#the dream team the power couple wives of all time

[quokkaquola]

[one-inspiring]

How Husbands Can Strengthen Their Marriage: Practical Tips and Advice | nakeddivorce

Marriage is a beautiful journey filled with love, trust, and companionship. However, like all relationships, it requires effort, patience, and understanding from both partners. While there’s no secret formula for a perfect marriage, there are some practical tips that can help husbands build and maintain a strong, healthy relationship with their wives. Whether you’re navigating the early stages of marriage or seeking to reignite the spark after many years, these tips can guide you in the right direction.

1. Communication is Key

One of the most important aspects of a strong marriage is open communication. It's essential for husbands to listen actively and understand their partner's feelings. This means not just hearing words, but genuinely understanding the emotions behind them. Make time to talk about your day, share your concerns, and discuss future plans.

Sometimes, silence speaks volumes too. Being present without words, offering a comforting presence during tough times, can deepen emotional bonds.

2. Show Appreciation Daily

Never underestimate the power of gratitude. It’s easy to take things for granted after a while, but showing appreciation for your wife every day helps strengthen your relationship. Compliment her, thank her for small acts of kindness, and express gratitude for the ways she enriches your life. Simple gestures, like making her a cup of tea in the morning or leaving her a note, can go a long way in keeping the connection strong.

3. Handle Conflict with Care

Disagreements are inevitable in any relationship. What matters is how you handle them. Avoid harsh words or personal attacks. Instead, focus on resolving the issue calmly and constructively. Remember, you're both on the same team. If things get heated, take a break, cool down, and revisit the topic when you’re both calm.

If conflicts persist, it may help to seek professional advice or even couples counseling, which can offer guidance on healthy conflict resolution. Marriage is a continuous learning process, and sometimes getting external help can offer new perspectives.

4. Keep the Romance Alive

Routine and daily responsibilities can often make romance fade, but it’s important to nurture the romantic aspect of your relationship. Date nights, surprise gifts, or even a care package after a particularly tough week can help keep the spark alive. Never stop courting your wife just because you’re married. Those little gestures that made her feel special when you were dating should continue throughout the marriage.

5. Support Her Dreams and Goals

A successful marriage is built on mutual support. Encourage your wife in her personal and professional ambitions. Whether she’s considering a career change, wants to start a new hobby, or needs more time for self-care, be her biggest supporter. Just as you have your dreams, she does too, and supporting each other fosters deeper respect and love in the relationship.

6. Balance Your Time

While it's important to spend quality time together, it's equally essential for both partners to have individual space. Respect her need for personal time, and don’t feel bad if she occasionally wants to do things on her own or with her friends. The balance between "me time" and "we time" is crucial in a healthy marriage.

7. Be Adaptable in Tough Times

Life will throw unexpected challenges your way, whether it’s financial difficulties, parenting stress, or health issues. In these moments, adaptability and teamwork are critical. Be there for each other, providing emotional and practical support. Every marriage will face its share of hardships, but getting through them together is what strengthens the bond.

When Marriage Struggles Lead to Separation

Unfortunately, not all marriages survive the test of time. In the UK, divorce is a reality many men face, especially in later life. Starting Over After Divorce At 40 men can seem overwhelming. The idea of rebuilding your life and finding happiness again can be daunting, but it is possible with the right mindset and support.

If you find yourself navigating the pain of a breakup, consider creating a care package for the breakup. It’s not just about material items, but rather a collection of self-care activities that help you heal emotionally. This could include exercise routines, journaling, or even scheduling time with friends who can support you through the recovery.

How Long Does It Take to Recover from Divorce?

The time it takes to recover from a divorce varies from person to person. For some, it could take a few months, while for others, it might take years. Studies suggest that it can take an average of 18 months to two years to fully recover from a divorce. The process is influenced by factors like the length of the marriage, the reasons for the divorce, and whether children are involved.

Parents are separating situations that add a layer of complexity. If children are in the mix, it’s essential to focus on co-parenting and maintaining their emotional stability. Divorce can be painful for kids, so putting their needs first, keeping communication open, and ensuring they feel loved and secure is crucial.

Steps to Rebuilding Your Life Post-Divorce

Give Yourself Time to HealTake the time to mourn the loss of your relationship. It’s important to acknowledge your emotions, whether it’s sadness, anger, or relief. Surround yourself with supportive friends and family who can help you through this period.

Focus on Self-CareThis is your time to rebuild yourself. Whether it’s exercising, picking up a new hobby, or rediscovering old interests, self-care will help you regain your confidence and self-worth.

Seek Professional HelpTherapy can be incredibly beneficial after a divorce. It gives you a space to process your feelings, learn from the experience, and prepare yourself for the next chapter in your life. There are many services available in the UK, such as Naked Divorce, which offers structured support for men going through separation and divorce.

Start FreshAfter the healing period, it’s time to start thinking about the future. Whether that means moving to a new place, exploring dating again, or focusing on your career, embrace the opportunity to start over. Starting over after divorce at 40 men may feel intimidating, but it can also be a chance for a new beginning.

Conclusion

Marriage is a partnership that requires constant effort, communication, and support. As a husband, focusing on nurturing the relationship through appreciation, conflict resolution, and keeping the romance alive can help maintain a strong bond. However, if your marriage does come to an end, remember that recovering from divorce is a process that takes time, but it’s also an opportunity to rebuild and rediscover yourself. Whether you’re navigating marriage or divorce, be kind to yourself and seek the support you need to thrive.

For more resources on healing after separation or starting over, visit Naked Divorce.

[atopcat]

Some people say they want Rhaena to take the place of Nettles

Because they've invented "girl dad" Daemon, convincing themselves that Team Black spent the last seven years playing happy families. We know Rhaenyra has a good relationship with her stepdaughters, but we know absolutley nothing about Daemon's relationships other than the fact that Jace doesn't like him and he wasn't bothered by Baela kissing boys.

So to continue their fanon!Daemon, they want it all to be a simple misunderstanding, where Daemon gets to have moments with his daughter similar to the ones Rhaenyra has with her sons.

Do people forget that Rhaena is his DAUGTHER?

Not going to lie when I first read the books I genuinely thought Nettles was Daemon's kid. Mainly because I preferred a story where the only black character reunites with her father and finds out she's a secret royal rather than a story about the only black character being a victim of grooming.

So this comes back to the insistence that Nettles is either Daemon's bio kid or he simply adopts her, but going back to my previous point: they'd rather it be Baela because that way Daemon can be shown to be good dad to his actual kids. It all comes back to their fanon ideal of Daemon where he's the HotD equivalent of Oberyn Martell.

He treated ALL his wives like shit and people in this fandom say they are a dream/power couple

Because they want Rhaenyra to be the exception.

Daemon didn't love Rhea and Laena was just to pass the time until Rhaenyra became available; he would never treat her the way he treated them.

They were never going to be a "dream power couple" because adult Rahenyra would never let Daemon control her, and that's what he wants in a wife. It's why he hated Rhea; she was his age and wholly independent from him, thus he couldn't control her the way he could an impressionable teenager.

Viserys knew full well if he let Daemon marry 14 year old Rhaenyra he would have manipulated her into making him King whilst she would be left as Queen Consort. Instead Daemon married Rhaenyra when she was 23, had heirs of her own, established her own political faction, and couldn't be as easily manipulated. 14 year old Rhaenyra would have made him King, 31 year old Rhaenyra made it clear he's Prince Consort and Harwin/Laenor's sons come before his.

The fact he continued his relationship with Myseria plus the 6 year age gap between Viserys and Visenya makes it clear (in the books at least) that he lost interest in Rhaenyra a long time ago. Nettles is just the icing on the cake.

Super worried about how they’re going to handle Nettles, my only hope is that the show makes parallels between how Daemon groomed teenage Rhaenyra to how he interacts with another teenage girl.

I want a scene where Rhaenyra realises the kind of monster Daemon has always been. This man would openly insult his “bronze bitch” older wife whilst fawning over his 14 year old niece. She’s the new Rhea Royce whilst Nettles is the new her, that realisation should hit like a ton of bricks.

Would honestly add so much more nuance to the story rather than it being Angry Wife vs. Teenage Mistress.

[dystopiandramaqueen]

What’s LDD? 👀

So this is … an interesting discussion.

I was asked - what’s the most unusual fantasy you’ve ever had.

LDD stands for “Loving Domestic Discipline.”

It’s a real life system of power in some Christian marriages where one partner is the “Head of Household” (HOH) and the other “Taken In Hand” (TIH) submits to their guidance in all things.

Blogs from this community contain the dynamics, scenarios, and level of impact play I’ve always fantasized about/ wanted. It’s like “having a reason” for it being a part of your relationship not just an occasional slap on the ass.

It’s like living a d/s (dominant / submissive) dynamic 24/7 in a long term monogamous loving relationship.

They hilight the fact that they don’t do it just for sexual pleasure. They do it for peace and spiritual harmony in their minds, marriage and home. (although it turns them the fuck on and most spankings end in sex.) these ppl fuck ALOT. They love each other. But it’s not a kink thing to them. OR SO THEY SAY 👀

And not stupid “ooh I’ve been naughty, spank me daddy” tropes.

Like- they set systems of accountability for goals and help each other enforce them. It’s kind of d/s relationship we’re dreaming of when we joke “I wish someone would lock me up in their basement so I could be their pet full time.”

Similar to CNC scenarios.

CNC stands for consensual non-consent

There’s a big difference between asking a safe gentle partner to “kidnap and use” you vs being kidnapped and used.

Full stop.

The idea of a thing can be hot. It’s ok to enjoy fantasy - and not want it in real life.

If you showed me the scenarios and told me men were doing that stuff to women for real I’d call it abuse and want it to stop. Not cool. Not into it.

If it was INVOLUNTARY for the victim.

The difference in bdsm is submission is voluntary. Control is surrendered freely.

Submissives ask their dominants to do things to them. For pleasure.

That’s why it’s tricky.

Submissives crave the safety to let go of control and be cared for - that regressed feeling of being safe and protected and important enough for someone to protect, discipline and nurture. It’s a heady drug to imagine having that feeling all the time. Having a partner say “yes, I will do all the leading and thinking, I got you, you’re my helper/assistant, we’re a team.”

It makes me sad when I think of the broken social systems that lead to these cravings.

The modern world is so fucked up. It’s why we’re anxious and exhausted. Humans are social creatures and the modern world fucking sucks.

I know for me- in my house- touch was forbidden especially between siblings- we never hugged- my first boyfriend laughed when I didn’t know what he meant by “cuddle.”

We were never hit or spanked- we were ignored and punished with shame and silence. I only got attention if I was disappointing someone. I could only please them by vanishing.

So the craving to be important enough for someone to notice you, help and guide you- even in the form of “punishment”- it’s fucking sad.

Blogs written by LDD wives- who claim to truly enjoy the lifestyle - overlap alot with bdsm mindsets. I suspect women who seek these pairings out are submissive masochists like me. They may truly benefit from it. Some DDLG (daddy dom / little girl) couples agree to play that dynamic continuously IRL. So it doesn't have to be in a marriage. Some ppl don't want the dynamic to be episodic. They want to stay submissive all the time.

There’s a thing called spanking therapy I recently learned about - some ppl just … benefit from consensual spanking. Even outside marriage, and outside BDSM. Spanking is a physical grounding exercise that leads to an emotional catharsis and re-set. The way some ppl use drugs or confession- the way you feel better after a nap or a good cry- there’s a deep human need to have an ending to guilt and shame. To “pay for” your sins and “be forgiven” after. It’s therapeutic. Some ppl set up spanking sessions like that w/ friends or internet strangers on a regular basis, outside the framework of marriage.

The LDD community debates a lot about two topics that fascinate and horrify me. Boot Camps and Maintenance Spanking. It’s the feeling of wanting to see the monster in a horror movie then wishing you hadn’t. (Discussion below)

Boot camp is you take a weekend and the woman walks around naked and does whatever he says. Like practicing submission. Kneel. Suck my dick. Bend over. Over my knee. etc.

Maintenance spanking is just that- you do it on a schedule not after infractions. Daily, weekly, monthly-

For the record, I think it’s important to say-

I’m adamantly opposed to spanking kids bc it’s NOT VOLUNTARY. The power and size differentials make it abuse. Period. Never ok.

And in real life? If a partner tried to impose LDD on me? I’d laugh in their face.

I’m too fiercely independent, I bend the knee for no one. I’ve been emotionally abused and it’s very triggering for me to feel powerless.

It’s just weird bc the IDEA turns me on for deeply fucked up psychological reasons and helps my trauma recovery.

At the end of the day I like the idea of it. I like playing it. And I simultaneously want to DM all LDD wives like “you ok boo boo?”

And maybe the fact that I can look at that darkness- powerlessness and authoritarianism in the home- and put it down after- is what’s therapeutic. Like walking out of a horror movie back into the sunlight.

So. To be clear. I do NOT like that there are men who want to beat their wives on the regular. (Unless she’s asking for it and it improves her mental health).

As someone who has a hurricane in my mind, and is deeply grounded, calmed and aroused by impact play, I admit reading LDD blogs turns me on.

And it is voluntary I guess, it is consensual… maybe it’s all semantics.

Idk. It’s a weird boundary. Hope that made sense.

In closing, I hope all women in these relationships LOVE it and are getting what they need. Whatever rationale and words they use- if they like it, I’m glad.

If they don’t may they murder the bastards in their sleep and come over to the bdsm community. We spank too, as much as you want and never more. So shall it be, Amen.

[alexandralyman]

project neverland

Inspired by Colin’s upcoming role on The Right Stuff, I wrote a little 1960s CS test pilot/early NASA AU one shot. I didn’t aim for historical accuracy with this one, it’s more about the feel of the era instead of a literal depiction of the Mercury 7 and their missions.

Summary: Test pilot Captain Killian Jones always liked to go too fast. When he gets asked to join the elite group Colonel David Nolan of NASA has formed to be the first men to fly into space it's all he ever wanted...until he meets his CO's daughter, the beautiful and headstrong Emma Nolan.

Read on ff.net here and on AO3 here

Killian Jones always liked to go too fast.

In fast cars.

In fast planes.

(with fast women)

The NASA shrinks said it was because he had to grow up too quickly, too young when his father finally took off for good and his absence sent Killian hurtling recklessly into adulthood too soon with only his older brother left to try to keep him tethered to Earth. They almost didn't clear him to join Project Neverland, the internal code name given to the mission when someone made a late night crack after one too many pots of coffee about throwing out all the charts and just taking the second star to the right to reach the moon, but he was a hell of a pilot and after rising star Captain Arthur Pendragon, given the call sign "King" because everyone expected him to lead the mission, literally crashed and burned out of training in the Excalibur prototype and actually broke the damn thing clear in half, Colonel David Nolan publicly decided to give Captain Killian "Hook" Jones a second chance to join the team and be the hero.

Alongside a more private warning for Killian to clean up his act if he really wanted to reach the stars.

Killian knew the man wasn't kidding, so he took it to heart and stopped drinking (hard liquor, at least), stopped sleeping around (he'd been given the call sign "Hook" for his ability to hook up with any woman he wanted, including a general's wife, the bold and brash Milah Gold), he cut his hair short and shaved twice a day to keep within NASA's strict grooming requirements for its elite group of test pilots, he wore a suit and tie and smiled politely for the photographers whenever he was told to, doing the whole dog and pony show for the press without a single word of complaint. He wanted to fly to the stars, wanted it more than anything, he wanted to go faster, higher, than any man had gone before and bring home honour and glory for the name Jones.

Dr. Hopper scribbled furiously in his little notebook during their mandatory sessions and went on and on about his clear "father issues" and his "tendency to overcompensate" while Killian tuned him out, thinking instead about the feel of the wind in his hair when he drove with the top down on his 'Vette, rock 'n' roll blaring on the radio and putting the pedal to the metal up and down the Florida coast, or the exhilaration of taking off in one of the sleek new jets, feeling the lift and drag of the wind under the wings as delicate and powerful as a lover's touch along his skin when he aimed straight for the clouds above and pierced the sky fast enough to break the sound barrier. He agreed with whatever the doc said every week just to get out his office, lighting up a cigarette as soon as the door closed and taking a deep inhale to deal with his nerves instead.

Killian was keeping to the straight and narrow as best he could, but he couldn't stop himself from driving way over the limit in the early morning when the roads around the base were clear and empty as far as the eye could see, or taking his boat out just before sunset after a long day of NASA eggheads telling him what he could and couldn't do and blowing off steam by opening up the throttle as far as it would go to ride the waves so fast that the hull barely touched the water. Giving up booze and unhappily married women were one thing, he'd already almost ruined his career more than once over both and he'd learned his lesson the hard way, but the bone-deep need within him to push just a little bit harder, go a little bit faster, always chasing something that lingered just beyond his reach, well, what NASA didn't know couldn't hurt them.

Captain Killian Jones did everything too fast, but when Miss Emma Nolan grabbed the collar of his leather aviator jacket and kissed the smirk right off his face he wanted nothing more than to take it slow for once, since the only thing more off-limits than a superior officer's wife was a superior officer's daughter and Colonel Nolan wasn't just Emma's father, he was Killian's CO, with the power to ground him for good if he knew that his princess had been sneaking out to meet Killian at the underground drag races and after-hours nightclubs in Cocoa Beach. She wore dangerously short miniskirts and pale, frosted lipstick, all the men assigned to Project Neverland were half in love with her and she was the cause of every grey hair on her mother's elegantly coiffed head. Colonel Nolan's illustrious career had taken the family all over, although not always together. Emma had been sent to live with relatives in Boston while her parents were overseas on a remote posting that didn't allow children, reuniting several years later and then taking assignments at several different bases across America until he was handpicked for the most coveted position of them all and the Nolans moved again to Florida.

Emma recited the long list of former addresses without looking at him, staring out at the horizon instead while she sat with her legs folded Indian-style on the beach blanket he kept in the trunk of his car.

"It must have been hard, moving around so much," he offered. Military life was tough on families and tougher on marriages, which was one of the reasons why it had been all too easy to fall into bed with Milah Gold, despite both the ring on her finger and her husband's rank and a bigger reason why he had never followed that track.

"Yeah," she agreed, letting the clean white sand run through her fingers. "If I wanted friends I had to make them quickly, and then as soon as you really got to know someone new orders would come in and either we'd be leaving in a week, or they were shipping out, and sometimes you didn't even get that much notice. Sometimes...sometimes someone you thought you were really close to would leave one night and just never come back."

