#queue time! les do this

[scribblesofagoonerr]

— You are the best thing that's ever been ours!

pairings: leah williamson x reader

summary: the first year of leah and reader being parents to their baby girl

special thank you to @alotofpockets and @lvnleah for the help along the way with figuring this one out!

small bump masterlist

“I still can’t believe she��s actually here,” You whisper, peering down at your newborn baby girl, fast asleep in her Moses basket. 

The sight of her tiny peaceful face makes it all feel like a surreal dream to you.

Leah is sat beside you as she nods in agreement, “She’s here, and she’s our perfect little bubba.”

“I know,” You catch Leah’s gaze and smile, “It still feels pretty surreal, doesn’t it?”

“It really does,” Leah admits, a soft smile tugging at her lips as she turns her attention back to Remi, her eyes filled with adoration, “I can’t stop staring at her though.”

“Me neither,” You agree with your wife, not able to take your eyes away from your little one as you try and stifle a yawn, “God, labour really does take it out of you, doesn’t it?”

Leah chuckles and nods, “Why don’t you try and get some sleep while Remi’s asleep? You know what they say– When the baby sleeps, then so should the mum’s.”

“Speak for yourself, you’re still awake,” You murmur, struggling to keep your eyes open.

“Speak for yourself,” Leah retorts playfully, “I’m not the one who just went through hours of labour. You should sleep while you can, love.”

As if on queue to keep you awake, your baby girl starts to stir in her Moses basket, clearly not so keen on the idea of letting you sleep after all.

“Looks like little miss has other ideas,” You can’t help but tiredly laugh as Remi lets out a soft cry, “I bet she’s hungry.” You start to move to get out of bed, however your wife is less reluctant to let you do so considering it’s less than 24 hours since you’ve given birth.

“Don’t worry, I’ve got her,” Leah reassures, gently scooping your little girl up into her arms, “Hi baby girl, are you a bit hungry, huh? It’s okay, Mumma is right here to feed you,” She coos, carefully handling Remi over to you as you prop yourself up against the pillows.

“Thanks Le,” You hold your baby girl close to you as you readjust your top, helping her latch on to feed while your wife sits beside you, watching you with a tender smile and her hand resting on your back to offer silent support and love as your little family settles into this new rhythm together.

The first few months of life with a newborn baby girl was completely blissful, watching your wife bond with your little girl was one of the moments that you most treasured forever. There was just something magical about watching the love of your life cradle your daughter, seeing the way that Leah’s eyes softened, her voice instinctively dropping to a gentle whisper and soothing Remi in ways that only she could.

“Love, are you ready to go?” Leah called out by the front door, cradling Remi in her arms while your little girl is all bundled up in a light weighted coat, ready to face the chill of September’s unpredictable weather, “What’s taking Mumma so long, huh?”

“Almost!” You called back, navigating through the house with an armful of essentials needed, the sheer volume of items is far more needed that you’d normally take to a football game, but you’re determined to be prepared for anything to happen, “I’m just making sure we have everything that we might need.” You explained, offering Leah a weary smile.

The blonde’s face softened as she sensed your nerves, “Love, if it’s too soon…” She began gently, “I don’t mind going on my own. There will be other times.”

You shook your head in disagreement, a firm but understanding smile on your face, “No, no, it’s going to be fine, besides your mum and the rest of your family will be there to help out if I need it,” You reassured her, reaching to take Remi from her arms, “And I know your teammates are all itching for cuddles with her too.”

Leah laughed softly, “Oh, they can’t wait to meet our little Gooner,” She said, taking hold of the several bags to carry out of the house, “I’m so excited for you both to be there to watch the match today. It means a lot to be able to look up into the box and see you both there.” She added, gesturing to the game at the Emirates, you would be going to watch Leah and her teammates play in their first game of the new season against Man City.

“We’re excited to be able to watch, aren’t we, sweet girl,” You cooed, kneeling down to gently place her in her car seat to carry her out of the house, “I can’t believe you actually dressed her an Arsenal shirt as well. I knew I should have been concerned about you dressing her.” You joked playfully with your wife.

“Of course I did, we can’t have our little girl coming to watch me play and not wear a shirt with my name on, can we?” Leah retorted, locking up the house and following you out to the car to help you settle Remi into the back of it while you sit beside her just for your own peace of mind.

Thankfully the drive to the stadium wasn’t too far ahead from where you live and Remi was golden the whole time in the car, snoozing away in her car seat with no care in the world.

“Lovely parking Leah. Well done,” Your wife complimented her parking as she pulled the car up outside the Emirates stadium, with the plan to go ahead of the coach to be able to help you inside before the frenzy of fans arrive.

“You did not seriously just say that, did you?” You couldn’t help but laugh in amusement at your wifes’ usual antics, “Your Mummy is so silly sometimes, isn’t she, Remi Bear?” You cooed to your little girl who’s now awake and looking round with curious eyes.

“I just have my way sometimes, don’t judge me,” Leah retorted, sticking her tongue out at you as she gets out of the car and helps get Remi out of the car seat, “Welcome to the Emirates, my baby Gooner. I can’t wait till you're old enough to be able to experience this properly.”

“I’m sure she’ll be thrilled,” You teased your wife’s excitement, her passion for her club on and off the pitch is one of the things that you love most about her, “What if she decides to not like football at all, huh?” You joked in amusement.

Leah fauxed a playful gasp, “Don’t swear in front of the baby like that,” She acted like it’s the worst thing you’ve said, “Honestly, love, out of all the things you’ve said. I think that one cuts deep.”

“Oh I’m sure you’ll get over it,” You still couldn’t help but continue to wind your wife up, “Let’s get inside, I bet your mum will be waiting for us.”

“I think they’ve arrived,” Leah agreed with you as the three of you made your way inside the stadium to meet up with her family, “Oh! There they are now.” She pointed in the direction her family was standing waiting for your guys arrival.

“Hi girls!” Leah’s mum, Amanda greeted you both as she walked closer towards you and caught sight of Remi who was in Leah’s arms and of course your little girl was all smiles for the woman that she adored, “There’s Nana’s girl!”

“Hi Amanda,” You waved politely and smiled at the older woman.

“Hi Mum,” Leah greeted Amanda and was eager to pass Remi over to the older woman who was desperate for a cuddle, “Look who it is, it’s Nana, baby Gooner!”

“Hi sweet angel,” Amanda cooed, taking Remi from Leah as she gently bounced your little girl in her arms, “Are you so excited for your first match?”

“Of course she is!” Leah was beaming a proud wide smile while she watched the exchange between your daughter and her mother, “She’s even wearing her own shirt in support of Mummy today!” She added, unfastening her coat to show Amanda the little Arsenal shirt that Remi was wearing.

“I didn’t have a single say in it,” You joked with the older woman as you shook your head, “Let’s just hope Remi doesn’t spit up on it.” You added, looking at your wife with a knowing look.

“Nah she wouldn’t do that,” Leah shook the idea off as she quickly exchanged hellos with the rest of her family and took the time to catch up– Your wife was exceptionally close with her family and that was another thing you loved about her.

Before long it was time to take your seats inside the box in the stadium ahead of the game and Leah had to join the rest of the team now they had arrived. You knew the noise would be loud from the fans so you were more than grateful for the pair of small red ear defenders that Remi currently had placed over her little ears while she sat on Berny, Leah’s grandma’s lap and enjoyed the atmosphere around her.

“Are you ready to see your Mummy play, sweetheart?” You heard Berny ask your little girl, gently bouncing her on her knee.

“Look there she is, Remi Roo,” Holly, Leah’s cousin, cooed and crouched down beside the seat and pointed in the direction of the pitch where you could spot Leah warming up amongst the rest of the girls, “Do you see her?”

“Leah’s been so excited about you two both finally being here to watch the match,” Amanda told you with a genuine smile on her face, “It’s the only thing she’s been going on about.” She added.

“I know, even if I’m not sure Remi understands much of it at all,” You joked but you were glad to be able to be here to watch your wife play again– You always did love to watch her doing what she loved the most.

Soon enough the match kicked off and you watched Arsenal and Manchester City battle for the 3 points in the first opening game of the season. It was incredibly different to see Leah’s former teammate, Vivianne play against them wearing a blue shirt but at least she looked happy enough to be a part of the club.

“Back with the stern facial expression,” Jacob, Leah’s brother, joked as he watched the game play out, “Why am I not surprised?” He added, shaking his head in amusement.

“It’s just what she’s known for,” You remarked and you couldn’t help but laugh, “It’s one of the things I love about her.” 

“Remi has the same frown as Leah does,” Jacob quipped, amusedly as he spotted the expression that your little girl had on her face, which did indeed match your wifes, “It’s exactly identical.”

A whole 90 minutes later and the match was over, the game ending in a win for the Gunners which you know Leah would be exceptionally happy about, a brilliant way to kick off the new season.

“Shall we go and find Mummy now, Rem?” You told her, taking Remi from Jacob who was holding off her at the end of the match, “I bet she’ll be so excited to see you!”

“Oh I bet she will be,” Amanda agreed with you, helping you pick up the things you need as you all begin to make your way back inside to meet up with everyone once the game is over.

Walking inside, you’re quick to spot your wife catching with her best friend, Lia now after the match is over and she’s had a chance to grab a quick shower, “Look, there she is, there’s Mummy,” You took a gentle hold of Remi’s small hand and pointed it in the direction of where your wife is, “Let’s go say hi!”

“Baby Gooner!” You suddenly heard the familiar accent of Beth, Leah’s team mate as she came darting towards you with her own girlfriend hot on her tail, “Oh my Goodness, she’s absolutely precious. Can I have a cuddle?” She asked.

“Not before I do,” Lia spotted you walking towards them and took the chance to try and have first dibs on having a cuddle with Remi, “We’ve all been so eager to meet her.”

“Oh I’m sure Remi would love to have cuddles with all of her Aunties,” Leah chimed in the conversation, “But not before I get to say hello to my baby Gooner first. I get first dibs as her Mummy.” She added, reaching out for your daughter, who was quick to realise who was in front of her as she beamed an adorable smile.

“She definitely knows who you both are,” Beth said, watching the interaction between your wife and daughter, “She’s the absolute spit of you, Le.” She said, taking her turn to have a quick cuddle with Remi, who was intrigued by the new face in front of her that she hadn’t met before.

“I know, right? Even Jacob pointed out that Rem has the same frown,” You told them as you found it hard to stifle your laughter, “I think she really enjoyed watching you play today, she was a lot less grumpier than she usually is.” You said.

“Of course she was happy watching Mummy out on the pitch,” Leah gloated at the idea of your daughter being her most cheerful while being at the Emirates watching her play, “Told you, she’s a baby Gooner, through and through. Plenty more years to come as well!”

Before long, the first 6 months had flown by and it amazed you how much Remi was changing every single day right in front of your eyes – Being able to sit up on her own without support, trying solid foods for the first time and even managing to sleep through the night.

Every single milestone felt like a tiny miracle, a glimpse at the little person she was becoming.

It was now the most magical time of the year, it was Christmas and that was something that your wife took very seriously with her family Christmas traditions that she had insisted that you partake in, and she was now even more overjoyed to share them with Remi.

“It’s her first Christmas,” Leah beamed, her eyes sparkling with excitement, “We have to make it so special.”

“We will,” You reassured, smiling at the joy on her face, “She’s going to have the best time– Even if she doesn’t understand much of it.” You joked with your wife, knowing that your daughter wouldn’t be able to remember any of this or understand it yet.

“I wish she would stop growing so much,” Leah’s expression softens as she looks down at Remi while you fasten her in her pram, already bundled up ahead of the Christmas Eve walk you would be joining Leah’s whole family on, “She’s getting so big already.”

“I know it’s honestly crazy,” You agree, shaking your head with a grin, “You blink and then suddenly, she’s this big… I don’t like it. Not oBefore long, the first 6 months had flown by and it amazed you how much Remi was changing every single day right in front of your eyes – Being able to sit up on her own without support, trying solid foods for the first time and even managing to sleep through the night.

Every single milestone felt like a tiny miracle, a glimpse at the little person she was becoming.

It was now the most magical time of the year, it was Christmas and that was something that your wife took very seriously with her family Christmas traditions that she had insisted that you partake in, and she was now even more overjoyed to share them with Remi.

“It’s her first Christmas,” Leah beamed, her eyes sparkling with excitement, “We have to make it so special.”

“We will,” You reassured, smiling at the joy on her face, “She’s going to have the best time– Even if she doesn’t understand much of it.” You joked with your wife, knowing that your daughter wouldn’t be able to remember any of this or understand it yet.

“I wish she would stop growing so much,” Leah’s expression softens as she looks down at Remi while you fasten her in her pram ahead of the Christmas Eve walk you would be joining Leah’s whole family on, “She’s getting so big already.”

“I know it’s honestly crazy,” You agree, shaking your head with a grin, “You blink and then suddenly, she’s this big.”

“No, I don’t like it,” Leah told you in disagreement, not liking the idea of your little baby growing up, “I don’t like, not one bit.”

You finish fastening Remi into her pram, her eyes wide staring up at you with a mix of curiosity and wonder as you can’t help but grin just to wind your wife up even more, “Don’t blink too fast,” You teased lightly, “Or she’ll be off to school before we know it.”

“Stop, no,” Leah said, shooting you a pointed look as bending down and to press a soft kiss on your daughter’s forehead, “No, I don’t even want to think about that.”

You couldn’t help but smirk mischievously, clearly amused by her reaction, “Oh, I mean we haven’t talked about when she’s going to have her first boyfriend–”

“Nope, stop right there!” Your wife interrupts, hands on her hands, “I refuse to believe my little girl will date. Nope, it’s not happening!”

You couldn’t help but laugh at Leah’s protectiveness which only made your heart swell more, reminding you just how lucky you were to have this family and cherish moments like this.

As you finished getting Remi settled in her pram, the hallway began to fill with the chatter and laughter of Leah’s family gathering for the tradition of their Christmas Eve walk.

“Are we ready to go?” Amanda called out, appearing in the doorway with Bella, their dog, tugging eagerly at her lead while her tail wagged excitedly.

“Yep, we’re all ready!” Leah grinned, wrapping a free arm around you.

“Remi’s first Christmas Eve walk! This is a tradition that can’t be broken,” Jacob joined them in the hallway, zipping up his coat as he bent down to give Remi a quick kiss on her forehead.

“Oh just look at her all bundled up,” Berny cooed, her eyes twinkling as she looked at Remi all cosy in her pram wearing her pale pink winter romper, “Before you know it, she’ll be walking and able to run around.”

Leah groaned in disagreement and firmly shook her head, “Don’t you start Grandma, this ones’ already talking about when she goes off to school,” She said, nodding in your direction, “I still have a few more years yet!”

You grinned at the older woman, “Leahs’ dreading the idea of Remi growing up,” You chimed in amusedly.

Holly snorted at her cousin's denial and gave her a playful nudge, “It’s bound to happen sooner or later, Le. You can’t keep her a baby forever.”

“Yeah, you just blink and it just happens,” Jordan, Leah’s older cousin piped in, already having a little boy of her own, “They grow up so fast.”

Leah shook her head with a dramatic sigh, trying to keep a serious face but failing to hide the smile tugging at her lips, “Let’s not think about it just yet, let’s just go for our walk.”

“Yeah, let’s not traumatise Le with the idea of Remi growing up just yet,” Jacob snickered, poking fun at his older sisters’ dread for Remi growing up.

You couldn’t help but enjoy hearing the sound of the snow crunching beneath your feet as you begin your walk, the twinkling lights of the neighbourhood illuminating your path as Remi gurgled softly in her pram, mesmerised by them.

