#note to others don't be a premed

[sk1fanfiction]

Last QLFC fic tomorrow and then I'm going to start polishing the IOD finale. I'm expecting to post it on Saturday (5/25) as along as disaster doesn't strike

[emeraldserenade]

Tío Joaquín ~ Joaquín Torres

synopsis: Joaquín falls for his nephew's teacher, you.

tw: fem!reader, science teacher!reader, reader is nicknamed Sunny by coworkers and kids, barely edited.

fic, ficlet, drabble, request

I hope you guys aren't tired of me continuously picking science related jobs, I just really love science (hence me being premed). Joaquín falls first and harder in this because of course he would

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You knew Antonio by name, not because he was a bad student or because you knew all your student's names (you did), but because he was always the first to offer help.

"Miss Sunny?" Antonio was walking up to you, the nickname the other teachers called you in the hallways making quick work to spread to the high schoolers.

"Yes, Antonio?" You looked up from where you were putting things back into the proper boxes for your next class.

"Do you need help? I have study hall next hour, I can be late," Antonio had his bag thrown over his shoulder, ready just in case you say no.

"Hold on," you reached into your pocket and pulled a pad of sticky notes and a pen. "Run this to your teacher and come back," you handed him the note, one saying that you needed to borrow him. You watched his sprint away and shook your head lightly.

✧°˖ . ݁˖︵‿❀‿︵˖ . ݁˖°✧

"Didn't I tell you to go back to class?" You asked Antonio, he was sitting on the side of your desk. You two had finished cleaning up a few minutes ago.

"Yeah, but there's only like 3 minutes left and then I go to lunch," Antonio told you. "And I come back here for lunch," he pointed out and you gave him an unimpressed smile. He was right, he was apart of the group you allowed to eat lunch with you.

"Fine, whatever," you relented lightheartedly. "Just make yourself useful, clean the beakers or something," you told him.

"Oh! Wait, my tío is coming for lunch. Can I take him here?" Antonio was halfway to the sink with all the beakers.

"Yeah, sure, your uncle can come," you told him, you've had family members stop by for lunch before.

"Thanks, his name's Joaquín, by the way," he told you and you nodded.

✧°˖ . ݁˖︵‿❀‿︵˖ . ݁˖°✧

"Tío, this is my teacher Miss Sunny," Antonio introduced you, you hadn't looked up from your computer yet.

"Y/n, not Sunny. Sunny's a nickname," you supplied before finally looking up. You were met with Joaquín Torres, Falcon, the most attractive man you've ever seen.

"No one calls her y/n," you looked over at Antonio. "Sorry, l/n," Antonio corrected himself.

"It's nice to meet you," you offered your hand, there was no hesitation when he shook it. "Take a seat anywhere," you gestured to the room and Antonio took his spot on the end of your desk. "Aren't you going to sit with your uncle?"

"He can sit here," Antonio moved his laptop and made room for Joaquín. You didn't fight it, knowing it would happen anyway.

✧°˖ . ݁˖︵‿❀‿︵˖ . ݁˖°✧

"Goodbye!" You were waving multiple kids out of your room at the end of the day. "That was the last bell, you don't have to go home but you can't stay at school!" You kept ushering them out. You were about to shut the door when you heard Antonio yell from down the hallway.

"Miss Sunny!" Antonio and Joaquín were rushing to your room.

"Hello!" You laughed gently, you watched Antonio catch his breath.

"I forgot my headphones in here," Antonio rushed past you and started looking.

"It's nice to see you again," you told Joaquín.

"You too," Joaquín smiled down at you.

"How was following Antonio around?"

"Boring, none of the other teacher's are quite as pretty as you," Joaquín told you.

✧°˖ . ݁˖︵‿❀‿︵˖ . ݁˖°✧

"Hi!" You smiled at Antonio, his mother, and Joaquín.

"Hi, thank you for doing this," Antonio's mother thanked you. You had said yes to a last minute meeting to discuss Antonio's 504 plan.

"Of course, Antonio is one of my best students," you supplied.

"You mean one of your favorites," Antonio said.

"I do not have favorites," you looked over at Antonio as you sat down at the semi circle table and let the others sit with you.

"This is my brother, Joaquín. I was told you met him last week," Antonio's mother, Savannah, reintroduced you two. "He's here because I wanted to know if I could add a clause that Joaquín is allowed to come hang with Antonio whenever Antonio needed," Savannah asked.

"Oh, ok. So that's a question for Dr. Kelly, our principal. I can't make any adjustments without her permission, and even then I can't promise that she would be able to get that kind of permission," you told her, an apologetic smile on your face.

✧°˖ . ݁˖︵‿❀‿︵˖ . ݁˖°✧

"Do you want to come to my family's bbq?" Antonio asked.

"Antonio, I am your teacher. I am supposed to stay at a professional relationship with you," you told the student.

"It's after graduation, I won't be your student anymore," Antonio gave you a smile and you sighed.

"Ask me at graduation," you told him before he went to go sit down.

✧°˖ . ݁˖︵‿❀‿︵˖ . ݁˖°✧

"I graduated!" Antonio celebrated and ran past his family to you. You gave them all an apologetic smile as Antonio hugged you. "Tía Sunny, I graduated!"

"Oh," you looked at Savannah and Joaquín as he called you his aunt. You could see the matching smiles from the family. "Congrats, Tonio. You did it, I'm proud," you gave the boy praise and felt him hug you tighter. "Ok, ok, go hug your mom and uncle," you pulled away from him and watched as he bounded over. You were pulled away from the family by other students.

✧°˖ . ݁˖︵‿❀‿︵˖ . ݁˖°✧

"Hey!" Antonio yelled from farther away. You were being hit on by some older single father. "Get away from my tía!" Antonio shouted.

"Tonio!" You hissed at him. "Be nice," you chastised the boy.

"He's too close," Antonio argued and you looked back over at the dad. He was several steps away from you now, his wife pressed into his side.

"It was nice meeting you, Mr. Wilkins," you waved to him and walked off with Antonio.

"Really? You were willing to be Miss Wilkins?" Antonio asked as you walked up to his mom and Joaquín.

"What?" Savannah asked.

"I was talking to Jordan Wilkins' father when Antonio walked up," you explained.

"He was totally flirting with her!" Antonio argued.

"He was being nice," you countered and pushed the boy away gently by the head.

"No he totally was flirting with you!" Antonio moved back and pushed your shoulder.

"Yeah, ok," you joked, rolling your eyes. Antonio seemed satisfied and took Joaquín by the arm to meet his friends.

"Antonio does love you," Savannah mused and you looked over at her.

"I'm sorry?"

"Antonio talks about you a lot, says you're his favorite teacher. He's convinced he can make you his aunt, either unofficially or getting you to marry one of his uncles," Savannah told you. You looked over at her with a small smile.

"Can I ask why it's only you and Joaquín here tonight?"

"The rest of the family couldn't make it up from Miami in time," Savannah told you.

"Oh, Antonio invited me to your family bbq," you changed the subject quickly.

"You are invited," Savannah told you softly.

"I'll be there," you replied just as softly, you liked the Torres'.

✧°˖ . ݁˖︵‿❀‿︵˖ . ݁˖°✧

"Tía!" Antonio called for you as soon as you walked through the gate.

"Tonio!" You called back, you had been there plenty of times since graduation. You had become an honorary Torres at that point, Antonio consistent on calling you 'tía'.

"Let me introduce you to everyone," Antonio took you around, you were hit on by a few of his uncles but he shut it down right away.

"Your mom told me that you wanted me to marry one of your uncles," you mused after he stopped his second uncle from hitting on you.

"Yeah, one, as in a specific one," Antonio reasoned.

"A specific one?" You questioned right as Joaquín walked up. You and Joaquín had gotten close enough for casual intimacy. It was evident in the way that he slung his arm around your shoulders.

"Hey, mi reina," Joaquín smiled at you. mi reina = my queen

"Hey," you fought the urge to kiss his cheek, your want for this to me more almost stronger than your self control.

✧°˖ . ݁˖︵‿❀‿︵˖ . ݁˖°✧

You were on Joaquín's lap around the fire pit, you were going to sit on the floor with Antonio, but Joaquín was insistent that you sit on his lap.

"Antonio told us to call you Sunny," James, one of Antonio's uncles, said from the other side of the firepit.

"Yeah, it's a nickname from the other staff at the high school," you informed said with a small shrug.

"Why?" Savannah asked.

"We had a beginning of the year party thing for district, I ended up covered in yellow powder. The one that's used for fun runs, it was everywhere. I was completely yellow but I smiled for the picture anyway, I've been Sunny ever since," you explained, a smile on your face at the memory.

✧°˖ . ݁˖︵‿❀‿︵˖ . ݁˖°✧

"Yellow's my favorite color," Joaquín casually told you when he walked into the kitchen, you had left several minutes ago to cool down. Being in Joaquín's lap was starting to get to you, your thoughts running too wild.

"Huh?" You questioned.

"Yellow is my favorite color," Joaquín reiterated and stepped closer, his hands finding a home on your waist. "I bet you looked gorgeous covered in it," Joaquín dipped his head down closer to your face.

"I have photos," you muttered and you felt his lips brush yours. "Or if you wait until after this and come home with me, I'll show you the yellow lace I'm wearing," you promised, brushing his lips with a little more pressure.

"We're saying goodbye, after this," Joaquín told you and you wanted to ask after what, but his lips where on yours.

➽──────────────❥

Masterlist | Requests If you want to be added to the tag list, follow the directions on my masterlist

[booksandchainmail]

hugo nominees thoughts:

Best Novel:

Alien Clay by Adrian Tchaikovsky (Orbit US, Tor UK)

The Ministry of Time by Kaliane Bradley (Avid Reader Press, Sceptre)

Service Model by Adrian Tchaikovsky (Tordotcom)

Someone You Can Build a Nest In by John Wiswell (DAW)

A Sorceress Comes to Call by T. Kingfisher (Tor)

The Tainted Cup by Robert Jackson Bennett (Del Rey, Hodderscape UK)

I've read 4/6 of these, and the other two (the Bradley and Kingfisher novels) were on my radar as potential nominees. I did nominate Alien Clay, happy to see it on here. The Tainted Cup was on my longlist and just barely missed a slot (I think, annoyingly I don't seem to have been sent a copy of my nominating ballot so I'm relying on my draft notes for what I nominated). I'd read Service Model and Someone You Can Build a Nest In, didn't nominate either and they weren't on my longlist. I'm particularly sad that my nominations of Exordia and Those Beyond the Wall didn't go through, both excellent books that I hoped would make it. I'm not surprised that neither Feast While You Can or Metal From Heaven made it in, those were always longshots

Best Novella

The Brides of High Hill by Nghi Vo (Tordotcom)

The Butcher of the Forest by Premee Mohamed (Tordotcom)

Navigational Entanglements by Aliette de Bodard (Tordotcom)

The Practice, the Horizon, and the Chain by Sofia Samatar (Tordotcom)

The Tusks of Extinction by Ray Nayler (Tordotcom)

What Feasts at Night by T. Kingfisher (Nightfire)

Brides of High Hill was an easy call for nominees, as was probably The Butcher of the Forest. Haven't read any of the others but Aliette de Bodard, Ray Nayler, and T Kingfisher are all names I've seen before. I'm a bit disappointed that Countess and The Dragonfly Gambit from my ballot didn't make it, but they'll have to be satisfied with their Nebula nominations. My other two nominees I didn't think would make it on to begin with (Demon Daughter and The Transitive Properties of Cheese)

Best Novelette

“The Brotherhood of Montague St. Video” by Thomas Ha (Clarkesworld, May 2024)

“By Salt, By Sea, By Light of Stars” by Premee Mohamed (Strange Horizons, Fund Drive 2024)

“The Four Sisters Overlooking the Sea” by Naomi Kritzer (Asimov’s, September/October 2024)

“Lake of Souls” by Ann Leckie in Lake of Souls (Orbit)

“Loneliness Universe” by Eugenia Triantafyllou (Uncanny Magazine, Issue 58)

“Signs of Life” by Sarah Pinsker (Uncanny Magazine, Issue 59)

I don't really read novelettes, though I guess I had read the Leckie one in the collection. No real thoughts here.