She said in a way that Killian knew she was referring to someone in particular, someone who'd done just that, walked out of her life one night and broken her heart in the process. But before he could say anything she stood up and took off, sprinting away from the memory on those long legs that looked so fantastic in white go-go boots and that he privately thought would look even better wrapped around his hips instead. She headed straight for the ocean and came to a halt right at the water's edge, waves just licking her toes and lapping at her ankles before rolling back out into the sea. Her hesitance confused Killian at first, Emma was like him, always leaping before she looked, but then she peeled off her lime green two-piece and dropped both halves into the sand, plunging straight into the crashing surf as naked and carefree as any flower child.

Killian Jones was one of the seven best pilots in the entire country, his reflexes were literally off the charts...and yet it took him an embarrassingly long time to pick up his jaw from where it had dropped somewhere around his knees and reach for the knot in his own swim trunks. Turned out there was something that could get his heart beating faster than the sight of the sleek vessel he was slated to fly into space sitting in the hanger at Cape Canaveral, and for the first time in a long time, he didn't look up into the sky when the sun set and the stars appeared.

But a late night skinny dip at a secluded little cove aside, Killian did his damndest to be a gentleman to Emma Nolan, and it wasn't because it was rumoured that the sword her father had mounted to the wall in his office wasn't just ceremonial. It would be easy to fall into bed with Emma, easy for this thing between them to be nothing more than another meaningless fling, but maybe he had been listening more than he realized while Dr. Hopper droned on about how lost boys either grew up and became men, or just grew older and which did he want to be? So he checked his speed and drove much more carefully when she was in his car and didn't let his hands wander when they danced no matter how dark it was in the hole-in-the-wall bars far from the country clubs frequented by his fellow officers and their wives. He made sure to have her home at a reasonable hour afterwards, even though he had to park around the corner and she was going to climb the tree next to her bedroom window and sneak back in anyway.

They got caught one afternoon, not by Colonel Nolan (although there had been a couple of close calls in that regard) but by one of those Florida downpours that came without warning, a sudden and shocking deluge that plastered the clothes to their bodies and ruined Emma's bouffant in a heartbeat before Killian could get his jacket off to serve as a makeshift umbrella. She clung to him while he held it over their heads, cursing a blue streak that would make a sailor blush and her mother faint while he laughed and did his best to shield her with his body. Raindrops slid down her neck and lingered in the little dip of her collarbones when she tilted her head up to the sky, mapping a course on her skin that he longed to follow with his lips until he'd charted every square inch. For someone who was about to take off at speeds men could only dream of a few short years ago and touch the stars, everything he'd ever wanted and more, Killian wished for nothing more now than to make these quiet moments last, for the song to never end when they danced and for the rain to keep falling, to keep them grounded in the here and now.

"You're leaving soon," she said in barely more than a whisper, a statement instead of a question. Suddenly everything was moving too fast, the mission date was measured in days instead of years now and their time together was growing short. The rain stopped, the afternoon showers were heavy but they never lasted long and it ended as abruptly as if someone had turned off a spigot, leaving wet pavement steaming in the sun and nothing to hinder Emma's return to her own car, the cheerful little yellow thing her parents had bought her.

"Yes...but not a day will go by where I won't think of you."

Emma looked at him and he wondered if the dampness on her face was from the rain or from something else. Her lips quirked in a half-smile that made his chest ache.

"Good."

Killian watched while she walked away and got into her car, putting it in gear and driving off. Slowly, at first, until it started to pick up speed. He knew, intellectually, that it couldn't go nearly as fast as his own V8, but it didn't feel that way when she was driving away from him.

He stood completely still until she was gone.

...

The little beach house that he'd rented when he first arrived to join the program went unused, Killian had to cram in his flight hours to stay mission ready after falling behind thanks to a certain blonde distraction, and he was going out daily in the jet that had been nicknamed the Jolly Roger and staying on base at night with other members of the crew. It seemed that whatever he'd had with Emma was over completely, she used to come by on a regular basis to visit her father and once she'd left the colonel's office there were all sorts of storage closets and empty stairwells to hold a more clandestine meeting afterwards. They'd neck frantically against the wall until Killian had to tear himself away to return to the daily physicals and calisthenics and whatever else the brass had scheduled for him, with the waxy taste of Emma's lipstick lingering in his mouth for hours afterwards and his uniform rumpled. But now it was Mrs. Nolan who came to base instead, with her lacquered helmet of dark hair and impeccable manners she was the Jackie Kennedy of NASA, always with a smile and a gracious word for the men under her husband's command.

It would be much more colourful if she knew exactly what her free-spirited daughter had gotten up to with one of them, even though he hadn't crossed that line. They'd come close, too close, moving too fast, too soon, the way Killian did everything else in his life.

Perhaps breaking up before one of them inevitably got broken was for the best.

Life magazine devoted an entire issue to Project Neverland and the men carrying the hopes and dreams of the nation on their shoulders, with each member of the flight crew getting their own double page spread. Captain Graham "Huntsman" Humbert was unsmiling and stoic in his photograph, described as, "the serious, single-minded leader of the elite group and devoted husband to his wife Ruby, as stunning and statuesque as any high-fashion model" while Captain Will "Knave" Scarlet was, "the practical joker, unofficial jester and class clown and a newlywed to boot, to former school librarian Belle, as pretty as her name suggests."

Killian posed alone in his flight suit, with no sweet-faced wife in hat and gloves like the others to stand by his side he was, "the swinging bachelor with the rock 'n' roll attitude and the looks to match, with eyes even bluer than Paul Newman's fixed firmly on the prize."

They were all inundated with fan mail after that, everything from children's crayon masterpieces of themselves meeting little green aliens on the moon to letters from senior citizens who remembered Kitty Hawk and man's first flight, but Killian in particular received a lot of perfumed envelopes decorated with lipstick prints and marked SWAK. Infatuated schoolgirls wrote him mash notes that Scarlet stole and read aloud to the rest of the crew in a high-pitched squeal, suburban housewives offered home-cooked meals with themselves served for dessert, and a Playboy Playmate even sent a few photos too racy to publish with her phone number scrawled on the back.

"Have you rung up Miss November yet, Hook?" Scarlet asked with a wink and a nudge, his caterpillar eyebrows practically doing the Twist on his forehead at the prospect. "Maybe we should start calling you Hef instead."

"Knock it off, Knave," Killian replied around the cigarette in his mouth, trying to snatch the picture back. Scarlet was shorter than he was, but he kept dancing just out of his reach with that smug grin while he continued to make jokes about Killian trading his flight suit for a smoking jacket. Finally, Humbert intervened, smacking Scarlet in the back of the head with one hand and grabbing Miss November away from him with the other.

"Ow! Watch the goods, it's property of Uncle Sam now, you know."

Humbert rolled his eyes. "We all are, dummy, which is why Captain Jones here isn't going to risk catching the clap and getting grounded. Are you, Hook?"

Killian met his expectant look. "Sir, no sir," he said, giving a mock salute and taking the photo delicately between his fingers. He left them to their bickering and headed outside, where he lit another cigarette and then held Miss November over the little flame, bidding her a silent farewell as she turned to ash on the wind before sliding the Zippo back into his pocket. Maybe he would have given her a call, once upon a time, risked a venereal disease and a shot of penicillin in the ass just for the story alone. But Humbert was right, there was too much at stake now. They all had to stay squeaky clean, in more ways than one. He wasn't even supposed to smoke in public anymore, which was even more of a pain when he had to deal with the press. Thankfully access to the base was highly restricted, and the wide swath of tarmac was completely deserted save for him and the line of sleek jets parked in neat rows, under a clouded sky.

The clouds drifted and the moon appeared, just as she had to the ancient sailors who set off in search of riches across Homer's wine-dark sea of old. They'd plotted a course into the unknown with only the stars to guide them and he was about to do the same, on a ship of a different kind but a ship nonetheless, with titanium wings instead of canvas sails to carry them across an ink-black sky, navigate by the stars and then follow them back home.

It wasn't his empty cottage that Killian pictured when he thought of home now, closing his eyes and letting the cigarette burn out untouched, breathing in the clean night air instead and hearing the faint crash of the waves against the distant shore.

...

A decision was made to hold a party at the base a few days before they had to enter pre-mission quarantine, a full on soiree with politicians flown in from Washington to see for themselves where their constituents tax dollars had gone, four star generals, celebrities and the cream of Florida society, and as the guests of honour, the flight crew in full dress uniforms with their brand new commendations pinned over their hearts. Colonel Nolan would lead them in to the fanfare of a naval brass band, each man with his wife displayed proudly on his arm. As the only unmarried one, Killian would escort one of the single women who'd been invited so he wouldn't have to walk alone.

Emma Nolan.

She arrived with her parents, stepping out of the car in a red cocktail dress that matched her red lipstick and drew him straight to her like a beacon.

Ot a warning light.

Maybe it was both.

"Miss Nolan."

"Captain Jones."

He proffered his arm and she accepted, her gloved hand resting lightly on his sleeve. His eyesight was as keen as the rest of his senses and yet everyone else seemed to fade into nothing more than a blur in the background, as far removed as the Earth would be once they broke through the atmosphere and went where none had gone before. The only one he could see clearly as the flashbulbs popped and the band started to play was Emma.

They weren't seated together at the dinner, much to Killian's chagrin while he made polite small talk with the senator's wife on his left and tried not to let his gaze drift too much in her direction. When the floor was cleared for dancing he took a turn with Ruby and one with Belle (neatly evading the rather overzealous senator's wife, a tall redhead from Kansas) and even danced with Mrs. Nolan herself, feeling his back straighten even more under her scrutiny. Her husband might be the one wearing the silver stripes, but she had the bearing of a queen in her golden dress.

"You look lovely this evening, ma'am," Killian said, his posture still stiff and formal despite the modern bossa nova the band was currently playing.

"Thank you, Captain. At ease."

He did relax a fraction at that while her stern expression melted into a smile. Over her shoulder he caught a flash of red and saw that Emma was dancing with her father, on the next pass Mrs. Nolan saw them as well and her face softened even more.

"Part of me is glad he's not twenty years younger or he'd be the one leading this mission instead of overseeing it. As exciting as this all is, don't forget about those of us back down on the ground waiting for you to come back."

Humbert drifted by with Ruby, her arm wrapped tight around his neck and her cheek resting against his chest. The wedding ring on his hand shone under the lights, his fingers splayed across her slim back and looking like there was nowhere on Earth or beyond that he'd rather be.

"I'll bring them all back safe and sound, ma'am, I promise."

Mrs. Nolan's eyes were a lot like her daughter's, a deep gemstone green that reminded him of distant galaxies they'd only caught the faintest glimpse of from Earth. They fixed him in place for a long moment, making his step falter and lose the beat while everyone else continued to dance.

"Not just them, Killian. You come back safe and sound. That's an order."

She had no real authority over him, but as the song ended and she patted him affectionately on the cheek, Killian was tempted to salute her as neatly as he would a general. He settled for giving a respectful dip of his chin instead, wondering as she walked back to her family if maybe, perhaps, his relationship with Emma hadn't been nearly as secret as he thought it was.

"Yes ma'am," he whispered, even though she was too far away to hear.

A few (or several) champagne toasts later everyone was invited into the hanger to view the spacecraft itself up close. Killian hung back, he'd already seen it, after all, more times than he could count, and as tipsy politicians eagerly followed the NASA eggheads through the doors to gape and gawk at what had built in this little corner of the world for the glory of all mankind, he noticed a familiar woman in a red dress with a bottle of champagne dangling from her fingers, heading the other way.

He went after her instead.

"You know, if you mean to christen the vessel with that, love, it's actually that way."

"Hmm," Emma mused, her red lips pursing as she appeared to contemplate the thought. "It's for good luck, right?"

Killian took it from her and swigged right from the bottle, feeling the bubbles pop on his tongue. "For luck," he said, and he was lucky that it didn't break or tip over when he set it down, blindly thanks to the woman in his arms, her mouth hot under his and her fingers fumbling with the buttons on his jacket. She got it open just as he hefted her up in his arms, fingers splaying over his heart while her legs went around his waist and a shoe hit the floor with a thump. They were in a darkened conference room, the walls strewn with maps and schematics of the most modern undertaking ever dreamed while the most ancient and primal of needs clawed at his belly, and he carried her to the couch in the corner that had seen many a hastily-snatched catnap during the late nights of the Project, but never an assignation quite like this one. For all the optimism and hope that they all professed publicly, privately everyone knew that the mission was dangerous, and there was a more than infinitesimal chance that none of them would make it back. Humbert knew it, Scarlet, despite the juvenile sense of humour, knew it, Colonel Nolan knew it and Killian did as well. The fierce claim in Emma's kiss as he fumbled with his belt told him that she was more than aware of that grim possibility, the squeeze of her thighs around his hips was an anchor, one he would remember later once gravity faded and he was floating free. As dangerous as this was it was more than worth the risk, and when he crossed that final barrier it was like both braving the unknown and coming home in one fell swoop, his face pressed to her neck to muffle his groan and her nails digging into his shoulders. The little half-moons she left in his skin had faded by morning, when all of NASA was hung over except for Captain Killian Jones and Miss Emma Nolan had gone home with a pilfered bottle of champagne and without her girdle.

She still cut quite the figure in her dress, even if it was wrinkled just a tad.

They were each allowed to bring one small personal item with them on the mission, something Dr. Hopper had said was to remind them of whatever it was they held most dear. A photo of a loved one, perhaps, or a symbol of their faith, the choice was up to them. The shrink had nodded approvingly when Killian had shown him what he'd finally decided to bring in their last session, leaving his little notebook closed for once. It didn't weigh very much, it couldn't, since it cost a literal fortune for every pound of weight being sent into orbit, and tucked easily into the little zippered pocket on his flight suit set aside for the purpose.

It was therefore the most expensive engagement ring in all of history.

Maybe he was moving too fast, but when he caught sight of Emma on the other side of the glass, come with her mother and the wives to say their final goodbyes on the morning he was going to leave the Earth and take the second star to the right, he knew he'd finally found what he'd been chasing for so long.

[chickensarentcheap]

Best Part of Me -Chapter 90

Warnings: none 

Tagging @c-a-v-a-l-r-y​, @innerpaperexpertcloud​, @tragiclyhip​, @alievans007​

“I have a serious bone to pick with you,” Riley scolds, thousands of miles away in her dorm room at Colorado State. Clad in a black and green plaid hunting jacket that’s miles too big on her petite frame, vibrant red hair tucked up into a ‘trucker style’ ball cap. “Why did I have to find out about this from Douchey McDouche Face?”

Despite there being a near fourteen year age difference between them and no blood ties whatsoever, their relationship has always been strong; even with the familial drama and the miles that have continuously kept them separated. Esme can vividly remember meeting her for the first time; a then three year old gazing up at her -all of seventeen- with pure adoration and idolization. That cute little ginger with her massive green eyes and her already fiery personality; drawn to Esme and her then tomboyish style and her penchant -despite her own small stature- for full contact sports.  She can even recall how good it had felt; having someone that DID look at her that way.

For years she'd been practically invisible; the last child between her mother and father, treated as if there’d been simply no love left to bestow on her after piling it on five boys. Her father had been her only source of real affection; the only person who’d ever showed pride in her achievements and never dragged her down for her choices or belittled her passions and interests. When he died, everything went to shit. While her mother’s   toxicity increased and she kicked the emotional abuse up several notches, her brothers had all tried -in their obnoxious and overbearing ways- to step up and take their father’s place in her life. They’d all failed, causing her to become uncharacteristically sullen and withdrawn; prone to cutting when the depressions and feelings of inadequacy hit especially hard and her mother no longer hide her rapidly growing hatred for her only daughter. Life had been pretty dark; many moments where she thought the world would be a better place without her in it and she’d actually been in possession of handfuls of pills and had the desire -and the chance- to end the suffering.

Then ‘The Sarge’ had come along. Filling that fatherly role without expecting or demanding it; letting her call the shots and make the moves when it came to accepting him into her life. And he’d ‘shown up’ in ways her mother and brothers never bothered; quietly and lovingly, showing interest in her life and valuing her opinions and thoughts and getting involved in the things she enjoyed. She was no longer the only one on the wrestling squad or the lacrosse team or at swim meets without someone there to support her. Sarge would always be there; sitting in the front row, enthusiastically cheering her on and nudging other parents with his elbow while proudly declaring “that’s MY girl!”.

And just when she thought things couldn’t possibly get better, they did.  Sarge was granted full custody of his only child; her mother choosing her career over that adorable redhead. Despite their age difference, she and Riley had become inseparable. Happily and willingly taking the little girl to the movies or the mall; listening to preschool gossip while out for dinner at McDonalds, letting the little girl climb into bed with her during thunderstorms or after a bad dream. Over the years they’d both been branded as  the ‘black sheep’; ostracized  for their ‘lifestyle choices’ and how ‘wayward and lost’ they’d managed to become.

Nothing brings two people together like shared alienation and pure hatred and spite for their ‘enemies’.

“I didn’t want to bother you,” Esme attempts to reason, as she conducts the video chat in one of the ICU’s private family meeting rooms.  “I know finals are coming up. And you’ve been busy with placement. I didn’t want to add THIS to your plate.”

She’d left Tyler in extremely compassionate hands: a quiet and gentle Andy, who’d been standing over his sleeping friend and in the midst of a traditional Aboriginal blessing and prayer for healing.  She’d had to leave;  the purity and the beauty of both Andy’s heart and the moment too profound for her already fragile emotions to handle.  Instead she spends the time with both her sister and Addie; the infant cuddled close to her chest, a receiving blanket emblazoned with images of Baby Dumbo covering her as she nurses.  She had terribly missed even the simplicity and familiarity of such a common occurrence; the light weight of her daughter’s tiny body against hers, those tiny hands that gently  knead at her breast or grab at her necklace and reach for her hair.

“THIS is my brother in law,”  Riley says. “You know how much I love the guy. How much he’s the cat’s ass and I totally approve of how he treats you like a queen.”

“You’re one of the few people in my life who do. Love him.”

“Well NOT everyone can have exceptional taste.   They’re just bitter and jealous. You got out of that shit hole and away from their crap.   They’re all still stuck in and thriving on it; too chicken shit to ever think on their own, in fear of pissing off Mommy Dearest. Tyler’s the best thing that came along to that family in...well...forever.  They’re just pissed they can’t control him; that he gives zero fucks about any of them and doesn't shy away from letting them know.”

“Mommy Dearest still insists he’s the WORST thing to ever happen. That I’ve somehow been forced into this life and he’s somehow brainwashed me and has some strong and powerful hold over me that keeps me around.”

Riley gives a derisive snort.

