#party planning with aunt p

[javierpena-inatacvest]

Chapter 18: Hole in None

Summary: During your bridal shower, Steve takes Javi golfing. When they return, the way Javi is acting has you questioning everything you knew about your relationship.

Word Count: 12.1K (getting back to my roots of a short chapter LMAO)

Warnings: SMUT(18+) unprotected p in v sex (wrap it up irl pls), oral (f receiving), creampie, praise kink, breeding kink (if you squint?), makeup sex and getting caught (The Murphy's will never catch a break) ANGST (I'm so sorry!!), Hurt/comfort, Javi being super insecure, you being confused as hell, Steve being an absolute idiot

A/N: HELLO. IT'S ME! I DO EXSIST! I am genuinely SO sorry that this chapter has taken a million years to happen. December has been so busy and I have had no time to write, so I really, really appreciate all of your patience 🥺 This is a lil different than any other chapter we've had so far in the NTL universe, it's a lil angsty-er than normal but ya girl only believes in happy endings so don't fret!!! Also poorly beta'd bc I have the stomach flu and I am 100% there are mistakes in this chapter that I'm sure I missed 🫠

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“Do I really have to do this? This thing hasn’t even started yet and I’m already exhausted.” 

“Yes, Hermosa, I do think that most people do expect the bride to be at her own bridal shower.” Javi laughed, staring into the bathroom mirror as he ran his hands through the dark curls of his hair, fixing them into place as you stood next to him, finishing the rest of your longer than usual makeup routine to prepare for being the center of attention against your will for the next several hours. 

It wasn’t that you weren’t grateful that your co-workers wanted to throw you a bridal shower before your wedding, now only a few weeks away- the sentiment of the whole thing was incredibly thoughtful. Your 3rd grade teammates had even found a way to get in touch with your family to make sure that your mom, aunts and cousins felt included in the event, too. You should have been thrilled about the fact that the people who loved you most in the world were coming together to celebrate your upcoming wedding and quite literally showering you with gifts, but if there was one thing you hated more than anything else, it was the social exhaustion that came from having a party planned for no one but you. 

You had really tried to convince Maria, Estelle, Linda, and now, your mom that you didn’t need a bridal shower- your wedding was going to be small, and since you had already been living on your own, there weren’t a lot of things you needed as you started married life together. Unfortunately, neither of those arguments were going to stop those ladies from going all out for you, leaving you feeling like your bridal shower was turning out to be even bigger than your actual wedding. 

“Don’t you think I could just get a cardboard cutout of myself and use that instead? All these ladies love to talk so much that I don’t think they would even know the difference.” You sighed, giving yourself a once over in the mirror before putting away the rest of your makeup as Javi snuck behind you, wrapping his arms around your waist, planting a soft kiss into your shoulder as he pressed his chest against your back. 

“I have a feeling that someone would notice.” Javi chuckled, a soft grin spreading across his face as your eyes met in the mirror, his smile and sweet eyes enough to calm your nerves for at least a moment. “I would definitely notice.” 

“Well that’s easy for you to say, you don’t even have to be there.” You huffed, letting a little pout fall from your lips as Javi playfully shook you in his grasp, trying your best not to smile as you tried to keep up your unenthused facade. “It’s not too late to trade. You can go to the bridal shower and I can go golfing with you and Steve.” 

Even though Javi had insisted he was more than happy to stay at the shower with you, Maria had insisted that Javi find another way to spend his time so the spotlight of the day could be on you, and not him being distractingly handsome to everyone else there. Lucky for Javi, that meant extra time to spend with Steve while Connie was at your shower- not so lucky for you that Maria had banished your future husband from attending an event for your own wedding. 

“I honestly may have to take you up on that. Steve must have needed an ego boost when I let him pick what he wanted to do while you and Connie were at the shower because he knows I can’t golf for shit.” Javi’s overdramatic sigh and roll of his eyes was enough to make you break into a little giggle, turning your head enough to press a quick kiss onto his cheek before reaching your hand under his chin, giving his jaw a little jiggle. “It’ll go by fast, Osita, I promise. And then, when we get home,” he paused, pressing another kiss into your shoulder and up towards your neck, digging his fingers a little tighter into your sides as he rasped into your ear, “I’ll take as much time as you want to destress you.” 

“As much time as I want? Bold of you to assume that the dog is gonna give us that long.” You snickered as a happy Bear trotted into your bathroom right on cue, his tail loudly thumping against the bathroom cabinets from his happy wags as he wedged himself between you and Javi. 

The newest furry member of your household had been a well loved addition, but if there was one thing Bear had no concept of, it was privacy. Your dog had become a constant shadow to you and Javi anywhere and everywhere in your house, including your in your bedroom, even when you were, well, not sleeping. It hadn’t helped that Javi had already formed such a soft spot for Bear, and had let him on your bed from the moment he stepped foot into the apartment, and now, your dog and his clingy personality had become a new obstacle to try and navigate in your sex life. 

“Someone needs to tell his dad that he’ll survive if he gets left out of the bedroom for a half hour, huh? That he’s adorable, but that he can be a little cockblock, can’t he?” Squatting down next to Bear, you wrapped your hands around his face, scratching behind his ears as you mockingly serenaded him, raising an eyebrow at Javi. 

“He just sounds so sad when he whines and he’s trapped outside the door.” Javi grumbled, kneeling down to join you, patting Bear’s stomach, now much thicker and fuller than it was a few weeks ago after you had first brought him home, skinny and neglected from his lack of care from his previous owners. 

“You say trapped like we're kicking him out to the streets when we close the door on him. He’s adorable and sweet, but he’s a dog, Jav, he’ll be okay.” You smirked, playfully scolding Javi as you peppered Bear’s head with kisses, making his tail thump even harder as it wagged back and forth. “Tell your dad you’ll be just fine, won’t you?” 

“Yeah, yeah, yeah…” Javi groaned, knowing damn well you were right, even though he couldn’t bring himself to admit he had become an absolute softie for your new dog. “Alright, Hermosa, we gotta get you to this shower before Maria yells at me for making you late.” Pushing his hands against his knees, Javi let out a little grunt as he pushed himself back up to stand, checking the time on the silver watch wrapped around his wrist. 

“Wow, so eager to get rid of me, you must really be excited to go get your ass kicked in golf.” You teased, now following suit and straightening out your dress as you stood, throwing your arms around Javi’s neck, pressing up on your tiptoes to plant a little kiss on his lips. “Sure you don’t want me to golf for you?” 

“I’m sure, you dork.” 

After Javi had insisted on giving Bear more than his fair share of treats before the two of you left for the day, you were on the road to Maria’s, Javi insisting that he drop you off, instead of letting you take the treacherous 2 minute drive by yourself. As you drove down Maria’s street, you couldn’t help but smile at the memory of walking up to her house for an end of the school year party almost exactly a year ago. A party that had ultimately turned a handsome stranger from the Laredo Sheriff's department into your future husband, now sitting in the driver’s seat on the way to your bridal shower. You couldn’t help but laugh to yourself at the irony, leaning your head over onto Javi’s broad shoulder as you pulled up to Maria’s house. 

“What’s up, Osita?” Javi asked, a twinge of confusion in his voice at the content and calm of your demeanor as the two of you arrived at the event that you had been seemingly dreading for days. 

“I just- It was probably a year ago to the day the last time that we were at Maria’s house. Crazy to think that a year later we’re getting married and here for my bridal shower. I don’t know, a year ago I never would have thought I would have met someone I love so much, let alone be getting married, building a house, owning a dog, I- I’m just really happy that the department made you come to do that stupid presentation. You’ve made this year the best thing that’s ever happened to me. You’re the best thing that’s ever happened to me. I love you, Jav.” 

A tender silence hung in the air as Javi leaned over the center console, gently bringing his palm to cup the side of your face, his thumb tracing circles along your cheek, letting his sweet brown eyes lock with yours as a soft smile spread across his face. “I love you too, Osita.” His words barely left his mouth above a whisper, bringing his lips to yours. The two of you could have stayed like this forever, lost in the moment of your love for each other, but unfortunately, the world had other plans. 

“JAVIER. DIOS MIO. CAN YOU KEEP YOUR HANDS OFF OF HER FOR 3 SECONDS?” Maria shouted, banging at the driver’s side window, the aggressive thumps of her hand against the glass making the two of you practically jump out of your skin. 

“Jesus Fucking Christ….” Javi whispered, clutching his hand over his chest, trying to steady his heart rate back to normal, the two of you looking at each other in pure terror. 

“If you’re going to drop her off and make a scene in my driveway, the least you can do is help an old woman out before you leave, Javier!” Maria demanded, still rapping her knuckles against the glass, the two of you trying to keep from dying of embarrassment as you exited out of the car. 

“Sorry Maria…” The two of you grimaced, still trying to avoid direct eye contact with her before she decided to scold you more. 

“Chucho is right, you two are no worse than a pair of teenagers. Come on, we only have an hour before everyone arrives and I need you and that wildly blonde haired boy to help me move chairs.” Shaking her head in disappointment, Maria was already halfway up the driveway and into the house as you and Javi trailed behind her, glancing at each other in confusion as to who she was referring to, until you noticed the Murphy’s car parked on the side of the street, realizing that Steve and Connie must have beaten you there. 

Before you even had a chance to make it a foot into the house, you were greeted by an overbearing swarm of people rushing to say hello and give you a hug, already feeling overwhelmed 30 seconds into the start of your shower, and these were all people you knew. Your mom was the first to make her way through the crowd, squeezing you in a death grip hug, even though you had just seen her last night after picking her up from the airport and dropping her off at her hotel. 

“Oh my god, I can’t believe the day is almost here! My baby girl is finally getting married! Ugh, you look beautiful sweetheart!” Your mom beamed, planting a chaste kiss on your cheek before making her way over to Javi, squeezing him just as hard. “C’mere, don’t think that you get to escape hugs from me too, Javi.” Javi looked over at you, trying his best not to laugh at everyone’s dramatics, knowing how stressed you already were, and that no one’s overly excited attitude was doing you any favors. 

“Ouch on the finally there, Mom. What do you need help with?” You asked, noticing that your mom had been holding on to Javi for a touch longer than what was probably appropriate while everyone else continued to hustle and bustle around Maria’s house. 

“Does he always smell that good? God, I wished your father smelled like that, the man smells like a sweaty sock. Javi, what kind of cologne do you-” 

“Mom! Jesus Christ.” You interjected, burying your hands in your face.

“Sorry, sorry! Honey, you don’t need to help with anything, it’s your shower!” Your mom swatted her hand at you, shaking her head in disbelief that you would ask to help, even though she knew better than anyone it was not in your nature to sit back on the sidelines and let other people do the work for you. 

“Why don’t you come help me set up decorations?” A soft voice replied behind you, making you whip your head around as their hand rested on your shoulder. 

“Connie!” You grinned, throwing her arms around her, relieved to find someone who wasn’t going to drive you absolutely crazy for the next hour of party prep. “It’s so good to see you, thank you so much for coming!” 

“Hey, Sweetheart!” a lower voice grunted from behind a stack of folding chairs making its way to the backyard. 

“Wow, Maria put you to work too, Steve? Yikes, she’s running a tight ship around here.” You and Connie snickered as Steve set down his stack of chairs, revealing his already sweaty and frustrated face, considering Maria had probably made him carry 6 trips worth of seats up and down the stairs since he and Connie had arrived. 

“You’re tellin’ me. Hey, make yourself useful and pick up some of these chairs, lazy ass. Sooner we get this set up, the sooner I kick your butt at golf.” Steve smirked, gesturing over at Javi, still standing in the doorway with his hands on his hips. 

“In that case, I’m taking one chair at a time.” Javi sighed, pressing a quick kiss to your temple in stride towards Steve, giving him a swift hug and a pat on the back before being interrupted by a shrill and demanding voice. 

“JAVIER. I HEARD THAT. IF I DON’T SEE YOU WITH A STACK OF CHAIRS IN YOUR HANDS THE NEXT TIME YOU’RE OUTSIDE, IT’D BETTER BE BECAUSE YOU ARE DEAD.” Maria shouted from across the house, making everyone’s faces freeze in fear. 

“You heard the woman. Chop, chop, Peña.” Steve chuckled to himself before passing off half of the chairs over to Javi, and walking towards the back of the house as Javi picked up his share, begrudgingly trailing behind Steve. 

“Alright, we should probably get to work on decorations before Maria finds us standing around for too long. I know you’re the bride, but I have a feeling that holds very little value to her until everything is set up.” Connie shrugged, nodding towards the backyard where the shower was being held. 

“You’re definitely right, and I would prefer to live through my bridal shower in order to make it to my actual wedding.” 

With all of the helping hands around the house, and Maria’s commanding dictatorship over shower setup, all of you had finished with time to spare, leaving your mom and co-workers to happily chat and gossip amongst themselves as you and Connie found your way to say goodbye to Steve and Javi, one of whom was looking much more excited about departing for golf than the other. 

“Have fun, ladies. Any last words for your future husband before I absolutely obliterate him on the golf course?” Steve snickered, giving Javi a soft punch on the shoulder. 

“Shut the fuck up, Murph.” Javi groaned, rolling his eyes as he braced himself for the next 3 hours of harassment from his former partner. 

“Don’t be too hard on him, okay Steve? He gets grumpy when he loses, so just a reasonable amount of ass whooping, nothing too drastic.” You teased, now playfully punching on the other side of his arm, you, Steve, and Connie laughing to yourselves at Javi’s fed up frown. 

“Says the one who literally pouted for hours after insisting we play "Sorry" and then she lost.” Javi smugly murmured, raising an eyebrow at you, crossing his arms over his chest.

“Well someone wasn’t very sorry about it, were they… You know what, Steve? I changed my mind, go ahead and kick his ass for me.” A mischievous grin grew across your face, bursting out into giggles as Javi flung his arms around you, giving you a squeeze and shaking you in his grasp. 

“Pendejo. Alright, you need anything else before I go get my ass kicked, Hermosa?” Javi asked, pressing a kiss into your hair. You were about to speak, but stopped yourself for a moment, looking Javi up and down, admiring how handsome he looked in the khakis and navy blue polo he had picked out this morning. You’d been so worried and worked up about the day that you hadn’t really had a chance to get a good look at him until now, and God, part of you wished you hadn’t taken the time to really take it all in as he stood next to you. You knew there was nothing you could really do about it now, but that wasn’t about to stop you from at least getting a little taste. 

“Uh yeah, I uh- actually um, I uh, I scraped my finger earlier on one of the banners I was setting up and I think I got a papercut. I forgot to ask Maria about it earlier, but um, can you show me where the bandaids are upstairs again?” You tried your best to sound as casual as possible, but Javi knew just as well as you that there was no way in hell that you actually needed a bandaid. His brow scrunched in a slight confusion, head cocked to the side as if to say “I think I know where this is going and I’m not really sure it’s going to work” before giving you a little shrug, gesturing up towards the bathroom at the top of the stairwell, trying to keep his smug grin hidden between his lips. 

“Yeah, I uh- here, let me show you where they are and I can get you one before we go.” Before Steve or Connie could even muster a word in protest, Javi was already dragging you halfway up the stairs, barely letting you make it to the top of the stairway before closing the bathroom door behind you. 

“Band Aid, really? That was the best you could come up with?” Javi laughed under his breath, letting his hands roam down your sides and under the hem of your dress as his fingers dug into the meat of your ass, the heat of his breath tickling your skin where his lips met your neck, gently sucking at your pulse point, making a tiny moan escape from your mouth. 

“I needed to come up with something to get you alone for long enough to give you a proper goodbye before you left.” 

“And a Band Aid was the way to do that?” 

“Oh shut up.” You giggled, draping your arms over Javi’s neck, letting your hands roam through the curls at the nape of his neck before pulling him in tighter to let his lips crash into yours with an electric intensity, his fingertips gripping deeper into your flesh. 

“I don’t think-” Javi muttered between kisses, “I don’t think a bandaid is gonna buy us enough time to do anything, Hermosa.” 

“I know. I just needed this. Just needed to kiss your stupidly handsome face. I needed something before you left me to fend for myself. Plus,” you paused, pulling back to see the lovestruck grin spread between Javi’s cheeks, “only fair that I get a chance to recreate our first kiss.” You snickered, gesturing to the interior of Maria’s bathroom, where you had found yourself with Javi almost a year ago to the day, your lips meeting for the first time as you sat on the ledge of the sink after Javi had came to your aid when a shattered beer bottle had landed in your leg. 

“Fuck, I forgot our first kiss was in Maria’s bathroom. Real fucking smooth of me, huh?” Javi grumbled, rolling his eyes at his past self for letting your first kiss be in the bathroom of his Mom’s best friend’s house. 

