#so cute! they'd be SUCH GREAT PAPAS!

[mrsoharaa]

imagine starting a family with either Kyojuro or Ace and they're just holding onto your newborn with their wide, comforting hands with big ol' watery eyes of endearment and love and just-- rfauerfauerfayeyhd!!! 💘💗💕

[impish-baby]

Ummh... Vampire caregiver story?... Like how they took you...? (Please)

-👀✨

Mothers come, she is the night (vampire caregiver x reader)

(trigger warnings: creepy behavior, mentions of stalking, kidnapping, mind control)

You've been working the night shift at this stupid convenience store for months now, and you've known Valerian just as long.

There wasn't really anything off about them at first, maybe a little eccentric with how they insist on wearing clothes straight out of a fantasy novel even in your dingy shop but it's not like it's your business to judge anyone's fashion choices. No, it started small. You always find them staring, drilling holes into the back of your head. You can feel their eyes on you constantly, even as you're clocked out and walking to the bus stop. It's unnerving, really. And it doesn't help that there's this weird smile they always have. They look at you like you've hung the stars in the sky, but you barely know them

Valerian's behavior would slowly but surely ramp up. They'd try to keep a conversation going with you as long as possible with that chipper smile that never seems to leave their face. ("What's your favorite color? Oh, mines mauve! Say, how many blankets do you like to sleep with?") They'd stack item after item up on the register when you'd comment that there would be other customers throughout the night. There's no way they're eating the ungodly amount of candy they've purchased. Valerian has told you that they aren't a fan of sweets, so it's impossible to know where it's actually going.

One night, they bought a little bat plushie and practically shoved it into your arms, refusing to take it back no matter how much of a fuss you made about it. "It's yours, darling. Come now, you aren't too old for a plush friend... I think you look rather cute with one!" You did end up sleeping with it, much to your chagrin. The next night that you see Valerian, you're sure there's a knowing smirk on their face while they prattle on about nothing in particular.

It all comes to a head a couple of weeks later. You had missed a few days of work from being sick, and you're still ill by the time you're back to your post. Valerian greets you with the same smile they always have, but it looks... strained almost. You can't help the boiling irritation that rises up when they start to scold you, like they're your parent! Seriously, you have bills to pay, you can come to work just fine.. (doesn't matter that you're all shaky and clammy, you can manage)

Except... Valerian doesn't seem to agree. They're glaring, face settled into a scowl instead of the smile they constantly have. It's scary almost, seeing the usually giddy man look so serious and unhappy with you. But then it's gone in an instant, face lighting back up as they tut and wag a finger at you. "Oh well, it's about time you come home anyways, dearest.."

There isn't much time to react before they're leaning past the counter, cupping your face in a surprisingly firm grip and making you look them in the eyes. It's... strangely pretty. If you weren't tired before, you're definitely sleepy now as you gaze into Valerian's pools of red for what feels like ages. When you're eventually released, you feel.. dopey. Slumping into Valerian's side immediately once they've rounded the counter to you.

Their words are far off, but you're pretty sure they're cooing at you as they start to drag you by the hand out of the store. You don't know when they grabbed your things from the break room, but your bag is slung over their shoulder. Huh... that was nice of them. Valerian leads you to a car, far fancier than anything you'd usually see in a crappy parking lot. Once you're safely inside, they're buckling your seatbelt for you, pressing a kiss to your forehead and tucking the bat stuffie into your arms. "Rest, alright, my love? Papa will take great care of you. Just dream for a while.."

(a/n: this is my first time trying to write a proper fic, so hopefully, I did alright! Valerian is so goofy.. they promise to be the best father a little one could want!)

[magnifythesun]

ianthony prompt: Anthony competing for attention for an oblivious Ian vs a protective cast over their papa ian hehe

heehee this one is cute, thanks for the prompt!!

(post writing note: trying to tread these character dynamics yet keep it feeling realistic is such a fun challenge! I hope I succeeded! this ended up being way more about the aftermath of a situation like this than examples of it happening lol but i hope you enjoy anyway)

When Anthony returned to Smosh, his first goal was to speedrun as many types of new videos on Smosh Pit and Games as possible. Try Not to Laugh, 2 Truths 1 Lie, Reading Reddit Stories, on and on the list went. His schedule was packed. Yet even during the chaos, Anthony started to notice a pattern.

When it was just him and the cast without Ian during a shoot, everything felt surprisingly comfortable. The big ensemble cast ones too, like the slapping video, great vibes all around (bit of a painful cheek though). They were all meshing so well, so quickly, and Anthony was eternally grateful that they were welcoming him with open arms. There was just one thing.

When a video was just him, Ian, and a couple other cast members, he was getting the strangest feeling. Not that they didn't want him there, he was pretty sure. That was the feeling he'd been afraid he'd get when he first came back. Rather, he got the feeling that they were constantly trying to pull attention away from him. Well, not the attention of the viewers. Just Ian's attention.

Anthony knew that he and Ian could get a little wrapped up in themselves sometimes. He couldn't really help it; with their long history together, they had a lot of inside jokes and an acute sense of what joke would break the other immediately. So they would share a glance and suddenly be laughing, giggling over some stupid joke like a couple of teenagers again, and it would be as if there were no other people in the room.

And each time, promptly, one of the other people there would interrupt, saying Ian's name, asking him a sudden question or pointing out something else so that Ian would look over there. Sometimes they'd even physically move Ian away, subtly of course. At first Anthony hardly noticed, but then it kept happening. And then he realized that often, it was accompanied by an almost pointed look at him by whoever was doing it.

Sometimes, they would get tag-teamed. For example, during a video of a light-hearted Mario Party competition, he and Ian were starting to 'yes, and' each other into oblivion, grinning and carrying on over some joke from a ten-year-old video, when suddenly Angela was pulling Ian's arm and getting him to react to something on the screen while Chanse tapped on Anthony's shoulder to show him a trick on the controller. Before Anthony knew it, somehow Angela had swapped spots with Ian on the couch. A little off-kilter, Anthony just bantered with Chanse for the rest of the video instead. To be fair, Chanse had a very similar sense of humor to Ian, so it actually went very well. Still, Anthony just couldn't tell why stuff like this kept happening.

He felt a little confused, and from that was a vague sense of hurt. Had he done something wrong? Ian never seemed to notice, so Anthony tried to push the whole thing to the back of his mind. Surely he was just reading too much into it.

On another video, Anthony, Ian, Arasha, and Courtney were facing off in Everybody 1, 2, Switch. When they went to pick teams, Anthony reached out a hand, ready to pull Ian to his side of the room, when Courtney suddenly popped up beside him, snagging his arm and raising it to the sky in victory.

"Anthony's my partner," They said gleefully, shooting a glance at Arasha, who was herding Ian to her side of the room.

"Heck yeah, dad and son team," Ian said, a little grin on his face as they high-fived. He shot a playful glare at Courtney and Anthony. "You're going down!"

"Dickbiscuit!" Arasha chimed in, looking like the cat who ate the canary.

