#previous two were christmas and birthday gifts respectively

[barnabyboppins]

I feel like you all would appreciate this

If yes or used to please say in the tags whats it's name,what animal it is and how old it is"

[golden--doodler]

Bob's Burgers Random Facts

I love this show, so here are some random facts about it that I've discovered and want to share. Some are fairly obvious/well-known, but I also wanted to add some more obscure things as well. I might make a part two, but not sure yet:

--Linda's maiden name is Genarro! This was revealed in Season 12, Episode 20 "Sauce Side Story", where it's also revealed that Linda's family has a crazy feud going on

--Gene's favorite keyboard was a Christmas gift from Bob and Linda (as seen in Season 5, Episode 17 "The Itty Bitty Ditty Committee"), which he immediately fell in love with, which is adorable. I like to believe this being a gift from them made it that much more special to him

--It's never outright stated, but heavily implied that Bob has Hemophilia, because in Season 3, Episode 20 "The Kids Run the Restaurant", Linda states that Bob bleeds a lot if he injures himself and his body has a lot of trouble clotting. This episode also reveals he gets light-headed at the sight of blood

--The Belchers live in the state of New Jersey! This is revealed in Season 3, Episode 18 "It Snakes a Village". A cute little map is shown, featuring the Belcher's car, which is clearly seen in New Jersey

--In Season 6, Episode 6 "The Cook, The Steve, The Gayle, & Her Lover", Tina sings a bunch of random Spanish phrases which Louise translates very inaccurately, in an effort to break up Gayle and Mr. Frond. And apparently, in the Spanish dub (yes, this exists), Tina sings these random phrases in English instead, and it's hilarious

--Bob and Gene are both allergic to shellfish (which is probably why Bob hates Lobster Fest), and apparently, on Bob and Linda's first date, Bob got an allergic reaction to some shellfish. However, Linda somehow remained unaware of it the entire time, and to this day, still doesn't know he has a shellfish allergy despite him telling her about it multiple times. I personally like to believe she still took care of him after it happened, she just didn't know what was going on

--According to Gene in Season 6, Episode 13 "Wag the Hog", Bob isn't a fan of cilantro

--One small, funny thing I noticed is that both Bob and Linda's previous lovers before they met each other were blonde (Barbara Bunkley and Hugo Habercore, respectively)

--In Season 6, Episode 1, "Sliding Bobs", in Tina's story about an alternate universe in which Linda and Hugo actually got married and Bob becomes the Health Inspector, Bob mentions offhandedly that he tried renting out the building where "Hugo's Hot Dogs" is twenty years ago, implying that Bob and Linda have owned "Bob's Burgers" for around twenty years

--Not only has Bob forgotten his own birthday on one occasion, as seen in Season 1, Episode 1 "Human Flesh", but Linda has accidentally forgotten his birthday as well, as seen in Season 8, Episode 16, "Are You There, Bob? It's Me, Birthday". It seems on occasion Linda isn't great with dates, either

--As seen in a framed photo in Bob and Linda's bedroom, they actually got married at City Hall, and boy, do they look adorably happy in that wedding photo. I like to think that even though they canonically still had to work at the restaurant that day for money reasons, they still had a really nice wedding with cake and wholesome/tear-jerking vows

--According to Season 10, Episode 1 "The Ring (But Not Scary)", Bob, unfortunately, couldn't afford to get Linda a ring when he proposed to her, and instead gave her a nice high-five to make up for that. Also, in the episode, it's shown he's come a long way from "Human Flesh" by actually remembering their wedding anniversary and getting her a ring (I know she doesn't mind not having one, but it's too bad she still was never able to get it, thanks to it getting lost)

--In Season 8, Episode 13 "Cheer Up Sleepy Gene", it's revealed Bob and Linda both snore quite loud, and it's actually comforting to them both in a weird way and helps them sleep. Not only that, but they find other quirks of theirs comforting, as seen in Season 12, Episode 15, "Ancient Misbehavin'" when Bob admits he misses hearing Linda talking "emphatically" in her sleep. Even better, actual studies have shown that if you sleep in the same bed as your partner, it improves your sleep, even if they snore

--In Season 11, Episode 21, "Die Card, or Card Trying", it's revealed that Louise has been making the same "serial killer" smiling face in their family photos since she was really young, and it's really a sight to behold

--In the "Bob's Burgers Movie", it's revealed that Felix Fischoeder has a framed photo of his brother, Calvin, in his bedroom, which is surprisingly wholesome

--In Season 12, Episode 1 "Manic Pixie Crap Show", it's unfortunately revealed that Linda, when she was young, got incredibly attached to a neighborhood stray dog named Bottlecap (who got the name because he could balance bottlecaps on his nose) only to witness him getting run over by a hot dog truck. Apparently, she also witnessed her eighth-grade teacher get run over by a truck. Jesus, poor Linda ): It's implied this is a reason why the Belchers have never had a family pet before, besides being poor

--When Linda was young, she wore a pair of braces, though it's never stated how she felt about them

--According to Season 3, Episode 12 "Broadcast Wagstaff School News", Bob looked almost identical to Gene when he was young, which Gene is originally not happy about, but grows to accept. I like to think he'll look like Bob when he's older, even though that's one of the things he was worried about in the episode

--According to Season 3, Episode 14 "Lindapendent Woman", Linda actually has a really complex monetary system for the restaurant's finances, which keeps the family from being in too much debt. It's so complicated that Bob can't figure out how to do it himself once she temporarily leaves her job at the restaurant for another job, proving why she needs him around, besides the fact that he loves her and loves seeing her every day

--In Season 5, Episode 17, "The Itty Bitty Ditty Committee", it's revealed that Gene actually only knows how to play one chord, and isn't experienced musically in the slightest, struggling to get through doing scales a bunch of times when he briefly takes piano lessons. He even calls scales "gross". However, as seen in Season 3, Episode 16 "Topsy", he is still able to create amazing, Broadway-worthy musical numbers when he wants to despite this.

--As of Season 13, Bob and Linda officially have actual smartphones, because they had to upgrade after Grover Fischoeder threw their old phones in the ocean in the "Bob's Burgers Movie". Kind of ironic, considering in the two-part Season 4 finale, Calvin laments about how Bob hadn't purchased "a better cellphone". It's shown in Episode 11, "Cheaty Cheaty Bang Bang", that Bob is still struggling quite a bit with using his.

--According to Season 11, Episode 2 "Worms of In-Rear-Ment", Linda has always wanted to be a mother, ever since she was young. Despite her worries about how she's doing as a parent, I think she's doing pretty great

--Apparently, (as seen in Part One of the Season 4 Finale, "Wharf Horse") Linda told Bob she was pregnant with Louise on top of the Ferris Wheel in Wonder Wharf, and he "just kept screaming". They also share a sweet kiss in the same spot in Season 1, Episode 1 "Human Flesh", so that place is pretty significant for them. It makes me wonder how she told Bob she was pregnant with Tina and Gene

--According to Tina in the "Bob's Burgers Movie", she doesn't actually own her own phone despite being a teenager, and it gets "harder to explain every year". Hopefully one day she can get one

--According to Louise in Season 3, Episode 22 "Carpe Museum", not only is Louise secretly a huge daddy's girl, but she also truly believes Tina and Gene will stick Bob in a nursing home one day, and "not one of the nice ones"

That's all for now but hopefully, I'll make a part two if I can think of enough fun facts that I missed!

[charlie-pippin-faraday]

House of Anubis birthday headcanons

This is a branch off my previous post where I talked about birthdays and star signs. Now I’m gonna talk about more detailed and ~fun~ headcanons

They are the 1995-96 school year

Nina and Joy are the oldest (I’ve already had lengthy discussions about this, about whether they’re the oldest or youngest. I personally believe they’re the oldest, so that’s what I’m going with in my headcanons). Their birthday is July 7, 1995 (Cancers 🦀). And yes usually July birthdays are on the younger end, but the wiki says Amber’s September birthday and Eddie’s November birthday are 1995, and fall birthdays are definitely on the older end. This means that the January-June birthdays of that year are gonna be in 1996. It’s not totally out of the question for a summer/July birthday to be on the older end instead of the younger one. Because Eddie’s November ‘95 and he’s in their year, they kind of have to be the oldest. So, conclusion: Nina and Joy are the oldest ones in the house

Both Nina and Joy definitely had pool parties for their birthday as kids. One or both of them almost definitely had ice cream cake at least once. Nina also thinks the idea of being in school on her birthday is barbaric

Season 3 is their senior year, meaning it’s the year they’re all turning 18. This is part of the reason Amber was making such a big deal about her birthday in S3; 1) it’s Amber so of course and 2) it was her 18th birthday, so she absolutely wanted it to be special

Because they were all turning 18, Amber wanted to make everyone’s birthday special. She planned to throw parties for everyone’s birthdays (except Joy, RIP, who turned 18 in the summer before the school year started). However, Amber wasn’t actually around to throw any of those parties. But she did leave all her party stuff behind, so the rest of them use her party supplies for everyone’s 18th birthday parties

Amber’s birthday is September 9 (a Virgo 😘), so every year she sees her birthday as the celebration to kick off the school year. She wants a huge celebration and a party and cake and presents for her birthday every year. She’s also definitely the high school girl who had her friends decorate her locker and had birthday balloons tied to her bag that she carried around all day on her birthday every year. She also definitely wore like a birthday tiara

I believe that Mara is a Libra (⚖️), and that her birthday is in early October (my headcanon is Oct. 6). She likes having a fall birthday because she likes how cozy it is and she likes to indulge in a pumpkin spice latte. She doesn’t like to make a huge deal about her birthday, and whenever people try to make a fuss she’s like no no there’s no need to make a big deal. She doesn’t want like the world’s biggest party, however, if anyone tries to make her do anything she doesn’t want to do on her birthday, she gets very pissy

Eddie’s birthday is November 19 (fuckin Scorpio 🦂), meaning that it is very close to American Thanksgiving. As a child he would always say to his mother that Thanksgiving “got in the way” of his birthday

Patricia’s birthday is December 8 (Sagittarius 🏹), and originally she’s not a big fan of her birthday and it makes her angry because she has to share her birthday with Piper (obviously) like she has to share everything. Birthday parties as children were not fun for Patricia bc obviously there would be one party for the both of them and her parents would skew it towards Piper. Patricia resented her birthday for awhile. However, Joy, always tries to go out of her way to make her birthday special and just for her (“You will have a good time on your birthday, Patricia!”), and eventually she comes around to enjoying her birthday as long as it’s exclusively her birthday

Fabian is absolutely a Capricorn (🐐), everything about him screams Capricorn. Which means his birthday is anywhere from late December to mid-January, and I believe his birthday is definitely two days before Christmas. He gets really grumpy and bitter about his birthday because of that; his birthday constantly gets pushed to the side for Christmas, and he can never spend his birthday with his friends because it’s always over the holidays. He says it’s fine (“it’s fine”) and that he’s just not a big birthday person, but that’s a lie he’s just grumpy about it. He was gifted many combo birthday-Christmas gifts as a child which he was not a fan of. He also does a little bit of “i hate my birthday out of spite” in the vein of Chandler Bing and Thanksgiving, but like only a little bit [side note: my dad’s birthday is two days after Christmas, so I can confirm that people with Christmas-adjacent birthdays are absolutely grumpy and “woe is me” like this]

I believe KT is an Aquarius (🏺) and that her birthday is at the very end of January (my headcanon is Jan. 29). She was definitely that kid in school who brought cupcakes into school on her birthday, and she continues this tradition at Anubis House. She wakes up early on her birthday so that she can make cupcakes to bring to class. Alfie’s a big fan

Willow is for sure a Pisces (🐟), and her birthday is in late February (my headcanon is Feb. 24). The thing she wants the most for her birthday every single year is for it to snow on her birthday. She wants her birthday to be “a winter wonderland.” And whenever it does actually snow on her birthday, it’s the best thing to ever happen to her in her entire life, and she spends all day in the snow

I believe Mick is an Aries (🐏), and his birthday is in late March (my headcanon is March 30)

I believe Alfie is also an Aries (🐏), and in my mind is birthday is on April Fool’s Day. No one believes him when he tells them at first. His birthday is always a riot. Everyone feels bad about getting mad at his April Fool’s Day pranks because they don’t want to make him upset on his birthday, and because of this he goes just a little bit mad with power

Because their birthdays are 2 days apart, Alfie and Mick often had joint birthday festivities. Alfie loves sharing; Mick is not so keen about it. Alfie often takes over the birthday festivities and tends to make them more about himself, which steams Mick a little bit. However, Alfie also enthusiastically calls the two of them “birthday buddies” which Mick can’t help but like

I can totally see Trudy either A) making two cakes or B) making one of those cakes that’s split down the middle, like one half is chocolate/chocolate and one half is vanilla/vanilla or whatever. And she totally puts their faces on the cake (which they both would love) and puts the face on each respective half so they know whose is whose. “Whoever’s cake you pick is who you love more,” Alfie declares every year, making the whole house choose sides

Now Jerome, I believe, is a Gemini (👯‍♀️), and his birthday is in mid-June (my headcanon is June 11). This means he’s the youngest one in the house, which he absolutely fucking hates. He tries to keep his birthday a secret from everyone for the longest time. For awhile, they think that Alfie is the youngest, and he would prefer to keep it that way. He absolutely does not want anyone to know that he is anubis house baby. He declares the day they find out the truth the worst day of his life. Everyone makes jokes about it which angers him to no end. “I am the tallest one here!! Don’t disrespect me like this!!” “Yeah but you’re still the baby of the house. Have you hit puberty yet?”

Once Jerome’s 18th birthday hits and they have the final 18th birthday party, Trudy gets incredibly emotional because all of her babies are adults now. She definitely cries a little. Or a lot

[hakuoyuki]

Hi! Do you suggest skipping Licht route in the Christmas event? It's coming out in 2 days, but i read it will spoiler his ending so I am concerned. I am very careful around spoilers, and I am SO ANNOYED English is doing this. I want to read all Licht stories, but I would also like to play the game spoiler free. Sadly i won't be able because Licht route will come up after this event part 1 is already over. What do you suggest? Is the Spoiler in the Christmas event big enough to be an issue, or not?

Hello Anon! Okay so let me first explain what I meant by "Licht's route in Beauty and her Beast Christmas Part 1 Story Event contains spoilers for Licht's route"

The spoiler here isn't for "how the route end" but it's the spoiler for "Licht's character development" and also the internal conflict Licht been going through.

With that said, by going straight into the Christmas Event, you'll see Licht post-character development and his thoughts regarding his pre-chara development phase (his way of thinking through out the majority of his route and before).

How the character development happen / what leads to it remain in the route and not fully revealed in the story event.

The internal conflict Licht had gone through however, is a major spoiler for his character in and of itself.

If you've read BOTH Nokto's route and Licht's 1st Birthday (His POV) before, this won't be much of a spoiler for you because those two stories combined reveals the cause that leads to Licht experiencing that internal conflict up until his character development. It's actually still there because it doesn't just disappear, but he's working on it.

If you've only read one of the above and not the other... then this would be considered spoiler territory.

ー

As for my suggestion on what to do....

Personally, I actually recommend you to read Licht's route for the event (perhaps keep his epilogue for after you finish his route, ideally True Love (Romantic) End because that end is there Licht's character was fully developed and it directly links with the discussion in the Christmas' Story Event. This end is also the end in which its epilogue continue directly to the Both End Clear Bonus Story)

And here's my reasoning for why I highly do not recommend skipping events.

As I've mentioned before in other posts (like this one),

It is also to be noted that unlike other titles, IkePri is Very Consistent in its writing and their event stories happens sequentially with references back to prior released contents such as events and even the main route (and happenings from True Love end). The only exception for this is “If Stories” but even with such stories, they are still consistent on the level of an alternate timeline where MC and none of the suitors have yet to become lovers.

With the current 2nd year's Christmas Story Event "Xmas Memory", so far I've only done Nokto's both end + epilogue and gone through Chevalier's preview, however, both of their event stories makes references back to previous events as well as to their Beauty and the Beast Christmas SE (1st year's Christmas Story). It wasn't just mentioned that this was the 2nd time Nokto and Chevalier spent Christmas with their respective MCs...

In Nokto's Xmas Memory Story, there were direct references made to and a direct continuation of Nokto's 2nd Birthday Story (which was also a continuation of his 1st Birthday Story but an event which happened a year after the 1st). Not only that, but there was also mentions back to the gifts from their 1st Christmas as well.

Chevalier's Xmas Memory Story, based on the preview, already showed that it's a direct continuation of "Your Exclusive Maid Just for Today 〜Absolute Obedience to the Master〜" SE too with how the maids (with names) from those events showed up again and their chara development (yes, the maids got chara development from the events too) continued from the ending of Chevalier's Exclusive Maid Story Event.

Licht is part of Xmas Memory Part 2 which won't start until Dec 8, 4PM JST so I can't tell yet which other event(s) it continues from, but seeing how Nokto's and Chevalier's both has mentioned of Beauty and the Beast Christmas SE... I'll say Licht's too would be the same.

Another important thing I want to point out as well, for both the 1st year Christmas Event (Beauty and the Beast Christmas) and the 2nd year Christmas Event (Xmas Memory).... while the epilogue does indeed continue from the Premium End.... the event in the Sweet End happened in between the Premium End. So by reading both Sweet and Premium (and the epilogue), it would give you the complete story as to what happened.

ー

Regardless, there's also the fact that ENG indeed been messing up the event orders so the consistency are already....... suffering as a result so...... In the end, the choice is yours.

[ahockeywrites]

One Chance is All Some Get - 3

Part Two // Part Four - Masterlist

Word count: 4.3k Warnings: pineapple on pizza slander, alcohol, allusions to sex, smut, swearing

A/N: I wrote all of this before I went on hiatus and have been struggling to add to it so I thought I would release what I had written as it’s own chapter and continue the rest of it in chapter four. I know I said it would only be three chapters but I want to release something between Tito and Sarah this month. Part four may be here before June? But I really don’t know. Please enjoy, much love, A x

Sarah never particularly liked Valentine’s day, especially when her best friend’s birthday fell in the same week. It made it almost impossible for her to find something for Rebecca that wasn’t covered in roses, hearts or weird ways to express your love for someone. But this Valentine’s was different, she had Anthony. He had planned for the two of them to go to a small Italian restaurant in Tribeca, suggested by Matt, and then to spend the night at his place. He’d gone to find flower petals and candles to place on and around his bed respectively, and he even moved the radio he got as a Christmas gift from Sarah to his room so he could connect his phone to it to play the curated playlist he had made for the night. But Anthony had kept all this from Sarah, simply telling her to dress as she would for a normal date, but to think more about Rebecca’s birthday party.

Rebecca poured out the Gray Goose that Mat had gifted her as a birthday present and picked up the bottle of Sprite that was to the left of her. Mat wrapped an arm around her and whispered in her ear asking if she’d make one for him. Rebecca couldn’t stop giggling as the alcohol was flowing through her veins but quickly made up a drink for Mat. She adjusted the volume of the music and checked that the correct playlist was on before some of their friends arrived.

As Sarah adjusted the puff sleeve of her polka dot bodysuit that was tucked into a pair of leather trousers, Anthony was sponging kisses at the junction between her neck and shoulder, distracting her as she tried to get ready for their evening of partying. She went to pull out a pair of black Chelsea boots from underneath her coat that was in the corner of the room, but when she tried to go and grab them, Anthony pulled her back into his grasp and he wrapped his arms around her waist. “You know,” he started, “we could just stay in tonight.” Anthony started kissing behind her ear and then down her neck, clearly he wanted the night to go a different way.

“Baby,” Sarah elongated the final syllable as she turned around in his grasp. Both of her arms wrapped around his neck and she lifted herself onto her toes to bring him into a kiss. Almost immediately, Anthony tried to deepen it but Sarah pulled away to which he replied with a groan. “We are not staying in, we are here to party with Rebecca and then come back and cuddle afterwards,” she explained. He tried to give her puppy dog eyes, but it was no use, she had been excited about the party for weeks and there was nothing that Anthony could do to stop that.

