#two posts today bc she's hot and i couldn't help myself

[emilyscully]

CARRIE-ANNE MOSS

Photographed by Ramona Rosales for Esquire Magazine (2024)

[p-taryn-dactyl]

this isn’t goodbye, it’s simply see you later II

a/n: thank you so much for your kind words on the first part of this series! i hope you enjoy part 2 :)

word count: 1.4k

warning(s): post break up - nightmares - descriptions of possibly graphic occurrences - Y/N is bitter - Agatha is shocked - we learn (a little bit) more of Y/N’s background - my italian is…not good so i relied heavily on google translate, my deepest apologies - feels rushed (?) - Y/N's brothers are from another cinematic/tv universe but I couldn't help myself lol - I'm not Italian, I have not yet been to Italy (but I will be this summer), I am American and all depictions of Europe/italy in this fic will be most likely stereotypical bc as stated before, I have not been to Italy and all my references are movies

prompt: agatha breaks up with you in the late 1800s because she can’t handle the idea of you dying. little does she know that you’re also immortal. years, years, and years later, you both run into each other in a market

part two: the past collides

You knew to expect the nightmares, the visions of that day, that week, playing over and over in your head like some demented film. At night, you could feel the heat, the ash settling on your skin, a blanket that trapped you within your mind. The haunting screams of your neighbors sent chills up your spine. 

At one point, they had gotten better. You could sleep at night without the smell of charred flesh keeping you awake. You could sleep without the suffocating survivor's guilt weighing on your chest. You could sleep without reliving the destruction of your home.

But then, she left you. Left you to fend for yourself while nursing a broken heart.

And so, the nightmares returned.

-

When the tremors began, no one panicked. No one fled the city, no one put up any precautions, not one person felt the stillness in the air, like the gods above were holding their breath. Years later, you admitted to an itch under your skin, like you were waiting for the proverbial shoe to drop. 

You were in your courtyard, examining your lemon crops, enjoying the warm breeze as your light weight dress swayed around your ankles, when the sky screamed and the ground shook. Cries of your city rang through the air as hot ash fell from the ashes, burning skin and destroying livelihoods. 

Hours compacted into minutes as you stood frozen, watching the destruction of your city. Building crumbled, people encased in ash, waves of heat blowing by to take the last strands of hope away. You remember crawling out from your crumbled courtyard, desperately looking around until you looked up to see a rock falling from the giant cloud of darkness, hurtling, hurtling, hurtling, until your vision went dark. 

-

Gasping, you sat up in your bed, clutching your sheets to your chest, breath erratic. Slowly, you calmed down, running a hand through your hair and dragging it down across your face until you checked the time. Sighing, you leaned back in bed, the bright 6:00am numbers blaring in your mind. Today would be a calm day, you told yourself, melting back into your blanket, letting your eyes close, going back into the peaceful darkness-

“Rise and shine!” 

The door to your room burst open, revealing one of your brothers holding a tray full of food, some of which looked extremely unbalanced. 

“Damon, I swear to god-”

The tray plopped down on you, splashing your face with orange juice and coolled bacon grease. You struggled to hold back a smile as you wiped away the offending juices, sending your brother an amused look as he stood at the end of your bed, hands behind his back as he looked at you expectantly. 

“Did you do this yourself?” 

You asked, picking up a piece of bacon with slight skepticism. Damon rolled his eyes, a smile tugging on his lips. 

“Don’t worry, Sofie helped, and Stefan, if you count pointing out the fact I was holding a knife wrong helping.” 

You snorted, digging into your breakfast after learning it wasn’t solely the work of your brother. 

“We should really give Sofie a raise, I mean, being stuck with me for eternity is a gift but you and Stefan? Oof-”

You threw an apple slice at Damon, who dogged it with a laugh. 

“Come on, sorella, when you’re finished eating, get dressed, we’re going down to the farmers market. A friend of our fathers is in from Croatia with some extremely expensive fabrics he thought you might like.” 

-

Agatha walked through the ancient streets of Italy, breathing in the clear air as her footsteps echoed on the cobblestones. She had pulled back her hair, her long dark curls swaying in the warm summer wind. This was exactly the escape she needed after the disaster in Westview and her breaking free of the mental torture Wa- The Scarlet Witch had put her in. 

It was earlier in the morning yet Agatha heard the voices of a crowd a few streets down. Turning a corner, she saw a market place, filled with Italian goods and imports from all over Europe and the world. Swallowing down a pull in her heart, a pull that reminded her of the times you would ramble about your homeland, of the clear air and the markets full of goods, Agatha made her way into the market. She twirled her fingers nonchalantly, purple smoke poofing Italian euros into her pocket. For once in her life, the witch had no agenda. 

She made her way through the crowd, stopping at every other vendor to examine the goods. At one stop, her eyes caught a gorgeous roll of fabric, its captivating color dazzling in the sun. Agatha reached for it, as if in a gaze, not noticing the other hand also going to grasp the cloth. As her hand brushed the skin of the others, a spark went up her arm, causing Agatha to gasp as she pulled away, her eyes widening as she saw a ghost from her past.

-

After breakfast, you got dressed while joking with Sofie about what had happened in the kitchen this morning. Your flowing skirt with a lightweight blouse tucked in would help you keep cool in the summer’s heat. Just as Sofie finished braiding your hair, a tradition you two had kept since the eruption, your father walked into your room with a wide smile on his face. 

“Are you ready, il mio fiore?” 

You nodded, standing up and hooking your arm with Sofie’s. 

As you walked down the streets of your homeland, your mind couldn’t help but stray into the differences that had occurred over the millenia. The culture, the architecture, the people, had all changed yet you still couldn’t ignore the distinct sense of home you felt as you passed by every house, shop, restaurant. 

Once you were in the market, Sofie made her way to the vendor which sold Venetian glass so she could definitely not flirt with the vendor's son. You wandered through the market, your father at your side, rambling about how he saw an Avenger yesterday. You nodded and smiled at a passersby, laughing slightly at your father’s ridiculous story. He gently touched your elbow, causing the two of you to pause in front of the vendor with the gorgeous fabric. When your eyes met the cloth, your mind started calculating all you could make with it. Definitely a dress for Sofie when she landed a date with that vendor’s son she definitely wasn’t flirting with. A shirt for Damon, a belt for Stefan, a pair of spectacular slacks for yourself- You hadn’t noticed you were reaching for the fabric when your hand brushed against someone else’s. You gasped, looking up as if to apologize for your daze when your eyes met shocked blue ones. Taking a step back, it was like time paused around you. Your father continued to speak with the vendor as you stared down the lookalike of the woman who broke your heart. Cocking your head to the side, you barely registered that the woman was stuttering out incomplete sentences, obviously as shocked as you were. You felt an air around her, one which you dismissed all those years ago. Magic. Agatha was a witch. This wasn’t a lookalike, this…this was truly Agatha Harkness. 

