#the tea is gonna be HOT when vera tells her this

[genericpuff]

living for these kinds of scenes lmaoo

me 99% of the time ^^^

[nessinborderland]

Between Apple Pies and Chocolate Cosmos (01)

Pairing: Aguni x Reader

Genre: Fluff, Character Study

Words: 6.4k

Summary: Aguni first laid eyes on you in the greenhouse. After that, he simply couldn't take you out of his mind.

Warnings: Fluff, Friends to Lovers, Feelings, Eventual Romance, Denial of Feelings, Slow Burn, Other Additional Tags to Be Added

Notes: This was inspired by the wonderful @aghostsrantingcorner ask. For reference, there’s some things in this fic that were inspired by these posts by @hatterstan-shameblog​. This will be 2-3 parts max. Hope you enjoy it as much as I do <3

Aguni first laid eyes on you in the greenhouse.

It was a rainy morning, and the Beach was as silent as you would expect after a night of deadly games and partying. He always took advantage of the silent mornings to have a walk around the place, breathe some fresh air, and – most importantly – attend to his garden.

He had started working on it soon after he and Takeru found the Beach, still in the early days when it was only them. He never saw a reason why he shouldn’t. Since he was stuck there for an indefinite amount of time – since he would probably die there – he might as well keep up with the only hobby that brought him some resemblance of peace.

So, he did it. Every single morning. It kept him grounded; reminded him of who he was.

His Eden – as he liked to think about it – was a medium-sized glasshouse near the kitchens, surrounded by land where he had replanted a variety of fruit trees and berry bushes that he had found around Tokyo. It needed some remodeling, but it was perfect as soon as he was done fixing the broken glass and built a system to expertly use the rainwater. He loved the place. Its variety of colors and smells, the silence, and – what made him the happiest – being able to watch the literal fruit of his labor grow.

It was his little piece of heaven in the hell he was trapped in.

Now, one thing about the greenhouse: no one was allowed inside the place beside him. Everybody knew it. It was not like anyone had any real interest in plants or vegetables but, still, people knew that that was his place. Even the old ladies responsible for the meals knew to not go inside; if they needed any ingredient, they asked him.

So imagine his surprise when he got closer to the glass walls of his greenhouse and heard soft singing coming from inside. It was barely audible, the tip-tap from the rain hitting the glass making it harder for him to understand any words. But he knew someone was in there.

His first thought was to barge in and kick out whoever was disrupting his garden. He could feel his anger grow as he stared at the blurred figure on the other side of the glass, messing around with his stuff. He took a deep breath before opening the door and stepping inside. 

The air inside the greenhouse was warm, with light condensation already sliding down the glass walls. The intruder – a woman, he noticed – was with her back turned to him, humming a song that was more than familiar due to Takeru’s taste in music.

“... lay all your love on– ” you gasped as you turned to him, no doubt startled by his presence. The vase in your hands shattered as it hit the floor with a loud smash, and you let out another startled sound. You crouched to clean up the mess, a row of apologies already escaping from your lips. “Oh my god, I’m so sorry, please don’t move while I–”

“You shouldn’t be here,” was all he said as he stood there, stoic and cold expression looking at you from above. Your face was vaguely familiar to him – like every other face at the Beach – but he knew nothing about you. He noticed when you froze and slowly looked up, locking eyes with him. He saw the exact moment you recognized him, eyes growing wide and mouth agape as you held broken pieces of clay in your hands.

“Aguni–”

“Clean up your mess and leave,” he mumbled as he walked past you to access the damage you had done to his greenhouse. He noticed how several of his previous empty vases were now occupied by small plants and flowers that he had meant to work on that morning. You had just done his work for him. And perfectly, he could tell. Or as perfect as he could expect from someone that wasn’t him. He felt his anger subside. “The chamomile is supposed to be planted next to the tomatoes,” he said as he started carefully removing the small flowers from the vases. “We have no need for tea here.”

“Hmm...I thought you were using those for medicinal purposes?” you hesitantly asked. He kept his back to you, focusing on the task at hand as he waited for you to leave. Leave, however, you did not. "I'm sure they could be useful if–"

"There are only two kinds of people here," he interrupted in a cold tone. "The living and healthy, and the dead. If you're wounded, you belong to the latter. The tomatoes, though, could use some–"

"But couldn't we start an infirmary here?" Your question made him stop what he was doing, and he raised a brow as he looked at you over his shoulder. No one interrupted him; ever. You clearly didn't notice his hard stare as you continued to talk, "We could use garlic and oregano oil for infections, and aloe vera for–"

"You shouldn't be here," he repeated, now in a tone slightly louder than he liked to use. You halted mid-sentence, the small smile on your lips changing into a frown. "I'm not repeating myself. This greenhouse is off-limits. Leave." 

He gave you one last glance before focusing again on his task, listening as you gathered the broken vase. A whimper made him look back at you, watching as you stared at your bleeding finger, droplets of blood falling on the rich soil underneath you. He sighed before grabbing a roll of paper towels from a shelf above his head, turning to hand you one.

"Thank you," you said in a low tone as you accepted the help and involved the tissue around your finger, hissing from the pain.

Only then did he notice what that broken vase had been carrying. At your feet, in the middle of a small mountain of dirt, was a chocolate cosmos. It wasn't one of his flowers, he was sure of that. He had never even seen a live specimen before.

"Weren't those extinct?" he asked before he could stop himself.

Your eyes widen at his question before you looked at him with a soft smile on your lips. He felt the tips of his ears get warm; why in the hell were you smiling at him?

"Mhm, I think so... You can still find them in captivity, though," you said as you gently picked up the reddish-brown flower. You looked at him for a moment before nodding to the table behind him. "Could I get another vase, please? It's just that she's been staying in a box since I got her and I just wanted to– oh, thanks!"

You smiled at him again as he handed you another small vase without a word. Aguni averted his eyes, focusing on your hands as you arranged the pretty flower in its new home. He felt... uneasy, is the word. His usual relaxing morning had been ruined by some random woman with a nice smile.

He didn't like that one bit.

"Well... I'm gonna go now," you awkwardly started as you made your way to the door, before stopping and turning around as if you forgot something. "Oh, by the way, did you...did you do all this?" you asked, gesticulating around you. He nodded once and you smiled again. "It's beautiful. Good job."

With those words, you finally left him alone. 

Aguni was sure he wasn't just blushing in his ears now. His whole face was warm. He never had anyone compliment him on his gardening skills before. Yeah, Takeru told him several times he was good at it, but no one had actually shown interest. It made him feel some kind of way.

He shook his head and got back to his work. He could still enjoy his quiet morning before a council meeting if he was fast enough.

»«»«»«

You were there the next morning.

The sun had barely risen when he approached the greenhouse, a warm cup of coffee in hand while he whistled a tune that had been stuck in his head since he woke up. He hadn't even noticed you until he went to open the door, your voice making him jump slightly where he stood.

"You like ABBA too?" you asked from behind him.

He looked over his shoulder to stare at you. You were sitting under a tree not far away, that same nice smile on your face. You were holding something in your hands – something that he noticed was hot – as steam was visible in the chill morning air.

He felt his ears get warm again; damnit, he hadn't even realized that the tune he was whistling was the same song he had caught you singing the day before. He took a deep breath and shook his head. 

You both stood there, clearly waiting for the other to speak first. He was never a man of many words, though, so he just nodded once in your direction before getting inside his greenhouse and closing the door behind him.

A knock on the door not long after made him roll his eyes. He walked away from his work table with a sigh, cursing at his lack of peace and quiet; all the man wanted was to drink his morning coffee in solitude.

"What?" he asked as he opened the door to find you there, holding something wrapped in paper in his direction. He had noticed the steaming thing earlier. "What's that?"

"I wanted to thank you," you said, almost stumbling over your words as you signaled him to take it from you. "It's a pie."

"A pie?" he asked slowly, raising a brow in distrust.

"Yes, apple pie," you sent him a small smile as you tried to get him to accept the baked good. When he just stood there, arms crossed, your smile fell. He almost, almost, made a move to grab your offer then. "Hmm, Mrs. Yamamoto from the kitchen lets me use ingredients sometimes to bake stuff, and as long as I clean everything after–"

"I don't eat breakfast," he interrupted, arms still crossed as he looked you up and down with furrowed brows. He was trying to understand your intentions towards him. What was your move here?

"Oh, but you should, you know?" you said in a raised tone. "It's the most important meal of the day! A-and this one was made with your apples, so I thought you would–"

"What do you want from me?"

Even though Aguni was a man of few words, he never had any problem being direct. When you just looked at him with big, confused eyes, he was even more weirded out by your manners. You were either being genuine or were a really good actress. He didn't know what made him more uncomfortable.

"I just want to... to thank you for the vase?" you hesitantly answered, arms lowering.

His hand snapped towards your arm before he even realized, suddenly aware that he did want that pie. However, a pained gasp made him release you immediately upon touching you over your jacket. 

"Are you hurt?" he asked, secretly hoping he hadn't actually hurt you.

"I- I'm fine," you answered with a shake of your head. "It was just a small injury from yesterday's game."

"Let me see," he ordered.

You stared wide-eyed at him, and it almost made him backtrack and send you away. Why should he care if you were hurt?

Aguni was about to do exactly that when you gingerly extended your arm in his direction. He focused on your arm as his fingers lightly grabbed your wrist, pulling your sleeve up to show a burn mark roughly the size of your palm. It didn't look too bad, but he could see that you hadn't put anything on it.

"Come," he said as he gestured at you to follow him inside the greenhouse.

He worked fast as he prepared something that would help you with your burn. He didn't know much about medicinal plants, but he knew enough.

He gestured at you to sit on the table as he carefully applied a mix of aloe vera and oats to your injury with light feather-like touches. It was all done in silence until he heard a noise from you, something resembling a barely huffed laugh. He glanced up to notice you looking straight at him, that same damned smile on your lips. He quickly focused back on the injury, hoping you wouldn't notice his red ears.

"I thought I was part of the dead now," you said, clearly referencing what he had said the day before. He grunted with a shrug, now at all interested in talking about his change of ideals. "You know...I never thought you were the type," you kept talking, and he kept addressing your injury. "To like plants, I mean. This place is amazing." 

"What type am I, then?" he caught himself asking. Not that he particularly cared about your answer, but curiosity got the best of him. You laughed at his words and shrugged.

"Hmm, I don't know... the type that punches tigers?" He had to control the will to smile then, hiding his face from view. "I really wasn't expecting tall, big, and stoic Aguni to be so good with plants. I'm pleasantly surprised."

His movements halted for a second as he processed your words. He was sure he was red all over his face now, damn you. He continued what he was doing before he could overthink your words too much.

"Never judge a book by its cover."

He cringed as soon as those words left his mouth. What a corny thing to say. He decided then that your burn was sufficiently covered in aloe, and immediately retracted his hands, turning his back to you as he cleaned his fingers and tried to get his blush under control.

"Hmm, I guess you're right…" you said as he heard you stand up. "Well, thank you again, for this." He nodded and grunted in acknowledgment without turning to face you. "And the pie is here, just in case you want to try it." You hesitated, "...Hmm if you don't want it, you can always give it to Last Boss. He- he caught me in the kitchens once and I promised to bake him stuff if he helped me clean up after. He doesn't talk much and he's kind of scary, but he's nice." He turned to you then, and the expression on his face might've told you that you were overstaying your visit, so you quickly rushed for the door. "Mm okay, bye!" you said as you sent him an awkward wave and left.

He wondered if you thought he was scary but nice.

»«»«»«

A piece of chocolate cake was left by his greenhouse the day after.

The day after that, a croissant.

The gifts were always accompanied by small notes written in pretty handwriting. Some were simple recipes; others were small facts about medicinal plants he knew nothing about. He kept them all, safely hidden in a can on his worktable. A week went by where he expected a new pastry or sweet to welcome him. And, without fail, there it was. He never saw you around though, in the mornings or throughout the day, which he found odd. He didn't even know your name, but he found himself searching for you throughout the Beach, or in the games at night. But he never saw you. He would've thought you were dead if it weren't for the consistent gifts you left at his door.

Now, he wasn't lying when he said he wasn't a man for breakfast. He really wasn't. But after trying a piece of that apple pie, he saw himself devouring almost the whole thing. The same with the cake and the croissant. They were probably the best baked goods that he had ever tried. He was even more excited to start his mornings.

This morning, however, he arrived at the greenhouse to find nothing by the door. No box, no note, no wrapping. Nothing. He furrowed his brows, feeling disappointed, but quickly shrugged the feeling off as he got inside. Your pleasantries had to stop someday.

It bothered him, though. And he hated the fact that it bothered him. He hated the fact that he cared. He spent the day thinking about it. Thinking about you. Where could you possibly be? What happened? He didn’t even know your name. He didn’t know what bedroom you lived in, and it was driving him mad.

He had zoned out throughout the morning meeting, lashed out at several of the militants, and was now fully ignoring Takeru as his best friend went on and on about something he didn’t care enough to even pretend to be listening.

“Mori, hey!” His friend snapped his fingers in front of his face, forcing Aguni out of his thoughts. He stared at Takeru with a frown.

“What?” he asked, taking a sip from the glass of water in front of him.

“The first time all week that we’re having lunch together, and you’re quieter than usual,” his friend said, nodding at the plate of barely touched food in front of him. “You’re not even eating. What’s going on?” 

“I’m fine,” he shrugged, stabbing a piece of roasted rabbit with his fork and taking a bite. He chewed as he thought of a good excuse. Takeru could be annoyingly perceptive when it came to other people’s emotions, especially his. “Just have a lot on my mind, that’s all,” he finally said.

His friend looked at him for a moment before setting his elbows on the table, supporting his chin on his palms. Oh no, he knew what that meant. He was about to be questioned to death.

"Are you in love?" he asked, a slight smirk on his lips.

Aguni choked on his own spit at the man's question, violently coughing as he vehemently shook his head. 

"What the hell are you talking about?!" he asked after easing his cough, throat burning, and eyes teary from the effort.

"Well let's see," Takeru started, hand raised as he prepared himself to make a list. Aguni instantly regretted his question. "You've been late to meetings almost every morning for the past week, you barely pay attention to anything I tell you and I'm pretty sure I heard you hum 'Lay All Your Love on Me' by ABBA the other day. I've never heard you do anything close to singing," Takeru said as he wiggled three raised fingers before raising a fourth. "And a little bird told me that they heard you talking with someone inside your garden house." The smirk on his lips turned into a grin as Aguni averted his eyes. "So, tell me; who is she? Or is it a he? C'mon, you know you can tell–"

"I don't know what you're talking about," was all he said in what he hoped was a nonchalant tone.

Takeru wasn't easy to fool, though.

"You know what, I know you're full of shit, but I will allow it," he said with a fork pointed in his direction. "For now, at least. Now it's dessert time!" Takeru licked his lips as he pulled a tray to the center of the table. "I've been wanting you to try this for days, it's delicious!" He opened the tray to uncover two perfectly sized individual pies. Not just any pies, either. Aguni knew exactly who made them.

"Where did you get this?" he blurted out, staring at the perfectly cooked pastries. Takeru looked at him with a confused look.

"Huh, the kitchen? Where else?"

"Yeah, but who made them?" Aguni pressed further, wanting an answer that would show him that you were actually alive. "Were they made today?"

"Uh, I would hope so, yeah. And I don't know who made them, old Yamamoto just said it was one of her helpers," Takeru retorted with a shrug. "They're amazing, though, you should try it."

