#tyler and esme series

[chickensarentcheap]

Feed the Muse Part 2

@youflickedtooharddamnit @secretaryunpaid @watermeezer @bardic-tales @creators-club @mrsmungus @kmc1989 @darknightfrombeyond @asirensrage @ninjasawakenedmystar @karimac @residentdormouse @alisbackalleybbq @shepardstales

“I know you’re hurt. And I’m not trying to take that from you. Because you deserve to feel whatever it is you’re feeling. But I just want you to try and understand. Please. Can you just try? Just hear me out?”

Tyler nods.

“When you were gone with Koen, an adjudicator with the High Table showed up. There were new powers in charge, and one of the first things they decided to do was review old files. Investigate people that had been ex-communicated; find out what they did wrong and punish them if they saw fit. My name was on the list and my file was one of those that got re-opened.”

“The High Table? That is some serious underground shit. What…?”

“It was the circles I was working in. Before I met Nik. It was dark and it was dangerous and it wasn’t a past that I was proud of. Which is why I never talked about it. I wanted to forget that part of my life; being involved with people like that. I had moved on; I was given a way out. And then I started working for Nik and I never thought of all that again. I thought it was finished.”

“How the hell did you ever get on their bad side? It takes a lot to piss them off. As long as you follow their rules…”

“That’s the problem. I didn’t. I did someone a favour. I did work on Continental grounds. And I would have gotten away with it but the wrong person found out about it and told the High Table what I’d done. The only reason I wasn’t punished even worse was because both Winston and John Wick went to bat for me and the High Table agreed to only excommunicate me. I could no longer set foot on Continental grounds, or do any work for -or with- anyone associated with it. They let me just walk away. Make a new life.”

“Why did you never tell me about any of this? That THAT’S what you used to do? I knew you were involved with some heavy duty shit, but…”

“I didn’t think it mattered. That part of my life was over. It was behind me. Just like the things you’d done on the job before we met never mattered to me. There was before us and after us. I didn’t think it needed to be brought up. Would it have made a difference? In whether or not you’d want to be with me?”

“No. Of course not. I just thought something like that would have gotten brought up. At some point.”

“I never had a reason to talk about it. They weren’t a threat. They were a part of me that didn’t exist anymore.”

“Until they showed up.”

“The adjudicator said I had forty-eight hours. To get to New York City and surrender myself to the High Table. Or they were going to come back and physically take me there.”

“You should have let them. You should have called and told me what was going on. I would have come home and I would have…”

“What would you have done, Tyler? Fight back? You still weren’t a hundred percent. And I know how strong you are and I know what skills you have, but none of that would have mattered. It wouldn’t have been just one or two people. Or even six. It would have been a whole army of them. They’re vicious and they’re ruthless and they would have stopped at nothing to get their hands on me. I couldn’t take the chance. Of losing you completely. I just couldn’t.”

“How did you even get here? To New York?”

“I got a hold of Nik.” She notices the way his jaw tenses and his eyes darken) “I know she’s not your favourite person right now. But I didn’t know who else to call. I needed someone I could trust and…”

“You could have trusted me. We could have taken off. We didn’t have to stick around and wait for them to show up. If you'd just called me and told me what was going on…”

“I didn’t want you involved. I didn’t want a target on your back. So I called Nik and she got me out of Australia and to New York City. And from there, John Wick got me to a safe place. He let the High Table know I was back in the States, but he wasn’t turning me over until they gave his word that they’d spare my life.”

“And why would they do that? And why would he help you?”

“It was John that I did the work for. While on Continental grounds. He felt guilty for what I was going through and promised he’d do anything he could go to protect me. He was going to wage war against them; with the Bowery King. It’s a long and twisted and very complicated story. That’s HIS to tell. But the time he negotiated with The High Table for my safety, he was ready to go to battle against them. I never ended up having to face them.”

“And you found out about Millie. During all this.”

“About three weeks later. I hadn’t been feeling well for a while. I was sick when you went with Koen to Broome. We thought it was stress; we’d just bought a house and we were moving in two weeks and we were trying to get everything packed up. But then I got to New York and each day I felt a little worse and I then realized I’d skipped two periods so I took a test and…”

“And there was no way you could have told me? Found a way? To keep it on the down low and….”

“It was too much of a risk. I’d know you’d come here. And I was trying to avoid something happening to you. I know it’s hard to swallow and I know it seems incredibly selfish, but I didn’t do it to purposefully hurt you. I really did do it to protect you.”

Briefly closing his eyes, he pinches the bridge of his nose between his thumb and forefinger. “What about after? When things calmed down? Why didn’t you contact me then?”