“Smooth enough for me to wanna marry you, so I guess it all worked out okay, didn’t it?” You teased, planting one last kiss on his lips before shooting him a wink and slipping out the bathroom, your face warm and tingly from the rush of excitement tucked away with Javi in your impromptu makeout session. Javi ran his hand over his face, taking a moment to try and compose himself, shaking his head to himself in shock and delight at how he found himself falling more and more in love with you every day. 

“Okay, uh- sorry, sorry about that. Just didn’t wanna have to bother Maria for anything.” You sighed, darting your eyes away from Steve and Connie, their arms crossed against their chest with almost comically smug smirks on their faces as they watched you shuffle back down the stairs, Javi reluctantly trailing behind you. 

“Yeah? How’d that bandaid work out for ya?” Steve smiled with a shit eating grin, nodding to your hands, neither of them with a bandaid anywhere in sight. You let out a gulp, trying to quickly tuck your hands behind your back, your cheeks flushing pink with embarrassment. “Goddamn, you two gonna make it 3 hours without touching each other, or am I gonna have to bring him back here after hole 4 for a mid-round makeout?” 

“Jesus Christ, Murph, really?.” Javi grumbled, rolling his eyes. “Bye, love you. Have fun and I’ll see you soon.” Leaned over, snaking his arm around your waist to plant one last kiss in your hair. 

“Not soon enough, apparently…” 

“Murphy…” 

“Stop makin’ out and I’ll stop givin’ you shit.” 

“Touche…” You muttered under your breath, just loud enough to make the 4 of you burst into laughter, easing the uncomfortable tension that you had brought upon yourself from your antics. “Love you too, have fun getting your ass kicked.” 

“Yes, yes, out, out, out! It’s only 10 minutes until guests arrive and your truck is taking up all the room in the driveway! Out!” Stampeding into the living room, Maria waved her hands at the boys, quite literally shooing them out of the house after overhearing your goodbyes. Giving a quick wave to Javi as Maria kicked him and Steve to the curb, you caught Javi’s head whipping around for one last glance at you before you left, giving you a once over with his eyes and a soft smile on his face as the front door shut behind him. 

Truth be told, your shower ended up being way less painful than you expected it would be. In all honesty, it was actually somewhat enjoyable. The fact that your mom, co-workers, and Connie had put into helping everyone come together to celebrate you filled your heart with so much more joy than you could have predicted- your friends and family had bought you and Javi so many more gifts than you knew what to do with, had so many kind things to say about the two of you, and Connie had even gone out of her way to make sure that there were fun games planned for everyone to keep the need for constant socialization at bay. It really had ended up being a fun afternoon, even if it meant having to answer the same questions about your wedding, house and honeymoon plans more times than you could count. 

Javi, on the other hand, could not have been having a worse time on the golf course, getting his ass thoroughly handed to him by Steve hole after hole, wondering to himself how anyone could bring themself to genuinely enjoy the torture that had been the past two and a half hours of hacking his club into chunks of grass and loosing his golf balls in the brush. The only consoling factor was that Javi was grateful to spend time with Steve, even if it meant being berated by endless questions from him on top of his painful performance while he played. 

“You feelin’ ready for the big day?” Steve grunted, after smacking his driver against his ball from the tee box, Javi relieved that the pair were finally on the 9th and final hole. 

“Yeah, I mean- Oh fuck me-” Javi grumbled, hitting his club and watching his ball fly into a patch of trees, the opposite direction of where he was trying to aim for, “I still can’t believe I’m getting married.” 

“You and me both, Jav. I never thought I’d live to see the fuckin’ day, that’s for damn sure. Javier Peña, a married man.” Steve chuckled, slipping his club into his golf bag as Javi followed behind, grabbing what must have been the 57th golf ball from his bag this round. 

“Shut the fuck up, Murph.” Javi chuckled, shaking his head at his friends’ jab, the two of them hopping into the golf cart together to try and scavenge for Javi’s long lost ball. 

“I’m just given’ you shit, Jav. I’m fuckin’ happy for you man. Really happy. She’s a great girl. Best thing that’s ever happened to your sorry ass, I’ll tell you that much. Guess you don’t have to worry about really followin’ through this time?” 

“What do you mean?” 

“You’re actually gonna get married this time? You’re not leavin’ her at the altar like Lorraine, huh?” As Steve laughed to himself, Javi could practically feel his stomach drop, his heart beginning to race as a wave of terrible guilt and panic washed over him at his friend’s ironic question. 

To his own shock and surprise, Javi hadn’t thought about his last lack of a wedding once since the two of you had gotten engaged. He had been so head over heels excited to spend the rest of his life with you, that the failures of his past engagement had been tucked far away in the back of his mind. But then again, no one had been so gracious as to bring up the knife to the chest that was leaving Lorraine at the altar, and no one had been so gracious as to bring it up in classic Steve Murphy fashion. 

Javi could audibly hear himself gulp, his heartbeat pounding so loud he could hear it ringing in his ears as the terrible reality of the past he had so glady forgotten about met him in a head on collision, instantly re-opening all of the cuts and wounds he had finally managed to sew together. 

The last time he almost got married, Javier Peña had astronomically fucked up the lives of every last person who cared about him, leaving nothing but chaos and heartbreak in his wake.   

Rationally, Javi could tell himself that his upcoming wedding was the polar opposite of everything that was once planned between him and Lorraine. Javi couldn’t have cared less about Lorraine. From the moment he had wearily accepted his fate, he had dreaded every moment of his future from that point on. But you were not Lorraine. 

Javi loved you. 

Javi cared about you. 

Javi wanted nothing more than to spend the rest of his life with you and give you everything in the world you could possibly want. 

But, one mention of that 8 letter name had Javi’s brain flooding with every single doubt, regret, and painful memory of his past that he had fought so hard to forget. It had his mind reeling with every uncomfortable feeling of remembering the man he had been before you had come into his life and changed him for the better. He knew he was a better man. A stronger man. A man who was worthy of the love and compassion you had shown him from the moment you two had met. 

Or was he? 

“Earth to Javi? Hello? Anyone home?” Waving his hand in front of Javi’s face, Steve stared at Javi in confusion as to why it seemed like his friend had suddenly become lost in his own world as they pulled up to the patch of trees where his ball had most likely landed. 

“Uh yeah, uh- what, sorry, um, what did you say?” Javi asked, visibly trying to shake the thoughts from his head, painfully scrunching his face and running his hand through his hair before looking back over at Steve. 

“I asked if you were gonna go get the ball or if you just wanted to add to your +200 score and drop one here instead. Hey, you okay, man?” Steve questioned, pausing for a moment before asking the later half of his statement, seeing the color flushed from Javi’s face. 

“Uh, yeah- Yeah, sorry, I just, I’m good. I’ll um, I’ll just drop a ball.” Javi muttered half to himself as he stepped out of the cart, barely paying attention enough to even remember what in the world he was even looking for in his golf bag. 

If Javi wasn’t already thankful to be on the last hole before Steve’s comment, he sure as hell was now, mindlessly whacking his golf club with no regard as to how his ball made it to the green. Any thoughts about golf, let alone any previous attempts to even try to play well had now flown out the window, creeping thoughts of self doubt and resentment crawling through Javi’s mind. The rest of the round and the entire car ride back to Maria’s were spent in an internal battle ranging in Javi’s brain, the fight between the man he used to be and the man he’d thought he’d become rearing its ugly head with a painful intensity that absolutely felt like it was consuming him whole.  

Steve, who was just as oblivious to his friend’s distraught state as he was to the idiocracy of his sarcastic question, had chalked Javi’s quiet and somber mood up to being an overly sore loser after getting mercilessly crushed at golf. Little did he know that his one silly comment had sent Javi spiraling down a trail of crushing self-doubt. 

As the pair pulled into the driveway and made their way to the backyard where a few straggling party goers still lingered, trying to monopolize their time with you to get the details of your upcoming plans for the future. Being the attentive and patient person that you were, you were trying your hardest to seem enthused and engaged with in the conversation with who you thought was Javi’s Aunt’s Cousin (at this point, you had been introduced to so many new people, you were questioning your own name), but it wasn’t long before your future husband’s big, broad body entering the backyard had you more than distracted, your face instantly lighting up at the sight of him. Peeking over his Aunt’s cousin (or cousin’s aunt, you weren’t really sure) shoulder, you bit down on your lip to try and contain your excitement, letting a little wave shake from your hand in his direction. 

Javi wished that your sweet smile and beautiful self were enough to snap him out of his funk, to see how you beamed in excitement just at the sight of him and shot him that lovestruck look he’d never get sick of- but for some twisted reason, it only made him feel worse. 

You were everything- kind, smart, funny, the most breathtaking woman he’d ever seen. But what was he? Tired? Broken? A shitty guy who had done even shitter things, who had left nothing but destruction in his path for years and years, with no regard for who it hurt, or even worse, left for dead? How was he supposed to give you everything you deserved when he sure as fuck didn’t deserve you? 

Before you had even said a word to him, you could already sense something was off about Javi’s demeanor that was due to more than just losing to Steve in golf. Even from across the backyard, his forced smile and tired brown eyes had a worried pit swirling in the bottom of your stomach, politely excusing yourself from your conversation to make your way over to Javi. 

“Hi! You guys have fun at golf? Steve didn’t kick your ass too bad?” You grinned, wrapping your arms around Javi’s waist, pressing up on your toes to plant a kiss on his lips, his mouth barely ghosting over yours in return. 

“Yeah, it was um- yeah, it was fine.” Javi nodded, trying to make a smile appear between his pursed lips. “How was the shower? You uh, you ready for Steve and I to start putting things in the truck to bring over to the new house?” 

You immediately frowned in response, cocking your head in confusion at him. “Yeah, it was great, but hey, are- are you okay? You seem really off, like more than just Steve kicking your ass at golf off. Did something happen?” 

“No, I’m- yeah, I’m good, Hermosa.” Javi’s eyes darted towards the ground, trying his best to stifle his sigh before another fake smile spread across his face, his response making you even more concerned than you were before, seeing he was clearly lying to you. As much as you wanted to problem solve right then and there to figure out what had Javi so distressed, the calls of one of the last groups of party goers wanting to say their goodbyes rang across the backyard, you flashing them a quick smile and a wave to signal you’d be over in a second. Before you could try and get anything else out of Javi, he had already backed himself away from your hands still tangled around his waist, nodding towards the group of women who were not so patiently waiting for you. “Go say goodbye, I’ll start loading stuff up.” 

“Um, I- uh, yeah, o-okay. Thanks.” You murmured, half to yourself, as Javi had already begun to walk away to find Steve to help him start carrying things out to the car, leaving you more anxious and confused with every passing second. 

With goodbyes finished, and decor and party setup cleaned up just as fast as Maria had demanded it to be put up, you and Javi made your way to your now packed car, followed by Connie and Steve, who had asked to see the progress on your new house while they were in town. You figured you’d kill two birds with one stone, inviting them over and having them help to unload gifts in the same trip, but now, given the strangely somber mood that Javi couldn’t seem to shake, you really wished it was just the two of you so you could figure out what the hell was going on. 

You and Javi piled into his truck, Steve and Connie hopping into theirs and following you down Maria’s street towards your new house. A stark silence filled the car, praying to yourself that maybe Javi just wanted to be alone before he said anything about his current state, but 5 minutes down the road without a single word falling from his lips, you had a devastating feeling that wasn’t going to be the case. 

Your leg bounced against the seat, fingers nervously drumming in your lap, letting out a quiet sigh to yourself before looking over at Javi and mustering up the courage to try and interrogate. 

“Sooooo, golf was fun? I love ya, but I think it’s probably safe to assume Steve won?” You quietly snickered, trying your best to stay nonchalant. 

“Yeah, it was good, Steve won, but that’s no surprise because I suck at golf.” Javi mumbled to himself, barely glancing your direction from behind the yellow tinted aviators perched on the bridge of his nose. Normally, if either of you had something that self-deprecating to say, it was at least followed by some sort of a joke or laugh, but his comment ended with nothing but a stoic silence as his hands gripped tighter around the steering wheel. 

“Hey, babe, it’s okay, you don’t ever golf, so it’s hard to expect yourself to be good at something you rarely ever do.” You reached over to grab his arm to reassure him, that unsettling and anxious pit beginning to grow in your stomach again with the way Javi was acting. All he could muster was a half hearted huff in response, signaling to you that whatever was happening was much bigger than a poor game of golf. 

“Javi… Baby, what’s going on? Did something happen with Steve?” 

“It’s nothing.” 

“It’s clearly not nothing, Jav. Did I do something wrong?” 

“No, I told you, it’s fine.” 

“Javi, it obviously isn’t fine if this is the way you’re acting about it. Why won’t you talk to me about it? I just wanna-” 

“I told you, it’s fine, okay!? Jesus, I don’t need you to solve all my problems.”

Oh.  

You and Javi had been in arguments before, hell, you’d been in fights before, but never once in the time that you’d known him, had Javi snapped at you like this. You could practically feel yourself recoiling in your seat from the harsh tone of his voice, fighting back the tears that had instantly begun welling in your eyes. You could feel your heart in your throat, choking down a heavy gulp as your lip quivered to try and keep from crying. 

What had gone so wrong that Javi was acting like this? 

You wish you had it in you to dig it out of him, but as you pulled up the driveway of your new home, Steve and Connie right behind you, ready for a tour, the best you could muster was a quiet, “O-okay.” As soon as the car was in park, Javi was unbuckling his seatbelt and slamming the door behind him, leaving you behind in the car, trying everything in your power to not become a startled, sobbing mess. 

Wiping away the wetness pooling behind your eyelids, you swiped the back of your hand against your cheeks, taking a few deep breaths before following behind, mustering up as much courage as you could to keep your cool for however long Steve and Connie were planning to stick around before heading back to San Antonio. 

You had hoped that Steve and Connie hadn't picked up on the palpable tension brewing between you and Javi, trying your best to put on a brave face as you paraded the Murphy’s through your nearly completed house. To be quite honest, you couldn’t have recalled anything that had happened in the time that they were there, your mind racing in torment as you watched Javi brood around your new home, barely saying a word to you, let alone make any eye contact, or look in your general direction. 

As the four of you made your way upstairs, your attention was finally caught by the low lull of Steve’s laughter as he situated himself between you and Javi, grabbing you both by the shoulders and shaking you in his grasp. 

“Well I’ll be damned. Y’all got enough rooms up here to house half a baseball team! You want that many kids driving ya nuts, huh?” Steve chuckled, making his way down the hallway, peeking into the empty bedrooms of your 2nd story. 

“Steve!” Connie scolded, slapping the back of her hand against Steve’s stomach for his comment. 

“What?! I’m just sayin’! I thought y’all would want like, 2, but there’s enough room for way more than that. I mean, I guess you two are fuckin’ goin’ at it like rabbits all the time, so I can’t really be shocked.” 

“Steven Edward Murphy! Jesus Christ!” Connie snapped, shooting Steve a dangerous glare, aggressively raising an eyebrow at her husband as she gestured towards you and Javi. 

“No, it’s okay, we don’t know for sure how many we want, but we figured if we had the space we’d add the rooms and even if they’re not bedrooms, they’ll still get used.” You had it in you enough to force a half smile across your face, flashing it at Steve and Connie before looking over at Javi. 

While you hadn’t expected much of a response from him given the current situation, what you weren’t expecting was the panic stricken look painting Javi from head to toe. 

If you weren’t already worried out of your mind about what the fuck was going on with Javi, you sure as fuck were now.  

“Uh, I um- yeah.”

Those were the only words Javi was able to choke out through the audible thumps pounding in his chest as his face went ghost white, eyes peeled to the ground. 

“See, Steve? You’re making them uncomfortable! You have absolutely no filter, I swear! I’m so sorry, you guys!” Connie frantically apologized, giving Steve another hardy slap in the stomach, making him wince. 

“I’m just jokin’, Jesus Christ, sorry!” Steve grumbled, holding up his hands in defense from his wife’s accusation, sheepishly looking over at you and Javi with a little shrug. 

“No, it’s uh- no, it’s fine, don’t worry about it.” You had given up on trying to be convincing at this point, your voice quietly shaking as you stared at Javi, now looking like a terrified, ragged shell of himself. 

What the fuck was going on? Did Javi want to wait to have kids? Did he not want to have that many? Was he having second thoughts about kids all together? Fuck, was he having second thoughts about getting married? He’s literally never acted like this before. Fuck, fuck, fuck. 

You were sure at this point, you probably looked just as much of a mess as Javi did, letting your thoughts race wildly throughout your brain, the silence now lingering between the four of you now seemed to feel deafening, Connie beginning to pick up on the uneasiness festering between you and Javi and knowing she had enough common sense for her and Steve to pick up her cue to see herself out. 

