#v proud of the cake i made my dad :]

[acerikus]

All the vanilla extract memes are giving me the urge to bake...

[gremlin-girly]

Thin Walls

BBF!Lloyd Hansen x f!Reader

Part of @steviebbboi 's 200 Follower Submissions 💥💥

Prompts: Then I guess we gotta be quiet, huh? + "Nope. Again." + "Aw, does it feel good right there?" + BBF!bb + Daddy/Princess kink

Warnings/Tags: SMUT, oral (f recieving), p-in-v (wrap it), almost quickie sex, rough-ish sex, wall sex, dirty talk, pussy spanking (just one), Daddy/Princess kink, praise (good girl), a hint of possiveness (my girl), petnames (it's Lloyd so there's so, so many... sweet thing, princess, gumdrop, baby cakes), secret relationship, alcohol consumption (brief), orgasm denial, brat taming, begging

Not beta'd. MDNI. I do not give permission for my work to be copied, reposted or translated (or put through AI)

Summary: Your brother's wedding rehearsal and wedding would be a lot more exciting if you didn't have 20 questions about your relationship; luckily Lloyd has all the answers for you.

Word Count: 3.5k

A/N: Hello, hello! And welcome to the second installment. Took me longer than imagined and I'm guess ing the word count is in the 3k zone (rip my computer). I'm working deftly to get the final story for this challenge (more on that in the notes after the fic!!) Enjoy! - Love, Grem x

Dividers by: @/cafekitsune

Ionian Sun | Bubbles | Masterlist

You'd spent the hours of your morning rushing around with the women of your family, fussing and cooing over the bride, the dress, all of the excitement. By the afternoon, you were already mentally drained and the thought of the rehearsal lunch sat next to your cooing mother and father filled your bones with dread. Worse yet, you were seated next to your brother's best friend Lloyd Hansen, who seemed more smug than usual.

You gritted your teeth as you made your way through your starter, Lloyd and your dad chatting and drinking away. Your mother leans over to you, her eyes gleaming mischieviously as she looks between you and Lloyd.

"He's quite handsome," she says keeping her voice quiet as she sips her wine.

"Mom-" You hiss back at her warningly. You did not need this right now.

"I'm just saying!" She rolls her eyes dramatically and taps her hand over yours. "Handsome, good job, we've known him all his life pretty much." She takes another sip of her wine, eyeing Lloyd as you narrow your eyes at her. "You always used to say you'd marry him."

"I was five years old." You grit at her, feeling your cheeks burn with embarassment.

"And it was so cute." Your mother sighs wistfully, remembering exactly how adorable you looked in your princess gown, declaring your intent to marry your brother's friend. More than once. "And he'd be so proud about it. You were his princess to rescue when you'd play together."

Lloyd’s piercing blue eyes meet yours across the table and you shift in your seat uncomfortably and clear your throat.

"Can you not do this-"

"Lloyd!" Your mother leans her elbows onto the table and his gaze moves to hers, giving her a grin. You sigh and rub your temples, wishing you could be anywhere else. "You're single right? No important woman in your life?"

"No," Lloyd says casually, his moustache twitching upwards. "Not particularly."

Your mother nudges you under the table and you fight the urge to combust on the spot.

"What about coincidence! Y/N isn't either. I thi-"

"I think you've had enough to drink." You say curtly, scowling at her but your mother ignores you.

"We were just reminiscing about when you were all kids." Your mother says brightly. "Playing knights and make believe."

"You were all such troublemakers." You dad chimes in, shaking his head with a chuckle. "I had to close up my study more than once to stop you kids stealing my 'treasures'."

Lloyd chuckles lightly before glancing at you. "I remember.... And I remember princess here was always intent on marrying me."

"I could hardly marry my brother." You snap, sending a glare his way but Lloyd sneers over at you. But your parents don't listen to you, only laughing at Lloyd’s comment.

"We thought you'd end up together. The family all had bets." Your mother adds, nonplussed. Her hints were the furthest from subtle but one of the major cons of a secret relationship was that no one knew you were together. And keeping up the act that you didn't want to lunge across the table and sit in his lap was tiring at times like these. Although, maybe interrogations about your supposed single-life and setting you up with your lover was better than probes about marriage and kids.

"Mom!" You balk at her. At least you could be embarassed by her meddling and use that for your top tier acting skills; much to Lloyd’s annoying amusement.

"What?" She says, waving a hand dismissively at you. "We did! You were both so cute together."

"What do you mean were? Oof." Lloyd bites back a yelp of pain and glares over at your smug, sneering face as he nurses the shin you kicked under the table.

You don't really remember how the secret relationship started, or why you'd fought so hard to keep it a secret, but Lloyd was your favourite person. Always had been, always would be. Maybe it was because you thought your meddling family wouldn't be as open to you dating your brother's best friend, especially your brother, as they so claimed.

Your brother's wedding only added more stress to the mix.

"I'm going to get a drink." You pull a face as you stand from the table making a bee-line to the bar. Lloyd excuses himself quickly not long after and follows after you, ensuring to stop by your brother's table for a quick chat so not to arouse suspicion.

When he finally joins you at the bar, you're already sipping at a rum and coke and slide a glass of the same over to him. You're half slumped in defeat on the counter, elbows aching against the hard wood as your rest your chin on one of your palms. You glance over at Lloyd with a small, wry smile.

"I'm sorry about that." You huff, brushing hair from your face. "She would not let up."

Lloyd shrugs, taking a swig of his drink, smacking his lips at the sweetness. "It's alright. I know your mom. Nothing I couldn't handle, princess."

You give him a withering look but he only gives you a shit-eating smirk in response.

"You didn't help things along either." You point out, standing a little straighter.

Lloyd shrugs, leaning his back against the counter. "What can I say? Weddings make me emotional."

You glance down at the opaque brown liquid in your drink, studying it for a moment. Your mind wanders, an almost excitable feeling rises in your chest and you quash it quickly.

Annoyingly, you couldn't always tell what Lloyd was thinking. The initial elements of secret dating (the sneaking around, the quickies) had ignited all of the dormant feelings you'd possessed for him eleven-fold but as time progressed, they hadn't waned and only left you wanting... something. The sneaking and quickies seemed to do Lloyd just fine but whether or not he was thinking of next steps like you had been made you wonder whether the entire relationship had been one sided. Even if he had flown you out to luxurious hotels across the globe multiple times to stay with him.

Downing your drink hurriedly and slamming your glass down with an audible thwack, you whistle a breath. Lloyd’s eyebrows raise as he watches you but he doesnt flinch. He sips at his own drink, saying nothing.

"Don't you have any best man duties to attend to?" You ask, pushing away from the counter to stand straight. "I don't think you're supposed to be hanging around the groom's sister all night."

"I'm right where I want to be, honey. You know that." He picks up a peanut from one of the bowls that litter the bartop and pops it into his mouth. "Besides I've been dismissed until tomorrow."

"Ah." You finally look over at him with a nod and clear your throat awkwardly.

Lloyd doesn't waste a moment more to speak what's on his mind.

"You look radiant tonight, gumdrop. And I can't wait to see what you'll look like in your dress tomorrow." His eyes roam over you shamelessly and you can see his tongue darts over his lips. "And I can't wait to see both of them on my bedroom floor."

"Lloyd," You warn under your breath.

"You know I love it when you get all riled up, cupcake." He teases, grinning at you over his glass. "Serves you damn right for kicking me earlier."

"You deserved it." You say firmly, fixing him with a glare.

Lloyd casts a glance out over the guests. All of them were too busy talking with one another, intermingling and excited for the ceremony and celebration tomorrow morning. No one, not even your parents, is paying attention to you and Lloyd.

"Will I get a dance off of you tomorrow?" He says still overlooking the dining hall. The hotel had been a great choice of venue, save for the fact the groomsmen, bridal parties and close family were situated on the same floor. Lloyd's slightly furrowed brows indicate he's making a mental note of something but you don't know what of, though you could guess.

"I don't see why we can't dance together." You say lightly but your heart is beating up a storm again knowing you'd love nothing more than to dance with Lloyd for the whole day, not just one measly dance.

"Just checking it's all ok with your plan," He says as little curtly and offer a dejected sigh in response.

Your eyes dance around the room, to your smiling brother and bride-to-be, to your parents and family, then back to Lloyd whose blue eyes are fixed on you again. You take in a long breath your chest heaving slowly before murmuring,

"So... nothing else on your agenda this evening?"

"Lloyd, the walls are thin. Everyone will hear."

The cool wood of the door presses into your back Lloyd’s form crowds around you, kissing at your face and neck, his hands wandering to find the zip of your dress.

"Then I guess we gotta be quiet, huh?"

You click your tongue and roll your eyes, trying to unbutton his shirt; why are you not surprised that would be his answer?

"God, you looked good today." Lloyd murmurs, kissing down your neck. "Couldn't wait to have you all to myself, princess."

The sound of your zip rolling down your back fills the silence as you pry three buttons free while kissing Lloyd. Warm fingers tug the straps of your dress over your shoulders, peeling your dress from you until it's a slinked pile of tule on the floor.

"Same to you, daddy." You murmur against his lips, smirking when you yank the bottom of his dress shirt out of his slacks and he gasps softly.

"Hey now, I was careful with your dress." The chide is half-hearted as Lloyd undoes the last of his buttons to remove the shirt entirely. "This shirt was expensive."

The shirt is quickly discarded into a creased pile next to your dress and you take a moment to admire Lloyd in all of his moustachioed glory. His muscles are taut and the hair on his chest matches his 'stache; dark, thick and well-groomed. He flexes slightly when he catches you staring, not bothering to hide the smug satisfaction he has knowing you're admiring him. That hasn't changed from when you were kids.

Reaching out, your fingers slip over his belt and tug him closer to you. Warmth radiates from Lloyd his strong arms wrap around you, his lips attached to yours again. He's left enough space between you for you to skillfully undo his belt and slacks, pushing them down to join the clothes pile growing at your feet.

Ditching his shoes Lloyd pushes against you, pinning you against the wall with his body. You can already feel how excited he is through the thin fabric of his (expensive) boxers and grin smugly into the kisses.

"Don't think you're going without punishment, cupcake." He murmurs against your neck, one strong arm hitching under your leg to squeeze at your ass and press the outline of his cock against the damp heat between your legs. You gasp quietly and roll your hips upwards loving the feeling of friction against your folds.

"Patience princess," he chuckles, grinding into you. You pout your pretty lips at him and he has not choice but to kiss them.

You can feel Lloyd’s hand dip between your bodies,tugging your underwear to the side and swiping upwards gathering slick to press against your clit. You sound a heated curse, watching as Lloyd rolls his finger over your clit, making your body heat almost uncomfortably and pressure in your core grow. You needed him inside you badly. Lloyd changes the grip of his hand, feeding two fingers to your pussy and rubbing at your clit with his rough thumb whilst you mewl his name.

"Aw, does it feel good right there?" Lloyd sneers, grinding against you as his thumb lazily swipes over your clit. "Is it gonna make you cum, princess?"

"Yes daddy," you roll your hips onto his fingers and your eyes flutter. But just as soon as the delicious pressure is building to overflow, it's gone.

You pout at Lloyd whose busy sucking his fingers clean and shucking his boxers down.

"Don't look at me like that princess," he pouts mockingly back at you, pumping his thick cock a few times in front of you. "I'm giving you something better than my fingers."

Lloyd lifts you leg again but instead of teasing you, he pushes the hard head of his cock up into you. Your walls pulse as you take him at this angle; it was a gorgeously tight squeeze that you couldn't enjoy for long as Lloyd began to fuck you brutally into the wall.

Your breathing hitches and your hands fly to Lloyd's shoulders in an attempt to steady yourself. The furious push and drag of Lloyd's cock was second to none, the filthy hushed moans and cries that emanated from your mouth only added to the ecstasy.

You bit down onto your bottom lip, gripping Lloyd tighter, as your orgasm threatened to spill yet again. Lloyd watched you with a smirk, continuing to pummel your back into the wall.

"Oh, does my princess wanna cum again?"

"Yes, fuck, daddy please." You beg breathlessly, your legs trying to squeeze around him as your cunt milks him hungrily. Lloyd grunts but halts his movements as he's balls deep inside your pussy, making you throw your head back with a short-lived moan as you remember yoi should at least make an attempt to be quiet.

"Too fucking bad." He grits out into your ear, and with one hard squeeze to your ass, your other leg lifts from the floor. You squeak but wrap your arms around Lloyd's neck to steady yourself as he lifts you and half-carries-half-rushes you to the bed. "You're not cumming yet. You don't get to be a brat at the rehearsal and get away with it."

Splayed on your back, you relish the soft covers for a few moments before Lloyd begins to fuck you again. In comparison to the wall - they're much more preferable, but strangely not as hot.

Lloyd’s hands grasp your wrists, using you as anchor as he fucks into you. Your legs obediently wrap over his hips and you fight back a few pitiful mewls of pleasure before giving in entirely. Moaning louder, you let your eyes roll, your pussy clamping down on Lloyd's cock harder than before. You don't need to look at Lloyd to know he's smirking triumphantly. It never took long to break you but he enjoyed doing it all the same.

"'M gonna cum," you whine, balling your fists as you meekly try to focus on holding back your orgasm. But there's a swift, wet smack to your clit that makes your back arch from the bed.

"Nope. Again." Lloyd huffs impatiently. "You know I want to hear you say it."

"Daddy," you whimper, your crescendo fast approaching. "Please, please, please let me cum over your cock!"

Lloyd pretends to mull it over, enjoying how you wait patiently for his answer as his sac slaps against your wet hole.

"Hmm... how could I say no to this sweet cunt. Cum."

You cum with a choked shout. Your body obliges his command by gushing over him, your pussy sucking his cock hard as he fucks into you just as brutally as before.

"That's my good girl," he coos watching you writhe in pleasure on his cock as you cum, sighing at how well you squeeze him. There's a moment, as Lloyd pins your hands above your head and gazes down at you, where Lloyd’s face softens slightly. A twisted contrast to how hard he's fucking you.

"How would you like to be mine forever, sweetheart?" His voice is just above a whisper, his lips and moustache tickling the flushed skin of your cheeks. "Pretty ring on your finger, perfect white dress?"

"Oh," you can feel yourself grow light headed at his words, second orgasm bubbling to the surface. Your chest heaves and you try to chase Lloyd's lips but he only allows you one peck before tutting delicately.

"Oh no princess." His voice is still quiet, gentle enough to lure you into sweet obedience. "Not till you tell me your answer."

"Yes!" You cry out, palms opening and closing rapidly trying to hold something to anchor yourself as your second orgasm begins to descend upon you.

"All mine. Forever?" Lloyd presses with a growl. The wet, echoing slaps are longer now; almost languid but you know from the twitch of Lloyd’s cock deep within your pussy that he wants to cum.

"Yes daddy yes! Please Lloyd - forever-" Your last word is clipped with a loud gasp as the floodgates of your second orgasm wrack your body; your pussy convulsing and gripping Lloyd's cock so tightly he has no option other than to paint your insides with a groan.

"Fuuuuuck," he curses, his hips still slowly driving his cock into you slowly and he watches proudly as his and your cum coats his cock. "You're amazing as always, princess."

Lloyd slowly pulls himself from you fully and chuckles at the pout you give him before settling beside you. Tugging at your limp body, he pulls you towards him, and you happily comply. You nuzzle into his chest and entwine your legs, the room silent apart from your breaths.

"So...?" Lloyd begins playfully.

"So?"

"How about it?" He peeks down at you, tickling your lips with a soft kiss. "You. Me. Forever?"

"Are... Are you proposing to me?" Still hazy and fucked out, you glance upward, your one eyebrow quirked to hide your wide eyes.

"No," Lloyd says grinning down at you. "I'd need a ring for that. I just want to get your thoughts. See if it aligns with your plan."

The wedding goes off without so much as a hitch, which was surprising.

The ceremony was gorgeous and many tears were shed, among stolen glances at Lloyd who was stood off to the side behind your brother. Your brain rattled from your brief conversation the night before and you gripped at your small bouquet of bright flowers tightly. Maybe Lloyd was on the same page as you after all; maybe even a few chapters ahead.

When it came time for the bouquet toss, you sneakily edged away from the other women and bridesmaids, intent on finding Lloyd. He was watching the excited trills of the women with a smirk, growing into a teasing grin when he spotted you approaching.

"Oh? No bouquet toss for you, sweet pea?"

You roll your eyes at him, stepping to stand by his side and watch the brawl that was about to happen for a bunch of flowers. "Not really my thing; and I'm worried that old biddy with a cane would do damage."

You nod at your Aunt Ethel, who was armed with her cane ready to thwack anyone who came near her for the bouquet. Lloyd snorts.

5

"Did you mean what you said?" You ask suddenly, surprising yourself. You should have confronted him after round one, maybe even after this morning, but your tired fucked out brain was too elated and excited by the prospect and the day to care.

Even though your brain was full of questions and distracting thoughts of Lloyd the whole day, you'd still managed to be a good bridesmaid and sister.

"When?" Lloyd wiggles his eyebrows at you and you give him a sideways glance.

"You know when." You huff impatiently.

4

"I just wanted to hear you say it." He chuckles, straightening his pocket-chief. "Last night."

"Yeah. Last night."

3

"Of course I did." Lloyd’s gaze fixes on you again. "I'm not anything but a man of my word, sweetcheeks."

"Right." You nod.

2

Your heart thuds against your ribs and a tingling sensation from the tips of your toes to the top of your head rushes over your body before you repeat three words that had only ever been spoken in hushed murmurs in the security of the bedroom or the comfort of your home.

"I love you." You say quietly.

Lloyd stiffens for a moment. It's brief but you notice in you peripheral, feeling a little smug you caught him off guard. But after the moment passes, he relaxes like butter on a hot day.

"I love you too, princess."

1

The boquet careens in the air, perfectly arching semi-circle. You new sister-in-law seemed to have a real gumption for tossing bouquets. In fact it careened closer, and closer. On impulse, you reach out your hands and bend your knees slightly, catching the bouqet upside down.

Silence falls for a moment and you glance at Lloyd, whose grinning ear to ear. Red rushes to your face as cheers erupt around you.

Maybe you'll let your parents take credit for pushing you and Lloyd together at your brother's wedding.

Or maybe, Lloyd will finally tell you that he'd asked your brother permission to marry you months ago.

A/N 2: HELLO

How are we feeling? You good?

I have been writing a lot for Jake and Lloyd recently (for both Kinktober, and other WIPs). I tried avoiding making this 5k this time unlike Ionian Sun, however, the final installment that I'm trying to finish for this challenge may miss the deadline.

But if it doesn't that's okay as it is actually part of a 5 part collection! But you will have @steviebbboi to thank for the prompts ;)

Thay being said...who wants to talk merpeople with me?👀

[honeydew-mel0n]

Plz oh great author. I would just like... some dadV content. Just like. V and a child reader. Plz.

This probably isnt what you expected but, here's V being an adopted dad for a 5 year old reader in the ruins of Redgrave. It's not good, but its work. Ig

V x Child! Reader

Dad!V in the rubble of Redgrave.

You hide under the remnants of your bed. The ripped mattress and splintered frame providing little shelter from the horrors that lie beyond your eyelids. You weren't asleep, but still subscribed to the belief that the monsters couldn't get you if they thought you were asleep.

The sound of footsteps approaching lit a flame of hope in your heart, only for it to crash down the moment you heard the monsters come again.

It was so loud, crashing, screaming... were they fighting? If it was battle it ended quickly. And whatever entered your room won. You let out a soft whimper, curling into yourself. The foot steps approach the mess you called a bed. The sound of the mattress being pulled slightly made you burst into tears.

"Well, what do we have here?"

You open your tear filled eyes to see an adult, his black hair and dark clothes. "Mommy left me again- Are the monsters gone!?" His face was almost devoid of emotion. "Yes." "Are you sure?" At first. A smile smile splits his face as he offers you a tattoted hand. "Positive, little one."

_

We've seen before that he could care less about children at first glance, but the mentioning your mother leaving you caused him to instantly attach to you.

Alone, afraid, but this time, no way to protect yourself.

Deep down something inside of him told him that he needs to protect you. To take the job that your obviously useless mother could not handle.

You latch onto him quickly as well, your new protector. You think he's so cool, with his weird clothes, tattoos, and the funny things he says.

The second night he had you, you fell asleep pressed up against him as read a loud.

_

"When we see not thro the eye. Which was born in a night to perish in a night. When the soul slept in beams of light..."

He stops, green eyes boring down at your sleeping form. Your little hand wrapped over the edge of the corset under his coat. A small smile splits his face. Dispite all you had gone through, you still held peace. You would smile up at him after minutes of tucking your head into his side to hide your eyes from the gore that went on in front of you.

Your resilience is unyielding, and he cant help but admire that. It can make him forget that you are just a child. But now, layed out against his heart, he can see your vulnerability more then ever. You were so talkative, so kind, so soft, so... so... human. So very human. Just as he is now.

_

After some time with him, you'll be able to recite whole poems. And god he's never been more proud.

Technically, he's homeless, so finding somewhere safe for you to sleep is his first priority.

You never sleep alone. Never. Either he or one of his familiars is with you.

Scratch that, you are never alone.

He wasnt surprised by Shadow's fondness of you, but was by Griffon's.

"Yeah, yeah, yeah pip squeak, just don't pull on my feathers anymore."

V is easily annoyed, especially by people who talk too much. Unless it's you.

He can sit and listen to you chatter on in excessive detail about the random things you know.

Maybe that's why you and Griffon can get along. It's a constant back and forth of random facts and jokes that go right over your head.

You just like that he talks to you, he likes that he can make any joke and you won't get upset or offended.

V however, hates that he does this.

Seeing as how V tries his best to shield you from the world. You've already suffered so much.

He takes on the task of "dad" rather quickly.

_

You close your eyes tight as he pours the water from his cupped hands over your hair. V hums softly as he scrubs the filth from your skin. It was rather uncomfortable, taking a bath in a fountain, but it wasn't as uncomfortable as caked on dirt and splatters of demon blood. "We're almost done, I promise."

As soon as he found you to be clean enough he takes off his long leather jacket, dispite it just getting dry, he pulls you out and wraps it around you. He lays out your now dry and somewhat clean clothes and let's you try to dress yourself. Shadow letting you lean on her as you tug your clothes back on.

The warmth from fire used to cook the demon meat is enough to make you feel sleepy, if the exhausting day wasnt enough. You leaned against V's side, curling into him. His arm coming around you, assuring you that you're safe.

_

He accepts that he's pretty much your father very quickly.

But it hurts him. He knows what he has to do, and when that happens, what will happen to you? Who could he possibly trust to care for you?

He takes you everywhere, and doesn't let anything touch you.

It's truly Infuriating to him that he doesn't have the strength to carry you. Of course you ride on shadow, but when they handle demons you are left to mercy of the world.

The two of you being attached at the hip leads to a lot of confusion.

Mostly from Nero

"Why the hell do you have a kid???"

When he finally gets to settle down in Nico's van, you get to lay down for a nap.

And he leaves again, he leaves you to sleep. It was safe and he knew you would be fine there, and you definitely needed to sleep.

Nico, surprisingly, didnt mind you.

The entire time he was so nervous. It's been weeks, and this is the first time you haven't been with him.

When V eventually returns, he finds you chatting Nero's ear off. He didn't seem to mind though, he sat quietly with a smile as you talked.

It hit him then.

You could be safe without him.

_

He watched you fiddle with the metal fingers on Nero's devil breaker as you spoke. The young man making the fingers move, to your delight. Your eyes glowed and you looked up at Nero, he nods to what you're saying with a wide smile.

All of the worries in V's head melt away, but are soon replaced with a feeling of melancholy. You would be fine, you would be safe. Without him. He steps in, your head snaps to him, joy spreading on your features as soon at you realize. You run up to him, hugging his leg tightly.

It wasnt long until he has to leave again, and he knew it was the last time he would see you. And somehow, you knew something was wrong. Your small hands rest on his cheeks, sadness written on your entire being. He pulls you close, whispering to you softly. "I will see you again my little one. I will see you again."

Tiny arms hold tight around his neck, warm, wet tears slip down and fall onto his skin. "Are you sure?" "Positive, little one." You hold on tight to him, even after he lets go. Theres a soft whisper, bairly audible. "I love you, daddy." Then, you let go.

Getting to wave him off while holding onto Nico's leg.

_

He knew he wouldnt see you again, either he dies, or becomes one again. The likelihood of seeing you again with both of those options is little to none.

But he feels peace, you'd be safe. You are safe.

He gets weaker and weaker.

He's been close to it before, but this must be what dieing feels like.

Before reuniting with his other half, he still tries to make sure that you will be okay.

His crumbling body is leaning on Nero, hobbling to the end of his life.

"The child... If you survive, take care of them."

[andmyvape]

"Please tell me you're not wearing that."

Elayn looked down, then back up with a wide grin. She tugged at her bright rainbow suspenders with her thumbs. "What, not tacky enough?"

Serana gave the ensemble another slow scan. "No, it's… definitely tacky. The combat boots with the khaki shorts is a nice touch."

The grin got wider as she stuffed her hands into her pockets. "They're going to be throwing candy, and I wasn't anywhere near prepared enough last time."

