#that they are excited about their STUFFED ANIMALS

[redroomreflections]

Coming Home

Natasha Romanoff x Fem!Reader

Gentle Hands Universe

Summary: Natasha comes home

W/c: 2k

The door creaked open softly, almost too quietly to be noticed, but you heard it—Natasha’s unmistakable presence filling the air like a wave of relief washing over you. You had waited for this moment for weeks, counting down the days until she would return, and now she was finally home. Though the tiredness seeping in your bones kept you from moving from your cozy spot on the couch. You drifted in and out of sleep, hoping to awaken whenever she came in.

Unlike before, when the sound of a door opening would fill you with dread, Natasha’s return was different. She always came home quietly, mindful of the girls—of you. She understood that late at night, Kaia’s sleep was fragile, that loud footsteps or slamming doors could wake her and unravel the calm of your evening. But it wasn’t just the silence Natasha brought; it was the care.

Keith had never been like that. You remembered how he’d come home loud and careless, throwing the door open with no regard for the sleeping child down the hall or for you, who would often be scrambling to pick up the pieces of a long day. Some nights, he wouldn’t even acknowledge you. No "hello," no "I missed you"—just his presence, heavy and indifferent, filling the space without offering comfort.

It wasn’t always the volume of his arrival that bothered you; it was the disregard. The way he could walk into the room and pass you by as if you were invisible, as if your exhaustion and efforts went unseen. There were nights when he’d come home, flop onto the couch, and leave you to finish the endless tasks of caring for Kaia without even a glance in your direction. The silence between you wasn’t peaceful—it was suffocating.

But Natasha… Natasha knew. She recognized your triggers, your unease, the way you tensed when the door opened, half-expecting that same disregard to greet you. And she made the effort. When she came home, she was thoughtful. Careful. Considerate.

Tonight was no different.

The door inched open slowly, the wood creaking gently, and through the crack, a figure crept. She stood in the doorway, her silhouette softened by the dim light of the table lamp, her eyes scanning the room until they landed on you. You were curled up on the couch, a blanket draped over your lap, Kaia’s favorite stuffed animal clutched loosely in your hand, with Kaia's head in your lap. Brynn had finally gone down for the night, and Kaia had fallen asleep in your arms an hour ago after insisting that she "stay up until Mommy comes home." You hadn't anticipated falling asleep too.

She closed the distance between you, kneeling to see the Lilo and Stitch band-aids adorning Kaia's arms and forehead.

"Hey," Natasha said quietly, stroking your hand to wake you.

You stirred, your eyes opening to the sight of her face, the red hair hanging loose around her shoulders. A soft smile spread across your lips, and you whispered, "You're home." You looked around, trying to find your bearings and then remembering.

Natasha smiled. "I’m home," she replied softly, her voice a balm to your heart. She brought your hand to her lips, pressing a kiss to your knuckles as her thumb gently brushed over your skin. "I’ve missed you so much."

She glanced at Kaia and asked, "Is she okay?"

You nodded. "She fell off her bike earlier. Nothing too serious. A couple of scrapes and bumps that she will be excited to tell you about. I told Sam she was too little for that thing."

"Poor baby," Natasha said sympathetically, leaning down to press a kiss to Kaia's temple. Then she sat back on her heels, meeting your gaze. "I'm glad you're both okay."

"Do you need a moment?" You questioned.

"No, I showered at the compound," She shook her head. "Just need to get out of these clothes."

She rose, and you followed, laying Kaia's head on the cushion. Natasha helped you slip out from under her, tucking the blanket in around her and leaving a kiss on her cheek before leading you into the bedroom. She stripped out of her outfit, her movements slow and precise, and then pulled on one of her own shirts.

"Sorry I fell asleep," you told her, "I was going to wait up."

"You had a long day. Don't worry about it," she reassured, "It's nice to see the two of you curled up on the couch."

You smiled, the image bringing joy to your mind.

"How were the girls?" She asked as turned to you.

"They were good," You said softly, stroking a stray hair from Natasha’s forehead. "Kaia had a bit of a meltdown when you left, but Wanda and Pepper were lifesavers. Brynn has been saying 'Mommy' every time she hears the door. They’ve missed you."

Natasha frowned, her shoulders sagging. "I'm sorry."

You cupped her cheeks, your touch drawing her attention.

"No, it's fine," You reassured, "We just missed you. That's all."

Natasha nodded and kissed your forehead. She wrapped her arms around your waist, pulling you close.

"Mmm," She hummed, delighting in your scent. She nuzzled your neck before kissing it. "I love you."

"I love you too," You told her, your hands running down her back. You kissed her jaw, then her cheek, and then her nose, before capturing her lips.

Natasha kissed you slowly, and gently, savoring your taste. Her hands slid down your sides, her fingers hooking in your waistband, and her thumbs traced the skin of your back.

"Mama!" Kaia called from the living room.

Natasha sighed, her lips curving into a pout, and pressed her forehead to yours.

"Mommy's home," You cooed, pecking her lips before walking toward the living room, where Kaia was now sitting up, rubbing her eyes.

"I am still tired," Kaia whined.

You knelt on the floor beside her, pulling her into your arms, and whispered, "I'm sorry if I woke you."

"You didn't wake me, Mama," Kaia said sleepily, hugging you.

"Are you sure?" You asked.

"Uh-huh."

"Good, because I think Mommy is waiting to hear all about the bike ride and your band-aids," You reminded, and Kaia looked up excitedly, her sleepy demeanor forgotten. "She's here."

"Where is she?" Kaia questioned.

You smiled and looked up to see Natasha in the doorway.

"Right here," Natasha said, and Kaia's face lit up.

"Mommy!" She exclaimed, squirming out of your arms. She jumped off the couch and ran to her, and Natasha picked her up, spinning her around. "I missed you."

