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cartoonfangirl1218 · 2 years ago

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All about Family

Note: So this is a bit of a craxy departure where I imagined that Alonso and Valentina had a brief break where he got a sirenea pregnant thus when they got back together, Val became a step-mom as well as future queen of Paraiso and Cordoba. I know, drama! So yeah, here’s a little fic exploring the family dynamics plus sirenea-royals friendship.

“Oooh doesn’t this look nice, Valentina?” Marisa gushed, nudging the pink-dressed princess behind her who was staring past the racks of colorful scarves with more distressing things on her mind.

“Wha-yes, beautiful,” Valentina murmured as needed, but her head wasn’t there. No, it was with a stubborn prince who she left sputtering, slamming the door in his face when she left for a girl’s night.

“Come on, Shining Light,” Marisa groaned, pulling her away from the stand of dyed scarves to a shop of Venetian blown glass. The coldness of the shop distracted her momentarily, pulling her shawl closer to her as the wind’s wavy gust could be felt through her clothes.

The items themselves were gorgeous in an array of liqued amber and fiery reds, arranged in amazing shapes and chandeliers. Together with the way the light of the candles hit them made Valentina feel like she was in a kaleidoscope.

One particular piece caught her eye. A lamp in the shape of a rose pink swan, mottled that it hardly looked like glass.

It was no sword but Peri might like it especially as the color was so reminiscent of his name.

But Cyan might like this sort of thing more though, he did enjoy luxurious items of beauty, and Valentina did enjoy showering her future children with gifts.

But the thought drew her up short.

Future sons. . . not in Alonso’s view.

Sure, he made lovely speeches and heartfelt confessions of how glad he was to fall in love with her, have her join his family, that he could imagine no better of a mother to his kids, to comfort and to have fun with, he apparently drew a line when it came to co-parenting.

Like tonight.

The boys were heading abroad for the summer. While Peri was going to join Elena, Naomi and their family for a diplomacy tour, Cyan wanted to go on a different tour. He and his friends were planning a trip around the Everrealm with no parental supervision. Just a group of four kids getting into whatever adventures their travels would take them. Valentina had some reservations, but thought it would be a fun summer for Cyan. He and his friends getting to flex their horizons now that sireneas were no longer considered a threat. They would learn how to handle finances and itineraries by themselves, and of course, it would be exposed to learn new cultures.

But Alonso was adamant against it. He said it was inappropriate, unsafe, along with a host of reasons why Cyan could not possibly go. Valentina knew how protective Alonso was when it came to his sons and while he warmed up to Peri joining the sirenea guard under Daria (mainly because he wasn’t going to be able to stop him anyway), it still came up in certain situations like now.

Valentina saw that was the main reason for his refusal and when she gently took him aside to point that out and to reconsider, he said she wasn’t their mother. She hadn’t officially adopted them, and so please, let him handle it. She didn’t need to take their side to get them to favor her. This was important decision, not a day-trip.

The boys already loved her, she didn’t need to take their side!

It made her blood boil. They were supposed to be equals! They were going to be co-parents! He could not dismiss her as not knowing how to raise them, she’d been helping him for the past three years!

And that she was only taking Cyan’s side so he would like her? Ridiculous! As if she didn’t have her own opinions on things, and what’s more, that he expected her to blindly agree to him!

She was right, he was wrong, and he was too bull-headed to admit that.

She was too glad that she and Marisa had already arranged this girl’s night tonight. She didn’t think she’d be able to stand staying in the same quarters as him with how angry she was.

But still their argument dragged down her thoughts. She couldn’t even enjoy watching Marisa do her usual shopping routine where she’d exclaim over the goods or she’d walk through the store, pointing at items with a nonchalant “Mine! I have to have this! It’s so pretty!” while a poor personal assistant walked behind trying to decipher whether she was serious about her purchases or not.

Amazing that even after all these years visiting the surface that she was still fascinated by such mundane things like fork.

Marisa sensed her mood too because she sidled up to her and said, “Val, this is a girl’s night, remember the first rule?”

“Um, what happens at girl’s night stays there,” Valentina weakly joked. It had all started after Marisa tried to gather all the royals in weakly meet-ups which proved difficult with their differing schedules and royal responsibilities.

However, with the close borders between Nueva Vista and Paraiso allowed for Valentina a chance to accept Marisa’s overtures for shopping. How could she resist shopping!?

And so it became their monthly girl’s night if neither were too busy. The choice not to talk about the details of their girl’s night came from the time

“Yes, aaaand girl’s night is about the important things like shopping. Not about your love life. So whatever spat you and Alonso had, it will be resolved as it always is because you two always work out and love each other. Tonight is about shopping!”

“I’m sorry,” Valentina apologized sincerely, “But what Alonso said tonight was completely out of line! It’s just so in-”

“Not in public,” Marisa interrupted, pulling Val’s wrist out the door to the next store into the dressing room, shutting the door in the poor personal assistant’s face.

“Okay, what did he do?” Marisa crossed her arms and raised a sardonic eyebrow.

Valentina spilled the whole scene, finally able to rant with her full anger that she hadn’t been able to befire because she hadn’t wanted the girls to overhearher calling their father a “ridiculous, self-important, disrespectful, pompous, hypocritical prat!”

Once Valentina finished, Marisa looked unnecessarily bored by all this eve though Valentina was telling her something important. The sirenea looked up from her nails, “Calm yet? That’s good. You can do your apology and make-up when you get back. Now I was thinking we can go to the-”

Now Valentina grabbed Marisa’s arm before she could leave. “Woah, you expect me to apologize to him? Were you not listening to a single word I said? He was wrong! Wrong, wrong, wrong! He should be apologizing to me when I return!”

“Oh Alonso obviously didn’t mean any of that. He was just touchy because you stepped all overhis toes in parenting.”

“I know he argued with me because he didn’t want to admit he was wrong and overprotective and I was right. But I still don’t see why that garners an apology from me,” Valentina huffed.

“Wow, you still don’t see it? Okay, we all know Alonso can be stubborn and defensive when he is wrong. And parenting especially because he loves those girls and he doesn’t want to mess up. He really doesn’t want to mess up because.. . well you know how sometimes people will imply he’ll ruin them because he was so lazy when he was a teenager and all that nonsense. But you know, Alonso. He won’t admit but he believes a little of it. Maybe the girls should be raised by someone more responsible and not him. And you, you’re smart and strong and good.. . .”

“And he feels that I would make a better parent than him too.” Valentina finished, feeling the familiar pang of sorrow that came when she thought of Alonso’s deep insecurities that he only divulged to her at night with the darkness hiding his usually smiling face. “That’s not true at all!”

She wished there was some sort of spell she could use so that Alonso could see he was good enough, that he has grown so much and changed. All of his work, learning and evolving to be more responsible, it meant something. He would be a good leader, and a good parent and more. But he didn’t see it.

And she knew he had doubts with her. That she was better than him in leading which was sometimes sexist but also from his inner doubts. Although she told him, and probably showed him many times that she had the same flaws as him, vanity and stubbornness. There was no need for a pedestal. They were a relationship of equals.

“You don’t need to apologize to him, really. But maybe, just remind him.” Marisa suggested.

“Yes,” Valentina nodded but a new thought had taken place of the old. A nagging insecure thought that slipped without meaning to.

“You do think that’s all right? It’s just his insecurities, not like an actual feeling he had about me being the mom. . . right?”

Marisa inhaled deeply with a soft smile, “Alonso loves you. I’ve never seen him so happy. You brought new light to his life outside of himself. Of course, he trusts you with his girls. He wouldn’t marry you otherwise.”

Just the soft reminder brought back a memory from years ago when she and Alonso had first reconnected and she was still trying to adjust to their schedule of the boys staying in the palace during the week and returning to their mother on the weekends. All the while viewing her as just a third person, the girlfriend who tried too hard.

“I hate you! I wish anyone else was my step-mother! You’re the worst!” Peri had yelled, stomping up the royal staircase to his room as Valentina watched on helplessly.

Valentina sank onto the stairs, head in hands. It would have felt better if Rosie slapped her. At least she could put on ice pack on the pain. This was an emotional blow.

Her step-son hated her.

How could Peri not see she was only forbiddeing him from adventuring to Cariza was for her own protection? Was he actually doing a terrible job if Peri could not comprehend that? What would prevent him from disobeying Valentina’s rules now? What would-

“Mi luz, don’t listen to her,” A familiar, suave voice came to sit beside her, hugging her close to his side.

“But he said he hates me! He wants someone else to mother him and all I’m trying to do is protect him,” Valentina mumbled into his bolero jacket, rubbing the tears that had gathered in her eyes.

“He’s a teenager. He’s just being dramatic. He’ll get over it and realize you’re right,” Alonso said.

“Speaking from experience as a former dramatic teenger?” Valentina managed to joke.

“Sure,” Alonso let the comment slide.

“Do-do you really think so?”

Alonso cut to the heart of the matter, “You’re an amazing mother, Val and you’re doing a great job. Cyan and Peri have learned so much from your discipline, your spirit, all the best of you and you’ve raised them so well to become as capable and fulfilled in following their dreams. And they love you. Peri told me a dozen times how he wants to be exactly like you when he’s older. Cyan. . he doesn’t say it, but I’ve seen how he looks at you and tries to copy your confidence. They’re lucky to have you. Just as I am.”

“Thank you, mi amor,” Valentina kissed him.

It brought a silly affectionate to her face even now, and renewed energy.

“You’re right,” Valentina breathed in, clearing her mind of the doubts and residue anger. Her relationship with Alonso was one of equals. Tonight was a bump in the road with old insecurities and doubting feelings.

But not for long.

“I’ll have to take a raincheck, Marisa. I have to go tell him all this,” Valentina decided and went out of the store.

“Now? But girls night!”

Valentina ran out, thankful the mercado was close to the palace that she wouldn’t have to spend money on a carriage ride. Just a quick run and some leviosas and she was back in Alonso’s guest quarters.

And Alonso was just where she left him in the dining hall. Though he looked less indignant and enraged than before. He hardly noticed her opening the door, so engaged he was with some charter he was reading over as he chewed pork a .

“Hello there, querida,” Valentina announced herself, trying to hide a smile when Alonso nearly fell over in surprise.

“Val-Valentina!” He gathered her in his arms, relief all too evident in his voice, “I’m so sorry. I was- I was being a prat. I shouldn’t have said that you were only agreeing with Cyan so he’d like you. I shouldn’t have said that you shouldn’t have a say because they’re not officially yours yet. That was-”

“Stupid. I know it was. I-”

“You’re their mother in all the ways it counts,” Alonso insisted, his eyes though bright now that was back, but the grim set of his mouth showed how much he had been beating himself up for his words.

“Thanks for saying that. And I’m sorry too. I’m sorry if I made you feel that-that it felt like I was implying that your choice was wrong and that made you a bad father. I never want to make you feel that way. Especially because I think you’re an amazing dad. You’ve done so much for the boys when you didn’t have to. You’ve stepped up and you’re their dad in all the important ways too. You care.”

Alonso hugged her tightly and Valentina returned the favor, gripping him just as hard as she inhaled his lovely scent of cologne and the rose bath soap she had given him, enjoying the feel of the taunt strong back.

They pulled back to look each other in the eyes, “I guess I let my pride run away with me.”

Valentina couldn’t help but smile brightly at his sheepish, embarrassed tone, “I think I got carried away too when you said I shouldn’t be on Cyan's side so he’d like me, as if it weren’t for that, I would have agreed with you. Ha!”

“I’m well-aware that you would never automatically agree to whatever I say,” Alonso smirked.

“We’ve gotten better.” Valentina said, pecking him on the lips.

But th epic turned deeper, sweeter as they got back on the same wavelength in more ways than one. And probably would have continued if it weren’t for a certain giggle from a teenager.

They broke apart, "Cyan, are you eavesdropping?”

The shadow that could be seen from under the door, froze, clearly debating what his choices were before he reluctantly poked his head in with a cheeky smile so like his father, “Does this mean I can go on the trip this summer?”

Alonso heaved a big sigh, and looked at Valentina. Valentina smiled but kept a cool poker face to keep her in suspense.

“Your father and I will have to talk about it after we discuss more about our parenting duties. But. . . I think it might happen.”

“Yes!” Cyan fist-pumped, calling out to the hallway, “Peri, they said yes! You don’t have to debate Dad for me!”

He almost tackled them into a bear hug, thanks to the muscles he gained from swimming every moring. Peri joined the hug from the other side in a loving crush.

Valentina leaned her head into the crook of Alonso’s neck and discreetly kissed her on the temple as they returned to the hug.

Oh yes, they were going to be fine.

#prince alonso #princess valentina #elena of avalor #my fanfic #my fanfiction #all about family #alonsotina #oc #children

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estamos-destinadas · 5 years ago

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Snapshots: Better Friends

Andrea looks around the crowded cafe from one of the corner tables as she sips her coffee and takes little bites of her cheesecake. It’s just after lunchtime in the middle of summer; the weather is hot and humid, prompting people to crowd in air-conditioned coffee shops. She’s glad that she came early enough to be able to secure a good table.

She’s waiting for Valentina to arrive. The two of them haven’t really spoken since a little after Valentina’s father died. Valentina more or less cut herself off from everyone after that tragedy and, unlike Sergio and Nayeli — and Lucho, may he rest in peace — Andrea hasn’t made an effort to reach out.

Then again, she and Valentina didn’t really hang out much even before that.

Andrea’s parents, both lawyers, have worked for Valentina’s family for as long as she can remember. She and Valentina met when they were in their teens and they became kind of friends. ‘Kind of' because Valentina was studying in Canada. They are now going to the same university, but Valentina, like their other friends, always used to cut classes and go to parties every day of the week, and that simply isn’t Andrea’s style.

It’s not like she doesn’t know how to have fun; she does, but she also wants to do well in her studies and become a successful lawyer like her parents. She used to find it a shame that Valentina often succumbed to peer pressure when, on the few times they talked without others interrupting, Valentina would eagerly discuss politics and documentaries with her. She and Valentina aren’t close, so she never really cared that Valentina chose to go drinking and partying every day with their other friends. However, she is ashamed to admit that, when those so-called ‘friends’ cyberbullied Valentina for being gay, a part of her felt that Valentina brought it on herself for choosing to stick with shallow friends who turned on her the moment she deviated from the norm.

It was that guilt that made Andrea reach out to Valentina a week ago, albeit tentatively. She wasn’t really aiming for a coffee meetup. She only commented on Valentina’s latest Instagram picture of her girlfriend, saying that she’s very pretty; Valentina agreed profusely, complete with hearts and smiley emojis; she messaged Valentina privately to tell her that she never posted mean things about her; Valentina said she knew; they got to talking about how the other was doing; and then they agreed to meet up for coffee.

Valentina would be bringing her girlfriend. Andrea is very keen to meet the latter. Not only is Valentina Carvajal dating a woman — it’s still quite shocking, even months later — she also overcame peer and societal pressure for that woman, even going so far as to come out on national television. Andrea is suitably mind-blown.

Presently, Valentina arrives at the coffee shop, scanning the place until she catches sight of Andrea. With her is the woman Andrea has seen on her Instagram posts. The two of them are holding hands, and Andrea watches with interest as they approach.

“Hola, Andrei,” Valentina greets cheerfully.

“Vale, hey,” Andrea returns. She stands up to kiss her friend’s cheek and gets drawn in a tight hug, which prompts a laugh out of her. That’s one thing that hasn’t changed about Valentina.

But Valentina has changed. Her smile as she steps back from the hug and takes her girlfriend’s hand again is unlike anything Andrea has ever seen. Valentina has always been a bubbly, cheerful person, but now joy seems to radiate out of her.

“Esta es mi novia, Juliana,” Valentina says, her tone full of pride, like she’s presenting some sort of great discovery.

Juliana is dressed simply: sneakers, jeans, and an artfully ripped and washed-out denim jacket over a dark yellow shirt. She is pretty in an unassuming sort of way, wearing only the barest hint of make-up, though Andrea wonders if she did something with her eyelashes or they’re just naturally long and curved like that.

