#or maybe as a tia abuela

[mysunshinetemptress]

Rápido

Alexia Putellas x Jenni Hermoso x child!reader

Warnings: none except more shitty writing sorry

You’re still only small, still wobbly on your little legs, and still along way off being able to express your feelings opting to often at times throw tantrums.

You’ve spent more time on football fields than in playgrounds, more time in locker rooms, training rooms, and even physio rooms than a nursery, interacting with children your own age. But that’s to be expected when your Mama and Mamaí are world-class athletes playing for one of the best teams in the world. Surely the experiences they give you during your globetrotting are way better than the silly little nursery, your classmates are also professional athletes who know how to walk, talk and write, is that not better for you than some other snot-nosed two-year-olds who cry when they can’t reach a colour to draw on paper with.

But while all of these experiences are great, you’ve never really learned to share, you haven’t had to, your Mamaí’s are yours, your Tia’s and Grandparents are too. They have to be, they don’t spend any time with any other little kids like they do you. Your their baby, the teams baby they remind you as such when you start to kick off at the sight of them holding other kids hands as they walk out on to the pitch while your stuck with your Tia Alba and Abuela.

It was routine at this stage frustration would bubble in your tiny chest like a deflated soccer ball. You would stomp your foot, a wobbly attempt that would send you teetering before Tia Alba swooped you up, whispering words you didn't quite understand in order to calm you down.

Today is different though, you don't arrive at the stadium with Tia Alba and Abuela, in fact, you don't even get dropped off at Abuela's house, maybe your Mamai's forgot but you don't dare let out a sound in case they remember.

A grin stretched ear to ear on your face as Mama hoisted you out of the car seat. The familiar scent of freshly cut grass and popcorn mingled in the air, a symphony that announced you'd arrived at your favourite place – Camp Nou, Barcelona's legendary stadium. But today, something felt different. It was just you and Mamai's. Mama was here, her strong arms scooping you up and burying your face in the familiar scent of sweat and something sweet that must be Mamaí's perfume. While your Mamí retrieves everyone's bags from the back of the car before coming over and smiling down at you.

"Hola, Rápido," Mamí chuckled, her voice warm against your ear. "Excited for the big game?." You nod happily "Si, Mamí."

Suddenly, there's a loud shout from behind you and your Mamaí’s turn to see Mapi running straight for you all.

"There's my favourite niece!" she exclaimed, reaching out her hands. You giggled at the energetic defender reaching towards her, wanting to be passed off. Your Mama laughs happily giving you over "Hola to you too Mapi." Mapi waves your Mama off as she starts talking to you excitedly and begins to walk inside, Ingrid pulls your Mama into a hug "Hola Ale, Jenni how is Rápido today?." Your Mamaí’s begin to walk in with the younger Norwegian as they smile at the sound of your giggles. "She is good, she still doesn't know about the surprise yet." Ingrid smiled watching your interaction with Mapi as they made their way into the changing room "I think she'll love it."

Your eyes widened as you entered the locker room, hand clutched tightly in Mapi's. It wasn't just the usual pre-game buzz. Today, colourful balloons were tied to every locker, and a giant banner adorned the wall that read: "Welcome to the Team, Rápido!"

A gasp escaped your tiny lips. All your Tia's, your Mamaí's teammates, were gathered around, beaming at you. Cata, the gentle giant of a goalkeeper, knelt down, her arms outstretched. you were, usually shy around so many people, but you ran towards her, a shy smile forming on your face. Cata scooped you up, showering you with tickles, making you erupt in a fit of giggles.

Suddenly, a booming voice filled the room. "Rápido!" It was your Mama, holding a tiny Barcelona jersey with the number "10" emblazoned on the back. It was small just like you, the number your Mamí always wore. Your eyes welled up with a mixture of confusion and excitement.

Mama explained, "This is your jersey, Rápido. You're officially part of the team now!"

Unable to word how grateful you were you ran straight for your Mama, who didn't hesitate to pick you up and hold you close and squeeze her as tight as your little arms could "Gracias Mama." Your Mamí lets out a gasp pretending you had hurt her feelings after not coming over to her. You wiggled out of your Mama's arms as she put you down before running over to your Mamí " Wow so fast Rápido." You nodded happily before trying to squeeze her just like you did your Mama "I'm wearing you." Mamí laughs "Yeah you are wearing my number."

The locker room erupted in cheers and whistles. Mapi hoisted you high in the air, your tiny "10" jersey flapping in the excitement.

Ingrid ruffled your hair playfully. "Looks like we have a new teammate, and she's already stealing the spotlight from Alexia!"

Your Mama, playfully nudged Ingrid with a grin. "Don't worry," she winked, "I think Rápido has plenty of time to learn from the best."

Cata, still beaming, handed you a miniature soccer ball. It was soft and squishy, perfect for your tiny grasp. You bounced it clumsily on the floor, sending giggles rippling through the room. You lay the football down stepping back from the ball and looking at Cata before kicking the ball as hard as you could, Cata softly fell to the right as your ball rolled left past the goalkeeper. The locker room erupted into cheers as the door opened and Jonatan walked in.

"Ladies we have a game to get ready for vamos." The room let out a small apology as your Mamí picked you up putting you on her bench before getting changed into her own kit.

"So you're going to walk out with Mama doesn't that sound fun." You nodded "And you." Mamí shakes her head "No remember I have to hold another little kid's hand." You looked at her confused "Why."

The confusion etched on your face tugged at your Mamí's heartstrings.

"Because today," Mamí explained, kneeling next to you, "we get to share the walkout with other special little kids. Just like you get to today."

Your brow furrowed, the gears turning in your tiny mind. The idea of sharing wasn't entirely foreign, but it usually involved toys, not something as special as walking out onto the pitch at Camp Nou.

That same frustration bubbled in your tiny chest like a deflated soccer ball only this time it felt ten times worse.

You shook your head confused as to why you couldn't walk with both of your parents like you normally do happily in the middle "but why."

Suddenly, the locker room door opened "Ok ladies to the tunnel." Your Mama comes over taking your hand "Ready Rápido?." You shook your head "No Mamí." Your Mama looked at you her eyebrows scrunched together in confusion "Mamí is right there."

You turn your head just in time to see your Mamí take the hand of a random little girl.

A pang of jealousy shot through your heart as you watched Mamí clasp hands with the unfamiliar girl. Her smile, usually reserved for you and Mama, was directed at this stranger. You mumbled, a tiny voice barely a squeak, "But that's not me, Mamí."

Your Mama's brow furrowed. She crouched down, her warm brown eyes filled with concern. "What's wrong, Rápido?"

You struggled to find the words, your lower lip trembling slightly. Finally, it tumbled out, a garbled mess of emotions, "Walk out... with you... and Mamí ... in the middle..."

Your Mama tries but fails to stop your tears and before she can even talk to your Mamí about it the referees in front are walking towards the pitch.

Your Mama tries to walk out after them but your feet are planted firmly to the ground and you are really crying now Alexia knows you are boarding on a tantrum and the Camp Nou tunnel is not it the place for it so she scoops you up Instead, pulling your head into her neck as you continue to cry.

The cheers of the crowd outside the tunnel were a distant roar compared to the storm raging inside you. The hope of walking out with both your parents, a tiny hand held firmly in each of theirs, felt stolen, replaced by an unfamiliar girl who had somehow usurped your special place.

Mama, ever perceptive, felt her frustration even through the tears. "Shh, Rápido," she whispered, "It's okay to feel sad."

Pulling back slightly, she wiped your tear-streaked face with a gentle thumb. "Remember what I told you? Sharing your Mamí and I doesn't mean we you any less. This a chance to share the magic of the game with other little fans, just like you."

You sniffled, trying to process this. Sharing toys was okay, even sharing snacks with you Tia's sometimes. But this felt different. This was your little family.

Sensing your hesitation, Mama smiled. "Why don't we make a deal? Right now, your Mamí walks out with the other little girl and holds her hand. Later, all three of us to walk together and Mamí and I will swing you, would you like that?"

At this point your standing in line every other mascot in front of a Barcelona player except you as your Mama still tries to bribe you.

A tiny spark of hope flickered in your eyes. The thought of playing the swing game might just be enough for you to settle.

Your Mamí looks over to you and Mama worries etched across her face but Alexia just shakes her head and so Jenni turns back to the front.

You only begin to calm down after your Mama has pinky promised to swing you after the match, only then are you happy to go off and sit with Abuela and Tia Alba telling them happily about scoring on Cata and how Mama and Mamí are going to swing you.

Later, as the stadium erupted in cheers, Mamí found you by Abuela and Tia Alba. you were, still buzzing from the match rattling off all your favourite moments as Mamí listened patiently.  At a pause in your ramble Mamí held up her pinky finger with a wink.

"Swing time, Rápido,?" she asked.

You squealed with delight, launching yourself into Mamí's arms for a tight hug. As you walked towards your Mama, the tantrum and jealousy from earlier had completely disappeared. 

Grabbing your Mama's hand you let out a scream as they swung you high into the air laughing at your little giggles. You still have a long way to go with sharing but for now, it's just you and Your Mama and Mamí.

[imakatperson22]

I got this idea from a mlm romance novel I read but hear me out:

Eddie stops by at Tia Pepa’s while Abuela is staying with her visiting LA. He just came by really quick to drop something off or maybe pick something up that he left there.

While he’s in the house, he can overhear Abuela on the phone with someone in the next room saying things like…

“Make sure you go down to that place on Century to get the masa harina not the stuff in the grocery store…”

And

“Let the mole simmer maybe 20 minutes?”

And

“This is why grandmothers always want their grandsons to marry someone nice. Someone to look after them and make them good food. They usually can’t do it for themselves. You’ll make him some nice tamales!”

And Eddie doesn’t think anything of it, probably just Abuela giving some young girl from church advice… until he gets home. Buck is in the kitchen with Chris and there’s tamales in a steamer basket and Eddie realizes Abuela was on the phone with Buck and she was telling him how to make tamales.

That’s when it hits him like a freight train.

[apute11as]

Baby troubles - Alexia/Jenni x child!reader

Summary: Mami and Mama have some big news to tell you, who knows how you’ll react.

Warnings:⚠️pregnancy, sickness, hitting, suggestive language.

