#when I was at work last night my dad sent me a picture of her on his bed (she won’t rest on my bed rn with me in it) like you little shit

[folksy]

how is your cat doing?

she’s doing much better! she’s very talkative like her usual self, eating a lot, and running around. I take her back for a checkup on thursday. she still is trying to hide around some and won’t cuddle with me but I think some of that is attributed to her being mad at me (I’m the one who took her to the vet and giving her meds). thanks for asking!

[maiiuelle]

what if rafe and reader are more than friends but they didn’t really put a label on it and even top and kelce noticed but rafe still has the occasional hookup and one night when reader was js thinking abt stuff and then she realizes that shes inlove with rafe but when she came over to tannyhill to confess and rafe answered with his hair all messed up and him shirtless and he basically smelled like sex and when rafe asks why shes there she randomly just runs away and cries in her car while driving home so basically just angst (does that make sense idk)

you feel like your going crazy, standing at tannyhill’s front stoop twiddling your thumbs.

your relationship with rafe cameron is complicated; you’d almost call it a situationship, but you couldn’t put a label on it. you’d been going to all of his parties to serve as arm candy, posed with him at the golf course, and hooked up with him more than once. it’s beyond casual, but he has yet to pop the girlfriend question. even with his little commitment, you’d been finding it hard to keep your mind off of him — or rather, what the two of you had done together. you have to mean more to him than he’s letting on.

so, you knock on tannyhill’s giant glass front door again, biting your lip nervously as you look over the texts you’d already sent him to let him know you were coming.

“hey! just thinking ab u.. are u free tn? <3” you asked right after work, hopping in the shower in hopes you could head straight to his place after.

“busy. work shit. u free on friday?”

“oh idk. sucks we cant do tn, i miss u.” you followed your message with a picture of you sitting on your pink bedsheets, posing in the mirror to show off your silky pajamas. you thought he just needed a little convincing, but he didn’t respond.

“can u call me before bed? sorry, i know u said ur busy.”

by then it had been an hour or two, still no response from rafe. you were pacing around your room. all you wanted was to spend time with him, even if that meant lounging around while he works. anything would do, you just couldn’t stay away.

you came to the conclusion had to show him how much you care somehow, and what better way than to go to tannyhill and confess your love for him — it would be like a romance movie, he’d probably be exhausted from work and happy to see you by then!

“i’m sorry if this is sudden, i just feel like i really need to see you. i’ll just drop by for a second xoxo see u soon”

suddenly, the front door swings open, revealing a very disheveled rafe cameron. his bangs are a mess, sweaty and strewn across his forehead. his whole face is red, his lips swollen, and all he’s wearing are blue flannel pajama pants. you’d seen him like this before, pussy drunk and stumbling around a dark room. your heart deflates as he pushes open the front door, familiar blue eyes squinting at you through the night. “the fuck are you doing? you’re gonna wake up my fuckin’ dad.”

“work shit, huh? really, rafe?” you snap, looking him over completely disgusted. “what’re you d—”

“nah, nah. i told you i was busy — did i not?” he cuts you off, holding a finger in your face and grabbing your upper arm with the other hand, making you jump. “could’a kept yourself from all this if you just listened to me, right? right?” he jostles you, like he could shake a response out of you, but you’re frozen. he lets you go at the sight of your face, squeezing the bridge of his nose. “fuckin’ figures.”

“are you.. high?” you pull your knit cardigan tighter around your shoulders, tears already beginning to brim your waterline at the utter betrayal.

rafe recoils, acting overly offended to take the heat off his obvious cheating. “you’re gonna talk to me like that at my own goddamn house? do me a favor — go home, and i’ll think about callin’ you.”

“don’t bother. asshole.” you cry, turning away. the last glimmer of hope you have is snuffed out when you hear the glass door slam behind him, leaving you alone once again.

defeated, you retreat back to your car, wiping your tear stained cheeks pitifully. you should have known, rafe cameron is a player.

➺ do you…

⟡ hear out rafe’s apology

OR

⟡ tell jj what rafe did

[bumblesimagines]

Summer Days

Request: Yes or No

Pronouns: He/His/Him, M!Reader

Summary: Sarah's summers have always been days filled with fun and occasionally chaos. Her two most memorable summers? Completely and utterly different from each other.

