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jungkookienoona · 5 years ago

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The Meme And His Tutor

Part 49: The Tutor’s birthday

Recommended Song: Stay up by Baekhyun

|Masterlist|

Summary:

The day has finally arrived and the tutor has something special planned. Operation D enters its finally stage.

Genre: Fluff, comedy, SMUT

Pairing: Jungkook X Reader (Y/N)

Warnings: Swearing, oral (f receiving), fingering, sexy times, Jungkook is a tad eager, riding, some dirty talk?, Jungkook can be a whiny baby, consent asked for throughout. PROTECTED SEX WRAP IT BEFORE YOU TAP IT PEOPLE.

Word Count: 2701

Length: 49/?

You worried around your kitchen as you prepared. Today was the day. It was your birthday. The day you planned to give Jungkook all of you. Miri was staying with Jaehi for the night under her insistence. Something about not having distractions around. There was only a couple of hours until Bangtan’s photoshoot was over, when Jungkook would be free to see you. So now was the best time to eat before nerves made your stomach uneasy. You knew Jungkook would’ve eaten at the photography studio. The doorbell rang as you were chopping up some carrots so you set down your knife and went to answer it.

A bunch of flowers greeted you. The delivery guy poked his head around the large bouquet, "Y/N?"

"Uh, yes that's me."

He handed you the flowers and wished you a happy birthday before leaving. Sitting down, you found a card attached to the bouquet by a ribbon.

"Alright, let's find out who you’re from,” You said turning the card over, “'To my lovely Noona. Happy birthday! I'm sorry I can't spend most of the day with you but my day ends at 8pm. I'll try to get to you asap so I can cook you dinner and stuff. From, your Kookie.'"

Well shit, his romantic home cooked dinner will probably have to wait until the next day. It wasn’t his fault though, he didn’t know your plans. A small smile graced your lips as you set the bouquet on the coffee table. You needed to finish cooking.

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One meal and shower later, you were digging through your wardrobe for the lingerie you bought with Jaehi. You could feel your heart pounding in your chest as you pulled out the sheer fabric. Nerves or anticipation you couldn’t tell. Time was counting down, the photoshoot was ending soon. Placing it on your bed you moved over to your chester draws, you rummaged through to find the accompanying panties.

Stripping down you changed into them, posing and twirling in front of your widow to give yourself a once over. Just two things left to do. Grabbing your phone you typed out a quick message to Jungkook.

‘I’m ready.’

Sent.

All you had to do was your hair… maybe put on a nice pair of heels. Just as you sat down in front of your vanity, your phone dinged with a message.

‘Ready as in ready ready?

‘Yeah.’

‘Fuck.’

‘That’s the plan Kookie.’

You giggled at your own response and set your phone down. Trust teasing him to be the thing that calmed your nerves.

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Your hair was in soft curls as you slid on a pair of heels that finished off your ensemble. The sound of the apartments passcode being punched in reached your ears causing you to hurry into the living room just as Jungkook shut the front door behind him.

You stood there stunned. His cherry red hair was part to show off his forehead, his clothing was far from casual, looking as if he had left the shoot without even changing. He wore a deep blue shirt, leather pants and a leather harness around his chest. He oozed sex appeal but one part of you lamented how fiddley the harness would be to remove.

Jungkook mirrored you, stood still as a statue whilst eyeing your form. You watched the path of his eyes as they travelled down your body, pausing at you cleavage momentarily before continuing down to your thighs. Where he stopped and drew in a breath. You bit your lip, trying to hold back a smirk.

“So that’s why you’ve been hiding from me in the bathroom while changing Noona? When did you get that tattoo?”

The tattoo in question was ‘oriental’ in design: cat in a kimono sheathing a katana while stood atop a koi fish, surrounded by lily pads in bloom. Your mother had paid for it as a farewell gift before a month before you left for Korea. It had to be done in sessions, one a week to have it completed in time.

“Before moving here.”

Jungkook closed the gap between you in a few long strides before dropping to his knees. His fingers tenderly traced over the lines.

“Munsindo noonacheoreom areumdawoyo. (The tattoo is as beautiful as Noona.)”

He placed a kiss on it, so feather light it was like the fluttering in you heart was caused by it sprouting wings to fly to him. The thought didn’t stick around for long. Jungkook used his position to hoist you over his shoulder as he stood, a squeal leaving your lips.

He crossed the threshold of your room, carefully setting you down on your bed. Your face was cupped by his hands as he looked into your eyes, “Are you sure about this Noona? I need to hear you say it.”

Your own hands reached for him, curling his locks around your fingers, “I’m sure Jungkook.”

The smile that bloomed across his face could’ve melted you, “Johke haedeurilkeyo. Yaksokhaeyo. (I’ll make it good for you. I promise.)”*

His lips were on yours without a second to spare, soft and gentle but you could tell he was holding back. Tugging on his hair, you tried to let him know it was okay but all he did was chuckle and shake his head.

“It’s your birthday Noona, so today this will be all about you. We can focus on me another time yeah?”

How did you get blessed with such a man? You decided to let him do as he pleased. With a nod of confirmation from you, he moved down to your neck. Immediately he attacked your weak point, nipping and sucking at it with a practiced technique that had you squirming beneath him. You hadn’t even realised he had led you down.

“Noona, can I… am I allowed to-” The way his breath ghosted over the sensitive skin had heat pooling between your legs.

“Please.”

It kind of amazed you how you knew what he was asking to do, but it’s not as if it took a mind reader. Jungkook’s nips lost their gentleness, now with the intent to mark you. Your legs wrapped around his waist, I particularly harsh bite causing you to jolt, hips meeting his and drawing a moan from the both of you. If there was something you had realised from your escapades with Jungkook, it was that his moans were as intoxicating as his singing. Unlike his singing, this was just for your ears.

Jungkook’s hands trailed up your thighs as his lips travelled south, stopping in the valley of your breasts. Sitting up slightly, he pulled down the straps of your baby doll to reveal you breasts to him.

“As much as I love how this looks on you, it’s getting in my way so I have no choice but see it go.”

His playful pout made you giggle. You helped him to remove the material from you leaving you in naught but your panties. Those giggles died instantly when he caught one of your nipples between his lips, tongue laving it. His hand gravitated towards the neglected breast, massaging it and pausing to tweak it. Keens and whines escaped your lips as heat continued to pool. You felt his free hand move to your hip, encouraging you to grind against him as his moved in tandem with you.

He freed your nipple to rest his head on your chest, sweat slicked hair feeling chill against your heated skin, “Fuck Noona, I’m sorry. I don’t think I can take my time with you like you wanted. Can I taste you? I’ve been fucking dying to Noona, please.”

“It’s… It’s okay baby. Do what you want with me.”

Jungkook groaned when the word baby left your lips, his hands already tugging at the last remaining piece of clothing on you.

You placed a hand on his chest, making him stop. His brows furrowed in concern.

“Aren’t you a tad over dressed?” You said coyly.

Jungkook was quick to start unbuckling the harness, you were almost sad to see it go. But that thought was swiftly replaced when he started unbuttoning his shirt to reveal more and more of his caramel skin to you. You were so entranced you barely noticed he had taken it off fully until he started working on removing his leather pants. Fuck they made his thighs look heavenly with how they clung to them like a second skin. Maybe one day you could convince him to wear those and the harness when fooling around…

Without hesitation Jungkook pushed down his pants revealing that he was going commando beneath.

“Do you ever wear underwear?”

“When my pants aren’t so tight. Do you have…?”

You pointed to your dresser. He had to claim over slightly and you relished in how his skin felt against yours. A little “aha” let you know he had found what he wanted. He sat back up, condom in hand and a victorious grin on his face.

“I thought you wanted to taste me baby. I thought you couldn’t wait.”

Jungkook tore open the foil.

“And I can’t but safety first. Don’t want to forget about it when I’m high on your pussy Noona.” He said with utter seriousness, rolling the rubber onto his cock.

You choked on air at his words. They sounded almost alien coming from him. Jungkook shifted above you so his upper body was situated between your legs, pulling them over his shoulders. With his hands on your hips, he pulled you towards his face, his breath fanning against you for but a brief moment before he was diving in.

You’ve only been eaten out a handful of times, none of which could compare to that very moment. No one had ever done it so enthusiastically. Had ever had you moaning like a wanton whore at an orgy. And Jungkook seemed equally affected as he groaned with each passing of his tongue between your folds, only stopping to focus on your clit. You couldn’t help you hands weaving into his hair, tugging him closer so you could grind against the flat surface of his tongue.

A prodding at your entrance had you looking down and you swore you could’ve come then and there at the sight that met you. He was looking up at you, watching your reactions and responding to them. His sweat laden bangs were held back from his face by your very own hands letting you see him clearly. And fuck were you weak for it, the look in his eyes was exactly like when he was performing. The passion and focus in them.

Staring into your eyes, he pushed two fingers into you. You tensed, not used to starting with two but it really did seem Jungkook was too riled up for his own good. But that didn’t mean he was utterly senseless. At your visible discomfort, he started sucking and kitten licking at your clit, making you shudder as pleasure surged upwards through you. When you had relaxed enough he started pumping his fingers inside you, crooking his fingers to find the spots that would have your toes curling.

“Jungkook. Fuck right there.”

Jungkook pulled away slightly, “There Noona? Do you think you can take another?”

“Please,” You whined, tugging at his hair.

Jungkook chuckled, going back to give your sensitive nub more attention as he eased a third finger in. You already felt so full but if the dildos you had been practicing with were anything to go by, you were going to feel even more so later. With just a bit more coaxing he had done the impossible. Jungkook made you cum with foreplay. The heat that had pooling in your stomach, twisting into a coil, finally released and flooded your body. You cried out as it travelled from its epicentre between your legs, to your toes and fingers before finally reaching your head leaving you fucked out and heady.

Jungkook sat back, your release on his lips and chin. Using his thumb he wiped up what remained only to suck it off with a moan.

“You taste so fucking good Noona. Good thing you’re a snack so I can eat you up every day.”

He shifted so his hips were flush against yours, his cock pressing insistently against your entrance. Your hand went to his shoulder, nudging him to lay back but he resisted.

“I said today is about you Noona. You don’t need to worry about me.”

“I know. I want to be on top.”

The dumbstruck look on Jungkook’s face was priceless and when you nudged his shoulder again he gave no resistance at all, falling to the side with all the grace of a pigeon in a strong wind. You straddled his hips but waited a moment before going any further.

“Are you okay with this baby?”

Jungkook blinked a couple of times before meeting your eyes, “Noona, I am more than okay with this. I just had to focus on not coming at the thought of you riding me.”

Nodding to yourself having got his consent, you lined up his cock with your cunt before pressing down onto his. Your breath caught in your throat at the sheer feel of him stretching you to your limits, even as you took your time. A stream of curses left Jungkook’s mouth, his hands clutching at the sheets. You both stayed like that for a moment, regaining composure.

“Noona, you’re so wet and tight. Fuck. Despite the fleshlight you gave me I don’t think I’ll last long.”

“I-it’s okay. I’ve al-already c-came.”

Jungkook gave a low groan in response, his head kicking back as his hips bucked at your words, “Shit, sorry Noona.”

Your hands fell to his chest to steady yourself, moaning as his movements made him brush against your sweet spot.

“Do that again Kookie. But this time call me by my name.”

Jungkook released the sheets, hands tightly grasping at your hips to hold you steady as he thrust up into you, “Oh fuck. Fuck Y/N. So fucking good around my cock. Shit this isn’t how I thought it’d go in my head.”

Not content with staying still, you rocked against him, meeting him thrust for thrust. Your body tipping forward as you rested your forehead against his own, breathy moans mixing with his grunts. The sound of those with skin against skin and you wetness were a sinful performance to your ears. One you knew you’d want to hear over and over for as long as you were able. For as long as Jungkook was your partner in this duet.

Jungkook captured your lips with your own. It was messy with heavy breathing and teeth occasionally knocking at harder thrusts. Which were becoming more erratic as Jung drew ever closer to his end. The familiar heat was starting to build in your stomach but you elected to ignore it, just this once.

“It’s okay baby, you can cum.”

As if hearing those words was what he needed, Jungkook tensed beneath you with a cry of your name as you continued to rock against him, milking his climax. His grip on you tightening was you signal to stop so you eased yourself off him. As he led there panting and in a fucked out daze you carefully removed the condom from him and took it over to your little bin. Sure you ached but clean up was necessary.

“Noona~ waso nal kkyeoanayo (Come and cuddle me).” Jungkook whine, patting beside him insistently.

You wondered if he was the whiney type after cumming. Smiling to yourself at the thought of a whiny baby-ish Jungkook, you crawled back into bed and into his arms.

“You tired Kookie?”

Jungkook shook his head, “Just need to catch my breath. Give me a couple of minutes and I’ll be ready for round two.”

Your eyes which were closing sprang wide open, “Round two?”

“I will feel you come round my dick before your birthday is over Y/N, I promise. Which reminds me. Happy Birthday Noona. I’m sorry I didn’t bring your present or the stuff for dinner. I kinda… forgot… after your texts.”

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A/N: Happy New Year everyone! It’s exactly the 4 year anniversary of me discovering Bangtan!

*I wrote this line just as Jungkook sang the first “take my hand now” in the Euphoria forever mix and it hit my heart in such a way. oof.

Tag list: @it-is-dana @joonsflowers @welcome-to-my-broken-sanctuary @diznizzle4shizzle

This work of fiction is copyright © JungkookieNoona and protected under UK and international law. All rights reserved. Any unauthorised broadcasting, copying or reposting will constitute an infringement of copyright.

#networkbangtan #armiesnet #bangtanarmynet #jungkook #tmaht #jeon jungkook #BTS jungkook #jeongguk #jeon jeongguk #jungkook scenario #jungkook fanfic #jungkook fluff #jungkook smut #bangtan #bangtan scenario #boop

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the-coconut-asado · 4 years ago

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Our Golden Girl’s Kitchen

A couple of years back, my cousin Doro announced she was going to publish a book of our grandmother’s recipes. It set all the cousins off on an odyssey of frenzied WhatsApps swapping memories, and in my case a mad dash to storage to find yet another of mum’s old scrapbooks, stuffed with fragments of recipes typed up on that onion-skin paper of the Mad Men era.

Slowly but surely, recipes surfaced for Granny’s steak and kidney pudding (to this day, the name of our family WhatsApp group), tallarines (fettuccine by any other name) and more cakes and tarts than a whole series of Masterchef pressure tests.

But Doro’s job was made much easier by someone else who had kept Granny’s legacy alive all these years. The person who, while Granny was a distant memory for many of us, was the biggest influence on our lives. At the end of the book, Doro wrote a dedication to her: “ Auntie Joan, I remember you, sometime before Christmas, making us stir the plum pudding and saying “don’t forget to make a wish!”; the chicken pie or Irish stew with dumplings you prepared when I used to come for lunch after university classes; the plum ice cream you always had in your “ancient” fridge and the smell of scones and cake on our birthdays.’

Last week, Auntie Joan died. 99 years of love, wisdom and many a raised eyebrow at each of us at one time or another. She had a delicious smile that hinted at secrets she might share with you some day, and even up to her mid-nineties kept a ramrod straight back, figure to die for and effortless elegance that prompted a 28 year old male friend to comment at my wedding that she was the only 68 year old he had ever fancied.Cheeky, but at the same time, kudos.

If I’ve made her sound like a warm embrace of a woman, she was. She was also a ninja. For most of her working life, Auntie Joan - Joan Nolan MBE - was Vice Consul at the British Embassy in Rosario, and later in Buenos Aires. She started volunteering there during the war, and eventually they started to pay her (nice of them), then promote her.

This had upsides - her influence to help others (a guiding principle of her life), the opportunity to travel, and the people she met. She once told me of an Embassy cocktail party on board a ship attended by Eva and Juan Peron. She had little time for Peron, but was a little flattered when having started to leave down the gangplank he abruptly turned back, sought Auntie Joan out, kissed her hand and apologised profusely for not having said goodbye. Manners counted for a lot with her, so the apparently off-hand Eva was barely mentioned in despatches.

Her job also had downsides: held at gunpoint more than once, and in the constant company of a bodyguard after her boss was kidnapped (the inspiration for Graham Greene’s novel The Honorary Consul). One day a masked gang raided the embassy, rounded up all the staff, tied them up and locked them in the bathroom. But the ringleader treated Joan with weird courtesy, politely requested she enter the bathroom but left her unbound. Joan said afterwards: “ I think that man knew me. And if I ever see those eyes again, I will know who he was.” She kept looking but never did, but she did show us the hail of bullet holes the gang had let off at the outer wall of the embassy before they left.

30 years on, at 85, clearly feeling she had been down this road before, she wrestled an armed thief trying to steal her friend’s car. ‘ Dear, I knew the gun was a toy’, she said breezily when I had my WTAF! Moment on a phone call with her.

Though all this time she looked after my grandparents and my great aunt until their deaths - pretty thankless and back-breakingly hard as they all survived to their nineties and in my great aunt’s case to 101 - as well as her husband Stanley who died when she was still young. Yet she still made time to feed, nurture and look out for her nieces and nephews as they travelled through her flat en route to school, college and work - and then her grand nieces and nephews as they repeated the cycle.

Living in London, I didn’t see as much of Joan as my cousins, but felt just as close to her thanks to her copious letters. And it was her trips to London I remember most. Wafting glamorously into Gatwick in her boucle red overcoat, nipping up to Newcastle for the day to have lunch with a friend (when Dad retold the story, he always added, untruthfully, ‘And the friend wasn’t even at home!”), leaving a cloud of delicate rose scent in her wake, a perfume that always reminded me of her apartment in Rosario. A bit like Buenos Aires itself, Auntie Joan was an evocation of the best bits of 1930’s Europe.

And despite eating like a mouse in her own home - spreading her morning toast with what looked and tasted like wallpaper paste but was actually zero cholesterol cream cheese - her kitchen with its pots and pans, scoured and gleaming within an inch of their lives, was in a constant hiatus of puddings, pies and roasts for the family as well as that iconic plum pudding at Christmas. And when we took her out to eat the appetite she kept hidden at home came tumbling out. I once witnessed her demolish a whole sea bass, noodles and a quarter of a peking duck when we took her to a restaurant in Chinatown. Unlike the rest of my family, she was unafraid of spice and heat.

Serene, always; sassy, sometimes. After all, Joan’s favourite TV programme when she came to visit us in London was The Golden Girls. In a life where everyone depended on her, she was someone comfortable with not needing to depend on anyone else - until old age meant she had to. I used to smile to myself when, in later years, she would end all of her stories with ‘And they said, “Joan, you are the ONLY one who could have done/ solved/ sorted/ this’’. And yet, if we don’t tell the world how talented, determined and capable we are - who else is going to? #thiswomancould

So here are two dishes that we all eat thanks to Auntie Joan - her plum ice cream (with some added spice from cinnamon) and her Spanish Cake, a delicate and sweet treat that evokes those high teas that are still a family tradition. And finally, a dish that evokes the memory of lemon chicken, the dish that she and my daughter Lara would love to make together.

Hasta luego, nuestra querida tia. We were so lucky to have you as long as we did.

Plum ice cream

I have never eaten plum ice cream other than at Auntie Joan’s house and I have no idea why it isn’t a popular flavour commercially. My version only tweaks her original recipe - two egg whites rather than one, a stick of cinnamon and the seeds of a vanilla pod added to the plums as they poach. The brilliant thing about this ice cream - aside from it’s taste of autumn, log fires and sticky crumble - is that you don’t need an ice cream maker.

Serves 4-6

Ingredients

300g red-skinned plums

175g caster sugar

¾ cup water

1 cinnamon stick

Seeds from one vanilla pod

Juice of half a lemon

300g double cream

2 egg whites

How to make

Seed and quarter the plums and pop into a pan with the sugar, cinnamon stick, vanilla seeds and water. Bring to a simmer, cover and continue to simmer on a low heat until the plums are soft and the liquid has become syrupy. Turn off the heat and leave for another 10 minutes - you really want the spices and the red skin of the plums to seep into the syrup.

Turn the plums into a sieve and extract as much syrup and pulp as you can into a clean bowl, using the back of a spatula. Cover and chill for at least an hour.

In two separate bowls, whisk the cream until it forms soft peaks (be careful not to overbeat or it will turn into butter) and the egg whites until they form firm peaks.

Alternate folding the cream, then the egg whites, then cream, then egg whites into the plum pulp.

Pour into a freezer container - or just use an oblong cake tin, cover and freeze overnight. Remember to take out of the fridge for 15 mins before serving.

Spanish Cake

This is the perfect cake to eat with a cup of tea or coffee. Light and delicate from texture to flavour. Simple dust of icing sugar on the top and you are good to go. Auntie Joan’s original recipe as typed - which features in Doro’s book - is as spare with detail as one of Bake Off’s technical challenges. Fortunately I featured it in a column I wrote for Choice magazine a few years ago, so have filled in the gaps. Makes 12-16 squares.

Ingredients

125g melted unsalted butter

200g caster sugar

2 eggs, separated

125ml milk

600g plain flour

3 tsp baking powder

1 tsp ground cinnamon

¼ tsp mixed spice

Icing sugar to serve

How to Make

Heat the oven to 180C. Grease a 20cm square cake tin and line with baking parchment.

Whisk the sugar with the butter until thick and pale. Add the egg yolks and continue to beat for a couple of minutes.

Add the milk and beat again. Finally, sift in the flour, baking powder and spices and mix gently until incorporated.

In a separate bowl, whisk the egg whites until stiff, then fold into the cake batter.

Pour the batter into the cake tin and bake in the oven for 25-30 minutes. The cake is ready when the top is golden and a toothpick or sate stick inserted into the middle comes out clean.

Cool in the cake tine for 5 minutes then turn out onto a wire rack to cool. When cool, dust the surface with icing sugar, cut into squares and serve.

Quick Chicken with kale, haricots and caramelised lemon

Auntie Joan loved chicken, and when we visited Buenos Aires when my daughter Lara was little, she and Auntie Joan would love to make lemon chicken together. Am sure she would have loved this flavour-packed little number, courtesy of Alison Roman in the NY Times.

Ingredients

1 lemon, thinly sliced, seeds removed

1 shallot, peeled and cut into 8

6-8 chicken thighs

1 400g can of haricot or cannellini beans

1 bunch kale, leaves only (discard ribs)

1tblspn sunflower oil

Salt and freshly ground black pepper

Olive oil for dressing

How to make

Toss the lemon slices and shallots in a small bowl and season.

Heat a large frying pan or skillet, add the sunflower oil, then add the chicken, skin side down. Press the chicken down with a spatula to ensure the maximum surface gets nice and brown. Cook for 5-8 minutes, then cook on the other side for a further 8-10 minutes until cooked through and the chicken skin is nice and crispy. Transfer the chicken to a plate, leaving the fat in the pan.

Add the lemon and shallot to the hot pan - stand pack as it will probably spit and sizzle. Cook, stirring gently, until the lemon has started to caramelise - about 3-5 minutes.

Add the drained beans to the pan and season. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the beans soak up that caramelised chicken fat - about 4 mins. Working in batches, add kale and toss to wilt, seasoning again as you go.

Return the chicken to the pan, along with the juices that have collected on the plate, and cook for a couple of minutes more.

Serve, drizzled with a little olive oil, and accompany with some crusty bread.

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rmg91 · 5 years ago

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The Woes and Antics of Living Together-22

Second to last chapter folks! Can you believe it?! We're basically in gratuitous fluff territory now and that makes me so happy. I love fluff XD This chapter is a little bit different from the rest though as I've tried to write it as if you were watching parts of Poppy's blogs. So please excuse any awkward endings, it's harder than you think to write like that.

These don't really follow too much of a timeline other than they're all between a few weeks post!Broppy get together and about a year or so afterwards.

Hope you enjoy!

Previous Chapter/Next Chapter; AO3/FF.net

@writerofberk-Fluff, fluff, fluffy fluff!

~*~*~*~*~*~

“Cooking with Branch~”

“Hey there, My cupcakes!” Poppy said excitedly to the camera, grinning widely as Branch stood a little awkwardly next to her. They were in their kitchen with a collection of ingredients on the counter in front of them. “I hope you're all ready for this weeks video cause it's one you've all been requesting! Cooking with Branch!” She gestured wildly at him, with wide arms and jazz hands.

“Why did I agree to do this again?” Branch asked, arms crossed as he watched Poppy with a flat look.

“Mmm...” Poppy hummed, finger held to her chin before she grinned at him, “Because you love me~”

Branch blushed bright red and sputtered a little before coughing, “Right...” He sighed, cheeks still pink as he scrubbed at his hair, “So how are we doing this?”

“Just tell them what we're making and how to do it!”

The dark blue haired man looked a little unsure at her before sighing and turning to address the camera, “Right, so...Poppy's requested we make spaghetti sauce and..um...yeah?” He turned back to Poppy to hiss, “This is stupid, what am I actually doing?”

“You're doing fine, Branch.” Poppy said to him, placing her hand on top of his, “Just act like you're teaching me. Explain what you're doing as you do it.” The pinkette flashed a grin at the screen, “Branch's sauce is the best! And great for more than just pasta! It's really good in lasagna and with a few tweaks makes a great pizza sauce too!”

“Right.” Branch took in a breath and breathed out, “So, to start we take onion and start chopping it before sweating in the pan...”

As he began to demonstrate, Branch seemed to forget he was being filmed and went on to confidently explain the process. Poppy jumped in at times, either to pass a ingredient or spice, talking more with the audience about up coming parties and functions. She and Branch even bantered back and forth while Branch stirred the concoction Poppy gushed about smelling amazing. She carefully held the camera up to show the simmering sauce in the pot as Branch explained that it needed to simmer for about an hour or so before it was ready to be eaten.

“And there you have it!” Poppy said brightly as Branch began cleaning up, “Branch's super special pasta sauce!” He could be seen blushing in the background as she praised him, “The recipe will be down below and be sure to comment if you make it! We'd love to hear how you guys like it!” The pinkette wrapped an arm around his to stop him as she made him look at the camera, “Be sure to subscribe if you're new and let us know if you want more cooking segments! I'm sure I can convince Branch to do them~” She winked saucily causing another round of blush to come Branch's face. She giggled gleefully, “See you next time and stay sweet~!”

