#thread: darcy and archer

[archxngxl]

Closed Starter

Darcy had been staring at the two little lines for what felt like hours. The bathroom was quiet. She was sitting on the toilet, leaned forward with her face in her hands. "Fuck..." A curse escaped her lips, a sob slipped in there too. Why now? Why now? Hands combed through her hair, a long sigh left her. Her body trembled. She was pregnant. The sentence ran through her mind over and over, as if she was trying to convince herself of it's accuracy. Four tests lay scattered across her bathroom sink, all with the same result.

Darcy had been married to Archer for three years now. The last year had been the most emotionally taxing. There never seemed to be a day where they did not argue. Once tender moments were now filled with annoyance. Darcy was convinced that Archer did not love her anymore. Eventually, the thing she did not want to happen, happened and the couple decided to file for divorce. And now this had to happen, right when their divorce was on the way to ending.

It had been two days since Darcy had taken those tests. Now, she waited for her husband to come home after a cryptic text she had sent him. The 'we need to talk' text was weighing on her like a ton of breaks. When the door clicked open, her heart sank. "Hi." // @torturedmuses

[walkerwords]

“Lookin’ Out For Her” Daryl Dixon x F!Reader

GIF CREDIT: MTV/AMC

Request from Anonymous: Hello! I loved Walker Words, it was so well written! Could I request a Daryl x reader where the reader gets hurt and Daryl is the one to patch her up? Give her stitches and bandage her up and the like. If you wanted to keep going and have him take care of her and help her with everyday things while she heals that would be super sweet. Just craving some super fluffy care! Thank you!! Xoxo

Word Count: 4516

Warning: Swearing, Injury, Blood

Song I Wrote To: “Is This Love" by Corinne Bailey Rae

Note: And we are BACK. Thank you for requesting this!

---------

The Virginian sun was beating down on everyone’s necks as you worked in the lumber yard just outside of Alexandria.

Abraham had recruited you to help the Alexandrians build up their community. You didn't think it was that important but you said "yes" nonetheless. You had been travelling with your group for a while now. Meeting them on the road, Carl, Rick’s son, had saved you from a Walker that had pinned you to the ground. According to the young man, they had just lost their farm to a horde and were looking for a new place to stay. 

It was then that you noticed his pregnant mother and wanted to help. 

You hadn’t wanted to be near other people since the beginning of the end, but you had a good feeling about the Grimes family and their people. You were with them when Rick discovered the prison and you hadn’t looked back.

While you were close with Rick, Carl, Michonne, Rosita, and others, Daryl was someone that you had connected with unexpectedly. Daryl Dixon was an enigma, but one you loved to try and figure out. He was someone who you  never would have bonded with if it hadn’t been for the end of the world, but everyday you were grateful for him and the way he always seemed to be looking out for you. 

There was something unspoken between the two of you and any time that you were apart, you were constantly looking over you shoulder in hopes of spotting the archer. Just as you were now as you worked  near Abraham, cutting into the timber that would help reinforce the walls of your new home. 

“Who would’ve thought?” Ford said as he called out to you. 

“What’s that, Red?” you called back, looking at him through the bright rays of sun that shone down on you. 

“You,” Abraham said. “Who would’ve thought you’d be into all of this?”

“Construction?” you asked, raising your brows. 

“No,” he said with a shit-eating grin, “helping.” Your mouth opened in shock at his jab, not finding it particularly funny. 

“Hilarious,” you said with a roll of your eyes. Abraham just began laughing, enjoying himself. You began to ignore him as you tried to hide your own smile when the sound of growls reached your ears. “Fantastic,” you said with a sigh as you leaned over to pick up your weapon, an extra-sharp machete that Rick had given you after the events of Terminus. 

The Walkers came from the South in a group, all meandering towards the site. “Stay sharp!” Ford yelled as he grabbed a knife in one hand and a hammer in the other. While you had your guns, nobody wanted to use ammo if they didn’t have to. The Alexandrians were worried, shuffling back as the Walkers approached, but you and Abraham moved to the front.

You began taking them down quickly with a few slashes of your blade. Two larger Walkers backed you up until your back hit a pile of stacked lumber. You took out the first, but the second moved too fast, falling into you. You fell back, hitting your head on the edge of the wood as you went down. The Walker landed on your arm, pressing it into the metal stake keeping the wood tied together. Groaning out in pain, you shoved your blade into the side of the Walker’s head and shoved it off with disgust. 

“(Y/N)!” Abraham yelled as he ran towards you. He took out the last Walker with a swing of his hammer before arriving at your side. “Ya alright, girl?”

“Fine,” you grunted, taking the hand Abraham stretched out for you to grab. Abraham pulled you to your feet and you ignored the pounding behind your eyes as you brushed sawdust off your jeans.

“Are you sure that you are okay?” he asked, slipping into his sergeant mode. 

“Abe, I am alright,” you said, reaching out to place a hand on his shoulder. “Few bumps and bruises ain’t gonna keep me down.”

“Well, just head back alright? We’re gonna be headin’ inside any minute now,” he ordered. 

“I can help clean up,” you said, but he was shaking his head. 

“(Y/N), go,” he said and with a sigh, you saluted the man, picked up your machete, and turned back towards Alexandria.

-------

Arriving back home, you tried to keep steady on your feet, but it was becoming more difficult with each step. 

Nodding to Rick and Glenn who were speaking to Spencer, you continued on towards the house that you were sharing with the Grimes, Michonne, and Daryl. In the distance, you could see Judith being carried around by an amused Tara who swung her around on her hip, trying to make the little girl laugh. 

The ache in your head was the only thing distracting you from the searing pain in your arm. You could also feel thick blood starting to saturate the sleeve of your shirt, but you did your best to ignore it. If you could manage to get home and up to the bathroom unseen, everything would work out. The last thing you needed was for one of your friends to clock your injuries. 

Climbing up the steps to the house, you relaxed as it sounded empty. Dropping the façade, you let the pain show on your face for just a second, but a second was all it took for him to notice. 

“What’s wrong with ya?” Daryl said from a quiet spot on the porch. Still not used to how silent the man could be, you jumped out of your skin at his deep voice. 

“Fucking hell, Daryl!” you exclaimed, grabbing at your chest with your bad arm which only made you wince further. “Way to scare the hell out of me.” Daryl, who had been cleaning his bow, got to his feet and approached you, his brows drawn together. 

“Are ya gonna answer my question?” he asked, looking you over. Suddenly feeling somewhat shy, you took a step back from him, turning so your bad arm was further out of sight. 

“Walkers came up on us at the lumber spot,” you explained. “Everyone’s fine, but I got knocked down. It’s nothing.” 

“Is it also nothin’ that you can’t keep to stand still without staggerin’?” Daryl noticed, gesturing down at your feet. Glancing down, you saw a dizzying pattern of dirty bootprints as if you had horribly failed at a field sobriety test after a night out. 

“I…” you tried as the pain increased. “I may have hit my head on the way down.” 

“Mmhmm. Come on,” Daryl said as he took your arm to keep you steady and led you into the house.

“I can walk, Daryl,” you complained. 

“Yeah, into a wall maybe,” he said with a scoff. You frowned, but didn’t pull away as he took you to the room that he had claimed on the first level. 

Daryl’s room was quite neat, but considering none of you had many belongings, it shouldn’t have been that much of a surprise. Clothes were strewn across a single chair in the corner while his leather jacket was thrown on the unmade bed. Bolts for his bow, old and new, were on a table in front of the window, and tools for the bike Aaron had given him were tossed on top of the dresser.