“Y/N?” 

Her quiet voice broke through your thoughts, causing your eyes to snap once more to hers. 

“How is this…? I mean, I thought you were…” 

Dead. The unused word rang between the both of you. 

You had also assumed Agatha dead, you had mourned her in the 50s, not leaving your bed as it had crashed upon you that your great love had passed. 

“You were wrong.” 

Your cold tone caused Agatha to visibly pale, her own words from so long ago echoed back to her. She opened her mouth to speak but you turned toward the vendor, your tone deceptively sweet. 

“Mi scusi signore, vorrei il resto di questa stoffa per favore.” 

As the vendor carefully wrapped your purchase, you felt Agatha’s eyes boring into you. After you paid, you told your father you would be leaving, letting him have more time with his friend. But as you turned to leave, a hand grasped your arm, fingers tightening desperately. You didn’t turn around but you did pause. 

“Y/N, please, how is this possible?” 

Sighing, you did turn around. 

“I guess there are things about me you never got to learn.”

a/n: ahhhhh I finally finished part 2!! hopefully you enjoyed this!! sorry for the sudden ending though lol

[helloalycia]

baby steps [three] // wanda maximoff

summary: as you get used to looking after and being with a pregnant Wanda, you start to question your role in the baby’s life and hers.

warning/s: none i don’t think?

author's note: almost forgot to share this today bc i’m exhausted from going to the cinema, but here you go! hope you like it 💗

one | two | four | five | masterlist | wattpad

4 months pregnant...

"Just let them know that the rota is posted and I've tried my best to accommodate everyone's preferences," I said to my assistant manager. "If anyone has any complaints or queries, they can talk to the night manager."

My assistant manager nodded and left my office to go do just that. When he was gone, I sighed tiredly and glanced at the clock on the wall. It was going on 6pm and I couldn't wait to just go home and fall asleep. I was past the point of hunger, as I'd been in work since 6am this morning. Sleep was calling to me. Just ten more minutes.

Startling me, my phone began to ring and I grabbed it, seeing Wanda's name on the screen. Answering it immediately, I hoped everything was okay.

"Hello? Wanda?"

She was sniffling as she said, "Y/N, when are you free?"

I frowned with concern. "Ten minutes and I've finished my shift. What's wrong?"

She whined as she said, "It's my back. It really hurts. And I miss you."

"Darling, I promise I'll be on my way when I'm finished here, okay? Just hold on."

"Okay... just hurry, please."

"I promise, I will."

Wanda had been getting back pain a lot lately, along with other issues that apparently only I could fix. I loved her, don't get me wrong, but the whole pregnancy was getting more intense as we both adjusted to this new thing in our lives. This meant I was over at hers a lot, staying over almost every night which was very domestic and questionable. I hadn't 'moved in' with her, but it felt like it. And wasn't that weird? At four months of a relationship?

I knew it was. But these weren't exactly normal circumstances. And I much preferred being around her to make sure she was okay instead of worrying about her from elsewhere.

After my shift came to an end, I immediately went over to her house to make sure she was okay. I let myself in with the key she gave me and found her laying on the couch with a damp face and pouting at nothing.

"Hey," I said with a small smile, bending down in front of her and resting a hand on her cheek. "You okay?"

She placed her hand on mine and met my gaze with glassy eyes. "You took forever."

I tried to not laugh as I leaned forward to kiss her forehead. "Sorry, love. But I'm here now. You gonna let me massage your back now?"

She nodded slowly, making space for me on the couch so I could massage the spot she'd been complaining about for a while now. I yawned quietly before getting to work, glad when her body relaxed and she sighed with relief. After a while of doing that, I kissed her skin before standing up.

"C'mon, I know what'll make you feel better," I said, holding out my hand.

She sat up, placing her hand in mine but looking up at me questioningly.

"A hot bubble bath," I told her, lifting her to her feet. "It'll ease the pain on your back."

She didn't argue and instead let me lead her upstairs and to her bathroom. I ran her a bath and made sure it wasn't too hot before helping her out of her clothes and into the tub. As soon as she sunk in, she closed her eyes with relaxation.

"Told you it would feel good," I said gently, watching her with a tired smile. "I'll leave you to it. I'm just gonna go get ready."

At this, she opened her eyes and held out her hands. "Come in with me."

"It's for you, Wanda," I said, declining. "Enjoy."

"I'll enjoy it better if you're here with me," she tried to convince me. "Please?"

Knowing I couldn't say no to her adorable pout and puppy dog eyes, I nodded and took of my clothes before joining her. She instantly pulled me between her legs, wrapping them around me and resting her head on my shoulder as my back pressed to her chest. The hot water was soothing on my tired body and I couldn't help but let my eyes drift close.

A comforting silence took over and I revelled in it, appreciating the feeling of Wanda so close to me and the bubble bath itself.

"Thank you for putting up with me lately," she spoke after a moment, breaking the silence. "I know I've been annoying."

I opened my eyes and looked over my shoulder to see an apologetic frown on her lips.

"Wanda, you have not," I reassured her.

She shook her head, grimacing. "No, I have. You've just finished a whole day at work and instead of sleeping, you're here with me, making sure I'm okay. And it's been like that for a while now."

"I don't mind," I said with a promising voice. "I just want you to be okay."

She offered me a small smile, it bringing out an emerald glow in her eyes and sending butterflies in my stomach. "Thank you."

I returned her smile before leaning in and pressing my lips to hers in a short, sweet kiss. Just what I needed after an exhausting day at work.

"I love you," I mumbled against her lips when pulling away.

She smiled and kissed me once more before saying, "I love you, too, milaya (darling)."

We enjoyed the rest of our bath together and I helped her get ready into her pyjamas before doing the same. It wasn't brought up, but it was obvious that I was staying the night since I did that most days now. I wasn't fussed since I was happy to get into bed and fall asleep beside my beautiful girlfriend.

