#sand-based pool filters

[poolrestorationme]

How to Clean Cartridge and Sand Pool Filters In Perth?

Keeping your pool's water clean is mandatory and your ethical responsibility as well. This can be assured quickly by using high-quality pool filters in Perth. Another responsibility is keeping the pool filter clean because only a clean pool filter will generate crystal clear and clean water. This blog post focuses on the importance of keeping pool filters clean, and then we will also learn some steps to clean a pool filter.

Why It Is Necessary To Keep The Pool Filter Clean?

Experts of pool filters services say that the average life of a filter is around two years, depending on how it is used and how much maintenance is offered. Several factors contribute to decreasing the lifespan of these pool filters, and some can trim this life to almost half. Keeping pool filters clean means cutting the amount of debris and dirt in a swimming pool and making it more pleasurable and ideal for swimming.

How To Clean Pool Filters In Perth?

Cleaning pool filters involve different steps used for different types of pools. Let us understand the method of cleaning cartridge pool filters.

How To Clean Your Cartridge Pool Filter?

Vendors of pool service in Perth say that cartridge-based pool filters are the easiest to clean and maintain. The reason is they require deep cleaning just once or twice every year. However, if the pool is large and the pool filter is used more than usual, more maintenance would be required.

Experts perform this by turning 'off' the pool pumps in Perth and the air relief valve. This will remove all the trapped air, and then they release the mechanism holding everything together. They remove the top filter and set the cartridge aside to clean easily using a garden hose or a cleaner. Alternatively, let it soak overnight using a cleaning mixture and then rinse properly before fitting it back.

How To Clean Your Sand Filter?

Experts of pool filter services consider cleaning sand filters as the most formidable challenge, as they require backwashing or cleaning using very light chemicals. The first warning sign of your sand filter requiring cleaning is the increasing PSI of your pool. Similarly, if the water has started looking a bit cloudy, you must understand that your pool filters in Perth require some cleaning.

Experts of pool filter services will need a hose and a cleaning agent to start backwashing to remove all the debris. Before starting, they will turn the pump off and the valve towards the filter. They then turn the pump back 'on' for a few seconds to ensure that the cleaner reaches the filter area. Once the cleaner has achieved its destination, the pump is turned 'off' and left overnight.

This is followed by repeating backwashing again to remove all the debris and dirt. Once it is confirmed that the sand-based pool filters in Perth are completely cleaned, they will turn the system back 'on' and make it clean your pool again.

[itwillbethescarletwitch]

Coming Home

Bob Floyd x Fem!Reader

a Top Gun x Suits fanfic 

INT. THE HARD DECK – NIGHT

The Navy bar is alive.

The jukebox hums an old country song, the low buzz of conversation blending with the clink of glasses and the occasional shout from a pool game in the corner. Neon lights flicker against surfboards on the walls. There’s sand tracked onto the wooden floors. Warm. Familiar. Chaotic in the best way.

A group of aviators crowds one of the high-top tables — loud, tanned, confident. And right on the edge of them sits LT. ROBERT “BOB” FLOYD — posture polite, drink barely touched, phone in hand. Glasses slightly crooked.

He’s scrolling.

BOB (tired sigh, under breath) Left. Left. Absolutely not. Left.

HANGMAN (JAKE) (grabbing a beer, grinning) You judging Tinder profiles like you’re interviewing for NASA?

BOB (defensive) I’m just… being careful. It’s a jungle out there, man.

PHOENIX (sitting beside him) Careful? Bob, you’ve swiped left on everyone. At this point, the algorithm thinks you're a priest.

COYOTE (chiming in) He's not a priest, he's just emotionally stable — which is apparently a red flag in 2025.

Laughter erupts around the table. Bob smiles, embarrassed but unbothered. He scrolls again.

ON SCREEN: A stream of profiles. Filtered beach selfies. Bios that say “just looking for fun 😏.” A dog photo. Another gym mirror shot.

Swipe. Swipe. Swipe.

Then he stops.

The screen lights up with your profile.

Photo One: Laughing mid-bite of pizza.

Photo Two: You, sun-kissed and windswept at a beach, eyes squinting.

Photo Three: Reading on a park bench, unaware of the camera.

Bio: “Not here for games. Just looking for someone real.”

Time freezes a little.

Bob leans in.

BOB (softly) Huh.

PHOENIX (eyebrow raised) Uh-oh. We’ve got a pause.

HANGMAN Let’s see. Show us.

BOB (reading) “Not here for games. Just looking for someone real.” (silence) ...I like that.

COYOTE She’s cute. Chill energy. You swiping right?

Bob hesitates. He’s not the type to get swept up by a picture. But this—this feels different. He lingers a second longer. His thumb hovers.

Then — SWIPE RIGHT.

A small animation plays. “You’ve swiped right. Waiting for a match…”

Bob stares. Hopeful. Quiet.

PHOENIX You only swiped right once tonight?

BOB (nods) Only one that felt... real.

HANGMAN (dramatic) Well, damn. If this works, I’m giving the toast at your wedding.

Bob pockets his phone, cheeks a little red. He sips his drink and forces himself to relax, but every now and then he glances at his phone.

Waiting. Just in case.

———

 INT. MIRAMAR BASE GYM – NEXT MORNING

Weight machines clank. Rhythmic grunts echo across the gym. Bob’s in the corner doing curls, earbuds in, shirt damp with sweat.

Hangman and Coyote are arguing over pull-up form nearby.

Bob’s phone buzzes on the bench beside him.

He picks it up mid-rep, towel slung over his neck. A Tinder notification lights up the screen.

ON SCREEN: "It's a Match! Y/N swiped right on you."

He freezes.

BOB (whispers) Oh my God.

HANGMAN (looks up) What?

BOB SHE SWIPED RIGHT. SHE SWIPED RIGHT.

PHOENIX WHAT?!

All heads turn. Bob’s practically glowing.

COYOTE TEXT HER. IMMEDIATELY.

BOB I—what do I say? What do I even say??

Another notification buzzes.

ON SCREEN: "Y/N sent you a message."

BOB OH MY GOD. SHE TEXTED FIRST.

HANGMAN

(reads over his shoulder) “Did we just become best friends?” … Bro. Marry her.

BOB I think I might.

COYOTE You gonna answer her or just stare at the screen like you’re reading coordinates?

BOB I don’t want to sound lame.

HANGMAN Buddy, you’re in a compression shirt drinking a protein shake that smells like pancake batter. The bar is on the floor. Text her back.

Bob exhales sharply. Starts typing, fingers flying over the screen, still sitting on the bench with gym sweat drying and his heart absolutely racing.

BOB: Only if you like Step Brothers references and good playlists.

A beat.

Message sent.

Phone buzzes again — immediately.

Y/N I like terrible movies, great playlists, and people who text back within 3–5 business minutes.

The guys see his face light up like a damn Christmas tree.

BOB Oh she’s good.

HANGMAN You’re in love already, aren’t you?

Bob doesn’t deny it. Just grins, eyes glued to his phone as he types out the next message.

BOB: You might be my dream girl.

COYOTE And boom, he’s a goner.

———

INT. Y/N’S APARTMENT – NIGHT

You’re curled up in your favorite hoodie, legs tucked under you on the couch. Your wine glass sits on the coffee table. You’re scrolling through your texts when the screen lights up with a FaceTime notification.

ON SCREEN: Incoming FaceTime – “Bob (Tinder Guy 💀)”

You pause. Inhale. Then tap “ACCEPT.”

The screen shifts — and there he is. BOB. Sitting on his bed, propped against a headboard, hair still damp from a shower, white T-shirt slightly wrinkled. His glasses are on, pushed up nervously as he fumbles with his camera angle.

BOB (straightening up) Hi.

YOU (smiling) Hi yourself.

BOB You’re not a voice modulator catfish. That’s a good start.

YOU And you’re not an AI deepfake. Impressive.

They both laugh. The awkwardness starts to melt.

YOU So... FaceTiming a girl from Tinder on a weeknight. Is this your usual protocol?

BOB (laughs, soft shrug) Not usually. But you kind of had good FaceTime energy.

YOU That’s a thing?

BOB I mean… yeah. You can tell a lot from how someone texts. You were funny. Smart. Slightly chaotic.

YOU Slightly?

BOB For now. Jury’s still out.

A beat. You shift, pulling a blanket over your legs.

YOU So... what do you do when you’re not charming strangers on the internet?

BOB I’m in the Navy. Naval aviator, technically.

YOU (eyebrows lifting) Oh. That’s kind of intense.

BOB (chuckling) Sometimes. Mostly it’s early mornings, checklists, flight drills, and getting mocked by guys who think they’re in Top Gun.

YOU (pulling a face) Wait—do people actually do the whole “need for speed” thing?

BOB Some more than others.

YOU Tell me you don’t wear aviators indoors.

BOB Only when I’m being peer-pressured. (pause, playful smile) I’m more of a “nerd with a pilot’s license” type.

YOU (laughs) I can work with that.

A silence settles — not awkward. Just soft. Real.

BOB What about you? What’s your “I swear I’m not intimidating but I kind of am” job?

YOU Paralegal. Law firm downtown. Three years in. I know where all the bodies are buried, which is weirdly reassuring.

BOB Mental note: don’t make you mad.

YOU You say that like you plan on sticking around.

Bob hesitates. Blinks. Then smiles — not cocky. Just honest.

BOB I wouldn’t be FaceTiming you if I didn’t want to.

Your breath catches just slightly. You try to play it off.

YOU Well... I don’t hate this.

BOB Me neither.

There’s a knock outside his room.

BOB (to someone offscreen) One sec—yeah? (pause, muffled voice offscreen) Yeah I’ll be there in a minute.

BOB (back to you) Sorry, roommate’s being dramatic. Something about stealing his socks. Long story.

YOU Tell him I said hi.

BOB I would, but you don’t know him. Yet.

You smile at that — the “yet” lingers.

YOU So... same time tomorrow?

BOB Absolutely.

You hang up first. He just stares at the blank screen for a second, smiling like a boy with a secret.

———

SMALL COASTAL RESTAURANT – NIGHT

The sun has just dipped below the ocean, leaving streaks of pink and violet in the sky. The restaurant patio is cozy — wooden tables, twinkling string lights, and the sound of waves breaking just beyond the dunes.

Bob and Y/N sit at a small corner table. He’s in a light button-up, sleeves rolled. You’re wearing a sundress that flutters in the breeze. There’s a little candle flickering between you, untouched drinks in front of both of you.

YOU Okay, your turn. Last question: if you had to eat one thing for the rest of your life?

BOB (peeking over his glass) Easy. Grilled cheese. But like—the diner kind. Greasy. Perfectly wrong.

YOU Not navy-approved?

BOB Definitely not. But if I die in a jet, I want my last meal to have been a bad-for-me grilled cheese.

You smile. But there’s a flicker in your expression — “die in a jet.” He notices.

BOB (gently) That’s... kind of what I wanted to talk to you about.

You straighten. Not defensive, just listening. Softly alert.

YOU Okay...

BOB (carefully) I know this is still new. Us. Whatever this is becoming. (pause) But I don’t want to let it grow without you knowing what comes with it.

You fold your hands, nod for him to keep going.

BOB I love my job. I love flying. But it’s not exactly... stable. I can be deployed with barely any warning. Sometimes it’s weeks. Sometimes months. And yeah — there’s always a chance I might not come back.

You don’t say anything. Just let it settle.

He watches you. Nervous, honest, trying not to sound dramatic but not sugarcoating it either.

BOB (quiet) I don’t want to lead you into something serious if you’re not sure you can handle that.

You lean back in your chair, looking out toward the ocean. You let the silence breathe for a second. Then you meet his eyes again.

YOU Let me tell you what I am sure of.

His eyebrows lift — listening.

YOU I’m sure I haven’t laughed this much in forever. I’m sure that I check my phone every five minutes to see if you’ve texted. I’m sure that I already memorized the way you say my name.

Bob swallows.

YOU (softer now) And I’m sure that... even if it hurts, I’d rather take the risk of missing you — than risk never getting to have you at all.

Bob exhales, like he’d been holding his breath without realizing it.

BOB You say things like that and expect me not to fall in love with you?

You smile, eyes warm.

YOU I’m saying things like that because I might already be halfway there.

Neither of you moves for a second.

Then he reaches across the table and takes your hand — no words needed. His fingers wrap gently around yours like they’ve always fit there.

The candle flickers. The music plays. And the ocean just keeps breathing behind you.

INT. Y/N’S BEDROOM – LATER THAT NIGHT

You close your door behind you, lean against it, and just smile to yourself in the quiet. That my-life-is-changing kind of smile.

Your phone buzzes.

BOB: Still thinking about you.

You reply instantly.

YOU: I never stopped.

———

MONTH 1

INT. COFFEE SHOP – EARLY MORNING

Your first in-person date. Not dinner. Not drinks. Just coffee and croissants at a café tucked on a quiet street. Bob’s early. So are you.

You spot him before he spots you — sitting at a corner table, fidgeting with the cup sleeve, reading a folded-up map of the coastline like it’s more interesting than it is.

He looks up. Sees you. Smiles like he’s been waiting forever.

BOB

(nervous, sincere)

Hi. I’m really glad you’re here.

⸻

INT. MUSEUM – AFTERNOON

Date three. The aviation wing of a science museum. You expected him to geek out — and he does — but he also listens to every word you say about your favorite exhibits like he’s storing the information for later.

BOB

(pointing)

That one’s a Boeing F/A-18. But I like the way you said “shiny death machine” better.

You grin.

⸻

INT. PHONE SCREEN – LATE NIGHT

FaceTime calls before bed. He’s brushing his teeth. You’re still in makeup. He shows you the flannel sheets on his bed. You tease him about them.

YOU

Are those… moose?

BOB

Listen, they’re festive. Don’t slander my winter bedding.

⸻

MONTH 2

INT. BOB’S APARTMENT – NIGHT

It happens on a quiet night. No build-up, no tension. Just two people who’ve been falling for weeks. You’re in his T-shirt, sitting cross-legged on his couch, fingers brushing the rim of your wine glass.

He leans over. Kisses you once — slow and certain — like a question he already knows the answer to.

INT. BOB’S BEDROOM – CONTINUOUS

His room smells like cedar and detergent. You kiss as he undresses you with gentle hands, warm eyes, and pauses that ask, Are you sure? Is this okay? Do you want me the way I want you?

When he finally sinks into you, it’s like he exhales for the first time in days.

BOB

(barely above a whisper)

God, you feel… you feel like home.

His voice never stops — not dirty, just reverent.

BOB

You’re so soft. So beautiful.

You’re doing so good, sweetheart.