“I wanted to. I was going to. Millie was eight months old by then. A lot of time had passed since we last talked, let alone saw each other. I chickened out. I was afraid. That you’d be so angry at me and hate me so much that you wouldn’t want anything to do with me. Or Millie.”

“That never would have happened. It wouldn’t have mattered how much time had passed. If you’d called me, I would have been there. On the next plane. I would have given up my entire life for you. For her. No hesitations, no questions asked.”

“It was stupid of me. And selfish. Incredibly selfish. I didn’t mean for it to go on this long. To hurt you like this.”

She reaches out, afraid to touch him at first. But the simple brush of her fingertips against the back of his neck has both his jaw and shoulders loosening; eyes closing once more as he releases a long, almost contented sigh.

It encourages her to continue. Scraping her fingernails along the bottom of his hairline before dropping her hand to his shoulder. Softly and repeatedly squeezing.

“I’m sorry, Tyler. I am so sorry. I know you’re angry and hurt, and this is a lot to digest. But I really am sorry. I didn’t leave you because I didn’t love you. I left you because I did. And I still do.”

[fanficanatic-tw]

{For @chickensarentcheap}

Happy Holidays and Happy New year ❤️

<Having the pleasure of reading some of Tyler and Esme's journey was a delight. I'm excited to read more and see where you take them ☺️>

Taglist: @arrthurpendragon @ocappreciation @darknightfrombeyond @foxesandmagic @eddysocs

[munstysmind]

It’s officially Christmas here in Australia!!

Merry Christmas @chickensarentcheap

I hope you like your @occreatorexchange gift for Tyler and Esme 🙂

[karimac]

@chickensarentcheap, did Esme do this when she was pregnant with any of her children? I bet Tyler couldn’t resist!

[chickensarentcheap]

🌹🌹🌹 anndd one more 🌹!!

Thank you! Sorry it took so long. It's been the worst week of my life.

“Mumma said if kids drink coffee, they won’t grow and end up short forever.”

“Is that what happened to her?  She must have drunk twelve cups a day.”

“Daddy! That’s mean!”

“It’s true, through. She stopped growing when she was twelve. If that.”

“I won’t tell her you said that.”

“That’s why you’re my favourite.  You don’t tattle."

****

@watermeezer @youflickedtooharddamnit @mrsmungus @kmc1989 @alisbackalleybbq @asirensrage @residentdormouse @ninjasawakenedmystar @bardic-tales @karimac @secretaryunpaid

[chickensarentcheap]

One of Esme's main pet peeves is who she calls 'the thirsty bitches'. The ones that despite being ignored, always are trying to get her husband's attention. Whether it be on the school yard when he goes to pick up the kids, at the grocery store, when he's coaching their soccer or football games. He's even torn up phone numbers right in front of them, so they get the hint.

When she gets extra annoyed or he pisses her off, Esme always tells him "I'll pack your shit and they can come and get you. But I bet in less than a week, they'll be calling and begging me to take your ass back."

LOL

@watermeezer @youflickedtooharddamnit @secretaryunpaid @bardic-tales @kmc1989 and everyone else of course.

[chickensarentcheap]

Esme for the Short Ask List About Love: #2, 10 and 15!

Thank you so much! ❤️❤️❤️

@watermeezer @bardic-tales @creators-club @youflickedtooharddamnit @secretaryunpaid @kmc1989 @karimac @ninjasawakenedmystar @asirensrage @residentdormouse @mrsmungus @alisbackalleybbq

Is your OC at all romantic themselves? Or is romance something they expect others to perform for their benefit?

While Esme isn't a fan of grand and elaborate gestures, Esme's brand of romance is much quieter and more quaint. Personal. The kids have talked about the things she has done; making sure he takes his meds, keeping his doctors' appointments organized, writing cute little messages on sticky notes and then leaving them all over the house for him to find.

Does your OC have a type? Have they ever been surprised by their feelings for someone who doesn’t fit this?

While during her teenage years, her choices of crushes and boyfriends (and girlfriends) all differed from one another, as she got older she found herself drawn to the same kind of personality. Someone with a dry, sarcastic sense of humour, someone who was in a position of authority (members of the military and police organizations. And they all shared the same physical trait: extremely tall. Although Tyler is much taller and bigger than both her ex-husband and a police officer she dated in NYC.

Is your OC easy to love? If not, then what are the barriers?

Tyler has said before that it was extremely easy (even for me, the emotionally damaged and traumatized type with addiction issues, that Esme teasingly calls 'the big, bad mercenary man') to fall in love with Esme. She is outgoing and bubbly and has a joy for life (and sees the good and the beautiful in it and the people around her) that not even the hardest of times stripped her of.