Andrea finds herself wanting to tease Valentina. She settles for shooting a smirk at her friend, who flushes and hurries the introductions along. After Andrea and Juliana shake hands and exchange greetings, the three of them take their seats, with Andrea sitting across from Valentina and Juliana.

After a waiter takes Valentina and Juliana’s orders, Andrea makes small talk with them about the summer heat and the cafe’s artsy ambience until the same waiter returns with two cups of coffee, an almond croissant, and a cinnamon bun. They fall silent while the two women wordlessly halve their pastries to share with the other, murmuring their thanks as they smile and stare at each other for a moment longer than what’s probably polite in company.

Andrea observes them with a smile, noting how they seem to flow around each other, though she makes no comment on it. Instead, she asks Valentina about how she has been doing since they last saw each other at the beginning of the year.

Valentina tells Andrea about having dropped some of her subjects, which explains why Andrea no longer saw her at the university towards the end of the school year. Valentina doesn’t say the reason for it but she doesn’t need to; her family’s trials and tribulations have been front-page news since her father’s death. Glossing over that fact, Valentina goes on to say that she’s taking summer classes so she can make up some of the lost credits.

Apparently, one of the factors behind that decision is because Juliana is also taking summer classes. Juliana candidly elaborates that she’s taking part in an accelerated program so she could earn her high school diploma before she starts at the Ferrer Fashion Institute in the fall, on an almost full scholarship. Andrea has always been good at gleaning facts that people aren’t saying, and from Juliana’s explanations, she learns three things about her: that she’s younger than Andrea and Valentina, that she doesn’t come from wealth, and that she’s the fashion designer ‘friend’ who Valentina bragged about all those months ago.

Andrea couldn’t help but tease Valentina about the last one.

Valentina’s resulting blush and almost-shy but pleased smile makes Andrea realise that her friend never actually liked Lucho, not even a little bit. Valentina never got bashful with or over him, and she has certainly never smiled like that because of him. The fact that Lucho’s gone is the only reason that Andrea doesn’t make that observation out loud.

Andrea makes the mistake of asking after Eva Carvajal, who was represented by Andrea’s mom during her court trials. Valentina’s reply to her question is short; she’s clearly uncomfortable about the subject. Things would have gotten awkward were it not for Juliana dropping her hand under the table. Andrea can’t see it, but it’s clear that Juliana has put her hand on Valentina’s thigh. Somehow, with that one gesture, Juliana is able to draw Valentina back from one of those moody spirals she occasionally falls into.

Glad that she doesn’t have to deal with Valentina’s moodines, Andrea steers the conversation back to safer waters; namely, Juliana. The other woman seems a little shy at having the focus on her, but Valentina’s bright smile as she gazes at her girlfriend tells Andrea that she asked the right question this time.

When Andrea learns that Juliana is from the USA, her interest is piqued even further. However, Juliana seems hesitant to say anything about her life before moving to Mexico. The warning look Valentina sends her way discourages Andrea from probing, so she asks Juliana about the sights and spots she’s been to in Mexico City and surrounding towns.

Andrea has suggested probably a dozen places, Juliana nodding politely at each one, when Valentina interrupts.

“Andrea,” Valentina starts, “Juls has been here for about five months, she has been to all of those places. With me.”

“Val’s been showing me around,” Juliana adds. The two of them smile at each other, Valentina dropping her hand under the table, probably to hold Juliana’s hand.

“Really?” Andrea can’t hide the note of surprise in her voice.

“Of course,” Valentina says. “What kind of negligent girlfriend do you take me for?” she asks in a faux-insulted tone.

Andrea doesn’t know how to reply to that. She thought Valentina would have been kept busy by her family’s issues. Lucho used to complain endlessly about how Valentina always prioritised her family before him, even before Valentina’s father passed away. Even without considering her family, Andrea thinks that Valentina was negligent with Lucho — not that he and his tantrums deserved any attention.

As Andrea looks across the table at Juliana poking Valentina in the side, prompting soft giggles out of the latter, she realises that she shouldn’t be surprised that Valentina has taken the time to show Juliana all around Mexico City.

Juliana glances at Andrea, but Valentina seems to have forgotten about everyone else around them. And are they somehow sitting closer than they were before?

Andrea clears her throat. “So, which ones were your favourites, Juliana? Of the places you’ve checked out, I mean.”

“Ah, me gusta los parques,” Juliana replies. Valentina rests her arm on the table as she gazes at Juliana, nearly putting her elbow on her plate of pastries. “Y los museos de arte. También, me gusta mucho Coyoacán.”

“Te lo encanta,” Valentina chimes in, her tone affectionately teasing.

Juliana smiles at her. “Es muy bonito, ese- ah… ‘neighbourhood’?” she says, sheepishly quoting the last word.

Valentina returns the smile. “Alcaldía,” she corrects gently.

Andrea is slightly appalled that someone would not know the term ‘alcaldía’, but Juliana’s cheeky response of, “That’s what I said,” in English, makes both her and Valentina laugh.

They start talking about the museum and other installations dedicated to Frida Kahlo in Coyoacán, which turns to a comparison of Mexican artists, and finally about art in general, a subject which both Valentina and Juliana clearly enjoy discussing. From there, their conversation flows on to other topics: from Mexican films, to cafes and restaurants around Mexico City, to the similarities and differences between Texas’ Mexican food and actual Mexican cuisine.

The afternoon passes by in pleasant conversation. They end up having to buy a few more cups of coffee and additional selections of pastries so as to not get kicked out of the cafe.

At one point, Juliana excuses herself from the table to go to the toilet. Valentina seems like she’s considering going with Juliana, but the two women exchange a look and Valentina stays seated. Valentina stares at Juliana until she disappears around a corner.

Andrea is about to make a teasing comment on Valentina’s dopey smile when her expression turns into a frown.

“That man is staring at her,” Valentina says flatly.

Andrea looks in the direction of Valentina’s disapproving stare and sees their waiter.

“I knew he was flirting with her,” Valentina continues, turning to Andrea. “Juls doesn’t realise it– she never does, but these men trying to flirt with her are very annoying.”

Andrea is both amused and surprised. Maybe that waiter was indeed flirting, but she’s pretty sure he was trying to flirt with all three of them. Andrea herself enjoyed the brief attention; the man is quite good-looking. Andrea does her best not to laugh because Valentina sounds serious, but something in her expression must have given away her amusement.

“Qué?” says Valentina.

“I’ve never seen you like this before,” Andrea says frankly.

“Like what?”

“Like… like this,” Andrea replies, waving in Valentina’s direction.

Valentina is so attentive with Juliana, so visibly adoring, and a little possessive too.

“So… into someone,” Andrea settles on saying. “And it’s not just that…”

Valentina’s brows are furrowed in that instant, but there’s a lightness and clarity to her expression that Andrea has never seen before. She seems so present, so in the moment, like she’s exactly where she wants to be.

“I mean,” Andrea continues, “you’re taking summer classes!”

It’s the last thing she expected of Valentina or anyone in their old group of friends, all of whom come from families who can afford to pay their tuition fees without blinking an eye. Andrea herself doesn’t have to worry about her tuition fees, but at least she makes good use of the money her parents are spending on her. Valentina, on the other hand—

“You’ve never worried about classes before,” Andrea adds. “I didn’t even know that you like going to parks and museums, or just chilling out in cafes. It’s like you’re a completely different person,” Andrea states, though as soon as the words are out of her mouth she realises it’s not exactly true. “But not really,” she corrects herself. “It’s just that you seem more… I don’t know,” she gives up, “I can’t put my finger on it.”

Valentina’s frown disappears and she lets out a small smile. “I feel more myself,” Valentina admits quietly as she stirs her coffee, probably as an excuse to look down. “All those times with our fr– with Lucho and Nayeli and the others– I felt like I was pretending to like the parties and the alcohol and the… the drugs,” she adds in a whisper. “I really admired that you could say no when we tried to pressure you to come with us, and I’m really sorry for my part in that–”

“Vale, no,” Andrea has to stop her. “You’ve never– I think we were in the same boat.”

“I suppose so,” Valentina agrees, “but unlike you, I couldn’t say no to them…. When I met Juls, she– she’s so genuine and sincere, you know? The first time we talked, it was like… she already knew me, and liked me for me. She had no idea who my family was,” she says, chuckling at some private memory. “And the more we got to know each other, the more she made me want to be genuine to myself. Just by being herself, she makes me want to go after the things I want, not the things that people think I should want. Does that make sense?”

“Yes,” Andrea says, nodding a few times. She herself has always been one to go after the things she wants, even as a child. “It’s great to see you like this, Vale,” she says honestly, smiling at her friend across the table. I’m glad you met Juliana. I’m happy for you.”

Valentina breaks into a wide grin. “I’m happy for me too. I’ve never been so… well, I–”

Juliana chooses that moment to return. If possible, Valentina’s smile becomes even more radiant.

Andrea doesn’t need Valentina to describe exactly how happy she is. Andrea can see it written all over her face.

Later, Andrea says goodbye to her friend and her friend’s girlfriend with promises to keep in touch even over the summer break. She takes a moment to observe the two women as they walk away together, Valentina’s arm around Juliana’s shoulder. Andrea went into their meetup expecting to catch up with Valentina and get to know her girlfriend. To that end, she was not disappointed. She realises, however, that she is also getting to know Valentina properly for the first time since they met all those years ago.

She hopes that they can start to be better friends to each other now.

#juliantina #fic #mine #stories #future #this is 1 of 2 fics I was planning to write #for the juliantinaappreciationweek's headcanons day #(or maybe it's 3 or 4? they all blur together)#i haven't started on the other one(s) so I'm not submitting this 'formally' just yet #(besides I don't know if it still counts since that day's already done)#i just thought I'd share now because... I want to #the main headcanon for this is that I just want them to have better friends #valentina in particular for this fic #nayeli and sergio were awful #andrea is that person chivis mentioned when she asked val who was coming over #I want to think she's a decent person #(I hope nothing in canon breaks that)#I just want them to have better friends ok #another headcanon that I tried to show in this fic #is that the val that juls knows #is different from the val that sergio and nayeli or sergio know #because val was 'performing' for her so-called friends #I don't think she was pretending completely #but I think she wasn't truly herself with them

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chicgeekgirl89 · 3 years ago

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The House in the Pines Where the Road Ends

Fandom: 911 Lone Star

Characters: Carlos Reyes, T.K. Strand, Andrea Reyes, Gabriel Reyes, The Reyes Family

Rating: K

Summary: Four sisters. Nine nieces and nephews. Dozens of aunts, uncles, and cousins. Carlos has a big, loud, over-the-top family, and T.K. is about to meet all of them at the annual Reyes Family Barbecue. It's a day that promises food, fun, and lots of nosy questions. All T.K. wants is to make a good impression and all Carlos wants is for his family not to scare off his boyfriend. When a stray baseball ruins the fun, both T.K. and Carlos will discover that neither of them ever needed to worry.

A/N: I am so happy to FINALLY introduce you to my version of the Reyes family. They have become a character all their own and I love them very dearly. Get ready to see and hear more about them in upcoming fics! I cannot say enough thank you's to @bluenet13 who has read this fic approximately a billion times in all its different stages, has beta'ed the heck out of it, and still wants to be friends with me.

For the @badthingshappenbingo prompt: Sports Injury

Read on Ao3

“Wait, but are you sure this shirt is okay?” T.K. asked, twisting around in front of the mirror to look at it from every possible angle.

“Do you really think my family is going to decide whether or not they like you based on your shirt?” Carlos asked with a laugh.

“It’s their first impression of me,” T.K. said, fussing with the hemline, trying to get it to lay exactly right. “I just want it to be good.”

Carlos came up behind him, wrapping his arms around T.K.’s waist and resting his chin on his shoulder. “They are going to love you.” He pressed a kiss to T.K.’s cheek.

T.K. turned in his arms so they were face to face, anxiety trickling through his veins. “I love you,” he said.

“I know,” Carlos told him. “I love you too.”

“Your family is important to you and I guess I can’t help feeling like…there’s a chance that if they don’t like me…”

“T.K…” Carlos sent him a look of fond exasperation.

“I know!” T.K. said quickly. “I know it’s ridiculous. But if they don’t like me, I don’t know where we go next.”

“I don’t think we need to borrow trouble like that,” Carlos said. “You already know my parents love you. And so do Elena and Elías.”

They’d had dinner at Carlos’ second eldest sister’s home a few weeks back. It had been fun to meet her and her husband along with their daughter, Carolina, and twins, Marco and Diego. Marco was rambunctious and spunky while Diego was more mild mannered and T.K. had enjoyed watching Carlos chase them around the backyard, playing baseball, tag, and wrestling.

But meeting one sister and her family was completely different from attending the annual Reyes Family Barbecue where there would be hundreds of aunts, uncles, and cousins to try and remember.

“Trust me,” Carlos said. “Elena will have spread the word and you’ll already have pre-approval before we even get there.”

“What if I call someone the wrong name?” T.K. asked. “I still think you should have written up a family tree like I asked you to.”

Carlos rolled his eyes. “There’s no point. We’re adding to it like every day there are so many of us. You’ll never be able to remember. If you’re not sure just call them Gabriel or Valentina. There’s a forty percent chance you’ll be right.”

“This isn’t fair,” T.K. said, burying his face in Carlos’ shirt. “I have like, four family members. The playing field is so uneven I don’t even have a chance.”

Carlos kissed his forehead. “Just relax and enjoy the food. That’s all anyone expects of you.”

“I seriously doubt that,” T.K. grumbled.

“Listen, if anybody should be concerned in this situation, it’s me,” Carlos said.

“You?” T.K. raised his eyebrows. “Why?”

“You just said, you come from a small family. My family is big and loud and all up in each other’s business. Francesca alone might be enough to make you run all the way back to New York.”

Carlos had talked before about his wild child fourth sister, Francesca. Apparently she was a force to be reckoned with and had caused quite a bit of trouble as a kid. According to Carlos every time he’d gotten in trouble, it had actually been Francesca’s fault. Well Francesca and Adriana, Carlos’ cousin who was more like a fifth sister. She and Francesca had been born within weeks of each other and been an inseparable duo ever since.

“New York is a pretty long way to run,” T.K. said. “And I’ve gotten kind of used to sleeping with you. I don’t really want to have to break in a new mattress. Oh, and for all I know you’ve gotten kind used to having my exercise bike in your dining room and I would have to buy a new one of those, plus moving costs are out of sight and I am on a civil servant’s salary here.”

Carlos kissed him again. “Come on. We’re already late and if we don’t get there soon then I will be in trouble.”

T.K. had already visited the Reyes family ranch a handful of times, but he had never seen it quite like this. Cars lined every inch of the drive up to the house, from pick-up trucks to mini-vans and everything in between. “Is this a family barbecue or a Lady Gaga concert?” T.K. asked as they got out of the car.

Carlos laughed and reached for his hand. “I told you.”

“Yeah I hoped maybe you were exaggerating a little bit,” T.K. said as they walked toward the driveway. As if he hadn’t been nervous already, now he felt overwhelmed. He was generally charming and good with people, but this was…a lot.

Carlos tensed. “Come this way,” he said, voice low as he tugged T.K. more to the side of the driveway, where a row of cars hid them from view of the house.

“What are we doing?” T.K. asked in confusion.

“We’re—”

“Carlitos don’t you even try! We see you over there!” a feminine voice called.

Carlos winced and looked at T.K. “I’m just going to say ahead of time that I’m so sorry.”

“Sorry for what?”

Two women came around the line of cars, each of them holding a drink. “You weren’t trying to hide from us were you?” the taller of the two asked.

“No I was just trying to get T.K. inside without the third degree first,” Carlos said, giving each of them a pointed look.

“Carlitos we’re not going to give him the third degree,” the second woman said, her many earrings flashing in the sunlight. “We’re just going to try and prepare him for what he’s about to face.”

“You don’t need to prepare him,” Carlos said with a sigh of long suffering. “There’s nothing to prepare for.”

“Oh my god Carlos, you cannot just drag him in here without some proper preparation,” the first woman said, turning to look at T.K. “So, you’re the firefighter stripper, huh?”