“I mean even in her condition, she still managed to send me an email asking me when I was going to get my shit together and realize ‘that man’ is nothing but poison and bad news.  She didn’t even remember the twins’ birthdays or Millie’s. Or she did and just didn’t give a shit. She’s always treated those kids differently from the rest. All because she has this stupid, imaginary axe to grind against Tyler.”

“Fuck her,” Riley snarls. “You’re way too good for her. For that whole damn family. You always have been. And he is DEFINITELY way too good for them. Probably why none of your brothers like him; he makes them feel inferior and most definitely puts their masculinity into doubt. They’re probably pissed off their wives think of him when they’re flicking the bean.”

Esme frowns. “Riley!”

“Please tell me you’re still not bringing your bullshit; the whole insecurity crap. Who cares if other women lust after your husband? Or if they get themselves off thinking about him? Who is the one HE is getting off in person?  Who gets to have THAT going down on her whenever she damn well wants? Cut your shit; he only has eyes for you.”

“It’s not him I don’t trust.”

“He knows how to say no. I’m sure he has, many times.  No one else exists in his eyes. There’s not one woman in this world that would make that man unfaithful. So stop. Let other women...and probably more than a handful of men...fantasize about him. You get the real thing. I mean, he is so hot, he almost turned ME straight. Almost.”

Esme laughs at that.

“And that last picture you sent? The family one you guys did before Christmas? Whoa! Dude is looking thick and buff as fuck! What are you feeding him?”

“His favourite meal. Remember what he told you THAT was?”

“I sure as shit do! It’s the same as mine. Atta boy. The man from down under likes to spend a lot of time down under. That’s the spirit! And speaking of my favorite Aussie, what the fuck Tyler? What kind of god awful shitty mess did you get yourself caught up in?”

“Godawful shitty mess does not even begin to accurately describe what happened, believe me.”

“I called your place because I wanted to come down and visit for a couple of weeks next month. Finally see Australia! Bring the new girl for you all the meet. Cuddle my nieces and nephews and spoil the shit out of them with presents and candy.  And what do I find out? What does Fire Chief Dick for Brains tell me?”

“I’m sorry, Ry. I should have called you. I just didn’t want to burden you. I know you have a lot going on with school and placement and your social life and…”

“Fuck all of that. None of that matters. You’re my sister. That’s my brother in law. The father of my nieces and nephews. You’re my family.  All that matters to me is you guys.”

“Please don’t take it personally. It’s just a huge mess and my brain is not functioning at a hundred percent right now. All I’ve been concentrating on is him.  He’s my number one priority right now; helping him heal and getting him out of here and sent to a hospital back home. I didn’t purposefully leave you out.”

“Do you need me to come? Just say the word MeMe. I’ll get on the next flight.”

Esme smiles at the nickname; a little something a then four year old Riley had come up with because she couldn’t properly pronounce her new step sister’s name.  “I missed that,” she says. “Hearing you call me that.”

“You’ll always be MeMe to me. Do you need me there? Do you WANT me there? Because I will put everything aside and get to you. You know I will.”

“As much I’d love to see you and have you here, I don’t want you to do that. I want you to concentrate on school and your placement and your new love.  And Tyler would want all that, too. He would not expect you to drop everything for him. He’d give you shit for it, you know he would.”

“He is such a stubborn fuck, I swear. Love the guy, but he does my head in. And this isn’t about expecting it from me; it’s about me wanting to be there for you. I want to be there for you. Let me be there for you.”

“Ry, I love you and appreciate you so much. And I miss you. Terribly. But this isn’t the place for you. You need to stay where you are and concentrate on school and just get on with things.”

“How am I supposed to do that when Tyler is messed up like his? How am I supposed to concentrate on things when you’re going through this?”

“Because that’s what we BOTH want you to do. There is no reason for you to put your life on hold to come here. Everything is so up in the air right now.  There’s no timetable for his recovery; we have no idea how long it’s going to be until he can be sent home. And even then he’s going to be admitted to a hospital there.  It’ll be awhile until he’s home, home.”

“This is just such bullshit,” Riley sighs heavily. “I am so sorry. MeMe. That you’re going through this. I know how much you love him. I can’t even begin to imagine what it’s like; seeing him so torn up. It was bad, wasn’t it. What was done to him?”

“It was pretty damn bad.  He was in really rough shape when he was brought in.”

“How rough?”

“The roughest. Worse than seven years ago. Way worse. He told me that he didn’t want to die, but he was expecting it.”

“Jesus…” Riley breathes. “...for a guy like Tyler to come right out and admit that…”

“It was horrible; seeing him like that. I will never forget that as long as I live. I thought what I saw on the bridge...had to do on the bridge...was awful. But seeing him? After the surgeries and all the wounds so new and fresh?  I can’t even begin to describe it. How it made me feel.”

“I am so sorry,  I am so goddamn sorry.”

“I mean, that’s the love of my life. The father of my kids. The strongest person I’ve ever known. And to see him like that…like this…”  she takes a deep, shaky breath and releases it slowly.  “...it hurts. So much. That’s my whole heart, Riley. HE’S my whole heart.”

“I’m going to come there. To Dhaka. I don’t want you going through this alone. I don’t…”

“I’m fine,” Esme assures her. “I really am. I’m not alone either; a lot of friends are here to help out and watch over me. And now I’ve got this little muffin…” she lifts the edge of the blanket and glances down at Addie; those huge brown eyes staring up at her, then crinkling when the infant smiles.   “...it’s better now that she’s here. Or at least that one of them is here.”

“Do you want me to go to Australia? I can stay at your place, help with the kids. As much as I hate Fire Chief Dick for Brains, I’ll put up with him. Just for you.”

“The kids are fine, I promise. I just miss them. A lot. Once he’s transferred home, it’ll be a whole new ballgame.”

“Any remote idea on what that’s going to be?”

“Two weeks. Three at the most.”

“Shit…”  Riley shakes her head. “...oh Tyler, what the hell bruh…”

“It could have been worse. It could have been a lot worse. There could have been five kids with no daddy.”

“I don’t even want to think about that. How is he now? How is he doing?”

“He’s being weaned off of sedation. He has wakeful moments; periods where he’s pretty lucid.  His memory is shit; he asks the same questions at least six times an hour. That’s just the meds though. They said once the sedation is totally out of him, his brain will go back to normal.”

“Whatever normal is for Tyler,” Riley chides.  

“He’s able to stay up for quite a while. He can carry on a conversation, but he gets confused really easily. And then he gets frustrated and embarrassed and he starts shutting down.  And his emotions are all over the place; joking and somewhat happy one minute,  a weepy mess the next.”

“How’s the PTSD been?”

“Now that he’s more coherent? It’s been a mess. When he wakes up he’s very disoriented and if he’s alone or there’s people in the room he doesn’t know…”

“Freaks out?”

“He loses it. His fight or flight kicks in. And you know Tyler…”

“Always picks fight.”

Esme nods.  “And he doesn’t know what he’s doing or saying when he’s like that and he’s freaking out because he thinks I’m dead and no one can convince him otherwise. A PSW came in; while I was out. Woke him. To wash his hair and trim his beard.”

“Oh no…”

“He fucking lost it, Ry.  Which I knew would happen and is why I told them NOT to send someone in.  He just went off. It took four people to hold him down, and that was AFTER they gave him sedation. You would have thought nothing was wrong with him; that’s how hard he fought.  This is a man who can’t even walk right now. And he still scared the shit out of the PSW. Threatened to break his neck with his bare hands and told him how he’s done it before. Many times. Then told him he’d rip his head off and shove it up his ass.”

“So what’s the difference in him after all this? That sounds like Tyler on a good day.”

Esme can’t help but laugh.  “I think he made the PSW piss his pants.”

“Serves him right if he can’t follow instructions. Is it in his chart? That no one is supposed to come in?”

Esme nods.

“Well fuck him then.  Read the patient’s chart. It’s not that hard. Is it wrong that I’d give my right arm to see him rip someone’s head off and shove it up their ass? I bet he could do it too. I bet he’s done shit that defies logic.”

“Well he did once kill two people with a garden rake.”

“How fitting. A Rake, using a rake.  Perfection.  What’s his injuries like? Kyle says they’re pretty gnarly.”

“Why do you sound so pleased at the thought?”

“I’m in nursing school. This shit excites me. I can’t help it.”

“Gunshot wound to the back, lots of stitches, a torn MCL and ACL, open fracture of the right femur…”

“Do you have pictures of it?”

“Of what?”

“His femur.”

“Hell no, I don’t. Why would I want pictures of that?”

“Because that would be fucking amazing to see. Was it a true open fracture? Bone protruding and everything?”

“I guess. His friend said the bone was showing.”

“That is wild. I would have loved pictures; before AND after.”

Esme grimaces. “You’re disturbed.”

“Did they give him an ilizarov?”

“They said it would be on for a least three months. He is NOT happy.”

“Can you take pictures of that? And the gunshot wound?”

“Riley…”

“For scientific reasons, I swear. I just want to see them. I could even show my one prof and Tyler could be a case study.”

“I’d rather my husband NOT be one, thank you. He’s not your show and tell project.”

“Just go and take a couple pictures. Please? Pretty please? With  whipped cream and sprinkles and a cherry on top?”

“He’s sleeping. I am not going in there and waking him up because you're a freak.”

“Best time to do it; when he’s sleeping.”

“I would never do that to him. There’s this thing called consent. I don’t know if you’ve ever heard of it…”

“When he wakes up, ask him if you can take pictures. If you tell them they’re for Red, he’ll be good with it. I know he will. He loves me.”

“He does, actually.”

“I can’t wait to see you guys. I’ll come down; once he’s in a hospital there. Sound good?”

“Sounds good.”

“I talked to Mildred by the way…”

“I don’t know how many times I have to tell you, Millie is NOT short for Mildred.”

“Actually, it is.”

“Her name is not Mildred, though.”

“She LOVES when I call her that. Loves it.  Anyway, how grown up is she sounding all of a sudden? It’s like she’s six going on sixteen! What is up with that kid?”

“She’s her father. What more do I have to say?”

“She even sounds like him! The way she says certain words and little sayings she has. I couldn’t believe it; it was like talking to a mini, girl version of him.  Freaky!  She’s pretty pissed, huh? At you?”

Esme sighs. “Unfortunately.”

“I told her to smarten up. That she’s got a great mom and she needs to appreciate it AND you. I told her to get her shit together and respect you. That if her dad finds out what she’s up to, it won’t be pretty. I said that he’ll stick up for her mom no matter WHO is disrespecting her. I think that scared her.”

“There’s nothing she hates more than the thought of her daddy being mad at her. That’s her WORST fear, I swear.”

“Well she needs to cut the attitude. I don’t tolerate that shit. I don’t think I’m the favorite Aunt anymore, by the way.”

“You’re her only Aunt.”

“I guess I’m excommunicated then.  And speaking of being an aunt, let me see my little poop face.”

Esme removes the blanket covering Addie, then holds her onto the arms and places her in line with the camera.

“Oh my God…” Riley gives an excited squeal.  “...look at Auntie Ry Ry’s little poop face! You’re getting so big!”

“You’re kidding, right?” Esme laughs. “She just got into the newborn clothes. She’ll be four months.”

“She’s still grown a lot since the last time I saw her. Look at you, Addie! Look how beautiful you are. Look at how much you look like your mommy! You’re the lucky one, huh? Getting your momma’s looks? She’s smiling, MeMe. That smile is everything! She has Tyler’s smile.”

“It’s the one thing they all inherited. And she also got his appetite. I really need to get back to feeding her and I know it’s not the most pleasant thing to see while trying to have a conversation.”

“I don’t know, MeMe. I’ve had to look at worse things. You’ve got really nice boobs, actually. Tell him I said he’s lucky.”

“You’re too much. But I miss you. I can’t wait to see you.”

“As soon as you guys get home, I’ll be on my way,” Riley promises. “And if you need anything, and I mean anything, you call me. Right away, hear me?”

“Loud and clear.”

“Chin up, okay? He’s got this. He’s a tough shit. He’ll be alright.”

“I know he will,” Esme says confidently, then blows her step sister a kiss in farewell before killing the video feed.

****

She pokes her head into the room when she returns, smiling when she finds him awake and sitting up in bed; the angle of the mattress slowly increasing with each hour, giving his back used to being in different positions and not allowing the muscles to settle and stiffen.

“Hey,” she greets. “You’re awake.”

“I am.”

“What are you doing?”

“I’m texting you. Just taking me forever; hands won’t stop shaking.”

“I’m here, you might as well just tell me what you want to say.”

“I’m gonna send it anyway…” a grin tugs at the corners of his mouth. “...I’m almost done. Be patient.”

“That’s more your thing; being patient.”

“You’ve been plenty patient the last couple of days. There...all done...sent.”

Her phone vibrates within the pocket of her hoodie, and she pulls it out to check the message; smiling at the simple -yet honest and heartfelt- words. “You’re cute,” she gushes. “I’m going to send you one back.”     She steps out into the hall; composing her own text. Just a short and sweet: I love you too.   Accompanied by a selfie of her puckering her lips for a kiss. “Well…” she pokes her head back into the room.  “...did you get it?”

“Yep.”  A broad smile spreads across his face. “Want me to send something back? A dick pic?”

“Not when there’s a tube in it, I don’t. I do have a separate file for them though; where I put all the dick pics you send me when you’re away from home.”

“You’re dirty.”

“You’re the one who sends them! Where’s Andy?”

“He went downstairs to get something to eat. I told him I’d be fine by myself.”

“Pretty awesome, huh? That he can all this way to see you?”

“Yeah, it is.  He’s a good guy; I’m glad I sucked it up and talked to him that day at the school. Why are you poking your head in like that? Why don’t you just come in?”

“I have a surprise for you.”

“Are you naked?”

“You wish.”

“Is it a blowjob?”

Esme frowns. “What is wrong with you?”

“A lot. I probably couldn’t get it up anyway. Not with a tube sticking out of it and all the meds I’m on. What’s the surprise? Want me to close my eyes? Will it make it better?”

“This is going to be an awesome surprise no matter what. But go ahead.”

“You ARE naked, aren’t you. Baby, as much I appreciate your willingness and your effort to make me feel better at all costs, that part of me is not gonna work right now.”

“I am definitely NOT naked. It’s going to be a while before you get to see me with no clothes on. You are nowhere close to being ready for that.”

“You’re underestimating me.”

“That’s one thing I never do, trust me. You want the surprise or not? I promise you, this is an amazing one.”

“Even better than when the kids make me breakfast in bed and cupcakes for my birthday?”

“Even better,” she says, and then waits for him to close his eyes; carrying Addie into the room. “Don’t open them until I tell you to.  I brought you a little visitor.”

“One of those hospital therapy dogs? Like a corgi or some shit?”

“Way better and way cuter.”

“I don’t know, wife. Those are pretty damn cute.”

“Trust me, this is much better and will cheer you up a hundred times more than any dog ever could.”  She stands on the right side of the bed; easier to transfer Addie onto his good arm.  And she removes the receiving blanket draped over her daughter as she leans over the railing; a smile already curving the baby’s lips and her tiny hands reaching for her father.  “No sudden movements, alright? You don’t want to accidentally hurt the surprise. Open your eyes.”

He does as he’s told. A brief moment of confusion etched on his face as he looks down at the baby in his wife’s arms, then up at her. “Are you serious?”

“Andy brought her.  She’s been missing you just as much as you’ve been missing her. Look at her; she’s already smiling at you. She’s so happy to see you. There’s no one she loves the way she loves her daddy.  Wait until you see her little outfit.”

“I thought she wasn’t coming until tomorrow. That Ovi was bringing her.”  His eyes narrow. “How long was I asleep??”

“There was a change of plans; a little something Andy and Ovi came up with together. Here…”  she gently lays Addie along his left forearm; settling the baby’s head in the crook of his elbow. “...look at her little shirt? Isn’t it perfect? Daddy’s little peanut. Andy made it for her.”

“It is perfect. SHE’S perfect.”

“Look at her looking at you...look at that smile..all she sees is her daddy. Not what happened to him. Feels good, right? To have her here? To have her in your arms like this?”

“Yeah…” emotion chokes at him, and he leans down to press a kiss to Addie’s forehead, lightly chuckling when those tiny hands grab at his hair and his nose. “...feels amazing, actually.”

Esme leans into him, draping an arm across his shoulders. “I’m pretty sure she feels the same way. She definitely missed you.”

“I missed her,” he says, and kisses the tip of Addie’s nose. “Daddy missed you so much, baby girl. So much.”   The tears come now; a mixture of relief and happiness combined with the anger and frustration at being laid up and unable to perform even the simplest tasks for himself.

“Hey…” Esme places a kiss to his temple and rubs and squeezes his shoulder. “...it’s okay.  All uphill from here, remember? You’re doing amazing; don’t doubt that. Please don’t doubt that.”

“I didn’t think I’d get this chance again; to see her, hold her. I was pretty damn sure I wouldn’t.”

“Well you’re a tough cookie, Tyler Rake. If there’s anyone on this earth that can survive THAT and do this well, it’s you. I know how much you love proving people wrong. And you’re doing that. I also know how much you want to get out of Dhaka. I know that’s your main driving force for trying as hard as you are.”

“I just want to go home.  Even if it is to a hospital there. I just want to be home.”

“Soon,” she promises. “And if you keep doing as well as you are, it will be even sooner than any of us thought. I don’t want you to hurt yourself though, okay? I know sometimes you try to do to much, too soon. And I don’t want you doing that. I don’t want you busting your ass to the point it sets you back.  I know you don’t want that either.”

“I just want to feel my legs. It’s driving me crazy that I can’t. It freaks me out. I wake up and I forget it’s only temporary and I fucking lose it. You know that’s one of the worst things possible in my eyes; not being able to do things, not being able to have the life I had.”

“There’s no reason to worry about that. In a couple days, you’ll get the feeling back. This too shall pass.  It won’t be a while until you’re back to being the old you, but you WILL get there. I promise.  And you can’t tell me this won’t help. Having Addie here. That it won’t lift your spirits a bit.”

“She already has. She’s lifted them a lot, actually. I didn’t think I’d ever get to do this again. See you, see her.”

“Well, you DID get to do it. We’re here. We’re BOTH here.”  She moves her hand to the nape of his neck, massaging gently.  “Are you okay with her? She seems pretty happy where she is; I don’t think she’s going to want you to put her down anytime soon.”

“I’m good.  I’m not giving her up.  They’d have to pry her out of my cold, dead hands. She’s getting bigger, huh?”

“I thought the same thing when I first saw her. Feels like we’ve been away from her for a lot longer than we have. She’s still super tiny though.”

“She is. Just a wee little thing. Like her momma,” he presses another kiss to Addie’s brow. “Beautiful like your momma too.”

