stir-up-the-water

[stir-up-the-water]

I have a question.

Do you prefer to read in 'I' pov or in 'you' pov? Because as I reread my stories I have discovered that I use both of them, which causes me to accidently change the pov style in the stories.

[stir-up-the-water]

Updates and changes

August 30th

In this post you can find all the updates and changes that will be done soon. This is not the schedule! You can find this here

This is more a 'follow me in my progress' post

Changes:

On some of the stories you can find the 'credit to ...' written on the post. This is for people who are new to the show and doesn't want any spoilers in their journey in watching the serie, or if you are curious from where I got the lines. If you see a post with 'inspired by the Chosen' on it, that's all me getting inspired by the Chosen and their are no spoilers.

In short:

credit to ... => will contain spoilers from the Chosen

Inspired by the Chosen => inspired by the Chosen but doesn't contain spoiler, I made it up

2. I probably rewrite my very first story: He who is without sin (it might take a while though)

3. I will be changing every story to the 'you' pov as it won the poll (might take a while as well)

Updates:

The road of salvation serie, chapter 4: what happened in between was Him => rereading fase, hoping to post it at the beginning of September

[stir-up-the-water]

One shots:

There is still goodness in this broken world

[stir-up-the-water]

There is still goodness in this broken world

Atticus x jewish girl (platonic)

requested by: sweetweasleygirlstuff

Note: I feel like Atticus would call the jewish girl kid. I hope you like it :)

~Inspired by the Chosen~

As a nine year old jewish girl you were completely aware of the Romans. Those scary men in armor with swords at their hip, it looks nothing like the wooden swords your brothers play with. It was heavy, forged with iron and deadly. Your young eyes has seen much, too much.

You hated to go to the market, even when your eema and brothers are at your side. You were scared, no, terrified, you were terrified. Any kind of violence was a trigger to get a panick attack, your parents didn't know what to do with it and your brothers didn't understand it and neither did you.

The first time you had it, you thought you would die. You didn't, obviously.

You had screamed your lungs off to your eema, begging her to let you stay at home. Your mother won, you had no choice but to go with her to the market.

So here you are now, trying to avoid the people as much as you could. "Eema? Can we go to the toy stand? Pleaaaase" Your younger brother begged, dragging the please extra longer. Your mother sighed, thinking. "Alright, but JUST looking" she said in a stern voice. Your brother smiled his gap toothed smile. You gave a small sigh as well, going to the toy stand equals staying longer in the overcrowded market.

Your eema was skimming through the market stands, desperate to find the best fruit and fish. You pulled up your nose as the smell of fish wafted your way. You don't like fish, but your eema buys them again every single time. As your eema was talking to the merchant of the fish stand while buying herrings.

You could tell that your younger brother; Judah, was having a hard time to not whine to your mother. You tapped his right shoulder while standing on his left. As he looked to his right and back to you, you averted your eyes, pretending to not know what happened. As your brother tried to look at the fish, which he was to small to see the stand, you tapped him once again, but this time your brother was quicker in his reaction. "Y/n stop it! I don't like it" He said in his tiny voice. "Or what, little brother?" You said while reaching down to tickle him. Judah tried his very best to stay angry, his mouth pouting but their was already a smile coming through.

"Children, let's go" your eema said, taking Judah by the hand. You followed your eema, your brother looking behind him as he stuck out his tongue to you, you replied with the same thing.

"Aaah! I don't know what happened! Please, have mercy!" Someone suddenly shouted. "You should know better, Jew!" A roman soldier spat back with hatred. "Children stay close to me" your eema said as she hurried away to get off the market square. But you couldn't move, your eyes were glued to the scene, which was getting out of hand. The jewish man desperatly tried to reason with the roman guard. But the roman guard took his sword of his sheath, causing the jew to stumble backwards with his hands raised in defeat. Your breath started to quicken as you saw how the roman soldier hurt the man with his sword. Blood staining his iron sword.

You were having a panick attack. Black blurred your vision, your head was becoming light headed as you tried to breath. People were scurrying away, bumping into you. You have scraped your knees, but you did not notice as you tried to focus on your breathing.

Suddenly a shadow came over you. 'The roman soldier found me' you thought while trembling in fear. But whoever it was, he dragged you out of the market square. Putting you down in an small alley.

"It's alright kid, just breathe" The man said with a kind voice, "that's it, just in and out." As you followed his instructions, your breathing has become less shallow. Your vision is coming back as well. As you looked up, you saw the tall man staring at you. A cloak was covering his clothes beneath it, but you could tell that he was not a jewish man.

"Can you tell me your name kid?" He asked in a kind voice. Too kind. Why would someone who's not jewish help you? A jewish child. "My name is Y/n" you replied in a soft voice with a slight tremble in it. "Y/n, I'm Atticus, you had quite a fright, there right?" You nodded silently, trying to remember this stranger's name.

"Who are you?" You asked curiously. Atticus chuckled lightly, ruffling your dark brown hair a bit. "We should find your eema and brother" he said while taking your hand in his, leading you the way. You were confused, but you have figured that he must be some kind of Roman person. But it didn't fit in your mind that a Roman could be nice.

"I must leave you here kid. Remember to take your breaths measured when you have another attack, alright?" Atticus said while ruffling your hair once more before leaving you behind.

As you walked back with small steps to your eema and brother, you obliged yourself to remember that kind man forever.

As you grew older, you met a diverse kind of people, which you thanked to the kind man, also known as Atticus, a Roman cohortes.

[stir-up-the-water]

Love finds its own way, always and forever

John x gentile female reader (romantic)

requested by: alexandragraceandjesus

Note: This went another way than I first planned, but I love how it came out!

