#sorry for only including madcap in half of them

[incorrect-mfm-quotes]

WHAT YEAR IS IT!?!?!?

Sorry for not posting in over a year smh, I forgot this account exists. Take some alignment charts as compensation :)

[fly-pow-bye]

What’s Airing On Cartoon Network? (May 2020)

Yeah, sorry I forgot about all of this. All of the new episodes this month after the break.

Bakugan Battle Planet

May 3rd:

Haunted House/Two of a Kind - Haunted House: Rumor has it that there's a haunted building in Los Volmos, and the Awesome Brawlers are on the case! Who doesn't like a good ghost hunt, plus capturing a ghost on camera should make Awesome Brawlers' next video a huge success!/Two of a Kind: Veronica Venegas is doing a special report on the Awesome brawlers own: Lightening! The special report takes a back seat when Lightening is challenged to a brawl. Lightening uses this brawl the perfect opportunity to rollout his new Bakugan partner: Tretorous. (6:30 AM)

May 17th:

Magnus P.I., Parts 1 & 2 - There's a been a string of thefts and each one has involved a Bakugan. The AAAnimus security force have decided the only brawler who could be responsible is: Magnus. The shock of this accusation sets Magnus off to takes justice in his own hands and go after the thief himself./Magnus foils the latest burglary attempt by the phantom thief, and in doing so, discovers the brawler partners with a golden Bakugan. Magnus is now more interested in a brawl, than stopping any crime. (6:30 AM)

May 24th:

Awesome Brawlers Training Camp, Parts 1 & 2 - The Awesome Brawlers head to a training facility owned by Kasami International to prepare for the Bakugan Battle League - Los Volmos. But once the gang figures out they will all be competing against each other for the same title, the "team building" retreat doesn't quite go as planned./Agit turns up at the Kasami training facility and fits right in with the Awesome brawlers. This is a lifestyle that he can get used to, but it becomes apparent Agit is torn between a life as a phantom thief and life as a brawler. (6:30 AM)

May 31st:

The Bakugan Battle League Begins/Riot vs. Ajit - The Bakugan Battle League Begins: The qualifying rounds for the Bakugan Battle league are taking place all around Los Volmos. The Awesome Brawlers all make it through into the tournament without a hitch, that is all but Dan. Dan faces an old rival in Trey, who's back with a few tricks up his sleeve./Riot vs. Ajit: The Bakugan battle league is finally here and 16 brawlers have qualified to enter including all the Awesome Brawlers. The first round will feature a brawl between China Riot and the golden Bakugan brawler, Agit! (6:30 AM)

Craig of the Creek

May 2nd:

The Cardboard Identity - Craig and his friends stumble upon a mysterious bunker made of cardboard beneath the Creek. (9:00 AM)

Ancients of the Creek - Craig, Kelsey and JP discover an ancient fort that belonged to the first kids in the Creek. (9:15 AM)

May 9th:

Mortimor to the Rescue - When Craig, Kelsey and JP get stranded in murky water, it's up to Mortimor to save the day! (9:00 AM)

Secret in a Bottle - Craig needs to get a secret off his chest, so he pays a visit to the Keeper of Secrets in the Creek. (9:15 AM)

May 16th:

Trading Day - After Craig accidentally destroys a shipment of rare Chocorolls at the Trading Tree, Kit makes him work off his debt by running her trades throughout the Creek! (9:00 AM)

Crisis at Elder Rock - Tragedy strikes the Creek when the Elders get trapped under Elder Rock, and it's up to Craig, Kelsey and JP to rescue them. (9:15 AM)

May 23rd:

Kelsey the Worthy - When Kelsey demolishes a wall at Craig's house, her father takes away her sword. So she enlists Craig and JP to help prove to her father that she's still worthy. (9:00 AM)

The End Was Here - Craig tries to figure out how an ancient war that decimated the Creek began in hopes of stopping history from repeating itself. (9:15 AM)

DC Super Hero Girls

May 3rd:

#CrashCourse - When a high-speed chase breaks out during her driver's test, Diana Prince's desire to fight evil clashes with her desire to undergo a World of Man teenage rite of passage, getting her license. (4:00 PM)

Power Players

May 3rd:

Winner Takes All - After months of training for Luchador Day, Axel needs Masko to coach him against a pair of uninvited competitors - Madcap and Dynamo! (7:30 AM)

Prepare for the Worst - Axel and Bobbie Blobby skip out on Sarge's disaster-prep drills, leaving enough of a gap in the team's defenses for a crow to swoop in and snatch Sarge! Feeling responsible, Axel leads the team on a search-and-rescue mission. (7:45 AM)

May 17th:

Stuck on You - Tired of Axel and the team taking him for granted, Masko tries to get kidnapped and ends up stuck to Dynamo, who's less than enthused with his rubbery new sidekick. (7:30 AM)

Opposites Attract - Claiming he's good at heart, Dynamo convinces Axel and the team to help him find a battery that can power his centrifuge and free him from Madtrap's control - but Bobbie Blobby isn't buying the baddie's story. (7:45 AM)

May 24th:

The Thing in the Wall - When Axel and the team accuse Galileo of stealing their possessions, the lizard must hunt down the true culprit - a mysterious creature behind the wall - to prove his innocence. (7:30 AM)

Madtrap - Madcap and Princess SugarSalt trap Axel and the team inside a Minergy-powered labyrinth that attacks them with their greatest fears, forcing them to work together and escape as a unit. (7:45 AM)

May 31st:

To Tame the Perilous Skies! - With Axel's drone-wing broken, the team must find another way to stop Madcap and his minions as they take to the skies in toy airplanes for an aerial assault on the city park. (7:30 AM)

Four Color Fallout - Axel, Galileo, and Sarge get Minergy-transported by Madcap into the pages of Axel's favorite comic book, the hero of which turns out not to be so cool after all. (7:45 AM)

Teen Titans Go!

May 25th:

Justice League's Next Top Talent Idol Star: Justice League Edition - The Justice League holds yet another talent competition, only this time they're facing off against the Titans. In order to be the most talented superhero team in the DC universe, Robin and Beast Boy must work together on a jazz performance. (6:00 PM)

ThunderCats Roar

Sorry, no descriptions for the last two episodes yet. In fact, the only reason why there’s descriptions at all is because most of these were See It Firsts, as is tradition for ThunderCats Roar.

May 2nd:

Summer Fun Day - The Thundercats are exhausted from fighting bad guys all the time so Lion-O suggests they spend a relaxing summer fun day at the beach, with no fighting! Unfortunately the beach is home to the Crabmen, giant, clawed humanoids that fight anyone who steps on their sand! Looks like summer fun day might involve some fighting! (10:30 AM)

Safari Joe - While minding her own business, Cheetara is caught in a trap set by Safari Joe, the famously annoying hunter! After escaping, she rallies the other ThunderCats to help her stop Joe once and for all, by turning the tables and capturing him! (10:45 AM)

May 9th:

Ratar-O - The ThunderCats have gotten so good at defeating the Mutants of Plun-Darr that it's basically become routine. That all changes with the arrival of the Mutants' old leader: Ratar-O, wielder of the Sword of Plun-Darr! Uh-oh! (10:30 AM)

Prince Starling's Quest - Lion-O is happily playing with Snarf in their "Frolicking Field" and doesn't have a care in the world, unfortunately he's accidentally stomping all over the miniature village of the Micrits! The tiny people want to defeat the "giant orange monster" but such a quest would require a brave hero. Luckily, the Micrits have such a hero: Prince Starling! Now, let us the tell you the epic tale of Prince Starling as he journeys to find the fountain of growth and defeat the wicked Lion-O, who has no idea any of this is going on! (10:45 AM)

May 16th:

Lion-S - Lion-O and the other ThunderCats are thrilled to meet a brand new Thunderian: Lion-S! She's cool, good at fighting robots and, most importantly, thinks Lion-O and his Sword of Omens are really neat and interesting! Looks like the ThunderCats have a new best friend! Maybe even, a new ThunderCat????? (10:30 AM)

Snarf's Day Off (10:45 AM)

May 23rd:

Mumm-Ra of Plun-darr (10:30 AM, half hour special!)

Total Dramarama

Ditto for this show.

May 2nd:

Beth and the Beanstalk - After having a chocolate bar confiscated by Chef, Beth finds herself in a parallel giant world and aims to get back her now giant chocolate bar. (10:00 AM)

Pinata Regatta - Izzy can't bring herself to smash a Pinata during the class' Cinco De Mayo celebrations. But when that unsmashed Pinata comes to life and spawns an evil Pinata Army, it's batter up. (10:15 AM)

May 9th:

A Dame-gerous Game - After Leshawna, Bridgette, Owen and Cody win a Hide & Seek competition, they're trapped on a private island by a jealous former champion and forced to play for their freedom. (10:00 AM)

Royal Flush - When the other kids fear Harold has accidentally flushed himself down Chef's fancy new toilet, they travel into the sewer on a rescue mission. But will they find Harold before the mythical Alligator King traps them underground forever? (10:15 AM)

May 16th:

Total Eclipse of the Fart (10:00 AM)

May 23rd:

Dissing Cousins (10:00 AM, half hour special!)

Transformers Cyberverse

...and ditto here, too!

May 3rd:

Enemy Line - While Optimus struggles to be a leader in peace-time, Bumblebee undertakes a daring mission into Decepticon territory. (7:00 AM)

May 17th:

Thunderhowl - Bumblebee and Chromia travel to Crystal City to recover one of Windblade's psychic shards and encounter a long-lost bot. (7:00 AM)

Wild Wild Wheel - A dangerous lone gunslinger named WildWheel returns to Cybertron looking for Optimus Prime. (7:15 AM)

May 24th:

Alien Hunt! With Meteorfire and Cosmos - Bumblebee enlists washed-up TV show host Meteorfire to help him find another of Windblade's psychic shards on Luna-3. (7:00 AM)

Journey to the Valley of Repugnus - Bumblebee and Grimlock are separated as they search the depths of Cybertron for another of Windblade's psychic shards, encountering the Monsterbots and the Energon Masters. (7:15 AM)

May 31st:

Rack N' Ruin N' Ratchet (7:00 AM)

Dweller in the Depths (7:15 AM)

Victor and Valentino

May 2nd:

My Fair Achi - V&V enter Achi in a dog show competition to win a golden trophy, but their overbearing ways drive Achi to the edge. (9:30 AM)

Oddities - When a mysterious carnival barker fuses V&V together, they must find a way to come unstuck. (9:45 AM)

May 9th:

I.....am Vampier - When Vic enters the Monte Macabre film festival, he gets insecure about his artistic vision and decides to copy the work of others, but ultimately learns that staying true to yourself is what's most important. (9:30 AM)

Victor the Predictor - When Victor becomes convinced he has a special talent as a psychic, he decides to use his new mental abilities to counsel those around him - until one piece of advice goes too far. (9:45 AM)

May 16th:

Kindred Spirits - When Val becomes friends with the ghost of a silent film star, their friendship turns out to have dire consequences. (9:30 AM)

Decoding Valentino - When Val goes on an adventure with Isabella to decode an ancient language, he has to come to terms with the fact that Isabella is smarter in order to save himself. (9:45 AM)

May 23rd:

Journey to Maíz Mountain - When Victor and Valentino destroy Monte Macabre's corn supply, they journey to Maíz Mountain with Sal to replace it. But in order to get the corn, they must shrink down to the size of ants and embark on a mythical adventure that they'll never forget! (9:30 AM, half hour special!)