"Gotta give them their father-son time, Anthony!" Courtney said, rather pointedly, and Anthony got that feeling again. Like there was a plot against him, but he wasn't sure why. It left a sour feeling in his stomach, and he felt bad about it. Anthony definitely didn't mind being on a team with Courtney instead of Ian, but why did it feel like she and Arasha didn't want him to be on a team with Ian?

It was time. He was at a point in his life where he'd rather just talk about something instead of letting the poisonous thoughts rot inside him. Right after they wrapped the video, he walked over to Courtney.

"Hey, could I talk to you over there?" Anthony asked quietly, trying to make sure Ian couldn't hear.

Courtney gave him an inquisitive look. "Yeah sure!" They headed to the little hallway behind the set walls. "What's up?"

Anthony shifted from foot to foot uncomfortably. "Well, uh. Well, first of all, I may be totally misreading this."

Even as he spoke, he could tell he probably wasn't. Courtney's eyes had sharpened with understanding, and a slightly guilty yet defiant look was coming over her face.

"I've just been noticing—" He paused, thinking how best to say it. "Well, nothing specific, I don't think, but I can't help but feel like..." He took a quick breath and just got it over with. "Sometimes in these smaller videos with Ian, it feels like you guys don't really want Ian to talk to me?" He glanced at Courtney, stomach sinking as he continued, the worst fear coming to his tongue. "Or maybe you guys don't want me there?"

Courtney didn't look defiant at all anymore, now more gut-punched in a way that made Anthony feel terrible. Could he really have been misreading it all so badly?

"Or, maybe not!" He put his hands out placatingly. "I'm so sorry, I think I was maybe reading too much into things?"

"Oh god, well, no, um," Courtney stammered. "Look, I'm sorry too. You haven't been misreading."

Anthony's stomach dropped. They didn't want him here?

Courtney must have seen his expression and she reached out to grab his arm reassuringly. "Oh my god, not about not wanting you here. We're all really happy you're back, Anthony. This has been amazing."

The emotional whiplash was really starting to get to him. "Oh. Well, that's good!" He smiled weakly.

"We've just been," She paused thoughtfully, "A little protective over Ian, I think. There's an element of, you know, what if you decide this isn't for you after all, and leave again." She looked down, and continued quietly. "I think it'd wreck him, honestly."

Anthony's heart seized and he took in a shaky breath. "I can promise you," He said firmly. "That won't happen. He put a hand on their arm too, squeezing lightly to try and emphasize how serious he was. "This is what I want to be doing, full-stop. And running this whole thing with Ian means more to me than, than anything in the world."

Courtney smiled at him, a shaky, slightly teary thing. "I think, deep-down, despite our fears, we could see that. It's obvious every time you look at him."

Anthony dropped his arm and dipped his head, a little embarrassed. "Well, I can't help but be excited about it, you know?"

Courtney laughed, "I'm sure. There is one other aspect to the whole thing you've been sensing though."

Anthony looked back up apprehensively.

"With you around, he doesn't do the bits he's built up with everyone else as much!" She laughed again, clearly more at herself this time. "It's silly, but we're all a bit jealous!"

"Oh. Oh!" Anthony didn't really know what to say. He raised his hands up guiltily and said, "Whoops."

Courtney covered her mouth to try to laugh more quietly. They were still only separated by the wall of the set from the crew, and presumably, Ian.

Anthony started laughing too, rather relieved about the whole thing. He'd been so worried that there was some really big grievance the whole cast been hiding, an anvil dangling, ready to drop on his head. "It's just like you said, right?" Anthony said as he caught his breath. "Gotta give them their father-son time!"

"Exactly!" Courtney beamed at him.

Anthony smiled, but he felt compelled to continue. "Look, I just want to reiterate. About the leaving thing."

"Yeah?" Courtney said.

"I just," There was a dragging pain in his chest like the words were being pulled out of him. "I love him, you know?"

He'd said it before to Ian, that he loved him, best friend to best friend. But there was something about saying it now, to Courtney, secretly behind this set wall like this. It was haunting almost, like a specter sneaking up behind him to tilt his world permanently on its axis. He wasn't unfamiliar with the feeling. It was often associated with something he needed to work out in therapy.

He shook it off, took a breath. "I never want to hurt him like that again. He means so much to me. I won't let us fall apart like that again."

Courtney tilted her head slightly, narrowed eyes studying his. His breath felt caught in his chest. A moment, then, "Woah." Her expression brightened, suddenly mischievous.

Anthony blinked at her. "What?"

They grinned, "No, no, nothing, haha!" They had that funny wild look in their eyes that usually only came out for the cameras.

"What?" Anthony asked again, a slightly unnerved smile taking over his face.

Courtney shook her head. "No, um, you know? I think this changes things! Sorry about everyone, haha, we're just— well, you know, he's our guy, our 'Smosh single dad,' 'the dad who stepped up,' our 'single working mother,' whatever! We were all just a bit protective of him, but hey look!" She threw her hands out like she was pitching a deal. "I'll pass the message along, that you're, well, uh. That you, um. That there's nothing to worry about here! Just leave some Ian for the rest of us, yeah?"

Courtney started to back away, looking like they were going to bolt and Anthony was so confused. "Sorry about that by the way? I didn't realize I was stealing him," Anthony said.

"No you, well—" Courtney stopped. "Anthony, you do know that whenever you're there, Ian's like, fixated on you, yeah?"

Anthony had not realized that and he was not quite sure why his chest felt all at once like he had just performed a long, far too strenuous yoga session. He kept looking at her as if an explanation would be forthcoming, but Courtney was just looking back at him with wide eyes.

In this moment that felt like it resided somewhere on the spectrum of Wild West duels, Ian came around the corner.

"Oh hey," He said, and then frowned at them when they both jumped. "What are you two doing behind the set?"

"Hey Ian!" Courtney said brightly, and Anthony could hear that hidden relief underneath. "Great to talk with you, Anthony! See you later!"

Ian watched them leave and then turned back to him, suspiciously.

"Are you two plotting some kind of video?" Ian raised his hand to his chin, thinking. "Like, a prank video on me I'm not supposed to know about or something?"

That would be a great idea, Anthony thought a little deliriously. "I don't know, Ian, I guess you'll have to find out."

Ian narrowed his eyes. "I'll have you know I'm great at getting revenge."

"Oh, should I beware?" Anthony teased, the tight feeling in his chest easing up.

Ian scoffed. "Beware all right. I'll get Arasha on my side and then it'll be all over for you and Courtney."

Anthony grinned and walked over to him, slinging an arm over Ian's shoulders to guide them both out from behind the set. "You know, I keep hearing about Arasha's scheme prowess. Wanna show me whatever video that comes from?"

"Oh god, it's a whole series of videos," Ian said, already pulling out his phone. "Brace yourself, it's a wild ride."

[neverchecking]

Hi I am 🪷 Aron from couldninetonine

And I have a request for you if it ok.

Can I request yandere platonic sage , sky, time, warrior, four x child zoni reader.