~Inspired by the Chosen~

You were walking through Capernaum, searching the stands for flowers. How is this possible? You were confused as to why the stand with the flowers is gone, the Ethiopian women who sold them has dissapeared with them. The jews passed you in a bow, not willing to become unclean as you are from Ethiopia as well. "Jews" you muttered under your breath not understanding the law about cleanliness. Your brown skin stood out in the crowd between the jews and romans. You kept walking still searching for the flowers.

A movement caught your eyes, as you directed your attention to it, you saw the Ethiopian women walking, next to her two jewish women who were laughing about something. Interessting you thought, deciding to follow them, your gaze focused on them.

Your face collided against a body, causing you to stumble backwards. "Hey!" You said, "watch were you going!" As you tried to find your balance again, strong arms reached for yours, steadying you. "I am so sorry, I wasn't paying attention." The mans voice said with an earnest apology. You looked at him, staring in his brown eyes. His hand dropping from the moment you were standing perfectly stable. He looked at you, seeming lost for words. "Tamar is gone" you muttered to yourself swapping with your arms, annoyed. "Tamar?" the jewish man repeated; "I know her, why are you looking for her?" the wind was picking its speed up, playing with the mans hair, the curls uncontrolable. "Because she used to sell flowers", you answered as a matter of fact.

"She doesn't sell flowers anymore, she's following our Rabbi now", He said before telling his name; "I'm John, by the way" he smiled, causing your stomach to make a flip. "Y/n" you replied with a smile. "A Rabbi? She"s not jewish" you observed. John shook his head, "He doesn't care about anyone's background." You furrowed your eyebrows, thinking about the teacher from Nazareth. "The teacher from Nazareth? I have heard He performs miracles." You asked. "Yes, that's the one", John replied, proud to admit that he is also a follower. "Ah, then you know when He will preach next time, yes?" You asked acknowledging the fact that he is a follower of Jesus. John chuckled, shaking his head a bit. "I don't actually, Jesus doesn't really follow a schedule."

"John! The group is gattering at Simon's house!" Someone shouted. "I'm coming!" John shouted back, his head turning to the shouter a bit. He gestured to the other man, "I'll see you around Y/n" he said before jogging to the same man. "Bye" you whispered as you head back to your tiny home, completely forgotten that you were supposed to buy some flowers.

Days passed by as you followed your normal routine again, going to the market for food, avoid the Romans and some certain Jews. But one thing has changed in your routine, no matter what you did, John stayed in your mind, like an anchor sticking to the ground to keep the boat on its place. Your daily walks to the market is not only for the food, which you have tried to convince yourself, it was also to see that kind Jewish man, also known as John.

"He's here! Jesus is back! He's at the gate!" Someone shouted, people started rushing to the gate, you followed the stream, eager to see Jesus, but also hoping to see John.

People were clapping as Jesus healed a child from blindness. "Ah, so you finally found Jesus?" A man asked, causing your heart to skip a beat. You turned to John, his smile charming you. "I found Jesus in person, yes, but I have already found Him in my heart." You replied with honesty. John looked taken aback by your confession. "And what do you think?" John queried. "He's amazing, He doesn't ask for anything in return, He just gives. He has something for everyone, that's why so many people likes Him. He works personal, making sure that everyone's testimony is different, which makes it their own and their own only, no one can change that." You said with a convincing voice.

"What? Why are you looking at me like that?" you said from the moment you had noticed John's shocked face, his eyes wide, his mouth hanging open.

"Jesus' gonna love you" John said before taking your arm and taking you to a house, away from Jesus. "Uh, John? Jesus was right there" You said with a nervousness. John let go off your arm, opening the door before entering it, leaving you alone. You swayed with your arms, confused on what was happening. You heard voices inside the house, talking enthusiastically.

You were rocking on your feets, contemplating on just leaving, but something inside you was telling you to stay.

"Y/n? It is you!" A familiar voice said before hugging you. You hugged her back. "Tamar! I was looking for you!" You said when you two stopped hugging. "Were you really?" Tamar said with a smile; "John, told me that he ran into you, literally, he hasn't shut up for days!" Tamar laughed.

"I mean someone was quite angry that she couldn't find the flowers", John said with his arms crossed, revealing his muscles a bit. "Well - I would say I was more frustrated than angry" you stammered, blushing a bit. Tamar squeezed my shoulder, looking content for seeing us communicate. "I'm not even trying and you're already blushing." John said with a smirk. Tamar bursted out laughing. you just stood there, frozen. "Who said I was blushing?" you said trying to get a comeback.

Time has passed with constantly flirting between John and me. Tamar has officialy called herself our chaperone, clearly loving our interaction. "I should go home, my mother will be wondering were I am." you said, not liking the fact that you have to leave the two people you love. Wait what? "Let me escort you back" John said.

"I love the way you think about Jesus." John said, breaking the silence. "My mother calls me crazy for believing in one God, but I knew for sure when I heard about Jesus. He is the one who can set anyone free, if you only believe that He is the Christ. I pray and hope that my mother will see that one day." You said emotion rising as you tell him something personal. John is listening carefully, you could tell the way he's holding his head, the way he didn't interupt you.

"Jesus change people, you are friends with gentiles, which may make you crazy as well." You said with a laugh.

"Then we can both be crazy together" John said his arm brushing mine. I looked in his eyes, his gaze gentle and loving.

"Yes, I suppose we can."