Based on this request 🤍

~~~~~

Mami and Mama told you they had important news to share with you this weekend. You wondered what it was and why they couldn’t just tell you straight away but they’d insisted that they had planned a special day on Sunday, where they’d tell you the news.

It was currently Saturday and you were excited as you were spending the day with Tia Alba and Abuela. Alba had taken you to the park whilst Abuela was preparing lunch and you’d bumped into Mami and Mama’s teammate Irene and her son Mateo. Mateo was a good friend of yours as the two of you often ended up playing together with his other mom when Alexia, Jenni and Irene were training with the national team.

The two of you played together for a while whilst Tia Alba sat on a bench and talked to Mateo’s mothers. After a little while, Tia Alba called you and told you it was time to go back for lunch.

When you got home, the smell of food instantly hit your nostrils and you bounded inside to see what was for lunch. To your delight, Abuela was cooking up Tortilla Española which was your absolute favourite. You’d also spotted Panellets in the oven which made your excitement grow even further. Normally, Abuela only made them on special occasions but you welcomed the change.

“Hola Bebé how was the park?” she greeted you with a smile

“So good Abuela we saw Mateo!” You beamed

“Yes we did she was a very good girl!” said Alba

“Ah well that’s good because good girls get dessert!”

“Si si I am so good!” You shrieked with excitement.

——

Lunch was nice and dessert was even nicer. You spent the rest of the afternoon playing games and watching a movie with Tia Alba. The two of you were snuggled up together on the sofa when the doorbell rang. Abuela went to answer it, and was met with the two stressed faces of your Mama and Mami.

“Hola Mami how has she been?” Questioned Alexia, leaving a kiss on her cheek.

“She’s been good mija don’t worry it’ll be fine, how are you feeling?” she questioned her oldest daughter, hand placed on her flat stomach.

“Fine Mami stop fussing please” said Alexia shaking off her mother’s hand.

“Hola Eli” said Jenni from behind

“Hola querida” she said greeting Jenni with a hug and kiss to the cheek.

“Mama! Mami!” You yelled, racing toward them and wrapping them in a group hug!

“Oh mi amor” said Alexia picking you up and hugging you further.

“Careful Ale” warned Jenni as Alexia carried your weight on her hip

“It’s fine Jen and hush she doesn’t know” urged Alexia

“She won’t know what I mean” scoffed Jenni

“She’s also got ears and an annoying habit of repeating stuff so I’d drop it, both of you” added Alba gesturing to you.

“What’s going on?” You asked, confused

“Nothing bebita are you ready to go home? Go find your shoes and bag, Mami can help you” suggested Alexia.

“Mami can help can she?” Asked Jenni with a raised eyebrow.

“Si she can unless she wants me to have to bend over and carry her heavy rucksack?” said Alexia raising her own eyebrow.

With a sigh, Jenni silently agreed and began getting you ready to leave.

“Whipped” said Alba with a laugh that earned her a smack from her sister and mother

——

Once you made it home, Mama cooked some dinner whilst you and Mami sat on the counter drawing a picture each.

“Would you like to help or keep drawing your flowers like the child you are?” Alexia questioned Jenni

“I’ll keep drawing thanks for the offer babe” teased Jenni

“You’re insufferable you know that” said alexia waving a wooden spoon in Jenni’s direction

“Oh but you love me” she replied, standing up to hug her wife from behind.

“Maybe a little bit” huffed alexia

“Mmm only a little bit” hummed jenni, kissing her neck softly.

“Ay no not in front of the baby” hissed Alexia swatting her wife with the wooden spatula, causing you to erupt into a fit of giggles.

“Oh spanking with a spatula, that’s something I could get on top of or underneath your choice babygirl” retorted Jenni with a suggestive wink, hands wandering over her wife’s body.

“Oh! My! God!” Pleaded Alexia, smacking her again after each word. “You are disgusting Jenni Hermoso! What if she repeats your words at school or to my mother huh? What would we do then” she urged

“Ugh fine you’re right sorry bebita” Jenni replied, kissing Alexia’s cheek with a grin before holding a hand out for you to high-five, which you gladly did.

“Seriously you’re teaming up against me now” Alexia said with a sarcastic pout. “I hope the next baby is on my side” she smirked.

“Ale!” Hissed Jenni at Alexia’s comment on the baby.

They hadn’t told you yet and had planned a way of telling you tomorrow, that would ensure the best reaction out of you.

“No next baby!” you shouted

“Ay why no next baby?” Jenni questioned, her gaze flickering between you and her wife’s glossy eyes that looked as though they might burst into tears at your comment.

“Our family is a 3 and girls only! We can’t have a boy baby in it!” you announced

“What about a girl baby?” Jenni pushed further

You thought about it for a minute. A girl baby might be acceptable, you could share toys and play dress up together! But you’d have to share Mami and Mama and you wouldn’t be their little baby anymore.

“No no girl baby! No boy baby! Just me, you and Mama!” You spat

As if on cue, Mama burst into tears beside you.

“Oh Ale, hey don’t cry she’s not thought about it properly” Jenni pleaded, wrapping the younger woman in a hug, allowing her to cry into her shoulder.

“Why is Mama crying?” You asked confused and worried as to what had happened.

“She’s gonna be ok bebé why don’t you go put the tv on for a bit?” Offered Jenni, still holding a tearful Alexia.

“No! Why is mama crying?” you insisted

“Should we just tell her now?” Jenni questioned

“She will… hate me” Alexia hiccuped between tears

“No mi querida she won’t she’ll get over it eventually and she’ll love having someone” Jenni comforted

“please tell me Mama, no hate you never!” you said jumping out of your seat and joining the hug.

Mami picked you up and placed you onto her hip, wrapping an arm around a tearful Alexia and guiding her to the living room. She sat down and pulled Alexia to sit beside her, manoeuvring you onto her lap.

“Bebita we have some important news to tell you but please don’t be mad or upset okay?” Jenni began

“Okayy…?” You frowned

“So do you remember all the needles Mama kept having to put in me every night?”

“Yes they were scary I don’t like needles” you gagged

“Well those needles were from a special doctor and they put something in me to make eggs”

“Eggs?! Your special doctors gave you scrambled eggs needles?” You blurted loudly

Jenni couldn’t help but smile at your obliviousness.

“No mi amor not scrambled eggs, special eggs and when these special ‘scrambled’ eggs from my body are taken by the doctor, the doctor mixes it with something special. Then the doctor put them into Mama” she explained

“I don’t get it” you said with a nose scrunched in confusion.

“Well these special eggs made a little tiny baby in Mama and then after 9 months a little baby will be born” she continued cautiously

“And then you and Mama will give the baby back to the scrambled egg doctor?” you questioned. Jenni felt Alexia tense up and dig her fingernails into the hand she was holding at your comment.

“Well no, this is what we did with you but the other way around. We used Mama’s eggs and my belly and then we had you, so we keep the baby and it’s your baby sibling, how’s that?”

“No don’t want a baby sibling! Give the baby back to the scrambled eggs doctor!” You yelled, smacking your Mami’s arm and running off to slam your bedroom door behind you.

“I told you” Alexia whispered before beginning to cry again. Jenni pulled her onto her lap and began carding her fingers through Alexia’s hair.

“She’ll come around bebita don’t worry” Jenni offered

“How can I not worry Jenni she hates me and she hates the baby, I wish we’d never decided to have another” sobbed the blonde

“No no Ale don’t say that, she’s going to love this baby, we just need to have a proper chat with her ok?” She said kissing her wife’s forehead and wiping the tears away with her thumb pads.

“Okay we can try” Alexia gave in

You’d ended up falling asleep after your outburst, so Jenni and Alexia decided to leave you be and retire to their own bed. Jenni had run a bath for the both of them to destress and had then held Alexia until the two drifted into sleep.

——

Alexia awoke bright and early the next morning as she felt a wave of morning sickness overtake her body, she sprang out of bed and threw up violently into the toilet bowl.

“Oh bebé” Jenni sighed in empathy, remembering when she was pregnant with you and how awful the sickness felt.

“Sorry I woke you” replied Alexia stiffly

“No amor don’t apologise, do you want some water?” questioned the older woman

“Si por favor” replied the blonde

“Ok I’ll be back in a minute bebita” assured the striker, bending down to kiss the midfielder on the head, before making her way into the kitchen.

Jenni grabbed a glass out of the cupboard, and filled it with cold water from the fridge. She was just about to make her way back to the bedroom to give it to Alexia, when she felt a small tug on her sleep shirt.

Glancing down she was met with your small form, clutching your old baby blankie and looking up at her with big eyes.

“Hola pequeña in just getting this for Mama and then I’ll come back and see you okay?”

She questioned

“Sorry Mami, I made Mama cry I didn’t mean to.” You pouted, eyes wide

“Hey it’s ok Bebita” she comforted, placing the cup down on the side and hoisting you onto her hip. “How about you come with me and you can apologise to Mama?” She questioned picking the glass back up and moving you into one arm.

“Okay Mami” you smiled

Jenni walked carefully into the other room, you helping her by opening the bedroom door, as she had no hands left from carrying both you and the glass of water.

Upon entering the room, you were surprised to see your Mama hunched over the toilet, face pale, body slumped.

“look who I found on the way” Jenni said putting you down on the floor outside the bathroom and placing the glass on the floor next to her wife.

You stood watching shyly from the doorway, flinching as your Mama threw up into the toilet bowl.

“Mama are you sick?” you asked timidly, sucking at your blanket.

“No mi amor, I’m ok” she replied, exhaustion evident in her voice

“Why’d you throw up?” you asked

“Because I’m growing a baby in me and sometimes the baby makes me feel a bit sick so that it can grow properly”

“Baby hurt you?”

“No not hurt me just make me a bit uncomfortable that’s at all” she said sipping her water slowly

“Oh ok, when I was in Mami’s belly did I make her sick too?” you asked innocently

“You definitely did, I was up every morning throwing up when you were in my belly” laughed Jenni as she rubbed soothing circles around Alexia’s back.

“Will you love this baby more than me?” you asked quietly

“No bebé where did you get that from?” Asked Jenni

“Well a girl at my school said that she got a new baby brother and then all her family were so excited and gave all the attention to him when he was born.” you explained. “I don’t want a baby sibling because I don’t want you and Mama to forget about me” you said, pouting sadly

“Oh mi amor we would never forget about you, we won’t love you or the baby more than one another” stated Jenni, moving to wrap you into a hug.

“Will baby share my toys?” You asked

“A little bit but we will also get baby some new toys, is that okay with you?” Asked the striker

“Yes I can share with baby” you smiled “sorry for shouting at you Mama” you said moving to hug her.

Alexia attempted to stand up to meet the hug but stumbled back down, forgetting that she’d just basically thrown up her entire stomach lining and likely had no energy left. Jenni moved to catch her before she fell back down, before picking her up bridal style.

“Alright cariño we’re going to take you to the bed okay?” Jenni asked the blonde who was draped limply in her arms.

“Gracias amor” she replied weakly

“We are gonna take care of you and baby Mama!” you assured her

“Thank you Bebé te amo mucho” alexia smiled at you

“I love you and Mami too and I will love my baby sister too”

“Or brother” Jenni chimed in

“Fine maybe a baby brother is allowed” you replied causing the pair to laugh at your answer.