~*~*~*~*~*~

“Mini Golfing-So much fun!”

“And we're back, everyone,” Guy Diamond said into the camera, voice taking on a hushed announcer quality, “For the thrilling conclusion of today's epic mini golf battle. Oh the drama! The intrigue!” He flipped the camera to show Branch and Poppy facing one another, competitive looks on their faces as the stood in front of the last hole. “Our contestants are tied at forty-one hits each. Will Poppy 'Play From Your Heart' Meadows come out victorious? Or will Branch 'The Strictler' Hawthorn beat our favorite champion once again? Let's find out.”

Branch broke his stare off with Poppy to glare at Guy, “Who are you calling a strickler?!”

“Ah-ah-ah, Branch!” Poppy said, wagging a finger in front of his face, “Don't go getting distracted. We're about to end this and I'm about to get my championship back!”

Branch snorted and crossed his arms, leaving a smug look toward Poppy, “So sure about that are you? Pretty sure, I beat you fairly soundly last time.”

Poppy stood with her hands on her hips, “Oh, don't be getting so smug, Mister. That was a one time thing and since I'm so sure I'm going to win...What do you say to a little bet?”

The Snack Pack could all be heard going 'Oooooh' in the background and Guy muttered, “Looks like things just got intresting.”

Branch rolled his eyes before smirking, “Fine. What did you have mind?”

Poppy flashed a confident smile up at her boyfriend, “If I win-you come clubbing with us tonight and you have to dance with me. No sitting at table. If you win...” She suddenly leaned up and whispered something in his ear that had a blush bloom against his cheeks and neck before standing back down with a saucy smirk, “Do we have a deal?”

Branch struggled for a moment before he managed to croak out, “Deal!”

“Ooh-ho-ho~! Seems like something naughty was just put on the table.” Guy chuckled before resuming his 'Announcer Voice', “And now, Miss Meadows is lining up her shot.”

Poppy took her time to judge the distance she would need to hit the ball before giving her hips a little wiggle, shimming her shoulders and blowing out a trumpet like sound before she whacked the ball down the course. The ball bounced too and fro, hitting an obstacle or two before rolling to a stop right on the edge of the hole. The Snack Pack all groaned alongside Poppy before Branch took his turn. He took a calmer approach than Poppy, taking a second to glare at Smidge who had coughed before he hit it. It bounced around like Poppy's, rolling hard over a hill before coming to a gentle stop beside Poppy's ball and nudging the pink sphere into the hole. The group of friends cheered and Poppy began a victory dance.

“Oh yeah! I win!” She danced around Branch happily, “Thank for the hole-in-one, Honey~” She then pulled her frowning boyfriend down for a quick kiss. She laughed joyously, before waving her hands up in the air, “Clubbing's gonna be so fun tonight!”

~*~*~*~*~*~

FabulousDiamond posted a new video-

“Well!” Guy said into his phone's camera, voice loud to be heard over the pumping music in the club. Bodies of people could be seen in the background as he easily moved between them, “We now know what happens when Branch gets a couple of drinks in him!”

He laughed as he turned the phone to capture the dancing duo in the center of a ring of people. Branch and Poppy, twirling around in a rather impressive display of spins and dips, singing along to 'DJ got us Falling in Love.' Branch didn't seem to care he was being watched as spun Poppy away from him only to bring her back against his chest before dipping her low. Poppy could be seen laughing, said laughter getting drowned out by cheers and music, before she wrapped her arms around Branch's neck and pulled him in for a kiss. More cheers sounded, Guy hooting himself before ending the video.

~*~*~*~*~*~

“Benefit Concert!!”

“Okay...I think I got it...” A female voice said before the camera focused on a young woman with medium blue hair, some strands still covered in paint. She was standing the middle of an excited crowd, people starting to get hyped for something exciting, “Hey, everyone! Harper here! I'm sure Poppy's already told you all what this is all about so I won't bore you with details. Anyway, I guess I'm guest host for tonight! Oh!” Harper looked off camera before flashing a grin, “Looks like everything's about to get started!”

The camera turned and faced a large stage, colorful streamers and balloons hanging from it. The crowd started cheering and applauding Gristle who was walking out with a microphone. He grinned and waved before gesturing for the crowd to calm down. “Hey there, everyone!! Thanks for coming!” More applause answered him and he had to wait for it to die down before continuing, “You all know why we're here, to help raise funds for a new animal shelter! And I'm please to announce that it looks like we're gonna meet our goal!” Even more cheers sounded, the camera bobbing up and down as Harper bounced and cried happily. “So! Without further ado! Let's give up for your entertainment for tonight!”

The crowd went absolutely wild as Gristle left the stage and the music began to play. Poppy came prancing out, wearing a cute teal blue, sequined dress and a flower headband, “I've got this feeling in my bones~! It's goes electric wavy when I turn it on!”

Branch came strutting out from the opposite side of Poppy, dressed up in shiny black pants, a white shirt and a sequined green vest, “And if you want it, inside your soul.”

“Just open up your heart, let music take control~!” They sang together as they reached center stage. “I got that sunshine in my pocket, got that good soul in my feet! I feel that hot blood in my body, when it drops-” They dropped their shoulders as they slid past each other, “Oooh~! I can't take my eyes off it, movin' so phenomenally! Room on lock, the way we rock it, so don't stop!”

Suddenly the lights illuminated the rest of the Snack Pack behind them, all dressed up in equally glittery outfits as they all sang while Branch and Poppy began dancing with each other, grabbing each other's hands and swinging across the stage, “And under the lights when everything goes... Nowhere to hide when I'm gettin' you close..” Branch made sure to tug Poppy a little closer before spinning her around, “When we move, well, you already know... So just imagine, just imagine, just imagine...!”

Branch spun Poppy away, where she struck a pose before dancing back over to him, “Nothin' I can see but you dance, dance, dance!” He twirled her around some more, never breaking eye contact before she pull away to perform of few of her own moves, “Feel a good, good creepin' up you, so just dance, dance, dance! All those things I shouldn't do but you dance, dance, dance.” Branch slid around Poppy to grab her around her waist before twisting her around and dancing across the stage with her in his arms, “Ain't nobody leavin' soon, so keep dancin'! I can't stop the feelin'! So just dance, dance, dance~” Poppy twisted her hips from side to side before spinning away from Branch, “I can't stop the feelin'! So just dance, dance, dance!”

They continued to dance across the stage, the Snack Pack joining in for more complicated moves, voices harmonizing as the crowd cheered wildly. The camera was jostled slightly but Harper kept it as steady as she could while also enjoying the musical number, crying out Biggie's name happily. The group ended it with a few more complicated looking moves before Branch scooped Poppy up in his arms for a final spin, holding her easily when they stopped and she flung out an arm in a finishing pose. Everyone screamed and cheered loudly for the performers, who happily took bows before the next song began to play.

~*~*~*~*~*~

“Camping Weekend”

The camera focused on a smiling Poppy, hair down and sort of messy, with a blanket being worn over her shoulders. It could be seen she was sitting in a bright green tent on what could only be described as a nest of blankets with the pitter-pattering of rain echoing around her. A bit of blue hair could be seen sticking out from the breathing pile of blankets beside her. She giggled softly as she adjusted and glanced around her surroundings.

“So, it started raining,” She said with another giggle, “But hey, at least Branch and I are all snug and warm in our tent. And I know all our supplies is safely protected too, so we don't have to worry about that. Having a paranoid, 'everything's gonna go wrong' boyfriend comes in handy, I guess!”

“Ha-ha, very funny.” Branch's voice floated up flatly from his cocoon.

“Aww, you know I don't mean that.” She snickered lightly, hand reaching over to card her fingers through his hair, “But really,” She now addressed the camera again, “Having Mister 'Man with a Plan' here is great. And as you can see, he's made us a nice cozy nest of pretty much all the blankets from home! You'd think camping would have more sleeping bags!”

“Well excuse me for saving us the uncomfortableness that is sleeping on the cold hard ground.” Branch grumbled.

Poppy laughed and gently pushed his shoulder, “I'm not complaining and you know it!” She giggled some more, “Anyway... Hopefully the rain stops soon so we can go on that hike I mentioned earlier. I was so looking forward to it! And showing you all the pretty scenery!” She pouted slightly as Branch mumbled something about 'stupid weather apps' before she sighed, “But I guess if we can't, we can't...We've still had so much fun already! Isn't that right, Branch?”

Branch hummed his agreement before unwrapping an arm and throwing it around Poppy's waist, “And if we do have to go home early, we can come back and do this again.”

“Yup!” Poppy agreed brightly, “So I guess I'll see you all either on the trail or on the car ride home! Till later!”

~*~*~*~*~*~

“Karaoke Night~!”

The Karaoke bar featured was lit intimately, lights low with the lit candles on the tables giving everything a warm glow. Milton was currently on stage, crooning a love ballad to Smidge who sat close to the stage with a blush staining her cheeks. The rest of the patrons all watched, some smiling at the display, some boredly, other's, like Bridget and Gristle, swaying in their seats to the music. Poppy's signature giggle could be heard coming softly from behind the camera before she started half whispering to someone.

“Come on, you promised.” She said, a slightly whine in her otherwise playful tone.

Branch's groan was then heard, “Poppy...”

“Pleeease? You do it so well at home~ And it's not like this is your first time singing in front of us.”

A long suffering sigh was then heard, “Fine, fine. I'll do it.” There was a brief moment of silence between then before Poppy could be heard giggling again and Branch could be heard saying, “Why do I let you talk me into these things?”

“Because you love me~”

“Hmm...I guess I do.”

The people then began clapping as Milton finished, Poppy joining in happily before shooing Branch up on stage. She then twisted the camera to film him going up and choosing the song he was going to sing, excited giggles escaping her, “Oh, you guys are gonna love this!”

Branch took the stage with a mild amount of applause, most coming from the Snack Pack, before shaking his head, a fond smile gracing it, as Poppy wolf whistled at him. He then nodded for the music to start playing. A slow, jazzy piano tune started to play and Branch began, his angel like voice filtering through the place.

“Mama, I don't have time for dancin'...That's just gonna have to wait a while~ Ain't got time for messin' around and it's not my style...” He swayed side to side, eyes closed, “This old town can slow you down, people takin' the easy way... But I know exactly where I'm goin', gettin' closer n' closer ever day~!”

As the music began to turn more jaunty, Branch started to move with it, shoulders bouncing, “And I'm almost there! I'm almost there. People down here think I'm crazy,” He spun a finger beside his ear, grinning toward where the Snack Pack sat, “But I don't care! Trials and tribulations, I've had my share, there ain't nothin' that's gonna stop me now, and I'm almost there!”

He tapped his foot to the beat as he removed the microphone from the stand, looking up and off to the side, “I remember Daddy told me, fairy tales can come true. You gotta make them happen, it all depends on you~” He faced and smiled at the small audience then, “So I work real hard each and every day, now things for sure are going my way. Just doin' what I do, look out girls I'm coming through~!” He flashed a wink at Poppy that had her laughing in enjoyment.

“And I'm almost there! I'm almost there. People gonna come here from everywhere! I'm almost there and I'm almost there!” Just the music played while Branch took a breath before the tone turned soft again and he stepped off stage, “There's been trials and tribulations, you know I've had my share...” He walked over just slightly off camera before pulling Poppy back towards the stage, the music picking up again, “But I've climbed a mountain and I've crossed a river and I'm almost there! I'm almost there. And I'm aaallmost-” He sudden picked up Poppy and spun her around as he sang the last note proudly, “Theeeeeeeeere!” He sat her down, grinning down at her, “I'm almost there.”

The crowd cheered as Poppy giggled in his arms before wrapping her arms around his neck and pulling him in for a short kiss. More cheers and a few wolf-whistles sounded before Poppy pulled back and flounced her way up on stage, claiming she was next.

~*~*~*~*~*~

“Let's Pack! Pt 2”

Poppy was laughing as she placed DVD's and games into another box, regaling to her audience about the time where she and the Snack Pack had been having a Murder Mystery party and Guy had hypnotized Cooper, “So! Cooper thought he was the worlds greatest detective for like three days! Then he started solving things that didn't need to be solved and almost ruined a big surprise Chenille had for Satin so that's when Guy and I convinced him he need to solve the 'Case of the Missing Cooper' and-” She snorted slightly as she grinned, “He 'solved' it by becoming Cooper again!” She giggled while shaking her head, placing a few more movies in her current box before taping it up.

“So-” Before she could be began another tale, Branch suddenly cried out.

“Branch?! What happened?!” Poppy cried, already half up before Branch replied.

“I found more goddamn glitter in the carpet!!!”

“Oh...” Poppy sank back down with a snicker, trying to hide it behind her hand.

“This is no laughing matter!” Branch's voice got clearer as he came out into the living room, “How can there be glitter everywhere?! I've vacuumed five times and I keep finding it!! It is not invading our new apartment! No, sire-e! Nu-uh! You can find a different hobby!”

Poppy giggled, “You can't contain the glitter, Branch! And it's gonna invade alright, you know you can't stop me from using it.”

“I can try!” He huffed, crossing his arms.

Poppy laughed as she got up and walked over to Branch, throwing her arms around his neck as she stood on her toes, “You can, true! But if you can have your ration box, I can have my glitter. And I did promise to try and keep in my new craft room, remember?”

“Yeah, yeah...” He wrapped his arms around her, rubbing his nose against hers, “How's it going out here?”

“It's great! I was just telling everyone about the time Cooper got hypnotized into Chummy Sparklestone!”

Branch snorted as he pulled away, “Course you were.” Shaking his head, mouth quirked up as he looked at Poppy fondly before speaking up, “Comment and tell Poppy how pointless glitter is!”

“Hey!” She cried indignantly, “It is not!” She playfully swatted at him as she turned to the camera, “Don't comment that! Comment on how much Branch needs to embrace the glitter!”

“Never!” He shouted before picking her up and spinning her around the empty looking living room, most of Poppy's pictures packed away already.

Poppy squealed and laughed as Branch put her down, kissing the top of her head before she pulled away. Picking up the camera she smiled at it, “Well, guys, I think I'll leave this here for now. Updates can be seen on my other social and next time you see us, we'll be at the new place! Stay sweet~!”

~*~*~*~*~*~

And there you have it! Some short, sweet shots of Broppy goodness! I hope I managed to pull off Branch getting more confident during his time together with Poppy. He's at least gotten use to her vlogging a lot of things lol! Anyway, last chapter will be the epilogue and this will be completed. Aahhh!! I can't believe it's almost over! (Also I'd like to point out in Guy's short vid, Branch isn't really drunk, he's just had just enough to not let his social anxiety get to him too much and to just enjoy dancing with Poppy. Branch would never allow himself to get horribly drunk.)

Can’t Stop The Feeling-Dreamworks Trolls

Almost There-Disney (Caleb Hyles version pictured)

#Dreamworks Trolls #Branch #Poppy #Broppy #Fanfiction #Human AU #Modern AU #Roommate AU #dreamworkstrolls #Fluff

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paladin4theright · 6 years ago

Text

Doesn’t That Mean Anything?

Craig stood outside in the rain with his black bangs dripping wet and framing around his thin face. It was freezing and his breathe could be seen as a plume of white every time he exhaled. The crisp air nipped at his cheeks and the tip of his nose, making them red and raw. He had been standing on the porch of Tweek’s house for over ten minutes, debating on ringing the doorbell to announce his arrival. His stance faltered and he suddenly felt nervous as well as lightheaded. The past few weeks had been completely miserable for him but selfishly, he hoped the weeks had gone by just as miserably for Tweek. Just the mention of the green-eyed boy made Craig’s heart hurt. They had both been avoiding each other at school and Craig couldn’t handle it any longer. For the most part, Tweek would just shriek and leave angrily before Craig even had a chance to lift up his heavy head in the hallways. The quiet mountain town’s favorite couple were going through a rather large rough patch. Craig couldn’t even remember what happened now. Tweek had gotten mad at him for something that wasn’t true and broken up with him. He was a shell of a man. Empty and hollowed out. The boys were only 16 and still learning how relationships worked but Craig never knew a heart could be so wounded like this. Craig wanted to throw up, even though he hadn’t eaten anything for days. Had it only been days? He couldn’t honestly remember the last time he even looked at food. His brows furrowed as he grew frustrated at himself for caring so much. Since when did he start giving a fuck about anything? It was Tweek’s stupid fault that he had any emotions whatsoever in the first place. He couldn’t stand it anymore. He pulled his blue chullo hat further down over his raven colored hair, straightened his back, and squared his broad shoulders. Craig crammed his finger onto the doorbell before he could change his mind. It rang a few times and he heard the click of the door being unlocked and the doorknob turn. Tweek’s father, Richard, appeared in the crack of the door and he eyed the drenched Craig wearily.

“Craig!” He greeted with a kind smile as he began to remove the chain from the top of the door.

“Hello Mr. Tweak.” Craig greeted in his most polite voice he could muster. “May I please see Tweek, sir?” He asked, his voice dropped with the maturity of hitting puberty, but his blue eyes remained aged and blank. Cold rain dripped from his soggy clothes and hair.

Richard presented Craig with another smile. He was genuinely glad to see the tall, lanky boy. “Sure thing, buddy.” He chirped as he opened the door wide. He ushered soaked Craig inside the house and closed the door behind the boy. Richard knew that Tweek and Craig had broken up but he couldn’t help still adoring Craig. “Come on in. Let me grab you a towel before Helen gets upset that you’ve dripped all over the carpet.” With that, Richard rushed off.

Patiently, Craig waited, moving his hands down to knead at the hem of his soaked blue jacket. The feeling of queasiness as the smell of ground coffee filled his senses only seemed to grow worse. He felt like perhaps he was going through withdrawals. Cold sweat, even though he was truly frozen to the bone and the over all feeling of vomiting. His fucking chest ached.

Shortly, Richard came back with a towel for Craig to dry off. He wrapped it around the young man who had grown taller than him. He smiled. “Tweek has been in a mood lately, Craig. Maybe you can bring him out of it.” Richard’s voice had a hint of worry in it. “We haven’t seen him in a few days but we know he’s in his room. You can head on up.”

Craig nodded to Richard with expressionless eyes but said nothing more. He squeezed the water out of his clothes with the towel as he headed through the living room and up the stairs. He literally felt his feet dragging against the carpet with each step up. When he came to the all to familiar door, he faltered. His lips smashed into a thin, hard line as bile rose in his throat. He had to do this. Craig swallowed hard and rapped his damp knuckles on Tweek’s bedroom door. His stomach was doing fucking acrobats and his heart thrummed to a slight beat of anxiety. What was he going to say? Or do? He had managed to get himself this far without even planning out what he wanted to say. He never really planned things; he just fucking did them without thinking. Rash and abrasive: that was Craig Tucker. He impatiently knocked on the door again once he made up his mind and then carefully listened.

Inside the room, Tweek sat on his disheveled bed shaking and twitching limitlessly. He was surrounded by an array of rainbow colored coffee mugs, all of them empty except the blue one cupped affectionately in his hands, which was half full of Tweak Bros homemade dark roast. Mountains of unfinished projects lay in every corner of the room which came across as just mess, but for Tweek these were his cluttered treasures. His eyes were closed and he had tried to meditate as well as concentrate on not spilling coffee all over his front. It was something that Craig had showed him in the fifth grade that occasionally worked for all his anxieties, but since Craig was the cause of his anxieties this time -Oh, fucking Jesus help me through this- He was having a hard time finding his calm, happy state. All he could think of was those striking midnight blue eyes with dark lashes, watching him back with an impassive stare. His heart betrayed him and dared to flutter. He heard the thuds against his door and he twitched, suddenly angry. He flew off the bed, leaving his coffee cup behind on his messy nightstand and hurried to the door, flinging it open with such force it startled him. “-Huengg-…What?!” He shrieked. Tweek’s voice cracked like he hadn’t said a word in days. Once his emerald orbs focused to meet Craig’s blank blue stare, his eyes widened and he immediately began to bite on his lower lip; his left eye twitched. These were tics he’d had since he could remember but he never seemed to be able to stop himself. “Ahh Jesus! Craig, what are you…-Nng-” He trailed off, suddenly just overwhelmed with the sense to hold and kiss his stupid ex-boyfriend. He did his best to push those feelings to the back of his weary mind. He was going to stand his ground for his decision. “What do you want, -Nnn- man?” He stuttered. Tweek’s voice had changed completely now, going almost quiet.

Watching Tweek from the open door, Craig continued to watch him with an emotionless countenance. He was so overwhelmed with emotions that took his heart on a fucking ‘round trip and it almost made his knees buckle but willed himself to fight it. It took every fiber of his being to remain signature calm. “Tweek, dude, can we just talk?” He kept his voice as flat as possible so he wouldn’t reveal any sign of weaknesses. Callous was how Craig dealt with usual situations but then again, this was one of the hardest things he had ever gone through. He moved his large hands downward and securely patted his jacket pocket. He felt relieved knowing that Stripe #7 was safely tucked away in his pocket. He was probably cold and wet as well which filled Craig with a pang of guilt.

Observing Craig, Tweek narrowed his eyes. He opened the door to his bedroom wide with inevitable invitation and walked away, back to his scalding coffee cup. He sat on his bed and looked back up at Craig. “Did you walk in -heunngg- in the rain or something? Why are you all -nnngg-wet?” He asked softly. Oh Jesus, he could catch a cold and that means he came over here sick. Oh Jesus Christ! Thoughts and worries filled his brain with manic power but he brushed them aside. He knew why Craig was here but his plan was to stand his ground. Craig was always tugging around at Tweek’s heart strings but Tweek was going to stay firm this time. “Do you need a towel?”

Craig shook his head in reply and silently showed the towel he held in his left hand. He continued to dry himself off carefully as he walked into the chaotic bedroom and kneeled down by Tweek’s bed. The smell of caramel and coffee overcame his nose and it made him want to hurl. He unzipped his jacket, peeling it off of his tan shoulders revealing a white band t-shirt that was now clearly see through. “C’mon out.” He whispered gently. Lined inside his pocket were hand towels that were meant to keep Stripe warm. He dug his hand into the pocket and pulled Stripe out. He sat the guinea pig in Tweek’s lap. “He, uh, really missed you. I don’t think he’s eaten in three days at least.” He offered in a soft, worried voice and looked up to meet Tweek’s angry green eyes.

Tweek’s face fell and twitched when he looked at the beloved pet. He loved this little fuzzy rodent. He smiled weakly and put his coffee down to begin caressing the guinea pig’s soft fur. He looked to Craig with an equally worried expression and sighed slightly in defeat. Tweek’s heart melted for their furry love child. “I -nnng- have some of his food in my desk drawer. -Ahhhgg- You wanna see if he eats?” His voice was gentle as he pointed a shaky finger to his desk.

He’d really missed Craig the entire time they’d been broken up. He resisted the urge to take his ex-boyfriend into his arms, just hold him there and soak in his familiar scent of menthol cigarettes and cedar wood. Jesus Christ, this is way too much pressure!

“Yeah, we can try.” Craig said dully as he got up from the floor and moved towards the desk. He had to step over a few unfinished canvases with scrolls of twitchy brushwork on them to get to the disordered desk. He moved some used disposable coffee cups to the side and pulled out the bag guinea pig food from the drawer. He hoisted it in his arms with tender care and walked it over to Tweek, carefully following the same path around what must have been a tornado to tear through the bedroom. Perhaps it was an angry Tweek, he thought with guilt. He kneeled down again and handed the bag to Tweek.

Taking the food from Craig, Tweek accidentally brushed his fingertips against the larger teen’s. He held back a gasp by biting his lip and refused to acknowledge the electricity that seemed to jolt between them. Craig kept his face blank to whatever static between the touch happened as he removed his chullo and began to dry his dripping onyx hair with the towel. He black bangs dribbled into his eyes as he trembled a bit but watched Tweek stroke their guinea pig love child with dark blue eyes.

Twitching and shaking even more, Tweek reached his hand in the bag, grabbed a small handful of the hard food and brought it back to the loving rodent. His emerald green eyes lit up when Stripe began to eat out of his hand. He was making little squeaks and crunching noises while he ate, which seemingly indicating happiness. Tweek could almost swear the little pig was smiling. He looked back to Craig and grinned as his eye twitched again. “He -aaghhh- he seems to be eating just fine.”

Craig returned a rare smile and reached out his free right hand to gently pet Stripe. He was still trying to ignore the trail of fire Tweek left behind after the gentle brush of contact. “Now that Stripe is eating...” He began carefully so as not to set Tweek off, “Can we please talk about what’s happening?” He timidly asked as he stopped drying his hair. Craig put the towel down beside him and sat up on his knees so he would almost be eye level with Tweek. “Please?” He breathed the word and his blue eyes almost pleaded. A word that really didn’t belong in Craig’s vocabulary and an expression that was never seen by Tweek before.

Those emerald orbs grew distant and angry again. Tweek looked away from Craig and back to their hungry guinea pig as his body quaked. “Fine, man. -Nnng- Talk.” He huffed after a long pause with a harsh voice. It had been a couple weeks since he’d actually spoken to Craig outside of infuriated grunts or squawks so he supposed he should listen to what Craig had to say. A wave of guilt rushed through him and worried thoughts revisited his mind. Ah God this is too much! If this keeps going I might lose Craig forever. He missed Craig so fucking much. Maybe he could forgive him eventually. He dropped his hands once Stripe had finished eating.

Breathing carefully, Craig tried to gather all the right words. He went to a birthday party. Showed up with a present for Heidi and then left. He’d had a date with Tweek that night. He didn’t want to spend that night with anyone but Tweek. All those reasons sounded incredibly puny and corny but it was all the truth. “Tweek, everything is a lie, dude. You gotta believe me. I would never do that to you. You know I wouldn’t.” He confirmed in his usual, calm voice as he leaned up against Tweek’s end table, not even looking at Tweek now. He couldn’t stand to see Tweek so angry at him. It would piss him off and then the conversation would go nowhere. “Look, I went to Heidi’s fucking birthday party. I put her present on the table and left. I don’t know what ‘evidence’ they claim to have but they don’t have shit because I didn’t do anything, I fucking swear.”