It was very…Daryl.

“Sit,” he ordered, helping you to the edge of the mattress. 

“Yes, Sir,” you said with a roll of your eyes. Daryl mirrored the motion before leaving the room quickly. You sat there awkwardly as Daryl went to fetch the medical kit. Being in his room alone, you felt as if you were in high school and in a boy’s room for the first time.

“You’re being ridiculous,” you chastised yourself. This was Daryl, your friend, your partner when it came to runs or watch. However this was also Daryl, the man that had bewitched you body and soul. “Easy there, Darcy,” you said, shaking your head, trying to dislodge your Austen fantasy. 

“What?” Daryl asked as he returned with the supplies. 

“Nothing,” you said quickly, averting your eyes. Daryl just hummed a response before sitting next to you and then gesturing for you to remove the flannel shirt you wore over your tank top. Carefully, you pulled down the sleeve and then slipped the shirt off your shoulder, the blood sticking to the fabric. The fresh wound snagged on the threads, causing you to hiss out in pain, but eventually you got it off. “Damn,” you swore, finally getting a look at the cut from the stake. 

“Not exactly shallow,” Daryl said, examining the wound. “It’s gonna leave a scar.”

“What else is new?” you said as a ringing entered your ears. You rubbed at one of them, trying to dislodge the annoying sound. 

“That’s what I thought,” Daryl said. 

“What?” you asked as Daryl began wiping away the extra blood with a towel. 

“Ears ringin’, right?” 

“Maybe…” you said, very aware of how his fingers moved across your blood-speckled skin. 

“Probably a concussion. The dizziness, ringin’, headache that I know ya got… irritability,” he said with a look and you swatted at him. “All shit ya get from a concussion.” You sighed deeply, not liking how the day was going. The last thing you needed was to be benched with your family in a new environment. You weren’t the best fighter, but you were damn good at surviving and you had to stay sharp. 

Daryl finished removing the blood before grabbing the needle and thread. Looking away, you stared at your boots as he tugged your skin back together. “Needles make ya sick?” he said with amusement in his voice. 

“No, but watching you stitch my flesh back together ain’t a walk in the park,” you said and then Daryl had an even softer touch.

“Almost done,” he said softly, rubbing his thumb above the wound, trying to soothe you and you’d be lying if you said it wasn’t working. “If you don’t tell people when you’re hurt, how are we supposed to help ya?” he asked. 

“It’s not your job,” you said, not really thinking it through. 

“Like hell it’s not,” Daryl shot back, but his tone remained calm. “We look out for each other, (Y/N). That’s what we do.” 

“I know,” you said, letting out another deep breath. “M’sorry.” Daryl tied off the last stitch and cut it before reaching for the bandage. You looked back just as he smoothed the sterile gauze over your arm, pressing it down firmly. “Thank you,” you whispered.

Daryl didn’t respond. Instead, he ran his hand down your arm until it got to your hand. Slipping his fingers into yours, he intertwined your hands together, rubbing his calloused fingers against your own. 

You sat like that for a while, just listening to each other breathe, feeling the pressure of his hands in yours. This happened occasionally and you weren’t exactly sure what it meant. Daryl would sit next to you, press his leg into yours or even reach down and take your hand.

Back at the prison, he would just enter your cell and sit next to you. Even on the road, sometimes, he’d take your hand as you walked, letting it swing between the two of you. Daryl never  spoke, but he always made sure to add some pressure, as if letting you know that he was there. A part of you never wanted to look into it further. You all had seen some horrible things and you knew everyone needed to feel grounded. 

Daryl gravitated towards you to feel...something, you just weren’t sure what that was yet. 

“You know,” you whispered, leaning into him a bit, “there is a doctor here.” Daryl’s grip tightened then, almost as if he was afraid you were about to run. Looking up at you, his eyes were blue fire as he stared into your own. 

“And you ain’t goin’ anywhere near that son of a bitch,” Daryl said. “He ain’t layin’ a single hand on ya, not after what I know what he does to that wife of his.” 

“Daryl,” you said, trying to keep him calm, “Pete’s not gonna hurt me.” 

“I know he’s not,” he said. “Because I’d kill him if he did, I don’t care who the hell he is.”

“Is that you lookin’ out for me?” you asked, reaching up with your other hand to brush a strand of hair from his eye. 

“Just don’t go to him, (Y/N),” Daryl said. “Alright?” If he was one to say “please”, you figured he was about to.

“I could have a concussion, remember?” you pointed out, still feeling the blooming migraine. 

“You’re gonna be alright,” he said. “Herschel told me how to handle that. You’re gonna stay here with me tonight. I gotta keep wakin’ ya up so you don’t end up in a damn coma.” 

“Is that the only reason?” you asked, testing the waters. Daryl looked at you with a raised brow. 

“It’s the one I’m giving ya for now,” Daryl said. 

“Just for now?” you asked. 

“Yeah,” he said with a quick jut of his chin. You nodded and then leaned against him, feeling the pain echoing through your body. Daryl looped his other arm around your shoulder as you began to drift off. “I got ya, (Y/N),” he whispered as fatigue finally took over and you slumped into the man at your side.

-------

Daryl kept his word and made sure that he woke you up throughout the night. 

Any time his hand shook your shoulder, pulling you from your dreamless sleep, you awoke to his gentle face aglow by the camping lantern. He’d ask your pain level and make you drink water.

Afterwards, Daryl would get you to lay back down, smooth his hand over the side of your head, and you would fall right back to sleep. When he woke you up for the third time, you noticed a makeshift ashtray sitting on the window sill of the open window, the smoke filtering out into the night. Having known Daryl for a while, you knew what it looked like when he was taking watch. 

“Get some sleep,” you whispered as you rolled over to face him as he walked back towards his perch. 

“I’m fine,” he said. “I got hours yesterday.”

“Liar,” you mumbled, already fading. The last thing you saw before you fell asleep again was Daryl leaning back against the window frame, his eyes on you as he flicked his cigarette in his fingers. 

In the morning, your head felt a bit better, but your arm was killing you. Hissing in pain, you opened your eyes and rolled onto your back. Shadows danced on the ceiling from the sunrise and the breeze that floated through Alexandria. 

“Mornin’,” Daryl said from his spot by the window.

“Were you there all night?” you asked, sitting up. 

“Nah, took care of Judith a couple of times,” he said with a shrug. 

“Daryl…” you sighed, shaking your head. 

“It’s nothin’,” he said, waving you off. Getting up, he walked over to where you were and sat down next to you. From his pocket he pulled a pen light of all things. 

“Where did you find that?” you asked with a raised eyebrow.

“Carl grabbed it from asshole’s office,” Daryl explained as he clicked it on and raised it before your eyes. 

“Do you even know what you’re doin’?” you asked. 

“Just follow the light,” he said with a huff and so you did. Daryl checked out your pupils to make sure neither was blown and then stowed the light away. “Arm,” he ordered, grabbing the medical kit from the side table. Moving your arm felt like moving a ton of bricks. Then pain was bad from the wound, but your muscles felt as if needles had been going in them for hours. “Swelling went down a bit,” Daryl said as he gently prodded the skin. “Maybe we can find some meds for the inflammation. I’ll see what we got here.”

“Who would’ve thought?” you said as he changed the bandage on your arm. 

“What?”

“Doctor Dixon,” you mused with a grin. Daryl rolled his eyes, scoffing. 

“Shut up,” he said, but you could tell he found it funny. 