But...

He also admits that she's not the easiest person to live with at times. She struggles with depression and anxiety (and likely PTSD) and has extremely low self esteem and can be neurotic. But he loves her and is completely devoted to her and would burn the world to the ground for her.

[chickensarentcheap]

I've got three chapters on the go and the muse is being an asshole. I need the escape writing gives me, damn it!

Anyhow...

From a chapter about the first sexy time in Dhaka...

"I won't be able to stop."

"I won't want you to."

@youflickedtooharddamnit @secretaryunpaid @watermeezer @kmc1989 @alisbackalleybbq @ninjasawakenedmystar @asirensrage @vixenofcourse @residentdormouse @mrsmungus @bardic-tales @creators-club

[chickensarentcheap]

I'm trying to think who has both seen the first movie and has been following my fics for a long time, but my brain is mush so I'm just going to tag whoever lol

@youflickedtooharddamnit @secretaryunpaid @ninjasawakenedmystar @alisbackalleybbq @asirensrage @kmc1989 @bardic-tales @creators-club

This pic always reminds me of when Tyler and Esme first met. This could very well BE that moment; when he spied this tiny, seemingly innocent and meek brunette out on his front porch, spoiling his dog.

And how, when she sensed him staring at her, she glanced over at him and he gave a small, rather sheepish grin/smirk and then looked away.

[chickensarentcheap]

Last Line Game

I was nominated by the lovely and talented @illegalcerebral. The rules are to tag as many people as words you post. I don't know that many writers to tag, but here's my contribution. Put as many lines as you want. I'm not your mom.

She’d wounded him deeply; remaining silent about her whereabouts and keeping the existence of his child a secret. Only resurfacing when she needed something from him;  possessing the audacity to ask -despite the damage she’d caused- that he once again put his own life on the line to protect hers.   And though an outright refusal would have devastated her, it would have been understandable. After all, he’d already nearly paid the ultimate price for her once.  And in the end, had been left with nothing but a handful of scars and a broken heart to show for it.

Tagging: @mrsmungus @asirensrage @ninjasawakenedmystar @residentdormouse @navybrat817 @watermeezer @creators-club (for some reason it won't let me tag your main blog. Silly tumblr) @themaradwrites @ninjasawakenedmystar @darknightfrombeyond

Also tagging some Tyler and Esme peeps: @kmc1989 @alisbackalleybbq @tragiclyhip @youflickedtooharddamnit

[chickensarentcheap]

The muse has been struggling for a while. I mean, as in MONTHS. A mix of chronic pain and crippling fatigue, horrible confidence issues, and now this grief that haunts me and shows up when I least expect it.

But I know @tragiclyhip would hate it if I quit altogether. So, I persist.

Just the start of some cute dialogue. Enough to warm the muse up (hopefully)

@youflickedtooharddamnit @watermeezer @bardic-tales @creators-club @kmc1989 @ninjasawakenedmystar @mrsmungus @asirensrage @residentdormouse @alisbackalleybbq @darknightfrombeyond @secretaryunpaid

“Did you check on her?”

“Of course.  I’ve been doing it a couple of times a night since she was just a tiny thing.  She’s my baby.  Not to mention I’m a bit of a worrywart.’

“Just a bit?”

“Okay, so sometimes I do go a little overboard.”

“That’s the understatement of the century.”

“You should see her up there; just dead to the world and snoring away. Something else she gets from her dad.” 

“I don’t snore.”  

“The hell you don’t.   I bet it’s going to really bad tonight.  Always is when you’ve had an extra busy day.  She kept you on your toes, huh?”

“I usually pride myself on my stamina, but that kid of yours…”

Esme grins. “So that’s how it’s going to be?  She’ll solely mine whenever she does something you don’t like?”

“Makes sense.  Who do you think she gets all the problematic shit from?”

[chickensarentcheap]

Last one. Tyler gets a little surprise.

@youflickedtooharddamnit @watermeezer @bardic-tales @creators-club @karimac @secretaryunpaid @alisbackalleybbq @kmc1989 @asirensrage @residentdormouse @ninjasawakenedmystar @residentdormouse @mrsmungus @darknightfrombeyond @shepardstales

“I wasn’t sure you’d even take my call. Or that if you did answer, you’d hear my voice and just hang up. I was scared, I guess; I thought I was probably the last person you’d want to hear from.”

“I’ve only been wanting to hear from you every day for the last five years.”