“They’ve…agh Jesus! got fucking pictures, Craig.” Tweek sneered, not looking at Craig but instead focusing on Stripe. “Everyone fucking knows too, man. People are talking about it all over school.” He took in a deep breath and finally looked at his ex-boyfriend. “I-It’s fucking funny because my mom -aghh!- asked me who you cheated on me with. My fucking mom -huenng- knew before I did!” He bellowed, voice cracking. He looked back at Stripe as tears began to well up in his eyes. He didn’t want to talk about this. It did nothing but hurt. “Mr. Marsh was the one -nngg- who told my parents, man! It’s around the whole goddamn town.” Oh fuck, oh fuck. He began to grow dizzy and his hands moved up to his own mess of blonde hair, tugging on it roughly.

Craig wrung out his hat as he grew angry and his knuckles grew white. He clenched his teeth together so hard they made a grinding sound. “I already told you.” He spat out extremely drone. His voice was quietly furious. “I. Didn’t. Fucking. Do it.” He put emphasis on each word as he turned his head to meet Tweek’s watery eyes. “You know me better than anyone else. Why don’t you believe me?” He asked, feeling small stabs in his heart. He put his hat over his chest as he looked up at the ceiling. “Fucking ask for the pictures! I would like to see who the fuck was disguised as me because it wasn’t fucking me!” He screamed. His anger finally reached the boiling point.

Immediately, Tweek’s bottom lip went right back between his teeth and he twitched. Craig was right. Why didn’t Tweek trust him with this? If Craig said he didn’t do it, why didn’t he believe him? Oh, Jesus see this through. Because everyone else was saying Craig was a cheater. “Don’t -nnng-yell at me.” He mumbled softly as tears finally began to fall down his cheeks. It was all too much fucking pressure. Maybe he never should have had a boyfriend to begin with…but Craig was always the best thing he’d ever experienced. “I haven’t looked at -nng- the pictures because -huuenng- I didn’t want to see you with someone else. I don’t want to see it.” His voice cracked. “I’m sorry.” He whispered softly. “I’m sorry I believed -agh-other people but please don’t yell at me.” Tweek tugged harder on his hair and squeezed. He pulled his knees to his chest and he laid down on the bed as he tried to breathe. He turned to face away from Craig, looking only at Stripe as he tried to calm himself down.

Dropping his hat to the floor, Craig stood up and crawled onto the bed with Tweek. He scooped the smaller teen into his chest and kissed his temple gently as he leaned back against the headboard. “I’m sorry I-” He began but he cut himself short. “Look, I-” But he couldn’t finish he words as tears stung his own eyes. He leaned his head against the tall bedpost. “I haven’t eaten in over a week. I have been hated on for something Heidi has spread around school, something I did not do and the worst part…” Craig trailed off as his normally deep voice cracked. “The worst part is that you don’t believe me.” He tried to remain collected. He couldn’t cry. Craig Tucker never fucking cried. He moved his large hand over Tweek’s chest, feeling Tweek’s heart beat raggedly underneath. “This. I thought this was mine. I wouldn’t trade it in for anyone else’s.” He said softly as he watched Tweek with exhausted looking eyes. “Doesn’t that mean anything?” He asked Tweek. He pushed the tears back, determined for them not to fall. At this point now, Craig was convinced it was all Heidi. She had already sent him three or four texts asking if he was okay and they could meet up and talk if he needed comfort.

Tweek grabbed tightly onto Craig’s shirt with his left hand as he shook violently. His right hand stayed tangled in his messy blonde hair, pulling tightly at the roots. It kind of hurt his head but he did it so often he wasn’t even sure he had much feeling on his scalp anymore. He opened his eyes, salty tears continuously falling from them and over his cheeks leaving stains. “It means so much, Craig. -Nnng- I’m so sorry.” He whimpered with a hushed voice. “You’re so passionate right now. How can I not believe you?” He watched Craig and held onto him. He loved Craig so much and when he heard that Heidi had pictures of him kissing a girl at her birthday party, Tweek tweeked out. It was so fucking typical. Why was he so paranoid? “You deserve -nng- b-better.” He closing his eyes again. “You d-deserve someone who -aghh- doesn’t freak out at, like, everything.” He sniffed. “-Ah God!- I’m so fucking sorry.”

Craig quickly crashed his lips against Tweek’s, no longer being able to hold himself back. He felt like his heart was going to explode out of his chest. “I don’t want any-fucking-one else.” He promised against Tweek’s lips. “You are the only one for me, Honey.” He happily connected the small distance between their lips once more, feeling his heart hammer in his ribcage. “That bitch Heidi has been trying to get in my pants since you broke up with me. I’ve just ignored her. I haven’t talked to anyone. Not even Clyde and Token unless I was asking them about you.” He confided all his emotions and feelings. His anger and his pain. “I love you, Tweek. I don’t want anyone else. I haven’t wanted anyone else. You are the only thing in my life that has any fucking meaning to me.” He declared his love against Tweek’s lips.

Slowly, Tweek let go of his hair and grabbed hold of Craig’s shirt with both hands instead. He kissed Craig after listening to his words and his heart swelled in his chest to the point that he thought for sure it would burst. He loved being back in Craig’s arms. He felt safe, secure, and the light buzzing in his head from his own conflictions and worries eased away. He held tightly and moaned a little behind the kiss. He pulled away though and looked at Craig with tear glistening eyes as he back tracked all that Craig had just confessed to him.

“You haven’t eaten at all?” He recalled softly. Craig smiled lightly and nuzzled into Tweek’s blonde messy mane.

“I am pretty hungry.” He confirmed in a needing voice as he moved out from behind Tweek. His cheeks tinted with color and yet there was a look in his dull, blue eyes that suggested something very different than what Tweek was thinking as Craig progressed across the bed and rested between the smaller teen’s legs. All the while, Craig remained very aware of where Stripe was sleeping soundly in the fluffy bundle of comforter on the bed. Craig snuggled comfortably in the warmth of Tweek’s inner thighs and began to unclasp some of the buttons of Tweek’s green flannel shirt, flashing a ravenous grin before he dipped his obsidian head of hair down to kiss Tweek’s smooth stomach lovingly.

A squeak escaped Tweek’s lips and he twitched violently once again. Holy shit, this is happening here?! Now?! He looked toward his opened bedroom door as panic began to settle in his bones. He closed his left eye and reached one hand down to Craig’s black hair and one hand up to his own. He made sure to squeeze his own head of hair instead of Craig’s and choked, “-Nnng- D-dude, my parents are home. Nnn-not that I don’t want it but…-Ahh!- Jesus Christ, man!” His insides churned with the mixture of pleasure he was feeling from Craig and the anxiety that his parents would walk in and discover the suddenly horny teenagers. Jesus Christ, oh God!! This is so much fucking pressure! They’ll come in and they’ll kick Craig out and I’ll never being able to see him again HOLY SHIT!

I hate to do this buttttttttt thanks to tumblr and their new rules I really don’t want to be flagged. To finish reading the smut you are invited to the rest of the story :)

https://archiveofourown.org/works/13672005

#south park #sp smut #sp creek #south park creek #sp craig #sp tweek #craig x tweek #craigxtweek #south park craig #south park tweek #craig tucker #tweek tweak #sp craig tucker #sp tweek tweak #P4R writings #revenge au

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hymn2000 · 6 years ago

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Hope I’ve Got Something To Lose - MCU AU fanfic - C5

Story overview: Peter has an accident, and Tony makes a drastic decision. In the midst of everything, a face from the past reappears - but Peter isn’t too sure about reconnecting after everything that’s happened.

Previous chapters: 1 2 3 4

Part of my irondad and spiderson series.

Warnings/themes: injury, hospital stuff, hurt/comfort, mental health stuff, family stuff

You can also find me on AO3

Chapter 5 - When You Go Don’t Tell Us Where

For a moment, Peter just stared. He glanced at the crossing. He could run, disappear into the crowd... But he didn’t. Liz was right in front of him now.

“Wh-what are you doing here? You moved away”

“We’re back for a while, visiting” Liz said, looking at him. “You look so different. Have you been ill?”

“Kinda. I had an accident, a couple of weeks ago. I’m still kinda healing from that”

Peter found it hard to look her in the eye. It was so weird seeing her again after all this time.

“How have you been? I heard about what happened to your building. I’m sorry about your aunt”

Peter’s heard started to thump, and he swallowed hard. “Thank you...”

“I saw in the news about you being adopted too. I never knew you were that close to the Stark’s”

“Um. Well, we weren’t when me and you knew each other. I mean, I didn’t even know Loki back then. Um... Uh, well, you see, we kinda got closer after... After you moved away. We were real close, yknow, me and them and my aunt. I stayed with them loads. They were basically family, and then when the accident happened... Well, they took me in. There was never any question about it”

“It explains the clothes and the news stories... You look good”

“Thanks..”

“Are you still at Midtown?”

Peter shook his head. “I go to St Hendricks. It’s- it’s one of the fee paying schools”

“Oh, I see. Hey, Peter? I know we didn’t part on great terms, but can I have your number? It would be good to catch up with you properly. I’m gonna be around for a while, so”

“Oh. Um...”

“Peter!”

Peter’s head jerked, and he saw Loki stood a few feet away.

“I-I’d better go. I kinda wandered off”

“Ok, I get it. Can I-”

“I’m sorry, I really gotta run. Dad can be kinda strict”

“Peter..”

“I’m sorry”

Peter ducked his head and ran over to Loki.

“I told you to stay close” Loki said. “Who’s the girl? Friend of yours?”

Peter didn’t respond. Loki put an arm round him and walked him on. Peter looked back over his shoulder, but Liz had already disappeared into the crowd.

Peter didn’t feel great. He felt all funny inside, and he was tired and a little giddy. He felt weak, and walking felt like much more of an effort now. Once they were about halfway down the high street, Loki noticed something was up. He gave Peter a little squeeze and hailed a cab.

“Oh dear” Tony said, walking into the living room to find Loki tucking Peter up on the sofa. “It doesn’t look as though he wasn’t strong enough after all”

“He was fine until about half an hour ago” Loki said. “I think he just needs to eat and sleep, and then he’ll be fine”

Tony sighed, stroking Peter’s hair gently. “You’re white as a sheet, son. You look like you’ve seen a ghost”

Peter didn’t say anything.

“Lolly, sweetheart, I’ll sit with him if you wanna sort him something to eat”

Loki nodded and stood up. “I won’t be long”

Tony moved and sat down on the edge of the sofa. He fingered the blanket Peter was wrapped in.

“This is nice. Disney shop?”

Peter nodded.

“I saw all those bags in the hallway. Looks like you’ve been getting spoilt today”

Peter shrugged.

Tony sighed. “Alright, sweetheart. You seem exhausted. You’ll feel better once you’ve had something to eat and taken a little nap”

Peter nodded slightly. He hoped he was right.

Peter wasn’t very hungry at all, but he cleared his plate even so. He was feeling quite hollow inside. He was left on his own once he’d eaten, which was both a blessing and a curse. On the one hand, he didn’t have to talk to anyone, but on the other hand, he was alone with his thoughts.

He could barely believe he’d just seen Liz again after all this time. The last time they’d spoken, it was just before she’d moved, and she hadn’t really wanted to speak to him. It was weird, not least because he couldn’t shake the fact that it was his fault her dad was in prison - not that she knew that, of course. Truth be told, he never thought he’d see her again. He wasn’t even sure they’d really ever even been friends. Acquaintances, yes. Friendly acquaintances, most likely. But he’d always been too nervous to really get to know her properly. He hadn’t exactly been in her league at Midtown. After everything that had happened, he wasn’t really sure any of that mattered anymore. There was a time when he thought of Liz often, but she’d been off his radar for so long that she barely crossed his mind - and for a hell of a long time, he hadn’t thought of her at all.

He got the shock of his life when he saw her on the street. He certainly hadn’t expected it. He was surprised he’d even managed to speak. She wanted to catch up. She was going to be around for a while. He wasn’t sure how long ‘a while’ was. He was almost grateful that he was grounded, because that way, he couldn’t bump into her again, accidentally or otherwise.

Eventually, unable to sleep, Peter hauled himself up from the sofa and wandered out to the kitchen. Luckily, it was empty. He helped himself to a glass of Loki’s rose lemonade and stood looking at the calendar. There were a disturbing amount of social events pencilled in. He hoped he wouldn’t have to go. He hated all of those parties. He much preferred the alternative, which was sat on the sofa with Thor, eating pizza and watching telly. Hopefully his broken ribs and the big gashes on his front would be enough to get him out of going. Sure, the cuts didn’t really hurt anymore, and his ribs weren’t hurting quite so much - but his parents didn’t need to know that.

Peter wasn’t hungry that evening when they sat down to dinner. Loki went over to the fridge to get himself a drink.

“Peter, have you been at my lemonade?”

“Um...”

“How any times have I told you not to touch what doesn’t belong to you?” Loki scowled, shutting the fridge door.

He returned to the table, setting his glass of lemonade down and handing Tony a beer.

“I’d love a drink, thanks dad” Peter said, rolling his eyes.

Loki narrowed his eyes at him, filling the boys glass from the water jug on the table. Tony laughed at the look on his face.

“Don’t look so offended, Peter” he said. “You don’t drink anyway near enough water anyway. Now stop sulking and eat your dinner”

Peter spent a while stabbing at his food with his fork and pushing it round the plate without actually eating anything. During a gap in conversation, Tony noticed.

“Peter, stop playing with your food. Eat, please”

“I’m not hungry” Peter mumbled.

“Just eat what you can. You need the strength”

“Why?”

“You just do. Now stop arguing and eat your dinner” Tony said firmly.

“I’m not hungry!”

Loki sighed irritably. “Do as you’re told! I’ve had just about enough of your attitude”

“What are you talking about?! Just today we were messing about in shops and stuff and you were fine. Just cos I’m not hungry, that doesn’t mean I’ve got an attitude”

“I’m not in the mood for an argument. Just do as you’re told”

Peter folded his arms over his chest. “No”

“Right, I’m not putting up with this” Tony snapped. “Peter, go to your room”

“With pleasure”

Peter got up and left the room. Tony sighed, picking his fork up again.

“That boy can be such a teenager at times”

“And you said teens were better than babies”

As expected, Tony came to talk to Peter later on that evening.

“I won’t have you answering back to us like that”

“Oh what, so I can’t answer back? But if I don’t say anything, you’ll just say I’m ignoring you. I can’t win!”

“See, this is exactly what I’m talking about! I thought I ran a household based on mutual trust and respect. You need to take the attitude down a peg. What’s gotten into you?”

“I’m tired, I’m sore, and I’m upset. Can’t you just leave me alone?”

“What are you upset about, Peter?”

“Everything! You’ve grounded me, taken my suit away, locked me out of the lab. Do you know how boring it is sat about with nothing to do all day?”

“I bought you that Lego set” Tony pointed out.

“Yeah, and what do I do when I’ve finished that? I’m bored! I just want to be able to do the things I’ve always done”

“You’re not getting the suit back, you know that” Tony said. “Plus, you’re too weak to be doing anything much right now anyway. Can’t you content yourself with videos or something until you’re ok again?”

“I’m fine! Why do I have to stay inside all the time? Can’t I go out to the library or to see my friends or something? Anything! I’m so bored, stuck in here all the time”

“You’re too weak. You can’t be trusted to keep yourself safe right now either. Come on now; you need to simmer down. It’s starting to get late. Time to have a bath and go to sleep”

“But what about what I’ve said?”

“We’ll continue this conversation another time. Now do as you’re told”

Tony was out at work the next day, so Peter spent a considerable portion of the morning trying to hack the keypad on the lab door, most unsuccessfully. He was forced to give up when Loki caught him at it. After that, he spent the rest of the morning moving all of the pictures and ornaments in the living room around to annoy Loki. He had to stop that when Loki called him into the kitchen and shoved a plate of egg and chips under his nose. After lunch, he infiltrated the reading nook and stayed there for the entire afternoon.

Tony gave Peter’s nose a tweak.

“I need to talk to you”

He didn’t look angry, which was a little confusing for Peter. He lowered his book and looked up at Tony.

“Have you been behaving yourself today?”

“Of course not”

Tony laughed. “Anyway, I wanted to say, about Friday night”

“Oh?”

“You’re coming with us to that party”

“What?!” Peter exclaimed, scrambling into an upright position. “Why?!”

“Because I said so. I don’t want you here on your own when you’re still so fragile”

“Ok, firstly, bit presumptuous. Secondly, why can’t uncle Thor look after me?”

“Peter, no arguing, please”

The door opened, and Loki came in, pushing his sleeves up.

“I’ve just spent the last half an hour or so putting all of our pictures and statues back in the right places. So that’s half an hour of my life I won’t get back” Loki said. “I should be putting you over my knee purely for wasting my time”

Peter rolled his eyes at him. “Well, I haven’t got anything else to do. I was just entertaining myself, like you told me too”

“No need to get cheeky. Anyway, I need to go out and buy some milk. Do you want to come with me?”

“We had a full bottle this morning” Tony said.

“I dropped it” Loki said. “Barely saved a glass. Ended up having to do the kitchen floor a second time because of it. Peter? Coming?”

Peter nodded and stood up. “I’ll get my shoes”

While Peter was in his room, he picked up his phone and texted Malaki.

‘Are you free tomorrow? Can we meet up? Around 10.30?’

Malaki very soon texted back.

‘Of course! See you in the grounds of that country house down the road from school? xx’

‘I’ll meet you by the lion statue. See you tomorrow x’

‘Can’t wait! xxx’

Peter grinned and hugged his phone to his chest. He’d get out of here tomorrow, no matter what.

Peter had one of those very nice family evenings, heavily aided by the nice early evening walk down to the corner shop with Loki. He went to bed early, and woke up early. Tony was working from home, and was already down in the lab, meaning he was very much out of the way. Peter was up and dressed and ready. He had a hoodie with big pockets on so he could hide a small whiteboard on him, and fit his phone and wallet in his other pockets. Loki was going to the hospital today, so Peter hung around him, acting cute and chatty and joking around with him. Loki laughed and humoured the boy, and quite enjoyed his company while he was getting ready.

Peter knew there was a loophole to the seal. He could get through the barrier if he was holding onto Tony or Loki. Tony was, of course, working from home, so he was a no-go. Loki was going out though, and Peter had a plan that meant he could bypass the barrier, wait for Loki to leave, and then slip away to see Malaki.

Loki gave Peter’s hand a squeeze as they walked downstairs.

“Have you been in my cabinet, little boy?” he smiled. “You’re all giddy and silly today”

“Do you really have to go? Can’t you stay home?”

“I’m sorry, sweetheart: I’m committed. I’ll be back this evening. We can spend some time together then” Loki said.

Peter pouted for a moment, and then smiled as they reached the bottom of the stairs.

“I’ll wave you goodbye! Like they do in the books!”

Loki laughed. “You’re a funny kid, you know that?”

“I know”

Loki opened the front door, and Peter, still holding his hand, bounced out onto the front step, pulling the door to. Loki gave him a funny look.

“Now now, chick, you need to get back inside. Rest”

“I will, I will. I’ve gotta wave goodbye first, haven’t I?”

Loki smiled, glancing over his shoulder as a car drew up.

“That’s my lift. I’d really better be off, sweetheart”

“Hug first!” Peter grinned.

Loki gave him a big hug, kissing his cheek. “I love you”

“Love you too, daddy”

Loki kissed his other cheek and straightened up. “I can’t leave the cabbie waiting. Go on, in”

“Still gotta wave you off”

Loki kissed his nose, gave him a final squeeze, went down the front steps and climbed into the cab. Peter stayed on the top step, one hand on the front door handle, and waved as the cab drove off.

As soon as the cab was out of sight, Peter let his smile drop, and he pulled the front door shut properly. Truth be told, he was surprised his plan had worked. He had his suspicions that Loki might have an inkling of what he was up to, but that was a problem for this evenings Peter.

Peter double checked his pockets, zipped up his hoodie, and hopped down the steps. He grinned to himself as he trotted down the street. It felt so good to be out on his own.

Malaki gave Peter a hug when he saw him.

“I’m glad you’re doing ok! I was so worried when you told me you’d had an accident. I can tell you’re still a bit sore”

Peter shrugged, and nodded.

“Are you sure you’re warm enough? Well, never mind. You can always borrow my jacket if you need to” he said. “So. Shall we?”

Peter smiled and took the offered hand. He sighed happily, glad he’d slipped out, and quite proud of himself too.

Liz stopped, and her friend did too.

“Liz?”

“That’s Peter Parker, isn’t it?”

The friend saw where Liz was looking. There was a bench over the other side of the courtyard, up against the wall of the house. Peter and a boy Liz didn’t recognise were sat together. Close together. They didn’t notice anyone else was there. The friend sighed.

“Yeah, so? No one really knows him anymore at Midtown. Ever since that gas main burst, the only thing we know is he’s a Stark now. A change of status doesn’t stop him being a loser”

“Don’t say that! He was sweet”

“Didn’t he ditch you at the dance?” the friend glanced back over at the bench. “Oh. I think we know why he did that, now”

Liz looked at her quizzically, and then looked back over at the bench. Peter was still there - but was now lip locked with the other boy. It was the last thing Liz expected to see, and she couldn’t help staring - just for a moment. Even at the distance she could see how the boy was holding him. There was no hiding what that sort of kiss meant.

“Hey, Liz, let’s go and get something to eat. I’m starving here”

Liz tore her eyes away and looked at her friend. She nodded. As they turned and started walking back in the direction they came, Liz looked at her friend.

“I don’t suppose you know how I can get in touch with him?”

“What? Liz, I think you’re wasting your time. He’s a private school kid now” she said, shaking her head. “That fat boy he was friends with probably has a number for him. Try him”

Liz nodded. “I will”

She looked back over her shoulder. The bench was far behind them now, long out of sight, but she could still clearly see Peter and that boy, in her minds eye.

#my writing #fanfiction #mcu fanfiction #marvel fanfiction #frostiron #irondad and spiderson #BITCH idk wtf I'm doing #idk what this is

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estie-ellie · 6 years ago

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so this is a thing i have been working on

it’s a story with my oc and katey’s oc AND SURPRISE it’s not damie and maggie. i did some tweaking and minor edits, but i can’t quite get the rest on the page atm... any feedback is really helpful. keep in mind too that there’s a huge skip forward in story, because i usually write out of order okby

Day 1: .My dad’s friend Damien came over for dinner last night. My dad knows him through work, but he feels like a distant uncle. He’s pretty cool. My dad mentioned once that he was gay and that I shouldn’t ask any personal questions because it wasn’t polite (and that he was special like me, but he doesn’t look like one)

Since he’s the only adult I know who is both Not My Parents and Not Straight, I asked him what I should do if I was confused.. about everything. He told me to write it down, be honest. If I can write truth, eventually I’ll see it for myself. Here’s hoping..

Day 5: Two weeks after the dance, I found out. He told me after we practiced swimming. That was a month ago. Everything seems so blurry and messy and strained. How do you be honest, if you don’t know what you’re doing? What is this? Why can’t it be simple? I want you to be my friend. I want to make you laugh and smile. I want to hold your hand. I want to be close. I want to press my lips against your skin. But I shouldn’t want all of that, I should just want to be friends. Right?

Day 7: In study hall, he sat next to me and smiled. My heart skipped and I couldn’t breathe right. Even though we spent the period together, it felt like he was floating away. Come back and stay. Come stay. I don’t need to breathe.

Day 9: We walked to the bus in silence. Hey are you mad? I was so scared he’d say yes. No. He didn’t look at me. Oh. Good. Do you want to hang out tomorrow? No. I’m kinda tired. I think I’ll stay in. Oh.. Okay.. I’ll talk to you later. Yeah.

He walked off and I waited for my bus alone.

Day 15: He hasn’t talked to me in five days. We got paired up in lit. We sat in silence and did our worksheets by ourselves. I tried to apologize. The bell rang, he didn’t hear me.

I don’t know what I’m sorry for.

Day 17: I caught him in the hallway at his locker. I wanted to kiss at edges of his frown. He didn’t see me. In lit he said “pass me the handout”. His hand brushed mine and my stomach ached. It was like being homesick.

Day 20: He said ‘hi’ in homeroom when he sat down. It was the last seat. I tried to keep quiet. “Do you think we’ll have group work in lit?” he shrugged and turned the other way. I watched his back scrunch and tighten.

Day 24: He found me behind the quad with Taylor and Christian wailing on me.

What the fuck, Kai? He looked disgusted.

Called you a bitch. My words were bloody.

We’re not friends anymore.

He got me to my bus stop and left without a word. His fingertips burned more sinister than the bruises.

Day 25: He looked at me with pity. Like I was a dog about to be put down. He sat down next to Hazel in homeroom. Hazel looked up at me like I was stabbing them both in the back. ‘I’m sorry’ I wanted to say. I’m sorry. All my fault, I’m so sorry. I laid my head in my arms where the bruises wouldn’t touch.

Day 28: Picked another fight, this time nobody to stop it. Brand new bruises to replace the old ones. More punishment; need to repent somehow. I’m the reason they talk about him. I’m the reason we’re not friends. Just wish in the fights they would aim lower though. It’s hard to look my parents in the eye with a bloody face. They’re worried. My grades are still the same. Except history. He used to help me with it. They don’t know what to do.

I don’t either.

Day 40: Everyone avoids me. Either because I look like a loser, they heard I was a loser, or because they already know I’m a lost cause. It’s okay. It’s the right idea.

Day 51: It’s hard to pick fights. Even the most sadistic, special-hating barbarians are bored. Got their fill. Won’t look at me. The game’s not fun. Old news. Not even worth the effort. I’m invisible.

Day 57: Bruises are healing. Feathers are growing back. My parents look relieved when I come home free of new blemishes, no bloody clothes to clean. When I’m home, mom checks in on me every now and again, I try to act like I’m reading or playing games. Dad opens my door at night when he thinks I’m asleep. Homework is still done, dinner is still eaten. I’m mild and cooperative. They are confused. I don’t want to make it any harder on them. I don’t want them to worry. I wish I knew how to fix everything. I am breaking everything. I am broken, too.