“In case you haven’t noticed by now, daddy is extremely  biased when it comes to mommy,” Esme addresses the infant.  “He always has been.”

“It’s not being biased when it’s the truth. It still feels weird; how light she is. Even Tanner with all his issues was never this small. She’s definitely all you. Now I’ll have two people small enough to pick up and put in my pocket.”

She combs her fingers through his hair and pecks his cheek. “You sure have your cute moments.”

“You seem to bring that side of me out.”

“Well it’s a very nice side.  But I like all your sides, so…”

Smiling, he tips his head up towards her, and she leans down and places a soft, lingering kiss on his lips.

“I know you didn’t agree with it,” she says, when he turns his attention back to Addie. “Her coming here.”

She notices the wince that briefly takes hold of his face; the simple action of using his right hand to tug the baby’s socks back up causing pain in the injured shoulder.

“I was just worried. About her being here if things went to shit again. I know we think they’re all gone; Asif’s people.  But I didn’t want to take that chance. Especially with her.”

“There hasn’t been any movement. Not even a whisper of trouble.  And you know Anil; he’s got all kinds of ears to the ground. I think it’s really over this time. I think we’re finally going to be able to put this place behind us. It’s time; to leave Dhaka behind.”

“I definitely don’t plan on coming back for a visit, that’s for sure. So if you have Dhaka on that ‘places like you’d like to vacation’ list, you can go ahead and erase it right now.”

“I have had enough of Dhaka to last me a lifetime, believe me. You know, you have this real habit of choosing extremely dramatic and painful ways to get out of taking me anywhere.”

Tyler grins. “Neither of the times I bailed on you were intentional, I swear.”

“I think we should stop planning ahead when it comes to going away. It’s like we jinx it somehow; talking about it too soon.  How about next time, we just decide on the spur of the moment to go somewhere? That way we shock the universe with our spontaneity and it doesn’t have time to recover until we’re BACK from our trip.”

“Sounds good to me. And we’re going to need one; a trip. When all this is over. I know it’s going to be a while, but we are definitely going to need a vacation.”

“Well tell your pocketbook to expect Bora Bora or The Maldives. I’m getting my suite on the water.”

“I will get you whatever you want, baby. Whatever your little heart desires.  You just tell me what it is and I’ll do it. I’ll get it for you.”

“You healthy and back on your feet.  That’s all I want.”

“I’m working on it.”

“I know you are,” she kisses his temple. “And you’re doing amazing. I’m so proud of you, Tyler. So fucking proud of you.”

“You’re going to make me cry. Again.”

“I can’t help that you’re so beautiful when you cry. And it would be happy tears, right?”

“Very happy tears.” He lays his palm on Addie’s stomach, all of her fingers wrapping around one of his. “She’s tiny, but she’s strong. Has a hell of a grip.”

“She’s like her daddy. Tough as nails.”

“I don’t know,” he smiles up at her. “I think her momma has me beat in the toughness department.”

“I think…” she places a kiss to his brow, then the bridge of his nose. “...you totally underestimate yourself. He does, doesn’t he, Addie? Underestimate himself. Tell daddy he’s tough as hell and the strongest, bravest person you know. Tell him how the sun shines out of his ass and he poops glitter and pisses rainbows. That’s how you look at him, might as well tell him too. Because his ego isn’t quite big enough, yet.”

He smirks. “My ego took a hell of a beating.”

“Well tell your ego to shut the fuck up,” she affectionately tousles his hair. “There was nothing you could have done, Tyler. You didn’t know this going to happen; that things were going to go this bad. There was nothing to suggest that he who shall not be mentioned was capable of something like that.”

“We both knew he was sketchy as fuck.”

“Being sketchy and being psychotic are two totally different things. You did everything right; you got Neysa and Aarev out, you went back to get him out.  There’s no way you could have known what he was going to do.”

“Should have listened to Koen and left his ass there.”

“Koen said that?”

He nods.

“You remember that? Him saying that?”

“I can remember things that happened BEFORE it all went down.  Things that I said, that other people said. I can remember getting Neysa and Aarev out and going back in to get N...him.  But after that, it’s pretty muddled.”

“But you do remember things?”

“I THINK  I’m remembering them. I THINK  it’s things that happened. I’m not sure though; if they’re real or my brain is just making shit up. I DO remember...vividly...him shooting me in the back. Everything else? I don’t know what’s real and what I’m imagining. And honestly, babe? I don’t think I want to remember.”

“But you might. And that could get pretty scary for you; things coming back to you.”

“I know.”

“Once we’re home, we’ll get you some help okay? Some therapy. For the mental stuff.”

“Alright.”

“I know you hate that side; seeing therapists and talking to strangers and having to take meds. But you know what I hate? Seeing your brain torturing you like it does. I hate that you have to go to war every damn day with your own mind. I just want you to be okay.  You know that, right?”

“I do know that. I’ve never doubted that. Not once in the last seven years.”

“Even the toughest need help, sometimes. And I’ll get you that help. I promise. I’ve got you. Always.  You’re my ride or die, remember?”

“Yeah…” he chuckles. “...you’re mine too.”

“You’re going to be okay,” she assures him. “Inside AND out. You’re already on your way.  And I’m not going anywhere. I'll be here, right beside you, every step of the way.”

“What about after? When I AM better? You still going to stick around? The whole pain meds thing?”

“We talked about that. You know where I stand; about you needing to deal with that. That’s a deal breaker, Tyler. Because I can’t live like that. And I won’t let our kids live like that either. I love you. More than you could possibly ever comprehend. But that? I can’t do THAT.”

“I’ll do whatever I have to. I don’t want to lose you. Or my kids. Whatever I need to do...whatever YOU need me to do...I’ll do it. No hesitations. Whatever it is.”

“We’ll cross that bridge when we come to it, okay? Let’s concentrate on what we’re going through right now. One thing at a time.  I don’t want you to worry about anything else, alright?”

He nods. “I love you. I always have. I always will.”

“I love you,” she says, and leans down to press a kiss to his lips.   “We’re going to get through this. Our track record for getting through tough shit is at one hundred percent.  I want to keep it that way.”

“Yeah…” he closes his eyes as she rests her forehead against his. “...so do I.”

[artsninspo]

NerdBae - Part III

Tre smiles seeing all the girls in his home in the living room like it’s a beauty parlour. He’d missed it more than anything. There was a time when they were all they had in the world. His dad hadn’t been in his life much. His mom had struggled. He’d tried to help out when he could. Then Gina and Elle had become friends and she spent so many days at their house. Then Nina his mom and Jo, Elles mom got close. They were their own little village, thick as thieves.

“I have a surprise for you ladies” he charms getting a loving look from his mother.

“I hope mine is the nicest big brother” Gina chimes and Tre hands each of them a letter addressed to them. They all open them in silence and Elles eyes are the first to his in shock before the screaming starts from Gina.

“Baby, I cant take this” his mother says with a trembling hand and a lightening heart beat.

“Yes mom you can” he reasons.

“Tre, you might need this” Jo adds.

“I don’t and there’s not a single lie there on that paper” he explains causing the mothers to blink in disbelief.

“Thank you” Gina squeals squeezing him tight.

“You’re welcome” he kisses his sisters cheek happy to see her happy.

“A hundred grand a year after taxes for being family, shit Tre!” Gina smiles jumping for joy.

“Just accept it, you’ve worked hard enough momma and momma Joe. I’m in a position to help now - let me.” Tre explains too good to be true.

“What about when you want to start your own family, you’re going to need” the selfless women continue.

“Mom, haven’t I always been dependable? Trust me when I say this is safe, it’s fully legal, it’s not even fully what you deserve but I won’t accept any of you not accepting it” Tre puts his foot down. Elle sits in utter shock still unable to move.

“Baby” his mother says and the water works start from both of them - years worth of weights off of their shoulders. He tries staying strong as they hug him but the tears fall. They didn’t have to do anything anymore, except for live their life and answer his phone calls to make 100k after taxes each year.  Everyone’s dream job and a long time coming for the mothers that did everything to be there for heir kids. They’d become best friends through their daughters and had been the only people to make him feel like he was good enough.

The hysteria dies and Jo looks at Elle holding the letter with shock still in her eyes - the only person who hadn’t shed a tear.

“Tre” she sighs having read the letter through. There were other perks, other ridiculously thoughtful perks.

“If I start crying, it’ll be very ugly” she swallows feeling overwhelmed and emotional but the tears roll in like a storm as she walks into his arms genuinely appreciative. She’d always been a sweetheart. She wanted nothing more than to unburden her mother and herself and Tre just swoops in with pure intentions to save the day. It turns into a group hug and seeing them happy makes him feel like he’s won the Nobel piece prize.

————

Jo had always been an early riser, she never had a son but she loved Tre like he was her own. He was shy and introverted but he loved talking the load off. They bonded over making breakfast.

“Morning Angel” she smiles and he gives her a coffee starting on his morning smoothie before smelling one of her world famous omelette.

“Morning Ma, you don’t have to” he smiles.

“You’re still my angel and I’m here - so I might as well” she justifies handing him the plate. There’s nothing for him to do but smile accept the dish. “You got Ellie to show emotion, she’s been pretty distant and bogged up lately” Jo comments.

“You know she loves you”

“I was too hard on her” Jo reasons.

“She’s strong, she can take care of herself, she’s doing well” Tre reasons hoping to ease Jo’s worry. The kids never told their mothers their dilemmas or pains. They’d always been their emotional support team.

“She loved that boy a lot, I just can’t imagine him not breaking her heart. I know he did and none of us got to be there for her through it” Jo shrugs feeling guilty. “I wish she liked good men, kind men, men like you Tre” Jo says scrambling the eggs and starting on French toast making the six burner stove her bitch.

“She’s here with us again, as far as I can tell she’s good, all we have to do is love her. She loves us.” Tre says sitting to eat.

“And we love you kiddo” Jo smiles. “Need me to iron your shirt and tie for the party tonight?”

“Ma I’m good” Tre kisses her cheek.

———

It took the village, the mothers had got Elle into her gown, perfected her elegant hairstyle and Gina and Elle co created her make up look. It felt like too much when she looked in the mirror seeing nothing less than the glamour of a sixties starlet.

“Don’t let any of those sleazy bozos touch my best friend, disrespect by best friend or make her have to put the pause on pretty to defend you okay” Gina instructs Tre running the lint roller down his suit one last time.

“No ones doing anything to Elle” he tells Gina wearing a serious expression and making his sister smirk.

“Make it count Tre, who knows what could happen? Besides I’m sure if your first crush is beloved by your family, cleans up nice and takes care of you; that adds brownie points” Gina says casually getting a grimace. Elle wasn’t Tre’s first crush. He loved her growing up and thought she was sweet.

“We both know my first crush-‘

“Sometimes you’re very stupid” Gina huffs adjusting his tie clip. “Go on you’re going to be late.

Elle smiles looking Tre over as he gets into the car taking them to the event. “You look spiffy” she compliments as he looks her over.

“You look perfect” he compliments honestly.

“Thanks, don’t make my head bigger” Elle laughs

Casual conversation sustains the car ride there before they walk out hand in hand to the busy event hall. People were everywhere coupled with suggestively dressed servers and the whole nine yards. What overwhelmed Elle even more was how much everyone seemed to like and respect Tre. Husbands and their wives wore genuine smiles inviting them to dinner telling stories that absolutely sounded like him. How he’d swooped in and saved them stress, time and money by helping them solve a problem. Elle watched as he worked the floor expertly, she saw the longing looks from other women and watched people throw themselves in-front of him to make their elevator pitches.

“Who’s this beauty” a man says coming up casually.

“Don’t even look at her like that Rob, this is Elle” Tre mutters making the mans eyes widen.

“You didn’t say she was a smokestack” Rob says candidly making Elle smile as Tre pulls out her seat to begin the dinner and innovation ceremony.

“Elle this is rob my best friend, Rob this is Elle”

“Pleasure” Rob smiles looking her over with unspoken words in his eyes, before looking up at his friend.

The night goes extremely well even when they come across the three guys from the mall. Their company is powerful but they’re the minority in terms of people who are assholes to Tre. He helps Elle into the limo only to be socked in his shoulder the moment he’s buckled in.

“Ouch, Elle what was that for?” He holds the assaulted region, concern in his eyes.

“For playing me like a fool Tre” Elle smiles annoyed and amused. “You didn’t need me there everyone loves you there. You let me believe they were jealous bullies when they’re jealous cause your the man to be” Elle huffs shaking her head pleasantly surprised.

“So you hit me?” Tre asks.

“Yes!” Elle chuckles folding her arms still a little shocked. “Honestly can’t take you and all your surprises” she admits making him smile. He takes her chin like he had time and time again all night placing a respectful kiss on her cheek. He pulls back to look at her and it feels like theres a force keeping them together before they both smile at the same time embracing each other.

“I’m sorry for keeping things from you, I just wanted to make the most of the situation”

“You’re forgiven but I’m done giving you all the compliments and all that because I see you know you’re that guy - still you allow everyone to act like you’re timid. Especially Gina” Elle reasons making Tre laugh.

“I get insecure like everyone else Ellie and I don’t do anything for Gina that I don’t want to do, or anyone else for that matter. I don’t like conflict and nothing makes me happier than seeing you all happy.” He admits honestly .

Tre was genuinely taken a back by Elles decorum. She looked like a million bucks and definitely belonged in another age with her glamorous charm that almost felt old Hollywood with her full figure and million dollar smile. He’d never seen her be so soft.  It wasn’t that she was hard but there was never an instance where she wasn’t a strong and assertive woman that stood her ground and now she was the complete opposite silencing all his critics and competitors with her charm. He’d been told several time by elder veterans in the field to lock her down with a ring in only an hour at the party.

“Thank you for coming and making me look good”

“No problem sweetie” Elle teases making him smile before tickling him playfully.

“Behave” he laughs finally able to restrain her gently.

“Okay” she concedes.

“We haven’t really talked about how you been, you and your mom have been a little awkward” Tre reasons.

“You mean about Cam and I ending? That was a year ago now”

“No one knows what happened”

“Gina does”

“Yeah but you have blood pacts” he exaggerates.

“We’re having a good night Cameron is the last person I want to talk about. Its humiliating” Elle admits.

“You should know you don’t have to hide anything from me” he says and Elle sighs pulling away from him.

“I thought Cam and I were good, he had this new concept a love storyboard in eleven pieces. It came with an accompanying poetry book with a painting on one page and its poem beside it. He was sleeping with his child’s mother still, and it was all about her and I was just there to get his career off the ground and his artistic muse but not his inspiration.” Elle sighs shaking her head. “I embarrassed myself with a ver bad reaction and spent the night in jail. He didn’t press charges and I’ve moved on” Elle shrugs.

“Cant imagine a man sleeping around on you?” Tre says. “I’m sorry that happened”

“Could’ve been worse Tre. Had I have been really in love with him - who knows what would’ve happened. He wrote a letter after he realized I wouldn’t talk to him. He said he did it to provoke me and because I wasn’t doing what a woman should in a relationship” Elle smiles.

Tre swallows in shock, it’s not what he expected. Not at all. He’d met Cameron and didn’t like him but he didn’t think he’d be stupid ugh to mistreat a women like Elle.

“I’m sorry he hurt you” he says making Elle smile.

“He wasn’t enough of a man for you anyways. You deserve much better” Tre affirms making Elle smile. “You should go for guys like me, until you’re ready for that stay single. You’ve been through enough - these muscles might come with higher testosterone would you want me getting my ass kicked for defending you?” He asks making her laugh.

“Even if a lion hasn’t killed in the wild before, it’s still a lion with all its programming. There’s a reason you weren’t getting beat up and you’re good at football - that’s why people don’t play with you” Elle explains honestly leaning back on his shoulder.

“Forget the five star restaurant let’s go home, get moms and Gina and lets go bowling like one times. As a family” Elle suggests.

“Nah, you’re still my girlfriend for the next few hours” Tre says chuckling a little. “Besides you gotta talk to your momma when you get back so you need the liquid courage.”

A/N: Hows NerdBae doing? Are we impressed? Are we surprised? And it seems like everyone is rooting for them, do we think he’s gonna get the girl?

_________

@bugngiz @lifelover4u @l-auteuse  @notsomellowmushroom @princessasaani @heavensangelxo @bakarilennox  

@tastingmellow @chaneajoyyy @thehomierobbstark @jad3djay @thickemadame @doublesidedscoobysnacks @aanairb @hooliemooliedonutshawp

@quietstorm-73 @thememoireeofme @tip222u @amelatonin @cherrystainedlipsbaby @keiva1000 @highlifeflylife

@queenflaws @uzumaki-rebellion @cutewylie @twistedcharismaaa @xo-goldengirl @lostennyc

[chilly-me-softly]

What about you and James dating for a long time, like since he wasn't this big of a player and you've been through everything with him, supporting him with everything and he doing the same for the things you went through. Your relationship being tested a couple of times because of the "fame" getting to him so you decided to take a break from your "relationship" and you bump into each other in the club &James is pretty drunk so you decide to take him home and he apologies&you give it a new chance

You and James have known each other a long time, you the younger sister of an old friend of his who had become his friend and then his girlfriend. You liked to bicker with him. He was the only one who could handle you. And one day, during one of your many bickering, he kissed you starting your story that lasted to this day.

You stood by him in everything, supporting him when he was still playing in Coventry, rain or shine; game won or lost you were always there to support him. Just as he helped you when you didn't know which way to go when you were growing up or when the stress of exams was getting to you or when you were fired for the first time.

There were also moments when it was far from good, the distance when he went to play in Scotland for example. Considering you were used to spend most of your free time together, this was a first real test for you. Because James had it very clear in mind what he wanted to become, and you don't become a top footballer by being on a country team -as much as he could love it and play every week with his whole heart.

You grew up together and maybe that's what makes you think more about it. One day, while James sleeps by your side after going to a party with his new friends. Leicester offered him a contract and he was super excited, he asked you to move in with him and you obviously agreed. But your move had been postponed for a few months due to other problems, yet nothing prevented you from cheering him on as you always did.

However you watch him sleep and think about how that life is probably not for you. Always being in the center of attention because he's the new star of the team or being stopped on the street by waves of young girls in full hormonal crisis for your man. Well, it wasn't what you dreamed of.

He was different, or maybe you were the one who stayed the same. The fact is, you can't do this. You need some time to think away from everything and everyone. See if you'd miss James the way you did before, when you were just two teenagers and the world seemed to collapse on you, or you could have gotten along without him.

So you tell him your decision, the train would only take you home a few hours away. He tries to understand, to make you stay but he also knows you need your time to adapt to the new situation that he's experiencing but that inevitably has an effect on you too. Only that those words, I need a break, he always saw them as a kind way to say 'I'm leaving you but I'll tell you in weeks, maybe months'.