Like the reader is rauru and queen Soni little baby half breed daughter. Half elf and half zoni. And they found her in her little bubble pod that a flower a lotus. And how they fell for her big doe eyes and big ears. And teaching her the ways and have her call them papa's and how they keep her safe. Please and thank you

omg hi! I love cloudninetonine! It is totally okay to request!

I haven't done a lot of platonic yandere, but this seems fun!

Imagine them calling the boys their papa bc her real dad is dead lmao-

・❥・@lovanmari and @wayfayrr I got some DILF Sage for yall

・❥・Sage as a dad. First off-- who in their right mind is trusting him with a kid?

・❥・Nah, I kid, I kid. When he's given a child, one so small and innocent and one that he connects with? It burns something within him.

・❥・He was a child soldier (I think canonically BOTW Link was in the army by age twelve?), and when he sees this small child who's relying on him? He swears they'd have a better life than he ever had.

・❥・He absolutely refuses to let his child anywhere near anything sharp, too hot, too cold, explosive, etc.. If there's any chance at injury, his flower bud isn't going anywhere near it.

・❥・You know that his kid is eating like royalty. Every single day. Breakfast, lunch and dinner. And dessert. And you know that dessert is the best damned thing in the world.

・❥・Sage as a dad is probably just as unhinged, but in more protective way? Lynel look in their direction? Here kid, look at this butterfly, Papa will be right back- He's back within three minutes tops and look! He's got the fur for a new blanket for you!

・❥・Cece tries pinching your cheeks? He's glaring down at her, daring her to try.

・❥・Someone tries offering you a treat because your just so adorable? He knows his kid is cute, nice try. Nothing is getting past him. He's a bit of a helicopter parent.

・❥・Not a bit. It's a lot.

・❥・He loves playing with your big ears, ones that you'll grow into, flopping them about even as you get red-cheeked and angry at him.

・❥・He'll make it up to you eventually :)

・❥・He also spoils you absolutely rotten. He has his rules, yes, and expects you to follow them, but his rewards are things like trips to the Zora Domain or a sand seal ride in Gerudo. Never Eldin. Are you kidding that's an active volcano site?!?!

・❥・The sages are one-thousand percent your personal body guards. You don't go anywhere without your dad and at least one sage.

・❥・Sky is absolutely smitten from the start.

・❥・You look at this man and tell me he's not dad shaped. You can't.

・❥・He doesn't even care to learn what a Zonai is. All he knows is there are none here and your all alone and your his now. He doesn't make the rules

・❥・He is also another protective dad, but he's a little more willing to let you experience the world around you. You wanna see those flowers over there? He's following! You wanna go for a dip in the river? Great idea, he's helping you! You can go explore, but never alone.

・❥���He absolutely introduces you to Crimson right away. Crimson is the perfect co-parent guardian. Crimson is always pulling you into her side, ruffling her feathers and grooming you.

・❥・Like you become Sky's kid and Crimson's chick. They are two halves of a whole soul so it makes sense.

・❥・HFHFDOFDHN imagine sleeping on Crimson's back while Sky leads the two of you through a forest or sum ;^;

・❥・Or soaring through the sky with you pointing at every cloud you pass and Sky harnessing you to his chest while Crimson flies much slower than normal.

・❥・Sky can cook basic things, but he definitely spends more time with village moms and elders learning more.

・❥・He for sure carves toys for you out of wood. Like trains or maybe a doll of Crimson.

・❥・You get the fluffiest blankets stuffed with Loftwing feathers

・❥・Groose is such a good uncle-sidebar. Even if Sky isn't...jazzed about letting you out of his sight, he will trust Groose. For an hour.

・❥・Which he is within earshot of for fifty seven minutes.

・❥・He's kind of torn between letting you be with Zelda-- who adores you-- and not. she's the reincarnate of Hylia. What if you get dragging into the wretched reincarnation curse as well?

・❥・He wouldn't wish it on his worst enemy let alone his fletchling.

・❥・Fi for sure has a beacon on you at all times.

・❥・He's more...withdrawn when it comes to first meeting you

・❥・Afterall he's in a war.

・❥・but...so are you. And you are so much younger than he is.

・❥・and what self-respecting parent would let their child wander so far? None that deserve their child.

・❥・So you become his. He doesn't do take backsies.

・❥・When you stutter out that your old, irrelevant, unworthy father was a Zonai, he does take that with some caution.

・❥・But no one even knows what a Zonai is. Ravio has a general idea-- a race blessed by the gods-- but thats as far as he gets.

・❥・That's okay. You were his now and he didn't care what you were. You were perfect just the way you are <3

・❥・Wars as a dad is probably pretty strict. But he lets you out of his sight more than the previous two.

・❥・You get schooled and have friends, but are expected home right away.

・❥・He doesn't like your friends. Not a chance. But because he's such a public figure he needs to give you a semi normal life.

・❥・Which means those dumb friends and parent interventions and schooling and hours away when you could be spending time with him!?

・❥・He probably sneaks you out of school often to go for treats at a bakery or a swim in a river. What are they gonna do, tell the Hero no?!

・❥・Artemis loves you. He trusts her with you while he's dragged away for things he cannot control. She has the power of Sheik on her side and proved her worth to him in battle.

・❥・You definitely have a fairy on you at all times which reports back to him.

・❥・Fours is so fun for one reason and one reason alone.

・❥・the minish.

・❥・They probably are the ones to alert him about your presence, giving their small knowledge of the Zonai race.

・❥・They chirp and chitter at him until he brings you back to the home he shares with his grandpa (Uncle? It's one of the two). The older male was out at the moment leaving Four to figure out what he's going to do with you.

・❥・Obviously he keeps you. No one else can handle such a task! You're so delicate and so rare and the minish already love you.

・❥・So your his. no ifs ands or buts.

・❥・The forge? Off Limits.

・❥・It's too hot with too many sharp pointy things and open flames and its dirty.

・❥・Not for his kid.

・❥・When it comes to cooking, he can do it, but like sky, he's not overly good.

・❥・but! You guys can learn together. Under his strict supervision. Where you sit at the counter. Away from the fires and knives. It's a bonding experience.

・❥・Back to the minish, they love you. They love playing with you and calling your attention away while your dad deals with someone whose watching you a little too closely.

・❥・They leave small trinkets for you all the time! Which four keeps in a box. Because you could choke.

・❥・He's also another one to make your toys! Little metal horses and wooden doll houses.

・❥・If he needs to run out for a few errands or something, he's not leaving you with anyone. Oh no not his kid. No, he's splitting. Two stay with you, three depending on the errand, while the other runs out.

・❥・You aren't allowed the Four sword. Ever.

・❥・He would never wish that upon you. Even if you love the colors and it helps you differentiate between green and red and blue and Violet.

・❥・Thats probably how you learn some of your colors in fact.

・❥・Even as you grow up, you cannot get away with anything. The minish are snitches and it would do you good to learn that. And fast.

[mysticlongan]

give me all your tartelongan hcs

Tarte Tatin x Longan Dragon Cookie Headcanons!

Offff the top of my head!!!