Of course, not everything can be that simple.

During the night, I woke up to some sniffling and realised that Wanda wasn't laying beside me, but instead sat upright. Trying to run the tiredness from my eyes, I sat up and rested a hand around her.

"Wanda, what's up? Why are you awake?"

She didn't respond as she glanced at me with swollen eyes. Leaning forward, she tucked herself into my shoulder and squeezed me tightly, desperately, like I would leave at any second. Still half asleep, but definitely waking up the more she worried me, I wrapped my arms around her and rubbed her back to ease her sniffling and obvious crying.

Maybe she'd had a bad dream? That's all I could think of as an explanation for her sudden sadness, since she was fine before we went to sleep.

"Darling, please tell me what's wrong," I mumbled into her hair, my heart aching.

She sucked up a breath and shook her head into my neck. "Please, don't leave me."

I creased my brows together with confusion. "What are you talking about?"

"I can't lose you," she said, her voice muffled against my shirt. "I can't do this by myself. It's a big responsibility and you make everything better and easier and–"

"Wanda, slow down," I tried to cut her off, pulling her back so I could see her face. I made a move to wipe her tears and hair from her eyes, but she pushed my hands away and met my worried gaze.

"I don't want you to wake up and realise that this is– this is all pointless and then leave," she finished, lips trembling. "I can't lose you."

I shook my head and cupped her cheek, forcing her to look at me and stop fretting. "I'm not going anywhere, Wanda, that's not going to happen."

She pressed her lips together, shaking and looking down with disbelief. I grabbed her hand with my free one, kissing it and ducking my head to find her eyes.

"I'm all in," I reassured the best I could. "I'm here. You've got me for good."

A shaky sigh escaped her lips as she swallowed hard, nodding slowly. I leaned forward and pressed a kiss to the side of her head before hugging her once more, still concerned when I felt her trembling in my arms.

"Don't think like that," I told her, trying to hide my concern. "I made the choice to be here for you and that's what I'm going to do. You're not losing me."

When she didn't reply, I carefully helped her back under the covers with hopes she'd have an evidently better sleep than  before. She instantly moved closer, front pressing to mine as she held me tightly, face sinking into the crook of my neck. My hand fell to her back, stroking the exposed skin revealed by her tee shirt, and I kissed her hair before getting comfortable.

I wasn't planning on leaving her and I wish she'd know that.

—————

5 months pregnant...

"I'll pick up some milk and bread in the morning since we're out," I told Wanda when I returned to her bedroom. "Is there anything else you need?"

She was laying in bed, hands on her bump which was growing bigger every day. Her attention was elsewhere, definitely not on me, as I closed the bedroom door and approached the bed.

"Wanda?" I tried again, hoping to earn her attention.

She furrowed her brows with concentration before a grin appeared on her lips and she looked up. Waving me over, she said quickly, "Come! The baby's kicking!"

"Wanda, I–"

"Now!" she insisted, and I sighed before running to climb on the bed and lay beside her on my stomach.

She took my hand as I raised it, pressing it to her bump before it reached a particular part. At first, I felt nothing. But then, to my surprise, the tiniest of kicks was felt against my hand and I gasped with amazement.

"That's... wow." I had no words, since it was the first time either of us had felt the baby kick.

"You should say something," she whispered, as if not wanting to break the tender moment. "So they know your voice."

Even more surprised, and a little nervous, I looked up at her. "Are you sure?"

Her expression softened as she nodded. "Yeah. Now go on!"

I cleared my throat, feeling encouraged by the smile she was sending my way but also slightly nervous, and looked down to her bump. Leaning down so I could get a little closer, I tried not to overthink my next words.

"Hey, baby," I began softly. "I'm Y/N, your mum's girlfriend. I'm not really sure what that makes me to you, but I'm here for you just as much as she is... your mum told me to talk to you so you know my voice, so that's what I'm doing. But I don't really know what to say except I hope you're doing good."

Unsure whether that was alright, I glanced up at Wanda who was already looking my way, a small smile on her lips that put me at ease instantly.

Looking back down to her bump, I continued. "Your mum is doing an excellent job in keeping you alive, so be nice to her, okay?" I paused, as if waiting for a response, before finishing, "Okay, I'll leave you alone now. Good night. Or morning. Or afternoon. I guess it depends on the time in there."

Wanda chuckled quietly, earning my attention.

"What?"

She tried to hide her smile. "There aren't time zones in there, y'know."

I gave her a questionable look. "You don't know that."

She rolled her eyes playfully before perking up when the baby kicked again beneath our hands. Looking to me with tired yet excited eyes, she said. "I think they're saying goodnight to you, too, moya lyubov' (my love)."

I smiled at the thought before kissing her bump and mumbling a goodnight of my own, then laid beside her and kissed her, too.

"Have I told you how much I love you today?" she said, leaning her head on my shoulder.

"You could tell me if you need anything other than milk and bread and that'll do just fine," I said playfully, making her squeeze my arm gently in response.

"I don't need anything else," she said, answering my question, but also pretending to be annoyed. "Nice to know you love me, too."

I laughed. "You know I do, Wanda."

She sighed contently. "I can't wait to find out if the baby is a boy or girl. I think it'll be a girl. How about you?"

Tomorrow was her ultrasound and to say I was nervous was understatement. As I'd said to the baby moments ago, I wasn't sure what my role in this whole thing was, and even though I was figuring it out as I went along, this was one thing that hadn't been clarified with time. I'd basically moved in with Wanda now, I was her girlfriend but I was helping her have a baby, she and the baby were all my life consisted of... but what did that make me?

"No idea," I finally answered Wanda, not wanting my thoughts to eat away right before bed. "But whatever it is, I'm sure you can handle it."

"We both can," she agreed, and I noticed how she changed the pronoun. She'd been doing that a lot throughout this pregnancy, as if trying to show my involvement so I wouldn't feel left out. Admittedly, I appreciated it since I never wanted to assume my place when the baby was technically hers and Vision's.

"We both can," I repeated quietly, letting her know I heard. "C'mon. Let's get to sleep. Got a big day ahead tomorrow."

She nodded and I tucked her in before sliding in properly beside her and turning off the lamp. Kissing her once more, I pulled the covers to our chins and let myself fall asleep whilst trying not to panic about what tomorrow would bring.

