#started with mimosas and a whole lot of tension and then as soon as I brought up cooking it spiralled right out of my hands

[witchcraftingboop]

On some real shit, cooking is so much easier than I had built it up to be in my mind. I mean it helps that at the barest hint that I was thinking of starting to actually learn how to cook, my grandmothers immediately dragged me to the nearest Williams Sonoma and became a triple-headed embodiment of that sales girl's wildest wet dreams. Previously, I'd had a few essentials, but the quality was apparently not up to snuff in grandmother #2's eyes and 1 and 3 were not to be outdone where their last-to-cook granddaughter was concerned. It was an experience tbh. But my kitchen is fully stocked with gadgets and gizmos and some mystical thing called a "pasta pot" that now lives on my stove, so in all, I'm pretty happy! I'm starting back up my cooking lessons with grandmother #2 (lowkey the best cook of the trio) next week after her surgery, and I'm really looking forward to it!

[cythieus]

Any Port in a Storm Part I

Peach’s thin fingers leafed through the pages pinned to the clipboard, her eyes scanning the information in each blank and bubble. The lanyard, that she had gotten to fight her bad habit of losing pens, had actually ended up nudging her toward a new propensity to chew on them. She fought the instinct for now and at least she was always sure where the pens were.

She flipped to the front page, her vision tracing a path over the patient name and general information. Slipping the clipboard neatly into the slot at the footboard of the bed, she let the pen drop from her mouth to hang from her neck and dipped her hands into the pockets of her lab coat. The coat was such a shade of pink that it seemed it might have once been white and was just washed with something red by accident. She never replied to inquiries about whether its color was intended or not.

“Your charts are trending really well, Mr. Meeks,” Peach said. “The swelling has dropped off tremendously and you’re more alert than you were just a few hours ago.” She was sure to flash a smile, but she didn’t let it linger on her face for long. This visit wasn’t all good news.

Meeks replied with words too garbled to mean anything to anyone other than him. Tears welled up in his eyes as he spoke, letting Peach know the desperation behind whatever it was he was trying to get across. It was to be expected that speech would suffer given the severity of the stroke.

“I know that you’ve got a lot of questions,” she said. “I will be here to answer them as soon as things are a little better,” Peach said stepping around to the side of his bed. Her hand touched his forehead and she smoothed back the dark brown hair plastered to his skin.

“I’ll come around and check on you in a bit,” Peach said. It was best not to give exact times, the expectation might of her showing up might upset him and his mind was still foggy. There was no telling if he would be napping when she came back or if he would remember this conversation all that clearly. These first few days were bound to be a haze, but there could be some crucial developments too.

She waved curtly at him before turning to leave the room through the wide, mauve colored door. There was a sink in the center of this wing of the hospital, just across from the nurses station. She washed her hands in it, rolling up the sleeves of her coat to scrub halfway up to her elbows. A small group doctors and nurses passed, walking in a tight group and talking in hushed tones.

The whole world was hushed tones. It had been a sixteen hour shift so far and though there were times where she could take a short rest, most of her time had been spent on her feet. It would be several weeks before there were any relief either.

Absently, she dipped into the on-call room to grab a cup of water and just rest in one of the huge plush chairs. Peach didn’t know exactly when her eyes shut or for how long she was out. If someone had needed her they knew where to check on days like this. That was part of the problem.

“Peaches!”

Daisy’s excited scream was enough to rouse Peach, but not enough for her to open her eyes. Maybe if she pretended to be sleep Daisy would move on or was that bears…

“Wow, you smarmy bitch, I know you hear me,” Daisy said.

Peach could hear Daisy’s footsteps as she crossed the on-call room. The light from the hallway cut through her eye lids, causing a dull pain in the front of her forehead.

“The whole floor can hear you,” Peach said finally, shutting her eyes tighter against the light.

“Heard you were in here.” Daisy was standing right over her now, half-silhouetted by the light pouring in through the door. She wore a loud orange, yellow and white sundress with a frilly skirt and high heels. She always stood out against the beige and white tones that lined the halls of this hospital.

“Are you working today?” Peach asked.

Daisy cracked a little smile, her bronze skin had a luster to it even in the in the darkness of this room. “I’m always working, but no, I’m here seeing Luigi. I’ll be on the road for a bit with this new launch coming up, I might not get to see him for a while.”

“Do you need the room?” Asked Peach.

With a flick of her hand Daisy dismissed the question. “Nah,” she said before she folded her arms over her chest. “If we’re going to screw in this dreary place I’d rather do it in one of the empty rooms in the children’s wing.”

“You’re the worst,” Peach said.

“I know, but the little pictures of parading Goombas and Mushroom people they plaster on the sides of the beds make me smile,” Daisy said.

They had both gone through medical school together. Long before even that they were best friends, in fact Daisy they had known each other since before either of them could talk, but part of the way through their residency Daisy had chosen a different route in the industry: she was a sales rep for Gadd Pharmaceutical. It was her job to travel the region and teach hospital staff about new drugs or update them on treatment options afforded to them by drugs available to them.

Peach yawned, her arms and legs jerking out out so that she could stretch. There was no point trying to get Daisy to filter herself. “Have you found him yet?”

Daisy shook her head. “No, but I saw your little boy toy,” Daisy said giving the front of Peach’s chair a series of rapid kicks.

“Stop it,” Peach said, her fingers pressed against the sides of the bridge of her nose out of sheer frustration.

“He always asks about you and, like, he works in this place with you. How’s that going?” Daisy asked.

“I don’t fraternize like that here--” Peach said.

“—you’re definitely not fraternizing anyone and haven’t for a while. When was the last time you went out?” Daisy asked.

Peach sighed. “Half your job is taking people out and buttering them up,” she said. “It’s different in here.”

“You’re not only in here though, Peach. I might as well buy you a big crate of D-batteries and four weird cats so you can just settle down to be one of those old women who’s only source of sexual tension is the weird bag boy at the grocery store.”

“Hey, my life has sexual tension!” Okay, maybe that was too loud.

“There’s more sexual tension in nursery rhymes without people in them,” Daisy said. She crossed the room and poured herself a cup of coffee. Then she produced a small flask from a pocket hidden in the ruffles of her dress and poured a splash in with her coffee. “Talk to Mario. We can go on double dates.”

Daisy took a sip of coffee and then dumped the rest of the flask in. “We’ll be dating twins. Twins that are doctors. We could swap stories about them over mimosas and you can tell me if I’m right about Mario’s crank—“

“—Ew, Daisy no. I don’t—I don’t have time for those things right now.”

“Meow.” Daisy said after another, longer drink.

“What are you doing?”

“Meow,” Daisy said again. “I’m going to meow like a cat when you make excuses for not having a life. I’ll come to your apartment and just slap your stuff off shelves and pee in your shoes too until you get your personal life together.”

“You know I have other friends, right?”

“Sure you do.”

“Luigi and I get along well. And Doctor Bowser is a little, extra, but he seems nice and he always rushes any pathology results when I really need them.”

Daisy laughed. “I wonder why,” she said smiling as she tilted the cup up to her mouth again. “I notice that you’re not mentioning Mario in all of this.”

“Mario and I are…just fine. Why are you so concerned with all of this?” Asked Peach.

“You’re so happy,” Daisy said. “I mean I want you to be happy.” She took another big gulp of coffee. “But you’re happier every time I see you.”

“Did you ever think that maybe I just loved work?” Asked Peach.

Daisy shrugged, her blue eyes fixated down on her cup. “It smells bad here, like all of the time and people…people die,” she whispered the last part.

A little chuckle escaped Peach, she was sure it was not out of crassness, but other than that couldn’t tell where it came from. “The work is very hard. Occasionally I lose a patient or I have a really bad day, but my day is never as bad as the ones these people and their families are going through. And more often than not I get to make sure their day gets better…and that they have more days at all.”

Daisy eyed her for a long enough time that she was able to take several more sips of coffee. “You’re hiding something. I’m just here to let you know Peaches, I’ve known you too long for you to outsmart me for long. Im going to go find my man, you want the rest of this?” Daisy held her coffee cup down to show Peach the bit of dark coffee sloshing around at the bottom.

Peach shook her head. “Can’t drink—I need to be alert; I could use some food. It’s been hours since I’ve eaten anything.”

“I’d love to grab lunch with you, but we’d have to—“

Peach cut her off. “—no, you’re here to see Luigi. I’ll be fine,” Peach said.

“Are you sure?” Asked Daisy as she tossed her cup and the remainder of the coffee and liquor mix into the trash.

With a little smirk plastered on her face, Peach nodded.

Daisy closed the gap between them and reached out to touch Peach’s forehead, her thumb brushing back the flyaway bangs that were too short to make it into Peach’s haphazard bun. Daisy swept a blonde tendril of hair back behind Peach’s ear. “Take care of yourself, okay?”

“I will,” said Peach.

Daisy bent down and kissed her on the cheek. “See you later, love.”

She was careful to close the patient’s door before starting up, but the entire time Peach kept eye contact with Lemmy. He was one of the newer nurses in this part of the hospital, but he had worked in other places supposedly. She really didn’t know him that well, he hadn’t been around long enough. Peach knew she had to nip this in the bud.

“Why am I seeing that you held my patient down and started a Phenytoin drip?” Peach asked.

Lemmy was an odd looking man, even for a Koopa. He had rainbow colored, dyed hair and his eyes were a little crossed. His arms seemed too long for his body, like he had to bend them awkwardly when he scratched the back of his head. “It’s one of the most common anti-seizure medications.”

“Maybe sixty years ago. It’s never a first choice now and an IV is inadvisable due to the risk of cardiac or local toxicity.” Peach kept her tone even. She didn’t make it a habit of laying into nurses and other hospital staff, but this whole situation rubbed her the wrong way.

“I made the call I thought was best and look, the patient is getting better.”

“They’re getting better because you got lucky. We don’t hope for our luck to hold out in a place like this because when it doesn’t people die. We do our due diligence to make sure that we don’t end up staring down the barrel of a malpractice law suit or, worse, having to tell a family there’s nothing more we could do,” Peach said.

“No disrespect, but you’re being hysterical, Dr. Toadstool,” he said.

Peach brushed the hair out of her face and glanced around to see if the inevitable attention of nearby staff had found them. She pushed her lanyard and stethoscope aside to reveal her identification badge. “Can you read that word right there under my name?”

Lemmy glared down at the badge and then back up at her. He knew what it said before he read it, but had looked anyway. “Neurologist.”

“Yeah, that’s what I thought it said too, but I wanted to get your opinion since you’re such an expert.” Peach fumbled with the door charts. “Look, you’ve obviously been at this long enough that you feel you know better than everyone even though I spent more time doing my residency than you’ve been doing this job. Do what you want. And when someone has adverse effects I’ll treat them. When they code I’ll do my best to bring them back, but remember someone won’t always be there to pick up your slack.”

Peach tossed the clipboard back into the slot in the door and trotted off down the hallway, unsure of where she was going. She knew that others would be staring at her now, she had raised her voice just a tiny bit, but she had been here too long and there was no excuse for how that nurse was talking to her, especially not after that.