"I missed you too, my sweet girl," Natasha replied, kissing her cheek.

"Mommy, I do have so many bandaids," Kaia pointed to the one on her forehead, just above her left eyebrow. "One, two, three, four, five! I fell off my bike. I didn’t even cry though. "

"That's a lot of bandaids," Natasha remarked.

"And Mama said that I was really brave," Kaia continued.

"Of course, you were," Natasha agreed, and Kaia smiled.

"You gonna stay here now?"

"Yes," Natasha nodded, "I'm here. No more missions."

"Okay," Kaia hugged her tightly. "I'm glad."

Natasha's heart swelled with affection, and she kissed her again. "Let's get you to bed."

Kaia nodded, her arms wrapped around Natasha's neck. She looked at you and asked, "Can I sleep with you and Mommy tonight?"

"Of course," You nodded, rising to your feet. You followed them into the bedroom and climbed into the bed, and Kaia scrambled over Natasha to take the spot between you. She curled up against you, and you kissed her head.

"I love you," You whispered. Before either of you could think about closing your eyes, a soft whimper was heard over the baby monitor.

"She's awake," Kaia observed.

"It's okay, Kaia. We can take care of her," Natasha said, rising from the bed. "I'll go get her."

"I'm coming," Kaia decided, slipping out from under the covers and running into the nursery.

You watched her go, your heart feeling full, and then looked up at Natasha. "Thank you."

"For what?" She asked, sitting down on the bed beside you.

"For being here," You told her, kissing her gently.

She smiled. "I wouldn't want to be anywhere else." She said before she disappeared into the nursery. A few moments later, she came back with Brynn in her arms and Kaia hot on her tail. Brynn immediately reached for you, tapping at your shirt in question, before squeezing her hands open and closed.

"Okay, okay," You chuckled, taking her from Natasha. You pulled up your shirt and lifted her to your breast, and she latched on eagerly, sucking hungrily. You stroked her dark hair and then looked up at Natasha.

"Mama's so pretty right?" Natasha murmured as Kaia placed herself on her lap. It felt so right seeing the two of them watching you curiously. "And she's feeding our baby," Natasha said proudly, "What could be more beautiful than that?"

"You flatter me,"

"Well, it's true," She said.

"Mommy?" Kaia asked. "Did you catch all the bad guys?"

"I did," Natasha told her.

"Did they give you any booboos?" Kaia questioned.

"No, but it did take a lot of work."

"Like what?"

"Well, I'll tell you when you're older," Natasha reasoned.

"I'm older," Kaia argued, "I'm almost three years old!"

"When you're four."

"That's a long time from now."

"It'll fly by," You promised, and Kaia groaned.

"I don't wanna wait."

"You can wait," You said.

"Why?"

"Because sometimes things are hard to hear, and sometimes it's better to wait," You explained.

"Oh," Kaia looked up at Natasha. "Do you have hard things?"

"Everybody has hard things," Natasha answered.

"So do I," Kaia decided, "I have hard things."

"Like what?" You echoed her question form earlier.

"I don't know," Kaia said.

You smiled.

"That's okay, my sweet girl. Maybe you'll think of one," You said, "But for now, let's all get some sleep."

"Okay, Mama," Kaia nodded, and you handed Brynn to Natasha.

"Will you burp her for me, please?"

"Of course," Natasha took her.

You and Kaia settled down beneath the covers, and once Natasha was finished, she joined you.

"Do you think she'll be asleep soon?" Kaia whispered, looking up at her.

"I don't know, honey. But if she doesn't fall asleep, we can take care of her."

"Okay," Kaia said, "Because I think I'm tired."

"Go ahead and close your eyes," Natasha encouraged, and Kaia obeyed. She rolled over, curling up against you, and you held her close. Brynn rested her cheek on Natasha's chest, her lashes fluttering, as she looked over at you. She was moments away from falling asleep too.

You were surrounded by the ones you loved most. The girls had grown so much in the past year, and so had your relationship with Natasha. She was always there, a constant presence, and even when she was away, her love never failed.

She was different than Keith—she cared, she listened, and she loved. And even after all the pain he caused, all the damage, you wouldn't trade a single moment for a world where you didn't have the girls or her.

[anniebeemine]

parents gone wild- s.r. x fem!reader

warnings: title is misleading but it made me giggle, just domestic bliss :)

You and Spencer were giddy with excitement as you dropped your two little ones off at Penelope’s. She greeted you both with a bright smile, practically bouncing on her toes as she waved off your last-minute instructions. “Go! Enjoy yourselves! You *need* this!" she said with a laugh, hugging you both before shooing you away. There was a surreal feeling as you drove away, the car strangely quiet without the usual baby babble or crying in the backseat. It had been months—no, almost two years—since you and Spencer had a night to yourselves.

“This feels so weird,” Spencer admitted, his hand resting on yours as he navigated through the city streets. “Like we’re… doing something we shouldn’t.”

You smirked. “You mean, like we’re sneaking off?”

“Exactly,” he chuckled. “I mean, no diapers, no screaming for once. Just… quiet.”

You grinned as you pulled up to the restaurant, and for the first time in what felt like forever, you both really dressed up. Spencer was in a crisp button-up, tie slightly loosened, and you in a dress that hadn’t seen the outside of the closet since before your first baby. The restaurant was a dimly lit bistro, with candles on each table and soft jazz playing in the background. The atmosphere was cozy and intimate, and you felt like you were dating again—before kids, before the late-night feedings and endless baby chores.

Dinner was incredible. You laughed over stories, clinked glasses of wine, and indulged in rich food you hadn’t had time for in months. It was like you both let out a collective sigh, a reminder of what it was like to just be *you*—not just parents, but partners, enjoying each other’s company.

By the time you left the restaurant, you were both tipsy from wine and full from food, grinning like lovestruck teenagers.

