#that is HIS nappy spot do not disturb

[taytei]

A ghost kings favorite resting place

[Imagine description below]

[Image ID: a collage of colored drawings of Hua Cheng resting in various positions in Xie Lian’s lap. All warmly lit, as if they’re sitting in sunset glow, except one. Buckle up, this is long.

The upper left an overhead shot of HC in his San Lang form, laid on his back with his head resting in XL’s lap, his arms extended back to rest lightly around XL’s waist. His eyes are closed, with a small and peaceful smile. XL’s face is obscured as he looks down at San Lang, one hand cradling his cheek and the other playing with his crooked ponytail.

Next, Hua Cheng in his ghost king form, sitting upright and cradled with Xie Lian’s arms wrapped around his waist. HC is leaning back into the hold, head tilted up and against XL’s head, eyes closed and his lips curled in a delighted smile. Xie Lian has his chin resting on HC’s shoulder, expression soft and equally delighted. Both have a light blush on their cheeks.

Next, Xie Lian is kneeling, his expression is soft and gentle as he leans over HC (ghost king form) resting on his lap. One hand is resting on HC’s head, hair tangled in his fingers as he brushes it away from his face. The other is cradling HC’s head, pillowing his cheek against his leg. Hua Cheng’s body is mostly obscured behind XL’s legs, with only really his head and is right arm visible. Said arm is curled around in front of XL’s legs, hand lightly gripping XL’s robe. He’s leaning his head into XL’s palm, eyes closed with a light smile, like he’s about to fall into a nap.

Next, Xie Lian is positioned like he’s sitting on a chair, feet planted on the ground. Hua cheng appears to be sitting on the ground next to XL’s legs, upper body sprawled across his legs. Xie Lian is leaning slightly forward, one hand resting on HC’s back, head tilted down enough to see his eyes are fond. Hua Cheng has one arm wrapped behind XL’s back and around waist, while his right arm is laid over the top of his legs. His expression is like a cat absolutely basking in comfort. On Xie Lian’s head, shoulder and hand (the one resting on HC’s back), rests Wraith Butterflies.

The next is a two part companion sketch. One is a smaller drawing. Hua Cheng is in his San Lang form, sitting in Xie Lian’s lap face-to-face. His hands are resting on XL’s shoulders, his legs on either side of XL’s waist. He has a lightly teasing smirk with a gentle blush on his face. Xie Lian is sitting cross legged, with his hands on either side of San Lang’s waist. He looks like he’s happily talking.

The follow up is a bigger drawing. Both in similar positions but more from behind Xie Lian, so his face is now obscured. Hua Cheng has poofed into his ghost king form, pink clouds circling around him to imply the transformation. His arms have now wrapped around Xie Lian’s neck, wrists lightly crossed over each other, with XL’s hair ribbon wrapped around some of his fingers. He’s leaning more forward into Xie Lian’s space, his expression just. Smitten. Singular eye half lidded. Xie Lian’s expression isn’t visible, but vibrant blush lines imply a flustered state. He’s still cradling Hua Cheng in his arms.

Upper right corner are uncolored, monochrome doodles. One of E-Ming resting in a coiled nest of Ruoye, his eye crescented in a pleased smile. Next to it is a chibi style, forward facing doodle of Xie Lian happily squishing Hua Cheng’s cheeks. Hua Cheng is, again, laying on his back, face up, with his hands resting on his chest. His smile is squished, and his one visible eye pleased.

The final colored one is more darkly lit. Xie Lian is seen from the back, sitting cross legged on a cushion at a low-risen table, one hand holding a ink brush up aloft. He’s position as if he’s looking down at what he’s working on. He is wearing a red robe. Hua Cheng (ghost form) has his lower body sprawled across XL’s legs, curling onto his side to wrap is arms around XL’s waist. Hua Cheng’s expression is hidden, as he has his head laid on a cushion in the floor, his hair sprawled messily over the cushion. His fingers are lightly folded over each other on Xie Lian’s side. He is wearing a white robe. The mood is like it’s a late night in their room, only lit by a single candle hidden behind Xie Lian’s form, implied only by a soft yellow light outlining XL. /.End ID

Sorry this is so long, it’s my first time writing an image description gjsjgks

[russellsppttemplates]

Dad Lance 🥺🥺 please please please

Cw: reader's postpartum

"Oh, there we go, Margot", Lance said as he lifted his youngest daughter from her spot on the bassinet next to your bed, putting her on the changing table and changing her nappy, "all good now, hm? Nice and clean", he said, throwing the dirty things in the bin and wiping his own hands, "let's get you in this thing, shall we?", he motioned to the sling. Adjusting the side of the waist band since you had been the one to wear it the last time, he fastened it and gently tucked his babygirl into his chest, putting on the straps and clasping them together so she would be safe.

Walking downstairs to the kitchen, Lance tidied the room, putting the washing machine on while he waited for the milk to heat up, "you gave me and mummy an eventful night, baby girl", he cooed as she looked up at him briefly, "you're lucky Addalynn didn't wake up, otherwise me and mummy might have just given up and started the day then", he chuckled, kissing her head and taking a wiff of the newborn smell, "mummy's been through a lot so you could be here, little love, and we need to let her rest", he spoke, checking the temperature of the milk on his wrist before pulling the sling out, holding your daughter on his arms and against his naked chest, her lips immediately meeting the bottle to drink.

You woke up to your oldest daughter on your bed, latched to your side as you rolled over to face her, "hey, mummy", she smiled, "I've been waiting for you to be awake", she smiled, "Good morning, Addy", you smiled back, "did daddy sneak you up here or did you do it on your own?", you nudged.

"Daddy said I could come up here if I didn't disturb you. He said you needed to sleep", she admitted, "I didn't wake you up, did I? I promised daddy and Margot I wouldn't!", she worried.

"No, love, you didn't. Mummy needs to pump milk out and to use the bathroom", you told her, getting up after kissing her forehead and using the ensuite before you both headed downstairs.

The sight was one to see. Margot was fast asleep on Lance's chest, also sleeping, and a lavender blanket on top of the baby, the very similar pouting lips making you coo, "I'm going to join them gently", Addalynn said as she sat on the sofa, cuddling up to her father's side as Lance, out of instinct, pit his arm around her to pull her closer. Snapping a quick picture of the moment, you went to the kitchen to start your milk pump, grabbing a snack while you finished up breakfast, noticing a few ingredients on the counter already and taking it from there.

"I was going to do that", Lance said once you placed the tray on the coffee table, Addalynn digging into her porridge straight away, "you let me sleep, and then I let you sleep", you smiled, "team work makes the dream work", you concluded as you sat down next to them, Addalynn's hand mindlessly finding the leg of your pyjama pants and holding onto it, wanting to keep you close while she watched Bluey on the TV.

"This isn't a dream I want to wake up from, I'm very content right here", your husband whispered, kissing your lips as Margot stirred in her sleep.

(Thank you for submitting an ask ✨️)

[raven-at-the-writing-desk]

diasomnia, 1 — 19

***Spoilers ahead!!!***

Note: this is just a general summary of what has happened so far and my initial reactions to those major events. I focused my comments on whatever interests me the most (ie lore and funny character interactions), so there are definitely details that were overlooked and lines that were simplified to make a joke; please do not rely on this as a translation.

Big thanks to @shuuenmei and @curekibouka-writing for clarifying the more confusing tracks of the story (some parts were difficult to follow the sequence of events for) and the details of the✨ deep lore ✨ It was fun screaming with the both of you—

Ah yes, Yuu’s Sleeping Beauty dream right on cue. Finally starting to put together the puzzle pieces, huh (Yuu goes to check on the Great Seven statues to confirm they saw the Fairy of Thorns in their dreams)? About time—

As expected, Sebek loses his mind and tells Yuu to not abuse Malleus’s kindness. He’s also super pissed that Malleus and Yuu act familiar with each other (and over the nickname). Yup, that interaction went about as well as we all predicted…

Not Lilia being the “I’m an anime boy late for anime school (the internship meeting)!” trope 😂 All he needs is some toast in his mouth!

Crowley talks about boring things how the internships will work and we hear more about the areas of interest for the third years.

Lore ✨ Each internship “semester” is 3 months and you can only take certain internships if you qualify for them via your grades, credits, and electives. You can choose to do 3 separate internships (again, 3 months each) or do 1 internship (for all 9 months). A B or higher is needed on two of the “semesters” to graduate. Students must also submit reports each semester. Some places additionally require interviews and/or special tests to be passed before a student is accepted as an intern. Placements are not first-come, first-serve; you need to earn that spot.

Trey says he wants to do something related to pastries or agriculture; basically, things close to food production 🌾 He wants to take advantage of his opportunities as an NRC student while he still can!! Trey said he wants to work right after school rather than go to university.

Cater is interested in the entertainment industry; he mentions magazines and videos?? It seems he isn’t interested in higher education.

HELP they randomly mention that Ace’s older brother interned in the entertainment industry too (it gets brought up when Cater was considering a theme park for his own internship)??? TRAPPOLA NII ALSO CURRENTLY WORKS IN ENTERTAINMENT????? When do we get to meet him, Ace—

Vil is continuing to advance his own career in film. He already picked out a studio to apply for, and expresses an interest in magical pharmaceuticals (though he doesn’t intend on going to college). Very fitting specialties for everyone, I must say!

Rook is interested in archeology so he can learn more about the world! After learning about S.T.Y.X., he realizes there’s so much more he doesn’t yet know. According to Trey, Rook does appear to intend to pursue college/higher level studies.

LMAO at Trey constantly having to translate Rook-isms for everyone 😂 Classic Science Club…

Unca Weona is cwanky cuz the talking is disturbing his nappy—

Leona’s going to a mining and energy facility in his home country. It’s an option offered only to those with high grades. Leona wants to be a lazy ass 🦁 “They won’t fail their prince, lmao”

Idia is doing an software engineering internship at Olympus Corp (ie TWST Google) 👀 This is huge because back at the end of episode 5 (ie the episode 6 preview), Idia was actively rejecting offers from Olympus Corp, claiming that he wasn’t welcome anywhere. Character growth… Idia isn’t welcome back at S.T.Y.X. because of the Overblotting and how it nearly exposed the organization to the public eye LOL 😂 Absentee Shroud parents upset with him cksbskwbkcnfke

Malleus doesn’t seem to be interested in picking an internship; he says that, to him, 3 months is too short a time to really learn anything (temporal dissonance strikes again). In the end, he is going to research historical ruins?? He can hang out with the Gargoyles 😎 and Rollo/j

BRO WHAT ???? Lilia is dropping out of NRC??? THE FUQ,,,,!.’sveksbskebkzvczbvvv?$$$&85inmw I had to hard stop at this scene because it caught me by surprise.

The first years are talking about Mickey (like if there are certain conditions to get him to appear??). Oh god, they're planning a Mickey Mouse stakeout????? AND ORTHO IS INCLUDED IN THE GROUP AWWWW 🥺 He searches his databases and uses his cool robot tech to look for more information about Mickey but finds nothing.

GRIM MAKES A SUS COMMENT ABOUT HOW ORTHO IS MORE HELPFUL WITH THIS (Mickey and Yuu's worlds perhaps being tied or related to one another) THAN CROWLEY IS.

They overhear Sebek shouting in the cafeteria; he’s in disbelief that Lilia is dropping out of school.

So anyway, Lilia’s magic has, in fact, weakened significantly (he was almost late for the internship meeting because he woke up and found that he couldn't teleport). He plans on retiring in the Land of the Crimson Dragon (Mushu???? IS THAT YOU).

Interesting??? It seems that Lilia has been progressively losing his powers since even before Sebek and Silver were born… It’s not a super recent occurrence.

Sebek and Silver are understandably upset and mention that while it would be easy for either of them to visit Lilia, it would be almost impossible for Malleus because he will be so inundated with his royal duties after graduation. Malleus is distraught as well, but he insists that they respect Lilia's decision. AND HE’S LEAVING IN LIKE A WEEK? That’s barely enough time to mourn or to emotionally prepare for the fallout…

Malleus pitches an idea to talk to his grandma to not overwork Lilia (vice dorm leaders being overworked? What? In this game? Nooooooo/s).

Malleus's grandma is name-dropped (Maleficia)??? Is everyone in the Draconia family just Mal-something????

LOTS OF OMINOUS DIALOGUE ("Time is running out", "Fate cannot be defied", etc.)

After that whole conversation it’s clear that something isn’t right (despite Malleus maintaining his calm in front of Diasomnia). As soon as he’s away from them, the weather instantly turns stormy AND we see Malleus's blot accumulating as early as 7-13 in what I assume will be a very meaty episode.

Sebek and Silver help Lilia pack; Silver finds this tin in Lilia’s room. There is an old bracelet of acorns and thread inside.

Lilia shows up and says that it’s the most precious item he’s ever been gifted??? But it’s not clear who it’s from.

There's another item in the tin (the ring on a chain)! It has a weird effect on Silver?? I think it makes him sleepy???

The gem in the ring is the same color as Silver’s eyes; Lilia thinks its because his parents wanted his eyes to be forever unclouded and pure 🤨 That’s cute and all, but it makes me really suspicious that something super bad will happen later and I’m living for that—

This ring was tied to baby Silver when Lilia found him. He planned on gifting it to Silver when he's finally an adult... and now is that time 😭 Ain’t no way they’re giving us these heartfelt moments only to not tear it down later with something devastating… And?? With the ring being so fancy, there’s no way Silver isn’t descended from some rich family (or even royalty/nobility) himself??? Prince Silver real????/j cuz that ring sure does look like Princess Aurora’s crown…

Sebek pulls up with THIS fucking monstrosity?? It’s a weapon (axe???) Lilia used from back in the day (like, in war). However, nowadays he uses it to chop regular shit like wood. The weapon looks very similar to one that Maleficent’s minions use.

It's made out of a special magical ore! It’s called Mystium, and it changes shape according to the wielder’s magic.

Back to Yuu and co. staking out Mickey! Grim is finally realizing that if Yuu goes home, he’ll be alone 😔 Noooo, fur baby… Don’t be sad..

They wait for a while but get sleepy because Mickey is taking forever to appear. When Yuu wakes up, they see Malleus’s green lights and they go outside to find it’s snowing (again, because of his weird mood). He apologizes and makes the snow vanish, then confides in Yuu about his insecurities.

Malleus tells a story about how he froze the castle and some people when he was a little kid (omg Elsa core???) because because his grandma had promised to eat with him and was late or didn’t show up due to her royal duties keeping her busy. It sounds like even the palace servants were afraid of his power because of incidents like this. Like. It’s kind of implied Malleus almost killed them (Lilia says Malleus almost “lost” those people) with his magic.

Lilia was the only one who came for Malleus to check on him when he was upset, dried his tears, and tried to understand him. He comes over and frees the people that Malleus froze, then everyone starts preparing and eating shaved ice made from the ice encasing the castle (not randomly, I think it was Lilia’s suggestion).

Malleus gets jealous because he saw everyone enjoying food without him and/or he thought Lilia was angry at him. (This is the point when Lilia tells him he has great power so he has to be careful how he uses it, ie the “you almost lost the people that you’re now happily eating with at the hands of your own magic” talk.)

Lilia uses his weapon to make some shaved ice for Malleus and invited him to join in (I think this may be the same weapon Sebek finds in his room in the present???); this helped Malleus “connect” with other people, or at least invited him to join and do the same thing the others were) It’s because of Lilia that Malleus is okay with eating cold things. UM???? HELLO???? Is that why Malleus’s favorite food is ice-cream??? Or at least a part of it?

BTW LONG HAir PONYtAIL LILiA CANON yes I’m way more excited about this than I was about that entire ice story

Yuu calls Malleus lonely 💀 and Malleus is shocked because he’s so used to being alone that the thought never occurred to him…

Oh no, Malleus learned that Yuu has “found a way home” (ie Rickey Rat hunting) 🙃 he’s like. “You are leaving me as well?” AND RIGHT AFTER HE JUST LEARNED ABOUT LILIA GOING… Lilia, who has been with Malleus ever since he hatched from his egg…

Friends, family… everything and everyone he cherishes is leaving Malleus. “Even if I have great power, I have nothing. I gain nothing, I always lose. No one will invite me, not anymore.” No Lilia, No Yuu 😞 Malleus, your abandonment issues are showing—

NAUUUR not more ominous shit 😭 Not the “man, I sure do wish everyone wouldn’t go :(((( if only there was a way for me to have everything I want…” coming from the mouth of a super insanely powerful magician…

NOOOOO not Yuu unintentionally enabling Malleus… He asks if there was a way to be with your loved ones forever, would Yuu take it?????? YUU DOnT SAy YES YOU FUQQinG IDIOT… ENABLER Yuu didn’t learn from Trey/j

MaLLEUS MY duDE 😔 DOn’T PULL ANY STUPID ShIT PLEASE (ie we all know he probably will)

Aaaand that’s all for now, folks!! Lots of sketchy lines and lore centering around grandpappy Lilia 🤡

Overall, I like the direction episode 7 is going so far! I was really worried that it would focus too much on Yuu and Malleus’s relationship rather than elaborating on Malleus’s relationships with the rest of Diasomnia, but I’m glad that the main story actually touches upon how integral Lilia is to his found family—and to Malleus, of course. A lot of interesting plot points have been set up (especially surrounding Mickey and Lilia), and I’m really looking forward to seeing how those conclude 👀 I feel like we also got spoiled with character lore; I love that time is a Real Thing in TWST and the the boys are aging and thinking hard about their futures. Can’t wait for the angst to hit me full force like a truck 💕

[finelinevogue]

Okay okay but imagine this! dad Harry falling asleep on his stomach and your son crawling up and laying on his back! Like this is so friking cute!

ok this is a small blurb but i just love this concept so much :(((

Harry was shattered.

It wasn’t even just the kind of exhaustion that your eyes feel heavy, or you just have a headache. No it was a mix of both those and then the added body tiredness that meant he felt like he couldn’t move a muscle. Yet, he couldn’t complain. Not one bit.

It had been a 3 months since you and Harry had brought life into the world. 3 months since baby Oliver had taken his first breathes and 3 months since the happiest day of your lives. Although, you’d beg to differ that every day of your lives were happy. Not a day went by without a smile upon your faces now, which is why Harry couldn’t complain.

Even with the stress of a newborn baby, what with the endless nights of crying and days of nappy changing, you were both so content with life. With him. It didn’t mean you couldn’t be exhausted though. Harry was current proof of that.

He was currently laying face down on your bed, straight as a toy soldier, with his eyes closed and his breathing shallow. He deserved this rest and nap. He was always up with you whenever Oli was restless in the night and he was quick to help with the breastfeeding. He never wanted you to feel alone through any of this, so he did his part and more. He couldn’t be a better dad if he tried. But as much as he deserved this nap and time away from the chaos of having a 3 month old, Oli missed his dad and wouldn’t stop wriggling around to wait impatiently for his dad.

“Alright you, let’s go find daddy yeah?” You rhetorically asked, knowing your son wasn’t going to respond. You picked him up and out of his bassinet and cradled him in your arms, watching his big green eyes look up into yours. His little hands were curled into fists and waving around in excitement. He was getting what he wanted after all.

He giggled at the feeling of you bouncing up the stairs in search of your beloved husband. You instantly found him resting on the bed and you almost felt evil for going to disturb him. Almost. You knew Harry couldn’t be mad at you for blessing him with his son, ever. He would be happy - sleep maybe, but happy:

You walked your way around the bed and sat down on the edge of it, beside Harry. You watched as he blew the king curls of his hair off his face in his gentle sleep. He looked perfect. It was unreal to think he was yours. It was even crazier to think you’d created a child so beautiful and kind with each other. Life wasn’t always kind to you, but you were grateful that this was how it was ending up.

“Okay bubs, gotta be gentle now okay?” You spoke softly, watching as Oli’s eyes went wide with excitement over seeing his dad. His tiny arms started flapping around like crazy and his legs kicked happily underneath him. He was such an excitable child and you were blessed to call him yours.

You placed him carefully on Harry’s back, keeping your arms close next to him in case Harry suddenly jolted in surprise and catapulted Oli across the room. Oli was also very clumsy so it wouldn’t surprise you if he just fell.

Oli used on of his tiny hands to pat Harrys back softly, as if was going to be enough to wake him up. Unexpectedly, it was.

Harry didn’t move quickly, or even at all, once he knew how he was being woken up and by who. He turned his head to the side and gave a sleepy smirk, his eyes only half open in his wakening. He looked delicious, though, and you seriously just wanted to jump and devour him.

“Bloody gremlin you are.” He chuckled with a raspy voice, like the one he normally acquired in a morning. It sent tantalising goosebumps all over your body. Focus Y/N, your child could fall at any moment.

Harry made a point of keeping his eyes locked onto Oli, but Oli hadn’t quite clocked that his dad had woken up just yet so he kept on knocking his fist against Harrys back.

