

Keegan MLW:

- Lane

Keegan MLM:

- Leo

- Todd

Keegan Kids:

- Jin(b)

- Jasmine(g)

- Rose(g)

Kyle(Gaz) MLW:

- Clover

Kyle MLM:

- Gabriel

- Noah

Kyle Kids:

- Autumn(g)

- Danny(b)

Kick MLW:

- Lia

Kick MLM:

- Kace

Mace MLW:

- Jade

Mason(also ironically named Alex) MLW:

- Jane

Mason MLM:

- Oren

Nikolai MLW:

- Ria

Nikolai MLM:

- Blake

- Nerine

Phillip(Graves) MLW:

- Pearl

Phillip MLM:

- Beck

- Jake

Rudy MLW:

- Clair

Rudy MLM:

- Gerardo

- Jax

Rudy Kids:

- Isabella(g)

- Juan(b)

Russel(Adler) MLW:

- Jessy

Simon MLW:

- Tory

Simon MLM:

- Mark

- Malick

Simon Kids:

- Lance(b)

- Sydney(g)

Sebastian(Krueger) MLW:

- Niki

Vladimir(Makarov) MLW:

- Neza

Vladimir MLM:

- Ülig

Vladimir Kids:

- Misha(b)

- Sergei(b)

Valeria WLW:

- Karla

Velikan MLW:

- Diana

@valscodblog @thealtofvalleyxdoodles @seconds-on-the-clock-deactivate @2econd-of-1sts @an-autistic-dweeb

[carewyncromwell]

Name ask for Jacob, tweaked - why did you keep it Jacob? [ellie-e-marcovitz 😊]

Oooh, that is a fun twist!! :D

Honestly? I hadn't even considered using any other first name for Carewyn's brother besides Jacob. (It wasn't until joining the community here that I even knew some players had other names for their "Jacobs!") I thought "Jacob Cromwell" had a nice ring to it, and honestly, even the meanings of the name (either "to follow," "to supplant," or "to overreach" in Hebrew) really seemed to paint an interesting picture for his character. Because Jacob Cromwell does overreach a lot -- he's so talented that that's bred arrogance, so he frequently gets over his head. He is also the type who could supplant others, again, because of that aforementioned magical talent: he was more than able to both dethrone Dueling Club champions and run academic circles around his classmates at school. And arguably most of all, Jacob is the type to follow after Carewyn and have her back in all circumstances. Plus it provided Lane Cromwell a really cute nickname to use for her son: "(her) little Blue Jay" or just "Jay!" (Blue Jays symbolize communication, curiosity and confidence, all of which really suit Jacob! If nothing else, the boy rarely shuts up!! 😂)

Evan is both Jacob's father's name and Jacob's middle name. It's also Hebrew and can mean either "God is gracious," "youth" or "born of yew." I honestly just picked it randomly because it sounded nice next to "Jacob," but it ended up making for a fun parallel between Carewyn and her Prefect Felix that they both had less-than-ideal fathers named Evan.

Cromwell, as touched on in Carewyn's post, means "crooked stream" -- and yeah, that definitely suits the messed-up likes of the Cromwell Clan.

Send me an OC and I’ll explain how/why I chose their name!

[a-muscle-the-size-of-your-fist]

| Indie Multifandom + Multimuse Horror RP Blog | Semi-Selective, Mutuals Only | Ships W/Chem | Multiship/Multiverse | Crossover/OC/Duplicate Friendly | 45 Muses | 12 Fandoms | 21+ Please | Minors Will Be Blocked On Sight | Mun 25+ | Profile Best Viewed In Dark Mode |

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| Starter Call Hub | Starters I Owe | Inbox Calls | Shipping Calls |

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MUSES:

BLAIR WITCH:

Ellis Lynch, Lane

FINAL DESTINATION:

Billy Hitchcock, Rory Peters, Frankie Cheeks, Ian McKinley, Olivia Castle, Peter Friedkin

INSIDIOUS:

Foster Lambert, The Lipstick-Face Demon, Steven "Specs" Stanheight-Faulkner

LOLLIPOP CHAINSAW:

Juliet Starling, Swan

POPPY PLAYTIME:

CatNap, Poppy

RESIDENT EVIL:

Ashley Graham, Clancy Jarvis, Ethan Winters, Luis Serra Navarro, Salvatore Moreau, Zoe Baker

SAW:

Adam Stanheight-Faulkner, Cecilia Pederson, David Stanheight-Faulkner, Lark Mason, Logan Nelson, Lynn Denlon, Mallick Scott, Mitchell "Chell" Smith, Peter Strahm, Scott Tibbs