“You know, I kinda forgot what it’s like to have a conversation where I’m not interrupted by someone screaming for more Cheerios,” you joked as you leaned into Spencer, his arm draped casually over your shoulders.

“I missed this,” he said softly, pressing a kiss to the top of your head. “Just… being with you.”

When you got home, you were still floating from the night, ready to pop open the fancy bottle of wine you had splurged on earlier. The apartment was quiet—eerily so—without the kids. No whirring baby monitor, no toy sounds echoing through the hallway. Just peaceful, blissful silence.

You headed toward the kitchen, calling out to Spencer. “How about we start with the wine before anything else?”

But as you passed the living room, you stopped in your tracks. The sight in front of you was *not* what you wanted to see after such a perfect evening. Toys were scattered everywhere—blocks, stuffed animals, teething rings—every surface was covered. A sippy cup was laying on its side, tiny socks were draped on the coffee table, and the plush playmat was askew. You sighed, staring at the chaos for a moment.

Spencer came up behind you, seeing the same thing. “Maybe we could just… ignore it for tonight?” he suggested, though even as he said it, he didn’t sound convinced.

You bit your lip, torn. “I mean… it won’t take long to clean up. Just a quick tidy, and then we can relax.”

He smiled, knowing that was code for: *We won’t be able to relax until this place is clean.* “Alright. I’ll tackle the dishes.”

You both set off on a whirlwind cleaning spree. What was supposed to be a "quick" tidy turned into something much more. You couldn’t help yourself—once you started picking up the toys, you found yourself folding the kids’ laundry, wiping down the counters, and fluffing the couch pillows. Spencer, meanwhile, was meticulously scrubbing the dishes, loading the dishwasher, and even organizing the pantry as he went. It was almost therapeutic, in a way—cleaning the house without the usual chaos of trying to keep a baby entertained at the same time.

Hours ticked by, and by the time you both sat down on the couch, exhausted, it was nearly 3 a.m.

You collapsed next to Spencer, letting out a long, tired sigh. “Well… at least the house is clean?”

He chuckled softly, stretching his arms out over the back of the couch. “We’re supposed to be drinking wine and relaxing right now.”

“Yeah…” you murmured, leaning your head against his shoulder. “But I’m too tired to even get up and pour a glass.”

Spencer wrapped an arm around you, pulling you closer. “Me too.” You could feel the exhaustion creeping up on you both, but there was a quiet satisfaction in the clean apartment. The silence around you was peaceful, but something felt… off.

After a few moments, Spencer spoke up, his voice low and amused. “You know… Penelope wouldn’t mind keeping them for another night.”

You smiled, closing your eyes as you rested against him. “Yeah, probably not.”

There was a pause, and you could feel Spencer’s heartbeat slow as he relaxed. “But… I miss them,” you whispered.

He nodded against you. “Yeah. I do too.”

The thought of your little ones—Caitlin's giggles, the way she babbled excitedly when Spencer talked to her, the sight of your younger one’s toothless grin—it tugged at both of your hearts. Even with the freedom of a night alone, you realized just how much you loved the little chaos they brought into your lives.

And as you both drifted off to sleep on the couch, arms wrapped around each other, you knew that despite the sleepless nights and the mess, there was nothing you’d trade for the life you had now.

[thezombieprostitute]

Tech Tuesday: Ransom Drysdale

Summary: Your laptop needs repair and you're at risk of embarrassing yourself and the company in front of some very big investors.

Warnings: Crying, Ransom kinda being an ass. Let me know if I missed any.

A/N: Reader is female. No other physical descriptors used.

Tech Tuesdays Masterlist

Part 2

As you're counting down the seconds until your presentation with no file, wondering how you're going to wing this, your temporary laptop dings with an email notification. Taking a look you see it's from Ransom, with an attachment. The message simply says, "found the file. Still working on the laptop." You quickly slap your hands over mouth to stifle the happy screams. That doesn't stop you from bouncing in your seat with tears of relief starting to form.

When you're able to calm down enough you open the attachment and confirm that it's the file you need for your meeting in...you check your watch, 10 MINUTES!!

You type out the quickest, but most meaningful "thank you" response to Ransom before packing up the laptop and running to the meeting room. You need to get set up and review your notes quickly!

Ransom feels relieved when he gets the message that the file was correct, maybe you'll be a little less excitable next time he sees you. If he sees you again. He's hoping to get your laptop fixed up and drop it off at your desk when you're not there. Then he won't have to deal with your emotions again.

To say he's never been comfortable around tears would be an understatement. All his life his parents taught him that tears were either for the weak or for purposes of manipulation. That he wasn't crying because he was hurt or frustrated, but because he was trying to guilt them into giving him attention. He's made progress since he went "no contact" with them but it's still difficult for him to be around emotional people. And god you were so emotional!

And cute. Cutesy! Ransom chides himself. Not cute, just cutesy.

Your cubicle was something else. He'd visited some that had a stuffed animal or a figurine or two, but your desk was practically covered in the damn things. At least it was a good sign your emotions weren't an act. He takes a quick look around his own cubicle, thinking about what it says about him. It's empty of pretty much all personal effects. The only thing he keeps in there is a picture of the beemer he had to sell to get away from his family. What does it say about him that the only personal effects he had was a reminder of what he lost?

Ransom shakes his head. He needs to focus on fixing this laptop. He can't afford to keep thinking about you.

The presentation seems to go well. CEO Levinson asked a lot of good questions that showed he was paying attention and you really felt that you answered them well. He even shook your hand afterwards before going off to talk with the managers and continue negotiations with the clients. Your supervisor even made sure to give you that nod that told you all was well. You were beaming!

As soon as you were out of the conference room, however, you focused on getting yourself to your cubicle. It's been such a hectic day that you just really need to grab one of your plushies and squeeze it tight to help you decompress.