Serana rolled her eyes, but softened it with a smile. "You're ridiculous."

"Isn't that why we're dating?" her girlfriend asked as they headed out the door.

She took a moment to lock up while Serana laughed. "'Careless Whisper' on a boom box outside my window. I can't believe my dad didn't kill you. I know you stole that, by the way. We both went to see that movie when it came out."

"They marketed it as a romcom!" Elayn protested.

They were in the car now. It would be a trick to find parking, but they were running early thanks to Serana's habit of scheduling everything. Elayn was more the type to go with the flow, but living together had her adapted enough that the flow she went with was largely dictated by Serana's schedule. As a research chemist, she worked interesting hours at times, but Elayn was a good roommate, she cooked and cleaned, mostly because she had the time. Lacrosse wasn't a well paying sport compared to something like soccer, but the off seasons gave her plenty of time to maintain their loft. 

"Five dollars an hour?" Elayn griped as the machine printed out their ticket. 

"Homophobia strikes again," Serana said with mock solemnity. 

She snorted and wrapped an arm around her girlfriend's waste. "Which park did you say this thing started in again?" 

It was a little place surrounded by tall buildings, but it was a green patch in a city largely made out of grey. It being Pride Month, the grey was broken up by rainbows. The two wandered around as they waited for the parade to start. 

Well, at least, they started to wander when Elayn caught sight of a dog and all but dragged her girlfriend over to say hi. 

"What's his name?" she asked, so full of enthusiasm she practically floated. "Can I pet him?" 

The dog's owner, someone with a short haircut in a crop top that was orange, yellow, and white striped, nodded. "If he lets you. Sometimes he's not so-- oh gosh," they said, eyes wide as they watched Elayn kneel down and offer a hand to sniff that was immediately accepted. "You must have good vibes." 

"She's a dog person," Serana said with a laugh as the dog put its front paws on Elayn's shoulders so he could lick her face. 

"What's his name?" she asked through slobbery kisses. 

The butch grinned. "That's Duke, I'm Cas. It's nice to meet you!" 

The two introduced themselves just in time for a volunteer to come up with bottles of water. "Our city got voted best water in the state," she said cheerfully. "Take a few, it's gonna be a hot one." 

Before the march, there were speeches. The first was an introduction to the city's first pride parade since the 80s. The second was from a drag queen inviting everyone to the show later that night. Finally, the speeches were closed by an Episcopalian pastor trying to make up for the rest of Christianity's sins. 

"It's starting!" Elayn said excitedly when the crowd started to funnel out of the park. 

The march went down the sidewalk for a few blocks. Traffic was halted and the waiting cars honked while passengers waved. Elayn waved a lesbian flag, Serana had a bi flag, and the two of them dragged a rainbow striped cooler. 

"Mom! Mom!" Elayn heard behind her. "Look, it's two cicadas going at it!" 

She glanced behind her. There was a set of twins, about twelve years old, one of them draped in a trans flag and holding the cicadas that were indeed trying to reproduce. Elayn snorted and hit herself in the face trying to keep a laugh contained. "You like bugs, huh?" 

The girl in the trans flag beamed. "They're my favorite! Well, except for tarantulas, but Mom won't let me have one." 

"The rabbit gets out of its cage enough." The way the girl's mom said it, this was an age old argument. "I don't want to squash it when it ends up in my shoe."

"I had a snake when I was growing up," Serana chimed in. "A corn snake that never got out." 

The twins turned out to be part of a family unit. One twin was trans, and their older brother was too, and as Elayn found soon, was very excited to start HRT. "Get a Gc2b binder," she said. "When I'm feeling like a flat day, it works really well." 

The boy, a younger fourteen, practically floated with excitement. "I will!" 

Serana chatted with the parents while Elayn occupied the kids. "Have you folks been to Pride before?" 

Their mom, a woman named Chelsea, shook her head. "Nope, both kids came out last September and they've been talking about the festival ever since." 

"You seem like really supportive parents," Serana said. It carried the weight of one speaking who has not had contact with their parents since high school. 

Chelsea could tell, and she opened her arms for a hug that Serana was more than happy to accept. 

The march was only about a mile long, and it ended in another park. Elayn craned her neck and said, "I think I see the beer line, wait here?" 

"We will!" said the girl, who was very proud to be named Luna now. 

Serana and Chelsea shared a grin. "I guess we'll wait here," the mom said. 

It was a bit of a line, which was probably not a good thing, but apparently people were restricted on how many drinks they could buy, so at least there was that. While Elayn waited, she was joined by two people wearing pronoun pins that said "she/her". 

Elayn's jaw dropped at the sight of one of the girls' dress, which was a flowing, fae like ensemble. "Holy shit!" she said. "You look amazing!" 

She blushed and ducked her head as she smiled. "Thank you, I got it from Amazon." 

"It's her first Pride," her friend added.

That just amazed Elayn more. "With the sparkles and the green eyeshadow, I wouldn't have guessed. Everything you've got going on is just amazing."

"Thank you!" she squeaked. 

Elayn wasn't alone in thinking the dress was gorgeous. Another person came up to compliment it, and they had such dope tattoos that Elayn could not help but comment. 

"The guy that did them is great," they gushed. "He does blacklight work too!" 

So she got a website saved on her phone for the next time she really wanted to get a tattoo on top of the three she already had; scrollwork on her bicep, a wolf on her shoulder blade, and a small date on her wrist that was the day she met Serana. 

When she got back to her girlfriend and the others, an IPA in hand that was frankly piss, she told them about the girl in the fae dress. 

"I saw her!" Serana exclaimed. 

"Amazon." 

"No way." 

Next was food, especially if she was going to drink a beer. Assuming she actually drank it. "There's some food trucks," she pointed out. "I could go for a corndog." 

"I'm going to get some mac and cheese," Serana said. 

"Mom! Mom!" Luna's twin brother, Ian, tugged at his mom's sleeve. "Can we get pretzels?" 

Chelsea sighed good-naturedly. "I suppose. Do you two want to meet up after?" 

"Over by the stage?" Elayn suggested. 

The group separated. She found the line for corndogs and funnel cake. While she was waiting, the woman ahead of her glanced her way, so Elayn said, "Howdy!" 

"Hey there, hun!" She clapped her on the shoulder. "Having a good time?" 

"I am," she said with a grin. "Everyone here is so nice. There were some moms back there handing out hugs!" 

"Well, I'm a mom, would you like a hug?" 

"I would love that." 

It was a lovely hug, the woman was warm and smelled floral. When they separated, she said, "I'm Elayn! It's good to meet you. Can I get you a corndog?" 

As she pulled out her wallet, the woman waved her money away. "It's Nessa, and actually, I'd like to buy you a corndog." 

"You don't have to--" 

Nessa laughed. "I miss my daughters, you'd be doing me a favor." 

They chatted while the line went down, about lacrosse and about university. It turned out Nessa's two daughters went off to college in other cities, so it had been a while since she saw either. "I had a son," she said. "But now I have a very happy daughter, and I'm so proud of her." 

"I wish I had a mom like you," Elayn said, thinking about growing up foster care. 

Nessa grabbed her in another hug. "Now you do!" 

When she got back to Serana and the others, they were listening to the music booming from the speakers. She had to yell to tell the group about her new mom. 

Chelsea looked a little sad, because she could connect the dots, but Luna and Ian were too busy freaking out over the cotton candy Nessa had bought her too. 

Not long after, the stage was occupied. Elayn was chatting with Luna with her back turned, so she missed it until Serana tapped her shoulder and turned her around. 

"Holy shit!" She hollered and clapped at the sight of a gorgeous, sequin clad drag queen in four inch heels doing a backflip off the stage and onto grass. "Holy shit!" 

As it turned out, the drag queens took tips, and it was at that point that Elayn knew she was about to spend a lot of money. Each queen that performed, and there were many, got a five in exchange for the sheer joy Elayn got when the queen before her touched her hand. 

When there was a break in the performances, she went back to Serana, who had a smirk on her face. "Should I be jealous?" 

Elayn cupped her face, and in a fit of sheer enthusiasm, kissed her girlfriend soundly, to the delight of the twins who hooted. "Don't worry, babe," she teased. "You're the only queen for me." 

"Flatterer." Serana swatted at her chest, but the smile on her face was pleased regardless. 

It was all a blur from there. Fair food, loud music-- and Elayn found beer that wasn't piss! She taught the twins a new vocabulary of cuss words the moment she found out their mom was fine with foul language. They parted around five in the afternoon, when a voice through a megaphone warned attendants that the festival was about to start catering to adults. There was a concert with more drag queens, this time in much more risqué outfits that Elayn would have given a kidney to see on Serana. 

When she said something, her girlfriend got a light in her eye. "Really now?" she purred. "Maybe for your birthday." 

By 11pm, Elayn was high on the party atmosphere and a few beers. The festival was over, and the walk back to their car would be a trick. "Did you have fun?" she asked Serana as they walked hand in hand. 

She got a kiss on the cheek. "I'm so glad I have you. When are we getting married?"

"When I figure out how to surprise you with a ring." 

[juminsmysticmc]

ohhh so i would love if you could do rfa who‘s child gets hit by a car (Happy End) with v and saeran since the other were really good!😙💚

Minor Trio’s child get hit by a car ( Trigger Warnings, Angst! )

Mention of blood, hospital, death

Hello! I am so happy that you liked the HC! I am more than happy to write it for you! Vanderwood is a ,,Bonus’’, lol! Hope you enjoy! Please tell me your honest opinion! Stay well!

Saeran

You observed your husband playing with your son as you gently rubbed your belly, carrying Saeran’s twin daughters.

You never imagined back then that this day would ever come or that you would feel so much happiness.

This was love, you thought.

Your son accidentally kicked the ball over to your feet, making them both approach you.

,,Isn’t it hot in the sun, Mc?’’ Saeran asked, concerned as he looked up into the clear blue sky. There wasn’t even a single cloud present.

You nodded. ,,You’re right, I’ll wait inside for the both of you,’’ you smiled as you tried to get up, however, Saeran quickly helped you.

The both of you were proud that you chose to buy a house in front of the park where cars drove a bit slower than in the city.

The nature around your home made the atmosphere so beautiful. You were happy that you were able to show your son the beauty of the world.

,,No, Mummy, why do you want to go home?’’ your son whined as he looked at you.

You smiled at him as you ruffled his hair. ,,Mummy is tired and besides, it’s too hot for your sisters!’’ you laughed.

,,Okay! Then I will go with mommy and make her feel fresh with some cold tea!’’ he laughed and took your hand.

You had such a sweet son and you were so happy that you and Saeran seemingly didn’t make any mistakes in your parenting.

Well, maybe you did make a mistake - your son still couldn’t cross the street. He always forgot to look both ways before crossing.

And this time too, Saeran was walking hand in hand with you towards the street to approach your home. You guys just had to cross the street when your son’s ball fell out of his arms, making his one favorite ball roll into the street.

,,Oh no! My ball!’’ he whined as he jumped and ran, speeding on the street.

It all happened so quickly - as you let go of Saeran’s hand to run, at least as much as you could towards him, your sunshine.

Your scream was so loud that Saeran twitched. ,,THE STREET!’’ you cried, but your son simply didn’t look both ways.

The honk made your son stop in the middle of the street as you heard a hit. In front of your eyes, you saw your son falling with blood everywhere.

,,NOO!’’ you screamed louder as the car stopped immediately. Saran approached your son quickly and ever since then, your mind was fuzzy. You couldn’t remember how you got to the hospital, how you cried, or how helpless you were.

You just came back to yourself when your son called your name, his arm and leg was broken, his head was hurting, and the boy was whimpering in fear.

,,I’m here, baby. I won’t let go of you. Tell mommy what you need,’’ you whispered, still relieved that your son had an angel who prevented his death.

Jihyun

Lucy was between the both of you as you walked to the coffee shop where you planned on buying a cake for Lucy as she received a good mark on her test today.

The weather was beautiful, the birds were singing, and your little girl next to you was laughing happily.

,,I am so proud of you! That’s our daughter!’’ you praised her again, making her smile even wider.

Jihyun also told her more than once that he was proud and that he never had such a good mark in math.

,,Really, Daddy?’’ she asked him. She couldn’t believe what her dad was telling her, making you chuckle.

,,Okay, let’s take a picture before we go in,’’ he said, holding his camera up, ready to take a picture.

You nodded and went on your knees, hugging Lucy as you both smiled brightly. 

,,Oh, look how good it looks!’’ he told you.

Both you and Lucy approached Jihyun, looking into the camera.

Lucy was behind the both of you as she turned around, seeing a big beautiful balloon shop.

Not being able to stop herself, she gasped as she walked towards it, not noticing that she was in the middle of the street.

,,Lucy, let’s go in. What cake do you want?’’ you asked her. When you turned around, a horrifying scenario played in front of you.

,,JIHYUN!’’ you hissed and grabbed his shoulder as you saw her on the street.

,,LUCY!’’ he called too, trying to run towards her to stop her.

But he was too late.

Before he could even pull her back, a car ran into her, making her fly and fall on the floor a bit further away from the both of you.

The squeaking sound of the brakes was so loud that you had the feeling that no one could eat with your high pitched scream in panic.

Everything and everyone stopped as you ran towards her. The woman who just hit her with the car was already on the phone, crying and talking to a hospital who was sending an ambulance to the site of the accident.

,,Lucy, Lucy… you can’t leave mommy…’’ you sobbed as you put your jacket over her pale body to not make her feel any cold.

You didn’t dare to move her head, scared that you would hurt her even more.

,,She is strong. They will be able to help her, don’t worry,’’ Jihyun said as you kept on sobbing on his chest.

,,What if they take her away from us? I’m such a bad mother. I should have…. oh my God I’m okay if they take her away from us as long as she stays alive,’’ you sobbed, fearing you might lose her in whatever way it may be.

Jihyun could just rub your back as he tried to stay strong for you.

,,She’s alive. She will have a big headache as soon as she wakes up because of the trauma, but she will be able to keep on living without any damage. Just let her rest here for the next few days and then we can send her home.

For the night, the both of you can stay here,’’ the doctor said.

,,I will log into the chatroom to keep them updated,’’ Jihyun said, meaning the RFA.

Of course they all went crazy when they found out and it didn’t take even five minutes until Lucy got transferred to the VIP Room due to Jumin’s connections in the hospital.

You were a big family now, after all, and everyone was willing to support the both of you as good as possible.

There was no way that they could even try to take Lucy away from the both of you because you were still the best parents for her, your daughter.

Vanderwood

It all began to be a beautiful day, so how did this day manage to become a living nightmare for the both of you?

Days passed as you and Vanderwood sat in silence next to each other.

The room was cold, the atmosphere was killing the both of you, and your tears no longer stopped falling as you saw your son.

The machine was keeping him alive.

The tubes around him made him seem dead, even though he was still alive. At least that was what the doctors were telling you.

Vanderwood kept holding your hand as he now observed you, worried for your well being.

He knew that at night you couldn’t sleep anymore.

He knew that even when you managed to close an eye, you were whining and crying in your sleep.

Your skin too was pale as the room and your lips were dry.

You didn’t eat anything, you were barely drinking, and he almost had the feeling that he forgot your voice.

A week ago, your son happily gave you a kiss as he walked to school.

You and Vanderwood sat around the table, having breakfast, when suddenly someone called you.

It wasn’t even 10 AM when the hospital told you that your son was hit by a bus at the bus station.

He and his friends were playing when he was accidentally pushed on the street, a bus coming right at that moment, hitting him.

,,He has fallen into a coma,’’ they told you as you cut the call and looked at Vanderwood with a teary face.

Ever since then, you kept thinking about your life: how you raised him and how you lived with him.

,,I wish I would have walked with him to school,’’ you suddenly whispered. Vanderwood’s heart stopped beating for a second as he heard your words for the first time in a week.

,,I wish I would have let him sleepover at his friend’s house.

I should have bought him the latest PlayStation and I shouldn’t have scolded him a week ago.

I… I regret so many things… What if he dies now? He’s still so young…’’ you sobbed louder.

,,We agreed on not raising such a brat who gets everything.We didn’t want a spoiled boy,’’ Vanderwood tried to calm you down.

However, he managed to make you angry ,,Well, yes, because a dead child is better than a spoiled one, right?!’’ you hissed at him, your face red as you were angry.

,,You know that that’s not what I meant!’’ he hissed.

Suddenly, the both of you found yourself arguing and hissing at each other, but the both of you quickly stopped when a little voice called you.

,,Mommy…’’ your son gagged as the tube was into his mouth, the mask making it impossible for him to say anything.

,,CALL THE NURSE!’’ you hissed and jumped up, approaching your son and stroking his head as you looked at him with a pained face.

,,Everything is okay, everything will be fine. Mommy and Daddy are here. The nurse will be here too, don’t worry,’’ you kept on telling him as your son kept panicking, a sight that broke your heart.

Indeed, the nurse, followed by countless doctors, entered the room.

Vanderwood pulled you apart from the bed as they checked him.

,,He is awake and he is alive…’’ you whispered and hugged Vanderwood, a warmth he hadn’t felt since that all happened.

,,We can send him home the day after tomorrow,’’ the doctor began, telling you what treatment was needed for your son.

But the good news was that he didn’t have anything life threatening and that he could soon live normally again.

MASTERLIST 1

MASTERLIST 2

MASTERLIST 3

26.04.2021 // 22:35 MEST

[romewritingshop]

I’m a Dad

Fandom: Choices, Open Heart, AU

Relationship: Dr. Ethan Ramsey X F!MC (Name: Alyssa Brooks)

Warnings: Fluff, slight angst, mentions of birth complications, Alan is okay no need to panic 😅, anxieties of fatherhood, slight injury (nothing gruesome).

Rating: 12+ Word Count Total: 3209

AN: This is a birthday commission for @tsrookie who wanted a fic of dad!Ethan. I hope this is what you wanted and enjoy. The song that inspired this was Michele Morrone’s Dad (Accoustic Version):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2cDNO--sPgE

I wanted to portray the significance of Alan in Ethan and Alyssa’s lives. It was emotional writing this 🥺.

Rome’s Birthday Celebration Masterlist 2021

CHOICES MASTERLIST

Tagged: @eleanorbloom @juliafranquet @me-and-my-choices @drethanramslay @choicesficwriterscreations @queencarb @miss-smrxtiee @melaninnntae @they-callme-ami @openheartfanfics @mvalentine @starrystarrytrouble @drariellevalentine @nikki-2406 @caseyvalentineramsey @kiara-36 @choicesreal @sophxwithers @brightningstar @tsrookie @gryffindordaughterofathena @arnikki-2406 @mercury84choices ​@theinvisibledreamergirl @stygianflood @ethansramsey

A blissful silence settled in the room as Ethan tossed his house keys onto the kitchen countertop. Flicking the switches as the lights turned on in his house. A large suburban white painted house that he and Alyssa bought a few years ago. Ethan’s eyes wandered around the living room, taking in the quiet. Alyssa wasn’t home yet which gave Ethan the time to head to his study. Clambering up the stairs and going to the first door on his left, a spacious room with forest green walls. A metal case of shelves with wooden baskets filled with stationary, was diagonally placed in the corner to the door. Directly opposite the door was a mahogany table with a cushioned wheeled office chair.

To the left of the door, was a red and green small plastic table and bench. Crayons and pencils were scattered on the table and floor, there were sheets of coloured papers with indiscernible scribbles. The furrow in Ethan’s eyebrows relaxed as he slipped off his black cashmere jacket and hung it on a hook to the left of him. Crouching by the small kids table and glanced at the drawings, noting the curved shapes to be attempts at writing. Writing what exactly? He wasn’t too sure. 

Nathan and Savannah were the smartest kids he knew. Why wouldn’t they be though, since their parents were the acclaimed doctors of Bloom Edenbrook’s diagnostics team. Ethan put their drawings in a woven basket which had a label of ‘kids’, he held onto all the crayons and pencils and placed them in their respective labelled pots. Placing the pots in their woven basket and placing their basket on top of the shelf unit. Alyssa probably didn’t have time to tidy up their mess because they were spending the afternoon and evening with Alyssa’s friends.

Maybe now was a good time to get started on his project as he pulled out a basket and took out a few sheets of thick matte paper and an envelope. Bringing them over to his desk and seating himself, opening a drawer in his desk. He took out a few ink pens and placed the pens next to his paper, his eyes darted to the wooden picture frame of Alyssa and their three kids: Allison, Nathan and Savannah. He still couldn’t believe that he was theirs, and they were his. It was only yesterday, when he and Alyssa were in the reception, treating for a thoracotomy and now they had a house and kids.

Ethan knew what he had to do as soon as he brought his pen to the paper, the words flew right through him as he wrote. The memories of his kids flooding his brain with a warm familiar glow.

~~~~~~

“Out of the way!”

Ethan rushed down the stairs, shoving past nurses and doctors before slamming the corridor door open to the maternity ward. Sienna was hot on his heels as he growled and grimaced at people, his eyes went to the pager as a message from Naveen popped up. ‘4cm dilated’. Ethan was close as he weaved through a never ending maze of Edenbrook’s corridors. In the distance he spotted Naveen, his dad Alan, and his daughter Allison were looking into the window of one of the maternity rooms.

“Ethan! There you are!”

“Daddy!”

His crinkled grumpy face relaxed at the sight of Allison. Five years old with a knack for mischief and a carbon copy of himself. She had his eyes and ears but Alyssa’s nose, lips and hair. Alan was taking care of Allison while Ethan and his wife were working, however, Alyssa’s contraction pains strengthened and her constant lavatory needs indicated that she needed to be checked in. Naveen came up to stand beside Ethan; who took Allison into his arms.

“Naveen, how is she?”

“Well the contractions are hurting and I have a feeling the babies are coming now. Dr. Delarosa is in there with her. Are you ready Ethan?”

Ethan gave a nod as he turned to Allison, a calm gentle smile reserved for her.

“Time to get your new siblings. You okay to wait here with Uncle Naveen and Grandpa?”

“Yeah! Uncle Naveen is buying me chocolate!”

Ethan quirked a brow at his mentor, who in return stuck with a confident grin before Ethan placed Allison down. Naveen clasped his hand around her tiny hand and led her to the staff break room, whilst listening to her ramblings about her new siblings. Ethan took a deep breath as Alan stepped up to rest his hand on his shoulder.

“I’m proud of you, son.”

Ethan smiled and was about to step into the room, when something held him still. His buried nerves leaked through his wall as memories of Dolores seeped to his front. Alyssa was pregnant with twins, that alone carried several complications in terms of the positioning of the babies, possible post partum haemorrhage. On top of that she was one week late, twins born post due date carry risks to the mother and the babies.

A flash of baby Ethan in the NICU drained the warmth from his face and he felt like he was drowning. He couldn’t breathe as he pressed a hand against the door ledge, bowing his head as Alan stood beside him. Alan could tell Ethan was panicking. His shoulders shook as Alan gently probed.

“Ethan?”

“What if something happens?”

“Boston’s famous doctor is worried about a twin birth? Ethan, you’ve done this before. You know what to do.”

“It’s different. Alyssa is in there. She’s the patient. What if I can’t make the right decision?”

“Ethan Jonah Ramsey. You are a diagnostician. A famous one at that. You look at the possibilities before you make your decision. You have it in you son. Plus she’s a fighter. She won’t back down. But she needs you. Be brave and if you can’t be brave, be brave for her. She needs your support.”

His father’s words felt like a warm wash of life as he inhaled the air, exhaling his anxieties and giving a steady nod. Ethan smiled at his father before pushing open the door to step into the room, stepping into action to help make Alyssa’s labour as easy as possible.

~~~~~~

“Daddy! When is Twilight Sparkle coming?”

“In a bit. If you finish your lunch, then she’ll come.”

“Daddy! Will she bring a lot of presents for us?”

“An average amount, Nathan.”

Ethan pinched the bridge of his nose as he watched over the several little kids munching on their mini pizza slices and tater tots. It was the twins’ birthday today and the two of them invited their whole class to celebrate, the sun was shining as the kids sat on picnic blankets. The Ramseys’ had a spacious garden which could hold for nearly twenty five kids and several adults. Bryce, Jackie and Elijah were keeping an eye on the kids as Ethan slipped away to the kitchen where Alyssa was sat on a breakfast stool with her foot in Sienna’s lap. Aurora was beside them as she carefully tapped a finger against the swollen skin near her ankle. Jenner paced on his paws with nervous energy as he whined at his mom, Alyssa.

“Alyssa has sprained her ankle … Ethan.”

The friends still had a difficult time addressing Ethan by his first name but he paid no heed to it as Alyssa tried to come off the stool, trying to brush off the pain.

“It’s nothing, I’m sure I’ll be fine as long as I don’t walk on it.”

Ethan sighed rather exasperatedly as he folded his arms at his wife. That motion alone made Alyssa meekly smile and remain in her seat. Aurora handed her a cool pack for Alyssa to use for her sprain. She knew that she needed to rest her ankle but the twins would be so upset.

“Fine. But how are we going to solve the entertainment issue?”

At that moment the front door opened and closed as Alan strode in with a confident excited gait. He had a white cardboard box in his hands as he hummed and placed the box on the table, unveiling it to reveal a My Little Pony cake with ‘Happy 4th Birthday! Nathan and Savannah’. Alan’s brows sagged at the sight of his daughter-in-law.