~~~~

Thank you for reading, I’m finally working my way through requests 🤣

[sepherinaspoppies]

The One That Got Away

pairing: Dark! Book Aemond Targaryen x Modern! Reader

summary: After she escapes Aemond Targaryen, back home to the modern world her family decides to throw her an eventful baby shower where she is constantly being reminded of the father of her unborn child.

warnings: mentions of dark! book Aemond, mentions of forced marriage, and future spoilers to my main story.

wc: 4,864

main story masterlist

my masterlist

notes: this was supposed to be a small drabble lol but I got carried away lol. btw maybe this can be read as a stand alone but I do suggest to read the first two parts. this is a spoiler drabble so read if you must or come back to it when the story is finished!

gif by @gameofthronesdaily

As of late, she had begun to feel strange. 

It was not the same ill feeling she felt when she first found out that Aemond Targaryen had knocked her up. No, this was different. Odd. 

The closest she could describe it was multiple sets of eyes watching her every single move. From crossing the street, to walking to the mercado and perhaps even sitting on the toilet as she peed.

It was an unsettling feeling that blossomed into slight paranoia. Alys was the first to have warned her about this after she escaped. Saying she too felt something lingering by days after she fled Aemond and settled into the modern world but it was gone once Alys met her. 

However, that strange feeling was always creeping around, never disappearing. And even though Alys had promised that Aemond would never find her with the many spells and seals she encircled around to protect her, she still didn’t feel quite so easily convinced. 

Late at night, she would pray for that strange yet uncomfortable feeling to be gone and to never come back. But most importantly she prayed to the Gods for the very memory of him to vanish completely from her mind. 

The Gods, nevertheless, didn’t seem to want to grant her daily prayers as cruelly as they were. 

She was near the third trimester in her pregnancy when her primas Gabriela and Mariana decided to throw her a baby shower. While she was in no social or partying mood, considering her six month belly weighed her down every time she walked, she reluctantly gave in to their pleadings. (female cousins)

Mostly because she desperately needed the distraction. 

So she let both Gabriela and Mariana organize the shower. Her only request was to keep the party small, with only her, her abuela, them and the rest of her primas and tias. Seeing as her extended family that resided deeper inside the pueblo, did not know about her pregnancy. And she wanted to keep it that way. (aunts, town)

But did Gabriela and Mariana ever listen? No.

The pair had practically invited half the town over with people she had never met before. It came as a huge surprise after she got done from her shift at Doña Maribel’s shop, just how many people showed up. 

The whole street was filled with baby blue, pink, and white balloons with a huge banner with her name on it. Her neighbors, mostly the women, approached her with congratulations and a small gift. She, of course, thanked them for their kindness. 

Meanwhile her tios happened to be making carne asada in the middle of the street and placing bets on the gender of her baby. If she wasn’t so paranoid about Aemond searching for her, she too would’ve also joined in on their bets. (uncles, roasted meat or barbecue lol)

Her primas were the first to greet her while eagerly showing the decorations they had made, the party games they had planned, and the many gifts she had been gifted. 

“We made these little pins for the gender of the baby, and all of us are wearing what we think the little frijolito is going to be. Now it’s your turn to pick!” Gabriela says holding two pins, each adorned with a baby bottle with either pink or blue. (little bean)

She looked at both very hesitantly, unable to just pick one. She had heard stories from multiple customers that came from the shop, how they just knew the gender of their baby by the feel of their bump or mood symptoms. 

After weeks of trying to feel something or to establish some type of connection for it, she sadly could not get a good feel of what it was. 

Though, the only thing that did matter was for the little frijolito to be happy and healthy. When reading Fire and Blood, she remembered reading how Rhaenyra Targaryen had birthed a daughter with dragon-like birth defects and a scaled tail.

She prayed that she wouldn’t hatch an actual dragon as well. Birth sounded painful and unpleasant enough as it was. 

She pinned both decorative pins to her shirt earning several dissatisfied ‘aw’s’ from her surrounding family. 

“I’m pretty sure it’ll be a boy,” Her abuela added in, sitting adjacent to her on the small couch. “I carried five boys and my belly was as low as yours. When I carried your mama, my belly was higher and rounder from the sides.” 

Some of her tias nodded in agreement. But it was her tia abuela, Dora, who examined her from head to toe, doing what she did best; stirring the pot. “Yes and her belly is very big which means it’ll be a tall baby. Tell me, hija, is the father a tall man?” (great aunt, daughter)

The room went impossibly quiet so much that she could hear a hair pin drop. She saw her abuela shift uncomfortably against the couch as so did the rest of her tias and primas. Although she had not mentioned who or what exactly happened to her family, they all had an inclination of what stemmed between the father of her unborn child and her. 

“Yes. Yes he is.” She answered with a fake smile. 

Dora raised an eyebrow, more than intrigued to know more. “¿Cuánto mide?” (what’s his height?)

In the corner of her eye, she saw her abuela give her sister a harsh look, the same one she’d give her when she was little whenever she did something wrong. 

“I don’t know his exact height, tia. I just know he is a lot taller than me.” She informed, trying not to let her voice waver at the small flashback she had of Aemond, standing in front of her where he’d forced her to marry him against a Weirwood tree at Harrenhal. It was the first time she really took in his massive height. And it was also the first time she felt truly smaller and inferior than him. 

You’re safe. You escaped. He’s gone. He’ll never find us. 

Dora did not let her sister’s harsh stare get to her, and instead fixated her eyes on the way she kept rubbing her heavy bump. “Will we ever get a chance to meet him?-”

“Hermana,” Her abuela warned with a stricter and more stern tone to her voice. (sister)

“Que? I just want to know more about the father so I can figure out if the clothes I bought would be a right fit or not.” Dora shrugs, feigning an innocent look on her face. Though, it was transparent enough to know she was lying. (what?)

Truth to be told, she never really quite liked her tia abuela. No one ever did. Not even her mama or abuela or quite shockingly her own daughter. Dora was known to be a pretentious chismosa, sticking her nose into other people’s business and going as far as to twist people’s words for the sole purpose of her own enjoyment. (gossiper)

Multiple times her family called Dora out for her bad mouthing. But the older woman stuck around like a moth to a flame, awaiting for new chisme to spread. (gossip)

“Well, if the clothes don’t fit we can always buy new ones. So stop being a metida, hermana.” She watched amazed as her tia abuela only huffed, crossing her arms on her chest and for once kept quiet for the remainder of the party. (someone who is other’s business)

To dissipate away the eminent tension, Mariana had brought out custom baby shower tablas of loteria she and Gabriela had ordered from Etsy. She laughed at the ‘La Botella’ being replaced with a biberón and ‘La Sirena’ being replaced with a pair of lactating breasts that tia Diana joked it’ll soon look like hers whenever she’d give birth. (cards of the game loteria. The bottle. Baby bottle. The siren)

As per usual, they played with money involved. She had won seven rounds out of ten against her family and earned around five hundred pesos until her tios decided to join in and tried to defeat her. Keyword, tried. But they never did and pinned four hundred more pesos to her dress. All five of her tios had playfully cursed her out as they kept drinking their Coronas. 

“Alyssandra, bienvenida!” Her abuela welcomed a bashful looking Alys holding a gift. The green eyed woman wore an all black outfit, jeans that Alys had once confessed to her were her favorite stylish invention of the modern world (besides non toxic makeup). (welcome)

“I hope I’m not too late for the celebration,” Alys pointed out, taking a seat in front of her. “You kept my nieta safe those many months ago, you’re always welcomed here at any time, Alyssandra.” (granddaughter)

Safe. 

She let out a humorous laugh. Safe was the opposite of what Alys had done to her. Kidnapped and held hostage was a better fit for words. She had been magically transported to a world she only knew existed in a book, and met one of her favorite book characters, Aemond Targaryen. A man who she thought to be a kindhearted friend by promising to return her back to her universe. 

Instead Aemond Targaryen had betrayed her trust and loyalty by destroying what she needed to get back home. Thus forcing her to marry him. It was then when she realized who he truly was hidden behind empty promises; a man who was crazy and obsessed with her. 

And everything had happened for a stupid sapphire that held a high sentimental value to Alys. 

Alys narrowed her eyes from where she sat but suddenly softened when she saw the permanent bruises on her wrists where Aemond had tied her down for their intense wedding night. 

Multiple times did Alys apologize for sending her to the arms of a delusional man. From what Alys remembered, Aemond didn’t go as far as bounding her whenever they slept together. Alys had let Aemond take his pleasure with a feign smile ultimately to play her game of survival. 

She didn’t quite so easily forgive Alys and she doesn’t think she’d ever will. 

“I still am sorry for what I did.” Alys’ voice softly wandered on her head. 

“I know,” She replied back through her mind. 

As the day turned into night, it was finally time to open gifts. However, not without having cake, her abuela brought out a delicious looking chocoflan. A cake she previously loved but thanks to Aemond, she no longer was fond of it. 

Her abuela cut the biggest slide for her and the little frijolito and called out the rest of the family to come have a slice. In an instant the chocoflan was gone but her abuela secretly whispered to her that she had more in the fridge saved just only for her. 

It took her over an hour to unwrap the stack of gifts she received and she was grateful for the many boxes of diapers as they would come utterly in handy. She’d been gifted a dark green crochet hat with matching mittens from her abuela, a pair of red mal de ojo bracelets for spiritual protection from tia Imelda, a mini thick cobija Mexicana from tio Eduardo, and several gender neutral clothes. (evil eye, mexican blanket)

It was Alys’ gift that made everyone’s head turn in confusion. 

“They are scrolls. I found them as I was cleaning my bookshelf and I thought they might be useful to your babe,” Alys explained as she fully opened one of them, revealing hieroglyphics and scriptures in a language she didn’t understand. 

“What’s… High Valyrian?” Mariana asked ever so curious, over her shoulder. 