When you enter your cubicle you see your old laptop, all plugged in! You open it up and confirm everything is working, looking good, and still has all of your personalization. There's an email asking you to confirm that the ticket was good to be closed. You were bouncing in your seat as you confirmed. Grabbing the temporary laptop you practically skip to the IT section to return it.

Ransom is walking out, empty coffee mug in hand, as you're walking in.

"Ransom!" you squeal as you bounce on your toes. "Thank you so much! Can I please hug you? Please?" You give him your best puppy dog eyes.

Ransom blinks a few times, "I'm not a hugger. And I need some coffee."

"Oh, okay," you nod. Not everyone likes hugs and you respect that. "I hope you enjoy the coffee! You deserve the best!"

He seems caught off guard by your comment. "Um...thank you," he mumbles before walking past you.

Tech Tuesdays Masterlist

Part 2

Tagging: @alicedopey; @delicatebarness; @ellethespaceunicorn; @icefrozendeadlyqueen; @jaqui-has-a-conspiracy-theory;

@late-to-the-party-81; @lokislady82; @ozwriterchick; @ronearoundblindly; @lokislady82

[humblewarriorgentleman]

"Calvin? Calvin, sweetheart?"

In the darkness Calvin heard the sound of Susie, his wife of fifty-three years. Calvin struggled to open his eyes. God, he was so tired and it took so much strength. Slowly, light replaced the darkness, and soon vision followed. At the foot of his bed stood his wife. Calvin wet his dry lips and spoke hoarsely, "Did... did you.... find him?"

"Yes dear," Susie said smiling sadly, "He was in the attic."

Susie reached into her big purse and brought out a soft, old, orange tiger doll. Calvin could not help but laugh. It had been so long. Too long.

"I washed him for you," Susie said, her voice cracking a little as she laid the stuffed tiger next to her husband.

"Thank you, Susie." Calvin said.

A few moments passed as Calvin just laid on his hospital bed, his head turned to the side, staring at the old toy with nostalgia.

"Dear," Calvin said finally. "Would you mind leaving me alone with Hobbes for a while? I would like to catch up with him."

"All right," Susie said. "I'll get something to eat in the cafeteria. I'll be back soon."

Susie kissed her huband on the forehead and turned to leave. With sudden but gentle strength Calvin stopped her. Lovingly he pulled his wife in and gave her a passionate kiss on the lips. "I love you," he said.

"And I love you," said Susie.

Susie turned and left. Calvin saw tears streaming from her face as she went out the door.

Calvin then turned to face his oldest and dearest friend. "Hello Hobbes. It's been a long time hasn't it old pal?"

Hobbes was no longer a stuffed doll but the big furry old tiger Calvin had always remembered. "It sure has, Calvin." said Hobbes.

"You... haven't changed a bit." Calvin smiled.

"You've changed a lot." Hobbes said sadly.

Calvin laughed, "Really? I haven't noticed at all."

There was a long pause. The sound of a clock ticking away the seconds rang throughout the sterile hospital room.

"So... you married Susie Derkins." Hobbes said, finally smiling. "I knew you always like her."

"Shut up!" Calvin said, his smile bigger than ever.

"Tell me everything I missed. I'd love to hear what you've been up to!" Hobbes said, excited.

And so Calvin told him everything. He told him about how he and Susie fell in love in high school and had married after graduating from college, about his three kids and four grandkids, how he turned Spaceman Spiff into one of the most popular sci-fi novels of the decade, and so on. After he told Hobbes all this there was another pregnant pause.

"You know... I visited you in the attic a bunch of times." Calvin said.

"I know."

"But I couldn't see you. All I saw was a stuffed animal." Calvin voice was breaking and tears of regret started welling up in his eyes.

"You grew up old buddy." said Hobbes.

Calvin broke down and sobbed, hugging his best friend. "I'm so sorry! I'm so sorry I broke my promise! I promised I wouldn't grow up and that we'd be together forever!!"

Hobbes stroke the Calvin's hair, or what little was left of it. "But you didn't."

"What do you mean?"

"We were always together... in our dreams."

"We were?"

"We were."

"Hobbes?"

"Yeah, old buddy?"

"I'm so glad I got to see you like this... one last time..."

"Me too, Calvin. Me too."

"Sweetheart?" Susie voice came from outside the door.

"Yes dear?" Calvin replied.

"Can I come in?" Susie asked.

"Just a minute."

Calvin turned to face Hobbes one last time. "Goodbye Hobbes. Thanks... for everything..."

"No, thank you Calvin." Hobbes said.

Calvin turned back to the door and said, "You can come in now."

Susie came in and said, "Look who's come to visit you."

Calvin's children and grandchildren followed Susie into Calvin's room. The youngest grandchild ran past the rest of them and hugged Calvin in a hard, excited hug. "Grandpa!!" screamed the child in delight.

"Francis!" cried Calvin's daughter, "Be gentle with your grandfather."

Calvin's daughter turned to her dad. "I'm sorry, Daddy. Francis never seems to behave these days. He just runs around making a mess and coming up with strange stories."

Calvin laughed and said, "Well now! That sound just like me when I was his age."

Calvin and his family chatted some more until a nurse said, "Sorry, but visiting hours are almost up."

Calvin's beloved family said good bye and promised to visit tommorrow. As they turned to leave Calvin said, "Francis. Come here for a second."

Francis came over to his grandfather's side, "What is it Gramps?"

Calvin reached over to the stuffed tiger on his bedside and and held him out shakily to his grandson, who looked exactly as he did so many years ago. "This is Hobbes. He was my best friend when I was your age. I want you to have him."

"He's just a stuffed tiger." Francis said, eyebrows raised.

Calvin laughed, "Well, let me tell you a secret."

Francis leaned closer to Clavin. Calvin whispered, "If you catch him in a tiger trap using a tuna sandwich as bait he will turn into a real tiger."

