albertasunrise

[albertasunrise]

Look for the Light - Part 9

Masterlist

Summary: Four years ago, Joel saved you from certain death. In return, you followed him faithfully. Always ready to do and give him whatever he asked, despite the hurt it inflicted on you, body and soul. Agreeing to go with him to deliver Ellie to the Fireflies… this would be the last time you’d follow him… After this, your debt would be paid.

Relationships: Reader x Joel Miller, Joel Miller & Ellie, Reader & Ellie

Warnings: Like AO3, I choose to give none. Read at your own risk. 18+ (Sorry this took a so long... This particular chapter was a tough one to write but I am so glad I managed to do it. I hope it was worth the wait ♥️)

Series Masterlist - Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5, Part 6, Part 7, Part 8

Your day just seemed to go from bad to worse.

It started with bad eggs. You had made scrambled eggs for breakfast. They were Joel's favourite, and after a tough week building the new schoolhouse for the town—pulling in late nights to try and get it finished before the snow came—you’d wanted to do something nice for him.

He had scoffed them down with a satisfied groan, kissed you goodbye with eggs still on his breath, and dashed out the door, promising he’d be home before dark.

You’d eaten yours slowly, staring out the window at the frost creeping across the glass. You’d washed the dishes absentmindedly… then, out of nowhere, you were hurling your breakfast into the sink. Your stomach turned like it had been waiting for the exact moment you were done to rebel. You wiped your mouth, stared at the half-cleaned dishes with blurry eyes, and cursed under your breath.

Then Ellie had come barreling in, dropping what could only be described as a mountain of muddy laundry onto your arms. “I need these washed like… now,” she said, already walking away. “I don’t have anything clean.”

You’d raised an eyebrow. “You ever think about doing your own washing sometimes?”

She’d waved you off without turning around. “Sure, sure. Thanks!”

You sighed, staring at the pile that already smelled like damp socks and teenage recklessness.

Just as you were loading the washer, Mandy from next door came skipping up your steps like a damn puppy. She was glowing… literally glowing… and before she even said hello, she was screeching, “We’re pregnant!”

You blinked.

She was crying. Laughing. Hugging you too tight. “I just— I can’t believe it happened so fast!”

You’d managed to smile, congratulate her. But the second she left, you’d stood frozen in the hallway, hands on your hips, jaw clenched.

The icing on the bloody cake…

You and Joel had been trying for a year now.

Each month your period came, it was like another shard of glass wedged deeper into your chest. But Joel had always pulled you into his arms, whispering promises against your hair, telling you it would happen. That these things just… take time.

But hope was a funny thing—too much of it, and it starts to feel like poison. So to say your day had been a shitter? That was the understatement of the year.

And then Maria had come over—with little Benjamin in tow—and, for a moment, the weight pressing on your chest lifted just enough for you to breathe.

He was the light of your life. His chubby cheeks, thick thighs, and gummy smile made your whole world slow down. Something about the way he reached for you like you were his favourite person in the universe made your broken heart feel a little less shattered. When Benjamin had been born, you'd jumped into being an aunt with both feet. You and Joel had gotten married just weeks before his arrival, full of hope and joy and whispered dreams of a baby of your own. But you hadn’t told anyone you were trying. Not even Maria. You wanted it to be a surprise. A soft, glowy announcement after that missed period finally happened.

Something happy.

Instead, it had become a secret that festered. Each failed month felt heavier. Lonelier. And each “Mandy” in town getting pregnant while you stayed empty… it chipped away at you. You’d started to wonder, in your darker moments, if the miscarriage you’d had before had left more damage than you realized.

“Hey, how have you been?” Maria asked, watching you bounce Benny on your lap.

“I’ve been okay,” you replied, smiling and hoping it didn’t look forced.

“You sure?”

There it was. The confirmation you were fooling no one.

“Yeah… Just had some bad eggs this morning. Felt off all day.”

“Joel eat them too?” she asked, cocking her head.

“Yeah. Hopefully he’s okay. It was rough.”

“He looked fine when I saw him earlier.”

You shrugged. “Man’s clearly tougher than me.”

You reached for your coffee, took a sip, then recoiled.

“Ugh. This coffee is so bitter.”

Maria raised an eyebrow, studying you. Her gaze lingered—too long. You saw the moment the thought clicked into place for her.

“Sickness. Coffee aversion…” she murmured.

“What?” you asked, eyebrows pulling together.

“Honey… could you be pregnant?”

You choked on your sip. “Why do you ask?”

“You liked that coffee a few days ago, now suddenly it’s disgusting? Aversion to food…”

“The eggs were bad—”

“And yet Joel’s fine.”

“I’m not pregnant, Maria,” you snapped, gently setting Benjamin down on his playmat.

“How do you know?”

“Because I haven’t been pregnant any other fucking month, so why would I be now?”

The words exploded out of you before you could stop them. Bitter, sharp, and too honest.

Maria went quiet for a moment, then softly asked, “Are you guys trying?”

You nodded, and just like that, the tears came. You tried to blink them away, but they slid down your cheeks anyway.

“How long?”

“A year.”

“Why didn’t you tell me?”

You sobbed harder as she stood and pulled you into a hug. Her arms were warm and safe, and it was all too much.

“Joel wanted it to be a surprise. But it hasn’t happened. And now I just feel so alone,” you whispered, clinging to her.

“Oh, hun. You should’ve come to me. I could’ve kept that secret for you.”

“I’m sorry…”

“Don’t you dare apologize,” she said firmly. “You have nothing to be sorry for.”

You nodded against her shoulder, and she gently pulled back to look at you. “But… in all honesty… is there a chance you could be?”

“I mean, I guess, but—”

“Right. You wait here.”

She disappeared for a moment and came back holding a cup and a handful of faded pregnancy test sachets.

“Pee in this. Dip these. They’re out of date, but they still work. That’s how I found out about Benny.”

You stared at the objects in her hand like they might bite.

“Maria—”

“Just humour me,” she pleaded.

So you did. You disappeared into the downstairs bathroom, heart hammering like a war drum. You peed into the damn cup with shaking hands, dipped the sticks, placed them on their packets like Maria said, and threw away the rest.

Then you found Maria in the dining room, gently rocking Benjamin, who was finally asleep in the cot you and Joel had set up just for him.

“What now?” you asked, placing the tests on the coffee table with trembling fingers.

“Now we wait.”

And so you did.

The minutes dragged. You stared at the mantle clock like you could will time to move faster. When five minutes passed, neither of you moved.

“I don’t think I can look,” you whispered.

“You want me to?” Maria asked, and you nodded quickly.

She picked up the packets, carefully removed the first test… then the second.

Her face was unreadable. You tried to judge her expression, tried to see some hint—anything—but she was a damn vault.

Then she looked up.

And smiled.

“They’re positive, hun,” she said, voice thick with emotion. “Both of them.”

Your hand flew to your mouth as you choked out a sob.

“They’re positive?”

“They’re positive.”

You sprang to your feet and grabbed the tests from her, hands trembling. There it was. Two faded but unmistakable lines.

“Oh my god…”

“Congratulations.”

“I’m pregnant,” you whispered, then sobbed. “I’m finally pregnant.”

…

Joel stepped into the kitchen, his shoulders stiff and eyes tired. He rubbed at the back of his neck and draped his coat over a chair.

“Babe?” he called, not seeing you. “You home?”

“Be down in a sec,” you called out, trying—and failing—to keep the excitement from your voice.

He smiled. “Someone’s in a good mood.”

He flicked on the kettle. “Want a coffee, sweetie?”

“No thanks.” You entered the room and gave him a quick peck.

“What’s got you all chipper?” he asked, sipping from his mug.

“I’ve got a surprise for you.”

“Oh really?” he smirked.

You pulled him into the lounge and motioned for him to sit.

“Cover your eyes.”

“Why?”

“Just do it.”

He chuckled, then obeyed. You grabbed the small box from the window seat and placed it in his lap.

“Okay… open them.”

He opened his eyes, stared down. His eyes widened. Then shimmered.

“We’re… we’re having a baby?” His voice cracked halfway through the sentence.

You nodded, barely able to breathe.

“We’re having a baby,” you echoed.

He was on his feet in a heartbeat, kissing you, holding you. You barely remembered how you got to the wall, clothes disappearing between kisses, tears, laughter. His mouth traveled down your neck, your chest, and paused at your stomach. He pressed a kiss to the skin there, reverent.

Then he dropped to his knees and devoured you like a man starved, your back hitting the wall, your head slamming into it, but you didn’t care.

“Fuck, Joel—”

“Cum for me, mummy,” he purred.

You did. Instantly.

Then you had him on the floor, needing to feel him inside you, needing him to fill every empty part of you. The way he held your hips, how your bodies moved in sync, how he whispered praises as you both tumbled over the edge together—it was like worship.

“I love you,” he panted.

“I love you too,” you whispered.

“I can’t wait to raise this baby with you.”

You kissed him soft and slow, your foreheads touching.

No more words needed.

…

The next few weeks were hell.

You kept it quiet… just a little longer. The clinic had finally acquired a working sonogram machine, and you wanted that first blurry picture before telling the town.

The day finally came.

You lay on the creaky exam bed, Joel gripping your hand. The nurse pressed a gooey probe to your belly, muttering apologies for the ancient Vaseline.

Then—there it was.

A tiny bean-shaped baby flickering on the screen. A heartbeat.

"Everything looks good," the nurse beamed. "Congratulations."

Joel choked back a sob. “Thank you,” he whispered, kissing your forehead.

“Our little miracle,” you whispered.

The nurse tried to print pictures. The ink was patchy, the paper old, but you didn’t care. You held them like gold, eyes brimming.

It was finally your turn.

Next

For updates follow @albertasunrise-ficsblog

[albertasunrise]

Look for the Light - Part 9

Masterlist

Summary: Four years ago, Joel saved you from certain death. In return, you followed him faithfully. Always ready to do and give him whatever he asked, despite the hurt it inflicted on you, body and soul. Agreeing to go with him to deliver Ellie to the Fireflies… this would be the last time you’d follow him… After this, your debt would be paid.

Relationships: Reader x Joel Miller, Joel Miller & Ellie, Reader & Ellie

Warnings: Like AO3, I choose to give none. Read at your own risk. 18+ (Sorry this took a so long... This particular chapter was a tough one to write but I am so glad I managed to do it. I hope it was worth the wait ♥️)

Series Masterlist - Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5, Part 6, Part 7, Part 8

Your day just seemed to go from bad to worse.

It started with bad eggs. You had made scrambled eggs for breakfast. They were Joel's favourite, and after a tough week building the new schoolhouse for the town—pulling in late nights to try and get it finished before the snow came—you’d wanted to do something nice for him.

He had scoffed them down with a satisfied groan, kissed you goodbye with eggs still on his breath, and dashed out the door, promising he’d be home before dark.

You’d eaten yours slowly, staring out the window at the frost creeping across the glass. You’d washed the dishes absentmindedly… then, out of nowhere, you were hurling your breakfast into the sink. Your stomach turned like it had been waiting for the exact moment you were done to rebel. You wiped your mouth, stared at the half-cleaned dishes with blurry eyes, and cursed under your breath.

Then Ellie had come barreling in, dropping what could only be described as a mountain of muddy laundry onto your arms. “I need these washed like… now,” she said, already walking away. “I don’t have anything clean.”

You’d raised an eyebrow. “You ever think about doing your own washing sometimes?”

She’d waved you off without turning around. “Sure, sure. Thanks!”

You sighed, staring at the pile that already smelled like damp socks and teenage recklessness.

Just as you were loading the washer, Mandy from next door came skipping up your steps like a damn puppy. She was glowing… literally glowing… and before she even said hello, she was screeching, “We’re pregnant!”

You blinked.

She was crying. Laughing. Hugging you too tight. “I just— I can’t believe it happened so fast!”

You’d managed to smile, congratulate her. But the second she left, you’d stood frozen in the hallway, hands on your hips, jaw clenched.

The icing on the bloody cake…

You and Joel had been trying for a year now.

Each month your period came, it was like another shard of glass wedged deeper into your chest. But Joel had always pulled you into his arms, whispering promises against your hair, telling you it would happen. That these things just… take time.

But hope was a funny thing—too much of it, and it starts to feel like poison. So to say your day had been a shitter? That was the understatement of the year.

And then Maria had come over—with little Benjamin in tow—and, for a moment, the weight pressing on your chest lifted just enough for you to breathe.

He was the light of your life. His chubby cheeks, thick thighs, and gummy smile made your whole world slow down. Something about the way he reached for you like you were his favourite person in the universe made your broken heart feel a little less shattered. When Benjamin had been born, you'd jumped into being an aunt with both feet. You and Joel had gotten married just weeks before his arrival, full of hope and joy and whispered dreams of a baby of your own. But you hadn’t told anyone you were trying. Not even Maria. You wanted it to be a surprise. A soft, glowy announcement after that missed period finally happened.

Something happy.

Instead, it had become a secret that festered. Each failed month felt heavier. Lonelier. And each “Mandy” in town getting pregnant while you stayed empty… it chipped away at you. You’d started to wonder, in your darker moments, if the miscarriage you’d had before had left more damage than you realized.

“Hey, how have you been?” Maria asked, watching you bounce Benny on your lap.

“I’ve been okay,” you replied, smiling and hoping it didn’t look forced.

“You sure?”

There it was. The confirmation you were fooling no one.

“Yeah… Just had some bad eggs this morning. Felt off all day.”

“Joel eat them too?” she asked, cocking her head.

“Yeah. Hopefully he’s okay. It was rough.”

“He looked fine when I saw him earlier.”

You shrugged. “Man’s clearly tougher than me.”

You reached for your coffee, took a sip, then recoiled.

“Ugh. This coffee is so bitter.”

Maria raised an eyebrow, studying you. Her gaze lingered—too long. You saw the moment the thought clicked into place for her.

“Sickness. Coffee aversion…” she murmured.

“What?” you asked, eyebrows pulling together.

“Honey… could you be pregnant?”

You choked on your sip. “Why do you ask?”

“You liked that coffee a few days ago, now suddenly it’s disgusting? Aversion to food…”

“The eggs were bad—”

“And yet Joel’s fine.”

“I’m not pregnant, Maria,” you snapped, gently setting Benjamin down on his playmat.

“How do you know?”

“Because I haven’t been pregnant any other fucking month, so why would I be now?”

The words exploded out of you before you could stop them. Bitter, sharp, and too honest.

Maria went quiet for a moment, then softly asked, “Are you guys trying?”

You nodded, and just like that, the tears came. You tried to blink them away, but they slid down your cheeks anyway.

“How long?”

“A year.”

