#something old something new something borrowed something blue and a silver sixpence in her shoe

[guinevereslancelot]

got my friend a silver sixpence for her shoe bc she got engaged (and she's estranged from her parents over it) and she told me she's getting married barefoot 😂

[onegianthotmess]

THIS ISN’T FOR SHIPTOBER, BUT I LOVE HER!!!

This is Morel’s wedding dress she wore during her wedding with Leona. I wanted to put her in something soft, flowy, and very feminine since she practically exudes femininity in whatever she wears because she’s a #kween and I love her-

I was going to go with a blue theme, but I figured that since she always wears blue and only tiny touches of red/deep pink, I’d go with a baby pink color scheme. The pink also makes her eyes and necklace stand out, so I think it was a good choice!

She’s also following the “something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue, and a silver sixpence for your shoe” sort of thing because she thinks that a tiny bit of extra luck can’t hurt. And Finnian is the main reason that all of her items were pulled together. Her something old is her veil, which Finnian found while they were antiquing one day; her something borrowed is a pair of earrings that Yvette let her wear, even though they’re hidden by her hair; Morel’s something new is the pair of heels that Finnian bought her specifically for her wedding; her something blue is her necklace that Finnian gave her as a gift years ago, and Finnian also gave her the silver sixpence to tape into one of her shoes.

(The image of Finnian showing up with all of these things for Morel is making me want to cry, my sweet little blorbos-)

Morel and Leona done believe in the bad luck about seeing each other before the wedding, but Morel did keep the dress a secret from him because she wanted to be a little shit and keep him in suspense because she can’t not tease him. It drove Leona crazy for months that he couldn’t see the dress because he wanted to see how beautiful his herbivore would look when they got married. But it was SO worth the wait when he finally saw her, especially with the surprise of her cutting her hair right before the wedding.

But the surprise basically led to Leona endlessly complimenting/teasing Morel and making her face go even more red than Riddle and Rayne’s hair. She can’t help that she feels shy, especially since her anxiety made her really nervous about the wedding and made her think that everything would go horribly wrong. Spoiler: nothing went wrong-

Morel is just so pretty and Leona is prepared to treat and love her like the Queen she is and Morel is prepared to return the favor and treat and love Leona like the King he is. They just love each other a lot-

[traditional-with-a-twist]

Beauty and Her Beast: third arc

anime-verse, canon divergent: Instead of sending Shirayuki to Lyrias, Clarines goes to war. The main arc begins after Izana’s forces triumph at a terrible cost.

What it would take for Shirayuki to marry Obi?

Read it on AO3.

See also an alternate version of the wedding arc (including early drafts of Something New and Something Borrowed).

Chapters

1-15. (first arc) 16-30. (second arc) 31. Something Old 32. Something New 33. Something Borrowed 34. Something Blue 35. Silver Sixpence 36. In Her Shoe 37. For Richer 38. For Poorer 39. In Sickness 40. In Health 41. For Better (part 1, part 2) 42. For Worse 43. To Have 44. To Hold 45. As Long As We Both Shall Live

Bonus

a recap of our story thus far:

(born of research for this)

[granite-avenue]

"Something old"

"Something old" is the first line of a traditional rhyme that details what a bride should wear at her wedding for good luck:

Something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue, and a [silver] sixpence in her shoe.

The old item provides protection for the baby to come. The new item offers optimism for the future. The item borrowed from another happily married couple provides good luck. The colour blue is a sign of purity and fidelity. The sixpence — a British silver coin — is a symbol of prosperity or acts as a ward against evil done by frustrated suitors.

...

[punkylilwitch]

Witchcraft-based Wedding Traditions

Image: https://indiebridelondon.co.uk/blogs/wedding-inspiration/witchy-wedding

Ceremonies for weddings started in Mesopotamia at about 2350 B.C. However, most traditions still used today are Pagan, Egyptian, Roman, and Greek in origin. When Christianity began to take over other religions, they also adapted and converted many pagan traditions adapted from these years of historical significance. Thus, with the spread of Christianity, the spreading of these traditions also carried over and quickly became the average American marital experience; as rich or poor, most at least used a white dress and adorned the ceremony with their selected flowers.

Now before we begin, let me clarify that any of this, if treated very carefully, can be avoided. Ex. if you would like to wear black to your wedding, you can take other measures to ensure you receive the luck and blessings desired. So just know that there are always alternatives as long as it is properly researched and cared for :)

White Wedding Dresses - a roman tradition; It was associated with Vesta, the virgin goddess of hearth, home and family. She was served by temple priestesses garbed in distinctive white clothing and because she is said to be the goddess of domestic life among the aforementioned things, she is said to give her blessings if appeased. If a guest wears white along with the bride, it is frowned upon because said guest may end up stealing these blessings. Meanwhile wearing black can be potentially bring death to the relationship.

Wedding Rings - This tradition started with the Egyptians who believed that left finger, which had a vein that runs through to the heart, was the vein of love and brings couples closer together. Egyptians originally wore organic rings made from plants such as reeds and hemp. Later when this was adopted by Romans and Greeks, the ring was made to be more durable with the intent of making the marriage stronger as well. Greeks then adapted this as well, and they and romans began adding engravings or symbols to the medal meant to use the energy given to them through the ceremony to aid in the keeping of love between the couple. The symbols varied but included clasped hands and portraits. It was starting in medieval times when stones began to surface and be used in rings as both a sign of wealth and because of the perceived properties each stones possessed.

Bridesmaids - used to help ward off negative spirits by confusing evil spirits as to who is the bride. traditionally bridesmaids are also meant to be veiled to further confuse the spirits

Blessing of the union - self explanatory, but if said with the correct intentions this easily becomes witchcraft

Veiling - warding off evil spirits and bad luck from groom seeing the bride before they are wed on the wedding day. also said to generally hide the bride from general evil spirits that may want to curse the union

Something old, new, borrowed, and blue - This in particular is an old English rhyme. It is famously believed that, “Something old is representative of the link between the bride’s family and her past, while something new is representative of a good future with her new family. Something borrowed is customarily mean to be an item shared from a successfully married wife, as a way to pass on a bit of good fortune to the new couple. Something blue represents faithfulness and loyalty, while “A silver sixpence in her shoe” was traditionally meant as a way for the bride to (quite literally!) carry good fortune and wealth into the marriage.” which is a quote coming from a historical site in Salem that is a popular site for holding weddings and educating people about the history of Salem, paganism, and witchcraft.