Sarah and Anthony joined hands and kissed once again before walking out of his room to hear the music blasting from the kitchen. Almost instantly, Mat thrust a drink into each of their hands and almost forced them to down the whole thing but Sarah pushed him out of the way to find Rebecca who was half sprawled out on the couch. Now, these two had been drunk around each other before and the friends who were coming tonight, but this time it wasn’t some student party in a frat house. It was a pre-drinks in the apartment belonging to two hockey players, followed by visiting a private room in one of the most expensive clubs in all of New York.

Around two hours and a lot more drinks later, Rebecca and Mat were dancing on top of the coffee table, with encouragement from some of their college friends as Anthony kept trying to sneak Sarah back into his room with no luck. Well, aside from when she went to go to the bathroom. As she left the bathroom, she noticed that he was sitting on his bed and she crawled up to be in his embrace and it quickly became a passionate make-out session. Anthony was about to reach under Sarah’s bodysuit when Rebecca barged in, insisting that they came and joined in with a game of beer pong. The pair on the bed sighed, but agreed and joined hands before returning to the rest of the party.

It seemed like the rest of the night went like a blur. Sarah remembered meeting some of Anthony’s teammates, but she would need reintroducing to the majority of them because she had consumed quite a bit of alcohol. But she was enjoying herself and Anthony made sure that he was there to bring her back to his flat. She fell asleep on him in the Uber back and he made sure that all of her makeup was off and she was sleeping soundly in his bed.

Sarah’s head pounded and she rubbed her temples slightly to try and reduce the pressure. She heard a groan come from next to her and she realised that she was in Anthony’s apartment, the day after Rebecca’s party. Rolling over, she picked up her phone and dropped a message to Rebecca, asking if she wanted to go and grab some brunch to which she received a quick reply agreeing and they agreed on a place and time and then she actually checked the time. 40 minutes to get ready and 20 to get to the place.

“Tito,” Sarah groaned as she pushed the comforter off her body. The cold air hit her bare legs and it didn’t encourage her to get out of the warm bed at all. Gently, she pushed Anthony to wake him and let him know that she was going out for food later. He groaned with discontent but nodded as Sarah made her way to the ensuite and turned the shower on so the water could warm up. The bathroom counter was scattered with a combination of both Sarah’s and Anthony’s products so it was easy to locate everything that she needed for the quick shower.

The warm water hit her back and Sarah was able to wash away some of the grim that she had collected from the club the night previous. She was so engrossed in the hot streams of water hitting her body, she didn’t notice Anthony slipping in behind her until he wrapped his arms around her waist. He hummed into her neck and started washing her hair for her. His nails scratched her scalp as he was washing her hair and she leant back into his embrace. With a moan of his name, Sarah turned to face her boyfriend. “Baby,” she groaned as he kept massaging her scalp. “I need to get ready.” Anthony hummed in response and washed out the shampoo from her hair and started putting conditioner into the ends of her hair, slowly massaging it in.

“Trust me,” Anthony said as he started washing down the side of Sarah’s body with a washcloth. “You won’t be late for brunch with Rebecca.” Sarah raised an eyebrow, she was confused. How did he know that?

“And you know that how?” She questioned him, wanting to know his reasoning.

“Because,” he pressed a kiss to her forehead, “she had a late night last night.” Sarah hummed as his hands went to massage her shoulder. “And Mat woke her up early for an early morning round.”

It took a few moments for the puzzle pieces to come together in Sarah’s head but when it all fits together, her eyes widened. “You’re joking?” she couldn’t believe that their respective friends had spent the night together.

“Well, unless Mat found a girl who was wearing the exact same shoes as Rebecca was last night,” Anthony started, “and if this girl had the same name as Rebecca because I heard that in moans this morning.” Sarah couldn’t help as her jaw dropped. “And, I saw them come in together when I went to grab some water for us before I went to sleep.”

“Maybe the four of us should go to brunch together then?” Sarah asked, genuinely interested in the budding romance between Mat and Rebecca. Anthony hummed once again in agreement and reached over her to grab the detachable shower head and rinsed the two of them off.

Before getting into the shower, Anthony had made a small pile of towels for them to use which were resting on the side of the sink. He jumped out of the shower first and wrapped himself in one and put the other around Sarah’s shoulders to make sure that her body heat didn’t dissipate too quickly. They walked back through to his bedroom and put on some comfy but cute clothes to wear for the potential brunch double date, both had chosen to wear sweatpants and a comfy jumper.

The New York sun rays came through the large windows of Anthony and Mat’s apartment, hitting the kitchen island and reflecting into Mat’s tired eyes as he started making up two coffees. Milk and two sugars for him, a little bit of almond creamer for Rebecca. He ran a hand over his face to try and wake himself up a bit more but it didn’t work. Even the giggles coming from Anthony’s room, which indicated that something not so innocent might be occurring, didn’t wake him up like they would previously. When the kettle clicked, he filled up the mugs and walked back to find Rebecca looking at him seductively. He couldn’t resist so he put the mugs down on his bedside table and crawled back into his bed.

Anthony pulled out some bacon and eggs from the fridge as Sarah got to work on cutting some fruit up to have alongside their breakfast. It was a domestic situation and one neither of them wanted to be pulled out of. They hadn’t said the words to each other yet, Sarah had never said it to someone outside of her immediate family and Anthony hadn’t said it to anyone where his feelings were as strong as his feelings for Sarah. But both of them knew, in their heads at least, that they were the one. He wrapped his arms around her as she continued chopping up some of the strawberries and placed them onto the sharing platter which also contained banana, grapes and blueberries. As he whispered sweet nothings into her ear, Rebecca entered the kitchen in one of Mat’s old shirts and the mug of coffee that he had made for her earlier.

Rebecca moved to sit at the island and accepted another coffee offered to her by Sarah, who brought the fruit platter along with her. They started talking about the night previous and Anthony just pretended that he couldn’t hear what they were saying so they could talk more freely. There was barely five minutes between Rebecca leaving Mat’s room and him walking into the kitchen as he could smell some bacon cooking. Mat’s neck was littered with small purple bruises and Rebecca let out a small giggle when she noticed what she had done but he just rolled his eyes at her.

“Becca and I were gonna go for brunch,” Sarah announced to the kitchen, “but seeing as we’re all here, might as well save some cash and eat here.”

Both Sarah and Mat tried to keep quiet about what happened but when Anthony told them how noisy they were being, they started explaining what happened before they made it home because Sarah covered her ears in a joking sense when they started to explain that. Anthony couldn’t help but laugh because he knew how innocent his girlfriend was and how she hated talking about anything remotely sexual.

The conversation swiftly changed to the two girls dancing on the table as soon as they arrived and both of them blushed heavily with embarrassment as the memories flooded back to them.

A shot of vodka was handed to each person who entered the private room that had been rented out and Rebecca pulled Sarah towards the open bar and ordered a tequila shot for the both of them to take. They took the shot and Sarah grabbed Anthony’s hand to bring him to the dance floor. It was less dancing, and more socially acceptable grinding on each other.

As he went to grab himself another glass of lemonade from the bar, Rebecca tugged on the sleeve of Sarah’s bodysuit and pointed towards the table. It took a moment for Sarah’s brain to understand what she wanted, but when she did she nodded and they made their way to stand on the table. The song changed to a slightly more upbeat one and the girls started dancing with each other on the table.

Anthony had no idea what was going on until Anders pointed out that his girlfriend was literally on top of the table, dancing with her best friend. He laughed to himself, this was the Sarah he loved seeing. The one who didn’t give a shit what other people thought of her. He walked over to stand next to the table, in case either of them fell off the table. Rather than fall off the table on to the ground, Sarah decided to fall straight into her boyfriend’s arms. “I fell for you baby,” she giggled into his neck. Rebecca continued to dance on the table as Mat joined her and some of the Islanders started filming him and they would break out the videos over the next few days when he was more sober.

Sarah groaned as her headache came back and she wandered into Anthony’s bathroom to find some more painkillers as she knew that she had to finish off an essay that was due on the 15th and she wanted to get it finished. She had morning classes but she had planned the afternoon to get ready for her date with Anthony so she didn’t really want to spend that time finishing up the essay when she could be relaxing. A quick text to both Anthony and Rebecca meant that an Uber was ordered and was going to arrive about 10 minutes later so she quickly gathered her stuff up, then laid down on the bed waiting for the Uber to arrive.

Anthony walked into his bedroom to see Sarah breathing deeply on the bed. Immediately, he laid down behind her on the bed and brought her into a hug. “You okay baby?” he asked, wanting to make sure that she was okay. She nodded meekly in response but he didn’t believe her. “You can talk to me, you know that,” he didn’t want to force her to talk when she wasn’t comfortable, but he knew that talking was always helpful.

“Gotta get this assignment done, then I’ll be okay,” Sarah replied. The essay she had to write was really getting to her and she just wanted it to be over and get it submitted so she could look forward to spending the evening with Anthony.

“I get that,” he responded as he started rubbing down her back to comfort her. “Just think about the fourteenth, and the place I’m gonna take you that I won’t tell you about.” Sarah smiled softly at that, and she relaxed into his arms, waiting for the Uber to arrive.

~~

Both Sarah and Rebecca pressed submit on their respective assignments at the same time as taking a vodka shot in celebration. The pair hi-fived as they ordered themselves a large amount of pizza to eat as they watched the Islanders home game against the Flyers. It was normal for them to relax in the evenings, but that evening it was slightly different as they were celebrating. Well, at least for a small amount of time. Food arrived much quicker than either of them were expecting and they started eating the pizza as Mat and Anthony started skating around the ice in warm-ups.

Sarah took a quick snap of the television and the food and sent it to Anthony, along with her usual good luck message. His usual response followed a slightly sweaty selfie which made Sarah slightly hot and bothered but she was able to suppress the feelings and then picked up another slice of pizza. Pepperoni, mushrooms, sweetcorn and onions were her toppings of choice and this always got her teased by Rebecca who ordered ham and pineapple. In Sarah’s books, that was a criminal offence. Pineapple on a pizza? Who did that? Aside from Rebecca, she didn’t know anyone else who actually enjoyed pineapple on a pizza. Even Mat, who had some questionable food tastes, didn't even enjoy pineapple on pizza.

A groan escaped Sarah’s lips as she finished off the final slice of her pizza. She was absolutely stuffed full of pizza and potato wedges, which were the perfect stomach lining for the small amount of alcohol that she had been consuming. The third period had just started and all Sarah was hoping for was a Beauvillier goal so she could celebrate with him tomorrow after they went out for dinner. She was in luck as Anthony, once again, scored the game-winning goal and celebrated into the camera, all of the fans at home seemed to think that he was dedicating the goal to them but Anthony knew that he was dedicating it to one person. And one person only. Sarah Milkins.

The annoying tones of the FaceTime sound ran through Sarah’s AirPods as she sat in bed, thinking about heading to sleep as her morning class started at 8 am and she knew that she couldn’t be awake for too much longer. A shirtless Anthony greeted her on the other side of the camera, still buzzing from the win. The couple chatted for a bit until Anthony noticed that Sarah was yawning and her replies became slower and she kept falling asleep for a few moments before jolting back awake.

“Ma chérie,” Anthony spoke softly, “I think it’s time for you to sleep. Your future self will thank you.” The response that came through the phone was a deep groan from Sarah, still half asleep. She nodded gently and said her goodbyes to her boyfriend but something slipped out that she didn’t intend to say. The three words she wanted to save for a special time.

“I love you,” Sarah whispered as she fell asleep. Anthony wasn’t able to reply as he wanted to, well, at least so that his girlfriend could hear. However, he still replied with the same three words in a hushed tone. Even though he said those words, he was still freaking out. How would he bring it up when they saw each other the next day? Would she remember what she said? He had to get up out of bed and have a shower so he could try and relax. It didn’t help much and his sleep that night was broken and restless. He woke up on Valentine’s day morning, not well rested for morning skate and Mat refused to even talk to him because of how grumpy he was without his morning coffee.

Sarah slept in slightly longer than she intended but made it to her early morning class. She didn’t even have time to think over what she said on the call. It wasn’t like she didn’t remember, she did, but between a shower, a super-strong coffee and a train that arrived two minutes late, she did not have enough time to think about anything other than the content of the class. When she got home, that was when it sunk in.

“Oh my god,” she gasped to herself, putting one of her palms over her mouth as she realised what she had said to him. She wished that she had more time to think over what she said but she knew that if she wanted to be ready for 5, which was the time that Anthony said he was going to swing by her apartment to pick her up. As Sarah rummaged through her wardrobe, a particular box was what she was looking for, her phone pinged informing her of a new text message. It was a message from Anthony, they hadn’t been talking too frequently throughout the day as they were both very busy.

Tito <3: 5 o’clock still good for you?xx

Sarah <3: yep! I’m back at the apartment now getting ready. can’t wait to see you later xx

Tito <3: can’t wait to see you either xx

The black box was something of an impulse purchase. Well, not the box, its contents. A set of black, lace lingerie that she was going to wear underneath the black dress she had chosen to wear for the evening. She laid out the lingerie and the dress on her bed and made her way to the bathroom to have a quick shower.

Quick really meant quick as Sarah was in and out of the hot stream of water in less than 10 minutes and she sat down in front of her vanity to touch up the makeup she had put on at the beginning of her day. She brushed her fingertips over the delicate lace as she reached over the back of her chair. It was beautiful and intricate and Sarah couldn’t wait any longer to put it on.

Soft fabric cups and a light underwire gently supported her breasts, pushing them up slightly, and the thin fabric that rested on her hips covered just enough to still be considered a pair of underwear. The dress, however, was the opposite, having full-length sleeves and finishing just below her knees. It made Sarah feel comfortable but also beautiful.

It took 10 short minutes for Sarah to quickly restyle her hair before a knock on the door made her break out of the world she had made for herself. The shoes she had decided to wear were resting against the side of her bed so she slipped her feet through the straps and did the small buckle up before walking out of her room to meet Anthony in the hallway. He was wearing a black pair of suit trousers along with a light purple shirt, the first few buttons undone exposing his toned chest. As Sarah started walking towards her boyfriend, he extended his arm to offer her his hand, which she accepted and he pulled her into a hug.

“You look beautiful,” he whispered into her freshly done hair and she had to thank the layer of foundation that she had put on earlier so that no one could see the blush forming on her cheeks. They swayed in each other’s embrace for a few moments before Anthony released Sarah so she could go and get her bag that was resting on her vanity. He tapped his foot a few times to distract himself from the tightening in his trousers but when Sarah exited her room, he led her to the front door, opening it for her and walked her to his car that he parked a few moments walk away.

The waiter poured each of them a glass of wine as they browsed the menu, chatting about what they had been doing recently. Sarah laughed slightly too loudly at some of the stories that Anthony was retelling, maybe some of those things that happened on the road should be kept on the road, and was thankful that they were sat in the corner of the busy restaurant. She was also thankful that Anthony had picked a relatively early reservation as it meant that fewer people would notice them as they went into and out of the restaurant.

Sarah had drunk more of the bottle of wine than Anthony as he was driving them back to his place, and she was quite giggly on the drive home but she quickly sobered up as she cuddled up to Anthony on the soft couch at his apartment. From somewhere, Anthony had pulled a bag of popcorn out for them to share as they lazily watched a film as the street lights started streaming into the living room.

Around halfway through the movie, Anthony slipped his hands down to rest on Sarah’s butt and she leaned in to kiss him. Quickly, the movie was forgotten and the kisses kept getting more heated. Her legs wrapped around his waist as Anthony stood up and walked the short distance to his room.

The kisses gained in intensity quickly and Sarah began to unbutton Anthony’s dress shirt. He groaned into her mouth as his hand slipped under the skirt of her dress, fingertips ghosting over the intricate lace. The dress shirt slipped over Anthony’s shoulders and Sarah’s nimble hands made quick work of his belt buckle, removing it from under the belt loops to pull down the suit trousers he was wearing.

Before Sarah could readjust her weight to her knees, Anthony spun her around to unzip her dress. As it fell to the floor, he bit his bottom lip to suppress a moan that would have been embarrassingly loud. The underwear she had paired with the bra barely covered anything and as Sarah turned around he was able to take in her beauty.

“Baby,” Anthony groaned as he pulled her into his chest, so her back was flush with his exposed torso. Sarah looked up into his blue eyes which were deep with lust.

“Tito,” Sarah whispered. Was this the right time? Was Valentine's Day too cliche? “I love you, Anthony.” Her breathing quickened as she waited for a response from him, maybe it was too soon. Negative thoughts flooded her head as she waited.

Barely a second had passed before he spoke, “Sarah, I love you too.” They kissed for what seemed like hours, simply tasting each other, enjoying the embrace of the other. The sex they engaged in was soft, gentle, their orgasms built slowly and the grip that Sarah had on Anthony’s hand only tightened as she reached her high and as she tightened around him, his high was quick to follow. Anthony wrapped Sarah in his arms as the pair fell asleep, but not before they whispered the three words to each other once again.

[got-svt]

the road not taken

summary: you live in la, he lives in seoul. you don’t think it’s ever going to work out, but he believes otherwise. especially when every year on the holidays, both of you rediscover that your hearts are still in chicago. aka the conversations that had you rethinking your relationship.   pairing: johnny suh x reader genre: angst, friends with benefits (but only on the holidays lmao — implied sex, so no actual smut), some fluff at the end kinda word count: 2637

part of my tales from the lakes series inspired by taylor swift’s ‘tis the damn season

___

Truth be told, despite the fact that you were neighbors and your parents were quite close with his, you didn’t know much about Johnny in the years you spent growing up in the suburbs of Chicago. Sure, you caught glimpses of him from your bedroom practicing whatever song or dance routine he felt like he needed to improve on. More often than not, you’d find yourself laughing as he accidentally bumped into a shelf or slip and fall over on the floor. And he would be lying if he said he hadn’t taken a peek out his window to watch you running lines, a script in you hand as you paced around the room, a smile creeping on his face as he watches you shake your head every time you forget a line. In a way, you both formed some sort of a relationship as you silently cheered the other on in whatever endeavor you put your minds to.

He wanted you to succeed just as much as you wanted him to succeed. 

But when he moved to Korea to pursue a career as an idol, and you to LA for acting, there were little to no opportunities to actually begin a proper conversation. 

It wasn’t until in December of 2017, when both of your parents decided to have a joint Christmas dinner in celebration of both their children coming home for the holidays for the first time in years. They thought it was time for you two to meet, having settled in your respective career paths. Maybe they also wanted to see how the two of you would get along, but they would never admit it even if you ask. 

“I don’t think we’ve ever formally met.” He told you once he entered your parents’ house and offering a hand for you to shake, “I’m Johnny.”

“Yn.” You replied, taking his hand in yours, “And, trust me, I know exactly who you are.”

He raised an eyebrow at your statement as he let go of your hand, you shivered at the immediate loss of contact, your hand immediately growing colder at the absence of his. 

“NCT?” You asked tentatively, testing the waters of what could possibly be an exciting new friendship.  

“Ah yeah,” he sheepishly smiled, reaching a hand to scratch the back of his neck, “I guess there’s no use in pretending I don’t know who you are either.”

It was now your turn to raise an eyebrow at him, crossing your arms in front of your chest, “Hmmm?”

“I’ve seen pretty much every show you’ve ever been on.” Johnny clarified, but his tone suggested a bit of embarrassment on his part, “The other members don’t believe me when I tell them I practically grew up next to you.”

“I guess I could say the same.” You replied with a shrug, but you offered him a reassuring smile “Nobody really believes me when I tell them a Kpop star used to be my neighbor.” 

“Perhaps we need better friends then.” He joked, but your gaze was fixated on the way the curve of his lips moved with each word that left his mouth. Johnny had always been attractive, whether it be through your bedroom window or your computer screen. But now here he stood, in front of you, bare faced in black jeans and a gray sweatshirt and somehow he had never looked more alluring. 

Johnny noticed you watching him, but he never called you out on it. Maybe because he was too busy thinking about how soft your hand was when he shook it, imagining how it must feel running over his skin. Or how your hair seemed fall perfectly, framing your face in a way that was enticing him for reasons he couldn’t exactly figure out. 

“Care for a drink?” You asked, breaking the brief period of tense silence that had fallen between the two of you, leading him to the makeshift bar your parents had near the kitchen. 

He smirked, placing his hands inside the pockets of his jeans, “I thought you’d never ask.”