“Guess I’m banned from helping with the lumber for a bit,” you said with a sigh. 

“Yeah,” he said. “Ford’s orders.” 

“Well, I ain’t about to sit here all day and do nothin’,” you said as he finished his task. Swinging your legs over the side of the bed, you stood up, testing your balance. When you were satisfied enough with the results, you went in search of your own room, desperate for a change of clothes. 

“Don’t fall!” Daryl called as you exited the room. You sent him a rude gesture over your shoulder, making him laugh. After only tripping twice, you managed to get to your room, grab some new clothes, and hit the shower. It was a hassle keeping your arm dry under the constant spray of water, but you managed well-enough. 

Once you were dressed and feeling somewhat human again, you headed back down stairs to only be met with Daryl. “You need to take it easy,” he said. 

“I’m not going to go hunting Walkers, Daryl,” you said, carefully pulling on your boots. “Maybe Olivia or Aaron could use some help. I know Gabriel has been wanting to get the church back together.”

“Great, let’s go,” he said, leaning against the front door. 

“You taggin’ along?” you asked, pulling yourself up. 

“I gotta make sure ya don’t collapse and take someone down with ya,” he said. With a quick laugh, you placed your knife in its sheath and approached him. Grabbing him by the shoulders, you moved him out of the way. 

“Mmhmm,” you said with a smirk, “well, come on then, Doc,” you teased. 

“Oh my god…” he said, but followed you nonetheless. 

-----

For most of the day, Daryl was by your side. 

No matter what you were doing, he was there. Once you had convinced Gabriel to let you help him, he had you moving some things from Scott’s garage and into the church. Daryl, however, wasn’t on board with all the physical activity you were doing. So, instead of letting you carry the heavy boxes, he was there taking the weight himself. 

Daryl helped you carry anything over a few pounds and if you were being honest with yourself, you were rather enjoying him being so protective. He continued to help you the entire time you were doing errands for the priest and even when Deanna asked you to help move some files from the basement for Maggie to review, Daryl was there. 

He never once complained, but he was talking more than usual. As you completed the tasks for the day, Daryl was asking you questions about your life before the Apocalypse. He wanted to know where you grew up, if you had any siblings, and even what your parents were like. You knew a lot about his upbringing, but you never really spoke about your own. Still, with every question, you answered him honestly and it actually felt nice to talk about your family. 

When he asked about what those first few months after the firebombs dropped on the cities were like, you began to grow quieter. As with everyone you had met in the new world, you had lost people from the first day the Dead began to rise and it hadn’t stopped. You told Daryl about the first people you had met on the road, the ones who had been slaughtered by a group of the Dead as you were escaping the city. It was then that you had decided to take on the world alone if possible. 

That is until the fateful day in which you met Carl Grimes. 

When Daryl asked about any fears you had, you began to laugh. “What’s so damn funny?” he asked as you sat next to him in Aaron’s garage as he worked on the bike. He didn’t want to let you out of his sight and you knew he needed to get some grease on his hands before the day was over. 

“I guess I just never thought we would ever have to talk about our fears again, ya know? Aren’t we all scared of the same thing these days? The Dead, assholes with guns...each other.” 

“Each other?” Daryl echoed. “What do ya mean by that?”

“How well do we really know each other? Eugene lied to us for weeks, Tara was with the Governor, and even the people here are unknowns. I don’t know, Daryl, I guess if I had to talk about any fears it’d be that I’m scared that I don’t know how to trust anyone anymore.”

“That ain’t a bad thing,” Daryl said. “Best to always be on alert, that way ya don’t end up dead or worse.”

“It’s exhausting,” you admitted, rubbing at your temples. 

“Pain?” Daryl asked as soon as he noticed. 

“I’m fine,” you said. 

“(Y/N),” he said, wiping the grease from his hands and crouching down in front of you, gently lifting your chin to look in your eyes. “Tell me.”

“About a seven,” you admitted. 

“It was lower a few hours ago,” he said with a frown. 

“Guess I’ve been working harder than I thought,” you said, resting your head in his hand. Daryl reached back and grabbed his canteen. 

“Drink,” he ordered and you did, sipping the water slowly. Reaching out, he smoothed a hand over your hair gently. “Better?” he asked. 

“Bit,” you admitted. Daryl withdrew his hand then and left you to finish the water, trying to get your hydration back to where it should be. Leaning back against the workbench, you watched as he worked, his shoulders tense as he pulled at gears or unscrewed bolts.

Daryl was always in his element when he worked on mechanics. You remembered the first time you saw him working on one of the cars at the prison. He had seemed so absorbed in everything he was doing, happy to be providing for his new family. 

You knew enough about cars to get by, but you could always learn more and so you observed him whenever you could. Watching Daryl rebuild cars or work on Merle’s bike was one of the main reasons you began to grow closer to each other. 

He looked up from his work then, feeling your eyes on him and he gave you a crooked grin, one that was rare, but one you loved so much.

-----

As day turned to night, Daryl helped you get home. 

The dizziness was back in waves and so he had you by the arm as you walked through the streets of Alexandria. He had tried to carry you, but after refusing over and over, he had relented to just holding you up, keeping a firm grip on you. 

As soon as you entered the house, Michonne and Rick were in the kitchen, making food for the house. “Long day?” Rick asked as you moved past him. 

“Too long,” you said, slumped against Daryl.

“Come on,” Daryl said, “you’re about to crash and burn.” You waved at Rick and Michonne as Daryl all but dragged you back to his room. As soon as you saw the bed, you nearly wept in relief. Daryl had been right, you should have stayed home. “Hungry?” he asked. 

“No,” you said as you sat down. Daryl kneeled down and began to unlace your boots as you held your bruised arm to your chest, trying to relieve some of the pain. “I should get hurt more often if this is the kind of treatment Daryl Dixon gives me,” you said with a lazy smile. Daryl looked at you with an exhausted look. 

“Let’s not, alright?” he said as he finished with your boots. 

“Yes, Sir,” you said as you flopped back onto the bed. Daryl got up and joined you, sitting next to you. With your good arm, you reached up and tugged him down beside you, his body lying alongside yours. Turning your head to look at him, he was already looking at you through messy strands of hair. 

Slowly, you lifted up your hand and offered it to him. Daryl took it in his own and laced your fingers together, his eyes never leaving yours. “Your hands are warm,” you said in the low light of the room, your voice barely above a whisper as if it would crack the tension. 

“Yours are cold,” he said back, rubbing your knuckles with his thumb. “I should check your arm,” he said, but you shook your head. 

“It can wait,” you whispered, looking into those blue eyes of his as he pinned you to the planet with his gaze. “Thank you, for lookin’ out for me today,” you said, tightening your hold on his hand. 

“Always,” he said. “I’m always gonna be there for ya.” You gave him a small smile then as a shiver took over your body. “Cold?” he asked, his brow furrowing. 

“Bit,” you said with a shrug. Daryl reached behind him and grabbed one of the blankets and draped it over you, careful not to let go of your hand the entire time. His other arm was pressed to your side as he tried to adjust the blanket, but it lingered, adding pressure to your body. “Stay,” you whispered to him. 

“This is my room,” he said, looking down at you. 

“Smartass,” you said, trying not to break his gaze. 

“I ain’t going anywhere,” he said as he sat up a bit higher and then pressed a kiss to your forehead. It was gentle, but warm, his lips leaving a spot of heat on your skin. When he pulled back, you locked eyes with him again before slipping your hand out of his and reaching up to drag your fingers through his hair. Getting to his neck, you pulled him down to you and he met you there, capturing your lips in a soft kiss. His lips were heavy on yours and he tasted exactly as you had imagined. 