Day 64: We have started to change seats each period. In lit, I am off to the left in the back. He sits in front with Allison and Liam: new friends. When he smiles and laughs, I let myself pretend we are back in his room playing video games, in my backyard on the grass. That his smiles and laughter is because of me. I look away before I feel nauseous. Before I can cry.

Day 68: All the bruises are gone. At least, the worst of them. Some of them are slight and small on my chest and shins. No more fights to pick, no taunts to tip. Everyone avoids me or has forgotten. That was inevitable. It’s better that way though, I think. It’s better for him. But what do I do now?

Day 69: He wasn’t in school today. I think he got sick. After math, Hazel caught me by his locker. I only stopped a second. She noticed me staring. You have to stop, Kai. She grabbed my arm to pull me aside. I know. I don’t think you do. Everything that’s happened… You can’t keep doing this. I know. She wavered, as if my words set her on a balance beam. She looked at me as if she couldn’t tell whether I understood. Don’t worry, I know I ruined everything. I know I need to stay away.

She backed away, tugging her books to her chest. Take care of yourself. She took one last look and walked away.

Day 72: Swim season starts in a couple days. Eli, the varsity captain, begged me to stay on the team. I told him I’d think about it. I hadn’t actually thought about swim season at all this year until he asked why my name wasn’t on the sign up sheet. I’ll probably stay on. Swimming is the only thing I might do right. Maybe. Day 79: Swim season starts today. My body welcomes the water, but my muscles reject the work. Haven’t practiced, mechanics are off, flip turns too early. I push anyway. I push until my lungs ache and my limbs cramp. At home, I collapse in bed, body too weak, lungs too tired. When I sleep, I don’t dream and I’m grateful. Day 86: It’s hard to focus in the downtime between school and practice. At home it’s worse. Hours to myself, nothing to do. At least before I had bruises to tend. Day 92: I saw him at the park on my way home from the deli. He was on the swings, talking to two of his friends and smiling. I don’t think any of them saw me. I rushed toward home with my head down. He’s happy without you.

Without you, he’s happy.

Day 97: I skinned my knee on the floor of the pool. For the rest of the day, it ached and itched and bled, and before I knew it I was home in bed and I hadn’t been thinking of him.

Day 101: I always wondered why people would cut. I thought it was too extreme, stupid, a futile attempt at comfort. I get it now though. If you can zero in on the pain, the world is blotted out. It’s easy to numb out all the other thoughts if pain is controlling you. I won’t go overboard. I just need something to pick at. If it aches, I can get through the day.

Day 112: The cuts are easy to hide with our trunks and briefs, but I went too high this time. I had to lie and say I got it while working outside with my dad. It wasn’t a hard sell, and we went back to flip turn drills. Day 115: Between practice and homework I’ve been pushing myself farther and harder. It’s the only way I don’t break down. In our meet against Northtown High, I beat three of my records. Wish it was good enough to fix everything else. Day 118: After practice, some of the team went out for pizza. I tried to get out of it, but Eli wouldn’t let me. My mom was elated that I was invited anywhere and handed me thirty bucks with an enthusiastic wave goodbye from the minivan. When we got there, Eli gathered our party to sing praises of our previous glory and especially gossip about the hottest girls that came to cheer us on. I smiled and laughed at the right times, but it felt like lying to say that I was interested in anyone who had shown up. ---

I don’t know why I’m going to this party. I have nothing better, I guess. Maybe there’ll be booze. --- Kai walked inside the mini mansion that was Eli’s home. The party was still in full swing, music pumping throughout the house and conspicuous red cups floating from hand to hand. He decided he had to pick a safe spot, someplace he could be without attracting attention to himself. Kai went alone after all, he needed the cover. The kitchen was too obvious. Too many transactions of alcohol, not enough to stay and graze off of the assortment of snacks and finger food. In the back, a grill was being manhandled by a member of the football team while a few boys and girls on the swim team hugged the edges of a massive pool. The yard was adorned with buckets of ice topped with various cans and bottles of beer. Kai made his way out and grabbed a bottle, clipped the top with his keys, and retreated inside to investigate further.

From time to time he passed a teammate or an acquaintance that would draw his attention for a moment, but conversations didn’t linger. Kai was glad to have a distraction, though. The booze was finally hitting him and he floated around until settling in the family room in the basement. It was lit in soft yellow candle light, which was probably for function as much as it was aesthetic; it covered the scent of alcohol with a light vanilla puff. He figured the party would settle down and he could leave, Eli & Co. happy that their fellow teammate showed up for once.

And the party did in fact wind down. Couples eventually left, clumps of friends relocated to various parts of the house, and the backyard became a haven for dimly lit poolside make out sessions. This meant that the couch Kai had been inhabiting soon became possession of a clump of kids in his grade slowly approaching, talking among themselves.

“You mind if we..” A boy from the group--Nate, Kai recalled-- extended his hand which grasped a bottle of liquor, towards the coffee table in front of Kai’s feet. Kai nodded and scooted to the end of the couch as the group closed in on the living space. He hadn’t quite realized who exactly was in the group, until he Hazel emerged from the back of the group with Gabe in tow.

"Hey, maybe we shoul-,“ she began. “It’s ok, I’ll leave,” Kai gathered himself up quickly. He avoided their gaze as he was about to move away. “Stay,” Gabe’s voice piped up, as they sat across Kai in a loveseat next to Nate. Kai’s eye’s shot up to Gabe and halted. Hazel looked wearily to Gabe, sharing an silent exchange of permission. “It’s okay,” Gabe replied finally.

Kai looked to from Gabe to Hazel, the ultimate approval resting with her. She looked to Gabe. She nodded once in affirmation. The exchange took mere seconds but Kai had felt like an hour past. He silently sat back down and took a swig of his drink. The rest of the group seemed unfazed by the microcosm and readied themselves for their drinking game. Evidently it was "Truth or Drink”. There was no dare involved; the dare was inherently “get wrecked on Costco brand liquor”. Kai mostly tuned out the noise, the soft snickers and cackling from his party-mates, the clinks of shot glasses. He only made noise enough to apologize when his foot hit Mark Elsen’s who had taken up a spot on the couch next to him.

It seemed like they were having a good time, already a couple rounds in. A few beers in himself, Kai was pleasantly buzzed. The peaceful calm of the booze melted his tension, and for the first time that night, Kai allowed himself to enjoy the party. It was nice to see Gabe smiling, laughing. Nate had his arm wrapped around Gabe’s shoulders and they swayed back and forth with a giggle from Hazel’s joke. The yellow light danced in the chesnut browns in their hair. He had forgotten how pretty it was.

“What about you?” Mark tapped his shot glass to Kai’s shoulder. “Hmwha?” Kai’s trance was broken and the group looked to him expectantly. “Have you ever cheated on a test?” Mark repeated. Kai looked to Hazel and Gabe again, searching for permission to speak. His eyes fell back to Mark, “A couple times, I guess. On spelling tests, I think.” “That’s pretty lame, man,” Nate replied, pouring shots into the empty glasses, now an additional shot sitting for Kai. “Okay, Hazel. Your turn.” She dutifully began to think of a question and when she came

#my writing #gabe and kai

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tatooedlaura-blog · 7 years ago

Text

Lost Keys

yes, yes, the throwback to end all throwbacks for me ...

my first fic written in 1997 in the midnight darkness of my bedroom in my parents house by the light of a 10" TV with pencil on a yellow legal pad at the tender age of 21 ...

All errors, in both grammar and punctuation, are original ... I chose to correct just one time notation from the Gossamer post way back when ...

&&&&&&&&&&

Lost Keys:

"Come on Scully, what else are you going to do on vacation? Read 'Breakfast at Tiffany's', vacuum that little dog of yours?”

"So instead of relaxing and yes, probably reading that book you refer to so affectionately -- you want me to go up to your mother's cabin in Quonochataug and help you clean?"

"Yup, that about covers it."

"We see enough of each other here, why would I want to spend my vacation with you as well?"

"Because I'd miss you horribly and you know that if you're not around Scully, I'll get myself into loads of trouble and you'll have to come bail me out."

"Sadly enough Mulder, I wouldn't put it past you. Now, why do you really want me to go?"

"'Cause if you wield a paint brush as well as you wield a gun," ruefully rubbing his shoulder and giving Scully a sly little grin, "the job will get done faster and I won't have to call you and complain, waking you up at the most hideous hours of the night. Think of it Scully, it'll be a nice trip to the forest

"Mulder, may I remind you of what happened the last time you promised me a 'nice trip to the forest'"

"Oh yeah. Sorry about that."

"Mulder ..."

"Yeah?"

"What time do we leave?"

"You really mean it."

"Why do you suddenly sound disappointed?"

"'Cause I spent half the day coming up with reasons to get you to go. I haven't even got to the good ones yet."

"Well, save them Mulder, you may need to use them to persuade me not to shoot you again once the mosquitoes start attacking and the poison ivy sets in."

"Ah Scully, they'll stop attacking once they find out that your not as sweet as people think you are."

After threatening to throw the stapler at him, Scully picked up her briefcase and started for the door.

"I'll be by to pick you up at seven a.m. tomorrow, and thanks again, you won't regret it."

"No, but you may. I tend to snore; quite loudly I might add, when I feel the need to take revenge."

With that said - she straightened Mulder's tie, gave him a quick grin and slid out the door-leaving Mulder with a straightened tie and his mouth hanging open - amazed that even after five years, his partner still knew how to take him by surprise.

Mulder picked her up a little after seven. He put her things in the car and they set out on the three hour drive to Quonochataug.

"Well Scully, we have arrived." Mulder announced much later in the day.

"And to think, it only took us five and a half hours to get here."

"How was I to know about the construction. At least we got the scenic route."

"It seems that we always end up on the scenic route. Cows and all."

"Really, dear Dr. Scully, after all we've seen together, you feel the need to complain about the cows."

"It's not the cows themselves but the noxious gases that emerge from them."

"I didn't smell anything unusual," Mulder replied, with his blue eyes twinkling.

"Fine Mulder, and I have just been made director of the FBI."

"Well director, how do you like the place?"

"I've seen it before, remember."

"Yeah, but this time it's light and you're not trying to keep me from destroying myself in the process."

After a slight pause , Scully turned to Mulder, "you know, this place really is quite nice. I think I can handle a few days here. Especially if it means I may find some incriminating evidence on you - such as the ever popular bear skin rug photograph."

"Well Scully, in order to find such horrendous stuff, I guess we're going to have to get to work. Here, catch."

Scully snatched the keys out of the air in a clean swoop and went to unlock the door as Mulder got out their bags.

Once Scully had gotten into the house however, she forgot all her misgivings about coming here for vacation-the house really was wonderful, incredibly dusty, but perfect. Scully could just imagine Mulder as a child, running through here with Samantha, playing games with her, telling her stories.

She was jolted out of her daydream by the sound of her partner's voice behind her.

"Are you gonna stand in the door all day or just until my arms decide to fall off?"

Scully gave a small grin and without turning around "you shouldn't have carried them all at once. Contrary to popular belief, you are not superman."

"But I could play him on TV" Mulder replied, then he grunted and dropped everything onto the front hall floor.

"So what do you think Scully?" he asked with a smile.

She turned, put a hand on his chest without thinking and said "it's even better than I could have imagined. The last time I was here, I was too frightened to get any kind of look around."

"For that Scully," he said in a sad tone "I apologize. I don't plan on doing that to you ever again - trust me. Now, how about a tour before lunch"

"Lunch - you were actually serious about cooking," Scully said, "I assumed you were just toying with me. I figured I'd be cooking all week."

"What" Mulder replied, looking both shocked and amused, "did you think I survive off of when I'm at home?"

In an equally amused tone, Scully replied, "sunflower seeds, ice tea and whatever you bum off of me"

"My dear, you are in for one big surprise."

After the tour of the house, which included two nice size bedrooms, a large living room, an even larger sun porch and a small but efficient kitchen; Mulder made a rather appetizing turkey sandwich with the food they had brought with them.

Looking over the top of her sandwich, "Mulder ..."

"Yeah," he replied through a large bite of the sandwich.

"Did you tell Skinner that I was coming up here with you?"

"Yeah, I said my mom recruited you to clean gutters and repaint the walls."

Laughing, Scully asked about Skinner's reaction

"Well," replied Mulder, "he told me to make sure you weren't abducted, eaten, held at gun point, threatened to be killed, chased by the Enigma or trapped by a giant tape worm. Then he told me to thank you for coming along because who knows how much trouble I could get into without you."

"Everybody seems to think that you'd fall apart without me."

Mulder got up and crouched next to her chair, "Well Scully, I'd have to say I agree with them. Without you there next to me, I'd have checked out of here a long time ago."

Scully briefly put her fingers on his cheek then playfully tweaked his ear, " I guess what they say is true - best friends do stick together through everything - and believe me, we've seen everything."

For the briefest of moments, something passed between them and they held each other's gaze; then Mulder's stomach let out an incredible growl and both started to laugh.

After finishing up their lunch and as they were cleaning up, Mulder's cell phone rang.

It turned out to be his mother, telling them both that she was sorry but she wouldn't be able to make it up there until later in the week.

"She said that one of her good friends is coming home after hip surgery and their is no one to take care of her until a couple of days from now."

Scully had been able to gather this information from Mulder's half of the conversation. She had tried not to listen, but sometimes it was just so hard to ignore that voice of his.

"Well, what do you propose we do now, Dr. Scully?"

"Well, Mr. Mulder, I propose that you wipe that mustard off your chin and then we take a look at what needs to be done."

"You mean you still want to stay."

"Sure, besides, " grabbing a handful of red hair on either side of her head, "I refuse to sit in that car again - with your voice on one side of me and Elvis' on the other - I think I'd go crazy long before the New Hampshire border."

By the time they had mapped out all that had to be done, night was fast approaching and both agents had begun to yawn after their long day.

"Well Mulder, where should we sleep?"

"Why Scully," Mulder said with that innocent look, "I didn't know you cared - I prefer the left side of the bed but it's always lady's choice with me."

"Mulder," Scully said good naturedly, "if I wasn't so tired, I'd throw something at you but as you can see, I can hardly keep my eyes open. I'd probably aim too low and hit something more important than your shoulder."

"Scully, don't tempt me with such a proposition."

"If you don't tell me which bedroom I'm sleeping in, I'm going to fall asleep right here and you'll have to carry me upstairs. Just remember that the human body weighs almost twice as much when asleep."

"Again Scully," replied Mulder, "don't tempt me with such a proposition like that. For tonight, we have to sleep downstairs because those sheets haven't been changed in about a year and their is way to much dust to sleep to tonight. We'll air them out in the mornings."

"So I'm guessing I get the couch and you get the floor, unless you want to sleep in the tub."

"Ahh Scully, you know me too well."

After they both had found blankets and got settled, Mulder suddenly jumped up and turned on the light at the end of the hall.

"Why'd you do that," Scully asked.

"Because I know that you hate sleeping in total darkness."

Scully just looked at him in amazement.

"Hey Scully," Mulder said with one raised eyebrow, "I do pay attention to things outside the X-Files."

Mulder lay down in his old sleeping bag on the floor and called a playful goodnight to the still dumfounded Scully on the couch next to him.

Mulder awoke with a start when something fell on him from above. He opened his eyes and smiled when he realized that his partner's hand had slid off the couch and landed on his chest. He was about to slide her hand back next to her when the moonlight from the window illuminated a faint scar between her thumb and forefinger. He reached up to touch it and discovered just how soft his best friend's hand really was. The only times he had ever held her hand was to help her up or when he took something she was offering. He had never been able to inspect those small hands like he wanted to. After tracing her fingers and the back of her hand, he turned it over and lightly caressed her palm. The callous on her finger from the trigger on her gun. How often she had to save him by drawing her weapon and destroying the enemy? He could hardly keep track anymore. Without realizing it, he had begun to move up her arm. Suddenly a familiar voice jolted him out of his contentment.

"What in the world are you doing Mulder? For a minute I thought you were a huge and hideous bug." Scully asked.

Mulder, stammering like a school boy (but not letting go of her hand), "Your hand fell on me and woke me up and I saw a scar and then I tried to put your hand back next to you and I realized ... did you know you have very soft hands ... I'm sorry."

He said everything in such a rush that Scully had to bite her lip to keep from laughing. Truth was, she had been woken up when her hand fell and she hadn't stopped him because she enjoyed his intimate touch more than she wanted to admit.

"It's all right Mulder, really."

In order to break up the awkward feeling that suddenly filled the air, Scully said, "well, since we're up anyway, how 'bout a snack. I'm starving."

Grateful for the distraction, Mulder replied "you really are an eating machine aren't you?"

"Does this mean you won't be joining me in some food?"

"God no ... point me towards the kitchen woman."

After making some sandwiches, both returned to the couch.

Looking at her hands, Scully remarked "I didn't even realize that scar was visible anymore."

"Where'd it come from. I didn't do it did I?" Mulder asked with a worried look on his face.

"Oh no. I got this when I was 14 and I snuck one of my mom's cigarettes. I was so scared I was going to be caught that I forgot it was lit and the ashes fell and burned my hand. After that I decided that me and cigarettes did not mix."

"Dr. Scully, you rebel. I guess that red hair of yours represents your wild side huh?"

"You think that was wild. My senior year in high school, I decided to get into the school spirit and dye my hair for the homecoming game. Mind you, the school colors were purple and yellow."

Mulder smirked, "this doesn't have the makings of anything good."

"You could say that again. Everything was fine until I tried to wash it out. When I emerged from the shower, my hair was a hideous shade of puke green with pumpkin orange streaks."

"Oh please, Scully, tell me your mother took a picture, please."

"No such luck darlin'. Anyway, my dress was a wine red color so in the end I looked like something from Dr. Seuss. My date tried to make me feel more attractive by thinking he could get more that one kiss. To make a long story short, he wound up with a heel scar on his shin and a bloody nose and I got to sit on the bleachers the rest of the evening."

"Now I know why you skipped your reunion. I am sorry. You must have felt awful."

"Well Mulder, worse things have happened since then but that still ranks up there with the best of them. By the way, if you don't wipe that smirk off your face Mulder, I may be forced to disown you."

"Sorry Scully, I was just picturing you decking that guy. I'd have cheered for you" Suddenly turning serious, "I would have danced with you Scully. I would have been happy to be their with you because, green hair and all, you still would have been beautiful."

Luckily, it was dark enough that she couldn't quite see the crimson creeping up Mulder's cheeks and he couldn't quite see the surprised but happy twinkle in her blue eyes.

Scully looked at Mulder and suddenly asked "are you sure you're not Eddie Van Blunht in a Mulder disguise again?"

Both laughed at this comment and Mulder said mischievously "no, but am I coming close?"

With that, Mulder pushed Scully back down on the couch, then flopped onto the floor.

A few moments later, Scully slipped her hand over the side of the couch, gently laid it back on Mulder's chest and fell sound asleep - as did Mulder with his hand on hers.

Scully woke up slowly. It took her a second to realize where she was (in their line of work, both rarely stayed in one place for very long). When she did, she decided to wake up Mulder with a pillow to the head. Scully slung her pillow full force over the side of the couch and was surprised when all she hit was floor. Mulder was already up but it was too quiet for him to actually be in the house. Scully got up and shuffled her way to the kitchen. It was there that she found a note from Mulder saying that he went to the store for food because he was tired of turkey and ham. Scully grabbed herself a banana, a piece of bread and a glass of water and headed onto the porch to eat her breakfast in the sun. She also took "From Outer Space" with her because she knew that Mulder would never be quiet enough for her to read in peace.

About a half hour later, Mulder got back to the house. He took the groceries in and set them on the counter. He noticed the back door was open so he walked around to tell Scully he was back. He peered around the door and found her engrossed in a novel. The way the sun was reflecting of her hair and that look of total contentment on her face made him stand quietly and forget everything but her.

She looked up suddenly and was shocked to see Mulder standing in the doorway, looking at her. He jumped, she jumped, he smiled and she just couldn't seem to keep a silly grin off her face.

"Good morning Scully. I trust you slept well considering when I got up this morning I could have rolled a bulldozer over you and you wouldn't have moved."

"I don't recall having slept that good in a long time."

"Ah Scully, I was sleeping next to you, how could you NOT be content."

"Yes Mulder that has to be it. Now, what kind of food did you get us?"

"Don't tell me your hungry again. At this rate, you might actually get fat in about four years."

"Mulder, when I'm not worrying about the x-files, my job, the world in general or you, I actually have an appetite and I love to eat."

"Well then, I guess I'm gonna have to stop doing things to worry you."

"Mulder, if I didn't have you to worry about, my life would cease to have any purpose at all. Besides, I kind of like worrying about you."

"Well, I'll just have to keep up the good work after all. I brought us normal food. Lettuce, tomatoes, and green peppers for some salad. Frozen pizza, more sunflower seeds, ice tea and some Ho-Ho's which, if you're nice to me, I'll let you share. I also got some meat for the carnivorous side of us."

"Again Mulder, you have discovered a way to shock me. Up until now, I still didn't think you had any idea of what a supermarket was or what types of food they had in them."

Digging back into the bags. Scully emerged holding a bottle of wine with an accusative look on her face and one eyebrow raised. "What are you planning on doing with this, Mr. Mulder. Seduce me over ho-ho's and sunflower seeds?"

Turning slightly red, "I figured it would taste good and I know that you like red wine. It is a vacation after all."

"Well thank you. And you made a pretty good choice too."

Brightening, Mulder replied, "I figured. You have the same kind in your refrigerator at home." Without missing a beat, he asked Scully, "did you know that you're still wearing you pajamas?"

"Well, I figure you've seen me in less and never yelled so I decided to get in as much reading as I could 'cause once you got back here, you weren't going to give me a minutes peace."

"Yup, you're right."

While Scully was changing, Mulder put the rest of the food away

"Where do you think we should start."

He heard Scully's voice before he saw her. She came into the kitchen putting her hair in a ponytail. He had to laugh. She had on a ratty old pair of jean shorts and an FBI academy shirt. Her socks were a faded out green and she had on tennis shoes, actual honest to goodness shoes, no dress clothes for his partner this vacation.

"I wouldn't laugh. Have you looked in a mirror today, oh partner of mine?"

"Yes and as usual, I liked what I saw. You're wearing real clothes Scully. I didn't think they even existed in your world."

"Well, a person has to dig far back in the closet but they're there, just waiting to be destroyed while helping you," Scully admitted.

"If only you had your green hair. Now that would be a picture."

Suddenly she took off after him and he almost fell trying to get out the door. She chased him through the trees. Mulder stopped dead in his tracks in front of her, causing her to crash into the back of him. She peered over his shoulder and saw why he had stopped. They had come across a little clearing and in one of the bigger trees, a tree house sat with a ladder leading up to it.

"Is it yours," Scully asked in a hushed voice, not wanting to break the spell of the place.

"Mine and Samantha's," Mulder said, just as softly.

Scully had this sudden urge and without stopping herself, she reached for his hand and held it tightly. He was surprised by the touch but as she held his hand, a warmth began to spread up his arm and he was reluctant to let go, so he didn't.

"We used to bring our bologna sandwiches up here and eat. We would race to the ladder and whoever lost had to clean up the mess before we went in for the night. We'd play Stratego and card games. She never quite got the hang of poker though."

"You taught an seven year old poker?" Scully asked with her eyes wide.

"Sure. Want to learn?" Mulder asked amusingly. "Didn't you brothers ever show you?"

"Actually, I taught them how to play although I haven't picked up a deck in a while."

"Well now. A challenge. I believe we have found our entertainment for the evening."

Mulder turned her around and led her back through the trees, never letting go of her hand.

Feeling his strong grip, Scully couldn't help but think of another evening entertainment but she decided she wouldn't mention it . With an embarrassed grin, she decided that holding his hand was good enough for the moment.

They emerged from the woods and stood looking at the house.

"Where should we start Scully? We can work from the inside out or from the outside in. Which would you prefer?"

"Well, we should probably clean out the bedrooms so we have some place to sleep tonight, then start outside because the weather is gorgeous right now."

"Hey, what was wrong with where we slept last night?"

Jokingly she replied, "aside from the fact that you still have carpet marks on your face, nothing."

"I know. You just couldn't stand to be sleeping that close to me for fear of what you might do to me in the dark of night. Heart pounding, mind racing because I was only mere inches away from you. I understand perfectly."

He somehow managed to say all this with a straight face but as soon as he glanced at Scully, he burst out laughing at the comical expression on her face. He assumed it was there because of his comments, Scully knew better however. He had come so close to the truth without realizing it that she had to laugh herself. Both didn't say another word as they walked into the house and back upstairs to the bedrooms.

When they had finished upstairs (or at least enough to be able to sleep there later on), Mulder and Scully headed outside and began to work there. Mulder cleaned the gutters and the chimney while Scully went to work on the yard surrounding the house. They worked in companionable silence. It was a nice, comfortable quiet. Something they never got to share when they were at the office or on a case. The day passed swiftly and by seven o'clock, Scully's stomach was growling a protest to not being fed and Mulder finally threw down his tools and dropped onto the lawn next to them.

Scully sat down next to him, "well sir, I would say that we've done a good days work. How 'bout we put some of this stuff away, then go throw the pizza in the oven."

Mulder answered her with closed eyes, "or we could just stay here until tomorrow morning."

"No such luck, my good man. I need a shower badly and from the smell, so do you. Come on, if this all works out right, we'll be eating in an hour and I know how much you love your pizza."

She got to her feet and held out he hand to Mulder. She hauled him up and together, they cleaned up after a long days work.

After putting the pizza in the oven, "Hey Mulder, you want the shower first," Scully called from across the room.

"No, go on. I'm way to comfortable even to think about moving, let alone actually doing it." Comfortable he was, sprawled on the couch with his feet dangling over the arm. He was also enjoying the thought of his friend in the shower. He quickly dismissed that thought however, because if he continued, he might go crazy. He decided a quick nap was in order, if only to distract him from the thought of Scully.