Best Short Story

“Five Views of the Planet Tartarus” by Rachael K. Jones (Lightspeed Magazine, Jan 2024 (Issue 164))

“Marginalia” by Mary Robinette Kowal (Uncanny Magazine, Issue 56)

“Stitched to Skin Like Family Is” by Nghi Vo (Uncanny Magazine, Issue 57)

“Three Faces of a Beheading” by Arkady Martine (Uncanny Magazine, Issue 58)

“We Will Teach You How to Read | We Will Teach You How to Read” by Caroline M. Yoachim (Lightspeed Magazine, May 2024 (Issue 168))

“Why Don’t We Just Kill the Kid in the Omelas Hole” by Isabel J. Kim (Clarkesworld, February 2024)

We all knew the Kim Omelas story was getting in, right? Otherwise a bunch of familiar names, but nothing else I've read. I actually nominated some stories this year, but didn't expect them to get since they were in a small-press collection rather than an easily-accessible online magazine (that said, everyone go read A Canyon of Blood for the Normalest Man Alive, published in Embodied Exegesis)

Best Series

Between Earth and Sky by Rebecca Roanhorse (Saga Press)

The Burning Kingdoms by Tasha Suri (Orbit)

InCryptid by Seanan McGuire (DAW)

Southern Reach by Jeff VanderMeer (Farrar, Straus and Giroux)

The Stormlight Archive by Brandon Sanderson (Tor Books)

The Tyrant Philosophers by Adrian Tchaikovsky (Ad Astra)

literally no overlap with my nominees, but nothing really surprising here? McGuire is basically always nominated for this, Tchaikovsky is having a moment, Sanderson is wildly popular even if not particularly in the hugo crowd, VanderMeer is really well regarded, Roanhorse and Suri just wrapped up notable trilogies. I'm going to have a lot of reading to do for this one...

A bunch of my nominees were older/lower-profile series that just got a new installment, so wasn't really expecting much. I didn't really think my nomination for Kate Elliott's fantastic early 2010s Spiritwalker trilogy (eligible due to a short story collection) would go anywhere, but it would have been nice...

Best Graphic Novel

The Deep Dark by Molly Knox Ostertag (Graphix)

The Hunger and the Dusk: Vol. 1 written by G. Willow Wilson, art by Chris Wildgoose (IDW Publishing)

Monstress, Vol. 9: The Possessed written by Marjorie Liu, art by Sana Takeda (Image)

My Favorite Thing Is Monsters, Book 2 by Emil Ferris (Fantagraphics)

Star Trek: Lower Decks: Warp Your Own Way written by Ryan North, art by Chris Fenoglio (IDW Publishing)

We Called Them Giants written by Kieron Gillen, art by Stephanie Hans, lettering by Clayton Cowles (Image)

once again a lot of names I recognize, but nothing I've read. In case anyone is wondering, volume 1 of The Power Fantasy just missed the publication window and will be eligible next year

Best Related Work

“Charting the Cliff: An Investigation into the 2023 Hugo Nomination Statistics” by Camestros Felapton and Heather Rose Jones (File 770, February 22, 2024)

r/Fantasy’s 2024 Bingo Reading Challenge (r/Fantasy on Reddit), presented by the r/Fantasy Bingo team: Alexandra Forrest (happy_book_bee), Lisa Richardson, Amanda E. (Lyrrael), Arka (RuinEleint), Ashley Rollins (oboist73), Christine Sandquist (eriophora), David H. (FarragutCircle), Diana Hufnagl, Pia Matei (Dianthaa), Dylan H. (RAAAImmaSunGod), Dylan Kilby (an_altar_of_plagues), Elsa (ullsi), Emma Surridge (PlantLady32), Gillian Gray (thequeensownfool), Kahlia (cubansombrero), Kevin James, Kopratic, Kristina (Cassandra_sanguine), Lauren Mulcahy (Valkhyrie), Megan, Megan Creemers (Megan_Dawn), Melissa S. (wishforagiraffe), Mike De Palatis (MikeOfThePalace), Para (improperly_paranoid), Sham, The_Real_JS, Abdellah L. (messi1045), AnnTickwittee, Chad Z. (shift_shaper), Emma Smiley (Merle), Rebecca (toughschmidt22), smartflutist661

“The Spectacular Failure of the Star Wars Hotel” by Jenny Nicholson (YouTube)

Speculative Whiteness: Science Fiction and the Alt-Right by Jordan S. Carroll (University of Minnesota Press)

Track Changes by Abigail Nussbaum (Briardene Books)

“The 2023 Hugo Awards: A Report on Censorship and Exclusion” by Chris M. Barkley and Jason Sanford (Genre Grapevine and File770, February 14, 2024)

I think only two retrospectives on the 2023 Hugos is actually quite restrained. Not sure how I feel about that book bingo being nominated. Two nonfiction books and a meaty video essay is pretty good though.

Best Dramatic Presentation, Long Form

Dune: Part Two, screenplay by Denis Villeneuve and Jon Spaihts, directed by Denis Villeneuve (Legendary Pictures / Warner Bros. Pictures)

Flow, screenplay by Gints Zilbalodis and Matīss Kaža, directed by Gints Zilbalodis (Dream Well Studio)

Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga, screenplay by George Miller and Nick Lathouris, directed by George Miller (Warner Bros. Pictures)

I Saw the TV Glow, screenplay by Jane Schoenbrun, directed by Jane Schoenbrun (Fruit Tree / Smudge Films / A24)

Wicked, screenplay by Winnie Holzman and Dana Fox, directed by Jon M. Chu (Universal Pictures)

The Wild Robot, screenplay by Chris Sanders and Peter Brown, directed by Chris Sanders (DreamWorks Animation)

No surprises here, all well-regarded sff movies none of which I've seen bc I mostly don't watch movies. I'm kinda surprised there's no tv seasons included, but this was a strong year for movies for this category.

Best Dramatic Presentation, Short Form

Fallout: “The Beginning” written by Gursimran Sandhu, directed by Wayne Che Yip (Amazon Prime Video)

Agatha All Along: “Death’s Hand in Mine” written by Gia King & Cameron Squires, directed by Jac Schaeffer (Marvel, Disney+)

Doctor Who: “Dot and Bubble” written by Russell T Davies, directed by Dylan Holmes Williams (BBC, Disney+)

Star Trek: Lower Decks: “Fissure Quest” created by Mike McMahan and written by Lauren McGuire based on Star Trek created by Gene Roddenberry, directed by Brandon Williams (CBS Eye Animation Productions for Paramount+)

Star Trek: Lower Decks: “The New Next Generation” created and written by Mike McMahan, based on Star Trek created by Gene Roddenberry, directed by Megan Lloyd (CBS Eye Animation Productions for Paramount+)

Doctor Who: “73 Yards” written by Russell T Davies, directed by Dylan Holmes Williams (BBC, Disney+)

this category returns to its roots with star trek and doctor who... man I need to finish watching lower decks. I think I might have tossed some anime episodes into this category bc I also don't watch western tv shows

Best Game

Caves of Qud, co-creators Brian Bucklew and Jason Grinblat; contributors Nick DeCapua, Corey Frang, Craig Hamilton, Autumn McDonell, Bastia Rosen, Caelyn Sandel, Samuel Wilson (Freehold Games); sound design A Shell in the Pit; publisher Kitfox Games

Dragon Age: The Veilguard produced by BioWare

The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom produced by Nintendo

Lorelei and the Laser Eyes produced by Simogo

Tactical Breach Wizards developed by Suspicious Developments

1000xRESIST developed by sunset visitor 斜陽過客, published by Fellow Traveller

second year for these as a proper category! I haven't played any but looks like a decent slate

Editors, Artists, Writers, Zines, Poems, and Casts:

I'm not listing these all out. Nothing jumped out at me but also I have no broad knowledge of these fields.

Lodestar:

The Feast Makers by H.A. Clarke (Erewhon)

Heavenly Tyrant by Xiran Jay Zhao (Tundra Books)

The Maid and the Crocodile by Jordan Ifueko (Amulet)

Moonstorm by Yoon Ha Lee (Delacorte Press)

Sheine Lende by Darcie Little Badger (Levine Querido)

So Let Them Burn by Kamilah Cole (Little, Brown Books for Young Readers)

fuck yeah Feast Makers! Zhao, Ifueko, Lee, and Little Badger have all been on hugo ballots before, though I had only heard of Heavenly Tyrant of these books. Kamilah Cole I don't know but I think I've heard of, looks like this was her debut and it sounds neat.

every year I hope that hugo audiences will have discovered Andrew Joseph White, but it hasn't happened yet...

Astounding:

Moniquill Blackgoose (2nd year of eligibility)

Bethany Jacobs (2nd year of eligibility)

Hannah Kaner (2nd year of eligibility)

Angela Liu (2nd year of eligibility)

Jared Pechaček (1st year of eligibility)

Tia Tashiro (2nd year of eligibility)

Blackgoose is no surprise, she had my vote in last year's hugos. Kaner is also returning, though I wasn't wild about her novel last time. Pechacek is new but got some attention for his excellent debut novel. The other three I haven't heard of, looks like Liu and Tashiro are short fiction writers which explains it, and is always nice to see make the ballot.

Conclusions:

I guess overall nothing on this ballot feels surprising? No big unexpected inclusions or exclusions, nothing I really feel was dramatically slighted (rip Exordia I guess). It feels like a lot of returning authors, but I don't want to say anything firm there without more stats to go off of. Honestly, the Hugos could probably use a quiet year...

[petalpetal]

okay books I've read since the beginning of 2024 (also note I only complete books I like if I don't like I drop it and move on so these are all good according to me)

also some of these are new and some are not I randomly choose what to read next through a generator

Spinning Silver by Naomi Novik

Fifty Beasts to Break Your Heart: And Other Stories by GennaRose Nethercott

Our Hideous Progeny by C.E. McGill

The Scholomance Trilogy by Naomi Novik

Starling House by Alix E. Harrow

Red Rabbit by Alex Grecian

Nettle & Bone by T. Kingfisher

Vampires of El Norte by Isabel Cañas

The Thousand Crimes of Ming Tsu by Tom Lin

The Tatami Time Machine Blues by Tomihiko Morimi

Penguin Highway by Tomihiko Morimi

The Tatami Galaxy by Tomihiko Morimi

Once and Forever: The Tales of Kenji Miyazawa by Kenji

Night on the Galactic Railroad & Other Stories from Ihatov by Kenji Miyazawa

The Night Is Short, Walk on Girl by Tomihiko Morimi

Moribito: Guardian of the Spirit by Nahoko Uehashi

Moribito II: Guardian of the Darkness by Nahoko Uehashi

Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-Garcia

Lonely Castle in the Mirror by Mizuki Tsujimura

Joan by Katherine J. Chen

A History of Wild Places by Shea Ernshaw

Menewood by Nicola Griffith

Hild by Nicola Griffith

The Fox Wife by Yangsze Choo

The Beast Warrior by Nahoko Uehashi

The Beast Player by Nahoko Uehashi

Delicious Monsters by Liselle Sambury

The Daughter of Doctor Moreau by Silvia Moreno-Garcia

The Butcher of the Forest by Premee Mohamed

The Sundial by Shirley Jackson

The Road Through the Wall by Shirley Jackson

Hangsaman by Shirley Jackson

Dark Tales by Shirley Jackson

The Bird's Nest by Shirley Jackson

Anime Supremacy! by Mizuki Tsujimura

After the Forest by Kell Woods

The Adventures of Amina Al-Sirafi by S.A. Chakraborty (okay I read this in decemeber BUT ITS SUPER GOOD I MEAN HELLO ITS A PIRATE ADVENTURE)

[elvisabutler]

phila

summary: he was a frat boy. you were not a sorority girl. could i make it any more obvious. or how you fall for a frat boy and an incident happens that makes you realize how much he cares for you and just how much his friends do too. fandom: austin butler rating: m but not because anyone has sex more for rough content. pairing: austin butler ( frat boy ) x female reader word count: 2823 warnings: talking shit on fraternities and sororities. mild insecurity. a bit of misogyny. frat bros being heinous human beings. non consensual drug use. violence in the form of a drunken brawl. roofies being mentioned and used. dudebros being assholes. beer bottles being thrown. implied undressing while unconscious done by a trusted person. completely averted attempt at sa/sexual assault. author’s note: y'all can essentially blame @prompted-wordsmith for this one because they're the one who put the little nugget in my brain back when we talked about this. heed the warnings, please. i didn't tag this as austin's main post tag because i know it deals with a sensitive topic but it's also probably— the last frat austin piece i might write unless anyone has something they specifically want to see. same goes for my tags for all of you. which, truly i refrain from tagging when it comes to things i feel most of you would prefer not to read and this is no exception. i believe i put all the warnings but feel free to tell me if i missed any. hope you enjoy if you read and thank y'all for your support. also i know not all chapters of SAE are like this but they are known to be a— bad frat so to speak.