“Oli bubs, look!” Oli turned to you first and then towards where you were pointing to Harry’s woken face. His eyes were slightly puffy from sleep and his hair was an organised mess ontop of his head, but he still won most-handsome-human in your eyes. As soon as Oli spotted his dads familiar face - especially his eyes - he went a little crazy and nearly fell.

“Someone’s excited to see me.” Harry laughed, you lifting Oli up so that Harry could turn over. Oli wiggled like a dancing jelly-bean as you hoisted him into the air, until Harry had bent his legs at his knees and you could place Oli down on Harry’s lower stomach with his back to Harry’s bent legs. “Why isn’t mummy always this excited to see me, huh bud?” Harry grabbed Oli’s fists and started messing around with him.

“I am, it’s just a very different type of excitement.” You rolled your eyes at him, using his knees to prop your head up on to watch the two loves of your lives interact.

“Different how?” Harry teased.

“Well for starters we’re both normally naked.” You bit your bottom lip at the mere thought.

“Show me how that looks again?”

“Not with your 3 month old son sat on your lap, no.” You shot back at his crude remark, slapping his knee in the process.

“Mummy’s such a tease isn’t she?” Harry asked Oli and Oli just giggled in response, not having a clue what was going on.

“If mummy’s such a tease then she’ll just return her new black lingerie.” You threatened him, but you would never actually follow through with your actions - you loved the lingerie too much!

“Mummy will do no such thing. She’ll go put it on right now so daddy can teach her some lessons in respect.” Harry pierced his eyes into yours and you were quick to move both your hands to cover your sons ears.

“You can’t speak like that in front of our son!” You gasped, making sure you weren’t pushing too hard on Oli’s ears - all the while Oli is still laughing and trying to shove Harry’s fingers in his little mouth. Saliva was going everywhere, but Harry didn’t mind one bit - anything to put a smile on his Oli’s face.

“Well then don’t speak like such a brat to me, darling.” You gulped at his words.

“Shut up, otherwise we’re going to end up with another child a lot sooner than we planned.”

[blu-joons]

Bump Cuddles ~ Bang Chan

He sighed as he laid himself down next to your side, laying his hand over your growing baby bump. You smiled down at the soft pout on his face as yet again he was pushed aside for your own comfort, left to cradle what was left of the pillow that he once loved to use.

His eyes closed for a few moments, “I can’t wait until you have this baby and then I can lay back against you again, I hardly think all of this is fair.”

“I can’t believe you make such a huge inconvenience of this,” you whispered down to him, brushing your fingers through the loose strands of his hair.

“I’m sorry, but I used to lay on your stomach and now I have to make room for the bump,” he frowned, shuffling even closer into your side. “I’ve tried laying basically everywhere, but nothing is as comfortable as laying on you is.”

“You can always go and sleep on the sofa,” you suggested as his brows knitted together in disapproval. “This is your child too, so half of the responsibility for this is on you.”

His hand moved up, so it rested over the centre of your bump, feeling around for any signs from your baby. As much as he liked to moan and groan about having to change the way he slept, he couldn’t wait for the two of you to have your first child together.

“In just a couple of months you’ll barely be able to get any sleep anyway, so just make the most of the piece and quiet,” you spoke down to him, tugging gently through the knots that were the results of his long day in the studio.

Since the first night you stayed with Chan in his old dorm, he had a habit for sleeping on you, during the first few months of your pregnancy he was pretty comfortable to carry on, but as your bump grew so did the difficulties with having him lay there.

“Exactly, I’m going to spend the rest of my life looking after this human so surely it can do me a little favour,” he continued to groan.

Your head shook at his complaining, trying to ease him into a sweet lull. Luckily for him, you knew he was only joking as he whined, you were the only one who’d really seen just how excited he was about all of this.

“So, if you think the baby should stop being so selfish, where exactly do you think I should carry it?” You asked, offering him a bit of a brain teaser.

The silence brought a smirk to your face as Chan struggled to find the answer. His eyes looked across your body, no part was as perfect as your tummy, no matter how hard he tried. He sighed defeatedly as you nudged his forehead.

“Alright, you’ve got me with that one, but still, this is the one little place that always makes me feel at ease,” he admitted, dancing the tips of his fingers against your exposed skin.

You felt your heart break in your chest as his bottom lip quivered. “Anywhere you are with me should be a safe space for you, there’s plenty more of me for you to cuddle than just my tummy. Why don’t you lay at head height for once?”

“Because I want to be close to the bump,” he responded, scattering several little kisses down the left side of your bump.

You couldn’t win no matter what you tried to suggest, he was always so stubborn and so demanding, but luckily for you that was all going to change once your baby arrived.

Below you Chan shuffled once again as he made it clear to you how uncomfortable he was with several groans and sighs. You were helpless for him as you laid out with your bump, making sure he didn’t disturb the bump, and not himself.

“Why do I have to wait two more months for this,” he muttered once he finally settled.

“You won’t be saying that in two months when we have a baby.”

His lips pursed together as he began to consider just how close everything was. The day he found out you were pregnant still felt like yesterday, but now here you were a little over six months down the line from the day you handed him the stick. He had no idea where the time was going, but each day became more and more daunting.

“I joke, but I am really excited to become mum and dad,” he whispered, sensing the agitation in you as your hand slipped away from the top of your head.

You nodded as he looked up at you through his lashes, “I know you’re excited, there’s going to be plenty of changes around here soon.”

Exactly, and where I lay at night really isn’t one of them,” he admitted, “I just miss it.”

You continued to smile down as it became evidently clear how tired he was becoming. “You’ll be able to lay back there soon.”

A part of him didn’t really want to lay over your tummy again, the moment your bump would go he knew that he missed it. Whilst you slept peacefully above him, he’d often lay awake and stare to see if there was any sign of movement, laying his hand over every spot that was kicked.

“Why don’t you rest Chan, I think I’ll be awake for a little while longer yet,” you proposed, placing your hand back through his hair.

His head shook, draping his arm back over your bump in response. “I want to lay up with you for a bit, it’s unfair that you have all these sleepless or disturbed nights and I get to just sleep without it. I could keep you company for a bit until the little one gives you a bit of peace.”

“But I also can sleep through the day which you can’t,” you reminded him, knowing how early he’d have to be up to head to the studio. “I’ll be alright here.”

“It’s practice,” he quickly argued to shut you up, “when the baby comes and we have all these night feeds and nappy changes I can’t just sleep and let you do it all, so I might as well lay here with you now and let my body start adjusting to the breaks in my sleep pattern.”

You were desperate to argue with him and encourage him to sleep, but you knew better than to argue with his stubbornness. However much you wanted him to sleep, he’d never do it until he was able to look up and see you sleeping peacefully.

“How strange does it feel to think that in a couple of months we will actually be parents? Sometimes I have to pinch myself that this really is happening.”

“Try carrying a baby bump then you won’t have to pinch yourself,” you joked, “it does feel strange though. Oddly, I think I’m actually going to miss the bump when it goes, I’ve got quite used to not being able to see my toes anymore.”

He chuckled lightly, “if it makes you feel any better, I think I’ve put on plenty of weight from eating all the things you do during your cravings.”

“It’s your decision to comfort eat with me, you can’t blame pregnancy on that. I’ve got an excuse for all of this, yours is just greed.”

“I do it to make you feel better,” he tried to protest.

Your head shook back at him, “if you carry on, you’ll be down to four abs, and then who will get in trouble?”

“You,” he grinned, “stop craving all these delicious foods and then I wouldn’t have to eat any of them.”

“Blame the baby, not me.”

---

Masterlist

[renee-writer]

The Surrogate Chapter 18 An Overheard Conversation

“Yes, and then he told me I needed to start being nicer to her! Her! The bitch that is denying me what I want when it comes to my child. Yes Steven, I know that technically, that is true but… Okay, enough of talk of him and her, let’s discuss us. No, he seemed to buy the meeting excuse. Really, I just wanted to see that my child was healthy, there isn’t much more to see anyway. I couldn’t understand his awe over a fuzzy picture. Sorry. Yah, that was very nice. Next time I will do you. No I promise. Well, he will be at a late meeting tonight. Our usual spot!  Oh being adventurous, are you? Okay, I will slip off after she is asleep. The baby makes her tired. So happy I don’t have to go through that. No, I know you are. I will keep my tight puss and perky boobs. Of course, if you are a good boy.

 

 Promise? Alright then, I will wear it. What? No, he is far to good. No I am not, I promised, didn’t I. He is much to distracted to notice. No, not by her. By the kid. Yes, I know it is a major thing but to keep access to the company, I must stay married. When we have all we need, then I will leave him.

 

No, of course not. I will have just enough time and nannies. No way will the child interfere. Swear, if it starts to, I will just let James have it. Well, it was just to keep the marriage afloat long enough to, right. I know I do but parts must be played. Right, the kid will still be mine, it’s accomplishments a reflection on me.

 

Exactly, all the praise while James and the nanny does the hard work. Did you think I would ever come to you smelling of nappies or baby powder. Please Steven, you know me better then that. Right, until tonight. Rest up for I am quite horny. True, you don’t want me returning to James to have him finish what you couldn’t. I know it won’t be a problem. Yes, see you then.”

 

Claire had been heading to the kitchen when she overhead her on the phone. Not wanting to disturb her, she started to head back when she realizes what she is talking about. Cheating! Not just on Jamie but on his company and the baby too. Frozen in disgust, she can only move when she hears her ring off.

 

She hurries back up to her room and collapses on the bed. What will she do? Jamie must be told. Her hand caresses the baby.

 

“No worries, wee one. That horrid woman will never be your mum. Your daddy and I will see to it.”

[cilldaracailin]

These Are The Days Of Our Lives

Hello my Tumblr Lovelys!

Happy Thursday!

Here is the next part of the story for you all. Thank you so much for all the lovely comments and support for this Robyn and Taron story.

Suze xx

8

“The strength of a man isn't seen in the power of his arms. It's seen in the love with which he embraces you.”

The inside of the 7/11 seemed so different and cold, darker than she remembered and as she walked down the confectionary aisle, a horrible shiver ran through her whole body. The shelf was pushed over and the baskets filled with bloodied cotton pads in nappy bags and water bottles were to the side of the aisle so she could walk through easily. The red check blanket was in a ball on the floor, the bloodied sling that held Taron’s arm on the ground too. An uneasy silence filled the store and she bent down to pick up a torn white t-shirt holding at it in her hands. Still ripped down the middle and shaded red on one sleeve, spots of blood on the back too, Robyn recognised it as the t-shirt Taron was wearing when they first met, her own hands causing the rip down the centre of the material. She stood up and dropped the t-shirt to the ground, her head turning as she heard a noise, a light whimper.

“Hello?”

“Robyn?”

She would recognise the voice that spoke anywhere and it was quiet and full of pain and as Robyn rounded the corner, she stopped in her tracks with the sight that met her. On the ground, writhing in pain was Taron, his back fully arched, his hands shaking by his sides.

“Taron!”

Sliding on her knees over to him, her hands went to her mouth in shock as she took in his bloodied body.

“Robyn…” His voice was filled with hurt and distress and his back arched off the floor once more before his whole body flattened on the tiled floor. “Help me.”

She placed her hands on his bare chest, lifting them immediately and turning them around, Taron’s blood covering the palms of her hands. “Jesus Taron!” She put her hands back on his body wiping his skin, trying to see where all the blood was coming from.

“It hurts.” He whimpered.

Disturbed by the amount of red on his body, Robyn knew she needed to find something to help him. “I will be right back.”

“Don’t leave me!”

His voice screamed at her as she scrambled to her feet, tripping over the blanket on the ground, falling to her knees in her rush to get to the baskets. Her hands routed through the baskets and every bottle was empty and now there wasn’t a cotton pad to be found. “Fuck.” She cursed and got to her feet and turned around to grab the blanket but it was gone as was the white ripped t-shirt. Standing utterly confused, Robyn’s whole body froze as a heart-breaking cry came from Taron. She moved back to him, her hands going to his face, trying to stop him from trashing, from hurting himself. “Taron, Taron stop. Stop!”

“It hurts Robyn. Please make it stop.”

She moved her hands from his face back to his chest and ran her hands down his skin trying to find out where all the blood was coming from but there was just so much, his whole chest and stomach was covered in it. “I need to get something Taron to stop the bleeding, to see where you are hurt.” She went to move but he grabbed her hands and squeezed them so hard, he was hurting her

“Please don’t leave me!” He cried, green eyes filled with fear staring at her.

She pried her hands from his and stepping over him, ran around to where the fridges were and pulling open the glass door, a gasp left her lips when she saw that it was empty inside. With shaking hands, she pulled open the fridge door next to the opened one and again there was nothing inside, only empty shelves. Turning around her eyes scanned the shelves behind her and there was not one product to be seen. Bare metal shelves stared back at her and as she felt her heart thump harder in her chest, the agonised yell from Taron hurt her to the core and she ran back around to him where he was still physically shaking on the ground.

“Taron.” Her hands went back to his cheeks, his skin ice cold under her hands, his body convulsing violently, her hands leaving more bloodied prints on his face.

“Help me.” He sobbed, tears mixing with the blood on his cheeks.

Robyn took her hands from his face and pulled her t-shirt off and used it to try and wipe the blood from his body but every time she wiped at his chest, another stream of blood just pooled, dripping down his waist into the puddle he lay in.

“Shit Taron. I can’t…. I don’t know what to do! It won’t stop.”

As quick as flash Taron stopped shaking and his face lifted so fast to look at her, he must have hurt his neck and where before his voice was pained and sore, his tone was now firm and angry almost accusing. “You promised me you would always help me. You promised me you would always be there for me no matter what, always look after me. What a lie Robyn. I know you could never help me, that you never cared.”

“Taron…” Robyn pressed her two hands onto his stomach. “No…”

“You can’t help me. Useless piece of shit.”

“Taron!”

Sitting up in the bed, Robyn’s hands were shaking uncontrollably and she could feel the sweat dripping down her back, her heart beating wildly in her chest, her breathing hard and fast, so fast she found herself starting to panic. Tears rolled down her cheeks from the visions in her mind, the memories of her nightmare and she was really struggling to catch her breath. While she wrestled with her shaking body, an upsetting chill taking complete hold of her, something warm pressed against her back and she felt something strong slightly restrain her, holding her body tight and through the horrific haze of her nightmare, came a soothing soft voice.

“Shh shh Robyn it’s ok. Just a dream chicken, just a really bad dream.”

As he always did, when he shared a bed with Robyn, during his sleep Taron moved to lay on his right side, Robyn having already moved away from him so there was a natural space in the bed between them. He was always a deep sleeper, normally out for the count unless his alarm woke him or he naturally woke up because he knew he could sleep in but this time he woke when he felt something slap his shoulder and still half asleep, he reached to switch on his bedside lamp and then turned his head, his eyes opening wide when he saw Robyn trashing in her sleep, her whole-body trembling as she dreamt.

“Robyn…” Getting to his knees, he knelt right by her waist, so he could get his two hands onto her shoulders as she lay on her back, giving them a squeeze. “Robyn come on darling. Wake up for me.”

In the same way that her whole body gave in to the nightmare she had back in her home last year, Taron’s face watched as once again as she reacted to her dream, her beautiful face in a frown, her whole body shaking, his name coming from parted lips.

“Robyn, come on sweetheart. Wake up for me.” Taron moved to reach for her hands but just as her hand slapped his shoulder when he slept, in the same way her hand lifted and his cheek stung for a long moment as she struck him hard before he even got the chance to take her hand and he winced for a quick second, changing his mind on taking her hands, his going to her waist, soft bare heated skin meeting the palm of his hands. “Robyn, come on. Wake up for me.” His thumbs stroked the skin above her shorts. “Robyn, it’s a dream. I am right here.”

Her cry of his name was loud and quite frightening too was how she shot up from the bed, finally waking from her torment, her whole body still shaking, her hands trembling. He could see she was still caught up in whatever terrible trance she had experienced and without thinking moved so he was keeling behind her, his arms wrapping around her, using his strength to stop her lashing out again, his chin resting on her shoulder, his face in her neck, making sure he kept talking to her, whispering comforting words into her ear. “Shh chicken. It was just a dream.”

Robyn’s hands were still unsteady and it was a little bit of a struggle to bring her hands to her face as she felt something holding them down, but as she went to touch her face again, she found that this time she could, the hold on her arms easing. She wiped her eyes and then gripped those all too familiar arms around her tight. Once her head cleared the smallest bit, she instantly recognised the warmth behind her and that Taron was there and using that strength she knew he had to hold her to stop her from hurting herself.

“As long as you need, I am right here.”

It was the lightest of kisses she felt on her neck and she sank back into him, her breathing still quite hard, pulling his arms tighter around her so she felt completely encased by his upper body. It was a nightmare she hadn’t experienced in such a long time, that it shook her completely and when she wanted to close her eyes, she had to keep them open, focusing on the moles on Taron’s arms, to stop the imagines coming back to her but even though she kept her eyes open, she couldn’t stop her mind spinning and grabbing Taron’s hands, pulling them even tighter around her.

“Darling, I am not going anywhere. I am right here.”

Taron continued to hold her, not even attempting to ease his grip and it took Robyn a good twenty minutes before she took her hands from his arms. He ignored the slight pins and needles in his legs from kneeling in the same position for so long, only wanting to make sure she was ok. He felt her open his arms and turn around so she was keeling opposite him and took him in for a hug, her face burying into his neck.

“Thank you and I am so sorry.” She whispered hoarsely into his skin.

“Please tell me the dreams have all been like that.”

She shook her head. “Not at all. That was the first one of those since you stayed with me last year. I don’t know what brought it on.”

“Jesus Robyn, I can’t imagine.”

“I am sorry I scared you, again.”

“Robyn…” Taron sighed into her. “Want to talk about it?”

“You on the floor in the 7/11 covered in blood and I had nothing to help you. There was nothing on the shelves, nothing in the fridge and I pulled my t-shirt off to help wipe the blood and then it just came back.” She took a shaky breath. “You were in so much pain, screaming at me to help you and when I couldn’t…” Robyn trailed off.

Taron waited for her to finish her sentence. “Robyn? It’s ok. You can talk to me about it. I am not going anywhere.”

“When I couldn’t help you, you told me that I broke your promise, that I didn’t look after you, that I was a useless piece of shit.”

Taron knelt up to his full height and lifted Robyn off her knees as he hugged her tighter than he ever had remembered doing. “Let me tell you something Robyn Quinn, since the very moment that I met you, you have done nothing but look after me and before I even actually met you, you were looking after me. Don’t think for a minute that you have ever let me down or not been there for me because Jesus Robyn, I can’t even describe to you how safe I feel around you.” He let her go and finally got to look at her since she woke from her nightmare and her face was filled with worry and still that fear of her nightmare. “Don’t over think the dream. You are going to put it behind you as best as you can and I am here.” He grabbed her hand, pulled his top up and placed it firmly against his bare chest. “Right here in front of you. I will never not be here for you in the same way you are there for me.” Robyn nodded, her words failing her, her hand flat on his warm chest. “It is still less than a year. It’s raw and painful but together we get through it, as we always have and always will.”

She looked at him, her eyes wide still feeling a quite disturbed by her dream but slightly comforted by Taron. He was staring at her, his eyes so dark in colour, his chest heaving hard under her hand with the promise behind his words. She glanced over his face again and seeing a red mark on his left cheek, lifted her free hand to touch the redness. “What happened here?” She saw his eyes look to the side and she took her hand from under his top, her two hands going to his face to make him look at her. “What happened Taron? You didn’t have that mark going to sleep.” When he wouldn’t make eye contact, she dropped her hands and sat back on her heels. “Taron… Did I… Did I do that to you?” When he didn’t answer her but took the slightest of glances her way, her hands flew to her mouth.

“You were asleep. You didn’t know what you were doing.”

“Oh my God Taron!” Robyn felt tears in her eyes. “I am so so sorry!”

“Hey none of that now.” He took her hands and gave them a squeeze. “It will be gone by the morning and you didn’t do it on purpose. I should have known better to get too close so to you as you were trashing in your sleep.”

Feeling completely deflated Robyn hung her head. Not only had she had an unsettling dream, she had hit Taron and her wonderful day was ending in tears. “I am so sorry.” She lifted her face an inch when his fingers tilted her chin and she reached up to drag her finger down his cheek, the bright red mark so obvious on his skin.

“It will be gone by the morning Robyn. Come here to me.” Taron moved, very glad to get off his knees and lay back against his pillows, opening his arms up for her, stretching his legs out in front of him. “Robyn come here.”

Very slowly, she crawled towards him and turned around, lying beside him, letting him drape his arm around her left shoulder.

“I don’t know if I can sleep Taron.”

“You don’t have to sleep. I wouldn’t even expect you to sleep. I just want you to lay here with me.” He stretched to turn off the light but stopped when he heard Robyn call his name, looking to her his hand hovering near the light.

“Please don’t turn it off. I don’t want to be in the dark.”

“Sure. Of course. We can leave the light on. You want to get under the duvet?”

Robyn shook her head. “I am roasting.”

Taron nodded. “TV?”