T.K.’s eyes went wide and he looked to Carlos who had closed his eyes and was shaking his head. “For the last time, he’s a paramedic now and he has never been a stripper.” He opened his eyes and took a breath in a clear attempt to calm himself down. “T.K. I would like you to meet my sister Francesca.”

“His youngest older sister,” Francesca clarified looking T.K. up and down. “You’re hot enough to be a stripper.”

“And my cousin Adriana,” Carlos said loudly in an attempt to stop his sister’s comments.

“It’s nice to meet you both,” T.K. said with a smile, hoping to diffuse some of the awkwardness. “Carlos has told me a lot about you.”

“Is it about how we were always getting him in trouble when he was a kid? Because that’s a lie,” Adriana said.

“Total lie,” Francesca echoed. “So, how has it been, living in sin with my brother?”

“Oh my god Francesca can you just let us get through the door first?” Carlos cried.

She shook her head and grinned. “Nope. This is way more fun. Besides, Adriana got to know about him first, so I wanted to meet him before everyone else.”

“Did Carlos tell you not to tell Tía Maria you’re living together?” Adriana asked.

“Um, no, he didn’t mention that,” T.K. said, looking once again to his boyfriend.

“I didn’t really think it was necessary,” Carlos said.

“Tía Maria has strong religious opinions,” Francesca said.

“Oh is she not…” T.K. began to pull his hand from Carlos’ but his boyfriend held on firmly.

“Tía Maria is fine with the gay, she’s just not all right with fornication,” Adriana said with a grin, eyeing T.K. for his reaction.

“Oh my god, forget it, we’re going home,” Carlos said, trying to turn around, but Francesca grabbed his other arm.

“Nuh uh hermano,” she said sweetly. “Mom and Dad are expecting you. I already texted them and told them you’re here.”

“Wait hold on, I’m confused,” T.K. said, feeling slightly panicked as the conversation moved so quickly around him. “What do I need to know about Tía Maria?”

“Tía Maria is very against pre-marital sex,” Francesca said.

“In her mind we’re all pure, sweet, innocent little virgins, waiting to give up our virtue to our husbands on our wedding nights,” Adriana said, her face suggesting that she’d rather throw up than submit to that particular lifestyle. “Little does she know that ship has sailed.”

“Under the bleachers with Jake Thompson in the eleventh grade,” Francesca said.

“In Mike Kowalski’s backseat…”

“After prom with Sebastian Chavez…”

“Okay that’s enough of the sexcapades thank you,” Carlos said, looking disgusted.

“You didn’t think I needed to know this?” T.K. said looking at Carlos.

“I am not ashamed of us living together,” Carlos told him. “I don’t care if Tía Maria knows.”

“Ugh barf,” Francesca said. “God I wanted to be mad at you for caving and leaving us all alone at the singles table but you’re so grossly in love I don’t even want you there anymore.”

“Can we go in now?” Carlos asked. “Is this little interrogation over with?”

“Oh you can go in, but it’s far from over,” Adriana said, wrenching T.K.’s arm away from Carlos and tucking it into her own as she walked him toward the house. “So, T.K. What can we get you to drink? Beer? Margarita? Or are you a wine snob? You look like you could be a wine snob.”

“He’s from New York, they’re all wine snobs there,” Francesca said.

“T.K. doesn’t drink,” Carlos called from behind him. “You already know that.”

Adriana nodded. “Just checking. That’s cool. I did the sober thing for like six months once. My skin was so great.”

“Okay, I’m taking T.K. inside now,” Carlos said, rescuing his arm from Adriana’s grip. “You two can go back to wherever it is you came from. I’m going to guess…the gates of hell?”

“So rude Carlos,” Francesca said with a roll of her eyes.

“Come on Cesca, I need another margarita,” Adriana said, pulling her toward the back of the house.

“But I have more questions!”

“Questions later! Margarita now!”

They disappeared around the side of the house, leaving Carlos looking embarrassed and T.K. feeling like he’d just been through a whirlwind. “You can literally ignore everything about them,” Carlos said as he opened the door. “Just pretend they don’t exist. That’s what the rest of us do when they get like this.”

T.K. had a feeling neither Francesca nor Adriana liked to be ignored, but Andrea greeted them immediately as they walked inside, leaving him no opportunity for further questions or conversation. “T.K.! Carlitos! Welcome!”

There were a few other people milling around inside, but it seemed like most of the family was in the backyard. T.K. could hear music playing and the smell of barbecue wafted through the glass slider doors that led to the oversized back patio.

“Sorry we’re late Mama,” Carlos said, giving his mother a kiss on the cheek.

“It’s my fault,” T.K. said. “I had a shift and it ran over.”

“No apologies necessary,” Andrea said, waving a hand. “I understand the important work you boys do. I’m just sorry your dad couldn’t make it T.K.”

“He said to tell you hello and that he will be here for sure next time,” T.K. told her with a smile.

It had been a huge relief to find out that the party was scheduled while his dad was on shift. The last thing he needed was one more thing to give him anxiety about meeting Carlos’ family.

Andrea caught his face in both hands. “We are so glad you’re here T.K.” she said, kissing him on the cheek. “Now, let’s get you something to drink. I’ve got lots of that fancy water you like.”

The back slider opened as Andrea pulled a water from the refrigerator for T.K. “Boys! Bienvenidos!” Gabriel boomed as he stepped inside, bringing the scent of barbecue with him.

“Gabriel close that door before the air conditioning gets out,” Andrea scolded.

“Of course mi amor,” he said. “I was just looking for another set of tongs. Daniel is going to help with the second grill.”

“They’re in the pantry,” Andrea said. “Where they always are.”

Gabriel paused to kiss her on the cheek. “What would I do without you?”

“Starve?” Carlos suggested with a cheeky smile as he grabbed a grape off the counter and popped it in his mouth.

Gabriel snorted. “Probably.”

“All right now you two, head on outside and join the party,” Andrea said. “You don’t want to be stuck in here with me.”

“Are you sure?’ Carlos asked. “We can stay and help.”

“No, no,” Andrea said quickly. “Gloria will be back in a minute. Go! Enjoy! Introduce T.K. to the family.” She lowered her voice. “But don’t tell Tía Maria that you live together. You know how she gets and I do not need another lecture on how I raised my children with loose morals.”

“Yes, for everyone’s sanity, please keep that to yourselves,” Gabriel said, reappearing with the tongs in hand. “No need for my sister to know that you are breaking the commandments.”

T.K. turned and looked at his boyfriend. “Everyone seems very concerned about this.”

Carlos shook his head and rolled his eyes. “Everyone is overreacting. Tía Maria isn’t that scary.” He kissed T.K. on the side of his head and grabbed his hand. “Don’t worry. I’ll protect you. Besides, there are so many people here, we might not even see Tía Maria.”

They stepped out the door into the backyard. To the left was a play set that dozens of children were taking advantage of. To the right were several grills, all smoking away, the tables next to them already piled high with food and drink. And underneath sprawling oak trees dozens of picnic tables and lawn chairs had been set up, all of them full of people talking, laughing, and eating together.

“I knew you should have made that family tree for me,” T.K. said, starting to feel really nervous now as he saw exactly how many people had scattered across the backyard.

They made it about four feet before they were accosted by well meaning relatives. Cousins, aunts, uncles, everyone seemed to want to meet Carlos’ new boyfriend. T.K. smiled and nodded and tried in vain to remember everyone’s names. Carlos hadn’t been exaggerating, there were a lot of Gabriels and Valentinas.

“Ay, okay, leave the boys alone,” a woman finally said, interrupting the melée. She sported a longer version of Carlos’ curls and T.K. remembered her face from some of the family photos. “Shame on all of you, they haven’t even eaten anything.”

She turned a warm smile on them as the crowd dispersed and went back to their merriment. “Hola T.K. I’m Teresa.”

Carlos’ oldest sister. She and her husband Javier lived in San Diego with their four kids, Valentina, Eva, Gabriel, and Bianca. Their visit to town was the reason the barbecue had been scheduled for this particular weekend.

“Nice to meet you,” T.K. said, immediately feeling the same warmth and comfort radiate from her that he did from Carlos.

She turned and pulled her brother in for a hug, whispering something in his ear that made him laugh. “Come on. You can sit with us. I’ll fend off the nosy relatives,” she told them.

“Thank you,” Carlos said in relief. “I didn’t think it would be quite this bad.”

“You never do,” she said with a smile as she led them to the picnic table where her husband Javier was sitting with another couple that T.K. thought he recognized.

“T.K. this is my husband Javier. And have you met Lucía and Justin yet?” Teresa asked.

Ah, Lucía. Carlos’ third oldest sister. She and Justin lived with their kids in McKinney and had driven up for the weekend. They had been set to attend the dinner with Elena and Elías but one of the boys had ended up in a soccer championship so they’d had to cancel.

“So T.K. I hear you’re from New York? Nice to have another East Coaster join the party,” Justin said.

“Oh yeah, Carlos said you’re from Philly right?” T.K. asked.

“Born and bred,” Justin raised an eyebrow. “You don’t cheer for the Giants do you?”

T.K. smiled. “I’m more of a Mets fan actually. Football’s not really my thing.”

“Well that means I don’t have to hate you, but don’t say that too loud in Texas. Football is life here,” Justin told him.

“So I’ve noticed,” T.K. replied.

“Tío Carlos!” a gaggle of kids ran up to the table all of them clamoring for Carlos.

“Tío Carlos I got on my soccer team at school!”

“Can you come play baseball!”

“Did you know my tooth is falling out?”

“Is that your boyfriend?”

Everyone talked at once and Carlos seemed to take it in stride, giving hugs and ruffling hair, looking at loose teeth, and promising to come and play in a minute.

“Hey, all of you, adiós,” Elena said. “Leave Tío Carlos alone. He’ll play with you later.”

It took a few more admonishments from their parents, but eventually the children dispersed to different corners of the ranch. “We’re doing you a favor T.K.,” Lucía told him, rocking baby Nicolás back and forth. “Once Carlos goes with the children he doesn’t come back.”

“He’s their favorite uncle,” Justin explained.

“And for good reason,” Javier added. “His knees are young and spry.”

“You guys are exaggerating. The kids love everybody,” Carlos said with a roll of his eyes.

Teresa shook her head. “It’s okay to admit that you’re their favorite Carlos. You’ve earned the honor.” She looked at T.K. “Carlos is too modest.”

“So I’ve noticed,” T.K. said fondly and he could see Carlos blush a little bit.

“Okay that’s enough of that,” Carlos said. “We’ve been here half an hour and no one has offered me any food. What has happened to this family?”

The situation was fixed immediately and T.K. found himself with more food than one person could possibly hope to consume, sitting and listening to the Reyes siblings recount stories from their childhood.

T.K. felt the bench next to him shift and turned to find Francesca and Adriana joining them.

“Did Carlos tell you about the time he ran away from home?” Teresa asked.

Carlos groaned. “No, do we have to tell this story every time?”

“Yes, because it’s hilarious,” Elena said. “He was what, about six at the time?”

“I was sixteen so yes,” Teresa said. “Carlitos was mad because all of us sisters got to go to a movie and he didn’t. So he wrote a note saying he was running away and never coming back.”

“And then he disappeared for seven hours,” Lucía chimed in. “Mom was beside herself. They checked the entire house, called all his friends, she was sure he’d been eaten by a coyote.”

“Well I was the one who found him,” Teresa said with a smile. “Up in that tree,” she pointed several feet to the left, “crying because he’d climbed up too high and couldn’t get down.”

“We had to call the fire department to come and get him,” Francesca said with a smirk.

“And when they got him down, did he get in trouble?” Elena asked. “Nope. Because Mama was all—“

“My baby!” all four women chorused together.

“Carlitos never gets in trouble,” Adriana said. “Ever. All he has to do is bat his eyelashes at Tía Andrea and she starts talking about how innocent and sweet he is and how he could never start a fight or break a window…”

Carlos had put a hand to his forehead and looked like he was in physical pain. “Are you done now?” he asked.

“No way,” Lucía piped up. “We still have to tell T.K. about the time you drove the tractor into the pond.”

“The pedal was stuck!” Carlos cried.

“That’s what he says every time,” Francesca told T.K. “It’s a lie.”

Carlos burst forth in a tirade of Spanish, likely exonerating himself from the tractor-pond fiasco and all of the women immediately began to contradict him. T.K. wasn’t sure whether to smile or intervene as they all talked over each other. His high school level Spanish could only pick up the occasional word.

“This happens every time,” Elías said. “They’ll calm down in a minute.”

“A minute?” Javier said. “Forget a minute. We can all leave, they’ll be at it for at least half an hour now.”

Things really came to a head when Francesca stood, slammed her hands against the table, and shouted, “I did not put that goat in Lucí’s bed, that was Elena!”

“I watched you do it!” Carlos yelled back.

“Well then your brain is broken because that is not what happened!” Francesca said, pointing a finger at him.

The argument was broken up by the arrival of Andrea, followed closely by another woman T.K. didn’t recognize. “Girls! Ya basta! Qué esta pasando? Arguing in front of our guests, what is wrong with you?” she said, setting a large plate of taquitos in front of them.

“Disculpa Mama,” they all muttered, but T.K. caught Francesca giving Carlos the finger under the table and then she jumped a second later when he pinched her leg.

“Honestly,” she scoffed at them. “I am ashamed of all of you. T.K. I apologize on behalf of my daughters. I did not raise them to be like this.”

“See?” Lucía said with a roll of her eyes. “We’re all in trouble, but Carlitos is completely innocent.”

“Of course he’s innocent, he would never argue in front of guests,” Andrea said. “Did you all say hello to Tía Maria?”

“Hola Tía,” they all chorused.

“And Maria, this is T.K., Carlos’ boyfriend,” Andrea said with a smile.

T.K. felt himself stiffen under the intense gaze of Carlos’ infamous aunt. But he smiled and waved a hand. “Hi, nice to meet you.”

“Likewise,” she said. She turned and looked at Teresa and Javier. “Cuándo será la primera comunión de Marco y Diego?"

T.K. caught a glimpse of Francesca who smiled at him and raised her eyebrows in an “I told you so” kind of way.

“Later this summer,” Elena said smoothly. “We will send you an invitation of course.”

“They are a bit behind, no? Why the delay in this important milestone?”

“Tía, with Covid and everything it all just got pushed back. Don’t worry,” Elena told her.

“You’d better get a move on,” Adriana said. “We wouldn’t want them to miss out on all the blessings of the Lord.”

Tía Maria’s eyes narrowed as she picked up on Adriana’s sarcasm. “Is there something wrong with wanting my nephews to grow up properly in the church?”

“Of course not,” Andrea said quickly. “And they are Maria. Very good, pious little boys.”

T.K. saw the mischievous glint in Francesca’s eye as she opened her mouth. “So T.K., you live with your dad?”

Everyone at the table froze and turned to look daggers in her direction. “Ah Maria! The watermelon! We forgot it inside, come on,” Andrea said quickly, glaring at her daughter over her shoulder as she ushered Maria away.

“Cesca!” Teresa chastised as soon as they were out of earshot.

“I was just trying to take the pressure off of Elena,” Francesca said innocently, taking a sip of her mojito.

“You were trying to stir up trouble,” Lucía said as the baby began to fuss.

“Well someone has to keep things fun around here!”

“Mom! Mom! Mom!” Marco and Diego ran toward them, kicking up dirt as they skidded to a stop by the table and interrupted the conversation.

“Mom can I have another cookie?” Marco asked.

“I want a drink but Carolina said I can’t have a soda, but can I?” Diego asked.

“And Tía Teresa, Gabriel wants to know, can he get his Switch out of the car now, because he said you said he could get it later and now it’s later,” Marco spoke up on behalf of his cousin.

“Okay, hold on, everybody take a breath,” Teresa said.

The group momentarily broke up as everyone went to tend to their children’s needs and make sure they had eaten something besides cookies and chips.

“So, are you ready to run back to New York yet?” Carlos asked when they were the only two left at the table.

“I think I’m holding my own all right,” T.K. said. “You were right about Francesca though. She’s…something.”