Going to frat parties is not your idea of fun. It's a fact that Austin knows and will usually acknowledge and allow you to just skip them with promises that he won't do anything funny with any other girls. Not that you don't trust him, but you know how touchy he can get while tipsy, and you know as well as anyone sometimes touches can be misconstrued. There are lone exceptions, though, the parties that Austin begs to have you at so he can show you off and tell everyone how much of a genius his girlfriend is. They're always held at other frat houses, and every so often, you start to wonder if you're being dragged around like a trophy only to realize that's not the case at all. If anything, it's him trying to prove to everyone that you're kind of settling for him and that you could get better guys. It's a silly notion, you think, but it is what it is and you go along with it for Austin's delight only to remind him when you're safely in each other's arms in bed that he's the only one for you. Besides, what sort of girl is supposed to go for the premed and theater guy, hm?

Tonight is one of those nights where you're in a simple black and white jumpsuit and Austin is in what you like to call party causal. Or a step up from his normal tank tops but not full formal or business wear, but it involves jeans that make his ass look flawless so you're pretty sure you're winning just because of that one sole fact. It's easier to hitch a ride or just walk with Austin when it comes to heading to these parties and tonight is no different with you sitting in the passenger side of his car as his hand interlocks with yours.

"You're going to have to let go of my hand, Austin. Pretty sure no one is going to let us live it down if we get into a car accident because we both know better," you laugh, pulling his head up to your lips to kiss it as he shrugs.

"I can drive one handed." He attempts to defend his actions only to earn a look from you that has him sighing. "Hitting the curb that one time doesn't count."

A laugh erupts from your mouth as you finally move your hand away despite his pout with those plush lips of his. "Right. Do I have to call Darce and them to get more proof or do I win this argument just because you knew I was going to mention that?"

Austin pauses and looks for a moment like he's going to present a defense worthy of a brilliant lawyer before, "I think we're at a draw."

There's a moment where you look like you're going to playfully argue before you just smile. "Drive, Butler."

Normally Austin has a tendency to stick close by to you at these parties, not because he doesn't trust you, but because he- despite being a nice and trusting person knows better than to trust a lot of the frats on campus. Most of the time any thing that happens are just rumors but he knows through the grapevine that there's a few people who shouldn't be on campus but have Daddy's money to help them avoid getting kicked out. But this particular party has some pledges he lost out on and likes to check up on from time to time. You're a big girl, though, and he knows you'll be fine. He knows if anyone tries anything they're in for a world of hurt before he even knows there's a problem.

In hindsight, he should have known better than to leave you alone at this particular party. The time before the party had been a little rushed and your normal preparation of having enough to drink ahead of time was left by the wayside. It meant this time around you were nursing a coke trying to be the designated driver at a house most people know better than to have open drinks at. You try to mingle as best you can, attempting to use this to build some connection to someone knowing that despite everything this frat is one of the richer and thus more connected ones and it shows in the talk you hear among some people. Your eyes instinctively seek out Austin more than once and are relieved that he's close enough to you that no one would dare try anything until you find yourself face to face with a guy you've met before.

"Y/N! Fancy seeing you hear. AB finally let you out?" The guy— Jackson, you think his name is— smiles, his canines being exposed when he does. He reminds you of a wolf in all the worst ways.

"Jackie," you mockingly croon, setting down your drink for just a moment. "Cute how you think Austin can tell me what to do like that. Andrew let you run around off the leash?"

You watch as a muscle in Jackson's jaw twitches and you want to laugh but you stop yourself when you see him start to open his mouth. "Funny. AB knows how to pick his bitches. He sent me over here to talk to you actually. Said he wanted to mend bridges between our two houses. He knows Aussie's a little mad about that—"

"How you sniped the kids you called charity cases in your pledge class? When everyone knew they were shoo ins for Phi Kap. But little Andy got it in his head they needed to SAE boys. Yeah, I heard the story." The words come out more vicious than you intend them to but strangely Jackson doesn't react. "What?"

Jackson laughs and for some reason you feel the hairs on the back of your neck stand up almost as if to warn you of something. It's then that you remember you set down your drink and pick it back up. As you're picking it up, you miss how Jackson smiles. "You really are something else. Shame you settled for the poor white trash surfer boy. When you get tired of him, you'd fit right in here, Y/N. Fucking mean enough."

With that Jackson walks away and you find yourself wondering what just happened as you take a sip of your Coke. Austin catches your eye from across the room and winks, smiling at you before turning to talk to the freshman he was already talking to.

Austin knows that two things are wrong when he looks up thirty minutes later after catching up with multiple Freshman and being interrupted by some asshole whose name he didn't even catch. You're not where you've been for almost the entire party which wouldn't be strange except he can't really find you anywhere. He pulls out his phone to see a missed call from you, a voicemail and a text message that looks like the ones you send him when you've fallen asleep with your phone in your hand. That alone worries him and has him listening to the voicemail only to hear your voice sound wrong in a way that has him seeing red. It doesn't take him long to find one of the upperclassmen— Trey, he thinks? Maybe Trevor, Austin honestly doesn't care as long as he has some idea of where you went.

"Did you see where the girl I came here with went? My girlfriend— She—" Austin trips over his words, suddenly reverting back to that shy boy he once was when he was younger unable to order his own food. The man rolls his eyes.

"The uptight one? Dude, she went to where the bathrooms are. Maybe the bedroom?" His hand motions in the direction of a hallway and Austin shoves his way past multiple people to the third bathroom where he hears something that sounds like you groaning. Austin doesn't waste another second before he's against the door saying your name and somehow you manage to get the door unlocked.

Austin finds you on the floor near the toilet and all he thinks is that you look exceptionally out of it. Your eyes barely focus on his face and when trying to reach him you decide the under the sink counter door is his leg. "Aus—" You start before trailing off. "Why'm I in the bath'oom?"

Part of why Austin likes you— loves you as much as he does is how well spoken you are so hearing you like this makes him so terrified that he's grabbing your hands and yanking you up with a grunt. Your body practically melts into his before you hear another knock at the door and see some of the boys from Austin's frat looking at the scene. Kelvin's the one who speaks first.

"Did they—Aus, man, you know what this looks like."

Austin's grip tightens around your waist and you look up at him and press your nose into his shirt, inhaling his comforting scent even as your mind jumps and swirls and does everything in between being normal. "Tight. Too tight."

Everything feels too tight, your jumpsuit, your bra, his arms but you can't figure out how to get out those words as Austin's grip loosens just a hair when he turns to look at his friends. The boys he'd trust with his life and with yours. "I— I don't know how the fuck they did this but find whoever did it. Fucking— she can barely stand up and she wasn't drinking. You guys know that. Who does this— I'm just here to talk to the newbies not to— Not to put my girlfriend in harms way."

It's then that Austin watches Xavier and Adam already leaving the doorway and after a moment he hears a crack of a beer bottle breaking.

"Who did it to Y/N? We just want to talk, man! Take you so you can see your handiwork!" Xavier's voice silences the crowd before there's a rush of voices and cursing that has Luke joining the fray only for you to hear him shout,

"Where the fuck did you get a beer can like that?" It's a valid question but one he says while grabbing a foldable chair and brandishing it in his hands as someone— Trey? Trevor? Alexander? Someone tries to run off after laughing at the scene.

"She deserved it," he mocks as Luke steps closer to him chair still in hand. On your shaky legs Austin starts to try and lead you back to his car before Luke does something you never thought was possible outside of pretend WWE matches. He throws a chair on top of someone's head. Your ears faintly hear the cracking of wood and you wince against Austin before he holds you tighter to him.

"You're fine. They're— They're not gonna hurt you." Austin whispers against your hair and you can smell the faint traces of alcohol on his breath. "I think they're gonna hurt all of the upperclassmen of SAE but not you."

As if on cue there's a bottle that flies by Austin's head and shouts that sounds like multiple of Austin's friends trying to tackle someone.

"Fuckin' tryin' to knock him out?" "Already messed with his girlfriend!" "Your balls that small Andy??"

In another time and place you'd be laughing and while telling the boys it's not worth it but honestly you can't right now. Truthfully if you could right now you'd be joining with them, getting in hits just the same as the rest of them. It frustrates you to not be able to but at the same time there's a warm feeling in your chest unrelated to whatever is circulating in your system at knowing these boys are willing to do this for you.

Someone throws another bottle at Austin's head and it barely misses you before there's another set of shouts and more cursing and general ruckus. Austin pulls you closer once more and starts to head to the door as you hear Tom's bellow to Austin.

"B, get her outta here! We got this! Just get us some rides!" Rides home is what he means but he's interrupted by someone trying to climb on his back. "Now what the fuck are ya doin' bruh?"

Austin takes that as a cue to rush out, only stopping for a moment to shout something about not getting arrested before getting you both in the car. He knows he's not supposed to drive after he's had any sort of liquor but you're in no state to drive yourself and he doesn't trust that his car will stay in one piece if he leaves it here. The second he starts the car your eyes start to droop down and he frowns looking at you.

"I'm so sorry, babe."

You wake up the next morning to Austin on the phone sounding more agitated the more words are spoken. It's a strange thing to see but even more strange is how you're in a pair of pjs you've left in his room at the house with no recollection of how you got in them.

"I know it goes against the code of— they drugged my girlfriend. I think when comparing the two we have the moral high ground. I'll take— I'll take punishment for some of them but you're not shutting down our chapter. I'll handle— yes I can handle it!" His next words are a little incomprehensible and you just sort of stare at him while pulling a blanket tighter around you until he hangs up and realizes you're awake.

"Hey. You— How're you feeling?"

You pause before answering and sigh. "Like shit. I don't— What happened last night? I remember bathrooms and beer bottles? And a chair?"

"I— I'm not really sure. You were where you were at one point, then you disappeared into the bathroom after you drank something? I don't— I really don't know. I found you when I realized and when I did. The boys and I realized you were— uh— that you had something in you that was definitely not something you took willingly." Austin moves to sit on the bed next to you and pulls you close to him. "I got you out of there and— there might have been a few injuries? Involving fists and chairs and bottles. General mayhem."

A silence falls over the two of you before your eyes widen. "You mean they— Did you just tell me I had a bunch of frat bros fighting for me?"

Austin can't help the quiet laugh that leaves him as he nods. "And I didn't even ask them to. They saw you and some of SAE said some— very stupid things and yeah. Tom shooed me out before a bottle hit us. They're in a lot of trouble right now but no one got arrested which is a— It's surprising but I don't question the charm of some of us."