“What happened?”

“I … fell.”

Ethan resorted to pinching the bridge of his nose before explaining the story. The children were showing off dance moves and there was a little girl who was showing off her gymnastics ability. Alyssa thought she could show off her talent by demonstrating a cartwheel, unfortunately her cartwheel was aimed the wrong way and Alyssa landed awkwardly in a bush with her legs askew. Alan smiled at Alyssa as he realised that there was an issue of entertainment since Alyssa was planning to dress up as the kids’ favourite character, Twilight Sparkle.

“I guess that means Alyssa can’t be Twilight Sparkle.”

Sienna gave a nod and spoke up.

“Aurora, Jackie and I would do it but I don’t think there’s enough time for any of us to learn everything about My Little Pony. The kids are gonna see right through us.”

“It’s a conundrum.”

Everyone took a moment to think before Alan’s eyes twinkled with an idea.

“I have an idea. Sienna, start watching some My Little Pony, I’ll stall the kids. ‘Lyssa, where did you keep your guitar?”

Alyssa’s eyes twinkled as she informed Alan of the guitar, to which Aurora ran up to search for it. It seemed everyone knew what to do, everyone except for Ethan, who placed his hands on his hips, turning to his father.

“Would you mind clueing me into your plan?”

“A little singing will have the kids distracted while Aurora, Alyssa and Sienna get ready. The kids will love it!”

At that moment, Bryce popped his head through the glass garden doors, there’s a slight line of sweat near the crown of his neck as he nervously glances back.

“The kids are going rabid if Twilight Sparkle doesn’t come in the next five minutes.”

Aurora rushed back down and handed Alan a brown varnished acoustic guitar, a gift from Alyssa’s patient Remy. Alan hung the strap over his shoulder and strutted outside to where all the kids shrieked and yelled.

“Okay kids! Who’s gonna sing the My Little Pony theme song?”

Ethan went out and noticed all the kids sitting at their picnic blankets, bopping and singing while Alan strummed the tune of the My Little Pony theme song. Ethan and Rafael took the time to begin cleaning up the rubbish whilst Bryce, Elijah and Jackie kept an eye out for Sienna, Aurora and Alyssa. All the kids and the twins were enraptured, even Jenner was happily panting to the music. Alan was going through a list of songs going from the My Little Pony Theme Song, to the lime and coconut song and to  the rhinestone cowboy.Not long after, Alan got a thumbs up from Bryce and Jackie to which Alan smiled and announced.

“Now children! There is someone who’d like to wish two special children a Happy Birthday!”

Nathan and Savannah jumped up with excited shrieks as Alan strummed the music of the theme song and out came Twilight Sparkle. It was Sienna donning a purple sparkly dress, wings protruding from the back and a dark wig flowing off her shoulders. Her unicorn headband was fixed into the wig and her purple make-up shone in the sun as Sienna skipped towards the kids, tossing bounds of glitter.

Aurora and Jackie were helping Alyssa settle on a deck chair as the twins hugged and cried at the fact that Twilight Sparkle had come to their party. Ethan and Alyssa sent a thankful smile as Alan returned their smile, everyone’s faces warming at the twin’s excitement.

~~~~~~

Ethan used the back of his hand to wipe off the sweat on his brow as he pushed the front door of his apartment open. Baby Allison happily chewed on her yellow teether while bouncing in the baby sling, strapped across Ethan’s chest. Alyssa was working at the hospital after spending four months at home and it was Ethan’s turn to stay home with Allison. He was glad he opted for a loose linen shirt and khaki trousers as the Boston heat was slowly racking up. Ethan had gone out to buy some ingredients for their dinner: stir fried tofu and broccoli. 

Alyssa would need some good comfort food after going back to work and he knew that Chinese would delight her. He unclipped one arm strap, pressing a palm to hold up Allison before unclipping the other to carry his daughter to her high chair in the kitchen. Allison was teething so he handed her a teething ring to help Allison improve motor skills. His daughter smiled and babbled at the sight of her dad as Ethan pressed a kiss onto his daughter’s forehead.

Allison was a daddy’s girl since she would whine and cry with Alyssa, but when it came to Ethan, Allison babbled and laughed. Alyssa was sure that she would say ‘Dada’. Ethan grinned as Jenner padded into the kitchen, bringing himself up to stand on his hind legs beside Allison. The dog was protective and loving to Allison as she tried to swat at Jenner’s nose.

“Jenner, keep an eye on her.”

Jenner barked as Ethan began taking out utensils and the shopping to get started. Draining the water from the tofu and breaking up the broccoli into florets. Every so often, his eyes would wander to his little girl on the high chair. Ethan still couldn’t believe the fact that he was a father. A living breathing child was in his care, one he made with the woman he loved as his eyes glistened at the memories of her birth. Despite expecting for children to not be in the cards for him, life had a way of telling him that it was always the case.

As Ethan stared longingly at his daughter, Jenner could smell something faintly burning; turning his head to hear a loud crackle and pop. Jenner barked furiously which had Ethan snap out and realise the onions and garlic had burnt in the wok, the broccoli was charred beyond recognition as Ethan turned off the induction hob. The loud barks caused Allison to startle and little beads of tears streamed down her face.

His heart lurched as he immediately stalked to his daughter to take her in his arms and get her to settle down. It was the first time in a long time that Ethan burnt dinner as he exhaled at the time on his wrist watch. Alyssa would be home in an hour and it was too late to restart. He didn’t have enough ingredients and he couldn’t whip up something else in time for Alyssa to sink her teeth into.

At that moment his phone rang as Ethan reached into his pocket to rest the phone between his ear and shoulder, while bouncing a teary Allison in his lap.

“Ethan Ramsey.”

“Ethan.” The corner of Ethan’s lips curled upwards at the recognition of his father’s voice. “I’m just about ten minutes away from your home. Alyssa invited me to have dinner, do you need anything?”

Ethan glanced at the mess behind him, a low exhale left his lips.

“Can you please pick up some Chinese on your way here?”

It wasn’t long when Alan arrived with several bags of Chinese take out from Xing-Fu’s Restaurant. Ethan took the bags from Alan and set up the dining table while Alan took the time to talk and play with his granddaughter, Jenner wagged his tail rapidly as he watched Alan and Allison. Not long after the kitchen was clear and the dinner table was set, Alyssa had entered the apartment with a smile on her face.

She took a moment to freshen up before joining the Ramseys at the dinner table. Her eyes sparkled at the array of side dishes as she pecked Ethan’s cheek before digging rather ravenously into the food. All the tension from the day melted under the spicy heat of duck and the softness of lotus buns. Ethan and Alan share a knowing smile as they too get stuck into their meal, Allison smiles and babbles in her high chair next to Alyssa. Glad to have her mother with her.

~~~~~~

The memories faded as Ethan lifted his pen from the letter, a soft nostalgic smile brushed on his face as he pushed the frame of his glasses up the bridge of his nose. A faint sound of the front door opened as excited chirps and barking fluttered into his study. The kids, Jenner and Alyssa were home as Ethan smiles at the incoming thunder steps, spinning his office chair to the direction of the door. The twins come tumbling in and launch themselves into Ethan’s arms, not giving a chance for Ethan to pay attention to their chatter. Jenner is sitting at the entrance of the door, while Allison stands behind him with her hand scratching the top of his fur. 

“Nathan, Savannah! I cannot understand your rambling.”

“Yeah, they had a lot of pastries. Aunt Sienna made a lot of cakes and biscuits.”

Ethan shook his head with a teasing grin at the twins. The two of them hid their mouths as Nathan denied.

“No we didn’t. Ally did!”

“Liar, I saw you two take two slices of the chocolate fudge cake.”

“No! You’re dreaming Ally.”

Ethan raised an eyebrow at his troublesome twins but pressed long kisses into their hair. Savannah leaned over his shoulder and noticed the pen and paper before pressing her two palms on Ethan’s face, forcing him to look directly at her as she asked.

“Are you drawing without us?”

Ethan shook his head as he explained.

“I’m making a gift for grandpa.”

“Are you gonna give it to him tomorrow?”

Before he could answer, Alyssa appeared at the door with her hands on her hips, dressed in a green cotton dress and brown knee high boots. Her mom voice was coming through as she moved her eyes between the troublesome twins.

“Nathan and Savannah. Time for bed. We’ve got to wake up early tomorrow if you want to spend the whole day with Grandpa.”

“Do we have to?”

Ethan stood up and held on to the twins as he smartly urged.

“Come on if you get dressed for bed, you can stay up late tomorrow.”

The twins gasped as they scrambled off Ethan’s arms and rushed to their bedroom to get into their pyjamas. A small smile curled up on Alyssa’s lips as she turned to the eldest Ramsey child.

“You too, Ally!”

“But Mom!”

“Come on.”

Ethan steps up to the doorway and sweetly kisses his wife as she cupped his cheek.

“You coming?”

“Just finishing up.”

Alyssa gave a nod and led her daughter away to her bedroom, Jenner obediently bounding behind them. Ethan returned to his desk to read over the last words he wrote.

Look at me now. I’m a dad.

Thank you for making me the man I am today.

Love,

Dr. Ethan J. Ramsey

[annlillyjose]

Let’s Be Suns Tonight - Update 01

[image description: two boys silhouetted against a car’s headlight beam. in the center, a serif font reads “let’s be suns tonight” and “update 01″. / end id]

I haven't updated on let's be suns tonight after i made a wip intro, so here we go. This is what i've learned about the project over the last few months:

Making this a practice project was the best decision ever

Noah and Levi are my comfort characters at the moment

Writing is much more enjoyable when i don't force it and when i don't expect it to be perfect in the first draft

Vignettes for the win!

This update is going to be long because it covers ten vignettes (yeah, ten. i know i know, i'm sorry, okay?) and there are excerpts from almost all of them. We still don't have chapter titles, so let's stick to chapter number and pov character's name.

Excerpts and taglist under the cut.

This is my original work. Plagiarism of any sort shall not be tolerated.

EXCERPTS

IV. Levi

Levi is sitting in a bus stop watching people live their lives like 'normal people' and feels sad about how much he's missed out on because of touring and performing. The poet in Levi comes out in this excerpt.

I know stars are actual beings that burn like the sun. But sometimes I like to think what I see is just light from the heavens spilling through holes in the sky. It makes me believe that there’s always light beyond an expanse of darkness and that it creeps out of whatever it is contained in. When silhouettes of pre-fame Levi shadow my persona, this thought makes it seem like maybe I radiate that kind of light too. It makes me believe that there is someone who cares enough to let me have these thoughts; maybe a God.

Here's the sad part. (CW for mention of self-harm)

I should take my parents out to the movies. We should go to our regular restaurants and eat the same meals we used to. I should meet Ruth’s boyfriend—Charles, from college, English Literature student. Mom and Dad have met him several times already, have had dinner together and baked cakes for his family. I still have to say hi in person. I should take Ruth on a long drive and catch up on all the things I wasn’t here to see. I should meet up with friends from high school. Host a party with pizza and beer and stupid games. But before all this, I want to feel like I’m here. I want to feel as present as the child on her father’s back, as the young couple laughing inside the barbeque joint on my right, as the group of teenagers stumbling into the café on the other side. I want to feel as present as the universe with all its flaws; like all other things that burn and break and kill pieces of themselves to stay alive.

Above me, the sky is starless.

V. Noah

This one's short and I'm quite proud of it, so here's the whole thing.

The first boy’s name is Joshua. His friends call him Josh because that’s what friends like them do – give you unremarkable nicknames and act like you’re special to them. You aren’t. I’m calling him Josh in my head and I do not care. I do not care about his order – a large iced coffee. I do not care about the barista messing up his name on the paper cup, the ‘hua’ bleeding down the edge in indigo. I do not care about his hair being fluffy and dark brown, the same colour as his eyes, or him checking his phone every three minutes only to put it down with a heavy face. I do not care that no one texts him. I do not care about the piercing on his left ear or the silver cuff on his left hand or the expensive-looking watch on his right. I do not care about whether or not he wears a silver chain with an angel pendant. I do not care about him looking at the second boy like he’s the only one he’s here for; like he’s in love. I do not care because I know it’s not true. Because I know he’s the boy that dares people to kiss each other at house parties, and the boy multiple girls in the room want to be dared to kiss. He’s the boy who smokes and vapes and takes a different girl to his room every night. He’s the boy who deals drugs and beats innocent kids up because it makes him feel powerful.

But he keeps looking at the second boy—Zach. Zachariah, I guess. Another one of those stupid nicknames. He looks at Zach and his girlfriend and his face crumbles, so he pulls out his phone again to check the time and take a sip of his iced coffee.

But I do not care about Josh or how beautiful he is or how pained he looks.

Why would I?

VI. Levi

Levi watches two girls taking pictures outside an old telephone booth and wants to go in. When he does, he doesn't have anyone to call except home and that makes him feel lonely. (Tbh, I would feel lonely too. You're feelings are valid, love.)

Muddy water splashes dark patches on my jeans. Dirt and vapour mist the glass door. The inside of the booth is suffocating, mosses growing in the corners, water dripping down its walls. The door shuts with a rattled squeak. I take the receiver, put a coin in, and dial the first number that comes to mind – home. Four rings before Mom picks up, one hello before my throat goes dry, another hello before my legs start to shake, one who’s this before I feel like I’m burning, one sorry, wrong number before the call is over.

He knows there's no hope but gives it another go anyway.

I slam the receiver back and lean against the damp wall. It has started drizzling, delicate raindrops loud on the roof. I need to call someone. I want someone to listen to all the things I don’t know how to say. I grab the receiver again. I put another coin in and stare down at the dial. My fingers linger over every digit for longer than it should, but I press none. And then, I press 1. I press 2. I press 2 again. And again. I press 3.

There’s no one to call.

He then runs to the cafe on the other side, where, co-incidentally, Noah happens to be judging people.

VII. Noah

Noah is watching Josh as he exits the cafe and has a 'moment of distress'. But when he looks out the window a second time, he sees someone else.

I look outside again. There’s a telephone booth on the other side, and beside it is her. It can’t be her, but it is. Long, blonde hair flying in the wind, overgrown fringes covering her eyes, blocking her vision. Yet, she’s looking straight at me. She recognizes me. She’s wearing the same floral shirt from that night—little daffodils and lilies printed on black nylon. The ketchup stain on its white peter pan collar is still fresh. It had dripped from the burger we shared inside one of those cabinets under the stairs. This can’t be, but it is.

This can’t be because she’s gone. Isla is gone.

Spoiler: Isla might be the ghost narrator. Not sure if I'll actually have her as a POV character, but I really want to. Let's see how it goes.

And now, Noah sees Levi. They finally meet!

Someone exits the booth. It’s raining heavily and I can’t see his face, but I know him by silhouette. The slight hunch on his back, his stature, and the way he grips his guitar case is all too familiar. But seeing him here has to be another one of those tricks. Because there’s no way it can be him. There’s no way anyone can be anything. There’s no way that I am here after all the things I’ve done.

But when he darts across the street and is closer to the door, I see it clearly. It is him – Levi John Antonio Shires.

VIII. Levi

Don't have a nice excerpt from this chapter, but here's our boys' first conversation with each other.

“Hey there, do you listen to my music?” I ask.

“Yes,” he says, “yeah, I do.”

“What’s your name?”

“Noah,” he says. “Noah Anderson.”

“Lovely! Are you okay, Noah? You seem a bit… confused,” I observe, and he stares out the window before answering my question.

“Yeah.”

I’m not sure if that’s a yes for being alright or being confused.

The level of awkwardness in this is >>>

IX. Noah

Here's Noah being a simp for Levi. That's it.

When hunched on a barstool, Levi Shires is half a heart. It makes you wish you were the other, but you’re not, because half of him is an expanse the whole of you can’t fill. The guitar with him today is his second favourite – an acoustic sent anonymously by a fan, stated in an interview few months ago. Its fragility is a divine ornament between his fingers. They slide over its strings the way you should caress a loved one’s hair. The way I should’ve Isla’s. The way I didn’t.

Then, Noah requests Levi to sing a song and he does.

X. Levi

This chapter is Levi's explanation behind why and how he wrote Wolfpack Whispers, the song Noah requested him to sing. It has four paragraphs and they all starts with the line 'I wrote Wolfpack Whispers sitting on the floor of my bathroom'. This is the last one.

I wrote Wolfpack Whispers sitting on my bathroom floor. All of it. I wrote it and saved it for lonely nights on the tour bus—for when I needed to feel reminded of a space where I could be safe—but an artist is an artist because of their art. Quercitron needed mine. Before studio album one, we sent out my cry to the world. Not many heard the silence in the melody; not many would. But the man in the olive-green shirt—Noah Anderson—has his eyes closed all the while I’m singing. It looks like he’s hiding tears behind them. His fists clench under the table, his fingernails pressing into the inside of his palms. He’s angry, he’s in pain, and he’s listening to me like no one else in the room.

I want to know his story.

XI. Noah

Also Noah being a simp for Levi. This chapter doesn't have as much shareable content, so let's here's the opening line.

Levi says that purring makes a wolf vicious, and I know it’s true.

XII. Levi

In this chapter, Levi finishes his little concert at the cafe and wants to talk to Noah because he looks so sad and confused, but doesn't want to approach him because that would be biased and wrong of an artist. Noah goes to him and they have this conversation.

He says, “Hey. Hi. I wanted to tell you something before you left.”

I want him to tell me why he was so sad, why he was almost crying. I tell him, “Yes, Noah. Tell me.”

“Thank you,” he says, “for accepting my song request.”

I know he’s not going to tell me anything more, but my desperation wants to pull the words out of his throat. Instead, I say, “No problem, Noah. I’m glad you like Wolfpack Whispers.”

“You know, I…” he begins, “I’ve been through some really tough times and your songs have gotten me through it all. Not just Wolfpack Whispers. All of it, you know? I’ve listened to the bridge of this one so many times just to hear how your voice cracks right before you say you’re no lord or no king, and I am no lamb of your violence.”

He stops himself. I wish he didn’t. I wish he would tell me more about it. I wish he would tell me that he understands how it feels, but he doesn’t.

“I’m sorry, I just got a bit carried away,” he chuckles, “but I want you to know that I’m grateful for you and your music. It was fun meeting you today.”

He’s going to walk away. “Thank you, Noah,” I say, “and no, it’s no problem at all.”

He is walking away.

If I let him, I’ll never see him again. I’ll never know how I’ve helped him.

“Noah,” I call, and he turns back to face me. “Can you tell me more?”

XIII. Noah

Last chapter for this update, and yes, this is where the story kicks off. Noah agrees to tell Levi things.

“It’s going to take me a long time. There’s a lot and I’m not sure if it matters.”

“It matters,” he says. “It matters to me. I have time. We can go back to the café and talk. Or we can go wherever you want. But please, please tell me.”

But the café is already shutting on the corner of the street. We both turn at the sound of its shutter being pulled down. He looks at me again and asks, “Noah, will you walk around the city with me?”

“Yes,” I reply.

Well, that's it for this update. We'll have to see what Noah's story is and why Levi wants to know it so badly. I'm sorry if this update felt a bit rushed. I'm starting college tomorrow and I really wanted to get this done before that.

Thank you for reading so far.

Love, Ann.

General Taglist (ask to be +/-)

@maxgraybooks @shaonharryandpannisim @heartfullkings @bookdragonfanish @vnsmiles @sienna-writes @violetpeso @flip-phones @avakrahn @ambidextrousarcher @showgirlcurio @jenetmoses @17nim @writing-with-l @magic-is-something-we-create @femmeniism @frozenstillicide @wizardfromthesea @rose-bookblood @coffeeandcalligraphy

[your-world-with-nct]

— 2020 has been a wild year for all of us and let me start this off by saying well done to us all for simply making it through this crazy ride - if surviving this year was your biggest achievement, that’s completely okay, and i am so proud of you for being here today !! despite the many, let’s say, mishaps, that have occurred this year, both nct and nctzens have been key in my 2020 and i couldn’t be more grateful for them, so i decided to make a little appreciation post of my own before the year ends 🥰

— to my followers ;

my petals !! i can’t believe i started off this year with around 300 followers and i’m now nearing 600 🙈 this account has grown so much this year and it’s all thanks to you. if you’ve ever come across my blog, liked or reblogged a piece of mine, sent me an ask, or pressed that follow button, i want you to know that i am so grateful for you and thank you for enjoying my works 🥺 hopefully 2021 will carry the same positive energy here on your-world-with-nct as it has this year and i’m hoping that you’ll be seeing a lot more fics in the near future 👀 once again, i love you petals <3

— to my dearest mutuals ;

@emistoomultifandom

em bubs !!! i know i could easily do this on any other app or even irl but i just wanted to thank you for making my year 🥺 my lockdown wouldn’t have been the same without us constantly texting and fangirling and our ty track/bfc reunion on my birthday was elite. and obviously this new school year has been an adventure and a half so far, with all the lunch time shenanigans, revision sessions, and exam stress, but i can’t wait for the rest of it 🙈 i am so grateful that i had you by my side during 2020 and i am eternally thankful that i’ll be able to go into the new year with you by my side once again 🧡💚💜

@misfitneo

bella - my first mutual, my tumblr mum - it feels like just yesterday that you wrote a beomgyu blurb for me after seeing my pink theme; now you’ve finished college and i’m applying to colleges 🙈i know we haven’t been able to talk as much recently but that doesn’t mean i appreciate your presence any less - i’m so proud of you for getting into med school and pursuing your dream 🥺🥺 i hope that this year treated you well, and that 2021 treats you even better 💞

@nsheeteeish

loml, almost birthday-twin, fellow leo and xiaojaem stan, fave writer - what do these things have in common? they all apply to v, or, yeet anon, if you remember the days where i ranted to you about my crush and you were a baby stay 😪 not only have you delivered such amazing content on ur writing and gif blogs, but you have provided so much comfort and joy to me whenever we message with dilay 🤧 i look forward to checking your blog every day for new posts and my twt and insta notifs in case you’ve sent me something or you’ve seen what i sent you 🙈 the fact that you think of me when you see certain things just warms my heart and you’re just such a caring person in general, thank you for being a part of my 2020 v, all the best wishes for your 2021 🖤

@cloudyangers

dilay !!! my resident yangqi and the person i think of straight away whenever i see yangyang 😚 i remember when you first requested that e2l chenle blurb back in 2019 and now the only chenle stan between us is v 😁 finding you on this app again after i forgot what ur skz blog’s url was, was just amazing and i don’t know what my tumblr experience would be like without me being able to reconnect with you 🥺 thank you for being able to make me laugh effortlessly with our lack of geography knowledge and our random antics, i will always look forward to seeing the username @cloudy_____ on my dash and screaming over renhyuckyang (+ sungchan 👀) with you for years to come 🤍

@nctsoftarchives

andi bb, my fellow dad!johnny stan 🥺 seeing you post a jaemin birthday blurb for me after your return to tumblr was so sweet and i can’t believe your first post after coming back was dedicated to me 🤧 i remember the day i first messaged you and you were gushing over how you were a big fan of mine and i said the same about you - we were just going back and forth about how much we love each other’s work 😌 you are such a talented writer and you are so full of love - wishing all the best for you in the coming new year babie 🥰

@jensungf

coming across leyna’s blog after reading that jsmr fic was the best decision, because not only have i befriended a brilliant writer, but also a jensung enthusiast who is just the kindest 🥺🥺 i think now would be a good time to tell you that despite jeno’s bias wrecking antics back in august, i actually bias jisung now 😃 i know we haven’t talked in a while, because of our busy schedules, but i hope you’re resting well and i hope that 2021 won’t be as hectic for you 💟

@doyoungcore

joyce, i know we only started talking recently but the serotonin boost both you and your works have given me this year is just incredible and i am so thankful for your warm personality on your blog and for your amazing fics 🤧 i started off as a silent reader who gushed about your writing in the tags but now i’m friends with such a talented writer and we just casually ramble about doie and jaems biases and writing struggles,,, wow 🤯 (btw took some of ur tips on editing headers 🙈) i hope that next year we can expand our friendship and that i can continue to give you the feedback you deserve 🥺💕

— favourite reads of the year ;

i have reblogged all of these to my main @/lovelycharm05 before, but i just wanted these masterpieces on here with everyone since these fics are so memorable and enjoyable to me <3 (beware there is lots of me gushing over how f&%#ing good all these writing techniques and plot devices are - can you tell i’m an eng lit nerd)

@nsheetee - moonlight café

obviously v released so many iconic pieces this year but this series was just *chef’s kiss* coffee shop au’s are the cutest to me because you can do so many different things with them, and you truly showcased that through each members’ part. although i am nahyuck biased (out of all the 00 liners), i have a soft spot for jeno’s part 🥺🤧 but that doesn’t mean i’m not obsessed with jealous jaems and cocky hyuck 🙈

@notnctu - to all the j’s i loved before

the very first work i ever read of yours, joyce 🥺🥺 i remember seeing an nct network reblog this and after reading through the summary of the series, i was enticed by the plot and i read most of your masterlist whilst waiting for the next parts 🤧 the main character’s relationship with each ‘j’ was unique to them and their interactions were just so sweet to read (except jaemin’s >:( why did my ult’s part have to be the angsty one 😤 jk jk i loved it anyways) special mention to ‘cupid’s arrow’, because that fic was an emotional rollercoaster and i loved that almost as much as i love bestfriend!jungwoo in the last part 😌

@misfitneo - lee haechan’s pride

it would be a sin if i didn’t include this in my top reads this year, pun intended 😌, especially since i have a weakness for mafia aus. i haven’t had the time to read mark or renjun’s parts yet, but from what i read in this fic, i’m sure theirs are just as good, if not better. the storybuilding and the development of the plot are so detailed and intricate and that is what i love in a fic. i already reviewed this on my main with a lengthy description of my favourite parts so i’m gonna keep this short and sweet - if you love haechan, mafia au’s, and enemies to lovers, you need to read this !!