[vagrantblvrd]

Jerevinwood agency AU?

Anon, you get me.

Because reasons, Jeremy’s a college/art school student who works as a bike messenger/courier to cover his bills.

One day his boss gives him this package to deliver, okay. Nothing special about it, he does this all the damn time, but it’s been a weird day in the city.Some kind of commotion making people nervous – some might even call it a ruckus – and everyone’s picking up on it. Acting real damn weird, like Jeremy doesn’t even know.

His boss tells him to be careful – gets real insistent about it before he lets Jeremy get on with the delivery.

And Jeremy, okay.

Didn’t bother to gather with the other bike messengers/couriers around the TV in the break room with the breaking news story on the Ruckus going on. (Had a school project and couldn't get in touch with his partner for it, so that’s a headache and a half, and anyway, he’s the only one not freaking out about delivering packages with the whole !!! going on in the city, so.)

He notices more police cars and emergency vehicles on the roads than usual as he goes to the address on the package,  but doesn’t think too much about it. (There’s always some kind of Ruckus going on somewhere.)

Jeremy does get a little concerned when he realizes his destination is this sketchy looking neighborhood, the kind of motel you see on the news all the time, you know? Someone discovering a dead body and the police being all “We’ve got this!!1!” when they do not, in fact, have this.

So.

He sits on his bike across the street looking up at the motel sign – flickering neon and burned out letters, overgrown patches of grass and shrubbery and the whatnot. Cars that look like they’ve been abandoned in the parking lot, some of the rooms have boarded up windows and overall the kind of place where unsuspecting people (like him) end up on the news as another sad story.

But hey, he’s got a delivery to make and the promise of a bonus if he does it because apparently the customer was insistent?

So.

Yeah.

Jeremy gets his ass in gear and goes up to the motel room and knocks on the door – and it slooowly swings open after the first knock. (Creepy, and not at all ominous.)

When he gets inside – well, look.

He’s not going to say it looks like s crime scene, but. It kind of looks like a crime scene.Furniture knocked over and blood every-goddamned-where.

TV turned to some shopping network or infomercial channel, and Jeremy makes the mistake of taking a look around. (Someone could be hurt, what with the blood and all, and also Jeremy’s an idiot.)

The bathroom looks like someone was murdered there, because blood? (But mainly the body in the tub, wrapped up in the shower curtain someone ripped don and ohfuckohfuckohfuck.)

Jeremy turns right the hell around to leave, but there’s a guy standing behind him?

Tall and broad shouldered and most likely the murderer. (Because blood, and also the gun he’s holding on Jeremy???)

“Okay, I’ll admit it,” the guy says when they ed up staring at each other for a long, awkward moment. “It doesn’t look great for me.”

Jeremy is just -

“Yeah, no,” Jeremy agrees, wondering what’s going to happen to his cats now, because he doesn’t have a Will or anything, you know?

Kind of young to think about that. (Maybe Matt will take his cats in? That would be nice of him.)

The guy seems nice enough for a murderer. Not foaming at the mouth and babbling about something crazy or over the top creepy? But, again, the whole thing about the dead body in the tub and also gun, and also, also, Jeremy seeing all of this?

The guy doesn’t murder Jeremy right away, which is nice of him? (Unless he’s the sort to play with his victims first, in which case Jeremy is out of luck.)

The guy escorts Jeremy out of the bathroom and tells him to sit at the tiny little table in one corner of the room while he goes through Jeremy’s messenger bag.

Gets all quiet as he opens the package Jeremy was supposed to deliver, and Jeremy, okay.

He’s watching this guy, notices he’s hurt. Bandages all over, a few he’s bled through in places. Looks kind of pale – not in a “didn’t get enough sun” kind of way and more of a “yikes, that’s a lot of blood that’s no longer in your body where it belongs” kind of way.

Still dangerous, though, even without the gun. (He just has that look about him?)

“So, uh,” Jeremy says, because the guys still rifling through his stuff, keeps going back to the content of the package Jeremy was supposed to deliver. “What’s going on?”

The guy looks up like he’s forgotten Jeremy was there.

“I beg your pardon?”

Jeremy, okay.“The, uh. Everything going on here?” Jeremy asks, gesturing around at everything.

And the guy, he makes this face as he sits down on the edge of the bed. Looks tired.

“A really bad day,” he says, running a hand over his face before he looks back at Jeremy, corner of his mouth pulled up in this wry little smile. “For both of us, it looks like.”

Not sounding great for Jeremy, but the guy has a point, so there’s that.

The guy asks Jeremy where he got the package, and Jeremy is like, ??? but also tells him his boss gave it to him to deliver, because that’s how his job works?

They’re a small company, twenty people tops out of the holiday season and maybe a handful more then. Nothing big or exciting, and all that.

The guy is like HMMMM and Jeremy is like ???

The guy sighs, starts to say something but that’s when the shooting starts.

Well, no.

That’s when they hear screeching tires outside and the guy snaps into action, scoops Jeremy’s stuff – including the package – back into his bag and tosses it to Jeremy as he shoves him towards the bathroom. Slings it over his shoulders, grabs Jeremy and drags him back to the bathroom.

Pushes him towards the window which is conveniently big enough for them to squeeze through. It lets out into a small alley, and the guy pulls Jeremy along with him as gunfire breaks out behind them.

Jeremy gets slammed into the wall as someone runs tries to cut them off, hears more gunfire -the guy shooting back and what the hell did he get into here?

“Come on, they’re not going to give up easily,” the guy says when the shooting stops, and Jeremy tries not to look when they run past the body of the guy who just tried to kill them.

More shooty shoots, running and hiding and Jeremy having no fucking clue whats going on. Why the guy doesn’t just leave him behind or kill him himself and all that.

Considers trying to escape, but when the people chasing them tries to kill Jeremy too, he decides to stick with only asshole who seems in any way invested in keeping Jeremy alive.

Absolutely saves his life by warning him when someone’s about to get the jump on them and shrugs when the guy gives him a look afterward like he didn’t think Jeremy would do something like that?

“I don’t know who you are, or what’s going on, but you aren’t actively trying to kill me, so I’m going to do what I can to keep that trend going, okay?”

The guy laughs, this surprisingly dorky little thing as he admits that’s as good a reason as anything, so you know.

Eventually they get to this quiet little neighborhood. All nicely kept streets and hedges and whatever else, and the guy gets them inside through the back way. (Because they’re a mess, alright? The guy looks like he’s been through a shredder and Jeremy’s looking like shit too – got a bullet graze and covered in muck and the whatnot during their Daring Escape portion of things.)

“Safe house,” the guy says, when he gets them inside a quaint little apartment.

Boring furniture and bland everything, but most of all safe. (For the moment, anyway.)

Jeremy’s not sure he can trust the guy, but he’s the safest option right now.

There’s the obligatory tending to one another’s injuries scene, in which Jeremy cleans and re-bandages the guy's older injuries. (Looks like he got shot, and given their recent madcap adventures, it checks out.)

The guy doesn’t seem as worried about keeping an eye on Jeremy now – that bit where they saved each other’s lives earlier and also, Jeremy’s in too deep now, so there’s that.

After a little poking around they find food. Nothing gourmet because it’s all boxed and canned stuff, but hey it’s food and they’re too hungry to be picky about it. (Jeremy flashes Ryan this little grin, tells him he makes this dish that’s to die for (hahaha) because college/art student and the whatnot, and Ryan is charmed.)

Jeremy goes about cooking for them while the guy looks over the package Jeremy was supposed to deliver.

Seems to think about it for a moment before he decides what the hell and tells Jeremy what it is.

Government secrets or some such, typical spy thriller movie fare where it cannot be allowed to fall into the Wrong Hands, no matter the cost and so forth.

Tells Jeremy the guy in the motel room was an undercover agent he was meeting with who turned out to be a traitor, and Ryan had to kill him in self-defense and the whatnot. That Ryan waited for Jeremy to arrive with the package and didn’t plan on getting him involved.

Was going to leave him somewhere safe – he stresses the safe part, that he was absolutely NOT going to kill Jeremy because wow, rude - until Ryan got the package to people he trusted. (Didn’t want to have fend off cops  and the whatnot when Jeremy inevitably went to them or they found him, and would make sure that everyone involved knew Jeremy was in the wrong place at the wrong time and the like, but then the shooting started, so. Sorry???)

Jeremy is just like, well shit when he hears all that, because that’s gonna put a damper on him living through this mess. (But hey, thanks for not being an asshole???)

He plates the food and sits down and the guy looks at him for a long moment and sighs, introduces himself as Ryan and sorry you got caught up in this.

Jeremy is just like, yeah, okay, so now what do they do?

Ryan looks at him for a long moment because this Jeremy guy is taking this situation better than most people would, and that’s a bit alarming. (Jeremy’s just like, oh, man. You have no idea, okay.)

They have their lovely little dinner while planning their next move and it’s probably the best part of either of their day, okay. (Ryan is worried about keeping Jeremy alive on top of everything else and Jeremy is just like. Worried. Because everything, but also Ryan who looks like shit and picking at his food and just. He was right about it being a bad day for them both.)

Ryan tells Jeremy about his partner at the agency, one of the only people he knows he can trust without question, and if anything goes wrong to find him. (Jeremy is just like REALLY??? to himself because from what Ryan’s said the traitor agent used to be someone he counted in that group, but okay. Reassures Ryan that he will totally do that if something happens like neither of them grasp the whole foreshadowing thing at this stage of events. Also, there’s something in the way Ryan says “partner” that seems a little off? That, and the unwavering trust in him and so on and Jeremy is like oh.)