Alys interrupted her before she had a chance to speak. “It is a language originating from the land of Old Valyria.” 

Her youngest prima Sofia’s eyes lit up in interest, “Oh cool! Is it like the Sith language from Star Wars?” 

It was Alys’ turn to look at the young Star Wars fan in befuddlement. “What’s Star Wars?”

Sofia scoffed in shock and explained in full detail what the fictional universe that was Star Wars. Well at least she hoped it was fictional. At this point, if Luke Skywalker was real in another universe or in a galaxy far, far away she wouldn’t be astonished. Though, if the opportunity presented itself, she wouldn’t mind traveling to that world to meet Anakin Skywalker. If the real Anakin Skywalker looked anything like Hayden Christensen, within a heartbeat she’d run to Alys to do one of her spells. 

“Who are the Targaryens?” Gabriela questioned reading one of the scrolls that had a list of Valyrian houses. 

“Nobody.” She sharply replied, starting to feel somewhat vexed. 

“They are the people who descended from Old Valyria and speak High Valyrian. They are the only ones who can read these scrolls-”

One flesh. One heart. One soul. 

“Alys.” 

“They sound magical,” Sofia replied, full of awestruck. Only if she knew that they were more than just that. 

“Why did you say that these scrolls would be useful to the baby? Is the baby part Targaryen or something?” Mariana jokes, making her family more intrigued by the edge of their seats.  

“Can’t have my seed go to waste, my love. You shall swell with my child soon enough. A perfect babe born from our love.” 

Stop. No more. You are safe. He’ll never come. This is your baby more than it is his. 

“You are mine. You’ll never leave me…”

“Hija?” She heard her abuela call out her name as she broke out in a run. 

She wanted to get out, every second that she was there, being reminded of the man who impregnated her made her feel nauseous. Maybe it was because of the frijolito or just pure fear. She didn’t know, but either way it was a feeling she didn’t want to have. 

She did not spare anyone a glance, not wishing for anyone to see the panic and wretchedness. 

“I love you.” 

In an instant, she grabbed the nearest thing she could find and emptied out her stomach until Aemond’s voice stopped circulating in her head. 

“Are you okay?” A soft voice spoke behind her. 

She turned around seeing a man around her age, tall with black hair and dark brown eyes. His hand extended a red solo cup that he softly murmured was water.  

She nodded, easing the worry on his face. “Yea just a little sick is all.” The worrisome never faltered on his face, if anything he looked more concerned. “There’s some gelatina inside, I could grab you a plate? When my sisters were pregnant all they ate was gelatina to ease the nausea.” (gelatin aka jell-o)

“No it’s fine, I’ll-” He waved her off, sprinting inside before she could even finish. He brought a small plate of gelatina de limon to an empty table, motioning for her to sit. (lime flavored gelatin)

He watched intently as she took a few bites into the gelatina, humming when the color came back to her face. She sure did feel better, small little kicks to her belly confirmed that the frijolito felt the same. 

“Better?” The dark haired man asked. 

“Yes, thank you.” She nodded, giving him a soft smile. 

“I’m not sure if you remember me. I’m Armando,” He bashfully confessed with a tint of pink on his cheeks. 

Of course she most definitely remembered him. The boy next door she had a huge crush on when she was little. Only that he was not so little now. 

“I do remember you. It still feels like just yesterday when we were sitting here on these tables eating the paletas de hielo after school.” She smiled fondly at the memory. Unbeknownst to her Armando would use the money his parents would give him for school lunch, to buy their paletas de hielo just so he could spend more time with her. It was his favorite part of the day. (popsicles)

Armando laughed as he too looked back at the memory. “I would’ve come a lot sooner to catch up. But I had some business to do in Oaxaca and Merida. I wasn’t sure if you’d remember me since it's been more than thirteen years but I needed to see you just once more before I left.” 

A part of her felt touched that he had come all this way, and the drive she knew wasn’t easy. “I’m surprised you remembered me,” She quipped back. 

“Who would ever forget you?” 

It was her turn to bright pink. She couldn’t find any right words, but what could anyone say? Armando’s confession had been honest. Since she had left al otro lado, there hadn’t been a day where he wouldn’t stop thinking about her. (to the other side/ the states)

She decided to briefly change the subject instead. “I see that you didn’t change your mind about going to Oaxaca after all these years.” For as long as she could remember, Armando more than often would say that he wanted to live in Oaxaca, especially near the coast. What she also didn’t know was that it was her who he wanted to live there with.  

“No I didn’t. I’m building a house there since my papa left me some terreno there after he passed away. You should come visit after it’s finished, soon.” Armando sincerely hoped she would. (land)

Aquí vas a terminar de enamorarte conmigo. He thought to himself. (here you are going to end up falling in love with me) 

The idea of going to Oaxaca sounded not so bad. But traveling with a big and heavy belly sounded tiring and draining. Perhaps after she’d given birth when the baby was past its infancy. 

“I leave in four days and I’d like to see you again. Or perhaps you wanna come with me?” The dark haired man asked, quirking a brow. 

“So what do you think of Armando?” Her abuela slyly probed, after she’d just given her goodbye to Armando. She should have known her abuela would be closely watching their interaction. “He’s gotten taller,” She jokes with a playful look on her face. Her abuela rolled her eyes, “You know that’s not what I mean.” 

She knows what she means but the talk of men was not something she wished to continue further. If she had met Armando first rather than Aemond, she definitely wouldn’t mind the conversation. But yet, Aemond had been thrown into her path unwelcomed. 

“When you left for the states with your mama, Armando would ask everyday when you were coming back or any news of you. We thought he’d eventually get the hint that you were gone for good but that boy still asked about you. It wasn’t until your abuelo finally broke the news to him that he stopped coming here.” 

She remembered that day when she left, her mama barely gave her time to say her goodbyes. 

“He seems to be doing alright.” She pointed out, picking up dirty plates to place them inside the sink. “Oh, he’s doing better than alright. He got offered a position to work at a law firm in Oaxaca and his mama told me he’s also building a house over there. I heard it’s beautiful and spacious.” At the last sentence her abuela wiggles her brows, teasing. 

She hummed in acknowledgement, knowing where the conversation was going towards. “Good for him.” Although Armando gave her a sense of kindness and genuinity, she was in no way ready to be involved with someone romantically. Aemond, too, seemed kind at first until he had betrayed her trust and went completely haywire and delusional. He had shown her a different side to him once she figured out their well thought out plan to transport her back home, was all a lie to get her to marry him and never leave. 

Aemond and Alys both shattered that illusion of the fairytale love she wished to have.  

What’s not to say Armando had an evil and dark side to him as well? 

“El es un buen hombre con un muy buen corazón, tiene trabajo estable. Te lo digo para que lo pienses,” Her abuela advised, gently squeezing her forearm, “A house like the one he’s building, deserves a family to live in.” (he is a good man with a good heart, he has a stable job. I say this so you can think about it) 

Her abuela’s eyes then trailed to her swollen pregnant belly. “One must make sacrifices that we don’t always want or agree with for our children.” 

The party began to slowly falter close to ten, she never was one for sleeping early but after such a long day she and the frijolito needed much necessary beauty sleep. 

Although her abuela said she’d clean, she ended up doing it herself as cleaning gave her a sense of control and some therapy clear of anxiety. She went ahead and took all the gifts up to her bedroom where it was much more quiet and alone amidst others. 

She plopped herself down on the bed, opening a small bottle of lavender oil to rub to her belly that Doña Maribel suggested was good for calming stretch marks. She did not mind them, she knew it was natural for her body to expand to fit the babe, but what did bother her was the itchiness to it. 

Not only did the oil soothe itch, but the frijolito loved it when she would firmly massage the spot where it rested. She once massaged the side of her belly only to find out the dragonling was ticklish there. 

She nearly screamed when she heard two loud knocks at her door, revealing a certain black haired witch. 

“Mind if I come in?” Alys asked, her head popping inside the little crevice of the door. As much as she wanted to be alone, she muttered a simple yes. Alys made herself comfortable by plopping down to the left of her on the bed. 

“I wanted to apologize for what happened earlier, I was out of line to give you those scrolls in the presence of your family.” Alys admitted, her enchanting face etched with sincerity. 

She sighed, “You were. I have a feeling my family will ask me more questions about it.” 

Alys made a face that suggested she was thinking about something, “I could always make them forget it. Just say the words and I’ll do it.” Alys promised. 

“No, no more magic or anything of what I used to think was fictional. I mean it Alys, I don't want to ever think of Aemond Targaryen.” 

Alys understood what she meant, after her version of Aemond died at the Battle Above the Gods Eye, she too didn’t want to think of him. The only thing that mattered was her son, her beautiful little boy that was taken too soon. She regretted not saving him sooner and transporting him to this new world she found. Alys had a feeling that he’d love it here, this country full of colors and great food. 

Even if Alys could bring him back from the dead, her son’s body resided in the Riverlands. 

“What if…” Alys thought before continuing, “What if I could take the memories away? Just the ones of him and-” 

“Forgetting doesn’t change what happened,” She bickered a little too loudly causing the babe to stir and kick all around. 

“I know, I’m sorry.” 

Alys began to admire the many gifts she’d been given, never in her life had she seen so many boxes that read to be diapers. She had only used scraps of linen she’d find lying around and cleaned it when her son did his business. Disposable diapers sounded less work but the thought of the amount of waste in this world seemed unappealing and would much rather keep the scraps of linen. 

“This isn’t really your thing, is it?” Alys motioned her head to the side where her window was, her family still celebrating outside with the whole neighborhood. 

“Not really. This whole thing was organized by my primas and tios. But now that I look back on it I think this was an excuse for my family to throw a party and drink,” She chuckles, even more when she sees her tios, Mario and Pedro dancing together (most likely drunk) to an uncoordinated cumbia.

Alys also lets out a chuckle of agreement, “Your tio Chema kept giving me Coronas after Coronas. I’m amazed that I’m not drunk.”

She smiles, knowing damn well tio Chema loves to get anyone drunk. He’d even pour an ounce to the dog’s kibble too if he could.

“But you are quite lucky you know,” Alys turns to her with a solemn look in her forest green eyes. “To have a family who loves you so much enough to throw you a grand celebration for the babe that you carry.” All that Alys got in return was being called a whore when she was far enough to show. Of course, Aemond hadn’t been one of those people. He rejoiced when she first told him months after he took her as his bedmate. 