I’ve got you, I’ve got you.

Fingers laced with yours. His forehead pressed to yours as he rocks into you, slow and steady. You’ve never been looked at like this. Not like you’re just sexy — like you’re sacred.

Afterward, you lie chest to chest. He murmurs something into your hair.

BOB

You wreck me, you know that?

You do now.

⸻

A WEEK LATER

EXT. THE HARD DECK – NIGHT

You walk in with him, nerves humming like a second skin. The squad’s already rowdy. Your heels click louder than the jukebox.

BOB

(whispers)

Just hold my hand. It’s not a firing squad.

It kind of feels like one. But Phoenix hugs you. Hangman makes a dumb joke. Coyote clinks your glass.

They tease Bob mercilessly. But you? You survive. Barely.

YOU

(breathing out)

That was… intense.

BOB

(teasing)

You passed initiation. They like you.

YOU

How can you tell?

BOB

Nobody grilled you about Top Gun. That’s real love.

⸻

MONTH 3

INT. NAVAL BASE – LUNCHTIME

You walk across the tarmac in kitten heels, holding a tray of sandwiches, brownies, and napkins labeled with names in your handwriting. Bob watches you like you hung the damn sun.

Cyclone eats two brownies. Maverick compliments your brisket wrap.

Phoenix pulls you aside.

PHOENIX

You’re really doing this, huh?

YOU

What?

PHOENIX

The Bob thing. You’re all in.

YOU

Yeah. I guess I am.

⸻

MONTH 4

INT. PEARSON HARDMAN – CONFERENCE ROOM

Bob shows up unannounced. Shirt tucked in. Flowers in hand. You’re in a pencil skirt with six unread emails and a migraine.

He offers you the coffee he brought. Exactly how you like it.

BOB

It’s probably illegal how good you look yelling at paralegals.

YOU

Don’t flirt with me in front of the interns.

BOB

You love it.

You do.

⸻

MONTH 5

INT. GROCERY STORE – NIGHT

You and Bob argue over which pasta shape is superior. You defend penne like it’s a constitutional right. He mocks bowtie pasta like it owes him money.

You settle on both.

Later, you eat in front of the TV with your feet in his lap and marinara on your cheek.

BOB

(smiling)

Can’t believe I’m gonna marry someone who disrespects fusilli like that.

YOU

(mouth full)

I thought we weren’t talking about marriage yet.

BOB

We’re not. Just saying. Hypothetically.

⸻

MONTH 6

INT. BEDROOM – NIGHT

It’s thunderstorming. You’re wrapped around each other, half asleep. The lightning flashes, and you instinctively reach for him.

He’s already there.

BOB

(softly)

You okay?

YOU

Yeah. Just hate the sound of thunder.

He shifts closer. Kisses the edge of your jaw.

BOB

I’ve got you, baby. Go back to sleep.

———

MONTH 7

EXT. WEDDING VENUE – NIGHT

It’s a warm night. String lights glow over a vineyard, and someone’s playing an acoustic cover of “Can’t Help Falling in Love.” You and Bob are slow dancing, slightly tipsy, his hands warm on your waist.

BOB

(tucking his head against yours)

This your first time as a wedding plus-one?

YOU

Yeah. And my feet hurt.

He grins, pulls you even closer so you’re barely swaying now.

BOB

I’d carry you, but I’m trying to impress the bride’s family.

YOU

Sweetheart, you’re a pilot. They already think you’re cool.

BOB

(quietly)

You think I’m cool?

YOU

I think you’re mine.

A little later, someone tosses the bouquet. It sails high — lands just behind you. Not close enough to catch, but Bob’s eyes find you anyway.

Soft. Steady.

YOU

Don’t even start.

BOB

Didn’t say a word.

But his hand squeezes yours. Just a little.

⸻

MONTH 8

INT. YOUR APARTMENT – NIGHT

It starts small. A text that goes unanswered. A dinner you asked him to come to — a partner at your firm invited you both. Big opportunity. He doesn’t show.

No call. No apology.

You’re in the kitchen when he finally walks through the door, looking like he knows he messed up. He’s still in uniform. Exhausted. You’re still in the dress you wore — arms crossed, heels kicked off.

YOU

Don’t.

BOB

Just let me explain—

YOU

You didn’t even text me, Bob.

BOB

I got caught on base—everything ran long—I didn’t mean—

YOU

You didn’t try. I stood there. Alone. Trying to convince people that you were worth it.

He flinches. That’s the one that lands.

BOB

(quietly)

I am worth it.

YOU

Then act like it.

Silence swells between you. Angry. Heavy. You walk away before it explodes. He doesn’t stop you.

He sleeps on his couch that night.

But in the morning — he’s at your bedroom door. Coffee in one hand. The breakfast sandwich you like in the other.

He doesn’t ask to come in. Just looks at you with that soft, broken gaze.

BOB

I was scared I was letting you get too close.

And then I realized — I already did.

And now I’m more scared of losing you.

You let him in. To the room. To your arms. To your heart.

Again.

⸻

MONTH 9

EXT. NAVAL BASE – SUNSET

It’s a weekend. You show up without warning — with a cooler full of lemonade and a pie you baked at 11 PM the night before.

Bob sees you from across the tarmac and practically jogs over, smiling like you invented oxygen.

BOB

(to the squad)

That’s my girl.

Phoenix raises an eyebrow.

PHOENIX

Oh it’s official-official now?

BOB

(grinning)

Didn’t it already feel that way?

You sit in a folding chair with Bob behind you, arms looped around your waist, head resting on your shoulder as Hangman tells a story about a failed mission involving a jet, a goat, and an unfortunate communications blackout.

You laugh so hard your ribs hurt. Bob presses a kiss to your cheek mid-laugh like it’s instinct.

In that moment, you realize:

This is what safety feels like.

⸻

MONTH 10

INT. PEARSON HARDMAN – LATE NIGHT

You’re in your office, hair pinned back, sleeves rolled, chewing the end of a pen and surrounded by case files.

Bob shows up with takeout and a tired smile. He walks in like he’s done it a thousand times.

YOU

Is this allowed?

BOB

They gonna arrest me for loving a woman with a terrifying caseload?

YOU

Jessica might.

BOB

I’ll flirt my way out of it.

You’re laughing before you even look up.

He sits on the floor, back against the wall, flipping through a deposition.

BOB

(as the deponent)

“I plead the fifth… unless she’s single.”

YOU

You’re insane.

BOB

I’m yours.

You leave your desk and sit beside him on the floor. Lean into him like the weight of the day doesn’t exist when you’re in his arms.

⸻

MONTH 11

EXT. DOWNTOWN HOLIDAY MARKET – EVENING

You’re bundled in matching scarves. Bob is trying not to buy every handmade candle he smells. You’re sipping cider from a paper cup, cheeks flushed.

He keeps sneaking glances at you when you’re not looking.

BOB

(quietly)

You’re magic. You know that?

YOU

I’m cold and hungry and about to spend $30 on gingerbread soap.

BOB

(still staring)

Yeah. Magic.

You buy him socks that say “Nerds Make Better Lovers.”

He makes a show of wearing them the next time he strips in front of you.

BOB

(gesturing proudly)

Tell me these aren’t the sexiest things you’ve ever seen.

YOU

Please take them off immediately.

You don’t mean it.

⸻

MONTH 12

INT. YOUR BEDROOM – MORNING

You wake up in his arms. Sunlight filters through the blinds, painting stripes across his bare chest. His breathing is steady. One arm draped over your waist. His hand curled against your side like a promise.

You shift. He wakes. Smiles instantly.

BOB

Morning, pretty girl.

YOU

Morning, sap.

BOB

One year.

YOU

One whole year of you stealing my blankets.

BOB

One whole year of you stealing my hoodies.

YOU

I don’t regret a second.

BOB

Me neither.

INT. KITCHEN – LATER

You’re making pancakes. He wraps his arms around your waist, chin resting on your shoulder.

BOB

Can I give you something?

YOU

Is it edible?

He chuckles. Steps away. Comes back with a wrapped box.

Inside:

A framed photo of you both on the beach, taken by Phoenix. And behind it — a folded page from a notebook.

Your name, written at the top in his neat, anxious handwriting.

Underneath:

“You are the calm after every storm.

You are the reason I breathe softer.

You are the best part of every day.

And I’m in this. For real. For as long as you’ll have me.”

You press the letter to your chest. Look up at him with tears swimming.

YOU

You wrote this?

BOB

Started it six months ago.

Didn’t know when I’d give it to you.

But… today felt right.

You kiss him — long and full and full of gratitude.

The kind of kiss that says:

I’m here. I’m all in. I’m home.

———

INT. COASTAL RESTAURANT – NIGHT

The restaurant is dim and golden, tucked beside the ocean. The kind of place you only go to once in a while — where the candles flicker low and the waiters don’t rush you.

You’re in a soft silk dress, one he’s seen once before, on your fourth date. He remembered. You wore it again just for that reason.

Bob sits across from you in a light grey dress shirt, sleeves rolled to the forearm, top button undone. His glasses fog slightly every time he looks at you and smiles — which is often.

The waiter brings out dessert. A shared one. You don’t even like tiramisu that much, but Bob loves it and he eats around the cocoa-dusted corners you avoid.

BOB

You know what I was doing one year ago tonight?

YOU

(murmuring)

Avoiding women with gym selfies on Tinder?

BOB

(biting a grin)

And swiping right on a girl who was eating pizza in her first photo.

YOU

I was mid-bite. I looked deranged.

BOB

You looked like everything I didn’t know I needed.

That shuts you up for a second.

So you reach across the table, and he meets your hand halfway.

And when you whisper “I love you” across the flickering candlelight — he doesn’t say it back.

He squeezes your hand and says:

BOB

I already know. And I never take it for granted.

You don’t even wait for the check.

⸻

✦ INT. YOUR BEDROOM – LATER THAT NIGHT ✦

The lights are low. The moon spills silver across the hardwood floor. You’re straddling him on the bed — his hands on your hips, your mouth on his neck. You’re both half-undressed, breathless and too full of history to make this anything casual.

BOB

(softly, into your shoulder)

You make everything in me quiet.

YOU

Quiet?

BOB

Yeah. Like… peaceful. Still.

You kiss him like you want to memorize him.

When he finally presses into you — slow, deep, full — you hold his face in your hands like you’re afraid he might disappear.

BOB

(shaky exhale)

God, baby… I missed you and you were right here.

His praise never stops. Just murmured between kisses and gasps and stuttering thrusts.

BOB

You’re so good.

So soft.

So perfect like this.

Let me take my time with you, please.

He holds eye contact when you come. Doesn’t look away. Just says your name like it’s a prayer.

And when you finally collapse against his chest, warm and hazy and aching in the best way — that’s when he says it.

BOB

(quietly)

You know I leave in four weeks, right?

You sit up, fast — blanket pulled across your chest. Hair a mess. Lips parted. You stare at him like he just broke something precious.

YOU

Oh my god.

(quietly)

I forgot.

BOB

(sitting up behind you, kissing your shoulder)

I didn’t want to remind you tonight.

But I didn’t want to lie to you either.

You turn, crawl into his lap, hold his face.

YOU

How long again?

BOB

Ten months. Maybe a year. Depends on the mission.

YOU

(whispers)

That’s forever.

BOB

It’s not.

(pause)

But it’s gonna feel like it.

You go quiet. He holds you close.

Then:

BOB

Can I show you how much I’m going to miss you?

You nod. Mouth open but no words.

He kisses you deeper this time. Less careful. Still gentle, but needier. The kind of touch that says I don’t want to leave. I don’t want to forget how this feels.

Your back hits the mattress and he’s already between your legs again, whispering in your ear:

BOB

Tell me you’re mine. Just once more.

YOU

I’m yours.

BOB

Say it again. I want to remember how you sound when you say it.

He makes love to you slow. Not just to bring you there — to memorize you. To burn the feel of your thighs around his waist into his memory.

You ask for it. Whisper it against his mouth.

YOU

Little rougher this time.

BOB

You sure?

You guide his hand — place it softly against your throat. His fingers flex like he doesn’t trust himself.

But he holds you. Gentle. Secure. Not squeezing — just claiming.

BOB

You feel so good, baby. So warm.

I’m gonna dream about this for months.

You have no idea what you do to me.

You whimper into his mouth. He groans against your skin.

It’s almost sunrise now. You’re too tired to do anything except want each other. You lie on your side, legs tangled, and he pushes into you like it’s instinct — slow and messy and so damn emotional you feel your chest cave.

There’s no talking this time. Just soft moans. Sighs. The kind of closeness where nothing else matters.

Your fingers in his hair. His hand between your thighs.

His name on your lips like a lullaby.

He’s on top. Again.

Sweaty. Trembling. Nearly crying from how close he feels to you — how much it hurts already knowing he’ll have to say goodbye.

BOB

I love you.

I love you.

I love you.

I’ll say it until I’m blue in the face.

You cling to him. Arms around his back. Nails in his skin.

He kisses you through the final wave. Holds you so tight afterward you almost forget what’s coming.

You fall asleep against his chest, his dog tags warm between your breasts. His hand on your waist. His forehead against yours.

The room smells like skin and salt and something sacred.

Neither of you says it out loud.

But you’re both thinking it:

Please come back to me.

———

You fall asleep against his chest, his dog tags warm between your breasts. His hand on your waist. His forehead against yours.

The room smells like skin and salt and something sacred.

Neither of you says it out loud.

But you’re both thinking it:

Please come back to me.

———

EXT. NAVAL BASE – EARLY MORNING

The sun hasn’t even broken the horizon yet. The sky is still deep gray-blue, and the hangar lights cut through the dark like spotlights.

You pull up in his truck — quiet the whole drive. Your fingers haven’t left his hand since you parked.

Outside, the squad’s already gathered. Phoenix is leaning against her car with a thermos. Coyote’s saying something to Payback. Hangman’s pacing — sunglasses on even though it’s barely light out.

When they see you walking up with Bob, they quiet down a little.

No one says it out loud. But this one’s different. A year is different.

INT. HANGAR – MOMENTS LATER

Everyone’s lingering, waiting for the call to load in. You stand beside Bob with your hands shoved into the sleeves of his hoodie, your body half-tucked under his arm.

BOB

(softly, trying to tease)

You could still hide in my duffel bag.

YOU

I’d slow you down.

BOB

Worth it.

He kisses your forehead. Lingers there. Doesn’t move.

PHOENIX

(approaching gently)

I’ll take care of him.

YOU

(teary smile)

He’s the softest one here. You better.

Phoenix pulls you into a hug and whispers something only you hear:

PHOENIX

He talks about you like you hung the stars.

You’re already tearing up.