@jensungf - passing clouds + only forever

these fics hit different now that i bias jisung 😭 ‘passing clouds’ was pure angst and as much as it hurt, it was written so beautifully and i loved it so much. ‘only forever’ healed the jisung shaped hole in my heart and made me fall in love with him all over again. the first love vibes he gives off is unbelievable and that innocence was presented perfectly in this 🤧 side note: never let jisung bake for you even if it’s as a peace offering 😖

@hyucksie - in the long run + second first kiss

although ‘sweet talk’ and ‘silent treatment’ are also contenders for some of my favourite fics of the year, these two have taken the cake 😌 the concept itself of time travel and mark and y/n seeing their future child was so creative and the mixed emotions that the characters experienced seeing their future were executed so well and the ending when their actual future selves remembered the day they time travelled 🥺🥺 not to mention the sequel doesn’t feel forced at all, the story flows well, and jealous mark is a cutie 🥰

@luvdsc - not clickbait

i’ve been following cat after i first read ‘i turned my best friend into an e-boy!! (and kissed him)’ and ever since then every piece of hers that i’ve read is simply breathtaking and so engaging. her style of writing is so unique and whenever i read anything of hers i feel so immersed in the fic. the dreamies as youtubers and tiktokers was such a cute concept to me and the little comment section at the end of each fic is probably my favourite part 😳 the way each member’s fic connects to the plot of another is perfect and their cameos in one another’s fic >>> (jisung telling y/n about the tiktok challenge in mark’s fic + cameraman jisung in chenle’s) i could keep talking abt this series for a lot longer but i’ll end it here, also i can’t wait for norensung’s parts 💞💞

@pwarkhans - the neo academy

i’ve probably mentioned my love for ‘the umbrella academy’ before but THIS !!! this series just made me love it even more 🙈 despite yangyang’s part being the only one that’s out, that and the prologue are interesting enough and seeing the 00 liners in this alternate universe is honestly amazing jxjwjxkw jaemin as three and hyuck as two is everything. the brothers’ relationship, especially in yangyang’s part, is so complicated yet so cute and i can’t wait for the rest of the members’ parts 💘

@yongtxt - vintage

when i first stumbled across this series, i was immediately intrigued by the plot, and not just because it was about rapper!mark and singer!y/n🧑‍🦯🧑‍🦯 the side characters (dreamies + doie and jisoo) were so funny and well-written and the plot >>>> i was so invested in the twists and turns of the story, the relief i felt when the conflict was finally resolved and we got our fav musician couple !!

@byunbaekby - apartment b23

i only found this series recently but wow am i invested in the plot already 😭😭 the conflict in the story is realistic and feels like something you could actually relate to. norenmin’s friendship/bond is so strong and evident through the story and the side characters are my babies (heejin, shuhua, lia - ily 🤧) i can’t wait for the rest of this series since i am a sucker for the perfect balance of angst, fluff, and crack in this 🥰

— favourite works of the year ;

unfortunately i haven’t had enough time to release any fics this year, and i’m hoping that that won’t be the case next year, but here are my top 5 favourite blurbs that i enjoyed writing and reading <3

1:48pm -> dad!johnny

one of the most popular blurbs on my blog to this day 🥺 honestly i get why, who doesn’t love dad!johnny? hyejoo is literally so adorable here and the family dynamics make me soft all over again whenever i reread this piece. also everyone’s reactions and replies to this are so heartwarming because everyone’s just whipped for the suh family 🙈

1:05pm -> soulmate!taeyong

i love soulmate au’s but something always irked me with the permanence of your soulmate like ,,, what if you end up falling out of love with them? then what? that inspired me to write my own take on soulmates, where they aren’t found, but made. taeyong’s character here is just so full of love and you know how much i love lovable boys 🤧 (ever wondered why i ult na jaemin...?)

12:13pm -> boyfriend!mark

7dream!!!! i don’t usually write domestic fluff even though it’s one of the genres i indulge in the most 😔 but when i do, i go all out because everyone needs to know how soft i am for my boys >:( mark’s love for the dreamies is so unique and i love their friendship so much, i had to write about it when i first heard about the 7dream announcement which i definitely did not cry at

11:40pm -> boyfriend!jeno

this was one of the first requests i ever got and i was just so touched than someone personally requested something from me AND it was jeno 🥺🥺 everytime i read the tags under this, everyone is just gushing over jeno and like,,, same 🙈 this type of fluff >>>

waking up with wayv -> wayv reaction

when em first requested this, i didn’t exactly know how to write something for each member without being too repetitive, but in the end, i loved the mini plots i wrote for them and it’s just one of my underappreciated faves 🥰

— favourite releases of the year ;

just a few of my favourite albums that got me through online school and revision sessions for offline school 🥲 ft. lots of nct + october albums bc that month was PACKED

nct 2020 - resonance pt1 + pt2

nct 127 - neozone: the final round

nct dream - ridin’

wayv - awaken the world

superm - super one

enhypen - border: day one

twice - eyes wide open

txt - minisode1: blue hour

seventeen - semicolon

stray kids - go live + in life

itzy - not shy

conan gray - kid krow

if you’ve managed to read all the way to the end, congrats for putting up with my lengthy and very sappy sentiment and sorry that you had to go through all of that 😭😭 thank you for being a part of my 2020, i hope that the new year allows us all to have a fresh start and brings us the opportunities we didn’t have this year. happiest new year to you all 🥳 (even tho it’s not 2021 yet when i’m posting this :))

[afterthelastreset]

Rules Of One’s Soul Ch5 Realizing Feelings P1

(Mak belongs to @coffincrawler )

A drip. A drop. A sprinkle. The water gently pouring down from the dark sky had started a little more than an hour ago, thunder and lightning waking him up every while due to his anxiety acting up to loud booming noises reminding him of THAT voice, but the emotional strain of the past few days had been too exhausting to put up with anymore and ended up with him falling into a deep sleep. Though the sleep was anything but pleasant. The hours of night revolved around visions of devilish smiles, heart attacks, and the deep laughing of a certain king of the past. But a ray of hope managed to shine through starting with a familiar little giggle and cooing. He could still remember that day like it was yesterday-

He was just putting up puzzles as usual. It had been a very surprising day when the King had picked him of all people to replace the former royal advisor and Duke after the king mentioned their 'accident', and he was more than flattered. His law keeping and skills for overseeing troups had finally caught the eye of the king it seemed.....Or so he thought. The king did not appreciate his skills in writing up legal paperwork, in laws, or even the actual puzzles he found out, as long as it got done when he wanted and if it was to his satisfaction. In the king's words, "I don't CARE how you get it done, do what it takes and it better be done correctly the first time, Duke. You know the consequences if you don't."

Luckily the King seemed more interested in the troups than the actual puzzles themselves. Thank goodness. But there was one thing that came with the job once the Queen had left. Royal advisor? Nope! Think of himself as a Royal Nanny....only he was forced into the role instead of hired. Oh! The King's son was always a troublesome little larva from the day he was born. But it became harder when one had to learn quickly how to care for a screaming baby or the King would storm over and demand he'd 'Shut the dam thing up before it woke the entire castle'. Taking care of a child was probably the hardest thing he's ever had to do in his few hundred years of youth. He thought it would get easier as he got older, but that proved to be untrue. He actually preferred it when Lancer couldn't run away from him and cause trouble, he would've preferred it if Lancer just stuck to him like glue begging for attention, but no. The child idolized his father and went out of his way everyday to try and please him....Which didn't always end up good. For either of them.

But this dream was about one memory in particular-

A little Lancer had ran up to him one day out of the blue squealing and babbling about something fun he did and he didn't really listen and mumbled something along the lines of 'That's nice. Thou should settle down now before thine father hears thou's screams."

"Oh. Ok, Wesser Dad."

The worm froze from what he was doing and finally looked down to toddler Lancer who smiled up at him innocently. "W-Wha...What didst thou calleth me?"

"Wesser Dad." He happily chirped before turning his head.

"Why?"

And his answer stuck into him more than any of the king's threats since that day-

"You my daddy, but smallwer than Daddy" He held his hands close together as to measure the size difference between Rouxls and King Spade. "Wesser than Daddy. Wesser Dad!"

The Duke just stared at the toddler wagging his tail, obviously proud at the name he came up with. Did-...Did he not know Rouxls wasn't actually his-...He wasn't Lancer's sire, much less blood related. But that didn't seem to matter to the three year old hugging his leg and looking up at him with more love than he deserved.

"I wuve you Wesser Dad!"

He couldn't stop himself from crying the glowing white tears from his eyes or his body from shaking with mixed emotions, and hold the precious little spade pup closer, he was fuzzy and warm and oddly giggly to the hug he was receiving.

"Do you think he's ok? Look he's crying in his sleep, sleep."

Wait a minute. That wasn't Lancer's voice. It sounded far too old and high pitched.

''Hmm. Perhaps he's having a nightmare. By the way he's clinging to you, it would seem so."

WHAT?!

He slowly stirred, and his eye opened from the darkness that was known as a deep sleep.The first thing he saw past the shadows was two black orbs surrounded by purple. With dead yellow eyes. Followed by a wide fanged smile. he just stared back.

"Well hello, hello.~"

What followed was the highest scream he probably made, sounding something like :'EEEEEEEEEE-". The figure invading his privacy fell backwards off the bed and crashed to the floor with a thud, when Rouxls pulled the blankets up his body to cover most of his body, both causing dust to spew into the air that turned the scream into a flurry of coughs for everyone present. The Poor Duke waved a hand to fan the dust away from his face and stared in shocked fear at the other two coughing figures. One was fuzzy and tall and the other was-....

"Jevil! You- *cough cough* What thy f*ck art thou doing within my shoppe?!" He yelled at the Imp that look up at him from the dusty floor.

Jevil gave off a series of high pitched giggles before pushing himself up and once again into the air. How the HELL could he even hover for so long?! The imp gave a devilish grin and held his hands out.

''But what fun, fun would it be if a surprise wasn't a surpise?~"

"I doth know! How about not scaring me within my home!?" His eyes went to the cat behind him who was giving the two a confused look. "And what art thou doing here?! I though I told thee not to cometh back?" He pointed accusedly at the cat.

Seam merely gave a chuckle and gave off the same calm face like the night before. "Actually, you said not to come in unsupervised. And as you can see I'm being watched by two people, so I'm nor really breaking your rule there. Now am I?"

Rouxls opened his mouth to argue...But closed it again. He scoffed and threw the blanket off himself before throwing his legs off as well. The Duke stood up and stretched his aching and honestly still tired body out, making a few bones pop within it. Behind him Jevil casually went to laying on his stomach and put his face in his hands as he watched the Duke. When Rouxls turned around he was met with a face of smiles and a simple finger wave from the smiling jester, he rolled his eyes again.

"What is it now?"

"Oh, nothing,nothing. Just waiting."

"For what?"

"Don't you remember, remember? We have a game to finish.~"

Rouxls turned back to the side and began towards a door on the far side of dusty room. "And I thought I said I wanted to take thou's 'game' slower," he spat without looking behind him angrily. His hand reached out and grabbed one the door before throwing it open and leaning have his body into the space behind. "Showing up in the morning uninvited and not wanted is nay taking it slowly!" He paused, before turning back around and giving him a look. "How did thou even get it here?"

Jevil waved a clawed hand like it was nothing. "The lock doesn't lock. The door was open the moment, moment we turned the little knob."

Rouxls hummed in a tone like he didn't fully believed him, before slowly going back into what was apparently a closet. The worm monster spent a couple more seconds in there probably moving around cloths? Seam couldn't tell as he was standing at an angle watching, but he could clearly see Jevil reaching into the fabric of his cape and pulling out a small box from the folds. To say he was surprised that Jevil was acting like this let alone even dared to leave his prison cell was an understatement, but he guessed finding one's soulmate would get one to do things they often didn't do In the name of love. Rouxls leaned back out with a regal looking uniform, that wasn't covered it dust surprisingly, and turned back to the duo with a still tired face though not as tired as last night. He seemed to have noticed the way Jevil was looking at him and the small box he held in his hands.

"What is that?"

The imp perked up at being addressed and held the box out for him. "A gift, gift for you!"

Rouxls rose a brow and looked down back at the box like someone was trying to give him something he already owned. Seam watched their reactions carefully with a neutral face. Jevil had little to literally zero experience in dating experience and after he told Seam what exactly happened upon his first attempt at- uh....showing Rouxls his true emotions towards him. Which may have been the reason the Duke was acting more irritated than giving off a similar reaction to Jevil, or it could just be because he was still tired and they sorta intruded and scared him out of his sleep. So, Seam sort of gave Jevil some advice of his own, granted he didn't really have romantic experience either, but he knew enough to know NOT to spontaneously kiss your soulmate out of no where and take things slow like Rouxls had mentioned earlier. Jevil hopefully would take the advice seriously. It seemed so when he asked the old cat what was usually considered 'romantic', and he remembered something about getting others deserts and candies??

Rouxls gave the box a suspisious look before looking back at Jevil and saying, "Open it."

Jevil flinched taken a bit back from the blunt reaction, but complied and opened the lid of the box and tilting it forward to show Rouxls the inside. Rouxls rose his brow at the familiar sweet smell and the sight of purple frosting with white sparkly sprinkles on top of what looked like was a vanilla naked cake, and topped off with a few star shaped dark candies. The Duke looked at the admittedly well done desert before his eyes and blinked before looking back up at the now nervous looking joker.

"Do you like it? Like it?"

He opened his mouth...but closed it a few more times before looking back at the cake with uncertainty. "I-....It's v-very lovely and thou lookest like you did a great job on making thine cake."

Jevil's face immediately lit up and his tail began wagging behind him. He giggled a bunch of those flustered giggles making his purple face flush a lighter hue. His hands flew up to cup his cheeks as he stared at the confused worm man, somehow having the cake hovering in mid air next to them. Rouxls gave a small smile at the situation, and stared back into the box.

"You r-really, really think so?"

"I- Well-..Y-Yes.*ahem* I...guess this is a good start to mine d- MMF!"

"Jevil!"

Rouxls was forced back a couple steps and toppled over and onto the ground with a soft thud. A force wrapped around his chest and neck added some weight to his fallen body as the imp had basically tackled the worm man...And speaking of Jevil. Clawed hands gripped the either side of Rouxls head gently while his face was gently pressed against his. He pulled back after a few seconds and the two just stared at each other. Rouxls mitch matched eyes staring into Jevil's black and pink ones-...Wait a minute. Since when was his eyes pink? He didn't get to ramble on that thought much longer before Jevil was yanked off of him by Seam. He held up Jevil in one hand and gave a 'Really?' look, to which the jester just giggled and shrugged at, in Seam's other hand was the box that had been previously floating. Seam sighed before looking down at Rouxls. The Duke didn't look scared, but more of a flushed shock as his blue face lit up a lighter color. Seam chuckled at that.

"Are you alright there friend? You two took quite a fast stumble there."

The duke made a whine noise and whispered, "Yeah...I-I'm good," in a squeaky voice. To which both the males laughed at.

Rouxls flushed more before clearing his throat and slowly propping himself up into a standing pose. He professionally patted his sides to rub the left dust off himself before bending down to pick up the dropped suit. He groaned at the dust bunnies stuck to it before inhaling and blowing on it, the air taking the dust with it.

"By the way, way. What were you dreaming, dreaming about?"

"What doth though meaneth?" Rouxls gave the imp a side glance, trying not to show too much of his flushed face.

Jevil's smiling face went to one of concern slowly and so did Seam's.

"You were melting and crying in your sleep....Are you alright?"

It took him a few seconds for his brain to process what they were talking about but he soon realized what. "Oh. That. Yes. I was just dreaming about Lancer.....Lancer?" His face shot up with a sudden look of horror as he turned to them. "SHITETH! What time tis it?!"

"By now I'd say it's about one or two hours before noon I believe."

"Fucketh me! I'm late!" A sudden fear shot through him as he realized what the Ex King Would've done if he had shown up late. He knew Lancer wouldn't even do anything like...he would, but the fact he left his boy all alone without notice made a rock of guilt form in his stomach. Quickly rushing past the two, he flew into what they assumed must've been his restroom before the door slammed shut behind him.

The two stared for a bit before looking at each other.

"Was it something I said? I said?"

"No. But you could have been more humble after giving him the cake," the cat said as lowered the jester to his feet, "What if he hit his head against something? We could've been in big trouble."

Jevil sheepishly shrugged before giggling. "My world revolves, revolves when my soul aches, aches for him."

Seam gave a chuckle at that. "At least you didn't throw any more heart."

Jevil gave a slightly offended look at that. "My Heart's Desire, Desire is nothing to be over looked, looked."

Before Seam could answer, the door slammed back open and a now fair amount of steam and a well groomed Duke walked out adjusting the last of what looked like the back of his hair. He still looked weary and hurried towards the other door behind the other two males.

"Where are you going, going?"

"I am lateth!" He was almost to the point of melting and ruining his suit. He didn't have time for any antics right now. "Lancer has been waiting for mine arrival for hours now! I shan't keep him waiting any longer! I needst to leave immediately!"

"In the rain, rain?"

He stopped and looked back over his shoulder at the two.''N-Nay worry. I k-knoweth a short cut to mine destination-" Just as we was about to summon up the familiar bright flash of light upon teleporting, a clawed hand grabbed his own. He flinched and looked behind him as the imp smiled at him in a knowing way. "What art thou doing? Lancer needs me."

"Then allow me to help, help a poor soul in need.~" He smiled wider.

Rouxls was just about to ask what Jevil meant, when suddenly his entire world toppled sideways. His body felt stretched and the world spun and blurred as the tightness of his body squeezed the air out of his lungs. His eyes stung and as soon as it came it was gone, as he was firmly replanted back on his feet in one second as the tightness released his lungs. He gasped and stumbled into a solid wall to his right. He coughed and hacked up air as his lungs refilled themselves, as he gulped up air he felt someone grabbing his shoulder and gently pulling him back up into a standing position. Naturally he wobbled a bit before getting his balance back, his legs felt like jello as he struggled. He took a moment to blink and look over his shoulder at the smiling.

"See, see? I got us here, here with plenty of time to spare, spare."

"W-Wha-...What did thou just do?"

He giggled. "A simple little teleportation spell, spell. Lot's of practice, practice from disappearing acts."

Rouxls blinked. He could teleport this whole time?! He opened his mouth....But decided against it and instead decided on looking around them instead. They were somewhere cold, very cold. He had to blink a few times but he managed to make out the outline of bars and ....stairs? from the faint light coming from above the stairs.

"Ehehehehehe. In a little freedom freedom you see.~ Only place I feel, feel comfortable for now."

Rouxls blinked but decided against questioning anything Jevi did at this point and instead opted for walking away from Jevil and towards the stairs in a brisk pass. Jevil gave a confused look but floated after him with a jingle of bells. This time he remembered to duck out of the entrance and knocked over a few abandoned plates still sitting there, and made a mental note to have someone come down here and clean up the mess. Jevil followed him hovering all the way up the stairs and to the closed doors of the elevator and watched as Rouxls reached over to press the button to summon said elevator and he stood there staring at the closed doors. He mumbled to himself and tapped his foot anxiously as they waited, Jevil oh so casually crossed his arms and leaned himself against the top of the anxious duke's head as the two waited there.

"You know, I could, could just take you up there myself."

"N-No. I'm perfectly fine with waiting for this."

"If you insist, but I can give you, you a much better ride, ride.~"

"Jevil! Thoust worm!"

The imp gave off a round of laughter at the Duke's now flustered face. Rouxls sputtered in annoyance and only didn't start going on a tyrade because a ding rang out before the doors casually opened. Grunting, he stepped inside and pushed the first floor button on the panel. As expected, Jevil hovered in after him and floated by his shoulders with a smug grin on his face.

"You don't look happy, happy."

"Thou's tactic's for this 'game' are quite questionable," he muttered scowling.

That sent the imp off into another series of laughter before hovering closer and slowly beginning to press his body against the duke's side. Rouxls promptly took a step aside and scowled more.

"Doth thou mind?"

Jevil gave a curious look. "You don't like, like my heart's desire for you?"

"No...." Rouxls paused for a moment, a flash of what looked like fear quickly passed over his face before he back tracked. "I-..I mean..." He visibly gulped. "I did say thou should not bulldoze thou's way head f-first I-into things." A strained grin. "I-It's unhealthy f-for thou to do. Ahehe...he..*ahem*"

Jevil's smile slowly disapated when he saw the frozen smile upon the duke's face, It looked forced and not a genuine smile like all. And...did the Duke's chest start rising faster? The two stared at each other for what seemed like forever before Jevil swung his body forward to point his feet toward the floor of the elevator and soon floated down to land on it, all the while keeping eye contact with the other man. Rouxls kept that strained smile upon his face as he continued to watch the imp.

"Rouxls, Rouxls. What's wrong?" He slowly reached a hand out towards him-

Rouxls flinched at the movement and his pupils shrank down slightly. Jevil froze at the action before swiftly taking his hand back, a look of realization crossed his sharp face.

"Are you..you...scared of me..me?"

Rouxls didn't answer- But he didn't need to, the few drips of slimy sweat forming on his forehead was enough to show what the worm was really thinking. Jevil opened his mouth again but a small dinging noise broke the silence and the doors opened. Rouxls made sure to make a quick exit while excusing himself, leaving the imp just staring at the empty space that used to be the duke.

[katefiction]

The Exhibition

by katefiction (Maria) / 2012

(Maria wanted me to say that this is the story she was most proud of writing.)

‘Your Royal Highness, it is an honour to have you here today’, he says fawningly.

I eye him across the table, his old skin is weathered and speckled, his completely grey hair forming a ring around the bald spot on his head, but his crystal blue eyes sparkle at me excitedly beneath the glasses that are falling down the bridge of his nose.

‘It’s a pleasure to be here, Mr. Delmonte’, I lie.

I find myself surveying his appearance more. A navy blue suit jacket made from the finest wool with a matching waistcoat, and a shirt, topped of with a silk tie with a gold tie pin. He looks as though he’s made an effort and I feel a momentary twinge of guilt at my lack of enthusiasm. 

I don’t want to be here. In this stuffy office filled with piles of paperwork, tumbling over itself as if it will collapse any second and bury me alive. But then, there’s not much of an alternative.

‘It was wonderful when we heard back from your office, Ma’am’, he says, pushing his glasses up his nose. ‘I can’t tell you how thrilled we are to have you involved.’

I want to tell him how un-thrilled I am to be involved in this. How it was only becuase ‘my office’ pushed me into it that I’m here all all. ‘It will be a wonderful opportunity for you to use your skills’, my private secretary had told me, ‘you need to be seen by the public to be doing something’.

I try my hardest not to look bored as Delmonte continues, ‘here at the Victoria & Albert Museum, we welcome anyone with a passion for history. Your degree certainly suggests you have that.’

‘Indeed’, I say smiling falsely, flicking my glossy brown mane behind my shoulder.

He looks transfixed for a moment, staring at the deep dimples in my cheeks as I give him my best ‘interested’ grin. He blinks and snaps himself out of it. 

‘Well let’s get to business shall we? As you know, next year will be the 150th anniversary of the Royal Wedding of King William V and Queen Catherine. It is our intention here at the V&A to hold an exhibition to celebrate that momentous occasion, charting their early relationship to the wedding itself … ‘

He tries to go on, but I interrupt him, growing impatient. I had read all he was telling me in the letter he’d sent me three months ago.

‘I understand that Mr. Delmonte, but how exactly am I to be of assistance with your exhibition?’ I emphasise the last word. I don’t intend to be rude, but this whole thing seems faintly ridiculous.

‘Oh, yes, well …’, he is unnerved, and riffles through his papers as if he’ll find the answer in there. An interruption to his monologue was obviously not expected.

‘Your position, Ma’am, would be as the Exhibition’s Special Consultant. You would provide the curators with an insight into the late King and Queen’s relationship … ‘ He trails off, noticing my unconvinced expression.

I lean forward in my chair and look him dead in the eyes, ‘Sir, you understand that I have never met the late King and Queen, don’t you? They passed away over eighty years ago … do I look over 80 years old to you?’

Delmonte blushes fiercely, a crimson wave moving from his neck up to his face. He tries to laugh, but decides it’s too risky. ‘Of course not Ma’am’, he says with a deadpan expression of such strength, I have to admire it. 

I giggle to break the tension, and he follows with a small squeak from his throat.

‘Let me begin again’, he says. ‘As a member of the royal family, you have unparalleled access to the royal archives. We believe that there may be items of interest in there; pictures, letters, and the like, that belonged to William and Catherine.’

