#ok. hockey is back tomorrow i will be SO normal once again

[mattynmarns]

scheduled an appointment with my advisor AND signed up for an extra class to get support on my CS classes basically i WILL survive this next quarter even if it kills me!!!!!!!

[myhockeyworld87]

Not So Dangerous Liaison - Sidney Crosby - Part 27

Word Count: 3,429

POV:  Reader

Warngings: Language, NSFW, Smut

Notes:  Here we are again. I think you all might kill me in future chapters so for now, let’s enjoy this one...haha. As always love your feedback and Happy Reading! Let me know what you guys think.

Not So Dangerous Liaison Masterlist

It was less than two weeks after your conversation with Mario that you and Sid were traveling to Los Angeles for the All Star game. Geno and Anna were supposed to be with you, but because of an injury, they had to back out. It was better for him to rest up anyhow. For Sid, it was more work than fun, though he did have a more carefree attitude than when he's normally on the ice. The two of you did sneak in some nice alone time over the few days.

Once you were back in Pittsburgh, it was business as normal. Well, maybe normal wouldn't be the right word for you, as you were busy helping with the Stadium series game that would take place at the end of February against the Flyers. Your hours were a little later when you were in town, which Sid didn't mind as he just spent extra time on the ice or watching films while he waited for you. You insisted that you could just take separate cars, but he wouldn't hear of it. It was really quite cute of him. 

The days leading up to the game were packed. The guys were doing media and squeezing in practices with their new equipment, while you worked behind the scenes with the rest of the crew setting things up. You wanted Heinz Field to feel just like PPG Arena did for them. The weather had everyone in a tither as Pittsburgh had got a bit of a warm front. Days leading up to the game saw temperatures in the seventies which was almost unheard of, for a February in Pennsylvania. In fact, on the day of the family skate, you were all literally wearing jeans and lightweight sweaters as you stood around watching the guys practice. 

"Will you hold Scar for me?" Vero asked. You were watching the guys practice with the ladies today, instead of by the bench. It was a rare occurrence that you got to take a game in with them, so it was a nice change of pace. She handed baby Scarlett off to you while she bent down and put on Estelle's skates. 

"Hello, sweetness," you said to the one-and-a-half-year-old, kissing her little cheeks in the process. "Do you see daddy out there?" You pointed out where Marc Andre was and Scarlett smiled. 

"Hi, daddy!" She yelled, but you weren't entirely sure he could hear her, as he was all the way down in net. "Unc Sid!" She exclaimed when Sidney came by and tapped on the glass. 

"Hi Scar!" He waved at her then gave you a look. One you weren't entirely sure you'd ever seen, before skating away leaving you to wonder what was going through his head. Practice ended soon thereafter and you all joined the guys out on the ice. Though most of them shed their pads due to the heat of the afternoon sun. 

"Ice looked a little slushy," you commented to Sid when he skated over to you.

"It's not bad. They said the temperature's supposed to drop tonight and tomorrow so we'll be ok. Come on." He grabbed your hand pulling you out onto the ice with him. It was something you still weren't comfortable doing. Sid could literally skate circles around anyone, while you still had to concentrate if you wanted to go backward. He recognized that and always made sure he held onto you so that you wouldn't fall. "You looked good out there." He said offhandedly as you made your way around the now shiny surface of the ice.

"Huh? I wasn't doing anything. I'm pretty sure I should be saying that to you."

"That's not what I meant."

"Obviously," you said hitting him playfully and losing your balance at the same time. Sid righted you with ease so that to the casual onlooker they never would've seen you stumble. 

"I meant holding Scarlett."

"Oh well, she's easy to love that's for sure. I'm going to miss them when they go." With the expansion team coming to Vegas, it was already widely known within the team that Flower would be the member they would choose. It was crushing, not only to you but to Sid as well. Your friendship with the Fleury's was one of the things you both treasured most; they were the reason you were with Sid right now. And while they would always be some of your best friends' things wouldn't be the same in Pittsburgh without them. 

"I know," Sid replied wistfully. "But we've still got them for now." You skated around a few more times, before he let you go, only so that he could wrap his arms around your midsection and skate with you from behind. It was definitely intimate and you were surprised with all the media around that Sid was into such a public display of affection. Sure there had been the parades, but usually, he tried to keep your relationship out of the public eye if he could. "I just think you really looked good." He whispered in your ear.

"You've seen me in this outfit before."

"Not that, you know…" You had to crane your neck back to look at him, but you noticed he was turning a bit red and it had nothing to do with the unseasonably warm temperatures. "Holding Scarlett." He finally spit out. "It makes me think about having our own."

"OH!" The word came out a little louder than you intended. Of course, Sid had confessed that he wanted kids with you. It just seemed like something that was further away in the future and not something that he'd been thinking about recently. 

"I know you're going to tell me it's too soon, and maybe you're right. I just can't help but think about it on days like today." You looked around then, watching all the guys skate with their significant others, some with kids while others had kids on the way. You could see the allure. As the two of you continued to glide around the ice, you let your mind wander to what it would be like. It was easy to picture, especially after watching Sid this summer with his Little Penguins camp. He'd be holding your son's or daughter's hands, much like Flower was doing now with Estelle, helping them navigate the ice. When Sid's hands tightened around your waist you couldn't stop yourself from wondering what it would feel like to be growing his child inside you. You found yourself relaxing more into Sid's embrace as you daydreamed about your future. 

"It's definitely a nice picture," you finally sighed, letting him know that you weren't opposed to the idea.

"Yeah, yeah it is." His voice took on a dreamy quality and you knew he was imagining the same thing as you. It seemed like one minute you were caught up in your little fantasy and the next you guys were having to leave the ice and it was back to reality. Not that your reality was a bad one, you still had Sid and for now, that's all you needed. 

Sid was right temperatures definitely cooled down. By game time the following day, it was barely thirty degrees and falling. You were bundled up in a coat with the team logo on it along with a matching tossle cap on your head. Sid had been mad that you hadn't worn the one all the ladies got with their guys' number on it, but you had insisted that when you were on the clock you were rooting for the entire team and not just him. At the moment you were wishing you had it so that you could put it on top of your current one. Your teeth were chattering and you kept bouncing on the balls of your feet to keep you warm. 

Midway through the first Sid scored, which had you jumping up and down and cheering along with the team as well as the thousands of fans in the stadium. It did little to help get you warm and you were practically running to the locker room tunnel by end of the first. You grabbed a cup of hot tea while the players went over the first period and where they could make improvements. It went pretty much the same way in the second, even though Nick Bonino scored early the Flyers were able to cut the lead in half with a goal from Jakub Voracek. Again, you raced off to get warm as soon as the horn sounded. 

Your feet were numb by the time Cully scored a goal early in the third, and though the Flyers scored on a power play, Chad Ruhwedel sealed the Pens victory with over five minutes left in play. The stadium erupted with the win, though it did little to warm you up. You stayed long enough to watch the team skate around in their little victory lap, then headed back down to the nice warm locker room. 

Of course, Sid had to do media, which meant you were there even longer. He was afforded the luxury of a nice hot shower before the two of you headed home. "Can you please turn the heat up?" you whined once you were in the car. "I'm freezing."

"It was a bit cold out there, eh?" Sid commented as he turned the heat on your side of the vehicle to max. 

"Ya think? I thought I was going to freeze to death when the snow started to fly."

"Babe, it's all part of outdoor hockey." He grabbed one of your hands in his. "Fuck, you are cold. You should've worn thermals or something."

"Trust me I will next time. I think it's just worse because of how beautiful it was yesterday."

"Well, as soon as we get home, we'll get you in the tub."

"Uh, yes, please." The ride through the city, while mostly traffic free, seemed endless. 

"Head upstairs, babe and I'll bring you up a cup of tea as soon as I get rid of my gear." Not having to be told twice, you made your way up to your shared master bath and started running the water. You hated stripping out of your clothes, as it felt like the only warmth your body had at the moment but as soon as your toes touched the steaming water, you sighed as the warmth heated your skin. You were fully immersed up to your neck by the time Sid came up with a steaming mug full of tea. "Better?"

"A little," you answered taking a sip of the drink he'd prepared perfectly for you before setting it back down on the ledge of the tub. "Still a bit chilly." 

"Well in that case." Sid started to strip out of his clothes. Divesting himself of his suit that he'd worn to the game. He folded it over the chair you used to put your makeup on, so that it didn't get any wrinkles, then made his way over to you and the tub. "Scooch up, babe." You did and he scooted in behind you, easing you back against him once he was comfortable in the water. His arms wrapped around you instantly and you felt engulfed in his heat. "This better?"

"Mmm much." You were completely content wrapped up in your boyfriend's arms with the water lapping around you both, so you rested your head against his chest. "You played really well tonight," you mused shutting your eyes and just giving yourself over to the warmth that was Sid.

"It was a lot of fun. I love playing outdoors. It's so authentic." Only Sid would put it like that, but you knew what he meant. "Though I wish you would've dressed warmer baby."

"I'm fine now." You took another long sip of tea, the temperature perfect. 

Sid kissed your temple. "Good, can't have you getting sick on me." 

"God no, I'll have to sleep in the guest room, if that happens."

"Why?"

"I'm not going to be responsible for getting the star player sick." You told him, turning your head so that you could look him in the eye. "You will not be missing a game because of me."

"I'd still probably end up missing a game because I wouldn't be able to sleep without you in our bed." His arms tightened around you, almost as if you were going to run off to the guest room right then. "But we're not worrying about that now, because we are definitely sleeping in the same bed tonight." His lips captured yours then, stealing your breath away and heating your body all the way to your core. You could feel his erecting grow against you as the kiss went on. It was nothing to reach behind you and wrap your fingers around his length. He moaned into your mouth, before gently sucking on your bottom lip as he broke the kiss. "You know two can play that game." His hand stole down your stomach and slipped between your folds, the water making it easy for him to caress you there. Your hand stuttered on his cock as he slid two fingers into you. Sid took the opportunity to grab your wrist with his free hand so that you could no longer manipulate him as you liked. "Lean your head back and enjoy this for a bit."

"But…"

"We'll get to that." He told you as he settled you against him once again. He shimmied his legs so that they were in between yours but only for a moment so that he could spread yours wide; your legs now splayed on either side of his. Sid's fingers continued to toy with your pussy, alternating between pumping in and out of you and rubbing circles on your clit, while his other hand tweaked your nipples into taut little peaks. Before you knew it you were panting with need, the chill of the evening game completely forgotten as Sid stoked a fire deep within you. His lips came down on the nape of your neck, his tongue driving you wild just as his fingers were. It was all too much as the water gently lapped at your skin. You felt your body gently rise into his touch, yet he held you firm working you towards that peak you craved. It didn't take long for your orgasm to hit. It washed over you like a wave cresting on the sand as your body trembled, this time not from the cold but the pleasure of Sid's touch. "You're so fucking sexy when you cum." His warm breath sent a shiver down your spine.

You were so sated you almost didn't want to move, but then you wanted him to experience the same ecstasy that you'd just felt. "We should…" you went to tell him that you should move to the bed but Sid had other plans.

"We'll be fine here, just kneel for a second." Your legs were already on either side of him, so it wasn't hard. He adjusted himself a bit, sitting more upright in the tub, before bending his knees slightly for you to lean against. You turned your head to the side to see him stroke himself a couple times, before lining himself up with your pussy. "Now just come back a little." You did as instructed; your pussy engulfing his cock as you basically sat reverse cowgirl on him. With his knees bent you leveraged yourself against them and started to ride his cock. "Fuck baby, you feel so good." His hands were on your hips making sure you wouldn't slip in the tub, but controlling your pace as well. 

Water sloshed against the sides of the tub, some of it spilling over the sides. "Oh shit," you moaned out knowing that you were making a mess of the bathroom floor. 

Sid could see where your thoughts were going. "Forget it, (Y/N). We'll get it later." He accentuated his words by thrusting up deep inside you. The action making you groan with desire. "That feel good, baby?"

"Yes," you cried out as he hit your g-spot again. "Right there," you panted and he hit the spot over and over again until you were convulsing around him in your second climax. 

"Jesus, (Y/N)," Sid moaned as your pussy gripped him like a vice. The grip he had on your hips tightened as he rammed into your cunt. He was so close to falling off the edge and cumming with you but he wanted to hold off, make it last longer, give you one more orgasm before he sought his own pleasure. Sid slowed his thrusts then, as you relaxed momentarily against his knees. "So fucking beautiful." It took you a moment to catch your breath before you started to move again. His thrusts weren't as deep as before, giving you a moment's reprieve before he went at it again. You knew Sid, knew he could keep up this leisurely pace all night if he wanted. The water was cooling though, and even though your body was still on fire after two orgasms you had no wish to be cold again. It was then that you decided to move your hips, rocking in a motion that you knew would drive him wild. And it did. It wasn't long before he was bucking up into you again. The water going everywhere now. Some of it even hitting his designer suit which rested across the room on the chair. "Fuck, (Y/N)," he hissed out and you could tell he wouldn't last much longer at this pace. He let one hand snake around to your clit. His fingers applying just the right amount of pressure there, as he rubbed circles into the little nub. 

"Sid, I'm gonna…"

"Yes, baby, yes," he groaned on the verge of hitting his peak as well. You were both there with a few thrusts. His hot cum filling you up as you quaked around him. The pleasure so intense you swore you saw stars. Sid collapsed against the back of the tub and while you wanted to follow, the position you were in did not make it that easy. It took a little maneuvering on both your parts, but soon you were back to lounging against Sid.

"We should get out." The water was definitely cooled now and this time you shivered from it.

"You still cold?"

"A little."

"Well, let's get you in bed then." The towel you had laid out was completely soaked, so you just laid it across the floor as you moved to get out of the tub. "Careful," Sid warned as you stepped out onto the shiny marble floor. You moved quickly yet cautiously to the cabinet and grabbed both of you a towel while laying down a few more to soak up the water. 

You'd just finished wrapping the fluffy white towel around your body when Sid scooped you up and headed towards the bedroom. "Sid, stop! I need to clean up that mess."

"It'll dry." He must have been anticipating how the night would go for the bed was already turned down as he placed you in the middle of the mattress. He scooted in behind you, discarding his towel in one swift motion, before sweeping the covers over both of you. His hands made quick work of ridding you of the wet cloth that was helping you dry. "They say body heat is the fastest way to warm someone up."

"Hmm, is that so," you said turning in his embrace. 

"Mmmhmm. I'm sure I read it somewhere."

"I'm sure you did. I'm just wondering what else this book said."

His hands were roaming up and down your back and gliding across the globes of your ass. "Oh, lots more."

You kissed his neck wanting to return the favor he had given you a while ago, then you moved to his chest before saying, "such as?" You continued your path downward over Sid's abs.

"I'm sure there was…" he sucked in a breath as you placed a warm kiss on his pelvis. "Fuck I can't think of a word." 

You grinned up at him from beneath the covers. "Let me see if I can make you forget all together." Sid lost all train of thought as your lips connected with his cock. The night continued on like that for a few more hours before the two of you were so sated you could do nothing but sleep. 

[heyitssmiller]

Chop It Like It’s Hot

Chapter 8: Penne for Your Thoughts

Food and shenanigans. Need I say more?

Tag List: @peanut-in-the-goal @whataboutmyfries @raxelle-nite-in-gale @heyoitslysso @spookydiyharrypotterbat

Chop It Like It’s Hot Masterlist

@lumosinlove

.

“When you said you were cooking for an entire hockey team, I thought you’d stick to the basics. Maybe a salad appetizer and something easy to make that feeds a lot of people.” Dorcas looked around at Leo’s countertops, which were covered in flour, measuring cups, and homemade pasta. “This seems a little overboard.”

Leo rolled out more pasta dough and mentally took note of the different kinds he’d made so far. Linguine, fettuccine, penne, pappardelle, farfalle…

“Leo.”

“I just want it to be good, ok?” He finally looked up from his dough and rolling pin and stopped cooking for the first time in several hours. “Besides, this is a good outlet for me. If I focus on cooking, I don’t have to focus on-” He cut himself off, then added lamely, “Anything else.”

Dorcas sighed. “That’s not how you face your problems and you know it. Talk to me.”

Leo didn’t even fight back about talking about his problems. That was Dorcas’ first clue about how bad this was.

“I can’t do it.” He rubbed at his forehead in frustration. “I can’t be ok with being just friends. I can’t be ok with taking a step back and distancing myself. I can’t be ok with trying to get over them. And I don’t know where that leaves me.”

“I only see one other option here. Talking to them.”

“They’re already perfectly happy together-”

“And who says they won’t be with you?” Dorcas demanded. “You’re only imagining two possible outcomes – talking to them and being rejected, or not talking to them and keeping this a secret. But they could also be in the same position you’re in right now. The only way you’re going to know is if you talk to them.”

“I don’t think I can do that, either. Even if they feel the same, that doesn’t change the fact that they are in love with each other. I can’t get between that.” He laughed dully, and the sound tore at her heart. “My mama would kill me if I became a home-wrecker.”

“Who said love is only between two people? Leo, I know you know this. So why is it so hard to grasp now?”

She could see the second he began to shut down and sighed. “I’m going to hug you now, okay?”

“Okay.”

Dorcas wrapped her arms around him and glared at the wall. She was ninety percent sure Logan and Finn both felt the same way and clearly none of them were going to bring it up.

So now it was her turn. And she didn’t hold back her punches.

Those two hockey players were going to get a severe talking-to tomorrow.

“You guys have to promise to be more well-behaved tonight.” Logan told the team as they drove to dinner. Next to him, Finn was nearly bouncing out of his seat in excitement. “Please.”

He got several grumbles in response, but no teasing – which was a surprise.

“So are you two finally going to ask him out?”

And there it was.

“Are you guys finally going to mind your own business?”

“Nope!”

“It’s not like we don’t want to.” Finn sighed. “We just don’t know if he’s interested.”

“Oh, for fuck’s sake.”

“He’s cooking your entire hockey team dinner. That’s dedication right there.”

“Also did you even watch the episodes of your show?”

“You just had to go and run your mouth.” Logan groaned, shooting Finn a look. He just shrugged apologetically as their charter bus pulled into the parking lot.

“Do you know what’s for dinner?” Someone asked from the back of the bus.

“He said it was a surprise.” Finn responded as they all filed out of the bus and inside the restaurant that had been kind enough to host them.

Leo and Dorcas were standing in front of several tables covered in food, which took Finn back to three months ago. He smiled broadly and waved at the two of them. Leo waved back and waited for everyone to settle down before explaining dinner.

“I figured a build your own dinner was probably the best idea for so many people. I hope pasta’s alright with you guys.” Leo said, then began pointing to each variation of noodle as he explained, “We’ve got regular noodles, gluten-free noodles, and then some cauliflower noodles for y’all to choose from. Then we’ve got sauces and proteins to choose from, including some vegetarian and vegan options. Everything is labeled, so go ahead and grab a plate and help yourselves!”

Everyone clambered to get in line and grabbed portions that were way to big for the day before a game. Their nutritionist watched on in horror.

Finn was watching Leo talk to Loops when Logan nudged him with his elbow. “Finn, look.”

“Hmm?” He asked, turning back around to look at what Logan was pointing to. There in front of them was a pot full of creamy white sauce, bacon, and sausage with a little label that read: carbo’hara.

Finn melted.

He’d told Leo that joke during their first conversation and how he and his brother would have it the night before every hockey game as kids. And he had remembered.

“Logan.” Finn said, not bothering to hide the yearning in his voice.

“I know.”

Dorcas was watching all of this with growing frustration. Were they blind or were they just stupid? All of this could be solved so easily with a single conversation, but none of them were willing to take that first step.

She really shouldn’t get involved. It wasn’t her business. But-

“It’s painful to watch, isn’t it?” A stranger’s voice asked. Dorcas turned to look at a girl with blonde hair and mischievous brown eyes. She stuck her hand out.

“I’m Marlene. And I just want to say that I am so sorry you’ve had to deal with the three of them for months now.”

Dorcas smiled and shook her hand. “So you’ve noticed, too?”

“I think everyone has.”

“True.”

“You’re thinking about interfering?”

Dorcas shrugged. “It’s either that or waiting for them to get their acts together.”

“And who knows how long that’ll take?”

Dorcas laughed, looking appraisingly at her new companion. “I like you already.”

The other girl grinned. “I told Leo when he was in Gryffindor that he should introduce us. He said it was a terrible idea.”

She smiled back. “He was right.”

“So I’ll take Leo, you take the other two? I’m assuming you’ve been trying to talk to Leo but haven’t had any luck.”

“He’s being really stubborn about the whole thing.”

“From all the complaining I’ve heard from the team, so have Logan and Finn.”

Dorcas rolled her eyes. “After dinner I’ll talk to them. Normally I wouldn’t interfere, but this is ridiculous.”

“Agreed. Good luck.”

“You too.”

“Hey,” Marlene spoke up, “Can I have your number? You know, for meddling purposes.”

Dorcas grinned. “I really hope that’s not the only reason you’re asking for my number.”

“Guess you’ll have to see.” Marlene said with a wink.

Oh, boy.

Dorcas was in so much trouble.

But she had other things to focus on right now.

She marched over to Finn and Logan and stated firmly, “You two. We need to talk.”

A dark-haired guy in glasses sent her a wide-eyed stare. “You’re terrifying.” He looked to his teammates. “What did you guys do?”

“Now.” Dorcas said, ignoring the others entirely.

“Rest in peace.” Glasses guy said solemnly as Logan and Finn got up nervously. “It was nice knowing you.”

Logan shared a worried glance with Finn, but they both followed her to a quiet hallway where she turned to glare at them.

“Are you two actually interested in Leo or are you just stringing him along? If it’s the latter I won’t hesitate to punch you.”

“You’re kidding, right?” Logan asked, then frowned. “Fuck, does he think we’re stringing him along?”

“So you are interested?”

Finn looked confused. “I thought that was obvious.”

“What’s the holdup, then?”

“We’re not sure he’s interested.” They shared a sad look. “He’s never given us any reason to think so.”

Dorcas pinched the bridge of her nose. “Oh my god, you three are so stupid. It’s not that he doesn’t like you, trust me – he’s terrified. Think about it. He likes two guys who are already in love with each other, which would be daunting for anybody. And he’s worried that if one of you didn’t feel the same he’d come between the two of you and ruin everything. Not to mention that if he got rejected he’d be rejected not once but twice.”

They stared at her, then turned to stare at each other.

“Fuck.” Finn stated simply.

“Fuck is right.” Dorcas agreed. “Now what are you going to do about it?”

***

“You were so wrong when you said introducing me to Dorcas was a bad idea.”

Leo laughed and turned to face Marlene. “Hello again.”

“Hey, cooking guy. Anyways, I’m in love.”

“Oh, really?”

“She’s awesome. And terrifying. And I really want to take her out on a date.”

“If you hurt her-”

“Oh my god, are you giving me the shovel talk?”

“No. All I’m saying is that we had entire class of knife skills in culinary school. She knows how to properly butcher things. You hurt her, you’d better prepare for the consequences.”

