#the washer went out while i was in hospital

[variablejabberwocky]

:) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :)

[thisapplepielife]

Written for @steddieholidaydrabbles.

Let Your Heart Be Light

Prompt Day 17: Lights | Word Count: 1000 | Rating: T | CW: None | Tags: Post S4, Eddie Munson Lives, Pre-Steddie, Steve & Wayne, Good Uncle Wayne Munson, Everybody Working Together

"What in tarnation?" 

Steve nearly falls off the roof of the trailer, but somehow finds purchase and hangs on for dear life, barely escaping toppling over the edge. His heart is pounding in his chest. He really thought he'd be able to do this without being caught.

But no, Wayne is standing there looking up at him.

"Christmas lights!" Steve hollers, as if that isn't blatantly obvious. 

"Figured that on my own, kid," Wayne drawls, and then takes a drag off of his cigarette. 

"Sorry," Steve says, holding onto the strand of lights, not wanting them, or himself, to fall. "Do you want me to take them down? I just wanted to surprise him when he comes home."

Wayne shakes his head, and Steve doesn't really know how to interpret that. No, don't take them down, or no don't stop? Wayne starts climbing the ladder, which wasn't even among the options Steve envisioned being possible. 

Eddie hasn't even been here before. He went from the hospital, straight to a rehab facility that Steve raised holy hell about until the government paid for it.

They created this mess, and Steve wasn't about to let them get by with their obvious plan to just let Eddie just suffer, barely slapped back together. He may never be good as new, but Steve was bound and determined to get him as close as possible. 

And it's been months. It's not quite Christmastime yet, but Steve thought this might be a nice sight when Eddie finally gets home.

Wayne leans against the trailer, and points a finger, "You'll need to secure those a little bit better, or the wind will get 'em faster than you can put 'em up."

Steve just nods like he totally understands what he's being told.  

He's not exactly sure how he'll secure them to metal any better than he already has without doing permanent damage, which he was obviously trying to avoid.

"Hang on, I think I still got the clips I used when Eddie was little. Out in the shed, maybe. I don't know where anything is these days after the move," Wayne mutters, like Steve should know about the clips, or where they might be. 

But Wayne disappears down the ladder, and it takes a long, long time, but he finally comes back with clips that he'd obviously made himself at some point in the past.

They're magnetic. 

Gutters aren't magnetic, and Steve learned that the hard way when he dropped the first one, but Wayne slides a washer inside the gutter, and like magic – magnetic.

And that's kind of brilliant.

"Did you make these?" Steve asks, holding it in his hand, looking at the magnet that's glued on the back.

"Yup," Wayne says with a nod, snapping the magnet in place, then running the strand of lights into the clip. It's perfect. "Old trailer didn't have guttering, but it had eaves."

Steve doesn't know what that means, but he nods.

And they work together, outlining the whole trailer, one clip at a time. It's relatively painless.

"You should sell these," Steve says, "like, the hardware store should stock them right next to the Christmas lights."

Wayne chuckles. 

Steve's serious.

"I'd help," Steve says, and Wayne laughs some more.

But Steve would, he really would. 

It's getting dark, and Wayne plugs the lights in. They look great. They'll be better when it's fully dark, even.

"Thanks for helping, kid," Wayne says, and it's not until Steve is pulling away that he realizes that Wayne made it seem like he'd done him a favor, and not the other way around.

"Well, look at that," Eddie says as Steve holds open his car door. He smiles up at the lights, and mission accomplished.

Several days later, Eddie's on the couch while they all bustle around the trailer.

Dustin is folding over the printed cardstock toppers. Smoothing the crease with a butter knife.

"Will drew this logo," Dustin says, and Steve knows that. They all know that. 

It's an assembly line they've got going after making more clips. Wayne only intervened once he realized they were trying to use a hot glue gun and not the J-B Weld he'd used. 

Once he'd straightened them out, showing them how to make them correctly, they got to work. Now, they're packaging them up. Counting them out and putting them into clear bags, then stapling the cardstock label to the top. 

They look good. 

The hardware store, Melvald's and the Big Buy all agreed to carry them. 

Nancy was persuasive, and didn't mention that they were designed by Wayne Munson. She'd just insisted they were invented and made locally, which they are, and that was that.

Steve hopes half the town buys a few sets to put up their holiday lights, and in the process, helps Wayne and Eddie recoup at least a fraction of what was taken from them after half the town lost their fucking minds, trying to pin everything evil that's ever happened in this hellhole on Eddie's shoulders.

"How many do we have?" Nancy asks, notebook and pen in hand. 

"Two hundred and fifty sets," Robin answers.

Maybe this will work, but if it doesn't, well, they tried. He bought the materials. Wayne insists he'll get his investment back, plus a cut. Steve's not interested in that, but agreed, just so Wayne would let them proceed.

Dustin did the math, and yeah, the mark-up is pretty great, without making them too expensive. 

Nancy already made Ted use them on their house, and she swears he's been telling his friends how easy they went up, no more staples ruining his shingles.

Steve himself lined the entirety of his own house with lights, and sold his neighbors on the clips after they saw the finished product. It really does look great. His dad never hung lights, never had the time, but the house finally looks like a home with them up there, Steve thinks.

It's crazy, but this scheme just might work.

If you want to write your own, or see more entries for this challenge, pop on over to @steddieholidaydrabbles and follow along with the fun! 💡

Notes: Looks like a least one type Christmas light clips were patented in 2002, so Wayne really could have been cutting edge. Never, ever underestimate redneck engineering and ingenuity. I can remember the heavy duty staple guns coming out to hang lights, so if there were clips, they must not have been widespread. (I love a good research rabbit hole, but this seemed like a goofy place to spend any real time digging, haha.)

[xxgoblin-dumplingxx]

can we have more disowned!Jason pls??

Bruce was thankful for the drive. It gave him time to think. Mostly of things to say.

He'd sent a new washer and dryer, only to have them politely but firmly refused. Not by Jason, which he expected, but by you. You explained that it was appreciated but not necessary. And then before hanging up the phone, suggested that he donate the money to a support group for estranged parents. Electronics for the kids were similarly received- albeit less politely by Jason. Jason outright sent them back in pieces.

It was a risk, and he knew that. But by the time he pulled into town and was driving down tree-lined streets he was resolved. He had grandchildren now. He had a son who was happy. A Daughter in law... It was- well. Not a 'normal' family but, why did that matter?

There was a new baby on the way. Surely you had to need something to make it easier? College funds? Was the house paid for? He went through the options over and over. Considering the things he knew from the court documents. How you'd come to have your niece and nephew in your custody. The long sad story that got there.

You were steadfast and compassionate- that he knew. And proud. An offer that felt like charity would be rejected. Because you were doing it- or had been doing it on your own. Caring for your grandmother and then your mother. Fighting with the courts. Running a business. And raising two kids. You didn't want charity.

He pulled up on the curb and checked his watch, frowning. Both cars were still in the drive. Which was odd. Dick had told him you usually took the kids to school and opened the store.

He walked up the front steps and rang the bell. Greeted by the cacophony of dogs barking and Jason grumbling as he lumbered to the door.

Jason rolled his eyes when he saw Bruce at the door. "Not now-"

"I come in peace," Bruce said holding up his hands.

"Now's not a good time," Jason said, picking up the Yorkie before she could bolt out the door.

"What happened?" Bruce asked, heart dropping. Jason looked tense. Stressed. Upset. "Are the kids-"

"There was a break in at the hardware. Y/N was working late doing the books. Local scumbags busted in looking for tools they could sell. And copper. They didn't know she was there, so when she walked out to see what was happening, they panicked. Busted her in the face a couple times and someone kicked her stomach." Jason exhaled slowly. "Boris got to them and scared them off when he heard her struggling. And then. Fuck. As if it wasn't bad enough, his fucking heart just gave out and her dog died."

"Jason-"

"Now is really not a good time," Jason repeated, swallowing hard.

And all Bruce can do is hug him. Hard. Jason never did do well when women were in danger. When they were attacked like that. And now it was one of HIS women. His wife. The mother of his children. And she hadn't been able to call him for help. "Is... everything okay?" he asked, releasing him when Jason started to pull away.

"They kept her in the hospital for a couple days and they want to keep her on bed rest for a while. They were worried about her back and her ribs. And the stress of it all. But- mostly she just... she's worried about the baby. She's worried about the kids. And she misses Borris."

"A good boy-"

"Her best friend," Jason said, smiling a little. "And then he had to go and prove he really did love her more than me... grumpy old fucker."

"I know it's not a good time," Bruce said, not wanting to add more stress to his son. Or risk upsetting you and making it worse for you. "But if you need anything-"

"Just make sure those scumbags stay in jail," Jason said. "Because if I get my hands on them, I'll break their fucking necks."

"At least you aren't going to shoot-"

"Y/N makes me store my guns and my ammo in two separate places," he sighed. "And she moved it after Ty found it- now I don't know where it is."

[callsign-dexter]

Pops is Hurt

Summary: Jake's jet gets shot down. Bradley goes after him and gets shot down as well but ejects unscathed. The temperature is not what they expected and it's snowing. How is their little girl going to deal with seeing her other father in the hospital?

Pairings: Jake Seresin x Daughter!Reader, Bradley Bradshaw x Daughter!Reader, Jake Seresin x Bradley Bradshaw

Warnings: angst, inaccurate medical talk, plane crashes, inaccurate military talk, fluff, swearing

Masterlist

Our Little Girl

Banner done by @callsigns-haze

Jake and Bradley along with Natasha and Bob had been chosen to go on a brief and very short mission. Short as in 1 month or 4 weeks. They just needed jets to get in and get out then come home. They found this out while they were at work before they had to go and pick up their little girl from daycare. Ice wouldn't be going with them instead it would be staying behind to watch the little girl, normally Carole and Goose would but they have and since Goose is going with Maverick, Ice was quick to volunteer to watch his spoiled granddaughter. Carole and Ice agreed to help each other out but Ice practically begged to keep her and she agreed. Bradley, Jake, Bob, and Natasha would be leaving the day after tomorrow, Sunday, to get a jump on things and maybe have them come home sooner. In the meantime, they were going to spend it with their little girl.

Both Jake's and Bradley's alarms blared right next to them. They were quick to turn them off that way they didn't disturb their little girl from her peaceful sleeping. They both got up simultaneously and started getting ready for the day. It was a Saturday and they left on Sunday. Both of them were early risers so it was normal for them to get up early even on the weekend but let their daughter sleep in until 9 AM it was only 6:30 AM. Both of them usually ran in the morning and they would do it together but since they had Y/N they took separate turns never leaving her alone by herself. "You wanna go run first?" Bradley asked Jake in a voice still laced with sleep that Jake loved so much.

"Yes and then you can go when I get back." He said and Bradley nodded. Bradley always took a little bit to wake up so he always offered to stay behind while Jake went. They kissed each other and Bradley started to head downstairs to start a pot of coffee while Jake got changed in his running gear. As he was heading downstairs he stopped by their daughter's room and checked in on her. He smiled when he saw her curled up with her stuffed chocolate and tan Bunny whom she had named Rolo sleeping soundly. He closed the door quietly and made his way to the kitchen. After a few minutes, he heard the door open and shut again and knew that his husband did the same thing as him. Jake then came down and kissed him and then headed outside to start his run.

While Jake was running Bradley started working around the kitchen and transferring clothes in the washer over to the dryer. 30 minutes later Jake came back in sweating he had his music in so he didn't say anything just walked upstairs to get ready for the day. While the shower was running Bradley went upstairs and checked on their daughter one more time before changing and going on his run. She had yet to move positions but had kicked the covers off and he walked in and pulled them up over her again and then kissed her head and headed out as he heard the water shut off and walked in as his husband came out of the bathroom in only a towel. "She still sound to sleep?" He asked and Bradley nodded.

"She kicked her covers off and I covered her back up." He said and Jake chuckled. "What's so funny?" Bradley asked smiling.

"Nothing really it's just that you do that same thing." Jake said and Bradley gaped at him.

"No I do not." He defended but Jake just chuckled and walked over and kissed him.

"Whatever helps you sleep at night." He said and patted him on the cheek and got ready for the day as Bradley got ready to run. They both walked downstairs and Bradley was put the door with a kiss to Jake's lips.

Bradley had been gone 20 minutes while Jake started to get things ready for breakfast when a little voice called out to both of them. "Papa? Daddy?" Jake dropped everything and walked up to her room and opened the door to their daughter's room. Jake checked his watch it was only 7:30 AM.

"What's wrong, Sweets?" He asked walking into her room and she lifted her hands up and he picked her up.

"Me no feel good." She said and he touched her forehead, she was a little warm but nothing too concerning. She always tended to get clingy and a little sick before they left for a deployment. They told everyone Friday after work over dinner that they were deploying for a month and she had been glued to them both ever since.

"Oh, Sweets. You're a little warm. What hurts?" He asked beginning to walk to the kitchen.

"My tummy." She said and laid her head on his shoulder. He knew that she wasn't lying she was an honest child and would never lie.

"Do you wanna sit on the couch while I cook breakfast and drink some juice or stay in my arms while I cook and drink some juice?" He asked looking at his daughter that looked a little pale.

"You." She said and Jake nodded and repositioned her and began cooking. It's a good thing that Jake and Bradley were used to holding her and multitasking.

"Ok, Sweets." He said and got a bottle and put some apple juice in it and gave it to her she downed half of it and then handed it to him. She laid her head down on his shoulder and fell back to sleep just as soon as Bradley walked into the house. He immediately noticed Y/N in Jake's arms and grew concerned she usually slept until 9 AM and it was only 7:50 AM. He walked over to both of them as Jake turned hearing footsteps.