Aguni almost felt himself sag in relief. If these were made today, that meant that you were alive. It also meant that you definitely had stopped leaving gifts at his door. He tried not to focus on how he felt a little hurt by it. It was not like you owed him anything, anyway.

He still couldn't stop thinking about you as he finished his lunch with Takeru. He hated to admit it, but he felt bad for how he had treated you when you first met. He felt like he owed you at least an apology, and – not like he would ever admit it to himself – he wanted to see you again.

He always went for a short walk after lunch before having to proceed with his duties for the day. He wasn't exactly surprised to find himself by the kitchens, peeping inside the large double doors to take a look – part of him hoping to see you there.

What he saw instead were the so-called Food Ladies, a group of old women that had taken upon themselves the important role of cooking for everyone at the Beach. They were now chilling and having their own meals after the lunch hour rush. He spotted Mrs. Yamamoto, the oldest of the bunch – that also happened to be the boss – leaning by the doors that led outside, smoking her usual cigarette. She spotted him too, with small dark eyes that made him want to run away. It was strangely similar to the way his grandmother used to look at him when he misbehaved as a child.

“Oi, boy, c’mere,” she called him before he could walk away. The laughs and conversations of the other women ceased immediately as he entered the room. They eyed him for some time, one of the old ladies elbowing another before whispering something he couldn’t hear. His brows furrowed; he hated all that attention.

“Mrs. Yama–”

“You have to learn how to control your militants, Aguni,” she said as soon as he got close enough. “Two of your boys were disturbing one of my girls this morning. God knows what they would’ve done to the poor thing if I hadn’t shooed them away.” He had to control his facial expression; was she talking about you? “That girl gets up before dawn to cook sweets for so many people in this godforsaken place, and that’s how they repay her?” The old woman shook her head, before adding, “The rude boy with the piercings on his face and the odd one with the katana. See to it that they don’t get close to her again, do ya hear me?” 

He nodded once before turning to leave, anger already simmering inside him. He had the urge to use his fists on a very specific someone.

He found whom he was looking for on the roof, as he expected. Last Boss was the first to notice him, eyes going wide as Aguni power walked to the man next to him.

“...and Chishiya– oh fuck! What the hell?!” Niragi screamed as Aguni pushed him toward the edge of the roof before forcing him to lean over it.

He held the man by his collar, almost making him lose his balance and fall to his death. Part of him really wanted to let go. He knew what Niragi was capable of.

“What were you doing in the kitchen this morning?” he asked in a cold, emotionless tone. The younger man looked down before visibly gulping and staring at him with a furrowed brow.

“T- The kitchen?...” he asked back. Aguni took a deep breath before loosening the grip on his shirt, making Niragi yelp and grab his arm. “Look look, it was his idea to go there, I didn’t do anything!”

Aguni looked back at Last Boss, and the man raised his hands while shaking his head.

“He- he just followed me there, I didn’t ask him to come with me,” the tattooed man said, stumbling on his words. “If you’re talking about the old lady, she kicked us out, but we didn’t do anything, I swear.” 

“The girl?” he asked through gritted teeth. He was starting to lose his patience. The younger men shared a look between them before Last Boss started talking.

“Y/N?” he asked for clarification. So that was your name. “We didn’t touch her. Niragi just took some pies and we left.” 

“Is that so?” Aguni asked Niragi, the man still in his grasp. He knew what he was capable of, and he wouldn’t put it past Last Boss to lie for his friend. “Cause that’s not what I heard…” his fingers loosened once again around the man’s collar, making him tighten his grip on Aguni’s arm.

“Fine, fine, I- I might’ve teased her a little,” the man confessed. “But I didn’t mean to make her cry, and we left right after. I didn’t do anything, I swear!”

Aguni considered his words for a moment, before pulling Niragi off the edge and pushing him to the ground. The man cursed something under his breath that Aguni preferred to ignore as he now focused on Last Boss.

“Do you know her last name?” he asked. The man shook his head. Aguni sighed; he would have to check Mira’s records if he wanted to find her room. “You both better stay away from the kitchens and from that girl,” he said, now keeping his stone-cold gaze on Niragi. “Is that clear?”

Both men nodded. 

Without another word, Aguni left the roof.

»«»«»«

It was surprisingly hard for him to find your room. 

Mira had immediately denied any access to her records, claiming invasion of privacy. Which it was; he would probably do the same thing if he was in her place. But he pressed on, and she eventually gave in, simply saying that you lived in the south wing of the Hotel, somewhere on the second level. He accepted the information and forced himself to ask around for you, as inconspicuously as he could. Surprisingly, practically no one recognized the description he gave of you, and no one knew your name. He was almost giving up when finally...

“Oh, Y/N?” a couple of young women said. “Yeah, she lives next door to us, room 237.”

He finally had your room number.

Aguni spent five minutes gathering the necessary courage to knock on your door, hesitating and almost leaving every time he lifted his knuckles against the door. He made a frustrated sound, annoyed with himself.

“You’re an idiot,” he mumbled under his breath.

“Hello?” someone greeted behind him. Aguni froze before looking over his shoulder. There you were. Dressed in shorts and a light jacket, hair in a braid over your shoulder, and a hesitant smile on your face, you looked pretty in his eyes. It really made him wonder if Takeru was right; he did have a crush on someone. “Hmm, is everything okay?” 

“Yeah, uh- hey.” He cleared his throat as he realized he had been staring. He could feel his face getting warm. “Hm, how’re doing?” he asked, before grimacing. Ah yes, Morizono, very nice. You raised a brow as you looked at him for a moment.

“I’m... fine,” you answered with a hesitant smile. “Were you waiting for me?”

“Yes, I- I wanted to apologize,” he cringed at his stuttering. But there it was. Direct and clear. The fastest he could get himself out of this awkward conversation, the better. “I heard about what happened this morning with two of my militants, and I just want you to know that they won’t bother you again.”

“Oh, that was just a misunderstanding!" you say as you shake your head. "I was just talking with Mrs. Yamamoto about that. Nothing happened."

"That was not what I heard."

"No, no, I'm fine, they didn't do anything to me," you reassured him. "Niragi just… said some mean things, but Last Boss stopped him. Mrs. Yamamoto thought they were hurting me and I'm really sorry." You shrugged and gave him an awkward smile. "I just cry sometimes. I even went to talk with Last Boss about it, but I think Mrs. Yamamoto really scared him, 'cause he keeps avoiding me." You said with an awkward chuckle. "But I'm okay, really."

Aguni grunted with a nod, convinced that you were telling him the truth. Still, he wanted those two, Niragi in particular, as far from you as he could.

"If they mess with you again, let me know, all right?" You nodded at his request, and he almost had the urge to smile back at you. "Okay then," he said with a nod before making a move to leave.

"Hmm, did you enjoy today's pastry?" he heard you ask in a hesitant tone. He turned around, confused. There was no pastry waiting for him today. He said so to you, and your brows furrowed. "Uh, no, I'm pretty sure I left you something. Strawberry pie with a chocolate crust?"

"There was nothing when I got there," he said. There were butterflies in his stomach, though. You hadn't stopped baking stuff for him, after all. 

"That's odd…" you said as you bit your lip, wondering what could've happened. "Well," you shrugged, "I'll make sure you get it tomorrow morning, then."

He nodded without a word and watched as you smiled at him before moving to open your door.

"How's your arm?" he blurted out before he could stop himself. You froze by the door for a moment before showing him your arm, skin looking much better than it was just a week prior.

"That aloe mix you gave me helped a lot. Thanks, again," you said with another one of those smiles that made him want to smile back.

"You know…" he hesitated for a moment before taking a deep breath and saying what he meant to say, eyes on your feet, "If you ever want to, you can show up by the greenhouse, sometimes. There are these new seeds I got that might interest you. I don't know, but the offer stands."

He shrugged, like what he just said meant nothing. He finally focused on your face, and his stomach did somersaults as he found you grinning at him.

"I would like that very much." 

»«»«»«

You were there the next morning.

And the next. And the next. And the other one after that. Always with a smile on your face, always carrying a new sweet that you would both share.

The first days were as awkward as you could imagine. He almost feared looking you in the eyes, feeling like a teenager again with all the blushing and weird sensations in the pit of his stomach. All he needed was a smile from you to look as red as one of his tomatoes. 

At first, you would eat in silence, until you eventually broke it by mentioning something about plants, or what flowers you were expecting to bring the next time you went scavenging. Then it would be just you doing most of the talk as he stuffed his mouth with whatever deliciousness you had brought him that day, nodding, and grunting on occasion. He realized he liked hearing you speak. Hearing your voice.

Then he would start working on whatever he had planned the morning before, and that's when you would watch him as he went around his garden showing you things. You would give him ideas from time to time, always following him as you attentively listened to his words. He realized he liked the attention. Your attention.

It didn't take long until you were more comfortable around each other. Then you would both talk freely, almost always about plants. He would be lying if he said he wasn't curious to know more about you, but he didn't have the courage to ask.

"What did you do... before?" you asked one day, about a week into your morning rendezvous. You were sharing a quiche today, and he took his time chewing before answering.

"Was part of the SDF," he said. You nodded like it made sense that a man like him had a job like that. "Nothing too interesting, though,” he said with a shrug. “You?"

"Worked at my family's bakery," you said, a small smile on your face as you seemed to think back to those times. "My grandma taught me everything I know. She made the best quiche in Tokyo, you know? Mine has nothing on hers."

He couldn't control his chuckle then, nor he meant to say the words that got out of his mouth next.

"Takeru would love to hear that."

"Who?" you asked, brow raised as you chewed a piece of the salty pastry. There were flakes of crust on the corner of your mouth, and he had to control the urge to wipe them away with his thumb. He shook his head instead.

"Just a friend from… from back home," he said. "The man can't cook to save his life but bakes one hell of a quiche. Yours is better, though."

You smiled at the compliment and proceeded to eat in silence. He didn't want to waste the chance to get to know you more, though.

"What do you do all day?" he asked. You raised a brow, and he specified what he meant, "I mean, I barely see you around and no one seems to know you, so…"

"Oh, I just stay in my room all day," you said as you shrugged and let out an awkward chuckle. "I'm not really a people person and I spend most of my nights awake, so I mostly just sleep."

"What do you do when you're awake, then?"

"I go to the games, I bake and, well, now I spend some time here with you." He could swear his heart beat a little faster at your words. He felt strangely honored that you decided to spend time with him. 

"Yeah, I'm not much of a people person myself," he said. "Plants are much better, aren't they?" He tried to send you a small smile but immediately regretted it as it felt more like a grimace. You smiled back at him, though, so it probably wasn't as bad as he thought it was. 

"Hmm, you're right, but I don't mind some people."

He didn't know what to make of your statement.

»«»«»«

A month passed when you met every morning. 

Your joined morning routine had taken a comfortable rhythm for both of you, where you ate, talked, and worked without that awkward vibe of the first few days. With you joining him in the work, his crops flourished. It was the best part of his day, without a doubt.

He realized several things during that time.

The first was that you liked to sing while you worked. Didn't matter if you were planting potatoes, watering the flowers, or preparing herbal remedies – that you had eventually convinced him to be useful – you were always humming a tune under your breath, or singing the words aloud. 

The second thing he realized was that he liked it.

He liked to hear you sing so much that the songs would stay in his head for the rest of the day, and he would wake up with your voice still echoing in his head. He had even caught himself whistling at times. Once during a council meeting, where he had zoned out again and was completely oblivious to the fact that he had been humming 'I Want to Break Free’ by Queen until Takeru snapped his attention and everyone was looking at him like he had grown two heads. All except his best friend, that had a knowing smirk on his lips.

The third thing he realized – and, to his shock, didn't surprise him – was that he had totally developed a crush on you.

"So, am I ever going to meet them or what?" Takeru asked over his glass of golden whiskey, taking a sip when Aguni took too long to answer. "You can't keep them a secret from me forever."

"I don't know what you're talking about," was all Aguni said as he took a gulp of his own drink, avoiding his friend's eyes and looking at the moon up high in the sky. His friend really had the best view for late-night drinking, especially after a stressful game. 

"Fine, don't tell me," Takeru shrugged like he didn't care, but Aguni could tell he one hundred percent did. What was he supposed to tell him? There was no relationship for him to talk about. 

"Okay, listen…" his friend's eyes shined as he focused all his attention on him, making Aguni want to hide from his scrutiny. He took a deep breath before saying, "There's nothing to talk about. There's no relationship."

"Ahh, but you're in love, aren't you?" Takeru let out an excited laugh, and Aguni could feel the corners of his mouth pulling up. "In all the years we've been friends I saw you like what? Three people? And you never behaved like this." He drank whatever was left of the drink in his glass before filling it up again. "This one sure looks promising." There was a pause where they just drank in silence before he asked again "So, what's her name? It’s a she, isn't it?"

"Y/N," Aguni mumbled, loud enough for him to hear. Takeru's eyes widen comically at the name.

"The pie girl?!" he asked in a raised tone. "You're head over heels for the pie girl?" He laughed then, and Aguni furrowed his brows in annoyance.

"You know her?" 

"Yeah, I mean, old Yamamoto wouldn't tell me who the miracle baker was, so I went to see for myself. She's cute," he let out a mean chuckle, "I knew you were getting thicker around the waist. She's feeding you well, I see."

"Yeah." Aguni gave him a full-on smirk as he said the next words, "She makes the best quiche I've ever eaten." 

The shocked and offended gasp that left Takeru's mouth almost made him laugh. 

"You take that back!" the man punched his arm once and drank the remaining of his whiskey in one single gulp. "You just ruined my night. Get out and think about what you just said. I'll be expecting an apology by morning."

Aguni laughed then, the only kind of laugh that he could only make when he was around his best friend.

"Yours is good," he shrugged, still laughing. "But hers is better."

»«»«»«

->Next Chapter

[laverna-fanfictions]

Dark Times Chapter Two/ a Thomas Shelby Fanfiction

Well thank you for the 14 notes! I literally didn’t expect that, since I wasn’t really expecting a person to read my story. So, I wrote a second one, this time its a bit longer than the first one. I hope you will enjoy it, I had fun while writing it and can’t wait for writing a *uhm* smut chapter after this one! I seriously don’t know which parts are triggering, not that i’ve seen, so please tell me if anything bothers you so i can put that in the warning section! Hope you enjoy!!!!!

Warnings: Language

Words Count: 1274

 She watched the empty ceiling all night long. She wanted to sleep, but there was something that occupied her mind. She was worried about Tommy, who seemed drinking more than usual and only slept one or two hours a day. He was dear to her, someone special. She never wanted him to be sad or, well, depressed.

That thought kept her eyes open all night long. The thought of Thomas being depressed. He had the right; she knew it deep inside. He had the right to be angry or sad. It had not been that long ago that he had lost Grace. He was alone with his kid Charlie, whom he didn’t know what to do. He was a great father, a father Vera always wanted to have. Instead she got herself a stinky drunk piece of shit who called himself a “lawyer”. But she knew that he hadn’t been a great one since she was at least eight years old. He was the reason why Vera and her mom moved to Birmingham from London. After that glorious life they had, her mother couldn’t bare the thought of being poor and at a night when she was seriously drunk and depressed, she shot herself in the head.

That’s how Ada and Vera met, along came the boys. They watched Vera; they took care of Vera. Polly raised her as if she was her own kid. After that she became an honorary Shelby. No one dared to look at her side, just like Polly, every guy in town was afraid of her. They obeyed her, she was one of the few who could walk on the streets at night, all alone.