She thought it might be best to end her day here. Maybe this was the end of her rope; she had been burning the candle at both ends for some time now and the more exhausted she was the more dangerous it became for anyone placed in her care.

One of the break room doors was down the hall was open and she heard the sound of Daisy’s voice before she could even see what was going on inside. She didn’t feel like stopping, but she spotted Daisy and Luigi curled up on the couch together watching the TV, he must have been off. It wasn’t unusual for him to hang around the hospital when he was done.

Peach passed by, heading into the wing opposite her own. As she passed through a set of double doors and the cold air of the next hall washed over her she spotted a familiar face coming her way.

The mustached doctor and Luigi’s brother, Mario. He smiled as he noticed her, but stopped a little ways down the hall in front of the elevator. She strolled up to meet him. “Dr. Toadstool,” he said.

She gave a little nod of acknowledgment. “Dr. Mario.”

“Where are you headed?” He asked.

“Um, this elevator. I think I’m ending shift I’m on,” she said.

“Must be a Hell of a shift, weren’t you starting when I left yesterday?” Mario asked.

Peach chuckled. “It’s possible, my days are kind of blending together,” she said. Then she leaned down and pressed the button on the elevator. “One of us should probably press this.”

“You’re going up?” Mario asked.

Peach glanced up and down the hallway. “Yeah. I mean, you were. We’re having a conversation, so I’m going with you.”

“I mean we were but…” he trailed off. “Your drug rep buddy stopped by my office today.”

“Oh no.”

“Don’t worry, she was mostly cordial.”

The silvery doors of the elevator opened and a soft robotic voice spoke. “Floor three, going up.”

Peach followed Mario into the elevator and when the door shut he asked. “Did you tell her about us?”

“No.”

“Really?” Mario grazed the side of her leg, just below her skirt and her skin went tight and hot. “Why not?” He asked.

She crouched down to his level, resting her back against the metallic elevator wall. Peach clenched his wrist, holding it up and pressed her body to his, their lips almost missing each others in the collision, and his hand trapped between them.

Peach grabbed his necktie, through the top of his coat to pull him closer. He groaned, the sound coming from somewhere in his throat or upper chest. His mustache scratched at her upper lip, but his mouth seemed softer than she remembered each time they did this.

The ride to the tenth floor and Mario’s office was never long enough for anything too exciting, but it still left her in a hazy stupor. When the doors opened the stumbled out of the elevator with hands linked, giggling like school children until they made it to the door of Mario’s private practice.

Mario struggled getting the key into the door and turning it, the lights in the office clicked on automatically when they stepped into the waiting room. The walls were lined with chairs except for the spots where a decorative plant or magazine rack was. Below some of the chairs were baskets with toys for the children. The area seemed much larger at night when no one was there.

“Mind if I take some time to wash my hands?” Peach asked.

Mario shook his head. “Course not.”

Peach slipped the coat down over her shoulders to reveal the plain white button down blouse she wore under it, she tossed the lab coat over a chair and headed for the restroom. Even before she started to wash her hands and the moment the door was closed behind her, the sink was running. The dark sacks of skin puffed up beneath her eyes in the mirror were the true sign that she had reached her limit for the day, she probably had some hours ago.

She rinsed her hands in the warm water, adding soap, and then rinsing them again. Peach splashed some of the water up into her face and dried it off with one of the beige paper towels from the automatic dispenser.

Her gaze met her reflection’s in the mirror. “Mario and I will get there soon, but today’s not the day. Best not to rush these things.” Every secret date and little meet up they managed, this was her mantra. Mario was going to be there, he wasn’t going anywhere and she didn’t see a reason to push things too fast with him. There was a lot of emotion tied up with that part of a relationship. It all seemed like a seriousness that she didn’t want at the moment.

For all of Daisy’s talk of Luigi, things were easier for her just by virtue of being a drug rep. She wasn’t chained to the same building as Luigi, constantly worrying about how every little interaction with him went. She had prep time!

Not that Daisy worried about anything like that—she seemed to drift through life on extremely fortunate luck.

With a small sigh, Peach undid the top button of her blouse and, using a paper towel, turned the knob to open the door. Mario had left the waiting room, but she knew where he would go. She made her way through the hall where his smaller examination rooms were until she reached his office. The first thing that she noticed every time she entered this room was the view, it was overlooking New Donk Medical Plaza, but in the distance was midtown and city hall sparkling like constellation.

Mario was perched on top of his desk with the dull purple of the city lights filtering through the window at his back. It was enough that Peach could make out his eyes, it was enough that she could see in his face what he wanted her to do. She pressed herself into the apex formed by Mario’s legs until the hollow sound made by her knees bumping the desk echoed through the room.

They both had to stifle their laughter, but it was that awkward kind of chortle that snowballed into a more infectious, out of control laugh. The electricity between them had been stretched so taut that Peach heard all of these sounds that weren’t there. At least them laughing covered that up.

The chuckling tapered off until they were standing there staring into each other’s eyes. Peach rested her hands on Mario’s legs, just above his knees. He lifted her chin, stroking the side of her face with his thumb and kissed her cheek. “Do we want to stay here or go somewhere else?”

“We just got here,” Peach said in a very small voice.

His lips brushed against her ear, his mustache ticking the side of her face and catching at the stray tendrils of hair. “But you didn’t eat today, did you?”

How did he know? “No,” Peach said out of breath. “It’s no big deal, I was going to pick something up on the way home.”

“We could pick something up together.” Mario pressed his face into the nape of her neck, sucking at the skin just where her shoulder began to curve up. He fumbled through heir hair, undoing the ribbon that held it up.

“We could.” Her body responded by curling to the side, resting her weight against Mario’s leg as she let out a little gasp.

“It wouldn’t take long.” The words were spoken against her neck, barely audible, but she vibrations of each syllable across her skin was like lightning. “We’ll just—“

Peach spun, locking her lips to his forcefully and pushing her tongue into his mouth. Their chins jabbed at each other as they rocked together against the desk. He groaned so low and so deep that it felt like it was coming from within her. She moved her fingers back through his dark hair, the bits at the front were damp from where he had probably splashed water in his face the way she did.

It didn’t occur to her that her eyes were shut for a while, that they had closed themselves out of habit and all of her senses seemed to meld in to cover the gap. She could smell the dying embers of his cologne, something strong and astringent with a citrus hint. There was a smell just peeking through that one, like an iceberg out of the ocean, it was the smell of clean sweat and just him. His mouth tasted slightly sour, in the natural way anyone’s probably did after being in this place all day. She didn’t mind because it was Mario.

“I had a really, really awful day,” Peach said, pushing her hand into his chest to separate them. Behind him, the sky outside the window had changed. It seemed cloudier, buzzing with a kind of static.

“Do you want to talk about it?” Mario asked.

“Not really,” she said. “Come here.”

Across from the office from his desk, set against the wall was a small couch. Peach slipped out of her shoes before folding her legs onto the couch, so that she was sitting on them with her butt rested on her calves. Mario trailed behind sluggishly, pausing before the leather couch when she moved to pat the spot next to her.

“Are you sure?” Mario asked.

Peach leaned out, grabbing his hand and pulling it into her lap. “If you want me to be.”

“I want you to be sure for you—we had that talk before and—“

“And we decided that when the time was right we would know, but let’s be realistic: you want me, right?” She asked.

Mario’s eyes zigzagged along her body tracing a line from her toes, around the bend in her knee and all the way up to her face. “How could I say no, Peach, I—“

Her foot brushing the side of his leg stopped his words, his eyes widened and then Peach was unbuttoning her blouse, slowly revealing a flimsy pink tank top she wore underneath it. Mario watched, his heart beating so loud that she could hear it, could feel it where his hand rested in her lap.

Mario clambered up onto the couch and crawling over her, his hands sunk into the couch on either side of her waist. Her mouth rose to meet his helplessly and Mario’s lips responded by pushing her head against the arm rest, smashing her hair into a knot behind her head.

That little cautious voice in her head was in a veritable screaming panic, but the thundering of her heart and the soft moans drowned out any want she had to stop herself. Peach wasn’t above just going for it and this was a calculated risk.

A flash of light filled the room followed by the tremendous rumble of thunder. Peach caught Mario’s chest with both hands, her nails tracing little lines over his smooth skin. Around and between his nipples. “It would be dangerous for me to drive in this weather—I didn’t even bring an umbrella,” she lied. She always had an umbrella. Any reason to stay like this.

“I guess we’ll just have to stay here.” Peach rocked forward resting her butt on the leather sofa just in front of Mario’s crotch. Her hands trembled with anticipation causing her to fumble with his belt, managing to free the clasp from the puncture holes that held it after a few attempts.

Mario was rigid beneath his slacks, she could feel him when her arm brushed against the bulge beneath the fabric. He twitched sending a positively seismic shiver through her very being. Peach reached through the v-shaped crevice of his unfastened slacks and under the waist band of his boxers to grab his cock. He let out a stuttering sigh and arched his back, pumping against her grasp involuntarily. His skin was so warm and smooth and he glided through her palm.

Peach laughed, biting down softly on her lip and then glancing into Mario’s big blue eyes. “Is this okay?” She said in a voice that was barely a whisper.

“Yeah,” he moaned.

“Yeah,” she repeated. “Are my hands too cold?”

Mario shook his head.

A dopey grin stretched over Peach’s face. She pulled his cock up over the waistband of his pants. He was engorged, the skin being stretched so taut had smoothed any wrinkles there might have normally been. It wasn’t like she was some kind of cock connoisseur most of her experience with them recently had been related to her work. Feeling one in this context without latex to separate skin from skin and with it heavy and erect was caused her to think things she’d usually gripe at Daisy about saying.

Peach looked down at it, running her thumb along the gentle, rounded rise of the crown of his cock at an excruciatingly sluggish pace. Mario nails raked at the leather couch when she finally reached the ventral side where a little divot that marked the beginning of the frenulum led her thumb up to the hole in his penis. Mario sucked on his teeth, wincing at the sensation.

“Does it hurt?” She asked.

Mario shook his head.

She thought the better of blowing him. It had been a long time and she was tired. Probably tired enough that she wasn’t thinking clearly, but more so she had been at the hospital over a dozen hours. If she went down on him and he felt compelled to do the same for her—no it was best to keep things simple.

Peach’s hand grazed his face, the stubby hairs dotting his face catch at her skin as she makes small circles around his chin. “So…”

He leaned in to press his lips to her neck. The air conditioner for the area of the building kicks in with a thunderous hum that seems to shake the sofa and drum through their bodies. Everything is so secluded, cut off. They’re in a building with hundreds, maybe thousands of people, but they’re alone.

The second that his fingers touch the inside of her thigh every rational part of Peach is gone. Even with all of the room afforded to them, they stay confined to the couch, fumbling to stay in contact, never not kissing for more than a few moments while trying to strip to the minimally required clothes.

He got her underwear down and she could feel the damp fabric move past her leg. Peach moved to mount him, straddling and pushing him back into the couch. Her pressed against his upper chest, almost in his face. Mario pushed his way inside of her slowly, rising up to meet her body halfway. Peach grunted, her eyes shut against the sensation, but she after a second she began to rock her hips against him.