[stir-up-the-water]

The road of salvation: chapter 3

Masterlist serie

Chapter 3: In his footsteps

Nathanael x reader (romantic)

~Credit to S3E3~

The time has come to listen to Jesus' sermon in the temple. As I stood next to Mary, I could see my abba sitting on the opposite side, eyeing me every now and then. I shuddered, feeling trapped in my abba's attention.

"- He was one of my students in Torah class, and we've heard reports, some of them very positive." Rabbi Benjamin said as he turned to look at Jesus. Some people laughed softly. I smiled, getting excited to hear Jesus preach for the first time. As Jesus prepared to give His sermon, He looked at the ceiling, like He's praying. He nodded, before reading from the scroll of the prophet Isaiah.

"The spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to heal the brokenhearted. To proclaim liberty to the captives. And recovery of sight to the blind. To the opening of the prison for those who are bound. To proclaim the year of the Lord's favor."

He then stopped abdrubtly, giving the scroll back before sitting in the chair. My heart roared with hope, did He proclaimed that He is THE Messiah? It felt like He spoke the words just for me. Like he knew I needed to heal, to break free. Now I know why I felt this morning it would be a good day today. The Son of God is in our midst. He can save me from my fathers firm grip. I won't just follow Him, I want to go where He goes. My eyes blurred with tears, not from sadness but from happiness, a rare occasion for me.

"The fulfillment of this scripture, as you have heard it, is today." Jesus continued. "This is the year of the Lord's favor. This is a year of jubilee. A year of the poor, the brokenhearted, the captive and the blind are offered redemption. Here. Now." Jesus said before stopping and looking at everyone. I took Mary's hand, squeezing it, before looking at her. She looked at Jesus with an admiration on her face. I smiled, knowing instantly that she knows it too. He just declared that he is the Messiah. Rabbi Benjamin asked Jesus a question, but I did not hear it. My father sitting next to Rafi had stirred and looked at Jesus quite furiously. I took a shuddering breath, feeling anxious that my abba will lose his control in the synagoge. "-You're here for salvation? What are you saying?" Rabbi Benjamin asked in confusion. Jesus replied on that in a calm voice;"You know what I'm saying. And this year of jubilee, this year of the Lord's favor, is not about release from financial debts. I'm here to provide release from spiritual debt." Is that why I'm feeling more free than ever? Because He released me from my fears and anxieties? And instead of that, joy and freedom has come into my heart? I should ask Him if that is what he meant.

I focused back on His sermon, feeling the tension rising in the room. Why are they not accepting it? But Jesus has answered my question unknowingly, because it's easier to believe in a stranger than in someone you know.

Time flew by as Jesus tried to explain it plainly to Rabbi Benjamin and the others. Lazarus was frantically trying to ease the situation, but Jesus stopped him. Whispering something in his ear, Lazarus looked at mother Mary and then at me. I arched my eyebrows confused of what Jesus was saying. Lazarus gave Jesus a small nod before going to Jesus' mother.

"Jesus. If you do not renounce your words, we will have no choice but to follow the Law of Moses." Rabbi Benjamin said with emotion rising in his voice. Jesus walked closer to him, half whispering words that let my heart skip a beat. "I am the Law of Moses." Rabbi Benjamin looked shocked, like he has heard something he never thought he would hear one day.

The crowd went wild, taking Jesus to his death sentence. My feet went His way, trying to follow Him, but someone stopped me in my tracks. Taking my hand in his and leading me away from the crowd, from Jesus, from... my abba. My abba shoved people out of their way, trying to get to me. I looked behind my shoulder, holding his gaze as Lazarus led me away from my abba.

It was dark when we found Jesus standing at his abba's grave. I stood next to Lazarus feeling the warmth of the torch. Jesus turned to his best friend, thanking him. Lazarus gave Jesus his backpack bag telling him what's in it. Jesus looked quickly in it, taking something out of it before turning His attention to me. "My daughter, you don't have to endure the pain anymore, alone. Follow me, for I can grand you a safe place, a haven. Don't be afraid for I am with you, till the end of times." Tears streaked my face from the moment I heard him say 'daughter' with such a gentleness and careness. "I will" I said with a sob, before falling in his arms.

I bid goodbye to mother Mary, Mary, Martha and Lazarus. Feeling renewed, laughing and crying at the same time. "We will see each other again Y/n" Mary said while hugging me for the third time. "Mary, Jesus is here, she must leave now." Lazarus interupted our hug, he looked at us with a smile. I gave Martha a quick hug before going to where Jesus was waiting for me. "Lazarus? Can I ask you something?" I asked. Lazarus furrowed his brows before nodding. "What did you say to my abba when you visited him?" I said, remembering the beating afterward. I was curious what Lazarus would have said that made my abba so furious. I looked at Lazarus noticing a blush on his cheeks. But he answered my question before I could nudge him. "I asked his permission for your hand in marriage." He was silent for a second before continuing, "I could not see you suffer like that Y/n, it was the only logical thing that could get you out of there without rasing questions." I had stopped in my tracks, my mind whirling like a storm. Lazarus wanted to marry me? Me? "I. I don't know what to say." I whispered in confusion. "It's okay, I know that it must be shocking. I wish you all the best with your journey Y/n, Shalom Shalom." Lazarus said with a kind voice before leaving me there with Jesus.

"Ready?" Jesus asked. I nodded following Him in his footsteps. On our way to Capernaum.

[stir-up-the-water]

Inbox OPEN-!

Hi y’all-!!! I’m Aricka; and it’s about time I did one of these things.