And maybe it was because of both of your parents deciding to turn in early and the three bottles of wine that was shared between the two of you that had you pinned against the wall of your childhood bedroom, quietly giggling into his lips as he went in for another kiss. He drunkenly mumbled words that you couldn’t quite understand, but he was telling you to keep quiet. You knew you should have stopped him the second planted his lips onto yours, and he knew he should’ve pulled away when you started taking off his shirt. Maybe then you wouldn’t have woken uncomfortably cuddled up on your twin-sized bed and sneaking him out of the house before your parents could wake up. 

But both of you enjoyed the way your bodies seemed to be made just for the other too much to stop, and thus, a tradition of sorts was formed. 

2018. 

One particular night the following year had you driving around the city, Johnny had one hand on the steering wheel while the other held yours, his thumb rubbing comforting circles on the back of your hand. But it did everything but comfort you or himself. Since the previous year, you and Johnny grew much closer than either have you had anticipated. You thought it would all end after that first night or maybe when you flew back to LA, and him back to Seoul. But it had been seemingly impossible to move away from whatever relationship that began to form, as both of you sacrificed nights of well warranted sleep to call or text the other, soon enough both of you were in too deep to easily get out. 

“Penny for your thoughts?” You asked, taking note of how the streetlights perfectly illuminated his face. He had been unusually quiet and you were growing tired of the Christmas songs that had been blasting on every radio station for the past few hours. 

“It’s nothing.” He sighed as he turned to an unfamiliar street, you knew better than to believe that it was truly nothing. But you also knew him well enough to not to push it. 

“Where are we going then?”

Johnny replied with a shrug, continuing down the foreign path, he knew neither of you had been to this particular part of town but at that point he’d do anything to even remotely extend the time you spent together. 

“And if we get lost?” You asked, your voice almost challenging him to turn back, but he didn’t give in. 

“Then we get lost.” He replied without missing a single beat, the corners of his mouth twitching upwards to form a smile, “You know, the road not taken tend to be the most exciting.”

“Oh wow,” You let out a laugh, and Johnny feels his heart skip the slightest of beats, “and where did that immensely profound quote come from?”

“My brilliant mind.” He grinned, briefly turning to face you. 

Johnny wished he had a camera to capture the absolute spectacle that was you. How you stared out the window, at the unfamiliar road, eyes alive with a certain curiosity. Your finger drawing little stars on the car window, pouting when it doesn’t quite look the way you wanted it to. It was at that moment he knew, you were all he wanted. 

“What are we?” He asked, causing you to jump a little in your seat, Johnny had never brought up the nature of your relationship before. 

“Friends?” You said, at an attempt to offer him an answer, but even you sounded unsure at your response which made Johnny grow hopeful. 

“Yn, friends don’t kiss.” Johnny responded, grateful that he had to keep his eyes on the road. He didn’t need you seeing right through his pretend confidence, “They sure as hell don’t sleep together”

“Sure, they do.” You joked in an attempt to lighten the mood, maybe even change the topic to something—anything— else, “I do it all the time.”

“Well, acting is different.” He let out a scoff, annoyed at the thought of you not taking the conversation seriously,  “You know what I meant.”

“I like where we are now. It’s easy.” You explained, wanting to make him understand where you were coming from, “Relationships are messy, given the industries we are in. There’s no pressure with this. With you and me.”

“But what if I wanted something more—”

“It’s never going to work.” You cut him off before he could even make his case, before he could ask you to be his. 

“Now, why do you say that?” There was a slight tremble in his voice, and you had never heard him sound so nervous, scared even. The feeling of guilt slowly crept up your system, but you shook it away before it even had the chance to fully settle in. 

“Time, distance, to begin with. Not to mention both of our very busy careers.” 

“Then I guess this is good enough for me.”

For now, he added in his head, determined to make you see otherwise. 

You smiled at him, glad to have the conversation over with and thinking that this would be the last time you’ll ever speak about it. 

2019.

Johnny wanted to prove you wrong, show you that both of you could in fact make it work. You just needed to try. Which came with more calls and texts than normal as you got to know each other more than you already did, flowers sent to you on your birthday, several little gifts every now and then, and even slowly introducing you to the other members of NCT. His efforts did not go unnoticed, but it definitely left you more confused. 

When both of you went home for the holidays that particular year, you knew something had changed. Johnny was more reserved than usual, and you would usually have to be the one to initiate sleeping together. 

“Don’t you ever get tired of doing this?” He asked, turning to face you, as you lied side-by-side on his childhood bed. 

“Doing what?” You asked, feigning confusion, preparing yourself for the inevitable conversation you had been dreading for the past few months.

“Don’t pretend like you don’t know what I’m talking about.” His voice was calm, but it chilled you to the core. 

“What do you want me to say, Johnny?” You snapped, the tone in your voice letting him know how exasperated you were as you shut your eyes, “That I like you? That I want to be with you?”

“Don’t you?”

You let out a sigh, still keeping your eyes shut. You didn’t want to look at him, he’d know if you were lying. You didn’t know if you had it in you to lie. Instead, you focused on the sound of his breathing, steady and almost reassuring. You imagined the rise and fall of his bare chest, covered by the thick white blanket. 

Johnny knew to drop the subject when you didn’t even make an attempt to answer his question, he probably didn’t want to know the answer anyways. But Johnny knew he loved you, and part of him knew you loved him back. If you didn’t, you wouldn’t have let this little charade go on for as long as it did. You just needed time. And he was more than willing to give it to you. 

“A year.”

Your eyes opened at his words, your head turned to face him,  “What?”

“I’m giving you a year.”

You didn’t have to ask again. You knew exactly what he meant, what he wanted. He wanted an answer. 

“Is this an ultimatum?”

He takes your hands in his, “It’s me letting you know that I’m serious about wanting to be with you.”

“Johnny—”

He kisses the side of your head before you could even finish your sentence, an action so tender that it caused you to forget every single coherent thought of protest. 

“Hey, you don’t have to answer me now. Just think about it. Please?”

“I will.” 

And with those two words, you stood and gathered your clothes off the floor and put them back on. He gave you a small nod as you turned to leave his room, going back into the freezing cold and leaving the warmest bed you had ever known. 

2020.

Neither of you could come home to Chicago that year. 

And so you both had to settle for a reunion through a screen. You wished that circumstances were different, but at the same time you were grateful that you didn’t have to give him an answer in person. Mainly because you didn’t have one. 

When his face appeared on your computer screen, you couldn’t help the ache that crept up in your chest at the sight of him. 

“Hey, yn.” He greeted with a smile.

You missed him.

After the exchange of pleasantries and a bit of small talk on both ends, Johnny wasted no time in getting to the purpose of your call, “I believe you owe me something.” 

“Johnny—“

“Before you say anything, I want you to know that for me, it’s always been you. After all this time, even with all the distance between us.”

Johnny moved his face closer to the camera, as if that would somehow help his point come across more genuinely. You had to stop your hand from reaching out to try and wipe the single tear that fell on his cheek.

“This is the last time I’m going to ask.” He said, trying to keep his voice from faltering too much, “After this, I won’t try to push it anymore. But I want you to tell me the truth. Don’t you wish—“

“It’s not going to work.”

“We haven’t even tried, Yn.” It almost sounded like he was pleading, begging you to give him and the two of you a chance. He wasn’t there with you in person, but he didn’t have to be for you to feel the sincerity in his words.

“I’m scared.” You whispered, finally choosing to truly let him in for the very first time since you met, “What if it doesn’t work out? I want you in my life. I don’t want to lose you.”

“You’re not going to.”

Johnny said it with such conviction, such confidence, that you felt like you had no choice but to believe him. Your eyes studied his face, looking for any sign of wariness or doubt. Only to find none. You could only find hopefulness, and maybe even love. With one final review of his features, you had made your decision. 

“Okay.”

“Okay, what?” He asked, just to make sure, but he made no attempt in holding back the grin that slowly spread across his face. The sight of which made your heart flutter. 

“We’ll try. I want to be with you.”

You let out a breath that you didn’t you had been holding as the final word left your lips. It felt like a weight had been lifted off your shoulders, the floodgates in your eyes releasing the tears it had been holding onto for months now. Nervousness still coursed through your veins, but it was mixed with a different kind of emotion: excitement. 

“You’re smiling, but you’re also crying. I’m not sure if I should be concerned.” Johnny joked, the crinkles in eyes becoming much more apparent as he stared at your face through the screen. 

“I’m still scared,” You confessed, “but I’m excited.”

Johnny couldn’t help but chuckle at your confession, waiting for you to wipe your tears away before he continued speaking, 

“Well, Yn, didn’t I tell you the road not taken would be the most exciting? Trust me, it’s looking really good now.”

[winryofresembool]

Things We Lost in the Fire, ch 32

aka Caleo uni au

Fic summary: Calypso starts studying at a new university, but to her annoyance her new flatmate is a loud mouthed mechanic who also likes to sneak his dog in whenever. But as she learns to know him better, she realizes they might have more in common than what she first thought. Eventually, even the darkest secrets come out…

Chapter summary: At Waystation (again) and a bit elsewhere too

A/N: We're (finally) getting closer to the end of the 'Waystation arc'. I don't think I have that much to say about this chapter, but I'd like to dedicate it to Cecid as a late birthday present, because she has really kicked my butt to continue this story!

Enjoy, and let me know what you think!! It's super important (<- Lizzie Bennet Diaries reference)

(Ps. Fellow Europeans, vote for Finland in ESC!!!)

Words: 2950

Genre: romance & hurt/comfort

Warnings: none

previous chapter / AO3

...

The silence that fell into the room after Leo stormed out got more and more overwhelming until finally, Calypso couldn’t take it anymore. She could feel the two women and their daughter stare at her, but they were too astounded to say anything.

“I… I don’t understand what I did wrong,” Calypso mumbled eventually. “They were just matches. I didn’t mean that he should use them immediately; it was just my way of trying to tell him that I believe he can get over his fear one day.”

The women exchanged dark looks.

“Georgie, could you play with Festus outside for a moment? He looked like he needed to burn some energy,” Emmie suggested, wanting to get the girl out of the hearing distance.

“Ugh, fine,” Georgie pouted because she would have preferred admiring her gifts, but left anyway.

Once she was gone, Jo sighed. “About what just happened… you did nothing wrong, Calypso. It’s just…” She stopped to contemplate her next words. “Christmas is always a hard time for Leo. He tries his best to participate and make his jokes and all that, but his eyes betray him. He’s just… not there.”

“I want to understand…” Calypso stepped closer to Leo’s mothers. “Did something happen to him on some Christmas?”

“Yes, you could say that,” Emmie replied sadly. “Leo’s mother died on Christmas day several years ago.”

Calypso’s eyes widened as she understood what Emmie was trying to say.

“Oh gods… And she died in a fire, right? He did mention it once… No wonder he didn’t want to touch the matches, especially today.”

“Yes,” Emmie confirmed. “She did die in a fire. But there’s more to it. Leo probably wouldn’t want me to tell you this but in this situation it might be better that you know: he blames himself for the fire.”

“I probably shouldn’t ask, but… why?” Calypso asked, feeling more sickened every moment as she pictured a young boy mourning his mother and his home. “What happened?”

“We have only gotten some bits and pieces from here and there, but it seems the fire most likely started from some papers he had left near a fireplace. Accidentally, of course, but he doesn’t see it that way,” Jo sniffed. Suddenly Calypso realized that Leo’s pain must have hurt his family more than he probably even realized. They really cared about him a lot… She couldn’t help but feel just a tiny bit jealous because at least Leo had people supporting him. But she quickly pushed that unnecessary thought aside.

“That’s awful… I guess he’s afraid that he might accidentally make something like that happen again and that’s why he doesn’t want fire near him.” Calypso knew the fear of hurting someone she cared about and the guilt all too well. She would never forget the flashing lights and the loud crash that followed. Her nightmares made sure of that.

“Yes, it’s likely he feels that way. Since he moved here, he’s been seeing a therapist every once in a while but it’s clear he’s still a work in progress. He doesn’t talk about his mother a lot to us either. Just when we ask something general, and even then the answers are usually quite short.”

Bitterly, Calypso thought that was how she acted when someone brought up her family.

“I realize now that the matches were a big mistake,” she finally said. “I wish there was something I could do… I hate just watching helplessly when someone I… um...” She stopped mid sentence when she realized what she was about to reveal too much.

“Just be there for him,” Emmie suggested, luckily ignoring Calypso’s stuttering. “Despite everything, I think he’s still shown good progress the past few months. Sometimes time and patience and care can do amazing things.”

“Yeah. I think you are right there.” Calypso agreed. She herself had asked her friends, including Leo, to be patient with her as well. It was only fair she’d do the same with him.

“And Calypso?” Emmie eyed her worriedly. “Remember to take care of yourself as well.”

Calypso didn’t understand how the woman had seen through her that well. There was no way she could know what was going on in her mind because she hadn’t told even Leo everything. And Emmie and she had only known each other for a couple of days so far.

“I… sure. I will try my best!” she promised, instead of questioning Emmie’s comment.

“Good. I can’t say I know you all that well yet but know that people who are important to Leo are important to us.”

For a moment Calypso imagined what it would be like to have a mother like that. For some reason the thought made her emotional. “Thank you. You are so kind.”

“No, just doing what’s necessary. Now, I suggest you go and get dressed for the day and do what else you need to do; we might need some help with lunch soon. Besides, Georgie might need some supervision because she gets hyper when she eats too much chocolate. Funny how she and Leo are not biologically related but they still have a lot in common,” Emmie ended with a slightly amused remark.

Calypso did notice that she didn’t say anything about trying to find Leo, but she understood. He probably wanted to be on his own for a moment, and she’d respect that. Hopefully she’d get to talk to him eventually, but until then it was better to try to do something helpful rather than spend the whole day worrying. But even while she was doing her morning chores, she could still see Leo’s angry eyes when he saw her gift in her mind.

…

Leo didn’t know where he should go so he just followed his instinct. He didn’t want to hide inside; the pictures from his nightmare were still too fresh in his mind and he needed to be somewhere where he could breathe fresh air. As he was crossing the yard, Festus tried to follow him, and he wagged his tail cheerfully to make his favorite human happier, but this one time Leo didn’t want his company. He apologized to the dog and told him that he’d take him for a walk after getting his thoughts cleared.

He kept walking until finally, he reached a certain park where he and Jason used to jog often. Seeing a log bench on the side, he decided to sit down for a moment. Someone had made a campfire nearby earlier and Leo glared at the remaining ashes like they were the reason for all his troubles. He could feel the panic rise up his throat as he was reminded of the fire again, but he challenged himself to stay there for at least a moment. Finally, he sighed.

He knew he had totally overreacted to Calypso’s gift. Surely she had meant good but she didn’t know why fire and Christmas were not a good combination when it came to Leo. If he had just ignored the matches, nothing would have happened. Now he’d have to explain to her why he had freaked out like that and that wouldn’t be easy.

He wasn’t sure how long he had been staring into nothing when he suddenly felt a knock on his shoulder. Having not heard anyone arrive, he startled at the touch, but quickly recovered when he recognized the newcomer.

“Pipes! What brings you here?” he exclaimed, briefly noticing that her brown hair was now shorter than it had used to be and somehow her whole demeanor seemed a bit different. He attempted to put on a smile for her but he knew he was probably failing.

“Funny, I was gonna ask you the same question,” Piper noted, sitting down next to Leo. “I thought you would be at Waystation with your family. It’s Christmas day, after all.”

“Oh, yeah, I was there.” Piper raised her eyebrow so he quickly added: “You know me; this holiday and I don’t exactly walk hand in hand so I needed to get out for a moment.” Leo hoped that would be a sufficient explanation. She did know what had happened to his mother, even if not to the full extent.

“But Calypso was there with you. I thought that would cheer you up,” Piper pointed out.

“Funny you should say that,” Leo chuckled, although there was nothing amusing about the situation. “If you wanna know the truth, I’m kind of trying to escape from her right now.”

“You’re trying to escape…” Piper repeated with confusion. “Why? What happened? I thought things were going fine between you two. Especially after what happened after the party…”

“Not everything is how it looks to outsiders, Pipes,” Leo stopped her. “Things haven’t been amazing lately. I mean, in many ways. Yeah, I like her and somehow she also likes me, apparently. Yeah, I know, pretty unbelievable.”

Piper gave him her best ‘wow, you’re really breaking the news there, Leo’ look. He didn’t get disheartened, though, instead continuing: “But we have, um, decided that we shouldn’t get together for various reasons so we’ve been trying to find some kind of a golden mean where we can still continue being friends but it hasn’t been working out that well. One sec we are at each other's' throats for whatever stupid reason, and the next we’re acting all flirty and ignoring the rules we set. I was hoping that this Waystation visit would give us a chance to get to know each other better in an environment where we have others around us… And I think it was actually working for a while. I feel more comfortable there, and I think she was feeling more comfortable too… But today I went and messed things up again.”

“What did you do?” Piper sighed disapprovingly.

“I may or may not have gotten mad about her Christmas present,” Leo confessed finally, cringing because he realized how bad it sounded.

“Oh, Leo…” Piper shook her head. “Why would you get mad about something like that? You’re not usually someone who’d get mad that easily.”

“Yeah… I know I’m not, but… I had a pretty rough day to begin with. Not that that’s anything new to me, but…”

“But what?” Piper inquired.

“I saw a nightmare about my mom’s death right before I woke up. I was still kinda on the edge when we were opening the presents so when I saw the matches…”

“She gave you matches?” Piper tilted her head slightly as she was trying to figure out what Leo was saying.

“Yeah,” Leo shrugged. “To be clear, though, they were only a part of the present. She had made me a real nice tool belt, probably way better than any of those that they sell in some stores. The matches were in one of the pockets. And now I can see you’re gonna say: ‘well, maybe she just wanted you to try to get over your fear’, and maybe you’re right, but the timing…”

“You have not told her about the anniversary,” Piper concluded. “I’m sure you have figured out by now that you can’t blame her for something she didn’t know about. That’s not fair.”

“I know that!” Leo exclaimed. “I’m not really blaming her; I just overreacted! But how will I explain that to her? ‘Sorry I yelled at you; I just happened to burn my entire house 11 years ago today so I’m not exactly fond of fire right now?’”

“You know what I’m thinking?” Piper interrupted Leo’s unhealthy thought process. He didn’t answer. “I think you two have some serious communication issues. I know that Calypso isn’t good at opening about her past, and she has also admitted to me she has a tendency to push people back if she’s afraid they’re getting too close to her. But guess what, Leo? You’re the same. I’ve noticed that even though you’re kind of loud sometimes and you like to tell bad jokes…”

“Hey!” Leo protested.

“Shh, let me finish. My point is, you don’t often tell us what you’re really thinking. When you’re having one of your rougher periods, you withdraw into your workshop for days. All I’m trying to say here is that please talk to us. Specifically, talk to her. When she notices that you trust her enough to talk about something that personal, she might open up to you more as well. If she really likes you, she’ll understand.”

“Beauty Queen, I hate it when you see through me that well,” Leo muttered. “I dunno. I guess I’ll have to talk to her when I go back. If my moms don’t murder me first.”

“Nah. They wouldn’t. I mean, you may not get any presents next Christmas but that’s a small price to pay when you stormed out like that,” Piper teased him.

“You sure know how to make a man regret his bad deeds.” Leo rolled his eyes. “Anyway, we’ve established why I’m here right now but what about you? Shouldn’t you be with Jason or something?” Suddenly Piper didn’t seem as determined to scold Leo anymore.

“I… Jason and I are having a break.”

“A break? As in…?” Leo asked with confusion.

“As in a break,” Piper repeated more firmly. “What part of it you don’t understand? He and I are seeing if we are happier apart.”

Leo spent a moment taking the information in. “But I don’t get it. You guys have always been the most stable couple I’ve known. Why this kind of a decision all of a sudden?” He couldn’t say that he was entirely surprised by this piece of news after his talk with Jason before Christmas, but it still felt different to hear it from Piper. More final.

“I don’t think it’s all of a sudden. It’s been coming for a while now,” Piper confessed.

“Really? And you’re telling me only now?” Leo raised his eyebrow.

“It was something I needed to figure out on my own. Now, please don’t think I’ve just been playing with him, or something. I do love Jason. He’s my best friend. But… I’m starting to feel we’ve progressed too fast. That there’s a whole world out there for me to see that I missed because I was so busy getting together with Jason. I want to get to know who I am and where I really belong.”