When he pulled away, he rested his forehead against yours. “Your head needs to heal,” he whispered, not wanting to move any further away from you. 

“My mind has never been more clear,” you said, grabbing his face again. “Kiss me, Doc,” you said and with a chuckle, he did.

Daryl lay with you, kissing you, holding you, and never once leaving your side as you finally succumbed to sleep, your body desperately needing to heal. Looking down at you in the low light of the lantern, he promised that would never let you go, not now, not ever. 

He had asked you about your fears, but you hadn’t asked him about his. In truth, he was only scared of one thing and that was losing you.

TAGS: @thanossexual​ @felicisimor​ @yes-sir-hotchner​ @lucillethings​ @stark-dreams​ @huffledor-able541​

[sleepingdragonhq]

hey guys !! so we just thought to give you guys a little heads up about what to expect before the second half of the event which begins tomorrow at noon GMT.

our gossip witches have decided to do another body swap !! we will include a list below of all the muses and who they will be swapping with. but we wanted to let you guys know beforehand so you can plot with others and start collecting gifs/finding gif hunts. if you have any issues, see anyone missing on the list or if you have any questions in regards to this part of the event please send a message through to the main. 

we ask that if you make any open starters during this second half of the event that they be tagged with #sdhqhalloween2. also please do not start body swap threads until the post is officially up on the main. we hope you guys are excited about this and happy roleplaying !!

you can find the list of everyone and who they’re being swapped with under the cut.

Aaron Hale - Pippa Rosewood

Adeline Mulciber - Long Huojin

Aiden Wolffe - Mason Jones

Aisha Vane - Verity Nott

Alastair Watson - Nate Wood

Albus Severus Potter - Pepper Rosewood

Alec Fray - Toby Anderson

Alexander Hawthorne - Dominique Weasley

Alice Longbottom II - Orlando Lockhart

Annika Parkinson - Marcus Carson

Archer Selwyn - Theseus McLaggen

Ariadne McLaggen - Louis Weasley

Ariella Belefleur - Octavia Coleman

Aryana Robins - Darcy Mulciber

Ash Highmore - Rayna Sayre

August Fawley - Lily Luna Potter

Aurora Claremont - Matthias Vallois

Axel Wolffe - Tallulah Abbot

Bentley Lockhart - Jaxon DeQuan

Caitlin Diggory - Hadley Lestrange

Caleb Cresswell - Odette Flume

Camille McGonagall - Theodore Dubanowski

Candice Cresswell - Matthew Asprey

Charles Villiers - Mortimer Claremont

Chase Sayre - Sofia Clarke

Charlotte Watson - Rose Granger-Weasley

Clara Arquette - Lyra Malfoy

Cyrus Clearwater - Tobias Atwell

Declan Rowland - Mackenzie Potter

Diana Rosier - Casey Abrams

Edith de Lapin - Theodore Oliver

Edward Lupin - Frank Longbottom II

Eleanor Pucey - Lucy Weasley

Electra Carrow - Penelope Hawthorne

Elena Flores - Malachai Arquette

Elide Weasley - Cassius Cresswell

Elodie de Lapin - Rory Goldstein

Erin McCormack - Lorcan Scamander

Evan Parkinson -  Nova Slughorn - Jonah Finch

Evelyn Carrow - Reid Anderson

Felix Hopkirk - Vera McKinnon

Fred Weasley II - Gabriel Larkin

Gale MacDougal - Brett Holland

Grace Turner - Poppy Zabini

Gwendolyn Hawkes - Molly Weasley II

Harper Lee Clark - Everett Pickering

Hazel MacDougal - Manon Flamel

Hugo Granger-Weasley - Daniel McKinnon

Hunter Adams - Benjamin Ollivander

Jace Greengrass - Caspian Berrycloth

James Ashcroft - Seraphina MacAuley

James Sirius Potter - Fletcher Duke

Jasper Locklear - Brigid Callaghan

Josephine Flamel - Liam Alvarez

Joshua Selwyn - Sebastian Nott

Juliet Highmore - Kristopher Flynn

Laurel Ollivander - Nesta Greenwood

Layla Rowle - Colm McCarthy

Levi Highmore - Cynthia Clearwater

Lucienne Wolffe - Evangeline Pickering

Lysander Scamander - Adabella Skeeter

Madeline Brown - Meredith Wayfelle

Mary Katherine McKinnon - Amelia Hopkirk

Natalya Dolohova - William Ashcroft

Peggy Carson - Scorpius Malfoy

Perseus Mulciber - Celestina Shacklebolt

Seung Krum - Victoire Weasley

Thomas Goyle - Griffin Jones

[fyrapartnersearch]

I’ve decided to download discord but please be aware that I’m currently trying to learn it. Anywho, please read on!!

I’m Becky and I’m like, way past the age of 18. So no underaged writers, please. That would feel creepy. I’m located in the EST timezone and since I’m working from home, I have a lot of time (don’t tell my boss) to write. Please note that I’m a rapid fire, by the skin of my pants responder so only reach out if you’re okay with that. I’ve had a few promising stories start and then drop and I’m sad about it.

I do put thought into my characters and my responses so you can expect a minimum of 3 paragraphs and typical responses of 4-5 paragraphs. I will give you something to work with. I prefer playing female characters in MxF pairings. But I will double if the plot is interesting or if you want to do two separate threads? That would work!

Mediums I use: I have email sunburst89@aol.com and discord which is beevee#9403

Plots/genres I’m into:

I have a lost princess medieval time period roleplay where my character is presumed dead but stumbles upon a rebellion run by her childhood friend who can be noble or a commoner. They reunite and she must decide whether to reveal herself for the cause and take back her kingdom or live a simpler life. Obviously rebellion is the way to go!

Vampires- I’ve alway been a sucker (hah pun not intended!) for this genre and had a recent plot idea of a story inspired by A Walk to Remember. A dying young woman (or man) enters into a courtship of sorts with a male vampire (or female) and they try to convince the human to live as the undead.

50’s Americana- sockhops, greasers, small town USA, poodle skirts!

Arranged marriages in any time period!

ASOIAF/GOT- I’d like to play Sansa Stark against Willas Tyrell or a deaged Sandor Clegane.

Medieval courtier life has always interested me!

Criminal Minds- I’d like to play Lila Archer for a Spencer Reid from season 1, episode 18, Somebody’s Watching.

MCU- I’d like to play against Steve Rogers preferably. I might try my hand at Wanda or maybe Darcy. Or make up an oc?

Jane Austen inspired stories

Suggestions are welcome!

Not into:

smut for the sake of smut, give me yearning glances, drama and angst and yes smut will follow but let’s build up to it.

Incest, underaged anything, scat, animal torture etc.

No super descriptive passages about gore, non-con situations, etc.

Most kinks. I’m very vanilla, both irl and in writing.

If interested, please see above methods of communication and I hope to hear from you soon!