"What about the whole frat—" The words die on your lips as soon as Austin's hand touches your cheek and he shakes his head.

"We'll be fine. Fighting with another frat is bad but not nearly as bad as members drugging someone on purpose considering I think— I think they singled you out specifically. Or at least figured you'd be a fun target. I don't— It doesn't matter. We look better in comparison." Austin explains, watching you bite your lip. "It's fine, babe. I promise. Honestly, they care more about you and if you're okay. Just like me."

Which is to honestly say, stop worrying in Austin's roundabout way. You don't speak for a good five minutes, choosing instead to listen to Austin's heartbeat before you finally move to try and get up. Austin quickly puts a stop to that even as you frown. "Austin, I'm fine just let me get up."

"Future doctor's orders. You're staying in bed today just so I can keep an eye on you. Promise you can do whatever tomorrow. Just— please, babe."

After a moment you move to crawl back into bed and glare a bit at him. "Go get me food, then. I'm— I think I'm so hungry I'm nauseous? I don't know just— food." You stare at the door and swear you hear someone walking by it. "And I guess send in the guys? Are they being creepy at the door?"

The answering yell of no has you and Austin laughing as he opens the door to find Tom chilling against the door, before barging in. "They sent me for recon. Ya good?"

You share a look with Austin as you nod. "Yeah, go tell them I'm good. And that next time try and defend my honor a little more subtly. And tell Luke he's got to show me that chair trick."

taglist: none for this.

[celestemona]

Idk if I'm projecting or imagining myself onto Itto's relationship with his wife but LIKE I always imagined his wife to be a part of the Healthcare system (like a doctor or something, i say as an aspiring premed student lol but also I REALLY LIKE THE IDEA OF SOMEONE TAKING CARE OF ANOTHER even if at first they dont want to but they still love each other) and she's just so DONE with her husband and his gang getting into trouble and showing up with new bruises and scars.

Like after they get out of jail (AGAIN, with her help and Kuki) she immediately does a quick exam on him and goes like, "YOU IDIOT! YOUR FUCKING BONES ARE BROKEN! YOU BROKE YOUR CARPALS (wrist bones) AND YOUR ULNA AND RADIUS (your arm bones). YOURE LUCKY THIS TIME YOU DIDNT GET A CONCUSSION OR RIPPED ANY PART OF YOUR BODY LIKE LAST TIME!"

And he's like, ohoho at least there's a new broken bone in my body that you can examine, Mrs doctor"

And she's like, "THIS ISNT A BINGO CARD WHERE YOUR GOAL IS TO BREAK ALL 206 BONES!" (Note that mama reader wouldn't yell at anyone EXCEPT for people who don't listen to her doctor's orders like her dearly beloa— beloved husband.)

And she's just scolding him and his gang all the way home but the moment they get home she's like, "I'm sorry for screaming at your face but you should very careful next time with your body, dear. You worried the living hell out of me but at the same time I'm used to this but DO NOT WORRY ME LIKE THIS AGAIN. I swear youre makinh me age more years than the time I had to take my exams."

Holy moly! Is that a Mama!Gil I'm seeing? Hehehe

This makes so much sense that if it wasn't funny it'd be sad lol Itto & his gang mates definitely need someone other than Shinobu to keep an eye on them, and it's so funny how Mama!Reader fit into their group easily like the missing piece of a puzzle.

Still, good luck to her because it's so Itto to put himself in harm's way of his own free will knowing that he now has his own personal doctor—his amazing wife above all—to mend his limbs back together. Yeah… He's definitely bingoing how many bones out of his 206 he had broken already mwahh

Anyway girl, deal with it! Your husband, your problems lmao

[salt-baby]

prev said "elaborate", you ask I will deliver!

so what do premed and med students actually receive as ethical education?

my main grievances with basic medical ethics courses mostly has to do with autonomy and paternalism.

paternalism is essentially the concept that because doctors understand the medical science better than the patient does, they have a responsibility to guide patients through their medical care and towards the best treatments. In the same way a father does for their child, the doctor has authority to decide things if they think it's in the best interest of the patient.

The idealistic version of this is that a doctor is suggesting to a patient what they think will be the best medication or procedure, because the doctor is educated to think about things like niche drug interactions and how a patient's health may affect treatment efficacy and that sort of thing. Patients get told the basics of their diagnosis and the next steps, so as not to overwhelm them with the technical stuff.

However, this falls apart when it comes to things like informed consent. Patients have to understand what they're getting into when they accept a treatment. Overly paternalistic doctors may skip giving patients a proper explanation, telling them that "I'm a doctor, trust me on this". But doctors never have a full picture of all the things that factor into a patient's medical decisions, and patients often have other goals than achieving best health in pursuing medical treatment. Especially in the case of disabled people, who often aren't ever going to return to best health.

Newer medical ethics textbooks will include more autonomous models in place of paternalism, but it's not as ideal as it seems. Per those textbooks, the principle of autonomy obliges doctors to give their patients the freedom to make medical decisions, even against advice. But doctors aren't advised to do this in cases where they deem a person unable to make a decision, and this isn't based on the legal definition. If a doctor thinks a patient is unable to make a calm and rational choice, they don't necessarily have to respect a patient's autonomy. And how much doctors can persuade a patient varies from source to source.

Worth noting? The book usually associated with the introduction of autonomy in place of paternalism, "Principles of Biomedical Ethics" was published in 1980. Paternalism was presumably taught at least up until that point, and even if its not promoted anymore, it's still introduced as part of medical education.

Both of these principles can be seen in medical ethics courses, as seen in this reading written in response to the introduction of autonomy, which was actually used at my university. The reading is introduced by the textbook as follows:

"Respect for patient autonomy is distorted when autonomy is understood as mere noninterference, says Ackerman. On this prevalent hands-off view, "the doctor need be only an honest and good technician, providing relevant information and dispensing professionally competent care." But this approach fails to respect the autonomy genuinely, he argues, for it does not recognize that many factors can compromise autonomy, including illness and a host of psychological, social, and cultural constraints. At times, true respect for autonomy may require the physician to intervene, to deviate from the patient's stated preferences. The goal of the physician-patient relationship should be "to resolve the underlying physical (or mental) defect, and to deal with cognitive, psychological, and social constraints in order to restore autonomous functioning."

Think I'm kidding? Here's flashcards on this reading, and a student's essay on it.

Ackerman himself doesn't necessarily advocate for forcing patients into the choices doctors feel are best for their health at the expense of their free will. His point is more that beyond simply educating a patient on their condition and their best options, doctors should consider factors impeding a patients decision, like the opinions of their family members. The problem is that Ackerman asserts that illness itself can be a factor, and that the mental strain and sudden change in life habits or plans from adjusting to being ill causes patients to be less able to make decisions clearly. And he means ALL patients. This is an incredibly dangerous concept to be introducing.

This reading encourages doctors to second-guess a patient's decision, and is very firm in that illness can make a patient unable to make a decision, even if that illness doesn't affect cognition at all. It's true that the sudden news of a diagnosis, especially a chronic one, can be world-shattering. But that doesn't mean a patient isn't making a valid decision.

This reading has its purpose, and I don't totally disagree with Ackerman (obviously I do on the effects of illness). But along the way, a very risky concept has been introduced. This is why I say ableism is being taught in classes, because while the reading itself is useful, a very subtle ableism is introduced alongside it. If the ableism in this reading isn't named and discussed, then students often take the content as fact, because on the exam that's how it'll be treated.

Additionally, all of these concepts place the doctor in a clear position of power over the patient. I get the idea, that because doctors know more, that education places them over the patient. But in reality, when it comes to the core problem of diagnosing and treating the illness at hand, the patient is still bringing valuable knowledge to the table. The patient is the one who first notices something is wrong, the patient is the only person who can explain what's happening with their body, and the patient has the ultimate say with their consent.

And I don't believe these ideas are being critically engaged with by students. They're just learning the buzzwords and the right things to say in medical school interviews. Because the school has introduced this bias, the student now has to go above and beyond to unlearn it. Understanding ethical theory is important, but serious thought needs to be given to the language used and how concepts are presented.

Ultimately, when patients are judged to be incapable of a decision is governed by hospital or state policy, and so is who the doctor involves in patient care. Don't let me scare you here - your doctor can't just decide you're too anxious and force you into something you don't want to do. But these ideas still affect how doctors talk to patients in a more subversive way, and there's still real harm in that.

yes, doctors suck, but also "the medical ethics and patient interaction training doctors receive reinforces ableism" and "the hyper competitive medical school application process roots out the poor, the disabled, and those who would diversify the field" and "anti-establishment sentiment gets applications rejected and promotions requests denied, weeding out the doctors on our side" and "the gruesome nature of the job and the complete lack of mental health support for medical practitioners breeds apathy towards patients" and "insurance companies often define treatment solely on a cost-analysis basis" and "doctors take on such overwhelming student loan debt they have no choice but to pursue high paying jobs at the expense of their morals" are all also true

none of this absolves doctors of the truly horrendous things they say and do to patients, but it's important to acknowledge that rather than every doctor being coincidentally a bad person, there is something specific about this field and career path that gives rise to such high prevalence of ableist attitudes

and I WILL elaborate happily

[charterandbarter]

End/Start of the year! Means it’s time for an end of year self rec list! If you want.

A top 3-5 list OR rank all the fics you have done this year in a full, completely arbitrary, ranked list of all the ones from this year! Would love to hear your thoughts on your own work :)

!!! BUDDY!!!!!

I didn't do much writing this year (grad apps,,,,why) but I can put some things in a list to kick off a brand new writing season!! So here: top three list of most fun i've had working on a fic this year! 1. Sunset Bridge, part 2 of the mirrors of god series (Persona 5/Death Note crossover, where Akechi was adopted by the Yagamis)

What a series. What an idea. 'Haha Goro Akechi and Light Yagami look the same' we said. 'They could be brothers', we said. 'Wouldn't it be funny if that were a thing', we said. And now we're 10 pages deep in an outline for the ages, both screaming and shaking and sliding down walls as we accidentally write the most Sibling relationship to ever sibling. A hug and a bow to Writeous for your wit, cleverness, and sheer brass balls to smush the Death Note timeline, which is a swiss watch of a thing, with Persona 5, a fucking 100+ hour free choice JRPG, but it has been so much fun writing these guys!! "Why do you resent the fact that you love your family?" and we keep getting different answers every time,,,,man. Man!! i legit cant say too much because godDAMN did we go crazy, but MAN!!!! 2. The Hippocratic Oath (Revised) (the premed!kaneki ken au)

I can't exactly say it was 'fun' to write this so much as it was meaningful to write this fic lol. Tokyo Ghoul was one of my first fandoms (back in...middle school holy shit), and I was chomping at the bit to play off of the anti-martyrdom themes rooting around in the og series for a while. Is it my best work? Debatable. Is it my most well-plotted? Depends on your version of plot. Did I go fucking batshit insane, black out, awaken to a 20pg outline, and subsequently drag Misery Man Kaneki Ken kicking and screaming towards some semblance of a recovery arc by (among other things) making him a STEM major? yes. and i regret none of it, because i tbh needed to write this fucker anyway (changed my major, gender AND sexuality!!! the fuck!!!). aaaaaa the paradox of 'do no harm',,,,,the problem never ends because martyrdom was never the solution from the start,,,,,,,the asymptotic condition we're all saddled with where yeah we're burdens on eachother but that's like cool and shit because it's not about deservin it's about living aaaaa anyway yeah only time i wrote a fic and got knocked flat on my ass into a different career track so yep it goes on here! i also decided to make every chapter 10k like a fool, so pray for me. oh vocaloid-stan kaneki we're really in it now,,,, 3. Flock Together (Persona 5/BNHA, an Akechi-in-BNHA au)

I have nothing big about this fic. It's fun to write a dumbass getting jumpscared by a child. Man makes One (1) good decision and is now a Babysitter. The child being Babysat is also ready and willing to throat-punch people. i cannot stress enough that I am writing this fic to make Eri go fucking insane, and for every chapter I post there are three scenes of eri just going fucking bonkers hitting kneecaps, swearing, and doing normal girl things like reminding people to wash their money because 'money laundering' is v important. stress ball fic thank GOD. don't worry about the plot shhhhhh i dont have plot dont worrrry about it-- but yeah!!! That’s my top three most fun fics this year!!!!!!! i’d like to @yellowocaballero, @ragnarokascendant and @bitemeilovewaffles to reply to this ask, if willing and able! lets celebrate what  we’ve made and make room for more to come!!