SHROOMS:

Tara

SILENT HILL:

Eddie Dombrowski, James Sunderland, Travis Grady

THE QUARRY:

Bobby Hackett, Chris Hackett, Dylan Lenivy, Jacob Custos, Max Brinley

THE TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE:

Edith Rose Sawyer/Heather Miller, Robert "Chop Top" Sawyer

UNTIL DAWN:

Chris Hartley, Jessica Riley, Matt Taylor, Mike Munroe

---

ASKS: 42

DRAFTS: 9

STARTERS OWED: 3

[ladyimaginarium]

listing introjects' fcs 4 the sake of my& sanity

clementine maria jasmine cree ( twdg ) - ashley moore (primary), nyané lebajoa, amandla stenberg (secondary)

louis lacroix ( twdg ) - marcus sivyer

violet collmore ( twdg ) - phoebe bridgers

james dae young ( twdg ) - choi yeonjun

aasim acharya ( twdg ) - jeenu mahadevan

ava adebowale ( twdg ) - lashana lynch ( primary ); lupita nyong'o ( secondary )

harry potter ( potterverse ) - suraj sharma

hermione granger ( potterverse ) - logan browning

blaise zabini ( potterverse ) - rome flynn (tentative)

pansy parkinson ( potterverse ) - song hye kyo

haneul eun ha / luna lovegood ( potterverse ) - jung jinsoul

ginny weasley ( potterverse ) - luca hollestelle

sirius black ( potterverse ) - avan jogia

dutch ( black lagoon ) - mike colter

okajima rokuro / rock ( black lagoon ) - arata mackenyu

rebecca lee / revy ( black lagoon ) - jessica henwick

benjamin issacs / benny ( black lagoon ) - evan peters

edith blackwater / eda ( black lagoon ) - kristen stewart ( primary ); maya hawke ( secondary )

janet bhai ( black lagoon ) - mandip gill

lyanna stark ( asoiaf ) - adelaide kane

jon snow ( asoiaf ) - timothee chalamet ( primary ); kit harington ( secondary )

daenerys targaryen ( asoiaf ) - anya taylor joy ( primary ); freya allan, emilia clarke ( secondary )

asha greyjoy ( asoiaf ) - marina moschen

ashara dayne ( asoiaf ) - simone ashley, kate mgrath ( formerly; may consider dropping )

arianne martell ( asoiaf ) - deepika padukone

obara sand ( asoiaf ) - cynthia addai robinson

nymeria sand ( asoiaf ) - shanina shaik

tyene sand ( asoiaf ) - stephanie rose bertram ( primary ); gigi hadid ( secondary )

sarella sand ( asoiaf ) - adut akech ( primary; tentative); duckie thot ( secondary ), tracy ifeachor ( tertiary )

melisandre of asshai ( asoiaf ) - dilraba dilmurat

nymeria of ny sar ( asoiaf ) - aishwarya rai

visenya targaryen ( asoiaf ) - katheryn winnick

myrcella baratheon ( asoiaf ) - holliday grainger

val the wildling / of the free folk ( asoiaf ) - alyssa sutherland

willas tyrell ( asoiaf ) - peter mooney

garlan tyrell ( asoiaf ) - ben lamb

hua mulan ( disneyverse laced w/ historical source ) - zhang xinyu / viann zhang

tiana brown ( disneyverse laced with history ) - kiki layne

katniss everdeen ( the hunger games ) - kawennahere devery jacobs

worick arcangelo ( gangsta ) - austin butler ( tentative ); alex pettyfer ( tentative )

nicolas brown ( gangsta ) - chella man

alexandria benedetto ( gangsta ) - normani kordei

emilio benedetto ( gangsta ) - aubrey joseph (primary), rome flynn

constance raveau ( gangsta ) - shailene woodley ( tentative )

erica abaddonato ( gangsta ) - nastya zhidkova ( primary ); jennifer lawrence ( usually faceless if i& can help it )

delico abaddonato ( gangsta ) - lucky blue smith

svetlana morozova nikolaeva ( gangsta ) - tati gabrielle ( primary ); ryan destiny ( secondary )

bernardo corsica ( gangsta ) - ross lynch ( tentative )

nimes ( gangsta ) - dominique jackson

sherry christiano amodio ( gangsta ) - sydney sweeney ( tentative )

loretta christiano amodio ( gangsta ) - willow shields

georgiana corsica ( gangsta ) - loey lane

evelyn ( gangsta ) - sab quesada

sidney ( gangsta ) - cartia mallan

also, below are neither our& introjects or rp muses but we& may use in edits:

sebastian cree ( twdg oc; clementine's younger half brother ) - d'pharaoh woon-a-tai

ivan glaziev ( gangsta ) - adrien brody

galahad woehor ( gangsta ) - zae france

[reiverreturns]

[20 Question Fic Writer Tag]

Tagged by my darling @milfeivor. I may not have written consistently in months but BOY do I like talking about it.