CW/TW: Typical OBX warnings, mentions of drinking, brief mention of dealing, uhhh situationships being the worst, very minor angst, sarah please pick a guy and stick with him

~~~

"And I told him I wanted the newest Hermès bag that came out recently. I mean, I sent him a picture of it and everything, but no, Jason 'forgot' and got me a Prada bag. Dad always gets me Prada for my birthday, and he knows that. It's like he's not even listening to me." 

Sarah absentmindedly listened to Phoebe vent about her boyfriend again, her head tilted out to observe the long expanse of the ocean around them. Her mouth still felt sticky from the juice she'd been drinking, the taste of mango dancing on her tongue and mixing with a hint of strawberry from the sips she'd taken of Audrey's daiquiri. She inhaled the salty air and turned away from the serene scenery to search for the rest of the Kooks around. 

She spotted most of the guys in the water or lingering around the bar, among them her older brother who lounged on the pool floaty Kelce had brought along. Topper remained by the bar to work as their temporary bartender, taking out and pouring cool drinks for them whilst animatedly chatting with Jason who seemed oblivious to his girlfriend's irritation. Kelce finished his beer with one last swing and wiped at his mouth with the back of his wrist before he ran forward and dove off the yacht into the water, droplets of water briefly raining on the three girls and pulling groans from Phoebe and Audrey. 

With a soft chuckle, Sarah swung her legs over the couch and wiped the droplets off her warm arms, the heat of the floor digging into the bottom of her feet as she quickly headed for the shaded area to escape it. Topper greeted her with a wide smile and offered her one of the beer bottles he cracked open but she dismissed him with a shake of her head and headed below deck where sweet feeling AC oozed out to cool her sun-kissed skin. 

She spared a glance over her shoulder to ensure Topper hadn't followed her down for a conversation before she opened the door leading into the bedroom and slipped inside. She shut the door quietly behind her and turned on her heel to eye the familiar man lying on the bed. He lifted his head groggily and squinted through the light pouring in from the window, grunting quietly when he recognized her and dropping his head back onto the pillow. 

"Hey, sleepyhead." She greeted, climbing into the bed and feeling herself sink into the mattress as she crawled over to him. Flopping down beside him and propping her head up on her hand, she used the other one to stroke his head with a small smile. "Long night, huh? I haven't seen you in hours."

"The Carrera's let the Zimmermans host their wedding vow renewal at the restaurant and the last few guests left around 2 in the morning. You'd think with their age and money, they'd know a few things about etiquette." He huffed softly and rubbed at his eyes with his knuckles, lips forming a small pout. Exhaustion still clung to his tone.

"Sounds like 'em." She giggled.

Scooting closer and pressing herself into his side, she leaned in and pecked the corner of his lips. He breathily chuckled and lolled his head to the side to look at her through half-lidded eyes threatening to fully close again. His arm slipped under and around her waist, fingertips brushing over her hip and toying with the side of the blue bikini bottom. Her lips tugged into a smile and she leaned forward again, properly pressing her lips over his and dragging her body over his. She shuddered at the feeling of his cold skin pressing against her, feeling the vibrations of another chuckle. 

He pressed his palms against her back and she immediately arched with a soft hiss to escape the cold, the contrast in temperatures sending a sharp jolt up her spine. "You're cold." She whined, swatting at his shoulder and puffing out her cheeks in a huff that faded with his gentle laughter. 

His arms tightened around her and he rolled them over swiftly, the movements drawing a short squeak from Sarah followed by more giggling. He slumped down on top of her, the weight of his body pressing down on her and keeping her trapped beneath the cold. She gave a low groan at the feeling and fumbled around for the tousled blankets until she tugged one over them to escape the cold of the blasting AC. His lips pushed against hers again, more lazily than she had, and his fingers toyed with the laces of her bikini top. 

Sarah hardly recalled when he'd gone from simply being her brother's friend to being the guy she snuck around with. There'd been a time when she'd dismissed the very thought of even flirting with someone involved with her brother's shenanigans but his friendly smile and the gentleness of his touch had turned her brain to mush. What she'd intended to be a simple kiss of curiosity extended into opening herself up to be at her most vulnerable.

His phone buzzed on the nightstand, tugging a heavy sigh from his chest. She watched him sluggishly search around the edge of the bed until his knuckles bumped into the nightstand and he managed to find his phone with a quiet grunt. (Y/N) raised his head and tapped the screen, watching it light up and show a new message. Sarah's lips pursed at the sight of Kiara's text, unable to tear her eyes away from the text in hopes of seeing its contents.

"How's..." Sarah swallowed. "How's Kie?" 

"Still hanging out with her troublemakers." (Y/N) yawned, pressing over a single emoji and sending it in response. "They're gonna wind up dead sooner or later if they keep all that shit up. Or in jail." 

"I don't know," Sarah said thoughtfully, raising her gaze to the ceiling, her fingertips toying with the ends of her hair. "They always look like they're having fun, like every day is a new adventure for them."

(Y/N) chuckled and set his phone down on the nightstand again, ignoring the next time it buzzed. "You want to be one of 'em now?" 

"What? You don't think I can be?" 

"I think-" (Y/N) pressed his lips against her jawline. "-that Kie will never let you anywhere near her boys, let alone join them on their 'adventures', Sarah."

Sarah shifted her weight from foot to foot, bubbling nerves forming in the pit of her stomach as she focused on the graying hair of the man in front of her, resisting the urge to peer around him to look at (Y/N) tending the register. How long had it been since the end of... whatever they had going on? Almost a year, she recalled, since they parted ways and she found herself a spot amongst the Pogues. A dozen things had practically happened since then, some highs she'd remember forever and some lows she'd rather forget. 

"Have a good day," (Y/N) called to the man shuffling away with his things, his eyes locking onto his phone screen as he typed swiftly before tucking it back into his pocket. He looked at her, blinked in surprise, and then plastered on one of those tight-lipped smiles people used to greet each other on the street.

"Hi." Sarah exhaled, heaving two paint cans onto the counter before retrieving the two smaller ones she'd set on the floor. "It's been a while." 

"Yeah," (Y/N) scanned each bucket of paint, the silence that followed filled by the soft whir of the AC and the quiet beeping of the scanner. "I assume these are for the project down at Maybank's old place?"

"Yeah! We're, uhm, we're opening up our own shops down by the water. It'd be nice if you, uhm, decided to stop by once we're done. Support your local business and all that." Sarah laughed, somewhat awkwardly, and tucked some hair behind her ear, her lips pursing slightly when he only hummed in response. He looked the same, she noted. The casual, nonchalant attitude remained, the very thing that'd caught her attention after his smile. 

"Funny coming from a Cameron." He muttered, tapping some buttons before nudging the card machine toward her. "Your total is $23.92."

"Routledge now, actually," Sarah corrected half-heartedly, fumbling with the pockets of her jacket before taking out the cash Pope had reluctantly parted with after he'd ensured to remind her numerous times to just buy the four cans of paint. She flicked through the bills, counting softly under her breath before handing over the money. 

"Soon-to-be or was it a small, private affair?" (Y/N) asked, sticking the money in the register and handing her back the change. She ignored the buzz in her veins when their fingers grazed and shoved the change into her pocket, reminding herself why she'd chosen John B in the first place... though, she'd be lying if it hadn't started as a rebound. "Or is it one of those things like getting a promise ring and then waiting a few years?" 

"We're... still figuring it out." Sarah shrugged and took a deep breath, grasping the cool handles and lifting the cans from the counter. She pressed her lips together, eyes flickering between the two remaining cans on the counter and internally groaning over having brushed Kiara off so she could spend time with JJ. "Can-"

"You can take the lighter ones." (Y/N) snorted softly, rounding the counter and taking the cans from her already aching hands. Sarah inhaled, and then held it, the subtle smell of his cologne washing over her and filling her head with memories of their time together. "Where's the car?"

Once she took the smaller cans, she led him outside where humid air and blazing sunrays awaited them, immediately making her miss the cold air in the store as they walked down the sidewalk to the curb where she'd parked the Twinkie. She clutched the cans with one arm and fumbled for the keys with the other before unlocking the passenger door and setting them down below the seat. (Y/N) mimicked her actions, carefully setting the cans down and rubbing the imprint from the handles. 

Shutting the door for her, he turned to face her, lips drawn into a line that barely resembled a smile. "Well, it was nice seeing you, Sarah. Good luck with your, uh, maybe husband and all that." 

"You could- you could come, you know, to our place. I'm sure Kie would love catching up and- and I think you'd really like Cleo. She's amazing and-"

"I don't think that'd be a good idea considering our... history." 

Sarah's brows twitched downward, a mixture of embarrassment and a hint of hurt flaring inside her. "History? You can say the word, you know. It was a relationship. We were together for, what? A year? Almost two? And you never even bothered inviting me to things or- or even being public about it-" 

"We never talked about what it was." (Y/N) scoffed. "We were friends who fucked for a long time. I never knew what it actually was because you never wanted to talk about it, Sarah. You were the one who broke it off, anyway, and for what? We argued one time and you moved on. So, I don't get why you're bringing this up now or why you're upset when you're in a relationship." 

"I- I..." Sarah trailed off, her mouth clamping shut and teeth grinding together. She raked a frustrated hand through her hair, pushing back the strands of blonde and brown hair away from her face. "I got scared, okay? Sometimes I get scared so I leave people before they can leave and break my heart. I.. I'm sorry. I didn't want us to- to end like that. I didn't want us to end at all. I wanted to, I don't know.. make you jealous so you'd come back." 

"But I didn't, and now you're with Routledge, so maybe it wasn't meant to be in the first place." (Y/N) exhaled heavily, his shoulders slumping with the air that escaped his lungs. "I don't do this type of thing anymore, Sarah. I left all that childish back-and-forth shit in high school; I don't deal, anymore, or even hang with Barry. If you want to be a Routledge, you can't go around talking to other guys about why things didn't work out. Don't fuck this up for yourself."

[ladykailitha]

The Au Pair Boy Part 4

And this story is back!!! Sorry about last week, but I really wanted to finish the rockstar AU.

In this we get, Chrissy and the girls being cute and everyone gets to know each other a little bit more.

Part 1 Part 2 Part 3

~

Chrissy stayed the first day to help with the meltdowns but was a little surprised when Steve let them just lie on the floor.

Steve caught her raised eyebrow and huffed a laugh. “Sometimes the best way to deal with a temper tantrum is to ignore it. Plus, their dad just left for what is not short amount of time. He’s not coming back tomorrow or even next week. He’s going to gone for months. I think they deserve a little floor time, don’t you?”

She cocked her head to the side. “Huh. I never thought it of it like that.” She walked over to the girls and laid down next to them.

When Steve came back from making breakfast, he found both girls wrapped around Chrissy and all three of them sound asleep. He went back into the kitchen and carefully wrapped up their sandwiches. Lunch could wait.

It was some time later before any of them stirred. Joan was the first. She sat up and looked around. The sun had changed position so the room was darker. She spotted her sister and Chrissy, still asleep.

She wandered the house before she spotted Steve in his room reading.

“Well hello there,” he said gently. “Are you the only one awake?”

She nodded and crawled up on his lap. “I want Daddy, but I can’t find him.”

Steve set down his book and wrapped his arms around her waist. “Remember, Joanie, Daddy’s at work now, but he said he would call as soon as he plane landed. Has he called yet?”

Joanie looked up at him thoughtfully. “Would he call you or Aunt Chrissy?”

Steve scooped her up and started carrying her down the stairs. “He said he would call Chrissy tonight, then me every night I’m working. Which is why I’m taking back to her so you don’t miss his call.”

“Daddy is going to come back right?” she asked, his voice small. “Not like Papa?”

“Your daddy would never leave you like your papa did, Joanie,” Steve murmured. “He loves you too much.”

“Then why did he leave?”

Well he wasn’t sure how to answer that in a way she would understand. “Your daddy got a once in a life time opportunity to get back together with his band. He had work with four people’s schedules. But he loved you so much that he made sure that he had someone he could trust with you and Janie, okay?”

Joan nodded and wrapped her arms around Steve’s neck as he worked his way back to the front room.

Chrissy was just waking up, but Janice was still asleep. She looked at her watch and cursed.

“Aunt Chrissy said a bad word,” Joan huffed as Steve set her down.

Chrissy head whipped around to see Steve and Joan standing in the entrance way. “Oh, hi, Joanie, I didn’t see you standing there. You shouldn’t have wandered off without telling me.”

“I went looking for Daddy and found Steve,” she said pointing to Steve.

Chrissy looked up at Steve and then back at Joan. “Good job, Joanie.” She gently untangled herself from Janice’s iron tight grip and stood up. She straightened her clothes and glared at him.

“Why did you let me sleep so long?” she huffed, crossing her arms.

Steve pulled out his phone without a word and fiddled with a moment, before turning the screen around so she could see.

“Oh.”

There on the screen was a picture of her with the girls, all cuddled together in a pile on the floor.

“Um,” she said shyly, “if I gave you my number could you send that to me? I want it as the wallpaper on my phone.”

Steve nodded. She rattled off her phone number and he sent her the picture with a grin. Behind her Janice was waking up, groggy and disorientated.

“Daddy?” Janice asked sleepily. She looked around and saw only Steve, Chrissy, and Joan and immediately burst into tears.

Chrissy wrapped her arms around the little girl and held her tight. Joan waddled up to Chrissy and tugged her shirt sleeve. Chrissy brought her willingly into the hug. “It’s all right, pumpkins I think it’s past time for lunch. And I think everyone is feeling a little hangry at the moment.”

“I’ve got sandwiches in the fridge,” Steve offered jutting his thumb behind him.

Suddenly the girls pulled away from Chrissy and made a mad dash for the kitchen, Steve fast on their heels to make sure they didn’t try to get the plate out of the fridge themselves. Chrissy followed close behind, shaking her head fondly.

~

Lunch was a hit especially when the girls saw that their sandwiches were cut into little hearts.

“Did you throw away the scraps?” Chrissy asked as she munched happily on her non-hearted turkey sandwich.

Steve shook his head. “I cut the bread before adding anything to it, condiments, meat, cheese and then I use the bread scraps to make bread crumbs. Then I trim the cheese and have a little snacking cheese while I finish the other sandwiches.”

“Clever.”

Steve ducked his head and blushed. “Hey, girls what does your Daddy say about business at the lunch table?”

Joan and Janice shared a look and shrugged.

“Daddy usually doesn’t have lunch with us because he’s working,” Joan huffed. “Usually our nanny would fix us lunch.”

Steve looked over at Chrissy in surprise. “I was under the assumption that I was the emergency au pair, as in he didn’t have one before he left. Was that not the case?”

Chrissy shook her head. “I’m sure Eddie told you that they tend to chase off their nannies?”

“We do not!” Joan huffed crossing her arms in front of her chest and pouting.

“Yeah!” Janice said. “Miss Molly spent all the time on the phone with her boyfriend.”

“We were left unsup–unpup–unstupified!” Joan said, stammering around the big word.

“Unsupervised,” Chrissy said slowly then turned to Steve. “Molly was only the most recent run of bad nannies. One was spanking them for punishment, another was smoking weed in the house. And each time, the girls would misbehave so badly that the nannies would go running and blame the girls, only for the truth to come out.”

“Miss Emily liked to scare us,” Janice said with a whimper. “Jump out of closets and stuff. Said it would make us tougher.”

“Eddie found that one out because he came home early one day when a meeting with another producer fell through,” Chrissy said shaking her head. “She lasted two weeks.”

“Jimney Cricket,” Steve cursed. He turned to the girls. “I promise to not spank you or scare you or be on the phone with my boyfriend or girlfriend, mainly because I don’t have one.”

Joan cocked her head to the side. “You like both? Can you do that?”

“Yup!” Chrissy said brightly. “I’ve had a couple of boyfriends in the past. I just decided that girls were easier and more fun.”

Steve nearly snorted his water. He was so glad the girls were way too young to catch Chrissy’s meaning. Because, hooboy, their dad had only been away for a couple of hours and already Chrissy had gone feral.

“So you’ve had boyfriends and girlfriends?” Janice asked Steve, her head tilted the opposite direction of her sister so their heads were almost touching.

“I have!” he told her brightly. “Just not in a while. I’ve been taking care of sweethearts like you and have been too busy to date.”

Chrissy eyed him like he was a piece of meat she was thinking of serving up. Most likely to Eddie. His boss.

“But you aren’t a nanny, right?” Janice asked. “You’re an off pear? Is that rotted fruit?”

Chrissy and Steve shared a glance before they both burst out laughing.

“Au. Pair,” Steve said slowly. “Traditionally a young woman from a foreign country hired to cook, clean, and watch small children in exchange for housing and a small income. But I’m a little bit different.” He held up his finger and thumb really close together.

“Is because your a boy?” Joan asked at the same time Janice asked, “Is it because you aren’t foreign?”

Steve laughed again. “You’re both right. Though my mom is Italian, but I was born here in Indiana.”

“Just like us!” Joan said, throwing her arms in the air and almost knocking her plate and half of her sandwich off onto the floor.

“It’s all right, Joanie,” Steve soothed when she got really upset about almost knocking her plate on the floor. “You learned a valuable lesson in making sure your plate is pushed far enough on the table that it won’t get easily spilled.”

She sniffled but nodded.

They went back to eating and as Steve was cleaning up Chrissy asked him what he wanted to discuss at the table that got sidetracked by the girls.

“Just wondering when we should start looking for other help,” he said over his shoulder as he washed the dishes. “I don’t think we need to start right away for the cleaner and cook since there won’t be a lot of need for it, but a pool cleaner, ground maintenance, and gardener/ groundskeeper should be our top priorities.”

Chrissy stared at him for a moment. “Holy shit, you’re efficient. Yeah, we can start on all that shit tomorrow. I have the next couple of weeks off to help you settle the girls in. Eddie’s been gone for a weekend or two before and they’ve spent the night with me, so I’m always on call if you need anything.”

Steve smiled at her, wiping his wet hands on a rag he had draped over his shoulder while he washed.

“That’s great,” he said. “I won’t be able to keep calling on you because they’re going to need to get used it just being me.”

“Of course,” she replied. “Eddie really likes you and wants you to do well here so he’s authorized me to help you out anyway I can.”

“You don’t know what a relief it is to hear that,” Steve said, leaning against the counter. “Most parents either don’t care or are so afraid you’re trying to steal their children’s love that they undermine you at every turn.”

“Well you don’t have to worry about that with me or Eddie,” Chrissy said firmly. “Honestly it’s a relief. I’m not mom material. I never intended to be one. I like being Auntie Chris, but I’ve had to step up since Ethan walked out on them. It’s not fair to Eddie and it’s not fair to me either. So for both of us, having you come in and be that other parental figure in their lives is a huge fucking relief.”

Steve chuckled. “Duly noted.” He threw the balled up towel into a nearby basket. He liked having a place to put his used towels and wash cloths so he could remember to wash them as often as they needed to be.

“He shoots!” Chrissy cheered. “He scores!”

She waved her arms like she had pompoms in them and jumped in the air. Steve laughed.

