#quickly becoming the favourite daughter in law

[wellthebardsdead]

Lucy: your fathers invitation to a banquet celebrating our marriage is obviously a ruse… hm… He keeps a red dragon as a pet correct?

Raphael: Testaron? Yes. His only purpose is to lounge around the palace to make it look more foreboding.

Lucy: I see where you get your flare for the dramatics from then. Right. I’ve got a plan. But we’ll need Lae’zel.

*that evening*

Mephistopheles: *cowering behind his throne as the dragon burns everything in sight minus the head of the large dinner table*

Lae’zel: *riding said dragon*

Lucy & Raphael: *both seated at the table watching the chaos unfold as they eat dinner*

Raphael: I am glad to see Lae’zel enjoying herself.

Lucy: I’m just glad the deal between Tiamat and the Githyanki still stand for now… once they find out what she did to mother Gith with vlaakiths help, well. That’ll be a fun sight to see.

Baalphegor: *seated next to them, sips her wine* I do apologise again for his behaviour dears. I did try to warn him you wouldn’t take his insult to Raphael lying down. Now tell me more about this, D and D, this- critical role and dimension 20 and how so many people know about me now~?

Lucy: Ah yes, where to begin, so there’s this man called Mathew Mercer who sounds a lot like my friend Minsc-

[youaintnothinbuta]

“Are you going to come see daddy’s show, little girl?” — Elvis x reader

Summary: you take your daughter to her first show of her daddy’s, and she makes quite the appearance on stage with him. a/n I was kicking my feet writing this lawwwwd I love dad!elvis

Pairing: dad!Elvis x mom!reader

Word count: 881

Warnings: fluff!! Dad!Elvis being domestic <3 probs typos tho sorry

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Elvis was playing a few shows in Memphis, so he got to relax around the house in the morning before having to head down to the auditorium at lunch time.

“You coming tonight, honey?” He asked, walking into the kitchen, planting a kiss on your head, just as you were putting your daughter in her seat for breakfast.

“We’re coming, Elvis.” You smiled, his eyes lit up as he clocked what you were saying. Overwhelmed with joy and excitement, he coddled you into his arms, kissing you all over, before lifting your daughter up and tossing her into the air, cheering as he did so making her squeal and giggle.

You handed him her bowl of blueberry and honey oatmeal, letting him feed her. He popped her back into her seat, “Are you going to come see daddy’s show, little girl?” He asked, giving her a spoonful. She laughed and nodded in response, reaching her hand out for another scoop.

“What do you think of daddy’s singing, darling? Is he a good singer?” You asked her, placing your hand on the back of Elvis’ neck as he fed her.

“Loud, daddy.” She commented, making you both laugh.

“She’s not wrong.” You added, placing two plates of French toast, decorated with berries on the table for you and your husband.

“She didn’t say bad so I’ll take it.” Elvis laughed, waiting between bites for her to tell him she wants more food.

That night, you and your daughter, Vernon and both your parents sat off to the side, by the end of the front row. Y/d/n sat on your lap with her headphones on, bopping and dancing and singing with delight as Elvis performed one of her favourites, Patch It Up. At the end of the song, the audience roared, cheering and clapping, your daughter copying everyone around her. The audience settled down, with Elvis pausing for a moment to have a sip of water. Y/d/n perked up with a giggle and squeal, her excitement impossible to contain, “Daddy!”

Immediately, as if almost instinctively, Elvis’ attention was on his daughter. Of course, as any good parent would, he would’ve been able to pick his child’s cry out of thousands. She cheered for him again, reaching up as she’d realised he’d spotted her. A grin spread across his face at her.

“That would be my daughter, y/d/n,” he chuckled, his eyes shining with pride.

With a playful twinkle in his eye, Elvis made his way over to where you were sitting, kneeling down on the stage beside you. You rose to meet him, a smile tugging at the corners of your lips as he leaned in to kiss you tenderly, earning a cheer from the crowd.

Taking your daughter into his arms, Elvis rested her on his hip, taking another sip of water from the bottle, which she quickly stole out of his hands and helped herself to. He took the opportunity of having a free hand to place his mic back in the stand. The audience watched in awe as Elvis interacted with your daughter, his love and adoration for her shining brightly on his face, “Can you say hi to everybody, honey?”

She mumbled a small ‘hi’ and squashed her face against his chest, becoming shy.

“Uh, yeah, this is y/d/n Presley. She’s 4 years old. My beautiful wife, Y/N, is down there too, and my daddy and my in-laws,” Elvis spoke to the crowd, bouncing her around in his arms.

“Blue, blue.” Your daughter mumbled, waving her hands about.

“What was that, sweetheart? Want to sing with Daddy?” he asked, and you could quite literally hear the smile on his face. He pointed to the mic, encouraging her to give it a go. At home, she definitely took after her father, she loved singing, always making noise, much like him.

He held her up, she pressed her lips to the mic, “one for the money, blue blue shoes,” her little voice sung, filled with enthusiasm.

The audience erupted into cheers and laughter at her adorable rendition of the famous song. Elvis and you chuckled along with them, giving each other a loving glance.

“Alright, you heard the boss, everybody this is Blue Suede Shoes,” he declared, shooting a wink in your direction.

As the band struck up the familiar tune, Elvis pretended to hold your daughter like a guitar, strumming her gently as she giggled with delight. He put her down, letting her dance around. You watched in awe as your husband and daughter danced and sang together on stage, the love between them obvious.

After the song ended, Elvis scooped your daughter up into his arms, planting a kiss on her cheek before turning to address the audience, “Alright, say goodnight, sweetheart.”

With a wave to the crowd, your daughter bid farewell before Elvis handed her back to you, his strong arms lifting her down to you. The audience erupted into cheers and applause once more, as he got back to the show. Afterwards, he was just beaming with happiness. Usually he’d make one or two comments about what needs to be improved or changed be he had nothing but praise for everyone and everything, you could tell it was a very special, very important night for him. Y/d/n was very exhausted, falling asleep in the car ride home, and Elvis just could not stop mentioning how funny she was and how proud of her he was.

[readychilledwine]

Hi, I would like to begin by saying that your writing is amazing and I love your works. I would like to make a request. Reader and Eris are friends that secretly crush on each other. The night before Eris' birthday, reader takes him to a fancy restaurant and surprises him with a birthday celebration there. Reader brings Eris to her home and gifts him but he tells her she's his favourite gift and the Reader is shook aghhhhhhhh then you can continue it however you want with fluff or 🔥.

I had a short piece similar to this in my WIPS. With some love, time, and adjustments, I kind of made a middle ground between the two!

Always Been Yours

Summary - After Beron decides to trap you in the Forest House, you are still determined to make Eris's birthday special.

Warning - implied smut towards the end, mentions of Beron controlling reader a little

The moment Eris laid eyes on you at his 5th birthday celebration, he began to believe in love.

At that tender age, he had never seen a female who had the grace and kindness to rival his mother, nor whose laugh made his stomach feel like he was about to throw up at any second. Plus, you were pretty. You were Lady Autumn pretty. And young Eris knew he could make you Lady Autumn.

The feeling was mutual. You found the young lordling charming, funny, and kind of cute for someone who definitely had coodies. The two of you spent the night dancing, consuming too much sugar, and running from the grownups together.

That childhood infatuation turned to teen tensions quickly when you both grew and aged together. Countless stolen moments and glances had the heir absolutely hooked. You were shy, while he was bold, and you hid that crush from him so well. Oftentimes causing the heir to wonder if he was alone in how he felt.

But none of that truly mattered, you were his first love, his only love, and Eris, in an irrational and dangerous decision, made the choice to show you that when you two first become adults. He tracked you down one night after a hard fight with his father, a bottle of wine and two glasses in hand, and took you to his chambers. You haven't left them since almost 200 years later.

Marriage to Eris was not easy. Beron was constantly a wedge between you two, causing small fights, pushing buttons you hadn't even known you had until becoming his daughter in law, using you to push buttons Eris prayed wouldn't cause him to try to execute his father before he was truly prepared and ready.

In those chambers, though, your marriage and making chambers, there was no Beron, to war, no duties, no obligations. There was only love, burning passion, and emotional understanding. There was only the two of you.

You stood checking your dress in the mirror one more time. The red velvet clung to every curve, the open neckline would give him a peek of two of his favorite parts of your body, and it hugged your waist so tightly you looked like the hourglass he kept on his office table.  You had curled your long hair, allowing it to fall freely down your exposed back, and accessorized it with the golden leaf shaped hair pins Eris had given you for your 16th birthday.  You looked stunning, you felt stunning. 

You moved to the table for two you had asked the staff to bring in, setting it to perfection as you added the food to the center and opened his favorite bottle of red to allow the wine to aerate. You had the kitchen prepare his favorite. Rabbit stew, fresh baked rolls, apple pecan side salad, and pumpkin pie. 

All of this for his birthday. His 505th birthday, you smiled to yourself. All of this to not only celebrate him, but to celebrate the now 500 years you two have known each other.

You had planned more hoping to take him out to a restaurant in the Night Court and spend a weekend away in the cabin you two shared, but after the run in with Koschei and the mortal queen, Eris wanted to keep you here. Beron may have been a vain male, but he was not stupid. He would not allow harm to come your way in his home for fear it would make him look weak. You adjusted the many presents from yourself and your friends on the separate table, smiling as you stepped back. 

Everything was perfect. Just absolutely perfect.

You lit the candles, setting the ambience in the room, and lowered the fae lights before staring at the clock out of nerves. Right on time, the door handle twisted. "My love, you will not believe who.." Eris trailed off, eyes locking on you before studying the room. "What is this?"

"Happy birthday."

"Y/n, dearest you did not have to do all of this." Eris set the reports down. Looking around the room. He paused, his nose sniffing the air. "You spoil me."

You walked to him, placing your hands on his warm chest. He brought his own warm hands to yours before leaning down to kiss you. "I had the kitchen make your favorites." Eris chuckled as he gave you another gentle kiss. "And there's presents."

He held your hand, pulling you to the table. "Sit," you commanded gently. You took the empty wine glass in front of him, pouring the aged Autumn Court Pinot Noir into the glass and setting it down for him before moving to serve him. 

You had not served Eris a meal since your mating ceremony many years ago. His father typically ensured you two ate with the rest of the family, thus allowing the High Lord control of your food intake. 

Eris was watching you, his eyes beginning to burn into your dress, wondering if you were hiding something pretty for him to bite and rip off underneath. 

Your love language, he quickly learned was gifts and acts of service. His was physical touch and time.

And Gods was he taking his time undressing you with his eyes. You felt your face flushing as you finished setting the food in front of him before serving yourself. "You look delectable, y/n."

You tucked a strand of hair behind your ear, feeling that flush deepening under his gaze. "Thank you, husband." He smirked. 

Years. Years has passed and he still gave you butterflies. He still made your hands shake and nervous. Years had passed and you still had a crush on your husband.

You two ate with your fingers laced together over the table, small twinned smiles on your faces as you spoke about his day and recent Court gossip. 

He helped you clear the table, summoning servants to take everything but the wine and the pie as you began to move him to the couch in front of where all the presents sat. "Those aren't the gifts I'd like to unwrap right now, dearest," hands found your hips, squeezing them softly. Eris leaned in, kissing the exposed skin of your shoulder and neck. 

You sunk into him, sighing as you exposed more of your neck. "But Er, there's so many good ones this year."

He grabbed your chin gently, turning your face and leaning to ensure you two were making eye contact. "My favorite gift has always and will always be you, y/n." He pulled you into him, turning you in his arms as he placed a heated kiss on your lips. "You would not deprived the birthday boy of the gift in the prettiest wrapping, would you, darling?"

You shook your head, "Never."

"Let me show you how much I love you," he kissed your wrist, "how I adore you," a a kiss on your collarbone, "and much I love this pretty little dress." 

The butterflies set in. The butterflies he had given you since you were little. The butterflies stayed as you two kept the romance, crushes, and desire burning so brightly it could have lit every hearth and warmed every home in the realm. 

Eris walked you backwards across the room, kissing you as his hands unlaced the dress, and lifting you as he felt it start to fall. 

"So beautiful. Now, spread your legs like a good girl and give me my favorite birthday treat."

[motherfuckingmaneater]

Obsessed with how you portray father Cygnus (I hate black sisters abuse theories) please give us all your headcannons for him!

You and me both, anon! My headcanons list for daddy warbucks is ENDLESS so here are a good chunk. Enjoy!

 ◜    ۞    ◞   he’s a Black through and through. Tall, broad, grey eyes, black hair, classically handsome even as he gets older and older. Behind Tom Riddle he was certainly one of the most handsome boys at school despite that he’s 2 years younger than Tom. 

 ◜    ۞    ◞   his best subjects were arithmancy, astronomy and alchemy. 

 ◜    ۞    ◞   his magical expertise is astounding — of course it is, he’s a Black — he can recall histories of ancient lineages in his sleep and he practices rune mapping regularly. His skin is littered in runes, though admittedly, not as deeply as Orion’s is. 

 ◜    ۞    ◞   like all Blacks he relies on his name more than anything else. They’re arrogant but they’re not show-offs like the Malfoys. They’re haughty but not snooty like the Rosiers. More than anything he knows how steeped in ancient and dark magic the Blacks are and he draws on that heavily, investing himself deeply in their unique, powerful, dark magic. 

 ◜    ۞    ◞   he also loves hunting (muggle hunting is a favourite), wizards chess, collecting dark artefacts — which he’s been doing for as long as he can remember, having ludicrously expensive things imported from all over the world. It was a hobby of his fathers which he shared interest in. 

 ◜    ۞    ◞   Speaking of his dad, he and Pollux had a lot in common but Pollux’s pride and joy was always Walburga.

 ◜    ۞    ◞   Pollux pushed him for a career in magical law with the Ministry. Irma wanted him to become an alchemist. Alchemy was his passion, a passion he later shares with his eldest daughter, Bellatrix. 

 ◜    ۞    ◞   He excelled in magical law enforcement anyway, taking additional studies to become a magilawyer. He climbs quickly in the Ministry, moving from junior to senior within the space of about four years. By the age of 30 he’s the head of magical law enforcement, the youngest wizard in Ministry history to reach that position. 

 ◜    ۞    ◞   For a long time he remains magilawyer primarily keeping purebloods out of Azkaban and supporting the imprisonment of mudbloods. Yes he’s a corrupt wizard, no he does not care. 

 ◜    ۞    ◞   he’s heir (English side, Orion is the French side’s heir) to the wealthiest family in the world. He has more gold than he knows what to do with. When he returns from the continent he invests it heavily in Lord Voldemort, who he’s always thought has absolutely the right ideas about blood purity and whom he genuinely admires (despite that he was not invited to become a knight at school). 

 ◜    ۞    ◞   Cygnus refuses to take the mark unlike many of his former classmates. Voldemort would’ve killed him for refusing him but Cygnus is useful and loyal despite his refusal to play destroy for him. Voldemort immediately uses him for keeping his death eaters out of prison if they’re ever caught, which isn’t often — and for writing new rules into the law systems of magical Britain. 

 ◜    ۞    ◞   he and Druella were a love match, though she is his complete opposite. His father approved of the match (she’s a good standing pureblood witch after all) but his mother didn’t and wanted him to marry a Black, likely his cousin Lucretia. She relented because of Walburga, who made the point of — what does it matter? His children will still be Blacks. 

 ◜    ۞    ◞   onto his babies!!! He’s very very proud to be a girl dad. He adores his three witches, every single one of them is the absolute light of his life and he understands them completely. He gets Bellatrix’s adventurous mind and rebellious spirit, he gets Andromeda’s academic mind and quirky spirit, he gets Narcissa’s pristine mind and sweet spirit. He adores them for their uniqueness and very much encourages them to explore and pursue their passions.

 ◜    ۞    ◞  baby Narcissa curled up on his chest is guaranteed to make him fall asleep within seconds. 

 ◜    ۞    ◞   Druella definitely marks him down as the reason Bellatrix takes the mark and Andromeda becomes politically minded against their way of life. Cygnus takes none of the blame because his girls have always been single-mindedly passionate to what they believe in.  

 ◜    ۞    ◞   Andromeda’s leaving wounds him deeply, but only furthers his closeness to Bellatrix and Narcissa, remaining very much a deep and fixed part of their lives. 

 ◜    ۞    ◞   he’s daddy as fuck. 

 ◜    ۞    ◞   100% Alphard was his best friend. He did not approve of him being disowned for giving Sirius gold, though he did heavily disapprove of Sirius’s actions against the family. 

 ◜    ۞    ◞   Walburga is the love of his life, he adores his big sister though he finds her intolerable at times (as all siblings do). He bends over backwards for her and does it without thinking twice. He is also exceptionally protective of her — cut to Cygnus decking Orion in the face for calling her a stuck up bitch and Walburga telling him she ‘wanted to do that herself!’

 ◜    ۞    ◞   Narcissa has done him the most proud for her family values and her integrity.

 ◜    ۞    ◞   Bellatrix has done him the most proud for her strength, ability, power and position in society.

 ◜    ۞    ◞   he approved of Bellatrix being taught magic by Voldemort when she’s 15 — after all, she’s practically a child and Voldemort is older than him what’s the worst that could happen? 

 ◜    ۞    ◞   He didn’t realise how in love with him she was until he hears them conversing when she’s 19 and engaged to Rodolphus Lestrange. He didn’t mean to listen in, but he overhears her begging him not to marry her to Rodolphus and take her instead. He says no but that it won’t change things between them, she’ll always be his first. It stilts Cygnus entirely and he leaves quickly. He never shares what he hears with anyone, even Bellatrix.

 ◜    ۞    ◞   he finds out about Orion and Bellatrix’s affair first. He finds them asleep together when they’re in Orion’s home in France. 

 ◜    ۞    ◞   if he could, he’d have had her marry Sirius and keep the Black family name. As it is, he was too young for her and also she seems dead set against having children anyway — and he doubts Sirius could change her mind, so he relents against his preferences for her marriage. 

 ◜    ۞    ◞   as for Rodolphus I have two ideas for how this could go: either way he loves his son in-law, they have an excellent relationship and they’re both dangerously protective of Bellatrix. 1. Rodolphus and Bellatrix have been best friends since their childhood, it makes sense they marry each other. Bellatrix doesn’t mind so much, he’d make for an easy enough match and she does seem to adore the wizard. It’s an easy engagement, easy marriage, and they make a beautiful couple. 2. Rodolphus is Cygnus and Voldemort’s age, a former peer of theirs. Rodolphus never marries and never shows he’s interested in Bellatrix. Bellatrix expresses her interest in him directly to a very surprised but perfectly pleased Cygnus who agrees he’s an exceptional wizard and would make for a brilliant husband. Plus if Orion proves anything, he knows his girl has always liked her older wizards. They court for some time, get engaged within a year and married in the next — again they make a beautiful couple. 

 ◜    ۞    ◞   he is not keen on Lucius Malfoy despite that he seems to dote on Narcissa and bend to her every whim. Narcissa deserves far better — but honestly no one would be good enough for his most precious girl, so fine.

 ◜    ۞    ◞   He knew about Bellatrix and Voldemort’s affair and did everything in his power to keep it from ruining his daughter’s reputation which he felt she was being reckless about. 