Afterwards, Jeremy insists on keeping first watch because he’s not the one who got shot and Ryan really does look like shit - “Thanks???”

Ryan doesn’t sleep well, too on edge for that, bu he does get some rest. Enough that Jeremy doesn’t feel terrible about getting a little sleep of his own when he goes off to the tiny bedroom -

Or he wouldn’t, but the there’s more shooting.

Too many guys this time and they both know it. Ryan gets this look to his face as he shoves the package at Jeremy and tells him to run, to find

And Jeremy, okay.

Jeremy does not want to leave Ryan to die just to buy him time to escape, but the whole thing about this being bigger than either of them and all the typical cliches. (Because DRAMA.)

Jeremy runs, tries not to think about the gunshots behind them or the way they just stop.

Runs and runs and runs, gets to main streets and hops a bus.

Early, early morning and first bus of the day and all. Just a few riders on at this hour and Jeremy makes up some excuse to the startled bus driver. (Jeremy is out of breath and slightly panicky and probably sending up red flags everywhere.)

So he babbles something about oversleeping and missing the bus. That his boss will fire him he’s late again and other little lies until the bus driver is less  likely to call the cops on him. Gives him this look when Jeremy scrambles for correct change and – feeling charitable or just wanting to get back on schedule takes what he has and tells Jeremy to take a seat.

Jeremy does, watches police cars and the whatnot scream past the bus as they pull back in traffic and tries not to feel guilty even though he never asked for any of this.

Has these phone numbers Ryan gave him – just in case, and wow, ALL the guilt – and he uses his phone to call the one for Ryan’s partner and gets the guy’s voicemail.

Which, you know.

Great???

He leaves a vague message, pretends he’s from a delivery service – irony! - and has a package and so on. Mentions trying to get in contact with Ryan but no luck so a call back would be great?

And then he thinks about this address Ryan gave him. Place where Ryan was supposed to meet his partner, and even though Jeremy has a Bad Feeling about things, he doesn’t know where else he can go. (Still, he makes a stop before he heads to the address, makes a few phone calls, just in case.)

It’s another safe house or whatever, and Jeremy checks the area out before getting too close. Isn’t really sure he could pick out a trained agent in the wild, but it seems safe so he goes in.

Finds some guy who seems nice enough. All polite manners and sympathetic to Jeremy’s situation and for a moment – one brief moment – Jeremy thinks it’s over, that Ryan’s sacrifice wasn’t in vain and all that.

Because hey!

This guy says he’s Ryan’s partner and seems to check out – says the right things and whatnot – and just when Jeremy’s about to hand the package over Jeremy realizes it’s a trap.

It’s not an obvious sort of thing, nothing blatant, but Jeremy suddenly knows this is one of the baddies. Couldn’t say why, for the life of him. There’s no outward sign of anything being off, but Jeremy knows, okay.

And Ryan okay.

Odd guy to start with, but Jeremy figure that went along with being a fucking secret agent/spy.

Told Jeremy about his partner, used British slang every once in a while, or what Jeremy assumes was British slang even though some of it was suspect, and this guy -

Credible enough British accent, not that Jeremy’s an expert. Seems believable, and Jeremy tests him, uses some of the slang he heard Ryan use and the guy goes along with it. Is even amused that Jeremy’s using it, and Jeremy makes something up and acts like it’s something he picked up from Ryan.

The guy goes along with that too, and Jeremy is like, well fuck.

Realizes there have to be more baddies around this guy pretending to be Ryan’s partner is a trained agent/spy and Jeremy’s a delivery guy working toward an art degree.

Looks at this guy who’s waiting for Jeremy to hand the package over and tells him to go fuck himself, because Jeremy.

The whole Bad Guy Realizes He’s Been Found Out bit where he drops the act and the accent and asks how the hell Jeremy figure it out.

Jeremy doesn’t play that little game, though. Refuses to tell him anything and the guy is just just like, ah, okay then.

Tells Jeremy how refreshing it is to find someone with actual backbone these days and blah blah blah as he calls the minions in to escort Jeremy to a car waiting outside. (Wants to go the baddie HQ to squeeze information on the the package’s whereabouts after Jeremy lets him know he stashed it somewhere safe before meeting with him, because even Jeremy’s not dumb enough to bring it with him.)

And then!

Someone takes a shot at the baddie – misses because the asshole moves at the last moment or what have you.

Jeremy makes his escape while the baddies are dealing with the shooter – catches the guy guarding him by surprise and makes a break for it.

Ends up leading the handful of baddies after him on thrilling chase – through alleys and the whatnot, Takes it up to the rooftops when someone tries to cut him off with a car. Hops up a fire escape and puts his former gymnastics training and brief dabbling in parkour to use and manages to get away because he makes jumps no sane person – trained agent or not – would ever take.

Runs and runs and runs and oh dear God has he bee doing a lot of that recently until he gets somewhere  safe-ish.

It’s getting late and he doesn’t know where the hell to go now.

Definitely doesn’t want to get his friends caught up in all of this and goes to another seedy motel to think.

And then he’s just like, now what???

Could go to the cops, but for Plot Reasons it’s risky, so he just sits in the dingy little motel room wondering what the hell he’s going to do now, right? Because he’s just a college/art student who works as a bike messenger/delivery guy and this is way above his pay grade.

He doesn’t mean to fall asleep, but it’s been a hell of a day – couple of days? - and he’s fucking tired, okay.

Wakes up again in the middle of the night – not sure why – but when he gets up to freshen up and use the bathroom there’s movement out of the corner of his eye.

Starts to turn, but someone tells him not to.

Another British accent and this tone to his voice – nowhere near joking around – and Jeremy listens when the guy tells him to hold his hands up and all that.

Has to squint against the light when the guy turns them on.

Jeremy’s still half-asleep, too damn tired for more of this secret agent/spy shit and has to pee, so he’s like.

“Look, if you’re going to kill me, could it wait until after I pee?”

And the guy – Gavin, of course – is like ??? and lets him use the bathroom because he’s not a monster.  (Also, there are no windows in this one, or anything he could use as a weapon Gavin can’t handle, so.)

Jeremy comes back out and just looks at Gavin, waiting for whatever happens next.

Gavin is just like, “You look like you’ve had an interesting time of it lately,” which, yes.

Jeremy is totes unimpressed with Gavin, and Gavin is like, ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ because what can you do, right?

They sit down and have a little chat and Jeremy doesn’t trust Gavin – look, aside from Ryan he’s got no reason to trust any of these assholes, and also Ryan trusted that other agent who shot him and so on and so on.

Gavin realizes Jeremy doesn’t trust him and is fine with that – because hey, he’s not sure he trusts Jeremy either- but they’re both working towards the same goal and that’s enough for him.

Jeremy won’t tell Gavin where he hid the package and Gavin’s waiting to hear back from his people – the baddies have fouled things up so badly the good guys are scrambling to untangle everything and the pool of people Gavin trusts is painfully small at the moment.

Gavin convinces Jeremy they should move – if Gavin managed to find him it’s a good bet the baddies will too – so they go off on a ~adventure looking for a better place to hide out for the time being.

Awkward hiding out in another safe house for the two of them. Gavin insists the only people who know about it are him and Ryan, and now Jeremy. (Jeremy winces at that because ouch, and Gavin gets this look to him because oh, yeah.)

Gavin asks how Jeremy even got involved in this mess and Jeremy still doesn’t trust him, right, but figures it won’t hurt to give him a summary of recent events because why not???

Gavin just stares at him after he’s done talking, and Jeremy is like what? oddly defensive, and Gavin mumbles something about Jeremy deserving a damn good tip after all this and Jeremy is just.

God, he doesn’t even know, and it’s one of the most random things he’s heard since this all started and he starts laughing like an idiot.

It’s not even that funny, but he can’t help it and when he gets himself under control again Gavin’s got this odd little smile on his face and things are the teensiest bit less awkward for both of them?

Jeremy doesn’t quite trust Gavin but it’s not like he has a lot of choice in the matter at the moment. They go to get the package, and of course that’s when the baddies show up again and they have to run for it before they can.

Gavin listening to Jeremy bitch about it during their high-speed car chase and is like, oh, man, same? (While Jeremy and Ryan were having wacky funtime adventures (only not) Gavin was doing much the same, but from within their agency?

Showed up in the motel room fresh from an attempt to kill him after he asked one too many questions about what was going on with the dead agent and Ryan. Why everyone was so convinced Ryan was the traitor and realized there was a conspiracy afoot and so on.)

The baddies force the two of them down to the docks or somewhere suitable for the Final Showdown with the prerequisite cat and mouse game?

Gavin leads most of the baddies away because of course the trained agent will be the one with the Important Thing, and Jeremy’s supposed to sneak away, but the baddies are on top of things this time and they both get caught.

Have this moment where the head baddie shows up and monologues at them, Gavin bored with it because really and Jeremy is like.

“Oh my God, really???”

It’s your usual selling government secrets for fun and profit scheme, become disgustingly rich and move to some tropical paradise to live a life of luxury or what have you and it’s just.

All of this because the guy feels he’s owed that kind of life after working for the agency his whole life.

Something, something, something, he’s going to retire in a few years and what will he have to show for it? A gold watch and a shitty pension? He’s sacrificed so much for his agency, his country, and that’s what he gets for it?

And then he looks at Gavin, appeals to him one last time because he does like him. Liked Ryan too, but that stubborn bastard wouldn’t listen to reason, but maybe Gavin will?

If Gavin helps him, he’ll make sure Gavin’s adequately rewarded and they can brush all this pleasantness aside and so on.

Points out if things hadn’t gotten out of hand the way they did, Gavin would have been in his place later on down the road. Staring retirement in the face and nothing to show for it. This way he can retire early, live a good life wherever he pleases and no need to kill himself for an ungrateful agency. A country not his own.

Gavin thinks about it, and then he thinks about it some more. Aware of Jeremy watching him, the other minions watching all this.

“You make a good point,” he says, and ignores the betrayed look from Jeremy as he joins the baddie.

Cozies up to him, tells him where Jeremy hid the package while Jeremy is resigned because why in the world would he have expected anything else at this point. (He doesn’t know Gavin at all, but he’s still disappointed because Ryan had so much trust in him and now this, and really, it’s been a really shitty couple of days for him, all told.)

The baddie put the three of them in a car to go get the package, Gavin up front with head baddie and Jeremy in the backseat with one of the minions.