[mysticofthefallenrpg]

event 002: the days of the dead (please see plot drop 002 for further information)

whatever wish was made in the dark by hope mikaelson, the retaliation is all but instant.  no longer content with its previous small efforts toward its freedom, malivore unleashes legions upon the town of mystic falls in search of the knife that will help secure its release into the world.

slowly at first but with eventual shocking speed, the creatures flood the town and surround its buildings, searching them one by one for signs of the knife.  the largest groups of townspeople, those inside the salvatore school and the mystic falls hospital, organize a desperate resistance bolstered by the return of their powers.  only time will tell if it will be enough.

ooc notes: 

characters are trapped throughout the hospital and the school, divided into the following groups:

Mystic Falls Hospital

Group 1

   Avery Nichols

   Kayleigh Doyle

   Victor Kenner

   Alex Salvatore

  Davina Claire

Group 2

   Rowan Labonair

   Daisy Kenner

   Noelle Winston

   Rosalie Aumont

   Wesley Carter

Group 3

   Hayley Marshall-Kenner

   Tanner Anderson

   Landon Kirby

   Gabriel Kenner

   Lizzie Saltzman

Group 4

   Klaus Mikaelsson

   Wyatt Turner

   Tara Nichols

   Archer Thatcher

   Maya Anderson

Salvatore School for the Young and Gifted

Group 5

   Tyler Lockwood

   Skyla Ashford

   Alaric Saltzman

   Matthias Thatcher

Group 6

   Freya Mikaelson

   Kiera Nichols

   Jasper Winston

   Cora Anderson

   Tatia Petrova

Group 7

   Liv Parker

   Caroline Forbes

   Jo Laughlin

   Dex Vane

   Elena Gilbert

   Darcy Vane

Group 8

   Jackson Kenner

   Kol Mikaelson

   Nic Nichols

   Daniel Labonair

   Henrik Mikaelson

in terms of activity during the event, all characters must have one thread with a character in their own group.  they may have as many threads as they like with other characters in the same location, no matter what group they’re part of.

characters may not communicate across locations - cell towers have been taken down, and travel between the two is impossible.  for the moment, they’re stuck with the people in their own location.

starting from today through may 20, you can post threads for the event!   tag any starters for the event with #motfevents002 (please note the s, or your starter might get lumped in with old posts) we hope you enjoy our second event!  pre-existing threads may be continued as necessary  .  other  than that  ,  go  crazy and have fun!  

[marvelousbirthdays]

Happy Birthday, multi-fandom-girl2!

November 24 - Tasertooth with a sprinkle of feminism and over-protective brother/father figures (The Avengers) for @multi-fandom-girl2

Written by @backwardsandinhighheels

“Okay, I’m heading off for the night!”

Tony looked up and whistled. “Nice dress, Lewis. Got a hot date tonight?”

“As a matter of fact, I do.” Grinning as Tony’s jaw dropped, she turned to go.

Only to find the door slide shut in her face, and refuse to open. Darcy spun on one heel. “What the hell, Tony?”

“Who is this date with? Do I know him? Has he been properly vetted?”

“Are you done?” Darcy asked, exasperated. “I’m going to be late.”

“I’ll let you go when you answer my questions.”

“That’s not how this works, Tony. Despite rampant speculation, you are not my father and I wouldn’t answer those questions from him either, though I might expect them.” She turned back to the door. “Jarvis, I’m initiating subroutine 131 to shut down this lab for the evening and send everyone home. Please disengage the doors.”

“Certainly, Miss Lewis. Subroutine 131 engaged.”

The doors swished open and Darcy walked out, enjoying how the click of her heels on the floor made a very nice counterpoint to Tony spluttering behind her.

“What — what is subroutine 131? I didn’t program it, Jarvis. Jarvis?”

~~~

The problem with a communal kitchen, Darcy mused, was that other people used it. Her focus on the coffee machine was broken by the regard of an eagle-eyed archer paying far too much attention to her neckline.

“Is that a hickey, Darce?”

She decided to brazen it out, now that her coffee was brewed. “So what if it is?”

“I didn’t know you were seeing anyone, you move fast.”

“As a matter of fact, we’ve been seeing each other for a while.”

She could see the gears ticking over in his head. “Is it Carmichael?” She shook her head. “Jenkins?” She shook her head. “Hunter?”

“Give it up, Barton, you’re not going to guess. Why are you being so pushy, anyway?”

“Because you’re being cagey, and that’s got me curious. I can’t believe you’re going steady with a guy I’ve never met.”

Something must have shown on her face because he leaped on it faster than Thor on the last poptart. “We have met! It can’t be one of the other Avengers, you would’ve slipped up by now, but one of the other teams we liaise with? Is it Johnny Storm? I know he was hitting on you last time they swung by.”

“Nuh-uh, he’s not my type. And would you look at the time? I gotta go get ready.” Clutching her mug to her chest, Darcy fled before she could give it away. She wasn’t ashamed, but she knew her friends too well to think they’d approve of her choice and she wanted to put that conversation off as long as possible.

“Give it up, Darcy,” Clint yelled from behind her. “I’ll work it out soon enough.”

Darcy shook her head and kept walking.

~~~

Darcy loved living in New York, except for when she hated it. Something about it seemed to attract the brunt of alien invasions, mad scientists, and general mayhem, criminal and otherwise.

She blamed the tourists.

It was a typical winter’s day, blustery and cold, the kind of day Darcy would happily have avoided, except her favourite cafe required stepping outside. Besides, the X-Men were in town and Darcy wanted to get out of the Tower.

Headphones in, hands stuffed in her pockets, and scarf wound tightly around her neck, Darcy trotted down the street. Spotting a bank ahead, she remembered she had to get some cash out and stepped inside. Right then, the idiot behind her pulled a gun and yelled for everyone to get down.

Darcy hit the floor and hit the panic alarm on her bracelet in the same movement. Lip curled, she watched the guy rush up to the counter and demand cash. He had no idea how much trouble he was in — and he didn’t even have any accomplices, either.

Screw this. She wanted her white chocolate raspberry muffin, and if she was stuck in here for too long, they’d run out.

Furnished with a bag of cash, the would-be robber backed towards the doors. She waited for him to get within reach before tasing him. He fell to the ground twitching, seconds before the windows burst in. Tony hovered outside, one arm still raised. He was no doubt recording everything through the suit.

This meant he had a prime view of the 280-pound mutant bounding in and scooping her up in his arms.

“Who do I need to kill?” Victor muttered into her hair.

Darcy took a second to cuddle into him before shaking her head. “It’s okay, I took care of it.”

“What happened?”

“Just some stupid bank robber. Turned his back on me and my taser.”

She could feel the shaking in his chest as he struggled to contain his laughter. “Good.”

There was a familiar whine behind him and she froze. “Uh-oh.”

“What is it?” he asked, going still.

“Sabretooth, put the girl down,” Tony commanded through his Iron Man suit, weapons fired up and ready.

Darcy muttered a swear word under her breath. “Oh, this is going to be great fun.”

“I’m warning you,” Tony continued.

She swatted at Victor’s chest. “Put me down, you big lug.”

“What if I don’t want to?”

“Remember that thing you like with the chocolate sauce? Well, if you ever want to enjoy it with me again, you will put. Me. Down.” She punctuated each word with a jab to his chest and he growled.

“Fine.”

Thor reached them seconds after her feet touched the ground again, closely followed by a bunch of other heroes — some she recognised, some she didn’t. It seemed she’d interrupted some sort of meeting.

“Lady Darcy! Are you well?” Thor boomed.

Darcy nodded. “Yeah, sorry I panicked and hit the button. I ended up tasing the guy, he’s back there.”

There were a team of police officers entering the bank, so Thor merely glanced behind her before returning his attention to the mutant with a possessive arm around Darcy’s waist. “And who is this?”

“This is Victor, he’s—”

“What are you doing with him?” Tony asked.

“I was literally just telling you that, Tony.”

“You should step away, Darcy, he’s not safe.”