“Well, still, I’m sorry. We should probably get going anyways, we told the sitter we’d be back around 6 so we should probably hit the road. Thank you so much for the tour! The shower was beautiful and I’m so glad I could be there for it. We’ll see you guys for the big day soon! Just let me know if you need any help with wedding stuff between now and then okay?” 

“Uh yeah, yeah of course. Thanks for all your help, Con. I’ll um- I’ll let you know if we need anything.” You stammered as Connie pulled you in for a hug goodbye, followed quickly by Steve, who planted a few pats on your back mid hug. 

“Bye sweetheart, thanks for letting me steal this asshole for golf today. See y’all when you’re gettin’ ready to get hitched! Adios, loser.” Steve chuckled as he pulled away from your hug to tug Javi into another, giving him an even harder pat on the back before letting Connie say her goodbyes as well. 

“Do you want me to walk you guys down to your-” 

“Nah, we’ll find our way out, no worries. Bye lovebirds, see ya soon.” Steve grinned, giving the both of you one last wave farewell before disappearing down the stairs, their hushed bickers about Steve’s unnecessary comments quietly trailing behind them. Before you could even get a word out to Javi now that the two of you were alone, he was already halfway down the stairs behind the Murphy’s, not even bothering to look back at you as he mumbled under his breath. 

“I’m gonna get the gifts out of the car and go sit outside.” 

“Jav, wait, I-” 

You could feel the lump beginning to swell in your throat, your bottom lip trembling with tears welling in your eyes as you watched Javi storm down the stairs without even so much as an attempt to care about what you had to say, leaving you with nothing but yourself and 5 empty bedrooms that now had you questioning everything you thought you knew about your future with Javi. You felt your body begin to collapse like a sad pile of jello as you melted into a sobbing puddle on the floor, bringing your knees to your chest as you cried into the flowy fabric of your dress, leaving wet stains behind from your tears. Your breaths were rapid and shaky with each muffled sob, trying to rationally grasp on to something, anything, as to why Javi was acting this way. But the more the gears frantically turned in your brain, the more irrational and terrifying your thoughts became. 

This all happened so fucking fast. It’s only been a year since I’ve known him. Is he realizing it’s too much? Am I too much? This was all too fucking good to be true, wasn’t it, you fucking idiot. 

Taking a few more minutes to collect yourself enough to at least stop full on sobbing, you wiped your wet cheeks with the back of your palm, inhaling a trembling deep breath as you mustered up every ounce of courage you could find to face whatever fate was waiting for you downstairs with Javi. 

Each step down the stairs felt heavier than the last, leaving your fingers anxiously drumming against your legs as you saw Javi’s broad body hunched over the side of the unfinished back patio, staring out to the tall grass of your backyard swaying in the warm summer breeze. If it were any other time, you would have rushed up behind him, wrapping your body around his back and attacking him with kisses until the two of you were wound up in a fit of laughter and giggles, happily tangled in each other's bodies. 

Right now, you were terrified to even step too close to him. 

Carefully and quietly sliding open the glass door to the porch, you prayed with every bone in your body you weren’t going to do anything that set Javi off enough to even let you attempt to have a conversation with him about what was going on. The new wood softly creaked under your shoes, making Javi turn his head just enough to acknowledge your presence as you wearily approached him. Taking one more deep breath, you opened your mouth to speak, but with your jaw hanging open, Javi’s words filled the stark silence before yours could. 

“I don’t know if we should get married.” 

Fuck. 

You could practically feel your heart sink to the bottom of your stomach, like the weight of 1,000 bricks had been dropped on your body all at once, hearing that come out of his mouth. You could have mentally tried to brace yourself for a lot of things, but hearing Javi tell you he didn't want to get married anymore sure as hell wasn't one of them.

“Javi, I- baby, what- I don’t- I don’t-” 

“Why the fuck do you even wanna marry me?” 

Your brows scrunched in pain and confusion at the sharp tone of his words, desperate to try and understand what point he was trying to prove in this gut wrenching game he seemed to be playing. 

“Because I- Javi, I- Javi I love you, that’s why.” you murmured, your voice barely above a whisper as you sat down next to him on the edge of the porch, leaning over enough to see the tears glistening down his cheeks, his eyes red and puffy as he tried to stifle the sobs rumbling in his chest. He shook his head back and forth before his gaze fell into his lap. 

“You shouldn’t love me.” 

“Javi… what the fuck are you talking about?” you plead, feeling the pain and hurt creeping through your body as you watched the tears he was so desperately trying to fight. With a scornful scoff, Javi shook his head, pressing against his knees to stand, taking a few paces around the porch, burying his hands in his face, his words muffled and muted by his palms covering his mouth. 

“What the fuck am I- I’m not- I’m not what you deserve. I don’t understand how you don’t fucking see that.” 

You followed suit, bringing yourself to stand with your arms crossed tightly across your chest, staring at Javi in bewilderment, biting down on your tongue so hard to keep from bursting into tears you thought you were going to make it bleed. You could feel the storm of pain, anger and confusion brewing deep in the pit of your stomach, your body numb and mind blank. 

“Javier. What the fuck is going on? I don’t understand why-” 

“Because last time I was gonna get married I fucked up everything. For everyone. I hurt everyone I cared about. I went half way around the world and I spent a decade fucking things up even more. How do you know I’m not gonna fuck everything up again? I love you too much to let it happen to you. The thought of ever hurting you even half as I much as I’ve hurt anyone else because of my choices fucking kills me. I can’t do it. I can’t hurt you like I’ve hurt everyone else. I’d never fucking forgive myself. I love you more than anything, Osita. I love you more than anything in the world. You deserve someone who isn’t going to hurt you. Someone who will do right by you, by your family, your future children, I just- fuck- I don’t think that person can be me.” 

A deafening silence hung in the air as you stared blankly at Javi, tears streaming from his tormented brown eyes, his body trembling with devastation and regret. You had no doubt your body mirrored his as the guilt and heartbreak flooded you from head to toe, wondering how in the world you had ever let the man you loved and cared about more than anything feel like he wasn’t enough for you. 

You wished you could speak- to find the words to tell him that he was your everything, the glue that had put you back together when you were convinced there was nothing else that could mend the broken mess that you had become. You wished you could express to him that there was no one on the face of this earth that you would rather spend the rest of your life with than him- that there was no one else you wanted by your side through every moment of your life, the good, the bad and the ugly, more than him. You wished there was a way to tell him that you loved him more than anything, but in that moment, all you could do was grab him and wrap your arms around his waist, squeezing him as tightly as your body would let you, letting your wet face rest against the familiar warmth of his chest as you whispered into the soft fabric of his shirt. 

“Javier Peña, you’re the only person it could be.” 

You could feel his chest begin to rumble with heavy sobs as his arms draped around you, pulling you against his body so closely, it was like his life depended on it, like he couldn’t bear the thought of ever letting you go again. One arm stayed wrapped around your back as the other slid up the back of your neck, his broad palm cradling your head in his grasp, his fingers practically digging into your skin to keep you close as the two of you let yourselves do nothing but hold each other in your teary silence. 

You let one of your hands reach up towards Javi’s face, cupping his jaw and forcing his gaze back on to you, as your thumb traced back and forth along his cheek, wiping away the wetness that had been welling in his eyes. 

“I need you to listen to me, okay?” You asked, waiting until you felt Javi’s head gently nod up and down in understanding in your palm before you continued, “The man you were before doesn’t scare me. If it did, I would have been gone a long time ago. The man you were before has turned you into the man that you’ve become. The man that I want to spend everyday with for the rest of my life. Every good day, every bad day, every painful, hard and shitty day, and every day in between. And I promise that I will spend every last one of those days until the day I die trying my best to convince you that you are the best thing that’s ever happened to me. And if I die trying, then so be it. I love you, Javi. Don’t you ever think for a second that there is anyone out there that I want to spend the rest of my life with more than you, and I won’t ever let you forget it.” 

It was only moments before both of Javi’s hands were cradling your face, gently trembling as they cupped your soft, wet skin as you locked eyes with his, watching his face shift from terrified to bewildered, thinking he must have misheard what you had just said to him. 

“Osita, I-” 

“Promise me.” 

“Promise you what?” 

“Promise me that you believe me. Promise me that you know I love you more than anything.”

There was a part of Javi’s brain that wished he could find something to prove that he couldn’t. To prove he wasn’t worthy of keeping the promise you had made to him. To convince himself that he had no reason to believe he was worthy of the love you had given him.

But the truth was, for the first time that he could remember, as he looked down at you, the woman who had taken his life and forever changed it for the better, who had helped to heal him in ways he didn’t know he needed, who had cared for him in ways he never thought he deserved, and who had stood by him even as you learned about the ugliest parts of him he never thought he’d forgive himself for, Javier Peña finally realized he had learned what it was like to be worthy of love. 

You had made him realize he was worthy of being loved. 

A small gulp slid down his throat between his shaky breaths, taking a moment to soak in everything about you, before letting his lips ghost across yours as a quiet whisper left his mouth. 

“I promise.” 

And just like that, his lips crashed into yours with a ferocious and tender passion, soaking in every ounce of the sweet flavor of you, a taste he knew he would never tire of, one that he craved like nothing else. 

“I love you, Osita. Fuck, I love you so much.” Javi moaned between your kisses, praying with every bone in his body you knew how much he meant it. 

“I love you too, Javi.” The hot breath of your words danced across his lips before they were crashing together once again, his tongue swiping between your parted mouths as he ran his hand down your back and around your waist, pulling you so close you were convinced your bodies were going to melt into one as you pressed against his broad chest, now needily grasping at fist fulls of his shirt. 

In that moment, it was like the two of you could feel something in the air change. The tension lifting, the frustrated fog fading, the both of you desperately needing the other to know how much you loved them. The Javi you knew and loved had come back, returning home to you. All of the fear and sadness was replaced by a rampant desperation to know how much you needed him, almost as much as he needed to show you how hopelessly he craved you, too. 

With your bodies still tangled together, your kisses became messier and sloppier as you backed your way towards the door that lead inside, stumbling and trampling over each other’s feet without any regard for where you were headed until you felt your back bump against the kitchen island, the rounded edges of the countertop stopping you in your tracks as Javi caged you between his broad figure and the island. 

Both of your hands were now feverishly roaming across each other’s bodies before Javi had run his hands down your thighs, hoisting you up to sit on the countertop, planting hot, wet kisses across your neck and collarbone while his fingers crept under the hem of your dress, his palms sliding up and down your legs, digging his fingers into your flesh. 

“Javi…” You whimpered, letting your eyes close and head fall back as he sucked at your pulse point, leaving you with one hand bracing yourself against the edge of the counter and the other with your fingers wrapped around the navy fabric of Javi’s shirt, clinging on for dear life. 

You eyes opened, and gaze shifted downwards as you felt Javi pull away from your grasp, watching him drop to his knees, slotting himself between your parted legs and kissing the inside of your thighs while his hands tugged at the waistband of your already soaked underwear, hastily shuffling them to fall down your legs and pool at your ankles. His needy kisses up your thighs crept closer and closer to your core as your legs draped over his shoulders, kneeling before you like you were the altar of everything he worshiped as his deep brown eyes looked up at yours, like he was begging for forgiveness for his sins. 

“I’m so sorry, Osita. I’m so sorry for what I said. I didn’t mean it. Fuck, I love you so much. Let me show me how much I love you. Please, baby. Please let me show you how much I need to be yours.” 

Your response was nothing but a ragged moan as you felt his hot breath hovering over your cunt before letting long, flat licks of his tongue drag through your folds, each swipe pressing firmer than the last, lapping up the arousal dripping from your entrance like a sweet nectar. With one hand still white knuckling the edge of the countertop, the other shot down to bury itself in the dark curls of Javi’s thick locks, tugging at ends to find some place to ease your tension as he began to flick and swirl his tongue relentlessly against your clit, lapping you up like a man starved. 

“Oh fuck Javi- fuck- you feel so good, baby.” You moaned, raking your fingers along Javi’s scalp as you watched his head bob nestled between your legs, feeling the low hum of satisfaction thrumming in his throat as he began to suck your sensitive bundle of nerves, latching his lips around your clit as his mouth worked feverishly against your cunt. You could already feel the tingle beginning to grow at the base of your spine and spread to your legs as Javi found every sweet spot that he knew made you lose all control, desperate to make you feel how much he needed your love and forgiveness. 

“That’s it, sweet girl. Let go for me baby, I’ve got you.” Javi hummed before diving back between your legs, tightening his grip around your thighs as his tongue danced around your clit relentlessly. It wasn’t long before you could feel your orgasm begin to flood your body, pleasure crashing through you as you cried out his name, a death grip clutching around the counter and Javi’s dark locks. Javi worked you through your high, drinking up the juices of your slick as you came, feeling your legs tremble as they stayed slung over his broad shoulders, not stopping until your body was shaking and your whimpers and moans had become so wrecked, he had no choice but to stop to relish in the blissed out, dripping mess he had made you. He would have loved to stay like this forever, watching you become more and more wrecked beneath his tongue, the want, no, need, to be buried inside your heat, getting lost in your wetness and warmth, savoring in the way no one else would ever be able to have you like he did, to know that you were his. 

Javi worked in a determined silence, rusting with his belt buckle until the metal clangs of it opening had his pants and boxers in a puddle around his ankles, splaying kisses across your neck as he slid you towards the edge of the counter, his fingers digging into your hips with a bruising intensity. He stroked himself a few times as he lined his cock up with your entrance, guiding his tip through the glistening arousal covering your folds, leaving his dick shiny with your slick as you whimpered into his skin. 

“Javi… Please, baby. I need you.” You whimpered, instinctively bucking your hips towards him, desperately craving him to ease the achy emptiness between your legs. 

Resting his forehead against yours, the dark, damp curls of his hair brushed your skin, the hot and heavy heat of each of your shaky breaths melting into one another’s as your lips ghosted his, only fully meeting yours to catch the moan that had escaped your mouth as he pushed himself into your heat, letting himself bottom out, his tip brushing against your cervix. You couldn’t help but wrap your legs around the small of his back and drape your arms over his shoulders, desperate to have your bodies needily tangled and intertwined together as you savored in the sweet sting and stretch of his fullness. 

He began to rock his hips, letting his cock drag in and out of your cunt, taking his time with each stroke, the movement making you dig your fingernails into the fabric of his shirt stretched over his muscular back, in turn, making the grip he had around your waist even tighter, his fingers buried in the soft flesh of your stomach where his hands had crept under your dress. 

The way he punched up into you, perfectly pounding against your g-spot with each thrust, combined with the way the hairs at his base rubbed along your clit, already had the inevitable coil beginning to tighten in your belly. You dug your nails deeper into Javi’s skin, grasping for the damp curls at the nape of his neck, your whimpers growing louder and more desperate with each stroke as you could feel yourself beginning to crumble beneath him. 

Each stroke seemed to become deeper and fuller than the last, Javi’s pace now climbing in speed and intensity as he felt your cunt clench tighter and tighter around his cock, knowing that familiar feeling meant you were coming closer to your end. You could barely muster anything but a whimper, your soft pleads and begs going straight to his dick as he slid and out of your wet heat. 

“Fuck baby, don’t stop- ahhhh- please don’t stop, I’m so close.” 

The lewd sounds of skin hitting skin and low, ragged moans echoed against the bare walls of your unfinished kitchen as Javi fucked deeper and deeper into you, singing sweet, soft praises against your skin between locking your lips with yours. 

“Fuck- Dámelo, Hermosa (Give it to me, beautiful). Need to feel you soak my cock before I fuck you full of me. It’s okay mi amor- mierda- té tengo. (my love- shit- I’ve got you.) I’ve always got you. Forever.” 

You could feel your legs lock even tighter around Javi’s waist as heat began to bloom in your belly, only needing a few more thrusts as you rolled your hips against his before your mind went blank and vision went white, your orgasm crashing through your body and flooding every inch of you with pleasure so intense, you could feel yourself going limp in his grasp. 

“Fuck, Javi, fuck, fuck, fuck, oh my god-ahhhhhhhh-” You whimpered as Javi fucked you through your high, now desperate to chase his own as his thrusts became rushed and sloppy, pounding into you as your walls gripped around his cock like a vice. Your warmth and wetness consumed him, only needing a few more pumps before he could feel himself following suit, hissing through gritted teeth as incoherent babbles spilled from his lips. 

“There it is, baby. Fuck- fuck, you’re so fucking perfect. I love you so much, Osita. Con todo mi corazón. (With my whole heart). Oh fuck- I’m yours forever. Oh shit, I’m gonna cum to, oh fuckkkkkk.” 

With one last thrust, Javi finished buried deep inside you, hot ropes of his cum coating your walls as a slick mixture of spend leaked down your thighs, leaving him panting while he slumped into your shoulder, his chest heaving with labored breaths, trying to compose himself. Bracing himself with one palm flat against the counter next to your hip, his other hand reached up to your face, brushing away a piece of stray hair back into place before gently cupping your cheek as he spoke. 