 ◜    ۞    ◞   he tried to talk her out of it multiple times but it only seemed to further her closeness to Voldemort and Voldemort’s iron-tight grip on his daughter. 

 ◜    ۞    ◞   one day when he finally confronts him, Voldemort says if he wanted to make his pretty little daughter his personal whore he would, and who would stop him? Certainly not Cygnus Black. Cygnus (in his very characteristically Black temperament) pulled all Black funding from under Voldemort’s feet and found himself on the other end of Voldemort’s wand. When Cygnus refused to relent despite the threat of death, Voldemort turned his wand onto Bellatrix. He had the choice — continue giving him the gold he wanted or lose his heiress. He didn’t think he could actually kill her given how close they were and how heavily involved with everything Bellatrix was (and quite frankly, how obsessed and possessive of Bellatrix Voldemort appeared to be) but Cygnus complied.

 ◜    ۞    ◞   he once more risked Voldemort’s wrath by demanding the man at least have the decency to marry his daughter when he gets her pregnant. Voldemort only laughed and Cygnus lost what little respect for him he had left after that. Though he continues supporting the cause, he actively avoids Voldemort unless he can’t. Even then, he speaks to him with a candour and freeness no one else (except Walburga and Pollux) seem able to. 

 ◜    ۞    ◞   Despite that, he absolutely adores his little granddaughter (more than his grandson, sorry Draco). Delphini means the world to Cygnus and he’s grateful to Walburga for legitimising her. 

 ◜    ۞    ◞  the most devoted, hands-on grandfather you will ever come across. Absolutely spoils his girl rotten just like he did her mother.

 ◜    ۞    ◞  he continues hunting well into his older age, almost always solely with Bellatrix. It hurts him just a little she goes with Voldemort more than him. During the height of the war he never sees her without him nor him without her. 

 ◜    ۞    ◞   he loses his job when he fights for Bellatrix’s release from Azkaban prison. He’s disbarred and revoked of his positions and titles. He’s heart broken and inconsolable at his daughter’s imprisonment, his most beautiful, shining star chained behind bars. He misses her beyond belief and not Walburga, Druella or Narcissa are able to pull him from his grief.

 ◜    ۞    ◞   he dies from the heartbreak of losing Bellatrix to Azkaban and then soon after, Walburga’s death. No one is with him when he passes, but his hand is tight around the picture he keeps of Bellatrix with him all the time. Delphini takes the picture and keeps it herself. 

[dalessandra01]

History repeats itself

By @dalessandra01

Benophie being oldies in love, minor description of abusive household, post-canon, Julian and Violet are minors here

Summary:

“Benedict and Sophie discuss about their daughter's future.

Meanwhile, a twelve-years-old Violet goes to the lake to find some peace and sketch some more, however, she ends up meeting a funny stranger, Julian, in the most odd of ways.

Would this meeting change her view of life completely?”

•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•

The story of the mysterious lady in silver had become her favourite.

Violet had lost count of how many times she'd asked her mother to tell it.

By now, any moment was a good time to hear it again: at lunch, at dinner, even at tea time.

As soon as the opportunity presented itself, Violet would bring the subject up with a new question to ask, almost fearing she had missed an important detail.

And indeed, she had every reason to think so.

The story became richer in detail each time it was retold.

The reason was obvious—her mother had deemed it appropriate to leave out certain parts until Violet was old enough to fully understand them.

And in return, she had ended up drawing the scene of the masquerade ball countless times.

That was definitely her favourite part. She filled entire sketchbooks, used up dozens of charcoal pencils, and ruined a few dresses in the process. She had become the maids' nightmare for this reason, though none of them ever complained openly.

Young Miss Bridgerton had a way of getting forgiven with just a flutter of her eyelashes, and if that wasn’t enough, she often repaid the maids' patience by creating miniatures for each of them—taking the liberty to embellish them a bit—after all, it wasn’t unlikely she’d end up making a mess again. Then, around the age of eight, she started to branch out with the subjects of her sketches, and there was probably no family member who hadn’t been captured on the pages of her albums at least once.

Sophie still laughed when she remembered her brother-in-law Gregory telling her how Violet had offered to watch over her baby cousin, only to find her sketching the sleeping infant. And then when Colin and Penelope had sent her a copy of Giorgio Vasari's ‘Lives of the Most Excellent Painters, Sculptors, and Architects’, her passion for art was finally solidified. Not even her mother, as avid reader as she was, had ever managed to read a book as quickly as Violet did with that volume.

She had found a kindred spirit in Leonardo Da Vinci, and this was evident from the fact that she never stopped talking about him.

Benedict had even reached the point where he wasn’t sure whether to feel proud or disappointed at the thought that he was no longer her favourite artist. «But Papa, he was a versatile artist, a real genius.» she would protest whenever the topic came up. «Perhaps, but at least I paint women with eyebrows.» he would mutter, earning a glare from his daughter. Charcoal sketches were something she certainly didn’t lack. The drawers of her desk were so full of sheets that they could hardly hold anything else. Yet, she still refused to pick up a canvas. Benedict had tried a few times, but she turned him down each time. She wouldn’t use a brush until she had experienced the same feeling that drove him to paint her mother over and over. It seemed like an absurd rule, condemning herself to charcoal until she discovered love, but it allowed her to keep her eyes open. She would keep observing the world around her, so that she’d be ready when the time came.

•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•

During the summer months, Benedict and Sophie would usually steal a few moments in the morning before starting their daily routines.

With four children, the moments they could actually spend alone were reduced to the early hours of the morning or the last moments of the day before going to bed.

And when the boys came home from Eton for the holidays, it seemed like they didn’t get a moment of peace. They adored their children, from the eldest to the youngest, but when they were all together under the same roof, it was inevitable that quarrels would break out, and it seemed as though they took turns interrupting their parents at every opportunity, asking them to play the role of judges.

Benedict was thankful that their bedroom maintained a certain sanctity within the house—especially after that time Charles had caught them in a situation no child should ever witness.

Those four walls were their little retreat, where they could steal a few moments to pretend they were still the newlyweds they had been before the arrival of the children.

«Stop it, will you!»

Sophie was doing her best to stifle her laughter.

«And why should I?» her husband asked, his smile evident as his lips brushed against her skin.

«I'm simply stating a fact, Mrs. Bridgerton,» he continued, resuming the soft kisses he had been trailing down her neck.

Sophie laughed again, warmth spreading to her cheeks.

«You're nothing but a flatterer,» she teased, making him pause to look into her eyes. That look still made her knees weak, she was grateful she was already lying down.

«What exactly was flattering about what I said?»

«Benedict, I'm forty.»

«And?»

«I'm old.»

«Oh... well, I hadn't noticed that.»

«Benedict.»

Her husband sighed and shook his head again, though Sophie didn’t need to hear him say it to know he found her words ridiculous.

«And yet you don't have a single grey hair, unlike me.»

«I'm lucky.»

«You're beautiful.» And though he had said it to her dozens of times, she still blushed.

It wasn’t the word itself that had that effect on her, but the tone with which he said it. He was so confident in his statement that if he had now revealed that donkeys could fly, she would have believed him.

«I think…» she murmured, «that perhaps this adjective is more suitable for our daughter.»

He chuckled as his lips once again brushed her skin. trailing a slow, soft trail of kisses that went from her chin to the hollow of her breasts.

«Our Violet is beautiful,» he said, lifting his gaze to meet hers again, «precisely because she resembles her mother so much.»

Sophie found that remark quite unfair.

Yes, it was obvious that mother and daughter looked alike; it would have been strange if they didn’t. But every time she looked at their younger daughter, no matter what she was doing, Sophie saw only Benedict.

In the way she wrinkled her nose, in her little smiles, and in her expressions when she was bent over her drawing pad sketching whatever was in front of her.

Violet was very much like her father, and perhaps that was the secret behind their special bond. Sometimes, Benedict seemed to understand her in a way that even Sophie couldn’t.

Even his aversion to Da Vinci was a testament to how exclusive their relationship was, and Sophie had reassured him many times that he would always hold an important place in their daughter’s heart. It was amusing to see how unaware he was of how much Violet admired him.

«I know you believe it’s the opposite,» he interrupted her train of thought as if he had been observing it. How he could predict what she was going to say before she even spoke was still a mystery to her.

«But if our daughter is even half the woman you are, I will consider myself a satisfied father,» he said, taking her face in his hands and pressing his lips to hers.

In that kiss, Sophie was transported back to that day nearly twenty years ago by the lake.

To that moment when, in the height of desire, their lips had met again after two years of separation. It was a bittersweet memory, she couldn’t deny it.

At that time, she thought that everything she was experiencing in that contact was destined to cause her more pain. A servant, no, an illegitimate daughter, could never marry a Bridgerton. Even though being in his arms made her heart race just like it did now, she was afraid. Afraid that sooner or later the enchantment would fade and that Benedict, having got what he wanted, would repudiate her, finding a wife more suitable to his class.

How happy she was to have been wrong.

That man, that crazy man, had been willing to do anything to have her.

To be hers and hers alone.

And Sophie had soon discovered the freedom that came from being able to kiss her husband whenever and however she wanted, without having to be ashamed.

Many said that passion waned after thirty, yet she didn’t know if that was just a lie or if she and Benedict were the exception to the rule.

She shivered as he slid a hand along her thigh.

«Benedict…»

«Relax,» he said in a tone that brooked no argument.

«But they’ll all be awake by now.»

«As if they’re not used to it.»

«Benedict!»

He burst out laughing, kissing her ankle.

«If you didn’t agree, you’d say something other than ‘Benedict!’»

Sophie laughed as well. He was so good at imitating her.

Then, suddenly, their little bubble burst, and something else demanded their attention.

It had been almost like a bolt from the blue, a shriek so piercing that if it had been a couple of octaves higher, it would have shattered every window in the house, echoing from the end of the corridor.

«Should I grab the rifle?»

«Don’t be foolish!» Sophie gave him a gentle nudge on the shoulder as someone knocked on the door.

«Mr. Bridgerton! Mrs. Bridgerton! Miss Violet is missing!» shouted the frantic voice of their daughter’s personal maid.

Evidently, poor Ruth must have gone to wake Violet as she did every morning and must have been quite alarmed to find her missing from her room. They had thought she’d gotten used to it by now.

This was the third time that week alone that their daughter had ‘disappeared’ in the morning, and they hadn’t minded it all. They knew Violet well, and in a house full of older brothers, she occasionally needed a little space for herself, and they felt secure knowing she was just a few steps away.

«When will she learn that there’s no need for hysteria?» Benedict asked with an exasperated tone.

«She’s doing her job, Benedict; I can’t bring myself to scold her,» Sophie said, even though she had reassured the woman multiple times that they knew perfectly well where their daughter was and that she wouldn’t be held responsible.

«Neither can I, but I hate being interrupted when I’m about to make love to my wife.»

«Benedict!»

•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•

Julian felt his heart pounding in his chest as he gripped the reins of his horse tightly. Every muscle in his body was tense, as if he expected something to jump out from around the corner, and even his mare seemed to sense the tension.

The beast neighed and snorted, tossing her head in an impatient gesture, almost as if asking him to loosen his grip. He let out a long breath and, with a gentler movement than before, gave the reins a slight tug.

It didn’t take long for the mare to understand the command and come to a stop. Her hooves thudded once against the ground, the dull sound almost a form of protest from the animal.

Julian sighed softly, running a hand down her neck in apology. Then he dismounted.

«Forgive me, Periwinkle,» he murmured in a low voice, pulling a lump of sugar from his jacket pocket.

The mare looked at him with big, dark eyes, and with a quick movement of her lips, took the treat, chewing it noisily.

Another sigh escaped his lips. Whatever the right direction was, he would have to proceed on foot, at least for a while. He clicked his tongue, and Periwinkle followed him obediently, the sound of her hooves now muffled by the moss and leaves beneath them.

At this point, all he seemed to be doing was running away.

Every boy in his class at Eton was more than happy to go home for the holidays; Julian, on the other hand, was counting the days until he could leave.

He still felt shaken, in fact, downright terrified, as his father’s voice echoed in his head.

Phillip Cavender had returned from London just a few hours earlier.

His heavy footsteps and harsh, disjointed laughter had sent chills down his spine.

He had been drinking, and when that happened, it was never a good sign.

Julian had remained frozen, not daring to utter a single breath.

He had almost considered hiding in the wardrobe, as he had done as a child, but he knew that the footsteps of a sixteen-year-old boy of his height were hardly considered imperceptible.

No matter how hard he tried to make no sound, he never was completely.

It was absurd how his father scared him to the point where the ten centimeters that now separated them did nothing to increase his courage in confronting him.

Phillip Cavander was no more intimidating than other men. Yet facing him was almost like confronting the giant Goliath for Julian.

The sound of shattering glass made him jump, and when he heard his father scream his name, almost as if it were his fault, he had grabbed his boots and jacket and climbed out the window.

His father would still be angry later, but maybe the remnants of his drunkenness would make him more lenient.

Periwinkle neighed again, bringing him back to reality. He hadn’t considered how exhausted she must have been. Julian turned to her with a shy smile.

«Are you tired?» he asked, and the mare snorted, tossing her head.

«I understand,» he looked around before pulling on the reins again, inviting her to follow him.

The mare complied, though at a slower pace.

The breeze brushed against his ears, bringing a bit of serenity to his troubled heart.

He tried to focus on anything that could distract him from his precarious family situation.

He inhaled deeply and closed his eyes.

In a family like his, listening was crucial if you wanted to survive.

Since his mother had passed away, silence had become a constant companion. Especially when it could be a harbinger of many misfortunes.

He shook his head; he shouldn’t focus on that now.

He inhaled again, hearing the chirping of birds.

Another breath, and he heard the rhythm of Periwinkle’s hooves.

Another breath, and he perceived the sound of running water.

He opened his eyes and finally noticed a small clearing where he could let Periwinkle rest. He wasn’t an expert, but the grass seemed lush enough for his mare, and this was confirmed when she lowered her head to the ground.

Julian patted her head again before tying the reins to a lower branch.

«Stay here, okay?» he asked, and though his mare couldn’t speak, her snort was more eloquent than a thousand words.

The morning was particularly warm; dipping his feet in the water wouldn’t be too bad, especially since he hadn’t had time to cool off that morning.

But as soon as he took a few steps, a sound much sweeter and more melodious than the rest caught his attention. A voice, or more specifically a song, sweet as honey.

Before he could think about what to do, his feet moved on their own.

A curiosity he was sure didn’t even belong to him took over:

«Lavenders blue, dilly, dilly Lavender's green»

The closer he got, the clearer the words became.

And the more he advanced, the more he felt transported back in time, to a moment in his life when he could still afford the luxury of sleeping with his head resting on his mother’s lap.

When his childhood still held the hope of being carefree.

In an instant, he found himself beside her as she guided his small hands along the ivory keys of the piano. His father became a distant memory, and it was just the two of them in the world, with the music, accompanying their tranquility, even if it might last only for an afternoon.

Unfortunately, those melodies had been buried with her in the Cavander household. Julian hadn’t touched an instrument in years, but that voice—it deserved to be accompanied by a melody worthy of it, and he would willingly offer his faded talent.

«When I am king, dilly, dilly, You shall be queen, Who told you so, dilly, dilly, Who told you so?»

He had recognized the source of the voice coming from behind a large tree and was tempted to meet the mysterious singer to thank her.

«'Twas mine own heart, dilly, dilly, That told me so.»

But what would she think? What if she mistook him for a creep? How reliable could a sixteen-year-old in nightclothes early in the morning in the middle of the countryside appear?

He would surely come off as having just fled from some unknown place rather than being at home. No, it wasn’t worth the risk; he was about to turn on his heels and head back.

But fate can be quite unkind.

It took just one step—one damned step, and his foot landed on a twig. At that point, the melody stopped, and the singer stepped into view.

Julian swallowed hard as a pair of brown eyes met his silver ones.

She couldn’t have been more than twelve or thirteen, and judging by her expression, she hadn’t expected to find anyone else around. Especially considering the way she had flinched.

«Who are you?» she asked warily, holding the sketch pad she had in front of her like a shield.

«I…»

And for some strange reason, the words wouldn’t come out. How could he be so awkward in front of a girl much younger than him?

He took a few steps back, regretting acting so suspiciously. She had surely mistaken him for a pervert.

«If you don’t tell me who you are right now, I swear I’ll start screaming,» she warned him, «I have three older brothers; you’d better not try to harm me.»

Julian swallowed again; the collar of his nightshirt suddenly felt too tight.

«Julian…» he introduced himself with a small bow, «Please forgive me, miss, I’m here by pure chance and didn’t mean to interrupt what you were doing.»

The girl tilted her head and examined him from head to toe.

«Why are you dressed like that?» she asked with a hint of curiosity. His attire was certainly not suitable for crossing the countryside.

«I didn’t have a chance to change before coming out this morning,» he admitted, feeling his cheeks flush with embarrassment.

«Were you perhaps in a hurry for a swim?» the mysterious girl asked, glancing at the lake. He stiffened again, desperately trying to change the subject.

«Shouldn’t you introduce yourself by now?» he asked, crossing his arms.

«I’m still not sure if I can trust you,» she said. At this point, it was clear she had stopped being afraid of him. The question seemed intended solely for her amusement.

«If I were ill-intentioned, I would have already harmed you, wouldn’t I?»

«You might be a very cunning one.»

«I assure you that I am not.»

«So you’re saying you’re stupid?»

«Yes—no!»

At that point, his interlocutor burst out laughing heartily, unfortunately at his expense.

Julian sighed, feeling his cheeks burn.

Now confident of his intentions, the girl tucked the album under her arm and made him a curtsy. «Violet Bridgerton, sir.»

Bridgerton?

Julian had never been interested in gossip, but it was impossible not to hear that name at least once in a lifetime. Whether at Eton or in London, that surname was on everyone’s lips.

He often wondered what it must be like to be so prominent on the London scene as a Bridgerton; he certainly did not envy them. Far from it.

The only thing Julian Cavender wished for more than anything was to disappear.

And he could only imagine the pressure on the shoulders of the members of that family.

But Violet had a carefree, even serene air about her; he could tell from the way she had sung earlier and from how her tone was cheeky and light, despite her initial caution.

And he couldn’t really blame her; he would have done the same in her position.

But there was something about her that made her different from anyone he had ever met; there was a sense of freedom in her attitude that made her stand out.

«So, you’re the daughter of the Viscount…?» he ventured.

«No, that’s my uncle,» she said, crossing her arms with a somewhat indignant air.

«Look, we are many,» she muttered, and at that childish gesture, Julian let out a faint laugh.

«I had heard about it.»

«And yet you immediately thought I was the Viscount’s daughter,» she pressed.

«You said yourself that there are many of you,» he replied with a shrug.

On another occasion, he wouldn’t have dared to provoke, but he found it rather amusing how she wrinkled her nose.

«As far as I know about the Bridgertons, you could be the daughter of anyone.»

«It seems you’re not a very good observer,» she said, shaking her head.

Julian’s eyes widened.

«Excuse me?»

«You’re not a good observer; if you were, you would have understood immediately who my father is.»