“No thanks. Can I just lay here with you?”

“Of course.”

She had no idea what the time was and was absolutely drained but could not think about sleeping but feeling overly hot and shook, needed the warmth from Taron, the unspoken comfort. Thoroughly rattled and still feeling a shake to her hands, Robyn buried them under her arms and leaned her head onto Taron’s shoulder. She couldn’t close her eyes and just sat staring at the curtains opposite her.

Taron had seen Robyn close up with him before, seen her revert back into herself, feel her freeze but it was the first time she had lain with him and not wrapped her arm around his waist or snuggle into him, instead choosing to just about lay her head on his shoulder. He could see she was really spooked by her dream and was very worried about her and a dreadful thought filled his head suddenly.

“Robyn?”

“Hmm.”

“Is being with me triggering your dreams?”

“I don’t think so.” She answered his question honestly. “I have spent a lot of time with you and never had a dream like that before.” She felt the sigh of relief from him, “It was something that was already happening, maybe not as severe as that one but I was waking up as night.”

“What can I do to help you?” He asked quietly.

“Just be you.”

“That doesn’t seem to be helping.”

“Believe me it is Taron. You have no idea what your friendship has done for me over the past few months and the dreams were bound to happen again as we get closer to August.”

“I want to be able to be able to help you the same way that you help me.”

Robyn could hear the slight desperation in his voice and she untucked her left arm and wrapped it around his waist. “I wish I could explain it better to you Taron but I am so emotionally tired at the moment that please just believe me when I say that you do more than you realise.” She moved her head a little further down his shoulder. “Can we just not talk about it for the moment.”

“Sure. Whatever you need.”

Her whole body shivered and she moved her hand from Taron’s body so she could pull the sleeves of her top down over her hands to keep the chill away, tucking her hands once again under her arms. She kept her head on his shoulder and was glad that Taron could read her and understand that at the moment she was just not ready for their usual cuddle and just rested his left hand on her shoulder. She felt the kiss he placed on her head and she moved a little bit closer to him so their bare legs were touching. She hoped he knew how much she appreciated his silent comfort and the little touch of his hand at the moment was all she could take, all she needed and she lay against him with her eyes open, listening to his beating heart, feeling his chest move as he breathed, watching as his movements slowed as he fell asleep. She could feel his head bobbing against hers and every time he lifted his head, trying to fight his sleep, waking himself from his slumber, his chin met his chest again and eventually it stayed there and Robyn lay still, making sure he was definitely asleep before she even thought about moving.

She knew she wouldn’t sleep, not even with Taron beside her and that was something she always wished for when she woke up from a bad dream but this time her dream was so much more vivid and different from any other and not being able to help him, hurt her and affected her in way it had never done before and being close to him hadn’t helped her in the way she had expected it too. His heat, though comforting in the beginning, was stifling now and she had already been feeling boiling when she suddenly woke so eased herself from under his arm, settling it against his side carefully, ensuring he didn’t wake. Her worries about him waking were not needed and he slept on, not a sound to be heard except his deep breathing.

Robyn left his bedroom and headed straight to the closet beside his front door, opening it and fumbling through his coats until she found the one he was wearing that afternoon. She routed in his pockets and as she thought she would, found his door key deep in the right pocket. Holding it tight in her hand, she opened the front door and closed it quietly behind her. She needed some air, some clear cold and fresh air and the only place she was going to get that was outside. In just her shorts and long-sleeved top, she took the door for the stairs and jogged down the steps in her bare feet, the thought of getting her shoes never even crossing her mind and having already made her way down five flights of stairs, she wasn’t going back up.

The first gulp of air was glorious and immediately her fuzzy head cleared and she inhaled the night air and took many deep concentrated breathes. It was something she had been desperate for as she waited for Taron to fall sleep and didn’t want to suggest to him a late-night stroll because she knew what his answer would be but she needed the air despite the fact it was so late. She took a look to her watch and sighed.

“Or too early in the morning.” The clock face on her watch read four fifty-eight in the morning. “Another sleepless night.” She sighed to herself, bringing her hands to her face to rub very tired eyes.  

She walked away from the door to his apartment block, heading towards the main gates, moving towards the rising sun of the early morning. Where she thought being with Taron when she had a horrible dream would help her, it seemed to have had the opposite effect and being beside him only left her unsettled. She had never had such a gory dream about him and where before she had tried to save him, done something to help him, this time she found herself at a complete loss, leaving him bleeding and it was his words, his reaction to her helplessness that had wounded her the most. Robyn knew Taron himself would never speak to her in such a way or ever accuse her of not trying to help him but it didn’t lessen the hurt she felt. She knew her feelings for Taron were changing, that she was becoming very attached to him, always thinking about him and always worried about him so being unable to help him was not only part of her dream but her reality too. It was always in the back of her mind that she might not have been able to help Taron all those months ago, that he could have died in her arms and although she was the number one preacher about how they shouldn’t think about that fact, it was one that was always with her and her nightmare seemed to be an insight to the deep inner workings of her mind.

Rattled and still broken by the images in her mind, Robyn walked in circles around the tarmac in front of the gates, trying to sort her thoughts out, to make some sense of her dream, to understand that it was only a dream.

Closing her eyes and deeply inhaling again, Robyn shook her head and tried to change her whole thought process, using her own advice that she gave out so freely. It was just a dream, granted a disturbing dream but still a dream. Taron was alive and well and sleeping upstairs and had given her the best birthday she could ever remember having as a grown adult. Full of surprises and thoughtful gifts, Robyn only wanted to concentrate on the nice things from the weekend, the beautiful bracelet that was on her wrist, the Care Bear that sat on the spare bed and the best two naps she could have taken. Taron had treated her like a princess, given her attention she had never really known from a man and she was so saddened by how in the space of a few minutes, it had been ruined so easily and then there was the fact that she had struck him hard as she fought against her nightmare and had left a visible mark on his beautiful face. Even though she had been asleep when it happened, she was still so ashamed of her actions, hating the fact that she had rose a hand to him.

“Miss Quinn?”

She turned, the light call of her name making her jump a little. “Ben.” She knew she was safe behind the coded gates, Taron’s apartment in a very private and guarded complex but she was surprised to see the security guard coming out of his box and walking towards her so early in the morning.

“Little late or should I say early for a walk?” He came to stand beside her.

“Just watching the sunrise.” She replied.

“In circles?” Ben gave her a half smile.

“Only way to do it.” She returned a small smile of her own, wrapping her arms around herself a little. “You catching the sunrise too?”

“Something like that.”

“You work nights?” She asked him. “I didn’t think that was needed at a gated complex.”

Ben chuckled a little. “Taron is just one of many celebrities who live here.” Ben used air quotation marks at the word celebrities. “The security is peace of mind for them.”

“I saw you earlier yesterday though. Surely your shift isn’t twenty-four hours.”

Ben shook his head. “I am working a few extra for one of the other guards. I finish at six. There are a few of us who do shift work here but so far you have only met me.”

“Well, I feel a little privileged.” Robyn winked.

“I am the best one!” Ben replied with a laugh and only then noticed her bare feet, seeing her look of guilt on her pretty but very tired features.  “Probably best if you head back up to Taron’s though. If he wakes up and sees you are not there, he will be very worried.”

Robyn nodded and went to walk away but turned back, calling the security guards name as he headed back to his little hut. “Hey Ben?”

“Yes Miss Quinn?”

“Taron doesn’t need to know about my early morning walk to see the sunrise.”

Ben laughed a little. “I saw nothing.” Robyn gave him a smile and turned back when he called her name. “Thanks for the little cakes.”

“You are welcome. Only the best for my favourite security guard.”

With a light grin, she headed back to the door and walked towards the lifts. She told herself she was going to try and stay positive, put the dream behind her and lean on Taron as he had asked, making sure to give him the explanation he deserved after her few words during the night and apologise once more for hitting him.

Letting herself back into his flat, the heat of the room hit her full force after the cool air from outside and even though it was an open plan living area, it was still quite stifling inside. She left the key on the island and slowly walked to the bedroom and Taron was just as she left him, asleep sitting up though he had slipped down a little on the bed. He didn’t look uncomfortable and she wasn’t quite ready to try to sleep, so grabbed her phone and made her way back to his couch, sitting down but thinking for a second, stood back up and quietly went back into the bedroom.

She made her way around to Taron’s side of the bed and picked up the green dinosaur which had ended up on the floor during the night. She dropped it on the end of the bed, moved back to Taron and stretching over to him, kissed his forehead. She knew he had said that his room got warm during the Summer months and without thinking she very lightly placed her hand on his leg above his knee, feeling a very light chill to his skin, not as warm as she thought he was going to be. She moved out of his bedroom and into the spare room and after clearing the bed of her presents, pulled the white and blue check duvet off and carried it back into Taron’s room. With a slight struggle, trying her best not to wake him, eventually Robyn got the duvet over the lower half of his body, keeping his legs covered and warm. She kissed his head once more, feeling a little smile on her lips as he sighed in his sleep, his whole body moving down some so he was leaning more comfortably on the pillow behind his back.

She stood for a few minutes, wanting to make sure he was settled, chancing to run her index finger down the middle of his forehead and nose. She could feel her nerves settle as she watched him sleep and her cleared head could feel even more thankful for him and his actions to keep her from hurting herself as she dreamt, his strong arms around her until she came back to her senses. She knew for certain that she owed him a very squishy hug when he woke up.

She turned away from him and picked up the dinosaur and carried it back to the couch, sitting in the corner, cuddling the soft plush. Seeing her blouse on the dinosaur’s body made the first full smile in a few hours appear in her face. It had been one of her favourite blouses but she was very happy to leave it with Taron and thought it a fair exchange for his wonderfully cosy black jumper he had given her in Paris. Cuddling cwtch was a daily occurrence for her and giving draíocht a good squeeze, it was like she was hugging her own dinosaur, though she missed the faint smell of aftershave she always got from the blue plush, contemplating going to get her present of Taron’s aftershave but decided that was just a little obsessive with how he smelt, even though it was one of her most favourite scents at the moment.

Robyn was still feeling very warm, even after her stroll outside and wondered if Taron had his heating on full blast because she normally was always a little colder but her skin under her top was on fire. Needling to cool down again, she put the plush on the couch to her left and pulled her long-sleeve top off, throwing it to the side, picking up the dinosaur again. Taron was sleeping and with his overly busy week, Robyn was sure he wouldn’t wake up and walk in on her sitting down in just her bra and shorts and hugged the plush tight, the fur nice and soft against her bare skin. She stretched forward and reached for her phone, sitting back into the corner of the couch, tucking her legs under her, getting as comfortable as she sat and she immediately went to her favourite video of Taron. Knowing the person in her video was out for the count, after she watched her special video four times, she turned to her music app and went straight for the Rocketman soundtrack. She allowed her eyes to close, soothed by the music, finally feeling calm enough to do so though still a little nervous of what images could flash through her mind. Focusing on Taron’s voice, she used the songs which had such wonderful memories for her, to keep her mind in peace and her nightmares away, the music helping to further sort her thoughts out, to help her figure out what words she wanted to Taron in the next few hours.

It was a long stretch and groan that left his body as he woke up and Taron’s eyes opened suddenly looking to his left, a lump in his throat when he saw that Robyn wasn’t beside him.

“Fuck.” He cursed, his stomach doing a horrible anxious flip. He had wanted to stay awake, to watch over her, to be there for her if she needed him and he ended up asleep. Long days and a tough script always left him tired but he was so frustrated with himself for giving into his fatigue when Robyn’s need was so much more than his at the moment.

“Robyn.” A wave of panic filled him when he looked once more to the empty bed beside him and he moved quickly to get out of his bed when he saw that his legs had been covered in the duvet from his spare room. Sighing his kicked the duvet back. Even when she was struggling, Robyn still managed to do something for him, to look after him without question. He got to his feet and could feel a very nervous sensation settling low in his stomach as he quickly walked out of his bedroom. Thinking he might have seen her in the kitchen, his face fell when she wasn’t there and as he walked around the island, his eyes caught the key on the marble countertop and then they followed the way to the front door. It was the one he had left in his coat pocket after they came back from afternoon tea and he had no idea that Robyn had known he had left one there. She never missed anything and he felt his whole body tense up as some awful thoughts ran through his head about where she could have gone, especially when she had a found key to his apartment but seemly left it behind her. Wandering around London at night was no place for a young woman, especially one on edge.

“Shit!” He was mentally scolding himself. It was his chance to be the one to watch over her and he had left her alone and it just looked like she had left him alone. London was such a large city and he knew it was one of Robyn’s favourite places in the world and she could be anywhere. He got to his closet as fast as he could and pulled open the door, taking out a pair of Nike runners and reefing them onto his bare feet, a green jacket the first to his hands which he roughly shoved his arms into. He prayed Ben had seen something, spoke to Robyn and she hadn’t gone for a wander. He had his hand on the door handle when he remembered he didn’t have his phone and turned to head back to his bedroom, his hands running his over his head and down his face when sudden relief flooded him as he saw her on the couch.

“Robyn…”

Letting his whole body relax, his panic creeping out of him, he let his coat drop from his arms onto the floor and he walked over to where she was laying on the couch on her right side facing the soft cushioned couch, her back to him, her knees tucked up a little, right near the corner of his sofa. He sat on the edge of the coffee table and sighed. Dressed in her shorts and sports bra, he could only image how cold she could have been, knowing she always had a chill to her skin but then as they lay together, their legs touching, he could feel the heat coming from her, so when he really thought about it, he wasn’t so surprised to see her wearing so little and with some guilt, he automatically found himself licking his lips, biting his lower one a little, as he fully took in her lack of clothes and gorgeous womanly figure.

“Taron, just stop it.” He scolded himself severely, trying to ignore how his Robyn lay with so much skin on show and concentrated on the fact that last night she was truly tormented by her nightmare, so thankful she hadn’t actually left his apartment but slightly concerned she had left him when lately, she would crave a cuddle or a comfort from him when she was upset and he was so willing to give her whatever she needed last night and all she wanted was to lay her head on his shoulder. He was sure it was because she had been so upset because of not being able to save him in her nightmare, finding it difficult to let go of her old ways of retreating into herself and he did not want to push her at all.

He looked past her lack of dress and turned his attention to her upper body and saw that she held his green dinosaur close to her chest, her left arm wrapped around the green fur, hugging it securely to her, the dinosaurs head tucked under her chin. Her face was resting on her right palm and on the cushion in front of her face, her phone. She was asleep and peacefully so and he stood up so he could take her phone, easing himself back on the coffee table. He knew the code to her phone and once unlocked was met with a picture of his face on the Rocketman poster. He couldn’t help but smile, his head shaking a little. Of course she had been listening to that particular soundtrack, having admitted to him many times that she enjoyed the tone and sound of his voice. Putting pieces of last night together, Taron was guessing that Robyn hadn’t wanted to sleep and then took to the couch to listen to music to distract herself, but her own exhaustion had taken hold and she fell asleep, cuddling his green dinosaur too.

Relieved she was safe; he placed her phone to the side and then was able to take in the way that she lay on the couch in only a pair of shorts and black sports bra. Although still worried about her, his had to let his eyes have their little roam and he knew it was wrong considering the circumstances as to why she was sleeping on his couch but it was so easy to look, more soft skin then he had seen before on show. He had seen her back before and her shoulders, her strong legs too but all of it together in one go was so different and a little bit of him didn’t feel guilty at all for looking. Robyn had seen him in very little clothes too so thought it was fair game for him to do the same though if he wanted to be honest with himself, he would have given anything to have been able to cuddle Robyn as she lay right now, taking the place of the plush in her arms.

As his eyes wandered, they caught something he hadn’t seen before and he got to his knees, so he was right beside her and placed his left hand on her hip, kneeling to his full height so he could get a better at look at what he could now see was a tattoo starting on the inside of her left ribs which continued in along her body in a straight line, some of it hidden by the waistband of her bra. Completely taken back by his sudden discovery, he was desperate for a closer look and inched nearer to her. She lay snuggly on her right side and as her left arm hugged the dinosaur she helped him win at the beach in Ireland, it wasn’t blocking his view of her bare side and he was surprised he hadn’t noticed the worded tattoo before especially with the dress she had worn at his premier or even with how he had taken the dress off her that same night but then it wasn’t really a place on her body he had ever gotten the chance to see before, the start of the writing an inch or two in on her skin. Smooth and clear writing, the font was plain and simple with no shading and Taron could only see two and a half words as the rest was hidden by her clothes.

Not even thinking twice, he moved his left hand from her hip and with the lightest of touches with the index finger of his left hand, traced over the two words he could see and figured it was written in Irish, not understanding the words at all and he was so surprised by it. He knew she had piercings but just had never expected a tattoo on her body. Resting his hand flat on her side, he could feel her deep and steady breathing, the heat from her skin and understood a little better why she had slept with so little clothes on. He moved his right hand to very gently brushed some fallen hair away from her face and bringing his head closer to her bare left shoulder, placed a light kiss on the visible scar and then left his lips on her shoulder itself, leaving a long and loving kiss behind.

Lifting his head, he turned his wrist to check the time on his watch. Just before nine, Taron felt like it was later and even though he knew his sleep hadn’t been perfect, he was sure Robyn’s had been nothing but stressful and perhaps a little frightening. He got to his feet and went to the spare room. He could see where she had placed all of her gifts from him on the floor so she could pull the duvet from the bed to make sure he was warm. Still blown away by her thoughtfulness and need to care for him when she was battling with her own troubles, he opened up the wardrobe and pulled out a fresh clean sheet from the shelf inside. He fluffed it open as he walked back to Robyn and very delicately covered her legs and upper body with it. She didn’t feel cold but figured she hadn’t intended to fall asleep, hoping to stay awake and be awake before him so knew she would appreciate the cover the sheet gave her, wanting her to feel comfortable and not so open for his eyes to see when she woke, making sure he didn’t let slip he had sat staring at her for a while.

Not wanting to stray too far from her, Taron took a quick visit to the bathroom to freshen up, changing into a clean pair of shorts and t-shirt and once back in the kitchen, made himself a cup of coffee. He had brought his phone with him and hoovered over his mam’s number. He knew what his mam would say if he rang her for advice. She would tell him to give Robyn her space and to trust that she would talk to him when she was ready but he was so aware that she was due to fly back to Ireland that evening and he just didn’t feel right letting her go after her horrific night. Their time together over the last few months had built a very strong and trusting relationship and he knew she was a different person to the Robyn who had went through these nightmares before but he just wasn’t comfortable letting her go home just yet.

Scrolling up from his mother’s number, he called his publicist instead.

“Taron, what do I owe the pleasure of this call? You weren’t seen last night at the concert, were you?”

“No no nothing like that.”

“What’s up Taron?”

“I need you do to me a huge favour.”

[cbljlh]

MADDIE BUCKLEY WEEK DAY 5

“is that my shirt?” + comedy

This one was a little tricky as I am not good with comedy. I hope you enjoy it!

____

It had been just over one hour since Maddie had left and Lily still hadn’t settled for Chimney. He contemplated calling his girlfriend, like she had said to do, if he needed to, but, the thought of disturbing her on her first night out with Buck and Josh since giving birth to their daughter some four months ago made him feel even more guilty. She spent every day with their little girl and she really deserved the break.

It wasn’t like he hadn’t tried anything to settle her. She didn’t want her bottle, her nappy was clean and she had been burped. Lily didn’t even want her dummy, which was unusual for her because she always took it.

He had tried skin to skin contact, the vacuum cleaner and even the fan, just like when he babysat Denny, but it wasn’t working. “C’mon baby girl, please go to sleep for daddy. I guess you are missing your mummy, and, daddy is too” he cooed as he slowly rocked the tiny girl as he paced around the apartment.

Another twenty minutes had passed and if anything, Lily was becoming more and more restless. But Chimney remained as calm as possible, remembering reading that babies can pick up when their parents are stressed. He reached out for his phone, as a last resort, but not to call Maddie as he so strongly resisted, it was to Google ‘how to settle a baby when mum isn’t home’. Amongst some of the most silliest ideas he had seen, was something that looked reasonable: ‘babies know their mother’s scent, so try her perfume, body lotion or even an item of clothing...’

Still cradling Lily in one arm, he strolled into their bedroom and spotted Maddie’s shirt that she had tossed over the chair. He figured it would have to work because it was one of Maddie’s favourite shirts and she had practically been living in it since Lily was born. It was bright pink and baggy, so it made her feel comfortable in her post baby body, plus, the buttons down the middle made it easy to quickly feed Lily on demand. More so, Chimney thought that no matter what Maddie was feeling or how her day was going, it made her look the most beautiful he had ever seen her, especially with their daughter.