“Why didn’t you tell me?”

You sobbed harder as she stood and pulled you into a hug. Her arms were warm and safe, and it was all too much.

“Joel wanted it to be a surprise. But it hasn’t happened. And now I just feel so alone,” you whispered, clinging to her.

“Oh, hun. You should’ve come to me. I could’ve kept that secret for you.”

“I’m sorry…”

“Don’t you dare apologize,” she said firmly. “You have nothing to be sorry for.”

You nodded against her shoulder, and she gently pulled back to look at you. “But… in all honesty… is there a chance you could be?”

“I mean, I guess, but—”

“Right. You wait here.”

She disappeared for a moment and came back holding a cup and a handful of faded pregnancy test sachets.

“Pee in this. Dip these. They’re out of date, but they still work. That’s how I found out about Benny.”

You stared at the objects in her hand like they might bite.

“Maria—”

“Just humour me,” she pleaded.

So you did. You disappeared into the downstairs bathroom, heart hammering like a war drum. You peed into the damn cup with shaking hands, dipped the sticks, placed them on their packets like Maria said, and threw away the rest.

Then you found Maria in the dining room, gently rocking Benjamin, who was finally asleep in the cot you and Joel had set up just for him.

“What now?” you asked, placing the tests on the coffee table with trembling fingers.

“Now we wait.”

And so you did.

The minutes dragged. You stared at the mantle clock like you could will time to move faster. When five minutes passed, neither of you moved.

“I don’t think I can look,” you whispered.

“You want me to?” Maria asked, and you nodded quickly.

She picked up the packets, carefully removed the first test… then the second.

Her face was unreadable. You tried to judge her expression, tried to see some hint—anything—but she was a damn vault.

Then she looked up.

And smiled.

“They’re positive, hun,” she said, voice thick with emotion. “Both of them.”

Your hand flew to your mouth as you choked out a sob.

“They’re positive?”

“They’re positive.”

You sprang to your feet and grabbed the tests from her, hands trembling. There it was. Two faded but unmistakable lines.

“Oh my god…”

“Congratulations.”

“I’m pregnant,” you whispered, then sobbed. “I’m finally pregnant.”

…

Joel stepped into the kitchen, his shoulders stiff and eyes tired. He rubbed at the back of his neck and draped his coat over a chair.

“Babe?” he called, not seeing you. “You home?”

“Be down in a sec,” you called out, trying—and failing—to keep the excitement from your voice.

He smiled. “Someone’s in a good mood.”

He flicked on the kettle. “Want a coffee, sweetie?”

“No thanks.” You entered the room and gave him a quick peck.

“What’s got you all chipper?” he asked, sipping from his mug.

“I’ve got a surprise for you.”

“Oh really?” he smirked.

You pulled him into the lounge and motioned for him to sit.

“Cover your eyes.”

“Why?”

“Just do it.”

He chuckled, then obeyed. You grabbed the small box from the window seat and placed it in his lap.

“Okay… open them.”

He opened his eyes, stared down. His eyes widened. Then shimmered.

“We’re… we’re having a baby?” His voice cracked halfway through the sentence.

You nodded, barely able to breathe.

“We’re having a baby,” you echoed.

He was on his feet in a heartbeat, kissing you, holding you. You barely remembered how you got to the wall, clothes disappearing between kisses, tears, laughter. His mouth traveled down your neck, your chest, and paused at your stomach. He pressed a kiss to the skin there, reverent.

Then he dropped to his knees and devoured you like a man starved, your back hitting the wall, your head slamming into it, but you didn’t care.

“Fuck, Joel—”

“Cum for me, mummy,” he purred.

You did. Instantly.

Then you had him on the floor, needing to feel him inside you, needing him to fill every empty part of you. The way he held your hips, how your bodies moved in sync, how he whispered praises as you both tumbled over the edge together—it was like worship.

“I love you,” he panted.

“I love you too,” you whispered.

“I can’t wait to raise this baby with you.”

You kissed him soft and slow, your foreheads touching.

No more words needed.

…

The next few weeks were hell.

You kept it quiet… just a little longer. The clinic had finally acquired a working sonogram machine, and you wanted that first blurry picture before telling the town.

The day finally came.

You lay on the creaky exam bed, Joel gripping your hand. The nurse pressed a gooey probe to your belly, muttering apologies for the ancient Vaseline.

Then—there it was.

A tiny bean-shaped baby flickering on the screen. A heartbeat.

"Everything looks good," the nurse beamed. "Congratulations."

Joel choked back a sob. “Thank you,” he whispered, kissing your forehead.

“Our little miracle,” you whispered.

The nurse tried to print pictures. The ink was patchy, the paper old, but you didn’t care. You held them like gold, eyes brimming.

It was finally your turn.

Next

For updates follow @albertasunrise-ficsblog

[albertasunrise]

Love you boo! 🫶🏼♥️

Chapter 1: Dead Reckoning

Summary: Javier and Steve, still brand new partners constantly butt heads and hate each other's guts. But an attack on the embassy will reveal Javier's hidden heart and require friendship from them both.

Word Count: 4K

Warnings: light swearing, Javier whump, mentions of blood and injury

Author's note: yeah I'm here with a new fic but this was fun to write. More to come soon! Dedicated to my beloved @albertasunrise

Steve wanted to bury his head somewhere dark and cool until the headache currently thrumming through his skull eased off. Every incessant tap of Javier’s typewriter felt like a hammer that only exacerbated. What kind of psychopath still used a type-writer in an office setting. 

“Peña, for Pete’s sake. Could you please use anything else to take your notes,” Steve said irritably as he rubbed his eyes. The flickering of the yellow light above the desk might also be contributing to the drum circle in his brain. 

“No one else complains about it,” Javier snapped gruffly. His coffee had long run out and something seemed to have him wound tighter than a spring. The pair had only been working together for a few weeks and so far they seemed to butt heads more often than not and the dark-haired agent had made a bad joke about hitting on Connie, so needless to say, Steve wasn’t particularly a fan. It was times like these when he missed his old partner and his old life in Miami. 

“Yeah they do,” Carillo piped in as he breezed past the desk clump. “You just don’t care what anyone has to say, Peña. That’s why you’re the office asshole.” 

“Will you get off my ass, Carillo?” Javier groaned. 

“It’s a title you’ve held proudly for two years now. I’m not sure why you’re surprised,” the Colonel replied before strolling into his office, leaving the two agents to squabble amongst themselves. 

“Maldito,” Javier muttered under his breath. 

“He wouldn’t be one if you weren’t,” Steve fired. He knew he shouldn’t stir up his partner but the past few days had given him very little sleep and he was irritable. He wanted to go home and see his wife, not spend another night slumped over his desk, catching a few stray hours of sleep on the scratchy couch in the breakroom or in the company of his asshole of a partner. 

“Ah, so your Spanish is getting better, gringo,” Javier taunted with a smirk. He too was starting to get a headache but hesuspected that was because he normally had a drink at this hour but Carillo banned liquor from the office. 

Steve could feel his temper rising. “Yeah. That last whore we hung out with taught me a few phrases.” 

Steve knew he struck a nerve when Javier shot him a withering glare. Personally, he never understood why Javier cared so deeply for these women when he treated them like a commodity and they occasionally went above and beyond to act as informants for him in exchange for a lousy green card. 

A lot of good that would do them when they had no connections, many didn’t speak English and even less of them had any real skills. He certainly wasn’t doing them any real favor, only prolonging the inevitable. 

“You’re a piece of shit, Murphy,” Javier snapped, unable to keep a tight leash on his temper. 

“Well the feeling is mutual,” Steve replied, suddenly pushing away from the desk and jumping to his feet. 

Javier did the same. “What? You gonna fight me or something, Murphy? I could kick your hick ass before you knew what hit you.” 

“You wanna make this interesting and put some money on it, Peña?” Steve challenged. 

Other agents and office workers, distracted by the loud altercation were now jeering and adding to the tense energy. 

“What the HELL is going on?!” Carillo’s voice boomed and everyone was silenced immediately, including Steve and Javier. The colonel’s piercing gaze immediately shot to the guilty agents. “That’s it! You two-“

A peal of automatic gunfire sliced through the room and struck the wall mere inches from Carillo’s head. 

The room was thrown into chaos as everyone ducked and frantically tried to make their way to the exit. Steve tried to quell his spinning brain as more gunfire tore through paper-thin drywall and shattered glass. There was an alarm on the far wall. He had to pull it or the shooters could enter the room at any moment. With his gun drawn, he started to make his way across the floor, keeping his head ducked low beneath windows.

A receptionist, who was new and had just flown in from New York was trapped at her desk as bullets tore through the copier, vases of fresh flowers, and anything else nearby. Javier spotted her, noting that she was paralyzed with fear. Without another thought, he jumped up to his feet and practically dove over the desk to pull her down as bullets shattered the window right in front of her.

“Get down!” He cried as he pulled her to the floor,

Steve heard his partner shout and a pained shriek from the direction of the receptionist’s desk but continued his path until he reached the alarm. 

The moment he pulled it all doors and windows locked as steel coverings slid down over the windows to shield the office from further gunfire. Doors throughout the building locked, hopefully sealing the other workers into safe and secure rooms. Thankfully it had been a Friday and people had gotten into the habit of knocking off early or taking off altogether, so it was a skeleton crew in the office.

“Good work, Murphy,” Carrillo praised. “I’ve radioed for backup but it may be a while. The strike team will have toeliminate the shooters before they can disengage the system.”

“Do you know how long? I need some help here,” Javier asked as he got to his feet, holding the trembling and crying receptionist in his arms. “I tried but looks like the bullet hit her arm. It's not serious but we’ll need to bandage her up until help arrives.”

Steve could now see the red on his partner’s hands and gnawed at his lip.

“Hey, hey what’s your name, sweetheart?” Javier asked the sobbing receptionist as he carefully sat her in an empty office chair so that her arm could be tended to. 

“Kimberly,” the young redhead sniffed pitifully as she looked into Javier’s deep brown eyes. 

“Alright, Kimberly. Hey! It’s alright,” he soothed as Carillo returned with the kit and started rummaging for anti-bacterial cream and a roll of gauze. “Don’t worry about what he’s doing, ok? Just keep focused on me, ok?”

The smooth-taking agent’s earnest, almost puppy-dog expression was enough to get Kimberly to stop crying as Carillo began to tend to her wound. 

“Tell me a little bit about yourself,” Javier suggested. “It’ll take your mind off of it.” 

Steve listened to Javier and Kimberly’s voices volley back and forth but wasn’t paying much attention to what was being said. Every nerve was buzzing with energy as more gunshots rang through the building. There was no way of knowing if it was an intimidation tactic or if they had buried themselves in an innocent person. 

Suddenly, the need to call his wife and let her know what was going on was too strong to ignore, and he picked up his desk phone just as Javier sat down stiffly in his office chair. He was met with silence on the other end of the receiver. 

“Phone lines are dead,” Steve said to no one in particular, but Javier nodded. 

He had a semi-dazed expression on his face. 

“Is Kimberly gonna be ok?” Steve asked as he hung up the useless phone. Hopefully, someone would let Connie know that he was ok. 

“I think so. Think she’s more scared than anything else. The wound looked worse than it was,” Javier replied with a half-shrug. 

“I’m sure she enjoyed your extra attention,” Steve grumbled. His headache was far worse now and he considered taking a nap, though he knew he’d never be able to settle enough to actually sleep. 

The tapping of Javier’s typewriter nearly made him jump out of his skin. 

“Damn it, Peña! Now’s not the time!” he snapped. 

“What? We have to sit here until they turn off the alarms. Might as well get something done. Beats sitting here in silence.” 

“If you type on that thing one more time, I’ll smash it. I dare you, asshole. See if I’m bluffing.” 

Steve braced himself for a snarky comment from his partner or some curse in Spanish he would have to get Carillo to translate later but surprisingly nothing came. His partner simply sat in his chair wordlessly as the minutes ticked by andmore gunshots echoed from deep within the guts of the building. 

********************

“This is ridiculous! Surely backup should be here by now,” an agent (Steve thought his name was Domingez) griped. 

“Radio died but they had to call in support from Bogota,” Carillo replied. “Apparently it's more than a few teenage punks with guns.” 

“Escobar is getting bold, and desperate,” Steve commented. 

Steve crossed his arms and sat on top of his desk. They’d been officially trapped in the locked-down office for over three hours, and the longer they waited there, the more he was starting to feel like a trapped animal. It was taking every ounce of his strength to keep a lid on an outburst that was threatening to blow. 

“How much longer, Colonel?” Javier asked. 

Steve could feel his fists curl. Javier had asked the same question at least three times an hour since they’d been trapped, and he was starting to sound like a bratty kid on a road trip. 

“I don’t know, Javier. Quit asking. I’ll let you all know when the status has changed,” Carillo replied shortly as he contemplated locking himself in his office, away from his subordinates.

Javier huffed but was quiet once more. Save for the constant nagging question, he’d been awfully quiet. Steve wondered if the stress was starting to get to him, too. While he hadn’t had the opportunity to work with Javier for very long, he’dalready begun picking up on the man’s little habits and mannerisms. 

Javier liked to smoke and drink but definitely did it more when he was stressed. He loved women, but not in a sexist way. Any time he’d been open misogynistic was purely performative for an assignment. He still couldn’t get how upset Javier had been the night that their informant had nearly been beaten to death. He’d never seen someone so upset over a relative stranger. It had almost been like the dark-haired agent was punishing and torturing himself. 

But surely it wasn’t that deep, right? Assholes didn’t care about anyone except themselves and Javier was a textbook asshole. 

“I wish they’d hurry their asses up. I need to get out of here,” Javier said in a clipped voice. Any softening feelings toward his partner suddenly dissipated. 

“Geeze, Peña, if you say that one more time I’ll make you regret it!” Steve snapped back. “We all have other places we need to be. I’m sure whatever hooker you’re late meeting can wait.” He was starting to lose his nerve at the prospect of being on lockdown in the office for an undefined amount of time, especially with a team of shooters still at large. It was getting harder to hold the outburst back. 

Steve heard something like a soft groan leave his partner’s lips, and he was about to snap at him again for complaining when he stopped and really took in the sight of his partner.

Javier was sitting stiff and upright in his chair. His breaths seemed measured and calculated, and his skin was pale, at least paler than normal for his usually tanned complexion. A sudden realization dawned on him.

“Javier….did you get hit?”

“Steve…” Javier breathed out. It was more of a warning than a cry for help. Steve was just alarmed that Javier had called him by his first name. Up until now, it was always the formal and detached “Murphy.” 