There was a warm satisfaction in the way that they were grinding together. Why did she wait so long to do this? They rocked together on the couch while the lightning outside erupted into a full fit that lit the darkened room for full seconds at a time. Thunder undercut her soft moans, his desperate grunts.

Mario mouthed something against her ear, and though she couldn’t hear him just the brushing of his lips on her ear exhale her answer, a breathy, “yes.”

He gripped her hips tighter, pulling her down hard onto him as if trying to get every inch of himself to go into her. His breath caught and his teeth nipped at her ear. Peach felt the hot explosion inside as Mario came.

Peach clenched her thighs around him and turned her head against the back of the couch, biting at the leather to muffle her little moans. She hadn’t actually quite come, which was normal. She didn’t typically cum without a lot of lead up or something other than vaginal sex, at the very least.

But then it seemed Mario wasn’t done with her.

He moved from between her legs, leaning against the couch with his left arm and then tugged her upright with him and spinning her so that she was pressing her bare back into his chest. She let out a sharp yelp as his lips touched her neck.

“I’m fine, I’m fine, don’t worry,” Peach said, holding up a hand as if to steady herself.

Mario wrapped an arm around her thigh, bunching her skirt into knots between her legs and began press against the folds of skin between her legs. Peach’s body jerked forward when he brushed the fabric against her clit. Air caught in her throat as she went to make a sound but was cut short by the surprising intensity of the sensations. He mimicked the motion that had gotten the reaction out of her, massaging with a little more pressure now and pushing the cloth of her skirt against the sensitive area.

He steadied her with his other hand, pulling her back to his chest and cupping her breast.

She tried to encourage what was happening, but the only word she could get out was his name. Something warm and wet and slow dripped down the inside of her thigh. In the kind of brief moment of clarity that can only be recognized in distant hindsight, she thought about what had happened: I let him cum inside me?

That was her last true bit of her self-awareness before Mario’s fingers, wrapped in the textured fabric of her skirt, caused her to melt into him. She was reduced to a moaning mess of jerky hip rocking mixed with sharp yelps.

Despite the embarrassingly small size of the styrofoam cup, Peach still held it with both hands as she swiveled it beneath her nose to take in the aroma. Mario definitely bought better coffee than they had back on her floor. She could tell by the heat against her cheeks that it was still much too hot to drink.

She stared out over the misty morning skyline of New Donk through the huge window in Mario’s office. They slept, naked and bundled up in their discarded clothes on the old leather across from his desk. The blinds had been up and the sun’s light burned across the room into their eyes at its very first chance. What was she thinking? In all her years she had never had sex with anyone from work, especially not at work.

Actually, she hadn’t had sex since she worked here. The length of time since her last relationship slowly dawned on her. Still, things with Mario came so naturally. Through months of courtship leading up to this her heart continued to flutter when he first spoke to her. It had happened when they woke up together.

The door to the office opened and Peach spun around, frightened that they hadn’t locked it and it was some parent and their child coming early seeking medical help, but Mario stepped in with plastic grocery bag dangling from one hand.

“You got them?”

“Yeah. The lock on your locker is a little finicky,” he smiled. “And don’t worry, no one saw me.”

“I would only worry if Daisy was still snooping around,” Peach said before finally taking a drink of her coffee.

He handed her the bag and Peach placed her cup on his desk to open it. She stared down at the bottom to see the fresh pair of scrub pants folded neatly. “Thank you. Pretty sure my skirt can just go in the trash now,” Peach said moving to wrap one arm around him. “Um, sorry about your couch—it must be pretty old.”

“Are you kidding, it’s a leather couch in a pediatricians office, it’s seen some shit. I’ll get some leather wipes and it’ll be fine,” he said. “It was actually already here when I moved into the office.”

“Oh,” Peach said putting a shocked hand to her face. “Maybe I shouldn’t have put my mouth on that…”

They both froze before bursting into boisterous laughter that last far too long for what wasn’t even meant to be funny.

“What did you decide to put back on?” Mario asked. “Are you just wearing the coat?”

“No,” Peach said pulling the lab coat open so he could see. “I’m just wearing the blouse beneath the coat and…yeah the coat.”

He hugged her around the waist. “Has anyone ever told you how sexy you are standing around in just a blouse and lab coat?”

“If you say so…” Peach giggled. “But…don’t start that now, you’ve got appointments—and—and a secretary coming in a half hour. How do you think Shokora will feel about me being in here with my naught bits all exposed?”

“So you have to go?” Mario asked.

“Yes. I need to nap and shower and try to salvage this skirt too.”

While Peach changed into the scrub pants and finished her coffee they chatted some more about mundane things. When it came time for her to go she was insistent that she walk alone.

“Are you sure you’re going to be okay walking down to the car yourself?” Mario asked.

“Yes. I usually do it at night. Plus it would ignite rumors.”

He still walked her as far as the elevator, stopping to lean against the doors to hold them open, he checked both ways down the hall before leaning in to kiss her. “Goodbye, Doctor Toadstool.

“Bye, Doctor Mario,” she kissed him on the lips and he stepped back letting the doors close between them.

The moment she was out of sight, Peach jumped up and down with her hands balled into tight little fists at her sides. She wanted to scream or dance, maybe even while screaming, but the elevator dinged and came to a stop for an old woman in a wheel chair to roll in. She nodded at Peach, but said nothing on their ride to the sub level.

The parking garage was bustling with people, more than she was used to seeing. This wasn’t a time when she normally arrived at or left the hospital, which turned out to be lucky for her because most of these people wouldn’t really know her. She opened the back door of her car, throwing the bag of clothes she’d brought down onto the floorboards.

“Peaches!?”

Oh no.

“Peaches? I know goddamn well you hear me. Is that your cute ass in those awful scrubs?” Daisy rushed over and hugged her, pressing her against the side of the car roughly.

“Hey Daisy.” Peach folded her arms around her body to keep the lab coat closed.

“Hey to you too. Since when do you work in the mornings. I mean are you just getting here or…wait what’s that smell?”

“There’s a lot of cars around. It could be a gas or something, you should go tell the guard.”

“No, it smells like sweaty leather and sex,” Daisy said. She sniffed the air, leaning in close to Peach. Peach leaned back in return. “Why do you smell like you’ve been having sex?”

Peach tightened her arms around herself, averting her eyes from Daisy’s gaze, until the phrama-rep reached out and poked her in the sides, just below the ribcage. She used to do this all of the time when they were in school. It was a surefire way to tickle Peach quickly and make her loosen up. The moment Peach’s arms jerked away, Daisy threw open her lab coat and gasped.

“Same shirt, shitty old scrubs! You and Mario?” Daisy asked before twirling in a quick circle like an excited puppy. “You and Mario!”

“This is why I didn’t tell you things had been…progressing,” Peach said.

“That’s not fair. I tell you about all the weird shit I get up to,” Daisy said.

“Yeah, you tell me too much, honestly.”

“Well now you’re going to spill it. We are going for breakfast cocktails right now and you’re going to spill it,” Daisy said latching on to Peach’s arm and closing her car door.

“It’s like seven in the morning and I have to get home,” Peach protested. “Don’t you have to work?”

“Oh please, I’m one of the top sales reps in the country, I make my own hours. Now come on, I know a bar that makes a mean omelette.”

[queenmylovely]

Wedding Party III

Summary: Ben hardy x fem!reader. The night before the wedding is for the bachelorette party and the bachelorette party only, right? 

Word Count: 2.9k

Warnings: cussing, building tension, flirty texting, spoiler alert: heavy make-out section (very light smut, no underwear is removed, pretty much just descriptive grinding lol) 

A/N: Part 3 to part 3 of the celebration! Thank you so much again to everyone who follows me, including the people that have since I hit 500, cause it’s been quite a minute. This one’s a little shorter, but it gets the job done I think. Make sure to catch reader’s Freudian slip lol. Yell at me if you must. Any feedback is super appreciated but especially replies, messages, and asks are super helpful for my writing ‘cause I get to hear what you think!

Part I, Part II, Part IV, Mini i, Mini ii, Masterlist

(dorky cutie, gif by @catspawzz-yeahyeahyeahthedrummer​) 

💖💖💖

How you were up at 3:00am the night before your best friend’s rehearsal dinner and subsequent bachelorette party was beyond you. Well, it wasn’t really beyond you because you knew why. It was that damn Ben. You and he had been texting since that first game night and some nights it lasted until one of you fell asleep in the very early morning, phone in hand.

It stayed… mostly friendly, but every so often it ventured towards flirtation, which you thoroughly appreciated. But then the morning would come and one of you would inevitably make the switch back to just friendly. All in person interactions followed the same type of pattern. A couple more game nights as each other’s partners, dinner parties sitting across from each other and sharing looks and laughs, and brunches with free flowing mimosas and bloody mary’s that turned you both into tipsy, touchy flirts were enough to make both of you desperately want a quick fuck in a wedding reception bathroom (or anyplace and anytime sooner), and maybe more too.

In any sort of wedding related event, the two of you were paired up, and usually by the happy couple themselves. It was some sort of sweet torture that the two of you were walking together. You both greatly enjoyed spending so much time together, talking, flirting, whatever, but the damn rules were always on the edge of your minds.

Not that either of you knew the other was aware of the rules as well. Ben had the tiniest inkling that you might be, but he didn’t want to risk bringing it up in case you didn’t because he would’ve been a little embarrassed. You were completely clueless and were more focused on not breaking the rules than figuring out if Ben had any idea about it, because boy was it getting hard not to break them.

Anyway, it was 3:00am and you were struggling to keep your eyes open, but Ben’s texts always came right when they were about to close.

Ben: So what r u guys doing for Luce’s party?

Y/N: umm i think that’s a secret

Ben: A secret? I already told u what we’re doing 😤

Y/N: that’s on you bud

Ben: Rude

Ben: Whatever it is try not to get too drunk so I don't have to deal with u complaining of a hangover at the wedding

Y/N: says the guy who shows up to most of the brunches hungover or half drunk from the night before. besides, it’ll be hard to get drunk when i don’t have my personal drink maker there

Ben: Ah ur dependent on me now? No one else does it quite like me?

Y/N: that’s right, hardy. no one else keeps me filled up the way you do, it’s why i keep you around

Y/N: *my cup

Ben: It’s not the stimulating conversation or my charming good looks?

Y/N: those help, but no it’s your usefulness as a personal bartender

Ben: If I’m ur personal bartender, where are my tips?

Y/N: i’ll settle up after the wedding

Ben: Looking forward to it

_____

About 16 hours and a rehearsal and rehearsal dinner later, the wedding party was splitting into two groups for the respective bachelor and bachelorette parties.

You saw the boys gathered by one of the tables where the rehearsal dinner had been. Lucy and Rami were talking so everyone was taking a minute before it was time to leave. From where you were you could see Joe and Sami talking in hushed tones and counting what looked like a few hundred dollars in bills ranging from ones to twenties.