Coyote hugs you next — full-body, warm, brotherly. No words. Just there.

And then Hangman.

JAKE

(sniffling, holding it together)

You call me if you need anything. Anything at all.

YOU

Jake—

JAKE

(swallowing)

He’s my best friend. You’re his whole world. That means… you’re kinda mine too.

And when he hugs you, he smells like cologne and jet fuel and salty tears. You bury your face in his jacket.

BOB PULLS YOU AWAY LAST.

He takes both your hands. Looks at you like he’s memorizing you.

BOB

No matter where I go, no matter what I’m doing…

If I get five minutes to breathe, I’m thinking about you.

YOU

Promise?

BOB

I’d never lie to you.

(pause)

I’ll write. Every day. I don’t care if it’s a sentence or six pages. You’ll hear from me.

YOU

And I’ll write back.

BOB

You’d better.

You let out a wet laugh. Then a quiet sob.

Then you’re clinging to him. Hard.

He doesn’t pull away. He hugs you so tight it feels like he’s trying to bring you with him.

BOB

(sinking into your ear)

I love you, baby. I love you so much it hurts.

YOU

Please come back to me.

BOB

I’m already counting down.

Over his shoulder, a call comes: time to go.

Bob’s jaw clenches. He doesn’t move.

YOU

Go. You have to.

BOB

(blinking fast)

I don’t want to.

YOU

(softly)

Neither do I.

He kisses you once. Then again. Then again — fast and messy and desperate.

BOB

Last one. One more.

He presses your forehead to his. Takes a breath. Steps back.

He doesn’t look back when he walks away. Not because he doesn’t want to.

Because if he does — he won’t be able to go.

You stay there. Watching. Until the transport doors close.

Until you can’t see his silhouette anymore.

Until your knees go weak and Phoenix catches you, whispering,

PHOENIX

He’ll come back. I swear it.

———

INT. BOB’S QUARTERS – NIGHT (MONTH 1)

The barracks are quiet. Dim. A fan spins overhead. Bob sits on the edge of his cot, writing by flashlight with the world muted around him.

He’s wearing the navy blue workout tee you used to steal.

A folded photo of you is propped against his rucksack: you in his hoodie, holding your cat, mid-laugh.

LETTER (V.O. – BOB)

Hey, sweetheart. It’s only been a few days and I’m already losing it.

The bed’s too cold. I keep waking up and reaching for you.

Don’t worry — I haven’t cried. Yet.

(Okay, maybe once. Shut up.)

Tell me you’re still watching trash TV and drinking your wine.

He folds the letter. Tucks it into an envelope. Kisses the back like he’s done it before.

⸻

INT. YOUR LIVING ROOM – NIGHT (MONTH 1)

You curl up on the couch in your hoodie, wine glass in hand. Purple Hearts plays softly in the background — you’re not watching it. Not really.

His letter is open on your lap. You read it again. And again. You don’t cry until you whisper, “I miss you,” to no one.

You reply on monogrammed stationery Donna gave you when you got promoted.

LETTER (V.O. – YOU)

I’m not drinking wine.

(Pause)

Okay I am. But it’s Pinot and you don’t like that one, so technically I’m not cheating.

Everyone at work says I’m still glowing. I think I’m just emotionally constipated.

Donna caught me crying in the bathroom.

Write back soon. And if you see any birds doing anything weird, I want to know immediately.

⸻

INT. BASE FLIGHTLINE – DAY (MONTH 2)

Heat waves shimmer on the tarmac. Bob walks beside his team, helmet under arm.

Hangman’s at his side, talking about home. Coyote whistles.

Bob doesn’t say much. Just pulls a letter out of his chest pocket during a break, unfolds it like it’s sacred.

Your lipstick mark is still faint on the corner of the page.

He smiles. Just barely.

HANGMAN

(reading over his shoulder)

“She misses your cold toes and your bad scrambled eggs.”

(grins)

That’s love, buddy.

BOB

It’s home.

⸻

INT. PEARSON HARDMAN – DAY (MONTH 3)

You’re hunched over case files. Your desk is a mess of coffee cups, highlighters, and post-its.

Mike strolls in, pauses.

MIKE

You okay?

YOU

Bob’s been gone for eighty-three days.

I’ve read more depositions than God.

And I think my blood type is now cold brew.

MIKE

(joking)

Well if it makes you feel better, you’re still Jessica’s favorite.

YOU

(flatly)

Because I don’t talk back like you do.

A beat. He holds out a wrapped package — small, square.

MIKE

Donna intercepted this at the front desk. Said “you needed a reminder.”

You unwrap it slowly.

It’s a photo frame. Inside: a snapshot of you and Bob at the beach, half-sandy and smiling. On the back, in pen:

“Still counting down. –B”

⸻

INT. BOB’S BUNK – NIGHT (MONTH 5)

He’s reading your letter under the blanket, flashlight in hand.

LETTER (V.O. – YOU)

I wore your hoodie to the office today. Donna said it smells like ‘loyalty and overpriced aftershave.’

I think she misses you too.

BOB

(grinning)

Damn right she does.

He kisses the letter. Again.

⸻

INT. YOUR APARTMENT – NIGHT (MONTH 6)

A thunderstorm rolls in. You’re under a blanket, scrolling through old photos of him. The song “Heather” by Conan Gray plays quietly.

You reply to his last letter at 1:43 AM.

LETTER (V.O. – YOU)

You told me once that the stars looked different up there.

They don’t look different here.

They look lonelier.

Come home soon.

INT. PEARSON HARDMAN – NIGHT (MONTH 8)

You’re working late with Harvey on a huge case. He passes by your glass office and pauses.

HARVEY

You don’t have to keep drowning in work just to keep your mind off him.

YOU

I’m not.

HARVEY

(knew you’d say that)

…You could’ve fooled me.

He drops a bottle of bourbon on your desk.

HARVEY

Call it a temporary cure.

⸻

INT. BASE CAFETERIA – EARLY MORNING (MONTH 9)

Bob’s on a break. Half-asleep. Coffee in hand. He opens your newest letter and just smiles.

LETTER (V.O. – YOU)

Still no ring on my finger.

Still no man in my bed.

Still all yours, Floyd.

He mouths the words back to himself, eyes closing.

⸻

INT. YOUR BEDROOM – NIGHT (MONTH 10)

You write again. Just one word on the page:

Soon?

⸻

INT. BOB’S ROOM – SAME NIGHT

He replies:

Soon.

———

INT. PEARSON HARDMAN – DAY

You’re in your office, typing aggressively. A case is falling apart and Harvey’s been breathing down your neck all morning. You’re tired. You’re wearing Bob’s sweatshirt under your blazer because it still smells like him.

There’s a gentle knock on your already-open door.

DONNA (O.S.)

Y/N.

You look up — and flinch.

Donna’s face is pale. Her heels are clicking too fast. She looks… frazzled.

YOU

(startled)

Donna? What’s wrong?

DONNA

(clipped, flustered)

Jessica and Harvey need to see you in Conference Room Two. Immediately.

YOU

(confused)

Why? What happened?

DONNA

(hushed, eyes wide)

They didn’t say specifics, but it’s bad. Jessica said “costly mistake,” and Harvey looked—Y/N, he looked genuinely angry. Like… I’ve-never-seen-him-like-that angry.

Your mouth goes dry. You stand up too quickly.

YOU

Oh my god. Which case? Was it the Martinez settlement? Did I file the wrong version of the addendum?

DONNA

They didn’t say.

YOU

Donna—!

DONNA

(firm, but low-key terrified)

They said now. They didn’t want to wait. And I don’t know what this is about, but… I would prepare for the worst.

You’re nearly hyperventilating now. You gather your files — all the active ones — hands shaking.

DONNA

(walking beside you)

I’ve never seen Harvey look at anyone like that. And you know Harvey doesn’t scare me.

Your stomach drops.

You rush down the hallway toward Conference Room Two. Your heels echo. Everyone’s looking. Like they know something you don’t.

The conference room is all glass — but the door is wood, solid, closed. You can’t see inside.

INT. CONFERENCE ROOM TWO – MOMENTS LATER

You push in fast, expecting a firing squad. Papers in hand. Breath stuck in your throat.

HARVEY and JESSICA are standing near the head of the table. Serious. Still. Blank-faced.

You drop the files on the table immediately.

YOU

(panicked, rushing)

These are all the cases I’ve been active on — I re-reviewed the discovery on the Parker litigation, the Martinez negotiations, and even the deposition schedules for the Haines claim, and I swear I haven’t touched anything without double confirmation.

If I made a mistake, I swear I’ll fix it, just—

Don’t fire me. Please. I—I haven’t slept. And if I did something that put the firm at risk—

JESSICA

(stern)

What are you talking about?

YOU

(breathless)

Donna said I made a mistake.

There’s a beat.

Jessica starts to laugh. Not a chuckle. A deep, rich, absolutely amused belly laugh.

You blink, stunned.

JESSICA

(wiping a tear)

Oh, Donna. That was evil.

HARVEY

(smirking)

Kid.

You turn toward him.

HARVEY

Look at me.

You do — eyes wide, red-rimmed. He steps aside, slowly.

And that’s when you see him.

BOB.

Full Navy uniform. Holding flowers. Standing at the back of the room like a ghost you’d wished for.

Your body locks. Like your soul needs a second to believe he’s real.

He just smiles.

BOB

Hey, sweetheart.

And you run.

Across the room, into his arms. The files on the table go flying. Donna gasps from the hallway. Harvey claps once.

Bob drops the flowers and catches you mid-leap, arms locking around your waist. You bury your face in his neck and just sob.

YOU

You weren’t supposed to be back until next month!

BOB

Surprise.

(pulling back, smiling through misty eyes)

Had to come home to you.

Harvey and Jessica quietly step out, closing the door behind them.

You don’t let go of him for ten straight minutes.

The door opens. You and Bob step out — still tangled together, cheeks flushed and tear-streaked. He keeps one arm around your waist like letting go would undo him.

Everyone has gathered. Donna, Mike, Rachel, Louis (weirdly weeping), and the rest of the associates.

And they applaud.

Jessica stands at the center, arms folded but a smile pulling at her mouth.

JESSICA

Y/N.

You turn, still breathless.

JESSICA (CONT’D)

I’m giving you the rest of the day off.

And maybe tomorrow too.

YOU

I—what? But I have the Thompson deposition, and the—

RACHEL

(interrupting, warm)

Mike and I already picked it up. We’ve got it covered.

MIKE

(joking)

And frankly, if you came back now, we’d probably kick you out again.

JESSICA

(sincerely)

Go home. You’ve earned it.

And tell your Lieutenant we expect him to stay alive next time.

Everyone laughs — even you, watery and overwhelmed.

Bob kisses your temple. The applause slowly dies down as you two head for the elevator — hands laced, hearts racing, eyes only for each other.

———

INT. YOUR APARTMENT – NIGHT

The door clicks shut. The sound echoes.

You drop your purse. He drops his cap.

And neither of you speaks.

You just look at each other.

Like if you blink, the other will disappear again.

And then—you move at the same time.

He grabs your waist. You grab his collar. The kiss is immediate — hot, desperate, open-mouthed, all teeth and need. He walks you backward, never breaking contact, until your back hits the hallway wall.

YOU

(whispers, breathless)

You’re really here.

BOB

(mouth on your throat)

I never stopped being yours.

His hands are under your blouse, lifting it over your head. Your bra joins it in seconds.

You tug at his uniform — he lets you strip it off piece by piece. Every medal, every button, every layer dropped in a trail behind him. His dog tags dangle between you, swinging softly.

He cups your jaw, kissing you slow now. Reverent.

BOB

Let me show you.

You reach for him. He lifts you.

INT. BEDROOM – SECONDS LATER

He lays you down like you’re sacred. Climbs over you. Presses his forehead to yours.

BOB

I dreamed about this. Every night.

Every single night.

YOU

Then take your time.

He does. He takes his time.

Soft hands, soft mouth. Slow grind of hips. Gentle choking — his hand wraps around your throat just enough to ground you.

He talks. God, he talks.

BOB

I missed the way you sound.

The way you tremble.

The way you hold on like I’m the only one who’s ever touched you right.

Your legs wrap around his waist. He moans into your mouth.

YOU

You are the only one.

It’s vanilla, but it’s soaked in devotion. You’re gasping into his shoulder. He’s whispering your name like prayer. He finishes with his face buried in your neck, your body pulled flush to his.

You don’t move for a long time.

YOU

(barely a whisper)

I didn’t realize how lonely I was until you walked into that room.

He kisses your collarbone, your shoulder, your heart.

BOB

And I’m not leaving again. Not for a long, long time.

You fall asleep skin-to-skin, tangled up in each other, the dog tags resting on your bare chest like proof.

[fireside-fanfics]

In the Next Lifetime

Based on this prompt.

The Camaro rumbled under Billy Hargrove’s hands as he gripped the wheel, his knuckles white against the cracked leather. Hawkins had never felt so suffocating. The endless rows of houses, the distant glow of Starcourt Mall still faintly visible, even after the fire, all felt like a trap.

But the real prison wasn’t the town. It was his memories.

“I loved you in this lifetime, but I won’t make that mistake in the next.”

The words echoed in his head, sharper than any scream he’d heard in the Upside Down. Her voice, broken but resolute, haunted him like the ghosts of the Demogorgons he’d barely escaped. Billy didn’t know if it was the Mind Flayer’s lingering venom or his own guilt that made his chest ache when he thought of her—the girl who’d seen through his armor.

Lucy Winters had come into his life like a summer storm, all bright laughter and relentless kindness. She wasn’t like the other girls who flirted and giggled at the edge of the pool while he lifeguarded. Lucy had been different. She called him out on his bullshit, refusing to let him hide behind his smirks and swagger. She saw the broken boy hiding behind the bravado, and for reasons Billy would never understand, she cared.

But Billy ruined it—the way he ruined everything good that touched his life. The Mind Flayer had taken his body, but his anger had done the rest. He hurt her in ways he couldn’t undo, with words sharper than knives and actions that made her tears fall like rain. And still, she’d stayed—until she didn’t.

“Billy,” she’d said the night she left, standing in the driveway of his father’s house with her shoulders squared and her heart in her throat. “I can’t save you if you won’t let me. I loved you in this lifetime, but I won’t make that mistake in the next.”

Billy had laughed then, a hollow, bitter sound that didn’t reach his eyes as he said, “There won’t be a next time, Winters. This is it.”

She’d stared at him for a long moment, her expression softening just enough for him to see the pain he’d caused. “I hope you’re wrong, Billy. I hope you find peace, even if it’s not with me.”