"Everything ok?" He asked rubbing his daughter's back and kissing Jake.

"She woke up and called out for us. I walked in and she wanted me to pick her up and I did. She said her stomach hurt when I asked what was wrong and she was and still is warm." Jake said and Bradley's heart broke a little he hated it when one of his loved ones was sick. He felt his forehead and it was warm.

"Oh, poor Baby. I'll go and take a shower and change and then take her from you or finish breakfast. Has she eaten or drank anything?" He asked and Jake nodded.

"Downed a half of a bottle of apple juice and then went back to sleep." He said and Bradley nodded.

"I'll be right back." He said and headed upstairs. Jake heard the shower turn on and turned back to the food and not even 10 minutes later Bradley was walking down the stairs and into the kitchen. "Want me to finish breakfast or hold her?" He asked.

"You finish breakfast. I don't want to wake her up." Jake said and Bradley nodded as Jake gave him the spatula and Jake shifted her weight to where it was distributed equally. She moved a little bit but did not wake. Jake leaned up against the counter backward while holding her.

"How's she feeling?" Bradley asked as he flipped the pancakes and bacon. Her forehead was resting on his neck so he could feel it easily but wanted to feel it with his hand instead and that's what he did.

"She's not as warm." He said and then looked at the clock and it was 9 AM "Should we wake her and get some food into her?" Jake asked and Bradley turned to them and nodded and that's what they did. Jake tasked himself with waking her up as Bradley plated the food. "Hey, Sweets. It's time to get up. Do you want some food?" He asked as he rubbed her back and that roused her she slowly woke up and nodded and they smiled. Then she noticed Bradley.

"Daddy?" She asked in a queit voice.

"Hey, Honey." He came over and kissed her forehead with two plates of food one in each hand and headed to the table. Jake and Y/N weren't too far behind. Jake sat her down at the table and went to grab plates and her drink as she stole some bacon. "How's your tummy?" He asked as she took a bite of bacon.

"Better, Daddy." She said as Jake came back with plates and drinks.

"Good, Sweets. We don't like it when you're sick." Jake said and she nodded her head agreeing. The rest of the breakfast was filled with talking and eating.

The rest of the day they spent it together doing anything they could as a family before they had to go away for a month. Y/N hated when her daddies left her, she had grown so attached to them that it wasn't even funny.

——————————————————————

Sunday had come a lot sooner than they would have liked. They would be leaving at 2 PM so they were going to spend the morning with their little girl and getting her packed and ready to stay at Ice and Mav's. Instead of having Y/N sleep in her own bed they had let her sleep with them so they went to sleep together and woke up together, on occasion they would let her do this especially if the mission was high risk.

The morning was spent with laughter and talking like nothing was going on and like they weren't about to leave and potentially not come back. When they time was to come Carole and Goose were going to drive the boys and Y/N and then Ice and Maverick were going in their own car. Since Maverick was going then that meant that Goose was going because he was his RIO, of course Maverick knew how to fly without one but nothing better than him being able to fly with Goose.

12 PM rolled around and everyone was meeting at the Bradshaw-Seresin household. First it was Goose and Carole and then Ice and Maverick arrived. Nobody really talked everyone preparing for what was to come. Of course Y/N being the exact copy of her parents was hyper and bouncing off the walls saying hi to everyone and that honestly brought a smile to everyone's faces. She knew what was coming but she was just a bright happy girl and made the room light up. "You ready, Sweets?" Jake asked her picking her up and she nodded and they took that cue to leave the house. Ice had picked up her suitcase and walked out before them so they had time to rearrange suitcases and duffle bags.

"Papa?" Y/N asked looking at Jake and he turned to look at her as he stopped by Carole and Goose's car about to put her in.

"Yes, Sweets?" Jake asked as he began to open the door.

"Will you be back soon?" She asked innocently and he swore his heart broke.

"Very soon, Sweets. You're gonna have a good time with Grandpa Ice and before you know it Daddy and I will be back in no time." Jake said and then followed it by a kiss and that made her giggle. Everyone acted like they weren't listening but secretly they were and they were smiling. He buckled her into her car seat and then got in as everyone got in their cars and respected places and started to drive towards the dock.

They arrived at the dock and Bradley was the one that got her out and then everyone followed suit. When they got to the aircraft carrier Jake came over to Bradley and her and they both hugged her and she did the best to hug them both while everyone else said their goodbyes. Carole was snapping pictures left and right of the boys and their little girl, one particular picture she got and was going to cherish was when she threw each of her arms around their shoulders and they kissed her cheek not looking at the camera but facing her and she had the biggest smile on her face and eyes closed enjoying the company of her fathers.

Once everyone said their goodbyes Jake handed Y/N off to Ice and she protested but got comfortable in Ice's arms and settled down. She watched Bradley, Jake, Maverick, and Goose head towards the aircraft carrier to greet the other Daggers and to get ready to board the aircraft carrier . Once they boarded and watched the aircraft carrier sail away and once it was out of sight Ice turned to Carole. "Do you want to come over for a little bit and have a late lunch?" Ice asked and Y/N looked at her Grandma with puppy dog eyes.

"How can I say no to that face? Of course, I will." Carole said and stroked her granddaughter's face that lit up like a Christmas tree. "I'll follow you." She said and Ice nodded and they headed back to the cars. Ice got Y/N in with no problems and then got in and started the truck he made sure Carole was in and ready to go before pulling out and heading towards his and Maverick's house. It wasn't a very far drive when they got there Ice pulled in first and then Carole. Carole was already getting out of the car as Ice turned the truck off and then was getting out and opening the back door that way he could get her out from the middle seat. The three of them walked into the house after Ice had grabbed her suitcase and then they started to have their late lunch in the backyard talking about their plans and watching the energetic young version of Bradley and Jake run around the backyard.

——————————————————————

Jake and Bradley and the rest of The Daggers weren't on the aircraft carrier long before they started missing their little girl, even if it was just for a month it still hurt to leave. "How's Y/N?" Bob asked coming up to the fathers while everyone was sitting in a little common room not far from the bunks. Their kids had been hanging out more and more and they had almost come inseparable.

"She's doing good, was a little sick yesterday morning but quickly got over it." Bradley said, "How's Mason?" He asked and Bob smiled.

"He's doing good. Asking when he can see Y/N again." He said and everyone chuckled.

"We'll have to get them together when we get back." Jake said

"I bet when they get older that they'll get together, get married, and have kids." Javy said and everyone nodded in agreement.

"Oh please, lets not talk about that yet. She's not allowed to date until she's 30." Bradley said and Goose laughed and they looked at him. "What's so funny?" Bradley asked smiling.

"We said the same thing about you." He said and everyone laughed.

——————————————————————

Going into the third week of her fathers being gone she was getting antsy. Ice, Slider, and Carole had done everything to keep her distracted from going to the beach to going to the zoo that she had been to multiple times and her going to school.

One morning Ice had just finished getting ready for the day and getting everything prepared for her to go to school when he heard crying and grew concerned. He walked up to Y/N's room and opened the door and found her tossing and turning. She was mumbling incoherent words. Ice walked over to her bed and knelt down and began talking to her calmly. "Sunshine, it's ok." He said and nothing happened and she was still going on about something. "Y/N, it's just a bad dream. You're safe." He said rubbing her back again nothing. So, he sat on her bed and took her in his arms and held her while she sobbed and he shushed her. "Sunshine." He said again and that seemed to do the trick this time and she slowly woke up. "Are you ok?" He asked and she shook her head.

"Papa is hurt." She said and he looked at her confused.

"What do you mean, Sunshine?" He asked

"Papa went down in snow and Daddy went after him and got shot down." She said and this concerned Ice.

"It was just a bad dream, Sunshine." Ice said trying to soothe the poor child "They'll be home in no time and back to you." He said pulling her into him "Let's get ready for school. Slider and I are gonna pick you up afterward and we'll go out. How does that sound?" He asked.

"That sounds good." She said and that is what they did and as he was helping her get ready he kept thinking back to what she had said. He hoped she was wrong but he'll soon find out that she wasn't and it was going to wreck them.

——————————————————————

This was it. This was the mission. It's supposed to be a simple one. Go in scope out the enemy base, get information, take out the runway, and get out for they realize that they anyone is there. One by one The Daggers took off with Maverick and Goose leading then Bradley and Jake and the last Natasha and Bob. The first half was easy and they got what they needed and then when Cyclone gave the orders for bombs away they sent them and they were getting out of there as soon as possible. Everything was going smoothly until enemy fighters popped up and a dogfight began. Everyone had taken hits but The Daggers were still up and flying until Jake started to have mechanical problems from a bullet hitting his plane and fuel tank. "Hangman to Maverick I'm leaking fuel." Jake said being calm as ever but freaking out on the inside.

"Maverick to Hangman can you make it back to the aircraft carrier?" Maverick asked starting to worry and so was Goose that was his son-in-law.

"Negative." Jake said and this struck fear into Bradley and well everyone else.

"Rooster to Hangman you're going to have to eject. You can't save the jet. I know you love it as much as you love me and our daughter but it can't be saved." Bradley was pleading with his husband but got no response back and this worried him. He looked over and Jake was losing altitude and fast.

"I think is communication has gone out." Bob said watching his squad member lose control of his jet.

"Hangman, you need to eject." Goose said trying to get through to his son-in-law but got nothing in return.

"Come on Hangman. Don't do this to us." Natasha said as she watched helplessly and after 5 minutes or so they watched him nose dive right to the ground and eject as much too close to the ground as everyone was silent as the plane burst into flames and hoping a parachute had opened up.

"I'm going after him." Bradley said after 15 minutes of just flying around trying to see anything.

"Negative. We head back to the ship and let search and rescue find him." Maverick said and it was silent but Bradley wasn't going to do that.

"I'm going after him." He said and turned his jet around just as soon as a stray missile shot off from a SAM and hit the backend of his jet and making him go down. Fear struck everyone's hearts especially Goose and Maverick's. Goose just watched his son's go down. Everyone was ordered to return back to the aircraft carrier and as much as they didn't want to they had to.

——————————————————————

Jake went down 20 minutes before Bradley did and he had landed in a puddle that had to freeze over and it was snowing. He was soaked and freezing. The ejection had rattled him so much and he had hit his shoulder and the pain from that just made him lie there. His parachute did open but he was too low to the ground to have a safe landing. "Damn it." Jake said after coming around to his senses and trying to sit up but his shoulder protested and had him crashing back down in the fairly large puddle of cold water. After a few minutes of blinding white-hot pain, he heard a SAM being shot off and then he watched it fly and then hit a jet. "Please don't let it be Bradley." Jake said as his teeth rattled.

When Bradley went down he was able to open his parachute in time and landed safely. Once on the ground, he took off in the direction of the jet wreckage "Jake please be alive and not in that wreckage." Bradley pleaded as he got closer to it. He then saw a body lying in the snow in a puddle and sighed a sigh of relief but then panic started building up and he ran towards him as best as he could. "JAKE!" Bradley yelled and he didn't get a response. The pain had become so bad for Jake that he had passed out and was just lying there in the cold water. "Fuck, Jake." Bradley said but mostly to himself and started pulling him out of the puddle and then realized that he was soaking wet. "Come on, Babe. We have to get you warm." Bradley said as he hoisted Jake up with each arm under his armpits. Jake stirred a little bit, he knew that voice so he forced his eyes open.

"Bradley?" Jake asked slurring his words and then the pain hit "Shoulder. Stop. Hurts." Jake said.

"Yeah, it's me. Let's get out of this water and then I'll put you down. I'm sorry." Bradley said and true to his word once he was out of the water he put him down.

"You're not supposed to be here." Jake said teeth chattering.

"I couldn't just leave my husband and the father of my child alone." Bradley said and began trying to get them something dry to sit on and figured the parachute would have to do.

"I'm sorry." Jake said and Bradley looked at him, he was soaked and his helmet was off and his hair was wet. He was shivering and that made Bradley's heart break.

"For what?" Bradley asked

"For going down and then you being down here with me.

"Baby, I would go to the end of the earth for you." Bradley said cuddling him close trying to give him some body heat.

"I love you." Jake said and Bradley smiled and dropped a kiss onto Jake's wet head.

"I love you too. Now keep fighting. We have a little girl waiting at home for us." Bradley said as Jake shivered and Bradley held him closer. He just prayed and hoped that they would find them soon.

——————————————————————

Ice had just picked Y/N up from school with Slider and they were heading to a little café that everyone had grown to love, they were meeting Carole there. As they were driving Y/N and Slider were talking nonstop about something they both had an interest in and Ice just smiled. They finally arrived at the café and he parked just as soon as his phone rang. It was from a restricted number and his heart sank. Slider saw it too. "Go and take her in to meet Carole. I'm gonna answer this." Ice said and Slider nodded as he made quick work of getting the little girl out as Ice answered the phone.

"Hello." Ice said in a professional voice.

"Hey, it's me." Maverick said Ice could tell something was wrong.

"What's wrong?" Ice asked

"Bradley and Jake went down. They have search and rescue looking for them now. It's been 3 hrs." Maverick said and Ice's heart dropped.

"Do I need to tell Carole?" Ice asked voice starting to shake.

"Yes but make sure Y/N/N isn't there." Maverick said "Just to be on the safe side and we find them soon. I know how she gets when she gets worried." Maverick said and Ice nodded.

"Bring them home." Ice said

"We will. I love you." Maverick said

"I love you too." Ice replied and then they hung up. Now he has to tell Carole and Slider.

Ice sat in his truck and then took a breath and got out and walked into the building and to where the others were. "Slider, why don't you take Sunshine to look at the menu." Ice said and when Slider looked up and saw the look on Ice's face he knew not to argue and did just that.

