#rose addie or me should get the pleasure

[fxllenwilson]

Do you agree with capital punishment? (pretend Lonnie sent this bc this feels like a them question tbh)

question time - Accepting! @peranarkia def sent this wdym

"Do you ever consider being a different kind of menace, Lonnie? Like the fun kind instead of the judgmental professor?" Okay, Lonnie wasn't actually that judgmental most of the time. They were a bit weird to Grant though. Which probably meant nothing considering his day-to-day life now.

"It's complicated.... Ironically, probably no. They get it wrong enough that I don't think so. It's ironic though, because personal punishment? Or personal revenge if you want to be more exact. I do agree with."

[aliypop]

Rumors ( POC OC X Frank)

Wordcount: 2,792

Warning: None

A/N:  Kind of a meeting the parents story featuring Yonah and Ezra and Addie @herosneednotapply

Fusha eyeshadow, Fusha satin, diamonds, and the scent of blackcurrant, blue rose, and ambrette seeds were the many things Frank Castle had the pleasure to see from their shared bathroom mirror and smell from their bedroom. "Honey, do you see my pink diamond earring?" Yonah asked, tongue sticking out as she applied her eyeliner. "Dresser..." Frank responded, looking up from his book. He'd been re-reading The Great Gatsby again. "Thanks!" Yonah chuckled, her hair curled into an elegant hair-do. Tonight was the Wayne Enterprise  Gala winter charity ball and the night that Frank would formally meet Bruce Wayne. " The limo should be here any minute an- " 

"And..." Frank looked up at Yonah. Black hair slicked back, Armani suit that Alfred perfectly picked out.

 "Hot damn, you're wearing a tie..." her mouth agape at this newfound Frank, "Thank your butler and Billy..." 

"Billy..." Ezra smirked, draped against her crushed velvet curtains, "How do I look." a skint tight sleeveless mermaid gown making her look as if she were Morticia Addams. "Do ya have to wear that at the gala..."  he pouted, "You don't like it?" Ezra asked, a bit surprised by his reaction, "If only it were for me, sweetheart..." Billy smirked, pressing a kiss to her forehead, careful not to ruin her dramatic smoky eye. "That's for later..." she leaned into his grasp on her waist, 

"So are we taking the Bently  or the Lambourgene?" Ezra asked, "Depends. Why?"

"I wanna make my sister jealous of us." she laughed. Billy laughed back, placing a kiss on her neck the scent of jasmine, carnation, and a heart blooming with Rose, making him drunk with the sheer intention of wanting to rip the very fabric she was wearing off her. 

"You're dating me, and wearin Clive Christian pretty sure she's envious," he whispered, shivers down her spine. "Oh, and one more thing..."

"Yes..." 

"I uh gotcha a necklace." placing it around her neck was a yellow canary diamond surrounded by white diamonds. "It's beautiful. Do I have to return it or..."

"It's yours... a Canary for my Sparrow." 

"Well, look at you, Murdock..." Addie smirked, her long crimson satin gown trailing behind her. It was classic something that Marilyn Monore would wear, the modified deep V neck encrusted with diamonds. A sight that Matthew Michael Murdock could still imagine. "If I could, I would." he winked. Addie had picked out a Gucci suit, something crimson to match her and his Daredevil aesthetic. "See, isn't it nice to feel like old money and dress like it." she asked as Matt rolled his eyes, "You know this is how I dressed with Elecktra, right." he teased as Addie got quiet, Matt could hear the blood rushing through her veins an asshole he was but,

 he was hers, "I'll punch you harder than Stick ever did if you say something like that again."

"I'm kidding, my only Angel."

"You better be..." she mumbled under her breath. "I wouldn't want to waste a good pair of silk lingerie for you to sleep on your couch." 

"Silk..." 

"With lace trim."

Snow crowded the grounds of Gothams Metropolitan museum. Limo's with the cities richest were pulling up to the red carpet, and there sitting in the limo, nervous as all hell was Yonah. "What's wrong." Frank asked, holding Yonah's gloved hand, "Gala's make me anxious ..." she laughed, tapping her finger against his leg. "Anxious..." he questioned as Alfred turned to face them. "She hasn't been to one since the failed engagement..." Yonah grumbled, "Thank you for reminding me, Alfred..." she sighed, "Makes me feel so much better about myself..."  her knee bouncing,

 "Aye. if it gets too bad, we can leave okay, princess..."

"But by Motorcycle ..."

"Why."

"Saw it in a commercial once." 

Cameras flashed and flickered as journalists called and screamed over names. Paparazzi, getting the juiciest gossip and "Mr.Russo, what are you wearing!" Ezra posed beside him, "Givenchy, custom." he smirked, 

"Ms. Wayne, what are you wearing." 

"Well, it's a mix of shoes from the garment district and this dress I found on amazon and-" she began to ramble, "Most importantly, Tiffany canary diamond curtsy of my boyfriend." she winked, the pair walking as Billy held her close, "Boyfriend huh..." he whispered in her ear, 

"I was going to say fiance, but... that's not our speed." she laughed, confidence radiating off her just like her perfume. She was brilliant and bold, and Billy was honored to be in her presence. 

"Do you like Gotham better!"

                "Are you partnering with Wayne Enterprises?"

"Who's your sexy arm candy, Ms. Conner..."

"New York is just a 2% cleaner Gotham. As for the partnership, it depends on the night and how it goes..." Addie chuckled, holding Matt's hand, " And as far as my date, this is my fiance Matthew Michael Murdock, Hell's Kitchens finest lawyer, and even finer lover." a dopey grin on Matts face the dopamine from being referred to as her fiance even if they were dating, 

It had a nice ring to it that he'd one day want to give her. Her red lipstick was on his lips as she gave him a quick peck. "You can call me Matt..." he smirked, "Of course, she calls me her loverboy." he winked, two reporters swooning over him. "Easy there... don't get too cocky," Addie whispered as Matt laughed, "You know... I think I like the attention and the praise." he chuckled, holding onto Addie, "Is that the catholic boy,  or DareDevil..."

"Mmm, the lawyer." 

"Ms. Wayne over here!"

                     CLINK!

             "What happened to your ex?"

SNAP!

"Do you plan to fix your failed engagement ..."

                     POP!

"Ms. Wayne won't be answering any questions-"  

"Is it true you and The Punisher may settle down here?"  a familiar voice asked, "Who's asking..." Yonah and Frank both asked as blonde curls flooded their vision. "Karen Page of the New York Bulletin," she smirked as Yonah rolled her eyes playfully. "Well, Ms. Page... it depends on tonight." Frank winked, "What do you mean tonight." just standing four feet away from them was 

"Mr. and Mrs. Wayne tell us about the Batman and Dark Star?"

"We can only hope they stop destroying Gotham..." 

"That's what he means..." Yonah whispered. Her blood ran cold. Frank could feel the grasp on her hand get tighter. It wasn't that she was nervous about Bruce, just scared of his- "I should go help Kent interview the Waynes..." Karen said, watching as Yonah and Frank began to walk away, "Frank?" 

"Yeah..." 

"Are those red bottoms?" 

"I guess..." 

"Good choice Yonah." 

All everyone had to do now was smile, drink, and. "Mr.Wayne." don't go that way, Yonah sighed, averting her gaze towards her sister. "William, always nice to see you." Bruce smiled, "Here for Anvil business..." he asked, "No, he's uh here as my date." Ezra mumbled. Bruce's blue eyes widened, mostly because he thought Ezra only liked the company of women, and two Damian found another stray cat. "Treating my daughter right, I see..." Yazela smiled, dressed in midnight blue, Sapphires on her neck. "Of course, ma'am." Billy smiled, kissing her hand. He was 100% charged on his charm and his best behavior. After all, Bruce had been a client and soon a potential father-in-law. Sipping champagne, however, was Matt and Addie, who'd pass a few hellos, a few fake laughs, and a few, "Here's my business card." they had already been exhausted from the sheer amount of business deals around them. "Enjoying yourself so far..." Matt asked, his hand on her thigh, "The food could use Alfred's touch... but the hot chocolate and bourbon bomb I'm taking those home." she smirked, "Of course, watching you flirt with Dick Grayson was pretty cute." 

"Was it?" he smirked as Addie turned to face him, "Mhmm..." her breath hitched,  feelings his lips on her neck, "Not here... not yet, Angel," he smirked, his lingering touch still pressed on her skin. 

 "Are you sure this ain't too much for ya?"

"I'm sure Frank..." Yonah downed another glass of sparkling cider, "Leave the bottle... "  she whispered, "Beside's what could go wrong-" 

"And that's why I think guns should be legal but carefully watched because then I wouldn't be dead!" the few who gathered listened to the 21-year-old, "So I think if we just fucking shot Joker... we'd" his eyes glanced over towards Frank then at Yonah, "Excuse me for a moment..." grabbing a bottle of Jack and someone's wallet, there in front of Yonah was,

 "If it isn't our pet semetary baby, Jason Todd..."

"Oh fuck off, little miss killed my fiance and then brought The Punisher," he winked as he then turned to face Frank, his sentence ringing in his ears. 

"Holy shit Yonah you're dating The Punisher!" his sister rolled her eyes at him. "I admire your work Frank... can I call you Frank."

"Sure, kid." he chuckled, finally someone at this damned thing that he could relate to, "I'm somewhat of an outlaw myself, work by my own accord, which is win some you shoot some." he shrugged, "Unless its the Joker..." Yonah mouthed as he said it, "Well... sometimes the battle ain't always out there, kid... sometimes, it's in here." Frank tapped his head, 

"But my girl tells me you got the right weapons so." 

"Don't encourage him..." Yonah chuckled, "You're no fun big sis." Jason poked at her ego, 

"That's what sisters are..."

"If it isn't my favorite girl." 

"For-" 

"I should get going..." the shadowing figure of Bruce Wayne was standing behind her. She could feel the presence of his powerful aurora behind her as she had to face her fear, no nightmare. "Daddy..." she turned to face him, not a hair out of place as his soft features glanced at her. "Daddy this is-"  Bruce glanced at Frank, sure he looked the part, so far behaved, but he knew Frank didn't exactly belong in Gotham, at least not in the ways that he'd see fit for his daughter, " I know who he is, Mr. Castle..." he sighed, "Aka The Punisher... aka a wanted man that somehow half of New York thought was dead?"   he was good too good, Frank knew it, he could see why Yonah was always in tip-top shape and perfect, she was Daddy's favorite, 

 His tightest string, but little did Bruce know she was someone else's princess. "Nice to meet you, sir..."Frank stared him down, calloused hands touching another for a handshake. "Detective Bruce Wayne..." he winked, "So if you even think about bringing your so-called guns here, I'll make sure the FBI carries you away." he whispered enough so that Yonah wouldn't hear, "With all due respect, sir, but ya daughter calls me daddy too," he whispered back, 

Yonah gulped, standing next to Addie as she handed her a flute of champagne. "To ease your nerves..." 

"I'm fine..." she chuckled, hands fidgeting, "Your mind is on fire... and your sister's mind is on Russo, so... " Yonah took the glass, "What's this really about..." Addie asked as Yonah sighed, "I don't want my parents to see me as a failure ..." she laughed, 

"Whys that..." 

"Failed engagement... failed a few cases and the rumors... " 

"Beg to differ..." Addie smiled, "Failed engagement, but you're happy with Frank, failed cases, but you're surpassing Matt, and rumors please, you're a socialite, let them make up shit." she shrugged, "Although you did kill your fiance..." she whispered, "And if I did..." Yonah chuckled, "Well, don't look now, but ugh..." 

"Wayne..."

"Russo..." Yonah rolled her eye. It wasn't that Yonah didn't like Billy. She loathed him, but it was her job to; He was dating her little sister of a minute. "You look decent..." he scoffed, looking her up and down, "And still look like the rat from flushed away." she chuckled, "I do, don't I, but at least ya pops likes me." he winked, loving the fact that he could make her skin crawl of aggravation. "That's 'cause you're his type, William..." she grumbled, "And what's that, tall dark. And handsome. " 

"No black-haired orphans..." she sipped her champagne. "When am I ever gonna get your approval. Huh, Yonnie..." he asked, almost making puppy dog eyes. He was playful. She'd give him that, 

"When I rot in hell." she winked

"I see why Frank likes you." 

"I see why my sister likes you. Nice touch on the necklace, by the way. Excuse me, Mr. Russo." Yonah's train of thought trailed off as she saw both Frank and Bruce talking . that could not be - 

"Oh good, I found you!" 

"Mother, you look beautiful I need to-" her sights on Frank walking, "How's Hell's Kitchen Mahoney tells me you made quite the mark." Yazela smiled, walking her the opposite way of her father,

"What's this about..." Yonah asked, "It's nothing..." she lied. Yonah knew her mother was lying because she looks sideways when she lies, just like Yonah does. "Mom..." 

"Yonah..." 

"Mom..." 

"Oh alright, Frank isn't what we had in mind-"

"And dads interrogating him... " she sighed, "The one thing that makes me happy and dad has to take it away... cause I don't deserve it, cause he's not Theodore or Billy, or Matt!" she laughed, Yazela sighed, "You're going to work yourself up, and you spark when you..." 

"I'm fine..." Yonah smiled, marching off towards the pair.

"Worked up. You've always been a stubborn one, you know..." 