I’m opening this ask box for a while, so go ahead and ask me:

About myself (nothing TOO personal lol)

About the Aricka in my stories

About any of my stories I’m writing

About the relationships Aricka has with each character

Or if you want to see Aricka interacting with a specific character in a specific scene! NOTHING ROMANTIC; they’re all my brothers/sisters/family and Jesus is my ultimate Big Brother and Best Friend.

@thechosenlover @sweetweasleygirlstuff @stir-up-the-water @timeless-fanfic @the-chosen-fanfiction

[stir-up-the-water]

Headcanon series 6 of 13: Aricka and John

JOHN-!!!

My fellow nerd, writer and the disciple who always seems to get Aricka’s writing love

Him and Aricka bond over their shared, deep love of their Rabbi, their Messiah; and their Lord.

Tradition has John as the youngest of the disciples, and Aricka is the youngest when she arrives, so I feel like they bond over being the youngest

I’m saying John is older than her still, but I’m also going with the tradition that he was the youngest of the disciples; at least the 12 that walked with Jesus.

Aricka is the oldest of her family but I can imagine she takes to being the youngest very easily.

John gets used to her easy, carefree manner of casual touch

And when certain events happen he knows he can turn to her for hugs

Remember when I said you coikd find Aricka in one of two places when she wasn’t with Simon Z

This is the second place

Walking side by side with John and gushing about the latest miracle Jesus has done or the newest addition to the group

Her telling him “you gotta write it down-!” And he’s like “I already did-!”

Their laughter filling the camp

Aricka singing to ease John’s nerves when he gets homesick and doesn’t want the others to know

Running her fingers through his hair and humming a soft song from her home

Again with her as a 21st century girl being thrust back to the origins of the Church, it’s hard for her to operate under the same rules as the rest of the group.

She does her best

And they all see it

John always has an encouraging word for her and it makes her smile

He likes making her smile

When Ramah died, him and Aricka rallied around Thomas and made sure that the man was okay.

Maybe not the way he was before Ramah died

But that he was eating and sleeping and taking care of himself as best as possible

Aricka shares her experience with grief with Thomas and John

And John quietly thinks that she’s one of the bravest people he knows.

When Passover happens he notices her becoming quieter and more withdrawn

She tries to play it off but he knows

She already told him she’s from the future; so he knows she knows something

And that she can’t tell them

So he just gives her a hug and says that he’s going to sit with her until she can move on

And then in the garden, he’s awake for a while and sees her pacing

Honestly it’s watching the repetition of her pacing that lulls him into a dozing state

And then when it’s time

He sees the tears falling down her face

They get separated momentarily and he doesn’t find her until they’re both at the trial

She cries into his arms and he takes her over to mother Mary

The three of them and the other women are present at the crucifixion

He loses her again momentarily

He finds her at the Upper Room when she returns with Peter in tow

When they go to the tomb after finding out that Jesus was gone, him and Aricka hug and she cries on his shoulder

And when Jesus reappears to them in the Upper Room he scoops her up and swings her around excitedly

Not only is he reunited with her during Pentecost

But years later, when he’s much older she sentenced to exile on the isle of Patmos-?

She’s there

Still young

Still smiling

Still the same Aricka she’d always been

[stir-up-the-water]

Can you write something cute and romantic for John and female reader? Maybe a young gentile woman?

Hi!

Of course! :)

I'll do my best to write it as fast as I can.

God bless!

[stir-up-the-water]

Headcanon series 5 of 13: Aricka and Andrew

(Taken from season 4 episode 2.)

Aricka and Andrew

The A-team

Aricka relates to Andrew cause from the moment they meet

They gush about Jesus

And how cool He is

And how awesome it is to see the Messiah

And how honored they feel to walk with Him

He has a habit of squeezing her shoulders randomly - in particular when he’s excited about something

They like discussing the sermons together

Aricka has braided Andrew’s hair before

He found her a purple veil and gave her it purely because purple is her favorite color

He asks her for stories from her home

And she asks him and Phillip for stories about John the Baptist

Aricka and Andrew walk pretty close together during the feeding of the 5,000

She was one of the first to know that John had died

She gave Andrew the biggest hug she could give him and sang one of her favorite comforting songs.

It was also her first time sitting shiva

(a seven-day period of formalized mourning by the immediate family of the deceased)

Her and Andrew were the two to visit Jesus during shiva

She got to tell Andrew about her own experience with grief like she did Peter and would eventually (thought at the time she didn’t know it) with Thomas

When they walked to Caesarea Phillipi, aka “the gates of hell”, Aricka was standing beside Andrew and Thaddeus

And when Peter was given his new name-?

You guessed it

Andrew squeezed her shoulders excitedly before drawing her into a big brotherly hug

And then they both went and hugged Peter

Andrew, Nathanael and little James teach Aricka various worship songs

They also teach her various prayers

During Hanukkah Andrew helps Aricka understand the history behind the holiday.

He also invites her to sing with him; Nathanael and little James

During the Passover, Aricka is bubbling and rambling about the different prophecies that Jesus was fulfilling

Andrew listened with all the fondness of a big brother

He sees her crying one night and the two of them talk

By this point he knows she’s from the future

And she can’t say much

She just says her heart is sad because Jesus is sad

And Andrew understands that

During the last supper he catches her eye and they smile at each other but he can see the sadness in her eyes

She’s invited into the garden and they’re separated until after -

Everything

He opens the door to the Upper Room expecting to see Matthew or Thomas

And when he sees it’s Aricka and Peter ?

He’s so relieved he draws his adoptive little sister into his arms as she cries

It’s a hard three days

And when Jesus comes back?