"Come on, Y/N/N. Let's go see what we want to eat." Slider said and picked the girl up and then Ice turned to Carole who was quiet.

"Who is it?" Carole asked knowing that look on his face.

"Jake and Bradley." Ice said and Carole let a few tears leak out.

"How bad?" She asked wiping them away.

"Maverick didn't tell me. They haven't found them and it's been 3 hrs." Ice said and then pulled her into a hug once he moved to sit next to her. "You know, Y/N said that she had a nightmare about this happening." Ice said.

"When?" She asked

"This morning." He said

"She knew. She always knows when something happens to her daddies." Carole said and then put her emotions back as Slider and Y/N came back. Ice looked at her.

"Tell me what you want and Slider and I'll go order the food." He said and she nodded and told her and they walked off leaving Carole and her granddaughter to their own devices while food was being ordered.

"Who?" Slider asker and Ice sighed.

"Jake and Bradley." He told him and Slider paled.

"Do they know anything?" He asked and Ice shook his head.

"They haven't found them and it's been 3 hrs." Ice said

"For everyone's sake, I hope they find them fast." Slider said and Ice nodded and ordered the food.

——————————————————————

In the 8th hour, the search and rescue helicopter finally found them and landed. They were quick to rush to them at some point Jake passed out and Bradley was so cold that he had fallen asleep but woke up when he heard shouting.

"Lt. Commander Bradshaw, are you ok?" One of the medics asked he nodded.

"Just a little cold. It's him you have to worry about." Bradley said nodded down to his husband and they nodded and he helped them get Jake up on the backboard and onto the helicopter. They wrapped a blanket around both.

"Sorry for making you both wait so long. We had trouble locating you and had to make sure the coast was clear." Someone said and Bradley nodded not caring about what was being said just worried about his husband and the father of their daughter. Jake was unconscious and his lips were turning a tinge of blue. They got them up and going and before they knew it they were back on the aircraft carrier and headed to the med wing.

"Bradley." Maverick said and he turned to look at him and noticed his father was there too. They hugged each other and the questions started. Once everything was sorted "I'm gonna see if I can call Ice." He said and they nodded leaving Bradley and Goose together waiting on their loved one.

When Maverick got to his office he closed the door and sighed in relief. They were safe but Jake was not out of the woods. Now it was time to call Ice and get Bradley and Jake back to their little girl. He dialed Ice's number and it rang twice before he picked up.

"Mav?" Ice's voice came through.

"They found them." Maverick said and he heard Ice sigh in relief.

"How are they?" Ice asked

"They haven't told me anything but it looks like Jake is going through a serious case of hypothermia and Bradley seems ok just a little shaken up but looks unscathed. Goose is with him waiting for news on Jake." Maverick explained to his husband who had gone quiet and that was understandable.

"Do I need to wait to tell Carole and Slider?" Ice asked

"You're the Admiral you can tell them if you want." Maverick smiled and chuckled and Ice chuckled.

"That is true. When will you guys be home?" Ice asked

"They're flying them out as soon as possible and the rest of us will be scheduled for the regular time. Goose will probably go with Jake and Bradley." Maverick said and Ice nodded even though Maverick couldn't see it.

"Get home safely and don't forget that I love you." Ice said and Maverick smiled.

"I love you too. See you soon." Maverick said and then they both hung up.

Goose came in after they ended the phone call and Maverick looked over to him. "They're flying Jake, Bradley, and I out in 10 minutes." He said and Maverick nodded.

"That's good. Go on and I'll meet you on land and meet you at the hospital." Maverick said and then Maverick pulled his RIO into a hug and they stayed like that for a few minutes until they parted and Goose headed out of the office getting ready to leave with the helicopter.

——————————————————————

Ice had just gotten off the phone with Maverick around 9 PM. Carole and Slider were over after having supper and then watched a movie that Y/N insisted on watching and not 20 minutes into the movie she was out like a light snoring on lightly on Slider. When Ice had gotten the call he had walked out of the room. He walked in and they looked at him. "They got them." Ice said loud enough to hear but quiet enough not to wake the sleeping child. Everyone side in relief.

"How are they?" Carole asked happy tears streaming down her face.

"Maverick hasn't heard much about Jake's condition but it looks like he is going through a serious case of hypothermia and Bradley seems ok just a little shaken up but looks unscathed. Maverick said that Goose was with Bradley waiting for news on Jake." Ice said "He also told me that they were flying Jake, Bradley, and Goose back as soon as possible." He added.

"What do we do now?" Slider asked

"We wait until they give us a call and tell us which hospital they're taking him too." He said and they nodded and he sat down and they finished watching the movie. Not even 15 minutes more into the movie Ice got the call and told them what hospital they were taking Jake too, they were also taking Bradley just to him get checked over since he too was out in the cold.

"What about Y/N?" Slider asked and Ice and Carole looked at each other.

"Do you mind staying here with her until everything gets settled and conditions are talked about?" Ice asked and Slider nodded.

"Of course, your guys are like family. I would do anything for you especially this little girl." He nodded down to the sleeping child who had yet to wake and had only moved to change positions. Ice and Carole thanked him and they were on their way after kissing their granddaughter goodbye.

They took separate cars to the hospital and luckily it wasn't too far away from the house. They got their in no time. They parked next to each other and walked into the building and were met by Goose who rushed to his wife and hugged her and then hugged Ice. "They just took Jake back and Bradley." He said once he released Ice and they nodded and went to sit in the waiting room. "Where's Chick?" Goose asked.

"She's with Slider. We figured she shouldn't be here until we knew of conditions and she was asleep." Carole said as she leaned further into her husband. 10 minutes later the doctor, who knew them very well.

"We really need to stop meeting under circumstances like this." Dr. Rachel Hayes said trying to lighten the mood and it worked a little bit. "Bradley is fine he'll be sore and that's it. Jake on the other hand is in critical condition. From what Bradley said and the medical team said he had laid in a puddle of cold water for awhile and was soaked head to toe and he had dislocated shoulder, which we put back into place. He also had some broken ribs and looks like a broken wrist but nothing to serious to end his career." She said and everyone nodded as they listened.

"You guy's can see him but just prepare yourselves." She said and led them the way to Jake. Bradley was already in there by his husband's side. Bradley looked up and got up and hugged his mother and Ice. "Let me know if he wakes up or something goes on." She said and everyone nodded.

"Where's Y/N?" Bradley asked going to sit back down by his husband's side while looking at them.

"Slider has her. Carole and I figured we would see you first and asses the situation before bringing her here. Plus she was as asleep." Ice said and he nodded.

"It was bad guys. The mission was successful but his fuel tank was hit and he was going down and then his communication went out. I followed after him and a stray SAM deployed and hit my backside and luckily I ejected high enough unlike Jake. I thought I was going to lose him and I thought Y/N was going to lose her dad." Bradley said as he looked at the now intubated Jake watching his chest rise and fall and listening to his heart monitor. Everyone's heart broke. "When do you think we should bring Y/N in?" Bradley asked looking up from his husband.

"Maybe not for a couple of days. Let Jake rest and let you rest." Carole said and he nodded.

"I'm gonna call Slider and let him know the plan." Ice said and they nodded and now it was just the Bradshaw and Bradshaw-Seresin family. A few minutes later Ice was coming back in and sitting with the family members.

——————————————————————

It had been a week and Dr. Rachel Hayes was in and out checking in on Jake and each day was better than before and they were grateful for that. One day while Bradley was the only one in there while the rest went home to grab some things and pick up Maverick, Dr. Hayes had walked in and checked on Jake and Bradley normally she would have a nurse come in but she insisted that she be the one to check up on him. "Dr. Hayes?" Bradley asked and she looked up and over at him.

"Yes?" She asked

"You remember our daughter, right?" He asked and she nodded with a smile. "When can she see him?" He asked.

"At this point. I would say anytime. Just understand that it may be little but traumatic for her. I just ask that she doesn't cuddle with him at this time nit until he's awake." She said with a smile and Bradley nodded.

"I understand. She had to deal with me while I was in the hospital due to a training accident 6 months back." Bradley said and she nodded she remembered that she wasn't on shift or call that time due to taking a vacation. She nodded and then left and Bradley looked over at Jake. "I don't know if you can hear me or not but I need to say this. You need to come back to us. I need you. Your baby girl needs you." He said and kissed his forehead. Goose, Carole, and Maverick had just walked into the room and everyone greeted each other and Bradley updated them on Jake's condition. "Dr. Hayes said that we could bring Y/N in anytime since his condition is better." Bradley said.

"When do you want to do that?" Maverick asked

"I was thinking now." He said and everyone nodded.

"I'll call Slider to bring her on in." Ice said and they nodded and he walked out of the room. Nobody talked and that was ok. 5 minutes later Ice was walking back in "He'll be here in 10. He also said that he would tell her what is going on." He said and they nodded.

10 minutes later Slider was walking in with Y/N and when she saw Bradley she practically leapt into his arms when he stood up and walked over to them "Daddy!" She yelled out and he hugged her like his life depended on it and tears fell from his eyes. "Why you cry, Daddy?" She asked looking at him and wiping his tears and that made everyone start to cry.

"I'm just happy to see you, Honey." Bradley said truth was that she reminded him of Jake and that hurt.

"Papa?" She asked looking at him.

"He's ok just sleep." Bradley said and she tried to go to him but he stopped her "No, Honey you can't cuddle with him right now." He said and that made her cry.

"But, Daddy. Papa." She said and cried harder and tried harder to get to him but he stopped her everytime.

"Soon, Honey. I promise." Bradley said and she seemed ok with that answer because she settled down but pouted. Seconds, minutes, and hours went by with no update. Y/N had gone to sleep around 9 PM and was sleeping soundly in Bradley's arms. Most of everyone went home besides Carole and Goose. They had offered to take Y/N home but Bradley refused to give her up.

4 more days went by and it was during the night when Jake started to come around. Bradley and Y/N were asleep on the couch and Goose was up while Carole was asleep on the other couch. Goose watched Jake's eyes open and he smiled and was thankful when he didn't start to panic. Goose and he had a silent conversation and then Goose was up and heading to the nurse's station where they paged Dr. Hayes who was there in no time with some nurses. Carole had woken up and joined Goose but hadn't woken up the other father and daughter they had been the ones that were up the most. Dr. Hayes and her team quickly got him extubated and instructions were made and she was leaving. She had also given permission for Y/N to cuddle with Jake.

The commotion had woken Bradley up unfortunately and he was up in a instant without waking their daughter up. Goose and Carole stood back and cried as they reunited and kissed each other. "We're going to go and get some coffee and leave you three be." Goose said and Bradley and Jake nodded not being able to say anything with out breaking down but once they were gone they broke down and started talking.

"I thought I lost you, Babe." Bradley said and kissed Jake.

"I know, Baby. But I'm here. I heard what you said and kept fighting." Jake said "Now where is my Sweets?" He asked Bradley and he chuckled.

"Sleeping but I'll get her." He said and walked over to her and picked her up and walked her over.

"Dr. Hayes said that she was good to cuddle." Jake said and Bradley nodded.

"I heard." Bradley said and smiled and gently laid her down next to Jake. She snuggled into him recognizing the scent and warmth of her other father and that woke her up immediately.

"Papa?" She asked sleepily.

"Hey, Sweets. I missed you." He said and she hugged him like it was her lifeline. Carole and Goose had came back to the scene of her sitting in bed looking at Jake full of love and Bradley doing the same at both of them. They gave them a few more minutes before they walked in. When they did everyone greeted everyone and talking began catching up. Y/N tried to keep awake but the battle of sleep won and she had fallen back to sleep on Jake.

——————————————————————

Over the next few days everyone came and saw him and Jake was back to his cocky self that everyone loved. Maverick and Ice visited a lot since they were family. When Jake was released he was told to take it easy and he did and before he knew it he was back up in the air doing what he did best and taking care of his little girl.

As he was putting her to bed one night after insisting that he wanted to do it and told Bradley to go onto bed. He laid in bed with her on his chest as she snoozed away. He laid there awake thinking about if he didn't make it but he wasn't going to let that happen because he loved his family too much and he had to fight for his and Bradley's child. She was their whole world. "I love you, Sweets. I'm not leaving anytime soon." He told her and kissed the top of her head and then he drifted off to sleep. A few minutes later when Bradley rolled over and didn't feel Jake he grew confused and got up and to search for him. He couldn't find him anywhere until he remembered that he put their daughter to bed. So, he went there and opened the door and light from the hallway and her night light filled the room.

"That's where you are." Bradley said to himself and smiled when he saw Jake and Y/N cuddled up on her twin bed both laying the same way and snoring lightly, he shook his head she was defiantly a perfect mix of them. He thought about waking him but figured Jake needed all the cuddling from his little girl that he needed. He would get his cuddles later. He walked in and threw an extra blanket over Jake and then kissed both of their heads "I love you both so much." He said and then slipped out of her room and cracking the door and then walking back to his and Jake's room while turning off the hallway light. He got into bed and quickly fell back to sleep knowing his daughter and husband were safe and sound just two doors down.

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[bottomtim]

[Steddie abo | 1.2k | part 1/? (part 2 here) | rated T, possibly M in later parts | not mentioned in this part of the ficlet but steddie is omega/omega 😌]

“So,” Nancy starts on a Sunday afternoon. “I think we should ask Eddie to be in our pack.”

It’s early summer. It’s rainy and muggy. The Wheeler’s basement is cooler than the rest of the house, but not necessarily comfortable. The kids are sprawled around the couch, reading comic books together. Nancy, Robin, and Steve are convened by the washer and dryer while Nancy folds a load of blankets for their upcoming pack night. Which Eddie is invited to. Because Eddie is already a part of their pack.