“I may have played basketball in high school,” he said, a little sheepishly. Judging from the answers at the get to know everyone dinner, it seemed that the family didn’t do sports much and were very nerdy.

She leaned forward and put her hand to the side of her mouth and stage whispered, “And I might have been a cheerleader in high school and college.”

Steve’s interest was suddenly very piqued. “Really? That’s so cool!”

“Yup!” Chrissy said with a nod. “My mom wanted me to go pro, but I got a business degree for a reason and that was to manage the band. Eddie saved me from an emotionally abusive relationship when I went to him for weed and came out of the deal with a best friend.”

“Nice!” Steve said holding his hand out for a fist bump, which she gladly gave. “Me and my best friend met working at this hideously themed ice cream shop. We became friends when the owner tried to burn it down for the insurance but the idiot didn’t stop to think that we would still be cleaning up.”

Chrissy grimaced. But before she could respond her phone started ringing. “Oh shit, that’s Eddie!”

She went dashing out of the room, calling for the girls. Steve followed slower behind as he wasn’t really needed for the bit of that conversation.

As soon as he walked into the room and in view of the camera Eddie called out, “There he is! He survived day one!”

“Day isn’t over with yet,” Steve pointed out with a huff of laughter. “I’m dreading night time. It’s a bath night.”

Eddie and Chrissy both winced.

“Yeah,” Eddie said, “I wasn’t thinking about that when we chose today to leave. Good luck and may Poseidon keep you safe from Scylla and Charybdis.”

“Daddy!” Joan and Janice huffed. “We’re not monsters!”

“I got that reference!” Steve said, snapping his fingers. “Do you girls like Percy Jackson?”

Chrissy burst out laughing. “That would be tamer, but no, this idiot has read them straight up Greek myths.”

“Hey!” Eddie protested from the phone. “I’ll have you know I carefully edited out the worst parts and was sure not to introduce to stories like Oedipus and Circe’s island, thank you very much.”

“I loved hearing about myths and legends when I was a kid,” Steve said with a shrug. “I’m sure the girls are no different.” He turned to Eddie, “if it’s okay with you, I’d like to start reading those books to them.”

Eddie shrugged on the video. “I guess, I mean if they could handle me reading myths to them, they could probably handle that. Just not at night. Night time is for learning. They have a lot of great Sandra Boynton books I would prefer you read to them instead.”

They started talking about other things and soon it was time for Eddie to go. He kissed the screen and said goodbye to the girls.

Steve got them all dressed for some outside play that Janice loved and Joan merely tolerated. As he watched them play in the massive yard, he figured that today could absolutely count as a good day.

~

Part 5

Tag List: CLOSED

1- @rozzieroos @itsall-taken @redfreckledwolf @zerokrox-blog @tartarusknight

2- @gregre369 ​@a-little-unsteddie @chaosgremlinmunson @messrs-weasley @cryptid-system

3- @maya-custodios-dionach @goodolefashionedloverboi @val-from-lawrence @carlyv @wonderland-girl143-blog

4- @irregular-child @bookbinderbitch @bookworm0690 @forgottenkanji @ollieolive

5- @anne-bennett-cosplayer @yikes-a-bee @awkwardgravity1 @littlewildflowerkitten @genderless-spoon

6- @dragonmama76 @ellietheasexylibrarian @thedragonsaunt @useless-nb-bisexual @disrespectedgoatman

7- @counting-dollars-counting-stars @tinyplanet95 @ravenfrog @swimmingbirdrunningrock @lingeringmirth

8- @gutterflower77 @a-lovely-craziness @just-a-tiny-void @w1ll0wtr33 @beelze-the-bubkiss

9- @sadisticaltarts @xxfiction-is-my-realityxx @dolphincliffs @steddie-as-they-go @steddieislife

10- @kultiras @morallyundefined @themoonagainstmers

[missmarveledsblog]

Flumpy ( Jake seresin x Reader ) Part 12

summary : rough morning in work for our girl with an unlikely admiral coming to the rescue while the guys find a nickname for her , also starting her birthing classes in a nice of town leading her to not only see a familiar face but make a new friend and well have some fun with the other snobs of the class

warnings : none really, pregnancy and it hormones , ok well the grammatical errors and spelling mistake more of a filler part

previous part

“ you know when the words she got an animal came from your lips i didn’t think it would be followed by a pitbull named peanut , honestly I was thinking she finally stole one of those duck” rooster snorted . 

“ as much as i hate the way these words are coming from my lips right now but  i agree with bradshaw but also bob kinda told me last email he sent  little guy is only a pup and he was so skinny too “ nat  smirked only wishing she could of see jakes face when he spotted peanut first but knowing y/n she would definitely get to see it . 

“ yeah so we got a dog now and the hard decks new mascot oh  she and guys sent care packages mine will have more pictures well sonograms of the baby , she making everyone wait  til i’m home til we find out the gender , javy did say she was tired alot and sick a good bit which honestly makes me feel useless  wishing i could help and be there but he also said that everyone’s taking care of her even kyles been hanging out in the hanger any chance he gets to help out never thought i would say this considering i punched him and kicked his ass in the start but he’s a good man “ jake chuckled. 

“ yeah who would of though nat would be in love with the guy she also punched in the hard deck parking lot” rooster almost fell over laughing. 

“ yeah he was a dick at first but like all men it was a stupid front , look at us all now a year and half later , jakes engaged to y/n and she’s having his baby and they have a dog” she laughed. 

“Hey i live there too dogs mine too “ rooster said easily. 

“ he is cute he’s a little thin but she said he was worse then that” he said knowing he would of definitely would of done the same probably would of kicked the guys ass .   “ there’s still time for her to get that duck actually i better try get javy make sure we don’t come home to a zoo” jake eyes widening knowing it was now a possibility. 

 “ we both know she would just bat those pretty lashes and you would melt and be all like of course darling whatever you want baby” nat imitated his accent . 

“ she’s not wrong , my friend you are as whipped as they come” bradley chuckled . 

“ says the one what is doctor love” jake smirked as rooster fell . 

“ that was one time man i’m not getting to live that one down” he huffed as they headed off ready to get another day of training done with . 

One month and three weeks down she was getting into a small routine  , each morning she and peanut would have their breakfast ,  the two would head to doggy daycare and work  then she would do her normal routine only with the guys joining more ,  they  would cook , play games even work out a little , she still helped payback with cooking but now it was them all doing it to which she was shocked at who had skills and who didn’t by end of the first night fanboy and coyote were told they were on chopping duty while bob and payback where allowed near the stove and oven  and kyle well he was happy with being the  official taster .  then when it came to going to her appointments  her dad would collect peanut from doggy daycare to which she was suspecting the man was carrying extra treats around with him .  She was now nearly a month and half til jake got home Slightly Insecure as bump was growing more it was huge by any means But it was enough To alter her body  shape in away she wasn't used to or  Could of just been in her nead but the insecurities creeped In now she was sitting waiting before work Crying in her overalls because well they didn't fit . Just as she got herself off the ground an unlisted number rang sending her hurdling to the her phone she tied Herself as quick as she could hitting The answer. 

“ hey whats wrong” jakes brow furrowed taking in her tear filled eyes And little red nose . 

“ im fat i mean so fat i cant fit into my overalls” she cried standing up to show him turning The camera to the full length  mirror ,  only to hear him chuckle . 

“ baby you ain't fat Your beautiful  and carrying my baby those overall just make it look cuter “ he smiled. 

“ on Plus side my boobs did get a lot bigger the intern nearly fell over looking at them “ she smiled only took couple of sweet words from her man to make her feel a little better . 

“ yeah i notice that too Not Gonna lie saw It before i saw the teary … Wait what you mean men are tripping over Your or should i say my boobs” he arched His brow. 

“awh jake sweet jake they gonna be the babies boobs the Moment they're  born” she snorted just as peanut came zooming into the room . “ look who’s also getting fat “ she beamed turning The camera to show the now healthier Looking puppy at her feet tail Thudding Off the side of bed as she sat down talking away filling him in on the fun she been having with the guys but of course she was missing him more and more also made him promise to hug roo and nat for her .  getting to stage after he hung up as much as she love seeing his face it made her miss him , miss them all so much more as much as guys tried they were all starting to feel the absence and what made it worse was the stupid birth classes admiral simpson and his lovely wife have gifted her which  were starting  that afternoon .  least she wasn’t going to be alone her father was going with her ,  it was better then walking in and well looking like the loner who the teacher would have to partner up with and it wasn’t like she could be like oh can we trade partners . Her dad was so excited it was actually so cute how he wanted to help her out and how excited he was over fact he was going to be a grandfather something she would of never see coming but then again she never thought a year and a half  nearly two years after coming to san diego that she would be actually in this position. 

“ hey  bumpy “ javy called the moment she walked into the hanger. 

“ huh? Oh like flumpy but pregnant version … no “ she rolled her eyes. 

“ we’re still working on a nickname , we can’t call you pretty girl or hotstuff , phoenix and rooster already told us and well flumpy is you and jakes thing but we will get their maybe brainstorm it first” bob smiled softley . 

“ ugh your adorable “ she cooed heading over to see her intern already messing at the engine she was working on , making her almost jump out her skin to get him away .  

“ maybe we could call her grumpy “ fanboy snickered. 

“ maybe i’ll throw this wrench at your head” she called back . 

“ maybe we can brainstorm it a little longer” he winced . 

“ ugh stupid stupid … not you kid” she added starting to feel her eyes welling up. 

“ y/n are you crying?” payback called. 

“ no … my eyes are leaking” she sniffled wiping them quickly . 

“ mitchell is everything ok ?” admiral simpson asked  hearing as he passed by. 

“ i’m fat and this kid is well not the brightest blub , i miss everyone and i want a burrito “ she cried out making them all stand looking at her . “ no i look like a nutcase” she cried harder. 

“ come on mini mitchell” admiral simpson extended his arm out . “ someone get him out  away from the engine “ he whisper yelled following her out.  

She felt ridiculous  and well maybe she was losing it and didn’t help she felt both nauseous and hungry. 

“ without sound inappropriate you are not fat , you are great shape giving your condition “ beau simpson coughed out. 

“ thanks sir sorry this is totally unprofessional” she sniffled slightly waiting for him to tell her to not come back in probably send her home til she popped the kid out . 

“ burritos in the canteen if you want on i think i can persuade them to give you one earlier” he said nudging her shoulder was like a older uncle trying to be cool with the kids the way he was acting giving his usually stiff by the book approach . 

“ nah me and ed are tight he makes sure to put extra aside for me , plus  i probably wont keep it down” she sighed softly. 

“ deployment isn’t easy i can see giving the circumstance if you can get more call time “ he offered . 

“ sir think you called enough favors for me “ . 

“ well my wife is very fond of you and giving the difference with me and your dad well i still think of you as a niece of sorts “ he shrugged. 

“ nice to have some still alive” she began crying again only for her dad to walk out of his office confused. 

“ everything ok ?” he asked. 

“ my uncles keep dying” she cried out . 

“ she have a rough morning “ beau winced. 

“ i’ll take it from here .. thanks beau .. come on princess” Mav guided her back into the office. 

“ thanks admiral simpson don't die” she called out before the door closed. 

She went straight to the sofa the moment she stepped foot into the office as her dad sat on  really already done with the day that not even started fully. 

“ what’s wrong kiddo” he asked holding her to his side.

“ i miss jake , i feel fat i wanna eat but i’m gonna throw up , now i’m sad over dead people and well my overall don’t fit” she sniffled . “ probably gonna be fired for being a nut job and i called  the intern stupid and feel bad” she added. 

“  missing people deployed or well dead is normal , being pregnant and dealing with all this isn’t easy and well  i’ve seen the kid he didn’t know which wrench was which so it’s not totally uncalled for i’ll see if we can sort something out and  penny made me bring crackers to work in case your were sick so let try those bad boys first and we’ll try harder stuff later and for the overall  can be let out” he smiled rubbing her back as she settle down. 

“ penny is seriously perfect for you” she settled on sofa even more enjoying the relaxation of her father rubbing her back giving it was starting to hurt lately . 

“ speaking of penny is going to collect peanut from day care and we will get him after the classes  , last time i was at one was when you were in your moms belly and now i get to be there  for you” he smiled . 

“ stop being so cute i’ll start crying again and well my eyes hurt and i wanna nap” she sniffled. 

“ why don’t you look i got a meeting soon and it gonna be an hour rest your head and i’ll wake you we can try the day again when your awake” he said softly already seeing her eyes closing . 

“ for once i’m not going to fight against the special treatment hell call me the teachers pet “ she yawn laying down feeling something covering her not bothering to open her eyes to see the blanket . 

Pete mitchell never move So quietly Out His office ge was usually rushing to get into it only See beau simpson Standing there. 

“ she asleep?” He asked peering In. 

“ out like a light might help hormones at big high today” he grimace . 

“ honestly my wife was worse Apparently She almost traveled to the area we were stationed at , no i was gonna honestly let her use my office” he smiled . “ the dagger squad Was right she does have a way Of getting People on her side huh? “

“ she been like that since she was a kid , i mean charlies dad this guy a stone cold man who well wouldn't smile for god himself  then an afternoon with y/n mans still smiling to this day” he chuckled . 

“ she would of been a good admiral she got the head for it  and she can be a bossy as one and she’s a flare for dramatics ” beau nodded as two went down  to get  to their meeting. 

The nap done wonders  , she was a lot calmer and well more herself when she joined them for lunch even after she was more patient actually showing her intern luke how to fix the engine instead of causing more problems then she was standing in the parking lot out side some building one she know had community activity classes like yoga and stuff it was in nicer part of town too watching the women going in better dressed while she had her adam sandler fit  and sad fact most of clothes were jakes .  her dad the traitor even showed up nicely dressed making her glare at the man as he walked towards her. 

“ what i do?” 

“ i look homeless more homeless then i did when i arrived to san diego “ she huffed . 

“ hey your my kid you could were a black sack and it would look gorgeous come one i need to take notes” he said as they two entered the building the woman at the counter was more interested in her dad to even notice she was there and she could of sworn she heard someone call her a  sugarbaby passing by .  the moment she stood into the room all eyes where on her most almost sizing them up looking between her and her dad already drawing a conclusion  of the situation .  one woman had  warm smiles on  her face so she went their way  . 

“ hey first day ?” the woman asked. 

“ yeah hi i’m y/n and this is my dad  pete mitchell “ she smiled holding her hand out. 

“ lila and this is my brother in law luke”  the man turned as she was looking at the deer in the headlight reaction on her interns face. 

“ you got to be shitting me hey kiddo” she laughed . 

“  you both know him” lila asked confused. 

“ i’m interning under y/n  , so she like my temp boss, lila is married to my sister she’s currently deployed with  rest of your squad “ luke explained . 

“  well just cause were in the same group doesnt mean i’ll go easy “ y/n teased . 

“ you go easier on me being your interns been fun .. well sometimes” he chuckled . 

“Well park those butts and stick with us the other are….” lila stalled trying to be polite 

“ assholes , snobs  i mean i could go on “ luke finished .

“ ok everyone sit down and we can begin … oh two new faces hi “ the woman called walking in the door . 

“ another gold digger great” she heard one woman mumble. 

“ hi my name is y/n this is my pookie  guess you know why were here “ y/n put on fake smile and sweet voice. “I ask for prada and his ears must of been acting up giving his age ” she added as room went silent. 

“ ignore my daughter she thinks she is a comedian , i’m just standing in while her partner is deployed … oh i’m pete” he smiled awkward seeing some faces of relief , the teacher and their new friends suppressing their giggles. 

“  yeah he’s my dad not my sugar daddy that ones someone in a classified location” she sat giving luke a high five. 

“ well what an introduction , lets get ready for today’s lesson guys , my name is melanie and i’m looking forward to having you in my class” she smiled .  

“ i think you and i will get on just fine” lila whispered . 

“ hey dad look i made a new friend already” she giggled .

part 13

taglist : @harrysgothicbitch @djs8891 @darksparklesficrecs @emma8895eb @sarah-bear706318 @katiemcrae

[winchesterwild78]

A Twist of Fate

Characters: Dean x Reader, Billy x Reader

Warnings: Nothing too extreme, just some angst, language, and fluff

A/N: Got this idea from a picture I was tagged in by @jackles010378. Sorry it took me so long to write this. Dean and the reader were dating and broke up. Dean sees the reader with her new boyfriend and things unravel. 

This is a work of fiction, all work is my own, do not take it or copy it. 

Minors DNI 18+

The crisp autumn air nipped at my nose as Billy and I strolled down Main Street. The leaves were a kaleidoscope of reds, oranges, and yellows, a beautiful contrast to the gray sky. I couldn't help but think about how much my life had changed since I'd last seen Dean.

Three years. That's how long we'd been together. Three years of laughter, love, and a shared passion for the supernatural. And then, just like that, he was gone. A letter, a simple explanation that he couldn't be with me anymore. The pain had been unbearable, a wound that had slowly healed, leaving a scar that I would always carry.

That morning I woke up and found the letter on his pillow. It was the day my world broke. Tears fell on the letter as I read his simple words. 

Dear Y/N,

These past three years have been great. We’ve shared so much and done even more together. I know you love me. You’ve said it so many times, and showed me every day. I just can’t lie to you anymore. I don’t feel the same. That’s not fair to you, to make you think we have a future together. One where we get married and have kids. I can’t do the apple pie life. I’m sorry, Y/N. I do hope you find the love you deserve.

Goodbye,

D

It didn’t make sense to me. We had just shared a night of love and passion, tangled in each other’s embrace. Whispering words of love and affection. We talked of the future and he said he’d love to be a dad one day. He was the love of my life, then he was gone. 

Now, here I was, two years later with Billy. He was kind, considerate, and everything a good man should be. But a part of me couldn't shake the feeling that something was missing.

We met through a mutual friend and had an instant connection. I wouldn’t call it love, but I was grateful for the companionship. I hadn’t even spoken the words to him. Billy was quick to say “I love you”, but I couldn’t say it because I didn’t mean it, nor did I feel it. 

Billy spent all of his free time with me. At times it felt suffocating. Dean and I spent a lot of time together too, but we also had our time apart. I’d bake and he’d work in the garage, it was a perfect balance.

Walking hand in hand through Main Street my mind kept comparing him to Dean. When Dean and I would walk, his arm was around me in a protective way. Billy just held my hand. Dean would lace his fingers in mine, Billy just cupped my hand. 

When Billy kissed me, it was hard and fast. When Dean kissed me it was soft and full of passion. Every step I took my mind kept comparing Billy to Dean. I couldn’t figure out why Dean was in the forefront of my thoughts.

And then I saw him. Leaning against the Impala, looking as effortlessly cool as ever. Dean. My heart pounded in my chest as our eyes met. A flash of something crossed his face - regret? Jealousy? I couldn't be sure.

As we continued walking, I glanced back. He was still watching, his gaze fixed on me. A wave of emotions washed over me. I stumbled as I looked back. I saw him gasp and jump off the car. Billy grabbed my arm trying to steady me. “You okay?” I nodded. I couldn’t pull my eyes away from Dean. Billy followed my gaze. Clearing his throat I turned and met his eyes. “Who’s that?” He asked, his voice laced with hurt and something else, anger maybe. I looked at Dean then back at Billy, “he’s my ex.” 