Vera turned on her right side, watch the dark night through her large window. Well, Tommy’s window. She was staying at his house, just as she promised. But she felt more alone than she was at her own house. Thomas stayed at his office all day long, she only saw him during dinner. Those moments she cherished because they were chatting just like when they were kids. Laughing, drinking, and dancing. But then he would go back to his office, leaving her alone again. Her huge exhale echoed in her huge room.

She got up from her bed, put on her robe and started walking to the big kitchen. She needed water and something to eat because she couldn’t sleep. She turned the lights on, got herself a big glass of water and sat on the counter. She was humming a song, looking around and thinking to herself. But her song got interrupted by that velvety voice.

“You are singing Edith Piaf.”

Vera glanced at him, tried to hold her grin. “Yeah. I am.” he walked slowly, got himself a new bottle of whiskey and poured a glass. “Why are you awake, Vera?” she shrugged. She wanted to say why but there was something off about him, he seemed truly disturbed. Thomas looked at her from his shoulder, then poured a glass for her too. “Don’t look at me like that, love.” her breathing got faster, and she did not know why. She was nervous. He got close to her, brushed his fingers to her cheeks. “Like what?” she asked, but her voice turned out weaker than she intended it to be.

“Like you are worrying about me.”

“I am worried about you.”

He grinned; it was that famous one. The smile that made every woman faint. The smile when he used to manipulate things. “You shouldn’t.” he took a sip and continued. “Because there is nothing to be worried about.” stop lying Tommy. He caressed her, made her purr like a kitten. “I like it how sometimes you act all tamed, Vera. You make it seem you really are calm, but in fact you are just playing with me.” his comment made her giggle. He knew her too well. “Well, maybe…” she stopped, got down from the counter. “Maybe you should quit all ‘don’t worry’ act and tell me the truth, and then I will stop playing with you.”

“I am okay Vera. My problems should not matter to you.”

“But they do Tommy. You matter to me.”

He sighed and grabbed her by her chin. His face was too close for her to breath properly. “I got everything covered.” his soft breath brushed pass her face, his lips were almost on top of hers. “What is it? What is so important to you that you won’t even tell me?” he put his free hand on her waist, pulling her closer to his body. “Just get yourself a party dress. We are going to have a dinner party here in two days. Mosley is coming.” then he let go of her, leaving without saying anything else.

“Fuck you Tommy.”

She breathed angrily, went back to her room, and laid on her bed. He made her all frustrated again, but it was his signature move on her. He always teased and annoyed her, then he would leave and say nothing else. She put her pillow on her head, pressed it, and sighed loudly. Now how was she going to sleep?

After the morning light disturbed her, she finally woke up. The early hours probably had passed because she felt like she overslept her time. She immediately got dressed and went downstairs, Tommy’s housekeeper probably had breakfast ready for her. But the moment she got down; she met the whole clan.

“Oh, wow the princess woke up!”

Arthur exclaimed; his voice made everybody turn their faces to Vera. They looked amused by the situation, they all loved to annoy Vera. “Fuck you. Give me a break.” she mumbled, poured herself a hot tea and sat down at the table. “What were you talking about?” “The party.” Polly answered quickly. Vera nodded, tried not to show her annoyance from last night. Her eyes were on Tommy, but his eyes were on Vera too. He was looking at her as if she were a ticking bomb, watching her carefully. But she did not react, simply continued to drink her tea.

“What’s the plan?”

“It’s simple. We have to eliminate his guards first, while Vera took him to the bedroom.”

Vera tried not to sigh. She hated the fact that she had to kiss him and play with him, just the sight of him alone made her want to puke all over. But she had to do it, for the sake of her family. For Thomas. She loved him, more than she was supposed to. He always acted flirtatious towards her, but she knew the truth, that’s what she did to all women around him. Even the close ones. She was a stupid who fell in love with him from the very beginning.

“All right, but how the fuck are we gonna get ready in two fucking days, Thomas?” Michael asked, a bit aggressive for Vera’s taste because she knew Thomas did not respond well to aggressiveness. And, just like Vera guessed, Thomas looked at him as if he crossed a line. He did not answer, turned his looks to Polly. “You and Vera should get ready. She will be the one who weakens him for us to kill.” Polly nodded, held Vera’s hand. They all knew Vera could do that. It wouldn’t be first that she hurt someone, but she had never killed before. That was where they drew the line. It was Thomas who was going to kill that fucker.

After they all were all gone, Thomas shifted seats to Vera’s side and caressed her cheeks. “You know, I would never let anything happen to you.” she raised an eyebrow, confused. “Yes, Tommy. I know.” he smiled at her, put a little kiss on her temple. “I won’t be able to get over it, Vera. If something happens with you and Moseley, I won’t survive it. I can’t go through that twice.” she held his face between her palms, looked at him in the eyes and smiled genuinely. “Nothing will happen. You know that. He can’t do anything to me, not if I won’t allow it.” he kissed her again, brushed her hair and stood up without saying anything, leaving Vera alone at the room.

[mydearsaddiary]

Speakeasy Tonight Fanfic: Neil Season 3

Warning: Cursing, violence, sexual content (+16). Some topics may be sensitive to some people.

This is a fanfic based on how I’d imagine Speakeasy Tonight’s Neil Season 3 would be like. He’s a character from Lovestruck voltage USA game app. This is Chapter 6, here’s a link for all chapters:

https://mydearsaddiary.tumblr.com/NeilSeason3Fanfic

Little curiosity notes: So the Dresners are coming to visit! And I just noticed something I did wrong and I have to apologize for! Lucille was pregnant on chapter 3. Just now, while I was writing this chapter I realized in Neil’s route in the app she had given birth already (she had to because she already knew it was a girl). So sorry about that, but we’ll just move on as usual, Cornelia is here!

In this chapter, there’s a lot going on! We’ll have some sweet interactions and some wedding planning. Then, we get into some Vera and Adler problems and dealing with the Ice Box and all that. After, we have some hot stuff (hehe, missed this) and then shit just goes CRAZY after.

As always, please reach out to say anything you’d like! Anything at all! Thank you guys so much for reading this, I enjoy writing this very much! Hope you guys like it! Thanks!

-Candy (6/11/2020)

 ____

              Chapter 6-

                        ♜♞♚There Ain’t No Rest for the Wicked

1926

              -This is such a charming little house!- Lucille said as she entered Uncle Charlie’s house with the baby in her arms. I didn’t judge since I knew what kind of environment she grew up in. The house was small compared to hers in Boston. I couldn’t even imagine how miniscule it would look next to the Dresners’ estate.

              Mrs. Fitz, me and Neil helped Lucille, her mother and Mr. Branford with their suitcases and we set them in the extra rooms. I managed to be a good host with a late afternoon tea while we caught up on what had happened since we last saw each other.

              -I must apologize Miss Granger- Neil’s mother said. I didn’t want to make anything awkward or hold any grudges against a member of Neil’s family, so I was happy she came to Chicago with an open heart.

              -No, Mrs. Dresner. I understand you were just looking out for your son. As long as you’ve come around, let’s just let bygones be bygones- I smiled, a little more forcibly than I would’ve liked to.

              -Yes, I’ve come to terms with it- She said. It wasn’t exactly an “I’m happy for you” or “I like you”, but I decided to take it- Have you had much experience in the high society?

              -Mother- Neil started- I can handle that

              -You don’t know how to act like a proper lady in high society, you’re a man

              -Mother- Lucille said- Whatever Neil can’t teach her, I can help. The wedding is already trouble enough for now, so we should let poor MC take care of that first.

              -Oh yes, of course- The mother turned to me again- I’m sorry, MC. I’m a very traditional lady. It’s hard to compete with these modern times.

              -Don’t worry- I put my feelings aside again. I wasn’t one to let anybody push me around, but you’ve got to pick your battles. This wasn’t one of them.

              -Well, then do tell us about how the wedding is coming along

              -We found a venue-I exclaimed, more excited now- It’s here in Chicago, but far from the main streets so it’s peaceful and the area is nice, it’s greener. The chapel is tall and white and it’s a decent size. I thought it was cat’s pajamas!

              -That’s lovely- Lucille joined in- I never knew Neil to be the wedding planning type

              -Oh, I’m not, really- Neil said- MC is been taking care of most of it

              -On her own?!- Lucille said

              - I’ve got some help, the wedding planner is there-I added

              -No, no. That won’t do it-She turned to her mother- That’s it, I have to spend our time here helping MC as much as I can. She could use a hand!

              -I don’t see why not if Miss Granger isn’t opposed- Momma Dresner said

              -I’m not at all! I could use a feminine hand. Neil just says “whatever you choose is good”.

              Neil gave me a look that said  “That’s not what I was supposed to be saying?” And I just shrugged it off

                After a little while, Neil engaged in a conversation with Michael. He was getting to know his sister’s husband and I think he wanted to fix the bad image Mr. Branford had of him. He held Cornelia while they talked. The image did warmed me up inside, he had gentle hands with his little niece like she was a rare stone he had just found. It made me think that he was going to be a good father again. Behind that sarcasm and cynicism he worried, and he had the natural instinct to protect.  

              -You’re thinking about having your own?-Lucille disrupted my thoughts

              I looked at her, blushing a little- Oh! No! Heavens, at least not yet. I’m still awfully young

              -Yes, I could see you being a bit green. Neil though…

              -Yeah, I know. Believe or not, I know he wouldn’t come up to me and ask to have a baby, though- I thought a little about what to say- Sometimes I get curious about who Neil was before the war, I know he was getting married, so I wonder if he wanted to have a regular life you know… Kids included.

              -Neil was never the outgoing type, even before the war. But he came alive when he was with Alton. He’d be this shy, quiet kid, then Alt would pop up and he’d get into trouble. Even so, he always followed the rules. Alton was… loud, he was always running around, talking faster than his mouth could handle, doing stuff that could’ve sent his mother to an early grave- Her eyes were distant, navigating in the past- Even when they grew up, they were inseparable. They went to school, college and med school together.

              -And then they enlisted in the army together, were in the same unit in France…

              -Gosh- She continued- If Alton had survived the war, I bet they’d be living in the same house right now- She laughed, then turned serious, almost sad- It doesn’t matter if Alton had his parents or siblings… Neil was the one who was closest to him. They were brothers… And then, I can’t imagine what it must be like to not have someone like that in your life anymore. He just disappeared, and Neil had to deal with it

              -I can’t imagine either-I looked down- I always thought of it as just… Awful. But Neil must’ve felt pretty empty. God, he ended his engagement, left Boston and everything else behind. He went through so much.

              -But look at him now, MC-She pointed with her head and I looked at him. He seemed to be having a good time with Michael, he even played with the baby who laughed at him- He’s never going to be the old Neil again. But… Even comparing with back then, this is the happiest I’ve seen him. That’s what I told mother to convince her, you know?- She looked back at me- I told her he didn’t deserve to have someone else taken from him.

              I smiled sadly- Alton’s shoes seem really big to fill

              -You’re not a replacement, you know that, right?

              -I know

              -Just don’t leave or die-She pointed to my calf- And preferably don’t get hurt either.

              If she knew what kind of job I had, she’d be furious. It put me in danger every day. It made me even guiltier about the events that had happened the week prior. But I looked at her with determination and agreed that I’d always be here.

              We moved on to lighter subjects and I showed her some pictures of the flowers I had chosen. She and her mother spent some time giving me tips on roses. Not red because that’s too cliché, but how other colors could really help the wedding be a special day.

              -Hey, how about I take you out shopping for dresses this afternoon?-She sat closer to me- It’d give me an excuse to leave Cornelia to the boys and have some girl time. Plus, I could tell you embarrassing stuff about Neil’s past

              -Hey, I heard that!-Neil turned to us with a funny look on his face- What past stuff are you talking about?

              -Just everything you wouldn’t tell her-Lucille smiled in a little sibling kind of way, mischievously.

              -Great- He turned to me- I’ll have you know she was always known for lying

              -No way!-Lucille defended herself- He was always known for saying my truths he didn’t like were lies. Of course people would believe the older male sibling

              I laughed- Well, I’m believing everything you say today, Lucille-I got up-You don’t mind if I call my girlfriends, do you?

              She said no and I drove her to pick Cleo and Sofia up to go to a bridal shop Cleo mentioned. It’s funny she knew, she didn’t seem like the marrying kind to me. It got me wondering if she ever thought about it.

              Once we were inside I gathered them around like I was giving out a speech- Alright, ladies! It’s time to get down to brass tacks and find the dress, but first, I’d like to introduce you guys to Lucille. She’s Neil’s sister

              -Looks like her brother too-Cleo said- Don’t you come from a ritzy family in Boston? Your dress looks like it was designed especially for ya

              -Well, it was-She started- All of our clothing is always designed for us, unless it’s made by some famous designer then we have our servants buy it

              -Tres ritzy indeed. Think you could get a few designers to make dresses especially for us?- Cleo smiled

              -I could probably work something out

              -I like you already

              -Well, girls- I interrupted- That is the perfect opening I was looking for, since this makes it the perfect opportunity to ask you girls to be my bridesmaids

              -Really?!- Sofia asked- That’s so…

              -Oh, shucks. Don’t be so impressed-I said- Lucille means the world to her brother and she’s been helping me out a lot. You, Sofia, and Cleo have been my best friends since I got to Chicago. I want you girls to be part of it. Also, Hazel and Edith will be involved as well. This means we could take few looks on bridesmaid dresses too!

              We were all giddy for a while, excited about the wedding. It’s funny how I used to dread the thought of marrying. Momma talked about it so often and I always cringed at the mention of it. Then I met Neil and all I wanted to do was marry him.

              -You know, chicas- Sofia started- Choosing wedding and bridesmaid dresses is so much fun they should make movies about it

              -Huh? Movies about it?- I questioned confused- How are you gonna make a flick about just janes picking wedding dresses?

              -Listen to this- Sofia continued- They could film it at a bridal store. The crew would be there and they’d just film reality, just dames saying who they’re marrying and their story and how they go about picking dresses. They could film a dame and her bridesmaids or whoever is with her at the store, make a flick about it and then put it on the screen for everyone to watch the whole process. It’d be fun!

              Cleo laughed- Whoever would want to watch reality on screen? We already have plenty of it in our own lives

              I laughed with them- Alright- I said- Time to make our own wedding-dress-choosing flick here!- I turned to Lucille- You did this once, how did you go about it?

              -It wasn’t so hard for me. I didn’t have to choose a dress, I just told Momma what I wanted and she hired designers to make it especially for me

              -That must cost a pretty penny I don’t have-I crossed my arms- We’ll just have to do it the traditional way.

              -Calf-length dresses are in right now-Cleo said looking around- Let’s just all look for something we think would look good on MC and then we’ll have her try it on!

              We agreed and we all went looking for something. After, I started trying out all the options chosen.

              -Alright- I said in front of the mirror while the store clerk helped me out. I had a dress on that had long sleeves, there wasn’t much detail on it. It was all white and it went down to almost my ankles. It was pretty and Momma would certainly approve it, but the thought of it didn’t please me very much- I picked this one out because I thought it’d look nice. I didn’t realize how long it was

              -It’s conservative but fun-Lucille said- But… I think it’s way too loose. It’d probably be better for a bigger girl, but you’re tiny so it looks like you’re wearing a night gown.

              -And how!-Cleo said- I don’t think it says anything about your personality at all. You don’t hide from anything. You are daring but with class. I think your dress should say the same.