—————

"Can you believe it? He's gonna be a boy!"

I smiled halfheartedly as I set the keys down by the front door, watching Wanda head to the kitchen excitedly. We'd just had the ultrasound and found out that her baby was going to be a boy. Wanda was happy either way, but Vision was ecstatic when he found out. And the excitement they shared in that moment was definitely hard to compete with, even though it wasn't a competition.

The whole thing was more real now, I guess. Not that it wasn't before, but now that we knew the gender, and she was five months along... everything was dawning on me. This baby wasn't mine, it was hers and Vision's. Even though she had included me in everything up until this point and made a show of doing so for my sake, it didn't change the facts.

If this was their baby, what did that make me? Just like last night, all those thoughts filled my head, but tenfold.

Sucking up a breath, I followed Wanda into the kitchen and saw her grabbing some juice from the fridge as she was mid-rant.

"...so many options! Maybe Johnny? Or Reece?" she was saying, proposing names already. "Or something Sokovian! Maybe Pietro will have some ideas."

"They all sound great, Wanda," I agreed with a distracted smile. "You have plenty of time to think."

She hummed in agreement, sitting on one of the stools as she sipped her juice. "A boy... I was just so sure it was a girl." She paused, thinking about it, before chuckling to herself and feeling her bump. "Never mind. A boy is just as wonderful. I'm gonna have a son." She glanced up at me, beaming smile directed my way. "We're gonna have a son."

There she went again. We. As if I was a part of this. I felt like I was, but wouldn't it always be her and Vision?

"Hey, what's wrong?" she asked, smile fading into a frown. "Did I say something wrong?"

I rose an eyebrow and shook my head. "Huh? No, Wanda, no. You didn't."

She motioned for me to come closer, so I did, letting her take my hand and squeeze it gently.

"Something is up," she noticed. "I know that this is... this is a lot. It's a big deal and–"

"Wanda, stop, that's not it at all," I cut her off, raising my hand to cup her cheek and guide her eyes towards mine. "I told you, I'm all in. For you and him."

She smiled and I saw the relief in her expression as she nodded. But then her smile faded again, as she asked, "Then what is it? Please talk to me."

I exhaled slowly, embarrassed that I was even saying this. "I know that I'm here and I'm helping and I, well, I care about you a lot. And I care about this baby, too. But he's... he's not mine, Wanda." Unable to hold her gaze, I avoided her eyes. "I guess I just don't know what part I'm playing here. And I don't want to get attached if I..."

God, this was stupid. I couldn't even finish my sentence. But I didn't have to, it was obvious, just like my insecurity was.

"Y/N, look at me," she instructed gently, and my cheeks were warm with embarrassment, but a slight tug at my hand and I found myself looking at her reluctantly. "I plan on keeping you in my life as long as possible. I love you."

I smiled a little. "I love you, too, Wanda."

"Then you know that you're something to me," she continued, encasing my hand between hers and not looking away. "You're a big something. So, you'll be something to him, too." She glanced down at her bump before looking back to me. "You already are."

Something about how peaceful her eyes were, how soft her hands were, how decisive her words were made me nod in agreement. I couldn't see myself being away from Wanda or her baby. And yes, he'd have Vision, but he'd have me, too. And that was more than enough for me.

"Thanks," I muttered, feeling stupid, but very grateful.

She cracked a smile, raising her hand to cup my cheek. "You're welcome... now, help me off this stool please. My butt is sore."

I chuckled, nodding, and did as she said. "Let's get you to the couch."

—————

6 months pregnant...

Wanda and I were arguably at the best part of the pregnancy, which was buying the stuff to make the baby's nursery. Initially, I was super excited to help her put everything together and make it exactly how she wanted, but when we actually went to the store and I realised how very picky she was, that changed…

"Ooh, this is the one," Wanda said, stopping the shop employee and I as we went down the aisle of cribs.

The employee glanced at me questioningly and I didn't blame him as I looked to Wanda with a softened expression. This would be the fourth crib she'd made us get off the shelf before possibly changing her mind again. Each one, she'd found something wrong with after we'd already done the heavy lifting.

"You're one hundred percent sure?" I asked her for both of our sakes.

"Very sure," she answered with a nod.

I sighed, looking to the employee apologetically. "Okay. Let's do it."

With shaking arms and a tired grunt, the employee and I managed to replace the last crib and get down the new one Wanda had chosen from the shelf. Just when we'd put it in the trolley, Wanda said the words I'd feared the most.

"Hey, what about this one?

"Okay, seriously?" the employee snapped, raising both of his eyebrows.

"I'll sort it," I said to him, internally rolling my eyes at Wanda's indecisiveness. "Thank you for your help anyway."

Probably glad to be rid of us, he resisted the urge to roll his eyes and walked off, leaving me to massage my forehead with frustration before approaching Wanda. I didn't have to say anything as she realised what she'd done as soon as I narrowed my eyes in her direction.

With a sheepish smile, she wrapped an arm around my shoulders. "Did I ever tell you how much I love you?"

"Mhm."

Her grin never left her lips as I replaced the crib in the trolley with the new one she'd chosen. Thankfully, it was the last time she changed her mind, so after going over everything on our shopping list, we were able to pay and head back home to start on the nursery.

We were using her spare room as the nursery, which I'd had the lovely honour of clearing out over the past week in preparation for today whilst she watched on with amusement. Thankfully I'd set down plastic sheets on the carpet so we could begin painting straight away. Despite my insistence that the nursery's look was up to her, she wanted us both to have a say. So, we agreed on a pastel yellow colour for the walls.

"See? I told you I'm useful," she commented as we began painting, and I looked over my shoulder to see her painting one wall with a grin on her face.

I smiled at the sight, finding her whole getup adorable. She was wearing old overalls and had her hair up in a curly, messy bun, loose ringlets escaping the grip and framing her face beautifully. Pregnancy looked really good on her.

"Useful, but messy," I pointed out, before approaching her and wiping the paint she somehow managed to get on her cheek.

She rolled her eyes playfully. "Totally not the point."

I laughed before leaning in to give her a kiss on the cheek. We continued to paint the room, though after half an hour, Wanda needed to take a break because of the strain standing up was putting on her ankles. She still shouted encouraging words from next door whilst she rested on the bed, but then it eventually went quiet and I checked on her to see she'd fallen asleep.