Flowers (crowns, throwing pedals, and bouquets) - ritual for protection; specific flowers were used such as wolfsbane in order to grant the couple(specifically whoever bears these flowers) anything from love and fidelity to protection and luck. On the topic of the myth that the catcher would be next to get married, most everything carried by the bride after the couple is officially wed is lucky. Ergo, catching a tossed bouquet is considered very lucky and that the catcher has been passed on the fortune of being able to find happy and long-lasting love. In the past, it was used for distracting the crowd so the bride could leave, but this again stems from a belief that the bride and her newly blessed attire is lucky.

Carrying a sixpence - pagan tradition for luck

Tossing grain/rice/seeds - wishing the couple a fruitful marriage, a form of blessing passed on when the couple is hit by what’s thrown

https://aminoapps.com/c/pagans-witches/page/blog/pagan-veiling-hair-binding/bN2r_Wm8UouXxkgM3aKwwpj6PBPwb1v3ea

https://historycollection.com/10-christian-holidays-beliefs-steeped-pagan-traditions/9/

https://medium.com/witchology-magazine/the-magick-of-using-flowers-in-pagan-wedding-ceremonies-f100612ae5da

https://4cs.gia.edu/en-us/blog/origin-of-wedding-rings/#:~:text=When%20Alexander%20the%20Great%20conquered,Cupid%2C%20the%20god%20of%20love.&text=The%20Romans%20adopted%20this%20belief,rings%20on%20their%20ring%20finger.

https://mosaicfrog.com/Throwing_Things

https://www.salemcrossinn.com/something-old-something-new-the-history-behind-wedding-traditions/

[spiderman-homecomeme]

Something Old

Part 1 of “And a Silver Sixpence in Her Shoe”

AN: Hey guys! I’m back with another multi-chap, though a much shorter one! This was just an idea I had a few weeks ago and I thought it was too cute not to write. It’s short. It’s sweet. It’s FLUFFY. Get ready for a Spideychelle wedding everyone!!! This story follows the poem: something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue :)

Read here or on AO3

-

Her nails are digging into her palm, one hand clenched while the other taps at her thigh in a hiccuping rhythm as she paces the short stretch of hallway just outside his room. 

This was a bad idea.

Wasn’t it?

No, it was fine. 

If he could do it, so could she. 

The thundering beat of her heart accompanied by the tightness in her chest tells her otherwise. She knows that it’s normal, her body’s own physiological reaction in response to a significant amount of acute stress, something perceived as a threat to her very survival. It was fight or flight, and in that moment, she was leaning more towards the latter. 

Yeah, flight was sounding pretty good right about now.

And though it wasn’t necessarily life and death, knocking on Peter’s door, asking him to hang out-- even after all the confessions and kisses on the bridge-- might as well have been. 

But damn it, they had one more (very much unplanned) night in London, and she wasn’t about to let it go to waste. Due to the terrifying nature of that day’s events, all flights out had been cancelled and rescheduled for the next day, the entire class being put up in some fancy hotel, once again, by someone whose name rhymes with Fick Nury. Although she desperately wanted to be home after the fiasco that was this “vacation,” she knew a night to cool off was probably for the best. After all, Peter had been dangerously, just all around, way too close to dying; getting on an eight hour flight right after with no rest in between would probably not be good for his overall well-being. 

Which was why she was second guessing her decision right now even more, if that was even possible, her hand toying with the silver chain around her neck, coming down to the broken glass pendant.

She’s just convinced herself that maybe this really was a terrible, no good idea, about to turn right on her heels, when the click of his door opening stops her. He startles slightly at the sight of her, his brows raised, mouth twisted into a cute little “o,” eyes blinking owlishly in surprise. “Hey.” A breathy chuckle escapes him, a shy grin breaking across his features. 

“Uh, hey,” MJ replies lamely, feeling as if all of the oxygen’s been taken out of the room. Her own lips fight back a dopey smile as she offers a weak wave. 

A beat passes.

Peter clears his throat, eyes falling on the piece of jewelry hanging quietly around her neck. He’s unable to hide the way his cheeks warm and redden, his lips twisting as he bites back a shy smile at the sight of the Black Dahlia necklace he’d given to her just hours before. 

It’s a look that Michelle can’t help but think looks ridiculously good on him. Almost unfairly so. 

He gestures to the necklace, opening his mouth to speak but finds that he’s unable to form coherent, human sentences.

She glances down, her voice soft. “Oh, uh, yeah. I… put it on.” 

“Yeah,” he breathes, not entirely sure why he felt that was an adequate response. “I, uh, was actually gonna come see if you wanted to, uh, hang out. For a bit.”

The smile on Michelle’s face threatens to grow, and she glances down. “Me, too. I mean, I was gonna see if you wanted to hang out. Not… Not me,” she laughs breathily. “That’s… that’s why I was in the hallway. To come see you. Uh, yeah…”

God, how did he do that?

How was he the only person that could possibly make her so damn nervous? Make her bumble and ramble on like some kind of lovesick puppy?

“Do you wanna…” He falters, glancing down at his hands. “Do you wanna maybe come in? We can like, watch a movie or something? It’s all on Nick Fury’s bill, so we could probably get whatever we want on pay-per-view…” He jokes, scratching the back of his neck as he rocks on his heels. 

MJ doesn’t even take more than a second to consider. “Yeah. Yeah, totally. That’d be… That’d be cool.”

Peter instantly relaxes, letting out a breath of what she can only assume is relief as he beams at her. 

“Awesome.”

And it was, if she could say so herself, awesome. 

Yes, it was awesome, even if they did spend a majority of the actual movie sitting approximately fifty feet away from each other on the bed, still only looking at each other when they thought the other couldn’t see.

(Spoiler alert: they both could.)

She’d catch herself playing with the necklace more than once, and she’s at least ninety percent sure Peter had too.

Not that she cared really. 

The way she’d see him from the corner of her eye, the tips of his ears turning an adorable shade of pink, the way he’d struggled to bite back the dumb little grin tugging at his lips. When she’d felt his pinky lightly, cautiously graze hers, his hand slowly intertwining with her own… It was enough to make the dozens of butterflies in her stomach start to spontaneously combust all at once. 

She’d gone back to her own room close to one in the morning, biting at the inside of her cheek to prevent her grin from growing any wider, feeling as if her body could’ve gone into cardiac arrest after Peter had landed a particularly sweet goodnight kiss right on her mouth. 

And she’d fallen asleep that night, the faint smile on her face never having left, her fingers smoothing over the glass pendant of the necklace. 

It’s almost the same that next morning, seeing him at the complimentary breakfast, sitting across from him at the small table as they both munch happily on some Fruity Pebbles. 

The same feeling’s there when they board the plane home, finally sitting together and using Peter’s dual headphone adapter to watch a plethora of both depressing and funny movies, per her request. His eyes light up, same as they had the night before, seeing the pretty, broken necklace around her neck. 

And of course, the giddy warmth MJ’s been experiencing only skyrockets when she feels Peter’s head fall onto her shoulder, the cutest, faintest snore coming out of his mouth as he naps. 