[qianoir]

After Midnight 3 - Stars

𝐏𝐚𝐢𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠: college dropout!Ten (WayV) x fem!reader

𝐆𝐞𝐧𝐫𝐞: non-idol au, angst with fluff on top

𝐑𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠: 13+

𝐖𝐚𝐫𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬: cursing (censored), lying, family problems, mentions death of reader's father, romance

♡ 𝐖𝐨𝐫𝐝 𝐂𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐭: 1.9K

𝐓𝐚𝐠 𝐋𝐢𝐬𝐭: @staysstrays

Preview < 1 < 2 < 3

Your head was pounding from your ears drinking in the tantrum of a 3 year old boy, the cries diving straight into your ringing eardrums. A young couple showed up with their child who started offing himself about your café not having some made up hybrid cake he wanted for the last 10 minutes.

The boy started flailing around and knocked his mother's iced Americano out of her hand in the process, landing the freezing and pungent liquid all over you.

The LED clock above you flickered with a new hour, freeing you from the café’s dark roasted chains. You ripped the soaked apron over your head and stuffed it into the back room’s washing machine before taking hold of your belongings and rushing out of the building after saying a quick “good-bye” to your mother- who was not about to deal with the coddled boy and you leaving all at once, so she kicked the spoiled family out, them following your irritated trail on the way through the doors.

You were walking fast to have a little costume change before meeting up with Ten and his friends, 5 o’clock coming within the next 20 minutes.

Y/N

Heyyo I had a little accident at work so I'm going to stop by my place to clean up before heading over to yours.

Once you were in your own space, you peeled the rest of the coffee soaked clothing off of your body, sticking the wet collection into the washer to cold soak after dressing up nicely.

TEN

d.amn it y/n you are too old to be soiling yourself

???

Y/N

That’s not what I meant!

TEN

Whatever ;p

Stepping out into the bright evening air, you realized you don't even know where the hell to go. The napkin with the address was in the pocket of your apron washing back at the café.

You recognized the street that leads to Décalcomanie, the street that leads to Myeongdong, and one leading to a duck shop.

Admitting defeat, you texted Ten.

Y/N

hey so I left the napkin with your address in my apron.. which I don't have would you mind sending it to me?

TEN

such a handful~

You followed the GPS to his address. His apartment building was on the other side of your school you usually metro to, so it was a pretty tiring walk. Arriving fashionably late, you knocked on door number 117.

There was a lot of commotion and screaming, as you were previously informed. Finally, Ten opened the door and waved for you to come in.

Taking your shoes off at the entrance, you saw three guys tackling each other, two others playing video games, and one really fine looking man behind an island in the kitchen.

"Hello!!" One of the guys being tackled shouted and waved at you which got him punched in the back by the guy orchestrating the tackling. You hesitantly waved back "Hi Y/N!!" The boy in the kitchen said with a charming smile.

"Lovely place." You said to Ten with a giggle as he closed the door with an annoyed look on his face. "Y/N, these are my friends,"

He took you over to the couch where the two players were. "This is Sicheng and Xuxi," The two boys playing Mario Kart threw a glance your way and waved with a smile. "these fools are Hendery, Xiaojun, and Yangyang.."

Hendery strained to wave again under the two boys with a big smile on his face, as did the two others. Ten swayed you into the kitchen and introduced you to the last man. This guy was so handsome, like the Asian bachelor. "I'm Kun." The man greeted, kindly.

"It's nice to finally meet you, Y/N. Our Ten always talks about you." Yangyang says walking towards you two. Ten sent him a glare. "Is that so?"

"At least I'm not blind from having my head up my ass all day, Yangyang shut up!" His voice cracked, making you and Yangyang erupt in laughter.

"Anyways, if you'll excuse us- I invited Y/N here for us to be alone." He took your wrist in his grasp and led you to a room.

Ten pet a space on the bed for you to sit down while he leaned over his desk, searching on his laptop. A slow beat filled the room. You recognized this song- the song your dad would play for your mom in the car on long road trips: Something by The Beatles.

Something in the way she moves

attracts me like no other lover

Something in her style that shows me

I don’t want to leave her now

you know I believe and how.

Your parents were so in love. When your father first heard this song, he had made it their special theme to portray their love. They had both become big fans of The Beatles and always had this song pop up at least once in every holiday or event playlist or could be caught quoting it occasionally when the timing was right. Your heart sank in your chest at the memory.

You hadn't realized that the song had ended or that Ten was at your side watching you intently. You looked up at him and he offered a small smile.

"My parents used to listen to this song all the time."

"Really? Are you guys close?"

Your mouth felt sour hearing the inevitable question. “My dad died from pneumonia when I was younger. My mom tries to be present for me, but I know she misses him.” Tears puddled at your waterline as you forced yourself not to cry. “Sometimes I think she only keeps trying because she thinks I’m studying premed when I really hide pointe shoes in my closet. I don’t have the heart to tell her what I’m really majoring in.. because I’m terrified of us losing each other completely and frankly, she would never forgive me of my dishonesty if she would stay.”

"It's not wrong.. following your passion" Ten announced after a whole note of silence, "I'm sorry for making you bring up such a past, but I’m happy I can at least sympathize with you..” He looked away from you to recall his memories clearly.

“My parents didn't agree with me wanting to study dance either. And they certainly did not agree with me leaving my hometown in Thailand and dropping out of college to come here for the best art opportunities. Mine and the rest of the guys outside; all of us are a little more distant from our family than usual just because we are passionate." Ten confessed.

"I'm sorry." You weakly rasped.

"I'm not." Ten smiled at you.

"My friends and I are doing what we love without anyone holding us back and one day it's going to all pay off.. I know it will.. If it wouldn't I would have never dropped out."

You could understand where he was coming from. He is really passionate and faithful to his dreams, it is a little inspiring.

"And you seem to be doing good on your own, too. You're studying dance, which I'm sure you're amazing at, and working at the café to help your mom, letting people make a mess of you that you always undoubtedly pick yourself up from." You laughed, the sad tears rolling down your cheeks and turning to bittersweet tears of joy.

"Thank you, Ten."

"Anytime, Y/N." He handed you a napkin for your eyes.

A cough was heard outside the closed door, along with faint whispers.

"Lucas, shut the HELL up!"

Ten got up and opened the door, making four boys come tumbling inside the room.

All rushing to get up, Lucas stayed laying on the floor, "Uh, hi guys." he offered a charming smile. "We were just coming to tell you that dinner is ready?" Yangyang shrugged obviously.

Ten snickered.

"Nice try, guys-"

"Dinner is ready!" Kun yelled from the kitchen.

"What did I tell you?" Yangyang stuck out his tongue, cockily. Ten rolled his eyes and looked over at you,

"Would you like to stay for dinner?"

"Uhm-"

"She is staying, I already made her a plate!" Kun yelled once again from the kitchen. The other boys ran out of the doorway to the kitchen.

"I guess it's settled then..." Ten sighed and reached his hand out to you, which you took. You were led into the dining room where the other boys sat. Ten placed you in a chair next to his and Kun’s.

Kun had made zhajiangmian, a Chinese traditional celebration/comfort food aka Chinese spaghetti. It tasted so much better than the bread pastries and milk teas you had been living off of in the past year.

Everyone was very talkative during dinner, you even found out that Ten choreographs his own dances for himself and the others to perform and learned that Kun has a degree in music from a prestigious university in Beijing. The boys you had dinner with were really fun to be around and gave you lots of energy after the intricate start to the new semester.

You didn't realize how lonely your little apartment was until now, even when sharing it with your mother most nights. They made you feel so comfortable and content after lacking companionship since your high school days. Also the food was really good, thanks to Kun.

Everybody finished their food but still continued the little chat at the dinner table "And this one time, Ten ate butter thinking it was ice cream! Who does that!?" Yangyang finished off his story punching the table with laughter.

You glanced at the time on your phone. It was almost 10 o'clock and you had to get to sleep early for your new 8 AM class.

Ten turned to you when he felt short tugs at his hoodie. "Cinderella has to get home?"

The room got quiet with Ten’s words, but quickly exploded in a swarm of whines and begs for you to stay. You gave them an apologetic smile.

Ten stood up, pulling me with him, "I'll walk you home." He was already at the door, kicking on his shoes. Everyone bid you good-bye as you waved to all of them before you and Ten were out the door.

"It's this way." You motioned in the direction of your apartments. Ten nodded and followed your path. It was silent the whole way, but it was a nice silence. It was peaceful with just you two. Arriving soon, you  stopped in front of the entrance and turned around to look at Ten.

"Thank you for having me over, I really enjoyed it. Your friends are really nice."

"Of course. I’m really glad you came. I like spending time with you and I think my friends do as well."

Smiles were exchanged and hearts skipped, both of your breathing patterns were evident in each other’s dialogue. "Do you have any last lyrics before we end the night?"

Your building never shines like the others in its distance. The only light around you is the one that blooms in space and allows the stars to twinkle down to where you stand. Ten took your chin is his hand and created perfect eye contact:

"Look at the stars. Look how they shine for you. And all the things that you do.”

He tossed your chin up before walking off into the night.

To Be Continued…

Something by The Beatles

Yellow by Coldplay

𝘲𝘪𝘢𝘯𝘰𝘪𝘳

[lawandorderforevercsi]

Forever Beloved

Disclaimer: AMC is owned by ABC/Disney.

Author's Note: I have been on the AMC fanfiction fandom. There is only one story for Maria and none for Edmund or Edmund/Maria pairing? Seriously? I thought it was time for one. Thanks to LilMisFit5290 for inspiring this one shot! Which couple name for Maria and Edmund do you like EdMaria, MarEdmund, Edaria?

A/N 2: This will be AU. I know life isn't fair with the way their pairing ended, but hey, I can reimagine it, right? Also, since it was not mentioned where Maria goes to college, I will assume she attended college at Texas State University at San Marcos. When Maria and Edmund were dating on-screen, she had mentioned her grandmother lived with her family growing up, so I am going with the flow.

Premise: What if she failed romance with Del that dashing Edmund comes to town where she is attending college? Will sparks fly then?

Spring 1987

The last several months had been tough for nineteen-year-old Maria Santos. While her studies towards her biology major were going well, social life was going well; just not her love life. She couldn't help it; she was wanted to create a relationship that was like that of her parents, loving and caring that was filled with children, lots of children. The problem was the guy she thought was the love of her life, Del Henry, had gotten her pregnant and not long after she had miscarried. To make matters worse, he smashed her heart pieces when he dumped her. She cried about it and was comforted by her roommates. But she didn't allow herself to wallow for too long. So, Maria swore off dating for a while, but fate had other plans. One fateful spring day and near the end of her sophomore year, she had gone to meet up with her friends and roommates, Kimberly Edwards and Colleen Miller, for lunch before studying for her finals.

As reached the lecture hall where English, Creative Writing, and Journalism were taught, she heard the lecturer's deep voice. She had heard about the lecturer, Edmund Grey wasn't even thirty. Yet he was already a well-traveled correspondent who has covered everything from wars to treaty signings and everything in between. Not only that, he already had a Pulitzer Prize to his name. Two of her friends and roommates were had been saying how handsome he was. Since she hadn't seen him yet, she wasn't sure what to think. For the time being, took their word for it.

