#sam x ainsley

[jessbakescakes]

ANNOUNCING: THE WEST WING TROPES FEST 2025: A fandom-wide prompt meme! This is a low-key, low-pressure prompt fest, and sign-ups are open now! More info here, but here's the gist:

Open to all ships, characters, and combinations thereof! Fandom-wide!

Anyone can prompt, regardless of whether you're writing or not.

You can claim as many prompts as you'd like!

Collection will reveal March 1, 2025.

Shout out to M/thefinestmuffins for allowing me to run with our project and make it shiny and new for the fandom this year!

Feel free to DM me with any questions!

[onekisstotakewithme]

Wait i wanna know: sam x ainsley

ehhhh. I'm actually in the middle on this one.

For women to ship with Sam, I'm definitely a Mallory gal.

So let's operate on the assumption I don't ship it I guess?

Why don’t you ship it? iiiiiii sort of see the chemistry on this one, I'm just not sold on it? Like I said, i definitely think Sam has better chemistry with Mallory. Plus while Ainsley definitely has opinions and stances I very much don't agree with, sometimes the way Sam talks to her about these stances is a bit patronizing. (Ainsley is wrong about the ERA, no doubt, but some of what Sam says back is a bit. yikes.) Or how he uses her to make a point about how he's not being a creep in the workplace (Because she liked it so that makes it okay. sigh.)

What would have made you like it? Just. More interactions between them? Actual common ground?

Despite not shipping it, do you have anything positive to say about it? They do have some good chemistry! And there are definitely moments where I'm like "did something...?" But i think in the long run, one of them might have to switch parties to make it work.

[hotchkissroyale]

Called It (TWW Fanfic)

Called It: F/M & Gen, Sam/Ainsley. On the flight to the wedding of Sam Seaborn and Ainsley Hayes, Josh realizes he knows less about their relationship than he thought. A drabble.

Excerpt:

His laugh leaked past his hand as he took another drink, pausing as the whiskey trickled down his throat. “You really didn’t know?” Donna, sitting two seats over, leaned towards them, a carefully controlled look on her face. “He really didn’t know.”

This was written from @twwpress Wheel of Destiny Drabble Challenge. My prompts were Writer's Choice of Season, Wedding Fic, and Air Force One.

[twwpress]

Weekly Press Briefing #42: April 9th - April 15th

Welcome back to the Weekly Press Briefing, where we bring you highlights from The West Wing fandom each week, including new fics, ongoing challenges, and more! This briefing covers all things posted from April 9 - April 15, 2023! Did we miss something? Let us know; you can find our contact info at the bottom of this briefing!

Challenges/Prompts:

The following is a roundup of open challenges/prompts. Do you have a challenge or event you’d like us to promote? Be sure to get in touch with us! Contact info is at the bottom of this briefing.

The Woulda, Coulda, Shoulda Josh/Donna prompt fest (hosted by @jessbakescakes and @thefinestmuffin) is open for claiming; fics reveal on June 24th. Details here. 

Photos/Videos:

Here’s what was posted from April 9 - April 15.

Allison Janney posted photos of herself backstage at the Late Late Show with Bryan Cranston and Brett Goldstein. 

Amy Landecker posted photos of her and Brad’s pets: 1 | 2 | 3

Bradley Whitford posted a photo of his dogs.

Janel Moloney posted a photo of her kids’ easter baskets (plus Cocaine Bear!).

Josh Malina posted a mirror selfie of himself and a castmate backstage at Leopoldstadt. 

Kim Webster posted photos from Alexa Bliss and Ryan Cabrera’s prom-themed anniversary party. 

Marlee Matlin posted

Rob Lowe posted a clip of Fred Armisen and himself in his new Netflix series Unstable. 

Rob Lowe posted BTS from 911 Lonestar of himself rescuing a fake baby. 

Rob Lowe posted a blooper reel from Unstable.

Rob Lowe posted a date night selfie with his wife.  

Donna Moss Daily: April 9 | April 10 | April 11 | April 12 | April 13 | April 14 | April 15

Daily Josh Lyman: April 9 | April 10 | April 11 | April 12 | April 13 | April 14 | April 15

No Context BWhit: April 9 | April 10 | April 11 | April 12 | April 13 | April 14 | April 15

This Week in Canon:

Welcome to This Week in Canon, where we revisit moments in The West Wing that occurred on these dates during the show’s run.

Season 7, Episode 17: Election Day, Part II aired on April 9, 2006.

Editors’ Choice:

Because Election Day, Part II aired this week in 2006, we’re recommending fics set during the Santos Administration!

smooth operator by MasterofAllImagination | Rated G | Bruno Gianelli, Josh Lyman, Matt Santos, Arnold Vinick (No Pairings) | Complete | Over his Chief of Staff’s strong objections, President Santos coerces Bruno Gianelli out of retirement.

 The Times They Are A-changin' (Series) by justdreaming88 | Rated G | Ainsley Hayes/Sam Seaborn, Josh Lyman/Donna Moss, Helen Santos/Matt Santos | A series of completed fics mostly set during the Santos administration. 

 And the Pursuit of Happiness by welcometoyourworld | Rated T | Josh Lyman/Sam Seaborn, Ainsley Hayes/Donna Moss | In Progress | It's the first year of the Santos Administration, and now that he is more or less at the peak of his political career, Josh must finally reckon with all the parts of himself he kept hidden away in pursuit of success.

OR: Santos’ fight for meaningful education reform is stymied by a war in Kazakhstan, the rise of the alt-Right, and a Chief of Staff engaging with The Self.

 Unpacking by theycallmethejackal | Rated G | Bram Howard, Otto (West Wing), Louise Thornton, Amy Gardner (No Pairings) | Complete | “What are you doing?”

“Setting up my office.”

 The People’s Servants by Speranza for musesfool | Rated G | Josh Lyman/Donna Moss  | Complete | It's Big Block of Cheese Day in the Santos White House.

 What's Next by sam_writes_fics | Rated T | Josh Lyman/Donna Moss  | Complete | Josh and Donna explore what life is like as Chiefs of Staff. This story starts right as "Tomorrow" ends; my attempt at their life post-canon.

 The First 100 Days by BimadaBomily | Not Rated | Josh Lyman/Donna Moss  | Complete | And now this roller coaster's plunging into the transition, with its time-pressure demands and then the inauguration and it's hit the ground running and the first hundred days...

100 moments in Josh/Donna's relationship during the first 100 days of the Santos Administration.

Fics:

Presenting your weekly roundup of fics posted in the tag for The West Wing on Archive of Our Own.

Josh/Donna

this is the wonder (that's keeping the stars apart) by joshatella (shuuuliet) | Rated T | Josh Lyman/Donna Moss | In Progress

i want you, baby (like you can’t understand) by hanyolo for flowersinapril | Rated G | Josh Lyman/Donna Moss | Complete

everything I need is right here by my side by WitchyPrentiss for flowersinapril | Rated G | Josh Lyman/Donna Moss | Complete

Domestic Days by spooky_spacegirl | Rated G | Josh Lyman/Donna Moss | In Progress

 C.J./Danny

None of Us are More than Caretakers by onekisstotakewithme for daylight_angel, miabicicletta, Luppiters, hondagirll | Rated T | Danny Concannon/C. J. Cregg | In Progress

Ten Weeks by Jxjxjx | Rated T | Danny Concannon/C. J. Cregg | In Progress

nobody knows how to get back home by Luppiters | Rated T | Danny Concannon/C. J. Cregg | Complete

 Other Pairings/Gen Fic

Wait For Me by imperfectirises | Rated M | Abbey Bartlet/Jed Bartlet | In Progress

Staying on Script by Mabis | Rated G | Josh Lyman/Sam Seaborn | Complete

sturgeon by hell_to_breakfast | Not Rated | Ellie Bartlet | Complete

A Different Life by PreppyPrincess5103 (JAG crossover) | Rated M | Sarah "Mac" MacKenzie/Sam Seaborn | In progress 

So Why Did You Decide to Come Here by Hackney123 | Rated E | Ainsley Hayes/Original Character | Complete

In Conversation with Edie Ortega by Hackney123 | Not Rated | Edie Ortega, Original Characters | Complete

cat’s out of the bag by Anonymous | Rated T | Jed Bartlet & C. J. Cregg & Josh Lyman & Leo McGarry & Sam Seaborn & Toby Ziegler | Complete

 Multiple Pairings

Labor of Love by mlea7675 | Rated T | Zoey Bartlet/Charlie Young, Josh Lyman/Donna Moss | In Progress

THE WEEKLY PRESS BRIEFING TEAM CAN BE REACHED VIA THE FOLLOWING METHODS:

Twitter: @TWWPress

Email: weeklypressbriefing@gmail.com

Feel free to let us know if we missed something, if you have an event you’d like us to promote, or if you have an item that you’d like included in the next briefing!

xx, What’s next?

[headinclouds-universe]

OMG I’ve fallen down this little rabbit whole these two belong in and NOWWWW I want all my favourite ships in this setting!

