#this is what you get for writing lettuce in my ask blake

[me-myself-and-my-fos]

Dinner

Pairing: Mycroft Holmes x Nicole Blake

Word Count: 2.5k

Summary: The first date

A/N: Again, a special thanks to @thatghoulboi for helping out!!

“Which one looks better?” Nicole asked anxiously, her robe secured tightly on her as she stepped out of her bedroom. Entering the living room of the flat, she held out two dresses on hangers. One was a plain black dress with short sleeves and a skirt that would come down to her knees. The other was a dark green dress, longer than the black one, with a sleeveless sweetheart neckline.

“This is the third time you’ve shown me that dress,” Abby said, pulling her attention away from the script in front of her. She pointed at the green dress. “It’s like you want me to pick it because you’re afraid to do it yourself.”

“I’m not!” Nicole said, red faced and biting her lip. “You said you liked this one more than the blue one. I wanted to compare it to all the dresses I have. All five dresses.” She walked back to her bedroom and started to slip off her robe and change into the green dress. “I don’t know how some women do it. I can’t have more than five dresses. I mean, I never wear them unless I’m invited to something.”

“Dresses are nice,” Abby commented, her eyes drifting back to the script. She played with the ends of her curly hair as she did. “You know how much I like them.”

“I do.” Nicole replied. She groaned from her bedroom. “I think I might need to change to the purple dress. I might be so stressed I’m getting hives. The purple one has long sleeves.” She stepped out and back into the living room.

Abby shook her head and put the script on the coffee table before walking over to Nicole. She took her best friend’s hands in hers and squeezed them in encouragement. “Hey, you don’t need to stress. It’s one date. You only have to stress if he wants to see you again.”

“A, it’s not a date. It’s just dinner.” Nicole replied stubbornly. “And B, of course I’m going to stress! I haven’t been out with a guy since I went to college! That’s nearly a decade! It has been a decade!”

“You are going to do just fine,” Abby assured her, hugging Nicole. “And if he’s an ass just pour your drink on him.”

Nicole laughed. “I’m petty, not mean.” Abby shrugged and pulled away from the hug. Nicole took a few steps back and smoothed out the green dress. “How do I look?”

“Amazing,” Abby smiled at her. “Green really brings out your eyes.”

“Really?” A shy smile came over Nicole’s face at the comment.

“Yeah,” Abby nodded.

“Okay,” Nicole bounced on the balls of her feet as she mentally checked off everything she needed to do before she left. “And you’ll be here when I get back?”

Abby nodded, sitting back down on the couch. “Of course. I’ll be here to celebrate if it goes well, or console you if it goes awful. What time will you be coming back?”

“Probably not until eight? Maybe? I’ll text you if it’s later, don’t worry,” Nicole assured her, slipping on her black flats. She slipped her phone into her bra then unlocked the flat door and opened it.

“I thought you said the ‘dinner’ wasn’t until six?” Abby glanced down at the time on her phone. “It’s five-fifteen.”

“It takes fifteen minutes to get to the restaurant, and I cannot go through the horror of him being early and waiting for me.” Nicole explained quickly, slipping out the door. “Bye, love you, don’t forget to lock up on my way out!”

It was nearly 30 excruciating minutes as she waited outside the 5 star restaurant she didn’t even know existed until Mycroft suggested it for the dinner. She wasn’t sure when the pacing started, but it hasn’t stopped, neither have the curious looks people have given her as they entered and exited the restaurant. With every step of her pacing, a new thought entered her mind.

What if he doesn’t come? What if he stands you up? But what if he’s getting you flowers? No, of course he wouldn’t do that. What if he’s just running late. No, no one is ever just ‘running late’. It’s a bad sign. He’s probably changed his mind, who would blame him when it’s y–

“I hope you weren’t waiting too long,” Mycroft said, approaching where Nicole was pacing. Her movement was halted at his words and she stood nervously as he approached.

Shaking her head, she answered. “No, it’s only been—” 30 whole minutes. She cleared her throat and took in his appearance. It was different from the black tuxedos he wore for the events, but not all too different. It was a nice suit. It was very nice. Nicole felt her cheeks grow warm and she tore her eyes away before she could speak. “You look very…” her mind went through the list of words she knew, not wanting to settle on just handsome as the adjective, “…dapper.” She said, before mentally kicking herself. “I meant nice, you look very… nice…” She stared at her feet for a moment.

He gave a smile, an amused one, but a smile nonetheless. “Thank you. You look lovely. Green compliments your eyes.”

Nicole couldn’t stop the giggle that escaped her, and she covered her mouth in embarrassment. Removing her hand from her mouth she looked back at him. “I think we should go inside.”

Mycroft stepped over and opened the door. “After you.”

“Thank you,” she mumbled before walking into the restaurant.

The dinner had barely even started and Nicole was already dreading it. The wine menu had been given to them and she knew nothing about wine. She couldn’t even pronounce the names of them. She had no idea what the difference was between a wine from 2001 and a wine from 1998. She knew some things about wine, having done research for her novels. But she knew the wines for her books, not real life wines. She doesn’t even drink wine or alcohol. How did she get stuck in this situation? Oh right, she had a crush.

“Which one would you like?” Asked Mycroft. His voice pulled Nicole from her wasp nest of thoughts, and she snapped her head up to look at him.

“Huh?” She questioned, her fingers playing with the corner of the wine menu’s felt border. There was a loose string she had subconsciously been pulling at. Nicole shook her head a little, the question finally processing. “Oh no, I don’t drink.” The tone she said it in, at least to her, came out more rude than she had hoped, and she quickly backtracked. “Not that there’s anything wrong with drinking. It’s just not for me. That’s not to say you can’t have any wine, I was just… yeah.” Quickly hiding her face behind the menu, Nicole bit her lip. Was it too late to cancel? Considering she was sitting at the table with him, probably.

Her body went into autopilot for a moment as Mycroft got a bottle of wine she couldn’t even comprehend the name of, and the waiter left to fetch the wine. They were left with themselves and their menus. When she did come back to reality, Nicole hoped that she didn’t miss anything Mycroft said. But from the way his concentration was on the menu, she figured she was in the clear.

Her leg. Her leg was bouncing under the table, and she only hoped it wasn’t making too much noise, or that it was shaking the table. She’d hate for it to give away how bad her nerves were. But even with all her might Nicole couldn’t stop her leg from bouncing. Trying to pay attention to the menu, she debated whether she was going to get the spaghetti or salmon. It was so strong in her mind she didn’t realize she was muttering it under her breath.

“I assume you don’t do this much?” He questioned.

Nicole shook her head and swallowed thickly. She tore her eyes away from the menu and was immediately caught by his blue ones. Grabbing her glass of water, she took a sip. “I don’t, um, socialize very well.”

“It seems that most writers don’t,” he told her.

She laughed nervously, setting the glass down. “We’re recluses, what can I say?”

The waiter came over to take their order, momentarily interrupting and allowing Nicole a moment to regain her composure. Once he was gone, along with their menus, Mycroft’s attention was back on her.

“Why did you become a writer?” He asked.

“‘I write for the same reason I breathe—because if I didn’t, I would die’,” she quoted.

“Isaac Asimov,” Mycroft said.

Nicole nodded, picking at her nails under the table. Or trying not to. “I live by that quote. Well that and ‘a good writer writes with ink, a better writer writes with their blood’.”

She watched as his brows furrowed a bit. “Who said that?”

As she brought her glass up to take another sip, she smirked slightly. “I did.” Setting the glass down again, she continued. “But I became a writer because I like books. I like them so much I decided I wanted to make my own.”

The appetizers were served, and Nicole did her best to eat despite the butterflies in her stomach. Her leg was still shaking. She figured that wasn’t going to stop anytime soon. It didn’t matter; Mycroft didn’t seem to notice it yet.

“Tell me a little about yourself,” Nicole said, using the fork to play with her salad. “Like…” she bit her lip trying to think of something. “Do you have any siblings? What do you do for fun?”

“I have a younger brother, but we have a… complicated relationship,” he explained. “And I don’t have much time for fun.”

“Oh come on,” Nicole playfully rolled her eyes. “There has to be something you enjoy.”

There was a short pause before he replied. “I do enjoy old films.”

“How old?”

“Black and white.”

She hummed in response and stabbed the lettuce of her salad with the fork. “What’s your favorite color?” She asked without looking up.

“I’m sorry?”

“Colors.” She said. “What’s your favorite one?”

Mycroft blinked in surprise. No one’s ever asked him that before. “I… I would have to say a sort of… blue-gray color?”

Nicole looked up at him. “Like your eyes.”

He nodded. “Yes, I suppose so.”

Conversation grew quiet aside from the occasional question Nicole asked him. Soon enough their finished appetizers had been taken, and even sooner their meals had been set before them.

“What about you?” Mycroft asked.

“Hm?” Nicole looked up at him after putting a bite of salmon in her mouth.

“Tell me about you,” he insisted.

She chewed the bite slowly before swallowing, shaking her head. “I’m so boring, there’s nothing to talk about.”

“That can’t be true.”

“It is!” She shook her head. “My biggest pride and joy—beside my books—is my pen collection. My idea of a fun weekend isn’t going out to eat or shop or go to a pub, it’s reorganizing the notebooks on my bookshelf or reorganizing my pens. I get excited about buying new Tupperware or soap.” She let out a halfhearted laugh. “Do you know anyone who gets excited about buying soap?”

“No one that comes to mind,” he told her.

“Exactly,” she said, cutting into her salmon. “I’m terribly boring.”

“I still don’t believe you,” Mycroft explained, a small smile on his lips.

Silence gripped the table for a bit, both focusing on their meals and where they wanted the conversation to go. Nicole really wasn’t used to this. She was used to already knowing the people she talked to, ones she shared meals with. It didn’t help that Mycroft was so hard to read. He didn’t even look nervous despite socializing obviously being something he doesn’t excel in as well. Somehow, it made him all the more endearing.

“Favorite color?”

“Huh?” Nicole looked at him confused. Had she misheard him?

He almost looked embarrassed, like he couldn’t believe what he was about to say. Regardless, Mycroft cleared his throat. “What’s your favorite color?”

“Oh.” Nicole’s leg continued to shake. “Blue. It’s blue.”

“Just ‘blue’?”

She shrugged. “I like every shade of it. Each shade reminds me of something different. The lighter shades, the ones almost passable for white, they remind me of ice. And the darker shades remind me of rain and storms. I just like the color, it’s very comforting–” She bit her tongue and laughed nervously. “And now I’m rambling, I’m sorry.”

“It’s alright,” he assured her. “Do you have any siblings?”

“Nope,” she answered simply and took another bite of her dinner.

Family is a sore subject, Mycroft noted.

“How long have you lived in England? Obviously you’re American so… why?” He asked her.

“Well I came here for college, but I always planned on staying. I’ve lived here for about ten years now. And honestly I prefer it here.” She told him.

“I’m glad you found a place here,” he said.

Dinner was finished, and before they knew it the evening was over. There was a short debate over who paid for dinner (Nicole insisted she should since she asked him out, but Mycroft argued he picked the restaurant and he should pay). After agreeing Nicole would pay this time, Mycroft took her hand and led her outside. Stepping out into the evening air, Nicole smiled at Mycroft. “I had a really nice time.”

“As did I,” he replied softly. “Can I walk you to your car?”

“Oh it’s okay,” she told him. “I’m just going to catch a taxi home–”

“I can take you,” Mycroft interrupted. “My car is not far.”

“I couldn’t ask you to,” Nicole started to say.

“You’re not asking, I’m offering,” he told her. He took her hand and guided her to the car before opening the door.

It was a short drive to the flat, and Mycroft walked her to the door once they arrived. Standing outside the threshold to the flat entrance, Nicole gave him a shy smile as he spoke.

“I enjoyed the date a lot, Nicole,” he told her.

She felt her whole face heat up at his words. He called it a date. “I did too. I’d love to do this again sometime.”

“Then tomorrow, seven in the evening,” he told her and brought her hand up to gently kiss her knuckles.

At this point she could’ve sworn her whole face was on fire. But a giggle escaped her at his actions, and she looked away. “O–okay. Tomorrow at seven it is.”

“I look forward to it,” he said before letting go of her hand.

Nicole watched as he got into the car and was driven off, and she smiled to herself. She took the spare key from its hiding spot under a rock and unlocked the door, rushing inside. As she slammed it shut behind her, she called out to her best friend and rushed up the stairs.

“Holy shit, Abby! You’ll never believe this!”

[nina-wrote-this]

Last Romance - One Shot.

Pairing: Bucky Barnes x Fem!Reader 

Summary: You move on after Thanos’s Snap, but a ghost from the past still wants to make things right. 

Warnings: Sadness, break up and a lot of melancholic ;)

Word count: 1,555

A/N: Hello, loveees! So, this is my first Bucky One Shot and I have this idea after having a dream with Sebastian Stan :) I also used two songs as inspiration: Long Break – Moody Woody and Último Romance / Last Romance – Los Hermanos (they are my favorite Alt-Rock Brazilian band). I’ll put the links below the GIF and if you want to listen while read, it will be an even better experience! I hope you guys enjoy and let me know what you think! If you find any typos, please let me know (English isn’t my mother tongue)!  

INFINITY WAR AND ENDGAME SPOILERS AHEAD!

Song’s links: Long Break - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mGh_Iyw6fgI | Último Romance - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=27TT85GA9VM 

Telluride, Colorado.

2 years after they come back.

“Thank you, Mrs. Bradley! Have a good night!” You gently said getting the heavy paper bags with all the fresh ingredients for your wedding anniversary.

“For you too, Darling! Enjoy your husband!” The old lady smirks.

“You can count on that!”

Your life was perfect now. After Stark’s death and all the story with Thanos, most part of the heroes and allies decide to get there retire, and you are one of this people.

You cross the country moving from the Avengers compound to a small town in Colorado, laying down your weapons and abilities and getting your brushes and canvas. At somehow, you were still trying to save people, but now using art.

And you have him. The man who give you more than you expect: love, safety, partnership and calm. Blake was amazing. You two rebuild yourselves together when everything happened.

Blake used to be an Interpol agent and his wife and daughter died in a car crash when the Snap happened, there uber's driver faded away and the car fell off a cliff.

You two found each other in the help group Steve used to organized. You moved in together, you grow together, you cried together and fight together against your own demons. Blake supported your decision to risk your life on the time travel and fight the battle even knowing that the first man you ever loved would come back. Blake would love you regardless of the choice you would have made.

And you choose Blake, he was your future.  

You drive through the shy suburb of the small town, and thank for being there.  

At the end of the street, was your house. A yellow wood little house in the middle of a large grassy rectangle, surrounded by hibiscus and white roses.  

Soon you get in, you start putting your plans in action. Pasta, broccoli, tomatoes, lettuce, Blake's favorite – weird – cheese, 3 bottles of wine. Cut, cook, wash, decorate, another glass of wine… shit, I can’t get high yet.

The music that was playing on the living room suddenly stopped and a strange familiar metal sound came to your ears.  

After years surrounded by wars, crazy insane Titans, Hydra and Shield, your mind was pretty fucked up. So, yes, a nosy sound was something to worry about.

You walked slowly following what was bordering your thoughts, but you didn’t have to do too much. Just few steps, and you see him in the corner of the room. I’ll always be in the shadows, babe. The memory of his voice hits your mind like a shoot.

“You scare me…” You took one last sip of your wine.

“Your place is beautiful.” His eyes were haunted and his voice come out like a whisper.

You nodded smiling.  

“How are you?” He tried to approach but stopped himself.

“Good. You know, retirement does me good.” You cross your arms, protecting yourself from your old feelings. “And you, how have you been? Still living in Wakanda?”

He faced the floor taking a deep breath.  

“I… I left Wakanda right after you…” He hesitated and you knew why. “I'm working with Sam now.”

You try to keep smiling, but your eyes meet with his, and you could read them like an open book: He was broken.  