“I didn’t.” Alys shrugged. Even though she despised touch, she placed her hand on top of Alys’ and gave it a squeeze. Alys’ eyes began to incite with tears at the gesture, but she quickly shrugged the feeling off. 

“This isn’t about me, this is about you. I know you said no more Westeros talk but I’ve been meaning to give you this for a while now and I wish not to keep it anymore.” Alys placed a medium sized box on her lap. Whatever was inside had some weight into it. 

“You already gave me a gift, Alys-” She declines but the older witch shakes her head and gestures for her to open it. 

She unwraps the green ribbon and opens the top of the box, revealing some kind of oval shaped rock. The color was a mixture of teal and violet, its edges were rough and scaled to the touch. 

It was not just some rock. It was an egg. 

“Please tell me this isn’t what I think it is, Alys.” She murmured anxiously, distancing herself from the object. Alys proudly smiled, “If you assume this is a dragon egg, then yes you’re correct.” 

She immediately places the dragon egg back in the box, afraid of the little thing hatching in a world that it isn’t supposed to be hatched. “You can’t just give me a dragon egg! What if this thing hatches? Dragons aren’t-” She babbled before she was rudely interrupted. 

“Relax, I have enchanted it into a stone. It will not hatch here, I made sure of it.” Alys reassured, placing the egg back onto her hands. 

Still startled, she shook her head. “Nope, I can’t accept this Alys.” She gave the egg back. If anyone were to walk in it’d look like they were playing a game of hot potato. 

“Yes you can and you will. Besides, it’s not like it’s for you; it’s for the babe.” 

She narrowed her eyes, it was still a dragon egg. “How did you even get a dragon’s egg anyways?” 

Alys sighs, sitting back down on the bed taking a trip down memory lane. “My version of Aemond gave it to me. After I told him I was with child he made sure to give me one of Dreamfyre’s eggs. Though, Aemond died shortly after and it did not hatch. My son however, was sad about it but I knew if it hatched Aegon the Younger would send his men to either kill it or to take it for himself since his own dragon died. So I kept the egg for myself.” 

She still had many more questions to ask but for now it would suffice. She walked to the crib that she purchased not too long ago and placed the teal-violet egg next to some dragon plushies she knew the frijolito would like. 

“Thank you Alys,” She told Alys with a smile before releasing a long tired yawn. 

Alys nodded, grabbing her purse, another fashionable invention she loved from this world, deciding to give the young girl some rest. She suddenly came to a stop at her bedroom door.

“You know, you deserve happiness. I believe that young boy with the curls will give you and your babe just that. Give him a chance, take that risk and follow him.” 

With that Alys left. 

Four days later, she knocked at Armando’s door with her belongings in her hands and left with him to Oaxaca. A month later, they both married in a small Catholic church next to their families. True to Alys’ and her abuela’s words, she was happy with Armando. 

Unbeknownst to her, her true husband had been watching through the flames. 

“Oh, my love it seems like you have forgotten who you belong to. Fret not, you will learn soon enough.”

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[woso-dreamzzz]

Injured III

Alexia Putellas x Child!Reader

Summary: Now there is Mami and Olga

After Jenni and after Mami's injury, there's Olga.

She didn't used to be around as often as she is now. You would see her once every few months but now it felt like she was in Barcelona all the time.

You sit in front of Mami one morning as she does your hair.

She seems a little nervous and you try to turn to look at her but she keeps reminding you that she's still doing your hair so you just look forward.

"Do you like Olga?" She asks.

You think for a moment. "Olga's cool," Is what you eventually settle on.

Mami ties off your braid and turns you so you can sit on her knee. "Would you like Olga to stay around a bit more?" She asks.

"Like in our house?"

"Yes, in our house."

"Will she play with me?" You ask.

"If you ask nicely."

"Okay."

Olga moves in properly within the week. She brings with her new decorations to hang on the walls and, most importantly, a lion toy to add to your collection.

There's something in the air that you don't quite understand nearly a year into living with Olga. You don't understand it at all until one day Tia Alba is hanging out with you all and Mami brings out the album with all of your baby photos.

Olga's got a weird look on her face as she traces over the picture of Mami in the hospital bed with the baby version of you bundled up on her chest. She reaches out a finger to trace over it.

"Feeling broody?" Tia Alba teases and Olga's face goes all red like it sometimes does when her face is shown on the big screen at Mami's games.

"There's nothing wrong with that," She says, looking from Mami to you," A baby would be nice."

You freeze suddenly, stopping playing with your toys. "Baby?" You echo," Like baby Mateo?"

Mami laughs. "You can't keep calling Mateo 'baby Mateo'," She scolds lightly," He's not a baby anymore."

"Younger than me," You reply in a huff," So's a baby."

"Well," Tia Alba says," You're younger than me. Does that make you a baby?"

That stumps you for a moment and you think about it for a little while. "Maybe," You say," Mami says I'm her only baby."

"Maybe not for long," Tia Alba teases and you freeze again.

You whip your head wildly between her and Mami. "Why? I'm Mami's baby! I am! I am!"

"You are," Mami says. You know she's trying to calm you down because she's got you sitting on her knee again and she only does that when she thinks you're going to cry. "But don't you want a little brother or sister to play with?"

Everyone's looking at you and that feeling in the air is thick again. Olga, in particular, is staring very hard at you, biting at her lip like she might start celebrating or crying at whatever your answer is.

"Like you had Tia Alba?"

Mami smiles. "Exactly like Tia Alba."

"No, thank you."

Olga's face falls and even Tia Alba looks away. Mami frowns at you, manoeuvring your body so you're fully facing her.

"Why don't you want a little brother or sister?" She asks.

You shrug. "Have to share my stuff," You say," Don't like sharing."

A hint of a smile appears on her face and her finger swipes at your cheek. "Just your stuff?"

You huff, blowing out all your air noisily because sometimes Tia Alba does that when she's been caught out. You fist Mami's shirt. "My Mami," You say," Not anyone else's. Mine."

"I can still be your Mami if Olga and I have another baby."

"But what if you like Olga's baby more than me?" You whole face scrunches up in disdain. "Because it's Olga's baby."

"Do you think your Abuela prefers me over Tia Alba? Or Tia Alba over me?"

"That's different."

"Why is it different?"

"Because your Abuelo and Abuela's babies. I'm your baby. And Olga's baby will be her baby. It's different."

Mami sighs and pulls you tight against her. "That's right, you are my baby. But Olga's baby will be my baby too just like that baby will be your little brother and sister."

"No," You insist," Because they'll be Olga's stomach baby and I was your stomach baby and you had to choose a daddy so you could have me so Olga will have to choose a daddy to have her baby too."

Olga's never really heard you rationalise how you were born before. Alexia probably didn't want to bore you with all the long, complicated details.

She moves from her spot next to Alexia to kneel down in front of you and take your hands in hers.

"It doesn't matter if this one is my stomach baby and your Alexia's," She says," And we can choose the same daddy as you so you and your little sibling can look alike. Would you like that?"

You think for a moment before nodding, looking a little teary. "And-And you'll love me and the baby the same?"

"Of course we will. Two special little babies for us," Olga says, still holding your hand as Alexia holds you from behind.

"You can be my favourite!" Alba says from across the room and Alexia groans.

"Not helping, Alba!"

It still takes you a few weeks to get used to the idea of Olga with a baby and Mami takes you both away for a little trip to a beach house for the week she has off from playing.

You know what it means as soon as Mami puts you to bed the first night and she slips a little box into the dresser in your room when she thinks that you're sleeping.

You'd gone to the jewellery store with Mami to pick it out a few months ago and forgot about it until you saw her put it in your dresser.

It takes a few more days of being there to be alone with Mami (Olga goes to the town to get you all ice cream), where she sits you on her lap and explains to you it would make her really, really happy if you helped her out with something.

By the time Olga comes back and puts the tubs of ice cream in the freezer so they won't melt, you're dressed up nicely in one of your special white dresses that Mami only lets you wear on special occasions.

"Where's Ale?" Olga asks when she spots you alone, kneeling down in front of you and whipping her head around like she expects someone to jump out and take you.

You don't answer her. Instead, you grasp her hand tight in yours and begin to pull her to the backdoor, which borders on the beach. At first, she tries to resist but when she notices you're getting a bit frustrated with her, she lets you pull her along.

You stop as soon as you get through the door. "You need to close your eyes," You tell her," It's very important."

You can tell she's a little amused by you but still on edge because Mami's nowhere to be seen. You have to badger her for a bit to get her to do what you say but, eventually, she relents.

You guide Olga down the beach to where Mami's waiting. She's got flower petals scattered on the ground in a heart shape and you think that she's lucky it's not windy today otherwise all of the petals would be in the sea.

You make sure Olga stands facing Mami before you release her hand to stand by Mami's legs.

Instantly, she's panicked. "y/n," She says, raising her voice slightly," Don't wander off."

"You can open your eyes now," Is what you say in reply.

Her eyes search for you quickly before her mouth falls open at the sight of Mami and her silly petals.

"Olga," Mami says, dropping to one knee and opening the little ring box," You want a baby and a future with me and y/n. We want that with you too. So...please, marry me?"

Olga looks like she's going to cry and she drops to her knees too, one hand reaching to cradle Mami's face while the other pulls you closer to them.

"What do you think?" She asks you," Will you let me marry your Mami?"

You shrug. "You want to have Mami's new baby," You say to her," You should want to be her wife too."

Olga gives you a wet kind of laugh before turning back to Mami. "Yes, Ale. I'll marry you."

[asraindarkness]

ALSO while I’m at it.

I don’t know if this will be a budget thing. Maybe. But the lack of secondary characters is being detrimental to the show, in my opinion.

We don’t have May or Harry, we don’t have Sue, we don’t have Linda, or Carla, or Abuela or Tia Pepa. Hell, they got rid of Chris and who knows when he’s coming back. We don’t have Ravi, when he’s been a fan favorite and people have been asking more of him. Granted, I haven’t seen the level of outrage I’ve seen at this break up, and he didn’t drive engagement in the same way Tommy or even Chris did. But still. Even from the posts Anirudh made - it definitely looks like the departure wasn’t exactly friendly.

And the show is hurting from it. We are seeing the same characters go through the same things, bc God forbid they give them new things. We don’t have new dynamics (and when we do, look at what happened), and we are bored. Main characters are main for a reason, but we need secondary characters as well, and 911 has seemingly dropped almost all of them.

even Aisha and tracie are bored my friend lol. and yes!!! i love ravi and may ( i think may’s actor is going to college but what about ravi??)

they had the budget to drown a ship and crashed a plane for some mid ass stories but they can’t pay for side characters who can bring good stories with low budgets?? please!