They get to the place where Jeremy hid the package, some little rental locker at the bus station and Jeremy quietly seething as the baddie checks it over, Gavin right there with him.

He thinks about making a break for it, grabbing the package and running, but there are too many baddies and they’d probably kill him before he got too far. (Cover it up, make him out to be a threat and then the truth about the conspiracy dies with him. God knows the baddie would deal with whatever loose strings are left, even the ones he wouldn’t know about since Gavin’s on his side now, so.)

He bides his time, knows there’s not a lot left now.

Plays nice while they go to a warehouse somewhere to hand the contents of the package over to the buyer, or maybe an intermediary.

The baddie puts Gavin in charge of Jeremy while they wait for whoever to arrive, and there’s a lot of time for Jeremy to scowl at Gavin, make these cutting little remarks that Gavin ignores. Gives Jeremy this look after a particularly cutting one involving Ryan and his trust in Gavin and Gavin -

“Yes, well. That was the point, wasn’t it?”

Jeremy has no idea what to say to that, so he doesn’t say anything at all, and Gavin doesn’t seem interested in talking to him either, so.

He struggles with his cuffs, hands behind his back and all that. Likes to think he’s still flexible enough to get out of them if these assholes would just give him some fucking privacy, okay, but no such luck.

The baddie comes in a little while later with a couple of goons, knows something happened but not what. (Not that he cares)

Wants Gavin with him when the buyer gets there and oh, yes, take care of Jeremy as some sort of test of his newfound loyalty or what have you. (Maybe this is entertainment for the baddie, what does Jeremy know, you know?)

Jeremy looks at Gavin, expecting him to be “This could have been avoided if you’d just cooperated with us,” or something along those lines, maybe a little gloating because baddie, right?

But Gavin is just looking at him.

No expression on his face at all, as he moves behind Jeremy – small mercies he guesses? Or maybe Gavin doesn’t feel good about murdering him and this is for him instead. Make him feel better about things.

The baddie doesn’t seem impressed with that move, probably wanted more of a show, so you know, he can totally go to hell.

He hears Gavin draw his gun, the room suddenly so damn quiet. Hears the muffled cough from one of the goons, soft scrape of his shoes on the cement as he shifts. Noises outside the room, this quiet exhale from behind him -

And then a gunshot.

And another and another.

The first takes out the goon with the douchebag sunglasses, the second is for the one with a cough – half turned away so less of a threat.

The third is for the baddie, but he was running after the first shot. Must have seen Gavin shift his aim, who knows.

Gavin’s snarled swearing as he drops something into Jeremy’s hands before giving chase and Jeremy sits there in shock because he’s not dead???

And the his brain kicks into gear when he realizes Gavin gave him the keys to his handcuffs and wastes no more time getting them off.

Doesn’t look too closely at the goons while he loots their bodies for anything useful. Takes a gun and ammo, knives, and then he’s following after Gavin against his better judgment.

Knows Gavin must have been trying to make the baddie think he’d fallen for his recruitment speech to gain his trust and so on, but not entirely sure they’re still on the same side, you know? That speech was pretty fucking convincing, and hey, he doesn’t really know Gavin, but.

Gavin didn’t kill him when he could have – no reason not to, anyway. Not like they’re BFFs or anything, and he gave Jeremy the handcuff keys, right. (Also, he’s the only one around here who won’t shoot Jeremy on sight – probably – so that’s a thing.)

Can hear shouting and yelling, gunshots and the like. Tries not to draw attention as he follows Gavin – and gets sidetracked when he starts to pass by some goons. Hears them complaining about having to guard the package while the others get to see the “action” regarding the cat and mouse game going on with Gavin and the baddie – standing orders and whatnot.

Jeremy, okay.

Not an action hero, but he’s got a checkered past – of course he does – all these youthful indiscretions and picking up the oddest skills and whatnot.

Distracts the guards with a thrown rock or whatever – and sneaks past them to get the package easily enough. (Figures better safe than sorry, and also, he’s gone this long trying to keep it out of the Wrong Hands, might as well keep on keeping on with that if he can.)

It’s not until he’s sneaking back out of the room that he runs into trouble, some noise or something giving him away and then he’s running. (Again.)

Deeper into the warehouse, and ends up running into Gavin who is “Are you mental?” because Jeremy absolutely should have gotten the hell away when he had the chance right?

But no, no, the little idiot waves the package at him and gestures behind him where the guard goons are presumably chasing him and dear God, why.

Hide and seek for a while longer – Gavin gets shot shoving Jeremy out of the way and the two of them bickering like idiots when Jeremy refuses to leave him behind.

Classic “I’ll just slow you down” and so on that Jeremy is absolutely not having because no, idiot.

(He already did that with Ryan and that was one time too many, okay.)

They get caught, because of course they do.

Baddie gloating and so fucking smug about this – he always knew it was going to come down to this, you know.

Oh, sure, Ryan and Gavin liked to play at being wildcards at the agency, bucked the rules a time or two. Balked at orders they felt were wrong and all that – but in the end they’re just too good to think outside the box.

Blinded loyalty and so on and so forth, Jeremy’s not really listening because it’s clear the asshole loves the sound of his voice and Gavin’s kind of bleeding all over him???

When the baddie realizes he’s lost their attention he gets angry about it, decides to be efficient and put them down himself -

So of course that’s when the cavalry arrives.

Ryan and Gavin’s people having sorted things out on their end enough to organize a rescue, track Gavin and Jeremy all the way down here and save the day.

Gavin laughing at the ridiculousness of it all as Jeremy drags him to cover and they wait it out. (Jeremy shooting him this look because either he’s snapped of the blood loss is getting to him???)

And then!

The shooting trails off and someone knocks - knocks on their cover because manners.

Jeremy pokes his head out and it’s this tall lanky guy and someone beside him who bears an uncanny resemblance to the lanky guy?

All cheerful smiles and hello how are you’s, and goodness, that’s quite the blood trail you left! :DDDDDDDDDD

Gavin poking his head out and telling Jeremy it’s okay, Trevor’s always like that and he’d really like to see about not bleeding anymore if it’s alright with everyone?

It is!They get taken to a hospital or private clinic somewhere where Geoff and Burnie are. Both of whom look like they’re no longer acquainted with sleep because it’s been a hell of a week. (Couple of days, whichever.)

Gavin gets whisked off to surgery because he’s got a few bullets in him and Jeremy gets stitched up and the like while Geoff and Burnie just kind of stare at him?

“Oh, uh. Here,” Jeremy says, and hands them this battered package that everyone’s been so keen to get their hands on?

Geoff hands it off to Trevor and Alfredo who scurry off to get it to people who’ll know what to do with it and Jeremy’s left with these two weirdos still staring at him???

Pretty obvious there’s going to be a lot of Question sin Jeremy’s future and so on – and oh, man, he’s going to have a lot of explaining to do to his boss, because yikes.

Geoff and Burnie decide to hold off on that for now, and they end up waiting around for Gavin to get out of surgery. Someone bringing food and coffee to them because Jeremy’s stomach grumbles somewhere in there and the other two can’t even remember the last time they ate.

When Gavin gets out of surgery he gets taken to a private room to recover and – surprise surprise – Ryan’s there!

All drugged up and super out of and all these machines beeping and chirping and whatnot around him.

Gavin’s kind of out of it too but he has this moment of “Oh, thank God, you silly bastard,” and everyone in the room who isn’t drugged to the gills on painkillers/whatever politely pretend they don’t notice the way his voice cracked or the tears and whatnot.

Ryan just gives him this dumb, goofy smile and seems thrilled to see Jeremy again, all “You!” because drugs and also Ryan.

Jeremy is just, okay, way too tired and exhausted for all the FEELS he is experiencing, so he is likewise “You!” and everyone else is just ??? at these idiots.

Geoff and Burnie get chased out to let the three of the rest (and get some rest themselves while others continue sorting out this clusterfuck.)

And then!

Jeremy is kind of just there watching Gavin and Ryan sleep, wondering what’s going to happen to him now. He’s pretty sure his friends and family think he’s dead or who knows what by now, and God only knows what’s happened to his cat. (He asked someone earlier, but he’s pretty sure they thought he was a crazy person so no real help there.)

Gavin wakes up a few hours before Ryan does and he apologizes for not telling Jeremy about his Brilliant Plan of pretending to turn traitor, right. Didn’t know how good of an actor Jeremy was and couldn't take the risk of tipping the baddie off early and so on and Jeremy is just.

“No, I get it,” and also “You still kind of suck,” and “Hey, glad you’re not dead,” because you know.

Gavin tells him the same and they trade small talk and whatnot waiting on Ryan to wake up - “He’s always like this,” Gavin tells Jeremy, fondness and worry and FEELS and Jeremy is like oh> this whole “partner” thing is mutual?

Which is good to know, because then he can just nip those FEELS he has for the two of them right in the bud, okay. (Totally that thing about feeling attraction in highly emotional moments or however that goes. He thinks he read something about that somewhere???)

When Ryan does wake up he has this dopey smile on his face as Gavin bitches about him being an idiot and so on. Keeps shooting looks at Jeremy like “Can you believe this guy?” like Jeremy won’t bitch at him for the exact same things.

They get another day of small talk and the like before Geoff and Burnie come in to debrief themselves

Jeremy asks if maybe he shouldn't be there for this, what with the Top Sekrit nature of a lot of this? But considering Jeremy almost died a million times thanks to this conspiracy/whatever they're willing to make an exception. (Also, they know where he lives, so keep that in mind, Mr. Dooley.)

Ryan and Gavin taking turns telling their part of things before Jeremy got involved, and then Jeremy’s like “Uh, so my boss gave me this package…”

They finish up a few hours later, everyone tired and kind of stunned about the things they’ve learned about (Gavin is watching Ryan and vice versa and Geoff looks so fucking done with both of them. Burnie is likewise done with ALL these idiots because fucking hell you guys.)

They tell Jeremy they need to keep him around for another day – injuries and follow-up questions and the hospital/clinic is their HQ away from HQ because the two geniuses laid up in hospital beds? But after that he’s free to go home and all that. (They’ll be contacting him later for other things, but yes.)

Ryan and Gavin too tired/injured to make a big fuss about things – and besides, Jeremy’s a civilian, right? He’ll probably be glad to see the last of them for a while so they send the remainder of their time together telling him the most ridiculous stories about past missions or agency shenanigans and he tells them about his less eventful life.