1. How many works do you have on AO3?

Twelve

2. What is your AO3 word count?

122,303

3. What fandoms do you write for?

Well I'm not writing much at all at the moment (bad menty health innit) but over the last year it's been pretty much entirely Top Gun Maverick, with some Assassin's Creed in the background just for funsies

4. What are your top five fics by kudos?

Quiet Promises (TGM) - 418

For Those We Left Behind  (ACV) - 383

Calefaction (TGM) - 292

Attrition (ACV) - 225

When We Collide (We Come Together) (TGM) - 184

5. Do you respond to comments? Why or why not?

I try to respond to every comment I get because I think it's common courtesy when someone's taken the time and effort to leave one. I'm a little bit out of practice though (kiss kiss kiss grovel grovel grovel @ those left on read in my inbox)

6. What's the fic you wrote with the angstiest ending?

Blessed Are The Meek (FC5) maybe? A canon-compliant character study of Jacob Seed and his fucked up cult family has no iteration where things turn out well in the end.

7. What's the fic you wrote with the happiest ending?

I don't know actually - maybe Quiet Promises because I just really enjoy that ending and it's one of the only bits of published fic I've written I can reread and not want to edit more. If I ever finished writing the last chapter of Swim Until You Can't See Land it would probably be that but I'm just so very very lazy.

8. Do you get hate on fics?

I had a tumblr anon one give me shit for not putting icemav in a fic but it was so fuckin weird to get I just deleted the ask. My brother/sister/comrade in christ I am the most niche rarepair stay-in-my-lane kind of fic writer. I am not a popular author in any fandom I write in. Why on earth would you think I care.

9. Do you write smut? If so, what kind?

I try to write smut once a year when Eurovision sends me into my annual bisexual frenzy. It's not very good (my smut, not Eurovision)

10. Do you write crossovers? What's the craziest one you've written?

Short answer is no. Long answer is no with the exception of a Pacific Rim/Assassin's Creed crossover which I keep as a never-to-publish deliriously self-indulgent writing exercise to dip into when I don't feel like being perceived through words. I've got a whole Hytham/Jacob thing going that I'm fucking feral for which is soooooooo big brained of me imo.

11. Have you ever had a fic stolen?

Not that I'm aware of. I've read fics before where I can pick up a clear influence from my work on theirs but nothing like a straight up copy + paste.

12. Have you ever had a fic translated?

Nah. I've considered translating my own fics into Scots but it feels like a lot of effort for the sprinkle of folks who might read it.

13. Have you ever co-written a fic before?

No but I wouldn't be against it. I did a lot of rp writing back in the day with OCs and I really liked the collaborative aspect of it.

14. What's your all-time favourite ship?

I don't pick favourites I love all my insane children equally. I will say most ships I gravitate towards have a doomed by the narrative / love doesn't conquer all but it's enough in the moment kind of dynamic and I can trace that back to some of my early favourites (Ten/Rose, Merthur) to now (Kassidas, Eivor/Vili, RebelCaptain, so on)

15. What's a WIP you'd like to finish but doubt you ever will?

For Those We Left Behind. I have a lot of love for that fic but it is very reflective of the time in my life when I started writing it (bouncing off the walls bored out my tits under lockdown.) Lots of enthusiasm and energy to pour into it but little patience or planning. I look back on it as an unwieldy, rambly thing. I still do pick at it (and want to keep updating) but if we're honest I don't think I'll ever quite reach the finish line beyond the pieces that are already firmed up in my head.

16. What are your writing strengths?

I can turn a tasty metaphor on occasion. I tend to think I have a strong handle on the characters I write the perspective of and put a lot of effort into making them feel true and honest to the source material.

17. What are your writing weaknesses?

Plot - there's a reason why I tend to write canon compliant/canon adjacent and it's because it gives me the bones of the canon to work from. Pacing is a perpetual struggle. My attempts at smut are laughable.

18. Thoughts on writing dialogue in another language for a fic?

If it's done to serve a narrative purpose and/or show something about a character, sure why not. Absolutely abhor written out accents though (unless, again, for a very specific narrative/character purpose.)