Gently, he placed a squirming Lily in her bassinet and grabbed Maddie’s shirt from the chair. Pulling his own shirt over his head, he tossed it back onto the chair before putting Maddie’s shirt on. Catching a glimpse of himself in the mirror, shaking his head, he bent down to pick up his baby girl, “daddy looks so silly right now, this better work my sweet, sweet girl” he whispered, before pulling Lily close to him and slowly wandering back out into the living area. To his surprise, in a matter of minutes, the squirming had stopped. Lily was now slowly drifting off as he gently placed the dummy into her tiny mouth. Still cradling her in one arm, he breathed a sigh of relief before proceeding to the lounge. He placed Lily on his chest and slowly made a fist pump motion with his free arm, exclaiming, “success!!!” as he slowly sunk into the lounge and flicked on the television.

_____

Maddie was careful in opening the door, knowing their baby would be asleep as Buck quietly followed her inside. He had insisted on walking her to their door, but she knew the real reason was so he could sneak in a cuddle with his niece. Chimney was laying back on their lounge, cradling Lily who was fast asleep on his chest. He looked up at his beaming girlfriend before whispering “shhh, I just got her to settle”, only turning a bright shade of red as he noticed her brother close behind her, trying to fight the smirk that was growing on his face.  

Maddie turned to her brother, before gazing back at Chimney as she realised why the younger Buckley was desperately resisting bursting into laughter, seemingly not to wake his niece. “Is that my shirt!?” she giggled, just as Buck chimed in “wow, Chim, I didn’t know you were into, women’s clothing... the pink really suits you!” he continued, ripping his phone from his pocket and sneaking in a snap. “Really, the team is gonna love this” he smirked , before giving in to the urge to laugh as he showed the photo to Maddie, who responded with just as much laughter as her brother. “Seriously?” Chimney piped up, just as Lily began squirming again, knowing it was two Buckley’s against two Han’s. “Yeah, I’m sending this to Eddie, Bobby and Hen right now!”, Buck cried, still engrossed in the image on his phone.

Maddie waltzed over to her boyfriend, before placing a kiss on Lily’s forehead, then doing the same for Chimney as she picked up the tiny baby and bounced her carefully.

“Our daughter, no wait, your daughter, wouldn’t settle for me. This was the only thing that worked” Chimney said, defensively, as he got up from the lounge, moving closer to Maddie as he wrapped his arm around his girlfriend’s waist.

“Look, I’m not saying anything, if you want to wear a shirt covered in breast milk, spit up and God knows what else, then you do you”. Slowly breaking away, she took Lily into their bedroom to put her down for the night, knowing she would need to be up in a few hours for a feed, leaving Buck and Chimney in the lounge room alone.

“And you can give me back my shirt when you’re done, I’m gonna need it later” she called from the room.

“I mean, the pink really suits you” Buck continued. “Shut up Buck!” Chimney responded, sarcastically, before his own phone beeped in his pocket. Looking down at the three new messages, he sighed. “Good one Buck, you’re just as much of an idiot as I am”.

‘Looks great Chim, the women’s clothing suits you and Karen agrees’ - From Hen.

‘Please do not wear that to work’ - From Bobby.

‘Oh yeah, I used to do the same with Christopher, but pink, really?’ - From Eddie.

[isitgintimeyet]

Road To The Aisles

AO3

Previous

Another chapter, and it’s full of fluffy fluffiness. This is the chapter where it ‘joins’ with the final chapter of The Ties That Bind (easy to spot where!).

The quote in the chapter is from Winnie The Pooh by A.A.Milne.

thanks to you all for reading and reblogging and commenting. It means a lot to me. Thanks, of course to @mo-nighean-rouge, @happytoobserve and @wickedgoodbooks for their support and input

Chapter 5: An Inaugural Nighttime

“Children should never have baths,’ my grandmother said. ‘It's a dangerous habit”

‘I agree, Grandmamma.”

― Roald Dahl, The Witches

Jamie tried to relax and enjoy one final coffee in peace while he had the chance. But every sound from outside had him up and looking out of the living room window, scouring the road for the dark blue Alfa Romeo.

He stood once more and glanced at his watch. “In another ten minutes she will be late,” he muttered to himself. “Just like her tae have planned it that way…  tae have me waiting at her convenience.”

He quickly climbed the stairs for a final check in William’s room. Everything was ready. Claire had made the cot up that morning with freshly laundered bedding chosen to match the grey wallpaper, a little sleepsuit folded on the bars of the cot.

Jamie smiled at the wallpaper. That had definitely been Claire’s choice, a subtle repeating pattern of the ‘Hundred Acre Wood’ map. Sometimes Claire came up to this room, just to study the wallpaper, running her fingers lightly along the tracks on the map.

Claire had also taken the time to wrap the fairy lights around a shelf, well away from any exploring hands in the near future. Jamie looked again and noticed that she had placed her beloved set of Winnie the Pooh books on the shelf, one of the few momentos of her parents. It touched him to recognise how willing Claire was to share her treasured possessions -- and her life -- with his son.

The doorbell disturbed his thoughts. Jamie looked at the clock on the opposite wall - five minutes early. He rushed downstairs and opened the door. Geneva stood there holding a sleeping William in his car seat.

“Boot’s open, can you just get the rest of the stuff?” Geneva brushed past Jamie and headed into the living room.

Jamie dumped the contents of the boot in the hall to be dealt with later and joined Geneva in the living room. She leant over William, who was now slowly waking up, and removed his little jacket, tossing it onto a nearby chair. Jamie glanced at the label… Ralph Lauren. He smiled -- the contrast couldn’t be greater with William’s wardrobe upstairs, comprised mainly of supermarket or chain store items and hand-me-downs from his wee cousin.

Geneva lifted William and cradled him close to her. Over her shoulder, William looked around surveying the now familiar environment before his eyes latched onto his father. Jamie watched as she closed her eyes and inhaled the intoxicating aroma of their baby. He made to take William from her.

“You know,” Geneva said softly, reluctant to pass William to his father. “Tonight will be my first adult night out for ages… dinner with work colleagues. I’ve been looking forward to it so much. Having a grown up life. And now it’s here, I don’t want to leave William for a whole night. I’m going to miss him so much.”

“I ken it may be difficult fer ye tae start with, but ye have tae do it. It will get easier, trust me. And ye’re leaving him with his Da, no’ a stranger. Imagine how it’s been fer me, every time I have tae leave ma son.”

Geneva’s eyes snapped open. Jamie sighed and quickly carried on talking, anxious not to allow Geneva an opportunity to suggest any change to their legally agreed arrangements. “And ye ken William will be fine all night with us. He’s used to this house now, and his Da… and Claire.”

Gently, Jamie took the baby from Geneva.

“Right so, I’ve emailed his schedule to you.” Geneva returned to her usual brisk self. “Please ensure that you keep to it. And I’ll see you tomorrow.”

With one final kiss to William’s head, she hurriedly left.

************

Claire dropped her bag next to the pram, still carelessly stranded in the hall.

“Aye, weel, ye see yer man there. That’s Huw Jones… and that’s called a try… and now Laidlaw’s got tae kick that funny shaped ball in the middle of that ‘H’ shape. Jones plays fer Glasgow Warriors. I’ll take ye tae see them when ye’re a wee bit bigger…” Jamie’s voice came from the living room.

Claire stood in the doorway and surveyed the room. Two pairs of feet, one incredibly large, the other deliciously small, were both clad in white socks. Two bottoms, one with more padding than the other, were both covered in baggy blue shorts. Two heads nestled close together, both with the same distinctive red hair. Father and son lay side by side on their tummies, faces pointing up to the rugby on the television.

Jamie stopped his narration and rolled slightly to look at Claire. “Hello, Sassenach. We’re jes’ having a wee bit of tummy time. But William here is no’ too fond of being on his tummy, so we decided tae take our minds off it and watch how Scotland beat England last year.”

William’s entertainment now having been spoiled, his head flopped forward onto the playmat and he started to grizzle. Jamie quickly scooped him up and popped him in his seat.

Claire smiled. “You do know, don’t you, that William may end up supporting England?”

Jamie winced. “Now why would he be doing that?”

“Oh, maybe because one half of his family is English?”

“Nae, Sassenach, I willna let that happen. That's why I’m starting him on the rugby now. Wee bit of indoctrination.”

He glanced at the clock. “Och, time for his bottle. Got tae keep tae the schedule.”

Claire followed Jamie into the kitchen.

“I’ll help you make it up.”

“No need,” Jamie responded as he switched the bottle warmer on and dived into the fridge for the white wine. “Bottle for you too, madam?”

Claire shook her head. “School night.”

Jamie replaced the white wine. “Geneva made up the bottles, it’s breast milk.”

“Wow,” Claire was genuinely surprised. “I didn’t think Geneva would still be breastfeeding. I assumed it might interfere with her lifestyle too much.”

“Aye, I ken… me too. But fer all her many… many faults, she does love William.”

“A lucky little boy… so much love.”

Jamie picked up the warmed bottle, as a loud rattling sound floated into the kitchen.

“Sounds like he’s giving that baby gym a fair whacking. Tell me, Sassenach, is it too soon tae buy him a Scotland rugby shirt?”

**************

Claire pottered around the kitchen, loading the dishwasher, wiping down the surfaces with one ear on the baby monitor.

From upstairs, she could hear the splashing of water and the continuous stream of chatter from Jamie as he bathed William. She took silence from the baby as an encouraging sign. While part of her longed to go upstairs and join in, she felt it was important for Jamie to do this for the first time on his own, both to build the bond between father and son and also to increase his confidence as a new parent. Geneva had, until recently, given him no opportunities to do so.

And besides, other than in her professional capacity as a doctor, her own experience with babies and children was woefully minimal. She’d never bathed a baby or put one to bed. As Claire had told Geillis, she knew the theory, just never had to put it into practice. Well, she told herself, that will all be changing. She wanted time to bond with William too, she just had to let Jamie take the lead.

“Sassenach,” Jamie’s voice crackled through the baby monitor. “Come and join us.”

Claire made her way up to the bathroom to find Jamie sitting on the floor, holding William, tightly wrapped in a hooded towel. Jamie’s shirt was draped over the sink, soaking wet. His curls were similarly damp.

“I didna realise what a tricky business this bathing can be. Babies are slippery wee things, ye ken.”

Jamie spotted the concerned look on Claire’s face and hurriedly continued. “Nae worries, Sassenach, he’s fine. Nothing happened tae him. A wriggling wet bairn is a tough thing tae handle is all.”

Claire stepped closer to the pair.

“I wouldna kneel there if I was ye. Mentioning no names but somebody may or may no’ have done a bit of a wee when their nappy came off and I havena had chance tae clean it up yet.”

Claire deftly skirted the patch and knelt on the other side of Jamie. He passed William to her. “There ye are, Sassenach. He’s all wrapped up like a tasty wee sausage roll.”

William looked up at Claire, smiled and very loudly farted.

***********

Jamie looked at the clock by the side of the bed. He wasn’t sure what had woken him. He rolled over to Claire’s side of the bed -- now cold and empty. He got out of bed, stumbling in the darkness, and headed onto the landing.

A light was on in the adjacent bedroom, and he could hear low murmur of a voice. He pushed the door open and stood watching in the doorway.

“... from the top of the tree, there came a loud buzzing noise. Winnie the Pooh sat down at the foot of the tree, put his head between his paws, and began to think…”

Claire sat on the rocking chair, the light from the reading lamp highlighting the auburn and golden tones in her hair, the motion of the chair causing her curls to sway gently. In her arms, she held William, his eyes fixed on her face, thumb firmly in his mouth.

Jamie felt like his heart was going to burst -- his love and his son together. An image, a memory, he knew he would treasure forever.

Claire looked up at him and smiled softly. “Hey. Sorry, did we wake you?”

Jamie shook his head. “Nah. I didna hear him greetin’?”

“Oh, no, he wasn’t crying. I just wanted to check on him. This is all new for William, you know, first night at his Da’s and he was wide awake. So I thought a cuddle and a bit of a story might settle him down… come join us. We need someone for the voices.”

Jamie walked over to the rocking chair. He kissed the top of Claire’s head, then knelt down beside them, kissing William’s forehead. Claire moved the book closer to him.

Jamie began to read: “...then he thought another long time, and said: ‘And the only reason for being a bee that I know of is making honey.” And then he got up and said: “And the only reason for making honey is so as I can eat it’...”

William’s eyes started to close. Claire could see him fighting to keep them open, but the effort was too great. She shushed Jamie and put William down in his cot.

Leaving only the soft fairy lights on, they returned to their bedroom, gratefully snuggling down under the duvet.

“Quite an evening.” Claire spoke softly.

“Aye, and plenty more like it tae come. It’s a commitment right enough. Ye aren’t sorry ye signed up fer it, are ye? I mean, now we’ve experienced a bit more of it?”

Claire could feel Jamie tense involuntarily, waiting for her answer. She turned to face him in the dark.

“Never.” She responded and felt him relax into her.

[littletayyswriting]

The Sun Still Waits Here (With the Moon and Stars Beside It)

Title: The Sun Still Waits Here (With the Moon and Stars Beside It) (2/?)

Author: LittleTayy

Rating: Teen

Characters: Marisa Coulter, Lord Asriel, Lyra Belacqua

Summary: Marisa and Lord Asriel certainly try their best. They love their daughter. But Lyra Belacqua is undoubtedly her parents’ child. 

( An AU story, set in our modern world. )

AN: This is based off the TV Show.

Read On: AO3

Chapter One

many things make a family but ambition isn’t one

.

“She is not a doll, Marisa.”

The words are said with amusement and condescension and they make Marisa glower. 

She does not turn to look at her lover, instead stays focused on fixing the outfit on her 18 month old child. They were going to attend a garden party, filled with Asriel’s relatives; all rich, upper class aristocrats. Marisa would never admit it, she'd downright deny it if Asriel ever dared call her on it, but she is nervous. 

And not the good kind of nervous, either. Like the nerves you get before doing something daring or exhilarating. No, Marisa’s nerves were born from something deeper, something darker.

This will be their first proper outing together, as a family. 

Lyra plays with the hem of her party dress, head twisting this way and that as Marisa tries to fix a bow atop her head. “Darling, please hold still,” Marisa speaks slowly, the frustration clear in her voice. It is also clear that her experience with children, of any kind but toddlers in particular, is very much limited. 

She is steadfastly ignoring her lover as he steps further into the room, his eyes catching Lyra’s and distracting her further. Asriel let's her run wild through the Manor, he'd leave her in nappies and overalls and covered in mud, so long as she didn't disturb him. It was lucky, Marisa thought, that she was there, otherwise their child might grow up never clean and proper. 

They’ve found, in the six months they’ve been living together as a family, that they both have very different styles of parenting. In that, Marisa does most of it and Asriel simply flits about on the outskirts, until Lyra does something to draw his attention and then he is all praise and play. 

Lyra’s chubby little toddler hands push her away as she darts from her reach, heading towards her father. The bow is a lost cause and it takes a considerable amount of Marisa’s willpower to not just toss the ribbon down to the floor with a huff. Clearly, her frustration is not well hidden, as she stands and her eyes catch Asriel’s, she can see he is amused. 

“Don’t,” she snaps out, dark eyes fixed pointedly on the man. She sweeps past him, ignoring the wrinkles he's created in Lyra’s dress, slamming the bow down on the little chest of drawers in the corner of Lyra’s room. Her temper can at times rival her daughters and it’s unfortunate, it seems, that Lyra has inherited her mother’s temper. 

“I don’t know why she wanted to put that silly bow in your hair. You’d just pull it out anyway,” Asriel tells his daughter holding her awkwardly, the words deliberately loud enough for Marisa to hear as they follow her out of the toddler’s room. She doesn’t respond, choosing to ignore him instead, that is her favourite tactic. Asriel simply grins, after all, they have a garden party to attend and he wants Marisa riled up, he’s always thought that’s when she looks the most beautiful.

The party had been interesting. Marisa had been cold towards Asriel since they'd left the Manor. But as soon as they stepped into his Uncle’s brilliant, done up garden, a smile had replaced her frown and she was charming and sweet as ever. It never failed to amaze Asriel how easily Marisa could weave her magic and wrap people around her finger as if it was the most natural thing in the world. If Asriel didn't know better, he'd think she was borne of witches or succubi or sirens. 

It was a gift and they both knew it. 

Marisa held onto their daughter tightly, until Lyra had spotted other young children and wriggled and squirmed to be let down. Their wild little, dark haired child toddled off after a few cousins, Marisa keeping an eagle eyed watch over her as she always did. Asriel thought to tease her about it, to call her a helicopter parent or over protective but knew she was not in the mood. Any more pushing and she'd just as soon as poison his drink for making such a comment in earshot of people she deemed important. Asriel knew when to not push her too far. 

It seemed there were many important people for both Marisa and Asriel there that afternoon. He soon got pulled into a conversation with an acquaintance of his Uncle’s and before long, was telling him all about his research. It seemed the acquaintance could be useful to Asriel and his work; and if Marisa knew how to charm and sway people to her ways, Asriel knew how to capture and coerce people to his. 

A slight scowl had settled over his features, when out of the corner of his eye, he noticed Marisa talking to a second cousin or an in-law of some kind, he wasn’t sure. The man, he could see was about his age, maybe a year or two older and had his eyes trained intently on Marisa as she spoke. There was a woman beside them but it was clear the conversation was really between Marisa and the man; the scene annoyed him more then anything, he didn’t much care if his relatives were charmed by Marisa or not. But he did not like the look of enthralment that man had. 

He was immaturely pleased then, when he heard the cry of a child and recognised it as one from his own daughter. He watched as Marisa tensed, turning elegantly as she recognised the wailing of their daughter, brows furrowed with concern and eyes darting about the garden in worry before locking onto their child. She rushed her way over, not bothering with the man or their conversation any longer, squatting before their child, hands poking and prodding at the grazes on chubby little knees and palms. 

“Oh, it’s alright my Darling! Mama’s here,” Marisa cooed, tending to their child, wiping away tears and picking her up with ease; relishing in the way Lyra clung to her, needing her as only a child needs their mother. “I’ve got you, my darling little Lyra .”

By the time they get home, Lyra is exhausted and clingy and irritable. So Asriel leaves dealing with her to Marisa. It isn’t an active choice but a natural one. Marisa is focused and occupied with looking after Lyra, ignoring Mrs. Costa’s attempts to help and Asriel has his research to go over. His talk with his Uncle’s acquaintance had been enlightening and he’d decided that he needed to prepare some kind of brief for the man; if he was hoping to get any kind of funding, he’d need to focus. He hid away in his study with ease.

It was past 9 P.M. when Marisa eventually wandered into his study. Freshly bathed and moisturised, with two tumblers of the finest whiskey in her hands. It seemed her mood from earlier in the day had dissipated and Asriel was pleased. She handed a crystal tumbler to him, moving to glance over his work with curiosity as she took a sip from her own. 

“You’re producing it into a presentation?”

“I am. There may be some interest in funding for my next research expedition,” Asriel grinned, nodding, relaxing back in his leather-bound chair as he watched her. Their fields were similar, yet not. She’d managed to publish a study not long before she fell pregnant and there’d been a buzz around her work, their scandal however, had put a damper on all of that. She was equally as brilliant as Asriel though and he had no doubt she’d find a way back onto the path she’d been travelling before Lyra came along. 

He noted, by the way her eyes gleamed, that that might be sooner rather than later. 

“Is that so? It seems we’ve both been presented with opportunities this afternoon,” Marisa mused, her smile wide as she sipped her whiskey. Asriel knew not to bother asking, she was going to tell him any way. “I met a rather interesting man this afternoon. A Lord Boreal...I don’t know who he was there with, mind you. He works for the government, in the Defence Department or Intelligence, something like that. He wasn’t quite clear. But...he’d read about my work, Asriel. He knew who I was and seemed very interested in talking more. If I play my cards right, I may end up with a government contract. Now wouldn’t that be something after all the scandal Edward caused?” Marisa told him, her delight clear as day to see. 

“It certainly would. But, the government Marisa? I thought you wanted to research and experiment independently?” 

Marisa lifted her delicate shoulder’s in a shrug, draining the last of the whiskey from her tumbler and placing it down on his overflowing desk once it was empty. “I’m afraid, I don’t have that luxury,” she replied, gesturing around his study, making it clear what she meant. “Besides, imagine all the things I could do in the name of the government, that I certainly couldn’t do as an independent researcher,” Marisa continued, smile turning wide and deadly as she stepped closer, slipping down to sit on his lap and wind her arms around his neck. “I could do almost anything, Asriel!” she whispered hotly against his ear. 

Asriel chuckled at her words, placing his own tumbler down, his arms wrapping around his brilliant lover and pulling her closer. Her eyes were glittering at the promise of power and he knew that she would be an unstoppable force if she got her way. He loved her all the more for it. 

“Are you sure that’s what you want?” He teased, smirk feral and eyes wide as a hand gripped her tightly and his teeth nipped at her lips. “What if I put another baby in you, to fawn over and coddle, just like Lyra? Hm?” Asriel continued voice low and thick with lust. “Make you a housewife and a mother to all my children,” he continued to tease; knowing it was absolutely not what either of them wanted for their life. 

Marisa gasped, as if scandalised by the mere notion of it all, shaking her head as a hand wound it’s way into his hair and gave a sharp tug. “Never,” she breathed wildly, capturing his lips in a searing, heated kiss.