Marlene blinked, then broke into a dopey grin. “Fuck, that’s so hot.”

Leo laughed, shaking his head a little as he grabbed an empty pot and brought it back into the kitchen to clean. Dinner had been a huge success – almost to the point of them running out of food. Leo had noticed the nutritionist shooting him glares all night and made a resolution to send him an apology letter. He just hoped it didn’t affect their playing too much tomorrow.

He was scrubbing the pot down when another pot was set down on the counter next to him. Marlene shoved his shoulder to get him to move to the side a little. “Figured you could use some help.”

“Thanks.” He said with a smile as she grabbed a sponge.

“So,” She started, and that’s when Leo knew he was in trouble. “I know Dorcas talked to you earlier. And I’m sure you don’t want to hear any more of that, but I wanted to let you know that no matter what happens, it’s going to be okay. I mean, yeah, it might suck for a while, but at the end of the day wouldn’t you rather know than be left guessing forever?”

Leo stopped cleaning out his pot and looked at her, surprised at the turn this conversation took.

She shrugged. “Just a thought.”

He’d never really considered it that way before.

There was a knock on the doorframe, which startled them both. Leo turned around to see the head coach standing there.

“We’ve got to head out soon to get to our hotel at a decent time. Thank you so much for dinner! My guys will be talking about this for months.”

“I’d be happy to do it again sometime.” Leo said, then winced. “Maybe something with a more controlled portion size, though.”

The coach laughed. “That might be for the best.”

After all the goodbyes, Logan and Finn were the last two inside, seemingly reluctant to leave. Leo took that as a good sign.

“We’ll see you tomorrow, right?” Logan asked, green eyes hopeful. “At the game?”

“Wouldn’t miss it.” The bus driver honked the horn, clearly fed-up with waiting. “You’d better go before they leave you behind.”

Logan and Finn gave one last wave before heading towards the door while Leo began making his way back to the kitchen.

“Hey!” Logan called suddenly. Leo turned back around to look at them. “Can we take you out to dinner tomorrow? After the game?”

Leo’s stomach churned at the wording. He gathered up all his courage, took a deep breath, and asked, “Is this a date?”

Finn and Logan beamed. Leo’s heart skipped a beat.

“I sure hope so.”

[bkfstclubmember]

Invitation to Tradition

This is my gift for the Secret Santa event on the Hazelnut Discord. I hope the O’Knutzy was fluffy enough :) I’m not sure yet what I’ll do with the related ideas and other snippet pieces from my chaotic writing attempt. All credit to @lumosinlove who created the SW world and characters; thanks for letting us play with them. We love them, and you, so much.

Happy Christmas, everyone!! 

(Note: In this universe, Finn and Leo coach Katie’s hockey team, which is how they meet the Dumais and Logan.)

We wish you a merry Christmas

And a happy new year!

“Bravo! Would you all like to come in for coffee?”

“Merci, we always appreciate your hospitality, but we really must be on our way. We still have a couple of stops to make,” Dumo answered as he led his family away from the Brown’s home after bidding them good night. At Dumo’s insistence, Logan joined the Dumais this year for their annual Christmas caroling tradition. Singing wasn’t really his thing, but he loved every last one of the Dumais. He was especially grateful to them for treating him like a true member of the family while he lived in their basement.

At Katie’s request, Logan held her hand as the family collectively stepped back onto the sidewalk, the sand and ice-melt crunching under foot.

“One last house!” Dumo announced as he led his family around the street corner.

“But Papa,” Adele hesitated, “we always end on this block.“

“Don’t worry, ma fille. We have time for one more house before we go pick out a tree. We’ll make it there before they close.”

“Lolo?” Logan looked down at Katie as she tugged on his hand. “Are you going to take me to hockey practice tomorrow?

Logan took a deep breath as he considered Katie’s question. It should be a simple question with a simple answer. He knew Katie’s practice was at 4 o’clock tomorrow afternoon. He wasn’t busy and normally he wouldn’t hesitate to help out especially when it was hockey-related and especially for Katie, who Dumo often claimed had Logan wrapped around her tiny finger, but Logan faltered. He knew he would see Katie’s coaches, Finn O’Hara and Leo Knut, and he didn’t know what to do with his feelings when they looked his way. Logan felt exposed when Leo smiled revealing his dimples and heated through his core when Finn winked at him the first time they met. He had planned to avoid them until he felt less confused by these feelings. He wasn’t exactly sure where they might lead.

“It would be really helpful if you could take her, mon fils,” Celeste chimed in with a smile as they all continued following Dumo and Adele, just a few steps ahead of them.

Logan nodded. “Of course, maman, I’m happy to.” He had almost a whole day to prepare himself.

Dumo leaned forward to ring the doorbell as their family gathered on the front porch of the next house.

Logan thought he was prepared to sing Joy to the World with the rest of the Dumais clan, but Joy was all that came out when the door opened revealing Leo Knut with those dimples of his standing before them. Then, Finn joined them and Logan decided he was ready to give up on contributing outside of the bass beat being provided by his heart.

“Well, isn’t this a surprise,” Finn grinned after they sang their last song.

“Would y’all like to come inside?” Leo offered. “I baked cookies this afternoon.”

Dumo ruffled Marc’s hair. “Well, I promised the kids we’d pick up our tree and we have just enough time before it closes.”

Logan met Finn’s eyes and there was that feeling again. He was certain Finn and Leo could pluck the thoughts right out of his head. He wasn’t sure how he felt about that, but now that Finn and Leo were here right in front of him he knew he didn’t want to leave. He wanted to burrow as close as possible until he knew more — everything — about them.

“Let us at least send you off with some for the road,” Leo insisted. He slipped off to the kitchen before anyone could object and returned with a square container that he handed to Dumo.

Dumo nudged Logan. “Mon fils, were you planning on joining us to pick up the tree? You never said.”

Logan shifted his glance and blinked up at a Dumo. Before he could respond, Finn jumped in with “If you’re not the pining type, our invitation still stands.” He knew before he looked up at Finn and Leo that it was impossible for him to turn that invitation down now. Next thing he knew, Logan found himself inside Finn and Leo’s home.

“We were just about to enjoy one of our own traditions. Cookies, hot chocolate, and a good, old-fashioned Christmas movie,” Leo mentioned as they settled together on the couch. “Interested?”

Logan agreed it sounded like a great plan and Finn offered to start the hot chocolate and gather snacks while Leo and Logan chose the movie and set up.

Logan flipped through movie options with Leo, but at the same time the urge to know more and more about these two lingered in his mind. He wasn’t sure exactly what would satisfy, but he was willing to start anywhere and take anything, so he gave in with a simple question. “What are your other traditions?”

Leo lit up at the question. “Skating on Christmas Eve. That’s definitely a favorite in our house. We started that tradition the year we moved to Gryffindor. So, about five years or so.” Leo glanced away from the screen to look at Logan and offered his dimpled smile. “You should join us this year.”

The itchy exposed feeling was back. Logan realized it only grew brighter the more time he spent with Finn and Leo, and he was sure it was shining through his eyes in the most obvious way. He ran his fingers through his hair. “I’ll be there.”

Logan helped Leo plug in the string of lights that encircled their tree as well as the room before turning off the larger lamps and overhead lighting. Then, while Leo set off to gather blankets, which he insisted were essential for enjoying their holiday movie tradition, Logan moved towards the kitchen. “Need any help?” he asked as he leaned against the open doorway.

Finn nodded, “Just about done, so stick around and you can help carry.”

Logan watched Finn stir his creation carefully and taste test before adding more cinnamon. “Fancy,” he commented.

Finn shrugged, “It’s pretty much the only thing I make. My older brother showed me. He used to make it for me this way growing up.”

“You don’t live off hot chocolate, do you?” Logan teased.

Finn winked with a grin. “Oh no, Leo is the cooking wizard. He’s the reason I don’t exist solely on takeout.”

“I think we’re set,” Leo announced as he rounded the corner, coming to a sudden halt in front of Logan who was still perched in and blocking the doorway to the kitchen. Evidently, he didn’t expect to find Logan roaming in the doorway. Logan sensed the shift in tension, but wasn’t sure of the cause until he noticed and followed Leo’s subtle upward glance. Mistletoe in the doorway.

Logan ran his hand through his hair before dropping his head back against the doorframe. The feeling that felt strong and singular before was worthy of the plural now. Leo stood tall and still against the other side of the doorframe and Logan risked looking directly into his eyes. All he could see was blue. Blue. He hated clichés, but Logan suddenly understood why people said that it was possible to drown in someone’s eyes because those eyes truly reminded him of the ocean and he was lost at sea. Logan’s world narrowed for just a moment and all he could sense was the rushing in his ears. Then, Leo took a step forward and the feelings were overwhelming. He started to step forward too until Finn’s movement in his periphery broke through the surface. He was unsure and frozen again until Finn spoke softly.

“He’s wanted to kiss you since he met you. We’ve wanted to.”

Logan reached for Leo’s hand and pulled him forward as he searched his blue eyes again. He felt exposed and vulnerable again, but this time he didn’t feel so alone in the feeling.

Leo squeezed his hand. “Do you want to, sweetheart?”

“Please,” Logan breathed and pushed up on his toes as Leo leaned down and their lips met in the middle. Their kiss was simple rather than prolonged, but it was so satisfying; now he knew one more thing about Leo. Logan’s chest pushed out a sigh. They broke apart, once, and then again after Leo leaned back in to kiss the corner of Logan’s mouth. Leo squeezed his hand again and they remained linked while they retreated to opposite sides of the doorframe.

Finn grinned as he continued ladling hot chocolate into mugs. “I knew that mistletoe was a good idea even if this was not what I planned when I tacked it up there.”

Leo rolled his eyes, but he was grinning too and Logan smiled back. Dimples.

“Ok, holiday movie time!” Finn sang as he leaned in with a kiss for Leo before handing him the plate of cookies. Then, he turned to Logan. “ You haven’t moved.” Logan shrugged, waiting.

Finn reached for the mugs and leaned in to pass him one. Logan reached out to take it, but instead both of their hands remained wrapped together around the mug. He watched as Finn tilted his head in question. “Our turn?”

Logan leaned over the mug between them and kissed him hard. Finn’s lips tasted of the chocolate, cinnamon, and sugar of Christmas. Finn pushed back carefully so as not to rock the full mug between them too much. Logan was tempted to nibble and lick to chase the taste that was both Christmas and Finn because while his kiss with Leo was soft, this kiss felt playful. It lasted just a few moments, but it was yet another thing that Logan knew now that he didn’t just minutes before.

They pulled away and Finn cleared his throat before reiterating, “Right. Holiday movie time.”

All three moved back to the couch to settle in for one of Finn and Leo’s holiday traditions. They were all quiet until Logan broke the silence. “I want to know you.” He wasn’t sure it made sense, but he hoped they’d hear the words and let them sink in.

“We want to know you too,” Finn answers softly.

“Sometimes it feels like you’re supposed to know me. Or maybe that you’re going to,” Logan murmured. Then, he shrugged, “Don’t you find that scary?”

Leo rested his hand on Logan’s knee. “I think that sounds exciting. We’ve found,” he gestured between Finn and himself, “that it’s easiest together.”

[savoies]

Missing You - Andrei Svechnikov.

Andrei Svechnikov x Reader.

Word Count: 1,882

Requested: Yes! “svech surprising you where you live for college after Carolina got eliminated from the playoffs.”

Warning: None I believe.

A/N: This is my friend's first blurb/fic request so I hope you guys like it. Feedback is always appreciated and we are very excited for her to be writing and for you guys to be reading her works.

Dating a hockey player wasn’t always perfect or dreamy. It had its ups and downs just like every relationship. To you, it only made you and Andrei stronger as a couple. But one thing that had gotten you down more than once was the distance. Sometimes you were too caught in how your boyfriend wasn’t there, that you felt as if your relationship wouldn’t last. But everytime, once you heard the soothing sound of his voice, or the edges of his mouth twitching into a smile, all your anxieties and worries washed away. Just like that. Because you were completely and positively in love with Andrei. 

You giggled, the laugh sliding off your tongue easily as you laughed at Andrei’s bad attempt at a joke. You grinned at your boyfriend through the screen, briefly wishing he wasn’t just a cluster of pixels shimmering on the screen- but you weren’t going to complain. You’d take as much as you could get. Andrei’s laugh filled the space of your dorm room. You missed the sound desperately, but knew he was following his dream and playing. So you sucked it up and kept the smile on your face, trying to hide your struggles with his absence. 

“Baby, you good?” Andrei asked, brows furrowed as you totally missed his question.

You blinked. “Oh, yeah! Sorry I spaced out.” You gave him a smile. 

Your boyfriend studied you for a second before deciding to let it slide. Andrei started talking again and you listened in earnest. You couldn’t help but notice that he was acting weird as he sped through his words. Almost as if he couldn’t wait for something. You internally wondered what could possibly make Andrei so excited, but you figured it just because you hadn’t had much time to facetime between studying and going out with friends in the past week. And Andrei was just as, if not more, desperate for a glimpse of your face or voice before going to bed. You smiled, leaning back in your chair as you stretched, yawing as you did. It was getting late, and your roommate would be back soon after her night out. Though you felt the exhaustion from close to no sleep and cramming for the History test tomorrow, you wanted to stay on the phone with Andrei. However, noticing your yawn the boy stopped mid-sentence. 

“You tired?”

“No,” You replied, perhaps too fast for his liking because the boy arched a brow. You relented. “Fine, yes. But I want to stay on the line. Don’t worry about it.” 

“Don’t you have that history test tomorrow? The one you’ve been studying for for like two weeks?” 

“One.” You corrected him, before you noticed his pointed look. “Yes, I do have that test, but I don't wanna leave!” You pouted, hoping he’d catch the hint of desperation in your voice and stay with you for longer. 

Normally you’d be curled in your bed, trying to get as much sleep as you could, but you knew sleep wouldn’t come easily tonight. You woke up with the familiar ache in your heart that only came when you missed Andrei. The feeling hadn’t left you, and as night crept closer, it worsened until you were practically begging your boyfriend to stay on the call just so you could escape sleep and the tears for a minute longer. 

“Y/N, go to bed. You need it, for the test.” 

“Andrei, no, I’m fine. Seriously. I miss your voice, please?” You begged, giving him your best puppy eyes. Eyes that usually made you get your way and hide the seriousness of your plea. 

“You miss me?” The corners of his mouth lifted up as he teased you softly. 

“Of course I do, dummy.” You huffed, unable to stop the smile that matched his. You looked down, trying to hide the sudden burn of tears at the back of your eyes. You played with the edge of your sweatshirt- the one you’d stolen from him not too long ago. 

Just then, your door opened, swinging open to reveal your roommate dressed in her party outfit coming back. You smiled up at her, Andrei falling silent on the other end. 

“Hey, Marissa.” You greeted her before turning back to Andrei. 

“Hey Y/N. Andrei.” She gave your boyfriend a little wave before grabbing her shower things and leaving the room. 

You bit your lip as the door clicked shut, a signal Andrei was going to leave you alone in a cold bed, alone with your thoughts. You knew he would be here if he could, and you didn’t want to take him away from his teammates and the game. Though he couldn’t play, with his injury and all, you knew he still loved watching the game though it hurt a little that he couldn’t actually be on the ice. You held your breath, waiting for his goodbye. 

“I don’t have to hang up if you don’t want me to,” Andrei offered, sensing the shift in your energy. 

Guilt flashes through your chest. He was probably tired too. The time difference was only two hours, but two hours was two hours. You never wanted to be the clingy, needy girlfriend, but here you were, silently wishing he’d just stay without asking. Because if you told him to stay, you became that girl, and you felt guilty for it. 

“No, no.” You protest, giving him a strained smile. “I’m good. You’re right- I should go to bed. I’ll see you-” You paused, frowning. You didn’t actually know when you were going to see him again, in person. If he won this game, which was going on right now, Andrei only able to call during the second intermission, they’d continue in the playoffs. For a fleeting, selfish second, you wished he’d lose so he’d come back to you sooner. Chiding yourself for the thought you licked your lips and prepared for a night alone. Again. 

Andrei sighed on the other end. “I know baby. I miss you too.” A grin flashed quickly across his face before it disappeared, leaving you to wonder why he was so giddy. “But I’ll see you soon.” 

You gave another smile. If only that statement were true and he’d be home tomorrow. “Alright. Good luck with the rest of your game! I love you, Andrei.” 

“Thank you. I love you too, babygirl.” He smiled, and before you could take another big sigh, the call disconnected. 

You swallowed and closed your laptop. You hadn’t been watching the game at all, unaware of the score or how it was going because you were in your room with your nose buried in textbooks. You had no idea the Canes were losing and Andrei was trying to keep his excitement in check about the plane he was about to catch to fly to you. 

So, as you curled into your sheets, Marissa came back into the room, accidentally crashing into the foot of her bed before bidding you a good night, preparing yourself for another lonely night without Andrei’s arm wrapped around you, he was ending his call and driving to the airport. 

The chilled mid-morning air nipped at your skin as you made your way across the quad. You’d decided to get some fresh air- and much needed coffee- before heading back to school for your second, and last class of the day. Coffee in hand, you made your way back to the building housing the classroom you’d spend the next hour in. 

You heaved a sigh, feeling like you’d need two more grande coffee’s to get through this class. Last night, after Marissa’s breathing evened out, you over thought, your mind leading down hideous paths as the ache in your chest got worse. You prayed being away from Andrei would get better. 

Looking down at your phone, you checked the time (11:02) and the chain of texts you’d sent your boyfriend before heading into class. Noticing he hadn’t responded, you frowned, trying to brush it off as you waited for class to end. You tried not to overthink it, but you feared Andrei got hurt again or another scenario your overthinking brain came up with. Once the teacher released you, you exited and found a quiet spot in the hallway, quickly calling your boyfriend. 

He picked up on the second ring. “Hey, baby.” 

“Andrei, are you okay?” You rushed, huddling closer to the wall as some students milled around you. 

“Yeah,” he chuckled at your response. “All good, baby.” He paused. “You good? How was your test?” 

“It was okay, I think I did well.” You relaxed, knowing he was okay. You bit your lip, deciding whether or not to say what you wanted to. “How was your game?” You asked instead. 

“We lost.” 

“Lost? So..” You frowned. “Wait, does that mean your out?” 

“Yep. Now I get to come see you, baby.” 

Your heart jumped and you grinned as you held the phone. The ache of missing him eased a little, knowing you’d see him soon. “I’m sorry about your game though, Andrei.” 

“It’s alright. I’m ok, now that I get to see my girl.” 

You were confused by his words. “What? When do you think you can visit?” 

Andrei laughed on the other end, the sound only confusing you further. “Baby, why don’t you turn around?”

Furrowing your brows, you turned, and there he was. Andrei was standing ten feet away, tall and big amongst the college students as he grinned at you. He was dressed in a hoodie (the one you usually steal) and was holding his hands, ready for you to crash into them. And crash you did. You let out a squeal of joy upon seeing your boyfriend, in flesh, standing before you. Running, you gripped him tightly as he hugged you. You missed him embrace more than you’d like to admit, savoring his scent as you buried your face into his chest. The boy leaned down, pressing a kiss to your hair. 

“Hi, baby.” he laughed, stroking your hair as you pulled back. You grinned and leaned up to press a sweet kiss to his lips. His hands came to rest on your hips, pulling you closer as he kept his lips on you. Showing you just how much he missed you. He pulled back, a little breathless as he leaned his forehead against yours. “God I missed you.” 

You giggled, knowing his words all too well. You carded your fingers through his hair, earning a hum from him in response. “I missed you so much, Andrei.” 

You met his eyes and couldn’t help but giggle at the adoration staring back to you. He grinned, lifting you in the air until your legs were wrapped around his waist as he peppered your face with kisses, coaxing laughs out of you with each brush of his lips against your skin. 

As he pulled back again, your stomach grumbled, reminding you of your missed lunch. Andrei put you back down, but his hands never strayed from your waist as you picked up your bag and suggested to go get lunch. 

“Sounds perfect.” He grinned and pressed a kiss to your temple.

taglist: @hartsyhart​ @boesxr​ @ana-maa​ 

i do have a taglist which you could be added here.

[bubbashawn]

No Nothing

author: Lol I don’t know where this came from and also cheers to three days in a row of writing. Don’t expect this to become a thing anyways hope you like it. Am I just doing every trope ever? Yep and what about it 💓

synopsis: Shawn has always taunted you because you’re his best friend’s sister, but even Brian can tell it’s tearing you both apart.

warnings: Baby swears and all that but mostly just 2.5k of two people being stupid 😂

Carrots. You hated carrots, they were your favorite growing up and Shawn Mendes, the boy living down the street, ruined them for you.

“Hi carrots,” he would smirk down at you, “how’s it going?”

“Would you stop calling me that?”

“Mmmm no, no can do, sorry carrots”

Brian had called you that when you were a baby and that was fine, but his imbecile best friend Shawn? No way. Your brother had met the Canadian boy in school and honestly it was shocking you didn’t know him already. Pickering wasn’t exactly a big city so most people knew each other, but Shawn and you didn’t meet until Brian and him were besties.

At first you didn’t mind Shawn, he was nice enough and got your brother to leave you alone. But once that nickname set in you were officially not okay with each other. And it wasn’t like you could just ignore him because he’d show up everywhere. At hockey practice Shawn would constantly be shooting pucks your way, shouting that fateful nickname.

“On your right, carrots!”

You despised him. Until you didn’t. Maybe it was the day when he jumped into the car when the Craigen family drove Shawn home from the rink, his cheeks flushed pink and a bright white smile on his face.

“Hi carrots”

You didn’t respond that day with a snarky comment, caught up in his honey colored eyes. He had noticed you were sure but he was lost in conversation with Brian long before he could comment on your dazed state. Or maybe it was the day during freshman year when your sophomore boyfriend dumped you for the senior (who ended up leaving for college 4 months later), Shawn had approached you like you were glass and his step might shake the ground so much you’d crack. He hugged you that day, no teasing or prodding, just holding you together.

“Hi carrots,” his hand ran along your spine, “you okay?”

You just hid your teary eyed frown in his shoulder. The two of you stood there until Brian pulled you both to the couch in the basement and started playing a Harry Potter marathon. Your brother didn’t normally let you in on ‘bro time’ but he knew Shawn wouldn’t leave your side, though the boy would never admit it.

After that day the two of you came to an agreement, settling on harmless taunts and yet Shawn wouldn’t give up the nickname.

“You’re still my carrots, always will be.”

Everything was decent and the two of you were comfortable in the new mutual friendship you’d built. Shawn had told you a month later he’d be leaving for tour. You were 13 and he was 15. Before he left the Mendes and Craigen Clans got together for a farewell dinner, everyone was shocked by the lack of bickering between you two, even more so when he ate your carrots and you ate his tomatoes. The alliance was working.

Shawn came and went through Pickering, just like your boyfriends, except they actually remembered you. Shawn hadn’t even tried to see you when he was home, not that you cared of course, but you did miss his laugh. And his smile and him and maybe even that terrible name.