Winces a little when he does because it’s just so lame in comparison to theirs, but they’re eager to hear all about his dumb cats or Matt or everyone else in his life and he’s like FEELs. (But they’re super sekrit government agents/spies and he’s just a delivery guy and they’ll probably be glad to see the last of him, so.)

Jeremy goes home and finds out Geoff and Burnie smoothed everything over with his boss and whatnot. Gave them some line about helping out with a matter of national security, you understand that we can’t divulge the details and all, what with everything being highly classified and such.

He goes back to work and it’s kind of hilarious how everyone obviously wants to ask him what happened but are too freaked out not to? (Geoff and Burnie made one hell of an impression it seems.)

School starts up again and he gets busy with that, has a major project that has him cutting back on his work hours to deal with it – it’s a huge part of his grade and he’s got a ~Vision for it.

And then one day while he's working on it – covered in paint and whatever else – his doorbell rings.

He’s a total mess, hasn't slept properly in over a week between classes and this project, his apartment’s a mess and his cats have tracked paint and God knows what all over the place.

Point is, he looks like a total disaster when he answers the door. Thinks it’s Matt or one of his other terrible friends and is ready to yell at them for something or other -

“Ah, did we catch you at a bad time?”

It’s Ryan and Gavin.

Both of them in street clothes rather than the suits they were wearing when he first met them.

Normal people clothes and they look really, really nice.

(Although not being covered in blood and/or desperate to keep some asshole from destroying the world or whatever is helping with that.)

Jeremy is just like, “Oh, hey,” and “No! No, you didn’t, it’s fine” and “What?”

Which has Gavin and Ryan laughing at him and pointing out the mess of a human being he is at the moment, and he’s like “Oh, right, that.”

Invites them in while he babbles about his project and so on.

Would offer them something to drink or eat, but he hasn't been shopping in a while and what can he do for them???

And now, okay,

Now they get allover awkward as they update him on the whole mess he got tangles up in, tell him someone will be along soon in an official capacity and all that. But the two of them were just concerned about how he was doing and the like, and also happened to be in the area???

Jeremy is pretty sure that last part is a lie, but he’s glad to see them again and they end up talking, okay.  Small talk and the like, and then they ask about his project and he goes a little more into detail about that.

Someone has the bright idea of getting something to eat since it’s getting late and Gavin insists Ryan pay - “Hey!” - since he's the one who dragged Jeremy into this mess. (“That’s not how it happened?” “Ryan, please, you know how you are.”)

So Jeremy gets cleaned up and they go to this quaint little cafe somewhere nearby, have a lovely little dinner. (Jeremy realizes to his horror he hasn’t done as good of a job at shutting down his FEELS for the two of them as he thought???)

Ryan and Gavin seemingly oblivious as he is just like OH NO and makes some flimsy excuse about needing to finish his project but its been nice!!1!

And then!

He buries himself in his art project and school, gets more hours at work and everything’s great! Really!

Except you know, when Geoff and the Twins stop by his place a few weeks later with more papers to sign and these court dates or whatever he’ll need to mark down on his calendar.

And Geoff just looking at him, this little smile on his face as he comments on Jeremy being impressive with the whole Not Dying thing he did among other things, has he ever thought of becoming a sekrit government agent/spy?

Jeremy laughing until he realizes Geoff’s serious and the Twins leave to let the two of them talk about it some more, but not before smirking at him because creepy motherfuckers.

“Uh...”

“No, really, with the right training you could become a good agent.”

Jeremy is pretty sure he would not, but okay.

Geoff hands him a card and tells him give him a call if he reconsiders and that should be that, right?

But no.

Because Jeremy’s got school and work and after a bit it just seems…he doesn’t want to say it’s not important anymore because it’s not that, just.

Something is lacking.

Still, he’s got another term left before he graduates and he sticks with it because he doesn’t know what else to do, really.

Gets his degree and has that panicky moment of Now What that lasts for a while until he’s out for a walk and happens to pass by that quaint little cafe where he had dinner with Ryan and Gavin.

His heart is still fucked up over them even though he doesn’t really know them, okay. Just got aught up in this DRAMA with them and all confused over attraction and the whatnot, because brains are dumb.

Goes home and pulls out the card Geoff gave him because look, okay.

He’s still note sure he’d make a good agent, and the whole situation was outright terrifying at times?

But it’s not like he really knows what he wants to do now, okay.

He’s got his art degree and some options open to him, places he could work his way up to doing something incredible, but -

It doesn’t quite feel right?

He sleeps on it, thinks about it while he goes about life.

Matt keeps giving him these looks and his other coworkers are all kind of awkward around him now. (he really wants to know what Geoff and Burnie did to make them look at him the way they are.)

eventually he figures he might as well call Geoff, see what’s what with that offer of his.

Finds out that he’d have to go through academy training – as much as Geoff would love to pull strings for him, he also doesn’t want to get Jeremy killed by not making sure he’s got the basics down. And then when (if Jeremy amends in his head) he does graduate he’d be assigned to some senior agent(s) and the whatnot.

There’s something in the way he says that that has Jeremy being like OH NO because it’s either going to be Ryan and Gavin or the fucking Twins. (Pls, no.)

Jeremy thinks about it some more, and in the meantime notices how his life doesn’t quite fit right anymore, all these little things that feel off.

So he tells Geoff he’ll do it, okay. Go through the academy and the whatnot and Geoff is like >:DDDD because he knows a good agent when he sees one okay.

Jeremy does exceedingly well at the academy. Has to deal with a few blowhards and assholes but he just grins and bears it. (Tries not to be a smug little shit when Geoff or Burnie stop by to observe the cadets/candidates and are like “NICE WORK DOOLEY” but this is Jeremy so you can imagine how well that goes.)

And then!

When he graduates Ryan and Gavin are in the crowd, sidle up to him afterwards and offer him these congratulations and hint strongly that they’re going to be training him (shocker, really) and they’re all.

Awkward?

Shy?

Something, and watching them now Jeremy suddenly realizes they’re flirting with him? Or. Something approaching flirting with him . That apparently they also were that time they stopped by to check on him and have dinner and oh fucking hell, how long has this been going on without him realizing? (Rhetorical, and also he'd rather not know how stupid he’s been???)

“Hey, so,” Jeremy says, totally smooth and all. “Matt and the others were talking me out to dinner to celebrate, do you want to come?”

It’s not the best invitation and also a mistake because Matt will figure this shit out like whoa, but also Jeremy would really like to talk to them again???

They’re like, “Oh, no, we wouldn’t want to intrude” and so on, but Jeremy insists and really, they’re not trying that hard to get out of it.Matt absolutely figures shit out within the first half hour and Jeremy has to buy him drinks to keep him from telling the most embarrassing stories about Jeremy.

Later on, they drop him off at his place and there's this Potential in the air that has Jeremy all stupidly hopeful because look, okay.

He may or may not have gone over the agency's official line on workplace romances and whatnot and nothing in it prohibits them, and also! Loopholes like you wouldn’t believe, which after getting to know Geoff and Burnie a little better during his time in the academy when they'd stop by to chat? Explains a lot, okay. (Like, not just these two idiots who are totally a Thing, but also their personal views on that kind of thing and look, don’t fucking judge.)

Anyway.

They’re going to be working together in the future and who even knows what will happen with that???

(The three of them totally do become a thing after a while. Go through all this mutual pining and awkward flirting and multiple betting pools Jack and Michael organize. Missions where one of them is badly injured or presumed dead – because DRAMA – until finally, finally, they’re forced to confront their feelings for one another and everyone in the agency is like FINALLY because it’s been years by that point okay, and all three of you are idiots. But also, like. Congrats!!1! :DDDDDDDDDDDDD)

[cartoonfangirl1218]

Love Potion Extravaganza Ch. 10

Once again, a big kiss and thanks to @pizzansunshine for her help in editing and finishing this fic of monstrous proportions. Thank you @shasta627 for helping me pick out songs even though we had to exclude Math of Love Triangles and the Sireneas for the sake of the story. Maybe next time. Also thanks to @missnobodynobodius for her enthusiasm and love for all these Crazy Ex Gf songs and inspiring me to finally write a fic to combine these two loves. Lastly, thanks to @lostbutterflyutau for her continued comments and enthusiasm for the story even though I kept stabbing her heart. 

The last three songs are “One Indescribable Instant Reprise” https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=XlEqPHOADMc

“The Magic Within You” https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=_3Kp8y02Abg

“A Real Life Happily Ever After” https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=uEiD2kpx5AA

Epilogue

Mateo paced uneasily outside his workshop. He knew he should have gone in and just do his usual magic practice and studying and probably clean it up. Naomi and Olivia admitted to leaving it a terrible mess when they had been making their own potion, but Mateo was just too distracted.

His head was still stuck on the magical hours he spent with Elena, in love with her and she feeling the same way. He knew now they had been under a love potion. That her actions while under its effect probably meant nothing to her. Like how she had suggested that they should be in a triple wedding with Manuel, Valentina, Gabe and Naomi. But to him, her actions still meant so much.

He got to bask in the glow of her smile. He knew now, what it was like to feel Elena love him. Her sweetness and affection directed only toward him. He knew how it felt to have her curled up in his arms. The feeling of elation at the thought of becoming her husband and spending the rest of his life with her. Now he knew it was it like.... His crush on her had become unbearable. He had taste of what it was like to be Elena’s boyfriend and he couldn’t let it go. Before he had no idea, he only had his imagination and at least that helped him keep some of his feelings under control.

But he now knew how wonderful it was. When they walked back to the palace, every time he looked at her, he felt tingles spread across his skin where her soft hands had touched him and hugged him and cuddled him. Her laugh sounded even more musical if possible. He wanted to return to the position of being right next to her. He couldn’t handle all these feelings. He had to admit to her that he had an actual crush on her. One that had started long before today. He knew it would be risky, laying out all his emotions out there for her to reject him. Kindly of course, since Elena was far too sweet to say he would never make a good boyfriend for her. But still...

He might even have to go back to living with his mother. Elena would undoubtedly feel uncomfortable to have him in the palace after he admitted his crush. It was just as well, it would be too painful to see her at all hours of the day. Like right now, his heart constricting painfully against the confines of his chest as he imagined breakfast mornings not at the palace table. Not seeing Elena’s sleepy look as she tried to wake up. She looked so adorable when she... 

“Hey Mateo, are you going to go in or..?” Naomi broke into his thoughts. She and Gabe were staring questioningly at him and his frozen feet.

“Uh” Mateo froze and managed to stutter, “No-no. I can’t concentrate I’ll just join you.”