“But… you have a house and everything together…” Leo said, suddenly feeling like a child whose parents were telling him they were breaking up, forgetting his own problems for a moment. “How are you gonna deal with that?”

“The plan is for now that we both keep living in our house until we make our final decision. I don’t want to go back to my dad and Jason would want to live with his dad even less. Of course it’s possible that we decide to continue our relationship, but if not, then we’re going to sell the house. But we are not rushing that. For now, we’re just trying to be friends, and not… exclusive.”

Leo was slightly relieved to hear that at least his best friends were still on speaking terms.

“Alright… if that’s what both of you want, then I’ll support it,” he said. “It’d suck to lose touch with either of you because of this.”

“Don’t worry,” Piper reassured him. “You won’t.” She ruffled his hair a little as if he was her little brother. “Everyone needs a Super-sized McShizzle in their lives, don’t they? It’d be pretty empty otherwise.”

Leo gave her a lopsided smile. “Glad you admitted that.”

“Anyway, enough about my boring relationship issues!” Piper decided to change the topic. “So, you told me Cal got you a tool belt and matches, but what did you give to her? It’s important, Leo.”

“You really think I’m gonna reveal it to you, Beauty Queen? I’m smarter than that,” Leo pointed out.

“I know what you did at our uni’s freshman party and I’m not afraid to tell it to Cal if I need to.” Piper winked at him in response.

Leo rolled his eyes. “Pshhh, that was freshman year. That excuses everything.”

“Alright, don’t tell me then.” Piper turned to leave.

“If you really must know,” Leo said before Piper got too far, “it was a jewelry box. With a bracelet in it. But it was not new so it wasn’t a big deal.”

“Not a big deal?” Piper asked with amusement. “You know things get serious when you give a girl a piece of jewelry.”

“Wait, what? For real?” Leo was shocked for a moment until he noticed Piper had a hard time not bursting into laughter. She was just messing with him. “OK, remind me to never tell you anything serious ever again.”

“You know you can’t resist my charm,” Piper chuckled. “Once you have forgotten what you just said, please tell me what really has happened at Waystation recently.”

Leo couldn’t help but shake his head at Piper’s enthusiasm but eventually started to tell her the whole story. He noticed that it helped him to forget about the negative thoughts for a moment so he didn’t really mind even though Piper had a tendency to be a bit pushy when it came to his feelings towards Calypso. And he assumed that Piper welcomed the distraction happily as well, because she must have felt conflicted about the whole Jason situation. When did things get so complicated, he wondered briefly before chuckling at his thoughts ironically. His life had never been simple. But even so, he would keep fighting. Because that’s what his mom would want, and that's what his family and friends would want.

[justasparkwritings]

Merry & Bright {23}: I Promise

Previous: Golden Days 

Pairing: OT7 x Respective Partners

Genre: Fluff with Light Holiday Angst

Rating: PG-13

Warning: Swearing

Word Count: 1.7K

Summary: Days before Christmas, Bangtan find themselves stranded at the airport. 

           “Are you fucking serious?” Namjoon’s voice is low, hushed in the slightly crowded airport lounge.

           “When is the next flight?” Yoongi asks, glare staring at the airport attendant in front of him. Taehyung stands next to him, bag resting gently on the floor, cellphone in hand.

           In seats across the way, Jimin and Hoseok sit, thumbs moving hastily as they text. Seokjin, sits with their managers, discussing solutions, and Jungkook is by the window, phone to his ear, disappointment in his posture.

           “I know, I know,” Jungkook says, voice weary. “I’m trying jagi, I am.”

           It’s the sound of Namjoon’s hand slamming against the wall that brings them all together, moving into a private room in the lounge, seated staring at one another.

           “We were supposed to be home by now,” Hoseok says, frustration deep in the stoop of his eyebrows.

           “I know,” Namjoon answers.

           “It’s our first married Christmas,” Jungkook adds, stuffing his tattooed covered hands in the pocket of his sweats.

           “It’s my child’s first Christmas!” Taehyung declares, aghast that anyone was missing anything nearly as important as him.

           “I was supposed to take the kids for Christmas photos,” Namjoon says.

           Yoongi’s voice is low, a  prayer no one will hear, but a hope they will. “I was going to propose.” 

           “What?” Hoseok yells, nearly knocking Jimin off his perch.

            Taehyung turns to his Hyung. “Why are we just hearing about this?” 

           “Do you have a ring?” Namjoon wonders.

           “You’re involved with someone?” Jimin pokes. Yoongi glares at him, knowing full well Jimin knows the answer.

           “On Christmas Eve, while we opened presents. Had it all planned for months, the ring is wrapped, it’s sitting under the fucking tree,” Yoongi explains.

           “Won’t she notice a ring box?” Jimin asks.

           “No, I put it in a larger box,” Yoongi’s humoring him, and Jimin knows.

           “A box inside a box?” Jungkook laughs.

           “Sort of,” Yoongi shrugs.

           “Damn, how many years has it been?” Seokjin asks.

           “Five,” Yoongi recounts each anniversary in his mind. The first one, spent on different continents during tour, the second, when they’d flown to New York for press, the third, when you’d gone to Paris, the fourth, when he’d finally convinced you to move to Korea half time, and the fifth, when you’d discussed marriage.

           “Service time counts,” Hoseok adds.

           “Fine, seven,” Yoongi tells them. Technically, years four and five were shared in your hearts only, Yoongi being a desk jockey in the military, but you counted them, nonetheless.

          Jimin cackles  “Wow, never imagined Yoongi-ah would settle down,” 

           “Who would’ve thought?” Namjoon chuckles, staring at his elder.

           “You all are trash,” Yoongi says. “None of you are invited to the wedding.”

           “How do you know she’ll say yes?” Taehyung asks, eyes wandering around the sterile lounge. It’s all marble and metal, cold and contemporary, Christmas wreaths hung periodically and poinsettias on all the tables. The only warmth coming from the men, all ganging up on their favorite member. 

           “I know,” Yoongi confirms.

           “But how, are you psychic?” Seokjin wonders.

           “No, she told me,” Yoongi tells him.

           “She told you?” Seokjin asks, eyes wide.

           “This isn’t any of your business,” Yoongi scolds, cheeks puffed as he smiles.

           “Alright, alright,” Jin resides.

           “Tae, what are you plans for baby’s first Christmas?” Yoongi asks, deflecting.

           “And baby’s first birthday,” Namjoon adds.

           “He’s so cute, oh my gosh, he just teeters on his little feet, trying to walk. He’s taken a few steps, but he only likes walking if you hold his tiny little hands,” Taehyung gushes, opening the photos on his phone to show them.

           “We’ve seen the videos,” Namjoon laughs, looking again at the numerous photos Taehyung has of his son, not mentioning that he’s seen them all, in an email, that Taehyung sent one day during nap time.

           “Don’t act like we haven’t seen a million from you,” Jimin says elbowing Namjoon. “You’re just as shameless.”

           “You just have more kids, so it seems less obnoxious,” Yoongi says.

           “Two for the price of one!” Seokjin laughs.

           “Don’t think we don’t have the same reaction to yours,” Hoseok laughs at Jin. “You might be the worst out of you three.”

           Pointing at him, finger dagger like, Namjoon warns, “Oh, just you wait, Hope, it’s coming for you too.”

            Taehyung looks from member to member, wondering aloud, “Who will have kids next?” 

           “Jungkook,” Jimin blurts. His eyes go wide, and he turns to the maknae.

           “Or J Hope,” Jungkook says, his deflection evident in the blush on his cheeks.

           “No, no, Jungkook, why are you blushing?” Namjoon asks.

           “No reason just wasn’t paying attention,” Jungkook tries to brush it off, but Namjoon’s got him.

           “Is she pregnant?” Hoseok asks, eyes wide.

           “I, maybe, I don’t know,” Jungkook tries to burrow himself into his sweatsuit, beanie pulled lower and lower over his face.

           “Holy shit!” Yoongi exclaims, glancing to make sure no one else has heard his expletive.

           “Are you surprised the golden maknae is procreating before you?” Seokjin asks glancing at Yoongi.        

           “No, I’m not surprised at all, my money was on Jungkook,” Yoongi says still smiling.

           “It’s, it’s too soon to tell anyone, we’ve only told our parents,” Jungkook’s cheeks continue to cherry, blossoming across his cheekbones, knowing full well he’s going to be in trouble when his wife finds out he squealed.

           “Ah, discretion,” Seokjin nods. “We’ll pretend we’re not excited for you.”

           “Hobi, what about you?” Jimin turns the attention to someone else, feeling guilty about spoiling Jungkook’s news.

           “Ah, kids are a few years off for us,” Ho-Seok nods, twirling the wedding band on his finger. “Jiminie, what about you?”

           “Me?” Jimin asks pointing to himself.

           “You started this nonsense,” Namjoon reminds him.

           “I, no, no babies, no engagement,” Jimin shakes his head.

           “Why not?” Taehyung asks. “You’ve been talking about it for a while.”

           “Yeah, but talking and following through are two different things,” Jimin says. They all nod, knowing Jimin was going to get engaged shortly after Yoongi. Taehyung found it surprising, but not wholly out of character for  Jimin  to wait for his Hyung to propose first. It was odd, though, everyone had always bet Jimin would get married shortly after Jungkook, while Yoongi  would remain the last man standing. 

           “I can’t believe we’re stuck here,” Jungkook says again, glancing at the window. “Isn’t this why we stopped traveling before Christmas?”

           Six years ago, when Namjoon had welcomed his first child, the band decided they would never travel over Christmas again, refusing to part from their growing families. They turned down any work outside the city, including New Years. If some program wanted them, they either wanted their entire blossoming families or they wouldn’t have BTS at all. It was a hard and fast rule, which in the six years since Namjoon became a father, they hadn’t broken.

           Tonight, stranded in an airport in a place none of them could recognize, at least 1000 miles away, they were regretting agreeing to perform for the KBS special anywhere other than Seoul, or within two hours drive from their homes.         

          So, they sit, December 23rd, unconvinced they were going to be home by Christmas Eve, unsure if they were going to be home by Christmas.

           “I would walk home,” Hoseok says, sinking in his chair.

           “I would run,” Jimin counters.

           “I’d cross the deserts,” Jungkook says.

           “And the oceans,” Taehyung adds.

           “A fucking frozen tundra,” Yoongi states.

           “If only there was a guiding light, a star, leading us home,” Namjoon says.

            Seokjin sighs, frustration and thoughtfulness in one breath. “She does so much for us, for our family, and here I am, sitting in a luxurious airport, while she’s home with the kids.”

           “She hasn’t even hung the Christmas lights, we were going to decorate the tree together,” Yoongi says. “You know how much she loves Christmas.”

           “I feel like we should go into the gift shops and buy something,” Hoseok suggests.

           “What are we going to find?” Jungkook wonders.

           “Wine,” Namjoon says.  

           “Candy,” Jungkook suggests.

           “Oo, candy,” Hoseok laughs, his first laugh in the last few hours.

            Namjoon, still lamenting, “She does everything, she’s the glue of our whole family.”

           “Maybe we’ll go on vacation, somewhere warm,” Seokjin ponders.

           “We should take a big family vacation!” Taehyung suggests.

           “No,” Yoongi shuts it down.

           Hoseok stares at Yoongi, reading the anxiety in his eyes over the suggestion. “It could be fun!” 

           Yoongi  stares him down, countering his offer. “How about those who have kids go on one vacation, and those without go on their own,” 

           “Why are you being so difficult?” Seokjin asks.

           “I’m tired, my proposal is going to shit, and I’m missing decorating my home with my future wife,” Yoongi lists.

           “I can’t believe they have no hotel rooms anywhere near by,” Hoseok wonders.

           “Maybe if we wish upon a star we’ll make it home by tomorrow,” Jungkook suggests.

           “This is the first Christmas we’ve spent just us, just us seven, in what, a decade?” Taehyung inquires, looking at each of his brothers.

           “Since we all came back from service,” Namjoon answers.

          Agreeing, Hoseok speaks.  “We should honor that,” 

           “We’ll be with our families as soon as we can,” Jimin concedes. 

          “Life goes on,” Jungkook sings softly.

          “We’ll be home by Christmas Eve, swear it,” Taehyung’s attempt at inspiring them is what they need.

           “Should we go find food and treats?” Jungkook suggests.

           “Absolutely,” Namjoon says.

           “And any souvenirs we can find from this place,” Hoseok reminds them.

           In a small gift shop, Yoongi and Jimin stare at the chip selection.

           “You should propose whenever you want,” Yoongi says to Jimin.

           “Thank you hyung,” Jimin wants to hug  him, but  refrains. 

           “I don’t want to steal your thunder, you’ve been planning longer than me, do it when it feels right,” Yoongi glances at Jimin, slightly taller than him, and smiles.

           “Thank you,” Jimin smiles, grateful for the unnecessary permission.

           As they gather back in the lounge, snacks and gummy worms plentiful on the newly cleaned airport table, the seven of them share laughs over silly things their kids have said and reminisce on the years they’ve spent together. Through it all, with the weight of uncertainty waning, they had a glimmer of hope, a little belief, that they’ll be home by Christmas Eve.

Next: Happy Anniversary 

[jasminevolkan]

TIME IN A BOTTLE — self paragraph 001,

& character development TASK #5.

warnings: abandonment issues, divorce, abuse/neglect, death and illness, mentions of christmas, food and alcohol, curse words, jasmine having courage?

JANUARY 1ST 2021, 11:27 am.

Wishes of joy, success and health ended the traditional New Year’s brunch at the Volkan’s residence. Usually, the duo would make this celebration last all day long, but Jasmine had other plans. Instead, she put the leftovers in containers and headed for the exit. She kissed her mother on both cheeks and wrapped her in a tight hug. She earned a pat on the back as a notification she was squeezing her mother’s body too tightly. “Don’t want to let you go,” Jasmine whispered those words like an automatic response. “I’m not going anywhere,” Lana would reply.

They were creature of habits, an inseparable pair. They resembled Russian nestling dolls, there was never one without the other. As years went by, Jasmine grew more and more conscious of the inevitable. She was a star following the moon in a dark night sky, but one day the moon would be swallowed in the void and leave the burning dust nothing but an endless pain, deeper than a black hole. She was no stranger to grief, it did not mean she appreciated the experience. They discussed it often, a little too often to Lana’s liking. Her daughter was so fearless, yet she feared everything in her surroundings. She wished she could fly on her own, but she respected Jas’ desire to circle close to the nest.

They were creature of habits, an inseparable pair. They gifted each other the same thing for Christmas — a holiday they celebrated by choice — however they waited for the first day of the year to open them. Chocolate, candles and promises to spend time together in the future. They made plans to build sandcastles together on a rare calm spot of the beach, where Lana claimed there was a palm tree as old as her daughter. They remembered good and bad events that came out of the previous twelve months.

Usually, they would involve unfortunate recipes or complicated art projects that never came to life. More often than not, they would share a knowing look. The worst that came out of anything was Jasmine’s father. His presence (or lack thereof) impacted them on a daily basis, still. It left a whole in their lives, otherwise complete and satisfying. It fed into Jasmine’s insecurities, it encouraged Lana to relive the constant pain she was in while trying to comfort her daughter. Children to grow old in love and affection. No matter how much love Lana provided, it never seemed to be enough for her daughter.

Love and attention were the same thing as food, for Jasmine. She always craved for more and was afraid she would never get enough.

She walked out of her childhood home and crossed the lawn over to her house. Hidden by the mass of leftovers she carried expertly, she did not notice the box that blocked the door until she bumped her foot against it. She tried to scoot around the obstacle, in vain.

The breeze blew stronger, whipping locks of chocolate brown hair on her face. It sent a wave of goosebumps down her spine. She leaned down to open the box, pulling out stuffed animals, birthday cards and other items she remembered seeing in stores but never having the courage to buy it. Expensive paint brushes and other supplies, sets of gold earrings that sparkled under the sun; the list went on. She picked up a pink bunny, it seemed old and resembled one she had in her oldest memories but could never find again.

Jasmine looked up from the objects, the bunny squeezed tightly against her chest. She frowned and looked around, her mother was not on the porch, the other neighbours were probably asleep or gone. Avalon seemed very quiet, almost surreal.

Surreal like the shadow she noticed standing at the corner of the street. Her eyes squinted and blinked, but they seemed to have washed away the familiar silhouette. Somehow, the bunny felt like it radiated a comfortable warmth. She read the message that was left on the box, the handwriting was printed in her memory.

“I love you. I am sorry it took me your whole lifetime to realize it. Signed, “

The end of the message was scribbled in a whirlwind of blue ink. She had to focus really hard to recognize the three letters. Contrary to the presents or the mysterious figure, the word resonated no familiarity.

“Dad.”

FEBRUARY 14TH 2021, 3:02 AM.

Jasmine kept this a secret, the box and the message. She tried to play it cool, like it did not affect her that her father was trying to build the bridge he destroyed when he left for New York City. She hated New York. She hated bridges. She hated him.

No.

She loved him.

She pulled out a pink gel pen from this same pencil case she carried since high school, it had little doodles and messages written at the back from her friends. She ripped a sheet away from her binder that she used for ideas at work. And she improvised. It usually felt so natural for her, to cross boundaries and to do as she pleased. This time, it was painful and almost impossible to do.

“I loved it when you took me for a drive around the island on nights where I couldn’t sleep. I loved it when you brought me to the candy store after forgetting to pick me up from daycare because you were busy. I loved it when you read stories to me during rainy days so I would be quiet and fall asleep. I loved it when you gave me seashells from all of your work trips, even if they looked identical to those on the beaches down the street. I loved it when you took me to the park and pushed me on the swings just long enough before you got a phone call. I loved it when you wrote notes in my lunch boxes on school days, I saved them all in a bottle of bourbon you left on my night stand that one time you came home as the sun was rising.

I loved it when you acted like a father, even if it was just for a split second.

I love receiving magazines and seeing your name on the front page, congratulating you for all the listings you manage to sell. I love staring at the pages of photos and noticing that I look just like you. I love thinking of new ways to improve myself, because that’s what you would have wanted to. I love thinking you might come back here one day and we can make up for all the time we wasted loathing each other. I love thinking one day we might have a family portrait identical to the one you had in your office of your wife and kids. I love thinking that one day you’ll have one of me with them and hang it on your wall at home. I love thinking that one day, I will get to call you Dad.

I forgive you. I forgive you for leaving mom alone with me. I forgive you for hurting me so much I might just never heal. I forgive you for finding your happiness elsewhere. I forgive you for failing as a father. I forgive you for learning how to do better with your other children. I forgive you for leaving the life you never wanted. I forgive you for having dreams that were larger than what we could give you. I forgive you for breaking the promises you told me of this life where we would be a happy family.

I love you,”

The old pen was running out of ink, so she shook it vividly. She did not bother wiping her tears away, not the stain of pink on her hand that was tinting the paper. She added this short word she had blocked out of her memory all this time. It was just a nickname for all, but for her. She remembered the tone of his voice whenever he said this word, it was calm and posed, loving and caring. He said it rarely, but she could still hear it so clearly.

“Jojo.”

FEBRUARY 14TH 2021, 11:58 PM.

She scrunched the sheets of paper into a ball and threw it on the floor, missing the trash can by two feet at least. She then moved to the couch, grabbing her laptop from the coffee table and logged on her email. Her fingers floated above the keyboard until the screen turned darker. She was looking up to the clock on the wall, watching the seconds fly by.

She took a deep breath, hoping it would slow down time. It had the opposite effect, feeding into this adrenaline rush she desperately tried to repress since the beginning of the year.

She loved him. She never stopped, never will. It would not change. Something needed to change, however, and it was her unhealthy habit of being silent when she needed to speak out the most.

TO: Aleksander Volkan (avolkan@hudsonriverestate.com)

FROM: Jasmine Volkan (iluvicecream@gmail.com)

SUBJECT: Receipts and birthday cards

Fuck you. <3

Minnie pressed the button, and sent the email. She shut her laptop close and ran to the abandoned paper on the floor. She unfolded it and held against her chest, disappearing into a room in the search for an envelope.

She was too far to hear the immediate sound of a response.

TO: Jasmine

FROM: Aleksander

SUBJECT:

I love you too.

[tipsycad147]

The eight Sabbats: Witch's holidays

by Michelle Gruben

Modern Pagans celebrate eight major holidays throughout the year, known as Sabbats. They are based on pre-Christian customs related to the movement of the sun. Most are related to the Celtic agricultural festivals that have given them their names.