James has a fucked up brain, he has his issues and Hydra problems, but the way he looked like now was something deeper. Years before, you saw this same look but was in your own eyes, every damn day, when you woke up and see yourself on the mirror.  

He was alone, he missed you.

“James, say it.” You broke the silence and he frowned. “You invade my house at the exact moment my husband isn’t. The only thing that motivated you to came here is because you probably have something to say. So, please… Just say it!”

“I miss you!” He didn’t even search for the right words. “And I want you back. I need you back!”  

“Don't!” You turn your back to him walking back to the kitchen. “Don't tell me you come here today to say this after all these two years, James.”  

For the first time he come closer to you.

“What did you expect?” He asked confuse. “Y/N, do you really think I'm doing this for fun? You know this isn't easy for me, talk about these things, and I know you can read me easily than anyone.” He said fast.

“James, I know you're in pain. But, if is hard for you, believe me, it’s two times harder for me.” You point your finger to him. "For you was like fall asleep for a couple of hours, but for us, for me, was and still being an eternity.” Tears already falling in the corner of your eyes.

“So, what was the purpose, Y/N? Bring me back, so you could feel good to yourself and return to your happy fake life?” His voice sounded disappointed and his metal arm fisted against the sink. “эгоистичный!”

Your heart broke in little pieces and the control was gone.

"Don't you dare call me selfish!" Your voice was cracking and the regret filled his eyes. "Did you really think that I left you because I don't love you anymore?"

He took a long breath, and you try to hide your tears.

“You still love me?” He gets closer to you without losing the fragile eye contact.

“Is this matter now?” Your eyes break the contact running the kitchen and your hands falling down in redemption. “Don’t hurt yourself, моя любовь.” You asked.

He placed his hands on each side of your face and bring to his chest. The cold of the leather jacket in contact with your skin sent a shiver down your spine.

Even knowing this was – at somehow – wrong, you let yourself relax on his embracing. James was warm, his muscles created a protective barrier around you and his fingers caressed your body looking for all the parts where your skin were naked for him. Your arms crossed around his neck and on tiptoes you barred your face on his shoulder.

“You cut your hair…” Your cracking voice whisper to him trying to break the tension, while you run your hand through his hair strands.

“Like you always suggest.” He smirked bringing you to face him. Yours foreheads touched and his eyes found your soul. “Come back, Y/N! I do anything to have you back, моя любовь…” His lips brushed against yours. “Whatever you want, just tell me, and we will do it, okay?”

For a couple of seconds, you imagined your life with James. Maybe both of you living in a big farm, waking up together, getting back the time you two lost. Kisses, shy touches, his overprotection full time, your crazy manias and his strange neuroses. Was perfect. Was much better than the time you guys lived in Wakanda.  

But was too late.  

You were sure you didn’t take the break up decision alone. You have asked him what life he wanted for himself and he choose to continue Steve's legacy, but you wasn’t available to live that kind of life anymore. Follow different ways was the best decision.

He tried to kiss you hardly, but you get back.

“I can’t, James…” You grabbed his black shit. “We can’t…” He closed his eyes and kissed your forehead. He felt the goodbye was happening again.  

The car's engine rumbled on the garage bringing you back to reality. Blake was arriving home.

“Y/N, we can…” James tried, but you knew what you have to do.

“Go.” You direct to the backyard door. “Now!”

“Where is my beautiful, lovely, super hot wife?” Blake screamed at the front door.

James leaves the house without looking to you, without any noise.

You clean the tears of your face, put on the best happy face and waited for your husband get in the kitchen.

“There she is!” His sexy voice said.

You turn around and there was Blake: dressed with his Professor social attire, flowers in one hand.  

Blake you’re perfect.  

“Hello, Mister sexy voice!” You kissed him slowly and intense.

But you’re not James…

He gets his hands free and finally hold you spinning around ourselves.

“You okay, honey?” He took a look on your eyes. “Looks like you cried, or something like that… Is everything good?”

Blake is perfect.

“Yes, honey!” You smile shooking your head and squeezing your eyes. “It’s just the wine!”

But he is not James…

The living player come back with the song. Último Romance / Last Romance, Los Hermanos. Your honeymoon song.

“Right on time!” Blake automatically pressed his body against yours and start following the music melody, singing slowly.

“I love you, Y/N. Happy wedding anniversary!” He kissed your neck.

“I love you too, honey. Thanks for everything…” You rest your head on his shoulder.

You two stayed on that moment, seams like forever. When your eyes find the kitchen’s window you locked on James's eyes, staring your perfect moment.

“E ninguém dirá que é tarde demais / And no one will say it’s too late

Que é tão diferente assim / That’s so different

Do nosso amor a gente é que sabe / About our love, is us who knows”

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

A/N: What you guys think about some continues of this one shot? Maybe like, Y/N and Bucky's  time living in Wakanda, or Y/N’s wedding day, Y/N and Bucky’s break up... I really enjoy write this story ahahahah :) 

[sneezehq]

Family Talk

"Yang is a great mom. She raised me, after all."

Written for a prompt by hunnyB on AO3: "It would be cute to see something like Ruby talking proudly about her sister to her teammates and friends and Yang opening about their past. I like to see people looking at Yang with a sad-surprised face. Or maybe Ruby telling everyone Yang is basically a mother to her, and Yang tears up and everyone is surprised."

I took way longer writing this than I should have, because I kept fussing with when I should set it, until I finally gave up and went ahead and set this sometime in the future, when Salem is defeated and they're all happy and safe and share an apartment together and they all live happily ever after. And, since it's sometimes hard to get Ruby to talk about things, I decided to loosen Ruby's tongue a bit, so have a doped-up post wisdom teeth surgery Ruby. (Also because I thought it'd be adorable if the first thing Ruby does while on painkillers is talk about how awesome her older sister is.) Enjoy!

"We're back!" Yang calls over her shoulder, nudging the door shut behind her until she hears it close with a loud click. She turns to set the bags she's carrying on the counter—and immediately has to lunge forwards to keep her sister from faceplanting into the tile. "Rubes, we just got back from the doctor. Please try to avoid braining yourself for now."

"Whatever, mom," Ruby mumbles, words slightly slurred. Yang steadies her with a hand on her shoulder and steers her over to the couch.

"Here, lie down before you fall down," she says, nudging Ruby onto the couch. Her sister flops onto the cushions, giggling loudly.

Blake smiles fondly, finally looking up from her book. "How'd it go?" she calls from the armchair, absently flipping to the next page.

"Everything went fine, the surgery went smoothly, all that good stuff," Yang replies. "She'll be sore for the next few days, but we're all stocked up on soup and ice cream and stuff for smoothies, so she should be fine."

"You're lucky, Blake," Weiss teases from the doorway. "Yang's already preparing for when you two have kids. She's going to be a great mom."

Both Blake and Yang blush furiously at Weiss' comment. Yang attempts to head back to the kitchen, but she's stopped by a hand on her arm. "Come sit with me," Ruby whines. "I'm cold. Wan' snuggles."

"Ruby, I need to put the ice cream away before it melts," Yang sighs, attempting to pull herself free.

But despite being hopped up on strong painkillers, her sister's grip doesn't budge. "Please, Yang?"

"I'll take care of the ice cream," Weiss offers, strolling over to the collection of grocery bags on the counter. "You know how she gets when she's like this. She's not going to shut up until you sit with her."

"Fine, fine," Yang says, nudging Ruby over to make room on the couch. "Thanks, Weiss. Happy now?" she asks her sister.

Ruby nods into Yang's thigh, having arranged herself with her head in her sister's lap. Yang smiles fondly, running a hand through her sister's hair. "How're you feeling?"

"Mouth hurts. Tired. M' head feels weird."

"Yeah, you're not gonna be feeling too great for the next few days. Why don't you take a nap?" Yang suggests. "Sleep off the worst of it. You can have some ice cream when you wake up."

The younger girl, frowns, shaking her head. "Don' wanna sleep," she complains.

"Could've told you it wouldn't be that easy," Weiss says, settling herself into the chair across from Blake. Ruby frowns at her. "What's wrong?"

"What you said. Before. Yang is a great mom." Ruby looks directly at Weiss, suddenly seeming free of her medicated haze. "She raised me, after all."

Silence falls over the room, as the reactions from the other girls vary. Blake has a knowing look on her face, but she also seems very sad all of a sudden. Yang looks embarrassed. Weiss has a curious expression on her face. "What are you talking about, Ruby?"

"Dad wasn't around much, when we were kids," Ruby mumbles. Blake and Weiss lean closer to hear her better. "So, Yang took care of us. She'd read stories to me before bed, and help me with my homework, and packed lunches, and she even cooked for us. She was always there for me."

Their teammates look at the pair of sisters with a mixture of awe and sadness. They'd both known that the two were close, but they'd never had a chance to see why they were so close—or just how deep that bond between them ran.

"Ruby, we don't have to talk about this now," Yang says hastily, bowing her head so that her face is hidden behind a curtain of blonde hair. Even with her face covered, it's impossible to miss the way that she'd blushing.

Ruby shakes her head. "No, I wanna talk about it. You're so awesome and you do so much for me, but you never want me to tell anyone about it," she whines, trying to push herself up to a sitting position.

"Ok, ok, don't get all worked up while you still have stitches in your mouth," Yang scolds her, gently pressing on her shoulders until Ruby gives in and lays back down. "I just can't believe that you'd want to compliment me after living off of my cooking for so long."

Ruby blinks up at her, a fond but slightly dopey smile on her face. "It wasn' that bad."

"It wasn't great, though," Yang points out.

"We're still alive." Ruby gives a lazy half-shrug. "We did eat a lot of sandwiches, though."

"After all these years you're still complaining about that? I'll have you know that sandwiches are very healthy. You've got bread and meat and boom, both your basic food groups. If you're feeling adventurous you can even add some lettuce. Then you've even got veggies. I rest my case. Sandwiches are the ultimate food."

Ruby giggles loudly, before her face splits with a wide yawn. "Yang? I'm tired." Her eyes fall shut, and within seconds she's snoring.

"Finally," Yang lets out a sigh of relief.

Weiss shakes her head incredulously. "Those painkillers are really strong, too. I've never seen anyone be able to fight them like that."

"It's sheer willpower," Blake says softly. "Ruby is the most determined person I've ever met. I guess it shouldn't that surprising."

"Oh, she's stubborn alright," Yang agrees. "You should have seen her as a little kid. She was determined to get into everything. I lost track of her every time I turned around. And once she developed her semblance? Good luck keeping up with the kid with super speed!" She laughs cheerfully, but her expression is still pensive.

"I hadn't realized," Blake says, a distant look on her face. "That you two were so close. You told me a little bit about your family, when we were back at Beacon, but it never occurred to me how much responsibility you took on as a child."

"And you told me, back at Haven, about how your mom left, and you lost Ruby's mom too, but I didn't realize, even then, how hard that must have been on you." Weiss looks guilty. She wraps her arms around herself. "I'm sorry I kept asking about it. I didn't mean to upset you."

"I'm not upset," Yang says softly. "I'm just—I'm not really used to talking about it, that's all. It's not really something I try to think about too much. It's a little easier these days, since I've got you guys, but it's still hard to think about how my dad was after we lost Summer. He just kind of—shut down. Don't get me wrong, he was still there, he still made sure we had food in the house, and he had Qrow check in on us when he could. But he was busy with school, so." She sighs heavily. "I just did what anyone would have, in our situation. Someone had to take care of us, and make sure that Ruby grew up okay. I don't think that I did anything special, honestly."

"But you did," Weiss says firmly. "Trust me, Yang, what you did was very special. Most people in your situation would have just given up. They definitely wouldn't have tried as hard as you did. You're an amazing older sister and Ruby adores you."

"You should be proud of yourself," Blake murmurs. "Not only did you raise an amazing little sister, but you didn't turn out too bad yourself. Not only did you handle a very difficult set of circumstances beautifully, but you even came out the other side smiling. Not many people can say that."

"Thanks, guys," Yang whispers, wiping away the tear tracks on her face with a watery smile. They sit in a comfortable silence for a few minutes. Across from her, her girlfriend has settled back in her chair, reabsorbed in her book. Weiss is messing with the remote, trying to see if anything good is on. And Ruby is snoring softly, laying half-cured with her head in Yang's lap. After all these years, they still fit together perfectly.

"I couldn't ask for a better family."

[adie-dee]

Girls’ Night

Blake froze when he entered the bedroom, staring at me with a look of utter horror.

“Have I forgotten another event,” he asked, the tan on his face having temporarily faded away. “You said if there was more shit like this you’d put it in the calendar.”

I left him hanging for a few more seconds while I finished my eyeliner, then grinned at him in the mirror.

“You’re off the hook,” I laughed, turning around to face him. “Faith and I are having a girls night.”

He looked me up and down, his face flushed and eyes dark when they met mine. “What kind of girls night do you have planned? You look like you should be at the fucking Brownlow or Oscars or something.”

I glanced down at the sequined silver fitted formal gown I was wearing, then back at him. “You think it’s a bit much?”

“It’s very you.” Blake rested his hands on my hips, one sliding further down so that his fingers brushed against the top of my exposed thigh. “Will need to find a reason for you to wear it again.”

“Mmm, yes.” I slowly kissed him, feeling his hand creep up my back towards my head. “Don’t touch my hair.”

The hand withdrew. “You’re no fun.”

A beep from outside told me my taxi was here. “Faith has a 6am flight to Surfers so I won’t be out all night,” I promised. “We can finish this later.”

I tried not to look at the puppy face he was pulling as I walked out the door.

***

Faith was waiting for me when I finally made it to dinner. She hadn’t straightened her hair for once, leaving a mass of pink curls framing her face, and her winged eyeliner was so sharp I could probably cut someone with it.

“Ohmygod Bee, you look like a trophy,” she squealed, standing up to give me a hug. “That dress is practically painted on. It’s sooo good! You’re so wasted on that idiot.” she hugged me again. “I already ordered us drinks, by the way. Here.” She handed me a wine glass then twirled, sending the skirt of her little black dress flying. “What do you think?”

I let the insult about Blake slide, not wanting to have another argument with her.  “Stunning, as always. And those shoes!”

She kicked one leg up behind her, showing off the sky-high Barbie pink stilettos she was wearing, then settled back into her seat with a grin.

I sat down too. The table had been set well, the silver of the cutlery shining in the candlelight and standing out against the crisp white tablecloth and navy blue napkins.

‘This was a great idea,” she told me, picking up her own wine glass and holding it in my direction. “Cheers babe.”

***

It didn’t take long for the food to arrive.

Faith cut a small piece of crumbed chicken on her plate in half. “Mmm,” she moaned when she tasted it. “That’s divine, as always.”

“This is really good too.” I added some lettuce and tomato to the slice of beef on my fork, topping it off with a chunk of bread, then took a photo for Instagram so that Blake could see I was eating salad. “The perfect balance of flavour.”

Someone cleared their throat. “You’re not meant to have glass in here.”

I looked up at the McDonalds employee standing at our table. “It’s plastic,” I told him, tapping my nail against the rim of my wine glass.

“Or candles.”

“Battery powered.”

“Rude,” Faith mouthed, rolling her eyes.

He folded his arms and huffed. “Whatever. Weirdos.” He left, mumbling something about not being paid enough.

Faith waved goodbye to him and finished her chicken nuggets. “Wanna go in the playground?”

***

Blake was on the couch when I got home.

“You have fun,” he asked, not taking his eyes off the footy match on the TV.

“Yeh, a heap, right up until they asked us to leave.”

“What happe- Oh come on ump, you fucking blind?!” He looked ready to pitch his beer at the screen. “Was in the back! Should be a fucking free kick!”

“You right?”

“Fucking ump is playing for Hawthorn,” he grumbled, scratching his leg through a tear in his trackies before looking at me. “Sorry. How did you get kicked out of Maccas?” He frowned. “Why were you there to begin with? Thought you were going somewhere fancy.”