Catching Ben’s eye as he was scowling at you, you couldn’t help but laugh. Since he had told you that they were going on a chartered boat that had been set up for poker, you knew exactly what the money was for. Ben walked quickly over to you, crossing his arms and giving you a look once he got there.

When he didn’t say anything you asked, “Can I help you?”

“You haven’t told anyone have you?” Ben asked, still frowning. The little crease between his eyebrows and the slight pout of his lips made it hard to remember to answer his question.

“Of— of course not, I’m not gonna risk ruining the surprise for Rami,” you said, placing your hand on his still crossed forearm before smirking and saying, “Unlike you.”

Ben’s frown deepened for a second and you worried if you had been too mean, but then he just started laughing. You joined in and both of you took a step closer without realizing.

“Shut up,” Ben said, still chuckling.

You looked up at him with a challenge in your eyes and replied, “Make me.”

Ben suppressed a groan and looked down at you, biting his lip. There were a few seconds of heated silence and you felt yourself moving closer to Ben as he was doing the same.

“Y/N, we’re ready to head out, are you?” Emma called from where she and the rest of the bridesmaids were.

Ben cleared his throat and you turned around to tell her yeah. Then you turned back to Ben, putting your hand on his arm again, “See you tomorrow, then.”

“Have fun, be safe,” he told you.

“You too, don’t go falling off the boat,” you said with a smile that he returned.

Then he leaned down and kissed your cheek quickly, saying bye as he stepped back and you waved before turning around and following the group out the door.

_____

The bachelorette party was set up at your apartment because it was bigger than Emma’s and so that it could maintain the surprise for Lucy. It had required a bit of thinking for you and Emma to figure out what to do because Lucy didn’t want to go to a stripclub or anything of the like. Plus, since she was having the party the night before her wedding, she didn’t want a wicked hangover. She also wanted her mom, aunt, and young cousin to come, so it had to be something that they could participate in too.

Everyone went inside, seeing the multiple tables set up in the living room, wondering aloud what the plan was. It was only a couple minutes before there was a knock on the door. Just outside, there were two women wearing aprons that you let in with a smile.

Emma stood up to introduce them, “Everyone, this is Katy and Jay, they’ll be teaching us how to make cocktails tonight!”

Everyone exclaimed happily, and you were glad to see Lucy smiling brightly in excitement. You went to the kitchen and wheeled out a bar cart that had all of the equipment, alcohol, and mixers that would be needed. There were enough tables for everyone to be in pairs, and you were paired with Lucy so that Emma could be with her cousin, May.

One from each pair grabbed one of each of the items that Katy and Jay said to grab. The group included one pregnant bridesmaid, one who just didn’t drink, and the fourteen year old May, so your instructors had planned drinks that would still be good without alcohol.

The class ended up being a lot of fun; they taught different types of martinis, spritzes, mojitos, and G&T’s, so that by the time they were all made and everyone that was drinking tried them all, it was enough to be more than a little tipsy.

Jay and Katy took their leave after many thanks and promises of more cocktail parties in the future. Then you announced the next part of the evening.

“It-- it is now time for a fashion ex-- extara--vangza!” you exclaimed, stumbling over the long word and causing everyone to crack up with you.

Then Emma came out of your room, pulling, along with the help of her mom and aunt, two giant racks of clothes that you and she had spent the past few weeks collecting at different thrift and second-hand stores. You had gotten old wedding dresses, prom dresses, funky patterned shirts, bohemian skirts, oversized blazers with giant shoulder pads, sparkly bralettes, and everything in between.

Seeing the clothes, Lucy jumped up and ran over, immediately looking through them and soon there was a little crowd around the racks.

Emma tried to shout over everyone, “We have seven minutes to create an entire outfit and then we will have our fashion show! Don’t worry, this is only the first of many!”

The whole affair was full of laughs, shouts of excitement, and a couple quick arguments over who got what. Then the runway had to be prepared, which meant turning on the color changing LED lights you had and turning on a playlist of Beyoncé, ABBA, Rihanna, Adele, Lizzo, Lady Gaga, Billie Eilish, and Queen, though only the upbeat songs.

Everyone did their best struts down the runway and then posed strikingly at the end, channeling their inner model. The crowd said their oohs and ahhs and clapped for each one. You and Emma took turns modelling and being a photographer each round so that all of the outfits were captured during their walk.

After about five rounds, the fashion show devolved into a dance party where everyone was laughing and singing along with the songs.

Around midnight, you lost Lucy’s mom, her aunt, and May to tiredness. And once the first group had left, it wasn’t long before others started leaving as well. By 12:30am, the only ones left were Lucy and Emma, to help clean up. But you both tried to make Lucy sit and relax since she was the bride and shouldn’t have to clean up after her own party. She refused and helped anyway, hanging up the clothes that had gotten left on the couches and floor. Though a lot of them ended up in a large tote bag she found in your room that she planned to take home with her.

Once all the trash was thrown away, the dishwasher was running, and the last stray glittery shirt was hung up, you ushered Emma and Lucy out the door with hugs, kisses, and reminders to get a good night’s sleep.

You flopped on your couch, tired out but also somehow wired with energy and you debated over watching one episode of TV or just going to sleep. You were reaching to grab the remote to turn off the music when there was a knock at the door.

Rolling your eyes and smiling on the way, you unlocked it and threw it open, the question, “What, did you realize you left one of the pairs of cute trousers behind?” halfway out of your mouth before you realized that it wasn’t Lucy and Emma.

“Ben,” you said in surprise. Probably the last person you were expecting at this moment was Ben, but there he was, in dark jeans and a plain white t-shirt that fit him too well to leave anything to your imagination, his hair a little messy like he had been running his hands through it and his cheeks flushed pink due to what you could only assume was alcohol.

You opened the door wider and let him in, after you remembered to stop just staring at him and trying to imagine what he’d look like with those clothes off.

Ben smiled at you sweetly and said hi. Then he looked you up and down and a brief look of confusion crossed his face.

You looked down at yourself and realized that you were still wearing one of the sequin bralettes, a black mesh t-shirt underneath that, a high waisted neon purple skater skirt, and a houndstooth yellow and pink blazer with shoulder pads. Chuckling at yourself, you explained, “Oh, we had a fashion show.”

As the two of you walked into your living room, Ben nodded in understanding.

“Sit. How was the boat? Who won big in poker?” you asked as you sat on your feet, kneeling. You asked a little more enthusiastically than usual, but you were still kinda tipsy.

“Boat was good. Ummm I think maybe Rami won, yeah, he has a good poker face, he’s a good actor. Has an Oscar, you know,” Ben rambled, and you nodded with a smile as you thought that he must be kinda tipsy himself. Then he turned so he was facing you more and closed his eyes, shaking his head, “But we didn’t even play poker for long.”

“No?” you asked, leaning closer to him.

“No,” he said, opening his eyes slowly and smiling, “We did karaoke instead.”

“That sounds fun,” you whispered, looking down to his hand that was very close to yours. If you had been sober, you would’ve just looked, but you weren’t, so you grabbed it in yours and started playing with his fingers.

“Mmmm,” Ben hummed and you wondered whether it was in agreement to your statement or because he enjoyed what you were doing.

“What did you sing?” you asked curiously.

Ben flipped your hands so that he was the one doing the playing as he responded, “Me and Joe did a duet of ‘Greased Lightnin’’ from Grease. He was Danny and I was Kenickie.”

“Kenickie was always my favorite,” you commented, looking up from your hands to his eyes.

Ben looked up to your eyes as well, leaning in and asking, “Really?”

You moved closer too, and as you nodded, you felt his breath on your lips yet again.

This time, there were no interruptions and you closed the last few inches together, your lips finally meeting. The first kiss was soft, but the next one was a little more urgent, and the next even more so. Before you knew it, you were parting your mouth for Ben’s tongue and he was teasing along your lower lip, daring you to follow into his mouth.

You moaned as Ben’s hands came to your waist and he helped you straddle his lap. Your hands went to his chest and down to his stomach, feeling the taught muscles that you had seen through his shirt. Ben pushed your blazer off your shoulders and then one of his hands moved to tangle in your hair and the other slid lower and underneath your skirt to your ass

Breaking the kiss, you instead moved to placing kisses along his jaw then down his neck, scraping your teeth lightly on his pulse point and making Ben shudder. He moved his hands back to your waist and pushed down, at the same time grinding his hips up into you from below. You gasped and moaned, feeling his hardness pressing against you through only your underwear.

Kissing back up to his mouth, you bit his lower lip, getting a groan and another grind of his hips in return. Your hands slid up his torso and then to his hair, tugging it lightly and Ben continued to help you move with him as he moaned. Each pass of his hard cock on your clothed pussy made you a little more desperate for more and you whined whenever he grazed your clit.

When you tilted your head back in pleasure, Ben took the opportunity to move to your neck, kissing down the column of your throat before starting a search for your sweet spot. He found it quickly, and started sucking, but as good as it felt, you had to stop him.

“Ben, no marks, the wedding.”

Just that simple sentence knocked the sense back into both of you and you each leaned back, your hands all moving to your own sides.

“We can’t do this,” you said in unison, and then looked at each other in confusion.

“Wait--” you started.

“What--” Ben said at the same time.

“Why can’t we?” you asked him, a few thoughts falling into place as you remembered that initial conversation when Lucy had singled out Ben.

“Well, I’m just not supposed to-- I mean, I probably shouldn’t say…” he trailed off awkwardly and you got off his lap quickly, pacing in front of the couch as you came to a conclusion.

“Did Lucy tell you not to sleep with me?” you asked, turning to Ben quickly.

“No, well yes, well kind of. I guess it’s fine. Rami told me not to sleep with anyone from the wedding party, he didn’t single out you. But I assumed that Lucy felt the same way,” Ben said sheepishly, a blush covering his cheeks.

“Don’t be embarrassed, Lucy told me not to sleep with anyone either. Except she did single you out. She excused that it was because we’re walking together, but it’s probably because we’re both sluts. Nice to know I’ve got an ally out here,” you said wryly but when you looked over at Ben he just looked very confused. You quickly added, “That wasn’t meant as an insult.”

“No, it’s fine. I’m just surprised that they would go to such lengths. And I’m a little mad,” he commented.

You nodded and flopped back down on the couch next to him, “Yeah, me too, but I can see their point.”

Both of you sighed and then laughed.

“And we probably shouldn’t do anything tonight?” you asked, wanting his agreement, because you were close to just saying fuck it and doing something anyway.

“Yeah, we probably shouldn’t tonight,” he said, facing you and you could see that there was still a healthy amount of desire in his eyes. “But I make no promises for the reception.”

💖💖💖

Permanent taglist: @riseetothesun @caborhapch @drowseoftaylor​ @queenlover05​ @johndeaconshands​ @supersonicfreddie​

Series taglist: @killer-queen-87​ @theprettyandthereckless​ @radiob-l-a-hblah​ @theonsasheart​ @hannafuckingsucks​​

If you would like to be added to the taglist for this little series or my permanent one, just send me a message or ask!