Somehow, I didn't expect any less, so I draped a blanket over her and finished the first coat of paint in the nursery before going to have a shower. When I came out, I headed into the nursery to have another look at my hard work, and then I heard footsteps from behind me.

"Oh, no! Did I miss it?" Wanda whined from behind me.

I glanced at her to see her holding her blanket around her shoulders tightly. A frown was on her lips as she looked at the four walls before meeting my gaze with sad eyes.

Despite her saddened expression, I couldn't help but smile with amusement. "You did enough, Wanda. It's been a long day of ordering me around. It was bound to tire you out."

She shoved me in the shoulder playfully, making me laugh, before I wrapped my arms around her from behind and hugged her closely.

"I'll let the first coat dry tonight and pick up where I left off tomorrow," I promised her.

She nodded, relaxing beneath my embrace and leaning back into me. "Thank you, milaya (darling). It looks great." She paused, before glancing over her shoulder to me. Green eyes met mine in a sincere gaze as she added, "Thank you for doing this."

Despite how long I'd been with her, having her attention in such an intimate stare made me feel flustered. It was like she was staring right through me, seeing into my soul and making me feel exposed. I wasn't sure I'd ever get used to it.

"Anything for the baby, right?" I joked, hoping to take the attention away from me. "He's gonna need somewhere to get away from his annoying mother."

She narrowed her eyes playfully. "Ha ha. Very funny."

I chuckled before losing my humour momentarily. "You know I'm happy to do it. If I left it to you, nothing would get done."

A reluctant sigh escaped her lips as she looked forward again. "True..."

We stood like that for a little while longer, admiring the first layer of paint. It wasn't much, but it wasn't difficult to fill the empty gaps in the room with the stuff we'd bought, and that thought alone was exciting. Our own little nursery, how cute.

"Can we have spring rolls for dinner?" Wanda broke the silence, and I blinked as I tried to understand if I'd heard right.

When I realised she'd said exactly that, an amused smile broke out on my face and I couldn't help but find her innocent expression adorable.

"I'm guessing you want me to put the order in now?" I asked, quirking a brow.

She nodded excitedly and I laughed before pulling my phone out. She was lucky she was cute.

—————

7 months pregnant...

"You don't wanna put too much in or the measurements will be all off," I explained to my niece, Sophia, as she filled a measuring spoon with sugar. "Level it like I showed you, go on."

I smiled as I watched the seven-year-old do it, noticing the way her five-year-old sister, Aaliyah, stared with amazement at every action she did. The two of them were over, along with Y/S/N who was chatting away with Wanda in the living room, and we were baking cupcakes for fun. It was nice, having them all over.

The kids got on with Wanda a lot and so did Y/S/N, who had become quite good friends with her. She imparted as much 'wisdom' as she could regarding her pregnancies with the girls, and Wanda seemed to appreciate this. It meant a lot to me to see my family all coming together, especially because it made everything so much easier.

"Okay, great job, Soph," I complimented before holding out the spoon between them. "So, who wants to stir?"

They both shot their hands up and I laughed, wondering how I could decide without offending the other. Luckily for me, the doorbell rang and stole Aaliyah's attention, but she instantly shot off her stool and ran to the door to get it.

"Aaliyah, wait!" I called after her, not wanting her to go by herself. I handed Sophia the spoon, saying, "Don't make a mess, I'll be back," before running after the overactive five-year-old.

When I reached the door, she was already attempting to jump up and reach the handle. It was certainly a cute sight and I couldn't help but laugh as I scooped her up in my arms, giving her a playful look of disapproval.

"What did I say about waiting for me first?" I asked with a raised brow.

She giggled and shrugged cluelessly. "I don't remember."

"Silly billy," I mumbled, nuzzling my nose in her shoulder, before opening the door.

To my surprise, Vision was standing there with a bouquet flowers in his hands. Always the best sight when seeing your girlfriend's ex husband, right?

"What are you doing here, Vision?" I cut straight to the point, since he always announced his arrival with Wanda who let me know in advance to avoid this.

He wasn't impressed as he lowered the flowers with narrowed eyes. "I could ask the same thing."

"We do this every time," I pointed out with a sigh, "and you know I stay here now to help Wanda out."

He rolled his eyes, saying nothing, but I knew he wasn't a fan. Thankfully, Y/S/N interrupted our unwanted conversation by approaching from behind.

"Y/N, who's at the door?" she asked, before stopping by my side and looking to Vision.

Reluctantly, I motioned to the blonde. "Y/S/N, this is Vision. Vision, this is my older sister, Y/S/N."

They exchanged looks, not exactly friendly, and Y/S/N knew everything about him from me so already wasn't a fan. She was civil though, and after taking Aaliyah from my arms, let him in to see Wanda.

"Does he always show up unannounced?" she whispered to me as we followed him into the living room.

I rolled my eyes. "Not usually."

She pursed her lips and neither of us said anything else as we joined Sophia in the kitchen where she was still stirring the baking ingredients together. I found Wanda's eyes across the room and she seemed apologetic before looking to Vision. The rest of us stuck to the kitchen to give them a little privacy, despite the fact we could see them in clear sight.

"Okay, time to put the wet and dry ingredients together now, girls," I said, distracting myself and trying to do the right thing by not looking at Wanda and Vision before me.

Y/S/N helped put the ingredients together in one bowl as the girls stared out Vision without shame.

"Did you say that was Vision?" Aaliyah whispered to me slowly.

I nodded, following her gaze and seeing him discussing something with Wanda. Whatever it was, she wasn't interested, even when he attempted to give her the flowers.

Knowing bits and bobs about Vision, the girls began to stick their tongues out and pull a face in his direction, making childish noises with their mouths. I quickly moved behind them and covered their mouths with my hands, but the damage had been done and both Wanda and Vision glanced our way to see what the fuss was.

I smiled sheepishly. "Sorry. Just the kids."

Vision rolled his eyes as Wanda cracked a smile, but they continued their conversation. Y/S/N chuckled quietly, making the girls do the same as I let go of them.

"Behave," I warned them with a pointed finger, but a smile was tugging at my lips.

We continued mixing the ingredients together and when we were pouring the mixture into the cupcake tin, I noticed Vision leaving for the door, flowers in his hand still. Wanda had her hands on her hips as she sighed to herself before she approached the lot of us with an apologetic smile on her face.

"Hey, sorry about that, everyone," she said instantly, looking between my sister and I and then the kids.