I sat next to him on the couch, shifting to rest my legs on his. “Faith couldn't afford fancy and didn’t want me to pay, so we made our own fancy. Had a tablecloth and crockery and all. Most of the night went well…”

He sighed. “You got kicked out of the playground, didn’t you.”

“They said it was for kids under 12 and that we were a danger… but there wasn’t any kids in there! So unfair.”

Blake’s focus went back to the TV, though his hand found my exposed thigh again. “Y’know that big indoor play centre ‘round the corner does adults nights, yeh?”

“That sounds gross.”

“Not like that!” His hand crept further up my leg. “It’s a better option than the Macca’s playground, is what I’m say- fucking kick it!”

The siren sounded and Blake swore.

I turned the TV off before the Hawthorn song could start. “Guess both our nights ended on a downer.”

“Doesn’t have to.”

As he made to lean over me I felt my stomach turn, followed quickly by a large burp. He pulled away.

“I think the salad disagreed with me,” I groaned, stealing his beer to wash away the acid that had accompanied the burp. It didn’t help, making my stomach grumble instead.

Blake scrolled through Instagram, looking at all the pictures I’d posted. “I don’t think that pissy bit of lettuce is the problem. Dear god Bethany… how much did you eat?”

“Most of the menu.” I went to kiss him again, stopped by a hand on my face. 

“No. Not while your stomach is trying to join the conversation. Don’t want you spewing on me.”

Tag List: @yetmorestories @writersloth @lady-redshield-writes @menyoral @deadlyessencewhispers @elaynab-writing @james-stark-the-writer @the-writers-blocks @cirianne @alessia-writes

If you want to be added or removed, just let me know.

[floridkore]

1-65

1. Do you ever doubt the existence of others than you?

yes 

2. On a scale of 1-5, how afraid of the dark are you?

answered :)

3. The person you would never want to meet?

hm. i dont really know. 

4. What is your favorite word?

blep

5. If you were a type of tree, what would you be?

can i be an orange tree because i like oranges 

6. When you looked in the mirror this morning what was the first thing you thought?

god you look pale and sick as shiitttttt (i woke up feeling extremely sick)

7. What shirt are you wearing?

this flowery pink white and black shirt 

8. What do you label yourself as?

and idiot 

9. Bright room or dark room?

bright room 

10. What were you doing at midnight last night?

actually sleeping for once.

11. Favorite age you’ve been so far?

19

12. Who told you they loved you last?

blakeeee

13. Your worst enemy?

myself (ay saz got deep there didnt ya mate)

14. What is your current desktop picture?

its a default windows one cuz im lazy 

15. Do you like someone?

yes

16. The last song you listened to?

uhhh paradise by the dashboard light - meatloaf 

17. You can press a button that will make any one person explode. Who would you blow up? 

omg donald trump 

18. Who would you really like to just punch in the face?

i can’t tell people know this person 

19. If anyone could be your slave for a day, who would it be and what would they have to do?

i would be the slave, ill have to do all the chores that ive been procrastinating 

20. What is your best physical attribute? (showing said attribute is optional)

hm i dont know

21. If you were the opposite sex for one day, what would you look like and what would you do?

id look like my brother. when we were younger we were always stopped andn asked if we were twins (which isnt true) and i wouldnt do anything. probably nothing tbh i mean id freak out but what can i do 

22. Do you have a secret talent? If yes, what is it?

i do not have a secret talent 

23. What is one unique thing you’re afraid of?

i have no idea 

24. You can only have one kind of sandwich. Every sandwich ingredient known to humankind is at your disposal.

its gotta have turkey ham turkey breast and turkey bacon and a whole lotta salad like lettuce olives peppers - you know what just get me a subway melt from subway, love. cheers 

25. You just found $100! How are you going to spend it? 

most likely food tbh

26. You just got a free plane ticket to anywhere in the world, but you have to leave immediately. Where are you going to go? 

ITALYYY

27. An angel appears out of Heaven and offers you a lifetime supply of the alcoholic beverage of your choice. “Be brand-specific” it says. Man! What are you gonna say about that? Even if you don’t drink booze there’s something you can figure out… so what’s it gonna be?

nothing. i dont drink. that aint an angel that’s shaytaan

28. You discover a beautiful island upon which you may build your own society. You make the rules. What is the first rule you put into place?

oh. the first rule i would place in is that no one is allowed to harm the environment like cut down trees and shit without acknowledging people because what if they completely destroy the island??? whats gonna happen to our resources. nah you’re not allowed to do shit without approval my dude

29. What is your favorite expletive?

unsure 

30. Your house is on fire, holy shit! You have just enough time to run in there and grab ONE inanimate object. Don’t worry, your loved ones and pets have already made it out safely. So what’s the one thing you’re going to save from that blazing inferno?

phone

31. You can erase any horrible experience from your past. What will it be?

MY WHOLE LIFE IS A HORRIBLE EXPERIENCE, LOVE

32. You got kicked out of the country for being a time-traveling heathen who sleeps with celebrities and has super-powers. But check out this cool shit… you can move to anywhere else in the world!

to italy i go 

33. The Celestial Gates Of Beyond have opened, much to your surprise because you didn’t think such a thing existed. Death appears. As it turns out, Death is actually a pretty cool entity, and happens to be in a fantastic mood. Death offers to return the friend/family-member/person/etc. of your choice to the living world. Who will you bring back?

man. i dunno anyone personally whos dead. unsure 

34. What was your last dream about?

being in an apartment with blake in italy

35. Are you a good….[insert anything you’d like here]? 

no. good at what you may ask. i am good at nothing 

36. Have you ever been admitted to the hospital? 

nope

37. Have you ever built a snowman? 

yes 

38. What is the color of your socks? 

im not wearing any right now 

39. What type of music do you like?

it varies 

40. Do you prefer sunrises or sunsets?

both pls dont make me choose

41. What is your favorite milkshake flavor?

chocolate

42. What football team do you support? (I will answer in terms of American football as well as soccer)

none 

43. Do you have any scars?

yes 

44. What do you want to be when you graduate?

who fucking knows at this point 

45. If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?

everything 

46. Are you reliable?

i try to be 

47. If you could ask your future self one question, what would it be?

do you get a happy ending 

48. Do you hold grudges? 

dependss on the person. my friend? ill forget what i was even mad about in like 5 minutes. someone i dislike? ill hold a grudge for a lifetime 

49. If you could breed two animals together to defy the laws of nature, what new animal would you create? 

nope. 

50. What is the most unusual conversation you’ve ever had?

ummm i dont know but it was probably because of me 

51. Are you a good liar?

ish ? dependss 

52. How long could you go without talking?

not very long 

53. What has been you worst haircut/style? 

short bob

54. Have you ever baked your own cake? 

yes 

55. Can you do any accents other than your own?

i fail at accents but im writing this in a welsh accent you know my love (dont ask me. ive been doing it the whoooollleeee thing) 

56. What do you like on your toast? 

butter and marmite 

57. What is the last thing you drew a picture of?

samirah al abbas

58. What would be you dream car? 

damn anything big 

59. Do you sing in the shower? Or do anything unusual in the shower? Explain. 

i sing 

60. Do you believe in aliens? 

i guess

61. Do you often read your horoscope? 

not often only when i see it 

62. What is your favorite letter of the alphabet?

hmm u because you is mighty fine 

63. Which is cooler: dinosaurs or dragons?

dragons 

64. What do you think about babies? 

i love babies 

[kriscme]

One Life to Live

Hi, here’s the latest chapter.   Almost at the end.  This is also on A03 and will be easier to read.    I’m Kris22 over there.  I’d link if I knew how.  As always thanks for Ronja for allowing me to write fanfic of her Hunger Games fanfic “The Chance You Didn’t Take”.  You can read it on AO3 and FanFiction. Chapter 36 “. . . and so Blake’s wedding was called off.   And in the meantime, Celia’s been attending a therapy support group for sex addiction.  They think it’s caused by a fear of emotional intimacy or something like that.   I guess it’s because she’s been hurt.  You know, by Blake.  And that’s all I know.  I haven’t watched it in a while.” “And who’s that guy?” Peeta asks.  He’s referring to a man in overalls and a straw hat crouched in a field of what looks like withered lettuces.  He appears to be examining the soil.   “That’s Celia’s father, Mulch Chastely.” The camera zooms in and ominous music builds.  His hands are stained with a black, greasy substance.  “Oil!” he screams, as the music reaches a crescendo. He shakes his fist at the heavens. “The Knights will pay for this barbarous act!  You’re a dead man, Rigger Knight!”   Then it segues to Rigger Knight who is seated on the porch of the Knight family home as if in wait.   Across his lap is a firearm.  It looks like a bazooka. The scene ends with Mulch Chastely selecting a pitchfork from his arsenal of agricultural tools and marching with grim determination in the direction of the Knight property.   Peeta bursts out laughing.  I can’t help laughing at the ridiculousness of it either. “I told you it was stupid,” I say.

Next, we’re in a large room, mostly empty except for a circle of nine chairs spaced at regular intervals.   People start to trickle in and each of them takes a seat.  Celia is among them, wearing denim trousers and a blue sweater, her long blond hair pulled back into a ponytail.  She looks tired and dejected.  Last to arrive is a gaudily dressed middle-aged woman with bright yellow hair carrying a clipboard.  She’s accompanied by a younger man in expensive sports clothes.   When he sees Celia an expression of deep longing passes over his face.  Celia doesn’t look up. The woman with the yellow hair starts the discussion.  “Good afternoon, everyone.  We’re in for a big, big session!  We have new a member joining us.  I know you’ll make him welcome.  Blake, would you please introduce yourself and share with the group what’s brought you here today.”  

Celia starts at the name and her eyes widen with shock.  As Blake speaks, his gaze never leaves her face.

“My name is Blake Knight and I am an addict.  My addiction is Celia Chastley.  I was a goner from the moment I first laid eyes on her in her family’s orchard when were eleven years old.  She became my best friend, my confidant, the object of my adolescent masturbatory fantasies and my great love.  I didn’t understand you then, Celia, when you broke my heart when we were sixteen.  That you were sacrificing your happiness for mine.  That you recognized the impossibility of our situation when I did not. I shut my eyes and tried to forget you in the arms of another but I was deceiving myself.  I was a coward – too afraid to confront the reality of my undying love for you.  Please forgive me.  Give me a chance and I will prove my constancy and devotion.  To hell with our families. To hell with everything.  Our love is the only thing that matters in this crazy world.  Even now, as my father waits for yours to fall into his trap so he can shoot him dead and plead self-defense, our love will endure.  Will you, Celia?  Please say yes.  I love you so much.” The other members of the group are transfixed, eyes darting between Celia and Blake in mounting expectation.  Celia’s eyes are awash with tears.  She lurches to her feet and throws herself into his arms. “Oh, Blake!” she cries, “If I have only one life to live, I want it to be with you.”  They kiss.  The group stands and cheers.   It then goes to a commercial break for romantic getaways in District 4.  I look at Peeta.  He looks at me.  It’s as if we’re each looking to the other for how to react.  It was funny.  So why aren’t we laughing?  Plutarch’s words ring heavily in my ears, “You and Peeta are Celia and Blake.” “We’re really not like that, are we? “I ask.  “I mean it’s so . . . dumb.”   “No, not quite us, but there are a few things in common.  What Blake said to Celia is pretty much what I’ve been trying to say to you.” “Oh.” I say nonplussed.  Is that what he’s been doing?  “Um . . . which parts?” Peeta shifts closer to me on the sofa so that our thighs are touching.  “Adolescent masturbatory fantasies.” I pull back, frowning, hot words ready on my lips.  

He nudges my shoulder with his.  “It’s a joke.  Well, actually not quite a joke.  You did feature in them quite a lot.  But I was Blake.  Going around with my eyes shut, too scared to open them in case I remembered how much I love you and then to find out that you didn’t love me back.” “You love me?”  I don’t dare look at him. It’s been an impossibility for such a long time, I can scarcely believe it.  He was engaged to marry another woman not so very long ago.  How can this have happened so quickly?  “Since when?” I ask dubiously. If he was expecting a more positive reaction, he doesn’t show it.  He takes one of my hands in both of his. “Since I was five years old and you stood up in music assembly to sing the valley song.” I attempt to pull my hand back but he keeps it in a firm grip.  He can’t just whitewash the past two years like that.  Lace happened.  “Then what has Lace been about then?  She was just a figment of my imagination?” “No.  She was more like a figment of my imagination.  I don’t want to discount what I had with her.  She’s been a good friend and I’ll always be grateful but a lot of what I felt for her wasn’t real.    I’ve gone over this with Dr Aurelius, to make sense of it.   She was a coping mechanism in the same way my reluctance to deal with my past was also a coping mechanism.  I could give her the feelings I didn’t think you wanted.   So, she was sort of you, in a way.  I didn’t exactly have a high opinion of myself then either and she didn’t hold back on telling me how wonderful she thought I was.  I think I just wanted to make myself feel better.”

Sort of like a rebound then.  I want to believe him, I really do.  He’s turned to sit sideways, our knees touching, his face close to mine.  I look at him beneath my lashes.  He’s watching me carefully, with a mixture of hope and uncertainty.  Everything that I’m feeling. “Tell me what you’re thinking,” he says. Be honest. “I’m scared.  What if what you’re feeling now isn’t real either?’ “I’m scared too.  Scared you’ll reject me and there’ll never be another chance. Katniss, I’ve never been more certain about anything in my life.” I turn away momentarily to collect my thoughts. As I do, the television screen comes into my field of vision.  Rigger Knight fires the bazooka at Mulch Chastely.  It misses his head by inches and zooms past to hit one of the oil rigs in the distance.  It explodes into flames and sets off a chain reaction until every one of the oil rigs is a massive ball of fire and thick black smoke.  Mulch’s face is a picture of glee until the billowing smoke is picked up by the wind and headed over the border towards his prized apple orchard.  The drama hasn’t ended for Celia and Blake.  And I know it hasn’t for Peeta and me either.  We still have things to work through.  And there’s also the television special and whatever fallout there might be.  But at least we can do it together.  

I let out a breath.   “Okay.” “Is that yes?” “Yes,” I answer, more firmly this time.  We both lean in and meet somewhere in the middle. A slow, getting-to-know-you-all-over-again kiss.  Soft, tender, shy.   This is real.   Not a daydream, not the reliving of a cherished memory, but real.  In between kisses he tells me he loves me.  And when I get the chance, I tell him I love him too.  Somehow, I end up lying on the couch with him half on top of me. The kisses have long ceased to satisfy either of us.  My t-shirt and bra are hitched around my neck, the nipples wet from where he’s sucked on them, and there’s something iron-hard pressing into my lower belly. “I think we should have an early night,” he murmurs into my ear. “I think you’re right.”  Our first time together should definitely not be on the couch. The television is still blaring and I grapple for the remote to turn it off but not before catching a glimpse of Celia and Blake writhing like eels on a bed with red satin sheets.   We make our way upstairs and down the hall without touching but immediately upon entering the bedroom we fall on each other and start peeling off each other’s clothes.  There’s a struggle pulling off my slim-fitting trousers and he grumbles that I shouldn’t have changed out of my dress.  I fall backwards onto the bed and then, with a final tug, my trousers with underwear still inside them, are sent flying.  I close my eyes and put out my arms hungry to feel his warmth and weight along the full length of my body.  But instead, my foot is lifted high into the air and kisses trailed down my leg until he gets to the juncture of my thighs.  The first brush of his tongue is a jolt of electricity, the final one a lightning bolt.  “Oh,” I say, when I eventually come down.  I hold out my arms and he’s inside me, filling a space so completely, so perfectly, I didn’t know there had been a void until now.   Nothing has ever felt so right.  When we fall, it’s within seconds of each other.  We share a slow, lazy kiss before he rolls onto his back and I nestle into the cradle of his arms.  My head rests against his chest, the strong and steady beat of his heart in my ear, and it feels like home. I wake before he does.  He’s on his back, his face relaxed in sleep.   I rise up on one elbow to watch him. The long lashes resting against his cheeks, the curve of his lips.   It seems such a miracle that he’s here, in my bed, and that he loves me.  I was convinced he was lost to me forever.  That by this time, he’d be in his own bed, in his own house, with Lace beside him as his wife.  And I would be . . .   Well, I don’t know where I’d be.  I don’t think I could have stood living across from them for very long.  So probably searching for someplace else to live like I once planned to.  Certainly not having dinners with them, or having Lace drop by for neighborly chats.   I still don’t really know why the wedding was called off.  That they both lied is the only explanation I’ve been given. Lied about what?  I should ask him.  And other questions I have too.  