“This,” Leah whispered, squeezing your hand, her face a mix of happiness and contentment, “Is what it’s all about.”

“It’s pretty magical, isn’t it?” You leaned into her warmth and took in this special moment of being around your wife, your little girl and your family during a special time of the year, “I couldn’t think of anything to top this.”

It’s true what they say about time going by so fast – much to your wife’s initial denial about that happening, Remi was nine months old before you both knew it and your little girl was growing more curious and lively every day, her eyes bright and wide with wonder.

March arrived before you know it and Leah’s birthday was vastly approaching, you knew you wanted to do something to celebrate, despite your wife’s insistence on wanting a small celebration and after brainstorming, you decided on the idea on a trip to the zoo – it would be a perfect blend of fun for all of you.

“Happy birthday, Le!” You exclaimed, showered your wife with gifts as she sat cross-legged on the bed meanwhile Remi sat wedged happily in between you, far more interested with the crinkling wrapping paper than the presents themselves, her tiny hands eagerly reaching out to scrunch it up.

“Thank you, love,” Leah smiled, tearing through the paper with a grin and leaning over to give you a quick kiss on the lips, “These are perfect.”

“You’re welcome,” You replied, enjoying the happiness that lit up her face.

Remi started to babble something which sounded vaguely recognisable to “Mama” which Leah’s eyes widened in delight, cupping her hands on her tiny face and peppered kisses over her little face, “And thank you to you too, baby Gooner. I love all of my presents from you too.”

The morning was somewhat as relaxing as it could be with a 9 month old who was now crawling, pulling herself to stand up and doing her best to try and walk while holding onto furniture, you made work of spoiling your wife with a special breakfast of pancakes while Leah fed Remi bits of fruit that she seemed to enjoy a whole lot.

“You’re spoiling me today,” Leah murmured, popping a piece of fruit in her own mouth as she watched you flip another pancake in the kitchen.

“Only the best for the birthday girl,” You replied, placing the last pancake on a plate and settling it down in front of her.

Your wife's eyes sparkled with a mix of love and mischief, “You know this is one of the most perfect ways to start my way,” She paused as she took a bite of the pancake and savoured the taste in her mouth, “Mm, it’s delicious!”

“I aim to impress,” You joked with her playfully as you grinned, “I just want to make your birthday as special as possible.”

Leah beamed a wide smile as she continued to munch on her pancakes, “You’re definitely living up to expectations, love.”

After breakfast, you got Remi dressed in a cute onesie with tiny animal prints - the perfect outfit for the trip to the zoo.

“Are you ready to go to the zoo and see all of the animals?” Leah cooed at Remi, who cheerfully babbled nonsense in return and her tiny hands batted at Leah’s face, “There’s going to be so many different ones - monkeys, giraffes, elephants… Oh, and tigers as well!”

“I think she’s definitely excited about it,” You grinned, watching as Leah strapped Remi into the pram once you had gotten out of the car at the Zoo.

Leah crouched down, her eyes bright with a playful energy, “What noise does a Tiger make, baby Gooner?” She questioned your little girl, “They go… Roar!” She exclaimed while Remi stared back at her with a blank expression on her face, as if sizing up your wife’s silliness.

You snickered in amusement at your wife’s antics, “Yeah I think she definitely understands what you are saying there, Le.” You teased, shaking your head.

“Of course she does, cos’ she’s our clever little girl,” Leah insisted as you made your way towards the entrance of the zoo, quickly paying for the tickets and heading inside, excited to see all the different animals, “What should we go and see first?”

“I think the monkey’s first,” You walked hand-in-hand with Leah, your wife pushing Remi’s pram along the winding paths of the zoo, the noise around the zoo filled with the faint sounds of the animals amongst the chatter of families enjoying their day.

“Look, Remi! Monkeys!” Leah pointed excitedly, leaning down to get closer to Remi’s eye level, “Can we see them jumping around?”

Remi, however, didn't seem that bothered and decided that chewing the ear of a stuffed giraffe toy was more exciting and her eyes barely flickered towards the monkeys.

“Not impressed, huh?” You chuckled, watching as Remi babbled to herself, blissfully unaware of the monkey’s putting on a show.

“Wow, tough crowd,” Leah laughed, shrugging her shoulders, “There’s still time to warm up to them I suppose.” She added.

“Maybe she’s just saving her excitement for the rest of the animals,” You suggested playfully as you continued walking towards the giraffe enclosure.

“Wow, look how tall the giraffes are,” Leah lifted Remi up from her pram and pointed out the giraffes that were stretching their long necks towards the leaves, “What do you think about them, baby Gooner?”

This time, Remi seemed slightly a bit more curious about the giraffes as her eyes widened and she followed Leah’s hand, trying her hardest to reach her little hand out to grasp them from afar.

“Seems like she likes them better,” You noted with a smile, watching as Remi stayed captivated by the giraffes, “Maybe it’s the height?”

“Or maybe she’s just a giraffe person,” Leah teased, kissing your daughter's cheek before settling her back in the pram to continue your way around the enclosures, “Next up… Elephants.” She declared.

Continuing your journey, you arrived to see the elephants as you crouched beside Remi, “What do you think of the elephant, Remi Roo? They’re so big and strong!” You exclaimed, making a gentle trumpet sound with your lips and attempted to imitate an elephant.

“Very impressive love,” Leah laughed in amusement and shook her head, “And you think I’m silly – Isn’t she silly, Rem? Mumma’s a silly billy,” She cooed, trying to bring out another smile from your grumpy little girl who was apparently disappointed to leave the giraffes.

“I don’t think she’s a fan,” You noted, watching Remi take a short glance at the elephants before her attention shifted back to the giraffe toy that she kept clutched in her hand, “I’m definitely sensing a favourite animal already.”

“I think you might be onto something there love,” Your wife shared a fond smile with you as she peered down to watch your daughter chew intently on the ear of her toy, “I wonder what she’ll think about the tigers instead?” She asked.

“Well, we’re about to find out,” You told her with a small shrug of your shoulders as you couldn’t help but feel curious about it yourself.

Making your way to the tiger enclosure, Leah stopped in front of the large glass panel separating you from the striped cats lounging in the midday sun, “Look, Rem! Here’s the tigers!” She crouched down with Remi, bringing her face closer to the glass, “Remember how it goes? Roar!” Your wife growled playfully, imitating the big cat.

To your surprise, Remi’s eyes widened as she took in the sight of the tigers and after a moment of contemplation, she let out a delighted growl of her own to mimic Leah’s sound.

“Wow, we have our own little tiger!” Leah exclaimed, her laughter ringing out as she hugged your daughter close, “Remi the tiger, huh?” She added.

“I think she just might be,” You laughed in agreement, watching the fond moment of your two favourite people together, “I’d say it’s a toss up between the giraffes and the tigers.”

As you continue your journey around the zoo to see the various different animals, taking in the sights and sounds, you feel the warmth of the sun on your skin and the happiness swelling inside you.

“I think our baby Gooner might just be a tiger fan,” Leah noted, kissing Remi’s small forehead tenderly as your little girl giggled in absolute delight.

“Can you believe that she’s already 1?” Leah questioned in shock as you took the moment in bed reminiscing over the last year while Remi slept in her room next door, “It feels like only yesterday we were bringing her back from the hospital, doesn't it?”

“It really does,” You hummed in agreement, your voice filled with a mix of nostalgia and awe, “Our little girl is really growing up.”

“Where did the time go?” Your wife wondered aloud, enjoying the moment that you were wrapped up in her arms as she traced gentle circles on your bare skin.

“We blinked Le, and she grew up, Le,” You admitted, a gentle voice, “All those hours of labour – This time last year we were at the hospital, I was screaming at you and now, here we are.”

“Here we are now,” Leah repeated, her voice softening, “I forgive you for shouting at me. It was all worth it to meet our baby Gooner.”

You chucked in amusement, “You’re still not letting that nickname go, huh?”

“Nope,” Your wife said with a smirk, “I’ll still be calling her that even when she’s 16 years old and sneaking out the house.”

You frowned and shook your head, “Okay. That is not something that I want to even think about any time soon, Le.”

“Oh, and just all these months ago you were winding me up for not wanting her to grow up,” Leah teased you as she pressed a gentle kiss on your collar bone, “What has changed now?”

“I realised that she’s growing up too fast,” You admitted quietly, biting your bottom lip. 

“Do you think it’s time for another one?” Leah spoke her thoughts aloud, anxiously awaiting your answer. 

You raised an eyebrow in confusion, “Another baby?”

“No, another puppy,” Leah retorted, rolling her eyes, “Yes I mean a baby –  Think about it! Wouldn’t it be great for Remi to be a big sister?”

“I love the idea of that, and the puppy as well,” You told your wife, a genuine smile on your face. 

“Whoa slow down there,” Leah couldn’t help but laugh, “Let’s just do one thing at a time, eh?” She joked. 

“Let’s do it,” You agreed with Leah, nodding in triumph. 

“Yeah?” Leah checked to make sure you were sure. 

“Yeah!” You repeated your wife’s words, “Let’s make another baby.” You add quietly, pressing your face against hers as you share a tender kiss. 

“Mu… Mumma! Mummy!” Remi’s small voice broke the baby monitor in the room and interrupted the moment.

“Sounds like the birthday girl is up,” Leah said, sharing a look with you.

“We’ll come on then, we’d better not keep our 1 year old waiting any longer,” You said reluctantly getting out of bed, quickly chucking on one of your wife’s old Arsenal shirt and a loose pair of sleep shorts. 

“Nope, I already don’t like the sound of that,” Leah said in dismissal as she shook her head, “She’s still too little to be 1 already.”

You couldn’t help but chuckle in amusement, “Le, she’s walking and talking. She’s not too little.” You reminded her, gently as you made your way into your little girl's bedroom. 

“Mumma,” Tiny hands reached up for you to pick her up and you didn’t hesitate to waste the time and scoop her up into your arms, making you realise it’s important to treasure moments like this. 

“Hi Remi Roo,” You cooed, pressing a gentle kiss to your daughters forehead, “Happy birthday. You’re 1 years old.” You added, holding her close to you. 

“Yep, even hearing you say it aloud like that, I don’t like it at all,” Leah appeared behind you and as soon as Remi heard your wife’s voice, she was reaching towards her, “Hi baby Gooner. Who’s birthday is it, huh? Todays your very special day.”

“You have to get used to it sooner or later,” You remarked playful as the three of you made your way down the stairs to begin breakfast ahead of the day full of celebration with your friends and family. 

“Nope, definitely not. She’ll always be little in my eyes,” Leah stated, less than thrilled at the idea of you growing up right there in front of her eyes, “Won’t you, baby Gooner?”

As the day went on, you were so excited to be able to celebrate your little girls’ first birthday with your closest family and friends as they all began to arrive - The house was decorated with pink decorations, several large balloons dotted around the room as a large banner read “Happy 1st Birthday, Remi!” in colourful letters, and the smell of birthday cake wafted through the hair.

The first guests to arrive at your house for the small celebration were the majority of Leah’s teammates, who all came bursting through the door with several presents for your daughter.

“There’s the birthday girl!” Beth’s loud voice filled the house, walking through the front door with a present in her hand, “Hi, baby Gooner! Happy birthday.”

“I still can’t believe you girls have a 1 year old,” Lia said, exchanging hugs with the two of you and gently running her thumb over Remi’s face, “Look at you growing up.”

“Don’t remind us,” Leah murmured against the idea, returning the hug with her best friend. 

You snickered in amusement at your wife’s expense, “Leah’s almost having a breakdown about it, again.” You teased, looking over at the girls.

Leah gasped, nudging you playfully with her free hand, “Way to out me like that, love,” She tutted, though there was a hint of a smile on her lips as she spotted Amanda and the rest of her family walk through the front door, “There’s Nana, shall we go and say hi?” She asked, turning her attention back to Remi.

The moment that Remi saw Amanda, her face lit up and the woman wasted no time in scooping her up, “Hi sweetheart,” Amanda cooed, cradling your daughter with affection, “Happy birthday! Look how many people are here to celebrate your special day, huh? Wow. You’re one lucky girl!”

“Happy birthday, angel,” Berny stepped forward and pressed a soft kiss to the top of Remi’s head, “One already? Where’s the time gone?”

“Hi, Remi Roo!” Jacob gently lifted Remi’s tiny hand into a fist bump against his own, “Happy birthday to you!”

“We’re so glad you could all make it,” You said, raising your voice slightly to address the growing number of guests in your living room.

“We wouldn’t want to be anywhere else,” Holly replied with a warm smile, “It’s Remi’s special day!”

You felt a surge of happiness seeing so many people here to celebrate. It was exactly the kind of day you’d hoped for – full of love, laughter and little moments that would make Remi’s first birthday unforgettable.

“We’re about to light the candles on the cake!” Leah announced, her voice bright with excitement.

“Ah, the best part!” Beth joked with a wide grin.

“The only reason I’m here– Ow!” Kyra started, feigning a pained expression as Alessia playfully nudged her, “Alright, I was just kidding. Of course, I wanted to be here to celebrate Remi’s first birthday… The cake is just an added bonus!”

Leah carefully lit the candles on the cake while you held Remi in your arms. As the lights dimmed, the room hushed for a brief moment before everyone began to sing.

“Happy birthday to you, happy birthday to you. Happy birthday, dear Remi, happy birthday to you!” The joyful chorus filled the room as a wave of love and warmth washed over you.

“Happy birthday, baby girl,” You whispered, leaning closer to help Remi blow out the candles as you gently puffed alongside her, and everyone erupted into cheers and applause.

“Happy birthday, my baby Gooner,” Leah moved closer and peppered kisses on your little girl’s face as she giggled joyfully, “I can’t believe you’re already 1. Don’t grow up on us too fast, okay? You are the best thing that’s ever been ours.”

And just like that, the first year of Remi’s life was complete, with many more chapters to be written.

leahwilliamsonn and y/nwilliamson posted

Liked by liawaelti, bethmead_ and 92, 432 others.

leahwilliamsonn: just like that, our baby gooner is one years old! 🥹🎂🥳

what an incredible journey this whole year has been to watch you grow up right in front of our very eyes 👣👶🏼

happy birthday, remi! mumma and i love you so, so much! 💗

© scribblesofagoonerr

[yespleasetommyshelby]

I need you now - Modern!Tommy Shelby Imagine

Part 3 of Before he cheats - Based off of I Need You Now by Lady Antebellum

Requested - kinda - @jadesjam sent this as an idea for part 2 but I flipped and made it the third and final part of before he cheats! It hasn't been proofread so beware!

Enjoy! 🥰

------------

"No." I sighed for the upteenth time.

"Oh come on y/n, it's been weeks since all that shit with Tommy, it's about time you come and find yourself a rebound!" My longest friend Leah practically begged down the phone, her birthday was coming up and she'd been trying for the last hour to get me to go out for her pre-birthday bash.

"Le, you know I love you but I'm really not in the mood tonight, we'll do something in a couple days, okay?" I sighed, trying to find some middle ground so the conversation could end.

"Okay fine, but I'll hold you to that! Love you girl!" She cheered happily through the phone, my answer enough to stop the pestering, for now.

"Have fun babe, love you too!" I smiled before hanging up, the smile dropping from my face as soon as the beep sounds. "Guess it's just you and me." I whispered as I looked down at the shoebox in my lap.

Checking the time I couldn't help but laugh slightly at how the time had managed to get away from me, with the clock reading 1:04am I couldn't help but laugh slightly as I looked over the piles of photographs that were covering the floor. "Picture perfect memories, scattered all around the floor, reaching for the phone cause I can't fight it anymore." I sighed, picking one up and focusing on the smiling faces beaming back at me, it was from my 21st birthday around ten minutes after Tommy had officially asked me to be his. We were so happy, everyone was so happy that night, laughing and singing being the only thing to be heard throughout Small Heath that night as everybody celebrated their king finding his queen.