I have no time for this with my love of Petyr x Sansa/ Swain x Kate/ Niles x Daphne/ Sam x Ainsley whom I all adore but now, yes now we add Rip x Beth. 🤷🏼‍♀️🤦🏼‍♀️

[everythingisawayoflife]

MORE Random West Wing Headcanons bc I said so

i’ve gotten back into the show recently (esp bc i understand all the politics and crap) and i feel the need to talk about my favorite dysfunctional political administration

in the first post i made, i said ainsley and sam dated for two years before breaking up. well that breakup didn’t last very long. a month later, they started dating again. from that point, on they never left each others side. they live in georgetown with a rottweiler and four kids.

after being really involved in solving a finance crisis, josh was invited to throw the first pitch at the Mets game. when the camera zoomed in on him, he was visibly emotional.

donna was over at josh’s apartment so much during his recovery period, they’ve begun to have weekly movie nights. they continue this tradition even after marriage and kids.

josh and donna’s house has a wall in the hallway of their house when you first enter that is covered with their kids’ handprints - at first, it was just their oldest being naughty but they let it grow into the Moss-Lyman art exhibit. even sam and ainsley’s kids, and toby and andy’s kids have added their prints to the wall

there’s a weekend every summer where all of senior staff and their families come up to Manchester and stay on the Bartlet Farm at Abbey’s insistence - she wears the title of “Grandma Abbey” proudly

at the inaugural ball (aka s4 josh & donna), josh and donna spend so much time together that a lot of the people there going to congratulate josh on getting bartlet’s second term mistake josh and donna for husband and wife - as a joke, donna and josh let people believe it

^^they end up getting quite the talking to from abbey - because she’s mad they didn’t tell her first (and cj, who has to field press questions the next day and they almost caused a domestic incident)

as an april fools day prank, zoey and charlie covered bartlet’s walls in the oval office with sticky notes - sam helped and wrote a “your mama” joke in latin as payback for bartlet having fun with the staff

josh has a terrible habit of biting the skin around his nails until they bleed - he doesn’t realize how bad it is until he turns some papers into the president with large drops of blood on them - donna keeps spare bandaids at her desk

toby likes to have a little fun with donna and say things to deliberately get a reaction out of her - some are truths, some are lies. one truth is that he likes beans on toast. donna called him clinically insane.

leo really likes musicals. can he sing? hardly ever. but on days he finds he needs to relax, he puts on the original cast recording of oklahoma and everything turns out okay

donna unofficially adopts a sickly kitten that lived in the trash near her apartment - she names it Brownie and nurses it back to health

^^Josh is allergic to Brownie but doesn’t say a word to Donna until after they’ve been married and had kids when they reach the age where they start asking for pets

Donna is sort of a multiple-threat kind of girl - she was an excitable kid so she grew up knowing how to do all kinds of things - these things are tap dance for seven years, karate for two years, horseback riding has been the only constant in her life, she can knit and sew, and she even speaks a little french - josh LOVES it when Donna speaks french

josh is always cold, he’s never run warm. donna knit a blanket for him as a birthday present. he’s never said anything but it’s one his favorite things in the whole world

donna actually likes hearing some of the president’s obscure historical tidbits - she even goes so far as to learning some of her own to exchange with him

toby visits the veteran’s grave that he buried every year and even talks to him a little while he’s there

it took a solid 20 minutes after donna had their first kid to let someone else hold him besides josh. the third person to hold their kid was bartlet.

^^^donna has never seen josh more in love than when he held their kid for the first time. cj took a photo of josh gazing at the little baby swaddled in blue clothing with visible tears streaking down his face. it’s one of donna’s favorite photos.

Sam is really good at hockey. He takes his kids to hockey games whenever he can.

[dearemma]

[sparklygraves]

just a small moment that sent off my joshsam alarm: s2 when Sam goes into a tv studio for some kind of interview & he’s friendly with the reporter & the guy asks him, “How’s Josh?” doesn’t ask about anyone else at the office, just Josh. it just gave me, “How’s your husband?” vibes.

also side note: this is Ainsley Hayes’ first episode!! I’m so stoked cuz I heard an interview with the actress on the west wing podcast & she & her character seem so cool!

[jessbakescakes]

I had so much fun reading everyone's fics for Tropes Fest (be sure to check out the fics if you haven't yet!) that I'm back with another event!

WOULDA COULDA SHOULDA: GET YOUR SHIP TOGETHER! It's a fandom-wide prompt meme to get a ship together within the boundaries of whatever episode you claim. This is a low-key, low-pressure prompt fest, and sign-ups are open now! Be sure to peek at the FAQ, but here are the quick hits to give you an overview:

Open to all ships -- canon, crack ships, and everything in between!

You can claim as many prompts as you'd like!

Collection will reveal June 7, 2025 at 10:00 AM Eastern!

Prompts are here!

Feel free to DM me with any questions!

[3mcwriting]

Any Fan's Dream, Part 20

Taglist: @secretly-sirens, @zeeader, @imdoingathingmom, @x-theolivia, @ainsley-official, @huntress-artemiss, @hoohoohope, @ourgoddessathena, @wiintaersoldier, @vine-enthusiast, @afraidofshrimp, @myfturn, @im-better-than-your-newborn, , @mjaudrey, @igotthisasajokeyetimstillhere, @starr60, @coldmermaidhologram, @daenerysluvrr, @viperchick47, @marvelwomen-arehot, @mynightandstars

So, recently this fic hasn't had much interaction, and I'm not sure why. One of you told me that it can be buggy and hard to reach, so I'm sorry abt that but if you ever wonder abt updates, I'm gonna start up dating every saturday. Just go to my masterlist, then to the afd masterlist and to the new chapter. Hopefully you're all able to find it now.

Any Fan's Dream Masterlist

Synopsis:

When you look around and see Avengers Tower in front of you and Peter Parker beside you, you wonder how the hell you managed to get into the MCU.

The quinjet landed, the atmosphere inside sobering up.

Everyone was checking their gear, ensuring they had everything they needed before they went into the bunker. 

"Is there anything else we should expect inside?" Steve asked you.

You shook your head, but stopped, remembering something. "Actually- he isn't planning on using the Winter Soldiers inside, he's going to kill them. Shit, I can't believe I forgot to tell you."

"Is there anything else?"

You racked your brain. "Well, he plans to lock you in the room and force you to watch the video of the Starks and Sergeant Barnes, but that's easy enough to avoid if you aren't all in one place."

"Okay." Steve nodded. "Thank you." He turned to the rest of the individuals gathered. "We'll be going in in two groups. 3 and 4."

"There's eight of us, though." Wanda pointed out. "Is somebody staying here?"

Your stomach dropped. 

He better not do what you thought he was going to.

"(y/n) hasn't had enough training for this," Steve stated. He looked at you. "I can't let you go out there. You just had a concussion and you don't have your Iron-Man suit. It isn't safe."

You had to take a moment to reign in your frustration. "It isn't safe for anybody out there. I should be able to go. Plus, I know what he's planning. None of you are tech people, I can help you." Your argument was all over the place, but your points were still valid.

Unfortunately, Steve had more valid points. 

He pulled you aside and spoke to you quietly. "You had less than a month of physical training, you were recently injured, you don't have any sort of equipment or protection, and this man wants to tear the Avengers apart. What do you think would happen if you got killed here?"

"My death wouldn't tear the Avengers apart." You almost scoffed, hating the fact that he had a point in terms of your combat prowess. "I'll stay close to you. I won't engage in fighting. But you have to let me help."

Steve thought about it, eventually coming to the conclusion that with a whole team of them against the one guy, you would probably be safer with them than outside in the quinjet by yourself.

"Fine." Steve conceded. "But you absolutely can't engage. When we start fighting, you get away, okay?"

You mulled it over. "Alright."

"Okay, new plan." Steve spoke up, catching the attention of the rest of the people. "Two groups of four. Wanda, Scott, Clint, and Sam, you're a group. Thor, Bucky, (y/n) and I will be a group. The goal of this is to make sure the team stays together. Make sure nobody gets hurt." Everyone could tell who in particular he was worried about getting hurt. "If you find Zemo, call it in."

~~

You looked at the different hallways, unsure of which way led where.

In the movies they never really focused much on this so you couldn't say you knew which way to go, but who could blame you? You never expected to somehow end up in the MCU so it wasn't like you had studied for it. You just had your memory to go off of, and as good as your memory was in remembering Marvel stuff, you hadn't managed to memorize every moment of every Marvel movie.

You just hoped that you had given them enough time to arrive before Zemo wound up killing all the other Winter Soldiers. After all, they were people like Bucky who had been brainwashed and tortured for decades, they didn't deserve the treatment they'd been subjected to. 

But now, there you were, unsure of which hallway to go down and simply following Bucky and Steve, Thor standing beside you while the two of you followed. 