Francis gasped in delighted awe. Calvin continued, "Not only that he will be your best friend forever."

"Wow! Thanks grandpa!" Francis said, hugging his grandpa tightly again.

"Francis! We need to go now!" Calvin's daughter called.

"Okay!" Francis shouted back.

"Take good care of him." Calvin said.

"I will." Francis said before running off after the rest of the family.

Calvin laid on his back and stared at the ceiling. The time to go was close. He could feel it in his soul. Calvin tried to remember a quote he read in a book once. It said something about death being the next great adventure or something like that. He eyelids grew heavy and his breathing slowed. As he went deeper into his final sleep he heard Hobbes, as if he was right next to him at his bedside. "I'll take care of him, Calvin..."

Calvin took his first step toward one more adventure and breathed his last with a grin on his face.

Credit to Redditor samuraitiger19

His reply to the comments there 10 years ago

EDIT: Wow... just wow... I am speechless here guys. I did not expect such a reaction to my story or prompt. I am not worthy of your praise or your gold. I am truly humbled. Thanks so much! I'm truly glad so my story touched so many people.

[deans-queen]

Repairing Hearts 👷🏻‍♂️❤️‍🩹

New Mini Series

Pairing: Jensen Ackles x Reader (Y/N)

Summary: Reader (Y/N) is a single mom, struggling to fix her leaky roof. She posts an ad on social media desperate for help. When local repairman, Jensen Ackles offers to help, the two grow an unexpected connection that grows.

Warnings: SMUT (p in v, wrap it up kids), other mature themes, mild language, emotional topics. (If there is any that I missed please let me know) I will label the warnings in each part!

Part 5: Reader’s POV

Warnings: language, arguing/angst, light smut, and fluff.

The air was crisp, with a soft breeze carrying the scent of freshly popped popcorn and cotton candy as we made our way through the zoo. Aria skipped ahead, her excitement practically radiating off her in waves as she tugged at Jensen’s hand, pulling him toward the direction of the elephant exhibit.

“Come on, come on!” she squealed, her little voice filled with pure joy. “I want to see the elephants first!”

Jensen grinned down at her, letting her lead the way. “Alright, princess. Elephants it is,” he said, his tone playful as he glanced back at me with that familiar warmth in his eyes. It still took me by surprise sometimes—how naturally he fit into our lives, how easily he had bonded with Aria.

We had spent the whole week planning this trip to the zoo, and Aria had barely contained her excitement the night before, chattering on and on about the elephants. They had always been her favorite. She loved their big ears, their gentle eyes, and the way they moved so slowly and gracefully despite their size.

When we finally reached the elephant exhibit, Aria pressed her face against the railing, her eyes wide as she stared at the giant creatures.

“Look, Mommy! They’re so big!” she exclaimed, pointing at the elephants as they slowly lumbered across the enclosure.

I smiled, leaning down next to her. “They are, baby. Aren’t they beautiful?”

Jensen knelt down beside her, his hand resting gently on her back. “Did you know elephants are one of the smartest animals in the world?”

Aria’s eyes lit up with curiosity. “Really?”

“Really,” he said, nodding. “They can remember things for years, and they even have their own way of talking to each other.”

I watched them interact, my heart swelling with affection. Aria hung on Jensen’s every word, soaking in everything he said as if it were the most fascinating thing in the world. And the way he looked at her—with such patience, such care—it made my chest ache in the best way possible. He even bought her a stuffed animal elephant that she’s going to love and cherish forever.

The day passed in a blur of laughter and excitement. We explored every corner of the zoo, from the giraffes to the penguins to the big cats, and Aria loved every second of it. Jensen carried her on his shoulders when her little legs got tired, and I couldn’t stop smiling, watching the two of them together. It felt so easy, so right—like we were already a family.

As the sun started to dip low in the sky, casting a golden glow over the zoo, we decided to head home. Aria had fallen asleep in the back seat before we even left the parking lot, exhausted from the excitement of the day. I glanced at Jensen, his hands resting on the steering wheel as he drove, his eyes soft as he watched the road.

“Thank you,” I said quietly, reaching over to rest my hand on his arm. “For today. It meant so much to her.”

Jensen smiled, his hand covering mine, squeezing gently. “It meant a lot to me too, Y/N. I love spending time with you both.”

I smiled back, feeling the warmth of his words settle into my heart. “We love spending time with you too.”

When we got home, I tucked Aria into bed making sure she had her stuffed animal Elephant close to her, which she decided to call him “Dumbo” from the Disney movie. Jensen and I were sitting on the couch, basking in the glow of the perfect day, laughing about Aria’s excitement over the elephants and how she had tried to convince Jensen to adopt one as a pet.

But then we heard a knock at the door — wondering who it could be at this hour. And to my dismay, standing at the front door, leaning against the frame with a scowl on his face, was Aria’s dad. I hadn’t seen him in months—hadn’t heard from him since the day he decided being a father was too much responsibility for him. And now, here he was, showing up unannounced like he had any right to be here.

I felt my stomach twist with a mix of anxiety and anger as I looked at him. Jensen’s eyes were immediately on me, his expression hardening when he followed my gaze and saw who was waiting for us.

“Y/N,” my ex said, his voice dripping with annoyance. “We need to talk.”

I straightened my back, trying to keep my voice calm. “What are you doing here?”

He shrugged, pushing off the doorframe. “I figured it was time I saw my daughter. I’ve got rights, you know.”

My jaw clenched. The audacity of him showing up here after all this time—after abandoning Aria and me—was almost too much to handle. “You don’t get to just show up out of nowhere, acting like you care.”

He rolled his eyes, stepping closer, and I could see the anger in his expression. “Don’t act like I’m the bad guy, Tianna. You kept me out of her life.”