Steve was out of his chair in a flash and kneeling in front of his partner, trying to see where the injury was.

“S-Steve, d-don’t,” Javier hissed in a low voice as he pushed his partner’s hands away. “Don’t want to m-make a scene or sc-care anyone.”

Steve could see the tense lines of pain pulling across his partner’s face and could smell the blood. “You need help if you’re hurt, Jav. How long have you been bleeding?”

“Since Kim-Kimberly was shot.” He paused and clenched his jaw for a moment. “Can’t do anything about it right now. Sh-shooter’s loose.” Javier’s hands tightened around the armrests of his chair as he panted for a few breaths.

Steve took this opportunity to push back his partner’s dark leather jacket to find the undeniable bullet wound in his chest, the blood saturating the black button-up he was wearing.

“Shit, Javi,” Steve breathed out in a low voice. “How did this happen?”

“Shot went clean through Kimberly’s arm. Must have hit me in the chest when I tried to pull her down.” 

“You need medical attention,” Steve prompted, feeling the familiar tingle of stress running through his nerves. 

Javier shook his head. “Ca-Can’t leave until backup arrives. I’m fine. I can breathe. Just-Just need to stop the bleeding.” He swallowed the nausea building in the back of his throat and gestured to the first aid kit. “I think there’s a field dressing in there. G-Grab it.” 

“Ok. Hang tight, Jav,” Steve reassured and turned to leave. A shaking grip on his sleeve pulled him back and he turned to look at its owner. 

“Don’t let anyone know what’s going on, please. There’s nothin’ anyone can do-do. I don’t want to frighten anyone else. Pr-Promise me.” 

“I promise,” Steve replied earnestly as he patted the hand grabbing his shirt before disengaging Javier’s grip and moving to the side of the room where Carillo had abandoned the first aid kit. 

Javier took his partner’s absence as an opportunity to hunch over himself and press an arm against his chest in a misguided effort to quell the throbbing fire running deep in his torso. Every breath felt like knives were driving into his heart and lungs and twisting themselves even deeper. Something was wrong, maybe? He couldn’t know for sure because everything hurt so badly he could hardly form a thought. 

Steve tore through the kit quietly, hoping not to draw attention to himself. Carillo had given up the ghost and retreated into his office. Everyone else had gathered into small groups, murmuring and speculating quietly.

The small, olive-green military-issue pouch yielded gauze, antiseptic wipes, painkillers, and bandages—none of it nearly enough. He found the field dressing at the very bottom and snatched it up. This was going to be like putting a flimsy piece of plastic wrap over the wound but it was better than letting Javier bleed freely. 

When he returned, his partner was still seated, his body curled slightly forward and his face pale and glistening with sweat. His breaths were faster now—shallow and ragged. His right side was barely moving when he inhaled, which was alarming but Steve also knew he was probably in a lot of pain. It would appear that Peña’s strength was fading and it was getting harder to pretend he was ok. 

“Okay, Peña,” Steve murmured, kneeling again. “I’m gonna open your shirt, alright? Don’t punch me.”

Javier managed a breath that might have been a laugh, or maybe a curse—it was hard to tell. He nodded stiffly, his jaw clenched so tight the tendons in his neck stood out.

Steve gently peeled the soaked fabric away. The entry wound was ugly, ringed with bruised tissue. It wasn’t massive, but jagged. He worked fast, pressing the field dressing over the chest wound, sealing it with tape he found in the kit—making sure to leave one side open so air could escape without building pressure inside the injured man’s chest.

“Steve,” Javier said, and even in a whisper, his voice carried that same warning tone.

“I know, I know. No drama. Just... shut up and let me finish,” Steve muttered as he secured the bandage, buttoned Javier’sshirt back up, and pulled the leather jacket back into place. He had half a mind to at least alert Carillo, but he’d promised. Damn him.

Once the dressing was in place, Javier slumped back in the chair, shaking. Steve caught him by the shoulder and steadied him. The man’s skin felt cold and clammy. 

“You’ve lost a lot of blood, and I’m worried about other complications. We need to—”

“Just shut up, Murphy,” Javier rasped. “They’ll call a medevac and… we both know Escobar’s people monitor radio chatter. They'll know where we are and then we’ll really have a problem on our hands. Besides, no one can do anything until they lift the lockdown and neutralize the threat anyway.”

Steve’s stomach twisted. Javier was right. If they weren’t careful, more people could die. That didn’t make it any easier to watch his partner’s head dip forward with exhaustion.

“I don’t like this,” Steve muttered, sitting beside him. “What if it’s worse than you thought or you have problems breathing…”

“Then I die quietly,” Javier said, eyes half-lidded. “You’ll get peace and quiet finally.”

“Don’t say that.” Steve’s voice was tight. “I may not like you, Peña, but I’m not gonna let you bleed out next to my desk. It would be a bitch to clean up.”

Javier let out a pained chuckle that turned quickly into a wet cough. Steve winced at the sound and instinctively pressed a hand to his partner’s shoulder.

“Just... hang in there. Please,” Steve whispered.

The room had quieted. Even the gunfire had subsided into uneasy silence. Time ticked by. Carillo barked orders across the office every so often, trying to keep people busy, and focused. Kimberly, her arm wrapped and bandaged, sat slumped on a couch in the breakroom. Most of the others avoided Steve and Javier’s corner, likely sensing something was wrong, but not quite sure what.

Eventually, Carillo approached. “Murphy.”

Steve stood quickly, instinctively shielding the chair behind him. “Yeah?”

“The strike team is on their way. They’ll be here in an hour. Maybe less.”

Steve let out a breath. “Thank God.”

Carillo tilted his head, eyes narrowing. “Everything alright over here?”

Steve hesitated. “Yeah,” he said finally as he gestured to his grayish partner. “He’s tired. We’re all tired.”

Carillo gave him a long, searching look, then nodded. “Alright. Be ready to move when the lights go green.”

As he walked away, Steve crouched again, nudging Javier’s knee. “Hey. You hear that? An hour.”

Javier’s eyelids fluttered open. “Told you… I’m fine.”

Steve snorted softly. “You’re the biggest liar I’ve ever met.”

“Yeah,” Javier rasped, managing a faint smirk. “But I’m still a better liar than you.”

Steve shook his head, almost smiling. “You’re a pain in my ass, Peña. But you hang in there. One more hour.” He repeated himself more for his own peace of mind than his partner’s that time. 

Javier nodded, and for the first time since the shooting started, Steve let himself believe they might actually make it out.

[albertasunrise]

Updates Coming ♥️

So... I have been working on some updates and I finally have chapters coming for 'Look for the Light' and 'Oops Baby'

I know... it's been a while but I hit a wall with both these fics. But I had some recent inspiration and I am hoping to get both these updates before I go away next week so... Watch this space 🫶🏻

[albertasunrise]

🫶🏼

I miss writing so so much. I want to write terribly but I feel so dried up and out of ideas or inspiration.

[albertasunrise]

Fanks 🫶🏼♥️

Sanctuary update — new works and authors added ⋆｡°✩

random fics of the day ⋆｡˚

beware of 18+

by @gothcsz — First Sight —Frankie 'Catfish' Morales

by @goodwithcheese — Staystitch —Dieter Bravo; Llano Estacado —Pero Tovar

by @garden0fyves — joel miller hcs ♡ —Joel Miller

by @frannyzooey — getting a little too handsy on the dance floor , Mirror Sex —Joel Miller; revenge sex —Frankie 'Catfish' Morales

by @flawssy-227 — Corn —Joel Miller

by @eupheme — in the soft light of morning —Joel Miller

by @eatommo — All is Fair —Din Djarin

by @djarins-cyare — Oh, Your Love Is Sunlight —Din Djarin

by @daryltwdixon — patching reader up after a patrol gone wrong , I Like This One , Slim Pickins , Sundress —Joel Miller

by @darknight3904 — Sure as Hell Ain't Worth it —Joel Miller

by @damneddamsy — falling —Joel Miller

by @cxrsed-angel — Once Bitten and Twice Shy —Joel Miller

by @cuppajoel — first fruit since winter —Marcus Acacius

by @chaotic-mystery — Little Lamb —Joel Miller

by @bumblebeezer — “Prove It.” —Din Djarin

by @brandyllyn — Lucky Stars —Ezra

by @berryispunk — Blurred Lines —Frankie 'Catfish' Morales

by @baronessvonglitter — the best part of waking up... —any Pedro character

by @baronessvonglitter — Strawberry Swirl —Joel Miller

by @auteurdelabre — The Roommate Agreement —Max Phillips

by @aurorawritestoescape — BE MY GUEST , PERFECT —Joel Miller

by @andy-15-07 — Tickle Fight —Javier Peña

by @almostfoxglove — COVER ME UP —Joel Miller

by @almostempty — clint eats it from the back —Clint; run —Marcus Acacius

by @albertasunrise — Work Wife —Joel Miller

by @absurdthirst — Through the Highs & Lows —Frankie 'Catfish' Morales

by @604to647 — Nobody’s Gonna Know —Marcus Moreno

*smooches*

[albertasunrise]

I live for your fanfics boo 🫶🏼♥️

Stumbled across this picture and it so viciously reminded me of Jack and Javier in Born Together and Dying Apart I almost cried.

Anyways, I miss writing fanfiction so much and I miss readers reading my work and I generally just miss feeling like a human being.

[albertasunrise]

Thank you!! 🥲😍♥️

March Fic Madness 2025 Rec List Part 2

PART 1 HERE

34. Idealists by @for-a-longlongtime (Frankie Morales x reader x Santiago Garcia) 35. Sam & Diane, Eat Your Heart Out by @chronically-ghosted (Marcus Pike x f!reader) 36. Lucky Stars by @brandyllyn (Ezra x gn!reader) 37. The Things She Sees by @criticallyacclaimedstranger (Din Djarin x blind!OFC) 38. Departure by @lady-bess (Jack Daniels x f!reader) 39. Two Pack Habit & A Motel Tan by @trulybetty (Lucien De Leon x f!reader) 40. When Was The Last Time You Lived? by @avastrasposts (Marcus Pike x f!reader) 41. Gravity's Pull by @tinytinymenace (Dieter Bravo x OFC Marie) 42. There's Nothing Blue About You by @jolapeno (Javi Peña x f!reader) 43. When It Rains by @couldsewyouastitch (Javi Peña x f!reader) 44. Take A Chance On Me by @writeforfandoms (Ezra x gn!reader) 45. Sing For You Forever by @yopossum (Jack Daniels ft. f!reader) 46. Woodsmoke by @ohforficsake (Frankie Morales x gn!reader) 47. Crash And Burn by @dindjarindiaries (Din Djarin x gn!reader) 48. Honey Spilt Over by @rulexofxnines (Ezra x f!reader) 49. Never Let Me Down by @novemberrain-writes (Joel & Ellie ) 50. Litha by @grogusmum (Javi Gutiérrez x gn!reader) 51. From Grief To Grace by @penvisions (Javi Gutiérrez x gn!reader) 52. I'm Still Here by @artemiseamoon (Oberyn Martell x gn!reader) 53. Coffee And Crisis by @albertasunrise (Marcus Pike x OFC Ada) 54. Perfect Strangers by @sp00kymulderr (Javi Peña x f!reader)

[albertasunrise]

So glad you liked it hun ♥️

This fic is a favourite of mine 🥹

Coffee and Crisis - Chapter 2

Summary: Marcus has been pretty unlucky in love. With a failed Marriage and engagement under his belt, will his luck finally change when he meets a pretty, young English girl in his favourite cafe?

Warning/Content: Angst, Blood and Injury, Smut 18+

Paring: Marcus Pike/ Original Female Character

§

Keep reading

[albertasunrise]

Thank you hun!

Bless you! Get well soon 🫶🏼

Sounds like you’re in the wars 😭

Masterlist

Here is my masterlist but you can also find more of my work  on AO3 ❤️

Fic updates: @albertasunrise-ficsblog

Fic Requests - Masterlist

Wattpad

Masterlist - 2

* Indicates Sexual content

Francisco ‘Catfish’ Morales - Masterlist

Marcus Pike - Masterlist

Keep reading

[albertasunrise]

Ehhhhhhh!! 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿

Glad you liked it 🫶🏼

Hey!! I don’t know if you take requests but I had this idea that I thought I would share with you as I noticed you live in the UK. It would be about an English girl who moves to the US and meets the Triple Frontier guys (obviously falls for Frankie) and the guys always take the mick out of her accent and the way she says things (just little things like car park instead of parking lot, bin instead of trash can etc.) but her response is always “where am I from? England? Yeah so I’m right” 😂 and then maybe we get some baby stuff (which you write beautifully) and the girl can’t believe you have to pay to have a baby in America. With a sprinkling of angst thrown in for good measure somewhere!

British Beauty

Masterlist - Request Masterlist

Summary: After moving from England to the US after a bad breakup, you find more than you bargained for.

Relationships: Frankie Morales x Reader

Warnings: Like AO3 I choose not to post any warnings. Will give the story away.

Notes: LOVED THIS IDEA... Also... I'm half Canadian so my friends are constantly correcting how I speak so I can totally relate 😂 hope you enjoy!

You met Ben first. It had been your fourth month living in Texas and you'd decided to take your chances in a bar down the street from your apartment. Your friends had been telling you since you'd arrived that you had to try a sports bar so after a little wandering you'd found one a block over.

It was busy but not loud. Two large screens hung above the bar, one playing a hockey game and the other a sport you were familiar with growing up. You had sat at the bar, ordered a cider and watched the race, practically screaming at the TV as if Hamilton would be able to hear you from where he sat in his driving seat.

"That British driver's pretty good huh?" Ben had asked, stepping up beside you with an empty jug in hand.

"Six times world champion." You'd replied, turning to see one of the most beautiful men you'd ever seen smiling back at you.

"A fan of the sport then?" He asked and you nodded enthusiastically before looking back at the screen.

"By the time I was 2 I could name all the drivers and what they drove." You'd stated proud, smiling sweetly at him as your eyes wandered back to him "It's a big deal back home."

"British hmm?" Ben had asked and you nodded "Whereabouts?"

"West Country." You answered with a smile and he look perplexed "I'm from a city called Bath."

"Like bathtub?" He's questioned and you'd chuckled and nodded.

"Sorta, yeah." You'd replied, "We do have some famous roman baths in the city centre."

"Wow, that's pretty cool." He had said as he nodded at the bartender to refill his jug "You here alone?"

"Yeah." You'd replied with a shrug "Moved here a few months ago and haven't really had a chance to make any friends outside the office."

"Join us." He said sincerely and you had given him a questioning look before seeing nothing but sincerity in his expression.