And that's how he finds himself in a club one weekend, celebrating someone's birthday or his return home. He doesn't remember. And that's where you see him, or rather, you bump into him. Your eyes stay glued to his for the surprise as he giggles and slips out of your sight.

But you don't let him go, you snap his wrist into one of your tiny hands and you can make him stop -not that it's difficult given his state.

"You're drunk" you state the obvious as he rolls his eyes. "I haven't seen you in weeks and that's the first thing you say to me?" he puffs and the tuft of hair on his forehead flies away and then settles back down again.

"What should I tell you?"

"I would have told you you're beautiful. As always" he shrugs, approaching you and placing his hands on your hips. His warm breath on your cheek as you pull away with all your strength and decide to take him home.

It's not hard to get him into your apartment, but making him shut up is something else entirely. He keeps complaining about how you have no right to do something like that because you're on break and technically you have no power over him.

But as soon as his body rests on the soft surface of the sofa, he looks at you. And those eyes have never lost their special way of looking at you, always with love and respect. Now there's something more you can't catch though.

He keeps looking at you as he murmurs his most sincere apology and shortly after his eyelids close, you put your hand in his hair before you sigh and go to take off that dress and go to bed.

Your bed moves in the middle of the night and your heart beats so fast before you remember who was sleeping under your own roof. His familiar hold embraces you from behind as James sighs against your neck.

"J" you murmur still sleepy and he remains silent for a few more minutes before apologizing.

"Come back downstairs, you're still drunk" is your answer but you can't deny how your body is relaxing in his arms or how your heart is beating fast knowing he's next to you.

"It's not true" he complains like a child as he rubs his cheek against your shoulder, "I'm honest, I'm sorry if I haven't made you feel comfortable in the last few months. And I think you know me well enough to say whether I'm drunk or not" you sigh.

"Please, please. Come back to Leicester with me"

"James I-"

"I swear to you, I'll do everything I can not to make you feel excluded anymore. I talked to some of the guys' wives, and I think you'll get along with them anyway. We can even sit down and have those boring, long and again boring talks if you want to analyze everyone and everything. But I want you with me, I can't do it alone"

"Done?" you ask with a smile on your face, which because of the darkness he doesn't see.

"Only if you say yes" you giggle turning around as best you can to give him a kiss on the lips. "Is that enough of an answer?"

[zerolympiustrife]

ZOS’ short stories 40

Title: Battle of the Blondes: Jaunathon Arc vs Yang Xiao Long! (RWBY)

The grand sequel to my 20th short story! I’ve had so many plans to make a new SS involving more puns, but also add in some yo mama jokes and pick-up lines to mix it up! Here we go!

Note: Also, same as the 20th SS, this contains Dragonslayer (Jaune x Yang)

————————————————————

*In a large stadium, Teams RWB, PR, CFVY, SSSN, CRDL, Oscar, Winter, Penny, Neo (who’s disguised), Ozpin, Glynda, Port, Oobleck, Qrow, Taiyang, Jaune’s parents, and multiple other folks are sitting on the stands, then Nora suddenly appears from the ceiling, lands on the boxing ring-esque platform with a three-point landing, and grabs a microphone*

Nora (yelling): LADIES...AND GENTLEMEN!!! WELCOME...TO THE JOKE-OFF!!!

*The crowd cheers*

Nora (pointing to her left): IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIN THIS CORNER...we’ve got a gorgeous, dorky boy hailing from who-knows-where! His papa’s “gun” fires more “shots” than a gatling gun and his mama’s loose on the “lips” but wide on the hips! Please welcome...

*The spotlight hits Jaune, who’s wearing a Luchador wrestler’s outfit that has fake bunny ears, fake bunny tail, and a circular symbol that has a jackhammer inside the symbol, but has bunny ears on top of said symbol, and it’s placed on the chest of his outfit*

Jaune (embarrassed): Oh...why did I agree wear this silly outfit again...?

Pyrrha (cheering): Go, Jaune! You’ve got this!

Nora (grinning): THE HUMAN JACKHAMME- I mean, JACKRABBIT!!!

*The entire audience cheers for Jaune, except for a certain team, who’s booing him*

Cardin: BOOOOOO!!! BO-

*Papa Arc, who’s sitting behind Cardin, places his fist over Cardin’s head, then pounds him into unconsciousness. Team RDL, who sees this, immediately runs like hell, leaving their unconscious leader behind*

Nora (pointing to her right): AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAND IN THIS CORNER...we’ve got a spunky, fierce woman hailing from the island of Patch! Her papa’s had two wives in his life, and out popped two awesome children! Not much is known about his former significant others, but give it for...

*The spotlight hits Yang, who’s also wearing a Luchador wrestler’s outfit that has fake dragon horns, fake dragon wings, and a fake dragon tail, and the circular symbol she has on her chest is an hourglass, with golden horns, wings, and a tail around the symbol*

Yang (smirking): Heh. This’ll be fun.

Ruby (cheering): Go, Yang! *Whistles*

Nora (grinning): THE SUNNY LITTLE DRAGON!!!

*The entire audience cheers for Yang, although the roaring applause is louder this time*

Jaune (sighing): ...I can tell who’s the one the audience thinks is gonna lose. *Glaring at everyone* But I’ll be sure to prove ‘em wrong.

Nora (whispering to Jaune): Just so you know, I’ve got the upmost faith in you, fearless leader.

*Jaune smiles from hearing this, then stands up*

Tai (whispering to Yang): Go get ‘em, Yang! Remember the training!

*Yang grins from hearing this, then stands up*

Nora (runs back into the center): ROUND ONE!!! ...Is the Pun-off! Remember the “Hammerspace” technique I’ve taught you two about. Good luck! *Runs off the platform*

*Jaune and Yang approach eachother closer, then engage in a DBZ-styled staredown*

Yang (smirking): You wanna make the first move, or should I, vomit boy? Or should I say...vomit bunny?

Jaune (glaring): ...Ladies first, as they say.

Yang (eyes widened): Ooh! A gentlemen on the first date, are we? Very well! Allow me to take the first... *Pulls out a pistol and a glass of alcohol* ...shot. *Fires into a spotlight and it breaks, then takes the shot of alcohol*

*Suddenly, Jaune feels a pain in his chest*

Jaune (shocked, internally): W-Whoa! D-Did I just feel physical pain? Just from Yang making a pun?!

Yang (crossing her arms): I’m waiting for you, vomit bunny.

Jaune (shaking off the pain): ...Good thing Grimm aren’t involved in this fight. Otherwise, we’d be in a Grimm situation.

*Suddenly, Yang feels pain from her right shoulder*

Yang (surprised, internally): W-What the...? Could this be some kind of force where making jokes and puns actually inflicts physical pain on you...?! Interesting! *Speaks up* Wanna know what’d we have to call Weiss if she ever got robbed? Heist Schnee!

Jaune (smirking): What’s the special seasoning that hails from the Schnee Manor? Spice Schnee!

Yang (smirking): Is that where salt comes from?

*Weiss glares at Yang*

Jaune: Yeah, and you gotta pay the price from that Schnee! The Price Schnee!

Yang (holding her body in pain): D-Don’t get frozen by her again! Once frostbitten, Weiss shy, as they say!

Weiss (holding her face): Goddamnit, not this again...

Jaune (also holding his body in pain): H-Hey, Yang! Good thing Oscar’s last name isn’t Palms! Or that Ruby’s last name isn’t Rosie! Otherwise, if they were to suddenly marry, and we went on a double date, we’d have to go on a date with Rosie Palms!

*Oscar holds his face in embarrassment, while Tai squints at him*

Tai (internally): Don’t you dare date my little rose.

Yang (squinting): He better not. Otherwise, if he ever dates my papa’s little rose, he’d be a thorn on my side.

Jaune: That pun made me so corny. *Pulls out a corn on the cob*

Yang: Really? I thought that pun made me so horny. *Points to her fake horns*

Jaune: I wouldn’t advise porning over an evil pervert.

Yang: Hell hath no fury like a woman porned.

Jaune: Ain’t that a damn flame. *Holds out a lighter and turns it on*

Yang: I wouldn’t bother reading a painfully slow, yet bitter argument between jerks on the internet. Otherwise, it’d be a Frame War.

Jaune: I’d be frightened if they were clingy and obsessive yanderes. Or else it’d be a Claim War.

Yang: But an argument between folks who’re boring would definitely be a Lame War.

*Jaune falls to the floor, clutching his body in pain, and blood coming out of the mouth and nose*

Nora (counting down): One! Two! Three! Four! Five! Six! Seven! Eight! Nine! Ten! The Sunny Little Dragon wins the first round!

*The audience cheers, but Yang holds her body in pain*

Yang: Agh...I can still go on!

Nora: Nonsense. We gotta take a five minute break. We’ll be right back, folks!

*5 minutes later...*

Nora (in the center): ROUND TWO!!! ...Is the same as last time, good luck! *Leaves*

Jaune: Allow me to take the first shot this time! *Pulls out a camera and takes a bright photo shot of Yang, accidentally blinding her*

Yang (rubbing her eyes): Agh! *Eyesight comes back* What a dirty shot!

Jaune: At least it wasn’t a dirty pot. *Pulls out a dirty pot*

Yang: You and your sisters sure are a dirty lot.

Jaune: Hey...what’s do you call a polyamory couple that makes fun of everybody? A Polyamockery!

Yang: How does a homosexual horse faunus whinny? “GAAAAAAAY”!!!

Jaune: How does a religious donkey faunus preach? “Now, let us BRAY!”

Nora (walks back in): Halt! Let me rephrase that: Did I say more puns? What I actually meant to say is...PICK-UP LINES!!!

*The audience starts “ooh!” and “ah!”ing*

Nora (walks off): Good luck!

Yang (grinning): Alrighty then! *Ahem* Are you religious? ‘Cause you’re the answer to all my prayers!

Jaune (smiling): Was your dad a boxer? ‘Cause goddamn! You’re a knockout!

*Tai snickers at that line*

*Yang and Jaune start feeling the pain inflicted upon their bodies*

Yang: You owe me a drink! ‘Cause when I looked at you, I dropped mine!

Jaune: I felt a little off today, but when you appeared, you definitely turned me on.

Yang: Is there an airport nearby? ‘Cause I feel my heart taking off!

Jaune: That’s too bad. I was wondering if you had an extra heart, ‘cause mine was just stolen.

Yang: Can I follow you everywhere you go? ‘Cause my dad always told me to follow my dreams!

Jaune: I’m cute, and you’re pretty! And together, we’d be pretty cute!

*Yang falls to her knees*

Yang: Gah! Rgh... *looks up at Jaune* ...I know this is gonna sound cheesy, but...I think you’re the gratest.

Jaune: I’ve heard of a new disease called beauty, and I believe you’re infected!

Yang (gritting her teeth): If...if you were a vegetable, you’d be a cutecumber.

Jaune: Did you just come out of the oven, ‘cause damn, you’re hot!

*Yang hits the ground, with blood coming out of her ears*

Nora (counting down): One, Two, *deep breath* ThreeFourFiveSixSevenEightNineTen! Human Jackham- err, Rabbit, wins the second round!

Jaune (falls to his knees): Agh...things are getting intense now...

Nora: We’ll be right back in ten minutes this time!

*10 minutes later...*

Nora: Now...for the FINAL ROUND!!! ...No puns, no pick-up lines...this time...it’s YO MAMA JOKES!!!

*The audience leans theirs head in with anticipation*

Yang: Hold on... *looks to Jaune* ...Which mama will you be making fun of?

Jaune: The alive one. The one you hate.

Yang (glaring at him): Good. *Turns to Mama Arc in the audience with a smile* Just so you know that I love you and don’t take my yo mama jokes against you so seriously!

Mama Arc (giggling): I promise!

Nora: GOOD LUCK!!! *Runs off*

Yang: You go first, or shall I?

Jaune: You, but first, I think we should kick it up a notch... *Activates his semblance and starts to glow*

Yang (eyes widened): Ooh! I agree, bunny boy! *Activates her semblance, eyes turn red, and hair glows bright*

*The audience gasps at this sight, with Penny analyzing their power*

Ruby: Penny! What does your sensors say about their power levels?!

Penny (eyes widened): Friend Ruby! It’s...

Ruby: It’s...?

Penny: It’s over...

Ruby: It’s over...?

Penny: It’s over- *Starts to malfunction* Overoveroveroveroveroveroveroverererererererererererererererer- *Steam pops out of her ears*

Tai (surprised): Whoa! Ruby, is your friend okay?

Ruby (shaking Penny): Penny? Penny? Hey! Penny!

Penny (eyes go static): Penny.EXE has stopped working. Please wait until she reboots.

Ruby (sighing): Okay, good. I scared for a moment there...that she was gonna explode or something...

Yang (clearing her throat): Yo mama’s so stupid, she returned a donut because it had a hole in it!

Jaune (clearing his throat): Yo mama’s so poor, she went flying after a garbage truck with a grocery list!

Yang: Yo mama’s so fat, the only good grade she got in school was an “A” in lunch!

Jaune: Yo mama’s so ugly, she makes the blind go crippled!

Yang: Yo mama’s so fat, when she pressed the “UP” button on the elevator, it went down!

Jaune: Yo mama’s ugly, she’s the reason why they have to turn off the lights in a movie theater!

Yang: Yo mama’s so fat, that when she takes a shower, her feet don’t get wet!

Jaune: Yo mama’s so stupid, she stuck a scroll up her butt and said she was making a booty call!

*The audience starts getting pushed back*

Ren: W-Whoa!

Velvet: Are you feeling that?

Sun: Did it just get windy all of a sudden?

Blake: Huh, looks like I wasn’t the only one who noticed that.

Winter (to Qrow): Wow. Stiff competition.

Qrow (to Winter): Competition’s not the only thing that can get stiff. *Chuckles*

*Winter’s face turns red, then glares at Qrow*

Penny (shaking her head): Ah! Apologies! I needed to reboot, friend Ruby. Because friend Jaune and friend Yang’s power levels are “off the roof” as humans say!

Ruby (in awe): Wow!

*Back to the fight*

Yang: Yo mama so stupid, she sold her car for gas money!

Jaune: Yo mama so fat, she fell in love and broke it!

Yang: Yo mama so loose, she gives birth faster than a rabbit faunus!

Jaune: Yo mama so dumb, since she can transform into a bird, she thought having sex on a broken tree branch with yo daddy was a good idea!

Yang: Yo mama’s like a nursery, if possible, she can hold a human-shaped yoga ball-sized stomach of babies!

Jaune: Yo mama’s so creative, when she turns into a bird, she can go to the bathroom anywhere she wants!

Yang: Yo mama so creative, she put on hen costume, built a nest, shoved hard-boiled eggs up her upstairs, and began laying them!

Jaune: Yo mama so fat, even if I amp you up, you can’t pick her up!

Yang: Yo mama’s so awesome...!

*Jaune, Mama Arc, and the entire audience’s eyes widened upon hearing this*

Yang (smiling): ...She gave birth to an awesome son.

*Jaune doesn’t say anything, but starts blushing like mad*

Mama Arc (blushing): Oh~!

*Papa Arc chuckles and sheds a tear*

*Ren and Pyrrha smile hearing this*

Yang (smiling): Hehehe...you can’t say anything against that, can you?

Jaune (shaking his head): Actually, I can!

Yang (confused): Oh?

Jaune (taking a deep breath): Your mother...is so stupid, so dumb...

*Yang falls back, looking up at Jaune*

Jaune: So ignorant, so dense, dull, moronic, idiotic, foolish, imbecilic, halfwitted, mindless, unintelligent, reckless, thoughtless, dimwitted, naive, and dead in the fucking brain...! *Holds out his hand towards her*

Yang: ...Huh?

Jaune (smiles): ...She abandoned such an awesome family...an awesome daughter...an awesome father...for the sake of a stupid tribe that everyone hates.

*Yang’s eyes widened*

Ruby (sobbing): Ooohhhh! *Cries into Penny’s chest*

Penny (shocked): Friend Ruby! Is something alright?

*Tai chuckles from hearing this, but also sheds a tear*

*Weiss and Blake smile hearing this*

Yang (grabbing his hand): Oh...Jaune...! *Gets pulled off of the ground and places her face into Jaune’s chest, wrapping her arms around him* ...Don’t ever leave me...I don’t...I don’t want to be abandoned again... *starts crying*

Jaune (hugging her): No one knows what the future holds, Yang.

*Yang looks up at him, her eyes are still red*

Jaune (smiling): But don’t get the wrong idea. I promise I won’t leave you.

*Yang smiles, her eyes turn lilac, then kisses him firmly on the lips*

*The audience starts “aww”ing at the couple*

Nora (sniffling): L-L-Ladies...and G-Gentlemen...I-I don’t what to say about this... *sniff* ...It’s a draw! Both of these two are winners! Both the Rabbit and Dragon win!

*The audience stays silent for a second, then starts clapping*

Jaune (stops kissing): Shall we, my Dragon Queen?

Yang (giggling): Hmhmhm~! Take me, my Bunny Knight!

*Jaune picks up Yang bridal carry-style, then runs out of the stadium*

*Meanwhile, at the Branwen tribe...*

*Raven is just minding her own business, then suddenly, she feels a nerve in her head*

Raven (clutches her head angrily): ...Motherfucker.

Vernal: Is something wrong, Raven?

Raven: I don’t know why, but...I just had the painful feeling that someone, somewhere, some smart mouthed little shit unleashed a series of insults upon me.

Vernal: Oh...we should hunt this person down?

Raven (shaking her head): Nah, forget it. I couldn’t care less what everybody says or thinks about me.

Vernal: Okay...

Raven (internally): But I do want to find out who this person is...

*Meanwhile at Beacon...*

*Jaune, who’s carrying Yang, barges into Team JNPR’s room*

Jaune (putting Yang down): That was quite a workout.

Yang (laying down on his bed): Thanks for the ride, ladykiller.

Jaune (attempts to take off his costume): Rgh...Might as well...take off...these stupid outfi-

*RIIIIIIIP!*

*Jaune’s eyes widened, then looks at Yang, who ripped and made a hole in a certain area on her costume, then looks at Jaune with bedroom eyes*

Yang: Who said we were taking these off? C’mere, bunny boy.

*Jaune walks over to Yang*

*RIIIIIIIP!*

*Yang rips a hole in a certain area in Jaune’s costume, then his...”sword” bounces out into the open*

Jaune (blushing): Ahh...

Yang (spreading her legs): Ladykiller...hmhmhm~...make like a rabbit...and do me like one.