Billy wasn’t happy. I could feel the tension between us. As we walked into the quiet cafe he shot me a look that sent a chill through me. The cashier offered a soft smile. “How can I help you two today?” She said with a sweet voice. Billy looked at her and said “We will both have a coffee with 2 creams and 1 sugar.” She nodded as she started to put in the order. I spoke up, “Um, excuse me. I’ll have a vanilla latte please.” Billy shot me a look and grabbed my hand, “No, you’ll have what I ordered you. You’re my girlfriend and you’ll have what I order.” 

The cashier stood shocked. My mouth was on the floor. He’d never acted like this before. I touched his bicep softly, “Billy, I am your girlfriend, but I can order what I want.” Billy huffed and mumbled something. The cashier told Billy the total and she went about making the order. 

When we had our order Billy directed me to a booth at the back of the restaurant. I sat across from him and looked at him, shocked by his behavior. “You want to tell me what the hell that was about, Billy? Since when do you order for me and grab me?” Billy just stared at me, anger flashing in his eyes. It honestly scared me. 

“I didn’t like how you kept staring at pretty boy out there. It’s like you’re in love with him or something.” I bit my lip, not knowing what to say to him. I was in love with him. I never stopped loving him, but how could I tell him that? 

I swallowed hard. Touching Billy’s hand I started to speak, “Billy, I was in love with him when I was with him. He broke my heart and I’m with you now. That’s all that matters.” 

Billy pulled his hand away from me. “So you can love him but not me? You know what, screw this. Why don’t you go back to him and be his little whore again.” I gasped, “Billy! What the hell. Please calm down. I don’t want to be with him, I’m with you.”

Before I could say anything else, Billy stood up and told me to have a nice life and left. I sat at the table in shock. What the hell just happened? How did one little thing set him off like that? 

I sat at the table thinking about the past few years, how my love for Dean slipped away, and how Billy reacted to me seeing Dean. I was lost in thought and didn’t hear the bell above the door. 

The sound of a deep husky voice pulled me from my thoughts, “Hello, sweetheart.” My eyes flicked up and they met the piercing green eyes of my favorite hunter. My breath caught in my throat, “D…Dean, what are you doing here?” “Sammy and I were in town on a hunt, I heard you moved here. I’m so glad I ran into you. Can I sit?” 

“Sure.” I said without hesitation. Dean sat across from me. His hands instinctively grabbed mine. My head is screaming at me to pull away, but the rest of my body is holding on for dear life. 

“Sweetheart, I’m so sorry. I was foolish and a complete jackass for leaving and for leaving you the way I did. I was scared. I had finally found the woman I wanted to spend the rest of my life with, have children with, and I got scared. Scared you would be taken away from me. Scared because I don’t deserve the love you had for me. I’ve never deserved love or to be loved. I’m broken, Y/N. 

As I sat across from him, hearing him say how he didn’t deserve love my heart broke for him. “Dean, you deserve so much.You, Dean Winchester, deserve all the love in the world. You were four years old when you saved your brother from the fire, you raised him. Dean, you had to be mom and dad to Sam. Dean Winchester, the man who willingly went to hell to save his baby brother, the man who was willing to die for so many people. Dean Winchester, the man who took on the Mark of Cain to help save the world. You deserve all the love this world has to offer. You deserve so much more than I can give you. I NEVER stopped loving you, Dean, and I know I never will.”

Dean stood and walked over to me. He reached out his hand and took my hand in his, pulling me up and flush to his body. He tucked a piece of hair behind my ear, and his hand cupped my face, “You are even more beautiful now than you were two years ago. I was a fool to let you go, and I intend to spend the rest of my life making that up to you. That is if you’ll have me again.” 

I leaned into his hand that cupped my face. My heart hammered in my chest. His touch ignited that fire, that love I had buried deep inside me. Without another word I leaned in and placed a soft kiss on his lips. It was soft and Dean hesitated for a moment. Then something changed. His hands went into my hair and pulled me in. The kiss became more passionate and full of need. 

The hurt from the past two years was fading with each kiss. When we finally parted, I looked at Dean and smiled. His eyes are full of love and desire. “Dean, take me home.” I said as I leaned into his embrace.

Dean took my hand and led me out of the coffee shop and to the Impala. He opened the car door and I climbed in. When he got in the driver’s seat, he looked over, smiled and took my hand. “Let’s go home, sweetheart.” He stepped on the gas and we headed back home. Home, where we both belonged, together and in each other’s arms. 

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[artiststarme]

Come to Poppa

Based on a prompt sent to me awhile ago from @yaoiprofessoryuki. I'm sorry it took so long but I hope you like it!

~*~*~*~

Steve was never close to his dad, not like a father or son should be. They never played catch in the front yard or camped out in the woods. They certainly never talked about sports or girls. The closest they ever got was performing elementary science experiments at the kitchen table until his mother scolded them both over their own laughter. One day though, everything changed. Out of nowhere, Steve became less of a son and more like a roommate that coexisted in the same house.They lived in the same house and their paths intermittently crossed when they were both in the house at the same time, but their relationship was gone. 

Nevertheless, all Steve wanted after fighting the demogorgons with the kids was to see his dad. He craved the comfort that only a dad could give through all-consuming hugs and emotionally stunted advice. His dad was a scientist, surely he could ask him just what the fuck those monsters were. If anyone could understand, his dad would. 

But after waiting up all night and into the next day, his dad didn’t come home. His secretary didn’t pick up the phone when he called and the hospital had no records of him. His dad was just gone, disappeared just like all the evidence of the demogorgons. Steve’s mom filed a missing persons report with the Sheriff’s office but even their investigations were moot. It was like his dad fell off the face of the earth. 

***

After their 1984 encounter and getting the absolute shit kicked out of him by Billy, the kids start hanging out at his house. His mom had taken to leaving for weeks at a time at the drop of a hat to avoid thinking about his father and Steve was climbing the walls in order to escape some of the oppressive loneliness that the house seemed to ooze. He thought the kids would find it fun to have a big house to themselves to make a mess in and just be kids away from the responsibilities of the Upside Down. He was wrong. 

Eleven froze as soon as the door swung shut behind her, her eyes on the family portrait that hung in the living room. In it was a sixteen year old Steve, his mother in her nicest dress, and his graying dad. It was one of the last pictures that they all looked happy in. But Eleven wasn’t looking at the picture in happiness or curiosity, she was looking at it in horror.

“El? What’s wrong, what’s going on?” Mike stood between her and the photo, his hand comfortingly rested on her shoulder.

All the kids surrounded her and Steve just followed her gaze and looked at her in confusion. When Dustin saw him looking back and forth, he snuck a peek before his eyes widened in sudden realization. “Holy shit, guys! Look at the picture! Steve, how the hell do you know Dr. Brenner?”

Steve’s eyes scrunched in confusion, “what? I don’t know a Dr. Brenner.”

“There’s a picture of the two of you right there!” Lucas flailed his arm towards another picture of the two of them in black suits at his cousin’s wedding. 

“And right there,” Max added, pointing at a picture of Steve holding a report card with straight A’s and his dad beaming with pride to his left.

“That’s not Dr. Brenner, that’s my dad. Martin Harrington, not a Brenner,” he said while rolling his eyes in exasperation. The imagination of these kids was going to make him lose his mind one day. 

“No, papa.”

“Eleven, that’s not the man that hurt you. That’s my dad. He was boring and dorky, he wouldn’t hurt anyone.”

“Papa!”

“I think she would know who experimented on her for years,” Lucas said, rolling his eyes. 

“Not if she thinks it's my dad!” Steve was really reaching his limits. He’d just wanted the kids to have fun for a day, he hadn’t expected slander against his dad. 

“What if it's the same person? Your dad and Dr. Brenner,” Dustin pondered. 

Steve just shook his head. “There’s no way, my dad worked at the Department of Energy for the government. He ran research experiments on electricity and water and shit. He never worked with kids!” 

“The Department of Energy was just a cover up for the experiments on kids!” Mike screamed.

That was the last line for El. As soon as Mike raised his voice, she flinched and threw the family portrait to the ground with a flick of her wrist. The frame splintered and the glass shattered upon contact with the fireplace tile. Most disturbingly to Steve though was the long tear in the photo separating his dad from him and his mom. An unfortunately positioned shard of glass had separated his dad from his family in the portrait just as an unknown force had in reality. 

“Hey! That’s one of the last pictures I have of him! He disappeared last year and you just ruined our last picture together. Fuck Eleven, he’s not your papa.” Steve dropped to his knees next to the broken frame without regard for the glass and fretted his hands over the portrait. 

“He’s a monster!” El yelled, an accusing finger pointed directly at the ruined canvas in his hands. All of the pictures on the walls fell to the floor with a deafening crash. In a single moment, all remnants of his dad were erased from the living room. 

“No! You’re ruining everything, stop! My dad was just a nerd that loved science. He might’ve been a little strict about grades but other than that, he’s a good guy!”

“Steve, we are telling you that that is Dr. Brenner. I don’t know why he has a different name at work or why you don’t know what he did at work but it is him. We met him last year and he’s missing because… Well, we’re pretty sure El killed him or at least really hurt him. That’s why he didn’t come back.” Dustin delivered the news as gently as possible but his words still registered like a knife in the back. 

“What.”

Suddenly, Steve saw everything differently. The missed basketball games, the unexplained absences and late nights at work, the weird interest in his experiments. It felt like the loving dad that he grew up with was a stranger he never knew at all. The kids didn’t seem to notice his shock or the fact that they had just ruined his life. They continued arguing amongst themselves until Steve tuned back in. 

“What if Steve knew about it? For all we know, he could've had a part in it! Maybe that’s why he wanted to join the Party. He could be reporting back to Dr. Brenner right now!” Mike ranted. Jesus Christ, Steve hated that kid.

“You really think Steve had something to do with it? I’m pretty sure he’s failing at least three classes right now. There is no way someone would use him as an accomplice in a conspiracy this big,” Dustin shook his head and sent a wink at Steve as if he was defending him. But Steve didn’t take it that way. 

They knew about his dad’s disappearance and were now insulting him? Fucking shit, he’d risked everything for these kids; his reputation, his old friends, his relationship with Nancy, his life! And they still doubted him and saw him as an idiot. They saw him as a traitor that would work as an accomplice to torture other kids. Fuck it. 

“Get out.”

“Steve, Mike didn’t mean-”

He cut Lucas off with a glare. “Get out! I don’t want you here. Just get out!”

They all walked out with varying degrees of guilt until Steve was left alone with nothing to do but look at the ruined family portrait with its shards of broken glass and cry about the injustice of it all.

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[justagalwhowrites]

New in Town - Ch. 9: Second New Year

Ringing in the New Year after you and Joel's first year together. The last chapter of New in Town, found in its entirety on Tumblr here.

Pairing: Best Friend's Dad!Joel Miller x Female Reader

CW: Smut :D. No use of Y/N. Age gap (reader is 35 Joel is 47, not a focus of the fic). Minors DNI, 18+ only

Length: 6.3k

AO3 | First Chapter | Previous Chapter

“Sarah, if you don’t stop fucking with that it’s never going to stay,” you said, glaring at her in the mirror as you drew on eyeliner. 

“It’s driving me insane,” she groaned, leaning so close to the hotel bathroom mirror that she was fogging it with her breath, adjusting the false eyelashes for what had to be the millionth time. 

“Yeah, because you keep fucking with them,” you said. “You have to give yourself time to adjust to them. Or just take them off because I’m not spending half the night fixing them for you, drawing the line in the sand now.” 

“You are absolutely no fun,” she said but she smiled all the same. “It’s New Year’s Eve, I want to look extra good. Plus Nick thinks the long lashes are hot and I am ready for hotel room sex.” 

“I didn’t hear that,” Maria called from the bedroom where she was putting on her dress. 

“Hotel room sex, hotel room sex, hotel room sex!” Sarah called back. 

You laughed, picking up your mascara. 

“I don’t think it works like Beetlejuice where you say it enough times it just shows up.”

Sarah laughed back. 

“Fuck I hope not,” she said. “Really don’t want to manifest hotel room sex in front of my aunt and my mom.” 

She said the last word with a drawn out teasing edge and you had to pull the mascara wand away from your face so you didn’t end up with makeup in your eye from laughing so hard. 

“Swear to God if you don’t stop calling me that I will marry your dad just to spite you,” you said once you calmed down again. 

“You’re basically already married anyway,” Sarah said. “For the record, I would be fine with it.” 

You paused for a second, putting more mascara on the wand and looking at her in the mirror. 

“Yeah?” You asked. 

“Yeah,” she smiled at you in her reflection. “But don’t expect Mother’s Day gifts from me if it ever happens.” 

You snorted, returning to your makeup. 

“Better get a bouquet, box of chocolates, the whole nine for holding your hair when you get drunk.” 

You couldn’t believe it was already New Year’s Eve again. The last year had gone by so fast it didn’t seem like it could have contained quite as much as it did. But you’d spent almost the entire time so blissfully happy that it made sense that the time felt so damn short. 

Things with Joel had been going so well before Sarah found out that it was hard to believe it could really get better, but it did. Not feeling like you were hiding from the most important person in both your lives was like losing a weight you didn’t even know you were carrying. Neither of you were dancing around talking about how you were spending your time now, not being careful about what pictures you sent her and not having to just pretend like a huge part of your life didn’t exist when talking with her. 

When she went back to Seattle after Thanksgiving, the three of you started having weekly FaceTime calls, you and Joel sometimes on your couch or at his kitchen table or even in a hotel room in New Orleans once when you decided to get away for your first trip together as a couple. 

That Christmas had been the best you’d ever had. Not that there was much competition but Joel and Sarah both had completely brought you into all their holiday traditions. The driving around to look at Christmas lights with a thermos of hot cocoa, the annual trip to Mi Tierra in San Antonio so you could properly appreciate the Christmas lights that apparently were up year round. When Sarah came back to town a few days before Christmas, she dragged you and Joel to the mall and made the three of you take a picture with Santa. You got some funny looks in line - three full blown adults with nary a kid in sight - but Sarah whispered something to woman getting ready to take the picture and she smiled and nodded, helping the three of you get arranged for the photo. You sat lightly on one of Santa’s knees, Sarah on the other, Joel leaning against the side of the large chair. Joel insisted on getting the actual printed photo and, when you picked it up, they also handed you a candy cane and a small Santa figurine. You frowned at it for a second.

“First Santa visits should be commemorated,” the woman behind the counter smiled. “Merry Christmas!” 

You looked at Sarah for a second, worried you might cry and she smiled. 

“You have a Christmas decoration now,” she said. “But if you really don’t want it at your place, we can add it to the Christmas village at Dad’s!” 

You just hugged her and she laughed, hugging you back. 

That Christmas, the figurine and the picture sat on the book shelf in your living room, right where you could see them from your couch. The perfect image of the kind of life you’d always wanted to have, one that was filled with people who loved you. 

This year, the figurine and picture were at Joel’s because you were, too. 

Your lease was up in the fall and, by that point, the two of you were having a hard time remembering the last time you’d slept apart. You were wondering how to broach the subject with Joel - did you just ask if you could move into his house? Was not quite a year of knowing each other too soon? Did you just find a new apartment and never mention it? - when he brought it up one night over dinner. 

“Your lease is comin’ up soon, right?” He asked and you froze for a second, a bite of enchilada on your fork half way to your mouth. 

“Yeah,” you said when you remembered how to move and respond again. “Six weeks I think? They want me to decide whether or not I’m staying within the next two…” 

“Have you thought about if you might want to move in with me?” He asked, his jaw tense but his eyes soft. “Only if… you know… you thought you were ready for that. Just figure I’m at yours or you’re at mine most nights anyway and…” 

“Joel,” you smiled, setting your fork down and leaning on the table with your arms crossed in front of you. “Are you asking me to move in with you?” 

“Only if you wanted,” he said quickly. “Not tryin’ to… I dunno… put pressure on you or something. Never tried to do this before so…” 

You pressed your lips together, trying not to laugh. More at yourself than at Joel. Because of course he was thinking what you were thinking. Of course you were in the same place on this. Of course you were both nervous about bringing it up to each other. 

“I’d love to move in with you,” you said once you were sure you had yourself together. “As long as you’re offering because that’s what you really want and not because you think you should.” 

“Oh I want it,” he was smiling now and leaning toward you across the table. “Was considering just taking stuff from your place and moving it to mine, get you in the door before you even knew it was happening.” 

“That what happened to my sexy underwear?” You teased. 

“Nah,” he waved you off. “I stole those to jerk off with when you’re not there because you don’t live with me yet. Can have ‘em back when we unpack the moving truck.” 

You moved in a few weeks later. Joel cleared out most of his closet, his jeans and button downs taking up only a small corner of it to begin with, and built you shelving for your purses and shoes. He made space for your things throughout his home, for your favorite pots and pans in the kitchen, for your decorations in the living room. Setting aside the bits and pieces of his life to make sure it could hold yours, too. If he’d asked you to marry him in that moment, you’d have said yes in a heartbeat. 

“Oh shit,” you sighed, rifling through your makeup bag. “I think I left my fucking lipstick in my room…” 

You went to get your room key from your clutch but Sarah plopped a tube of lipstick in front of you first. 

“Use mine,” she said. “I’m almost ready and I don’t want to waste time with you up down three floors and all the way over to your room before we go to the party. I want cocktails, I want music and I want to flirt with my hot boyfriend while I wear a slutty dress.” 

“Maria is still getting dressed, I’ve got five minutes…” 

“No you don’t!” She called from the bedroom before coming to the bathroom door and turning around. “Zip me?” 

You laughed and obeyed, Maria adjusting the dress a bit before turning back around. 

“Hey sexy mama!” You whooped at her. “That looks like it was made for you.” 

“Right?” She flung her long braids over her shoulder before admiring herself in the full length mirror on the bathroom door. “My pregnancy boobs have shown up but the bump is still in hiding. It’s the perfect dress moment, had to take advantage of it.” 

“Hear that little one?” Sarah said, looking toward Maria’s lower stomach. “You’re making your mom look hot!” 

“Hotter,” you corrected. “They’re making their mom look hotter.” 

You settled for Sarah’s lipstick and the three of you headed for the elevator to go meet up with the guys. 

Your first New Year’s Eve with Joel had been far more low key. Sarah was in town and Joel invited Tommy and Maria over to watch the ball drop. You’d ordered pizza and gotten drunk and played charades with your boyfriend’s family and, at midnight, kissed Joel so deeply that you could taste the champagne on his tongue. 