[rovvboat]

Another? - Reader x dad!Colossus

Summary: Piotr plays a game with his son, which ultimately ends with Piotr on the verge of tears. 

A/N: Fluffy fluff mcFluff Flufferson. That’s all I have to say + I literally HAD to write this or my body wouldn’t let me go to sleep. Enjoy!

Word count: 1.8k

The night before...

The room was chill and ambient with the sound of rainfall against your window, thunders sounding by from time to time.

 You walk out of the bathroom after a good warm shower – exhausted from the day's errands and work – and onto the sight of Misha, peacefully sleeping on his papochka’s chest,

the faintest rise and fall of his small body – fitted into a baby pink onesie with little farm animals – as his head rested right in the middle of Piotr's chest. 

You of all people would know just how comfortable that particular napping spot is, but the sight of your two boys deep asleep in that manner tugged at your heartstrings, and you couldn't help but want this moment to last forever.

You quickly fish out your phone from your bag and snap a few pictures. Mikhail was a spitting image of his father - dark hair, blue eyes. It was like watching baby Piotr sleeping on Adult Piotr. 

You smile at that thought, before gently tapping Piotr to wake him up. 

"Hey, papa bear." Your hushed voice stirs Piotr awake. "It's not good for you to sleep in this position, sweetheart."

Piotr slowly rises, careful to keep Misha steady, as you help him lay Misha down next to him on the bed.

"Misha was scared of the loud thunder, so I let him lay on my chest and I think we both fell asleep as I was patting him." He rubs his eyes as he explains, before turning his attention to you.

"How was your shower, moya lyubov?" Piotr asks, his voice soft and low, a little bit still drowsy underneath – as his hooded eyes would give away.

"It was wonderful, babe." You press your lips against his forehead. "But I think it's time for the both of us to go to bed. It's almost 1."

Piotr's sleepy voice purrs an affirmative, "you smell nice."

You chuckle lightly at the comment, before the both of you curl up with Misha in the middle, the tired feeling eventually pulling you in where Misha was.

  There's very little that comes with parenting that surprised you anymore.

Late nights, early mornings, spilled bottles, sudden bouts of wailing from Misha that just didn't make sense –

did the temperature get too low?

Was he afraid of the dark?

Was the light too blinding?

Did papochka burp too loud?

 It all boiled down to figuring out what bothered little Misha, and fixing it as fast as you could, and in this early 6am morning, it was the sudden thundery noises – remnants of the thunderstorm from the night before – that had disturbed his slumber.

 Of course, a few comforting pats and humming from you, as you gently bounced him in your arms, always got him smiling and laughing again

– as his eyes glisten, with tears still falling, and the pained bawling stopped; now long forgotten – replaced by the baby gargling you've come to adore.

 Piotr, ever the keenly observant father, hovers around you as you carry Misha against your shoulder – doing his best to keep the wide-eyed baby entertained – as you gather the nappy bag to get ready to give baby a diaper change.

 "Oooh someone's awfully smelly aren't they?"

You coddle as you hold Misha in front of you, as you feel Piotr's chin sliding up over your shoulder

"Da, very smelly indeed. Misha needs a change, don't you?"

 – the both of you stood there for a moment, eating up the scene of your little one;

who's hopping and springing his arms and legs up in the air, as he gurgles and chuckles at the both of you trying to make baby talk to him.

 You set him down on the changing table, all the necessary weapons ready to fight off the enemy that is stench and excretion.

 Misha holds onto his tiny feet as his eyes follow your every move, your arms moving over and across, grabbing the baby power and wet tissue packets.

When you slip your hand into the deflated bag of diapers, you realise that there's only one left.

"Ah shoot. Petey, I think we've run out of diapers..."

 "Oh? I'll go get them right away." Piotr straightens up, and moves to get ready, before you pull him back.

"No, don't worry there's still one left. The roads are still slick, baby. I'll go get it when I go get the groceries later, okay? You stay here with Misha. We could go together, but I'm afraid he'll get a cold if we do." You bite your lip, concerned and looking out for anything that might bother Misha or make him sick.

 You feel Piotr press up against your back, and when you turn around, he has your lips locked in with his, holding you close for a fraction of a second, before pulling back – hooded eyes still intensely on you, leaving you smiling.

 "What was that for?"

"I do not know. I just love you."

Mikhail squeals from next to you on the table, making you both laugh at your son's welcomed interruption.

 Once diaper change was settled, you waited for the sun to come out before heading out to do some groceries and pick up extra diapers.

It would've been easier to just stay at the X-Mansion – the number of hands that were more than happy to help out with Piotr's little baby were more than you could count. But both you and Pete had decided that it would be safer for Misha to stay a few minutes away from the mansion and the city.

The others would still come around to visit, and vice versa, and the number of gifts for Misha that would come from those visitations could fill up an entire room. And for which you were more than grateful, to know how much your new-found family adored Mikhail.

 "I'll be back in about an hour! I hope my boys don't miss me too much." You giggle as you place a kiss on Piotr's cheek, then nuzzling against Misha's stomach and giving him a kiss – before heading out the door.

 ‘’Be safe, moya lyubov. We will be waiting for you.’’

Piotr decides to spend the next hour playing with Misha on his very own Playmat; a large mat that had various different stimulating toys and surfaces for Misha to play with and touch – courtesy of NTW and Yukio, who had bought the more useful of gifts when compared to Wade; who tried to gift Misha a toy sword

(Though, all things considered, that was better than an actual sword – which, Wade wouldn't have been above gifting; and might even do so when Misha gets a little older)

 Piotr brings out some other toys, making sure to also bring the purple stuffed elephant – a big favourite of Misha's – which coincidentally had been sincerely gifted by Wade.

 "This is Mr. Elephant. Mr. fialyétavyj slon. You love him, don't you Misha?"

 Misha coos and excitedly pats his palms on the floor at the appearance of his trusted companion, smiling with his mouth wide open; the room filling up with his delighted screeching. He crawls forward, his small hands gripping the elephant, right as he yanks it away from Piotr's gentle hold.

 And as everything does, Mr Elephant is first inspected by Misha's mouth, saliva dripping freely without a care onto Mr Elephant.

Piotr quickly pulls the plush away from Misha's mouth, letting him only hold onto it; as Misha taps furiously at Mr. Elephant – pulling and feeling the tuft of purple fuzz on its' head.

 It doesn't take long before both Misha and Piotr are bored, when Piotr recalls a parenting forum which had an interesting game for parents and babies.

He carries Misha into various rooms, collecting the items that are needed for the small game he wanted to try.

Once all was gathered, he puts Misha down on the middle of the Playmat, and positions himself on one end of the mat where Misha could see him. In front of Piotr, there is a pen cap to his left, a large coin in the middle and a toy gavel on his right.

 The game was one that was popular among Asian parents, where the baby would be allowed to pick one of the three things;

where each item represented what would be important to the baby when they became an adult. The pen represented knowledge, the coin represented status, and the gavel - strength.

 "Okay Misha, you have to choose one of these, okay? Show your papochka what you want when you grow up!" Piotr excitedly encourages Misha. Though he didn't outright believe in the outcome of the game, he found it rather intriguing.

 Misha's big round eyes watch as Piotr pats the area in front of the items, calling to him with, "come here, Misha! Come choose."

Misha crawls quickly towards the items, looking at them intently, then back a Piotr.

"Okay Misha, show me which one will be important to you?"

Misha gives him a big smile with a warm chuckle, before pushing aside all the other items and climbing up onto Piotr's knees, reaching out with his arms – asking to be held by his papochka.

Piotr watches stunned, as he realises that out of all the choices, Misha had chosen him.

 "Bhoze..." He carries a smiley Misha into his arms and hold him close, as he presses a kiss onto his chubby cheeks.

"ty náshe sakróvischye’’

You are our treasure

He feels his throat choke up as he whispers those words, and without realising, his eyes were brimming with tears of utter happiness.

 You open the front door, settling the bag of groceries on the floor, only to be greeted by a shiny eyed Piotr kneeling on the floor with Misha held safely in his arms.

"What's going on here?" You smile, slightly worried at Piotr's seemingly teary-eyed look.

Piotr sniffles, as he gets up to greet you with a warm hug, with Misha in the middle; holding you close for a few moments as his face buries your neck.

"You both are truly my biggest treasures."

  That night, after putting Misha to sleep in his baby cot, you snuggle up against Piotr, and as he spoons you; an arm over your waist – he recounts the small game he played with Misha.

You giggle at the thought of Piotr trying out new and interesting games with his son.

"Well, I guess now you know what's going to be important to Misha. I'd also say that the results would be the same if you had me pick a choice."

Piotr huffs a laugh at your response; He lies there with you – thinking only of the present – as he trails little butterfly kisses down your neck. He purrs next your ear as he rests his face by your neck; lovingly entwining his fingers into yours, and brings up your hand, kissing the back of it tenderly. He speaks up after a moment.

 "Can we have another?"

 Which prompts you to turn your head to face him, before laughing at the innocence of his question. You twist your body around, and pull him into a tight hug, burying your face in his chest as you hum.

"With you, I'd have all the babies in the world."

[irepookie]

Infinity Ch.6- Of Unicorns and Fairies.

Summary: QUEEN AU where Roger Taylor is a young single dad struggling to make it into music industry.

Warnings: not really. Just fluff, sappiness and swearwords here and there

Disclaimer : I don't own the pictures. The boys are based on Queen, (but slightly changed for the sake of the plot). Piper, Gina and Callie are mine.

So, I’ve decided to change the names back for this chapter, just because.

Found this pic on Tumblr, don’t remember where. Sorry. 

None of the boys would ever forget the first time they met their niece...

It was four days after Rog and Piper's first day at home. All he seemed to do was feed, being puked on, change, being peed/ pooped on, not sleep, survive on coffee, walk around, feed, being puked on... Oh, and cry. Sometimes it was just impossible not to join her.

Besides, if she didn't decide to grow out of the skin to skin thing and found another way to content herself soon, Rog was going to catch some serious cold.

That's why he was happy to get a call from the boys, that gave him a reason to walk out of the feed-puke-change cycle for a while. Also he was glad to speak with somebody without cooing.

All of that said, the prospect of leaving the house for the first time with Piper was scary.

"C'mon Rog, we gotta knock the last demo out before we can send the album" Brian insisted, when he said he'd <<think about it>>.

"And we wanna meet her!" Fred's voice chimed in from the background.

"You do?" He replied above her cries as he laid her on her tummy so she rested across his forearm. "Shhhhh"

"Of course!" Brian reassured. "She's our niece!"

"I don't know man..." He trailed off,  looking down at his kid, who screamed for no apparent reason, making him feel a total useless man for the third time that morning. "She isn't feeling well. And honestly I'm feeling like a piece of  shit too. Haven't slept in 5 days" he then softened his tone looking down at the little girl as he swayed her side to side in a vain attempt to calm the two of them down. "Hush Princess. You're alright."

"C'mon. Don't make us go there. We expect you there at 3..."

"3 Is tummy time" he said automatically.

"Tummy time? What the hell??" Brian had the same reaction he had when reading about it. It did sound ridiculous if you didn't know what it was about

"Yes it's... Lay her on her stomach so she'll eventually learn to hold her head and stuff. It's very important."

He tried to remember the long list of benefits he had read countless times in the books, but his brain told him to piss off.

"And how long does that take you?" The guitarist sighed.

"Oh just a couple minutes but she can get a bit cranky and that's like... I don't know, the time to get her settled down is different each time and... Right after that it's her feed, and I wanna do that here just in case she gets sick on me which is apparently like her own little Olympic sport so then I'll have to bath her and get her ready. And then... Look, 4-4:15 sounds alright? She'll be asleep by then and I'll have time for one song."

"Ufff..  I'm exhausted just from hearing you pal." Brian chuckled. "Okay, come at 4. We'll get our parts recorded so you do yours when you get there. So our silly mistakes won't ruin your tempo" he mocked.

"Yea, yes whatever." Rog chuckled too, feeling the nappy to see if that was the problem.

"But if you don't like our arrangement,. you can fuck yourself okay?"

"What-fucking-ever mate." He replied. The nappy was not wrong, and he was running out of goddamn ideas.

"John asks if You still remember to play." Brian laughed.

Rog didn't dignify that with a reply and simply hung up to focuse on his daughter. She had to be fine! "Hey baby, what's wrong? C'mon," he pleaded "I've just fed you, and you can't be dirty yet. So what's the matter, hon? Give me a clue and I swear I'll figure it out but I need your help darl'." He began to pace around the small apartment, and placed his hand on her back for support.

He adored her, really, but for someone who couldn't even roll on herself, or anything at all by herself, she kept him on his toes and worn out.

"Come on, come... Oww." Just as requested, Piper replied to his questions by puking all over him. Fuck. He always forgot to burp her after the feeds! He just couldn't remember it when he had to. And the Prune always made him pay the price. He sighed, giving in to the cycle again.

Thankfully, just as Rog had predicted, by 4 Piper had settled into sleep, after being changed, fed, and everything. She was all ready to go. And so was Rog. Or so he thought.

Had he grabbed enough formula? What if he lost a pinky? Better get them all. It was February, maybe she'd get cold so he grabbed a few more blankets. And a parenting book just in case something new happened he didn't know how to handle. Oh and a change of clothes, and half a packet of nappies. And some toys so she wouldn't get bored. Okay, now they were ready to... Oh fuck, where had he left the car keys?!

To put a long story short, he basically ended up stuffing three extra bags into the car "just in case" but almost forgot Piper inside.

Meanwhile, in the studio….

"He's late." Fred pointed out when the clock ticked 5 and their drummer still hadn't shown up. That was usually Fred, who was often late and even tho Rog came close second, it was unlike him to take this long.

Then again, Rog was pretty much unlike himself lately.

"Do you think they're fine?"

"Sure. Maybe he's just fallen asleep." John reassured.

"Maybe he's had to go back cause he's forgotten the baby." Fred giggled. That would be something Rog was totally capable of.

Suddenly the door opened, and Rog entered with a bag one hand Piper's car seat on the other. His hair couldn't be messier if he tried, and... Was that vomit on his shoulder?

"This is she then?"

"The one and only." Rog beamed proudly as he set the carseat where they could all have a look at his newborn daughter.

"She's... " Brian raised an eyebrow, not really sure of what to say. "Um... what's the regular comment?"

"Oh you can say it. She's a prune." Rog admitted, while readjusting the green blanket on her for the 10th time since they had left home. She was wearing 5 layers plus the blanket, and honestly looked so cozy Rog was proud of himself; if he managed to end this first outing without the prune catching a cold, he'd consider this a success.

They nodded in agreement. She was a . wrinkly thing for sure.

"And this is nothing compared to how she looked on her birth day." Rog continued. "But she's a beautiful prune. My lil' raisin" he smiled softly at her before glaring menacingly at his band mates. "And I will punch the shit out of whoever disagrees."

The other three laughed nervously, instinctively backing up a little. They knew Rowan Queen wasn't one to joke about punching.

"She's one cute prune." John agreed a smile from ear to ear, going to hug his friend, soon joined by the other two.

"Em, what's that smell?" Fred said, as they all scrunched their noses and looked down at the carseat.

"I don't smell anything."

"Well, pal... She must've killed your nasal nerves or something cause... Damn" Brian said

"But she can't... I mean she's just gone." Rog leaned over to sniff around his daughter sides so he wouldn't disturb her. "Nope. Not her."

Fred leaned over him and breathed. "When was the last time you took a shower, man?"

The thoughtful expression on their friend's face was all the answer they needed.

"It's you" they all said at once.

"Aw, fuck really tho?" Rog smelt his armpit. "I still don't smell anything"

"Brain defense mechanism." Brian pointed out. "Oh wait you missed that biology class cause you were hangover again."

"Shut up, Brian. I'm hella sleep deprived you don't want to mess with me."

The others chuckled. He was the embodiment of exhaustion, but something had changed. He looked... Happier somehow. And still capable of punching someone in the face if tempted.

"So, let's begin." Rog clapped his hands together, anxious to finally get back behind the drums.

"Wait, you just gonna leave her here?" Ren asked.

"Yes. I can see her just fine from my spot. C'mon." He leaned over to kiss her forehead and entered the booth.

"Ain't getting in there with you, stinky dumpster." John scrunched up his nose.

"You're the ones who wanted me to be in the studio." Rog crossed the door and sat on his beloved stool. Damn it felt good to be back.

He had been so busy with Pips he hadn't really thought about drums, but now he realized how much he needed this.

"Where do we begin?"

"Sandstorm. Remember?" Brian smirked.

"Yes you just... Get the stick, hit the snares..." John joked.

"Don't forget the metal yellow Chinese hats. They're cymbals."  Fred chimed in too.

"And that pedal you have there? That's a base drum, very important."

He rolled his eyes, but played along, after letting his eyes flick to Pips. "How? Like this?" He played badly on purpose.

"Yes, lastly, there's a thing called rhythm , y'know? Try now?" Fred added.

His eyes flicked again to Pip, who stirred slightly. "Okay enough bullshit. Let's get started."

They did it in one take as he didn't lose tempo at all. Infact he was somewhat proud of himself for still having the skill on the kit. (Because, it had been less than two weeks since he had last sat on the stool, but it felt like years.) He also found his eyes flicking to his Piper every ten seconds or so, feeling the compulsive need to make sure he was fine.

Of course she was. She was sleeping in the car seat, nothing was gonna happen.

Timing was perfect. Just as the song was ending, he saw her begin to squirm in her car seat.

He finished the final bit with his eyes nailed on her, even sped up the tempo unconsciously, anxious to finish so he could get to her.

The other members noticed, of course, but didn't say anything when following his gaze towards the squirming infant and figuring out. They'd re-do the last bit later. That could wait. But watching Roger Taylor  interact with a baby -not any baby, but HIS own baby- was something as unimaginable for them at that point as seeing a fairy riding a flying yellow unicorn.

They didn't know what to expect.

"Hello sweetheart." He cooed, exiting the soundproofed glass to the table where her carseat sat and lifting her small squirming body to his sweaty chest. "Hey my love. Hey. Hush. Shush.  What is it? What's the matter darling?" He cooed, kissing her forehead. She was unusually warm. "Hey, you're feeling hot baby? Hmm? Well let me take care of that."

He lowered her to the couch and unswaddled her before taking another layer out. Maybe he had overdressed her. It was the first time they were properly out and he didn't know what to expect, so he decided to stuff her into 5 layers, before bundling her up. Okay now he knew that was overdoing it. "There we are lovie. C'mere." He brought her back to his chest, a smile escaping his lips when he felt the gentle tug of her small hand wrapping around his hair.

"Shhhhh. It's alright. It's okay baby." He began to pace rythmically around the room for a few minutes, until she calmed down. "There you are, you just wanted Daddy huh? Well I missed you too lil prune" he spoke, oblivious to everything else including the three pairs of eyes following them around as if he was a unicorn holding a fairy.

Damn he was like a completely different person.

"I didn't know he was so good with kids." Brian mumbled, all his doubts and worries clearing, if only a bit, at the look in his friends eyes.

Rog had always looked like he would become the typical bachelor with no ties and no commitment. Now he just looked like someone who was desperately in love.

"Paternal instinct, gentleman" John announced. "But I'm surprised he has one, tho." He added, after a moment of consideration.

The three of them had made a bet on whether the drummer would knock someone up, and apparently he and Brian had won Fred. John had been the closest: he said he'd do it before finishing high school.

But none of them had gone beyond that. Nobody was crazy enough to ever see this outcome happening. However, from that first conversation on the phone, something in his brother's voice when he told them about his new <<Lil'raisin>> sounded just right to him. And the way he now paced the room clutching the small bundle to him as if she was a treasure, just proved his point even more.

"Daddy..." was all Fred managed to mouth out of the hundreds of thoughts flashing on his brain. He was, to put it simple, speechless, but we'll get to that later.

"You're gonna love this place when you grow up, yes you will." Rog's voice continued, as he made his way back to the table. "And we will teach you to play Everything. And I bet you will rock on drums, just like Daddy..." His heart jumped in his chest at the concept of teaching his Prune how to play.

"Yes, he's called himself Daddy without any... Sexual subtext" Brian commented back to Fred.

Oh Fred's subtext was very much so.

"Little Rog finally grown!" John grinned, startling the drummer, who jolted out his bubble and held his daughter close.

"What?!" He hissed, offering his index to the babe.

"Nothing, just..." Brian began.

"Commenting the situation." John grinned.

"Hmm" Was all Fred could hum, still transfixed in his trance.

His friends just waved it off. This had happened before, once backstage -well, if the Campus' canteen restroom counted as backstage-, while they got ready. He was fine after a while.

"Is she okay?" John nodded towards the infant, who hadn't quite settled down yet.

"Oh, yes. Just... Overheated. It's a new feeling to her, cause our home isn't exactly a warmest place, is It?" The new dad changed her to an upright position on his shoulder so he could rub comforting circles on her back. "No it's not, so we have to sleep all bundled up." He looked up at his friends "Which reminds me I need help with the crib. I don't have time to do it alone and I'm afraid to end up crushing her one night."