"You all good?" I asked gently, losing my smile when I saw the fed up expression she wore.

She nodded, taking a seat on the stool. Reluctantly, she shared, "It was our wedding anniversary today..."

I raised my eyebrows and looked away, unsure how to respond to that. The kids answered before I could, booing loudly and surprising us all.

"Shoot, sorry," Y/S/N apologised for them, before looking to Wanda and I. "I'll take the girls out and give you both a minute."

And she did just that, managing to pull the girls away and give Wanda and I some privacy as I digested her previous comment.

"Sorry," Wanda said first, looking to me with worried green eyes. "I didn't even know it was today. I think, maybe he must have thought that with the baby coming an' all, it might mean something."

I nodded, chewing the inside of my mouth. "Right."

She reached across the table to hold my hand, earning my attention. "You know I don't care, right? I only care about you."

Realising I probably seemed upset, I straightened up and squeezed her hand. Offering my best smile, I said, "I know, Wanda. Sorry, it just... it makes me feel icky thinking about it."

"Same," she agreed, before frowning slightly. "Sorry."

"You gotta stop saying sorry," I said lightheartedly, but meaning every word.

She sighed, smiling a little. "I'll try."

[laprincesaelena]

EOA Discord Ship Appreciation Week Day 1: Valentine’s Day

a/n: hey guys! i’m so excited to be participating in the EOA discord server’s Ship Appreciation Week! i’m posting this a bit later in the day than i intended, but better late than never, right? this is also the first time i’ve ever posted a fic on tumblr, so bear with me here! anyways, here’s some cute gabelena fluff! don’t ask me when in the canon timeline this is supposed to take place in bc if i’m being honest, i don’t really know lol. but who cares about canon this week? take some cute gabelena fluff :)

also, very special thank you to @procrastinateland for doing some absolutely adorable art to go along with this fic!! it won’t be the last time you’ll be seeing her work this week! (but in the meantime, go check out her blog!! she has some more cute eoa art and more!! :) )

fic is below the cut!

Ever since her and Gabe had started dating, Elena had been looking forward to their very first Sweetheart's Day as a couple. She already had a few ideas in mind for the occasion, and the night before the holiday, she had stayed up until practically sunrise, making sure that everything would be ready by the time he'd be off from a shift that morning. She couldn't wait to see what Gabe had in store for her the next day. When she finally got to lay her head on her pillow that night, she smiled, hoping to dream about how wonderful the day would be.

After only a couple of hours of sleep, Elena opened her eyes and stretched out a bit. Not being a morning person, she didn't have any incentive to even sit up. As she rubbed her eyes in an effort to wake herself up, she had a realization, it was Sweetheart's Day! Now, she was definitely awake. She shot upright with a smile, and excitedly pulled off her covers, and headed over to her vanity to begin getting ready.

Elena shivered slightly as she began to brush through her hair, there was a reason she didn't like getting out of bed, she was all warm and comfortable a moment ago. But, she knew that soon enough, she'd be warmed right up, hopefully from a kiss or two from Gabe, or by being all wrapped up in his arms.

A few minutes later, she headed over to her closet to pick out what she would wear. Normally, she wouldn't have to think twice about this, her casual red dress was her usual go-to. But, since today was a pretty special occasion, she figured she'd choose something different. After a moment of going through her many articles of clothing, Elena finally made a decision. She picked out a light and airy hot pink dress with a floral lace pattern, which came to about her ankles. She paired the dress with a pair of wedge sandals, along with her favorite golden earrings.

Elena then returned to her vanity to brush through her long hair one more time. Next to the mirror was a small vase, filled with orchids, a Sweetheart's Day tradition. She picked off one of the flowers and placed it in her hair, and smiled. At some point today, she'd hopefully be receiving an orchid from Gabe, even though she had already been his sweetheart for a couple of months now. But, before that, she had to make sure everything was ready for him!

The crown princess headed down the halls of the palace with a pep in her step. Something was certainly in the air today, as there seemed to be every Sweetheart's Day. But this year was even more special to her, since this year, she had a sweetheart to be spending it with. Every once in a while, she'd come across a member of the palace staff who had already received their orchid that day, or one rehearsing exactly what they'd say to their sweetheart. Elena couldn't help but smile, and give a quick congratulations or word of reassurance to whoever she came across. But then, when she encountered one of the royal guards, she pulled them aside, and told them to inform Captain Núñez to meet her in the parlor immediately after his shift had ended, for there was a 'very important matter' to discuss.

Gabe was just about to head out of the guard barracks before he was pulled aside, and told that the crown princess requested his presence in the parlor immediately, for there was a very important matter to discuss. Of course, Gabe would head right there, though he couldn't help but sigh. He didn't have time for this! But what if something was actually wrong? He didn't want to risk that, so, as quickly as he could, he headed to the parlor.

When Gabe entered the room, he was practically blinded by an overwhelming amount of pink, red, and white. Colored streamers lined the walls, there was a heart shaped balloon tied onto practically every piece of furniture, and in the center of the room, was his lovely Elena.

Elena had a table all set up, with a bundle of balloons attached to either side. Placed on the table was a frame of a favorite picture of the two of them. Red, pink, and white napkins were arranged in a pattern on each side, along with matching plates to go with them. In the center, was a homemade tres leches cake, with "Happy Sweetheart's Day, Mi Amor!" written in pink icing. Elena's face was lit up with a smile, she looked so proud of her little arrangement.

"Surprise! Happy Sweetheart's Day!" she exclaimed.

"So, this was the 'very important matter' we needed to discuss, huh?" Gabe asked her, a smile forming on his face.

"Yup!" Elena responded with a nod. "But come on, this is a very important matter, it's our first Sweetheart's Day together!"

"I guess you're right," Gabe said, and began to take a closer look at everything Elena had out on the table. "Did you do all of this yourself?" he asked.

"I sure did!" Elena replied with a proud smile. "Well, I had a little bit of help from the staff with the streamers, and-" But before she could finish her sentence, Gabe cut her off with a second thought.

"Hold on, did you make this cake yourself too? There's no way." he said with a small laugh.

Though he was born the son of a baker, and was at one point expected to carry on his father's business, Gabe wasn't too good of a baker himself, and he knew Elena had just about the same amount of skill.