Of course, now we know that the sun doesn’t actually move around the earth. And lots of Pagans live far away from the places where our food is grown. But the Sabbats are still a meaningful way to connect with the cycles of the seasons and of human life.

The Pagan Sabbats include the four astronomical holidays (the equinoxes and solstices) and four traditional holidays in between. Together, these eight festivals are known as the Wheel of the Year. They are observed in Wicca and Wicca-influenced forms of neo-Paganism.

Learn about the eight Witch’s holidays and some popular customs for each one:

Samhain

Probably the best-known of the Sabbats, Samhain is celebrated on October 31st. It coincides with Halloween or All Hallows Eve. Halloween is a time when even non-magickal people indulge in spooky activities and ancient superstitions. It's also the time when mainstream culture pays the most attention to the activities of Witches and Pagans.

The word Samhain comes from the Irish Gaelic word for “summer’s end.” The days have become shorter, and the darker half of the solar year is upon us. At this time, farmers would use up the remaining stores of perishable fruits and vegetables, preserving other foods to sustain them through the cold and dark season. They would also slaughter any livestock that they did not plan to feed through the winter. This is why we sometimes refer to Samhain as the Third Harvest, or Blood Harvest.

At Samhain, many people believe the boundary between the words is at its thinnest. Samhain is also known as Ancestor’s Night or the Feast of the Dead. For most Witches, Samhain is the best time to commune with the beloved dead (ancestors and honored spirits). Some also believe that lonely or angry spirits may wander the Earth on Samhain night, looking for humans to annoy.

How Pagans celebrate: For Pagans, Samhain is the beginning of the new year. It is a holiday of reflection and celebration. At Samhain, we cast off the old year’s attachments and turn our attention to the coming scarcity of winter. We feast on the last of summer’s bounty. We contemplate what is worth saving and nurturing during the dark of winter. We try to make friends with Death.

Pagans celebrate Samhain in many of the same ways muggles do: Scarfing down sweets, carving jack-o-lanterns, dressing up in costumes. We decorate with skulls and spiders and go to haunted houses. All of these Halloween traditions are too fun to miss out on—and besides, most of them have their roots in old Pagan beliefs, anyway.

If you’re invited to a Samhain ritual, you may see an ancestor altar. This is a shared altar where participants are invited to pile on their mementos and offerings for the dead. The presiding priest or priestess may invoke a deity who rules over transitions or the migration of souls—Morrighan, Hecate, or Hermes. You may participate in a meditation where you travel into the depths of the underworld, or look departed friends in the eye once more. People will speak the names of loved ones who died during the previous year, or long ago.

Feasting is a component of many Samhain rituals. When we eat sweets, we are savoring the sweetness of life and its impermanence. When we eat meat, we remember that all flesh must die and become nourishment for some creature or another.

We also use food as an offering to the dead—to communicate fond memories, to pay our respects—and perhaps, to appease hungry ghosts. Some Pagans set an extra plate at the Samhain table for spirit visitors. Another contemporary Pagan custom is the “dumb supper”—a silent meal where we invite our ancestors (both known and unknown) to come and dine with us.

Yule

Yule is the Pagan name for the Winter Solstice, the longest night of the year. In the Northern Hemisphere, it falls on or around December 21.

After the winter solstice, the darkest part of the year is over and the days begin increasing in length. This solar holiday is related historically to Christmas—Pagans delight in pointing out that Christians co-opted the date around the third century CE.

In the overarching neo-Pagan mythos, Yule is the birthday of the divine infant who is conceived in the spring. The dark of midwinter is the period of the Goddess’s confinement and labor as she prepares to welcome the solar child. On the longest night, the Sun God is born to the praise and gratitude of all Earth’s creatures.

How Pagans celebrate:

Yuletide is a time for passive, personal magick—for short days of work and long nights of dreaming. We set intentions and incubate our plans. It is a time of preparing mentally and spiritually for the light half of the year. Some Pagans keep a midwinter vigil, awaiting the rebirth of the sun at dawn.

It’s not often that you find large group rituals for Yule—probably because lots of Pagans are busy traveling and visiting with non-Pagan family! Instead, Yule rituals tend toward the home-y and conventional.

We decorate with evergreens and holly. We exchange gifts with friends and family. On Midwinter Eve, we light candles to herald the return of the sun. (The ambitious among us may set a Yule log blazing.) We eat traditional, calorie-rich holiday foods: Tamales, eggnog, rum cake, ham, and chocolate. We give thanks for the life-giving energy of our planet’s sun.  

Imbolc

Imbolc is a festival of purification and the early signs of spring. Imbolc is celebrated on Feb 1. (Not yet spring in most of the world, to be sure—but sometimes spring-like in Britain due to the warming influence of the Gulf Stream.) It is the first of the three Pagan fertility festivals, followed by Ostara and Beltane.

In Old Irish, Imbolc means “in the belly” and was associated with the onset of the lambing season. It was an obscure Irish folk festival until the 20th century, when neo-Pagans revived it as part of the Wheel of the Year. It coincides with the Christian festival of Candlemas and with that old farmer’s oracle, Groundhog’s Day, both observed on Feb. 2.

For our ancestors, the significance of Imbolc would have been the beginning of the ground thaw. It is the time to prepare for the planting season—to survey the land, take an inventory of tools, and make any repairs or modifications that will be needed. For the Witch, it also a time of preparation. We clean and bless our altars, and make sure that the tools of our practice are attuned to their intended use.

Mythically, Imbolc celebrates the awakening of the Goddess after giving birth to the young God at Yule. In the Earth, we observe the first stirrings of life after the frozen winter. (If you don’t know what a frozen winter looks like, ask your grandmother.)  Imbolc brings the energy of creativity and imagination. Projects that were put on hold during the holiday season start to creak into motion again. Our midwinter dreams resolve themselves into their first visible shapes.

How Pagans celebrate:

Imbolc is especially sacred to Brigid—Celtic Goddess of hearthfire, healing, the bardic arts, and smithwork. Many Imbolc rituals honor Brigid with candlelight, poems, and woven ornaments known as Brigid’s crosses. The first light of spring is evident by now, and it is an auspicious time of year for rites of cleansing, healing, and blessing.

Imbolc is a time for spiritual dedication and re-dedication. Some covens—especially women’s covens—initiate new members at Imbolc. For old Pagans, it is also a time to examine and refresh our practice. If we have become lax, Imbolc is an opportunity to purify our intentions and reconnect with spiritual guides. We light candles, open windows, and wash the floors to cast out the last gloom of winter. Some also use Imbolc for divination for the year’s harvest.

Imbolc is not really a feasting holiday, as the season of grains and fruits is months away. The first food of the year is dairy. Butter, milk, and cream are traditional foods for the Imbolc table.

Ostara

Ostara is the spring equinox, which falls on or about March 21 in the Northern Hemisphere. It is opposite the autumn equinox (which Pagans refer to as Mabon). But any desktop calendar can tell you that. Ostara is the Pagan cousin of the Easter holiday, a modern revival of one or more ancient spring celebrations.

Ostara is the second of three fertility festivals, a time when the blessings of spring become more visible in the natural world. Flowers bloom, the birds and the bees do their thing, and grocery aisles fill up with pastel-colored treats. Ancient fertility symbols like eggs and bunnies are everywhere. (Yep, Ostara is the Sabbat with the rabbit!)

Astronomically speaking, Ostara is a midpoint of the year, and day and night are equal at this time. The Sun God (who has been growing and gathering strength since Yule) is an adolescent. The Great Goddess, who has been getting progressively younger since December 21, is in her maiden form. These two lusty youths are now the same age, and will soon conceive the child who will be born at Yule.

How Pagans celebrate:

The original meaning of Ostara as a fertility festival is not lost on modern Pagans. Ostara provides a perfect opportunity to work magick for love, prosperity, and gains of any kind. We harness the energy of the lengthening days to fuel our desires and bring projects to fruition. We honor the gifts of the earth Goddess, who is presently blessing the land with beauty and nourishment.

Pagans also use Ostara as a time to reflect on the principle of balance. Everyone has goals and responsibilities—work, family, art, spirituality—that compete for our time and attention. At Ostara, we take a moment to notice things that may have shifted out of balance. We reset our priorities as the austerity of winter gives way to the exuberance of spring.

Beltane

Beltane is the ancient name for the May Day rite, held on May 1. Originally a fire festival, it was widely celebrated in pre-Christian Ireland and Scotland. The name comes from the god Bel (“the bright one”) and means “Bel’s fire.” It is the second of two principle festivals on the Celtic Pagan calendar, the other one being Samhain. Samhain and Beltane are the two poles of the magickal year, when the gates to Faery and the spirit world are most open to travelers. ­­­

In traditional Wicca, Beltane is a sexual festival, the last of the three fertility festivals. It is the time when the Maiden Goddess takes a lover in the form of the young God. Wiccans enact this drama through the ritual marriage (Great Rite) of a High Priestess and High Priest, whose union will bless the land.

How Pagans celebrate:

Theoretically, Beltane is an occasion of unbridled sensuality and revelry. However, sexual rites are rare in modern covens. If invited to a Beltane ritual, you’re far more likely to dance around a maypole or witness a symbolic Great Rite (with a chalice and athame) than encounter an orgy.

For the social Pagan, Beltane season abounds with bonfires, festivals, concerts, and campouts. Solitary Pagans might celebrate by making an altar to the young God and Goddess or connecting with a lover. Flowers, honey, sweets and wine on the altar echo the sweetness of the occasion. Beltane is also a time for illusion, seduction, and Faery tricks. By the light of the Beltane fire, the real can become unreal (and vice versa).

Since Beltane celebrates the union of the God and Goddess, it is a popular time for proposals, handfastings, and renewing of vows. Magickally, the combined masculine and feminine energies lend a powerful alchemical surge to almost any type of spellwork.

Litha

Litha is the summer solstice, which in the Northern Hemisphere falls on or about June 21. Linguists disagree about the origin of the Sabbat’s name, but summer festivals were common across pre-Christian Europe. People lit bonfires to keep the sun’s light alive for as long as possible. Solstice revels were supposed to bless the crops in the fields and drive away evil spirits.

Litha is the day when the Sun God is at the peak of his power. It is an auspicious day, ruled by the Sun and the element of Fire. After Litha, the nights will begin to grow longer and the Sun will move further away each day. With the fall harvest imminent, Litha is an opportunity for anticipating the (actual or symbolic) crop. Medieval people believed that Midsummer Night was blessed, and that whatever a person dreamed on this night would come true.

How Pagans celebrate:

Outdoor rituals are common at Litha, as Pagans take advantage of the long hours of daylight. It is a joyful Sabbat. Bonfires and summer games brighten the space between earth and sky. We decorate our altars with solar symbols, and honor the God in his aspect as Father.

Litha is an appropriate time for all magick ruled by the Sun. This includes spells of cleansing, protection, charisma, and truth.

Lammas

Lammas is the first harvest festival on the Pagan calendar, observed on or about August 1. It is related to an old agricultural holiday celebrating the reaping of grain. Lammas probably comes from the Old English words for “loaf mass.” Loaves of freshly baked bread would have been prepared from the first grain and blessed in churches around the countryside. Lammas is also called Lughnasadh, after the Celtic sun God, Lugh.

As the summer stretches on and the days grow shorter, the sun God symbolically loses some of his strength. He is not yet dead, but is aware that the dark season will soon approach. The god of summer “dies” in the fields to nourish the people, and prepares for rebirth at Yule.

How Pagans celebrate:

Lammas is a time to welcome the harvest. We give thanks that the year’s work is proceeding as planned, and that we will soon enjoy the fruits of our labor. Grain is the traditional food for the Lammas table, in the form of wheat, barley, beers and ales.

Celtic Pagans celebrate Lammas/Lughnasadh as the feast of Lugh, an agricultural god—but also a patron of poets, musicians, and craftspeople. At Lammas, we may show off the skills we have acquired and trade them for things we will need. It is a traditional time of year for craft fairs and local markets.

Mabon

Mabon is the autumn equinox (or as us Texans call, it “fawwwl”). In the Northern Hemisphere, it falls around Sept 21. Mabon is the pivot point of the solar year when the days begin to shorten and winter is on its way. (The name of the festival is modern and dates from the 1960s or early 1970s.)

Mabon may also be called the Second Harvest, because it is the time when autumn fruits and nuts reach their maturity. It is a time to contemplate what we have worked for in the previous year and what rewards we are ready to reap. We give thanks to the waning sunlight and prepare to store our wealth away for the scarce season. We shift from active to contemplative magick. Mabon season is a fine time for workings of prosperity, gratitude, security, and balance.

How Pagans celebrate:

Mabon is a time for celebration after the hard work of the harvest. Though it is sad to watch the beauty of the growing season fade away, we revel in the mild weather and rest that autumn brings.

Mabon foods are comfort foods, those that evoke fond memories and connect us through sharing. We bake and brew, pickle and can. Offerings of wine, cider, fruits, and boughs may adorn the Mabon table—along with that most Pagan of centerpieces, the Cornucopia.

On the Pagan religious calendar, Mabon represents the turning point to the dark half of the year. We shift our attention from the youthful merriment of the summer Sabbats. At Mabon, we honor the Crone and Sage deities, the cycles of aging and death, and the spirit world.

Mabon is a popular time for large outdoor rituals—in part because the weather is good and it doesn’t conflict with any major mainstream holidays. We gather together to feast and express gratitude for our lovely tilted planet. Many cities host a public Mabon ritual as part of their annual Pagan Pride Day gatherings. Solitary Pagans might celebrate Mabon with offerings at a home altar, or a contemplative walk in the woods.

https://www.groveandgrotto.com/blogs/articles/the-eight-sabbats-witchs-holidays

[queenofgotham800]

Anniversary

(Roman Sionis x Reader)

Requested by: @stardancerluv

Warnings: Gramatical Errors, Swearing, OOC Roman, OOC Victor

Summary: Roman and (Y/n) have their 5th anniversary and (Y/n) would want to spend it only with Roman in their apartment. Roman is used to give her tons of gifts and take her into expensive restaurants. But this time he calls Victor for help.

(A/n): Sorry it took me so long to write it, but here it is. Hope you will enjoy it 💜

Getting up from bed early morning wasn't your favourite thing. Today was a big day. It was yours and Romans 5th anniversary. Getting up from bed, you nearly tripped over a big gift packed in blue paper with little hearts all over it. Roman loved to give you expensive gifts, not just on anniversary but every day. And if you two had anniversary, or if it was valentine, birthday, christmas or any other festive day, Roman always nearly drowned you in gifts. Not just one... Many of them. On last anniversary he bought you car, dresses which matched with his suits, vacation in Paris and many more. You were always happy, but you weren't materialistic type so you always told Roman that he doesn't have to buy you such expensive things. He always explained that making you happy, makes him happy too. 

You already packed few gifts for him, but you were sure that he has much much more gifts for you. Not like it was an competition, you wanted to enjoy this day with Roman and only Roman.

As you opened the gift with big bow, you found inside beautifull dresses your favourite collor and high heels shoes matching with them, which were packed in box next to those dresses.

You smiled, becouse Roman also left a note on them.

My dearest (Y/n),

I bought you these dresses on our special day, hope you like them. Please meet me in club, at the place we first met. I'll be waiting.

R.B.S.

You put your pajamas down, putting on fancy dress and shoes. After you dressed you went to have some breakfast in kitchen. Roman wasn't there but that was no surprise, he never ate breakfast, only if you made them for him.

He would never reject your delicious food.

On the counter was another gift, new mug with hearts in which was written in initals R+(Y/n). It was so cute that your heart nearly melted. The food was also prepared on it. That was probably Victor's job.

You took the dishes with mug and went to dining room.

"Hey, (Y/n)," Victor greeted you and sat next to you.

"Hey Vic, how are you?" you asked him, slowly sipping tea from new mug.

"I'm good, happy anniversary by the way," he smiled and pointed on the mug, "It's from Roman."

"Yeah thanks, this is so cute," you smiled at both, mug and Victor, "I just wish he... I don't know," you gasped.

"What's wrong (Y/n)," Victor watched your worried expresion.

"I don't want to sound ungrateful, but sometimes I wish he was romantic the other way," you said.

"How?" Victor asked, he was lost in these romantical things.

"Like...Something sweet, not big that would involve just the two of us," you said thinking, "I'm not saying that these gifts are not sweet. They are very sweet, but... You know what I have in mind."

"Yea-No..." Victor mumbled.

"Remember how he bought me tickets to concert?

"Yeah, it was nice," Victor smiled. He met somebody there, but didn't wanted to speak about it.

"But you know... Just for once. Tonight we will probably go to the best restaurant in Gotham," you smiled slowly collecting your dishes from table.

"And if I understand it, you don't want to go," Victor said.

"Well, it's not like I was ungrateful, but you are maybe right. I would like to spend the time with him here, watching movies together, cooking together, I don't know," you said.

"Yeah, I think I understood," Victor said, collecting his dishes.

"Okay, I have to go," you waved to Victor and left to club.

Roman was sitting on the couch you two first met years ago. He was wearing his best suit, smiling at you, like the first time he saw you. Little blush spread across your cheeks when you sat next to him.

"Hi babygirl, how you like these dresses," Roman smiled, pulling you closer to him.

"Roman, I love them, thank you! And thank you for the mug, it so cute," you hugged him and gave him a kiss.

"I have much, much more for you, don't worry," Roman laughed teasing you becouse he knew your oppinion on expensive gifts and you rolled eyes.

"Boss, I... Henry is here," Victor strolled across the club and tapped Roman at shoulder.

"Victor, I... We are celebrating something," Roman frowned on Victor.

"..." Victor was waiting on Roman, speechless.

"Honey, if it's so important I don't mind," you said and gave him kiss. You knew who was Henry, it was one of Romans bussines friends.

"Are you sure babe?" Roman asked and you nodded. Roman smiled and walked with Victor away to the main entry hall of club.

You stayed in club, looking at your phone in thoughts. This is probably going to take hours and hours.

Meanwhile in the entry hall, Victor and Roman exited the club, going to the stage doors back to apartment.

"Thanks for reminding Victor. I nearly forgot," Roman said opening the fridge and taking out of it food.

"She wasn't picking up the food in fr-"

"The fridge? No, I prepared it on the kitchen counter next to your mug," Victor said.

"Great, bring me the bag with projector and technical stuff," Roman said and closed the fridge, "And maybe some picnic basket for the food."

"On my way boss," Victor yelled and ran for these things.

Roman hoped that this idea, which Victor gave him few years back will go well. You were telling that he didn't had to be so generous towards you, that you are not materialistic person. But always when he gave you some gifts, he saw that your eyes sparkled and you were geniuenly happy. He loved seeing you happy.

You were waiting in club, used to these things. Roman had to have some important things to do, that was his work. It came in unexpected times and you completely respected that. He was so bussy that sometimes he just came home at midnight and laid next to you on bed exhausted. He always woke you up, it was not becouse he wanted but his steps were echoing through the whole apartment. When he came exhausted like that, you used to pull him closer to you and play with his hair untill he didn't fall asleep in your arms. He looked so innocent when he slept in your arms.

Your thoughts were interupted with familiar man walking around in club. Where was Roman if Henry was here?

You put your phone back to bag and headed to Henry.

"Henry, welcome in club," you smiled, like nothing was happening.

"Mrs. Sionis," Henry smiled.

"Oh, I already told you to call me (Y/n). Romans friends are also my friends," you were still smiling, "Speaking of Roman, didn't he had some meeting with you today?"

"No, no we met yesterday. Why are you asking?"

You took a deep breath, "Nevermind. Enjoy your time here Henry," smiling, you took a drink from passerby waitress and turned to leave. When you turned away from Henry, your smile fastly dropped and on your face appeared wicked smirk.

It was time for preparations.

"Victor we have to prepare it fast. I don't like the thought of my dearest (Y/n) waiting on me in the club while we should spend that time together," Roman mumbled, walking up to the roof of Black Mask club. Victor was right behind him, taking the basket with food, huge case with projector, candles, radio and blankets. Roman took four pillows and that was all.

"Yeah, yeah boss," Victor nodded, carefully putting the stuff down on roof.