Putting the picture down I reached up to wipe the line tear that has slid down my cheek, sniffing quietly before I picked up another, this one of me and all of the Shelby siblings, Ada and John on one side with Tommy and Arthur the other, even at 16 years old and apparently seeing Greta, Tommy still has his arm round my shoulders, my head resting on his arm. Throwing the picture to the side I huffed as I rubbed my hands over my face, the thought of Greta leading me down a rabbit hole.

"I wonder if I ever cross your mind, for me it happens all the time." I spoke to myself, "Probably not, you've probably had a whole queue of women waiting for this to happen." My voice cracked as I said what I'd been thinking out loud for the first time. "Maybe I should just send a quick text..." I whispered, picking up my phone, opening Tommys contact I paused before starting to type.

It's 1am, I'm all alone and I need you now, I said I wouldn't call but I lost all control and I need you now.

Shaking my head I quickly deleted the message and locked my phone, throwing it onto the floor besides me. "Don't give him the satisfaction." I reminded myself with a sigh.

The loud shrill of phone made me shriek, my hand flying to my chest to try and soothe my racing heart. "Motherfuck." I breathed out, reaching over and seeing it's Leah calling.

"Hey Le, what's up?" I asked worried, knowing that she never called when she was out, unless there was a problem.

"Baaaaabe! You'll never guess where we are!" Her cheery voice burst through the phone making me wince slightly. "The garrison!" She squealed without waiting for an answer.

"That's great Leah, but I'm still not coming out tonight." I sighed, not understanding where she was going with this.

"Yeah, yeah, -- all depressed, I know, but I also know that lover -- is just as bad as -- are, if -- worse." She laughed through the phone, the music and voices in the background muffling half of her sentence.

"I can't hear you properly Le." I smiled slightly, her giggles infectious. "Le?" The beep of the phone indicated that she'd hung up. "What the hell was that about?" I muttered, my question answered two seconds later as my phone buzzed again.

I said that lover boy is even worse than you!

A message from Leah with an image of Tommy attached, say at the corner of the bar in the Garrison alone, his head in his hand as his other holds onto a glass of whisky - probably. Just from the zoomed out picture I could see his hair had been left to grow out and his shirt had been left untucked, something that had never happened before, in public anyway.

"Oh baby." I couldn't help but sigh, my heart breaking all over again at the picture.

---

Keeping my eyes down I swigged the last dribble of amber liquid from the glass raising it high before rapping it in the bar a couple times, a sign for the bartender to refill. Feeling the glass being moved from my fingertips I looked up, giving the bartender a nod of thanks as he slid the bow full glass back to me.

Another shot of whisky, can't stop staring at the door, wishing you'd come sweeping in the way you did before. Rubbing my hand over my face I clenched my eyes as I thought of her, the reason I'd been sat here for the past few weeks doing nothing but drinking whisky after whisky and chain smoking till my chest hurt. Looking over at her door I couldn't help but think back to y/n's 21st birthday, the day we became official, she had come barreling into the garrison with her windswept hair and rosy cheeks absolutely fuming because she thought that everyone had forgot her birthday before the shout of surprise had her forgetting she was ever mad. Shaking my head I couldn't help but wonder if I ever cross her mind, for me it happens all the time, every little thing reminding me of her.

"Fuck sake." I growled to myself, pulling out my phone to check the time. "Quarter past fucking one and I'm sat drinking by myself, again, Thomas Shelby the king of fucking Small Heath aye." I chuckled ironically. Not like I hadn't had plenty of offers during my evenings rotting away at my own bar, but none of them were her, none of them were my y/n.

My heart started to race slightly as I noticed the missed call notification only to drop again as Arthur's name came into view. She said she didn't want to hear from me but surely one text won't hurt, right?

It's 1:15 I'm a little drunk and I need you now, I said I wouldn't call but I lost all control and I need you now, and I don't know how I can do without - I just need you now

I'll be at the Garrison - T x

"Fucking pathetic Tom." I shook my head before locking the phone, not realising my thumb had already hit send.

----

1:17, it had taken all of 3 minutes to reach the Garrison, shoving my hands into my pocket so said as I stared up at the gold sign above the door, a door that I'd walked through so may times before but never feeling like this. I jumped slightly as my phone buzzed at the same time as a group of girls can tumbling out the door, laughing and stumbling down the road as they held onto each other for support, I couldn't help but laugh slightly before pushing open the doors.

Stepping through the doorways Leah and the girls immediately caught my eye, giving me a quick wave she grinned before pointing over to the bar my eyes immediately landing on the mop top of black hair and slumped shoulders in the corner. Sending her a quick smile I slowly made my way over to Tommy, hesitantly taking a seat on the stool next to him.

"Not interested." He muttered making me jump slightly.

"Meh, I like your brother more anyway." I shrugged, giggling slightly as his head shot up, eyes wide as he stared at me.

"Y/n.." He breathed out, reaching his hand out he placed his palm on my cheek almost as though he was checking I was really there. "Y/n, I'm sorry, I'm so fucking sorry." He muttered, pulling me forwards slightly and resting his forehead against mine.

"Tommy I-" I took a breath, struggling to think clearly being this close to him after so much time, the longest we'd been apart since we'd met some ten years ago now. "I'm sorry too, I should've let you explain, should've listened to you." My voice wobbled slightly, pulling away I used my sleeve to wipe away the tears that had started to fall before resting my hand on his.

"I figured it would be easier to just finish things, after hearing about you and Gracie I just couldn't think of anything else... And I just lost it.. I dunno Tom. I guess I just, I guess I'd rather hurt than feel nothing at all." I whispered, knowing that over the past few weeks that's exactly how I'd felt, nothing.

"Hey, don't you dare apologise, these past few weeks have been nothing but my fault, and I promise you y/n with everything I have and will ever have, I will spend every day of our future making it up to you. If you'll let me, just one last chance, please." He trailed off, his eyes on mine the whole time.

"One chance Tommy, that's all we have left." I whispered, my grip tightening around his wrist slightly.

"That's all I need." He smirked standing up and pulling me along with him, his arms wrapping around my waist and mine came up around his neck, playing with the longer hair at the nape of his neck. Pulling me in he placed his lips on mine, moving in sync I couldn't help but smile, the Tommy shaped hole in my heart slowly shrinking.

"I missed you so much." He mumbled after we pulled away, resting his chin on the the top of my head as he pulled me into a hug, completely ignoring the looks he was getting from the punters who had never even seen him smile before.

"I missed you too Tommy." I sighed happily, resting my head on his chest, sending a quick wink to Leah as she caught my eye, making her erupt into screams, much to the confusion of everyone else.

"So that's how you found me aye?" Tommy chuckled, the sound echoing through his chest.

"She helped yeah, but there was also the text you sent." I giggled slightly, as I head the faint 'shit' leave his lips. "It's okay Tommy, I love it when you're cheesy." I grinned, patting his chest as I looked up at him.

"Yeah, yeah, yeah." He chuckled as he shook his head. "I love you." He whispered, eyes locked onto mine.

"I love you too." I smiled, placing a quick peck to his lips before resting my head back against his chest. "Oh and Tom?" I muttered without looking up, only the slight hum letting me know he heard.

"I'm sorry about your car."

----

And there we have it! I know it's slightly shorter and I personally don't feel like this part is even nearly as good as the previous two, but hey, we move on!

Thank you for reading and I do hope you've enjoyed! 🥰❤️

[theresattrpgforthat]

Hi folks, it’s Mint.

I’m on a mini-vacation this week so I’m going to be releasing some recommendation posts for things that aren’t related to requests (easy to queue), and I’ll be back to doing regular rec posts when I get back!

THEME: Mysteries.

I love love love mysteries. I think mysteries might be one of my favourite things to do in a TTRPG; presenting players with a problem and watching them piece together a solution is so fun! There’s a number of different ways to run mystery games - maybe you will find a helpful new tool in the list below! You can also look at the folder of mystery games that I’ve compiled on Itch, if you want more.

The Lurking Fear, by Lyme.

The Lurking Fear is a free, lightweight, simulationist investigative horror ttrpg in the style of classic horror tabletop games. You can use it to run most systemless horror adventures or, with a little work, most adventures for popular horror games.

The Lurking Fear is an exercise in running investigative games through an OSR framework, complete with rolling randomly for your stats, weapons that have dice attached for damage, and a roll-under mechanic to determine whether or not you succeed at any given task. Characters have a Stability track and an Energy track: Stability is lost when they fail to bolster themselves in a stressful situation, while Energy can be lost when you are subjected to paranormal consequences. The game has rules for magic (spells found in tomes), but no spell list, so you’ll likely need to write your own spells or get inspiration from other OSR-style games. Spells are costly, time-consuming, and cost Energy to cast, which I think will make successes feel hard-won and satisfying.

If you want a challenging game that has just the bare bones so that you can scaffold over it, you might want to take a look at The Lurking Fear.

Public Access, by The Gauntlet.

A roleplaying game of analog horror, based on the Brindlewood Bay mystery system!

Public Access is a tabletop roleplaying game about a group of people in 2004—the Deep Lake Latchkeys—who find themselves investigating strange mysteries in and around the town of Deep Lake, New Mexico. In the ‘80s and early ‘90s, Deep Lake was the home of a notorious public access television station called TV Odyssey, the history and fate of which—the station literally disappeared—is the source of much speculation in certain corners of the internet. As the Latchkeys conduct their investigations in Deep Lake, they will become increasingly aware of the central role TV Odyssey plays in everything that’s going on, and will have to face whatever terrible truth lies at the heart of the infamous station...

This one is for the horror fans, especially if you like found footage-style horror. You’ll be playing a bunch of adults returning to their hometown to try and find answers about the disappearance of a television station. Similar to other Carved from Brindlewood games, Public Access uses a day/night cycle, will give you certain moves and repercussions unique to the mode of play you’re currently in. If you like collaboratively creating a mystery as a table, you might want to check out this game.

Suspect 2e, by Arcane Atlas Games.

SUSPECT is a catch-em out game of character creation, memory and mystery. A crime has been committed, and you have to work together to create and then solve it. In Suspect the players take it in turns to play as the investigator and the suspects. The investigator asks questions and the suspects answer, building an ever more complicated web of events. As the suspects slip up and make mistakes the investigator challenges them until they finally accuse the culprit.

This is a great option if you want to try out a duet mystery game, with one person playing the Investigator, and the other playing the Suspects. Each role has special abilities and rules. For example, the Investigator is the only one who has access to the timeline of events, allowing them to sort through the clues and rule out false leads. The Suspects player can use a special ability to shift the Investigator’s suspicion onto a different character, introducing new facts to complicate the case. The game feels like it would be great at replicating Columbo-type stories, with the Investigator slowly going over the facts until they find the only solution that makes sense.

The creator is also collecting different mystery cases that you can play through for this game, which can be found in the Suspect Cases collection. If you love procedural detective fiction, (or maybe if you want to create a mystery for people to play) you might want to check out Suspect 2e!

Junk Noir, by JadeRavens.

You are a malfunctioning robot detective solving mysteries in a noir retro-future.

Junk Noir is a cooperative, zero-prep, GM-less mystery game for 2 or more players.  Players share control of Tracer as the titular robo-sleuth investigates mysteries, visits Locations, meets Characters, finds Clues, and triggers Events. In Junk Noir, you'll dramatize scenes, form connections, make moves, and play to see what happens! 

When you reach a consensus, roll the dice to test your theory. Maybe your theory is correct and you have one last scene to prove it and risk it all! Or maybe your theory is just that, and things are more complicated than you thought. It's time to challenge your assumptions and continue your investigation…

Junk Noir uses similar mechanics to Brindlewood Bay or Paranormal Inc, allowing the players to generate the mystery as they play. However, the game is meant to be run without a GM, all the players embodying the persona of a single robot detective. If you like the noir genre and you want to add a little bit of robot flair, you might want to check out Junk Noir.

Let Justice Be Done, by Mynar Lenahan.

Let Justice Be Done is a one-shot murder mystery game inspired by Brindlewood Bay, Eat The Reich, and Blades in the Dark.

In it, you play ingenious Consultant Detectives who use their skills of deduction to discover (and invent) Clues to frame the wealthy for crimes they absolutely didn't commit. But be careful: If your suspects start to figure out exactly what you're up to, you could find yourself in a world of trouble that they absolutely will not let you escape…

This is a delightful twist on the typical murder mystery, allowing you to construct a false crime as a form of revenge. Pull from a variety of colourful backgrounds to add dice to your roll, using a resolution system similar to Forged in the Dark games to achieve success. This is a great homage to the Benoit Blanc movies, especially Glass Onion. If you bought the TTRPGs for Palestine bundle, you already own this game!

BubbleGumshoe, by Evil Hat.

Someone stole my kid brother’s bike…Someone sabotaged the pep rally…Someone destroyed the Homecoming queen’s reputation…

The world is full of mysteries. It’s up to your group of intrepid teen sleuths to solve them. In BubbleGumshoe, players step into the shoes of high-schoolers solving mysteries in a modern American small town. Discover clues, solve problems, and throw down with enemies in this streamlined RPG based on the GUMSHOE system.

BubbleGumshoe is for the Nancy Drew lovers, mixing the drama of teenage social life with (typically) mundane mysteries. It is built off of the GUMSHOE system, which ensures that players will always find the clues necessary to figuring out the mystery, but rewards successes with more specific or helpful information.

In BubbleGumshoe, your relationships are an integral resource, which you can leverage to get access to locations you might not typically be able to go, knowledge from various experts, and favours from people who like you, or at the very least, owe you one. If you like tropes that involve leveraging social capital in order to bring local troublemakers to justice, you might like BubbleGumshoe.

Myths & Mysteries, by CrlBox.

This is a diceless and rules-light ttrpg.  Encounters receive a difficulty number, which will be determined by cards. Skills are used to reach the difficulty number, without rolling dice. It is just a matter of how much you will exhaust yourself to succeed…

The system doesn't rely on stats, which makes it very conversion friendly.

This is a genre-agnostic ttrpg, allowing you to explore eldritch horror, fantasy intrigue, or Scooby-Doo style adventures. Using a deck of cards, you build your hand and use your cards to determine whether your not you can succeed. Your character has a few things to make certain actions easier: an occupation, which gives you a +1 for any task related to it, and skills, which can be used and/or discarded to give you a temporary bonus.

The entire game can be printed on a brochure, which makes this game easy to travel with and probably also easy to pull out and teach for a one-shot or pick-up game. If you want simple mysteries that you alter to fit whatever genre you like, you might want to check out Myths & Mysteries.

Other Mystery Games I’ve Recommended

Eureka: Urban Investigative TTRPG, by ANIM.

Brindlewood Bay and The Between, by The Gauntlet.

Unlikely Investigators, by Luciano Correa

EYE: A Murder Mystery Generator, by Zak Makes Games.

Fedora Noir, by lessthanthreegames.

[satoru-is-the-way]

SPOILERS FOR AVATAR 2

Avatar Rick Quaritch x Navi Reader

"Given Enough"

Master list for series

Tags List: @the-wanderer-2022 @zootsutra @anyzandy   @kneelingforvillains @dioriez @mylovelyreblogs @dinobae-replyacc @voodoogoul @freshmoneyalmondathlete @thedumboneforsomereason @world-dominating-kitty @scarletpines @sofiebstar @vampire-hunter @cypherpt5fttaehyung @strangerdeeznuts @simpingfor-wakasa @tranquiiit @ellieparker

Trigger Warnings: Death, Killing, Mentions of death, and derogatory name(s).