"This time, I made it to two leches, all on my own!" Elena told him. "By the third leche I did have my abuela step in, just to make sure we could actually enjoy it. But, I decorated it by myself! Which, I'm surprised wasn't a dead giveaway."

The cake was frosted with a layer of white icing, not perfectly, but it was at least completely covered. Elena had clearly underestimated the amount of room the center of the cake had, for about half of the word 'Sweetheart's' gradually dropped lower and lower. There was plenty of room for the word 'Day', but 'Mi Amor!' had to be crammed onto the right side, below a slanted 'Sweetheart's'. Even though the presentation of it may not have been perfect, Gabe was confident that it tasted better than it looked.

"Hey, it's certainly better than anything I could've done," Gabe said, and walked behind the table to be beside Elena. He pulled her in for a quick kiss as she wrapped her arms around him. "Everything looks great, I love it!" he added with a smile.

"I'm so glad you do, I wouldn't risk destroying the kitchen for anybody else." Elena joked, and leaned up to kiss him a second time. Then, she turned back towards the table, and picked up the knife that was lying beside the cake. "So, want a slice?" she asked.

"Uh..sure!" Gabe said, but mentally hit himself for hesitating. Though he was confident Elena's cake had come out great, and any other time he'd love to sit and have a slice with her, but he was on a bit of a time frame.

"No promises on how even these slices will be.." Elena said to herself as she began to cut them both a slice. She placed each slice on a plate, along with including a napkin and fork.

Elena handed the plate over to Gabe with a smile, and before she could even grab her own, he had already taken a couple of bites. She softly laughed to herself, hopefully that meant he was enjoying it!

"So, what do you think?" she asked him.

"It's really good, Elena," Gabe answered, already putting another piece in his mouth. "You should make these more often!" he added, his voice a bit muffled from the decently sized piece of cake he'd just eaten.

Elena tried a bit of her slice as well, and she had to admit, she was pretty proud of herself, it was really good! She turned to sit on the couch, and patted the space beside her for Gabe to join her.

"You can sit, if you'd like," she said, even though she wasn't giving him much choice, she was implying that she'd like him to sit beside her. "We aren't in any hurry!"

But little did she know, Gabe actually was in a hurry. He knew he didn't have time to sit with her, the two of them might lose track of time and be there for hours! But he also didn't want to let Elena know of this, or act suspicious in any way. He had to think, and fast. So, he turned to the side, and mumbled a quick, 'Captain Núñez!' in a voice slightly different than his own.

"Oh, sounds like someone's calling me!" he said, acting as if he weren't the one to call himself. "Thank you for everything, bye!" Gabe added hurriedly, before quickly finishing his slice of cake, and practically sprinting out of the room.

Elena barely had enough time to process what had just happened before Gabe was out of the room. She placed her plate on the couch before getting up to follow behind him, but by the time she poked her head out into the hallway, she sighed upon noticing that Gabe was nowhere to be found, nor was whoever 'called' him.

She sat back down on the couch to finish up her slice of cake, while thinking of what could possibly be up with him. Was he planning something special for her? If so, what could that be? Or, maybe Sweetheart's Day simply wasn't a big deal to him, and he didn't really care about everything she had done for him. Elena didn't even want to think that was the case, he seemed to love everything, and she had stayed up all night for it to be just perfect! She did know one thing for a fact, though, something was up with Gabe, and she was going to get to the bottom of this.

As Elena began to search around the palace for where Gabe could've possibly gone off to, she happened to bump into her abuela.

"Mija! Just the girl I wanted to see!" Luisa said to her granddaughter with a smile.

"Hi, abuela," Elena replied, returning the smile. "How's your Sweetheart's Day been so far? Has abuelo done anything extra special for you?" she asked.

"Funny that you mention that, because I was just headed to the kitchen to whip up a batch of empanadas for our Sweetheart's Day tradition! You know they're your abuelo's favorite!" Luisa responded. "And, I figured since you did such a wonderful job with that cake last night, you could help me out with the empanadas as well!"

Elena's eyes widened as she shook her head, thinking back to her occasional disasters when it came to cooking. "Oh, no, that's alright abuela, I'm sure they'd come out much better if only you made them, you know what you're doing much better than I do." she said.

"Oh, come on mijita, you'll do just fine! I could use an extra hand, and how could you say no to spending more time with your abuela?" Luisa asked, wrapping her arm around Elena and pulling her in close.

Though Elena was really more concerned about finding out what was up with Gabe at the moment, she knew she couldn't say no. Besides, maybe taking a little bit to get her mind off of that and just spend time with her abuela would be nice. Plus, she might pick up a few more tips and tricks for baking, maybe she could even learn to rival Gabe's parents' recipe!

"Okay, if you insist!" Elena replied with a soft laugh. "Let's go, then!"

Elena got herself dragged into the kitchen, and Luisa got her right to work on mixing the dough. Thankfully, there was no possible way Elena could create any sort of disaster with that (or so she hoped), and with their teamwork, a batch of empanadas was in the oven in record time. But, they weren't finished just yet. Luisa decided they'd start on a second batch, but with a different filling this time! So, Elena reluctantly returned to her task of preparing the dough.

As Elena began to knead the dough, she couldn't help but wonder what Gabe was up to, and her doubtful thoughts returned. If only abuela hadn't wanted to make a second batch, she could've already found out what was going on! But here she was, kneading another batch of dough, which hopefully would turn out alright for her abuelos.

While the second batch was baking, Elena couldn't help but take a look out the window, where she noticed that the sun was already beginning to set. Sweetheart's Day was almost over, and she had barely seen her own sweetheart at all that day. Not to mention that when she did see him, he was in quite the rush. She was snapped out of her thoughts by a tap on her shoulder, and turned back to face her abuela.

"You don't have to stay here while we wait, mija." Luisa said. "You've been more than enough help, and I had lots of fun, you're not as terrible at baking as you may think!"

"Thanks, abuela," Elena replied with a small smile. "Are you sure you don't need any more help? I'd be more than happy to stay."

"No, I insist, you go off and enjoy the rest of your night!" Luisa responded, and was now practically pushing Elena out of the kitchen. "Also, remember to look down on your way out." she added with a wink.

"Look down?" Elena asked, but once she reached the hallway, she understood what her abuela was talking about.