About 20 minutes later, Scully came back down into the kitchen; glad to have gotten rid of all the grime on her body. She walked into the living room to tell Mulder the shower was free and found him still sprawled out on the couch with a mysterious smile on his face. As she approached, Scully realized that Mulder was asleep. He looked more content than she had ever seen him and she didn't have the heart to wake him. Instead she went to the kitchen and quietly made a salad, dug up some paper plates and forks to set the table. The timer went off for the pizza and as it was sitting, Scully went to wake up Mulder. She leaned over Mulder's head gently began to tap the end of his nose. After a moment, Mulder opened his eyes and was met with the image of an upside down Scully sticking her tongue out at him.

"I don't know whether to kiss you or to scream," Mulder replied, grabbing the sides of her head.

"I'd be careful which you choose Mulder. Remember, I control the pizza and either choice could have dire consequences."

Scully wriggled out of his grasp and whacked his head with a pillow before going back to the kitchen. Mulder followed close behind, knowing full well which choice he would have picked.

Both the salad and the pizza were eaten rather quickly and sloppily. As Scully took her last bite, Mulder glanced up and started to laugh when he saw pizza sauce all over her nose and mouth. With a sickening realization, he saw that it was blood and not sauce.

At first Scully couldn't figure out why Mulder had turned pale all of a sudden. She wiped her face with her napkin; then she saw what was frightening Mulder. It was blood from her nose that she had felt.

Quickly she put the napkin to her nose and went to the bathroom upstairs. The bleeding stopped after a minute and Scully was about to go downstairs when she caught Mulder's reflection in the mirror behind her. She turned to look at him and saw the fear in his eyes.

"Mulder, the doctor said this might happen if I did a lot of strenuous work. I was bent over half the day and I guess the pressure built up."

"I thought the surgery made you better?" Mulder asked in a voice that nearly broke Scully's heart.

Moving towards him and putting a hand on his arm, "it did Mulder, it did. If you hadn't found a doctor willing to try; I would not be here today. The surgery was experimental and they weren't sure of the side effects, but remember the most important thing --- they got to the cancer before it spread too much. A slight nose bleed now and then is nothing compared to before." Looking up at him with a gentle smile, "you helped to give my life back Mulder. I'm not gonna let that gift go to waste."

"Scully, I want you to know that I'd do it all again."

"I know Mulder. Now, how about we forget this and go clean up the kitchen 'cause I'll be damned it I'm going to clean it up tomorrow."

Around 9:30 pm, Scully let out a yawn that nearly split her head in two.

"You can't be tired yet Scully, you haven't been fed in almost an hour and a half. We should be eating again. Maybe my watch is wrong."

"Cute Mulder."

"Yes, I try. Why don't you go to bed. I'll lock up down here."

"Why so generous? Is the boogie man hiding upstairs?"

"Possibly, at least he was when Sam was little. I've still got to take a shower anyway." =0D "Who am I to look a generous deed in the mouth. See you in the morning Mulder."

He watched her walk up the stairs. She must have felt him looking at her because she turned and asked, "you sure you're all right?"

"Fine, now go to bed because I don't have the energy to carry your sleeping body up the stairs tonight."

With that, Scully called good night again and made her way upstairs. She knew something was bothering her partner but she decided not to push it.

Mulder, meanwhile, locked everything up and headed for the shower. After standing under the near scalding water for about ten minutes, he dried himself and crawled into bed.

He awoke about 12:30 am and couldn't get back to sleep. He had been dreaming of Scully, Cancerman and his sister. The perfect makings for a nightmare, he thought bitterly. If only Cancerman had kept away, it would have been a far nicer dream. Tossing and turning for about twenty minutes; Mulder finally got up, put his FBI academy shirt on and made his way out to the hammock he and Scully had found and hung that morning. He tried to be quiet but he knew his partner would hear him and make her way down to him eventually, which was what he needed her to do.

Scully, in the meantime, heard Mulder go outside and when she peered out the window, she saw him sitting in the hammock. She waited a few minutes to give him time to collect his thoughts; then she grabbed the blanket, knowing he wouldn't have taken one himself and went outside.

Mulder heard the kitchen door shut and a few seconds later a familiar voice say, "is this net taken?"

He looked up and shook his head no. She sat down next to him and both were silent for a time.

"How did you know to come out here Scully? How do you always know when I need you?"

"Well, you always make just enough noise to wake me -intentionally or unintentionally. Also, we seem to know each other better than everyone else. I just feel it and come find you, where ever you are."

"Well Scully, I really do need you now," Mulder said quietly.

"Why ..." Scully asked, putting her hand just next to his.

"Scully, when I saw you today, with the blood and all, I've never felt more scared. I thought it was all starting again. I couldn't bear to watch that happen to you again. It would kill me to know you were in pain, to have you hurting and knowing that I could only stand by and watch." He grabbed her hand and held it as though his life depended on it. "Today, when I saw you like that, my whole world crumbled for a moment. That three minutes while you were upstairs were pure hell. I don't want to come so close to losing you again, ever." His voice cracking as he said these last words.

Mulder dared to glance over at Scully and was surprised to see tears in his eyes. He reached out to wipe away the ones that had fallen and this simple gesture undid her composure completely. She leaned on Mulder's chest and cried without restraint. Mulder felt his own tears falling, so he held her tightly and waited till she had finished.

She looked up at him with a tear stained face and gave him one of her 'Mulder, you're absolutely wonderful' kind of smiles. He smiled back, then shivered when he realized he was cold. Scully felt this and covered them both with the blanket. She had him lay down, and slipping down beside him with her head on his chest, she tucked the blanket around them. Mulder wrapped his arm around her and put his head back.

"You know Scully, I spend so much time looking for things from the stars that I never stop to look at the stars anymore."

"Stars are some of the few things left that are truly beautiful. No matter how much a person knows about them, they still have a mysterious quality that keeps them beautiful; even to the most pragmatic study."

"They're not the only things in my world that are truly beautiful," Mulder whispered into the top of Scully's head.

"Mulder ..."

"Yeah"

"I'll never leave you again, I promise."

"And I'll never let you go."

These last phrases were said so softly that they could hardly be heard with the ears but they were heard clearly within the hearts.

Around 4:00 am, Mulder awoke first. He glanced down and saw his partner's head on his chest with her red hair splayed across his arm. He was gripping Scully tightly too him and her arm was tucked around him. He decided that he could get used to waking up like this. He chuckled silently at the thought of Skinner finding them in such a position. Mulder decided that he had better savor the feeling of complete comfort and safety while he had his chance. He planted a light kiss on the top of Scully's head and then fell back asleep.

Scully felt Mulder's kiss and decided not to fight the warm feeling that spread through her. She left her head on Mulder's chest and listening to the gentle rhythm of his heartbeat, she relaxed in the safety of his arms and returned to sleep as well.

Mulder woke up slowly about 7:30 am. He felt Scully to stir as well.

"Scully," he said softly, "are you awake?"

"Not if I have anything to say about it," was the muffled reply. "I hadn't planned on moving quite yet."

"I hate to tell you this doctor, but my bladder is about to explode and I didn't want to dump you on the lawn without warning."

Scully laughed and moved over. He almost ran into the house and Scully followed behind with the blanket.

A minute later, Mulder come back downstairs to find Scully curled up on the couch, still half asleep. He flopped down next to her and, putting his head on her shoulder, started to snore obnoxiously loud. She gave him a half smile and playfully plugged his nose.

"So, what are you making me for breakfast Mulder?"

"Well, what would you and your bottomless stomach like?"

"Something that will hold me until at least 11 o'clock."

"There's not food enough in this house to do that, so will you settle for some fruit, toast, tea and possibly some cereal?"

Heaving a huge sigh and looking at him with sparkling blue eyes, "I guess I'll survive."

Pinching her nose in return, Mulder asked "can I redeem myself if I bring the food to you so you won't have to move an inch?"

"I believe you can, although then I'd have to lose all respect for you and refer to you as house boy for the rest of the day."

"I can live with that."

He came back to the couch with the food on a tray and some flowers stuck in a glass, he also had on an apron and a towel over his arm.

"For you, madam Scully," Mulder said in his most atrocious French accent.

Scully couldn't stand it any longer. She let out a laugh so loud Mulder almost dropped the tray. He set it down in front of her and turned to leave the room.

"Aren't you going to stay and eat," Scully asked, finally able to control her laughter.

"Fraternizing with the staff, madam Scully. Isn't that against the rules?"

"Since when have we ever played by the rules, huh?"

"Good point." Mulder sat down next to her and they proceeded to polish off breakfast.

Neither spoke of what had happened between them the before but both felt closer to the other than ever. Nothing needed to be said, really.

After putting the dishes in the kitchen and getting dressed, Scully found Mulder sitting on the porch steps. She sat next to him. "What's to be done today, house boy?"

Smirking at her, "well, we should work inside today because we really shouldn't add anymore sun to the burns we got yesterday. Especially you. You burn easier and faster than my mother's pork chops and those go up in flames like that (snapping his fingers)."

"Better watch it or that name will remain permanently, including while at the office. Besides, you're right. Point me in the direction of a scrub brush. I'm ready to work an appetite."

Getting up, Mulder looked at Scully, "why am I not surprised."

Somehow, they managed to work through lunch and around five, Scully's stomach told her about the mistake. She had just finished scrubbing the bathroom floor, so she wandered around the house calling Mulder's name. She found him buried in the hall closet, washing walls. He finished his wall, backed out of the closet and found Scully behind him.

"Nice view," she said with amusement.

"Glad I could be of service." He walked around behind her, "not so bad yourself," nodding his head in approvement. He swatted her with a towel and scooted out the door before she could react.

Scully went to the kitchen and saw Mulder pulling the steaks out of the fridge, along with a can of peas from the cupboard.

"Give me 45 minutes Scully and you'll have a hell of a meal to quiet that stomach of yours."

Scully went back to clean up her stuff, then she picked up Mulder's mess in the hall as well. It was the least she could do considering she hadn't eaten this good in a long time. She also had time to take a quick shower.

She returned about half an hour later to find the table set, the food cooking and the bottle of wine on the table. Also, Mulder's box of Ho-Ho's was sitting on the counter, waiting for desert. Mulder breezed past her, saying he was going to take a shower and threatening her if she touched anything. She sat on the counter and ten minutes later he returned. He put the food on the table and retrieved the steaks from the broiler. Scully was about to open the wine but Mulder took the bottle from her hands,

"Not tonight, I'm the house boy, remember?"

He poured them both a glass and sat down across from Scully.

"Everything looks fabulous Mulder. Remind me never to doubt your cooking abilities again."

They began eating and halfway through, Mulder filled both glasses again, at Scully's request. This shocked him; usually they only had one glass apiece. By the time dinner was eaten, they had finished the bottle. They washed the dished and Scully picked up the box of Ho-Ho's, taking them out onto the porch. Mulder hesitated a moment, then retrieved the second bottle which he had placed in the refrigerator that morning. He carried it and the two glasses out to the porch as well.

"I hope you don't mind but I brought a second bottle," Mulder said sheepishly.

"I figured you were hiding one somewhere but I couldn't find it," she replied with a raised eyebrow and a smile.

"I hid it behind the refrigerator. I was hoping you wouldn't find it because I knew you'd yell at me."

"No. It tastes to good to be mad at you," Scully said, pouring herself a glass.

He opened the box of Ho-Ho's and they proceeded to finish both them and the bottle.

Scully got up a while later and walked over to the railing. "There's a storm coming," she said, looking at the lightning flashing in the distance, although it was to far away to hear the thunder.

Mulder came up behind her and put his hands on her back. Unconsciously, he began to rub her neck and shoulders. He could feel the knots in her muscles from scrubbing all day, so he continued.

Scully felt her body relax from the wine but more from Mulder kneading her shoulders and back. She let her head fall forward and let out a sigh of contentment. After a few minutes, Scully turned and started to work on Mulder's neck. Both began to yawn from the wine and from the gentle caresses. Without a word, both went inside, turned out the lights and went up to their rooms - calling a soft goodnight before closing their doors.

A crash of thunder woke Scully and for a moment, she had no idea where she was. She remembered a second later and realized she had broken out in a cold sweat. Ever since the stormy night Duane Barry had taken her, Scully had been terrified of thunderstorms; although she would never admit it to anyone but her dog. She told herself to stop being ridiculous but in the middle of the night while still under the effects of the alcohol, her mind began to race. First a branch hit the window, then she saw a shadow in the corner of her room. The next thing she knew, Scully was standing next to Mulder's bed.

"Scully, what's wrong? Are you all right?" his voice and eyes full of concern.

"Please don't laugh but ever since Duane Barry, I've hated storms and the dog's not here to talk to and there's a branch hitting the window and I keep seeing shadows." She said all this in a rush, blushing furiously but visibly shaken.

Without a work, Mulder lifted the covers and motioned for her to get in. She did so gratefully and at that moment, the storm arrived full force. Scully buried her head in Mulder's chest and curled into a ball. Mulder just held on, stroking her hair and telling her that he wouldn't let anything hurt her again. A couple of minutes later, the storm slowed for the moment and he whispered in Scully's ear, "at least we won't have to wash to windows outside tomorrow."

Scully relaxed a little at this. She lifted her head and found herself looking directly into Mulder's eyes. She held the gaze for a moment, then leaned forward and gave Mulder a kiss on the chin. She put her head beck down and molded herself against him as the storm picked up intensity again. Scully felt Mulder drop a kiss on her head, then on the tip of her nose. He wrapped his arms around her tightly and as they both relaxed in each other's arms; they slept.

Around 5:30, Scully woke up because she felt something laying on her. She opened her eyes slowly and discovered Mulder sound asleep with his head on her stomach. Scully realized that she had taken his pillow and she figured that sometime during the night, he must have worked his way down and was now using her belly as a substitute. His left arm was also thrown across her left leg. If he didn't look so comfortable, she thought, I'd wake him up and give him back his pillow. Then, as she looked down at his face, Scully realized that since they had gotten to the house, neither had spoken of their work, which usually took precedence over regular talk. She had never realized just how much the two of them had in common. She reached up and brushed a piece of hair out of Mulder's eyes and he stirred. She stopped quickly and waited, hoping he wouldn't wake up. Scully was enjoying this rare opportunity to really look at him without feeling guilty about it. He moved his right hand to her arm then continued his sleep, undisturbed. Scully let out a silent sigh of relief and continued to stare at him, memorizing the familiar outline of his face. She put her hand on the scar on his forehead, then gently ran her fingers over his hair. She examined his lips, then traced his chin up to his right ear. Suddenly, Mulder opened his eyes and to her surprise, Scully didn't remove her hand but left it on his cheek.

Mulder looked at her in confusion. "Why am I laying on your stomach?"

"Because I think I stole your pillow," she answered, still not moving her hand.

"Oh," Mulder lifted his head, brought his left hand up and rested his chin on it. "I guess I decided that you were the next best thing."

Scully's hand had slid off his cheek but her fingers were still on his chin. "I don't know if I should feel insulted or honored."

"Honored, I'm very particular about where I put my head."

"I can deal with that. I didn't mean to wake you. It's just that I thought of something. Did you know that we haven't gotten on each others nerves in almost four days. Are we going for the world's record?"

"Either that or there is something in the water." He reached up and touched the cross that hung on Scully's neck and was laying on her chest. He held it between two fingers, not looking at her as he spoke, "In the past four days, I've gotten closer to you than in five years. Maybe its the house, maybe its not having to worry about a case, maybe its because up here, we've both let our defenses down more than usual. We've been allowed to see each other as we really are, with no job between us. I almost don't want to go back to the real world. We'll return to being our uptight selves, holed up in the basement, working endlessly."

Putting her hand back on his head, "you know, we don't have to go back to being those people although I kind of enjoy arguing with you."

"Of course you do, you win more than me." Mulder finally looked up at Scully. "I enjoy us this way. It's going to be kind of tough to go back to that couch of mine. Here, I feel more safe than I have in a long time. I haven't had one nightmare since we came. There's no Skinner breathing down our neck, no extraordinary creatures lurking behind doorways, my phone hasn't rung since we got here - do you have any idea the luxury that is? I want to go back to the job, don't get me wrong, I love our work but for the last four days, I've had a life. I don't think I've ever had one before. I'm going to miss this, miss us here, being real friends without the threat of being killed hanging over us." Mulder let go of the cross but kept his hand where it was.

"Mulder, everything has changed, can't you see that. We haven't given up one thing and we don't have to give up the other. In my opinion, life is going to improve greatly because we've had this time together. Life will go back to its chaotic self but we've changed, you and I. Change can be a good thing, believe me. Trust me on this one, we'll return to that chaotic world but I for one will not forget this place. I could get used to taking vacations after all. To think, I wasn't going to come up here at first."

Mulder smiled, "now that would have been tragic to say least. I wouldn't trade this vacation for anything. The doctor really can make everything better, can't she." Mulder laid his head back on Scully's stomach and closed his eyes as she began to stroke his cheek with her left hand.

Without opening his eyes or looking up, Mulder said in a sleepy voice, "Scully, I think I'd like to keep you."

He couldn't see the surprised happiness in her eyes but he felt her body relax under him and he knew that she was smiling. That was enough for him, at least for now. He fell back to sleep with his head cradled by his best friend's body.

Mulder awoke to the smell of ham and eggs. He got up and followed his nose into the kitchen. There he found Scully standing in front of the stove. He walked up behind her and put his chin on her shoulder,

"Whatcha ya doin'," he asked, looking into the frying pan.

"I've decided that I owe you at least one meal considering that you've fed the bottomless pit," rubbing her stomach, "for the last four days. My cooking hasn't killed you yet so stop making those hideous faces."

Straightening his face out, Mulder said innocently, "me, mock your cooking. Who's been feeding me forever? Whenever I come to your door, you give me food. I'm just making faces because if I give in too quickly, you'll think me a pushover."

"Mulder, if you are one thing in this world, it is not a pushover, by any means."

"Thanks." He sat down at the table and picked up a fork. "Now feed me or I may have to get hostile."

"We wouldn't want that now would we." Scully filled up his plate, then hers. She sat across from him and both began to eat in relative silence. A few minutes later, Scully put down her fork and tapped Mulder on the hand to get his attention.

When he looked up, Scully said in a quiet voice, "thank you for last night."

Mulder looked at her in surprise, "for what?"

"For keeping me company and for not making me feel like a complete idiot because I was scared of something totally irrational."

"Irrationality is in the mind of the beholder Scully, and I for one, refuse to believe that you would let an unwarranted fear control your life. If you say that you're frightened by something, I will believe you. I'd never laugh at you and you know it. I am more than happy to do anything that will make you feel better. Just remember that, all right. Besides, I have never been one to disbelieve. You ought to know that by now."

Suddenly Scully got up and gave Mulder a big hug. She said into his ear, "you know what?"

"What?" he whispered back.

"I think I'd like to keep you too."

She let go of him and proceeded to dump her dished in the sink. Mulder just stood their with a silly grin on his face, staring at the fiery red head at the counter. His fiery red head, he thought to himself. He walked out of the kitchen whistling the theme to Star Trek. Scully heard this and grinned, knowing he only did that when he was in a really good mood.

By the time they actually got outside, it was after ten and the heat of the day was already bearing down. Both went to work cleaning out the shed. By five o'clock, they had accumulated a mountain of trash. When they were finished carrying it out to the curb, both were covered with sweat and dirt.

Scully looked at Mulder and burst out laughing.

"What's so funny?"

"You."

"Well, you're quite amusing yourself, you know."

"It's just that I don't think I have ever seen you this dirty before. If the other agents could see us now, they'd probably keel over. The two cellar dwellers actually went out in the fresh air and did manual labor. They probably wrote us off long ago."

"Well, I guess we just won't invite them up here, now will we. Our reputation can not be tarnished by revealing that we're real people."

"Good idea." Scully walked over and picked up the hose that was lying on the ground, she turned the water on and aimed at Mulder. Before he could get out of the way, a spray of water hit him. "I guess I'll just have to clean you off before we go back, won't I."

He made a grab for the hose and turned the spray onto Scully. After a old fashioned water fight, both of them were soaked to the skin. Scully made one last ditch effort to attack and ended up skidding on the mud they had created. She ran into Mulder and they landed in a heap on the ground with Mulder on top. They both realized just how close they were to each other and without thinking Mulder put his head down to kiss Scully as she raised her head to do the same.

At that moment, the telephone rang. Mulder slammed his fist into the mud, "why does that damn thing ring at the most inopertune times?"

Rolling off of Scully, he picked up the phone and handed it to her.

"I don't want to answer it, Mulder. You know it's Skinner. Please, you talk to him."

"I don't want to talk to him. I say we just let it ring."

"Fine, give me the phone. You're gonna owe me for this one buddy."

"Scully, you're an angel."

Scully stuck out her tongue at Mulder and said hello into the phone.

After a minute of solemn conversation, Scully said good bye and hung up.

"Guess?"

"Our wonderful boss and he wants us to take another weeks vacation?" Mulder asked, not even believing it himself.

"Keep on dreaming. He wants us back as soon as we can. He says he's got something he wants to show us."

"Another case?"

"I assume. He didn't want to discuss it over the phone." Scully looked at Mulder with a look of disappointment. "I guess we had better get ready to go. We can either leave tonight and get a decent amount of sleep once we get back or we can stay here and leave about four o'clock tomorrow morning. Which sounds better to you?"

"Neither but I guess going tonight is more practical. We've got a lot to do before we go. Why don't you take your shower first, since you've got more mud on you than I do. I'll put the stuff away out here. Sound good."

Scully just stood there looking at him. "For the first time in my life, I really resent having this job."

Mulder stepped up and faced Scully, "we can always come back you know."

"I know but I want to stay here," not daring to look into his eyes, "with you."

Scully said this then quickly turned and walked into the house. Mulder waited a moment then followed, ignoring the mud he was dripping on the floor. He went upstairs and without knocking, walked into the bathroom. He saw a heap on muddy clothes on the floor and Scully standing in front of the shower clad only in a towel.

"No matter what," Mulder said, trying not to stare at the short towel covering Scully, "promise me that you'll come back here with me, soon. This place wouldn't be the same without you. No matter how busy we are, we'll make the time to get away. Promise?"

She saw the pleading in his eyes and ignoring the fact that she only had a towel on, she walked to him and gave him a hug. "I promise that no matter what, I'll come back here. Nothing could keep me away."

"Honest truth?" Mulder asked quietly.

"Honest truth. Now get out of here before I lose my towel."

"You know Scully, maybe I should stick around. What if you need someone to hand you the soap or wash the bottoms of your feet. I'm really good at that," Mulder stated with a sly grin.

Scully shoved him toward the door, "I'll holler if I need you for anything, now OUT!" She said all this while laughing and trying to keep her towel on.

Mulder grinned and went outside, shutting the door behind him.

About six o'clock, they had gotten everything packed back in the car and were taking a last look around to see if they had locked all the doors and windows. When they were finished, Mulder locked the front door and walked with Scully out to the car.

"You want to drive?" he asked Scully, knowing she would turn the offer down because she didn't enjoy driving at night as much as he did.

"No thanks. With my luck, we'd end up in Canada."

"Just don't forget that I get lost more than you do. Don't yell if we do end up at Niagra Falls or worse."

"I'll take my chances." She settled herself into the passenger seat for the three hour drive ahead. Mulder got behind the wheel and slowly they pulled down the drive, both wishing that they could go back to the moments before the phone rang.

Driving along, both could feel the tension in the car. Mulder was silently cursing the phone and Scully knew he was annoyed, not at her but at how things had turned out. After about twenty minutes, Scully could stand it no longer.

"Mulder."

"Yeah, Scully."

"If a tree fell in the forest and no one was around to hear it, would you insist on investigating it or would you just let it go?" Scully asked in a serious voice.

In an equally serious voice, Mulder answered, "You bet your sweet ass I'd investigate, and I drag you right along with me. Out of curiosity, why do you ask?"

At this, Scully burst out laughing. "I needed to say something to break the tension that seems to have built up in this car and I thought that would do it. From the feel of it, I'd say it worked."

After that, conversation began to flow easier. Mulder began telling Scully about the good times him and Samantha had had up at the house. She curled up on her seat and closed her eyes, enjoying the sound of her partner's voice. Scully felt herself drifting off to sleep and she welcomed the rest after the long day they had had.

Mulder was wishing curses on anyone he could think of when Scully asked him the question about trees. He knew she was trying to lighten the mood he was in and after hearing her laugh, he felt better, although he still wished they had never answered the phone. He began to tell Scully about the things him and his sister did when they were kids. After about fifteen minutes he realized that Scully had stopped responding. He looked over and saw her asleep, with her hair falling over her face. He smiled and reached over to pull up the coat that had slid off her lap. He drove on in silence.

About an hour later, "Mulder ..."

"What is it Scully."

He didn't get a response so he asked again, "What?"

Mulder looked over and realized that Scully was talking in sleep. He reached over and put a hand on her arm. Quietly he said, "go back to sleep."

"No. What would have happened if the phone hadn't rung?" Scully asked in a muffled voice, still sound asleep.

"I think I just might have maybe kissed you." Mulder whispered, not believing he was actually telling her this, asleep or not.

"I would have liked that. Maybe we'll get stuck in the mud again."

"I can only dream," he said, wondering if she would remember any of this when she woke up.

"I like you Mulder. My mom was right, you are a wonderful guy." These last words were mumbled as Scully shifted in her seat and continued her slumber in silence.

Mulder moved his hand down to her knee and gave it a gentle squeeze. "I like you too."

Scully awoke not long after this conversation and from Mulder's view, she didn't remember any of it. He guessed this was just as well. He had no idea how he would react otherwise. They pulled into a gas station to get some coffee and Scully offered to drive the rest of the way.

"No way. We haven't got lost once. I have to drive the whole way so I can use this against you when you get to ripping on me."

"Me. Make fun of you. Never. Where do you get your information from?"

"You."

"Oh. Well, live and learn." Scully hopped back in the car and they continued on their way.

A couple hours later, Mulder turned into Scully's driveway. "Here we are. Why don't you unlock the door while I get your stuff for you."

"What a gentleman." Scully began looking for her keys as she walked to the door. Halfway up the walk, she suddenly stopped dead in her tracks.

Mulder came up behind her, "you do realize you can't reach the door from here, right?" he said playfully.