Her eyes pore over the book in her hand, absentmindedly touching her necklace, her fingers delicately toying with the shattered pendant. Peter had been so sad, so disappointed seeing it broken in her hands, the way he’d rambled on and on about his plan, how sorry he was, still making her stomach to backflips and somersaults. 

But it didn’t matter to her that the necklace wasn’t “perfect.” 

Not in the slightest.

Her lips press into a fond smile when she feels Peter shift, nestling even closer than before, and she leans her head down on top of his, eyes closing.

She really did like it better broken. 

--

She wears the necklace everyday. 

Absolutely never, under any circumstances, takes it off.

No exceptions. 

(Well, maybe to sleep. And shower. But those were the only times.)

And every time Peter sees her wearing it, he always has the same reaction, the same one as that one night in London, without fail; he looks down briefly, his lips pressing together in a valiant effort to keep the timid smile tugging at the corner of his mouth from getting any bigger. He does this, even as they reach their first anniversary. 

And their second.

And their third.

And so on.

She’s wearing it the day they actually define their relationship, Peter’s voice the faintest bit shaky as he sits on the opposite end of the couch, asking what if they were “boyfriend and girlfriend.”

And her answer had been surprisingly simple, disguising her own frayed nerves and churning stomach under thinly veiled nonchalance as her eyes meet his. 

“I mean, I’m wearing this, aren’t I?” She’d asked in return, hooking her thumb underneath the silver chain. At his unsure silence, her expression had broken, and she’d glanced down, laughing nervously at her own lame attempt at a joke. “I mean, if you… if you wanna be.”

“I do,” Peter breathes out, worried expression melting away into a smile. “Do… Do you… wanna be… my girlfriend?”

Just as before with his first question, her answer is quick and simple. 

“I do.”

There are other necklaces over the years, of course; ones that friends give her. Ones that her parents give her. Even ones that Peter gives her. 

But, no matter what, she always comes back to the shattered black dahlia. 

It’s weird, how something so small can mean and hold so much. She’s never considered herself an overly sentimental person, never being one to care much about physical objects, but for some reason (and she has a vague idea as to what that is), her entire worldview practically flips on its axis, just for this piece of fine Italian jewelry. 

There’s so much to that small necklace, the one he’d first given her all those years ago on the Tower Bridge, and with it comes all of the butterfly-inducing memories of that night and day. Their first kiss. Their first confessions. The beginning of their relationship. Watching movies in his hotel room late at night. 

Really, it means more to her than she could ever possibly even begin to admit. 

And Peter seems to know without her ever saying a word. After all, he feels the same way. 

There’s not a single important milestone or event that she’s not wearing it. 

She wears it with her near matching black prom dress. 

To any and all decathlon meets, especially nationals, because she has this faint inkling that, hey, it might bring them some good luck.

To her dad’s family reunion, hiding in the corner of the room with all of the other introvert Joneses.

To birthday parties.

To graduation.

Everywhere. 

Her mom had noticed, always smirking quietly to herself seeing the piece of jewelry hanging delicately around her daughter’s neck. “You’re gonna end up wearing that thing on your wedding day, aren’t you?” She had joked at one point, the warm, teasing glint in her eyes impossible to ignore as she’d helped a college Freshman MJ move into her dorm. 

Then, Michelle had rolled her eyes, stomach flip-flopping in embarrassment at being so called out. She hadn’t answered, instead ignoring her mom’s question as she unconsciously reached a hand up to fiddle with the necklace in question.

And now, nearly six years later, she smiles at the memory, holding the same necklace in her hands, thumb tenderly smoothing over the still shining black glass as she’s zipped into a simple, yet beautiful white gown. 

There was a past to this old necklace, one that was so precious to both MJ and to Peter. One that would be with them always, wherever they went. No matter what.

And her mom had been absolutely right. 

[sueboohscorner]

#Outlander - "The Fiery Cross" S5, Ep1 Recap

#The Fiery Cross – Outlander S5, Ep2 Recap

Cheers to the end of “Droughtlander!”  Let’s recap!

The episode begins with a young Jamie and Murtaugh.  Jamie’s mother has just passed and Murtaugh makes a vow to Jamie that he will always be there for him.  It’s a promise he has kept through good times and bad – and there have been some really bad times for Godfather and Godson!  

Now, at Fraser’s Ridge, we see that Jamie and Claire have been busy!  They have built a beautiful new home and have given Brianna and Roger their cabin.  They’ve also got a growing number of tenants – families who have settled on the Ridge. 

It’s Roger and Brianna’s wedding day and Roger is fumbling about trying to shave with a “cutthroat razor.” Jamie steps in to help.  Roger shares with Jamie his fears about not having what it takes to be successful in this era.  He’s a scholar – not a hunter or farmer – so what will his place in this new world be?  He and Jamie are still awkward with each other, but Jamie has made a peace offering and presents Roger with a beautiful handmade, wedding band for him to place on Brianna’s finger.  It’s a start but Jamie also has fears that Roger won’t be able to adapt to his new life. 

Meanwhile, Claire is helping the bride dress.  It’s a beautiful mother/daughter moment that Claire thought she would never have when she left her daughter behind to return to Jamie.  How thankful she is to be able to share this day with Brianna. 

While Claire prepares the bride, Jamie searches for items for Brianna’s something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue.  With gifts in hand, Jamie finds his daughter and is speechless when he sees how beautiful Brianna is.  Jamie presents her with his mother’s pearls, her bouquet, a shot of whiskey and a silver sixpence from Murtaugh who can’t be there because he’s in hiding.  Bree dons the pearls, takes the bouquet, drinks the whiskey and puts the coin in her shoe.  Like Claire, Jamie thought he would never have this day with his daughter and tells her how hard it is to give her away when he’s just found her (tissues please). 

It’s time for the ceremony and a proud Jamie walks Bree down the aisle.  Though, much to Jamie’s chagrin, the ceremony is to be performed by a protestant minister.  Nevertheless, Jamie gives his daughter away, Brianna and Roger exchange their vows as Jamie and Claire remember their wedding day (and we get to enjoy the memories too).  

Roger and Brianna are now man and wife so on to the party!  At the receiving line, Governor Tyron congratulates the bride and groom and asks to speak with Jamie at a more appropriate time.  Jamie, of course, knows what the Tyron wants to talk about – Murtaugh’s capture.  Aunt Jocasta approaches the newlyweds and requests a private meeting with Roger.  

The Fraser clan throws quite a party, and as Brianna and Roger cut their cake, they remark on how lovely the day has been.  They “feed” each other cake and Roger makes a comment about having another ceremony when they go back to “their” time.  From the look on Brianna’s face, it doesn’t appear that she is planning on going back. Clearly, she and Roger haven’t talked about it and if you remember last season, when Claire and Bree talked about her returning home, Claire was concerned about taking the baby through the stones. 