I put out my hand to brush a lock of hair back from his forehead and it’s seized and brought to his lips.  “How long have you been awake?”   “Not long.  I didn’t want to interrupt. Do I pass?” “With flying colors,” I say, and lean down to give him a kiss.  His arms go around me and I’m rolled onto my back.   The kiss goes on for a long time.  

“We should start getting ready for work,” I say, although I make no effort to get up. “Not yet,” he says.   And he says it again when we take a shower together.   There’s no sign of Haymitch at breakfast.   Probably slept in after the excitement of last night’s episode of “One Life to Live.”   But we figure that now that we’re genuinely in love, no one needs to tell us how to act.  So, we walk into town together as we’re inclined to do anyway, and then meet for lunch again at the park near the school as it’s conveniently situated for both of us.   Haymitch is nowhere to be seen at dinnertime either.  We delay eating for half an hour in case he turns up but after checking first to see if he’s home – the lights at his house are on – we conclude that he’s decided to leave us alone from now on, and start eating.  And delicious it is too.  Roast pork with crackling to die for.  I guess I’m just a carnivore at heart.   Following dinner, we sit down to watch some television.  One channel is covering the mayoral elections in 7.  Johanna is well ahead in the count and early predictions are that she’ll win by a landslide.  Then Peeta flicks between cooking shows.  I don’t care what we watch.  I lie back on the sofa with my head on the armrest and my feet in Peeta’s lap.   I love having my feet and calves rubbed so much, I think it’s almost as good as sex.   Later, in bed, I decide that it’s not even close.  I am blissed-out, and still tingling from our love-making.  I stretch voluptuously, like a cat, bury my face into his neck and sigh, perfectly content.   His free hand plays with my hair, gently combing out the tangles.   If I could freeze the moment, I would.  So, I guess it makes it an odd time to ask the questions I want answers to.  But on the other hand, maybe there’ll never be a better.

“Peeta, can I ask you some things?” “Sure.” “Why did you and Lace break up?  Was it because she lied about her background?” His hand stills for a moment before going back to my hair.  “No, it wasn’t that.  I mean, I was disappointed she hadn’t told me herself and angry that everyone seemed to know before I did, but it’s not what broke us up.  You remember when I said that what I felt for Lace wasn’t real?” I nod against his chest.  “I’d been having doubts for a while – almost soon after we got engaged actually – but after that night I couldn’t ignore it any longer.  It was seeing you with Marcus that did it.  It wasn’t the first time I’d been jealous.  I was jealous over Max, even Arthur, but I’d put it down to being possessive over a friend.  But Marcus – it was Gale all over again.  He was so obviously in to you and you seemed to like him too.   And he loved nature, as you do, and you went into the woods together, and he had both his legs and wasn’t a mental nutcase. And then to see you walk away with him, with his arm around you, upset over something I had done, when I’m the one who should protect you . . .    

“As for Lace, I’d almost forgotten she was there.  And when I did get around to remembering, she was sobbing her heart out to Arthur.  She’d seemed to have forgotten about me too.”  There’s another pause and a snort of irritation.  “And that Max! “ “What about Max?” I ask warily.  

“It was like he was selling tickets to a sideshow.  Shrugging his shoulders and gesturing to anyone watching.  I don’t know how you tolerate him.” “It has it’s challenges,” I say carefully.   “But he does have his good points. They’re just not immediately apparent.” And isn’t that the truth.  I recall our first encounters and how much he annoyed me.  Still does.

I think I’m starting to get an understanding of Peeta’s relationship with Lace having gone through something similar with Marcus.   Desperately in need of affirmation. To feel worthy of love and acceptance. And something, anything, to dull the pain of rejection – either real or imagined – in the arms of another. At least I can take comfort in that there were no hurt feelings when it ended for Marcus and me. “What about Lace?” I ask.  “How did she take it?” Peeta gives a short laugh.  “She was as relieved to be out of it as I was.  While I’d been projecting an image on to her, she’d been doing the same to me.  In her case, the celebrity she’d seen and fallen in love with on television.  And then she said she realized that she had feelings for Arthur.  I doubt she’d admit it, but I think Johanna’s flirting that night had a lot to do with it.” I smile to myself imagining Johanna’s satisfaction that her scheme had worked.  She’s pretty people-smart, when you think on it.  A useful attribute for a politician to have. “But you didn’t break up straight away.”   Peeta was still wearing the ring Lace had given him the day he called around to apologise for yelling at me and to give me cookies.   “That’s because neither of us wanted to be the first to tell the other they’d made a mistake.  But once it was said, it all came tumbling out.  Whatever we once had was gone except maybe friendship and a few superficial things we had in common.  A marriage wouldn’t have lasted long.”

Another thing that Johanna had got right.  Trying too hard, she called it.  It makes sense in retrospect.  As doubts surfaced, so would efforts to alleviate it in the form of frequent and overt shows of affection and more money thrown at the wedding, as if a lavish display of either could cover the deepening cracks.  One thing puzzles me, though. “Why were you so upset when it ended, then? Johanna told me about the flashbacks.” “I was upset over a lot of things.   All that money wasted, feeling like a fool for letting it get that far, but mostly I was upset over you.   I thought I had ruined any chance I might have had.  And I had no one to blame but myself.” I feel a stirring of guilt. There was someone else to blame.  And that was me.  I ran hot and cold, giving mixed messages of my own.  I could have been more open with him.  Risked rejection, see where it led.  Because I couldn’t really be certain of anything until I did.  And I was the one who put it into his head that Lace was his girlfriend.  And that he should marry her. I open my mouth to contradict him but Peeta starts speaking again.  “You and Marcus were so cozy that night at the pub, holding hands on the way into town and then making plans for a weekend in the woods together.  I just couldn’t get it out of my head, imagining what the two of you were up to.  That’s what triggered the attacks.  It was jealousy, pure and simple.  The same emotion the Capitol worked on to get me to hate you.  And after they were brought under control, there was still despair and self-loathing to contend with.  How could I have been so blind and stupid?” “I – “

“And then having to watch those tapes.  I didn’t want to.  I knew the “to be watched with Katniss” label could only have meant two things.  It was either confirmation that you’d never loved me, or confirmation that you had, which actually would have been worse, since I’d messed things up so spectacularly.” My mind goes back to that day.  Peeta at the door, looking harried and nervous.  That speech about us trying for friendship. It’s obvious to me now that he made it because he thought that’s what I wanted.  His careful examination of any nuances that would give at least some hope that he was wrong.   “I’m so sorry,” I say.  “I’ve messed up too.   You’ve no idea.   I don’t know why you just didn’t leave me to my fate after seeing that video of Marcus and me.  I wouldn’t have blamed you.  Wanted you to, actually.  Weren’t you . . . you know, disgusted?” He pulls me closer and kisses the top of my head.  “No.  Why should I be, after what I’ve done?” My body stiffens at the implication.  That’s right. He’s been in the same situation, only he was lucky enough not to be caught.  He’s talking about what he got up to with Lace.  The Mayor’s party.  When he fucked Miss Facelicker up against a wall.  Hot jealousy surges through my veins and it takes all my self-control to squash it down.  It’s hardly reasonable is it, for me to feel this way?  Not when I practically did the same thing. “Weren’t you even jealous?” I ask.  That would make me feel a little better if he had. “Katniss, all that concerned me was that you were in trouble and how I could help.” His arms tighten around me.  “I want to protect you, keep you safe. And in some way, begin to make up for the poor job I’ve done of it lately.  I just wanted you back.  There was simply no room for a petty emotion like jealousy.” Instantly, I’m ashamed of myself.  Peeta has always been better than all of us. “You could live a hundred lifetimes and not deserve him.”  They were Haymitch’s words, and so true. “Besides,” says Peeta, “You didn’t seem to be enjoying yourself.  And who would?  Being pounded into against a hard surface like that.” Not jealous, huh?  So that’s what he was doing when he kept watching that tape over and over.  He was actually studying my facial expressions and taking comfort that I didn’t seem to be having a good time.   As if Lace would have enjoyed being whisked into a dark corner on an important night of her life to have her new gown pushed up around her waist and thrust repeatedly into against a hard wall.  But I say nothing.  At some point you do have to put aside the negativity and move forward or you might as well give it up right now.  

But one more question.  I’ll always wonder about it if I don’t ask.   “Would it have made any difference if I’d told you how I feel about you?  You know, when you were going out with Lace?  Or before?” There’s a long silence.  I wait nervously for the answer.  Please say it wouldn’t.  Please say it wouldn’t. “It might have.   I don’t know.  I guess it would have depended on the timing.  My mind was so stuck on the impossibility of you loving me, that I might not have heard it.  Or not believed it if I had.  But it could have changed the trajectory and ended my relationship with Lace sooner.”

Haymitch kept nagging me to.  I should have listened to him. Taken that risk and kept on trying until Peeta understood.  But then, how could I have known?   And when would have been the right moment?  Sometime before the marriage proposal, it seems.  But not before he’d slept with her and banned me from using his guest room at night.  And wasn’t it these two things that had crossed a line for me? There was no going back for us after that.  It had changed our relationship irrevocably and we had to come back as two different people.  That’s what Arthur said about Celia and Blake.  And there was something Max had said too.   That if they did get back together, they’d need to bring the same level of experience to it.  Celia had to, at least, try another relationship, otherwise Blake would always be the one who’d broken faith and she’d be the one who hadn’t spread her wings while she had the chance.  Marcus had to happen.  I can’t regret that.  Not only because it would betray what we had, but because I would always wonder what it’s like to be with someone not Peeta, when he’s been with someone not me, and possibly resented him for it. “I did tell you this one time.  That I love you, I mean.  It was when you started to get serious about Lace. We were sitting on your back porch and we got to talking about her.  I kept coming up with reasons for why you should be careful of her but what I really wanted was for you to stop seeing her and to notice me. And then I decided to just come straight out and tell you how I felt.  But you misunderstood my meaning and said I was like your family and what you needed from me was to accept her.  That’s why I never said it again.  It hurt so much to hear it the first time, that I didn’t want to risk hearing it again when there was no sign that you’d changed your mind.  But I should have.  Kept trying.  Maybe – “ Peeta doesn’t let me finish. “And maybe I should have faced my demons instead of running from them.  And maybe I should have asked about the blanks in my memories instead of filling the spaces with what I thought I knew.  And maybe I should have told you of my feelings for you once I became aware of them.  And maybe I should have ended my relationship with Lace when I started having doubts.  I think if we added up all the ‘maybes’ they’d be mostly on my side.  I don’t blame you for any of what happened.  It all started with me.” I shake my head.  “That’s not true.  It started with Snow.  That’s where the real blame lies.”  We lapse into silence for a few moments.   “I wish . . .” I begin. He brushes a tendril of hair from my forehead. “What do you wish?”

I sigh deeply.  “That it could have been different.  That there’d been no Lace.  Or a Marcus. That when you came back from the Capitol there was only the two of us, growing back together.  It seems to me that’s the way it was meant to be but somehow it got all messed up.” “Yeah, me too.  But we’re together now.  That’s what matters.” “I would have liked, at least, for us to have had our first time with each other.  I feel like we’ve missed out on something special.  We should have . . . before.  You know, before we went into the Quell.”   There’s a long pause.  “Didn’t we?” “No.” “Well, I just thought . . . are you sure?” “Peeta, I would remember something like that.   We didn’t.  Why would you think that?” “I don’t know.  I just thought we did.   I remember make-up and showering or something and it was in your room.” “That would have been the night before we went into the arena.  After the interviews.  But all we did was sleep.”   “Oh.  I guess I must have imagined it then.  There are still memories I can’t be sure of but this one seemed so real.” I pull his face down to mine.  “This is what’s real.”  I give him a long kiss and then settle back into the crook of his arm. But before I drift off to sleep, my thoughts go to that night before the Quell.  I recall pulling Peeta into my room and a state between wakefulness and sleep. But between times is a complete blank. I don’t remember showering for instance. Or Peeta showering.  Or of us getting into bed.  But we must have.  Without thinking, I press my hand to my left temple.  Right on the spot where Johanna hit me with the coil of wire.  There’s no pain anymore, but the memories swirl just as they did then as I try to sort out what is true and what is false.  Maybe . . . maybe, it happened?  Peeta and I were very familiar with each other with those kisses on the beach for people who had, up until then, only shared chaste kisses. And it didn’t hurt at all that first time with Marcus.  But I just don’t see how I could forget.   I roll over onto my other side and Peeta rolls with me, cradling my back.  I sink down into sleep, enveloped in his warmth, and dream of seventeen-year-old Katniss and Peeta and their very first time.  

Addendum. The following excerpt was discovered among notes made by Katniss Everdeen for her memoir on the Hunger Games and her role in the Rebellion.  For reasons unknown, it was not included in the final draft.  Historians have speculated that the omission could be due to a number of factors: that it lacked relevance to the central theme of war and oppression, that it was too personal in nature, or because the prose resembles that of a particularly bad romance novel.   It is also notable for the difference in point of view narrative from first person to third person.  Various theories have been put forward.  Does this suggest the introduction of a fantasy element, that this is what author would have liked to have occurred?  Or is it due to prudishness on the author’s part?  As a teenager, Katniss Everdeen had a reputation for purity.  Her memoirs, written when she was in her mid to late thirties, take on the language and tone of the adolescent she was at the time the action takes place.  Could this be teenage Katniss distancing herself from her burgeoning sexuality?  Evidence to support this is her account of the famous “kisses on the beach” which, in her memoir, was confined to prolonged kissing but in actuality was more akin to heavy petting.  In addition, is her tendency to cloak feelings of sexual arousal behind euphemisms such as “that thing,” “a stirring inside my chest,” and kisses that don’t satisfy.  

Contentious, but also worthy of consideration, is hijacked Peeta Mellark’s insinuation that more happened on those “nights on the train” than Katniss Everdeen admitted to.  Was the accusation simply an attempt to embarrass her in front of her friends, or was this the resurfacing of a genuine memory?   Eminent psychiatrist Dr Lucius Aurelius, a descendant of Dr Gaius Aurelius, the same psychiatrist who treated Katniss Everdeen and Peeta Mellark, proposed that Mellark had confused adolescent masturbatory fantasies with reality as a form of wish fulfillment.  At the time, he had great difficulty discerning the real from the not real.   However, it should be noted, that this recollection, no matter how nebulous, is given greater credence by Everdeen’s own telling of this one event.   From “Catching Fire” the second volume of the trilogy “The Hunger Games.”    The omitted passages are in italics.   We walk down the hallway.  Peeta wants to stop by his room to shower off the make-up and meet me in a few minutes, but I won’t let him.  I’m certain that if a door shuts between us, it will lock and I’ll have to spend the night without him.  Besides, I have a shower in my room.  I refuse to let go of his hand.   She showers first and while he is in the bathroom, she searches for something he can change into.   “This might fit,” she says, holding up a voluminous nightgown with a ruffled high neck. “It won’t fit across the shoulders,” he replies.  “Maybe a robe?”   She retrieves her discarded robe from the floor and hands it to him.  Aside from being too tight around the arms, the front edges don’t come together. “Perhaps you could wear it backwards,” she suggests.  “Like a hospital gown.” “That could work,” he says with a wry smile, “Except my backside will be hanging out.  I’ll just wear the towel and hope it stays put during the night.”