It was so strange to hear someone speak so proudly of their father. He could say everything about his own father except that he was a loving parent, even though he was good at playing the part in front of others.

Instead, the warmth with which she spoke of and admired her father was palpable in the way she used the same term. It was clear that this girl had grown up in a much more loving environment than he could have ever dreamed.

«Forgive my ignorance, then,» he said with a slight bow.

«So, you are the daughter of…?» he asked with renewed curiosity.

«Benedict Bridgerton.»

‘That’s why the album,' he thought.

He had heard that the second son of the dowager Lady Bridgerton had a couple of landscapes exhibited at the National Gallery in his name. It was no surprise that his daughter had a similar inclination.

And in Julian’s modest opinion, only an artistic soul would have had the courage to sing by a lake as she had. Many girls of her age showed such a talent just to be admired.

«You’re right; I should have realised it,» he admitted with a half-smile.

«See?» Violet said with a lopsided smile. «And you’re Julian…?»

At this point in the conversation, he considered whether to reveal his surname or not, especially since he had always considered it more a burden than a mark of belonging.

It was perhaps the first time he felt so at ease talking to a complete stranger. Violet’s voice and her playful tone made him feel calm, as if he could trust her completely.

It was more than evident that the affection she had received in her family was reflected in her mannerisms. He had no intention of ruining it by mentioning his father’s name.

Perhaps it was a silly fear; given her age, it was unlikely she knew who his father was, but it was a risk he preferred not to take.

For once, Julian wanted to indulge in the luxury of pretending that Phillip Cavender didn’t exist.

«Hawkins. Julian Hawkins,» he said, offering his hand.

«Very pleased, Mr Hawkins,» she said with a smile as she returned the gesture.

«Julian is fine, and please call me by my first name.» he reassured her

Had only he felt a strange sensation when their hands touched?

«Same goes for you,» she replied with a radiant smile.

He found himself staring at her for a couple of seconds. That girl could have competed with the sun.

«So... I see you're an artist too?» he said, clearing his throat.

«I try. Although I've never painted on canvas,» she admitted.

«Why not?» he asked again.

It wasn’t like him to be so nosy, but Violet seemed to urge him to know more almost as much as he needed to breathe.

«I don't feel ready yet,» she said with a shrug, sitting on a rock.

Julian raised a questioning eyebrow; he didn’t know much about the art world, but he had never heard an artist say they weren’t ready.

«If you’ve never tried, how can you say you’re not ready?» he asked, sitting down opposite her.

He saw her fall silent suddenly, her gaze lost on the grass, giving her a few moments to reflect. Meanwhile, he made sure not to utter a sound; it wasn’t hard, it was practically what he did for a living.

«I think... that art is something that has to be lived,» Violet replied thoughtfully,

«I can’t paint something if I’ve never experienced the feelings I want to convey.»

«Yet you draw with charcoal, as I can see,» he said, noticing the black smudges on her fingers.

«Those are just sketches.»

«But you do it.»

«But it’s not the same thing.»

«I don’t think so.»

«Yes, it is.»

«And, actually, you’re wrong. Art, as I see it at least, is always a way to explore something unknown.»

He felt quite satisfied seeing her open her mouth without having anything to counter, and seeing her at a loss for words, he decided to continue.

«Let me give you an example,» he began, looking at the lake's water, «I don’t know what it’s like to be a fish, yet I can imagine it by listening to the sound of the waves.»

Violet laughed, bringing a hand to her lips, a smile on her face.

«Do you want to be a fish, by any chance?»

«I wouldn’t mind,» he admitted with a faint smile.

«Their life is much less complicated than ours.»

«But they face many dangers.»

«I’m used to that.»

And silence fell again.

Julian bit his tongue, realising he had said too much.

«What do you mean?» she asked, her brown eyes scrutinising him from head to toe, searching for confirmation of his words.

He cleared his throat again and turned his head.

«Never mind.»

Before Violet could say anything else, they both turned their heads towards another voice calling out for her. Julian was the first to jump to his feet.

«I think it’s time for me to go.»

«Look, my father won’t eat you, you know?»

«I don’t think so, but do you really think he’d be happy to see his daughter alone with a stranger?»

Violet fell silent.

«Well... maybe it’s better if you go.» with a nod of his head, Julian moved to leave.

«It was a pleasure, Ms. Bridgerton. I hope to see you again,» he said politely.

But before he could take another step towards where he had left his horse, she stopped him again, surprising him, if possible, even more.

«Maybe tomorrow?»

«Tomorrow?» he repeated.

«Yes, maybe tomorrow afternoon,» she continued, «I enjoyed talking to you.»

He almost thought he noticed a slight blush on her cheeks, and her voice had suddenly become softer. But he brushed it aside to reflect for a moment.

After all, it had been a pleasant conversation for him too, and she had the ability to bring out a side of him that he thought was buried for years. And perhaps it was better to give her an answer soon, as the sound of her father’s voice was growing nearer.

«After lunch?» he asked. Violet nodded.

«Alright, I’ll do my best to be there.»

«You’d better, it’s bad manners not to show up after receiving an invitation. And maybe this time dress appropriately.» Julian laughed, an audible laugh without shame.

That girl was truly something special.

«I wouldn’t dream of it, Ms. Violet.»

«Violet. Just Violet,» she corrected him, and that only made him smile more.

«See you tomorrow then.» he said before disappearing among the trees.

As he made his way home, he didn’t care how his father would react to his escape.

For the first time in his life, he could hope for a bit of serenity.

~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~

Benedict continued to call for his daughter until he reached the lake himself. Not receiving any response. He knew that Violet had a tendency to shut out the world when she was absorbed in her sketches, but it wasn’t like her to give no sign of life after the fourth or fifth call.

The lack of response made him quicken his pace.

He was still her father, for heaven’s sake, and he had every right to be concerned.

When he finally reached her, he was relieved to see that she was safe and sound. However, noticing how she was staring blankly to her right, he couldn't help but look at her in confusion.

«What are you looking at?» he asked, curious.

Violet shook her head and looked him in the eyes with a polite smile.

«Nothing, Dad. I saw a hare running in that direction and wanted to see where it was going.» Honestly, he didn’t believe her at all, especially since he found it hard to believe a hare would be around there. But there was no point in arguing about it.

His mother would arrive any moment now, and the time he could spend investigating was better used taking her home so she could change her clothes.

«Maybe you'll find it again tomorrow. But for now, let’s go. We don’t want to keep Grandma Violet waiting, do we?» he said, offering his arm.

His daughter chuckled before accepting the offer.

It felt almost strange that she was finally tall enough to walk arm in arm with him, as a young lady should. It was moments like these that made him realize how much his little girl was growing up.

They continued along the path in silence for a couple of seconds before she turned her head towards him.

«Dad?»

«Yes?»

«Have you ever imagined being a fish?"

«A what?»

He looked at her with evident confusion, adjusting their pace.

«And where did that come from?»

«The hare told me.» she replied, laughing.

«Maybe you shouldn’t talk to hares,» he joked, ruffling her hair.

«Why not? They’re very intelligent beings,» she said with a smirk that matched his own.

Benedict rolled his eyes with a sigh.

«Will there ever be a day when you’ll listen to me?» he asked.

«I doubt it,» Violet said, «I’m your daughter, aren’t I?»

[invisiblestringmm]

Hi hi hi🩷

It didn’t come as a surprise to see Jaz keeping her promise to support you as best as she could - you got daily FaceTime calls, texts, and Instagram DMs. You got post-ballet dinners and ice cream, the four of you becoming closer each day - Lily and Summer were inseparable now, and you had Jaz not getting tired of telling you she felt like you’d become the sister she never had. THEY ARE ALREADY SISTERS IN LAW😌🤭

What you didn’t expect was for him to reply within less than a minute.HE IS FAST

“Mummy, are you okay?” Lily had her eyebrows frowned at you, she curiously scanned your probably pale face as your heart pounded against your chest. A simple nod was enough for her to focus back on the pancakes, but also give you occasional and quick glares as your shaky hands tightly held the phone. I LOVE THIS LITTLE GIRL🥹

“Peanut,” you poked her tummy, making her giggle. “Why don’t we have a girl's afternoon today, huh? Museum, whatever you want for lunch and we can wrap it with skincare and Moana!”CAN I COME WITH YOU?😂

Careful not to lose Lily from your sight as she walked three steps in front of you, her eyes not sure what she wanted to focus her attention on at the museum, your mind went back to Mason’s last words to you that morning. So, he wanted to apologise for the way he treated you. Part of you felt good about it, that he had finally recognised what a complete twat he had been, but the other part of you just thought how that made no difference now - it was in the past. Not buried, since your past with him had taken the most angelic human form, but it wouldn’t change things. It was all about the future now. IT CAN OPEN THE DOORS TO THE FUTURE🤭

For lunch, Lily insisted on spaghetti, her all-time favourite food. You had to persuade her a bit to eat a bit of protein too because pasta would make her feel hungry again by the afternoon, and you knew how much she hated being hungry right before taking a nap - your persuasion included the word dessert, so not much time was wasted trying to convince her to accept some chicken with her pasta.LILY IS ME🤭😂

Lily giggled, “Mummy!” she held your hand, placing a soft kiss against it and walking according to your pace. “Can we go home now?” You nodded, quickly fetching an Uber to drive you home. OHHH ILL CRY😭

A few minutes later you were cuddling under the blankets and watching Moana for the millionth time. You fell asleep shortly before the film ended and were quickly followed by Lily as she hummed an “I love you, mummy” and kissed the tip of your nose. I NEED THIS

If anyone told you that your daughter’s ballet recital would be the place you’d almost certainly meet her father again, especially without him being the father of another kid there, you’d just roll your eyes and leave - as you stood in front of your closet, not sure about what to wear, your mind played tricks on you creating different scenarios on how that meeting would go. There was so much expectation from you, so much anxiety to see how Mason would react. He thought you’d meet for coffee sometime soon, not at a ballet recital where you were the mother of one of the kids. SHE WANTS TO LOOK PRETTY🤭

“Willie, I know you’re smarter than this,” you replied as she just shrugged, still waiting for an answer. You got a positive reaction when you picked a knit burgundy dress, so you tried it on and what you saw in the mirror made you satisfied. “The next time I see him it’ll be to tell him the truth, so he needs a good first second impression.” YOU'RE THE WHO GREW HIS LOVELY CHILD, HE'LL LOVE YOU ANYWAY

“His first impression of you was good enough,” she teased, watching your cheeks blush as she helped to remove the dress tag. “But you’re wearing a brand new dress for him tonight, so I’m sure the second impression will be just as good.” AHAHHAHAHA I LOVE HER

“He’s not here yet,” like she could read your mind, Jaz’s words caused you to sigh in relief. “You look gorgeous, by the way!”Smiling at her, you softly stroked her bump. “You too, pretty mumma.” THEY ARE SO CUTE THO

I JUST LOVE HER PARENTS

When her act ended, you proudly stood up and clapped your hands as if your life relied on it. Her eyes scanned the audience, looking for you, and when she finally found you her face lit up and that smile you loved so much was there, making your heart melt. “I love you,” you mumbled, and she just winked at you.OMG IM MELT

What you didn’t expect was to find him right outside, holding his phone with a wide smile on his lips. OPS

“I literally just texted you back saying yes,” he ran his fingers through his hair and that was as sexy as you remembered. Mason had a beard now, and although he was still young, the wrinkles on the corners of his eyes were more evident now. “You’re the last person I thought I’d meet here.”HE IS CUTE

“I think we should meet there.” You said, thinking of how suffocating and awkward it’d be being inside a car with him after all these years. “There’s a nice place I usually go with my dau-,” you coughed, watching his brows frown. “With my best friend. I’ll text you the address and we’ll meet there.”OPS

Then, all of a sudden, Mason pulled you into a hug. His warmth against your body melted your heart, and you could feel how his breath deepened as his arms tightened around your figure. “I’ll meet you there, so I can decently apologise for being a complete idiot to someone incredible like you.” HE IS CUTEEEE BUT A STUPID MAN AT THE SAME TIME

JAZ TEXT🤭😂

I LOVE THE TEXTS IN FICS 😭

OMG THIS WAS A ROLLERCOASTER, LEVED IT

I LOVE THE BOND BETWEEN Y/N AND LILY, AND ALSO HER PARENTS. THEY ARE JUST THE CYTES I CAN'T

I LOVE HOW JAZ HAS HER BACK, NO MATTER IF IT IS HER BROTHER

AND ALSO HOW MASON IMMEDIATELY ANSWERED HER

THE FINAL HUG WAS CUTEEE

CANT WAIT FOR MORE AND TO SEE HIS REACTION TO EVERYTHING 🤭🩷🩷

Thank you for this🩷

ELISAAAA YOU ARE THE BEST AT FEEDBACKS! 😭 hahahah I always wait anxiously for them, thank you so SO MUCHHH!

[zeynepxturkmen]

ZEYNEP "ZEYNO/HERO" SILA TÜRKMEN

age: 31.

gender & pronouns: nonbinary & she (primary)/they (secondary).

neighborhood: university heights.

occupations: owner of the comic lab and owner of a hero's journey.

fc: özge özacar.

HER STORY

trigger warnings: cheating, teen pregnancy, mental health, post-partum depression.

Cemre and Kerem Türkmen always knew that they wanted the best for their daughter. That they wanted her to grow up strong, connected to her roots but also have the love to fly. When Zeynep came to their lives, they knew that they loved her more than anything else in the world. They just didn’t realize that their daughter was going to experience quite an adventure as she grew up. For the longest time, they thought that the most adventurous thing they’d explore with Zeyno was her sexual orientation, something she discovered herself when she was thirteen. Alternating living between their home country of Türkiye in İstanbul and Boston, Massachusetts, they had struggled for a while learning about her gender identity and it resulted in her being sent to an international school in Dubai. For a while, Zeyno absolutely hated the school. Yet somehow, over time, it grew to not become too bad and it certainly helped her with her English. She even eventually started seeing someone when she was sixteen.

Falling in love for the first time was one of the simplest yet most beautiful things she’d ever experienced. While she hadn’t been expecting him, she knew that she wanted to spend the rest of her life with him. Even when she told him about her sexual orientation, he only seemed to love her more and more. With both of their parents’ permission and blessings, they were set in an arranged marriage and promised to each other. Everything was going perfectly… Until news of Zeynep’s pregnancy came out.

Zeynep and her fiancé had just finished graduating from high school, the two ready to start university in the autumn and work even closer to starting their life together. But the moment their parents found out that she was pregnant, they were furious. Her meant-to-be-future-in-laws accused her of sleeping around and cheating on their son. In the midst of it all, he had panicked and said that he wasn’t the father, leaving her heartbroken. The engagement was called off, she was forced to say goodbye to the person she loved, and under a lot of scrutinizing pressure, Leticia’s parents cut her off. Giving her enough money so that she’d be comfortable for a while then giving her the slip.

She felt lost in it all. At eighteen years old, she was completely removed from everyone she loved and everything she knew. Having meant to start school at Harvard, she moved out to Boston as quickly as possible. Trying to prepare everything she could before her babies—yes, babies; Zeynep was pregnant with twins—were meant to come and school was to start. With the money her parents gave her, she was able to find a small apartment that worked yet saved the rest of the money to go towards the babies. She’d been quick to get a job, trying to earn enough money so that she could be able to provide for her children. Soon enough, her twins, Leia and Luke (after her favourite Star Wars characters), came into her life.

By then, she had a steady job at Barnes and Noble while also taking a few night classes for her Creative Writing and Theater majors. Eventually, as the years went by and her daughters grew up more and more, the more she continued her schooling and the bills began to pile up, Zeyno took on a second job at a movie rental shop (the beautiful days before streaming became a convenience). She graduated from Harvard and while she had been blessed with many scholarships and grants, there were still loans to be paid. Her children had been the only light in her life. After what happened, she struggled over connecting with others romantically. She slept around a lot, using them the same way they used her to forget her struggles for a while. Then, she met someone rather unexpectedly.

Zeynep (or Hero, the alias they used online and with others in the queer community) was newly 21 and her friends (well, the few friends she had) believed that it was time for her to have some fun and live life a little. With being able to come up a plan to make that a reality and for the twins to be taken care of, she was dragged out to Las Vegas for a couple days. No responsibilities, no worries about the future; Just a young adult being given the freedom to do whatever the hell she wanted. Okay, sure, she struggled high-key with it at first. The urge to check on her children always just too strong. Yet, she soon met someone. At first, it was meant to be a short, 24 hour romance that went nowhere. Just someone who touched her soul and then they both went on their ways. Now, imagine their surprise waking up next morning and discovering that, not only had they fallen asleep together, they had also gotten married at some point during the past 24 hours. Zeynep was freaking the fuck out, trying to figure out how she can annul this without ever letting her kids find out. After awhile, though, they both calmed down. And brewed one of the most insane ideas in the world: what if they stayed married for the next year and see what happens next?

It was batshit crazy and Zeyno stated so. Of course, she was in. That is, until she heard the rest of her semi-partner’s idea: they moved to her partner’s hometown in Colorado. She had her children. They had a life in Boston. She was being looked at for a promotion at Barnes and Noble. How fair would it be to uproot everything for a person she’d only been married to for, what, twelve hours? She wasn’t onboard at first and even stated so. But… she’d be lying if she said she wasn’t tempted. The idea of a fresh start… Her children growing up with another parent… The potential of being a family… She couldn’t resist finally. And in November 2012, the move was made from Boston to a townhouse downtown with her new partner.

In all honesty? It was an incredible struggle at first. She fortunately had been able to get an assistant manager position at the Comic Lab and the twins adjusted better than expected. Yet it was Hero who struggled to adjust for the longest time. She couldn’t find it within herself to settle, struggling to make friends in Providence Peak and challenging her partner the best she could. Pushing their buttons and ready to piss them off. Surprisingly, though? They were supportive and understanding. The last time she had experience that had been with her ex and she soon admitted to them about what happened. Nothing could express the amount of support and care she received. After awhile, things got easier. Then a year went by and they had a vow renewal. Fully cementing their commitment to each other and embracing their love together.

Over the years, her partner adopted Luke and Leia, becoming not just their stepparent, but their parent completely. Six years went by and they were then joined with Meg, named after Zeynep’s favourite Disney character, Megara. For a moment, things were good. But after awhile, her mental health began to struggle as she began to deal with post-partum depression. Nothing was going right between her and her partner, a rift soon growing and growing. It was when they left in the middle of night, claiming that they couldn’t do this anymore that she was snapped right out of it. Well, sort of. She was finally able to reached out to her friends for help and received it, especially after hearing the news about her partner.

Over the past six years as she navigated being a (sort of) single parent again, she went back to primarily making sure her children were taken care of, but also trying to have a life as well. She gained ownership of the Comic Lab and as of a couple of weeks ago, she has now opened up a new business located in University Heights right next to the Comic Lab: A Hero’s Journey, a book-and-movie shop that’s conveniently located beneath the apartment she and the kids moved into after her partner left. She’s even tried to dip her toes back into the dating scene, though nothing more concrete has occurred since then.

Despite things not looking like how she expected when she first moved to Providence Peak eleven years ago and despite her failed marriage, Zeynep is admittedly happy with where she is in her life. After all, she has three children who are healthy and happy. She owns two businesses that she’s passionate about. She has friends in town and a life, something she didn’t really have before. What more could she want?