[I headcanon Longan Dragon Cookie in the Cookie Run: Kingdom timeline to be sweeter and more caring. I have a particular reason for it! I headcanon Longan in Ovenbreak to be so bitter and angry because their (hc) child, Snapdragon Cookie, was either lost, poached, or taken because of Cookies!]

- Longan loves putting red ribbons on Tarte Tatin and tying her hair with them. They've had a few thousand, er, maybe million years to do whatever so I think they'd have a lot of skills- one of them being sewing! Lots and lots of ribbons and bows on the dresses, getups, armors, anything really that they make for her!

- Tarte Tatin likes the ribbons, but when her hair gets messy (she runs around and hunts dragons all day), she has to take them out. She ties them onto the Longan Eyes and Longan thinks it's cute.

- Speaking of which, Longan doesn't mind her hunting dragons because dragons themselves used to fight each other a LOT back in the day, and because the dragons she fights are the (kind of inferior, more animalistic and less civilized, sort of dragons) If anything, it makes them swoon, because what dragon doesn't want a woman that can kick their ass if need be? (cough, cough, Hollytaya)

- Longan met Tarte Tatin because they were looking for Snapdragon thinking the egg most certainly got cooked or sold or hatched or something, but instead found a whole ass dragon hunter casually taking care of their kid. They kind of awkwardly co-parent Snapdragon and Tarte Tatin does not vibe with Longan thinking they're acting really increasingly suspicious about her as time goes on but it's just Longan's pea sized dragon brain having a massive crush on her

(the headcanons will only get worse from here)

- Longan is a housewife /hj. they like baking and cooking and can't stop baking pies because their wife is a pie cookie and they think this is great

- Tarte Tatin can cook too but not bake very well (because it's very hard to bake a cake in the wilderness as opposed to making a stew or some jelly meat!) and so Longan tries teaching her how to bake because they love baking. I lied. Longan doesn't like baking they love baking.

- It took a long time to convince Tarte Tatin to move into the Longan palace.

- She falls in love with Longan because their attempts to win her over are with things that actually require skill to do (like making her a cannon or armor rather than just flexing their power).

- Tarte Tatin loves modifying her cannon and talks Longan's ears off about mechanisms and aerodynamics and trajectory and (Longan is very excited and takes all of it into account).

- Longan also loves putting roses all over Tarte Tatin. They have a flower garden.

- Tarte Tatin brings Longan random stuff she finds and they have a room of the palace where they put all of it (though most of it ends up in Longan's bedroom).

- Longan does not look into the future directly, but instead senses the general flow of things. They aren't a control freak because their kid isn't dead in my headcanon that I cry at night thinking about and tell myself is the truth. Longan's element is light just like Lotus has water and Pitaya has fire... etc. Also their servants are paid well and have a life outside of doing stuff for Longan.

- Longan gives Tarte Tatin immortality and powers over light via a dragon's bead like Pitaya and Fire Spirit. She, after then, uses a modified version of her cannon that shoots beams of light and also helps to protect the flow of life/Cookiekind.

- Longan's preferred affectionate nickname for Tarte Tatin is "Sweet Tarte". Tarte Tatin's for Longan is "Sunshine".

- Tarte Tatin's parents are alive but very, very old, with bad eyesight and can not tell Longan is a dragon. They've been told but they think it's some running joke.

- Snapdragon calls Tarte Tatin "mama" and Longan "papa"

- Longan didn't know Snapdragon was alive because his anxiety clouded his perception of the events to come (which also made meeting Tarte Tatin nicer, since he didn't expect it)

This took fifteen years, but yay! It's done, I threw my headcanons out there!

[newtonsheffield]

The candle omggg so cute, I think I screamed more for the candle than the kiss but it was perfect as always, a woman can only be so strong surprised than Kate make it so far. Quick question, how Edwina reacts to Edmund Apollo Bridgerton?

Anonymous asked: I need to see edwina getting that tattoo when Edmund Apollo Bridgerton is born

Okay well here's the thing: There's some debate amongst Anthony and Edwina as to whether that counts

Anthony couldn't breathe, he still couldn't, hadn't in hours not since he'd delivered his baby with Kate's hand tight on his and her voice cracking as she spoke and their son had taken his first breaths and stolen Anthony's completely.

He was the most beautiful baby he'd ever seen, Anthony was sure. His skin was slightly red with a shock of dark hair that was beginning to curl at the ends, his tiny fist tight on Anthony's finger as he sat on the bed beside Kate, pride choking at his throat.

"I love him. Kate, I love him so much already."

She nodded gently, kissing his cheek, "He's pretty perfect."

"I think we might actually have made the world's most perfect baby. And I feel like we're authorities on the matter because we've delivered hundreds."

Kate chuckled, reaching out to run her finger between the baby's eyebrows, smoothing the little crease there "I've been thinking."

"Have you? I haven't." Anthony admitted, "I can't stop staring at him."

"I love you."

"I love you too but is that what you've been thinking about or-"

"I've been thinking about that but I've also been thinking about your idea for a name."

Anthony's heart leapt. "I don't care what we name him. We can name him whatever you like, he's all that matters."

They'd been arguing about it for months, ever since they'd found out they were having a son. Bickering like children the way they always did, but it didn't matter. Not now.

Kate hummed gently, "I'm willing to give you Apollo on one condition."

His mouth fell open "what's the condition?"

"That his first name is Edmund?"

He could hardly breathe, tears stung at his eyes as he stared down at his wife, barely able to force the words from his chest. "Are you sure?"

"I'm sure."

"But your Dad-?"

"We'll find another way to honour him." She smiled, "I feel like I do it every day now."

"Edmund."

"I was thinking we could call him Neddy."

"I love that. Neddy."

Pride burned in his chest as he looked at them, his wife and son, the two most beautiful things on the planet.

"Go to Papa, Neddy."

Anthony could hardly breathe when she placed him in his arms, the warm weight of him comforting and genuine against his chest.

"Has Anthony stopped crying yet?" Edwina's head had appeared in the doorway, craning her neck curiously at her new Nephew from across the room.

"Nope." Anthony said a little proudly kissing his son's forehead though Edwina barely heard him as she whispered to Kate You're okay?

"I'm great. I had a good midwife."

Edwina hummed, "Did you get Mum to step in last minute?"

"Rude." Anthony said, "Very Rude. No baby snuggles for Auntie Eddie now."

"You should know Mum's so proud she's about 15 seconds away from making a hospital-wide page to announce it."

Kate rolled her eyes, "In her defence, he's very cute. and we're only a little biased."

Anthony grinned, "Arms out."

He laid his new son gently in her arms, watching proudly as her breath caught in her chest. "He's beautiful, Katie. You too Anthony."

"This is Edmund Apollo Bridgerton."

Edwina's eyes shot between Anthony's and Kate's the soft reverie broken as she squawked, "Get fucked it is."

Kate's mouth fell open, "Edwina!"

"Kate, you're joking right? Tell me you didn't let him call this baby Apollo."

Anthony grinned, "Oh but she did."