"If I was at the door, it wouldn't make any difference. I don't have my keys."

"What do you mean?"

"I mean I remember throwing my keys on the counter when we got there. I'm guessing that they're still there." Scully looked up at him in apology. "I forgot to grab them when we left."

"I never thought I'd see the day when you forgot anything. I'm kind of proud. You've come over to the dark side with the rest of us. At least I have my key. I'll get you in and you can thank me generously in any way that you see fit."

"No you can't. I had the locks changed, remember. I made you a key and left it on the counter inside to give to you when you picked me up. You didn't grab it, did you?"

"That would be a big no. How about your neighbors, your mom?"

"No neighbor has a key. I gave mom the new one but she's visiting my brother. She won't be back until tomorrow."

Mulder started back toward the car. "I guess you're stuck with me one more night. Come on, I'm starving. We'll pick up something on the way to my place."

Mulder smiled to himself. Someone upstairs really must like him because now he had Scully to himself for one more night. Scully, in the back of her mind, felt almost guilty because she was glad she had forgotten her keys. Both got into the car and headed for Mulder's apartment, silently happy about how things had turned out.

After picking up food, they pulled up at his apartment. Scully grabbed the food while Mulder grabbed the bags. He grinned as he pulled out his keys and shook them at Scully. "So this is what it's like to be powerful. I think I like it."

"Just open the door house boy," Scully said over the bags she was holding.

"With pleasure madam."

They got into the apartment and immediately attacked the food. Within minutes they had devoured most of it and Mulder put the rest in the refrigerator to have for breakfast.

"Well sir, who gets the couch," Scully asked, eyeing what Mulder considered his bed.

"Guests get the couch, pure and simple. I'll get you another blanket." Mulder scurried off before she could argue. He returned with a real pillow as well. "I've been saving this for a special occasion. Here you go," he said, tossing the pillow at her.

"Wow, I'm now considered a special occasion. Most would tell me to pull up a piece of floor. I think I like it here." Scully began digging through her bag and a second later produced her pj's, which consisted of a pair of shorts and the Knicks shirt Mulder had given her for her birthday as a joke.

"I told you I'd wear it." Scully said, although she was thinking how she rarely slept in anything else.

She changed while Mulder set his "bed" up on the floor next to the couch. Scully laid down and Mulder turned out the light. He settled himself down and called goodnight. A few seconds later, Scully's head appeared over the side of the couch. "I'm getting the strangest feeling of de `ja vu, how 'bout you?"

Mulder reached up and grabbed her hand. Putting it on his chest and wrapping his own hand around it, he grinned and looked up at Scully, "I am now."

He closed his eyes and drifted off knowing that he wouldn't have any nightmares that night. It took Scully a little longer to fall asleep but she did eventually, safe in the knowledge that Mulder was next to her, wanting her close.

The next morning, Mulder woke up to the sound of the shower turning off. A moment later, Scully walked out the door and much to Mulder's surprise, she was wearing his robe. She looked at him, then grinned. "I hope you don't mind that I borrowed it."

Mulder just nodded, afraid that if he opened his mouth, he would give away what he was thinking: that he had never seen Scully more beautiful, standing in his bathroom doorway dripping on his floor. He realized that Scully said something else. Embarrassed, he asked her to repeat her statement.

Amused, "I was curious as to what Skinner might think if I went to the office in this?"

Still slightly distracted, "Why?"

"Because I don't have any clothes here. This is not my place, remember. I sure can't go in wearing a pair of cut offs and a torn t-shirt now can I?"

"I could guess the reaction would be quite interesting. It would only add fuel to the fire about us being 'not quite right'. Hell, I think you should go in the robe."

"Mulder, you really are nuts aren't you?"

"I can only try. Now, ask me if I have anything you can wear."

"What. Why would you have anything of mine? You been raiding my closets again?"

Laughing, Mulder replied, "no, but I think I can come up with something."

At that, he disappeared into the closet and emerged with one of Scully's jackets and a pair of slacks. She just stared at him, "where in the world did those come from?"

"From the dry cleaner. Where else?"

"OK, I see we're going to do this the hard way. Why do you have my clothes from the dry cleaner?"

"I just enjoy playing with your mind. You asked me to pick them up before you went to the hospital."

"Mulder, that was over a month ago! You've had them that long and you didn't give them to me."

Shrugging his shoulders, Mulder put on his best 'I'm sorry, will you forgive me' look and stuck out his bottom lip. Scully couldn't resist that, no matter how hard she tried and both of them knew it. She groaned and took the clothes back to the bathroom with her. Scully stopped before she closed the door, "why can't I ever stay mad at you?"

Without missing a beat, " 'cause I'm cute." He left her in the doorway and he walked into the kitchen whistling.

After they had finished breakfast which consisted of the leftovers, Scully called her mom and left a message that they would be by later in the afternoon to get her key. She walked down to the car while Mulder finished trying to get his hair to obey. She stifled a laugh when he came down and she saw that he had not succeeded. "Don't even say it."

Innocently, Scully replied, "say what."

"Why do I hang out with you again?"

Using his own retort against him, " 'cause I'm cute."

"And you always seem to be right." Both got into the car and headed towards the city.

They went straight to Skinner's office after Mulder parked the car. The door was open so they peered inside. Skinner looked up, "good morning. I didn't expect you here so soon."

Scully spoke up, "we came back last night. It was easier than leaving at three o'clock this morning."

"At any rate, I'm sorry to cut the vacation short."

"It's all right," Mulder said, pulling out a chair for Scully, then taking a seat next to her.

"Well, keep that good attitude for a few minutes longer. The police caught the guy who was going to be your next case."

Mulder laid his head back on the chair, "meaning vacation was cut short for no real reason."

"Mulder, I only found out about an hour ago. I tried up at your mother's place but no one answered. I am sorry."

Scully cut in, giving Mulder her patent ' don't say a word' glance, "it's OK. We have some stuff to catch up on anyway." She stood up and put her hand on Mulder's shoulder, "come on, let's go wade through your office. You don't have any excuse for not doing some cleaning now that I've seen you scrub more than your coffee mug."

Mulder got up and nodded to Skinner. Both walked out of the office and down to the basement. Mulder opened the door and Scully turned on the light. They were greeted by their familiar clutter and a six day old donut on Mulder's desk.

He laughed and Scully smiled, "Oops. That would be mine wouldn't it?"

Scully picked up the donut and banged the side of the desk. She handed it to Mulder, "here, you needed a new paper weight anyway."

Both settled in and began to read their mail, which had piled up quite a bit while they were gone. About an hour later, Mulder got up to go get some coffee. He returned with a puzzled look on his face.

"What is it?" Scully asked, confused.

"I just ran into Skinner and he said since we had to come back early, we can finish our vacation anytime and we'll get two extra days."

"I'd think you were playing with me again but I have a feeling you're not. You are serious, right?"

"Oh yeah. When do we leave?"

"We?"

Turning red, Mulder stammered, "I just kind of assumed that we could go back to the house. I guess I should have asked first, huh?"

"In this case, assumptions are truth. We should probably stick around here for awhile though. All's I know is I still want my full vacation and I plan on getting it."

"A woman of action, I like that. It fits you well." Mulder sat back at his desk and both continued to catch up on the last week.

The phone rang later and Scully got called up to the labs. Mulder decided he might as well surprise Scully with a semi-clean office so he got to work as soon as she left. She returned around three and found Mulder reading in his chair, the room around him cleaner than it had been in five years. She stood in the doorway, shocked. He got up and took her arm, "take a good look around Scully. It may never look like this again."

"You have just rendered me completely speechless. You know, I never knew your desk had a top. I'm impressed."

Suddenly, Scully turned to him, "you want to get out of here. Mom should be home by now."

"Excellent thinking. If I'm stuck down here another minute, I may have to scream." He grabbed his keys and led Scully out the door, turning the lights off as he went.

On the way to her mom's house, Scully called again. Her mom answered and Scully told her they were on their way. When she hung up, Mulder looked at Scully, "why didn't you tell her what happened? She's probably been wondering since she got home."

"It will be easier to tell her when we get there. The story is a little to crazy to tell over the phone. Besides, if I know my mother, she'll keep us for dinner and make us tell her all over again."

"Dinner. That reminds me, I'm starving. What do you think she'll have?"

"Mulder, you're incorrigible. Turn up here."

As he made the turn, "you're brother isn't going to be there is he?"

Surprised, Scully turned to look at him, "No, why?"

"Because I get the impression that none of your brothers like me?"

With a little smile, "they never liked any guy I was friends with. It's just that whole protective thing. You wouldn't have liked any of the guys Sam went out with either."

In a quiet voice, "did you realize that that's the first time you called her Sam instead of Samantha?"

"I'm sorry. I guess being up at the house made her seem more real that ever. I didn't mean any offense"

"No," Mulder said in a louder voice, "I like that you feel comfortable enough to call her that. When you say it, your voice doesn't carry the hint of contempt that everyone else's does."

Scully looked at him and put her hand on his thigh, "one day Mulder, I would like to meet your sister and tell her what a wonderful brother she's got."

Feeling the pressure of Scully's hand, "I'll have to tell her what a wonderful partner I've got."

They drove on in silence, Scully leaving her hand on Mulder's leg. About twenty minutes later, Mulder pulled into Mrs. Scully's driveway and turned off the car. Scully's mom had already opened the door for them and was standing there, waving. Scully opened the door and gave her mom a hug and a kiss. Mrs. Scully then turned to Mulder and on reflex, he gave her a hug as well.

She was surprised by this and said with a smile, "thank you Fox. I didn't expect that but I will from now on."

"Mom, don't call him Fox."

"Don't worry about it Scully. Your mom is one of the few people in the world who can get away with calling me that."

"OK. Fox, Dana, first question - why do you need my key? and second - are you hungry?"

Mulder looked at Scully with a smile that said I told you so. "It's a long story and we're starving, at least I am."

"Then how about I go find us some dinner." Mulder and Scully followed her into the kitchen, with Mulder pulling Scully's hair as they walked down the hall. Both sat down at the counter and began to tell the story of the last week, interrupting each other good naturedly. They continued to talk through dinner and then they moved to the living room. Mulder took a seat by Scully on the couch. They finished their tale and Mrs. Scully laughed at both of them.

"Thank you Fox, for getting Dana out of that office of yours. I think she went back to work to soon but you know her, she never listens to anyone."

"No problem. Besides, she didn't have much of a choice. I told her if she didn't come, I'd hound her the entire time I was gone."

Scully hit Mulder in the knee, "Mom, I wouldn't have put it past him either," she said with a laugh. "I would have been getting calls at three a.m. telling me that he hit his thumb with the hammer or that the crickets were loud and the grass was a great shade of green. Although I'll say this, I've never had a more relaxing vacation." She glanced at Mulder, "thanks."

They continued their conversation until, without warning, Mulder dropped his head on Scully's shoulder, sound asleep. Mrs. Scully smiled when she noticed that her daughter's eyes had begun to drop as well. She got up and left them on the couch, turning off the lights as she went.

Scully and Mulder awoke around nine-thirty, confused because neither had realized they had fallen asleep. They wandered into the kitchen to find Mrs. Scully reading at the kitchen table. "Why did you let us fall asleep?" Scully demanded.

"Because I will not have either of you falling asleep on the highway. I've lost one daughter, I don't see a reason to lose another or her handsome partner. Don't you feel better though."

Sheepishly Scully replied, "yeah. Thanks." She looked at Mulder, "I guess we should get going."

"Let's move out then." They all walked to the door and Mulder gave Mrs. Scully another hug and a giant kiss on the cheek. Scully laughed, "trying to outdo me, partner."

"Yup." He went out the door to turn the car on, leaving both of them laughing on the front porch.

Scully gave her mom a big hug. "I'll get your key back to you. Thanks for dinner."

Mrs. Scully held on for a moment and said, "come back soon and don't forget to bring that nice young man. I enjoy his company immensely."

"So do I, mom. He'll come back, if only for the free meal and the hug." Scully walked down the sidewalk where Mulder was patiently waiting, holding the door for her. They got in and drove of down the street, waving.

"That one had better not get away." Mrs. Scully thought to herself with a smile as she turned to go back into the house.

Once they got back, Mulder dropped Scully back at her house. He went in to retrieve his key and decided he had better get out of there fast because if he didn't, he just might do something both of them would regret. Mulder said a quick goodbye and practically ran to the car, leaving Scully more than a little confused. She shrugged her shoulders and got ready for bed, hurt that he didn't even make an attempt to stay for awhile.

Mulder, on the other hand, sat in his car around the corner, yelling at himself for being such an ass. He debated whether or not to turn around and go back but decided Scully would probably be mad and right now, that would have killed him. He drove home slowly, knowing that he'd be alone and cursing himself because of it.

Scully hadn't been able to sleep at all and around ten-thirty, she heard a pounding on her door. It annoyed her a little because she wanted to wallow in her self-pity awhile longer. Then she looked at the clock and realized just how late it was. She got up, picked up her gun and went to look out the peephole. Scully saw Mulder standing there with his hands in his pockets. She debated whether to let him in but decided she had better. Upon opening the door, Mulder rushed in and grabbed her in a hug, holding her tightly.

"Mulder, what are you doing? Why aren't you at home?"

Easing up a bit, he looked at her, "I tried to go home but when I got there I realized something. You weren't there with me. I suddenly missed you terribly and decided that I needed to come here."

Scully was shocked. Usually when Mulder said these kinds of things, he would stammer, look embarrassed and avoid eye contact. Tonight however, he said them in confidence, looking straight into her eyes. "Why did you need to come here?" Scully asked, both afraid of what might happen and hoping that it would.

"Because I've wanted to do this for about four years now and tonight seems like the proper time." Before Scully could reply, Mulder covered her lips with his. With that one kiss, all five years of hidden feelings Scully kept inside rushed to the surface, and she held onto Mulder as if her life depended on it.

They dropped onto Scully's couch. "By the way, this is what I would have done while in that pool of mud."

She pulled him closer and began to take off his shirt, "this is what I would have done."

At that moment, by some sick twist of fate, the phone rang. Mulder put his head on Scully's chest, "don't answer that, please!"

Scully gave him a quick kiss and reached behind her for the phone, hoping that it wasn't Skinner. "Hello ... mom ... what is it, it's late. Well yeah, I was right in the middle of something."

Mulder chose at that moment to make his presence known. He called "hi Mrs. Scully. How are you doing?"

With that, he began to free Scully from her shirt as well. With a look of complete contentment, Scully said into the phone, "yes mom ... that is what I'm in the middle of ... Call me tomorrow, late." With that she hung up the phone and continued what she had started.

Mulder suddenly looked up from his exploration of Scully's stomach. "I just realized something. I am completely, helplessly, hopelessly, madly in love with you."

"To tell you the truth Mulder, I will love you forever: completely, helplessly, hopelessly and madly."

Without a word, Mulder picked Scully up and carried her into the bedroom. Both decided that the rest of their vacation would be spent in Scully's bed, starting now.

#msr #lost keys and shirt removal #my writing #originally on Gossamer

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flipomatic · 4 years ago

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A New World Chapter 22: Training Camp Day 4

Author Note: While I was away, Roselia’s third band story was released. I read a summary, but it will not be influencing this fic in any way.

First Chapter Previous Chapter

_________________________________________________________

With only two members in the studio, the room was quiet. That suited Rinko just fine, as she needed to focus completely on the lyrics Yukina presented to her.

When Sayo told her that they would take the morning off practicing to work on writing a new song, Rinko had fully supported the idea. Now was the perfect time to do so, especially since they could record the song this week.

It turned out Yukina had rejected the board game last night to work on the lyrics, since she still needed to put the final touches on them. It was disappointing that she couldn’t play, but when Lisa returned and eagerly joined, the mood turned around.

The other three band members were upstairs this morning, though Rinko didn’t know what they were doing. They hadn’t decided yet when she left, and she couldn’t hear them from the studio. Sayo was going to help with the guitar parts once they had the base of the song done, which would probably be by tomorrow.

Now, with the band split up, it was time to create the song. When Yukina handed Rinko the lyrics, she admitted that she hadn’t been able to complete them until last night. Right now, here at the training camp, was the only time she could’ve written them.

The title line for the song was blank. The lyrics spoke of the unification of the band, they way that they came together to seek the top. Each member had a line during the second half of the verse, leading to them all singing together. The lines of the chorus carried a similar message, looking up and towards the future.

They were great lyrics. Rinko’s thoughts went to the song she’d been working on, playing the melody in her mind. She tried to slot the words in, but it wasn’t going to work. That melody didn’t quite fit these lyrics.

No, she would need to create something new.

Rinko looked up from the notebook, which was perched on a music stand behind her keyboard, eyes meeting Yukina’s. The singer had been watching her read with steady golden eyes, waiting for her reaction.

“D-do you have a tempo in mind?” Rinko asked, not giving her judgement yet on the lyrics.

Yukina’s forehead wrinkled as she thought of a reply. “On the faster side, I think over 180 would be best.” Most of their music was around that tempo, so it made sense. It also matched what Rinko expected; she was right to set aside her other melody.

She leaned forward to click on the metronome that was part of her keyboard, turning the dial up to 180 beats per minute. Rinko reviewed the lyrics again as she listened to it, toe tapping in half time.

Yukina had her hands together in her lap, finger tapping lightly with each beat. Her eyes were narrowed as she focused.

Rinko let the metronome play for a couple minutes, turning over a few potential melodies in her mind. When she glanced back at Yukina, the vocalist had a distinct gleam in her eye. It seemed like she had an idea. Rinko clicked the metronome off.

“How about this, in 4/4 time.” Yukina didn’t wait, jumping right into presenting her idea. She sang a two measure phrase, much slower than the tempo they were just listening to. She sang in a major key signature, Rinko would need to ask exactly which one. It used a quarter note followed by half notes in the first measure, and then a syncopated rhythm in the second. The tune went up and down with each note, ending on a lower one.

Rinko played it on her keyboard, matching the notes Yukina sang as closely as she could. Yukina nodded, offering a tweak to one of the notes and clarifying the key signature. It sounded even better the second time.

“This could work... on the verses.” Rinko handed the lyric sheet back to Yukina, and then played the tune slowly multiple times in a row. Yukina joined on the second set, singing the portion where the band members counted off. It lined up well, and with a few more tweaks it would be perfect.

The pair stopped, with Rinko grabbing her blank sheet music to jot the phrase down.

Next, they modified it to fit the earlier part of the verse. It wasn’t quite as urgent, and didn’t need as many half notes. After that came the melody of the chorus, which called for a new tune. It could use some of the same notes as the verse, but needed to do a lot more lifting.

They tried a few different melodic lines until they found one that worked and matched well with the verses. It conveyed the emotion of the lyrics as well, lifting the notes and the band higher.

With those three core aspects decided, the two split up for half an hour to work independently. Yukina needed to decide how she would sing the song, while Rinko prepared the first rough draft of the melody on sheet music.

Rinko worked carefully on her task, connecting the portions together. The second verse and bridge would still need more foundation, but they were off to a good start. Maybe Sayo would want to help with the bridge, beyond writing just the guitar part for it. She made a mental note to ask her.

Rinko was able to finish the draft in the half hour designated, then prepared to play it with Yukina. They worked their way through the piece slowly, stopping every few measures to make corrections.

It was a good idea to write a new song; the band needed one. They would keep working until lunch, writing the rest of the melody and adding other instruments. The song was slowly coming together.

As she played, Rinko wondered what was going on upstairs.

______________________________________________________

Training camp was a great time to try new things. Ako truly believed that, from the bottom of her heart. So when Rinko and Yukina split off to work on a new song, that opened up a morning full of opportunities.

Though they couldn’t go far from the house, there was still so much they could do! They could play games or go on an adventure. This house must have had some secrets it was hiding, if Ako only looked close enough to find them. They could also bake, or perhaps compose a song of their own. That would really surprise Rinko and Yukina.

As the other two members went down to the studio, Ako proposed these ideas to Lisa and Sayo. She was excited, regardless of which one was chosen.

The three were standing in a circle in the kitchen, near the main table.

“It’s been a while since we baked together.” Sayo lifted one hand to her chin as she considered the idea. “Not since last fall.”

“Baking sounds like a great idea!” Lisa voiced her agreement. Both of them baked as a hobby, so it made sense that they would pick it.

Sayo frowned slightly. “It might help with the mood too.” Her eyes flicked towards the stairs leading to the studio.

“Yeah…” Lisa sighed, smile slipping away as her voice trailed off.

Ako wasn’t sure what they meant; the mood had been way better over the last couple days. “What should we make?” She wasn’t that familiar with baking. Sure, she’d eaten many a baked good in her time, but she didn’t have much experience making them. Despite that, she was eager to jump in and learn.

“How about cookies?” Sayo’s attention snapped to Ako as she replied, taking her phone out of her pocket and looking down at the screen. “There’s a new recipe I’ve been meaning to try.” She tapped multiple times on the screen.

A moment later Ako’s phone buzzed; Sayo had sent her the link. Lisa must’ve received it too, since she also looked at her phone. Ako opened the recipe and scrolled through it, skimming the ingredients list and directions. It was for sugar cookies, ones that could be cut into fun shapes.

“This looks doable.” Lisa commented as she did the same. “We might need a few more ingredients.”

Oh, that would be the adventure Ako was looking for. “Let’s go shopping!” She raised one fist in the air.

“We should.” Sayo stepped over to the fridge, opening it to look inside. “I’ll make a list of what we still need.” She started typing again on her phone.

Lisa stepped up next to her to peer inside. “We can make the frosting too, add confectioner’s sugar to the list.” Ako hadn’t heard of that, but it had the words sugar in it, so it was probably tasty.

“Alright.”

“Ooh, let’s get some food dye too.” Ako could already picture the cool cookies she’d make, in shape of bats or instruments. Colored frosting would make them even better.

Lisa shot back a thumbs up, stepping back from the fridge. She moved over to the cabinet, looking inside at the baking supplies available. Sayo followed a moment later. Ako didn’t know what they were looking for, so she waited right where she was.

A minute later, and they seemed satisfied with what they saw. Sayo led the way out of the kitchen and back to the front door, where they put their shoes on and ventured out into the world.

The market was only a ten minute walk from the house, a journey Ako had made already a few times. The trio walked there with ease, making small talk about the weather.

They quickly gathered the needed items once inside, which included the confectioner’s sugar, vanilla extract, and food dye, along with other ingredients.

Once they had bought everything, they walked back to the house. The bags were split between the three, with Ako carrying two of them.

Soon, they were re-entering the house and setting the ingredients down in the kitchen. Ako listened to see if she could hear the piano, since it had been a while since they got started downstairs, but the studio was too good at keeping sound in.

“We’ll start with the cookie dough, then make the frosting while it chills.” Lisa said, taking charge with her high-level baking knowledge. She washed her hands at the sink, which was probably a good idea. Sayo went next, followed by Ako.

“I’ll start mixing dry ingredients.” Sayo said after drying her hands. She took a large bowl out of the cupboard and settled at one of the counters.

“That means we have the wet ones.” Lisa took a smaller bowl from the same cupboard, moving to a counter away from Sayo. “Ako, can you grab a spatula?” She pointed to one of the drawers on the other side of the kitchen.

Of course she could do that! Ako stepped around the other two to reach the drawer, opening it to look for the desired object. Surprisingly, there were a few different colored spatulas to choose from, but she settled on a black one. At the other counter, Sayo was very carefully measuring the flour.

When Ako got back to Lisa, her friend had already gathered a few of the wet ingredients. “That’s perfect.” She said, eyeing the spatula Ako clenched in one fist. “I’ll add ingredients while you stir.”

“Sounds good!” Ako stepped in front of the bowl as Lisa moved to the side, plunging her spatula down inside it. There already was an egg cracked at the bottom, so Ako began to stir it. Each time her spatula scaped the side, she imagined the echo of a cymbal hit.

As she stirred, Lisa dropped in more ingredients. The vanilla was easy to mix in, while the butter was tougher. Ako kept at it, stirring the mixture firmly. This wasn’t so hard; she could totally do this! Soon, it had reached a consistent texture.

Lisa had been standing aside, and she leaned over the bowl to take a look. “Looks great Ako!” She then turned to Sayo. “Are the dry ingredients ready?”

There was a bit of white dust in Sayo’s hair, clinging to the ends of it. She was dumping one last teaspoon of powder into her mixture. “Just finished.” She picked the large bowl up, bringing it over the Lisa and Ako.

“Let’s combine them.” Lisa gestured for Ako to pass her the spatula, which she did as she stepped back from the bowl. With apparent ease, Lisa lifted the smaller bowl and poured the contents into the larger one. She then stuck the spatula inside and began to stir. Sayo took the smaller bowl to wash, while Ako moved closer to peer at the mixture.

“It already looks great.” Ako commented.

“They’re gonna be delicious.” Lisa stirred carefully, mixing the ingredients together. The dough was thick and clung to the spatula.

When Sayo finished washing the bowl, she looked in the cupboard again. Ako hopped over to see if she needed any help. Sayo emerged with a box of wax paper, which she unrolled onto one of the counters. “We’ll need two.” She said, tearing the first piece off and offering it to Ako.

Ako held it tightly as Sayo tore another one off, and soon both were ready. It was good timing, since Lisa was just about done mixing the dough. They brought the paper over to her counter, since the bowl was harder to move. Sayo gained a rolling pin along the way.

Ako marveled at how in sync Sayo and Lisa were in the kitchen. She knew they had baked together before, but it was still amazing to watch them work together.

“Ako, have you rolled dough before?” Lisa asked as she took the sheet of wax paper from the teen, spreading it on the table.

“Nope.” Ako replied honestly. She was eager to try.

“No better time to learn.” Lisa scooped some of the dough out with her hands, placing it on the wax paper. She only took about half of it out, before taking the second sheet from Sayo. It was placed on top of the dough, leaving it pressed between the two. “Sayo’ll guide you, she’s an expert.”

Sayo’s cheeks dusted pink at that, but she didn’t comment on it. “Let’s get started then.” She handed the rolling pin to Ako, showing her how to hold it on both sides. “Don’t press too hard. We’re aiming for one quarter inch, not completely flat.”