This year, you had plenty to celebrate. It was Maria and Tommy’s last one before they became parents - you highly doubted they’d be up until midnight next year. Sarah had gotten promoted and you’d gotten her a job at the Austin branch in August. She had moved back to town just a few months before you moved in with Joel and the three of you had found a comfortable - if unusual - dynamic as a family. And it felt like you had finally found everything you’d ever truly wanted. 

Instead of staying home this New Year’s Eve, you all decided to go to a party at one of the nice hotels in Houston. You’d all gotten hotel rooms so no one had to drive and the boys had all gone on ahead to the rooftop bar to hold a table while the three of you got ready to go. 

“Crap, one sec,” Sarah said, frowning at her phone as the three of you went for the elevator. “Left something in the room, wait for me, OK? I don’t want to try to find them on my own!” 

You and Maria watched her run back to her room - where the three of you had been getting ready - and you frowned as she tottered on her high heels. 

“Is she acting weird?” You asked as Maria leaned against the wall. 

“Sarah?” Maria laughed. “She’s always weird.” 

She came back a few minutes later, tugging her dress down as she went and a little breathless when she got there. 

“OK,” she smiled and took a deep breath. “Now we’re good!” 

You were almost giddy as you rode the elevator up to the party, feeling the thud of music through the elevator doors before they opened. 

It was hard to say why you were just so excited. It wasn’t like you’d never been to a party before - you and Sarah had rung in the New Year at a party a lot like this one that your office had handled the advertising for in Seattle one year - but it felt like something new. Like you were stepping into the first year of your life where everything had finally fallen into place. 

“Hey!” Tommy yelled, standing and waving his arm over his head as he saw the three of you leave the elevator. You could barely hear him over the thud of the bass. “Over here!” 

“How many beers do you think he’s had?” Maria asked conspiratorially and you laughed. 

“Probably the same number mine has,” you replied, smiling at Joel as he craned his neck to get a better look at you. 

“Holy hell woman,” he said, getting out of the round booth as you got to the table. He pressed a kiss to your cheek and dropped his voice low. “Not sure I’m gonna take that dress off you later, might need to leave it on.” 

You smiled as he gave you a squeeze and you sat down, Joel sliding in beside you, one hand of his going below the table to the inside of your thigh. 

One thing that hadn’t changed in the last year was just how insatiable the two of you were for each other. You kept waiting for it to calm down a bit, to stop looking at him and immediately start thinking of how to get him alone and naked as quickly as possible. But Joel was still the single sexiest man you’d ever seen and was still far and away the best in bed. You couldn’t help but want to fuck him all day every day. You were just thankful he seemed to feel the same way about you. 

One of your favorite things about living with Joel was your after work routine. When you managed to make it so you left the office around the same time Joel left his job site, you’d join him in the shower, your hair in a knot on top of your head to keep from getting too soaked, Joel still a little sweaty and dirty from a hard day’s work. Sometimes, you just enjoyed each other. You loved the quiet intimacy of it, of being in such a private space together in just your skin, helping him wash the day from his body before he pulled you against him under the water. Other times, Joel pressed you against the cool tile and fucked into you, hard and fast and eager, making your back arch as your leg wrapped around him, the heat of his mouth and the steam filling you when you kissed him. 

The new routines had just given you more reasons and opportunities to fuck, it seemed, instead of sex getting lost in the monotony of daily life. Sometimes it was in the middle of late night TV when you were both getting tired on the couch. Sometimes it was when you were putting away laundry. Sometimes it was when you were making dinner. 

It was just that, sometimes, it required… additional boundaries. 

Sarah had a key to Joel’s place, of course, but she quickly learned that she needed to announce herself before just coming in the door when she wasn’t expected, her walking in the house without warning when he was deep inside of you while you were draped over the kitchen counter was a little too close for comfort for all three of you. 

“I have literally never wanted to know less about your sex life,” she shuddered a few hours later when you were sitting in Joel’s back yard, fully clothed with a beer in your hand. 

You laughed. 

“Never wanted you to know less about it so that works just fine for me.” 

You, Joel and Sarah all had dinner together at least once a week, another routine you’d come to love, and you got Sarah all to yourself most days over lunch, happy for the chance to laugh with your best friend.

You weren’t sure life could get much better. 

“Oh sweet!” Sarah said as the waitress came by the table, tray of drinks in hand, passing a cosmopolitan to Sarah. “Who knew this was just what I wanted?” 

“Happy to take credit for that,” Nick smiled, kissing her cheek and you smiled at him. He was a relatively new addition to Sarah’s life but he seemed promising. You’d never seen her quite so giddy over a guy before and you were trying not to mention it so you wouldn’t jinx it. 

When she finally owned up to being hung up on the man, though, you were going to start teasing her as relentlessly as she’d been teasing you. You were getting double wedding jokes lined up and ready, waiting for the perfect moment to hit her with it. 

But it was a holiday. You’d take it easy on her for a little while longer. Assuming she stopped calling you Mom. 

Joel had been paying attention too, it seemed, and the server handed you a mojito. Appropriate, since you’d just been lamenting the fact that you didn’t have fresh mint at home just two nights before. 

“How often are you really gonna muddle mint for a drink?” Joel asked, barely contained smile on his face. 

“At least once in a while!” You laughed. “Come on, we could do a whole herb garden in the yard…” 

“You are not gonna keep a garden alive.” 

“Yes I will!” You protested. He raised his eyebrows at you, incredulous. “If I have the motivation of cocktails I will.” 

“Fine,” he sighed but still smiled, kissing your forehead. “In spring I’ll build you a garden and you can kill as many herbs as you want, Beautiful.”

“Is this supposed to bribe me into you not making me a garden?” You teased, taking a sip of the drink. 

“Baby, I will make you whatever makes you smile,” he kissed your exposed shoulder. “But if I’m saving the lives of some poor, innocent plants by ordering you a cocktail…” 

You laughed and kissed him, the scratch of his facial hair on your skin comforting and familiar. 

The party really picked up not long after you got there and you, Sarah and Maria went to dance while the guys hung back to talk for a bit. 

“You don’t think they’re being too hard on him do you?” Sarah asked, watching the table. 

“Oh I’m sure they’re being super nice,” you said. “Joel and Tommy have never been protective of you, not once.” 

“Oh God,” she groaned but she smiled. 

“Wouldn’t worry too much,” you laughed. “It looks like he’s weathering it well.” 

“Hold on,” Maria smiled and shook her head. “We can get him some help…” 

She started waving to Tommy, who clapped Nick on the shoulder and got out of the booth to join his wife on the dance floor. You looked at Joel, eyebrows raised, until he met your gaze and you saw him sigh and smile before heading your way. 

You put your arms around his neck and kissed him, pressing tightly to him and feeling every line of him through your clothes. His hands went to your waist, pulling you closer. 

“You tryin’ to distract me?” He asked when you pulled away. 

“Trying to get you to play nice,” you teased. 

“Always play nice,” he said as you turned around in his hold, your ass going back against his hardening length. He lowered his lips to your ear, his breath hot on your skin. “Except when you ask me not to.” 

You resisted the urge to drag him back to your hotel room right that second. Instead, you pressed yourself harder against him, moving your body in time to the pulsing, thrumming rhythm. His hands slid to your hips and you couldn’t help but think of how they felt on your bare skin. 

But you managed to keep it together for a few songs, dancing until you were breathless and you really couldn’t take it anymore. You draped yourself around Joel again, pressing your lips to his ear. 

“Order me a water and another mojito,” you said, your hand sliding into his pocket, brushing his half hard cock through his jeans, as you grabbed your phone. “And check your texts.” 

You didn’t give him a chance to respond, just meeting his wide eyes for a moment before slipping into the crowd. You went around to the pool area of the rooftop, far quieter than the bar and the dance floor, the lounge chairs all stacked up next to a storage space that looked like it would provide the perfect cover from the dance floor. You took a selfie with just a glimpse of the thudding party in the background and texted it to him. 

“Come find me.” 

It didn’t take him long, coming around the corner while glancing back over his shoulder, looking nervous. You grabbed a fistful of his shirt and pulled him into you, your back against the storage room. 

“You are up to no good,” he said, pressing you back against the wall, his mouth covering yours, his body warm against the cool night air. “Tryin’ to get us kicked out of the damn hotel?” 

His hand went to your breast, anyway.

“We can keep our clothes on,” you panted against him. “Be very well behaved. Like that time in the bathroom.” 

“Fuck, Beautiful,” he groaned, putting his thigh between your legs, your skirt covering part of his jeans. He rocked his hips against you, his hands going to your waist, the outline of his hard cock against your stomach. “Wanna make me come in my pants like a fucking teenager?” 

“Don’t think we’re making it to midnight any other way,” you were needy, aching as you ground your pussy down on the straining muscle of his leg. 

“Still gonna let me fuck you later?” He kissed down your neck, rutting harder against you, your hands on his shoulders, grip tightening. 

“You think I’m starting a new year without you inside me as soon as possible you’re insane.” 

He laughed a little and nipped at your collarbone before pulling you tighter against his leg, making you moan. You started working yourself harder and faster against him, pulling him tighter to you, your wetness soaking your panties. 

“You’re close, aren’t you, Baby?” He asked, voice dark. Your motions stuttered but you nodded frantically against him. “Gonna come all over my fucking leg aren’t you? Come from just riding my fucking thigh?” 

You were close enough that you’d lost the ability to speak. You just nodded again and he kissed you, hard and messy and deep and you pressed yourself firmly against his leg as you fell apart, the tight coil inside yourself snapping as your clit throbbed against him. 

“Fuck, fuck, fuck!” He gasped as he pressed his cock hard against you and you felt him throbbing there, spilling into his jeans before slumping against you. His nose brushed yours for a moment and you smiled, kissing him lightly. 

“You’re going to kill me,” he laughed a little breathlessly. “More than a year into this and you still want me to fuck you so bad you’re dragging me away from a party?” 

“That’s nothing,” you teased. “Wait until we’re really old and we’re finding ways to sneak around the nursing home.” 

He laughed and kissed you again. 

“Love you so fuckin’ much.” 

It was easier to focus on the party after that. Tommy gave Joel a look when you made it back to the table and Joel told him to mind his own business and you laughed and drank your mojito. 

By the time midnight rolled around, you’d been pleasantly tipsy for more than an hour, draping yourself over Joel at every opportunity when you weren’t dancing with Sarah and Maria. As the countdown started, the six of you crowded onto the dance floor with everyone else, champagne in hand, Joel’s arm around you as he held you to his side. 

“Three, two, one!” 

Joel turned you to him and kissed you before you’d even had a chance to yell happy New Year and you sank into him, almost forgetting about the drink in your hand until some of it dribbled down your wrist, making you laugh against his lips. 

“Couldn’t let a second of the year go by before I kissed you for the first time,” he said, his lips still close to yours. The knot of heat and wanting that had eased after your antics earlier was back with full force. 

“Good,” you said quietly, drinking in the hungry look in his eyes. 

“It’s supposed to be a toast, you insatiable weirdos,” Sarah laughed and you laughed back, separating from Joel far enough to raise your glasses and toast with your new found family. 

It wasn’t long before all of you made your way to the elevators, piling into one with a handful of strangers, you happy for the excuse to stay pressed tightly against Joel. 

“Good luck!” Tommy said, a teasing edge to his voice when the doors dinged open on your floor. 

You frowned at him, confused, as the doors closed and you laughed a little as Joel led you back to the room. 

“Why do you need luck? Is Tommy under the impression that you have to work to get sex out of me?” You teased. “Because it’s sweet that you’d protect my honor that way but we both know that’s a damn lie.” 

“Tommy’s just a dumbass,” Joel replied. “Ignore him, that’s what I do.” 

You laughed, the tail end of your buzz waning. 

“Thinking we should take full advantage of that jacuzzi tub,” you said as Joel unlocked the hotel room door. “And use it to research the investment of a hot tub in the back yard…” 

“You’re insatiable,” he teased, opening the door for you. 

You laughed and were so busy looking at him - his thick, dark hair that was flecked with gray; his plush lips; his soft eyes - that it took you a second to realize there were roses and petals all over the room, a bottle of wine chilled in a bucket on the small table. 

“Joel?” You looked back at him and he just shrugged, smiling. 

You went further into the room and realized that it wasn’t just flowers and wine. There were framed pictures of you and Joel from the last year of your lives together. One of the two of you on Bourbon Street, another from when you decided to actually take those wine tasting classes you’d talked about, one from your second Longhorn’s game. There were at least a dozen, each one making it look so, so obvious that you made each other happy. That you gave each other the lives you wanted. 

You picked up the picture by the bedside, the first selfie you’d ever taken together. You were hiking and you’d held your arm out far enough to try to capture some of the view behind you. You were smiling hugely at the camera, hair grimy with sweat, Joel’s arm around your shoulders. But he wasn’t looking at the camera. Instead, he was looking at you. Looking at you like you were the only thing worth looking at. Looking at you like you made him happier than just about anything else on Earth. 

“What…” You trailed off, looking up from the picture to see Joel, on one knee with a box in his hands at the foot of the bed. 

You gasped and jumped, your hands covering your mouth on instinct, eyes wide. Your feet moved before you really realized what was happening and it seemed sudden that you were right in front of him.

“Joel,” you breathed, trembling hands slowly leaving your face. 

“For a very long time,” he said, his voice assured. “It felt like I’d gotten the only good thing I was going to get out of life. I had Sarah and seemed wrong to ask for more than that so I wasn’t lookin’ for it. Wasn’t lookin’ for you. But then I found you - or you found me, anyway - and I realized just how good life could be as long as I got to live it next to you. 

“You are the single best person I’ve ever met. You’re so smart and funny and creative and kind and the most fun I’ve ever had and I can’t imagine anything better than getting to live the rest of my life with you. Will you make me the happiest man on Earth and marry me?” 

***

Joel wasn’t sure his heart had ever beat this fast. Maybe when Sarah was first born and there were the torturous few seconds of silence before she started crying, not sure how anything about pregnancy or babies worked. Definitely never since. 

But the silence between you seemed to drag on for an eternity even though he knew it could have only been a second or two. That didn’t stop his heart from racing. 

“Yes,” you nodded, your voice thick, tears in your eyes. “Yes, yes, yes, yes yes!” 

You damn near tackled him and he laughed, catching you and holding onto you as he lowered the two of you to the ground on a bed of rose petals. 

Joel, Tommy and Nick had been in here getting everything set up while Sarah and Maria kept you busy in Sarah’s room. There was a brief moment of panic when Sarah texted that the three of you were headed to the party and Joel had to ask her to buy at least two minutes because they were walking to the elevator themselves. 

“I’m so happy for you, man,” Tommy said, clapping Joel on the shoulder as they headed up to the party. “You deserve this, you really fuckin’ do.” 

“She ain’t said yes yet,” Joel said, feeling the nerves all sudden and hot under his skin. “Don’t jinx it.” 

“She’ll say yes,” Tommy said, sounding so confident. “Don’t ask me WHY but that woman adores you. She’s gonna love it.” 

He hoped you did. He hoped you loved the idea at all, that you loved the proposal, that you loved the ring. Sarah had helped pick that part out so he was more confident of that, finding a piece that was elegant without looking dated, something that he hoped you’d like wearing for the rest of your life. 

Because that’s what he wanted. He wanted you, wanted to make you happy, for the rest of your life. 

He slid the ring onto your finger, the diamond catching the light as he did. 

“Are you serious?” You asked, looking from the ring to him. 

“Serious about spending the rest of my life with you?” He asked. “Can’t think of anything better.” 

You threw your arms around his neck and kissed him, hard and needy. He leaned into it for a moment before he pulled back from you. 

“Should move to the bed,” he breathed. “Gotta treat my fiancee right.” 

You just nodded quickly and Joel got up before helping you to your feet. 

He tugged your dress up and over your head - as much as he wanted to fuck you in the sexy little thing you’d been tempting him with all night, the need to feel your skin was too great - and eased you down onto the bed. 

You moved to the middle of it and Joel got undressed, his eyes watching you hungrily, the glint of his ring on your finger making him somehow even harder. You removed your bra and cast it aside before you slipped your panties down your legs and tossed them to the side, leaving you exposed and bare. You were everything it seemed like he’d ever wanted and you were his, the proof of it right there on your hand. He fisted his cock, pumping himself once, twice, as he climbed between your legs. 

He wanted to make this last. He wanted to go down on you and swallow your pleasure until you were screaming with it. He wanted to kiss every inch of your skin. He wanted to tease you with his fingers until you were begging for his cock. But he wasn’t sure he could, not that moment. He had a feeling you wouldn’t be leaving the bed for a few days after this.

“Joel,” you panted, watching him, pupils blown and back arched. He smiled. For some reason, you wanted him like he wanted you. 

“Yes, Mrs. Miller?” He breathed, settling between your open legs, the apex of your thighs hot against his skin. You moaned and rocked your hips up against him, your needy little clit pressing into his skin. 

“Fuck,” you moaned, closing your eyes, fingers gripping his bicep tightly. “Love the sound of that…” 

“You have no idea, Beautiful,” he said, kissing you, grinding his cock against your dripping slit. You moaned, the movement of your hips stuttering for a moment before you adjusted the angle so the tip of him was catching on your entrance with ever pass, just enough for the most sensitive part of him to be enveloped in your tight, wet heat. 

“Need you,” you were almost gasping with it, desperate and wanting. “Please, please, need to feel you, I need…” 

“Always going to give you what you need, Baby,” he said, his cock dipping further into you this time before he pulled back and pushed himself against your clit again. “Always gonna take care of you, always.” 

He pushed into you then, firm but not to fast, your breath catching on your throat as he did. Joel kissed you, trying not to think about how damn good you felt, how it seemed like he belonged right there, deep inside you. 

“Fuck,” your nails dug into him but he held on. “Fuck, you feel so fucking good how do you feel this fucking good?” 

He could only moan in response, fucking into you, feeling you open up to him, your walls gripping him tight. He stayed still inside you for a moment, savoring it, the feeling of you around him while he was over you, the way you held onto him. 

But he couldn’t last that way for long. You - his fiancee. His fiancee, no one else’s, you belonged to no one but him - felt too damn good for him to last too long inside of you and he had to move, he had to. 

So he did, starting a little slower but still firm, pressing his hips into you so your hot little clit was against his skin. 

He could feel you starting to tighten around him, like your body was trying to pull him deeper somehow, your lips messy and desperate when they found his, trialing little kisses over his body when they don’t. 

“That’s it, Beautiful,” he panted into you. “Come for me, can feel how close you are, just let go for me, let me feel you. Need to feel you…” 