[leticiaxoliveira]

LETICIA CAMILA OLIVEIRA

age: 30.

gender & pronouns: demigirl & she/they.

neighborhood: claret park.

occupations: international best-selling author, influencer/content creator, and the owner of the comic lab.

fc: giovana cordeiro.

HER STORY

trigger warnings: cheating, divorce, toxic relationship, pregnancy, drug overdose, drug addiction, attack, mental health (depression, anxiety, suicidal tendencies), suicide attempt, miscarriage, cancer, car accident, death.

Bruna and Andre Oliveira always knew that they wanted the best for their daughter. That they wanted her to grow up strong, connected to her roots but also have the love to fly. When Leticia came to their lives, they knew that they loved her more than anything else in the world. They just didn’t realize that their daughter was going to experience quite an adventure as she grew up. For the longest time, Bruna and Andre thought that the most adventurous thing they’d explore with Leti was her sexuality and gender identity, something she discovered herself when she was thirteen. Living in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, they had struggled for awhile learning about this and it resulted in her being sent to an international school in Dubai. For awhile, Leti absolutely hated the school. Yet somehow, over time, it grew to not become too bad and it certainly helped her with her English. She even eventually started seeing someone when she was sixteen.

Falling in love for the first time was once of the simplest yet most beautiful things she’d ever experience. While she hadn’t been expecting him, she knew that she wanted to spend the rest of her life with him. Even when she told him about her sexuality and gender identity, he only seemed to love her more and more. With both of their parents’ permission and blessings, they were set in an arrange marriage and promised to each other. Everything was going perfectly... Until news of Leti’s pregnancy came out.

Leticia and her fiancé had just finished graduating from high school, the two ready to start university in the autumn and work even closer to starting their life together. But the moment their parents found out that she was pregnant, they were furious. Her meant-to-be-future-in-laws accused her of sleeping around and cheating on their son. In the midst of it all, he had panicked and said that he wasn’t the father, leaving her heartbroken. The engagement was called off, she was forced to say goodbye to the person she loved, and under a lot of scrutinizing pressure, Leticia’s parents cut her off. Giving her enough money so that she’d be comfortable for awhile then giving her the slip.

She felt lost in it all. At eighteen years old, she was completely removed from everyone she loved and everything she knew. Having meant to start school at Harvard, she moved out to Boston as quickly as possible. Trying to prepare everything she could before her babies---yes, babies; Leti was pregnant with twins---were meant to come and school was to start. With the money her parents gave her, she was able to find a small apartment that worked yet saved the rest of the money to go towards the babies. She’d been quick to get a job, trying to earn enough money so that she could be able to provide for her children. Soon enough, her twin girls, Leia and Belle (after her favourite Star Wars character and Disney Princess), came into her life. By then, she had a steady job at a Barnes and Noble while also taking a few night classes for her Creative Writing and Hospitality Management majors. Eventually, as the years gone by and her daughters grew up more and more, the more she continued her schooling and the bills began to pile up, Leti took on a second job as a performer at the hottest strip club in Boston. It was a job that she never saw herself partaking in, but thanks to having grown up dancing, it was a job she became good at. Eventually, she graduated from Harvard and while she had been blessed with many scholarships and grants, there were still loans to be paid. Her daughters had been the only light in her life... At least, until sometime later, she met a young woman who came to Boston for a little bit: Carla Villanueva. For the first time in forever, she connected with someone—she was falling in love again. She never saw Carla coming and after what happened with her ex-fiancé and father of her daughters, she’d been scared. Admittedly, what they had was brief and eventually, Carla had to leave whereas Leticia stayed. But god, she wished she had joined her. She never would’ve met Luca then.

Luca was a man who was so angry with the world he earned money by underground fighting and she needed a distraction from everything. Whether it was her internal anxiety struggling over how she would provide for her girls to how she’ll take care of her college expenses to missing Carla, she turned to Luca despite him scaring her a little bit. His anger brought out the worst in him and seeing one of his matches, Leti soon ghosted after months of them sleeping together. She’d been afraid of him showing that side of him to her when by themselves, or worse: to her daughters. But after Leticia suffered a drug overdose on Valentine’s Day and was in the hospital for awhile, he soon came back into her life. Not too long later, she married Luca. Was it for love? At first, perhaps there’d been some true feelings for him. But after awhile, he went from being a loving partner to a jealous and possessive asshole. He never showed his true colours around Leia and Belle, and kept control whenever the two would fight. It was toxic and while she tried to maintain her ground, deep down, the girl was terrified of the day he’d no longer have control over himself. When she found out she was pregnant, though, things did calm down. They were working together and communicating. For a moment, she was starting to believe that she was actually in love with him. That is, until she lost the baby.

It’d been about four months into the pregnancy and she wasn’t showing much yet, but it’d taken a huge blow on the both of them. One night, Luca finally admitted that he blamed her. Once more, their cycle of screaming matches and breaking things came back. Once more did her fear that Luca would lose his control came back and she feared it happening. And one night, it came deeply close. She found out he was having multiple affairs and with the girls at a sleepover, she took the opportunity to confront him. They had the worst fight ever that night: screaming well into the early morning, all kinds of shit knocked over and/or broken, holes that had been punched into the walls. They hadn’t gotten physical with each other, not until later when they decided to fuck instead of continue their screaming, but she’d been terrified the entire time. That night, she began a plan on filing for divorce.

After that, she finally decided to get her shit together and to make plans on getting away. While she stayed working at Barnes and Noble and the club while also started to also do dance performances for events to earn extra money, she was trying to find a nice place in Somerville where she and the girls could live together. She started to get her life back on track and to become the adult she needed to be. If not for herself, then for her daughters. For awhile, things were going good. Her and Luca didn’t fight again yet she continued her plan, while he was none the wiser. Then an incident happened at work, a rowdy client who was drunk and acting inappropriately. He’d tried to make a move on her and she told him off, causing him to punch her before slicing her arm with a knife he snuck in. If it hadn’t been for his friends and the bodyguards stopping him, she wouldn’t be here. She had quickly snuck away to a bathroom, grabbing supplies so that she could stitch herself back together and deal with what the fuck happened. It was a massive wakeup call and she knew that she needed to sort her shit out. How she did that, though, was nerve-wracking: by seeking out her parents. Over the years, Andre and Bruna had moved from Brazil to the States. The couple were the owners of the prestigious and luxurious resort and hotel chain known as The Jade Palace, having been a family business run by the Oliveiras since the late 1800s, and they had opened up a new location there in Boston. Learning about her parents living there, she cautiously sought them out. At first, it wasn’t a happy reunion and she’d been turn away. Then, while she’d been out with her daughters, they ran into each other again. Her parents finally seeing their granddaughters for the first time. Seeing Leia and Belle was exactly what the two needed for them to wake up. They offered their help, finally, and she took it.

She finally had the divorce papers and restraining order given to Luca. She moved out completely and into her parents’ new-ish Boston home, her and the girls safe and sound in the Oliveira mansion. She left her job at the club so that she could begin working as a front-end attendant for the hotel before eventually making her way up. While she kept her job at the bookstore for as long as she could, having genuinely loved working there, she left it eventually to focus on her family and the Jade Palace. For awhile, she finally got everything under control. Her life was back in order. Her dad then made her an offer: to move to Providence Peak in early 2020 when the new location of the Jade Palace were to open in the summer of 2021 and undergo a process to be the owner of the hotel. During that time, she’d been able to release a well-received Young Adult book and considered with returning to the idea of becoming an author, a childhood dream of hers, but she decided to take her father’s offer. Soon enough, Leticia and her daughters moved to Providence Peak.

Never had she expected a small mountain city to take over her heart the way it did. While she’s made some friends (and enemies) and even some surprising reconnections, while she also released a second book, while she found herself enjoying owning the Providence Peak location of her family’s hotel, while she reconnected with Carla and even began to try to start something with her, it would eventually end come early 2022. Her father’s health had been deteriorating and she had a duty as his daughter to return to help him. While she promised to return back to Providence Peak one day, she needed to focus on her father and especially on her daughters. Yet over the course of that time, she soon made a decision. Her step-cousin, Zahava Kamara, would become the new owner of the entire Jade Palace hotelier.

With her father battling cancer, things had been rough at the beginning. She had to watch her father, a normally strong man, in his weakest moment and it killed her. It was hard having to watch him like that and many times she found herself crying at night, feeling helpless. To add salt to the wound, her and Carla were beginning to grow estranged. A factor that broke her heart, especially after believing they could be together again and promising to return to return to her. As months went on and the longer she stayed in Boston, she began to fear that her promise would be broken. Eventually, Andre began to grow stronger, healthier, better. In August of 2022, during an appointment with his doctor, finally some good news came: he was cancer-free. Andre and Bruna were ecstatic. With the girls having a soccer tournament, though, Leticia had been unable to attend the appointment. During a break in the match, she’d gotten a call from her parents and they informed her of the happy news. All before tragedy would soon struck again; During the middle of the call, while they’d been driving, a collision happened and resulted in the worst thing imaginable: her parents died in the accident.

Leti couldn’t express her devastation over the path life led her on again. One minute, she was receiving the best news she’s heard in awhile. The next, she received the worst news. After the funeral, Leti’s best friend and older sister figure, Rachel Hargrove, offered to watch the girls for awhile back in Providence Peak. Have them return home and be with friends again while she took time to mourn. Considering how deeply and intensely the woman felt things, she knew that it was for the best. And for awhile, she mourned. She downward spiraled and took the time to do so. Yet, eventually, she remembered that her parents wouldn’t want her to be like this. That they would rather her try to find joy in life again instead of mourn. Wiping away her tears and trying to find peace within herself, she soon got to work. She soon was making preparations over the family mansion and her parents belongings for both their homes in Rio and in Boston, making sure to contact her family overseas and work with them as well. She even created a YouTube channel, using it as a way to connect more with her readers and to fully express her love of fandom, along with starting up a TikTok, much to her preteen daughters’ chagrin. Eventually, after all business in Boston and concerning her family was dealt with, after she found herself in a better mental situation, she would soon switch over to a new target: returning back to Providence Peak.

While still in Boston, she’d been able to lock down on a new house in Claret Park, her, Leia, and Belle inheriting a large fortune both her parents left behind for them, among other things. However, she knew that she wanted to do more things in her life once she made her way back home. After contacting the owner of the Comic Lab, which had been one of her favourite places in Providence Peak, she soon struck a deal with them: she bought the comic book store, intending on finding a newer, bigger building for it and expand its merchandise and other things to offer. A large building for all nerdy fandom-loving people with merchandise, books, and all types of products with a café to serve food and drinks inspired by a multitude of fandoms and pop culture, she plans on the Comic Lab to grow into a business that’s basically the love child of Barnes and Noble, FYE, Game Stop, and Hot Topic (in her defense, they have many incredible pop culture products). Working with many book publications and organizations like BoxLunch and Loungefly to distribute these products.

After working on this project for awhile, along with writing a new book, Leticia has finally realized that it was now time to return home. Part of her is excited, especially to reunite with some people. Part of her is nervous, especially to reunite with some people. Yet overall, Leti is ready to put her past behind her and to try and find happiness for herself and for her daughters. Even if she is giving life the stink-eye in fear of it throwing another wrench at her.

[queenshelby]

Cillian Murphy - Masterlist

SERIESES

THE LAW STUDENT (ONGOING)

Summary: Cillian is 20 and the Reader is 30. He is her student and things quickly get hot and difficult. 

Parts: 1; 2; 3; 4; 5; 6; 7; 8; 9; 10; 11; 12

THE AU-PAIR (ONGOING)

Summary: Cillian is a single father to two young children, in need for some help. The Reader is an au-pair and moves into his house to help him look after the children but a relationship develops between them. 

Parts: 1; 2; 3; 4; 5; 6; 7; 8; 9; 10; 11; 12; 13; 14; 15; 16; 17; 18; 19; 20; 21; 22

MY FRIEND’S FATHER (FINAL PART COMING JANUARY 2022)

Summary: The Reader is Cillian’s 20 year old daughter’s best friend and has a crush on the handsome actor. This is a age gap romance with lots of drama.

Parts: 1; 2; 3; 4; 5; 6; 7; 8; 9; 10; 11; 12; 13; 14; 15; 16; 17; 18; 19; 20 ;21; 22 ;23 ;24; 25; 26; 27; 28; 29; 30; 31; 32; 33; 34; 35; 36; 37; 38; 39; 40

COUPLES THERAPY (FINAL PARTS ARE COMING EARLY 2022)

Summary: The Reader provides couples counselling to Cillian and his wife Danielle. Then, an affair ensues and makes things more difficult.

Parts: 1; 2; 3; 4; 5; 6; 7; 8; 9; 10; 11; 12; 13; 14; 15

A NEW LIFE (FINAL PARTS ARE COMING EARLY 2022)

Summary: The Reader is a single mother and sister of Cillian’s best friend. Romance ensues and difficulties arise.

Parts: One; Two; Three; Four; Five; Six; Seven; Eight; Nine; Ten ; Eleven; Twelve; Thirteen

THE BABYSITTER CHRONICLES (ON HOLD UNTIL JANUARY 2022)

Summary: Less romance and more Smut is the motto of this fic where the Reader starts a secret but purely sexual relationship with Cillian, who is also the father of the children she babysits. Expect slow and irregular updates. It is a Smut Series.

Parts: One, Two

50 SHADES OF MURPHY (FINAL PART COMING JANUARY 2022)

Summary: The Reader meets Cillian Murphy who introduces her into the life of BDSM.

Parts: One, Two, Three; Four; Five

TIME FOR CHANGE (ON HOLD UNTIL FEBRUARY 2022)

Summary: Two broken marriages and two affairs. Trouble ensues. 

Parts: One; Two; Three; Four; Five; Six; Seven; Eight

THE DRAMA TEACHER (ON HOLD UNTIL FEBRUARY 2022)

Summary: You are a drama teacher to Cillian’s children and meet the handsome actor at school. Romance ensues and so does drama.

Parts: Part One

CHEATPASS (COMPLETED)

Summary: You have regular sexual and non romantic encounters with Cillian on set of Peaky Blinders. 

Parts: Part One, Part Two, Part Three

THE SECRET (COMPLETED)

Summary: You have a secret and romantic age gap relationship with Cillian on set of Peaky Blinders. Will you be caught?

Parts: Part One; Part Two; Part Three; Part Four

THE SINGER (COMPLETED)

Summary: You are a singer and start an age gap relationship with Cillian, receiving media backlash. 

Parts: Part One; Part Two; Part Three; Part Four

FAN WITH BENEFITS (COMPLETED)

Summary: You are a fan and get to have a steamy night with your favourite actor.

Parts: Part One; Part Two; Part Three

ROOMMATES (COMPLETED)

Summary: This a story from best friends to lovers during a pandemic. 

Parts: One; Two; Three; Four; Five; Six; Seven; Eight; Nine; Ten; Eleven; Twelve; Thirteen; Fourteen; Fifteen; Sixteen; Seventeen

THE LAST SEMESTER (COMPLETED)

Summary: Cillian is your university lecturer for a specific project only and a relationship develops. 

Parts: Part 1 to 16; Part 17; Part 18; Part 19; Part 20;  Part 21; Part 22; Part 23; Part 24; Part 25; Part 26; Part 27; Part 28; Part 29; Part 30; Final

JUST FRIENDS (COMPLETED)

Summary: Two single parents become friends with benefits and then more ensues. 

 Parts: One; Two; Three; Four; Five; Six; Seven; Eight; Nine; Ten; Eleven; Final

ONE SHOTS (REQUESTS CLOSED)

The Assistant

Locked Down

The Mile High Club

Welcome Back  

Noise Complaint

First Time for Everything

Sex Tape

Kinky Co Star

Reception Quickie

Lets Get Kinky

Teacher’s Pet

Birthday Present

Three O’Clock

Making Babies

Out of Character

Yes, Mr Murphy!

The Time in the Dunes

A Friend with Benefits

The Donor

Massage at Night

Fanfiction

Perfect Hands

Just Hands

Birthday Girl

Fun in the Car

The Escort

The Kitchen Counter

Dad’s Friend

[rubysunnday]

driver’s licence

Dear Gentle Reader, tonight is a grand occasion. It is a rare feat for  Lady Danbury to throw a ball for the ton but it is even rarer for the Duke and Duchess of Hastings to be able to attend, what with their ever-growing brood. 

Tonight, however, Dear Reader, these two things are happening in concession. Not only are our beloved Duke and Duchess of Hastings returning to us, but the eldest Bridgerton daughter, Y/N Bridgerton for those who struggle to remember the numerous children’s names, has been seen promenading with Lord Barclay in Hyde Park. 

Perhaps tonight will be Miss Bridgerton’s lucky night and will fulfil the Dowager Viscountess’s wishes of seeing all of her children married. The Viscount Bridgerton has recently been married to, formerly, Miss Kate Sharma - a marriage that seems to be a perfect love match.

Could the 1814 season see two Bridgerton children married in a matter of weeks?

Lady Whistledown’s Society Papers, 4th June 1814

If she was being entirely honest with herself - something Y/N rarely did because most of the time it meant that her mother had been right and it meant admitting that she’d been right - she wasn’t expecting to be married off anytime soon. 

Unlike Eloise, Y/N wasn’t entirely opposed to marriage. She wasn’t going to marry just for the sake of it, however. Whoever it ended up being had to be perfect and had to be someone she would happily spend the rest of her life with.

Y/N had two excellent examples of marriage to live up to. Daphne and Simon and Anthony and Kate - both love matches and both couples completely and utterly obsessed with their spouses. 

Lord Barclay had been nice to her. He’d danced with her, promenaded with her and had bought her - and her sister’s and mother - flowers. He was relatively knew to his lordship, his father had passed away the previous year and left his estate and title to his first son. 

Lord Barclay - Matthew, he’d told her to call him Matthew - had a younger brother who was nearer Y/N’s age but she hadn’t seen him anywhere in London. If the ton’s rumours were to be taken as gospel, he’d fled to America to get away from his father and his older brother.

But Y/N didn’t care about him. She liked Lord Barclay and after almost two years out in society and no sign of any marriage offers... well, her mother had always wanted to see all of her children married. 

And if he asked her to marry him - which she suspected would be coming soon - she wouldn’t say no.

But there was a niggling voice in the back of her head (one that sounded suspiciously like her mother and her brother, Colin) that kept asking if she was happy or if she was just settling. 

Colin’s displeasure and hatred of Lord Barclay was evident. He wasn’t admitting why he hated the man but every time his name was brought up or he came over to offer Y/N a dance, Colin would step forward protectively and pull Y/N away - unless another member of the family was around.

Colin was part of the reason why Y/N was having doubts about agreeing to marriage. He’d confided in her one night about how he didn’t want her to just settle and wanted her to be happy. 

But Lady Danbury’s ball was going to be the night she finally decided. Y/N could feel that something was going to happen that night. She was excited to see Matthew again and to, maybe, become his fiancee. 

It’d been a wonderful day. Daphne had joined Y/N, Eloise and their brothers for a ride through Hyde Park. They’d had picnic and then returned home to prepare for the ball that night.