Carlos rolled his eyes. “Believe it or not that actually was her being on her better behavior. I swear you’d never know she was working on a masters in biochemistry.”

“She’s fun,” T.K. said. “And she and Adriana clearly have the most dirt on Carlitos.”

“Maybe we should leave now,” Carlos said with a groan. “They’ll keep at it as long as you’ll listen.”

“I like it,” T.K. said, taking a sip of his mineral water. “It’s fun seeing you like this. Baby brother Carlos is a whole new side of you.”

Carlos blushed a little bit. “The way they’d talk you’d think we were all still kids.”

“It’s sweet. They adore you.”

“I—”

Carlos was interrupted by Valentina, Teresa and Javier’s youngest, who came running over, crying so hard she was hiccuping instead of breathing. “Tío Carlos!”

“Valentina, qué pasó?” Carlos asked worriedly, gathering her into his arms and sitting her on his lap.

“Marco me dijo que no podía jugar pelota con él,” she sobbed, her little heart so clearly broken over her cousin’s refusal to let her play ball with him.

"Lo siento, Valen. That's not very nice." Carlos hugged her close and kissed her hair. "Pero no le hagas caso. What if we get you a cookie, will that help?”

She shook her head, lip stuck out in an adorable pout, fresh tears threatening to spill over.

“Two cookies?”

She held up three little fingers and Carlos opened his eyes wide in mock surprise. “Tres?! Ay Dios mío.” He shook his head. “Come with me, pero no le digas a mamá.”

He slid Valentina off his lap and offered her his hand, which she grabbed onto eagerly. He looked at T.K. “I’ll be right back.”

“Take your time,” T.K. said, watching them walk over to one of the tables.

Carlos pointed to several different options, Valentina shaking her head at each one until he found the kind of cookie she liked best.

T.K. felt a presence next to him and turned to find Francesca had returned. She had a strange look on her face. “You know he’s never brought anyone home before. Not like this.”

T.K.’s breath caught in his chest. “I didn’t know that.”

“He’s happy,” Francesca said. “Happier than I’ve seen him in a long time.” She turned and looked at him. “You make him happy.”

“I do my best,” T.K. said. “He makes me happy too.”

“Yeah.” She looked at her brother again, adding some fruit to Valentina’s plate. “He wants kids. You know that right?”

“I do,” T.K. said.

She narrowed her eyes at him. “You’re good with that?”

T.K. looked at his boyfriend who was tenderly wiping the last of the tears from Valentina’s cheeks. They had talked about it of course. A few times. In passing. He knew where Carlos stood. And he knew that he wasn’t sure what kind of dad he would be, but also that he would do anything to make Carlos happy; including facing his own fears about being a father. “He’ll be a great dad,” was his answer.

She squinted at him, then squared her shoulders. “I’m only going to say this once and if you ever tell anyone I will deny it and shove your balls so far up your ass you won’t know how to get them out again. Carlos is special. And I know you’re all city boy, New York, squeaky clean, firefighter paramedic, or whatever.”

“But if I hurt him you’ll kill me?” T.K. asked, raising his eyebrows.

“No,” she looked at him like he was crazy. “Teresa will. She’s like his second mom. She’ll take you down so fast you’ll never even see it coming.”

T.K. laughed. “I have no intention of ever breaking his heart. I promise.”

“Good,” she said. “That’s good.” She cocked her head the way Carlos did when he was about to say something he knew was funny. “You’re pretty great for a stripper.”

“Okay, one more time. Not that there is anything wrong with sex work, but I have never been, and have no intention of being, a stripper,” T.K. said firmly.

“That’s what they all say!” she tossed over her shoulder as she got to her feet and flounced away to find Adriana.

“What was my sister telling you?” Carlos asked as he returned, Valentina now seated happily with some other cousins at a kid sized picnic table. “Oh god, was she talking about the time I got arrested for skinny dipping in the lake because there is so much more to that story than the way she tells it.”

“No,” T.K. said, raising his eyebrows, “but now I want to hear the rest of that. No she was just…being a good big sister. You’re lucky to have so many people watching out for you.”

Carlos softened, his hand seeking T.K.’s. “And now I have you too.”

T.K. squeezed gently. “Yes, you do.”

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

All in all the day was going well. T.K. had handled every nosy question, every argument, every weird thing his sisters or relatives did with his usual charm and self-confidence. He fit in.

All Carlos had really wanted was for T.K. to like his family, but seeing them like him right back…it was doing strange things to his heart. He hadn’t known until this moment how much it meant to gain his family’s approval of his relationship. He’d convinced himself that he was fine either way, and he probably would have been. But seeing them all joke and talk and laugh together was beyond his wildest dreams. And it was making him think some pretty crazy things about the future.

They’d chatted some more with his siblings and a few other family members who’d stopped by the table. But now Lucía had gone to put the baby down for a nap, and Teresa and Elena had been pressed into kitchen duty with his mother, while the men of the group had been enticed inside by a game on TV. Which left only Adriana and Francesca at the table.

“So, T.K., now that the boring adults are gone, tell us everything,” Francesca said, a sneaky smile on her face.

“Ooh yes,” Adriana said, getting comfortable on the picnic bench. “Tell us all your dirty secrets T.K. You lived in New York so do you actually work for the mob? And how hard was it for you to learn to put gas in a car at such an advanced age?”

“Unfortunately no mob connections, although that probably pays better than firefighting or being a paramedic,” T.K. said with a laugh. “And the learning curve on driving was actually pretty quick. We have to fuel the engines, even in New York.”

“Well that’s boring,” Francesca said as she picked up a tamale. “Come on, you have to be more exciting than that. Any secret lovers you’re keeping back there on the side?”

“Cesca!” Carlos said sharply.

“I’m watching out for you!” Francesca cried. “I mean if you two have an open relationship or something that’s your business, but if he—”

“No,” T.K. said quickly. He looked at Carlos. “There’s no one in New York. Or anywhere else.”

Adriana and Francesca both wrinkled their noses, but Carlos hardly noticed, too busy looking at T.K. who was gazing at him with so much tenderness and love. He was taking it all in stride, the insanity, the prying. Questions that might have set him off a year or two ago he now brushed off like it was no big deal.

“Ugh, come on!” Adriana said. “There has to be something. You basically grew up on the set of Gossip Girl. You have to know at least one Kardashian or something.”

“Yes, how many private helicopter rides have there been?” Francesca asked eagerly. “Or penthouse ragers? You have to have been to a penthouse rager of someone famous!”

T.K. shook his head. “Sorry to disappoint.”

Adriana pouted. “So boring. Not one secret?”

“Oh, I have secrets,” T.K. said with a grin. He laced his hand through Carlos’. “But only Carlos gets to know them.”

“You play dirty, Strand,” Francesca told him with an approving smile.

Carlos had had enough. “Come on,” he said, pulling T.K. to his feet and away from the women without a backward glance or apology.

“Where are we going?” T.K. asked and Carlos wished the answer was a dark corner somewhere that he could kiss his boyfriend’s face off and show him how much he appreciated his efforts today. But that would not be happening anywhere on the premises. Francesca and Adriana could sniff out a couple having a quickie from a mile away. They’d caught Teresa and Javier in a Sunday School classroom during Elena and Elías’ wedding and had never let them forget it. Although Bianca had been born nine months later so apparently getting caught hadn’t been too much of a turn off. He definitely wasn’t risking it though.

He pulled T.K. over to the patio where the music had cranked up to an all time high now that his cousin Rafael had arrived and was playing DJ.

“Okay,” T.K. said, looking nervous all over again. “You know I can’t really dance right? That first night at the bar, that was all just to get in your pants, you know that right?”

“What?” Carlos feigned surprise and then rolled his eyes. “Yes, I know. And considering that you managed to get into my pants about half an hour later, I’d say it worked pretty well.”

“Not the point Carlos.”

“I’ve seen you dance. You’re fine,” Carlos told him.

“Yes in the club!” T.K. told him, eyes wide as he took in the way some of Carlos’ relatives were dancing around them. “This is like something out of Grease! Did you all rehearse this before you got here?”

“Look, Justin’s dancing.” Carlos nodded to where Lucí had managed to get a moment free from her children and pulled her husband onto the impromptu dance floor.

“Justin’s been in your family for five years. He’s had practice.”

“You’re just going to follow my lead,” Carlos told him confidently as he pulled T.K. close. “Relax.”

“I can’t relax. Your Tía Maria looks like she’s about to come over here and remind us to leave room for the Holy Spirit,” T.K. hissed.

“Like I said earlier, I don’t care what Tía Maria thinks. I haven’t for a long time. I just want to dance with you.” He cocked his head and turned on his most charming smile, eyes pleading a little bit.

T.K. rolled his eyes and groaned. “You know I can’t say no to that face.”

“Exactly,” Carlos allowed himself a full on smirk.

He put one hand on T.K.’s shoulder, the other on his hip and gave a comforting little squeeze. “And now you just follow my lead.”

He took a half a step forward, slowly, not following the music at all, encouraging T.K. to step back with his opposite foot. They managed fine for about three beats until T.K. stepped wrong and they stumbled over one another’s feet. “Sorry,” he said, face going slightly pink. “I told you.”

“You’re tense,” Carlos said. “You can’t dance when you’re tense. Relax. It’s all in the hips.”

“I’m from New York. I barely have hips at all, let alone beautiful, sexy, latin caderas like yours.”

Carlos laughed and bumped up against T.K. with said caderas. “You like my caderas?”

“You know I love your hips and normally I wouldn’t complain about anything you do with them, but everyone is staring at us.”

“They are not.” Carlos took a quick glance around the area and found that indeed, many of his relatives were staring, and he could read wedding bells going off in their eyes. “Okay they are but that’s because they’re nosy, not because of your dancing. Don’t worry about them. Focus on me.”

“Just don’t blame me if I break your toes,” T.K. said nervously.

“I think I’ll survive,” Carlos told him. “I’ve never seen you like this before. I like it.”

“Like what?”

“Completely off your game,” Carlos told him. “You never approach anything with less than one hundred percent confidence and charm.”

“Well I only do things I’m one hundred percent confident in,” T.K. said. “That way I never have to look like I don’t know what’s going on.”

“Ahhh, now it all makes sense,” Carlos said with a laugh.

The music changed and Carlos shifted so that they were closer together, one hand entwined with T.K.’s, the other on his lower back. “So. Tell me the truth. How glad are you that your dad didn’t come today?”

T.K. laughed. “Oh god so glad. You know how he is. He and your sisters would have spent the entire day trying to one up each other on embarrassing stories about us. And he might have won.”

“Oh I doubt that. We’ve got about two more hours until my sisters bring up the bathtub incident.”

T.K.’s eyes widened. “The bathtub incident?”

“Let’s just say it was very expensive and mostly Francesca’s fault.”

“You know, your sisters seem to take a lot of the blame in these stories even though you have a starring role in all of them. I’m starting to wonder who’s really telling the truth here.”

“Shh,” Carlos said, pulling him a little closer. “I’m a cop. I’m very trustworthy.”

“Uh huh.” T.K. looked amused.

“Hey, guess what?”

“What?”

Carlos leaned forward so his lips were touching T.K.’s ear. “You’re dancing.”

And indeed he was, their bodies swaying back and forth, T.K. following all of Carlos’ movements without any trouble. T.K. opened his mouth to respond but he was interrupted by the reappearance of Adriana. “I take it back,” she said, causing them both to pause their movement.

“Take what back?” Carlos asked in confusion.

“There’s no way he’s a stripper. Not with dance moves like that. Yikes.”

“I don’t know whether to be relieved or insulted,” T.K. said.

“Good,” she said, giving him a mischievous wink. “I like to keep people guessing. Now step aside gringo and let us show you how it’s done.”

She grabbed Carlos’ hand and before he could protest she’d pulled him out to the center of the dance floor, yelling at Rafael to put on something they could really move to. Rafael smoothly transitioned into a song Carlos recognized and Adriana grinned as she began to salsa, clearly expecting him to partner her. He rolled his eyes, but obliged, catching her around the waist and moving back and forth in time with her.

“We approve,” she said as he spun her back and forth.

“Of my dancing?” Carlos asked.

“No, of T.K.,” she said with a smile. “We really like him. Me and all your sisters.”

It should not have warmed his soul so much to hear the words, but it did anyway. “Good,” Carlos said. “Is that why you pulled me out here? To tell me you like him?”

“No, I pulled you out here so he could check out your ass while you dance,” she said, looking over his shoulder, her grin widening. “Which he totally is by the way.”

“Adriana, shut up,” Carlos said, but he smiled anyway and dipped her, really letting loose as the music hit the chorus. Because apparently he was not above showing off for his boyfriend.

By the time the song ended he was sweating and breathless and so was Adriana. “You’ve still got it cousin,” she said. “Now go on. Go over there and take a victory lap with your boyfriend and his puppy dog eyes.”

Carlos looked over to find T.K. looking suitably impressed at the edge of the patio. Carlos shook his head, a blush rising to his cheeks as he walked over. “Well someone’s been holding out on me,” T.K. said when Carlos got close.

“It’s just dancing,” Carlos said.

“Just dancing? Carlos that looked like…I don’t even know, but it was freaking amazing!” T.K. said, his eyes wide. “I didn’t know you could dance like that. Why are you over here dancing with me?”

Carlos rolled his eyes and pulled T.K. close to him. “Trust me, Adriana might be a state champion in Salsa, but I prefer dancing with you any day.”

“She’s a state champion?” T.K. asked in surprise.

“Yep,” Carlos said, pulling him back onto the dance floor. “Three years in a row.”

“Wow.”

“Yeah, Adriana is good at pretty much anything she decides to be good at. It’s a little ridiculous.”

“That doesn’t explain where your dance moves came from,” T.K. said, looking expectant.

“I um,” Carlos thought for a half second about lying before he decided to give in and tell the truth. “I may have partnered her for a few years.”

“How long is a few?”

Carlos sighed and squeezed his eyes closed. “Like fourth through seventh grade.”

T.K.’s jaw dropped. He pointed a finger at Carlos’ chest. “I can’t believe you’ve never told me that!”

“Well it’s not like it’s relevant to everyday conversation! When would it have ever come up?”

“I don’t know!” T.K. shook his head. “What made you stop?”

Carlos shrugged. “I’m good, but I’m not championship level good. And I was getting into baseball. And Adriana is…really difficult to work with.”

“Carlos! T.K.!” They both turned to find a very welcome presence interrupting their conversation.

“Tía Luci,” Carlos said, pulling back from T.K. so he could give her a hug. “I wasn’t sure if you were coming.”

“Well you know I had a date querido. T.K. mi amor! It’s so good to see you!” The many bracelets she was wearing jangled loudly as she hugged T.K. with equal fervor.

T.K. had been to several Sunday dinners at this point and Tía Luci had accepted him exactly the way Carlos hoped she would, with nothing less than complete and total love. She’d always encouraged Carlos to be exactly who he was and love whoever he desired. It helped of course that she’d had four husbands of her own and was currently single and dating with astonishing frequency.

“It’s good to see you too Tía Luci,” T.K. said with a smile.

“I thought mom said you had a pottery class,” Carlos said.

“I had a date at pottery class,” she said and then leaned closer. “And the clay wasn’t the only thing that got handled, if you catch my meaning.”

Carlos’ cheeks burned as T.K. laughed. His aunt was a free spirit and that meant she was pretty free with most things. Including her sex life. And while Carlos didn’t judge, he definitely didn’t always need all the…details she provided.

“Oh don’t look so scandalized,” she admonished, squeezing his arm. “It’s not like you’re a saint either, sobrino. With a boyfriend like this you must get up to all kinds of nonsense. And if you’re not you should start. You’re only young once!” Someone caught her attention and she waved. “I must go see Alejandro, but you two have fun dancing.”

“How about we run away to New York together?” Carlos asked as she floated away.

“You love her,” T.K. said knowingly.

“I do. But I don’t need to know every detail of her dating life. And no matter how many times I tell her that she doesn’t quite seem to get the message.”

“Seems like Francesca and Adriana come by it honestly,” T.K. said. “Oversharing runs in the gene pool.”