He hadn’t said anything as she got into her car and drove away. He hadn’t stopped her, hadn’t told her that she was the only person who’d ever made him feel like he was more than the sum of his mistakes. He’d just watched her taillights fade into the night and told himself he didn’t care.

Now, as he sped down the empty road leading out of Hawkins, he wondered if he’d ever stop caring. The radio crackled with static, the ghost of a song he couldn’t place filtering through the speakers. The sky above was painted with streaks of orange and purple, the last light of day slipping away like sand through his fingers.

Billy thought about Lucy’s words, about the next lifetime she’d spoken of so confidently. He’d never believed in things like reincarnation or second chances, but if such a thing existed, he knew one thing for sure: she deserved better. Better than him. Better than the boy who’d been too afraid to love her the way she deserved.

As the Camaro roared into the night, Billy let the memory of her go, his grip on the wheel loosening as he whispered to the wind, “I hope you’re wrong, Lucy, but if there is a next time … I’ll get it right.”

[juststoriesintheend]

II. Bulabird

Chapter Pairing(s): Master Sol x f!Reader; Osha Aniseya x f!Reader

Chapter Content: reunion, unrequited to requited feelings, love admissions (kind of), sex pollen, consent talk

Word Count: 3,846

《 [series masterlist] 》 《 I 》 《 III 》 《 IV 》

Your eyelids make an awful scratching sound when they open and your vision is flawed, blurry as if filtered through a screen, but the image you fix upon remains as familiar to you as your own reflection.

“Hey, bulabird.”

There are few things in this galaxy you know as well as you know yourself. The Force, the Temple, the way Sol’s hair spirals in on itself when damp, the weight of your saber in your palm… But you never thought you would know the sound of Osha Aniseya’s voice again.

“‘sha?” Your voice comes out garbled when the weight of your tongue proves too heavy to counter.

Through the haze, you think you glimpse a smile and the sheen of artificial lighting on nut brown skin. It’s hard to tell. Everything feels confused, as if the galaxy has been painted over with a great brush and left only smudges of reality in its wake. The light catches on something vaguely hand-shaped, and your body confirms it moments later when Osha’s knuckles brush your temple. It burns like a brand on your skin, but it brings with it the aftertaste of pleasure like candle wax on your fingertips or an itch scratched just right, and you chase after it, face dipping low to catch her palm when she starts to withdraw.

“What happened to you?” she murmurs.

You wish you knew. Your mind has been lost to itself for what seems like an eternity, but then, anything that exists outside of this singular moment feels as unreal as a dream. There’s only the fever raging beneath your skin and the bite of relief that Osha’s touch brings.

“Don’t,” you rumble when she tries again to extract herself. Your fingers are desperate in their attempts to wrap around her arm, to twine themselves with hers, anything so long as she stays. “Hurts.”

Something shifts above you and a whiff of her scent floods your senses - sweat and sand and everything Osha. It takes you a moment to realize that the strange sound of moaning is coming from you.

Her hand smacks against your cheek when you finally manage to drag her back to you, the force of your need nearly flattening her atop your body, and the sweetness of it shoots ice through your veins. This is what you needed, this whisper of skin on skin to soothe the agony of your clothing and the heat and the eternal suffering of this Force forsaken planet.

“Woah, hey, easy there-”

“You make it better,” you try to explain, all while rubbing your face into the rigid flatness of her palm.

A few fleeting seconds of tranquility shudder through your bones before Osha is retreating again, though she doesn’t go far. Her palm shifts to your forehead where sweat has beaded so heavily that it’s pooling along your hairline, dripping slowly down the back of your head to your neck. She exhales through her nose and it hits you just below your eyes. Another strange sense of relief floods through you. Like the kind when Sol had caught you at the base of that sand dune, when he’d saved you. Something so deep within you that it might as well have been stitched into your flesh.

Sol…

It’s the thought of him that brings you clarity enough to start analyzing your surroundings. Metal and light, somehow both cold and scalding hot. It’s the Polan, you realize belatedly, but it looks so unfamiliar to your eyes, almost alien. Perhaps it’s Sol’s absence that feels so off-putting. You’re so used to his presence that to be without it when you feel so lost, so sick to your stomach, is almost debilitating.

“Where… is he?” you croak.

Osha’s face swims before you, in and out of focus, in and out of thought, but you think she looks sad. Or unsure? It’s so hard to tell when everything inside you seems to be on fire.

“Sol?”

You nod frantically, moaning as another wave of heat crashes over you and beats you back into submission. “He was… He said…” Acting on its own instinct rather than any sort of conscious thought, one of your hands reaches for Osha while the other… “Need ‘im, Osha, I-I…”

Pleasure spikes up your spine when your hand rubs a few soothing strokes against the storm between your legs. And by then, the rest of the universe just falls away. Whatever coherent thought you had, whatever you might have said or done, it’s nothing compared to the blinding relief of steel-hot pleasure and the driving need to take take take until there’s nothing left but your heartbeat and your hope.

Leaving the Jedi behind had been the right thing to do, no matter how it broke her to do so, but leaving Sol and leaving you had hurt the most. It’s why she ran when she realized Mae was alive, though she may not have understood it at the time. More than anything, Osha wanted to avoid all of this - the pain a reunion would carry, the guilt of what once was fading into obscurity because of her, the emptiness of a lifelong yearning for something she could never have. But the Force, it seems, has other plans. At least, that’s what Sol might have said to her once.

Now, though, she looks upon your face, twisted and pained, damp with sweat, and she feels a surge of memories wash over her. The scent of your skin in the mornings when you would walk into the courtyard, meditating together under the shade of the Great Tree. The flash of your saber reflected in your eyes, bright and brilliant. Every small and fleeting moment spent pining after you, hoping you might notice her…

In the present, stuffed into containment within the walls of the cockpit, Sol’s presence flickers in and out of the corner of her eye. She can’t feel him in the Force anymore, but she doesn’t need to. She knows exactly how worry looks on him, she knows it from the years spent inflicting him with her own particular strain of chaos.

“Sol,” she starts, some last ditch effort to talk him down, but the glint of panic in his eyes when he rounds on her is enough to stifle that need.

“No.” He says it in the same tone he used on her once before - just once, so many years ago. It’s a glimpse of something un-Jedi that persists deep inside him, something angry and fierce. Osha thinks he might call it attachment. “Find another way.”

Irritation flares in her chest. “There is no other way.”

“There is always another way,” and she thinks she sees fear in his eyes, some unknown terror that claws at his gut the same way it claws at hers.

He has always been the one to hope, clinging to his Jedi tenets as she once clung to her mother’s skirts. But Osha learned long ago that hope is a fickle thing. She knows what ails you, what pulls you apart at the seams and stokes its fire in you, and she knows there is only one way to save you from its flames.

She sets her jaw. “You know there isn’t. Not this time, Sol. We have to help her.”

“Not like this. It’s not right.”

No. It isn’t. Guilt is a ghost that’s haunted Osha her entire life, but it flares to life now in the face of your predicament because this should never have happened, and it wouldn’t have happened if she’d never run in the first place. Like she might have once been a Knight, a Jedi standing tall and proud at your side if she had only chosen to be a good Padawan. Like Mae wouldn’t have burned their home to the ground if she had chosen instead to be a good sister. This isn’t right, but it’s the only way she knows to save you. And she would rather condemn herself to a lifetime of guilt for saving your life than a lifetime of guilt wishing she had tried.

“I can make something, a drink with a low dose that she can share with- with one of us.” She lowers her eyes at the thought of Sol being the one to take care of you, how it would burn in her chest knowing that he would be the one to… when she knows it’s everything you’ve ever wanted. “And you can burn the pollen off together like you’re supposed to.”

Sol’s face is wrinkled in horror. “No,” he says again, disgusted.

“It’ll save her,” and she finds that she’s trying to convince herself as much as she’s trying to convince him.

Sol pivots so his shoulder is all she can see, but his face is turned toward the door, toward you. She wonders for a moment if he can feel you the way she once did. Like it was second nature. Like you were an extension of the Force, of her own heart, a beacon in the starlight.

His voice is broken when he speaks. “I know it will.” If she didn’t know any better, she would think he carried the weight of the galaxy on his shoulders.

Osha thinks she understands. “Then we have to try.”

Several seconds tick by. The ship is quiet, save for the creaking of the hull when the wind picks up and the muffled, labored sound of your breathing trickling through the door and into the cockpit.

“She asked for you. She wants you, Sol.”

The entire galaxy seems, for a moment, to stop, frozen in place as her words sink into her Master’s skin. She can see understanding swirling across his face, burning him alive as he processes it. “I can’t.”

“Then what? You want me to do it? She doesn’t… She doesn’t want me like that.” Though she thinks of the desperation in your bones and the frantic need to touch her body to yours, the way your heat and glassy eyes and soft, wanton cries set her body aflame, and she feels shameful for wishing that you did. “It would be wrong to force that on her.”

Sol takes a breath that rattles in his chest. “I can’t, Osha,” he says as if the entire universe might collapse in on itself if he dared to sacrifice his pride in return for your survival. “And I won’t.”

Something bitter and icy-hot scalds its way from her stomach to her throat, bile built from the ashes of the love she’s harbored for you all these years and the stench of regret and the festering wound of a child begging to be heard. Sixteen years he’s known you, and for the past six of them she suspects that both of you have become close - close enough to work together on a mission, to stand side by side on an alien planet and seek her out. Do those six years mean nothing to him? Is the devotion that lights your heart not enough for him? Does he not love you enough to try?

“Don’t you understand?” Her fury bursts from her chest like a saber igniting in the dark. “She’s dying! And you won’t even try? Not even to save her life? Sol, she needs you!”

“It is not saving her life that concerns me, but the consequences of my actions if she survives.”

The consequences? Osha stills. A part of her wants to demand a better excuse than that, because what consequence could be worse than letting you die? But another part of her, a part that feels so alive and raw that it hurts to breathe, finds that a half-reflection of itself in the depths of Sol’s dark and distant eyes.

She swallows. “What do you mean?” But somehow, she thinks she knows.

Familiar, umber-blackened eyes flicker with uncertainty and shame, eyes that Osha has known nearly all her life but have never been so heavily tormented as they are now. At least, not since the day she left Brendok. A chill creeps down her spine.

His mouth parts to allow space for words that never come. She loses count of how many times he seems to start a sentence only to silence himself before a single thought is spoken. The torment in her Master’s eyes spreads far and fast like a wildfire, leaving destruction in its wake until Sol is so knotted up in his despair that he stands before her now as little more than a shell of the man she thought she knew. And there’s only one thing she’s ever known that could shake him so deeply. The same thing that’s shaken her to her core a thousand times over.

The realization strikes her in the gut, punches the air from her lungs. She diverts her eyes, desperate to give Sol his privacy in this moment and also to find a reprieve from the shock, but all she can think is that there are too many threads tying the three of you together, too tangled to make any sense of. Because she loves you. And you’ve always loved Sol. And now she knows that he loves you back, but it’s too much too late and all at the wrong time.

Ten years’ worth of growing up a Padawan, of growing up his Padawan, awakens an instinct in Osha that she thought she had matured past in her last few years of freedom. She feels the burning need to ask - for permission? Guidance? Advice? Each idea is more ridiculous than the last because he’s as compromised as she is, both of them struggling against their selfish desires in an attempt to fix an impossible situation. A situation with no right answers and no clear winners. Because even if Sol had agreed to help you, it wouldn’t be in the way you’d want. It wouldn’t mean anything, couldn’t mean anything, not to a Jedi. And now, to save your life, Osha must place one foot in Sol’s shoes and the other in yours. Keeping her love for you in check while also knowing that consummating her most intimate desire with you will ultimately lead to nothing. Because you are a Jedi. Because you won’t allow yourself attachments. Because she is nothing more than a memory compared to the shining brilliance of the Order.

Accompanied by only the pulsing of her heart and the shaking hesitance of her breath, Osha closes her eyes and makes a choice. The only choice she can make.

“I need you to stay with her. I’m going to find those flowers.”

The unfortunate side effect of being a Jedi is the awareness of one’s surroundings that the Force supplies. Sol can sense the atoms of starlight as they beat upon the Polan’s hull, warming it. He can sense the crashing of the waves along the distant shore and the surge of life that swims below its surface. He feels the breeze as if he were outside, bare to the world save for his skin. He can sense Osha as she retreats, farther and farther away, rushing for the nearest cluster of purple flowers that she can find. And, more prominently than anything else on this planet, Sol can sense you.

Now that he understands what it is that clouds your mind and rips your better judgment from your consciousness, he feels frozen. Because he can feel every. Single. Thing. That you do to yourself, every desperate attempt to soothe the ache that racks your body. It doesn’t matter that he’s isolated himself on one end of the ship and left you behind closed doors on the other. Your arousal is so strong that it permeates the very air he breathes, it seeps into his skin and brands him a traitor.

His teeth grind together, his hands ball up into fists, and Sol employs every meditation tactic he knows to fortify his mind against the onslaught of your Force signature, but in the end, he finds that his own worst enemy is neither the flower that poisoned you nor the desperation in your body, but the selfish desires of his own soul. A selfishness he thought he left behind on Brendok.

Because he would rather not have known. The rest of his life could have been happily spent at your side, even if he could never pursue the secret longings of his heart, the things he only ever dared to dream of. For he would have seen your face in the mornings before classes with the younglings. He would have heard your laughter over dinner. He might have touched his essence to yours in the rare moments of mediation spent in each other’s company, and it would have been enough for him. But now that he knows, now that his love has been almost-spoken and your own feelings practically confirmed, Sol finds that its existence is a blade to his gut.

Horror, guilt, and shame coil up in the base of his stomach, rattling like a snake as he attempts to find peace in the battlefield of his mind. You’re in pain. And when you’re not in pain, you’re pleading for relief from the chaos raging through your bloodstream. It would be so easy to make excuses, he knows. To accept Osha’s offer, such as it is, and claim that he is doing his duty as your friend, as a fellow Jedi, putting your life before honor, before the Code. It would be easy because it would be true; Sol would do anything for you, and there was once a time where he would have done anything he could to get what he wanted. But the last time he’d been so careless with his dreams, an entire coven had been wiped out and Mae…

Indara’s words come to him then, unbidden but a blessing all the same - do not confuse her feelings for your own - and it solidifies his resolve. Your feelings for him do not matter, neither do his feelings for you. He cannot and he will not allow himself to be blinded by something that could never be. It would be taking advantage of you when you have no chance to speak coherently for yourself, and Sol could never forgive himself for taking that from you.

Decision made, he pulls up the hood of his cloak and stalks for the ship’s main exit. He needs to put as much distance between you as possible. He doesn’t want to hear you crying out his Padawan’s name in the throes of your pleasure. He doesn’t want to know what you sound like when you beg. He can’t. He can never, ever know.