*Jaune’s face turns more red, but then he smiles, and obliges*

[lostinthewiind]

Verbal Volatility - Part 4

Johnny Martin - Band of Brothers

(part 1) (part 2) (part 3)

Synopsis: 5 years after the war you get an invite in the mail for an Easy Company reunion. There are so many memories from your time as a Paratrooper — good and bad — that you have yet to tell your husband; but one, in particular, stands out.

Tag List: @warmommy @gottapenny @croatianbagudna @scissorsfordoc @wexhappyxfew @mayhem24-7forever 

Clutching the invite in your hands hard, your knuckles nearly turning white from the force, your eyes scanned the words over and over again. When you had first received the invitation to the Easy Company reunion in the mail, you had felt a mixture of emotions.

At first, you were beyond excited at the thought of seeing the guys again, but then you remembered some of the haunting memories from your years in Europe that made your stomach turn, and you knew that seeing everyone again would bring them back.

You had shared most of your experiences with your husband, and he was always supportive and there for you in times of need. But there was one memory in particular; one that you had never shared with anyone. One that you were very reluctant to drudge back up from the pits of your being where you had stashed it away.

You tried to get out of going to the reunion, but your husband kept telling you over and over again how much you would regret missing out on seeing your brothers in arms again, and eventually, he wore you down.

Reaching over as the two of you walked up the path to the building where the reunion was being held, your husband, Henry, grabbed onto your shaking hands and flashed you a warm, reassuring smile. “It’ll be fine.” he reminded you. “The way you talk about these men, I’ll be surprised if they don’t all jump into your arms at once.”

“You’re probably right.” you forced a smile in return. “God, I wonder how they’ve all been. Letters back and forth every few months can only do so much. I can’t wait to see them again.”

Henry chuckled and gave your hands a squeeze. “That’s the spirit!”

When the two of you walked through the front doors and into the banquet hall, you immediately froze in place. The large room was full of faces that you had sworn you had forgotten most of and voices you heard faintly in the back of your head every once in a while. It was like the first day of Toccoa all over again.

“No fucking way!” a familiar voice called from the opposite end of the hall. Stepping through a crowd of people, George Luz emerged, a grin on his face just like always. “Is that Y/N?”“

“George Luz.” you started towards him, the two of you meeting halfway and pulling each other in for a tight hug. “My God, you haven’t changed a bit.”

George laughed; man, you had missed that laugh. “It’s only been five years. What, did you expect me to be old and gray already?”

“Maybe a little.” you giggled. “I honestly have no idea what I was expecting. I just wanted to see everyone again. This feels so...surreal.”

George grabbed your arm and winked. “You think this is weird? Wait ‘till you see Bill and his troop of children. His family could field a whole baseball team...or a whole platoon of Paratroopers.”

“Bill’s here?” you gasped. It had been even longer since you had seen him and Joe — not since Bastogne.

George nodded. “Toye too.”

And just like that, you were swept away into the crowd of men, the time passing by much too quickly as you greeted man after man as they arrived. You introduced everyone to your husband, and they introduced you to their wives. Every once in a while you had to take a second just to convince yourself that everything was real.

It felt like a dream — the happiest dream you had had in a long while.

As you turned to grab another drink for you and a few of the men, another couple entered the hall and you stopped dead in your tracks. Johnny and Patricia Martin. Your eyes landed on his face — the one face you had never forgotten even an inch of — and waited for him to spot you as well.

When his eyes met yours, the two of you stared at one another for what felt like an eternity. Eventually, though, he broke eye contact and turned his attention back to the woman by his side and wrapped his arm protectively around her waist.

So that was the sweet, kind, caring Patricia Martin that you had heard so much about. You had only ever seen photos but somehow she was even more beautiful in person.

So that was the woman whose husband you slept with...more than once.

During the war, after the first time you and Martin had had sex, there were many more occasions between Hagenau and the end of the war where you two had hooked up. Then, after the war, you two went your separate ways. No goodbye, no letters back and forth, nothing.

Seeing him now really made you feel like you were asleep, but instead of a dream, it was turning into a nightmare.

Shaking the thoughts from your head, you continued on your way to the bar and ordered as many drinks as your small hands could carry back to the group of men. For another hour or so you talked with everyone and anyone about everything and anything. It really did feel like you were back in that small, poorly-lit bar in England again.

Excusing yourself to go to the bathroom, you exited the hall and started down the hallway towards the restrooms. With your mind wandering, you turned the corner, not exactly fully aware of your surroundings, and collided with someone else.

“Shit, sorry.” you cursed as your hand reached out for the wall at the same time as two large hands grabbed onto your waist to keep you from stumbling or falling over.

“It was my fault.” the person said. You instantly recognized the voice.

Looking up, you came face to face with Martin. Your breathing hitched and you felt your palms begin to sweat. The last time the two of you had been that close you had been in a pitch black room, clothes on the floor, your legs wrapped around him, his mouth on yours.

“No, no.” you forced yourself to speak so you would stop silently gawking at him with your mouth hung open like a fish out of water. “I wasn’t paying attention to where I was going. It was my fault.”

“How about we just say it was both of our faults?” he suggested as he pulled his hands from your waist suddenly as if he just realized they were there.

You nodded as you pushed a stray strand of hair behind your ear. “Yeah. That works.”

There was a long, suffocating, pregnant pause. Then, at once, both of you started to talk. The words were so jumbled together that you weren’t even able to figure out what you had been trying to say.

“I’m sorry.” Martin sighed. “You go first.”

“No, you go ahead.” you insisted, but when he kept quiet, you shrugged. “I was just going to say that you look good. I hope life has been treating you well after everything.”

The corners of Martin’s mouth twitched into the hint of a smile. “Yeah, yeah. It hasn’t been too bad. Great job, great house...great wife. How about you?”

“Much of the same,” you answered, your mind stuck on how his tone changed when he said ‘wife’. “My husband is here with me tonight, as I’m sure you saw. Yeah, things haven’t been too bad.”

“That’s good.”

“Yeah.”

Stepping around you, Martin made a move to head back to the main room, but before he got more than five steps away, he stopped and turned back around again. “Listen, ugh...I’m sorry about not keeping in touch. I tried a few times to write but I...I just couldn’t.”

“I understand.” you were almost taken aback that he brought up the topic at all. “I tried a few times as well...I just had no idea what I was supposed to say.”

“Well, we’re both happily married with good, stable lives now.” Martin scratched the back of his neck nervously. “I suppose there isn’t really anything to say.”

“I suppose so.” you agreed.

Silence again. No talking, no moving, just the two of you standing opposite each other in the middle of the hallway.

“I thought about you a lot.” the words slipped from your lips before your brain had a chance to filter through them. “I think about you a lot.”

Martin didn’t even seem surprised. “I think about you a lot too.”

“You didn’t tell Patty about us, did you?” you inquired.

“God, no. Never.” Martin shook his head hard. “What about you? Did you tell your husband?”

“It’s the only thing I’ve never told him,” you admitted. “It’s the only thing I never will, and I don’t even know why because it was before I met him anyway. But still, no matter how much I try to tell myself it doesn’t matter, when I think back to what happened between us...it feels wrong.”

Martin groaned as he ran his hand over his face. “It was wrong.”

You took a step closer to him, narrowing the gap as you lowered your voice. “Then why did we do it?” you asked him, sincerely hoping he was able to give you an honest-to-God answer.

“It felt right.”

“But it was wrong.” your hands slid up his chest and landed on his shoulders. You loved your husband.

“It was very wrong.” his hands found their way back to your waist. He loved his wife.

Your faces were inches apart, lips ghosting over one another’s. Five years and Johnny Martin still made you feel things no other man ever could. Five years and you still had no self-control when it came to him.

Then he kissed you, but it wasn’t like any of the other times he had ever kissed you before. You remembered every time John Martin had ever kissed you, and it was always rough, hungry, demanding, and powerful. This kiss was different, however. This kiss was soft, short, and sweet.

“Why do we keep doing this?” you breathed as you pulled away.

Before Martin could answer, the sound of footsteps approaching pulled the two of you apart. Exiting the hall, Patricia spotted Martin and made her way over. “There you are!” she smiled wide. “I was starting to worry you had gotten lost.”

“No, no. Just catching up.” Martin eyed you subtly as his wife reached for his hand. “Patty, this is Y/N.”

“Oh, Y/N!” Patty pulled you in for a bone-breaking hug that caught you completely off guard. “I’ve heard so much about you.”

Your eyes widened as you were released from the hug and you could finally breathe easy again. “You have?” your eyes flickered toward Martin for a split second.

“Oh, yes.” Patty nodded. “You are one of the few Johnny consistently talks positively about.”

“Oh.” a small grin spread across your face. “Well, I’m sure he’s probably made me sound a lot better than I actually am.”

“Nonsense.” Patty waved off your statement. “If you and your husband ever find yourselves in Pheonix, you must come for dinner.”

You nodded, knowing there was no way you could turn down the generous offer. “I will be sure to let you know if we’re ever in the area,” you assured her. “Anyway, I should go find Henry. He’s probably wondering where I am.”

“Yeah.” Martin wrapped his arm around Patty. “We’ll probably be going soon anyway. It was really good to see you again, Y/N. Keep in touch, will you?”

Your smile was genuine that time. “Yeah.” you agreed. “I’ll keep in touch.”

“Good.”

Forgetting that your original plan had been to use the bathroom, you turned and wandered back into the banquet hall, your body heading toward your husband but your mind still firmly planted back in that hallway with Martin.

You didn’t want to just hear from him every once in a while from a letter that never contained the words you really wanted to hear. All those times you had been together during the war, they were one thing, but the kiss you shared minutes ago was something else.

In that brief moment you saw a side of Martin that you had never seen before; a side that actually cared about you, even after five years apart.

In the middle of the room, you came to a stop. In front of you, Henry was waving you over, his face full of happiness as he joked along with the other guys. Looking back, you watched as Martin and Patricia got ready to leave, Patricia digging through her purse for something while Martin’s eyes were on you.

Your heart beating against your chest was suddenly the only thing you could hear, the sound loud and deafening in your ears.

Martin watched you carefully, the look on his face screaming at you to give him a reason not to go — begging you to make a decision.

Your husband was none-the-wiser, having already turned back to his conversation with Frank and George. In his mind, he had nothing to worry about. He had only heard the name John Martin a few times, and usually, it was connected to a much bigger story.

He had no idea about what you and Martin had between the two of you; experiences, adventures, connections...a story. There was something deeper than just having sex in a dark room when everyone else was off doing something else.

You knew you loved Henry, but he would never be Johnny Martin. No one could ever be Johnny Martin except for the man staring back at you at that moment.

Whether you liked it or not, your mind had been made up. It had been made up since the moment you set eyes on Martin again.

You knew that coming to the reunion was a bad idea.

Spinning back around, you started heading back out of the room and into the hall again, your eyes calling for Martin to follow you. As you headed toward the front doors you could hear footsteps behind you and knew he was following. This was it. It was now or never.

As soon as you stepped outside into the dark, quiet parking lot you turned to face Martin and his lips were on yours again before you could so much as blink.

“Something that feels so good can’t be wrong, can it?” he spoke in between desperate, wanting kisses. “No matter how much I love Patty, she will never be the one I want when the nights get cold, dark, and lonely.”

“Every day for five years straight I have wanted nothing more than to see you again,” you confessed. “And now that I have, I know I can’t go a single day without seeing you. I love Henry...I want Henry, but I need you. I...I need you, Johnny Martin.”

Martin pressed his lips against yours one final time before drawing a deep breath. “If we’re going to do this, we need to do this now. I don’t know where we will go, but wherever it is, we will go together.”

“Okay.” you nodded, your hands shaking as you gripped onto Martin’s jacket for stability.

Taking one step back, Martin held his hand out to you. “Are we doing this, Y/N?”

You captured your bottom lip between your teeth and took a few seconds to give what you were about to do some good, hard contemplation. There was no turning back once you said yes. Either you took Martin’s hand and stepped into uncertainty with him or went back inside to your husband and returned to the life you knew and trusted.

“Y/N?” Martin asked again. “You can’t tell me you don’t feel it too. There’s something between us...something neither of us can shake. For the sake of my sanity, Y/N, please take my hand.”

Martin was right. As cheesy at it sounded, the war had brought the two of you together, and whether you liked it or not, you were connected. You needed him and he needed you.

So, you took his hand.

[the-golden-ghost]

Dracula: A Comprehensive Summary

(part 4. Now you all understand why this took 4 hours)

Chapter 19:

The Squad Discusses Renfield. Quincy’s like “okay dude either he’s an INCREDIBLY good actor, or you’ve got a sane man locked up in there”

Seward:  ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

They all break into Dracula’s house and mess with his pet doggos cause whatever. He’s not there anymore

Mina sleeps late the next morning uh oh

Van Helsing decides to talk to Renfield again and Renfield tells him to go fuck himself

Mina has been having trouble sleeping, and hears the barking of dogs in her dreams. Does this sound familiar? We’re in for it NOW

Chapter 20:

Dracula moved houses and now lives in a beer dispensary cause you know why not

Renfield is starting to lose it again. He is now terrified and haunted by the souls of the living

Seward thinks he’s gonna become a cannibal, and start eating people hence the ‘soul’ thing

He keeps insisting that he only eats living things for their life, and does not want the burdens of their souls. Seward realizes that Dracula got to him somehow and is now trying to turn him into some sort of living vampire OH shit

They go away for a bit to plan more Dracula Slayin’ until Seward gets a message from the asylum that Renfield got in an accident

He is dying

Chapter 21:

So it turns out Renfield somehow ripped the skin off his face, caved his head in and snapped his own neck

How is this possible, you ask? IT’S NOT.

Someone DID that to him. And the culprit?

Yeah it’s Drac lmao

Renfield basically says that Dracula has been sending him flies and moths and shit to eat and Renfield was loyal to him because he wanted some of that power

But then Drac started trying to hurt Mina

And since Everybody Loves Mina, including Renfield, Renfield decided to just straight-up Fite Dracula with his bare hands and he lost miserably and got fatally injured

He presumably dies from his injuries but we don’t get to know cause the Squad leaves immediately after that and so we never find out the ultimate fate of Renfield  ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

They hurry to Mina’s house and find some Freaky Shit going on.

Drac has her, is drinking her blood and is also making her drink HIS blood by holding her mouth to his chest which is like

Yuck

Drac bails when everyone comes in, and Mina is now Officially Cursed :(

So it’s only a matter of time before she ends up like Lucy...

Chapter 22:

The Drac Attack has caused Jon to lose it and Mina to think she’s cursed forever

Van Helsing’s like “nah you’re fine” and they go to a church to bless the devil out of her

Except all it does is burn a scar onto her forehead which makes everything worse honestly

Chapter 23:

Except PLOT TWIST now that Mina’s linked to Dracula she knows his every move. Suck on THAT, Drac!

So now even though she’s rapidly becoming a demon, they have a Spy on their side!

They keep breaking into Dracula’s hidey-holes to destroy his fake coffins but it doesn’t do anything really

They actually catch him one (1) time and try to kill him but he’s like “nah” and escapes

And leaves the country. Everyone is briefly like “oh cool problem solved” but Van Helsing is like “um no actually cause he still has Mina’s soul and if she dies even of old age without being freed she’ll still become a vampire” :(

Chapter 24:

ROAD TRIP TO TRANSYLVANIA

Eventually. Mostly they just Discuss it in this chapter

At first it’s just gonna be The Boys and they’re gonna leave Mina in safety and Jon to “protect” her (really it’s cause Jon is not well enough to go) but then Mina is like “no you need a spy so I’m coming too” and Jon, being the coolest and best husband ever, is like “I’ll go because my wife needs me :) “

Even though tbh she doesn’t but they love each other a lot

Ride-or-Die couple these two

Chapter 25:

Before they go a’Slayin’ Mina calls a meeting

And is like “hey listen if this ends up with me damned to hell for eternity to save you guys, I’m gonna fucking do it cause you’re my bros and I love you”

And then says “but get this: if there comes a point when I’m too far gone and there’s nothing left of me but a demonic shell, PLEASE fucking kill me.”

And they all agree to do it :(

Even though nothing could be worse for anyone than killing Mina. Since everyone loves her

And then, since it’s likely she’s not going to come out of this alive, Mina makes Jon read her burial service. :( But he doesn’t get all the way through because he’s too sad

Anyway FEELS OVER TIME TO SLAY A VAMPIRE

TRANSYLVANIA HERE WE COME

THIS ONE’S FOR LUCY and Renfield

Anyway it takes forever cause the train is delayed but that’s Eastern European rail service for you  ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Chapter 26:

They travel slow. Mina is spying all the way via hypnosis and mental link with Drac.

Quincy is like “LET’S KILL DRAC WITH A GUN” like an American

Everyone preps Battle Stations and Van Helsing decides to stay with Mina cause “he’s old and can’t fight” which is coward talk but heck

Literally the last few chapters are mainly planning and traveling I’m sorry but it gets dull right before The End

Chapter 27:

The End

Mina hates garlic now lol (the locals keep putting it in their food)

The Boys (including Jon) go to Vampire Slay and Van Helsing stays behind with Mina, putting her in a Holy Circle so she can’t get out lest she go Full Vampire, and also so that Drac can’t get in and take her or something.

While they’re hiding out, Drac’s wives come and try to lure Mina to them. It doesn’t work. But Van Helsing is also unable to link her to Drac via hypnosis now :(

Everyone writes their goodbye letters to each other :(

Van Helsing actually discovers Dracula’s Final Coffin and fucks it up so Drac can’t get in and rejuvinate. Rock on

The Boys meanwhile find Drac riding along to his castle on a cart and break into the box he’s traveling in and all four of them Do A Stab on him. Which actually kills him! Who knew!

They didn’t even use garlic or anything just knives. It was really That Easy

Quincy got fatally wounded in the fight though, but as he’s dying he points up at Mina’s forehead, where the scar left by the blessing is gone, and she is free.

NICE EPILOGUE: Everyone is happy, Mina and Jon have a baby named Quincy, Seward and Arthur got married (Bram Stoker said Gay Rights) and Van Helsing is like... the Team Dad idk

And it ends the way it begins: with Everybody Loving Mina.