“It won’t.  Look, I’ve seen you almost naked before and you didn’t care about me seeing you then. Don’t wear anything.  I don’t mind.  I’ll even sleep naked too so it doesn’t seem so strange.  I often sleep with nothing on anyway,” she says with a nonchalance she’s far from feeling.  She hasn’t forgotten the naked Johanna in the lift or his laughter at her reaction and her so-called “purity”.  She’ll show him she’s neither pure nor has a problem with nakedness, either his or her own.  She starts to lift the hem of her nightgown but drops it again.  “I’ll just turn the lights out,” she says. They get into bed.  She lays her head against his chest as she always does and his arms go around her.  But the skin-on-skin contact evokes sensations previously not felt before. Her breasts are flattened against his side and she’s conscious of her bare pubis, recently divested of its hair, pressed against his hip.  The sensation builds and demands some kind of release.  In an attempt to alleviate it, she moves onto her back, and as she does, she inadvertently lowers her arm and it brushes against the tip of something long and hard.  

He gasps and tries to twist away from her.  “I’m sorry,” he says.  “I didn’t mean – “ “It’s all right,” she says quickly. “That happens to boys, doesn’t it? I’m not offended, really.”  She had known about, and ignored, other times in bed together when his body had acted without his permission.  And this time, with her lying naked next to him, she would have been more offended if his body hadn’t reacted. “Please stay,” she says.  “I need you to hold me.  I don’t care about that.” He lies back down and she lays her head on his chest but it’s impossible to relax.  All her senses are heightened and she’s acutely aware of a corresponding tension in his body.  How are they to sleep?  And they so need to sleep, tonight of all nights.  Who knows when they’ll be able to sleep next?   Maybe if they. . .?   She agonizes over it, uncertain of what to do.  Her experience at this kind of thing is almost non-existent. The most she’d ever done is kissing, and the most she’d ever felt before is a stirring inside her chest.  And then to make the first move?  She knows it will have to be her because she’s certain that he won’t.  He doesn’t even kiss her unless there’s a camera or someone around to witness it.  She can guess why.  It’s because he’s not sure of her.  He doesn’t want what happened before to happen again.   Very gradually, she lowers her arm again, over his ribs, over his taut abdomen.  There’s an intake of breath and she can feel the rigidity of his muscles. Lower goes the arm until it glances against that thing again.  With almost certain death in the arena perhaps only hours away, this might be her last chance to engage with one.   She gathers her courage and puts out a timorous hand to encircle its girth and is amazed at how soft it is over the steel.  He moans but makes no attempt to take her hand away.  She’s unsure how to proceed and moves her hand gently up and down the shaft.  She doesn’t want to hurt him.  He puts out a hand to encircle hers, tightens her grip and gives a firm tug.  He takes his hand away and, taking his cue, discovers that the tighter and faster she employs her hand, the more intensely he reacts to it, until there’s a series of shudders and a viscous liquid spurts out over her hand.  She discretely wipes it on the sheet. “Thank you,” he says, and kisses her softly on the lips.  Then, shyly, “Would it be okay if I touched you?” “Yes,” she breathes.  She moves onto her back and opens her limbs.  Reverently, he starts at her shoulder, trailing his fingers down to her ribs, skirting her breast, and then back up, cupping it fully, thumb brushing against the nipple.  A pulse beats insistently between her legs and she shivers.  

“Do you like that?” he asks.

“Mm,” she murmurs.  She parts her legs a little more in anticipation, willing him to take his exploration there next.  But he takes his time, skimming the curve of her waist and then her hip and inner thigh, perhaps hesitant, perhaps teasing.  Either way it gives rise to the most exquisite torture.  Please, please, she silently begs.   And then his fingertips softly trace the line of her sex, pressing deeper between the slippery folds, finding first a cavity into which he inserts a gentle finger, and then higher up, encountering a hard little nub that elicits the most intense of sensory delights.   “Oh,” she cries, and with that small word she eloquently conveys the place where he should focus his attention. With the lightest touch, he strokes and circles, keenly attune to how her body reacts to him.    He covers her mouth with his own as she hurtles towards the pinnacle, and with one delicate flick of his finger, she tumbles down, down, down into an abyss of the purest pleasure.   “That was amazing,” she says between kisses and he smiles against her mouth.  He’s half lying across her, and she becomes aware of that long hard thing again.  It’s seemingly sprung back to life.  She takes it in her hand feeling its weight and length, and thinks, “This should be inside me.”  She turns towards him and guides him between her legs.  He needs no further encouragement.  Lying fully over her now, he presses his hardness at her entrance and she tenses at the unfamiliar intrusion.   “You need to relax,” he tells her.   She nods and turns her attention to loosening her muscles and more of him glides in.  There’s a kind of burning, but not too unpleasant.  A final push and he’s all the way in.   He moves slowly at first, but then, seemingly overcome with passion, and with a few vigorous thrusts, he finds his release and collapses on top of her, panting against her neck.  She kisses his brow and brushes back his damp hair.  

“Sorry,” he says. “I couldn’t – “ “It’s okay.  There’ll be . . .” she starts to say but then stops. By this time tomorrow, one or both of them could be dead and there will be no other times. She begins again. “I’m glad I did it. And with you.” He kisses her and moves onto his back. His arm is around her shoulders and she rests her head against his chest.  “I love you,” he says.  She doesn’t say it back.  It doesn’t seem the right time, somehow.  But she takes his hand and kisses it.   Do we sleep?  I don’t know. We spend the night holding each other, in some halfway land between dreams and waking.  Not talking. Both afraid to disturb the other in the hope that we’ll be able to store up a few precious minutes of rest. Cinna and Portia arrive with the dawn, and I know Peeta will have to go.  Tributes enter the arena alone.  He gives me a light kiss.   “See you soon,” I answer.

[stunudo]

Natural Minds Pay Back

A Crossover Fan-fiction

Featuring: Criminal Minds and Supernatural

Setting: Season 9 (both shows)

Before Slumber Party for SPN and In the Blood for Criminal Minds

Welcome to Stu’s 400 follower celebration fic! I can’t believe so many of you are willing to have my writings on your dashboards! Thank you ever so much. This is the fourth installment of the Winchesters working with Dr. Spencer Reid. (1. NM Meet       2. NM Chat     3. NM Bunkered) This turned out to be longish, I just felt it needed more scenes. Enjoy! xoxo Stu

“I have striven not to laugh at human actions, not to weep at them, nor to hate them, but to understand them.” - Baruch Spinoza

Immediately after Bunkered

Spencer Reid hated being late to a case, especially since he missed the pre-flight briefing and speculating on the jet with his team. He took a cab to the local precinct and found Rossi setting up the evidence boards, because Hotch was still recovering.

“Here he is folks,” Dave teased. “Good, now you get to play with your maps.”

“Rossi, what’s going on? Garcia didn’t share much on the phone.” Spencer set down his messenger bag and tucked his go-bag beneath the conference table. As Rossi began to point and describe the victims, Spencer listened growing more and more concerned with their timing.

“If this is the fourth victim, why did they wait until now to call us in?” Spencer was sorting through the crime scene photos.

“That’s just it kid, they said they already talked to the FBI. That they were waiting for a partner to aid in the investigation. But as far as I or Garcia can tell, no one at the Memphis field office or anywhere else has been notified.”

The pit in Spencer’s stomach grew, threatening to consume with him with guilt. This sounded exactly like the case he had left to confront Dean about, but this time there were no liquefied organs, no burned eyes. This case may be on a hunter’s radar, but there was nothing monstrous or mystical about it. Along with Rossi, Spencer started building the profile while Morgan and JJ handled the questioning of families and Blake took the M.E.

After Rossi left to grab coffee and a quick meal, Spencer called Dean, avoiding the bustling precinct’s officers. The phone went to voicemail after three rings, Spencer swore underneath his breath.

“Dean, I don’t know how many hunters there are, but it sounds like one of your people got here before my team did. If you have any way of contacting them, please, tell them to back off. I don’t know everything in way of the Occult, but I know unsubs and this is definitely human. Call me back.”

The Winchesters had stopped at a Gas N Sip to change into their matching black suits. After meeting Spencer and some of his coworkers, Dean wasn’t sure why they bothered with the idea that Feds were to look like cookie cutters. Especially since Sam refused to ever cut his hair. Pulling up to the latest crime scene, the Impala’s engine idled as they scoped the increased presence of officers and techs.

“Looks like it’s gotten more attention than the neighborhood watch, Dean.” Sam muttered annoyed.

“Four bodies in a week will do that. Well, let’s find out what we can and head over to the corner after lunch.”

“We have definitely been doing this too long if we see no issue with that idea.” Sam smirked, unfurling his long limbs from the classic car.

“Smile, Sammy, looks like we have company.” Dean nodded towards to two agents in much less formal clothing asking questions of the neighbors to the south. “Dibs on the blonde. You get baldy.”

Sam tisked and rolled his eyes, but let his brother have this one. He had already spotted the ring on the attractive woman’s hand. Who was he to refuse his brother the embarrassment?

“Agents, about time you got here, we’re from the local field office.” Dean boisterously called.

“I’m Agent Petty and this is Agent Nicks.” Sam explained, flashing his false credentials. Dean took a double take as he realized Sam had given him a girl’s last name for the case, it was his turn to roll his eyes.

“Morgan and Jareau, we’re with the BAU out of Quantico. Where’ve you guys been?”

“Just wrapping up with the last family, sorry we couldn’t meet you before you headed out.” Dean improvised, his gruff voice deepening notably. Sam almost laughed, this buff Agent was challenging Dean’s masculinity and both he and the blonde knew it.

“It’s okay, Freckles, our team can catch you up back at the precinct with Detective Cutts.” Jareau teased.

“Excuse me, did you say the BAU?” Sam followed Morgan and Jareau to their waiting SUV.

“Yeah, we’re here to profile this unsub so you all can finally do your jobs and arrest him.” The African American guy was short with them.

“That’s not the same Behavioral Analysis Unit as Dr. Spencer Reid is it?”

“Wait, you guys know Spence?” Jareau looked honestly confused.

Sam and Dean shared a knowing look, “You might say that.”

“The bodies had been staged to appear ritualized, but nothing adds up to any known religions or pagan practices.” Blake explained to the rest of the team.

“Were they completely drained?” Spencer looked up from the copies of the reports she had handed out.

“Yes, but not until after they were killed, all of the neck wounds were postmortem.”

“This guy isn’t slowing down, once he gets a victim he only holds on to them for a day, two tops.” Rossi pointed out the urgency.

“Did you guys get anything from the local field office? We ran into a pair of agents at the last crime scene, said they had spoken with the second victim’s families this morning.” JJ asked.

“JJ, didn’t we tell them to follow us here?” Derek pointed out. “I don’t know how, but they knew who you were, Pretty Boy.”

Spencer had been checking his phone throughout the round table session. He nodded in distraction at the conversation happening around him. He grew more annoyed with being ignored by the moody Winchesters, especially after he helped Kevin with the tablet translations.

“Their old wheels probably broke down on the way here.” Derek joked. “Garcia, my sweet?” He asked into speaker phone.

“Can you patch us through to an Agent Petty or Agent Nicks out of Memphis?”

“Oh, sugar, you know your girl has all the connections... huh.” Garcia paused, “I’m not finding them, any chance there are in a different office?”

Spencer’s head finally shot up. “It’s alright, Garcia, I have their numbers.”

“You do?” All team member’s eyes were locked onto the distracted genius.

“So call them!” Rossi’s Italian temper was starting to show.

Sam and Dean sat at the sticky booth in the greasy diner waiting for T-bone, a friend or distant relative or someone Garth knew, to show up. He apparently had been in the area on a random haunting when he picked up the chatter on the murders. Lucky for this sophomore hunter, Garth sent in the Winchesters, because clearly he had been talking out of his ass to every cop on the case.

“Can you believe this guy?” Dean muttered, staring at the specials on the small plexi stand on the table.

“What? Somebody Garth knows runs his mouth too much?” Sam pointed out the obvious. “Yeah, Dean, pretty believable.”

The waitress came and took their orders and still no T-bone. Dean had checked his messages, a couple from Garth, one from Kevin and then the last and most recent from Dr. Spencer Reid himself.

“Well, that’s great. Spencer says there is nothing to worry about here.” Dean complained, before he wrapped his mouth securely around his double bacon cheeseburger. Sam sprinkled the dressing onto his salad and scrunched up his nose, nodding.

“I know this guy is smart, man. But, uh, do you think he is ready to make that call?” Sam began cutting his lettuce with the side of his fork.

Dean had taken another obscenely large bite and had to chew for a solid minute before he could answer his doubting younger brother. He took a long pull from the straw of his Coke and nodded. “Dude, this guy just helped Kevin translate Aramaic. He has worked cases with black magic rituals and survived ghost possession. He may not look like it, but Reid knows what he’s talking about.”

It was Sam’s turn to chew, he nodded. “Alright, if you say so.” They continued on enjoying the meal in silence and privacy. “Should we check at the hotel where T-bone was staying?”

“What other choice is there? Keep working the case with the feds?” Dean quipped.

The BAU had delivered the profile to the local police, the missing agents obvious to everyone in attendance. Rossi concluded, “Most likely the unsub has already tried to insert himself into the investigation. He is either posing as media or law enforcement, be diligent out there. And only share new details with your superiors or my team. Thank you.”

The team from Quantico regrouped once the officers were given their patrols. Detective Cutts was speaking with a thirty year old version of himself in a hurried whisper before returning to his office. JJ had approached Spencer before they were given new assignments.

“Any word yet on those friends of yours?” her inflection was not hard to profile. JJ didn’t trust the Winchesters and she shouldn’t, they were in fact committing fraud on a weekly basis, Spencer reminded himself. It was a truth he had added to a list of few areas too gray to judge, because he knew they were doing their best to protect people.

“Not yet, but Garcia got me their location. They are working out of a motel just off of I-40.”

“So they’re not local?” JJ stared Spencer down intently. “What’s their story, Spence?”

“JJ, I really should go before they get too far into this alone.” Spencer tried to rush from JJ’s interrogation and cold blue glare.

“If Hotch were here there is no way you would be running to protect some imposters, what is going on with you?!” JJ had grabbed his messenger bag before he could, holding it away from him like a little sister and his favorite toy.

“Very funny, JJ.” Spencer pursed his lips. “I am doing my job, keeping people safe and profiling unsubs.” She watched him, whatever she saw in his stubborn stance or calculating eyes was enough. JJ relented and handed her tall friend his bag back.

“Just, be careful.” JJ added in a low voice.

“See you later, JJ.”

Morgan had watched the exchange, JJ exhaled and gave him a look that spoke volumes. Something was off about their resident genius.

Spencer had been having the confrontation under his breath the entire time driving to the seedy motel where Dean’s latest fake credit card had been used to reserve a room. Penelope Garcia was a nervous mess that the case she had sent Reid on last weekend had snowballed into a real case three states away. Spencer didn’t have the patience to console her, but he thanked her for her help and ended it with a sly, “Alright, Garcia.”

The paint was peeling from the warped wooden door frames along the brick exterior as he walked towards room 9 at the far corner of the L shaped building. That is when he spotted her, well, it really. Dean always referred to his treasured automobile as “Baby’, so the confusing pronoun had lodged itself inside of Spencer’s mind. The trunk was propped open and a sturdy pair of denim clad legs were be visible from the sidewalk.

“You looking for me, Doc?” Dean’s grouchy baritone called out from the weapons’ chest that was his trunk.

“What are you doing working the case, Dean?”

The scruffy hunter didn’t answer immediately, he just closed up the duffel bag with assorted supplies for your garden variety hunt. Salt, salt rounds, holy water, spray paint for trapping demons and other sigils besides knives, handguns and silver bullets to be safe. “It seems to me, we got here the same way.” Dean tossed the bag in the back seat and slammed the door shut. His voice was low, he tugged at his bottom lip with his callused thumb and forefinger. “You got a call from your sparkly tech girl, whom you trust. We got a call from Garth, somebody we-- sort of trust. Saying that something I had already been eyeing, had gone south and we were needed here.”