As the party and dancing continues, Brianna is looking for a dance with Jamie.  As she searches for Jamie, she overhears a conversation with between Jamie and Lord John as he tells Jamie that there have been reported sightings of Stephen Bonnet.  Hearing Bonnet’s name and learning that he may be alive, brings back all the memories of that horrific night. Try as she might, it’s as if the floodgates have opened and the terror Brianna experienced at the hands of Bonnet, can no longer be suppressed.  

As Brianna tries to push the memories aside, Roger serenades her and they have a beautiful wedding night.  Afterwards though, as Roger sleeps beside her, the panic returns as do the flashbacks.  Unaware of what is happening with their daughter, Jamie and Claire finally get their grandson to sleep and try to have their own “wedding night” without waking the baby.  Also, did you catch the moment in the montage when Marsali appears to tell Fergus that she is having another baby by gently touching her stomach?  It happened so quickly that I almost missed it. 

In more wedding night shenanigans, with the festivities dying down, Jocasta is led back to her room and who is there to greet her?  Murtaugh!  Seems he got to catch a glimpse of the wedding after all!  Jocasta and Murtaugh have their own romantic night but in the light of day, she tells him that Duncan Innes has proposed marriage, but she has not yet given him an answer.  She is hoping that Murtaugh will tell her not to marry but how can he do that when his life is in danger?  He tells Jocasta that he will not stand in the way of her happiness. 

It’s time for Roger’s meeting with Jocasta.  Jocasta tells Roger that she has changed her will to make Jeremiah her heir instead of Brianna.  She tells Roger that if she left her fortune to Bree as she had originally intended, then her money would essentially belong to Roger.  Jocasta feels that Roger may treat Jeremiah more favorably is he knows that Jem will inherit everything.  Roger is pissed and tells Jocasta where she can put her money and storms off!  Rather than being upset at Roger’s outburst, Jocasta just grins. 

It seems this is the reaction she was hoping for from Roger.  Roger returns to Bree and Jeremiah and pledges with a blood oath claiming that Jeremiah will be his son, now and forever – no matter what.   

Back to Jamie and Claire, Jamie tells Claire that Governor Tyron is no longer satisfied with Jamie’s efforts to locate Murtaugh and demands Jamie honor the deal he made with the governor or lose Fraser’s Ridge.  He orders Jamie to assemble his men and hunt down Murtaugh.  He wants to see Murtaugh publicly hang as a lesson for all the Regulators.  Jamie sees no way out of it. How can Jamie hunt and murder Murtaugh?  But, as Fraser’s Ridge is now home to more than just his family, how can he risk losing his land when so many have made a home there? 

The bigger problem facing Jamie and Claire is that they know the Revolutionary War is coming and Jamie needs to make sure his men are loyal to him and not to the Governor.  Jamie goes to the chest containing his highlander garb.  His kilt, tartan…all of it.  It has all been hidden away since it was banned by the British after Culloden.  Seeing Jamie in his kilt, is emotional for Jamie and Claire and for us too.  It’s been a long time since we’ve seen Jamie in his kilt and it’s still a fabulous sight to behold!   

As everyone assembles, Jamie lights the fiery cross.  I’ve read a couple of other articles recapping this episode and some had a problem with the burning cross and the historically negative connotation that comes with it.  Honestly, it didn’t strike me that way at all, I saw it as a celebration of Scottish tradition, but I’d interested to see how you felt about it.  But I digress…back to the ceremony.  As Jamie lights the cross, he explains the meaning of the ceremony as a call to war and asks the men to pledge their loyalty to him.  He looks first to Roger, who it appears doesn’t get what Jamie is asking of him.  But as Fergus and the men of Fraser’s Ridge step forward to pledge their loyalty to Jamie finally Roger does too. 

Now to the final moments of “The Fiery Cross.”  Jamie finds Murtaugh as he hides in the woods.  Jamie warns Murtaugh that he must flee.  Jamie can no longer hold off the demands of the Governor to hunt him down.  An emotional Jamie releases Murtaugh from his vow and urges him to go somewhere where he can’t be found (more tissues please). 

I thought it was a great episode.  I have not read the books though (I’m working on it), but I’m told by those who have that the show’s creators did a great job of setting things up for what’s to come. 

The next episode, entitled “Between Two Fires” airs on Sunday, February 23.  Subscribe to www.sueboohscorner to see my recap and the recaps of all your favorite shows. 

[dontshootmespence]

Through the Pages

Chapter 25

She couldn’t quite believe it – the day finally arrived. Her wedding day.

She’d also gathered her something old, something new, something borrowed, and something blue and a silver sixpence for her shoe. Her something old and borrowed was a silver bracelet her mother had received from her father on their fifth wedding anniversary. The something new would be her flower crown and her something blue wouldn’t actually be worn on that day, but rather that night. Spencer had asked if he could buy her lingerie, in a deep blue he loved, for their wedding night – something she anticipated more than she wanted to admit aloud.  

The last two weeks felt simultaneously slower than molasses and faster than a speeding bullet. Last minute plans and decorations had to be purchased. Another panic attack or two needed to happen. Eleise questioned everything – not her love for Spencer – but everything else, and of course her mother had to have the dreaded conversation with her. 

“In my time, mothers used to tell their daughters to ‘lie back and think of England,’” Eleanor said with a slight smile.

Blushing, Eleise looked away and toward the kitchen, wondering if her father could hear the conversation at all. “That’s horrible!” She replied. “I want to enjoy my husband, not lie back and think of something else! Also, must we have this conversation?”

It wasn’t that she knew nothing; she knew more than most women her age in Victorian times. But hearing her mother talk about such things…it felt scandalous. From now on the only person she wanted hearing her say such things was Spencer.

Unfortunately for Eleise, her mother did go into some detail about the way bodies moved and reacted, but she eventually moved passed the goings on and cupped her daughter’s face in her hands. “Many women will tell you that your wedding night isn’t meant to be enjoyed by you, but by your husband. I disagree. Communicate with him and relax and you will be fine.”

She blushed and looked to the far corner of the room, grateful for the advice and yet desperate to end the conversation. “Thank you, Mother.”

                                                           -----

Through all the doubt and wondering and uncertainties, she knew she wanted Spencer for the rest of her life – through the good and the bad, she wanted to confront it all with him.

Getting ready that afternoon, she stood in front of the mirror as her mother helped her dress for the big day. One thing she was definitely looking forward to was not having to wear so many layers underneath her clothing. She didn’t want to dress scandalously by any means, but it had been nearly three-quarters of an hour and there was no end in sight. Why a chemise, drawers, stockings and a corset were all necessary underneath was beyond her understanding. In her brief times in Spencer’s world, she reveled in the freedom the bra afforded her movements.