              We all agreed I should try a different one on, so this time I tried one that Sofia picked. It was so beaded it shined. The glow against the white gave it this holy aura, like I could be an angel coming down to earth. You could probably hear a choir behind me vocalizing a church song with all that glow. I’d be sure to be Neil’s beacon of light in the wedding if I wore that dress… That is if it didn’t blind him. Sofia herself said it hurt her eyes, so I quickly had it off my body.

              It was safe to assume we’d be there for a while. And so we were, for hours! Dresses and more dresses were pulled from the hangers and put on. It was fun and I felt like quite the model, but I had started to wonder if I was being too picky and I should just pick one of the dresses I had already tried on.

              After a while we all decided we were hungry and the sun was setting, so I changed into my normal clothes and walked towards the front of the store to meet them.

              -We have to show Lucille that charming tea room you girls always take me to. They have good food there!- I said about to walk out with them when something stopped me in my tracks

              A glow in one of the beads of a certain dress shined bright into my eyes, like a sign- Hey girls, just wait a second- I said reaching for the light that caught my attention. I pulled the dress out looking at it. It had a delicate round neckline formed by white flowers. It was see-through until the chest area and in the short sleeves, except for a thin strap at the shoulders and the little details on the sleeve. Its white grace went down until the calf. At the waist a pattern of beads started that went until the knees. It gave the whiteness a fun touch, or like Cleo said: daring, but classy.

              Lucille walked towards me- It’s definitely fun. It’s graceful, but it’s audacious.

              -It says you’re a modern girl, but you’re still a classic- Sofia added- It’s certainly something I could see you wearing.

              -I think your personality would shine through it-Cleo said

              -I’m sorry, I know you girls are hungry… Maybe we should come back another day-

              -No, no. Chica-Sofia said

              Lucille followed by putting her hands on both of my shoulders- This right here could be your dress. I have a good feeling about this one, so you have to try it on!

              Cleo came back with a few things- She said it! Can’t miss this chance. Besides, here- She handed me some pure white stockings, and these delicate and beautiful white heels- I think you need to complete the look

              -Those are beautiful, Cleo-I said holding on to them

              -Oh, and of course you can’t forget what Mr. Dresner is gonna see later!- Sofia gave me naughty smile, bringing this two-piece undergarment composed of a white lace bra and skirt

              -Miss Sofia, what a wicked mind! Can’t say I’m against though! I bet Neil would love this

              -Hey- She said a little uncomfortable. I’m pretty sure no one wants to imagine their sibling in a sexual way ever- You guys are forgetting about one of the most important things!-Lucille said bringing in a veil. It was floor-length but not awfully long. It had a lace cap and flowers on each side.

              I took it as well holding all the components that hopefully would create what I envisioned- Alright, time to try it all on!

              We decided with the neckline and the details on the dress that a necklace wouldn’t be necessary, so Cleo called the store clerk again to help me out and I went to the fitting room yet again.

              -Okay!-Cleo announced- Dress two-hundred and forty seven, come on out!

              I walked out all dressed up, standing in front of them and in the mirror- So…?!

              They didn’t say anything for a few seconds, Lucille was actually the first to talk- Wow, MC… You do look like a bride

              -Now that everything is put together like that,- Sofia said- Neil won’t know what hit him

              -This has the potential to make my brother cry at the altar- Lucille added

              -Then it must be magical. It’d have to be to make Neil cry, I don’t think he ever cried in his life-I replied

              -He’s not the sentimental type, is he?-Cleo laughed- Well, if that doesn’t get it out of him, nothing will! You look absolutely stunning, MC

              I was smiling with all the compliments, but it was when I actually when I turned around and first looked in the mirror that I understood what they were talking about. I could feel my heart pounding while I looked at me- Wow…-I let it out- I…-I was having trouble talking

              -You okay, chica?- Sofia asked

              -It’s just… With the other dresses, it seemed like playing dress-up- I moved my fingers around anxiously- But this one… This is it. Gosh, I think it just dawned on me that I’m actually getting married- I could feel my voice cracking a little bit- Oh, I love it! Thank you, girls- I said hugging them

              -Hey! You picked it!- Lucille said

              -Yes, but it wouldn’t have happened without your help.

              Soon the dress was in a garment bag and everything else was in a separate shopping bag. We went to eat and set a date to look at bridesmaid dresses before Lucille went back to Boston

              And so it was a few days later we were back and spent just as many hours picking their own dresses. It was still super fun! We decided on beautiful light pink dresses that were tight fitting on the satin top and from the waist down it formed a wide A-line and it ended in a ritzy lighter ruffle bottom. I made sure to get two more for Hazel and Edith and gave them a call that night to tell them about it.

x

              The night Neil’s family went home, I was sitting with Lucille and Cornelia in Uncle Charlie’s living room.

-Say, hi auntie MC- Lucille said- Do you want to hold her?

I hesitated a bit but agreed- The last baby I held was my sister Hazel when I was a kid- I adjusted little Cornelia in my arms. She felt warm and soft and surprisingly peaceful. I held her fearful of hurting the little body- Being a mother always scared me.

-You know… It always scared me too-She said and I looked at her with interest- But… You get used to it. The entire pregnancy I kept worrying if I’d be a terrible mother. It’s all just doubt really. I mean, it is not easy, but once I held her in my arms nothing else mattered. I love her and she’s mine. She’s a part of me- It was clear to me she could talk about her daughter for hours- It’s a surreal feeling really, like “Wow, I’m a mother. That baby, she’s my daughter”. It’s like, all this time you only had to be worried about being a kid and then you’re a parent. It’s as scary as it is thrilling- She looked into my eyes again- But once you’re ready you’ll know, MC. Once you marry, people are going to rush you because that’s what they think a woman should do right after the wedding, but you’ll know.

-How will I know?-I said, this time handing Cornelia back to her

-Oh, you’ll get that baby fever- She laughed

-Yeah- I chuckled. I wasn’t even sure why I was interested in that conversation- Maybe one day…

We dropped them off at the station a couple of hours later. It was late at night and I laid in bed with Neil. I was reading a magazine, but I couldn’t get my thoughts to stop revolving around what Lucille had said

-Penny for your thoughts?-Neil looked at me, I guess I did look deep in contemplation

-Well… Here we are-I opened my arms

-That’s a very astute observation- His sarcastic tone shone through

-I mean! We don’t live together, but have you realized how domestic we are? We lay in bed together, I’m reading my stuff, and you’re reading your book… It’s like we’re already married

-What’s your point?-He closed his awfully boring philosophy book to pay attention to me now

-We never really talked about what we’re gonna do after we marry

-Alright, let’s talk about it-He sat up

I didn’t expect that reaction to come from him, but I continued- Okay, well, where are we living?

-I just assumed you were moving in with me, to my apartment.

-Alright, but you do understand some changes in the place are gonna be involved, right?

-Yeah, yeah… I already came to terms with it- He rolled his eyes, but a slight smile he tried to hide still appeared on his face

-Okay, then. Do you always want to live in Chicago?

-I think this one depends on you more than me. You’re not leaving the Ice Box behind any time soon.

-True enough- I breathed heavily, preparing myself for the next question- Do you… Do you want kids?

He was silently for a few seconds, those seconds felt like hours and I felt my heart beating rapidly in my chest. He eventually replied- To be honest, I don’t see myself as a father.

-Oh yes!- I agreed, a little too quickly- I really don’t see myself as a mother either!-  I  remembered what I felt when I went out with Cleo to the maternity shop to buy gifts for my older sister, how the store was a complete nightmare

…Then why did it sting a bit when he said that?

I knew I was way too sensitive, but not so sensitive I wanted to suddenly have kids. I decided a night of sleep was what I needed. Tomorrow there was a lot to be done at the Ice Box.

                -Alright!-I gathered everybody at the box the next night- This is bad, this is real bad! But we need to decide what we’re gonna do from now on!- In the silence and tenseness that everybody was situated in, I could hear the very faint ‘slurp’ from Neil drinking bourbon, sitting at the bar and facing the opposite way. It would be funny otherwise, but considering the circumstances it got me in a lather. So I walked up to him- Hey, buster, enjoying your hooch?

`              -I am- He raised his glass- Thanks.

              I sighed angrily- Why aren’t you freaking out?!

              -When have you ever known me to freak out?!

              -Oh, you freak out! You get all ‘…’- I stopped talking to imitate his worried face in a mocking way

              -Huh…-Cliff started- So… You see…

              -What Cliff is trying to say…-Vince started- is for you to save the bickering for after the marriage. What are we gonna do?

              I breathed extremely annoyed, walking back to my original position

              -How’s the leg?-Cliff asked

              -It barely hurts anymore, it just gets sore at night- I answered- But since we’re on that subject, Mayor Adler absolutely hates me and he literally keeps tabs on everyone in Chicago. Last time I was there, he walks in and let’s just say he’s very forceful. He’s gonna try to have the upper hand and if somebody overpowers him he’ll kill the,. At this point he’s a bigger threat to us than Vera- I said sitting down

              -So what’s the next move?- Donovan asked- If it’s some help, the boys in blues at the station hate Mayor Adler. Everyone knows ‘is type.

              -Then can you try and find any dirt on him?

              -People have tried before, he is a slick one

              -Just try again. Dig deeper. Anything at all-I asked

              To my surprise he agreed and stayed quiet after. Then Gerald came forward- Should I keep… Talking to Vera?

              -Yes- I looked at him- How’s that going?

              -There hasn’t been any luck in kisses yet to take pictures of. She keeps on saying “I shouldn’t, I’m a married woman”, but I’m almost there. There has been more dates and touching hands and she does feel very comfortable around me

              -Well, as soon as you’ve got that picture you’ve got to hand it to me- I thought for a few seconds- In fact, Sofia, can you take that picture for me when it happens?- I turned to her. I thought it’d be better if that picture was in the hands of someone I trusted

              -You got it, Chica. How about those documents?

              -They’re in the Mayor’s office in his house- I pinched the bridge of my nose- Which means I’m either gonna have to be invited there again, or break in.

              -Alright- Neil started- There’s a couple of problems with that. First, Vera could invite you to tea again, but she’s got security around the big house and if Mayor Adler is near that house… Well, he just tried to kill you and he’ll try again, not mentioning the fact you’ll be in tremendous trouble if he sees you in his office. Second, you can’t break in because, again: Security all around the house.

              -Well, we’ve got to get back in there somehow. What do you plan then?

              -Fine, you’re right. But why do you have to do it?

              -Listen, Neil- Vince started- You gotta understand that MC is a mob boss.

              -I understand things just fine, Moretti-He looked back at me, waiting for me to answer it

              -Because I am the one who’ll most likely be invited there again, unless you want to bring Uncle Charlie back home and have him go talk to the mayor at his house- He stayed quiet this time, his brows still furrowed in worry. I knew he didn’t like it one bit, so I knew I had to say something else- Hey, listen… Remember back when Louis Tibbs was going around poisoning booze? And Uncle Charlie was just as worried as you are? You were the one who told him I could handle it so… I can handle it. I’ve gotten good at this stuff.

              -You like to pretend to be a tougher bearcat than you are, but since I know you’re stubborn and I’m losing this fight, I’m letting you go on. For now.-He went back to sipping his bourbon

              -I’ll see if I can get myself invited to Vera’s house again. Gerald will continue playing her and Sofia will hang around their dates until a kiss happens

              -Yea, so, how am I gonna do that without her noticing it?-Sofia said- Cameras are huge and there are flashes, you know?

              -Already one step ahead of ya- I looked at Gerald first- You gotta speed things up, ask her for a date to the Blackhawk- I said turning back to Sofia- I got you a gig there for some time next week, they’re waiting for you to come in and set the date, but I’m waiting until Gerald gives us a night. Then you, Sofia, will be there singing. Find someone you trust to take a picture of you that night, with Gerald and Vera in the background smooching and seemingly in love.

              -You let your creativity run wild, don’t you, chica?- She asked

              -Well, it’s the only way the Mayor will believe she betrayed him

              -What if he kills her?-Cliff’s voice sounded loud in my ears- You said he’s ruthless and kills everyone who goes against him. What if he gets that picture, and he kills her for cheating on him?

              I breathed slowly- No matter what I choose, someone’s gonna get hurt. I’m trying to protect our Ice Box family, I can’t allow myself to worry about the well-being of Vera Adler and everyone else and pretend we’re not gonna end up with no blood or no deaths- I looked around- We’ve been lucky before, and I know we’re on the good side of things… But it’s like Vince said-

              -Sometimes you have to get your hands dirty in this business- Vince completed it

              -Not meaning it’ll happen-I continued, but everyone was watching me as if they could read me- Shit, Cliff!- I exclaimed and the whole gang just looked at me surprise- Yeah, yeah, I cursed! So what?- I walked around the bar pouring a drink for myself. I couldn’t fool anybody with the cool boss speech- Now I’ve got to figure out a way Vera doesn’t get killed in the process, just hopefully very fucked.

              -Woah!- Vince said and people around me were grinning. Even Neil has a smile on his face

              -Will you guys stop looking at me like you’ve never seen a gal curse before?!-I drank again- Alright, Gerald. Here’s the deal, bring her to your house to spend the night with you after that date

              -Wait, wait… You want me to sleep with her?

              -No, you don’t need to make whoopee with her, just make sure she spends the night there. I’ll make sure the photo is in his hands that night and by then she’ll know to stay away from him because she knows what he’s like.

              -How about the documents?- He asked- When can I stop playing her?

              -I have until the date night to get them since my only way of going into the mayor’s house is to be invited there by Vera- I took the last sip of my drink- Alright, Gerald invite her to the Blackhawk next week, Sofia gets the picture and remember her face has to be very clear in it and Gerald’s not- She nodded and I continued- Before then I get the documents about the Broiler and it’s freed. Vera has no hold over it and she’s not the mayor’s wife anymore.

              -Alright, lassie-Donovan started- That takes care of ‘er. But after that, Mayor Adler is still the mayor

              -Yeah, I know. But one thing at a time, Donovan. First we make sure Vera is not a problem ever again. Then we focus on Adler.

x

              That night I stayed over Neil’s apartment. I stepped out of the bathtub and was looking at myself in the mirror. It got me thinking… There was no family here in Chicago anymore. I was busy with the wedding, but me and Neil decided to put the planning off for this week to focus on our Mr. and Mrs. Adler problem.

              However, that night felt peaceful. I usually got myself so worked up about problems and so busy with everything. Proof of it was that I kept getting sick. I decided to push that out of my mind for the time being and… Relax.

              I breathed in an out for a couple of times, focusing my attention on myself for the time being. So I opened my eyes and there I was on the mirror again- Miss Granger…-I started whispering to myself- It’s just you and Neil in this apartment tonight… You haven’t been in a nice date in good little while- I walked over to the lingerie I had- This is sexy, but you’ve got this new pajamas and you know Neil loves pajamas on you. So… How about you-I pointed at the mirror- and me, wear this and cook a nice little late night dinner where he has to stare at us in this outfit throughout the entire meal, while we know he’ll be hungry for something else?- I giggled at my silly acting, but the last few days sparked a flare in me that soon turned into my body getting hot to have that man for myself that night. So I made up my mind to make him crazy for me- Oh, we have a wicked mind don’t we?