After he put it down, from somewhere sounded the song Everybody loves me-One Republic. Victor lifted eyebrows, while Roman serached for his phone.

Victor smirked, turning his head away from Roman's sight, so he wouldn't see Victors quiet laugh.

After Roman finaly found his phone, he picked it up.

It was you, calling him.

"Hey honey, I have to do also some work, I hope you don't mind. I'll be back as soon as I can. When you finish your job, you know, that appointment with Henry, call me or something," you said.

"Yeah, It's okay babe, I'll wait. Love you," Roman told.

"Love you too honey," you said and cancelled the call.

You didn't knew that somewhere above you are Victor and Roman. They also had no idea that you are under the building, next to the car ready to go for Roman's gift.

You had few gifts for him. Tailor texted you that you can go to pick up the gift for Roman.

Driving through the Gotham City you saw many couples which held hands, hugged and kissed. Your mind was on Roman, what was he doing if he didn't talked with Henry? Maybe something in warehouse... He just didn't wanted to tell you that becouse of the anniversary. Yeah, probably.

"No, Victor you have to put it like this!" Roman yelled on Victor, who was putting the pillows around the blanket on roof.

"Well, you can do it boss. Just land me over that projector," Victor said. Roman was preparing the projector and screen, but he struggled with it more than Victor with decorating.

"Yeah, sure," Roman nodded and placed few candles around the blanket, "You know what Victor... I'm gonna go for another blanket."

"Sure boss," Victor mumbled and whistled as he slowly build pieces of screen together.

Parking in front of tailor shop, you made sure you had sunglasses and cap. You were sorta famous in city, mostly becouse of Roman. Paparazzi were all over the city and you didn't wanted drawing attention now. Roman made sure these people with cameras wouldn't be following you all the time, but there was still more and more of them.

You entered the shop and came to counter.

"Mrs. Sionis," older man greeted you and waved at you.

"Oh- I hoped this would sorta..." you pointed on cap and sunglasses. Surprised that he recognized you.

"I expected you," said the man confused.

"Oh, right," you laughed, "So, I am here becouse of that suit, is it finished?"

"Yes, I wrote it in the text."

Well, this was an uncomfrontable comunication. You cringed at your previous words, but decided to continue confidently.

"Yes, can I see it?"

"Sure, sure," he slowly went to the back of the shop.

You were anxiously tapping with feet, looking at the expensive watches that you got from Roman last year.

"It's here," he told, putting the suit on the counter. It was truly magnificent.

"I hope you got the size right," you mumbled, sliding your fingers across the velvet suit. It was Roman's favourite collor, he didn't had suit like this and he still talked about how much he wanted it.

Your second gift for him was waiting in the trunk of your car.

"Victor, I found five blankets and I couldn't pick just one so I brought them all," Roman came to rooftop, putting those blankets and ground, looking on Victor. Roman was surprised, Victor actually builded the projector and the screen in such short period of time.

"How did you managed to build it so fast?"

"I had a good teacher," Victor smirked.

"Are you talking about the mysterious person from the concert?"

"Maybe," Victor mumbled and looked around, "You know that you need to have computer to play those movies."

"Sure," Roman said and pointed at doors, "Go and get it mister technician."

Running to the car, you put the velvet suit in already prepared big gift box in the trunk, next to the second gift. After closing the trunk you looked on the phone and texted Roman.

Hey honey, I'm going home. Everything is alright in fact great. I can't wait to see you soon <3

-(Y/n). S.

How you sent this message, you drove back to club, parking your car on the usual spot.

Roman looked on his phone and opened your message. He loved to see your initials under it. He also wanted to buy you gloves with your initials. Roman still wants, but not now, he may save that for later. Maybe christmas...

He texted you back.

My dear (Y/n) I can't wait to see you. I'm dealing with something now, but I'll be done any minute. Can't wait to see you too <3

-R.B.S.

"Boss, I found only this one," Victor came and brought Roman's old laptop.

"Yeah, my old laptop," Roman looked on it, slowly blowing the dust away from it's surface, "I hope it will work."

"I'll try it," Victor took the laptop from Roman, trying the it on the projector. It worked!

You were already in club on the way to apartment, taking those gifts upstairs to the kitchen. Kitchen, since Roman refused to go anywhere near it when you weren't by his side.

"Fuck, these things are not working," Roman broke the last match on the match-box.

"Those never work, that's normal," Victor mumbled, "Wanna lit up candles? You have to use the flamethrower for that."

"What?" Roman turned to Victor with terrified look.

Victor laughed it off and Roman bursted it laugh too.

"On a second I really thought you did it," Roman said.

"Yeah, few times. Nearly lit up the fucking place," Victor laughed and Roman stopped.

"Do we have some matches?" he asked.

"Yeah, they should be in kitchen," Victor told.

"Okay, this time I have to go for them I guess... Freaking pyroman" Roman mumbled, walking to the stairs, watching how Victor couldn't stop laugh at his remark.

You hid the gift boxes under the kitchen counter and heard how is someone walking through the hallway.

Those were Roman's steps, you knew them very well.

Hopefully he's not comming into kitchen, you thought.

Roman was walking to kitchen, anxiously fixing his sleeves. What if (Y/n) was already here, Roman thought. He entered the kitchen to found out that he was right.

"Roman, hey honey, so... How was the job?" you asked, blocking the kitchen counter.

"(Y/n)... Hey babe, it's- well," he laughed and nodded.

"Yeah? I met Henry in club," you said carefully, "You know that whatever happened you can talk with me."

You were both so anxious, it was obvious.

"Yes, yes... Ehm... Have you seen here some matches?" Roman asked you.

"No," you said.

"Or a flamethrower?" Roman smirked.

"What? No, that's not in kitchen. Actually I heard that Victor has few at his apartment," you said. Victor lived right next to your and Roman's apartment for safety reasons, becouse he was Roman's right hand and also becouse he was a great friend.

"So it wasn't a joke... Heh..." Roman lifted eyebrows and left. You turned back to the kitchen counter to check the gifts, but you stopped when Roman's hands touched your hips. His chest was on your back and his head on your neck.

"I love you, (Y/n). After the bussines I want to spend the time with you," Roman whispered in your ear and you smiled, giving him kiss.

After Roman came back to the rooftop, candles were lit and Victor was playing with his knife.

"What? Victor? How?" Roman pointed at candles.

"Oh, I forgot that I had a lighter in pocket," Victor smirked and Roman rolled his eyes.

"She is here Victor what should I do?" Roman asked Victor.

"Well, invite her upstairs. I'll go to take care of the club," Victor said and patted Roman on shoulder.

"Thanks," Roman said. Victor smiled and walked away.

You were still standing in kitchen, thinking if the place under the kitchen counter was good hiding spot for gifts. After you heard Roman's familiar steps echoing through the apartment again, you decided to get to him first. Walking on hallway, you locked the kitchen and put the key in your bag.

"(Y/n), I would love if you would follow me," Roman said, cupping your cheeks.

"Alright" you smiled and followed him to the rooftop.

He opened doors and you smiled in surprise.

"Oh my... Roman, this is so sweet," you turned to him to kiss him.

The scenery was truly romantic. Few blankets on ground, candles around the place, pillows, picnic basket, projector ready to play some movies.

"I cancelled the dinner in restaurant. I hope you don't mind," Roman said. You hugged him, "No. I love this," you smiled and looked at the rooftop.

"You do?" Roman lifted eyebrows.

"Yes I do," you looked up to him and he smiled. You had those sparkles in eyes.

"Let's party then," Roman smiled and poured you wine into glass.

"Alright," you laughed as Roman spilled the wine at himself.

"That is not funny (Y/n)," Roman said, but laughed too. He couldn't resist your sweet laugh. You then got a genius idea.

"Wait here," you smiled and ran to the kitchen, taking your bag with key.

After you came back to roof with box, you found Roman trying to wipe the wine stain away from his suit with napkin.

"Honeey," you smiled, gently shaking with box. He looked up to you, throwing the napkin aside.

You sat next to him and Roman unpatiently unpacked the gift.

"Thank you my dear," Roman looked on his new velvet suit of his favourite collor, "I'm going to get changed, I'm back in second," Roman said, but then his eyes drifted to second gift.

"And what is this?" he asked with smile, taking the second gift out.

"I hope you will like it."

Roman opened the second gift and pulled out of it small model of Rolls royce.

"I love it," Roman leaned closer and gave you small kiss, "I'm gonna go to dress this beautifull suit."

After few hours of spending time with Roman, he asked you, "What do you want to watch?"

You said the name of your favorite movie which Roman also liked.

"Okay babe," Roman gave you kiss.

The movie was running and you leaned on his shoulder. You smiled when you felt his hand gently rubbing your back.

"I love you my dear. Happy anniversary," Roman whispered in your ear and you felt how he put something around your neck. It was beautifull golden necklace with rose.

"When I first saw this, it reminded me of you," Roman smiled. The necklace was truly beautifull.

"Thank you Roman," you smiled and kissed him, "I love you too. Happy anniversary."

[lfthinkerwrites]

The First Christmas

(As promised, the entirely self-indulgent family fluff. You have been warned.)

“So, this will be yours and Eddie’s first Christmas together. Any special plans, Doc?”

Penelope took a sip of her tea before she answered the woman sitting across from her in the coffee shop. “Well, Ellen convinced her Grandmother to let her spend some time with Edward on Christmas Eve, so we’ll be at his house that evening. Deirdre and Nina will be coming from Central City too.”

Selina chuckled. “The whole Riddler family together. How cute.” Penelope shook her head, but she smiled just the same. After everything that had happened over the past year, it would be nice just to spend a quiet evening with the man she loved, with the people he loved the most. She almost didn’t hear Selina ask her next question. “Are you nervous about Deirdre and Nina?”

Penelope raised an eyebrow. “Why? I’ve met them before at Edward’s and Ellen’s birthdays. We’ve gotten along just fine.”

“You weren’t his girlfriend then,” Selina said, twirling her straw through her espresso. “You are now. Their behavior around you is going to be a little different.”

Penelope took another sip of tea and rolled her eyes. “They’re not going to give me a shovel talk, are they?”

“Shovel talk? No. More like a ‘chop up your body and leave it in the desert talk’.”

It sounded like Selina spoke from experience, which, judging from the encounters Penelope had observed between the three women in the past, she more than likely was. Given the rap sheets that Edward’s oldest friends had, Selina was probably understating things. “I’m not afraid of Deirdre and Nina,” she said decisively. Selina looked bemused by her statement. “Should I be?”

Selina took a sip of her own drink before she answered. “Deirdre’s usually pretty stand-offish. Nina’s the more protective one. She might poke at you a bit, but the fact that they’ve already met you and that Ellie likes you are going to help you out a lot. Don’t let them walk over you, but don’t get nasty with them either. Eddie’ll step in if he thinks they’re going too far.”

Penelope wasn’t worried about Edward not defending her. Quite the opposite. She remembered Harley and Cobblepot and let out a sigh. “I don’t want to come between Edward and his friends.”

Selina’s face grew serious. “I know,” she reassured her. “Look, the biggest thing to remember about Deirdre and Nina is that they aren’t just Eddie’s henchgirls, or even just his friends. They’ve known him for half his life. Before Ellie came along, they were the closest thing he had to family. They saw how bad he got before he went into his coma, and they’ve seen how much better he’s gotten in the past few years.” Selina smirked. “And unless they’re deaf, dumb, and blind, they know who to thank for that. They already like you more than they ever liked me or Crane. As long as you respect them, they’ll respect you.”

Penelope nodded. “Thank you, Selina.” She shook her head. “Anyway, what are your plans?”

***

Two days later, Selina’s words swirled through Penelope’s mind as she approached Edward’s apartment, gift bag in hand. Respect Deirdre and Nina, and they’ll respect you. She’d never been one to care much what people thought about her on a personal level, but she remembered just how much his estrangement from Harley had hurt Edward, much as he tried to deny it. She remembered all too well what kind of chaos had been caused by his fight with Cobblepot over his relationship with her. Deirdre and Nina didn’t have to like her, but if she was the cause of a falling out between them and Edward...Penelope tried to shake the thought out of her mind. She’d gotten along with them just fine before. She should make the most of her time with Edward instead of worrying about hypotheticals.

She arrived at Edward’s door and her attention was immediately caught by the large, ornate wreath on the front of it, complete with glowing question marks. She shook her head. What else could one expect from him? Taking a breath, she knocked on the door. Edward answered it immediately, a stricken look on his face. “Darling!” he cried out. “Thank God you’re here!”

“What’s wrong?” she asked. Had Ellen’s grandmother changed her mind? Had something happened with Deirdre and Nina?

Edward immediately ushered her inside and gestured to the interior of his apartment. “Look at what they’ve done to my house!” Penelope looked inside the apartment and her jaw dropped. Almost every surface in Edward’s living room was covered in nutcrackers, plastic and wooden Christmas tree and Santa Claus figurines, and so much tinsel that Edward would be vacuuming it off the floor for weeks. A three-foot Santa was standing by the front door, and in the corner of the living room, where his bookcase was, stood a tall tree, ostentatiously decorated. Ellen was standing on a footstool, under the watchful eye of Deirdre and Nina, putting the finishing touches on the tree. All three wore tacky green and red holiday sweaters.

Ellen looked over her shoulder, made eye contact with Penelope, and smiled. “Hi Doc!” she shouted. She hopped off the footstool and gestured to the tree. “It’s done! What do you think?”

Penelope took in the scene with wide eyes before deciding to be diplomatic. “This is the most decorations I think I’ve ever seen in one home.” Even her mother, who was notorious for going overboard with decorations, would be shocked. “Where did you even get all this?”

“We bought most of them,” Deirdre said. “Ellie wanted to make sure her Dad had a proper Christmas this year.”

“Proper Christmas indeed,” Edward huffed. “It looks like a Sears Catalog and a Hallmark exploded in here!”

“Where were you when this was happening?” Penelope asked.

“They locked me in my bedroom! They only let me out five minutes ago!”

“If you really wanted to come out boss, you could have picked the lock,” Deirdre drawled.

Edward rolled his eyes. “Unbelievable. Come on in, Penny, I’ll try to find you a spot that isn’t covered in glitter.”

Nina laughed. “Aren’t you forgetting something, Eddie?”

“What?” Edward asked. Nina pointed towards the door frame and Edward and Penelope looked upwards to see a sprig of mistletoe tacked on. “Oh for the love of,” Edward muttered, his face flushing. He quickly leaned in to give Penelope a peck on the cheek, glaring at his friends when they cooed. He led Penelope to his armchair and took the gift bag from her. “Rachel wants Ellen back by dinner, so we’re going to open a few gifts, then drive down the 40′s block in the East End to look at some decorations. I have dinner reservations for the four of us at The Taverna after we drop off Ellen.”

“That sounds nice,” Penelope said. For the first time since she’d arrived, Edward smiled, then lightly squeezed her hands. “Do you need any help with anything?”

“No no, make yourself comfortable,” he insisted, gesturing for her to sit down. He took her gift bag and deposited it at the foot of the tree, around other wrapped gifts. “I’m going to get drinks for everybody. Hot chocolate or tea?”

“Tea would be lovely, thank you,” Penelope said, taking a seat.

“Don’t forget to spike our drinks,” Deirdre called after Edward as he went into his kitchen.

“Of course not,” Edward called back. Ellen followed him, asking about marshmallows. That left Penelope alone with Deirdre and Nina, who in the brief amount of time it took for Edward and Ellen to go into the kitchen, had taken seats on the sofa. They fixed Penelope with identical, calculating looks. And now it began.

Penelope politely nodded at the pair. “Deirdre. Nina.”

“Doc,” they said in unison. Well. That was disturbing. Penelope hoped they wouldn’t make a habit of that.

Penelope didn’t let on any discomfort and folded her hands in her lap. “How have you been?”

“Good,” Deirdre drawled. “We made a cool $500,000 two weeks ago knocking out a rival in Central City.”

“Yeah,” Nina echoed, a smirk on her face. “His whole haul is now our haul.”

“That’s...interesting,” Penelope brought herself to say. The previous times she’d met them, Edward’s friends didn’t talk much about what they did for a living. Were they comfortable enough with her to share that now, or were they testing her to see what her reaction would be? “You weren’t too violent with him, were you?”

Deirdre shrugged. “He’s only going to be in traction for another week. We let him off easy.”

Nina leaned forward, her eyes narrowed. “That’s not a problem, is it?”

So it was a test. Penelope didn’t break eye contact with Nina. “I know full well what the two of you get up to,” she said, soft enough that Edward and Ellen couldn’t hear. “As long as Edward and Ellen don’t get involved, as far as I’m concerned, it’s not my business.”

Deirdre and Nina shot each other a quick look. Deirdre then nodded. Nina, however, wasn’t done with her just yet. “Thought you worked for Gordon.”

“I consult with the GCPD,” Penelope corrected, keeping her tone level. “I don’t work for Gordon personally. If I wanted to, I could have reported the two of you to him a long time ago, but I didn’t.” Penelope looked over her shoulder to make sure Edward and Ellen weren’t listening. The father and daughter were chatting in the kitchen, Ellen pulling a big plate out of the fridge and Edward putting the finishing touches on some drinks. Penelope turned back to Nina and Deirdre. “I love Edward, and he loves the two of you. We don’t have to be friends or even like each other on a personal level, but for his sake, and Ellen’s, I want us to be able to respect each other.”

Nina’s face softened. “We want that too,” Deirdre said. “We don’t have anything against you, we just don’t want Ed to get his heart broken again.”

“I have no intention of that ever happening,” Penelope assured her.

“You’d better not,” Nina warned. “Or we’ll chop your body up and bury you in a desert.”

Penelope resisted the urge to roll her eyes. “Noted.”

Nina nodded and settled back against the couch. “Alright,” she said. “I guess we can accept you being the number one girl in Eddie’s life now.”

“Number two,” Penelope corrected. “Number one is Ellen.”

Deirdre and Nina exchanged another look, and this time, an identical, satisfied smile appeared on their faces. “Well played, Doc,” Deirdre said. “You pass.”

“Pass what?” The three women looked up to see Edward approaching the dining room table, holding a drink tray in his hands. He looked from Penelope to Nina and Deirdre and fixed the latter with a look. “Girls! Have you been bullying Penny?”

“We’re fine,” Penelope said quickly. “We were just chatting.”

Edward didn’t look convinced, but Ellen arrived with her large plate. “I made sugar cookies for everybody!” she said, putting the plate on the table. “Well, the dough was premade, but I made the shapes and decorations!”

“I’m sure they’re lovely, Ellen,” Penelope said. Ellen grinned, then began putting cookies on napkins and passing them around. Penelope looked down at the cookies and shook her head fondly. Ellen had decorated the sugar cookies to look like green question marks. Edward placed a drink on the end table next to the armchair, then pulled a chair from the dining room table so he could sit next to Penelope. He shot her a grin as he took his seat, and reached over to hold her hand.

“Aww,” Nina cooed.

“Knock it off,” Edward bit out, though without any venom. He then looked over to where Ellen was on the couch, sandwiched between Nina and Deirdre. “Ready to open presents?”

“Yay!” Ellen shouted, finishing off her cookies in a big gulp and getting up off the sofa. She dashed to the tree and gathered gifts up in her hands. “This is everyone’s presents from me,” she said. She then looked back to the tree and passed around another set of presents. “This is from Nina and Deirdre to everyone, this is from Dad to everyone-”

“Hold off on Penelope’s,” Edward said. “I want to give that to her later tonight.” He looked towards Penelope. “If that’s alright?”

She squeezed his hand. “That’s fine.”

Deirdre laughed. “Ooh, what did you get her?”

Edward glared at his former henchwoman while Penelope flushed. “Don’t be crass!” He shook his head. “Honestly, I can’t take the pair of you anywhere.”

Ellen made a face when she realized what the adults were talking about, then quickly turned her attention back to the presents. “Here’s Doc’s gifts for everybody.” She took her small pile and sat on the floor between her father and the sofa.

“Ellen, do you want a chair?” Edward asked.

“I’m good,” Ellen insisted. She looked at her gifts. “Now, which one do I want to open first?”

“Open mine,” Edward said.

Ellen looked at the large garment bag and cocked her head in curiosity. Then her face lit up. “Wait: Is this what I think it is?”

A grin came to Edward’s face. “That depends on what you think it is.”