“Are you okay, Eleise?” Her mother asked. 

“Of course,” she replied with a smile. “Why wouldn’t I be?”

“You are moving about a lot.”

“It’s just the layers of clothing. It all takes so long!”

Eleanor giggled at her daughter’s exasperation. “It was worse when I got married.”

“I can’t even imagine, Mother.”

A bustle pad added a little extra in the derriere area. It was expected, but she hated it, despite the fact that she enjoyed the way the dress looked with it underneath. Penelope mentioned not needing it because Eleise already had a “booty,” which was apparently a good thing in 2011, but she would wear it anyway. Her mother seemed to be enjoying the ceremony of it all. Despite the lingering worries in the back of her mind, she was determined to push it away, and that meant seeing her parents smile. 

With a petticoat for extra body, a camisole to cover the lines of her corset and her boots, she was finally able to slip on the dress that made her feel every inch the Victorian bride. Finally, the ensemble was complete and topped with a flower crown of orange blossoms adorning her head. “Don’t turn around yet,” her mother said excitedly, placing the bracelet around her daughter’s wrist before running up the stairs. “Your father must see you first.”

Eleise waited impatiently, bouncing up and down on the balls of her feet in anticipation. She’d seen the dress on herself before, but today it was actually happening. Today, she’d walk down the aisle of her childhood church and marry the man she loved with all her heart and soul.

She heard her father come down the stairs and immediately regretted having put on her minimal makeup before her father saw her. “Ready, darling?”

“Yes.”

Rounding the corner, Alfred instantly began crying. “You look beautiful,” he whispered through shaky breaths.

“Don’t cry, Father. You’ll make me cry.”

“I can’t help it,” he said, wrapping his arms around her. “You’ve become every bit the woman I knew you would be. I’m so proud of you.”

Eleise felt warm tears stream down her cheek and onto her father’s coat. Knowing that in a day’s time, she would be on the other side of the door meant he held on just a little too long and a little too tightly. “Thank you, Father. Both of you. I love you both so much. I just…”

Alfred pulled back and brought his finger up to her mouth. “We know, love. Today is a happy day. No matter what happens, where you are, we’ll always be with you.”

The mother, father and daughter stood silently in the home in which she’d grown up, glancing at the kitchen table where so many meals had been eaten, upstairs toward her room – now a childhood room that held all the memories of playful afternoons and restful evenings. A new stage of her life began now.

“Are you ready to go?” Alfred asked, clearing his throat. He held out his arm, waiting for Eleise to link her own in his.

With one more look at both her parents, she took a deep breath. “I’m ready.”

                                                            -----

Though the church stood tall and able to house hundreds of members of the flock, the attendees were small in number, limited to just a few of her mother and father’s friends, Chief Tennyson and Margaret, her only female friend from work that took over the secretary position once she was promoted to officer. All of Spencer’s friends stood as members of the party, already at the front of the church so that all eyes could be on the woman Spencer had fallen head over heels for. Penelope, JJ and Emily were dressed in light purple dresses they all greatly preferred on the other side of the door. Here they were heavy with puffy sleeves and corsets and they could barely breathe, but Spencer was happy and that was all that mattered. Derek, Hotch, Rossi and Spencer were all decked out in the finest trousers, button-down shirts, shiny black shoes and long coats, topped off with top hats for good measure.

Before the music started, Spencer and Benjamin shared a look from across the church. Out of everyone here, only he could come close to understanding how Spencer felt in this moment. Pride, excitement, nervousness – it all rolled through him like clouds in a storm, but he didn’t have long to dwell on them as the processional music began and the doors opened.

Courted by her father, Eleise’s gown was bathed by light as she walked, her eyes already glistening as her father took in every detail on her face. Orange blossoms guided her path and studded the pews, but not enough to overwhelm the natural beauty of the church. Despite being the center of attention with all eyes on them, it was as if no one else existed but he and Eleise. “Do you give this woman to be married to this man?” Father Weston asked when they arrived at the altar.

“I do,” he said, a somber tone painting his otherwise happy demeanor. He brought Eleise’s hand toward Spencer’s and joined them. “Take care of each other.”

As the service truly began, Spencer whispered how beautiful she looked, still oblivious to the fact that anyone else existed in this space. Father Weston welcomed all the guests and thanked them for coming on behalf of the bride and groom before leading them all in prayer. While the members of the BAU stayed silent, Spencer repeated what prayers he knew for the sake of keeping up appearances for her parents.

Next, Father Weston read a timeless passage from Corinthians. “Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.” As he spoke, Eleise saw her parents mouthing the same words, hands clutched tightly together. “It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil, but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails.”

He wasn’t much for the Bible, but that passage had always held a special place in his heart.

“Spencer, please repeat after me.”

“I, Spencer Reid, take thee Eleise Griffiths, to be my wife, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better or for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish until death parts us.”

Eleise squeezed his hands tightly, barely able to hold herself together as she repeated the same vow. Before they exchanged rings, they’d asked to say a few words to each other before those gathered around them. With shaky hands, Eleise reached for the paper her mother had been holding. “Despite those around me asking why I hadn’t married yet, I knew the answer. I was waiting for the one that my soul loved. It took longer than I expected, but I would do it all again. I would wait a thousand lifetimes knowing that you were at the end of my path; that we would start our own. Spencer, there are no words that can adequately express the vow I give to you now – it is an ineffable part of myself that I place in your care without reservation or hesitation.”

Spencer cleared his throat and wiped a tear from Eleise’s cheek with the pad of his thumb before speaking. “I, too, endured many years of people wondering whether or not I would find the one that my soul loved, but I would also do it all again if it meant that I would meet you. In your eyes, I found my home. In your heart, I found my love. In your soul, I found my perfect other half. With you, I am whole. I pledge to listen and learn from your love, to hold you when you cannot stand, to devote myself to you and to our family, and to love you beyond my dying breath.”

Now in full sobbing mode, Eleise took a handkerchief from her father and blotted her tears away before they exchanged rings – simple bands engraved with their initials and their wedding date – something Spencer hoped would remain once they crossed the door’s threshold.

“Now, by the power vested in me by the Church of England, I pronounce you husband and wife. Spencer, you may kiss your bride.”

Memories of that Christmas kiss flooded her system again when Spencer pulled her close, the cheers of their guests flooding the walls of the church. Whatever the future held for them, together, they would face it head on.