You weren't stupid. You knew why Steve had told you to stay with Thor. Thor was strong enough to protect you rather easily if need be and Steve himself was too occupied to look out for you. You just wished you'd been able to have more training before this, at least then you would be able to pull your own weight in terms of self-defense. Instead, you were just brought along because the rest of the people there weren't exactly geniuses with technology.

Especially with the people in your group. 

Steve and Bucky weren't exactly caught up on current events, better yet, the technology. Thor wasn't even from Earth and was hopeless with tech.

You were tense, knowing that this was probably one of the most serious moments of your life. You felt doubt start to wiggle its way into your mind, but you pushed that wriggly worm down, instead focusing on how you had just compared doubt to a worm and wondering if your mind was just fucking weird. 

You refocused on the situation at hand, scolding yourself internally because this situation really didn't need you zoning out and getting lost in your mind. That was fine late at night when you were trying to fall asleep, but it could present a bit of a problem if fighting started and you were stuck thinking about doubt as a worm. Well, a wriggly worm to be specific, but-

No. Focus, (y/n).

You took a deep breath, looking around the rather ominous hallways the four of you kept turning down, wrinkling your nose at the smell. It was musty and dusty and you were worried you'd end up sneezing and give away where you were. That wouldn't be ideal.

Steve and Bucky climbed up a couple steps, you and Thor following right behind them.

In the movie, Bucky had led Steve and Tony to the large room that held the Winter Soldiers, so you assumed that was what was going to happen now. But you were concerned. In the movie Zemo had made a trap for them. With the plot changed, you didn't know if you had arrived early enough to stop Zemo before his trap was set and the Winter Soldiers were killed.

You arrived in the room and there they were.

It was dark, so dark that if the containers the people were kept in didn't have their own light, you would be blind to your surroundings. You took in a sharp breath, looking at the people sitting in those strange cells. You wanted nothing more than to run up to each of those cells and inspect the glass, ensure that there weren't any bullet holes and the people behind the glass weren't murdered in their inhumane confines.

But you knew you couldn't do that. That would be stupid. So you stayed behind Steve, looking at the cages and trying to discern if someone had indeed shot through them. Unfortunately, the lighting as bad as it was, you were going to have to get closer to actually tell.

As you moved closer, you felt your anticipation grow. From what you could see, none of the cells had any holes in them. 

You almost gasped, but restrained yourself. Unless you were missing something or your eyes weren't reliable, none of the Winter Soldiers had been killed. Sure, they all looked dead because of whatever cryo-freeze thing that Hydra put them in, but none of them had the execution style shot in their head.

Zemo hadn't yet shot them.

You'd arrived before he could do so. 

It wasn't a great time to do so, but you almost smiled. After all, that meant you had managed to change the plot enough that Steve and Bucky were able to arrive before Zemo could set up his plan. It also meant that these six lives hadn't been lost. 

You were already thinking about if you could convince T'Challa to take them back to Wakanda and get them the treatment Bucky was able to get there. With that, maybe those people would be able to escape Hydra's influence and finally be able to live for themselves.

"I was going to get rid of them before you arrived, but I suppose I can do that later." Helmut Zemo's voice crackled over the old intercom.

Steve and Bucky instantly went tense and battle-ready. Thor moved closer to you, ready to shield you from whatever was going to happen.

"Unfortunately," Zemo continued, "I didn't expect your arrival so soon. But as I said before, I can deal with that later."

"You killed innocent people to bring us here," Steve's voice held an undercurrent of anger you'd never heard in person before. "Why?"

"An unfortunate necessity," Zemo conceded, "I do apologize to you for any injuries you might've retained, (y/n)(l/n). The bombing was important to the plan, although the deaths are regrettable."

You almost said 'No problem' out of habit but managed to stop yourself from doing so because it was just a bit of a problem.

"Don't speak to her," Steve ordered. "You caused so much pain. For what?"

"I thought about nothing else for over a year. I studied you. I followed you." 

You knew why Zemo had done what he did, and while it was tragic, it didn't excuse bombing a building. 

"Again, my apologies, (y/n)(l/n). I never wanted to hurt any children."

You almost felt insulted by that but then realized it was probably best to just ignore the statement. There were, after all, more important things to worry about. Besides, you felt uneasy. Sure, you knew things were much better than in the movie but you had the horrible sense that something was going to go horrendously wrong. 

Your eyes swept the room, roving over the six empty glowing cells, the corners hidden by shadows, the-

Wait a fucking minute-

Empty cells?

Oh, fuck.

"Guys, the cell things are empty," you alerted the people with you. 

Fuckfuckfuckfuck where were they?

You flinched when the lights in the cells went out, darkness crashing down like a tidal wave, ready to pull you beneath and leave you never to be seen again.

"As I said before," Zemo's voice came over the intercom again, "I did not expect you all so soon. And unfortunately, the Iron-Man isn't here, which messes up another plan of mine. You really have thwarted a couple of my plans and it is quite annoying; but as you Americans say, 'the show must go on'."

"I know he said he was going to kill them, but I think he decided to give them one last go before he did." You tried to control your voice as you spoke, but it was rising as you got more nervous. You looked around uselessly, the darkness too thick for you to see anybody or anything. You felt the little hairs on the back of your neck stand up, every muscle in your body tensing as your nerves rose.

You reached out, knowing Thor was right beside you only a couple feet from you when the lights went out. "Thor, are you there?"

"I am right here, Lady (y/n)." You felt relief wash over you when you heard his voice. "Do not move, Lady (y/n), let me find you."

"Okay." Even with the comfort Thor brought you, every moment of silence in that pitch-black room made you more and more uneasy. 

You felt a hand reach out and grab your arm, almost giving you a heart attack.

"Lady (y/n), is that you?"

"Ye-" 

Your words were cut off, a hand covering your mouth while another one wrapped around your waist and pulled you backward. You tried to scream, but the hand over your mouth only muffled the noise. Remembering the training Natasha had taught you, you desperately tried to get out of the assaulter's grasp but to no avail. Your movements were too slow, too amateur to work on an assassin trained for decades. 

"Lady (y/n), where did you go?" Thor's voice held uncharacteristic urgency. "Lady (y/n)?"

"(y/n)!" Now Steve's voice was breaking through the silence, the cry of your name reaching your ears and while you wanted nothing more than to respond, you were left to try to scream, again only muffled noises. 

"I think I heard her," Bucky's voice popped up. "(y/n), try to make as much noise as possible."

You screamed, the noise still muffled but louder than before. The person holding you wrapped an arm around your throat, applying pressure slowly. You tried to claw at their arm, use your legs to knock them off balance, but nothing worked. They were too strong, stance too sturdy, and far too well trained for your efforts to do much more than annoy them. 

You clawed desperately at the arm as the person but more and more pressure on your throat. Although the arm was only choking you for mere seconds, it felt never-ending. Something was happening to you, your airway being closed off, you felt like you were...you couldn't- you couldn't....breathe...

~~

The lights in the cells turned back on, leaving Steve, Thor, and Bucky looking for you anxiously. Unfortunately, they weren't left with much time to search for you when six people came out of the shadows and decided to attack.

"WHERE IS LADY (Y/N)?" Thor thundered, voice rough thunder is loud. 

Steve was focused, desperately trying to keep the two assassins back but too distracted by looking for you to focus. He had let you come along with them, he had allowed this to happen. If you were dead....

No, you couldn't be dead. 

"YOU WILL NOT TELL ME WHERE SHE IS? FINE, I HAVE NO NEED FOR YOU THEN." Slamming his hammer on the floor, Thor sent out shocks of electricity at the two people trying to attack him, knocking them unconscious. In quick succession, he managed to render the rest of the assassins unconscious as well. 

No longer occupied by trying to defend himself, Steve searched the room for you; Bucky and Thor followed his lead. 

They looked up as footsteps approached, running footsteps. 

Instantly on guard again, they all tensed, ready to fight the newcomers.

Wanda emerged, Scott behind her. A few moments later, Clint and Same came in, escorting a bound Helmut Zemo with them. 

Footsteps loud against the stone floor, Steve stormed over to the incapacitated man. "Where is she." His words a demand for answers, not a question.

"I told you I did not want the death of a child on my mind." Was all Zemo said. 

Wanda tilted her head. "He ordered one of the Winter Soldiers to knock her unconscious before the fighting began." She had read his mind, desperate to find out where her friend was.

Weak coughing was heard from one of the shadowy corners. "I...I'm over here."

[hotchkissroyale]

Adorable, Yet Ill Adored - Chapter 8 "Just One Little Dance"

Adorable, Yet Ill Adored: F/M, Sam/Ainsley. An attempt to fill in the cracks of the saga of Ainsley Hayes and Sam Seaborn, a messy, blossoming story of love and lust behind the scenes.