"Who do you think I get it from!" 

"So you think you have a chance with my daughter..." Bruce smiled, a small laugh living his lips, "Tell me, Francis... have you ever met her dark side yet..." Bruce asked as Frank chuckled, "You mean when she gets all in her head, bottle in hand an crying about all the imperfections you caused... Nah, never seen it." he shrugged,

 Frank knew how to push his buttons. After all, he was a dad once. " And you never once thought of leaving her..." Bruce asked. He needed to know the type of man he was if he could carry the legacy of ever being attached to a Wayne. "She's my girl... If I left, she'd find me anyway." he chuckled, "Besides, she's my second chance..." he smiled, looking at the pink roses in the garden, "Yet you plan to keep her safe with guns..." he glared, "Lately she's been saving me..." he glanced at him, from patching him up to keeping him in check both emotionally and mentally, 

they were one person sharing one heart. 

"Mhmm..." he nodded, watching as Frank's eyes landed on hers. He had seen that look before because he too had it, admiration, 

"Bruce..." the very breath in his body left him. Her voice could still do that to him till this day, "Darling, why are you out..." his hand stretched out towards his wife, "If I wanted to be surrounded by people telling me I'm pretty, I'd go back to my home planet."  she chuckled, watching the pair, 

"Looks familiar, doesn't it..." 

"Only we were 16..." he kissed her temple. 

"Frank, I'm sorry if my father said anything to offend you or or ... Made you feel dumb or-" Frank kissed her, "Mouths movin faster than ya brain, sweetheart." he chuckled, "He's just protective of his little girl." Frank laughed, squeezing her hand as she relaxed, "Thing is she ain't so little..." he smirked, her cheeks flushing, "Francis..." 

"Hmmm..." 

"I love you." 

~Bonus~

"You know. Daddy, I was thinking..." Yonah smirked, ice cream in a bowl, sitting in the kitchen with Bruce, "What were you thinking?" spoon shoved in his mouth. another round of 4 am ice cream, "Frank knows a few friends who might be able to help you with that Military partnership and..." Yonah smirked, oh that fucking smirk that Bruce could never say no. "Yonah, please ... I tolerate him because you love him." he sighed, "Also cause he reminds me of Jason... neither here nor there." he sighed, "As your lawyer, I think it would be a finical step in the right direction..." 

"But..." 

"There's not a but..." Yonah glanced to the side, much like her mother. "Okay, so there is, but as your daughter, you and Frank can get along..." she grinned. Even as she matured, she still had her wits from when she was six. God, he hated bending to the will of his daughter, 

 "Ya know, like the idea." Ezra smirked, stealing the whipped cream, "Need this for Billy reasons..." Yonah and Bruce both cringed, "I'll tell Alfred to get mo-..." 

"Oh, Matthew~" 

"Was that Addie?"  Bruce whispered, 

"Nope... that's Dick..." Yonah dropped her ice cream, 

"Babygirl..."

"Oh, that's me! good night daddy." Yonah kissed his cheek, "Think about the proposal!"

[theartoflovingthomashunt]

Fashion Week: Valentine

[Red Carpet Diaries Masterlist]  ||  [Hollywood U Masterlist]

Characters: Alex, Thomas Hunt, Addison Sinclair Rating: General Notes: Valentine - @choicesfebruarychallenge���

This is an AU where Alex is a student at Hollywood U and secretly dating Professor Hunt, only Addison knows about them. Professor Hunt is heading to Fashion Week in NYC and the university selected Addison and Alex to accompany him as his assistants for the week and serve as representatives of the institution. 

Fashion Week Series (These were meant to be individual stories, but that kinda went out the window around part four… they’re best read as a series in order)

Part One: Here We Come

Part Two: Seas the Day

Part Three: Hidden Perks

Part Four: Time to Make a Choice

Part Five: I Could…I Do…I…

Part Six: I Need Your Assistance

Part Seven: Meet Me

Part Eight: Valentine

Part Nine: Whatever It Takes

Part Ten: Goodbye, New York

– – –

“Good night, Miss Spencer,” Hunt nodded as they reached their respective hotel rooms. “Thank you for your assistance this evening. It was almost adequate.”

“It was my pleasure, Professor,” Alex tried to suppress the blissful happiness that filled her entire face. She couldn’t think of anything snarky to respond. She would have to work on this before their return to campus.

“Please be sure that you and Miss Sinclair are ready to depart in time for our flight tomorrow,” Hunt stated as he opened his hotel room door and disappeared without another word. 

Alex let herself into her own room. Addison greeted her immediately, her eyes wide.

“That good?!” Addison cheered noting Alex’s bright smile that showed no signs of fading. She pulled Alex into a hug. “I’m so happy for you.”

“Thanks, Addi. It was a perfect date in every way,” Alex offered.

“And it’s not over yet!” Addison guided Alex toward her bed where she had laid out a beautiful port colored empire dress with matching jewelry and shoes. 

“What is all this?” Alex marveled. “Wasn’t this one of the designs from the Faux Pas show?”

“I may have led Marianne to believe I needed to borrow a dress for a date tonight,” Addison shrugged. “It’s not a complete lie. I did need it for a date, just not mine.”

“Won’t she be expecting to see pictures of you wearing it?” Alex questioned.

“That’s what Photoshop is for,” Addison smirked. “I already sent pictures of me in the dress to Ethan, he’s going to have one of the special effect artists dress it up and post it to my Insta story. Marianne will never know.”

“What did I do to get so lucky? You and Thomas?” Alex shook her head in disbelief, her fingers trailing over the intricate details of the dress’s bodice. 

“Go get dressed,” Addison insisted. “Hunt should be ready for you.” 

Alex changed as quickly as she could, not wanting to wait another second to see Hunt again. As she opened the door between their rooms she stopped in her tracks. The room was artfully decorated for the holiday. Candles spread around the room provided a warm glow. The table set up for dinner could have been plucked out of an advertisement. Alex blushed as she noted the rose petals on the bed in the shape of a heart.

As her eyes continued to wander, Hunt stepped out of the bathroom and caught his first glimpse of Alex.

“You’re breathtaking,” Hunt breathed, mesmerized by her beauty.

“You don’t look so bad yourself,” Alex teased noting the maroon tux he was now wearing. “Addison?”

“I must admit, she does have an eye for fashion. This is exceptional and a perfect fit,” Hunt noted, admiring the jacket. 

“When did you have time for all of this?” Alex gestured around the room in disbelief. 

“I may have had some help.” Hunt’s gaze shifted to Addison who was standing in the doorway watching the two of them. “Thank you.” 

“It was my pleasure,” Addison beamed. “Now, let me take your picture and then the two of you can enjoy the rest of your evening in privacy.”

Alex handed Addison her phone and moved toward Hunt.

“Is this absolutely necessary?” Hunt grumbled. 

Alex pulled his gaze to her face, her thumb brushing against his jaw. “Just focus on me. It’ll be over before you know it.” Her lips brushed against his softly. “Happy Valentine’s Day.”

Addison squealed with excitement, reminding them they were not alone. 

Alex kissed him once more, pulling away. She retrieved her phone. “Thank you, Addi. For everything. I truly don’t know how to thank you.”

“You already have,” Addison swooned. “I love love, so watching the two of you is the best reward. Good night… have fun!” She winked and closed the door between them. 

Alex returned to Hunt, wrapping her arms around him. “And thank you for making me feel like the most important woman in the world.” 

His hands on her waist pulled her against him, his lips found hers again. “You are the most important person to me.”

“I love you so much,” Alex admitted.

“I love you, too, my Alex,” Hunt confessed. 

Alex held her phone in front of her. “One more picture? Just for us?” 

“You really are testing my love for you aren’t you?” Hunt argued.

Alex smiled, snuggling into him, his lips resting on her temple, as she took a selfie. 

When she pulled the phone back to review the photo, a new notification popped up, causing all the color to drain from her face. 

“What’s wrong?” Hunt questioned, noting the shift in her demeanor. 

Alex opened the text message conversation showing a series of photos of their carriage ride through Central Park, ending with a photo of them kissing. “I hope you enjoyed your Valentine’s date with our dear Professor, it’ll be your last. 💋Bianca.”

Followed Immediately by: Part Nine: Whatever It Takes

– – – – –

Thomas Tags: @the-soot-sprite​​​​​ ;  @alleksa16​​​​​​  ;  @hopelessromantic1352​​​​​​  ;   @flyawayboo​​​​​​ ; @mfackenthal​​​​​​   ; @lilyofchoices​​​​​   ;  @alj4890​​​​​​  ;  @twin-skltns​​​​​​   ;    @ab1901​​​​​​ ;   @riseandshinelittleblossom​​​​​​  ;  @thearianam​​​​​​  ; @trappedinfandoms; @awkwardambition ;

Additional Notes: I know that Bianca catches them at Hunt’s house, but I never liked that because technically she broke into Hunt’s house. Yes, Hunt’s relationship with a student is problematic, but Hunt could also have her arrested.

[thepeterfuckinparker]

miss. thompson pt.2 — peter parker smut

Summary: After the heated exchange at school, Peter goes to Flash’s party to see you and things get hot and heavy.

Notes: CHARACTERS ARE 18++ and im still trying to get the hang of tumblr :( i think i tagged pt 1 properly so get check it out :)) it was a hit so i wanted to make another part, maybe there will be more ;) let me know! SEND REQUESTS!

Warnings: smut!!!

pt. 1

You sighed in boredom as the front door closed, instantly rising off of the large couch and trudging towards the kitchen. Flash could be heard on the phone while you poured yourself a glass of lemonade, climbing onto kitchen island and scrolling through your phone. All at once, your phone was flooded with texts. You furrowed your eyebrows, pressing on each one as you sipped your lemonade.

‘What should I wear?’

‘Yo! Is there alcohol?’

‘Byob?’

‘Send me the addy, I didn’t ss it.’

‘Is there gonna be food?!?!?!!!!’

You heard Flash enter the kitchen, his fingers tapping away at his phone’s keyboard. You glared at him, crossing your arms immediately. “Eugene, do you have something to tell me?” You said harshly. Your step-brother ignored your tone, rummaging through the fridge and pulling out a box of beer. Your eyes widened, instantly chucking the empty carton of lemonade at Flash. He yelled in annoyance, throwing it back to you. “Are you throwing a party?” You ask.

“What’s it to you? You’re not invited.” Flash spat back, pushing your shoulder to get off of the island. You did, watching him spread out bottles of alcohol and bags of chips onto the marble counter.

“It’s my house too.” You snapped, “Mom and dad are out for literally two days and this is what you do?” You watched him continue to walk past you and set up red solo cups. “Hello!” You exclaimed. Brothers could be dicks, many were gifted with sweet ones but you had been burdened with Flash. He wasn’t a complete pain, he always had your back and was very protective of you but he was also incredibly insensitive. You grew used to it, learning it was better than being an only child sometimes.

“Invite your dumb friends! I don’t care. Hot girls only.” Flash rolled his eyes, ignoring your stomps as you fled to your bedroom. You slammed the door closed dramatically, squealing in excitement after a few minutes and desperately searching your closet for what to wear. Your step-brother was known for having notorious parties, you hadn’t attended one in a while and had to admit you were eager to dance and drink a bit. You settled on a tight red dress, one that was casual yet party-ish. Flash wasn’t a big fan, but he had already downed a beer so he had loosened up. You texted friends while helping Flash set up the house, putting cars in garages, placing important vases into your parents bedroom. The party would commence in thirty minutes and you had finally gotten time to do your makeup. It consisted of mascara and lip gloss before fixing up your hair. You looked over at your phone as you heard the doorbell start to ring, people were arriving. You looked over at your backpack that sat by your bedroom door and thought back to a few weeks back in school. The time with Peter Parker, chemistry project gone wild, you hadn’t done much speaking to him since. You bit your lip as a thought crossed your mind, you grabbed your phone and instantly shot a text to Betty Brant. You both weren’t exactly friends, she was well-known, you were well-known. In a matter of minutes, you had gotten exactly what you wanted. Peter Parker’s phone number. You sent him the obnoxious party flyer that Flash had made on an app, insisting he should come. Peter hadn’t replied which made you a little upset, but you attempted to not overthink and join the party.

You grinned at the set-up, Flash had brought out speakers and was already blasting music. It wasn’t too shitty, you made some requests and helped him tweak his ‘DJ Flash’ persona, he was getting better. There were even flashing lights, people already crowding the house with red solo cups in hands. You found yourself a beer, popping it open and taking soft sip; you were to be the chaperone. You danced with friends, watched people jump into your backyard pool, you made sure the neighbors weren’t being too bothered. You kept yourself busy, one beer turning into three - enough to keep you buzzed yet alert. An hour into the party, you locked yourself away in your bedroom. You simply wanted a time-out, to scroll through your phone and lay down. Swiping out of Instagram, you found yourself searching for Peter Parker’s response only to find that he still hadn’t replied. ‘READ AT 9:32 PM.’ You sighed out in annoyance. The other day at school must’ve meant nothing, maybe you hadn’t made yourself clear, maybe he simply thought it was a one time thing and you clearly weren’t interested. But you were, you wanted to see him again. It wasn’t just the light amount of alcohol in your system, you were still sober. You liked Peter, a lot — and you liked him sexually too, he probably didn’t feel the same way. That had to be it. You were buried into your pillows, still scrolling through your phone before your bedroom door opened. The music that had been blasting downstairs seeped through, instantly causing you to groan.