“Okay,” Gabe shrugged as the three of them walked down the hall. Mateo remained silent, his mind still wandering onto the subject of Elena. Gabe and Naomi, however, were at their easy joking banter, talking about everyone’s hilarious actions during the day. At the moment, Mateo envied how they could easily go back to their lives. Write this off as one weird, madcap adventure. They didn’t have any feelings to contend with.

Once everyone had been released from the potion, Gabe had immediately apologized to Elena for his proposal to date, explaining that his feelings were very much gone. This had been somewhat of a relief to Mateo, to know he was right that Gabe was not after Elena. Naomi had no issues to deal with since she had remained one of the only sane ones. She reveled in telling everyone the gory details of what other people had done and mocked them too. Her favorite target was Alonso after he recalled his very inappropriate overtures to her.

Alonso, for his part, didn’t seem too embarrassed. He claimed that not only did the spell make him fall in love but that it made him revert to his old ways. But he had no real answer for when Naomi questioned that did his old ways include falling in love with malvagos, instead he turned his head away muttering, “I thought she was a sexy stranger.”

Valentina and Manuel, whose time under the spell seemed to have sparked some genuine feelings, were also pretty happy in the aftermath. They had decided to go on a few dates to see how it goes and then they would deal with Valentina’s parents.

It was all a real happily ever after it looked like, for everyone but for him.

He was brought out of his gloomy spiel by Luisa coming over to take his hands, apologizing profusely, “I’m sorry, my dear boy for being so rude during breakfast. Love potion or not, I had no right to be so consumed with my husband to be rude to others and neglect your requests for help.”

“Even with a husband as handsome as me.” Francisco came up behind her with a hand on her shoulder.

“Even with a husband as handsome as you.” Luisa smiled up at him.

“Thanks, Luisa. You don’t have to apologize but thanks.” Mateo replied and they continued on down the opposite direction of the hall.

“Was the whole family under the love potion?” Gabe asked Naomi.

Naomi laughed, “Oh yes. Esteban with Doña, Isabel with..” She gasped and put a hand over her mouth like she said too much.

Gabe nudged her, “Isa and who?” “I wasn’t supposed to say she was under the potion.” Naomi winced at her own big mouth.

“It’s too late now, tell.” Mateo urged, getting a little curious as to who Isabel could have a crush on. Probably one of her school friends like Quique.

Naomi looked down at the ground, silent for a long while but she whispered guiltily, “Gabe.”

“Me?” Gabe asked then he seemed to consider it, “She had a crush on me?”

“Please don’t act like you know! I promised I wouldn’t tell anyone.” Naomi begged.

“No, I won’t. It was probably a silly crush.” Gabe shrugged it off, but Mateo noticed that his eyes still seemed to be thinking it all over.

The trio arrived outside of the Grand Council room where Manuel was standing guard with Rico. They was an awkward minute or two of silence as they all waited for their friends to come out, but it was thankfully broken when Valentina swung open the door with her usual exuberance.

“Thank you so much for hosting this Elena. This alliance will benefit our kingdoms for years to come!” She waved as Manuel linked arms with her. With a softer tone she turned to her guard, “Let’s go home, Manuel.”

The two walked off, whispering about how the meeting went and of other future things to come.

Alonso gave a half-hearted bow to Naomi, Gabe and Mateo before kissing Elena’s hand which she yanked away with a roll of her eyes at his wannabe casanova attitude, “Till we meet again.”

Before he sauntered off, he turned and pointed a finger-gun to Naomi, “Maybe we can have intercourse next time, blondie.”

“In your dreams!” Naomi yelled at his retreating back, accompanied with a choice finger.  

“Elena, can I talk to you in private?” “Mateo, can I talk to you in private?”

They flushed and looked at the ground after they asked the exact same question in unison.

Gabe looked between the two, grabbed Naomi’s arm, and smoothly exited, “Come on, Nomes. Let’s go to my mom’s to get some nice freshly baked treats. See you guys tomorrow.”

Alone, Elena and Mateo walked silently down the hall that led to courtyard and the palace gardens, both lost in their own worlds.

Elena found that the trade alliance that she had been so eager to host, had been torture to sit through. It had occurred right after the love potion was lifted and all Elena wanted to do was sit down with Mateo and asked if being together felt as right to him as it did to her.

When they had been together under the love potion, it was almost like a piece that Elena hadn’t even knew that was missing from her life fell right into place. That piece was Mateo. Being with  him made her feel, if she had to take a line from Valentina’s song, “totes invincible.” She felt that as long as she was secure in the knowledge that Mateo loved her and cared for her, that she could win over whatever came her way. At least she knew he would be there behind her with some nice cuddles and sweet words of comfort filled with the trust that she could do her duty.

Even without the potion she still felt that. On the carriage ride back to the palace she had decided that she had to tell him her feelings and what he meant to her. She knew it was unlikely he would feel the same way for her. He agreed to just impulsively marry her while he was under the spell. A sure sign that he was not acting his usual, more cautious self. But even though he could not offer romantic love, she still wanted assurance that he would always be there. Always be with a compassionate look, his warm arms that were just perfect hugging, always be a person that she could confide in. Always be one of her best friends.

“I KNOW YOU DON’T HAVE FEELINGS FOR ME!” An exasperated voice shouted from behind Esteban’s room, “It’s still impossible that you would feel absolutely nothing from what happened today! I am amazing! Women have fainted in my arms and asked me to be the father of their children after I merely kissed them. You had to enjoyed it. You cannot walk away without enjoying it on some level. I know you have a heart of ice but still no frozen heart can’t not be melted by Esteban Flores!”

Elena and Mateo curiously peaked behind the door. Esteban and Doña were once again nose to nose in an insult match, their eyes flashing with their usual blazing fury. Thankfully, both were fully dressed in their regular clothes.

“I told you. I. Felt. Nothing. You may have been a good kisser when you were young, but now you need a love potion to boost your skills..” Doña snapped back with a sneer.

“That wasn’t my fault. Besides, we both know you liked it.” Esteban growled.

“And so did you.” Doña glared. 

“I was not the one who begged for more.” His voice took on a sing-song tone of superiority, “If I remember correctly that when we were in the kitchen you had some expletive statements about how you wanted more of me.” Esteban smirked.

The smirk soon faded from his lips when Doña’s taunted, “Not only have your kissing skills faded with age, but you’re- ”

Esteban interrupted her by pressing her against the wall in a passionate kiss, “Now?” 

“Read my lips. Nothing!” Doña spat and he responded by kissing her again.

“Liar! I’m fantastic! Admit it!”

Mateo and Elena closed the door firmly behind them. Elena broke the silence, “I thought Naomi gave them the antidote?” 

Mateo shrugged, “They are fighting again so..that’s a good sign, I guess?”

Elena chewed her lips before inching herself away from the door, “The-they can resolve their issues. We really don’t need to get involved.”

“Yeah that’s-that’s a great idea.” Mateo agreed. They looked at each other and burst out laughing. Whether it was from the nervousness for the conversation about to come or just the ridiculous scene they just witnessed it at least served to break the ice between them. They instinctively locked arms when they entered the garden. Elena led him to a small bench that Mateo had never seen before because it had been blocked by rose bushes.

They sat and lapsed into silence again, unsure of who should start the conversation. Mateo was thinking of how exactly he showed open when Elena blurted, “I like you!” Then with the same shocked gasp as Naomi, she covered her mouth, looking down at it as if it talked without consulting her brain.

Meanwhile Mateo’s brain seemed to have stopped because as he turned the phrase, “I like you” in his head, he couldn’t quite comprehend it. Did she meant as a friend? Was she trying to apologize for today? She had to be, the only other option was..

“I like you more than as a friend. I like you.. A lot. I know you don’t feel the same way but let me explain.” Elena said her voice trembling as she forced herself to look into Mateo’s eyes as she spoke. Mateo’s heart jumped up to his throat than to his stomach. It was doing the jumping he longed to do. She liked him! She liked him back! Never in his wildest dreams that Elena liked him. A part of him worried maybe this was the love potion talking but another part urged him to kiss her before she changed her mind. Yet when he looked at her, how vulnerable she seemed as she admitted her feelings, he knew the right thing to do was to give her the space she needed to talk.

“I don’t know when it started. Sometime after we first went to Vallestrella I think.” Elena was so absorbed in what she was trying to put in words she missed the smile that spread across Mateo’s face.

“You’re- you.” Elena took a deep inhale then exhaled, “You make me feel so many things, Mateo. I guess it would be love in an overall sense. But all these other emotions are built in too. I feel safe with you. I feel like you’re the only one I can trust with some of my worst fears and insecurities. But even better, you’re understanding. I know I can be sad and you will not see me as less of a queen. But but I also feel so happy when I’m with you too. We’ve had so many adventures together like when we transformed into jaquins together. That was so much fun. I love how you go with my crazy schemes even though they’re not always thought out. And that you give me really good advice. And I don’t only love how you make me feel but just you. I love you! You’re so compassionate and sweet and adorable. And the way you’re so passionate about magic, it’s admirable. You’re so brave but modest and you’re a really good teacher to Olivia and to me. And,” Elena took another deep breath. Her mind was spinning out of control, there were so many traits of Mateo she wanted to praise, but she knew if she continued rambling on it might scare him. She was here to tell him that she was still willing to be his friend even if he didn’t like her.

“I love you, Mateo. I know you may not love me back. But that is how you make me feel. I wanted to tell you that even though you don’t want to be my boyfriend, I still hope..if you are willing... Will you still be someone I can confide in? Can I still come to you when I need comfort? I know it might be awkward now but I still need you in my life as one of my best friends.”

Mateo looked into Elena’s eyes. Their large brown irises shined with an irrepressible emotions, emphasized by the spontaneous tears starting to pool at the corners. That passion that Elena put into everything she did, how she put her feelings into her every action. They were all directed at him...because of her love for him.

He put a finger under her chin and guided her toward him. They eyes connected for the briefest of seconds but it was enough for Elena to see his own eyes fill with love. He kissed her. Their lips fit together perfectly, soft and warm and sending a thousand small sparks up and down their bodies. When he pulled away, he swore his curls must have been standing straight up from the electricity between them.  

“I love you too, Elena.” He admitted breathlessly, an inappropriate nervous laugh burbled up his throat, but he swallowed it down.