‘Forgive my ignorance, but could your researchers not apply for access to these archives themselves?’ I say, bored now I’m not winding him up anymore.

‘Well, yes, but Ma’am, your involvement would give this exhibition a certain …’, he looks around the room, searching for the word, ‘ … gravitas!

I try my hardest not to roll my eyes. 

He leans into the table, as if he doesn’t want to be heard by the non-exsistant people in the room. ‘I’m sure it would be beneficial for your … public persona’. He winks at me and I want to slap him. He’s obviously been reading the tabloids.  I duly remind myself, Princesses don’t slap. 

‘I will do my best to find the kind of material you require’, I say through gritted teeth. 

He beams at me and taps is fingers lightly on the desk. ‘There was one more thing … ‘

‘Yes?’

‘A great exhibition is one that reveals something about the subject that was previously unknown. We would hope for something … intimate.’

I arch my eyebrow and curl my lip in disgust, ‘intimate?’

‘Your Royal Highness, William and Catherine were a popular King and Queen, the public’s desire for information about them is still very strong’, he rings his hands together. 

‘Are you asking me to give you private information about my family?’ I ask him.

‘Of course not’, he insists, although I’m not convinced that he’d be adverse to digging through my ancestor’s underwear draws. ‘Just a little something to bring this exhibition to life! If you were able to find something for us to draw the public in, a unique selling point, it would be a success for everyone involved.’ He winks and me again and I instinctively sit on my hands. 

I act as if I am considering it, furrowing my brow.  ’I'll do my best’, I say finally, after I feel he’s sufficiently on edge. 

‘Wonderful!’, he exclaims as I start to stand up. ‘Please get in touch if you have any queries’. He extends his hand to me and I take it reluctantly. Just as I expected. Sweaty. 

‘Thank you, my office will be in touch’, I say, resisting the urge to wipe my hand on my dress. 

 * 

I slip into my waiting car and immediately kick off my heels, flexing my toes to get the blood back into them. As I watch the colour slowly return, I can’t help churning over what Delmonte had said ; ‘I’m sure it would be beneficial for your … public persona’. He’s right of course. 

Since graduating from university thirteen months ago with a degree in History, I had taken on a couple of charities, made a few visits, but not decided on any career plan. My father and my office had tried to help, suggesting everything from the military to finance, all of which I’d rejected. Naturally, the press had pounced on me.

The thing is, finding your passion and committing to it is a little difficult when you’re waiting for the inevitability of life as the future Queen.

I’m pulled out of my reverie by my driver opening the car door, signalling that we’re home at my apartment in Clarence House. 

I head barefooted to kitchen, my stomach growling wildly. There standing at the fridge, rustling like a bear, is a tall figure, with greying hair and and portly belly.

‘Fridge pickers wear bigger knickers!’, I say.

He jumps and turns to me, holding a box of chocolate eclairs, ‘hello Cora’, he says, his hazel eyes that are so like mine are twinkling under the kitchen spotlights.

‘Evening daddy’, I walk over and give him a hug and a peck on the cheek.

‘Eclair?’

‘Yes please’. I prop myself up on the tall kitchen stool as he slides the box over to me.

‘How was your meeting?’ he asks, patiently waiting for the cakes to be returned.

I look up, the eclair half way to my mouth, ‘how did you know about that?’

‘I have to keep tabs on my favourite girl’, he says teasing me.

I purse my lips, ‘I’m your only girl, daddy, and if you must know it was boring as fu -, um … hell’. I push the cakes back to him, smiling innocently after my near slip. 

He chooses to ignore it. ‘I thought it would be a perfect fit, you like history.

I fill my mouth with more of the cream and pastry to avoid having to reply.

‘Cora you have to start taking responsibility, you’ve been out of university for over a year now.’ He gives me his concerned father look. ‘You are going to be this country’s first queen in over 135 years, you have an example to set. Do you know Queen Elizabeth the second was … ‘

‘Yes daddy, she was twenty five years old when she acceded the throne, three years older than I am now, and one hundred percent more amazing!’

He softens. He hates seeing me upset, or annoyed, or anything other than happy. ‘Princess, just try to make more of an effort, the press will ease if you do, and they might not be inclined to pictures of you coming out of nightclubs every weekend.’ 

I nod in agreement, that last thing I want to do is let dad down. ‘I’ll try, I really will, but does it have to be with this exhibition?’

‘I thought this one would be right up your street’, he says, clearly disappointed that yet another opportunity would go to waste. 

‘William and Catherine? Really, dad?’

‘You’ve lost me Cora, what exactly is the problem?’

‘They’re just so … so boring. Out of everyone they could have chosen, Elizabeth and Philip, the Duke of York and Sarah Ferguson, they choose those two?!’

Dad laughs as he always does when I’m being stubborn, ‘they were loved by this country.’

‘That’s what Delmonte said’, I say screwing my face up at the memory, ‘he wants me to find something intimate about them. I mean, what is there to find? Boy meets girl at uni, they fall in love, get married, live happily ever after. It’s hardly Romeo and Juliet!’

I rest my elbows on the table and lean into my hands. Dad leans down to my level, ‘you never know what you might find if you put your mind to it, they were young once too, you know.’

I’m not convinced. But the prospect of more ‘Party Princess’ headlines makes my blood run cold.

I sigh dramatically and put my hands up. ‘Fine, I’ll get Maggie to get me access to the archives at Windsor, you never know, I might find their dusty old scrabble set’, I gasp and place the back of my hand to my forehead, ‘oh the scandal!’

Dad shakes his head and passes me another eclair. 

* * *

July 2009 

‘Qi?’

‘Qi’, he says, ‘eleven points.’

‘William, that is not a word’, I lift my eyebrow at him.

‘I think you’ll find qi is a circulating life energy in Chinese philosophy’, he says, lining up his tiles neatly on the Scrabble board. ‘Are you gonna put your letters down or shall we declare me the winner now?’

I look down at my tiles. A ‘J’ and a ‘P’ sit on the tile holder. ‘I need another letter’, I say, reaching into the bag to get one. An ‘E’. There’s still hope yet. 

Sitting on the rug opposite me, William is smirking. He picks up his final piece, an ‘S’, and smugly places it on the end of the word ‘climb’, which I created half an hour earlier when this game was looking much more promising.

‘Plurals aren’t allowed!’, I tell him confidently. 

‘They are according to the Scrabble dictionary…’, he pats the book on the floor next to him. I bought it for him last year for Christmas and have regretted it ever since. ‘…which makes me the winner … again!’

I huff childishly and pour my ‘J’, ‘P’ and ‘E’ back into the bag, making William laugh tauntingly. 

‘You’re such a sore loser Middleton’

‘Oh shut up!’ I say, picking up his winning ‘S’ and launching it at his head.

He yelps suddenly and clutches at his eye.

‘Oops! Are you ok?’. I scramble over the board to him, knocking all the words out of place and trying not to laugh.

 ’I need two eyes to fly helicopters you know’, he says feigning anger.

I giggle and pull his hand from his eye, pretending to inspect it for damage, ‘you’ll live to fly another day Flight Lieutenant Wales.’ Leaning in, I trace my lips over his eyelid, planting a small butterfly kiss on his skin.

He pulls me closer to his body, and I end up curled up in his lap. I start fiddling with the buttons on his shirt, ‘I wish you didn’t have to go back tomorrow’.

William had been training with the RAF in Shropshire for the last few months. I’d missed him terribly. 

‘So do I’, he brushes a piece of hair from my face. ‘It won’t be long until I’m stationed somewhere full time’. He looks down at the floor nervously. ‘We were talking about North Wales … do you like it in Wales?’

I stop playing with his shirt and place my hand flat on his chest. It is an odd question. ‘I guess so, does it matter?’

‘Yes’.

I can’t disguise my confusion. All of William’s career decisions have been made without me in mind, and now, tonight, surrounded by the mess of Scrabble tiles, I’m part of the equation. ‘Why?’

‘Because …’ He gulps and I watch as his Adam’s apple shudders in his throat. ‘I was hoping you’d come with me.’

* * *

Windsor Castle is rather an imposing place. As I walk into the large open entrance, the enormous paintings of my long dead ancestors look down at me from the cold stone walls as if I’m doing something wrong. I shudder and move along quickly to the round tower that holds the Royal Archives.

Waiting there to greet me is a tiny middle-aged lady, dressed immaculately in a sea green tweed dress suit, with her brown hair pulled back into a tight bun. She curtsies as I walk in.

I extend my hand, ‘Pleasure to meet you’.

‘Your Royal Highness’, she says taking it. ‘Welcome. My name is Joan Hilson, and I’m the Keeper of the  Archives, may I give you a short tour before we begin?’

I agree and as she walks me around the rooms, I am impressed that far from this place being stacks of dusty documents and objects piled on rotting wooden shelves, it is a sleek and disaster proof space, more akin to a high-tech laboratory. Joan has laid out some items that she thinks I might like to see. She leads me to a weathered looking book that she has displayed for me on one of the research tables.

‘This is Queen Victoria’s diary, it’s really quite revealing’ she says proudly.

For the first time I feel a flicker of excitement as I read Victoria describe her wedding night, “He clasped me in his arms, and we kissed each other again and again! When day dawned (for we did not sleep much) and I beheld that beautiful face by my side, it was more than I can express!“

I turn to Joan with a new found sense of determination, if Victoria could write this openly in 1840, surely William or Catherine could in 2011?  ’Is there anything like this from William and Catherine? Letters or a diary, something the public has never seen?’

Joan shakes her head, ‘I’m afraid Ma’am, that nothing of the kind was ever given to the Royal Archives’.

My heart sinks. Just when I was getting into this project. 

Joan senses my disappointment. ‘You must remember, communicating personal feelings on paper largely became became extinct in the family after King Charles III. King William and Queen Catherine most likely communicated through text message or email.’

‘And I suppose there are no print outs of those?’, I say partly in jest, partly in vain hope. 

Joan merely laughs, which I take as a no. ‘But we do have plenty of other items.’ She takes me into a small reading room with no windows, where there are boxes upon boxes of documents stacked on the table. ‘I took the liberty of selecting some some things to get you started.’

You don’t say, I think, as I ponder whether lack of sunlight could send me insane. Joan leaves me to get going and I hunker down and begin wading through the documents.

*

Two hours later, and I want to smash my head against the wall. In 120 minutes I have found official documents between King William and the Monarchs and High Commissioners of Thailand, India, Sweden and every other country known to man. I have found parliament papers, pictures of William and Catherine at state dinners and most excitingly, a dead spider squashed between the pages of their official coronation programme. 

Joan comes in, and finds me resting my head on the table. I jump up with a start. Gracefully, she acts like she saw nothing.

‘I forgot to give you this’, she says, handing me another box. 

I groan inwardly wandering what sleep inducing item it will contain. When I open it, however, I find a leather bound book, embossed with the words ‘The Language of Flowers’. I look up at Joan questioningly.

‘It was Catherine’s, the copy she used to choose her wedding flowers. She was very keen on the meanings behind flowers, take a look, the pages she used still have their corners turned down.’

I remove the book carefully from the box and start flicking through the turned down pages ; lily of the valley means “trustworthy”, myrtle “hope and love”, hornbeams “resilience”. I am almost done looking at each page when I notice a slight bulk between two of the pages.

I open them and am surprised to find what looks like it used to be a flower pressed between the pages. It is crumbling into dust, but a picture along side it shows it was once eight lavender coloured petals, forming the shape of a star and long stamen with bright yellow anthers. Joan comes over to my seat, not bothering to hide her curiosity.

She watches as I take out a handwritten note that has been slipped in with the flower.

“Grewia similis/Crossberry flower. Meaning: Calmness/Peace. 900-102″

’900-102? What does that mean?’ I say.

Joan furrows her brow. ‘It’s anyone’s guess Ma’am, but it must have meant something to Catherine’.

‘So this is her handwriting?’

‘Oh yes, I would recognise her and King William’s writing anywhere’, she says, blushing slightly.

I concede that the book might be of some use to the exhibition and tell Joan that someone from the V&A will be in touch about it. As I start to leave, Joan stops me, looking sheepish.

‘Please forgive my impertinence, but if it is something more personal you’re looking for, may I suggest looking somewhere closer to home.’

I give her a puzzled look, willing her to continue.

‘Kensington Palace’, she says looking at me as if this was obvious. ‘They resided there for over fifty years. If there are personal artifacts anywhere, I imagine that’s where they would be.’

I curse her inwardly for not telling me this two hours ago, but outwardly, I thank her, hoping that Kensington Palace holds something more significant than a crumbling old flower.

* * *

August 2009

I run my toes through the fresh strands of grass, enjoying the sensation of the ground on my bare feet. Next to me, where I’m propped up on the hill, I pluck out a single daisy. 

‘Do you know daisies are a symbol of childhood innocence?’, I say, twirling it between by index finger and thumb.

‘Do you know I don’t care?’, my sister Pippa replies, lying next to me, sunglasses shading her closed eyes. ‘Is that how you seduce Will? By talking about flowers?’

I give her a playful slap on the arm and return my gaze to the polo field, where William is dismounting from his horse.

‘What’s going on with him anyway? Have you agreed to move in with him yet?’ Pippa says.

‘No, we’re just sorting out logistics’, I bite the inside of my lip as I always do when I’m uncomfortable.

Pippa turns to me. ‘What’s the issue? You have lived with him before’.

‘I know, but that was different, it’s so far away’, I start plucking absently at the daisy petals.

Will begins to walk towards us, red and sweaty from the match. ‘Alright?’, he says when he reaches us, his body casting a shadow from the sun.

‘William, if my sister moves in with you, are you going to let her out of her cage to visit her family occasionally?’ Pippa says bluntly.

‘Pippa!’ I screech unattractively.

William stutters, unsure if she is joking or not, ‘I don’t control your sister, she can do what she likes.’ He looks between me and Pippa, it’s obvious he doesn’t know who he should direct his comments at.

‘Are you going to steal her away to live with you when you’re back in London too?’, she jokes.

Will laughs, ‘not likely.’

I flinch at his response. Not likely. 

‘Well there you are then, I’m going to get another drink’. Pippa stands up and strides off, leaving William still standing over me awkwardly.

‘Is that why you haven’t said yes yet? You’re worried about not seeing your family?’, he asks.

I roll my eyes. ‘Of course not, I’m not a child’, I say dismissively.

‘Then what is it?’

I ignore his question and go straight in for the kill. ‘Why is the idea of me living in London with you so funny? I’m good enough to be in Wales with you, but in London, I’m dismissed?’

William looks around to make sure no-one is listening and crouches down to me. ‘Are you being serious? I live in Clarence House, you can’t live with me there Kate!’

‘I know- I didn’t say I wanted to. I just want you to want me to’.  

‘Of course I do’, he says sweetly. 

‘I don’t want to be in limbo’, I refuse to look at him, embarrassed with what I’m saying, ‘part of your life in Wales, but less important when we get back to London and you have your friends and family around.’

He taps his knees, and I can tell he wants to take my hand, but can’t in public, ‘I asked you to live with me because I want you more included in my life, my whole life.’

 A silent understanding passes between us. We’ve talked at length for hours about the future, he wants me to be ready to join his ‘public life’. The reality is, that right now, I’m not. 

 * * *

‘Mr Delmonte emailed me, he wanted to know how you were getting on.’

‘You can tell him I haven’t found any of their knickers’, I reply.

Maggie looks at me with a mixture of disapproval and amusement. We are browsing through the private store room in Kensington Palace. It is place that holds items belonging to royals long gone, that have been passed down through the generations and ended up in this room because no-one knows what to do with them. I wonder to myself if my grandfather has thrown any unwanted items in here over the years.

‘When I’m in charge, I’m going to send all this crap to Windsor. Joan will love it’, I say, fondly imagining Joan’s face as I hand her centuries worth of personal royal items. 

Maggie is digging through boxes of William and Catherine’s clothes, ‘what about this?’, she says, peeling back the protective paper to reveal a beautiful rose pick ball gown, adorned with glittering silver beads. She removes a picture of Catherine wearing the dress that lies with it, and hands it to me. 

I turn it over and recognise the same handwriting that I’d seen at Winsdor last week.

‘Ark Gala, June 10th, 2011′

‘Gorgeous’, I say. Maggie closes the box and puts it to one side in our ‘keep’ pile.

As my private secretary, Maggie has been an invaluable part of my life for the last five years – though I’d never tell her that. A tall, lean woman with short, curly black hair, she possesses all the patience, resilience and drive that I so lack, but has enough of a sense of humour to put up with me.

I look over at the pile we’ve created. The dress, a ruby necklace, and a monogrammed baby blanket that belonged to their first son, and my great-great-great grandfather, King George, is all I have to present to Delmonte. 

I sigh heavily and sit myself on the floor, all but ready to give up. I look up at the rows of shelves that we still have to work through. Maggie had devised a plan ; she would take the clothes section and I would take the boxes of items that had had been labelled chronologically, working from left to right. 

I decide to deter from the plan and grab the box closest to me on the bottom shelf, labelled ‘Queen Catherine, Date Unknown’. Maggie glances at me, but I ignore her frown and open the box.

Inside is a smaller black box, around the size of a shoe box  but made from metal and clearly locked. Lifting it up, I inspect it, finding it has not one, but two combination locks on its front, each requiring three digits. 

Maggie reels off some numbers that might work, birthdays and anniversaries relating to William Catherine. None of them work and I’m ready to find a crow bar to jimmy it open. 

‘I wonder why no-one has tried to force this open’, I say, pulling at the handle in a vain attempt to open it. 

‘Probably because they respect her privacy’, Maggie says, carefully placing a floral Jenny Packham day dress back in it’s wrapping.

‘Oh please, she’s long gone!’

‘That doesn’t make her any less of a human being does it? She was your great-great-great-great grandmother after all’

Maggie always has a way of chiding me without crossing the line. I put the box down guiltily and watch her as she continues to pack away the floral dress.

A thought pushes itself to the front of my mind … the floral dress … flowers … Grewia similis/Crossberry flower …

‘900-102!’ I yelp, startling Maggie. 

My fingers fumble with the locks as a I dial in the digits. A satisfying click tells me it’s open. 

‘How on earth …?’ 

‘She is my great-great-great-great grandmother, we have a connection’, I tease, and Maggie rolls her eyes, unconvinced. 

The contents are full to bursting, and as soon as I lift the lid, photos, cards and letters spring out as if coiled up, and waiting to be freed for 150 years.

I rifle through them excitedly, finding a birthday card with a countryside scene on the front of it. Inside it reads, ‘Dear Kate, have a good one, Will’ and is dated at the top ’9th Jan 2003‘.

I soon discover that everything in this box is dated, ‘God she was anal’, I mutter to myself. 

Maggie and I begin to sort the contents into piles, ‘do you think this will count as  ”unique selling point” for the exhibition?’, I ask, mimicking Delmonte’s voice. 

‘It’s certainly something, just look at this’, she says picking up a letter and reading from it. 

’29th April 2011,

Dear Kate, good morning for the last time as a “single woman”. I bet right now you’re sitting in bed, your hair all ruffled, and probably quite tired from little or no sleep. And I bet as you read that, you’re unconsciously tidying your hair – caught you! I want to remind you of the promise I made you. That no matter what, I will do everything in my power to make you happy, I will protect you, and I will love you for the rest of my life. I meant it then and I mean it now. I will see you there – don’t be late! W’

Maggie appears from her reading doughy-eyed, ‘how romantic’.

‘See, Joan was wrong, they did write letters!’, I say feeling justified.

I grab a pile of photos, looking for something worth using. One shows them, presumably in bed, a view of just their heads, Catherine kissing William on the cheek as he beams into the camera. Another has them standing under a tree. The glare on the lens in strong, causing a bright light to obscure the left hand side of the photo.

I turn the photo over looking for the inevitable date, but instead am faced with something totally different. Attached to the back, with something yellow that I assume was once sellotape, is a piece of string about three inches long. On closer inspection, I see it’s actually three pieces, two red, one brown,  braided together.

‘This one doesn’t have a date on it’, I say, passing it to Maggie.

‘Perhaps she forgot’, she replies, inspecting the braid.

‘She dated everything!’. I show her the back of the rest of the photos as evidence. ‘Don’t you think it’s suspicious?’

‘I think you’re looking for a scandal where there isn’t one’, she laughs, passing me back the photo, ‘you were the one telling me that William and Catherine were as dull as dishwater.’

‘Urgh fine!’, I put the photo in my handbag, my instinct still telling me there is something special about it. ‘Maybe I am reaching. I still can’t imagine them spontaneously making out in the palace corridors in a fit of passion’.

Maggie rolls her eyes. ‘If you are quite done with that mental image, we have a tour to Kenya to prepare for!’

* *  

September 2009

‘Kate’, I hear through a fog of sleep.

‘Kate … Catherine’, it continues.

‘Catherine’, this time it’s right next to my ear, accompanied by a rough, bristly rub against my cheek.

I release my hand from under the covers and swat it away. This only encourages it further and before I can protest, William’s head is buried in the crook of my neck, murmuring, ‘wake up’.

I push him off me, giving in and opening my heavy eyes, ‘I was enjoying my sleep!’

‘You need to build up some resilience, one night out and you’re dead to the world’. He rolls over onto his back.

‘That wasn’t any night out Will, I haven’t drunk that much since uni’. I place my hand over my head and close my eyes again, feeling the sweet relief of darkness. I’m sure I can feel it pounding into my hand. 

Along with a small group of friends, William and I had gone to Raffles in Chelsea last night. In the two years since we had gotten back together, I had kept a low profile, working for my family’s business and seeing William on the weekends. Apart from last night. Where we drunk like sailors.

My mind flashes back to us dancing carelessly in the club, giggling like teenagers on the way home, and stumbling through the doors at Clarence House at 3am. 

I let out a low groan, ‘do you remember last night?’

‘Not really’, he yawns.

‘You serenaded me with ‘Moon River’ when we got here and insisted on kissing me all the way way up the stairs’, I say, recalling the image in my mind.

William laughs.

‘It’s alright for you!’, I say poking him in the stomach. ‘You can get pissed and it’s fine, your staff must’ve thought I was such a waster!’

William’s face is suddenly serious. ‘Of course they didn’t’

I turn my head and stare at the ceiling, knowing I’m right, that William’s staff don’t respect me, as they shouldn’t have to as his girlfriend, but I don’t want to argue.

William mimics me, looking at the ceiling, ‘you know things’ll be different … when we’re … when you’re my wife.’   

My heart leaps. I love hearing him say that word.

‘Things’ll be easier for you.’

‘In some ways, but not all’, that niggling fear of my life and marriage becoming public properly scratching at me.

William takes note my resistance, ‘do you still want to marry me?’

‘More than anything’, I turn to smile at him, and try to lighten the mood, ‘stop trying to dig for compliments.’

He doesn’t take the bait, but instead places a warm hand over my head, ‘you know if I had it my way, it would just be us, a small house, and a dog.’

‘I know’, I reassure him, knowing he wants ‘just us’ as much as I do. 

‘Speaking of alone time, I was thinking we could go to Scotland for a couple of days after we come back from Kenya?’

Now it’s my turn to nuzzle into his neck, ‘fine by me’. I lie warm in him embrace, relishing the thought of ten days of peace, ten days where our secrets will be ours to keep. 

 * * *

The African sun begins to set as we make our descent onto Kenyan soil, turning the sky golden.

‘Ah ha, signal!’, Maggie says behind me, already un-strapped from her seat and walking up the aisle. ‘Your Royal Highness, I have a few emails’, she says, ignoring the flashing seat belt sign and holding onto my seat, wobbling precariously.

‘Kwasi has confirmed the details of your stay with him and his family and has kindly agreed to show you around Wakamba village … ‘

The Craigs, who had incidentally been friends with my family since the days of King William, had kindly asked me to to stay with them for a couple of days as a respite, after my four day tour of Kenya. After telling them about the exhibition, they regretfully told me there was nothing to be found at  Lewa Wildlife Conservancy or Rutuntu Lodge, where William and Catherine had become engaged. However, they suggested I spend some time in a the neighbouring village of Wakamba, where another old friend of the family, Kwasi, lived. 

‘ … And the Telegraph has gotten wind of your involvement with the exhibition.’

I groan, ‘Delmonte is such a snake’

‘It is quite complimentary Ma’am, I suggest you read it when you have a moment’. Maggie looks at me optimistically. 

I know she is thinking the same as me, that between this visit and the exhibition, I might just get back on track.

*

Four days in Kenya fly by. I am touched by the warm welcome of children with ‘Welcome Princess Cora!’ signs at an educational project, and the positive attitude of sports and women’s charities that I visit.

But as fast as it began, it’s over and I find myself jumping out of the land rover onto a dirt track to meet Kwasi.

I see him approaching from a distance, tall, well built, with smooth dark skin, he looks almost elegant. I haven’t seen him in ten years, but already sense the familiarity. 

‘Your Royal Highness’, he says with a low bow, ‘welcome to Wakamba.’

‘Oh please, none of that!’, I say, slightly dazzled his strong handsome features.

He smiles gratefully and continues to speak with his thick Kenyan accent. ‘Ok, “Miss Cora” then.’