“I left you a message to back off. This unsub is on a psychotic break, he doesn’t even know he is the one committing these murders, please. Let me and my team do our jobs.” Spencer’s voice cracked, Dean had never seen his eyes so certain, so confident before. Dean smiled gently, nodding in agreement.

“You may be right, Doc. But now I have a missing hunter to account for and that means we’re not done. Not done with your unsub or your case, because until we find T-bone, the Winchesters are consulting.” Spencer gave Dean the side-eye for a few beats until they both broke into mild amusement.

“Is this guy really named T-bone?” Spencer puckered his lips, the inaudible laughter shaking his thin frame.

“I don’t know, man, I guess.” Dean leaned against the small patch of bricks between the door and the window. “Right now, we’re heading to his hotel and then we’ll see where his recon led him.”

“We can help, Dean.” Spencer offered sincerely. “Let me send some locals to check it out, get some evidence if he was taken by our unsub.”

“We don’t like questions, Spence. Isn’t that what the cute blonde called you?” Dean chuckled as Spencer nodded, unflinching at the term of endearment from his best friend. “Hunters might play cops and robbers now and then, but we try to stay off y’alls’ radar as much as possible. But, uh, thanks, man.”

“If you’re sure?” Spencer asked, looking out through his lashes at the confident and emotionally stunted alpha male that was Dean Winchester. “Be careful, Dean, I don’t want to have to arrest you.”

“Yeah, man, we’re good.” The men parted ways peacefully, Spencer returned to the precinct as Sam and Dean headed down to the next interstate exchange to find another cheap motel. Spencer didn’t know what he was going to feed his team, but somehow breaking protocol had become something he did.

This T-bone fella had especially bad taste for a hunter, the motel practically came with its own call girls. Dean scoped the bare legs lining the parking lot as Sam shook his head at his older brother. “That one in the red, Sammy.” He hummed in appreciation and grinned at himself. “Maybe if we wrap this up we can have a little fun?”

Sam was tight lipped, “Dean, I don’t pay for sex or S.T.I.s for that matter.” He slammed his car door and moseyed over to his brother’s side of the car with the supply bag. “The one in the red? I’m pretty sure she’s in transition.”

Dean balked and did a double take, “I’m not even sorry about looking, that is well done.”

“Right.” Sam headed up to the presumably vacant hotel room. He knocked, but the old door swung wide, revealing a maid with earbuds, singing at the top of her lungs while vacuuming. Once she saw the two hulking figures in the doorway, she let out a scream. Sam and Dean grimaced but waved before slowly approaching the young woman. “Excuse me? Did the man that was staying here check out recently?”

“No, he didn’t pay for another week, so the boss says no freeloading. He has been gone for two, no, three days?” The Winchester shared a look.

“Thanks, ma’am. Sorry to startle you.” Dean gave his best smolder in gratitude.

“He was a pig, I have been cleaning all morning. Scribbling all over the walls and the tacks!” She grumbled, but rubbed her fingers together insisting on a tip. Dean rolled his eyes and reached for his wallet.

“Is everything in the trash on your cart, yet? Maybe there is something we can use to track him down.” Sam finished the last part lowly to his brother.

“No, too much for my cart, sir.” The woman pointed across the parking lot. “Its all out there, good luck.” She smirked as Dean slid a note into her palm. He rose his eyebrows in mock gratitude.

After Rochambeau-ing for the joy of dumpster diving, Dean and Sam had worked out the area that T-bone had been canvassing, he seemed pretty convinced that it was a lone Ghoul on account of the blood drained after death. “You know this guy isn’t too bad, if I didn’t trust the scrawny kid I would have agreed with him.”

“Right, well, let’s get over there.” Sam muttered.

“I am going to need like ten showers tonight.” Dean griped as he brushed his hands on his jeans. Sam just laughed, ducking inside the Impala.

Spencer walked back into the precinct; the tension upon his solo return was palpable. He glanced between each of his teammates and Detective Cutts as they eyed him back, warily.

“Rossi, what happened?” Spencer asked apprehensively.

“It seems like your friends have been busy, Agent Reid. They were at the M.E.’s too. I’m sorry but they are now at the top of the suspect list.” The older detective cut in before Rossi could answer.

“You’re wrong, Detective. Sam and Dean are looking for a friend that was investigating the deaths before you and your team even put it together.”

“Reid,” Rossi began gently, “If they’re innocent, why haven’t you been able to get them in here? This could all be cleared up if they just came down for some questions. Isn’t that right, Cutts?”

Detective Cutts grunted, adjusting his utility belt.

“Sir?” Garcia’s voice called from the speaker setting on Morgan’s phone. He didn’t say anything to Reid, but his impatient facade hid nothing from the younger agent.

“Go ahead Garcia.”

“I found them, I sent Reid their hotel information not too long ago, why don’t you just follow up with him?”

“I’m already back, Garcia.” Reid held his opposite elbow across his chest.

“So, no use delaying anymore?” Garcia huffed. “Listen, I know Dean, sort of. He’s a sweetie. I may not be a profiler, but he did not hurt all those people, sir.”

“Thanks, Garcia, for what its worth.”

The team assembled with the locals to bring in the Winchesters. Spencer’s stomach pitched at the idea of arresting Sam and Dean while the real unsub was still roaming free. Free to kill again, maybe even the luckless hunter T-bone. He worked in silence, securing his vest and weapon. Refusing eye contact and even ignoring direct questions from Morgan and JJ. Blake had tried to approach him, but he just shook his head at her before she could work her calming magic over him.

“Rossi, a word?” Spencer interrupted the senior agent and the head of SWAT and Detective Cutts. Once they were alone in the hallway he began his vehement monologue. “We have the profile wrong. We never profiled two unsubs. Sam and Dean may know more than we do, but they are not the killers. We are wasting time while people are dying.”

“I agree with you, but we can’t have people impersonating agents and interfering with the investigation, Reid.” Rossi whispered conspiratorially. “I am going to hang back and continue to work the profile with Morgan and Garcia. I need Detective Cutts gone to do that, do you understand?”

“You want me to lead the Detective straight to Sam and Dean?” Spencer countered.

“I want you to take him and his men to their hotel to get them to cooperate.” Rossi said simply.

“Alright, I’ll get Blake and JJ and head out.”

“There’s our genius.” Rossi smirked. “Be safe.”

Spencer nodded and set his jaw in determination.

As Dean drove, the angel Ezekial surfaced from within his brother’s mind. He was not amused with their current circumstances.

“Why are we dirtying our hands with the filth of your people, Dean?” His monotone voice was unimpressed as always.

“You know, I was beginning to think you had forgotten to wake up. How’s it going Zeke? Comfy? Safe?” Dean glanced over at the beady eyes watching him severely. “That’s what I thought. I am not chasing angels this time, we’re just helping out friends. It’s what people do. I’m pretty sure even angels understand that basic concept.”

“The angels are organizing to seize control and you are chasing after someone you haven’t even met. Prioritize, Dean, I’m only here because you asked me.”

“One more day, and we’re back to the bunker. Zeke, I swear, no harm no foul.” Dean’s voice was clipped, he looked forward and grasped the steering wheel between two tight fists. And just as soon as he appeared, the angel sunk back to the recesses of Sam’s consciousness. Dean was really starting to hate the guy.

Spencer sat in the backseat of the dark Suburban as JJ drove them to the hotel he had departed not an hour before. Blake was making small talk, though Spencer knew it was never small. Every word was carefully placed, every inflection intentional. He was being petulant and not participating, until she purposely attributed a quote to John Donne instead of the philosopher Baruch Spinoza.

“Wicked is not much worse than indiscreet.” Spencer’s voice cracked forward, calling the linguist out.

“Who are these men to you, Spencer?” Alex Blake asked, challenging his overly secretive behavior.

Spencer watched out the window, not falling victim to the attractive pairs of eyes following him in the rear view mirror. “They’re friends. They are brothers that save people, just not in the same capacity we do.”

“Where did you meet them?” JJ asked.

“In my apartment, actually.” Spencer miffed matter-of-factually. “It was after you left for the Pentagon, Jayge.”

The blonde nodded, realizing there was so much yet to learn about her long time friend. “Why do you trust them?”

“Because Dean saved my life.”

“That works for me.” Blake said after the heavy truth settled within the vehicle.

Spencer led the locals into the empty hotel room, following Detective Cutts’ every instruction. The laptop left open to an obvious diversion, but he pointed it out to the officers’ curious eyes. Their weapons traveled with them, so nothing incriminating was recovered. Spencer shrugged at Blake and JJ as they called the raid a wash, agreeing to return to the precinct while the locals “secured” the scene.

Dean and Sam walked into the old maintenance garage on the back acres of the cemetery. The metal rattling of the slamming service door put the hunters on high alert. They had their guns raised and scanned the dark space around the old tractor and golf carts used for collecting discarded flowers and trash. After a few minutes checking the ins and outs of the vast space, Dean realized that he couldn’t hear Sam’s moose hooves. He called out and spun, to meet a large stone to his temple.

The three agents in their vests met back with Morgan and Rossi at the nearly vacated precinct. By the looks on their faces, they had unveiled the unsub. “What did you guys find? Was there another body?” JJ was worried.

“No, but we located our unsub.” Morgan explained.

“Well, who is it?”

“Markus Cutts.” Rossi deadpanned.

“That’s why you needed the detective chasing the wrong lead.” Spencer caught on.

“Right, but now we need to get over to the All Saints Cemetery.” Rossi had been strapping on his Kevlar as he spoke. “Because Mr. Cutts definitely has some new victims.”

Morgan spun the photograph he held in his large hands. It was a security camera shot from the front gate of the graveyard, a black Chevy was parked besides a rusted truck. The license plate on the junker an unmissable T-B1 from Iowa. The returning SWAT were quickly briefed, allowing the BAU lead over Detective Cutts who had been barred from continuing the case.

Rolling over the gravel service entrance, a parade of dark vehicles surrounded the old metal barn. The seasoned team moved in sync through the dimming light of dusk. Spencer and Blake entered at the back while JJ and Morgan went through the hefty door toward the front of the building. While they found no one, the unmistakable sound of groans were growing closer.

Then Morgan batted something off his bare head, “Shit!” he exclaimed understanding freezing him in place. His gun and flashlight flashed upwards to the rafters. Spencer spotted the bodies hanging, secured by one or both ankles from the metal framework above them. Dean was unconscious, his jacket a mocking flag taunting Spencer. He scanned the room, finding the old built in ladder just inside the service door.

“Markus?! Markus Cutts, come out with your hands up.” Morgan called out as JJ sprinted to follow Spencer up to the cat walk. SWAT were working their way through the building, two officers were working on setting up ladders to safely remove the victims from their perch twenty feet in the air. On the higher level, Spencer slowed his pace, checking every access point to ensure he could get to the Winchesters without being blindsided.

Worry held his throat as he saw that it was Sam’s blood that had fallen on to his friend’s scalp. He happened upon who must be the illusive T-Bone first, a mixed young man in jeans and a hoodie hung completely lifeless from the first row of scaffolding. By the color of his ankles and the temperature of his skin, Spencer calculated that he had been dead for over a day. He shook his head at JJ and followed her back to the next row, towards Dean.

Suddenly there was a loud crash and a crouching figure had fallen before JJ on the swaying metal ramp. “Freeze!” Her tone was clear and efficient.

Markus Cutts, didn’t freeze, he snarled at JJ, pouncing forward and she put him down with two quick shots.

Over an hour later T-Bone, Dean, Sam and a fourth unidentified victim had been cut down from their hanging prison. Dean had come to before he made it to one of the waiting ambulances. Naturally he refused to go to the hospital. Instead, answered some of JJ’s questions while Sam’s over-sized body was secured into the back of the nearest truck.

“Alright, lady, are we done?” Dean grunted, “I need to be with my brother, if you don’t mind.” His voice softened, when he caught her startled expression.

Spencer had given his statement for the locals on the shooting of Markus Cutts, who was, as profiled a very ill human (not a ghoul). His father had made his way to the scene despite his orders. Spencer watched the father’s breakdown with a deep sympathy in his chocolate eyes. Rossi approached Spencer and patted him on the back.

“Looks like your friends did lead us to the unsub after all.”

“Rossi, I just want to apologize for my unprofessionalism on this case.” Spencer cleared his throat. “If it had been Hotch, I wouldn’t have even been allowed to speak with them alone.”

“Yeah, well, Hotch is the rules guy. Me? I trust my gut.” Rossi smirked. “Now, somebody is going to have to drive that beautiful Chevy over to the hospital for your ‘gambling’ buddy, right?”

Spencer grinned in the red glow of taillights, a gentle wave sending Rossi off as he brought Baby to a purr. Unhindered and unassisted the Winchester brothers disappeared from Baptist Memorial Hospital before midnight rounds.

“History and experience tell us that moral progress comes not in comfortable and complacent times, but out of trial and confusion.”- Gerald R. Ford

@imagicana @cherry-loves-fanfic @hanny-writes-spn @ilovehuntersinflannel @mxolhfanfics @gubl-oser @there-must-be-a-lock @dontshootmespence @simmvez

[velvetcream03-blog]

Pregnancy / Third Trimester

Excited to chat with you and share more pregnancy updates. I am currently 37.5 weeks as I am writing this but wanted to get this post up before baby came! Hope you enjoy these updates and if there is anything else you are dying to know, please leave me a comment on this blog post and I will be sure to answer in the comments below. Also, can you even with these photos of Lola?? Her eyes just melt me.

WEIGHT GAINED As of the start of week 37, I have gained 21 pounds.

HOW BIG IS BABY By week 37, Baby is the size of a head of romaine lettuce. A little over 6 lbs!

BABY MOVEMENT This baby is having a dance party on the inside. Of what I have read, movements start to get smaller because there is less room to be moving around but I feel like for me personally movements are bigger and more of them! Baby has been head down since week 18 and his little foot/leg has been kicking and pushing me on the left this whole time. It’s crazy how I can feel it. Getting alot of pressure and punches in my lady parts (sorry… TMI) but little man is making his own plans to break out of uterus jail. HA.

HOW I’M FEELING: PHYSICALLY Heartburn + Reflux: I have never really experienced the kind of heartburn and reflux that I have with pregnancy and my heart goes out to people that have to deal with these symptoms in their normal non-preggo lives. It’s funny because Blake actually has always struggled with reflux and now… I feel his pain. When you are pregnant a lot of your muscles start to relax because of all the hormones and heartburn and reflux can pop up out of nowhere. And HOLY CRAP. It’s bad.

I had started feeling burning in my throat over the beginning weeks in this trimester and everything hit the fan one night. I had eaten an early dinner at 6pm at a favorite mexican spot and enjoyed chips and salsa and then a simple dinner and was out for much of the night on my feet. That night I went to bed and work up at 2am feeling hot, sweaty, and sick…. And then I vomited like 7 times from the reflux. That whole night was sheer hell. The next day…. Equally hellish. I remember crying to Blake that if the whole third trimester was going to be like this… I don’t know how I would survive it.

Luckily I had a doctors appointment soon after that and now take pepcid extra strength 20 mg morning and night. It’s been literally saving me. I have still had some instances of reflux even taking the meds but it’s helping so much so I am incredibly grateful. Other things I do are eat an earlier dinner, avoid reflux trigger foods at night and never lay down after eating. Now at 37 weeks luckily these symptoms have slowed down for me.

Peeing my pants: Guys, still peeing my pants on the regular. Since the baby has dropped lower I have alot more pressure on my bladder and I have to hit the bathroom again constantly. Almost more so than the first trimester.

Hello Nausea: I feel like week 28 hit and the nausea was instantly back. Just when I thought I had left that nasty symptom in the past… it came back. Luckily the nausea is not 24/7 and comes and goes some days and not other days. At least I know to keep extra snacks and crackers with me and that’s been helping.