@remember-me-forever-silent-angel @veroinnumera @alixcharmedworld @kitsch-i-might-be @sharon6713@gaylemonshark @zombies-bunny @spencerwreid @ophila-archie-l @theatre-mom @too-music @illegalcerebral @madduhsen @rayreids @criminalnoodler @princesswagger15 @followingmyowndirection@kawhgi @astridstark13 @extremeobsessions101 @pretentiouslisp @meghanll @jillthekill @coffee-and-stories​ @thekatherinewinchester @courtneymarieroseee​ @ashley2197​ @tbhm1a​ @fl0werb0nes18​ @professional-fangirl-2002 @everyday-imfangirling @bookaddictlove​ @stunudo​ @spencer-is-too-perfect​ @meganlpie​ @rawritsmolly​ @sebba-hiddles​ @spookyshyguy @rt8815​ @badbitsh13​ @epicstepic @queenanneslace4​ @giddybeater​ @chilloutbitchx @teaspoon-full-of-sugar​ @transparentmilkshakefury @sunflowerscratches @mad-maximilian​ @antoheartit​ @sallangel @moonlightrose18​ @confused-and-really-hungry​ @reallyshypeanut​ @clockworkballerina​ @youknowisay @niall2017​ @were-skye​ @generouslyuniquestudent @forcingsmiles247​ @weirdgirlwithproblems @saraisthoughts​ @louis-writings​ @flannelparker​ @nadpug​ @pastroptard @pandacraz09​ @kitten863 @simitten​ @xxm3xxj​ @just-antiyou​ @whaaatthefuuuuck @thatnerdygirljudy​ @notes-in-a-bottle​ @wkxicnrueiiejjf @catherinechatzi​ @fernicusb​ @princessjae92​ @original-criminal-fanfics​ @teamwolf2411​ @piotreknawrot @aligre-blog @call-me-meh @donnacif-blog @lastfallenstar @crimeshowtrash​ @grenae18​ @annexoeh​ @captswann​ @the-unloved-person @april1535​ @stupidmenina @chloereidjonesellessar​ @imaginativedaydreams @bbkenna @immundusspiritu @karouwinchester @thelateliterary @sassyspacedust @spicy-quarius @emilyshurley @heycasbutt

[pendurancepals]

Prompt: Traditional ~Allison

Lindsay had always fantasized about her wedding—hypothetically, of course, since she didn’t imagine ever actually getting married—and she thought of her childish notions now. Weddings always seemed like a monstrous waste of money, an epitome of gluttony. An expensive white dress, easily ruined and destined only to be worn once. Wedding invitations that would only be thrown away after guests RSVP’d. Tens of thousands of dollars thrust into a single day.

Even so, she’d pictured her dress. She’d pictured the silver filigree and scripted names on the invitations: her husband-to-be’s and her own, no parents to speak of giving away the bride. A bouquet of sunflowers and roses, ever since she’d seen the two juxtaposed outside a florist near the first house she could remember. Rustic centerpieces with arrangements to match the one she’d throw over her shoulder, a hope for bachelorettes to grasp at. The traditional wedding rhyme, what a bride needs to come up with in the eleventh hour for luck before walking down the aisle:

Something old,

Something new,

Something borrowed,

Something blue,

And a sixpence in her shoe.

A forgotten line, the last, but the one that she, a proponent of forgotten things, used to take most seriously. She’d wondered where she’d find a sixpence for her shoe, with the sixpence out of circulation for decades, and her not even in England. That had been the biggest of her hypothetical-wedding worries. The kind of farcical engagement that she was about to enter had never even been a twinkle in her youthful eye.

There was no twinkle to be seen now, her eyes glossy and unfocused in the bathroom. Only the blurred ghost of a girl in the mirror, and the flaming walls surrounding her.

[thebritishmonarchycouk]

Lucky Sixpence Pendant

A lucky sixpence makes a great gift on many occasions, especially for a wedding when for the bride or for a bridesmaid, they can recite the old verse:

Something old,

Something new,

Something borrowed,

Something blue,

And a sixpence in her shoe.

And to make the sixpence extra special we can personalise the silver sleeve it is held in with a name, short message and a date You can also give a sixpence as a good luck charm on many other occasions, for example, to wish a friend 'good luck' before an exam, or when starting a new job. We have a limited supply of authentic coins dated between 1921 and 1967 that we use to make this gift which comes on an 16-18" (40-45cm) extending solid silver chain with a bolt ring clasp as standard. You can opt to have a longer chain if you prefer by choosing the length you require in the drop down menu below. Both sides of the sixpence are preserved in the silver sleeve and we expose the reverse of the coin which shows the year and the abbreviation 'FID DEF' - 'Defender of the Faith'.

Pre 1947 sixpences are a little more expensive due to the silver content. All sixpences are used coinage and the older ones will show signs of wear, we think this adds to their beauty and we make sure the date and pattern is always legible.

You are able to choose the year that the sixpence was minted if you wish, select the year from the dropdown menu below. If the year doesn't matter simply select 'No Preference'. Order securely online today for fast delivery worldwide.

http://tidd.ly/1a37b838

[nesepalamudu]

something old,

something new,

something borrowed,

something blue,

and a silver sixpence in her shoe.

[zenonaa]

For the kiss meme: Naegiri 19 or Tofu 32? Whichever

Funnily enough, I actually got the same Tofu request in another ask, so for now, here’s some naegiri. :3

Naegi/Kirigiri - a kiss for luck.

While living aboard many, many years ago, Kyouko learned an old English rhyme. In fact, she had learned several, but now, many, many years since then, one in particular came to mind, and she recited it in front of her full length mirror quietly, as if not to disturb the night that had curled up around the glow of her bedroom and seeped into the room’s corners.

“Something old, something new, something borrowed and something blue,” said Kyouko. Her room held its breath, and looking into her reflection’s eyes, she said the next line. “And a silver sixpence in her shoe.”

Kyouko didn’t have a sixpence bit, and as the eleventh hour approached, she suspected she wouldn’t receive one. No matter. Apparently, the coin was supposed to ward off the evil that radiated from any frustrated former suitors, but Kyouko didn’t have any of those, so she didn’t have to worry about that.

Her only suitor was the man who she would be marrying in the morning.

The string of eye contact hanging between her eyes and the pair belonging to her reflection slumped and collapsed as she dropped her gaze. She studied the strapless dress that she was holding against her body by its two top corners. It was a violet affair with purple silhouettes of roses stitched onto the sheer layers of fabric over the skirt, which altogether conjured the image of the ruffles of a rose head. Three large ribbons wrapped around the dress, slanting more the lower down they were. At the top, the ribbon was horizontal by her waist, while the lowest one drooped in a clear diagonal.

“You’re beautiful,” came a voice behind her. Kyouko could see the speaker without having to turn around. Makoto was reflected in her mirror, soft smile and all.