              The pajamas I put on weren’t pants like the ones I wore before. This one was spicy, something dangerously new. It was a gown that went down to right above my knees, the right choice to show my toned legs. It was loose and flowy on the bottom, which means it was easy to pull up, but from the waist up it was tight, and the lack of anything underneath made the cloth hang on to every curve and detail of my breasts, just as if they were nude, but the tease of a thin cloth on them. A little thin bow fell on the neckline as a tease, an attempt the gown had to be proper while tightening the shape of my womanly figure. The thin straps on my shoulders were too big for them, they taunted slipping any time. My disheveled hair added a charm to the image I was about to present the man I loved to. I knew that was the perfect choice to make Neil go crazy.

              I heard him in the bedroom, announced from outside the door I was cooking dinner. I made a small plate for the both of us, since I myself was in a little bit of a hurry. I served wine as a romantic thing, even though I knew he preferred bourbon. As I was carrying the plates to the table I heard footsteps coming from the bedroom, so I held them both in my hands, waiting for him to appear

              -I heard a lot of noise and came to see if you weren’t destroying the place- He said looking down at his book- Should I call the fire depart- He paused when he took in the vision of me, well, more like the chest area but… I could see I caught him off guard so it was a win.

              -You were saying?- I said in the sexiest voice I could do, staring him straight into his eyes. However, all he said was a “huh…”, so I laughed and spoke again- Eyes up here, buster. Sit down- I turned around placing both plates on the dinner table- Food is ready.

              -You…-He put the book aside, then he smiled at me undoing his tie presuming we were jumping straight to the action

              I pointed at the plate- Alright with the one-word answers- I acted innocently- Sit down and eat dinner- I repeated myself

              He then stopped in his tracks glaring at me- You want… You’re dressed like this and you want to eat now?

              I nodded, taking a bite off my meal- Yeah… I’m hungry- I said almost in a whisper- Didn’t your mother ever teach you to eat first, then dessert comes after?

              He snorted- You’re playing me and you think it’s funny- There was a hint of impatience in his voice, almost frustration.

              -I’m not playing anyone-I drank the wine, enjoying myself a little too much- I just want to have a nice house dinner date with my fiancé, but if you want we could play chess later

              -Not on your life- He answered sitting down. His tie and jacket were on the floor anyway as he started eating a little too fast

              I smiled and ran my foot up his leg teasing him and then it stayed around in between his legs, stroking his bulge. He was uncomfortable and could barely focus on eating and I felt the most gratifying adrenaline from doing this to him.

              -What did I say about your feet while I’m eating?-He said in a stern tone, his frustration now clear on his voice

              -Something about the cuffs being the Maginot line?-I raised one eyebrow at him smirking- But I was never one to follow rules

              -Two can play this game- He said looking back at me. He still ate his dinner, but with his free left hand he traveled his way up my leg, then he pulled it and I went forward with the chair. My body was glued to the table and now his hands could go up my inner thigh

              I should’ve known. Neil is as competitive as I am and I could feel myself getting way warmer in places I couldn’t say out loud. But I wasn’t about to lose. I lifted myself off the chair enough to grab him by his collar and give him a kiss he wouldn’t forget any time soon. His grip on my leg loosened a little bit and as I sat back down, I could hear his soft panting and hungry eyes letting me know I had won.

              I smiled and went to grab another bite of my meal, but then he was suddenly past my inner thigh and his hands were way inside my night gown. I don’t know if it was out of surprise or because his cold fingers felt good but my eyes closed, my head tilted backwards I let a moan out of my lips that I couldn’t hold in. When I opened my eyes, I cursed in my head for letting him win that one, but seeing his reaction to me let me know it was a tie. He was one second away from going mad.

              -This…-His voice was almost a growl- This stupid table is in the way.

              I laughed lowly- We have to finish dinner- I went to grab my fork again trying to win for good, but he got up and was around the table before I could protest

              -No, we don’t- He picked me up and I smiled wrapping my legs around his waist- You messed with me enough- It was the last thing he said before kissing me

              He carried me all the way to the bedroom and let me down in the bed- I’m just getting started, Neil- I said sitting up, but he insistently pushed me to lay down again

              -No, you’re not- He pushed my gown up to my hips- This was your plan all along, wasn’t it?

              -What plan?- I gave him a side smile- I was just eating

              -This outfit is more for something like this-He said pushing up my thighs and placing his head in between my legs, and suddenly words didn’t matter anymore

              We were in a competition to drive each other crazy and we both ended up losing our minds for one another. Soon he yanked up my gown some more and pulled down the top to place kisses all along my chest and neck, and then got rid of everything else he was wearing before he was inside me and our hips were meeting in repeated motions. I gasped for air as he made a point of moving while looking right into my eyes and holding my head still by my hair, making sure I had no choice but to look back. He enjoyed letting me know that he was the one that was doing this to me. Little did he know from the bottom I could see I was doing the same to him.

              At some point the gown was completely off my body and I was on the top, then I was on the bottom again, then facing the bed, then on my back, then sitting on his lap. Then, I lost track of how much time went by and how many ways we made love to one another, completely lost in our hunger.

              I remember the climax, I remember crying out his name and I remember him whispering mine. But for some reason I must’ve been so dizzy after I don’t remember falling asleep. I don’t even remember if we talked after everything. Next thing I knew I felt the rays of sun hit my face, and my eyes slowly open to greet the morning. It was a sunny day and the first thing I did was smile. My body felt sore and it was a good feeling. I couldn’t help but close my eyes again and giggle as I remembered the events from last night, every touch and every sensation. I turned around and faced Neil who was still asleep. His broad chest went up and down as he breathed, so I turned around facing him to watch him for a few minutes.

              After a while, I got up wearing a robe. I cleaned up the mess we made in the kitchen the night before. When I went back to the bedroom he was still sleeping. I looked at the clock and it was almost noon. So I decided it was perfectly okay to wake him up. I sat on top of him and leaned down to kiss his face all over. It soon woke him up and he smiled once the confusion went away. He started chuckling as I kept kissing him- Morning, buster- Then I met his lips and the kiss was profound. It was pure love. I was madly in love with this man who drove me crazy from the first night I met him. I pulled myself back to stare into his eyes, then his hand reached up as he stroked my cheek, pulling my hair behind my ear. He looked very serious, so I asked him- What…?

              He shook his head- I just… I don’t think I’ve ever been this happy before

              I smiled, kissing him again- You’re such a romantic

              He snorted- Don’t take it for granted, MC. You like pushing your limits.

              -Shut up, will ya?- I said and then kissed him again- You know, this is the happiest I’ve been too

              -I love you-He whispered to me

              -I love you, Neil- I said back to him, kissing him one last time before pulling him to get up- Now, breakfast?

              He adjusted himself sitting up on the bed staring at me, still sitting on his lap- In a minute-He said undoing my robe and pushing it off my shoulders, so my body was nude in front of him

              -Right now?- I raised an eyebrow

              He hugged me pulling me closer for a kiss- Right now.

x

              That day, nothing could ruin my mood. That afternoon I was out with Cleo and I couldn’t stop grinning.

              -You look like the cat who ate the canary. Figure you had a good night with the doc?- She teased

              -Oh, just the best. And the dress is bought, the ring is on my finger, the venue and flowers are picked, we set the date… Just a few more things and a little bit of time and I’ll have nights like these for the rest of my life.

              She laughed as we went around Menken’s- You’re high up on the clouds. I was worried about you being tired and stressed and all with this stuff about Vera and Mayor Adler, but I’m happy to see you like this.

              -I don’t know, Cleo, I have a good feeling. I feel so at peace… It’s like I know everything is going to be alright

              -I bet, kiddo. You are glowing.

              I don’t know what it was about that that sent a chill down my spine. And then it came to me, is it ever a good thing when a Jane tells you you’re glowing? Maybe, but at the moment it didn’t come across to me as something good. For some reason it made me think of the last few months and how I never had time to focus on myself. Which means I could let obvious signs from my body that it something stirred up inside escape.

              -I’m…-I stopped in my tracks, looking at her- I’m glowing?

              -Yea, you’re really shining and all that- She looked back, her smile faded when she saw my serious expression. On her face I could see she realized what it was that got me like this- I mean…! Not the “congrats mommy” glow, it’s the “I was barney-mugging last night” glow!

              But the somber look didn’t disappear from my face- Am I really glowing?

              -Yes, honey, but a good night with a good man will do that. Don’t be all worried. You get all that and then I’ll get like that.

              -I haven’t had my period in so long…-I murmured in an urgent whisper to her- I didn’t have it in November… And now that I think about it, I didn’t have it in October either!- I looked at her- I’ve been so worried about Vera and the whole Ice Box and meeting Neil’s family and him mine, and then they visited and then Uncle Charlie… I didn’t think about it just now!- I was now grabbing onto the dress I was seeing tightly- I am totally knocked up!  

              -Horse feathers, MC! You’re so skinny. It’s stress.

              -And Cleo!- I gasped- I’ve been so emotional, and then I was feeling all nauseous and tired and I threw up last week! Oh, and how my breasts look so nice and how I’ve been… Oh my God, I need to sit down- I said going outside to a bench and Cleo went after me

              -Hey, hey!-She held my arm- You’re getting ahead of herself, honey. It could be all stress

              -And now I’m glowing!-I buried my face in my hands- I am so pregnant!

              -MC!- She said loudly getting my attention- Let’s go to the doctor and have a test done before you freak out- She shook me holding my arms- Listen, I’ll go with you. Say you’re going shopping with me again and if it’s just a scare you don’t even have to say anything to Neil

              -Alright… Yeah, you’re right. It could just be my head. Shouldn’t freak out, right?-I looked at her

              -Not at all. You can’t just puke and then “Woah, I’m preggo”

              I laughed agreeing- You’re right. Sorry, Cleo. Stress and all that. Say, I’ll drive you to the Ice Box.

X

Or maybe I should have started screaming right there. Because a few days after I sat in the doctor’s office with Cleo. That night, I had to put on my best face for tea with Vera and this doctor just sat right in front of me, and had the courage to congratulate me.

              -Your due date will be around the first two weeks of June

              -How?!-It was the first thing I asked

              -I’m sorry, Miss…

              -Granger. And I asked how do you know I’m… I’m…

              -Pregnant?- He said the word I couldn’t say at the moment- Well, there’s a hormone pregnant women produce. In your urine test we took from you, we inject it in a small animal, like a bunny or frog, and then if you’re pregnant that animal will start ovulating, which means the hormone for pregnancy is there. In your case, it showed the hormone is present. Based on what you told me about the last time you menstruated… Yes, first two weeks of June sounds right.

              -That’s absolutely crackers! I… Cleo!- I looked at her, she looked back wordlessly and then I looked at the doctor again- There must be some mistake, I can’t be pregnant.

              -Well, you are, miss. Should be at about ten weeks now. Which comes to a worry I have. I noticed you’re still ‘Miss’ Granger.

              -I’m engaged!- I corrected him quickly, didn’t want the doctor going to blabber to no one about a kid out of wedlock

              -Better hurry that wedding then, miss. You’ll start showing very soon- He got up, looking all respectable- A child to any woman is a blessing. Women are meant to be mothers, so don’t worry about it. Congratulations on your wedding and baby. I would schedule the next appointment with the secretary up front and…- after a moment I tuned out. He kept saying stuff I had to do from now on and I’m sure Cleo was listening to all of it closely for me, but my head was spinning. I don’t even remember how we got out of there and before I knew I was sitting on Uncle Charlie’s couch

              The silence that reigned was incredibly uncomfortable. But… I didn’t know what to say. I mean, what was the right thing to say? The more I thought about it, the further away I was from convincing myself it was true. I kept repeating in my head “I’m pregnant”. But something in my head kept saying “No, Edith is pregnant. She’s the one who was always meant to be a mother, not me.” And then it went right back to “I am pregnant”. After a while, Cleo broke the quietness.

              -I won’t tell anyone. I’ll let you do it- Cleo said- You’ll be fine.

              -Yea… Sure…- I said lowly- I’m just waiting until I wake up and then realize it’s not real

              She sighed- Just give it a little bit of time, focus on the Ice Box and the wedding for now, you’ll come to terms with it.

              I pondered my options for a while. I could sit here and cry or scream or give up. But that wasn’t me, that was never me and I wouldn’t start now. So I made the choice I knew I had to for the time being- No one can know. Not until this whole ordeal is done.

-Are you sure Neil shouldn’t know?-She looked at me worried

              -He’ll be the first to know…-I sat down- After we defeat Vera and Adler

              -MC…

              -I won’t hear it, Cleo. You know if Neil finds out he’ll take me completely off the board. The Ice Box can’t win without their boss. I need to go get the documents and I need to make all the decisions.

              -They can handle themselves, MC

              -I’m sure they can. However, the Ice Box is my business, Cleo. I’m not sitting on the bleachers while my team plays

              -Fine. I’m game. As long as you don’t put yourself in mortal danger, or risk losing the baby.

              -I won’t. I’ll see you at the box tonight?

              -You’ll be okay, kiddo?

              -I’ll be fine, really. I just need some time on my own

              And once Cleo let herself out, I felt the sudden urge to get spend some time getting myself accustomed to the idea that I was going to be a mother. I drove myself back to that maternity shop I visited with her a few months ago. No longer looking for presents for Edith, I walked around trying to pretend this wasn’t such a bad thing. I was looking at some little toys when a clerk approached me.

              -Are you shopping for yourself?- She asked

              I could say no. I could tell her my sister was pregnant and I was shopping for her. I wasn’t showing through the dress and I could just pretend nothing was happening. But then… I figured I came here for a reason

              -Yeah… I just found out early this morning. Doctor said I should be around ten weeks now.

              -Wow!- She laughed eagerly- That’s so exciting, your husband must be so happy, Mrs…?

              Oh yeah, of course a woman is ought to be married to be pregnant- Oh… Huh… Dresner. Mrs. Dresner

              It was the first time I referred to myself as Mrs. Although I loved how it sounded, something bothered me. I know Neil was the furthest thing from the nightmare Momma always hoped I’d marry, but I still seemed to find myself following in the footsteps she always dreamed I would. I was carrying a doctor’s baby who came from a rich family from Boston. Was I losing myself?

              -Are you alright, Mrs. Dresner?- The store clerk asked and I imagine I was lost in my own head again

              -Oh yes! You now… Just emotional. And well, my husband doesn’t know yet.

              -Oh I see, I can help you look around for stuff!- She had an annoying acute voice. I could tell from the way she carried herself she has old-fashioned ideals.

              -MC?- I heard Neil’s voice. My heart jumped a little as I looked towards the door and he was standing there- I was walking to the… To Charlie’s store and I saw you through the window- He walked towards me- Are you sending another gift to Edith?

              -Yes- I turned around to the store clerk giving her a look that said ‘please play along’- My sister is pregnant, so that’s what I needed help with

              She smiled, a little too amused to be aware of my little secret as I turned back to Neil- Do you wanna help?

              -Uh… You see… It’s pretty late so-

              -Nah-uh!- I walked over to him, pulling him to where I was before- You can walk me to the store later. Let’s spend some quality time together.

              -Oh, this is your husband!-She looked up at him, even with an appraising eye I didn’t miss.  

              -Yes!- I smiled- We are good now, if we need any help I’ll let you know!

              - You’re really gonna make me stay in this store with you?- Neil complained

              -Hey, what’s so bad about this store?

              -Are you alright?- He asked- It’s full of baby gowns and it smells like baby powder. Makes me think about the future generations and how we’re all lost in their hands.

              -Alright, your cynical wet-blanket. I’m trying to be happy for my sister- I turned back to see the little newborn clothes- Wouldn’t it be great if you could know the sex of the baby before it was born? I don’t know whether to buy her cute pink stuff or blue- I turned around to see him staring at me, pensively- What…?