An excerpt from Chapter 8: Just One Little Dance (out now)

Her body was almost pressed tight against his, now, the thick robe the only thing standing between him and her soft skin. The song continued in the background, but Ainsley had stopped dancing. Her grin had turned more mischievous than gleeful, her hands warm against Sam’s. The heat of her office was getting more and more pronounced, as jets of hot steam rushed through the pipes onto the rest of the White House. “Sam, could you get the door?” He gulped and looked behind him again. “In your office? Really?” She tittered. “Oh please, Sam, you’re the only one who’s come down here in months. Besides…” She grabbed the belt of her robe and dangled it in her hand. “I’m getting a little hot, and I want to slip into something a little more…comfortable.”

Thank you and enjoy.

[imawkwardlysoc]

honey just put your sweet lips on my lips

Song- Like Real People Do by Hozier

Pairing- Josh Lyman x gn!reader

Warning(s)- None

Summary- Josh and the reader pretend to be a fake couple for Sam and Ainsley's wedding.

Wordcount- 1,809

“I can’t believe I agreed to this,” I mumbled as Josh stood next to me during cocktail hour.

“Look just a few more hours before we can end this,” he told me before leaving to take pictures.

“A few hours too long,” I sighed.

*Few Weeks Ago*

Tossing my bag on the couch and slipping my shoes off, I took off my jacket and headed into my kitchen to see what I had left in the fridge. Filling my plate up with the last of deli meats and sliced cheese, I poured myself some wine before sitting my butt down on my couch. While on the TV, I scrolled through the channels until I landed on a random show. Getting into the mood of relaxation, it was soon interrupted when there was rapid knocking on my door. Letting out a groan and getting up from my couch, I went up to my door and opened it to see a curly haired brunette standing there.

“What do you want Lyman?” I questioned him. “I was about to relax.”

“I need a favor,” he walked into my apartment.

“You always need one, not surprised,” I took a gulp out of my glass of wine. “What is it this time?”

“I need you to be my partner,” I choked on my wine when he told me. “Be my fake partner just for two or three days.”

“Why?” I refilled my glass of wine.

“Because I may or may not have told Sam that I started dating someone and I had a plus one to his wedding,” he explained.

“How drunk were you when you told him?” I chuckled in disbelief. “I know that you can’t handle your alcohol well.”

“I wasn’t, I just blurted out that I was dating someone for some reason,” he threw his hands in the air.

“And your first choice was to ask me?” I raised my eyebrow.

“Do you really think that asking Amy was a good idea?” he questioned.

“You do have a point,” I agreed with him.

“Look, just think it out and let me know,” Josh told me.

“Fine,” I agreed.

“Thank you,” he thanked me before leaving my apartment.

Letting out a sigh, I laid down on my couch debating what just happened.

*Present Day*

Just imagine everyone’s reactions when they saw me at the wedding. I mean all of them were happy to see me but were shocked when I told them that I was ‘dating’ Josh. It’s good that I’ve known the senior staff for a while so it isn’t really that weird talking to each other. All of the girls who weren’t part of the wedding party were asking me questions about my relationship with Josh. 

Josh and I created a fake story on how our relationship started. Josh and I spent an evening out together a few months ago and we enjoyed each other’s company together. We decided to spend the evening going out in DC or the neighboring states a few times before we confessed our feelings for each other. After our second date, Josh asked me if I wanted to be his girlfriend and I said yes. We’ve also set some rules about PDA where we don’t kiss each other on the lips but cheeks and forehead/top of the head kisses are fine along with hugs.

“I can’t believe Sam and Ainsley managed to get this venue,” CJ awed.

All of us were in Napa for Sam and Ainsley’s wedding and they managed to score the most gorgeous winery for their wedding.

“Excuse me ladies,” I heard Josh as he wrapped his arm around my waist.

“Josh, I’m surprised that you didn’t trip on your feet when you walked up and down the aisle,” CJ joked which made me laugh.

“Oh we still have the reception,” Josh chuckled before sipping his drink.

“What number of drinks is that?” I looked at him and raised my eyebrow.

“My first one,” he replied as I raised my eyebrow again. “I promise, Sam didn’t even let me drink when we were getting ready.”

“Good,” I stole the beer and took a sip of it before giving it back to him.

“I’m just here to tell you ladies that you can head in and sit down,” Josh told us. “And I’ll see you later at our table.”

Josh placed a kiss on my cheek, which caused me to blush, before he left. Facing back to the girls, I saw the look on their faces.

“What?” I questioned.

“Nothing, I just never imagined Josh being so in love with someone,” Donna explained. “That man drowns himself in work but now he’s leaving work at a reasonable time.”

“Yeah, being in love with someone changes them,” Carol added.

“Yeah, it does,” I nodded my head.

Love does change people, even though ours is fake.

We all headed to the seating chart and saw that we were sitting at tables near each other. I sat down at my seat at my assigned table and greeted some of the other guests that were sitting in the same table as Josh and I. Soon the wedding party was introduced along with the newlyweds who went straight to their first dance. Josh sat down in the empty seat next to me and greeted Sam and Ainsley’s family members who were sitting with us.

“So how do the two of you know each other?” One of Ainsley’s aunts questioned.

“We were childhood friends,” I answered.

I mean it’s not a lie, Josh and I did become friends when we were kids. Despite him being a few years older than me, we became immediate friends when my family moved two doors down from his family. Our schools were close to each other so we would walk together and he would drop me off at my school first since it was the first one on the way. When we were done with school around the same time, we would go to the local corner store to grab some snacks before heading home. Things did change when he went to high school but at least once a week he would pick me up and take me to either the corner store we went to or another place. When Josh went to college, we still kept in contact and hung out when he’s home for vacation. We did the same thing when I went to college on the West Coast. Despite the distance and time zones, we still managed to keep our friendship alive.

After we graduated, Josh started living in DC while I stayed in Connecticut running a PR firm before I got asked if I was willing to move to DC to help do some PR for some politicians. I accepted the offer, told Josh, stayed with him for a little bit before I found my own place. Sometimes he would bring me to parties at the White house if I was free and one of my favorite moments was getting drunk off of wine with Mrs. Bartlet.

“How long have you been together?” One of the cousin’s asked.

“For a few weeks now,” Josh looked at me and placed a kiss on the top of my head.

Food was placed down in front of us and we continued the conversation as we ate. Halfway through the meal we changed the subject onto Sam and Ainsley since the day was about them. Josh got up from his seat and headed to where Sam and Ainsely were sitting to do his best man speech. He started off with introducing himself and soon proceeded telling the story on how he knows the both of them. There was laughter throughout the crowd as he told the story of him and Sam almost burning the White House down.

“Seeing the two of them grow from friends, to best friends, to soulmates has made me reflect that being in love with your best friend has its perks,” Josh said while looking at me.

I felt my heart drop to my stomach when he said that. I mean there’s no way that he’s in love with me. There’s no way I was in love with him. I mean it was just a phase and I was just a pre-teen. It was all puppy love. Him being in love with me is crazy and vice versa. Wait, am I even still in love with him?

Excusing myself to the restroom, I headed out of the reception venue, which I thanked that the restrooms were there, and headed to the vineyard to catch my breath. I paced back and forth reflecting back on what just happened.

“Y/N?” I heard Josh and turned to face him.

“You told everyone that you were in love with me!” I blurted out. “Are you out of your goddamn mind?”

“I mean I wasn’t lying to them,” he told me.

“What do you mean ly-” I paused as the realization came to me. “No you’re not. There’s no way you are.”

“Ever since you went to college I realized it wasn’t just a two and a half drive where I can easily see you.” He walked closer to me. “It was a five hour or more flight to wherever you were. When you decided to move to DC, I was so happy that everyone questioned why I was happy. You were moving and I figured it was time to tell you how I felt but I didn’t even after I got shot.”

“You getting shot was the second time I fell in love with you.” I told him as I chuckled when tears started to form. “I thought I was going to lose you and I didn’t want to lose my best friend. I just couldn’t handle that feeling.”

“But you didn’t,” he gently caressed my cheek. “I’m here alive and well. You’re not going to lose me and you never will.”

He tilted my head up and started to move closer to him. I placed my hand on the back of his neck and our lips started to move as they touched. A mix of butterflies and fireworks started to explode in my stomach. My heart started to flutter as we continued to kiss.

“Joshua Lyman, I’m so in love with you,” I told him after we detached our lips. “Ever since I was a pre-teen.”

“Y/N L/N, I've been so in love with you too ever since I met you,” he said before kissing me again. “Now, I heard there’s dancing and cake waiting for us.”

“Alright,” I grabbed his hand and we walked to the reception to the dance floor. “You’re taking me out on a date when we get back to DC right?’

“Oh you bet,” he answered as he wrapped his arms around me.

[obsessedwithlarkin]

TIGER FRIDAY 2025 NEW TGR ICONS!

• Ainsley Jhon ( Escape Dance Academy)

• Anna Seu ( B-Vibe Dance)

• Annabelle ( Pinellum Dance Center)

• Anthony Hunt ( Acrobatic Arts Inc.)