-

You wouldn’t see the famous boy until your graduation, 5 years after his goodbye dinner. Maybe it was because he rarely was home or maybe it’s because he didn’t visit the Craigen home and more than likely it was because you would leave when Brian mentioned Shawn making an appearance. You don’t know why you did it, you just did.

Graduating was all you looked forward to in all honesty. You had your friends and you had hockey but you didn’t care for that anymore because you wanted to get out of Pickering. Nothing was going to stop you now that you’d be attending university in Australia, that had always been the plan and now you were about to make it happen.

You didn’t even notice the tall boy until you stood from your arranged seat to collect your diploma but his shout was louder than anyone else’s.

“Go carrots!” He smiled right at you.

Shawn was looking at you for the first time in half a decade and he was a new person. He had grown substantially and his dorky figure had filled out. Honestly you gave yourself props for crushing on him before he got hot. But damn you weren’t complaining. You wanted to stare at him and ask all your unanswered questions with your eyes locked with his, but your ticket out of Canada was far more important than your childish crush. So you stepped forward walking along the grass up to the podium and shook hands with the staff of your school before walking back to your seat.

“Carrots!” His stride was fast to keep up with you as you ran towards your friends, “you went and grew up on me.”

“Says you, rockstar,” a new found confident tilt in your voice, “you cannot be the same imbecile from my childhood.”

He smiled brightly, ‘rockstar’, his new nickname. He loved that you gave him a nickname. He felt so comfortable talking to you and he missed the banter you two had always shared. Shawn missed you.

“Rockstar? Huh, I like it,” he pulled you into his chest, like he did all those years ago, “I’ve missed you.”

“Don’t go all soft on me now, I’m already dealing with Brian.” You laughed.

“Hey! I’m being serious here, really I did miss you, carrots.”

“I missed you too.”

It all felt serene, just smiling at one another. That is until your aforementioned brother tugged harshly as his arm wrapped around your waist.

“My baby sister is all grown up!”

“Brian!”

“If you think you can steal her away to catch up, think again Mendes!” He shouted at his best friend.

He just watched them happily, his own hand placed on Aaliyah’s shoulder.

“This dork’s time is reserved for me and only me until 6:30 tomorrow morning.”

You just laughed again, trying to pry his sturdy hands away from you when he started tickling you. But Shawn was confused, no longer laughing with the siblings.

“Why 6:30?”

Brian tensed against you. He knew of Shawn’s crush on his baby sister and though he wasn’t happy at first, he knew Shawn wouldn’t hurt her and that was what he really cared about. That and you wouldn’t have anymore shitty boyfriends who’d never treat you right.

“I didn’t tell you?” Shawn’s face fell at Brian’s tone, “she leaves for Australia tomorrow.”

“Tomorrow?” He choked on his words, “w-why so fast?”

“I want to grow accustomed to the new lifestyle and country itself before starting the spring semester.”

“O-oh” Shawn hated how his voice stuttered.

You felt his eyes on you the entire night up until you sent your teary farewells to your friends as they went home. You turned to say your final, most important goodbye of the night. But Shawn had already slipped through the door tucked in with the graduated hockey team. No hug. No smile. No nothing. Not even a “bye carrots”.

Shawn didn’t show up at the house the next morning nor when you hugged Aaliyah at the airport. Even Karen and Manny tearfully hugged you before you checked into security, but their son was nowhere to be seen.

-

Australia was everything you wanted and more. The beaches were to die for and the sun was tanning your skin well, not to mention you loved your school. Everything was perfect on all fronts but one. You hated how much Shawn’s dismissal bothered you. He didn’t know when he’d see you again but he brushed you off like you were some chip on his shoulder. You hate that it bothered you and you hate that he hurt you.

Shawn knew that he was an asshole before Aaliyah told him that you asked for him. His mom for God’s sake kept eyeing him like he was a hurt puppy and Shawn knew he looked like one too. Tour had started up again in Portland after your graduation and he was content with performing, it was his safe space. But he was just wanting to be in Australia with you.

“Hey Brian,” Shawn had to rush before his soundcheck because he wanted to know when you would get there.

“Hey man, what’s up?”

“Carrots is coming to the show, right?”

“She’s not sure,” he offered a short smile to Shawn, Brian blamed him for his sister’s reluctance, “she has a chem exam tomorrow.”

“O-oh, okay. I’ll talk to you later, yeah?”

“Sure thing, now get out there, rockstar!”

Shawn froze and Brian knew he messed up. But the famous Canadian boy ran off after stumbling and started his soundcheck. He was a mess, so bad that Andrew called a break. He didn’t do that, not since the Handwritten tour.

“Shawn? What’s going on?”

He just sat there on one of the speakers off stage, dropping his head in his hands. Brian knew he had to do something because Shawn wouldn’t be able to pull it together without his baby sister pushing him along. Shawn just watched his friend walk off to the side, phone pressed to his ear.

“Y/N?”

-

You had no intention of driving the long 3 hours to Shawn’s arena. You had a hot cup of tea, your roommate thought it was gross saying “it’s so hot out though,” and the Harry Potter disk was calling your name. But Brian called and said Shawn needed you and that made the drive feel far longer than ever before.

Arriving at the Qudos Bank Arena 15 minutes before the concert was not the plan, but you hadn’t put into account the countless fans pushing and shoving their way past you. When you finally reached the side door your hair was disheveled, your strap had fallen down your shoulder, and your cheeks were flushed the same way Shawn’s always were.

“Hi,” you smiled at the security guard, “I’m Brian Craigen’s sister and I need to get through.”

He just laughed and turned away. Well, okay then. You stepped away from the door and called your big brother.

“Brian?”

“Y/N? Are you here yet? Kind of in desperate need.”

“Yeah, I am but security won’t let me in. I’m at door,” you looked around, “5A, I think.”

“Ok, I’m coming with Andrew. Give your phone to the guard, would you?”

The two men on the phone had a short conversation ending with the security guy apologizing profusely and opening the gate so you could slip into the venue. You didn’t know where to go but soon that anxiety settled when your clumsy brother ran right into you.

“Brian! Ow!”

“Sorry! Okay, so I’m taking you through to Shawn’s room,” he looked down at you, “yeah?”

“O-okay.”

-

Shawn’s dressing room was a disaster, you knew he wasn’t neat but this was on a whole new level. His wardrobe was thrown around and you sent a sympathetic glance towards Tiffany, his stylist, before finally glancing down at Shawn. He was curled over his legs on the couch, fingers pulling at the poor worn out curls. He looked like a disaster and your heart ached a little at the sight.

“Rockstar?”

His eyes whipped up and he froze as he took you in all the way from those stupid converse you refused to let go of, thought they were 2 sizes too small, all the way up to your signature red hair.

“C-carrots?”

Before you knew it, Shawn had jumped from his position and folded himself against you and your memory again flashed back to freshman year. You were enveloped in everything distinctly Shawn. His smell and his curls that tickled you. The tapping of his fingers against your spine. This was your Shawn, not that boy who failed to say goodbye 5 months ago.

“Hi bud, how are you doing?” You whispered in his shoulder.

“Better now, thanks.”

“I’m still a little mad at you,” he tensed up, pulling you impossibly closer, “no goodbye, no hug, no nothing, Shawn.”

“I’m sorry, carrots.”

The two of you crashed onto his couch in his previous spot but a different position. Shawn was almost at ease, neither of you mentioned the hand with that swallow tattoo still resting on your hip. He just looked at you and you looked at him. This was good.

“What’s going on?”

“What?” He seemed startled by your sudden question.

“Why did Brian think that it was important for me to be here? Why am I here, Shawn?”

He pouted and he just wanted to hold you but Shawn knew that you deserved an explanation for why he’s been so confusing.

“I can’t think straight without you around,” you went to interrupt but he cut you off, “let me say this and then you can go home if you really want to. Most of the tour I was fine with you not being there but when I knew you could be here and you chose not to? I don’t know, i-it threw everything off. And Brian would kill me for saying this but, carrots you drive me crazy. I mean you always have but I don’t know it’s different now. I always liked you, always, and Brian didn’t like the idea of me anywhere near you so I just deflected you. That’s why I started picking on you, calling you carrots. I just knew I couldn’t like you. But I really do, Y/N, I just can’t let you be mad at me.”

He looked at you, your face shocked and that’s when Shawn started to backpedal.

“Hey, relax okay? Nothing has to change your still my best friend’s annoying little sister. Nothing will be different,” Shawn pauses, “if you don’t want it too. I mean you don’t have to like me or anything just because I really li-”

You cut him off and you don’t care how cliche it is but everything fell into place. His lips were soft, not that you had thought they wouldn’t be. Shawn was so shocked he didn’t move until you pulled away, mumbling a short “sorry.” And the. He placed his lips against yours, finally, his hand cupped your jaw and everything was different between you two.

“Hey,” you pulled away slightly, your nose still pressed to his, “you didn’t call me carrots.”

Brian barged in right as Shawn was about to speak.

“Okay, I’m trying to be a ‘cool’ brother or whatever but no tongue when I’m around, deal?”

“Deal,” Shawn’s eyes still focused on you, “definitely a deal.”

“Yeah, yeah. Shawn you need to be on stage like now.” And with that Brian left.

“Come to the side stage?”

“Wouldn’t miss it.” And you wouldn’t because Shawn was smiling at you like you were his world and maybe you were.

“Hey carrots?” He grabbed your hand, pulling you towards the door, “I really like you.”

permanent tag list: @wholesomemendes @fallinallincurls @ashwarren32 @mendesficsxbombay @haute-shawn @turtoix @prncsnee @http-isabela

[bqstqnbruin]

Bubble, bubble, toil, and trouble

Ok, every single time I see Nick Robertson in a notification on my phone, I think of the anon who keeps requesting I write about him and hope that you’re excited (I have no idea if it’s the same person each time so how ever many people it is I hope you’re all happy). 

This one is a little shorter, but I wanted to get it out since it was relevant to what’s going on now (also sorry the leafs went home but you know I’m a Bruins fan y i k e s)

I hope you like this! _____________

“Kasperi Kapanen, Robertson wants the puck, and he scores! Nick Robertson with his first National Hockey League goal! And it is three, nothing, Toronto.” 

You started screaming, jumping up and down without a care in the world that you might be waking up your roommate, your neighbors, the people below you, anyone else might hear you ecstatic that your boyfriend just scored his first NHL goal. You can think of nothing else but immediately blowing up his phone with texts about how proud you are of him, recording the replay of his goal and posting in on your snap and insta stories. This was everything he had been working for his entire life, even if you hadn’t known him the entire time. Hopefully, this was the first of many goals, whether it was with Toronto or another team that wanted him. 

After the game, the texts on his phone made him smile, especially after losing in overtime, putting them on the brink of going home. One on hand, it would mean going home to see you, but on the other, there was no way he wanted to stop playing in the NHL so soon after he had started. The guys around him weren’t too happy about the loss, either.

“Perk up, bud,” Travis tells him, “It’s one loss. We still have a chance.”

“It’s not the loss,” Nick admits, staring down at his phone. His lock screen, and yours, was a picture the two of you had taken together before the season had started. Over the summer, you went out to his family’s beach house, spending the entire week enjoying the world around you. You were on his back, kissing his cheek while he’s beaming at the camera, even though you couldn’t tell because of his sunglasses. Seeing that picture normally made him happy when he couldn’t see you, but something about tonight, it just wasn’t the same.

“Is it my sister?” Nick nods, staring at the picture. What he would give to see you in person right now. “I get it. I miss my girl and my dog, too. Everyone misses someone.”

Nick looks up at Travis, immediately looking back down at this phone. The two of you looked so much alike, just looking at your brother made him crazy. “I just never imagined my first playoffs would be in a bubble like this. I never thought my first NHL games would be like this.” 

Travis nods, looking at the kid’s face. He understood what it was like to be away from family, hell he even missed you. Nick definitely had it harder than any of the other guys; he was the youngest in the playoffs, he just scored his first goal and couldn’t celebrate with the people he cared about, and he didn’t know if he was going to end his NHL debut in the next game or not. 

Nick was one of the first ones out of the locker room that night. None of the guys were in the mood to celebrate, even if he did just score his first professional goal, and all he wanted to do was go back to his room and Facetime you.

“Alright boys, we have a rookie to cheer up,” Travis says to the remaining guys in the locker room.

-----------

“Babe, I am so proud of you!” you practically screech at the sight of his face on your phone. 

You had been facetime each other nightly, trying to keep up with each other as much as possible. With him in the bubble and you on summer break, not much really happened other than you two just sitting on the phone while you watched the same thing on Netflix. Not that either of you cared; it was the closest thing to being with each other that you could have for who knows how long? 

“Thanks,” he says, halfheartedly. He was right in Toronto, in the same city as you, and yet he still felt so far away from you. He knows that if the two of you were able to be together, then you would be going out right now to celebrate. You would have been at the game, not watching it from the TV, on what was probably some sort of broadcast delay. 

“Nick, what’s wrong?” you could tell her was upset, he wasn’t the best at hiding his emotions. He just scored his first goal, he should be so happy.

“I just miss you,” he says, not looking at you. 

The pain in his voice was heartbreaking. You miss him, too, of course, but him hearing that would just make it hurt even more, wouldn’t it? “I miss you, too. Hell, I even miss Travis. But look at it this way: the longer you’re there, that means the more you’re playing, and the closer you guys are getting to that cup. Next year when you’re on the roster, you’re going to be traveling all the time. Look at this as practice for when you do that.” 

As you’re giving him your mini-lecture, Travis and some of the other guys start blowing up a group chat you didn’t know you were in with them. “Give me one sec?” He nods, going back to watching whatever episode of Supernatural you were on. The boys had a plan, and somehow you think it was going to work.

“Everything alright?” you hear him ask as your phone continues to ding with instructions from Travis and Mitch. Somehow, they were the ones in charge. 

You switch back to Nick, the stream of texts still flowing. “Yeah, everything is perfect.” 

Seeing the smile on your face, he couldn’t help but smile back. “I wish I were with you.”

“Yeah, but that would mean you weren’t doing what you love. I would rather you be playing. And scoring the first of what will be many goals.”

----------

The next night, the boys were playing again. Losing this game meant that they would be going home the next morning, their bid for the cup on hold until the next season, whenever that start date may be. Win this game, play do or die on Sunday. Lose, and go home.

Lose, and go home. That sounded so good to Nick, if he had to be honest. He loved to play, but being in the bubble for this long was way harder than he imagined it would be. He wasn’t focusing at all during the game. The only time he wasn’t thinking about you was when he was actually on the ice. 

Lost this game, and he gets to see you tomorrow. 

But win this game, and he has to wait. And that means he gets to play more hockey, bringing him closer to the cup. 

Auston ends up scoring the game winning goal in overtime, sending the series to game 5. The Leafs had a history of pushing a first round series to the very last game. They just hoped that this time they actually moved past this round instead of exiting early. 

The boys in the locker room were screaming, celebrating that they survived another day in the bubble. Travis tried everything to get Nick to celebrate with them; all of their teammates did. He knew that once he got back to his room, everything would be alright.

“Come on! Live a little! We’re here until Sunday at least. And you can still facetime my sister, you have all day Saturday to text her and call her when we aren’t practicing, and I’m pretty sure you have at least seven thousand photos of her on your phone. Plus, I can get my mom to send me some baby pictures if you really want those,” Travis tells Nick, wrapping his arm around the young player as he sulks back to his room. 

“I should be happy. I just miss Y/N.”

“Yeah, I know. I told you I know. But I think that once you get back in your room, everything will be alright.” 

The look on his face slightly worried Nick. You had been acting weird after you had paused him that first time last night, switching back and forth between his face and something else on your phone, but you wouldn’t tell him what. And you had been nearly radio silent today. What if you were cheating on him while he was in the bubble? Is that something you would do? 

He opens his door, Travis not leaving as Auston and Mitch for some reason join up with them. This was weird, right? Nick could have sworn that he had turned off the lights and the TV in his room when they left for the game, yet both were on. “Oh my god!” he yells when he sees you sitting on the bed.

You practically jump off the bed and into his arms, him hugging you like he was never going to let you go again. 

“How are you here?” he asks. He can feel himself starting to cry, but not in front of the guys. He was just so happy you were actually here.

“I kind of have a great brother,” you say once he puts you down. The three boys are beaming behind you, even though Mitch and Travis were the ones who did everything, Auston was more just in the chat just to be included. 

“We convinced some people to let her in,” Travis admits. “Now let me hug my sister, you get her all night.”

He pries you away from Nick, even though the last thing he wanted to do was let you ago. But he had to let you hug Travis. Hell, he wanted to hug Travis. They somehow managed to get you into the hotel just so you could spend a night with him. 

“Ok, now. Get out,” you say to Travis, wriggling free from Travis and walking back over to Nick. He wraps his arms around you, planting a kiss on your forehead as he forgets that the other guys are even there. “I want to spend the night with my boyfriend, not my brother.” 

“I can’t believe you’re here,” he says once his three teammates leave. He owed them big time, but that was a problem for a later date.

“Well, I missed you, and they said they could get me into the hotel, following other rules which I didn’t question, but hey, we’re going to go with it,” you say.

He pulls you in for a kiss, never wanting it to end. If only you could stay in the bubble with him forever. 

[anemonenemerosa]

The Spare- Chapter 13

Hello fellow people, I’m sorry for the delay (The chapter has been posted on AO3 for ages and I don’t know what took me so long)

Credit for the Sweater-verse goes to the wonderful @lumosinlove​

Chapter 13

TW: Violence, a bit of blood, forced outing, abusive families

In calls and texts: Reg is normal Ben is bold-italic Mateo is italic Jo is bold

When Reg got from the airport to the hotel to change into his suit, he learned that his mother had, indeed, tricked him again. The contacts on his phone were mostly deleted and he had to share a room with Severus, who was less than thrilled at the prospect.

"I have to share a room with you to make sure you stay mommies little boy! Rookie, I tell you, get close to that faggot and I rip you apart. I'm not getting shit from Riddle or your mother because you don't stay at the sight side." He growled at Reg and combined with the cold glare of his deep-set eyes, Reg was convinced that he could -and would- actually do that.

"Your mother will be here tomorrow to have a look herself." They had him... he could not escape... his happy family idea was gone; The universe had hit back. He thought of losing his Hobbits, as he named Jo, Ben and Mateo and it pained him too much to let it dwell. Reg closed his eyes with a sigh and a resigned nod.

Of course, they had to arrive at that damn Red Carpet together with Sirius and Tremblay. Walking behind Sirius was bad, walking there with Severus eyeing his every movement was worse but the worst was when Reg saw the look on Sirius' face. Tired, lonely, hurt. He heard bits of the questions his brother was asked and hurt with him. Hockey is about hockey, not what a player does in his spare time.

And there was nothing he could do. He had to re-watch the introduction with a proudly sniggering Severus four times this evening without a chance to sneak out and find Sirius. Reg considered drowning himself in the bathtub. He really ruined it for his brother ...and Remus. That poor guy who had probably lived a peaceful live until now, that he was accused of fucking his way up. What Regulus heard on the phone that dreadful night did not sound like he took advantage of his brother's fame.

The next morning, he briefly met his mother, who dismissed him curtly, her eyes scanning the players for his brother.

"Regulus, do what you are told. No missteps! You really thought I would let you roam freely, disgracing the name of Black even more?" her long nails were digging though his armour, her voice calm but freezingly cold. They would not let him go and stay with Ben and Mateo. He was stuck with his actual family. Although completely unhelpful, Regulus felt the abandonment by Sirius cut in his chest. He left me with them... he knew how they were, even then.

But determined as always, he tried to help Sirius. He came here to talk to him, to -hopefully- mend fences and become brothers again.

How do I even get to him secretly? Regulus was still finalising his tactic as he noticed Severus and his mother glaring daggers at Sirius, looking much better than yesterday and signing stuff for people covered in rainbow-flags. He made an uncommonly rash decision.

Regulus quickly skated over to his brother, almost knocking him over and tried to warn him without being obvious. If he looked angry, he could play it off as scolding, if his mother inquired. But Sirius didn't understand that he tried to warn him, not to berate him. Reg allowed himself his internal eye-roll as he had nothing else going for him. Connard stupide.

That damn Tremblay wouldn't go away either and there was not much he could explain without him overhearing. Il est trop relou. He's annoying.

And before Regulus had conveyed the, rather important, message that their mother was coming for him, Snape called him over. After the skills-competitions, which he lost (much to the disdain and disappointment of his mother), he was ushered into the hotel room, petulantly supervised by Severus until the next day.

During the games, Snape couldn't hover around him and Regulus was paired to play with Sirius. He was not sure whether he should be glad or upset about this. He missed his few days of peace with his Hobbits, missed the easy conversations with Jo, missed being Reg.

Regulus felt miserable. Sirius had made it clear that he did not want him anymore and he dreaded going back to the prison that was his life. He rubbed over the butterfly stitches, closing the cut at his thigh and somewhat cursed meeting Ben at all. Without him, he wouldn't have known how lousy his life actually was. He was not in the mood anymore to get through to Sirius although the All-Star people all but shoved him into his face. He wanted to be left alone.

That was, until Sirius spoke, really spoke to him. Made clear that he did not hate Regulus, called him Reg, told him that he would help him get out if he wanted to.

His thoughts were twirling in his brain. There was a rapid shift in their estranged relationship, one that Reg loved. But they hadn't talked about the outing-thing and he grew more and more terrified of losing it all over again when he opened up. But Sirius seemed quite happy with the prospect of sorting things out. Alors, because he has no idea of the shit-show on the horizon.

Reg was happy, too. His brother really stayed with him. He did not go after the interviews, where he found the courage to openly support his brother, not just quietly in his mind.  But he was also scared out of said mind by the prospect of returning to Slytherin, especially after that public statement.

Sirius turned to him. “Come back to Gryffindor with me. Minnie got you a seat with me and Logan. Tomorrow.”

There was an out? Relieve beyond belief soared though Reg as his brother pulled him into a hug. They hadn't done that in years. But the embrace triggered a chain of thoughts that yanked him out of his comfort. Ben. He thought there was an out before, but Ben and Mateo were not in the position to really help him, as much as they wanted to. Sirius, on the other hand had quite a bit of leverage.

Reg felt ungrateful.

That weird guy who found him bleeding and crying in the shower, hugged him, took him home and just made him part of the family in three days.

 "You know what, I’m your mom now!”

 “I’m talking now as your fried -or co-mom, apparently..."

Both, Ben and Mateo said that after Reg confessed what he had done. Even then, they wanted him to be there, to stay with them. He wanted to be with them, too but not with everything else waiting in Slytherin. His throat was tight. Reg wanted both. He wanted to keep this new-found people and be with his brother. And he felt like shit for assuming Sirius gave him a better chance for an escape.

But Reg and Sirius hadn’t talked yet. His brother new nothing. Would he still be so inclined to take Reg with him if he knew who turned his life inside-out? He needed to talk to him before they boarded the plane. And he needed to talk to Ben and Mateo. And Jo. Wonderful, funny Jo, who was open, honest and kind. Who cared for him and liked him as person, not as hockey player. And Jo, who he would probably leave behind just like Ben and Mateo for his brother. If Sirius still wanted him.