“This room’s off limits. Find somewhere else to fuck.” You turned over and instantly sat up at the sight of Peter Parker, you fixed your hair, pulled down your dress. “Oh - hey!” You smiled.

“H-Hey, can I come in?” Peter asked softly, your smile grew wider as you nodded. He shut the door behind him, awkwardly walking and standing in front of your bed. “I heard about the party, a-and saw your text so I figured I’d swing by.” His eyes widened, “Not swing by! That’s crazy. I mean - my aunt dropped Ned and I off.” He cleared his throat.

You laughed at him, a rose tint covering his cheeks in embarrassment. “I understand.” You bit your lip, you noticed he hadn’t moved, anxiety in both of your systems. You crawled towards the end of the bed, waving Peter to sit by you. Your legs hung over the end, hands placed on your thighs as he took his seat. “Peter, about the other day - “ You noticed disappointment flash over his eyes, “I really liked it.” He instantly lit up, eyebrows raising. “I don’t know what came over me, that’s not usually how people tell their crushes they like them but - “

“I’m your crush?” Peter blurted out, his lips parted in shock. You twisted your lips and nodded, “You like me?” You nodded again, instantly feeling the urge to just run to your closet and hide, but you pushed forward and rested your hand on his thigh.

It was silent, it was making you nervous. Was Peter thinking about what to say? Obviously because he wasn’t into you. You mentally scoffed at yourself, you were you, of course he was into you! You smirked, grabbing the collar of his shirt and pulling him into a kiss. Peter’s hands flew to your waist, feeling you crawl onto him and hover over. Your hands rested on his shoulders, knees buried into the bed as you sat on his lap. Your kiss deepened, his tongue easily playing with yours. He bit down on your bottom lip softly causing you to moan quietly. Just from the make-out session, from his hands running up and down your waist and back, you were soaking wet.

Peter stood to his feet, your legs wrapped around his waist as he kissed down your neck. Your eyes fluttered closed, soft whimpers leaving your plump pink lips. The wall was pressed against your back, your arms wrapped around his neck as he kissed down your collarbones towards the valley of your breasts. Your breathing was heavy, you took it upon yourself to pull up the bottom of your dress and pull down the top of your breasts. He admired your chest, pulling you up higher to take one nipple into his mouth. You groaned, arching your back as his warm wet mouth engulfed the sensitive bud. Peter set you down, your hands instantly going to his pants. You unbuckled his belt, unbuttoning them and yanking his pants down with his boxers. His length hit your stomach causing you to bite down on your bottom lip, eager to have his cock fill you up. You slid down the wall, your tongue taking a bold stripe up his shift. He gasped from above you, his hands instantly balling into tight fists. Peter hadn’t done anything like this before, the closest he had gotten with a girl was kissing; a bit of ass-grabbing. You, on the other hand, were somewhat experienced; but still a virgin. You intended on keeping it that way, despite your dripping pussy begging you to consider otherwise.

“Fuck, Y/N.” Peter stammered out, his hands unsure of where to go. You took his hard dick into your mouth, taking your hands into his and leading them to hold up your hair. He bit down his lip as he looked down at you, your pretty lips wrapped around his cock. It was a sight he surely would never forget. Your eyes locked onto his face, watching his face twist in pleasure as you looked up at him innocently. Your tongue focused on the tip of his length, swirling around it and hollowing your cheeks. You used one hand to jerk what you couldn’t take, his hips bucking. You gagged on his thick cock, stopping for air and wiping your lips. Peter instantly apologized, embarrassed for getting carried away. You giggled in response, kitten-licking his tip after reassuring him that all was well. You sucked softly, your spit dribbling down his shaft and down your chin. Peter’s eyebrows furrowed, his fingers gripping your hair tighter, pulling you in a bit closer. “I’m gonna come.” He whined out, Peter felt your hands trail from his cock to your wet pussy. Your fingers found your clit, rubbing it roughly while you continued to focus on helping Peter reach his climax. The eager boy began to thrust in your mouth, which you didn’t seem to mind at all. He groaned out, his eyes shutting tightly as he came into your mouth. You released him with a pop, sticking your tongue out jokingly to expose his release. Peter watched you swallow, instantly biting his lip at the sight.

“How was that?” You asked with a grin, wiping your mouth. Peter barely responded before he pulled you to your feet. You both moved to the front of your bedroom door, your hand gripping the doorknob for support. His lips found your swollen ones, his hands kneading your breasts. He peeled off your underwear with his lips still on yours. You felt him place his hands on your hips before he muttered for you to jump. You did as told, ready to wrap your legs around him only to be brought up higher. You squealed in response, his hands holding you up as you pressed your hands into the ceiling. “What are you doing?” You laughed, looking down to see him eyeing your wet pussy.

“Returning the favor.” Peter smiled at you, his hands held your hips tightly.

He leaned in, pressing a soft kiss onto your swollen clit. You moaned in response, your hands still touching the ceiling. He licked it lightly before swiping his tongue up and down. A cry left your lips at the feeling, Peter soon licking back up to your clit and wrapping his lips around it. He sucked lightly, his tongue still playing with the bundle of nerves. Your hands flew from the ceiling to his soft brown curls, tugging on them in encouragement. Your eyes rolled as his tongue flattened, you took the opportunity to grind down. Your body shook above him, your fingers still tangled in his hair, you didn’t want him to stop. It was almost like you were seeing stars, the building orgasm in your core was ready to burst. His tongue was doing wonders and you didn’t know how much longer you would last. Peter held you up with one hand, you weren’t sure where the strength was coming from but you didn’t care. His other hand trailed down your thigh before his fingers made their way inside of you, a louder cry leaving your lips. It was a gentle yet quick gesture, he looked up at you, making sure you were okay. The sight he saw was gorgeous, your back arched while your lips parted, sweat glistening across your body. His cock was harder than ever, even after the mind-blowing orgasm you had given him. He felt your fingers yank at his hair harder, your hips bucking, your moans growing louder.

“I’m gonna come, I’m gonna come,” You panted, your eyes rolling as you bursted. You felt a bliss, pleasure coursing through your veins as your orgasm washed over you. You shook in his arms, his tongue and sucking becoming lighter as you relaxed in his arms. “Oh my god, Peter.” You moaned softly, a smile spread across your face as he pulled back. Peter’s big brown eyes gazed up at you, returning the smile as you caught your breath. Suddenly, the door began to open. You gasped, pushing your back further in and Peter’s hand quickly shutting it. “Um - who is it?” You shouted, mouthing at Peter to let you down.

Peter did as told, bringing you down and setting you on your two feet. You used one hand to lock the door while the other adjusted your dress. The brown haired boy beside you scrambled to dress himself, his eyes wide. You fixed your hair and wiped your mouth before shoving Peter away from the door. You unlocked it and cracked it open, sticking half of your body out. You instantly grinned at Flash who glared at you, arms crossed. “What do you want?” You asked, clearing your throat.

“I need your help, neighbors called the cops. Someone saw them. Get everyone the fuck out of here!” Flash insisted, he gestured for you to hurry up.

“Oh uh - shit! Okay.” You nodded, “Let me put on some shoes.” You held up a finger before scrambling back into your room and locking the door.

Peter stared at you, “What do I do?” He asks quietly. The music was now off, Flash was sitting at your door. You pulled on your shoes, looking around for answers. The doorknob rattled again, you quickly pushed Peter, pointing towards underneath your bed. He understood, quickly scrambling to hide himself.

You rushed back to the door, opening it before Flash stormed in. “Mom and dad!” He pointed to his phone, you shut the door behind him. Your step-brother answered the phone, a fake grin plastered on his face as he spoke. He sat on your bed, laying down as your parents checked up. You felt nerves in your stomach, you felt like throwing up. “Yeah, everything’s fine. We’re watching a movie and we’re gonna head to bed, right Y/N?” Flash looked at you.

“Oh yeah! Totally - everything’s cool here.” You answered quickly, running a shaky hand through your hair. After a few minutes, your parents hung up. “Okay, go and tell everyone to get the fuck out. I’m gonna talk to the neighbors.” Flash inspected you carefully before standing up and nodding, he headed towards the door. He stopped in his tracks, his face scrunching up in disgust as he looked at the floor. “W-What?” You asked anxiously, looking at him with wide eyes.

“I thought girls rooms are suppose to be clean.” He pointed at your discarded panties on the floor, Flash rolled his eyes before leaving.

You sighed out in relief, locking the door behind him. “You can come out,” You mumbled before watching Peter crawl out. A light-hearted laugh left your lips, he rolled his eyes at you as he walked over. Peter kissed you gently, his thumb pressed against your cheek. “Thank you for tonight.” You muttered on his lips, he pulled back and thanked you in return.

“I gotta go.” Peter reminded you, his hands on your hips. You both clearly didn’t want to be separated but he had to leave. He reached for the door before you pulled him back.

“No! Flash will see you.” You argued, Peter looked at you in confusion. “Um - “ You thought to yourself, turning and looking at the window. “It’s not a far jump.” You smiled nervously.

“Y/N,” Peter whines before sighing and trudging toward the window. He opened it, peering down and glaring at you jokingly in response.

“I’ll see you again, right?” You asked softly, tucking a hair behind your ear. You ran your hands down your dress, bouncing on your feet.

Peter nodded, a smile on his sweet face. “Yeah.” You enjoyed tonight, it wasn’t just about the touching and being with him physically. You genuinely had feelings for Peter Parker, you wanted to see him again. You wanted more than this too, but until that comes, this would be fine.

You kissed him again, hands pressed against his cheeks before you heard your door rattle again. Your eyes widened as you ushered him to jump out. Peter nodded, watching the door open and quickly jumping out of view. You whipped your head, quickly closing your window and grimacing at Flash.

“Well, are you coming?” He shouted in an annoyed tone.

“I’m coming, jeez!” You exclaimed, rushing past him.

[queen-of-lazuroth]

[ @perfect-harmonia @drun-in-a-million @k-9-1-1-yes-hello @ly-cant-even @addie-bear ]

Deep underneath the halls of the castle of Lazuroth, lied an intricate prison. One made for one specific purpose. For one specific person. 

Midge wondered why she made the decision to keep her here. Why she’d chosen this instead of killing her. Or letting Addie kill her. She’d killed her once before, after all. Why not this time? Perhaps it was by Togal’s own interference. Perhaps Midge couldn’t bring herself to do it this time. Or perhaps even a part of her got a sick sense of satisfaction knowing that Harmonia would be trapped here, powerless, for the rest of her days.

She was actually kind of glad for that decision, now. Who else could she ask about something like this.

Harmonia Cuppari looked up from the wall, her eyes looking over Midge for just a moment for a far too satisfied smile appeared on her face. “Madrigal. To what do I owe the pleasure? Missing your mother?”

“Not even remotely,” Midge told her, her tone as cold as the room around them, not that the two Lazurothians were bothered by it. Her eyes narrowed. “I’m here for information.”

Harmonia chuckled. “Of course you are.” She straightened up her seating, the chains around her wrists and ankles clinking as she did so. A rare metal called Atlantisian. It seemed to hold property to suppress supernatural powers, like Harmonia’s ice magic. “Never drop by just to say hello.”

“And I never will,” Midge hissed, ensuring her tone was as sincere as it was cutting. Not that Harmonia would care that even after all these years, the animosity Midge held for Harmonia still burned as bright as Addie’s flames. “What have you lied to me about this time?”

Harmonia didn’t seem fazed by the question, even sighing in exasperation. “I haven’t the faintest clue what you mean, dear.”

“Don’t ‘dear’ me, you self-centered bitch!” Midge snapped. There was a crackling of new ice forming around them. “You have to know something. You always do!” She growled, her hands balled into fists. “Why are me and my children hearing singing?!”

Harmonia rose a brow in genuine confusion. “Singing?”

“Yes! Singing! It’s like distant voices. My son mentions it sounds like someone calling and I have to agree.” She took a step forward and glowered. “Why is this happening? What haven’t you told me?!”

Harmonia stared at Midge for the longest time, as if contemplating what it was Midge even said. That scrutinizing gaze. Even now it made Midge want to shove an icy saber through her main heart.

The temptation grew when Harmonia began to laugh, the condescending sound bouncing off the frozen walls. Midge’s eye glowed blue in their fury. She knew no one would question her if she killed Harmonia again, they would never defy her over it. But she’d promised to never let her power go to her head. She would be a good example for her children. She would not rule by fear.

“Well, well, well,” Harmonia said, her voice full of amusement, “I honestly did not think this would be the way you found out. Hearing the Calling like that.”

Midge scowled. “What are you talking about? Find out what?”

“Oh, my darling daughter,” her voice was sickeningly sweet. Mocking. Midge had the image of ripping her vocal cords from her throat. “You’ve truly never even suspected? Never even questioned it?”

“If you don’t start actually talking about something of substance I am going to bury you under a thousand feet of snow,” Midge threatened.

“Tsk tsk. No need for threats, dear. You have the advantage here, remember?” Unfortunately. Harmonia had been trying to figure a way out of this for years, and yet here she was, still trapped beneath her own castle like some long forgotten relic.