Ako grit her teeth in determination as she lowered the rolling pin down onto the dough pile. She slowly rolled over the top of it, carefully pushing it down.

“You can push a little harder.” Sayo was right by her side, watching her every move.

Ako did as instructed, applying more pressure to the dough. The rolling pin moved over it smoothly, steadily making it flatter and flatter. It was easy with the wax paper, since the pin couldn’t stick to the dough. She rolled rhythmically, two beats up and two beats back. A rhythm formed in her mind, around the movement of the pin.

Once she thought it was close, she stopped. Ako leaned over to look at the thickness, trying to decide if this was one quarter inch. She had no idea; it was super hard to tell.

Sayo had leaned down on the other side, checking the same thing. “A little more.” She said as her final judgement.

With just a few more sweeps of the rolling pin, the first half was done. Ako beamed as she lifted the rolling pin off, marveling at what they’d made. Behind her, Lisa had appeared with a baking sheet. She placed the tray next to it, removed the top wax paper layer, then flipped it expertly onto the tray. Once Lisa took the tray away, it was time to roll the rest of the dough.

“I’ll do the second half.” Sayo said as she started scooping the remaining dough onto the paper. “If you don’t mind washing the bowl.”

“I’m on it!” Once the dough was all out, Ako took the bowl over to the sink. It really was a large bowl, but she shouldn’t have too much trouble cleaning it.

By the time she was done, the front of her shirt was drenched and the second set of dough was ready. Lisa transferred it to a second baking sheet to put in the fridge with the other one.

“In an hour, we can cut them into shapes.” Lisa declared as she shut the fridge. “Let’s do the frosting for now.”

“What colors are we making?” Sayo asked, taking the food dye they’d bought out of the bag.

“Black and white for sure.” Ako wanted to make sure of it, so she could make cool bat cookies and a piano for Rinko.

“Blue and red too, if you’re alright with making four.” Lisa directed her words at Sayo.

“That’s fine, we’ll just divide it before we add the food dye.” Sayo retrieved the small bowl, the one Ako stirred the wet ingredients in before.

They soon had prepared all four colors of frosting, which Ako just had to sample to see if they tasted the same. Unsurprisingly, they did.

The cookie dough had chilled long enough by that point, so they cut it into shapes and then put it in the oven.

Ako watched through the tiny window as the cookies baked, eager to frost them. She was even more excited to see Rinko and Yukina’s reactions when they received them.

She hoped the song writing was going well downstairs.

________________________________________________________

Lisa carried the small bag carefully in her hand. The plastic was clear, showing the handmade goods inside.

Making cookies earlier had been a fantastic idea, exactly what Lisa needed. The recipe Sayo found was a good one; she would make some after training camp to give to Ai. That was a thought for later though.

For now, she had hoped that the band resyncing would improve Yukina’s mood, but so far it hadn’t been going that well. Over the last few days Yukina was still hard to talk to, even as the band thrived. They’d talked about music, of course, but outside of that it almost felt like Yukina was avoiding her. Even during rehearsal that afternoon, Yukina hardly looked her way. Perhaps she was still worried about the band, about what would happen after the training camp.

Tonight, with these cookies, Lisa hoped to change that. If Yukina refused to talk with her, the cookies were her way in. Even if their relationship wasn’t going to evolve, she would never allow their friendship to fall apart.

This led Lisa to where she was now, standing in the hallway of the rented house. Yukina had excused herself from the room a few minutes before, taking her headphones and notebook out to the main part of the house. Lisa watched her go, before deciding to follow. She took the bag of cookies with her, the ones she decorated specifically for Yukina.

As Lisa lurked in the hallway, watching Yukina as she sat at the main kitchen table, she felt hesitation creeping into her mind. Doubt, one of her worst enemies, whispered in her ear. Was it right to keep forcing Yukina to talk to her if she didn’t want to? It had to be her fault too, that their relationship was declining. Was this really for the best?

No, she shouldn’t think like that. Lisa snapped herself out of it, shaking her head firmly. Yukina valued their friendship as much as she did; she knew that. Even with everything that had changed, she was doing the right thing by trying to preserve it.

With that in mind, Lisa stepped out of the hallway and into the kitchen. Yukina had her eyes on her notebook, headphones over her ears. She was reading something as she listened, following along with her finger. It must’ve been the new song. Lisa sat across from her at the table and held the cookie bag out of sight underneath it. Yukina’s eyes slowly came up from the paper, locking on Lisa’s.

For a moment, Lisa just looked at her. Yukina, her best friend in the world, was holding her gaze with a mildly confused look. Her eyebrows came together slowly, silently asking a question.

“Do you have a minute?” Lisa asked rather than explaining, internally cringing at how awkward of a question that was.

Yukina nodded, lifting her headphones over her ears and setting them on the table. “Is something wrong?” Her voice was level.

“No, um, not really.” That wasn’t quite the truth, but Lisa didn’t want to continue the conversation down that path. “I just, wanted to talk to you.”

Yukina broke eye contact, looking at a spot over Lisa’s shoulder. “I see.” She said unhelpfully. She had closed herself off, as she so often did.

Lisa was undeterred. “How did song writing go today?”

“Rinko is very talented.” Was what Yukina said in reply, now directing her gaze back down to the notebook. She didn’t elaborate.

“Of course!” Lisa provided the energy for both of them. “She’s Roselia’s pianist after all.”

Yukina didn’t respond, instead fidgeting with the corner of her notebook.

Lisa watched her, took in every little motion. A minute passed, the tension in the air only growing. Usually they could sit in comfortable silence, but today neither was comfortable. Lisa had too much she needed to say. She just had to bring herself to say it.

“Is that all?” Yukina asked the question without looking up, her tone cold. Despite the chill to her words, there was a hint of insecurity. It pushed Lisa forward.

“No, it isn’t.” Lisa took a deep breath to center herself, her hand tightening on the bag. “You know I’m here for you, right? Don’t push me away.” She fought to keep her voice steady, to not let loose the emotions boiling beneath the surface. Gold eyes came back to hers, smoldering with unreadable sentiment. “Whether Roselia continues or not, I’ll stay by your side. No matter what happens, I will always be your friend.” That was a line full of mixed feelings. It hurt, to again admit that they would never be more than friends. It was also a relief, to finally express some of how she felt to Yukina.

Yukina’s expression flashed to something Lisa couldn’t quite place as she processed the words, mouth opening as if to speak. She inhaled, then exhaled without saying anything. Then, as if realizing something, Yukina’s expression snapped back to composed. It took her a few more seconds to reply. “I’m sorry I’ve been short with you.” She practically muttered; it was rare for her to apologize. Lisa’s heart throbbed in her chest. “I’ll remember that. I’m your friend too.”

That was all Lisa wanted. She felt tears welling up in her eyes with relief, but quickly rubbed them away with her free hand. Yukina looked alarmed and moved to stand, but Lisa waved for her to stay seated. She was so endearing when she tried to help. “I’m glad.” Lisa said, again wiping one forming tear.

“Do you need a tissue? I’ll get one.” Yukina offered, speaking faster than usual.

Lisa shook her head, already recovering. “No, I’m fine now.” It was still a lie, but much less of one than what she said before. The plastic bag crinkled between her fingers, reminding her of its presence. She still needed to give it to her. “I almost forgot; these are for you.” Lisa lifted the bag of cookies, reaching across the table to hold them out to Yukina.

Yukina’s golden eyes widened with surprise as she reached up to accept the bag. “Thank you.” She replied politely, tugging at the ribbon to open the plastic. Lisa could hear her inhale sharply when she saw what was inside.

These cookies were in the shape of small blue roses, with careful frosting work to match. The lines were done in black so that it was clear exactly what they were supposed to be. It had been a test of her frosting skills, but she thought they turned out well. Lisa made them while Ako and Sayo made tiny keyboard cookies.

Yukina’s expression softened as she carefully took one out of the bag, setting it on the table to get a better look at it. “I love them, they’re almost too good to eat.” She raised one eyebrow with the second half.

Lisa laughed at that, unable to resist Yukina’s jokes. “You’d better eat them.” She chuckled, drawing a smile from Yukina.

“Oh, I almost forgot.” Yukina picked her headphones up from where they rested on the table. “Do you want to listen to the new song demo?”

That was an easy one. “Yes, for sure.” Lisa reached over to take the headphones, slipping them over her head. With a slight tug to extend them, they fit easily over her ears. Yukina moved over the lyrics as well, so Lisa could follow along. “Do you have a title yet?” Lisa asked before Yukina could start the music, noticing that there wasn’t one at the top of the page.

“No, not yet.” Yukina replied, then hit a button on her phone. The piano track played in Lisa’s ears, along with Yukina’s singing. It sounded slow, likely not at tempo. Even at the lower tempo, it carried a high level of energy.

Yukina’s voice sounded strong, carrying the song from start to finish. Lisa had always loved her singing, loved watching her perform. She’d always loved her, though she was trying to avoid that thought.

For now, as the song finished in her ears and Yukina slowly ate one of the blue rose cookies, they would continue to be best friends. They would continue to play in Roselia together.

For now, that was enough.

_________________________________________________________

End note: I listened to a metronome again for this.

I have decided the total chapter count, since I now know how many more training camp chapters there will be and how many chapters are planned after that. If I need to change it I will, but 30 is the anticipated final chapter count.

This chapter, and the mini arc as a whole, got away from me in a big way. Two more chapters then we’re back to our regularly scheduled programming. I hope you are still enjoying it, and thanks for reading!

Next Chapter

#bandori fic #bang dream fic #yukilisa #lisayuki #imai lisa #minato yukina #udagawa ako #hikawa sayo #shirokane rinko #this chapter got way out of hand #this whole mini arc is #way out of hand #it wasn't supposed to focus on the romance subplot!#I just have no self control!#flip writes

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dietsauthority · 5 years ago

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Diet blog: the 1950s healthy diet

Last time I was checking out the new crop of diet regimens for the period however really there is little genuinely brand-new in the globe of diet plans, exists? A lot of are just tweaking things that have gone in the past. E.g. the 5:2 diet plan was based on reducing calories, however in a slightly a lot more radical way compared to normal.

Many modern-day diet plans, we discovered, are variants on the Mediterranean motif - the timeless Med style, that is (since the reality is that a lot of individuals in the Mediterranean nations today don't consume a healthy Mediterranean diet regimen anymore compared to we do!).

10 healthy Mediterranean foods

And similarly, in the UK, we no longer eat a typical British diet plan, yet a rag bag of meals from right here and there throughout the globe. Probably it is this diverse mix of hamburgers, bakes and also curries that makes us one of the fattest nations in the world.

What would certainly occur if we returned to eating the food of our parents and grandparents, of the initial 50 years of the 20th century? Would certainly we after that be as slim as well as healthy and balanced as individuals of southerly Italy?

I tried to assume exactly what my very own family consumed when I was a kid in the 1950s, and ultimately a lot of the week's consuming came back to me. It was Weetabix for breakfast with milk (constantly complete fat naturally) and a little bit of white sugar during the week, with steamed egg and also salute on a Saturday and bacon and agitate a Sunday. School lunches during the week - little and also simple and also not what you 'd want second assistings of - packed lamb's heart, anyone?

Old-fashioned British superfoods

At weekend breaks, our primary dish of the day was at lunch break. Perhaps lamb or pork slice, mash and eco-friendly veggies or a meat stew with root veggies on a Saturday, or in summertime a salad with salad lotion as well as either ham or cheese, and bread. Our standard Sunday lunch was typically roast poultry and also numerous plainly-cooked veggies, complied with by a fruit fall apart with Birds custard. Week day night dishes were frequently a lot more like snacks, if we would certainly had college 'supper'. Beans on toast or poached prompt toast, for instance, or a bowl of soup or a cheese as well as tomato sandwich or tinned salmon with cucumber and also lettuce. On Friday nights, we might have a little item of white fish each, clearly prepared with boiled potatoes, peas and also salad lotion again.

I don't remember consuming treats between dishes apart from a couple of desserts after allocating ended in 1953, at the weekend break. I do not recall ever before feeling hungry adequate in between meals to yearn for one. Possibly the periodic little (and they were small) bag of Smith's Crisps with the little salt wrap inside the bag, however primarily snacks were British fruits such as apples, pears, plums or berries in summertime, which we 'd additionally eat, raw, as a pudding most days of the week.

Take control of snacking

It's incredible to assume that in the Fifties as well as early 60s, my mother had the milk supplied and in summer had a hole in the ground covered by a stone piece, to maintain it cool down.

Without a freezer or also a fridge, we truly did eat seasonally. We also ate in your area as well as, doing not have the influence of most foreign country cuisines, we ate plain. An orange at the end of your Xmas equipping actually was an impressive reward.

So, was this a healthy diet regimen or was it not? In lots of methods, yes. The simplicity of the food indicated that we were most likely consuming many less calories as well as much less fat and sugar compared to most individuals do today. Parts were a lot smaller compared to the majority of people consume now. I think every person had got so utilized to allocating that it was hard to obtain out of the practice. We also had the tendency to eat even more healthy protein (when meat rationing finished, anyway) and less polished carb, which numerous professionals believe today is a simple means to stay slim. We had lots of vegetables, specifically leafy greens. And also the fruits we consumed were naturally lower in sugars compared to a lot of the fruit eaten today. Fruit was a reward instead of something we ate two or three times a day - I am a great follower that when obtaining your five, seven or ten a day (whichever edict you follow!) they should primarily be vegetables as opposed to fruit.

10 ways to eat less sugar

We consumed pulses - soups as well as stews with lentils were the favorite and also we had raw nuts when we could get them, that we had to crack open ourselves to make sure that naturally restricted the quantity.

We ate butter rather compared to any type of other sort of spread - once again, finding favour today.

With no refrigeration there was little immediately readily available to eat at home except exactly what was prepared for meals, at which the whole family gathered. You were thankful to consume exactly what you were offered and nothing else. As well as when you were out and also about, snack foods were tough to find by, not ubiquitous.

Downside? Maybe we didn't consume adequate fish, but that could simply have been our household as I understand the angling industry was growing and also our seas loaded, as well as we really did not often tend to eat any 'exotic' oils, such as olive oil, which you couldn't get except in 100ml bottles at the drug store, however however, occurrence of cardiovascular disease after that was pretty low.

We consumed a whole lot of dairy and eggs, both now back on the 'excellent food' listing. I never ever tasted yogurt until I was 15, and also then it was a Ski blackcurrant yogurt rather than an organic natural. We would certainly not listened to of promoting healthy and balanced gut bacteria in those days, however we currently understand that prime aged cheeses do the exact same job, and also we had lots of those.

So, on balance, I 'd claim we ate well. Moderately, yet with everything we needed to be slim yet strong, full of power and also with a full collection of teeth not decomposed by sugar. Most importantly, we certainly consumed to live, as opposed to living to eat. And if we had a treat - an item of chocolate, or a (small) slice of cake - it was simply that, a periodic treat, not an everyday or per hour event.

I never assumed I 'd say this, yet I'm rather missing those meals of my childhood right now.

It really is not a lot which nation has the healthiest diet plan, I am sure, but how we discover a way of returning to a lengthy gone design of eating, whether that remains in the UK or down Sicily means.

#a healthy diet #diet #diet plans #healthiest diet #healthy diet #liquid diet

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liloelsagranger · 8 years ago

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New Rocketshipping-oneshot (still SFW - I hope)

Hello my friends :) Excuse my absence for such a long time. Things have been busy, plus I was on holidays and not really active. Anyways, I wrote a new oneshot and let me tell you this: It cost me so much overcoming to write this. As some of you may now, I do have problems with NSFW-fanfictions and oneshots, because on the one hand I’m a true Rocketshipper and I believe that Jessie and James belong together, but on the other hand, I don’t want to read that they’re doing IT. So, while writing this oneshot, I felt strange and insecure, because I wasn’t sure if it’s too much for my standards. My diligent readers know that I like to write innocent stories, kissing and making out is okay, but NOT more. This time, there are some hints that might make you wonder. I hope you won’t hate me for this and are still able to enjoy “Despacito”. Attention: Since English is not my mothertongue you might find some spelling mistakes or syntax errors. I apologize in advance. My mothertongue is Swiss-German so I normally imagine a sentence in German and try to translate it as well as possible into English, sometimes there is a lack of vocabulary or I don't find a match or the appropriate idiom but I want to improve my English and become a better writer. Another thing I want to make clear is that I use „..." to introduce direct speech! „ are not commas but the German quotation marks, just to avoid confusion. Note from the author: During my holidays in Italy, I gathered a lot of impressions that led to this oneshot. One of my hobbies, you may also call it a tic, is to observe people of all ages, enjoying their days off, happy-go-lucky, no worries, no sorrows. My boyfriend and I used to play a game called „Truth or truth“, because adding the dare-factor would have been too complicated to ply in public. We had so much fun learning about secrets of the other person, but also about wishes, dreams and plans for the future. The title of this oneshot „Despacito“ is a tribute to this Latin-American song that was played in each and every single bar, at the mall and at the beach. It’s been long ago since I last published something. This story demands much will-power, I wanted to write something that evokes certain emotions but at the same time I wanted to feel comfortable when committing my ideas to paper. Have fun. Despacito It was the time of the year, when Team Rocket was allowed to take a few days off from work. The laborious and vain hunt for Pikachu could wait. Meowth had informed his team mates long ago, that he would turn back to his former pack and try to pour oil on troubled water. Jessie and James had agreed and decided to take the next flight to a destination far away from their usual whereabouts: Italy. Back at their base, the lavender-haired man rummaged around the attic where they used to store battered suitcases and carpetbags. It didn’t take the agents long to pack in their belongings, some very small summer dresses for Jessie and a couple of shorts with a palm print for her best friend and travel companion. They booked two tickets to the east coast of the boot, a tiny, but inviting hotel and made sure that it provided meals on a full-board basis, since they wanted to fill their bellies and gorge on opulent meals and creamy desserts. Only two days later, Jessie and James arrived in Rimini. It was a typical tourist city. People from all over the world snatched their deckchairs and parasols, trying to get a nice suntan. Their room was rather small and needily equipped. There was a double bed with dark brown pillows and an orange coverlet, fitting curtains and a tiny bureau with only one chair. Jessie entered the bathroom. „James, we don’t have a shower,“ she exclaimed, starting to feel uneasy. How would she be able to spend a few days in a minute bedroom without the possibility to wash off the tickling and itching sand? Her friend joined her and examined the wet cell. „Well, there it is,“ he pointed at a shower head. „It seems that the water drains directly off the floor,“ he explained. Jessie sighed with relief. She didn’t want her immaculate skin to suffer. James unpacked his shirts and pants, satisfied to get himself out of uniform for the upcoming week. The magenta-haired woman slipped into a light blue sundress, applied some lipstick and mascara and was ready to have a feast. They walked downstairs, meeting other guests on their way to the dining room. Each of them greeted them welcomingly, but Jessie noticed the inquisitive looks in their eyes. ‚Do they assume that James and I are a couple?’ she asked herself while fetching a salad bowl. She took a peek at her team mate. He was fully concentrated on the wide range of vegetables presented on silver trays. The owners of the hotel, a young man and his aunt, were hurrying from one table to the other, busy reading every wish from their sojourners lips. Some people had allergic reactions to certain food ingredients, so they always needed a further ace up their sleeves in order to provide the guests with tidbits. Jessie piled up eggplants, carrots and tomatoes, snatching the salad tongs from under an elderly man’s nose. She had to admit that she was starving. Being a Team Rocket-member meant to live in poverty. Sometimes, she, James and Meowth had to share one single cookie. They always endeavoured to share it equally, but conflicts couldn’t be precluded. James called her to their assigned table. „It’s nice here, isn’t it?“ he said, observing Giovanna who approached them with an oversized dish filled with Pastina. „Oh, my little darlings. Look at you, nothing but skin and bones,“ she tweaked James’ arm. He blushed sheepishly. „We’ll feed you up, don’t worry,“ Giovanna poured hot broth into their soup plates. Jessie and James thanked her and began to spoon out the peas and noodles. They were slurping and smacking without regard to others. Some of the guests turned around, shaking their heads and not showing any understanding for Jessie’s and James’ table manners. The second course consisted of a pork cutlet alla Valdostana. Team Rocket’s eyes radiated stronger than the sun. It made their mouths water. „Delicious,“ Jessie munched. „I’m going to move to Italy and pursue a career as holiday entertainer, spending the rest of my life gormandizing in style,“ she laughed. James was glad to see his partner smile. After a couple of forfeited showcase performances, Jessie seemed to have lost her motivation and steadfast self-confidence. He wanted her to forget about the loss and provide an opportunity for different thoughts. The dessert was not long in coming. The cooks had surpassed themselves. Giovanna and Francesco served their guests chocolate pudding with Amaretto-crumbles on it. The pudding was literarily melting on their tongues. Jessie scraped the remains off her small plate, licking the teaspoon. James picked up the crumbles from the tablecloth, he had never eaten something more scrumptious before. „Meowth would definitely love it here,“ he supposed. „That sweet tooth wouldn’t get enough of these delicacies, he’s such a glutton!“ Jessie wiped off the chocolate from the rims of her mouth. „Would you like to take a walk?“ James asked her. She nodded and they stood up, greeting their neighbours, before leaving the dining room direction shopping street. „Are you going to watch the spectacular fireworks? You’re adorable,“ Giovanna shouted from behind the counter. Jessie looked at James. Both felt a little bit overstrained with the owners cordiality and care. Never had the Team Rocket-agents experienced such benevolence before. Giovanna and Francesco saw about their customers with great welfare, making them feel sheltered and in good hands. Jessie and James made a turn to the left. James was visibly nervous. Could these few days off finally lead him to a long-awaited desire? He couldn’t tell Jessie the truth. How would she react? Would she rebuff him or did she feel the same? Meowth wasn’t here to interrupt him a second time. James tried to focus on the countless minimarkets, gelaterias and bars. They squeezed themselves through a crowd of people until they spotted a cafe bathed in cool purple colors. They sat down on two seat cushions asking the waitress for the drinks menu. „Ugh!“ Jessie had a disgusted expression on her face. „What’s wrong, Jess?“ James asked, observing the waitress how she tried to clean the filthy toilet with her bare hands. „The list of beverages is sticky as if someone had spilled his drink on it,“ she dropped the card and stood up. „Come’on, that was a huge mistake. Let’s find a better place to get wasted,“ she took James by the hand and they tiptoed out of the bar, Jessie pursing candies into her small bag, some kind of reparation. Her friend followed her silently, pleasantly surprised by her gesture. They walked straightaway until they reached another bar called „The Pirate’s eye patch“. It was a rather dark place with a few tables and chairs along the street. The waitress yawned widely, obviously tired and exhausted after a never-ending working day. She approached Jessie and James, presenting them with a new and unused drinks menu. „I’ll go for a Mojito. What would you fancy?“ James wondered, wistfully watching his team mate. „Sex on the beach“, Jessie replied. James jumped up. „Okay, let’s go“, he kidded.

Her jaw dropped. „James!“ she nudged him with her elbow. „What’s going on with you?“ I haven’t seen you so serene and happy-go-lucky in months,“ luckily he couldn’t see her blushing to the roots of her hair. James chuckled and sat back down. „I was just joking, Jess Jess“, he caressed her thigh. „Take things easy. I think it’s just the weather, the sea and the fact that we don’t need to care about Ash and his yellow rat for a change. It’s the two of us, relaxing, sunbathing and glutting ourselves till the doctor comes,“ he answered. Jessie cocked an eyebrow. James used to be the restrained and fearful pathetic guy who enjoyed nothing more than spending time with his beloved Pokémon and who was afraid of committing himself to a relationship or even think about it. Even if it was just a joke, an insignificance, it made her wonder. Was he hiding something? Did he feel the same? She let the matter rest. The waitress took their order and disappeared behind the counter, urging the barista to prepare the drinks. James slumped into his chair, finally realizing that he didn’t need to work on a new mecha, nor fearing a phone call from their boss. The drinks were served and the agents clinked glasses. „To us, to an unforgettable holiday,“ he winked at Jessie. They took a sip of their cocktails, puffed and blew. „It’s so strong,“ Jessie had tears in her eyes. „Hey, you wanted to get wasted, right?“, James took another sip of his Mojito, fishing out a slice of lime and sucking it. The sourness made his hair stood on end. „Let’s play truth or dare,“ Jessie suggested, slowly but surely feeling the alcohol. „Oh no, please give me a break!“ James yammered, he was crushing ice with a straw. „Okay, then let’s play truth or truth,“ she said, hoping that he would join in. „For all I care.“ „Here are the rules: You’re only allowed to ask one question at a time. You’re not allowed to answer your own question and the questions have to be terribly personal. Don’t ask me about my favourite ice cream flavours. No one cares about it. Get it?“ „Got it!“ „Good. Question number one,“ Jessie turned the chair to her friend. „Which Pokémon that accompanied us on our journeys did you like the most? Choose,“ she asked him. „That’s unfair. You know exactly that I love all my little babies and that they’re of great importance to me. Think about Koffing and his sad eyes, or Chimecho that I had to leave at my grandaparent’s home, or Mime Jr., man that’s hard,“ Jessie noticed how James struggled with this question and she already knew the answer. He would never favour one of his Pokémon, they were his children. „I can’t decide, Jess. Love them all,“ he admitted. „Well, that’s really going to be fun playing truth or truth with you,“ she took another sip of her drink, watching a group of young men walking past their table. They were muscly and well-conditioned, giving her the eye. James harrumphed loudly. „Jessie, if you have had the opportunity to become a nurse, would you be happier by now?“ She briefly considered that thought. „No,“ she answered. „Why not?“ he wanted to know. „Because I would have never met you and Meowth. Although we like to go for each other’s throat from time to time, I’d miss you guys. We’re family, right?“ she gazed into his emerald-green eyes and smiled. „To the best trio,“ they clinked their glasses one more time, their foreheads touching. James was so close to her ruby lips. He could feel her breath on his face. He wanted to do it, but backed down. After a moment of silence, Jessie pulled away. „Next question. Would you ever turn back to Jessiebelle?“ she asked. James who was taking a big sip from his Mojito, chocked and blanched. „Never,“ he yelled.