She blinks at his honesty. His tone neither harsh nor condescending, but instead tinged by the various emotions that come with both deep hurt and lingering affection. “Tyler, I…”

“What happened? Why DO you need me?”

“What has Nik told you?”

“That you were working a job. Something to do with organized crime. Your cover got blown somehow. Is that who did this to you?” His fingertips briefly come in contact with an abrasion on the right side of her forehead; stretching from her hairline to the top of her eyebrow. “Your mark?”

“I’m not sure WHO it was, exactly. People employed by his family, I’m assuming. It’s all so twisted and complicated…”

“Twisted and complicated come hand in hand with the job.”

“It’s a long story; how I got tied up in things. Nik needed someone that could get inside the family; get close enough to hear all the dirty secrets. And everything was going great. I’d been in there for almost eight months and there’d been any sign of trouble. I was SO careful. You know me; I never take unnecessary risks and I always watch my back. If I’d felt anything was off whatsoever…”

“So what happened? Nik said something about information getting leaked and people showing up at the house and…”

“She got a phone call. From an informant. That I’d been figured out. I don’t know if someone saw me with the family and recognized me from when I’d done business in New City before, but…”

“But all hell broke loose.”

“They brought a small army with them. A heavily armed one at that. And if it hadn’t been for Nik getting a team together to get us out of there…”

He frowns. “Us? Who’s us?”

“That’s where it gets even more twisted. And complicated. It’s something you and I really need to talk about. Before we get any further into the business side of things. It’s why I asked Nik to keep her distance; give us a chance to talk to each other in private. There’s a little…I don’t know how to say this…”

“She talked about ‘fragile contents’. And that’s code language for only one thing. There’s a kid involved. Somehow. Yours?”

“And yours.”

His eyes narrow; a scowl tugging at the corners of his mouth. “And mine? What…?”

“I didn’t know about the baby. Not until two weeks after I got here. I wanted to tell you. I wanted to call you right away; I wanted you to be here. But I had to protect both of you and…”

“Wait…wait…” He’s unable to contain the nervous chuckle. “A baby? MY baby?”

“She’s so beautiful, Tyler. She’s beautiful and she’s perfect and she is everything amazing inside both of us. And when you meet her, you’re just going to fall in love with her. I know you will. She is so much like you. From head to toe. She even has your smile and your laugh and all of your facial expressions. It’s like there’s nothing of me whatsoever inside of her. Like I was just the incubator and….” Her face flushes; cheeks feeling impossibly hot as she chews on her bottom lip to stop herself from rambling. “I’m sorry. I am so sorry. That you had to find out this way. This is the last thing I wanted. I had it all planned. How once I was done with this job, I’d take her to Australia and we’d get a hold of you and…”

The door of the suite unexpectedly and Millie rushes in. Her thick, dirty blond hair worn loose and tumbling down to the middle of her back; still damp from the time spent in the indoor pool with Abuela. Her long and lanky frame clad only in a bubble gum pink swimsuit adorned tiny, sparkling silver unicorns. And as she hurries towards her mother, she nearly trips several times over the bottom of the beach towel slung around her shoulders.

“Momma!” She wraps her arms around Esme’s thighs; eyes closing and a content sigh escaping her lips as she squeezes as tight as she can. “I missed you!”

Esme struggles in vain to disguise the nervousness in her voice; feeling the full weight of Tyler’s stare upon her. It’s a mixture of shock, hurt, and betrayal; the reality that the little one being scooped up into her mother’s arms is indeed his. There’s no way he could possibly deny it; Millie bears a striking resemblance to him. Hair color and texture, the long limbs and torso, the brilliant blue eyes, the same nose and jaw structure. “You weren’t even gone that long, sweets. Not even a couple of hours. And you still missed me?”

“I always miss you, mom. Even if it’s just ten minutes.”

“Well, I missed you, too. Nap time isn’t the same without my all time favorite cuddle buddy.” She showers Millie’s forehead and cheeks with kisses before placing her on the ground. “Can you do me a favor? Can you go and…?”

“Hi!” The four-year-old chirps; flashing her toothiest smile as she peers up at Tyler; intrigued by his sheer size and the tattoos that grace his skin. “I’m Millie! Well, my name is really Amelia, but I tell everyone to call me Millie. I think it sounds better. Who are you? What’s your name?”

He swallows noisily; barely able to force the word past his lips. “Tyler.”

“Are you a friend of mom’s?”

“I guess you could say that.”

“Millie…” Esme drops a kiss on the top of her head and then places her hands on her shoulders, attempting to gently steer her away “...why don’t you go and take off your swimsuit and wait for me in the bathroom. I’ll be in in a couple of minutes. Give you a bath and get all that chlorine off of you.”