[whiskey-bumblebee]

Hello lovely! After 5 weeks of being trapped in the house I wondered if I could request a bit of escapism with some holiday romance with Pale? Many, many thank-you’s in advance!

Same here pal! Sheesh, I know I’m an introvert but 4 weeks of lockdown has been interesting to say the least! That said, I hope you enjoy this!

Jump

Pairing: Pale/Reader Word Count: ~2000

Pale tossed and turned for weeks over it, your first holiday together. Wanted it to be a surprise but a good one, didn’t want to fuck it up. Looked at Cuba, Puerto Rico, the Bahamas, even Alaska. You’d been working yourself to the bone recently, deserved some time off. 

There was a TV Pale walked past every now and again when he was working his ass off too, and sometimes he’d see some blonde on a boat, singing about the wonders of cruising. It looked a little bit like hell, being stuck on a boat that long, but once he started reading about it, it started looking pretty fucking good.

Entertainment on board, it wouldn’t be Broadway but hell, with your lips around his cock in the back row it didn’t matter, did it? All your meals cooked for you, buffet and fine dining options, sun loungers out on a deck somewhere, docking at a tropical island for the day and snorkelling, whatever you were meant to do on an island.

“Baby, do you gotta minute?”

“Mhm, what is it?”

“Could you get some time off work if you asked real nice? Just a week or so?”

“Probably,” You started to smile and walked over to Pale from where you had been doing your eyebrows in the bathroom. “And by probably, I mean yeah, I’ve been savin’ my vacation days.”

Pale pulled you down into his lap, kissed under your ear. “How’s a vacation sound then?”

“Sounds good, what do ya wanna do?”

“You,” Pale smirked. “I was just thinking I’d do ya somewhere different.”

You rolled your eyes with a smile. “Where have you booked?”

“Haven’t yet, wanted to check with you first and make sure you wouldn’t hate it or nothin’. You seen those big fuckin’ cruise ships that take you outta Miami?”

“Yeah,” You started to light up, getting all excited.

Pale stroked the side of your face. “How about one of those? Eatin’ and fuckin’ and swimmin’ in the bright sunshine all day. Sounded real nice to me.”

“Where to?”

“Jesus you ask a lotta questions. Don’t gotta be to nowhere, they started selling trips where you just sit and get fed and look out the window and don’t stop anywhere, but wouldn’t that be awful? Anyway the Bahamas or something, a day in Cuba, I think I’d like Cuba.”

“Baby, at the moment even Cubans don’t like Cuba,” You teased, played with your man’s hair. 

“Then we stay on the boat the whole day and fuck, go to shows, go swimming, dancing, whatever. Fuck if I care.”

But you could tell he did care, he’d gone to so much trouble to research all this for you. Knew all the answers to all your questions, had a million ideas about what the two of you would do.

“I’m in, should I pack?”

Pale smiled wide, wider than you’d seen in a while. “Yeah, pack.”

* * * * * * * * 

The flight had been fine, New York to Miami. Pale had rented a car so the two of you could drive around for a few hours before your ship left. Miami looked so alive, crawling with rollerbladers, men kissing men and all sorts.

“Fuckin’ hot as hell. Gonna jump in the pool just as soon as we get on the boat.”

“Same here. Do ya think I have to wear a top?” 

Pale glanced at you and you shot him a wink. 

“You better, Jesus Christ. Think I’d die of heat stroke and a heart attack at the same fuckin’ time. Wouldn’t even fit on my death certificate.”

You couldn’t help but laugh at your man, complaining even now, even here.

“Pale, I love you so goddamn much.”

“Yeah, yeah. Still don’t get it but I believe ya.”

You were quiet for a moment then, content to listen to the pop on the radio. Pale had ceded and let you play the billboard hits for an hour or so while you were driving. It had to be quiet but it made you laugh, seeing this tough grumpy man driving through the neon streets of Miami with Van Halen playing.

“Do you miss Miami?”

Pale was quiet, drummed his fingers across the steering wheel as he thought.

“Some of it.”

You nodded, knew if he wanted to talk about it, he’d keep going on his own.

“The coke here is cheaper, but the cops are all over it. Weather’s good but it gets boring. College kids all over the damn place sometimes. It’d be nice to see my kids more. Nice to have the beaches nice and close. You know, normal shit.”

You nodded and rested your head on his shoulder. 

“You wanna go and say hi to them while we’re close?”

Pale turned his head slightly to kiss your forehead. “Where do you think we’re going?”

You sat upright then, looked at him, surprised.

He smiled. “Yeah I wanna see ‘em. We only got an hour or so left so the missus can’t get too wound up, I’ll be in and out.”

“Am I... Do you want me to-”

“Nah, I’m gonna drop you at the mall if that’s okay. Don’t want you to see it, she gets pretty loud.”

You nodded and went back to resting on his shoulder. “You want anything?”

“Pack of cigarettes, don’t know what else we’re allowed to take. Maybe some Twizzlers.”

You wrinkled your nose. “That your holiday food?”

Pale hummed in affirmation. “Yeah. Helps me get rid of all the tension in my jaw ‘cos it’s like eating rubber.”

You smiled, picturing a younger Pale chowing down on a pack of Twizzlers, chewing real hard.

* * * * * * * * *

“C’mere, you’re gonna get all fuckin’ pink on your shoulders.”

“Pale do you got a timer set or somethin’? You’ve been at this every hour on the hour,” You teased.

“It’s hotter out here than it is in New York. You’ll burn easier, just wanna take care of ya.”

“What time do you wanna get dinner?”

“Maybe 6:30, show starts at 8 so that gives us time.”

You nodded, melted into Pale’s touch as he rubbed the sunscreen all over your chest and shoulders.

“Do you wanna go to the restaurant proper? I think it’s Italian or somethin’.”

You hummed as you thought of a basket of dinner rolls with fancy little bowls of butter, then spaghetti and pizza. 

“Yeah, sounds real nice.”

“Can you wear the blue dress? That one with the sparkly shit on it?”

You nodded.

“It’ll look real nice with the ocean and the lights and everything reflecting off ya. We could get a photo taken or whatever.”

“We can get it printed nice and big and hang it in the apartment. Can ya let me read my book for a minute, sweetheart? I’m dying to finish this chapter.”

“Alright, alright, I’ll stop being a menace.”

Pale picked up his own book, a thriller. You couldn’t help but let your eyes wander down his torso, following the trail of hair from his bellybutton to the band of his swim trunks. 

“You know, we might need to go back to the room for a snack,” You said under your breath. “Getting a little peckish.”

Pale glanced at you over his book. “Oh are we?”

You nodded and pulled your lip into your mouth. “Just let me finish the chapter.”

Pale shuffled a little awkwardly and draped his towel over his lap. 

You didn’t even have to look away from the pages of your novel to know what the sound of the towel moving was. 

“Go jump in the cold pool, you menace,” You teased.

* * * * * * * *

The show was great, the costumes were amazing even if the set was sparse. Pale’s hands had wandered more than you could admit without blushing. In the interest of time before the show, you’d skipped dessert. The 24 hour buffet would serve you well.

While you helped yourself to carrot cake, Pale made small talk with the chef dishing the hot food. 

“Shit shift, huh?”

The chef laughed. 

“New Yorker?” His accent gave his own origin away, and you could sense the rapport that grew straight away.

“Yeah, taking a bit of a break with my girl, wanted to get some sun.”

The chef nodded. “It isn’t a great shift but there are always a few schmucks who come for dessert after the show. Real nice to see the stars though, rather see the sunset than work through sunrise on breakfast.”

“Jesus fuck, you guys gotta be up at four or whatever to serve us assholes cornflakes?”

The chef laughed again, a hearty laugh, and you joined Pale, looped an arm around his waist. 

“Thanks for sticking around, sorry to be one of the post-show schmucks.” You said sheepishly.

“Nah, you guys ain’t got nothing to worry about. Nice to meet someone who actually sees me as a human fuckin’ being.”

Pale nodded in commiseration. 

“What do you do in New York?”

“Restaurant industry, actually,” Pale replied.

“No shit! That’s nice. Manhattan?”

“Yeah, 90 percent of the time. Hey, uh, odd favor to ask but any chance I could come into the kitchen and see what’s going on? Must be a helluva lot of food back there, industrial ovens and shit.”

“Yeah, of course man. Let me hook your girl up with some cream though first, cake gets a little dry this late.”

You smiled. “Thank you.”

 * * * * * * *

“Pale, it’s beautiful.”

“Yeah you are.” Pale swooped in for a kiss.

“Careful, sun’s making you all soft,” You smiled.

“Don’t you worry, I’ll be back to normal as soon as we’re back stateside.”

Pale lay out the picnic blanket on the sand. You smiled at the way the wayfarers sat over his nose. 

“So what’s in that bag of yours?”

“That guy I met the other night, the chef, he gave me a bit of bread and some fruit salad. He said it wasn’t enough to save to put out tonight so it would’ve gone to waste.”

“And this?” You laughed as you pulled out a bottle of champagne. 

“Thought you might like a mimosa or somethin’. Gotta stay hydrated.”

You sighed with a wide smile and lay down on the picnic blanket, soaking up the sun and the love you felt for Pale.

“Thank you.”

Reaching out with your eyes still closed, you fumbled to hold his hand. 

“He’s a nice guy. Might help him out with a job or two once we’re back.”

You hummed. “You getting nervous? All that talk about being back?”

“A little. There’s a reason I’m the top dog over there, I’m the only one who can keep that shit all happening like it needs to. Fingers in a bunch of pies and all that.”

“But you’re glad you’re here?”

“Of course sweetheart. Probably would’ve keeled right over if we’d stayed, I needed a break. Can’t say I feel any less tired with how often we’ve been fuckin’, but still.”

You laughed and swatted at Pale with your hat, then moved it back over your face.

“I checked with some of the crew who know this island and they said you’re all good to whip off your top, even out the tan lines. Locals don’t care.”

“Oh really?”

“Yeah, so c’mon, roll over. I’ll untie ya.”

You half-heartedly rolled, enough for Pale to reach the strings of your bikini top.

“Don’t go gettin’ too excited,” You teased.

“Too fuckin’ late, I’m hard as a rock just from seeing you in the bikini.”

You laughed. “Pass me a grape or something?”

You stayed on your front for now, didn’t feel like showing off your tits to the whole beach just yet. Pale took a grape out of the salad and extended his hand over to you. With a deadly smirk on your face, you licked the sweet syrup off his fingers, then sucked the grape out of his grip.

“Baby, that ain’t gonna help my situation.”

“C’mon then, I’ll feed you one.” 

Pale’s eyes widened and you laughed as you pulled a piece of melon from the salad. 

He shook his head with a smile and bit the melon from your fingers. “You’re a terror.”

You laughed again and he couldn’t help but smile at the sound.

“What now?”

You glanced at him from under the floppy sun hat.

“Lovers of New York, Book Two: The Terror Goes Tropical.”