Y/N had chosen one of her favourite new dresses to wear - Matthew had suggested the fabric when he’d accompanied her to the modiste to pick up some new dresses. 

She was excited to see him at the ball and talk to him. He’d been a bit distant, lately, but Y/N put it down to stress about his lordship. But there was still something niggling her in the back of her mind. And it wasn’t Colin, who was yelling up the stairs for her to hurry up. 

The dress was a beautiful lilac with silver flowers and pearls. She had her maid curl and pin her hair up with a circlet of flowers around it and wore the earrings Daphne had given her for her birthday a few months ago.

“You look beautiful, dearest,” Violet said, standing behind Y/N. 

Y/N smiled at her mother in the mirror and brought a hand to the necklace around her neck. It’d been a present from Matthew a few days ago. “It does suit the dress.”

Violet paused, looking as if she was contemplating saying something. “Y/N... are you sure about Lord Barclay?”

Y/N looked around at her mother and frowned. “What do you mean?”

“Are you happy with him? You’re not just settling?” Y/N paused. She’d been so certain and now, with her mother voicing the doubts she’d been having since... well, since Monday’s Whistledown had come out and since Colin had spoken to her.

Monday’s Whistledown had mentioned Matthew and had said he’d been seen with a mysterious young woman who most certainly was not Y/N. But she’d just put it down to her being his sister. But now she wasn’t so sure. She loved Matthew, she truly did. But... it was nothing like the love Anthony and Kate had for one another or what Daphne and Simon shared.

“I...” Y/N hesitated, looking down at her shoes. “I don’t want to lie to you, Mama,” she whispered, looking up at her mother, “but I don’t know. Monday’s Whistledown has made me doubt some things. I love him, I do but... well, I doubt it would ever be anything like Anthony or Daphne both have.”

Violet sighed softly and walked over to her daughter, embracing her tightly. Y/N  hid her face against her mother’s side, suddenly overcome with emotions and wrapped her arms around her waist, relishing in the comfort and reassuring she was giving.

But as Y/N walked down the stairs of Bridgerton House, her dress trailing out behind her slightly, she felt like the most beautiful woman in the world. Her two brother’s - waiting in the hallway for her - stared in awe at her.

There was something so special about a woman in love. She glowed and sparkled as if she was a star on Earth itself. She held herself in higher regard and felt like a queen. Everything seemed a little bit more okay and a little bit happier. 

Even if the doubt was beginning to seep in about whether she did truly love him.

Y/N took Colin’s arm and let him lead her to the carriage. The night was young and the air was warm. She’d never been so excited for a ball before. Kate was coming too - her first ball as Lady Bridgerton. 

Everything seemed to be going perfectly. 

Y/N tried to ignore the niggling feeling in her stomach. She wasn’t going to let it ruin her night. Even if she hadn’t heard from Matthew since Monday. And even if Colin’s mere presence was making it worse.

She tried not to make it obvious that she was looking for Matthew as they walked in to the room. But he was nowhere to be seen, despite promising he would be there. 

The majority of the night was spent on the edge of the ballroom, watching Anthony whirl Kate around the room in newly wedded bliss. Y/N danced with Simon and Benedict and chatted with Penelope and Eloise - who’d been forced to attend and was making sure everyone in a five mile radius was aware of that fact - and pretended not to be worried. 

But she was worried. Had she been so caught up with being in love that she’d missed the red signs that screamed at her to stop and re-consider. 

Anthony had noticed his sister’s increasing distress and had stopped dancing with his wife, walking over to his sister and standing next to her, shoulders touching.

“He’ll come, Y/N/N,” Anthony said, noting his sister look around the room yet again. 

Y/N nodded, not really paying much attention to him. She’d seen the pitying stares from the mothers of the ton and was beginning to dread what Whistledown was going to say tomorrow. 

Kate finished talking with someone and walked over to them, standing next to her husband. She looked at Y/N and then nudged Anthony’s side. “Do something,” she whispered, glancing at her sister - in - law in concern. 

Anthony sighed. “I don’t know what I can do, Kate.” He glanced back at Y/N. “If he does turn up, however, don’t hold me back.”

“If anything you’ll have to hold me back,” Kate replied.

Five minutes passed.

Then fifteen.

Then another five.

Benedict joined them in what was quickly becoming knowing as ‘Bridgerton corner’. He glanced at Y/N, then at Anthony. Anthony shook his head, warning him not to say anything. Benedict simply sat down next to his sister and causally flung his arm over the chair, pretending to subconsciously drum his fingers on her shoulder when he was actually trying to comfort her.

Colin came over with Eloise and Violet and soon every Bridgerton in attendance at Lady Danbury’s ball was standing in the corner, waiting.

Another ten minutes passed.

Y/N stood up and grabbed a glass of Lemonade from the table. She took a sip of the sour liquid and tried not make a face at the tangy taste in her mouth. 

Not liking the flavour of it she handed it off to Colin - her brother ate and drank almost anything put in front of him. Colin silently took it and shifted closer to Y/N, knowing his gut feeling about Lord Barclay had, unfortunately, been right.

Violet looked over at Y/N and sighed. “This isn’t going well,” she said quietly, leaning closer to Anthony and Kate.

“No, it isn’t,” Anthony replied, glowering at any one who dared approach them in their corner. 

“Oh, he’s here!” Y/N exclaimed, perking up as she spotted Matthew as he walked in the main door. “I’ll be back.”

Y/N began heading over to Matthew, weaving her way through the numerous dancers and chatting guests.

“Matthew!” She called, approaching him by the door to the garden. “Where have you been? Come on, I put you down on my dance card.”

She held out her gloved hand to him to take but frowned when he turned and gave her a frown.

Matthew shifted on his feet, an uncomfortable expression appearing on his face. “Ah, Miss Bridgerton.”

Y/N paused, dropping her hand. “Miss Bridgerton? Matthew, what is going on?”

Matthew sighed, looking as if it physically pained him to have to explain. “I don’t want to see you anymore, Miss Bridgerton. I have found another woman  - one my family approves of -”

“Your family doesn’t approve of me?” Y/N asked slowly, struggling to comprehend what was happening. “What -”

“I apologise for any inconvenience caused this evening,” Matthew said, bowing. “I wish you well, Miss Bridgerton.” 

“Matthew -” 

Y/N reached out to grab his hand but he brushed past her, walking across the room and disappearing off into the corridor, leaving Y/N standing alone in the corner, her brain trying to catch up with what had just happened.

Anthony slowly approached, having watched the entire conversation. He’d heard what Lord Barclay had said and had seen the way he stared at his sister - as if she was nothing more than an inconvenience. 

“Y/N/N?” Anthony asked quietly, putting a hand on her arm. “What happened?”

“He... he���s found someone else,” she said, her voice a whisper. “Someone his family approves of. I - what...”

Y/N trailed off, stunned and in shock. Anthony sighed, clenching his hand in anger. He glanced up at his mother, who was hovering worriedly nearby, and shook his head once.

Y/N couldn’t form the words to speak. She just stood there, Anthony's hand on her arm being the one thing keeping her grounded.

The room was beginning to whisper and point at Y/N, all wondering what had happened. Anthony noticed a few beginning to wonder over and grabbed Y/N’s hand, gently tugging her forward and to the centre of the room.

Whilst a dance was the last thing either of them wanted - it was the only way to get away from the prying eyes and the endless questions and pitying stared of the Ton. 

“Are you alright?” Anthony asked quietly, guiding her hands to the correct position and helping her take one step forward. 

Y/N, not wanting to be seen crying in the ballroom, forced a smile onto her face and lifted her head up high, breathing in deeply despite the lump in her throat and the stinging in her eyes and the urge she felt to curl up into a ball and sob. “Of course.”

Red lights, stop signs I still see your face in the white cars, front yards

Every time Anthony spun her way, Y/N allowed her facade to crack for just a second. It hurt. Her chest felt tight and every breath was constricted.  Everything hurt.

He’d discarded her to the side like she was a piece of rubbish and as if she was nothing. He’d played with her and showered her with gifts and love and compliments and it’d all been a lie. 

Matthew had lied. He’d lied. 

The words rang around her head like a mantra and it was beginning to consume her. Anthony spun her out and back into him but she almost fell to the floor, her knees beginning to weaken as her body and mind caught up. 

Anthony caught her and held her up, looking down at her blank, emotionless face as she tried not to crack.

Y/N focused on each step - the way her feet rose to the tip toes and then back down to her heel as she stepped back and forth, side to side, up and down. She focused on Anthony’s hand in hers, the warmth of his palm, the familiar, comforting scent of his aftershave.

Can't drive past the places we used to go to 'Cause I still fuckin' love you, babe

The lights blurred past, the numerous people dancing around her becoming one solid merge of colour. 

She couldn’t breathe. Her stays felt tight and uncomfortable - even though she knew they weren’t. The necklace she was wearing felt like it was choking her - cutting off the air she need.

Her dress was too tight, too long, her gloves too thick and too heavy.

Sidewalks we crossed I still hear your voice in the traffic, we're laughing

Y/N didn’t remember much of the dancing - she wasn’t even sure how she was moving one foot in front of the other. Anthony was watching her with concern in his eyes and was leading her and guiding her every step of the way. 

The music was too loud. The candles were too bright. Everything was an overwhelming blur of orange, red, blue and yellow. Her eyes stung as finally, her mind and body came to the same conclusion.

It was over. He was gone and she was free and her entire future was non-existent and she was alone and unmarried and free.

Over all the noise God, I'm so blue, know we're through But I still fuckin' love you, babe

The song ended and before the last notes had even faded away, Y/N was pushing away from Anthony and past her mother and Colin and out the door, running down the corridor away from everyone.

Her shoes echoed loudly on the tiles and she skidded around the corner into the room that had been set aside for the women. Y/n slammed the door shut behind her and panted and sobbed, clutching the edge of the sink tightly. 

She looked in the mirror, her breaths harsh and ragged, and clawed at the necklace Y/N ran down a corridor and into the room that had been set aside for women who need to freshen up or fix their dresses. 

She slammed the door shut behind her and hurried over to the washroom, clawing at the necklace around her neck desperate for air and desperate for it to be out of sight.

I know we weren't perfect But I've never felt this way for no one

The clasp eventually gave way and Y/N flung the necklace to the side, taking in ragged, harsh breaths as she sobbed and clutched the sink to keep standing. 

Her heart hurt. Her chest hurt. Her head hurt. Everything hurt. She couldn’t breathe, couldn't think, could barely see her reflection in the mirror.

She slowly sank to her knees, leaning against the edge of the sink as she curled up and sobbed and sobbed and hyperventilated and sobbed.

It was over. She was free and he was gone.

And I just can't imagine How you could be so okay now that I'm gone.

The door to the side room opened and Violet burst in. She took one look at her daughter - eyes red, skin blotchy, neck scratched from trying to take off her necklace - and ran over to her daughter, falling to her knees beside her and taking her in her arms. 

Y/N clung to her mother tightly as if she were her lifeline in the stormy dark sea she was drowning in. She buried her face in her shoulder and cried and cried.

Anthony stood in the doorway to the room, Colin next to him, and felt his own heart break as he watched his sister fall apart on the floor.  

Guess you didn't mean what you wrote in that song about me 'Cause you said forever, now I drive alone past your street

[writer-akihiko]

Hello!

Can i request again?

So... Fluff really fluffy. Old Mc with Old warlords.

Please don't kill them. 😭

IkeSen Boys + Growing Old With MC

Note: The children of the warlords are taken from historical record, but please know that not all scenarios are accurate as I had named some children to fill in the children who were unnamed.

To be honest with you this is probably the longest ask I've ever done, over a period of 4 days of editing and characters so I hope you enjoy the fluffy family content! It's cut for length. Also... I couldn't add so many tags so please share it if you can!

Nobunaga Oda

You were excited for this particular day, since your oldest son, Nobutada was finally coming home from a skirmish he had settled. The Owari province was long handed over to your sons, as you and Nobunaga lived peacefully in the edges of Azuchi, away from the city.

You had waited a long time to see your children once again, although not all were in Azuchi. With 21 children in total, both adopted and from birth, most were of similar age. The only few that lived with you were your youngest daughters, Oushin and Ofuri who were adopted at the same time. Youngest was a stretch, considering they were both 19.

Your other warlord friends were due to visit soon, including Hideyoshi. Throughout your years, you never comprehended why no one interested Hideyoshi as a romantic partner. Although, your heart eased, remembering how Hideyoshi would care for your sons as if he were their own.

Your thoughts were interrupted by your husband, as he plopped next to you, taking in the serene view of the empty field. In his hand were a bag of konpeito. Hideyoshi would be angry, but you weren't so as you managed to control his candy-loving instincts. You took a few to nibble on yourself, as you leaned against your husband.

"What were you thinking of, my fireball?"

You hummed, wondering how to respond. "About the future perhaps?"

"Good," he said. "I've been thinking... I wouldn't change a thing. But..."

You leaned into him, tickling the hairs of his neck. He flinched away, peppering you in kisses in retaliation as he continued his thought. "I want to travel once again, with you."

"I won't say no... But why not travel for longer?"

The moment your friends gathered, you and your husband announced your decision. Your children were surprised but the older warlords weren't. Masamune also teased Nobunaga, saying how he grew tired of a tranquil life. It wasn't long before you contacted Motonari, and the Oda couple were due to sail to Portugal.

"My years with you gave me the greatest life, YN."

Hideyoshi Toyotomi

It was not long before the day of your 20th marriage anniversary with Hideyoshi, but you woke up to a missing husband. Hideyoshi, being the way that he is, never stopped working for Nobunaga. Years went by, and you and Hideyoshi had a family of two sons, Hideyori and Tsurumatsu.

Your oldest son, Tsurumatsu, welcomed you instead in the morning. Your oldest was the spitting image of Hideyoshi, except that he took your eyes. It was as if you were looking at a younger Hideyoshi, and you commented on it, "With a sword like that, you remind me of your father..."

Your son's attitude however, resembled Ieyasu more than anything. Well... Ieyasu was his favourite warlord uncle when growing up. Tsurumatsu denied any of the sort, and insisted he accompanied you around Azuchi. You were internally grateful that your sons took after your husband's gentleman-like attitude, although at times when living in an estate with all three, it could get overbearing...

As you looked over the local fabrics, your hands traced over a fabric that you thought would suit all three of your boys.

"Princess YN?"

"Lord Mitsuhide!" Your son quickly bowed to the other warlord, but Mitsuhide gave him the respect to get up. The sudden appearance of the two bachelors, one older than the other, caused an uproar of the unmarried women of the market. It got you to think why Mitsuhide never settled down...

Your trip with your son ended in the front gates, where your younger son Hideyori and your husband Hideyoshi stood. Hideyoshi welcomed you wholeheartedly.

Hideyoshi escorted you around town, and you held onto his arm as you did before, and you two reminisced about the memories you had in the town together.

"20 years married..." You muttered. "Time flies huh? The boys have the townswomen swooning over them just like you did back then..."

"I only had eyes for you, YN..." He said. You huffed, teasing him about how he was in denial about his feelings the entire time. Hideyoshi grew red at your teasing, with you pulling him down to your level, kissing him on the cheek.

"For these 20 years with me YN... Thank you for telling me to live and staying with me."

Mitsunari Ishida

Your life never slowed down despite Mitsunari's calm approach to life. It was a joyous occasion for the Ishida clan throughout the years as you and Mitsunari had a wonderfully, large family of you both and 6 children.

Mitsunari still worked under Hideyoshi, with your third son Sakichi following in his footsteps. The week was busy, with you preparing for two weddings for your second and third daughter.

All your 6 children followed in the steps of Mitsunari in terms of worshipping Ieyasu. It was so much so, that one of your son-in-laws was Senchiyo Tokugawa. The warlords were long gone with their aggressions, so you were surprised when Mitsunari and Ieyasu arranged Kennyo to officiate the marriage.

Kennyo had been a neutral force after the birth of your first son Shigenari, as he even offered to bless your child. Kennyo himself never settled down, but he focused on rebuilding the temples instead. Mitsunari was quite the supporter, but Hideyoshi let an insight that it meant a lot to him since before Mitsunari studied in a temple.

You and Mitsunari returned home after a long shopping trip with the two oldest sons, Shigenari and Shigeie. Mitsunari nowadays forgot his things more and more, but his hatred for carrots continued. Your sons disappeared somewhere else to eat their carrot snacks, as you sat with Mitsunari in his study.

"You've never changed, Mitsunari..." You said, preparing some tea for him.

He reached out to your own hand, helping you pour. "I'm sure I'm improving on my tea manners!"

The silence never settled between you two, as no matter how much time had passed, you two never ran out of topics to run out of. You comforted Mitsunari as he confessed how sullen he felt about your daughters leaving.

"If anything... YN, in my time with you... Thank you for marrying me."

Mitsuhide Akechi

You moved to Tanba permanently, and you gave up your rank as Princess. With Mitsuhide gone for his missions, you'd answer to the other warlords. Somehow, it lead you to the title of 'Lady Akechi'.

It wasn't long before your first daughter, Tama, was to come of age. Mitsuhide was a private man, so it was only to be held with the other warlords and your entire family. You and Mitsuhide had a small family, but they were equally cherished by the others.

Yoshimoto arrived at Tanba earlier than expected. You had become fast friends with him, despite Mitsuhide's dislike. You had reassured him multiple times that Yoshimoto had no interest in you, but at times you had questioned why Yoshimoto never married...

"Tama! Yoshimoto is here!" You called out for your daughter. She was most likely with your youngest daughter... Yoshimoto had agreed to come and help Tama put together her hair, with the accessories he had collected.

It was not long before your daughter was finished, and by that time Mitsuhide with your eldest son, Mitsuyoshi, returned. No matter how many people were in the estate, your husband kissed you on the cheek, as it was customary to do.

Mitsuyoshi made faces, but was silenced by his much more mature, younger sister. Yoshimoto was quick to escort the three siblings outside, where Kyubei was waiting to bring his Lord's family to Nobunaga's Castle.

"Mou... Mitsuhide, the children are waiting... It's Tama's day today..." You muttered, as he continued to kiss you.

"Our children are adults, YN..." He said, holding you close. "Let your husband indulge in you for one more kiss... For now, and all our coming years..."

Ieyasu Tokugawa

In celebration, you decided to throw a banquet for Ieyasu as he announced he was stepping down from work. It was lively at home, with 16 children and a small army of rescued deer over the year helping you to decorate the house. You and Ieyasu, besides the deer, adopted children over your 20 years of marriage who soon became close with your 6 biological children.

You hurried to prepare the grand hall, but before you could fully lift the box full of tapestries, it was quickly carried away.

"Mama... You're not allowed to carry heavy things anymore," A blond man told you off, as two other men carried the vases away.

"Nobuyasu... Ogimaru... Hidetada..." You smiled at your three eldest sons. Ah, your heart warmed at how considerate they've become. It made you feel like a proud mother... "You three returned from Kenshin's lessons?"

The gap between the Oda and Uesugi-Takeda forces closed, and Kenshin grew close to your family. He never had children of his own, so you were enthusiastic when Kenshin treated your eleven sons as his own, even taking some to learn the sword by him.