[zerokurokawa]

rindou meeting reader’s family at a get together. (she’s hispanic, so you know it’s a big party with lots of food and music). maybe the tias and abuela’s all love him. pllllsssss.

Sharing Cultures And Meeting The Family | Rindou x Hispanic!Reader <3

Rindou has always been fond of meeting your family. He often begged to meet them, as he would suggest going to a nice restaurant and him even footing the bill for everyone. Little did he know, you were going to take him to a real get together. 

You were studying abroad in Japan when you met the delinquent, and of course, you two hit it off instantly. So when you booked plane tickets to go visit your family, you were more than excited to tell him that he was coming along. Hell, you believed that he was more excited than you were; he had started packing almost a week early. 

Once you both arrived at your family's house, the party already kicking off with your aunts dancings and your grandparents cooking. It was like a scene out of a movie for Rindou as a bright smile spread across his face at the sight. One of your aunts invited him to dance along to the music that was blaring. Rindou had never heard this type of music before, but he loved it!

As he was trying to copy your aunts moves, you stared at him and laughed. He was excited to meet everyone and even went around introducing himself. With him being Japanese, they were all intrigued at his own heritage. That's the beauty of coming from a different background, you thought, cultures and heritages are meant to be shared and loved by others. 

Your grandparents were teaching him how to make traditional hispanic food while asking him about the traditions he had growing up in Japan. The conversation went on for hours it seemed before the food was finally ready and everybody was eating. 

"Rindou, is it?" Your paternal grandmother asked, introducing herself to him as she was the last to show up at the gathering. 

"Yes ma'am." He stuck out his hand for her to take and she gladly accepted it with both hands. 

"Rin, this is my abuela on my father's side!" You said, excitedly. 

Rindou nodded his head and smiled while taking a bite of his meal. You could tell by the way your family was welcoming and accepting that they all adored him. It was beautiful, seeing the way they all interacted with each other; asking questions and learning new words in different languages. Rindou even learned how to say "how are you" in Spanish. Needless to say, he wouldn't stop repeating it. 

Your aunt learned how to say "good morning" in Japanese. The whole scene was wonderful as you all ate, danced, and sang along to the music that was playing. You could tell that Rindou was having the time of his life as he danced along with your aunt once more, learning the steps to each and every song. 

After the party was over and it was time to go home, Rindou didn't want to leave without telling each and everyone goodbye in Spanish. You thought this was adorable as you blushed, seeing your family smile and wave at him and how cute he was learning about your culture and even your language. 

"I had a lot of fun, we should do that again really soon!" He said as you both got in the car, driving to the hotel nearby due to you having to catch a flight back to Japan the next morning. 

"We will, I promise. I love visiting my family and I could tell they loved and adored you." You smiled. 

The evening was perfect and Rindou wouldn't stop saying phrases in Spanish. 

[luckybyler]

If the Díaz parents actually gave the slightest fuck about Chris’ actual well-being and best interest, and felt so strongly that they need to be a constant presence in his life, they would be the ones uprooting themselves from El Paso, buying a condo in Southern California and joining Chris’ already existing village instead of isolating him from it.

Chris needs to be with his father, at home, in L.A. He needs Buck, and Tia Pepa, and Abuela. He has his school, his friends; they already know how to navigate social services there to best serve his specific needs. Chris and Eddie need therapy - individually and as a family. Having grandparents that live close and offer to help, babysit, give Eddie a respite when necessary so he can keep Chris and they can grow together is what’s in Chris’ best interest.

But they don’t want that.

What they want is to steal Chris away from Eddie, maybe to have their little do-over, maybe for other reasons. And on the surface it might seem that Chris is happy, but make no mistake. By driving him away from his loving father, Helena and Ramon are ruining (or at least trying to ruin) his life just like they did with Eddie, just in a different way.

[daffi-990]

WIP Wednesday 🌊

Tagged by the wonderfully talented @wikiangela, @diazsdimples and @tizniz. Make sure to check out their snippy snip snippets.

It was so hard to pick what part I wanted to share today from Rival Firefighters 🚒 because I wrote a scene this morning and ahh it was just … I really like it and want to share the whole thing cos I want you all to scream at me but I also don’t want to share everything you know? 😅

Prev snippet here

“Eddie, it’s for you.” Bobby hands him the SAT phone, a concerned looked etched on his face.

Eddie takes the phone, albeit a bit hesitant. Dispatch wanting to talk to him has warning flags flying up. He’s not a commanding rank so the only reason he can think of as to why they’d be tracking him down is because they’re about to give him bad news.

He knows that Buck and Chris are safe. Buck had texted him that they were planning on going to the movie theatre near his apartment and then out for ice cream at that place Chris loves that is not at all in the area where the tsunami hit. They’re safe.

Tia Pepa and Abuela are visiting Eddie’s parents back in Texas and Eddie isn’t Carla’s emergency contact.

Which only leaves one person.

Dread sinks heavily in his stomach like a lead balloon as he brings the phone up to his ear.

“This is Diaz.”

“Eddie.”

He doesn’t know whether to be relieved or not that it’s Maddie’s voice on the other line. Maybe it’ll hurt less coming from a familiar voice. The voice of a friend. Though he can’t help feeling guilty that it’s Maddie having to shoulder the weight of telling him that his ex wife is injured, missing or — no. He can’t even think the word. It’s too painful. What’s he going to do if Shannon is— if she’s — what’s he going to tell Chris?

Fuck.

He needs to find out what the actual situation is before he starts spiraling.

“Don’t sugar coat it Maddie, just—,” he takes a shaky breath and clutches the phone tighter, trying to steady his trembling hands, “just tell me. Please.”

He’s aware of eyes on him, that Bobby has moved just that little bit closer, body rigid and on alert like he’s ready to jump in and catch Eddie if he needs to.

“A rescue boat found Chris. He’s alive, only sustained minor cuts and scrapes. They’ve taken him to the triage centre. Shannon’s on her way to him now.”

Eddie almost drops the phone as his world comes to a stop. He feels a surge of grief, fear and helplessness claw at his chest, their icy talons slicing into him and leaving him feeling like he’s been flayed open. Bile begins to rise up his throat but he swallows it down, the bitter taste of it lingering and burning. He’s pretty sure his heart stops beating and it’s not until Maddie says the words he’s alive that it picks up its rhythm again, a rush of relief washing over him and soaking through his skin, settling into his bones.

He takes a shuddering breath. Chris is alive.

No pressure tagging: @hippolotamus @spotsandsocks @athenagranted @wildlife4life @thewolvesof1998 @fortheloveofbuddie @monsterrae1 @watchyourbuck @exhuastedpigeon @missmagooglie @mellaithwen @bekkachaos @nmcggg @elvensorceress @eddiebabygirldiaz @evanbegins @epicbuddieficrecs @the-likesofus @theotherbuckley @rewritetheending @rainbow-nerdss @princessfbi @prettyboybuckley @puppyboybuckley @alliaskisthepossibilityoflove @steadfastsaturnsrings @try-set-me-on-fire @devirnis @disasterbuckdiaz @giddyupbuck @fiona-fififi @hoodie-buck @homerforsure @honestlydarkprincess @jeeyuns @jesuisici33 @king-buckley @lover-of-mine @loserdiaz @ladydorian05 @captain-hen and anyone else who wants to share something -> consider this your official tag 😘

[daniclaytcn]

anyway, what i'd really like to see is a diaz-centric episode. it could just be eddie, chris and tia pepa hanging out. maybe abuela finally pays them a visit. maybe the diaz parents have a cameo. maybe sophia and adriana show up and we can finally see what their dynamic with eddie is like. an update on how eddie and ramon are repairing their relationship. eddie hashing things out with helena. hell, bring the entire family together in the episode all at once idc. it would be interesting to see how chris gets along with the rest of the family, too, now that he's almost a teenager! like, it's not gonna happen—but a girl can dream

[aashiqeddiediaz]

wait not to say too much before the episode actually airs but buck is literally a part of EVERY family eddie has - eddie’s let him into all of it.

there’s the obvious eddie and christopher, but buck is also made a part of it well before the legal guardianship. eddie lets buck in about the ways he failed shannon and the ways their relationship had failed both of them.

there’s the way buck is over eddie’s Instagram, despite him not using it much, in one of the most pivotal moments in his parenting storyline on tv where there’s something chris might not be able to do the same way as everyone else, and he and buck manage to find a way to make it happen for him anyway

there’s the way eddie mentions his camaraderie with his squad in the army, and the only one that’s let in to the reality of that family, the reality of what happens to soldiers…is buck

there’s this thing of buck having met tia pepa, and assumingly also abuela, given the party at eddie’s house in 4x14. outside of the probationary ceremony and maybe 3x10, no one else has really been made that.

speaking of 3x10, christopher opening buck’s christmas present by the pinball machine, and eddie calling abuela over to join the moment with them???? i don’t celebrate christmas but that looks very family to me.

anyway, there’s the 118, obviously. I’ve always sort of taken it as…eddie’s never found a family like that before, and up until he tells chim about the 118 being the family they chose, he feels like he’s grappling with his place in it a little. but he does end up believing that the 118 is a home for all of them; a family they chose, and one that buck is obviously part of.

and now, for eddie to bring buck with him to a poker night that assumingly, he attends regularly and is given an exclusive invitation to, means that he’s sharing even that family with him. that’s like…

for buck, who’s only ever really had maddie before the 118, to have eddie irrevocably make buck a part of every single family he has, every single friend group he’s a part of…

tl;dr: eddie really said “you’re the family i choose” and there are endless anecdotes I could give to prove it

[exhuastedpigeon]

Fuck it Friday

Having fun (fun is not the right word) writing Eddie finding out about a new OC who he knows from playing with him college and there's maybe some bad blood between them.

Baseball AU I love you. Baseball I love you. Yesterday I spent all day laughing at the shitty new uniforms MLB is rolling out - including pants that are SEE THROUGH (warning you can see a dudes balls in one of the pictures).