“YOU abandoned me when I got pregnant! And now all of sudden that’s my fault that you’re not part of her life!?” I say, frustration and anger in my voice. I couldn’t believe the bullshit that was coming out of his mouth.

I could feel the tension building, my chest tightening with the familiar hurt and frustration that always seemed to follow him. But before I could say anything else, Jensen stepped forward, placing himself between me and my ex. His presence was solid, protective, and the look in his eyes was cold as steel.

“That’s enough,” Jensen said, his voice calm but dangerous. “You’ve got no right to talk to her like that.”

My ex narrowed his eyes, clearly irritated by Jensen’s presence. “Who the hell are you?” he snapped, looking Jensen up and down like he was sizing him up.

Jensen didn’t back down. “I’m the one who’s been here for Y/N and Aria while you’ve been off doing whatever the hell you’ve been doing. You want to talk? You do it with respect.”

My ex let out a bitter laugh, shaking his head. “Respect? You’re just some random guy she’s messing around with.”

Jensen’s jaw tightened, but he didn’t rise to the bait. Instead, he took a step closer, his voice dropping low. “I’m the man who’s taking care of your daughter and the woman you walked out on. So, unless you’ve got something useful to say, I suggest you leave.”

There was a beat of silence, tension crackling in the air. My ex stared at Jensen, clearly trying to decide if he wanted to push the issue, but something in the way Jensen stood—calm, steady, unflinching—made him think twice. With a scoff, he turned his back on us, muttering under his breath as he walked away.

I stood there, my heart racing, watching as he disappeared into the night. It wasn’t until he was completely out of sight that I let out the breath I’d been holding.

Jensen turned to me, his eyes softening as he took my hand. “You okay?”

I nodded, feeling a wave of relief wash over me. “Yeah... I just can’t believe he showed up like that.”

Jensen pulled me into his arms, holding me tight. “He won’t bother you again, sweetheart. I’ll make sure of it.”

I melted into his embrace, feeling safe in a way I hadn’t felt in a long time. “Thank you,” I whispered against his chest, my voice shaky with emotion.

Jensen kissed the top of my head, his hand stroking my back. “You don’t have to thank me, sweetheart. I’m here for you. For both of you.”

Later that night, I stood by the window, staring out at the street, still shaken from earlier. My ex’s sudden appearance had dredged up so many emotions—anger, hurt, fear. Even though he was gone, the memory of his harsh words lingered like a dark cloud over the perfect day we had spent at the zoo.

I hated that he had this power over me, even now. I hated that he could show up and stir up all that hurt after being absent for so long. He had no right to disrupt our lives like this, especially not after everything I had built with Aria on my own. And now, with Jensen in the picture, things were different. We were different.

I felt strong, but in moments like this, that strength wavered.

“Hey,” Jensen’s voice was soft as he walked up behind me, his arms slipping around my waist. I leaned back against him, closing my eyes and letting the warmth of his body calm the storm inside me. “You’ve been quiet since he left.”

I sighed, my heart heavy. “I just can’t stop thinking about him—how he thinks he can just show up and disrupt everything. It’s like he thinks he has some right to Aria, when he’s never been there for her. Or for me.”

Jensen turned me around to face him, his eyes filled with understanding. “I get it, babe. He walked away when you needed him the most, and now he wants to pretend he’s entitled to something. But he’s not. He doesn’t get to just come in and make demands.”

I looked up into his eyes, grateful for the reassurance, but still, a part of me couldn’t shake the fear. “What if he tries to come back again? What if he causes trouble? I don’t want Aria to be hurt by him.”

Jensen’s expression hardened, his jaw tightening. “He won’t, I promise you that. I won’t let him near you or Aria. He had his chance, and he blew it. I’m here now, and I’m not going anywhere.”

The intensity in his voice sent a wave of comfort through me. I believed him. I always did. Jensen wasn’t just saying those words—he meant them. Every touch, every look, every moment we’d shared had proven that he wasn’t going to leave. Not like my ex had.

I reached up, brushing my fingers along his jaw, feeling the stubble beneath my touch. “I’m so glad you’re here,” I whispered, my voice thick with emotion.

Jensen leaned down, his lips brushing against mine. The kiss started soft, but there was something deeper there—something more urgent. His hands tightened around my waist, pulling me closer, and I felt that familiar spark ignite between us.

“You have no idea how much love you, Y/N,” he murmured against my lips, his breath warm as his hands slid up my sides, teasing the edge of my shirt. “Every time I look at you, I fall harder.”

My heart raced, the weight of his words sinking in as his mouth moved to my neck, leaving a trail of heated kisses down to my collarbone. His touch was intoxicating, making me forget everything but him—forget the pain, forget the fear.

“I love you too,” I breathed, my fingers tangling in his hair as I pressed my body against his. “Jensen…”

He lifted me easily, my legs wrapping around his waist as he carried me toward the bedroom, his lips never leaving mine. The air between us was charged with that electric pull, that undeniable need that had been building since the moment we met.

Once inside the room, he laid me down on the bed, his body hovering over mine as his gaze locked onto me with a fierce intensity. “You’re mine, baby. All of you. I’m never letting you go.”

I shivered at the possessiveness in his voice, feeling the heat in my core build as his hands slid down my body, tugging at the hem of my shirt before pulling it over my head. “I don’t want you to,” I whispered, my breath catching as he kissed me again, deeper this time.

Every kiss, every touch was filled with that unspoken promise—that no matter what happened, Jensen was here to stay. And as his hands roamed my body, exploring every inch of me with a burning desire, I knew that he was right. We were building something real, something lasting, and no one—especially not my ex—could take that away from us.

Jensen’s POV

Watching Y/N underneath me, her lips swollen from our kisses, her breath coming in soft, ragged gasps, I knew there was no turning back. I’d never felt anything like this before—this all-consuming need to be with someone, to protect them, to make sure they knew just how much they meant to me.