If only he were still alive…

“Haven’t you ever wondered,” Harmonia explained, “why it was you could use your adrunel at such a high degree? No Lazurothian has ever accomplished such a feat and lived to tell the tale. It’s not because it takes some sort of great concentration. It’s because it is impossible to do so. Otherwise I would have tried.”

“I don’t believe you. You thought I was going to die that day when I defeated you.” Midge mentioned.

“I did. But only because you never showed any sign of inheriting anything from your father. Up until then, at least.” Harmonia smirked. “Then you got ice powers, and, oh, you adapted so beautifully to them. So easily. You’ve truly never wondered why that is? Or why the majority of your biological children have unexplained supernatural powers? I’m sure you could ask your mate what the true likelihood of a werewolf and a human producing werewolf children is? You know, the weird one with the goggles.”

“Don’t talk about my mates,” Midge snarled. “And what the fuck are you talking about? Drun inherited his powers from me. The twins are werewolves because...Dek was one. Addie...Addie…”

“Seeing where it falls apart, I see.”

“She’s a Jedi. Force sensitive. They can do...extraordinary and unexplained things.”

“I can assure you, different color fire is not one of those things,” Harmonia told her.

“You don’t know that! You’re talking out of your ass just to get your way like you always do!”

“And you are being crass and stubborn as you always are,” Harmonia argued, her tone tired. “I’ve given you the explanation to what you’re hearing. It is called a Calling. I witnessed it once. Couldn’t hear it, but it is quite phenomenal how far it can travel. Only one race can perform it and only its own kind can hear it. They are called Mefni, and they are elemental beings.”

“You’re speaking nonsense and it’s pissing me off!” Midge roared, stomping her foot. Spikes of dangerously sharp ice shot up from the ground. “Why would I, a Lazurothian, and my children, be able to hear something only this one race can hear that none of us have any lineage from?!”

“Did you not hear me mention your father at all? Or are you losing your hearing as well as your edge?”

Midge stared in disbelief. “You really wanna mess with my head that badly? My father was your brother. What does he have to do with any of this?”

“You’ll find records in the archives of exactly one time I left the planet. I wanted a change of scenery for a bit. The events afterward, however, you’ll find were either kept quiet or rewritten as to not expose what occurred. As to not expose what you truly are.” Harmonia’s gaze was intense, a sick glint of victory in her eye. “To be honest, after several years of you showing no signs of his lineage, I was under the impression that perhaps those genetics were nulled in hybrids. However, over the years I’ve seen they were merely dormant, needing just the tiniest of pushes.” A vile smirk appeared on her face. “A shame that I created such a powerful force by pure accident, only to have her turn against me.”

Midge was gaping, unable to put together what Harmonia was saying. It...it couldn’t be true. Harmonia’s ancestors had established the disgusting tradition of the royal family keeping the bloodline within the family. It made no sense for Harmonia to defy it. It made even less sense for her to defy with another race altogether.

No. No it had to be a lie. Just another game for Harmonia to play in Midge thoughts. Midge glared lethally at the woman before her, gritting her teeth in fury.

“You brought that upon yourself,” Midge said, her voice low and murderous. “You brought all of this upon yourself. And I know you’re lying to me.”

She turned on her heel, stomping her way out of the prison. She would not entertain anything Harmonia had just said. She would not.

“You know I’m not, Madrigal!” Harmonia called. “You can feel I’m telling the truth. I bet you can hear that voice even now.”

Midge didn’t respond, not wanting to give Harmonia the satisfaction of knowing she was right.

Even deep down her, beneath the stone and snow, she could hear that voice as if it were right next to her.

Ah ah ah ahhhhh~

000000000000000000

Not too long after Midge had reached the main floor of the castle, her communicator beeped. She answered it immediately. “Addie.”

Her oldest gave a worried gaze from the screen. “I have a feeling that all the calls to my phone from you, Drun and Rían have nothing to do with Christmas.”

Midge sighed. “I’m sorry to say that it doesn’t.” Her brow furrowed, struggling to shove all of Harmonia’s words out of her mind. “You...wouldn’t happen to have been hearing singing...have you? Like...disembodied singing that seems to come from no where?”

There was a pause that seemed to last a thousand years and yet only a second all at once. “I have,” Addie admitted. There was movement on the screen, perhaps of her typing something. “Not only that...I managed to trace the frequency. Difficult, considering apparently I’m the only one hearing it around here.”

A hologram appeared above the communicator of a green planet with four moons. Midge furrowed her brow questioningly, but Addie was way ahead. “That planet isn’t too far from Lazuroth, probably a week by ship with maybe one warp jump.” It was Addie’s turn to look questioning. “Mama...I thought Lazuroth was the only planet with life in that whole quadrant.”

Midge stared at this planet, feeling Harmonia’s words threatening to break down the walls she’d put in place to keep them out. “I...I thought so, too…”

Addie became quiet for a moment, seeming to study her mother. She nibbled her bottom lip, a habit she made sure to keep a secret from any of her subordinates. But around family it was always okay to show nerves. “What do you think it is?”

Midge contemplated her answer. She was not about to discuss anything Harmonia had said to her. It was all garbage as far as she was concerned. “I...don’t know. But all my instincts tell me it has to be a trap of some kind.” Because of course it was. It always was. “Obviously I can’t tell you what to do, but I’m going to ignore it. When they realize we won’t take the bait it should stop.”

Addie looked like she hadn’t quit understood that answer. In fact, Midge almost felt like she was being heavily analyzed. She truly hoped Addie wouldn’t try to drag more information out of her. None of them needed to know what Harmonia said. The idea of them all being part some elemental race was ludicrous, and Midge absolutely refused to entertain the idea. “If you think that’s the best course of action, then I will trust your judgement.”

Midge nodded. “Alright.” Her face morphed into a genuine smile. “I’ll see you at Christmas, sweetheart.”

“You will. Love you.”

“Love you, too.”

0000000000000000

“Part elemental?” Drun asked after Rían got done relaying what he’d heard.

“An elemental race known as Mefni. Apparently Harmonia is saying that’s the real reason we all have powers. Or handle them so well.”

“But what about Ada? She doesn’t have powers,” Ruby pointed out.

“Yeah, but you said she mentioned that Mom showed no signs until much later in life.” Drun’s brow furrowed. “...What are they calling for?”

Ruby shook her head. “Don’t even think about it. Tomorrow is Christmas! And you heard Mama! She’s pretty sure Harmonia was lying.”

“Yeah but she doesn’t know,” Drun replied. “For all we know it’s a call for help or something. From family!”

“Or it’s another plot to get someone kidnapped again,” argued Rían. 

“Come on! You can’t tell me you don’t want to know what it is!” Drun said insistently.

Rían shrugged. “Bro, I just want a Christmas where no one gets kidnapped, okay? I’m willing to let some weird spectral singing bother me for that.”

Drun shook with frustration, a few stray snowflakes falling from his balled up fists. He made a small growling noise. “Fine,” he said shortly before stomping off.

“Drun!” Ruby called worriedly.

Drun didn’t answer, stomping all the way to his room. It took everything in him not to slam the door, if only because it would alert one of his parents to his distress. He flopped onto his bed and screamed into a pillow.

How could everyone else brush it off like that?! There was some strange occurrence going on and not a single person cared to find out what it was? Where it came from? Why it was happening? Wasn’t his family supposed to be Team Nebula? Wasn’t stuff like this basically their job?!

Drun growled again, taking a moment to stare at his window. The stars glittered in the sky, dancing around Lazuroths rings. A heavy debate began to wrestle in his mind. He shouldn’t go anywhere tonight or tomorrow. Not yet anyway, but he also couldn’t help but second guess himself over whether he should go at all.

After all, the likelihood of it being a trap was unfortunately astronomically high…

Ah ah ah ahhhhh~

And yet, Drun thought, his antennae perking toward the sound.

Ah ah ah ahhhhh~

[ironbound-praetorium]

An Answered Prayer

March 18th, Icecrown.

“Rosie, posie, puddin’ pie! Kissed th’heathen and made him cry!”

Ya know what really sucks for a Valkyr serving an eternal watch in the Shadowlands? Being bound to a smart mouthed asshole who’s still living and has a habit of pushing her buttons across planes of existence.

I might not be able to see and touch my Rose at the moment, but I can feel her annoyance as I stand at the Wrathgates entrance where she fell and sing-song my way to drawing her energy to mine.  See, we might not have been soulmates (that honor goes to Pixie) but Vinnie and I bound ourselves in life magics that should have died when she did, but they didn’t.  She’s always with me in the strand of hair braided into mine that served as a catalyst for our binding…

And thus… my Rose gets the eternal pleasure of my dumb, ginger self interrupting her duties whenever I damned well please. And I get to know she is safe in the Shadowlands, and still waiting for me.

“Get used to it Vinnie! Got a whole eternity with my hot ass!” Yes, I make a point of wiggling said body part at the empty space in front of me. Hey, even the dead can appreciate my finely crafted backside.  I got it from my Mama.

She can’t answer me back, which is likely a good thing, cause I’d have gotten two earfuls with my little greeting…maybe even earned myself a good ol’ fashioned sparring match I could turn into a hot and heavy make out session. Damn I miss those.

FOCUS, RAE. You didn’t come here to flirt with your Rose…okay, I did… but that’s a given. I actually have a purpose beyond annoying her today.

“Pixie’s wedding is tomorrow…so you damned well better take a vacation to Valhallas. You got a party to throw, my love… fucking HUGE! I Blow the horns of war and take to the field while the ale pours and the moans of the wanton ring like symphonies across the cosmos! I want to hear the Halls of Odyn shake and the skies roar with celebration for our Pixie...”

I swear, sometimes when the wind blows just right, I can hear her laugh.

Ya know the only thing that sucks about being bound to a Valkyr as one of the living?

I’m gunna miss one hell of a party in Vallhalas tomorrow. I know it’ll suck for a lot of people… but I seriously can’t wait until I’m dead.

March 19th Nishan

Titans-fucking-balls this is going to be great! My Loken loving heart is thriving in this organized chaos! There’s 10,000 people at the gates, kodo ribs being smoked (with the Praetorium recipe!) by an army of Nishanians that are as efficient as a Mimiron creation, and Pixie doesn’t have any fucking clue were gunna make her a bride!

We sure as shit couldn’t tell her that all of Nishan turned out for this wedding… she’d have been puking since sunrise.

See, that’s how I know we’re sending her into the arms of good men. They know our Pixie. Teren and Lycan understand that had Addie been made aware of her own wedding, her anxieties and need for perfection would have made her unable to enjoy the day.  She’d have made herself sick with worry that she’d offend or say the wrong thing, and not just sit back and enjoy the fuck outta being married.

I mean…I don’t know what being married is like. I never got beyond putting a ring on Vinnie’s finger before my Rose had to go off and take up early residence in the Shadowlands. But, I imagine it’s pretty freaking great to marry your best friends and wake up every morning knowing you get to take care of them.  

I can’t think of anything better, especially for Pixie.

She needs someone to take care of. She needs someone to protect and to pour her energies into in order fill their life with light and love. I know that, because that is all she has done since she jumped from Maladir’s forge roof at 2 years old and into my arms. She made my life better. Not because she is Vinnie’s sister, but because she is Pixie. Because she is brave and true, and the best friend a heathen asshole like me deserves.

There isn’t anyone I know of that deserves happiness more than she does. Mal’s baby girl fought and won against the torture of losing a Twin Flame. I have seen what this world is like without Pixie’s light…and that is what the remnants of Ulduar whisper about in my nightmares.  After today, I don’t have to worry about that anymore…

See,I have only ever prayed for one thing in my entire life, as I’m not exactly the church going type. I don’t seek the favor and the graces of the Light, as I much prefer the type of worship that comes with sweaty bodies and ball draining orgasms. Hey, we all find our faith in one way or another….don’t judge….

But, for Pixie…I prayed. I’ve prayed every single day for the best friend I nearly lost. I asked that someone would come along and love her as she needed to be loved after she lost Vinnie. I prayed that someone would breathe life back into her heart and tear down the walls she built around it to dust. I prayed that my best friend would find even half the amount of happiness she has given me over the years, as surely if anyone is worthy of that… it’s her.

Tonight…my prayer gets answered.

….and all of Vallhallas will celebrate with me.

(( @marquis-teren-kiden @marquis-lycan-kiden @adilynia @silverfall-patriarch for all the mentions!))

[lilo-el-lobo-blog]

Wedding Chatzy

@cassiegermaine

Lilo wasn't nervous. He swore he wasn't nervous. He'd been telling himself all day since he woke up that he wasn't nervous and that everything was going to be fine. So of course it was true. Repetition was its own kind of spell right? Soapberry Springs could be weird about stuff like that. Luckily for the werewolf, as he stood there in a suit that was slowly becoming agonizingly stuffy, in front of all his friends and family, thinking about the weirdness of Soapberry was enough to distract him from all the nerves. Pricked up and raw as the hairs on the back of his neck were, waiting for the other shoe to drop, or a surprise curse at the last second, or anything really. Dammit he was nervous again.

Lilo took a deep breath and fiddled with his cufflinks, wolf-heads that were subtle enough for the occasion but wolfy enough for his tastes.