“I’ve got a new project for you,” Hen pulled Eddie aside as soon as he and Buck walked into the locker room the day of their first spring training game. It wasn’t a Buck start, so he didn’t need Eddie right now, but Eddie could still see the look of mild panic on Buck’s face when Hen pulled Eddie into her office.  “Don’t tell me they traded one of our starters.” “They didn’t,” Hen promised, giving Eddie a reassuring smile.  Eddie was always impressed with the way she carried herself. She was the first woman to manage a Major League Baseball team, but you’d never guess it based on how she carried herself. One of the reasons Eddie had been so happy to be traded to the Dodgers (besides being closer to his Abuela and one of his Tia’s and his (now ex) wife) was that Hen Wilson was a legend and so was the teams GM, Miranda Williams. It didn’t hurt that his agent had great things to say about the clubhouse. Eddie found out later that Athena was married to Bobby, so she had some insider information about the guys.  “Then what?” “They traded for Watts.” “Why?”

Tagged by @tizniz @disasterbuckdiaz @alliaskisthepossibilityoflove @daffi-990 @diazsdimples @loserdiaz

No pressure tagging @monsterrae1 @rosieposiepuddingnpie @thewolvesof1998 @alliaskisthepossibilityoflove @theplaceyoustillrememberdreaming @thekristen999 @wildlife4life @devirnis @malewifediaz @spotsandsocks @eddiebabygirldiaz @wikiangela @spagheddiediaz @911-on-abc @jeeyuns @steadfastsaturnsrings @cal-daisies-and-briars @organizedstardust @puppyboybuckley @underwater-ninja-13 @jesuisici33 @actualalligator @acountrygirlsfun @honestlydarkprincess @buddierights @elvensorceress @fortheloveofbuddie @watchyourbuck @epicbuddieficrecs

[gamerbearmira]

What is this

Idk what this is tbh, it just came to mind and I wanted to draw and write it and stuff. Not sure what I was going for here 🧌

—————

Isabela, little Isabela who was only 11 years old, stood in the courtyard. The night was quiet but that was the least of her worries. She stared up in confusion at the dark doors. Her Abuela, her mama, her tia, and her tio Bruno. All their doors were dark. And she tried knocking but nothing happened.

Dolores exited the nursery, and Luisa, Camilo and Mirabel followed behind her. Their eyes were red and puffy, and Camilo clung tightly to her night gown while Luisa carried Mirabel.

Once downstairs, Isabela turned to her prima. "Nothing?" She asked and Dolores nodded.

"I...I can't hear anything. No adults," Dolores said, her eyes wide and darting around. "I-I don't understand."

Isabela but her lip and glanced around at the darkened doors again. "Do you...think it has something to do with the doors?"

Dolores glanced at the doors as well. Luisa had sat in the floor, and Camilo and Mirabel leaned against her. "Maybe...but...the candle is still there. And we have our gifts..."

Isabela glanced at the candle. She was right. It was still there. It was weird. And Casita seemed to be there but it was just as clueless as them.

They sat in the darkened courtyard, a long silence stretching. The only sound was the ambience of the outside and the soft sniffling of the children. Where did their parents go? Their tio? Their abuela? Had...had they died...like their Abuelo Pedro?

A knock broke the silence. Isabela and Dolores exchanged glances. Isabela stayed back, ready to protect her siblings as Dolores crept closer to the door, her head tilted as she listened.

"It's...it's Mariano," she whispered. Isabela urged her to open the door and Dolores opened one of the large green doors.

"¿Hola?" A voice came from the other side. It was Mariano. Dolores opened the door further before peeking her head out fully. It was Mariano, the son of one of Abuela's closer friends. It was him and...he had his other siblings along with him. They were all similarly aged to the Madirgal siblings themselves, and she saw them in town often.

"Mariano? What are you doing here? C-Come inside," Dolores said, and she ushered him and his siblings inside. They were still in their pajamas, just like Dolores and her hermano and prima.

Mariano's siblings aat down with Luisa, Camilo and Mirabel, their voices soft as they whispered to wach other. It was perhaps an attempt at some sense of normalcy given their situation.

"Mariano? It's late, why are you here?" Isabela asked after pulling him and Dolores aside. They were the oldest of all the kids, with Mariano being only about a year older than them at 12, and they saw the adults do it before.

"Well, I was at home, right? And I had gotten up to get some food for mí hermanita," Mariano began and Isabela and Dolores nodded. "Well when I went back upstairs, mí mamá's door was open. And I was confused, so I checked and...they weren't there. My parents."

"What? You too?" Isabela asked eith wide eyes and Mariano raised an eyebrow, confused.

"Huh? What do you mean?" Mariano asked and he say tge two girls glance up the stairs. He looked uo as well, and saw the dark doors. "You mean...all of them are gone too?"

Dolores nodded. "I was awake but I didn't hear any of them. Usually at least one or two of them are up, but they were all gone. I can't hear any of them."

Mariano frowned as he glanced at his siblings. "I couldn't find them either. Its like they just vanished."

"What do you thunk happened?" Dolores asked, looking between her cousin and friend.

"I don't know, but...we have to figure out what we're gonna do," Isabela said. "I don't want the yiunfer ones to freak out. Maybe tomorrow we'll go out into town and see if anyone else is having the same problem."

—————

Just a bunch of little kidz with no adults. Quite possibly stuck in time. Again, not sure what I was going for tbh. Antonio probably appears sometime later by magic or osmosis idk

[alost-traveler]

7x10 Speculations

So, today we got stills (x) and I have some theories. It’s going to be multiples theories at once, so buckle up.

First, I think the episode will pick on the same night when Athena’s house burns.

The dinner date – The aftermath of the Kim/Shannon situation

I think Buck’s night starts by him cooking dinner for his dinner date with Tommy. Tommy wouldn’t be here maybe because he’s still on shift. Then, he receives a phone call by Eddie who is losing his shit after the Kim/Shannon incident. Buck talks with Eddie who explains to him everything. Maybe Eddie will explain that Chris has locked himself in his room and both Kim and Marisol broke up with him. Then, the Diaz Parents are here. Why are they are? Same reason that Abuela was there for the wedding, YOLO. Maybe the Diaz parents are there to visits family, don’t forget that Tia Pepa also lives in LA. I think they invite themselves or Chris called them since he knew they were coming. But I think they invite themselves and they feel that something is fishy. Just after they arrive, Buck gets a phone call from Tommy and is happily leaving. Then the Diaz parents look at Eddie who has no one in his corner. Eddie explains the situation and even shows them the photo.

Buck then has his date with Tommy and everything seems to go well. Either during dinner or after, Buck gets a phone call telling him that Bobby and Athena are in the hospital. Tommy goes with him; Lou has been seen wearing the same clothes that he is during the dinner dates.

The Madney – Henren scene:

From interview, we have seen JLH wearing the same outfits that she’s wearing on the still and on that same interview, Aisha was wearing the same outfit that she’s wearing on the hospital stills. It seems to be a happy scene full of smile and sunshine. We know that’s not going to last. JLH had said either in interview or in a story that Chimney and Maddie will do something romantic for a couple. My guess is that after the Mara situation, Chim and Maddie invites the Wilson at their home and try to find a solution. There’s a theory that’s roaming around and I agree with that theory. I also think that the solution find would be Chimney and Maddie proposing to become Mara’s foster family until she gets permanently placed at the Wilson’s. Will they succeed on the episode? Not likely. The episode seem packed but I think they will be one step closer and that will set their storyline for S8. Then either Chim or Hen gets a phone call.

The hospital:

I think Chim and Hen would arrive alone and first. Upon seeing that neither Buck nor Eddie are there, I think they will call them and ask them to come. Then, the four of them are. Athena wakes up and asks for Bobby. Bobby is not doing well because well the guy is on a ventilator. So, not fun. Then the chief comes and informs them of Bobby’s retirement. Which is why they are shocked. I also think that Gerrard might replace them, we saw the actor on set. I have another theory so more on that later.

The day after: I think most of the episode will be spend during the morning after and I have multiple points.

The 118 will stay all night and the scene with Chief Simpson might be the day after.

All the 118 have a moment with Bobby. Eddie has one and will pray using the Bible gave him.

Hen might leave first, maybe to confront the congresswoman or to have a meeting with Dedra. She will then call Chim to explain the situation.

Buck and Eddie will go home and change. The next day, Eddie will have a talk with Christopher who will say that he’ll leave with his grandparents. Eddie will not take the news well and will have a talk with his dad. Since the previous season, Ramon became more and more supportive of Eddie so I think he will try to recomfort Eddie by telling that Christopher leaving for the summer might be a good thing. If one of the Diaz parents will attack Eddie, it would be Helena.

Before Chris leaves, Buck goes to say goodbye to Chris. Before leaving, Eddie and Chris will have a heart to heart and maybe Chris will tell that he’s mad at his dad and leave without forgiving him.

Athena will leave the hospital and goes to Amir. She feels that something else happen in the desert will find a photo that would prove that. She goes to Amir to asks for question. But then, the troubles come. I think that the Cartel are the one that burned Athena’s house. They have the resources. Also it won’t be the congresswoman; Bobby has no tied to her son’s death. Hen was in charge that night. Not Bobby. Bobby was away.

What about Gerrard?

The fact that he was bought from the flashback is interesting. The guy will for sure come back in S8. I think he will replace Bobby as captain. Gerrard is just one lucky son of a bitch.

Why wouldn’t it be one of the 118? Let me explain

We know for Chim that he doesn’t want to be captain. The guy had the job and prayed the Lord for Bobby to come back.

I think Eddie doesn’t want to be captain. He seems content in his position and might not want to be captain.

Buck is not ready to be Captain. Buck is the one that is more captain material. He was shown to have leadership skills. But he also lacks rigor and discipline. He would be a great captain, could even be better than Bobby. But now is too early and he still has a hot head temperament.

But then why not Hen? She was acting Captain twice while Bobby was gone, one in S6 when Bobby was in Florida because Athena’s dad had a heart-attack, once in S7 when Bobby was on a cruise. So, if Hen had been already been acting Captain twice, why not a third time? Two possibilities:

One. The chief refuses because of disciplinary reasons. She might got a medal because of the cruise ship situation. She still disobeyed orders. She might not be awarded because of that.

Two. The congresswoman. I don’t think we will see the last of her in S7. She is razor focus on ruining Hen’s life and she pulled out the Mara situation pretty easily. Who said that she doesn’t have another card in her hand?