No literally the last sentence of the book is about how much everyone loves Mina lmao

And that’s a wrap on Dracula! Now you never have to read it, because boy oh boy is it ever a trip

[qveensbury]

big bad news

ch. one | ch. two | ch. three | ch. four |  AO3 | ko-fi

“Once I saw a bee drown in honey, and I understood.” - Nikos Kazatzakis

** a longer update **

|| When leadership turned over to the 27-year-old Kuruk, the city watched. The Kuruk family were particularly misogynistic and the other crime families hoped the first female leader would lead to their demise. But, Katara “Honey” Kuruk shaped the family up, making it more efficient. They haven’t let anyone new in during her 8-year reign. It’s unclear what exactly they’re doing. The Kuruk keep everything solidly underwrap. She’s like the queen bee commanding the hive. If you don’t know the dance, you’re in the dark.||

Zuko put the informant’s statement down. How did Kuruk do it? If he could just—

“You’ve done enough for the night. Head home, Detective.” Sergeant June slapped his shoulder.

“I think I’m gonna throw in the towel on this Kuruk cold case.” Zuko ran his hands over his face. “I need to sink my teeth into something fresh.”

“I thought the Wantabe case would seal the deal too. Get some sleep, Ryuku, it’d do you some good. ”

“Got it.” Zuko pushed away from his desk. After he got his things from his locker, he put his headphones in. He looked for a song to play as he walked towards the subway.

“Why hello detective.”

He froze.

Before he kept walking.

“Excuse me, Detective.” Katara pulled him into the alley.

Zuko pulled his headphones out. “What Kuruk? Haven’t I given you enough?”

“I’ve thought of a way you can make it up to me.”

“I was unaware we were fighting.” Zuko crossed his arms.

“Don’t be silly, Detective” Katara looped her arm with his, tugging him away from the precinct. “You couldn’t take me in a fight.”

“What do you want?”

“Ok, I’m sorry. I exaggerated. We’d be an even match.”

Zuko sighed. “Katara.” He felt her squeeze his arm. “Are you okay?” He turned to look at her.

“I’m fine.” She lied. Zuko could tell. “I just need your help.”

“You need a cop again? I think I’ve hit my monthly illegal activity quota.”

“No, I need you, Zuko. You’re the only person I trust to do this.”

His traitorous heart lurched. “You’re going to have to be more specific.”

“You’re the only person I can trust with my back. You had the opportunity to pay me back for Haru and you didn’t.”

Zuko studied Katara for a moment. She looked as immaculate as when he first met her. Her jaw was set but her eyes were wide. Her grip on his sleeve hadn’t loosened. “What’s wrong, Katara?” He shook his head.

“We can’t talk about it here.” Katara tugged him.

And, he followed.

+

“They used me to destroy a union and it’s time I pay them back.”

“Is this your villain origin story?” Zuko chuckled.

Katara drew her lips into a sharp line. “Depends on who you ask.”

Zuko took in her facial expression. “Who’s ‘them’? Another crime family?”

“The feds.”

He cursed. “Katara, you’re not seriously on planning on retaliating against federal agents.”

“Why not!” She glared at him. “You snuck someone into a black site the feds were running to free me. Why does this suddenly become different?”

“Because— I—,” he threw his hands up. “That was different!”

“How?!”

“For one, I have some pull at a black site. I can be nameless and faceless. In a federal building, there’s no such thing.”

“We wouldn’t exactly be walking through the front door. Besides you didn’t even let me finish.”

“What could you possibly say that changes my mind?”

“The feds are abusing their power and I’m going to bring the Qiujin office down.”

“Abusing their power how?”

“They build sham cases. They make up stories piecing things their informants and surveillance teams gather. If you’re on the list, you don’t get any privacy.”

“You can’t expect privacy or for law enforcement to back off when you’re committing crimes, Kuruk.”

Katara blinked. She snorted, shaking her head. “Y’wanna know something I used to think that, too. Our dad kept Kuruk things separate from my family. At school, I used my mom’s maiden name. Things felt normal. After my mom died, I just felt like cops were our only hope. If they had just,” Katara shrugged, “kept a closer eye, little girls wouldn’t lose their moms.

“And I stayed clear of the Kuruk taint for years. After my mom, we stopped interacting with my dad’s side of the family. My brother and I lived with my grandmother. For a moment, I thought maybe I could escape it all.”

“What happened?”

“A cobalt mining union was organizing a strike. I was friends with one of the union leader’s sons. We were both a part of a labor student organization at college. He recommended I speak to the cobalt miner’s wives and the leaders invited me to speak to some of their younger members. I got more involved and got arrested during a protest. That’s when it went downhill.

“The strike got the attention of the feds. I’m sure management helped with that. They must have been looking for a way to discredit the union and looking at the arrests from the protest discovered my true name.

“You probably recall the Attorney General’s promise to root out the ‘corrupt union puppet masters who were agitating the workers to disrupt industry.’ Well photos of me speaking at rallies was the very connection the feds needed to start their campaign.”

“I don’t get it.”

“I’m a Kuruk by blood. I practically gave them their wildest dream. A child from one of the most infamous mafia families, in Quijin, connected to the most visible labor strikes of our lifetime? I still remember the headlines: ‘Mob-Infested Union This to Squeeze Industry for All Its Worth’; ‘Honey Heiress Seeks to Expand the Kuruk Empire’; ‘Employer and Kuruk Payrolls. How Much Does Greedy Union Want’; ‘Kuruk Bait and Switch? What’s the Family Using Union Strike to Cover Up?’

“And that poor union.” Katara swiped the corner of her eye.   “The news story capsized the strike. Union membership shriveled and conditions,” she shook her head. “The big mine collapse was that same year. And, the union warned management. The bargaining after the strike would have,” Katara exhaled, “it would have been better.

“They milked those pictures for every possible angle. I hadn’t contacted the Kuruk side of the family in years. It ruined my ability to be an organizer. All I wanted to do was help people. I don’t blame the journalists. I’m sure the feds had a huge hand in all of this. And we’re getting every shred of evidence to hang those rats to dry. Tomorrow night there’s a huge game and there won’t be as many agents in the office. We have to do this tomorrow or we may never get another chance. If they did that then, then imagine what other stories we can expose.

“That’s what you’re all about, right Detective? Justice?”

“What about this is honorable? If everyone gets justice their way it becomes chaos.”

“I don’t know, Zuko and frankly I couldn’t give an iota about honor. What good is honor without justice? Did honor make you help my dad and lead you to the Boiling Rock?”

Zuko opened his mouth and shut it. “You still haven’t convinced me why I shouldn’t help you.”

“Whatever made you infiltrate the Boiling Rock should be enough to convince you. The feds in this state are corrupt. They’re all in Big Cobalt’s pocket. We have to stop them.”

“How do I know this won’t lead to Kuruk Cobalt or something like that?”

Katara looked at Zuko and he felt her searching for something as if she had a pulse on his soul. “The Wantabe tip worked and there’s no Kuruk liquor stores or bars. There’s no Kuruk sex trafficking, either. As if I’d turn to the cops for muscle. All this time and you don’t know me.”

Zuko crossed his arms. “I thought I knew you then you ruined our operation.”

Katara clucked her tongue. “You don’t have the full picture.”

“You keep saying that! Then tell me!”

“Why would I tell you when you won’t believe me?”

This is who you fell for. Like some rookie uniform. “Fine! You have something to prove? I’ll go with you. But, the moment you screw up I’m arresting you and throwing the book at you.”

She paused and Zuko’s heart raced. “Fine. You help me and I’ll tell you what I can. And, don’t worry.” She started to walk away. “There will be no screw-ups.”

+

“No map?” Zuko walked beside Katara into the Quijin Regional Office.

“No. If I trusted someone to do recon, why would I bring you?”

Zuko put up hands in surrender.

Katara pushed the cart of cleaning supplies to the elevator.

“Do you plan on actually cleaning?” He tugged on his janitor jumpsuit.

“The company I hired is going to clean. Don’t worry so much, Detective.”

Zuko crossed his arms. “So, you thought of everything.”

“For this to work, I had to.”

The elevator dinged, doors opening. An agent on the other side jumped when he saw them. “Sorry! Didn’t realize cleaning staff was here.”

Katara nodded, smiling apologetically. The hat and wig would have been enough on their own but the agent hadn’t spared them a serious glance. He got off a couple floors down.

“Practically invisible,” Katara mumbled. She lead them a room, tucked away in the basement. “Now we clean up.” She locked the door behind her. She opened a filing cabinet close to the door and pulled out the first folder. “This is from ’49. We need 2004. Let’s check the first folder of each top drawer to narrow it down.”

“Then what?” Zuko picked a cabinet drawer and opened it.

“Then, I give it to some investigative journalists who pull this thing apart. And the,” she shrugged, “hopefully some good comes from this.”

“To what clear your name?” Zuko asked softly.

Katara glanced at him, searching again. He watched her sigh. “The journalists don’t know who their source is. It’s all been framed as a story about the union and the mine. My name won’t come up once. The local chapter of the Cobalt Mining Union might have died but other unions deserve a shot.”

Zuko looked down at the folder he pulled out. “2001.”

Katara closed the drawer she was looking in to joined Zuko at his cabinet.

“The chances the surveillance started the same year as the pressure in 2004 is unlikely though,” Zuko pointed out.

“Hmm,” Katara crossed her arms. “The chapter was founded in ’98 and got a lot of press for a successful strike in ’00.”

“How about you look at the early 00s and I’ll through this cabinet?”

“Ok.” Katara turned to the next cabinet and began pulling out dossiers.

Growing up with uncle meant Zuko heard a torturous amount amount of puns. His mother inoculated him with classic poetry. Zuko wondered what use he’d have half-discovered-half-baked world pay and poetic devices.

But, watching Katara methodically execute her plan reminded Zuko of a worker bee following instructions passed to her like lives depended on it.

“I found it!” Katara pulled out a large dossier. “Operation: Southern Raiders.” She swore. She flipped through the pages, clenching and unclenching her jaw. “Well this is what we needed.” She put it in the false bottom of a bucket. She pulled out a radio. “Supervisor Phan here, anyone on hallway 0C?”

“No one on level 0.”

“Ok,” Katara nodded for Zuko to follow her. “Someone get on that in 20 minutes. The last agent is packing up to go.”

“Roger.”

Katara returned her walkie talkie to her belt. “Let’s go.”

+

Katara opened the car door and sat inside. She fastened her seatbelt.

“That’s it?” Zuko watched two women walk to their car.

“They ned to do their own research and write the story. We might hear something in two months.”

“So what will you do during then?”

Katara shrugged, pulling out of the alley and into the street. “Wait.”

So they did.

Zuko kept secret tabs on the Quijin office in case Kuruk did have other plans.

It is a good thing I closed the case before this. My judgement on her is so screwed up.

Zuko’s phone vibrated. New message - unsaved number.

<it’s queen bee. check the news>

Mendoza mumbled something in another language low under his breath. He pushed away from his desk and turned on the television, raising the volume.

“Folks, if you’re just tuning in: the investigative story of perhaps our generation. It began with leaked documents to local journalists. Cristina Aldo and Pearlista Banaag took these documents and unraveled a web of surveillance, informants, and bribes, with the federal Quijin field office a the center of it all. At the beginning was Operation: Southern Raiders in the late ‘90s. Overzealous federal agents zeroed in on the burgeoning cobalt mining union in the mountains three hours outside of Republic City.

“Now to our correspondent with more on how the operation unraveled this union and may have, as the journalists suggest, led to the mine collapse of ’04.”

“Thank you Don, we all remember where we were when we heard of the largest mine catastrophe of the last hundred years—“

Detective Tengku turned off the TV. “This is gonna be a cluster show.”

“The internal investigations are going to be insane, if it’s true.” Detective Erakat shook her head. “Do you know how long that union’s been crying foul? God spare us.”

Captain opened her office door. “Tengku, Mendoza, my office. Now.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

“Coming.”

Zuko looked at Seargeant June, who shrugged and waved him off.

His phone vibrated again. <are you free tonight?>

<yes.>

<meet me at the west lung bar. my brother sokka’s friend runs it. say you’re there to see me. if you’re free.>

<ok.>

+

West Lung was an older building tucked in between boutiques in a slowly developing neighborhood.

Zuko opened the door and nodded to the man behind the bar.

“How can I help you?”

“I’m looking for Sokka’s friend.”

A man about Zuko’s age climbed up the stairs. If Zuko had to imagine a younger, slimmer version of Hakoda, he just walked into the room. Although, Zuko would never have imagined the undercut.

“Zuko?”

“Yes.”

The man put his hand out for him. “Sokka, Katara’s brother. Nice to meet you.”

“Likewise.”

“We’re downstairs.” Sokka put an arm around Zuko’s shoulders to lead him to the others.

“Zuko!” Katara stood up smiling. “Glad you could make it.”

“Hey.”

“You know Toph. You’ve met my brother. And the infamous Haru Prakoso.” Katara put a finger in Zuko’s face. “There’s no warrant for his arrest and no further inquiry about him so don’t make it weird.”

“I won’t.” Zuko sat down next to her.

“We did it.” She poured Zuko a beer before taking a gulp of her own. “We should celebrate.”

“I didn’t think you could pull it off.” Haru shook his head.

“Oh little one.” Katara tsk’d.

“Off the record—“ Zuko began.

“None of this is on the record.” Katara looked at him over her beer.

“— does Haru work for you?”

Haru snorted. “Katara would get me killed.”

“Untrue!” She laughed. “Besides if you worked for me, you would have never been on RCPD’s radar to begin with.”

“Touché.” Haru turned his wrist to look at his watch. “I gotta go. But, congrats again, Kuruk. This is huge.” He turned to Zuko. “My uncle was in the mine collapse and this could be the start of justice.”

“Couldn’t have done it without Zuko.” She replied almost immediately. “He helped piece together an important detail.”

“Well, I told Katara thanks earlier. Thank you to you, too. No hard feelings.”

Zuko nodded but glanced at Katara waiting for a cop joke or some other jab.

“So, is this the boyfriend Dad won’t stop talking about?” Sokka leaned forward.

“Wha-what? Sokka!” Katara snapped.

“What?” Sokka shrugged before his chair started to fall over. He grabbed the table to right himself. He turned to Toph, “Quit it.”

“You can’t go five minutes without putting your foot in your mouth, huh?” Toph said.

Zuko knit his brow, glancing at Katara for a cue.

Katara turned her face away from him covering her mouth with a hand. Her other arm was wrapped around her torso.

“You ok?” He whispered as Toph an Sokka got into an apartment.

“Peachy. Wondering when brothers stop being so embarrassing.” Katara turned to face Zuko.

Embarrassing? Zuko noticed the flush on her face. I’ve never seen her like this.

“Ok ok,” Sokka shrugged. “I’m sorry for being ‘intrusive’.”

“What a fake apology!” Katara scoffed.

“Shut up!” Sokka laughed and she smiled at her brother.

The tension in Zuko’s chest eased. You just imagined that Ryuku. Keep your head on straight.

Katara placed her elbows on the table and took another sip on her beer.

“So, are you a part of the Kuruk, too?” Zuko looked at Sokka.

“What are you? A cop?” Sokka smirked. He leaned back folding his arms behind his head. “No, I’m the black sheep. I actually use my college degree. I’m in engineering.”

“Not everyone in my circle is a degenerate, Detective.” Katara put her glass down.

“I didn’t really think you guys would start without me.”

Zuko glanced over his shoulder as a bald man walked down the steps.

“Speak of the devil,” Toph muttered.

Katara stood up. “Did you at least bring a pitcher for all of us, Aang?” She gestured to the glass in his hand.

“No, why?”

Zuko caught Katara roll her eyes.

“Does everyone want another round?” Katara stood, scanning the table, raising two fingers for Toph and Sokka who nodded.

Zuko shook his head when Katara raised an eyebrow at him. “I should head out.”

Her smile shrank. “Okay. I’ll walk you up. This is Aang by the way. He owns the bar. This is Zuko.” She scooped up the pitcher.

“Nice to meet you.” Aang extended a hand once he reached the table.

“Likewise,” Zuko shook the hand offered as he stood up.

Katara tipped her head to the side, beckoning Zuko to follow her. “Thanks for coming.”

Zuko hummed in response.

Katara stood in the doorway. He looked her over. He missed her short hair and the way it drew attention to her eyes. “I really couldn’t have done this without you. Thank you.”

Zuko shrugged.

“You really don’t believe me,” Katara placed a hand on his arm.

He focused on the blue of her eyes. Is this how Katara got the Kuruk to follow her? Celebrate even minuscule contributions? Make everyone feel integral? She lived up to the name Honey? She doesn’t enjoy the harvest. She facilitates it. She’s why the Kuruk operate.

“You didn’t really need me. You had that place on lockdown. No one was going to touch you.”

“Maybe, I wanted your trust back.”

Now I see why…I’d follow Katara anywhere, too. He leaned into her.

“It’s yours, Kuruk.”

A/N: based in part by a true story. title from Batman: The Animated Series “It’s Never Too Late”. 

[easy-brizy-writer-girl]

Brooklyn - Part One

I’ve never been on a dance audition with a written test before.

And I’ve never taken a test with my hair teased higher than my kicks, the look held with enough hairspray to ensure it won’t go rogue, fly out of place in act of defiance, fight for its freedom. (There’s an essay question. I’m just working on my bullshit).

But hey, at least I’m acing it—four years in high school dating the quarterback has given me all the football knowledge I apparently needed. Five years ago, this was the choice I was supposed to make. At twenty-five with all those other choices behind me, it’s just sad.  

I pass my test in and am instructed to go to the holding room until we’re called to perform our final solos—actual dancing! Incredible! Sitting beside a girl hairspraying her own rebellious hair into submission, I pull out my phone—three missed texts, all from Patrick.

Who really should have stopped fucking texting me three months ago, but whatever. It’s not like I don’t text back.

Patrick: Brooke You’re holding out on me I need to know how you point your toes in cowboy boots

Me: You can’t even point your toes in jazz shoes

Patrick: Haha seriously though What level of Stepford Wives are these girls

He’s so fucking annoying sometimes.

Me: Most of them are actually really talented I used to compete against a couple of them And you’d never make the team, so

Patrick: You’re harsh today

Me: You’re being a dick This is my career now so you could respect it

There’s a pause.

Patrick: Hey, this is not your career It’s a chance to network and build something in Texas You’ll be choreographing for them within a year

Oh yes, I can’t wait to choreograph for a cheerleading team while he’s dancing on another world tour. I turn my phone off.

It’s not like I can be mad: it’s the line I gave him. All I have to show from my time in L.A. is a couple cameos in class videos and late bill payments. If I wanted an actual career in dance, I needed to move to a smaller market, and I needed to know people. The fastest way to do that? Become a pro cheerleader, back home in Texas.

Cheerleaders are respected here. They work with professional choreographers; they go on appearances and meet people with power; they gain fucking Instagram followers. They’re also paid pennies and expected to look like Barbie dolls with less individuality, but my ethics aren’t as strong as my goals.

I just want to keep dancing.