The fear of losing so much nearly overwhelmed him. He needed an out.

“Okay,” Regulus said into Sirius’ neck, voice thick. “Okay."

They would meet at Sirius room in about an hour. Time for Reg to sneak into his own room and gather his things, hopefully without running into Severus.

Thank all the deities whose existence I doubt that Severus is anywhere but in there. Reg thought relieved after closing the door behind him. He felt a bit calmer now that he made a plan. He would call the Hobbits from a telephone booth he saw on his way (Apparently, they still existed).

A small piece of paper with the number was shoved into his pocket by Mateo before he went to the airport in Slytherin.

"Just in case."

                                                       oOo

"Hello?"

"Ben?"

"Reg? Hi! Is everything OK? What kind of number is this?"

"We watched All Star all day, you did great!!!"  Jo's voice drifted in from the off

"Erm... yes, well... um...I call from a telephone booth and I- I kind of need to talk to you guys."

"Okaay... I didn't know these things still exist. Anyway, do you want me to put you on speaker?"

"OK." Reg felt so nervous, his voice was tight, his gut clenched.

 "Hello there, Reg! What's up?" Mateo.

"Erm..." The Reg of question had no idea how to approach the issue, but time was pressing.

"Come on, it's us. What's bothering you?"

"I- I talked to Sirius and he wants to take me with him home but he doesn't know it's all my fault and Maman will not let me stay with you she will find a way and if I don't leave with Sirius I might never get out of there but I do not want to leave you guys and I do not want to be ungrateful but I feel like this but I really want out of there but maybe Sirius doesn't want be with him once he finds out and please don't hate me." Once the floodgates opened it all came out in a stumbled, confused word-vomit.

Smooth and collected.

"Whoa, whoa Okay. Keep calm, everything's okay. Just let us go through that one at a time. Do you have enough coins?"

"Yes." He choked out.

“Good. So, we try to repeat to what you have told me in some kind of order, and you tell me if we got that right, OK?”

"OK."

"You talked to your brother and he wants to help you out of your abusive situation. You think that he can really help you, but you are afraid he doesn't what once he learns how he got outed, right?"

Reg couldn't answer. That was on point. Instead, he let out a deep sigh. "Mhm."

"Okay. Well, we do not know Sirius. So, we don't know how he might react but at least on the screen he seemed to be getting more confident with this. Talk to him. I'm sure he sees that, while you accidentally started the whole thing, the reaction of the people is not your fault."

"But-" Reg all but choked out. He was so fucking afraid. “But what if not?”

"I know. Maybe you have to trust him a little there."

"I- I try. There is not much else I can do anyway, is there?" A bitter laugh escaped his lips.

"Well, you could also come back to us. I know you said your mother wouldn't let you." Ben said quickly before Reg could tell him exactly that.

"But if everything else fails, rebook your flight to another time and we get you directly from the airport. Please keep that in mind. Our door is open for you. We're your moms, after all."

"None of us is mad because you want to get out. We want you to get out, too. You are not ungrateful. It's not that you walk out on us or anything."

"Also, phones and stuff exist, obviously. Or did you plan to say goodbye now and never call again?"

Jo hadn't said anything so far and Reg ached with the slight insecurity in her voice. But then all the other things they said seeped through his mind, followed by warmth. They did not hate him; They were not angry. He hadn't messed up, so far.

"I- No. No, this is not a goodbye. I just wanted to talk to you, let you know what changed."

"And that was very nice of you, my son. Now, better go and talk to Sirius, yeah? And please give us a short call or send a message later. So that we know whether we have to kidnap you on Slytherin airport, or not." Ben sounded like he was joking but practically ushered him from the phone.

For the last five minutes, any unsuspecting hotel guest on floor three would have had the opportunity to observe one Regulus Black attempting to knock on a door and failing repeatedly.

Alors, Regulus Arcturus Black. Where are your metaphorical balls? Knock on that fucking door already!

The moment he did, he regretted it a little. Sirius flung the door open, phone at his ear, grinning.  Hey. He mouthed and jerked his head to beckon Reg inside. Once the door was closed, Sirius looked at him again, still grinning and gesturing at his phone. Remus. Want to say hi?

Reg was very sure that he did not want to say hi. He still dreaded the wrath of both of them and shook his head no, looking pained.

                                                      oOo

Looking at the frantic shaking head of his brother, Sirius felt his stomach knot. What if he's not as accepting as he told the media? Does he hate me after all?

After saying goodbye to Remus and hanging up, there were a few eternities of awkward silence. They hadn't been alone in a room together since... a long time ago.

"Alors... Reg, erm" Sirius switched to French now. It felt more comfortable, like they were children again. "Would you like to tell me about what ha-"

"I'd rather not talk about that right now." Reg fidgeted nervously at the frayed cuffs of his sweater.

"Yeah, yeah. Sure." His brother looked like he'd rather just go to bed and never talk again but Sirius really had to ask before taking him to Gryffindor.

"Did you mean it? You really support me?"

"What do you mean?" Reg just glanced up from intensely memorising the pattern of the carpet.

"I suppose you followed twitter" At his dry tone, an eyebrow of Reg moved upwards.

"Yes, I did... But who you spend your free-time with and what you choose to do with them is indifferent to your hockey play."

"Warm words as always, loving brother."  Now, the second eyebrow followed.

"Okay well, fuck you! You left me there, with our parents expecting me to outdo your every move! I know they are horrible, but you went and got better without me. You promised, to always be my brother, to be there for me. And then, you weren't. You abandoned me! Do you know how much I envied you for having friends, a team that supports you and genuinely likes you as a person, not just your play?”

"Reg..." Sirius tried to reach out to his brother, but Reg backed away.

"S-Sorry, that's not what I came here for. I wanted to tell you..." but the sentence just trailed off into tense silence.

"What is it?"

"I..."

"Come on, spit it out"

"I wanted to tell you that I'm sorry about the situation."

"For what? Me being gay?" baffled, Sirius could only stare at his brother.

"No... for getting you into that situation... I did not want to hurt you or Remus"

"Well- Wait what?" Something awful was dawning in Sirius mind.

"I overheard your call on thanksgiving, you weren't exactly quiet... and please believe me I did not want this to happen... I-" Sirius felt suddenly cold all over.

"What. Did. You. Do?" his voice was barely above a whisper.

"It was at the Snake's Christmas... I- I was so lonely because of that Interview I was basically grounded and under constant observation... and I thought you hated me after that and... and I didn't want to - it just kinda slipped. I thought they all were too drunk to notice but-"

"Regulus." Crashing headfirst into the boards was pleasant compared to what Sirius felt right now. "Really I'm so-" Reg stammered, voice thick and eyes fixed on his shoes.

And next Sirius' fist crashed into his brother's face, sending him to the floor.

Sirius took a few ragged breaths, ready to succumb into a fit of rage but looking into his brother's face, almost a mirror of his own, eyes wide and blood tickling from his nose, not even trying to defend himself, he realised that this was not Regs fault… Sirius knew how their parents could get, knew the Snakes, knew that feeling of loneliness from when he was that young. His brother did not want to harm him but most importantly, it was not Regs fault how the public reacted and that he run away from Remus at the airport… Long ago, he promised himself to never hurt his baby brother, to protect him…. Sirius eyes welled up as he yanked him off the floor and pressed him to his chest. I'm sorry. Je suis désolé, je suis désolé... I'm sorry... I left you there, all alone... I'm sorry...

Regulus looked up into his face, tears streaking his face, too while both realised that although there is so much work to do between them after hall they lived through and did to each other, that they still have each other.

                                                         oOo

"Do you love him?" The brothers were sitting opposite each other on Sirius' bed, legs stretched out between them, both a cup of tea in their hands, Reg still pressing a tissue to his nose. Sirius was telling Reg about the general situation in Gryffindor.

"Yes", Sirius didn't even hesitate for a heartbeat.

"Have you actually put in the effort to tell him?" He leaned back against the headboard, crossing his legs.

"Reg, stop smart-assing."

"I see." Reg smirked a bit, " Then maybe, you know, mention it sometime. Or is he psychic?"

"You are a git."

"You like me."

"I ldo" Sirius snorted. " but I am still mad at you."

"As you have every right to be."

"Reg, ...why did you not speak to me first?"

"You mean because talking about feelings was exactly the sole centre of our upbringing?"

"You are not helping your cause."

"Je le sais. Je suis désolé mon frère... je suis sérieux." I know. I'm sorry... I really am.

                                                        oOo

After a few beats of a little more comfortable silence, a sudden reminder pinged through Reg's thoughts.

"Oh. I almost forgot. Can I take your phone to send a text? Mine is still spied at." He piped up rather automatically, then saw his brother's eyes narrow.

"Who would you want to text?"

"Erm..." Reg felt his cheeks heat, no idea how to explain this fever-dream-situation but the raised eyebrow with the expectant look on Sirius' face made him spill something. Reg thought it was a rather messily told story, but his brother seemed to follow.

"So, you had a meltdown after the tweed outing me and ...the guy that, cleans the stadium put you back together, had you checked by his EMP boyfriend and then took you home with the boyfriend to ...feed you soup and hug you good-night after telling you their life-stories?

"Yes."

"And then you came back to them two days later and told them about our family and they just offered you to live with them and -and announced themselves your mom and co-mom, while you refer to them as the Hobbits because they are short and friendy?"

"Yes."

"You are aware of just how absurd that sounds?"

"Mhm." Reg was gnawing at his bottom lip. He had not mentioned Jo so far. This was odd enough already.

"Just checking... Well, then go on." Sirius threw his phone across the bed, thinking of how lucky Reg got with these people but also looking for a catch.

This is Sirius' phone. I survived and will accompany him to Gryffindor tomorrow. Hugs, Reg. he quickly typed the message and sent it on its way.

When he woke up the next morning, around five, he found himself curled up on his side, head at the foot of the bed. Lifting said head, he caught a sight of his brother, mirroring his position so that their calves were at the back of the other.

"Just as we used to." He mumbled before carefully getting up and heading for the bathroom, getting ready for his flight.

[haydnfleury]

Can you make a Nolan Patrick smut or fluff (any is fine) I’ve been obsessed with him lately

This is my first attempt at a more gender-neutral type blurb so it might be a bit shit. [AO3 Version]

Daisuke

Who: Nolan Patrick, *Reader*

Type: Fluff

Word Count: 993

Addendum: Title is from Daisuke by El Huervo

 You weren’t certain if opening up a bookstore was the right decision at first, but when you toured the vacant space you could already envision where the shelves would go, a small reading nook in the back, and a cozy little counter set up in one of the recessed wall sections near the middle of the room. Now three months and countless work orders later, here you were, a new little corner bookstore in Philadelphia.

 During the first year of business it would be slow, but eventually become a steady stream of income as you started getting more regulars showing up. One person who particularly caught your eye was a long-haired brunette, mainly because he had a soft face… and also the fact the length of his hair didn’t suit him. He would come in every two or three weeks, browse around for something, and buy one of them. Today was different, he was with someone, and he strode right up to the counter this time.

 “Hey, I uh, do you have any…” he tapers off looking somewhat embarrassed.

 “Dude just ask. It’s not that bad.”

 His friend in a letterman jacket engraved with ‘TK’ on the front interrupts him, and pulls out a pack of cigarettes and a lighter.

 “Hey, hey! No smoking in here!” you tell him off, and he raises his hands in surrender and walks outside.

 “Sorry about that. Er, do you have any books on, um, relationships or anything?”

 “D’you mean fictional, or like ‘how to’ type ones?”

 “How to.”

 “Gay or straight?”

 Hearing this makes his cheeks redden even more than they were previously, and he usually had reddish cheeks all the time.

 “Nevermind; Aisle 7, row 4.”

 He awkwardly walks away from the counter and disappears in that aisle. After reading a few emails on new shipments coming in you notice he hasn’t come back yet, but as you finish off your coffee he’s back up to the counter. Looking up you take the book he’s chosen and scan it, trying not to pay much attention to which he grabbed seeing as he looks mortified, and hand it back as he pays.

 “Jeez, what took you so long dude,” you can hear his friend say when he opens the door to leave.

 At the end of the day you order some food to the shop and close, going back behind the counter to eat and watch a rerun of an old sitcom you love. As you finish eating, you’re curious as to what book the cute guy bought. Normally you don’t look back at orders of people that purchase from you except for getting new stock but, curiosity is getting the better of you. ‘How To Talk to [your gender] For Men’. He can’t possibly mean you could he? He does tend to glance over in your direction though whenever he’s in the reading nook. You decide to not pay it much attention as it’s already a quarter to midnight and you have a long day ahead tomorrow.

 A month passes and he hasn’t come back, slightly disappointed each day he doesn’t show up after the first two weeks. It’s grey and raining outside, making the shop feel cozier than normal, when someone under an umbrella comes in. Closing up the umbrella, you’re surprised to see the same guy, except, with much shorter and kept up hair- he almost looks like some guy you saw on a poster your friend had of one of the hockey draft years, though admittedly you haven’t watched in years to know who they are. Still, it’s the cutest he’s looked since first coming into the shop.

 “Hey, I know I’ve been in here fairly regularly, I’m Nolan.”

 “Hey,” you reply a slight smile starting to form on your lips. “Y/N.”

 “So I was wondering if… uh,” he stutters and breathes a quiet ‘fuck’, before the store phone rings.

 “Sorry, hold on a second,” you reply and grab the phone, “Hi, [your business name], how may I help you?”

 “HE’S TRYING TO ASK YOU OUT ON A DATE,” Travis shouts into the phone loud enough that Nolan can hear it, and honks the horn on his truck from across the street.

 “…damn it Trav,” he mutters under his breath, at which point you burst out laughing.

 You try to compose yourself but still are unable to hold back from laughing.

 “Yes thank you for telling me, I think he was just about to get to that.”

 “Sure thing,” and he hangs up.

 “Again, I’m sorry about him, he can be a bit obnoxious at times.”

 “Ah it’s fine. Yeah sure, I’ll go out with you.”

 “Wait really? After that?”

 “Yeah.”

 “Honestly didn’t expect to get this far.”

 “Well how’s dinner tonight sound?”

 “Yeah sounds good,” he pulls a piece of scrap paper out of his pocket and one of the pens on the counter and writes out his phone number, “I’ll pick you up at eight?”

 You glance over at your store’s schedule, “I can close up early today, how about six?”

 “Ok great.”

 Unexpectedly, he leans over the counter and kisses you, slightly confused.

 “Wait a minute, I think I got steps seven and nine mixed up,” he responds and once again you’re unable to hold back your laughter.

 You pull him around to your side of the counter, “You know, if you’re gonna kiss me for the first time you could at least do it right,” and you kiss him passionately. For a moment you both forget where you are, until Travis honks his horn again quite visibly cheering in the truck, both of you unable to hide your smirks.

 “Well, I’ll see you tonight?”

 “Yeah, see you tonight.”

 Neither of you wanting to leave each other, you both stand there for a moment before he goes off to grab his umbrella and walk out the door. This time, it didn’t take a month for him to come back.

[gustafsnightangel]

Shattered Lives Ch 23 Pt 1

The work week was a blur. A normal blur of work, court, kids, hockey, indoor soccer as the weather turned frigid, with the occasional painter and furniture delivery thrown in for good measure. Gustaf stood at the door to Sildie’s office and grinned, it looked great. The boys were busy putting her books in the bookshelf and having a blast. He’d talked to Brendan on the sly and she had all her law books in storage downstairs so there was no need to buy them. While Sildie was plowing through work the kids were “out” with Gustaf. They’d spent the entire morning finding what he was after in their storage room downstairs.

“These were dad’s.” Brendan said quietly, running a finger along the spine. “I remember them from his office.” He watched the teen place the books on the shelf with a heartbreaking tenderness. “She’s going to love this Gustaf.” He said softly. “She’s gonna cry and be angry at you for spending money on her for her birthday but she’ll love it.”

“Yeah I’m preparing myself for the shitstorm.” He chuckled. He knew she’d be angry because she’d specifically said she didn’t celebrate her birthday, but this was important, for her and for the kids.

“Can we put a frame on that wall?” Finn asked. “One like Lily’s?”

“You think she’d like that?” Gustaf asked, the kid nodded.

“We could put goofy photos in it so she’s happy.” He said quietly and hugged Gustaf tightly.

“I think we could manage that.” He said and saw the other two smile at the idea.

“We could start with all the photos from that day in the snow.” Brendan suggested.

“I have some from the twins birthday and yours B.” Gustaf added as Liam put more books on the shelf. “I know Ama has more on her phone, ones from Lily’s birthday.”

“I’ll text them to you.” Brendan said slyly.

“Weren’t these grandads?” He asked Brendan.

“I think so, her dads, I think. I know she had them in America when she was over there.”

“Those would be special to her.” Gustaf said softly. Maybe this would be too much for her, he thought, too many memories shoved in her face all at once.

“They are, I know she’s used them, or use to use them. I think she had a couple next door that she kept out. There just wasn’t enough room to keep them all out.”

“So B can you do a photo slideshow on the sly?” He asked the teen.

“Cakewalk.” He grinned.

“So what else should we get for Ama in here?” He asked and helped Finn put some books on the top shelf.

“I think we leave it.” Brendan said honestly and shrugged. “I know she has some personal stuff in storage that she might want to put in here herself. And she’s gonna flip her shit enough when she sees this.” He grinned.

“Fair enough.” Gustaf chuckled. “Ok, is that all the books?”

“I think so.” Liam said and picked up some of the packing paper that had ended up on the floor.

“Alright then, let’s get back home before Ama suspects and remember, not a word.” They all grinned at him.

She was a little lost with an empty house on a Sunday. Even though she was reading and taking notes, the endless silence was strangely uncomfortable. She found by two, she was actually missing the kids, Gustaf, the comfort of family and the ruckus that went with it.

He’d be gone tomorrow night, back on Wednesday morning, she wasn’t looking forward to the empty bed, to companionship she’d become accustom to. She worried about him, he was still so fragile, his emotional state so brittle. She’d finished reading his notebook and felt slightly sick about giving it back to him, she didn’t want it to spiral him again.

The sound of the boys and the key in the door made her smile. The noise she’d missed earlier was back and filled the apartment. They looked happy, well who wouldn’t with ice cream, even Lily had some and it was all over her, and Gustaf which made her giggle.

“You’re supposed to eat the ice cream love not wear it.” She chuckled moving to him to take the bag from his hand.

“Lily had other plans.” He grinned and kissed her, that slow burn melting her heart. “Hi.” He said softly.

“Hi yourself.” She was still chuckling. “You two are a sight.”

“I’ll be right back, she needs a bath, and I need a clean shirt.” He laughed and kissed her again. “There’s some ice cream in there for you.” He added as he went to bathe Lily.

She pulled out the tub of chocolate mint chip and groaned, the man just knew. It was these little things that absolutely melted her heart, the man paid attention to everything. Grabbing a spoon she sat with the entire tub and continued to read.

“I don’t know how you can eat that.” He joked, grabbing her spoon and eating the mouthful she had scooped out.

“Hey, that’s mine.” She growled. “You’ve had yours.”

“No, Lily had mine.” He corrected and grabbed his own spoon after placing a now clean Lily on the floor to play with her toys. “And painted me with it.” He added as he sat.

“Who says I’m gonna share.” Her grin was playful as he as he went to scoop out a spoonful for himself and cocked an eyebrow at her as she moved the tub to the other side of her book.

“I have the wingspan love and you’ll lose coming between me and ice cream.” He played, she’d been in a better mood since they cleared the air a week ago. He was relieved they’d got past it, a chance now to heal and move on. She hadn’t spoken of him leaving her since and he wasn’t going to bring it up again even though he still felt like an ass for ever putting her through it.

“It’ll cost you.” She quipped facing him.

“Will it now?” His eyebrow shot up.

“Mmm hmmm.” She kissed him slowly, tongue teasing.

“How much ice cream does that get me?” He asked softly.

“This much.” She put a tiny piece on the end of her spoon and fed it to him.

He paused for a moment watching her. That slight grin, the mischief in her eyes. Cupping a hand behind her neck he drew her close and kissed her until her moan made his cock twitch. She was breathless and slightly dizzy when he pulled away.

“I’ll give you the entire tub for another one of those?” She murmured.

“Now that’s a bargain I can’t pass up.” He growled and kissed her again. Her whimper as he pulled away making him smile. She set the tub down so he could enjoy it too and debated whether to give him back his notebook now or hold off.

“I’m going to miss you.” He said, that low timbre soft and quiet.

“I’ll miss you too love. We’re only a call away though.” She said smiling at him.

“Can I come to your office tomorrow for lunch before I head to the airport?”

“You want to?” She was a little dumbstruck and he nodded. He showed more interest in her career than any man before him and it still floored her. “I’d like that.” She flipped her laptop around to check her calendar and nodded. “Lunch for me is at twelve, I have a meeting at one. Bring lunch to the office?”

“I can do that. I’d like to see where you work.” He kissed her quickly and spooned some more ice cream out of the tub. He wanted to get a feel for her office to make sure he hadn’t missed anything. Maybe rock her world quickly before he had to board a plane.

“You ok?” She asked gently.

“I’m ok. Better than last trip.” He looked at her and saw the concern.

“Were only a call or text away ok?” Her hand cupped his cheek and he leaned into it, her touch settled him. “You’re enough.” She said gently.

“I’ll be ok, I feel better this time around and it’s only for Tuesday, and I have the weekend to look forward to.” He kissed her sweetly and dug out another spoonful of ice cream.

“I can’t wait for Friday.” She wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him, the same sweetness filling his heart. “Where are you taking me?”

“Away.” He grinned when she pouted playfully. It was tormenting her not knowing. “Pack light.” He growled. “You’re going to be naked most of the weekend.” His kiss held the taste of that promise mixed with smooth chocolate and a spike of mint.

Their evening with the kids was the routine grind and Brendan sat with the twins when Gustaf was reading to them. They’d become closer the past few days, like something had shifted. Gustaf didn’t know what, but it had shifted in their favor so he wasn’t going to question it.

He came out to Sildie sitting at the table reading with a very overtired and fussy Lily.

“She still up?” He asked gently.

“Yeah.” She sighed. “Little miss cranky pants. I bet she just knows you’re going away.” Lily sobbed curled into Sildie’s shoulder not wanting anything to do with Gustaf. Each time he rubbed her back she pushed him away with a sobbed cry of no.

“I’ll be back Lily bear.” He soothed and went to make a fresh pot of tea. “You know it’s your birthday in a week or so.” He said carefully. He was tempting fate but he didn’t want to blindside her.

“I’m aware.” She said, her tone unmistakably said, drop it.

“Would you be ok for birthday pancakes?” He was walking a fine line because she’d made it well known at the very beginning she didn’t want anything to do with her birthday.

“Do I have a choice?” She said crisply. She didn’t want it, nothing at all to do with her fucking birthday but it was apparently going to happen regardless.

“Yes, you always have a choice, however before you put the kibosh on it I’d like to add the kids want to do something for you.” He sat the teapot down and pulled the chair over to sit close to her. He brushed his finger against hers and her hand stopped writing mid word with a flinch.