• Aofie Nugent ( Steps Dance Center)

• Audrey Mikkelson ( Carolina Collective Dance)

• Aurielle Balija ( Dance Xplosion)

• Aurora Andreski ( Studio X)

• Ava Michelle ( DNAL Dance Centre)

• Bella Mollak ( Kitty Lee Dance)

• Berkeley Scifres ( Project 21)

• Carter LaFontaine ( Artflux Dance Lab)

• Brooklyn Bell ( The Plattform Dance Studio)

• Bianca Wright ( Next Step Dance)

• Bryn Onder ( West Point Ballet)

• Bristyn Scifres ( Project 21)

• Brooklyn Besch ( Club Dance Studio)

• Bianca Lewis ( JBP Talent)

• Braydon Ziegler ( Elite Studio Of Dance)

• Brooklyn Ladia ( Project 21)

• Carter Ruiz ( Murrieta Dance Project)

•Charlotte Pham ( DanceLova Dance Academy)

• Cooper Macalalad ( BGHS)

• Corinne ( LDC Charlotte)

• Dylan Barnes ( Jody Philips Dance Company)

• Dylan Brotherton ( DNA Creatives Dance)

• Eliseo Duque ( The Rock Centre For Dance)

• Elizabeth Pugach ( Elite Danceworx)

• Ella Geraci ( Dance Enthusiasm)

• Evan Scott ( Broadway Dance Center)

• Isabella Zhong ( Vlad's Dance Company)

• Gabriel Kleeman ( Pas De Deux Hawaii)

• Kaci Oh ( PDD Company)

• James ( MJ's Dance Company)

• Kasey Blackmon ( The Collective PHX)

• Isaiah Santos ( Stars Dance Co)

• Greta Wanger ( Summit Dance Shoppe)

• Grayson Skarsvaag ( Danceology)

• Faith Sherwood ( Dance Universe)

• Haiden Kandukeville ( Distinction Dance Company)

• Kayla McLeand ( Steps N'Motion Dance)

• Kayleigh Stoler ( Dance Enthusiasm)

• Kenly Craver ( Studio 1 Dance Academy)

• Makenzie Ties ( Allegro Performing Arts)

• Kourtney Gampol ( OCPAA)

• Kylie Zachman ( Artistic Generation Dance)

• Landrie Ellis ( CCJ Conservatory)

• Lauren Allison ( Dance Deluxe)

• Leila Frey ( G Force Dance Company)

• Lexi Godwin ( Evoke Dance Movement)

• Libby Jhonson ( Club Dance)

• Lilyana Kimal ( Dance Arts Center)

• London Alexis ( DKDPC)

• Lorelai Watchus ( Bridge Dance Arts)

• Maddee Richardson ( The Collective PHX)

• Mila Manoni ( Scenic City Dance)

• Mila Wong ( Starlight Dance Studio)

• Mila Hiatt ( Russian Ballet Academy)

• Natalia Morris ( The Dance Zone)

• Neo Del Corral ( Stars Dance Studio)

• Lisbon Hedrick ( Nathomas Dance Method)

• Amayah Skye (Rockford Dance Company)

• Onna Williams ( Evolve Dance Complex)

• Paula Marijuan ( Magic Dance Studio)

• Presleigh Kreiensik ( MLDA)

• Presley Baird ( DNA Creatives Dance)

• Rayna Raid ( Impact Dance Project)

• River Sergerman ( Club Dance)

• Sam Evans ( Evolve Dance Complex)

• Sarahi Lopez-Prieto ( Mather Dance Company)

[honeykngdom]

𝚜𝚠𝚎𝚎𝚝 𝚊𝚜 𝚑𝚘𝚗𝚎𝚢 | 𝚎. 𝚌𝚊𝚕𝚕 | 𝚌𝚑𝚊𝚙𝚝𝚎𝚛 𝚎𝚕𝚎𝚟𝚎𝚗

Pairing: Embry Call x Original Character Summary: Join Ainsley and Embry as they embark on a journey where they are forced to question everything they thought they knew, and embrace the pain that is inevitable to avoid in love. An imprint story. Self-discovery. Angst and romance. Word Count: 5.2k Warnings: N/A Taglist: @leilaniers - message / comment if you'd like to be tagged in new chapters (or for Embry content in general)! prev. chapter

Several weeks went by like that. Once a week, I would tell Embry that I was heading to work but would detour to the Cullen household instead. Alice and I would often coordinate together to make sure that Jacob and Renesmee weren’t in the area before I showed up. Keeping them in the dark for now still seemed like it was our best option – Jacob wouldn’t be able to withhold it from Embry even if he wanted to. In between working at the diner and helping Maddox push the boundaries of his control, I spent every ounce of my free time with Embry and the boys. 

So many parts of me felt guilty for lying to him – especially when he had been putting forward more effort to fit into my life. 

The pair of us visited home once every other week to have breakfast or dinner with my family. Embry and the pack spent more time trying including my brothers, which helped integrate them into the pack in their own unique way. It was nice to have Travis part of the mix now, but I still worried that he might get hurt. Understandably so, Sam still had reservations when it came to some of the younger members, but as long as we kept it within the main ranks, he seemed satisfied. With the tension growing thicker between the pack and the obvious need to find the nomads, everyone’s control had not been the greatest. Jacob and Embry had gotten into it a few times, even Seth and Quil were more on edge. 

I asked a few times about his mother – she had remarried and moved off the reservation to Tacoma. Had a second child now that Embry was independent and a man of his own. For the most part, Embry didn’t speak much about her. Part of me found it incredibly sad; Quil had explained that Tiffany had been incredibly upset and scared during their teen years when the pack first began phasing. Unlike Billy and Sue, Tiffany had no idea about the tribe’s legends, or that there was any possibility they may hold any semblance of truth. Embry was never able to tell Tiffany the truth about what was going on, and the distance put a heavy strain on their relationship. 

“When’s the last time he went to see her?” 

Quil shrugged, “Not really sure. Christmas a couple years ago, maybe?” 

Vague, but that was Quil. Sure, it wasn’t my place to meddle, but Embry had given me such a hard time about maintaining a relationship with my own mother that I thought it was a little hypocritical that he hardly maintained one with his own.

Christmas came and went; Embry opted to ‘gift’ me quite a few things, including an actual coffee machine for his kitchen, as well as a pretty white gold chain with a sterling crescent moon cut out. We spent most of our time together on his new couch (which he purchased a few days after he attempted to sleep on the loveseat following my initial run in with Maddox) wrapped in each other's arms with the fireplace going.

Each week, Maddox would return to the Cullen’s with more accurate locations on the safehouses for any vampire Garrett turned, making a total of five by the time the new year had come. Edward would inform Jacob regarding their locations, trying to make it seem as though Alice had seen it in a vision while following the female nomad – Jacob would bring the news home to the others; they then tore through each house one by one tear and destroyed whatever nomad kept residence. 

I tried not to think about it too much. If I got too caught up in the semantics, things always got bad. 

There were only three nomads that remained, apart from Maddox. The closer the pack got to taking out the threat, the more uneasy things began to feel at home. Emily was nearing six months into her second pregnancy – bloated and hormonal as ever, causing quite a bit of strain on the pack's eating habits as she was more tired and more hungry. She cared less about feeding everyone else, moreso intent on getting food into her own belly. With no definitive place to gather at, the pack had dispersed their separate ways and only saw each other twice a week as opposed to every day.

Jared and Kim’s wedding was right around the corner, so the pair had been hellbent on having Embry and I help them with the finishing touches. Kim and I spent many late nights and early mornings camping out in Embry and Jacob’s living room, making sure we had a final head count on those invited to the wedding. 

When it was mentioned that I was still waiting on the Cullen’s to RSVP, I made sure Kim knew I would have Jacob ask to confirm. We were two weeks into January now – Jacob’s birthday had finally come around. Being the first of his friends to turn twenty-five was a big deal for him, and so the group had collectively pulled together what they were sure was the ultimate birthday experience. After what appeared to be a heart-felt dinner celebration, the boys prompted Jacob into a blindfold and carried him out to Paul’s truck 

“We’re taking him to a strip club.” Jared said casually, pulling out a wad of bills larger than I had ever laid eyes on. 

“A strip club.” I repeated, watching Paul nod excitedly. 

“We did this for my birthday last year – lots of lap dances, lots of booze –” 

“I see.” I shared a knowing look with Kim, the pair returning to their post-food comatose on Embry’s couch. Kim had agreed to stay the night with me, knowing the boys would not be home until the early hours of the morning and much to everyone’s dismay, Maddox was still unaccounted for. 

The idea that a vampire that had previous connections with his imprint was still out made Embry a little uneasy – the longer the pack went without catching his scent, the more erratic he became. I was being babysat as per Embry’s instruction – the only person that knew of Maddox’s whereabouts apart from myself was Trenton. 

Speaking of.

“Are you bringing my brothers?” I asked, shrugging my arms into the sleeves of Embry’s heather gray hoodie. 

“Hell yeah,” Jared laughed. “Travis was the one who really pushed for it.”

“That’s because Travis is lonely and miserable while the rest of us have hot as fuck girlfriends.” Embry cooed as he joined us in the living room, leaning over the back of the couch to press his mouth against mine. He enticed a quiet hum from my chest when he sucked on my lower lip. 