Cassie Per Lilo’s insistence Cassie hadn’t seen him since the night before. It wasn’t that Cassie wasn’t nervous, it just felt like for once, Lilo was actually more of a worried and nervous wreck than she. He was buying into more of the superstition too, which maybe in Soapberry, wasn’t so silly. The sound of the music was the real queue to start and Cassie bent down whispering softly to Addie and nudging her forward with instruction to toss flower petals until she reached her Papa. Cassie began the steady walk behind her, holding her breath almost the whole way. It wasn’t exactly traditional, but it was just right for them. Cassie’s gaze met her Mother’s for a brief moment before she guided Addie beside her and she stood in front of Lilo, still silent but smiling softly.

If anything could cut through his nerves it was the sight of his little girl. Toddling and meandering as she was the baby-witch did a good job of setting down the flower petals. Lilo briefly wondered if the magic of the roof-top garden nymph helped, or any green witch in the audience.

Addie, seeing her papa, could no longer keep up her steady pace or ceremony specific serious-ness. She tossed the basket and ran to her father's pant leg to give him a big hug. Tugging gently on the suit's leg as if asking to be picked up. Lilo started to bend as if to oblige, having done this exact thing many times before. But then he stopped. His breath taken away looking up as his fiance, his wife, and love of his life. He was at least right about something. Seeing her in the dress for the first time here and now, with the music and the reality of their wedding-- that was a kind of magic charm. It took his breath away.

Lucky for him a member of the wedding party (Iann probably) happily picked Addie up in his arms. Lilo took stuck but Cassie to look away. The goofy lopsided smile a near mirror image of that first time he saw her in his silly homemade sheep mask.

Cassie waved briefly to Addie when one of the wedding party took her away, her smile growing showing just a little bit of teeth when Lilo had that goofy grin she loved so much. She turned slightly when the officiant started to speak, introducing Cassie and Lilo, and thanking everyone for coming. It was short and to the point, most religious elements bypassed given their differences, it seemed the safest route to take. The werewolf officiant clasped his hands loosely behind his back and nodded to both of them, “If either one of you have a poem or something prepared, feel free, otherwise we can start with the vows. Lilo first.”

Lilo blinked, stuttered briefly at the thought of a poem. He hadn't prepared any poetry. At least not in his mind. He looked at Cassie and spoke in low tones, "Did you? Want to? Or should I?" He pointed to himself. He didn't mean to be so nervous. The venue was amazing, the officiant professional, and no one even noticed the bearded guy in the background snapping endless shots smelled a little bit too much of nag champa being aggressively white as he was. Lilo swallowed still. Something about genuine emotion this day provoked in him. A momentous occasion he though many times would never come. "I will go first if you like Cassie. If you prefer."

Cassie Her mouth quirked slightly at the mention of poems. No, Cassie hadn’t planned anything like that either. She didn’t linger on the suggestion though and looked back to Lilo not only seeing the nerves on him, but feeling them too. Cassie gripped the bouquet of flowers she had a little tighter and leaned in just that little bit closer to him, “I can go.” She murmured, not minding, and figuring Lilo could use the extra moment to bask and wade in whatever emotions he wanted. Cassie cleared her throat and spoke, “Lilo, I bring myself to you this day to share my life with you. You can trust my love, for it's real. I promise to be a faithful mate, and to unfailingly share and support your hopes, dreams, and goals. I vow to be there for you always. When you fall, I will catch you; when you cry, I will comfort you; when you laugh, I will share your joy. Everything I am, and everything I have is yours, from this moment forth, and for eternity.”

Lilo smiled. He reached out to cradle Cassie's hands, just under the bouquet of flowers. In truth he wanted to hold her hands as he spoke but he didn't want to disrupt the whole ceremony by making her drop her flowers. "I love you so dearly Cassie. I will follow you today like I want to follow you for the rest of my life and beyond. I promise I will be there for rich, poor, good and bad, and more than that. I will always be there to break any curse, fight any monster, through any spell." His chest puffed up, involuntary thinking back to all that they had gone through. He was proud of their relationship enduring so much. "I will let my love for you guide me. Because it is strong and will not waver." He looked into Cassie's eyes and all the trappings, as pretty as they were, didn't matter. "I promise to stand beside you, and as your husband be your support, your cheerleader, your rock and so much more. I want to share everything with you Cassie.. I" He swallowed, wishing in this moment he had flashcards to remember the ending so he didn't just blabber on and on. He nodded to himself, deciding to follow Cassie's lead. More or less. "Cassie, you have my everything and are my everything, from this moment forth and for eternity."

Cassie could feel her throat tighten with her own growing emotion as she said her vows, but when Lilo exchanged his, Cassie’s eyes got misty and she felt that tingle in her nose that warned tears were close behind. She knew of course she’d cry at some point, no matter how much she didn’t want to. What Lilo had said was beautiful, and ending it on the same note even more so. Cassie wanted to grab him and kiss and him and never let go right then and there, squeezing his fingers back, and thankful the officiant reminded them, “Just lovely. You can exchange the rings now.” Cassie nodded towards Lilo and whispered, “That one you have to do first.”

Lilo almost laughed. Partly in relief that the public speaking part was done and partly because for a second he was stunned. He honestly thought he'd just get to kiss Cassie now, completely forgetting that rings came first. He had started to lean in before their officiant helpfully reminded him. "Ahah, yeah, let me..." He looked to the side, one of his brothers helpfully offering the ring. No magic curse causing it to pop out of his hands this time. Lilo breathed a sigh and relief and turned to place it on Cassie's finger. "Fits you perfect lobocita."

Cassie glanced down at the glittering ring that Lilo slid onto her finger, relieved that it wasn’t lost or cursed or anything else. That this was actually happening truly and fully, Cassie couldn’t stop smiling and she turned having Iann hand over the ring for Lilo. Cassie put it on him carefully, twisting it till sat how she liked and then she glanced back to the officiant who no doubt could tell the two just wanted to lock lips already. Cassie had already made it clear he wouldn’t ask if there were any objections, no reason to jinx anything. So the officiant simply upturned his palms and nodded, “It’s my pleasure to pronounce you man and wife. You may now kiss the bride.”

Lilo made it to when the officiant got to 'you may' before he was leaning in and pressing his lips to his new wife. His hand cradled the back of her head, somewhat messing with the perfectly made hairstyle. He could only wait so long for 'permission' to do what he wanted to for so long. They were married. They were married and Lilo continued to kiss Cassie, dipping her dramatically as he got swept up in the moment.

Cassie eyebrows rose slightly when she saw Lilo already eagerly leaning in, and giggle was muffled by his lips on hers. Cassie wrapped her arms loosely around his neck, taking a step back when he dipped her and when a few whoops and hollers came from the audience Cassie broke the kiss taking Lilo’s hand quickly, “Show off.” She murmured through a smirk as she walked down the aisle with him. She smiled and nodded to the small crowd of those in attendance and whispered, “I’m starved, what about you?”

Lilo grinned back. "Can't help it when I'm near you." His smile never far from his lips even as he spoke. The crowd work and support was nice, but Cassie was still his main priority. He nodded to Cassie's mom, his mother-in-law now, as she and his Mama went to go spoil Addie for the rest of the night. "I could eat a whole horse. I'm regretting I didn't go with that catering company that did the wild game food." Lilo walked hand in hand as they were slowly bustled about by well wishers. Even before they made it to the reception room.

Cassie “While I liked them too-“ Cassie agreed about the catering company Lilo had mentioned in longing, “We had to think about the guests that weren’t wolves. Your mother included.” Cassie made small talk with a few of the well wishers as they made their way to the reception hall, and although they didn’t have to end up going with assigned seating, Cassie was relieved she and Lilo still got to sit alone but together. The few caterers quickly started to bring out the food, and Cassie’s mouth watered at the mix of smells. “Did I tell you recently how perfect you did with all of this?”

Lilo laughed and shrugged his shoulders. "Ay, when you are right you are right." Lilo waved, shook hands, accepted congratulations, and even hugged a few weeping people. All in good spirits. He was trying to match every face with a name, thinking for a second or two he saw some shadowy stranger. But he could never get a pin on anyone, and anyway he was ushered happily to his seat beside Cassie. Too hungry for words. He blinked at his wife. "I- Well I wouldn't have been able to do it without you helping out so much with Addie! You're amazing." He pulled away from watching family and friends find their own seats, eyes only for Cassie. He almost missed one of the caterers try and get their attention. Lilo's brow furrowed.

Cassie rolled her eyes playfully, “Well, of course I had to help with Addie. It’s what we do.” She squeezed his hand, “I mean really Lilo we could waste the whole night going back and forth telling each other how amazing the other is, like we don’t already know.” Cassie laughed lightly to herself, shaking her napkin out on her lap and looking out at the seated guests. She waved to Addie who was mostly preoccupied with her Grandmothers and turned when she saw the caterer in her peripheral vision as well. At the first moment she thought something had gone wrong, but then she realized they were just trying to get the soup and salad bowls on the table. “Nothing went wrong at set up?” Cassie whispered to Lilo before her own brow arched, “Would you tell me?”

Lilo's heart skipped up to his throat for a moment then settled back down. He turned to Cassie, ignoring the soup and salad. "Of course I would tell you. What were just saying huh? We are both amazing and we know it." But just as one of the caterers got close enough to set the plates down that was put to the test. She whispered, almost under her breath.

"Uh, slight problem folks. Some of the food supplies we brought have. Um. Gone missing." The caterer was clearly reticent to share the bad news. And Lilo's face blanched.

"What sort of supplies?"

Cassie The caterer’s gaze was still mostly downcast on the table and when it did raise, it only flickered towards Lilo. “Well uh…we’re missing some of the sides for the main course but, but-“ The employee gulped, knowing no matter how quiet she whispered the bride and groom would hear being wolves and all. “We were keeping the cake refrigerated and it’s…missing?” Cassie blinked and repeated sharply, “Missing? What like a spirit just waltzed in and took-“ She inhaled a breath and raised her hands, “That’s ridiculous. We need that cake. It’s special.”

Lilo shook his head. "No, no, no, no." He kept shaking his head as if he could deny the problem away. "This is silly. I saw the cake it's huge. There is no way someone could walk off with a cake. And no reason why anybody would disappear it." No Lilo tired to reason his way out of it. "Maybe you just looked in the wrong place? The wrong fridge?" Even as Lilo reasoned it out the caterer started looking helpless, meekly shaking her own head in answer. Lilo sighed heavily. "Okay... so if it is missing. Why?" Where would he even start."

“I don’t know. I’m really sorry. I have some of my guys still looking.” The caterer croaked. “But there’s not to many places it could have gone. It really did just disappear.” She cringed slightly feeling Cassie’s gaze, “We moved it into the fridge this afternoon and then when we started to get prepped during the ceremony we saw that it was missing. Barely anyone has been in or out since.”

Cassie slouched in her seat some, “Maybe someone else just really likes cake.” She grumbled crossing her arms over her chest. “I can’t believe I didn’t even get a slice.” Cassie turned to Lilo, “What if it was some ghost or other sneaky little thief, I probably totally jinxed it.”

Lilo frowned. "No." His word of choice for the moment. "This is unacceptable." Lilo was already standing from his seat, the caterers looking fearful for a second he was mad at them. "Cassie this is your wedding and you deserve a delicious wedding cake. I made sure we had one and now I am gonna find it again for you. It's a delicious smelling cake right? How hard could it be to sniff out?"

Cassie was slightly surprised at Lilo’s own anger over the missing cake but it made her sit up a little straighter again and she glanced around to see if anyone noticed besides the catering team what was going on. Enough conversation was flowing that the groom abruptly standing from his seat did not turn heads. “Sure it’s delicious.” Cassie agreed with a nod, “You think you can find it? What should I tell people? They’re only going to believe you’re in the bathroom for so long.” Her mouth quirked slightly, “And if you don’t find it…”

Lilo was starting to feel the weight of his new quest already heavy on his shoulders. "Sure I can find it. But- I don't want to disappoint anybody else." He looked around at the room full of people. A buzz as the food was being doled out and people were talking excitedly. There was one excited call that pitched higher than the others, and Lilo's eyes were drawn to the table where the grandmothers and Addie were gathered. His eyes narrowed and he could make out the faint 'mija you are so wiggly, why are you trying to get under the table my darling. What is so interesting down there.' His eyebrow arched. "No. No it could not be that easy..." Could it?

Cassie watched Lilo while trying to somewhat console the caterer. They knew it wasn’t her fault, they weren’t really mad at her. So on and so forth. She frowned slightly when it seemed Lilo’s gaze landed much more closely than Cassie would have thought. Addie meanwhile, continued to fight the hold her grandmothers had on her squealing when she finally did slither to the floor hidden under the table cloth. She clapped her hands and cooed happily and Mother Germaine and Mama Lopez simply decided to let the toddler be. It had been a long and busy day after all. Cassie grabbed Lilo’s sleeve. “What’s going on?” She hissed, “Did you figure it out already?” Her eyes widened though when she saw Addie’s chubby hand appear out from underneath the long table cloth covered in frosting. Cassie pointed, mouth parted, “The baby. Adeline! Lilo, oh my god. Get her.”