“Osita, baby, I’m so sorry. I’m so sorry. I love you so much. I didn’t mean what I said earlier, I just- fuck- I’ve never been so sure of anything, but when we were at golf today, Steve brought up Lorraine, and I- I just was so scared I was gonna fuck everything up again, and I-” 

“Oh God, he brought up Lorraine?! Jesus. I knew it. I knew this was Steve’s fucking fault.” You sighed, quietly laughing to yourself as you shook your head. 

“Wait, how did you-” 

“Because it just seemed so strange that you were acting like this all of a sudden. You got back from golfing with him and it was like you were a different person. I mean, I’m not gonna lie, I was freaked out and panicking wondering what happened because you’ve never acted like that before. That, and because I love Steve, but he’s an idiot.” The two of you were both now laughing, Javi rubbing his hand over his face before rolling his eyes, wondering to himself how he had really let his friend’s stupid comment get the best of him. 

“I’m so sorry, Osita. I should have just ignored it, I just hadn’t thought about it in so long and I was so terrified to mess everything up again. It would kill me to hurt you like that.” His thumb circled around your cheek as he tilted your gaze to meet his, sincerity and remorse swirling in the dark pools of his chocolate brown eyes. 

“Javi, listen, if this is moving too fast, or it’s too much for you, I want you to be able to tell me, I understand if-” Before you could finish your sentence, Javi’s lips were planted tenderly against yours, pulling away from your mouth with a goofy grin and satisfied sigh. 

“I promise you, I’ve never wanted anything more. I can’t wait to spend the rest of my life with you. I can’t wait to marry you,” he leaned in, pressing a quick kiss on your cheek, “I can’t wait to live in our new house with you,” he grinned, planting another ticklish kiss on your neck, “I can’t wait until we can finally start filling up these empty rooms with little baby Peñas” Javi chuckled, now peppering kisses all over your body, making you erupt in a fit of laughter and giggles, squirming and flailing in his grasp, playfully swatting at him. “I can’t wait to spend every day for the rest of my life with the most beautiful, amazing woman I’ve ever met.” He smirked, tilting his head to let your mouths meet again, this kiss filled with a tender passion and intensity unmatched by his previous playful ones. 

It was the kind of kiss that said all of the things that words couldn’t. The kind of kiss that had butterflies fluttering in your stomach like the first kiss you had shared in Maria’s bathroom almost a year ago. The kind of kiss that made you fall even deeper in love with him, even when you thought you couldn’t. 

It was also the kind of kiss  where everything else in the world seemed to melt away and make time stand still, a kiss that you could have stayed lost in forever… unless a certain someone hadn’t forgotten his wallet at your house and needed to come back and get it. 

You were so oblivious to anything else happening around you, that neither you or Javi had heard your front door open, followed by the rushed, impatient footsteps of Steve and Connie, arguing about where Steve could have left his wallet, and how on earth he could have left without realizing it was missing from its usual home in his back pocket. 

“Seriously, Steve, I can’t believe we’re gonna waste a whole hour having to turn around and come back here because you couldn’t remember your wallet!” 

“Con, I told you, it’s right on the counter, I know where it is, lemme just go grab it really quick and then we ca- Oh Jesus fucking Christ!” Steve shouted, walking into the kitchen to see you and Javi making out on your island, your dress pushed up well past your legs, and Javi’s bare ass on display from his pants still pooling around his ankles. 

“Ahhhhh!” You and Javi shrieked, practically jumping out of your skin to see Steve’s tall and lanky frame frozen in your kitchen, now scrambling to try and fix your clothes and hair to try and save yourselves at least some dignity. 

“What the hell are you two doin’?!” Steve grimaced, trying not to cackle to himself as Connie rushed up behind him to see what was happening, only to very quickly cover her eyes and turn away from you and Javi. 

“Us?! What the hell are you doing here? Jesus, you ever heard of fucking knocking, Murph?!” Javi groaned, shuffling his pants back up and fixing his hair before helping you off the counter, trying your best to hide your beet red, embarrassed face. 

“I forgot my wallet! Forgive me for thinkin’ you two would keep your hands off each other for long enough to let me come pick it up in peace.” Steve frowned, raising up his hands in defense. 

“I’m sorry! I told him to call you to let you know he was coming to pick it up, but he seemed to think it wasn’t a big deal.” Connie scolded, giving Steve a forceful nudge of her elbow before finally turning back around to face you and Javi, knowing you were at least halfway decent. “God, I love you, but you are an idiot.” 

“You can say that again…” You snickered under your breath, just loud enough to make Javi and Connie join in your laughter, leaving Steve with his arms crossed over his chest, rolling his eyes in annoyance. 

“Hey, listen. Call me what you want, but I don’t think you’ll be callin’ me an idiot when you need me to come babysit your 47 kids so the two of you can get some…” He paused gesturing to you and Javi’s disheveled state, “... time to yourselves. Like I said earlier, y’all gotta lot of rooms to fill, and I don’t think you’re gonna have any problem doin’ it.” 

And for as much as you wanted to give Steve the ten pounds of shit he deserved, as you looked up at Javi standing next to you, you couldn’t really even bring yourself to be mad. Because in the end, the only thing that mattered was him- the man you were going to spend the rest of your life with. The one who was your future, the one who stood with you through every twist and turn, the one who was your home. What started as a day that had you questioning everything had turned into one that had never made you feel more assured. You knew that Javier Peña loved you more than life itself, and you knew that you were so lucky to spend the rest of your life getting to prove to him over and over that you loved him just as much. 

Taglist:

@cool-iguana @rhoorl @whyjuliaaa @bbiophiliaa @pertinentpostmortem @angelofsmalldeath-codeine @pedrobaby @fatima-marisa @beboldbebravethings @poodlebae @kittenlittle24 @3sriracha @jungchloee @perennialdoll247 @prettyinpunk85 @partyofone3413 @harriedandharassed @pedrohoe04 @theorganasolo @endlessthxxghts @beware-my-thorns @missladym1981 @messinadress @milly-louise @jay-zzle @the-one-with-the-grey-color @persephone-girl @bitchesuntitled @pedropascallvr @millennial-teenybopper @nastiasnow @vee-bees-blog @hopplessilse @mxtokko @its-nebuleuse @mandoisapunk @msmorningstaarr

[hippielittlemetalhead]

Never Took The Time (To Forget) part 5: Man Of The Hour

Life is mildly less sucky with depression being more managed (also the mood boost from Renaissance Faires 😁) and my weekends being free again for me to travel to see my person. Still full of dumpster fires but I want to scream about it less. Also, been in feels very similar to the ones that inspired this whole endeavor so... enjoy?

Anywho, here's part 5! Enjoy, my little nerdlings. As always, feel free to yell at/with me in the comments, tags, reblogs and/or ask box. If you see any mistakes feel free to message me about them. 😬👌

Part 1: Hop Fucks Up, Part 2: Pride and Prejudices (Joyce Edition), Part 3: One of Us, Part 4.1: With A Capital P, Part 4.2: Robin's Boy

Steve Harrington was an odd duck. That's what his grandmother always used to say. She would pat his already proudly coiffed hair as he hung off the arm of her rocking chair and tell him as much whenever his parents took him to visit. He would beam at her with his big (reportedly pinchable by every aunt and grandmother in the family) cheeks and quack at her before cracking up at himself like he told the funniest joke and she would let him laugh until he rolled himself off her armchair to the plush carpeted floor. She would laugh and reach way over the arm of her chair to poke his stomach or cheek or nose, sometimes just his little forehead, before leveraging herself up out of her chair and taking herself to the kitchen to boot his mother out of it. Steve Harrington was a certified 'odd duck'.

Steve isn't sure, as he sits in that old rocking chair he had stolen liberated from his parent's house when he moved into his new apartment, when he became whatever he is now. He slowly rocks himself back and forth, the chair creaking a little as his weight shifts. The kids and other teens are chattering on the walkie but it's nothing too pressing, just nonsense and junk food emergencies, Mike cursing out Hop. His ribs hurt and his nose is sore but it doesn't feel like anything is broken. It sucks he knows what broken feels like. It sucks that Robin is kind of mad at him for getting hurt enough Owens pulled rank and had him dropped off at home and assigned someone to be the Party's chauffer for the rest of the day. It sucks that all the kids have their own plans tonight, leaving him to try and find ways to keep himself distracted without their usual insanity. A lot of things just kind of suck these days.

He feels himself smiling and picks up the walkie to confirm that he was alive and resting like ordered when he hears Dustin bickering with Robin about invading his apartment to check on him. That doesn't suck he supposes. He knows Robin and the kids care and he knows that eventually the soldier tasked with driving his hellions around is going to be bullied into driving them to see him, other plans be damned and the thought makes him smile.

The smile drops when he hears what sounds like a soft knock at his door. It's too sharp to be Widow Bea two doors over who leans on her walker and kicks the bottom of his door with her soft leather slippers that belonged to her late husband when she needs him to fix a cabinet or mix batter for whatever pastry she was making that week. And it's not the distinct pattern of Clara Damon from down the hall who will come and tap at his door to ask if he has an extra cup of sugar or spoonful of flour as she bats her eyes at him simpering about how she's making cookies or a pie or a casserole of some kind and inviting him to dinner with her and her folks to have some. He's always got an empty pantry and a surplus of plans when Clara Damon comes knocking. He and Widow Bea have standing poker nights with the other older ladies who all meet at the recreation building.

(It used to be the Harrington house. But his parents decided to sell to prove a point when they up and kicked him out and Owens needed a place to set up a promised recreation space and the gym was already a relief supplies warehouse.)

But the knock at his door isn't either of those. It could be someone else in the building. Could be one of his neighbors who have started to associate Steve Harrington with fighting mutated wild dogs caused by government experiments gone wrong and hauling around kids who seemed to cheat death and holding I.O.Us signed by the U.S army instead of the absent Harrington socialites who are known for swanning into town, flaunting their wealth and making themselves scarce again. The ones who he can sometimes hear whispering about him as he makes his way down the street or through Melvald's.

The knocking comes again, louder this time and firmer. It could be a lot of things and he doesn't want to deal with any of them.

Steve sighs, it could be important. He gets up to answer the door, breathing slow and shallow and letting himself lean on walls as he makes his way to the door. A third round of knocking and he's starting to get tired of it. He takes a slightly painful breathe to call out to whoever is trying to knock down his door to calm themselves down when, "Hey kid, Harrington, you in there?" That stops him a foot from his door.

His ribs hurt and his nose is sore and his leg is throbbing where a demodog got a lucky swipe on the meat of his thigh. But nothing is broken. His leg will be fine in a day or two. He hates that he knows what broken feels like. He hates that he knows what infected feels like. He hates that he knows the stone in his stomach and the clenching vice around his lungs has nothing to do with his injuries. His ribs scream at him when he pulls himself as tall and straight backed as he can, shifting himself so his weight is on his good leg and he can (hopefully) use the hallway wall and doorframe to support himself long enough to talk to Hopper and send him on his way.

He opens the door with a smile and feels himself falter a little when he sees Hopper standing there in a big tan canvas jacket and baseball cap and he's reminded of the times the older man would show up on his parent's doorstep with the same look on his face asking questions Steve didn't always know how to answer.

"Hey, Hopper." His voice is light and smile wide and loose and he just needs to keep this up. "What brings you to my neck of the woods?"

"Heard you got a bit banged up on a patrol?"

Steve shrugs. It takes more than he'd like to hide the pain that causes. "Just a couple bumps and bruises, nothing I can't walk off after a decent night's sleep. Owens is just paranoid these days, ya know."

"Owens huh?"

"Uh, yeah? That's who told you right? Cause I took a couple hits?" Hopper doesn't say anything, just looks at him with something that Steve might have once thought was concern about his potential injuries. He doesn't know why today of all days Hop decided to show up cause he got knocked around a little more than planned but it doesn't bode well when something in his face shifts and he lets out a tired sigh. "Oh, but don't worry!" That came out louder than he intended. "I'm totally fine. Like I said, I just need to walk it off and I'll be back out there in no time. You don't gotta worry about a thing, I've got it handled. Like I said, Owens is just overreacting. Nancy can cover for me tomorrow and then I'll be right back on the roster I promise. You and Mrs. Byers don't have to worry about a thi-"

"Steve. Shut up." He feels his jaw snap shut, the edge of his tongue and inside of his cheek getting caught in his teeth. "I didn't hear it from Owens. The kids told me. Owens knows you're hurt?"

"Uh, ye-yes sir. He's the one who sent me home. Gave the kids a detail to transport them and keep them protected while I'm out of commision. One officer to drive them around and they're being tailed by at least 3 others in case anything happens."

"Four soldiers just to replace you?"

"Oh they're not in that much danger! I'm perfectly capable of watching them usually, its just that Owen's guys are still kinda green even this deep in. Most of them just can't wrap their heads around the whole 'other dimension stuck in 1983' side of things." Hop's eyebrows shoot up under the bill of his cap. "But again, it's fine! I always take point whenever we go into a new sector and those guys are good as backup at least."

"But you're hurt." His eyebrows have come back down but now they're furrowed like he's confused or upset.

"Just a little!" He is not making things better. "I swear Hopper, you guys don't have to worry about a thing. I've got it handled, you don't have to-"

"Jesus fucking Christ, Harrington! Just shut up!" Steve flinches back, stepping further into his doorway as Hopper yells. The older man sighs, a big hand coming up to pinch at the bridge of his nose. He tries not to think of the times Robin and the kids have made fun of him for doing the same, calling it one of his 'dad poses'. "Look, I didn't come to try and give you shit about getting knocked around a little being stupid and playing soldier. I came to- I was going to ask." He sighs and his shoulders slump a little forward and his eyes are focused on the toes of Steve's (very comfortable) bat slippers that had been a gift from Wayne once the kids had told him Steve had been the one to drag Eddie out of the Upside Down. "Did you want to come over for dinner?"

Steve doesn't think he heard him right. "What?"

"Joyce is making some sort of spaghetti casserole-"

"Isn't that just baked spaghetti?"

"And we wanted to have you over. We haven't talked much since I came back. I'd like to change that."

"What?"

"You, dinner, at our place? With me and Joyce and the kids? I think Jonathan is bringing Nancy." Steve flinches and Hop silently curses himself bringing up the ex who cheated on him and the guy she cheated with.

"Why?"

"Uuh... Talking?"

Ah, he had it now. "What did the kids do? Just, lay it on me man, and I'll take care of it. Did they say something? I can have them over tomorrow and talk to them. Was it Mike, it was probably Mike, I'll get him to apologize, just-"

"Goddamn it Harrington I just wanted to ask you over for some dumbass spaghetti casserole thing and a decent conversation. Maybe watch a football game cause no one else in that house seems to enjoy a good game."

Steve isn't sure what's happening. "You want me to come to dinner. To talk?"

Hop sighs again. "Yes, kid. Just. Dinner and talking."

"Uh huh. Right. I'm just- I just need a minute." He tries not to slam the door in the man's face but he's definitely trying to be as fast as possible. He's not sure what the hell is going on but it has to be something because Hopper wouldn't just invite him over. And Joyce Byers definitely wouldn't want him in her house for something as simple as a talk and to watch football. It takes him longer than he'd like to reach the walkie on the little side table by his grandmother's rocking chair. His ribs are screaming at him and his elbow smarts from banging it on the corner as he turned into the sitting room.

"I need some sort of backup at my apartment. Like now please?!" He waits a second before pressing the speaker button again, "Over."

The walkie crackles and he hears an assortment of concerned chatter. "Steve?" Dustin's voice breaks through the general din. "What's the problem? Over."

"I- I'm not sure how to classify it? I've Got Hop at my front door but I think there's something wrong with him? Or something is trying to trick me it's him? Oh shit did I get Vecna'd??"

"Steve," Nancy snaps, shutting up most of the chatter and giving his rising panic something to focus on. "Why do you think it's not Hopper? Or that he's not in control of himself?"

"He- He invited me to the cottage for dinner?"

"What?"

"Yeah just dinner and talking? And that- that's weird right?"

Nancy sighs and Steve hears Hop say something from outside his apartment. He's running out of time. "Why is that so weird Steve?"

"Cause he doesn't like me. And Joyce really doesn't like me." He feels like that's obvious. "They don't like me and they're busy with other stuff. They wouldn't willingly ask me over for dinner and football or some shit so something has to be up."

"Seriously kid?"

He doesn't scream as he drops the walkie-talkie, spinning around to face the voice behind him.

"You're calling an emergency cause I invited you to dinner?"

Again, he feels like this is obvious. "Yes. I don't know what happened but we're going to fix it Hop, I promise. Or, like, if you're something controlling Hop or wearing his face or some shit I will figure it out and I will find the most painful way to kill you."