              -…-That was his answer for the first few seconds, then he turned his eyes to what I was looking at with a sigh- Why don’t you buy this one?- He pointed- It’s just a white gown, useful for a newborn, leave the gender-specific clothes to her.

              -Okay- I said, going to pay for it before Neil offered to do it himself- See? You can be helpful when you want!- I grabbed his arm to leave once I had the bag with me

              He didn’t reply again

              -Neil? Hello? Calling Dr. Neil?-I asked

              -Sorry. I’m just in a thinking mood. Must’ve been the wonderful trip to a baby store you took me on. First you make me think about the past, now about the future.- He looked at me, taking my arm- To the Ice Box, then?

              -Yeah, I want to hear how Gerald’s going along and then I have a temperance meeting tomorrow. I can get Vera to invite me for tea after and then finally-

              I stopped talking once I saw police officers speeding past us

              -Wowsers… Where do you think they’re going?

              -I guess there-He pointed unenthusiastically. From one of Chicago’s nicest neighborhoods, I could see the public gathering like the president had come to town. Then I realized it looked familiar.  

              My feet started taking me towards the inferno that surrounded the ritziest place I had been to. Neil started to follow me and call my name, but it was like I was in a trance. I made my way towards the street and the people that gathered around to watch. The mayor sat in a stretcher with doctors surrounding him in front of his gracious mansion, talking to police officers and the media that surrounded him.

              -What happened?- I asked one lady who stood there and she turned to me

              -Vera Adler, the mayor’s wife. She tried to kill the Mayor Adler and then left!

              Neil whistled, more amused than surprised-Seems like someone in the hypocrite elite of Chicago got their fair share today. They’re not so different from scoundrels like us- He said getting a cigarette, lighting it up- There’s no rest for the wicked.

              Leave it to this contrary son of a gun to be bored with loud music and people laughing and dancing and be amused by attempted murder

              I turned around and saw the Ice Box’s personal Irish flat foot- Donovan!- I called and soon he came over- What the hell happened?

              -Well, lassie. There was an attempt on the mayor’s life.

              -This much I heard- I whispered- What actually happened? Why would Vera try to kill him?

              -The version dat’s coming out in the papers it’s that the mayor found out she was cheating on him with multiple men and guess what? She is the new talk between the ladies. How can a respectable woman just sleep around like that? They started arguing because the mayor felt so betrayed, then she got a gun and took three shots at him, ya see?

              I looked at him- Alright, buster, there’s more to the story. What actually happened?

              He lowered his voice- Seems like your ‘picture’ got to the Mayor a little early.

              -Gerald…?

              -No. Not exactly- He pulled me and Neil aside- The Mayor knew Vera was cheating on him. But the truth is, lassie, you were wrong. The mayor doesn’t care about being cheated on, he doesn’t care if Vera sleeps around. If Vera steered the other way and kissed women he wouldn’t get her arrested

              -So if the picture we were planning got to his hands, he wouldn’t have cared

              -Turns out the Mayor ain’t big on love and respect, lassie.

              I sighed- I should’ve guessed that. But it still doesn’t explain what happened.

              -Vera was passing off information about the Mayor around. Turns out she wanted to dishonor him or something- He looked around before continuing- That big speakeasy she was building, she was working with Gerald’s gang to expand and paying off new people. All the money it takes to do that wasn’t coming from her pocket

              -She was stealing from Adler- Neil said- Seems like she has quite the criminal mind

              -It’s not just that. Vera wanted to have more power than Mayor Adler.- Donovan continued- She wanted control over him like she tried to have control over MC, like she did with Gerald. So she started spreading around rumors, going out on dates with politicians that are close to Adler. She’s been playing her manipulation cards and people started turning on Mayor, being less afraid of him.

              -Wow- I said- She starts opening her mouth and the Mayor loses his grip on Chicago. His biggest nightmare

              -I ‘eard this from another dirty cop. She also stole information about him. She tries to blackmail him and say if he doesn’t do what she wants, she’ll destroy ‘im.

              -Wouldn’t put that past Vera-I said

              -So Mayor Adler finds himself at risk of losing his power of his city and his woman climbing up the stairs to stomp on him: Stealing money, passing information, literally making the mayor look like a joke to everyone and she look like the queen in the process. She’s been using him and going behind his back-

              -Which is the actual ultimate betrayal- I ended it for him- Here I was thinking it was child’s play, that he would have his heart broken to see her going out with Gerald…

              -The Mayor isn’t a teenager- Neil said- We underestimated him.

              -So,- Donovan resumed- He hears about all this, but for now it’s all just suspicions, he doesn’t have any proof. One of the mayor’s most trusted officers sees Vera and Gerald out on the “date” you put together. He knows O’Fallon is a mob boss and for Mayor Adler, that pretty much confirms the whole thing. So she gets home and they argue, she gets a gun, tried to kill him and then leaves Chicago

              -That doesn’t make sense though. Vera obviously doesn’t know how to shoot and it’s not like her to do that- I said

              -Besides- Neil pointed at the mayor- She would need to be a really good shot to shoot the mayor in three exact non-fatal spots.

              -What do you mean?-I asked

              -Look at it. The bullet holes are in three strategic spots, like whoever shot him wanted to make sure he didn’t die.

              -Which means this was orchestrated- Donovan said- Besides, Vera just disappeared after coming home. Her driver is still in the house and no one saw her leave or at the station. She hasn’t been seen since

              I looked at the whole scene for a second before speaking- For all we know, he could have had her killed

              -We got what we were lookin’ for in the end- Donovan said- Even if it wasn’t the way we planned, lassie. Vera is disgraced. She’s a jezebel who sleeps around town and commits adultery left and right and it’s in all the papers for everyone to see. She will no longer be seen as a respectable lady. 

              -And on top of that- Neil started- She’ll never have any kind of power in Chicago again, since it all depended on her image.

              -If she’s even alive, she just disappeared.-I lowered my head and suddenly felt it spinning. I should’ve been happier that our Vera problem was solved. But something in my gut told me the mayor would be the biggest problem the Ice Box had ever faced- We didn’t get this result because we wanted to. Vera did the Mayor wrong and he completely ruined her and then probably killed her

              -And he gets to be the victim in the end. The poor mayor who was cheated on, got his heart broken and almost got killed.- Neil said- Humanity is a sickening thing nowadays

              Donovan chuckled, though there was no humor in his voice- This ain’t humanity, doc- He looked back at the house- Mayor Adler is as far away from it as possible

              -I’ll get MC away from here- Neil told Donovan- We’ll meet at the Ice Box tonight

              Donovan agreed and Neil started pulling me away. My head kept spinning and spinning and my vision started to blur out suddenly

              -MC!- I heard Neil’s distant, but extremely concerned voice calling my name

              I don’t remember anything that happened after that. 

_____

             Author notes: Yes, Mayor Adler is the true villain of this story and he’s got a tight grip on Chicago. Plus, he’s insane, truly insane. The next few chapters the gang will be trying to deal with a man as powerful as him and they’ll realize they need to go to extremes this time to keep the Ice Box safe. Then there’s the fact MC just found out she’s expecting (our future Alton) and she’s got a wedding to worry about. Besides, let’s just say there’s an Uncle in Columbus that decided he ain’t too old to help and he’s still got what it takes to make his one big move to save Chicago with his little gang before he retires as mob boss. Uncle Charlie is coming back!

Thank you!!

              Candy

[thejennyroc]

Summer With Molly

Olivia Alger

I make lists in grocery stores. Bar of soap, lip balm, peaches. Cake mix, raspberries, strawberries, sprinkles. Morroccon mint tea, canned cranberry sauce, honeycrisp apples, Pink Lady apples, potatoes, exclamation point, frozen peas, frozen brussel sprouts, sweet pink wine, delicious, sourdough bread, honey baked hams, biscuits, sauce, honey, come on. 

Last summer, Molly and I were standing barefoot in the grocery store staring at fruit. 

We had just come from the beach and water dripped off of us onto the linoleum floor. We had been waist deep in the water when lightning struck the shore, where two men in yellow bikini tops watched our things. 

“Hey,” they called, “get out of the lake!” The water sloshed against our stomachs, and behind us was the city, hazy with summer mist and heat. Later, in the grocery store, Molly and I ate peaches and put the pits into our pockets. Everything felt sticky. Behind us, an old woman was checking out the pineapples. “Be careful, girls,” she said. “It’s gonna be a long, damp summer for the Midwest,” she laughed. 

My childhood — canned peaches on toast, barefoot in the front yard, waiting for the mail lady. I loved seeing her face, dark and tanned from long walks through the suburb, and asking if she had a letter for me. Usually, she didn't. Sometimes I'd get something from a friend, like an envelope full of dried flowers or cranberries. 

I had spent previous summers with my brother collecting bugs in parking lots and letting them go. We would keep very still to feel the flutter of their tiny wings against our palms. 

Words I like — damp, peppermint, lemon, honey, grape, twig, leaf, adhere, pneumonia, gypsy, water, wallpaper, snowfall, soulful, television, landscape, receipt, 

Phrases I like — group project, nail polish, wine bottle, hula hoop, water droplet, present day, real time, bikini top, boxed hair dye. . . 

My parents like Van Morrison. 

Words that make me nervous — foghorn, pasta, daytime, listen, science, pretzel, puzzle, help, feed, goggles, me, home, Tuscan, yardsticks? 

Things I don’t like — sleeping, paper towels, becoming aware of my own breathing patterns, feeling my own heartbeat, when my fingers are sticky, when my hands are dry, when I was thinking about something and suddenly I can’t remember what I was thinking about, the taste of honey, the feel of humidity, music that doesn’t say anything, people that don’t say anything, people that say a lot of things that don’t mean anything —

Inside the house, my brother writhed in front of the air conditioner. "Too hot, too hot," he said, "my brain is on fire." We try to help him, but he cannot explain. 

Things I learned in elementary school — how to keep a secret, that when someone asks me to keep a secret it means I can tell one other person and one other person only, how to spell assassinate, how to sharpen a crayon, how my kidneys work, all about atomic bombs, how to run around the block until you’ve run a mile, how to sit quietly, how to stir honey into hot water until it melts, how to make it look like I haven’t been crying, how to pass crying for sneezing, that I should never tell your mom the things your brother asks you not to tell her, that I should never tell my brother the things our mom asks me not to tell him, that honey makes your hands sticky. 

When I was younger, my great aunts from Mississippi would tell me all sorts of things to help me learn.

I learned that being allowed to watch violent movies is supposed to be a secret. When someone tells you they love you, you should always say it back, even if you don’t mean it. Don’t talk to people that don’t want to talk to you, because that’s annoying. Wear earrings that match your sweater. 

Ways to waste time — looking at the ceiling, practicing walking down the stairs without making a sound, wondering why you exist, wondering if you’ll taste and touch and smell and see everything you want to before you die, wondering what happens after you die. 

For my whole life, my mother has worn the same pink bathrobe after she showers. Things the pink bathrobe smells like — conditioner for curly hair, eyeliner, autumn, burning marshmallow root, aloe vera, night cream, shea butter, mangoes, honey, green tea. 

My mom and I love our summertime together, painting our toenails on the front step, watching people go by. I wish we lived in a desert, or near a desert. Oceans are scary because they are so deep. She always says things get worse before they get better, and that she can’t wait to find her true home. 

Tell the truth because lying is messy. Detangle your locks before you brush them. Don’t be a snitch. Speak up for your brother, because he is smaller and more fragile than you. Speak up for yourself but not too loudly, because it’s not guaranteed that people will listen. Always take the stairs. Close your eyes when you get nervous. 

If you’re going to start drinking, make sure you can hold your liquor. Brandy, honey, and lemon can cure a sore throat. And you never want a sore throat, because if you get one, no one will hear you when you decide to speak up.

[lily-the-skele]

First Date Pt. 4

And the final part of @underopenskies and my rp

[pt 1] [pt 2] [pt 3]

“Havin’ siblings can be a both a blessin’ an’ a curse. It all depends on th’ moment. My brothers have always got my back, n’ I’ve always got theirs- but, for as much as we’ve romped and played, we’ve also had our fair share o’ fights.”

“Are ya kiddin’ me? O’ course m’ excited! I’ve wanted t’ be a mom for a long time now. M’ thirty two- I ain’t getting any younger. M’ actually older than my Ma was when she had me.” The cowgirl tucks the completed sandwiches onto serving plates with practiced ease, sorting them by jelly type as they went.

“An’ yeah- th’ daddy’s a nice fella named Hamish Parker. He’s actually out with Greg right now- tha’s my other brother, by the way. Adam ain’t fond o’ Hamish right now, so ‘s best not t’ have them around each other. Anyways- Hamish ‘s a sweet man- older than me, n’ he owns his own ranch up yonder.”

She lays out a few more finished jelly slices on their respective plates, and slides them closer for Lily to put her peanut butter bread onto. “Adam’s a pretty traditional man for bein’ as young as he is.” She hums softly. “He’d make a good dad though. He’s a lot like our Da was- though Adam’s temper ‘s a bit more hair trigger.”

There was a thump upstairs, and Skylar snorted. Muffled voices drifted down to them. “Sounds like Adam wandered up t’ see what Tommy was up to while we were in th’ kitchen.”

Lily beamed as she listened to Skyler talk as she finished another slice. “Heheh yeah, I think it’s siblings’ job to fight. Still it would have been nice to have someone to share things with. Gigi was actually older than you when she found me. Plus she was all alone but she somehow managed to raise me well.”

Lily tilted her head and glanced up at Skyler with a puzzled look. “Oh, why doesn’t Adam like Hamish? It sounds like you two are happy together.” She chewed on her thumb, a worried expression on her face. she hoped she’d never have to see Adam when someone set off his temper. Angry people generally made her nervous. She jumped at the thump and she glanced up at the ceiling. “I hope no one got hurt.”

“Pretty much. Ma was forty two when she had the triplets, n’ tha’ was rough on her body. I want t’ have lots o’ kids- I jus’ didn’t get th’ chance t’ start lookin’ for a man early, ‘cause i had t’ help Ma with my brothers.”

“Ahhh, Adam’s pretty traditional for his age. And he’s protective- I might be twelve years older, n’ he might be th’ baby o’ th’ family, but he tends t’ get an older brother mentality about him sometimes, n’ it makes him a bit short tempered when it comes t’ us. And… well, m’ pregnant, th’ baby was an accident, n’ I ain’t known Hamish for very long. So Adam was kinda… Okay, very, very upset on my behalf. Hamish’s a good fella though- very excited t’ be a daddy. Adam’s just gotta get over himself- he’s excited t’ be an Uncle, he’s just… old school, for such a young fella.” She hums and gives her a thoughtful look. “And nah- the boys ain’t gonna hurt each other. Thomas ‘s squirly- he’s hard t’ pin down, if they’re rough housin’ up there.”

Lily had a small frown on her face as she took in this information. “You would think he would be happy that Hamish is taking responsibility instead of running off.” She let out a small huff, but her smile returned. “Well, I’m happy for you Miss Skyler. Maybe I can get Adam to lighten up a touch.” She chuckled. “At least he hasn’t lost his playfulness.” She finished off a couple of more sandwiches.  

“I think he’s more worried about Hamish runnin’ off when I’m eight months along.” Skylar shrugs. “I don’t think Haz is th’ type, t’ be honest. He’s real excited.” “That’d be a real miracle if ya could, sugar.” She chuckles gently, listening to the sounds of her brothers roughhousing on the stairs. They were making their way back down to join them- so she just hoped they behaved once they got into the kitchen. “Adam’s probably the tightest wound twenty year old I’ve ever met- but yeah, he ain’t lost that playful side. We ruffle his feathers often enough t’ ensure he keeps it.”