“Can I ask why you don’t want to celebrate it when I know from the boys you always did?” He asked gently, he had his suspicions but he wanted to hear it from her.

Her pen hand twitched like it did when she was stressed or thinking, this was probably a little of both, he thought.

“How can I celebrate when I can’t celebrate with Quinn?” She said, that steel edging her voice. “I know you have siblings Gustaf, but he was my twin, he was a part of me as much as I was of him. It’s like I’m missing a vital organ, a part of me and...” Her voice choked. “I just can’t. I’m still trying to get used to living life without him here, without feeling him here, sensing him here. It’s something you’ll never understand.” It was blunt and harsh, but she hoped it would get him to just fucking leave it alone.

His thumb brushed away the stray tear and he kissed her gently. “I’m sorry.”

“I’ll do breakfast pancakes because the kids need it. They need to say their happy birthday to their father, they need to grieve, to heal. I’m not there yet, that wound is far to deep for me to handle.” She said trying to stay calm. She couldn’t have a fucking meltdown tonight over it. “Please.” She said softly. “Please don’t force me to deal with this yet, I’m not ready.”

“Ok.” He wouldn’t push but he also knew the books in her office were going to tear her apart. Maybe it was best to leave that for Christmas? It was only another two weeks after her birthday but if he added it in with the rest of his gift it might soften the blow? Fuck he thought, he just wanted to see her happy and yet he had a knack for making her miserable.

“You’ve arranged something haven’t you?” She asked and he saw the anger flicker in her eyes.

“The boys and I have arranged something yes, but I’m having second thoughts as it’s likely to upset you.” Which was the truth.

“I told you I didn’t want anything Gustaf.” She said exasperated, Lily letting out a quiet sob at her raised voice as she was almost asleep. Sometimes the guy just didn’t listen she thought.

“I know.” He said calmly.

“Well if you know then why...” She spat as he gripped her chin and kissed her hard letting all the love he knew she could feel pour out of him, those words were right there but they wouldn’t come out.

“Because the kids need it. That’s why.” His own irritation flaring, not only at the woman in his arms but that those three little words still didn’t want to come out. “I swear, sometimes you are infuriatingly stubborn.” He kissed her again and she softened, it took the wind right out of her sails. “I know how you feel about me spending money on you and the kids but damn it Sildie, let me fucking spoil you for the one day of the year that’s actually yours.” He breathed out. Damn she could get under his skin sometimes, hard headed, stubborn, and he fucking loved her.

“I’m sorry.” She murmured. “I just don’t know how to handle getting older without him.” Her voice was tiny, so lost, he thought. “It just rips me apart all over again.”

“Together, with me.” He kissed her, lingering, soothing. “I can’t bring him back love, fuck I wish I could do that for you, but I can’t.”

“He was always the bigger older brother, and he’s gone.” She sniffed.

“He protected you, took care of you?”

“Yeah.” She leaned forward to lean her head against his shoulder. He was her home now and she had to let him be that for her if this was going to work, but fuck it hurt like hell.

“I know it’s not the same but let me do that now.” He murmured kissing her hair. “Let me be the one to protect you, take care of you.”

“I don’t want to dump that on you too. I can’t be a fucking mess all over you all the time.” She muttered and huffed out a sigh. She was being needy and she fucking hated it.

“You’re not, I want to take care of you Sildie, but you have to let me.” He murmured.

“I’m trying.”

“I know you are love.” He kissed her temple as she sat back against her own chair. “How much more reading do you have for tonight?”

“I can be done.” She huffed out, not really in the zone anymore anyway.

“Go put Lily down, I’ll run you a bath, and then you can soak in the tub. You’ll feel better after a soak in the heat.” He kissed her and stood, taking the cups and teapot to the sink to rinse out.

He walked into the bedroom a little later to find Lily in the crib and Sildie sitting on the floor soothing her to sleep. By the time he had the tub filled and a fresh pot of tea made, Lily was out cold and Sildie was just sitting there lost in thought. He pulled her to her feet and wrapped his arms around her.

“Go soak.” He murmured.

“Sometimes I think I’m taking advantage of you.” She blurted out.

“Why because I draw you a bath and make you tea?” He cupped her face in his hands and kissed her longingly. “I do it Sildie because I want to, because I care.” And because I love you, it almost came out. Almost ain’t the words though is it chicken shit, he thought.

“I don’t want you to ever feel like I’m doing that ok? Tell me if I am.” She said softly. She knew these thoughts were from reading his notebook, but what he’d written in there, what Ana had put him through, had rocked her to the core.

“You’re not love and I’ll tell you if I ever feel like you are.” Highly doubtful he thought, and he knew where these dark thoughts were coming from. She must have nearly finished reading it. “Go soak, relax that wicked smart brain of yours.”

“Thank you.” She said, starting to strip.

“Anytime love.” He poured the tea for her and let her be. He wouldn’t be surprised to come back in and find her asleep.

He carefully tidied her work trying not to get things mixed up and stacked it in a neat pile next to her bag. He’d seen her clean up enough to know her routine and the way her organizational mind worked. He couldn’t help the grin, sure she’d be upset, maybe even a little irritated at him but Brendan was right, she’d love the office, her own space.

He sat and read through his schedule for the trip away and smiled. He just had to get through this and he’d be home until the shoot in February. Time, he thought, good quality time with Sildie and the kids and hopefully his family. Have her move in. He knew Christmas would be rough even with the heads up he was giving his family, he only had to get a hold of Sam and Alex, but it would be brutal on her.

The rest of them were understanding and just happy she was coming. They would welcome her with open arms and support her and the kids as they healed. Bill had already offered to take the four of them for sleep overs so she could have a break.

He came in to see her zoned out and relaxed, head resting on the edge of the tub, those long long legs poking out of the bubbles. He knelt down leaning against the tub and kissed her, lips he craved, soft and sweet. Those eyes of glacial blue fluttered open to look into his, damn he was so in love with her.

“You look all warm and soft.” He murmured.

“Iyam.” She slurred.

“Do you need help getting out?” He chuckled as she tried to sit up and flopped back against the edge.

“Oh gravity sucks.” She huffed as she struggled to sit. “I don’t think I have any bones left.” She giggled as his arms came around her to help her stand. “They’ve all melted.”

“Just stand a second love.” He grinned. “Get those fabulous pins under you.” It was just what he was hoping for. She wrapped her arms around him and held on, breathing in the scent of him which would be gone tomorrow night and Tuesday.

He helped her step out and wrapped a towel around her. Her mouth finding his, that slow, seductive burn that he drowned in.

“Sildie.” He breathed as her hands drifted under his shirt. He bent down quickly to pull the plug on the bath, and when he straightened he bundled her into his arms and devoured her mouth.

He walked her back toward the bed, quietly shut the bathroom door, and let her towel drop to the floor. Her hands busied with the zipper while his hands tenderly cupped her breast, he’d take her slowly tonight, savor her.

Her head was swimming from the heat of the bath, his clever mouth, and those hands. Those hands that aroused her like no other, touched her like no other. She pushed the dark blue denim from his hips as he sat her on the edge of the bed while he stepped out of them, her lips never leaving his.

She released his mouth and he stood to his full height. There was something so erotic about the way he gazed down at her. She kissed his chest as his hands disappeared into her hair. The light tug as her hand drifted to stroke him, the groan as she kissed her way down until she was on her knees.

She savored those powerful thighs as her hands wandered, fingers gripping his ass as her mouth kissed everywhere except his erection. She could hear his unsteady breathing, his hands gripping tighter in her hair. She grinned as she licked his manhood from root to tip before swirling her tongue and taking him in her mouth, the growl guttural.

He looked down at his goddess as he slowly rocked his hips, hands still fisted in her hair gently. He loved the feeling of her mouth around him, that talented tongue destroying him. He kept his movements slow, determined to savor the feel of her.

She felt him tense, the struggle to stay in control. His hands pulled her head back enough for those seductive eyes to find his, his body remaining still. She released his cock seeing the unspoken request in his gaze and kissed her way up his body as his hands urged her to stand.

“I want to be in you when I come.” He kissed her, slow and erotic. “I want to feel you come around me.” He stepped toward the bed and she sat when her calves met the mattress. He leaned over her, his towering presence making her feel so safe as she lay back. “My turn.” He growled and ghosted her lips before kissing her with such longing.

He kissed his way down her torso, stopping at her breasts and gently sucking her nipples, that clever tongue flicking. Kneeling between her legs his huge hands flexed out over her thighs to bring them up and open before resting them on his shoulders. He feasted slowly, drawing her release closer and closer to the edge.

“Gustaf.” She sighed when his tongue swirled at her entrance before dipping in and licking her all the way up to her clit. He took his time making her wetter for him before her orgasm crested, her hand diving down to caress his head. He slipped two long digits inside her and watched her come, his gorgeous woman writhing in pleasure. He slowed and kissed his way up her body to devour her mouth, her own ravenous for him.

“Hold onto me.” He murmured and carried them both up the bed, he wanted her comfortable, slow, erotic.

Her hands wandered, drawing lazy patterns against his already aroused skin, the shiver not lost on her. That clever mouth found hers and kissed her so her mind blanked. She whimpered as his cock brushed her thigh, moaned as he took it in his hand and rubbed the tip against her clit and down along her wet folds.

“Roll onto your side.” His voice was husky with need as she did as he’d asked. He knew this was a new favorite and tonight he wanted her comfortable and slowly. He came to his knees and straddled her lower leg, bringing the top one up to bend against her side, her knee almost under her armpit. He lowered himself to kiss her, envelop her with his massive frame, breathe her in as he made love to her.

He kissed her, tongue teasing hers as his tip slipped inside her. The gasp into his mouth was more a purr. He slowly tip fucked her, drawing that purr out of her as he began to bring her undone.

“You like that.” He murmured, kissing her tenderly.

“I like you.” She moaned as he stretched her.

His mouth stayed on hers as her hands cupped his face keeping him close. She was already lost to him, relaxed, aroused, and so ready for him to take.

“Look at me.” He whispered, those stunning eyes finding his as he inched inside her.

“Gustaf.” She choked as he filled her, his girth stretching her beyond what she thought possible. His mouth claimed hers as he started to thrust. The slow destruction of her entire being.

He thrust slow and deep making sure she felt every ridge, every inch of him. Her breath mixed with his as her climax built, the sensations sparking an inferno within her. Her kiss was desperate as she crested, her soft cry as he held her on the edge for a moment before watching her fall.

“Gustaf.” She choked as he kept the pace brutally steady.

“Let go. Let me watch you come again.” He murmured as her body tensed as she peaked again. Her fingers clutched at his shoulders as he swallowed her cry, her pussy gripping him tightly. “You’re so beautiful love.”

“Harder. Please.” Her whimper made his cock twitch.

“Not tonight.” He growled. “I want you slow, to feel every gorgeous inch of you against me.”

They took each other, bodies entwined, moving together in an erotic pace bringing them both to the edge.

“Sildie.” He choked as his own release peaked.

“Give yourself to me.” She breathed, her own climax making her tremble.

His long deep strokes into her set her body alight. The feel of him against her, inside her, such pleasure. He watched her teeter on the edge, denying herself the plunge into euphoria until he was there with her. With swift fingers he tormented her clit, slow circles the gentle push she needed.

Her soft cry of his name so full of love, of pleasure made him fall with her. With a barely there groan he followed her into bliss. He rode them down from the high, the gentle thrusts until they were spent. Curling her leg around him he lay there with her in his arms.

“I’ll miss you.” He said softly. “I know it’s just for a day or so but I’ll miss you, miss this.”

She smiled as she snuggled into him. “Same goes love. We’re only a call away. I’ll set the laptop up tomorrow and you can call whenever, if that’s what you need.” She looked up at him and his gaze melted her. So much love there, she thought.

“I’d like that.” He kissed her with that sweet tenderness that always floored her. “You though, need sleep.” He said gently.

“Always taking care of me.” Her smile was one of mild annoyance.

“If I don’t you’ll work until you’ve run yourself into the ground.” He trailed a finger down her jaw and hooked it under her chin firmly. “I don’t like seeing you like that, those dark smudges under your eyes, the stress.” He kissed her. “Promise me you won’t do that while I’m away.”

“I’ll be fine.”

“That not what I asked you.” He chuckled.

“I know.” He could feel her grin against his bare chest. “I don’t sleep well when you’re not here.” She said quietly.

He bundled her in closer, kissing her deeply. “I’m sorry.”

She shook her head. “Don’t do that. Don’t apologize for having a career and doing what you love.” She said softly. “I like sleeping with you, having you next to me every night, but I also like seeing you happy because you’re doing what you love.” She’d miss him but there’s no way in hell she’d guilt trip him. “I’d be very angry if you gave any of that up for me or because of me. That’s not what I want.”

“I know.” His smile set those crows feet crinkling and she couldn’t resist the urge to rub her thumb along them.

“We’re making it work, I’ll just miss you.” She shrugged.

“Thank you.” He sighed and kissed her sweetly. “Thank you for being the incredible person you are.”

“I just want you love. You’re more than enough for me.” Her hand stroked down his jaw playing with his scruff before she kissed him so his mind settled.

“Sleep now.” He kissed her quickly. “Asses to kick tomorrow.”

“Not too many.” She yawned and giggled.

“As long as it’s not mine.” He quipped under his breath and he snuggled her close as she huffed a chuckle.

Sleep took her under quickly. He was content to stroke his fingers along her body as if committing every dip and curve to memory. He wasn’t as anxious at leaving them this time, it seemed like another normal day at the office, life had let them settle somewhat.

His thoughts drifted to her office and the potential grief it would bring. He expected it, he just wondered if it would send her further down into a grief spiral like the anniversary. But the fact was it would hurt the kids regardless of whether they celebrated her birthday or not because it was their fathers birthday as well. They had jumped at the opportunity to do something really thoughtful for her when he told them about the office. Fuck me, he thought, this was gonna suck, damned if I do, damned if I don’t.

**************************

@hausofobsession @ill-skillsgard @grandpa-sweaters @authentic90skidd @tuckersgirl @fairlyfallacy @flowers-in-your-hayr @raewritesfiction @stinkerbelle007 @kamie-b @mrsaugustwalker @skrsgardspam @loliwrites

[daydreamingabouthockey]

Rough Day- Tyson Barrie

Plot: Tyson Barrie is having a rough time after being traded to Toronto. Y/n sees him on the TTC and tries to comfort him.

Note: I don’t know the guy or how he feels about the trade.But I guess anyone would be sad about being traded right? I loved him in Colorado so when he got traded from my favourite American team to my favourite Canadian team I was sad but happy. This was totally inspired by the fact I met him on the TTC a few months ago (he wasn’t crying don’t worry) but he was just staring off into space. he was lovely anyway. So thankful I got the subway that night instead of an Uber. Hockey gods were looking down on me!

Word count: 1,747

You stared down the platform, there was only one other person around, he was a a youngish guy. He was just standing there staring into space. You made eye contact but he noticed pretty quickly and turned away. that was awkward, you thought, but then again this was Toronto. You stare back up at the board, another five minutes to go. “Fuck should I should have gotten an Uber,” you mutter under your breathe shuffling your feet to keep warm. At least all of those leaf fans had gone now so the train would be empty. Not that you followed hockey, the fans were just a pain on match days. Finally you hear the hum and clink of the tram. “Finally” you huff.

You watched the tram doors open. It was empty now as a dozen people scurried off. It was nearly ten in the evening.The doors were about to shut when the young guy from earlier dashed through the door. He looked like he was in his mid twenties, with curly dark brown hair.His expensive looking suit and black coat he looked like a business man in the city.He let out a sniff and a laugh before sitting down opposite you. That’s when you realize he’s not laughing, he’s crying or more accurately sobbing. You stand there for a moment wondering what to do. You look around you two are the only people on the TTC. You stand there conflicted, he might be a weirdo crying but then again he sounded super upset. In this situation you’d want someone to check on you. Your mind was racing, if you heard something had happened to his guy tomorrow you would feel terrible you never said anything.

You get up and take the seat next to him. He doesn’t notice at first “Are you ok?” You ask, tapping him on his shoulder. “I mean obviously you're not but,” you say realising asking if he was ok was pretty dumb.

“No, not really I’m sorry I’ve just had a really bad day,” he says looking up at you with his dark brown eyes. His face is red and puffy from crying. “You wanna talk about it? I won’t judge,” you say giving him a simatheic smile

“I can’t,” he says looking down fiddling with his jacket sleeve.

“It’s okay, I’m sorry you're having a bad day…” you pause when you realize you don’t even know the man’s name. “Tyson,” he said sniffing again

“Tyson,” you said with a nod “I’m y/n”

“We all have bad days and that’s ok and there is no shame in crying, I don’t know what you're going through but, bad days and months they pass, I promise, I know it’s cliche, last month my boyfriend of five years out of the blue dumped me, it was hard we’d been engaged over a year, then my job made me redundant, I cried a lot but everyday the pain got less and less day and eventually I got back on my feet” you say, rooting through your bag for a pack of tissues. You finally find them and pass one over. “Really?,” he asked

“Yeah,” you says suddenly wondering why you’d told this stranger your life story. “That’s tough I’m sorry” ,he said dabbing his face.“its’s okay I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to make it about me, I’ll leave you alone now, I just wanted to make sure you were ok,” you say awkwardly getting up “ no please don’t leave me, I might be getting fired,” Tyson blurts out. “And I really really don’t want to be, that’s why I was upset”

“Oh,” you said, plopping back down on the seat. “Well no- one wants to get fired,” you say slowly.“I’ve only just moved to Toronto in the last few months and that was really hard, leaving my friends in Denver, but I had no choice,”

“I can understand that, I hated leaving my friends and family in LA, what makes you think you're being fired? I mean you don’t know?” You ask gently “I messed up, big style and now my manager wants to get rid of me, I know they do, I’ve heard the whispers and the worst part is I could end up anywhere in another city or town I hate, I just want to go back to Denver, I miss it so much,”

“They can’t fire you for one mistake and come on now Toronto isn’t that bad,” you laugh “No I guess not,” he sighed “it's just like Toronto is the central city for what I do so everyone is looking at me, in Denver it was just easier,”

“Ah okay, are you from Denver then?”

“No Victoria BC, my work means can I move around a lot,I’ve lived in Denver for eight years though” he said you could see his face instantly change and light up when he mentioned Denver“Well now I get why you wouldn’t want to leave Denver, I’ve heard it’s beautiful around there,”

“Oh it is,” he says sadly and you realise you’ve said the wrong thing. “Not that Toronto isn’t great too,it’s just different,” he says.

“I wouldn’t normally do this but, do you want to go out for a drink?” You ask offering your hand to get up just as the subway came to a stop ‘Sure why not,’ he said with a shrug grabbing your hand.

In the end the you ended up at your place. The two of you sat with a glass of red wine. He stretched out on your sofa, his head in your lap. You ran your fingers through the curly locks of hair. He told you all about his friends back in Denver Nate who was a big dumb boy who insisted people called him Nate dog with two g’s. EJ, Josty who she realises is not his real name but a nickname is a loveable pest and then there is the clear leader of the pack, Gabe who in Tyson’s words looked like a Swede god.But had a very big head literally Which Nate and Tyson made fun of all the time. You in turn told him about your weird friends and family and how you ended up coming from sunny La to cold snowy Toronto. It was strange you felt like you had been friends for years. You felt such a sense of ease and peace with this guy, like conversation was never forced yet you knew you had no romantic feelings for this guy and you knew he felt the same. Tyson ended up crashing on your sofa and in the morning you cooked breakfast together before you both had to leave for work. But before you did he said something rather odd. “Can you not tell anyone about this my weird breakdown? Can it be between us?” He said adjusting his tie “Yeah sure,”

The pair of you swapped numbers, you kept in contact texting now and then. Tyson had said his work was a little better his co-workers were supportive of him. Which made you happy although you knew he still wasn’t a hundred percent happy. He had booked a trip to Colorado to see his friends in the summer. You had tried to meet up a couple times but his work kept him busy and you had lots of things going on too. You knew he worked unsocial hours but what he exactly did was still a mystery to you. It wasn’t until two months later, you got that answer, when you saw Tyson’s face again. Except this time it was on tv. You were sat in a bar with your gal pals nursing a glass of red wine. “Toronto Maple leaf Tyson Barrie, has been traded back to the Colorado Avalanche in return for Nazem Kardri, the Victoria born player Barrie spent the year playing for the leafs in a statement he said “I’ve enjoyed playing for the leafs this last year, but I’m excited also to go back to Denver and play again for the avs with my old buddies,” the screen showed Tyson being interview his face beaming with happiness, the same guy but so different from the one you met that night on the train. “Can you turn this up please?” You ask the bartender. He nods. “Y/n I didn’t realize you were this into sports,” your best friend Jan says looking at you surprised “I’m not not really but I’m just interested in this story,” you say signalling to Tyson Barrie who they were showing shots of on the ice, “oh Barrie,” Jan said rolling her eyes. “what?” You ask curious, you’d never really followed hockey before.“He was terrible for the leafs I’m glad we are giving him back,”she says pointing to Tyson. “Poor dude give the guy a break,” you say sympathetically, not taking your eyes off the screen. “Why are you defending him, you don’t even watch hockey,” Jan asks You shrug “I dunno I guess it can’t be easy, being a professional athlete, having all eyes on you,”

“Because you know a lot about that, poor little millionaire,” Jan said taking another sip of her wine and rolling her eyes. You know that you don’t really know what it is like but you got a glimpse into that life when you met Tyson on the train that night. You had no idea he was a millionaire. Wow. Even still millionaires aren’t exempt from mental health problems. Especially when all eyes are on you. Now you understood why he disliked Toronto for his job so much. Toronto media were known in any sense for being ruthless. You excuse yourself to the washroom and once safely in the stall you get out your phone and send a text.

To: Tyson

I’m happy for you. I told you it would all work out eventually. X

To: Y/n

Thanks y/n,

To: Tyson

I’m just a phone call away if you need to talk x

You slip your phone back into your bag. “Who are you texting?” Your best friend asked raising an eyebrow. You give a smile, you weren’t going to tell them about your night with Tyson, you'd promised that night would just be between the two of you. “Just a friend,” you say. Your phone pinged again.

To: y/n

I’ll let you know and next time I’m in town maybe we can grab a drink?

To: Tyson

I’d like that Tys, good luck in Colorado xx

[myhockeyworld87]

Bubble Wrapped - Part 4

Word Count: 5,762

POV: Reader

Warnings: Same as always, Language, Smut, NSFW, Please see the note in the Masterlist

Teams: Bruins, Caps, Flyers, Lightning and Pens

Notes: This part got a little crazy...haha! We have a lot of players involved this time, so I hope you guys like it. Feedback is always welcome. Happy Reading!!!

Day three and four in the bubble were sedate. There were a few minor glitches here and there, but not any brawls or fighting, and you weren't thrown in the pool again. You chalked it more up to the fact that the teams were practicing more and watching films so there was a bit less downtime. After breakfast on day five, you made your rounds, making sure that the conference rooms were cleaned to perfection for the lunch crowd and doing the same with each workout room. Though the latter was a bit more complex considering most of them were occupied.