„Not even for a large sum of money that would release us from our debts?“ she wondered.

„No, Jess, no!“ he was close to tears. „She’s a maniac! If I were so stupid to turn back and accept the marriage, she would probably torture me to the bones, like she used to do it when we were teenagers,“ his voice cracked. Thinking back to his ruined childhood made him shiver. He wanted to change the subject as quickly as possible. „I’m going to ask you: is there a person in your life that you would like to kiss?“ he inquired. Jessie nodded. „Yes, there is,“ she had a mischievous grin on her face and giggled. James loosened his collar, he felt tipsy. Jessie tied up her long hair. „James, have you gained experiences with women yet?“ she asked, clearly strucking a nerve. He hung his head in shame, remembering the time he dated Jessiebelle. „Yes, I have,“ he admitted whispering, not proud to call that southern battleaxe his ex-girlfriend. „How was it?“ Jessie dug deeper. „Unfortunately, terrible. I would like to forget about that relationship and move on“, he confessed. „Do you think you could ever fall in love again?“ she wondered. James looked at her. „Hey, only one question at a time. Your rules,“ he tried to make the atmosphere more relaxed. „Please, tell me, because I always thought that you were...“ what seemed an irrelevant question turned into deadly seriousness. He had to distract his team mate, the questions were way to personal for his taste. Even drunk and hardly able to conceive a thought, James had an uncomfortable feeling when talking about relationships and love. „It’s half past ten. Shall we go to the beach and watch the fireworks?“ he proposed.

„Sure. Shall we just stand up and take off or do you want to pay the drinks?“ Jessie was already leaving the bar. James picked out some coins from his shorts and laid them on the table. He stumbled upon the curb and Jessie had to catch him in her arms.

„Watch out, James,“ a car sped past them. He looked at her with a dreamy expression, tired and completely out of sorts. „You saved my life, blue-eye“, they were still standing in this tight embrace, until Jessie shoved him away in a playful manner. Sure, it was a romantic mood, they had both drunk enough to forget complying with formalities, but was she really ready to take the next step? Jessie tended to be reserved and cautious. Men had often disappointed her and had dropped her like a hot potato. It was difficult for her to trust anybody and even though James was her eternal partner and best friend, she wasn’t sure if this holiday could turn into a hot summer-romance. They walked down to the beach and took a seat on a deckchair. James laid his arm around her shoulder and pulled Jessie towards him. She leaned back into his chest, reaching out for his hand. It felt so unreal, they had undergone untold adventures, faced dangers and had to make sacrifices, but this was new. Jessie felt safe in his warm embrace. Both looked up to the sky where the firecrackers exploded, covering the beach in gold and silver colors. The people applauded and clapped their hands. It was wonderful, it was calm, it was far away from trouble. Jessie turned around to face her team mate. „That’s what I needed,“ she spoke under her breath. James kept silent, he was simply staring into her sapphire-blue eyes. They drew closer to each other, James’ pulse raced. He cupped her face, leaned in and kissed her long and intensively. Jessie, who was taken by surprise, let it happen. She relished the moment, feeling his soft lips on hers. He was a gifted kisser. Their lips parted. „Yes, I think I could fall in love again,“ James said, tenderly stroking her face. She looked down embarrassedly. He lifted her chin, tucking a stray strand behind her ear. „And I thought you were...“, Jessie held her peace. „What?“ he asked. „Not interested at all,“ she admitted. James laughed and wrapped his arms around her waist. „I’ve been waiting so long for this moment,“ he crushed his lips on hers, kissing her passionately. She returned the gesture, tilting her head slightly to the right. „Let’s go back to our hotel,“ Jessie stood up and grasped at his hand. They walked back to the busy street where people were still shopping for souvenirs and postcards. Jessie and James squeezed once more through the mob, turning off to the right into an unlit byroad. She wrapped her arms around his neck. He pushed her against a wall, pressing his body against hers. They couldn’t stop kissing. Finally, after so many years, they had dared to open up. „Blame it on the Mojito, Jess, but urgh, you’re so hot,“ James kissed her neck. Jessie had never expected James to say something like that. He had called her hot. He liked her and he liked her body. She was a queen – his queen. James fetched the keys of their room, saluted the night watchman before disappearing into the elevator, where he and Jessie continued their make-out-session, ending up in a fervent French Kissing. They could hear the bell ring, the doors opened with a ‚plop’ and the Team Rocket-members stumbled into their bedroom. James threw his travel bag from the bed, Jessie locked the doors behind her. „Why did it take us so long, James?“ She began to unbutton his chemise, took it off and dropped it on the floor. James closed his eyes to heighten the intimacy. They tried getting a little more adventurous when suddenly, they could hear a rustling next to them. Jessie switched on the lights to see what was causing this disturbance and to their surprise they spotted Meowth sitting on the bureau-chair, observing his team-mates with the widest grin on his face. „Ha! I knew it! Told ya that yous are acting love-love all da time“ he said, smiling roguishly. I’m planning two new fanfictions: “Maria’s Butler II: Saving Al Capell’“ and “Broken Halos” (based on the episode “We’re no angels”)

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thegirlsinthefirehouse · 8 years ago

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Descendants, Chapter 36

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“Still nothing?” asked Patty to Holtz.

They were standing in the open doorway of the firehouse, enjoying the light breeze in the air that was cooling off the unusually warm morning.

“Nope,” she said. “1st appointment of this 41st week and they’re still as snug as a bug in a rug. Peanut is not going to grace us with their appearance till they’re good and ready, or Abby gets an induction.”

“She thinking about it?”

Holtzmann looked over to where her wife was talking to Angie and Beth about something. Erin was standing nearby with a large handful of paperwork.

“She’s... unsure,” shrugged Holtz. “I think she wants to wait and see a little while longer. She’s been doing okay health wise. But if she goes into the 42nd week, the doctor wants to jump starting labor with stripping the membranes or breaking her water.”

“That doesn’t sound pleasant,” stated Patty.

“I think we’ll be doing a lot of walking between now and then to try to get things going,” said Holtzmann, crossing her arms. “New York had better prepare for one cranky mommy.”

“Yeah, Abby doesn’t seem so thrilled about this overdue business,” agreed Patty.

“I meant me,” said Holtz, making a disgusted face. “I hate walking.”

-----

"You going to do the kick count for me? I've got one more to do today and you just gave more sugar," asked Abby. She was sipping on some grape juice on the couch. Erin laughed as she picked up some of the BLT dip she had made with a couple of buttery toast points. They were having a small get together at Abby's request. She had wanted to have all of their family together for a little bit before the baby came. It was a nice thought in Erin's opinion. It had been a while since they had all sat down together, and it had been some time since she had so many guests at her place.

"I suppose since we sent Holtz away for a little bit with Patty to get dinner," chuckled Erin.

"God, I'm glad," said Abby. "If she makes another watermelon joke, I am going down to the bodega across the street and buy one to throw at her head."

Erin laughed at that, gesturing the fruit salad in front of her. Abby groaned.

"Did you have to mention it?"

Erin smirked, dusting off her hands.

"It's kind of hard when my niece or nephew is trying to get as big as one before they're born."

Abby shook her head.

"Thanks for this. I needed a moment."

"It's not a problem Abby. And I'm sure David will appreciate the leftovers for lunch tomorrow."

"He'd better be appreciating more than that," said Abby, with a little bit of spite on her tongue. Erin patted her best friend's hand.

"David's been as sweet and loving as he was before. He was just scared, that's all."

"Funny hearing you say that," said Abby as she finished off the glass. Erin gave her a look for that comment. Abby went sheepish.

"Okay, okay. I make too many jokes about the fact that you were a chicken." She quirked her lips when Erin scoffed.

"Maybe I should have just left you with Holtz and me and Patty eat the snacks and dinner after we had three busts today on our own."

"Nooooo," said Abby, picking up the bowl after moving to put down her glass. "That stuff is delicious."

"Then eat," Erin said. "Holtzmann said she you hadn't been eating a lot the last couple of days."

"I read a lot about how after the baby descends you want to eat everything in sight, but right now I just don't want to touch anything much." Abby made a face.

"You'll get there," said Erin. She heard a knock on the door.

"Ooh, that'll be Cheyenne," she said, hopping up. "She's bringing the sweets."

"Cheesecake?" said Abby hopefully.

"Even better," said Cheyenne as she came in the door. "I tweaked an old recipe from Patty's aunt. They're called labor cookies. It's spicy ginger, meant to start your labor with something with a little extra kick. She swore by them during all her pregnancies." She handed the platter to Abby. "I made them while I was at work. "

"They're still warm," said Abby. She bit into one. Her eyes widened a little.

"I think I get the spicy part." She coughed once and reached for the sparkling grape juice to pour herself another glass.

"No wine?" pouted Cheyenne, looking at Erin, who walked over the box of other cookies Cheyenne had brought in as well.

"In the fridge," said Erin. "I had to keep it out of Abby's reach." She headed for the kitchen.

"I could get through labor drunk," said Abby. "That would be awesome."

"Uh-huh," said Cheyenne, a smile on her lips as she sat down in a chair next to the couch. "Is Kevin and Zack coming?"

"Zack has to work at the shop, but Kevin is coming over as soon as he locks up for the night," Abby said as she reached for another cookie.

"Okay, but if you go into labor before dinner because of those..." said Erin as she brought over the wine.

"I wouldn't care," said Abby, muffled through the cookie. She took a drink of the juice.

"So what exactly are Patty and Holtzmann bringing back for dinner?" asked Cheyenne.

"Lots of spicy Curry, Eggplant Parmesan, Tomato Caprese salad with aged balsamic, I've already cut up the fresh pineapple in the fruit salad, and Holtz is picking up some Red Raspberry Leaf Tea."

"I'm sensing a theme," said Cheyenne to Erin as she poured her a glass of wine after speaking, looking amused.

"All foods to induce Abby's labor, yep." Erin grinned at that. "We're trying our best. Plus, the curry sounded good. And some nice Italian appetizers."

"Anything's better than eating cold leftovers or at the hotel," said Cheyenne. "I'm starving." She reached for the BLT dip. Erin noticed Abby rubbing her abdomen with a small grimace.

"Didn't someone say something about a kick count?" Cheyenne flailed and moved over to on the couch with Abby. Erin laughed and watched as her best friend maneuvered Cheyenne's hand to the spot where the baby had just been kicking.

-----

Abby was still lying on her back a moment after they had finished the non-stress test. They had already done an internal examination to check her cervix for dilation and effacement, taken a couple of ultrasounds, and now the non-stress test just to make sure their child was still doing well.

“Everything is fine,” said Holtzmann, leaning down to kiss her wife on the tip of her nose. “You’re fine and the baby is all fine and dandy in there. The placenta is still working well enough. Your body is just not ready for labor.”

“But I’m ready for everything to be over with,” said Abby with a small huff. She really wasn’t happy she was at her second appointment of her 41st week. Their kid should be out in the world already and being cuddled in their arms. She had eaten half the platter of cookies and was starting to get tired of ginger again.

“Too bad, so sad.”

Abby rolled her eyes and sat up after straightening her clothes.

“I suspect the doctor wants to go ahead and try to start your labor,” said Holtz. “I’m thinking he’s going to come back in here and suggest something.”

“I think he’s worried about with my age and everything that something is going to happen,” grimaced Abby. “I don’t want to have to go to the hospital and do Pitocin and such Holtz.”

“You don’t have to do anything honey unless there’s a firm medical reason why,” said Holtzmann, leaning on Abby. “Being overdue doesn’t count.”

“You don’t mind waiting a few more days and see what happens?”

“As long as you’re comfortable,” said Holtzmann. She rubbed Abby’s shoulder. “I know you really can’t relax.”

Abby sighed. “Maybe we can try the membrane sweep and see if that does anything.” She rubbed her back. “At least it doesn’t involve IV’s and fetal monitoring. Or possible uterine hyperstimulation.”

“Then be prepared to get your feet back in those stirrups,” teased Holtz.

“I’m surprised you’re not finding an appropriate pun,” said Abby.

“Another day. And I will have plenty,” said Holtzmann. “Right now I’m just your baby mama at your beck and call.” She took Abby’s hand, squeezing it.

-----

Holtz was sitting on Erin’s desk on Monday morning. She was about half gone already from exhaustion. She had been extra vigilant on baby watch all weekend, but nothing had happened yet. Abby’s first 42nd week appointment was the next day, and they both had a feeling that the doctor would just send them on to the hospital. Her wife was in an aggravated mood. Abby was now two weeks overdue, and with the membrane sweep, she had been cramping on top of her Braxton-Hicks. If she was honest, Holtz was going to be grateful if the doctor did send them on to the hospital. At least the light would be at the end of the tunnel for all three of them.

“So this is a plan?” asked the blonde hopefully.

“We’ll distract Abby,” promised Erin. “Keep her mind off things.”

“Good,” she yawned. “I need a nap. You can text me if something arises. I think I need a couple of Class III’s all to myself when I wake up.” She hopped down off the desk, stretching.

“You’re supposed to be off-duty, remember?” said Erin after Holtz.

“Uh-huh,” said Holtz, waving a hand behind her. The physicist shook her head.

“Where is Holtz going?” asked Abby, looking after her wife as she came up to Erin’s desk.

“Upstairs,” said Erin. “She wanted a moment of peace and quiet. Jen’s working on something and she just needs a moment to breathe and think.”

“Yeah, neither one of us has had much rest,” agreed Abby. She carefully sat down in a chair across from Erin’s desk. “This kid is killing us and they’re not even here yet.”

“Won’t be long,” Erin said. When Abby didn’t respond, Erin looked up at her. She was rubbing her back and side with a big wince.

“God, I can’t get rid of these Braxton-Hicks,” said Abby with a sigh. For some reason, something seemed off to Erin and she made note of the time.

“Want to help me?” she asked Abby. “We need to finish the evaluations for the Mayor. I don’t know why he wants reports on the new team, but--”

“It’s just so he can feel important,” said Abby. “They pay us and they want paperwork to show for something. Probably to bill the state extra for hosting.”

Erin didn’t respond. They were all in universal agreement that all the local governments like to charge each other for everything they could possibly could. Instead, she showed Abby what she had done so far and they started writing things down together. And in secret, Erin kept an eye on Abby’s Braxton-Hicks contractions. It was easy since Abby seemed to react regularly, even if it wasn't vocal. After a couple of hours, there was a definite pattern. When Abby went to the bathroom for what was about the fifth time that morning, Erin told Patty her suspicions.

“I’d say that is a definite pattern,” she said, leaning her head to the side. “So Abby’s in labor?”

“Having some real contractions at least,” said Erin. “Help me keep her distracted for a little while? I’m going to text Holtzmann and see if she’s awake.”

Patty nodded and it wasn’t long till she had Abby and a couple of the new team discussing something or the other Erin couldn’t hear. It didn’t take much to get people off on tangents, which worked well at the moment. They were all like minded and enjoyed similar things. Erin heard the sound of a someone sliding down the fire pole. She soon found a familiar blonde sitting on her desk.

“Come here often?” Erin said, smirking.

“Let me see,” Holtz said, taking the notepad from Erin where she had written down the times. She ran through the numbers.

“I do think you’re right,” she said with a nod, giving it back to Erin. “I wondered about it a couple of times this weekend, but then they’d end up doing something wildly different.”

“Well, there’s the beginning of a rhythm,” said Erin. She tapped Holtz on the shoulder and pointed to Abby rubbing her side.

“I’ll get her back upstairs soon,” said Holtzmann, bouncing her leg. “I know she needs to get some rest and keep her energy up, but this has been helpful.”

“It’s go time,” agreed Erin. She grinned at Holtz. “You’re having a baby.” Erin noticed Holtzmann had a bit of a glazed over look on her face.

“You worried?” she asked, frowning.

“Thinking,” said Holtz slowly. “So much we need to do.”

“You let us take care of everything here,” said Erin pointedly. “You worry about her and the baby.”

“Then who’s going to worry about me?”

“That’s generally Abby’s job, so I think for the next day or 20,000 days, you’re going to have to worry about yourself.”

“Nonsense Erin. Someone always has to worry about me or I’ll fade away like Tinkerbell.”

“If you think I’m going to sit here and say--”

“Nah,” grinned Holtz. “Just having fun with ya Gilbert.” She hopped off of Erin’s desk, hugged her tight with a squeal, and ran over to the stairs.

-----

Abby was so very irritated at her body. It was not her day so far physically. Her Braxton-Hicks were bothering her, she had been cramping some more, plus the little bit she had managed to eat for breakfast did not even have a chance to settle on her stomach. That didn’t even count the backache that had progressed out to her lower part of her abdomen and hips. Holtzmann had suggested going downstairs and working to keep her mind off things that morning. And while it had helped, she couldn’t take her mind off the Braxton-Hicks. They were just so annoying today. But maybe they’d help push things along and she’d be dilated more for her next appointment. Erin had even tried to entice her with Chinese at lunch, but the thought of anything on her stomach was not an enjoyable one. She had even felt a little nauseous at the water Patty had brought her when she grabbed herself a bottle. She was just so ready to be done.

It wasn’t until a contraction had Abby leaning over a chair and swaying a little to deal with the pain did she realize that something was definitely different than the fake contractions she had been having since she was about 26 weeks. This was not going away no matter how many times she changed positions and it was really starting to hurt.

“Oh geez,” gasped Abby softly. She felt Erin at her side and rubbing her back.

“Breathe Abby. Nice and slow.”

“I think I’m in labor,” she whimpered, leaning her head on her forearms. “Erin...”

“So not the fake contractions then?” Erin asked. Abby stood back up, rubbing her hip.

“I don’t... I don’t think so,” said Abby. “That last one felt kind of... urgent.”

Erin crossed her arms, smiling a little. “The baby is coming, I’d hope it’d be urgent.”

“I’m in labor,” said Abby dazedly. It felt a little weird knowing it was actually happening.

“About time,” grinned Erin, no longer able to hold in her excitement. She hugged Abby. They both laughed at that and held hands.

“Oh my god, I’m in labor,” said Abby coming to the realization of what that meant. She put a hand over her abdomen and pulled back. “I need to--”

“Relax,” said Erin. “And let it come. We can time your contractions and see if it is getting any closer together. Maybe it won’t be false labor.” She pulled out her phone.

“Or better yet, you can let Holtz do it.”

Abby shook her head. “Let her be for a little while. I think she’s having fun upstairs, now that she’s rested and awake.” They both heard a crash and laughter from Jen and Holtzmann, followed by happy clapping from Diana.

“So, timing?” said Abby. Erin nodded and pointed to her phone.

-----

Holtz had been monitoring her texts from Erin, especially now that her wife knew she was having real contractions. Holtzmann was happy the membrane sweep seemed to have worked. Abby was letting Erin help her out for a couple of hours in timing contractions and helping to keep her mind occupied. But it was getting later in the day and she knew they had a long way to go that evening. She headed down the stairs and found Kevin rubbing Abby’s lower back. He looked grateful at Holtz when she approached and squeezed Abby’s shoulder before he went over to his desk and started getting ready to leave for the day. Holtzmann ran her hand through Abby’s long ponytail. She hadn’t bothered to put it up in a bun that morning. Holtz kissed her wife on the neck.

“Come on honey, upstairs. You need to get some rest.”

“Kevin feels nice, don’t want to move,” Abby said, her voice above a muffled whisper. She was leaning against the wall and had her head on her arms.

“Come upstairs with me and I’ll give you all the massages and counter pressure you want,” said the engineer. “The contractions are only going to get longer and closer together from here on out and you need to be somewhere a little more comfortable to wait them out.”

“12 minutes apart and about 35 seconds in length,” said Erin, coming up beside Holtz with her jacket and purse on her arm. “Been holding pretty steady. Oh, and as of 5:00, you both are on maternity leave.”

“Whaaaaaaaaaat?” said Holtz, looking really surprised. “Since when?”

“Since it’s paid for,” Patty said, coming up to the three of them while putting on her jacket. “Three months baby.” She gave Abby a hug first, then turned to Holtz.

“Text me first when Abby’s about to give birth so I can beat Erin to the hospital Holtzy.”

“You know it,” grinned Holtz. Patty hugged her too. Erin huffed loudly and Abby laughed as she moved to look at her best friend.

“You want to come upstairs for a little while?”

“No, I think I’m good for today,” said Erin. “I’m going to let you two have all the fun this evening.” She put a hand on Abby’s baby bump with a smile.

“We’ll be seeing you soon enough.” She hugged Abby once more and headed out the door.

“Were they just waiting for you to come downstairs?” asked Abby, turning to Holtzmann.

“That would be correct,” said Holtz. “They were keeping an eye on you for me, although technically Erin and Patty both do like your company. Not sure what Kevin was doing.”

“Hanging out, I think. Not really sure myself, other than the back rubs he owed me.” Holtz noticed when Abby winced and held her side and back.

“Contraction?” When Abby didn’t open her eyes, Holtz made note of the time in her head, humming to herself as she waited out the thirty or so seconds.

“Upstairs,” said Holtz. “There are snacks, water, blankets, a bed, a couch, a rocking chair... all the comforts of home a lady in labor could need.” She tugged on Abby’s wrist.

“Do we have to do this?” whined Abby slightly.

“I don’t think there’s another option Abs,” said Holtz. Her lip quirked a little. She really wanted to tease her wife, but refrained. “I already called the doc. They said if you’re doing fine and the baby’s fine, just to go ahead and labor on at home and go to the hospital when the contractions are five minutes apart for an hour.”

“Five minutes,” said Abby. “That’s 12 in an hour.”

“Yep. So instead of five in an hour, 12 minutes apart, you get more contractions. It’s more bang for your buck, really.”

Abby pouted and after one more tug, Holtz finally managed to get her to head up the stairs. Holtzmann made Abby sit down on the couch with her feet up.

“How are you feeling?” asked Holtz, smoothing Abby’s hair.

“Very uncomfortable,” said Abby, taking a deep breath. Her back was aching and she rubbed her it forcefully, trying to make a dent in the soreness. “But that’s normal, I’d imagine.”

“I think so,” said Holtzmann. She took Abby’s hand in hers, kissing it.

“Do you want anything?”

“A cup of coffee would be nice. I could use the caffeine.” Abby looked hopeful while Holtz’s face scrunched up in confusion.

“You didn’t have one this morning?” The physicist shook her head.

“Wasn’t feeling up to it.”

“One coffee and breakfast coming up.” Holtz kissed Abby on the lips.

“Breakfast?” said Abby, balking at the thought.

“You need food sweetheart,” said Holtzmann, leaning back down and looking her wife directly in the eye. “Because you probably won’t be eating much at the hospital later between contractions.” She headed for the kitchen.

“I don’t think I’ll want to eat,” said Abby, grimacing.

“And this is why you’re going to eat now,” Holtz instructed her wife as she held an egg carton in her hand that she had just gotten out of the fridge. “Peanut needs food too. They’ve got a journey ahead of them.”

“I want a steak with mashed potatoes with rosemary and garlic.”

“Later,” chided Holtzmann. “Celebratory after birth dinner.” Abby made a face at Holtz’s back. She realized that the living room looked different than it had that morning. There was a lot more pillows on the couch, and a few snacks and bottles of water and soda were spread out on the coffee table. Holtz had even dragged the rocking chair into the living room. As usual, her wife had already taken care of a lot of the details. She smiled, shaking her head.

“I’m keeping an eye on you,” said Holtzmann from in front of the stove as she put bread on to toast. Abby sighed, rolling her eyes at her wife. Overprotective as usual. Her lover was going to be hovering. She pulled out her phone and checked the feed on Ghost News to see there were any new posts. When a contraction got her attention, she rubbed her side with a deep breath, trying to keep her mind calm and relaxed. It was a very hard task, considering. She sunk down deeper into the couch, trying to get comfortable. It did feel nice to have her feet up. When she had been downstairs, she had taken to walking around the place for distraction.

“Is there an extra copy of your birth plan in your things?” asked Holtz.

“Yes,” said Abby, scrolling through the website. “And our insurance information.”

“Good,” said Holtz, pulling out cheese from the fridge.

“What are you making?” asked Abby.

“Scrambled eggs with cheese and toast with apple jelly. I know any sort of meat and fat slow things down digestively, but at least I know you'll eat this.”

That actually sounded good to Abby considering what little she had eaten. The smell of percolating coffee filled the air and her mouth was starting to water at the thought. She got up off the couch and headed over to the kitchen for a cup once it had stopped making. She pulled the butter and jelly out of the fridge for the toast before getting a cup from the cabinet.

“You’re supposed to be sitting down.”

“Gravity,” said Abby, as if it explained everything. She took a piece of cheese off the cutting board and poured a cup of coffee before adding sugar to it. She stirred the liquid and leaned over the skillet, taking in the scent of the scrambled eggs.

“God, that smells good.”

“That would be because you are hungry,” said Holtz. She poked her lover in the shoulder with the back end of a spatula. “You’re going to need energy.”

“Hook me up to one of the proton packs, I’d have an excellent half-life.” The snort that came from Holtzmann made Abby laugh.

“So are we starting with the jokes now or waiting for later in labor?”

“I think we’d better hold off on the corniest ones till I’m pushing this kid out of me.”

“Roger,” said Holtz. Four pieces of toast popped up from the toaster and Abby grabbed plates. She helped butter the toast while her wife piled the eggs onto the two dishes.

“Dinner is served.”

“You are the best honey,” said Abby, smirking at Holtzmann. “So glad I married you.”

“Luckiest woman alive,” winked Holtz. When she saw Abby grimace, she moved and started to rub Abby’s back. “Breathe out through the contraction. Nice and slow.” She concentrated on pressing into her lover’s lower back. Once the contraction was over, Holtzmann found herself with an armful of Abby, her head burying into her shoulder.

“Easy there Abs.”

“I think you’re going to have a big baby on your hands,” said Abby, whimpering.

“Nah,” said Holtz, pulling back. “All I see is a strong woman who is going to need some encouragement over the next few hours.” She handed Abby her plate.

“Now to the couch. You’re going to eat and rest. It’s going to be a long night.” <– Prev | Next ��>

#yatesmann #ghostbusters 2016 #descendants fanfic gb

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