So you'd accepted his offer and joined his friends. Santi, the short but sweet. Will, Ben's sweetheart brother and Frankie. You saved the best for last.

Francisco Morales was something else entirely.

He was a little rough around the edges in appearance and yet, he had a softness to him that drew you to him like a moth to a flame. His hair was longer than the others, curling at the ends and a warm chocolate colour. His eyes were dark and sparkled in the dim light of the bar and you had felt yourself mesmerised by them like you could look into them for the rest of your days.

You'd been pretty gutted when you had learned he had a girlfriend and then you'd found yourself cursing yourself for hoping otherwise. He was perfect in every single way but you'd figured this was probably the one and only time you'd hand out with them all so you had suffered in silence for the rest of the evening.

How wring you'd been.

~

One year later...

Will was holding his annual barbecue and the boys had invited you. As they did to all their major events now. You were excited at the prospect of chilling with your friends after the hellish week at work you'd just had. You weren't, however, looking forward to spending another evening pining over a man you could never have. It was just the four of you, Santi having returned to Australia a few weeks after you met him but you liked it that way. Being closer to the Millers.

"Right we have burgers." Announced Will as he clapped his hands to grab everyone's attention "We have sausages, ribs, wings and because Queeny here requested them, we also have baked potatoes."

"They're called Jacket Potatoes." You corrected and the boys scoffed.

"You and your weird sayings." Ben teased "It's a car park..." Ben started in a mock English accent "Not parking lot."

"Oh..." Started Frank, putting on his own English accent "You couldn't possibly take out the rubbish bags for me would you?"

Ben and Will barked and you scoffed.

'What language do you all speak?" You asked and they all stopped laughing.

"English," Ben answered and you snorted.

"And where am I from Benjamin?" You pushed and his eyes narrowed.

"England..." He trailed off and you nodded at him with a cocky grin plastered across your face.

"Oh yes... that's right... the inventor of the language you speak." You stated "Which meaaaaaans... I'm right and you're all wrong." You finished, blowing them all a kiss before skipping off to the kitchen to fix yourself a drink.

"Damn she's hot." Groaned Ben, watching you waltz away and the others chuckled at his reaction.

"She's also soooo not into you." Will teased and Ben groaned.

'No... She's into Catfish." He grumbled under his breath, not realising he'd been heard.

"She what?" The older man exclaims, stopping Ben dead in his tracks "She likes me?"

"You seriously telling me you never noticed how she looks at you?" Asked Will and Frankie just gave the brothers a bemused look "Shit." Will breathed as he shared a look with his brother "God she looks at you like you hung the stars man. The night we met her and you told her about Lucy, her face literally fell."

"I didn't know," Frank said softly and Will sighed.

"Well, you do now." Will stated and Frank nodded "Just don't give her hope where there is none man."

You remerged a few minutes later with a tray of drinks and the boys all smiled sweetly at you. That was just you in a nutshell. You thought of them always and as you handed them the drinks you fetched them, Frankie couldn't help but pine after you.

"So where's Lu?" You asked as you placed the tray down on the table beside you "Surprised she's not here, she's usually throwing herself at the opportunity to chow down on Will's famous wings."

"We uh... Well, we broke up." Confessed Frankie and everyone looked at him in shock.

"What happened, brother?" Asked Ben and Frankie sighed

"We uh... Well after we lost the baby, things kinda started to fizzle I guess." Frankie started and your brows knitted together as he continued "She was being distant. Going out with friends more and getting back super late. Thought nothing of it at first but then I managed to cut my shift short on our anniversary and thought I'd surprise her." He paused, scraping a hand over his mouth before taking a large swig of his beer "Walked in on her shagging her boss."

"Fuck." Will clamoured and Ben gasped in shock "I'm so sorry brother."

"Yeah well..." Frankie started, letting out a breathy sigh "I guess we were pretty doomed for a while. Losing a kid does that to people sometimes I guess..."

"Losing your baby does not justify her cheating on your Frankie." You piped up and his eyes locked with yours "Yes she lost her baby but so did you... and yet you stuck by her. Shows what kind of person you are." You said sweetly as you gave him a small sympathetic smile "You deserve better than that."

His heart started to race as you pulled him into a friendly hug. He'd been taken from you from the moment he'd met you but he had been with Lucy and so those feelings had been pushed aside. Now though, things were different. He had a chance to see if there was something there.

He owed it to himself to try.

So after the barbecue, he worked out a plan. He'd been single a month and so he knew he needed to give it a little time before he jumped back into the dating poo but he knew when he did. He wanted to swim with you.

So as days merged to weeks and then to months he started to arrange more nights with you. Drinks with the boys became drinks with just the two of you and he found that the more time he spend with you, the more he wanted to pull you into his arms and kiss you breathless.

"So how are things with you?" You asked softly as you took a small sip of your drink "Been on any dates lately or..."

"Dates?" He questioned, brows drawing together "Why would I..." He trialled off, his stomach twisting a little as you chuckled.

"Well, you've been single a few months now." You stated with a shrug "I figured you'd want to get back out there."

"Oh... right." He replied and you noted his sudden change in tone

"You been dating?" He asked and you shrugged slightly "Been on a few." You replied and his heart dropped through the floor "Seeing someone at the moment but I dunno."

"Right."

"You okay?" You asked and he nodded unconvincingly.

"Yeah." He replied as he downed the last of his drink "You want another drink?" He asked, ignoring the concern plastered across your face "I need another drink." He continued to ramble "Same?"

You didn't get a chance to answer before he was up and making his way to the bar. He ordered your usual along with a beer for him and a tumbler of whisky that he downed before making his way back to the table. He could see that you were texting and he felt his jealousy bubble under the surface but he pushed it to one side as he sat back down across from you.

"Here's your weird, English, drink." He grumbled and you smirked at him.

"You can get cider wherever Frank." You snorted.

"Sure." He replied and you felt yourself growing a little irritated at his sudden change in attitude.

"What the fuck is up with you?" You snapped.

"What?" He growled and you rolled your eyes.

"I asked you if you'd dated anyone and you went a little quiet and then I tell you I'm seeing someone and you..." You trailed off as you piece it all together and your eyes drifted up to his.

"Frank-"

"Save it." He pleaded, holding his hand up to stop you "Save me the embarrassment, please... Clearly, the boys were wrong."

"Wrong about what?" You asked and he sighed.

"They told me you like me but clearly they were wrong so-"

"I do." You interrupted and his mouth dropped open "I really like you but you were with Lucy and then..."

"It's fine." He sighed "I'm too late... I get it Queeny. It's getting late, should probably head."

"Frankie-"

"It's fine... really." He said sweetly and you sighed "Want me to walk you home?"

You nodded. Glad in the knowledge that he wasn't just going to abandon you in this bar so that he could lick his wounds. He waited for you to finish your drink and then walked in silence beside you to your apartment. When you reached your door, you turned to face him and your heart sank at the sight of him down and dejected.

"Look... Can we just forget about everything that happened tonight?" He begged, "Rather the boys not know I was painfully shot down."

A tense silence fell over you both as your eyes remained locked.

"No." You said, shaking your head slightly "No, I can't."

"Please I-"

He was interrupted by soft lips slanting over his and Frank moaned into the kiss as his arms wrapped around you to pull you closer. It seemed to be over much faster than he would have liked but as you both pulled back to look at each other, he found himself lost in your eyes.

"I don't want to forget."

~

One year later...

It had been one whole year since that night and you hadn't parted since. You had broken it off with the guy you'd been seeing the following day and that evening you were riding Frankie on his couch whilst the boys sent text after text, wanting to know exactly what had happened between you both.

Your romance had been a whirlwind that had moved so fast for all the right reasons. Within a month you were living together and after four you had drunkenly asked him to marry you.

You were officially engaged a week later.

He had been everything you'd ever wanted and you were the same for him. The love you shared was all-consuming and despite his constant correcting of everything you said, you knew he was the man you wanted to grow old with.

"Baby, have you seen my handbag?" You shouted to Frank as you desperately tried to find the last few things you needed before you left.

"What the hell is a handbag?" He yelled as he sprinted up the stairs and you rolled your eyes at him as he walked into your shared bedroom.

"You know, the bag you shove your shit into when we go anywhere."

"You mean your purse?" He continued and you groaned.

"This is a purse." You snapped as you waved it in his face.

"Babe, that's a wallet."

"Men have wallets." You corrected "Women have purses that they carry around in their handbags."

"Whatever." Frankie chuckled as he placed a peck on your cheek "It's on the couch."

"You mean the sofa?"

"Baby, we're going to be late." He warned and you sighed.

"Fine. Let me just grab something from the bathroom and I'll meet you by the door." Frankie kissed you sweetly before making his way back downstairs again and you watched him leave before making your way to the en-suite. You grabbed what you were looking for and skipped out of the room and down the stairs, shoving it in your bag along with your purse and keys.

"Ready?" He asked and you nodded.

"Let's go."

It took but ten minutes to get to Will's from the home that you shared with your love. The Millers had planned a celebration for your anniversary despite the two of you protesting. You had wanted to spend it in, eating pizza and watching shitty TV but when a certain piece of news reared its head you decided that perhaps a celebration with your favourite brothers and Frankie wouldn't be so bad.

Stepping through the gate that led to Will's back garden, you were greeted by balloons and a banner having from two trees. It was all too much and it all screamed Benjamin Miller.

"Cat, Queeny, you made it!!" He practically shouted as he held his arms open for you both to hug him.

"Wouldn't miss our own party Miller." You said playfully as you poked him in the ribs.

"Whatever Will's cooking smells amazing." Frankie piped up as he pulled you into his side.

"You know my brother. Any excuse to show off his skills." Ben chuckled and you both grinned at him before following the younger Miller to the couch.

He handed you a glass of wine and Frankie a beer before the two of you sat down on the plush cushions and you cuddled into Frank's side.

"So how is the wedding planning going?" Ben asked, his eyes snapping up to see Will walking out with a tray of food.

"Yeah, it's going okay." You said, glancing at Frankie "Pretty much decided on a venue and such, just the date we need to decide."

"Well, you're going to need a few months to plan, surely?" Will asked as he placed a plate of food in front of you.

"Yeah." You replied, nodding your thanks to him before sitting forward to eat.

"Cheers." Declared Will as he sat down beside Ben "Happy Anniversary to the two most deserving people I know."

"Soppy prick." Ben teased and Will slapped his arm gently "Happy Anniversary guys."

You all ate in relative silence then, the food rendering you all speechless but when it was all finished and cleared away, you settled back into your seat and basked in the warm evening sun.

"You haven't touched your wine." Frankie pointed out as he sipped on his second beer of the evening.

"Haven't I?" You said innocently and his eyes narrowed before shrugging and taking another swig of his drink.

When Will and Ben returned from the kitchen, the four of you settled around the table you pulled the box you'd shoved into your bag out and held it in your hands.

"Want your present?" You asked, pulling Frankie's gaze.

"I didn't think we were doing presents?" He asked as he looked at you a little panicked.

"It's just a little something." You said as you handed him the box, chewing your lip as he lifted the and pulled back the paper.

His eyes widened as he looked at what had been hidden beneath that teal tissue paper before looking up at you with a mixture of shock and joy.

"Really?" He asked and you nodded, smiling sweetly at him before he put down the box and pulled you into a bruising kiss.

"Really what?" Ben asked before leaning over the table and grabbing the box, staring long at hard at the contents "You're pregnant?" He exclaimed and you both chuckled.

"Yeah." You breathed "We're pregnant."

"Well, that explains why you haven't touched your wine." Will teased and you grinned at him.

~

7 months later...

You'd had a small ceremony a few months after that evening at Will's. Santi and his girlfriend had flown over from Australia for the occasion, and your family from England.

Your dress had looked perfect with the small bump you had developed almost overnight and your parents had gushed over you and Frankie all day, overjoyed you'd found someone after all the heartbreak you'd suffered.

Now you found yourself holding the new life you'd created in your arms, smiling down at him as he slept soundly in your arms.

"Damn he's perfect." You said softly, taking your eyes off of your son so you could look at your Husband.

"So's she." He said as he smiled down at his daughter who was also sleeping soundly "So perfect." He finished before placing a soft kiss on her brow.

When you'd learned you were having twins, you had freaked but Frankie had been over the moon with the news. He's lost one, now he was being blessed with two at once.

Frankie's head snapped up as a nurse poked her head in the door, motioning for him to follow her and he placed one final kiss on his daughters head before placing her in the clear cot beside your bed.

"Just going to sort the insurance." He said sweetly as he kissed you softly.

"I still can't believe it costs money here to have a baby." You scoffed and he gave you a bemused look "In England, all you pay for is parking... Which is extortionate I will add."

"Well, luckily we have insurance hmm?"

"Still crazy." You snorted and he grinned at you.

"Sure it is baby." He said before kissing you one more time.

You watched him leave before returning your gaze to the little boy in your arms.

"It's fine though." You said after a short pause "You two are worth all the money in the world."

Taglist form

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[albertasunrise]

The birds and the bees conversationally knowing Sarah 🤣

Hope - Hopelessly in Love

Masterlist

Summary: After Joel loses his wife and your best friend during childbirth. You support him as he takes on parenthood on his own at 22. But when feelings start to develop, you battle with the guilt you feel for falling for your best friend’s husband.

Relationships: Joel Miller x Reader

Warnings: Like AO3 I choose to give none. Read at own risk. 18+… this is to avoid spoilers! (Sorry this has taken a while. Trying to do as much writing as I can, when I can, but ya know how it is 🤷🏼‍♀️😅… hope this was worth the wait 😘 I haven't managed to proofread this so any mistakes are my own... Enjoy 🫶🏼)

Series Masterlist - Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5, Part 6, Part 7, Part 8

Six months had passed since the night that you and Joel confessed your feelings for each other. The two of you had decided to keep your relationship a secret from the kids for the time being. Not wanting to confuse things if it wasn't going to work out.

But it was becoming clear to both of you that this relationship wasn't going to break any time soon. You fit together as a couple so seamlessly that the two of you had confessed that you wish you'd just confessed your feelings sooner.

But… You could never regret marrying Alec.

You had loved him so fiercely and you shared two children with him. Noah had always felt like yours despite not being related to him in blood and two years after the accident, and Alec's health started to decline, he has asked if you would consider adopting Noah.

You had accepted without question.

A year later, Noah was legally your son.

His mother had given up her parental rights without argument, which had both saddened and relieved you. You could never understand how someone could just walk out on their child the way she had but you also felt like her loss was your gain. You loved Noah with every fibre of your being.

You had started to discuss with Joel when you should tell the kids about your relationship. You were sure they had their suspicions. You spent most evenings at each other's houses, with the kids of course, but it was pretty obvious that getting them together was just an excuse for you two to spend time together.