Once you found everything under control, you headed over to the tennis courts and found Sidney Crosby playing on the one court with a couple of his teammates. It felt kind of wrong to just stand there and watch him, but you couldn't help yourself. He had on a pair of black sweats and a grey Pens t-shirt that clung to his body from where he was working up a sweat. His locks were shorn as if he had just gotten them cut before coming in the bubble. Every muscle was defined as he would swing the racket and connect with the ball. Automatically, your eyes went to his ass, which was just sheer perfection and you longed to feel his glutes under your fingertips. There was part of you that wished he was wearing shorts so you could appreciate his thighs as well. Your eyes followed every move that he made, every swing of the racket; step of that he took. It made you weak in the knees and your mouth go dry.

 You tried concentrating on the other players, Letang, Hornqvist, and Petterson, but your eyes always came back to Sid. It's been five days in the bubble and you'd yet to get Sid alone, as he was always surrounded by teammates or coaches. You were going to have to do something soon, for there was always the chance they could end up losing in the qualifying rounds. You waited until they finished, then grabbed the fresh pile of towels that were sitting on the outside table, and decided to take them inside the court. They normally stayed outside, but it wouldn't hurt for them to be inside the court. They were just walking out, and you used your ass to open the door, making as if you didn't know they were coming out. As the door open, you stumbled forward, only to have Sid's strong arms grab you. "Oh sorry, I didn't realize anyone was there?" You told him.

 "No, it's my fault, I should've been paying attention instead of chirping these two," Sid said, his arms still around you.

 "Anyone need a towel?" You offered with a smile and only then did his hands come off your waist, so he could grab one. The other three did as well and soon you only had a couple left. "Everything fine with your stay here?"

 "Oh yeah, we always love staying here," Sid commented and the other three agreed.

 "Whoever put these tennis courts in was a genius," Letang added.

 "Thanks, I'll be sure to mention that you appreciate my ingenuity to my bosses when I talk to them."

 "No way, it was your idea?" Sid seemed impressed and you didn't mind taking the credit since the courts had been your idea when they decided to build this hotel.

 "I've been affiliated with the company for a while, and had a lot of ideas for when we built this place."

 "No wonder they put you in charge of the place for this whole thing. You've really done an awesome job." The compliment from Sid had you blushing.

 "Thank you, if there's anything at all you need; don't hesitate to call me." You made sure that you looked Sid in the eye as you said that. Letang elbowed him at your insinuation.

 "We'll meet you upstairs," Hornqvist stated then patted Sid on the shoulder and the three left the two of you alone.

 It was a bit awkward at first, but then you broke the silence. "So are you missing Pittsburgh at all?"

 "Nah, not really. It was kind of boring quarantining alone. This is a nice change of pace." Well, at least you had your answer about if he had anyone waiting at home for him. "Are you into architecture that you had this idea of the tennis courts?"

 "I took a few classes in college. I find it intriguing. I'm by no means an architect but I have great ideas." Well, that sounded a bit conceded. "I mean, I'd like to think they are great at least."

 "Architecture has always fascinated me as well. What else did you do here?"

 "Well, the rooftop pool was, though that took a little bit of engineering. I just loved the idea of having it up there. We ended up sacrificing the indoor part to have it, but I think it was totally worth it." It was definitely a highlight of the hotel, well as long as you weren't being shoved into by a certain rat player.

 "Oh, it's definitely beautiful. I'd love to see something like this in Pittsburgh, maybe we can steal you away from here and get you to think up something for us." A cute little smirk appeared on his face and you wanted to kiss him so bad. What was it about this man that just made you weak? You'd only ever felt this way around one other guy, but that wasn't what you wanted to think about now.

 "Well, I'm sure you could persuade me if you wanted to."

 "Really?" Sid didn't seem so unaffected by you as Tyler assumed. Apparently, hockey wasn't the only think on his mind.

 "Yes, in fact…"

 "(Y/N), I need you in the kitchen it's an emergency." Logan said breathless, as he came rushing into the tennis court.

 "Sounds like you're needed," Sid stated grabbing the door and holding it open for you. "I'll let you go."

 You were seriously going to murder Logan, especially if this was like the towel incident. "Yeah, I should probably go, but if you need anything call me." You rushed out to follow Logan, plotting the many ways to kill him on your way to the kitchen. It had better be on fire. When you walked into the kitchen things seemed under control. "What seems to be the problem, Logan? Things look fine."

 "Oh, they're not though. Chef said that no one brought in the dirty dishes from conference room two and now we don't know if we'll have enough plates for lunch." If Logan made it out of the bubble alive, it would be a damn miracle.

 "Sorry (Y/N), I thought when I told him that he would go get the dishes and not you."

 "It's ok Marco." You told the chef, before turning to Logan. "Could you please go get the dishes, then bring them in here and wash them." You tried to spell it out as best you could for the kid.

 "Yeah, sure I can do that. Don't know why I didn't think of that before." You didn't know why he didn't either, but he had just effectively ruined your opportunity with Sid. At least you were able to lay the foundation so that hopefully the next time you saw him, you'd be a bit more successful. Logan scurried out of the kitchen and Marco again apologized for not being more specific with the young pup.

 Marco told you he'd keep a better eye on Logan the rest of the day so that you wouldn't have to worry about him, and you thanked the chef and went on your way. The rest of the day went pretty easy. You tried to look for Sidney but seemed to just miss him, so you called it a night and went to your suite to get ready for bed. You were just slipping out of your skirt when the phone rang. "Hey Car, I was just going to grab a glass of wine and head to bed. What's up?"

 "Well, there's a little congregation in conference room one. It's not out of hand or anything, but they really shouldn't be in there since it's all ready for breakfast."

 "So tell them to move to their floor."

 "You know me Y/N, I'm chicken shit around these guys." It was true Carly was used to saying yes with being a concierge and most of her dealing were on the phone and she could get what she wanted that way but face to face, she found it hard to say no, or in this case move somewhere else. "Besides, I don't think they're all from the same team."

 "Ok, I'll be down in a minute." You threw on an oversized shirt and leggings and headed down to the conference room. You were surprised to see that two members of the Flyers and two from the Penguins were playing cards. It was common knowledge that the two teams were rivals, but they seemed to be enjoying the game. Well, you could hear some chirps back and forth but it seemed to be in fun. "Hey guys, I hate to break up this party but you can't be in here."

 "Aww, come on, we promise to keep the fighting to a minimum." Carter Hart said with a cute innocent little look on his face and it reminded you that Tyler said to keep away from him and not corrupt the boy.

 "Seriously Y/N, it's all in good fun," Brandon Tanev echoed and you really started to wonder if everyone in this damn place knew your name. "Hayes and I have a long-standing game from when we both played for the Jets. Thought we'd get these two involved in it since we're all here."

 "I don't care if you guys play. You just can't play here." You told them as you took in the money laid out on the table as well as the hand that Hart had. You wanted to tell him to fold for his hand was shit.

 "Well, there's nowhere else this time of night." Zach Aston-Reese chimed in. He had a point, most of the common areas closed at this time of night.

 "So like what are we talking, only a few more hands, or is this some all-night game, because I may have an alternative."

 "Not all night, we've got a game in the morning." Kevin Hayes said reminding you that the two played each other in exhibition tomorrow.

 "And no one's going to flip a table or throw a punch?" Your question was definitely valid, considering how'd you seen the two teams go at each other on the ice.

 "Scouts honor," ZAR stated, though you didn't see his fingers crossed behind his back.

 "Fine, come with me." They got up and followed you out of the room. You stopped and grabbed Carly. "Are you coming?"

 "Where? And why?" She said as you grabbed her hand and pulled her along to the elevators.

 "My room and for moral support." Once inside you pressed the twenty-ninth floor. The elevator stopped on the twelfth floor first. You crossed your fingers in hopes that whoever was getting on wouldn't question the odd mix of people in it.

 Unfortunately, you had no such luck as Brayden Point, from Tampa Bay, got on, and the first thing out of his mouth was, "Umm, what's going on here?"

 "Nothing," was what came out of your mouth. While at the same time Carter Hart said, "We're playing poker."

 "Poker? You got room for another?" Point asked and it was easier to tell him yes then have him make a scene. Thankfully, you made it to your room without any more stops along the way. "Wow, nice setup you got here." Brayden let out with a low whistle.

 "Thanks, there's no poker table but you're more than welcome to use the dining room table to play. As long as you're here do you guys want anything to drink?"

 "Tell me you have alcohol?" Kevin asked as beer was kind of at a premium in the bubble. They didn't want the players partying too much so it wasn't as readily available as they would've liked.

 "Sure that's smart with games tomorrow?"

 "One isn't going to kill us," Tanev remarked and you supposed as long as they didn't get drunk it was fine.

 "I have beer and wine. Who wants what?" Four of the guys chose beer with Carter choosing water. Which was probably a smart choice considering he was probably the starting goalie for the game. Carly went into the kitchen to help you get drinks, claiming a glass of wine for herself.

 "You sure this is a good idea Y/N?"

 "No, but what's the alternative, have them cause a riot in the lobby where everyone can see?" Carly shrugged her agreement. "At least here we can control them a little bit." Or so you hoped.

 You headed back to the dining room, drinks in hand. "You two want in on the action?" ZAR asked, which was nice of him.

 "I'm sure the sakes are a little too rich for our blood," They were Carly's words but you had to agree with her.

 "We don't have to play for money," Kevin suggested and you raised an eyebrow at him. "You know strip poker and all." Part of you started to wonder if they had made this plan before they even started to play in the conference room. You wouldn't put it past them. All eyes turned to you and Carly, and you turned to her with a shrug as if to say your call. You knew she hadn't had any fun yet in the bubble, well at least not like you had.

 "Alright gentlemen, deal us in." You took a seat between Tanev and Hayes; while Carly sat between ZAR and Point. Hayes declared himself the designated dealer for the first round, saying that you'd be playing a basic five-card draw game, and that winner could choose two players to lose an article of clothing, instead of all six individuals losing clothes. He then proceeded to deal out the first hand. Best you had was a pair of nines, so you tossed in the three cards that were pointless in hopes of gaining something that would help you out. You did pick up a pair of twos but you really didn't think two pair, nines high were going to win you anything. And you were right as Point ended up having three of a kind.

 "Y/N and Carly have to lose a piece." He declared.

 "Look I have no problem stripping but if you seriously pick the two of us every time, I'm calling an end to the game and you can all go back to your rooms." You said before stripping anything off your body.

 "That's only fair," Tanev agreed. "From now on you can only ask one of the girls to take something off." It seemed a fair addendum to your original rules, which seemed to be nonexistent before this moment.

 You stripped off your shirt and Carly did the same. Carter's eyes popped out of his head as he took in your lace bra and you realized that Tyler was right; he was way too innocent for the rest of the guys at this table or even you and Carly for that matter. Hopefully, Hayes would send him off to bed before things got too out of control. "If I didn't know better I'd swear you both wore those bras on purpose," Hayes commented and you let your hand glide up his thigh before answering him.

 "Maybe we did." You gave his thigh a little squeeze and saw him jump a bit, which caused you to giggle. "Now I believe it's my turn to deal." He handed over the cards. The round went quick and thankfully Carly came out on top, so you knew that you were safe this time.

 "Point it's payback time."

 "Gladly," he announced before throwing off this t-shirt.

 "You too Brandon. Might as well be both the B's" You caught a whiff of Tanev's cologne as he pulled his shirt over his head and tossed it to the floor. His scent seemed to be a mix of sandalwood and something purely masculine, it was intoxicating and you found yourself getting damp just thinking about what the two of you could get up to. The six-pack he sported on his abdomen didn't help your wondering thoughts any.

 "My turn," he said, palm upturned for you to place the cards into them. The smirk on his face told you, you'd been caught staring, and you handed the cards over in a hurry with a discreet cough. The third round had Carly winning again and you were hoping she was on some kind of hot streak.

 "Hayes and ZAR, you're up." She stated matter of factly and the two men divested of the shirts, leaving Carter the only one fully clothed. "I mean you're welcome to join them, Hart, if you feel left out." He simply shook his head no. "I really think you need a beer to loosen up." Carly was right and you walked out to the kitchen to grab him one. He took a long swallow and it seemed to help him a bit.

 The next round had Carter winning and the poor boy seriously looked confused about who he should choose. "It's easy Hart, pick one of the girls and one of us," Brayden told him.

 "I know," Carter said indignantly as his eyes moved back and forth between you and Carly. He seemed completely torn and part of you just wanted to take off your leggings and put the boy out of his misery, but just then he finally made a decision. "Carly, since you've been winning it's only fair." She gave him a little wink before wiggling out of her bottoms and tossing them to the floor with her shirt. Carter's eyes bugged out as he took in her thong and you heard a low whistle from Point right before she sat down.

 The deck was moved to the next person and cards were dealt. It was hard to hide your smile when you were dealt with three aces, and you were fairly confident you'd win this round; it just so happened you did. You had five guys to choose from and it was a difficult decision, but you really wanted to see what Brandon was hiding underneath his shorts, so it was a no brainer in choosing him. It was the other one that you were debating on. Tapping your finger on your chin, you mulled over your choices. "Brandon and ZAR, time for those pants to go." The problem was you didn't know which way to look. ZAR pulled the fly down on his just as Brandon yanked his down drawing your attention. There was no disguising the bulge in Tanev's boxers and you wet your lips without even thinking. He caught your attention and you swore you saw his cock twitch, but then ZAR's bottoms were falling and you took a moment to appreciate him. Both men were well-endowed and you couldn't wait to see what was underneath their boxer briefs.

 Cards were dealt again and when you looked over at Carter, you noticed the beer you got him moments ago was gone. That wasn't a good sign. Both you and Carly lost this time, with Carter coming out ahead. He looked a bit woozy after downing that beer so quickly and didn't seem to realize he'd won until Hayes pointed it out. "Hayes and Point..." he stated and before he could say anything more; all four guys were breathing down his neck.

 "What the hell?" you weren't sure who said it but it was echoed by all the guys, and you snickered before saying. "He's made his decision boys, now lose the pants."

 "But I meant to ask which one I should pick." Hart protested.

 "Too late," Carly chimed in a satisfied smile on her face. They both dropped their drawers then, each man sporting a hard-on that was outlined by the cover of their underwear. "I need more wine," Carly said and you could tell her mouth had gone dry from checking both men out.

 "Grab us another as well, would ya?" You gave Hayes a look, making sure that this was a good decision as you made your way to the kitchen. "It's fine. I swear this is the last one."

 This time Carly left you to fend for yourself as she didn't want to prance around in her thong. You were rummaging through the fridge and pulled out the five beers that you needed when Brandon came into the kitchen. "Need some help?" There was that cute little smile on his face and you returned it with one of your own.

 "That would be nice." The kitchen wasn't large and he reached around you to grab a beer that you had on the counter, effectively trapping you against it. His body was pressed against yours and you could feel his cock hard against your stomach. Your breath hitched and before you could say anything his lips were on yours. You opened right away for him as his tongue sought entrance into your mouth. Brandon was a good kisser and you found yourself reaching around to the back of his neck and pulling him closer.

 "Hey, what's taking so long," someone yelled and you pulled apart from Brandon. "Wanna continue this after the game?" He asked and you nodded your head yes, before grabbing two bottles of beer and the wine and slipping under his arm. You winked at him as you left the kitchen and could've sworn you heard him groan.

 The game started back up and this time ZAR was declared the winner. His eyes raked up and down your body before he said, "(Y/N) it's got to be you." You pushed the chair back then made a show of wiggling out of your leggings, making sure Brandon got an eyeful of your ass before reclaiming your seat. All eyes but Carly's were on you; who coughed discreetly to remind ZAR he still needed to pick someone else. "Oh um, I guess Hart by default." Carter's cheeks got red, as both you and Carly turned your attention to him, though it just seemed sort of wrong since he seemed innocent. He was definitely sporting some wood and from what you could tell he had most of the guys there beat in the length department. He hurriedly sat down as soon as his shorts were off.

 When the game resumed, it was Hayes who had a straight and won the round. "Point, since you joined the game late, I'm going with you." Brayden rolled his eyes but still stripped out of his briefs leaving him completely naked. His dick was average but still nice and you could see Carly squirming in her seat taking him in. You didn't really think Point was her type but then when you'd been in the bubble for a couple weeks like you both had those sorts of things went to the wayside. He seemed to return her interest, for as he reclaimed his seat his eyes never left hers. "(Y/N)," Kevin said bringing your attention back to the fact that you lost. "Lose the bra." You had kind of forgot that Kevin had to name another person, but you should've figured it would be you as you'd teased him earlier when you squeezed his thigh.

 "Fine," you said and you let the strap slink down your right shoulder before drawing your arm through it. You repeated the process with your left, then moved to unclasp the eye hooks in the back. Keeping one hand holding the bra together you let your other slip to the front to hold the cups, before letting the bra go. The cups released into your hands and you slowly peeled it away, teasing the boys as you did, until finally your breasts were revealed. You knew you had nice boobs. It had been commented about by almost every guy you'd ever been with, not to mention the stares you got when wearing a low cut top. Tyler had said on more than one occasion that they were perfect and he could spend hours playing with them. So when the guys' eyes went wide, you weren't surprised. It was Carter's look of shock as he downed the rest of his beer that had you suppressing a giggle. You knew he was innocent but it almost seemed too much for a hockey player to be this inexperienced. You hoped it was just the setting of the game and all. "Ok, now that that's done; on to the next hand." They seemed a bit disappointed that the game was back on instead of just ogling your boobs.

 Brandon dealt the card, the side of his hand accidentally brushing the side of your breast as he dealt you yours. It was hard not to think of the encounter in the kitchen earlier and you kind of wished this game was over and you could move on to bedroom games with Brandon. As the hand went on, you saw Carter sway a bit. "Hey Kev, you better take your goalie back to his room before he's unfit to play tomorrow." They were Points words, but he was absolutely correct as Hart was not looking good to finish the hand let alone the game.

 "Hart, you good?" Kevin asked and Carter made to put his thumb up but couldn't. "Fuck man, you're really one of those, sniff the beer cap drunks, aren't you?" Carter just smiled over. "Alright bud, time to call it a night, before we both regret this; though you owe me. Big time!"

 Hayes threw his clothes back on before tossing Carter's shirt at him, which smacked him in the face. They made their way to the door, Hayes none too happy to be leaving. "Guess this means the game is over." You said thinking to put an end to things around the dining room table and move it to the bedroom with Brandon.

 "What do you mean? It was just getting interesting." Zach pointed out, looking directly at your chest.

 "I gotta agree," Brayden added, looking over at Carly. "I have a good feeling about this next hand."

 "Don't you guys have a game tomorrow?" you asked Tanev and ZAR.

 "Yeah, that's what naps are for," Brandon told you with a little wink. "But I see your point, only a few more rounds than we'll call it a night." He picked up the cards and started to deal. They did not fall your way and this hand saw Point come out on top of everyone, which was lucky considering he was now in his birthday suit.

 "Zach looks like you're up this time." ZAR dropped his drawers without even thinking about it, giving you a nice view of his cock. It was erect, almost pressing up to his stomach. You didn't know if it was the fact that he was hard or not, but his dick was kind of pretty if that was even a thing. He sat back down before you could check it out too long, which was disappointing. Point look at Carly and said, "Your turn." There was a cocky little smirk to his face but as Carly removed her bra, she directed all her attention at Brayden.

 "You two need to get a room," Tanev said off-hand and you saw Carly cock her head as if to ask if he wanted to go to hers. Point nodded a yes, and Carly started grabbing her clothes off the floor.

 "Thanks for the game (Y/N). I'll see you downstairs." She said throwing clothes on and heading for the door. Point right behind her.

 "So, umm…" you hummed, not really knowing what to do now that you had both Brandon and Zach alone.

 "One last hand?" Brandon asked, and you couldn't really see the point of it. "If I win, I get to kiss you."

 "And if I win, I get the kiss." Zach chimed in.

 "And what if I win?" It was a valid question.

 "Then you can pick either one of us or neither of us." Brandon offered.

 "Ok, who's dealing?" You asked with an all-in attitude. ZAR picked up the cards and started to shuffle. You picked up the five cards in front of you, two jacks being dealt. It wasn't a bad start and when you got the redraw there was another one. Brandon laid down his pair of tens first, knowing that he probably wasn't going to win. Zach went next, a smile on his face that told you he'd thought he'd won with his two pair queen high.

 With a satisfied grin, you laid down your winning hand. "Read them and weep boys." They both frowned at you picking up their stuff and got ready to leave, thinking that you'd choose that option. "Oh, neither of you is not my choice." They both looked back at you, a little stunned at your statement.

 "Who's it going to be then?" Zach asked, hand still holding onto his boxers and shorts.

 "What if I say both?" They looked over at each other, a silent agreement passing between the two teammates. You grabbed Brandon's hand, then walked over to take Zach's as well, leading them over to the sofa. They both went willingly, one on each side of you as you stood there. You looked over at Zach first and went up on your toes to give him a heated kiss. He cupped your cheek, drawing you closer to him. Zach was a good kisser and you got lost as your tongue swirled with his, until you felt another pair of hands on your body, starting at your waist and working their way up to fondle your breasts. Brandon twisted your nipples and you moaned into Zach's mouth before breaking apart. Brandon turned your hips so that you were facing him, before threading his fingers through your hair. With hardly any pressure, he had you leaning into him so he could kiss you. Brandon was skilled with his tongue and you melted into him. But it was Zach's cock that pressed against your back that you felt even more. You reached behind you to palm him and he hissed out his pleasure as he dropped kisses to your shoulder blades.

 There were four hands all over your body and you weren't sure who was doing what as you felt someone slide your panties down off your legs. Brandon's mouth left yours, only to move south to your breasts, where he took a nipple in and sucked, eliciting a moan from you. Zach's fingers, at least you thought they were his, were delving between your folds. It was too much and you lost your grip on his cock. Zach pushed a finger inside you while his thumb toyed with your clit. Pleasure ripped through your body, Brandon now switching breast to give your other nipple the same lavish attention. You threw your head back enjoying their ministrations. You missed the communication between the two, but the next thing you knew was that they were lowering you down to the sofa.

 Brandon slid down to his knees in front of you, spreading your legs wide for him to go between, while Zach sat down beside you on the couch. Zach's hand immediately went to the back of your neck so that he could pull you in for yet another heated kiss. Your hands skated down his well-chiseled chest until you found his cock. Wrapping your fingers you began to stroke the length of him and he deepened the kiss.

 It was at that moment that Brandon licked a stripe between your folds. The action causing you to stutter your rhythm on Zach's cock, as your body tingled from Brandon's tongue. Two of Brandon's fingers spread you pussy for his mouth to go to town on you and you found yourself breaking the kiss from Zach. "Fuck Brandon…that feels so good," you moaned out.