“Are you here to help?” Millie inquires, as she steps closer to Tyler; the tips of her toes pressed against his boots; head tipping back as far as it possibly goes to ‘size him up’. “Are you going to get us away from the bad guys?”

“I’m going to try, yeah.”

“You’re really big.”

Esme reaches for her; embarrassed by the peppering of questions and comments. “Amelia…”

He manages a grin. “Maybe you’re just really small.”

“Uh-uh. I’m normal size. You’re a giant! Are you like ten feet tall?”

“Six feet. And a couple inches.”

“I like that picture. On your neck. It’s cool. What’s it supposed to be?”

“Tattoo,” Esme gently corrects. “They’re called tattoos.”

“Where’d you get it? In jail?”

“Amelia,” her mother scolds. “What in the world…”

“In the army, actually,” Tyler informs her. “A long time ago.”

“The army? You were like GI Joe?! I can see it. You’re really tall and it looks like you got really big muscles. Do you? Have really big muscles? Momma likes guys with really big muscles. Which is why I don’t get why she was with Alessio. He looks like a wimp. Really small muscles. Not like you. You look really strong. I bet the bad guys never mess with you. You got a girlfriend?”

“Not really, no.”

“She is way too nosey for her own good” Esme offers in a way of apology. “She thinks everyone she meets is automatically her friend and that she can ask a million and one questions and…”

“But he IS my friend, mom,” Millie informs her. “If he’s a friend of yours and he’s here to help with the bad guys…”

“I am so sorry,” Abuela gives a sheepish smile as she hurries into the room; using the towel around her neck to vigorously dry her hair. “She is so fast! And sneaky! Took off as soon as those elevator doors opened. You little miss…” Tousling Millie’s hair, she gently takes her by the shoulders. “...are coming with me. We’ll get you a nice warm bath and some comfy clothes and then decide what we’re going to have for dinner.”

“But I was talking to Tyler! He’s my friend. Why can’t I…?”

“Your mom was talking to him first. We interrupted. Come on, let’s go and get cleaned up. Sooner we do that, sooner we get to eat! Which means we get closer to having ice cream for dessert!”

“Ice cream is my favorite!” Millie gushes, addressing Tyler. “Do you like ice cream? What’s your favorite kind? Mine is mint chocolate chip.”

“That’s my favorite too.”

Millie gasps; eyes wide as she excitedly takes one of his hands on both of hers. “Really? Is it REALLY your favorite? You’re not just saying that?”

“It’s really my favorite.”

“We just became best friends! Besties! Maybe you come with us. To get ice cream! But we can’t have any until after dinner. Are you hungry? You come with us if you want. We don’t mind, right Abuela?”

“I got a lot of stuff going on right now, but maybe we can get ice cream some other time,” Tyler suggests and tentatively reaches out; fingertips clearing damp strands of hair off her forehead and looping others behind her ears. Wanting…needing…to touch her; as if requiring proof that she is actually real and standing right in front of him. It’s a surreal, mind and body-numbing experience; unable to control his movements and his brain struggling to get a firm grasp on this new reality. Trying to accept that after all of the heartbreak following his son’s death and those dark and troubled days filled with grief, guilt, and regrets, he’s suddenly a father again.

Millie keeps a tight hold on his hand; blue eyes sparkling with excitement. “Like an ice cream date?”

“Sure, we can call it that. I mean, if your mum’s alright with it.”

He offers Esme a shaky smile; feeling a potent, confusing mix of not only love and adoration, but hurt and anger. The last thing he wants is to harbor and feed into the latter; he sees the deep furrows of concern that crease her brow and the tears of remorse that prick her eyes. She IS the love of his life; all of those emotions and all of the attraction are still as strong as they had been five years ago. But a deeper layer has been added to both their lives; an even stronger, more permanent bond than the one they’d previously shared. She is now the mother of his child; they’d managed to create an incredible little human together.

The corners of her mouth turn up in a small smile of her own. It’s so hard; so goddamn hard. For everyone involved. There’s no way life has been easy for her; going through a pregnancy alone and then living the past four years as a single mother. But she’s obviously done right by their daughter. Millie is happy and healthy; an intelligent, free spirit that is the center of her mother’s universe.

“That sounds like a great idea,” she muses. “I’d like it if the two of you hung out together.”

“It’s a date!” Millie squeals. “I’ll even wear one of my new dresses! And get Abeula to do my hair all pretty. Ribbons and stuff. You’ll do that, right, Abuela?”