“I need you to listen to me, okay?”

Your head lolls to one side as you struggle to maintain some sort of eye contact. A blob of color shaped vaguely like Osha swirls before you, but your head is so dizzy and your throat is so dry, it’s too difficult to focus on anything but the endless, mindless, bone-crushing ache. Still, you try.

“‘sha…” It’s the best you can do.

The top of the Osha blob bobs - a nod, maybe. “I know. I know it hurts, just stay with me, bulabird.”

There’s a ringing in your ears and a mess of damp, sweaty cloth under your back, between your thighs, bunched up behind your shoulder blades. And the ever-present, ever-consuming need to slake your thirst no matter the cost. Your hands slither down your stomach to try and dull its bite, but Osha’s hands are quicker and stronger.

“Stop,” she grunts as she pins your arms down. “Just stop and listen to me.”

You feel your entire face wrinkle with the force of your frustration. “Don’t. ‘sha, it hurts, I need-”

“I know what you need and I’ll give it to you, but have to fucking listen to me first! Okay?!”

A more logical you, more sound of mind and body, might have listened, especially with that tone. But you’re so far beyond logic now. As it is, all you can think about is the fact that she’s manhandling you and it feels really good. Too good.

“You’re sick,” she says some heartbeats later. “There’s a flower here, a purple flower, and the people here use it for their marriage rituals. By itself, the pollen is lethal. It jacks up your blood pressure and gives you a fever that’ll kill you, but when it’s combined with liquid, it becomes an aphrodisiac. Okay? Are you with me? Do you understand?”

You only manage to catch every few words. You’re too busy bucking your hips up into Osha’s leg to properly pay attention, but you catch something about a flower and marriage, and that sounds nice to you. It sounds like something you might have dreamed of as a child, before the Jedi, before the Code.

“Hey.” Fingers wrap around your chin and maneuver your head until you’re forced to look the Osha blob in the eyes. At least, what you think are eyes. Your vision’s been swimming in and out of focus for longer than you can recall. “Answer me. Do you understand?”

You nod lazily, not for any real reason other than Osha told you to and you want desperately to please her. It’s a strange sensation. New and unknown, but you think… maybe you like it.

“There’s only one way I can keep the pollen from killing you, and it’s by making us a… a pleasure potion. Like the locals do for their weddings. And then I…” Osha’s head bobs as she comes sharply into focus. “We have to work the pollen out of our blood together. With sex. Do you understand?”

With her thumb still pressing into your chin, you find it impossible to open or close your mouth without great effort. Or perhaps it’s not her thumb at all but the sudden rush of adrenaline that screams through your veins at the mere mention of “sex”. Suddenly, it all makes sense. You’ve known, of course, that shoving your hands down your pants and rutting against empty air isn’t exactly normal, but it hadn’t clicked in your mind that the animalistic urges pooling in your belly and the flame blazing in your chest were one in the same. You’d sort of thought that maybe you were losing your mind.

“I need to know you understand me.”

Sex. Anticipation pounds hard and heavy behind your eyes. Blood. It burns. Flower. Wisps of purple swirl at the edge of your vision, casting Osha in undulating shades of violet. Wedding. Like new life, new beginnings. Death. Reunion with the Force. You think you understand.

When Osha speaks again, she speaks with the thickness of sorrow and fear and the watery sound of tears. “I don’t know how else to save you,” she whispers.

But your body knows. Moaning softly against the pressure of her weight as it presses you into the floor, you wriggle an arm free and grab at whatever you can reach. “Save me,” you beg with what remains of your sense. “Osha...”

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[gravitytrips]

Alone in the World

Scout leaned against the wall as he watched his blood soak into the dirt. He sighed. This wasn’t how he expected the match to go.

Respawn it was.

Just as he was about to close his eyes and let himself peacefully pass away, the speakers crackled to life.

ATTENTION. THE RESPAWN SYSTEMS ARE DOWN. ALL MERCENARIES RETURN TO YOUR BASES.

The Administrator’s scratchy voice rang out across the field, her words taking a few moments to sink into Scout’s sluggish brain. When he finally realized what he had heard, his eyes blew wide open.

“Shit!” Scout cried, immediately regretting it when the bullets in his stomach shifted from the movement.

How was he going to get out of this? How would he survive? He was on the corner of the map!

Scout huffed a few times, gathering the courage for what he was about to do, then pulled himself to his feet.

He nearly threw up from the pain.

“Just keep goin’. You’ll make it back and doc’ll heal ya and you’ll feel all better.” Scout assured himself. Yet, a small part of his mind whispered that his team had already gone back to base. That nobody cared. That he would die out here alone.

Scout shook his head to clear the thought, then immediately regretted it as a wave of nausea washed over him.

So, Scout trudged forward, trying desperately to ignore the pain.

Scout had gotten to control point C when he finally could go on no longer. The boy simply collapsed onto the metal point, exhausted. Why was it so cold? Wasn’t it the middle of the day? Why couldn’t he feel his fingers?

Hot red liquid pooled around Scout, bringing him some warmth.

So this was it then? The great Jeremy Fulfer-Anderson would meet his end all alone on control point C. Wonderful.

No matter how hard he tried to keep them in, thoughts started slip out of Jeremy’s mind like sand through fingers.

Breath in.

Breath out.

Breath in.

Breath out.

A tear dropped into the dust, making a tiny puddle of mud.

He really was all alone.

————————————————————————

The cold was gone. Instead, a soft, fuzzy warmth surrounded Scout, wrapping him up like a quilt on a cold night. He was tempted to just close his eyes and sleep amongst the comfort, when the darkness began to take over his vision, something happened. The warmth shifted and changed around him, soft colors entertaining his eyes and soothing his brain. Scout could’ve cried from the pure beauty and comfort of the show. Could’ve just let it go and slipped away. Oh God, how he wanted to.

But something stopped him.

An itching at the back of his mind.

A prickling cold on his back.

An itching pain on his front.

The colors shifted once more, to red. This red became deeper and deeper until it was black, and a cold white light bore down on him from above.

The warmth was gone, and Scout was so, so cold.

Sounds started to filter in, at first sounding like far away whispers, then getting louder and louder until the boy could determine the different voices of his teammates.

WHOOSH!

It was like bursting through the surface of a placid lake. The voices were so clear, the pain in his front and the cold on his back were searing, and the blurred colors and bright lights that rushed by him like a raging river all caused confusion and terror. Scout screamed, but the all-encompassing pain rushed into his throat like river water, leaving him to uselessly gurgle for help!

Then, there was a small, cold prick in the side of his neck.

All was dark.

Scout’s eyes drifted open, the soft glow of a late-day sun drifting through the high, small windows and washing over his body. Jeremy let his eyes fall back shut, enjoying the warmth of the sun. That beautiful warmth….like the warmth he had experienced….when was it….? Where had he been….?

The darkness pulled Jeremy back under.

The next time he awoke, it was to voices.

“He should have been avake hours ago. If he doesn’t shown signs of coherence soon-“ 

A voice Jeremy recognized. One that he knew meant help and health and healing. The boy focused on the voice, trying desperately to call out to it. To ask the man speaking to help him. Another voice cut in.

“Doc, hold on. The lad’s wakin’ up.”

Jeremy knew that voice too. Fun. Parties. Advice. Why wasn’t it slurred? That was very odd. And why couldn’t he see? Had he lost his eye like Demo? Yes….Demo. That was his name. And Medic! His doctor and his friend were right there and he couldn’t even open his eyes to greet them.

Oh yes. His eyes were closed.

Jeremy forced his eyes open a crack, immediately shutting them again when the bright infirmary lights invaded his mind and wiped out all thought. The sudden overbearing light send wave after wave of pain through Scout’s skull before….

click

Scout heard the sound of a light switch clicking off. Whoever had shut the lights off then quickly returned to his side.

“C’mon lad. Try again. You can do it.”

Demo’s voice was serious. Too serious and sober.

That fact scared Scout just a little, so with all his might, the boy tried his sight again.

This time, the lights didn’t blind him. He sat in a comfortable half darkness, with the worried face of Demoman looking down at him, and the rather disheveled form of Medic a few feet away.

“There y’are lad. You can do it. Just keep them eyes open.”

Jeremy opened his mouth to tell Demo that he was ok, that he didn’t need to be babied, that he could take care of himself, but a horrible dryness swept down his throat at his first breath. That dryness caused Scout’s throat to seize up, his esophagus searching and begging for water.

Just as panic was about to set in, a cool glass touched his lips, and a slow stream of water was poured down his dry throat. The boy drank greedily, desperately, and when he nearly choked, he was leaned over with a strong hand patting his back.

Scout looked up at Medic. God, how pathetic he must look to that man. But Medic’s face wasn’t one of disgust. It was of absolute exhausted relief.

“Can you hear me, junge? Are you really vizh us zhis time?”

The doctor asked carefully.

Scout finally opened his eyes fully. He was awake. He was awake and alive and ok. Well, maybe not completely ok. A deep throbbing was set into his stomach, but he was sure that that was fine.

“Doc…” Scout whispered, his throat not yet prepared for full speech.

Sighs of relief filled his ears from both sides, and Scout started in on another glass of water as Medic spoke again.

“Junge, you have given us quite the scare.” Medic’s voice held a hint of exasperation.

“What happened? Respawn got shut down after I got shot and….”

And what? Jeremy had become so sure that he was utterly alone that he just… let go? He could not say that to Medic. He’d never hear the end of it. Fortunately, he didn’t have to respond.

“Ya’ve been out of it for a few days, lad. There was a point where doc didn’t think you’d wake up.” Demo whispered, seemingly trying not to upset Medic, who was moving his desk away from the door.

Huh?

“Did I sleep through the apocalypse or somethin’?” Scout asked quizzically.

“Nah, lad! It’s rough tryin’ ta keep five grown  men from seein’ their sick friend. At one point, Sniper came through the vents! Doc tossed him in th’ ol’ industrial bath tub an’ he ran off.” 

While Demo talked, Scout saw Medic poke his head out of the door and say something. Medic was immediately back inside, leaning against the door and shouting “ONE AT A TIME! I SAID ONE AT A TIME!!”.

Unfortunately, not even the doctor’s orders could hold back the likes of Heavy, who nearly broke the door off its hinges and laid the doctor out in the process.

Scout blinked, and the rest of his teammates were at his side.

Their jumbled words wove together to create a melody that brought a soft smile to Jeremy’s face.

He was wrong. He was wrong, and for once, he was glad of the fact.

Jeremy was happy. Because he wasn’t alone.

[pooltechdubai]

Pool Maintenance Dubai: Comprehensive Guide to Choosing the Best Pool Company

Pool maintenance in Dubai's hot climate can be challenging. The scorching sun, dust storms, and heavy usage all impact pool water and equipment. Whether you’re a homeowner or managing a commercial pool, understanding proper pool care is essential. This blog will cover key aspects of pool maintenance Dubai, including cleaning techniques, equipment checks, and the benefits of hiring professional pool cleaners in Dubai.

Why Pool Maintenance is Essential in Dubai

Dubai’s climate presents unique challenges for pool maintenance. High temperatures cause rapid evaporation, leading to fluctuations in water levels that can disrupt the pool’s chemical balance. Sand and dust from the desert can easily enter the pool, clogging filters and necessitating frequent cleaning.

Regular pool maintenance Dubai ensures your pool remains safe, bacteria-free, and sparkling clean. Neglecting routine care can result in water contamination, costly repairs, and damage to the pool structure. For those lacking the time or expertise, hiring a professional pool company Dubai can alleviate the stress of pool management.

Key Components of Pool Maintenance

Water Chemistry Balance: Maintaining the correct chemical balance is critical for pool maintenance Dubai. High temperatures cause water to evaporate quickly, concentrating chemicals and potentially leading to imbalances. Aim for a pH level between 7.2 and 7.6, with chlorine levels between 1-3 ppm (parts per million). If you're unsure how to test or adjust these levels, professional pool cleaners Dubai can manage the water chemistry effectively.

Cleaning and Skimming: Dust and debris can quickly accumulate in a pool, especially in Dubai. Daily skimming removes floating debris before it sinks and forms stains. Regular vacuuming of the pool floor and brushing the walls prevents algae and dirt buildup. Professional pool cleaners  Dubai use specialized equipment to ensure thorough cleaning and maintain proper water circulation, keeping the pool water fresh and contaminant-free.

Equipment Inspection and Repairs: Filters, pumps, and heaters are essential for keeping pool water clean and at the right temperature. Regularly inspecting and maintaining this equipment is crucial for pool maintenance Dubai. Ensure pumps have proper water flow, filters are cleaned or replaced, and heaters are functioning efficiently, especially during cooler months.

Algae and Stain Prevention: Algae growth is common, particularly when water is not properly maintained. Algae can dirty pool water and stain walls and floors. Regular brushing and maintaining chemical balance help prevent algae, but severe infestations may require special algaecides. Pool cleaners in Dubai are equipped to address algae issues efficiently and restore your pool to pristine condition.

Regular Pool Cover Usage: Using a pool cover is one of the simplest ways to keep your pool clean. It helps prevent sand, leaves, and dust from entering the water, reduces evaporation, and retains heat during cooler months.

Why Hiring a Professional Pool Company in Dubai Makes Sense

A professional pool company offers comprehensive maintenance packages, ensuring your pool is always in top condition. They provide expertise, tools, and chemicals to address issues from water imbalances to malfunctioning equipment. Professional pool cleaners can offer customized maintenance plans based on your pool’s size, type, and usage, ensuring efficient care without unnecessary expense. Regular inspections by professionals can also extend the lifespan of your pool and equipment, saving money on repairs or replacements over time.

Conclusion: PoolTech – The Best Pool Maintenance Company in Dubai

For reliable, high-quality pool care, PoolTech is the top choice among swimming pool maintenance companies in Dubai. Their expert team handles everything from water chemistry to equipment inspections, ensuring your pool is always safe, clean, and ready for use. Whether you need regular cleaning, emergency repairs, or a full-service maintenance package, PoolTech offers unmatched services tailored to your needs.

Transform your pool into a luxurious, hassle-free oasis with PoolTech. Contact them today for pool maintenance Dubai!

[myswimmingpoolequipment]

Simplifying pool care with quality swimming pool maintenance equipment in Miami

If you're looking for trusted pool maintenance equipment in Miami, you've found the right place at MySwimmingPoolEquipment.net. It is your online pool equipment headquarters that offers only the best pool products available, that's going to keep your pool clean and working right and helps you do this while staying at home!