Lilo nodded. But by the time his head moved up and down he was already crossing the space. Striding, not quite forcefully, over to the grandmother table. "Mama!" He said, trying not to be too loud he dropped his voice. Both his mother and Cassie's looked up at him surprised. Adeline took that as a cue to bury her hand further into the hidden chocolate cake. Only her parents eyes on her, and they were too far away to do anything yet. "Mom what happened to Addie's charm bracelet?" Not the pertinent question, but one in the front of his mind as his baby girl seemed to have magically transported the cake under the table for her eating pleasure. His mother said something about, getting stuck in the dress, or frills, but then Cassie's mom seemed to catch on. Catching Addie's chocolate icing covered hands before they made it back into her mouth.

Cassie Victoria had caught Addie’s hands and then grabbed the rest of the toddler swooping her up and keeping her pinned against her torso with one arm as she started to pull out the cake from beneath the table with her other. Cassie came up behind and helped lift the cake onto the table, about to take the baby, but Victoria refused, much preferring the icing covered baby get her dress dirty than the bride’s.

“We can fix it.” Victoria tried to console Cassie. “Or just…not show the side that’s been dug into.” Cassie tried not to pout but hse couldn’t help it, giving Addie who was currently sucking on her chocolate covered fist a stern look,

“Where’s her bracelet? She’s supposed to have it on all the time.” Victoria sighed beginning to wipe up some of the frosting mess.

“Carlita has it. It was getting caught on fabric and making Adeline frustrated.” Cassie’s lips thinned, “Adeline makes Mommy frustrated sometimes too. Just get it back on-“ Cassie sighed heavily pressing her fingers to her forehead, “Please.”

Lilo looked at the (partly) ruined cake. Honestly with all the dramatic unveiling it took to lift the cake up and to the table after it's disappearance it might have looked purposefully. Might have, being the operative phrasing. "Ah, well. Mama just so you know. That bracelet sort of, not sort of but definitely helps Addie control her magic baby powers." After the brief explanation Carlita's eyes went wide--a mixture of embarrassment and surprise. His mother still had to be talked gently through supernatural stuff. "But everything is okay now? Right?" He turned to Cassie, internally vowing to help his mother through it later. The bracelet was produced from a purse and Adeline fussed as she wanted more sugar and less jewelry, but was slowly coaxed into the latter. "The cake wasn't lost it was just... Well our daughter does have a sweet tooth." This whole time, since the reveal of the cake, Lilo had been fighting back laughter. Now he lost, snickers breaking through his caring smile.

Cassie “Of course she does.” Victoria agreed with Lilo’s claim, “She’s just like her mother. So really none of us, should be surprised hmm?” She raised a brow at Cassie, willing her daughter to calm over chocolate cake. She would have done the same thing as a toddler if she’d been able. Victoria smiled as Lilo snickered and with the growing laughter Addie began to laugh to, raising her hands to her mouth and giggling high, “Yum, yum!” Cassie relented, “I suppose it’s all our cake okay? But cake comes after dinner so,” She wagged her finger and scolded lightly, “You’re still naughty.” Addie rolled her head back with laughter again, “No, now!”

Lilo smiled, the wrinkles around his eyes curling upward. For a second he was half-tempted to just spoil his daughter and give her what she wanted. He shook his head. "No, no mija. Espera. You got to wait. Sweeties taste even better after you eat the good salty and savory stuff, okay huh?" He moved closer to ruffle his daughters hair and looked for a napkin to wipe her cheeks. He needed bothered because his mother already was pulling out a wet-wipe swiped from some restaurant (or the b&b). "Let me carlito, papito. This is your day, and your pretty little wifey's. I am sorry for the little mess already but you go back up to the table." His mom smiled graciously at him but he had no doubt some lecture of 'this is why you have kids after you get married' would be lurking behind the surface if it weren't so hypocritical of her. "Go! Shoo! You got everybody looking over here and I haven't even been to the powder room to touch up!"

Cassie nodded in agreement as Lilo repeated dessert needed to wait. She smiled faintly back to her mother in law when she insisted the couple return to their table. “Okay, just make sure the bracelet stays on. Carlita if you need to go to the restroom my mother can watch Addie too.” Cassie pointed to Victoria who had since seated herself again and took the stares from the guests without much phase. Cassie rested her hand on Lilo’s arm and tugged him gently, laughing “Okay, we saved the cake. Most of it. Let’s just enjoy dinner, and make sure the caterer doesn’t have a heart attack.” She wrinkled her nose playfully. “Your daughter is a troublemaker.”

Lilo laughed, "Oh sure, she is my daughter when she steals a cake" He held out his arm to escort Cassie back to their seats. There was a sweetness and unfamiliarity to the action as he was mostly just emulating what he say in movies. "But we both know she didn't get the need for sweets from me." He winked. Then paused a beat to look around, at least one of the caterers noticed the reappearance of the large cake so it looked like he didn't need to hunt anyone down. Their little foray into the main gathering of tables did attract the wedding-goers attention and now he could pick up cheers, people tapping their glasses, calling on the couple to kiss or dance, or both. One person even shouted speech and Lilo narrowed his eyes. He had forgotten if any of the wedding party had planned one, and turned quizzically to Cassie.

Cassie “Yes she is.” Cassie confirmed under another laugh, rolling her eyes when Lilo pinned Addie’s sweet tooth on her. She couldn’t reject the idea, since it was true. Cassie’s attention turned with Lilo’s when the guests started to make a fuss for a speech, kiss or dancing. She blushed lightly feeling silly for just being excited for dinner. Cassie leaned into Lilo slightly, “Just dance with me, and then everyone will be distracted enough.” She offered her hand out again, motioning to the open space in the reception hall with a slight tilt of her head “Please?”

Lilo rolled his neck and smiled. "Oh, oh lobocita," His free hand was held over his heart, dramatically. "When you ask me so kindly how can I resist." With a smile that was never far from his face he turns so he could hold Cassie. One hand on her shoulder the other rested n the soft sweep of her hip. "Hmm, though I have to admit," his voice lowered to a whisper as he drew closer to her, "I wouldn't resist even without the please."

Cassie “I was just covering my bases.” Cassie smiled, “I didn’t know if you were going to go all shy on me.” She was secretly thrilled by Lilo’s eagerness to dance. If some circumstances were different, she would ask for it far more often. But the wedding was a special occasion. She walked with him out onto the dance floor and slowly started the dance that was a simple waltz, allowing him to take the lead if he wanted.

Lilo moved across the dance floor with Cassie. He hadn't had much experience with waltzing, he didn't even spring for the pre-wedding lessons. All he knew about waltzing was what he gleaned from youtube videos. He took the lead slowly, gently to the music their D.J. might as well have been pre-cognizant with how ready he was with the right song. Cassie helped out quite a bit, because even as mostly guessed the steps everything looked beautiful and elegant when her white dress swept across the dance floor. "Maybe I should be more shy. But even if I step on your toes you are not going to get out on this dance floor without me tonight."

Cassie shook her head at Lilo’s murmur, “No, no, no. You’re supposed to be the outgoing one. You’re the Aries.” She teased gently, squeezing his arm again as her smile grew, “Good, I wouldn’t want to be out there alone tonight anyways. So you better uphold that declaration. As they continued to sweep the dance floor Cassie caught a glimpse of Addie and her grandmother’s again, the toddler still squirming but watching with interest. She outstretched her arms when they came close, “Me, me!” Cassie slowed and raised a brow at Lilo, “Looks like someone wants to cut in. Now that’s the only other girl besides me you can’t disappoint.”

Lilo's eyes almost welled up then and there, but dammit he was going to hold it together. "My baby! Of course I cannot disappoint." He was certain at this moment it was worth it to have kids before getting married just to see the joy in his baby's eyes as she'd be swept across the dance floor. "You! you, tu eres bonita, my little nugget come into my arms." Lilo let the grandmothers unload precious Addie into his hands. She giggled and held tight to his lapels. "Spin spin! Mommy! Spin!"

Cassie saw the well of emotion in Lilo’s face and lightly covered her mouth that curled into a knowing smile with her knuckles. She watched in love in admiration as Lilo took up Addie into his arms and praised her. Her brows raised slightly at Addie’s next request, unsure if she meant for Lilo to spin her, or for Cassie to simply spin on her own. “Spin? Addie watch.” Cassie did a quick spin on her heel so the dress slightly fanned out around her. She nodded toward Lilo, “Now Papa can spin you.”

Lilo watched, Addie in his arms. Their child clapped as she watched Cassie's wedding dress swish, apparently getting what she wanted. "You are beautiful." Lilo blew a kiss to Cassie before walking with Addie into the middle of the dance floor. Spinning and rocking her as Adeline wiggles and through her body back into the spin. "Wheee! Papa!" Lilo grinned and continued to spin round and round, mindful of his prosthetic as he kicked it out and drew it around. "Dancing, dancing, baile, baile." Lilo sung his mostly nonsense tune while Addie didn't seem like she would tire form the dance anytime soon.

Cassie “Good job, good job!” Cassie clapped lightly, beaming at Addie who was seemingly having all the fun in the world being twirled around in her father’s arms. She still watched Lilo carefully without saying a word, mindful of how tired or difficult it might get for him. After a few more minutes Cassie stepped back in and spoke, “Does this mean I get a lovely dancer too? Why don’t we do cake and then Addie can go home with Nana and abuelita? She can't stay up the whole reception.”

Lilo leaned in to kiss his wife. Thankful that she was getting them back on track. "Yes! Yes lobocita. We should have cake time and then all good little witch girls should go to bed and say good night to Abuela and Grandma." Addie brightened up, still excited by the music, lights and strangers. He had no doubt that later, aided by the sugar crash, the stimulation would prove too much for her. Victoria and his mother ought to take her home soon. Though from the way Carlita seemed to be looking out for one Mr. Cardero to dance with he doubted how much his mother would want to stay a babysitter. "Mom! Mama! Want!" Addie, beginning her fussy 'wanting to control he situation' phase demanded to change parents. Reaching out for her mother.

Although Cassie knew what the toddler was doing when she demanded to be switched between parents Cassie took Addie into her arms and walked over with Lilo to where the cake and been moved during the dancing. A few other people moved to get a closer look, and Cassie picked up the cake server, carefully showing it to Addie and looking over to make sure Lilo was still beside her, “Here.” She murmured to the both of them, “We’ll all cut it together.” And even though a few of Addie’s chubby fingers joined her parents Cassie still directed most of the cut into the cake. She helped balance it carefully before Addie reached out to snatch at the slice, taking a bite into the cake between her fingers before she shoved some of into into Lilo’s mouth and beard. Cassie laughed out loud.

Lilo was there beside his family. He was joining in the cake cutting mostly just in ceremony, letting the ladies have the full grip of the serving tool. The cake in the face came as a surprise and he pulled back, only momentarily. Laughing as his licked off his lips and worked a few crumbs out of his beard. "Ahah! And here I was looking for an opening to get you with cake! Lobocita." And as he spoke Lilo took some liberties with the 'ruined' side of their wedding cake. Scooping a finger of icing and dabbing Cassie's nose, then sneaky Addie's. Adeline just giggled and tired to like his finger.

Cassie tilted her chin up slightly grinning smartly at Lilo and swinging Addie around in front of her, “Ha, ha – I know, that’s why I got the baby shield.” But then Lilo did end up getting just a little bit of frosting on her nose, and Cassie happily allowed it, leaving it there as she began to slice more pieces for other guests before she wiped off the frosting and ate it herself. “We both got each other fair and square then.” She stated, taking a few bites of cake from her plate as she held Addie on her hip. When she was done she waved her mother over, “Can you take Addie home, I think Ms. Lopez wants to stay?” Victoria nodded taking Addie in her arms and giving the toddler one last chance to say goodbye for the night.

Lilo kissed Addie on the check to say his goodbyes. Smiling at Victoria, and thanking her as he knew she was likely in for a wild night of trying to calm down and clean a sticky magical toddler. After that all his attention was back to Cassie. "You know," He nudged closer to Cassie's side, "after all these weeks and weeks of preparation I thought I would be more nervous. Or running around now at the reception. But.." He nodded to the hipster photographer that hovered on the periphery, getting some wonderful shots of Addie yawing with her cake face, "things seem to be taking care of themselves so far. Now I got this whole room full of people and all I want to do is be alone with you."

Cassie said her goodbye’s to Addie as well, giving her mother another quick thank you before she turned her attention back to the reception at hand. The good part was, most of the big events were over, the cake, the dances, the ceremony, so most people were just keeping themselves entertained with conversation. It wouldn’t be too long until people would start to trickle out. She smirked lightly when Lilo nudged her “I’d say considering everything, it went very well.” Cassie agreed with him, only to continue, “You only have to upkeep appearances for just a little bit longer. Then we’ll be home. And if you set up any sort of honeymoon-“ She raised a brow, because she knew Lilo hadn’t been entirely telling on the subject. “Then we won’t even have Adeline to bother us.”

[haelinherbones]

The pleasure is all mine. Oh wow, now I feel like I have to give out my stuff like that too. It makes you sound really official. I'm Haelandra Greek Goddess of the Wrongly Slain, Lady of Vanaheim, and currently the Co-collector of the dead." She said grimacing at the fact that she was stuck collecting souls while her dad was off living the life. Hael had I always wanted a more peaceful life than this but it was unlikely to happen.