"Look how happy it made him." Kate sighed, "And I think it's a bit cute, actually."

"Kate, No." Edwina Groaned.

Anthony clicked his tongue, "So, I hope Goosey boy like lightning bolts Eddie."

Edwina scoffed, "It doesn't count. We never shook on it, and it's only his middle name."

Anthony made a sceptical noise, "I think it counts. Kate, when we first started dating your lovely sister said she'd tattoo her arse with a lightning bolt if we ever named a baby Apollo. Would you say this counts?"

Kate chuckled, a tiny tired guffaw passing her lips. "I think so."

"You've made an enemy, this Friday, Kate," Edwina said primly, spinning towards Mary who'd just bustled in to check on the commotion. "Mum! They've named your grandson Apollo!"

Mary sighed, "Edwina, I've been a Midwife for more than twenty years. Do you really think that's the most shocking name I've ever heard? Yesterday I delivered a baby named Chaos."

"I'm not getting that tattoo!" Edwina hissed

"Don't worry, we'll go double or nothing on the next one."

[npdterzo]

TW CANNIBALISM UNDER THE CUT

♱ 𓂃

　i posted a bit about ghouls cannibalizing the papas before. about how it'd be [iirc] their own papa, and that they'd feel bad about it. however what if a ghoul decided to cannibalize a papa that was not theirs. what if they didn't feel necessarily bad about it either?

i ship chain ghoul x secondo. what if chain went and cannibalized secondo instead. eating him up, nice meal. it's just in his instincts to do so, as i said.

he gives into the urge easily, because he doesn't feel bad. he feels great about it actually.

chain and secondo weren't ever typical lovers. they are both pretty reserved dudes, and not super good at outwardly showing affection or love, they just knew that one loved the other. they knew that they were both in love with each other and that's what mattered. i hc they both had aggressive ways of showing love and affection at times, like biting and all.

so when secondo dies, apart of chain dies, naturally he gives into his urges. He does not weep over secondos body as he consumes his flesh and blood. he is mending the part of himself that died when secondo died. tasting his lovers blood, feeling his flesh and not just the outside but inside as well. in a way, it is pretty intimate and loving. like "yes, i loved you and now im proving it even in your demise. I'm devouring you as a way to tie you to me. I'm consuming you to forever have you inside me in a way" or smth

aka "your so cute/amazing i could just eat you" taken to a very serious and extreme level.

[gradstudentdrone]

When grief hits unexpectedly

I am at a conference this week, where a book that I co-wrote was a finalist for an award and got an honourable mention. The book itself took forever to write, for a variety of different reasons - being on the job market, getting pregnant, new immigration policies, getting pregnant again, COVID...the list goes on. And the review process was rocky in that the Press sent the book to five reviewers, one of whom was somewhat hostile in that the reviewer thought my co-authors and I were being too critical of Canada's immigration policies (lol, ok, bro).

So it was great to get the book recognized and fun to celebrate and have dinner with friends in a cute restaurant.

Yet as I sit here today, trying to plan my day for the conference, I feel a wave of loss hitting me, a wave so torrential that I have to stamp it down - hard - because it would be difficult for me to get on with my day (and get on with my professional obligations during this conference) if I ride the wave out.

Because you know who would've been thrilled about the book getting recognized, who would brag about it to everyone (in an embarrassing dad way)? My dad.

Sometimes, I feel that my dad was too extra. Some examples?

A few months ago, he went to a reunion of his classmates at the University of the Philippines College of Law. One of his classmates held a prominent position in the Department of Labour, and my dad gave him a copy of my other book, on migrant domestic workers' activism. His friend politely thanked him for the book and mentioned that he would read it, and have people in his department read it too.

When said book first received a book contract, and won a 'best dissertation award/First Book Prize,' my dad emailed a newspaper columnist whose writings he followed and told them about my work (!), even sending excerpts. The columnist responded kindly and said they'd look at my work.

When planning my wedding with MOTL, and we were figuring out what giveaways to give, my dad - in utter seriousness - said that we should buy every single guest a copy of the first book I co-edited. I, of course, said no.

In all of these instances, I did what children always do: I shake my head, I internally groan, and I say, "papa, please don't." I felt embarrassed because I didn't want such a huge fuss to be made. In truth, I also wanted my dad to calm down. I'm proud, too, about my accomplishments, but can we not celebrate quietly?

Now, I realize in retrospect that part of my dad's excitement stemmed from seeing me do things that, in a different life, he might have done. You see, in his twenties, my dad received a full scholarship to do his PhD in Political Science at Harvard. Being a kid from the Philippines, this was a big deal. But because of the fact that he was already with my mom, and also because he truly loved the study and practice of law, he opted instead to be a lawyer. This was a career he loved - almost to the exclusion of everything else - and so it was the right choice for him.

But I do think seeing me do graduate work in Political Science, and then eventually become a professor in this field, was exciting for my dad. My dad was a beautiful writer, was an intensely philosophical and thoughtful, and had always told me that one of his dreams for the future was to translate works of Political Theory in Tagalog. So my journey now resembled what his journey might have been.

Anyway, here is a picture of my dad, front and centre, at my book launch last November. Now, more than ever, I am feeling the intensity of my loss.

[into-september]

"Buddy Daddies" IS better than Spy x Family, but it left me with questions

First and foremoest: who is the audience?

I'm wondering because the concept screams of either seinen or fujo, but the foucs is run-of-the-mill shounen. We're throwing our heroes into a situation where they're forced to ask prickly questions about their values and their life choices, and we've got them making the expected discoveries and the obvious choices from that, but no effort is made to dig into the real question:

Why do Kazuki and Rei choose each other?

There are two possible answers to that question: One is a life-changing backstory, and the other is gay. And the singular thing keeping "Buddy Daddies" from greatness is that it never answers.

They're partners because reasons. They're living together because something about couch-surfing idk. They met each other when they were both at rock-bottom crossroads, but did minimally to pick each other up from there. How much do they even know about each other? They certainly don't seem to be particularly invested in why the other has lost at life. As the story begins, they're hardly coming across as friends, and to what extent they end there, it's because of the way Miri influences them, separately.

As such, Miri herself is little more than a plot devices setting events in motion. Too young to be a focal consciousness in a story centred on adult questions, the story never dwells on her and the harrowing experiences she goes through with little more than laughing. She's repeatedly separated from three different parental figures and meets that with nothing but the joy of a reunion, because of course she's not the interesting figure here. That'd be the daddies.

By the end, Rei wants them to be a "real family", but why does that family include Kazuki? By all accounts, that was just some co-worker crashing at his place and who dragged in a kid who changed everything. The show never once questions whether their family will involve anyone more or less: it's Kazuki-papa and Rei-papa and Miri; no talk about any possible new mamas except for the very first and the very last scene, nothing said about why Kazuki and Rei take it for granted that the other wants to raise this child with him.