You better believe Andrew squeezes Aricka’s shoulders

When she returns for Pentecost he doesn’t let her leave his sight for a good hour and a half at least

[stir-up-the-water]

Aricka and Thomas: I know how you feel

(WARNING: This contains heavy detail of how Ramah died, mentions of blood, and grief. So much grief.)

(Mine from my Facebook)

It all happened so quickly. One minute, they were in the middle of a panicked crowd, the next…

A Roman soldier had stabbed Ramah, inches away from Aricka and Thomas, who were shocked. Frozen. Unable to move.

Then- they moved as one. Thomas removed his cloak and knelt, covering Ramah with it, and Aricka knelt, holding the girl’s head in her lap, “shhh… shh…” she whispered.

“Hold on.. you’re fine, you’re fine you’re fine you’re fine…” Thomas was panicked. His hand tried in vain to staunch the blood flow.

“Remember what I told you.”

“No,” he says; denial already setting in. “It’s not over- it’s not that time. Don’t go Ramah, don’t go- I-,” he sobs. “Please. I can’t…”

“Stay with him,” Ramah says weakly; fading fast. “That’s all I want… that’s all I…”

And then- she was gone.

“Ramah-? Ramah-?!” He pleased,

She knew that this had to be apart of Jesus’ Plan, but she knew it would hurt Thomas and maybe even make him doubt- and that tore her heart apart a little.

He looks up- he sees Jesus. Thomas stands. “Heal her,” Thomas says quietly, but Aricka could hear the barely compressed grief and rage. “Fix this. You can do anything You want. Save her-!”

Jesus gives him the most tender, heartbroken, look. “It is not her time.” He walks clsoer. “I love you Thomas. He loves you. I’m so sorry.”

Peter moved, place a hand on Thomas’s arm, and his head on top of his hand. Thomas buckled under the weight of his grief, fell back to the ground.

Aricka moved and knelt beside him, arms already going around him even though it wasn’t socially proper. Like with Peter, she’s been where he’s at, so she doesn’t want him to be alone.

She felt his arms wrap around her, so she moved a little closer, feeling tears drip onto her own tunic. “Shh…” she whispered. “I know. I’m here. I know it hurts, just breathe.”And then, Aricka did what she did best-

She began to sing.

“But I hold on to this hope

And the promise that He brings

That there will be a place with no more suffering

There will be a day with no more tears

No more pain and no more fears

There will be a day

When the burdens of this place

Will be no more…” she hummed softly, rubbing his back, trying to be as soothing as possible. Over his head, she met Jesus’ eyes. She didn’t even try hiding from Him- it ever did any good. Her Savior gave her a sad, understanding look, and she nods. She stands; her and Peter sharing a silent Look, that he would take her place; and she began flitting amongst the disciples gathered nearby.

She began with Phillip, who hugged her briefly, then let her go. From Phillip; she went to Matthew, who didn’t want to hug at the time, but he carefully gripped her hand and squeezed; both of them sharing a teary-eyed look, before his hand slipped from hers.

After Matthew she went to Andrew and big James, the three of them embracing, her whispering softly, hopefully comforting words. Father, give me strength, she prays silently.

From the two, little James readily welcomed her hug, whispering something about her song; and she couldn’t help but squeeze him a little tighter. Nathanael, her Nath, enveloped her in such a tight hug she almsot couldn’t breathe, but she returned strength for strength, carefully digging her fingers into his tunic.

From little James she went to Tamar and John. The woman embraced her first, both of them leaning against each other, because Ramah was like their sister.

John didn’t cry, not at first, but the longer Aricka hugged him, the more she felt him give in to his grief.

Then it was Zee’s turn, and she slipped her arms around his middle; his around her neck, and her tears stained his shirt as his stained hers.

She approached Jesus, her eyes red-rimmed, puffy, pale yet flushed, and He wordlessly opened His arms to her-

And she fell into them. His hand covered her head, His arm around her back. “I know.” He says. She nods.

“I’m not trying to take up Your time with Thomas.”

“I know.” Softer.

“What am I to do here?” She whispered helplessly.

“What you just did. Use your unique talents for comforting others. Speak to them. To Thomas.”

She nods, and lets go of Jesus to go to Thaddeus, who gripped her tightly, and she felt brave enough with him to run her fingers through his hair carefully, and he squeezes her all the tighter for it. “I should have-,” he whimpered,

“No. No…. Thad… it was an accident.. a terrible, awful accident.. but not your fault.” She whispered.

Then she knelt back down by Ramah, and as Thomas watched, she carefully closed her eyes. She took up the hand that Mary wasn’t holding. And she begins to sing again,

“When I walk through deep waters

I know that you will be with me

When I'm standing in the fire

I will not be overcome

Through the valley of the shadow

I will not fear

I am not alone

I am not alone

You will go before me

You will never leave me…”

Thomas quiets as she sings, and she finds him looking at her. “… keep going.” He says, voice shaky and tears still falling from his eyes. “Please…”

She nods. “I am not alone

I am not alone

You will go before me

You will never leave me

In the midst of deep sorrow

I see your light is breaking through

The dark of night will not overtake me

I am pressing into you

Lord, you fight my every battle

And I will not fear

I am not alone

I am not alone

You will go before me

You will never leave me..”

——————-

*two days later*

It had been two days since….

Aricka still couldn’t believe it. She felt.. like a black hole had swallowed her up. She had felt grief before. It wasn’t a stranger to her.

She just hadn’t expected to feel it here. Now.

As she’s thinking, Jesus walks up to her. Without saying anything, He gives her a Look and nods toward Thomas. With a deep sigh she gets up and walks towards the “doubter.”