Hop runs a hand down his face again, he's going to have so many wrinkles after this. "Fucking Christ, kid. Is it so crazy that we wanted to try and get to know you? Make sure you're fed and taking care of yourself since apparently Owens isn't making sure you're alright?!"

What the fuck?

"Yes!" That seems to make Hop take a step back. "I tried for years to try and get the slightest acknowledgement from you! I've spent the last year taking care of the kids and monitoring the gates and fighting Powell and Owens every time they decide to try something stupid and almost get their men killed cause I realized you never meant it!" God he can hear his voice breaking and feel the tears starting to roll down his face. "You never meant it. But you meant it for El and Will and fuck, even Jonathan. And they deserved that. They needed you and you couldn't be there if you and Joyce were fighting with Owens and-" He can't hold back the sob that rips out from deep in his chest. "And I don't- I can't- I just-"

"Hey, hey kid. I need you to breath for me. Okay? Can you just let it out in one push and take a deep breathe in."

There's a large, warm hand rubbing up and down his back. His running nose is throbbing, his sore ribs are probably cracked now from how tightly he's folded in on himself and his injured leg feels wet like he pulled the stitches when he dropped to his knees on the threadbare rug. There's a deep rumbling voice talking to him, telling him how to breathe and asking him to sit up, let go of the walkie he can hear crackling as people call his name and ask Hopper what's going on. It's all just too much.

Why?

"What was that, kid?" Oh. He didn't mean to say that out loud.

"Why?"

"I fucked up. I'm trying this thing called owning up to my mistakes." Steve lets out a wet laugh that turns into a pained groan when it shakes his ribs. "Come on, let's get you up here." He tries not to cry out when Hop lifts him up from under his armpits, pulling at his ribs, but he knows he lets out a sharp whimper. "You fuck up your ribs?"

"What do you think?"

"Yeah, dumb question." Hop chuckles self-deprecatingly. "Look, let's get your ribs wrapped and we'll get you down to the hospital to get checked out an-"

"No. No hospital. Can't do 'em."

"Kid you need to get looked at and maybe some pain meds and antibiotics while you heal up."

"No fucking drugs." Steve practically growls, his teeth clenched and eyes burning as he stares up at Hop. "I'll take your fucking antibiotics but I can take a couple of ibuprofen and call it a day."

"A couple of- What the fuck, kid? You can barely walk and you're telling me you're not in serious pain?"

"I've had worse."

"Bullshit." The kid winces and the look on his face closes off. "Stop trying to be a hero and just admit you need help." Steve rolls his eyes.

"I'm fine, Hop. I've walked off worse."

"Again, I call bullshit."

"You know how thorough our Russian friends could be."

"What?"

Steve shrugs, an angry grimace on his face. "Once you live through Russian military questioning and hiking through Upside Down Hawkins, most everything after that's a piece of cake."

"Jesus Christ-"

"I don't think saying his name is gonna make him listen to ya now."

"Ya ain't cute, kid."

Steve gives him the same smile he always did whenever Hop crashed one of his 'King Steve' parties. "I'm adorable." He chuckles at himself and Hop finds himself laughing along at the kid's attitude. "What do you want, Hopper?" Steve's voice is quiet. It wavers in a way that tells him the kid is sad and hesitant and tired and Hopper can feel something niggling at the back of his mind. "You come over out of the blue asking me to dinner with your family like that's something we do. What the fuck man? What are you trying to do?"

"Like I said kid: I realized fucked up. Bad. And I'm trying to fix it."

"That's it?"

"Yeah. Yeah it is."

Steve leans back, the rocking chair leaning farther back than Hop feels comfortable with considering the kid's injuries but he manages to not rock back so far he falls. "Alright then. So what do you need?"

Hop can't follow this kid at all and he's not sure when that happened. If it's always been like that. "What are you talking about kid? You're the one that's all beat up." His mind goes back to swollen eyes and bruised knuckles covered in a rainbow of haphazardly placed bandages being fussed over by a group of dirty but uninjured kids. Bloody sailor uniforms rounding up rowdy kids without a mark on them despite obvious injuries and a slight limp and what might be bruised ribs. Bandages being removed to expose red raised around a strong neck that looks like someone took barbed wire to it and bulky bandages poking out from beneath stolen shirts. "What are you talking about what I need?"

Steve lolls his head to look at Hopper. For the first time all evening his eyes are trained on the older man unflinching and not anxiously darting away. His smile is more a resigned grimace. "What do you need to get Robin -and I'm guessing the kids- off your back?"

"It's not just because of them."

"But it is because of them."

"I want to make this right."

"It's not yours to fix, Hop. I've made peace with that. Thought I'd made that clear to the rest of them."

"I thought the kids didn't know."

"Not about you being my emergency contact and like, in charge of making big medical decisions if they couldn't get a hold of my parents. But that you'd stop by the house to make sure I hadn't like drowned washing my hair after I took a beating. That I put more stock in that than I should have."

"You were right to put stock in that stuff Steve. Fuck, if I knew anyone else in that situation I'd assume they'd basically adopted you. It makes sense."

Steve shrugs, wincing less this time. "That's life, can't fix it now."

"Will you let me try?"

"I mean. I'm giving you a get-out-of-jail-free card here man."

"And I'm not taking it."

"Well. It's there, whenever you decide to take it."

"Thanks but no thanks, kid."

"Hey, your choice Hop. Ever get tired of the boardwalk just say the word and it's yours. Do not pass 'Go!'. Do not collect $200."

"Monopoly, really?"

"My head may have gotten a knock too. Not a concussion but I'm a little... swimmy."

"Swimmy?"

"Uhm-hmm"

Hop chuckles, "You're an odd duck, kid, you know that? An odd, pain in my ass, duck."

Steve feels his face splitting in a wide smile that pulls at a small cut on his lip and lets his head fall back, his body finally starting to come down from the adrenaline rush that has been this entire interaction.

"Quack quack."

Tag list (I think this is everyone?)(If you see this post and your tag didn't work let me know cause they don't always work for me Idk why):

@thelittleclare @jackiemonroe5512 @0body0disphoria0 @strangersteddierthings @lingeringmirth @dead-cherry-bitch @irethsune @ink777 @the-daydreamer-in-the-corner @ledleaf @pansexuality-activated @paintsplatteredandimperfect @kinryuuki @yikes-a-bee @altocumulustranslucidus @ohimamarigold @samsoble @sensationalsunburst @xxbottlecapx @y4r3luv @swimmingbirdrunningrock @flustratedcas @rootbeerandmusic @vinteraltus @wonderland-girl143-blog @failedstarsandgoldenclouds @steddie-as-they-go @steveshairspray86 @youdrewstarsxaroundmyscars @i-amthepizzaman @wormapothacary @croatoan-like-its-hot @maya-custodios-dionach @ineffable-monster-romancer @asquareinverona @ellietheasexylibrarian @pukner @bookworm0690 @nightmareglitter @joekeerysmoles @salchica @lawrencebshoggoth @iheartjennaaa @child-of-cthulhu @anaibis @rocochen20 @katdeerly @samcoxramblings @fiore-della-valle

[misswhateveryouwant]

I can really imagine Phryne and Mac as pioneers of „sex toy parties“. How they plan everything while sipping Whiskey, invite a group of strong, independent women, present them the Percussor and explain the benefits of this massager...Phryne talks about her sex experiences and makes it clear that you should never be dependent on a man and that your own pleasure always comes first, while Mac gives tips on family planning…when Aunt P finds out everything and is about to have a heart attack.

[goldenretriever-nicknelson]

Story of Us [P.P]

A/n: I don't know how I wrote this but I actually managed to before I went back to Uni and I'm so proud of myself! This is very angsty and lets just say I'm sorry. Yes it's based off of one of my favourite Taylor Swift songs.

Peter and reader are older but nwh didn't happen.

Pairing: MCU!Peter Parker x Stark!reader

WC: 2.2k

Warnings: angst, lots of angst, mentions of grief, implied mental health issues, (brief) detail and mention of SA (drunk guy tries to hook up with reader who doesn’t want to), breakup, some violence (punching), implied sexual themes, underage drinking - if there's anything I've forgotten let me know!

“You and Peter are so lucky.”

“Imagine finding your soulmate so early on.” 

“You two will have beautiful kids.” 

The words that others had spoken about you over the past year echoed in your ear. Compliments about you and Peter being the best couple, that you were going to save the universe together one day. Yet here you were alone, travelling to the annual Avengers New Years party. 

And it was all your fault. 

You had almost chickened out of going at all, wanting to spend another day in your sweatpants eating through leftover Christmas food. The Avengers and Peter’s aunt May hadn’t wanted you to spend Christmas alone so they had invited you over, sent food and facetimed you trying to encourage you to participate in the holiday spirit. Usually Peter was enough to bring you joy even when you were just friends but even he wasn’t there anymore. 

How could you enjoy any festivities without the one man who had been there through everything, supported you and protected you? Tony was gone and now Peter was too. You were fed up with losing everyone so you’d stayed well out of everyone’s way. If you weren’t close to anyone, you couldn’t lose them. 

May had scheduled sessions for you with a therapist in the New Year, the same one she had seen after the blip and after her husband had passed. She had offered to drive you herself too. Most people might find it awkward to stay in contact with your ex’s family but May had always treated you like her own especially after Tony died and you had always been grateful to her as she had been to you for looking after Peter. 

The driver of your taxi announced you had arrived and you were pulled out of your trance, your eyes drawn to the Avengers compound that was decorated in bright lights and Christmas decorations. At least they had still continued with tradition. 

You took a deep breath as you exited the car, ironing down your dress once more with your hands and putting a smile on your face, however fake it may be. The music was playing loudly as you came closer to the building joined with the chorus of laughter and cheer. 

Your heart sank as you spotted the statute of Tony and Natasha they had built. Engraved below read “The real heroes, forever remembered”. You fought back your tears and shook your head, walking in and putting your smile back on. 

All you had to do was stay until midnight and then you could make a swift exit. That had been the plan anyway and then you had seen him. 

Peter Parker. Your ex boyfriend and love of your life, laughing away with Sam and Bucky and smiling wide. His brown curls looked messy as if his hair had been ruffled several times and no doubt by the duo that was standing in front of him. He was wearing his usual party shirt, the same one you had drunkenly cried on many times and the one he had kissed you in when the clock struck midnight this time last year. 

The room was crowded and yet his eyes still managed to find yours across the sea of drunken people. His smile fell ever so slightly but there was a kindness in his eyes as he looked at you and you could tell he was as nervous as you. 

You quickly looked away and went to the kitchen to make yourself a drink. Even though you were underage, no thanks to the blip, a little alcohol wouldn’t hurt. Dutch courage, as your Dad would say. 

The first shot of alcohol had just gone down when someone was pulling the empty shot glass away from you. “Hey! Hey!” 

You sighed and turned around to see no one other than Doctor Strange himself chastising you for underage drinking. 

“This is reserved for the adults.” Strange sighed and vanished the bottle of alcohol through a portal to another room. 

“Do you ever stop being a killjoy?” You crossed your arms and glared at him in true Stark fashion, noticing Peter walking over from the corner of your eye and getting nervous again. 

“With you and Peter drinking underage, I might just celebrate the new year in another universe. Less stressful when you’re made of paint.” Strange gave an amused smile at his own joke and started to walk away, leaving Peter headed straight for you. 

Your heart picked up its pace, threatening to explode as Peter’s eyes met yours. His honey brown eyes almost drew you in but you couldn’t give in. You quickly pretended that someone else had caught your attention and darted out of the kitchen, heading for your old room. 

“Hey pretty girl.” 

A stranger, a little bit older than you, stopped you in your path and grabbed your arm. He was tall with dark hair, eyes the same colour as Peter’s but nowhere near as intoxicating or warm. You recognised him from when he would sometimes work with the Avengers. His jacket had the classic SHIELD logo and you scoffed. 

“Either you’re in fancy dress or you’re really bad at being a covert agent.” You pushed him off of you and laughed but the agent guy wasn’t having any of it. He cornered you near the bathroom and placed his hand on the wall by the side of your face, trapping you as he inched closer. You smelt alcohol on his breath and the way he was looking at you sickened you to your stomach. 

“The famous Y/n Stark, complete with the wit to match the name.” He smirked and went to touch your face but you moved your head away, ready to put your fighting skills to the test. Natasha had taught you some things during your initial training to become an Avenger before the world went to shit and half the population disappeared. 

“Yeah well I better get back-” You tried to push past him but he kept you trapped, cutting you off from speaking. You froze as his free hand wrapped around your waist, trying to pull you into him. You knew you should have fought back but you couldn’t. 

You told him to stop, pushing him away and threatening him but nothing seemed to deter him. That was until someone ran and tackled him to the floor, punching him with fast reflexes and super strength. You recognised that head of curls from anywhere. 

Peter got up after making sure the other guy wasn’t getting up anytime soon and quickly came over to you. A worried expression on his face as he reached out to held you before hesitating and withdrawing back. 

“A-are you okay?” 

You nodded and took a deep breath, noticing that some of the partygoers had now noticed what was going on. Sam and Bucky made sure the guy was thrown out and reported whilst insisting you go with Peter to get a drink and sit down. 

Peter made you a hot cocoa and sat down with you in a room on the other end of the compound, wrapping a blanket around you which you soon realised looked familiar. On the wall were Star Wars and Sci-Fi posters along with some selfies taken by Peter. This was his old room when he had first joined the Avengers. Tony kept it for him even when he declined his offer so that Peter would always have a place to stay if he needed it. 

You didn’t even notice you were crying until Peter handed you a tissue and rested a hand on your arm. You appreciated the gesture and wiped your eyes, not even caring if it smeared your makeup. You knew what Peter must have been thinking and honestly it was still what you were questioning yourself. 

“I couldn’t fight back.”

Peter looked at you and raised a brow but he didn’t say anything he just listened. You told him what had happened and how terrified you had been. You felt like you had let Tony down, he always told you to fight back and you couldn’t even do that when you needed to. 

“Hey. You didn’t let anyone down. It’s okay to be scared.” Peter tried to reassure you, taking your hand into his and squeezing. A technique he had learnt over time that made you feel safe and calm. 

You sighed and swallowed the lump that had formed in your throat. The moment you had been dreading since you had arrived had dawned on you without any warning. You were unprepared and scared again but you knew Peter, he would never hurt you. 

Silence filled the room, the only sound was the music from the party and the laughter from people who were having fun. You sighed and looked down at your hands, remembering that cold September night when everything finally caught up to you, the loss and the heartbreak,  and Peter had been the one to suffer. 

“I’m sorry.” 

The words that had been on your tongue for so long, threatening to spill every time you saw him or May and yet never being able to speak them into existence. It was only two words but the meaning held so much more. 

Peter didn’t reply for a moment and instead wrapped his arms around you, just holding you as you let yourself cry onto his shoulder. He rubbed your back and played with your hair, humming the song you and him shared a love for. You could smell his cologne and feel the softness of his shirt, noticing that he had a cut by his shoulder that he had evidently tried to heal himself. It was almost as if nothing had changed. 

“I’m sorry too.” 

His words caused you to look up at him in surprise, your heart once again racing as you met his gaze. His eyes were watering and he looked sad, more broken than you had ever seen him. 

“I shouldn’t have let go. I should have held onto you and helped you even when you pushed me away but I-I couldn’t do it. I was hurting too.” Peter’s words were full of pain and sorrow, your heart breaking as you heard them. You had spent so much time wrapped up in your own pain and pity that you hadn’t even seen Peter’s. 

You realised you didn’t have to go through it alone after all and that Peter was just as afraid of losing you as you were of losing him. 

Your lips met Peter’s before he could ramble anymore, the small bit of dutch courage you had that pushed you to make an impulsive decision. His lips tasted just as you remembered them, sweet and like home but with a tint of alcohol mixed onto them. 

Peter hummed in surprise, his eyes widening before kissing you back. Both of you settled into a familiar rhythm of lips moving against each other as the rest of the world faded away. You were reminded of the times you had spent sneaking in here as a teenager after Peter had come back from a mission and healing him with your touch. You had thought you had been smart but your Dad had always known even the things you didn’t want him to know, thanks to Peter being loud in the bedroom. 

“Y/n,” Peter pulled back and cupped your face in his hands, worry still evident on his face. “You just went through an ordeal, we don’t have to-” 

“Peter.” You smiled kindly at him, the first real smile you had felt in a while as you held him close and nuzzled your nose against his. “I want to because I love you and I wasted all this time trying to push you away when all I needed was to have you here, with me.” 

The smile that lit up Peter’s face was enough to make your heart race from pure joy as he held you close and kissed you one more time. In the background the sound of a countdown had begun, counting down the seconds till the new year would begin. 