“Well, duh,” Robin says easily. “Of course. He went to Hell and back with us, plus he hangs around with us all the time, anyway.”

Steve scoffs, “You say that like he’s not already in the pack.”

“Oh? You know something we don’t?” Robin asks, eyebrows raised.

“Come on, don’t be stupid. Eddie’s in the pack. Has been, for like, months.”

Robin and Nancy share a look, before Nancy narrows her eyes at Steve. “Okay… And are you sure Eddie knows he’s in the pack?”

“Don’t be ridiculous,” Steve says, crossing his arms and cocking his hip to the side to leave against the washer.

“Well we can’t just assume that he knows,” Nancy said, shaking her head quickly when Robin jumps in.

“We know it’s just been him and Wayne for a long time. He might not be familiar with big pack dynamics. Or, like, any pack dynamics. It probably works a lot different to be a pack of two.”

The logic is sound, it’s fair and valid, but then Steve remembers Eddie rubbing the scent gland on his wrist while they were falling asleep to the tv yesterday afternoon. Like pack mates do. Not just simple easy going friends hanging out.

“Trust me, he knows.”

“Fine. Great. So since Eddie knows he’s in our pack, and this isn’t news to him at all, then you won’t mind taking these blankets for him to scent for the next movie night nest?” Nancy gives him a tight lipped smile and shoves a stack of blankets in Steve’s arms.

“Oh, come on, Nance. He’s been to literally every pack gathering since he’s gotten out of the hospital. Not to mention, everything we did for him in the hospital and while he was recovering!”

There was a pack member posted at both Max’s and Eddie’s bedsides as often as humanly possible, usually Steve himself since he wasn’t in school and Family Video had been closed until further notice. And he’ll never forget Eddie waking up from his 2-week coma, shocked to be alive, possibly even more shocked that Steve was the one at his bedside, and professing his love for the pack through choked tears. If there was ever a chance that Eddie might not become absorbed into Steve’s ragtag pack before (not likely; they were bonded by the harrowing experience of going to the Upside Down, and Eddie just felt like theirs now), that little moment cemented his spot right there.

Steve continues, “He’s literally always with us. He smells like us. He just scented me yesterday when we were saying goodbye, for Christ’s sake! I know he failed, like, four times but he’s not that dense.”

So Steve might be getting a little worked up, so sue him. Eddie is theirs. It’s crazy that Nancy and Robin think they need to spell it out.

Nancy huffs and rolls her eyes before giving Steve’s shoulder a light push so she can get to the washer and switch loads. “Eddie was barely conscious in the hospital and had literally no one else to help take care of him when he got out. He could’ve thought we were just being nice.” When she’s done, she straightens up and looks at Steve with the hint of a playful smirk on her lips. “Besides, I think the scenting is more of a you thing than a pack thing.”

“Now you’re really being ridiculous.”

Nancy raises her eyebrows at Robin, a silent plea for back up, which Robin gleefully obliges.

“I mean, I can’t say I’ve ever been scented by Eddie.”

Nancy narrows her eyes and strokes her chin, a mimicry of deep thought. “I can’t say that I have, either. In fact, I’d deduce no one in the pack has.”

“Hmm, elementary, dear Watson,” Robin says with a bad British accent and mimes smoking a pipe, which causes Nancy to break character and giggle. Usually, Steve would think the two of them were cute, making each other laugh. But not now, when it’s at his expense.

“Okay, don’t be smart. He has to have scented, like, Mike or Dustin, or Lucas. They were in that nerd club together, he’s known them longer. Maybe he’s a little closed off, but… Look, there’s no way he doesn’t know. It’s honestly kind of insulting that you think he doesn’t, I really expected better of you two.” If his arms werent full of blankets, he’d cross them over his chest in a stance the kids had dubbed his mom pose (and damn those kids, but maybe it is a little reminiscent of a mother scolding their pups).

Steve can see the subtle irritation simmering in Nancy as she gives him another tight smile. “Right. Okay. So. Blankets. Go get his scent. Thanks.”

Steve turns to go and calls, “Hey kids!” as he walks toward the couch. “Which of you has ever been scented by Munson?”

Surprisingly, it’s only Dustin that raises a hand. “Henderson? Just you?”

Dustin shrugs, “Yeah. It was when he was still in the hospital, after… You know.”

Dustin, understandably, does not like to talk much about the events of March 1986, and no one really blames him. So they leave it at that.

“You know, you’re going to have to actually ask him,” Max says, without looking up from the comic she’s reading. “They’re right. He wouldn’t know.”

“Really, Mayfield, you ganging up on me, too?” How could they all have such little faith in Eddie to see the obvious right in front of him?

“Why are we ganging up on Steve? I want to gang up on Steve,” Mike pipes up, looking up from his book.

Steve sighs through his nose before he explains, “Rob and Nance seem to think Eddie needs a formal invitation to the pack. Because apparently, it’s not enough that he’s with us, like, 24/7.”

Lucas shrugs, “Maybe… It’s not enough for him?”

“What?! That’s crazy.” That was Mike. And he’s not ganging up on Steve, he’s agreeing with him. Ha! “He just is pack. He just is!”

“Look, I’m not saying he isn’t, but I agree with Robin. We can’t just assume he knows.”

El shrugs in her spot next to Mike. “I probably would not know I was in your pack if you had not told me.”

An interesting point, sure, but El was raised in a lab.

“See?” Max says. “And Eddie is just… Like, sure he’s got this larger than life personality on the outside and all this bravado, but his emotions seem more closed off. Yeah, he comes to pack nights, but he never gets in the nest unless asked, and even then he has to ease into it, like he’s worried he shouldn’t be there.”

Besides Steve being surprised that Max has paid that much attention to Eddie, Steve is even more surprised that she might be… Right.

“This debate is stupid,” Dustin weighs in, voice loud, ready to settle things. “Eddie is ours,” he says. He says it with so much finality, such surety, like if he knows nothing else in the world, at least he knows this. Steve’s heart feels warm with the truth of it. Because Dustin gets it. “But-“ Wait, but? But what? No buts!- “It doesn’t hurt to reassure both him and us of that fact. So, Steve, if you will.” Dustin gestures vaguely towards the blankets, then waves Steve off like a King on his throne dismissing the jester.

And just like that the kids shrug, going back to their comic books. Nancy is smiling and waving goodbye to him while Robin pushes him toward the stairs.

(part 2)

[running2reanimation]

Illness

Caring comes in many forms.

King scrunched his face up as he felt the light hit it, rolling over to waking. But the the soft whine that followed had his eyes shooting open.

Gold was standing in his bedroom door, clutching his blanket. Now that King was awake, he could smell it before Gold even said it, “I threw up.”

King looked at the clock; he’d only been asleep for two hours. Oh well, time to get moving now.

First order of business, stripping Gold’s bed and pyjamas and putting them in the wash and cleaning Gold’s floor while convincing the feverish Gold to rest on the couch.

Once that was cleaned up, it was time to take his son’s temperature. Gold whined about it, curling away from the thermometer, “Come on now, under your tongue, there you go sunshine.”

Well, that was definitely high, but not dangerously so. Not rush him to the hospital high. King shuffled his way to the medicine cabinet and pulled out the fever suppressant and something to settle Gold’s stomach.

He read and double checked both bottles before measuring out the doses, two tablets and a glass of water.

“Here you go, yes both of them, no not at the same time if you don’t want to, down the hatch,” King steadied Gold’s shaking hand and helped him tilt the glass to his lips.

“There we go, good job,” King soothed, settling Gold back onto the couch, “Try and get some more rest, alright?”

And he could hear the washer come to a stop, so off he went to move the laundry along while his son slipped in and out of fevered dreams.

At least it was first thing in the morning and not midday, making calls and getting the day off wouldn’t be too much of a hassle. Of course he’d do what he could at home, so the day wouldn’t be a total waste.

Not that taking care of his sick son was a wasted day.

He still hadn’t had a cup of coffee yet. At least that explained the growing headache.

By the time the sun was up, Gold’s bedding was dry and King remade the bed and scooped up the now deeply asleep child - who was soon to be too big to pick up - and tucked him in.

King placed a bucket next to the bed and a glass of water on the nightstand, just in case.

Gold slept most of the morning, crawling out of bed to sit at the kitchen table, “‘M hungry and out of water.”

“Okay, well, I want to check your temperature again, but you’re looking a lot better than earlier,” King got the thermometer again, and Gold was a lot better about taking it this time.

Definitely going down, but still a little warm, “How’s your stomach doing? You said you were hungry, how about some toast and a banana?”

Gold nodded and King went to work toasting up two slices of bread and cutting up a banana, “Don’t force yourself to eat it all.”

He managed to finish one slice of toast and few bites of banana, to which King nodded in approval before giving Gold another dose of medicine and sending him back to bed.

King ate the remaining toast and banana and considered that his lunch.

When King went to check up on Gold later, he found his son sitting up in bed, playing one of his video games, eyes bright and alert, “You look like you’re feeling better.”

“A lot,” Gold nodded as King laid a hand on his forehead. No longer felt feverish, that was good.

“How does supper sound, nothing big, maybe some fried rice?”

“Sounds good!”

“Good,” King let out a breath and felt himself finally start to relax from where he’d been tense all day.

——

King arched an eyebrow as Purple marched from his room, bedding in arms, to the laundry room, “Purple?”

“Just a minute,” Came the all too quiet response; once the washer was going Purple joined him in the kitchen, “Sorry, I was just a little bit sick this morning, don’t worry I’ve got it cleaned up-”

“Have you checked your temperature yet?” King chided, already getting up to fetch the thermometer from the cupboard.

“C’mon Baba, do I have to? It’s just a normal stomach bug…”

“Humour me, please?” With a whine, Purple stuck the thermometer under his tongue.

“Okay, so it’s a little high, but it’s not dangerous ‘rush me to the hospital’ high. Don’t worry about it Baba, I’ve got this. I’ve been sick like this before, I know how to take care of myself,” Purple reassured, swaying as he stood up on trembling legs.

“Okay. I’ll try, but worried is one of my default states these days. I do have some medicine if you would like to take some.”

“I… yeah, think I would. Up in the medicine cupboard, yeah?” Purple asked swinging the cupboard door open.

“Let me get that for you, I think you’re too short to reach,” King reached up and grabbed the two bottles of medicine.

“You’ve got to stop being so tall.”

“Unfortunately, it’s a curse I must bear for the rest of my life.”

Purple measured out the pills, swallowing them dry and making King cringe, “You should probably have some water.”

“Once the medicine starts kicking in and I’m sure it’ll stay down,” Purple nodded, moving to go back to the laundry room since the washer stopped.

“I’ve got it, you go lay down in my bed for now and get some more rest.”

“But-”

“Purple, go rest. Please.”

“Fine, but only because you said please.”

—

King hadn’t really been in Purple’s room before, he wasn’t expecting it to be so sparse as he made the teen’s bed. A few purple things and a cherry blossom bonsai, no books or anything.

He’d have to get Purple some more things to help make his room more homey.

And now that the bed was made he scooped up up Purple - who was definitely too big for him to carry like that - and tucked him in with a bucket and a glass of water for the bedside.

Purple woke up not too long afterwards and headed to the kitchen, “Making some toast and applesauce, if you want some.”

“No thanks, do you want any help?”

“I got it, thanks,” Purple’s tone was a little snippy, but he caught himself pretty quick, “Sorry.”

“It’s alright, you’re not feeling well.”

“I am not,” Purple agreed, munching on his single piece of toast, “Gonna take some more medicine and head back to bed to ride this out.”

“Sounds like a plan.”

[random-conspiracy]

Oh my god, oh my fucking god, GUYS, IT'S HERE, SOMEONE TRANSLATED IT!!! This is peak spanish copypasta shitpost AND IT'S HERE in english!!! READ IT. The rat with thinner

Some time ago, I was renting a flat with one of my cousins, but the bloke was a sexually deranged man. He often came back home with car-washers, natives, orphans, beggars, and even Mexicans directly from the railroads.

My cousin, out of goodwill, fed them, let them shower, and even sometimes gave them clothes and shoes; but with the condition of having sex or at least receiving oral sex. I admit that at first, I disliked the idea and preferred to lock myself in my room, listening to music, hitting my joint—anything but smelling the tramps. But my cousin was bringing more and more fucked-up junkies, spoiled and crazy fuckers, and he asked me to take care of him if they became aggressive, besides he gets too dunked when on poppers.

I accepted reluctantly, but I have to admit I got used to watching my cousin being drilled by bums without rubber lmao. Once I was in the kitchen when my cousin arrived, and I got a really fucked-up stink. I initially thought he had brought home a corpse or something, but when I looked up, I saw he had the most fucked-up drug fiend deadbeat. Filthy, lousy, with his hair made into dreadlocks of blood and shit, shaky, and with a lost look, dressed in a mud-hardened jacket.

We gave him instant ramen, and meanwhile, he was eating, I told my cousin, "Shiiit, you went too far," and he just said, "Haha, I know." Then, the shithead puts a hand in his jacket, and I almost took out my twenty-two. But no, he only brought out a fucking giant dead rat, soaked it in paint thinner, and snorted it like a puff.

I said, "Holy shit, what the heck?" but somehow my cousin got fucking horny and he started to blow him without bathing him. The hobo was there, legs open, “mousing him up,” and my cousin was already taking off his pants and plucking him out. He was so big, maybe even his scepter would be rich without the coats of smegma and crabs that adorned his pubic hair. My cousin gulped him entirely and I didn’t know whether to turn on or puke, so I opted for smoking some weed.