A mission built on experience and trust

The mission of My Swimming Pool Equipment was to make pool maintenance easier, more affordable, and backed by expert support. With over ten years of hands-on experience in the pool service and repair industry, the team behind the site understands the frustrations pool owners often face overpriced parts, confusing product specs, and unreliable customer service. This online store was created to change that.

A selection of trusted pool equipment

What distinguishes this platform is the focus on quality. Homeowners managing a pool for a backyard oasis or pool professionals maintaining several locations will be able to select from a variety of high performing products from the most trusted brands within the industry.  Their catalog features:

Pool Pumps: Essential for water circulation, available in energy-efficient models.

Pool Filters:  Sand, cartridge, and DE filters designed to keep your water crystal clear.

Heaters and Heat Pumps: Extend your swim season with dependable heating options.

Salt systems: You’ll feel good about using salt systems, because you'll be enjoying soft, sanitized water, while reducing chemicals.

Pool lights: It add ambiance and visibility to the pool area while providing high-quality LED and halogen lights.

Cleaning equipment: If you need cleaning equipment, we have all the parts to make the cleaning process easier.

Every product available on their website has been selected based on durability, performance, and ease of use, which means you can take comfort in knowing they only sell equipment that is built to last.

Expert support every step of the way

What truly makes MySwimmingPoolEquipment.net different is the expert guidance they offer. Selecting the right part for your pool can be complicated, especially with so many options on the market. That’s where their team comes in. Whether you require assistance pinpointing a pump model or determining which filter will work best with your setup, their knowledgeable support staff is just a click away.

Whether you’re replacing a spent filter or upgrading your entire system, you will find reliable products and friendly assistance at every level.

Visit MySwimmingPoolEquipment.net today and experience a smarter way to shop for pool maintenance solutions in Miami and beyond.

[americanfiberpools]

How to Clean a Fiberglass Pool? American Fiberglass Pools, Houston, TX

Owning a fiberglass swimming pool is a long-term investment in beauty, fun, and home value. But like any investment, it needs care. One of the most common questions our team at American Fiberglass Pools hears from Houston homeowners is:

“How do I clean my fiberglass pool and keep it looking new?”

Great question — and one that’s more important than many pool owners realise.

Fiberglass pools are incredibly durable and smooth, which means they resist algae and staining better than concrete or vinyl alternatives. However, they still need routine maintenance to stay pristine. Whether you're a new pool owner or simply need a refresher, this comprehensive guide is your go-to manual for fiberglass pool cleaning and care, straight from the professionals who’ve been building them for over 50 years.

Why Fiberglass Pools Are Easier to Maintain

Before diving into the "how," let’s talk about the "why."

Fiberglass pools have a non-porous gel coat surface, meaning:

Algae doesn’t grow as easily.

Fewer chemicals are required.

Less brushing is needed.

This surface makes cleaning faster and safer, and long-term costs lower. That’s one of the many reasons why residents of Houston and beyond choose fiberglass over traditional materials.

Step-by-Step Guide: How to Clean a Fiberglass Pool

Keeping your pool sparkling clean isn’t rocket science, but it does require consistency and the right technique. Follow this step-by-step cleaning routine to maintain your fiberglass pool's beauty and performance.

1. Skim the Surface Daily

Use a fine-mesh skimmer to remove leaves, bugs, and debris floating on the water.

Doing this daily helps prevent debris from sinking and staining the pool surface.

2. Vacuum Weekly

Use a manual or automatic pool vacuum designed for fiberglass surfaces.

Target the pool floor and hard-to-reach corners.

Tip: Avoid stiff-bristled brushes that can damage the gel coat.

3. Brush Gently

Brush the pool walls and steps once a week using a soft-bristle brush.

Focus on waterline areas where sunscreen, body oils, and dirt tend to accumulate.

4. Monitor Water Chemistry

Balanced water chemistry is essential for both cleanliness and surface protection.

Check and adjust the following at least twice a week:

Chemical Ideal Range

pH 7.2 – 7.6

Alkalinity 80 – 120 ppm

Calcium Hardness 200 – 400 ppm

Chlorine 1 – 3 ppm

You can use test strips or take a sample to your local pool supply store.

5. Shock the Pool Bi-Weekly

Apply a non-chlorine shock or oxidiser every 2 weeks.

This helps break down contaminants and keeps your water crystal clear.

6. Clean the Filter Regularly

Backwash sand or DE filters.

Remove and rinse cartridge filters.

This ensures maximum water circulation and filtration.

7. Inspect for Stains

Fiberglass is stain-resistant, but not stain-proof.

Common stain culprits:

Organic debris (leaves, berries)

Metals (iron, copper in water)

Sunscreen or oils

Use a vitamin C tablet to test. If it lightens the stain, it’s metal-based. Use an appropriate stain remover.

Can You Use Household Cleaners?

No! Avoid household cleaning products like bleach or abrasive scrubs.

Instead:

Use pool-specific fiberglass-safe cleaners.

Avoid anything that could dull or scratch the surface.

When to Call in the Pros?

If you notice:

Persistent stains

Cloudy water that won’t clear

Cracks or surface issues

…it might be time to call American Fiberglass Pools for a fiberglass pool repair or resurfacing consultation.

We offer:

Fiberglass Pool Resurfacing

Baptismal Resurfacing

Fiberglass Pool Installation

Pool Crack Repair & Leak Fixing

We’ve handled thousands of pool restorations over the past five decades across Houston and surrounding areas — and we’re just getting started.

Resurfacing Your Fiberglass Pool: Is It Time?

Over time, even the most durable pools can show signs of wear:

Faded color

Surface blisters (osmotic bubbles)

Rough texture

That’s when professional resurfacing becomes essential — not just for looks, but for safety and structural integrity.

Our resurfacing services breathe new life into your pool, restoring its original lustre and extending its lifespan by decades.

Baptismal Pool Cleaning & Resurfacing

At American Fiberglass Pools, we also specialize in baptismal pools — a unique and sacred space that deserves expert care.

We ensure:

Spotless presentation

Non-slip surfaces

Seamless repairs or touch-ups

If your church or facility needs baptismal resurfacing, trust the company with over 50 years of craftsmanship.

Why Choose American Fiberglass Pools?

You’ve got options. But here’s why Houston chooses us:

50 Years of Experience

 Locally Owned & Operated in Houston

Specialists in Fiberglass Construction & Repair

Personalised Pool Design Consultation

 In-House Team – No Subcontractors

 Commitment to Quality, Always

At American Fiberglass Pools, we don’t just build pools, we build lifelong relationships.

Related Keywords We Serve:

To make this blog even more helpful and SEO-rich, we’ve included semantically related phrases customers often search for:

Fiberglass pool cleaning tips

Pool maintenance in Houston

How to maintain a fiberglass pool

Fiberglass pool resurfacing near me

Pool chemical balance for fiberglass pools

Smooth pool surface care

Baptismal pool resurfacing in Houston

Let’s Make Your Pool Sparkle Again!

Whether you need cleaning guidance, a free resurfacing estimate, or a brand-new fiberglass pool installation, American Fiberglass Pools is ready to serve you with the same trusted quality we’ve offered since 1971.

Business Info:

Address: 10528 Tanner Rd, Houston, TX 77041, United States Phone: +1 (713) 466-0796 Website:  https://americanfiberglasspools.com Email: info@americanfiberglasspools.com

 Business Hours: Monday–Friday: 7:30 AM – 4:30 PM Saturday & Sunday: Closed

Ready to make your pool shine?Call now or contact us to book your consultation with Houston’s fiberglass pool experts.

[pioneerfountains]

Designing Excellence: Why Pioneer Fountains is Recognized as the Best Swimming Pool Manufacturer

Swimming pools have evolved from luxury additions to essential features of modern architecture — enhancing private homes, resorts, fitness centers, schools, and public spaces. Whether for recreation, therapy, or aesthetics, the demand for beautifully designed, durable, and technically sound swimming pools is rising steadily across India. Meeting this demand with innovation and precision, Pioneer Fountains has emerged as the Best Swimming Pool Manufacturer, known for excellence in design, engineering, and execution.

What Makes a Swimming Pool Manufacturer the Best?

The title of the Best Swimming Pool Manufacturer is not simply about delivering a good-looking pool. It involves mastery over multiple disciplines — civil engineering, hydraulic systems, water filtration technology, waterproofing solutions, and safety protocols. Moreover, the best manufacturer also provides a balance of aesthetics, functionality, and longevity.

Pioneer Fountains has mastered this balance, offering clients pools that are visually impressive and technically robust. From compact rooftop pools to sprawling resort-style installations, they deliver reliable, high-performance aquatic structures that meet global standards.

Comprehensive Design and Customization Capabilities

One of the major reasons Pioneer Fountains stands out as the Best Swimming Pool Manufacturer is their ability to customize each project. They do not follow a one-size-fits-all approach. Every pool is designed after careful analysis of space, soil conditions, client preferences, and intended usage.

Whether a client seeks an Olympic-sized training pool, a luxurious infinity pool, or a compact plunge pool, Pioneer Fountains delivers fully tailored solutions that blend seamlessly with the surrounding architecture and landscape.

Advanced Filtration and Circulation Systems

Behind every crystal-clear pool is a high-performance filtration and water circulation system. As the Best Swimming Pool Manufacturer, Pioneer Fountains integrates top-grade filtration technologies — from sand and cartridge filters to ozone and UV-based systems — ensuring hygiene, clarity, and user safety.

They also offer intelligent automation systems for water level control, pH monitoring, and chemical dosing, minimizing manual effort while maintaining consistent water quality.

Use of High-Quality Construction Materials

The longevity of any swimming pool depends heavily on the quality of materials used in construction. Pioneer Fountains uses premium-grade concrete, waterproofing membranes, tiles, and plumbing components sourced from trusted suppliers. Their engineering team ensures structural integrity, leak prevention, and long-term durability — even under high usage or extreme weather conditions.

This commitment to material quality and construction excellence cements their reputation as the Best Swimming Pool Manufacturer in India.

Elegant Pool Aesthetics and Lighting Features

In today’s competitive market, a pool must also appeal visually. Pioneer Fountains excels in creating pools that are as visually stunning as they are functional. From mood lighting and underwater LED fixtures to designer tiles and glass walls, their pools reflect refined taste and cutting-edge design.

They also offer add-ons like water curtains, Jacuzzi jets, sunken decks, and poolside landscaping — all of which transform a standard pool into a luxury experience.

Energy-Efficient and Eco-Friendly Pool Solutions

Sustainability is a growing concern in construction, and swimming pools are no exception. As a forward-thinking brand and the Best Swimming Pool Manufacturer, Pioneer Fountains offers green solutions such as solar heating systems, energy-efficient pumps, and water-saving technologies.

These features help clients reduce operational costs and environmental impact, aligning luxury with responsibility.

Applications Across Multiple Sectors

Pioneer Fountains serves a wide range of clients — from real estate developers and five-star resorts to educational institutions and private villa owners. Their versatility and capability to deliver on various scales make them a preferred choice for:

Residential swimming pools

Resort and hotel pools

Commercial fitness center pools

School and university training pools

Rooftop and terrace pools

Spa and wellness center pools

This diversity of experience further confirms their place among the Best Swimming Pool Manufacturers in India.

Complete Project Lifecycle Management

From initial concept to final execution and after-sales support, Pioneer Fountains manages the entire project lifecycle. They offer:

Site analysis and 3D pool design

Structural and MEP (mechanical, electrical, plumbing) planning

Construction, waterproofing, and finishing

System integration and quality testing

Ongoing maintenance and AMC (Annual Maintenance Contract)

This end-to-end approach not only simplifies the process for clients but also ensures quality control and timely delivery.

Trusted by Industry Professionals

Over the years, Pioneer Fountains has built strong relationships with architects, builders, designers, and government agencies. Their transparency, professionalism, and consistent delivery make them one of the most reliable names in the industry.

Whether it’s a private villa pool or a large-scale public project, clients repeatedly turn to Pioneer Fountains for their trustworthiness and attention to detail.

Conclusion

Choosing the right swimming pool manufacturer can make the difference between a basic construction and a premium, lasting aquatic experience. As the Best Swimming Pool Manufacturer, Pioneer Fountains sets itself apart through personalized service, technical innovation, and aesthetic brilliance.

For anyone seeking to build a swimming pool that is functional, stylish, and future-ready, Pioneer Fountains is the name to remember — where engineering excellence meets architectural elegance.

[alexcalder91]

Pool Enzymes Natural Pool & Filter Cleaner I Bio Natural Solutions

 Natural Pool & Filter Cleaner suitable for above & below ground pools, Pool Enzymes eliminates organic material reduce the need for chemicals.

Maintaining a crystal-clear swimming pool requires more than just chlorine and regular scrubbing. Over time, organic contaminants like oils, lotions, leaves, and debris can accumulate, leading to cloudy water, clogged filters, and increased chemical usage. That’s where Bio Natural Solutions comes in with its advanced Pool Enzymes, Pool Clarifier, and Filter Cleaner products.

In this comprehensive guide, we’ll explore how pool enzymes work, why they’re essential for pool maintenance, and how Bio Natural Solutions can help you achieve a cleaner, healthier pool with minimal effort.

Why Choose Pool Enzymes for Your Swimming Pool?

Traditional pool maintenance relies heavily on chlorine and other harsh chemicals to kill bacteria and algae. While effective, these chemicals can cause skin irritation, strong odors, and even damage pool equipment over time.

Pool enzymes offer a natural, eco-friendly alternative by breaking down organic waste at the molecular level. This reduces the need for excessive chlorine, prevents cloudy water, and keeps your pool filter running efficiently.

Key Benefits of Using Pool Enzymes:

Reduces Chlorine Demand — Enzymes break down organic matter, allowing chlorine to work more efficiently.

Prevents Cloudy Water — A pool clarifier enhances water clarity by eliminating tiny particles.

Extends Filter Life — A high-quality filter cleaner prevents clogs and improves filtration.

Eco-Friendly & Safe — Gentle on skin, eyes, and pool surfaces.

Saves Money — Less chemical usage means lower maintenance costs.

How Do Pool Enzymes Work?

Enzymes are biological catalysts that speed up the breakdown of organic contaminants such as:

Body oils & sweat

Sunscreen & cosmetics

Leaves & grass clippings

Algae spores

Unlike chlorine, which kills bacteria but leaves behind dead organic matter, pool enzymes dissolve these wastes completely, preventing them from turning into chloramines (the compounds responsible for strong chlorine smells and eye irritation).

The Science Behind Pool Enzymes

Bio Natural Solutions’ enzyme-based products contain specialized proteins that target:

Protease enzymes — Break down proteins (sweat, skin cells).