“I love you too by the way.” Peter interrupted, his cheeks burning scarlet as you kissed over his face and neck. You giggled and shook your head at how dorky Peter could be. 

“I never stopped.” Your eyes met his again as he spoke and the sincerity in his gaze made you pause. You had never met anybody quite like Peter and you were sure you never would. 

“10, 9, 8, 7, 6!” 

“Neither did I.” 

Both of you smiled as you cuddled close, enjoying every moment that you had and determined not to waste another. You remembered fondly all the times that the Avengers team and your friends had tried to set you and Peter up, placing you together on missions and being the only two left when the study group or team briefing got cancelled. 

“5, 4, 3, 2, 1!” 

“Happy new year!” You chimed in with the rest of the party but only as a shared whisper between you and Peter. He returned the sentiment with a new years kiss just like the year before but this time there was more love and passion behind it, behind the closed doors of Peter’s old room. 

The polaroid picture that May had snapped of you both asleep in each other's arms that night soon took pride and place in Peter’s room. That was until you moved in together and had a whole canvas filled with photos of the both of you including your wedding photos.

Taglist (join here): @farfrombarnes @marvel-lock @parkerpeter24

Moots: @the-girl-in-the-chair @glowunderthemoon @spideyspeaches @seolaseoul

[dingochef]

Pairing: Jake "Hangman" Seresin x You (OFC)

Warnings: Swearing, Smut (MDNI 18+ Only), Stalking, P in V, oral (female and male receiving), Semi-public sex, light spanking,

Summary: You meet the giant Italian side of Jake's family and figure out just how special Nonna's special sauce is.

Masterlist

Series Masterlist

Chapter 11

Word Count: 3.3k

Chapter 12: Nonna's Special Sauce

Friday dawns with the expected breakfast racket. You groan as you wake up and roll over to burrow in Jake's chest, not ready to be up yet. Jake's arms reflexively wrap around you and he keeps sleeping. You enjoy the warmth and closeness for a while till Jake wakes up.

"I'm sorry that my parents are obscenely loud in the morning," he mumbles into my hair.

"I promise it's worth it, my mom makes some kind of potato omelet thingy with some of the leftovers from yesterday and it's delicious."

"Sounds interesting and I know there's coffee down there, so it's not too bad. Would probably prefer to be waking up to songbirds or some shit like that," you mumble back to his chest. You feel him laugh more than hear it.

You and Jake rally and get out of bed and head downstairs to coffee and the promised potato omelet thingy. Which as advertised is excellent. Jake and you migrate to the living room with your cups of coffee after breakfast and lounge on the couch.

"What's the plan for today?" you ask Jake.

"Nothing until the Lucarelli get together later this afternoon. Probably see if my mom needs help cooking anything. So as much Netflix and chill as we want," he says wagging his eyebrows without a trace of subtlety.

He earns a laugh from you,

"You don't need any encouragement.

The day turns out as expected. You laze about, putter around getting ready, helping Sharon with any cooking tasks, and just hanging out.

Around 3 pm, it's officially go time for the Lucarelli get together and soon you are loading the car with an obscene amount of food and wine.

Soon you pull up to another gorgeous ranch house. The driveway is filled with vehicles. Jake and you help Sharon with the food she's made and the wine. Tom grabs another bag that he has deemed his gin and tonic kit and you all approach the front door. Tom doesn't bother to knock and just as soon as he opens the door you can hear the sound of a family party spilling out. There's the sound of kids running, playing, and shrieking with delight, lots of conversations, laughing and the general hum of people eating and drinking. Tom and Sharon step in first and are greeted warmly with hugs and kisses on each cheek. The items they are holding are quickly offloaded and presumably on their way to the kitchen.

Jake's parents clear the door and Jake and you step in next. You expect them to hug Jake and give you a handshake or something you're used to with your extended family in Wisconsin. Jake holds out his arms to hug a lady about Sharon's age, and based on appearance you assume a sibling. You laugh when she completely bypasses Jake and engulfs you in a big smothering hug and kisses on each cheek. You see over her shoulder that Jake is pretending to be offended,

"So this is how it is now, Aunt Nancy, what am I chopped liver?" he says putting on his cute little mock pout.

"Jakey, you're old news, we all want to meet the girl that has captured your heart and got our wandering mustang to finally settle down," she replies, still looking at you.

"Elsa, it's so good to meet you. I'm Nancy, Sharon's sister. Sharon said you were beautiful, but you're a dream, and an aerospace engineer, with a PhD," she looks over at Jake, "You did good kiddo."

Jake steps over and takes your hand, "That I did, I'm going to introduce her around, we'll be back to chat, Nancy. I promise."

Tom has reappeared and hands you a gin and tonic, he leans in to say, "If you were anything like me, meeting all the Lucarellis all at once might be a bit overwhelming. This'll help."

You thank him before Jake leads you to the back of the living room where there is an older lady sitting in an armchair talking with a few people.

"Sorry to interrupt, but I thought Nonna would want to meet Elsa."

The older lady jumps up with surprising agility given her age. Jake has to lean down to speak to her, she is a little shorter than you,

"Nonna, this is Elsa, my girlfriend."

She wraps you in a warm hug and pulls back keeping her hands on your elbows,

"Nice to meet you dear, glad to have someone around here my size. It's like living in a forest of people."

"Nice to meet you too, Mrs. Lucarelli," you reply.

"None of this Mrs. Lucarelli nonsense, call me Nonna, everyone else here does."

"I've heard a lot about you from Jake, I'll have to thank you for Jake's cooking skills. He's made your pasta Bolognese recipe for me."

Her eyes go big and a large smile blooms on her face,

"Jakey, made you my Bolognese sauce, that's interesting, indeed."

She looks over your shoulder to Jake raising her eyebrows and continues,

"I was going let Jakey have it about making you an honest woman, but I see he's got that in hand. He's a good boy." She reaches up to pat Jake's cheek.

"We're working on it, Nonna, you'll be one of the first to know," he replies, before excusing us from the conversation.

"I'm going to go introduce Elsa around, we'll talk to you later."

One of the Aunts exits the conversation and she scampers over to where Sharon is sitting. She leans down to whisper something in her ear. She lights up with a big smile and you swear she is bouncing with joy at whatever she just heard.

Jake brings you around to meet some of his cousins, most of whom give him a hard time about finally bringing a girl round to meet the family, more aunts and uncles, and few more family members. It's a whirlwind of hugging, faces, and "nice to meet you's". Towards the end of the circuit people start to add on, bits of "he made you Nonna's Bolognese, interesting" or some variation on that theme. There's a few "Welcome to the family" remarks also. You finally make it through all the relatives and Jake pulls you aside into the hall where it is quieter and asks,

"How are you doing? The whole family thing can be a bit overwhelming with this clan if you didn't grow up in it."

"I'm good, I probably need a family tree with pictures and names on it to remember everyone, but everyone is so warm and welcoming."

"Good, just wanted to check in and see if you needed a break."

"Nope, I'm all good. What's with everyone making a thing of the fact you made me Nonna's sauce?"

There is a quick flash of something that could be described as embarrassment across his face.

"I'll tell you later, when we're alone." He drops his voice and leans in close to your ear causing you to shiver at the way he says the word "alone". Looking up with probably lust filled eyes, you just nod and walk out of the hallway.

You walk over to a pod of his cousins, and recognize one of them, Matt, who said he was a mechanical engineer.

"I'll leave you here with the other engineer while I go grab some drinks. The same, El?"

"Umm, no, I'll take a glass of red,"

you answer.

"Yes, Ma'am," he replies and heads off to wherever the drinks are in the house.

Matt and you chat about our respective engineering jobs while Jake gets the drinks. Soon he's back and the conversation keeps going and is lively and filled with laughter. People wander in and out of the group where you are standing, Jake's arm constantly around your waist.

You finally make your way to the kitchen when you feel your stomach growling. Every flat surface is covered in some kind of food, 80 percent of it Italian dishes. You count six crock pots on the counter, all plugged into an industrial looking power strip.

"Holy shit, your family doesn't mess around with the food," you tell Jake as you survey the scene.

He laughs,

"Yeah, no one's going to go hungry in an Italian kitchen, that's for sure."

"What's with the heavy duty hardware for the crock pots?"

"We blew a circuit breaker one year, so my Uncle Pat rigged up something sturdier, he's an electrician."

You are trying to not laugh,

"You realize that this isn't helping with any of my preconceptions of Italian families, right? Between the kissing on the cheeks, calling your grandma Nonna, and now this acre of food, wait, is that literally a pile of bread on the table?"

You giggle in glee.

Jake slightly rolls his eyes.

"Yes, that might be 10 loaves of bread from the Italian grocery in town, but it's what we do. Do not mock the bread. When you're done making fun of my heritage, I'll give you the inside scoop on what to eat out of this acre of food," he says in mock exasperation.

Grabbing a plate you follow him. Looking around to make sure no one can overhear him, he tells you in an almost whisper,

"Aunt Jilly's meatballs are the best," he points, "but I'll never admit that my mom's aren't the best. My mom does have a lock on the best lasagna, which is that pan."

You take a little bit of each.

"You can't miss Uncle Greg's pesto, he grows everything in his garden."

"Is that sauerkraut?"

You ask, its pungent smell coming through all the other aromas of tomatoes, garlic, and basil cloaking the table.

Jake sticks out his tongue in disgust, "Yeah, my Aunt Betty married a Polish guy, he insists on bringing it to every family gathering. It's homemade, which I give him credit for, but it's still sauerkraut."

"I like sauerkraut, so I will gladly have some," you reply, scooping a little onto my plate. Jake is aghast,

"I might be reconsidering this relationship at this very moment."

"Drama queen, it's the Wisconsin in my DNA, more German than Polish, it depends where the line was drawn when my mom's family left. You cannot beat a good bratwurst off the grill with German mustard and sauerkraut."

Now it's Jake's turn to laugh,

"That is so Wisconsin, can you say, 'You betcha or go Packers?'"

"You shush," you tell him with no malice behind it. You take a bite of the meatball, which is about the size of a baseball, on your plate. It is amazing.

"Okay, I concede this spread is way better than any brat grill out. These are so good."

He smiles,

"I have Aunt Jilly's recipe at home, if we want to cook it."

You find a place to eat and join the conversation. Ellie and Gigi come running through trying to steal goodies from the dessert table with a pack of their cousins. They give you and Jake a quick hug before joining their mission again. Finally, it seems that everyone has eaten and is chilling in the post dinner lull.

One of Jake's cousins, Paul maybe, calls out,

"Football time!"

A few groans come out of the crowd but most everyone in your generation gets up.

"What's going on, Jake?"

"We generally play some backyard football, to keep us from going into a food coma, you're welcome to join us."

"Sure, why not?"

Soon you're all assembled in the backyard and teams are being formed. Somehow Jake and you end up on opposite sides. The field boundaries are delineated with whatever the group can find to make a few corners. You look at your teammates and try to remember their faces. You all huddle and don't really make any strategy beyond score, before the huddle breaks you ask,

"Is this tackle or touch?"

"A bit of both, mostly tackle, but don't be an asshole about it," Mark, (you think) replies. You nod.

Your side has the ball first, one cousin hikes it to Mark and sees that you are open near the end zone and he sends a nice spiral your way that hits you right in the numbers if you were wearing a jersey and you run it in.

You stick your tongue out at Jake as you trot back to your team. He just gives you that trademark smirk and you know the next time he gets close enough he's going to say something that will leave you hot and bothered or flustered or both. Sure enough, just before the ball is hiked to the acting quarterback of his team, he leans over the line and says low enough for just you to hear,

"We both know what that tongue of yours can do, is that a promise for later?"

Before you can reply the ball is in play and Jake is running past you wide open to catch a pass. You catch up to him and attempt to tackle him around the waist. Your arms go around his torso as he catches the ball, but instead of falling down he just scoops an arm around your waist and pulls you upside down to him and runs the ball in for a touchdown. The rest of the cousins are dying laughing as you pretend to pout,

"Can you put me down now?" as you hang upside down with your legs bent at the knee over his shoulder. He laughs and holds his arm out and steady allowing you to rotate over it to your feet.

He leans over to try and kiss you, and you move your lips at the last minute to whisper in his ear,

"If you wanted to try some acrobatics in the bedroom, all you had to do was ask. I'm pretty sure I could suck your cock in that position."

You trot back to your team watching his face comprehend, imagine, and then try to clear the thought from his mind.

He looks directly at you with those piercing green eyes as the teams line up for the next play. You know he is coming for you on this play. Again you slip past the defensive line, or what counts as one for this game, and are open. Mark sends you another great pass and you catch it. Jake runs full out towards you, you lateral it over to one of your teammates and run towards Jake, causing a moment of confusion until you tuck and execute a perfect gymnastics tumble through his legs ending up on your feet with your hands in the air out of habit. Jake in his attempts to catch you slips and falls on the ground. Your teammates cheer the touchdown you assisted on. You walk over to Jake who is still on the ground.

"Are you okay, baby?" you ask leaning over him.

All you hear is a soft groan of what sounds like pain, you ask again,

"Are you okay, Jake? Say something."

He groans again and feebly raises his hand and crooks a finger for you to come closer and you lean farther down. Suddenly, Jake's arms snap up and grab you, pulling you down on top of him.

You squeal,

"No fair, I thought you were hurt."

"My pride is, it's not every day someone pulls out ninja gymnastics moves to evade a tackle while I end up on my ass."

"You liked it. If your ass is hurt I can massage it later."

"I'll hold to that promise later."

He lets you go and you help him stand up.

The football game breaks up as everyone filters into the house for more food and a drink. Jake and you are behind everyone else and you pull at Jake's sleeve to step out of the halo of the porch light. You wrap your arms around his neck and lean up for a kiss. He kisses back with just enough passion to not start something you can't finish till later.

"What was that for?" he asks, smirking, as he breaks the kiss.

"Can't I just kiss my boyfriend?"

"True, but you seem like you want to say something."

"I was just going to say, thank you for inviting me to Texas. It's been one of the best holidays I've ever experienced."

He runs his thumb across my check, "They're only going to get better from here on out."

"Promise?"

"I do," he mostly says inside the next kiss.

He starts to laugh,

"So, 100 percent chance that at least three of my aunts are staring out the window seeing what we're up to."

"Now I'm starting to feel embarrassed."

"Don't be, they're just a sucker for a good love story. Here's the brilliant part, is that if we turn around fast enough we'll catch them and they'll be more embarrassed."

You laugh and he says,

"On 3, I'll turn around and you can jump this way, 1,2,3!"

You execute Jake's plan and his aunts look like birds trying to escape a cage, two just give up and pretend that they were just casually talking by the window. Jake and you double over laughing, he takes your hand and leads you inside. The nosy aunts have scattered from the back door area by the time you enter the house.

The get together winds down pretty shortly after the football game breaks up. You help Sharon and Tom load up the car and say goodbye to everyone.

As you're saying goodbye to Nonna, she waves for Jake to lean down so she can tell him something,

"Next time I see you two, there better be a ring on her finger. Elsa, if he's hemming and hawing, give me a call and I'll set him straight."

You barely conceal your laughter and give Nonna a hug,

"Welcome to the family, Elsa. You can tell how much Jakey loves you and you love him."

The ride back to Jake's house is quiet and calm. All the good Italian food and wine is making you sleepy. It's about 10 pm when you get back and get everything unloaded. Tom and Sharon head off towards their bedroom and Jake and you climb the stairs to his room.

You walk in before Jake and flop on the bed, the day and the food making me very sleepy. The bed sags next to you and you roll over to face Jake.

"So what was the whole thing with Nonna's sauce?" you finally ask.

He laughs,

"It's a family tradition, maybe superstition. When I learned to make it Nonna said it was a very powerful recipe and to only make it to catch the person you want to marry. She said, 'It worked for me, your mom, and all her sisters and it'll work for you. This goes back generations of happy marriages.'"

"You made me your Italian grandma's magic marriage sauce on our third date?" you ask, incredulously. Jake's face blushes a little bit as he takes your hand.

"Yeah, I knew I was feeling something I hadn't felt before and you are a once in a lifetime kind of woman, to quote Maverick, so I thought if Nonna's special sauce could help why not try it."

"You are such a closet romantic"

"Only for you, babe, only for you."

"You are a once in a lifetime man, Jake Seresin. A once in a lifetime man that I would like to cuddle up with and go to sleep with."

"That sounds like an excellent idea."

The last thing I remember is the soft kiss Jake gives you on your forehead.

Chapter 13

@kmc1989

@starswholistenanddreamsanswered

@mayhemmanaged

@callmemana

@dempy

@hangmanscoming

@lanie-k

@callsign-viper

@senjoritanana

@djs8891

@atarmychick007

@memoriesat30

@midnightmagpiemama

@mygyn

[invisibleraven]

doing geocaching for Rulie?