“Be nice.” I mumbled against his lips, smiling nonetheless. 

When the men left for the evening, Kim and I sat curled up on our respective sides of the couch, scrolling through our phones. Undoubtedly, Jared messaged Kim just as quickly as Embry messaged me. We spent what appeared to be well over an hour in silence before I lazily pulled the remote from the coffee table and flipped on the television. 

“I can’t believe I’m going to be a wife.” Kim said into the quiet room suddenly.

I blinked slowly, shifting my eyes to look over at her. She sat upright, eyes wide with a sort of fear. I was sure this was where I was supposed to say something soothing and reassuring but honestly, I couldn’t believe it either. 

Kim and Jared were the least serious couple of the group – which made them the best sort of couple to me. Watching them crack jokes and pull pranks on each other was my favourite pastime – but I knew how marriages worked. They pulled some people apart. And I wanted to believe that wouldn’t happen to them, but I knew there was a chance. Nothing was impossible.

“I can’t believe you’re marrying Jared.” I retorted, turning my attention back to the television. “He’s an adult, male version of Claire –”

“Exactly!” Kim huffed, shaking her head. “Ains, what am I gonna do? I can’t be a wife, I barely know how to cook.”

“Doesn’t Jared?”

“Yeah.” 

“Then you don’t have to cook.” I said simply. 

Kim deadpanned, mouth slightly ajar as I pulled the wrapper off another holiday mint and popped it into my mouth. “How can you say that?”

I shrugged, shoving my hands into the pocket in the front of the hoodie. “Embry does all the cooking.”

“You don’t help?”

I rolled my eyes, flipping onto my back. “Of course I will help. I just don’t do the cooking – I clean, I do laundry, I wash dishes. I help Emb and Jake make sure the property tax is paid on time and that bills are kept up with – that sort of thing. You’re already doing most of that on your own, anyway.”

Kim let it all process, chewing on her lower lip. “I don’t want to live with a boy. He’s so messy!”

I could only laugh. “It’s less scary than you think, though I’m not the one with a ring on her finger.” 

“Easy for you to say – Embry makes more money than Jared does. You’re both sitting on a nice, fluffy cushion of savings, and have the luxury of personal space. Jared’s losing his shit and can barely afford the place he has now.” 

“What’s wrong with Jared’s place?” 

Kim rubbed her face with her tired hands. “He lives in a very small, very tight one bedroom apartment. We’re both going to be stuck in a very cramped area for a solid year before we can even think about moving out.”

“It won’t be so bad –”

“Embry and Jacob have this entire two story house, Ains. That’s not exactly something people making ends meet have the luxury of owning. You’re already doing better than most people in their thirties.”

I tried to process that information. It hadn’t fully dawned on me that Embry and I were better off than most of their brothers – and hadn’t realized that Kim and Jared were digging themselves a hole. They were one foot in the door to being in debt, and I was stressing out about not having any spending money after paying off next year's tuition.

“Then why get married right now?”

Kim sighed loudly, shaking her head again, this time with a smile that screamed ‘isn’t it obvious?’. “Because I love him.” 

“Okay,” I lamented, sitting up, “and he loves you. And that isn’t going to change – in twenty years from now, you’ll still love him and he’ll still love you.” 

“Stop being right,” Kim grumbled, pushing my shoulders so that I fell back into the couch, “can you make a stupid decision so the rest of us don’t feel so brain dead?”

I forced a smile. “I’m already making plenty of bad decisions, Kim.” Just none that you can know about. 

𝙹𝚊𝚌𝚘𝚋

Jacob nestled into his corner of the couch, watching as Rosalie ran her fingers through Renesmee’s hair; the trio had been cooped up in the Cullen household all morning. Fork’s was covered under a near constant stream of storm clouds that had yet to let up long enough for him to return home on terms that Nessie deemed ‘safe’. He chalked it up to her wanting some more time with him – which he was always willing to give. In the last seven years, she had grown into quite the remarkable individual. While being incredibly strange to the others in her life, she had a charm that Jacob was certain would bring her sunshine even on the dreariest of days. 

Bella and Jacob spent many conversations discussing what they considered appropriate in regards to his relationship with Renesmee. Jacob agreed that it seemed beyond normal to expect anything other than a friendship from her daughter. Regardless of what the Elders might have believed, Jake couldn’t see past the babyface. There was a small part of him that didn’t sit well at the thought of trying to pursue a romantic relationship with her; he genuinely feared there might be a day when Renesemee asked for more, and he wouldn’t be able to refuse. That his genes wouldn’t allow him — they had taken so much autonomy from his as it was. 

Instead, Jacob made a vow to be the shoulder to cry on when boys attempted to break her big heart. He would be her best friend and protector – and he would love her unconditionally and always think of her safety and comfortability above all else. He was perfectly content watching over what he considered his family. But that was where it ended – there was nothing romantic about it, or to come of it. He needed to be sure of it, so much so that no one had referred to Renesmee as his ‘imprint’ since her first few months of life. 

Small pale fingers touched his knee, pulling his sight into a tunnel before images played in fast-forward: circling glimpses of Ainsley and Emily, along with the unspoken question of their well-being led Jacob to believe that Nessie missed the reservation, and had not felt wanted or welcome since Thanksgiving. The last Nessie had heard from Ainsley was a few weeks ago, just before Christmas. She had gotten a phone call, asking where the Cullen’s resided, mentioning something about wanting to come see her – to apologize. 

Ainsley had never shown up. 

Jacob had apologized for his cousin's ignorance many times – tried to explain on multiple occasions that Ainsley just hadn’t known about anything. Despite that knowledge, Edward and Bella still believed it would be better if Renesmee remained on their side of the border. 

This resulted in Jacob’s absence at home – which he soon realized was putting strain on the rest of the pack. Everyone withdrew into their own personal lives again, just when things were finally beginning to look normal. It was so nice, having everyone together all the time. He remembered a time when he hated spending every waking second with a group of rowdy, immature boys but he longed for those days all the time now. The only reason why they had fallen back into old habits was because of Ainsley and Embry – a sort of means to help her feel inclusive. Especially after Embry’s shitshow. 

It appeared as though Ainsley was tougher than everyone gave her credit for. She handled Embry’s temper like a champ, dutifully stepping up to the plate when the others fell short. Acted as a mother hen whenever Emily couldn’t be bothered to scold or bake for the group. But even that had become daunting. In between working and trying to keep up with everyone in her life – the pack and her own family, Jacob could see the strain and exhaustion in Ainsley’s eyes. 

Things would’ve been different now, he’d tell himself. If he could just bring Nessie back to the reservation, if they’d just let him, he could pull everyone back together again. 

He offered his best friend a sad smile, and wrapped an arm around her shoulders in a tight squeeze. “I’m sure you’ll see them soon.” He promised. 

“C’mon, Ness,” Rose said quietly, urging her to stand, “let’s get you something to eat.” 

“What about me?” Jacob complained, watching Nessie disappear into the kitchen. 

Rosalie looked over her shoulder, the corner of her mouth upturned in an exhausted smile. “You can fend for yourself, Jacob. You’re no stranger to our kitchen.”

The wolf scoffed, turning his attention back to the television mounted to the wall. The news was muted, the screen split between the terrors that were turning Seattle upside down for the second time this decade, along with whatever college basketball game was playing in the local area. From his peripheral vision, Jake caught the figure of a stranger trudging up the driveway. 

It wasn’t until said visitor started taking the steps at the front door two at a time that Jacob stood and rushed down the stairs. Obscene anger and rage filled his body, a searing heat bubbling at the surface. The part of him that needed to ensure Renesmee’s safety overtook his judgement. The scent filled the room before the door had even had a chance to open – Jacob’s hands pressed flat against their shoulders and shoved them hard, sending the body flying back a few several feet. 

The man’s response was automatic: cold hands gripped his throat tightly, the growl rising from somewhere deep within both their chests. The sounds clashed together, so different but with the same underlying warning. Jacob clenched his fist around one of the vampire's wrists, pulling roughly with a loud snarl, twisting the figure away. Just as quickly, Jacob found himself being hoisted up – not by much – before his body came crashing down on the cement of the stairs, the brick crumbling under his weight and the sheer force of the impact. Jacob heaved in air, desperately trying to breath around the vice grip on his throat; it wasn’t until he really looked at the intruder that he stopped struggling. 

His face was smooth except for the slight stubble that permanently resided on his lower face. His hair fell in loose waves, framing his squared jaw in that sort of subtly perfect way. Every fiber in Jacob’s body, every vein screamed in protest as his scent overwhelmed him. Over some time, he had grown accustomed to the stench of the Cullen’s, but his was different. 

Familiar, but different.

Jacob thought back, trying to pinpoint where he had picked up on the scent before. Jasper was pulling the man – Maddox, as he called himself – away from Jacob’s limp body, his mind swirling when Renesmee placed her hands on his shoulders, worry and anxiety filling his mind. 