Chapter 3 | Chapter 4- The Metkayian

The village had gathered their warriors and weapons ready to retaliate against the Metkayian. In their history war is rare but also necessary to restore balance. (Y/n) yelled commands instructing the troops on how they are to attack, which hand gestures to look for or sounds to hear. Quaritch helped load their bison now covered in war paint. He knew this had passed the stopping point. It worried him what (Y/n) would think once she discovered the truth. It is not a  matter of if but when. Time has started to tick once more. His game of pretending is over. Cualli approached the Avatar. “Quaritch, I hope you do not fail me in this battle.  By obligation when I die you must take over as Olo’eyktan. May that be in a few hours or years you must protect my daughter and our people. Do you understand? You are one of us.” He spoke with seriousness. 

Quaritch knits his eyebrows together. It all hit hard knowing if Cualli and others died…their blood is on his hands. Perhaps if he came clean now he said could spare their lives. "I need to tell you something. Since I got here-" 

"We are ready, father," Balam announced running up to his father. Rick felt his mate's hand wrap around his. 

"Are you sure about this? That war is the only way?" He asked. 

"Yes. It is the only way!"

"I know your connection was special. But if they can take one down, what stops them from others when we declare war?! Is this the only way?" He asked. 

"THEY STARTED THIS!" (Y/n) screams shoving him. "THEY KILLED HER! SHE DID NOT DO ANYTHING!" She yelled before Rick pulled her into a warm embrace. 

"Shh, my mate. Please do not cry any longer. I will stand by your side. Always. Now let's ride." He called Pup who flew beside them. His bison is also covered in war paint. "After you." He helped (Y/n) on and then climbed aboard connecting his queue. They waited until her Father, now armed, moved his bison to the front. 

"Ichil yáax, le Metkayian yéetel Kamimaljuyú u sido aliados. Mantuvimos jump'éel k'a'am vínculo.Ba'ale' wetailo'ob xan páajtal ku beetubaj a enemigos. Ts'o'ok u kiinsik jump'éel miembro k ch'i'ibalil.Le tu kíinsaj ti'! KÍIMILI' LE METKAYIAN!!!"

(For generations, the Metkayian and Kamimaljuyú have been allies. We held a strong bond. However, your friends can also become your enemies. They have killed a member of our family. Slaughtered her in cold blood. We will not accept this. Now we ride! DEATH TO THE METKAYIAN!)

"KÍIMILI' LE METKAYIAN!" They repeat and hide their bison and ikran to war. Quaritch felt his stomach twist. He knew by dawn things would never be the same. General Ardome is waiting for them. They would have the Sully family right where they needed, but at what cost? His relationship with (Y/n)...It meant everything. The people he loved…Oh Eywa, why did he choose this path? 

(Y/n) stood when the first reef came into sight. Village by village they destroyed heading for the heart of the Metkayian territory. (Y/n) had blood lust in her eyes and vengeance in her heart. Despite the feeling in his heart Quaritch of course fought beside them. Once he was happy terrorizing the Navi and now…He looked in sadness as the innocent people were at war for reasons they did not know. Their homes are on fire and everything they built and worked for is gone. All because of his own selfish actions. 

Finally, they reach Tonowari and Ronal's village, Awa'atlu. She assumed they had been alerted when the first pillage commenced. She noticed the clan leaders and their warriors already prepared for battle. They rest in the ocean on their skimwing. Tonowari made a hand gesture in their language which Cualli understood. 

"Balam, (Y/n), Quaritch, follow me." They moved onto her father's bison before gently landing in the sea. Rick felt unable to breathe seeing Jake Sully ride beside Tonowari, Ronal, and Neytiri not far behind. He knew now that they would see something was wrong. 

"Great friend of Kamimaljuyú. What is the meaning of this war?! Not only that but you bring the demon here?!" 

(Y/n)'s ears instantly went back, she hissed loudly, eyes narrowed as Tonowari spoke so disrespectfully to her mate. "Watch your tongue, sea beast." 

"Rick Quaritch is not to be trusted! I don't know what he has told you…or what he has done. But this man is from the sky people. The bad ones. Why have you come back so soon?! What are you planning to do Rick? What is your big plan?!" Jake snarled. 

(Y/n) growled but looked at Quaritch now. The great Jake Sully knows this man… Maybe in one lifetime, he was bad, but now as an Avatar, no way! Not as one of her people. "This isn't about my mate!" (Y/n) hissed at Jake who looked shocked by what (Y/n) just said. "It's about how your clan started a war. Killing my friend. My bison. Now I am here to return the favor by slaughtering you all." Her tail flicked. 

"I had no idea what you are speaking of." Tonowari looked confused. 

"Your arrows and spears were found in my bison!" (Y/n) gripped her weapon. 

Ronal narrows her eyes growling at (Y/n), "Are you calling Tonowari a liar?" She hissed inching her skimwing closer. Quaritch felt an automatic feeling inside his body. His arm instinctively reached for (Y/n) pulling her behind him. Rick's ears went back hissing at Ronal displaying his large canine teeth. 

"This man is a liar, he deserves death," Neytiri said, pointing at Quaritch. 

"(Y/n) (L/n), please listen to me. He only wishes to take Pandora for the humans. All those years ago I killed him. Now somehow this demon is back. He wants to kill me by any means. Your mate probably started this all." Jake adds. 

"Rick." (Y/n) looked up to her mate. 

"...It wasn't always about the mission." He sighed. (Y/n) whimpers ears folding. 

"Wh-what mission?" She asked in a voice barely above a whisper. Jake closed his eyes knowing this story all too well. The day he told Neytiri the truth is something that lives in his mind every second. 

"I-I didn't plan it. Until 6 months after I meet you- I fell in love. With you. (Y/n)-" He started to cry for the very first time in years. "I love you. I didn't mean for it to go this far." Rick reached for (Y/n) you slapped him sobbing. 

"How could you?! You betray me and my people. EYWA WAS WRONG!" 

"(Y/n) please we can-"

Before anything could be said the missile landed in the water. It exploded sending many Metyakian into the air. 

"DIVE!" Yelled Tonowari to the Metyakian. 

"FLY!" Cualli screamed to the Kamimaljuyú.

(Y/n), Quaritch and Balam grip the bison's fur as they fly into the air. "NO!" Rick yelled seeing a missile flying directly toward them. The bison had no time to move before getting hit. After that everything went black for (Y/n). 

…

She opened her eyes, gasping for air she did not have. "Here!" Came a gentle voice putting a mask over (Y/n) mouth and nose letting her take a deep breath. The female closed her eyes leaning against the wall. Just for a moment, she rests. Her head pounds from the explosion. (E/c) eyes scanned the room. There was Tonowari's daughter with 2 Omaticaya children who she assumed were Jake and Neytiri's children. She stood up looking around the space. "Where are we?!"

"I don't know. But it's not good." Said the Female Omaticaya. (Y/n) did not like this. They were inside some building. A human prison she assumed. She then saw herself in the mirror. On the other side (Y/n) could hear voices. 

"LET US OUT!" (Y/n) screamed, hitting the mirror and hissing loudly. She slammed her fists against the mirror over and over screaming in anger. All her pain exploded. "LET US GO!" She bared her fangs. 

On the other side stood Colonel Rick Quaritch and other agents looking at the Navi female. "Damn you really got a crazy bitch." One commented. 

Quaritch growled, grabbing the human by the neck. "Watch your tongue. She is the only innocent one here. I'll be nice once. Then I won't. Understand?" He hissed, letting the scared human down. 

"Quaritch." General Ardome states walking into the room. The female eyes the Avatar suspiciously. "I want you to convince her to give up where the bison's are. They have taken Jake Sully with them. Surely she would know where they go in times of danger. And if she doesn't, you will take us to her village and burn it down." 

He looked down, "Yes General." Quaritch salutes before making his way to their holding facility nearby. The door opened and he locked eyes with (Y/n). "Hey love." He whispered. 

Chapter 5

[pure-ablution]

City guide: London?

London is the nearest major city to me for much of the year, and I’m there an awful lot for all kinds of meetings and appointments. I’ve made a point of trying to step away from the basic clubs and restaurants popular amongst the usual set in the capital, and instead finding a few different places that I think are genuinely worth their while, even if they’re not the places to see and be seen. This is my own little personal directory of my top 3 (not ranked in any kind of order) for each major category—prices range, but the experiences remain top-notch, in my book.

Restaurants and bars:

German Gymnasium

1 King’s Boulevard, N1C 4BU

This lovely German restaurant is right next door to St Pancras station, and I can’t count the number of times I’ve stepped off the Eurostar and sunk into a seat at the bar here. It’s a big place, so there’s no worrying about getting a table, but it still manages to feel private and not too open despite its being housed in a former gymnasium. The staff are very attentive, and the food is both excellent and plentiful—this isn’t nouvelle cuisine in any description! Be prepared for very hearty German dishes which, although perhaps not as authentic as one might find in Germany itself, are delicious and hearty.

Le Beaujolais

25 Litchfield Street, WC2H 9NJ

This is a gorgeous, cosy little bistro and one of my favourite places in London for late-night catch-ups with old friends. Its wine list is quite extensive (ask politely behind the bar for the hidden gem list!) and the sharing platters on offer are a refreshing change from French haute cuisine in the capital, instead serving much more rustic and traditional dishes. A luxurious experience this is not, but it’s very fun, and I always meet some new and interesting people every time I pay Le Beaujolais a visit.

Gordon’s Wine Bar

47 Villiers Street, WC2N 6NE

Gordon’s is the oldest wine bar in London, and I don’t think the décor has much changed since it first opened! There’s always a queue in the evenings, so I recommend booking ahead, but once you’re inside, it’s a lovely experience. The little plates of cheese and bread to go with the wines are always very fresh and tasty, and, of course, the wines themselves are amazing. This isn’t a place only for wine buffs, I see a lot of people on dates whenever I visit, but the staff and many of the patrons are extremely knowledgeable, and you can always have a great conversation with a fellow aficionado if you look out for one.

Museums and libraries:

Victoria & Albert Museum

Cromwell Road, SW7 2RL

This is my absolute favourite of the big London museums, and probably one of my favourite museums in the whole world. I love the V&A. It’s a gorgeous space, the permanent collections form a fascinating journey through the history of decorative arts and design, and the temporary exhibitions are always incredible. It’s the world’s biggest museum of applied arts, and houses 5,000 years’ worth of textiles, jewellery, furniture, prints, and much, much more. I could spend weeks at any given time in the V&A, I just adore it.

The London Library

14 St James’s Square, SW1Y 4LG

I like to have the name of a pretty, quiet little library for each city in the back of my mind, just in case I have a little work to do or a few hours to kill, and the London Library fills that slot for me in London. It’s not as extensive as the British Library, nor as beautiful as some of the university libraries in the capital, but it’s exactly what I like, in a very convenient location for me. I pay an annual membership fee, and it’s worth it to me for the peace and quiet, the excellent staff, the open access policy, and the surprisingly extensive collection of books housed here. It’s a real hidden gem and one that I’m very grateful for.

The Wallace Collection

Hertford House, Manchester Square, W1U 3BN

I love a house museum, and I think that the Wallace Collection is an incredible example by which others ought to follow. It’s a large collection of fine and decorative arts, originally built by Sir Richard Wallace alongside the Marquesses of Hertford, in whose London townhouse the collection is held. The Wallace Collection houses one of the most important collections of 18th-century French decorative arts in the world, and puts on some extremely interesting temporary exhibitions programmes—even just browsing their exhibit archives is enough to inspire me!

Beauty and wellness:

Pied de Poule

67 Mortimer Street, W1W 7SE

One of the nice things about London is the comparatively vast selection of Slavic beauty salons and providers available, and Pied-de-Poule is my favourite spot to call upon if I’m in dire need of an instantaneous makeover. I trust the beauticians here with my hair, makeup, and nails, and—in true Eastern European fashion—they’re capable of deploying their staff to carry out multiple services simultaneously, which saves me a huge amount of time in a city that moves fast. Pied-de-Poule is a chain franchise with branches in Ukraine and Poland, and although I wouldn’t pick them over other options back home, they provide a very respectable service and I’m very happy to use and recommend them in London.

Jinny Beauty

71 Kingston Road, KT3 3PB

It’s not quite in London proper, but it’s definitely worth the trek out to New Malden to visit Jinny Beauty if you’re in search of a good facial. This Korean salon has been providing locals with glowing glass skin for over 20 years, and I love that I can go straight to Jinny and trust that I’ll receive an incredible massage combined with top-of-the-range equipment, including Hydrafacials, oxygen therapy, and ultrasonic treatments. If you’re looking for a proper, full-spectrum Korean aesthetic spa in England, Jinny is the best place for it, in my opinion, and the girls there are incredibly friendly, skilled, and knowledgeable about what they do.

New Docklands Steam Baths

30a Stephenson Street, E16 4SA

This place has recently had a bit of a makeover, but it’s still far from glamorous, so I’ll let you search up interior photos for yourself and just give you the exterior for now. New Docklands isn’t for people who are looking for a luxurious sauna experience, it’s in a grotty area, and intended for expats and immigrants who are desperate for a good steam, and that’s what it does well. The steam is great, the clientele is a mixed—but always entertaining—bag, and I’d say that this is something similar to the Russian Baths in NYC, only without the cult status. The staff are helpful, the facilities are very clean, and I’d recommend sticking to the women-only sessions on Wednesdays and leaving your fancy things at home.

Shopping:

Liberty

Regent Street, W1B 5AH

I’m not all that bothered about Harrods or Selfridge’s, but I’m a huge, huge fan of Liberty. It’s just a little bit more quirky compared to other department stores, and I always find something unusual wandering around the gorgeous mock-Tudor building. Liberty is the artistic choice, I think, and I love that it supports and champions emerging brands, artists, and designers, instead of sticking to the tried-and-tested. Their own range of fabrics, of course, are stunningly beautiful, and the staff exceptionally helpful without being overly attentive to the point of bothersome—something that often grates on me in other shops.

Sign Of The Times

5 Elystan Street, SW3 3NT

Sign of the Times began as a celebrity consignment store, and it still specialises in vintage designer and luxury brands. It’s generally my first stop if I’m struggling to find a specific piece from an old collection. The shop itself is very curated, and I’ve often found a lovely piece I didn’t even know existed just popping in during a free five minutes. Lorraine, the owner, is incredibly knowledgeable about fashion history, and she’s been able to advise me better than anyone else when it comes to more niche brands, items, and provenance. You pay for the experience and expertise, of course, but if you’re a collector or serious fashion enthusiast, then I recommend Sign of the Times wholeheartedly.

Sunbury Antiques Market

Kempton Park, TW16 5AQ

I’m not a big fan of the independent antiques scene in London, especially the markets, and I’d always recommend looking elsewhere to scratch your flea market itch—but Sunbury is pretty good, and the closest you’re probably going to get within Greater London. It’s a big, big market, and you’ll need to come prepared to scrape your knees kneeling on the floor, sift through piles of dust and rubbish, and haggle like your life depends on it, but I’ve always come away feeling triumphant at the end of it all. I recommend arriving early, before 8am if possible, having a clear idea of what you’re looking for (and what price you’re willing to pay), and wearing tough jeans and sneakers you don’t mind getting a bit filthy.

[olderthannetfic]

An anime coming out Soon (possibly already out by the time this gets out of your queue lol) features a girl and her dog, who has magically been turned into another girl, and is all about the bond between the two of them and their (platonic, canonically, but in a series infamous for the Les Yay elements) love transcending species and how they empower each other and blah blah blah. There is already shipping discourse about how it’s gross to ship a girl with her pet but like. The pet is human. The pet speaks fluent Japanese. The pet is being enrolled in school with her. The pet is functionally in all ways that count a HUMAN. Look, if you were gonna date your pet, I think dating your pet who has magically been turned into a human with full language and consent capabilities by the power of love or whatever is probably the Least Gross way to do it. I don’t remember this discourse for Gumball and Darwin shippers, though I’m sure people were annoying about it there too.