As we walk into the village, conversation turns to William and Catherine, ‘My ancestor was close to King William and Queen Catherine’

‘Really? How?’, I say, curious as to how my family first forged links with this tiny village.

We begin to walk down the dirt path as we talk, ‘they took an interest in Wakamba, helped to build a school, that kind of thing’.

There is a tone in his voice that irks me, like he is holding something back, but I ignore my instinct, wanting to extract as much information as I can. 

‘So you are looking for something special for an exhibition?’, Kwasi says as we enter the village, the afternoon sun burning on my back.

‘Yes, something unseen by the public. Do you think you could help?’. I am hopeful, yet cynical that this village will hold anything special.

‘I believe they visited our village in 2009, 2010, 2023, then intermittently until their deaths’

’2009?’ My curiosity is awakened. ‘I read they came here in 2005, then 2010′

‘I suppose our ancestors can surprise us’. There is that tone again. I try and shrug away the feeling that he is hiding something from me.

I am suddenly distracted from my suspicions by a purple hue in the corner of my eye. Turning to my left, I see a shrub, adorned with star shaped purple flowers. ‘Is that ….?’

Kwasi walks towards the shrub, ‘this? It is called a …’

‘A Crossberry flower’, I say, cutting him off, and joining him at the plant.

He plucks a flower off the shrub and hands it to me. ‘They are native to Kenya.’

My heart skips a beat. 

‘Catherine had pressed one of these in a book’, I tell him. ‘She must have got it on one of her visits. It seems strange though … ‘

‘Why is that?’

‘There was just this one flower in there. There are so many beautiful flowers in Kenya, and she bought back just this one’. I furrow my brow, trying to make sense of it. I can hear Maggie in the back of my head telling me I’m clutching at straws.

Shaking my head, I shrug off that niggling feeling that I’m missing something. 

* * *

October 2009

Taking long confident strides, kicking the loose stones as I go, I hold William’s hand gently, bathing in the freedom we have to do such a simple thing.

‘It’s so incredibly isolated’ he enthuses as we wonder around the small village of Wakamba in Kenya. ‘Ian was so right about this place.’

Ian Craig had told us about Wakamba after William told him we would like to explore a real Kenyan village.

‘It’s so unaffected’, I say, marveling at how the trees and paths blend effortlessly with the simple wooden houses. 

‘I can imagine us living somewhere like this’, he says, grinning at me.

I give him a coy smile in return. Since he had asked me to live with him, he had been more and more open about our future together. 

Ian had arranged for us to dine with a friend of his, Matu, and as we approach his small home, I am struck by the delicious smell of stew.

‘Welcome!’ Matu shouts from the doorway holding a wooden spoon, an old man of a around eighty, he is short and stout.

He takes our belongings and puts them down in the corner of his small kitchen come living area before urging us to start eating. As we tuck in to the meal, Matu explains that he is a missionary and a preacher, ‘and what do you do?’, he asks, oblivious to who William is.

‘I’m training to fly helicopters and Catherine works for her family’, Will says, pleased to be anonymous.

‘Any children?’, he responds.

We both laugh, ‘not yet’, William says, making me blush.

‘You must go to the lake and bathe there, it will bring you good luck in your marriage and fertility’, Matu says sincerely. 

‘Why not!’, I say brightly, looking to William, who looks just as keen.

We spend the next two hours chatting to Matu as if we’re old friends. I have never felt so comfortable with a stranger, and I can tell that William feels the same, in the way that he hangs onto Matu’s every wise word. 

William listens intently as he explains his branch of Christianity that uses the trees, water and the ground as a symbol of His presence in everyday life and symbols of people’s relationships with each other. But when the candles begin to dim, we reluctantly decide it is time to leave.

After thanking Matu, we step out into the night. William takes my hand, his eyes glistening in the darkness, ‘let’s go to that lake.’

 * * *

After an afternoon spent talking to Kwasi and exploring his village, he introduces me to his stunning wife Constance, and together we sit in the veranda of his home talking all night, the two of them inspiring me with their clear way of thinking. The conversation leads to the exhibition a few times, and although I still feel Kwasi is hiding something, my instinct tells me I can trust him.  

The following afternoon, dusk is approaching and I’m seated outside at the wooden table and chairs swatting away the flies that are circling my paw paw fruit. 

‘Let me get those pictures I was telling you about!’ Kwasi says, gliding into the house and quickly returning with a photo album.

He lets me open it, and I immediately see this is an album dedicated to William and Catherine’s visits to the village. Pictures jump out at me of them surrounded by African children, and later, with their own children, sat up on a tall African Blackwood tree.

Kwasi looks at me as I inspect the pictures, as if he’s waiting for a reaction. Finally I get to the end of the book, where slotted neatly into the last page is a picture I’ve seen before. It shows William and Catherine in front of a tree, only this time the left hand side of the picture isn’t obscured by light.

‘Who’s that?’ I say, pointing at a man standing on the left of the picture.

Kwasi leans in, ‘that is my great great great great great great grandfather that I told you about, his name was Matu’, he says fondly taking a breath from all the ‘greats’. 

‘I have that same picture’. I pull it out of my handbag, where I’d kept it since discovering it at Kensington Palace. ‘Only mine has this on the back’.

I hand him the photo and he turns it over. As soon as his eyes fix on the braid, I see them widen.

‘Do you know what that is?’ I try.

‘I’m sorry, no’. He hands it back. I’ve had enough people lie to me to know that he is doing the same. 

‘That’s a shame’, I say nonchalantly, ‘that means the best I have is a letter from William to Catherine on their wedding day’. It will take all my wily feminine charms to get him to open up.  

Frustratingly, he doesn’t fall for it. ‘Excuse my impertinence, but is that not a very personal item to hand over to the public?’

‘It’s not as if they’re still here!’ I respond, tucking my hair behind my ear, a little stung.

‘Of course, of course’

‘Besides, the letter is literally the best I have to offer the exhibition. The curator wants to see me in a few weeks’

‘There is nothing else you can give them?’

I shake my head. ‘William and Catherine weren’t exactly groundbreaking, they always played by the rules’

Kwasi is suddenly defensive, ‘I’m sure that isn’t true.’

Deciding I’ve had enough, I let down my polite guard, ‘what is it you’re not telling me Kwasi?’

‘Nothing at all Miss’. Now he’s smiling, as if he’s happy I’m questioning him. ‘Like I said, our ancestors can surprise us.’

‘What does that mean? You said that yesterday at the Crossberry bush’, I narrow my eyes at him.

‘It is a lesson we must all learn in life not to judge before we can see the whole picture. See that tree over there?’ He points to a tall, yet weathered African Blackwood. ‘That has been there for over 150 years, it probably saw your ancestors as it sees you now’

I wonder for a second if he expects me to speak to the tree. ‘I don’t understand’.

‘We all have a habit of living in the now’, he says kindly. ‘We look to the past, of people in the past, as dead vessels, without feeling. You want to find something about William and Catherine, yes?’

‘Yes’

‘Then begin to think of them as people, as hearts and minds, not as bodies. See them as the people they were, with dreams and desires like the rest of us’

‘How? I didn’t even know them, I have nothing to go on, I haven’t got a diary or correspondence or anything to prove what was going on in their heads’, the words fall clumsily out of my mouth.  

Kwasi laughs as if he’s watching a new born lamb trying to walk for the first time. ‘Miss Cora, you do not need proof, you have the best tool possible … your own mind. Who would know better than the young future Queen what the desires of a young Prince and his future Queen would want?’

I nod, seeing his point.

’150 years changes a lot, but some things stay the same’, he looks at me pointedly, and then back at the African Blackwood, standing proudly as it would have done when William and Catherine were here.

Kwasi gets up and goes into the house, and returns with something clenched in his fist. 

‘You are not too different from your great great great great grandmother, you certainly look just like her’, he laughs, all you need is to make a connection’

He places a small memory card on the table, gets up, and leaves.  

* * * 

October 2009

‘Are you actually going to go naked!?’ I whisper, as William removes his boxers, placing them in a pile next to the lake. 

The lake is surrounded by trees, it’s almost pitch black, and not a sound can be heard, but I still feel the need to whisper.

‘William, we could get in so much trouble!’ I continue, watching him dip a toe into the lake, clutching my clothes to my body. Reluctantly I’d stripped to my underwear.

‘Where’s your sense of adventure?’, he teases, pulling my clothes away from me and adding them to his pile. ‘Besides, Matu says it’s the done thing here’

He starts to wade into the shallow water, and I follow him, my feet finding the wet soil.

‘Will …’ I say, barely able to see him.

‘I’m here’, I feel his hand around my back and he leads me deeper into the lake, ‘don’t worry, you’re safe’.

We reach a spot shallow enough to be safe, but deep enough that we need to paddle to stay afloat.

‘This is amazing’, he says, looking up at the moon.

I move closer to him so our bodies our touching. ‘It’s beautiful.’

‘It would be even better if you did it properly’. In the moonlight, I see a smirk pass across his mouth as his unclasps my bra.

I give in and take it off, along with my pants, slipping them off underwater and clutching them tightly in my hand.

William’s arms grip tightly around my waist and he kisses me, finding my lips instinctively in the dark.

I caress his back as his trails his kisses down my face. ‘Do you think we’ve been sufficiently blessed now?’, I say.

He pulls away and suddenly ducks under the water, submerging his head. I giggle quietly and do the same.

‘Now we have!’, he grins, as I push my wet hair from my face.

‘To a happy and fertile life together’, I say, resting my chin on his shoulder.

‘To the rest of our lives being ours to live’, he says thoughtfully, gazing at his surroundings, like a light has just sparked in his mind. 

‘What are you thinking?’, I ask, running a hand through is hair.

‘Nothing, just about how we should take advantage of every moment’. He runs his hands down my body, exploring every curve.

Lifting my head up, I find his lips again, my senses tingling, heightened even more by the near pitch darkness. Only William could convince me to do this, to get me in such a state of intimacy that I can’t bear to turn back.

He begins to kiss me more deeply, to the point that I can’t tell the difference between his hands and the water moving around my body.

‘We shouldn’t’ I mumble as his mouth moves along my collar bone.

‘We should do whatever we want to’, he whispers.

And now his hands are unmistakable. Taking me far away from my concerns and leaving me in a state of pure euphoria.

* * *

Sitting on the bed in Kwasi and Constance’s guest room, I slip the memory card into my laptop, and click on the only file that appears.

It immediately bursts to life, the reds, blues and golds of that day in April 2011.

William and Catherine’s wedding.

I frown consciously, wondering why Kwasi would have given me something that I could find anywhere else. Fast forwarding through the ceremony, I realise that there is nothing more to this than a copy of the wedding. Frustrated, I hit the stop button and fall backwards on to the bed. 

Make a connection.

Propping myself up, I begin doing an internet search on Catherine. Surprisingly to me, I quickly learn that she wasn’t as beloved to the public as I’d thought. 

Scrolling through archives of articles about her, I read that she was called ‘waity-Katie’, and ‘lazy’ for not forging a career. I look at pictures of her leaving clubs, a forced smile nearly always on her face, and I’m startled by how much I really do look like her. 

The similarities are obvious, she struggled to find her identity then, and so am I now. 

Drawn in completely, I spend the next hour reading as much as I can about Catherine, with or without William, before their marriage. I cringe with sympathy reading about her wayward uncle and find myself mumbling ‘buggers’ as I find paparazzi pictures of her at her most normal moments.  

For the first time, I forget about the exhibition as I gladly watch William talk about their engagement, “we were planning it for at least a year if not longer“, knowing that once day I will be doing the same thing.

Lying back once again and fixing my gaze on the mosquito net above my head, I begin to contemplate what they would have wanted that day, if things were different.

To travel the world alone? To live quietly together without the world watching?

If they were so similar to me, as Kwasi suggested, then maybe. If I am wrong about them, I certainly know what my dreams are. 

I want a direction in life; a career I love, that I’m not pushed into. I want to live my life without being judged every time I step out of the door. I want to fall in love with whoever I want. I want the biggest moments of my life to be mine to enjoy. My birth, my first day at school, my graduation, are now stored in some film archive for generations to watch. The future offers the same fate, my engagement, my wedding, my funeral. 

I sigh unconsciously and twist my head to look at the frozen image of a smiling William and Catherine on the screen. Everything I’d read, all the research I’d done meant nothing, I knew that now. I didn’t need all that to tell me something about them, because although 150 years apart, our hopes, our dreams, our lives, run parallel.

Feeling a closeness to them for the first time, I flip back to the copy of the wedding and rewind to the start. Catherine reaches the altar, locking eyes with William. Grinning to myself, I watch as he says ‘you look beautiful’.

And then he says something else to her. ‘Stunning?’ ‘You really do?’ No.

I rewind and play it again, and again, each time, my face  getting closer to the screen, watching William’s lips move.

Then I see it, his lips forming the words so clearly, it’s laughable. 

I slam the laptop shut and bolt out of the room as fast as my legs will carry me. 

* * *

October 2009

Late morning in Wakamba, and the lake water has had a wild effect on my hair, causing it to curl uncontrollably around my head. 

William returns from a morning visit to Matu carrying a steel bowl of fruit. ‘Brunch from Matu’, he says, placing it on the small wooden table in the tiny secluded wooden hut we’re staying in by the lake. I tuck into some paw paw fruit. 

‘Don’t you wish every day was like last night?’ William asks, joining me at the table.

I laugh, ‘wouldn’t that defeat the point of a romantic moment, if it was every day?’

‘I don’t mean that, I mean that feeling of freedom, of nobody knowing where we are or what we’re doing’

‘That I agree with’, I nod, chomping down on my fruit.

William had had this conversation with me many times, about how powerless he was a someone who would one day be a symbol of ‘power’. While I could empathise, the paparazzi following me as much as him, there was only so far my understanding could go.

He places his hand on mind and gently rubs my forefinger.

‘I need to talk to you Kate’

Something has changed in him during this trip, like a weight has been lifted from his burdened shoulders. Usually, I would put it down to a natural relaxation on holiday, but this time it was different. 

‘I don’t want you to feel like you’re wasting you’re best years on me.’

There is something familiar in his tone that make me nervous.

‘I don’t', I say defensively.  

He curls his fingers around mine protectively. ‘You put up with so much shit  that you shouldn’t have to.’

That tone sparks a memory. This is how he spoke to me when he broke things off two years ago. My heart thumps in panic.

‘It’s no wonder you think my staff don’t like you or that I don’t want you to live with me in London. You don’t deserve to feel like that’. He looks out of the small dirty window on to the lake. 

‘I can put up with it … if I have you’, I clutch his finger in a vain attempt to stop him doing what I think he’s about to do.

He returns his gaze to me, ‘but you shouldn’t have to, that’s what I’m trying to say Kate, you’re not ready to join my family, and I won’t put you in that position’

I pull my hand away and stand up hastily, almost tripping over the table leg. I can’t listen to his excuses.

‘Where are you going?’ he watches me as I rush out onto the deck that overlooks the murky lake. Suddenly it doesn’t look so romantic anymore.

‘I need air’, I say.

He follows and is standing close behind me before I know it. I cling onto the deck rail with both hands, feeling the splintered wood pressing into my skin.

‘I just don’t understand…’ I say quietly.

And then he laughs, almost a joyful laugh. It is an odd time for humour, I think to myself.

‘Don’t you see?!’ his voice is so confident, I feel momentarily ashamed that I don’t ‘see’ at all. 

He turns me around and looks me dead in the eye, willing me to understand. ‘It’s about time something changed, Kate, and I’m about to change it’.

* * *

I bound through the front doors of Kwasi’s home, not caring who hears me, ‘Kwasi! KWASI?!’, I yell.

I see him sitting there on the porch swing, serenely looking into the distance, apparently oblivious to the screaming woman next to him.

‘Kwasi’, I say again, breathless.

‘Good evening Miss Cora’, he says, as if he’s just noticed I’m there. 

‘I’ve worked it out!’ is all I say.

He gives me a puzzled look, ‘worked what out?’

‘Urgh don’t be all wise on me! You know exactly what don’t you?!’

Kwasi gives me a frustrating hint of a smile. 

‘I did what you said’, I continue. ‘I made a connection. I put myself in their shoes, oh gosh it was so obvious.’ The words are flying out at lightning speed. ‘They wanted the same thing I do, why wouldn’t they? I’m living their life 150 years later.’

He listens, politely nodding to my nonsensical words.

‘I watched the memory card.’

‘Beautiful wedding, hey?’, he smiles.

‘It just hit me, I was watching her arrive, them I saw it. I saw what William said at the altar’

I want Kwasi to reassure me that what I’ve just seen was correct, but he merely sits, waiting for me to finish. 

‘He says it, as clear as day, he was trying to make Catherine laugh … “déjà vu”‘

‘Miss?’

I repeat it it, with conviction this time, for in my heart I know I’m right, ‘he said “you look beautiful … déjà vu” ‘ 

* * *

October 2009

William’s eyes are brimming with excitement. He holds his hands just above my elbows from where he turned me around, not wanting to let me go, not wanting me to let go.

‘Marry me’

The words hang in the air, in the stunned silence between us. My mouth moves to try and speak, but no words can escape. 

‘Marry me Kate’, William repeats.

I shut my eyes, wondering if I open them again, I’ll wake up. When I do, William is still there looking down at me, his face full of anticipation. I try to order my thought,s trying to connect the time before and after those words he just spoke.

‘You just said I’m not ready to join your family’ I say finally.

‘That’s just it, I said I don’t want you to have to live that life yet, I’ve never said I didn’t want to marry you’

‘Will, you’re not making any sense, those two things go together’, I take his hands, wondering if the sun has got to his head.

‘Not necessarily’, he grins and raises an eyebrow. ‘I want you to be my wife, I want to marry you … today.’

Comprehension hits me like a lightning bolt, my mind opening up to what he’s suggesting.

‘You can’t do that to your family, they’ll be devastated’

‘Not if they don’t know about it’. He’s had this all planned, I realise. He has all the answers to my doubts prepared. 

‘How do you intend to keep that from them?’ I manage a small disbelieving laugh.

He squeezes my hand gently, getting closer to my face, ‘people here don’t marry with legal bindings. We don’t need a piece of paper to say we’re married.’

He waits for a response, but gets nothing.

‘Look, you have to know how much I love you, how committed I am to you’

‘I do’, I say.

‘You don’t Kate, I know you, you’ve been so patient, but I know it bothers you that we can’t be like other couples. Last night at the lake it just hit me. We want to marry each other, so why don’t we?

‘I don’t want you to feel like you have to do this, just to prove something to me’, I say with concern. 

Will smiles, ‘I want to wake up with you every day and be able to call you my wife. I want us to live alone together up in Anglesey with no intrusions, no expectations, just you and me, as man and wife. It’s the perfect solution, none of the pressure, but all of the marriage’ 

I give him the first hint of a smile, making him beam at me.

‘When you’re ready, and only when you’re ready, we’ll do it in public, but until then, it’s our marriage, and ours alone’, he places him warm forehead against mine.

 ’I suppose I better find a dress’, I say quietly.

‘Is that a yes?’

‘That’s a yes’.

  * * *

I sit on the porch swing next to Kwasi, suddenly exhausted from my revelation. ‘They eloped’, I laugh. ‘I can’t believe they actually eloped.’

‘Not so boring after all, hey?’ Kwasi teases. 

‘How long have you known?’ I ask him. It’s clear to me now that this is what he was leading me to understand.

‘I’ve suspected it for a few years. You see, Matu died of a fever a couple of years after their first visit to Wakamba, In his delirium, he talked of marrying a Prince and Princess. Of course no-one believed him because of his condition, but over the years it has become a folk tale in our family that the Prince and Princess were William and Catherine. It was only this afternoon that I knew for sure, and that was because of you’.

‘What did I do?! I knew nothing!’

Kwasi laughs, ‘the picture you showed me, with the string attached to the back …’

‘Yes?’

‘I am willing to bet that was Catherine’s wedding ring, and that picture was of their wedding day’.

‘No wonder she didn’t date it’, I say more to myself.

The romance of it all starts to seep into my skin. Two people in love who just wanted to live by their own rules, to have the most important day of their life between themselves. Something that I wish I had.

‘How did nobody find out? Surely there were papers?’

‘I have looked, Miss, but there is nothing, it’s my belief that there was no legal part to the wedding.’

‘So they weren’t really married?’, I ask cynically.

Kwasi shakes his head, ‘they were married in the eyes of God’, he says wisely. ‘Let me ask you, in their second wedding, at what point were they pronounced husband and wife?’

‘Ummm …’

‘Before or after they signed the documents in the back room?’, he prompts.

‘Before’, I say, understanding.

‘Exactly, and the crowds cheers outside bled into the Abbey, because to them, that was what made them married, not the paperwork’. He smiles at me kindly. 

We sit in silence for the next half an hour, listening to the insects scuttle around us. I stare into the dark night, trying to imagine the two of  them making the decision to tear up the rule book. It must have been liberating, and terrifying in equal measure. 

‘What will you do Miss, about your exhibition?’, Kwasi says, breaking the silence.

Kenya seemed like a world away from Delmonte’s stuffy office and indirect remarks. Back then, I would’ve given anything to find something to give him for the exhibition, just to get him off my back. And now, now that I had the biggest story I could imagine, could I really give it up? William and Catherine had come from being my dead ancestors, to here, bathed in the same hot African air that they married in, they are my family. 

But this would change things for me, I would get taken seriously by the press … by my father. It was the age old battle ; my head versus my heart.

‘I don’t know’ I reply, ‘I just don’t know’.

* * * 

October 2009

‘Flowers, as requested’, Will walks into the hut with a handful of flowers for me to choose from, as I’d asked him to find while I tamed my hair. 

Wearing a white shirt with the first three buttons undone and the sleeves rolled up to his elbow, with tan khaki trousers, he looks smart casual, but so incredibly handsome. 

‘Matu says he’s ready when we are, he’s waiting under the blackwood tree’, he says.

‘And you’re sure he won’t tell anyone?’As trustworthy as Matu seems, I’m still nervous about trusting a virtual stranger. But William had told him who he really was, and had faith that he would keep our secret.

‘Postive’, he places the flowers down on the table where I’m seated and kisses the top of my head. ‘I’m gonna head down there, don’t be late’

‘I won’t’. I reach up for another kiss and he obliges, sending the butterflies in my stomach wild. 

Alone again in the hut, I pick a dress from my bag. Cream, with small embroidered yellow flowers, it sits just above my knee with a sweetheart neckline and thin straps. From all the flowers Will has chosen, I pick out a distinctive purple, star shaped one with yellow stamen to match my dress and attach it to my hair just above my right ear. I make a mental note to find out the meaning of this flower when I get home.

Taking a breath, I leave, taking the short walk to the tree, feeling more confident, more happy, and more content than I ever have. The afternoon sun is warm against my back as I approach, as if it’s pushing me along gently. When I arrive, my heart warms at the sight of two lines of the same flower I have in my hair, creating a makeshift aisle. At the end, framed by the giant branches of the tree, is William. 

He reaches out his hand as soon as I’m close enough to take it, and I do willingly, ‘you look beautiful’, he says, making me blush lightly. 

‘Welcome’, Matu says emerging from behind William. ‘Shall we begin?’

We both nod. 

‘William, Catherine, we are here today in the presence of God to join you as man and wife …’ Matu goes on to read a few passages from the Bible. I stroke William’s fingers occasionally during the readings, to which he replies with a quick glance and smile.

Finished with the passages, Matu opens the front cover of the Bible to reveal a small braided string. ‘William, please present Catherine with the ring’. 

William takes it and places it over my wedding finger.

‘The three strands of this ring represent those values most important in marriage ; honestly, respect, and growth. William please repeat after me …’

Will repeats after Matu as he ties the ring tightly around my finger. ‘I William Arthur Philip Louis take you Catherine Elizabeth as my wife, in the values grounded in our love, I promise to respect you as my equal, be honest with you always, and encourage your growth as an individual and within our union.’

‘I Catherine Elizabeth take you William Arthur Philip Louis as my husband …’ I repeat the vows, smiling teasingly for a moment at the length of his name. Without a ring for William, I hold both of his hands tightly until I finish.

‘We shall take a moment for your personal promises to each other’, Matu says and steps back a few paces respectfully.

William locks his eyes into mine, ‘Catherine … Kate. From the moment I met you, I knew there was something special about you. Your easy manner, your loyalty, and your beauty made me see that our friendship could be something so much more.’ He bows his head for a moment, ‘I know we’ve had our ups and downs, but never in those downs did I ever imagine my life without you. You’ve made me happier than I thought was possible. I promise you with my life that as your husband, I will always protect you, and that I will always love you. No matter what the future has in store, I will never let anything get between us. Our marriage will be ours and only ours, and I will thank God every day that I have you’

I fight to keep my emotions under control, taking a deep breath before I begin. ‘Will, when I met you, I was so nervous, to think I’d be standing here years later marrying you is beyond anything my 19 year old self could understand. You have been a friend, a confidant, a support, and a lover …’ I say the last part quietly ‘ … and I thank you for putting my needs above anything else. I know one day things will be so different, I will be public property, but I promise you that I will be yours and only yours for as long as I live. I will support you and love you and I will make you proud. From this day on, I will be your wife, and I will be by your side until my last breath.’