Darcy looked pointedly at Tony’s weapons. “Neither are you. Power those down before somebody gets hurt.”

He stiffened, which she hadn’t thought possible when wearing the armour. “Are you under duress? Professor, is there any sign of coercion?”

“She sure ain’t in her right mind if she’s with the bastard by choice,” someone muttered in the crowd, obviously pitched loud enough for everyone to hear. Darcy pegged Wolverine as the speaker and glared at him.

“Would you like to say that to my taser?” She tossed her hair and shifted her glare to Tony. “I’m fine, we’re happy, and you can go back to whatever meeting of the minds I interrupted.”

“She’s telling the truth,” another of the mutants confirmed. “Apart from the happy part, but I think that’s more situational than general.”

“He was your hot date?” Tony exploded, finally putting the pieces together.

Darcy threaded her fingers through Victor’s and shrugged. “Yes. And I don’t need your permission or your approval, so shut it.”

The pronouncement did nothing to ease the tension until Clint pushed his way to the front. “This is the hickey guy?” He shook his head with a low whistle. “You were right, I wasn’t going to guess that.” He paused. “So Darce, what was that thing you were threatening Sabretooth with? The chocolate sauce thing? Heard it through Tony’s comms and enquiring minds want to know.”

Darcy smiled blithely. “Cheesecake. Victor just loves my homemade cheesecake.”

“Wha- you’re pulling my leg, aren’t you?”

Her smile turned a little bit evil. “You’ll never know.” She tugged on Victor’s hand, her fingers interlocked with and dwarfed by his. “Come on, let’s go have cheesecake.”

Victor grinned as the assembled heroes had no choice but to let them through. “Is that what we’re calling it these days?” he asked, loud enough for their audience to hear. Various among them choked, including his brother. In other circumstances, he would stay to laugh at their faces. Today, he had other things on his mind.

Things like Darcy. And cheesecake.

[bloomsoftly]

Are you still taking the prompts? Because if so, #19 with DarcyNat? (PS. you're awesome and I love you!)

it’s still technically your birthday in Texas, @paranoidwino. so here, have gift #2!! (and look, it’s even birthday themed! :D)

“How did this even happen?” Darcy muttered furiously to herself, stalking down the hallway toward Natasha’s apartment. “Who looks at me and thinks: you know who would be the perfect person to distract the Black Widow? Darcy, of course!”

She was rolling her eyes even now, after that exact conversation had taken place, and wondering if Clint’s last fall had knocked the last of his common sense straight out of him. And yet here she was, because the rest of the Avengers had all lost their sense too and agreed fervently to the archer’s suggestion.

It was ridiculous, and there was no way it would. But it was absolutely doomed to fail if Darcy didn’t even try, and she’d never live that down. And with that in mind, she made her last turn and stomped the rest of the way to Nat’s door. She barely had time to knock before the door slid open, revealing the woman herself.

A fleeting expression passed across Nat’s face—it could have been concern but seriously, she was still so hard to read even after months of friendship—and she observed, “You are stomping very loudly, cо́лнышко. Is everything alright?” A smile flirted at the corner of her mouth, tugging one side slightly upward, and Darcy had to remind herself to breathe.

And all of a sudden all of her grumpiness faded away. Even if she felt like her friends had given her an impossible task, she still got to spend alone time with Nat on her birthday. It was all she’d ever wanted. Licking her lips nervously, she asked, “Can I come in?”

Nat cocked her head slightly, evaluating her, then opened the door wider. She didn’t shift very much to the side, and Darcy had to slide past her to get inside the apartment. Her arm brushed Natasha’s as she moved past, sending shivers down her spine. Goosebumps broke out on her skin, and she fervently hoped the spy wouldn’t notice. She’d tried so hard to keep her crush under wraps for the last several months, even if in the end it was probably a futile effort.

As they moved deeper into the apartment, Darcy looked around for inspiration. She still had no idea how she was going to distract Nat. Her eyes came back around to fall on the aforementioned woman, who was staring at her curiously. The weight of her stare was warm and heavy, and Darcy’s breath caught in her lungs.

“So?” Natasha asked, drawing out the word.

“Happy birthday!” Her voice was too loud and too bright, and Darcy winced. Way to play it cool, dumbass. But Nat’s expression didn’t change; she was still watching her like a puzzle she hadn’t quite solved. Which was silly; when it came to Natasha, Darcy was pretty sure she was an open book.

“Thank you,” Nat said, looking like she was about to say something more when there was a ding from the coffee table. It was a tablet, and it dinged several more times in quick succession. Darcy suddenly knew that whatever the rest of the team was doing, it was imperative that Nat didn’t check that tablet. The other woman started to turn toward the table, but she paused when Darcy stepped closer.

“Nat, I—” she broke off, floundering. But she had the other woman’s full attention, and she opened her mouth to try again. Natasha’s eyes dropped to her mouth for the quickest of seconds, and then darted back up to meet her eyes. A flash of something hot and molten flickered behind her gaze, and Darcy stopped breathing.

Oh, she thought. Oh. That’s why the rest of the team wanted to send her up here.

“Nat,” she breathed, stepping closer. Close enough to see Natasha’s pupils dilate, to see her breath catch in her lungs. The mirror image of what she could see in Darcy, probably. And then their mouths were fused together and her hands were threaded through Nat’s hair, and Darcy couldn’t remember the last time she’d felt so gloriously happy.

And then Nat’s lips opened against hers, and her tongue was sliding into Darcy’s mouth to stroke and tease, and she didn’t have any coherent thoughts for a long time.

In the end, they were very late for Nat’s surprise birthday party, but no one really seemed to mind.

[sleepingdragonhq]

EVENT 021 - HOGSMEADE OLYMPICS 

With everything going on, local leaders and authorities decided that a community event to cheer everyone up and bring us all together. After much discussion, an event quite like the Olympics was put together.

Time to get your team spirit and competitive attitudes in check because there will be teams and there will be events and there will be a winner !! It’s important to remember that we’re all in this together and no matter how bad things seem to get, tomorrow is another day. As the late, great Albus Dumbledore said:

❝ Happiness can be found in even the darkest of times, but only to those who remember to turn on the light. ❞

OOC

This is not a time constrained event per se. All the events will take place throughout August and possibly into the first week of September. You will be allowed to continue and begin nonevent threads throughout but each activity/event should be acknowledged and incorporated into conversations, particularly when your character and their team are involved.

This is not an optional event. All characters will be taking part and have been split into teams (which you will find under the read more below). We encourage all muns to branch out and create new friendships/connections with each other through the team they’re in and the teams they’re playing against. A tournament board will be posted shortly, showing the first round of events/activities and we will be asking muns to vote in our OOC discord chat on the winners of each event sporadically throughout the month. There will also be a few extra awards such as team spirit, sportsmanship and more at an awards ceremony at the end of the month. 

Please use the tag #sdhqolympics1 for all threads that are meant for the teams taking part in events/activities. If it’s a closed thread for certain characters taking part, be sure to tag their blogs. Also if you want a specific plot where your character gets injured (minor injuries only) or helps the team win / causes them to lose, please run it past the main as soon as possible.

Like this post when you’ve read it so we know that you’ve seen it !!