19. First fandom you wrote for?

Harry Potter and Stargate. There's probably still some 12/13 year-old Reiver fic floating around in the internet ether that I hope no one is ever subjected to again.

20. Favourite fic you've ever written?

I honestly don't have one - everything I've published I've loved at one point or another for a variety of reasons. Gun to my head I'll say Quiet Promises because I think it's one of the highest quality fics in my catalogue from an editing, pacing, and character perspective. Writing isn't about the technical skill to me though, it's about how it makes me feel and the audience feel, so no favourites here.

Tagging is still dogshit on desktop so consider this an open tag to anyone who wants to do it (but @ me I'm so nosy and want to read the responses)

[toasttt11]

first draft

June 28, 2023

Mary leaned on the doorway of the hotel bathroom watching Will button up his vest and grab his tie, “Are you going to be able to tie that?” Mary teased.

Will looked over seeing Mary and she was wearing a long purple dress with thin straps and lighter purple flowers across the dress and her hair was completely down looking very long as it was in her natural waves and she had her cross necklace and a pair of dangly earrings he knows are from Grace.

Will starred at his sister making Mary give him a look, “What?” Mary asked confused why he was just looking at her.

“Mars you look beautiful.” Will compliment his baby sister with a proud smile, his baby sister isn’t so little anymore and within a few months she was turning eighteen already.

“Oh.” Mary softly said smiling softly, “Thanks.” Mary stepped closer and grabbed his pink tie and wrapped it around his neck.

“What are you going to do without me tying your tie?” Mary teased as Will is horrible at tying his tie and she has always tied them for him and when they were apart for games last seasons she would pre ties the tie for him.

“I don’t know, i don’t know what i’m gonna do without you in general.” Will quietly admitted, they are gonna be over 725 miles apart in a few months, the farthest they have ever been apart and the longest they have ever been apart.

Mary paused tying his tie frowning slightly, “Well it will just be one year.” Mary smiled secretively trying to cheer Will up. Mary didn’t plan to tell Will today but wanted him to cheer up.

Will froze and looked down at her, “What?”

“I’ll be at BC next year.” Mary told Will as she finished tying his tie.

“You committed?” Will asked speechless his smile widening as Mary nodded, he immediately hugged her tightly spinning around, “We’ll be teammates again!” Will cheered as she laughed and squeezed her back.

“Just one season.” Mary smiled as Will set her down, Will just beamed and rushed out of the bathroom and started telling all of their family that Mary committed to Boston College.

Mary didn’t want to take away from Will’s big day but he seemed even happier now so she just watched fondly as Will just went around telling all the family they had spread out across the large hotel room.

Grace beamed and hugged her sister tightly and Colleen and Bill were so happy hugging their youngest glad that all three of their kids will end up at the same school again.

Eventually Will told everyone and he seemed satisfied and was ready for the draft so he took a lot of pictures with all of his family.

Eventually everyone started leaving the hotel room and Will, Mary, Grace and their parents all headed to the bus to the arena.

Will made Mary sit next to him for the bus ride and they just sat in comfortable silence.

Mary walked with Grace as Will was ahead of them meeting fans and doing some media things.

They got inside the arena and Will immediately spotted Ryan and Gabe with their families together and he walked over with his family.

Ryan looked over seeing the Smith’s walking over and his breath got caught in his throat seeing Mary, it’s not often she wears dresses or has her hair completely down, she looks beautiful.

Gabe snickered softly seeing Ryan looking at Mary with his heart eyes and his lips parted, he elbowed Ryan making Ryan snap out of his trance.

Ryan cheeks turned puck and glared at Gabe seeing snickering, “Shut up.” Ryan grumbled at Gabe and turned back to Mary and his face softened again.

Mary looked over at Ryan and her eyes quickly looked him up and down and glanced back at his face seeing him staring at her and Ryan and Mary shared a little smile.

The three families just talked with each other before they all needed to head to the seats.

Ryan and his family were a couple rows above Mary and Will and Gabe and his family were a few rows below.

Will sat in between his two sisters and Mary sat at the end of the row and Grace sat next to their parents.

Will swallowed and grabbed Mary’s hand making her glance at him and just squeeze his hand.

Obviously they all knew who was going first overall and then the second and third pick was called and it was then the fourth pick from the Sharks.

Mary knew Will had the best feeling from the Sharks and he felt more confident he was going to be picked by the Sharks than another team.

They watched Patrick Marleau walk up the microphone, “With the first selection overall the San Jose Sharks are proud to select Will Smith from the USA Development program.”

Will was smiling as Mary stood up and quickly pulled him into a hug, “You did it Willy.” Mary mumbled so proud to Will, Will smiled and squeezed her back before letting Mary go.