"I should probably go it's about to get hectic here. Plus this little spirit needs to takes its final walk home. " Addie stated as she rose to her feet lantern in one hand coffee in the other. "Would you like to join me? I feel that it would be unfortunate if you didn't get the chance to see this to completion."

haelinherbones​:

Most of their tears had dried by the time they reached a hesitant hand to Hael. She smiled relieved that they didn’t seem to have the energy to fight or want to cling. As soon as she made contact with the offered hand the spirit turned into a cloud of opaque butterflies. With a flick of her hand, they poured into her lantern before she closed it.

Hael turned on her heels giving the tables three taps again to wake people up and release the pocket of frozen time. She settled herself back down into her seat and turned to the only witness.

“So tell me what type of higher power do I have the pleasure of knowing? And thank you for not interfering.” She said.

It was good that the person seemed to be able to reconcile with what was happening. And there was something oddly poignant about the process of seeing the spirit turn into butterflies before pouring into the lantern. Seeing the process of guiding someone to the other life was always interesting to Saima and this situation was no different, although unique in her methods.

Soon with the break of frozen time, they once more heard the sounds of other people in the area as the goddess sat back down near them.

“You’re welcome. I understand the need for that work. Name’s Saima - embodiment of Estonian mythology and folklore and a restless spirit by nature really. A pleasure to make your acquaintance.“

[littlebitofeverythingphff]

Chapter 29

A/N: Here is the next chapter! Please note that this will be the last one for about 2 weeks, hopefully sooner! I will be taking a mini break but will be back with more Harry and Addy very soon!

“Without further adieu, please welcome our spectacular curator who designed this exhibit. Miss Adalyn Mackenzie everyone!” Michael, the director of the museum clapped his hands together angling his body towards Addy welcoming her to the podium.

With a smile Adalyn stepped carefully to the stage ensuring she would not slip in her heels in front of all the people gathered at the museum. Today was the opening of her new exhibit at the Imperial War Museum she had worked so hard on the past few weeks. It was indeed a miracle Addy had completed it by the deadline. Beaming with pride she lifted her head up to see nearly a hundred people gathered. Gently grasping the edges of the wooden podium she began her speech.

“Thank you Michael for the warm welcoming. It is a pleasure to be here with you all today to be part of this wonderful new exhibit opening. Myself and many others who have dedicated numerous hours to make this display possible for all of you to see today are very excited to share it all with you.” Inhaling a quick breath her eyes scanned the crowd noticing the cameras clicking away. The same cameramen that hounded her outside the doors of the museum this morning before work. Breath Addy you are at work. You can’t runaway now. Don’t let them take this from you too.

“The Ira and Rose Nichols exhibit takes us back to the second world war. A young man, Ira, had married the love of his life, Rose; the day before he was deployed to a war he willingly took part of to defend his loved ones. Throughout the absence of her husband, Rose took to art to fill the void while her heart stayed with Ira through his days in battle, fighting for her across the world, fighting each day to come back to her. The exhibit here showcases those pieces of art that the Nichols family has generously donated; we thank their grandchildren that are graciously with us today to join us on this special occasion. The history and love shown through Rose’s sketches, paintings and letters to Ira are a beautiful testament to the struggles of the families and loved ones left behind in the time of war. It is without further wait that I officially open the Ira and Rose Nichols Memorial Exhibit! Please enjoy and I will be happy to answer any questions for you inside the exhibit.”

The crowd applauded her enthusiastically. Turning her back she released a deep breath thanking that part of the day was over with. Now she would have to stand inside the exhibit ready for an onslaught of questions; knowing she would not be able to avoid them asking about Harry.

Her mind drifted to him, remembering the long conversation they had the previous night. An instant smile upturned the corner of her mouth the second he came to memory.

*Flashback to the previous night.

“You all comfy with Chance?” His deep voice caused her heart to skip a beat. Addy already missed him and it hadn’t even been more than a couple of hours since they said goodbye.

“Yes and your warm cozy sweater.” The soft fabric clung to her skin making her feel snug and relaxed breathing in his scent with each steady breath. His lighthearted laugh rang out through the phone, instantly bringing a sweet smile to her lips. Closing her eyes she wished with everything she had for him to be next to her. To feel his warm body tight against hers, his arms securing themselves around her protecting her from whatever may come.

Hearing the stroking of keys Addy raised her eyebrow. Why was Harry working this late at night?

“Are you working… at this hour?”

“Yeah sorry babe. I am a bit behind with some Sentebale things I was supposed to have done a few days ago.” Hearing him sigh he leaned back into his chair, the material squeaking underneath him. “And before you say anything. No I was not late because of you.” Realizing what the prince had said, he found it best to reassure Addy.

Yawning her mouth opened wide, her heavy eyelids begging her to go to sleep. “Harry… I think I should let you work. It’s been a long day and I have a very early morning tomorrow.” Groggily speaking she turned on her side, pulling the covers up around her body.

“Good luck tomorrow Addy. I know you will do great.”

“Goodnight Henry. I miss you…” Her sweet tired voice caused his heart to flutter imagining how adorably comfortable she would be looking right now if he was there.

“Night baby. Muah. Get some sleep.”

End Flashback*

Hearing his lighthearted laugh again made her worries instantly drift away. Even though it had felt like ages since she was in his presence, it had been a mere day, but she missed him terribly. Clinging on to the fact that at the end of all of this, they would be able to spend the evening together like they had planned.

An elbow nudged her back to reality looking to her left beside her to see Eva smirking. “Nice speech. I bet the press will go crazy with that one.” Barking a laugh at Addy’s expense, Eva tossed her head back. Groaning Addy shook her head desperately wanting to hide away in her office. Why did they have to be here?

Following in behind Michael she positioned herself inside the exhibit walking around slowly internally smiling proudly at the work she had accomplished.

“May I ask you a question?” A deep male voice caught her off guard. Turning around she smiled with a nod.

“Yes of course!” She held her smile.

“Was this exhibit inspired by your boyfriend Prince Harry?” The man held up a voice recorder in the space between them. Glancing down she focused on the red bleeping dot indicating that it would be recording her every word. She read the words etched on ‘property of the SUN.’

Taking a few moments to formulate her response she had to bury the anger budding inside. How dare they even think that? I am my own person! Harry has nothing to do with it! Addy wanted to scream out loud in front of all these people. To say that she was annoyed was an understatement, but she knew how it would be perceived if she was rude to the man.

“The exhibit is a dedication to Ira and Rose and their struggle in being apart from one another. It tells us their story through pictures and was inspired by the sacrifice on both of their parts. To say that it was inspired by anyone else but the people who knew them best is a disgrace to their name. Please be respectful of their sacrifice.” Being proud with how she handled the question she ended it with a smile looking right in the reporter’s eyes telling him that he was not going to get the story he wanted today. “Please enjoy. My colleague Eva will gladly answer any more of your questions.”

Moving on through to the back of the exhibit she took a moment to calm herself, but before she could a little girl came running up beside her tugging on her skirt to gain Addy’s attention.

“Avery!” Her mother scolded her harshly. “Be nice and talk to the nice lady.”

“Hello there Avery.” Addy smiled warmly, crouching down to be on the child’s level.

“Mommy told me that if I painted every day I could have my paintings in a museum like this one!” The blonde haired child proudly beamed up at Addy.

“You’re mother is right! You have to work hard and have fun and one day you will be!” Noticing a piece of paper the girl was holding Addy she angled her head coming up with an idea.

“Is that one of your paintings Avery?” The little girl nodded proudly, holding it up to show Adalyn a painting of splashed together colors in every which way.

“Wow! You are very talented!” Addy took the painting in her hands pretending to analyze it more carefully. “You know what Avery? Do you think I could have this painting? I have the perfect spot for it!”

“Where?! Yes you can!” Avery bounced up and down excitedly. “Mommy mommy! I am going to have my painting in the museum!” She pulled hard on her mother’s hand jumping around her in a state of pure joy.

“Follow me Miss Avery.” Addy held out her hand feeling tiny fingers grasp it tightly. The little girl was a body full of joy bringing the widest smile to Addy’s face. This was the part of her job she had enjoyed the most, seeing someone get as excited for art as she did.

Hearing the clicks of a camera Addy snapped her head up seeing hungry camera men. Dropping Avery’s hand she told her mother to meet her around the corner. They would not leave her alone, even in her place of work. Addy was more irritated than ever seeing them invading her like that for the third time today. Wasn’t there a bigger story then her out there? Her life was not that exciting, she could assure them of that.

“Hey Billy.” Walking up to the security guard she knew this would make matters worse, but for the time being she did not care. “I need those men with cameras out. They are not part of the media that are covering this officially. Please escort them out of the building and off the property.”

“I would love to Addy.” Billy responded in his deep husky voice. The man was literally terrifying, but the kindest, most gentle teddy bear of a guy. “If I may ask…” Addy’s eyes begged him not to ask him about Harry.

“Do you need an escort out to your vehicle today?”

Sighing she wanted to with every inch of her being to take him up on his offer, but what would that look like? It would be just as bad as Harry escorting her out. Shaking her head she nodded her reply.

“That is very kind of you Billy. I am alright today, thank you.” Recomposing herself she smiled warmly.

“Well the offer still stands whenever you need. Had I seen them this morning I would have helped you get inside.” He bore a concerned look for Addy. He had caught the tail end of her coming inside the building, nearly having to push her way through the crowd of paparazzi camping outside the museum.

“I appreciate that Billy!” Patting his shoulder Addy made her way around the corner where Avery and her mother were patiently waiting for her.

“Ready? Let’s go!” Addy began to lead them away into another part of the museum. Curiosity over came her, causing the need to glance back over her shoulder wanting to see them being escorted out. Sighing with relief she could now focus on her job.

“Is this an ok spot Avery?” Addy stopped in front of a spare ball lined with random pieces of art from the community. A new project they were piloting as part of a community relations agenda.

“Right here where everyone can see it?” The stagnant gleaming smile on Avery’s lips brought Addy to mirror her smile in return.

“Yes. Where everyone can see it!” Taking the painting from the little girl, Adalyn hung it pride. Writing Avery’s name beside it she glanced down to the arm attempting to hug her waist that was just out of her reach.

“Thank you thank you thank you!!” Avery squeezed her waist as hard as she could causing Addy to take a step back nearly stumbling in her heels.

“Do you want a picture with your mother Avery so you can show all of your classmates?” Her mother dug out her phone handing it to Addy while mouthing a silent ‘thank you.’ Looking through the camera display she couldn’t help but giggle at Avery’s wide smile with her thumb sticking up proudly in the air. Her mother standing beside her beaming happily with shining eyes.

“There you go!” Handing the phone back to Avery’s mother she wrapped her arms around Adalyn unexpectingly. Hugging her tightly the woman whispered in her ear.

“Thank you for making my daughter smile today. She has been having a hard time with my husbands and I divorce recently. This meant the world to her Adalyn. Harry is lucky to have such a wonderful woman by his side. You are a keeper in my books.” Breaking away from the hug, the woman squeezed her arm with a silent endearing smile.

“It’s my pleasure…” were the only words Addy was able to force out. She was in shock after hearing Harry’s name, not entirely expecting to hear those words coming out of her mouth.

Sitting in her office chair Addy leaned her head back closing her eyes. It had been an overwhelming busy day with the exhibit opening and this was the first time she was able to sit down all day. Hearing heels stepping into her office she opened one eye knowing exactly who was leaning against her door frame.

“So Prince Harry huh?” Eva popped her hip out to the side with a wink. “You got the better one out of the two in my opinion…” Taking a seat opposite of Adalyn she continued her teasing.

“I really don’t want to talk about it here Eva.” Groaning Addy swayed back and forth in her chair noticing a delivery of flowers were on her desk.

Catching Addy’s gaze Eva looked down to it reaching for it before Addy could even speak. “Ooooh I bet it’s from Harry!” Eva stood up waving the package in the air. “I bet he was the one sending you flowers all the time right?” Her stomach flipped suddenly remembering Harry mentioning he never sent her flowers at work.

“Let me see that please!” Reaching out her hand Addy needed to see who it was from. She wanted to get to the bottom of who ever were sending her these flowers, especially since Harry had claimed it was not him.

“Eva please…” Growing tired of her teasing, Addy’s voice became growly.

“Alright alright.” Tossing them gently in her hands Eva flashed a quick smile. “We need to go for drinks so you can tell me all about your new boy toy!” Eva spoke while slowly closing the door shut giving Addy some well needed privacy.

Tearing apart the wrapping Addy was hit with a sweet fragrance seeing pink tulips gathered together in a beautiful bouquet. Her heart was secretly wishing that they were from Harry. Searching for the note Addy saw a white piece of paper tied onto the stems of the flowers. Breaking it off she quietly read the note.

“He took you from me. A prince who will never love you like I do. We will meet again this I promise you. In this world or the next.”

Dropping the note from her trembling hands her chest began to tighten trapping the air inside, not allowing her to breath. Her mind immediately was screaming out inside pulling all of the oxygen to its source while it ran wild with thoughts.

He took you from me….

In this world or the next…

It was obvious that Harry was not the sender in regards to this mans letter to her. The room was starting to spin, her mind felt dizzy from the lack of oxygen desperately trying to remind herself to breathe. A sense of dread was crushing her chest as her heart pounded into a wild state of hyper-vigilance.

Not able to move her body Addy sat there in her office quietly attempting to calm herself down. Finally able to breathe innately she focused her mind on another matter. Her restless mind was flashing through the pictures of any one she thought that could or would have sent her all of these flowers.