He hears her coming, but doesn’t say anything. She sits down a bit away from him, and begins to talk, “when I was seventeen, my grandpa- my best friend- got sick. He got better for a while, but he died almost right after he got better.” She takes a deep breath. “I got really mad at God for a while.. like.. really mad.”

She moves closer to him. “I know what you’re going through right now. I know how you’re feeling. “It’s okay if you feel sad. Or angry. Or hurt or confused or even scared, cause I was a bit scared when my loved ones died. The most important thing is, you’re not alone. You never were alone, and you never will be alone in your sadness. We’ve got the Ultimate Comforter on our side. He won’t let us drown in the ocean of grief…”

Thomas looks at her. “.. I don’t know what to feel right now.”

“And that’s okay,” she says. “But… you don’t have to be alone in it. I’m here.. or since I’m a girl if you want one of the boys I can go grab one of them.”

“No- no… you’re fine.” He sighs. Wipes his face with both his hands. “…. Could I trouble you to sing another song?”

“Not trouble at all, Thomas. I love sharing the gift Adonai has given me.” She thinks for a moment, tries to think of a song from her time that would fit this moment. And then it clicked.

“Why?

The question that is never far away

The healing doesn't come from the explained

Jesus please don't let this go in vain

You're all I have

All that remains

So here I am

What's left of me

Where glory meets my suffering

I'm alive

Even though a part of me has died

You take my heart and breathe it back to life

I'll fall into Your arms open wide

When the hurt and the healer collide…”

For a moment, once she lets her voice taper off, they sit in silence. “Thank you,” he whispered.

“No need to thank me,” she says just as softly. She sees Matthew and Zee approaching them; and she stands first, offering her hand to Thomas.

“We found a place to camp for the night,” Zee says, voice raspy as if he had just been crying.

“It’s not far.” Matthew adds. The two follow Matthew and Zee; but the song remained in the air around them.

[stir-up-the-water]

Headcanon series 4 of 13: Aricka and Simon Z

(Screenshot taken from episode 8 of season 4.)

Simon Z is the first of the 12 that she really talks to.

At first the zealot isn’t sure what to think about her

Vice versa honestly

But she’s very sweet and earnest and soon Simon finds himself basically adopting her as his little sister

And she definitely views him as an older brother figure

He teaches her self defense but only for emergency purposes

She teaches him how to let his guard down and be vulnerable with others

He ruffles her hair- over her veil- and she punches his arm with surprising strength

He’s the first one to know besides Jesus that she’s from the future.

Since she’s the baby of the group and they definitely treat her like it, Zee occasionally gives her piggyback rides to places.

At night he sleeps closest to the tent Aricka is sleeping in as she’s the youngest

When she meets his brother Jesse, he quickly likes her too, as a little sister.

She adores him as a brother as well

She walks beside Zee during the Palm Sunday Triumphal Entry.

The last time they talk to each other before Jesus dies is when they were at Phoebe’s house.

The last time Aricka and Zee see each other before Jesus dies is right before Jesus tells Aricka, Peter, Big James and John to join Him in the Garden of Gethsemane.

When she returns to the Upper Room after Jesus died; she convinces Zee to let his guard down and grieve

He cries in her arms, and she comforts her big brother the best she can.

Likewise, she breaks down in his arms the very next day

When Jesus resurrects, after he leaves, Simon Zee picks her up and spins her around in excitement and makes her laugh for the first time since Jesus died

She stands by him on the day Jesus ascends to heaven.

When she leaves and then returns back to “Bible time” as she calls it, Zee is the second person to scoop her up in the biggest, spine-crushing hug ever.

[stir-up-the-water]

Headcanon series 3 of 13: Aricka and Simon Peter

Oh Peter

The Rock

The one disicple Aricka was nervous about meeting

Because you gotta understand

Peter is the disicple, right?

He cut off a servant’s ear, he rebuked Jesus for predicting his death, he was the first to declare Jesus as the Messiah when Jesus asked “who do you say I Am?”

He’s a Big Deal, is what Aricka is saying

He’s also the disicple she most looked up to all her life

And on the Chosen…

He’s even more real

More messy. More human

And she sees herself in him too

Like with Matthew

At first; she avoids him

Not maliciously or anything

She’s just

Suddenly so very shy about the prospect of meeting him

But eventually he doesn’t give her the choice and they end up talking and

It’s so easy to

He’s a big brother by nature apparently

Because he knows exactly how to get her to let her guard down, to open up and talk to him

He teaches Aricka Hebrew

She sings for him in return, because by this point all the 12 disciples know that she can sing and that she sings good

She’s the water to his fire, helping him calm down in only a way a little sister could

That doesn’t mean she isn’t her own brand of fire though

She can be just as hotheaded as Peter is, and once he knows she’s from the future she even makes the joke that she “gets it from him.”

He even calls her little sister once

After he walks on water

Him and Aricka have a deep, heart to heart conversation about grief and her own experiences with it.

The conversation leads to him crying in her arms

And she cries with him

And explains why she was so shy to talk to him at first

From that moment on she’s an honorary “daughter of Jonah.”

Even though Zee play fights for custody of her

“She was my little sister first-!”

“Yeah but she said that I was her favorite originally so beat that.”

She says she’s everyone’s little sister and that stops the arguments immediately.

During Holy Week she gets to sit by Peter at the last supper.

She also gets to go into the Garden of Gethsemane with him, James and John

She tries keeping them all awake but it doesn’t work

She’s the first one to see Peter after he denies knowing Jesus

And she comforts him once again

And then he gets to comfort her

Before Jesus’ rises from the dead, she gets to go to the tomb with Peter and John and see it empty.