My cousin, concupiscent, took all of his clothes off and offered his ass to the vagrant, and he, without thinking twice, started to lick it. My bottom cousin was in pure ecstasy, in a state of trance at feeling his ass pampered by the mouth of the drifter. Eventually, he shoved his big ass shaft, diamond hard without protection, making my cousin moan and scream like a dying cow, all of it while on poppers.

They were “tunneling the cave,” when the dude brought out his rat again, hit it profusely and—wham!—shoved it in the butt of my cousin.

Sheesh.

He kept pumping it harder, pushing the rat more and more deeply inside my cousin. It was an intercourse getting feral increasingly. After a while, with my cousin dripping in cum, the bum pulled out his flaccid weenie, ate all the ramen, and started yelling at me. I didn’t know what he was gibbering, and I was high AF, so I just pointed my gun at him and sent him off. The dude whited out so quickly that he forgot his pants on the floor, and I just stayed there napping.

An hour later, I was woken up by the shrieks of my cousin. He was sobbing that his ass and guts were hurting, he didn’t even remember what he did with his lover hehe. I helped him get to the toilet to shit the cramped cum and—HOLY SHIT—he farted out the whole rat, but butchered and dripping in maggots. He almost passed out and asked me to take him to the hospital to have his guts washed.

But he was feeling so brave in his horniness, hehe I swear it’s true.

-Traslated by Umeboshi

[jordie-gvf]

boom babies, josh

fluffy josh fic ahead loves! i loved writing this one ngl!

word count : 1.4k+

warnings : not any i can think of except pregnancy and childbirth

reblogs are appreciated! constructive criticism is appreciated!

Before Josh went to the studio this morning, you had been complaining about back pain. Josh had told you this morning that he would have stayed home to make sure you were okay. You shoved him off to the studio and called Jita to come over to hang out with you all day.

Josh always says, “my baby making queen should not be doing housework”, but what he did not know wouldn't hurt him. You washed the dishes, cleaned the counters, mopped the floor, and vacuumed. Jita was telling you to stop, that it was too strenuous on the babies.

You were doing laundry when you started getting more back pain. When you put Josh's socks into the washer, you felt an extremely sharp pain in your abdomen. Jita had come to you and asked, “Y/N. What's wrong?” You felt something trickle down your legs. No, it's not supposed to happen yet. “Jita. My water just broke. It's not supposed to happen now.” You started to cry out, it's not supposed to happen now. 

Jita loaded everything in the car and came back into the house and walked you out to the car. You looked at her and told her, “call Josh and tell him. Please call him.” She looked at you and said, “I called him three times already. Him and Jake wont answer. We have to get you to the hospital.”

When you got to the hospital, you were checked in and put on the labor and delivery floor. They checked for dilation and you were 3 centimeters. The obstetrician asked you when your water broke. You told her, around an hour ago, she looked at you and said, “Your water broke an hour ago, and you're already 3 centimeters dilated? Girl, what were you doing?” she laughed and told you everything would be alright. 

You started to call Josh, telling him on a voicemail to pick up the damn phone, that his bundles of joy were coming. Your mom and sister showed up in your room. Jita drove to the studio to go tell Josh what was happening.

Josh's POV:

The boys and I were recording a new song. We took a break and I went to get some tea for my throat. I saw Y/N’s car show up in the parking lot. I saw Jita running out of the car. She ran up to me and told me, “Y/N’s in labor! You need to go now!” I looked at her and said, “But she's only 37 weeks? She can't go into labor this early.” Jita looked at me and said, “if you don't hurry, she is going to deliver your children without you. GO!” I ran out to the studio parking lot.

Y/N’s POV:

You had your sister's hand as the Obstetrician walked in and told you someone was here to see you. Josh had walked in, out of breath and red. He looked at you and said, “What the hell were you doing that caused your water to break?” You looked at him and said, “housework.” He looked at you with a stern look on his face. “Ladybug, you know you can't do that.” 

You had been tired of the peanut shaped yoga ball in between your legs. Josh convinced you it would “dilate you further.” The doctor came in to check dilation. You were 10 centimeters dilated. It was baby time. 

Josh had gotten behind you in the bed to hold your legs while you pushed. “Alright Y/N. Are you ready to be a mommy?” ,the doctor asked you. You nodded your head and Josh kissed your head, “You can do this mama.” 

You were pushing for two hours. First was your son, Sage Kelly Kiszka. Then, your daughter, Gardenia James Kiszka. You looked at your babies and smiled. Sage had fallen asleep on Josh's chest. “Look at him, he sleeps like you.” you told Josh. He looked over at Gardenia, who was asleep on your chest, he said, “Look at my little girl. She opened her eyes when I held her, she's already a daddy's girl. When can we bring them home?” You looked at him and told him, “I don't know if we are going to be bringing them home today. They have to do tests.” He frowned and held Sage closer to him. One of your amazing nurses came in and said, “Dad, it's time for skin to skin with the babies.” He looked so excited to hold his children so close to him. He took off his shirt and the nurse told him how to position his arms. She put Gardenia in his arms first and she opened her eyes and looked at him. He looked at his daughter and said, “You have your mama's eyes.” She then handed over Sage and he curled up closer to Josh. He looked at you and said, “We made babies.” and smiled

It had been two weeks since you had given birth. You still weren't completely healed, but you were getting there. It was time for the Kiszka-Wagner family to meet your babies. Jake and Jita had already seen them, considering Jake was his twin brother and Jita was your best friend. Sam was a little butthurt that his older brother got to meet his niece and nephew first, but he eventually got over it. 

Sam, Danny, and Ronnie had arrived at you and Josh's home, carrying a huge bag of stuff. You opened the door and Ronnie looked at you and said, “You do not look like you had two babies.” You laughed and welcomed them in with open arms. You looked at the bag in Sam's hand and asked, “What's that for?” He looked at you and said, “Two words Y/N. Sage and Gardenia.” You looked at him and smiled. Danny walked in last and gave you the biggest hug. “Looking good Mama.” and winked. Josh came up to you two and said, “Trying to steal my girl, Wagner?” and laughed, giving Danny a hug.

Next to arrive was Karen, Kelly, Lori, Dan, and Josie. The whole family was there. Your family had already met them. Kelly was unaware of what Sage’s middle name was and Josh was going to tell him today. Jake had Sage in his arms as he was sleeping and Karen had Gardenia. Lori, Dan, andJosie walked over to you and Josh and gave you both big hugs. You were so grateful for your second family, you loved them and they loved you.

Karen came over and said, “They both look so much like how Josh looked when he was born. All that hair and the eyes.” Karen had always asked you and Josh when you were having kids. You told her you were pregnant on her birthday, over lunch. She found out you were having twins on her own. 

Everyone had brought gifts for them, you were so overwhelmed with joy. Josh had whispered to you that he was ready to tell his dad the news. Josh had stood up and told everyone that he had something to announce. He grabbed them and said, “This is Gardenia James Kiszka.” He handed Gardenia to you and then brought Sage over to his father. “And this is Sage Kelly Kiskza.” His father looked up at him with delight. Karen started to get teary eyed. She got up and hugged Josh and came over to you and said, “Thank you. This could never top anything. He will cherish this moment, this is his greatest gift.” You looked at her and smiled. Gardenia had started to move around in your arms and you knew it was time for her lunch. You told Josh you would be in the nursery, giving him time with him and his family. You walked up to Kelly and frowned, “Sadly, it's lunch time for these two. I'll bring him back after they're done.” He smiled at you and said, “Can I burp him after? It's been so long since I've done this, it would be nice to do it again.” You smiled and said, “Of course you can.”

You were in the neutrally decorated nursery with the curtains closed, it was so nice and cozy for you and your babies. You looked down at your beautiful baby girl and thought, just like her dad, always on the tit. You laughed as Josh walked in and said, “Jake wants to know if he can hold Gardenia, he's the last one. He wanted everyone to be able to hold them before he could.” You told him, “Of course he can.” Josh came over to you and looked down at his babies. He said, “You know, Sage is going to hold it over her head that he's older. I did that with Jake.” You responded with, “I expected nothing less.” and kissed him.

You were truly exhilarated to have a growing family.

[otter1962crystalball]

The English Patient (Kind of)… or The Little Red Truck

June 19th, 2024

Happy Pride, everyone. Today is the 19th of June and my 19th blog for Pride Month. After I posted yesterday, I realized that I had forgotten a major point in that time. During my stay in the hospital, I got a phone call from my mortgage specialist and he told me that he could give me a mortgage. He had rerun the numbers and said I was able to carry the mortgage on my own. That piece of news helped me get on with my life. It really gave me hope.

When I left the hospital, I felt this incredible sense of freedom. Being locked up in a small area for three weeks was difficult. Bill picked me in my car and took me home. There I was united with my dogs and cats. I told Bill that I wanted to do something spontaneous, so we went to the swimming pool in the neighbourhood. It had three diving towers and we were allowed as swimmers to jump off them. I had never jumped off the highest one so we made plans and went. Needless to say, it was scary, but I finally jumped from the highest tower.

During this time, Dean was still in the basement, but was due to move out at the end of that month. Things had been settled with the lawyers and my mortgage was refinanced under my name only, which was a major relief. To help me deal with the stress I did a 12 step program for those who have dealt or are dealing with addicts through Nar-Anon. Bill went as well from but also went to meetings for former users. Those meetings really did help - giving me a place to talk and to listen to others’ stories.

The day when Dean would leave finally arrived. He had three people helping him move his stuff out of the basement into two pods.  I went outside to check with Dean about my stuff that remained in the basement. Dean wouldn’t talk to me, but one of his friends almost came at me. Bill was watching from the back stairs to the upper part of my house. He told me to get up there quickly. When I got up there, he said the guy was spun out on drugs and likely carrying a weapon. It was safer to just let Dean take everything and not risk my life. In the end, the two pods were filled and they left. Dean left the keys in my mailbox. It turned out that most of my tools were gone, but my Christmas ornaments, washer and dryer were still there. I considered myself lucky.

During all of this time, Bill and I starting what I guess one would call dating. Bill had taken care of me during my stay at the hospital and then the month afterwards in my place. Looking back, I now realize that I was feeling emotions due to Bill taking care of me - like in the movie. After the month, Bill went back to his apartment but we kept seeing each other. After about six months, cracks appeared in the armour of our relationship. 

Bill had some major issues due to his former addiction. Those issues often popped up when we were together and I came to realize that it wasn’t working and basically told him that we needed call it quits. Bill didn’t take it well and got quite angry and he showed his true colours to me. I knew that I had made the right decision. When he was gone, I felt another sense of freedom because I was now totally in control of my life and where I wanted it to go.

Dean on the other hand, would come the first day of every month to pick up his cheque for alimony. He always came alone and always seemed disjointed and out of sorts. One time he brought a sketch book to show me. It was as if nothing was wrong between us. He showed his drawings and I told him they were great. There were a couple I thought were of me, but when asked, all the drawings were him and that he drew them while on heroin. He was so self-absorbed that he didn’t know life was going on around him.

I can remember one time that kind of hit me with a ton of sadness. He came one day to pick up his cheque and handed me a red toy truck. The wheels had fallen off, but he said that they could be put back on. He said that maybe I could give it to a classroom at school. I asked him where he got it and he told me that he and a friend had a shopping cart and they went through dumpsters for cans, bottles and other things. I felt this great sense of pity for Dean. The little red truck represented what was broken in my former life with Dean.  There was no real way out for Dean. The addiction had its claws into him and would not let go.

After that, I decided that I didn’t want Dean to come around anymore. I gave him the last three cheques, but post-dated two of them. I ended up getting a call from a loan company saying that two of my cheques had bounced and that I owed them money. I told them that Dean had obviously changed the dates and when I saw them, they had indeed been changed. My lawyer told them to back oof and it was no longer my problem.

Dean came to my door one last time. It turns out all the money was gone and he wanted help. He said that he and his friend had been kicked out of where they were staying. I remembered something Bill had said about enabling addicts and told Dean to leave and never come back or I would call the police. Thankfully, he never did come back.

The last time I saw Dean, I saw him pushing a shopping cart in the Downtown Eastside of Vancouver. It is known for its homeless and addicts. That area was rather scary as I sometimes took that route to get home. People were often shooting up in the open and the police were doing nothing - not even in front of their department nearby.

One day, I had an appointment with my family doctor. I asked him if he had seen Dean later and he said that Dean had probably died of an overdose somewhere in the Downtown Eastside. It was really sad for me because I remember the Dean I fell in love with and also the monster that I had to force out of my home. That part of my life had finally come to a close. To this day, I still have feelings for the old Dean. I loved him very dearly.

I had gone through one of  the darkest times of my life. In fact, my counsellor said that I was suffering from PTSD from the trauma. It took me almost a year to feel like I was better and the bad dreams finally stopped. Even to this day, I sometimes have to be aware of how the PTSD can pop back into my life.

For Pride, I am celebrating self love and believing in ourselves. I got through all of that and came to understand that I was stronger for having gone through it and dealing with it.

I hope that you give yourself credit for your beliefs and your self love. 

Carpe diem and happy Pride.

[excaive]

Oh, I wanted to ask, when KJ speaks through Jamie does the voice change :0? I was curious if you have a voice hc for when it happens

Thank u for asking! reminding me I have a handful of asks that got wiped from my memory that's been sitting for A While... oops

KJ's voice can change! As is they can control how their voice sounds if Jamie's out :p

I don't really have any voice hc, KJ can sound any way they like forever <3 (granted Jamie's present)

Jamie's almost like... a build-in sound library. Extremely convenient for a funny little guy(KJ) that makes music!