She looked up at me, her eyes dark and full of trust, and it hit me right then and there—I didn’t want to spend another day without her. I wanted to be the man she and Aria could rely on for the rest of their lives.

“Y/N,” I murmured, my hands sliding down to her hips as I kissed her again, slower this time, savoring the way her body responded to mine. “There’s something I’ve been thinking about.”

Her eyes fluttered open, her breath catching as she looked up at me. “What is it?”

I paused for a moment, feeling the weight of the moment settle in my chest. I’d never done this before, but with her, it felt right. Hell, it felt like the only thing that made sense.

I sat up, pulling her with me until we were both sitting on the edge of the bed. Her shirt was gone, and her hair was a mess, but she looked so damn beautiful, it took my breath away. I reached into the pocket of my jeans, my heart pounding in my chest as I pulled out the small box I’d been carrying around for days, waiting for the right moment.

“This,” I said softly, holding up the box, “is what I’ve been thinking about.”

Y/N’s eyes widened, her hand flying to her mouth as she stared at the box in my hand. “Jensen…”

I opened it, revealing the simple yet elegant ring inside. “I know it’s fast. I know we haven’t been together for that long, but I’ve never been more sure of anything in my life. You and Aria… you’re everything to me. I want to be here for you, every day, for the rest of our lives.”

Tears filled her eyes as she looked from the ring to me, her lips trembling. “Jensen…”

“I love you, Y/N. I love Aria. I want to build a life with you, and I’m asking you to marry me. To let me be the man who takes care of you, who protects you, and who loves you for the rest of my life.”

For a moment, she was silent, her hand still covering her mouth as tears streamed down her cheeks. My heart raced, waiting for her answer, but the look in her eyes told me everything I needed to know.

“Yes,” she whispered, her voice breaking as she smiled through the tears. “Yes, I’ll marry you.”

Relief and joy surged through me as I slipped the ring onto her finger, pulling her into my arms. I kissed her deeply, pouring every ounce of love I had into that kiss, knowing that from this moment on, everything was about to change.

She was mine, and I was hers. Forever.

Reader’s POV

And in that moment, I knew without a doubt that he meant every word. Jensen wasn’t just part of my life—he was part of our family, and nothing, not even Aria’s dad, could change that.

Authors Note:

Hope you enjoyed this part because I certainly enjoyed writing it! The way Jensen stepped in to protect her from Aria’s dead beat dad like 🥵Y’all they’re gonna get married!!! 🥰🥹😭😭 Let me know if you want me to write the wedding/honeymoon part! 🫶🏻

Feel free to let me know what you think! I always love reading feedback!

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[percyjackson-post]

What the Percy Jackson and Olympians characters would give as birthday gifts

Percy- A homemade baked good. That boy loves birthdays, and he loves baking; you will not convince me of anything else. He’s bringing something with far too much sugar and a truly concerning amount of blue dye. Most often his gift is blue cookies his mom helped him bake.

Annabeth- That girl is spending weeks agonizing over what to get. She needs it to be perfect, and she has to know you’ll love it. Which you will because she managed to track down something you mentioned 7 months ago that you think about constantly. It’s usually a very practical gift, but it is exactly what you need. One year it’s new headphones, another it's a brighter lamp; it's always something you want but can’t convince yourself is a priority.

Hazel- Hazel is making you a homemade card and a personalized drawing. She puts in so much effort, and it’s truly a beautiful gift. The minute she hands it to you, her eyes are shining, and she’s fighting back the biggest grin as she waits for your reaction. It will almost definitely be an intricate drawing of your favorite memory with her.

Frank- His gift is a small handmade trinket that took him a lot longer to make than he’d be willing to admit. It’s intricate and exactly your style. He looks a bit embarrassed and nervous as you open it, but then he's smiling and excitedly explaining exactly why he wanted to make it for you. It’s something like a wooden carving of your favorite animal or a new cover for your weapon. 

Leo- You never know what you’re going to get from him, but you do know it will leave you laughing so hard your sides hurt. It’s also a handmade gift, but it’s less personalized and more something Leo thinks is cool and he knows you’ll also like. The fact it may be a fire hazard is just a part of the charm. His gift is a small animatronic toy that can and will turn into a dangerous weapon.

Jason- He listens a lot more than you give him credit for. He will always end up giving you something super meaningful that will remind you of how much he cares. It’s not an extravagant gift; it’s something you’ll use a lot or will see constantly and smile to yourself as you’re reminded of the memory. It’s a weighted blanket for late nights or a new version stuffed animal you loved but lost.

Piper- Her gifts are always incredibly chaotic, but you realize there is a lot of thought put into them. She’s got a good memory and will pick something very specific that you mentioned off-handedly once. You don’t need it, but life will be a bit more fun with it than without. A ridiculous, bendy straw to drink from bed or a blanket that looks like food—truly,  you will never be prepared for what you get.

Thalia- She tries to be nonchalant, but she’s got a sly smile, and you can see how excited she is to give you a gift. It’s almost guaranteed to be a weapon, but it will be absolutely perfect for what you need. You can tell she spent a long time picking something out for you specifically, but she’s going to play it off like she just happened to come across it. 

Nico- Whatever he gives you will surprise you, that’s for certain. A lot of people joke that he’s bringing some basic dark gift, but that excited 10-year-old boy is still just as much a part of him, however. His gift is something you’ll be able to do with friends and something that will keep spirits high and laughter going. Often it is a card game that you can tuck away and take with you; he knows what it’s like to feel alone on a quest.