You gasped his name and pressed your whole body tight against him as you came around him, your pussy fluttering around him, working his cock, all warm and soft trying to pull him as deep as you could take him. He fucked you through it, hardly able to hold off his own orgasm, the aftershocks of yours still rippling through your tight channel when he emptied himself into you until he didn’t even have the strength to hold himself up anymore, collapsing on you, his head over your shoulder so he could smell your skin and your hair. Fuck, he loved that smell. Fuck, he loved you. 

After a minute, he adjusted the two of you so you were draped over his chest, your arms all soft and pliant, close enough that he could feel your heartbeat on his skin, feel your soft, little breaths on him. You held up your left hand, turning the ring back and forth in the light. 

“You’re sure about this?” You asked, glancing up at him as you fidgeted with the ring. 

“More sure than I’ve ever been about anything,” he said. “Would make you Mrs. Miller tomorrow if you’d let me.” 

You laughed a little at that, putting your hand down on his chest and taking a deep breath. 

“Doesn’t seem fair,” you said softly. 

“What doesn’t?” 

“You’ve given me so much,” you said. “You’ve given me everything I’ve ever wanted - everything. Feels like I’m not holding up my end.” 

“You kiddin’ me?” He scoffed. “You’re so perfect I have to remind myself that you’re real sometimes, that I’m not just imagining you. You make me the luckiest man on Earth every damn day by just breathing in the same room as me. If anything’s not fair, it’s that I got too greedy asking you to marry me. Should know to quit when I’m this far ahead.” 

You laughed and pressed your lips into his chest, looking at the ring again, twisting it this way and that with your thumb. 

“Make you a deal,” you said, adjusting your head so you were looking at him. 

“What’s your proposal?” He asked, teasing. 

“You take care of me,” you said. “Make sure I’m not getting too overwhelmed or overdoing it at work or just getting too in my own head. I’ll take care of you, make sure you take time for yourself, make sure you relax, make sure you know how great you are. Deal?” 

He smiled a little. 

“Deal, Mrs. Miller.” 

You smiled bigger. 

“Excellent, Mr. Miller.” 

He kissed your forehead. 

“Don’t have to change your last name, you know,” he said, giving you a squeeze. “I can always just call you that for my own damn enjoyment without making it official.” 

You laughed a little. 

“No, I want to change it,” you said. “Sarah was right all along. I think I’m going to make a great Miller.” 

A/N: Ahhh! I hope you all loved reading the story of Joel and Sarah's best friend as much as I loved sharing it! These two are so fun and so sweet, I'm so glad I got to give them the happy ending they deserved.

Thank you so so much for being here, for following along with this little story that started as a one shot based on a request that came in after I wrote another one shot as a request. I so appreciate that you're here, that you've spent your time with this fic and these characters and all of your support. This corner of the internet means everything to me and it's because you're a part of it <3 Love you!

Taglist: @fanficismydrug

[infoactionratio7]

(you) on my arm - s. adamu

summary: sydney is at a wall, she has no ideas when it comes to the new menu at the bear. she decides to go to a bookstore for some new inspiration, she finds it, but not in the way she was expecting.

pairing: sydney adamu x fem! bookseller! reader

word count: 2,514

note: annoying! carmy bc he literally is insane, kinda fluffy meet cute vibes, reader just moved to chicago, inspired by the song (you) on my arm by leith ross cause the song is rlly cute! also sydney gives me sapphic vibes, she definitely would have a crush on a girl!

monday morning -

Sydney was pissed, she had sent at least ten messages to Carmy in the last twenty minutes. Some about the new menu they were working on together, some about the fact that he had been a bitch the night before when he kicked everyone out because Claire just had to see the new restaurant. She ran her hands down her face in frustration as she sat at her dad's kitchen table, the sun streaming in through the blinds into the apartment. It warmed the floor as she got up from the table, debating what to do. She had no ideas left, everything was either not working out, or it just didn't fit the menu for the new revamped restaurant.

"Sydney, where are you headed off to today?" Her dad walked into the room with a steaming cup of coffee, freshly brewed from a new coffee blend she had found shopping the day before.

"Uh well Carm is not responding so I'm gonna head over to The Bear and meet up with him for a little then see where the day goes from there I guess." She walked out of the dining area and put her breakfast dishes away.

"Okay honey, have a good day. Hope he stops being an ass." She laughed, "Me too... me too."

Sydney grabbed her shoes out of the closet she had thrown them in last night, slipping them on and grabbing her bag. "I'll see you later dad." She grabbed her keys, and started making her way to the restaurant where she could deal with Carmy in person.

-

You looked around the bookstore, you had only been open for a month but it had been a hit within the community. You had almost any book anybody could want. There were teens coming from the school a few blocks away to get some cheesy romance novels to bring to the park and read with their friends, and there were grandparents coming in to get their grandchildren a new picture book about god knows what. You even had some people come in and request books you had never heard of before, you promptly ordered two copies of any book you didn't have. One for the customer, and one for you, to read and explore the pages.

It was a beautiful space, tall ceilings strung with fairy lights and lanterns, trying to bring some sense of whimsy to the dull days in Chicago. The books were arranged in every which way, requiring the customers to truly search for a book they wanted to read. You had tables full of recommendations, from people online and the employees of the bookshop. You really enjoyed curating all the titles you had in your collection. Tourists looking for a cute little magnet or souvenir adored the hole in the wall place, a safe space to just cuddle up and read a book.

You had a few customers that day, a mom and her son looking for his first chapter book to read. You had suggested he read The Magic Tree House, a series, about a brother and sister and their time traveling tree house. There was a tall guy with a buzzcut, who said he worked just down the street and was looking for a book about how to get rid of mold in the structure of a building. He seemed in dire need of some help, so you found the best book possible, The Toxic Mold Recovery Guide. You had no idea you had the book but it was meant to be. He thanked you immensely, leaving his name and number just in case you ever needed anything. His name was Richie, he seemed pretty nice.

Low music played as you restocked a shelf, you hated the idea of having Colleen Hoover books in the store but they were a big source of income. They absolutely flew off the shelves. The least touched section of the store were the cookbooks, it seemed like everyone in Chicago was moving too fast to just dedicate one hour of their day to making a meal from scratch. It was disappointing, because you had a large selection, from Mastering the Art of French Cooking by Julia Child to Momofuku by David Chang and Peter Meehan. You knew that someday it might come in handy and you would be lucky to have all the cookbooks.

-

Sydney walked into the restaurant in a sour mood, Carmy had still not responded to any of her texts and she knew he was here. She walked straight into the office, passing the locker room, sans lockers and covered in black powder. Richie furiously flipping through a book that said something about mold on the cover. He glanced up at her

"Shut the fuck up." She was taken aback

"I didn't even fucking say anything Richie," he scoffed at her

"Well I was preparing for you to say something dumb as hell, and you did so I stand by my first statement." He looked back down at the book and mumbled something unintelligible to himself. She rolled her eyes and made her way into the office.

"Carm are you here?" Turning the corner she saw the chef, surrounded by papers and various file folders. He had his phone in his hand and was about to dial a number, "You little bitch, you fucking had your phone this entire time." She couldn't believe what was right in front of her.

"What do you mean chef?" Carmy looked confused, "Of course I had my phone, I'm about to call the fridge guy."

Rolling her eyes she brought her hand up to her face, holding her forehead in her palm. "I texted you at least ten fucking times, you couldn't even bother yourself to respond!" Shaking her head she sank down into the office chair Carmy had abandoned an hour ago.

He looked around the room, trying to get her to understand how much work he had been doing, "Syd I've been trying to make sense of this paperwork for hours, I haven't had time to respond to your messa-"

Fak's head popped into the doorframe, "Carmy I got your text about helping Richie clean up the mold but he's being mean to me." Sydney turned from Fak to the red faced chef sitting on the floor. He had been caught in a lie, of course Fak came in at just the right time for this to happen.

"Okay fuck you chef, I'm leaving." Sydney shrugged, stood up and left the room. She heard heated words from Carmy as she walked out of the office and passed the locker room again, now he was pissed at Fak, as usual. She heard her name as she turned around,

"Sydney, wait a sec come here."

"What do you want Richie, I thought you wanted me to shut the fuck up." She crossed her arms tight and shot him a pointed look.

"You should go to that bookstore a few blocks down, I got this damn mold book earlier and saw a shit ton of cookbooks. You should check it out." She sent him a tight smile and turned her back to him. "Thanks Chef."

-

You had just finished restocking the shelves for the day when the little bell above the door rang. You went behind the desk and called out, "Welcome to The Book Worm, If you need anything let me know!"

You heard no response so you just busied yourself cleaning up the case that was behind the checkout, it housed all your special edition signed or first edition copies of books. It needed to be dusted pretty often because you wanted to keep the quality of the books at their highest, just in case anyone would ever want to purchase one.

You heard a thud come from behind you, and turning around you looked down at the counter. There was a stack of six cookbooks placed on the counter in front of you. Looking up you saw one of the most beautiful women you had ever seen since you had moved in to the city. Her hair was long and perfectly braided, her eyes a beautiful shade of umber catching the light in a hypnotic way. She had a grimace on her face, yet still looked stunning. You had no idea how to react, so instinctively you started to enter the books into the register as you made some small talk,

"So how has your day been," She sighed and looked up to meet your gaze, "If I'm being honest, shitty. My fucking partner wouldn't respond to my messages and when I went to talk to him he had is phone in his hand about to call someone. So yeah really fucking shitty." You looked back down at the book at disappointment, of course she had a partner and of course she was straight.

Awkwardly smiling you tried to think of a good response"Oh, um, wow. That's pretty shitty I'm sorry." She seemed to sense your disappointment, trying to save the conversation, "Shit uh, my business partner I mean, he's a little bitch sometimes. We're uh, opening a business- or I should say um," She rubbed the back of her neck, "We're kinda rebranding his brother's old restaurant, its a lot." You had finished entering all the books into the system, your chest had filled with warmth when she rushed to clarify that he was her business partner. You thought that maybe, just maybe it might be because she wanted to make sure you knew she was single, and not exactly straight.

"I guess that explains the cookbooks then," You looked at her, she had been staring at you in a flustered state of shock. "What, oh, uh, yeah! I'm kinda stuck making the menu so wanted to get some inspiration."

Sharing an understanding smile, you read her total out to her. She grabbed her wallet and pulled out some cash, as she handed it to you her fingers brushed along yours. It sent chills down your spine, no matter how cliche it might be, you knew that she was someone to keep close. Your face flushed red as you took the cash and put it into the register, printing her receipt and giving her any change she needed back.

You decided that since she got so many books you would give her a free tote bag, just so she could carry all the books out of the shop. You pulled one off of a hook behind you and started to put the books into a bag. You decided to quietly slip a business card with your cell number and a little note into a book so she could find it and contact you. A subtle way of screaming, you are the most beautiful woman I have ever seen I want to spend the rest of my life with you, without being too forward. As you finished packing the bag, the two of you both happened to say something at the same time.

"Do you wanna come see my restu-"

"Do you work at the restura-"

You flushed

"No you can go-"

"No you can go - sorry um. Do you want to come to the opening of the restaurant. It's uh, the one down the street, we're not opening for a while but, if you want to come to the friends and fam-"

You cut her off, wanting her to know you really wanted to go to her restaurant, "I would love to go... what was your name?"

"Sydney, It's uh Sydney" Her face got hot, nervous about the fascinating bookseller she just had the pleasure of meeting.

"Well Sydney, I would love to go. Just let me know the details," You softly smiled as you gave her the bag filled with books. She looked to you and grabbed a bookmark you had as a display that happened to have the shop's phone number on it. "I'll call you, um when we get closer to the open date, promise." You smiled, hoping that she would get in contact with you sooner than she expected to. She turned to leave.

"Thanks for coming in, really good to meet you Sydney." The door rang again and she sent you a wave through the glass, walking away quickly.

You were frozen, you had just given a random girl you just met your number, and had openly flirted with her for all the world to see. You crouched down onto the small stool you had behind the desk, tucked your head into your knees and screamed. You were feeling rushes of emotion and didn't think you would ever recover from that interaction. The bell rang again just as you finished screaming, you shot up and saw a group of teenagers heading to the new books you had just set out.

"Welcome to The Book Worm, If you need anything just holler!"

-

Sydney rushed back to The Bear, she was so utterly mortified, she had never seen someone so radiant and in their element. The chef couldn't contain her emotions as she stormed into the restaurant, Richie was the first person she saw, he started to say something,

"Not right now Richie I swear to God" The tall man was taken aback but threw his hands up in surrender, not wanting to get involved.

She might as well have ran into the office at the speed she was going, throwin the bag of cookbooks on the ground and closing the door, sliding down the back of the door she groaned,

"Fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck, fucking, fuck," dragging out the last word as she hit the floor.

Carmy stared at her from the floor a few feet away, "Yo Syd what happened to you? Looks like you just ran a marathon." He chuckled at the expression on her face.

"I just met the most beautiful girl and totally fucked up my chances with her cause I left so quickly." Sydney put her hands into her face and just sat there marinating in her embarrassment.

Carmy had some strong suits, his attention to detail one of them. He noticed something poking out of one of the books. He grabbed it, hoping that it was something that would change Sydney's mood before he had to work with her for more hours than they could count. He grinned taking the note out of the book and reading it,

"Hey Syd," He reached out to give her the note.

She looked up from behind her fingers, "What?"

He shook his hand, implying he wanted her to take the note from his grip. She groaned, then leaned forward to forcefully take it out of his hand.

She read the note, and smiled. Thank God you slipped her this note.

cookbook girl -

i hope you enjoy your SIX cookbooks, i have some more you could borrow for some inspiration. text me

Sydney's face heated up as she leaned back into door and scoffed.

Carmy had saved the day, one again.

[richardlawson]

The End

After a few years away from that particular couch, I started seeing a new therapist at the end of last year. It had been long enough, I sagely determined, after I was felled by a series of really nasty panic attacks—one happened while I was doing a Q&A on stage with some filmmakers. They didn't notice, nor did the audience, nor (most importantly) the publicists. But it was happening. Me contemplating running off stage, into the Soho afternoon. It was a terrible feeling, and eventually feeling terrible starts to be a drag, so I found, after a fair amount of searching, someone new.

He is in his late 50s and has a kind, open comportment. He's much more giving and lean-in-and-nod than my last therapist, a sort of prim and watchful gay guy who retired to Florida. I like this new gay guy, I think. Or, I am warming to him. At first, I thought his platitudes and constant quoting of various people were corny. But I have resisted such sentiment for so long, and lack of sentiment hasn't cured me, so maybe I should try the earnest stuff. He has me meditating for one minute a day. The panic attacks went away.

For a little while, anyway. They've been creeping back, when I least expect them, and when I most do. I am afraid of what I am afraid of, I hate what I hate, I feel increasingly indifferent to what I love. Winter hardens care. Do I like movies anymore? Do I like a play, seen on some chilly Saturday afternoon? Maybe it's just seasonal. Or it's media malaise in a time of such austerity. They're trying to lay off the best people while the worst people watch, safe as houses. They're trying to take the whole thing apart and replace it with nothing. I have worked in my business for 16 years, well over a third of my life, and for the first time it now feels truly dire and terminal and like I need to start making other plans for what to do with the rest of my time here in the waking, working world.

Something I talk about a lot with my therapist is inertia—I use the word constantly. Why can't I just, why can't I just, why can't I just. I know something's in me, latent under my lazy skin, but it never makes its way to the surface. At least not yet.

Which causes panic, this stasis. I am scared of the drugs that might help, and am resistant to other concrete life changes that might make this better. (I like a glass of wine too much; I'm a fan of my vape.) I have tried avoiding things, I have tried not avoiding things.

I guess it's not circumstance, really. I have panic attacks when I'm home at night, Andrew asleep in the other room, me watching some murder show or YouTube video (same thing) and suddenly a feeling hits me, the conviction that a blood clot or some other lurking thing is making its way up my body and that this is my sorry, lonely little nighttime end. Here it is, the moment when I'm carried off, when I disappear, when I slip away into nothing.

My parents just finished a cruise, a lifelong wish fulfilled, in South America, hooking around Cape Horn and then exploring the fjords and inlets of Chile. All the reports were good. They had the best time. I had worried about my mom itching for her work email, about my dad being newly 90 years old and maybe feeling exhausted by all the activity. But it seems they managed well. They saw Patagonian cities, they saw mountains rising out of the sea, they saw the shy, retreating edges of glaciers, so quiet and demure in their dying. My mom sent us pictures and I thought most about the glaciers, those last cracking murmurs of a time before. When I was in Alaska for a wedding, years ago now, we went to a park of some kind and the visitor's center that was once built over a glacier then stood cantilevered over dry land. The ice had crept much farther up the mountain, winking goodbye.

How awful. And yet, in the depths of my hypocrisy, I relish an unseasonably warm day. Whatever lifts me out of winter, I guess. Whatever can drag me out of the feeling that everything is indeed going to ruin—a career, a life, a liver, a future. My best friend moved out of my neighborhood recently, which is sad. But it also affords us the opportunity to explore new territory, to find backyard bars with good deals where we can huddle in forgiving late-winter winds and make uneasy escape plans, where we consider what parachutes could ever be made of.

It's not always enough, of course. I too often have nights, far too late, when I go pacing around the living room, circling the coffee table in a weird sort of marching step in my underwear, shaking my hands to get the dread to go away. My new therapist has urged me to find what centers me. To think of all that is known and steady.

I try to gather myself and remember the people I have, arrayed across the planet. Andrew, in restless sleep down the hall. My sister in her Los Angeles canyon, surrounded by trees. I walk the room, knees high and somehow defiant, chest straining with worry. And I see my parents, on a boat at the tip of the world, dreaming of lost things.

[mymelodymia]

Hey how u doing? I’m in love with your fics btw they’re like my bedtime stories🥰