Though, usually in my head I consider Jamie to mostly provide KJ with a more rumbly, deeper sounding voice because that's the main thing he'll utilize for music stuff.

KJ has also deinitely recorded audio samples from Jamie to create sounds like:

worm bass.

wiggly worm bass

deepfried worming

pressure washer worm

the sound of 1000 worms raving in muddy grass during a heavy rain storm

worm chomf mischief (chewed on the mic) (WET)

worm opera

worm raspberries

wubbling (worm bubbling)

I could go on but that's the gist. custom made sounds from the best worm in the world <333

another thing about KJ post-story!

god, ok it's been a hot minute since I went insane with KJ lore sharing, but the speedrun any% recap is that KJ was hospitalized for a very long time due to an incident that put Jamie in a coma, and KJ can't properly talk without Jamie awake. extremely bad time for the guy who is very talkative etc. etc.

I'm certain you sent this ask due to me reblogging this drawing, which is post-story in the timeline, and KJ has Jamie again. swag!

buuut, the very long time without Jamie affected KJ's ability to talk where they're left with a stutter (that gradually improves to not be as frequent, but it's still there) If KJ speaks through Jamie, the stuttering doesn't occur. So, sometimes they'll make use of Jamie to avoid stuttering because they're much more comfortable being the weirdo freak with a worm out his mouth than dealing with the discomfort they get from being too self-conscious about stuttering.

Which is the case in that drawing! Mainly because they're at a photoshoot, so there's some people KJ doesn't really know that well, and they're not at a point where they feel comfortable speaking without Jamie.

They're comfy at home tho with Roger (and Cass), and gradually get more confident and comfortable with their stutter where they don't let it hold them back from being the loud and chatty freak that they are <3

[williamdecade]

Its aug 2, 2023 and im painfully out of breath I'm not quite sure what to say I feel awful, I went outside and turned the water on long enough to fill 12 -,1 gallon water bottles. I wish that could last me the week but probably not maybe only a few days, I'm getting tired I'm doing this, I'm getting kind of scared after years and years of congestive heart failure it seems like the past few months I'm getting weaker and I'm now getting out of breath quicker and or dizzy if I even bend over for the briefest amount of time or kneel down, yesterday I leaned over to pick a few things up off of the floor and I stood up and fell backwards actually I did fall backwards but the wall was there to catch me before I hit the floor, I don't know exactly what it is that I want if there was a warning it's not like I can afford to go to the hospital, but I don't want to want to be one of those people that's your pain and then 30 seconds later I'm dead and I'm here rotting for days because nobody gives a damn about me, I don't want people ravaging my belongings and stealing from me while I lay on the floor dead, like on those stories you occasionally read about. I so wanted to be able to have a better life and be happy for a little while before I'm gone, I'm doing my best but it's not good enough I don't see how I'm going to get out of my situation. Last night I pretended like I have since I was a little boy that I was shopping for another home someplace nice to move to and I also could buy some things that I need. I got on the Home Depot website and I pretended I had a budget so I could buy a new electric skillet to new microwave a new weed eater a new refrigerator since I don't have one to keep food in only the medication a little one and it's not working out well lately, a new window ac, and a few other things i desperately need, , I pretended that I had money to fix the bathroom so I had a working shower and tub and I had a washer and dryer again and fix the broken doors and windows, along with the water leak I've had since the hard freeze last year in November. I better stop for now the darkness is here but it's still terribly hot and I'm weak and tired, until next time, I realize there's a very good chance I'm whispering in the Wind and no one is seeing my posts or reading my writing but I am hopeful that there's a chance and that's all I can do. I remain hopeful that someone or a few people may reach out and help me if I give that up then there's nothing left for me to go on with.

[random-conspiracy]

The rat with thinner

Some time ago, I was renting a flat with one of my cousins, but the bloke was a sexually deranged man. He often came back home with car-washers, natives, orphans, beggars, and even inmigrants directly from the railroads.

My cousin, out of goodwill, fed them, let them shower, and even sometimes gave them clothes and shoes; but with the condition of having sex or at least receiving oral sex. I admit that at first, I disliked the idea and preferred to lock myself in my room, listening to music, hitting my joint—anything but smelling the tramps. But my cousin was bringing more and more fucked-up junkies, spoiled and crazy fuckers, and he asked me to take care of him if they became aggressive, besides he gets too dunked when on poppers.

I accepted reluctantly, but I have to admit I got used to watching my cousin being drilled by bums without rubber lmao. Once I was in the kitchen when my cousin arrived, and I got a really fucked-up stink. I initially thought he had brought home a corpse or something, but when I looked up, I saw he had the most fucked-up drug fiend deadbeat. Filthy, lousy, with his hair made into dreadlocks of blood and shit, shaky, and with a lost look, dressed in a mud-hardened jacket.

We gave him instant ramen, and meanwhile, he was eating, I told my cousin, "Shiiit, you went too far," and he just said, "Haha, I know." Then, the shithead puts a hand in his jacket, and I almost took out my twenty-two. But no, he only brought out a fucking giant dead rat, soaked it in paint thinner, and snorted it like a puff.

I said, "Holy shit, what the heck?" but somehow my cousin got fucking horny and he started to blow him without bathing him. The hobo was there, legs open, “mousing him up,” and my cousin was already taking off his pants and plucking him out. He was so big, maybe even his scepter would be rich without the coats of smegma and crabs that adorned his pubic hair. My cousin gulped him entirely and I didn’t know whether to turn on or puke, so I opted for smoking some weed.

My cousin, concupiscent, took all of his clothes off and offered his ass to the vagrant, and he, without thinking twice, started to lick it. My bottom cousin was in pure ecstasy, in a state of trance at feeling his ass pampered by the mouth of the drifter. Eventually, he shoved his big ass shaft, diamond hard without protection, making my cousin moan and scream like a dying cow, all of it while on poppers.

They were “tunneling the cave,” when the dude brought out his rat again, hit it profusely and—wham!—shoved it in the butt of my cousin.

Sheesh.

He kept pumping it harder, pushing the rat more and more deeply inside my cousin. It was an intercourse getting feral increasingly. After a while, with my cousin dripping in cum, the bum pulled out his flaccid weenie, ate all the ramen, and started yelling at me. I didn’t know what he was gibbering, and I was high AF, so I just pointed my gun at him and sent him off. The dude whited out so quickly that he forgot his pants on the floor, and I just stayed there napping.

An hour later, I was woken up by the shrieks of my cousin. He was sobbing that his ass and guts were hurting, he didn’t even remember what he did with his lover hehe. I helped him get to the toilet to shit the cramped cum and—HOLY SHIT—he farted out the whole rat, but butchered and dripping in maggots. He almost passed out and asked me to take him to the hospital to have his guts washed.

But he was feeling so brave in his horniness, hehe I swear it’s true.

-Uknown author, traslated by Umeboshi

Hey Episode WHAT THE FUCK

[timeoverload]

Today was a total shit show. I wasn't expecting it to be that bad. I got to work and everything was going great for 30 minutes. Then the power went out suddenly and the back-up generator didn't turn on right away like it's supposed to so all of our equipment shut down. When the generator turned on, most of the hospital was still dark because it only sends electricity to important areas including our department. I'm glad I didn't have to work in the dark but I was pissed because cases hadn't even started yet and they put them on hold. The schedule was very busy today. I had 27 cases. They don't start surgeries when we are running on generator power. I understand why but it's still annoying. I sat and waited for a while but I decided to try to go get breakfast since I knew I wasn't going to have time to eat otherwise. The cafeteria was dark but the lady that serves the food was still working anyway. I had to use a flashlight while I was eating.

It took almost an hour to get power back. Apparently the outage was caused by some faulty underground wires. I was hoping they weren't going to fix it because I wanted to go home. I know we never shut down for anything though. They never send us home unless we are sick. When we got like 22 inches of snow about 4 or 5 years ago, they tried to force everyone to come in. It wasn't safe for patients or employees so I don't know why they were staying open to do elective surgeries. I tried to call in because I couldn't get there and my dad couldn't get out either but they threatened to send someone to pick me up. I was not comfortable being in the car with a stranger so I had to make other arrangements but I wasn't really comfortable with that either. I had to get a ride from my ex's dad and he was a creep and I didn't like being around him by myself. I guess I made it there at least. Most of the people in my department didn't show up so I was really mad about that. I shouldn't have to take risks like that for work. I would understand if we were a trauma hospital, but we're not. We don't do a lot of emergency surgeries for anything other than eyes. Occasionally we will have an add-on for a fracture or an appendectomy or something like that but that only happens a couple times a month.

Anyway, I was super irritated by the time I had to start working. I wasn't feeling very motivated. The doctor working in the morning had 14 regular phacos/cataract surgeries and a corneal transplant. He usually is done with surgeries by 12:30 but he wasn't finished until 1:45. I only took a 15 minutes lunch because I had too much shit to do. The doctor working in the afternoon did 12 cases in 2 hours. I felt like I was going to throw up and I was drenched in sweat. It was also really hot in our department because the thermostat got messed up when the power went out. Both of the sterrad machines and all 8 autoclaves were running so that didn't help. The washers were all running constantly all day too. It was so humid in decontam. I forgot to drink water because I was moving so fast. I am dehydrated now. I had a pile of stuff to do at the end of the day and I worked as fast as I could to get most of it done in 20 minutes. I could not handle staying late and I wanted to avoid going in early tomorrow. I didn't get everything done but the important stuff is out of the way. I didn't even look at the schedule tomorrow but I'm sure it's going to be bad. Every Thursday sucks now. I'm not looking forward to that but I probably should stop thinking about it.

I was so mad when I left because I didn't have the energy to go do the things I had planned on doing all day. I really wanted to go to the store because there are things I need. It was also too hot and my car felt like an oven. I have been wanting to wear shorts but I feel like a sasquatch. I hate being this hairy because it's uncomfortable for me but I will try to deal with that this weekend. I know it is going to take a while and I'm dreading that. I stopped and got food because I knew I wouldn't want to get up again after I sat down. I also had to take a quick shower when I got home because I was way too sweaty. I feel a little better now since I ate and took a shower. My body still hurts really bad. I am probably going to relax for a little while and get ready for bed. I think I'm going to try to go to sleep earlier again. I don't really have much else to say and my brain feels fried so I can't think anymore. Hopefully I can make tomorrow a good day.

I hope everyone else has a good day tomorrow too. 💖💖💖

Maxwell, thank you for giving me some reassurance. That makes me feel a lot better. You make me happy. :) I love you. 💖💖💖

[j-a-smiths-blog]

1706 14Aug23: another small milestone met today.

Samaritan House arrived, and they graciously took the couch, love seat, recliner, book shelf and wife surprised me by letting them take the 49inch TV. (The TV was old anyways but still good working order just not a smart tv)

Then as they were taking the stuff my buddy showed up and we finished the wood work needed on the back porch so now I need to get a hose and I can pressure wash the deck and thr house, and then paint/weather seal the deck and the complete focus should be on the house.

Tomorrow, I have a virtual house walk through with the moving company so they can estimate the days and crew needed to pack up the house. It will be surprising to see what they say about half the house being packed up already. Additionally, we are not taking the bed or washer and dryer, so some of the big items are getting eliminated.

So this morning, during all that, I sweat out so much that I felt sick. I pushed through until 1, and then I was like I need a nap. So I took a nap while the wife was continuing in the living room. I then got a call that my final Chiefs shirt was in, and then I went ahead and marked my medication for filling, so I have 2 reasons to make the trip to the hospital. Well back to packing!

[declanfs]

May 21, 2023

So you’ve gotten a lot more independent and we’re doing so many fun things now that the weather is nice, so I’ve been neglecting updates. Since my last post in March:

- you like to play and lay and dig in sawdust that dada dumps over the fence

- we started giving you melatonin at bedtime and it has been a game changer. Instead of taking 90 min to fall asleep, it takes 20-30, which is a totally normal amount of time. I think that your body just has a hard time winding down and then you get overtired and its just a disaster. But melatonin is the little nudge you need to relax.

- you dug in the ashes of the fire pit and burned 6/8 of your finger tips

-you completed your second wave of survival swim and can now begrudgingly survive and swim to the edge of the pool if you somehow fall in unsupervised - highly unlikely, but better to be prepared.

- we’ve learned you like to wear noise canceling headphones for chronic loud noises (lawn mowers, power washer, etc), so that’s really cool to be aware of when you are so little. (I ordered them for a monster truck show that we ended up not going to)

- you got your second haircut

- Easter! You did so great at the egg hunt and loved your stuffed honey bee the Easter bunny left. Along with egg shaped chalk and garden tools and way too many other things because the Easter bunny spoils you even more than we do. We dyed eggs. You were a cute outfit with a bow tie.

- you’ve learned how to identify specific bugs and birds. Roly poly, ladybug, worms, snakes, beetles, slugs, snails, robin, cardinal, owl, woodpecker, goldfinch. I’m amazed by you and your vocabulary.

- riding with you in the car is actually a delight most of the time. You look out the window and make all kinds of observations. Pink house! Water tower! Excavator! BIG truck! Cement Mixer! Horses! Cows! Trees! Jeep! Van!

- You still really love to see the mail truck or delivery drivers, they are local celeb status in your world.

- we went to a tulip picking farm! You weren’t super impressed by the tulips after the first 10 minutes, but you really liked the bouncy houses and the little houses and playgrounds. We’ll definitely go back and plan better in regard to your nap.

- you ran a race at the Stafford hospital with Ryan on a weekend you spent with Granny! You ran for a part of the way at least, but you were only 1 and new to races so you did really well all things considered.

- We got a new car - a Hyundai palisade. We all love it very much.