The emotion on Will’s face is evident, but not one to cry, he leans in to kiss me instead.

‘Ah not yet Sir!’ Matu says suddenly. I had forgotten he was there. ‘One more thing’.

William, do you take Catherine to be your wife? To love her and honour her from this day, and to honour God through your union?’

‘I will’, he beams.

‘And Catherine, do you take William as your husband, to love him and honour him from this day, and to honour God through your union?’

‘Of course … I will’

‘As God as our witness, I pronounce that you are man and wife together, you may seal your union’, he grins and backs away once more.  

William clasps his arms around my waist and I reach up, pulling his shoulders in. Our lips meet, his warm skin on mine. We are oblivious to the rest of the world, held in our own moment, the biggest moment of our lives.

And it’s ours, only ours. 

* * * 

29th April 2161

The words are large and imposing on the poster beside the door ‘William & Catherine : A Celebration’. Below the words is a picture of the two of them on their wedding day – their second wedding day, that is. 

‘Shall we go in Ma’am?’, Delmonte says excitedly, wiping his sweaty hands on his trousers.

‘Lets’ I say, feeling a lots less hostile towards him. 

Behind me is Maggie, making sure everything is running like clockwork, and behind her, another staff member escorting my father, my guest of honour, around the exhibition. 

Delmonte shows me around the exhibition, the reporters and cameramen scuttling around trying to get a good shot. We get to a large glass cabinet, almost the length of the wall.

‘And now Ma’am, the pièce de résistance! Your wonderful discovery!’

I smile wryly surveying my work.

Two weeks after I’d returned form Africa, I’d taken a visit back to the Kensington Palace store to double check the contents of the black box. When I found nothing else relating to the wedding, I placed the box back, only to feel it hit something bulky behind it. Pulling out what appeared to be a large alum that had been stuffed unceremoniously at the bottom of the shelf, I found my treasure.

Pages upon pages of photos. All taken by Catherine. Photos of their children just after their births, one of William lounging in a bedroom, undoing the collar of his Irish Guards uniform, dated 29th April 2011, and plenty of their holidays over the years, all capturing the intimate and normal moments of their family life.

Delmonte had been delighted, it wasn’t a scandal, but it was an insight into their lives from the eyes of a Queen.

In the end giving up their secret was never an option. Maybe it would have gained me respect, but respect wasn’t worth selling out my family. It would stay with me forever, and it gave me hope that one day I would experience a moment of pure freedom.

As we move the wedding part of the exhibition, I notice the ‘Language of Flowers’ book sitting in a cabinet with a recreation of the Royal Wedding flowers. Next to it, is the leaf of paper that once held the crossberry flower, and Catherine’s handwriting: “Grewia similis/Crossberry flower. Meaning: Calmness/Peace. 900-102″

Behind me, I overhear my father’s escort describing a photo, ‘this was taken in ’08′, she says.

An idea springs to my mind, not ’2008′, but ’08′. I look at Catherine’s note once again. 900-102. I break it up. 90-01-02. I tilt my head, flipping the numbers in my mind.

20-10-09. 

20th October 2009.

A laugh escapes sharply from my mouth, making the press and Delmonte eye my curiously. 

The 20th of October 2009, exactly a year before they became engaged. The pieces fit into place like a conductor directing the final notes of his orchestra.

That night in the Rutundu Lodge, they weren’t merely getting engaged, they were celebrating their first wedding anniversary. 

I laugh again, unable to stop myself.

‘Are you ok, Ma’am?’ Delmonte says nervously. 

‘Please, just laugh with me!’ I say quietly. 

He obeys me instantly, chuckling along.

And now I’m laughing at him too, great booms of laughter escaping my body.

Of relief, of joy, of hope.

Somewhere up there, no doubt together, I know two people are looking down on me and doing the same. 

The End.

[hms-chill]

Mother’s Day

Summary: Six snapshots of three Mother's days across the years.

2005, Edinburgh, Scotland Henry's got his mum's hand in one of his and a massive picnic basket he'd insisted he could carry in the other. Bea and Philip have run ahead, and Henry's starting to envy their freedom, but he refuses to make their mum carry a picnic basket on a day that's supposed to be all about looking after her. But then he feels a hand in his hair, and another taking the basket for him, and he turns to see his dad, an easy grin on his face and his guitar slung over his back. "Look at you, all grown up and helping your mum. Were you good for her today?" Henry beams. Arthur's been out on a set for hours; he's still got bits of makeup on his face and some product in his hair. Henry thinks it makes him look like a superhero. "I was really, really good!" "Is that right? Cat, was Henry really, really good today?"

"He was," Catherine says, grinning. "All three of them have been wonderful. They were all big helps getting things ready for our picnic."

Henry grins, and newly freed of the weight of the picnic basket, he runs up to join Philip and Bea while his parents share a kiss above his head. Catherine calls to them to stay within eyesight as the family make their way out of Holyrood and up toward Arthur's Seat. The kids fall back a bit as it gets steeper and they get tired, but they make it to the top of the Salisbury Crags and Arthur lays out their picnic while the kids pick flowers, Bea and Philip handing their considerably larger boquetes to Henry so that he can be the one to present them to their mum. After dinner, Arthur gets out his guitar and plays, cycling through some of Catherine's favorites and teaching the kids "Loch Lomond" so they'll be ready when they visit the loch tomorrow. As it starts to get darker, they pack up and finish the climb to the top of Arthur's Seat, and Bea takes pictures of their parents, then a PPO takes pictures of their family as the sun sets behind them, and Henry is so happy he can hardly believe it. 2005, Washington, DC Alex is awake first, and for a second, he's not sure where he is. It's brighter than his bedroom, with whiter walls and a window without any real curtains yet. But then he rolls over, and June is still asleep in a twin bed across the room, and the cars outside are too loud, and it all comes back. They're in Washington, DC. They're visiting their parents for Mother's Day, and they're going to see all the places they work, but first, he and June have something planned. He hops out of his bed and into hers, shaking her awake despite her grumbles. "June! June, June, June. Get up, get up, get up. We have to make breakfast!" Their dad has promised to help them if they need it, but Alex and June decided last night that, at eight and eleven, they're grown up enough to do it themselves. Alex has been helping his dad pour and flip pancakes since he could reach the griddle, and June's been sitting on the counter pushing oranges into a juicer for as long as he can remember. Between the two of them, surely they can put something together. When Oscar comes in, he finds the kids in the middle of a whispered, but very heated, discussion about what exactly the instructions on the side of the box mean. They're both furiously mixing their own pancake batter in different bowls. June's looks better, but Alex refuses to give up. Oscar just laughs, and he helps fix Alex's so that it looks right, and then Alex shapes and flips pancakes while June makes orange juice and Oscar makes bacon and coffee. June finds a tray and she puts a yellow rose on one corner to make it look pretty. Once everything is assembled, Oscar disappears upstairs to make sure Ellen is actually in bed when the kids come to "wake her up" with breakfast in bed. She's been awake for a few hours at least, answering emails and drafting meeting agendas, but she can climb back into bed and let the kids think they've surprised her. Oscar snaps a picture of the three of them, Ellen grinning with a kid under each arm and the breakfast laid out in front of her, and it all feels perfect. 2020, London, England

Mother's Day is rainy, but that feels right. Henry writes a card for his mum, and they all have lunch together, but it's not right. Mother's Day used to be a day Arthur would always make sure he wasn't working, and he'd plan them something fun and exciting to do. But now, Catherine doesn't want to visit the London Eye or go to Holyrood or even take them to the V&A. She just wants to have a nice family lunch, so they have one, and Henry takes the barbs from Philip and his gran so that he doesn't ruin things for his mum. She wants them to get along for the day, so he doesn't fight back. He sits, and he's civil when Philip suggests casually that the public might be excited about a new royal suitor, and how great it would be for their public image if either Henry or Bea started dating. Henry sits quietly while his gran hints that he's been taking a bit too long to decide what to do with himself, and Philip all but outright says that he should be enlisting soon. He sits, and he eats his food, and he resists every urge to fight back or argue.

But after lunch, when their mum's back in her room and Philip is headed back to Anmer, Henry and Bea find their way to the music room. Bea gets her guitar, plucking out a few chords of "Loch Lomond" as Henry settles on the other end of the sofa with his phone. She hums what should be the lyrics "I'll be in Scotland afore you/ but me and my true love will never meet again", and Henry pretends he doesn't know the words. A few minutes of quiet chords later, he looks up from his phone to say, "hey, Bea? Happy Mother's Day. I... I know you didn't really ask for any of this, but I'm... you've been sort of a mum for me for the past few years, and I... I really appreciate it. I love you."

She puts down the guitar to hug him, and he asks, "do you think Mum will get better?"

"I'm... I'm not sure. I hope so. But we've got each other, alright? Whatever happens."

He nods, and that night, they sneak out together to eat Jaffa cakes and Cornettos in a courtyard outside the V&A. Bea brings her guitar, and she plays their parents' favorites, and Henry hopes that wherever their dad is, he's doing something special to help their mom feel loved.

2020, Washington, DC

Alex and June are planning on a traditional Mother's Day, one where they make their mom breakfast and she pretends to be surprised. But Alex is mid-pancake when Ellen appears in the kitchen to grab a muffin and tell them both she loves them and she's sorry, but something's come up and she's got to take a video call. She'll be ready for breakfast as soon as she can be, and she'll meet them when she can.

After an hour, Alex and June eat cold pancakes with warm orange juice alone. June's trying to be happy, but her mouth is doing that thing it does when she's disappointed, but not surprised. Alex is used to that look being directed at him after ignored texts and too-late nights. But it's Mother's Day, and they should be happy, even if their mom is busy. So he picks off the thorns and tucks the yellow rose behind her ear, then he steals her coffee and pancakes to put them on the tray and carry everything out to the Truman Balcony, June following him with half-hearted complaints. When their mom and Leo join them half an hour later, they've saved some pancakes and juice, and Ellen gets to spend at least half an hour as a mom before she's called back to the presidency, Leo promising her a nice dinner if she can find time in her schedule.

At least it's better than last year. Last year, Ellen had been pulled away from breakfast the moment she'd sat down and had been busy for the rest of the day. June had been upset for the rest of the day, and Alex had had to try and keep her company, at least, and the whole day had been hard. Mother's Day has been hard for the past few years, more about finding a semblance of family time than about actually celebrating their mom. But they've found some time today, and June's still smiling, and Leo looks proud and their mom doesn't seem to stressed. So, all in all, it could be worse.

2025, London, England

Tradition demands that they invite Mary to their Mother's Day brunch, so she is invited. She comes, and Alex thinks it might just be to spite them. But after the brunch, she's complaining about her joints. She goes back to Buckingham, and the Fox-Mountchirsten-Windsor children are urging them all into a van, sharing conspiratorial glances and grins as Philip talks to a driver and Bea pulls out a blindfold.

"Mum, we've got a surprise, so we're going to blindfold you after a bit, alright?" Catherine laughs and agrees, and Alex looks at Martha, who looks just as surprised as he is. Philip reveals a blindfold for her, too, arguing that since she's pregnant, she's technically a mother and deserves to be celebrated as one. Catherine agrees immediately, grinning at Martha. So, an hour and a half later, the moms are being blindfolded, but Alex is free to look out the window as the ban pulls into a small seaside town. They drive through it, stopping to park near a beach. Henry takes his mom's hands and Philip takes Martha's as Bea hands Alex a picnic basket, and they make their way to a picnic table on the beach before the blindfolds are removed. Catherine sees the picnic basket, and she grins.

"We... We thought maybe we could go for a hike, since that's what we always did growing up," Henry says.

“It’s not a long one, but Mazzy, if you’re not feeling up for it we’ll stay in town and enjoy the beach, or we can only go part way,” Philip says.

“Happy mother’s day, Mum. It… it’s good to have you back, and we love you,” Bea tells her.

"And you too, Martha. You're the best decision Philip ever made," Henry says, and Philip nods, wrapping an arm around her waist and kissing her cheek, then the baby bump just starting to make an appearance against her shirt. They have a happy lunch, one where they're not all being careful to do things just right or keep an uptight grandmother happy. Then, Martha feels alright to hike, so she and Philip join them. They take things slowly, resting at a halfway point for Bea to play guitar and the six of them to take a break, Philip making sure Martha's doing alright and Henry passing out some of the treats Alex's family sent with him. And it's good. It's really, really good.

2025, Austin, Texas

Alex wakes up early on Mother's Day in his childhood home, wrapped around Henry in a bed that's probably too small for the two of them to share. He can hear June's alarm from across the hall, and he knows it's time. He presses a kiss to Henry's forehead, then gets up and meets June in the hall, both grinning. This is the first Mother’s Day where they get Regular Mom instead of President Mom, and they’re going to make it the best Mother’s Day yet.

Breakfast is routine by now; Alex starts pancake batter while June squeezes orange juice, then moves on to cooking eggs and bacon as Alex flips pancakes on the griddle. Henry wanders into the kitchen, talking on the phone as he wraps his arms around Alex. The coffee's ready, and there are three stacks of pancakes: blueberry, chocolate chip, and plain. Their mom will take one of each, and Leo will refuse anything but plain while Alex takes chocolate and June does blueberry. Alex wonders which one Henry will pick, thrilled that his boyfriend gets to join them. He's not sure who decided that England and the US should have different Mother's Days, but he's glad.

"Good morning," Henry says, hanging up and pressing a kiss to Alex's forehead.

"Morning. Things going alright at the shelter?" Henry's arranged to have moms who can't be with their kids visit the youth shelter today, to love the kids a little extra and get loved themselves. He’s left Pez in charge of it, and apparently, it’s all off to a good start.

When breakfast is ready, June brings over the tray with servings of eggs, bacon, juice, and coffee, complete with the yellow rose. Alex adds a plate of their mom's favorite pancakes, then he and Henry grab the rest of the food and bring it to their mom's room, where it's been Leo's job to make sure she actually relaxes this morning. She'd jumped into charity work the minute she left office, and they've all agreed she deserves to take a break for once. She doesn't know it, but she and Leo are going on vacation tomorrow, and he and the kids are refusing to let her bring any work with her. She’s been working for eight years straight; she deserves to relax for a bit.

She pretends to be surprised about the breakfast as the kids find spots around the room to settle down so they can eat together. Ellen's relaxed for the first Mother's Day in eight years, and she's going to spend the whole day with them for the first time in ages, if ever. They're planning on a day in, full of card and board games. Alex is going to help her grill for dinner, and they've all made a pact not to wear anything but pajamas all day. And, for the first time since she was president, Alex is convinced it's going to be a good Mother's Day.

On AO3

Notes:

Earlier today, I was like "yeah I kinda want to write a parent fic but I don't know", and then the discord chat (especially Gina over at @saltfics) was like "DO IT" and so I ignored my final essay and did this instead. -

Want to support the Hannah Makes Art fund? You can tip me a ko-fi here!

[marshmallowprotection]

Bora baking jumin a birthday cake, it even has a little birthday candle

Bora wiped the frosting from her cheek when she caught sight of the mess in the mirror and bristled. She should have really made for more time to clean up but it wasn’t her fault that the others couldn’t keep Jumin distracted as long as they’d said they would! 

She took in a deep breath and glanced down at Elizabeth had contentedly taken her spot next to Bora. “Madam, the least you could have done was distract Dad for me.” 

“Meeeow!” 

“A likely story, Elizabeth, but I have my doubts about that alibi. You’re lucky it’s his birthday otherwise I’d have to scold you a bit more. Like, making you wait one extra minute before you get to eat... haha, I’m kidding, I couldn’t do that to you, Elizabeth.”

The door opened with a clatter and she could hear Jumin finishing up his business on the phone, it sounded like he was talking to V. There was no doubt about that given how the tone of his voice was just a bit softer than usual. If it had been Seven or Zen, he would have sounded different. 

She waited patiently at the door side until he hung his coat in the closet and stashed his phone away back in his pocket. “I’m home,” Jumin called into the penthouse. 

“Welcome back, Dad,” she responded automatically. “Was that V you were speaking with?” 

“Ah,” he nodded. “His business has kept him out of the country until the coming weekend but we’ve got plans to meet up in due time. I trust that you’ve had a productive day?” 

Bora beamed as Jumin paused at the sight of his two girls staring at him. It was rather odd that they were waiting in the breezeway together and not in the midst of something else, but his suspicions were likely for naught so he paid it no mind until he recalled the date 

Then it struck him why she may be acting just a little odd. 

“Of course,” she said. 

He chuckled at her obvious strained tone. “Any particular reason why the two of you are standing out here?” 

Bora glanced back into the room behind her and then looked back at Jumin, “Uh, actually. That’s what we were waiting for you for! There’s something that you’ve just got to see for yourself, okay?” 

It was a poor attempt at trying to hide a surprise, but Jumin couldn’t deny that he was touched by the gesture tenfold. He merely humored her request as she took the step into the darkened room and he trailed right behind her, not at all giving a reaction when the rest of the RFA appeared from behind their obvious hiding places. 

“Surprise!”

“I would commend you all for hiding but I should say that the fact that you asked Bora to cover for you gave away your little trick.”

“Aw, man, he wasn’t even surprised!” 

“Jumin sees through everything. Agh, I knew that I shouldn’t have given him a few hints earlier.” 

“As expected, Mr. Han.” 

Bora snickered at their expressions. She wasn’t going to tell them that she had tipped him off to the party but it wasn’t like she told him the other details, Jumin wasn’t all that enthralled by surprises so she made sure that he knew that the others were coming over. After promising that Seven wouldn’t bother Elizabeth for sure. 

As his banter with them was interchangeable, it was just nice to see that her family had come together as much as they could be. She had settled in quite nicely with them all. It just felt like this was the place that she was always meant to be, and she wanted to show her appreciation for Jumin especially. 

She took her spot at the counter and waved over at him to catch his attention. “The surprises was that I made the cake,” she said with a wide smile on her face. That couldn’t have been more obvious, though, as it looked what many in the industry could call rustic would the layers peeking out from underneath the light layer of frosting. 

“Okay, Jaehee and Yoosung helped,” Bora clarified when a few eyes looked at her plainly. “But, I couldn’t remember how to do exactly other than going by taste and they knew how to help!” 

Now, that was a gift that Jumin could cherish. 

He didn’t hide the smile that came to his face, nor the feeling that it gave him to see her looking so proud of herself. 

[multific]

Gender Reveal

Chris Evans x Reader

Request: Chris Evans x reader where you’re both married with four lil boys aged 5, 4 and twins aged 2 when you guys find out you’re expecting again but you don’t find out the gender as you guys love the surprise and are kinda expecting another boy but surprise! Baby Evans #5 is a lil girl and ugh Chris would be so so emotional to finally have his lil princess who has already got him wrapped around her finger! I love big Boston fam dad Chris stuff

A/N: This is such a great request! I had a lot of fun writing it! And the thought of Chris being over the moon for his little girl, is the cutest thing ever! Hope you like it! Enjoy~

 A gender reveal party.

That was your best idea ever.

Even your husband of almost seven years thought that was a great idea.

When you got pregnant for the fifth time, you and Chris officially became bunnies. But you couldn’t help it. Your husband was an exceptional lover and an amazing father. Chris’ co-stars often joked about this though. They found it incredibly funny for some reason, but they were also really happy.

They watched Chris struggling to find love and happiness, so when you came around, it was natural that they rooted for the two of you.

And now, eight years later, pregnant for the fifth time. Your four boys were also excited for the new baby, although the twins, James and Jeremiah couldn’t really understand what was going on, being only two, all they wanted was to play. Your four year old, Scott, named after his uncle was mama’s little boy, he was always with you, always giving you massages and helping you around. Your oldest, William, was the proud oldest brother, when he was told that he would have to protect another sibling of his, he became more proud and happy. William was a lot like his father, it was like Chris got copied and pasted into his son’s body.

And finally, you, the proud mother of the children, wife of Christopher Robert Evans, the love of his life. You weren’t ready for another child, but fate had different thoughts on this. When you learnt about it all you could say was.

“Again?!”

But you were happy. Your children were your life, your everything. It also helped a lot that your husband was the best dad on the planet and the most supporting person throughout all of your pregnancies and just everything.

Although both you and Chris thought that the baby will be a boy, yet again, you still went with the idea of the party.

It was a nice thing you didn’t do before, and you saw videos of in on Youtube, that’s how it came about.

That’s how Chris found himself, with you by his side, ready to slice into the cake.

You take these kind of things seriously. So when you ordered the cake, you made sure that the frosting would be white and the sponge itself would be the colour of the gender, so even if you cut it, you will only see it once you pull the slice out.

As both of you held the knife, surrounded by your family and close friends, in your huge garden, ready to find out whether Evans Baby #5 would be another baby boy or a girl. You knew that Chris wanted a baby girl, and you couldn’t lie, you wanted a girl too, to finally be able to buy girly clothes, braid someone’s hair. When you asked your boys they said it didn’t matter.

And as Chris and you pulled the piece out, you both froze, while everyone cheered.

Pink.

“It-It’s a-a-a girl.” you said as you looked at Chris. His eyes were watering and he dropped the cake, hugging and kissing you. Soon, you realized the situation as well.

Happiness.

Pure, true and undeniable happiness.

And you knew, even if the cake would have been blue, your reaction would have been the same.

A little girl.

You couldn’t believe it.

***

And soon, there she was.

Born with a healthy, 7.5 lbs. (3.4 kg). Little Emily Evans.

You were still out of breath, you, Chris and the doctors still in the room.

“The mother first.” told the nurse Chris as he went to hold his child.

His daughter.

The nurse placed the small creature in your arms.

You were tired, but never tired enough to not be able to hold one of your child. She was crying, you were crying from happiness.

“Hey, little one. Welcome to the family.” you told her and kissed her head. She started to calm down to your voice, she must have recognized it.

“Look, Emi, there’s your father.” you told her as she looked at you, obviously interested. Chris sat down next to you, looking at her, but she looked at you.

“She’s beautiful. Like her mother.” he said with a calm voice. You noticed that he must have been crying, since his voice sounded like that, but you couldn’t look away from her, not yet.

After a few seconds, she looked at her dad then back at you.

“Hold her.” you told Chris, finally looking away from your daughter. Chris didn’t need to be told twice. You handed her to him and Chris stared to cry again.

“Oh god, you are beautiful, Emily.” he said. You looked at Chris.

When you gave birth, every single time, he was there with you, holding your hand, encouraging you, helping you, and when they were finally there, in his arms, he got so emotional. You could never forget his face. Every time, he showed a different kind of happy.

For William, he was the ‘first time daddy’ happy.

With Scoot, he was a bit braver, but he still cried when he saw that his boy had your eyes.

For the twins, James and Jeremiah, he was ‘worried happy’, because they were born before they were supposed to, and you had some difficulties, but in the end everything turned out perfect. Sure, they were both slim and tiny, but they were healthy, and they soon became strong and full of life.

And now, for his daughter, he was ‘whipped happy’. You could tell. Emily Evans had her dad wrapped around her tiny little fingers before she even opened her eyes. And as they locked eyes, Chris was in for it. His own little princess.

“Thank you, Y/N. For giving me everything and more. I love you.” he said as he finally looked at your smiling, happy-crying face. You looked tired, but still the most gorgeous woman in his eyes.

“I love you too, Chris.” he placed a kiss to your lips and to that your new-born made a sound.

“Opps, looks like my little Angel wants some attention.” said Chris as he looked back as his baby and gave her his pinkie.

“You are soooooo whipped, Evans.” you told him with a small laugh.

“Yeah.” he admitted with a smile. “I am.” you moved a bit closer to him and placed your head on his shoulder.

Soon, you fell asleep from exhaustion, the last thing you saw before your eyes got closed was your daughter’s smiling little face.

Chris let you sleep and he knew, when you woke up, you’d have to introduce the new addition to your family.

But for now, it was only the three of you in the room. With your breathing and his child’s small noises in the room.

You truly made him the happiest man. He thought he didn’t deserve all of this, that this was too much to ask for.

But no, this is his life. His life he shared with you.

And what a beautiful life it is.

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[juminsmysticmc]

Hi! I've been waiting fur your requests to open back up! I'd love to see how RFA +V +Saeran +Vanderwood would react to an MC who bakes really well. Like heaven in your mouth well. Thank you so much!

RFA + Minor Trio with a Mc who bakes really well

Hii! I’m sorry that it took me so long, opening these Requests also took ages, I hope you can forgive me, hahah. I hope you enjoy the HC. By the way - I suck at baking XD

Jumin

,,You are my sunshine, my only sunshine, you make me happy.... when skies are gray…’’ you summed while you baked your orange chocolate cake.

It had been a long time since you last decided to bake anything, but this was due to your stay at Jumin’s penthouse when the both of you were still unmarried.

Now that you were his wife, you weren’t that shy anymore.

You used the moment of silence to bake a cake for your husband, who was pretty stressed out lately.

You hoped that he would enjoy the desert you prepared with a lot of love.

Just when you finished decorating the beautiful cake, the door opened and Jumin came in.

He began to sniffle and immediately confessed that he could smell something yummy.

With your usual smile, you greeted and kissed him.

,,Would you want to enjoy my cake with a cup of coffee?’’ you asked him, kind of scared that he could reject you due to his work.

But of course Jumin Han would never push you back.