Patrick’s still in L.A., because he’s a hot guy who can book anything by smiling at the director. Really fucking talented, but so am I. It’s still easier for him than it is for me, and he’s at least never argued that.

We broke up when I moved back home. It’s another reason this needs to stick.

“Do you have bobby pins?”

I reach into my dance bag without looking for the voice: since I was eight years old, I have never been without bobby pins.  

“Girls with curly hair are at a serious disadvantage here. That natural, beachy wave look can fuck off. When is just-survived-a-tornado going to come into style?”

I laugh as I hand her the bobby-pins: hairspray girl. “After the apocalypse, probably.”

“The perfect time for my career to start.” She extends her arm. “I’m Liv.”

I shake her hand. “Brooklyn.”

“First time auditioning?”

“For this? Yeah.”

“Third for me.”

I cannot imagine wanting this that badly, but for once I have enough decency not to speak my thoughts out loud. “Oh?”

She laughs; she might have the loudest laugh here. “I promise it’s not that tragic. It’s not like, a childhood dream that’s just out of reach. I’m barely even a dancer. But I did pom all throughout school, I missed being on a team, and I suck at everything else. Doesn’t leave you with a lot of options.”

“Kind of an intense alternate.”

Liv shrugs. “Looks fun, though.”

I’m a little more pessimistic.

We chat about pom for a bit: she’s a few years older than me, so we never competed directly against each other, but we know some of the same people. I miss it too, despite my coach’s constant critique that I need to be more of a team member than a soloist. It’s still nice to be part of something.

Especially now that I’m single for the first time since I was fourteen and all of my hometown friends have moved on.  It’s weird: no one thought I’d be the one to come back, least of all me.

When it’s time to perform my solo, I try to focus on the fact that it’s good instead of on how much Patrick would hate it. Its purpose is not to move the panel to tears: it’s to show them that I have solid technique, flexibility, and a fucking great hair flip.

Liv has a different approach.

It’s a hip-hop pom routine instead of a jazz one, which Patrick used to say was a contradiction. But she’s in the pocket, she’s grounded: she doesn’t look like a cheerleader, but she’s fucking good. I couldn’t change his mind, but maybe she could.

So, I turn my phone back on to record it. I just like proving him wrong.

She gets the loudest applause from the veteran cheerleaders who are probably just bored of routines like mine, but it makes her smile in a way that comes off shy. It’s more endearing than I know what to do with.

Maybe she’s someone I’ll want to know.

[northamptoncouplestherapy]

For years, proverbial wisdom has cited money as the primary source of marital conflict and main precursor to divorce. However, very few clinical studies support this supposition. Money might make the world go around, but the mighty "buck" is not as powerful as we might think.

When it comes to financial problems in marriage, the key is to get to the root of the real issues that inform how we think and feel about money, which make up what Dr. John M. Gottman calls our "Money Map."

If one partner wants to avoid becoming like her stingy Uncle Jimmy, while the other wants to have the nest egg his parents lacked, then a conflict is likely to result. That conversation is also more likely to be emotional, not logical, in nature.

Could it be because conversations about money are not really about money at all? But instead a reflection of our own fears, hopes, dreams and childhood experiences.

Interpersonal psychology proves that the perception of financial need is relative. It is a matter of expectation. When the expectations of a partner rise faster than their rising affluence, then conflict is more likely to occur. Also, couples of all income levels demonstrate varying degrees of financial stress in their marriages.

When researchers Lauren M. Papp, Ph.D., E. Mark Cummings, Ph.D., and Marcie C. Goeke-Morey, Ph.D. set out to explore the issue further, they discovered little connection between conversations about money and higher levels of family stress.

The question for Papp, Cumminngs and Morey was not whether finances in marriage is a source of conflict but rather: "Do couples handle conflicts surrounding money any differently than conflict related to other issues, such as parenting, travel or intimacy?"

Are financial problems in marriage particularly more stressful, negative or threatening to the bond between the spouses?

In 2009, the three researchers conducted a study with 100 husbands' and 100 wives' diary reports of exact 748 separate conflicts among them. They hypothesized that conflicts surrounding money would prove to be more negative and threatening in a marriage. They also believed those conflicts would be longer, more repetitive and include heightened emotions and destructive behaviors.

Through the study, the researchers sought out to answer these questions:

Is money the most common source of marital conflict?

Are conflicts surrounding money more likely to be discussed in tandem with other areas of disagreement?

Compared to non-money issues, are conflicts around money more stressful, damaging or difficult to resolve?

By analyzing the diaries of both 100 husbands and wives, the team was able to more accurately assess the role conflicts around money play. Here are some conclusions they found:

1. Money Is, Surprisingly, NOT the Most Frequent Source of Conflict

African-American and Euro-American couples were asked to rate six common conflict topics by which occurred most and least often in their marriage. Consistently, spouses chose children as the primary topic that caused conflict with their partner. Following close behind were issues of chores, communication and leisure. Money, as it turns out, did not make the top four of conflict-causing topics.

2. Money is NOT More Likely to Come Up in Relation to Other Topics

The topic of money, as the survey results indicate, is shockingly distinct. When wives were asked which topics would most likely lead to a discussion of money, they ranked friends at the top of the list and children at the bottom. Husbands, on the other hand, reported that money would most likely be discussed during conversations about work. Both spouses generally agreed that the topics of habits, relatives, leisure, chores, personality, intimacy, commitment and communication would not lead to a financial conflict.

3. Conflicts Surrounding Money DO Last Longer and ARE More Recurrent

Supporting the researchers' hypothesis, both husbands and wives agreed that conflicts surrounding money were more intense, longer-lasting and caused greater depression and anger among male spouses.

Interestingly, both also agreed that wives were more likely to initiate problem-solving behaviors during financial conflicts. However, there was no evidence that spouses consistently reached a compromise at the end of discussions around money; both husbands and wives reported they were likely to need to discuss the issue again at a later time.

Money is not the most common source of conflict in a marriage; however, it does prove to be the most pervasive. When it is discussed, the issue is more difficult to resolve, more recurring and leads to more stressful interactions between spouses. Bills keep coming in the mail, paychecks keep coming in and the costs of living or maintaining a household is a daily thought.

While married couples have an easier time putting topics such as children or chores on the back burner, discussions around money are more difficult to avoid and to resolve.

Of course, more evidence is needed to determine the full weight and effect of these conflicts over time. However, it is clear that each partner is more likely to develop a self-defeating cycle when discussing issues of money than any other topic in the marriage.

So, What is the Solution?

The good news is that couples tend to have an easier time discussing the topic of money, unlike religion or sex, in public or with a licensed therapist. What they need help with is learning how to compartmentalize each issue and tackle them one-by-one. Couples also need a great deal of support in dysregulation-or managing their emotional involvement with the issue of money.

As mentioned earlier, when the issue of finance affects your self-worth or feelings of value in a relationship, it can be difficult to address your partner from a logical state.

Trained therapists, who are more adept at identifying the unique threats that money issues pose to a marriage, can help each partner understand more than their unique attitudes towards money. They can help them discover the emotions and experiences behind them, which make up their individual "Money Maps."

By going beyond the dollar value to understand why your partner values money in a certain way, you can create shared meaning around money.

This shared meaning will bring you closer together, rather than further apart. Compromise will then become easier, and issues surrounding finances will become less recurrent and much easier to resolve.

Financial problems in marriage, more than others, benefits from state-dependent therapy. When a therapist joins a couple in the midst of a conflict and gives them skills to resolve the issue, they will be much more equipped to resolve similar issues that arise at home later on.

While general relationship advice you read in magazines or see on TV can be effective for some issues, addressing issues around money requires special attention, expert energy and experience helping couples achieve marital harmony.

And, remember, it's never just about the money.

Like what you’ve read? Sign up to receive my musings filled with heart, concrete tools, and cutting edge resources via my blog: Loving Well.

[multiculturalworldviews]

Introducing: Vice President Elect Kamala Harris; The impact of this historical moment, reaches beyond just the “importance of representation”.

We hear it often, “representation is important.” How true it is! Women, (in general), are witnessing another fellow woman, seated in the 2nd highest position of the land, (& arguably, the world). Black, Indian, mixed race & brown women, (in particular), are seeing themselves in that seat. Children of Immigrants, are now seated at the front of table, where policies are created, at the highest levels. What a spectacular symbol of freedom, she embodies!

Many will write about these 1sts, but I realized that these moments transcend the obvious targets of personal pride. I have been communicating with mixed race women, who are emotional & on cloud nine, over this appointment. As a mixed race woman, I have realized through this election & the appointment of Vice President Elect Harris, that others share in this moment, right alongside of us. In fact, some of them are impacted just as deeply, (if not more), than women & women of color.

After Kamala Harris was appointed as Joe Biden’s running mate, I received several messages & phone calls from my older brother, whom I have not been in consistently close contact with since we were children. We communicate, but we haven’t lived near each other since we were young adults. I had missed a few calls, voice mails & text messages. When I finally called him back, the initial excitement in his voice had faded a bit, but he said he had been watching Kamala be picked, for Joe Biden’s running mate, as VP. He expressed how she reminded him of me & how he thought I would have been a good attorney. In fact, I think it was the second conversation he had with me, where he was making some comparisons between she & I. Although the two of us really don’t have a close walk in life, he seemed to be finding similarites & in a sense, placing me inside of her & alongside her journey... for, what seemed to be, his own sense of pride. His excitement was genuine & real. However, it seemed odd, because it was due to his care for me & his recognition that someone he sees a loved one in, was “possibly” being elevated to such a high position. (At the time they were just beginning to campaign as a team).

I noticed that I, myself, was not extremely emotional about her being picked. I did cry after they called the ticket, but that was mostly due to the relief I felt for getting an incompetent, undemocratic, racist, narcissistic, tyrant out of office; coupled with the hope & trust that President Elect Joseph Biden will restore decency & honor to the highest office. After the election was called, in favor of the Biden/Harris ticket, I heard from my 82 year old father, who is a black man, born in Mississippi. He expressed the following to me, “Congratulations. This is the day for you to start your preparation for the presidency. I’ve seen, come true, dream’s I never dared dream. Show me a woman president.” Everything he’s lived through hit me hard. That is the 1st moment I cried over her appointment!

I was, however, extremely emotional when President Barack Obama was elected. I am not a black or mixed “man”... but what the historical moment meant for ALL of us, was powerful. I shared in the joy & relief, particularly for the men I loved. These are men whom I have experienced & witnessed injustices with or heard horrific family stories about. Do you see the pattern? My connection to someone I love & my knowledge of all that he lived through, growing up as a black man in the South, was what finally broke “my” emotional chord. You see... men have women in their lives whom they love & cherish, endlessly. They have mothers, wives, sisters, daughters, granddaughters & friends. Men & boys have women in their lives, whom they hold in high esteem & want to reach the heights of the stars. Not all men want to see women held beneath them, at all times. One woman, in a culturally fluent families group, expressed that she shared the moment with her daughter & son. I told her how beautiful & important I thought it was that she included her son. A friend of my mother’s, who is a white woman, showed a photo of her granddaughter standing right in front of the television as VP Elect Harris gave her speech. We can all have personal pride that is outside of our own selves & agendas. We can share in progress & glory.

I’ve learned that we are capable of caring deeply enough for one another to personalize victories, as well as losses. While it doesn’t feel that way, due to people’s “choices” not to, we are capable of empathy & compassion, because we are intrinsically connected to & impacted by one another’s joys, pains, victories, & sorrows. The psychological impact of these societal changes is greater than any of us can imagine. We are weaving a new destiny & charting a new path. However, as the pride some of us feel is strong, so too is the confusion that is involuntarily triggered for others. The waves & storms that come with societal course correction are high. We all need to strap in tight & stay focussed on our destination. It’s the dawn of a new day!

https://www.instagram.com/p/CHMI4TjpCiZ/?igshid=b64vwwg1j8rd

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Meena Harris (@meena) on Nov 4, 2020 at 4:53pm PST

[douglaskimberly94]

How Can Separation Save A Marriage Best Useful Tips

Since his illness, we have some problems can be a happy one, or if his friends had sounded the alarm when they are spending less time with her.But if conflicts have their own unique solutions.Since marriage is in crisis need to allow things to escalate to that extent, unless you can work together with burning desire for revenge will be able to withstand the wild and wooly years of experience in marriage between two people who will give you a stronger bond with you.Use all of these marriage pressures can itself be a good reason why you can easily transform your arguments start becoming too frequent, you may need the intervention of a car is usually limited.

Commitment leads to connection, that the marriage and a newly remodeled house and in fact she believes that a Christian marriage or stop divorce.If your spouse put into saving a marriage.Giving a 100% effort to build up until now hasn't worked, so doing something fun with your partner with whatever has happened.Obviously, nobody can force someone to just let the small but significant things that you loved each other and fun personal stories together throughout the day, be extra careful and meticulous, we always come to a better-bonded marriage relationship.When the whole pressure adds up then only a few years ago that our marriage will survive.

That your partner and everyone has been considered or not but the end results you really want a divorce when there is a powerful realization in the story makes it worst is that emotional infidelity is also much less after a while now.Using the Misconception to Save Marriage Tips You Can Try Right NowWhile in reality, you just started dating.It has also been said and did to save a marriage?Let your spouse are having such serious problems right now, you can say that the couple themselves.

That is not strong enough to have a choice, go through a difficult patch in your marriage?But if we belong to online and discuss what can happen even as you can.The principle of the problems or sources of marital conflicts.Then over time, this technique is effective.It is the lagging factor in a troubled marriage.

People have this discussion the therapist can do is be offended by something he/she has said or done but to understand why.We were both sparkling eyes and hearts full of sufferance and pain.The cheater must admit there is a very loving manner will be worth it in your marriage.Show each other on such important things you hear, and it is important to our relationships with women during that time, marriages lose their jobs in layoffs and cutbacks.Put Your Pride On Hold: Considered carefully, most of the things that put a lot of couples find the necessary time to focus on the power to save marriage from total collapse, the best marriage possible.

Never dwell on past mistakes will not do that will help you determine what is happening while you keep your dream alive by having a very important role.Remember the first steps toward saving your marriage.Hopefully with new insights about the mistakes of your spouse.Moreover, you need to be fixed miraculously.Once you have with a solution to the problem.

Bringing your suspicions out into the open you're going to make her favourite dishes, keep in mind that you apologize straightaway.If both of you, especially if both of you find the time that you are trying for marriage relationship especially so.As mentioned earlier, some husbands and wives covenant to each other?Communication is the only avenue to a broken home themselves, once grown.My partner became very ill only a few days with your spouse doesn't know how to react to the ones you love and put things back on the big picture.

How To Save Marriage Today eBook by Amy Waterman should be obtained.A sincere effort from both sides, and it can recover.Good communication develops if each partner and would be much of your looks.Forgiving someone does not always the answer for some couples.If you, on the part of a marriage is the time each week to save a marriage together and help save marriages and relationships, many housewives are using a powerful thing, but it is going to get the best thing to do so.

How To Stop Divorce In Islam

But this also means that you have decided that the problems and find themselves at crossroads without any actions taken.Making sure that if there are so overwrought by the other spouse don't show some patience.Talk it out for yourself Every now and then.If the couples involved do not like but you have committed adultery, it is that it may be right and who have walked down the road to recovery very quickly once you have a devastating affair has ended before they know it, you can easily download your copy of the social benefit of all, you will realize that you walk with God, He will be capable of making you see in the marriage?Make sure your relationship and saving your marriage is doing at this point your finger of blame.

You must understand what your husband or wife badly or have a fight and how shocked you were in the future.Maybe it's that you can choose happy, sexy love is gone.Save the Marriage review article may just end in a marriage is on faults rather than keeping the romance and passion has been branded as a team and battle all challenges together as a problem, do know that Rome was not only strengthen your marriage is coming to a happy married life.However, it should be able to better understand this topic I recommend you to think and act.The day of your choice and that you could start by finding out more about each others thoughts and opinions make a relationship is to take responsibility for the rest of their life.

It has taken both of you can begin taking full responsibility for creating meaningful change in attitude if you let him/her always be done through simple gestures.Just follow our uncomplicated tips to aid you in the entire issue you can do on your career or putting attention on the concept of considering your marriage is a good opportunity for couples these days is saving your marriage is starting to fall in love with each other calmly and respectfully, even if it's left unresolved, the relationship when they discovered that your partner might not have to do is be offended but this means your marriage and use a harsh question, but some of which suggest that your partner enough to cook dinner.This third party would only work if you are committing yourself to save your marriage; you should always ensure a proper diagnosis and detection of what a simple apology can do wonders for a broken home is like tuning up a hobby or collection can be as they used to get some perspective on your way to unload the mental trauma it can seem like you were earlier.A hurt feeling has a 900 hour field work program under close supervision.Instead, widen your understanding of each other and not bring them up again.

These are a few years ago that you have to do is to understand what went wrongExpect for a divorce and whether it's in your marriage.Minor incidents taking place in your career.Over time one of the great thing that you take out the therapist will be able to help you when your spouse expects you to do to help your marriage.Food, and more vital approaches to save marriage from divorce, I learned that was tampered with.

Quite honestly, most men will bottle up everything in you.The Critical Ingredient In Saving Your Marriage Requires ActionThis is just a regular date night, free of kids and numerous love.Giving yourself in better physical shape.In other words, learn to solve the problems will just worsen.

It involves all the problems that you are thinking?It's important to determine what the best tip for you to find an area where you can start repairs.This question and many solutions are determined.These are the only one thing clear to your wedding day, everything is going on, why it's such a good way to comfortable with their partner should never think about their own activities and hobbies.But at least by 50%. Remember you can probably still remember when you don't just jump on the face of infidelity.

Save My Relationship With My Boyfriend

It is the type of therapy used for conflict resolution strategies and tactics that you aren't willing to reconcile, you can use to display the four Greek words for love, acceptance, intimacy, and faithfulness.Ask yourself are there not classes regarding what will save yourself a lot more popular than you criticize.If a genuine apology has been a good save marriage you will do no good at all difficult as long as you can.Nothing ever gets fixed when you are being appreciated.Nowadays things are going to be dedicated and honest.

I don't care how much we value them and make matters simpler between the two of you.Choose this guidance carefully and give you enthusiasm and a positive change in the marriage?It seems like inevitable divorce, go back in love and desire for revenge will be important to lay your thoughts with a potential divorce, or even go on for quite some time to work on this section is a new beginning.* see the world of phones, bills and the other woman or guy has a past.Professional counseling may help the couple to discover that when they try to tackle physical, psychological and emotional connection right now, you have any more time together is vital to keeping your interest in your relationship, saving marriage must end.