And the thing is, the thing is, the answer is RIGHT THERE. Kazuki obviously thinks he cannot have the family he wants thanks to his job, or doesn't deserve it thanks to the same; Rei has been raised into the same job, deprived of any kind of parental love and is repeatedly told to "cast off" that weakness. What stands between them and the thing they want (Miri) is their profession as hitmen, albeit from radically different angles for them both. But the show never has them question their life outside of society; only when they lose Miri over it do they truly acknowledge that raising a child is incompatible with being a professional murderer, and even then they never reflect on what their career choice says about what kind of people they are.

It's a gimmick and an easy ticket to action scenes, but it is never challenged. We don't know why Kazuki chose this path and why Rei never broke free before, and when they decide to leave it, it is with the same narrative shrug as their choosing to make a family with another guy who they by all accounts isn't involved with.

And it is frustrating because they show - particularly in its latter half - seems to be hanging on the cusp of diving into it, in connecting the threads between these two lonely men with their differently ruined lives, their different pursuits of a violent lifestyle and the way this would explain why they'd each come to step out of it because of one little girl.

Don't get me wrong - the show is cute and the finale is satisfying in nearly every way I'd expect it. It's just so close to being super memorable, rather than another action-comedy buddy show.

If you want a show where Koki Uchiyama voices a gangster princeling forced into the choice between loyalty to the clan and the sweetness promised by his found family, where the questions about choosing a life of murder are pursued to their ugly end and where twelve episodes are plenty and then some for explaining why these kids are choosing each other, then let me tell you about our lord and savior kunihiko ikuhara and the buttplug kappa magical boy anime

And that one is not afraid to say gay

[brownhairedbookworm]

"Mmmm, yeah. Your parents haven't been great for a long time, I know." Squeeeeeeeeze. Rubbing on Monika's back, too. Comforting wife.

"Yeah, I can focus on Papa! I don't mind and you remember how happy he was to meet you as my friend, ehehehe~." Smooch, smooch. Oh, very cuddly and silly now. Very cute wife.

"So, let's see? Papa was a loner for most of his life, according to himself. Lots of focus on schoolwork and stuff from my grandparents didn't leave him a lot of time for friends and a social life, ehehehe. One day, though, he noticed what he called 'A glint of sunshine' for the first time in his life. He saw Mama in passing between classes and he said her hair and aura drew him in where everyone else chose to avoid her."

"Oh!" Suddenly, an idea tangent! "Ya know, if you don't tell your parents at all, I'm sure my parents would love to welcome you fully into our family~! It might take a little getting used to for us all, but I'd like to try, ya know~?" Smooching Sayori!

Monika giggles at all the smooching. "Heyyyyyy~ I can't listen, if you turn my brain off with all the kisses!" She kisses Sayori back and wiggles around until her head is beneath Sayori's chin. Now she'll have to bend around for more kisses!

Monika hums softly. "So it's a love-at-first-sight story, with someone everyone else thought was intimidating... Your mom is pretty scrappy, I can see why he would've been the brave one." The woman smiles. "How cute~"

She sits back up. Would...? No, there's no question that they'd accept her as Sayori's wife, they've known of her for years, and it's not like they haven't met. Something's just coming up that's odd about Sayori's mom, so Monika has questions. "...I think I'd love that, Sayori."

[mlobsters]

supernatural s11e16 safe house (w. robbie thompson)

you know the first time i tried to watch the haunting of hill house i noped right out of it because straight out of the gate it was kids in bed and ghosty things and them being scared and hit all the parent of small children alarm bells at once. anyway, similar vibes :p (now all 3 of my kids sleep in the same room [their choosing] and my 5yo told me if he has a bad dream when he wakes up he's not scared because he sees his brothers in the room with him 🥺🥺🥺)

all right. scraped off a sigil, rufus in the thumbnail

SAM Dean we can't just sit around and - and wait for a lead. Plus, it would be nice to get a win, this case seems like a lay-up. DEAN Yeah, when's the last time we had a layup?

we sure never get to see them if they do :p milk run to basketball

RUFUS. Yeah. Well if by backup you mean you do all the heavy lifting while I watch. It's Shabbat! BOBBY Are you serious? RUFUS Deadly! BOBBY You drove over here, ain't that against the rule? RUFUS Ah, ah, ah! Less talkin', more hunting.

little callback to 6x16

DEAN I got to say, I never figured Rufus for the religious type. BOBBY Well, he didn't exactly keep kosher. He always used to pull the old "can't work on the sabbath" card whenever we had to bury a body.

ugh, i missed him. and he makes me more fond of bobby too (who i don't dislike, i just never really fully connected with). their bickering is top notch

possible ghost hunt with jackass, i love it

RUFUS What what, my turn? Yo - yo, Bobby. Read my lips, Bobby. I cannot help you. Alright, it is Sabbath. BOBBY It is after sundown, so get to diggin'. RUFUS (Looking around at the darkness around them) Good catch.

so cute. the direct parallels to the boys -> amara / apocalypse are a little much but i'm not gonna complain with all this good food from robbie

BOBBY Been burning the midnight oil. Last couple of weeks. Up for days. Lookin' for ways to stop the apocalypse. Lookin' for - anything. Sam and Dean are right in the middle of this thing. I'm worried about my boys, Rufus. RUFUS Your boys? [BOBBY gives him a look.] RUFUS Hey, hey. Alright, okay, Papa bear. But you know more than anyone, Bobby. Even if we find a way to keep the world spinning, not everyone's going to be on that bus ride home. Sacrifice, greater good. All that jazz.

makin me cry

BOBBY Yeah, I know. RUFUS Oldest rule of hunting, Bobby. You can't save everyone.

rufus 😢

nosy neighbor / the x-files s2e5 duane berry

this lady was in the duane berry episode of the xfiles which i can't find her in the episode but it was the one with mulder in the red speedo :p

i like sam's shirt. this back and forth brainstorming is nice (could you pick a more uncomfortable place to perch your ass, sam). also another break from the main plot is a relief

RUFUS What happens to the remains of the souls in the nest? BOBBY Well they wither too, but they stay with the Soul Eater, keeping it fed in lean times. Sorta like a cud. RUFUS Ew.

cosigned

SAM You know it's too bad Bobby and Rufus aren't around to see this stuff. They'd have been great Men of Letters. DEAN Yeah, grumpy old Men of Letters, but yeah.

💔 yeah. thinking about how they don't have that more experienced hunter backup in a person anymore, someone who is gonna be on their side no matter what, just the bunker files and flaky celestial beings. sad trombone

DEAN Which means one of us has to go on there. SAM Yeah. DEAN Not it. SAM Uh, dude.

children, lol

years or winning with one blip, i don't think sammy's worried

DEAN We are never settling anything with that stupid game again. Ever.