Fat foot: If you follow me on instagram… you know the story of “Fat Foot.” It’s the dead of Summer heat where I live and even the humidity is up. The last 2 weeks my one foot has been swelling the minute I start to be on my feet as well as going outside. It almost started happening out the blue. My one foot swells incredibly and the other does not. It’s super bizarre. I spoke to my doctor and she said that sometimes one foot can swell more than the other depending on the side of the body the baby is favoring. Honestly there isn’t much I can do about but I will tell you what I have been doing. When I can, I will wear compression socks around the house but honestly, it’s so hot I don’t do this that often. I also do ice water baths to help with the inflammation. I also elevate my feet whenever possible. So for now, I just have to make fun of my fat foot and do the best I can. I hear the swelling can last after delivery as well so hoping fat foot disappears sometime soon.

Exhaustion: The exhaustion is REAL in the third trimester. I feel like when it hits 4pm, I become utterly useless. Knowing my body just runs out of steam so much quicker, I try to really focus earlier in the day. Luckily, I have an amazing husband who pretty much makes dinner every night so that I can keep my feet up and rest most nights. I think the important thing is that I listen to my body and rest when I need it.

The Uncomfortable Stage: Basically at a certain point during the day, my body is just completely uncomfortable. With baby almost at max capacity pushing on all my organs… my body is just FULL. Not much room for anything. So I become increasingly uncomfortable as the day goes on and by the evening, I feel like baby is pushing up into my boobs and pushing down on my bladder all at the same time.

Braxton Hicks?: I could not tell you if I really had braxton hicks yet but I will say that I have had some pain centered in the lower part of my pelvis come and go. It’s hard to pin point what all these sensations, pains and aches really are since this is my first child. But I will say, things are happening.

HOW I’M FEELING: MENTALLY Everyone keeps asking me “How I am feeling??” “Are you ready?” “Are you anxious? Excited?” Basically it’s ALL OF THE ABOVE. I have been pretty upfront with you guys that the process of being pregnant isn’t always my favorite. Pregnancy is HARD WORK and once the third trimester rolls around, these last few weeks can be extra challenging. I am both ready to meet our little man TOMORROW! And also feel like, “OMG I NEED MORE TIME TO PREPARE!” It’s a huge mixed bag of emotions. But really, we are so ready to meet our little baby and I think the sheer will to just meet him will start to disappear any of the lingering anxiety that might be there.

I am not going to lie, Labor has been on my mind and it scare me going into this big unknown process. We did take prepared childbirth classes at the hospital so they did paint a bigger picture for the birth scenarios that can typically take place in the hospital. While some of these classes were a big alarming, I will say that I am someone fueled by information. So educating myself on the process was important in helping me to enter into labor with an open mind. People always ask if we have a birth plan and the answer is no. I know babies tend to have a plan of their own and especially after going through the fertility process… I have had to give up alot of control and put trust in the process. My only labor preference if I can make one is to have an epidural. That is really one of my only preferences at the moment. Bottom line is that whatever it is that gets my baby out safely and healthy, that is what I want to do. I have tremendous trust in my doctor and the hospital and I know they will guide me in the right direction for my baby. My personal philosophy will be to go with the flow. Now, this is easier said than done but my goal is that with this kind of mindset will get me through this wild experience. So while the nerves are going, so is the excitement. I am only putting out good vibes for a great labor, healthy baby, and happy mama. Everyone LOVES to try to tell me their horror stories but you know what, check your story at the door. Nothing but good vibes over here that I am putting out to the universe. At one of our last appointments… and this is going to be a bit graphic… but the doctor said, “Ooo I feel his head!”… HOLY FREAKING CRAP. It put things into perspective just how soon we are going to meet our baby!!!!!!!!!!!!! Like wow. Blake and I had this huge smile and amazement on our face. How did we get so lucky to make it to this point. So much gratitude is filling these last few weeks of pregnancy you have no idea.

FETAL DIAGNOSTICS APPOINTMENTS Since the doctors discovered my marginal cord insertion, I have been getting monthly growth ultrasounds to check in and make sure that baby’s growth is on track. Everything has been perfect so far so we are very grateful to be tracking this. In addition to this, we started going to fetal diagnostics at 35 weeks. This entails going to the hospital and having baby’s heart and movements monitored for 20-40 minutes 2x a week. I also have my fluids checked to make sure everything is looking good. It’s alot of extra time for doctors appointments but whatever it takes to keep an eye on our baby boy I would do in a heartbeat. It also ends up giving Blake and I peace of mind knowing baby is growing and looking good.

HOW I’M SLEEPING I still sleep surprisingly well, all things considered. I wake up some nights to use the bathroom in the middle of the night but not every night. I do take unisom every night to help me sleep. My doctor suggested it when I was having troubles with restless sleeping and it’s REALLY helped me.

EXERCISE My energy levels are much lower than they have been so I have not been getting to the gym as much this trimester. I do try to push myself to go walk for 30 minutes on the treadmill when I am up for it. I do still go to prenatal yoga once a week to continue and keep up with all my stretching and mindfulness practices. I continue to listen to my body and if I really don’t feel up to making it to the gym, I take time and rest. It’s so important that I listen to what my body needs.

CHALLENGES Tying my shoes: Thank goodness that Blake can help to tie my shoes some days or take my shoes off. Basically things close to the floor are now dead to me. Hahahaha.

Full stomach: I barely have any room for dinner these days. I am just so full by the time dinner time rolls around so sometimes eating dinner is a big struggle. I try to really enjoy a bigger breakfast or lunch when my appetite and stomach allow for a bigger meal. We also try to eat dinner a bit on the earlier side as well.

Body slowing down: I think it’s hard to accept that my body has slowed down quite a bit in this last trimester. I try to push myself to my original limits but I just can’t do some of the things I used to do because I don’t have the energy, or I am physically just unable to do them. All of this is ok but it’s funny because you expect to be able to do certain things and it always comes to be a shock at first when you can’t. The heat has been finally getting to me and slowing me down big time. Thank goodness we have air conditioning so I can be home in my icebox while Blake tries to play thermostat wars with me. If you want to know how to anger a pregnant lady, just mess with her thermostat. YOU WILL LOSE. HA!

WHAT I’M WEARING Most days if I am running errands or working at the house I am in gym or lounge clothes. Whatever is most comfortable. If I am getting dresses, I basically rotate through all my tank dresses. It’s what I am most comfortable. Since I am nearing the end of pregnancy, I have put a hold on buying anymore clothes. So I am mostly cycling through my favorite pieces that still fit. This includes dresses like this, this, this and this. I have also loved dressier pieces from naked wardrobe which are surprisingly lined pretty well.

JUST THE TWO OF US (plus Lola!) Blake and I have been making it a point to head to our favorite restaurants and just spend time doing some of the things we love just the two of us (or with Lola by our side!). Alot of my mom friends recommended we take advantage of this time and make date night a big priority. So we are doing that big time. We are also making sure to do some extra special things with Lola. Extra trips to the beach to sit and read our kindles. Enjoying our quiet time sleeping in and enjoying this special time before our family grows.

BABY PREPARATIONS Our nursery is ALMOST complete!!! We are just waiting on the dresser to arrive. Of course… it might arrive after baby but you know what, it’s no big deal. I organized everything that would go into the dresser into bins and we set up a folding table in it’s place temporarily so that we could set up our changing pad etc to still have everything ready. Can’t wait for the dresser to arrive so the we can complete the room and get some photos to share with you. The room is feeling so ZEN to me and I know baby boy is going to love it.

We finally set up our SNOO this weekend so I am SO excited to finally put this thing into action. Since we plan to have the baby in the bassinet in our bedroom, I have my night light set up on my nightstand already and we will have some baby goodies set up in our bedroom for those late night feedings and diaper changes. We also set up our baby monitor (which Blake picked out) as well as our little owlet. I am so all about all of this great tech baby stuff and have heard amazing reviews from some of my mama friends. So I will be excited to finally try them out myself and report back if they live up to the hype.

I am also in FULL ON nesting mode. I have been cleaning out my closet, going through my dresser drawers, and all out prepping as much as possible to get our house clean and organized for baby. Even Blake is nesting hard making sure we are organized.

Our hospital bags are finally packed! You can get a sneak peek of what we are packing here but I am shooting photos for my blog post this week so I hope to share that soon for all your mamas-to-be that have sent me questions asking what we are bringing. I am also still working on my registry post for you guys. Stay tuned.

WHATS NEXT Baby watch is in full effect. With less than 3 weeks till my due date who knows what could happen!! I continue to go to fetal monitoring 2x a week as well as my weekly doctors appointments from here on out. Basically we are just waiting to meet our little person and I can’t wait for the day I get to share him with the world. I can’t wait to meet you Baby Boy.

Source: https://www.eatsleepwear.com/2018/08/13/pregnancy-third-trimester/

[kurtwarren54]

Pregnancy / Third Trimester

Excited to chat with you and share more pregnancy updates. I am currently 37.5 weeks as I am writing this but wanted to get this post up before baby came! Hope you enjoy these updates and if there is anything else you are dying to know, please leave me a comment on this blog post and I will be sure to answer in the comments below. Also, can you even with these photos of Lola?? Her eyes just melt me.

WEIGHT GAINED As of the start of week 37, I have gained 21 pounds.

HOW BIG IS BABY By week 37, Baby is the size of a head of romaine lettuce. A little over 6 lbs!

BABY MOVEMENT This baby is having a dance party on the inside. Of what I have read, movements start to get smaller because there is less room to be moving around but I feel like for me personally movements are bigger and more of them! Baby has been head down since week 18 and his little foot/leg has been kicking and pushing me on the left this whole time. It’s crazy how I can feel it. Getting alot of pressure and punches in my lady parts (sorry… TMI) but little man is making his own plans to break out of uterus jail. HA.

HOW I’M FEELING: PHYSICALLY Heartburn + Reflux: I have never really experienced the kind of heartburn and reflux that I have with pregnancy and my heart goes out to people that have to deal with these symptoms in their normal non-preggo lives. It’s funny because Blake actually has always struggled with reflux and now… I feel his pain. When you are pregnant a lot of your muscles start to relax because of all the hormones and heartburn and reflux can pop up out of nowhere. And HOLY CRAP. It’s bad.

I had started feeling burning in my throat over the beginning weeks in this trimester and everything hit the fan one night. I had eaten an early dinner at 6pm at a favorite mexican spot and enjoyed chips and salsa and then a simple dinner and was out for much of the night on my feet. That night I went to bed and work up at 2am feeling hot, sweaty, and sick…. And then I vomited like 7 times from the reflux. That whole night was sheer hell. The next day…. Equally hellish. I remember crying to Blake that if the whole third trimester was going to be like this… I don’t know how I would survive it.

Luckily I had a doctors appointment soon after that and now take pepcid extra strength 20 mg morning and night. It’s been literally saving me. I have still had some instances of reflux even taking the meds but it’s helping so much so I am incredibly grateful. Other things I do are eat an earlier dinner, avoid reflux trigger foods at night and never lay down after eating. Now at 37 weeks luckily these symptoms have slowed down for me.

Peeing my pants: Guys, still peeing my pants on the regular. Since the baby has dropped lower I have alot more pressure on my bladder and I have to hit the bathroom again constantly. Almost more so than the first trimester.

Hello Nausea: I feel like week 28 hit and the nausea was instantly back. Just when I thought I had left that nasty symptom in the past… it came back. Luckily the nausea is not 24/7 and comes and goes some days and not other days. At least I know to keep extra snacks and crackers with me and that’s been helping.

Fat foot: If you follow me on instagram… you know the story of “Fat Foot.” It’s the dead of Summer heat where I live and even the humidity is up. The last 2 weeks my one foot has been swelling the minute I start to be on my feet as well as going outside. It almost started happening out the blue. My one foot swells incredibly and the other does not. It’s super bizarre. I spoke to my doctor and she said that sometimes one foot can swell more than the other depending on the side of the body the baby is favoring. Honestly there isn’t much I can do about but I will tell you what I have been doing. When I can, I will wear compression socks around the house but honestly, it’s so hot I don’t do this that often. I also do ice water baths to help with the inflammation. I also elevate my feet whenever possible. So for now, I just have to make fun of my fat foot and do the best I can. I hear the swelling can last after delivery as well so hoping fat foot disappears sometime soon.

Exhaustion: The exhaustion is REAL in the third trimester. I feel like when it hits 4pm, I become utterly useless. Knowing my body just runs out of steam so much quicker, I try to really focus earlier in the day. Luckily, I have an amazing husband who pretty much makes dinner every night so that I can keep my feet up and rest most nights. I think the important thing is that I listen to my body and rest when I need it.

The Uncomfortable Stage: Basically at a certain point during the day, my body is just completely uncomfortable. With baby almost at max capacity pushing on all my organs… my body is just FULL. Not much room for anything. So I become increasingly uncomfortable as the day goes on and by the evening, I feel like baby is pushing up into my boobs and pushing down on my bladder all at the same time.

Braxton Hicks?: I could not tell you if I really had braxton hicks yet but I will say that I have had some pain centered in the lower part of my pelvis come and go. It’s hard to pin point what all these sensations, pains and aches really are since this is my first child. But I will say, things are happening.

HOW I’M FEELING: MENTALLY Everyone keeps asking me “How I am feeling??” “Are you ready?” “Are you anxious? Excited?” Basically it’s ALL OF THE ABOVE. I have been pretty upfront with you guys that the process of being pregnant isn’t always my favorite. Pregnancy is HARD WORK and once the third trimester rolls around, these last few weeks can be extra challenging. I am both ready to meet our little man TOMORROW! And also feel like, “OMG I NEED MORE TIME TO PREPARE!” It’s a huge mixed bag of emotions. But really, we are so ready to meet our little baby and I think the sheer will to just meet him will start to disappear any of the lingering anxiety that might be there.

I am not going to lie, Labor has been on my mind and it scare me going into this big unknown process. We did take prepared childbirth classes at the hospital so they did paint a bigger picture for the birth scenarios that can typically take place in the hospital. While some of these classes were a big alarming, I will say that I am someone fueled by information. So educating myself on the process was important in helping me to enter into labor with an open mind. People always ask if we have a birth plan and the answer is no. I know babies tend to have a plan of their own and especially after going through the fertility process… I have had to give up alot of control and put trust in the process. My only labor preference if I can make one is to have an epidural. That is really one of my only preferences at the moment. Bottom line is that whatever it is that gets my baby out safely and healthy, that is what I want to do. I have tremendous trust in my doctor and the hospital and I know they will guide me in the right direction for my baby. My personal philosophy will be to go with the flow. Now, this is easier said than done but my goal is that with this kind of mindset will get me through this wild experience. So while the nerves are going, so is the excitement. I am only putting out good vibes for a great labor, healthy baby, and happy mama. Everyone LOVES to try to tell me their horror stories but you know what, check your story at the door. Nothing but good vibes over here that I am putting out to the universe. At one of our last appointments… and this is going to be a bit graphic… but the doctor said, “Ooo I feel his head!”… HOLY FREAKING CRAP. It put things into perspective just how soon we are going to meet our baby!!!!!!!!!!!!! Like wow. Blake and I had this huge smile and amazement on our face. How did we get so lucky to make it to this point. So much gratitude is filling these last few weeks of pregnancy you have no idea.

FETAL DIAGNOSTICS APPOINTMENTS Since the doctors discovered my marginal cord insertion, I have been getting monthly growth ultrasounds to check in and make sure that baby’s growth is on track. Everything has been perfect so far so we are very grateful to be tracking this. In addition to this, we started going to fetal diagnostics at 35 weeks. This entails going to the hospital and having baby’s heart and movements monitored for 20-40 minutes 2x a week. I also have my fluids checked to make sure everything is looking good. It’s alot of extra time for doctors appointments but whatever it takes to keep an eye on our baby boy I would do in a heartbeat. It also ends up giving Blake and I peace of mind knowing baby is growing and looking good.