"Mama! Don't be distracted! Let us fix you up!"

From behind you, your five daughters swarmed you, wrapping you up in a cloth you sure you bought this week... and it was untrimmed...

"Tokuhime! I haven't trimmed that cloth!" You turned to your other daughters, who were also holding makeup paints and hairpins. "Kamehime! Ichihime! You don't have to throw your jewellery to get my attention!"

"Mou... Mama, Father will be so happy to see you dressed up~" Your third daughter, Furihime chimed.

Matsuhime, the fourth daughter, joined in. "Without our help, your kimono might be too old fashioned Mama..."

Oh... Things were lively with all your children back at home... Your sons finished decorating the hall, and as a token you decided to do your daughters' hair to match them to your hairstyle.

You were last to enter the hall, as the boys wanted to greet their father first. Your daughters entered next, and all Ieyasu saw through them was you, and the way you raised them made them blossom into the people they were today. When you entered... he swore he stopped breathing.

"YN... My wife..." Not much was said after, but the blush on his face was enough to show how much he loved it, as well as his hand gripping onto yours tracing every finger of it.

Masamune Date

You would like to think that your life grew much more peaceful, but with a chaotic husband like Masamune, and four equally chaotic children like him. The Date forces as a whole were also chaotic. It was safe to say that Lady Date was one who took care of them all, no matter how big or small.

It gave your husband the great idea of planning a surprise birthday party for you with his children. As a warlord, he was not Ishida Mitsunari but he could still plan a well thought-out strategy...

"Irohahime, Muuhime, you are to distract your mother at the market. Kojuro will give the signal when we're ready."

They nodded. "Yes Dad."

"Hidemune, Tadamune. You know when to start the fight," He reiterated.

"Yes Da-"

Ieyasu, who came earlier as a guest, spoke up. "Why am I a part of this?"

"YN will only break a fight if it involves people outside our family," Masamune explained, flexing his arm. "She knows we're tough as nails..."

Ieyasu Tokugawa remained a bachelor, although he never explained why he didn't. Masamune had a little bit of a hunch, but he isn't one to pry. Ieyasu was an undeniable favourite of his daughter Muuhime, who gained an affinity for medicine.

"Tough as nails?"

Your family was dumbfounded that you stepped in the decorated hall, with your husband and children, with Ieyasu in the corner with a bowl of spicy soup. Kojuro had kindly lead Lady Date into the hall, despite of the plan as no one in the Date palace dared to defy YN LN.

For a room full of adults, your family at the moment were not acting like one. It was typical, but you had to wonder what the fuss was all about. Tadamune, the closest to you, was someone who couldn't lie to you, and told you the truth. It ended quite simply, as you insisted to help prepare.

In the kitchen with Masamune brought back memories. The whole time you and your husband were cooking, you played around with the ingredients as you did back then.

"My wife... you have a little flour on your face. Should I wipe it with my fingers or..." He wrapped his arms your waist, brushing his lips on your ear. "Kiss it away myself?"

Ranmaru Mori

You and Ranmaru decided to leave the Oda forces once you both got married. Ranmaru was mainly the reason, as he wanted to keep a neutral stance for your safety.

Ranmaru grew much taller over the years, but he wasn't as towering as the other warlords. You didn't mind as much except for the period of measuring out new kimonos for him. You both lead a quaint life, with Ranmaru working as your courier for your sewing work.

You and Ranmaru never had any children of your own, instead opting to become foster parents to other children whose parents were in war efforts or children that were orphaned from incidents.

Many children came and went, some of them leaving and never returning but there were the few that stayed. Ranmaru was still actively talking to the other warlords through letters, so you weren't surprised when he said that he intended to take you back to Azuchi for peach season.

It was no surprise that Hideyoshi gathered the entire town of Azuchi to welcome you both. It was nice to meet friends you had missed, as well as the daughters of the warlords you worked for. They awed at you, but to you it was as if you had adopted many, many girls resembling your friends.

"YN-hime! Etto... Do we call you YN-hime?" Tatsuhime, the oldest daughter of Mitsunari, asked.

"Of course! Even if she's not in Azuchi Castle, all our uncles say that she's the best princess!" Tokuhime, Nobunaga's oldest daughter, chimed in. "I may be Azuchi's princess but I can't fathom comparing myself to YN-hime!"

You shushed the girls, getting overwhelmed easily by the compliments and praises showered on you. You gave a peak to Ranmaru as a plea for help, but he added the cherry on top to the compliments instead.

"YN, YN... You know you're the best princess in my eyes!" He said, kissing your hand.

You were sure Ieyasu's daughters poked at their father with teasing of following Ranmaru's example. Others, like Mitsuhide's and Masamune's daughters, began to swoon that Ranmaru was more romantic than their fathers.

"I think that's enough Ranmaru... Let's save the romantic lines for our walk in the garden..."

Keiji Maeda

Oh what memories you had with Keiji over the years... For one, you were glad that the allegiance between the Oda and Uesugi-Takeda worked out, as you and Keiji decided to live together during that time.

You were shortly married after, with Keiji inviting Naoe as well, which lead to Kenshin being invited... plus Sasuke and Yukimura... not to mention Shingen as well... In the end it resulted in another gathering between the Oda and Uesugi-Takeda which you were glad didn't turn out violent.

Keiji was quite the family man himself, for after 20 years of marriage you had raised 10 children together, with 4 biological children and 6 adopted children. They had all grown up, married off to someone they love, leaving the once rowdy house now empty and quiet.

Keiji never stopped supporting Nobunaga, working almost as much as Hideyoshi on some days. You lived quietly, occasionally accompanying the wives of the other warlords as you never gave up your title as Azuchi's Princess, but it was obvious that you missed your entire family.

Keiji was always good with knowing your mood. Much to your surprise, you came back to an empty estate... but there were voices? One roaring voice sent you running to the main hall, where you opened the doors and there were your children, sitting around their father as he told more of his old war stories.

Overwhelmed with emotion, you shed a few tears as each of your children went up and hugged you.

"It's been so long my children..." You said as you hugged your two daughters.

"Mom, don't cry! If you cry... I'm gonna cry too!" Your first son, Keita wailed. He was taller than his father but it was quick to see that Keita, and much of the large boys of the family treasured you as their mother.

"Hoi hoi you rascals!" Keiji called out, getting up to walk to you. "Your monstrous heights would crush your mother!"

You moved into a hug with your husband, feeling Keiji lift you up. "My dear... they wouldn't," You grinned, finally laughing. "Keiji... Thank you for bringing our family together."

Kenshin Uesugi

Being crowned Lady Uesugi, you and Kenshin got busier and busier every year. It was an occurrence for the scribes of Kasugayama Castle to trail your relationship with Kenshin, as by the end of the day, it was a habit of his to take you on a stroll with your many, many bunnies.

There was not a soul in Echigo that did not hear of your marriage, Many were welcomed, but at the time no one thought that there would be a larger party than this. That was... until it was announced that you were pregnant.

It was an uproar, especially with Kenshin going around to everyone, saying how you were with child. To your surprise, your family of supposed three become a family of four as you were blessed with twins.

Kasugayama Castle was the home of your twins, Kagetora and Kagekatsu. Kenshin was proud of them, and they grew up to follow in their father's footsteps to take over the Uesugi clan... or that's what you thought until you realised how stubborn your husband was. He was making them work hard for it in their teen years when they expressed their interest in it.

Ah, but of course... Your three boys would always recharge with you, talking about their day. If one thing, they never learnt to share...

"What? You're drinking tea with Mama? But I wanted to show her the fabrics the merchants showed me!" Kagetora yelled at his older twin. Besides sword fighting, he grew up with an interest towards strategy, which was under Mitsunari's influence. He visited as often as he could, but you wonder if someone would ever catch Mitsunari's eye...

"An oaf like you wouldn't know how to brew tea like this for Mama..." Kagekatsu retorted, setting the pot down. He gained an interest for elegant arts similar to his father, and of course his favourite uncle is Yoshimoto.

Both glared at each other, but it was not long before the God of War entered the garden, with his many bunnies. "And why are you bothering my wife?"

"Father! Don't talk as if we're strangers! We're your sons and we wanna spend time with Mama too!" Kagetora retorted.

Kenshin drew his blade, challenging his sons that the winner gets to spend the afternoon with you.

"Ehem!" You coughed out, folding your kimono under you. "Boys, what's my number one rule in the garden?"

"No fighting and no swords..." Kagekatsu muttered.

"That's right," You said, taking a cup for yourself. "Now, why don't we all just sit down and have some tea?"

Sasuke Sarutobi

You and Sasuke didn't rush your lives in the Sengoku, since coming from the future meant a busy livelihood. You both agreed that when you both grew older, you would relax a little and not worry about the larger things in life.

Sasuke kept you in Echigo, as you stayed close to him and his other friends. You both had no intention of moving, but you did have an idea to own an estate to yourselves. There was no intention of children from both of you, so you decided to become foster parents to children with majority of their families at war.

You had only fostered about 3 children, but similarly, they too had extended families that they stayed with instead. The both of you learnt how to let go, ever since staying here, but that was something you both grew from. Finding out you both let go of the children you cared for, Yukimura had asked if you were interested in taking in his nephews and niece.

Yukimura himself never married, and you never asked, but he was a dear friend that you and Sasuke would sacrifice a lot for. Yukimura's orphaned nephews and niece were quickly known as your children, and Sasuke would always read them Physics Theorems as a bed time story...

It was a joyous occasion whenever those three would come back, and sooner by that time you realised you had gotten older. There was a small room where you and Sasuke kept your modern items, coincidentally was the room you would often have tea in.

You sighed, taking another bite of your bun. "Sasuke... I know we've lived quietly, but I've wanted to know if you ever wanted to return?"

"There's nothing I would've changed, YN... Not a single thing." He smiled, brushing his hand over yours. "Maybe... maybe there's another timeline, but you're in this one so it's where I am."

Kanetsugu Naoe

He continued to serve his years under Kenshin's reign, but then it was a moment of realisation of how time passed when you told him you were pregnant. It was a moment of stress for him, as he wasn't knowledgeable on the process.

It was recorded by the scribes of Kasugayama Castle that when Azuchi's Princess gave birth, Kanetsugu shed tears as if it were raining. That is to say, he cried a lot. You had a son, Kanetsuna. Much like his father, your son grew up to admire the line of Kenshin Uesugi, becoming close friends with Kagekatsu and Kagetora Uesugi.

Those three went off adventuring so much, it often worried you. Kanetsugu, with his curt self, would reassure you in his own way. It wouldn't help you much, since Kanetsugu would also talk about how helpful Kanetsuna was being towards the Uesugi family line.

You always busied yourself with your sewing, so you often used your son as a model to model your kimonos after. Kanetsuna never had an interest in fashion, but he would always walk up to women in the streets to go and buy your kimonos whenever you would open the shop.

Needless to say, most thought you were available for a marriage interview instead. Kanetsugu was surprised to see you carry home so many letters addressed to your son. Somehow, he was proud but wary.

"How did our son even resemble Shingen's charm? I'm aware he has my looks, but this is a bit much..." He adjusted the glasses he wore, taking more letters off your arms.

"Our son is of age, Kanetsugu and don't flatter yourself too much," You said, setting the letters aside. "You weren't a charmer but you steered clear of women..."

He turned red when you brought up his past self. His blush went away the moment you kissed him cheek, wrapping your arms around your husband. "It's alright, my husband... I certainly fell hard for you."

Shingen Takeda

How you lived in bliss with Shingen... It was not long before Kai was returned to Shingen, and he worked hard to build it up from the state that it was left in. Shingen created a loving community in Kai, and it was no question a homely place for you and him. Nobunaga claimed that the crops he gifted on your wedding were a gift, and you thanked him for that. Despite the time that passed, Nobunaga never took a spouse, so you wondered when he would marry too.

The whole community was in joy when you were with child, which prompted Shingen to throw an entire festival to bless your first born. Years went by, and you bore four sons for Shingen. Kai was now famous for its festivals, since Shingen insisted on one for every child you both had.

Kai, in turn, had a festival for every season and every son, with each having their birthdays in a particular season. Katsuyori was in the summer, Harukiyo was in the spring, Nobuchika was in Autumn and Yoshinobu was in Winter. The particular festival this time around was for Nobuchika, your second son and his 20th birthday.

You sighed, remembering the times the boys were younger. How they would run around, and how Shingen would swing them around hanging off his biceps. It was about 20 years of marriage, so you could still attest that he had the biceps, but your sons were far too tall to swing off their father's arm.

"Remember how they would swing on my arm?" Shingen said to you, taking a bite of a sweet bun.

"Mhm... Katsuyori would always fall off..." You replied, sipping your tea. The both of you watched as the new generation of the Kai people set up the tents, and raked the leaves off the walkways for the guests. "But Nobuchika was very stubborn..."

"It was always adorable how you'd panic, my Goddess..." He teased, pulling you close. "Not like I minded... Ah, and how Yoshinobu would sleep on Koro's back..."

The teasing was uncalled for, but Shingen couldn't stop swaddling you in his arms, relishing you in his kisses. You laughed, and your gleeful smile is one he'd always want to see on you.

Harukiyo, the youngest, nudge his other brothers. "Hey... Do they know that we're still here?"

The other three shook their heads.

Yukimura Sanada

Throughout the years, you and Yuki had 11 children together, with a mix of adopted and biological children. You were surprised that Yuki even had the confidence to take care of so many children with you, since Yuki wasn't exactly a paternal type either...

Another thing was, out of 11 children, you only had four sons... with very similar names that you can't help but give nicknames to them!

"Yuki! Dai! Help your sisters carry this heavy pot!" You yelled. In a rush, four young adults plus your husband came from their training, spears in hand, at your call to the garden.

You always wondered why Yuki insisted on naming two sons Yukichika and Yukinobu and the other two Daihachi and Daisuke. It always confused the others, especially Shingen when he couldn't tell them apart.

Besides that, all of your children had gained a love for some kind of weaponry. The only exception was your oldest, Kiku, who decided to become a healer instead. You fully supported their interests, but you still had to lay down some ground rules about weapons...

It wasn't long before three of your girls came back with Sasuke. Sasuke continued to be a favourite of the Sanada family, especially with the triplets, Okane, Oshobu and Oume, who had an affinity for throwing stars and knives. The last three girls, Ichi, Naho and Akuri were fans of archery instead, which their father taught them as well.

Speaking of Sasuke, you were glad that he treated the children as his own. You never asked why he never did adopt a few, or get married, but you were sure it wasn't right to pry.

It was always a big dinner with the Sanada family, but after dinner Yukimura would always take you somewhere else, be it the study or the garden, for his alone time with you.

"Time passes by huh..." You muttered, reaching in the tiny jar of fish snacks.

Yuki hummed, stroking Muramasa's coat as he listened to how your day went. No longer did he insult you as often as he did, but that boyish attitude of his never changed.

"Oh by the way... I arranged a marriage interview with Kiku and Katsuyori!"

Yuki spat out his drink. "T-Takeda Katsuyori?"

You hummed. "Kiku really likes him, and the feelings are mutual so-"

Not a word was to be said about what Yukimura screamed. Except for the fact that you replied with, "Kiku is 23 years old."

Yoshimoto Imagawa

Yoshimoto wasn't someone you'd imagine wanting a family, but then you realised that Yoshimoto really wanted to pamper any children you had. It was a slow process, but over the years, you both had 5 children, with 4 daughters and a son.

Your four daughters were well-known for their beauty, especially with mentions of their lineage as the phrase of 'Elegance of Imagawa and Beauty of Azuchi's Princess' was repeated several times over. Yoshimoto would not stop gushing over his own children, no matter how old they were.

Your only son, Ujizane was much more interested in becoming someone like Yukimura but he was also famous for his calligraphy works. It was an understatement how many pieces were commissioned by Kenshin and Masamune.

Yoshimoto however, has no concept of approaching romance when it came to his own child. He so happened to eavesdrop your conversation with your second daughter, Reishou.

"Ah! I can't look at him Mother! He's... He's very charming!" The usual stoic Reishou hid her face in her hands, her body swaying back and forth.

"Now... did you send him that letter I told you to do?" You said, patting her on the back. "Yoshinobu was it? He's a nice man..."

"But... But... the messenger accidentally sent it to Harukiyo Takeda! He mixed up the wrong brother..." Reishou told you, tears coming from her eyes. You wiped them away, hugging her close, and telling her it was going to be alright.

"Father? What are you doing in front Reishou's room?" His first daughter, Chotoku, asked, a hand to her hip in wonder. She wasn't as quiet as her father, her mannerisms and voice loud and clear. The 'eep' from the room was enough for him to bow down in shame as he saw you exit Reishou's room.

You ushered Chotoku to comfort her younger sister, as you dragged your husband somewhere else.

"Now Yoshimoto... you should apologise to your daughter," You said, finishing your lecture about why he shouldn't listen in. He pressed his head to floor as he listened, bowing to you as you went on about how he should be supportive.

"I... I understand my wife. Thank you..." He said.

"With that said... The five of you can come in now. I'm done with the scolding..."

Oh, the embarrassment he felt...

Kennyo

He was embarrassed to tell you that he had planned out his future with you when you found him pacing around about names for your future children. You and Kennyo lived in the reconstructed Honno-ji Temple as a wedding gift from the Oda forces.

There was no further issues between Kennyo and the others. After all, they were getting older and no one would want to make you upset. You were still friends with many of them, especially with Ranmaru. He was someone who would deliver the gifts from the warlords to you, especially when you were with child.

Kennyo was ecstatic when you were pregnant, but he was scared. Looking back then, Kennyo would get shy whenever you'd bring it up. You however, would tell him not to worry as he was a great father to your three sons.

Kyounyo, Junnyo and Kenson followed in their father's footsteps, specialising in several different aspects of the religion. Kenson, the youngest of all three however, was the most interested in travelling, most likely from the stories he'd hear from Ranmaru and Motonari.

Your three children easily mingled with Motonari's, but you always wondered why Ranmaru never settled down. He was still doing his own work, which worried you enough as he was almost a workaholic like Hideyoshi.

Kennyo's birthday rolled around, so you decided to make a special party for your husband. As you focused on the food, you tasked your three sons with work to distract their father as Kennyo's other subordinates helped with the preparation.

"Father! I wanted to ask you about this text!" Kenson carried papers about a sermon to his father, as he saw his father exit the main temple with a package in hand.

He held out his hand to his son's head, ruffling his hair. "I'm afraid not today, my son. I have to see your mother."

"Wait, but father-!"

One by one, they all failed and the surprise was ruined, but Kennyo wasn't aware of what he had done. He was so focused on giving you the said package. He only notice what he did when he saw the disappointed face of his wife, a face he was indeed weak to.

"YN-! Apologies my wife... I'll pretend as if nothing happened..."

"Father... Father has a one track mind huh..." The sons whispered amongst themselves.

Kichou

You never imagined finding a place where you and Kichou belonged. After all, your relationship in itself was out of place from your other friends. That was, until Motonari asked if you both wanted to travel around the world. You were on board, and after much prying, you and Kichou were travelling around Asia.