“Some people think that a groom shouldn’t see his bride in her dress until the ceremony. It’s bad luck,” said Kyouko, keeping her back to him. “It stems from how when arranged marriages were commonplace, the soon-to-be couple distanced themselves to reduce the chance of the groom getting cold feet.”

His chin raised as he stiffened. For a moment, his grin vanished, but then a weaker one was born from its ashes. One hand hovered in front of him.

“Ah, sorry…” That hand slipped around to cup the back of his neck and Makoto started to twist toward the door in preparation to leave. “I’ll go.”

Kyouko made sure her features were serious and in check before she gave him a calm, lidded look over her shoulder. “It’s an outdated belief. Don’t worry about it. May I ask why you’re awake?”

Makoto faced her properly and removed his hand from his neck.

“I came here to ask the same thing,” he said with a valid point. “I noticed your light was still on. You know, for someone who doesn’t buy into superstitions, it’s surprising that you’ve been trying to have… what is it?”

He paused. His brow furrowed and his eyes flicked upward.

“Something borrowed… Something new…?” he said slowly.

She let one hand go of the dress and used that hand to comb her fingers lightly through her lavender hair.

“I don’t believe that anything supernatural will happen if I don’t do it,” she said. “But it’s harmless fun, so I thought, why not? It just involves receiving small gifts from the others, and each item has a special meaning to it.”

Kyouko walked over to her vanity, carefully draped her dress over the back of the chair there and pulled the vanity drawer toward her. It grunted open. She picked out an item and turned around, holding out her hand toward him. He blinked then approached slowly, peering down.

“Some say that something old is to ward off the evil eye, which is a curse that if it locks onto you, will bring you misfortune and ill-health. Others think it represents continuity, a long happy marriage and protection for future children.” Kyouko regarded her hand with a slight grimace. “I went back to my father, and in the box containing his bones was his wedding ring.”

Makoto winced. That wedding ring was in her hand currently, but she had drawn a chain through it and turned it into the pendant of a necklace. Satisfied that Makoto had been given ample time to examine it, she returned it to the drawer and took out something else to show him.

Golden wire dipped between her fingers, its length not as long as the necklace. Attached to it was a milky pearl, with a small disc by it engraved with Kyouko’s name.

“Something new… Asahina-san bought this for me,” said Kyouko. “Something new represents optimism for the future.”

She put away the bracelet and showed three hair clips next, all with fake purple roses attached.

“Fukawa-san was generous enough to lend me the hair clips that she received from Togami-kun for her last birthday. To receive something borrowed is to be given good luck. It is usually from another bride, and though those two aren’t dating…”

… Despite the mysterious bruises that Byakuya’s neck sometimes glimpsed…

“… the happiness and love from the owner has the same effect,” finished Kyouko.

She stored away the hair clips and revealed a set of earrings. They consisted of two blue teardrop crystals that would hang from their hooks, one for each ear.

“Hagakure-kun gave me these,” she said.

“Gave?” asked Makoto, raising his eyebrows.

Kyouko pressed her lips together to fight down a smile. One squeezed out.

“Yes, he gave them to me for free,” she confirmed. His cheeks quivered.

He perked his head up. “Right. What does ‘something blue’ mean, by the way?”

“Purity, love, and fidelity,” she recalled, and she returned the earrings to her drawer. She shut it and with her back to him, added, “In Britain, they also have a silver sixpence, an old coin, though I don’t have one. It’s supposed to bring prosperity and ward off bitter suitors.”

Her fingers dragged lazily against the flat surface of her vanity.

“But like I said, it’s all superstition. I don’t buy into it at all. However, these gifts have symbolism, and for our friends to give me these with those wishes of good fortune in mind…”

Kyouko’s smile ever so slightly widened.

“… that’s why I am happy to go along with it,” she finished explaining.

“I see,” said Makoto, trailing off in thought.

She opened the drawer again and took out the necklace. To say it was given to Kyouko by her father would not be strictly true, but she had got the ring from him, and she fidgeted it between her fingers.

A hand pulled gently on her shoulder. Kyouko let herself be turned around. Makoto filled her vision and she felt a breeze in the room, in the room with no fans or opened windows. Neither had to say anything. They leaned in simultaneously. The brief chill dissipated, replaced by the warmth of a countryside on a summer’s day, of a cup of hot chocolate, of his lips. He touched his palm to her cheek, and she rested a hand over it.

When they finally drifted apart, Makoto was still smiling, and so was she.

“I don’t have a sixpence, but I promise that I’ll protect you,” he said quietly, and she knew that she would find prosperity and good fortune with him.

[distanceheld-aa]

meheheh 💒 — promisedmore: avery

i. theo’s there. roxy has control over the playlist, but theo’s there and he plays steph down the aisle ( an instrumental rendition jason mraz & colbie caillat’s lucky )

ii. oakley walks steph down the aisle. it’s a great “compromise”, which is to say she doesn’t want her dad to walk her down the aisle, so she comes up with a reason for anyone else to. she likes a certain amount of tradition, but “being given away” isn’t something she can really get behind. it’s fitting, though, because oakley is her ex wife, so she can tell her father it’s about “technically, i’m not yours to give away”.

iii. mona, isla, ellie, georgie and dot are her bridesmaids, with oakley as part of the bridal party on the technicality of walking her down the aisle. mona is her maid of honour. steph did ask / want to ask honey, but didn’t want to put her in a position where she felt like she couldn’t leave if she was uncomfortable. honey sits in the front row with carol, ian, penny, jakob and the rest of the ritters.

iv. steph CRIES. actually, a lot ( thank you mona for the waterproof mascara ), though she doesn’t let it show. she’s just about teary-eyed from the moment she walks down the aisle, but tears fall during the vows and the first dance. we know avery cries.

v. steph wears doc martens under her dress. they can’t really be seen until later on in the reception when steph’s picking up the skirts of her dress to move around more easily. the laces and detailing on the shoe are blue.

BONUS: something old: she combines the “silver sixpence in her shoe” part of the tradition with the something old.something new: the tiara !!! she’s fuckin princess and she deserves it ( again, thank you mona ), and that is what she counts as her something new something borrowed: as this is supposed to be borrowed from someone in a happy marriage, “borrowing that bride’s happiness”, she borrows the ribbon that tied fern’s bouquet together, fashioning it as a bracelet-corsage style thing. something blue: her laces.

🌟┊❛ @satellitewrites — five ( 5 ) wedding headcanons.

[lizzybeth1986]

Finally! An appropriate occasion to wear the polo dress! I'm assuming the gift giving is the Cordonian version of the "something old" superstition. I don't know how old it is, but the entire rhyme is "Something old,something new,something borrowed,something blue,and a silver sixpence in her shoe". The part about the coin in the shoe is supposed to be the most important part, but it's not often mentioned or done. Normally they're things that are worn on your person, but a sword sounds way cooler.