“Yes along with nosiness, a strong desire to meddle, and a life long obsession with the Astros,” Carlos said with a roll of his eyes.

“And yet somehow you have none of those qualities,” T.K. said, raising his eyebrows in a way that suggested he was being sarcastic.

“Me?” Carlos said. “What are you talking about? I don’t do any of those things.”

“Maybe not so overtly. But when you found out Mateo’s house had blown up, you organized all those donations to help out him and his roommates.”

“Because it was the right thing to do!”

“Of course it was. But it was also meddling. Kind meddling. But meddling. And we’ve talked about the cow eyes.”

“What do the cow eyes have to do with anything?” Carlos asked, slightly annoyed.

“When you want to know something that I don’t want to share, you waste no time turning them on. And you know that neither I, nor anyone else can resist. Nosiness.”

“That’s not nosy! It’s…digging for information.”

“Information your chosen suspect may or may not want to share. The suspect being me. Admit it Carlos. You’re more like your family than you’d like to believe.”

“I—“ Carlos struggled to come up with a reply. “I don’t like that you’re siding with my sisters. That was not the point of bringing you here. You’re supposed to back me up.”

“Oh I will never speak to your sisters about this,” T.K. told him. “I’ve got your back. I just want you to know that I know.”

Carlos opened his mouth to reply but was interrupted by a small body hurtling into his legs so hard he almost fell over. “Tío Carlos!” Marco practically yelled. “You said you would come in an hour. It’s been more than an hour. Will you pleeeeeeeeeeeease come throw the ball with me? You promised!”

Carlos looked a T.K. who smiled and nodded toward Marco. “Go ahead. I’ll be fine.”

“I’m not sure I want to leave you alone with my sisters after what you just said. I’m scared about what other things they might put into your head.”

T.K. laughed and gave him a little push. “Go. I’ll try not to be swayed further to their side.”

“You heard him! Go! Go!” Marco pushed Carlos from behind over toward the grassy area past the picnic tables.

“Marco, Marco, relax,” Carlos said, breaking away from his nephew’s aggressive pushing.

“I waited all day,” Marco told him with a glare.

“And you’re going to wait longer if you’re not polite,” Carlos told him.

Marco looked only slightly chastened. “Sorry.”

“Mhmm.” Carlos tried not to roll his eyes. “Do you have a ball and a glove?”

“Yes!” Marco ran ahead and grabbed them off a picnic table. “Here. This one’s yours. Abuelo got it out of the garage for me.”

Sure enough it was Carlos’ high school mitt. It was beyond worn out, but it would do for a quick round of catch before he rescued his boyfriend from the clutches of whichever sister had decided to grill him next.

“Okay you go over there and I’ll go over here,” Marco said excitedly, running several yards away, ball clutched in his hand.

His first throw took Carlos by surprise. “Whoa! You’re getting really good at that,” Carlos said as he tossed it back.

“Dad says I might make the travel team this year,” Marco said excitedly as he delivered another throw that made Carlos’ palm sting.

“Yeah I think you’ve got a good shot at it,” Carlos told him. “How’s your fast ball?”

“So good! But I have to work on my curve ball. It doesn’t always go the right way.”

“Ah, I’ve got a trick for that. Let me show you.”

It didn’t take long for all of Carlos’ nieces and nephews to realize he had left the adult table and was available for fun. After he finished with Marco, a game of tag was requested by his other nephews. Then Bianca and Elena wanted to show him the crafts they’d been working on and make him a friendship bracelet which he immediately put around his wrist.

Nearly an hour had gone by and Carlos began to look around for his boyfriend, feeling guilty for having left him alone for so long. But just as he began making his way back to the picnic tables, Carolina found him and wanted to tell him all about a school project she’d finished recently.

One minute he was chatting with her about orca whales and the next something was colliding with his skull, hard and fast. He felt his head snap to the side, fingers automatically going to touch the spot directly behind his ear.

Carolina had frozen her eyes wide. “Tío Carlos? Estás bien?” she asked tentatively.

The world seemed to tilt and he sank down slowly onto a picnic bench, fingers fumbling against the weathered wood as he tried to aim successfully and not miss and fall to the ground instead. “Sorry!” Marco called, running over.

Oh. The baseball. That’s what had hit him. That explained the extreme throbbing that had started and why he could already feel a knot growing at the site of impact.

“You hit Tío Carlos right in the head!” Carolina scolded.

“I didn’t mean to!” Marco protested back. “I just threw it, that’s all! I was working on my curveball! It wasn’t my fault!”

“It’s nobody’s fault,” Carlos said calmly, even though his vision was starting to blur at the corners. “It was an accident.”

“See? It’s fine!” Marco told her.

“I’m telling Mom!”

“No you’re not!”

The two continued to squabble and Carlos closed his eyes as their raised voices cut through his skull like a knife. “Carolina,” he interrupted finally. “Can you go find T.K. for me? Tell him I need to ask him something.”

“Yeah.” She narrowed her eyes at Marco. “I’m still telling mom,” she hissed, causing him to take off after her as she ran away.

Carlos swallowed against the sudden queasiness in his stomach. He was regretting the number of tamales he’d eaten now.

The sunlight was really starting to hammer into his skull so he closed his eyes and concentrated on breathing through his nose, trying to keep his stomach from becoming violent. A hand on his knee startled him. “Carlos?” T.K.’s voice was quiet and concerned.

Carlos opened his eyes and found his boyfriend or rather, several blurry versions of his boyfriend, looking up at him. “Hey,” he said quietly. Even talking seemed to hurt his rattled brain.

“Are you okay? Carolina said something about a baseball.”

“It was an accident,” Carlos said. “I wasn’t paying attention.”

“Okay,” T.K. said slowly, clearly trying to gauge the situation and read between the lines of what his boyfriend wasn’t telling him. “Where did it hit you?”

Carlos took another slow breath in through his nose as his stomach clenched. “Behind my ear.”

“Which side, this side?” T.K. asked, lifting a hand and gently probing at Carlos’s skull.

His fingers found the knot almost immediately and even though his touch was gentle it sent a stab of pain shooting through Carlos and his stomach lurched. He jerked away, unsuccessful in suppressing a tight lipped moan.

“Okay, hey I need you to talk to me, all right?” T.K. said, his voice going serious as his fingers instinctively sought the pulse point on Carlos’ wrist. “How bad is your pain?”

Carlos had had concussions before; you couldn’t play varsity baseball without the occasional injury. This was ten times worse than he remembered. “Like a seven?” His voice was shaky and opening his mouth at all felt like a huge risk given the discontent happening in his stomach. “And there are about four of you right now.”

“Did you lose consciousness?”

“No.”

“Can you tell me your name?”

Carlos squinted at him. “Are you really asking me that?”

“Answer please,” T.K. said, eyes serious.

“Carlos Nicolás Reyes Moreno.”

“And where are we?”

“My parents’ ranch.”

“Good. And what’s your badge number?”

Carlos opened his mouth and found his mind strangely blank. “I—”

“You can’t remember?” T.K. asked.

“I—no.” He felt panic start to well up in his throat. “T.K…”

“It’s okay,” T.K. said calmly, gently cupping the non-injured side of his face. “You’re going to be all right. But we need to go to the hospital, okay?”

“Oh god,” Carlos groaned partly from pain and queasiness and partly from panic. “Any chance we can sneak out of here without telling my family?”

“Oh, babe, I think that ship has sailed,” T.K. said sympathetically.

“Carlitos? What happened?” Andrea approached at a rapid pace, the Reyes sisters flanking her along with Adriana, Tía Maria, and Tía Luci. He was sure his father wasn’t far behind.

Even as pain clawed at the inside of his skull Carlos tried to assuage their fears. “I’m fine, just a little accident,” he managed.

“Carolina said Marco hit you in the head,” Elena said worriedly.

“Head injuries are very serious,” Tía Luci told them. “I once dated a tennis player who got a concussion.”

“He got hit with a tennis ball?” Elena asked.

“No, we got a little overly enthusiastic in the bedroom. No half assed sex from that one!”

Carlos heard Tía Maria start muttering a prayer.

“Andrea! What’s going on? Is he all right?” Predictably Gabriel had caught up with the group, a large grill spatula still in his hand.

“Let’s just give him a little room to breathe,” T.K. said calmly, holding up a hand to keep them from coming in closer to smother him with concern. “Francesca if you could go get me some ice and a towel please.”

She disappeared in an instant toward the back of the house.

“Should we call an ambulance?” Teresa asked.

“I am fine,” Carlos insisted again, squeezing his eyes closed as another wave of nausea and dizziness swept over him. He would be. As soon as he was away from his coddling family and in his bed at home.

“Carlitos you be quiet and listen to your boyfriend. He is a professional,” Andrea scolded, worry coloring the sharpness of her tone.

“Yes, T.K., what does he need?” Gabriel asked.

“We’re going to get some ice on here and go from there,” T.K. said. “I don’t think an ambulance is necessary at this point.”

Francesca returned with ice and a towel. “Thank you,” T.K. said, wrapping the ice up tightly and then ever so gently pressing it against Carlos’ head.

He hissed in pain, knuckles gripping the edge of the picnic bench so hard he felt splinters of wood begin to dig into his fingertips. “I’m sorry,” T.K. murmured sympathetically. “We need to try and get the swelling down.”

“It’s okay,” Carlos said through gritted teeth. He hadn’t thought it was possible for his head to hurt more, but the added coldness of the ice was proving to be too much and he felt the tight hold he had on his composure starting to slip. He wanted to leave, he wanted to lie down and sleep, he wanted T.K. to hold him while he cried like a baby because everything hurt like a motherfucker and he was embarrassed as hell about it.

His family was still carrying on around him, he could hear them asking questions and making plans, but all he focused on was T.K.’s free hand, the one that wasn’t pressing ice to his skull. That hand was resting comfortingly on his knee, thumb moving slowly back and forth. Thank god T.K. was here to mitigate the chaos.

He didn’t realize he was starting to drift away until T.K.’s hand squeezed his knee more tightly and then moved up to his shoulder, keeping him upright. “Hey, hey, no, don’t go to sleep,” he said urgently.

Right. Sleep was not a good idea. Carlos forced his eyes open and tried to focus on his boyfriend’s worried face, but it swam in front of him and made his stomach churn. “T.K…”

“I’ve got you,” T.K. said firmly. He turned and looked up at Andrea and Gabriel who had come to hover a little closer. “We need to get him to the hospital.”

“I’ll drive you,” Andrea said immediately.

“You’re entertaining all these guests mi amor,” Gabriel said. “You stay, I’ll take the boys.”

“We’re all coming,” Lucía said immediately.

Carlos felt his heart rate quicken at the thought of his entire family standing around in the hospital waiting room and the kind of chaos that would cause. He didn’t need to worry though. “I don’t think that’s a good idea,” T.K. said quickly. “There’s no reason to believe this is anything more serious than a concussion. It will be quick, not worth everyone coming out.”

“I will update you the entire time,” Gabriel promised.

“Text messages every five minutes,” Andrea ordered.

“Can you stand?” T.K. asked and Carlos nodded his affirmative, immediately regretting the motion when the throbbing in his skull increased.

T.K. took his arm and Carlos got up on wobbly legs. He made it about two steps before his knees began to give out and he felt his father grab his other arm. “Steady mijo,” Gabriel said.

It seemed like an eternity before they passed through the house and into the front driveway. Out of sight of his family Carlos felt the last of his control slip away. The blood drained from his face and he gagged.

“Whoa!” T.K. said, quickly lowering him to the ground as he began to heave out the contents of his stomach onto the concrete.

By the time it was over Carlos’ pain had ratcheted up to somewhere in the nines and he heard himself letting out a pathetic whimper as his brain exploded inside of his skull. “Easy Carlitos, easy,” his father said, the words barely registering as he and T.K. lifted Carlos back onto his feet and basically carried him the rest of the way to his dad’s truck.

He ended up with his head in T.K.’s lap, his boyfriend continuing to hold ice against his head with one hand, while the other ran soothingly up and down his arm. “Stay awake for me, all right?” he said.

“Trying,” Carlos said, his voice sounding cracked and broken. Mostly he was trying to breathe because he really didn’t want to throw up again. Every bump in the road, every touch of the breaks, sent pain ricocheting through his head. “It really hurts.”

“I know, I’m so sorry. We’re almost there,” T.K. said softly. “You’re all right, keep breathing, okay?”

Gabriel pulled directly up to the ER doors and he and T.K. helped Carlos into a wheelchair. If he’d been in any less pain he would have found the entire thing humiliating, but every bit of his energy was currently being spent on staying awake and not vomiting all over the floor.

“I’ll park the car and meet you inside,” Gabriel said as T.K. pushed him through the doors.

The next few hours were a hellish blur. They ran a battery of tests including an MRI and a CT scan, asked him dozens of questions, all of which he was able to answer thank god.

Despite his best efforts, he threw up twice more, T.K. holding a basin in front of his face each time, then rubbing his back comfortingly as he curled into a ball, knives stabbing through his head after such violent movement.

He hated being reduced to a shaking, moaning mess, especially in front of his father, but there was no help for it. The pain was only growing worse and there was no relief in sight, not until the tests came back.

“Breathe,” T.K. said, running a thumb back and forth over Carlos’ hand. “Carlos you have to breathe and try to relax.”

“I can’t.” The words came out on a whimper. “It hurts.”

“Carlitos, you have to try,” his dad said, sounding beyond concerned. “The more tense you are the worse it will feel.”

Tears slid down his cheeks as the pounding in his head beat on relentlessly. It had been hours and there was never any relief to the waves of pain, just a constant throbbing, knifelike agony. He squeezed his eyes shut and curled in on himself, ragged, stuttering breaths tearing from his chest.

“I’m going to go find the nurse,” Gabriel said. “My wife and daughters might be better at nagging, but I’m sure I’ve picked up a thing or two.”

He disappeared out the door and the next thing Carlos knew the bed was shifting as T.K. climbed in with him, wrapping his arms tightly around Carlos’ body. “What are you doing?” Carlos choked out.

“Taking care of you,” he said, his lips by Carlos’ ear. “You’re okay. I’ve got you. Breathe. Just a little bit longer and we’ll get you some medication. I promise.”

T.K.’s fingers stroked up and down his arm and he continued to murmur soothing words into Carlos’ ear. Carlos felt his muscles slowly begin to unclench one at a time. The agony in his skull began to ease, just enough that he could breathe easier and think a little more clearly.

His dad must have given someone a piece of his mind because within fifteen minutes the doctor had returned. “Okay, Mr. Reyes we are looking at a grade two concussion here. All your scans came back clear so while painful, your recovery should be pretty easy.”

“No brain bleed?” T.K. asked.

“No. No brain bleed, no skull fracture.”

He could see T.K. and his father sag in relief. They were both putting on a good front, trying to be strong for him, but in that moment the worry in the room finally lifted off like a cloud, dissipating into calm.

“We’re going to keep you for a little bit, start you on some strong Tylenol to help manage the pain. I’ll come check on you in an hour okay?”

It was another two hours before they were finally able to go home, Gabriel dropping them off with promises to bring Carlos’ car over in the morning.

He was more steady on his feet now and the medication had helped both his headache and the nausea, so with T.K.’s help he was able to manage the stairs without too much difficulty.

T.K. sat him on the bed and began undoing the buttons on his shirt. “I can do it,” Carlos said, but his boyfriend gave him a stern look and continued.

This behavior persisted until Carlos was settled in bed, an extra pillow behind his head, a glass of water on the nightstand along with additional Tylenol. “Better?” T.K. asked as Carlos leaned back against the pillows with a sigh.

“Yeah,” Carlos told him. The lights were dim, causing his splitting headache to dull to a throbbing one instead.

He heard his phone buzz for the thousandth time in the last few hours. “Do you want to see who that is?”

He couldn’t look at the screen without feeling like someone had stabbed a knife through his eyes. Hopefully that would pass quickly. It was only a grade two concussion and most of his pain was coming from the actual injury itself, not his brain rattling around in his skull.