Ellen practically vibrated with excitement, though she was careful as she opened the present. Penelope had to smile at the enthusiasm the girl was projecting, and judging from the looks on the other adults' faces, they felt the same way. Ellen got the bag open and let out a whoop of joy as she pulled a turquoise suit jacket out. “It’s my suit!” she shouted with glee. She pulled out a pair of dress pants that were the same vivid color. “My prom suit!” She got up and practically tackled Edward in a hug, almost knocking him off his chair. “Thank you, thank you, thank you, Dad!”

Edward laughed and returned her hug. “You’re very welcome, sweetheart.” He separated from her long enough to nod towards his bedroom. “Go try it on. I want to know if I need to take it into Anton and get alterations done.”

Ellen nodded and picked up the suit then ran off to the bedroom. Edward chuckled indulgently. “Prom suit?” Penelope found herself asking.

“Rachel wanted her to wear Diane’s old dress for prom. Her old baby pink dress. Ellen disagreed.”

Penelope had a brief mental image of Ellen in a poofy, 80′s style pink dress and shuddered. “You’re not going to get in trouble with Rachel over this, are you?”

Edward shrugged. “We’re going to keep her suit here for the time being and pull a switcheroo when prom comes. I’ll deal with the old battleax then.”

Deirdre laughed. “You need any help getting Gramma in line, let me and Nina know.”

“Yeah,” Nina added, cracking her knuckles. “We still want to get back at Brown, Dent, and those other assholes for what they did earlier this month.”

“I wouldn’t worry about that too much,” Edward said. A smirk came to his face. “Dear old Arthur and Harvey were so broken up about what they did to me, they agreed to pay my business expenses for the next six months, hence why I’ve been able to splurge for Christmas this year.”

Penelope’s eyes widened. “Edward Nigma, did you hack into Brown and Dent’s accounts?” That would explain why Brown had to get a public defender, actually.

“Hack is such an ugly word,” Edward defended. “Besides, it’s the least they could do for my physical and mental distress.”

Deirdre cackled and raised her glass. “You’re still the biggest son of a bitch I’ve ever met, Boss.” Edward raised his glass in response. Penelope scoffed but raised her glass as well.

“Just don’t make a habit of it,” she warned him, tapping him on the nose.

Edward pouted but nodded. “Of course not, darling.”

“Whipped,” Deirdre muttered, much to Nina’s amusement. Before Edward could interject, Ellen stepped into the living room, clad in the suit and white dress shirt her father got for her. Her hair was down, and it looked like she’d combed her hair back in an attempt to emulate her father’s look. She twirled around the room, stopping in front of her father.

“Well?” she asked. “How do I look?”

Edward got out of his chair, beaming at his daughter. “Like a chip off the old block,” he said proudly. Standing in front of Ellen, Penelope was once again struck by the resemblance between father and daughter. Watching them embrace, Penelope was once again struck by how much, despite their constant bickering, the two loved each other. Nina and Deirdre got up off the couch and joined in the small huddle, cooing over Ellen and taking pictures. Penelope continued to watch, taking in the sight of her lover with his family. Edward looked over his shoulder and caught her gaze. Wordlessly, he gestured to her. She got up immediately and made her way towards them.

She was part of that family too now.

***

Four hours later, Ellen was back at her grandmother’s, her suit hidden away in Edward’s closet. After dinner, Deirdre and Nina had gone back to their hotel, the latter teasing Edward about giving him some alone time. That left just him and Penelope.

They were sitting on his couch together, Edward almost glued to her side, touchy in a way he hadn’t been when there were other eyes. “Alone at last,” he said, nuzzling his nose against hers.

As much as she liked Ellen, and as comfortable as she was becoming around Deirdre and Nina, she had been looking forward to having Edward all to herself. She leaned in and pressed her lips softly against his. She pulled away and let out a small laugh at the dreamy look on his face. “Do you want any help cleaning some of the decorations?”

Edward shook his head. “No, I’ll keep them up for a few days. Ellen’s coming back on Boxing Day.”

As she suspected, the fuss Edward had made over the decorations was more for show than genuine distaste. “I have your present still,” she said, getting up from the couch to get her gift bag, much to Edward’s dismay. She sat back down and pulled out a small box, wrapped in silver wrapping paper. “Here. It’s not much, but-”

“I would have been perfectly content with having you as my present,” Edward said, taking the present. He unwrapped it and his eyes lit up when he saw the luxury green fountain pen. “Darling!” he exclaimed happily. “I love it!”

“I know you’ve been wanting one for a while,” Penelope said happily. “It has green ink too.”

“Perfect,” Edward said, putting the pen down on the coffee table. he then picked up a small box off the table. He looked almost nervous giving it to her. “I said once that I’d give you the stars if I could,” he said. “Well, this is about as close to a star as I can get.”

Penelope unwrapped the box and realized it was a jewelry box. She opened the lid and let out a small gasp. Inside was a silver necklace, shaped like the North star. In the middle of the star, she realized, there was a small diamond. “Eddie,” she breathed. “It’s beautiful.” She looked back up at him, almost ashamed. “This didn’t cost you too much-”

“Arthur and Harvey are taking care of my business expenses, remember?” he said with a wave of his hand. He cupped her face. “Penny,” he said. “You’ve made me happier than I’ve been for a long time. With everything going on with Strange and Batman, I haven’t been able to make as much time for you as I should. I want to make you as happy as I can. What kind of boyfriend would I be otherwise?”

She’d noticed, over the time that she’d known him, that Edward tended to equate giving material possessions with love. “I’m grateful,” she said. “But you never need to do things like this to make me happy.”

“I know,” Edward said with a roll of his eyes. “But I want to. And it’s Christmas, let me spoil you for one night.”

“Fine,” Penelope said with an eye roll of her own. She smiled fondly at him and put the necklace on. He gave her a look of approval.

“The girls didn’t give you too much grief today, did they?” he asked.

“Nina and Deirdre? Not at all.” Penelope smirked. “Besides, even if they had, I think I would have gotten the better end of the deal. You’re meeting my mother tomorrow, remember?”

Edward paled slightly, then puffed himself up. “Of course I do. I’ll be sure to sweep her off her feet, just like I did her daughter.” He waggled his eyebrows.

“You swept me off my feet? Really? That’s not quite how I remember it.” Edward pouted at her, only for her to lean in to kiss him again. “I love you,” she said softly.

“I love you too,” Edward answered. “Merry Christmas, darling.” The pair shared another kiss as snow began to fall outside.

[whiteappalachianwitch]

The Eight Sabbats

There are eight major holidays Pagans celebrate throughout the year known as Sabbats. These holidays date back to pre-Christianity and are related to the movement of the sun. They are given names relative to the Celtic agricultural festivals. 

Historically we were once farmers and believed the sun moved around the earth. Modern Pagans are far moved from this way of life. However, the Sabbats are still important for connecting to the cycles of the seasons and human life. 

There are four astronomical holidays included in the Pagan Sabbats: the equinoxes and solstices--and the four traditional holidays in between. These eight festivals make the Wheel of the Year, observed in Wicca and Neo-Paganism religions that are Wicca-influenced. 

I Samhain: October 31st 

One of the most well-known Sabbat is Samhain, celebrated on October 31st. This holiday is celebrated as Halloween or All Hallows Eve also. Halloween is the time of the year when everyone participates in spooky activities and ancient superstitions. Culturally, Pagans and Witches are paid the most attention during this time of the year. 

Samhain is a term derived from the Irish Gaelic language meaning “summer’s end.” During this time, the days are short and the darker half of the solar year is near. Farmers will use up the remaining stores of perishable fruit and vegetables, and preserve other food to keep throughout the winter. Livestock is also slaughtered that does not feed through the winter, a reason why Samhain is referred to as the Third Harvest, or Blood Harvest. 

Pagans and superstitious peoples believe the boundary between worlds is at its thinnest during Samhain. This holiday is referred to as Ancestor’s Night or the Feast of the Dead. Many witches believe Samhain is the best time to communicate with ancestors and honored spirits, also known as the beloved dead. Lonely or angry spirits are believed to wander the earth on Samhain night looking to irritate humans. 

Celebrate How To

Samhain is the beginning of the new year for Pagans. Reflection and celebration are the focal points of this holiday. Casting off the old year’s attachments and turning attention to winter and it’s scarcity. Feast on the last of summer’s harvest and contemplate what is worth saving and nurturing during the dark times of winter; make friends with Death. 

It is important to note participating in the celebrations of Halloween and trick or treating. This is a celebration of muggles, but has its roots in old Pagan beliefs anyway. 

Samhain rituals may involve ancestor alters, where participants are invited to place mementos and offerings for the beloved dead. The priest or priestess may invoke a deity ruling over transitions or migration of souls, such as Morrighan, Hecate, or Hermes. Individuals who died during the previous year or long ago may have their names spoken. 

Feasting is important in Samhain rituals. To eat sweets is to acknowledge the sweetness of life and its impermanence. To eat meat is to acknowledge all flesh must die and become nourishment. Food is also an offering to the dead for communication of fond memories, pay of respects, and appease hungry ghosts. Some Pagans will leave a plate out at the Samhain table for spirits that may visit. Dumb supper is a silent meal when Pagans invite their ancestors both known and unknown to come and feast. 

II Yule: ~December 21st

The Winter Solstice, or Yule, is the longest night of the year. If you live in the northern hemisphere Yule falls on or around December 21st. The darkest parts of the year is over and the days begin increasing in length after the winter solstice. 

Christmas falls around this time of year, adopting Yule customs. Christmas is the belief of the birthday of a divine infant who is conceived in the spring. The dark of midwinter is the time of the confinement of the Goddess in labor as she prepares to welcome the solar child. On the longest night, the Sun God is born as the earths creatures praise and thank Him. 

Celebrate How To

Passive, personal magick during Yuletide is the best practice for short days of work and long nights of dreaming. Set your intentions and incubate plans. Mental and spiritual preparation is important during Yule for the light half of the year. Some Pagans keep a midwinter vigil while they wait for the rebirth of the sun at dawn. 

Yule is not usually a time for group ritual gatherings since many are visiting family and traveling. For this reason, the rituals during Yule are more home-y and conventional. 

Decorate with evergreens and holly, exchange gifts, and light a candle to herald the return of the sun on Midwinter Eve. If you are ambitious, set the Yule log blazing. Give thanks for the life-giving energy of the sun. 

III Imbolic: February 1st

Imbolc is a festival of spring and purification. Celebrated on February 1st, the day of not yet spring in most of the world. This is the first of the three Pagan fertility festivals, with the other two Ostara and Beltane. 

Imbolc is an Old Irish term meaning “in the belly” associated with the coming of lambing season. Other festivals that coincide with Imbolc are Candlemas, a Christian festival, and the old farmer’s oracle Groundhog’s Day, both on February 2nd. 

Imbolc is significant for our ancestors because this was the beginning of the ground thaw when planting season preparations were made. The land was surveyed and inventory of tools were made for repairs and modifications that were necessary. Witches would also prepare by cleaning and blessing the altars and making sure tools of practice were attuned with intent for use. 

The mythical side of Imbolc is a celebration of awakening the Goddess after her journey of birth to the young God at Yule. The first stirrings of life after winter are observed. Energies of creativity and imagination are brought about by Imbolc. For this reason, many projects that were put on hold are now being picked back up again. Midwinter dreams resolve into visible shapes. 

Celebrate How To

Brigid holds Imbolc especially sacred as the Celtic Goddess of hearth fire, healing, the bardic arts, and smith work. Brigid can be honored with candlelight, poems, and woven ornaments known as Brigid’s crosses within Imbolc rituals. Cleansing, healing and blessing are appropriate since the first light of spring is evident. 

During Imbolc, it is a time for spiritual dedication and re-dedication. New members are often initiated in covens, especially women’s covens, at Imbolc. Examining and refreshing your practice during Imbolc is appropriate if you are a seasoned Pagan. If you are too relaxed and have not given time to your craft, Imbolc is an opportunity to purify intent and reconnect spiritually. Light candles, open windows, and wash the floors to cast winter gloom out. You may also use Imbolc for divination for the year’s harvest ahead. 

This holiday is not a time for feasting. The first food of the year is dairy, butter, milk, and cream; foods for the Imbolc table. 

IV Ostara: ~March 21st

The spring equinox, also known as Ostara, falls on or about March 21st in the northern hemisphere. This equinox is the time Pagans refer to as Mabon, the opposite of the autumn equinox. 

Ostara is the second of the three fertility festivals, where blessings of spring become more apparent in the natural world. Flowers are blooming, birds and bees are twitter pated, and pastel-colors fill the stores. Eggs and bunnies, ancient fertility symbols, appear everywhere; Ostara is the Sabbat with the rabbit, ha! 

Ostara is the midpoint of the year where the day and night are equal. The Sun God has been growing and gathering his strength since Yule, making his age an adolescent. The Great Goddess is getting younger and in her maiden form. The two are youthful, full of lust, and the same age, which will soon have them conceive a child born at Yule. 

Celebrate How To

The time of Ostara is a great time for love, prosperity, and gains of any kind within your magickal work. Harness the energy of the lengthening days to propel your desires and projects into fruition. The land is beautiful and nourishing, and the earth Goddess is honored. 

Ostara is a good time of reflection on the principle of balance. For this reason, it is a good time to balance work, family, art, spirituality and all your responsibilities. Take time to notice things that have shifted your balance. Reset priorities. 

V Beltane: May 1st

The ancient name for the May Day rite is Beltane. This festival was originally a fire festival and celebrated in Ireland and Scotland before the days of Christianity. The god Bel, or “the bright one,” is responsible for the name of this festival and means “Bel’s fire.” On the Celtic Pagan calendar, Beltane is the second of the two principle festivals, with the other one being Samhain. Samhain and Beltane are the two markers of the magickal year, when the gates of Faery and the spirit world are the most open to travel. 

Within Wicca, Beltane is a festival of sexual activity since it is the last of the three fertility festivals. During this time, the Maiden Goddess takes the young God as her lover. Wiccans will marry as the Great Rite to enact this drama the High Priestess and High Priest; their union will bless the land. 

Celebrate How To

With unbridled sensuality and revelry, Beltane is the time of sexual rites. However, this is a rare occurrence and you’re most likely to witness a symbolic Great Rite with a chalice and athame, or a dance around the maypole rather than an orgy. 

Bonfires, festivals, concerts, and campouts are the social aspects of Beltane season. If you are a solitary witch, you may make an altar to the young god and Goddess, or connect with a lover. Flowers, Honey, sweets, and wine are good things to place on your altar. This is also a good time for illusion, seduction, and Faery tricks. 

Beltane is a popular time for proposals, handfastings, and renewing of vows. The combination of masculine and feminine energy will become a powerful alchemical surge for any spell work. 

VI Litha: ~June 21st

The summer solstice, or Litha, is the time in the northern hemisphere around June 21st. Bonfires to keep the sun’s light alive for long as possible are lit. Blessing of the crops in the fields and banishing evil spirits is common practice.

Litha is the day when the Sun God is his most powerful self. The sun and the element of fire rule Litha. After Litha, the nights will be longer and the sun will move farther away. Within Litha, anticipating crop is evident as the fall harvest is imminent. The Midsummer Night was blessed, according to Medieval people, and whatever a person dreamed on this night will come true.  

Celebrate How To

Rituals are usually outdoors during Litha, as it is the time to take advantage of the long hours of day. This Sabbat is joyous with bonfires and summer games. Decorate the altar with solar symbols and honor the God as Father. 

Any magick ruled by the sun is perfect for Litha. Spells of cleansing, protection, charisma, and truth are especially appropriate. 

VII Lammas:~August 1st

This holiday is the first harvest festival on the Pagan calendar. This celebration is related to an old agricultural holiday of reaping of grain. Lammas most likely comes from the Old English term for “loaf mass.” Loaves of bread would have been prepared from the first grain and blessed by churches. Lammas is also known as Lughnasadh, named after the Celtic sun God, Lugh. 

The days grow shorter in the summer, and the sun God will lose his strength. He will die in the fields to nourish the people in preparation for rebirth at Yule. 

Celebrate How To

During this time, it is appropriate to welcome the harvest. Give thanks to this year’s work and plans as you will soon enjoy the fruits of labor. Grain is the food of tradition for Lammas, in the form of wheat, barley, beers, and ales. 

Lammas/Lughnasadh is celebrated in Celtic Paganism as the feast of Lugh, who is an agricultural god, but also a poet, musician, and craftsman. Showing off skills and trading them for things you need is a common practice. This time is usually a time of craft fairs and local markets. 

VIII Mabon:~ September 21st

The final of the eight Sabbats is Mabon, or the autumn equinox. The days will begin to shorten and winter is coming. Mabon is also known as the Second Harvest because of the reaping of autumn fruits and nuts. This holiday brings with it the time of deep contemplation for what we have worked for in the previous year and the rewards for reaping. Giving thanks to the waning sunlight in preparation for storing bounty away for the scarce season. The shift from active magick to contemplative magick is made in Mabon. This is the final time for prosperity, gratitude, security, and balance work. 

Celebrate How To

The hard work of harvest is done and now we must celebrate! It is sad to watch the growth season’s beauty fade, but the mild weather and rest autumn brings is welcomed. 

With Mabon brings comfort foods that promote fond memories and connection through sharing. Bake, brew, pickle, and can; offer wine, cider, fruits, and boughs upon the Mabon table. The Cornucopia is the centerpiece of most Pagans during Mabon. 

Mabon is the turning point to the dark half of the year on the Pagan religious calendar. The shift away from youthful merriment is made. Honoring the Crone and Sage deities, the cycles of aging and death, and the spirit world are appropriate during Mabon. 

This Sabbat is a popular time for outdoor rituals large in size mostly because of the weather. Gathering to feast and express gratitude for the planet during Mabon is the focal point. Some cities will host public Mabon rituals as a part of their annual Pagan Pride Day. If you are a Pagan in solitary you may celebrate Mabon with offerings at a home altar, or walking in the woods in deep contemplation. 

Reference

Gruben, M. (2017, November 26). The eight Sabbats: Witch's holidays. Retrieved July 19, 2020, from https://www.groveandgrotto.com/blogs/articles/the-eight-sabbats-witchs-holidays

[allie1804-fan]

Please Assist Me (Epilogue)

Chapter 1, Chapter 2, Chapter 3, Chapter 4, Chapter 5, Chapter 6, Chapter 7, Chapter 8,  Chapter 9, Chapter 10 , Chapter 11, Chapter 12, Chapter 13, Chapter 14, Chapter 15 , Chapter 16, Chapter 17, Chapter 18, Chapter 19, Chapter 20, Chapter 21, Chapter 22, Chapter 23 , Chapter 24 , Chapter 25

 Warnings: Finishing this story off with more fluff!

She Said

Monday 2nd September 2024.

I sneaked out of bed at 6.30 and went through to Eva’s room   - as promised she was already awake and I sent my grown up girl (now 12) downstairs as planned to start the coffee, warm up a croissant and set out two trays – a breakfast tray and a gift tray. Then, I went through to Miguel, always more of a sleepy head, to start the process of waking him.  Hopefully when the time came for us to go back into our room to wake the birthday “boy”, he would be awake  and through being a morning grump - how he was already behaving like a teenager at 10 was a mystery to me!

Finally I went into Emma who I knew would most likely be playing with one of her sound effect story books already. She was 3 months away from her 3rd birthday and sleeping in a big girl bed but she rarely got up independently, preferring to play quietly until one of us went into her.

“Hey cutie pie, you all ready for Daddy’s birthday?” She looked up and beamed at me, her dark hair sticking up at crazy angles – in that respect and many others she was a daddy’s girl! 

By 10 to 7 we were ready to rock and roll and that was vital since it was a school day – the world didn’t stop simply because it was Keanu Reeves’ 60th birthday!

He Said

I awoke on 2nd September 2024 to what had become a family tradition since we’d all lived together. The kids and Sophia would make a breakfast tray and bring me coffee and a croissant and one or two gifts as well as singing me happy birthday. They would start softly if I was still sleeping, the volume rising to raucous as soon as they knew I was awake! The previous year had been the best since then my birthday had fallen on a Saturday and we’d all slept in, but this year had to be early with the older kids having to go to school and Emma would be in nursery.

Eva held the breakfast tray and Miguel the one with the presents while Emma jumped up and down, holding onto a helium balloon with the number 60 on it and shouting “Happy burpday Daddy!”  