Realizing that this was an obsession made her more committed to finding out who he was. This was not merely a kind gesture… it had been a dedication that had gone on for months and months near the time that Harry had left. The anxiety within her raged on crashing through her mind again jumbling the thoughts in her brain. Why would someone be obsessed with her? Shaking her head as each memory popped into her mind. Scanning through them mentally she stopped.

Her mind whispered his name… finally making everything fall into perfect sense. She had found the missing puzzle piece her mind was trying to solve. Growing stiff her body was preparing itself for an unknown attack.

Deep down she wished it not to be true, but she knew.

Addy had seen him numerous times thinking her mind was playing tricks on her. That he was a mere pigment of her imagination. Across the street from the bakery she had seen him. Outside her building she had seen him walking away. Her mind kept flashing through all the times she felt like someone was watching her. Cringing inside she dared not to speak his name scared that it would make it all come true.

It was Jake who had been sending her these flowers….

‘He took you from me. A prince who will never love you like I do.’

Her mind flashed back to the day he had showed up on her doorstep asking her to marry him again. Addy had underestimated him, not giving him a second thought in the matter.

Jake had been stalking her.

He wouldn’t do anything right? He was harmless.  She thought repeatedly until she believed it. It was his way of dealing with their break up, a harmless attempt to get her back in his life.

At least she hoped…

[empressxmachina]

Dolled Up and Underdressed // 1

Promises, part I 

--a visual--

The 27th. The day had come.

Hailey didn’t know how to feel. Was she even feeling anything? There was just too much going through her mind at the moment: too much, all too quickly. But the excitement of it all didn’t turn her away. It only made her want to go through it more.

She had to know if all of this was worth it, and this was the highest chance she was ever going to get.

“I never thought I’d see the day.” Hailey stood in front of her bedroom mirror in complete awe of the girl she saw. “What is this? Who am I?” Her caste-bound shackles locking her to the dregs of society vanished, and her appearance finally matched the whimsies and wonders she kept inside.

The markup of any purchasable item, from the everyday necessity to the extravagant pleasure, was one of many scarlet letters set solely for those in her stratum, and it left no found crumb or earned coin to be wasted. Every member of the family that could work did work – some, including Hailey, having multiple jobs – but that effort was only displayed in what was inherited and passed down.

Keep your head high, your grades up, and your family first. With those in order, anything was possible. Hailey and the rest of the Wainscot crew usually lived day-to-day with forced hand-me-downs, homemade stuff, and refurbished goods. Yet, here Hailey was in an elaborate ensemble enhanced with sparkles, glittering, and jingling from head to toe, with a ticket – a literal S-pass – straight to the top of the social hierarchy and a party within it.

A party.

A party some cute dude on the internet invited her to. A dude with style, coolness, and chiseled features that were only seen in models. A dude with sweetness like a cake atop talent like a savant. A dude whose portrait was plastered to her mirror with a heart-shaped sticker. A dude that paid her entire way – outfit, travel, and all – to get her with him tonight.

A dude she’s only ever met in real life once.

“Hailey?” her mother Brooke called from the foyer below, breaking the blissful silence and her spacing-out session. “Your ride is here.”

The damsel was so caught up in the glamorous abnormality of her look that, during that moment, she forgot she was at home, let alone not alone. If she wanted to make a good impression at the affair, then she couldn’t stay there much longer, despite the comfort in being somewhere she knew holding her in place. One more glance in the reflective glass – her cheery yet nervous grin and blushes comparable to her cherry dress – and the retrieval of her shoulder bag, and she was off.

The light clicks of her strappy heels as she walked to the stairs were a new sound: an extreme difference to the normal squeaks of sneakers or thuds of boots. They went in a balanced rhythm, however, as she suppressed her only reason to falter her steps: her emotions. It was rare when she wore them, but she had enough experience to know how to walk the walk well.

The walk and the presentation, apparently.

“Lee! Lee!” The cutest voice to ever grace ears greeted Hailey at the top of the stairs. Its owner beamed from down below with a smile almost as bright as Hailey’s dress. If Hailey had been showing any sort of negativity at the time, it would’ve flown off her face.

“You like my dress, Addy?” Hailey responded to her sister, flattered. “You think I’m pretty?”

Brooke replied for both of them, turning away from peeking out a window to the front yard.

“I think she does, and so do I. Hailey Rose, you are… a doll.”

‘Doll.’ Her mother’s breathy inflection was easy to miss but enough for Hailey to catch as she descended the stairs. ‘You look like a doll. Don’t be a doll.’

Upon touching the ground floor, Hailey dropped to her knees, arms out to clasp her little sister running to her for a hug. With her focus pointed on the six-year-old, she didn’t immediately embrace Brooke on her approach. At her lying her hand on Hailey’s shoulder, the eldest daughter rose, ready to receive some protective, parting words from her knowledgeable mother. She wasn’t ready, however, for the view that she managed to catch through the curtains past Addy’s frizzes.

Her father Garrett took his stance as Man-of-the-House, sturdy, looking like he just got done with yard work. Her younger brothers, fellow teens Fitz and Tuck, watched from behind on nearly broken bicycles. The three of them staring down the lone enforcer talking to them outside a dark, window-tinted, armored van straight out of the Capital, where he was strapped in both padding and a visible pistol on their hip.

Garrett spoke, hands occasionally grazing over a concealed piece of his own, and he spoke confidently, sometimes able to make the shielded soldier shake. Younger Tuck’s eyes and head consistently swiveled, attempting to count all the explicit munitions hidden underneath their uniform. Despite her distance and partial view, Hailey could make out at least four, along with seven ornamental things on their person that could be used offensively. Fitz, meanwhile, had his eyes behind and beyond the van’s open door, and Hailey could only wonder what lived there inside.

“Two-Piece,” Brooke addressed Hailey, snapping the daughter to the mother’s attention. “You’ve got everything you need?”  

‘Two-Piece.’ Her favorite form of swimsuit when able. Her place in her generation of the family. Her most skilled form of defense. A multi-entendre of a nickname the matriarch used rarely aloud, so it had to be go-time.

Hailey relinquished her sister, letting her free to go elsewhere, leaving the two women eye-to-eye and alone to be adults about it all.

Hailey responded but not without stumbling, gripping her bag tightly. “I… I think so.”

“Even with that?” Brooke countered, tilting her head toward the outside happenings.

Hailey glanced over to her mother’s shoulder at the conversation – ending with the Wainscot men walking back toward the house – before answering. “Yeah.”

“Good. Good.” An uncomfortable pause sat between the words, and a heavy silence lingered after them as Brooke’s gaze traveled past Hailey to Addy and then past them both. The action, not uncommon but still unpleasant, led Hailey to start assuming the worst.

“Mama?” She cocked her head to the side, bouncing her spray-stiffened curls like springs. “Is there something I should know?”

Brooke opened her mouth to respond, but her breaths were wordless as the front door opened, revealing the two sons waving at the elder duo, cheerfully galivanting to and through the living room, Tuck grabbing Addy, and the three of them then running into the backyard. Brooke beamed for a moment at all her happy kids until she felt Hailey’s gaze drilling into her.

Placing one hand on the ajar door’s knob, she whisked Hailey into the other in a near back-breaking embrace and blew into her ears, somehow with a sting, “You know your worth. You better come back to me. Whatever it takes.”

Hailey waited for an ‘I love you’ or the wishing her well she expected. After realizing it was never going to come, she reflected her mother’s tugs back to her for what felt like forever as though they were the last ones she’d ever give and get. For all that Hailey knew, and for all Brooke didn’t say, they may as well have been. With a kiss to her mother’s cheek and shoulder, a tight grip back on her bag and all it held, and a final look at the reconstructed log cabin she knew as home, she was out the door and onto the entryway where her father stood, cross-armed and waiting.

She walked up to him with a twirl, glistening like the star she always was in his eyes. Her smile stretched for miles, shining amidst the cloudiness of the sky above, but it dropped upon noticing how his expected enamor was barely a smirk.

“Daddy?” Hailey fretted, getting close to him with wide eyes. “Is something wrong?” Thinking back to her mother’s ways – those ways lingering with her watching at the front door – and not ignoring the observant sentry waiting to escort her, she repeated her previous question with him, also, through a hush. “Is there something I should know?”

Garrett shot a look at his wife, speaking code in silence that Hailey would never know and getting a single nod from Brooke back. Hailey, seeing that, waited for a chastising to come regarding going off with some stranger or putting some gala over family affairs, but none came.

In the blink of an eye, Hailey was, once again, thrust into a bear hug, her face pressed deeply into Garrett’s chest but not enough to ruin her makeup. Immersed in his musk, she felt his breaths upon the crown of her head as he gruffly yet affectionately warned, “My Two-Piece better come back in one… and breathing.”

A double-dose of unanticipated, love-doused, threat-laced farewells amidst the lingering eye of an armed enforcer was not what the doctor ordered. But no matter how emotionally sick she was, she was not going to miss out on this opportunity.

When else would her degenerate-self ever get to experience the life of an S-Class? Would she ever get to, again? Not in this lifetime, surely. If it led to her plummeting all she lived for towards inescapable failure, then at least she’d go down swinging and stylish.

“Uh…” It took some time, but Hailey did eventually complete the contract her parents set in front of her. She verbally swore her soul to her father, “She… she will,” and then, after a returned smile, to Brooke when she ached her way to them for a proper sendoff, “I will be back.” Hailey made sure to be a good big sister and not forget her brothers in the pact, too, mentally coddling them in cuddles before the awaiting officer ushered her into the van.

The parents gripped each other tightly in anticipation of the inevitable. Hailey and the soldier vanished behind the dark door, and its vehicle revved down the road, shrinking in the distance into nothing. After what felt like forever, it was just Garrett and Brooke, alone with their thoughts. But as to be expected from raising soon-to-be six children, that silence didn’t last.

Garrett was the one to re-stoke the fire and its entangled anxieties. “Did Dill’s docs match up?”

Dill. Dillon. Hailey’s older brother off at the Academy. He who, after catching the notice of Hailey’s invitation, sent a warning of what to expect from S-Classes and their passes, Hailey’s way of transport, and pretty much anything the feds would send her way for such an uncommon occurrence.

“Uh…” Showing exactly where Hailey got it from, Brooke struggled to recollect the details for the sudden inquiry. Sudden in questioning and the suddenness of Dillon’s call.

It was fair for a mother to wonder about her child, let alone her eldest one out of the house. But with Dillon, for numerous reasons, it was always more likely for Brooke to call him than vice versa. Nonetheless, he had made a move first, right as his parents were about to ask him, culminating into both an extended conversation and increased awareness of Hailey’s bizarre excursion.

More knowledge and more fears, compacted into a single, “Uh, huh.”

Just as succinctly, Garrett replied with a simple “Mm” as he wrapped a bulky, etched arm around his wife’s shoulder blade. The silence continued for a bit before it grew too tiresome for Brooke to stand in place. Feeling the wavering beneath him, Garrett gripped her lovingly tighter, pivoting the pair of them and the unborn to head back inside.

Upon reaching the door, his questions continued. “You think Two-Piece can take it?”

They glided through the foyer, passing a table that greeted any welcome guests with a portrait of their big family. It was a couple of years old at that point and would be marked excruciatingly out-of-date with the new member moving in soon, but it was a lovely snapshot in time. Dillon was about to head off into the most real aspects of adulthood, and, if all went according to plan, Hailey would be doing the same come two season changes.

Her charm exploded out the frame, showing such sweetness with a smile amid her toned figure built from years of hard work and dedication. Such a perfect combination could not be lost; thus, Brooke only had one thing she could say about her eldest girl,

“She has no choice.”

Garrett chuckled at the bluntness, not expecting anything less from the lady he married. “That’s not what I asked, hon.”

“But that’s the answer. I don’t know what you want from me.”

Grass and dirt crunched underneath the couple’s feet as they crossed the living room to the backyard, where they found the children. In doing so, the familiar aromas of nature greeted them. The farm and crops in the distance. A child in need of a shower. A fire burning. Oxidizing metal from all sides.

“What I want is a way to get out of this compost heap,” Garrett confided with a sigh, seeing the antics the kids were up to. All of their happy faces were a joy he was too stressed to have.

Brooke didn’t help with that, knowing full well the shit pit he was referring to. “Well, I hate to break it to you, but, ugh!” A pregnancy pain shot through her middle, faltering her in an instant. Garrett tried consolation with more caressing, but she waved it off before resuming her admission. “But… w-we can’t cancel anything with Them on us, can we?”

Them. Them with a capital T. There were many, preferably unnamed souls that always made Garrett groan, and this time was no different. However, They meant something more than the rest, especially now.

They had Hailey.

They had Hailey, but her parents were going to make sure that wasn’t going to be forever. Through the passes and the parties, parenting would still prevail under some light for their Rosebud to bloom. So, the couple wasted no more time, bypassing the kids for the time being to get to the shed.

Its door creaked as loudly as the sirens in their heads. A worrisome Addy called out to them at the sound, but all it took were a bright, false smile sent back by Brooke and some knowledgeable assurance from the nearby Tuck to bring her close to him and out of their hair like nothing happened. A held-in breath was then released from Brooke’s lungs, thankful to not have the baby girl’s attention anywhere around what the adults were about to do.