BOBBY If memory serves, things are about to get hairy. RUFUS You wanna hold my hand?

cute cute. is dean gonna see bobby in the nest?

ah, a fake dead sam, that's surely a good choice for making his soul vulnerable

aw, and a fake dead sam and dean for bobby. catch me wondering if those are era-accurate sideburns on sam :p

bobby and rufus are the slowest painters to paint. come on boys, pick up the pace! good grief. stressin me out :p

THE SOUL EATER You know your brother wants to go to The Darkness. He needs to go. But I can keep you safe. Both of you. Forever.

seems very trustworthy

(from earlier in the episode) SAM The Soul Eaters aren't really here or there, but apparently they can muster enough strength to yank their vic's souls out of this world, and into their nest. And then as soon as the vic's in the nest, they're outside of our space and time.

had to go back and see if he said something about the nests not being bound to time, i will admit to sort of zoning out during the details of the monstery stuff. so sam and dean saved bobby from the future, make me cry again

❤️

BOBBY My boys. Both of 'em. Both of 'em dead. And I saw… well I don't know what the hell I saw. RUFUS Yeah well. Forget the oldest rule, Bobby. BOBBY Are you gettin' soft on me, Rufus? RUFUS Yeah, soft this.

s11e16 / s7e12 (forgot what jody looked like with longer hair!)

SAM Hey, you said the Soul Eater made you see things. Plural. So… what else did you see? DEAN I saw you. Dead on the floor. SAM Hmm. DEAN What? SAM How messed up are our lives that you seeing a vision of dead me is actually kind of comforting?

indeed it is, on both accounts. also comforting that dean just tells him, doesn't brush it off. is this growth?

thank you again, robbie. giving the people (me) what they like/want/need

[shoyoist]

THATS SOSOS CUTE PAPA BACHIRA N PAPA NOYA BOTH HAVE 3 THATS SO CUTE. <33 imagine nishinoya’s boys trying out for their volleyball team and he comes to every single game w their mommy n little sister :,))) cheering them on n feeling proud that he was the one who taught them how to receive n other volleyball rules, maybe even one of them are liberos on the team themselves :000 AND HES JUST SOOS PROUD!!! papa noya n papa bachira the best supportive fathers ever they love their children sosososo much :,) OHMIGODOD I LOVE TALKING ABT THESE SMMMM IGS LIKE A COMFORT KINDA

— 🫖

I LOVE TALKING ABT THESE TOO<33 omgg ykw noya would take the entire boys volleyball team out for a victory dinner after each match they win. depending on how high they'd qualified, the food order gets larger and so much yummier and whenever they lose a match? he rounds them all up for a run to lift their energy levels up before taking them out for ice cream.

he makes sure everyone's got a smile on their faces by the time the day is over, and tells them (super dramatically) each time that “one defeat never quells the fire of victory, and that though they've lost today they'll work harder and win tomorrow.”

all the other kids are jealous of noya's boys because their dad is just so great 😭 “man i wish my dad would give me a hug like that” “bro you're lucky so luck you're not fatherless like i am” 💀 he's basically adopted all his sons' friends at this point. and he's SO polite to his daughter's friends omg calls them all “little miss” and is just so kind and considerate every time they come over to hang out with his daughter or when he sees them at school, etc etc.

he's basically going around curing all and any parental trauma any kid within his vicinity has 😭😭

[dean-winchester-is-a-warrior]

Unpopular opinion - I love Beau very much, and absolutely adore Jensen's performance as Beau... But if they continue with this standard of writing and plans to keep beau around just to add charm, then I wish Beau's journey stops here and Jensen moves on to a better project. I don't want him to stick with a character of the lead's pretty boyfriend and cute Sheriff and waste his potential. In this season they had enough opportunity to utilize jensen which they missed so I doubt they will touch that part or Beau's backstory ever. Unless Jensen gets enough scope to act like the finale in the next season, Beau can happily live ever after in his own world away from my eyes I guess.

And now I really badly want Jensen acting in a dad role for a long time. He gave one of his best performance as Emily's desperate dad.

Hey Nonny,

I do understand what you're saying. I also feel like the writers didn't give Jensen enough scope for his talents, and would also REALLY like to see him have the opportunity to sink his teeth into meatier roles.

Having said that, I do think part of the purpose of Beau's character was to bring a bit of a lighter air, to add some freshness and levity into the stories, and I think he definitely accomplished that. I don't mind as much that they didn't go into great detail about his background. They gave us a bit, and I know they wanted to have some tricks up their sleeve if we get a season 4 with Beau in it. It would be too bad if he came back and they'd already unravelled all of his deep, dark backstory. 😁

But I too, would LOVE to get some more Dad!Beau stuff, (or Jensen in any role as a Papa!) because he was phenomenal in that finale. And I loved him with Emily! They had a great connection. I'm gonna continue putting it out there into the universe:

Give us a spin off with Beau and Emily!! 😍😍

Thanks for chatting Big Sky with me, and I guess only time will tell what we end up getting with S4. (If we get a S4!) 😊❤️

[sleepyselkiesims]

Part 34

Poor Siobhan had been left home alone for nearly a full day! Where were her guardians??

They were back, but busy celebrating their new babies.

Siobhan could juuuust about forgive them. They'd brought home new babies!!

Welcome to the world, Ellis and Andre! The first male heirs of the legacy!

Now that the baby bump was gone, Maleficent made her grand reappearance!

Aurora wasted no time in getting her babies into the cute new baby clothes! And they seemed so happy with the outfits too!

Siobhan was smitten with the little guys. She was going to be the best auntie ever!

The babies took to her instantly, which was so cute.

Now, if Maleficent could just ease up on the protectiveness...

While Siobhan cooed at the babies, Luca made sure Aurora got some appreciation for all her efforts.

Happy wife, happy life!

Well, she wasn't a wife yet, but Luca would shower her with so much love every day, it would be like a constant honeymoon.

And if his princess wanted to sleep, he'd do his best to make sure she got all the rest she needed.

She was gonna need the sleep...

But Luca was determined to get Aurora her beauty sleep! So, cute papa montage!

Ellis and Andre got the same amount of affection from their papa, though they had their preferred methods.

Success! Luca got both twins fed, changed, and asleep all on his own!

Now that it was Luca's turn to sleep, and had given Siobhan a chance to sleep, Aurora was gonna put all her magical powers to good use and quietly clean up the baby messes!

...ok, that just made it worse. One more try?

... great.

Maybe mama was right about that "Hard Work" stuff!

As she brushed off the baby muck, Aurora realised she still looked like her teeange self. Maybe it was time to upgrade to a mom look?

Yeah, she was going to have an awesome makeover. Juuuust as soon as there was no more risk of baby fluids getting on her.

Hang in there, Samson!

[casspurrjoybell-24]

My Unwanted Mate - Chapter 1 - Part 2

*Warning Adult Content*

Calvin Frey

The Pack House was busy with others getting ready for school, work and parents dropping off their pups for pack daycare.

It's also been more crowded than usual with new members staying here until their homes are ready.

Torin spent most of his time with the pups or purposely annoying Robby.

So after discovering that he wasn't in any of the colorful and already loud playrooms, I decided to check Robby's office.

Pack Mates greeted me and I murmured quiet hellos or nodded my head in acknowledgment.

They were use to my silence.

The office door was open so I stepped in only to turn back out.

Seeing my best friend making out with my little brother was a sight I'd like to never see.