Niffler

Adabella Skeeter 

Annika Parkinson 

Ariadne McLaggen

Caspian Berrycloth

Electra Carrow 

James Ashcroft

Lucy Weasley 

Nova Slughorn

Pepper Rosewood

Perseus Mulciber

Skye MacDougal

Hippogriff

Adeline Mulciber

Ariella Belefleur 

Cassius Cresswell

Elena Flores 

Frank Longbottom II 

Gwendolyn Hawkes

Juliet Highmore

Mackenzie Finnigan-Thomas 

Malachai Arquette

Pippa Rosewood 

Rose Granger-Weasley

Phoenix

Aiden Wolffe

Aryana Robins 

Candice Cresswell

Chase Sayre 

Erin McCormack 

Jaxon DeQuan

Julia Kominek 

Gale MacDougal

Lily Luna Potter 

Nesta Greenwood 

Theodore Dubanowski 

Thestral

Aisha Vane 

Celestina Shacklebolt

Eleanor Pucey

Gabriel Larkin 

Josephine Flamel

Joshua Selwyn

Marcus Carson

Mortimer Claremont

Octavia Coleman

Odette Flume

Tristan Bagman

Mooncalf

Alastair Watson

Alya Clark

Ash Hightmore

August Fawley

Clara Arquette

Everett Pickering

Jace Greengrass

Lyra Malfoy

Madeline Brown 

Meredith Wayfelle

Orlando Lockhart

Seung Krum

Erumpent

Albus Severus Potter

Aurora Claremont

Charlotte Watson

Fred Weasley II

Jasper Locklear

Layla Rowle 

Matthew Asprey

Natalie Davies 

Raphael Ashcroft

Rayna Sayre 

Vidya Singh

Bowtruckle

Alec Fray

Benjamin Ollivander

Colm McCarthy

Fletcher Duke 

Kristopher Flynn

Liam Alvarez

Peggy Carson

Poppy Zabini 

Reid Anderson 

Roxanne Weasley

William Ashcroft

Vera McKinnon

Demiguise

Aleksander Gaunt

Bentley Lockhart

Evangeline Pickering

Evelyn Carrow

Jonah Finch

Long Huojin

Molly Weasley II

Natalya Dolohova 

Sebastian Nott

Theseus McLaggen

Toby Anderson

Manticore

Alexander Hawthorne

Brett Holland

Cyrus Clearwater

Elide Weasley

Grace Turner

James Sirius Potter

Lucienne Wolffe

Nate Wood

Scorpius Malfoy

Seraphina MacAulay

Sofia Clarke

Victoire Weasley

Occamy

Alice Longbottom II

Alison Wood

Archer Selwyn

Caleb Cresswell

Darcy Mulciber

Rory Goldstein 

Harper Lee Clark

Lysander Scamander

Matthias Vallois

Penelope Hawthorne

Tallulah Abbot 

Thomas Goyle

Sphinx

Aaron Hale

Alvaro Nott

Brigid Callaghan

Casey Abrams

Charles Villiers

Diana Rosier

Edith de Lapin 

Evan Parkinson

Griffin Jones 

Hugo Granger-Weasley

Hunter Adams

Lorcan Scamander 

Unicorn

Camille McGonagall

Cynthia Clearwater

Declan Rowland 

Edward Lupin

Elodie de Lapin

Hazel MacDougal

Laurel Ollivander

Manon Flamel

Theodore Oliver

Tobias Atwell

Verity Nott

[archxngxl]

She stared at him with teary eyes. Her heart broke at the fact that he found himself responsible for everything. Which was blatantly not true. "Hey, I didn't know how to be a wife either." Archer was not solely to blame for the last year. it was a joint effort, both took their stresses out on each other in the most toxic ways possible. But now, they were going to fix. She kept her hands on him, in hopes of comforting him too. Archer was the only one for her, she saw no future with anyone else. She never saw herself settling down or having a family with anyone but Archer.

"And you're gonna be the best dad ever." Darcy leaned her forehead against his. The crying had exhausted her. She sat there in silence for a moment, collecting herself. Her hand draped over her belly, a deep breath was taken in. They were going to be okay.

"I really am sorry for everything I ever yelled at you. You're the best man I have ever met and I never saw this happening with anyone else." Blue eyes stared into brown with nothing but love. Darcy would not attempt to kiss him yet. They needed to take things slow, work on themselves for the sake of their baby and their relationship. "I uh...need to call Jocelyn." Jocelyn was her godmother and the woman who raised Darcy. She was the child's grandmother. "She's gonna lose her mind..." For the first time that night, a laugh came out of the blonde.

Archer always thought he had drawn the short end of the straw when it came to parents. His parents had plotted out every single moment of his life with no room for Archer to breathe. He was their puppet for his entire life. They'd laid out where he'd go to college, what he'd start his career in, and a list of 'appropriate' women for him to marry. Rebellion was never an option until college. He spent years saving money and practically hiding it under his mattress until he could run. He bolted the first chance he could, and Archer finally felt what freedom was. Then, he met Darcy and he learned what it felt to actually live. Darcy never had told him everything, but it was enough for him to feel nothing but rage towards her mother. He'd never begin to imagine what suffered through.

"Oh, Darcy." His heart ached hearing the painful sob that left her throat. Arms reached out for her and pulled her tight against his chest. Tears welled up in his own eyes. "You'll be okay. We'll be okay." Archer's fingers ran comfortingly through her hair in hopes of easing her sadness and fears even if slightly.

Archer pulled away. His thumbs carefully brushed away her tears. "It's okay, love. I've never been upset with you." One arm stayed wrapped firmly around her shoulders while his free hand held her cheek. He gazed down at the woman he loved. The urge to pull her to him and press his lips against hers was nearly impossible to resist. He knew better than to rush things. One step at a time.

Lips pressed to her forehead. "Handing you those papers was the worst thing I've ever done. You deserved a better husband than that, and I didn't know how to be that." His thumb traced circles over her cheek. "You're going to be a great mother, you know. I've never doubted that about you for a second."

[archxngxl]

Darcy's mother never wanted kids. Darcy's father, a man who she never knew, knocked Elaine up when they were both in their final years of college. Elaine was studying to become a nurse. Back then, having children out of wedlock was unacceptable. So Darcy's grandmother forced Elaine to have and raise a baby she didn't want, and Elaine made sure to let Darcy know that everyday. Sentences like 'I never wanted you in the first place.' or 'I don't love you.' were thrown at the little girl for every mistake or mishap. Thank God for her godmother, because Darcy would've been a whole different person if not for her.

Now here she was, about to have a baby of her own. Darcy knew herself enough to know that she could not handle the other option, her psyche could not. "I'm sorry too." It was like the dam broke. Tears fell freely, a sob broke through her throat. She bowed her head down, as if in shame. Blonde hair draped over, concealing her red eyes.

She leaned her head against Archer's shoulder. The cries were a mixture of relief and fear. Relief that the man she loved and father of her child would not abandon her, but fear of how she would raise the child.

"I'm sorry. I'm sorry for everything." Darcy knew that simple apologies would not make up for the shit they put each other through in the past year. But it was a start. The urge to say 'I love you' was there, but it was too soon. Too soon to jump back into old affections, they needed to slowly get there. Darcy hands held onto his shirt for dear life, both in an effort to comfort herself and him. "I'm here for you too...You're not alone."

The familiarity of Darcy against him was a sensation he never realised just how much she missed. It was as if no time had passed between them at all. Archer went back to the day he half threw those divorce papers at her after a hard day at work. He didn't want to see how she looked at him as she read the words etched on the first line. It was easier to distance himself when he convinced himself Darcy didn't have any emotional attachment to him anymore. Archer would love Darcy for the rest of his days, but he couldn't be convinced that she would love him too.

Can we try again?