Will- He’s giving you a free pass to not be scolded the next time you end up in the infirmary. You need it. Kidding…mostly. He’s getting you something semi-specific from the mortal world that you can share with friends. Sometimes it goes with Nico’s gift, but it’s also something completely his own. A set of movie CDs, a giant container of popcorn (he’s not as stuck up on health as everyone likes to tease)

Grover- Enchiladas. It’s not even a question or hypothetical that guy is bringing over at least 20 cheese enchiladas from his favorite restaurant. You’ll be lucky if they last more than 10 minutes. They’re incredible, and even if you’ve had them 20 times you’re eating, them like the ambrosia of the god

[reasonsforhope]

Sometimes you just have one of those moments where the progress we've made as a culture get thrown into stark relief. You look at something and go "Holy shit, that would never have happened when I was a kid."

Today, I had one of those moments when I realized that the teenage boys I'm working with are just. genuinely, openly enthusiastic about going to Build-a-Bear for their outing.

These are sixteen and seventeen year old boys! They just had a whole conversation about what to name their "cute", mostly new squishmallows! They're genuinely excited that they're going to Build-a-Bear this weekend and asking other kids to pick up specific accessories for them!!

Holy shit, that never would've happened when I was 16. None of the boys would have dared to be visibly interested - and neither would most of the girls! There would have been a million gay jokes and "Haha, you're a girl" jokes and "What are you, a baby?" jokes. Teenagers weren't even supposed to care about anything back then!

Less than 15 years later, and I'm watching three 17 year old boys treat all that as not even worthy of comment.

So let's call that a reason for hope. Even when the kids aren't alright, in some ways apparently they are alright. Go Gen Z, honestly. It's so lovely to watch you guys just openly doing and saying stuff that, when I was a teen, would've been a social death sentence.

[c4t1l1n4]

I know Spock’s misunderstanding of human things is generally played up, even by Spock himself because he’s a little shit like that, but I like to think there are some things Kirk/McCoy do that he genuinely does not understand.

Like they’re at some sort of carnival/festival and win one of those prize stuffed animals and Spock pretends to think that’s illogical and not understand the point of a worthless trinket but in reality he totally gets wanting to win something for your partner and feels all warm and fuzzy seeing them carry it around all night.

But then he swears, or makes a lewd comment or says something adult and McCoy gasps dramatically and covers the plushie’s ears and is like: “how dare you, Spock?!”

And Spock looks over at Jim all confused, but Jim just nods seriously and is like: “you can’t say something like that in front of Mr. Fluffles.”

And Spock genuinely blue screens.

He’s careful about what he says the rest of the night and when they beam back aboard he finds time to corner Uhura and tries to figure out the best way to ask WTF he did wrong. Uhura gleefully (and between giggles) explains that plushies are “innocent” and should be treated in a similar way as children (with great respect, care and not saying crude/adult things around them.)

[st4rstudent]

Will we ever meet Bobby JR in Person?

Because I have no Idea how to draw him since I don't know how tall he is or how old he is.

Like is he a 5 or 6 Year Old Kid?

Is he born just a Regular Child or born a Prodigy?

And will he like Bear Toons? Since he Love anything related to Bears?

Like he will go crazy that any Products like Food and Toys including Clothing that has a Bear on it.

I can't properly answer any of these, since I'm not apart of the team or anything, so everything I say after this is purely speculation and/or just random thoughts. I assume that, even if Bobby Jr is not added physically into the game, he'll be mentioned plenty of times (especially around April Toons with Thomas's dialogues). Especially if Crystalline is added to the game, since it's been established that the entire Cyger family has some issues going on. As for height, you can kind of estimate his height based on this photocard of him and the Chairman. He's shorter than the Chairman (who has an ingame model that can be compared to other managers). I assume he's at most half of Chairmans height. Do NOT leave him outside with a giant hawk. He's very obviously a child, I always imagine an age that's somewhere in the early-middle of elementary school, like maybe 7 or 8? Truthfully I only assign age ranges to characters, not specific numbers, makes it easier. Either way, I can't see him being in middle school yet.

I think the idea of him seeing a bear toon and getting really excited would be kind of funny. He ends up having to be dragged away by Robert.

[aroaessidhe]

2024 reads / storygraph

Dear Wendy

YA contemporary

two first year students who become friends, bonding over their shared aroace identity and starting a club for aspec students

while unknowingly engaging in a petty war with their anonymous relationship advice instagrams

friendship, navigating potential futures and entering adult life, and exploring QPOC experiences

[strawbebbiesart]

Crochigi (crochet Tigi) 🐅🪴⛵️

[mcdennis]

here to bother you ....

are you a gluten kinda guy and if so what's your favorite bread (I have so many bread opinions would love to hear yours)

and do you have any super sentimental childhood stuffed animals or figures that you still keep around?

omg hello !!!

oh i'm a big gluten guy love gluten. my favorite bread is the three cheese semolina bread from la brea bakery. yes that is weirdly specific but this bread fucks severely. we use it at the cheese shop that i work at for sandwiches and it's amazing. otherwise i love me a focaccia bread. to be honest tho i usually buy white bread the most because it's cheap and i'm poor. and let me tell you there's nothing like eating some white bread fresh out of the bag.

i do! i have a black cat stuffed animal with little white paws. his name is bootsie and i love him and have had him since i was like 3 years old. he's very special to me <3

[dogboots]

obtained some new members of the team :)

[orcelito]

about ready to jump off the walls for this purchase

i have bought. the full trimax set.

[justthatspiffy]

there's such a jarring difference in watching dating reality tv when you're single vs in a healthy relationship

when i was single i watched it almost as an exposure therapy to people being vulnerable and performing romantic gestures, and while i had many moments of "no! that is not how we communicate with our partners!" and awareness of the hilariously compressed timelines of these shows, i was not overwhelmed in cringe

now, while i don't have any more romantic experience than the people in these shows (tho i may have plenty more communicating-in-healthy-ways experience), the romantic performance is thrillingly novel, the vulnerability is alarmingly rushed, and it's overall not as interesting to watch

[ignorancelive]

i’m actually so excited to fix my room up i have so much more space here eeeee