- You love to eat coconut milk ice cream sandwiches and have started asking for them for breakfast.

- You love to go on the trails and to the parks. Our neighborhood park and the court land park. It’s tough for you to understand that we cannot go to Courtland elementary during the weekday.

- Your vocabulary has really exploded in every way, and I feel so grateful. You are so chatty and communicative about what you want and what you need. We can say “show me” and you’ll take us to what you need if you don’t know the words for it yet. You’ve said things like “a cardinal on bird feeder”

- we’ve had play dates with so many friends: Lily and Chase; Archer; Jace and Cami; Rey and Remi; Stella and Laney;

- You learned how to rock your body back and forth to get a car you’re riding in to roll down a hill

- we got you some of those bank box blocks and you love to make a big house and watch Tumble Leaf inside

- We had a whole tumble leaf themed birthday party that only one other family truly appreciated because Tumble leaf is wildly under appreciated

- we got a new trampoline with netting so that you and your friends will be safe

- we learned you share a birthday with Sir David Attenborough, which is honestly so perfect for your current demeanor and interests

- you and dada had a 3-day party together while mama went to Philadelphia to see Taylor Swift on her Eras Tour

- you’ve been to 2 more birthday parties (Remi/Rey and Jack)

- you pushed a shopping cart around Publix and it was the cutest thing ever

- You’ve helped me workout in the gym twice and it actually wasn’t as difficult for me as I expected

- you went camping and slept in a tent for the first time!

I will probably do posts about more of these things in detail, but wanted to document just in case time gets away from me again and I just do a big photo dump.

[fanficimagery]

Nurse Next Door pt. 1

When you moved out on your own for the first time, you weren't expecting to become attached to your elderly neighbor. Or to get to know her reclusive son and his insane friends. But yet here you are. Life's funny like that.

PART ONE | PART TWO

Words: 5.6K  Author's Note: Sorry in advance for the Spanish translations. It was all done by google. There is hardly any Juice/Reader in this first part, but it’s still tagged as such because I didn’t want to separate the story in the tags. Sorry.

At sixteen years old, the thought of college and going out of state sounded like everything a teenager your age could want. You looked at schools, as expected, and even found a few you were interested in. It was exciting and you couldn't wait to start the application process and graduate from your high school.

But then the time came and went, and you'd never done a single thing. By the time you graduated, the thought of leaving home terrified you. The thought of leaving your parents was a no-go and you ended up staying home. You had a few paid under the table jobs, but nothing concrete. Then your mother was diagnosed with cancer and you spent years watching her battling it, going through chemotherapy and just constantly being sick. And when she could no longer fight it, you watched with your heart in your stomach as she took her last breath.

Watching your mother pass made you the most paranoid you'd ever been, and you took your father's health seriously after that. So serious, in fact, that you enrolled into community college and took the proper classes to get into a nursing program.

The nursing gig was your first real job and you loved it. Not only did you get to take care of people at work, but if anything ever happened at home then you were more than prepared for it. But then your sister got divorced and decided to move back home, and the two bedroom house you lived in with your dad wasn't big enough anymore. So since you were the one with a steady job, you decided to move out and let your sister take care of your dad.

Finding a house in the same town you grew up in was impossible, but you ended up finding one in Bakersfield. It wasn't too far from your dad and the hospital in the town you were moving to was in need of nurses, so it was perfect for you.

On moving day, your two brothers and one brother-in-law packed all your belongings into a moving truck while you drove ahead of them in your Dodge Challenger. The two bedroom house you had found was perfect, but this was the first time you were going to be on your own and you were kind of nervous. Your brothers did all the heavy lifting and reassembling of your bed as your dad sat on your porch watching them, and you and your sisters carried the boxes of all the rest of your belongings.

The entire time you were back and forth, you noticed an elderly woman next door sitting on her porch, fanning herself while watching all the commotion taking place. You didn't want her to think it was going to be a daily occurrence, the loudness your family was currently creating, so you offered her a friendly wave and vowed to introduce yourself on one of the upcoming days. And after having a couple of pizzas delivered and an impromptu dinner on your front lawn, your family planned a bar-b-cue at your own place in two weeks before taking their leave.

In the next couple of days, you spend it putting everything in its proper place and washing clothes. You were grateful that your brothers had friends who were getting rid of some furniture, so all you really had to purchase were your washer and dryer. One friend was getting rid of a living room set, another was getting rid of their dining room table, and another had a spare refrigerator that they got rid of for a very cheap price.

It was currently Friday and you started work on Monday, so you decided to do your grocery shopping now. Plus you wanted to finally greet your neighbor since you realized she lived on her own, but you needed something to take over. And what better way to introduce yourself than with some fresh pan dulce? Nearly every Mexican elder loved their sweet bread with coffee and you were hoping it was the same for this lady.

So the following morning, you wake up extra early to make the pan dulce from scratch. It's a little time consuming, but nothing too terrible and around eight in the morning you find yourself packing up four sweet breads and heading next door. The elderly woman is already on her porch, a cup of coffee sitting next to her on a little table. You exit your gate and make your way towards hers, waving as you hesitantly push through her gate.

"Good morning!" You call out.

And to your great relief, she smiles. "¡Buenos días!" (Good morning!)

So she speaks Spanish, but understands English. Good to know. "Hola. Mi nombre es YN. I, um, I just moved in and thought I'd introduce myself," you say while approaching. You hand over the tupperware container in your hands. "Te hice pan dulce." (I made you some pan dulce.)

"Ah. Gracias. Mi nombre es Elena." (Ah. Thank you. My name is Elena.) She opens the container and takes a whiff of the sweet bread, and your heart warms as she immediately breaks apart one of them to eat. She closes her eyes as she takes a bite, humming. "This.. this is really good, mija."

You chuckle. "Thank you." She takes another bite before taking a sip of her coffee and you smile at her. "I used to make it for my mom all the time, then my dad, but he's a really bad diabetic so I hadn't been able to make it recently. I'd hoped you liked it, so I woke up this morning to make you some as a friendly neighborly gesture."

"Bueno, lo aprecio." (Well, I appreciate it.)

You smile before hooking a thumb over your shoulder. "Well, I should get going. I have a bit more paperwork to fill out at the hospital before I start my job there Monday morning. If you want any more pan dulce, just let me know and I'll make you a fresh batch."

"Sí, lo haré. Gracias de nuevo." (Yes, I will. Thank you again.)

You and Elena wave at one another, and you get on with the rest of your day.

During the first week of starting your new job, you find yourself falling into a routine of waking up, going to work, going home, eating, showering and bed. But Elena apparently took a great liking to you and started inviting you over as soon as you got out of work. She did it when she saw how exhausted you were one night, making you dinner since you had made her pan dulce. And when she found out you were on your own and working diligently as a nurse, she wanted you over at her house so she could have dinner waiting for you. You had told her it wasn't necessary, you didn't want her doing so much at her age since she was on her own as well, but she only compromised with you when you suggested ordering take-out and eating it with her so she could make sure you were eating.

Elena had told you about some of her life- how her husband had passed when her son was only eight. Her son was a troublemaker and was in and out of jail, but recently he'd been doing okay even if he was part of a motorcycle club. However, she couldn't complain too much because she had a few health issues and the club helped her son take care of her.

You had smiled at her storytelling and then told her about yourself- how you came from a decently sized family that was close, but something had fractured when your mother passed. You took care of your dad, paranoid about his health which made you want to become a nurse, and then moved out of his house when your sister moved back in after a nasty divorce. And in talking about your family, you tell her they had planned a cook-out at your house the following week and you would like it if she would attend.

It took some convincing, but eventually Elena agreed to meet your family.

The day of the bar-b-cue, one of your brothers showed up early with a pit on wheels. You helped him situate it in your front yard before he helped you put up a canopy for a bit of shade. Your brother had a 152 quart cooler in the back of his truck, and the two of you went halfsies on ice and the different types of beer your family enjoyed. Another smaller ice cooler was used for sodas and water, and you waved him off as you set up a couple of tables and chairs.

A little after two, your dad and siblings started showing up. Only one brother didn't show up, but you pushed aside the hurt it caused. The invitation was there for him to take and it wasn't your fault he didn't take it. But there were still more than enough people and your eldest nephew was excited to get the pit going.

Your younger nieces and nephews were set up in a small inflatable pool out of everyone's way, and several tables with chairs were set up- tables to sit at and tables to hold the food once it was done. A large speaker was off to the side, an iPod plugged into it and playing music to keep all entertained. Your dad sat under the canopy and you made sure there were a few extra chairs in the shade so Elena could sit there too.

"Alright, I'll be back. I'm gonna go get Elena. Please.. don't be yourselves."

Your siblings and sibling-in-laws all laugh, and you know full well it's going to be chaos as soon as the beer starts flowing. You just hope Elena can deal with them.

Jogging over to her yard and up her porch steps, you knock on the wooden paneling surrounding her door. Elena, dressed casually, greets you with a smile. "Hola cariño." (Hello, sweetheart.)

"Hola, Elena," you say. "Ready to go?"

"Si."

Elena walks out of her house and you offer her your arm so you can help her down the steps. She holds onto your arm as you lead her to your property and then you wave at your family, garnering their attention. "Everyone, this is my lovely neighbor Elena. Elena, esta es mi loca familia. (Elena, this is my crazy family.)

"Hola, Elena!" They all shout and you shake their head at them as Elena chuckles.

"Hola."

You guide her to an empty chair and quickly introduce her to your dad, the two of them easily falling into a conversation with one another. "¿Te portarás bien aquí, Elena? I need to see what my nephew needs help with." (You going to be good here, Elena?)

"Si, si. Go help."

"Okay. If you need anything, have my dad yell for me. We also have drinks if you'd like one right now."

"No, estoy bien." (No, I'm fine.)

You smile before heading inside your house, seeing what your nephew needs help with. He's seasoning the meat already and he asks for help carrying out the trays of food. You do as you're asked, carrying out platters of meat and placing them where you're told to place them. The kids are running around, somehow having gotten a hold of water balloons, and you yell at them to keep close to the pool so your dad or Elena don't get caught in the crossfire. And speaking of Elena, you glance over at her and smile to see that she's carrying on a conversation with your sisters and that your sisters have gotten her a bottle of water.

Over the speaker, a Spanish song comes on and your brother grabs your hand to start dancing with you. You laugh, obliging him for a bit before pushing him away. You're lured to the inflatable pool and make a bit of a splash with the kids, chasing them around and having some quality time with your family.

Eventually you've had enough and you walk over to the cooler, grab a beer, and take a seat next to Elena. When she looks over at you, smiling, you ask, "Are you enjoying yourself? I'm sorry I abandoned you."

"Don't apologize." She lightly swats at your hand. "I am enjoying this. I have missed family functions."

"I'm glad," you tell her. "And whenever we do this again, you're more than welcome to come. Even if we have it at one of my other siblings' houses, you and I will take a road trip together."

"Si. I think I'd like that."

The conversation between you and Elena drops, and you sit back to watch as she interacts with your family. Every now and then you get up to help your nephew with the food or get up to run around with the kids, and all in all it's turning out to be a good day.

A little while later, you're still sitting around when the sound of motorcycles gets closer and closer. You glance up and down the street looking for the source since the entire time you've been here you've never seen a motorcycle pass by. But then you spot them, two men sitting atop motorcycles as they creep up the street.

And then they park directly in front of Elena's house.

You watch the men from your spot, taking note of their no nonsense expression. One man is completely bald, whereas the other has a mohawk shaved nearly down to his scalp and tribal tattoos on either side of the mohawk. As they walk around their bikes, ruffling through some bags, you catch sight of the back of their kuttes and the reapers on the back. Sons of Anarchy. The bald one wears a plain white tee under his kutte, arms sleeved out in tattoos, whereas the other one has on a plain black tee and a few tats here and there.

Elena grabs onto your hand, smiling as she points at the men. "Ese es mi hijo y su amigo." (That's my son and his friend.)

"Happy?" You wonder. You've heard a few stories and seen a few pictures, but the Happy you got to know through pictures had a head full of hair.

"Si. El guapo." (Yes. The handsome one.)

You chuckle. "'Lena, they both look handsome from here." Her eyes immediately gain a sparkle and you narrow your eyes at her. "Don't. Don't tell either of them I said that." She laughs along with you then and you ask, "Want me to bring them over?"

"¿Por favor?" (Please?)

Taking a sip of your beer, you push up to your feet and make your way towards the fence that separates your yard from Elena's. You whistle sharply at them as they turn to make their way up the pathway leading to Elena's porch and mentally flinch when both sets of dark eyes land on you. "Whichever one of you is Happy, your Ma's over here. Food's almost done, so if you guys wanna pull up a chair you're more than welcome to."

Both men glance at one another before the one with mohawk smirks and shrugs, and then both men are making their way towards your front gate. You meet them there and the one with the mohawk hasn't lost his smirk. "Name's Juice."

"YN." You grin at him before your gaze travels up towards the other guy. "Which means you're Happy." His gaze, which had been looking over your head, most likely at his Ma, slides down to you and he nods. "Alright then. Food will be done in about twenty more minutes. Beers are in the cooler. Help yourself." As you turn your back on the two men and lead them towards Elena who's patiently waiting, you roll your eyes at your family who can't help but stare. "Chill. One's Elena's son and the other is his friend."

The tension breaks and your family calls out a few welcomes before going back to what they previously were doing. Happy takes the chair you'd previously been sitting in and Juice takes the chair next to him. You ask them for their beer preferences before grabbing one for them when they realize they really are welcomed there, and then grab another for your dad who's excusing himself from Elena's side. You pass him his beer, then the other two to Happy and Juice, and then take a seat in your dad's vacated seat.