[i-am-a-closet-fanfic-fiend]

Stepping Up ~ Bucky x Reader (Part 11/12)

A/N: Hi my lovelies!!! Happy Sunday! I hope you all had a good weekend. And I hope this coming week is great for everyone. So I finally get this bit to flow. There is one part and an epilogue left in the story.  I hoping to have the last part out next weekend, but we’ll see. I’ll keep you posted once I know. The last part is probably going to be a doozy so stay tuned. For now enjoy!

Summary: Wedding day has finally arrived. 

Rating: T

Warnings: language, brief mentions of nudity, not too much 

Word Count: 2109

Masterlist

Bucky woke up on the first ring of your alarm and shut it off, gently shaking you awake.

“Time to wake up, doll.”

“Five more minutes,” you whined.

“Well you can either sleep for five more minutes or kiss me for five minutes.”

“Mmm.” You cracked an eye open to look at him as you debated. “I choose sleep,” you declared before rolling over already giggling.

Bucky followed after you, wrapping his arms around your waist and pulling you firm against his chest.

“So that’s how it is, huh?” he rumbled in your ear.

“Mhmm. Sleep always wins.”

“Noted. I’m okay with that.” He pecked you on the cheek and cuddled even closer, tangling your legs together. “Five more minutes it is.”  

Fifteen minutes later you finally started to stir. You were basking in the comfortable intimacy you had with Bucky after the night’s activities.

“I love you so much,” you whispered, not sure if he was fully awake.

When his arms closed even more tightly around you, you knew that he was.

“I love you, doll.”

You turned in his arms so you could pull him in for a slow sensuous kiss. He rolled slightly so he was on top of you and you loved the weight of him. You had just deepened the kiss when there was firm knocking on the door.

“Y/n, time to get up, sweetie. The rest of the bridesmaids will be here within the hour. And your dad will be here to pick Bucky up soon.”

“Okay, we’ll be down in a little bit, Aunt Meg. We both need to shower first.”

“Alright, darling.”

You pecked him once more and then slipped out of bed, plugging in your phone that had been neglected in the heat of everything last night. Bucky stayed put, arms crossed behind his heed, a lazy grin on his face as he was watched you, pleased that you didn’t seem the least bit bashful about your nudity.

“See something you like, Buck?”

He shook his head with a small smile.

“I see something I love.”

You couldn’t keep the dumb smile off your face if you tried.

“Smooth talker,” you commented as you entered the bathroom, humming.  

“It’s true. You better hurry up though, doll. I’ve gotta shower too ya know,” Bucky taunted making you pause in the doorway.

“If you’re in such a rush, you could always join me,” you told him with a wink.

“I thought you’d never ask,” he chuckled as he leapt out of the bed.  

��You and Bucky were giggling as you entered the kitchen. Penny was sitting at the island scribbling on a notepad like a maniac; the binder was open to the day of page but your Aunt had already started marking some items off. Ben and Zoe sat huddled at the kitchen table making snide comments.

“Good morning, everyone.”

“Morning sweetheart. I hope you two slept well.”

“Never better,” Bucky commented reflexively. .

“I never realized the floor in that room was so comfortable,” Zoe smirked.

“Don’t know about the floor but the bed is like a cloud,” Bucky shot back calmly.  

“Why would you sleep on the floor?” your Aunt asked.

Luckily Zoe didn’t get to answer since your parents entered the kitchen door.

“There’s the beautiful bride to be.”

“Morning, Auntie Di. Morning, Uncle Kev.”

“How are you feeling, sweetie?” Your mom asked Penny as your dad came over to hug you and shake hands with Bucky.

“Ready,” she sighed contentedly as she closed the notebook.

“Good.”

The doorbell rang and Penny beamed.

“That’ll be the girls. I’ll get it,” she announced as she hopped up from the island.

“I think that’s our cue to go,” your dad commented drily. “Are you boys ready?” he asked Bucky and Ben.

“Yes, sir,” Bucky nodded.

“Yep,” Ben shrugged.

“Meg, do you need anything before we go?”

“No. I think we’re all set. Just make sure you’re back on time.”

“That I can do,” your dad grinned. “Come on, men. Let’s get out of here.”

Zoe pulled Ben down to basically make out with him for a long uncomfortable minute that had everyone staring at anything but them.

You and Bucky shared a much less ostentatious goodbye. He opted to lean his forehead against yours for a moment before giving you brief peck and a whispered “I love you”. You smirked when he picked up the garment bag; you couldn’t wait to see him all dressed up.

There was a chorus of shrieks from the front hall and the men all picked up the paced out the door.

 Once they were gone the morning and early afternoon was a wonderful chaos, filled with laughter and mimosas. When Penny came into the room in her wedding gown, she was radiant, and you immediately began to cry.

“Some badass you are,” she teased, holding back her own tears.

“Badasses have feelings too,” you griped.  “Besides this is nothing compared to how Dylan is going to be.”

“You think so?”

“I know so.”

You were right. Tears started streaming the moment Dylan laid eyes on her, and didn’t stop until the minister pronounced them man and wife.

The ceremony flowed right into cocktail hour for the guests while the wedding party took photos. When you were finally released, you sought out Bucky who was deep in conversation with your dad. The moment you were in the vicinity, his eyes were on you, and he extended his metal hand to you once you were within arm’s reach.

“You did a beautiful job, y/n,” your father complimented you.

“All I did was walk down the aisle and hand her the rings at the right time. Not very hard.”

“I meant all of this,” he gestured to everything around.

You shrugged, “Tony really is to thank.”

Shaking his head, he looked at Bucky.

“Do you think you’ll be able to get my darling daughter to accept a compliment?”

“I’m not sure, sir. But I’ll never stop trying.”

“Good. You two relax and have fun tonight. I’ll see you in a bit.”

“See you later, dad.” You grinned up at Bucky before kissing him quick. “You two seem to be getting along well.”

“We’ve got a lot in common,” Bucky shrugged.

“Oh yeah? Like what?”

“We both like crossword puzzles, and playing the piano, and reading Stephen King novels. And most importantly we both think you’re the best thing since sliced bread. And I actually remember when there wasn’t sliced bread,” he whispered, making you giggle.

“You sure clean up nice for an old man.”

“I’ve gotta look my best, when I get to have the most beautiful woman in the world on my arm. You look stunning, doll.”

“Thank you, Buck.”

“Would you like a drink?”

“I’d love one.”

He placed his hand on your lower back and guided you towards the open bar.

“So how did everything go before the ceremony?”

You breathed out heavily and he immediately started rubbing circles into your skin with his metal fingers, calming you.

“That bad huh?”

“No, honestly it wasn’t. There were a few tense moments where Zoe was being…”

“Herself.”

You snorted.

“For lack of a better term, yes. But with 6 bridesmaids all getting ready it was pretty easy to diffuse the tension.”

Bucky quickly ordered your favorite cocktail and handed it to you.

“Well, they’ve officially tied the knot so you can relax now. Cheers to the happy couple.”

“May they always be as happy as they are today,” you toasted, and sipped your drink.  

“You ought to save the well wishes for your maid of honor toast,” a familiar voice commented from behind you, and you spun grinning.

“Hi, Gran.”

“Hello, y/n, my dear,” She hugged you tight before turning her attention to Bucky. “And you must be the lucky boyfriend I’ve heard so much about.”

“Yes, ma’am. I am. It’s a pleasure to meet you. James Barnes.”

“James hmm? That’s not what Diana called you.”

Bucky flushed and scratched behind his ear.

“I generally go by Bucky, ma’am.”

“Charming. Well, Bucky. Ma’am makes me feel old. You can call me Eleanor, or Gran if you like.”

“Would you like a drink, Eleanor?”

“Your finest scotch,” she informed the bartender who nodded and grabbed a bottle from below the bar. “So, that’s one granddaughter married. Only two more to go. What are your thoughts on marriage, Bucky?”

“Gran,” you warned quietly before she could bully Bucky into proposing on the spot.

“What, darling? I’m simply asking his opinion in general. Many young people today don’t believe in the institution of marriage.

“I consider myself a bit old-fashioned,” he explained wryly and you resisted the urge to swat at him. “I think marriage is a fine institution.”

He didn’t care to elaborate and luckily he didn’t have to. Right then the DJ asked that everyone take their seats so Penny and Dylan could make their entrance and have their first dance.

“May I escort you to your table, Eleanor?”

“You may.”

“I’ll be right back, doll.”

“I’ll save you a seat,” you joked.

Bucky offered your Gran his arm so he could lead her to a nearby table; she shot you an approving wink over her shoulder making you laugh and roll your eyes. When you took your seat at the head table, you could feel Zoe and Ben glaring at you from the table for the rest of the bridal party, but you ignored them, opting to chat with Greg and Amy instead.

 Penny and Dylan cantered in to the tent as everyone cheered. You swore you didn’t even need the generators, their smiles were bright enough to light up the whole county. The DJ then announced that they would have their first dance. You were confused when they started on opposite sides of the dance floor, until you realized they had choreography.

You couldn’t help but giggle as they lip synced the lyrics. By the second chorus they had found their way to each other and were simply swaying, blissfully happy. Bucky’s hand sought out yours and you shared a secret smile, basking in their infectious happiness.

The meal was delicious, and after the third course it was time for speeches. You were glad Greg was going first, because you were worried about sounding like a blubbering mess, but after his sobfest you were considerably less nervous.

When it was your turn, you took the hand mic from him and took a deep breath before speaking.  

“Hi everyone. For those of you who don’t know me. My name is y/n and I am Penny’s cousin.  She has been my best friend for pretty much our entire lives, except for those brief ten months when she wasn’t alive yet. In all the time we spent together we’d talked about boys once or twice,” you shrugged nonchalantly, earning a chuckle from the guests. “Maybe that’s a bit of an underestimate, but regardless we’ve spent a lot of time talking about the type of men we wanted to marry. There were a variety of choices, from cartoon characters to band members. But I’ve got to say, Dylan is even better than anyone I could have dreamed up for her.

“The first time Penny told me about Dylan, she only could talk about how in tune they were. They’d only known each other a few weeks, but he could anticipated her needs. He could read her. And more than that, he wanted to make things better for her. The first time I met Dylan, I could see in an instant how smitten he was with Penny. And she was just as head over heels as he was. Despite positive first impressions, I was still cautious, but it only took a few more meetings for me to be convinced that these two are the real deal.

“Dylan, you’re getting the best girl in the entire world. And for a very long time, I wasn’t sure that I would think anyone was good enough for her, but I know that she could not be in better hands. You both individually are two of the best people I know. And somehow you make each other even better, and that is truly what love is all about. It is an absolute joy and privilege to watch the two of you grow together and I wish all the happiness in the world for both of you.  To Penny and Dylan,” you raised your glass.

“Penny and Dylan,” the crowd echoed and after everyone drank you took your seat.

Penny reached out to squeeze your hand.

“I love you,” she whispered.

“I love you too.”

A/N: i hope you enjoyed! Thanks so much for reading! One more part to resolve some questions! Stay tuned. 