He eagerly nodded and went into the kitchen to make a pot of coffee.

After ten minutes, you helped him with the coffee and both of you sat on the couch, sipping the brown drink.

Jumin now finally took the fork into his hand and began to eat the soft creation you made.

Suddenly he moaned and looked at you with a shocked expression, making you think that your food was disgusting.

But it was different. Jumin couldn’t believe that you were the one who baked the cake.

,,It’s like an explosion in my mouth. I really love it! Maybe I should organize a coffee and cake project…’’ he began to mumble loudly when he chewed on his third slice of cake.

Zen

,,I’m so excited that I will be able to eat a cake made by you!’’ your boyfriend laughed, noticing that he never ate a cake made by you.

,,Don’t expect to much…’’ you mumbled embarrassed.

,,Ah, don’t be so humble…“ he smiled and kept observing you.

You were creating a real masterpiece. Zen couldn’t explain how you did it because you moved so quickly, but he knew that it smelled very very good.

A few moments later, you called him.

,,Yes, what can-” he stopped.

You opened the warm oven and took out the chocolate cake you had just prepared.

,,It’s still hot, but I wanted to show it to you.“ you mumbled.

Zen immediately took out his phone and took a few pictures.

,,I have to post this! My fans have to know how good you are!“ he laughed and posted a photo.

Not long after he posted the photo, he posted the same picture in the group, receiving a lot of responses from Yoosung and Seven that they will come over too.

,,Mc, close the doors. Two idiots are coming over…“ he whispered and took a spoonful of your cake, feeling like he was in heaven right away.

,,How can it be so sweet and soft?“ he asked you in a whiny voice.

For today, he ignored the fact that chocolate was the cause of pimples.

Yoosung

You always loved to bake cakes and prepare desserts.

A few years later, it wasn’t any different.

You still loved to bake sweets and see the ones you loved smile.

,,Mommy!!!!!“ you heard your little girl scream through the house.

Then you heard loud footsteps and suddenly, a blond girl and brown haired man stood in the door.

,,Daddy said I have to wait for my present!“ she whined.

,,Okay and why are you complaining now?“ you asked her and put the big cake in the fridge.

It was a cake with three layers.

It would look like a big princess dress since you planned to put princess in the top.

,,Huh? But your friends always take ages!“ she whined.

,,Don’t complain now,“ you warned and saw her stomping away.

Yoosung approached you and hugged you from behind.

,,You’ve been in here a pretty long time…“ he teased you, overestimating you.

But when he saw the pink-violet cake on the table a few hours later, he didn’t know what to say.

And it even tasted good!

,,You’re wasting such a good talent!“ Yoosung whined and ate a second slice.

It tasted really good, and Yoosung was once again proud to have you as his wife and the mother of his daughter.

Jaehee

When she asked if you would be willing to help her with the coffee shop, she didn’t know that you were such a good baker.

Well, perhaps it was because you just didn’t tell her that you worked in a pastry shop.

One day, she just got up and found three wonderful cakes in the glass cabinet.

Next to them were beautiful cupcakes and muffins.

It wasn’t even 9 AM and you already did half the work.

,,What’s that?’’ she asked you with an amused face and kissed you on your cheek as a good morning greeting.

,,I’m not sure. I think it’s for the garbage. Maybe you could taste the cupcake?’’ you asked her.

She nodded and took one of the cupcakes with the pink glitter on top.

She slowly bit off the cream and then tasted the cake.

,,Oh my god…’’ she mumbled and opened her eyes in shock.

You thought that the worst would come up, but she took three more bites until nothing was left.

,,Okay. I think you need to show me how to do it…’’ she said, staring at the cupcakes and combatting with herself if she should hide them instead of selling them.

Saeyoung

Your resume said that you actually worked in a pastry shop in LA and later moved back to Korea.

Unfortunately, your shop in Seoul was sabotaged and you had to give up on your dream.

A little bit later, Unknown and the RFA robbed your time and you didn’t have the time to think about it anymore.

Just a few months later, when you decided to bake a cake to cheer up the RFA, you remembered that you were really good at it.

You decided to bake a really big white cake with a cat on the front and LOLOL on the back.

The icon on the cake would be Zenny and the decoration would be coffee beans.

This way a piece of everyone would be a part of the cake.

And you had to be honest, you were pretty happy with the results.

Of course you hid your cake, and when the RFA came to visit, you and your fiancé, as well as his brother who lived with the two of you, got really emotional. 

,,Woah, when did you do this?!’’ Saeyoung asked you, pretty hyped, and licked his finger that was covered in cream.

,,Hehe. While the both of you were arguing over pizza and chicken.’’ you answered Saeyoung.

His eyes widened when he licked his finger once again.

You thought that the cream was salty and that you mixed up salt and sugar, but apparently he loved your cream.

The cake didn’t even last a day. The RFA only ate the cake and gave you a lot of compliments.

,,I wish my birthday would be every day so that you would have a reason to bake a cake for me!’’ your husband whined and kissed your cheek, thankful for your efforts.

Saeran

You knew that your boyfriend had a sweet tooth and you wanted to make him happy once in a while.

The past month was hard and it was still the beginning.

And so, while he was in Jumin’s company, trying to get his father and save his older twin brother, you gave your best at home.

You added the ingredients and made an apple-cinnamon-pie.

Of course, ice cream and whipped cream weren't left out.

,,Woah, these are enough calories for a mouthful!’’ you laughed to yourself as you added sugar.

A good odor welcomed the almost red haired man when he opened the brown door.

Did you invite someone?

But you were alone in the kitchen, your clothes completely white from the flour.

Saeran let out a soft laugh as he saw you.

,,Did you grow old on your own without me?’’ he asked you and patted your white hair.

,,Mhh...you simply took too long. I fell in love with the apple pie instead.’’ you teased him and smiled brightly, expecting a kiss while you closed your eyes.

Saeran happily gave you a kiss and then looked at the pie.

,,So I have an enemy now?’’ he asked you.

You were in pain, his words were filled with irony.

But you quickly sliced the pie, added the warm cream and ice cream, and gave him a spoon.

,,Defeat your enemy!’’

He put the spoon in his mouth and mumbled a ,,Mhhhh’’ before he added another spoonful.

,,Oh my god, I don’t want to defeat this pie. Who did-you?!’’ he asked you, laughing now and enjoying the pie.

You happily nodded and gave him a second slice.

The best thing today was to see his smile.

Jihyun 

,,Come on, Lucy!’’ you called her.

When your daughter approached you, you explained the baking process step by step.

She even helped you to bake her dad’s birthday cake.

Of course, Jihyun couldn’t stand the surprise. Instead, he entered the kitchen and kept taking pictures of the both of you.

Both of you chuckled as Jihyun was simply obsessed with the pictures.

Your house was filled with photographs, but this was also something beautiful in your eyes.

Later on, the RFA came over and ate the cake with you.

Really, no one believed that you baked the cake and that Lucy helped you!

,,Really! Ask Daddy! He even broke his promise and came into the kitchen to take pictures!’’ Lucy exclaimed.

,,Breaking promises is an old habit of your dad,’’ Yoosung said

But not even Jihyun could believe that you were that great at baking.

It was almost as if he was floating on clouds.

Since then, your job was to bake a cake at least once a week.

Vanderwood

You knew that Vanderwood would get angry at you.

Just the fact that the kitchen was a mess would give him a reason to kill you.

But you ignored the death thoughts and instead kept baking for him.

When Vanderwood saw the kitchen, he really was about to kill you but his anger vanished when he saw the beautiful cake with his name decorated with chocolate cream.

His heart grew warm as he thought about you.

A bit later you opened the door, not expecting him so early you totally bumped into him and almost fell on your back.

But your boyfriend caught you before something happened.

His smile was reflecting in your eyes.

,,What you’re doing home already?’’ you asked him, not even trying to hide the candles.

,,I wanted to enjoy my birthday with my princess.’’ he confessed and lead you to his lips.

,,You taste sweet. Did you eat it without me?’’ he asked you with a cute smirk.

You lightly slapped his shoulder and put the candles on the cake.

He quickly blew them out and expected to have to act as if the cake was tasty.

Instead, he had to try his best to not explode from happiness.

It tasted very good.

His eyes widened with every bite he took.

,,Is it okay?’’ you asked him, worried that it would be disgusting.

But from the look on your boyfriend’s face, the cake was more than yummy.

MASTERLIST 1MASTERLIST 2MASTERLIST 3

10.11.2019// 01:21 MEST

Tagged:

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@widya345 @remiliadacalde @r-f-a-journalists

[blu-joons]

Pregnancy with Jin ~ BTS Headcanon

Finding Out You’re Pregnant

Jin was an absolute wreck when he found out you were pregnant, he was completely overwhelmed with emotion

Instantly he was filled with excitement, he couldn’t wait to have a baby with you

The two of you had dreamed about having children for some time, but you’d never been successful in your attempts, until now

“I can’t believe it’s finally happening for us, I’m so happy.”

Everyone in his family were thrilled, they’d been supporting you both in trying for a baby, excited it was finally happening

Jin kept his eye on you always, he wanted this for too long to risk even the smallest of incidents happening to you

He accidentally blurted the news out on a V Live one night as he struggled to contain his excitement when talking about the band’s future

The boys were over the moon too, they knew how much the two of you desired a child, and they were desperate to all be uncles

“I don’t know how we are all going to cope if this baby is too similar to Jin.”

He was always with you, he loved to go to all your appointments and scans, or just meet you for a cup of coffee to get you out of the house

Being Pregnant

You made an official announcement at twenty weeks, even if all the fans already knew the news thanks to Jin

He loved to take photos with his camera of your ever-growing bump and all the adventures you went on with it

“I really don’t think our child will appreciated being photographed at your parents?”

“It’s their first-time visiting grandma and grandpa, even if they don’t know it, it’s a huge occasion.”

His jokes were helpful in cheering you up when you were having bad days, they were perfect tool to help you smile again.

He’d persuaded himself that you were going to have a girl, he just had a feeling that the two of you would have a princess

There was never an appointment that Jin missed, he would travel from the ends of the world if it meant seeing your little one’s scan

Having a baby matured Jin immensely, he found himself taking on new responsibilities

His childish nature was still around, but he definitely took fatherhood seriously

Mealtimes, were your favourite time, nothing was better than Jin’s home cooking

“I swear this is like heaven on a plate, how do you do it?”

He was incredibly brave with your morning sickness; he knew he had to be there for you through all of the ups and downs

Cuddles were a must after sickness to try and help you get back off to sleep

Jin loved decorating the nursery, he spent hours up in the room without so much as a peep

Not knowing the gender, he decided on a zoo theme so he could buy lots of cuddly toys

Him and the boys spent hours decorating the walls especially, hand painting lots of beautiful animals to it

Sleepless nights were hard, but Jin stayed awake with you, all night if he had to

 The two of you had a little countdown in your kitchen to your due date to try and stop Jin getting too excited

All the boys were excited too, reminding you everyday how many days were to go

Jin was forever talking to the bump, he loved to know that his child could hear his voice

“You’re just going to be the cutest, luckily for you your dad is worldwide handsome.”

“I’m pretty sure their mummy is pretty cute too, wouldn’t you agree?”

“Oh yeah, you are gorgeous honey, you’ve got a sexy mum little one.”

His shirts slowly became your shirts as your wardrobe shrunk around your growing bump

Jin didn’t mind, he found it incredibly sexy whenever he saw you in his clothes

Being the elder, he liked to remind his members to look after you and the baby

They were on hand whenever you needed them to help you or do something for you

Especially the nursery, they each left their own stamp on the walls, so they knew their uncles

Their favourite thing was to tease Jin that he was probably going to be the oldest dad in the school playground, much to Jin’s disapproval

JIn always referred to your bump as ‘little one,’ it just happened to stick over time

He knew instantly whenever you were in discomfort, he could read you like a book

His long fingers would often massage your tummy to help the baby settle when they were feeling restless

“Little one, you need to calm down and give your mummy some time to sleep.”

As the two of you settled down for bed, he’d often lay with his head just above the bump for a while

His massages were amazing in helping you feel good, you had no idea how he managed it

Your little one’s first kick was huge, Jin couldn’t stop smiling for a whole week as he reminisced about it

Any chance he’d get, he’d touch your bump in the hope there would be some movement

He loved to make up songs when you couldn’t sleep, noting them down to use as lullabies in the future

His voice was dreamy, it was your favourite thing to fall asleep to

“Just sing to me for a while, I think it’s settled the little one.”

“I always knew they’d be my biggest fan; baby knows what’s good for them.”

You loved snacking, you were eating for two, and baby wanted food, they got food

There were little tubs of snacks scattered all over the house for you to help yourself to

As labour neared, Jin knew you were beginning to panic, but he was amazing in reassuring you that things would be fine

He just couldn’t wait to meet the baby, that kept him going

The two of you would sit, and just talk, express your worries and stick together as a mother and father

You had an ideal birthing plan in your head which you shared with Jin, so he knew how he could help you in the delivery suite

“Whatever you need, I’ll be on hand, you just focus on you and baby.”

He’d cuddle you all night long and reassure you that labour was going to be worth it

Any sign of labour had you worried; it was nerve wracking to know it was happening

Jin took all the time off work he could in the latter stages in order to be around in case anything was to happen

He was going to stick with you through everything, he didn’t want to leave you alone

Labour

You were sat watching a movie when you felt the sudden urge for a drink to try and ease your stomach pain

Only, when you stood up your waters broke, the panic setting in

Jin quickly leapt into action, helping you through it, eventually taking you to the hospital

“Just keep reminding yourself our little one is coming; it’s all going to be worth it jagi.”

His words were reassuring, it was a big relief to know that he was right beside you

Being in the delivery suite relaxed you as you made yourself comfortable

You suffered horrendously with your contractions, struggling to cope with the ever-increasing pain

Jin did as you’d told him, continually talking to you to try and distract you from the pain and keep you smiling

He was wracked with guilt knowing there was nothing he could to change positions

“I’m really proud of you, just keep taking it slow, big breaths and lots of smiles.”

When the time to push came around Jin was holding tightly to your hand, pressing gentle kisses to your forehead

You kept glancing at him, looking for his smile to keep you going

“It’s nearly all over, this is the last little bit and then we’ll be a proper family.”

He was terrified when it came down to it, all the confidence drained from him

It wasn’t until he heard the first cries of your baby could he breath in relief again, knowing both you and baby were safe and healthy

Jin grabbed you as you were informed you had a baby girl

You held onto him, struggling not to fall asleep in his arms as you were so tired

The baby came to you first, Jin sitting over you both, his arms wrapped around you both tightly

Your head leaned on his chest, admiring the gorgeous features your little girl possessed, your eyes, and Jin’s smile were clear

Jin was thrilled to hold her for the first time, cradling her closely, pressing kisses to the top of her head

You knew exactly what you wanted to name her after coming up with names midway through pregnancy

There were a lot of tears as the realisation set in that she was your daughter

Both of you were overwhelmed that you’d created such a beautiful baby

“I can’t wait to show you off to the world, your little face, I can guarantee you’ll be a heartbreaker when you grow up just like your daddy.”

Neither of you could bring yourselves to put her down, just wanting to see her, always

The two of you were in the sweetest, blissful bubble together

The First Few Hours

Jin reluctantly put your daughter down for a nap after a couple of hours as the tears subsided

“Oh, how does she manage to look so cute when she’s sleeping too? She’s perfect.”

“Of course she is perfect, she’s part of me and part of you.”

He quickly snapped a picture and sent it to all the boys with a lot of heart emojis to let them know they had a niece

You were continuously peering over at her, making sure she was alright, dreaming that you could get some sleep too

The boys blew up your phones with texts, begging for more photos of your little bundle of joy

happily, took all the photos in the world, saving them on an album on his phone to look back over whenever he could

“I’m already missing her and she’s only over there asleep, what’s happening?”

“It’s because you care Jin, she’s a lucky girl to have a dad like you.”

Jin sat with you for a bit, cuddling you and showering you with appreciation and love

He was on hand for anything, surprising you with a cake he’d baked a few days ago as a token of his love for you

His humour soon appeared, telling jokes, appropriately, to your daughter whilst she slept

The firsts were photographed, added to his album, feeds, changes, the whole lot were made to memories

You couldn’t wait to take her home and show her the beautiful nursery the boys had decorated

Jin was so excited to have you back home safely too so you could relax and get yourself back to your normal self

The First Few Days

You went home a day after labour to see his parent’s car pulled up on the driveway of your house

His mum quickly appeared, screaming for a look at her gorgeous granddaughter

They’d tidied the whole house, decorating it with all the cards and presents the two of you had been sent

Jin was once more there with his camera to snap the first cuddles with her grandparents

“Son, you’ve done well. Not only do you have a beautiful partner, but this little one is just perfect.”

Adjusting to life became natural after a while, your little routine worked well

The sleepless nights continued, but you didn’t mind, happily getting up just to spend some more time with your daughter when she was crying

Jin spent a limited amount of time at the studio, only popping in when he was needed, he couldn’t bare to be away from you both

The nursery was your daughter’s favourite place, she loved the feel of all her cuddly toys against her skin

Meeting The Boys

You took her to the studio a week after she was born, as the texts from the boys became unbearable, desperate to meet her

They were so excited when you walked in, all huddling around the pram to get the first peek at her adorable face

Namjoon was first, not picking her up, he was too scared, but admiring all her gorgeous features that he picked up on

Taehyung couldn’t wait to tease him once more that he was a father at such an old age

Hobi was first for cuddles, dancing around with her in his arms, showing her all around the studio she’d grow up in

“This will put her to sleep, I’ve got a magic touch when it comes to babies, they all love me.”

Yoongi was mesmerised, he’d never seen something so adorable in his life, and yet still she was a part of Jin

Jungkook couldn’t wait for cuddles, he loved to play games with her, peekaboo was his ultimate favourite, always making her smile

Jimin gave her lots of presents, he showered her with more additions that the two of you could put in the nursery

None of them wanted you to leave as it got late into the evening, trying to kidnap your daughter in one of the dorms

They were texting as soon as you leaved for baby updates and photos because they missed her little face

The Future

Jin was in awe as he watched his daughter, she changed so much just in a couple of weeks

He fell in love with you all over again, seeing you as a mother melted his heart, you were amazing

More kids were a must, he couldn’t wait to have a big family and lots of children to look after

Fatherhood changed him, everything he did he considered his daughter, she was his number one priority, always

There was never a second in the day when she wasn’t on his mind

His little family was his everything, he was the luckiest man in the world

Masterlist

[imastrangeone98]

Lost and Found - Epilogue: All is Found

(A/N: haha you thought the torture of reading this story was over? Not yet!!)

And yes, the title is inspired by frozen 2. Fight me- oh wait, no one reads this so you can't!! Hahahahaha

The more I reread this, the more I realize this is kind of a fix-it fic

It took him a while to build his nerve. But he knew that what was about to happen was something he should have done earlier. Much earlier.

But still. Standing in front of his dilapidated childhood home wasn't exactly a piece of cake.

The lump in his throat was determined to stick around, no matter how many times he swallowed.

Faith stood quietly behind him, gazing up at the old house.

He had asked her a few days ago to come with him, determined to put an end to the sad chapter of his own story, yet afraid of doing it on his own.

And now, here they stood, both of them lost in memories they'd much rather forget, but unable to do so.

"You don't have to do this, if you're not ready," she said as they began to make their way through the burnt rubble of the mansion. "No one is forcing you."

He would be lying if he said he wasn't contemplating leaving. The weight of the memories was just as heavy as the guilt in his chest. For a brief moment, he could still smell the acrid smoke that once suffocated him.

And he thought he could still hear his mother's pained screams.

He hadn't realized he was crying until he felt soft hands brush against his cheeks. When he opened his eyes, he could see Faith as she wiped his tears away.

"I'm sorry," she murmured. "You just... looked so sad."

"It's okay." He couldn't help but pull her in for a hug, breathing in her comforting scent. "Thanks."

Neither of them said anything for a while, just simply taking in each other's presence.

But in the end, not even she was enough to pull him away from reality.

Reluctantly, he gently nudged her to the side as he stood in what remained of the foyer. The place he used to chase Vergil in as he begged for his twin to play swords together. The place where they never failed to greet their father after a long day.

The place where his mother hid him in a closet as she desperately ran through the house, calling for a brother that would never come.

The place where she lost her life.

Out of the corner of his eye, he saw a dark red shawl, embroidered with gold designs around the edge.

A small gasp escaped him. He thought he would never see it again.

With trembling hands, he scooped it up and held it to his chest. A faint scent of smoke and lilac perfume hit his nose.

He missed her. He missed his mother.

...But she was gone. She would never come back. And it hurt to think that it was about time for him to fully accept that fact.

Yet here he was.

Through his tears, he eyed the family portrait. The soft gaze of his mother looking down at him gave him some small bit of reassurance.

If he knew anything about her, and he always hoped he did, she would want him to move on. She would want him to be happy.

He hoped that by letting her go, he would make her proud.

And he hoped, deep down, that Vergil was watching over him too.

Slowly approaching the mantel, he carefully arranged the shawl so it draped over the burnt wood.

"Dante?"

"Yeah?" He inwardly winced at the hoarseness of his voice. He didn't want her to see him like this, even though she had already seen him at his worst.

"I found this book. Did it belong to you?" In her hands was a thin, leatherbound book, inlaid with hints of gold and a solid white V on the cover.

He nearly choked on his own tongue.

Could it be?

And lo and behold, right on the first page, written in blue marker, was 'Vergil.'

If his mother's shawl wasn't enough to make him cry, the book certainly was. And he found himself on the floor, cradling the Works of William Blake to his chest, sobbing for a brother that chose Hell over his own family.

A brother that would never come home.

With trembling knees, he forced himself on his knees and stumbled back to the mantel, nestling the book between the red fabric.

The echoes of his mother desperately calling for Vergil still lingered in his mind.

You found him, he thought to her, hoping to high heaven that she could hear him. He's with you, now. Look after him for me.

Sniffling, he wiped away his tears and stepped away.

He could feel Faith's presence behind him. And once again, he was more than grateful for her being there.

But he needed to do this next part alone.

"Hey," he said quietly. Her head immediately turned in his direction. "Can I... be alone, right now?"

She gave him a sad, knowing smile. "Of course."

After giving him a quick, yet firm hug, she turned and made her way out of the house. He watched as she crossed over the hill to the old apple tree, sitting on the grass.

And with a sigh, he turned back to the picture.

"...Hi, Mom and Dad." He winced; he was so bad at being sentimental. "It's... been a while, huh?"

God, he was really bad at this.

"Yeah... Uh..." He cleared his throat. "I guess I just... wanted to say that... I'm doing fine. You... Um..."

Why was he shaking so much? There was nothing but his past to be afraid of, after all, and he'd already confronted his ghosts.

...He was terrified.

"Aren't you scared?"

"Of course I am. But I'm hoping it means that I'm doing the right thing."

He swallowed down the lump in his throat.

"You know, I felt really scared, coming here. But... I'm hoping that it means I'm doing something right." He scratched the back of his neck. "I guess it's time I let the past stay the past."

He turned around again, and he could make out Faith trying to pick apples. No doubt in an attempt to cheer him up.

Despite everything, it did make him smile. A small one, but a smile nonetheless.

"I finally have something to look forward to, in the future. 'Cause..." His face was burning- he hoped that ghosts didn't laugh, because he swore he could hear Vergil calling him a blabbering fool. "I like her. I really like her. I think you'd like her, Mom."

Her face continued to smile down at him. Somehow, it did wonders to relax him. Like he could pretend she was actually there, listening to him, one last time.

"This is it, Mom."

A warm breeze suddenly flowed through the hall, enveloping him. Like an embrace.

And it brought tears to his eyes.

"I love you," Dante choked out. "Goodbye."

And when he finally managed to pull away from the fireplace and walk away, he could still see, out of the corner of his eye, the edges of the shawl fluttering with the wind and the book standing tall in its nest of cloth.

[...]

"Whatcha doin'?" he asked, leaning over his companion's shoulder.

Faith jumped back, eyes wide with shock, before quickly relaxing. "I was just admiring the view. It's really nice up here."

"Yeah. I used to come here all the time when my brother was being an obnoxious ass." With a grunt, he sat down beside her as they both took in the scenery.

From here, they had a clear view of Redgrave City. It was much bigger than he remembered- there were more skyscrapers, and edges of the town had crept farther into the open than before.

"The city's so big," she marveled. "I think it could be bigger than Capulet."

"Maybe." But in all honesty, he wasn't particularly interested in comparing sizes.

She must have noticed, because she immediately changed topics. "How do you feel?"

Dante sighed. "I don't know, if I'm being honest. Can't say I'm feeling great."

She nodded. No explanations were needed- she understood all too well.

Slowly, they began to lean on each other. Her head rested on his shoulder, and his on top of her hair. Their hands slowly laced together.

They watched the clouds pass by.

And despite the lingering pain in his heart, he could feel like all was right with the world.

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A/N: well this is it!! The last bittersweet ending to a shitty story!! Hope you liked it you probably didn't XD

After my cycle I'll post my au ideas, and any of you nonexistent fans can vote for what you'd like to see next!! And after I write my short au I'll get to the canon events.... or my own events hehehehe