Entering the lecture hall, Maria saw the guest lecturer. She fanned herself when she saw him; he was so handsome. His draw made him all the more appealing. He is so easy on the eyes. Wait, did you forget Maria, you know what happened with your last boyfriend. You really want to go through it again?

Nevertheless, he was so handsome, now she was torn. She had completely zoned out that she hadn't noticed that the class had ended and her friend Kimberly had walked up to her was calling to her. "Earth to Maria, earth to Maria, are you okay?"

Maria shook her head and said, "Yeah, I am fine."

Kimberly, however, was not easily persuaded. She saw where Maria's gaze landed on. She smiled. Maria deserved the best after what the jerk did to her. Kimberly had wanted to him a piece of her mind, but Maria had talked her out of it.

Kimberly said, "Come on, I will introduce you to him."

Maria said, "No, no, you know student-teacher relationships are frowned upon."

Kimberly replied, "Come on, relax, will you? You're not his student, so it shouldn't be a problem."

Without getting a chance to say anything, Kimberly led Maria to the front. After he and the other student finished talking, Kimberly spoke up, "Mr. Grey, I would like you to meet my best friend and roommate, Maria Santos."

When Edmund looked up and saw Maria, he was dumbstruck. There stood the most beautiful woman he had ever seen in his life. Of course, he has seen his fair share of beautiful women as he traveled here and abroad, but the young woman with long chocolate brown hair standing him smiling a bright smile takes the cake.

Kimberly noticed the stares between the two. She knew that had something significant to get her friend this speechless and said, "Well, I guess I will let you two be. I will just go to lunch with Colleen and see you later for our study session, right?"

Maria got out of her daydream and only nodded her head before turning back to stare.

Before long, the hall was empty but not for long before the next class filed in. Edmund broke the silence and said, "Ms. Santos, why don't we go to lunch, and it will be my treat. From there, we can get to know each other if you like."

Maria couldn't hold it back! She let out a quiet squeal. Here was the most handsome, debonair man who was interested in her. He helped her forget all about Del.

Whoa, Maria, don't go there! Not unless you want to ruin a good thing!

Coming out of her trance, she agreed, and they headed out. Instead of going to diners on campus, Maria took them to get good old-fashioned tacos. It was the next best thing when she wasn't home to have her mother's cooking. As they ate, they talked and got to know each other. Edmund learned that she was PreMed and working towards becoming a neurologist. Edmund learned that she had four younger siblings, the youngest being three years old. Maria found out that Edmund was an only child and had a sad childhood. He left home when he turned eighteen and already had seven years under his belt as a traveling journalist.

Edmund made a bold move. Taking her hand and asked, "Maria, I really like you and want to see you again. But I also know the rules about dating students, so how about when you finish your exams maybe I can take you on an actual date?"

This time Maria squealed louder. This was a dream come true. True, she was still cautious after the last relationship, but she knew this could be the real deal for her. She took a leap of faith and exchanged contact information with Edmund.

After he paid for lunch, he walked back to campus. Edmund kept his promise and let Maria finish her exams and the semester before contacting her. Edmund took her out on a date with the school year over, came by to help her pack, and gave her a ride home.

As Kimberly and Colleen watched as Edmund drove off, Colleen commented, "You did good Kimberly. Maria will be off the market for good."

Kimberly nodded, "Yep, for sure!"

A few hours later, they arrived in San Antonio, he had dropped her off, and after planning for their first official date, he went off to find an apartment for the short term and work. Now for work, he could find a temporary job at a newspaper or magazine office. With his resume, he landed an appointment with the in no time. When Maria wasn't volunteering at the local clinic or helping at home and Edmund wasn't busy working at the newspaper, they spent time with each other. They did everything together, including baseball games and roller skating.

One day Edmund had come by taking her out to a new movie that was coming out. However, when he arrived and knocked on the door, and the door opened, he saw that Maria looked frazzled with a squirmy little girl in her arms. When she saw Edmund, she gasped. "Edmund, I am so sorry that I didn't call you. At the last minute, my father had to work extra hours, and my mother had a big special sewing project she has to work on. She needed me to watch over my siblings for the tonight."

Edmund smiled. He loved kids, and now that he had seen with Maria with one of her siblings and how gentle she was, he knew she would be the one.

Edmund replied, "No, no, Maria, don't worry about it. Do you need help?"

Putting four-year-old Rosa down but holding on to her hand, Maria said, "No, I couldn't ask you to spend your evening watching two of my siblings with me."

Edmund calmed her down by saying, "No problems, my love. I love kids remember?"

Maria said with a smile, "Okay, if you want to, but I warn you, my siblings, while they can smile angelically, they can also be a handful. Especially Rosa here."

Looking at Rosa, she crouched down and said, "Rosie, can you say hi to my friend Edmund?"

Rosa stopped fidgeting when she saw someone new. Hiding her face in her big sister's shoulder but peeking her head and said, "Hello Ed, Ed…."

Edmund crouched down to the little girl's height and, with a smile, said, "Nice to meet you, Rosa. You can call me Eddie if that makes it easier for you."

With a little more confidence, Rosa said, "Hello, Eddie."

Edmund soon met eight-year-old Anita, and following a few hours of fun with the two younger kids, helped put them to bed. Later that night met the two teenagers, seventeen-year-old spitfire Julia and fourteen-year-old trying to act macho Mateo. They were wary at first. However, it didn't take the two teens to warm to Edmund.

Later that night, they spent time together. Maria had seen how good he was with kids when he helped put Rosa to bed when she was cheeky and a handful. For that, she loved him even more. They were so absorbed in the kissing they didn't hear the door open and close. It was only when they heard a gasp and Isabella yelling, "Maria!"

With Hector saying, "What is the meaning of this? Who is the man you are kissing?"

Maria and Edmund jumped apart like they were teenagers caught doing something naughty. Maria got off the couch, went to give her father a hug, and said, "Sorry, Papa. But this the Edmund Grey I told you and Mama about. You know the Pulitzer Prize journalist."

Maria looked at her parents and then at Edmund. She said to him, "Edmund, I would like you to meet my parents, Hector and Isabella Santos."

Edmund went over and offered his hand to shake and said, "It is nice to meet you, Mr. and Mrs. Santos."

The stern looks on their faces didn't stay for long. Hector smiled and came over instead of nearly wanting to clobber Edmund for snogging his perfect eldest daughter and instead shook Edmund's hand. It didn't take long for Isabella to respond with a hug. Maria smiled. No guy had ever gotten approval that quickly. The one time she had a male classmate over for a project, her parents watched them or more, the guy like a hawk. As time went on, even her Grandmother Estella took a liking to Edmund.

As the summer progressed, their love grew, and she felt like the luckiest girl ever. Edmund made all the college guys look so immature as he was more worldly and debonair. One night after seeing the new movie that came out, Roxanne went back to his place for dinner in the local movie theater. Knowing that he could cook was a big plus. She remembered the day when she was at his home for lunch, he had made her a mean huevos ranchero. From that time on, she had fallen deeply in love with Edmund.

Of course, being an award-winning traveling war correspondent would require him to know how to cook. During one meal, he began talking about one person, in particular, a Peggy Moody. She was the one who taught him to cook when he was young. Edmund said to Maria, "One day, you will meet Peggy, and you will love her."

Maria said, "I am looking forward to that day!"

After dinner found the lovebirds on the couch alternating in snuggling and cuddling with a passionate make-out session. During one particular heated make-out session, she was sitting in his lap, and he let his hands roam her body. While she enjoyed the sensations when she felt him toying with her shirt, she broke the kiss.

Looking deep into her eyes, Edmund asked, "What is wrong, baby?"

Maria bit her lip and asked, "Um, you know I love you, right?"

Edmund asked, "You're not ready for sexual activity aspect of the physical intimacy?"

Maria takes a deep breath and tells him why she didn't want to jump into bed with him yet. She told him of how Del Henry betrayed her. When she was finished with her story, Edmund was steaming mad. How could a guy like him take advantage of someone sweet and smart? He was so angry, he said, "If I ever saw this Del guy I would like ring his neck."

Maria sighed. She loved that he was protective. Giving him a sultry kiss on the lips, she told her beloved, "Edmund, honey, you're so sweet, but your hard-earned career isn't worth trading for a jail cell."

Though still steaming, Edmund nodded and cooled down. For now, they settled for making out on the couch and hand-holding. Edmund was more than patient with Maria about getting her in bed. Soon summer drew to an end. They knew it as Edmund's profession required him to be at the frontlines to report on the news that was happening, and their time together had come to an end. But that didn't' help ease the pain of the breakup any easier.

On their last day together, Edmund had a plan to romance her like no other. What he didn't know was that he was in for a surprise himself. First, he picked her up from her home. After she hugged them goodbye and thanked the Santos family for their hospitality, Edmund drove Maria back to San Marcos. Once they arrived, they went grocery shopping before heading to her apartment. Maria said they would have the place to themselves, and they did. Maria explained that her sorority was new and selective, so they were still small. Because of that, they didn't have enough members yet to have a house, so she and two of her sorority sisters, Kimberley and Colleen, shared an apartment.

After he helped her bring up her stuff and helped her unpack some things, Edmund said, "Maria, my love, why don't you go and take a bath and relax while I make dinner for us?"

Maria sighed; she was a lucky woman to be with a man who had many talents. So, after she got him set up, she took a relaxing herbal soak. After putting on moisturizing lotion, she dressed in a casual outfit, a very casual outfit. Tonight would be the night that she would sleep with Edmund. Even though they would be splitting up soon (or so she thought), she wanted to give him a part of her.

Maria walked into the dining room. She sauntered in enticing two-piece lingerie that not hugged her in the right places; it also elongated her legs. Right then, Edmund finished dinner and lifted his head and nearly dropped what he had made. He leaned on the counter for support.

He thought Maria looked so sexy. When they were in San Antonio, he had tried to be the perfect gentleman and not stare at her, now he could do sp without shame.

She walked to the kitchen, wound her arms around his waist, stood a little on her tiptoe, and was kissing his neck. Edmund tried his best not just abandon dinner and just take her right then and there. Edmund knew she was giving signals that she was ready.

During dinner, she began to play footsie with him, alternating with flirting. The way that Maria was acting was driving Edmund crazy and antsy and wanting her more and more. Now, all Edmund wanted to do was to forget dinner and ravish her.

They quickly finished dinner, stored the leftovers, had the dishes washed, and put away. Maria took his hand and led him to her room. Once the door was closed, she gazed into his eyes as he did with her. Both saw smoldering lust burning in their eyes from dark brown to raven black. She had placed her hands on his face, pulled him down for a kiss, and Edmund responded, and the kiss turned fiery in no time flat.

He let his lips roam her cheek, jawline, neck, and shoulders. As his lips meandered, Maria sighed contentedly and ran her fingers through his thick curls. Not wanting to wait for more kisses from his soft lips, she pulled his head upwards and connected in a steamy lip-lock.

As they continued kissing, she walked him towards the bed. Right, when they reached the side of the bed, they broke the kiss, and Edmund sat down. He scooted towards and soon was leaning against the headboard. As they held their gazes, she helped him out his shirt by undoing the buttons. When it was opened, she pushed it off and saw that he had the right amount of hair; not a hairy like a Neanderthal or bare-chested like her ex.

Maria let her hands roam his muscular chest. Feeling her fingernails on his skin felt like a trail of fire for Edmund. As she continued hands continued walking his chest, she kissed all the skin she touched Edmund withered under her. Tonight, he had wanted to make it about her, but now he was under her spell. He couldn't take it anymore. He placed his hands on her face and pulled her in, and sweetly kissed her and let his hands roamed down her clothed body.