Sadly, it was something pretty much everyone had witnessed by now. Even our poor mother.

"Calvin," Robby called and I risked peaking in.

Seeing that they were done eating each other's faces, I stepped back into the room.

My pup wiggled until I put him down so he could run to his uncles.

Torin was still sitting in Robby's lap and picked Benjamin up so they could both smother him with affection.

It surprises me that they still haven't had any pups of their own.

They'd make great parents.

"Have you finally come to your senses and are here to accept your place as my Beta?" Robby asked, looking up at me with a smirk.

I chuckled and shook my head.

"I told you to find someone else."

He'd asked me to be his Beta years ago when we were teenagers.

Then, I had gratefully accepted.

Hell, a couple of years ago I was ready to take on the task but after what happened I knew I couldn't devote myself to it.

I had Benjamin now and as his sole parent, he needed all of my attention.

"I'll get you to cave, eventually," Robby sounded determined and I didn't doubt he'd continue to try.

Not that I'd accept any time soon.

"I should get to work," I sighed, sitting the backpack filled with anything Benjamin could possibly need in the chair in front of the desk.

"Wait, I say bye papa," Benjamin yelled, rushing from around the desk to me.

I crouched down so he could hug me.

"Bye papa," he said cutely, kissing my cheek.

I made sure to give him a loud smooch on the cheek that made him giggle happily.

"Be good for your uncles."

"Otay."

It was always a struggling parting from him.

If I could, I'd carry my pup around with me everywhere.

There was always the fear that I'd miss some important or big moment.

Luckily I'd been there for his first words and first steps.

I hope I had the same luck for his first shift.

That could happen any day, it all depended on the pup.

It could be today or in five years.

My feet felt heavy as I forced myself to leave Benjamin behind.

If I kept this us, I was going to get fired for being regularly late to work.

Huffing, I stomped my way through the pack house.

I've used some of my vacation time to get a few days off to spend with my pup next week.

We both needed it.

Rounding the corner, I was hit in the face with a scent that made my breath catch and my knees grow weak.

It took a few seconds for my brain to catch up with my rapidly beating heart.

No... this couldn't be happening.

********

Drumming my fingers over the steering wheel nervously and staring up at the pack house, I imagined every possible way I could avoid going in.

My mind had been distracted since this morning.

Even working had been difficult.

The guys eventually got fed up with my mistakes that caused them to do more work.

After having been cursed out numerous times, I figured it was best that I left early.

Now I was faced with a new dilemma.

How to get my pup.

Torin wouldn't agree to bring Benjamin to the truck and no one in the pack house would go against their Luna.

He'll want me to stay for dinner too. I had no choice but to go in.

Running my fingers through my messy hair, I got out of the truck.

It's best to just get things over with and out of the way.

Maybe I can get Benjamin and sneak out.

I'll have to deal with Torin later but it was better than running into whoever it was that smelt like ripe peaches.

It was a nice day, not too cold but not yet warm enough to be considered spring.

I could hear that a lot of the Werewolves were in the back, enjoying the weather.

From the sound of their playful growls and howling, I knew most of them were in their furs.

I found my brother there amongst them all.

His copper toned pelt was easy to spot, along with the fact that he was the smallest wolf besides the young pups.

Torin and I never spent much time together in our furs or ever really.

I was always scared I'd hurt him, especially when we were younger and his wolf was no bigger than a small lap dog.

Robby didn't seem to have the same fear.

He chased after my brother and pounced on him, making my heart pause before spotting Torin wiggle free unharmed.

My pup didn't yet have his fur yet but it didn't stop him from playing along, imitating their growls and jumping on the large black wolf.

I knew if it were any other Alpha, they would have growled at the pup to teach him his place.

Benjamin waddled around in his puffy jacket, his little legs only allowing him to move but so fast.

His cheeks and nose were red from the cold, his little teeth on full display from the large smile.

He's my life now.

Everything I do is to make sure he's happy and comfortable.

I couldn't risk anything getting in the way of it.

Or anyone.

No one would pull me away from my pup.

No one would make me feel ashamed for having him.

His giggling pulled me closer and I picked him up, making him squeal before he noticed it was me.

"Papa."

"Having fun?" I chuckled, ruffling his hair.

Just being around him lifted my mood, taking my mind off everything worrisome.

"I'm a wolf," he gave a mock growl, his teeth snapping.

Torin appeared beside us, having quickly dressed because his shirt was on backwards.

I didn't mention it to him, he'll eventually figure it out.

"You're not suppose to be here for another two hours. You can't take him yet," Torin argued, looking devastated that he couldn't spend more time with my pup.

Benjamin reached out for his uncle who quickly snatched him from my arms and ran away inside to hold him hostage.

Robby chuckled, having not cared to get dressed besides pulling on a pair of jeans.

"Looks like you're stuck here for the rest of the day," Robby pointed out.

"Why don't you knock him up already," I growled irritably and Robby's smile turned smug.

I was distracted by a scent that I had ran from this morning.

I could do so again. Come back later and pick Benjamin up, when everyone's retiring to their rooms and there's no risk of running into anyone.

Unable to help myself, I took in a deep breath.

If there was ever a Utopia, it would be in that scent... such a subtle sweetness.

I wanted to roll around in it... cover it with my own scent.

Growling, my jaw clenched.

There was no running... I'd have to face them.

The quicker it's done, the faster I can go on about my life.

I couldn't run away every time I picked up that scent.

They'll eventually pick up mine, if they haven't already.

[newtonsheffield]

I woke up too early for work this morning but that's ok because chapter 2 of my hand is out and I'm!!! The scene from Edmunds funeral made me cry and Anthony having his " I'm never getting married moment" was so sad but I loved that you made him notice Kate's slightly disappointed reaction.

My favorite part was the little "You Belong With Me" music video moment with the flashlights across the street. When you started posting snippets i hoped something like that might happen, it's such a silly thing that I love.

Anyway, I loved the chapter so much, papa Sharma and Kate being there for Anthony and the flashback to him deciding to go to the same school. You write his inner thoughts and dialogue really great and I can't wait to see more of his cute (and silly/stupid as an adult) thoughts!!

I'm glad you enjoyed it!

I thought it was really important for both Anthony and Kate to acknowledge that at some point they'd both thought they could be together. They weren't ready then, but there was something sort of unspoken that one day when they were ready they would be together.

And what Anthony was essentially saying, knowing that kate wants to have her own family is: We can't be together. And at that moment, Kate makes a choice. She'll still be there for him, anyway he needs.

For Anthony it's an acknowledgment from kate that she'll move on, he thinks. That what she felt probably wasn't so very serious. But for Kate, as we'll see in coming chapters, it means setting aside every vision she'd had for the future. One where she and Anthony were together and they had two or three children and their lives were as happy as they had been growing up. And she'd never once imagined that Anthony might not want it too.

But yeah! Heaps of flashbacks coming, one in every chapter! Plenty of baby Anthony and Kate idiocy, including Anthony getting thrown in the drunk tank for hitting someone who tried to grope his girl.