“I’ve loved you before this day. Before Vallestrella even but I don’t think I even really knew it at the time. What I did know was that I wanted to always make you the happiest girl in Avalor and to help you as you grow to be queen and a master wielding your scepter. I don’t know when my feelings really came but that doesn’t matter. I still want to make you happy. You make me happy all the time. You gave me confidence and courage to do things I never thought I could do. But you don’t only do that for me but to everyone you meet. You are a shining light to the kingdom. But that’s not the only reason I love you. Your endless enthusiasm is contagious, your laugh is as musical as your voice. I feel like they’re aren’t enough adjectives to describe how I feel. I.. I love you. I feel so..honored honestly that you love me too.”

Elena threw her arms around him, “You don’t have to be honored. I’m honored that you love me, my brave, handsome wizard.” Mateo blushed at her “handsome” comment which made Elena smile. He was so cute!

“I guess we’ve been hiding our feelings for each other this whole time.” Mateo said, relaxing as he wrapped his arms around her waist.

“Well to be fair, we can’t pinpoint when we first realized we had feelings much less when we first had feelings.” Elena pointed out. 

Mateo laughed, “It’s like that song we sang. “In one indescribable instant, the whole world falls away. In one indescribable instant, you’ll know just what to say.”

Elena joined, her nightingale-like voice blending melodiously with his strong alto, “In one indescribable instant, your heart will speak the truth! For in that one indescribable, magical, mystical, endless, incredible instant..”

“The only words you need are “I love you.” Mateo finished softly and kissed her again. 

In his opinion this kiss was almost as good as their first one. The smell of roses filled the air and left Mateo feeling breathless. His heart still clenched in excitement, he still felt like he was floating on air, he still felt the comforting embrace of Elena and he could hear the beating of their hearts as one. 

But it was better because this was genuine. This was going to last.

“Should we tell everyone the good news? Elena asked, making no move to get up from her comfortable position snuggled against Mateo’s chest.

“Tomorrow.” Mateo suggested as the sun started it’s daily dip toward the ocean. “I’m done with dealing with excitement for today.” 

“Me too.” Elena rubbed her head in the crook of her neck prompting Mateo to kiss her temple like he had seen Francisco do to Luisa this morning.

They stayed like that for a while, watching the sunset when Elena jumped up and gave a playful bow, “Shall we dance?”

“I’d be delighted.” Mateo answered and spun her around into his arms. Elena gave him a knowing smile as she hummed familiar tune for them to dance to. 

She gave him a wink when she saw the look of recognition on his face. “Remember your first royal wizard coronation?” 

“Yes, that’s when I first really believed in myself. Because of you.” Mateo answered and Elena began to sing the song that inspired him to fight Fiero for Avalor and for Elena.

He would like to think of it as “their” song.

“The first time that I met you I could see

You were meant to be a hero to us all

Taking on the forces of the dark with your magic spark

And always standing tall.”

Mateo joined in, the words coming to him as if that moment had been yesterday instead of three years ago. “You're starting down a path to find your destiny

So now is not the time to hide.

You have to raise your scepter and do your best for me

Because I need you by my side.”

Mateo and Elena swayed side by side. Every little touch raised goosebumps but the warm contact prevented them feeling the cold night air. “'Cuz there's a lesson you will not find in a book. Inside yourself is where you have to look.

Find your courage and your pride, inner strength can be your guide

And it will always see you through

If you believe the magic within you.”

Mateo absentmindedly stroked her back as they danced which made Elena want to pull Mateo into another kiss. She felt like she was in a dream. A fairytale dream with a real-life amazing boy that she loved with her whole heart.

“But! If! No wait! I can't! These words will hold you down

Instead just say I can! Those words will turn things around

Cast all your doubts away tell all your fears goodbye

Do what you're meant to do and let your magic fly!”

They stopped dancing, taking a pause to have a sweet kiss that made Elena’s toes curl and Mateo shudder with anticipation when Elena peppered kissing on his nose, chin and cheeks before settling on his lips again. “'Cuz there's a lesson you will not find in a book

Inside yourself is where you have to look.

Find your courage and your pride inner strength will be your guide

And it will always see you through

If you believe the magic within you.”

They did one final spin as Elena’s beautiful notes faded in the night, “You must believe in the magic within you.”

Without a word, they retraced their steps back to the palace, giving each other sly smiles all the while. They took the long way back to the library in order to avoid any family members or servants that had decided to stay up late.

“You know. I feel like a cliche princess.” Elena commented when they walked back inside the palace. “I have a handsome lover, my kingdom, Shuriki’s gone. The Delgados are defeated for now. Everything at peace.”

“Do you not like it? Do you want some more adventure? Because I think we can get into some trouble tomorrow.” Mateo teased, bravely taking her hand once they entered the empty library with the secret passage to his workshop.

Elena shook her head and played with his fingers as he opened the entrance, singing softly as to not attract any attention, “I’ve been riding toward—

A real-life happily ever after.

I’m done with all the intrigue.

Sick of kicking ass.

As far as seeking vengeance

Frankly, I can pass.

I’m ready now for something

Of a diff ’rent class—

A real-life happily ever after.”

Mateo turned to look into her eyes once more as they sang so the only people who would know their lovely secret were them, “Screw the potions and malvagos and jaquins

All the magic I need is you.

Journey done, we’re home

As epic endings go,

It’s rather small...

But it’s a real-life happily ever after

After all.”

Mateo cupped her cheeks and Elena placed her hands over his, “I love you, ‘Lena.” “I love you, Mateo.”

And they kissed once more, hearts filled with love and joy in their mutual affection.

As they pulled away, Mateo opened his mouth as if he wanted to say something and abruptly closed it then opened it again.

Elena giggled, “What is it, mí querido”

Mateo sighed, feeling his sudden nervousness fall away at the sound of Elena’s new nickname for him, “I don’t really feel that tired so I’m going to whip up some potions. I was wondering, uh, want to join me?

Elena leaned close so they were touching nose to nose, “I’d love to.”

[readingontheedge]

Robin & Marian

(Adventurous Romantics #2)

By Stephanie Fowers

Adult Contemporary Romance

Paperback & ebook, 352 Pages

August 11th 2019 

 Robin King lives up to the legendary name of Robin Hood more than he should—a bigshot billionaire and successor of King enterprises, a Prince of Mischief and a rogue who steals hearts ... and maybe even a few kisses. He never thought he’d follow the storyline so closely, until the day he gets in trouble with the law and pays the price—all for protecting his younger sister Scarlett.

 Taken in by an Outlaw

 Marian is a hard-hitting reporter … or would be if the New England Chronicle would stop assigning her puff pieces. Now she has the chance to prove herself, but it could prove her undoing—since the story of a lifetime might just be Robin King, a ruthless scoundrel, who she swore would never break her heart again.

 Making New England Olde again

 Together, they must overcome their differences 

to save their hometown from thieves and corruption. And they’d better do it before someone gets killed. As danger lurks closer, legend becomes life, and Robin’s feelings for Marian deepen as he struggles with sharing the secrets that could clear his name and ruin his sister. 

Goodreads | Amazon 

Excerpt

 The door ripped open and she came face to face with Robin. Same laughing eyes, same devilish look under hawk-like brows. His dirty-brown hair had curled up in a stylish mess. He’d come straight from her memories—though older and more dashing, like he’d stepped through the glossy covers of those gossip magazines she despised. He was tall and strong, with broad shoulders and an athletic build—a modern day Robin Hood in black t-shirt and faded jeans. And she hated it!

 His almond-shaped eyes turned appreciative when he saw her. “Are you new?”

 Clearly he hadn’t recognized her. It wasn’t too surprising really—she’d hidden in the back room when the “infamous playboy” had come to visit his sister when they’d been roommates, but before she could explain, he was approaching her. “If it’s all the same to you, Mrs. Koch can’t know what we’re up to.” Marian recognized the name of their housekeeper. Clearly Robin was up to no good if he was hiding his latest mischief from her—never mind that he owned the place now. “I’m so sorry to mix you up in this,” he said, “but we need help cleaning this up.”

 And then his hands were on hers. Was this how he treated his staff? Wait. The thought gave her pause. He thought she was the help? Scarlett had compared her to a little French maid. How galling. She was so caught up in her angry thoughts that she’d allowed him to pull her into the entertainment room where she saw the remains of a poker game. Smashed plates and glasses had tumbled from an immense—and broken—china cabinet.

 “It’s not as bad as it looks…” Robin’s hand dropped from hers as he attempted to clean up the mess. He looked up at her under heavy lashes. “Honestly, if I’d known how pretty you were, I’d have smashed these sooner.”

 She gasped as he winked at her. Robin! Was this really a case of mistaken identity or was he teasing her? “I have half a mind to get Mrs. Koch myself,” she threatened.

 He smirked at that. “If you could find a broom first…”

 So she could crack it over his head? Not knowing what to do, Marian caught sight of Scarlett’s fiancé. The ends of Alan’s auburn hair fell over a soulful eye as he stared down at a record he had saved from the mess. He’d recognize Marian if he saw her, but he was too caught up in reading the record label. It was a vintage Louis Armstrong vinyl. He turned it over in his sensitive hands.

 “Robin, your stepmother is going to kill you,” a deeper voice boomed. “That’s her prized Russian collection.” Turning, Marian saw a giant of a man. She’d know John anywhere, even a decade later. His skin was rich brown, the color of the earth after a storm; his head was buzzed—his facial hair was different from when they were kids, of course—but he’d towered over them back then and now was no different. He was one of those who’d earned his nickname in Robin’s merry band, although no one could get away with calling him “Little John” to his face. 

 “My nephew is trying to teach me how to make a bull’s eye!” a young voice piped up.

 Marian caught sight of a smaller boy of about five years of age. He had a bow in his hand. His small finger pointed to an ugly painting against the wall with several arrows shot through it. They’d been using this room for target practice? How little they thought of the furniture… or of money. 

 “This is my Uncle Midge,” Robin introduced the child. “Also my godchild.” Yes, Marian remembered hearing about him. The young boy clearly looked up to Robin; he was a miniature of him, actually, with freckles, almond-shaped eyes, and a pointed chin. Robin’s grandfather had remarried a much younger woman, and Midge was the result of their union… before she’d run off with an artist. Come to think of it, was this one of the man’s ugly paintings Scarlett had talked about? She peered at it, but the torn flaps obscured the signature.

 Robin ruffled the boy’s hair. “He was not supposed to actually let the arrow go. So there’s that.”