As Happy and Elena have a hushed conversation, Juice glances around the chaos happening around him. You sip your beer, relaxing in your chair as you watch your family as well.

Moments later, your sister approaches. "Hey YN, can you set up the tables and chairs for the kids?"

"Nope." You pop the 'p', grinning. "Not my crotch goblins, not my responsibility."

You hear a snort but don't bother looking for the source. Your sister grins, shaking her head at you. "You're a bitch."

"You say that as if you hadn't already known." You take a sip of your beer, pointing the mouth of the bottle in another direction. "The parents aren't doing anything. Have them do it."

"Fine. Can you at least start bringing out the plates and utensils, and start setting up the table?"

"Sure."

You head inside to grab paper plates and plastic utensils, taking them outside to the spare table that had been set up for this purpose. Your nephew and your brother start pulling the meat out of the pit, placing foil atop of it until they're ready for everyone to eat. You also bring out all the sides- rice, beans, potato salad and macaroni salad. And on one of the back and forth trips, your brother pulls you into another impromptu dance that leaves you laughing and punching his arm so you can get away.

After your nephew's cut up the pork ribs and the fajitas, he hollers for everyone to start eating.

You set your beer aside, smiling at Elena. "Querías pollo, ¿verdad?" (You wanted chicken, right?)

"Si."

"¿Arroz? ¿Frijoles? ¿Ensalada de papas?" (Rice? Beans? Potato salad?)

"Un poco de todo." (A little bit of all.)

"Okay." You then glance at Happy and Juice. "Well? You boys coming or am I serving you too?"

Juice smirks. "Well, if you're offering.."

Happy slaps him upside the head. "Shut Up, idiot. Come on."

You make Elena her plate, biting back a smile when you hear Juice exclaim his hunger at the sight of all the meat your nephew had cooked. She asks for a soda and a water, and you happily get that for her while grabbing two more beers for Happy and Juice as they take their seat at the table. Once they're settled, you go and make your own plate before taking your seat and eating.

The meal is loud and filled with laughter, and you're glad Elena got to experience this. Happy is too if the look he keeps gracing his mother with when she laughs is anything to go by.

You're not surprised at how easily Juice gets along with your family, laughing and joking with them as if he'd been doing it for years, but Happy is. He keeps a keen eye on everyone, shaking his head at his friend who feels a little too comfortable surrounded by new people.

Afterwards, the trash is gathered and then tossed as everyone sips on their drinks and lets their stomachs settle. As you get up to check on the kids who were lazily sitting in the inflatable pool, your brother catches you in a side hug before you can sit down again.

"What are you doing?" You ask, chuckling as he rocks you side to side.

"So, for those of you who don't know, I'm looking at you scary motorcycle dudes," your brother says, nodding at them and completely ignoring you, "this whole cookout was for our darling baby sister who finally got off her ass and moved out of dad's house." You roll your eyes, elbowing him, and he squeezes you tighter to his side. "We are so proud that you're living on your own for the first time ever and now our fingers are crossed that you can get dick on the regular."

"¡Hijo de puta!" (Motherfucker!) Your family and Juice all roar with laughter, Happy smirks and Elena is doing her best to look disappointed, but you can see the amusement in her expression. "Not in front of the guests, jerk!"

"I'm sorry. I had to," he says. "But for real, we're proud of you, kid."

"I haven't been a kid in a while, jerkface."

"Uh huh. Whatever. You're still the baby." He tucks you under his arm once again. "And now that we've had our serious moment, it's time for something a little more lighthearted."

"Oh no. What do you have planned now? I told you to behave in front of Elena. This is not you behaving."

Your brother slowly smirks and you have a terrible feeling about this. "At our get-togethers, there's always some sort of fight. Our last one was that food fight at Easter, but we can't exactly chuck bones at each other without taking an eye out."

You tense. "What are you-" His free hand comes up and quickly slams something atop your head and you gasp, eyes closing and shoulders hunching when you realize it's a water balloon. Only.. the liquid running down the side of your face isn't as thinned out as water. It's.. "Is this paint?" You grit out through clenched teeth.

Your brother shakes with suppressed laughter before he takes off and you're right on his heel. Your sister-in-law is by the gate, a bucket of paint filled water balloons waiting for you as if she expected this. "Get him," she says.

"Holy shit. She's gonna murder him," Juice mumbles as he watches the siblings disappear down the street.

"You get used to it." One of YN's sisters tells him. "I can guarantee you though that one, if not both, will come back injured."

Everyone's chuckling and glancing down the street where YN disappeared off to, and then Elena claps her hand as her laugh rings out a little louder. "I.. am so happy she moved in. I have a feeling I'm going to be entertained for years."

"That you will, señorita."

A handful of minutes later and you stumble back into your yard, hands empty as you bend over with your hands on your knees and panting heavily.

"Did you at least hit him?" You hear your dad ask.

"What.. do you think?" You pant, grimacing as a stitch in your side bothers you.

"Aim's still shit?"

"Aim's still shit," you gasp out. Everyone chuckles as you do your best to regulate your breathing. "Ow. Fuck," you grumble. "I'm too out of shape to be running down the street like that."

"Why is there a scrape on your knee?"

"Huh?" You glance up at your sister who'd asked the question and then glance down at your leg. "Oh, uh, I ran out of balloons and then a German Shepherd chased us. I scaled a tree and dumbass kept running."

"What did I tell you?" Your sister laughs. "Someone was gonna be injured."

Feet slapping against pavement has you standing tall and whirling around, and you laugh at your brother as he nearly collapses in front of you. "You left me, you asshole."

"Not my fault you can't climb trees anymore."

"I got nipped in the ass!"

"Better you than me."

Your brother lunges for you and the two of you end up rolling around in the grass. Eventually he finds a ticklish spot and you call uncle before you can pee yourself.

The kids start getting fussy and your siblings slowly take their leave, but not before helping you clean up. When you see Happy helping his mother up, you head on over towards them. When she sees you approaching, she beams at you.

"Thank you for coming, Elena. I'm so sorry it ended up getting crazy there in the end." You lean in, kissing her cheek.

"Thank you, mija. Esto fue lo más divertido que tuve en mucho tiempo." (This was the most fun I had in a while.)

You smile at her once more before glancing at Happy and Juice. "Sorry for roping you guys in. I hope you at least had a decent time."

Happy shrugs. "Free food and beer. It was fun. Thanks." His stoic expression makes you crack a grin, but it's Juice who has you full on smiling.

"Sweetheart, anytime you wanna invite me over, feel free to. Just have Hap's Ma give me a call."

"We'll see."

You walk the trio up to your gate, thanking them once more for putting up with your family. You watch until they're walking up the steps to Elena's porch and then turn around to finish cleaning up.

As it turned out, Elena absolutely adored your family. She loved how playful you and your siblings were, and how everyone- even you- were involved with the children. She loved how close you were, even if your other brother and his family decided not to show, and that your family took the time to have meals with each other every now and then.

You've become such a fixture at Elena's house, and probably even the subject of many phone calls with her son, that you're not surprised to find him pounding on your front door in a panic one night.

"Hey," you frown, "what's going on?"

"It's Ma," Happy says. "Something's wrong."

"Okay. Let me grab my bag."

Having just gotten out of the shower, you're in nothing but a tank top and sleep shorts. But in the few times you've met Happy, you've never seen him look so rattled, so you rush over to your hall closet and pull out the first aid bag you've put together for such emergencies.

Barefoot, you rush to meet Happy who has remained right outside your door. "What are her symptoms?" You ask while jogging towards Elena's house.

"She's, uh, she's clammy. Kind of confused," he tells you. "Says she feels tired and weak."

You run over her symptoms in your head and it sounds more than a little familiar to you. "Is your Ma a diabetic?"

"Not that I know of."

"Did she forget to eat today?"

"Don't know. I got in maybe twenty minutes ago." Happy pushes open the door to his Ma's house and you enter right behind him.

Elena's sitting on her sofa, a little paler than normal. You crouch in front of her, setting your bag down and opening it up. "Hey, Elena," you start talking to her. "It's YN." She hums, eyes closed. "Do you know who I am?"

Her eyes open and she smiles faintly. "Si. Mi hermosa vecina." (Yes. My beautiful neighbor.)

"That's right. Happy tells me you're not feeling well. He listed off some symptoms and it sounds familiar so I'm gonna go ahead and take your blood sugar right now." As you'd been talking, you'd been setting up a blood sugar meter. "Did you eat today?"

"I forgot to eat lunch."

"Ma.." Happy rumbles from somewhere above you and you bite back a smile.

"And dinner?"

"Solo sopa." (Only soup.)

You tut at her as you use an alcohol pad to clean off one of her fingers. "That's not good, 'Lena. You need to eat." She hums again. "I'm gonna prick your finger now. Just a little pinch."

You prick Elena's finger, apologizing when she hisses, and then gather the blood droplet onto the test strip. As the little machine figures out Elena's sugar level, you hold the alcohol pad to her finger to stop the bleeding.

When the machine beeps and her sugar level is displayed, you sigh and hold it up so Happy can see. "Sixty-seven?" He mumbles. "Is that good or bad?"

"It's on the verge of being bad," you tell him. "Does she have orange juice in her fridge?"

"I'll check." You quickly start gathering the trash and you hear him call out, "She has some."

"Good. Pour her a glass and then mix in a spoonful of sugar."

Happy doesn't respond so you get started on checking Elena's blood pressure. Happy returns before you're done and patiently waits to see what the verdict is of whatever you're doing.

"Blood pressure is fine. It's just her blood sugar." He grunts and then passes you the glass of orange juice. You push everything aside and then take a seat next to Elena on her sofa. "Okay, Elena, I'm going to need you to wake up a little more. I need you to drink this."

Elena doesn't argue and you help her take a drink of the orange juice since her hands are a bit shaky. She takes one drink and then grimaces. "Está demasiado dulce." (It's too sweet.)

"That's the whole point. We need your blood sugar to be higher." You push the glass back towards her mouth and she takes a smaller sip before pushing it away. You sigh. "Elena, you either drink this right now or Happy calls an ambulance to take you to the hospital. All they're going to do is do the same thing I'm doing, only they're gonna charge you hundreds of dollars instead of doing it for free."

"Ma, drink the damn juice."

You bite your bottom lip when she starts swearing at her son in Spanish and then prompt her to drink some more. It takes a few minutes, but she eventually drinks it all.

"Give it a few minutes and I'll check her sugar levels again. If her status doesn't improve, then I suggest a trip to the ER." Happy doesn't say anything and you take the empty glass to the kitchen. There are a couple of dishes in the sink and you take your time washing those. Then when that's done, you pour her another glass of orange juice with some sugar mixed in and head back out to check her blood sugar.

When you get the meter prepped again and warn her that you're going to prick her finger, you place the drop of blood on the test strip. A few seconds later and it's beeping with the results.

You let out a sigh of relief and show it to Happy. Ninety-three.

"She should start feeling a bit better soon." Happy nods, his shoulders relaxing. Then smiling at Elena, you place the glass in her hands. "'Lena, you need to drink one more glass. I'm gonna be right outside and when I come back in, I want this glass to be empty. Okay?"

"Si. Bueno." (Yes. Okay.)

As Elena takes the glass of juice and slowly sips it, you pack everything in your bag and set it aside before heading outside onto the porch. And once outside, you take a seat on the porch steps, hugging your knees to your chest and laying your forehead atop your knees.

You quietly groan, willing your heartbeat to slow and the churning of your stomach to go away. You knew Elena had health problems, but seeing her just as you had brought on a slew of memories of when your dad was in the same position Elena was in just now.

The screen door creaks open and you steel yourself for whatever Happy has to say. Something warm drops across your shoulders and you pick your head up, realizing it's a jacket hoodie. You hadn't realized you were trembling so you eagerly put your arms through the sleeves and wrap the jacket around you.

"How'd you know it was her sugar?"

"My dad's a diabetic," you tell him. "If he takes too much insulin, it drops his sugar and he- he gets like your Ma just was."

"That what made you get into the nursing gig?"

"Yeah. After watching one parent die, it made me paranoid about the other." You chuckle, turning so your back rests against the column of her porch. "And now I've become incredibly fond of your Ma, and seeing her like that brought back some memories. Scared me for a moment."

His lips twitch and you huff a laugh. "I'm glad she has you for a neighbor."

"Yeah. Me too."

A moment of silence falls and then his next words make your eyes fly open. "Juice is gonna be pissed I practically saw your tits before him."

"Jesus Christ, Happy!" He smirks. "Keep your voice down before your Ma hears. I mentioned one time that you and Juice were hot, and she was looking at a bridal magazine a week later."

Happy snorts. "Kid's been buggin' me if you've had another cook out. He's angling for an invite and a way into your panties."

You groan. "Please don't say panties. I hate that word."

Happy chuckles, but it's cut short when the screen door opens and Elena walks out. You quickly scramble up to your feet. "I'm okay. I'm okay," she assures you and Happy. "I'm just going to grab a shower and go to bed, but I wanted to thank you."

Elena grabs onto your hands, pulling you down so she can kiss both your cheeks. "It's no problem. Are you feeling better then?"

"Much."

"Good."

Elena kisses her son's cheeks and then she heads back inside her home. You follow her inside, grab your bag and then shed the jacket Happy hand lent you.

"Thanks," you tell him as you hand his jacket back.

"Don't mention it." Just as you make your way to the door again, he asks, "If this happens again, is there any way I can get a hold of you?"

"Yeah. Of course." He readily takes out his phone and you rattle off your number for him. He shoots you a quick text and tells you to reach out should something happen when he's not there. "See you around, Hap."

"See 'ya, nurse."