Tag Lists are Open (Please send an ask) 

Stepping Up Tag List @holycoldcoffee @ek823 @lordemjay @nirvanalovesyoutbh @eleshka-still @bookgirlunicorn @pastelsweaters-and-bubble-t

Bucky/Sebastian Tag List @waywardpumpkin @sadanddeadsoul @captain-maaarvel @caylast @isaxhorror @run-your-cleverboy @ria132love @mbsgr @hereisanapplepie @pierrxt-uta @thejourneyneverendsx @stevieboyharrington @catsandbooksinafarawayplace @mywinterwolf @andreagf956

Marvel Tag List @hdthdthdt​   @sophiatomlinson23 @misty-panther @supermusicallee @scarlettsoldier @acupofhotlatte @slender--spirit @petitesmate

Permanent Tag List @iamwarrenspeace @jayzayy @bexboo616 @neoqueen306 @santheweird @rowenaravencalw @buckitybarnes @prxttybirdz @sergeantjbuckybarnes @captainsamwlsn @broitsmydick @ailynalonso15 @nyxveracity @queenoftrash97 @walkingtravesty97 @lamia-maizat @memyselfandmaddox @lowkeybuckyb @whiskey2011 @averyrogers83 @lovingpeterparker @buckybarneshairpullingkink @beansparker @coralphantomninja @xxashy999xx @thisismysecrethappyplace @ravennightingaleandavatempus @paintballkid711 @whosmarisaaarw @silverkitten547

[finn-nelson-for-the-win]

The Good Life: Chapter 12

Hello, my lovelies! I know it’s been a little while since my last post, and I’m sorry about that, but it’s been hard to find time to write anything as of lately. This is just a relatively short chapter to act as filler and to fill in some gaps in the events of the previous chapter and to segue into what’s to come in the next few chapters that I have all mapped out. I hope you enjoy this little chapter!

Need to get caught up? The Good Life: Ch1, Ch2, Ch3, Ch4 , Ch5, Ch6, Ch7, Ch8 , Ch9 , Ch10, Ch 11

If you want to be added (or  removed) from the tags list for this story, just feel free to let me know!

@pink-royaute @believethaticanandiwill @milllott @likeashootingstarfades @i-dream-of-emus @eveerez @saintsisterwriter

The Good Life: Chapter 12

“No offense, babes, but you look like shit. Actually, you look worse than shit,” Chloe said as she took a sip of her mimosa.

“Thanks, Chlo! Why don’t you tell me how you really feel?” Rae remarked sarcastically as she added sugar to her coffee and took a long drink.

“Sorry, but it’s true.”

“I know that I look like shit. I had a really late-night last night and I definitely wasn’t expecting for someone to call me repeatedly at half past six this morning,” Rae grumbled.

“I said I was sorry, but you weren’t picking up your phone and I really wanted to see if you were free to do brunch today. We’re both always so busy and I didn’t know when I’d get to see you again since I’m going on a trip to New York for work for the rest of the month.”

“I know, and I’m sorry that I’ve been so hard to make plans with lately. I’m happy to spend time with you and see you before you leave later this week, I just don’t love how early I had to wake up this morning, so please forgive my grumpiness.”

“You’re already forgiven, Rae-Rae,” Chloe replied, “So…were you gonna tell me why you had such a late night or am I going to have to coax the truth out of you?”

“Well, I went out to that new bar in the city. The one where they have all the board games and stuff that you can play—”

“Oh my god! Were you on a date last night, Rae? I know that that bar closes fairly early, so if you had a ‘late night’ you must have continued the fun after leaving the bar, didn’t you?” Chloe asked with a smirk.

“I went to the bar last night with Finn,” Rae clarified.

“Oh.”

“Why do you sound so disappointed?”

“I really hoped you had gone on a date. Your love life has plummeted since you moved in with Finn, since the two of you are practically inseparable.”

“What are you talking about, Chlo? I didn’t have a love life, before or after moving in with Finn,” Rae chuckled.

“That’s not the point, Rae. I just want you to have some excitement in your life!”

“You mean you want me to have excitement in my life so then I can tell you exciting stories about my sexcapades since you’re in a long-term relationship and want to live vicariously through me,” Rae added with an eye roll.

“While that is true, I mean it when I say that I want you to have fun. You’re young and single and bloody gorgeous and I have no clue why you don’t have crowds of men groveling at your feet constantly.”

“I’m just really focused on work and finishing Uni, so dating hasn’t been much of a priority for me. My life is just fine as it is.”

“Your life is boring.”

“That’s not true!”

“Oh really? What’s the most recent interesting thing that has happened in your life?”

“I went on a date with the guy I met at Chop’s party a while back,” Rae replied matter of factly.

“Blue? Yeah, you mentioned that to me when we got coffee a couple days after your date.”

“Oh, then...I’ve been puppy sitting my coworker’s dog for the last week!”

“I know, you showed me Rocky via video chat on Wednesday.”

“Oh…” Rae trailed off.

“I told you! No offense, but you live a quite boring life, Rae!”

“I do not!”

“You really do, babes.”

“Well, here’s something that I know you don’t know about already,” Rae began, “Finn and I kissed last night.”

“You what?”

“We kissed. Technically he kissed me, I think, but I kissed him back...I think.”

“You think? What do you mean you ‘think’?”

“Well we went to that bar together, which may or may not have been a date. I’m actually not too sure about that in hindsight...anyways, after the bar we came home and kept drinking and then we were playing truth or dare. When we decided to call it a night, he kissed me.”

“On the cheek?”

“Nope! On the lips. For a solid few seconds too,”

“Then what?”

“Well, to be honest, I was really drunk by that point and some of the details are a little bit hazy. But I think he pulled away and started to apologize, I said that I didn’t mind, he kissed me again and I’m pretty sure I kissed him back. We just kept kissing for a little while and then we went to sleep.”

“Just like that? You went from swapping spit to saying ‘goodnight’ just like that?”

“Technically we said goodnight before we started kissing, but yeah,” Rae replied with a shrug.

“So, what now?”

“What do you mean?”

“Are you and Finn together now or are you both wanting to act on the sexual tension that’s been building between the two of you since you first met?”

“Sexual tension? What do you mean? Actually, it doesn’t matter. We haven’t talked about the kiss, actually. He was still very much asleep when I left to meet you for brunch, so that conversation will have to wait until a later time.”

“Well I look forward to hearing how that conversation goes.”

“I think I am looking forward to it too,” Rae replied with a small smile.

���Stop me if I’m interpreting this all wrong, but you wouldn’t happen to still have a tiny crush on a certain boy named Finn Nelson, would you?”

“No! No, of course not...probably not. Well, actually, I don’t know…”

“Rae…”

“I know, I know. You don’t have to have this whole discussion with me yet again,”

“I just don’t want you and Finn to end up on different pages with what your relationship is and you end up getting hurt. Especially now that you two are living together and stuck in a lease until next summer.”

“Trust me, Chloe, I know. And I am being careful. I just don’t want to get ahead of myself and make a big deal out of nothing. Finn had a lot to drink last night too, most likely more than I did, so who knows if he even remembers anything that happened.”

“Maybe you’re right, Rae,” Chloe replied dropping the subject as soon as the food they had ordered was delivered by their waitress.

Chloe and Rae continued enjoying their brunch and talking, being sure to avoid any mention of their previous topics of conversation.

After they were done, Chloe gave Rae a ride back to her apartment and parked her car in the lot nearest to Rae’s apartment.

“Thanks for joining me for brunch, Rae-Rae!”

“It’s no problem, I’m glad that I got to see you before you leave. Even if that meant waking up early with a massive hangover,” Rae chuckled lightly.

“I certainly owe you one,” Chloe responded before hesitating, “I also look forward to hearing how it goes when you talk to Finn about—”

“Yeah, I’ll be sure to give you all the details,” Rae interrupted, “I gotta go make sure that Finn is awake and has taken Rocky for his walk or take him out myself, if not.”

“Okay, well...tell Finn and Rocky that I say ‘hello’, I suppose” Chloe replied, worry clear in her voice as Rae stepped out of the car.

“Relax, Chloe. I know you’re worried about me, but you don’t have to be. I doubt Finn remembers a thing, but even if he does, I can almost guarantee that it meant nothing to him!” Rae replied just before closing the door of Chloe’s car.

“I wouldn’t be so sure about that,” Chloe muttered as the door shut and she watched Rae walking away from her car towards the stairs to get to her apartment.

A/N: So I know that I’ve been pretty MIA for the last couple weeks and have been shit about writing/posting. There’s been a lot of changes in my life over the past month and a lot going on, but just to name a few things: I graduated from Uni, I started a new job 3 days ago, I’m currently working 2 jobs totaling 50-60hrs of work per week, I’m in the process of finding a new place to live, I’m trying to pull myself out of the deepest depression that I’ve been in since I was about 16yrs old...so yeah, I have a lot going on.

I know my posting habits wouldn’t show it, but I’m still really excited about this story and want to continue developing it as long as I’m able to and as long as people are still willing to read it. I don’t know what else to say here, really, but in case I go another week or two or three etc. without posting, I’m always still here and just an ask/message away if you wanna chat or whatever. Even when I’m not posting, I’m still always on Tumblr lurking and seeing what others are posting hahaha

Until next time: stay awesome, my friends!

[ph-piecebypiece-blog]

Chapter Eight

Authors note: I’m going away for a few days so the next chapter won’t be up until Thursday or Friday. It’s already written though so I can post it as soon as I get a second when I’m back, just wanted to let you all know. Thanks so much for all the support so far, you guys are amazing! :)

March 10 2013

Mother's day.  For those who are fortunate to have their mothers still with them, it's a lovely day that gives you the perfect excuse to show your mother how much you love her and to spend some time with her. For those who aren't so lucky, it's a reminder of what you lost. Without fail every year it put Everly in a bad mood. She hated herself for feeling that way, for being jealous of those happy little families out for brunch or for a picnic if the weather was nice enough. It was a day that made her resentful towards everyone who paraded around with their mother who they probably didn't appreciate half as much as they should anyway and then she felt angry towards herself for being so petty. Overall it was just a stressful, horrible day and she wished it didn't exist. Especially since this year it shared the anniversary of her mother's death.

She was just finishing putting her makeup on for the day, contemplating that very thought when her phone buzzed next to her and Harry's named flashed on the screen.

“Thinking of you today, hope you're doing alright xx”

She smiled, her mood lifting just a touch.

“Thanks, Harry. I'm thinking of you too. Any plans? Xx”

“Just heading up to Althorp with Wills to visit mum, might see my uncle too if he's around. You?”

“About to have lunch with my grandmothers then going to visit my mum as well.”

“Try to have a good day, love. Still coming over tonight?”

Everly confirmed their plans before looking at the clock.

“Shit,” She mumbled to herself before throwing her phone into her purse. She was already running short on time and after being distracted by Harry she would now be slightly more than fashionably late.

*

“I'm sorry! I'm sorry!” She frantically apologized, trying to catch her breath as she ran up to the very fancy restaurant where she was meeting her grandmothers. It was unseasonably warm so she found them easily as they were seated on the patio in front of the building.

They both looked up, a slight look of shock on their faces.