Oh wow, I had no clue about the sixpence thing!! Where I come from the "something old..." tradition is pretty unheard of, and the only way I'd actually been able to find out about it was through movies or fanfic or talking to people who had those traditions. I'm reading about this now on the Royal Mint website and it says here that "the sixpence stood for good luck, and to show that the father wished his daughter prosperity in her marriage", which is quite lovely. And yes, I sure as hell am hoping the MC's carrying the sword!! She'll need it, with Anton not even allowing her to see her gown properly before he bombs the place 😑

[1dshortficfest]

Spring 2018 Short Fic Fest!

Here’s the full list of fics that were written for the Spring 2018 Short Fic Fest! 

Just a Dream by Justalittlelouislove Something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue, and a silver sixpence in her shoe.

Vision of a Reckless Love by YesIsAWorld Liam and Anton attend their first swingers party, but things don’t work out the way they planned.

maybe by momentofclarity I cannot not see you again. I cannot.

Mars Needs Irishmen by kassio Niall Horan has always been a bit obsessed with space.

Beat the Odds Together by crimsontheory Harry and Louis are both YouTubers who met and starting dating through YouTube. One morning Harry wakes up to a surprise video from Louis.

there was nowhere to go but everywhere by Lediona It snuck up on him gradually, the realisation that this is actually ending. The entirety of the last five years feels like a fever dream when he tried to make sense of it all. It’s impossible to look at too closely - it had become a mass of noise and sound and energy in his memory, too fast-paced and blurred now to be recognisable as individual moments of his life.

walk down our aisles first by musketrois (B_kate)  The ridiculous part of the whole situation was that Louis wished the proposal was real. He’d only known the man in front of him a handful of hours, but he was already picturing a long future with him. or Louis and Harry meet while filming a jewelry commercial.

when i’m pipe and slippers and rocking chair by nightwideopen If there’s anything that Nick has learned from being with Louis is that his mind is a bit of a coin toss.

Don’t Talk Dirty to Me by Miadoltfi  “So what’s wrong, Nan? Why did you call?” “Oh, I was just explaining it to Harry. Come in, darlings, let me show you my glory hole.” Louis’ entire life flashes before his eyes. He certainly didn’t hear right. His Grandmother didn’t just say “glory hole”. He steals a glance at Harry to see if he heard it too. Harry just keeps smiling. AKA The Glory Hole Fic

Stockholm by sheesusnat It all comes back to Stockholm in the end.

THE COLD DAY by Larryhasmyheart The hiatus certainly hadn’t gone as Louis had initially expected it would. But wow, he was making an album, and all of them were doing amazing things. Then one day he gets an anonymous text that inadvertently brings him down memory lane.

Painted on My Heart by sakabelle The five times Niall didn’t get a tattoo and the one time he did.

An Oft-Told Story by juliusschmidt Harry spends his lunch with a wise gorilla named Patty at the Lincoln Park Zoo.

Use You As A Warning Sign by jiksa Nick and Louis get trapped in a closet for seven heavenly minutes.

Redwood Seedlings Prefer Full Sunlight by polka_stripes Louis visits her family home in the redwoods after a wildfire came through and finds more than the forest floor is left exposed.

Purple Skies by thelouistiti Louis loses his Nana and fights his way back into a life without her. The butterflies will find you even in the darkest path of your soul.

tell me what you need by disgruntledkittenface “And a fresh cherry?” he asks, pinching his bottom lip between his fingers. He waits as Louis stares him down, his brow furrowing. “No? What the fuck,” Louis rasps, looking bewildered.

The Kingdom Inside My Room by mc_writer Liam is a Prince. Louis is not. The royalty may be different, but sometimes love is enough to overcome everything.

head over feet by theweightofmywords Louis falls head over feet, in spite of himself.

Contact by myownspark A short story about two men navigating the wilderness.

Until We Find the Light by angelichl He’s so exhausted that all he wants to do is crawl between the spaces of the seconds on the clock and fall asleep. But there’s a boy with angel wings standing before him, hand reached out to gently brush the stray curls from Harry’s face. Subconsciously he sinks into the warm, unearthly touch. The morning begins with begging. And the worst and most dreaded of all? “Eat breakfast, Harry. Will you please eat?” In which Harry has an eating disorder and Louis is the angel sent to protect him.

How Blue Your Eyes Were by gettingaphdinlarry When it comes to a school assignment, Liam only has Niall on his mind.

Sea of Love by theweightofmywords Louis wants to be part of his world.

The Pink Toothbrush by smileformemylovely Louis and Zayn are best friends who may be sleeping together. A pink toothbrush clears up everything.

Let me have a bite by notasawrap “The universe doesn’t allow me to raise your ego,” Louis says dramatically, causing Harry to chuckle. A loving, contemplative smile appears on Louis’ face and certainly no one can blame him. Louis hoists himself up to kiss the corner of Harry’s mouth and hugs him harder. The way Harry’s hands tighten around him might be a sign of how much Harry missed Louis, but what does he know; he is nothing but a mortal in love. or It’s Louis and Harry first San Valentine’s Day as a married couple and since Louis’ hasn’t seeing his boy for the last month or so, he thought he could do something special and give Harry what he’s been asking for.

right now (always, always) by from LA, February 2018. Niall runs.

Base Hit by kikikryslee Louis stood up, keeping his weight in his left foot. “So what happened?” Harry asked, watching Louis hop around the bench and toward the car. “I did this crazy dive for the ball before it went into the outfield,” Louis answered. “You should’ve seen it, babe. It was awesome. I did one of those tuck and roll things and when I came up, my ankle just kind of went the wrong way.” Harry nodded. “That sounds like a great movie scene, Lou. What really happened?” “That is what really happened!” Harry raised an eyebrow. “Fine,” Louis huffed. “I ran to first base and tripped over the bag when I was trying to get Ernie out. Are you happy?” — Or, just some domestic fluff where Louis hurts his ankle while playing baseball with his brother and Harry gets to take care of him.

Quiet Ones by YesIsAWorld Zayn remembers Liam.

Not yet a breach, but an expansion by theweightofmywords “I don’t understand why we keep running into each other,” he says as his hands grip his hair in frustration. Shaking himself out of his reverie, he scoffs. “You know why, Harry.“ Fate, it seems, still holds their lives in her ceaseless orbit.

Wish You Were Here by alittlewicked From time to time, Louis got a peculiar feeling in his chest. Like something was literally tugging at his heartstrings. It was like the urgent need to be somewhere, like a niggling feeling at the back of his brain. That vague notion that something… or even someone was waiting out there for him to finally catch up to them, to come home. Or: The one were Louis is looking for home and finally finds it in Harry, the selkie.