 Brandon's mouth worked its magic on you, sucking and nibbling on your clit, before he looked up at Zach. "You have to taste her man, she's so fucking sweet." A quick shift in positions from the two and then it was Brandon's mouth on yours as you tasted your own juices off his lips. His hand found yours and he guided it to his member urging you to stroke him.

 Zach's fingers delved into your cunt, sliding up and down between your folds collecting your moisture. "You're so wet…I just have to taste you." He breathed out before going in with his tongue and licking at your pussy. He hummed out his approval as he continued to eat your out.

 Brandon moved his hands to your breasts, where he pinched your nipple between his thumb and forefinger causing you to gasp. His head moved down to your other nipple and he gently bit down on the turret peak. You moaned out as that familiar tingle of orgasm started to hit, from the combination of both Brandon and Zach. "Don't stop…" You panted out. "Please don't stop." Zach increased the speed of his fingers as they thrust in and out of you, while his mouth and tongue flicked and sucked your clit. "Oh god…" Brandon bit down on your nipple and it sent you shattering, your legs tightening around Zach as they shook with the force of your climax. "OOOHHH," you exclaimed and you swear your moan echoed off the walls of the suite it was so loud. Both men worked you through your orgasm, a satisfied smile on each when you finally made your way back to them. "That was…" you didn't have time to finish your thought as there was a loud knock at the door.

 "Who the fuck is that?" Brandon asked in a hushed whisper and you honestly had no idea as most of the employees of the hotel would've called your phone and not come knocking at this hour.

 "I know you're in there. I could hear you." The voice said from the other side of the door and suddenly it registered who it was on the other side.

[dearyou-itsmeagain]

Platonic Dasey Au

Ok but Ashley and Michael are definitely the inspiration for this. Living in such mad support of each other but not like that..this time ;)

A Planet and Her Moon

(https://archiveofourown.org/works/21539803)

During college, they did get closer. They became best friends, each with a spare key to the others place and an open invitation. They'd watch hockey and movies and fight over the remote but the days of hormone-spiked feelings (the whole damn spectrum, it used to feel like for them) were gone. It was easier to fight because they knew their boundaries.

But they would step over them sometimes.

Derek toeing it to spark a reaction he wanted; sometimes a Casey-patented 'der-ek', sometimes a giggle, but never anything that would tip them out of balance.

Casey, always the rule follower, found loop-holes instead. She'd lean into him to get his attention in a crowded room, knowing he'd always put his arm around her shoulder, rubbing his fingers across the seam of her t-shirts.

As a result of them calming down, the family fell closer together. Edwin would call Casey for girl advice, because lets face it, he did not want to follow in every one of his brother's footsteps. Lizzie would call Derek about different ways to fix the soreness in her muscles hours and hours of soccer practice had caused. Marti would call them both, just before she'd go to bed. She was getting too old for bed time stories but she'd talk about her week and then drift off as they told her about theirs.

Then at one of Derek's games, she meets him. His the new center just transplanted in in the middle of the season because he's good, really good. Derek tried not to like the guy but he's genuinely just a really good guy. So the three of them hang out sometimes. He doesn't get weird when they do or say something normal step-siblings shouldn’t, like an innuendo taken too far or a hand resting somewhere for just a step too long.

He'd ask her out and Casey would look at Derek for the answer. It was Derek who told him yes. It was Derek who took her shopping for an outfit. It was Derek who called Emily to come help with her hair and makeup that night.

And so Casey took it as a blessing. She knew they'd missed their mark too.

When the goalie dropped her off, it was at Derek's, even though he'd picked her up at her apartment. Still he got out of the car, opened her door, and held her hand as they walked to the door.

"You knew I'd come here anyway, huh?" Casey was tense as he chuckled at her question. "I know how important it is that he likes me and was hoping the date was good enough to want to spill right away," he looked her in the eyes while he smiled. They were warm and bright, even if she did wish she'd see a hint of wild. Casey would stand in front of him outside of Derek's front door, knowing he was right inside. He'd texted her to check if he should pick up wine or more beer.

"I want this to work," the goalie would say, "Can I call you tomorrow for the verdict?" His smile was infectious and she'd giggle and nod and pull him in for a hug.

It would work. They'd have a summer wedding many, many years down the line. The McDonald/Venturi Clan would spend the week before the wedding in a house on the beach on Prince Edward Island.

Casey would have her feet in the water at the edge of the homes dock right at sunset. Derek would gently nudge her, pulling her back before she'd even come close to falling in, giggling as he sat next to her, his arm in its spot around her shoulders.

She'd place her head of his shoulder and sigh and he'd know what it meant.

"Case, it'll all be fine. He loves you, you love him, the wedding is going to go off without a single hitch because some how you convinced me not to do anything to ruin it. But come on! It'd be for the memories, you only get married once Casey, might as well get it right." She'd look up at him in that way and he'd freeze. "I'm just going to get it as right as I can, " She'd smile to ease the tension that crossed his shoulders, rubbing her fingers along his spine to help it dissipate faster. Derek would pull her closer, press a kiss to her hairline, and leave the conversation at that, keeping their boundaries firmly in place.

The morning of the wedding, she's all smiles. Everything has gone right so far, she thinks, before she sees Derek still in his sweats, 25 minutes before she's supposed to walk down the aisle.

"Der-ek! Why are you not dressed? Are you trying to drive me crazy?" She'd huff as she pulls him toward where she knows his tux is; she'd placed it there herself after all. His head was still thrown back laughing as she pulls all his clothes together for him, "Come on Princess, I'm not even the star of the show here, who cares what I look like?" "I do! You will not be ruining my wedding photo's Derek!" He'd grab her shoulders as she starts to unbutton the dress shirt before taking it off the hanger, and turns her around.

"Casey, take a deep breath," She'd confused why he's so serious until she realizes she's on the verge of hyperventilating. Her eyes dart around the room, looking for anything that might help, "Hey, hey Case, look at me."

It'd all stop when their eyes meet and after a few moments she registers his hands slipping up and down her arms. She closes her eyes and isn't nearly as shocked as she should be, even now, when he pulls her into a hug.

"Hey, everything is alright. I'm not dressed because the flower delivery was late and they needed an extra hand and I didn’t want to get anything on my tux. I would never ruin this for you case okay?" She'd nod into his chest, hoping she'd be able to fix her makeup after this.

They wouldn’t talk about it. Nor would they talk about how he stared at her when she walked down the aisle, how their eyes caught when the goalie turned away to take the rings from his best man.

They would just continue through life in a constant orbit of each other. Some times closer than others. Derek knows he feels more like a moon to her planet but he doesn’t think it'll do any good to talk about it.

So he writes and directs and creates these amazing short films. Everyone is surprised by the emotion in it for Derek Venturi who would stutter the word f-f-feelings, except Casey.

Her and the Goalie would come to screenings, always wielding this huge bouquet of daises, just for Derek. He and the goalie would chat as he overheard her telling people what a wonderful film it'd been, handing out HIS business cards whenever she felt like the person on the other side of the conversation was worthy.

When he won his first award, he thanks her first. It becomes tradition, "I'd like to first and foremost thank my best friend Casey for supporting me through this." Then he'd continue with the standard designed thank you speech.

He'd date but never anything serious. He was content to sit and watch and orbit. He knew he'd given up true happiness when he'd said yes to the goalie for Casey, but she'd earned it this time. He’d do it again and again just to see her as happy as any princess could be.

[welllpthisishappening]

Of Babies and Hockey Mascots

It had been a very long time since the mascot of the Philadelphia Flyers had made Matthew Jones want to scream in fear. He was, after all, a grown man. But being a grown man also meant seeing other adults in his life have kids. And Roland had always been very popular in Philadelphia.

------

This was/is and continues to be exceptionally self-indulgent next gen Blue Line hockey fic. Because life is life and good things happen in this universe. Also because I write them that way. So, here’s like almost 4K of Matt Jones, his girlfriend, his parents and both Roland and Henry ragging on Matt Jones for being terrified of Gritty. And the Rangers play hockey tomorrow. So.

This one goes out directly to @shireness-says for being an absolute, goddamn delight at all times. Also, also @optomisticgirl for constantly letting me bounce ideas off her, @stealing-vengence because I didn’t have these words to send last night and @distant-rose just for, like, existing. 

This is the video mentioned in the story.

------

“Babe.”

Matt didn’t answer. 

“Babe.”

Nothing. If he didn’t answer, then Claire would definitely go back to sleep and it was stupid and petulant and—“Babe,” she said, that one sounding less like an endearment and more like the audible and understandable sound of middle-of-the-night frustration. She jabbed him in the ribs. 

Matt groaned. 

“Answer your phone, Matthew.”

He hissed in a breath, burying his face into the pillow like that would make the phone stop, but that was a pipe dream and Claire’s nails absolutely left marks on his skin when she scratched down his side. 

“I got it, I got it, I—“ 

The phone fell on the floor. 

“Oh my God,” Claire grumbled. 

None of Matt’s muscles appreciated when he leaned over the side of the bed, fingers scrambling for a phone that was somehow still ringing and sounded as if it were getting louder with each passing second and—

“Someone better be dead,” he growled, barely moving his thumb away from the screen after he swiped before lifting it to his ear. 

He hadn’t checked who was calling. 

That was definitely his first mistake.

Well, second. Maybe third, actually. 

He’d gotten hit pretty hard after that turnover in the zone and he should have just started shutting his phone off at night. Like several dozen years earlier. So those probably took precedence. 

And the tongue click on the other end made it blatantly obvious who it was anyway. 

“No one is dead,” Dad said. “That’s kind of the whole point of this call, actually.”

Matt blinked. Once, twice, three times, probably to match up with the number of mistakes and—he would absolutely blame whatever time it actually was for how long it took him to realize what was going on. 

“Oh, shit.”

Dad sighed. And it sounded like Mom laughed. 

It must have been nearly three in the morning. 

“Got there, huh?” Dad asked. “That was a good pass in the third, by the way. Almost made up for the turnover and—“

“—You do not get to critique my turnovers right now. It is the middle of the night and that was just like…your greatest weakness and—“

“—And not really the point,” Mom called, what sounded like the couch creaking in the background and they must have been in the living room. Waiting. Or something that sounded a little more familial and far less menacing. 

“It’s not really the point,” Dad admitted, voice turning a little repentant. “But it was a really good pass, the legend of the wrists continues—“

Mom sounded like she was growling. 

There was a quiet scuffle on the other end of the phone, Claire’s laugh working its way under Matt’s skin when she pressed her head into the curve of his shoulder, reaching a hand up to brush away far-too-long curls because they were in the middle of a playoff run and he desperately needed to go back to sleep, but—

“It���s a boy,” Mom announced, and of all the very sore muscles that made up Matt’s current bodily structure, he hadn’t ever really expected his cheeks to ache quite that much. 

Or so suddenly. 

Smiling like an idiot would do that though. 

“Oh, shit.”

“Mattie, you can’t keep saying that over and over. It’s just—it’s not the world’s best reaction.”

“I know, I know, I just—a boy, for real?”

“You knew that,” Claire mumbled, nosing at his collarbone and he could feel her smile too. His stomach felt like it had thrown into his throat. 

“Yeah, I know I did, I just—“

“—Used up all those well-thought out responses in post, huh?” Mom asked, and maybe they were all just smiling like idiots. That made him feel a little better. 

It had been a really good pass. 

“Something like that,” Matt muttered. He ran his fingers through his hair, tugging lightly as if that would wake him up, but the prospect of Roland and Lizzie’s kid had already done a pretty good job of that and Claire only gasped softly when he pulled her up with him. “Is everything—I mean, everything went ok, right? No one’s—“

“Everyone’s fine, kid,” Dad said, clearly on speaker now and that was probably for the best. “Except maybe Liam who—“

“—According to El, snapped at several different orderlies, demanded hourly updates from the nurse and—“

“—Wait, wait,” Matt interrupted. “Hourly? This was a multiple hours thing? Why didn’t anyone tell me?”

Nothing.

Huh. That was annoying. 

“Well,” he prompted, “the resounding echo of your own silence is pretty deafening. Who else was there? Why didn’t Rol call?”

“Presumably because he’s staring at his kid like they’re the greatest thing in the entire world,” Dad said reasonably. 

Matt slumped against the pillows. “I’m going to blame the turnover. For, you know—being a dick.”

“Matthew!’

“Mom, you don’t get to ground me anymore, I just—“

“—Henry was there,” Dad finished. “He’d been planning on coming back here, but something about fate or whatever and he got delayed in Atlanta, so he rerouted to Philly and from what Gina said, he was the only rational one and Rol kept walking in and out of the room. Rumor has it there was quite a lot of pinching the bridge of his nose.”

“He does that when he gets nervous.”

“I can’t imagine why he’d feel that way in this scenario.”

“But everything’s ok, right? I mean—with Lizzie and Rol, the nose thing aside and—“

“That’s very normal,” Mom mumbled, another telltale tongue click from Dad and Claire kissed Matt’s shoulder that time. “Some would say even calm compared to other reactions.”

“This is not an answer to my question, just sly jabs at Dad for being a freak and—“

“—I will absolutely ground you, Matthew,” Dad cut in, a distinct lack of any actual frustration. “Also, today is not the season-opener. So, I can’t see how the two situations are even remotely comparable.”

Matt hummed. 

Claire might have mumbled something that sounded a hell of a lot like this family is crazy, which—well, fair. 

“And,” Mom continued, “I wasn’t really being sly about it. I thought that was a pretty obvious commentary on Dad’s nerves.”

“A name, Mom. Does the kid have a name?”

She hissed in a breath. 

And Matt waited. Or, tried. Doing his best to temper his impatience because he was only a little annoyed Henry had been there when he hadn’t and that was absolutely insane. 

Seriously, it was all that turnover’s fault. 

He hoped Roland hadn’t seen that. 

He’d never hear the end of it. 

“Mom. Do I have to guess? I’m not going to be able to guess, I—“

“Noah Miller Locksley,” she finished, and Matt nearly dropped the phone again. 

He swallowed. More than once, tongue darting between suddenly dry lips because he’d started breathing through his mouth at some point, the way his eyes falling shut having nothing to do with how utterly and completely exhausted he was. 

“Oh shit,” Claire whispered. “That’s good.”

Matt made another noise — something he was only vaguely hopeful sounded like an agreement. “Did Aunt Gina cry?”

“She absolutely wept according to several reliable sources,” Dad answered. 

“Were those all just Henry?”

“And El. Who told me this while crying rather hard.”

“God, that’s so stupid.”

“In the realm of exceptionally stupid, yeah.”

“Idiot,” Claire mumbled, and it might have just been a trick of the minimal light in their room, but Matt would have sworn her eyes had gone a bit glossy too. He blinked several times. 

So as not to also be accused of idiocy.

And Matt’s phone buzzed in his hand. 

“There it is,” Mom muttered fondly, Matt’s hand shaking when he glanced down at the screen and a group text that was very active for the middle of the night. 

Roland Locksley, 2:47 a.m. :: image attached ::

Noah Miller Locksley. Ten fingers, ten toes. Seven pounds, eight ounces. Far more hair than expected, which we assume means he’s some kind of super baby. 

Do not send us hockey sticks, I will punch you all in the face. 

Matt scoffed, a quick sniffle and tears on his cheeks that he hadn’t really planned on, but seemed pretty inevitable for the parents of a kid who had absolutely fought over who got to use him on their side of the aisle at their wedding. 

Claire kissed his cheek. 

He didn’t read the rest of the messages — Peggy sending at least ten in a row and Chris’ didn’t look like much more than the same gif of Roland celebrating a playoff goal four seasons before, Leo’s all just several lines of exclamation points — tugging the phone back up to his ear and his own parents were definitely smiling. 

Beaming, probably. 

“I’m going to buy that kid so much team-branded merch,” Matt said. “All blue. Only blue.”

Dad chuckled. “I’m sure Roland will genuinely appreciate that.”

“How many hats do you think one hospital goes through with its baby population every day?”

“This is why you answer the questions and don’t ask them, kid.”

“That’s a serious question.”

“Make sure you ask Lizzie that later.”

“Don’t ask Lizzie that later,” Mom countered, and the couch made another noise. “And it really was a good pass in the third.”

“Ah ha! I thought you said that wasn’t the point of the conversation!”

“I mean—not a huge point, but definitely a sidebar and,” her voice dropped low like there wasn’t another person sitting directly next to her, “Dad nearly destroyed the chair when he jumped out of it. So.”

“So?”

“So,” Mom echoed. “Something paternal.”

“Yuh huh.”

“Go back to sleep, Mattie.”

“Sure thing, Mom.”

She one-hundred percent narrowed her eyes at the air in front of her, several dozen blocks away, but Matt still wasn’t all that worried about getting grounded and the small flutter of feeling in the pit of his stomach didn’t disappear when he woke up the next morning. 

He only checked one of his text messages. 

Dad, 8:15 a.m. The chair would have deserved to get wrecked in celebration of that pass. I’m proud of you, kid.

Matt, 8:17 a.m. Something, something, you’ve got a pretty solid head start on best dad. 

Don’t tell Henry I said that. 

Dad, 8:18 a.m. The something really made the message. I will not tell Henry. 

And it all probably would have been fine — more photos of Noah while he was sleeping and being held and the group text had several thoughts on Roland’s technique when Lizzie sent a video of him rocking their kid back and forth in the middle of the hospital room. But then that same video got several gazillion retweets and likes and Matt had to go to film and skate and he didn’t really forget, but—

“Christ, Jones, is your phone going to explode?”

Matt shook his hair away from his eyes, tossing his practice jersey into the hamper a few feet away and it was a legitimate question. The stupid thing was buzzing and ringing at the same time, wobbling precariously on the top shelf of his locker, like it was getting ready to take flight.

He really needed to start checking who was calling before he answered the phone. Because Henry was already talking. 

On video. 

“Matt, Matt, Matt, listen, I need you to not check the group text and—“

“—Wait, what? Why do you sound like you’re out of breath?”

“Are you in the locker room?”

“I am in the middle of a series. I have skate and I need to go to PT and—“

“—Go in the hallway.”

“What?”

“The hallway,” Henry repeated, sounding as if he were issuing declarations or possibly grounding his own kids and Matt was twenty-nine. He needed to stop thinking about getting grounded so much. “Now.”

Matt widened his eyes, but Henry’s expression didn’t change, clearly tucked in the corner of a hospital with particularly aggressive overhead lighting. 

“Fine, fine,” he grumbled. It only took a few moments, not bothering to grab his sandals when he hadn’t even had time to take his socks off yet, slumping down the wall almost as soon as the sounds from the locker room dimmed behind him. “You look like you’re about to tell me that they’re taking away my assist from last night.”

“That was a ridiculous pass.”

“Ridiculous here, meaning—“

“Good, obviously,” Henry sighed, an obviously exhausted hand running over his face. 

“You sleep at all, old man? Where are your kids?”

“At my apartment? With my wife? What kind of question is that?”

“You’re really stressing me out.”

“Did you look at the group text yet?”

Matt shook his head slowly, some of that pleasant fluttering and general good that had made it easier to skate on such sore muscles disappearing. “I get the feeling I should have, though.”

“No, that’s—Matt, that’s the point. I—ok—“

The footsteps that moved down the hallway in a hospital with particularly aggressive overhead lighting in Philadelphia, weren’t all that loud — presumably because he hadn’t gotten much sleep what with having a baby to take care of, but then Matt also felt kind of bad about referring to Noah solely as a baby less than twenty-four hours after he’d been born and Roland looked torn between hysterics and…mostly hysterics. 

“Are you kidding me, Matthew?” he balked, sliding down next to Henry slowly enough that it took several moments for him to find his way into the phone frame. 

Matt arched an eyebrow. 

Henry sighed. 

“Seriously, why wasn’t this something I knew about?”

“Should you be out here? Shouldn’t you be like—I don’t know, documenting Noah’s every move or making sure Lizzie is—”

“—Lizzie told him to come out here for reasons we’ll get to that are not my fault,” Henry finished. 

Matt’s eyebrows could not get higher. 

And Roland rolled his eyes. “Ok, well, thanks for that vote of father-like confidence—“

“I’m not your father, Locksley, that sentence didn’t even make sense.”

“You want to acknowledge how cute my kid is…or?”

“Obviously,” Matt snapped, a weird counterbalance to the way the ends of his mouth tugged up. “He’s a super cute kid. I’m going to buy you twenty hockey sticks that are all legit, pro size.”

“I’m already kind of annoyed with you, so that’s not helping.”

“What could you possibly have to be annoyed with? Aren’t you just, I don’t know, buoyed by emotion and those father-like feelings?”

“Good use of the word buoyed,” Henry mumbled, Matt’s eyes flickering his direction. He still looked a little nervous. 

“What’s going on? I feel like I’m missing something.”

“Nah uh,” Roland objected, “you’re the one holding out on us, Matthew. It’s—how do you even play here?”

Matt tilted his head. The fluttering was gone completely, replaced by something that felt like entirely unwelcome dread and he nearly yanked several pieces of hair out of his head when he ran his fingers through it. 

Henry grimaced. 

“This is not my fault.”

“So you’ve mentioned.”

“I never told.”

“Yuh huh.”

“But, uh—ok, are you by yourself? Because…just maybe look at the group text and see what this stupid team did.”

Roland had to put his hand over his mouth. Presumably so he wouldn’t disturb the other babies. With his laughter. 

Matt wondered how long they were required to wear hats.

And it only took a few scrolls back for Roland to find it, brandishing his screen towards Henry’s — the whole phone call almost understandable because Chris had posted the video and he didn’t know, no one really knew, it was a stupid, childlike fear that he’d absolute, positively, shaken as a grown man with a very serious girlfriend he was really considering proposing to at some point and—

“Oh, fuck,” Matt gasped, pushing his arm out like that would stop the video from playing or the goddamn Flyers mascot from moving around so much in said video. 

Roland snickered. 

Matt squeezed his eyes shut, whatever filler music the Flyers had used in the video sounding impossibly loud. As if it were heightened by his fear 

Of goddamn Gritty. 

He was decorating a locker — streamers and balloons, every move making his stupid eyes rattle around because the eyes hadn’t changed in years and Matt still hated him with every fiber of his being. As if there were totally normal. 

The video didn’t end. 

It seemed to last forever, Gritty glancing back at the camera every few seconds — presumably just to remind Matt that his eyes defied the laws of gravity — but then the locker was decorated and the sign said Welcome Baby, Locksley and Matt could not remember the last time he took a deep breath. 

Roland had given up on trying to hide his laugh. 

“Why did that happen?” Matt hissed, rolling his shoulders like that would make him look more adult or less terrified of another grown adult in a costume. “You’re not even on this team anymore. You are—“

“—A beloved alum, it seems,” Roland alum. “Oh Captain, my captain and all that.”

“Isn’t he dead in that poem?”

“Honestly?”

Matt glanced at Henry, the color in his cheeks nothing do with embarrassment and more with Gritty. “This has taken a pretty morbid turn, don’t you think?”

“Why is the mascot decorating a locker that isn’t yours, Rol?” Matt demanded. 

“I’m very popular on this team. Still, or whatever. Plus, you know—the kid is exceptionally cute.”

“God, that’s not fair.”

“Say the kid is cute, Matthew.”