[chickensarentcheap]

Feed the muse :)

@youflickedtooharddamnit @watermeezer @secretaryunpaid @mrsmungus @ninjasawakenedmystar @bardic-tales @alisbackalleybbq @kmc1989 @creators-club @asirensrage @darknightfrombeyond @residentdormouse @shepardstales @karimac

Below the cut!

“You’re thicker now.”

They rest in a sea of rumpled sheets and naked, tangled limbs; their bodies slick with sweat and their chests heaving from both exertion and intensity of their releases. The smell of sex hangs heavily in the air as they lay tightly pressed together; their eyes closed and her tiny frame enveloped by both of his thick, strong arms. Both relishing the aftermath; blissfully sated and spent and completely satisfied. The knuckles of one hand repeatedly skim the length of her spine while the fingers of the other trace the tattoo that decorates the back of her left shoulder; easily and effortlessly pushing her closer to sleep.

Cocking open an eye, Tyler smirks down at her. “Is that a polite way of calling me fat?”

“There is a big difference between thick and fat,” Esme explains. “ There’s more to you now. Your shoulders and your chest are wider, your arms and your thighs are bigger. And…” Running a palm down his chest, she squeezes at the excess weight that resides below his ribs. “...you’ve got stuff to spare. And squeeze.”

“So you ARE calling me fat?”

She rolls her eyes in exasperation. “Thick. And it so fucking sexy. Not that you weren’t sexy before, but this…” The tips of her fingers glide across his stomach; a fingernail tracing a circle around his navel. “...is extra sexy. Your middle-age spread.”

“Excuse the fuck out of you? Middle age? Who are you calling middle-aged?”

“Well, you ARE forty.”

“Forty is not middle-aged. Fifty is. Fifty-five, even.”

“Fifty-five?!” She laughs. “No one lives to be a hundred and ten!”

“This is me we’re talking about. I’ve got nine lives. Like a cat. I must have at least what? Six of them left?”

“Considering Dhaka took three of them and I know what kind of other things you’ve been up to in the last five years, I think you may have two or three left. If that.”

“So you really were spying on me, huh? All the time you were gone?”

“I wouldn’t call it spying as much as I would ‘showing concern’. I might have left, but I didn’t stop caring about you. Or worrying. Incessantly.”

“Isn’t that what you do best? Worry?”

“That’s not what you said ten minutes ago,” she chides, and presses a line of kisses along his jaw. “Or in Dhaka. Or the entire time we lived together. I seem to recall many times you told me that there were things I was ‘the best’ at.”

“Definitely wasn’t your cooking.”

“Asshole,” she mutters, squeals when he pinches her ass; his hand settling on the small of her back. And she drapes a leg over one of his thighs, fingertips tracing the tattoo on his right rib cage.

She remembers every inch of him, able to locate every scar, every blemish, every piece of ink. She had missed everything about him: the warmth of his skin and the sound of his voice as it rumbles deep within his chest, his familiar smell and the feel of hard muscle under smooth skin. It feels as if no time has passed. As if back in that little shack in Kimberley and oblivious to the outside world. Focused on nothing but each other and the life they were building together.

[chickensarentcheap]

Esme for the 'Another one of those OC Question Memes' ask game! #2, 7, 16 anndd 19!

Thank you so much! Some I answered in a previous post, so I just did the next number instead :)

@youflickedtooharddamnit @watermeezer @bardic-tales @creators-club @mrsmungus @alisbackalleybbq @ninjasawakenedmystar @secretaryunpaid @asirensrage @residentdormouse @kmc1989 @karimac

2) Do they believe in soulmates?

Esme used to laugh at anyone who talked about things like that. Especially after her first marriage fell apart and she swore she'd stay single for the rest of her life. Then she met Tyler and everything changed. She believes in soulmates now.

8) Have they ever broken any bones? If yes, how?

She broke her nose rough housing with her brother Kyle when they were kids. And busted a couple of ribs and a wrist while working for the High Table and getting a little too close to the dirty and bloody aspects of the job.

16) What is something about them that people would not expect by looking at them?

No one ever expects Esme to have held the job that she did within the mercenary world. She seems like the cute little girl next door; sweet and bubbly, sometimes appearing a little 'flighty' even. But she's extremely intelligent and very good her job; weaseling her way into peoples' lives and getting her to trust them with their deepest and darkest secrets, and then passing that information along to Nik and her mercenaries.

20) How would a close friend whose known them a long time describe them?

They would say that she's fiercely loyal and devoted to those closest to her. She's trustworthy and compassionate, but not afraid hand out a little 'tough love' if it is warranted. She's outspoken and assertive and extremely protective of Tyler and their children. A lot tougher and stronger than she appears to. be.