Lipase enzymes — Dissolve oils and lotions.

Amylase enzymes — Decompose carbohydrates from leaves and debris.

By breaking these contaminants into smaller, water-soluble molecules, enzymes ensure they are easily filtered out, keeping your pool water pristine.

Bio Natural Solutions: Premium Pool Maintenance Products

1. Pool Enzymes — The Natural Cleaner

Bio Natural Solutions’ Pool Enzymes are designed to work alongside your existing pool chemicals, reducing the need for excessive chlorine. Simply add the recommended dose weekly, and let the enzymes do the hard work.

Key Features: Fast-acting formula Safe for all pool types (concrete, vinyl, fiberglass) Compatible with saltwater and chlorine pools

2. Pool Clarifier — For Crystal Clear Water

Even with proper filtration, tiny particles can make pool water appear hazy. A pool clarifier binds these particles together, making them large enough to be caught by the filter.

Why Choose Our Pool Clarifier? Non-toxic & phosphate-free Works in just 24–48 hours Prevents recurring cloudiness

3. Filter Cleaner — Maximize Filtration Efficiency

A clogged filter reduces water circulation, leading to algae growth and poor water quality. Bio Natural Solutions’ Filter Cleaner removes built-up oils, grease, and debris from sand, cartridge, and DE filters.

Benefits: 🔹 Extends filter lifespan 🔹 Improves water flow 🔹 Reduces backwashing frequency

How to Use Bio Natural Solutions’ Pool Maintenance Products

Step 1: Weekly Application of Pool Enzymes

Add 1 capful per 10,000 liters of pool water.

Pour directly into the skimmer or around the pool edges.

For heavy contamination, double the initial dose.

Step 2: Monthly Use of Pool Clarifier

Add as directed after testing water balance.

Run the filter for 24–48 hours for best results.

Step 3: Quarterly Filter Cleaning

Backwash or rinse the filter first.

Soak cartridges in Filter Cleaner solution (or add to sand/DE filters).

Rinse thoroughly before reassembling.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q: Are pool enzymes safe for saltwater pools?

A: Yes! Bio Natural Solutions’ enzymes are compatible with all pool types, including saltwater systems.

Q: How often should I use a pool clarifier?

A: Use a pool clarifier once a month or whenever water appears hazy.

Q: Can I use enzymes with an automatic pool cleaner?

A: Absolutely! Enzymes enhance cleaning by breaking down debris before it reaches the filter.

Q: Do enzymes replace chlorine?

A: No, but they significantly reduce chlorine demand by eliminating organic waste.

Conclusion: A Smarter Way to Maintain Your Pool

With Bio Natural Solutions’ Pool Enzymes, Pool Clarifier, and Filter Cleaner, you can enjoy a sparkling clean pool with less effort and fewer chemicals. These innovative products provide a sustainable, cost-effective solution for pool owners who want:

Clearer water

Longer-lasting filters

Reduced chemical usage

Ready to transform your pool maintenance routine? Explore Bio Natural Solutions’ range today!

Final Tips for Optimal Pool Care

🔹 Test water chemistry weekly. 🔹 Brush walls and vacuum regularly. 🔹 Use enzymes consistently for best results.

By integrating pool enzymes into your maintenance routine, you’ll spend less time cleaning and more time enjoying your pristine pool!

[backyardbases]

Why Geotextile Fabric is Essential for Your Backyard Projects | Backyard Bases

When it comes to creating durable and long-lasting backyard structures, such as patios, sheds, or garden beds, the foundation plays a crucial role. One of the most effective materials to improve the foundation of these projects is geotextile fabric. At Backyard Bases, we understand the importance of a strong, stable base for all your outdoor projects. That’s why we recommend incorporating geotextile fabric to ensure your backyard structures remain solid for years to come.

What is Geotextile Fabric?

Geotextile fabric is a permeable textile material designed to separate, filter, reinforce, protect, or drain soil. It’s commonly made from synthetic fibers like polypropylene or polyester, engineered to withstand harsh outdoor conditions. Its ability to allow water to pass through while preventing soil erosion or mixing makes it a vital component in many landscaping and construction projects.

Why Use Geotextile Fabric in Backyard Bases?

Soil Stabilization: One of the main benefits of geotextile fabric is its ability to stabilize soil. By placing this fabric between the soil and gravel or sand layers, it prevents the mixing of materials, which could otherwise lead to uneven settling and shifting of your base. This is especially important for structures like sheds or patios where a stable foundation is key.

Drainage Improvement: Proper drainage is essential to prevent water buildup that can weaken the foundation. Geotextile fabric allows water to flow through freely, reducing water retention while keeping soil particles in place. This helps avoid pooling and erosion issues in your backyard base.

Erosion Control: If your backyard has sloped areas or loose soil, geotextile fabric can help control erosion. It holds the soil together while still permitting water to drain, keeping your landscape intact and stable over time.

Cost-Effective and Easy to Install: Compared to other ground stabilization methods, geotextile fabric is a cost-effective solution. It is lightweight and easy to install, saving you time and money on your backyard projects.

Applications of Geotextile Fabric in Backyard Bases

At Backyard Bases, we’ve seen geotextile fabric used successfully in a variety of projects:

Patio Bases: When building a patio, placing geotextile fabric under the gravel base prevents soil contamination and ensures a firm surface.

Shed Foundations: Using geotextile fabric beneath gravel bases helps maintain a level and stable shed foundation.

Driveways and Walkways: The fabric helps prevent ruts and uneven surfaces by stabilizing the base layer.

Garden Beds: It helps separate soil layers and reduces weed growth while improving drainage.

How to Install Geotextile Fabric for Your Backyard Base

Installing geotextile fabric is straightforward. After clearing the area and leveling the soil, roll out the fabric over the surface. Make sure to overlap edges by at least 6 to 12 inches to prevent soil from seeping through. Then, add your gravel or sand base on top. This simple step significantly improves the longevity and performance of your backyard base.

Conclusion

Using geotextile fabric in your backyard base projects is a smart choice that offers soil stabilization, improved drainage, and erosion control. It’s a versatile and cost-effective material that ensures your outdoor structures remain durable and stable. At Backyard Bases, we recommend incorporating geotextile fabric as a foundational element for all your backyard construction needs. Whether you’re building a shed, patio, or pathway, this fabric helps you create a solid, long-lasting base that can withstand the test of time.

[poolmastersjrnl]

Beat the Heat: The Importance of Expert Pool Cleaning Services in Dubai

Dubai’s climate is made for poolside living—sunshine almost every day, high temperatures, and a lifestyle that blends luxury with leisure. But with great pools come great responsibilities. If you're a homeowner, hotel manager, or property developer, maintaining your pool isn’t optional—it’s essential.

This is where professional pool cleaning services Dubai prove invaluable.

Why Pools in Dubai Need Extra Attention

Dubai is known for its iconic skyline and upscale residential properties. Most of these homes and resorts feature stunning swimming pools, but the desert environment presents unique challenges:

Sand and dust storms constantly dirty your water and surfaces.

Extreme heat can quickly turn a poorly maintained pool into a breeding ground for bacteria and algae.

High usage during weekends and holidays can throw off your pool’s chemical balance.

Without a proper maintenance routine, your luxurious pool can quickly lose its sparkle—and even pose health risks.

What Makes a Dubai Pool Cleaning Service Stand Out?

Professional cleaners do far more than just remove leaves. Here’s what top-tier services in Dubai typically include:

1. Comprehensive Water Testing

They regularly check chlorine, pH, calcium, and TDS (Total Dissolved Solids) to ensure water is safe for swimming.

2. Surface & Equipment Cleaning

This includes skimming, brushing walls, vacuuming the pool floor, and cleaning filters, skimmers, and pumps to ensure optimal performance.

3. Algae and Bacteria Prevention

Special treatments are used to prevent or eliminate algae, especially during the warmer months when growth accelerates.

4. System Inspection & Repairs

Early detection of pump issues, leaks, or filter problems can save you thousands in the long run.

5. Tailored Maintenance Schedules

Whether you need weekly, bi-weekly, or seasonal service, reliable companies offer flexible packages to fit your lifestyle.

How Often Should You Clean Your Pool in Dubai?

In cooler climates, pools may be cleaned weekly or even monthly. In Dubai? You’ll need at least weekly maintenance, and during sandstorms or heavy use, even more frequently. Professionals can help you build a schedule based on pool size, usage, and environmental conditions.

Benefits of Hiring a Professional Pool Cleaning Company in Dubai

Time-saving: No need to spend your weekends handling chemicals and cleaning filters.

Expertise: Trained technicians can handle advanced equipment and prevent costly mistakes.

Health & Safety: Clean water prevents skin irritation, infections, and other health risks.

Asset protection: A well-maintained pool lasts longer and retains property value.

Choosing the Right Company

Look for a company that offers:

Experienced and certified technicians

Transparent pricing with no hidden charges

Emergency services and flexible appointments

Eco-friendly and DEWA-compliant practices

Final Thoughts

In a city where pools are part of the lifestyle, professional pool care is more than a service—it’s peace of mind. Don’t let dust, algae, or chemical imbalances ruin your backyard retreat.

[shadebaseshop]

Backyard Bedrock The Science Behind Solid Shed Bases

Few additions for backyard upgrades are as practical and adaptable as a garden shed. Whether you're storing tools, housing bikes, or setting up a personal workspace, your shed should rest on a foundation that will not collapse, shift, or age over time. The foundation holds the key to a long-lasting, robust shed. Knowing the science of a good Shed Base will help you to avoid future inconveniences, costs, and time.

Why The Shed Base Matters

A shed is only as strong as its base. Your shed might experience uneven floors, wrong door alignment, or worse—water damage and rot—without a correct foundation. A properly built base protects the structure from ground moisture, gives it stability in extreme circumstances, and prevents structural sagging.

Your base choice depends on several elements, including local climate, drainage capability, soil composition, and shed size. Let's investigate the fundamental ideas guiding the construction of a rock-solid shed base.

1.Ground Evaluation: Understand Your Soil

Evaluate your soil before any building starts. While clay retains water and can expand or contract with moisture changes, sandy soil drains well but might shift over time. Stable construction calls for loamy soil, a balanced mix of clay, sand, and silt.

To Test Your Soil:

Make a little hole and fill it with water.

Good drainage is indicated if it drains in a few hours.

Consider raising the foundation above grade or drainage options if it pooled or drains gradually.

2.Choosing The Right Base Type

Depending on how the shed is used and the state of the location, several kinds of shed bases exist with benefits:

Gravel Base

For wooden sheds, a gravel base provides great drainage and is perfect. Crushed stone or compacted gravel gives a level, stable surface and lets water filter away from the building.

Concrete Slab A concrete slab is the gold standard for workshops or sheds big in weight. It is robust, long-lasting, and offers a level surface. Still, it calls for careful formwork, curing time, and potentially expert installation.

Paver Base Pavers are a compromise between gravel and concrete; they are more refined than gravel but simpler than concrete. They are frequently chosen for aesthetic reasons, provide fair support, and can follow the terrain.

Plastic Or Timber Base Kits Small to medium sheds often use these prefabricated systems. Although they may not provide the long-term durability of gravel or concrete, they are simple to install and raise the shed off the ground.

3.Drainage The Unsung Hero

The greatest enemy of a shed is water. Even the most resilient materials can suffer deterioration from extended wetness exposure. From the ground up, drainage has to be thought of:

Grade The Soil So That It Slope Away From The Shed

Include a weed membrane under the base to stop plant growth and water retention.

If your yard holds a lot of water, utilize drainage systems or French drains.

4.Compaction The Road to Longevity

A typical cause Shed Bases collapse is loose soil. Prior to laying gravel, concrete, or pavers, use a hand tamper or plate compactor to compact the soil. Every extra layer—gravel, for instance—should now be re compacted. This guarantees stability and lowers settling risk.

5.Load-Bearing Science

Especially if you're using it as a workshop or storing tools, sheds carry more weight than you would expect. One must first know load-bearing capacity.

For extra strength, a concrete slab should be at least four inches thick and wire mesh or rebar should reinforce it. To evenly distribute weight, gravel bases should have at least 4–6 inches of compacted material. Choose pressure-treated wood for timber bases and raise it to minimize contact with moisture.

6.Anchoring For Wind Resistance

Especially in coastal regions, a good foundation must also withstand lateral motion and uplift. Ground anchors, metal straps, or embedded bolts will help you secure your shed to the foundation, thereby preventing it from becoming a hazard should storms arise.

7.Climate Considerations

Frost heave might impact shed bases in colder areas. Frost heave is caused by soil water freezing and expanding, therefore driving the base upward. Foundations should go below the frost line or use frost-resistant materials like gravel and insulated slabs to help to lower this.

Conclusion: Build

Building a shed is a significant investment—not just in money, but in utility and value for your property. A strong, science-backed base lays the groundwork for decades of durability. By considering soil type, drainage, load capacity, and environmental conditions, you’ll not only protect your shed but ensure it serves your needs for years to come. Whether you're laying concrete or spreading gravel, remember: a solid shed starts from the ground up.

[poolequipmentparts]

The Most Common Pentair Filter Leaks and How to Repair Them

Maintaining a crystal-clear swimming pool demands efficient equipment, and at the heart of any clean pool lies a reliable filtration system. Pentair, a leading brand in pool equipment, is known for its high-quality filters, including cartridge, sand, and DE (diatomaceous earth) models. However, even top-tier systems are not immune to wear and tear. One of the most common issues pool owners face is filter leakage.

A leaking Pentair filter not only reduces filtration efficiency but can also lead to water waste, higher utility bills, and potential damage to surrounding pool equipment. Fortunately, with the correct information and equipment, the majority of leaks can be found and fixed. This article will guide you through the most common Pentair filter leaks, their causes, and step-by-step instructions on how to fix them.

Understanding Pentair Pool Filters: An Overview

It's critical to comprehend the fundamental parts of Pentair filters before beginning any repairs:

Tank Body: The main shell of the filter, housing the internal media.

Multiport or Push-Pull Valve: Controls flow for filtering, backwashing, and rinsing.

O-Rings and Gaskets: Ensure a watertight seal at connections and fittings.

Clamp Assembly: Secures the filter body and lid together (for models such as FNS Plus and Clean & Clear).

Drain Plug: Allows draining of water for maintenance.

Common Leak Points and How to Repair Them

1. Tank Clamp or Band Leaks

Cause:

Loose or misaligned clamp bands are a frequent source of leaks, especially after cleaning or reassembly. If the tank halves aren't properly aligned, water will escape through the seam.

Symptoms:

Water trickling or spraying from the center seam

Visible water stains or rust near the clamp

Repair Steps:

Turn off the pump and relieve system pressure by opening the air relief valve.