Well, scared is not the word. Rather <<Terrified to the point sometimes he only felt it safe to sleep on the floor.>>

"Sure mate. We can help you out while you take a well deserved and needed shower." Brian suggested.

"Sounds like a plan"

Meanwhile John approached from behind Rog to get a good look at her. She was still wrinkly, but her eyes were already captivating and John knew she would use them against all of them in no time. Of course it was too soon to make out who she looked like, let alone start trying to guess who the mother was. And... Wait, that on her forehead...  "Is she supposed to have acne already?"

"Yep. I freaked out too when I saw it was, but it'll disappear in a bit." Rog said "Wanna hold her?"

"Woah, you sharing your girls?"

"Gotta look for her pinky anyway."

John grinned and held his arms out.

"Know how it goes?" Rog questioned, without moving one muscle.

"I'm studying pediatric psychology." John said matter of factly.

"That you're studying kids don't mean you actually know what to do with them."

"You didn't even studied kids -or anything at all- and you're fine. I got a bonus."

"If you fucking drop or hurt her man..." Rog warned, suddenly insecure about letting his child go.

"Just give her over, damn." John urged.

Rog kissed her forehead and passed her to John so he had her nestled in his arms.

"All good?" Rog asked. It felt weird, after being just the two of them since they had been discharged, to see her in someone else's arms. Which was ridiculous cause he was only turn around for two minutes to look for whatever pinky that hadn't decided to hide away.

"Perfect. Stop being a moron and do what you have to do." John looked down at his niece "Hello darling Piper. I know your brain is still hardly developed at this point and you're not gonna remember any of this but I'm your uncle John and I already love you very much." And he did. He knew he'd do anything for that new little person.

"Sappy." Fred grinned, back to being his witty self again.

"You cried watching Titanic. Your argument is invalid." John replied, eyes not leaving the tiny girl, who stared back at him.

"Everyone does, always."

"It was the 10th time you watched it!"

"And I don't trust anyone who doesn't cry every time Jack..." He chose not to say it, or he'd break down just from recalling it.

"He's a silly one, that Fred, isn't he?" John cooed down at Piper, who kept looking at him with those round grey eyes, and he had a vision, or a prediction, that those eyes would make him buy her a pony in a few years time.

"I'll just never understand why people speak with that high pitched voice at kids. It's ridiculous" Brian rolled his brown eyes. He was an only child, and the youngest cousin of his family so he hadn't really got to treat with kids too often.

"Well, out of all of us You're the one  who sings like the Smurfs, so cut it." Rowan arrived with the purple pinky and carefully put it in her mouth.

"You gonna go back to sleep or you're done?" He asked with the highest note on his register, just to piss Brian off "We should probably get going to my place so I can shower while she's happy."

"Why the hurry?"

"Cause it's only matter of time before she needs something and I'm not letting you do it. Nor have the time to teach you how to change a nappy or make a bottle" he carefully took her from John and walked back to the carseat, placing her inside and slinging the bag on his shoulder.

"And for the record, you are the the one soprano here, Mr.Galileo." Brian said.

Rog pretended not to hear him, already crossing the door.

"Wow."

"Unbelievable."

"No way."

That was the general reaction to the status of Rog’s appartement, now full of empty/ half full bottles of formula instead of booze, parenting books instead of Playboy magazine and Forbes... And the smell of powder instead of Marlboro.

Just Wow.

"Holy damn Rog" Fred said, unable to hide his amazement.

"What?" He placed the carseat on the kitchen table, and stared at his daughter -who had fallen back asleep with the car's movement- while debating on whether picking her up or not.

"You live in a... This..." He didn't have a right expression to describe what his apartment had turned into

"Is this the wrong house?" Bri joked.

"Nope." He settled on taking her out and putting her on his bed while he showered.

"You live in a bloody nursery" Fred finally said.

He chuckled. "Just haven't had time to organize. Tho I've already assumed she's gonna take a shitload of room. But that's okay." he cooed, gently swaying out of reflex even though she was asleep and didn't notice.

"You've never been good at sharing..." Brian started, but Rog wasn't going to have them pointing out what they thought he could or couldn't do. He had enough with Mom.

"What is this? A kindergarten lecture?" He interrupted.

"Apparently." Fred still couldn't believe his eyes.

"Well shut up and check out the crib."

"Where had she been sleeping?" John questioned as they followed.

"With me. Well, if we can call it sleep."

After 4 days on their own, Rog had got to nearly master the art of swaddling, or burrito Rollin as he liked to call it, and while he knew the likelihood of waking her up in the process was high, he knew it was a risk worth taking. Then again it had taken him forever to get her settled and... What was the worst thing that could happen?

"I'm gonna leave her here. Try not to sit on the mattress cause that may disturb her."

"Can we talk?" Fred whispered. He wasn’t used to babies, he didn’t want to break her or something.

"Yes, and you don't have to whisper. Talk normally. But don't fight. And just... Keep an eye on her, you know?" Rog said, before disappearing into the bathroom next room.

The three men nodded, and turned to the unassembled wooden crib leaning by the wall.  It was actually big for a newborn.

"Why didn't you get a smaller one?" Deaky asked, as he examined the item.

"Cause she'll eventually grow out of it and that will mean having to buy another one." Mom had wanted to give them a present, so he asked her for money to buy a nice crib that would hopefully resist the next couple years.

"Clever."

"Hopefully this one will make it through the next two years or so. Until it’s time to move her into a bed."

"Alright. On with it."

Only 5 minutes into it, Brian noticed the kid's arms moving, as if she was having spasms.

"Errr... Should we tell Rog about it?" He asked his flatmates.

Rog also heard it, tho, and stopped the shower in panic. "Tell me what? What's going on? Is she okay?"

"Is it normal for her not to stay still?" Freddie asked

"Like her limbs are all over the place?" Bri added

"Oh, yea. Fuck you goddamn scared me men!"

"Well she was scaring us!"

"It's normal. It's..." He didn't feel like infodumping an encyclopedic speech about that. He didn't wanna be one of those people. He sighed in relief and ran the shower again. "She's okay. Don't worry."

He closed his eyes and enjoyed the warm, refreshing sensation of the water falling over him. And the relaxing sound it made. Damn, it was good to have a moment of peace without having to worry about his kid being left alone, or feeling guilty that she was next room, or worrying about her waking up with him still in the shower.

Fuck yea, he could've fallen asleep in the act. And he would have

Brian May, John Deacon, and Freddie Mercury were pretty intelligent people. Brian was a honour student, John would have also been if he hadn't caught that flu during the last term of High School, and Fred... Maybe he wasn't the most focused and self disciplined student in the room, but he was creative and witty in his own way.

However, 20 minutes after starting with the crib, they still hadn't figured out one single thing.

"The bloody instructions are in Korean!" Fred complained.

"Yea, we've noticed!" Brian replied, through gritted teeth.

"Why the actual fuck did Rog buy this shit?!"

"It was the cheapest one, for sure." John guessed, pawing around in search of the nail that had just fallen.

"Fred, that screw doesn't go there!" Brian said

"Well it didn't fit anywhere else, so I'm just gonna try in every spot until the goddamn thing gets in!" Fred had never been one for patience.

"Goddamn it..." The guitarist shook his head, running his eyes through the manual one more time, in hopes that he'd come up with something. But no.

"It can't be so fucking hard!" Fred grunted in frustration.

"Guys, I think we're losing perspective here.  We should just calm down and~"

John was interrupted when a cry broke the air, just as Rog was almost done soaping his hair.

"I'll get her. You guys figure it out" Fred announced, anxious to get away the bloody crib.

"Ha. You've never been this near a baby before. I'll do it" John said, also standing up.

"You've already held her earlier. It's my turn." Brian spoke, jumping on his feet.

"Precisely because she's already met me...".

"Oh, bullshit! You just wanna leave us here with the fucking crib!"

"Watch your mouth, Fred! There's a kid..."

"Can  any of you just fucking get my daughter?" Rog's voice called from the bathroom.

John was the fastest, and he lifted the squirming infant up with one swift movement. "Hey darling."

She kept crying, and squirming all over the place.

"You got her?" Rog asked.

"Yep. What should I do?"

"Just hold her until I get out. I'm almost done."

"Okay" he manoeuvered the infant back  in the position he had her earlier, so he wouldn't drop her.

"Just careful, don't move her about too much. I almost drop her tonight when I was making a coffee. Poor Prune's got enough frights."

His friends chuckled. Rog will be Rog. Always clumsy.

"Hey, where's the hammer?" Fred asked Brian .

"Why would you want a bloody hammer now?"

"Cause I can't roll the goddamn screw in, so I'm gonna try smashing the little fucker in!"

"You're gonna break it like that!"

"Well you got better idea? Huh? I didn't think so, so give it here!" Fred demanded, snatching the tool from Brian.

Meanwhile, John was busy trying to entertain the babe until her dad  came. Then he noticed some red scratches on her already red face, his expression changing into concern "Rog" he called over the cries and the shouting between Brian and Fred.

"Yes?" He answered, blinking the urge to sleep away.

"Something's wrong..."

"I've told you, it's normal that she moves that much. Just hold on to her..."

"No, Rog, These cuts..."

"What cuts?!" That was all Rog needed to snap out the drowsiness. The shower stopped, and he jumped out the shower.

Fred almost drops the hammer at T's foot at the sight of soaking wet naked Rog.

He. Was. Hot.

A fucking deity.

Michelangelo's David.

But of course Rog was oblivious to it. Not to the fact that he was hot, that he knew, and had taken advantage of it. Take Piper for evidence.

But what he or the other two band members ignored was that for Fred, Rog was... Everything. And he'd be lying if he didn't say he had actually drawn the Michelangelo's David with Rog's gorgeous face instead.

He'd be lying if he said the sight of his beloved with a baby hadn't made his heart melt and twist at once, and set a storm of butterflies fluttering on his whole body.

He'd be lying if he denied he loved him.

He'd be lying if he denied it, yea. But he'd lie straight away, nonetheless. He wasn't ready. He doubted he'd ever be.

Meanwhile, a few feet away, the concerned dad leaned over to take a look at his baby's face. It did have scratches. Bleeding scratches. But how?

"Oh God." He said "But I... They weren't there 20 minutes ago, were they?"

"No, not at the studio. She was fine." John answered, also examining the wounds. "What do we do?"

🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🎼🎼🎼🎼🎸🎸🎸🎤🎤🎤

Well, as always, a big Hooolaaa a mi hermana del otro lado del charco (across the pond) @definitely-darcy, who’s always giving me little prompts to keep this shit up. Finally used the crib one, but it’s a bit dull maybe? Anyway, love  ya dude!

[mastrmiscellaneous]

Writing colab: Time Turner Mishaps, Part 1

Description: @son-of-aurlius-piscius and i have been writing this together for a while. I’ll be posting part 1, and in a few days, hell post part 2. more information will be shared on his part. thanks mate, i really had fun doing this!

this story is basically our MCs, Jason, Charli, and Thomas suddenly joining each other in their curse breaking adventure. humour, angst, and fun times wait ahead...

word Count:

---

Thomas was having a pleasant day, the lake was reflecting the sun’s light perfectly, the wind blew gracefully through the trees, and he had finally found the perfect, quiet spot to sit in to study. But it all changed when two mysterious figures appeared from the sky. One of them was a tan boy in a Slytherin uniform who slammed hard on the ground with a loud “thunk”. 

“Woah! What the-” Thomas jumped back, eyes wide and a hand over his chest, breathing quickly, heart racing. The stranger lay face down on the ground and ground in pain, snapping Thomas out of his fearful trance and rushed towards him. “Hey, mate, you ok? What happened?”

“Merlin that hurt,” the boy pushed himself up slowly as the pain ran through him. “Where am I? Who are-” the boy looked at him confused. “Why do you have a prefect badge?”

Thomas looked down at the boy’s robes and noticed an identical badge to his. “What the- who are you?”

“I’m Slytherins prefect. Jason,” said the boy as he slowly stood up. “How would you not know me?”

“I think you’re mistaken, because I am the Slytherin Prefect. I’m Thomas.” He stared at the boy with his most intimidating look. He’d been told that he looked scary when he glared, which was weird, because he always saw himself as a massive sweetheart. But he needed to be intimidating. Someone was impersonating a prefect. “Why would I know about you?”

“Because my brother was expelled. Jacob,” Jason said with a broken look in his sea green eyes.

“My brother was expelled. His name was Jacob.” Thomas and Jason shared a confused and frantic look. “Weird question, but was he expelled for looking for… the cursed vaults?”

The two Slytherins stared at each other, not completely knowing what to do, or say. However, they didn’t have much time to think, as they heard a small, girlish scream and a loud splash from the lake.

“Fuck.” the feminine figure pushed herself up, dripping wet and a scowl on her face. She had jaw-length, wavey, brown hair, olive skin, and the most annoyed and terrifying look on a face either boys had ever seen, and they go to school with Ismelda Murk! Her fringe was plastered to her forehead, slightly covering her hazel eyes. “Why do these things always happen?”

“Um… Hello?” Thomas called out to her, looked between Jason and the girl, confused. 

“You alright?” Jason walked over looking all over the girl. “Any cuts?”

“Oh Jesus. Why is it always guys?” she muttered, standing up and checking herself. “Why is it never a cute girl?”

“Afraid not. So no cuts?” Jason looked at her concerned. “What’s your name if I may ask?”

She looked Jason up and down, raising an eyebrow and looking disgruntled. “Name’s Charli. I’m surprised you don’t know me. Everyone knows ‘the great cursed Gryffindor’.”

Jason scanned the girl and shook his head. “No Charli. Oh sorry, I should have given you my name.  I’m Jason,” he offered his hand in a friendly gesture. Charli looked at the hand, and shook it, her grip strong on the boy’s hand.

“Ok, so I’m never going to find out what you are doing here?” Thomas called from the shore, looking annoyed. “Who exactly are you both?”

“I am Jason Piscius Aurelius De Leone,” he said as he turned to face Thomas. “Slytherin prefect and unfortunately bitten by Fenrir Greyback. Cursed Slytherin. Ex cetra.” He raised his hand in a friendly gesture looking nervous at him.  

“Well, that’s a name and a half, aint it?” Charli looked shocked and mocking at Jason, laughing slightly to herself. “I can bearly remember mine, and it’s literally 10 letters! I’m Charli Rowe. Gryffindor keeper, curse breaker, sister of the famed Jacob Rowe. That’s all people really know me for.”

She shrugged, looking content with her words, simplistic as they may be. She looked at Thomas, expectantly, and she realized he was staring at her.

“Oh, right! My name’s Thomas Donner. Pureblood, Slytherin, disgrace to my family, hunter for cursed vaults.” He thought for a second, then jumped at his own thought. “Oh, and I am the Slytherin prefect. Not this Kid.”

He nodded his head towards Jason, a small scowl on his face.

“Wait a moment,” Jason raised his hand to chin. “We all have a brother named ‘Jacob’. Who is your best friend? On three we will say who it is.” 

The small group counted to three, slowly, and looking at each other, judging slightly. On three, they all called out their best friend’s name.

“Rowen Khanna.” muttered Charli.

“Rowen Khanna.” stated Thomas.

“Rowen Khanna.” Jason said as his eyes lit up. “Have you two had a recall on Time Turners?”

Thomas’ eyes widened, surprised at Jason’s knowledge. “Yes. Charli?”

“Yeah, I have.” she seemed upset, but this wasn’t the time to ask. Maybe in a few minutes, after they had figured out what the hell was going on.

Jason paced around the sand lost in his thoughts running his hand through his raven locks. “I have a theory but this is speculation.” He looked at the two fiddling with his bracelet on his left wrist. “What if the effect of the curse vault is messing with Time Turners? What if they are connecting possible timelines. Professor Binns mentioned something like this happening once in his nappy ways.”

Charli scoffed, arms crossed, left hand fiddling with something under her shirt. “You actually listen in those lessons? Nerd.”

“Look,” he stared at Charli with a more stoic look. “If we all have a brother named Jacob and a Time Turner recall then this isn’t a coincidence. Also yes I pay attention because Meri gets on me if I don’t pay attention.”

“I have several questions just about the word ‘Meri’.” Charli seemed to bounce on the spot and looked excited, smiling cheekily. 

“They can wait, Gryffindor. Right now we need to figure out what’s going on.” Thomas interrupted the girl. He hated being rude, but he needed to know what was happening.

Charli frowned and glared at Thomas. “Why can’t I have fun this year?”

Thomas and Jason looked at her, confused, and slightly worried about the shorter girl, but they brushed it off after she glared up at them, defensively.

“Thomas is correct,” Jason smiled at Charli. “I’ll tell you more after we settle this. But where should we start? I was in the middle of searching for the next vault when I kinda messed up with my Time Turner.” He blushed, embarrassed, and scratched his head giggling like he does when he got nervous.

“So was I. I was just about to search the lake when my TT just started spinning.” Charli shivered slightly in her wet robed. “Hey, can one of you lend me your cloak? This is freezing.”

“Sure, here.” Thomas slipped his cloak off and handed it to her. She looked displeased that it was green, not red, but slipped it on anyway, instantly looking better.

Jason pulled his TT out and looked at it as it sparked and acted like gears that were jammed. “Hmmm,” he glanced at the other two. “Hey, can I see your turners pleased?” 

Thomas picked up his bag and pulled out a small, leather pouch, untieing it and pulling out a silver time turner, handing it to Jason. Charli mutter something that sounded like ‘mister formal’ and slipped off hers. Charli’s time turner was bronze, the gears rusted slightly, and small sparks flew out of them. The weird thing was, Thomas’ turner looked fine, unlike the others.

“Okay,” Jason sighed. “If I’m right, we are in Thomas’s time. This has to be it,” he looked at the two nervously. “Any of you see in Jacobs notebook about an underwater vault?”

“Yeah, he’d drawn some creepy shit when talking about it. Drowning girls was a common thing for that particular segment.” Charli looked extremely disturbed, thinking back to her time alone in Jacob’s room.

“Same here, just not with the drowning.” Thomas looked at the three time turners, thinking intently. “I guessed it was in the lake, so I’ve been sitting in different corners of the lake, looking for hints to where it is. This is the last place.”

“I suggest one of us swim in if we can’t find anything around the lake. What do you all say? A little adventure?” Jason tried putting on a heroic pose to help lighten the situation. He had been practicing humor in times of strife. Sometimes it worked and others it didn’t.

Charli laughed, and shook her head. “You look weird. I guess I should go out, I’m wet anyway.”

“Are you sure? It’s freezing in there, and you’re already cold.” Thomas worried, fumbling with his cloak that had been thrown at him.

“I’m ok.” She said, bluntly, sounding annoyed. That girl has a short temper. She jumped into the lake and disappeared into the dark abyss of the water. She didn't emerge for several minutes, but when she did, they noticed that she morphed slightly, her brown hair growing and something disappearing from her head. “I can’t see anything.”

“It’s probably hidden, like the rest. It’ll take ages to find it.” Thomas called out to her, shaking his head. “Come back, we’ll think more.”

Charli swam quickly back to shore and shook off like a dog. “Do either of you gentlemen know a drying spell? I appear to be quite soaking.”

“I got it, sorry in advance,” Jason drew his wand and cast Ventus drying Charli off. “You feel better now? I’ll go next once we get a better idea of a location.” He put his wand back smiled at the two. “Thomas? Charli?”

“That won’t be necessary.” Thomas glared at Jason. To be truthful, he didn't really trust the other Slytherin. He had gotten used to spotting purebloods during his years, and he didn't know this boy’s family. He didn’t like that. “This is my vault. I will look for it.”

The boys stared at each other, Thomas glaring, and Jason looking confused at the anger in Thomas’ eyes.

“You Slytherboys done with your dominance competition?” Charli said, raising an eyebrow at them. “I have places to be at home, and I’d like to get to that.”

“Fine.” Thomas turned to the lake and sighed. “I feel like we need more brains. Maybe we should go to Rowen and Penny. They can help us-”

“NO!” Charli yelled, looking panicked. “We can’t do that.”

“I agree with Charli. Who knows the what effects we might cause. Fewer people the better, but I personally would suggest maybe a professor. Dumbledore? McGonagall?”

“Yeah, what he said. Effects and stuff.” Charli spoke quickly, then muttered, barely audible. “Definitely not my fear.”

“What was that?” Thomas asked.

“NOTHING!” she squeaked, tensed up and eyes wide.

“I know I shouldn’t ask but I’m curious,” Jason looked down at the short girl. “Something wrong in your reality?”