 “And who would be the one who gave him the arrow, pray tell?” The final member of Alan’s bachelor party drew forward with dark, sullen looks. He was clean-shaven with black, heavy brows, and his hair was tied up in a hipster topknot. He wore a suit jacket with matching pants and a casual knit shirt. It took Marian a little longer to name him, but then she felt a wave of recognition run through her at his British accent. “But sure,” he said in his haughty tone, “blame the child.”

 Ah yes, this was Robin’s cousin, Guy. He’d grown up in England with his mother. She had refused to play along with what she dubbed Richard’s “childish obsession,” and in so doing, unknowingly named him after one of Robin Hood’s greatest villains. It was a source of great teasing amongst his cousins. Just like the others, Marian hadn’t seen him for years.

 Yet when he saw her, he hurried to pick up her hand and kiss it. His brown eyes were full of meaning. “What are you doing here with us vile men, Marian? Isn’t Scarlett’s party interesting enough for you?”

 Finally, someone hadn’t seen her as the servant. She felt a smile tug at her lips. Guy’s British charm had always been hard to resist. When they’d been younger, her parents had teased the two that they’d arrange their marriage. She was ashamed to admit that that kind of talk had ended after Guy’s parents had lost their fortunes in poor investments.

 Looking over at Robin, she shrugged. “Robin always did try to get me into trouble.” She cast him what she hoped was a teasing glance. “Just like old times.” Robin’s shoulders stiffened as he turned to actually look at her. His beautiful hazel eyes took her all in. Marian felt too amused to be angry. His astonished expression made everything worth it.

 “Marian?” Robin stretched to his feet to retrieve her hand from Guy. “Why didn’t you say anything?” His gaze swept over her again, including that hateful apron. “My own little Maid Marian?” 

Other Books in the Series 

In the Pursuit of Eden

(Adventurous Romantics #1)

By Stephanie Fowers

Adult Contemporary Romantic Suspense

Paperback & ebook, 390 Pages

April 1st 2019

 Everyone wants to find Eden’s Paradise. Except Ivy.

 Ivy is a city girl through and through. So when she follows her twin brother into the forests of the Uintas to make a documentary about looking for a treasure that’s plagued her family for generations, she’s a little out of her element. It's the same treasure that ended her father's life. Add to that her run-ins with the dashing, but infuriating Aiden Hunter. The Southern hottie has rescued her so many times that it’s getting embarrassing. Of course, she’d be more grateful if she didn’t suspect him of putting her in danger in the first place—a danger that keeps growing the closer they get to the truth.

 Forced to be allies, the two are thrown into each other’s paths, and she realizes that she has more in common with him than she thought. While Ivy searches for clues in the journal of a wayward saloon girl, Eden, to discover a life that mirrors her own, Hunter fights the demons in a past that seems tangled up in hers. His secrets are hers. The only way to get at the truth is to find an uneasy truce… and maybe something more because Hunter may not be the enemy. In fact, he may be the one who needs rescuing. Now, Ivy has to figure out who she wants by her side, and what she’s willing to give up for love.

 After all, Paradise was never meant to be found alone. 

Goodreads | Amazon  

About the Author

Stephanie Fowers loves bringing stories to life, and depending on her latest madcap ideas will do it through written word, song, and/ or film. She absolutely adores Bollywood and bonnet movies; i.e., Jane Austen. Presently, she lives in Salt Lake where she's living the life of the starving artist. 

Website | Goodreads | BookBub | Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest | Instagram 

Tour Schedule

(Posts go live on the day they're scheduled.)

 December 11th: Launch

December 12th: Julie Coulter Bellon - Truth or Dare

December 13th: Delaney Cameron - The Gift of Love

December 14th: Raneé S. Clark - Her Country Christmas Date

December 15th: Stephanie Fowers - Robin and Marian

December 16th: Aspen Hadley - Blind Dates, Bridesmaids & Other Disasters

December 17th: Maria Hoagland - Santa Cam

December 18th: Rachel John - The Christmas Bachelor Auction

December 19th: Sally Johnson - Dear Mr. Darcy

December 20th: D.E. Malone - Love Like Forever

December 21st: Melissa McClone - Mountain Rescue Romance Series

December 22nd: Brooke St. James - The Suite Life

December 23rd: 

Grand Finale 

1 winner will receive a $50 Amazon eGift Card

Open internationally (as long as winner is eligible to receive prize)

Ends December 28, 2019 

ENTER HERE 

[fly-pow-bye]

What’s Airing On Cartoon Network? (September 2019)

I am so sorry for forgetting about this. This news comes from Animation Magazine. Along with the Steven Universe movie and the final episodes of OK K.O., there’s new episodes of Bakugan, Ben 10, Mao Mao, Transformers, and a brand new show called Power Players! Oh, and DC Super Hero Girls gets an episode, too. Details after the break.

Bakugan Battle Planet:

Sundays at 7 AM.

September 8th:

Seek and Hide/Family First - Sent to investigate a Japanese island by Benton Dusk, the AO discover a hidden facility conducting experiments that affect The Hide. Then, trapped by his father, Shun is forced to battle his own friends. (7 AM)

September 15th:

A Door Closes, A Door Opens/Kazami’s Gambit - Shun must stand up to his father and protect his friends before Masato destroys everyone. Then, when Magnus looks to steal the Dimensional Doorway, Shun and Ichiro must make peace with the AO stop the Doorway from destroying them all. (7 AM)

September 22nd:

A Devil on Your Shoulder/Vestral Visions - Near giving up, Magnus gains new strength and insight on the AO’s mission to find Core Cells that will eventually lead him down a dark hole. Then, Drago’s sickness leads Dan to a revelation that there is an ailing Core Cell. (7 AM)

Septmember 29th:

Bakuzoned!/The Golden Secret - Strata’s return is much more than a simple rematch when he’s been infected by a strange ooze. Then, using Strata’s gauntlet, the AO think they’ve found a way through the labyrinth, but soon discover trusting the enemy is not always best. (7 AM)

Ben 10 (2016):

Ben 10 2016 seems to be alive and well.

September 21st:

Roundabout - Forever Knight finally assembles his Round Table of young but super-powerful Knights, including Ben?! Forever Knight and a group of super-baddies by his side are close to conquering all of history. (12 PM)

September 28th:

Cirque-Us - Ben is the guest of honor at an upcoming Gala, but when the cirque entertainment turns out to be Zombozo, in disguise, Ben must not only defeat the evil clown but his mysterious new sidekick, Pirouette! (12 PM)

Forever Road - During a drag race, Ben hopes to stay neck and neck with Vin Ethanol and La Grange as XLR8, but when his watch keeps shorting out, our hero must get creative if he is to keep up with his fast and furious foes! (12:30 PM)

DC Super Hero Girls:

Only one episode.

September 7th:

#DCSuperHeroBoys - What begins as a simple vandalism investigation becomes an all-out turf war when the team encounters a powerful trio of Kryptonians bent on world domination, and, perhaps even worse, a rival team of SUPER HERO BOYS! (7:30 PM)

Mao Mao, Heroes of Pure Heart:

Four episodes on the 7th, two episodes on the other Saturdays.

September 7th:

Small - Mao Mao’s legendary, gigantic and critical father visits his son at his new job as sheriff. (10:00 AM)

Legend of Torbaclaun - When the Sweetypies think the mythical Torbaclaun has come to Pure Heart Valley, Mao Mao tries to prove to them that it isn’t real. (10:15 AM)

Meet Tanya Keys - When bounty hunter Tanya Keys comes to town for Badgerclops, it’s up to Mao Mao and Adorabat to save their friend – even if he’s been on the wrong side of the law. (10:30 AM)

Weapon of Choice - Worried that his sword is a glorified consolation prize, Mao Mao sets out to prove the worth of his weapon. (10:45 AM)

September 14th:

The Truth Stinks - Badgerclops smells, but Mao Mao and Adorabat don’t know how to tell him. (10:00 AM)

Trading Day - When they think each others’ lives are easier, the heroes switch roles. (10:15 AM)

September 21st:

Head Chef - Mao Mao faces off with Badgerclops in a competition to determine whether cooking (and being a hero) is an art or a science. (10:00 AM)

Orangusnake Begins - Mao Mao goads Orangusnake and the Sky Pirates into becoming truly terrible villains worthy of a legendary hero such as himself. (10:15 AM)

September 28th:

Sugar Berry Fever - Mao Mao tries to hide his love of cobbler. (10:00 AM)

Captured Clops - Badgerclops is tired of his responsibilities at Sheriff’s HQ, so he joins the Sky Pirates. (10:15 AM)

OK K.O.! Let’s Be Heroes:

It’s the end, beautiful friends. The same week as Steven Universe: The Movie, we get the end of OK K.O.!

September 6th:

Dendy’s Video Channel - Dendy tries to update KO’s Video Channel for him, but has trouble finding something to post. (7:00 PM)

Let’s Fight to the End - When a fighting tournament is announced at the Plaza, there is more at stake than meets the eye. (7:15 PM, half-hour)

Thank You for Watching the Show - When KO finds moments of his life slipping by, he begins to suspect something weird is going on. (7:45 PM)

Power Players:

Brand new show!

September 21st:

Unboxing - Axel, a 9 year old boy, discovers for the first time the incredible “Power Bandz” that give him the power to transform into a living toy. This is also the first time Axel meets the Power Players and…Madcap! (12:30 PM)

September 28th:

Attack of Thermometron 9000 - Axel must wrangle Galileo and Bobbie to shut down a rogue thermostat – improperly upgraded by Slobot – as it plunges the house into extreme hot and cold zones. (12:30 PM)

Steven Universe:

I’m sure everyone knows about this one already, but the big movie will be here with no commercial interruptions.

September 2nd:

Steven Universe: The Movie - After so many harrowing adventures, Steven and the Gems are ready to celebrate how far they’ve come with a movie musical! Little do they know they’re about to face their worst enemy yet. (6 PM)

Transformers Cyberverse:

It’s back, still at a death-slot at 6:30 AM.

September 7th:

Sea of Tranquility - To save the Earth from destruction, the Autobots must defeat the Decepticons on the Moon. (6:30 AM)

September 14th:

Bad Moon Rising - Starscream makes a power play for control of the Decepticons as the Moon hurtles toward the Earth. (6:30 AM)

September 21st:

The Visitor - As one of Wheeljack’s inventions wreaks havoc on The Ark, Bee tries to figure out what he saw on the Moon. (6:30 AM)

September 28th:

Bring Me the Spark of Optimus Prime - The Decepticons are thrown into chaos by an unexpected Autobot visitor in their midst. (6:30 AM)