Jacob shut his eyes tightly, shaking his head quickly as though to clear her thoughts from his head. He had definitely caught this scent before. Not from patrol. Not from a local bar. Not from the diner – 

The diner. 

Ainsley. 

His eyes shot open, frame bolting forward as quickly as he could manage, tremor rolling down his spine as he collided with the nomad’s body and sent him backwards again – this time far enough that he disappeared momentarily into the underbrush of the forest. 

“What’s he doing here?” Jacob growled.

Maddox stood slowly, readjusting his jacket, amber eyes locked on Jacob’s heaving frame. “Control your guard dog, would you?” He muttered to Jasper, picking a leaf out of his hair. 

“I thought you said you didn’t know where the nomads were.” Jacob accused with heavy disappointment, looking down at Renesmee. She shrugged under the weight of his gaze, seeming just as confused as Jacob.

“He’s not the problem, Jake.” Jasper said quickly, holding out one hand as a means of halting Jacob from moving forward. “He came to Carlisle for help. That’s all we’re trying to do.” 

“Yeah, expand the family a little more, it’s not like you’re big enough already.” Jacob spat, pulling his lips back over his teeth. “It’s not like the large quantity hasn’t already put enough strain on us before. What’s a few more kids, huh?”

“Jacob …”

“There are seventeen of us,” he growled, taking a step to the side, “half of them are trying to stop it from happening again, some of them left altogether, and the rest of us are trying to settle down and start our lives.”

“We didn’t turn him –”

“This wasn’t part of the agreement.” Chief Jacob was slowly starting to break out of shell. Very rarely did Jacob like being the alpha – more so settled into the role because Sam had made a definitive decision to leave it behind. It had been two years since Sam had last phased – two years until the night the nomads crossed onto their land. No one was entirely certain how long it would take to break the bond – Sam stopped after expecting his first child, but now would have to start all over again. 

Not exactly the stress Emily needed. 

“Jacob.” The wolf tensed, halting his feet from moving as Carlisle came down past the ruins of the stairs and placed a comforting hand on his shoulder. “Allow us to explain. Please.” 

After an hour of arguments and several hand tremors, Jacob was finally seated in the living room, watching Maddox carefully. So, he had sought out help for control. So, he didn’t want to be a vampire. So, he didn’t anticipate all of the downfalls to being an immortal bloodsucking killer – what a shocker. That didn’t excuse that Jacob couldn't trust his loyalty. 

“And no one knows?” He asked again, squinting his eyes at Maddox. 

The vampire’s facial features remained smooth and even, his head tilting to the side, “None of the dogs know, no.”

“Would you stop calling us that?”

“Would you stop trying to find a loophole so you can kill me?” Maddox asked angrily, leaning forward with his knuckles on his knees. 

Jacob growled inwardly, pulling his eyes away from Maddox. Nessie sat on the other side of the couch, her legs folded under her, her arms wrapped around one of the throw pillows. He could see the wheels in her tiny, brilliant mind turning. She was trying to piece it all together, trying to pinpoint exactly what fit and didn’t. What was a lie and what was the truth. 

“Speak your mind, kiddo.” Jacob encouraged, folding his arms across his broad chest. 

She shook her head, gnawing on her lower lip – a human Bella trait she had picked up in the last few years – and sighed. “It doesn’t add up.” Renesmee was looking at Maddox now, tucking a loose strand of hair behind her ear. “How did you find us? We’re not exactly easily accessible.” 

His amber eyes darted up from the frayed string of his shirt to meet her eyes. He took a few moments before he responded. “I had an inside friend help.” 

Renesmee’s brows pulled together in frustration, letting out a petulant sigh. “We do have a lot of friends …” She mused to herself, still working to fit two and two together. 

“Give it up.” Maddox suggested angrily, pushing himself up out of the recliner. 

Jacob shot him a look in warning. “We’re just trying to piece it together –”

His voice boomed, overpowering Jacob’s easily. “Trust me when I say that you, of all people, do not want to know.” There was a certainty to his look. The way his eyes hardened in a definitive way. The way that halted the conversation. Jacob knew that look – Jacob had mastered that look. 

“What do you mean ‘me of all people?” Apparently Jacob was going to play Paul today – asking useless questions, taking personal offense to the nomads words. 

“It’s just in your best interest to not know, that’s all.”

“Oh, bullshit.” Jacob bit back, rising to his own two feet. “If you want an in with this family, you’re going to have to get used to letting me in, bloodsucker.”

“I don’t owe you anything.” Maddox laughed, tucking his hair behind his ears. “Cute that you think so.” 

“Jake –”

“Dude, you seriously need to start talking or I’m going to find a loophole –”

“Jake, stop it –”

“-- and I’m going to rip your head off –”

“Jacob, enough –”

“-- and deliver it on a silver platter to my brothers –”

“Jacob!” 

“What?” His voice boomed, eyes glowering over to where Renesmee sat, watching the pair anxiously.

She licked her lips, looking over at Carlisle before she looked past Jacob to Maddox. She took a deep breath, and then sighed. “Ainsley brought him here.” 

Jacob’s face contorted, his brows pulling together and up, confusion littering his face. “What? No she didn’t.”

“Think about it.”

“I know Ains, okay? She wouldn’t help this scumbag –” Jacob paused. 

His thoughts snapped back to the afternoon that started the mad-leech hunt. The night before the babyshower. The night Ainsley had come home reeking of one of the leeches, the night Trent had muttered something about how she had tolerated sitting with a scumbag. 

“Maddox.” He whispered quietly, the last of the puzzle pieces falling together. He lifted his eyes to meet the vampire’s, his face crumpling as guilt registered across the other's face. “She brought you here.”

“I asked her to.” 

“Why?” Jacob pressed.

Maddox blinked, “Because this isn’t for me. What they’re doing – to innocent people – isn’t me. I came here to learn control, Ainsley helps a lot with that.”

“Wait, wait, wait,” Jacob said, holding a hand up, “she helps?”

“Yes, she does.” Carlisle conceded from the archway, leaning against the wood with his shoulder. “It appears as though the personal human tie he had with Ainsley helps keep him grounded. We’ve made incredible progress in the last few weeks – far more than Jasper was comfortable with in his first few years of this lifestyle.” 

Jacob felt his heart sink, the realization hitting him that he was going to be the one to tell Embry.

Tell Embry that his imprint was lying to him. 

Tell Embry that his imprint was hiding one of the nomads.

Hiding the nomad Embry wanted dead the most. The one he spent nights envisioning, the one he had torn to shreds in his mind over and over again – 

“Why did you tell me this?” He asked angrily at no one in particular. “Do you know what this is going to do? Do you know what’s going to happen now?”

“You can’t say anything –” Maddox started, reaching for Jacob’s arm.

“The fuck I can’t.” He growled, glaring at the pale fingers. “I have an obligation. I’m an alpha to a pack that can read my fucking mind, I literally have no way of withholding this.” 

Maddox froze, slight terror sinking into his features. “If they know –”

“They’ll cross the border and come for you. And I won’t be able to stop them.” Jacob finished angrily, nostrils flaring. “You’re directly linked to one of their imprints, that makes you a bigger threat than the rest.”

“I’m not killing anybody!”

“Ainsley isn’t just anybody.”

“I’m well aware.” Maddox spat in return, his face quickly shifting. “I wouldn’t hurt her.” 

“Won’t stop Embry from trying to sink his teeth into you.” 

“Right – the whole soulmate thing –”

“Do not,” he growled, letting out his breath in a big huff. “Imprinting is more than some soulmate. Especially to Embry, alright? This is his person. She is everything to him – if not being able to kill you doesn’t kill him, knowing she lied to protect you will.” 

Maddox stopped, his vision pulling into the middle before images flashed through his mind. Renesmee’s warm hand touched his chest, forcing visuals into his mind. The sensation ran over his body, the chilling vibration that was accompanied by the pounding in his skull. 

Ainsley’s bright, cheery smile took up the majority of the images, along with a man. He was tall and tanned, and appeared to look very much like Jacob. His hair was short and nearly buzzed, his frame was thinner than Jacob’s, and certainly just as tall. Together, Ainsley and Embry looked like a match-made in heaven; she fit perfectly under his chin, fit perfectly in his arms. Her arms draped over his shoulders and around his neck, the intensity of what appeared to be an innocent display of affection made Maddox feel as though he were intruding on a personal moment. 

Renesmee was showing him exactly what it meant to be an imprint – showing him exactly what kind of bond was at stake. What Ainsley was at risk of losing. 

In the next set of images, she showed Embry’s frame convulsing, his bones shifting in slo-mo, his body exploding out of pure rage into something nearly ten times his original size. 

It showed Ainsley hunched over another's arm, emptying the contents of her stomach onto the floor. 

Maddox had to pull away, taking a few steps out of reach. He struggled for breath he didn’t really need, thinking about the importance this relationship might have actually been to her – and how he had forced her into a corner to help him, just so he could possibly stick around, just so he could see her again. 