Inspect the clamp band for cracks or damage.

Loosen and remove the clamp, then carefully realign the tank halves.

Examine and grease the O-ring located within the tank seam. Replace it if it's stretched, cracked, or flattened.

Re-seat the clamp evenly and tighten according to the manufacturer’s torque specifications.

Restart the system and check for leaks.

Pro Tip: Always apply a silicone-based lubricant to O-rings for a better seal and easier maintenance.

For optimal performance, make sure you have high-quality Pentair filter parts that keep your pool water clean and free of debris.

2. Cracked Filter Tank

Cause:

Over-tightening of clamps, freezing temperatures, or age-related degradation can cause the fiberglass or polymer tank to crack.

Symptoms:

Persistent leaking from a specific spot on the body

Hairline cracks visible on the tank shell

Water pooling around the filter base

Repair Steps:

Shut down the system and relieve pressure.

Identify the crack. If it’s minor, you may attempt a temporary epoxy seal.

For permanent repair, replace the filter tank or entire filter unit, as most manufacturers do not recommend structural repair due to safety concerns.

Note: Cracked tanks should be treated seriously. High pressure in pool systems can make this a safety hazard.

3. Leaking Drain Plug

Cause:

The drain plug or drain cap can become brittle or cracked, or the O-ring may degrade over time.

Symptoms:

Steady dripping from the bottom of the filter

Water loss even when the system is off

Repair Steps:

Close the air relief valve and turn off the pump.

Unscrew the drain plug and inspect the O-ring.

Replace the O-ring or the entire plug if damaged.

After lubricating the replacement O-ring, firmly replace the plug.

4. O-Ring or Gasket Failures

Cause:

O-rings and gaskets can become worn, brittle, or flattened due to age, chemical exposure, or improper installation.

Common Leak Locations:

Pump-to-filter union

Multiport valve connections

Air relief valve

Repair Steps:

Isolate the leaking joint and disassemble the affected part.

After removing the old O-ring, thoroughly clean the groove.

Install a new O-ring and apply pool-safe lubricant.

Reassemble and test for leaks.

Reminder: Never use petroleum jelly; it degrades rubber and can cause leaks to worsen.

5. Leaking Multiport or Backwash Valve

Cause:

Internal spider gasket failure or valve housing cracks can lead to leaks when water bypasses the correct channels.

Symptoms:

Water leaking out of the waste line during normal filtration

Drips around the valve handle or housing

Repair Steps:

Turn off the pump and move the valve handle to the “Closed” position.

Disassemble the valve top by removing screws or bolts.

Inspect the spider gasket for warping or separation.

Replace the gasket with an exact model-specific replacement.

Reassemble and lubricate internal components.

Test the valve in various positions for leaks.

6. Air Relief Valve Leaks

Cause:

The air relief valve, located at the top of the filter, may crack or its sealing O-ring may fail.

Symptoms:

Water spraying or bubbling from the top

Difficulty building pressure in the system

Repair Steps:

Remove the valve by twisting it counterclockwise.

Inspect the threads and O-ring.

Replace the valve or O-ring as needed.

Apply Teflon tape if thread damage is suspected.

Reinstall and tighten gently.

Preventive Maintenance Tips for Leak-Free Operation

While knowing how to fix a leak is essential, preventing them in the first place is even better. Here are key maintenance tips to keep your Pentair filter in optimal condition:

Regularly Inspect O-Rings and Seals

Check O-rings during every filter cleaning and replace them annually, even if no problems are visible.

Don’t Over-Tighten

Excessive tightening of filter clamps or unions can damage threads and crack plastic fittings.

Protect From Freezing

Drain and winterize your filter system in cold climates to prevent freeze damage.

Maintain Balanced Water Chemistry

Unbalanced pH and chlorine levels can deteriorate seals and internal components.

Keep a Spare Parts Kit

Keep a kit handy with common Pentair replacement parts such as O-rings, drain plugs, and lubricant.

A leaking Pentair pool filter doesn't have to spell disaster. By identifying the most common sources of leaks—such as faulty O-rings, misaligned clamps, or worn drain plugs—you can often resolve the issue quickly and affordably. Regular maintenance and careful reassembly after cleaning go a long way in preventing future problems.

[riversidepoolcontractors]

How Riverside Pool Contractors Help with Pool Maintenance and Repairs

When it comes to keeping your backyard oasis in perfect condition, regular maintenance and timely repairs are essential. Pool ownership offers countless benefits—from relaxation to increased home value—but only if your pool is properly cared for. This is where experienced Riverside pool contractors like Riverside Pool Contractors come in. With professional service, expert knowledge, and fast response times, local contractors ensure that your pool remains safe, clean, and inviting year-round.

In this article, we’ll explore the various ways Riverside pool contractors support homeowners with maintenance and repair services, why it's important to rely on local experts, and how Riverside Pool Contractors can help protect your investment for the long term.

The Importance of Professional Pool Maintenance

Whether your pool is brand new or several years old, consistent maintenance is critical. Poorly maintained pools can quickly turn into expensive headaches—think murky water, algae blooms, broken pumps, or even structural damage. More importantly, neglecting routine service can affect the health and safety of swimmers.

Here’s why professional pool maintenance is not optional:

Water Quality & Sanitation: Unbalanced chemicals can lead to skin irritation, eye discomfort, or worse—bacterial growth.

Equipment Longevity: Routine inspection and upkeep of pool filters, pumps, heaters, and lighting can extend their lifespan.

Cost Savings: Preventative maintenance is always cheaper than major repairs or replacements.

Safety: A poorly maintained pool can pose risks like slippery tiles, broken lights, or unstable railings.

Riverside Pool Contractors provide full-service maintenance programs to ensure your pool remains in excellent shape all year long.

Services Offered by Riverside Pool Contractors

Local homeowners trust Riverside Pool Contractors because we go beyond basic cleanings. Our maintenance and repair services are comprehensive, personalized, and performed by trained professionals who understand the unique climate and water conditions in Riverside, CA.

Here’s a breakdown of the services we provide:

1. Routine Cleaning and Inspection

We offer weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly service plans based on your needs. Services include:

Skimming debris from the water surface

Vacuuming the pool floor

Brushing pool walls and tile lines

Checking and cleaning skimmer baskets

Inspecting filters and backwashing when necessary

Our technicians also visually inspect all components during every visit to catch any developing issues early.

2. Water Chemistry Balancing

Balanced pool chemistry is critical for safe swimming and equipment protection. Our experts:

Test pH, chlorine, alkalinity, and calcium hardness levels

Adjust chemicals as needed

Monitor for signs of water imbalance, like cloudy water or algae growth

By entrusting this task to a qualified pool contractor in Riverside CA, you avoid costly mistakes and keep your pool crystal clear.

3. Pool Equipment Repair and Replacement

When something breaks, Riverside Pool Contractors are just a phone call away. We repair and replace:

Pool pumps and motors

Filters (cartridge, DE, and sand)

Pool heaters

Chlorinators and salt systems

Pool automation systems

Timers, lighting, and plumbing components

We diagnose issues quickly and offer honest recommendations based on your budget and pool usage.

4. Leak Detection and Structural Repairs

Small leaks can turn into major problems if left untreated. Our advanced leak detection tools help pinpoint trouble spots with precision. We also offer:

Crack repair and resurfacing

Tile replacement

Coping repair

Deck repairs and sealing

No matter the size of the repair, we treat your property with care and professionalism.

5. Pool Opening and Closing Services

If you prefer to shut down your pool during colder months, we offer expert winterizing and reopening services. These include:

Draining and storing pool accessories

Lowering water levels

Cleaning and covering the pool

Rebalancing water and restarting systems in spring

Our seasonal services protect your investment and ensure your pool is ready when the warm weather returns.

Why Choose a Local Pool Contractor in Riverside CA?

Choosing a pool contractor Riverside CA homeowners trust is key to receiving timely, relevant, and personalized service. Here's why working with a local expert like Riverside Pool Contractors is the smart choice:

Familiarity with Riverside’s Climate: We understand the effects of hot summers, occasional winds, and mineral-heavy water that can affect pool chemistry and equipment.

Faster Response Times: We serve the Riverside area exclusively, so our team can respond to emergencies or urgent repairs quickly.

Community Reputation: Our company thrives on local referrals and repeat customers—proof of our commitment to quality.

Knowledge of Local Regulations: Whether you’re building, upgrading, or repairing your pool, we ensure compliance with Riverside County health and safety codes.

We’re not just contractors—we’re your neighbors. That means we care about the same things you do: honesty, transparency, and results that last.

Real Client Experiences

Homeowners throughout Riverside County rely on our services. Here’s what one of our recent customers had to say:

“We were struggling with algae and couldn’t get the water right, no matter what we tried. Riverside Pool Contractors came out the same day, diagnosed the issue, and had our pool clear by the weekend. We’re on their monthly plan now, and it’s been worry-free ever since!” — James R., Canyon Crest

Affordable Maintenance Plans for Every Budget

At Riverside Pool Contractors, we believe every family deserves a clean and safe pool without breaking the bank. That’s why we offer flexible pricing on all maintenance packages. Whether you need weekly cleanings or seasonal checkups, we have a plan that fits your lifestyle.

Want a customized quote? Call us today or send a message through our website to get started.

Stay Informed: Local Pool Regulations in Riverside

Pool owners in Riverside are required to follow local regulations for safety, fencing, and health. Make sure you're in compliance by visiting the official City of Riverside Website. You’ll find resources on pool permits, inspections, and energy efficiency incentives.

Ready to Partner with the Best in Riverside?

If you're searching for reliable, professional help with pool maintenance and repairs, look no further than Riverside Pool Contractors. We’re committed to making pool ownership a stress-free experience by handling every detail—from balancing chemicals to major repairs—with precision and care.

Contact us today to learn how we can keep your pool sparkling, safe, and fully operational all year long.

Riverside Pool Contractors 3638 University Ave Suite 208, Riverside, CA 92501 (951) 579-3152 https://riversidepoolcontractors.com/

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2025 Seauto Crab Pro Cordless Robotic Pool Cleaner: The Ultimate Hands-Free Cleaning Solution

(2025 New) Seauto Crab Pro Cordless Robotic Cleaner, for Inground Pools up to 2000 Sq. ft, all, and Waterline Cleaning Vacuum

👉👉Buy now: https://www.technical-info.com/seauto-crab-pro-cordless-robotic-cleaner

🔥🔥 DISCOUNT: 71% 🔥🔥

Keeping your pool crystal clear has never been easier, thanks to the 2025 Seauto Crab Pro Cordless Robotic Pool Cleaner. Designed for inground pools up to 2,000 sq. ft., this advanced robotic vacuum offers 3D navigation, powerful suction, and waterline cleaning—all without the hassle of cords or complex setups. In this in-depth review, we’ll explore its features, performance, and why it’s a game-changer for pool maintenance.

Introduction: A Leap Forward in Pool Cleaning Technology The Seauto Crab Pro is the latest iteration of Seauto’s popular robotic pool cleaners, boasting enhanced suction power (45,000 Pa), intelligent navigation, and extended battery life. Unlike traditional suction-side or pressure-side cleaners, this cordless model eliminates tangled hoses and complicated installations, making pool maintenance effortless.

Whether you’re dealing with leaves, sand, dirt, or algae, the Crab Pro promises thorough cleaning on floors, walls, and even the waterline—something many robotic cleaners struggle with. Let’s break down its standout features.

Key Features of the 2025 Seauto Crab Pro ✔️ 3D-Navi Cutting-Edge Technology The Crab Pro uses advanced sensors and algorithms to map your pool efficiently, ensuring no spots are missed. Unlike older models that moved randomly, this robot follows an optimized cleaning path, reducing overlap and saving battery life 16.

✔️ 45,000 Pa Suction Power With front and rear scrubbers, this vacuum captures debris of all sizes, from fine sand to small leaves. The large 3.5L filter basket ensures minimal clogging and easy disposal of collected dirt 615.

✔️ Wall & Waterline Cleaning Many robotic cleaners struggle with vertical surfaces, but the Crab Pro climbs walls and scrubs the waterline—a rare feature in cordless models. It uses infrared sensors to adjust its path and avoid obstacles 19.

✔️ Cordless & Easy to Use No cords mean no tangling or setup hassles. Simply press start, drop it in the pool, and let it work. A retrieval hook makes lifting it out effortless 26.

✔️ Long-Lasting & Replaceable Battery The 7,800 mAh battery provides 2.5–4 hours of runtime (depending on cleaning mode) and recharges in 3.5 hours. Unlike some competitors, the battery is user-replaceable, extending the unit’s lifespan 615.

✔️ Three Cleaning Modes Floor-only (for quick cleanups)

Wall-only (focuses on vertical surfaces)

All-cover mode (full pool coverage).

✔️ Smart Alerts & LED Indicators Voice prompts and LED lights notify you of low battery, cleaning completion, or errors, ensuring you’re always informed 15.

Performance: How Well Does It Clean? ✅ Pros: Efficient Debris Pickup: Handles leaves, sand, and fine dirt effectively, leaving pools spotless 14.

Great Wall Climbing: Unlike some models that struggle with vertical surfaces, the Crab Pro scales walls and cleans tiles thoroughly 9.

Minimal Maintenance: The top-loading filter basket is easy to remove and rinse 6.

❌ Cons (Based on User Feedback): Battery Replacement Cost: Some users note that buying a replacement battery can be pricey 8.

App Limitations: While it doesn’t require an app, some users wish for more customization options 13.

Not Ideal for Large Debris: Very big leaves or floating trash may require manual removal 2.

Who Should Buy the Seauto Crab Pro? This cleaner is perfect for:

Busy homeowners who want a hands-off cleaning solution.

Those with inground pools up to 2,000 sq. ft. (not recommended for larger pools).

Anyone tired of corded cleaners and their setup hassles.

However, if you have a very large pool (over 2,150 sq. ft.) or need app-controlled scheduling, you might consider higher-end models like the Seauto Shark 13.

Final Verdict: Is the Seauto Crab Pro Worth It? Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐½ (4.5/5)

The 2025 Seauto Crab Pro is a major upgrade in cordless pool cleaning, offering powerful suction, smart navigation, and hassle-free operation. While it has minor drawbacks (like battery replacement costs), its performance, ease of use, and waterline cleaning make it a top choice for pool owners.

Where to Buy? Official Website: $399 with 30-day returns 1.

Amazon: Check for Lightning Deals (historically as low as $399) 8.

Have You Tried the Seauto Crab Pro? Share Your Thoughts Below! If you’ve used this cleaner, let us know your experience. For more pool maintenance tips, subscribe to our newsletter!