Right at her feet was a small envelope, with her name written in the center, along with a heart. She'd know that handwriting anywhere, it was Gabe's! Elena smiled as she bent down to pick up the envelope, so he hadn't just brushed her off! Now, the pieces were beginning to fall into place. He must've been planning something for her when he rushed out so suddenly, and her abuela was definitely distracting her with baking until everything was ready to go. Not wasting a moment, Elena tore open the envelope, pulling out a small letter inside.

I wanted this day to be special for you,

But most of my ideas just wouldn't do.

You made my day great, so it'd only be right,

To treat you to the very best Sweetheart's Night.

All around the palace, I've left a few things,

Maybe a new dress, bracelets, or rings.

But before you're able to find that out,

I'll give you a clue to think about.

Weekly we fence in the gardens or Castillo Park,

But I won't have you searching outside in the dark.

Where you'd find a person curled up with a book,

Is the very first place I'd suggest you'd look.

Elena smiled as she read along, this was certainly an exciting way to spend the rest of her night! Once she read her first clue, she knew exactly where to go, and she headed straight to the palace's library.

When she arrived at the library, she began to look around for where Gabe could've left something. Right under the painting of Avalor Bay, she found something that definitely wasn't always there!

Elena picked up a brand new sword for fencing and smiled, she couldn't wait to use this at their next fencing practice! She looked it over for a moment, before noticing something else on the ground. Beside the sword was yet another small envelope, her scavenger hunt wasn't over just yet! She tore open the second envelope, and began to read the small letter inside.

I want you to remember, that forever, through and through,

I'll always be living "La Vida Dulce" with you.

On your bed is a gift, that like you is so sweet,

I know you'll enjoy this little Sweetheart's Day treat. 

Elena couldn't help but smile as she read along. She completely agreed, she's always living the sweet life with Gabe by her side. But, thinking of those words gave her an idea as to what this present could be, and she excitedly headed up to her room to see if her guess was correct.

Sure enough, when Elena entered her room, she spotted a heart shaped box placed on her bed. When she opened the box, she'd recognize the contents anywhere. They were chocolates from her abuela's chocolate shop! Elena couldn't help but pick one up and pop it into her mouth. She couldn't help but wonder if this chocolate really was as sweet as she was, since she definitely had her days at some points. But, one thing she definitely agreed on was that she enjoyed this Sweetheart's Day treat, Avaloran chocolate was one of her favorites!

Elena placed the cover back onto the box, and noticed yet another small envelope resting beside it. She tore it open, excited to see where this next clue would lead her.

I hope that you've been having lots of fun,

Sorry for keeping you on the run!

But this next clue is your last, number three,

The most exciting gift you'll soon see.

I'm sure you know that what I've said is true,

That no matter what, I'm always with you.

This Sweetheart's Day was filled with surprises galore,

I hope that together, we'll be spending many more.

I have one last surprise to complete our night,

I can't wait to see your face filled with delight.

Outside on the terrace is where you'll find me and more,

Happy Sweetheart's Day, mi amor.

Elena left the letter, along with the other few things she had accumulated on her scavenger hunt on her bed, and excitedly ran out of her room. She felt like she had barely seen Gabe all day, so she couldn't wait to spend more time with him, and to see what this exciting surprise was!

Once she opened the doors to the terrace, Elena stopped for a moment, and gasped. She took a moment to just take in her surroundings, everything looked amazing!

The terrace was illuminated by strings of lights, and in the very center was Gabe, waiting for her with a loving smile. Behind him was a table, perfectly decorated for a candlelit dinner for two. Elena could've sworn she saw a few of the empanadas she had made earlier on the table as well! Everything looked so perfect and especially romantic, Elena's face was certainly filled with delight.

"Happy Sweetheart's Day!" Gabe said to her, with just as proud of a smile as she had worn earlier.

Elena ran right over and wrapped her arms tightly around him, pulling him in for a kiss. Gabe caught her in his arms, and once they broke apart, lifted her up and spun her around.

"Gabe, this is amazing!" she exclaimed, the smile on her face only growing. "This is the perfect way to end our night!"

"I'm glad you love it," Gabe responded, a similar smile lighting up his face. "And I'm glad you ended up here, hopefully my clues weren't too confusing." he joked with a small laugh.

"I figured out each place right away, it was a lot of fun." Elena replied. "Thank you for doing this all for me."

"Hey, it's our first Sweetheart's Day together, this is a very important matter." Gabe joked. "Besides, you did so much for me earlier today, I wanted to give you just as great of a day."

"Well, my day didn't start out exactly as I planned, since I was a bit concerned about as to why you were in such a rush earlier.." Elena explained. "At first I thought you didn't care about what I did this morning, which I thought seemed unlike you, but before I could ask you, you were gone! And now, I understand why you seemed to be in such a rush." she added with a smile.

"Exactly." Gabe replied. "And I'm really sorry if I made you feel like I didn't appreciate it, because I absolutely loved it! It was such a nice surprise to come back from my shift to."

"I'm glad you loved it." Elena responded with a smile. "I love this so much too! Speaking of, we should probably stop talking before the food gets cold or the candles go out." she added with a small laugh.

"Hang on, there's one more thing I'd like to give you." Gabe said, and let go of her for a moment.

Gabe stepped behind the table, and lifted up a vase, filled with purple orchids, a symbol of Sweetheart's Day. He took one out of the vase and walked back over to where Elena was standing, and held it out in front of him.

"Even though we've been together for a few months now, I still wanted to ask you this. In fact, I've been hoping for this moment for a couple of years now.." he said.

Elena smiled as he held out the orchid in front of her. She wanted to just take it from him right then and there, since of course she'd accept it! But, she also wanted to hear everything he had to say.

"So, Elena Castillo Flores, will you be my sweetheart?" Gabe asked with a smile.

Elena smiled big as she nodded her head. "Yes, of course I will!" she answered.

Gabe placed the stem in Elena's hand, as she looked down at it with a smile. She placed the flowers behind her ear, now having orchids decorating each side of her dark brown hair.

Elena wrapped her arms around him once again, and pulled him in for another kiss. Gabe wrapped an arm around her waist and pulled her in a bit closer. Though she thought it was a bit cliché, Elena even felt her foot slightly lift off the ground.

Their very first Sweetheart's Day together may not have been completely perfect, but neither of them minded one bit. All that mattered to these two sweethearts was that they'd be able to spend their day together, and that it would be a day filled with oh so much love. And that's exactly the day Gabe and Elena received .