Anyway, I’m gonna draw the girl making out with the dog version of her pet out of spite now. This is the same series where a previous entry had a girl end up with what was basically a Pokémon who was also her teacher. I think the Western fandom is watching the wrong show, just a little bit. The JP fandom seems all in on the oddly wholesome weird relationships at least, so it’s still fun there!

--

[lace85]

Comment font les filles ?

Suite des confidences de Lace…

J'étais dans l'année de mes 15 ans, ma sœur ses 14 ans. Nos petits échanges de culottes s'étaient installés comme une habitude. Je me masturbais assez souvent et notre seau hygiénique ou un mouchoir recueillait ma liqueur. De temps à autre, ma sœur insistait pour regarder mais cela n'allait pas plus loin. Nous n'échangions pas de caresses mutuelles. Un frais dimanche matin d'hiver, ma sœur s'est glissée dans mon lit, en me réveillant. Elle prétextait avoir un peu froid et me demanda de la prendre dans mes bras. Nous étions tous les deux en culotte et tee-shirt. Je la serrais doucement, sans rien tenter de plus, lorsque qu'elle m'a dit : "Tu m'as montré comment font les garçons. Tu veux que je te montre comment font les filles pour avoir du plaisir ?" Tout émoustillé à cette idée, j'ai bien sûr accepté ce cadeau. Alors elle s'est dégagée de mes bras pour se mettre sur le dos. Elel a glissé ses doigts sur son entrejambe et par dessus sa culotte elle a commencé à se caresser. J'avais repoussé la couverture pour profiter de ce petit spectacle. Alors elle a pris ma main, l'a placé sur sa culotte et m'a guidé en doux mouvements de haut en bas. A un moment, sa respiration s'est accélérée et elle a émis de petits gémissements, lors j'ai su qu'elle avait du plaisir. Juste après, elle m'a dit " Hé bien petit cochon, je vois que ça t'a fait de l'effet ! Regarde, tu vas craquer ta culotte !" Elle a alors baissé le devant de ma culotte pour dégager ma queue raide et fièrement dressée. Elle a commencé a me prendre dans sa main pour la première fois. C'était tellement doux et agréable, j'étais prêt à exploser. J'ai retenu sa main en lui disant " Si tu continues, je vais cracher et il y en aura plein le lit !" Alors elle à enlevé sa culotte et l'a enroulé sur ma queue en couvrant mon gland de la doublure plus épaisse. C'était chaud, humide…Hummm ! et c'était juste à temps pour que je lâche une grosse giclée. Nous avons attendu que ma queue dégonfle et finisse de se vider puis elle a repris sa culotte trempée de nos plaisirs et je crois que la coquine s'est aussi léché sur les doigts ce qui avait débordé…

Continuation of Lace's secrets… How do the girls do it?

I was 15, my sister was 14. Our little exchanges of panties had become a habit. I masturbated quite often and our sanitary bucket or tissue would collect my juice. From time to time, my sister insisted on watching but it didn't go any further. We did not exchange mutual hugs. On a chilly winter Sunday morning, my sister crawled into bed, waking me up. She pretended to be a little cold and asked me to hold her. We were both in panties and t-shirts. I squeezed her gently, without trying anything more, when she said to me: "You showed me how boys do it. Do you want me to show you how girls do it to have pleasure?" Exhilarated by this idea, I of course accepted this gift. Then she got out of my arms and got on her back. Elel slid her fingers over her crotch and over her panties she began to caress herself. I had pushed the cover aside to enjoy this little spectacle. So she took my hand, placed it on her panties and guided me in gentle up and down movements. At one point, her breathing accelerated and she made small moans, then I knew she was having pleasure. Right after, she said to me, "Well, little piggy, I see that had an effect on you! Look, you're going to burst your pants!" She then pulled down the front of my panties to reveal my stiff and proudly erect cock. She started to take me in her hand for the first time. It was so sweet and nice, I was ready to explode. I held his hand and said, "If you continue, I'm going to spit and there will be a bed full of them!" Then she took off her panties and wrapped them over my cock covering my glans with the thicker lining. It was hot, humid…Hummm! and it was just in time for me to release a big load. We waited for my cock to deflate and finish emptying then she took back her panties soaked with our pleasures and I think the naughty girl also licked what had overflowed from her fingers…

[onlyrains]

walk you home .2

pairing: odajima yuken x female reader

warnings: grammar error, lowercase

note: i decided to make part 2, hope you like it <3

part 1 | part 3

days have passed since the last time you met yuken. nothing have changed and nothing special too, you never heard of him again until yesterday sachio brought him up to the conversation when he and yui walked you home.

“when would you come home?” yui's voice caught your attention.

her brother shook his head. “i dont know. yuken have been acting like someone else.”

“yuken?” you asked subconsciously.

sachio turned his head to you. “do you know something, y/n?” he asked.

you shook your head. “no,” you answered softly. you didnt had enough courage to ask any further even though you were dying to know.

“but its not like you cant go home, right? mom worried about you.” yui argued. you couldnt help to fidgeting your sweated fingers.

sachio ran his palm to his sister's hair, comforting. “i need to make sure he didnt do anything stupid, yui.” he said while smiled beautifully.

you heard it clear. what kind of ‘anything’ was it?

“what do you mean anything stupid, sachio-san?” you asked doubtly.

“he fought with high school Z few days ago. he seems so resentful.”

“by himself?” you couldnt hide your expression.

“by himself.” sachio affirmed. “he was not like this.” he added. he sounded so confused.

and today, after sawamura and yui walked you home, you made your way to a mini market nearby. you thought you need something sweet to drink to distracted you from your own curiosity.

you were drowned in your mind when you tried to picked your drink. thoughts full of the person who walked you home a few days ago and then he suddenly had fought high school Z’s bastards? unbelievable.

you grabbed a strawberry flavored soda in the middle row.

“i prefer the lemon one,” you heard someone talking right behind you.

quickly, you turned your body 180 degree to faced him and you were right. you knew it was him. you knew his voice.

“odajima-san?” you gasped covering your mouth with your palm.

a huge smile appeared on his face. “hi,” he greeted with both hands on his pocket.

and that was the first time you received a greeting with a big-big smile like that. though you couldnt decide if it was a warm or a flirty smile.

“you surprised me!” you blurted.

he clapped once then spread his arms. “surprise!” he exclaimed.

“what are you doing here?” you asked still confused.

“i saw you entered this store alone. where is yui and sawamura?” he raised one eyebrow and somehow you felt intimidated.

you closed the refrigerator behind you. “i was with them but suddenly i want something to drink.” you smiled innocently, showing your straight teeth.

“okay, then,” his eyes landed on your chest where you hold your soda.

“just that?” he asked. you nodded twice.

“okay, let's go, i'll accompany you home.”

you let him pushed your back gently without a word and he followed behind you to the cashier.

you almost got there but then your eyes met someone's in the queue. your reflex made you turned very quick and crashed yuken's body.

he placed his palm on your back and rubbed it before he asked, “something's wrong?”

you looked up to him slowly. “its them—cashier,” you almost trembled, not only worried about yourself but about what yuken would do too.

“ah, them?” he pointed at the high school Z boys without hesitation. “mhm..” you hummed.

“Oi!” he shouted and caught people's attention. you turned making him stood behind you.

they walked towards you and smirked. “you have someone now, huh?” the tall one recognized you so well.

“was he not there that day?” yuken asked the other two guys. “no.” one of them answered.

“you better tell him and make sure he shuts his mouth up before i do.” yuken leaned forward and place his chin on your left shoulder. “my hands tried not to leave my pocket this time.” he continued.

you could feel his breath in your neck for a moment, sending chills on your spine.

without a single word, they left with their stuff unpaid and you breathe as much as you could possibly do. “its fine now, you dont need to be scared like that.”

“you make me scared!” you shrieked spontaneously.

“me?” he pointed himself in disbelief. “why?”

“i thought you were going to do something to them.”

“i did something.”

“i mean physically.”

he smirked. “eh, you worried now?”

you chuckled in annoyance. “you did something to them a few days ago, right? what did you do?” you asked with a stern voice.

he laughed lightly and couldnt help to ruffled your hair. “you are really cute when you try to intimidate me, you know that?”

you swore to god your heart was about to burst but your brain said no. with all your strength, you tried to keep your threatening face and stared at him. “i wasnt joking, odajima-san.”

he chuckled, still. “i gave them a little lesson.”

“what kind of lesson?”

“my favorite lesson.”

“what is it?”

“oh, you want to know more about me?”

you sighed. you couldnt deal with him.

“let's go home.” you walked ahead of him to the cashier.

he stared at your back and smiled before join you in the queue.

at least he knows that you are safe now.

[fl3shm4id3n]

𝕿𝖍𝖊𝖗𝖊 𝖎𝖘 𝖆 𝖋𝖎𝖗𝖊 𝖇𝖊𝖙𝖜𝖊𝖊𝖓 𝖀𝖘

𝐒𝐮𝐦𝐦𝐚𝐫𝐲: 𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐢𝐫 𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐡𝐚𝐝 𝐛𝐞𝐠𝐚𝐧, 𝐢𝐭 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐚 𝐛𝐢𝐭 𝐝𝐢𝐟𝐟𝐢𝐜𝐮𝐥𝐭 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐛𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐧𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠. 𝐎𝐧𝐞 𝐛𝐞𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐲/𝐧 𝐬𝐞𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐰𝐚𝐭𝐜𝐡 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐦 𝐬𝐮𝐟𝐟𝐞𝐫 𝐰𝐡𝐢𝐥𝐞 𝐘𝐨𝐥𝐨𝐭𝐥𝐢 𝐡𝐚𝐝 𝐛𝐞𝐞𝐧 𝐧𝐢𝐜𝐞𝐫, 𝐛𝐮𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐲 𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝𝐧'𝐭 𝐢𝐠𝐧𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐡𝐨𝐰 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐲 𝐛𝐞𝐠𝐚𝐧 𝐭𝐨 𝐟𝐞𝐞𝐥 𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐦𝐢𝐬𝐜𝐡𝐢𝐞𝐯𝐨𝐮𝐬 𝐧𝐚'𝐯𝐢.

ᴘᴀɪʀɪɴɢ: ɴᴇᴛᴇʏᴀᴍ x ɢɴ! ɴᴀ'ᴠɪ ʀᴇᴀᴅᴇʀ x ᴀᴏ'ɴᴜɴɢ

Tw: y/n being a bit mean, wounds, bit of jealousy, hunting, blood, skinning, cooking

Author’s note: I hope you guys like this part too, the reason why I used jaguar patterns on the na’vi was because I looked up an animals the Mayans worshipped and I came across the Jaguars. Writing about food makes me hungry XD

P.s. Also, idk how many parts of this series I should make, perhaps another ten? Or thirteen maybe? 

Masterlist

After breakfast, while Neytiri and Ronal went to talk with Nicté, both Y/n and Yolotli guided the boys around, showing them places they could go explore and such. The whole time, Y/n had been talking along with swearing in  Yucatec, both Neteyam and Ao’nung had no idea what they had been saying, Yolotli had to translate to them, she apologized when Y/n had calledd them an insult such as ‘Idiota’, it was their own word for Skxawng.

The group of teens had arrived at a small opening in the forest, that was around where the volcano was. Some girls who they assumed were y/n’s friends tagged along, again speaking in Yucatec to one another. They kept looking at them males and saying things about them, some had been staring a bit to long at them, even giving them smiles and giggling when they caught the boys off guard.

“Okay, first, you must make a bond with the Nì’awve “ she said, turning to the woods and began to make a hissing noise, having her tongue between her teeth. Then movements from the bushes came, two large creatures came out. they were large snakes with coal colored skin that apparently was hard as the volcanic rock, they were almost as big as a Thanator. “You must bond with them, once the bond is done, then you will learn the ways of how to control fire” she said.

Y/n had been chating with her friends, then she saw that the Ni’awve had arrived, then stopped and said. “Le ba'ala' kun u jats'utsile' “ this should be fun, then they departed from her friends walked over next to Yolotli. “Who wants to go first? I mean unless you’re scared” they said making the other girls laugh. Yolotli gave them a warning look. Neteyam and Ao’nung looked at one another. “I’ll go” Neteyam said walking over.

“Okay, just stay calm” Yolotli said as she helped Neteyam get onto the beast. “Its important to have a good position” she said as she began to position him the proper way. Yolotli then carefully went behind the beast’s head and got a small antenna. “Here, make the bond” she said as Neteyam then grabbed his queue and attached it to the beasts. Then the Ni’awve began to shift harshly, but he held on tightly to the beasts. “Its okay, be calm” Yolotli said as Y/n was holding back laughter “you also, might want to hang on tightly” they said as then the Beast just took off.

Neteyam held onto it for dear life, the Ni’awve was going too fast, he tried to remain calm but the beasts movements were making it difficult. The beast continued to move fast and out of control, then out of no where the animal had thrown Neteyam off. He had landed on the floor hard, while he was laying on the floor in pain, he heard the group of girls and Y/n laughing their heads off. 

“Neteyam!” Yolotli shouted as she ran over to the boy on the ground. “Are you okay?” she asked, helping him sit up. “Yeah, just... in pain” he said rubbing his back. “Its okay, I fell my first time too, would you like to try another day?” she asked then Neteyam shook his head. “No, I’ll do it again” he said as Yolotli nodded and helped him up, walking over to where the beast went, back to the group.

Y/n was still chuckling with tears in her eyes, Neteyam also noticed that Ao’nung was trying so hard not to laugh. “Sorry, its just” Ao’nung said as he then just laughed. Neteyam glared at him, this reminded him of the time when Lo’ak had fallen off his Ilu. “Are you going again or have you give up already?” y/n asked Neteyam who walked over back to the beast. “I’m going again” he said as Yolotli got a settle for the beast, she got it from one of the girls who was holding two saddles. Once she put the settle on the beast, Neteyam hopped on, sitting on the beast’s back. “Suit yourself” y/n said smirking at them. Yolotli gave Neteyam an apologetic look “be careful” she said.

Neteyam connected his queue into the beast, then the beast took off again. This time Neteyam was holding tightly onto the saddle. When the beast took off, this time Neteyam held on tightly into the saddle, he was going to bond with the beast no matter what, even if he had to fall accouple more times, he will bond with it. After a little while from riding the Ni’awve he didn’t fall, this time the creature seemed more friendly towards him. He had bonded with the beast. 

He let out a victory cry, also seeing that the group of girls looked stoned, they celebrated as well. Yolotli ran over to him with a smile on her face. “You did it! You bonded!” smiling at him. Neteyam had forgotten about his injury, after wards he then felt the pain come back. The adrenaline had worn off and he groaned in pain. Yolotli than helped him down from his now beast. “You okay?” she asked as he just nodded. “Yeah, it just hurts” he mumbled as Yolotli walked him over to y/n.

“Y/n/n? Can you take Neteyam to mama?” she asked as y/n who had not said a word nodded. “Yeah, lets go” they said, leading Neteyam away while Yolotli helped Ao’nung. As they walked side to side, y/n spoke. “I had to admit, that was impressive of you Netnet” they said smirking at the boy, they noticed how his cheeks turned purple. “Thank you” he said as they both arrived at a small hut

It was similar to a home like his temporary one, except there was a small cot, two little stoles, some herbs hanging on the wall, and on the middle was small fire bit, which was lit while a small caldron hanged above the fire. He saw a woman there, she was making something on the small table that was on the corner of the hut. “Mama? I need your help” y/n said as the woman turn to look at her.