[chickensarentcheap]

Trying to get the muse going!

Especially for you @tragiclyhip because you mentioned this scene earlier

@youflickedtooharddamnit @secretaryunpaid @bardic-tales @watermeezer @kmc1989 @alisbackalleybbq @asirensrage @mrsmungus @residentdormouse @karimac

She stands at a section break wall that surrounds the lighthouse. Her palms flat against the cement and her shawl across the middle of her back; hooked around her elbows to keep it in place. And he smiles as notices the way the sunlight captures the natural red highlights in her hair and how the brilliant rays reflect off the water; causing her to squint her eyes and crinkle her nose.

There’s something pure about both the expression and her in that moment; completely oblivious to everything going on around her. Heels lifting out of her sandals as she stands on her tiptoes to see over the barrier into the water; hopeful to catch sight of the numerous turtles and other sea life known to frequent the area. Never losing her interest or excitement in seeing Australia’s various creatures and the abundance of scenery; always squealing and giggling when a friendly kangaroo or quokka eats out of her hand and forever taken back by stunning sunsets that paint the sky with vivid shades of orange, purple and pink.

She possesses a childlike enthusiasm when it comes to her surroundings; six years of living Down Under yet never tiring of those road trips along the coast or the little vacations up to The Kimberley or the visits into the big cities. Remaining in awe that this is actually her life; far beyond anything that she could have ever imagined or even thought possible. Everything she’s been through -in the past twelve and a half years and throughout her entire life- and she’s still so full of life; cheerful and optimistic and remaining a bubbly and welcoming social butterfly.

Even on the hardest of days -when he only gets out of bed because he knows his family needs him to- she never fails to make him smile. The lighthearted and loving teasing and the way she stands behind his chair and rubs his shoulders or combs her fingers through his hair; lightly gripping the strands and tipping his head back so she can press kisses along the bridge of his nose. Sending him memes and links to videos even if they’re sitting across from each other out on the deck; the way she chews on her bottom lip and her eyes sparkle with anticipation as she waits for his reaction. Always finding ways to maintain physical contact with him; her foot on top of his or their knees touching under the dinner table, pausing on her way past him as he stands at the kitchen sink; running her palms across his shoulders and down his back and then continuing on her way. Reaching over to take his hand as they sit together on the couch; never saying a word and her attention never wavering from whatever book or magazine she’s immersed in. Always aware of when he needs that contact with her, yet knowing he’ll never ask for it or seek it for himself; never calling attention to it and more often that not, making it seem as if SHE’S the one craving it.

“Tyler!” She calls to him now; that excitement in her voice and that little bounce of her heels reminding him so much of Addie. And she once more pushes herself up onto her tiptoes, eyes wide as she points to the water below with one hand and waves him over with the other. “It’s huge! You have to see this one! Come see it! Hurry!”

With a bemused grin he joins her; a palm settling on the small of her back as he peers down into the water.

“See it?!” She enthusiastically tugs at the side of his t-shirt; once more happily bouncing up and down on her heels.

He sees so much of Addie in her at that moment; the glitter of contentment in her eyes, the excited flush to her cheeks, the way her top teeth dig into her bottom lip. And the brief glimpse of childlike exuberance and innocence makes him think of the little girl she’d once been. Full of light and love and sheltered from her mother’s emotional abuse and torment by a father that adored her; his first daughter after a string of rowdy boys. He’d felt it when Millie had been born; the shift from boy dad to girl dad. He’d only had Austin for six years and had spent a lot of time away on tours in the Middle East, but he’d grown accustomed to superhero and sports themed apparel and little baseball caps and high top sneakers. He’d already started coaching soccer and t-ball; Austin a naturally gifted athlete from the time he was old enough to walk. Already into rough housing and climbing trees and jumping into mud puddles; his mother often finding worms and snails and various sized rocks in the pockets of his pants and shirts.

Even though he’d known he was having a daughter and had spent three months fretting over being a failure as a ‘girl dad’, he hadn’t truly felt like one until they’d placed that minutes old baby in his arms. Brand new and all smooth, pink skin and blond hair and impossibly long fingers and toes and slender feet. Her crying immediately ceasing when he’d gathered her tight into his chest; all of her fingers curling around one of his as she gazed up at him with piercing blue eyes. It all hit him at once; the reality that he was a father again -despite believing he never would be- after losing his son and how close he’d come to never even knowing of his daughter’s existence, never mind actually meeting and holding her. His second chance suddenly so clear and so real and all in one room. His tiny yet phenomenally strong and resilient wife exhausted after going through thirty-six hours of labour and now their little girl; wrapped tightly and securely in a pink and blue striped blanket. Her eyes never wavering from his as a nurse tugged a knitted cap onto her head. And in that moment, he’d cried like he’d never cried before. All of the anguish and the regret and the guilt he’d been building up since his son’s death finally coming to a head; mingling with the overwhelming love and adoration and complete awe that he felt for the two women in his life.