Will turned around and hugged Grace and then their parents and some friends at the end of their row before walking back down the row.

Ryan walked down the stairs with Oliver and Ryan rested a hand on Mary’s arm as he waited for Will to come back down the row.

Ryan and Will shared a wide grin and hugged each other making Mary shake her head fondly, Ryan let go of him and Will hugged Oliver really quick before heading down the stars.

Will and Gabe shared a tight hug and Gabe squeezed his shoulder before Will continued down the stairs taking his blazer off and walking across the stage and got handed his first San Jose Sharks jersey.

Mary clapped smiling proudly as Will was beaming and wearing the jersey and hat, Grace put an arm around Mary’s shoulder and they shared a proud smile as they watched Will walk off the stage and dragged straight to a media station.

Mary gasped softly hearing Ryan’s name being called by the Washington Capitals and she clapped looking proud as she turned around and watched softly as Ryan celebrated with his family.

Mary stood up as Ryan walked down the stairs and she gave him a smile scrunching his nose and his eyes softened looking at her and he quickly took a step forward hugging her tightly rocking her back and forth.

“Congrats Ry.” Mary softly mumbled squeezing him softly.

Ryan smiled softly closing his eyes for a second enjoying the hug, “Thanks Ellie.” Ryan squeezed her once more and let go of her continuing down the stairs.

Mary ignored the knowing smile from Grace as she sat back down.

Gabe was called for the twenty third pick by the New York Ranger and it felt wrong to Mary that most of his friends have already been drafted and he wouldn’t get to hug them after his pick so she walked down the stairs.

Gabe’s smile softened seeing Mary waiting for him and quickly went over hugging her, he squeezed her tightly before pulling back and patting her shoulder giving her a thankful smile knowing exactly why she came down the stairs to hug him.

Mary eventually headed out of the seats with her family and found Will a few hours later after his draft and slowly they all ended up at a karaoke place that was filled with Will and his friends who also all got drafted tonight.

Mary had a fun time laughing at the boys being ridiculous doing karaoke even if she couldn’t hear them for most of the time as she kept her headphones on but she had a fun time watching.

Next year at this time she would hopefully be getting drafted.

[countrymusiclover]

Family is More than Blood

Klaus and Raelyn's daughters and son head to the Salvatore school. Each of their children carries the weight of wanting to represent the family name the best they can. But when monsters come to destroy Mystic Falls that won't be as easy as they think.

1 - Never Get a Break

2 - We're More Than A School

3 - Back to Mystic High

4 - First Date and Snooping Parents

5 - Another Short Honeymoon

6 - Saltzman Family Reunion

7 - Mikaelson Kids Are Key

8 - Family Vacation

9 - Mystic Falls Tradition

10 - Mikaelson Bickering

11 - A Day Helping Witches and Werewolves

12 - Rescuing Rae

13 - Once Upon A Baby

14 - Back to New Orleans

15 - Humans and Supernaturals Together

16 - I'm the Loophole

17 - The Auburn-hair Girl

18 - Decisions and Realizations

19 - Time Away From Work…

20 - Andrea’s Theory

21 - Keeping us up at Night

22 - Memories and Tricky Games

23 - Super Squad Assemble

24 - One Step Ahead Always

25 - Kai Parker Screwed Us

26 - Blasts From The Past

27 - Some Familiar Faces

28 - Where We Started

29 - Not Klaus’s Plan

30 - Raelyn’s Trigger

31 - Not out the woods Yet

32 - Acting like Teenagers

33 - Resisting Urges

34 - We All Have Darkness

35 - The Save Raelyn Squad

36 - Finally Defeating the Hollow

37 - The Mikaelson Grandchild

38 - Switching Date Plans

39 - An Ordinary Vampire

40 - The Saltzman Merge

41 - Baby Mikaelson Twins

42 - Happy Valentine’s Day

43 - Valentine’s Day pt 2

44 - Mother for a Day

45 - No Simple Conversations

46 - Looking out for Others

47 - Vampire Friends

48 - Not The Only Broken One

49 - The Price of Landon Kirby

50 - What Being Left Out Causes

51 - The Lane Family Darkness

52 - Dark Raelyn

53 - What Are Her Intentions

54 - Start Thinking With Your Head

55 - Idiot Townies

56 - Changing the Course

57 - They Grow Up Too Fast

58 - Family Certainty Does Change

59 - The Most Reckless Plan Ever Imagined

60 - Missing What We Had

61 - Leaving Worries Behind

62 - Birthdays and Townies

63 - History Repeats Itself

64 - The Middle Daughter

???