HOW I’M SLEEPING I still sleep surprisingly well, all things considered. I wake up some nights to use the bathroom in the middle of the night but not every night. I do take unisom every night to help me sleep. My doctor suggested it when I was having troubles with restless sleeping and it’s REALLY helped me.

EXERCISE My energy levels are much lower than they have been so I have not been getting to the gym as much this trimester. I do try to push myself to go walk for 30 minutes on the treadmill when I am up for it. I do still go to prenatal yoga once a week to continue and keep up with all my stretching and mindfulness practices. I continue to listen to my body and if I really don’t feel up to making it to the gym, I take time and rest. It’s so important that I listen to what my body needs.

CHALLENGES Tying my shoes: Thank goodness that Blake can help to tie my shoes some days or take my shoes off. Basically things close to the floor are now dead to me. Hahahaha.

Full stomach: I barely have any room for dinner these days. I am just so full by the time dinner time rolls around so sometimes eating dinner is a big struggle. I try to really enjoy a bigger breakfast or lunch when my appetite and stomach allow for a bigger meal. We also try to eat dinner a bit on the earlier side as well.

Body slowing down: I think it’s hard to accept that my body has slowed down quite a bit in this last trimester. I try to push myself to my original limits but I just can’t do some of the things I used to do because I don’t have the energy, or I am physically just unable to do them. All of this is ok but it’s funny because you expect to be able to do certain things and it always comes to be a shock at first when you can’t. The heat has been finally getting to me and slowing me down big time. Thank goodness we have air conditioning so I can be home in my icebox while Blake tries to play thermostat wars with me. If you want to know how to anger a pregnant lady, just mess with her thermostat. YOU WILL LOSE. HA!

WHAT I’M WEARING Most days if I am running errands or working at the house I am in gym or lounge clothes. Whatever is most comfortable. If I am getting dresses, I basically rotate through all my tank dresses. It’s what I am most comfortable. Since I am nearing the end of pregnancy, I have put a hold on buying anymore clothes. So I am mostly cycling through my favorite pieces that still fit. This includes dresses like this, this, this and this. I have also loved dressier pieces from naked wardrobe which are surprisingly lined pretty well.

JUST THE TWO OF US (plus Lola!) Blake and I have been making it a point to head to our favorite restaurants and just spend time doing some of the things we love just the two of us (or with Lola by our side!). Alot of my mom friends recommended we take advantage of this time and make date night a big priority. So we are doing that big time. We are also making sure to do some extra special things with Lola. Extra trips to the beach to sit and read our kindles. Enjoying our quiet time sleeping in and enjoying this special time before our family grows.

BABY PREPARATIONS Our nursery is ALMOST complete!!! We are just waiting on the dresser to arrive. Of course… it might arrive after baby but you know what, it’s no big deal. I organized everything that would go into the dresser into bins and we set up a folding table in it’s place temporarily so that we could set up our changing pad etc to still have everything ready. Can’t wait for the dresser to arrive so the we can complete the room and get some photos to share with you. The room is feeling so ZEN to me and I know baby boy is going to love it.

We finally set up our SNOO this weekend so I am SO excited to finally put this thing into action. Since we plan to have the baby in the bassinet in our bedroom, I have my night light set up on my nightstand already and we will have some baby goodies set up in our bedroom for those late night feedings and diaper changes. We also set up our baby monitor (which Blake picked out) as well as our little owlet. I am so all about all of this great tech baby stuff and have heard amazing reviews from some of my mama friends. So I will be excited to finally try them out myself and report back if they live up to the hype.

I am also in FULL ON nesting mode. I have been cleaning out my closet, going through my dresser drawers, and all out prepping as much as possible to get our house clean and organized for baby. Even Blake is nesting hard making sure we are organized.

Our hospital bags are finally packed! You can get a sneak peek of what we are packing here but I am shooting photos for my blog post this week so I hope to share that soon for all your mamas-to-be that have sent me questions asking what we are bringing. I am also still working on my registry post for you guys. Stay tuned.

WHATS NEXT Baby watch is in full effect. With less than 3 weeks till my due date who knows what could happen!! I continue to go to fetal monitoring 2x a week as well as my weekly doctors appointments from here on out. Basically we are just waiting to meet our little person and I can’t wait for the day I get to share him with the world. I can’t wait to meet you Baby Boy.

  The post Pregnancy / Third Trimester appeared first on eat.sleep.wear. - Fashion & Lifestyle Blog by Kimberly Pesch.

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[elizabethcariasa]

Pregnancy / Third Trimester

Excited to chat with you and share more pregnancy updates. I am currently 37.5 weeks as I am writing this but wanted to get this post up before baby came! Hope you enjoy these updates and if there is anything else you are dying to know, please leave me a comment on this blog post and I will be sure to answer in the comments below. Also, can you even with these photos of Lola?? Her eyes just melt me.

WEIGHT GAINED As of the start of week 37, I have gained 21 pounds.

HOW BIG IS BABY By week 37, Baby is the size of a head of romaine lettuce. A little over 6 lbs!

BABY MOVEMENT This baby is having a dance party on the inside. Of what I have read, movements start to get smaller because there is less room to be moving around but I feel like for me personally movements are bigger and more of them! Baby has been head down since week 18 and his little foot/leg has been kicking and pushing me on the left this whole time. It’s crazy how I can feel it. Getting alot of pressure and punches in my lady parts (sorry… TMI) but little man is making his own plans to break out of uterus jail. HA.

HOW I’M FEELING: PHYSICALLY Heartburn + Reflux: I have never really experienced the kind of heartburn and reflux that I have with pregnancy and my heart goes out to people that have to deal with these symptoms in their normal non-preggo lives. It’s funny because Blake actually has always struggled with reflux and now… I feel his pain. When you are pregnant a lot of your muscles start to relax because of all the hormones and heartburn and reflux can pop up out of nowhere. And HOLY CRAP. It’s bad.

I had started feeling burning in my throat over the beginning weeks in this trimester and everything hit the fan one night. I had eaten an early dinner at 6pm at a favorite mexican spot and enjoyed chips and salsa and then a simple dinner and was out for much of the night on my feet. That night I went to bed and work up at 2am feeling hot, sweaty, and sick…. And then I vomited like 7 times from the reflux. That whole night was sheer hell. The next day…. Equally hellish. I remember crying to Blake that if the whole third trimester was going to be like this… I don’t know how I would survive it.

Luckily I had a doctors appointment soon after that and now take pepcid extra strength 20 mg morning and night. It’s been literally saving me. I have still had some instances of reflux even taking the meds but it’s helping so much so I am incredibly grateful. Other things I do are eat an earlier dinner, avoid reflux trigger foods at night and never lay down after eating. Now at 37 weeks luckily these symptoms have slowed down for me.

Peeing my pants: Guys, still peeing my pants on the regular. Since the baby has dropped lower I have alot more pressure on my bladder and I have to hit the bathroom again constantly. Almost more so than the first trimester.

Hello Nausea: I feel like week 28 hit and the nausea was instantly back. Just when I thought I had left that nasty symptom in the past… it came back. Luckily the nausea is not 24/7 and comes and goes some days and not other days. At least I know to keep extra snacks and crackers with me and that’s been helping.

Fat foot: If you follow me on instagram… you know the story of “Fat Foot.” It’s the dead of Summer heat where I live and even the humidity is up. The last 2 weeks my one foot has been swelling the minute I start to be on my feet as well as going outside. It almost started happening out the blue. My one foot swells incredibly and the other does not. It’s super bizarre. I spoke to my doctor and she said that sometimes one foot can swell more than the other depending on the side of the body the baby is favoring. Honestly there isn’t much I can do about but I will tell you what I have been doing. When I can, I will wear compression socks around the house but honestly, it’s so hot I don’t do this that often. I also do ice water baths to help with the inflammation. I also elevate my feet whenever possible. So for now, I just have to make fun of my fat foot and do the best I can. I hear the swelling can last after delivery as well so hoping fat foot disappears sometime soon.

Exhaustion: The exhaustion is REAL in the third trimester. I feel like when it hits 4pm, I become utterly useless. Knowing my body just runs out of steam so much quicker, I try to really focus earlier in the day. Luckily, I have an amazing husband who pretty much makes dinner every night so that I can keep my feet up and rest most nights. I think the important thing is that I listen to my body and rest when I need it.

The Uncomfortable Stage: Basically at a certain point during the day, my body is just completely uncomfortable. With baby almost at max capacity pushing on all my organs… my body is just FULL. Not much room for anything. So I become increasingly uncomfortable as the day goes on and by the evening, I feel like baby is pushing up into my boobs and pushing down on my bladder all at the same time.

Braxton Hicks?: I could not tell you if I really had braxton hicks yet but I will say that I have had some pain centered in the lower part of my pelvis come and go. It’s hard to pin point what all these sensations, pains and aches really are since this is my first child. But I will say, things are happening.

HOW I’M FEELING: MENTALLY Everyone keeps asking me “How I am feeling??” “Are you ready?” “Are you anxious? Excited?” Basically it’s ALL OF THE ABOVE. I have been pretty upfront with you guys that the process of being pregnant isn’t always my favorite. Pregnancy is HARD WORK and once the third trimester rolls around, these last few weeks can be extra challenging. I am both ready to meet our little man TOMORROW! And also feel like, “OMG I NEED MORE TIME TO PREPARE!” It’s a huge mixed bag of emotions. But really, we are so ready to meet our little baby and I think the sheer will to just meet him will start to disappear any of the lingering anxiety that might be there.

I am not going to lie, Labor has been on my mind and it scare me going into this big unknown process. We did take prepared childbirth classes at the hospital so they did paint a bigger picture for the birth scenarios that can typically take place in the hospital. While some of these classes were a big alarming, I will say that I am someone fueled by information. So educating myself on the process was important in helping me to enter into labor with an open mind. People always ask if we have a birth plan and the answer is no. I know babies tend to have a plan of their own and especially after going through the fertility process… I have had to give up alot of control and put trust in the process. My only labor preference if I can make one is to have an epidural. That is really one of my only preferences at the moment. Bottom line is that whatever it is that gets my baby out safely and healthy, that is what I want to do. I have tremendous trust in my doctor and the hospital and I know they will guide me in the right direction for my baby. My personal philosophy will be to go with the flow. Now, this is easier said than done but my goal is that with this kind of mindset will get me through this wild experience. So while the nerves are going, so is the excitement. I am only putting out good vibes for a great labor, healthy baby, and happy mama. Everyone LOVES to try to tell me their horror stories but you know what, check your story at the door. Nothing but good vibes over here that I am putting out to the universe. At one of our last appointments… and this is going to be a bit graphic… but the doctor said, “Ooo I feel his head!”… HOLY FREAKING CRAP. It put things into perspective just how soon we are going to meet our baby!!!!!!!!!!!!! Like wow. Blake and I had this huge smile and amazement on our face. How did we get so lucky to make it to this point. So much gratitude is filling these last few weeks of pregnancy you have no idea.

FETAL DIAGNOSTICS APPOINTMENTS Since the doctors discovered my marginal cord insertion, I have been getting monthly growth ultrasounds to check in and make sure that baby’s growth is on track. Everything has been perfect so far so we are very grateful to be tracking this. In addition to this, we started going to fetal diagnostics at 35 weeks. This entails going to the hospital and having baby’s heart and movements monitored for 20-40 minutes 2x a week. I also have my fluids checked to make sure everything is looking good. It’s alot of extra time for doctors appointments but whatever it takes to keep an eye on our baby boy I would do in a heartbeat. It also ends up giving Blake and I peace of mind knowing baby is growing and looking good.

HOW I’M SLEEPING I still sleep surprisingly well, all things considered. I wake up some nights to use the bathroom in the middle of the night but not every night. I do take unisom every night to help me sleep. My doctor suggested it when I was having troubles with restless sleeping and it’s REALLY helped me.

EXERCISE My energy levels are much lower than they have been so I have not been getting to the gym as much this trimester. I do try to push myself to go walk for 30 minutes on the treadmill when I am up for it. I do still go to prenatal yoga once a week to continue and keep up with all my stretching and mindfulness practices. I continue to listen to my body and if I really don’t feel up to making it to the gym, I take time and rest. It’s so important that I listen to what my body needs.

CHALLENGES Tying my shoes: Thank goodness that Blake can help to tie my shoes some days or take my shoes off. Basically things close to the floor are now dead to me. Hahahaha.

Full stomach: I barely have any room for dinner these days. I am just so full by the time dinner time rolls around so sometimes eating dinner is a big struggle. I try to really enjoy a bigger breakfast or lunch when my appetite and stomach allow for a bigger meal. We also try to eat dinner a bit on the earlier side as well.

Body slowing down: I think it’s hard to accept that my body has slowed down quite a bit in this last trimester. I try to push myself to my original limits but I just can’t do some of the things I used to do because I don’t have the energy, or I am physically just unable to do them. All of this is ok but it’s funny because you expect to be able to do certain things and it always comes to be a shock at first when you can’t. The heat has been finally getting to me and slowing me down big time. Thank goodness we have air conditioning so I can be home in my icebox while Blake tries to play thermostat wars with me. If you want to know how to anger a pregnant lady, just mess with her thermostat. YOU WILL LOSE. HA!

WHAT I’M WEARING Most days if I am running errands or working at the house I am in gym or lounge clothes. Whatever is most comfortable. If I am getting dresses, I basically rotate through all my tank dresses. It’s what I am most comfortable. Since I am nearing the end of pregnancy, I have put a hold on buying anymore clothes. So I am mostly cycling through my favorite pieces that still fit. This includes dresses like this, this, this and this. I have also loved dressier pieces from naked wardrobe which are surprisingly lined pretty well.

JUST THE TWO OF US (plus Lola!) Blake and I have been making it a point to head to our favorite restaurants and just spend time doing some of the things we love just the two of us (or with Lola by our side!). Alot of my mom friends recommended we take advantage of this time and make date night a big priority. So we are doing that big time. We are also making sure to do some extra special things with Lola. Extra trips to the beach to sit and read our kindles. Enjoying our quiet time sleeping in and enjoying this special time before our family grows.

BABY PREPARATIONS Our nursery is ALMOST complete!!! We are just waiting on the dresser to arrive. Of course… it might arrive after baby but you know what, it’s no big deal. I organized everything that would go into the dresser into bins and we set up a folding table in it’s place temporarily so that we could set up our changing pad etc to still have everything ready. Can’t wait for the dresser to arrive so the we can complete the room and get some photos to share with you. The room is feeling so ZEN to me and I know baby boy is going to love it.

We finally set up our SNOO this weekend so I am SO excited to finally put this thing into action. Since we plan to have the baby in the bassinet in our bedroom, I have my night light set up on my nightstand already and we will have some baby goodies set up in our bedroom for those late night feedings and diaper changes. We also set up our baby monitor (which Blake picked out) as well as our little owlet. I am so all about all of this great tech baby stuff and have heard amazing reviews from some of my mama friends. So I will be excited to finally try them out myself and report back if they live up to the hype.

I am also in FULL ON nesting mode. I have been cleaning out my closet, going through my dresser drawers, and all out prepping as much as possible to get our house clean and organized for baby. Even Blake is nesting hard making sure we are organized.

Our hospital bags are finally packed! You can get a sneak peek of what we are packing here but I am shooting photos for my blog post this week so I hope to share that soon for all your mamas-to-be that have sent me questions asking what we are bringing. I am also still working on my registry post for you guys. Stay tuned.

WHATS NEXT Baby watch is in full effect. With less than 3 weeks till my due date who knows what could happen!! I continue to go to fetal monitoring 2x a week as well as my weekly doctors appointments from here on out. Basically we are just waiting to meet our little person and I can’t wait for the day I get to share him with the world. I can’t wait to meet you Baby Boy.

  The post Pregnancy / Third Trimester appeared first on eat.sleep.wear. - Fashion & Lifestyle Blog by Kimberly Pesch.