Most of your post-wedding years was spent with Kichou travelling to many places, although you would say that you both found a place in what you know today in modern Japan as Shikoku. The Island was not far off Motonari's reach, so you had some familiarity with it.

There was no rush to start a family straight away, especially considering that you moved away from the friends you were accustomed to. Kichou's work wasn't interrupted at all, but he did ask Motonari to help you out with finding what suited you. Somehow, someway, the assistance popularised your kimono work not to mention your fans from Azuchi and Echigo travelling to commission your work.

It was smooth sailing financially, and sooner down the line, Kichou asked if it were alright to adopt children. You agreed, and you found yourself raising a pair of twins with Kichou. They were fraternal twins, but they were quick to adapt to you and Kichou's home.

Kichou enjoyed the family life much more than he thought he would, and he realised it the moment you said your son expressed an interest in marriage to one of the village girls.

Your son, Yoshitatsu, bowed to his father as Kichou listened to his appeal. Kichou was loving but at the same time, he was strict with the twins.

"Father! Please let me marry this girl!" He bowed deeper, pressing his palms to the floor.

Your daughter, Myoinni wasn't around since she decided to be a part of the Uesugi army. Your son instead focused on business, which you assumed was where he met this girl.

Kichou was silent, but a soft nod was enough for your son to jump with glee. You rubbed your hand over his, giving him a kiss on the jaw. You felt him lean into you, so of course you praised your husband. "Kichou... You did well."

Motonari Mori

He was someone who you thought wouldn't be one to settle down, but Motonari was much more attentive than you thought. He knew that one day, he'd have to stop but he'd want to make sure that you were alright with whatever landing spot you chose to stay at.

After much deciding, you and him reached an end point of perhaps moving to the Aki province, his hometown. At first, he was uptight about it since he didn't want his family to meddle with you. He wanted to keep you away but the way you loved his hometown... He couldn't help it.

He had to gain control of his clan before he brought you in... Although it was a faster process than expected since you were pregnant... Which was not planned...

It took about a year for Motonari to accomplish it, but by his will he was going to make life comfortable for you and your first son, Takamoto. It was great for you and Motonari then on, and most in the Aki Province knew you as Lady Mori. You and Motonari may have also adopted a few children, totalling your children over the years to 12.

There wasn't much to complain about... except for the fact that Motonari had a naming gig... Which made things difficult...

"Moto! Help me with this-"

6 boys... and your husband... came running... Then you had to choose which one to help you and it wasn't even all of the children. "No no... I only wanted Motoaki to help me..." You said.

The other boys and your husband made protests about it, asking why you wanted that specific brother.

"What? Is it because Motoaki's good at arithmetic?" Motoharu asked.

"Like you could ever do arithmetic..."

"Shut up Motoyasu!"

"Oh yeah? Fight me Motomasa!"

"How undignified..."

"Don't try to be the proper one here Motokiyo!"

Motonari was the one who could break up the fight, but he didn't want to. You sighed, going back inside where your three daughters were as your nine sons and Motonari battled it out...

"Girls, let's go out to eat..."

[evilzoldyck]

Fiancée II

part I

The floral scent hanging in the humid air had become particularly nauseating, the mixed flower petals that complemented the oils poured into the bathwater had all sank before you while the water itself had turned lukewarm.

Looking down at your fingers, you noticed that your fingertips had pruned horrendously. Normally you wouldn’t take much of your time disengaging with reality but recently, there was something in your mind you couldn’t quite comprehend. Just a few hours ago you were subjected to your mother-in-law’s favourite pastime which was holding a tea ceremony by the garden. Except it had a special twist, for every crucial detail that you missed, a melting hot iron would be pressed against the palm of your hands.

You didn’t miss the slight turn on the corner of her lips, her hidden smile behind the paper fan every time the torched metal would melt onto your skin, reminding you that will never be worthy enough to be accepted by her. And for every time your skin healed, your scars disappeared, your blood stopped seeping from your skin, she will be the one to make sure to replace them. Asserting her position and making sure you knew who the true matriarch of the family is.

Living with in-laws was a truly dreadful ordeal.

However when a butler with hard lines etched onto his face interrupted the unfortunate event, his sunken eyes that held the deepest sympathies only gazed at yours. He came forward with an ill-bearing news of your mother’s recent passing.

You knew this day would come, but you hadn’t anticipated it to come so soon. Though you had the resources to finance her health with the best doctor money can buy, you knew there was nothing you could offer death for an ailment so monstrous. The more times that you visited her in the hospital, the more and more different she looked. 

You almost didn’t recognise her. She looked like a corpse, barely breathing through her tube encasing her mouth, her hair you used to comb religiously every night was mostly gone. You knew that she was barely alive.

The only times that you were allowed to visit her was once every full moon as the rest of your days were filled with torturous training all for the sake of building your strength. You were barely considered family to them and so your own Mother visiting you at the Zoldyck estate was unimaginable. Sometimes in the darkest hour of the night you could almost hear her hoarse whispers, blindly pleading repeatedly to the nurses for you, why her daughter was nowhere to be found.

She fought for your next visit, begging at death’s door to see you one last time but alas, death was cruelly fair and her time was rightfully due. And so the feeling when you completely missed her burial, when you were refused a visit to her grave to pay your respects, when you were forbidden to grieve for it was a sign of weakness. The feeling of such accumulated events…

What was it you were supposed to feel?

You knew your heart nor mind could never be so numb, you weren’t anything like the Zoldycks at all, so detached to even a sliver of morality and compassion. So then why didn’t the news of her death send you to your knees? Why couldn’t you feel anything? Could it be a temporary shock- perhaps that’s why your cheeks were dry.

Just when you were lost in your thoughts with a tight frown pursed upon your lips, your personal handmaiden politely intruded herself inside the bathroom, announcing the arrival of master Illumi from his recent mission abroad. You lifted your head from your trance as her soft voice ricocheted off the black marbled walls, a gentle reminder to you of exactly where you were before your mind took you someplace else.

Upon seeing her, she was diligently prepped with her arms open wide, holding your robe before you.

The strange family had rightfully encroached all rights that you previously held, your freedom, your dignity, pride, and even your last name; privacy was the least of your concern. Rising from the cold waters, you allowed her to tie the warm fabric around you. She was always so meticulous and gentle, as if the slightest movement of her gestures or the flicker of her gaze could potentially be taken as an affront.

There were ample times that you searched for at least some kind of warmth in this forlorn and dreary estate, some kind of companion to show a little humanity and compassion with. You should’ve known that pursuing friendship on this mountain was pointless. The myriad of maids and butlers that they have at their disposable offered no comfort to your despair as they were always sickeningly polite but never friendly, leaving a gaping hole in your chest to fend this loneliness for yourself.

At the threshold of the gargantuan door, Illumi stood impassively while one of the butlers of the estate came to lighten his load. He had come back rather early from his departure, the extensive tasks assigned to him was nothing he hadn’t done before and yet with so many undertakings he was obligated to finish he had forgone rest when it was deemed necessary, opting to continue on to the next job effective immediately. Perhaps it was his habit of having a tireless and dedicated focus during a mission or maybe it was just his overzealousness to see you again.

“Welcome back, master Illumi. I trust that you found our services to be adequate on your journey back.” Gotoh pleasantly bade a congenial welcome as he gracefully placed his right hand across his chest and bowed his head slightly before the eldest of Zoldyck’s son.

He simply hummed in reply not sparing another glance at the man for Illumi’s vacant stare was occupied, searching the premises based on his peripheral vision for any sign of you awaiting him without fail like you do every time he arrived back from his assignments. “And my wife?” he curtly inquired after seeing no sign of you.

Descending from the stairs, you face your personal demon with a pathetic palpitating heart. The robe that you adorned did little to cover the coldness of his gaze for the room froze every time he was near. Nevertheless a stretch of a satisfying smile formed across his lips as you made your way towards his arms. 

Embracing him always felt like the first time, your shoulders tensed every time his elongated thin fingers squeezed your sides as he enveloped you in a mockingly sweet embrace. If it bothered him, Illumi never spoke of it. The locks of his midnight hair brushed against your face as you placed a quivering kiss upon his cheek, uttering a small greeting for him. 

Just like clockwork he began to led you away from the foyer and into your shared quarters with his lithe hand burrowing itself into your waist. 

Though it felt like years had passed once your fate was intertwined with his, you could never get used to his presence. This saccharine coated reality could never delude you to construe this as something more meaningful than a means of escape from your financial poverty and his obligation on fulfilling his filial piety. The carefully rehearsed charade always played out the same where in the end of the night you would find yourself in a familiar predicament. 

Inside the cimmerian chamber dim flickering candle lights illuminated the tenebrous darkness around you. The satin beneath your naked skin easily shifted as Illumi handled you attentively from above. As he moved to discard of his clothes your eyes absentmindedly wandered to the same spot on the ceiling that you’ve gazed upon countless of times. However once you heard the gentle rustle of his garments join yours into the floor, your attempt to seperate your mind from your body ended in vain. 

Illumi hovered above you leaving a scant space between your lips. You wished you knew why he searched for your eyes every time he began to kiss you, taking a pensive moment for you to finally look at him, to be the centre of your attention. You didn’t know why he bothered taking his time with you for every night you spent with him you had only demonstrated compliance and obedience. Prolonging such affair was only counterproductive. 

You felt him dragging his nails softly into your skin as he brought his hands up slowly from your thighs to your neck, grasping the rhythmically beating point and finally placing a soft kiss. 

Closing your eyes you unconsciously balled the sheets beneath you with your fists. The kiss was timid and placid on your lips as his hair fell and entangle with the pool of your own. Illumi finally released after a few languishing moments and began to trace wistful kisses along your neck. 

You knew better as to why an apathetic assassin that left a trail of crimson behind him for equity would give you the time of day to leave obsequious pecks. 

Illumi was a man of pure objectivity, each action he took had an ulterior motive behind it for no lift of his finger went by without it having some kind of incentive for him in the end. And so his adoring kisses and unctuous attention did little to move your amoral perception of him. 

He only indulged in such idle debauchary for he believed it was what you enjoyed, hence allowing the intercourse to go smoothly and successfully with the benefit of your arousal. Illumi was especially persistent in his countless endeavours in carrying out his bloodline with you. The details surrounding the child were kept quite vague and undisclosed, the only emphasis now was centred around the health and condition of your mental and physical state. 

Perhaps that’s why Illumi always handled you selflessly, as if he missed you terribly every time he went away for his delegated tasks. His efforts to please you easily began to grow more apparent, especially under an auspicious moon. 

Suddenly his hand encapsulated your small shivering ones, making your breath hitch just slightly as he rose up to meet you once more. “You’re still shaking, what’s the matter?” 

Were you? You hadn’t noticed the state of your body for your mind was running wild with endless thoughts. Sensing the tension in the air you quickly placated his growing trepidation with a weak smile. “Forgive me, tonight is just particularly cold today, perhaps I’ve left the window open again.” Avoiding his ruminating gaze Illumi released a ghost of a sigh before nodding, indicating that he took your word for it despite you knowing deep down that he did not. 

“Shall we go by the fireplace?” He suggested innocuously. 

You, however, couldn’t prevent the heat from rising up to your face as you couldn’t even begin to fathom engaging in such activity beside a roaring fire. Not only that but you would be rid of the protective barrier of your sheets and most of all, the wavering waves of red would cast a glow onto his face, forcing you to glance up upon him and seeing more of what you’re already comfortable with. 

A prude is the word most women back in your town would describe you as, however you would staunchly argue to such claims when the eyes of death has its attention solely on you. 

“No,” you gripped onto his hands. “Here is just fine.” 

Illumi gathered you into his arms, pulling you upwards along with him as he pressed more kisses against your lips and slowly trailed them down to your chest. You hesitantly wrapped your hands around his shoulders, careful not to tip the centre of balance he had on you as you nearly straddled his lap. 

“Very well,” he murmured before flipping you back on the bed and making you land onto your front swiftly. “Then I shall hold you instead.” 

Encapsulating you wholly with your back pressed against his chest, he held onto your chest tightly against him with one arm as the other gripped your hips firmly, raising it up to meet his. His head burrowed itself into the crook of your neck to leave more discoloured marks, and just in time as you felt the stretch commence. 

You were nowa Zoldyck, as you often reminded yourself, nothing could contain you not even pain, not even death, not even love. 

Roughly a year had passed and the same moonlight shined through the darkness upon the mountain peak once again. The Zoldyck estate was in turmoil. Nurses ran frantically from across the halls carrying fresh pristine white towels only to have them drenched in blood in the next second. 

You knew what you signed up for the moment you stood before theTesting Gate, it was just simply your time to fulfil your end of the bargain.

The journey of your pregnancy was a stark contrast to the treatment you had been subjected to in your time here. Instead of poison laced meals to the verge of hospitalisation and endless hours of enhancing your strength endurance, you were finally given some form of a break. 

Those little mercies such as extra hours of sleep, the vitamins and protein back in your system and the permission to acquire rest when you needed it were like heaven to you. 

Your health along with your baby’s progress was greatly monitored, not a day goes by that your daily intensive checkup went by carelessly. 

Everyday you gazed down in front of the mirror and saw yourself grow progressively. The size of your belly began to expand with each passing time that came closer to the due date. Though despite the baby being attached to your very self you couldn’t feel a sense of attachment to it, the very kind your mother had for you. 

And so when you first heard him cry from your extraneous labour, you were stricken by a sudden powerful force. Months of him stirring inside you and it took you this long to realise the being inside you was alive. 

The obstetrician and the nurses all cheered and cooed at the successful delivery of your newborn baby, making excessive notes of how handsome he was. Their faces damped with their efforts to ensure the health of the mother and the baby was maintained paid off for the delivery was a success. 

The burden finally left their shoulders as one should feel when it was a Zoldyck’s turn to employ and entrust an imperative job such as this. 

Once the umbilical cord was cut, you were able look upon his face. Blood stained your hands and cheek as you held him close to your chest, his tiny hand already reaching out for your face, finally tempering his cries into charming babbling nonsense when he sensed that you were near. Everything about him reminded you of Illumi, his midnight hair that was twisted in tiny wisps, his complexion, his small but sharp features upon his face.

But those eyes, they were yours. 

The warmth of such gaze possessed you to crumble down before your son for it wasn’t until his arrival that your humanity was finally restored. Emotions flooded your senses to the point that you thought you couldn’t feel anything else but harrowing pain and guilt. Your separation from your only family, society, your own mother’s death, the excruciating pain that was inflicted upon you- you’ve felt it all. 

The mental fortitudes that you’ve built up over the accumulating years all came crashing down when you looked upon a face so innocent and pure. Something that was truly incapable of harnessing any  bloodshed as per the family designed of his future.

And after all this time you were carrying him like a pig to slaughter. Partaking in this corrupt pseudo-experiment to create the cold and hard perfect monster, subservient to the wills and orders of the family.

Just like his father. 

Suddenly, one of the nurses took him away from your embrace consequently making you panic at the thought of your son being alone without you. The feeling that compelled you to care for another was one that felt so familiar and yet so foreign, plucking an untouched chord in your heartstring that you’ve forgotten a long time ago. 

All your life you were living for someone else; when you lost your mother you were at a loss for your purpose was amiss, living as an empty hollow shell of a human being. Now that the birth of your child had come, an epiphany struck you like a blinding flash of lightening. 

He was your new profound purpose.

“Where are you taking him?” You gasped out, already reaching out towards the nurse who held him around a blanket. She briefly replied that she would be taking his measurements but her words of comfort fell on deaf ears for it did nothing to placate the fact that you were separated from your baby. 

“No, no- please! Give him back to me!” Now you were crawling across the maroon soaked sheets, wincing at the fact that you were still bleeding but still keeping a staunch arm out in front of you. 

Your frantic actions forced the nurses nearby to restrain you, holding you back onto the bed while urging advices to calm down. However their grip upon you nearly fell for you could see nothing but red in your eyes, there was no amount of force in this world that could withhold you from being without him. Your beseeches and tenacious struggle quickly came to a halt when you felt a sudden jolt of pain from your side. 

Looking down with your tear stricken face you saw that you were haphazardly injected with a strange transparent liquid to sedate you. Usually you could easily persevere over simple liquid anaesthetics that could even wipe out an entire five adult men but this dose was a new thing entirely, you’ve never been exposed to such a heavy medication that edged on it being lethal before.

However you knew that the fate of your son would be compromised if you stayed, if you didn’t fought for him. 

Consequently, the only necessary action you needed to take was to escape. Gathering your bearings from the Jenny that you’ve rightfully championed two summers ago, you’ve decided that the amount would guarantee him and you a stable future. 

That is why after two moons have passed when you’ve conjured enough strength to gather yourself from your deep sleep, right before Illumi was scheduled to come back to witness the scion of the house of Zoldyck, that you would take off when the moon was at its peak. 

There was no leaving it up to chance for there was no telling when you would see you son again. There was much conviction in your assumption that Illumi would haste his training program to become an elite assassin, just as the family intended from the start. 

The Zoldycks were unrivalled in their system of securing their property. A fortress that the brave or the foolish dared to try to penetrate, though their attempts would always end up in vain; along with bruises and a few broken bones if they were smart enough to retreat soon. However, they weren’t quite as adept at keeping someone in than they were at keeping everyone out. 

Glancing back the faint sight of the distant mountain on the horizon, you slowed your pace as you decided you’ve made satisfactory progress in distance. Looking around perilously and tuning your ears to the sound of even the faintest landing of the leaves in the autumn breeze, you relievedly deduced that you weren’t followed- well at least not yet.

Releasing small huffs from your over exertion of energy, you gazed down fondly  at the sight of your son bundled up in a large cloth in which you tied tightly onto your back. You relievedly let out a soft smile when you found out he was still sleeping soundly, gripping onto some of your loose hairs unconsciously. Setting him down inside a hollow tree you figured you could take a few minutes to decipher where True North lied. 

However, a sudden change in the atmosphere made your blood freeze. Staring out into the darkness, you fixed your sights in the direction of the energy with your fists clenched in anticipation. 

You felt him before you even saw him. Your heart dropped when you sensed whose aura emitted belonged to. 

Illumi came out of darkness with an air of calmness surrounding him. This sense of composure completely shifted yours, you knew he could easily overpower you for his nen abilities reigned supreme over yours, nonetheless you couldn’t allow a fight for freedom to go unchallenged, not when you were so close to the finish line. 

His ambiguity costed you valuable time to quickly devise a plan. Should you fight or should you flee? There was no telling he would kill you and steal your son away if you opposed him and yet given his nature, Illumi was quite capable of putting up a façade to front his murderous intent. 

When he came too close for comfort, you realised you could never outrun him with this distance, thus you had to strike before he could. Unsheathing a small dagger that you carried just in case you ran into some trouble, you cursed at yourself for carrying a short range weapon. 

Nevertheless you missed his shoulder by just the width of a hair. Illumi’s speed, though something to be marvelled at, was the only aspect that you worried most about. 

As if in slow motion you fell forwards and from the corner of your eyes, you saw him shift easily from your reach. Illumi began to extend his arm out to impede your efforts, however you caught sight of his advances and immediate retreated back. 

He blinked in mild surprise before exhaling a jaded sigh. “Fighting me is futile, you know very well that you cannot defy me in battle.” He stated matter-of-factly. “This victory brings me no satisfaction.” 