T.K. punched in Carlos’ passcode and then scrolled through. “You have forty seven unread texts. Most of them are from your sisters. A few from your mom and aunts. And one reminding you to vote next week.”

Carlos groaned. “You’d think I was dying. This isn’t even as bad as the time Elías flipped the four wheeler over while we were on vacation. He broke his leg in two places and had to have surgery and nobody was all over him.”

“Oh, the texts aren’t about you,” T.K. said, eyes lighting up with mirth.

Carlos squinted at him. “I’m confused then.”

T.K. cleared his throat. “You listen to T.K. and do what he says. That one is from Teresa.” He scrolled a little further. “Congratulations on picking someone who’s not a dick. He actually comes in handy, that’s Adriana.” He snorted. “And this one from Francesca just says, ‘Remember not to fuck again until your brain is better.’”

“You know, Tía Maria campaigned pretty hard to send her to a convent when she was a teenager. Some days I think we should have let her,” Carlos said.

“The rest are variations on how great I am and how you need to eat a lot of soup and get a lot of rest. And I have a text from your mom.”

Carlos cracked one eye to look at him. “Are you going to share?”

“Mm…I’m not sure you can handle this one.”

T.K. was grinning from ear to ear, clearly beyond proud of himself and delighted to have information Carlos didn’t.

“T.K. just read it. I can see that smug look on your face.”

He cleared his throat. “T.K. thank you for taking care of our Carlitos. You are such a blessing to our family.” T.K. grinned. “They like me.”

“Of course they like you.”

“They really like me.”

“Yes, T.K. My family loves you. Just like I always knew they would.”

“Well I appreciate that. But you really didn’t have to get hit in the head with a baseball just so I could endear them to me with my paramedic skills.”

“Don’t thank me, thank Marco,” Carlos said. “He’s the one with an arm like a Major League baseball player.”

“Yeah he can really throw huh?” T.K. said, brushing a gentle hand through Carlo’s curls, careful to avoid the area the ball had struck. “How’s your pain?”

“Tolerable,” Carlos said.

“And the nausea?”

“Better,” Carlos said.

“Good.” T.K. seemed relieved. “Listen, next time you want to get out of a family activity, you can just tell me. You don’t need to give yourself a grade two concussion. Just say the word and I will fake an emergency and get us out of there.”

“I’m surprised you didn’t fake an emergency after hour one,” Carlos said. “Thank you for today. You getting along with my family it…” Tears threatened to close his throat and he forced them back because he really wanted T.K. to know what he was feeling. “It means everything.”

“They’re easy to get along with,” T.K. said. “And we have a lot in common.”

“Oh?”

“We all love you.”

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penname-artist · 3 years ago

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Rey Valentinas, everybody!

Just for clarification here, Rey Valentinas is Apollo's younger brother, who I have vaguely mentioned in a few previous Tidbit chapters on Ao3. He's made quite the name for himself too just as Apollo had, though his passion is for EDM music. He goes by the much more well-known stage name of "Reyzor C."

Apollo and Rey HATE EACH OTHER. Well not like, would want to murder each other kind of hate each other but more like I hope your career suffers horribly kind of hate each other.

Rey is pretty much Apollo's opposite. He's very deep and philosophical, mostly about music vibes, and his sense of fashion is very out there. Despite his cool cat attitude however, he is also aro-ace, and not that into the idea of romance. The only thing he is in a romantic relationship with is himself and his music.

Rey is about two years younger than Apollo. Rey got away with basically anything and everything scot-free growing up. No wonder Apollo doesn't like him.

Rey's always decked out in blacks with bright accents, very offsetting to Apollo's typically rustic or pastel and primarily light palettes

World Of Cars style, hes actually a different model than Apollo. While his older brother is of course an IconA5, he's actually a Searey, a very similar looking but slightly smaller light aircraft.

Rey is a picky eater. And by picky, I mean the food has to encapsulate a certain essence, an emotion, an aesthetic. He can't just eat a normal sandwich. It has to be art.

I'm gonna make a fic with him one day I swear, but just to add, a lot of the Canon cast you know and love also loves Rey's music. Dusty and Ripslinger in particular love Rey's stuff, and they've been hounding Apollo to let him introduce them personally.

#disney planes #disneyplanes #original character #apollo valentinas #rey valentinas

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thatonecurlygirl · 4 years ago

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hi love! ❤️ can you do a svu boys fic where they snap on someone for trying to touch your hair in front of them?🥰

Nick:

“I’m always amazed by how much time you put into your hair, but it always looks so good.” Nick compliments the tight curls that you strategically fixed so that they would look well paired with the ball cap that you bought for this particular occasion. Nick had been wanting to take you out to a ball game for what seemed like forever and finally, your schedules allowed you the day to do so.

The two of you walk to your seats, hotdogs, and sodas in hand as Nick leads the way, a huge smile on his face.

“These are good seats, Nick.” You say in awe, looking around as you sit down.

“Any seat next to you is a good seat.” He says smoothly, tossing you a wink.

“Oh shut up.” You giggle.

The seats begin to quickly fill up as game time starts to close in. Before you know it, everyone is standing up and you are carefully taking off your ball cap for the National Anthem. Nick watches a few curls spring free as the cap comes off and his smile turns quickly into a frown as he sees the person behind you lean into your ear and say something before their hand moves toward your hair.

With lightning-fast reflexes Nick’s hand shoots up, tightly wrapping around the young man’s wrist, stopping it from tangling into your curls. He glares up at him as you turn around to see the slight wince on the other man’s face.

“Kid, if you want to keep your hand, I recommend you keep your fucking hands to yourself.” He growls out quietly, his eyes backing up the threat.

The other guy visibly gulps and softly nods his head, jerking his hand back as soon as Nick lets go, diverting his intense attention to the young woman finishing the anthem.

“Come here, babe.” Nick wraps his arm around you and pulls you close.

Sonny:

“If you thought I had a big family before, you are going to be surprised.” Sonny chuckles. “Just let me know if you get a bit too overwhelmed.”

“Okay, honestly I am really excited for the Carisi family reunion!” You smile ear to ear.

“They are excited to meet you too and you are going to absolutely blow them away with that piece there.” He motions to the cute, yellow sundress you are wearing that looks wonderful with your skin tone.

“It really isn’t anything special. It was only like $12.” You laugh.

“Don’t downplay the fact that you are absolutely stunning in everything you wear.”

“Well, you look very handsome yourself.” You lean across the console and kiss his cheek. “Oh, we are here already?”

“Stay there,” He says as he parks the car and pulls the keys from the ignition. Jogging to your side of the car he opens the door with a small bow and wide smile.

“What a gentleman.” You say dramatically with your hand to heart.

“All for you,” He winks, taking your hand before turning to the mass of people scattered across the front lawn. “la mia famiglia” He says loudly, throwing his free hand in the air.

Ten minutes in and you are meeting his cousins and chatting with them about what Sonny was like when he was younger.

“He is still just as lanky and awkward as he was back then.” His cousin Vinny chuckles, nudging Sonny who just smiles politely.

“I think it’s adorable.” You gently squeeze his hand.

“Dominick, get this poor girl a drink, she must be parched.” Valentina, Vinny’s sister says with her arms crossed as if disappointed.

“I’ll be right back.” He kisses your forehead.

“Of course.” You smile before turning back to Valentina and Vinny. “It sounds like the two of you and Sonny were really close as kids.”

“Incredibly,” Valentina nods. “We were all honestly like siblings. He and Vinny fought like it.” She goes into a story about how the two of them got into a fight and had to cut the lawn with safety scissors.

You are still laughing when Sonny gets back with two glasses of wine, catching the tail end of the story. He smiles, taking up standing beside you, softly brushing his arm against yours.

“To be fair, Vinny always started it, he liked to get me going and—”

Sonny’s eyes go wide as he grabs your arm, pulling you swiftly to him, eyes going wide and eyebrows knitting together in a threatening way. Turning, you see Vinny with his hand up, looking back at Sonny.

“What the hell are you doing?” Sonny hisses quietly.

“She had something in her hair,” Vinny says defensively with the subtlest smile on his face.

“Keep your hands out of her hair, I can get it.” He quickly sets his wine down, smushing your face between his hands, turning your face this way and that to find whatever was supposedly in your hair.

“Chill Dominick.” Vinny chuckles.

“You do this every time I bring a lady home. You try to slide in and make yourself comfortable. You can’t just put your hands all in her hair like some pervert. Boundaries!” Sonny growls.

“Boys, stop.” Valentina sighs, unfazed as if she is used to this. “Dominick, I doubt y/n wants to watch the two of your brawl right now. Let’s enjoy dinner and keep our hands to ourselves.” Valentina smacks Vinny int he back of the head.

“If you don’t I promise you won’t be touching anything else.” Sonny eyeballs Vinny as he chuckles and walks away.

“That was… intense.” You say quietly.

Sonny’s whole demeanor changes as he pokes his bottom lip out and turns to you. “I had to defend your honor.”

“And I appreciate that.” You kiss his cheek. “Now let’s have some fun.”

Peter:

“You think y’all have a chance of winning today?” You ask, sliding out of the vehicle and meeting Peter around the front.

“Possibly, it was a close game last time we played against them.” He pulls a baseball cap on his head and tucks his glove and bat under his arm as he reached down and interlaces his fingers with yours.

“Well, I believe in you.” You smile squeezing his hand as the two of you walk to the dugout filled with his co-workers in the sex-crimes unit and in their precinct.

“Everyone good on water and everything?” You ask. “I can run and get some if need be.”

“No, I think we are all okay.” Olivia nods at you.

“Okay great! Good luck!” You smile, standing on your toes to quickly kiss Peter’s cheek before hurrying out and to the small set of bleachers.

It all starts off well and you do your fair share of oogling your man out on the field, getting especially excited when he is up to bat and you get a near-perfect view of his bum.

It starts nearing the end of the game when someone sits beside you. Normally you wouldn’t pay much mind, but there is plenty of space and they nearly sit right on top of you, shoulder bumping yours.

“Which team are you here for?” He asks, looking out at the field rather than you.

“16th Precinct.”

“Ah, opposing teams.”

“Yep,” You nod your head, awkward tension surrounding the two of you.

“What are you doing after this?” He asks, looking over at you.

“Likely going out to celebrate with the team if the game continues like it has been.” You smile softly at Peter who is looking back at you confused.

“You that confident your team is going to win?” The man beside you chuckles.

“Yep.”

“Your man playing on the 16th?” He asks.

“Sure is.” You say in an attempt to keep the conversation short.

“I like your hair, by the way, it’s beautiful.” He reaches up, twisting a lock of your hair around his finger.

Before you have a chance to protest and ask him to stop touching your hair, a loud shout comes echoing from the field.

“Hey, you!” Peter drops his glove and comes barreling from the field. “What the hell are you doing?” He steps between you and the stranger.

“Just talking, is that a crime?”

“Touching her without her consent is,” Peter growls.

“How do you know she didn’t give me her consent to do whatever I please. She didn’t say ‘no’.” He smirks.

“She didn’t say ‘yes’, either.” Peter stops closer to the man.

“Pete, please don’t.” You ask quietly. “Just go finish the game.”

“I don’t want to leave you out here with this filth.” He growls, not looking away from the man.

“It’s okay, Stone, she can sit in here with me,” Finn calls out as he walks up, also taking a stance between you and the man.

“Okay, go.” You shoo Peter and watch as he slowly and cautiously walks away. “Consider yourself lucky. It’s a stupid thing to mess with the ADA’s lady and personal friend of the sex-crimes unit.” Finn says in his usual threatening tone before escorting you into the dugout.

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skeleton-richard · 5 years ago

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I just finished reading the latest book in that Christine de Pizan mystery series and Charles appears in it about three times (not doing anything interesting since he's still a baby but he's THERE). Also, I'm left with a hankering for Valentina and Isabeau friendship fic. :((

Ahhhh I need baby Charles even if he’s not doing anything more than being a baby!!

And OMG I need Valentina and Isabeau friendship fic too. Any ideas in particular?

#nuingiliath

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bats-did-u-mean-assholes · 6 years ago

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i finally wrote a fic i was requested

ok this one was requested by @nyntendoh44 fair warning i changed the prompt a little bit but it still centres around drag race.The difference is that to one of his brothers, his love for the show is not so secret.

Contrary to popular belief, he and Drake didn’t entirely hate one another. In fact Damian might even go as far as to say that they liked each other (although they only ever acted on this fact in complete privacy).

It started as most things did; with an injured family member. Their eldest brother to be exact. The idiot had returned to the manor with a torn up uniform, no less than 6 bullet wounds and a concussion, which he was finally sleeping off. Even though he always came out fine, Damian never stopped worrying when Grayson was injured, and he would never tell anyone but he often had trouble sleeping without his brother beside him now. So rather than lying in bed for hours all alone, he decided to do something Richard would be proud of and went to seek company.

As he wandered out of his bedroom and towards the library he couldn’t help but hope that Todd would be there, the two had grown much closer since Damian’s own death, and honestly he was the only family member who he felt safe around besides Richard (which he knew was ironic for a number of reasons). His original destination changed however when he heard a high pitched squeak coming from somewhere in the manor, followed by what sounded like a cat being strangled. Racing down the hall Damian came to stop in-front of the bedroom door of one certain least favourite brother of his. Collecting his thoughts, Damian barged into the room, and what he found was ... unexpected to say the least.

On his bed sat Tim Drake laughing his head off at some inane video on his computer, completely unaware of how much he had startled his youngest brother (yes startled, Damian Wayne-Al Ghul did not get worried thank you very much). Turning to face the figure in doorway Drake looked angry but his expression softened when he saw who it was. “Damian? You okay buddy?” he asked softly as if he was talking to a child. Damian scoffed, collecting himself “I’m perfectly fine Drake” he relied cooly, feeling slightly bad about how hostile he sounded. Tim sighed “so why are you here then?” he asked rolling his eyes. “I heard noises. I thought you were being atta-“Damian paused, re-thinking his answer, “I thought Alfred the cat might be in here.” Drake’s expression softened once again, his eyes sympathetic. “Hey Dami,” he beckoned “how about you come watch this with me, I think you’ll really enjoy it!”

This is how Damian was introduced to the concept of drag ‘Queens’, and while he definitely found the ‘Queens’ strange, they were endlessly entertaining to watch. He and drake were currently watching season 9 of RuPaul’s Drag race, and absolutely loving it, completely enthralled by the drama and bright performances. Damian himself had taken a particular liking to ‘Valentina’, something about her charisma reminding him of someone he knew, (and if he sulked a bit when she was eliminated, well, Drake wouldn’t say anything about it). At some point during their binge session Damian had whispered something along the lines of “Mother would never have approved of this.” The statement was quiet and Damian was almost sure that Drake hadn’t heard him until he heard a soft chuckle “My Mom wouldn’t have liked it either. Would have said something about how it was ‘unbecoming’ for a young heir to watch something so tacky,” he replied, mocking his mother with the poshest accent he could muster “why do you think I started watching it? Rebelling against my mother is my favourite activity. It’s also why I’m growing my hair out.”

Something, perhaps the nonchalance of the statement made Damian burst into a fit of giggles. He had never respected Drake more. The rest the night continued similarly, both boys watching drag race together and making jokes about their mothers, and if they fell asleep curled up together and smiling no one had to know. Surely no harm would come from this tradition continuing. At least until they finished the season (but probably longer than that).

i know it was short and long overdue but i hope you enjoyed please feel free to give any feedback

#Tim Drake #Damian Wayne #DC comics #rupaul's drag race #brothers bonding #dick grayson is an idiot and his brothers worry

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vmheadquarters · 7 years ago

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VMHQ’s Holiday Fic Grab Bag - PROMPT LIST!!

Ho, Ho, Ho! Our list of Holiday Fic Prompts was delivered by reindeer mail this morning, and we’re ready to share them with all the Veronica Mars fanfic writers, GIFmakers, artists, and... well, anyone who wants to create something for them.

Remember, post all of your offerings to the A03 collection by December 23rd. The collection will open for your reading and enjoyment (anonymously) on the morning of December 24th and then authors/creators will be revealed on January 1st!

So, without further ado, and in no particular order, THE LIST:

Logan and Veronica and a secret santa!