Lily giggled and gave Skyler a playful wink. “Just you wait, I’ll use my my feminine charms on him and he’ll be putty in my hands.”

She glanced towards the stairs. “Let’s hope they don’t end up falling down the stairs from all their rough housing.” She blinked and turned back to Skylar, eye sockets widening slightly. “I’m two years older than him?” She couldn’t believe it.

“I have no doubt.” Skylar winked back. “Ya technically older than all three o’ my little brothers, sweetheart. An’ don’t worry- if they fall down, ‘s not the first time they’ve done it.” She finished up with the jelly, and slid the plates over to her, before resting her chin on her palm with a curious hum. “S’ not a bad thing t’ be older than y’ boyfriend, or the same in reverse. Hamish is older than me by quite a lot.”

And if he gets hurt, that just means I can make him feel better, Lily thought with a grin. She chuckled sheepishly as she finished up the rest of the sandwiches. “I kinda assumed he was older.” She gave Skylar a curious look before hesitantly asking, “How old is Hamish?”

“Adam tends t’ act like he’s older- it surprises a lot o’ folks t’ find out how young he is. Surprises a lot o’ folks t’ find out he’s actually th’ youngest, actually.” “Hamish is forty seven years old.” And she was thirty two- so there was a bit of an age gap. Well- alright, a little bit more than just a little bit.

“Yeah, people tend to think I’m younger than I really am. Some people even thought Gigi was my grandma. Hoo boy did they get an earful.” Lily chuckled. “Oh wowie, that is quite an age gap. Well as long as you two are happy and love each other, who cares about age?”

“Someone did that t’ my Ma’ once. Thought tha’ my brothers were my sons, and that they were her grandkids- Ohhh boy, she was steamin’ like a tea-kettle.”

“Fifteen years ‘s a bit o’ an age gap.” She agrees. “But we’re happy, n’ we love each other.”

“I smell peanut butter!” The short cowboy strutting into the kitchen was practically tiny compared to the rest of the skeletons Lily had seen today. He looked a lot like Vera, and lacked horns like his two other siblings had. His legs were well muscles, but he seemed petite and fragile compared to Skylar or Adam. He nudged his glasses up the bridge of his nose, and scooted over to the kitchen sink to wash his hands. “Hi!” He greeted Lily. “I’m Thomas! Ya can call me Tommy though. Adam told me you’re dating now? Golly- ya really are pretty jus’ like he said you are, ain’t ya?”

“Oh sure, blab about everythin’ I tell ya.”

“Well,” Vera chimed in as she squeezed in past Adam, “It’s not like he’s lyin’, is he? Ya lil’ girlfriend ‘s a real cute one.”

Lily giggled and smiled at Skylar. “If Gigi and Ms Vera became friends they would be a force to be reckoned with.”

She glanced over at Thomas and replied, “Yep, we made a whole bunch of peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. I think we made enough to feed a whole army!”

She let out a nervous laugh. “O-oh gosh, th-thank you. It’s nice to meet you Tommy.” She squeaked, her skull turning a bright pink and she hid her face in her hands. “Stooop you’re making me blush!” She wasn’t used to getting so many compliments at once. Though she was secretly happy that Adam was bragging about her to his brother.

“Maybe not a whole army since Adam’s here. He’s gonna probably eat half o’ those on his own. An’ Lily? Ya got a cute blush too. Adam sure wasn’t lyin’.”

“Ain’t my fault m’ a large man.”

“Got a lot o’ space t’ fill,” Vera said with a grin.

The McQuillins file around the kitchen table, taking seats, and waiting as Skylar urged Lily’s blushing little self to join them. Adam left a seat open next to him for Lily to sit next to him.

“A’right- lets get sandwiches for everyone.” Plates were passed around the table, before Skylar brought over the platters of various sandwiches, resting them on the table for everyone to choose from.

Lily just let out unintelligible squeaks as her skull continued to grow and even brighter shade of pink. Finally she managed to squeak out, “O-okay enough about me let’s eat!”

She took Skylar’s hand as she helped her off the stool and she sat down next to Adam. She ran into an obstacle when she realized she was too small to properly see over the table. Her skull growing hot she stuttered, “U-um I think I m-may have a problem…”

Skylar noticed Lily’s problem first, and the tall skeleton chuckled faintly. “Bein’ short happens, sugar. I’ll go getcha a pillow.” Or two, Skylar mused internally. A quick jaunt into the living room procured two pillows, which would boost Lily up higher in her seat. She shifts and bumps her hip to Adam’s chair. “Lift, Adam.”

“A’right.” He turned in his seat, and eased one of his hands under her knees. The other tucked behind her back. She wasn’t all that heavy to lift, and he eased her up, and held her there while Skylar got the pillows tucked under her, and then set her back down.

“Well, I can see ya over top th’ table now, sweetheart.”

“Th-thank you,” Lily murmured, still blushing a bright pink. She watched as Skylar fetched two pillows and she was about to move when she suddenly found herself being lifted by Adam. She let out an embarrassed squeak and she clung onto her boyfriend as Skylar placed the pillows down on the chair. She just nodded at Vera’s words once she was set back down, gaze fixated on the table. “Mmhm.”

“Oh my goodness, ya blush so adorably. Adam was right- ya are real adorable.”

“She is.” Skylar agrees as she takes her seat. She crosses her ankles lightly under the table, and reaches out to take a sandwich. “A’right, ya’ll. Dig in~ These sandwiches were made for food, not for lookin’. M’ Thomas? Stop flusterin’ Adam’s girl.”

“A’right, a’right. My appologies, Miss Lily.” The eldest of the boys chuckled slightly, and reached out for one of the apricot jelly sandwiches, eager to tuck into his meal. Likewise, Adam and Vera were also reaching out for theirs- and the plates were well within reach of Lily too.

Lily was beginning to feel overwhelmed but let out a sigh of relief when Skylar called Thomas off. Any more and she felt like she would have fainted from all the magic rushing to her skull. “I-it’s quite alright, Tommy.” She gave him a shy smile.

She reached out and grabbed one of the strawberry jam sandwiches and began to eat it, making small happy noises. She ended up getting some of the jam on her cheeks though.

“If ya say so, sweetheart.”

Adam spotted the jam on Lily’s cheeks, and reached out with his napkin to dabble it away for her, before tucking into his own sandwich. He’d chosen grape jelly.

“That’s cute~” Skylar cooed, nibbling at her own sandwich.

“Shush Sky,” Adam chided her.

Lily let out a squeak and giggled when Adam wiped her cheek with a napkin. “Thanks, Adam. I’m glad I have you taking care of me.” She swung her legs as she took another bite of her sandwich. She giggled again at the exchange between Skylar and Adam.

“I’ll try t’ do my best t’ take care o’ ya, sweetheart.” Despite having sharp teeth, it wasn’t all that messy for him to munch through the sandwich. He was relatively mess free as he finished his first, and started on his second.

“So, Ma mentioned that ya do commissioned plush toys, Lily?” Skylar hummed softly around her sandwich.

Lily grinned at Adam as she finished her sandwich. She would have to ask him in private how he felt about being called daddy. Maybe she should wait until later in their relationship. She didn’t want to jump the gun just yet. Her thoughts were suddenly interrupted by Skylar.

“Why yes, I do! I’m mostly self taught, but Gigi showed me the basics. I have a lot of fun doing it. Right now it’s just a hobby but I’m thinking I can make it my full time job. I even have a couple of regular customers, but there’s one that buys from me the most. In fact he constantly tells me to raise my prices.”

“Well, if ya good at it, an’ ya enjoy doin’ it, then there’s no reason not t’ make it your full time job.” She nods. “Heh. I actually wouldn’t mind commissioning a couple toys for th’ baby once we learn if we’re havin’ a boy or a girl. What sort o’ stuff do ya make? Like… stuffed bears, or…?” She seemed genuinely interested- she’d rather get something handmade than buy something store bought.

Lily perked up, nearly jumping up in her chair. “Oh, it depends entirely on what you want! I’ve had people ask for cartoon characters. But I won’t do anything lewd.” She shook her skull with a pout. “You wouldn’t believe what kind of perverted things people have asked for. Honestly, what kind of skeleton do people take me for? ”

“A-anyway, I’ll give you a special discount! You gotta save your money for your little baby bones. We can discuss the details later?” Lily beamed at Skylar, excitement bubbling in her soul. “I can give you my email.”

“I wouldn’t want anythin’ done lewd anyways, sugar. S’ gonna be done for m’ baby, not for me. An’ sweethearts, folks are only mortal- they’ve been makin’ dicks out o’ stuff since they first learned how t’ draw on things.” She laughs gently.

“That bein’ said, i respect tha’ ya don’t wanna do lewd things. Nothin’ wrong with it. N’ yeah- i’ll give ya my email too, n’ we can chat. But noo, ya ain’t givin’ me a discount, not since this ‘s bein’ handmade.” if she just charged discount rates anyways, Skylar would just pay a little more over as a ‘tip’ for the good work. Because she was wily, and she worked her way around rules.

Lily stammered out, “I-I know that, and I’d be lying if I said I didn’t have those sort of… thoughts too but… But why do they have to come to me for that kind of stuff? I-it’s so embarrassing.”

Lily huffed softly. “No, I insist!” There was a look of determination on her face that seemed to say there was no use arguing with the petite skeleton. “I love what I do, so it doesn’t even feel like a job. I look forward to hearing what you want.” She suddenly turned to Adam and added, “And Adam, you have to tell me when your birthday is!”

“Those sort of thoughts, huh?”

“Havin’ those sorts o’ thoughts ‘s perfectly normal an’ part o’ bein an’ adult.” She hums. “As for why they come t’ you… i dunno, sweetheart.”

“You n’ i are gonna go toe t’ toe on th’ prices, aren’t we?” She laughs goodnaturedly. There might be no arguing with the small skeleton, but there were ways around arguing. “Ya can’t say no if i tip ya real good for a job well done, can ya?” She grins. “Either way, sweetheart, what i want probably ain’t gonna be too big o’ a job. I’ll talk t’ Hamish n’ let ya know what we decide.”

“Whatcha need m’ birthday for, Lily?” He arches a brow curiously. “S’ October the twentieth, though.”

Lily blushed and she squeaked out, “O-oh shush and eat your sandwiches, both of you!” She stuck her tongue out at Thomas and Adam before turning back to Skylar. “Yep!” She had a small look of triumph on her face. At the mention of a tip she let out a good natured huff and replied, “No, I guess I can’t.” She gave the other woman a smile and nodded. “Alrighty.”

She giggled at Adam before bringing a finger up to her mouth. “That’s a secret!”

The boys chuckled and did as ordered, resuming their meals with gusto.

“M’ pretty good at findin’ my way around rules sometimes, sweetheart.” She gives her a soft laugh, and then chuckles.

Adam playfully sticks his tongue out at her once he’s swallowed and cleared his mouth. “Fine- ya keep ya secrets then, sweetheart. I suppose i’ll see m’ when i see m’, yeah?”

Lily gave Skylar a warm smile before sticking out her tongue back at Adam. “Hehehe you most certainly will.”

She finished off two more sandwiches before she deemed herself full. “Heheh those were some yummy sandwiches.” She had tried out the some of the different types of jellies as well as the strawberry. She tugged on Adam’s sleeve and said, “Hey Adam, why don’t you show me your room?” She smiled innocently at him.

“They were very good sandwiches.” Skylar chuckles. She’d finished a little while ago. There were lots of leftover sandwiches too, so Greg and Hamish would have plenty when they got back in. She stood up and collected the plates, intending to do the dishes.

“Here, lemme help, Sis.” Like a good younger brother, Thomas stood and helped his older sister collect the plates- which left Adam free to entertain his guest.

Vera settled back, content to watch her kids do the dishes while she rolled her joints and flexed her fingers, trying to work some of the aches out.

“Oh! Ah, sure.” He stood from his chair easily, and carefully helped Lily down off of the pile of pillows they’d boosted her up onto. Once she was on her own two feet, he offered her his hand. “S’ on th’ third floor. Ya alright t’ walk up all o’ th’ stairs?”

Lily held onto Adam as he helped her down. She smiled up at him and took his offered hand before replying, “I think I’ll be fine!” She turned to the others and chirped, “Thanks again for the food. We’ll be back soon so don’t miss us too much.” She gave a small giggle and turned back to Adam. “Lead the way.”

The rest of the family waved them off with a smile, and left Adam to guide her up the stairs.

“A’right.” Adam kept a firm hold on her hand, though his grip was forever gentle, and guided her for the spiral stairs that went up- and up, and up, and up. There was little wonder why everyone in the family had legs as toned as they did- and rear ends as well. They’d been walking these stairs their whole lives. “You’ll love th’ view, sweetheart.” Adam hummed. “Ya can see for miles from m’ window.”

“O-oh wowie I wasn’t expecting a spiral staircase!” Lily exclaimed as she hopped up the steps. It didn’t appear as if she was at risk of running out of steam. She gave Adam a grin before replying, “I can’t wait to see!” To be honest, she wouldn’t be paying much attention to the view since she had every intention of kissing Adam some more. She giggled softly and blushed a soft pink.

“Mhm. My Da’ and his best friend designed the house, and built if for my Ma. Da ain’t around anymore, but Doc’ Tene still is. He’s a family friend- an’ he’s also the family vet. He’s a good guy.”

At the top of the stairs, Adam takes a moment to orient himself, and then guides her down the long hall. There’s a lot of empty rooms- testament to the size of the family that Vera had expected to have, but never got the chance. Adam takes her to one at the end, and opens the door for her, and lets her in.

His room is sparsely decorated, but has a massive bed covered in dark blue sheets. His closet is full of flannel shirts, and he has a dresser full of folded jeans. He’s got a window, and a small walk out balcony next to it with glass doors.

“Well, this is my room.” He smiles faintly.

Lily looked up at Adam with an expression of awe.  “Wowie, they didn’t build it all on their own did they? That would be amazing. I’d like to meet this Dr. Tene. Being a vet must be a neat job.” She had a little skip to her step as they walked down the hall, only pausing to glance at the empty rooms. It seemed a little sad.

Once they reached Adam’s room, Lily took a look around, feeling a brief flash of disappointment at its sparsity. However, it was quickly overshadowed when she spotted the giant bed. Giving a squeak of excitement she took a running jump, just barely making it and began to bounce on the mattress, giggling.

“They did, actually.” He chuckles softly. “Doc Tene is a nice fella. ‘S a neat job- but a gross one for sure. He handles all sorts o’ stuff that’s jus’ quite nasty. But, someone’s gotta do it- n’ he’s actually really good at what he does.”

He laughed as she took a running start for the bed, and simply followed her. He took a seat on the edge while she bounced around, and lightly rubbed his hands on his knees. “Sorry m’ room’s a lil’ empty. I don’t spend much time in here because o’ work though, so, y’know…” The only thing personal in here was the box under his bed, and that was his collection of… personal lubricants.

Lily stopped bouncing on the bed and settled down next to Adam. “You don’t have to apologize, it’s still a nice bedroom.” She giggled. “Besides, your bed is fun to bounce on and it’s really comfy.” She gave him a warm smile and nuzzled against his arm.