So it was no surprise when Ali sprang the question of your relationship on you both that Sunday at your bi-weekly BBQ.

"Are you two together?" She asked out of the blue, poking her head up over her book and spying the two of you talking quietly to one another with sweet smiles plastered over your faces.

"What makes you think that?" Joel asked and the girl shrugged.

"Just being all gross together."

"Oh, thanks." You huffed and Joel sniggered at your reply.

"Well?" She asked again "Are you?"

"Would you care if we were?" You asked and Ali shook her head.

"Nah… Makes sense." She replied casually "But I dunno about Noah and Sarah… They might find it weird… with them being together and all."

This is the reason the two of you hadn't said anything.

Despite Noah having told you that he wouldn't care… you were still nervous. Neither of you minded if the young couple stayed together. They weren't related after all but you knew people might talk, and that's why, 6 months on, you hadn't gone public.

"I won't tell them if you are." Ali continued "It's up to you guys to do that but don't leave it too long."

For a 9-year-old, she was wise beyond her years. You felt like it was partly to do with the fact she had been forced to help you take care of her father towards the end. You'd had to take on more hours in order to ensure you could cover the bills after he'd been medically retired and that had meant Ali and Noah had taken on a little of his care. Something you'd never asked of them but they had done without complaint.

"Yes, we are together." You stated simply, you and Joel sharing a sweet smile before you finished with "We will tell Sarah and Noah so yes, we would appreciate it if you kept this to yourself for now."

"We'll tell them soon." Joel finished and Ali shrugged again before returning to her book.

.

You were finishing up the dishes when Joel came up behind you and wrapped his arms around your waist as he placed sensual kisses along your shoulder and up your neck.

"Joel, the kids…"

"Are all passed out on mattresses downstairs in the basement." He stated, spinning you in his arms so that he could kiss you.

You hummed against his lips, savouring the feel of them against your own and he growled slightly as his hands grabbed your ass and lifted you onto the counter.

"But what if they-"

"Pretty sure they're in a meat coma." He chuckled as he nibbled your chin "Sarah begged me for a sleep which I said was fine as long as Ali slept down there with them and they slept separately."

"What did she say to that?"

"Her exact words were… 'Why would I wanna share a sleeping bag with a boy… ewwww' so I don't think we have anything to worry about."

"Does that mean that I get to sleep over too?" You ask seductively and he grins as he kisses you hard which is all the answer you need.

After peeking down the stairs again and assuring yourselves the kids were okay, you threw caution to the wind and snuck upstairs together. In almost no time at all, you were stripped down to just your underwear and trying not to moan too loudly as Joel lavished your breasts with attention.

You wish you had the time to enjoy his ministrations but you were conscious that the kids could wake up at any moment so after pushing Joel down onto the bed, you rid yourself of your underwear and he did the same. You took a moment to admire him, laying there looking delicious with his length painfully hard and practically screaming for you. You climbed onto his bed and straddled his hips, throwing your head back in a silent scream as you sank down onto his thick length. No matter how many times the two of you did this, you never seemed to get over how perfectly he filled you.

Then, after taking a moment to adjust, you were moving together in perfect harmony. Swallowing each other's pleasured moans with languid kisses as he stroked that spot inside of you that made your toes curl. His hands urged you to move faster when your moans became louder as you neared your peak.

"Cum for me baby." He mumbled against your lips and your movements became more frantic as you started to cum, squeezing him hard as you crested.

Pulling him along with you.

You lay there limply for a moment as you soaked in the moment… loving how this was your life now. You'd never thought you'd get this. You had always felt like he was the forbidden fruit… being that he was your dead best friend's husband.

"I love you." He uttered against the apple of your cheek and you turned your head to look him in the eye, yours filling with happy tears as you replied "I love you too."

"Reckon I can get away with sleeping in here without the kids noticing?" You asked after sharing a few sweet kisses.

"I think it's worth the risk." Joel replied as he flipped you so you were spread out beneath him "I'm not done with you yet."

…

You and Joel allowed yourself a few weeks longer to plan how you planned to tell Noah and Sarah. You had told Joel about what Noah had said… How they'd work it out. But Joel wasn't so confident Sarah would feel the same. He had only ever had one girlfriend that he had introduced to her and that was Sandy, she hadn't been a fan.

So to say, Joel was nervous that he would be telling her that her boyfriend's mum was his new girlfriend, was an understatement.

"I think she'll surprise you." You said before taking another bite of your sandwich "She's a sensible girl."

"She is and I am sure you're right she hated Sandy so you can understand my concerns." Joel replied as he wiped his hands on his napkin and grabbed his coffee "How you feel if you were in her shoes and you found out that your dad was knocking boots with your boyfriend's mum?"

"You have a point." You conceeded "But she has also said to me once or twice that she wished you could find someone to look after you." You revealed, "She worries that you're lonely."

"Is that what you're going to do for me?" He asked, one of his eyebrows quirking as he gave you a suggestive smirk "You going to take care of me, baby?"

"You know it." You replied, giving him a bright smile before finishing off your sandwich.

After finishing lunch together, you decided to take a walk. Sarah and Noah were at football practice but one of the kids' parents was having a BBQ afterwards and Ali was at a sleepover. So you were both kid-free for a while and decided to bask in the ability to just be together for a few hours.

The heat was beating down on you both and you were glad you had chosen to wear a sundress. The idea of any clothes clinging to you made your skin crawl.

"Anywhere you'd like to go?" Joel asked as he spun you into his arms so he could kiss you sweetly and you swooned as you grinned against his lips.

There's this little pub I know that has live music playing all day on a Saturday in their pub garden." You suggested, "Perhaps we could go for a drink and listen to some music?"

"That sounds perfect." Joel replied, kissing you one more time "Lead the way."

.

You had been to an English pub once as a child, that you could remember. Your mum's parents had lived there and you had gone to stay with them for the summer. They had taken you out for drives in their classic Bentley and one day, had taken you to this quaint little pub near where they lived. This place reminded you of there and it made you smile as you thought about how special that day had been.

"You okay?" Joel asked when he noticed how quiet you had gotten and you simply smiled and nodded.

Leading him to the bar, you ordered a glass of white wine and Joel ordered a beer. Then, following the music outside, you were welcomed by a lovely little garden set up with a mixture of benches and garden furniture set around the space. Taking a seat in one of the comfy garden chairs, you placed your wine down and snuggled back into the large cushion at your back.

The two of you sat in comfortable silence for a while. You sipping at your wine and trying not to grimace at the flavour… Something you failed miserably at.

"Something wrong with your wine?"

"Just not nice." You replied with a shrug "It's fine… I'll still drink it."

"Hmmm… that's weird." Joel hummed and your brows pulled together as you asked "What is?"

"I saw the bottle and it's one of your favourites. The De Abelo one that you keep telling me you served at your wedding."

"Really?"

Joel nodded and you frowned "That is weird… maybe its just a bad batch." You replied with a shrug and Joel nodded in agreement.

A slow song came on a few moments later and your eyes noted how a few couples had gotten up and were now slow dancing. It made your heart sore to see such beautiful outward shows of love and when Joel's hand appeared in your line of vision, you looked at him and swore you fell in love with him more.

"May I have this dance?"

You took his hand without question, the two of you embracing each other as you swayed to the music. The moment was so perfect. You wanted to freeze time so it would never end. But alas, the song started to wind down and people's dancing started to slow. Joel nudged your face with his and you felt dizzy as he kissed you so sweetly. But when he pulled his head back to look at you, you realised it wasn't the kiss that had given you the feeling of dizziness.

Your hearing suddenly became muffled and you didn't hear what Joel said to you as your vision darkened around the edges. You only saw his brows pull together as you felt you legs give you and everything went black.

…

Joel stood by your bed, chewing his thumbnail nervously and you reached out to grab the hand closest to you in the hopes it would calm him.

"I'm fine Joel." You assured him "It was probably just from the heat."

"Baby you fucking collapsed." He stated, giving you the saddest eyes you'd ever seen "Your eyes rolled back into your skull and I thought…"

"Oh, baby." You said softly "I'm sorry I scared you. I've been having some dizzy spells lately but I suffer low with Low Iron. So it's probably a combination of that and the heat… I'll be fine I promise."

Joel nodded but you could tell he wasn't convinced.

He was a natural worrier and it was sweet that he was so concerned about you. You knew it was going to be nothing but Joel wouldn't believe that until the doctor told him. So you both waited for someone to pull back that curtain.

Minutes blended into hours. Nurses came by to make sure you had water and even Joel pulled himself away for a brief time to grab some decent coffee.

You would be lying if your anxiety didn't start to spike, the longer it took for someone to come and see you but finally, after laying in that uncomfortable bed four four hours, you got your answer.

Your name fell from the doctor's lips as he skimmed through the notes on the clipboard in his hands "Sorry for the wait." He said as he looked at you both apologetically "Short-staffed in the lab… Anyway, your results came back fine. Nothing to be concerned about but there was one thing that did crop up."

Your stomach dropped.

"What is it?" Joel asked, his hand tightening around yours "She okay?"

"She's fine… Healthy." The doctor assured you both before he said your name and dropped an utter bombshell on you "I am assuming you weren't aware you're pregnant?"

Next

For updates follow @albertasunrise-ficsblog

[albertasunrise]

YUP!!

Mummy and daddy weren’t very careful 🥲

Hope - Hopelessly in Love

Masterlist

Summary: After Joel loses his wife and your best friend during childbirth. You support him as he takes on parenthood on his own at 22. But when feelings start to develop, you battle with the guilt you feel for falling for your best friend’s husband.

Relationships: Joel Miller x Reader

Warnings: Like AO3 I choose to give none. Read at own risk. 18+… this is to avoid spoilers! (Sorry this has taken a while. Trying to do as much writing as I can, when I can, but ya know how it is 🤷🏼‍♀️😅… hope this was worth the wait 😘 I haven't managed to proofread this so any mistakes are my own... Enjoy 🫶🏼)

Series Masterlist - Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5, Part 6, Part 7, Part 8

Six months had passed since the night that you and Joel confessed your feelings for each other. The two of you had decided to keep your relationship a secret from the kids for the time being. Not wanting to confuse things if it wasn't going to work out.

But it was becoming clear to both of you that this relationship wasn't going to break any time soon. You fit together as a couple so seamlessly that the two of you had confessed that you wish you'd just confessed your feelings sooner.

But… You could never regret marrying Alec.

You had loved him so fiercely and you shared two children with him. Noah had always felt like yours despite not being related to him in blood and two years after the accident, and Alec's health started to decline, he has asked if you would consider adopting Noah.

You had accepted without question.

A year later, Noah was legally your son.

His mother had given up her parental rights without argument, which had both saddened and relieved you. You could never understand how someone could just walk out on their child the way she had but you also felt like her loss was your gain. You loved Noah with every fibre of your being.

You had started to discuss with Joel when you should tell the kids about your relationship. You were sure they had their suspicions. You spent most evenings at each other's houses, with the kids of course, but it was pretty obvious that getting them together was just an excuse for you two to spend time together.

So it was no surprise when Ali sprang the question of your relationship on you both that Sunday at your bi-weekly BBQ.

"Are you two together?" She asked out of the blue, poking her head up over her book and spying the two of you talking quietly to one another with sweet smiles plastered over your faces.

"What makes you think that?" Joel asked and the girl shrugged.

"Just being all gross together."

"Oh, thanks." You huffed and Joel sniggered at your reply.

"Well?" She asked again "Are you?"

"Would you care if we were?" You asked and Ali shook her head.

"Nah… Makes sense." She replied casually "But I dunno about Noah and Sarah… They might find it weird… with them being together and all."

This is the reason the two of you hadn't said anything.

Despite Noah having told you that he wouldn't care… you were still nervous. Neither of you minded if the young couple stayed together. They weren't related after all but you knew people might talk, and that's why, 6 months on, you hadn't gone public.

"I won't tell them if you are." Ali continued "It's up to you guys to do that but don't leave it too long."

For a 9-year-old, she was wise beyond her years. You felt like it was partly to do with the fact she had been forced to help you take care of her father towards the end. You'd had to take on more hours in order to ensure you could cover the bills after he'd been medically retired and that had meant Ali and Noah had taken on a little of his care. Something you'd never asked of them but they had done without complaint.

"Yes, we are together." You stated simply, you and Joel sharing a sweet smile before you finished with "We will tell Sarah and Noah so yes, we would appreciate it if you kept this to yourself for now."

"We'll tell them soon." Joel finished and Ali shrugged again before returning to her book.

.

You were finishing up the dishes when Joel came up behind you and wrapped his arms around your waist as he placed sensual kisses along your shoulder and up your neck.

"Joel, the kids…"

"Are all passed out on mattresses downstairs in the basement." He stated, spinning you in his arms so that he could kiss you.

You hummed against his lips, savouring the feel of them against your own and he growled slightly as his hands grabbed your ass and lifted you onto the counter.

"But what if they-"

"Pretty sure they're in a meat coma." He chuckled as he nibbled your chin "Sarah begged me for a sleep which I said was fine as long as Ali slept down there with them and they slept separately."

"What did she say to that?"

"Her exact words were… 'Why would I wanna share a sleeping bag with a boy… ewwww' so I don't think we have anything to worry about."

"Does that mean that I get to sleep over too?" You ask seductively and he grins as he kisses you hard which is all the answer you need.

After peeking down the stairs again and assuring yourselves the kids were okay, you threw caution to the wind and snuck upstairs together. In almost no time at all, you were stripped down to just your underwear and trying not to moan too loudly as Joel lavished your breasts with attention.

You wish you had the time to enjoy his ministrations but you were conscious that the kids could wake up at any moment so after pushing Joel down onto the bed, you rid yourself of your underwear and he did the same. You took a moment to admire him, laying there looking delicious with his length painfully hard and practically screaming for you. You climbed onto his bed and straddled his hips, throwing your head back in a silent scream as you sank down onto his thick length. No matter how many times the two of you did this, you never seemed to get over how perfectly he filled you.

Then, after taking a moment to adjust, you were moving together in perfect harmony. Swallowing each other's pleasured moans with languid kisses as he stroked that spot inside of you that made your toes curl. His hands urged you to move faster when your moans became louder as you neared your peak.

"Cum for me baby." He mumbled against your lips and your movements became more frantic as you started to cum, squeezing him hard as you crested.

Pulling him along with you.

You lay there limply for a moment as you soaked in the moment… loving how this was your life now. You'd never thought you'd get this. You had always felt like he was the forbidden fruit… being that he was your dead best friend's husband.