Charli, looking defeated, sighed and looked to the side, frowning sadly, and biting her lower lip. “A lot has happened in my reality the past year. Things that made my Rowen, and the others, not really trust me anymore…”

“Charli,” Jason walked over placing a hand on her shoulder softly. “I don’t know you all that well but what I can at least get from your actions is you’re a good person. Granted I don’t know if what I say might help but you aren’t alone. If all three of us have the same friends then we know they have our backs. They will welcome you back if you can apologize.” He moved his hand off her and smiled at. “We could consider each siblings too since we share one major thing: Jacob.” Jason always tried to comfort others despite his own personal pains. Fenrir attack. Cain’s bullying. His family divorce. He tried to smile through the pain for other's sake.

“It’s easy to say that stuff when you don't know what I did.” Charli sighed, then drew a long, strong breath, forcing a big, goofy smile. “But let’s not talk about that! We have more important things to do.”

“Are you sure? It sounds like you need some advi-”

“I said let’s move on! God, do you have slugs in your ears?” Charli joked, looking slightly pained as she thought about her home. Her Hogwarts.

“As you wish Madam Rowe,” Jason laughed softly, as Charli mouthed ‘madam’ with confusion. “Thomas, by chance, what spot seems to be promising? Your vault. Your Hogwarts. You lead the way.”

Thomas puffed his chest out, a cocky look on his face, that screamed ‘you bet I am’. “Well, this is, like, the last place I’ve been looking, but my friends are studying the lake to make sure. Are you sure I shouldn’t talk to them? Even alone?”

At that last point, he looked at Charli, smiling comfortingly.

“That would be fine I think. Charli?” Jason looked at her. 

“I guess that’s ok. Just don’t mention what’s happening here.” she looked confident, a stereotypical Gryffindor look. The one you see on quidditch players before a match.

Jason nodded in agreement. “We will see you in a few minutes?”

“Sure, ok.” Thomas looked at his bag, then at Jason and Charli, looking distrustful. However, he ran off, towards the castle, telling them to hide behind the boulder he was sitting by. Once he was out of view, Charli shrugged and slumped against the rock immediately picking up Thomas’ bag and rummaging through it.

“Looking for a snack?” Jason raised his eyebrow. “Very unbecoming of a lady.” He smirked at her, teasingly. 

“First of all, I’m not a lady. I’m a half-blood, we can’t be ladies in the wizarding world. Secondly, I know I’m skinny, I don't eat much, especially food I find in stranger's bags.” she finally looked up from the bag and looked at Jason. “Lastly, I’m just checking him out. One of my issues, I guess I just don’t like when guys are sketchy... “ she looked down, sadly, then rummaged through the bag again. “That’s how Jacob acted before he left. Before he… God, what am I doing, opening up to you?”

“It’s fine Charli. I was only trying to make light of it. I didn’t mean offense.” Jason started fiddling with his bracelet. “I can understand that to a degree. If want to you can speak to me. I know, ‘Slytherin’-”

“I get you were trying to do. I’ve just had a rough few years.” Charli seemed startled by her interuting him, but continued. “You being a Slytherin doesn't bother me, I just find it hard to trust people. I’m the youngest in my family. My older sister is a muggle, like mum. She’s mum’s favorite because of that. Jacob was the first of their children that showed magic, and the only boy, so he was dad’s favorite. I wasn’t supposed to happen, so I was kinda forgotten. Jacob was the only one that gave me the time of day, until he got to Hogwarts, and got entranced by the vaults. Then he left, and my life has been hell ever since. It was only made worse when… when something went wrong in the vault last year, and I had to push my friends away, so they didn't completely too. I’m completely alone, no matter where I go. I don't think people would notice if I disappeared like Jacob did…”

“Charli,” the look she had on her face reminded him of someone close to him. The pain of lose and rejection were something Jason knew. “You are so much like Meri with that look. I guess that’s why I am trying to help if anything. I got a few bits that happened sometime last year. I lost being a pureblood right. When I was searching for a cursed vault in the Forbidden Forest I ran into Fenrir Greyback.” Jason removed his cloak, loosening his tie and opening his shirt, showing his scar from when he was bitten. “I did something stupid for Meri. She was hurt and I pushed her out of the way and took the bite for her. Stupid but all I did was move. She suffered so much alone. I couldn’t bare her suffering. Granted, she and I fought our first four years, but I had this admiration for her, despite it. Then,” he raised his sleeves showing scars, “my dad would fight mom in the manor and I tried stopping it so I am scarred from trying to stop pain on others. Whether I get hurt makes no difference. I would step in front of anyone if it meant they were safe. Meri always gives me an earful but hey I’m an idiot with a hero complex.” Jason smiled at her. “Charli, we have people we care for. Pushing them away or stepping in front of something to defend them also hurts them. It’s fine if your skeptical but if you remain like that then you’ll always be alone. This world can be lonely and we need to cherish whatever we do have.”

“I get that…” Charli frowned, sadly, as she looked out at the shining lake. She thought for a second, then looked at Jason, a small side smile on her face. “Last year, in the vault, I had Merula, Rowen, Penny, and Ben accompanying me. In the beginning of the vault, Ben got injured, so Penny stayed back to look after him. Later on, Rowen said it wasn’t worth going forward without a full team. I disagreed. I needed to find Jacob, to maybe, finally, get some attention from my parents. Merula followed me forward, and we fought the vault with everything we had. But it just, wasn't enough. Merula got badly hurt… a few hours later, we finally got her to the infirmary. But it was too late. She’s gone. All because of me…”

Tears were falling down her face, now. Silent sobs were her specialty, as she had to hide a lot, at home, ad in her Hogwarts. She’s used to it.

Jason hugged Charli. Whenever he cried Jacob would always comfort him with hugs until he felt better. He picked up the habit from him whenever anyone of his friends was having a rough time. Exams. Personal. Jason was that snake that coiled around them for the sake of protection and love he had for everyone. If he could help someone he would. Friend or Foe. Snape and Puffskeins too. 

Charli leaned into his embrace, thinking back to her childhood with Jacob, after her parents scolded her for whatever she did ‘wrong’. She didn't care that Jason was a stranger. She needed this. Needed to tell someone about this.

“You’re more than you let yourself think Charli,” Jason smiled. “Jacob always told me I was more than let myself be. I am Autistic so I always have been pushed down. He thinks it gave me an advantage over most for some reason or another. The faith he had in me always kept my head straight. I have faith you have more to offer in your world. After all, we are ‘cursed students’ that makes us doubted for own strength but in reality, we are powerful. I just got a feeling you are amazing. I think if you were my sister, all I know is we’d cause all the trouble for Snape we could.” He laughed softly. “Maybe put some puffskeins in his class for a laugh.”

Charli sniffed, and wiped her tears from her eyes. She smiled at Jason and thanked him for helping her out. “I’ll talk to them when I get back. They don’t know why I left them, so I guess I owe them an explanation. Hopefully, they’re not too angry with me…”

Just as she finished speaking, and Jason squeezed her shoulders in a tight hug, they heard quick footsteps coming from behind the boulder.

“Hey guys!” Thomas panted, looking tired and out of breath.

“Jesus Christ, did you run there and back?” Charli quickly wiped her eyes and stood up, hiding the fact she had been crying from him. Thomas panted and nodded, looking like he was about to pass out.

“What did you find out?” Jason fixed his tie and rolled down his sleeves covering his scars while throwing his cloak back on. “You probably should sit too before you say anything.”

Thomas nodded and flopped to the floor, lying down on the ground and breathing heavily. Charli reached into his bag and pulled out a bottle of water, passing it to Thomas. He sipped a bit of it and poured the rest out onto his face, making both Jason and Charli laugh.

“Ok, I'm good. I know where the vault is.” 

“Really? Where at?” Jason’s eyes gleamed with excitement like a little kid. He only got excited when something goes right.

Thomas stared at Jason and Charli, worried, and bit his lip. He caught his breath, and spoke. “It’s in the middle of the lake.”

[dammitadolfnomorecake]

🏰👑⚔️🐲 79 update

When morning came, it was to the sound of tolling bells. Exhausted from Viren's cries, Eren had tried everything he could think of to hush his unhappy pup, yet nothing had seemed to work. Levi looked just as frazzled, having too tried to lure the pup to sleep only for it to have failed. Now the constant ringing had ruined his last hope that Viren would finally drift off from crying himself to sleep. Sighing deeply, Eren rocked Viren as he paced back and forth. He couldn't remember a morning when the town's bells had rung so insistently. Did they even have a reason to be ringing? Levi looked ready to find whoever was responsible for the racket and throw them off the bell tower. The poor alpha had decided that if Eren was staying awake with Viren, he should too... which ruined Eren's plan of swapping roles if Viren failed to calm. It wasn't their first sleepless night due to Viren's lack of lyrical talents since becoming parents but in the castle there was always someone to swap with, namely Armin, who was happy for cuddles even with the crying. In this city, and in this inn, he didn't feel comfortable enough to let his son out of his sight or Levi's hold. Eren's internal musings were disturbed by a crashing noise coming from the room next door. The sound accompanied by Armin swearing, Mikasa scolding, another loud thud then footsteps, before ending with a knock on their bedroom door. Levi's groan as he climbed off their bed summed up Eren's feelings over the morning, he didn't even have the energy to tell his mate that it was only Mikasa and Armin on the other side of their door. Crying even louder, Eren hushed his pup... not that worked, but at least he was trying, while having a whole new appreciation for what his mother had gone through when he was a child. Letting Armin and Mikasa into the room, Levi retook his place on the bed next to the blanket shaped lump that was Luca. Their son really didn't appreciate Viren's strong lungs. Turning face his friends tiredly, Eren smiled thinly, knowing that he had to human now they had visitors in their room. Walking over to them, Armin smiled at Viren as he wiggled his fingers towards him despite the pup's eyes being tightly scrunched closed "How's my favourite little man?" "Unhappy" "Awww... do you want me to hold him? How long's he been crying?" Had Armin really not heard? Eren could have murdered him on the spot "All night. At least 6 hours..." "Have you tried feeding him?" No. He hadn't tried anything of the sort. He hadn't tried feeding him. He hadn't tried bath time. He hadn't tried exercises in case Viren had to poop and was struggling. He'd tried skin to skin contact, and double checked that his son wasn't suffering nappy rash. He's even tried a little healing magic but there was nothing there to heal. The poor pup had exhausted himself into the point of "hysteria". He hadn't tried anything of the sort "Yeah... pretty much everything. The bells aren't helping either" "They woke me up... let me take him. I'm sure he'll settle for Uncle Armin" Not really wanting to hand his pup over, Levi was quick to agree before calling Eren over to sit in his lap. Viren continuing to cry as Armin hushed and rocked him. Eren letting his head drop against Levi's shoulder as he internally smirked. It was relieving that Viren hadn't settled immediately, not that he didn't want his son to rest, as it showed it wasn't anything he'd done or hadn't done "Armin, you're not settling him" Glaring at Mikasa, Armin moved Viren to his shoulder "He won't settle. This is the unhappiest I've seen him since he was reunited with Eren and Levi" "Let me try" "No. I've got him. Besides, you don't deserve cuddles. Do you know what she did this morning? I woke up to find a sword at my throat. Apparently I lack special awareness, then, when she finally goes to help me up she trips me. Hear what your Aunty did to me Viren?" Mikasa snorted, smiling too widely for the hour of the morning. Closing his eyes Eren let Levi wrap his arms around his waist as the alpha's before the alpha's hands settled to rest on his own. Levi's pain bled through their bond, Eren sure the man was sporting a headache at least the size of his own "It wasn't that bad. He was already mumbling in his sleep before the bells started. I simply thought it'd be interesting to see how he reacted" "You try waking to a sword to your throat... How long do you think these bells are going to keep ringing? And why are they ringing? Is it some kind of custom here? To annoy visitors with a million bells the moment the sun rises?" Levi's breath was warm against his neck as the alpha replied "I don't think so. To toll the bells this many times is either in celebration, which I think we would have heard about ahead of time, or something major has happened" Groaning as his brain tried to kick in, Eren pinched the bridge of his nose. It was far too tempting to sleep, and now his eyes didn't want to open again "You think something's happened?" "I'm not sure. It was rare for the bells of Mitras to ring. Erwin found the noise grating after the first half dozen or so rings. Eventually he managed to have the bell ringing cancelled for the most part. So yes, I do think something has happened" Kissing his temple, Levi's left hand soon abandoned his to move to his forehead "You're warm" "It's nothing. Just a lack of sleep" "I'm grateful he doesn't have the same issues with his lungs as you do, but he is just as tone deaf as you are. And he only seems to know one song" Growling, Eren didn't care if Levi was joking. He wasn't in the mood for humour "Don't be a dick to our baby. You might have your alpha senses, but I have dragon senses remember" "I know. You really should rest. Let us take care of..." "No. I'm his mother. I should be awake too" "Armin and Mikasa are here now..." Really? He didn't notice the presence or scent of his two friends... Levi was lucky he was too tired to snap at him "If you're staying awake, I'm staying awake. Luca probably needs to go to the bathroom too" "I'll take him. I assume he's the bundle in the bed?" Hearing he was talked about, Luca climbed out from under the sheets. His son looked miserable as he slunk across the bed to Mikasa. Reaching down she lifted him into her hold. It really wouldn't be long until he couldn't ask for cuddles anymore. Each time Eren thought that, he couldn't bring himself to stop trying. Luca was still a baby. His baby... His baby the size of a large dog now. God. He was growing up too fast "I'll take him to the bathroom. Maybe see about getting something to eat? How does that sound?" Luca chirped his agreement. Far too easily bought by food. Eren didn't want him out of his sights, but now Mikasa had promised food he couldn't say no "Thanks, Mikasa" Viren was still crying when Mikasa came back with Luca half an hour later. Accompanied by Freya and Steege, Levi tapped his arm then resorted to shaking him until Eren groaned at him "I'm sorry to disturb you. Especially after last night, and with your son being so upset, but there's been an incident. There are guards on the front step to take you both to the court" Last night? Did she mean Viren crying all night? "Did they say what happened?" "No. It seems to be something significant. The old man downstairs isn't happy, they threatened to come up and get you. He tried to explain you were a lovely young couple with your children... then had a shock when they informed him Eren was a prince" That sounded about right. The man was forgetful, but he was also a crack whip when it came to gossip. He would have fitted in rather nicely at the castle, and Eren couldn't deny he wouldn't mind bringing him back to Eldia. The man had children, but they'd all left to make their own way in life and never seemed to come back to visit him. It was all rather sad. He didn't live this long to be left alone at the end "I don't think Eren is in any condition to be up and walking around" If they court wanted them there, then there was no other choice "I'll be fine" "You're hardly fine" "Then what am I supposed to do, Levi? The world doesn't stop because Viren cried all night. It doesn't stop because my head feels like it's about to explode. If something's happened and they want us there, then we go. We go because that's what expected of us" "You're sick" "It doesn't matter how I feel. Viren needs to be dressed. We need to get dressed. Freya, can you please inform them that we're getting dressed and will be down shortly? I'll be bringing the children with me" "We'll be leaving the children here" Levi grabbed for his hip as Eren started sliding out his slap "We're not leaving then here" "Eren" "Don't fight me on this Levi" "Viren's upset. Luca has had enough. You're sick. And we're both exhausted. Mikasa and Armin can handle this for a few hours while we sort whatever they want out" "Of course we can. We don't mind" Armin's words betrayed the look of rising panic on his face given Viren hadn't settled "If something's happened, I want the kids with me. Now let me get up, we need to get ready to go. I don't want to cause a scene in front of the boys. I don't want them coming up here to drag us down there, and the longer you keep me in your hold, the angrier they're all going to be. So let me go" "Eren..." Taking Levi's hands off him, Eren was done. Something major was going on, they were being called in, and all Levi could think about was the fact he was a little feverish from a lack of sleep. There were more important things than his health. Like preventing his son's from having to suffer through another traumatic event. * The sight before then was absolutely revolting. Warned before they entered the room that it was best Luca didn't head in there with them, Eren brushed it off, and now his mate was severely regretting the decision. All it'd taken was look for Eren to be throwing up the dinner he'd eaten the night before while collapsing to the ground in a stunned heap. Laying on the cold stone slab, in one of the rooms deep beneath the courthouse, Willy's shirt was covered with blood which had gushed from man's mouth after having his tongue cut out and being left to bleed to death in the city's marketplace. He'd been found by one of the vendors preparing for the day ahead, hence the ringing of the town bells. In a similar state of shock, Levi wasn't completely sure what he felt at the sight. Three of the tribunal members had been waiting to show the unsuspecting pair the gruesome sight. It wasn't until they'd opened Willy's mouth to show them sight of the severed tongue that Eren had collapsed, and though he wanted to move to Eren's side to comfort him, he couldn't take his eyes off Willy's body. Surely Willy seeking them out, and this, couldn't be unrelated... He'd sought them out... If he hadn't been turned away, would Willy still be alive? He hadn't told Eren that Willy had visited. He hadn't had the chance, not with Viren crying all night. It'd been the last thing on his mind to tell him, and the last thing Eren needed after staying up with Viren. Whining for his alpha, Eren finally pulled his attention. Sinking down by his omega, Eren flinched when Levi's hand landed on his thigh, another small whine coming from between his parted lips. As tears rolled down Eren's cheeks, they shimmered with diamond shards. Willy wasn't worth Eren's tears. Let alone tears of such distress as to be diamond encrusted. Beginning to cough, his mate was working himself into internal panic "Come here, Sweet Boy" Levi couldn't gather him into his arms due to Viren on his shoulder, but Eren could move the few centimetres as Levi sat properly. Shaking like a leaf, Eren found his way into Levi's one armed hold. His breath hitching as he hid his face against Levi's shoulder "Is this my fault?" God. How could Eren think this was his fault? Fuck. He shouldn't have let "No. No, this is absolutely not your fault at all" "He... he's dead. They... cut out his tongue. I told him he needed to clean up his loose ends... They cut his tongue out!" "Eren, there's something I need to tell you. Willy came with a group of soldiers and money to see us last night. Freya woke me to tell me. He was put off by the innkeeper, and left. But she had the impression that there was something more to it all..." "He what?! Why didn't you tell me?" Cringing, Levi wished Eren hadn't yelled right in his ear "I was going to. Then Viren was upset, and we were called in here" "He... he wanted to see me? After I..." "Eren. The visit wasn't planned to be pleasant. The innkeeper told Freya as much. We think he intended to pay the old man off for access to our room, only he didn't count on him being scatter minded" "He might still be alive, if we'd... Why didn't she tell me? Why didn't you? You were awake all night. You were right there... and you..." "I was going to tell you. I promise I was going to tell you" "He's dead and the last thing I did was yell at him. I told him to stay away..." "Eren, he was murdered. Probably by the people he betrayed. Probably by those very loose ends from his attempt on your life. He doesn't deserve your tears, not after he tried to kill you. Not after what he put our family through. It's disgusting, but he's the one who brought this on himself" "He was still a person. He still had a family. Who cuts out a tongue and leaves the person to die?! Why didn't he try to get help?!" Hushing Eren softly, his mate really needed to stop yelling "I don't know. I don't know, Sweet Boy. But you need to calm down for me" "Calm down?! Someone fucking murdered him! I wanted him arrested! I wanted him to admit what he did, not for him to be murdered! There's no justice in death! And there's... there's no atonement either" Atonement. How could Willy have ever possibly atoned for what he'd done? He'd caused Eren's death. He'd caused the omega to die in his arms, and the loss of their third mate, who both of them were still mourning and suffering symptoms over. Willy could never have atoned for his sins, even if he'd spent the rest of his life in penance. The man had played a dangerous game in attempting to play both sides of the war. He'd brought this on himself, and now Levi was stuck piecing Eren back together yet again, because his mate cared too fucking much. How was that fair? How was this shit his to deal with? Swept away in the moment, and foggy from Eren's pain, Levi hadn't forgotten he was in the bowels of the courthouse, he had however forgotten that they had an audience. When one of the males began to speak, he found himself growling in an attempt to warn him off. Instead it led to Eren pushing himself back. The omega looked distraught as he wiped at his teary face "Prince Eren, have you composed yourself enough to talk?" The man wanted to talk? Eren was crying. Viren was crying. Luca was huddled up near the pair of them, probably terrified from all the scents in the air "Yes, your honour" "We called you here to enquire into whether you knew anything pertaining to the death of William Tybur. It's exceedingly obvious that you played no hand in the man's demise, however, you were witnessed arguing with him a few days ago. You accused him of partaking in the attempt against your life, correct?" "Y-yes, sir" "Explain yourself" Eren nodded, pulling himself to sit with his knees up and elbows resting against them. Levi thanked god his omega was wearing pants, because otherwise his mate would be exposing far too much for him to handle "The day you asked Levi and I to act as bait... I watched him. I watched his face. It was subtle, but the moment I laid eyes upon him I knew that he was involved. He looked... Willy looked displeased to see both Levi and I alive. There was also the way that he was the only one to make a huge fuss. I mean, yes, Magath did. But Willy... Willy honestly thought we were dead and that that was how it should be. It was all over his face. I couldn't stomach him. I couldn't stomach standing there with the man that tried to kill my family, so I left. I'm sorry for seeing so rude as to walk out of your court, but I didn't trust myself not to lose control of your magic. It can be rather temperamental, and I was suffering from the loss of our third mate, Obsydin. Honestly, this whole trial has been far more than I expected. A few days passed and, Levi and I were shopping with our sons. Because my magic blew up half the city, a lot of storeowners turned us away because Luca is a dragon. Willy sought us out to enquire over our health, and all I wanted to do was... honestly, I wanted to punch him. I was so upset over the treatment of Luca that he copped my bad mood. I told him to clean up his loose ends or it was going to come back to haunt him. I mean, I knew he was attempting to play both Levi and I, as well as Marley. For someone who was Zeke's close friend, Zeke never actually talked about him. Our marriage wasn't perfect. But Zeke tried. He tried when he found out I was pregnant and in his own way, he tried to stop Dina coming after me by taking me back to Eldia. He was worried about the baby, which I didn't know wasn't his at the time. He was always smiling. He was always too nice about things, and I lost it at him. I struck him in the face and told him to face his own sins. I wanted him... I wanted him to admit to organising to have my papers stolen as he knew about them all. He knew there were piles of them in my room, then they went missing. He knew someone attempted to murder me, and he was acting as if he was best friends with Marley, despite everything he said about them. He was supposed to be helping me abdicate the throne. I never wanted to go against Dina to claim control of Marley. I wanted her to pay for her crimes legally. I wanted her to understand that she ruined her son, and her country, by her actions and words. I wanted the same for Willy. But... I'm so sick of death. I'm sick of people suffering. I just want peace between Eldia, Marley, Draecia and the rest of the world. Levi just told me that Willy sought us out last night. Our son Viren has been crying all night, refusing to settle, so he kept it from me. Now I can't help but feel this is all my fault. I told him to... to take responsibility and now someone's cut his tongue out and left him to bleed to death. We don't know what happened to the maid. We don't know what Marley has planned. Dina doesn't care for any of those loyal to her... and it's... it's too much. I'm sorry, Your Honour. I know this isn't how a prince should act. But I didn't want to be a prince. I didn't want to be a dragon. I just wanted to be a normal person like everyone else and now so many people have been hurt and are suffering because Dina had me kidnapped to start a war that both Erwin and Zeke never wanted to begin with" With Eren's fiery soul it was easy to forget he was only 21. 21 and he'd already lost a clutch, lost a husband, lost a mate, lost his blood family, been cursed, been abandoned by Levi for months and forced into bed with another, and suffered through a hard birth that left him magicless until someone tried to kill him... oh, and of course, he'd been imprisoned in the one place he'd come to call home for weeks without proper care or treatment... and his lungs were fucked. He was also a prince, with two sons and an alpha with a memory problem that he was still to confess in full, worrying about the people of three nations, and in a foreign land where he didn't feel safe. His best friend was now prince and his sister refused to give him enough breathing space to grow into his own person. It was a ridiculous amount to be going on. Levi was sure that every single aspect of it all never left his mate's mind. He was so fucking strong to still be standing, in this case sitting, and being completely honest over the fact he'd run away because he needed to do what was right for him. Levi was falling in love with him all over again, even with the smell of blood and vomit in the room. He had the strongest and most passionate omega he'd ever met for his mate. Never could he love another like Eren. There could never be another like Eren. Clearing his throat, the man nodded towards the other two tribunal members "We believed Willy to be conspiring with Marley before this incident occurred. While investigating the Tybur family, we found large payments being made to them by the royal household to secure trade deals across the mainland continent. We also found claims that the Tybur family in fact controls more of Marley than Queen Dina herself did" Eren simply blinked at the man, Levi however nearly went him. It was as good as confessing that they knew Willy wanted Eren dead, and that the Tybur's had plans of their own to rule Marley. Having been labeled interim leader, the only thing stopping Willy from taking the throne once Dina was imprisoned, or executed, was Eren's legal claim as Zeke's husband "Do you understand me, Prince Eren?" Eren bit his lip. The omega looking down to his lap "Eren, he's saying that Willy wanted the throne for himself. They knew he was playing both sides, only they didn't account for Willy being murdered" The omega's head shot up, looking from Levi to the tribunal judge in angered confusion "You knew?! You knew and you let him walk around, to get himself killed! Why didn't you protect him? Surely if he was being watched, then you have to know who he was with. What he was up to. Who tried to kill me and what happened to that maid! You... you used him as bait too... I can't believe this. You would stoop so low. You've already dragged Dina's trial out. She should have been sentenced to a life where she's forced to give back to people. Where she's forced to realise what a real day's work is like. And that she can't always buy her way out of things. Willy should have been made to do the same. Helping people. Helping rebuild. Something more than... than him being butchered for you!" "We didn't know this would happen so soon. We thought..." "You thought wrong! You're a tribunal! You're supposed to be made up of individuals who think that way! You're not all the same. You're supposed to be open minded and fair. This isn't fair! I'm done. I'm so beyond done. My life is in pieces! Eldia needs its prince. Draecia needs its princess. Both are stuck here because you can't rule that Dina is guilty. Magath is guilty. Willy was guilty. Almost every single person in a position of power is guilty. I'm fucking guilty for taking lives. None of those lives should have been taken, and there's nothing that can bring them back. Everyone thinks people's lives are all a game, but they're not. There's no magical time connecting web or thing. We can't go back in time to before all this happened. And now it seems like the same mistakes are being made all over again. I'm done. I'm done with all of this. I want to go home. I want to be a mum. I want to live in a place where war isn't constantly feared..." Digging the heels of his palms into his eyes, Eren shook his head "I'm sorry, but this wasn't the right way to go about any of this. You made a mistake. You let him die. Levi, we're going back to the hotel" "Prince Eren" "No. I had so much faith in your judgment. I let you rip my life to shreds. I let you hurt the people I love with your questions. I know you didn't know any of us. I know our small issues probably don't matter to you, but Dina is guilty. She needs to be punished legally. Marley is suffering and needs so much help. So many people are dying and those who could help simply trample over them. Marley should just... it should be returned to its people. Let the countries reform themselves with support from the rest of the world... or let them form a government of their own where instead of listening to a ruling monarch because of their bloodline, have the people elect their own leaders. I don't want to be prince. I don't want any of this" Gathering himself up, Eren had the grace of a newborn foal as he found his legs beneath him. Patting Luca on the head, their son gently took Eren's hand in his mouth to lead to him towards the door. The three tribunal members didn't look impressed over Eren's frank words. Levi feeling his mate had pissed all over their pride and plans, and held no sympathy for them at all. They'd upset Eren, and they deserved to suffer his wrath. No one did sass like a pissy Eren did.