She also gets to watch Jesus reinstate Peter.

It’s a humbling experience.

When she returns for Pentecost Peter is the first to see her - in the throng of people listening to him preach the gospel.

He’s the third to hug her and he is so excited to have his adoptive little sister back for as long as possible

[stir-up-the-water]

One shots:

The comfort we can find in family (ft. Big James)

Love finds its own way, always and forever

[stir-up-the-water]

One shots:

The comfort we can find in family (ft. John)

[stir-up-the-water]

The comfort we can find in family

Big James and John x sister reader

Requested by: Sweetweasleygirlstuff

Note: This story became waaaaay longer than I intented it to be. Hope you enjoy it as much as I did writing it :)

~Credit to S4E6~

The room was quiet, too quiet. You looked around with sad eyes, tears streaking your face. You were still mourning the death of Ramah, she has become a very good friend in the past years, and now that she's gone... You sigh, tears welling again in your eyes as you thought of Ramah. You wiped your tears off as you stood up to find your brothers, longing for their comfort.

You past the dining room giving a peek to find the son of thunders. Empty. You furrowed your brows as you saw Judas storming in the room, looking quite annoyed. "Judas?" You squaked, the man in question turns around to where you are standing, "Oh Y/n, what's wrong?" He asked while walking towards me, keeping enough distance between us. "Do you know where James and John are?" I asked. Judas looks at me, the annoyance leaving him as he studies my face, concern replacing the former emotion. "I don't know, I only saw Matthew" He said with an apologetic look. "Are you alright?" He then added. I nodded, before adding a small yes, I left the room, leaving Judas with his thoughts.

The day arrived were we would go to Jerusalem for Jesus' sermon. The journey was long but peaceful, as we entered through the gate, I noticed that there were a lot of people. We eventually stopped at a place were they keep the sheep. Jesus patted one of them before starting to preach. "Listen carefully. He who does not enter the sheepfold by the door, climbs in by another way. That man is a thief and a robber, hmm?" I looked at Tamar, trying to see if she understood what He meant. I could tell that she was focused on the sermon, so I decided to not bother her. "-The sheep hears his voice and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out." Jesus walked then towards the stairs from the temple and continued preaching. I could see the Pharisees listening carefully and whispering to each other. As I focused my attention back on Jesus where He had settled on the stairs. Nathanael had asked something, his question getting more voice by Peter and Andrew. "Hm, Hm" Jesus said while looking at the sky before continuing;"This is important. I am the door of the sheep. All who came before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture." I walked a bit closer to Jesus as the Pharisee where going somewhere. The background noise was to loud for me to be completely attentive to Jesus' sermon. I ended up standing next to Peter, my brothers standing behind me, John was holding his book to write down the sermon.

As Jesus continued preaching about being the Good Shepherd, the Pharisees were gattering behind us. Judas said something, which causes Peter to go to him and tells him that's he's missing all the details. I looked behind me at Judas, smiling kindly when his eyes locked into mine. The Pharisees started questioning Jesus, not understanding the Good news.

Everyone followed Jesus as He left the bickering Pharisees behind.

The time seems to slow down as the tension grew. John and James were standing close to me, their eyes alert and focused on the Pharisees. "My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me." Jesus said to the pharisees. "He just said that he's the Christ and we did not believe! This blasphemy is enough for capital punishment and we are on Temple grounds." One of them said with a sneer to the other Pharisees. "Stones! We need stones!" Another shouted angrily. As the stones were gattered, John quickly stood in front of me, shielding me from their sight. "Y/n, go to the back were Mary and Tamar are!" James said while grabbing my arm and pushing me in said direction. I stumbled, looking back at my brothers. John looked at me with concern in his eyes, nodding slightly to me. "Y/n come on", Andrew said while yanking my arm towards him. I focused on Andrew and followed him were Mary and Tamar were standing. Just as the first stones were being throwed.

The chaos was overwhelming, stones were flying in every direction. Z and Peter were trying to get Jesus out of there. My eyes were constantly searching for my brothers. When I found them, I quickly thanked Adonai. "We have to get out of here" Andrew muttered. I nodded absentmindedly, my attention still focused on James.

My heart dropped as I see James falling to the ground, his head bleeding terribly. "James! James!" I screamed with terror, trying my absolute best to get to my brother. Someone was holding me tight as I tried to fight said person off, probably Andrew. My eyes were blurred with tears, my throat was hurting from the screaming, but I didn't care. My brother was hurt. Barely conscious as Philip and John carried him back to his feets. Philip looked at me, probably heard my screaming, I could see the worry in his face. My brother is not okay, he can't die, I can't live without him. The sound seems to fade as my fear started to consume me. Andrew was half carrying me off the stairs, away from the chaos and stones.

We were running on the road, John had replaced Andrew at some point. My mind was replaying the scene were James got hit again and again. We somehow ended up in water, my dress soaking the water. I did not care about getting wet.

Night has fallen when we finally arrived at our place. Everyone was shouting, the noise reaching my ears, but I could not comprehend it. I took a damp rag to dap at James' wound. Glad that I'm finally at his side. "Y/n I'm fine, rest sister" James said while trying to focus on me. My hands were shaking as I tried to stop the bleeding, not knowing if it was from the cold or the adrenaline. John put his hand on my shoulder, the gesture easing my tension. I started to tremble and sobbing, choking in my tears. "You could have died!" I managed to say between the sobbing. "Hey, hey, he's fine sister. Shhhh, come here" John said in a soothing voice while looking at me with worry in his eyes. He pulled me in a tight hug, saying comforting things that I could not understand. Whatever he said, it was effecting. My heart started to beat its normal sped, I stopped trembling and my eyes weren't tearing up. I took a deep breath before I realised that John took me out of the room. "James is fine, he just needs some rest." I could hear John's voice more clearly now. My brother seemed to notice that I'm back in reality. He gave me a quick hug before standing up and draping a blanket around me.