“Bring the child forth and end this foolishness now.”

“You monster,” you spat out the words like venom. “You’ll kill him.” 

Lashing out in anger you attempted another strike but narrowly missed again. Gritting your teeth in frustration you were so blinded by hatred that you failed to notice his hand reaching from your blind spot to restrain your dagger. 

Wrapping his long lithe fingers around your wrist Illumi gave a warning squeeze, enough to make a grown man fall to his knees. When you refused to yield, he gripped it into a blood cutting bind until you heard your bones shift and crack. You gasped out once your hold slackened as the dagger fell into the soft green grass below.

“No, I’ll make him stronger.” Illumi confidently promised. He just broke your wrist but oddly still, you couldn’t sense any intention of harm from him as you presumed. 

Your body went rigid when he uttered your name softly, pulling your weight into him almost comfortingly. “We’re still a family,” he spoke so lowly you thought you heard a sense of betrayal and hurt from his words. “I know it’s hard, but we only have each other.”

This imitation of kindness pulled you back into reality before you could cry into his chest and take you back to the mountain. Jerking from his touch disgustedly you began to prepare to lunge at him despite your broken hand. 

“You know very well that I will pursue you even to the ends of the earth.” 

You lurch out in a punch at his direction but Illumi hastily blocked your attacks. Dodging your strikes he only ever defends, hardly even trying to challenge you. An approach that was more pacifist as opposed to practical.

“I’ll stop at nothing to bring you both home, there is nothing you can protect him from. The boy will watch many deaths before him. He will know the true meaning of threats and violence, they will fall under mine. He will never know peace.” 

You almost cried when you heard him spoke of your son’s future in a manner that was so casually cruel. Forcing yourself to block his torturous lies and vitriolic taunts, you eyed for your weapon inconspicuously. 

Catching a glint from the blade of the dagger in the tall grass, you reached out to briskly seize it. Before you could even get close, Illumi kicked it swiftly to the point where it was no longer visible to you. Looking up at him with a gaze gaunt with pain and humiliation as he said your name once more.

“Listen to reason.”

In a fit of rage you blindly fought him with your moves only consisting of attacks and albeit not very coordinated for you could barely even see your hands in front of you. You could sense that Illumi willingly took some of your punches as he winced a little when one of your attacks coincidentally targeted his weak points. 

You hadn’t realised you were crying until he balanced you upright just as when you stumbled forwards due to your eyes stinging with blurry vision. Why had you expressed yourself at your weakest point in the midst of a fight? Were you really this weak? After such gruelling years of training did they amount to nothing when you couldn’t even compare to the man you willed yourself away to? 

You already lost before you even began. 

Locking a grip around his neck you managed to successfully pinned him to the ground floor. His eyes blankly looked up at your dishevelled state raw with pure emotions in contrast to his cool and composed self. It took you this long to register that he wasn’t fighting for your submission but for your sake. 

Illumi easily reverted to being the dominant position when he was about to receive a lethal strike from you. Pining both of your hands to the ground as he restrained your legs with his knees.

Illumi studied your trembling form underneath him, appearing like a feral cat caught in a cage, ready to lash out from any sudden actions even one out of kindness. 

“What can I do to get you to stay?” He persuaded exasperatedly, as if he was tired of you looking at him like he’s the enemy. Meanwhile, you glared at the ludicrous question. 

“I want a normal life for him. I want him to see the world, I want him to go to school, to make friends.” Your throat tightened when you brought him up. Proposing your wishes in vain knowing truly he could never fulfil what you desired. “You’ll have to kill me first before you could ever get to him.” 

“An unnecessary sacrifice.” He quickly corrected, as if such a thought had never crossed his mind.”How could I endanger the one I love most?” 

Your face twisted in detest at his hypocrisy. “What do you know about love?”

Illumi merely blinked at your question, in which the answer was one that he thought was already apparent 

“I love you.” 

And yet a thousand needles could never the change the way you feel for him. You only saw darkness within Illumi, death was the only thing drilled into his mind for his purpose was designed only for murder. 

But then why couldn’t you see any deception in his eyes? Why did he possess such sincerity when he declared his feelings for you. In the midst of constant exposure to inhumanity was it truly possible for hope and love to endure for Illumi?

At the cold realm on top of the mountain you have gazed at numerous celestial wonders of the universe, but none could compare to what you saw in his gaze. You recognised the fragments of humanity inside him and it was far more powerful than anything that you had ever witnessed before. 

To have seen compassion for another being in a state of infinite chaos, Illumi was truly a wonder.

“We can have that, you know,” Illumi gently said. “A house for our own far away from here, school, friends, whatever you want.” 

“But... not for him?” Your breath stopped when he nodded slowly, sympathising your disappointment at your speculation. 

“His siblings may lead the normal life you intended for them, but it’s critical that the eldest Zoldyck carry on the family’s name and status.” 

Like an echo through history, you really can’t stop the Zoldycks’ legacy. Nevertheless, the question still rang in your head alarmingly.

Could you do it? 

Doom your firstborn to save the others? 

After what you’ve been through was it the only logical choice?

“You can’t hurt him.”

Alas, the only natural rational course of action was to naturally comply. Illumi graced a genuine smile as he closed the distance between you and sealed the deal with a chaste kiss. 

“Never.” 

[needahugfromesme]

hello! Sorry to bother but I was reading your fics about Carine x Esme, by the way I discovered a love for them, and I wonder if you have a headcanon about them?? And if you have any idea about how they get legally married (how, when, where) ?

Hi !😄 Sorry, I can't remember which fanfic you’re referring to, but caresme is definitely one of my favourite couples in twilight au. Thank you so much for sending me this ask!

1. Esme was deeply influenced by her first encounter with Carine when she was 16. Carine's beautiful face, her gentle voice, and the fact that she was a woman who studied and became a doctor quickly attracted Esme's admiration. She often dreamed about Carine after that, about them becoming best friends, about her running away from the farm to live with Carine in the west.

2. At the moment when the newborn Esme felt desperate and helpless, Carine gave Esme the silver cross she had worn for many years. At the moment Carine touched her hand, Esme felt as if she heard her long-silent heartbeat, and her palm and cheeks burned like fire. From then on, every time Esme touched the cross she could think of the feeling of Carine's fingertips. She remembered all her dreams about Carine but with completely different meanings.

3. The 17th-century medical and religious education made Carine associate pleasure with penetrative sex and procreation. But to a certain extent, she knew she was different. She was drawn to Jacob Van Loo's Amarillis Crowning Mirtillo, the Story of Iphis and Lanthe. It frightens her, and the more devout she became the deeper her desire was buried, even herself could not remember. For the next 200 years, she never yearned for a man or a woman.

4. Unable to see Esme, who was physically three years older, as her daughter, Carine considered Esme as her sister. But it wasn't long before unsourced possessiveness took hold. She began to hate Edward for taking Esme hunting and was jealous of Esme and Edward's frolic. Thinking that Esme had once had a husband, that she had liked men, Carine began to fear that Esme would fall in love with Edward. Even Carine herself did not understand her jealousy, and her denial of her identity made her mistakenly believe that she was jealous of Esme for stealing Edward. Envy produced alienation and indifference. Carine began to blame Esme for wearing her clothes without her permission, disdained the flowers Esme brought home and stopped welcoming Esme to study, all of which hurt Esme.

5. It was not until Esme goes into complete shattering and breakdown after killing a human that Carine's great fear of losing Esme again finally made her realize that it was Edward she had been jealous of. She wanted Esme, wanted Esme just for her, her smile, her hugs, her body...

6. The collapse of old cultural values and the popularity of Freud’s psychoanalysis in the 1920s also pushed Carine to re-examine her repressed feelings for Esme.

7. For a long time, neither of them felt like the other would see them as lovers. Carine thought Esme liked men. Esme could not see the desire behind Carine's courtesy. Their intimate gestures, cuddles, emotional support, leaning on each other to read and braiding each other's hair were interpreted as innocent female friendships. Until after countless months of pained doubting and longing, Edward decided to intervene.

8. After Carine returns from a charity ball at the hospital with the smell of cigars, Esme and Carine got into another pointless fight. After Carine spilled the beans and said that she loved Esme, Esme took the initiative to kiss her.

9. For decades, they saw each other as soul mates and did not care about the “marriage” as recognized by human law. Still, after Massachusetts legalized same-sex marriage in 2004, they got married at the City Hall and got their marriage license. Carine wanted God’s blessing, and in 2015, they had another ceremony at the church.

[anime-lover-forever-1127]

TYL Tsuna With A Barmaid s/o

I do not own KHR, it belongs to it’s rightful creator.

Warnings: Kind of yandere

He first met you because he was doing a deal in the bar you happened to work at.

For him, it was love at first sight.

And let me tell you something, when you catch the eye of a Don, any Don, let alone the 10th godfather of the Vongola. There. Is. No. Escape.

His first step when he gets back to the mansion is to appoint at least 7 bodyguards around the bar. Each of them ordered to protect you with their lives. Because if Tsuna so much as see’s a scratch on you. Then they will lose their lives.

After that little step is out of the way, and a quick phone call to Reborn for advice; 

Yes. Tsuna still asks his old mentor for advice. Heck, Reborn’s more of a dad, than Iemitsu could ever dream of being. And for that, Tsuna will always respect him.

So anyway, where was I... 

Ah yes, after a quick phone call to Reborn, Tsuna begins his courtship of his future s/o.

The barmaid will just happen to fund expensive gifts in front of her door. It will start small. She will find some roses sent to her from a secret admirer.

Then it will escalate. She will start to find world famous chocolates added to the daily flowers after a week or two.

There will also be occasional pieces of jewellery and clothes, that happen to fit her perfectly, that will be added to the mix. Eventually the clothes and jewellery become regular.

All well this is happening, Tsuna becomes a regular in the bar she works at.

Then after three months, that were complete torture for Tsuna, her finally works up the guts to ask her out. And by that, I mean Reborn books his future daughter-in-law’s favourite cafe for an entire day, all the well sending the same future daughter-in-law a hand written letter asking her out. All of this happening in the name of the Decimo of course.

The s/o is surprised to see one of her regulars at the meeting place, but she quickly gets over it.

The meeting goes pretty well. It ends with his s/o deciding that she wouldn't mind a trial relationship. But she does make him promise to stop sending her gifts. Saying that she doesn't want him to spend so much money on her. Tsuna reluctantly agrees.

Side note: If you check the Vongola kill counts (Yes, they do have one of those. It started off as a joke. But now all the contestants are dead serious ;) - who got what I just did there) Tsuna’s number decreased drastically for the next couple months.

But he does make up for it by killing an entire familia. The familia in question’s crime was having one of their guardians hitting on Tsuna’s s/o.

[curiousb]

The Steele Family Album: Volume II (aka Love & Freindship)

William Collins displays hitherto unsuspected talents! Maybe he should have gone into Entertainment rather than The Law?

Little Catherine gets picked up off the floor long enough to age up! (Why does my game love this hair so much for toddler girls?)

~ Aries 6 / 5 / 5 / 6 / 6

~ Ambitious / Perceptive

And Lucy continues to demonstrate very little aptitude for parenting - isn’t it lovely to see such a supportive environment for the little ones?!

Fortunately, Nancy grows up relatively unscathed - even if she is turning out to be one of my least personable Sims!

~ Scorpio 10 / 6 / 8 / 2 / 1

~ Devious / Anxious / No Sense of Humour

~ OTH: Fitness

~ Favourite Colour(s): Pink

However, at least she’s now big enough to get her own breakfast, which is an essential skill in this household.

Ah, the exuberance of youth!

How cute! I didn’t know that adults could play with the dollhouse along with the kids. :)

A life of crime might not have been Lucy’s first choice of profession, but actually she’s doing rather well in it, and has become chummy with colleague Melissa Fancey (whose attire is certainly most apt).

Meanwhile, Nancy has befriended Townie kid Orlando Bertino.

William loves a party, so he gathers everyone that he knows to celebrate Catherine’s birthday. It’s certainly a very jolly affair, with several gate crashers!

Happy birthday, Catherine!

~ Aries 6 / 5 / 5 / 6 / 6

~ Ambitious / Perceptive / Green Thumb

~ OTH: Science

~ Favourite Colour(s): Blue

And then it all descends into chaos, when Augusta catches Philip foolishly sneaking a kiss with Caroline in the kitchen!

For reasons not satisfactorily explained this sparks a full-on fistfight between William and Harriet Smith (who wasn’t even invited)! Come on, you lot, it’s a kid’s birthday party, for goodness’ sake!

John Willoughby and new acquaintance Melissa Fancey escape the melee in the kitchen for a bit of a boogie in the living room.

Lucy and Henry Crawford opt for a quiet catch-up in the bedroom - all perfectly innocent, they just decided to hang out together on the bed!

The kids remained blissfully unware of the drama that ensued at the party, and in the aftermath are more interested in developing their own friendships. Level-headed Clara Dashwood seems an unlikely friend for crazy mixed-up kid Nancy, but we’ll see! Catherine and Gabriel Smith (yet to be introduced) are getting along famously, however.

Catherine’s also become very fond of stray moggy Moonshine, who is still touring the neighbourhood. But he seems very picky - he hasn’t yet chosen a family to move in with. (Seriously, how do you get strays to move in?)

William also has a new friend. Townie Marisa Bendett is often to be found hanging around the house, and seems to have developed an unaccountable obsession with William. I’m not sure whether she’s just looking for friendship, or maybe something more...

Definitely something more! But is William naively oblivious to her intentions, or is he willingly playing along?

Lucy’s solid friendship with George Wickham remains entirely platonic - and he pops by just to do a bit of gardening for her.

Unfortunately, there’s no love lost between the girls - Nancy’s favourite pastime is tormenting her younger sister. (And yes, I’ve now realised that I goofed up the placement of the fireplace in the living room!)

Even though his daughters are quickly outgrowing the dollhouse, it’s still just as popular with William!

Catherine’s efforts to entice Moonshine to join the family have sadly come to nothing, so she finally gets her birthday wish, and the family adopts a kitten - hello, Tiberius!

[scotianostra]

On September 21st 1832 the novelist and poet Sir Walter Scott died aged 61.

By the time he returned to Edinburgh in 1778 to prepare for school, his parent’s had moved from their apartment in the old town to a house in George Square, a new development of terrace houses occupied by better-off citizens escaping the narrow streets of the old town. He went to the prestigious Royal High School, one of the oldest schools in the world, and a powerful influence in the Scottish Enlightenment; that flourishing of learning and reason that had mirrored the French Enlightenment and made Scotland a centre of intellectual life in the 18th century. Classes were taught in Latin and Greek and during Scott’s time the school developed an international student-body with students from Russia, Germany, the USA and the British colonies.

At school Scott stood ‘head and shoulders above his literary contemporaries’, in the words of one historian and by the age of 12 he was attending the University of Edinburgh studying classics. At 15 he joined his father’s firm to become a solicitor. Adolescence had not yet been invented. During that time his literary interests continued to develop when he regularly attended a literary salon of a friend and met poets, including the great Robbie Burns. In 1789 he began studying law at the University of Edinburgh.

Since his days with Aunt Jenny in the countryside, Scott had been fascinated with the tales of local story-tellers and had even devised a means of recording them with knife-marks on a stick, since writing them down openly was not culturally acceptable. At 25 he began his literary career, with the publication in 1796 of the tales he had collected, called The Minstrelsy of the Scottish Border.

The following year, after a whirlwind three-week courtship, he married Charlotte Genevieve Charpentier, the daughter of a Frenchman and ward of a member of the English nobility. He was appointed an officer of the Scottish courts and with that position, his wife’s income, his earnings as a solicitor and his writing he was comfortably well-off for some time. Charlotte and Walter had five children, one dying young and they remained happily married until Charlotte’s death in 1826. The couple began their married life in a large house he had built in the new parts of Edinburgh, moving a few years later to a larger outside the town of Selkirk, where his court was situated.

Scott used the new printing business of two friends, James and John Ballantyne, to self-publish his early poetry. By 1810 he had become well-known and had written such familiar works as The Lady of the Lake, and Marmion, containing the often-quoted lines, “Oh! what a tangled web we weave…..”.

The Ballantyne brothers moved the business to Edinburgh, and Scott went into partnership with them, a move that was to ultimately prove near fatal to his well-being.

At that time prose was considered inferior to poetry, so when Scott published his first novel, Waverley, in 1814 he did so anonymously. Over the next five years he published a series of similar novels, all with Scottish historical settings and all anonymous written by “the author of Waverley”. Despite their great success and huge sales for the time, only in 1827, after almost all his novels had been published, did Scott admit his authorship of them – while his books of poems were all published in his own name.

The later novels, especially Ivanhoe, were thinly-veiled historical allegories of political issues of the time, particularly the rise of Scottish nationalism and protest against English rule. Despite this, when Scott suggested to the future King George IV that he could find the Crown Jewels hidden away after the Union  he gained support for the venture and when he found them in the bowels of Edinburgh Castle the grateful King knighted him a baronet.

In 1825 there was a national banking crisis which led to the collapse of John Ballantyne & Co. and left Scott, the financial partner, with massive debts. Rather than declare bankruptcy or accept help from his admirers he wrote himself out of his debts with a flurry of publications written so quickly he left punctuation to the printers. He travelled to France and collected material for his nine-volume biography of Napoleon Bonaparte, but by 1831, with Charlotte dead and stressed by his financial ruin, his health began to fail.

Sir Walter Scott suffered a stroke and passed away on Sept. 21st 1832 at his home,  Abbotsford.  Although he had not yet paid back all his debts, his novels continued to sell and all debts were settled by his estate a short time later.  The house was opened to the public in 1833, it has remained a popular tourist attraction since then.  The last descendant of Scott lived there until 2004.

The Scott Monument, a 200 feet tall and the world’s largest monument to a writer, is in Princes Street Gardens, in Edinburgh. Scott is also commemorated on a stone slab in Makars' Court, outside The Writers' Museum in the Old Town.; quotes from his work are also visible on the Canongate Wall of the Scottish Parliament building in Holyrood another statue can be found in Parliament House which houses the Scottish High Courts

There is a tower dedicated to his memory on Corstorphine Hill, which I have featured in my posts a couple of times in the west of the city and Edinburgh's Waverley railway station, opened in 1854, takes its name from his first novel. 

Elsewhere in Scotland the large column that dominates George Square in Glasgow is also a monument to the writer. Up in Perth there is a statue to the writer, in honour of his work, 'The Fair Maid of Perth', a novel published in 1828. There is a statue of Scott at Markethill Road, East Kilbride. another is  located outside the Clovenfords Hotel in Galashiels and one at  Market Place, Selkirk.

There is also is a  bronze portrait statue of Walter Scott and the writer's favourite dog Maida in Central Park in Manhattan, New York, another at  Laurel Hill Cemetery in Philadelphia and a memorial at  Victoria Park, Halifax, Nova Scotia in Canada. I could probably go on searching and find many others around the world, but I shall leave that for another post perhaps.

Scott’s Tomb is in the ruins of Dryburgh Abbey, on the banks of the same River Tweed as his estate and an ancient and important church in Scottish history. He had selected this spot when he was much younger.