Her enthusiasm and energy still surprised me  -  her early entry to the world had imprinted on me a sense that she was a little more delicate than the others. She’d been born at 37 weeks and spent a couple of weeks in the NICU helping her lungs develop better causing Sophia and I a period of worry that went on far beyond that time in the unit. However since she’d turned 2, she seemed to have caught up on the growth charts and her respiratory issues had settled. She was a little firecracker and seemed to have inherited quite strong traits from each of our parents - the Hawaiian from my dad and the Mexican from Sophia’s dad.  I was sure she’d grow to be a real beauty and that I’d end up being even more protective of her in her teens!

Sophia sat down on the side of the bed and gave me a big kiss – to Miguel’s disgust – he started his vomiting noises right away.

Eva scolded him

“You should be glad they love each other – much better than parents who argue all the time!”

She had a wise head and I know her comment came from the experience of Sophia and Javier splitting up as well as several of her school friends whose parents had gone through divorce. She would always report into us when this happened and I could tell that she was checking in on us too, just to make sure she had nothing to worry about.  When I went away for a shoot, she always made sure she knew the call schedule and rarely missed her chance to check in with me whereas Miguel would not drag himself off his Xbox if he was mid game!

“Ok everyone, let’s get this party started”, I said, sitting up in bed so the trays could be presented.  I handed one of the gifts to Emma to unwrap and the other to Miguel. You two unwrap so I can have my breakfast OK?” This was another tradition we had started though Miguel was getting a little old for it by now but he took part with good will. Sophia had brought me a new blue scarf to replace the one she’d bought me in Christmas 2019 that I’d since sadly lost. The children had opted for a couple of devices for me to attach to my bike and car keys that I could whistle to locate them!

  She Said

It was 10.30 and we’d only been back in the house for about 30 minutes after doing the school and nursery runs. I lay back on the bed, beads of sweat on my brow and chest.

“Ok, you win, you’ve proved your point!”

“And that is?”

“That there is no decrease in performance  as you move from one decade into another!”

“Thank you, I’m very glad to have proved my point”  Keanu said grinning. “I love all our birthday traditions, but that is the best of them all”

“Mmmmm” I murmured, nuzzling into his chest, feeling sleepy already.

“Love you old man!”  

“Love you too, my cheeky chiquitita”

 @fortheloveoffanfic @kindainlovewithk’eanu @omg-imagine @iworshipkeanureeves @fics-not-tragedies @ficsnroses @keanureevesisbae @penwieldingdreamer @witty-wallflower @paperplanesandwallflowers @bitchyslut99 @ladyreapermc @toomanystoriessolittletime @fanficsrusz @keanuficfiles @bitchyslut99

[laduree]

Living Room

I passed out on video chat in the beginning of the month when I was celebrating my birthday at my sister’s place. Part of the reason why I passed out was because I was very stoned, but another part is due to the fact that I apparently can’t handle surprises well. My parents were both very worried and agreed that I should come home for the holidays because I’d booked off two weeks at work. Initially, I was supposed to spend the holidays alone in my apartment which really upset me because it had already been two months since I’d seen my parents -- my dad tested positive for COVID back in October. He was asymptomatic which is really good because he’s considered high risk. I’ve been home since last Tuesday and it’s weird not having my own room in their house anymore. I’ve missed my dad’s cooking so much and food really hits different when you’re not the one making it. 

A knew that I was really depressed about not being able to spend Christmas at home. He was actually pretty sweet and said we could spend it together before he drove down to spend the holidays with his mom and stepdad. I know that this is the bare minimum of kindness to have extended towards me, but I do appreciate that he tries. When I found out that my dad tested positive A asked me if I wanted to talk about it over the phone which I really appreciated. I don’t know. I’m not saying that no one has ever been kind to me in previous romantic relationships, I think this just feels different because I’m actually receptive. 

I was on the fence about getting A anything and last minute I decided to get him an Amazon gift card with a Christmas card. I didn’t know what else to get him because he’s said that he usually doesn’t ask for anything. I wanted to get him oil paint or pens and markers because he’s been working on his art a lot. I just didn’t want to get him a brand that he might not like which he’d end up returning. He asked me for my address a few weeks ago and I thought that he was going to send me a Christmas card. When he came over last week he ended up telling me that he was waiting on a package to be delivered to my apartment because he got me something for Christmas. He wouldn’t tell me what it was, so I’m very curious. I really didn’t expect anything -- all I wanted was to see him. With all of that said, even though it took me a really long time to spit it out I did ask him if he was my boyfriend. And he did laugh at me because he knew what I was going to ask, but he wanted me to say it. His answer was maybe which wasn’t really a let down for me because I haven’t had any expectations. I think everyone else in my life has labelled this, but I haven’t because I don’t know what I want. I just know that I like him.

The conversation was weird in that he asked me a question that I didn’t expect. He asked me if it would hurt my feelings if he wanted to talk to other people. And I was honest when I told him that I would feel bummed about it. He told me that he wouldn’t talk to anyone if he knew that it would hurt me, but I told him that regardless of what I felt he should talk to whoever if that was what he wanted. I let him know that I still haven’t been on the app because I didn’t feel the need to and he countered that by saying there’s more than one app which lolz I haven’t been on anything since the end of summer. I did tell him that if he felt the need to talk to anyone else I’d appreciate it if he would just let me know if it came to that. I didn’t ask him what his expectations were here, but I do know that he still considers this ‘fresh’ which I think is a fair assessment. I also know that he isn’t talking to anyone else right now, so I don’t know if that question was to somehow prepare me if that’s what he chooses to do. I’m not trying to lock him down into anything right now. If I end up in a situation where I like him more than he likes me and we just end this I can accept that. At the end of the day, I’m not going to change who I am to keep him interested. In the past I would’ve felt extremely insecure about this, but I do know that despite how psychotic I may be I’m still enough. 

I spoke to my therapist about that conversation. Not because it was bothering me, it was more about giving her an update about our current status. We do a lot of things that couples seemingly do without a label and for right now that’s okay. My therapist said that if I don’t figure out what it is that I want and/or set any expectations I run the risk of losing A because I’m going far too slow to fully see this through. She also said that if I go too fast I’ll overwhelm myself, so I need to find a proper middle ground. I’ve been reflecting a lot about what I want and I still don’t really know. I know that I’m going to have to talk to A about this again, but I’m not sure when that will come up. I’m just going to keep doing what I’m doing. I know that he’s not trying to fuck with my head and play games. Surprisingly, I’ve been very rational and unemotional about what he’s said. And to be quite honest, that conversation hasn’t really changed the way that either of us have behaved. That same night I fell asleep holding his hand and when we woke up in the morning he complained about how it was too early to leave. And I know part of the reason why he said that was because he wanted enough time to fuck which is fine because I was thinking the same thing. When I walked him out I hugged and kissed him goodbye. We’ve been texting everyday. He still sends me memes and pictures of random things he���s found or is working on. I sent him a stupid picture of my ass and I’ve been pretty overt about my interest in him which he has been receptive to. Although, he is a man so it’s not really hard for him to be receptive. And it’s very weird because he’s not gross at all in the typical way that guys are -- I’m not just saying this because I like him. He’s weirdly respectful.

All of this to say, I like him a lot and part of me is still finding it very hard to accept being vulnerable. I’m very soft with him in a way that is not natural for me. I told myself that if I’m still seeing him within the next six months and we still haven’t put a label on this I’m going to have to really get my shit together. My therapist says that six months is a long time to come to that decision, so if I do realize what it is that I want then maybe it’ll be sooner than that. The problem with being single for so long is that it’s strange for me to consider myself with anyone romantically. I know that technically I’m romantically involved with A, but I haven’t claimed his as anything other than a guy that I’m dating. I don’t know how to navigate through this at all. 

[thedungeonsbat]

Muggle Love (Chapter 8)

A/N; This is my favorite so far and I hope you enjoy it equally.

________________________

Chapter 8

You opened the door to find Carl, smiling broadly at you. You did not expect to see him after you told him you'd be busy for the evening but here he was, stubborn as ever. He would not leave you alone even if you told him to.

"Happy Birthday!" He wished you and pulling you into a tight and loving embrace. You gladly hugged back and muttered a 'thank you'.

"Too bad you could not celebrate with us, so I thought I'd drop by to give you this gift, " He handed you the gift and you examined it with curiosity even though you were quiet certain what it was, "Don't open it now." He said, giving his warmest smiling and you kept smiling at the box which was nicely wrapped in a navy blue paper with a white ribbon on it. You felt so lucky and thankful to have such a great friend.

"Thank you so much, Carl. You're just... amazing," He huffed and you added, "I mean it, really." You felt guilty that he came all this way to wish you and you could not even invite him in and your smile vanished.

"Anything for my best friend." He said cheerfully and the smile returned, it could not be helped because he was always too good at it. "I know you're busy tonight but it was important to give you something special on your special day." You sarcastically raised a displeased eyebrow at him.

"Its not so 'special' to me and you know it. Thanks though, really." You hugged him once again, this time even tighter than before.

"Easy there." And you pulled away, meeting his eyes again and you could tell he was worried. You told your friends you'll be working and he did not like the fact that you had been pressurizing yourself to study. He was indeed a very great friend and he had been supporting you throughout the year.

"I wish I could stay but I have to go. Bye and Happy Birthday again." He said and you replied to him with another 'thanks' and 'goodbye'. Guilt was riding over you now... You felt like you drove him off. You knew he was lying about having 'work'.

You saw him disappear in the darkness of the night that was spreading. You had just noticed it was getting darker. You checked your watch, it was eight. "Funny thing, time." You thought.

With a sigh, you moved inside to the room where Severus was.

"Who was it?" He asked in his almost demanding voice.

"Carl, a friend." You told shortly.

"The dark-haired guy from your college?"

"That's him."

"Why was he here? And what is that?"

You tried to smile and look up to him, "It's a present. It's my birthday."

"Your birthday?" He said coldly but was stunned for a couple of moments and when you did not say anything while also trying to avoid his gaze he continued, "Why did you not tell?"

You faced him remorsefully and you weren't sure how he'd react now, "I am so sorry...I just..." You could find the proper words that could possibly justify your hiding your own birthday. You saw him moving towards you,

"Firstly, Happy Birthday (Y/N), ... but why? I could have come some other day if you'd have told me.." He said, his voice was not so cold this time but you could hardly make out if he was.... hurt?

You were so scared that you had hurt him and if it was so, you'd not be able to forgive yourself because no matter how hard this man seemed on the exterior, you knew he cares. He was a human like everybody else around you, just a bit distant and different and that was possibly what made you like him. You cared for him and he for you.

"I- I was so looking forward to seeing you and this was probably the only chance, I could not possibly miss it, Severus. I am sorry I didn't tell you.." You replied, hoping he would understand and it seemed like he did because he did not say anything for another few seconds. You could feel his gaze soften.

"(Y/N), I can't say its ok, neither do I know what to say..." It was probably the first time he really did not know what to say and it was because of you. You blamed yourself for all of this.

Your guilt was greater than ever as you saw him struggling for words that won't hurt you or offend you in any way, after all it was your birthday. Even though he did not like it and never really celebrated his in his life, he respected the fact that for others (basically you) it was special. He certainly did not want you to be sad.

Tears were threatening to fall from your eyes but retreated as you heard him say just the to fill your heart with warmth and drive the guilt away. After giving a sigh, he tried to smile but only managed a very weak one,

"The pie was great." He said, turning away. He was trying to completely change the topic, only to not put you in an awkward situation. Besides, no person he had known had 'looked forward to seeing him' and if it was because of him you did not celebrate your day, he was sure as hell not gonna make you regret it.

You, lost for words, had parted your lips in surprise but soon replied him with, "Th- Thanks, it's my dad's recipe." You could not believe that he, a man with such a cold personality, would do that to make you feel better. You did not accept this possibility because you did not want your hopes too high.

"Your father's? He must be a nice cook then." He said turning to you again and his low, icy voice calmed you because it meant he was back to his normal state. He continued, "Since you did not celebrate with your friends, I suppose you will have to spend the evening with me." He straightened himself.

"What?" You asked, surprised by his kind move. He raised his eyebrows, not really expecting this kind of reaction. "I mean, thank you so much, " You said approaching him, "But you don't need to do this, Severus. You coming here was already enough-"

"No, it wasn't and besides, it was I who enjoyed the dinner. I did not even bring you a present and now… you'll do what I tell you." He demanded and now you knew there was no way you could refuse him and somewhere deep down, you did not want to. Also, he praised your food and you finally smiled, much to his satisfaction.

He moved towards the door, gesturing you to follow.

"Where to?" You asked half-excited and half-nervous. But you were finally overcoming the previous mood.

"You'll see." He smirked. You had realized by now how he always liked to keep you guessing.

You two were now walking outside in the dark. The weather was pleasant and what made the atmosphere a hundred times better was his presence. You walked side by side for a long time, you were not complaining as it was one of the best walks you've had. Your shoulders occasionally brushed against each other, making you blush everytime. He spotted you blushing once and tried to hide a smile as he brought his focus back to the road.

Almost impossible for someone like him, he felt a strange rush of blood in his face too. It would be wrong to say that you two did not trigger certain emotions for each other.

"Severus?" You asked as he turned his head to look at you and you got lost in his onyx eyes again but were brought back to reality when he replied,

"Yes?" He was unsure of what you might ask of.

"There is something I wanted to ask, if you won't mind." You continued. He didn't say anything which hinted you to resume. His attention was already drawn towards you again.

"H-How long will you be gone?" You asked, your volume dropping with each word.

"Almost a year." He said casually as if it did not matter but you were taken aback by his answer.

You stopped dead in your tracks. A year! A year before you'll be able to see him again and judging by the way he told you, it did not bother him a bit. But it bothered you. To the greatest extents.

It seemed like he was not troubled by it but he was. He'll have to spend the year without you and now that Black was on the loose and Harry Potter was in his third year, there was definitely trouble coming. He wished he could spend more time away from all the tension, in calm which he found around you.

"Does that mean you won't be back for a year?!" You asked, catching up with his fast pace which he now slowed down a bit.

"I am afraid, yes." He answered.

"Bu-But you'd come back home for Christmas, won't you?" You asked him expectantly.

He sighed, "My…job demands me to stay." He had hated Christmas or any other holiday since his childhood. But in actual, it wasn't the festive he disliked but rather the fact that he had no one to share them with and for the first time he felt bad that he couldn't be home for Christmas.

"What kind of job is that? You are a professor, aren't you? You should be spending the holiday time at your home, not working. That's nonsense." You said, almost shouting even though you did not mean to. Severus was listening to you dumbfounded. He kinda liked this side of you as he said nothing and his lips curled into a smile. Your cheeks turned Gryffindor red as you saw him being amused by sudden outbreak.

Nothing made you feel as warm as it did when he smiled. It was enough, more than enough in fact, to drive all your anxiety away. What was so special about his smile? You always questioned yourself. There was this weird sensation you felt in your stomach everytime he smiled. You, being a Psychology student knew very well what it meant (the butterflies in your stomach) but never admitted it. Not just his smile, he, in every way felt special.

"I'll.. try." He replied. You hated that he always used just a few words to answer to any of your questions and most of the times, you were left wondering what he meant.

Was he trying to say that he would try to come home? If yes, was it for you? No, it was impossible. Why would he come for you? You were merely his friend and nothing else. But little did you know that no one simply befriends The Severus Snape.

___________________________

After some time he came to a halt and so did you. You were at your destination. You did not know how he did it but you were at your favorite location. The place you loved to visit as a child with your dad whenever you came to London. Even though it was your sorta-permanent home now, you never got enough time to visit this place. You did not even recognize the path maybe because you were too lost in your thoughts.

You recognised it in an instant, who wouldn't. Morden Hall Park was one of the best locations in the whole of London. It looked more magical than ever. You had visited the place in daytime often but it has been years since you had actually gone anywhere for fun, except for the cafes you hung out with your friends at.

You looked around you and you fell in love with that sight. You were trying to capture every thing. The stars twinkling brightly but were dim compared to the moonlight which shone vividly. A gentle breeze was flowing and the leaves' sound of rustling against it was music to the ears. And of course, the River Wandle. The water flowing reflected the stars' light. You walked towards the bridge and Severus followed you. You breathed in the air and could clearly smell the damp grass. It was literally heaven and you had never felt this way and it was all possible because of Severus.

You felt stupid you did not notice the entry. But that wasn't the only weird thing. The park was closed at night and you'd need a special entry if you came this late at night. He did not, for once, stopped anywhere. How? But you were too happy to think about all of that.

"How did you even know?" You turned to ask him only to see him smiling broadly at you. Once again you felt butterflies fluttering in your stomach, now more than ever. He did not say anything, he was keenly observing you while you were almost jumping on your feet. You only chuckled, too pleased with everything around you.

It wasn't only you who felt all that adrenaline rush, something very similar happened to Severus each time you looked at him with your gleaming eyes. It was as if there were actual stars twinkling in your eyes. Watching you so happy, he could not contain his own happiness. His usual empty black eyes were now so full of joy and…affection.

You ran towards him and hugged him like you had never hugged anyone before. You threw your arms around his neck and he slowly wrapped his arms around you.

"Happy Birthday." He whispered in your ear, sending you chills down the spine.

"Thank you, Severus. This is the best birthday present!"

You stayed like that for many moments which felt like forever. You only wished for it to last longer and you weren't alone in hoping for this to never end. You found comfort in each others' arms. You could feel his steady heartbeat as you rested your head in his chest. You were both warm and soon you both pulled back, reluctantly.

Everything felt just perfect. You looked at him and this was it. You had found your paradise in his eyes and in his arms.

"Severus, I am so gonna miss you." Your expression saddened a bit at the thought but you were definetely not gonna let it ruin this precious moment you were sharing with him.

"Me too." He answered while still smiling. Such an answer was completely unexpected from him but not for you. You were different to him. Not just because of you not being of the wizarding kind but this feeling he got when he was around you or even thought of you.

Realising you from the embrace completely, Severus began walking towards the other end of the bridge. And you stood there, confused.

"Don't wanna stay there all night, do you?" He asked sternly but you could swear he was still amused.

You hurried over to him. Then you did something he did not see coming. You interwined your fingers with his and continued walking, hand in hand. His hands were cold yet soft. You were pretty confident about this and you did not regret it one bit.

You rested your head on his shoulder which made him look at you startled but when found you so comfortably nuzzled, he relaxed himself.

After many long years, Severus was truly happy and so were you. What had you ever done to deserve him? You questioned yourself and he wondered the same.

You walked and talked for a very long time. It seemed as if the world had gone silent and you were the only ones left. You told him how you, your brother and father would come here and stand by the river for hours. How you would run to catch your brother when he'd call you 'too slow'. He listened to everything you had to say. He didn't say much even when you forced him to tell something about his childhood or work or anything at all. He might not be the one to tell his stories but he was an amazing listener.

"Sev?"

"Hm?" He replied, facing you. He did not mind you using his nickname but he was reminded of Lily for a moment. The thought of her vanished as soon as you spoke again.

"Thanks, it was the best night I've experienced in ages." You told as you were finally approaching the exit. You hated that it was all gonna be over soon.

"It has been a great pleasure for me too." Believing his words was hard for you but they still meant a lot because there were undoubtedly true.

_______________________

He insisted on walking you home because 'it wasn't safe' for you to go alone. You were a bit cold but with him walking beside you closely, you were a hundred times warmer.

It was time. You had to bid him farewell. You wished he could stay, you longed for him to stay near. Now, you were at the door of your building.

"It's late. You ought to rest, it must have been all very tiring for you."

"It was but I also had the most fun." You said with the smile that had not disappeared once.

"Good night, (Y/N)."

You embraced him for the last time. As you pulled away, he raised his hand to cup your cheek, caressing it with his thumb. Your face reddened and your pupils dilated, so did his. You lightly got up on your toes to kiss his cheek and Severus' usual white face got red. A great number of sensations arose within him.

"Good night, Severus." You almost whispered and you walked into the building. You could not face him, now that your face was bright red and remained like that until you fell asleep.

Severus stood there bewildered but also with this brand new sentiment inside him. He apparated to his house and laid sleepless with your thoughts. This was new.

____________________________

Thanks for reading! Let me know what you think and all sorts of feedbacks are most welcome.