Logan and Veronica snowbound strangers who have to keep each other warm. Bonus points if they don’t like each other much at first and then find out how they are so much more than first impressions (and then hook up).

During An Echolls Family Christmas - Logan and Veronica and accidental kissing.

College AU. Logan and Veronica - Logan meets Keith for the first time during the holidays. There’s nervousness, making out, and Keith trying to accept his little girl isn’t so little anymore.

During S2, Logan is feeling down after watching the tapes of Lilly, and Veronica is feeling down with Wallace gone and everything sucking. They somehow meet and spend the Holidays together and things get better.

Logan and Veronica fall in love during a (crazy) Holiday party. This one can be AU.

Mac is tired of her family asking about her love life so she brings Dick to Christmas dinner as her pretend boyfriend.

LoVe and Holiday horror (As in Krampus and other Holiday horror movies, but no killer snowmen because come on). Just want to see if anyone can come up with something for this one.

Logan and Veronica meet at a Christmas party and hook up for the first time.

LoVe as an established couple (can include other pairings) and they spend the holidays with the parents. Can be AU if they are meeting the parents for the first time. Comedy if possible (as plenty of Holiday movies do - Ex. Meet the parents).

LoVe’s first Christmas together (after reuniting in the film), including the run up to the actual day.

Weevil is desperate to find a sold out doll for his daughter --the only item on Valentina’s Christmas list-- and he enlists Logan’s help to track down this important present.

Lilly gives Logan to Veronica as a Christmas present.

LoVe during S3 - they don’t break up so they spend their first Holidays together!

Veronica is a waitress in a New York diner, trying to pay her way through law school. She has to work Christmas Eve - it’s just her and the cook and no customers until Logan walks in to spend a lonely, glum holiday.

LoVe find themselves stranded in the airport and can't make it to their holiday celebrations. They find each other instead. Romance ensues :)

In An Echolls Family Christmas, Weevil calls Veronica when the money first goes missing, and she shows up to find all the boys in their underwear. “When did Logan get so ripped?”

It's the season of countless movies about saving Xmas! So what if the Vmars characters have to do the same? Can you combine the noir of Neptune with the silly Xmas shenanigans that are required to save the holiday? Maybe it can be a fantasy story (does SC needs help?) or based in reality (or ambiguous fantasy if you like). As many characters as can be involved from canon. And preferably with LoVe either as friends, or enemies to friends, or even as a couple.

AU or alternate ending of an Echoll's Family Christmas. Logan/Veronica

Veronica, Mac and Meg baking cookies for Christmas

Veronica and Logan's first kiss happens under the mistletoe. Someone else (Duncan, Lilly, or another person) tried to put it up to catch either Logan or Veronica, but it backfires when it gets Logan and Veronica together instead.

Snowbound Fab Four, pre-series, LoVe the Fab Four but maybe before everyone pairs off(?) can be happy and fluffy or with a dose of pining/angsty

Set during S2 “One Angry Veronica” - Logan feeling down about everything, stealing the sex tapes, etc. does something sweet and possibly(?) anonymous for Weevil’s Grandma (since he currently owns their house at that point). Maybe a little bit of BrOTP w/Logan & Weevil?

S2 Christmas Break - Veronica goes to Logan for comfort after discovering the truth about Meg’s pregnancy

S4 Imagined AU - Veronica never went to Stanford, but she did come back from the FBI internship with a new commitment to normalcy. She’s still dating Piz, but the semester is nearing an end and she knows it’s not what she wants. It’s Christmas, and at Christmas you tell the truth. Eventually LoVe (maybe a little Love Actually inspired w/out the creepiness). Maybe Logan has someone else in his life at this point too(?)

Those 9 years, two Neptune survivors bump into each other unexpectedly at an airport in Aspen when their flights are delayed. Who are they? What happens? What do they talk about? (Not a LoVe pairing)

Ghost of Christmas’ past. You pick the ghost and who they visit. Also, the living don’t have to know they’re being watched, or you can have interactions between the living and the ghost.

Madison’s perspective of how the events unfolded in Aspen (can be her POV) would love a somewhat sympathetic/compassionate approach to a character that never received much dimension from the writers.

Logan and Veronica’s kid “Home Alone” during Christmas.

S3 AU, Logan, Veronica, Keith, and whoever else the writer wants (the whole gang or no one else) meet in Aspen. Can LoVe reconnect during the holidays? Or will things remain the same?

LoVe trying to find the perfect gift for each other in a mall or some big store because they forgot (don't know why, maybe they just got recently back together, perhaps this is a S3 AU :O) days (hours?) before Xmas. There's waaaay too many people, madness and fighting ensues :).

Logan and Veronica attend an office holiday party. Dialogue: “I told you we shouldn’t have brought the fruit cake.”

Logan, Veronica, Wallace, Mac, and Dick go tobogganing. Dialogue: “That is a really bad idea.”

Meg and baby Lilly both lived and they celebrate the baby’s first Christmas with Duncan. Veronica and Logan are involved in some capacity.

Work holiday party hookup, Logan/anyone.

Sophomore year of college. Logan moved out of the Neptune Grand into a new home and while unpacking he finds a Christmas present he got for Veronica, but they had broken up before he gave it to her. He finds her (either at Keith’s or he goes to Stanford) to give her the present now.

Logan and Veronica sing Christmas carols... in front of an audience... for a case.

AU Veronica investigates the case of Santa Claus and Logan tags along.

Either Logan or Veronica try to make some big Christmas dinner and absolutely everything goes wrong. They end up eating pizza/KFC/or something like that on a very messy kitchen floor and making out. The writer can decide if guests arrive and find them like that.

Logan and Veronica. It’s New Year’s Eve and person A got dumped. Person B tries to cheer up person A, and they end up kissing as the countdown reaches 0.

Logan and Veronica just broke up. Dick throws a big Christmas party. Wallace and Mac convince Veronica to go. Logan and Veronica meet there and reconcile.

Logan and Veronica are neighbors and they get into a fierce Christmas decorating contest --way over the top. Veronica eventually learns that Logan wasn’t interested in the competition, he just likes firing her up.

Pre-series New Year's Eve celebration with the fabulous four at the Kane House where they are having a party as well. Celeste makes Duncan and Lilly come inside, but doesn't allow Logan and Veronica who end up kissing each other at midnight.

Veronica and Logan discover how much Pony loves the Christmas tree, especially knocking off ornaments and knocking the whole thing over.

Angsty with a hopeful or happy ending. Veronica comes back from Stanford for Christmas after not seeing Logan for more than a year and goes to see him at the Neptune Grand. Dick's dialogue "He's in his room, but you're not going to like what you find."

Logan and Veronica meet after high school away from Neptune. One or the other needs a pretend date to take home for the holidays either because of lies they told their family, or to compete with an ex's new relationship.

Logan and Veronica are dorm/class acquaintances at Stanford, who end up getting stuck in a snow storm while carpooling to a mutual friends holiday party in Tahoe.

Logan and Veronica are best friends that end up next to each other for the New Years kiss at midnight.

Veronica brings a special Christmas present to Logan at the office.

Logan and Veronica are work frenemies that get picked to be each other's secret Santa.

Remake of movie Love Actually - use all VM characters. Special request: Logan as the Prime Minister and V as his assistant.

Matching Reindeer Boxers – how did Duncan and Logan end up with them? What made each of them decide to wear them that night? What did they think about one another when they realized they’d both selected the same pair (esp. if the author decides Veronica gifted them and it reveals that they’re both being nostalgic and missing her this time of year)

Sibling closeness over the holidays - adult Veronica and Logan planning for or celebrating a holiday with Hunter. Or really anything where Hunter is included in family togetherness.

"Let's import a Christmas tree from Canada."

Logan and Veronica are hosting thanksgiving dinner. They have a LOT to be thankful for (a little surprise for their family and friends - they are expecting).

Accidentally matching holiday underwear!

WeeVer! Set in college, at a point where her Dad doesn’t completely dislike Eli and she’s finally fed up with Logan and/or she loves Eli regardless of all the outside influences.

VMars and Logie Bear accidentally double-booked a train sleeper compartment on the day before Christmas Eve. Five minutes after meeting, they already piss each other off. But with a train this packed and no other way to get to their destination in time...what are they to do? (I have no clue; snark and shenanigans, I assume.)

A Christmas body swap!

Remake the movie Serendipity with Logan and Veronica. It may not be a movie about Christmas but it takes place around Christmas time.

New Year's Eve is always a disappointment. Keith knows this. Everybody knows this. So why not use the day to start working on his resolution for a healthy year? To make a long story short, Keith conscripts some victims to help him replace his pointless crop of lawn grass with kale. Some find it amusing, fewer find it hot, and others are just done.

"I got you for secret santa and I got you this really expensive but sentimental gift that you’ve always wanted, hoping you’ll never find out it’s from me and I’ve been in love with you since forever"

"You got me an amazing present and I didn’t get you anything because I didn’t know we were doing presents because you are just a close friend (and oh, this is supposed to be a declaration of love, well in that case, come to the bed, I’ve got great last minute gift idea)"

Veronica finds her old water bed in the attic while looking for Christmas decorations.

Van Clemmons has always kept himself out of the trenches in his little kingdom of learning and hormones...until he finds a camera in his stapler and Vincent Van Lowe in the waiting room, carrying a tray of Christmas cookies.

A Christmas Carol (the Scrooge one, not the singing kind (though that could be another prompt, where a bunch of carollers show up at LoVe's door)

Logan and Veronica AU - “We went through a really bad break up a month ago, but I already bought you a Christmas gift. it’s too late to return it now and I know you’d really like it so I show up to your house on Christmas Eve and give you the present I bought for you and I swear I see tears in your eyes”

Logan and Veronica drew each other’s name out of the Santa Hat for secret Santa (with mutual friends or at work) and “I really had no clue what to get you, we don’t know each other too well so…”

Logan and Veronica, “let’s dress up our dog as a reindeer” AU

Veronica and Logan both volunteer at the holiday charity and somehow they’ve managed to turn donations for the less fortunate into a competition to see who could get the most donations. AU

Logan and Veronica, sworn enemies, are chosen to prepare the company Christmas Party.

LoVe family buying or decorating the Christmas tree or baking holiday treats or making snowmen.

Logan and Veronica - they broke up, but now they meet at a Christmas party.

Logan and Veronica meet in the E/R on Christmas Eve.

LoVe are co-workers, but they barely know each other. They both have to work through the holidays.

Veronica can’t travel to see her family on Christmas, so she invites Logan, her grumpy loner neighbor.

Veronica or Logan’s ex will be at the Christmas Party. They pose as each other’s fiance or significant other.

“You’ve had too much eggnog and rum and now you’re drunk and doing a strip tease for everyone at this Christmas party; it isn’t sexy in the slightest because you’re giggling and your sweater is caught over your head but I’m still falling in love with you” -Logan & Veronica AU

“I get caught with one of my friends under the mistletoe and you literally sprint from across the room to shove them out of the way and take their spot” AU Veronica and Logan

Logan and Veronica: “It’s hella snowing outside and the power went out in our apartment building. You come up to my door, asking for blankets because you’re freezing but I just pull you inside and oh wait when did we start cuddling?”

Logan & Veronica: “We’re co-workers who hate each other but you had too much to drink at the staff Christmas party and admitted your love for me - I don’t know how to act around you now”

"I was having a snowball fight outside and you were casually walking by and oh my god I’m so sorry I accidentally nailed you in the face" Veronica & Logan AU.

On Christmas Eve, Logan and Veronica are stuck together because of blizzard, they have to share a bed.

LoVe- since the first time they met, every Christmas Eve, one letter appears on their skin, it’s the name of their soulmate (can complicate with two names written on their body, their nemesis and their soulmate)

At Christmas Eve, the heater broke and I’m freezing get over here"

Right before Christmas break, Logan & Veronica: ‘We’re stuck in a log cabin overnight during a snowstorm because of some stupid school team building exercise and it’s freezing and I can’t sleep and you can hear me shivering in the next bed so you pick me up and dump in your bed and good grief you are hot in every sense of the word’

Logan and Veronica - ‘It’s Christmas, I’m visiting my family, you’re pretending to be my significant other so my mum gets off my case only she’s assuming we’re going to be sleeping in the same bed together’

Can be set during S3 or around the movie - Keith and Logan interact while Veronica watches (holiday of your choosing). Inspiration these B&W photos taken by Chris Lowell:

Happy creating, and happy holidays!

#veronica mars #veronica mars fanfic #vm fanfic #vmhq holiday fic grab bag

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artificialqueens · 7 years ago

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Pick Up Pick Up (Courtney x Valentina) - Stephanie/Veronica

A/N: Hi all! This is another entry for the fic challenge, taken from Chapters 3 and 4 of Undone (and some sneak peaks from Chapter 5), with some “bonus content” from Valentina’s POV.

Summary: When Courtney picked up Valentina at the club, she was not prepared for Valentina’s Feelings.

From Steph: Can we all just take a second and realize how crazy this bitch Valentina is. I hope you love this as much as I love it.

From V: As always, undying gratitude to our beta readers, @theofficialcunt , @willamdelrio , @artificial-jazz , @collidinggalaxiesofstars

VALENTINA: Hola! It’s me, Valentina. I had fun this weekend. This may sound crazy but I think I left a hair clip at your place. I know it’s dumb but I’m kind of attached to it. It has red roses on it. 🌹🌹🌹I’m sorry to be a pain. Lol

COURTNEY: It’s no problem, I’ll look when I get home.

VALENTINA: OMG thank you so much.

COURTNEY: NP. I hope I find it. It’ll give me an excuse to see you again.

VALENTINA: Well, if you happen to be free, my friend Enrique is having a party on Friday. You wanna be my date? 🌹

COURTNEY: Can I get back to you later in the week? We usually do night shoots on Fridays.

VALENTINA: I’m sorry, lol, I didn’t mean to be so pushy

COURTNEY: You’re not! I just don’t know what time we’re gonna wrap. I might have to roll in late looking a bit rough…

VALENTINA: Lol you’ll look gorgeous. I can’t wait. 🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹

***

“Girl, can you please calm down? You’re doing that manic thing and it’s just a lot, this early in the morning,” Aja complains, slipping on her headset.

“I know, I’m sorry, I just…I can’t help it.” Valentina tries to hide her radiant smile, but it’s useless. She’s glowing with light and love, bursting with happiness, and she wants to tell everyone.

“I know, but for some of us, it’s Monday, and that’s like, shitty, so…please. Take a Xanax or smoke a bowl or like…I dunno, read something about homeless puppies.” Aja turns to her computer, pretending not to notice Valentina still peering over the top of her cubicle. She takes a long sip of her coffee, answering an email from her boss, and then slowly turns back around, sighing. “Fine. Tell me about this girl.”

Valentina squeals happily, prancing over to her cubicle and sitting down on the rolling file cabinet, beaming.

“Okay, so, her name is Courtney and she’s beautiful and caring and perfect and I think I’m in love.”

Aja bursts out laughing.

“I’m serious! You weren’t there. When she kissed me, it was like time stopped,” Valentina says, eyes shimmering. “I can still feel her skin against mine when I close my eyes.”

“Do you want some privacy?” Aja asks, one eyebrow raised.

“Don’t be jealous,” Valentina smirks.

“Ha! Unlikely.”

After a pause, Valentina adds, “I’ve seen her around. I know she’s a little bit of a player. But…this was different. The way she held me, you don’t understand. Nobody has ever made me feel that way. It was like…she really saw me, and…and besides, she already said that she wants to see me again. So, that’s not some casual thing, right?”

“No,” Aja says, sorting through a pile of receipts. “It sounds like she’s totally on the same page. I mean from what I know about lesbians, ‘I want to see you again’ pretty much means ‘bring a UHaul with your stuff and let’s get a cat,’ right?”

“Is it weird that I started a wedding board on pinterest?”

“For you? No, that’s not weird at all.” Aja rolls her eyes again, going back to her computer.

Valentina lets out a giddy laugh as James pops his head over the cubicle.

“You know what you should do?”

“Jesus!” Aja jumps, startled.