[blu-joons]

The Boys Meet Your Newborn For The First Time ~ Leeteuk

You could only smile as Jeongsu made one final sweep of your apartment to make sure that it was clean and tidy whilst you waited for the boys to arrive. His smile grew as he spotted your eyes looking over at him, shaking your head gently.

“They’re not expecting it to be spotless, they know we had a baby only a week ago,” you reminded him, nodding down to the sleeping baby who you held closely into your chest.

He settled himself down on the end of the sofa by your feet, unable to stop himself from plumping up one of the cushions. He knew the boys would be understanding, but the thought of someone entering his home to see a mess absolutely terrified him, even with a new baby around.

The two of you had been bombarded with texts over the past couple of days from the boys, wondering when they could come by and meet Hana, your new little girl. From the moment you got home from the hospital, they’d been desperate to come over.

Finally, after feeling settled at home, Jeongsu text them that morning to let them know you were free. All of their plans were dropped in an instant, snapping up the chance to head to your place and meet the new addition to the team.

“I hope they know to be quiet when they come in, and not get too excited,” Jeongsu whispered.

“They’ll know what to do, most of them have nieces and nephews anyway.”

His eyes fell on Hana, her mouth was slightly parted as she curled inwards to your chest. He was disturbed a few moments later by a gentle knock at the door, standing up to welcome the boys in.

The sound of the knock was enough to cause her to stir, and her eyes to open. You slowly stood up as she woke herself up, looking across the room as the boys all piled in. “Hi,” you whispered, watching their faces light up as they got their first glimpses of your little girl.

They stood back by the kitchen as you walked across to show her off, tilting her carefully so they could get a better look at her. Her wide eyes stared back at them as she tried study the new faces she was being introduced to.

Most of them were rendered speechless by such an adorable sight, with only light gasps the only sounds you heard.

“She’s gorgeous,” Donghae whispered.

“You guys did such a good job.”

Jeongsu proudly smiled as he went to the bedroom to check on Shimkoong. “Who’s going to be the first to hold her?”

Straight away, Heechul stepped forwards, holding his arms out for her. As the other boys went to put up a fight, Jeongsu shushed them, as Heechul turned back to poke his tongue at them. Once he faced you again, you carefully placed Hana into his hold.

“She looks even cuter close up,” he whispered, pulling several faces down at her wide eyes. “She definitely has Y/N’s looks, thank goodness.”

“Hey,” Jeongsu scoffed, “what’s wrong with looking like me?”

Your eyes rolled, keeping your attention on Heechul as Hyukjae and Kyuhyun came to stand either side of him, peering over his shoulder to get a closer look too.

“How are you guys settling into life as a family of four?” Donghee asked as you invited everyone to take a seat. “I always imagined the two of you being the first to settle down, but now it’s happening, it doesn’t even feel real.”

“It’s been interesting,” you laughed, sitting down on the sofa, “but weirdly it feels like this has always been how our lives have been, I bet that sounds so cliché right now.”

Ryeowook’s head as he sat himself down beside you, draping his arm on the sofa behind you. “It’s good that you feel that way, even if it is cliché. That’s what they say having children does, you suddenly can’t remember your life without them.”

The two of you had tried for a baby for several months before finally you fell pregnant, the boys could see how much it meant to you both. When you told them the news, they were beyond thrilled for you, seeing how relieved you both were was all that they wanted for the both of you.

Jungwoon came up to sit on the other side of you, “what about Jeongsu? Is he taking good enough care of you right now?”

“Of course,” you smiled, glancing across at him as he grabbed some drinks from the fridge. “I’ve never really seen him as a leader, but now I see him as a father, I understand all the things that you guys tell me about him a little bit more.”

All of them nodded, thrilled to see such a wide smile on your face. “We always knew you’d make the best parents,” Hyukjae chimed, “he’s done a good enough job looking after us, a baby is probably a walk in the park for him right now.”

“And you’ve always been a bit of a mum to us too,” Kyuhyun added, giggling softly. “You’re always bringing us lunch or making sure we’re on time, I think we’ve prepared you for motherhood years in advance of having a baby.”

It wasn’t a lie; you’d mothered those boys for several years. You couldn’t believe sometimes how chaotic and forgetful they were. Jeongsu warned you about all of them before you met them, and whilst you never expected such a mess, you wouldn’t have had your life any other way.

From across the room, you watched on as Heechul passed Hana across to Donghae to hold for a while. “She doesn’t even cry, you guys have really trained her well so far,” Heechul commented.

“Our daughter isn’t a dog!” Jeongsu yelled from the kitchen.

Yet again Heechul looked across and poked his tongue out at his only elder. “I just mean that she’s so well behaved, obviously the two of you are natural parents to have such a well-behaved baby. My nephew didn’t stop crying at a week old, it was worse than hell.”

Whilst all of them one day had dreams of being able to start a family, being able to hand Hana back at the end of the day was certainly a benefit for them right now. Most of them could barely look after themselves, let alone another life. They were much being the cool uncles who were only around for the happy moments.

“What do you guys think then?” Jeongsu asked, handing drinks around to everyone before taking a seat on the floor in front of you then. “Was it worth the wait to come over and finally get the chance to meet your niece.”

“I think we should all move in,” Siwon suggested.

“It’s hard enough looking after one baby, without all of you too,” you teased. “You just wait for when she wants her nappy changing or she start crying, you’ll be packing your bags in no time to move back out, trust me.”

Donghae’s coo captured everyone’s attention as she let go of a little yawn before reaching her hand out to wrap tightly around his thumb. “Are you seeing this?”

“How are you the favourite already? I bet you forced your thumb into her hand,” Hyukjae frowned, “pass her around so we all get a chance to prove to her that we are the superior uncles. You’ve got a whole lifetime to dote on her.”

“You guys can stay until you’ve all had a cuddle,” you assured them all, “or until one of you has to deal with a dirty nappy, if she poops on you, you have to take care of it.”

Hyukjae’s head shook, “on second thoughts, maybe the two of you should hold her, I can wait for cuddles, when she’s not such a pooper.”

“You’re impossible,” Jeongsu yelled, “our child is an innocent baby.”

“Uncles clean nappies, get over it!”

---

Masterlist

[shannonfreakingleto]

Do Or Die: Part Twenty Two

Taylor’s POV

It had been two weeks since my doctor’s appointment, the thought of having twins had finally sunk in. Going back to the store Shannon and I ordered a matching crib to go along with the one we already had at home in the nursery.

Moving things around in the nursery we tried to fit everything into the one room, picking more basics up Shannon and I spent hours in the baby aisles picking up clothes for the twins. Swapping our stroller in we now upgraded for a double stroller that was at the top of the range, having the car seats in the garage we had all the main things we needed for the twins. Rubbing over my stomach the last few days had flown past, sighing I hadn’t seen Torrie much. She was in her nesting stage and didn’t want to leave the house; I on the other hand was barely in trying to cope with adding another baby into the mix. Looking over at the wall in the living room I smiled at the two newly hung canvases, smiling to myself I couldn’t wait to add to the rest of them already loving the ones we already had. Putting the laptop down on the table I took a break from online shopping and closed my eyes, enjoying the peace and quiet my phone disturbed me from my thoughts. Picking it up I smiled wide when Torrie’s name came up on the screen, answering it immediately I relaxed back into the couch as I caught up with my best friend. Watching Shannon move around in the room, he was in and out of the garage as he made the small home improvements for the family. Grabbing another screwdriver he kissed my forehead as he ran up into the nursery again, sighing I slunk further down into the chair.

‘You alright Hun?’ Torrie asked as she pulled me from my thoughts

‘Yeah…just the realization hitting me hard…Shannon is extremely excited about all of it, just wait until we have two screaming babies, two dirty nappies to change, two to feed at the same time….oh god what have I done!’ I sighed into the phone as I pinched the bridge of my nose

‘Hey now relax it takes two to make a baby, Shannon’s as much to blame as you’ Torrie laughed

Taking a deep breath I felt myself relaxing again, talking to Torrie she made me relax and calm down. Laughing at her crazy stories we finally said goodbye after talking on the phone for hours, hanging up I put my phone on the table. Rubbing over my stomach I sighed, hearing Shannon run down the stairs again he walked out the room. Closing my eyes I bit my lip as I tried to clear my thoughts, hearing the garage door slam shut for the countless time I groaned loudly. Pinching my nose every little thing was getting on my nerves today, listening to Shannon hum as he came in the room again I watched the rain drops race each another down the patio doors.

‘Babe are you ok?’ Shannon asked, nodding my head I smiled as I rubbed over my stomach

‘Yeah…I’m ok.’ I said as I let my mind wander over everything again, feeling Shannon’s lips on my forehead I stared into space as my mind went crazy.

‘I love you beautiful’

‘Love you…’ I muttered as I lost concentration again

‘Excuse me?’ Shannon said standing up

Looking out the doors I watched the rain splashed into the pool, biting my lip I mentally checked things off the growing list I had to do. Hearing Shannon say something I rested my head on my hand as I thought about the large list of things I still had to tackle. Looking down at the laptop it reminded me that I needed to order a large changing bag and a bag for going into the hospital, looking over in the direction of the laundry room I wondered if the new baby clothes were dried. Scratching my head Shannon waved his hand in front of my face; smacking it away I turned and glared at him.

‘Tay…Taylor hello, are you sure you’re ok baby?’ Shannon asked raising his brow, nodding my head I picked my laptop up needing something to do

‘I’m fine…’ I said smiling up at him

Opening the lid of my laptop Shannon sighed, opening my mouth to say something he turned on his heel and headed up the stairs again. Watching him walk away I knew I was distancing myself from him, I was always trying to busy myself doing things that could wait. I knew I was being horrible by pushing Shannon away but I couldn’t help it. Hearing the door slam close I jumped, pinching the bridge of my nose I wanted to get out of this horrible depressing rut I was in.

Torrie’s POV

Drawing my call with Taylor to an end I laughed into the phone, smiling as Jared walked into the room he leaned against the door frame. Crossing his arms he smiled as I finally ended my call with Taylor, locking my phone I rested it on the top of my stomach. Rubbing over it Jared pushed himself off of the door frame, sitting beside me he put his hand on top of mine gently squeezing it.

‘What do you want to eat beautiful?’ Jared smiled

‘hmmm can we have something unhealthy? I really want hamburger meat…I’m sorry I'm craving it baby’ I laughed as Jared scrunched his face up

‘How about we be really bad and I go get you a McDonalds meal and a milkshake? I’ll let it go just this once, you wait here and I’ll run out and get it’ Jared smiled

'Don’t you try and make them make a salad I want non good food, now move it…baby is hungry… thank you handsome ’ I laughed

Sitting up more Jared smiled, kissing him softly he kissed my stomach quickly. Rubbing over my stomach I watched as Jared grabbed his things, waiting until he left I slowly got up and did some light house work. Walking up to the nursery I put a few more things away, sitting in the rocking chair I looked around at the newly decorated room. Hearing the front door open I quickly got up and made my way down the stairs, seeing Jared come into the house with a huge bag of food I quickly ran down the stairs.

'Food!’ I yelled as I tried to grab the bag

Looking up at Jared he held the bag up so I couldn’t reach, pointing to the kitchen I groaned as I turned around and made my way into it. Sitting at the table Jared slowly pulled the food out of the bag, grabbing everything that was mine I tucked right in. Watching Jared eat his salad I smirked at him as I took a large bite out of my burger, laughing as he pulled a face I grabbed my milkshake to swallow the rest of my food. Sitting in a comfortable silence I looked around the kitchen as I chewed slowly, smiling as Jared watched me I had been craving meat these last few weeks to the disgust of Jared. Closing the containers I put them in the bag, resting back on my chair I grabbed the milkshake again taking a drink I moaned happily.

‘That good huh?’ Jared smiled, nodding I smiled

‘Yup almost as good as you…only thing that makes you better is I don’t have to go out and buy you. You’re free’ I laughed loudly

‘Well…I take kisses as payment’ Jared smirked, smiling I stood up walking over to him. Straddling his hips I slowly circled them as I smiled.

‘Well I have lots to give you…’ I smirked

Stilling my hips I dragged my hands down Jared’s shirt, undoing the buttons one by one I dragged my nails down his chest. Watching him as his breathing picked up I smiled as he held onto my hips, resting my head on his shoulder I circled my hips as he pushed my top up my body. Kissing his neck I moved my hands up the back of his neck, pulling his hair Jared moaned into my ear. Pulling away slightly I pushed the shirt down his shoulders, kissing his cheek I slowly climbed out of his lap and pushed my jeans and panties down my legs. Biting my lip I dragged my eyes up and down Jared’s body as he threw his jeans over his shoulder

'Ride me…’ Jared moaned into my neck

'Right here baby? Well look at that fully hard’ I smiled slipping my hand into his boxers I took him in my hand and stroked him softly.

Stroking him slowly I smiled, moving to the side I let him kick his boxers off. Climbing into his lap again I held onto his chest, grinding against him I lifted my hips. Grabbing himself he slowly pushed his tip at my clit, pushing his tip in he grabbed my shoulders and pushed me down his length. Holding onto his shoulders I gasped, letting Jared move me on top of him I kissed him roughly as I started to move faster. Dragging my hands through his hair Jared moaned into the kiss, grabbing my hips he dug his fingers into them as he slammed me down his length. Tightening my grip on his shoulders I rocked my body harder against Jared’s, looking down at him he bit his lip as he thrust up into me again.

‘Fuck baby you feel amazing’ Jared moaned, gasping I closed my eyes again

‘Baby…I’m not gonna last’ I moaned, feeling Jared smile into my neck he thrust up into me again

Screaming I held onto him tighter, rocking my body harder against his Jared held onto my hips. Gasping he dragged his hand down my body, lifting my hips up Jared thrust up into me hitting my g spot. Losing control of our rhythm I knew both Jared and I were close, grinding against him Jared rubbed at my clit bringing me closer to my release gasping my breathing picked up.

‘Baby…Come for me…I’m close’ Jared panted, shaking my head I circled my hips slightly

‘Jared. Baby no I’m….I’m….FUCK JARED’ I screamed

Letting my head drop back Jared held onto my hips, slamming me down he held me close to his body as he emptied himself into me yelling my name. Moaning I smiled still enjoying the benefits of not having to wear condoms, leaning towards Jared I kissed him deeply as I circled my hips. Feeling him moan into the kiss the vibrations sent a chill through my body. Sucking on his bottom lip I slowly pulled away, resting my head against his forehead I sighed happily.

‘I love you Lion’ I whispered

‘I love you too Honeybee’ Jared smiled before kissing me again

Tagging:

Jumping on the band wagon…

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