"I love you." He uttered against the apple of your cheek and you turned your head to look him in the eye, yours filling with happy tears as you replied "I love you too."

"Reckon I can get away with sleeping in here without the kids noticing?" You asked after sharing a few sweet kisses.

"I think it's worth the risk." Joel replied as he flipped you so you were spread out beneath him "I'm not done with you yet."

…

You and Joel allowed yourself a few weeks longer to plan how you planned to tell Noah and Sarah. You had told Joel about what Noah had said… How they'd work it out. But Joel wasn't so confident Sarah would feel the same. He had only ever had one girlfriend that he had introduced to her and that was Sandy, she hadn't been a fan.

So to say, Joel was nervous that he would be telling her that her boyfriend's mum was his new girlfriend, was an understatement.

"I think she'll surprise you." You said before taking another bite of your sandwich "She's a sensible girl."

"She is and I am sure you're right she hated Sandy so you can understand my concerns." Joel replied as he wiped his hands on his napkin and grabbed his coffee "How you feel if you were in her shoes and you found out that your dad was knocking boots with your boyfriend's mum?"

"You have a point." You conceeded "But she has also said to me once or twice that she wished you could find someone to look after you." You revealed, "She worries that you're lonely."

"Is that what you're going to do for me?" He asked, one of his eyebrows quirking as he gave you a suggestive smirk "You going to take care of me, baby?"

"You know it." You replied, giving him a bright smile before finishing off your sandwich.

After finishing lunch together, you decided to take a walk. Sarah and Noah were at football practice but one of the kids' parents was having a BBQ afterwards and Ali was at a sleepover. So you were both kid-free for a while and decided to bask in the ability to just be together for a few hours.

The heat was beating down on you both and you were glad you had chosen to wear a sundress. The idea of any clothes clinging to you made your skin crawl.

"Anywhere you'd like to go?" Joel asked as he spun you into his arms so he could kiss you sweetly and you swooned as you grinned against his lips.

There's this little pub I know that has live music playing all day on a Saturday in their pub garden." You suggested, "Perhaps we could go for a drink and listen to some music?"

"That sounds perfect." Joel replied, kissing you one more time "Lead the way."

.

You had been to an English pub once as a child, that you could remember. Your mum's parents had lived there and you had gone to stay with them for the summer. They had taken you out for drives in their classic Bentley and one day, had taken you to this quaint little pub near where they lived. This place reminded you of there and it made you smile as you thought about how special that day had been.

"You okay?" Joel asked when he noticed how quiet you had gotten and you simply smiled and nodded.

Leading him to the bar, you ordered a glass of white wine and Joel ordered a beer. Then, following the music outside, you were welcomed by a lovely little garden set up with a mixture of benches and garden furniture set around the space. Taking a seat in one of the comfy garden chairs, you placed your wine down and snuggled back into the large cushion at your back.

The two of you sat in comfortable silence for a while. You sipping at your wine and trying not to grimace at the flavour… Something you failed miserably at.

"Something wrong with your wine?"

"Just not nice." You replied with a shrug "It's fine… I'll still drink it."

"Hmmm… that's weird." Joel hummed and your brows pulled together as you asked "What is?"

"I saw the bottle and it's one of your favourites. The De Abelo one that you keep telling me you served at your wedding."

"Really?"

Joel nodded and you frowned "That is weird… maybe its just a bad batch." You replied with a shrug and Joel nodded in agreement.

A slow song came on a few moments later and your eyes noted how a few couples had gotten up and were now slow dancing. It made your heart sore to see such beautiful outward shows of love and when Joel's hand appeared in your line of vision, you looked at him and swore you fell in love with him more.

"May I have this dance?"

You took his hand without question, the two of you embracing each other as you swayed to the music. The moment was so perfect. You wanted to freeze time so it would never end. But alas, the song started to wind down and people's dancing started to slow. Joel nudged your face with his and you felt dizzy as he kissed you so sweetly. But when he pulled his head back to look at you, you realised it wasn't the kiss that had given you the feeling of dizziness.

Your hearing suddenly became muffled and you didn't hear what Joel said to you as your vision darkened around the edges. You only saw his brows pull together as you felt you legs give you and everything went black.

…

Joel stood by your bed, chewing his thumbnail nervously and you reached out to grab the hand closest to you in the hopes it would calm him.

"I'm fine Joel." You assured him "It was probably just from the heat."

"Baby you fucking collapsed." He stated, giving you the saddest eyes you'd ever seen "Your eyes rolled back into your skull and I thought…"

"Oh, baby." You said softly "I'm sorry I scared you. I've been having some dizzy spells lately but I suffer low with Low Iron. So it's probably a combination of that and the heat… I'll be fine I promise."

Joel nodded but you could tell he wasn't convinced.

He was a natural worrier and it was sweet that he was so concerned about you. You knew it was going to be nothing but Joel wouldn't believe that until the doctor told him. So you both waited for someone to pull back that curtain.

Minutes blended into hours. Nurses came by to make sure you had water and even Joel pulled himself away for a brief time to grab some decent coffee.

You would be lying if your anxiety didn't start to spike, the longer it took for someone to come and see you but finally, after laying in that uncomfortable bed four four hours, you got your answer.

Your name fell from the doctor's lips as he skimmed through the notes on the clipboard in his hands "Sorry for the wait." He said as he looked at you both apologetically "Short-staffed in the lab… Anyway, your results came back fine. Nothing to be concerned about but there was one thing that did crop up."

Your stomach dropped.

"What is it?" Joel asked, his hand tightening around yours "She okay?"

"She's fine… Healthy." The doctor assured you both before he said your name and dropped an utter bombshell on you "I am assuming you weren't aware you're pregnant?"

Next

For updates follow @albertasunrise-ficsblog

[albertasunrise]

Hope - Hopelessly in Love

Masterlist

Summary: After Joel loses his wife and your best friend during childbirth. You support him as he takes on parenthood on his own at 22. But when feelings start to develop, you battle with the guilt you feel for falling for your best friend’s husband.

Relationships: Joel Miller x Reader

Warnings: Like AO3 I choose to give none. Read at own risk. 18+… this is to avoid spoilers! (Sorry this has taken a while. Trying to do as much writing as I can, when I can, but ya know how it is 🤷🏼‍♀️😅… hope this was worth the wait 😘 I haven't managed to proofread this so any mistakes are my own... Enjoy 🫶🏼)

Series Masterlist - Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5, Part 6, Part 7, Part 8

Six months had passed since the night that you and Joel confessed your feelings for each other. The two of you had decided to keep your relationship a secret from the kids for the time being. Not wanting to confuse things if it wasn't going to work out.

But it was becoming clear to both of you that this relationship wasn't going to break any time soon. You fit together as a couple so seamlessly that the two of you had confessed that you wish you'd just confessed your feelings sooner.

But… You could never regret marrying Alec.

You had loved him so fiercely and you shared two children with him. Noah had always felt like yours despite not being related to him in blood and two years after the accident, and Alec's health started to decline, he has asked if you would consider adopting Noah.

You had accepted without question.

A year later, Noah was legally your son.

His mother had given up her parental rights without argument, which had both saddened and relieved you. You could never understand how someone could just walk out on their child the way she had but you also felt like her loss was your gain. You loved Noah with every fibre of your being.

You had started to discuss with Joel when you should tell the kids about your relationship. You were sure they had their suspicions. You spent most evenings at each other's houses, with the kids of course, but it was pretty obvious that getting them together was just an excuse for you two to spend time together.

So it was no surprise when Ali sprang the question of your relationship on you both that Sunday at your bi-weekly BBQ.

"Are you two together?" She asked out of the blue, poking her head up over her book and spying the two of you talking quietly to one another with sweet smiles plastered over your faces.

"What makes you think that?" Joel asked and the girl shrugged.

"Just being all gross together."

"Oh, thanks." You huffed and Joel sniggered at your reply.

"Well?" She asked again "Are you?"

"Would you care if we were?" You asked and Ali shook her head.

"Nah… Makes sense." She replied casually "But I dunno about Noah and Sarah… They might find it weird… with them being together and all."

This is the reason the two of you hadn't said anything.

Despite Noah having told you that he wouldn't care… you were still nervous. Neither of you minded if the young couple stayed together. They weren't related after all but you knew people might talk, and that's why, 6 months on, you hadn't gone public.

"I won't tell them if you are." Ali continued "It's up to you guys to do that but don't leave it too long."

For a 9-year-old, she was wise beyond her years. You felt like it was partly to do with the fact she had been forced to help you take care of her father towards the end. You'd had to take on more hours in order to ensure you could cover the bills after he'd been medically retired and that had meant Ali and Noah had taken on a little of his care. Something you'd never asked of them but they had done without complaint.

"Yes, we are together." You stated simply, you and Joel sharing a sweet smile before you finished with "We will tell Sarah and Noah so yes, we would appreciate it if you kept this to yourself for now."

"We'll tell them soon." Joel finished and Ali shrugged again before returning to her book.

.

You were finishing up the dishes when Joel came up behind you and wrapped his arms around your waist as he placed sensual kisses along your shoulder and up your neck.

"Joel, the kids…"

"Are all passed out on mattresses downstairs in the basement." He stated, spinning you in his arms so that he could kiss you.

You hummed against his lips, savouring the feel of them against your own and he growled slightly as his hands grabbed your ass and lifted you onto the counter.

"But what if they-"

"Pretty sure they're in a meat coma." He chuckled as he nibbled your chin "Sarah begged me for a sleep which I said was fine as long as Ali slept down there with them and they slept separately."

"What did she say to that?"

"Her exact words were… 'Why would I wanna share a sleeping bag with a boy… ewwww' so I don't think we have anything to worry about."

"Does that mean that I get to sleep over too?" You ask seductively and he grins as he kisses you hard which is all the answer you need.

After peeking down the stairs again and assuring yourselves the kids were okay, you threw caution to the wind and snuck upstairs together. In almost no time at all, you were stripped down to just your underwear and trying not to moan too loudly as Joel lavished your breasts with attention.

You wish you had the time to enjoy his ministrations but you were conscious that the kids could wake up at any moment so after pushing Joel down onto the bed, you rid yourself of your underwear and he did the same. You took a moment to admire him, laying there looking delicious with his length painfully hard and practically screaming for you. You climbed onto his bed and straddled his hips, throwing your head back in a silent scream as you sank down onto his thick length. No matter how many times the two of you did this, you never seemed to get over how perfectly he filled you.

Then, after taking a moment to adjust, you were moving together in perfect harmony. Swallowing each other's pleasured moans with languid kisses as he stroked that spot inside of you that made your toes curl. His hands urged you to move faster when your moans became louder as you neared your peak.

"Cum for me baby." He mumbled against your lips and your movements became more frantic as you started to cum, squeezing him hard as you crested.

Pulling him along with you.

You lay there limply for a moment as you soaked in the moment… loving how this was your life now. You'd never thought you'd get this. You had always felt like he was the forbidden fruit… being that he was your dead best friend's husband.

"I love you." He uttered against the apple of your cheek and you turned your head to look him in the eye, yours filling with happy tears as you replied "I love you too."

"Reckon I can get away with sleeping in here without the kids noticing?" You asked after sharing a few sweet kisses.

"I think it's worth the risk." Joel replied as he flipped you so you were spread out beneath him "I'm not done with you yet."

…

You and Joel allowed yourself a few weeks longer to plan how you planned to tell Noah and Sarah. You had told Joel about what Noah had said… How they'd work it out. But Joel wasn't so confident Sarah would feel the same. He had only ever had one girlfriend that he had introduced to her and that was Sandy, she hadn't been a fan.

So to say, Joel was nervous that he would be telling her that her boyfriend's mum was his new girlfriend, was an understatement.

"I think she'll surprise you." You said before taking another bite of your sandwich "She's a sensible girl."

"She is and I am sure you're right she hated Sandy so you can understand my concerns." Joel replied as he wiped his hands on his napkin and grabbed his coffee "How you feel if you were in her shoes and you found out that your dad was knocking boots with your boyfriend's mum?"

"You have a point." You conceeded "But she has also said to me once or twice that she wished you could find someone to look after you." You revealed, "She worries that you're lonely."

"Is that what you're going to do for me?" He asked, one of his eyebrows quirking as he gave you a suggestive smirk "You going to take care of me, baby?"

"You know it." You replied, giving him a bright smile before finishing off your sandwich.

After finishing lunch together, you decided to take a walk. Sarah and Noah were at football practice but one of the kids' parents was having a BBQ afterwards and Ali was at a sleepover. So you were both kid-free for a while and decided to bask in the ability to just be together for a few hours.

The heat was beating down on you both and you were glad you had chosen to wear a sundress. The idea of any clothes clinging to you made your skin crawl.

"Anywhere you'd like to go?" Joel asked as he spun you into his arms so he could kiss you sweetly and you swooned as you grinned against his lips.

There's this little pub I know that has live music playing all day on a Saturday in their pub garden." You suggested, "Perhaps we could go for a drink and listen to some music?"

"That sounds perfect." Joel replied, kissing you one more time "Lead the way."

.

You had been to an English pub once as a child, that you could remember. Your mum's parents had lived there and you had gone to stay with them for the summer. They had taken you out for drives in their classic Bentley and one day, had taken you to this quaint little pub near where they lived. This place reminded you of there and it made you smile as you thought about how special that day had been.

"You okay?" Joel asked when he noticed how quiet you had gotten and you simply smiled and nodded.

Leading him to the bar, you ordered a glass of white wine and Joel ordered a beer. Then, following the music outside, you were welcomed by a lovely little garden set up with a mixture of benches and garden furniture set around the space. Taking a seat in one of the comfy garden chairs, you placed your wine down and snuggled back into the large cushion at your back.

The two of you sat in comfortable silence for a while. You sipping at your wine and trying not to grimace at the flavour… Something you failed miserably at.

"Something wrong with your wine?"

"Just not nice." You replied with a shrug "It's fine… I'll still drink it."

"Hmmm… that's weird." Joel hummed and your brows pulled together as you asked "What is?"

"I saw the bottle and it's one of your favourites. The De Abelo one that you keep telling me you served at your wedding."

"Really?"

Joel nodded and you frowned "That is weird… maybe its just a bad batch." You replied with a shrug and Joel nodded in agreement.

A slow song came on a few moments later and your eyes noted how a few couples had gotten up and were now slow dancing. It made your heart sore to see such beautiful outward shows of love and when Joel's hand appeared in your line of vision, you looked at him and swore you fell in love with him more.

"May I have this dance?"