"Do you have plans for today?" Reggie asked as they enjoyed breakfast.

"Laundry?" Julie replied. "Otherwise no, why?"

"I have a date planned and didn't want you to leave anything behind," Reggie replied.

"I'm down," Julie replied, leaning over to kiss the corner of his mouth. "You know you are way more important than anything else to me."

"The sentiment is mutual darlin'," Reggie said with a wink. "Dress comfy with good shoes."

That piqued Julie's curiosity but they had enough dates where they went on a hike or horse riding, she was used to not needing to gussy up for every date.

Soon enough they were both dressed and heading out. "SO where are we headed?" she asked.

"It's a multi stop date," Reggie confessed. "I heard about this thing called geocaching? It's like a treasure hunt kinda and thought it might be fun."

"Oh yeah, I've done that with Carlos a few times," Julie said. "It was always a good time."

"Perfect," Reggie said. He handed over his phone, showing her the first clue. "You're on navigation."

Their first stop was at a local park, the box stashed in a large hole in a tree. Julie took a small pride pin and left a pack of crayons from the bag of small doodads Reggie had brought along.

Then they went to a locale coffee shop, finding the cache in a bush outside. Inside were a bunch of gift cards for the store, and Julie decided to buy another in exchange, while getting them both cool drinks as a refresher against the warm day.

The mini golf course had the cache in the mouth of the dinosaur where Reggie picked out a cool bookmark and left a keychain for Silver Lake. The tar pits had them exchanging a bubble wand for a nice looking print postcard.

"There's only one more," Julie commented. "Shme, this has been a lot of fun."

"We can always do it again some day if you want," Reggie replied.

"The last stop is Eats & Beats," Julie stated. "We should totally get a pastry afterwards, a nice reward."

"You're reading my mind."

Eats & Beats were curiously empty, but given it was the middle of the afternoon, Julie didn't really question it-every business had a lull period. The employee directed them to the stage, where a box was sitting on the piano. A box that had Julie's name written on it.

"Reggie?" she asked him, but he just smiled and urged her to open it. She did so with trembling hands, gasping as inside the cache was a small box-the one someone would use to house a ring. She lifted it up and turned to ask Reggie what was going on-only to find him kneeling before her.

He gave her a watery smile, gently easing the box from her hands, and taking her left in his own. "Julie...I set up this little treasure hunt for a fun day, but I knew I wanted to have this be the last stop. Because you-you're the greatest treasure ever."

"You're supposed to leave something behind though," Julie sniffled, smiling the whole time.

"You're right," Reggie agreed. "I'm leaving behind loneliness, and a life without you."

"Me too."

Reggie beamed, opening the box, and Julie's breath caught in her throat. There was a beautiful ring-one she had seen many times before sitting on MeeMaw's finger. One she knew that Reggie had been promised when he found the great love of his life.

"So darlin', what do you say? You wanna hitch your wagon to mine and be my wife?"

Julie extended her hand and nodded-too overwhelmed to speak. Watched as Reggie slid the ring on, then scooped her up to kiss her, spinning them around. The both of them laughing as they broke apart.

That's when Julie heard the applause, looking around to see their family and friends come from backstage, all swarming to con gratulate them.

"You were all in on this?"

"Yeah, Reg asked us to set up the caches," Luke replied.

"And I filmed the whole speech," her papi stated, waving his camera.

"We rented this place out," Alex said. "And your aunt brought snacks alongside the food they have here so we could have an impromptu engagement party."

"You planned all this?" she asked Reggie.

"I wanted it to be special and unique-just like us," he replied with a shrug.

"It was perfect," Julie stated, pulling him in for yet another kiss, and knew that above anything, Reggie was the real treasure in all this-one she wouldn't be giving up for anything.

[trumpets0ng]

242- “Changes”

Beginning / Previously /Next

((Boredum - Tyler the Creator))

For easier reading, please see transcript below the cut:

D: Mind if we steal your girl for a bit?

O: So long as you get her back before the countdown.

W: Do I get a say? *everyone laughs* What’s up?

P: Girl talk in the bathroom!

W: *giggles* What are we 12? Why’s there security up here?

P: Some new exhibit is going up. We were hoping it would be complete for tonight, but no dice. So, the director is “walling it off” for tonight.

D: Sooo… I just told Penny; it’s official. I put in my notice at the clinic…

W: What?! Are you kidding me?!

P: Right?

D: I know, I know…

W: When was this? Wait— when’s your last day?

D: *chuckles* Last Friday and I’m done end of this month.

W: You’re serious!

D: Watcher! You’re worse than Penny!

P: Whatever. *they laugh*

W: Where are you interviewing?

D: I’m not. At least, not yet. Between wedding planning, moving, Dirk selling the San My penthouse—

P&W: What?!

D: *rolls eyes* I know, I know… but that’s my point. There’s too much on my plate right now.

W: What about your wedding planner?

D: *sigh* Yeah… my cousin Vonnie. She’s a good event planner, but this is the biggest thing she’s ever done and it makes me nervous. It shouldn’t, but it does.

P: But she’s been doing it for a while, no?

D: 5 years. But never on this level. I mean we don’t have star-studded events back home. It’s the sticks!

W: Clearly you trust her, or you wouldn’t have hired her.

D: I do… I do. She found the venue, and the caterer. Izzy and Matteo helped her really early on to get her ducks in a row and licensed, so this can be more than a side hustle in the future. They gave her a crash course on NDA’s and purchasing things under her LLC, to protect our privacy. Dirk and I want to keep this paparazzi and press free as possible.

W: That’s fair.

P: But what about afterward? I’m sure she could use the press if this is going to be more than a side hustle.

D: Of course. I just haven’t figured that part out yet.

P: I can make a few calls if you want. I have a friend at MunaLuchi Brides.

W: And I can ask Aunt Gloria for recs.

D: That’d be great, actually. Thank you.

P: We should head back out there before they send a search party. *they laugh*

[jordanianroyals]

undefined

Jordan Royal Wedding Planners, Pink Moon Events, on Princess Iman’s Henna Party

By Laura Kell, March 9, 2023

Original Video Link: https://www.instagram.com/p/CpjrzRcP7XZ/

Pink Moon Events in Jordan were the masterminds behind Princess Iman’s pre-wedding Henna party which took place in Jordan earlier. Queen Rania of Jordan was in attendance, along with Ms. Rajwa al Saif – Crown Prince Hussein’s fiancé and Princess Iman’s soon-to-be sister-in-law – her aunts, Princess Aisha bint Hussein and Princess Zein bint Hussein; and her grandmother, Princess Muna al-Hussein.

‎‏”It’s an immense honor to have designed & planned the Henna party for her Royal Highness Princess Iman,” Pink Moon events writes within the caption. “We are proud to have engaged a group of skilled Jordanians to contribute in this project. Mabrook our beautiful Princess.”

The video highlights the skill and craftsmanship of local artisans, who prepared traditional decorations, table settings and tapestries for the event. The henna party took place at Al Husseiniya Palace.

Harper’s Bazaar Saudi interviewed Lubna Kolagasi and Rana Jundi, owners of Pink Moon.

“iI was a moment of personal pride and gratitude for the design and organization of Princess Iman’s henna party, which touched our hearts and the hearts of many craftsmen from the local community,” the two founders of the company said. “Everything was done according to customs and traditions. We were able to host a Princess Iman’s henna party, combining the uniqueness of old weddings with the elegant touches of modern nuptials, all while blending the essence of the past and the difference of the present. Embroidery was the focal point of the evening’s décor at the Al Husseiniya Palace.”

Lubna explained to Bazaar Saudi: “More than 30 talented women were hired from the local community… This was to create the furnishings and embroidered murals, all of them crafted in traditional patterns and stitches.”

“We were keen to add special embroideries from all of Jordan’s governorates,” she added. “The Royal Hashemite Court gifted a special souvenir to every guest who attended the event, as per royal custom. We were not responsible for the gifts.” (Source)

[rockislandadultreads]

Cozy Holiday Mysteries

A Dark and Snowy Night by Sally Goldenbaum

Winter in Sea Harbor is a feast for the senses - crackling bonfires, the scent of snow in the salty air, carols ringing out on the village green. This year, the Seaside Knitters, Izzy, Birdie, Nell, and Cass, have a sackful of obligations in addition to their usual Christmas preparations. Upon a nanny going missing and a young woman dying at a holiday party, the group must uncover the pattern to these mysteries to remove suspicion from those they love, bring a murderer to justice - and keep Sea Harbor’s holiday magic from vanishing into the chill winter air.

This is the 16th volume of the "Seaside Knitters Society Mystery" series.

Blackmail & Bibingka by Mia P. Manansala

It's Christmastime in Shady Palms, but things are far from jolly for Lila Macapagal. Sure, her new business, The Brew-ha Cafe, is looking to turn a profit in its first year. And yes, she's taken the first step in a new romance with her good friend, Jae Park. But her cousin Ronnie is back in town after ghosting the family fifteen years ago and is soon accused of murder. Now Lila has to put away years of resentment and distrust to prove her cousin's innocence. He may be a jerk, but he's still family. And there's no way her flesh and blood could actually be a murderer...right?

This is the third volume of the "Tita Rosie's Kitchen Mystery" series.

Death on a Winter Stroll by Francine Mathews

Nantucket Police Chief Meredith Folger is acutely conscious of the stress COVID-19 has placed on the community she loves. Although the island has proved a refuge for many during the pandemic, the cost to Nantucket has been high. Merry hopes that the Christmas Stroll, one of Nantucket’s favorite traditions, will lift the island’s spirits. But the arrival of a large-scale TV production, as well as two murders, complicates matters significantly. Now, it’s up to Merry and Detective Howie Seitz to find a connection between two seemingly unconnected murders and catch the killer.

This is the seventh volume of the "A Merry Folger Nantucket Mystery" series.

God Rest Ye, Royal Gentlemen by Rhys Bowen

Georgie is excited for her first Christmas as a married woman in her lovely new home. She suggests to her dashing husband, Darcy, that they have a little house party, but when Darcy receives a letter from his aunt Ermintrude, there is an abrupt change in plans. She has moved to a house on the edge of the Sandringham estate, near the royal family, and wants to invite Darcy and his new bride for Christmas. It isn't long before strange accidents occur at the estate, however, and Georgie begins to suspect that a member of the royal family is a target. 

This is the 15th volume of the "Her Royal Spyness" series.

[aurora-australis-tumbles]

Hi! 😍 I'm so sad that you can't do Fic Off anymore, but the December Prompt thing sounds great. So, if you please, I'd like 21 and 29 for Phrack. And thank you so much for doing this. 💖💖💖

No, no, we just can’t do it this year. @arlome and I have high hopes of returning to Fic Off next year, and special plans in the works for the spring as well, so 2023 has a lot of promise — at least as far as our fic collaborations go. 😂 But writing prompts in December has become a lovely tradition for me, so I wanted to keep that going as I was able this year anyway, and I thank YOU for the prompts. ❤️

That said... I have no idea if this is what you were looking for. 😂 But the prompt heart wants what it wants, I suppose, and apparently this is what it wanted for wrapping paper (21) and wishes (29)!

-------

Jack Robinson was a man who noticed things.

He couldn’t help it; he was, by nature and profession, a detective. 

And, he could finally admit (to himself and the world), the object of his noticing these days was very often Phryne Fisher. 

He knew things now. Knew how she took her tea, and when she preferred coffee, and what she looked like before she’d had either. He knew which songs she played to liven up a party, and where her favourite reading spot was, and which libations made her sick as an adult after overindulgences in her youth.

He knew because he noticed.

And something he’d noticed, which seemed a bit strange to him, was how she opened gifts.

For a woman who always seemed to be operating at top speed, she took a surprising amount of time and care when opening presents. There was almost a reverence there, which he found intriguing. So, one day, he asked her about it.

She was quiet, for a moment, and he worried that he’d overstepped, but then she smiled at him, a little embarrassed, a little sad, and shook her head.

“It was a game,” she explained quietly. “Stupid and silly, but Janey liked it. If you could open your present without ripping the wrapping paper, then you would get what you wished for. We hardly ever got presents, of course, just from Aunt P at Christmas and mother for our birthdays — when she could hide enough away from father, anyway. But we still played it, Janey and Arthur and me.” The smile got a little sadder then. “And now I’m the only one left who remembers that. Maybe that’s why I still do it. That or it’s just muscle memory.” She shrugged, the motion uncharacteristically stilted. “And either way I stopped believing in wishes long ago.”

“What about Guy?” Jack asked, though he suspected he knew the answer. She shook her head.

“Guy refused to play, but somehow always got what he wanted anyway,” she told him with a raised eyebrow and a bit more of her regular spark.

“Ah,” Jack replied. “Still, I think it must work sometimes,” he concluded.

“Oh?”

“Of course. Why do you think I’m so gentle with your clothes?” he asked with a suggestive waggle of his eyebrows. She laughed at that, dispelling the last of her melancholy just as he’d hoped, and went back to opening the elaborate stationary set her mother had sent to her along with no small amount of subtext.

Still... Jack now noticed a wistfulness at the edges of her expression whenever the subject of gifts came up.

He was a detective, after all.

And so, with no small amount of his own subtext, on the 21st of December, Jack arrived at Wardlow bearing gifts.

A scarf he’d seen her eyeing and a book that had somehow gone missing from the evidence locker and a plain white envelope.

As was her habit, she took a great deal of care in unwrapping her presents, and she was deeply moved and grateful for each, but when she got to the envelope, she stopped.

“It’s empty,” she informed him.

She was, of course, a detective too.

“It is,” he confirmed. “It’s also used.”

She raised an eyebrow. “How... thrifty of you, Jack.” He rolled his eyes.

“Used and completely intact,” he added with emphasis.

She nodded as one might for a small child showing you some new nursery rhyme they’d just learned. “Yes, well done you, Jack,” she teased with bemused amusement. “Clearly nobody opens an envelope more fastidiously in all of Melbourne.”

He fought the urge to roll his eyes again — it was her birthday. 

“This is a special envelope,” he explained. “It’s the one you hid in my desk the day before you flew off.”

She looked back at the paper in surprise. “With my address in London?” she asked, though it wasn’t really a question.

“Mmmm,” he confirmed. “I’m afraid the address came with me, but the envelope I tucked in my office drawer. Not quite sure why... probably all the fastidiousness,” he supposed with a self-deprecating shrug. “But lucky I did keep it, because now there is a chain of evidence.”

“Of what?” she asked, still staring at the envelope.

“That was a gift, Phryne. I knew it at the time. And outstretched hand and a gift of trust, from you to me. And when I opened it, I didn’t rip the paper. And do you know what?”

“What?” she whispered, beginning to understand.

“That’s when I got everything I wished for.”

She looked up then, eyes wet, and smiled tremulously. “Is that so?”

“It is,” he confirmed, reaching over to hold her free hand. “And now I’m going to push my luck by making another request; keep up your tradition. All of it. Because if you stop believing entirely, well, that would be a world with a little less Phryne Fisher in it. And what kind of world would that be?”

She snorted and Jack pushed his luck just a little bit further.

“We can remember them together.”

Phryne was quiet then, and Jack held his breath — this was more sentimentality than either of them was used to or generally comfortable with and there was every chance she would not appreciate his own outstretched hand just now. But then she smiled, wide and unencumbered and beautiful, and Jack’s breath stopped for an entirely different reason.

She squeezed his hand and opened the envelope, not tearing it a jot — it wasn’t sealed, so it wasn’t that hard, but Jack was hardly going to point that out on her birthday — before leaning over and kissing him soundly.

“Well,” she said, when she finally pulled back and smoothed her hair into place. “Look at that. Seems my wish came true after all.”

Jack barked out a laugh and shook his head, and she winked, before meaningfully glancing back behind her towards the stairs.

“Let me guess,” he said, taking her hand and the hint and leading her in that general direction. “You have one or two other wishes still on the docket?”

She shrugged, but he wasn’t fooled a bit. 

He was a detective, he couldn’t help it.

And, he could finally admit, he didn’t want to either.

-------

December Prompts

[dangermousie]

Awwwwww!!!!! The thing that strikes me is not just that this the first wedding-related happy shindig we’ve seen in this show (Aziz crashed both Dilruba’s engagement and wedding, plus D wasn’t keen on the engagement and really didn’t want the wedding), Efnan forced wedding to Sutku was a horror and Aziz rode in shooting to stop it (the man’s second job is wrecking parties :P), and Efnan and Aziz’s first engagement party attempt had him rushing out for murder-related reasons and her horrid dad showed up) but how happy and comfortable they BOTH are.