I saw that you haven’t written morgan much in ur fics so i have some ideas of a fic (or fics) you might like where y/n & morgan bonding with tony through the years. They’re a lot you can do them as parts or oneshots or one big oneshot it’s up to u really. y/n can be she/her or gn.

-12yo y/n asking tony to hold newborn morgan and he obliged, tears in his eyes watching his firstborn holding his newborn🥹

-4yo morgan & 16yo y/n in morgan’s room having tea party or dressing-up party (or whatever kid-friendly games lol) tony then join them and play along. pepper coming to get them for dinner and see her little family having fun (or one to put makeup on tony and the other style his hair and it’s getting messy haha)

-since pepper out of country for business, tony remains to watch his little troublemakers. But he had a bad day that the house label it ‘daddy’s bad day’. y/n noticed this and telling morgan to draw something to him and give him her best morgan cure ever (hugs). y/n did last remaining assignment as morgan finishes her masterpiece then goes to make hot chocolate for them 3. tony gets emotional about morgan’s drawing and more sappy when she hugs him tight telling him “it’s okay daddy. I love you” *sobs in 3000😭*, y/n sit beside him and hug them both (i mean them on the couch being cuddly comforting their dad🥹) then ends the day with a movie night.

-tony teaching dance to y/n for prom in their living room, morgan busting into them and the 3 dance together with an upbeat music, then morgan asks y/n to dance with her, and tony getting emotional again he’s so proud dad (FRIDAY caught him on 4k crying and sent the footage to pepper and rhodey lol)

-the stark family having an outing after y/n’s graduation, tony reminiscing the old times when y/n was just a baby and being taken care of (tony telling embarrassing toddler y/n moments to morgan. pepper in her Protective Mum Mode telling her kids embarrassing stories about their dad as kind of revenge for her embarrassed eldest *go pep!*)

-y/n being there for morgan’s first school day. morgan being there in y/n’s dorm room putting down boxes. this concept might work as a parallel yk.

one day at night morgan called y/n crying ‘cause she missed her sibling and y/n trying to comfort her😭

-years after all these scenes, the stark family expands with y/n’s little newborn. 12yo morgan asks y/n to hold the baby and tony (the sappy daddy he is) having flashbacks to when y/n holding morgan🥹😭

Yeah, that was a lot lol! idk if you’re busy or smth but if you do pls take your time. and pls tag me on your fics if u don’t mind ofc.

Good times Stark family x stark!reader

Pt 1/5

Summary: all the fun times you had with your little sunshine...morgan

Warnings:

+•°+*°•++•°+*°•++•°+*°•+

You woke up at around 10:17 a.m. you went downstairs and no one was there, you expected your parents to still be sleeping given that pepper was pregnant and tony well...he's tony.

You gobbled down a bowl of cereal and went upstairs to check on your parents, passing by the nursery, you saw all of the pink and white, and the smidgen of grey in there too.

You smiled, picturing your baby sister laying in her crib, or on the changing table, or even just playing with her toys. You were so excited to meet morgan. The baby sister you'd always wanted.

You peeked around the corner into your parents bedroom. But no one was there, you checked the bathrooms, the dining room, the kitchen, the living room, heck you'd even checked the garage. But no one was there.

"Friday? Where is everyone?" You asked the AI, starting to panic. "Pepper has gone into labor and is at the hospital with tony." She stated calmly. "What!? Why didn't they get me up!?" You asked her. And she said....

"Actually, tony has left a message for you explaining this" she said as she played it. "Hey kid, i hope your doing alright. It is your first time home alone, but peps in labor and i didn't want to wake you so happy will pick you up when the time comes. And dont worry, youll be here for the birth. Love you baby" you heard your father tell you from on the voice message, he sounded like he was driving and pepper was maybe holding the phone up so it could hear him properly.

"Well tell happy to come get me! I dont wanna miss my sisters birth!" You said running out as Friday contacted happy, you were putting together a comfy outfit. Making sure your sweatshirt was fluffy so that when you held her, she would feel it. You threw on your sneakers and was out the door.

Happy picked you up, and stepped on it. Which made you think you were in a hurry and might miss it, but luckily, you didn't.

You ran into the hospital room, immediately being greeted with tony and peppers soft eyes. You ran over to pepper, taking her hand in yours. "Hey mamuh, you doing alright?" You asked her, gently caressing her arm.

"Yes, thank you munchkin" that was peppers nickname for you, she loved saying it, and you were determined to pass it down to morgan and possibly your children some day.

"How dilated is she?" You asked looking up at tony. "Shes currently 8 centimeters dilated"

"What?? Oh thank god i didn't hit the snooze button." Everybody chuckled at your joke.

After a while, she was fully dilated and ready to push. The nurses and doctors instructed her on what to do, while you and tony were at her sides cheering her on and comforting her.

"You got this mamuh, there you go! Come on." You and tony kept repeating these words until morgan was officially born <33333333

It took another few minutes for you and tony to be able to hold her though. But when tony held his second daughter on his chest, the man was crying with joy.

Though he was iron man, and acted like he was the Is toughest guy on the planet, he was actually a very delicate flower.

You tapped his shoulder, getting his attention. "Daddy, can i hold her now?" He immediately gave little Mo to pep and folded your arms in the correct way. After he finished this task, he took his baby and placed her gently in her big sisters arms.

You looked down at her and she looked up at you. You both stared into each others eyes for a while. Tonys eyebrows fell back, he felt a tear run down his cheek. He quickly whipped out his phone, holding it sideways he recorded you both for at least 5 minutes straight.

You smiled at her, letting out a small giggle in awe, and she cooed at you. Making you smile bigger, which made her smile, and all of this reminded tony of his first moments with you, as if you were him and she was you, it flashed before his eyes on how fast his little girl was growing up.

He didn't want the same for morgan, he wanted for both of you to stay like this forever. He wasn't going to let the first few months of little Mo's life off of his mind for a long time. He made the mistake with you, and when time went by so fast, he wanted to go back and not mess it up this time. He took an oath to remember these moments with morgan, it didn't matter if he was soothing her cries, or feeding her, or even bathing her. He wasn't going to let any of it go. Ever.

You looked up at tony, who was balling his eyes out. You giggled and leaned to the side to hug him. He began sobbing into you, holding you tight, pep definitely snapped a photo of this >:) she's gonna show it to everyone ehehhehehehehe

+•°+*°•++•°+*°•+

You came into Morgans room, the baby pink walls were covered in her drawings and photos. You sat down at the table that was seven times too small for you.

She was having a tea party with her stuffed animals, her ginormous panda bear plush sat in a chair, along with a elephant pep had gotten her, and a lion you had got for her.

"May i join the tea party m'lady?" You asked her in a strong British accent, "of course madam" she responded, trying her best to recreate the accent. Pretending to pour some tea in a cup in front of you.

you took a plastic cup she just "filled". Making a loud slurping sound. She giggled at this. (I wanna hear it so bad)

She eventually talked you into wearing a giant pink hoop skirt. (Even though she simply asked and you did it because you cant resist those big beautiful little eyes of hers) Which she had a smaller version for her.

after a while, tony walked in and paused seeing his both his daughters on the floor, in giant hoop skirts, having a tea party. A smile danced on his lips.

Morgan ran behind him and shut the door, locking it in the process 😈😈😈

"Wacha doing, and why did morgan just lock the door....wait who taught you to do that?" He said turning to morgan, who had her arms behind her back innocently "i did." You said raising your hand.

Tony eventually joined in on this tea party. And after begging for like 10 minutes, he put on a hoop skirt as well, and you ran out of the bedroom, getting caught on the locked door. And returned with makeup. "Uh-no." He said pointing a finger at you. You gave him puppy dog eyes, and so did morgan "....fine." you and her cheered before high-fiving.

While morgan did his hair in very odd shapes and styles, you did his makeup, badly....like, INTENSE blush. And bright blue eyeshadow. And red lipstick, you know.

Then pepper walked in to inform her family that it was dinner time. But saw all of you in giant skirts, and tony in a the best ponytail you can do with three inches of hair, and a tiara of course 😄 and you doing his makeup.

She chuckled at this, and especially tonys vulnerability to his girls. "Dinners ready, come on" she said before leaving the room. "Dont worry dad you look amazing"

+•°+*°•++•°+*°•+

You had noticed that your father had a pretty bad day at work, and decided to help him out a bit with the help from Morgan.

"Hey mo. Daddy had a rough day at work, and he misses mommy, lets call it 'daddys bad day' and i want you to draw him something with all of your skill, and then give him the best bad day cure ever! hugs" you whispered that last bit to make it more dramatic for her.

She ran across her bedroom to grab her crayons and a few papers, and immediately got to work, creating her best piece yet!

You looked at it, then back at her and high-fived her for her amazing drawing skills. You had the milk on the stove and the chocolate in the microwave being melted. (You really think that you would make him instant hot cocoa on daddys bad day? Didn't think so)

You watched as tony came downstairs from his hot shower, that was long as well. And watched him immediately plop down on the couch, putting his hands over his face.

Morgan climbed onto the couch and tapped his shoulder getting him to look over at her, his hands floating midair.

"I made you something daddy" she said handing him the paper. He took one look at it and immediately smiled, looking back at morgan he saw she was handing him another paper. "And this ones you and mommy" she said pointing at the two people hugging underneath a rainbow in a meadow of flowers.

He was already quite emotional from his hard day, he felt his eyes water. Little Mo noticed this and wrapped her small arms around his neck, squeezing him as hard as she could,

"Its okay daddy...i love you" he let out a small sob and threw his arms around her waist. "I love you too, my sweet girl".

You walked over and sat down on the couch on his opposite side. Setting all three drinks down on the coffee table in front of you. You leaned into him, you and morgan both squeezed the life out of him.

You turned on a movie, and after you finished your drinks, you and morgan passed out in your fathers caring arms.

+•°+*°•++•°+*°•+

A/N: AAAAAAAAAAA! I love writing for morgan so fricking muchhhhh 💕🥰😘🩷 and I'm trying to tag you I swear, it's not workingggg 😭😭😭 this has happened before just give it a few days maybe 🙃

tags

@animealways // @white-wolf-buckaroo // @tonystark-au // @zebralover //

[thesevenwondersofawitch]

The Brothers Sun ep8

Understandable that the Tea Leaf guy won't talk unless Big Sun is brought down

Aw, they're staying in a motel

Mama Sun is so done that Bruce couldn't get the name for dragon head right 😂

She makes her son drive at night because she gets lost😭

She bought 6 pasta strainers just because they were on sale

"You are not a crime boss. You're my mom." She can be both

I get where she's coming from, but it never sits right to be mad at the kid who didn't

NOOOOOOOOOO Charles nooooooooooooooo

Oh thank god, he shot above his brother's head

The mom's hand on Charles shoulder 😭 I bet she came running

I love that Bruce said that it's going to lead to decades of therapy (that his brother was sent to kill him by their father)😂

Charles don't hurt your brother! He has a point about killing your father

The fact that Bruce said he'd do anything to protect his brother 😭

The way the mom admitted that the chairleg incident was a test and she didn't push back against the father when he forced Charles to kill the first time😭

At least she's showing the remorse and guilt she feels for sacrificing

"Forget dad, you can be Charles -churro baker Sun"😭

The way that the mom has a charger for her son's phone😭

Oh, Charles just realized how he was betrayed

Xing telling the Wang bros that they need to shut up makes me hope she at least feels some guilt for betraying

The dad is such an asshole

Good for you Charles, telling your dad you want to stay. I'm proud of you❤️

The way I cheered when Charles shot those douche bags😂

Oh no, Xing is going to kill the mother and brother 😭

Well fuck indeed, Charles, fuck indeed

Alexis saying that they don't have shrimp chips😂

Him asking for a charger is not permission to track his phone

Alexis is far worse than Charles ever could be

Mama Sun wearing an oversized jersey is so cute

Yeah, Xing sucks and blood boots would never

The fact that the mom is immediately chastising Bruce for getting the wrong milk😂

FUCK YOU ALEXIS. FUCK YOU

Bruce is absolutely playing her😂 the improv classes work!

I love how Charles is just as shocked that the mom can fight 😂😂

Bruce planning to kill their dad😂

I mean, him being good at Laser Tag and also beating his actual assassin brother at a shooting video game is hilarious and actually makes sense

Bruce: "Neither of us are who our parents thought we were."

Charles"Yeah, but both our parents are crazy."

Bruce: "yeah."

Bruce, hugging Charles: "I don't think we've ever hugged before."

Charles: "Well, you're probably gonna die, so might as well get one last one before you go."😂

Bruce: "Right."

Bruce, handing his visitor badge to Alexis: "The Brothers Sun don't work with cops." HA!

Oh no, Bruce don't listen to that serpent of a father who's telling you to join him.

I love that Charles made sure to shoot his dad and missed the internal organs 😂 It definitely pays

The way that Bruce said he'd use his spit to make his taco dumplings 😂

I'm pretty sure that it was Bruce's plan all along to get his brother and mom to cook for him forever😂

FUCK YEAH! THE MAMA INJECTING THE DAD'S IV BAGS WITH INSULIN IS WICKED AND GENIUS AND I'M SO HAPPY FOR HER!

Awwwww she bought her son a bakery 😭🥺

Hopefully that other girl isn't

The way she brought gifts to her friends

I love that she wants her kids to have lives and be happy 🥺❤️

Good for Alexis that she got a tower of her snack

The pictures in the mom's room with both her boys🥺😭

I'm crying with Bruce and Mama Sun too😭 nothing bad better happen to her

Oh nooooo, Charles is leaving too😭 I mean I'm happy that he's gonna get some time with his mama and that she's finally getting what she wants

I love that June has dinner reservations already 😂 she's got her priorities straight

The fact that Bruce still struggles to drive his car is hilarious and relatable af😂

I really hope we get another season, just because this was so well written and I enjoyed this show so much. But it also ended on a great note.

Ooooooo I wonder who that guy with the sunglasses sounds like he's being sent after Tea guy

Also still curious about who the man was that Eileen had been dancing with in Taiwan

[delilaahh9]

Pages Turning

September 20th, 2021

2:39 am

Annabelle would rather do anything then be on bed rest, sure she has wasted so many days by just laying in bed but those were illness or pure laziness, when she had the choice to, now she is actively forced. Jack was able to drive her home before practice where he explained the whole situation to his parents since she was still… drugged up from surgery.

Ellen had told her to take a nap to which Anna declined and kept “crunching” herself out of her room, to the point where Jim shut her door at 7pm after dinner and said he’d put a piece of tape at the bottom of her door so if she opened it then the tape would rip off and he would know.

Now she sits up against her headboard with her notebook and guitar in hand.

Her feelings had been getting the best of her, seeing a picture from a party last night and slightly in the background was mark smiling at a girl who had her arm looped through his. Which sent the brunette down a rabbit hole of song writing about her feelings.

“she.. wears your number..” she smiles and writes the lyric down.

She began to hum a melody when her door was lightly pushed open. “Luke no” she scolds when her brother enters the room.

“What?” He asks.

“Dad taped my door I’m gonna get in shit” she whispers.

“um.. there was no tape on your door” he says back with eye brows drawn in, then opens up the door to show her. “Dammit” she groans and sits back.

“Whatcha singing?” He asks while laying down next to her.

“new music” the brunette mumbles and closes her book only for him to take it and flip it to the first page titled “bad ones” and began to read, While she set her guitar to the side.

“Holy shit Annie, who is this about?” He asks and flips to the next song called “rubberband”

“um, those two are about max” she says quietly and embarrassed she writing about a relationship from 3 years ago.

“I always knew he was a dick.. like I always knew” he emphasizes but keeps looking through the book.

“I know Luke, you mention every-” she noticed he was stopped at the one she was just working on so she snatched it away and hid it under her back.

“woah woah woah what was that” he asked.

“Nothing for your eyes” she mumbles and picks up her phone which she hasn’t been on since earlier yesterday when she chucked it on the pavement. Leaving a crack across the bottom.

“woah” she mutters seeing 15 messages from her friends and 10 alone from mark.

Care 🐻

Hey babes!

I heard what happened

I’m gonna drop off some soup my momma made tomorrow Morning.

Thank you carigan 💗

Abigail

Dukers told me what happened.

If you need anything let me know! :(

Of course, thank you 💗

Zo Zo🌷

Talked to e today :(

How’s my girl feeling?

I’m alright

Doc said no dancing till fall :(

Oh my god?!

mhm but it gives me more time to write

Write a song about me before your famous!

I won’t be famous.. but I’ll think about it 😉 

“Wake me if you need anything, okay?” Luke says as he stands up. “night”

“Goodnight Luke” she says back and begins to dial marks phone number.

“Anna, are you okay?” He says when he answers after one ring.

“Yes mark, I’m alright, a little sore but I’ll be.. ok” she sighs, it won’t be okay. She can’t do one of the two things that makes her happy in this world.

“I know you’re not alright, which is why I’m coming over- not now- but tomorrow afternoon. So you aren’t home alone”

“Don’t you have a game to play tomorrow night- actually I have a game to go to.”

“He will be okay if you miss it Ann, and it’s just a practice which is from 8-10 so I’ll get to you about 11“

“Thank you-” she cuts herself off with a loud yawn. “But I think I gotta go to bed”

“You do, goodnight princess”

“Night mark”

It took her a second, but then she realized what he had called her.

*Princess*

[boxerbeans]

TW: pet death

Hey guys. I know I don’t post very often. I don’t even know how to start this other than that Joe died unexpectedly this morning and it’s devastating.

My sister took him to the ER last night because he had a seizure then was acting lethargic/in pain/had pale gums. They had just thought it was a sprain but the vet did bloodwork and his RBCs were critically low. The vet told them it was either cancer or that he ingested something toxic, and knowing that Joe has pancreatitis and my sister and BIL watch his access to food like a hawk I had a feeling it was the former. They took him 2 internal med specialists before the vet said it was likely a tumor on his spleen that ruptured and my sister/BIL opted to not do a splenectomy. My sister was calling me the entire time and asking for advice and it just…sucked? To know what the answer likely would be but to know that they would want to truly know the cause (as would I, even knowing what the likely outcome would be regardless). Especially because my sister is 6 months along with their first and they were super excited to introduce Joe to the baby since he adores kids. And now he’s gone.

She’s been MIA for most of the day aside from announcing it to the family but I know she’s processing it - she sent a picture to us of shortly before/after he passed. I’m also in this weird spot where I’m grieving him too, I lived with him until he was like four and then I practically lived at my sister’s apartment with him for another year or two, plus of course I see him constantly because my sister is my best friend and he’s Taylor’s dad. I love him. I was his third favorite person, behind my sister and BIL of course. I literally just saw him on Saturday when we had a family day painting the nursery and he was acting completely normal including playing with Taylor and begging for human food. But also I’m the one having to explain to everyone about what exactly happened medically and helping them process that there was nothing to be done. The only one I’ve been able to grieve to is Ian which is…not fun. I’ve been barely holding it together at work.

I’m just so so worried about my sister. She’d have a hard time with this normally, much less with her being so excited for her baby boys to meet. And I want to make her feel better but it seems like she just wants space. I’m going to give them a few days then see if I can drop off eggs this weekend and go see them. I also know the next time she sees Taylor isn’t gonna be easy cause now she’s all that Liz has left of her two favorite dogs. We had even just been discussing how Joe was her heart dog.