You took his hand without question, the two of you embracing each other as you swayed to the music. The moment was so perfect. You wanted to freeze time so it would never end. But alas, the song started to wind down and people's dancing started to slow. Joel nudged your face with his and you felt dizzy as he kissed you so sweetly. But when he pulled his head back to look at you, you realised it wasn't the kiss that had given you the feeling of dizziness.

Your hearing suddenly became muffled and you didn't hear what Joel said to you as your vision darkened around the edges. You only saw his brows pull together as you felt you legs give you and everything went black.

…

Joel stood by your bed, chewing his thumbnail nervously and you reached out to grab the hand closest to you in the hopes it would calm him.

"I'm fine Joel." You assured him "It was probably just from the heat."

"Baby you fucking collapsed." He stated, giving you the saddest eyes you'd ever seen "Your eyes rolled back into your skull and I thought…"

"Oh, baby." You said softly "I'm sorry I scared you. I've been having some dizzy spells lately but I suffer low with Low Iron. So it's probably a combination of that and the heat… I'll be fine I promise."

Joel nodded but you could tell he wasn't convinced.

He was a natural worrier and it was sweet that he was so concerned about you. You knew it was going to be nothing but Joel wouldn't believe that until the doctor told him. So you both waited for someone to pull back that curtain.

Minutes blended into hours. Nurses came by to make sure you had water and even Joel pulled himself away for a brief time to grab some decent coffee.

You would be lying if your anxiety didn't start to spike, the longer it took for someone to come and see you but finally, after laying in that uncomfortable bed four four hours, you got your answer.

Your name fell from the doctor's lips as he skimmed through the notes on the clipboard in his hands "Sorry for the wait." He said as he looked at you both apologetically "Short-staffed in the lab… Anyway, your results came back fine. Nothing to be concerned about but there was one thing that did crop up."

Your stomach dropped.

"What is it?" Joel asked, his hand tightening around yours "She okay?"

"She's fine… Healthy." The doctor assured you both before he said your name and dropped an utter bombshell on you "I am assuming you weren't aware you're pregnant?"

Next

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Hope - Hopelessly in Love (Preview)

Masterlist

GIF by hoffmans-hoffman

So.. yeah... this has taken a while. Sorry about that. Life has been super busy and I will confess... Work wife kinda took over.

I hope this preview will wet your appetites and I will try to get the full chapter finished and up either today or tomorrow ♥️

Read previous chapters here

Six months had passed since the night that you and Joel confessed your feelings for each other. The two of you had decided to keep your relationship a secret from the kids for the time being. Not wanting to confuse things if it wasn't going to work out.

But it was becoming clear to both of you that this relationship wasn't going to break any time soon. You fit together as a couple so seamlessly that the two of you had confessed that you wish you'd just confessed your feelings sooner.

But… You could never regret marrying Alec.

You had loved him so fiercely and you shared two children with him. Noah had always felt like yours despite not being related to him in blood and two years after the accident, and Alec's health started to decline, he has asked if you would consider adopting Noah.

You had accepted without question.

A year later, Noah was legally your son.

His mother had given up her parental rights without argument, which had both saddened and relieved you. You could never understand how someone could just walk out on their child the way she had but you also felt like her loss was your gain. You loved Noah with every fibre of your being.

You had started to discuss with Joel when you should tell the kids about your relationship. You were sure they had their suspicions. You spent most evenings at each other's houses, with the kids of course, but it was pretty obvious that getting them together was just an excuse for you two to spend time together.

So it was no surprise when Ali sprang the question of your relationship on you both that Sunday at your bi-weekly BBQ.

"Are you two together?" She asked out of the blue, poking her head up over her book and spying the two of you talking quietly to one another with sweet smiles plastered over your faces.

"What makes you think that?" Joel asked and the girl shrugged.

"Just being all gross together."

"Oh, thanks." You huffed and Joel sniggered at your reply.

"Well?" She asked again "Are you?"

"Would you care if we were?" You asked and Ali shook her head.

"Nah… Makes sense." She replied casually "But I dunno about Noah and Sarah… They might find it weird… with them being together and all."

This is the reason the two of you hadn't said anything.

Despite Noah having told you that he wouldn't care… you were still nervous. Neither of you minded if the young couple stayed together. They weren't related after all but you knew people might talk, and that's why, 6 months on, you hadn't gone public.

"I won't tell them if you are." Ali continued "It's up to you guys to do that but don't leave it too long."

For a 9-year-old, she was wise beyond her years. You felt like it was partly to do with the fact she had been forced to help you take care of her father towards the end. You'd had to take on more hours in order to ensure you could cover the bills after he'd been medically retired and that had meant Ali and Noah had taken on a little of his care. Something you'd never asked of them but they had done without complaint.

"Yes, we are together." You stated simply, you and Joel sharing a sweet smile before you finished with "We will tell Sarah and Noah so yes, we would appreciate it if you kept this to yourself for now."

"We'll tell them soon." Joel finished and Ali shrugged again before returning to her book.

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Firm Friends - 2

Masterlist

Summary: After a bogus raid leads to the DEA duo getting ambushed. Steve see's a different side to his asshole partner.

Warnings: Angst, Blood and Injury, Hospitalisation,

PTSD. (Please let me know if | have left any out)

Notes: so @novemberrain-writes and and I thank you all for being super patient as we pit together this update for you! Between wedding planning for her and a sick baby for me its been a bit mad! We hope you enjoy 🫶🏼

Series Masterlist, Part 1

Connie held her shaking husband as he sat and stared at Javier, as if staring at him would prevent him from seizing again. Once the doctors managed to get the seizure under control, extensive tests were run. The Murphys had been warned that due to the severity of Javier’s head injury, there was a chance that he could be at risk for more. That news seemed to shake Steve to his core.

To say that his reaction to his partner's condition surprised Connie would be an understatement. Until now, all he'd really done was complain about the man but, it seemed his guilt over what he'd said had brought out different feelings.

"Do you need anything?" Connie asked, breaking what felt like hours of silence. She was starting to feel on edge. The constant beeping of machinery and the whooshing of the ventilator were beginning to rub her nerves raw. This seemed like an appropriate excuse to escape the sight of Javier’s ashen and bruised body and her husband’s overwhelmingly guilty expression.

"No." He replied and she sighed.

"I was going to go in search of coffee. Do you want some?" Steve looked up at her with tear-brimmed eyes and gave her a small nod. "Okay. I won't be long, " she said before leaving the room and heading in the direction of where she was sure she'd seen a cafe.

The walk gave her time to think. She knew that when Javier was well enough to leave, he'd still need some care. Depending on how severe the aftermath of the accident was, he may struggle to walk, talk or perform other basic functions. There was a chance Javier wouldn’t be himself for a while. Hopefully, the seizures were just due to the head injury and wouldn't be permanent but there was still a chance. TBIs can trigger epilepsy. Connie wondered how that possibility could affect Javier's being able to work on the case. Would they let him stay and work in the field if he could drop and fit at any given moment? What would that mean for his career? What would that mean for her husband?

She supposed the DEA probably wouldn't want the liability. Javier could be benched permanently.

It didn't take her long to find a cafe near the entrance to the hospital that served fresh coffee. Making her order she grabbed some on-the-go snacks also, just in case Steve did decide at some point to eat something.

Carrying the coffee's out into the hot Columbian sun, she watched as an ambulance came screaming past her and her heart sank remembering that she was heading back to her husband's partner and friend who was fighting for his life. She wasn't quite sure what she was expecting when she came with Steve to help fight the war on cocaine but she hadn't really prepared herself for the idea that her husband might get hurt. She felt silly thinking about it now because, of course, there was that risk. His previous partner had been killed in the field but you never expect it to happen to you. Had Steve’s car been in front and not Javier’s or if they hadn’t fought that day and had been in the car together, it could have easily been her husband trapped beneath tubes and wires, a shell of his former self struggling in a drug-induced abyss.

She was realising now how naive her lack of worry was.

"You gotta fight this brother." Steve mumbled after an extended period of tense silence "I know I said some shit but this is not the way to punish me for it." Steve continued, chuckling awkwardly "I was an ass and I wanna make this right but... Well, you gotta get better man."

Javier didn't even twitch save for the precise movements of his machine-induced breathing and Steve wasn't sure what he expected, he was sedated after all. He supposed he had hoped he'd just give him something. Just some sort of sign that he had heard him...that he forgave him.

"How's he doing?" Connie's voice tore the agent's gaze away from his partner and to his wife who was holding a to-go coffee cup out to him.

He accepted it graciously and took a sip of the hot liquid, humming at the flavours that assaulted his senses. It brought him momentary relief from the stressful situation before him and he thanked his wife again before taking a few more sips and then placing it on the table beside Javier's bed.

"The doctor came by while you were out. Said that the head injury doesn't appear to be worsening... They're confident that he won't need surgery."

"That's good news. Javier would hate it if they had to shave his head," Connie said as he took Steve's hand and squeezed it gently.

Steve let out a half-hearted scoff. “Yeah. That would throw off his flirting game big time.”

Another long stretch of silence followed.  

"He's going to be okay Steve," Connie said finally.

"How can you be so sure?" her husband asked, his voice so small and she squeezed his hand again before she answered.

"Because from what you’ve told me, he sounds like the most stubborn man you’ve ever known. I think he has you beat. And, because he'd never turn down a bottle of expensive whiskey."

Connie found she couldn’t just sit and keep vigil over Javier’s unconscious body while her husband was home showering and getting a change of clothes. Her nurse mode had kicked in and she found herself fussing over him; making sure his blanket was straightened and his wires weren’t tangled and that his pillows were fluffed comfortably.

She was checking his most recently updated chart when suddenly, Javier took a ragged breath against the ventilator.

“Javier?” Connie called softly as she abandoned the chart and moved to his side. Maybe she’d imagined it?

 

The agent’s body hitched with another fighting breath as the heart monitor started to speed up. His fists clenched weakly for a moment before relaxing.

“Hey, hey it’s alright, Javi. You’re ok.”

She noticed his eyes were moving beneath the lids and his once slack face was now strained. Another breath and some of his monitors were starting to get a little more incessant. His eyes were moving behind the lids like he was trying to fight through the sedation and rejoin the waking world.

“Don’t tire yourself out, Javier,” Connie soothed gently as she rested her hand on his chest. “You need to rest until you’re stronger.”

Dark irises appeared as Javier somehow managed to open his eyes just a sliver. He gazed blankly at her.

“We’re safe,” Connie reassured. “Everything’s ok. Don’t fight it. Just sleep, Javi. You still need to sleep a little more. We’ll all be here safe and sound when it’s time for you to wake up.”

Javier’s eyes closed and he was still once more. The monitors gradually returned to a normal rhythm and he no longer tried to fight the ventilator. With a sigh Connie smoothed his hair back, taking care not to exacerbate the bruises or mess with the bandage around his head.

“We’ve got you. I promise,” she whispered.

Three days later, Javier was taken off the ventilator and appeared to be making progress. His vitals got stronger as the days passed but the doctors kept Peña sedated, wanting the agent to rest as much as possible with the hope that his head injury would heal with minimal complications.

But today, they'd decided to start weaning him off the drugs so they could begin to assess where Javier was in the recovery process. The Murphy's had been advised that it might take a while for the agent to come round so they sat patiently and waited.

There were a few false starts. Javier stirred but never quite managed to break to the surface yet Steve and Connie cheered him on each and every time and reassured him that he was safe and not alone.

"Steve." Connie nudged her husband who had dozed off in his chair. It had been roughly 24 hours since the doctors had fully tapered Javier off the sedative. Her eyes locked on Javier's as they cracked open. "Steve, he's waking up."

This dragged the blond agent back to earth and he practically leapt out of his chair to stand over Javier as he slowly blinked his way back to consciousness.

 

It was slow and Steve's back started to ache from his hunched-over posture but he wanted Javier to see a familiar face when he came to. It was probably twenty minutes or so before Javier was somewhat coherent. His eyes roved around the room, then settled on Steve and Connie as a frown formed on his slightly bruised face.

"Javier, do you know where you are?" Connie asked and he shook his head, wincing at the pain this elicited "Do you remember what happened?"

The agent shook his head again but it was slight this time, clearly an attempt to avoid the pain he'd felt previously.

"Do you know who we both are?" she prompted.

"What sort of question is that?" Steve asked his wife, his panicked tone not matching his query.

Javier nodded and they both breathed a sigh of relief. Javier still wasn’t quite himself, but at least his memory was still somewhat intact.

"Javi, you were involved in a raid with Steve. Do you remember that?" Connie asked as she tenderly smoothed a rogue lock of hair out of his eyes.

Javier nodded again and Steve placed a friendly hand on the man's shoulder.

"We were ambushed on our way back to base. Your truck was t-boned and then we were fired upon. You fought like a champ, brother, but you were running off adrenaline," Steve recounted as he gave Javier a reassuring smile. "You suffered a pretty nasty head injury and some internal bleeding. You've been out nearly four days but you're going to be okay now. The docs are pretty optimistic. You didn’t even need surgery for your head."

"We're gonna take care of you, Javi," said Connie as she stood so the agent could see her better "You'll be back to pissing this one off in no time." She pointed to her husband with her thumb.

Javier gave her a weak smile before wincing again at the pain in his head. His heart rate was slightly elevated now,  something Connie immediately noticed.

"I'm going to fetch a doctor." She said simply. "See if we can get you some more pain relief."

Javier nodded again and closed his eyes as he attempted to breathe through the insistent throbbing in his skull. Everything seemed to exacerbate it. Suddenly the overhead light seemed like too much and the beeping of machinery felt like spikes driving into his head. A hoarse groan escaped his lips. Steve grabbed Javier's hand and uttered calming words as the pain grew worse, tears leaking from the corners of the injured agent’s eyes.

"It's okay, partner. Con will be back soon with the good stuff. Just hang in there."

Javier couldn't answer as his head rocked weakly against the pillow and he clenched his teeth. The pain had become too much and he cried out as his hands went to grab for his head, only to be stopped by his partner.

 

"I know it hurts. brother, but you can't grab your head like that. The doctors are coming."

"Steve... it hurts." He gritted out as he grabbed his partner's hands weakly and squeezed.

"I know. Connie'll be back in a moment. Just squeeze my hands."

Unfamiliar hands and voices suddenly filled the room and swarmed Steve's vision, and then he was being pulled back so their owners could work. Connie joined them, ensuring that Javier didn’t feel alone. Alarms started to blare and Steve's stomach sank.

"You gotta breathe, Javi," Connie urged from Javier's side and Steve looked at his wife with a stricken expression. "Just breathe. The pain will start to fade soon. Don’t hold your breath. Just breathe with me for a moment."