“Obviously I think the kid is cute. God, you are so annoying.”

“Tired,” Henry amended. “He’s tired.”

Roland nodded. “That too. And maybe a little delirious on like—I don’t know, joy? Is that lame?”

“Yes,” Matt nodded “But nice too. Dad said Gina cried.”

“Wept. Seriously. Shoulders shaking, sniffles. It was not dignified at all. Made the whole thing.”

“You’re a giant freak, you know that?”

“Lizzie’s going to call you later, she’s got—“

More footsteps. Those ones with a distinct squeak that came from those very specific shoes nurses wore and the woman smiled when she noticed both Henry and Roland. 

On the floor. 

“Mrs. Locksley is awake again,” the nurse said, “and, uh—well, she’d like to know why you didn’t wake her up if you were going to—“ Roland’s eyes widened. And Matt laughed that time. 

“She wants to know why they’re ragging me about the video without her, isn’t she?” he asked. 

The nurse nodded. 

“Maybe I should just ask her to marry me again,” Roland mused. “That’s romantic, right?”

“I mean the kid was a pretty good sign that you were into your own wife, honestly.”

“True, true, c’mon. I bet she’s got scathing opinions.”

She did. For several straight minutes, a gurgling Noah resting across her chest and that didn’t do much to stop Lizzie’s right hand from flying through the air while she talked. 

Matt chewed on his lower lip. 

“What I can’t understand,” Roland mused, slumped in one of the few chairs the hospital room seemed to offer, “is why we didn’t know you were so terrified of the mascot? You play here all the time.”

“Never came up.”

“Matt.”

“What? When would I have told you that? And would that not have ended with you trying to get me to run into the stupid thing every time was at Wells Fargo?”

“Eh, yeah, that’s probably true.”

“It’s one-hundred percent true,” Henry said. 

“And how did you know, exactly?”

“Oh, I’ve known forever. Matt was—I don’t know, little, little. Like a baby and Killian was on the road in Philly and he lost his mind when Gritty came on TV. Just one of those fundamental fears, I guess.”

“Is that a thing?”

“See,” Matt challenged, “we shouldn’t be talking about that stupid monster because then you’re going to mess your kid up after less than a day.”

Lizzie glared at him. “You’re a jerk.”

“I’m only going to buy you Rangers gear.”

“Please, you’re going to take it from the team store.”

“Eh, column A, column B.”

“Still stealing,” Roland muttered, head lolling back. 

“Whatever. Go to sleep. I’ve got to go back to the locker room and acknowledge PT and—“

“—A will yell at you if you blow that off,” Lizzie interrupted, her own eyelashes fluttering and Henry was already moving towards the door. “Just, you know, on principle.”

“I know, that’s why I’m trying to end this conversation with you.”

“Charmer.”

“Mmhm, hey you want to know a secret?”

Lizzie cracked open one eye. Noah was definitely already asleep. And still as cute as ever. “Did you cry?”

“How’d you know that?”

“Please,” she scoffed. “I know everything about you.”

“You did not know about Gritty.”

“I knew there was a reason you hated being on the ice for too long during warmups here. And it wasn’t that hard to put two and two together. Who do you think told Henry the message was in the group chat?”

“You were reading the group chat?”

“It was a genuinely insane pass last night. You guys going to win tomorrow?”

“An attempt will certainly be made.”

Lizzie laughed, soft and obviously exhausted, a heaviness to her that hadn’t been there before, but wasn’t altogether bad. Almost like she was more…something. Good. Protective. Maybe even understanding. 

“I will probably fall asleep during the game,” she warned. 

“Ah, well, you did just have a kid, so…”

“Exactly.”

A voice called for him from the other end of the hall, one side of Lizzie’s mouth ticking up when she slumped further into the hospital bed. “Score the kid a goal, huh?”

“I’ll see what I can do.”

He did. In the third period. A quick stick and impossibly fast wrists, no mascot in New York to terrorize infants and Matt grinned when Claire found him outside the locker room later that night, a bag with a Rangers onesie clutched in her hand.  

[charmed-asylum]

The Partners

The Partners, part one 

Summary: Finn Cox had everything boy would ever dream of a hot cheerleader girlfriend, loved by everyone, and caption of his hockey team. So why is since Camille Dawson step into his life he starts to have second thoughts about everything

FYI: This part was over 15,000 words so it is gonna be split into two. Something I will like to thank lack of sleep, energy drinks, and a KILLER PLAYLIST. Also if you wanna chat let's chat you wanna say how bad it is well let me know you wannabe tag let me know

tagged:   @weapinggwillowss​ @nottherightseason​ @strangerfictions​  @thewolfswriting​ @hauntors 

                                             2015

I look out again to the street, what to say. WHAT THE FUCK AM I GONNA SAY. Maybe that’s my problem. YOU GOTTA SAY SOMETHING BEFORE IT'S TOO LATE.

Let me be clear. Be honest with me and with you. This isn’t gonna be that moment I run out in the rain and throw some shit around and she comes running. No. Maybe if I wasn’t such an ass and didn’t hurt her again. How stupid can I be to do that, again? This isn’t some love story some yuppy bull shit story. Life never like that. Two people didn’t just meet and then it was happy ever after. No, it wasn’t like that. Maybe this is the reason why. Perhaps it’s things like that have people disappointed. Because the reality isn’t like that. At the end of the day, people only dream and wish that they at least have a moment like this. And for some that moment last a lifetime. I look back into the rearview mirror and imagine you that first day. That was when that moment started for us, 4-period Sociology.

2011

He walked into the school with a sense of pride. Everyone gosh over and even ivy him. All the boys wanted to either be friends or be him and the girls well almost all of them wanted him and the ones that didn’t choose him as there passed. He was immune to it all. Yeah, he enjoyed the attention but it felt safe normal. People around the school called him Trophy Boy. Another thing that didn’t faze him. They all love and knew Finn.

The teacher, young long strawberry red hair freckles and green eyes, came in right after the bell. She was in a rush as her skirt wasn't in the right direction. She looked at the class and wrote her name, Ms. Milton. Finn looks at her as she calls out everyone's name. He glances at his side. His boys were sleeping of course. Trying to catch up from last night's party. Then he turned back to his estranged girlfriend, Nikkei who was texting whoever. " Ok class. So because your teacher left for maturity. I will be taking over. The rest of the semester. I calculated all she has done and the rest will be easy and fun but only if you work hard" Ms. Milton started to say.

He could not even think about class his mind was way too busy thinking about practice and making out with Nikkei later. " Lastly before the bell rings. I believe in teaching and testing a person different. For the last couple of weeks, I ask you to come to see me and do a questionnaire which I then decided to make groups of two. You and your partner would do a project for the end of our weeks together. Based on what you learn in the class. It simple paper which one could do. Then a presentation. This whole thing would be worth a good 50% of your grade" Ms. Milton says. She started to read the names of the partners.

He leans back and looks at the ceiling while reading the list." Last but not least this one I really can't wait to see. Uh, Finn Cox and Camille Dawson" she said looking around the class for the two. Finn was confused and caught off guard. He looked around to figure who his partner was. The name why did it sound so familiar. Then there it was the look. There she was sitting in front of the classroom. Staring right at him with her dark brown Bambi eyes. As if she was in a trance. The bell rings but she didn't move. Finn looks away then glanced back. She was by the teacher now. Talking. Finn quickly got his stuff and went. He stops before leaving and glance back to her. She was about five two flat and baggy clothes. That was two sizes big. Complaining trying to get out of it. No, the teacher said. Camille shook her head yes and walk right past him. He could not figure out why he knew her name. Why it felt so familiar.

Sitting on the cafeteria table with Nikkei between his legs. He looks at her. " Remember class. How Milton was all hyper and shit. Do you know anything about my partner, Camille" he said looking at her. Nikkei smile and started to laugh. " That loser. The mute teacher pet wet dream" she said polishing her nails. Kevin sitting across from Nikkei's smile. " I had her in my math class last year when she came here. She is smart. Got me a B+. I would have probably got an A but I kept using my homework for paper for my weed. And I heard that once during gym class. A couple of guys saw her in her bathing suit. Man" he says holding his hands up to pretend to be a pair of boobs. Finn shakes his head in disbelief. Her name. He knew he was missing something but what.

By the time he got home, his dad was in the living room watching college sports drinking bud light. " Finn your home" a voice said from the kitchen. Finn smiles and goes towards the kitchen. A woman in her early forties with shoulder-length brown hair stood by the kitchen counter cutting up potatoes. He came in and kiss her on the check. " What up mom" he says grabbing some potato chips. She smiled and mess up his hair. " You know I don't even like that question. Taking it day by day" she said drinking some tea. He looks at her. " School was good. That's what you're wondering right  Or that practice was the same. Coach up my grill about being a better leader. Then put me on ice when I do what he asked. Oh yeah, some teachers gave me some big project worth 50% ma. With a ghostwriter as a partner", he said eating an apple. She smiled. She always wanted better for him especially a better girlfriend. After a little bit of time pass, he went to his room passing his dad still sitting down watching sports. With one thing now on his mind who is Camille.

Days past and still she was on his mind. Like a bad itch, he could not get rid of. They would be in class and she would be there but he wouldn’t. He would just look at her. Watch her talk just examine everything she did. The times when she knew something smart and she would smile to herself and move hair behind her ear. Even if there wasn't anything.

" Finn. Are you listening to me? It's been days and you just do nothing. What you on something" Nikkei says lending on his lap. He looks at her. He was outside his house on the grass. Smiling at her he says " Nothing. Just thinking. Mom not doing well. Just thinking". She rolls her eyes and looks at her phone. " So you're going to the party tomorrow right. I need you to come or I just look like a tease, Finn" she says looking at her makeup.

She was always about appearance the outer shell. He could never truly care about those things. The social system wasn't made by him. He was there and an active player. Was that what had him interested in her. She was as mysterious as a clear fog. She was part of this social system but she never allows that to make her. She did as she pleases and never mind a thing. Her group section table. But in reality, it wasn't just that.

She was by his locker in the boy's room. Standing there trying not to look at the guys walking around nude ignoring her. Finn smiled to himself as she stood there. She was dress differently than the other days plan black converse with big sweater black legs and her hair curly in a messy bun. Just waiting. He could not remember what they talk about though. She always had that effect. Most times he would just pretend to listen but it was like she was talking in English but he could only hear Korean. The short brief chat. Most he could get out of it was her apologize for being her. Him saying nothing. Of course. Meeting times. Then the number. She gave him her number. Then lastly the party. And just like that, she left. Mysterious.

Finn arrived at the party late. He felt out of place but still, he decided to go. He needed this party. Anyway, it was now more of a celebration of his latest win game he had. The idea of everything drifts off as the liquor and drugs settle in. He was finally his old self. Not a perfect child student and the obsessive of a ghost he was afraid he might become. Laying back he watches Nikkei dance with a few guys. He slowly fell into a high. " Yo Finn look at who here to see you. Looks like you got a stalker" a voice says. Finn opens his eyes time has passed. Nikkei was gone and he was chilling on the floor by people hanging. Getting up he walks over the balcony. It was her.

Out of her limit or comfort zone. Finn watches her. Looking around for him before he called for her. Again those brown eyes. She didn’t say a word but her eyes said it all" Surprise to see you here. Thought you be at some library" he said watching her walking closer to him. Trying to break the ice. Still, her eyes were on him. She didn't answer him. Those eyes. She paid him no mind and went to her bag to take out a pad and pen. Looking up to him not paying attention to what he said" Actually it took an hour of my Friday looking for the right house. Maybe playing loud music and having people trash outside could not have made it less noticeable" she stops and grabs out a tissue trying not to get a contact high " Anyway. If I have to do this to try to get you to work then so be it. Paper easy. I can do that all by myself but" she started to say. Finn cut her off." Look I know you're kinda weird and stuff but it's your kinda not invited. It's not for stalkers" he said scratching his nose still a little drunk. He could feel the frustration from her chest. She looks around trying to adjust what he said then look at him. Her eyes. Shaking her head she gets up. "I have better things to do too. You know what. I won't talk to a child. I was brought up not to judge people. At less not there face. Or the word from some twit. I... Drink this sober up and read the paper" she said then starts to walk away then she stops. She turned back around to him and got close, those eyes. " If you ever wanted to know who I was. Who I am. You could of ask instead of being the stalker yourself" she said then starts to walk away. And just like that, he felt the heavy load of crap. Stupid he thought to himself. Again he was hooked. He grabs at the paper, a bottle of water, and went to look for Nikkei.

When he finally found her she talking to some guy. She was laughing as the person she was talking to was her boyfriend and he was the watcher. He could hear himself arguing with her but he couldn't move. Anger rage full his body. He rushes over and punches the guy across the face. With blood on his hand, he got up and walked away. The Finn that keeps people talking to know not to mess with.

After that Friday night. She stopped talking to him. She even got it that the work she did was given to him by the teacher. He felt awful, no worst. What did she do? Nothing. He worried about her. I worried about the rumors that were going around. Worried if he was the cause of it. What if flowing around in his head. He tried every way to talk to her. Her locker making up a fake announcement. Nothing work.

After class, he decided to follow her around maybe find a way in. Somewhere she could not leave ignore him. After some snooping around some people informed him of one thing. One place he thought he would never go. He walked over to the guidance office. Last chance he thought to himself. Walking in was like walking around a library nude everyone's eyes was on you. He walked into the conference room. People were all sitting in a circle talking. She was there in the center listening. He slowly sat in the back. "So Camille. How did your assignment go a couple of weeks ago? Did it work? Were you able to interact with the partner" the guidance counselor said looking at her. She glanced at him. As if they were the only two that knew a big secret. Rubbing her hands on her knees. She looks around the group. " Well, when I got the assignment. I thought this can be my chance for trying to talk interact with others. Someone out of here. Of course. Try to get better. But all I realized is I was right with staying to myself. I did as you told me and went to the party. He was drunk. After a disagreement we had. I started to go. His friends were downstairs laughing at me. Chanting mean things then started pushing me around. Tugging at my clothes. Some even threw drinks at me. I was able to make it out but my phone died. I had to walk four miles home. All the time thinking. I tried. And this happened" she said still looking at him. He could feel her frustration. She leans back. Still her eyes on him. " Before you ask. No, it was the name-calling. Harassment. Even my phone died. What not that bugs me. Upset me. It never does. Or the fact this guy I never talk to calling me things. That is not true. But that I was able to move past it with no emotions. Numb to it. As an outsider, you see things the truth barefoot true. I still want to try thou again for my family and you guys" she said finally looking away. He was speechless. One girl looks at her. " What about for yourself" the girl asked. She looks at the ground then at him. " We see" she said. Everyone looks at him. Silence a few whispers. It was the first time they realize an uninvited stranger was listening in. She smiled. " But that what I said about gym class. Ms. Tyler, it's time" she said getting up looking around. Ms. Tyler rushes up from that deep story. They all hold hands together and pray.

He waited outside by the door for her. He didn't know what to do but he was running low on ideas. " Lost someone"a voice said from behind him. He turned around to see her standing there holding tight to her books. " Huh" he said surprised by the comment. She tilts her head and smiles. " Our group is for people that had lost someone. A tragic, broken heart, and so on. Some are lucky. The only person they lost is themselves" she said with a frown. He shocked his head. " I want to see you. Well, we saw each other in class but alone. I was an ass that Friday. Hate myself for what I did. I guess... I was just making sure we are still partners and say I'm sorry" he said looking away from her. He could not see her but he could feel the nod. " I lied in there. Finn. I lied. What you did hurt. We are told to treat others away we want to be treated. Give respect but you just... I forgive you. But this won't fix it. Thanks for following me to my locker reading the club board. I can see your effort. Just like how I did with you. I bet you didn't even read my paper. I gave you" she said and walk away. He stood there stunned by her comeback. She was right. He didn't try that much. He was more worried about the grade, not her.

Finn sat on the floor he pulled out the essay she wrote and started to read it. It was good no perfect. Stupid  Rushing back into the office. Ms. Tyler was still packing up her things. " Hi. Ms. Tyler. I was wondering if I can ask you something" he asked. She looks up at him. Her glass almost off her nose. " Yes. Mr. Cox. What is it today" she said. He looks down at the paper then at her. " Camille gave me her address but it is missing a house number. Can you give me her address, please? It's important" he said. It took a few more minutes of begging and sweet talk but he got it. His last try and this time it was all or nothing. 

[fawninhawkins]

can you do a blurb of shawn proposing to y/n while both of their families are on vacation together and they all knew except her xx if not its all good!!

ok totally this is cute af

Mexico was an absolute dream so far. Your family and Shawn’s joint-planning it was the best idea, one that Aaliyah would not stop reminding you she came up with.

“Ready to go to dinner beautiful?” Shawn hummed in your ear as he came up behind you, running a giant hand up your arm to your shoulder where he gave it a light squeeze.

“Sure am, handsome.” You spoke over your shoulder, placing a soft kiss on his hand, still resting on you. As you turned to face him his eyes sparkled and his lip twitched like he had something else to say. You cocked your head at him inquisitively but he turned around and began to lead you from the hotel room before you could get into it.

The hotel was impressive, you observed the beautiful intricacies in the architecture and all of the lush amenities. As you appreciated your surroundings, you couldn’t help but let your eyes wander back to the man with his fingers interlaced with yours, Shawn was tanner than usual although a little sunburned if you were being honest. He had a glow about him today that made you want to hold him close, his energy was just so infectious.

“I need to talk to Connor about organizing the jet skis tomorrow, ok?” He warned you that he was ditching you for your older brother. His voice seemed to falter, but only for a moment. His eyes held that same suspicious glint again but you bit your tongue, he was probably just a little overwhelmed from all of the attention from family and fans and all the activities you’d been doing.

“Sure no problem. I wanted to talk to Aaliyah and Jake anyway.” You returned with an eye crinkling grin. Shawn loved that grin, you always made it when talking about your younger siblings and he liked that Aaliyah seemed to count in that category.

You joined the party of nine. Everybody was here, you and Shawn, your mom and dad and your 24 year old and 12 year old brothers, and Manny, Karen, and Aaliyah. There was a chorus of “hi”s and “hey”s as you and Shawn joined them.

“Hey guys, did you have fun at the arcade?” You asked Aaliyah and Jake once you reached them. “Why are you so dressed up?” Aaliyah was dressed in a beautiful satin emerald green cocktail dress that complimented her dark hair and lightly tanned skin well, and Jake was in khakis and a polka dot button up. 

You were glad you were equally well dressed, Shawn told you to dress especially nice tonight. He said it was formal dinner night. You wore a beautiful deep red dress that plunged enough for tasteful cleavage without parents giving a second look and the ends were tapered so you looked like a crimson wave when you walked.

“No reason.” Aaliyah answered swiftly, glancing away from you and towards her mother who shot her a stern look. You looked between the two confused.

“We had a great time at the arcade. Wish you could’ve come, I would’ve beat you so hard at air hockey.” Jake diverted, sticking his tongue out at you and taunting you.

“Would not have!” You fired back, ruffling his gelled hair. It earned you an annoyed look and scoff, but he smiled at you after. Which was… weird. Usually you messing with Jake’s appearance pissed him off for longer but he couldn’t seem to stay angry.

~

Dinner was delicious but you couldn’t help but feel like you had three heads. Everyone kept looking at you and once in awhile you’d notice smiles creeping over their faces. Your dad winked at you after you caught his eye while Shawn told a story about you freaking out after your seaweed wrap that afternoon, which wasn’t out of the ordinary but he hadn’t winked at you like this since you brought Shawn home.

“Baby, before dessert can we go on a quick walk?” Shawn cleared his voice and it was an octave higher than normal.

“Sure, that sounds nice.” You gave him a reassuring smile, he really must be thrown off from the stress of the festival run and everything else. He shot you a quick smile and then helped you pull out your chair and extended his forearm for you to take. “Thank you.” You gushed, flushing a soft salmon color.

Shawn led you through a small path to a gazebo that was all lit up with string lights, right in front of the sunset blurring in the ocean. “Shawn this is beautiful, did you know this was here?” You asked him excitedly as he helped you up the steps.

“I did it, for you. To-to thank you for all that you always do for me. I thought we could watch the sunset and have some champagne.” He finally admitted, so this was what was throwing him off. He reached down beside one of the pillars and picked up the stemware and bottle, pouring it out and handing one to you.

“This is absolutely incredible.” You mumbled in awe. You gripped the glass and gravitated toward the edge of the gazebo, your hips swaying in small figure eights absentmindedly in content. Shawn slid behind you and leaned against the pillar, he snaked one arm around your waist and pulled you against him.

“Nothing will ever be as incredible as you.” He mused, touching his lips to your hair as you leaned into his chest. The sky was on fire, blood orange mixing with light pinks as they touched down in the reflective dark blue water.

“I don’t think I could be happier than I am right now, I love you Shawn.” You sighed with affection as you felt him move away from you. Turning to see where he went you were met with the best thing you’d ever seen: Shawn on one knee with an open ring box in his hand. Your eyes immediately welled with tears and a strangled sob escaped your mouth.

“You are… everything. You are the most incredible woman I have ever known. You’re my best friend and you give me comfort I’ve never felt before. You inspire me every moment to be a better person to deserve you. People say I’m accomplished and successful, but I don’t think that’s true if I don’t have you by my side. I love you. Will you marry me? Will you do me the honor of being my wife?” Shawn’s voice was more stable and sure than you’d ever heard it, but tears streaked his face.

“Yes, Shawn. Yes.” You cried out as he surged up and gathered you in his arms. He leaned in deeply for a kiss and you were leaned back as far as you could go. It was a blinding kiss, the kind that left you weak in the knees and needing him to support you.

“Here.” He wiped his eyes and slid the ring on your finger. Your voice caught in your throat as you recognized it as your favorite cut.

“Oh it’s beautiful Shawn.” You looked up to him, eyes still pouring and he smiled widely and wiped your tears.

“Don’t cry love. Let’s go tell everyone, they’ve been very excited.” You looked at him confused and then his words took effect. They all knew. That’s why they were being so weird.

He led you once again, this time guiding you with an arm around your waist holding you against him. As the two families came into view you could see everyone’s expectant faces staring at the two of you.

“It’s ok guys, she said yes.” Shawn alerted them to the news and they broke into cheers as you held up your left hand. He planted a loud kiss on your cheek and Aaliyah and Jake ran over to you.

“It was so hard not to tell you, I helped him plan it!” Aaliyah gushed as she pulled you in for a tight hug.

“Ugh I was worried she was gonna blow it, quick thinking with the air hockey thing right?” Jake asked excitedly, proud of himself. You nodded and rang out a laugh.

“Congratulations!” The parents cheered as a waiter brought out a cake that was clearly celebrating the engagement. After the cake was cut, Shawn told the story of how it went down and you sat contently watching him engrossed in his storytelling. 

“So, Y/N. How do you feel?!” Karen asked you excitedly, she could tell you were experiencing a lot of wonderful emotions.

“Surprised and so, so, happy. Though considering how weird all of you were acting I really should’ve been tipped off.” You answered her candidly and earned a chorus of chuckles.