“That's quite alright, dear,” Her grandma Evelyn, her mother's mother and Everly's namesake, assured her. “We're just glad you could make it this year.”

Her grandmothers had been organizing this mother's day brunch for the past four years now and every year Everly had cancelled on them at the last minute.

“Here, take a seat,” Her grandma Joyce instructed, pulling out a chair as Everly hopped over the rail of the restaurants patio, earning a stern look from both grandparents. “Would you like a drink? We've started with some mimosas.”

She smiled as the two elderly ladies giggled like naughty schoolgirls at the fact that they were drinking before noon. As much as she'd been tempted to cancel once again and spend the whole day moping about, she was already glad she came.

“A mimosa sounds perfect,” She decided. “I can't miss out on all the fun you two seem to be having.”

Joyce flagged down a waitress and ordered her granddaughter's drink before both of them turned their attention to her, staring at her intently.

“How are you, darling?” Evelyn asked. “You look, well, you actually look wonderful!”

A grin slid onto Everly's face as she realized the stark difference there must be in her since they last saw her, on the last day of Adam's trial and as she thought about the person who had helped her come so far in such a short time.

“I am wonderful,” Everly confessed. “Things are going very well for me at the moment. I feel...happy again. For the first time in a very long time.”

“Oh I am so pleased to hear that!” Joyce breathed a sigh of relief, but there was a twinge of sadness in her eyes and Everly's stomach twisted as she realized they might want to talk about what happened. “We are sorry, you know. We should have seen how unhappy you were, we should have noticed that you withdrew from us.”

“But we just thought you were a normal, young adult who didn't want to be bothered by her family all the time,” Evelyn piped in, defending their actions. “If we'd known what you were going through, we would have been there for you.”

“I know that,” Everly assured them. “I don't blame anyone, but myself. I was good at hiding what was happening because I didn't want anyone to know and get involved.”

They nodded, but before the conversation could continue the waitress came over with Everly's drink, ready to take their food orders and by the time she left, her grandmothers were ready to change the subject.

“So,” Joyce started, a cheeky grin on her face as she sipped her mimosa. “I know you went through a lot and might not be eager to get back into the dating scene, but is there anyone special in your life at the moment?”

Everly hesitated, not sure she wanted to open that can of worms just yet, but the soft smile that slid on her face as she thought of Harry and the pink twinge on her cheeks gave her away.

“Oh, I know that look!” Evelyn teased. “There is someone! What's his name?”

“His name is Harry,” She confessed, knowing she wouldn't easily get out of this conversation. She also knew neither of her grandmothers would tell anyone without her permission and, feeling like a high school girl with a crush, she was quite eager to talk about him.

“Does this 'Harry' have a last name?” Evelyn prodded.

“Um, not exactly...”

“Oh no,” Joyce sighed, a frown replacing the look of glee that had been on her face moments before. “He's not another sleezy drug dealing lunatic is he? What kind of respectable young man doesn't have a last name? Is he some kind of rapper thug?”

Everly giggled at the though of Harry trying to rap or act like a thug as she shook her head.

“No, no, he's definitely not,” She assured them. “And Harry would be a horrible name for a rapper, Grandma.”

“Well I don't know these things!” Joyce shrugged. “Why doesn't he have a last name then?”

Everly mulled over how to answer the question without setting off too much excitement.

“I guess Wales would be his last name,” She informed them, enjoying the look of puzzlement on their faces. “But Mountbatten-Windsor is probably the technical one even though I don't think it's ever used.”

The look of shock that slowly took over them as they worked out, almost in perfect synchronization, who she was talking about was priceless.

“What?!” Joyce shrieked, drawing a few glances of concern to the table. Much to Everly's relief though, everyone soon lost interest probably just assuming she'd had a few too many mimosas already.

“Are you trying to tell us that you are dating Prince Harry, the third in line to be king of England?!” Evelyn asked, thankfully in a much quieter tone than her counterpart.

“I am,” Everly confirmed, unable to hide her grin. “For almost two months now actually.”

“How on earth did that happen?”

“Well I've been working in Dave, my godfather's, bar and he came in one night looking for a quiet place to have a drink when he got back from Afghanistan,” She explained. “We met once at some event Dad dragged me too when we were young, but we never kept in touch so it was nice to catch up and once we started talking we just really hit it off.”

“How has he been with everything you went through?” Joyce asked, her concern evident in her voice. Everly really wished that not every conversation came back to this issue, but she knew how hard it had been for them to see her at the trial so she tried to be patient.

“He's been really wonderful,” Everly assured them. “He was, uh, actually the first person I really opened up to about it and he's been nothing, but kind and understanding about the whole thing and any boundaries I have. He's really been the positive influence I think I needed to pull my head away from what happened.”

“Excellent,” Joyce grinned, satisfied with her answer. “You do seem very happy, you practically glow when you talk about him.”

“I am happy,” Everly blushed. “I got very lucky finding him when I did. Please don't tell my dad though. It's still quite new and I don't want to deal with whatever complaints I'm sure he'll have.”

Joyce nodded, feeling slightly uncomfortable about keeping something from her son, but not wanting to interfere in their business.

“Have you heard from your dad lately?” Evelyn asked, having heard from Joyce how strained their relationship had become.

“Nope,” Everly sighed. “And I think it's better off that way for now.”

“He does love you very much you know,” Joyce said quietly, unable to not defend her child, but earning an eye roll from her granddaughter.

“He has a great way of showing it,” She snapped, bitterly. “Not even coming to one day of the trial or reaching out to me once when it was happening really screams 'I love you'.”

“He was the one who got you out of the situation though,” Evelyn reminded her, but was met with more snark.

“Only to save his own reputation!” Everly argued. “'Former Prime Minister's daughter beaten to death by crazy, drug addicted boyfriend while he stood by and did nothing' isn't the most flattering headline.”

Joyce frowned, frustrated that she felt that way.

“He did it because he loves you,” She insisted.

“Can we just not talk about this?” Everly asked. “It's mother's day, not father's day. Today isn't about him.”

Joyce opened her mouth to protest, wanting things to be okay within her family, but Evelyn spoke first.

“Alright, dear. We'll drop it for now.”

The rest of the lunch passed without any more tension. The three shared a few more mimosas and plenty of laughs, enjoying each others company and making up for the time they had lost the last few years. There was guilt felt all round, Everly for pushing her family away and her grandmothers for not stepping in sooner, but they didn't let it rise to the surface and focused on the future.

After their lunch, they said their goodbyes and Everly headed to her mother's grave. She hadn't been in years, since before she'd met Adam, and just the sight of her headstone brought tears to her eyes. She placed the bouquet she'd brought by the stone before sitting on the grass next to her. Before she even knew what was happening, she found herself pouring her heart out. She told her everything, about how Adam had treated her and how heartbroken she was that the first man she'd ever truly loved had turned out to be such a monster, how she feared for her life every day, how she thought her fate was just to stay with him until he accidentally killed her as if it was some kind of punishment for how she'd behaved after her mother died. She told her how angry she'd been at her for dying and how she sometimes had blamed her for what happened to her, knowing she wouldn't have ended up in that situation if her mother hadn't died, but how she instantly felt guilty for ever feeling that way. She told her how strained her relationship with her father had become, how he was such a different person than he was when she was alive and how she wasn't sure their relationship was repairable anymore.

And lastly, she told her about Harry. How he appeared just when she really needed someone and brought the light back into her life. How he'd been so incredibly patient with her and treated her so well. How he made her laugh and how much fun they had together and, of course, how insanely attractive he was.

She hadn't even realized how fast time had passed and two hours later, with her mascara smeared all down her cheeks from all the tears she'd shed, she stood up, brushed off her jeans and headed home to get ready to go to Harry's place.

*

When he opened the door it was instantly clear that he was as emotionally drained as she was.

“You don't have to knock, you know,” He told her his voice soft and tired. “Especially if I'm expecting you.”

“Okay, I'll just barge in next time,” She smiled, earning a chuckle from Harry. She stepped through the door and pulled him into the hug that they both needed. “How are you doing? How was your day?”

Harry sighed, wrapping his arms around her and burying his face in her hair.

“I'm alright,” He said a moment later. “It was a long, emotional day, but Mother's day always is. How was yours?”

“The same,” She admitted. “Lunch with my grandmothers was nice and so was visiting my mum, but it was draining all the same. I told her about you.”

“Oh did you now?” Harry smiled as he led her into the living room. Since he'd been out of town all day, they were meeting up later than usual and had both already eaten dinner. “Did you make sure to tell her how devastatingly handsome I am?”

Everly laughed.

“Yes, I did,” She assured him. “And how modest you are as well.”

Harry flopped down on the couch as soon as they reached it, desperate to put his feet up after the long day. He pulled Everly down next to him and put his arm around her as she snuggled into his side.

“How did your mother die?” Harry asked after a moment of silence. “I realized today that I never asked you that and I don't think I ever heard about it.”

“Cancer,” Everly told him, her voice wavering slightly. “Ovarian cancer. She got it young, usually it's more common in older women, but it's one of those cancers that doesn't really have any warning signs until it's too late to cure.”

“I'm sorry,” He squeezed her closer to him. “That must have been awful.”

“It all happened so fast, I think that was the hardest part.” Everly explained. “She was fine and then a few months later she was gone, it didn't seem real. And then when I accepted that it was real, I was so angry at her for not fighting it harder or catching it sooner. Now I know she did all that she could, but it was a tough time, yeah.”

“Will it increase your risk?” Harry asked, suddenly feeling a twinge of panic at the thought of the woman in his arms being taken away from him in that way.

“Slightly, but not as much as other cancers like breast cancer for example. And I get checked regularly so they'd probably catch it in time anyway,” She assured him. Harry nodded and they fell into a comfortable silence until Everly spoke again. “Did Kate go with you and Will today?”

“No, she went to visit her mum instead. She's been before, but it's something me and Will like to do on our own on Mother's day.” Harry explained.

“That makes sense,” Everly nodded as she stifled a yawn.

“She would have liked you, you know,” Harry said quietly after another moment of silence. “She would have admired your spunky little spirit and how strong you are.”

“I'm not that strong,” Everly said quietly after a moment of shock while she absorbed what he'd said. “I got myself into a bad situation then stayed until someone else got me out. From what I know of your mother, she wouldn't have admired that.”

“You're stronger than you give yourself credit for,” Harry insisted. “You went through a horrible ordeal and haven't let it hold you back. You're moving on with your life and have made yourself into an independent, self-sufficient woman and my mother would have found that as amazing as I do.”

Everly blushed at his compliments.

“I would have loved to meet her,” Everly confessed. “I always thought she seemed like such a lovely woman with such a big heart.”

“She was,” Harry agreed. “And you two would have gotten along very well. She would have loved your sense of humour and how you're not afraid to tease me mercilessly.”

“My mom would have liked you too,” Everly smiled, letting her eyes slide shut as the warmth of Harry's house and his embrace paired with the stress of the day suddenly made her very sleepy. “Especially how devastatingly handsome you are.”

She felt Harry's chest move as he chuckled and placed a gentle kiss on the top of her head before she slowly dozed off in his arms.