He’d become softer that day. Kinder. Gentler. After that his fears of being a girl dad ceased and he easily and effortlessly took to the role. Growing accustomed to the amount of pink in one closet and the amount of frilly socks and tights in one dresser drawer; his large, calloused fingers mastering the buttons on tiny dresses and no longer fumbling with impossibly small hair clips and headbands. He knows what Esme’s father had felt like in that moment he’d held her so many years ago; that softness and tenderness and the ferocious need to protect at all costs that doesn’t normally come with sons. And when he thinks about how all that love had disappeared the moment her dad had taken his last breath, his heart aches for her; a teenage girl suddenly left without her ‘person’ and the only adult that had ever shown her any love and attention.

“What kind is it??” she asks, effectively snapping him back to the ‘here and now’.

“It’s a sea turtle.”

“I know THAT. But what KIND of sea turtle? Can you tell? By looking at its head? Or its shell? You’re usually good at these things. At anything to do with animals. Not a snapper is it?”

“Not with that tail and that head. Looks like a Loggerhead. He IS a big one.”

“Take a picture of it! We can look it up on google on the way home. We can show Addie when she gets home from school. She’ll be so jealous.”

“I feel like I’m with Addie right now,” he teases, and slips his phone from the side pocket of his cargos; snapping a pic of the turtle before turning the camera on his wife. Catching her just as she turns and looks up at him; eyes slightly narrowed in the sun, wayward strands of hair blowing across her face, and a gentle smile curving her lips. So natural and beautiful; nothing but sun kissed skin and messy hair and pure contentment on her face.

“You’re not supposed to take pictures of me!” she scolds, giving him a playful shove and attempting to snatch the phone from his hand. Flashing a pout and dramatically stomping her feet each time he easily evades her; shooting him a glare when he holds the cell above his head. “That’s no fair!” She cries, as she perches on her tiptoes; one hand on his chest to steady herself as the other frantically -and vainly- tries to come in contact with the object being kept from her. “Unfair height advantage! You’re playing dirty!”

“Sweetheart, I can get way more dirty than this and you know it.”

“We’re not talking about THAT. I know how dirty your mind and actions can be. Just give me the phone! This isn’t fair! You’re a full foot taller than I am!”

“A foot and two inches, actually. What are you going to do about it? Besides, all is fair in love and war.”

“You’re supposed to be taking pictures of the turtle. Or of the scenery. Of something beautiful.”

“That’s EXACTLY what I was doing. Taking a picture of the most beautiful thing here.”

She finally relents; a brilliant, broad smile spreading from ear to ear and a slight blush creeping into her cheeks. Even after twelve and half years she finds it hard; accepting a compliment that’s one hundred percent genuine and said with the utmost love and adoration. A long lasting side effect of years spent suffering through her mother’s verbal abuse; constant insults and words of degradation that in doubt led Esme to make some of the bad choices she was notorious for in the past. Mark being the biggest one; ignoring the red flags because she’d thought she was in love and then staying despite the abuse but he’d successfully convinced her no one else would ever want her.

[chickensarentcheap]

🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹 Please and Thank you 😍 💖💖💜😘

Thank YOU <3 <3 <3

“She was in your underwear drawer this morning,” Esme says.  “I left it open because I was putting laundry away and…”

“You let her sleep on my underwear?”

“Bea rules the roost, okay? She sleeps where she wants, when she wants.  And besides, what’s the issue? It’s not like you actually wear the damn things.”

“I wear them.”

She stares at him pointedly, cup poised against her lips.

“Okay, so maybe not ninety-eight percent of the time.”

“She probably misses us,” Millie continues to fret.  “She was gone for a long time and now she’s probably worried she’s never going to see us again!  I hope she doesn’t think we’re never coming back.”

“I promised her we’d be home later,” Esme assured her. “I even gave her extra treats and a little bowl of milk. Trust me; she knows we didn’t abandon her.”

“Still, I feel bad.  That she couldn’t come with us.  And do family stuff.”

***

@bardic-tales @watermeezer @kmc1989 @mrsmungus @alisbackalleybbq @secretaryunpaid @karimac @ninjasawakenedmystar @asirensrage @residentdormouse