Her words rang through his ears over and over. Archer convinced himself it was a dream, and he was positive the look he gazed back at her with showed that. His parents had stayed together 'for the baby', and Archer remembered the misery that contaminated his childhood home. He swore he'd never be like his parents. His hand moved from the couch to cup Darcy's cheek. A rare smile tugged at his lips as he leaned in closer to her. "I'd love to try again." His thumb carefully ran over her cheekbone. "I'm sorry for how I've been treating this. It's been easier to distance myself from you."

"And I'm sorry for a few weeks ago when I left before you woke up. I don't regret that night, but I regret how I treated you afterwards." Archer wanted her back. He missed her. He missed coming home from work and resting his head in her lap after a long day. He missed the way she felt pressed against him during the night. Sleep never came for Archer anymore without the presence of Darcy. "I promise you that we're going to figure this out. There's not a thing in this world that I will let you walk alone through. I promise."

[archxngxl]

Darcy instinctively leaned in. Some tears left her eyes, falling on his palm. Whatever feelings he had for her, Darcy didn't lose the chance to feel his touch. She thought of all the other people she needed to inform too. Her godmother, her close friends (and work colleagues)...and her mother. Darcy worried the most about her reaction. Elaine Morgan was never in her daughters life. Worst of times, they would argue like cats and dogs. Best of times, Darcy was with her godmother in another state. "Thank you." She whispered. "I think I'm gonna...I'm gonna tell my lawyer to hold off for a little bit...just until we figure out what to do." Darcy looked down. Her throat closed up, she felt like she was going to throw up.

"Look, Archer..." Darcy swallowed. "I don't want us to be the type of couple who stay married just because of a baby..." She said. "I don't want you to be unhappy..." Darcy believed that she had done everything but make him happy. What she wouldn't give to know where it all went wrong, where the problem that caused all this was.

"But..." She began, but a sniffle cut her off. "Can we try again?" The question weighed heavy on her heart for the past weeks. Ever since their night together, Darcy thought about reconciling. Maybe Darcy could win his love again. She could fix it. She could fix it. "I know that things haven't been good between us for a while, and I know how you must feel about me now but...maybe we can try again?"

Darcy's gentle hand at his back helped bring him back to life. He was so touch starved from her that something so simple and subtle sent shivers down his spine. He let her hand rest on his. Part of him wanted to pull away from her, and the other half wanted to take her hand in his and pull it to his lips. It was easier to keep her arms length, but she made it so damn hard. "I'm okay. I thought that was the last thing you were going to say to me. Little shocked."

Kids had been a casual conversation a few times, but they were so young. At first, Archer just wanted to enjoy being married. Then everything went to shit. A hand ran through his hair, grabbing a clump as he leaned forward and breathed a heavy sigh. He let her talk while he searched for all the right words to say back to her, but nothing was coming to him. Slowly, he turned his hand over to intertwine with hers. Archer needed her to know he was there for her.

He hated that he was filled with sheer panic at the thought of the next years of their lives. He wasn't ready to be a dad. When the apology spilled from her lips, Archer's hands were resting on her cheeks before he could stop himself. "For what, Darcy? There's not a thing to be sorry for. It's just as much my fault." A thumb ran over her cheekbone. "I don't know what to do...at all. But I do know that I'll be right there with you through all of it."

[archxngxl]

"Hey." Darcy noted the signs slower than she would've liked. She was at his side then, as he held onto the wall. Her hand placed on his lower back. When they moved to the couch, her attention remained on him. "Yeah, I'm sure. I took like five tests, all came back positive." The blonde placed her hand on her face, rubbing her right eye. She was exhausted. She couldn't sleep. She felt sick, but at least the weight holding her down was lifted. He knew, now all they needed to figure out was how to move forward.

"I think I am? I don't know." Her hand sneaked to grab his own. She gently placed it over his, making no effort to intertwine their fingers together. Archer seemed so distant now, so far away. Had she pushed him that far? "Are you? You were...disoriented earlier." Darcy hesitated to use the word panic attack. She couldn't blame him if he had one, god knows she was on the brick of one. "I just uh...have no idea what to do. This couldn't have happened at a worst time." She sighed. Darcy had wanted it to be happy news, she realized. That she and Archer would be in a good place, that she would give him the news in glee. Not like this, a moment void of happiness but rather filled with anxiety and panic.

"I have no idea what to do." She repeated, desperately praying for an answer to fall out of the sky. Her thumb rubbed his knuckle, slowly. "I'm sorry..."

I'm pregnant. Archer had ran through hundreds of scenarios on his way home, but this one never crossed his mind. "What?" His mind went back to that night and the regret that filled him as he shut that bedroom door with her still sleeping soundly. The room around him started to spin. There were two Darcy's standing in front of him, and he held onto the wall for support. Eyes squeezed shut in a desperate attempt to bring himself back. Now was not the time for a panic attack. A hand clutched his chest as he focused on each breath leaving his lungs.

It wasn't until his wife spoke again that Archer realised how long he'd been silent. He pulled in a shaky breath and wiped sweaty palms on the front of his pants. "You're pregnant? You can't be--you can't." Her own eyes searching around the room desperately and the tears hiding in her eyes broke him. Despite everything, he still cared for here more than anyone else in this world. Seeing her in pain hurt his heart.

He crossed the room and took her hands before leading her over to the couch. Archer leaned forward with his elbows on his knees as palms rubbed over his face. "You're absolutely sure, Darcy? Three weeks...It was the wine night, wasn't it? God, I knew we should've stopped after the third glass." Archer leaned against the couch now. Gaze now fixed on Darcy. "Are you okay?"

[archxngxl]

Darcy tried to think back to when this could've happened. The memory of a few weeks ago came to mind. After one too many glasses of red wine, Darcy and Archer were tangled in the sheets of their bed making love. Darcy recalled how hurt she felt that moment, when she woke up alone. That hurt trumped the headache she had.

She got up from the couch. Nerves ruled her body, she wasn't sure how she was gonna say this. "Nothing is wrong...exactly." The blonde tried to calm him. The last thing she wanted was for him to be stressed, she had caused him enough already. They had never talked about having kids, not seriously anyway. "I uh..." She started, but the words barely made it out of her mouth. Darcy had never been more scared in her life. Here she was, pregnant on the verge of a divorce. She had no clue of what was going to happen.

"I'm pregnant." The silence that set in after was suffocating. Darcy swore she was going to throw up. She broke eye contact, eyes darting from one place to the next. "I found out two days ago, and I'm about three weeks...I think." Tears stung her eyes. "Please say something..."

Archer dreaded coming home each day. He found himself searching for longer hours to avoid being home while Darcy was still awake. Their marriage falling apart was dragging him down farther than he ever thought it would. He thought divorce was the option. Neither of them had been happy for far too long. Archer could've tried harder, but this was the easiest way out. Besides, he doubted Darcy loved him anymore. There was less pain this way. When he received her text, Archer searched his brain for any idea of what on Earth she had to talk about.

Despite the looming divorce, Archer still spent far too many nights craving her touch. A few weeks ago after a bottle of red wine, Archer found himself tangling in their master bedroom sheets with a throbbing headache and Darcy's bare body pressed against his. Archer stayed there for a few moments, lips pressing to her shoulder, before slipping out silently. He'd hardly spoken with her since.

He let his keys drop on the entryway table. "Hey." Soft brown eyes narrowed at Darcy's. His feet glued to the welcome mat at their front door. Something was wrong, and Archer felt his heart jump. "What's wrong, Darcy? Is everything okay?"