The alarms calmed and the frantic tone that Steve had previously missed on Javier's monitor started to settle. Connie stepped back enough for Steve to notice there was an oxygen mask covering his partner’s face now; something he’d been unable to see when the swarm of medical professionals had blocked his view.

"That's it, Javi.Slow and steady." Connie encouraged, her hand resting on his.

The medical personnel started to filter out, allowing Steve to return to his partner's side. Javier looked more relaxed than he had a moment ago, the medication bringing him the blessed relief he needed. The creases in his face ironed out and his eyes fluttered shut as exhaustion took hold.

“Extra oxygen helps with pain management. I didn’t want him hyperventilating and passing out,” Connie said, wanted to explain the mask’s sudden appearance.

Steve nodded numbly. “How’s he looking?” He mumbled, afraid his voice was going to crack with emotion.

"He's got a long road ahead of him." Connie stated, her eyes not leaving Javier "He'll need someone to stay with him and help him for a while. The head pain could stick around a while,  especially with how severe his head injury is and seizures..." She trailed off, pulling Steve's attention off of his partner.

"The seizures what?"

"The seizures could be permanent, Steve."

"No..."

"I just want to prepare you for-"

"No, they won't be." He replied sternly "We will stay with him and help him get better and then he will be fine."

"Steve-"

"He'll be fine." He repeated and Connie said nothing else, deciding it wasn’t worth arguing about. She just hoped for Steve's sake that he was right.

Next

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[albertasunrise]

Omg!! I hope you’re okay 😱

Glad you enjoyed the update 🫶🏼

Get better soon ♥️

Work Wife - Nine

Masterlist

Summary: Working as a Secretary at Miller & Sons Construction, you fall hopelessly in love with the eldest son Joel. What you don’t realise is that Joel’s completely in love with you too. What will it take for the two of you to realise whats’s right in front of you?

Pairing: Young Joel Miller x Reader

Warnings: Like AO3, I choose not to give any so the plot isn’t spoiled. This fic is 18+ (Well... sorry this took so long. Safe to say, life has been a bit mental lately. Lando is currently cutting two teeth at once so yeah... bit grizzly. We've also put our flat up for sale so yeah. Lots going on. Hope this was worth the wait 🥹)

Series Masterlist - One Two Three Four Five Six Seven, Eight

Your hands were shaking so violently that you weren't really sure how you made it to the hospital. You parked and ran into the ER like your life depended on it. Soon finding a particularly shaken Simon with his head in his hands, along with Joel's parents and younger brother. 

"Pip, sweetheart." Joel's mother said sweetly as she swept you into her arms hugging you tightly "I'm so glad you're here." 

"Any news?" You asked as your eyes flitted between her and Joel's father who was cradling a sleeping Sarah in his arms.

"Nothin' yet." Replied Simon, pulling your attention away from the older Millers "They had him all strapped up in a body brace 'n everythin'... He wouldn't wake up no matter what they tried..." Simon trailed off as he again threw his head into his hands. 

You were quick to drop to Simon's side, pulling into a sideways hug as you tried to comfort the distraught man. 

"This ain't your fault son." Replied Cole Miller as he took a few sure steps towards you and the younger man "It was an accident, plain n' simple." 

"But I didn't even see it happen... If I'd just-"

"No one saw what happened, son." Cole interrupted "You cannot blame yourself for this. This stuff happens. Unfortunately, it comes with the job." 

Simon nodded in reply but, you knew that he wasn't convinced by Cole's argument. You knew that until he knew that Joel was going to be okay... He would never stop blaming himself for this. 

"Miller family?" Called out an unfamiliar voice and you all perked up as you turned to find its owner. 

"That's us." Piped up an uncharacteristically quiet Tommy and a moment of guilt washed over you for not speaking to him when you arrived. 

"Is he okay?" Asked Lucia as she hooked her arm with her husbands and you looped your own with Simon's.

"He's a very lucky young man." The doctor replied and you all breathed a collective sigh of relief "He's shattered his left arm and broken his femur. He will require surgery to repair both so he is going to be off his feet for a while. He's also got a pretty nasty concussion so we will want to keep him in for observation for that also. All things considered, he's lucky to be alive." 

The doctor's words hung over you all as you took them in. 

Lucky to be alive. 

Joel could have died.

And you have been giving him the silent treatment over a kiss that you weren't entirely sure was really a kiss at all. You could have lost him today, without ever really having the chance to see where this thing between you could go. 

You had wasted so much time. 

"When can we see him?" Asked Cole, pulling you from your spiralling thoughts. 

"We are going to be taking him into surgery shortly so it's going to be a little while yet." The doctor answered honestly"My advice would be to go home, get some rest and come back in the morning. The surgery is going to be extensive andthen he'll likely be in recovery for a few hours." 

"But what if-" 

"We will call you if anything changes but you need to get that baby home and you're all going to be no good to Mr Miller if you're all dead on your feet." 

The doctor had a point and you all knew it. Yet the idea of leaving the hospital and Joel didn't sit well with you. 

"I'll stay. Keep you all updated." You said and Cole and Lucia gave you a small nod before gathering up Sarah's things. 

"We'll see you in a few hours Pip." Said Lucia as she gave you a peck on the cheek. 

"See you soon." You said softly "Go get Sarah into a proper bed." 

They left then, Tommy trailing behind them both and not sparing anyone a glance. 

"Can I stay with you?" Asked Simon softly and you turned to see him standing across from you, his hands wringing together as he waited nervously for you to answer.

"Of course." 

...

"Dadadadada..."

You were woken by babbling. Your neck was sore from resting it on Simon's shoulder whilst you waited on news of Joel. Cracking your eyes open, you were greeted by Lucia stood across from you with Sarah in her arms. Your sitting up abruptly grabbed the baby's attention and she squealed and reached for you, her small hands grabbing at you. You didn't hesitate, you were on your feet in a heartbeat and pulling her into your arms.

"Oh, baby girl." You sobbed as you placed a kiss on the top of her and breathed her in "So good to see you." You breathed as you held her tight.

"Any news?" Asked Lucia and you shook your head. 

"Where's Cole?" You asked as you noted her husband wasn't with her. 

"He stayed home with Tommy." The older woman replied, "Kid's a little beside himself so we felt it would be better for Joel to have a less stressful environment to wake up to." 

You nodded in understanding. Tommy's a pretty hot-headed young man and struggles to keep a level head. As much as you knew the kid would want to be with his brother and no doubt Cole wanted to be there for his son, it was best to keep away till they knew what condition Joel would be in.

"Miller family?" Called out an unfamiliar voice and you all turned to look at the owner.

"Yes." You replied in unison and the nurse smiled "He's out of recovery and responding well." They stated "If you follow me, I will take you to him."

The three of you followed eagerly, desperate to see Joel after what felt like weeks of waiting. You were taken into a ward and then led to a small room just off from the main area. A bed sat in the centre of the room, equipment, cabinets and a few chairs lined the walls. Joel's leg was elevated by what looked like a bit like Sarah's door bouncer. He was sleeping. A dark bruise painted the left side of his face, a nasty gash along his hairline, neatly stitched but red and angry. 

"He's been coming around for a little while." The nurse stated as she finished off her checks "Might still be a little while before he's coherent so be patient with him.

"He's been through quite an ordeal." 

You all nodded then grabbed some chairs and placed them strategically around his bed. You sat with Sarah in your arms, smiling at her little snores beside your ear and with your free hand you took Joel's uninjured one, needing to touch him in some way to reassure you he was here.

He was going to be okay. 

. 

You almost missed it. 

The slight pressure on your hand. Your attention set on a bird hopping around on the branch of a tree just outside the window. Lucia had taken Sarah home for a little while, the baby having grown restless from hours of sitting and waiting for her daddy to wake up. Simon had gone in search of Coffee and sustenance. The fact that neither of you had eaten in quite some time made itself known when your stomachs started to growl loudly. 

Joel hummed as consciousness started to trickle through a little more. You were sat bolt upright in your chair. Watched as his brain almost visibly booted up and his eyes cracked open.

"Joel?" You uttered, leaning closer so you were in his eye line "Can you hear me?"

He nodded weakly, his eyes fluttering closed again and you deflated a little but soon perked up when they reopened a little wider.

"Hey." He croaked out and you sobbed, smiling brightly at him. 

"Hey yourself." 

"Where am I?..." He asked, trialling off as his eyes took stock of his surroundings. 

"You had an accident on site." You replied, voice wobbling a bit as you spoke "You fell from the scaffolding. You shattered your arm and broke your femur. They had to operate to repair the damage but you're going to be okay. Got a nasty concussion too... Doctor said you're a lucky man considering what happened." 

"Where's mum?" He asked, closing his eyes and taking a steadying breath as he processed what you'd told him.

He was lucky to be alive. That's basically what you had said in so many words. 

"She took Sarah home. She was getting a little restless." You replied and Joel nodded "Oh! I should call her. She'll want to come see you now you're awake."

"Why are you here Pip?" 

Joel's question took you by surprise. Your brows pulled together as you looked at him in confusion. 

"What do you mean, why am I here?" 

"Well, we've not exactly been close lately." 

"Joel-" 

"If you're here because my parents asked you to be then you can go now."

"That's not..." You trailed off, shaking your head as tears started to pool in your tired eyes "I'm here because the man I love nearly died." 

Joel's eyes widened at your statement and his lips parted as if to speak but no words were uttered. So you continued.

"When Simon had called and told me that you'd had an accident... Everything just flashed in front of my eyes." You choked "All the time we have wasted not just being together." 

"Pip-" 

"I thought about that day with Anna... When I saw you kissing and the more I analysed it the more I realised that you looked as stiff as a corpse." 

"Oh, thanks." Joel snorted and you playfully punched his uninjured arm. "Gentle... I'm injured remember? Injuring me physically as well as emotionally." 

"You know I didn't mean it that way." You groaned "I just meant... It was clear that it wasn't something you wanted but at the time I just saw red and I..."

"I know Pip." Joel said softly as he took your hand in his "But, the reason you came to that conclusion is also because you don't trust me and if we're going to do this... that's something you need to work on." 

"I do trust you Joel it's just..." You trail off as you think about what to say.

You let out a long sigh as you bring his hand to your lips and place a soft kiss on his grazed knuckles.

"We didn't have a good start you and I." You chuffed "After the incident with Sarah's mum I... Well, my confidence was knocked and I struggled to believe that you ever liked me.

"Then everything happened with Sarah coming along and you telling me you did have feelings for me but then I got pregnant and lost it and I-" 

"Pip, sweetheart... You're ramblin' darlin." 

"Sorry." You said breathily, rubbing the palm of your hand not holding Joel's on your jeans "My confidence has taken a real knock Joel and I just needed time to re-centre myself but not I realise that I just wasted precious time we could have had together."

You look at Joel then, eyes locking with his as you drive him what the point you really want to make with him.

"Joel... I love you... I'm in love with you and I don't want to waste another damn minute not being with you." Joel's lip quirks at your statement and you smile at him as you say "So if I'm not too late Joel Miller... Can we quit fucking around and just be together?" 

Joel didn't say anything for a short while. His eyes searched yours for something but you weren't sure what. So you sat there on bated breath and waited for him to either reject you or accept you. 

"If we're doing this... I need you to know that I'm all in." He states plainly and your brows draw together as you await his explanation "Not saying it needs to happen next year or even three years from now but... I want to marry you. I want to have kids with you. Raise Sarah with you." He continues and your heart swells "So I need to know that you're all in too. Because I can't get into something with you, only for Sarah to become even more attached than she already is and then you leave us." 

"I won't." You practically squeak and Joel's smile spreads "I want all those things too." You state "I already love Sarah like she's my own and one... I want to have kids with you too. But perhaps give it a few years, eh?" You finish with a wink and Joel grins at you. 

"Then what are you waiting for?" 

"Hmm?" You hum, looking at him with a bemused expression. 

"Well it's not like I can get over to you so... ya'll better come over here and kiss me." 

You grin before standing up slightly so you can lean in and brush your lips against his. 

"Love you, Miller." You whisper between pecks on his soft lips.

"Love you too Pip." 

...

Three weeks later...

"There we go daddy." You said as you finished cutting up his food for him then placed the bowl within reaching distanceof him as he partially sat and partially lay on his couch. Leg and atm both propped up on pillows.

"Thanks, baby." He replied sweetly, puckering his lips for a kiss which you happily gave him. 

"Dadadadada." Sarah babbled from her spot on the floor, stuffed pooh bear in hand. 

"Come on then angel." You said as you scooped Sarah up and planted a kiss on the apple of her cheek "Time for your dinner too!"

You had easily fallen into domestic bliss with Joel. The man had been rendered utterly useless with his broken arm and leg but didn't stop letting you know how much he appreciated everything you were doing for him. Simon brought over care packages to keep Joel going when you were at the office, his mum taking care of him and the baby and during the day whilst you were at work. 

Once dinner was done, you put Sarah down and puttered around getting a few chores done before joining him in the lounge.

"How's your pain?" You asked and Joel nodded.

"A lot better." He answered and you smiled "fancy coming over here for a cuddle?"

"Joel Miller's a... If you'd asked me a month ago I would have said no way... Who knew." 

"Careful or I'll take the offer back darlin'" 

"No!" You pouted before slipping onto the couch beside him with practised ease. 

This is how you'd spent most evenings, cuddling beside him and making out a little before things started to get a little hot and heavy. The two of you having to cool it after that. 

And that's exactly how things progressed this evening. Your leg draped over his hip as you try to get closer to him. Only this evening, his working arm wraps around your back and his hand, resting on your backside, urges you to rub your core against his thigh. Your core aches at the perfect pressure this gives your aching core.

"Take what you need baby." He whispers against your lips "You deserve it, baby." 

"Joel." You whine, feeling your core tighten as your peak nears "Joel, fuck." 

He hums against your lips, his hand urging your hips to thrust a little faster and you comply, feeling your orgasm racing towards you. 

"Cum for me beautiful." He mumbles as he kisses you sweetly "Cum Pip." 

You do. Kissing him hard, you moan into his mouth as your core pulses with your release and your legs shake this theintensity of it. 

"Good girl." 

"Want me to finish you?" 

"No." He whispers softly "That was just for you. A treat for helping me."

"Joel-" 

"We'll get our moment baby girl." He interrupts, kissing you long and languidly "But for tonight... It's just about you." he finishes. 

Kissing you hard again, he urges your hips to move again and you can't find it in you to disobey. So you dry hump his thigh till you're boneless. Three more orgasms later your underwear and leggings are a mess. Then once you regain the use of your legs you help Joel to bed. Slipping in next yo him again and relishing how perfect all this felt. 

You just hoped that there weren't going to be any more surprises along the way. 

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