The woman was just like everyone else, pale skin, and dotted patterns. Her eyes were a golden color, her hair was as long as her queue, she was wearing an bld dark blue huipil skirt with different patterns, that went from her waist to her calves, she had no top on, thankfully her hair was the thing that covered her chest. She had also had a symbol drawn on her chest and others symbols on her cheeks near her mouth. She had wooden earrings and a piercing at the bottom of her lip just like Yolotli. Neteyam did not miss her beauty, she seemed as if she was gift from Eywa.

“Oh, what happened?” the women asked, taking Neteyam by the arm gently, guiding him to sit on the stole. “He fell off the Ni’awve” y/n said chuckling, the woman examined him. There were some scrapes on his back and elbows, the woman then got some water from a bucket and began to clean his wounds with a cloth. She had a very gentle touch “y/n make some tea” the woman said as y/n nodded and got to making tea. They took some dried herbs from the wall and got to work, crushing the leaves and putting them in the caldron with water to boil. 

After the woman was done cleaning his wounds, she got a little bowl with a strange colored paste and began to put some of the paste on him. Neteyam winced in pain, it burned. “I’m sorry that it hurts, but this should heal your wounds.” The woman said as she she continued. Y/n had approached with a cup, that had the steaming tea and handed it to the woman. “Here drink this, it may taste bad but it will help with the pain, it best to drink it hot” she said smiling. Neteyam nodded and drank the tea fast, it tasted horrible and it was hot. 

“Oh, how rude of me, I haven’t introduced myself. My name is Patli, I am the mother of both y/n and Yolotli.” She said kindly at the boy. “Its a pleasure to meet you” he said smiling at her. Patli smiled and walked over to the table that had freshly cut herbs, taking some and tied them with a smile string. She walked over and handed them to him, along with a little wooden tin with that paste. “If the pain comes back, you can make a tea with these herbs or you can chew them. They should take the pain away.” She said kindly. “Thank you ma’am” Neteyam said respectfully to her. 

“Okay, we’ll be on our way” y/n said as Patli pulled them into a side hug and kissed their forehead. “Stay out of trouble now” she said as but y/n let out a dramatic gasp “me? causing trouble? never” they said as Patli gave her a look of ‘I know how you are’. Both y/n and Neteyam walked out of the hut. “Patli is very nice” Neteyam said as y/n responded as they walked back to where the rest of the teens were. “I mean, where do you think Yolotli got her kindness?” they said. “So, it was her that birthed her?” he asked as y/n nodded. “Yup! and my other mother Nicte gave birth to me” they said. Now it made since, y/n shared a lot of Nicte’s traits and Yolotli shared a lot from Patli’s traits.

When they returned to the spot, Ao’nung was on the back of an Ni’awve, he seemed to had got the hang of beast, he probably already bonded with it. The group of girls then spotted Neteyam and ran towards his direction, all the girls had tried to get a hold of him. “That was so amazing!” one of them said, then another much taller girl chimed in “yeah, who would of thought a forest na’vi would bond with a Ni’awve” she said a bit too flirty. Other girls had chimed in talking over each other, completing Neteyam. 

Y/n had been watching the whole time, and for some reason, they did not liked how her friends were putting hands on the boy na’vi. They glared at the group of girls trying to get Neteyam’s attention. “He is a ladies magnet alright” Ao’nung who was now standing next to you said. “Really?” y/n asked looking at him, the Metkayina boy nodded “Yup, back home he had a load of girls chasing after him.” He said as Y/n continued to watch. “Where is Yolotli?” they asked “oh, she went with my mother and Neytiri, she said she wanted to teach them how to cook stuff from here.” He said.

Then y/n got an idea “would you like to go hunting?” they asked as Ao’nung saw the smirk on their face, a toothy smirk he already knew to well. He couldn’t help but also notice some jade gems on their teeth. “Sure, why not” he said as Neteyam had managed to get away from the group of girls towards Ao’nung and y/n. “What are you two planning?” he asked as y/n responded. “We’re going hunting, I want to see how good you are” they said as they began to walk away. The boys followed y/n, they had gone towards her home which was the giant pyramid. They walked all the way to the top, y/n had no problem, but both Ao’nung and Neteyam got exhausted, as soon as they got to the top, they dropped to the floor trying to catch their breath. Y/n had gone in to get their weapon of choice.

Once they came out, they had three spears, a knife and a Macuahuitl. “Come on, lets go” they said walking down the steps. The boys looked at each other then groaned. They all walked down the steps, again both boys were exhausted. The trio reached the forest, then y/n began to give each boy a spear. They had tied their Macuahuitl onto their hip. “Okay, now that we are all set, lets go.” They said as they went into the woods.

They went deep into the woods, trying to find a prey. They continued to walk until y/n stopped. “Listen” they said, they all stayed quiet, listening to the forest at first but they began to hear heavy sounds, sounds of an animal. Y/n then began to climb on a tree, Neteyam followed while Ao’nung also followed but he had was having a difficult time climbing. Y/n crawled near a hug branch, staying quiet as possible, looking down, spotting a Tapirus, by it self, eating the grass peacefully. 

y/n turned to see the boys behind them, they lifted their finger to their lip, signaling them to stay quiet. They then got their spear, aiming the weapon towards the animal. y/n waited for a bit before throwing the weapon, hitting the creature in the right spot, instantly killing it. “Yes!” y/n said in victory, both Neteyam and Ao’nung were surprised. “Damn” Neteyam said as Ao’nung had his jaw dropped. “I guess we’ll be having menudo or may be Chile Colorado” they said as they jumped down to retrieve the creature, the boys followed behind. “Chile what now?” Ao’nung said confused making y/n roll their eyes. “Chile Colorado, its a dish, very spicy, the spicier the better for me” they said.

Y/n pulled out the spear from the creature, getting some blood on them, some landed on their face. They touched the spot on their cheek which had blood, and they licked the blood of their fingers. Neteyam and Ao’nung looked at one another surprised by their action. “So, where else should we hunt for?” they asked as Neteyam then said “Fish? Do you guys eat fish?” he asked as y/n responded “we rarely eat fish, we like to eat meat, we could go for some fish” they said. Y/n had picked up the animal, carrying it on their back as if it were nothing to them.

“Would you like me to carry it for you?” Neteyam asked as y/n looked at him with an eye brow raised. “Are you sure?” they asked as Neteyam nodded. “Okay” they said removing the animal from their back and put it on Neteyam’s back. As soon as the beast was on his back, he nearly fell, the creature was heavier than him, he tried to stay up the creature’s heaviness was greater. “You need help there?” Ao’nung asked with a smirk. “N-no.. I’m doing just fine” he said as he nearly was about to fall. “Yeah, give it here” y/n said taking the creature off his back. “You okay?” they asked Neteyam who was catching his breath. “Never.. been better..” he said trying to catch his breath. 

They continued their hunting. They had arrived at a river nearby, both boys had jumped into the water in search for fish. They had been in the river for a while, catching as many fish as they could. After a while they had got a lot of fish, enough for a lot of people eat. They began to head back to the village, back to the boy’s temporary home. Yolotli had been there helping both Ronal and Neytiri with the cooking. She had brought them a clay cooking pot along with other dishes. “We’re back” Neteyam said getting their attention. “Oh you brought Tapirus” Yolotli said as Y/n placed the creature down “yeah, we could teach them how to make Chile Colorado.” They suggested, as Yolotli responded. “That sounds good, I’ll have to go get some Red Chiles though” she said giving both Ronal and Neytiri a polite smile and living to get red chiles. 

Y/n began to skin the animal while both Ao’nung and Neteyam watched, as they skinned the fish they brought. The boys had skinned animals before, but they this was different, they watched them with fascination, as if they wanted to watch them do this for a life time. They were both snapped out of their thought when Ronal had called them over to bring her the fish. Y/n had put the remainings of the animal in a basket so that they could feed it to the Ni’awve. Yolotli had returned with the chiles. That whole after noon they had been cooking. Since they were going to stay with them for a while, they might as well learn.

Yolotli had been teaching both adult women how to make the red Chile Sause, while y/n was showing the two boys how to cook the Tapirus meet for the stew. They also added other ingredients to the stew. They had also introduced them to red rice. After the food was ready, Neteyam and Ao’nung had invited both y/n and Yolotli to stay for dinner, as a way to thank them in helping them that they. They both stayed to eat dinner with the family.

Everyone was talking about their day and other stuff that will be happening towards the week. During the conversation, Ao’nung mouth had been on fire, due to the food being very spicy, he nearly drank all the water just to cool off his tongue. Y/n had been laughing since they weren’t used to eating spicy things. Both Y/n and Yolotli had been eating the spicy stew as if it were no problem. After dinner, y/n and Yolotli helped clean up and left back home due to getting dark. 

That night both Neteyam and Ao’nung couldn’t really sleep, they had been thinking y/n and y/n only. They really couldn’t understand why they had been thinking of the Tsahìk ‘s child. They weren’t sure why, but they both knew that sooner or later something more might happen.

Taglist: @Katelyn1234, @1witch-hybrid1, @luvlykrispy, @luvkeu, @ssc7514, @spqce-buns, @eywaheardyou, @blueberry-thrawn , @zatarias-pandora​, @randomspamposts​

[scribblesofagoonerr]

September Love | Never Grow Up

the third and final installment in the mini series - this is the second version, more sadder so that's a heads up there

summary: remi starts her first year of school and there's a new arrival in the williamson family

pairings: leah williamson x reader

warning: talks of death.

alternative ending for this one - please don't hate me for it, i'm sorry in advance!

based on the reactions to this one, is how i am going to figure out the next mini series!

“I can’t believe it’s this time already,” Leah says, a frown etched on her face as she stares at an old photo of Remi at 5 weeks old that she had saved in her phone, “Where has the time gone?” She murmurs.

It only felt like it was yesterday.

“We blinked Le,” You tell her, your eyes softening, “And just like that, she’s off to big school.” You add.

“But she’s still too tiny for big school, isn’t she?” Your wife exhales a sigh and continues to stare at the photo on her phone with tears welling up in her eyes.

“Le, she’s 5 years old now. We have to let her go now,” You say gently, reminding your wife that your eldest girl was indeed not a baby now.

“I still don’t like it though,” Leah admits quietly, shaking her head in disagreement.

You can’t help but chuckle heartily, “She’s only going into her first year of reception, it’s not like she’s moving out the country,” You tease your wife, which you’re quick to be on the dirty end of a scowl, “Come on Le, you know what I mean.”

“Don’t even joke about things like that,” Leah murmurs, continuing to frown at you, “You don’t get it though, it’s her first day of big school… which means she’s not a baby anymore.” She adds.

“No she’s not,” You reply quietly in agreement.

Your wife bites her bottom lip and shakes her head vigorously, “I don’t like it. Why can’t we just turn back the clock?” She asks.

“It doesn’t work like that,” You laugh humorlessly and shake your head.

“It’s just,” Leah begins to say as she finds the right words, “She was our tiny little baby at one point and now… now she’s just growing up so fast.”

“Don’t worry, we’ve still got time to go through all this again, remember?” You tell her, gesturing towards your swollen belly as you are ready to give birth any day now, “Twice.”

“I know,” Your wife’s eyes soften as she crouches down and rests her hands on your baby bump, “I can’t wait to meet you baby boy.” She whispers, placing a gentle kiss on your stomach.

“And he can’t wait to meet his Mummy either,” You tell her, genuinely smiling at the blonde, “Any day now.” You add, hopeful that he does make his appearance sooner rather than later after getting to the stage of being uncomfortable, and pregnancy during Summer is no joke.

“Why’re you sad, Mummy?” Remi’s voice pipes up out of nowhere, all ready for school wearing her brand new school uniform that you have to admit looks massive on her, her hair done up in a loose ponytail with a red ribbon attached while she wears her new black shiny shoes that you had the absolute misfortune of having to experience standing in a queue to just to get into the busy shop – that is something that you can definitely say you’re not such a fan off.

“Oh I’m not sad, baby Gooner,” Leah immediately plasters a smile on her face, “I’m just… I’m really proud of you, you know?” She adds, wiping away the stray tears from her face.

“But you’re crying though,” Remi frowns in confusion as she tilts her head to the side, “You only do that when you’re sad, like when you watch them really sad films about the puppies or when you’re on the pitch sometimes–”

“Okay, okay, I think we get it,” Leah interjects, before your daughter has any further chance to expose your wife for the softy that she really is, “I’m not sad, baby Gooner. I’m just so excited for you that you’re starting big school today. Are you excited?” She questions.

“Uh huh! I am so excited, I can’t wait to make lots of friends like uncle Jacob told me about!” Remi is vibrating with excitement, which is more than can be said about your wife.

“You’re going to make so many new friends!” You reassure your little girl with a proud smile on your face, “Alright, how about we take a picture for your first day of big school, yeah?”

“Yeah!” Remi jumps up and down in delight at the idea.

“Big smiles, Remi Roo!” You encourage as your daughter flashes you a gap-toothed smile from the tooth that she lost just the previous week.

You make it a whole family occasion with Esme toddling in to join in the photo opportunity and many snaps are taken amongst your little family of four, soon to be five.

“Perfect, baby girl!” You tell her, taking lots of pictures as you stare at them with a sense of nostalgia as all the sudden memories come to light of the several milestones Remi has achieved over the last 5 years, “You really are growing up, Remi Roo.”

“I don’t like it, it’s too many milestones at once,” Leah cracks under the pressure and shakes her head, wiping another stray tear away.

“Le,” Your facial expression softens as you wrap your arms around your wife to comfort her.

“It’s okay, Mummy!” Remi wraps her small arms around Leah’s legs, “Don’t be sad now! It’s gon’ be okay!”

“Me join!” Esme, not wanting to be left out, holds her hands up in the air for you to lift her up, “Mummy sad?” She asks, confused.

“A little bit,” You answer your youngest honestly.

“I make it better,” Esme declares, pressing a sloppy kiss on Leah’s cheek, “All better?”

“Much better, thank you Essie Bear,” Leah coos, returning a gentle kiss to Esme’s cheek.

“You can still cuddle me, even when I’m at big school!” Remi points out, peering up to look at your wife from where she’s stood, “It’s okay!”

“Oh, well in that case then I am definitely holding you to that,” Leah grins and scoops Remi up into her arms, “I’m gonna get in all the snuggles in that I can!” She says, squeezing her tightly.

“Alright, alright,” You break it up jokingly, “Let’s not smother her before she even makes it out the door for her first day.”

“Don’t you dare make fun of me,” Leah tells you, pointing her index finger in your face, “This is a big moment today.” She adds, placing Remi back down on the floor.

You snicker in amusement at your wife’s expense, “Oh don’t I know it? Big bad scary Leah Williamson crying over her little girl’s first day at big school,” You pause, the smirk not leaving your face, “Gosh, what will the world think?”

Your wife glares at you and gently swats you, “Shut up, I’m allowed to be emotional today.”

“Uh huh, and what’s the reason for every other day then?” You can’t help but wonder with a shit eating grin on your face.

“You’re lucky that I love you,” Leah murmurs, rolling her eyes at your antics to wind her up.

“And I love you too,” You reply, pecking her on the lips, “You’re the lucky one that I put up with you being a blubbering mess every time Remi does something that’s deemed ‘too grown up’,” You remind her, amusedly.

“I’m emotional, okay?” Leah exclaims, throwing her hands up in the air, “She’s our eldest, our baby… Our baby Gooner!”

“You can’t call me that anymore, Mummy!” Your 5 year old points out, “I’m not a baby!”

Your wife pouts at your daughter's words and shakes her head, “You will always be my baby, no matter how old you get,” She pauses, “Even when you’re 30 and you have your own family.”