I glenched the blanket before following John to the room where my abba was standing. I furrouwed my brows, confused that he is here. "Abba?" I choked while rushing in his arms for comfort. "Shhhh, I'm here kid" My abba said while stroking my veil. "You're safe now."

I smiled. Thanking Adonai that we are all safe and sound.

[stir-up-the-water]

Aricka and Big James: JAMES-!!!!

(My personal screenshot!)

Aricka was standing by Big James as Jesus spoke about being the Good Shepherd and how He would lay down His life for His sheep. Presently, teachers of the law were questioning Him, and when they went to argue over whether Jesus was the One they were looking for or not; they all made their way to Solomon’s Porch. Aricka grins at Big James, who ruffled her hair over her veil and she smacked at his hand playfully.

It all happened so fast. One minute: Jesus was saying “I and the Father are one-!” and the next-

The next moment Aricka was caught up in her first encounter of being stoned. And Big James had got hurt. She’d been standing by him; he was in front of her; he got hit in the head and went down. “JAMES-!” She exclaimed, catching John and Phillip’s attention.

A rock caught her shoulder as she turns to kneel and tend to him, and she cries out in pain and shock, “AH-!” She pushes it aside, though, as she helps John and Phillip, tearing a piece of her dress off to press against his head. “Good thinking,” Phillip says. “Come, we must get him on his feet.”

“Aricka you’re bleeding too.” John says, “ZEE-!” And before she can process it, the Zealot has her in his arms and he’s carrying her out of the temple court.

“I’ve got you.” He says. The words cause her to sag against him, the adrenaline wearing off; replaced by a stomach churning dread.

Eventually though, she hears him say, “Thaddeus, can you take her? I need to get up front,” and she doesn’t blame him one bit. The stonemason takes her from Simon Zee, and she bites her lip to stifle a cry as the pain resurged, but Thaddeus is quick to soothe her with a,

“Shh, shh…” and she leans against him as well. Simon runs to the front by Jesus, Peter and Big James,

“Off, off, we can’t stay on the road-!” He makes sure he’s the last one off the road, everyone running before him, and she can’t help but reach for him. “Go,” he says, and finally follows once everyone is off the road.

They reach a river and Thaddeus says, “Hold on,” and she braces herself as the cold water splashes up and hits her, and the fall into the water jostles her injured shoulder.

She bites her lip and presses her face into Thaddeus’s tunic. “You’re okay,” he says. “You’ll be fine.”

The group returns to the house they’d been staying in, and it’s chaos. A flurry of activity, yelling, panic…

It was too much, and to her embarrassment she began to cry, shaking in Thaddeus’s arms. The stonemason sets her on a chair, wrapping his arms around her gently. “It’s alright,” he says. “It’s loud, isn’t it?” She nods. He covers her ears with his hands and yells, “Everyone CALM DOWN-!”

Immediately the yelling started to taper off, and Matthew comes to sit by her, gently setting a hand on her shoulder. “We need to check out your shoulder,” he says, not unkindly. Simon Zee returns, with something to put on her shoulder to stop the bleeding. “You’re alright,” he says, his voice softer now. “Just take a moment. Take a deep breath, with me.” Together, they inhale, and exhale.

“Everyone quiet-!” Someone yells, and the whole room goes silent, and Mary says,

“Lazarus has died.” Aricka freezes, Zee, Thad, and Matthew all felt it. A choking sound escapes her and she buried her face in Zee’s shoulder. The zealot placed a hand on her head,

“Sh…”

“I forgot…” she whispered.

“Nobody blames you,” he says.

“I want to go see James,” she says, and it’s Thaddeus who helps her over to him, before they all are dismissed to go upstairs.

She puts her hand on the taller disicple’s head, in his hair. “You’re okay,” she says, gently running her fingers through his hair. “We’ll be okay.”

He covers her hand with his. “Lightning and thunder… we’re strong, yeah?” He says tiredly.

“Head wounds bleed a lot,you’ll be fine,” she says. “My brother… I hit him in the head once. They had to stitch him up. This doesn’t look that bad. You’ll be fine.”

“They said you got hit too…” He said.

“Just my shoulder. It’ll probably bruise up real nice and then go away. It bled a little. But I’ll be fine. Like you said… lightning always strikes before thunder. I’m tough.” They both laugh, softly; and John pats her non injured shoulder. Zebedee gives her a scrutinizing look, before deciding she was apparently okay.

“This happened in Jerusalem?” The patriarch asks.

“Yes.” John says. Zeb gives them a look,

“It’s only going to get worse from here.”

————

Later; Aricka was getting ready to head to bed, and she sees Jesus. All by Himself. The sight made her heart sad, and she walked over to Him; sat at His feet. “… it’s only going to get worse from here, won’t it?” She asks, but it’s not really a question.

Jesus puts a hand on her shoulder. “You know it will.” She sighs, shaky and tired. “But we’ll discuss it later. You need to rest.” She stands.

“May I hug You?” He doesn’t reply, simply drawing her in for an all-encompassing hug. She sighs, and presses her cheek against his shoulder. “Thank You.”

“Thank you.” He said, before turning her to the stairs and sending her on her way.

She stumbles into the room the women were sharing and barely changed into warm clothes before falling into the one empty bed, asleep before her head even hit the pillow.