Comments really appreciated ❤️

- Read the first book called Gemini Runaway before this one.

Tag list - just ask to be added @secretdreamlandmentality @melvia-ito @kmc1989 @tallrock35

[ao3feed-brucewayne]

The Seasonal Batman Adventures

read it on AO3 at https://ift.tt/BuoRInX by AZ23AJ In one world, there was no Bruce Wayne or Batman but that would change when Andrew Arkham traveled to different worlds due to the Spirit of Justice & Vengeance for him to become his world's Batman for their uses, a big test to come down the line. Rated M for Mature Words: 422, Chapters: 2/?, Language: English Fandoms: Batman (Comics), Batman: The Brave and the Bold, DCU (Comics) Rating: Mature Warnings: Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings Categories: F/F, F/M Characters: Batman, Tlano | Batman of Zur-En-Arrh, Other Batmen, Selina Kyle, Francine Langstrom, Kate Kane (DCU), Bane (DCU), Roxanne "Rocky" Ballantine, Earth-3 Richard Grayson | Talon, Court of Owls - Character, Gentlemen Ghost, Natalia Knight, Circe (Wonder Woman), Jacob Kane, Earth-3 Lois Lane | Superwoman, Justice League (DCU), Injustice League (DCU), Legion of Doom - Character Relationships: OC/Harem Additional Tags: Alternate Universe, DC comics - Freeform, Supernatural Elements read it on AO3 at https://ift.tt/BuoRInX

[takaraphoenix]

Now that issue 9 of Dark Knights of Steel got released, I want to finally say something about the comics! I’ve held back so far because I didn’t know what direction they were headed - sure, I was doubtful about them making the Els villains but in the larger scheme of the multiverse, evil!Clark wouldn’t be the first time so it was a genuine possibility.

The other possibility was... what it actually turned out to be! I suspected, but I’m glad to have it confirmed. I’m glad to know that the new sister of Clark who I love is NOT a murderous bad guy, I’m glad this Clark is not a murderous bad guy.

And with that, I just gotta wholeheartedly recommend it!

I adore Tom Taylor’s writing in Elseworlds stories and this is no exception. It’s a rich, beautiful world and he plays so well with these characters.

As always for his writing, his HarlIvy is beautiful and soft (he is my absolute favorite HarlIvy writer).

I’m loving John Constantine in this, I love the concept this world has for the Robins and the Teen Titans, I love to see Lara El actually have a role and not just be the dead mom who only appears in one flashback scene where she sends her son away.

And I LOVE THE OCs!! I love Zala Jor-El sooo much? Clark having a little sister? A little sister who is a wlw?? And Jacob Pierce!! A rain-controlling son of Black Lightning? He seems so interesting and I want to read more about him!

I absolutely adore that I finally get to see Diana in an explicit wlw relationship. The highest of DC’s feelings concerning her bisexuality is usually that she maybe gets to kiss a woman once. But this is Diana in a proper relationship, Diana in love with a woman. I’m so in love with that.

Not to mention, the art is... genuinely the most beautiful. This is the prettiest DC comic I’ve read so far?? It’s so gorgeous and the medieval aesthetic allows for beautiful costumes!

I’m loving this Elseworld so, so, so much and I hope that even when the main series ends, we will get more tales from the kingdom. Even if they are just one issue oneshots, I’d love to see a Storm Kingdom centric story, something telling me how Harley and Ivy got together, something centered on Zala and Diana and these Amazons (Cass Cain and Lois Lane being Amazons in this universe really also makes me want to hear more about this world’s Themyscira and the Amazons’ dynamics), how all the Robins met and some of their adventures. This world has so much potential.

[sweet-dreams-internal-screams]

My Request Page!!!

*=ask in inbox for more info

❤️=fluff ❤️‍🔥=angst 💞=Smut ⚠️=sensitive topics

What I write for:

Cobra Kai: Miguel, Hawk, Tory, Sam, Demetri, Moon, Yasmine, Aisha Robby, Young Johnny and Daniel and Piper

Wednesday: Wednesday, Xavier, Enid, Ajax, Tyler, Bianca, Lucas, Young Gomez and Morticia

FearStreet: 94-Deena, Sam, Kate, Simon, Josh, Heather, 78-Ziggy, Cindy, Shelia, Nick, Alice, Kurt, Tommy, Arnie, 66-Sarah Fier, Hannah Miller, Abigail, Lizzie, Issac, Ruby Lane,

CAOS: Sabrina, Roz, Theo, Dorcas, Agatha, Prudence, Ambrose, Nick, Harvey, Callahan