Because it’s not just Efnan who finds an impromptu party in a dusty factory with a bunch of weavers, traditional instruments, everyday clothes and dancing to a gramophone brought over from the house, totally 100% congenial (even if her father never came and D never came and Aziz never left, she’d have never been half this happy at the planned by his aunt society engagement party.) What strikes me is how happy Aziz is and how this is so much more his bag as well somehow.

As his awesome aunt (the sole family member I don’t mind, pithily comments.

[cherrybombfangirlwrites]

15 tags 15 mutuals! 💜💜💜

Tagged by: @bloodlessheirbyjacques and @pinespittinink thank you!

Tagging: @jezifster @mjjune @italiangothicwriteblr @rose-bookblood @memento-morri-writes and anyone else who wants in!

Answer these questions either with yourself or an OC. Imma do myself and Princess Sapphire because i want to.

Me~

Are you named after anyone? No joke, my mom named me after her favorite book character. She named one of my sisters after another favorite book character of hers too.

When was the last time you cried? I watched Dead Poets Society for the first time recently and HOLY FUCKING SHIT WHY DID NO ONE WARN ME I BAWLED MY EYES OUT and THAT ENDING NOBODY TOUCH MEEEE IT WAS WAS SO SAD

Do you have kids? Nope, and I don't plan to. Imma live my best life as the cool witchy and single wine aunt

Do you use sarcasm? What? No.... I would never..... :)

What's the first thing you notice about people? How they stand and how they speak. I can tell a lot of things about them just based on that, including whether or not they're a fellow neurodivergent

What's your eye color? Blue <3

Scary movies or happy endings? Happy endings, I CANNOT do horror it scares the shit out of me. (spooky is cool, but actual horror and jumpscares is too far)

Any special talents? Does my obsession with history count? I do paint but it's more of a hobby and I'm not trying to get good at it

Where were you born? In the cult ridden hell that is Utah :P

What are your hobbies? Writing, obviously. But I also read, paint, and watch movies.

Have you any pets? Two dogs! I have a little maltese mutt who's six years old and a crumuginy old man, and a three year old goldendoole puppy who is the biggest turdler (toddlerxturd) there ever was. We also have a rabbit in our backyard but he belongs to my sister and she's the one who takes care of him.

What sports do you play/have played? HAHAHAHA No. Sports and I have never gotten along. Let's just say that the scenes of Mia in PE class in the movie Princess Diaries sums up my experience with sports perfectly.

How tall are you? 5'4''... Being short runs in my family, you should see my grandma, she's been a whole head shorter than me for a long time

Favorite subject in school? ENGLIGH AND ART BABY! But history also has a special place in my heart

Dream job? Full-time author and part-time party princess

Princess Sapphire~

Are you named after anyone? Nope, I'm the first in my line with my name!

When was the last time you cried? ... When I was like six I think? Father wouldn't let me ride the horses cause they were "too dangerous", but now I ride one all the time and ITS HARDDD.

Do you have kids? No... *looks at Raven* but maybe one day... if I met the right person...

Do you use sarcasm? Who me? Neverrrr ;)

What's the first thing you notice about people? The way they talk. It says a lot about how they act and who they are inside.

What's your eye color? Sapphire blue, in case you haven't guessed, that's where I get my name from.

Scary movies stories or happy endings? Happy endings are boring, gimme the good stuff, I'll take scary stories!

Any special talents? I can run really fast

Where were you born? In castle of Greyvenhill <3

What are your hobbies? Adventuring! anything that involves going outside and exploring.

Have you any pets? No but I would love to have one. Does Raven's horse Dante count?

What sports do you play/have played? Running and Dancing

How tall are you? 5'5''... I'm not that short!

Favorite subject in school?

Dream job? A pirate or cartographer <333

[dontcallmebymyusername]

Part 2 of the series in which Aunt Prudence turns out to be quite an eccentric party planner

2/6

Seemingly antiquated Aunt Prudence has agreed to host Guy and Isabella's engagement party, which was to be an extravagant costume party or, as @allpartofthejob has put it, an "engagement-rave". Apart from a little hiccup (Mrs. Truebody, the housekeeper, resigns and now Aunt P is one chef and a few waiters and footmen short - because Mrs. Truebody embodies it all) the party goes as planned. On a side note, Aunt P needs to set her moral compass straight.

Music and clip bits in this video:

1. Charles Fox - Wonder Woman

2. The Beatles - Help!

3. SpongeBob SquarePants time cards number 90, 160

4. Etta James - At Last

Series dedicated to/inspired by @allpartofthejob , who once said: "Seemingly antiquated Aunt P hosts all sorts of extravagant events! Engagement-raves, nudist camps, murderous tennis matches..."

[papillon82fluttersby]

Famous Five Art Nostalgia #LC02 – Part 2

Introductory post

Introduction to ‘Les Cinq’

‘Les Cinq’ Masterpost

🏞️🎊💼 Les Cinq au bal des espions – The Famous Five in Fancy Dress

Original publication date: 1971 (France), 1983 (UK)

(Cover art by P. Munch and J. Prunier, 2003)

Plot summary:

Siblings Julian, Dick and Anne join their cousin George at Kirrin Cottage for a glorious two months of summer holidays.

(A happy reunion! Hugs and kisses!!)

That evening, Uncle Quentin announces that a scientific conference that was planned in Geneva in the fall has been moved to the summer. As a result, all the family goes on a trip to Switzerland: Uncle Quentin and Aunt Fanny will be at the hotel where the conference is held, while the children get to enjoy two weeks at a youth camp near Lake Geneva.

Over the next few days, the Five get to know their fellow campers, who all range from age 10 to 17 and hail from various European countries such as France, Switzerland, Germany, Italy or the UK. Most everyone is very friendly, except for one 17-year-old named Rudi originating from a small Central European country, who acts surly and aloof.

(Rudi rudely pushes Anne over 😡)

There is an announcement that all campers are invited to attend a masked ball that will be held the next week in Geneva, at the same hotel where the scientific conference is hosted. Over the next few days, the campers are all in a frenzy to find the best costume – George will be disguised as a cat burglar, François as a musketeer, Dick as a buccaneer and Anne as a shepherdess.

One night, George catches Rudi making light signals to a man called Malik, and conversing with him. She discovers that Malik is a member of the secret service of a foreign country and that Rudi is being paid to steal the plans for a rocket created by Professor Lancelot, a scientist who’s currently attending the international conference in Geneva. Rudi is supposed to steal the plans the following evening around midnight, during the masked ball that will be held at the hotel. After Malik and Rudi have gone their separate ways, George reports what she has discovered to her cousins.

(Anne shakes George awake after hearing some noise outside their cabin…)

(…George follows Rudi to the lake shore and sees him making light signals…)

(…after these disconcerting events, George tells her cousins all that she has discovered)

During the night, a fire breaks out in the camp and George bravely rescues a young boy trapped in the flames. As a reward, the camp’s head counsellor gives her permission to bring Timmy to the masked ball – dressed as a sheep to go with Anne’s shepherdess costume! Unable to reach Uncle Quentin by phone that day due the upheaval following the fire, the Five decide to warn Professor Lancelot the next evening at the masked ball.

(Panic at camp!)

(Final costume adjustments: Dick cheers up the little boy that George saved from the flames, and who lost his costume to the fire 😢 – the Five help him make a new one)

Once at the hotel for the party, the children try to contact Professor Lancelot but to no avail. Dick goes up to the professor's room but the door is locked.

(Buccaneer Dick boldly goes to explore the professor’s room, only to be foiled by a locked door! Arr!!)

George suggests climbing up the front of the hotel and walking along the stone ledge to reach the scientist's room through the open window, after which she opens the door to her cousins.

(George opens the professor’s door to Julian and Dick while Anne and Timmy keep watch in the corridor)

Professor Lancelot has been drugged and is fast asleep. The Five soon find his briefcase and replace the rocket plans with worthless newspapers. Rudi arrives around midnight and grabs the briefcase.

(Julian, Dick and George have been hiding in the bathroom while Rudi enters the room, but Dick’s impulsiveness wins through and he cannot resist trying to capture Rudi – Rudi manages to lock them all up in the room and flees, after dodging Anne who makes him trip with her shepherdess’s crook)

George follows Rudi and clings to the back of the car that picks him up. The car brings Rudi (and, unbeknownst to them, George) to an isolated house in the woods, where he has a meeting with the spy chief, a blonde man. The spies discover that the rocket plans have been swapped for newspapers and are clueless as to what might have happened. The blonde man sends Rudi back to the camp with orders to keep his eyes open.

(George out-spies the spies!)

George tries to warn her father about the plot against Professor Lancelot, but he is too busy with the conference. Closely watched by Rudi, she dares not reveal all her recent discoveries in a phone conversation for fear that Rudi will find out.

(Never a moment alone due to this pesky spy! 😠)

The next day, the children learn that Professor Lancelot has been abducted in the street. Then, during a diving lesson organised for the campers, Rudi takes his chance and surreptitiously pushes George into the water, believing that she cannot swim.

(An assassination attempt! 😱)

Despite George’s being none the worse for wear, the Five are more determined than ever to warn Uncle Quentin. They find their opportunity that same afternoon during a “treasure hunt” activity that sees all the young campers scattered around the camp. Julian had planned to take a bus to Geneva to warn Uncle Quentin in person, but the plan changes when they see Rudi conversing with the blonde man in the latter’s car. After Rudi leaves, the Five approach the car and introduce themselves as hitchhikers requesting a lift to Geneva. The man grumbles but agrees to take them part of the way, which helps the children locate the spies’ hideout.

(A crafty plan…)

Dick and Anne make their way to Geneva where, after some difficulty, they manage to locate Aunt Fanny and Uncle Quentin who, in turn, call the police. Seeing Rudi lurking at the hotel, Dick jumps on him and locks him up, gagged and tied up, in a broom cupboard. Meanwhile, Julian, George and Timmy reach the spies’ hideout and manage to gain access to the professor, who is being held in an underground chamber. The villains discover them and a fight ensues, but the police soon arrive and arrest the spies, including Rudi.

(Fight! Fight! Fight!)

~~~~~~

Thanks for reading!

[rxharpe]

Big ups to my friend Evan for facilitating a fun after Party on the 3rd floor of Backstage in Santa Barbara V.I.P. style with DJ Champagne & Chambord! Cheer to being 40 and frivolous while having fun with friends!!! Thank you Aunt Linda for venmoing me money to put towards flowers. It was fulfilling to find flowers and create my own arrangements for decoration. Im fawning over all the beauty and festivities! My soul & inner Queen of cups will fondly remember this Full weekend. #thisis40 #vip #bottleservice #floralarrangement #icanbuymyselfflowers #festivities Let me help you plan your next event! (at Backstage SB) https://www.instagram.com/p/Cpcme03roSE/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[lchlnfrncsc]

Events In July

Quick Disclaimer: Not in their correct, corresponding order as to the reason that I forgot which events comes first.

I thought that putting my family outing memory after years of lockdown first in this month. We actually rode away with no clear destination as to where we’re going because I forgot to do my research (I was the one assigned to look for a destination but like I said… I forgot). So we just drove to Anilao, Batangas and asks the locals for a nice resorts, there were a lot of options because it is a beautiful place. We then settled to Anilao Sea Spring Resort where they have a lot to offer. I personally just loved the scenery and the 2nd  floor of the main building where they have a billiard table and a nice lounge area beside it where you can enjoy the view. That time, not so many people was checked in the resort so its like we have the entire resort all to ourselves. We tried all the slides…It was fun ^_^. Another part of the resort that I liked was the Hot tub, it was just so relaxing there hwehehe. We bought our own foods and ate after having fun at the pool area, then afterwards we changed our clothes and played volleyball  we also met a guy there who played volleyball with us, I didn’t ask his name because I forgot but he definitely played volleyball so well, I originally didn’t plan on playing because I’m not very good at that sport but when I saw them having fun plus the constant persuasion of my cousin, I ended up playing and surprisingly well too, there was a bunch of error hehe but that guy we played with us taught me a bunch of tricks （￣︶￣）↗.  Eventually we have to bid goodbyes and go home  〒▽〒. On our way home we came across such beautiful scenery because of the beautiful sky, it turned pink and a few different shades of color. It was truly breathtaking and a beautiful way to end the trip (^◕.◕^).

338 words

Next let’s talk about the birthday celebrations this month. We celebrated 3 birthdays this month… Yes it’s quite a lot… And it’s pretty tiring and annoying because seeing how the dishes piled up so quickly!!…. Let’s go over the details one by one… first we celebrated Rosalie Angel’s Birthday, my cousin who flew from London. We organized an event at Arlene Ville Subdivison at my aunt’s house because it’s spacious there, A lot of exciting things happened and performances. We even organized a candy booth hwehe. I remembered my cousin changed outfit 3 times, first a princess like dress then a penguin styled dress, then lastly a little more comfortable  outfit. There were a lot of guest hehe. Next Birthday celebrant was my brother whereas I was stressed the most because I have church scheduled then my school activities and I have to pick up a bunch of guests for his party.. whole morning I was at the church then after straight back home to lead the first prayer then after changed into the tie-dye outfit, then no time to rest I have to pick up my friends at the 7-11 store in Taal Batangas.. The event was held at the same location where Rosalie Angel’s Birthday was celebrated… So of course after I picked up my friends I have to entertain them well which lasted till 10 pm… also one of my friend has to stay over for the night because its late and I just couldn’t let her go by herself. Last birthday celebrant of the month is one of my cousins Alizia Mae, compare to the first 2 her birthday wasn’t that stressful but I couldn’t celebrate it well with them because after a couple of the picture taken I have to Go because I have an errand that day. Well see look how I became so stressed yet so happy this month hwehehe

317 words

Here are the 3 events in one picture, why? Because I am a lazy person and I don’t want to go stalking my mom’s account again just so I can have a perfectly adoring pictures and I don’t want to spend another 10 minutes on editing because I don’t feel like it so yeah, I’m a lazy bish.… I’ll explain the thingymabobs don’t worryy… Paradizoo, haiist.. I want to go there too I want to pet the animals and have a butterfly land on my hand, but my cute physical health decided “Let’s give her a fever on the day where she’s supposed to go out with her family :D”…. (。_。)(°ー°〃)…. so yehh I got sick.. on the day that was supposed to be the most memorable day of my entire life!!!!… My family didn’t let my fever stop them from having fun, they still went out and I am stuck in the bed, sick, so sick that I couldn’t even get up the bed without falling!! It was supposed to be a fun day but it turned to be the worst T_T… its not all bad though when I woke up around 12 or 1 pm because of hunger I saw a meal and a medicine, but I don’t know why but my brain acted up and made me think that the meal was poisonous even though there is no any sign that it is and it looked completely fine… So I called using my phone and through our family gc, my mom and my dad to ask dor a soup or noodles, only my dad answered and that’s the only time where I found out that my fam was out of the house… though my dad stayed with me, when he got up to the room where I was resting he gave me a nice cup noodles hehe and helped me get up, he even ate with me even though he already ate(my aunt told me) because he knew that I feel lonely and lose my appetite when I eat alone. After I ate I took my medicine and dozed off, I don’t know when exactly I recovered but Im glad I did >_<. Next!!. before My dad leave to go back to London, he cooked us a meal. The kind of meal that I don’t usually eat, because there is no rice and what I see mostly was green, that was our dinner, a big green salad, what I think was Tempura, Calamares, and another side dish that I forgat what is called but I also think its something easy to remember. Believe it or not my dad started cooking around 7 or 8 pm because that was the time we got home from grocery shopping, because they have to drag me out of the National BookStore. And we ate at 12 am… no joke HWAHAHAH I was a distraction in the kitchen… Let’s not talk about that HAHAHA FASTFORWARD…. after eating I invited my cousins for a walk after awhile we stopped near the subdivision’s court where we played a round in billiards, then sat down a near bench.. Last picture was the last day of my father in the Philippines. Of course I cried but my father told me that he doesn’t like my byebyes and so we changed it to see you soon hweheehhe.

568 words

Last Picture!!!!!!! It was my Moving up Ceremony.. 2 days before it my aunt & mom told me that my dad haven’t arrived in London yet though his flight was 4 days before the Moving up ceremony.. So basically my dad has been missing for 2 days!! it got me worried big time, made me even think that I don’t want to attend my moving-up ceremony, Thankfully a day before my father chatted me saying that he intended on getting his flight delayed til my ceremony so he could attend because it was a special day. Whole conversation I was full on crying because I know what he meant and I appreciated it but seriously!! I couldn’t sleep because I thought he died (┬┬﹏┬┬).  The day of the ceremony… I really don’t like having a make-up on me it stressed me out big time. I want to wipe it away in the middle of the ceremony because it was really annoying. After the ceremony though my mom treat us a meal at SM Mall and we came to pick up my new pair of glasses hwehehehe.

192 words

This is everything happened during the month of july that I can remember