Parting lips, Edmund whispered, "It's time, baby."

He helped her out of her top and saw that she had no bra on. He felt his breath hitch. Here was a sexy Spanish beauty sitting in his lap, topless. Edmund preferred women who had curves, and Maria definitely had curves; she was perfect. So perfect that Edmund instantly felt like it was hot in the room. All he could get out was, "Wow!"

Maria was beginning to feel a little shy and had covered up her chest when Edmund placed his hands on hers moving them. He covered them with his own hands and began by gently massaging her chest. The heavy fullness of her chest fit in his hands. Maria moaned salaciously as he continued his loving touches. He leaned in said, "Maria, you are so sexy."

Maria whispered to him and exclaimed, "I love you, Edmund, take me now!"

Before long, he had wound his arms around her and pulled her down as he slid down, and they laid on the bed itself. He paid attention to all parts of her body and what touches would make her moan with pleasure and had her withering under him. She was now ruined for all other guys. She was his forever.

-x-

A few hours later, Edmund and Maria were awake and laid in peaceful quiet. Maria was relishing how her first time with Edmund was more affectionate than Del. Del like it rough and was all about him. At the same time, Edmund likes to be a little bit of both gentle and rough. Edmund, on the other hand, was thinking of one thing. Now that he has spent a special night with Maria, he didn't want to leave her and leave it to chance for them to meet up again. He knew that someone of her beauty and intelligence, any guy, would be lucky to be with her, and he would be an idiot to let her go. When Maria stirred, Edmund kissed her forehead. Maria smiled and looked up at her beau.

With soulful eyes, Edmund leaned down, kissed her, and said, "Maria, I was thinking instead of us parting and meeting if our paths crossed later on. How about we stay together and see where it takes us?"

Maria looked perplexed and asked, "What your writing career? I don't want you to pull the plug on your success just by waiting while I work towards my medical degree."

Edmund smiled and replied, "Don't you worry, I just know we will make it work."

She didn't know was that Edmund had signed a contract with the San Antonio Express as a war correspondent and come back to rest and work as an editor on the side. Maria couldn't believe it. She was going to be with Edmund longer, possibly forever. After another round of lovemaking, there were up and getting ready, eating breakfast, and relishing what little time they had left. He wouldn't be able to visit until either Thanksgiving or Winter Break.

Unbeknownst to her, Edmund a surprise up his sleeve. He took out a ring box and handed it to her. Surprised, she put down her fork, picked up the box, and when she saw the ring, she gasped. It was a gorgeous Solitaire Round Diamond Infinity Promise Ring.

Breaking the quiet, Edmund took her hand and said, "Maria, baby, I give you this ring as a promise that one day we will make a reality."

Not knowing what else to do, she jumped up from her chair and threw a hug around him. She could only say, "I love you, Edmund, more than you will ever know."

After breakfast ended, she helped Edmund get his items to his car. After a long embrace and lingering kisses, Edmund was off to catch his flight to Washington DC to cover the US and USSR talks.

After he was out of sight, she sighed and went back up to her apartment to clean. She managed to and had to sit down and stare at her ring and daydream about Edmund. She was so deep in her fantasy that she didn't hear the front door open, and Kimberly and Colleen come in. When they saw Maria in her own world, Kimberly said, "Uh-oh, either Maria is in a good mood or foul mood."

Colleen said, "If she was in a foul mood, she would be in her room already studying."

They gently approached, and Colleen asked almost timidly, "Um Maria?"

Maria shook her head and then looked at her two roommates, and then a dreamy smile appeared on her face. The two of them instantly knew something good happened. They chatted and caught up on what they had been doing since their last call and when Maria had told them the 'plan' for them to split up. Then Maria brought out her left hand and showed her roommates. When they saw Colleen and Kimberly let out high-pitched squeals and pulled Maria into a monstrous hug.

Calming down after Kimberly asked, "So are you and Edmund engaged?"

Smiling, Maria replied, "Not quite. But he promised me that one day he would make it a reality."

Colleen added, "Oh girl, I am so happy for you! You deserve the best!"

During her junior and senior years, Maria spent her time with Edmund when he was home while maintaining her studies. A few weeks before Maria's college commencement, he went to visit Hector and Isabella. He only one mission on his mind, ask for the blessing and parents from the parents.

Feeling the ring box cut into him, Edmund knocked on the door to the Santos house. Soon he was ushered in, and Edmund began, "Mr. and Mrs. Santos, as you know, I have fallen so deeply in love with Maria that I don't ever want to live without them in my life. I'm ready to ask Maria to marry me."

Isabella was as impressed as Hector was. Their darling Maria knew what to look for in a man. Plus, Edmund was an award-winning writer, a Pulitzer Prize no less.

Before Hector could speak, Isabella asked, "May I see the ring?"

Edmund pulled out the ring box and set it on the table. Isabella picked up the ring box, opened, and gasped. In it was a ring with a pear-shaped diamond in the middle surrounded by two round diamonds.

Isabelle said, "You have a great taste in jewelry Edmund."

Edmund replied, "Thank you, Mrs. Santos. I have my mother to thank."

Isabella added, "Uh-uh, you shall now call us mama and papa, because..."

Hector added, "I am happy to see our Maria is going to marry the right man. You, Edmund, have our blessing."

Edmund grinned. All he had to do now to plan the proposal and to pull it off. Now he knew he needed to talk to the Dean of the Department of Biology and the Chancellor himself to put his plan to propose at the graduation ceremony a reality.

When graduation came along, commencement itself was a grand affair. The entire Santos family, along with Grandmother Estella, was in attendance. It was a big day for the family; Maria was the first to graduate from college.

As the name was being announced, each graduate came up to get their diploma. Cheers and applause followed as each graduate walked off stage. That was until Maria came on the scene. Just as she got her diploma and shook hands with the Dean, with her father taking photos of the momentous day of the Santos family. However, they knew something that Maria didn't know was about to get another surprise, a big one.

The Chancellor of the College, Dean Anderson, walked over to the podium and began talking. "Attention, Ladies and Gentlemen and fellow graduates, may I please have your attention."

The graduates and their families settled down, wondering what is going on. Once it was quiet, Dean Anderson said, "Now I know that most of you graduates are ready to get out of here but will Ms. Maria Santos, please come up back on stage for an extraordinary gift."

Maria raised one as an eyebrow and looked over at her best friends, Kimberly Edwards and Colleen Miller. They managed to look just as confused when they knew what was about to happen. Maria had her friends hold her diploma and then made her way to the stage.

Edmund, who was hidden from view, watched as she made her way on the stage and when he saw that she had reached the podium. He had concocted a reason why he couldn't make that he had a story he had to cover and wasn't going to make it back in time. When in reality, this was the way he could come in unseen.

Maria was on stage, and standing next to the Dean continued. "Ms. Santos has achieved many great things during her four years here. She is not only the first in her family to graduate from college, but Maria has also worked hard to earn a 4.0 GPA. Therefore, she graduated Summa Cum Laude. You all also know that she would be starting medical school in the fall. But that is not why I called her up here, for she has a special present."

Hearing his cue word "present," Edmund made his way out from his hiding place with a bouquet of red roses and on to the stage. When Maria saw him, she gasped. She thought he wouldn't make it; he had said he couldn't get a flight back in time. She was going to get him for that later. She then ran to him and hugged him, bringing about cheers and applause. Once it quieted. Getting the microphone from the Dean and began, "First, I want to thank the Dean and Chancellor for allowing me to do this."

Turning to the love of his life, he said, Maria, my darling, I love you. Your family and I are so proud of you. Today that you have worked hard and are reaching your goals and continue to set new goals and achieve them."

Edmund paused for a minute while wiping away the mists that were already forming in Maria's eyes and then said, "I have loved you from the first day that I met you. As time went on, I loved you more and more. Maria, do you remember when I gave you this promise ring?"

Maria smiled and slowly nodded, and Edmund continues, "Well, it is time to make that promise a reality."

Maria's eyes widened when Edmund momentarily let go of her hands. He then pulls out a small velvet ring box, which causes the audience to buzz with sudden excitement. He opened the box as he got down on one knee and causing Maria to let out an audible gasp. He continued, "Miss Maria Santos, I cannot imagine living the rest of my life without you. Will do the honors in becoming my wife, will you marry me?"

Completely caught off guard, Maria took a few minutes to recover from the sudden shock to her system. When Maria saw Edmund get down on one knee, she took a step backward and let out an audible gasp. Seeing the love of her life on one knee made the proposal all the more real. Her boyfriend of three years, the guy who she has been in love with since their first meeting and had helped her completely heal her broken heart, had asked her the most crucial question.

She then answered as loud as she could because she wanted everyone to hear her answer, "Yes, a definite yes; Edmund Grey, I will marry you!"

Her fellow graduates and the commencement crowd all cheered deafeningly after Maria gave her response while Edmund removed the promise ring but instantly slid a one-carat pear-shaped diamond-accented 14K Yellow gold ring on her finger and got up and gave

Maria an amorous hug and a sweet kiss and then spins her around.

After the commencement ended, Maria got congratulations from all around: her sorority sisters and other former classmates. Kimberly and Collen surrounded her with a monstrous hug, and Kimberly saying, "Congratulations, girl! I am so happy for you!"

Right then Kimberly said, "I want to see the ring!"

Maria obliged. When Kimberly saw the ring she exclaimed, "Wow! That is huge!" said Kimberly when she saw the diamond.

"Yeah, no kidding!" commented Colleen and Kimberly at the same time, causing all of them to let out a burst of laughter.

Maria grinned broadly when she suddenly asked, "Colleen and Kimberly, I have something I want to ask you."

Her two friends looked, Maria attentively waiting for her to continue. Maria looked at them and said, "Kimberly and Collen, you two have been my closest friends since the start of college. I would like you and Colleen to be my bridesmaids."

Kimberly was caught off guard when Maria asked her. When she got her voice back, she replied, "Of course, girl I would be so honored, thank you."

Maria turned to Julia and asked, "Jules will be my maid of honor?"

Julia's eyes bugged out she heard Maria's request. Julia was the one who manages to say something after. "Oh, sis, I am honored to be a part of your bridal party to stand next to you on your special day."

Maria felt a tug on her graduation gown and heard a little voice call out, “What about me sissy?”

Maria looked down and smiled at her baby sister Rosa who asked with an adorable smile on sweet face. Maria kneeled down to Rosa’s level. She picked Rosa up and as tickled her she said in a funny voice, “You my baby sissy will be my beautiful flower girl.”

After giggle, Rosa replied, “Yay!”

After the graduation celebration held in her, Kimberly, and Colleen's honor, the two love birds are left for alone time.

As they contentedly snuggled on the couch for a while, Maria spoke up. "Edmund sweetie, I think we need to pick we are going to pick a date so we can get the planning started and don't worry, you will have your say in the planning process. I promise."

Edmund looked at his stunning fiancée and said, "Okay, do you have a date in mind?"

Maria pondered and said, "Well, you know the next step for me is the police academy, and I think we should get married sometime before the end of this year."

Edmund asked, "Hmmm, how about the thirty-first of December? I know how much your mom loves to prepare for Thanksgiving and Christmas. This way, we have time to plan and time for her to prepare for the feast."

Maria looked at Edmund and saw nothing but love and compassion in his eyes. "I love the day you picked. So, the thirty-first of December, it is. And this way, we can have two weeks to ourselves and still make back in time for our first Christmas Eve and Day as a married couple."

With that, their initial plans for their wedding were made. They both look forward to the start of their impending marriage and new chapter in their lives. They know that they would be together forever, no matter what.