MBAV:Rory, Ethan, Benny, Sarah, Erica

Superheros:Spider-Man/Peter Parker 1, 2, 3, Miles Morales, Berry Allen/The Flash, Kara Danvers/Supergirl, iris west Allen,Kate bishop, Maximoff twins, killer frost, Yelena Belova, Natasha Romonoff, etc*

Marauders: Sirius, Remus, Mary, Peter, James, Marlene, Lily, Dorcas, Regulus, Alice, Frank

Teen wolf: Scott, Boyd, Issac, Erica, Malia, Kira, Stiles, Theo, Liam, Lydia, Allison, Derek

Boy Meets World: Cory, Topanga, Shawn, Eric, Angela, Jack

Jennifer’s Body: Needy, Jennifer, Colin, Chip

Pretty Little Liars(the perfectionist. Original Sin): Allison, Spencer, Emily, Hanna, Caleb, Toby Aria, Ezra*, Mona, Jason, Imogen, Mouse, Faren, Kelly, Noa, Tabby

Twilight: Bella, Edward, Jacob, Alice, Rosalie, Carlisle, Emmett, Seth don’t even THINK about asking for jasper the confederate

Everything Sucks!: Oliver, Emmiline, Kate, Luke, Tyler, McQuaid

Stranger Things: El, Mike, Lucas, Dustin, Steve, Robin, Nancy, Will, Eddie*****, Chrissy, Max, Johnathan, Joyce, Hopper, Argyle, Vickie,

Scream: just ask for a character there’s too many

No OCs

You can request any, body type, gender, sex or race? Idk about this one that much

No song lyric fics for the love of all things high and mighty the closest you’re getting is the name of a song

I can do insecurities and stuff

I will not write about SA (I don’t feel comfortable with that)

I won’t write for real ppl only characters!

That’s it happy requesting?!

Deadass will NOT do The Black Phone that’s weird😟

[carewyncromwell]

"Little one, when you play, Don't you mind what they say -- Let those eyes sparkle and shine, Never a tear, baby of mine...

If they knew sweet little you, They'd end up loving you too... All those same people who scold you, What they'd give just for the right to hold you..."

~"Baby Mine (cover)" by Alison Krauss

x~x~x~x

original links for posters (1) and (2) on the wall // edited with help from Lunapic!

x~x~x~x

Hey, all! This is my entry for #ockiss24, organized by @ockissweek, depicting my OC, Lane Bach Cromwell, kissing her eight-year-old son Jacob goodnight! For those of you wondering where my girl Carewyn is, well, she IS in the picture, even if you can't see her...because this is set in 1972, the year Carewyn was born! (Lane's in her second trimester.)

But yeah, prior to Carewyn's birth, Jacob's life was...not great. From not getting on with his clean-cut, conventional Muggle father Evan to being completely alone and outcasted at school because of his "delinquent" outbursts (in truth evidence of very powerful underage magic), Jacob was a very unhappy child. Partly to vent his frustrations and resentments, Jacob would act out and disrespect or even flat-out ignore his teachers, which this year in particular almost resulted in him not being allowed to go on to year 4 of primary school. It was only his distinctly average grades at the time that kept that from happening, because no, boy genius Jacob was not having trouble with any of the material: he was just bored as all get-out and hated jumping through hoops for people who looked down their noses at him. Even so, the conference that Evan and Lane had with Jacob's principal -- in which the principal ripped into Evan for his and Lane's lack of discipline and even suggested at one point that Jacob could do with a year or two of military school to straighten him out -- resulted in Evan summoning Jacob down to the dining table for a "family meeting" that night that ended up way more heated than it should've.

Evan was very stern. He told Jacob that he and Lane did not want to have to send him to military school when he was more than smart enough to know better and respect his elders -- Jacob snapped back that his teachers didn't want respect from him: they just wanted him to sit down and shut up and be a mindless little bobble-head, just like all the other kids in class, so that they could keep acting like they were smarter than the toadies they taught. For someone like Evan -- whose father had been arrested and sentenced to life in prison when Evan was a very young boy -- Jacob's lack of respect toward authority figures was very troubling. Evan scolded Jacob that he would never amount to anything worthwhile if he didn't put in the work and behave himself, and even shamed Jacob, pointing out that he and Lane had more than enough to worry about with a new baby on the way without having to punish Jacob for things he knew he shouldn't do. Jacob lashed out in response.