And I’m also worried about Taylor. She’s officially the same age as her mom was when Sandy passed from kidney disease and she has about a year and a half to be Joe’s age. Luckily she hasn’t had any seizures, which both Joe and Sandy started having by this age. All her bloodwork values are good aside from a consistently elevated ALP that our normal vet thinks is just “her normal.” This has definitely cemented my desire to get Taylor’s liver checked by ultrasound before accepting that though. I really hope we don’t find anything and that the specialist isn’t worried. Even if we do find something “early” or if we do annual ultrasounds, if it’s the same cancer as Joe’s then it’s just a ticking time bomb that we can’t really do anything about. But of course she’s still a little hellion that doesn’t act like any nine-year-old dog I know.

At least Joe got to see everyone (minus Chief and Bandit) this last weekend. And he got to see Chief and Bandit the weekend before on Memorial Day. I just wish we’d known.

I’m not ready yet, I just want at least 3 more years with her.

[inawickedlittletown]

Don't Make A Shadow Of Yourself (BuckTommy fic) - 14/15

Summary: "A man who's pure of heart...may still become a wolf when the autumn moon is bright" - Howl (F+TM)

BuckTommy Werewolf AU. Throughout most of his adult life, Tommy had dealt with what he was. The duality of being a man and also an animal…a beast. Werewolves weren’t born, they were made. 

Rating: M

Words: 3,462

Read on Ao3

Chapter One - Chapter Two - Chapter Three

Chapter Four - Chapter Five - Chapter Six

Chapter Seven - Chapter Eight - Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten - Chapter Eleven - Chapter Twelve

Chapter Thirteen

-

Chapter Fourteen

“Your mate, huh,” Tommy said. 

Buck felt the warmth on his cheeks. He didn’t regret saying it though. It may as well be as true as anything else. 

“I love that, actually,” Tommy said. “I love you.” 

They were in Tommy’s kitchen. Athena had left with his parents in the back of her car. They had tried to argue and make up excuses all while trying to get at Buck’s good nature. For Buck it hadn’t been all that hard to just let it happen. He knew, logically, that they would probably make bail and yet he felt extremely good about having watched them get taken out of Tommy’s backyard in cuffs. He also felt great about having called Tommy his mate. 

In the moment, the words had just come out. Buck hadn’t planned them, though he had sort of made the decision that his parents may as well know he was a Werewolf. He’d sort of given them a lot to discover about him at once. He supposed it meant they had something to think about while they sat in holding at the police station. 

“I think I’m going to order us food,” Tommy said after peeking into his fridge. 

“Yeah, probably for the best,” Buck said. “Do you, uh, mind if I stay here tonight?” 

Tommy grabbed his hand and pulled him towards him. “I wouldn’t have it any other way. In fact, I’d keep you here all the time.”

“Really?” 

Tommy pecked his lips. “Yes.” 

Buck was a bit taken aback. It was fast. Way too fast to think about the two of them living together and yet he could picture it easily. Buck had been staying with Tommy since his parents had arrived in LA and he’d loved every moment of it, of being with Tommy and knowing he was coming home to Tommy and also being the one waiting knowing that Tommy was coming home to him. A few days wasn’t exactly enough time to say for sure that it would work, but Buck thought that it would. 

“I hope I didn’t spook you,” Tommy said. “But you called me your mate and having you here the last few days — despite the events of last night — I’ve loved it. And I’m not saying move in right now, Evan, I’m just saying that sometime when we’re both ready that’s what I want. I want to live with you and to build a life with you. I want vacations together and having everyone in our pack here in my backyard and maybe a very uncomplicated but romantic wedding. I want every full moon spent out in the woods and just wherever this all takes us.”

“Not spooked,” Buck said and he pulled Tommy into a kiss. When he pulled away, he held Tommy’s gaze. “I want everything you just said.” 

“Good,” Tommy said. 

Buck hugged Tommy to him and they stood for a moment just holding each other until Buck’s phone began to ring. Buck had some idea who it might be. 

“Go get that. I’ll order us some pizza.” 

“Yeah, alright,” Buck said. 

Maddie’s name flashed on his phone. He answered it after it rang one more time. 

“Buck, when were you going to tell me mom and dad were arrested?” 

“Did they call you to bail them out?” Buck asked. 

Tommy shot him a raised eyebrow and Buck shook his head at him. 

“No,” Maddie said. “Athena sent everyone a text.” 

“Oh,” Buck said. “Well when Tommy and I came home they were trespassing. They called Tommy a monster. They can stay there for as long as it takes for one of their friends to bail them out and Tommy is pressing charges. They’re not good people, Maddie.”

Maddie let out a sigh. “I…I know that. They’re still family, though.”

“At this point that doesn’t matter, Maddie. And if they are still somehow at your wedding, Tommy and I won’t be. I’m sorry, but I can’t—”

“Why would I want them there?” Maddie asked. “Are you kidding, I just…I wish all of this had been different. I’m a parent and I couldn’t imagine what they went through if Jee ever — I can’t even say it. Daniel was our brother but what they’re doing is…it shouldn’t be happening.” 

Buck would never understand what it felt like when Daniel died, but that didn’t give their parents the right to do what they had done for Buck’s entire life. It didn’t give them a pass even if the Werewolf Division was giving them that. Maddie had been giving them that pass too for far too long and somehow, he thought that maybe Maddie would wind up trying to help them. He wouldn’t. 

“I think I made myself clear when I told them not to do anything. Then they showed up here with other hunters. So, I honestly don’t care what happens to them now. I don’t want them in my life and I doubt they want me especially now.” 

“I’m not going to bail them out,” Maddie said. “That’s…I wish you gave me a heads up in case they do call. I just…I guess I hoped they had changed. Chim and I don’t want them at the wedding, Evan, you don’t have to worry about that. I’m…god, this is not what I thought would happen. I feel horrible.” 

“Oh,” Buck said. 

Maddie chuckled. “What did you expect, Buck?”

“Well you’ve been very inviting to them.” 

“They helped me with my house and with the wedding. I didn’t want to be ungrateful and maybe I’ve let go of things that I shouldn’t have. I’m sorry. I underestimated them and their hatred. When Daniel died, it was horrible, but it doesn’t condone this.”  

He kept Maddie on the phone for a little longer, answering her questions and getting her opinion on everything that had happened. He only got off when Tommy went to open the door for their pizza. 

“That sounded like it went well,” Tommy said.

“Yeah. She’s not going to bail them out. I don’t think I realized how worried she was about me. About us.” 

—

In the end, nothing much came of seeing the hunter Tommy had bitten. The Werewolf Division allowed him and Athena to see the guy once the warrant came through. He was younger than Tommy had expected, a guy in his early twenties and he didn’t actually seem to know much. He was more distressed by the idea of becoming a Werewolf than anything else. Athena suspected that his involvement had more to do with family or friends getting him involved and less to do with his own beliefs. 

Tommy did feel bad about biting him, but at the same time he hoped it sent him on a better path. As much as he hated to admit it, the Division would definitely help him through the first few full moons and show him that he wasn’t becoming a monster. Tommy had offered the kid his number and he had no doubt that Evan would want to help him too. 

“I think we can drop those charges against him,” Tommy said when they made it back to her car. 

“Figured you’d say that,” Athena said. “You’re actually kind of a softie.” 

“And what’s happening with the Buckley’s?” 

“We can only hold them for so long,” Athena admitted. “The worst they will face is a fine if you decide to keep those charges. I’m not seeing any easy way at actually getting them for anything they’ve done to Werewolves. If the government doesn’t want to admit that you exist then why would they admit that hunters do?” 

“So we let it go?” Tommy asked. “I don’t think Evan will be alright with that.” 

“No, I don’t think he will. I’ll try a few of my contacts, but I don’t think there is much we can do if the Division isn’t backing it. And truthfully, no matter what we find this is the government. We will hit a wall. Several.” 

Tommy nodded. Athena wasn’t wrong. He wondered if making enough noise about it would get them to listen, but he wanted Evan to weigh in before he did anything. Maybe their best option was just contacting the Pennsylvania Division and seeing if anything could be done over there. Athena hadn’t said it, but they had hunted more consistently in Pennsylvania. It was where the investigation needed to begin and where it would hold more weight. 

That night, when he arrived at Harbor, Tommy should have been prepared for questions. He’d been so preoccupied with other things that somehow, he hadn’t expected them. Lucy jumped on him the moment she saw him. 

“What the hell happened the other night?” 

Melton and Garita were listening too and doing a bad job at pretending that they weren’t. 

“Look, there are some things that we as coworkers shouldn’t share,” Tommy said. 

“I just want to know, are you a nudist?” Lucy asked. 

“No,” Tommy said. 

 “So, explain to us how you managed to lose your clothes,” Melton said. 

“Things happen,” Tommy said. 

They only pestered him while they were at the station, at least, and the more ridiculous their guesses were, the more fun it was to tell them they were wrong. The funniest by far was Garita asking if Tommy had been taken by aliens who then stole his clothes. Somehow, no one mentioned shapeshifting or Werewolves even though all the clues were right there, most especially Tommy’s whole not working on the full moon thing. Tommy found that he wouldn’t have been mad if they guessed. Maybe at some point, he might even tell them the truth.

In a moment when Lucy got him on his own, she touched his elbow and stared right into his eyes. “All joking aside, Tommy, you weren’t jumped or assaulted or anything, right?”

“No, Lucy. No…it’s actually not as crazy as you think. Maybe I’ll tell you about it someday.”

“Ugh. Fine. You better. I’m not going to stop guessing.” 

Tommy just laughed. “I kinda figured I’d be hearing about it for a while.”  

He got home the next morning, when the sun was starting to rise. A part of him didn’t expect to find Evan there, but his heart gave a leap when he spotted the Jeep. He felt even better when he got to his room and found Evan asleep in his bed. 

After getting out of his clothes, Tommy just climbed in with Evan even though he had managed to catch some sleep at the station. But, they were on a red flag alert in between the wind and the dry heat. Tommy had almost expected to have to fly out to drop retardant, but the call had never come. It did mean that they were all on call. So, it was probably for the best that he rest up some more. Forest fires were no joke and it was all hands on deck if CalFire made the call that they needed LAFD air support. 

Evan grumbled something, but he didn’t wake. He did turn his nose into Tommy’s neck, arm thrown over his chest. Tommy wouldn’t have it any other way and he drifted off. 

He woke up to kisses being trailed on his neck up to his jaw.

“Hmm, good morning,” Tommy said. 

“Hi,” Evan said, pecking his lips. “How was your shift?” 

“Lots and lots of questions,” Tommy said. “It was fine. I’m going to shock them one day by just transforming there and then.” 

Evan grinned at him. “I’m sure everyone would love that.” 

They both got up slowly and after a stint in the bathroom, Evan headed down to start the coffee machine. Tommy had rarely used the thing, getting more use out of his kettle. He heard Evan start that as well. Tommy got through a quick shower, dressing in sweatpants and a t-shirt after. He found Evan scrambling eggs. 

“Athena just texted,” Evan announced. “Looks like my parents were released this morning. Maddie hasn’t heard from them, but she thinks they’ll go there.” 

“Do you want to be with her if that happens?” Tommy asked. 

“She can handle it,” Evan said with a shake of his head. “I think she changed her mind on having Chim stay at a hotel tonight, though.” 

“Probably a good idea.” 

Evan brought a pan out. He moved fluidly through Tommy’s kitchen, somehow already knowing where everything was kept. 

“Does that change anything for the Bachelor party?” 

Evan shook his head. “She didn’t say, but the room at the Karaoke place is already booked so someone’s going to be singing tonight. Maybe she can just come too so she’s not home alone.”

Tommy laughed. He bumped Evan’s shoulder on his way to the whistling kettle. “I’m sure Chim will enjoy it even more with his future wife there.” 

—

Buck had to beg to get his deposit back a few hours later. When that didn’t work, he asked if he could just move the party to another night. It was back and forth with one person to another until finally the owner got on the phone and Buck explained yet again that he didn’t want to cancel, but that the person the party was for was unexpectedly in the hospital. 

Maddie, as a dispatcher and former nurse, had noticed that Chim wasn’t acting himself. She’d called Hen and between the two of them they decided Chim should get checked out. Buck had gotten a call somewhere along the way to cancel their plans, but also because Maddie needed him to watch Jee. 

“I have a feeling I’m going to be making a lot of calls,” Buck said to Tommy. 

They had gone to meet Maddie at the hospital, picking up Jee Yun and taking her with them back to Tommy’s house with Maddie’s promise of updates.

“If he’s not good by tomorrow, they might have to cancel all the wedding stuff,” Buck said. 

“I think he’ll be alright. Maddie didn’t seem too worried,” Tommy said. 

Jee Yun at least didn’t seem too bothered. From what Hen had told them, Chim had been acting a bit foggy and he’d had a headache that wouldn’t go away. Maddie had gotten worried when, after lunch, Chim was playing with Jee and gotten dizzy when getting up from the ground. Hen hadn’t been sure what it was, but she and Maddie had felt better having him checked out even if it was nothing. 

So, Jee hadn’t really seen much to leave her worrying about her dad. Maddie had taken her to the hospital, but a toddler at a hospital without something to entertain her, even one as well behaved as Jee Yun, would lead to boredom and acting out. It was also why Buck had driven by Maddie and Chim’s  house to pick up a few toys to take to Tommy’s house. She was, at the moment, playing with her blocks on Tommy’s living room and didn’t seem too bothered by the new environment. That was the kind of kid that she was, though, adaptable. 

When Jee started asking for snacks, Buck left her with Tommy and went to find some fruit to cut up for her. He returned and found that Tommy had been recruited into creating towers with blocks. 

He was down on the ground and Jee Yun was instructing him. She talked at Tommy and Tommy responded, asking her questions that had her looking confused. Was it bad that it made Buck have thoughts about a future where he and Tommy had their own kid? 

“Snacktime,” Buck announced. 

Jee let her tower topple as she rushed towards Buck. He settled her by the coffee table and she seemed happy to snack on apple wedges and grapes, sometimes offering a piece to him or Tommy and insisting that she be the one to put it in their mouths. Tommy exaggerated his chewing and had Jee giggling. 

His phone rang and Buck jumped to get it. 

“Hey, Maddie,” Buck said. “How’s, uh, Chim doing?” 

“He’s going to be fine,” Maddie said. “Turns out he has viral encephalitis. They gave him some antivirals. Apparently some guy stuck in a vent had it and Chim came into contact. I think Hen was talking about everyone getting tested just in case.” 

Maddie sounded tired. 

“Mads, he’s okay, that’s what matters.”

“I know…I just…what if I didn’t notice and we didn’t realize and…”

“That is a thought spiral that isn’t going to help anything. Chim is going to be okay. Now the big question is, is the wedding still on?”

Maddie let out a loud groan. “I have no idea.” Then she laughed. 

Buck couldn’t help but join her. 

“God, this has been such a mess,” Maddie said. 

“You can say that again,” Buck said. 

—

Evan had somehow been convinced by his niece that he should shift into a wolf so she could play with him. Tommy understood completely because Jee Yun was adorable and there was no way to say no to her. So, he found himself in charge of dinner while Evan lay about out in the yard and let Jee climb all over him. He figured mac ‘n cheese felt like the right way to go with Jee around. He didn’t really know what her likes or dislikes were, but that felt safe. 

Tommy put on music and for once, it didn’t feel like he was doing it to fill any silence. Instead, it was just because Tommy wanted to listen to something. Queen came on and he hummed along to Killer Queen and almost missed the sound of Evan’s phone. 

Seeing that it was Maddie calling, he picked up. 

“Hi, Maddie. It’s Tommy. Your daughter is playing with a big wolf out in my backyard. How’s everything?” 

Maddie let out a small happy laugh. “It’s fine. Howie is fine. He doesn’t want to postpone the wedding and the doctors agreed that we caught it in time. No brain swelling. He’s on a few meds, but they’re discharging him tonight. I was just calling to let you guys know.” 

“That’s great,” Tommy said. “I’m glad to hear it.”

“Thanks,” Maddie said. “This wedding hasn’t even started and it’s already giving me gray hair.”

Tommy laughed. “I can understand why Evan said he doesn’t want a big wedding.” 

Maddie coughed. “Uh…are you saying—”

“No, no, no. We just…we were talking about our preferences.” 

“For the future,” Maddie filled in. “I know I haven’t said it before, but you’re really good for him, Tommy. I think maybe it goes both ways. And I’m really sorry for what my parents did. I guess I didn’t actually think they would act that way. I feel so guilty for being the reason they came out here at all.”

Tommy would never understand the relationship that Maddie had tried to have with her parents. After all, he was never going to attempt any kind of relationship with his parents so of course it made sense that he didn’t get it. He could also tell that Maddie did feel bad and that like Evan, she would hold onto the guilt even though she wasn’t to blame. It was their parents that held the blame. 

“That isn’t your fault,” he said. “They came out here for your wedding and you held some level of hope that they would be normal about it. If anyone is to blame, it’s me giving myself away to them.” 

“When I allowed them to make me take them to the station,” Maddie said. “They can just push and push and it’s easier to give in.” 

“So we can just lay the blame on them alone,” Tommy said. “How about that?” 

Maddie chuckled. “Sure,” she said. “The nurse is here so I should go. I’ll call when we leave the hospital. We can pick up—”

“Evan and I will bring her to you,” Tommy cut in. “Just worry about getting Howie home.”

“Are you sure?” 

“Yes. We’ll see you later.” 

“Thanks again,” Maddie said and hung up. 

Tommy went out to check on Evan and Jee Yun and found that Evan had made his way to Tommy’s dog bed. Jee was mostly lying on Evan and they were both asleep. Tommy’s first reaction was to pull his phone out of his pocket and take pictures. He sent one to Howie’s phone, it’d be a nice pick me up when he got it, and then figured he’d leave them out there for a little longer. 

Tommy had hardly made it back inside before he got the text that he was getting called in. Angeles Crest was on fire and they needed pilots. Tommy might end up on the ground too, but to start he’d be up in the sky. 

[ask-a-bot]

Hello again, 🪣 here! My Dad had to work from home today for the most hilarious reason. Here is an excerpt from the email he sent this morning:

“I’m afraid I will not be able to come in today, as a Narcoleptic Transformer has fallen asleep on my driveway and is blocking the front door. We are unable to move her or wake her up, and even though I’ve lost a lot of weight recently I cannot fit through the window.”

For context, Downpour fell asleep on our driveway last night. My dad tried to leave for work and opened the door… only to be greeted by her shiny metal arse.

The Vehicons and Monsoon (when he stopped laughing) tried to move her, but unfortunately she’s ‘on the tall side’ for a seeker (in other words: fragging MASSIVE) and therefore too heavy to move.

My dad’s coworkers have not stopped laughing apparently. And not have I.

Hahaha! That is very funny!

Did he send a picture of her to his colleagues as evidence?

That wouldn't be appropriate. You don't send kids' pictures out. Especially not butt pics.

I'm sure she had her armour over it. I was only asking because they found it funny.

Even then, it's still not a thing anyone should do. I wouldn't like it if someone did that to one of my kids, no matter if they were human, terran, clothed or stark naked. As a parent, I'd want to protect my kids.

Oh. OK. You're no fun, Dot.

She's a good mom.

Yeah, if a little too protective. It was only a stupid joke! I didn't mean it.

Well... it's not a very funny thing to joke about. I wouldn't like it if someone took a picture of me when I was asleep and shared it with random people.

No... me neither.

You've never been part of a trine and it shows. Thundercracker did a lot worse when I got up late.

Does Megatron know?

Do I look like a snitch to you?

Aww, Star... you should've told him.

Like he'd even care!