Epilogue: Fifty Years Later, December 2039

Their time together had flown by in an instant. After Maria finished med school, she had been hired at Pine Valley Hosptial by Doctor Joe Martin, who was then the current Chief of Staff. There had bumps in the road, many, many bumps, infertility, the adoption, and finally having a baby only to be thought dead but returned alive. The most painful was how Edmund thought Maria was killed when she was wedged on the part of a plane that fell over a cliff. Years later, he had married Brooke English only for an amnesiac Maria to return. After her memory fully returned, they continued to stick together. This was especially true after Edmund was shot. Maria was with him every step of the way. After a near-fatal blow to the head that almost caused Edmund his life, they decided it was time to leave Pine Valley. They moved to California, joining the rest of the family, including Haley, Mateo, Enzo, Isabella, and Rosa.

Now they were in Las Vegas, celebrating their fiftieth wedding anniversary. Edmund was now eight-two, and Maria was seventy-two. While Edmund had all white hair, Maria was still as stunning as the first day he met her. Edmund supports himself with a cane while holding his wife's hand as they stand at the altar.

When it came time, Edmund recited his vow. "Baby, I had promised you before when first got married that we are here renewing our vows in Vegas and here are in front of our kids and grandkids renewing our love. Fifty-five years ago, I first set eyes on you in that lecture hall at Texas State University at San Marcos. I felt something ignited in me. I knew I need to get to know that beautiful young woman. While we were together for one summer, it was the best time of my life.

During our marriage, we have had many ups and downs. I know you were hurting from a breakup; I was there for you. We struggled to have our family, but then came Sammy and Maddie. When I thought I lost you the first time, I thought I couldn't make through, but with our kids and family and friends, I made it."

Looking at their children and grandkids, and he said, "Sammy and Maddie, you along with our grandchildren Jenna, Isabella, Joshua, and Hector are the lights in our lives."

Looking at Maria and said, "My love for you has grown exponentially and will continue to grow forever and always. Where we go. I hope that we can continue our travels."

Maria choked up and began her vow. "Wow, Edmund. You said everything I planned on saying. I will keep mine short. I was unsure when we first met if I was ready to start dating again, especially after my heartbreak. You helped me heal my broken heart. You were the consummate man who was loving and gentle with me and didn't push. Well, we did have our challenges we overcame it and became stronger. With our kids and grandkids here, I promise to be with you for all of eternity."

Indeed, their meeting had led them to be forever beloved.

A/N 3: Thanks for reading Forever Beloved. Reviews are appreciated!

[ofsupernovcs]

"Your welcome. I hope you don't have to deal with this everyday." Nova said in a concerned tone. She couldn't imagine being haggled like that. She was lucky being an essential worker to not be as much. Nova chuckled in response. "There's a lot of cells that end with cyte I'll tell you that." Nova said feeling comfortable with Bonnie.

Nova's grin widened hearing that. "Whose your friend? Does she work in the hospital here?" Nova asked taking note of the other's prescence. There was a happy clap. "I feel like I need someone to help me with that too."

"Science is a great field to be in. There's always new discoveries to be made in the field." There was a wide grin on her features. "But what is occult studies?" Nova asked curiously. "I want don't want to assume out of respect of your former field."

"And what made you change?" She asked. Knowing her own father made her change her field to premed it's always sad to not have people follow their dreams and majors.

Bonnie wasn’t certain that she had ever been referred to as an honored guest before, but she wasn’t about to argue against it. Her brow piqued within interest, head tilting as she watched Nova take control over the situation and she had to consider herself impressed. 

The witch closed the book that she had been grading from and as Nova mentioned being an heiress a smirk played against the corners of her lips as finally the hunter retreated.

“That was completely worth it just to see the look on his face. Thank you, by the way.” Bonnie watched as Nova pulled the textbook from her bag and with a soft laugh she shook her head, “that’s too kind, but I’ve got this handled. You on the other hand, have your work cut out because the pathophysiology of sepsis is no easy read.”

Bonnie’s smile remained as she offered an explanation “my best friend is a doctor and I had the joys of writing up the flash cards for her.” The witch leaned her elbow against the table, resting her cheek against her hand "that's me" she tapped the front of the workbook with a soft sigh "formerly, occult studies, now just regular old science."

[elvisabutler]

eros

summary: he was a frat boy. you were not a sorority girl. could i make it any more obvious. or how you fall for a frat boy and you two finally actually get it on but not necessarily in the way both of you intended. fandom: austin butler rating: m pairing: austin butler x female reader word count: 1716 warnings: talking shit on fraternities and sororities. mild insecurity. talk of disastrous dates. coming untouched. coming in pants. handjobs. implied p in v sex. a touch ( okay maybe a bit more than a touch ) of sub austin. impatient horny college people. author’s note: so as @blurredcolour can attest to i meant for this to be a touching little piece about how these two had sex for the first time and he sort of defied her expectations and all this nice romantic stuff. it's why i called this piece eros. yeah, then i started writing it and well, it's still romantic and sweet? but i also had the three people who saw bits before i posted forget how to breathe so oopsies. as always comments and reblogs and hearing your thoughts are my lifeblood so feel free to scream at me in dms or asks or in the comments. i'll eat it up and write like a woman possessed i swear. beyond that, if you want to be on my taglist fill out the form here. i might just make a tumblr post for it too but we'll see.

If anyone were to have told you half a year ago that you'd be head over heels with a boy who's in a fraternity, you'd have laughed. You'd have told them that they really should brush up on their comedy skills because there was no way you would do that. Not after every aggravation you had with them. Not after every class where one of them popped up with some stupid remark that had you wanting to deck them in the face and not after knowing that just because they had gotten into some exclusive club they got a leg up on other people. Maybe it's true that's how the world worked but it didn't mean you'd have to like it. Then you properly met Austin. You got to know this stupid premed who minors in theater of all things and cares so deeply for his friends and for other people that it threatens to choke you sometimes when you think about it.

He's not perfect and he makes stupid jokes that you swat him on the arm for and spreads himself just a little too thin but he's yours and heaven help you, you're his. It's too early to be thinking about forever, you think, but the idea doesn't terrify you as much as it should. The idea of being with him as he goes through med school and as you complete your own schooling and go into the workforce is almost comforting. The idea of seeing him with a child that's a small mix of the two of you doesn't immediately make you run for the hills. The idea of him in your life, in your bed and in your apartment feels like an inevitability that comforts you more than anything else.

Of course, all of this—you like to think— might depend on whether or not Austin feels the same way. It depends on whether or not maybe tonight you can convince him that you'd honestly like to have sex with him. The circumstances are right, your roommate won't be home tonight at all and the house is fine and in capable hands. The two of you even have a date where for once Austin plans on cleaning up for something other than a frat function or a school related function. There's no reason he shouldn't want to unless he doesn't actually want you that way.

In hindsight, you don't know why you were ever concerned as you find yourself up against your bedroom door, head tapping it lightly as Austin's hands move up your sides while his lips attack your neck.

"Austin-" you whine, as one of his hands moves to your chest, trying to free your breasts from your dress and instead just managing to squeeze them. "You— The dress, we gotta undo the dress."

Your words are clearer and said with more clarity that you thought was possible given Austin's wandering hands. Someone— one of the two of you has to keep a clear head— if only so that you can both enjoy this. So that Austin doesn't try and rip your dress or your panties or god forbid your bra to get at your body in his impatience.

Austin forces his face away from your neck and groans a little at how there's already a bruise forming from his lips, how your skin is just that little bit darker where his lips had sucked and where his teeth had nipped. You were his girlfriend and you loved him. You loved every single part of him— the part that had to work so hard in classes and at work, the part that missed his mom in the middle of the night and would call you tearing up, the part that cared about his people so deeply that he'd murder for him— they were all what made him the person you wanted to be with and that was a heady thing to know. It set a fire ablaze inside of him that threatened to overtake him and bring you with him. You were his girlfriend and here you were in a gorgeous dress still with him after what was hands down the most disastrous date he's ever had with another person. The reservation was at the wrong time, the restaurant ran out of half the food to make their dishes and there was not one but two couples breaking up next to you. Not to mention the way the uber had broken down mid trip and how the wine had spilled on his jacket ruining it until he could manage to get it dry cleaned.

Yet you were still here and in his arms and willing and wanting to have sex with him. No— you were willing to make love to him the same way he wanted to make love to you. He wants to take his time laying you out across your bed, watching your face as he enters you and watching how your face contorts when he plays with your clit while he's inside of you. He wants to see your face in ecstasy and hear your mewls of pleasure in his ear. Your nails would mark him up, drag lines down his back from how overwhelmed you are and he could see just what he does to you.

"I love you," he whispers with a reverence you weren't prepared to hear in contrast to his hands trailing fire across your skin. "I know we say it all the time but— I— I'm so thankful you gave me that shot, babe. So thankful you let me clean your car. You could have told me no—" His words are cut off with a low groan as he feels your hand undoing his belt and sticking your hand in his pants with a speed that startles him. "Babe I'm—"

"You're being—ah— very romantic, Aus. I love it— but I'm ruining my underwear and I want to see you come right now." The words that come out of your mouth have both you and Austin pausing for just a moment because while you can be startlingly blunt that particular combination of words is a bit much for even you.

"O-Okay," he manages to stutter out in response, the blues of his eyes completely overwhelmed by his pupil. "In my pants?"

Your chest heaves at the idea, at the implication that Austin would let you bring him off like this and come in his pants. It's a rush of power you aren't expecting and that you figure no one would expect. You bite at your lip, watching as Austin's eyes are glued to them before you finally answer. "Would you?"

It's Austin's turn to have his head tilt back, exposing the long length of his neck to you as you move to nip and kiss at it. You pray that he bruises there, that there's a hickey or two for everyone to see he's yours. Against your lips you feel the rumble of his voice, rough as a gravel road. "For you? Yeah. Do anything for you."

A smirk crosses your lips as you finally pull away from his neck, noting the red bit of his skin and giggling softly. Your hand twists and your thumb brushes against the tip of his cock as you just look at Austin, marveling at how he keeps ahold of you, keeps you pinned to the door even as his breathing shifts and as he bites his lips to keep quiet. "Austin," you croon, "wanna hear it. Want everyone to know I got the hottest frat boy in my apartment. That he's gonna come undone because I'm jerking him off. Want everyone to know you're all mine. That you're so—"

Austin's lips slam against yours, causing a messy kiss of clattering teeth and bitten lips in order to get you to stop talking. Even with the distraction your hand picks up the pace, moving in a way you're pretty sure Austin enjoys as he whines and whimpers into your kiss. You could die happy hearing these noises. You want to hear these noises every second you can if he'll let you. He pulls away, trying to put some distance between you two because he meant to come during sex on your bed and not like this. Not like a horny little teenager. You deserved more.

"Babe— gotta— I'm gonna—" He can't finish off the thoughts though and your hand keeps moving as you clench your thighs together the best you can.

"Austin, baby please. Do it for me?" You flutter your eyelashes and pout in what is one of— if not the dirtiest trick you could use before you feel his body curl just so and tense up just enough that you know he's gone before you feel the warmth of his come covering your hand. If you're honest with yourself you can feel your pussy clenching around nothing and you wonder if perhaps you're in the same boat without being touched in the same way.

It takes you and Austin a moment to catch your breath, staring at each other in a bit of shock before he finally says something, moving to make it so he isn't pinning you against the door. "That— I was supposed to have sex with you not—"

You cut him off with a nuzzle to his nose, watching as his face scrunches up just a little. "You still can. I still want you to. Might have gotten off last night to the idea. Was hoping you would tonight actually."

Austin swallows and watches how you shift in place, still wanting more friction. "Yeah? Want me to lay you out on the bed and make you come till you cry?" He licks his lips at the picture he's inadvertently painting and you can't help but mirror him.

"I'd like to see you try, Butler," you answer with a smile, teasing him with the old name you used to call him in anger. "It'll take a while."

"I've got all night," he shrugs before his eyes move and catch on the yoga mat by the door. "And you're pretty flexible. Lead the way to your fate, babe."

You get a call about a noise complaint from your landlord the next day.

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