Remi wrinkles her face up in disgust, “Boys are yucky, I don’t want a boyfriend.” She states,

“And you’re definitely right to think that,” You chuckle amusedly as you gather your small family out of the door and make your way to your wife’s BMW, “I think if Mummy had her way, she wouldn’t let you date until you’re 25 at least.” You joke.

“I’m ready to go in!” Remi announces, standing outside of the school gates in a tone that sounds far more grown up than her 5 year old self, “I’m not scared.”

“It’s good to not be scared, you’re going to have so much fun!” You tell her, holding her hand and guiding her through the gates of the school while Leah follows behind holding Esme’s hand, “You’re going to smash it, baby girl!”

“And we’ll be right here to pick you up when the day is done, okay?” Leah reassures your daughter, catching up with your toddler, who likes to walk at her own pace.

“Okay!” Your eldest nods in agreement, bouncing on her toes as she carries her backpack that looks way too big for her.

“Rem! Rem!” Esme shouts to get her big sister’s attention, “Rem!”

“I’m going to big school, Bear,” Remi crouches down and wraps her arms around her little sister, “But I’ll see you when I’m home and tell you all about it!”

Watching the exchange between your daughters, makes your heart swell with pride and a touch of bittersweetness.

“Miss ‘ou, Rem,” Esme pouts, a little frown forming on her tiny face as her voice wobbles, as if she’s on the verge of tears.

“Miss you too, Bear,” Remi continues to squeeze her little sister tightly, “I’ll be back later though, don’t worry!” She adds with a smile that reveals her recently lost tooth.

“Come here, you,” Leah crouches down to your daughter’s level and wraps her arms around her, squeezing her tightly as if to not let go and hold on to her forever, “I’m so proud of you, here at big school, eh?  You’re going to make so many friends and learn so much! Oh, and have a lot of fun as well!” She tells her.

“Mummy,” Remi attempts to wriggle away from your wife’s embrace, “You’re… You’re squeezing too tight.” She whines,

“I’m just soaking up the moment until you’re home from school,” Leah admits, pulling back and brushing a loose strand of hair behind Remi’s ear, “Big school, eh? I wish you would stop growing up so much on me, I don’t like it.” She jokes with her.

“You have to let me grow up, Mummy,” Remi’s giggle is infectious as she squeezes your wife again tightly, “I gots’ to go in now, but I’ll see you when you pick me up, remember?”

“We will be right here waiting for you,” You tell her, unable to crouch down properly with your swollen belly in the way, “We’re so proud of you, Remi Roo!” You add, kissing the top of her head.

You spot your daughters’ teacher making her way over to your family as she gives you both a kind smile, “Hi, Remi. Are you ready to go in?” She asks.

“Yes!” Remi excitedly replies, giving you both a final hug goodbye before she takes hold of her teachers’ hand and begins to walk in the building, “Bye, Mummy! Bye, Mumma! Bye, Bear!” She calls back, her voice ringing with excitement.

“Bye, baby Gooner,” Leah waved back, her voice catching slightly as you see the glimmer of tears threatening to spill over again.

You can feel your own chest tightening as you force a smile and wave, “See you later, Remi Roo. Have the best day!”

“Bye-bye, Rem! Love you!” Esme clings to Leah’s leg, waving frantically.

“Save your tears for the car, Le,” You tease, taking note of your wife’s eyes, the tears are a lot more visible now, “I know it’s hard to watch her go in there, but it’ll be 3 o’clock before we know it.” You add, hoping that helps things a little better.

“I know,” Leah murmurs in agreement, walking round to the pre-school that Esme attended next to the school.

You can say that dropping Esme off to pre-school wasn’t too hard, although there were extra tight hugs given before your youngest daughter ran off inside without a care in the world.

Much to your wife’s disappointment, and you swear the tears threaten to spill again.

“At least we know what your weakness is now,” You joke, climbing back into the passenger seat of the car after dropping them both off, “It’s only a few hours, remember? It’ll be here before we know it.” You tell her.

Leah tries to laugh it off and shake her head as she climbs into the driver's seat, “Yeah, and to think I still have to go to training,” She pauses as wipes a visible tear away as she buckles her seatbelt in, “I wish I could just tell Jonas that we have a family emergency.” She tells you.

It’s at that moment, you completely freeze as you feel a sudden wet patch on your leather seat.

 “Um, Le,” You mumble, getting her attention as she fiddles with the dials of the car to find the right music playlist, “I think you might need to call Jonas and tell him that there’s a family emergency.” You say.

Leah turns towards you and looks confused, “Why’s that, love?” She wonders.

“Well, because I’m 99% sure that my waters have just broken,” You admit, gazing down to motion to the seat.

It takes literal seconds for your wife’s eyes to widen in shock, “What? Here? Now?” She rambles in a clear panic, “Seriously? Oh my God!”

“Don’t panic,” You murmur, trying to keep the situation calm despite your best efforts – Your wife is very much in a complete panic over this.

“I’m not… I’m not panicking,” Leah stutters her words as she runs her hand through her hair, “What'd we do? Do you feel like you have contractions? We need to get the hospital bag from the house!” She continues to ramble.

You shake your head in disagreement, “I don’t feel like there’s any currently,” You pause, “We’ll go home, stay there until they start and head to the hospital when it’s time, yeah?” You suggest, trying to keep calm in the situation despite the one being hours away from giving birth.

“O… Okay,” Leah swallows the lump that’s formed in her throat, “We’ll go home, we’ll wait there– I need to call my Mum, she’ll need to pick the girls up.” She notes in realisation.

“Yeah, I somehow don’t think it’s going to be possible to be there for the 3 o’clock pick up after all,” You murmur, exhaling a sigh, “Little man has decided today’s the day to make his grand entrance into the world.”

Plans don’t always go as expected. You certainly didn’t expect to go into labour on the very same day that your eldest daughter started big school, but sometimes life takes you by complete surprise.

That day, life had a far bigger surprise than you or Leah could ever have imagined.

“This doesn’t feel right, you should be here,” Leah speaks aloud a few hours later, cradling your newborn son, Archie George Williamson at home  in her arms, knowing that you should be here to see this moment as well. 

His tiny breaths, soft and slow, his fingers curled into little fists – You’re not there to hold him yourself.

The labour had been far more complicated than anyone could have anticipated and you lost too much blood, and though they tried to save you, you never woke up after your son came into the world.

Leah's eyes are red from crying, but she’s holding herself together for the sake of the baby – For the sake of the three children that you’ve left behind while she strokes Archie’s head softly, “I hate that you aren’t here, I hate that my Mum had to pick Remi up on her first day," She murmurs, almost to herself, “We promised her we would both be there.”

The room feels empty without you, a hollow space where your laughter and warmth should be. Leah feels the ache of your absence in every corner, in every breath she takes.

“I hope you know how much your Mumma loved you already, little man,” The blonde whispers,  her heart breaking as she looks down at Archie, whose little face is scrunched up while he sleeps, “Believe me, she loved you so, so much from the minute we found out we were expecting you.”

As she takes a deep breath to steady herself, she continues to speak, “Our family might not be complete now, but you’re here, Archie Bug and we’ll make sure that you know all about her.”

There’s a quiet knock on the door and the sound of little feet thundering down the hallway as Amanda has brought Remi and Esme back from school. Leah wipes her eyes quickly, trying to put on a brave face as the door flies open.

“Mummy!” Remi shouts, her voice full of excitement, her hair now wild and free from it’s ponytail, running into the room with wide eyes, bright and full of curiosity, unaware of the loss that’s waiting to be explained.

“Mumma! Mummy!” Esme echoes, hot of her sister’s heels, her usual energetic self completely oblivious to the gravity of the situation.

“Shhh, girls,” Leah gently admonishes, holding up a finger to her lips, “We have to be quiet and use our inside voices.” She reminds them softly, her heart aching as she realises she’ll have to tell them soon.

Remi, always so observant, stops short and notices the bundle in Leah’s arms, but frowns when she doesn’t see you on the sofa like she thought she would, “Where’s Mumma?”

Leah’s smile falters, the weight of her grief momentarily overwhelming as she struggles to find the words, “Mumma… She’s not here anymore,” she says softly, her voice quivering.

Remi’s head tilts in confusion, not able to understand your wife’s words so much, “What do you mean, Mummy?” She asks as her eyes fix on Archie as she tiptoes over to Leah with exaggerated caution, “Is this him?”

“It is,” Leah responds, her voice trembling, “Girls, this is your baby brother, Archie.”

Esme’s face lights up with delight, “Baby?” She says, her voice high-pitched and curious, “My baby?” She asks.

“Your baby brother,” Leah corrects with a small, sad smile as she continues to hold Archie in her arms.

Amanda, who has walked through the house with Jacob, peers over to look at her new grandson, “He’s perfect, Bubba.” She says, sharing a sad smile with her daughter.

Jacob scoops Esme up into his arms to give her a better look at your newborn, “He’s very little still, Es, so you have to be very gentle with him.” He tells her.

Remi leans in closer, her little face filled with wonder, “He’s tiny, Mummy,” She reaches out, carefully touching Archie’s tiny hand, “He’s smaller than my dollies.”

Leah laughs softly, tears threatening again, “He is, isn’t he?” She pauses to settle Archie down in his Moses basket, “But he’ll grow up to be big and strong, just like you.”

Jacob sets Esme down next to Remi, watching the two girls stare at their brother in the Moses basket as Amanda takes the moment to wrap her arms around her daughter to comfort her.

Wanting to be brave for her children, Leah wipes away any visible tears and plasters on a fake smile as she looks in the direction of her daughters, “What do you think, Essie Bear?” She asks, catching the moment that Esme tries to reach out and poke Archie’s cheek gently, “Gentle, Essie.” She reminds her with a soft smile.

Archie just lets out a soft sigh but still remains asleep, already learning to find comfort in the noise around him.

“He likes it, Mummy,” Esme declares confidently, trying to reach out and poke him again.

“We have to be gentle with him, Es. He’s only little,” Leah tells her softly, her voice catching in her throat.

Remi glances up at Leah, “Mummy, will he like Arsenal, like you do?” She asks, curiously.

“I mean I hope so, but if not then that’s okay too,” Leah answers honestly, pushing past the weight in her chest, “Just as long as he doesn’t follow uncle Jacob and support Spurs.” She jokes, trying to make light of the situation despite how heartbroken she feels inside.

“Of course you just had to get in there, didn’t you?” Jacob rolls his eyes, shaking his head in amusement.

“What? We’re a family full of Gooners in this house,”  Leah shrugs, trying to hold onto the joy in the room, “Just as long as all 3 of my kids are happy then that’s all that matters to me now.”

“Can I hold him, Mummy? Please?” Remi leans in closer, looking at Leah with those big, hopeful eyes that match her own.

Leah nods with a smile that almost feels real, “Okay, Rem, but you have to sit down and be very still, okay?” She instructs gently.

Remi eagers nods and hops onto the chair beside the bed, her little legs dangling off the edge as she waits in anticipation to hold Archie. Leah gently lifts the sleeping baby from his Moses basket, cradling his body with steady hands, though her heart feels anything but, as she slowly places him into Remi’s waiting arms.

“Hi, Archie,” Remi’s face lights up with pure delight, her grin stretching from ear to ear as she cradles her baby brother with such tender care in the world, “I’m Remi, I’m your big sister and I love you lots!” she whispers, her voice filled with awe.

“He loves you lots too, Rem,” Leah whispers back, her voice breaking just a little, how she wishes you were to see this, to be part of this moment.

“My turn next!” Esme declares, standing on her tiptoes, trying to peek over Remi’s shoulder, “My turn!” She repeats, a little too loud as Leah quickly hushes her with a finger to her lips.

“Soon, Essie Bear,” Leah promises, brushing a hand through Esme’s curly hair, “Remi’s just having a cuddle first, see?”

Esme nods eagerly, her face scrunched up in concentration as she watches her sister carefully, “Okay, I wait,” She whispers, “He’s cute, Mummy.”

“He is, isn’t he?” Leah agrees, her smile wobbly but genuine as she looks down at Archie before leaning down to kiss the top of Esme’s head, “He looks just like you when you were born as well. Tiny and perfect.”

As Leah watches her three children, she feels the weight of your absence, an ache that will never fully leave but she knows that no matter what, she needs to be strong for them now. Making sure that they never forget you, she will keep your memory alive in every way that she can.

Because even though you’re not here, your love is and Leah will make sure that’s enough.

© scribblesofagoonerr

[ghostoffuturespast]

Your Guide To The Archives...

Howdy, you can call me Ghost (she/her) and welcome to my digital haunting grounds!

Intro & Table of Contents below:

This blog’s been a lot of things over the years, but, as of right now, it’s primarily my repository for whatever catches my fancy. I refuse to make a sideblog, so if you’re not up for my mishmash of shenanigans, know that I’m not keeping you here. I’ve gotten pickier about who I’m following these days and don't always do follow for follow. Nothing personal, I just already have a hard enough time keeping up with people on my dash, but I know my regulars. I see you!

You don’t have to be a mutual or a follower to interact with me. I’m down for tag games and my inbox and messages are always open. (You can’t ask anonymously because I do require a return to sender address. If you want to chat in private DMs are available to everyone.) Almost all of my posts and reblogs are scheduled or queued. I may or may not be online but if you leave a message after the beep, I’ll get back to you eventually.

I like to keep it organized around here and prefer to tag my posts (weird notes included) for archival purposes. I batch queue stuff, so expect a delayed reaction on reblogs. If something’s not tagged it was probably an accident. I’m not great with buttons.

Tags

#little ghost on the prairie - Me out and about. Could be anything really but most likely it’s probably me standing in the middle of a field taking blurry pictures of plants or bugs.

#friday field notes - I work as a naturalist for my day job and this is a series of really informal posts about what’s happening out on said prairie.

#haunted - The eerie, the beautiful, the surreal. The things that stay with you.

#ghost's art - Various art projects.

#night city streets - VP related to Night City. Could be mine, could be someone else’s.

#from the top - My Cyberpunk 2077 VP collection. Lots of environmental shots and story photosets. All taken unmodded and unedited on PS5.

#oc: valerie hye jin li - My Cyberpunk 2077 OC. Corporate grunt-cog turned merc badass, aka the Notorious Stinky Grandpa V. Alternate tags are #my grandpa v and #stinky not fresh. (She’s got the personality of a grumpy old man, what can I say?)

Writing

Nothing Comes Before Night City (You'd never know just by glancing at this blog, but my second most obsessed about character is Mr. Blue Eyes.)

Part I - So It Goes - The completed first part of my CP2077 V/River Ward long fic. If you like epic length duologies, gritty slow burn neo-noir, vivid writing that waffles between prosaic and poetic, kickass action sequences, convoluted corporate conspiracies, copious amounts of angst, mind-numbingly large portions of smut, poetry references, and dumb jokes with punchlines pages down the road… Boy, have I got a referral for you. Tagged under - #fic: so it goes

Part II - Coming soon to a theater near you...

Les Préludes - Tangent short stories from the Nothing Comes Before Night City series universe. Stories will mostly be V or River centric, but expect a couple of surprise appearances.

Little House of Horrors - Unrelated one-shot horror stories set in the world of CP2077. Most of these feature original characters and plots but take their inspiration from the game world.

Fluff - The Garden - Shimmer & Shine - For something completely different.

Other Helpful Things

Cyberpunk 2077 Console/Vanilla Photomode Tutorials

Happy Hauntings, 🧡 Ghost

[little-pup-pip]

Just curious, what requests do you have in your queue/to do currently? If you're ok with saying it that is :]

Oh boy, that's a bigger question than last time someone asked! I have over 200 waiting requests at this point!! Because of that this got very very long, so I put the rest under the cut! Like last time, this is in order of how recently I received the request, and doesn't mean I'm too busy to take new requests!!