“Sorry girl. But, you know what you should do?” James asks earnestly.

“What?” Valentina asks, happy for someone else to be invested in her budding romance.

“Change your relationship status on Facebook,” he says, clapping his hands.

“Really?”

“Yes! It’ll be so funny, she’ll think it’s adorable.”

“So funny,” Aja echoes sarcastically, snickering.

A slow smile spreads across Valentina’s face at the thought of everyone knowing about Courtney. It would be pretty adorable. And what’s the harm? They’re well on their way to a relationship anyway, what’s the problem with announcing it a little early? Worst case scenario, if Courtney thought it was too soon, she’d take it down, but it would give her the opportunity to confess that she could really see a future together. And someday, it would be a cute story they’d tell. She giggles, excitement bubbling up inside as she walks back to her desk.

***

“Courtney!” Adore bursts into the wardrobe trailer. “Holy shit, girl, tell me you did not sleep with that crazy bitch Valentina this weekend!”

Courtney and Bianca both turn to Adore slowly.

“Uhhh…I could tell you that, but it would be a lie.”

“Dude, what the fuck? Why would you do that?”

“Um, because she was beautiful, and…willing. And, I’m single. I dunno. It’s not like I’m marrying her, calm down.”

“Have you not heard Shea’s stories about that girl?” Adore sighs.

“…No?” Courtney ventures.

“She’s fucking nuts, bro. She used to text her 50 times a day and like, even called her office and once she-”

“Adore, you know how dramatic Shea is. She seemed like a very nice girl. We had a good time. She even made me breakfast.”

“At your house or her house?” Adore asks, crossing her arms.

“My house, why?”

“Lock your doors at night, is all I have to say.”

“Thanks for your concern,” Courtney laughs.

Adore shakes her head, exiting the trailer.

“So apparently you got laid this weekend?” Bianca says lightly. She zips up her dress, trying not to stare at the deep scratch marks covering her back and shoulders.

“Yeah,” Courtney answers casually, looking at Bianca’s face in the mirror. For some reason, she’s not sure how much she wants to elaborate about her rendezvous with the beautiful Latina girl who’d caught her eye at Roosterfish. Her glittering eyes, ruby lips and deep curves. The way, in a certain light, her lovely face looked a little familiar, the way holding her close satisfied a particular ache. So she flips it around with a coy, “You?”

“No comment.” Bianca smirks at her.

“That good, huh?” Courtney chuckles.

“Shut the fuck up,” Bianca laughs, shaking her head. “You rude bitch.”

Courtney giggles while Bianca pins the straps of her dress. “Well, mine was delightful. Don’t believe Adore’s hysterics. She was…something else. Body to die for. Gorgeous smile. I spotted her across the dance floor and just…” Courtney tongue pops.

“That easy, huh?”

“Like candy from a baby,” Courtney smirks, winking at Bianca in the mirror.

Bianca clears her throat, shaking her head slightly. A notification goes off on Courtney’s phone and she looks down, frowning slightly.

“Huh.”

“What?”

“Um, it’s just…I got a Facebook notification. It’s kind of…strange.”

“Be a little more cryptic, it’s not like I’m working,” Bianca says, rolling her eyes.

“Sorry.” Courtney holds up her phone to show Bianca the screen.

Valentina Leyva tagged you in her life event: In a Relationship with Courtney Hamilton.

Bianca raises her eyebrows. “Uhhh. When did you meet her?”

Courtney puts down the phone. “Saturday.”

Bianca whistles. “You forgot to give the baby her candy back.”

“…fuck.”

“And…it sounds like you owe Adore an apology.”

Courtney groans.

COURTNEY: Um. I’m not sure exactly how to say this sensitively…

VALENTINA: Ok i’m a little scared lol

COURTNEY: Yeah, uh…what’s with the Facebook thing?

VALENTINA: OHHHH! Hahaha omg sorry, that’s just me and my friends messing around. We thought it was funny. 🌹

COURTNEY: I’m probably just missing the joke

VALENTINA: Like, he said it would be cute lol

COURTNEY: It’s not

VALENTINA: Ok i said sorry, you don’t have to get weird about it, wtf

COURTNEY: I’m going to respectfully disengage from this conversation. Have a nice day!

VALENTINA: YOU are gonna “disengage”

VALENTINA: What does that even mean?

***

“James!” Valentina cries, as Courtney’s phone clicks over to voicemail for the second time. She drops it onto her desk, shaking slightly.

“What’s wrong, muffin?”

“I…I…I think I fucked up.”

“What do you mean?”

“She didn’t think that Facebook thing was funny-”

“There’s a shock,” Aja mutters.

“And then I kind of freaked out and I think I pissed her off and now she’s not answering my calls and what if she doesn’t give me another chance, James, what am I gonna do?!” Valentina’s voice breaks into a sob, as James runs around the bullpen to awkwardly hug her around the waist.

“Val, honey, this is why you shouldn’t get so invested after one damn night with someone!” Aja lectures, throwing her hands up in the air.

Valentina turns to her, tears streaking down her face. “You’re the one who said she was on the same page! And the thing about the UHaul!”

“That was a joke,” Aja laughs.

“Way to pick your moments, Aja,” James says.

“And you! This is your fault!” Valentina exclaims, shoving James away.

“I’m sorry, I really thought it was-”

“Shut up!” Valentina cries, covering her face and collapsing into her chair.

James looks over at Aja with a worried look. Aja shakes her head, mouthing “DRAMA” back at him.

***

VALENTINA: Why aren’t you answering my calls???

VALENTINA: Oh I see how it is

VALENTINA: CUNT 🥀🥀🥀🥀🥀

VALENTINA: Courtney, you’re being stupid, I just want to talk.

VALENTINA: I still want you to come Friday.

VALENTINA: We can work this out, okay? I don’t understand why you are being so mean. You said you wanted to see me again…

VALENTINA: PICK UP PICK UP PICK UP PICK UP

COURTNEY: Please stop calling.

VALENTINA: UR A BITCH

VALENTINA: PLEASE PICK UP

VALENTINA: Please Courtney

***

Looking back, there were red flags. First of all, there was the whole doe-eyed innocent act. “This is my first time here,” Valentina had said, when Courtney knew for a fact that she’d been coming to that club for over a year. Shea knew her somehow - through work or something. Shea also didn’t like her for some reason. But then again, Shea didn’t like a lot of people, so Courtney wasn’t about to hold that against her.

But in retrospect…it may have been a good idea to ask Shea what her deal was. Just like, a refresher on why she hated the kid. Because maybe then Courtney would have been able to avoid the whole drama.

Of course, she didn’t do that. Because it was late and Courtney was bored and there was something about her eyes, and her smile, the curve of her cheek, that captivated Courtney. In a certain light, she almost looked like…well, of course, Courtney knew who she looked like; there was no use dwelling in it.

There was no denying how beautiful she was. How her bright smile practically glowed. On the dance floor, she melted into Courtney’s arms, gazing at her with those big amber eyes, lapping up the attention like a greedy little baby. And when Adore waltzed over to slur goodnight, kissing Courtney full on the mouth and squeezing her ass, Courtney felt nails digging into her waist, eyes flashing with a jealous rage. Another red flag that Courtney ignored. Some girls didn’t like it when the women they were with kissed their friends on the lips. That was fair, right?

When Courtney suggested heading to her place, she’d practically swooned right there on the dance floor. They’d walked the three minutes to Courtney’s house, Valentina’s soft hand tucked in hers, Courtney’s arm around her waist, making sure she didn’t trip in her staggering heels - impractical for this neighborhood, but Courtney couldn’t deny how sexy her legs looked.

Once inside, Courtney realized that she had a real live pillow princess on her hands. But, one thing that Courtney never lacked in bed was generosity. So she worked slow and gentle…stripping off her dress, her bra…worshipping every inch of her smooth, golden brown skin, until she was writhing and begging. And then she peeled off her soaking wet panties and began to lick her softly, hands holding her trembling thighs, tongue swirling and stroking and dancing over her, sucking on her clit. Valentina’s breathing grew ragged and she began to whimper, and Courtney increased the pressure, stroking her thighs.

Her first orgasm was breathy, airy, almost restrained. Courtney pressed a soft tongue against her core, patient. Knowing that soon enough, she’d be doing much better. When her panting began to slow down, Courtney swirled her tongue faster, sliding a finger inside her easily, curling it forward, eliciting a low moan.

Courtney stroked her from the inside, bringing her to the brink, then withdrawing her hand. Valentina whined, clawing at the covers as Courtney licked up her torso, sucking on her nipples, biting gently at her collarbone, kissing her neck up to her pulse point. She threaded her hands into her dark hair and kissed her deeply, grinding her down into the mattress, nuzzling against her face, feeling her flushed cheeks, lifting her head to look into her dazed, hooded eyes, dilated pupils dark with lust.

From the way she squeezed her eyes shut, arching up, muscles tense, Courtney could tell she was on the brink again. This time she sounded slightly more desperate, nails digging into Courtney’s waist. Courtney reached down to help her along, toying with her clit, then pressing the heel of her hand against her while one finger worked inside. Valentina cried out, gasping, her grip on Courtney’s waist like a vice.

Courtney held her, kissing her sweaty temples while she caught her breath.

Valentina’s eyes fluttered, gazing up at Courtney lovingly, and Courtney grinned. “Got anymore in you, baby?”

“I…oh god…”

Courtney laughed, stroking her thigh. “Your decision. I can call it a night if you want. But if you’re up for more…”

“Don’t stop,” she whispered hoarsely.

Smirking, Courtney tilted her chin up to look into her hooded eyes. “How adventurous are you feeling?” She reached behind her, pulling open a drawer of the nightstand, and took out the strap-on, letting it dangle from her fingers by the harness.

Valentina’s chest heaved. She reached a hand up to touch Courtney’s cheek, nodding.

“I’m afraid I need some actual verbal consent here, love.”

Valentina flashed her Miss America smile. “Yes. Yes please.”

Courtney smiled back, turning to slip into the harness, adjusting the straps, covering the whole thing with lube. When she turned back, Valentina was sprawled out on the bed, legs spread, giving her best Playboy pose.

“Okay,” she said in a sultry voice, lashes fluttering. “I’m ready.”

A laugh escaped Courtney’s lips. “Baby…” she kissed Valentina gently on the mouth, hands sliding around her waist. “I’m not just gonna jam it inside you straight off…”

Valentina giggled nervously. “Right.”

“Just relax…” Courtney continued to kiss her until she was breathless, working her way down her body until she was quivering, begging for it. Courtney blew softly on her as she writhed and arched, clawing at Courtney’s hair.

“Please, please, please…” she whined.

Courtney held down her hips, hovering over her, pressing the tip of the dildo against her, teasing, tits brushing against her lightly as she rolled her body forward.

A pitiful moan escaped from Valentina’s lips as she tried in vain to tangle her legs around Courtney’s.

“Are you ready, baby?”

“Yes!”

Courtney pushed slowly inside her, sliding her hands around to her ass, holding her close as she sucked gentle kisses into her neck. She rocked her hips, slowly at first, and then speeding up gradually, tongue gently massaging hers, kisses wet and deep.

Valentina began to whimper, nails raking Courtney’s back, digging into her shoulders. Her legs were wrapped tightly around Courtney’s narrow hips, arching up to meet every thrust, clit grinding against Courtney’s, skin burning hot.

Courtney moved a hand to her breast, pinching a nipple between her fingers. A moan escaped her lips as she clawed deeper into Courtney’s skin.

And then she came, moaning until her throat was hoarse and raw, until her body was limp as a rag doll.

Courtney gathered her into her arms, kissing her over and over.

“Was that good, my love?” she murmured, stroking her sticky thighs.

Valentina had snuggled blissfully against her, nodding, drifting off into a contented sleep.

In the morning, Valentina ran her fingers lazily through Courtney’s hair and told her in a breathy whisper that she wanted to cook her breakfast. Courtney kissed her eyelids, told her that wasn’t necessary, but she insisted.

So, dressed in an oversized shirt that was a wrap gift on one of Courtney’s old shows, she bustled around the kitchen trying to make sense of the vegan ingredients on hand while Courtney boiled water for tea and explained what tempeh was.

Afterwards, before she called an uber to head back to her place in Mar Vista, Courtney pushed her onto the sofa and gave her one more orgasm for the road. She was just trying to be a good host. The last red flag was the look of pure, head over heels puppy love that she gave her before shutting the car door, like Courtney was the center of the fucking universe.

#oops

***

VALENTINA: I’M CALLING YOU AGAIN, PICK UP!!!

VALENTINA: Courtneyyyy!! Picckkkk uppp!!!!

***

Valentina sits in front of her mirror, eyes dull with tears. Her phone screen has a crack across the front from when she’d thrown it against the wall yesterday. She closes her eyes, wishing the same things that she had since that awful Monday when her world had come crashing down.

I wish that she would talk to me

I wish that she would love me.

If she can’t love me, then I wish I could forget all of it…the way she looks, the way she smiles, the way she touched me, the way I felt in her arms…every second I spent with her. Please make me forget.

She covers her face, tears leaking through her hands, sobbing quietly until she’s gasping for breath. When she opens her eyes, she hates the reflection that looks back at her in the mirror. She glances down at her phone, fingers itching. She knows she shouldn’t, but she can’t stop herself.

***

VALENTINA: Why are you ignoring me???

VALENTINA: Who the fuck do you think you are?

VALENTINA: Some washed up nobody, working as a fucking extra

VALENTINA: YOU WISH YOU COULD GET SOMEONE LIKE ME

VALENTINA: Please, please answer! 🥀🥀🥀🥀🥀🥀🥀

VALENTINA: You rude bitch

VALENTINA: You’re all I think about. I don’t understand why you’re ignoring me. I’ve never felt this way before, about anyone. I know you felt the same way - why won’t you just talk to me? 🥀🥀🥀🥀🥀🥀🥀🥀🥀🥀🥀🥀🥀🥀🥀🥀🥀🥀🥀🥀🥀🥀🥀🥀🥀🥀🥀🥀

COURTNEY: Please listen to me. I am not interested. I’m not going to respond again. You need to stop.

***

Courtney sighs, drumming her fork nervously on the table. Valentina has been calling all week with increasing frequency. She flips her phone over so that she doesn’t have to see it lighting up with her name anymore.

“I’m telling you, block her number,” Adore says, turning her hat around. Today it says “FUCK OFF.”

“That’s really extreme. I told her to stop. Now I’m just gonna ignore her; she’ll get bored.”

Bianca shakes her head.

“I’m afraid I have to agree with Joan Jett over here. Block her crazy ass before she boils a rabbit.” She takes a bite of lasagna.

“That’s funny,” Adore laughs, mouth full. “She’s funny.”

“I told you,” Courtney says.

“I guess you do have more to offer than your tits,” Adore says. “Cheers.” She holds up her plastic cup.

“Forget it, I don’t agree with anything she says, ever,” Bianca says, rolling her eyes. “Go with your instincts.”

Courtney laughs.

“Thanks, you’re both very helpful.”

***

VALENTINA: I don’t understand why you’re doing this 🥀🥀🥀🥀🥀🥀🥀🥀🥀🥀

VALENTINA: I thought you liked me

VALENTINA: This isn’t fair!!! 🥀🥀🥀🥀🥀

VALENTINA: Tell me what you want from me

VALENTINA: How can you be so heartless???

VALENTINA: 🥀🥀🥀🥀🥀🥀🥀🥀🥀🥀🥀🥀🥀🥀🥀🥀🥀🥀🥀🥀🥀🥀🥀🥀🥀🥀🥀🥀🥀🥀🥀🥀🥀🥀🥀🥀🥀🥀🥀🥀🥀🥀🥀🥀🥀🥀🥀🥀🥀🥀🥀🥀🥀🥀🥀🥀🥀

***

Wondering how it ends with Valentina? Chapter 5 of “Undone” will be posted in full soon! XOXO

#veronica #stephanie #courtney x valentina #fic challenge #lesbian au #Smut #fluff #angst #courtney act #valentina #adore delano #bianca del rio #Aja #rpdr fanfiction #rare pair

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