[hippolotamus]

Fuck it Friday 🌻

tagged by @thewolvesof1998 @daffi-990 (do yourself a favor and visit their FIF posts. promise you won't regret it)

no pressure tagging @disasterbuckdiaz @ladydorian05 @wikiangela @malewifediaz @shortsighted-owl @eddiebabygirldiaz @stereopticons @elvensorceress @giddyupbuck @monsterrae1 @spagheddiediaz @spotsandsocks @chaosandwolves @wildlife4life @heartshapedvows @loserdiaz @your-catfish-friend @statueinthestone @buddierights @911onabc @hoodie-buck @the-likesofus @fionaswhvre @barbiediaz @eowon @honestlydarkprincess @spaceprincessem @pirrusstuff @jesuisici33 @steadfastsaturnsrings @watchyourbuck @weewootruck @exhuastedpigeon @underwater-ninja-13 @messyhairdiaz @gayedmundodiaz and anyone else who wants to

so i kinda got this idea. it's more than likely going to the backburner for a while (i have got to finish the stuff i already started) anyway, i came across this post that was adorable af (some screenshots below)

brain said 'huh. what if a young Eddie wants to take young Evan on a date? and then gets shamed for it. because of course he does. and then Eddie has to work through all his crap as an adult so he can then ask Buck on a date?' so i'm dumping what i have under the cut. mwah!

Eddie sits on the end of his parent’s bed, kicking his bare feet in time with a song only he can hear. He can’t remember the name, only the basic rhythm that his music teacher, Ms. Hughes, taught them. 

Tap Tap Thump! Tap Tap Thump! 

The wooden footboard is starting to bother his heels, turning them a faint red, but he continues tap-thumping along, not ready to stop just yet. It keeps him busy while his mama gets ready for a night out with Papa.

“What do you think, Eddito?” She asks, meeting his gaze in her vanity mirror.

She holds up two different earrings. One is tiny, barely visible between her fingers except for the way it sparkles in the light. The other is bigger, in a sort of loop shape with a jade stone at the bottom that matches her green dress. He thinks she looks pretty with both of them, but he remembers his dad boasting about the tiny one being a real diamond. Eddie’s not sure what that means. It seems important though if the way Papa looked was any indication.

Papa was so proud when he gave them to her after his last business trip, practically beaming. Mama wasn’t quite as pleased. Not like she was when Eddie and Sophia gave her the jade pair for Christmas. Maybe she was just tired that day? She usually is when Papa goes away for work. 

“The sparkly ones,” he tells her confidently. If Papa knows Eddie helped choose them for tonight, maybe it’ll help him earn some extra time for catch tomorrow. 

Eddie’s been extra helpful this week, helping Mama look after Sophia, setting the table, and dusting around the house before his dad came back from Houston. Hopefully Mama will mention that, too. He might only be nine but he’s getting bigger all the time (Abuela tells him so) and can do a lot more things than his little sister.  

“Thank you, mijo.” She tucks her long hair behind her ears so she can put the earrings in. 

He rearranges himself on the bed so he’s on his belly with elbows bent, chin resting on his open palms. His feet automatically restart their rhythmic drumming. 

Mama picks a lipstick and carefully swipes the brilliant red across her lips. She pinches them together a few times before she’s satisfied, swapping the small tube for a square container and something that looks like a funny, fluffy paint brush. He watches her swirl the brush and lift it to her cheeks, tinting them a dusky pink. 

“Where are you and Papa going?” 

“Out for dinner at a nice restaurant. Maybe some dancing.”

“Why?” He asks, not particularly sure why he suddenly wants to know. Tia Pepa is babysitting tonight, which means a bowl of ice cream neither of them will ever admit to while they watch telenovelas.

“He’s been traveling and it’s a nice way to celebrate when he comes home.”

“Because, Edmundo.” Papa glides through the doorway, like he was waiting for the perfect moment, stopping to stand behind Mama. “You’ll figure this out when you’re older, but date nights are key to keeping everyone happy. Especially your mother.” 

He tilts her chin up, leaning down for a kiss. Gross. 

“Ramon,” she scolds. “Now I have to fix my lipstick.” 

Papa sighs playfully. He turns to Eddie, shrugging as if to ask what are you going to do?

“So a date is just going out to a fancy restaurant? For no reason?” Eddie muses aloud. The whole thing sounds a little boring and undeserving of a special title. 

“It can be,” Mama says. “Or it can be some other activity. People go out just because and for meaningful days, too, like an anniversary or birthday. As long as you’re with someone special, it can be whatever you decide.”

Oh. Well that changes things. 

“Like laser tag and pizza?” 

“Sure,” Papa answers with a chuckle while he digs through a dresser drawer. 

An idea begins to form in his brain. His best friend in the whole world, Evan, is moving at the end of the summer, just weeks away. Evan and his sister, Maddie, have lived next door as long as he can remember. He and Eddie do everything together. Other than his family, there’s nobody more special than Evan.

[cal-daisies-and-briars]

🧟🧟🧟🧟🧟🧟🧟🧟🧟🧟🧟🧟🧟🧟🧟🧟🧟🧟🧟🧟🧟🧟🧟🧟🧟🧟🧟🧟🧟🧟🧟🧟🧟🧟🧟🧟🧟🧟🧟🧟🧟🧟🧟🧟

Eddie time! 129 for 🧟:

---

Eddie quickly learns that, though there are many similarities between Maddie and her little brother, there is one considerable difference. At least when it comes to long drives. Maddie and Buck are both kind and brave and gentle. Lionhearted type people, to be sure. They’re both well-spoken and intelligent. Friendly. Except, whereas Maddie was perfectly fine letting long stretches of time pass in relative silence, Buck cannot seem to accomplish this. He likes to talk. A lot. 

It’s not that Eddie has a problem with chatty people. He doesn’t. Shannon was really chatty, back when they got along. Eddie tends to not know how to fill silences, even when he should, with anyone but his son. So having someone who seems to be very adept at it is generally a good thing. And really, it would be. Eddie might appreciate it, any other day. Just today? So soon after leaving his kid and so close to finding or not finding Shannon?  Today, Eddie just doesn’t have the necessary social energy or focus to respond properly. And it’s making him feel sort of rude.

“I haven’t been to Los Angeles since I moved back here from Peru,” Buck starts their drive by explaining. 

“Peru?” Eddie blinks, confused. He’s only half-listening.

“Yes!” Buck explains. “I spent half a year working at a resort in Peru. Like an all-inclusive. Mostly attracted college-age party crowds, you know?”

Not really. Eddie had a kid before his nineteenth birthday. The closest to a party vacation he got was the fact that there was a beer festival happening an hour away from the military hospital in Germany where he recovered from being shot. 

He doesn’t say this.

“Right,” he mumbles instead.

“So, yeah, anyway, I moved here from Peru, and got the flight from Lima to LAX, and that was literally the last time I was in Los Angeles.” Buck continues with his story. “I always told myself I’d go more but between the fire academy and working and dating, I never did anything touristy.” 

“Life sure gets busy,” Eddie mumbles affirmatively.

“Yep! And then the world ends.”

It’s easy to say that. That the world has ended. And in a lot of the ways that matter, it feels like it really has. But maybe the scariest part is that it hasn’t. Not entirely. The scariest part is that there’s just enough left that Eddie and everyone else still alive and not a fucking zombie can’t throw in the towel. There’s way too much to keep fighting for. 

“So, what about you, man?” Buck asks.

“Me?” Eddie asks.

“You been to L.A. before or is this gonna be your first time?”

Right. That’s what they’d been talking about. Or, rather, that’s what Buck had been talking about. Sort of. 

“Yeah, I’ve been,” Eddie answers. “My Tia… Pepa. She lives… Lived…”

He takes a struggled breath at the thought of referring to any of them in the past tense. 

“My Tia and her kids lived out here and my Abuela moved out when I was fifteen or sixteen,” Eddie continues. “We visited.”

Buck graciously skirts over the fact that Eddie has just struggled to mention the family he’s lost.

“Oh, hey, that’s cool,” he says instead. “So you’ve done the touristy stuff?”

“Mhm,” Eddie confirms. “Some of it.”

His lack of elaboration seems to disappoint Buck a little. 

Eddie finds that he does not like that muted, disappointed look. It makes him want to scramble to bring his easy smile back. Shoot. Now is not the time for a crush. Not that there ever has been a good time for it. Slowing down and letting himself feel anything would confirm what Eddie’s quite sure he already knows. What he has probably always known, on some level. 

He’s gay. 

He’s gay and he’s searching for his estranged wife with the very handsome, very talkative brother of the woman he’s entrusted his son to. 

Yeah, not a good time for a crush. Like, at all. 

And yet he finds himself talking to mollify Buck anyway.

“I liked Griffith Park and Runyon Canyon,” Eddie says. “I like hiking.”

Buck lights up again. Eddie finds it stupidly endearing.

“I like hiking, too!” He exclaims. This turns into a full story about a hiking trip through the Shenandoah Valley when he lived in Virginia. Seems like this guy has lived everywhere. 

Eddie sits back and listens as he talks, eventually finding the raspy, excited lilt of his voice comforting. He finds himself wondering, perhaps stupidly, if in another life, they might be the sort of people who are well-suited for one another. Someone to hike and be active with. Someone to fill his silences. 

Eddie blinks the thought away. It’s useless. Right now, he has to focus on the road ahead of him, not the road he never got to take. 

▪️▪️▪️

It’s a two hour and twenty minute drive from Sunport to Los Angeles in theory. Eddie thinks. He doesn’t actually know for certain. It’s about two hours from Santa Barbara and he tacked on the twenty minutes. He doesn’t have Google Maps anymore. And he doesn’t know how long it will take to reach Shannon’s last known address in the city. This is all just a fuck ton of guess work, really. 

In practice, it takes them longer. They make it past Ventura, driving the same way he and Maddie had come, without an issue. It’s once they’re on a new route towards the city that things start getting complicated. 

First, the bridge over the Santa Clara River is out on the 101. Eddie’s not sure how this happened. It has not been long enough for the structure to naturally decay. It looks sort of… Blown up? Like someone intentionally destroyed it. They have to circle back and head northeast until they find another option. 

Not long after that, before they even reach Camarillo, there’s a transport truck overturned on the highway. Normally Eddie would just drive on the grass around it, but they’re on a steep hill. One one side of the road, the ground juts out above them. On the other side, it drops off after a guard rail. They’re sort of fucked. 

“This is ridiculous,” Eddie complains as they turn back around.

“Haven’t you driven all over?’ Buck asks. 

“Just from Texas,” Eddie says.

“So haven’t you seen way worse?” Buck asks. “Maddie says you were attacked by lions.”

Eddie shudders at the memory.