Ibara saegusa (enstars)

Monochrome oranges cats and angels

Gloomy bear

Another rockruff (maybe)

Cult of the lamb (specifically the lamb)

Llewellyn Watts (Murdoch Mysteries)

Jake (trailer park warlock)

Cult of the lamb (pet dreaming themed)

Bear therian

Selkie

Ice bear (we bare bears)

Tubbo (maybe)

Snow leopard

Pink

Australian shepherd (pupre)

Cassie (fnaf: ruin)

Draik (neopets)

The rainbow fish

Black kitten + space

Pumpkin head (maybe, needs more research)

Alice in wonderland

Sheep

Someone's OC Avery & siblings

Gothic

Star catcher (MLP)

Masc version of my druid board

Scrooge CG (2009 film)

Beetlejuice

Superstar daycare (fnaf)

1950s + ocean

Pandas + light purple and black

Dandelions

Willy wonka CG (recent movie)

Maki Harukawa (Danganronpa)

Kidcore Halloween + pumpkin puppy Webkinz

Fruit bat

Mermaid

Pastel purple + pandas

Robocar Poli

Brown, lime green and forest green puppy

Weird Barbie CG

Shiny Vaporeon

Where the wild things are

Squid

Dylan (the magic roundabout)

Conner CG (Detroit become human)

Mitsuri kanroji (demon slayer)

Minecraft mooshrooms

Sharks or wolves (haven't decided)

Hot Wheels

Miffy

Fox

Sharks

Zombies

Vincent (dead plate)

Vintage kitty dreaming

Deadpool

Shane CG (stardew valley)

Wolf pup

Celestia and Luna (MLP)

Soft blue and yellow

Pascal (animal crossing)

Pastel blue and pink

Batman CG

Ram

Osamu dazai (bungo stray dogs)

Dylan (the quarry)

Rain/nature + white rabbits

Ox

Penguin + dinosaur

Noah (total drama island)

Vision CG (marvel)

Light blue

Bumble bees + lavender

Yellow + ducks

Bearded vulture

Barn owl

Queen barb (trolls world tour)

Oliver (vocaloid)

Light green light brown and beige

Mind (Chonny Jash/CCCC)

Cinnamoroll + emu otori (project sekai)

Yellow+ chicks and puppy stuffies

Seam CG (deltarune)

Plants vs zombies

Viktor (arcane)

Queen of trash CG (Elmo goes to grouch land)

John Constantine (Justice League Dark)

Aziraphale (good omens)

Scenecore

Musa (winx club)

Leap frog

Hyper feminine puppy

Crow + black cat

Totodile + bodies of water

Bees

Sackboy (Little Big Planet) and or My Melody

Baby crocodile

Animal crossing

Pastel kitten

Doki doki literature club

Keralis (Hermitcraft, maybe)

90s grunge

Tula tones (novi stars)

Eevee + dragons

Kitten + stars

Ratchet (rescue bot academy)

Pastel shark

Mikan Tsumiki (Danganronpa)

Mushrooms

Grey + Ross federman youtooz

Sparkly dragon

Blue and purple + puppies

Ducks + alt/Gothic lean

Cinnamoroll

Shadow (sonic)

Jellyfish

Boyfriend.xml (Friday night funkin')

Puppet (fnaf)

Golden retriever + yellow and blue

Bernese mountain dog

Strawberries

Genshin impact

Len or Miku

Toothless (httyd)

Eddworld

Donnie (rise of the tmnt)

The princess and the grilled cheese sandwich

Pastel goth princess

SpongeBob

Karako Pierot (hiveswap)

Young Michael Afton

Soft fox

Great pyrenees + farm

Ike eveland

Invader Zim + neon green

Julius Caesar (Octavian, night at the museum, waiting until March for this one)

Scorpion

Vampire squid

Golden retriever (again, lol)

Cats + playing outside

Border Collie

Tiger

Argos CG (World of Mr. Plant) 

Pochacco

Mortal Kombat

marble cross fox/forest/fantasy (I'm figuring this one out still)

Puppy + SpongeBob

characters from Project Sekai, Hoshino Ichika, Mochizuki Honami, Akiyama Mizuki and Kusanagi Nene.

Baby vulture

Frog with more fem themes

Rain world/slugcat

Dark academia/cottagecore

Border Collie

Modded smash hit rooms

Crying child (fnaf)

Agent Smith CG (the matrix)

Katamari

Enjolras (les miserable)

Rolfe DeWolfe CG (Rockafire Explosion)

Bugbo

Slime rancher

Puppet (fnaf)

CosMc's

Parado (Kamen Rider)

Tally hall

Gordon (all engines go)

Spinel (Steven universe)

Cater diamond (twisted wonderland)

Rockabilly (probably)

Felix Lee

Jing yuan CG (Hsr)

Charles Xavier CG (X-Men)

Toki wartooth (metalocalypse)

Naoto Shirogane (persona 4)

Kitoto (I don't know what he's from)

17th century dutch

Sirena von boo (monster high)

Jake (miss peregrines home for peculiar children)

Minecraft

Sees behind trees

Allay (Minecraft, I think)

Spinosaurus screenshots or products

Tecchou (Bungo Stray Dogs)

Barbara (genshin impact)

Tasmanian devil

Spamton CG (deltarune)

Spinosaurus

Grunge + lop eared bunnies

Yume-Nikki

Daxter (jak and daxter)

Madness combat for puppies

James Sunderland (silent Hill)

Shirokuma (Danganronpa)

Leo (IDW comic)

[3gremlins]

i don't remember if i posted this (sometimes i run out of spoons setting up my queue/writing image descriptions and then i just don't post anything b/c i don't want to post things without descriptions*) but whatever!

did this back in october b/c there was that "kind of cat" meme going around bsky i think? and i thought it'd be fun to illustrate some of them. the plan is to eventually make them stickers but I am obviously behind on that T.T will be available in the store and earlier for patreon supporters when i get them made (stickers are always a little behind- tho by the time this posts, maybe i will have gotten to them already)

My cats fit several of these descriptions (izzy is for sure a snack master, and merrill is both a crime child and le slinkus) but i only used merrill as inspo for one (crime child) since i wanted to show different types of cats.

def have plans to do a few more but as always, my attention span is short (but circular!) and has to do a bunch of things before it comes back around to an idea

*though tbh i'm never sure my descriptions are that great :/ i try tho

[kingofthering]

I’ve touched on my experience in Le Mans this season (2024) and I have free time on my hands so I thought I could talk about my experience there in 2023.

CONTEXT

— I semi-impulsively bought the ticket at the end of January (2023) when I was on the website of the GP and saw that they had some GS seats left. I had a Zarco GS seat so I was right in front of the Raccordement and could see the straight before the finish line (I paid 159€ for it).

— At this point, I had only started getting into MotoGP a couple months prior and the only GP I had watched live was Valencia 2022. Le Mans was only a one-hour train ride away from where I lived and finding an okay-priced bedroom on AirBnB was a successful mission so I just thought this is low preparation, I’ll have fun, let’s go.

— I went alone and didn’t know anyone there. More under the cut.

OVERALL

— My only motorsport race weekend experience before that was GA in Monza 2022, you might have heard about how chaotic that was. Le Mans was such a relief in comparison.

— I’ve touched on it in my 2024 debrief but the Bugatti circuit has an entrance that is 150 meters away from the terminus of one of the tramway lines. Getting there from my AirBnB literally took 20 minutes door to door.

— I arrived at the doors around 8:30 on Friday, 7 on Saturday and 8:30 on Sunday. I didn’t have to queue at all at the gate on the first two days. I might have queued like 5 minutes on Sunday (reminder : Le Mans beat the previous attendance record that weekend with 278k people over 3 days).

— I bought at the circuit headphones that could do radio and connect to the speakers of the circuit. It cost 60 euros but it was so worth it (for the ears protection + the radio aspect of thing). If you wanna go the cheapest route, definitely have some sort of ear protection with you (ear plugs work as well).

FRIDAY

— Since I arrived early, there weren’t a lot of people at the fanzone. I was able to go see some bikes and then gain a free Red Bull after doing the reflexes game with the lights you have to tap with your hands.

— I went to my GS to see P1 and then came back to the fanzone around noon. I saw that some people were already waiting in front of the stage so I went to wait with them. I eventually ended up talking with some of the people there, especially the girls who asked about my Charles Stint Apparel sweatshirt.

— I think we started having people on stage at like 2pm? There was a DJ and some people I don’t remember intervening. Well, I do remember Hervé Poncharal and the CIP boys being there (can you believe I saw Mig from up close before realizing how insanely cool he was? I’m still terribly sad about that).

— Eventually, after P2 was done, it was time for the MotoGP riders to get there. First we had Rinsy & Taka, Pecco & Enea, then Johann & Jorge, Fabio & Franky and finally Marc & Joan.

— Essentially they all stayed about 15 minutes on stage, the guy managing the stage asked them questions and then the public could ask questions as well. On their way down from the stage they all stopped for autographs and selfies. I was second row/barely touching the barrier so I only took photos of them and had help from my new friends to get my Michelin cap signed by a bunch of them.

— I miraculously got to have the mic when Honda was there (only public question they took, they were only on stage for about 6 minutes because things got out of schedule) and I got to ask Marc a question. I did not ask anyone to film (yes I have regrets, ‘o my heart wasn’t doing well then) but essentially I asked him how he was feeling coming back and what he liked about Le Mans considering he’d won there 4 times already in the past. He paused me at the beginning of my question so he could find me in the public and look at me while I was asking the question, sweetest thing (bar is on the floor, I do not care, this is Marc).

— After that, we got some Moto2 pairs on stage as well : KTM Ajo (Pedro & Albert Arenas), GasGas (Jake & Izan) & Speed Up (Alonso & Fermin).

— During the afternoon people handed over a bunch of things to the first rows in the public and that’s how I got a signed by Marc Honda cap and a bracelet that would grant me access to the Hero Walk on Saturday morning.

— Overall an insane afternoon. Super tiring and not always easy (people were pushing a lot at some points and I am small™️) but definitely worth it.

SATURDAY

— They said the Hero Walk would be at 9 but I arrived at 7 because I didn’t know how many people would be there and I definitely wanted a front row for that. Things got kind of hectic when they put the final barriers but I did get said front row against the barriers.

— Almost all the riders came by (it lasted a little under an hour, almost until the beginning of FP). The public sang a Marseillaise for Fabio (as it did the day before during the fanzone event).

— I got to have my cap signed by a bunch of guys and also take selfies with a couple of them. I had my photo with Bezz as a lockscreen for a good while after the event (including the Sunday when he won) and I still have the photo with Alex as my insta pfp. Some of the guys you couldn’t talk to at all because too many people were calling for their attention (ex: Marc, Fabio…) but I got to congratulate Alex & Brad on their previous results and they were both super nice. Super nice experience that I still think about fondly.

— I went to my GS for quali and the sprint. I came by the fanzone for the second half of the MotoGP riders events. I was too far to ask for the mic again but I watched them all and I do have a small video of Tony speaking in French.

— At night, from about 7:30 to 9pm, they had a Mechanical Show on the straight with a lot of people doing stunts on motorbikes. Fabio also came by (Tom, Mathilde, Tony & Jake were there as well). He spoke some words and threw his helmet into the public. The whole thing was pretty cool.

— I know they had concerts on Fri & Sat at the fanzone but I didn’t stay for any so I won’t be able to talk about them.

SUNDAY

— Truthfully, I don’t think I have much to say about Sunday. I think Sundays will forever by my least favorite day at the race track.

— Essentially, I got there, waited in line nearly half an hour to buy a Red Bull can for 5 euros, watched warm up, watched the parade (that I still think is a super boring events for fans) and then the races.

— I was a little apprehensive about getting back to the train station but honestly things were super well organized with trams, it was quite nice.

[nerdieforpedro]

Weekend Update 07/29/2024

(Sure it's posted on a Monday, but I wrote it on the weekend so it still counts, I think. 🤭)

NERDIE! WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN?! 

What had happened was, I took a little break from Tumblr the latter end of last week into this week. I picked up an extra shift, staffing changed my schedule so I had alternating days instead of the days I planned and that was just work. The personal stuff was mainly just busy work but needed to be done so I have to focus. 

Focusing is good, did you rest at all?

I rested some, there was stuff I actually did need to do. I posted some on AO3 and I was writing some.

Oh?! Any new things on the way Nerdie? Or updates? Finish some of your stuff!

I’m working on it. I need the right inspiration. So far, I’ve been working on fics with the following Pedro characters: (some fics are new and some need to be updated)

Frankie Morales (of course!) 

Din Djarin (also a usual suspect)

Dieter Bravo (third usual focus)

Marcus Moreno (first time writing about him, no clue what I’m doing. I think it’s fine?)

Oberyn Martell (second time writing him? Kinda felt right the first time - will I strike gold again?)

Pero Tovar (continuing my Fire and Fury series)

Ezra (because I haven’t written him actually in the Green so I’m gonna try)

This is a lot happening. But you usually have a lot happening. Anything else you forgot to mention?

I’m going to start working on my “Le Writers” again. It dropped off as I started working on too many different projects at the same time. A tendency I have both in writing and in life, I need to work on that more. Anyway, I’m going to try and keep the every Friday schedule. 

I'm also looking at my asks and answering them.

There's 99+ notifications.... 👀 How did that happen?! It wasn't quite a week. I think. Replies to all that will be slow.

And just a fun "how long is your queue?" update: My current queue will be posting stuff up until December 1st 2024. Did I put too much in the queue? Yeah, but at this point I'm just trying to see how far it will let me post in the future. 😎

Stay safe and hydrated everyone! ❤️ 💜 💖

Love Nerdie!

[aiylabaysal]

Aiyla & Royce - Saturday July 13th - opening night @jroycethethird

The evening had begun with explanations and trust falls, setting an exciting energy for what Aiyla had hoped would be a week that could bring a renewed sense of safety, understanding, and trust for the town. They had all collectively been through enough as of late, all touched in some horrifying thing or another. Aiyla tried not to dwell on her personal tragedies. They'd spent enough time haunting her dreams and stealing sleep that all she cared to think about was sneaking away from peering eyes with Royce. Aiyla had his hands in hers, leading him further down the beach away from the swell of music, the scent of burnt sugar, fire, and saltwater tangled in the air.

As they walked, she filled the easy silence with little bits about the Beaches near Bordeaux. Aiyla talked in excited, whispered tones of the tallest sand dunes in Europe on beaches perfect for sunbathing. "If surfing is more your thing, there is Lacanau. But Le Porge is more remote but beautiful," Aiyla explained, her hand on his chest as she found them far enough from prying eyes now. She smiled up at him, all warmth and inviting touches along his arm. The crashing waves drowned out the bonfire several feet down the coastline, "Lunar Cove's beach is nice, but I do miss the once near home," Aiyla sighed as she spoke. When was the last time she had openly referred to France as home? She carried it with her always, in more than just the lilt of her voice. But in how she moved through life, the way she felt and experienced the world had all been shaped by it.

She missed it. She missed all of it. Her friends and family, her favorite restaurants and museums, her horses, "When we go I'll pick all the restaurants we eat at, you'll have to trust me," Aiyla said before pressing a tender kiss to his jaw, "The fireworks are about to start," she said thinking it would be the perfect distraction giving them a few minutes alone, and as if on queue the sky over the ocean lit up with an explosion of color. Aiyla turned her head to watch, her face illuminated by blues, reds and green filling the sky. "I know it's terribly cliche," she said turning back to him, her eyes falling to his lips.