“Thank you.” He leaned down and pressed a kiss to the top of her head. The bone of his heel clicked lightly against the floor, and he shifted with a mischievous grin, before scooping her to his chest. Adam flopped back against the bed, leaving her sprawled out on top of him in his shirt as he lay under her. “Y’know, sweetheart, you’re real cute in m’ shirt. Would ya like t’ keep tha’ one?”

Lily let out a squeak as their positions suddenly changed and she found herself lying on Adam’s chest. Her skull was a bright pink as she stared down at her boyfriend. “Ah– c-can I really?” She squirmed a little. “O-okay. It is a comfy shirt.” She gave him a shy smile before leaning in to kiss him.

Adam’s hands settled gently on her hips, and he rubbed his thumbs lightly into her lower back through his shirt. He gave her a grin as she squirmed on top of him. “I don’ mind at all ‘f ya wear my shirts, sweetheart. I’d say ya could wear my pants, but I don’ think you’d fit.” Maybe in one leg, but not in the whole thing. He leaned up to meet her kiss, mouth working gently against hers as she flushed a brilliant pink.

Lily squirmed more at his touch and she gave a small giggle. “Don’t be silly, Adam.” She clung to the front of his shirt, letting out small squeaks and shivers as they kissed. She leaned into the kiss, wanting a little more. Her blush grew deeper and she could feel her face getting warm. She gave his lips a shy lick and she gripped at his shirt more tightly.

The flick of her tongue against his mouth prompted him to carefully part his lips, his tongue flicking out to gently slide against her own. His tongue brushed over his teeth, the sharp edges making him shiver, and he slid a hand along her lower back. The other slid up, cupping her shoulders, and his ribs rumbled under her like a pleased freight engine.

Lily’s tongue brushed up against Adam’s, a little more emboldened know that she was more familiar with this type of kissing. Her grip on his shirt tightened as they deepened the kiss and she pressed up against him. She gave a small giggle as she felt the rumble of Adam’s chest against her.

Adam’s blush darkened a little bit as she pressed closer to him, and he rumbled again, pleased as his tongue worked gently against hers. He lured her gently into his mouth, careful to part his teeth so she didn’t prick herself on them, and lightly teased her tongue with his lips as his mouth worked against her own. Adam’s hands splayed gently on her back, and he stroked his thumbs along the curve of her lower back and along the small band of her shoulders.

Lily whimpered into Adam’s mouth, the kiss beginning to get slightly overwhelming. She pulled back just enough to catch her breath, panting softly. “W-wowie this is getting i-intense.” She was starting to feel a little hot under the collar, not to mention another place. “W-we should probably take a break before we…” she felt herself leaning back in but stopped herself, “…we get carried away.”

“Mmmm,” he rumbled pleasantly, “I suppose ya right with that.” He was starting to feel stirrings from earlier again, and it wasn’t helping that they were sprawled on his bed. He took a  moment to close his eyes, and he lifted a hand to scrub it down his face briefly. When it lifted away, he was much more composed- at least up top. At least she was short- she wouldn’t feel what he had started in his pants.

“‘S pretty easy t’ get lost in kissin’ ya, sweetheart. Just as easy as it is t’ get lost in ya eyes, as a matter o’ fact.” He leaned up- not to kiss her- but to just nuzzle his nasal ridge to hers with a gentle, affectionate motion.

Lily didn’t want to get up just yet and she rested against his chest. She gave a small giggle as she watched Adam get his composure back. “O-oh my, you’re making me blush!” she replied with a bashful smile. She returned the nuzzle then kissed him on the nose ridge. “I never knew kissing could be so much fun to be honest.”

“Kissin’s a lot o’ fun when done with th’ right person.” He laughed gently, smiling at the kiss to his nasal ridge. He didn’t even mind her sprawling out on his chest- she wasn’t that heavy, so it was a nice, comfortable position for him to enjoy, and for her to as well no doubt. “N’ you’re real cute when ya blush, Lily.”

Lily let out a giggle. “Aww Adam, you’re so sweet to me. I think you’re cute when you blush too. It’s such a pretty shade of blue.” She poked his cheek playfully before adding, “You’re really comfy to lie on.” She gave his chest a soft pap. “I could probably take a nap like this.”

He stuck his tongue out at her playfully when she poked his cheek, and then leaned up to nuzzle her. “Why don’t ya take a nap? I don’ mind cuddlin’ ya for a while, n’ i wouldn’t mind takin’ one with ya. S’ real nice t’ jus’ hold ya n’ cuddle up with ya.”

Lily stuck her tongue back out at Adam and she let out a giggle when he nuzzled her. “Really, you wouldn’t mind?” She hummed in content as she nuzzled him back. “I think taking a nap with you would be really nice.” She placed her cheek against his chest right about where his soul would be. “Hmm you’re really warm.”

“I don’t mind at all, Lily.” He cuddled her close to him with a soft, pleased sound, another rumble crawling up his chest. It boomed in tune with his soul, though his soul’s beating was louder yet when the rumbling passed. “Heh- bein’ this big has it’s perks. M’ usually warm all th’ time.”

Lily let out a small shiver as she felt the rumble travel through her body and she gasped when she could hear the beat of his soul. She blushed as she nuzzled his chest and murmured, “Mmmn a nap does sound good right about now.” As she said this she could feel her eye sockets begin to droop. “Heheh so comfy.”

Adam’s sockets closed, and a content smile slid onto his face. He cuddled her close to his chest, soft pleased sounds leaving him. “Mhm. A nap sounds jus’ right~”

Lily let out a pleased hum before mumbling a soft, “G’night,” before her eye sockets shut all the way. Her breathing evened out as she fell asleep.

“G’night, sweetheart.” Adam was not far behind her.

the end

[nowitsdarkfic]

chapter four (four men and a game of chess)

January 7, 1989. Oswego, New York.

I awake the next morning to the sound of something shuffling in the next room. I open my eyes and roll over onto my back for a look up at the ceiling. It's like someone's sifting flour through one of those old metallic sieves, but it's so close by that I wonder just where it's coming from.

I gaze up at the ceiling, at the boards up there, and for a second, I think I see something move but then again, it's probably just my imagination playing tricks on me. The blankets are warm around my body and I really don't want to get out of bed, but that sound is a little odd, especially since I have no idea where it's coming from inside the apartment. Maybe Lars is awake and he's making something for breakfast.

But I also don't smell anything.

I close my eyes for a second before I lift myself onto my elbows there in bed. I pick myself up in time to watch her full figure take form. I groan inside of my throat and rub my right eye then my left, and then I push my bangs out of the way to see Nerissa hovering over the foot of the bed.

“Good morning, my darling,” I tell her; my voice is still broken from yesterday afternoon.

“The slim and lush boy is awake,” she whispers in a voice so soft, I'd swear it came in on the wind. She shows me that quaint little smile again before drifting closer to me with her hand reaching out for me. Her fingers glide over my face with the touch akin to the edges of feathers. I take a look at her heavy round figure—God, if only she was a real alive woman! I'd want her to call me a good boy for behaving like what Sonia did for me last night.

Her inky black hair streams behind her even though there's no breeze in here. Even though she's as cold as ice, her ghostly body right over my hips and my chest is enough to make me want to surrender myself to her. She brings her milky lips closer to mine and I brace myself for her touch.

She glides over my lips, so light and so soft and yet so cold.

I feel my teeth beginning the first chatters, but I can't resist her.

She holds onto the other side of my face with her other hand: she's got her knees on my stomach.

“I wish you were alive,” I confess to her as she gazes into my eyes.

“I'm alive in your flesh,” she assures me, bowing closer to my face. I close my eyes to better feel her kiss, but it never comes.

I open my eyes to find she vanished. I let out a low groan and figure now is the time to climb out of bed and figure out what is that noise.

Chills run up my bare legs but I'll just have one look out to the front of the apartment before I return in here to put on some pants. But I keep my arms close to my body as I poke my head out to the hall. The bathroom is totally dark, and the sole light in the hall in front of me is the gray light coming in from the kitchen and the front room. Maybe Lars is awake.

I step out of my room and make my way into the front room where I find Lars in fact, sitting cross legged before a black and white checkerboard. On either side of him is Vera and Mr. Lang, both of whom are also sitting cross legged on the floor.

I rub my eyes again as I amble closer to them. I feel the hair on my legs standing on end from Vera and Mr. Lang's cold ethereal bodies there on the floor.

“What's going on in here?” I ask Lars. He turns his head and his face lights up at the sight of me.

“Hey, there he is!” he declares. “You're just in time.”

“In time for what?”

“Pretty intense chess game we have going on here,” he explains; meanwhile, Vera and Mr. Lang are more focused on shuffling the frosty and transparent chess pieces on the checkerboard. They're moving the pieces over the board with such haste that it's making that sifting sound.

“So that's what that noise is,” I remark, pushing a couple of curly tendrils of hair back behind my shoulder.

“Did it wake you up, too?” he asks me.

“Yeah! It sounds like someone sifting a shitload of flour right here in my living room.”

The sight of the board is enough to remind me of Marcia and Sonia and their checkerboard patterns back at their upholstery place. And then, almost out of the blue, I think of Spence. I wonder how he's doing right at the moment given I haven't spoken to him in a while. But I keep my attention on the board there on the floor, right in front of my bare feet and Lars' bare knees, for about another few moments until Mr. Lang moves one of his clear rooks closer to Vera's frosty king.

“Check mate,” he states to her, and she fetches up a sigh.

“That's best two out of three, too,” Lars announces to me, holding up two fingers.

“Man, better luck next time, Vera,” I tell her, folding my arms over my chest. She sighs again before fading out to nothing. Mr. Lang picks up the board from the floor and disappears with it. Lars then gives his hair a toss before looking up at me. I can see him eyeing my ankles, followed by my knees and then my thighs.

“How do you play such wondrous hockey,” he wonders aloud, “with such skinny legs?”

I take a look down at my narrow feet, then my slim ankles, and then my knees; when I have my eye on my thighs, I reach down for a feel of them under my pajama shorts.

“They may be skinny but don't be fooled,” I assure him.

“Anyways, I was gonna wake you up once they were done and see if you want to get a cup of coffee.”

I gape at him.

“I'm out of coffee?” And he slowly nods his head.

“I also want some tea, too,” he adds.

“I think Barney and Billy might have some tea laying around at their place,” I assure him. “I have to go over there anyways—see how they're doing. Just—hang tight and let me put some pants on first.”

“Gladly! I have to get dressed, too. I got too hot sleeping under that blanket with my pants on.”

Once I help him off of the floor, I double back to my room to change my clothes. As I'm searching around for a clean shirt or a sweatshirt of some sort, something at the back of the closet catches my eye. I reach past my hockey jersey and a couple of my sweaters to find it's that checkerboard top Marcia and Sonia had given me.

Ah, yes. That thing that's more of a belly shirt on me than that leopard print blouse I borrowed from my aunt when I auditioned for Anthrax.

After everything that's happened, I need to cut those girls a break. Marcia is hell of a baker and Sonia likes me. And they made me and Lars both shirts and matching pants! But it's been so cold that I haven't been able to wear this thing. But then again, I can always sneak it under something else. And I do: I fasten the buttons and then slip on a black sweatshirt, followed by those tight jeans I've had for years.

Once I have my boots on, Lars enters the doorway right then, wrapped in that big coat of his and with his gloves in one hand.

“You know, I've been thinking about everything we know about Maya and Candace so far,” he begins.

“Uh-huh?”

“You don't think Maya's hiding something about all of the technological advances, do you?”

“Why would she do that?” I straighten myself upright on the edge of my bed and run my fingers through one side of my hair.

“Well, she and Candace come from a rather dreadful household—an abusive stepfather, a distant stepmother—Candace was more than willing to give us some gold nuggets of truth. Maybe there's something Maya knows that she doesn't, like maybe she knows some secrets about it all.”

I pause for a moment.

“That could very well be,” I agree with him, “and maybe their 'surgeries'—” I make quotation marks with my fingers. “—were a mechanism of keeping them quiet. Maybe that's why Brick is in the hospital!”

“Yes! Exactly!”

“Okay—” I stand to my feet and pause again, this time to the sight of the gloves in his hand. “Are those yours or mine?”

“They're mine. I believe yours are in your coat pocket.”

I amble over to the closet again, this time for my coat. And those leather gloves Ellen gave me are in fact in the right pocket. Once they're on my hands, I lead Lars out of the apartment with the key in my pocket.

It's a cold blustery day here on the shores of Lake Ontario, one that might beckon some snow some time in the next few days or so. I can feel it in the frigid wind, like it's cutting all the way down to my bones. But there isn't a heavy looking dark cloud in the hazy gray sky overhead so maybe it's just me at the moment. I hunker down inside of my coat as the wind is blowing through my black curls and blowing some of them into my face. I lead Lars up the street towards the House of Grey, and I notice the front windows are lit up.

They're home. I reach the front step first for a knock on the door with the first two knuckles of my leather bound hand.

A brief pause.

Then the door opens to reveal Billy, who's looking tired but glad to see me.

“Hey, Joey! And Lars!”

“Hey, Bill, how ya doin'?” I greet him, shivering inside of my coat.

“Beat. We were just talking about you guys, too—come on in.”

Lars and I step into their warm house, which smells of bacon, eggs, and fresh coffee much to my delight. Barney's at the kitchen table with a mug of coffee in one hand.

“There they are,” he declares as he takes a sip.

I take off my coat and hang it up on the hook next to the door. Lars opens his mouth to say something when Barney interrupts him with a question at me.

“Did you get our call this morning?”

“You called me?” I raise an eyebrow at that.

“Yeah, at like six thirty,” Billy answers.

I was out like a light last night, but I know I would have heard the phone ring if it did.

“The phone never rang,” I recall for them before I turn to Lars. “Did you hear the phone ring?” He shakes his head, looking just as baffled as me.

“Well, we called to say that your old band mates,” Barney continues, “—Anthrax.”

“What about them?”

He grits his teeth before pursing his lips together.

“—they are all in the hospital right now with Brick.”

“They're—They're down in Syracuse?” I sputter out, and Barney nods his head with his eyes wide and his expression grim. I glance over at Lars and the concerned expression on his face.

“Well, what're they doing there?” I demand to him.

“No idea. But their singer—John, is his name?”

“Yeah, John.”

“John Bush,” Lars fills in.

“He called us real late last night,” Billy joins in, “saying the four of them collapsed—literally collapsed, like fainted—one right after the other. They had been feeling exhausted all day, like not being able to play and everything and then their skin got all washed out, like they were sick, and they fell like a bunch of dominoes. But the rest of the team's been feeling okay, though. Everyone's stumped.”

“Nothing's growing out of their bodies like with him,” Barney adds. “But it's kind of the same thing he's dealing with.”

And it'll probably be a matter of time before things do start growing out of them. Whatever is wrong with the four of them is the same thing that's wrong with Brick and with Maya. It won't be long. Whatever this is it's got to do with all of the cybernetic nonsense that's surrounding us. The fact neither Lars nor myself have figured out what it is of yet makes me wonder even more about it. Surely there has to be a connection.

I take a look over at Lars, who's got his tongue poking out from between his lips. He's got a look of determination in his eye.

“We were actually just gonna go to church,” Billy tells me out of the blue, which takes me aback.

“Go to church? Why?”

“It’s Saturday, too,” Lars points out.

“We're scared for Brick,” Billy confesses. “We were actually gonna go down to Syracuse to visit him again after breakfast and then head off for a prayer or two. You guys can join us if you'd like.”

I take another look over at Lars, and I know what he's thinking.

Let the game of chess begin, I say.