“Please,” he said finally, looking at Jacob with desperation, “please don’t say anything.”

𝙰𝚒𝚗𝚜𝚕𝚎𝚢

I sat on one of the couches in the basement, eyes glued to the television as Travis and Trenton argued back and forth on pizza toppings for their dinner, prolonging our dart game far longer than necessary. TJ had been called up to Seattle for investigations, while Jennie worked double shifts to cover the incoming trauma’s. The collapse of all the dominos linking all pieces of our family had both Trent and I on edge – hence the current ongoing battle between my brothers. 

“Oh my god,” I cried, rolling my neck. “Just pick something already, I’m starving!” 

“Just let Ains pick something!” Travis growled, ripping the pamphlet out of Trent’s hands. 

“Uh, no,” he laughed once, taking the menu back, “she likes shit like chicken on her pizza – I don’t fucking think so.” 

“What’s wrong with chicken?”

“It doesn’t belong on pizza – that’s what’s wrong with chicken!”

I rubbed my temples, blowing out my breath slowly. Each passing day I spent confined in my parents house made me more irritated and miserable. The boys had not stopped fighting, Embry became more preoccupied as the pack circled in on the final safehouse Alice and Edward had provided. In an effort to ease his mind, Leah had asked that Trent keep an eye on me. 

Of course I had objected, but that didn’t seem to matter much, seeing as I was (essentially) moved home. 

Once food had been ordered, and I stuffed my face with my share, I retired to my bedroom. I flipped the lock on my knob, sighing as I leaned my back against the door. I had half-expected Embry to be settled into my bed, instead the room sat empty and cold. 

I wandered to where my phone had been plugged in, scrolling through the notifications. Two messages from Embry. 

Won’t see you 2night. Jake needs me to cover his shift. 

Sleep tight xoxo

I smiled to myself, pulling the phone to my chest as I collapsed onto the bed. Iyah looked up from the floor, tilting his head to the side in question. “For one night.” I nodded, laughing when the puppy happily joined me on the mattress, circling into his place in the corner. “Just don’t tell Embry, kay?”  

The dog huffed in response, enticing another giggle from me. I scratched behind his ear, pressing a kiss to his muzzle before I rolled onto my back. 

I wondered what Jacob was up to – being as responsible as he was, it wasn’t like him to pass along his duties to anyone else. Especially not Embry. That was moreso what Seth was for, being in his prime. I ripped my hair tie from my head, stretching my legs out as the moon casted the shadows of the treetops into my room.

From somewhere in the distance, I could hear a wolf howl.

[twwpress]

Weekly Press Briefing #56: July 16th - July 22nd

Sorry for the technical difficulties: tumblr's new post editor hates us apparently, but we love you and we are glad to be baaaaack! Welcome back to the Weekly Press Briefing, where we bring you highlights from The West Wing fandom each week, including new fics, ongoing challenges, and more! This briefing covers all things posted from July 16 - July 22, 2023! Did we miss something? Let us know; you can find our contact info at the bottom of this briefing! 

Challenges/Prompts:

No challenges or prompts that we know of this week. Do you have a challenge or event you’d like us to promote? Be sure to get in touch with us! Contact info is at the bottom of this briefing.

Photos/Videos:

Here’s what was posted from July 16 - July 22. 

Allison Janney posted graphics and photos of herself in SAG-AFTRA gear and on the picket line in support of the SAG-AFTRA strike: 1 | 2 | 3

Amy Landecker posted photos of herself with Brad and his daughter on the SAG-AFTRA picket lines. 

Bradley Whitford posted a photo of himself with his daughter and his wife Amy on the SAG-AFTRA picket lines. 

Dule Hill posted a photo of himself and his wife Jazmyn out with other actors on the SAG-AFTRA picket lines. 

Janel Moloney posted photos from her vacation in Brazil, including a selfie and photos of the Caiman Ecological Refuge. 

Josh Malina posted a video of himself in support of other SAG-AFTRA strikers from the picket lines. 

Marlee Matlin posted a video of herself at a Chicago Cubs game calling for the use of captions at Wrigley Field.

Marlee Matlin posted photos of herself and her son Tyler in celebration of his 21st birthday (and also a photo of how Gen Z celebrates). 

Mary McCormack posted a photo of herself with Beth Ostrosky Stern, her Private Parts co-star Howard Stern’s wife. 

Peter James Smith posted a photo of a residual check for $0.00 that he received in 2015 in support of the SAG-AFTRA strike. 

Richard Schiff posted photos of himself and his wife at a restaurant in Italy. 

Rob Lowe posted a throwback photo from the 80s of himself with George Michael and Demi Moore. 

Rob Lowe posted a photo of his wife in celebration of their anniversary. 

Donna Moss Daily: July 16 | July 17 | July 18 | July 19 | July 20 | July 21 | July 22

Daily Josh Lyman: July 16 | July 17 | July 18 | July 19 | July 20 | July 21 | July 22

No Context BWhit: July 16 | July 17 | July 18 | July 19 | July 20 | July 21 | July 22

@twwarchive: July 16 | July 17 | July 18 | July 19 | July 20 | July 21 | July 22

Edits/Artwork:

TWW x #Barbie [Josh x Donna] by @kennyharperz [PHOTO EDIT] #joshdonna: i just want to see you shine by @anidalakins [VIDEO EDIT] #joshdonna: come on baby come on over, let me be the one to show you by @iheldontoyou (twitter) / @sweetsouldhavernas (tumblr) [EDIT GIF SET]

Miscellaneous:

Happy birthday to Twitter user @schwifts! 

Editors’ Choice: 

Dear Readers, This week’s theme is epistolary fiction, or stories that are told in the form of letters, notes, messages, emails, or other written communication. We’ve also included some fics that are centered around correspondence, even if they are not only in letter form. If you want more, you can find stories we weren’t able to include this time under the Epistolary and Letters tags on AO3! 

24 Post-Its by isquinnabel for miss_slipslop | Rated G | Ainsley Hayes/Sam Seaborn | Complete | The last of Ainsley's cookie stash mysteriously vanishes.

dear donna by swancharmings | Rated G | Josh Lyman/Donna Moss | Complete | Josh tries to find the words.

The Inscription by sempreinsieme | Rated G | Josh Lyman/Donna Moss | Complete | Donnatella, As you may have noticed, this is not a pair of skis. A peek inside the front cover of The Art and Artistry of Alpine Skiing.

With or Without You by kiss_me_cassie | Rated M | Josh Lyman/Donna Moss | Complete | Sleight of hand and twist of fate; On a bed of nails she makes me wait [Ed. Note: This is a story told in emails]

People Underestimate the Value of a Good Deputy by raedbarde | Rated T | Sam Seaborn/Toby Ziegler | Complete | An unsent letter from the Seaborn files: being Toby Ziegler's deputy has its own rewards

An Open Letter to the Man Who Loves Him Next From the Man Who Loved Him First by Lily_Padd_23 | Rated G | Josh Lyman/Sam Seaborn | Complete | Josh writes a letter. Just in case.

for you i would ruin myself a million little times by crossingdelancey | Rated M | C. J. Cregg/Toby Ziegler | Complete | She’s in love with him, and he knows that well. He knows this from across the country, and when she kisses Danny Concannon, she’s kissing Toby Ziegler. They write letters, because emails are too easy. Too impersonal, and too traceable. She’s always been a writer. Not in the way Toby writes; eloquent and neat, but in scribbles and post-it notes and reminders to pick up oat milk. Danny hangs over her when she’s writing emails, but when she’s pressed into the side of the couch scribbling with a biro, he leaves it alone. —— the letters across the country, and the moments in between

Please hold for a reblog with this week's fics coming in the next minute or two - it seems we have run up against the maximum length for a tumblr post and tumblr is no longer letting us post the newsletter in full in one post! We know it's a bit of a hassle, and we apologize. If you happen to be a tumblr wizards and know of ways we can troubleshoot us, please send us a message! Thank you! This week's fics incoming:

[blurredcolour]

Get to know me

Thanks for the tag @venus-haze!

Three ships: hangster, stelena (don’t @ me, LJ Smith got this one right), twillow

First ship: Sam Seaborn x Ainsley Hayes (do they have a ship name?! God I love their chemistry)

Last song:

Currently reading: any and all BoB fanfic I can get my hands on. I have been woefully neglecting the book by my bed but it’s The Lady Di Look Book

Currently watching: The Crown season 6 and my millionth rewatch of Band of Brothers (halfway through Carentan at the moment)

Currently consuming: water (last food I ate was pizza pops for lunch, like the adult I am 🤦‍♀️)

Currently craving: a lazy evening but I need to clean my house and have no more excuses

Current obsessions: HBO war, mandarin oranges, tea of all flavours, Japanese hot pot, getting over this horrid cough

Currently up to: plotting my next band of brothers fic! I’ve got like 4 jump off points that need to be fleshed out and written. Bee has a busy busy brain.

No pressure tags: @steph-speaks , @elvisabutler