"Oh yeah, right, 'the baby!' The baby, the baby, the baby! Can't forget about how many more hours at work you suddenly have to put in 'because of the baby!' As if that hasn't just been a lovely little excuse for you to not be around to deal with all the stupid stuff I get blamed for -- if you'd actually been around, then maybe you would've bloody realized that I'm already getting punished, all the time, for doing ABSOLUTELY NOTHING WRONG!"

From there, Evan and Jacob's tempers only flared further. Lane -- ever a pacifist and yet completely unequipped to deal with such explosive anger, thanks to her abusive childhood -- was unable to step between them or bring the temperature down...and so the fight only ended when Evan, his temper thoroughly spent, lost his head. Jacob yelled at Evan for never seeing him as anything but a troublemaker, and Evan responded in perhaps the worst possible way.

"BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT YOU ARE, JACOB! Every other day, I have to read a message from your teachers, or your principal -- even other parents about the trouble you get up to, and time and again, you refuse to take any responsibility for the trouble you cause! How is anyone ever going to see you as anything other than a shame and a burden, when all you ever do is cause everyone else trouble?!"

Jacob was so overwhelmed with pain and anger he couldn't properly express that he shoved his chair aside with enough force that the bottom of the legs actually somehow caught fire. Lane hurriedly rushed to put out the magical flames before Evan could pay them too much mind, but Jacob -- too emotional to even acknowledge that outburst of magic -- ran out of the dining room and upstairs to his bedroom, where he slammed the door shut with force.

Evan was regretful about what he'd said, after the fact. He didn't quite know how to broach the issue, since he still felt Jacob had done wrong and needed to own up to it before he gave their son a proper apology -- so Lane went upstairs to speak to Jacob herself, after calming Evan down and making sure she'd given Jacob enough time to cool off too. When Lane opened the door to Jacob's room, she found her poor son burying his face into his pillow, trying in vain to obscure the many messy tear tracks down his cheeks.

"Did I cause you trouble again, Mum?" was all he could mumble miserably through his pillow.

Her heart hurting, Lane brought a stool over so she could sit next to Jacob's bed. She sat near him for a while, letting Jacob vent and reassuring him multiple times that Evan was just upset: that she and he didn't just see Jacob as a burden or a troublemaker, that they loved him, and all they wanted was for him to be the amazing, talented, smart boy they knew he was. Lane wasn't sure how much Jacob believed this -- he had trouble meeting her eye, even as he changed into his pajamas and she tucked him into bed. It didn't take long for Lane to suss out why, after Jacob echoed Evan's words from earlier.

"I wasn't trying to cause trouble, Mum. Honest. I know you're not feeling well...I know you have to worry about the baby now, not me..."

It was hard to miss the miserable, faintly resentful tone to her son's words. Lane's eyes softened sadly.

"Jay...of course I'll have to worry about the baby...and yes, I might need to spend a lot of time with them, since they won't be able to clean, feed, or dress themselves yet. But just because I'll have to take care of your little brother or sister when they arrive does not mean I'll stop taking care of you. It doesn't mean I won't still be here for you, when you really need me..."

She brought a hand through Jacob's curly black-brown hair.

"Time might have limits, but love doesn't. I remember my friend Judy liked to say that love is renewable -- it's not a cake that has to get cut up into smaller pieces for more people to enjoy it. The more you love, the more love there is to go around. No matter how much I will love your baby brother or sister when they get here, it doesn't mean I will love you any less. You will always be my little Blue Jay. And I will always love you with all my heart."

Jacob wasn't even fully aware of it when he started crying again, but as his mother kissed him goodnight, he felt the tension relaxing in his shoulders. He laid back against his pillows, closing his eyes.

"...Mum?" he asked hesitantly after a moment.

"Yes, Jay?"

"Do you think the baby will like me?" he mumbled.

The doubt and uncertainty echoing through the question broke Lane's heart.

"They will love you," she said gently.

"Even if I'm nothing but a troublemaker?"

Lane frowned deeply. It truly did seem that those words of Evan's had hurt him far too deeply for Lane's reassurance alone to heal.

"You are not, have never been, and will never be 'nothing,' Jacob. ...I promise, one day, you will see what I see, when I look at you -- a smart, curious, creative, special boy...ready to take flight and take on the world. And when that day comes, I know the whole world will see it too."

Jacob's face seemed to soften a little bit, losing some of the creases in his features.

"...Thanks, Mum."

Lane's blue eyes softened as she turned off the wall light and gently closed the door to her son's room.

A few months later, Lane gave birth to Jacob's little sister, Carewyn. And true to Lane's words, the little baby she nicknamed "Winnie" loved Jacob dearly, and ended up being his first real friend in the world.