#& my friends were like ‘cas that’s a two-biter’

[daisychainsandbowties]

i may die went out for sushi/ramen with my friends and they decided to get this enormous sushi platter but turns out they hated 90% of the kinds of sushi so i ended up… heroically… eating like 30 pieces of sushi 🫠🫠🫠

[nny11writes]

For we will raise you, in safety and peace

Okay, tumblr ate the first attempt at this post, hopefully it doesn’t devour this one as well! Here’s the deal, I can’t seem to figure out a good ending for this fic to save my life and I don’t want it to languish in the pile of unfinished wips. So I’m going to post what I have here on tumblr to at least get it out there somewhere. If anyone has suggestions for an ending I am all ears! HUGE shoutout to @venn364 for helping me figure this fic out to this point and for helping me Horde-ify hush a by baby! 

Rating: Teen (for some cursing) Category: F/F/F Relationship(s): Glitradora (Glimmer/Catra/Adora) Characters:  Glimmer, Catra, Adora Warnings: None apply, this is a fluff fic Additional Tags: Multiple PoVs, fluff, happy fic, happy ending, crushes, idiots in love, dorks in love, young children, Catra deals with the curse of being cute, Adora is a massive dork but what else is new, Glimmer tries to flex on her crushes by singing, lullaby, hush a by baby, post war, post canon Summary: During the post-war reconstruction of Plumeria, Glimmer volunteers herself and voluntells her crushes to take care of the local children to keep them out from under foot. She just, didn’t expect the Horde to require childcare as part of their regular duties and rotation. Or Three Sapphics watch one another interacting with young children and go, “Well guess I’m somehow more in love, cool cool cool.”

Adora and Catra looked at one another and shrugged. “Yeah okay.”

Glimmer was relieved, don’t get her wrong, but that was…not exactly what she’d expected. “Just like that? That simple?”

It wasn’t like she’d expected them to just hop on board with her, even if she’d wanted this to all pan out.

Catra rolled her eyes, a bit too theatrically thanks, before answering, “Well, I mean, sucks to be doing Cadet chores again, but, whatever. Just a buncha kids.”

“I feel like I’m missing something,” Glimmer grumbled, rubbing a hand at her neck. “You’re not trying to act too cool, and you’re not freaking out enough.”

They shared another confused look before Adora spoke up. “I mean, why would I? We’ve done a bunch of rounds at the Infant Pods, more than our fair share in fact.” That last part she said with a pointed look at her oldest friend.

Catra stretched lazily, “I will not apologize.”

“Point is, we can do this. It’s pretty simple over all, especially with you there as a third!” 

Glimmer laughed, “Wait. Hang on, seriously? I’ve never babysat before but you two have?”

“Really? Weird. But, uh, yeah. Everyone in the Horde has some child rearing experience, it’s literally part of your Cadet chores and rotation.”

The galaxy must be on it’s side right now. The Horde, the EVIL Horde, had enforced babysitting chores. “Why?”

Adora shrugged, “Well someone has to make sure they’re clean and fed, doing their homework-”

“Not destroying property or getting in dangerous situations before we could send them to the meat grinder-”

“Keeping them out from underfoot, and getting their energy out too.”

“Also the whole, sometimes babies just die when you don’t, like, hold them enough thing. ...What? Did you think Hordak was at the Pods rocking them to sleep?” Catra laughed.

It certainly was an image. Glimmer giggled as she pictured Hordak overwhelmed by a literal wave of babies. “No, I just never thought about it I guess. You’ll have to teach me.”

They both grinned and Glimmer felt her heart skip a beat. It was, look, don’t judge, it was a really, really good look on them, okay? 

It only took a few minutes to arrive at the temporary nursery Perfuma had set up. While Plumeria was still being cleaned up, she’d wanted a safe place for the children to go, and only needed a few extra hands to help as she pulled her subjects to help redesign their homes. Not that she’d put it like that. Something about syncing their harmonies while reconnecting with their innermost roots? The point was that Glimmer had offered to help mostly to help and partially to avoid another extremely long and boring meeting, but one teleporting queen with no childcare experience was not ideal. Perfuma had been the one to suggest Catra and Adora, seeing as the reconstruction really relied more on Perfuma regrowing the homes in this particular space.

So, they were working with what they had. And apparently that meant Horde soldiers. Experienced Horde soldiers who knew what to do with kids. Weird!

~

When they arrived, it was chaos.

Catra couldn’t help the small grimace she wore, she’d never been fond of IPD. Kids are loud, they don’t have boundaries or respect for other’s boundaries either. She doesn’t know how many times some toddler or Junior Cadet had petted her or pulled her tail and ears with their mysteriously sticky little hands while covered in snot. But she could also say that the one good thing about it was, without fail, some baby was going to think you were the hottest shit ever. And it had done wonders for her low self esteem as a Cadet to know that she’d always collect a gaggle of kids who everyone claimed were impossible to handle doing exactly what she wanted.

It had actually been kind of hilarious out in the Crimson Waste to use some of the tactics she’d learned in the IP against grown gangsters and thugs.

Catra could also say that the very next best thing about it was watching Adora either slowly unravel into a total mess or watching Adora get all the other kids under her thumb. Not that Adora would think of it like that, the goody two shoes, but kids seemed to naturally either love the blonde or desire nothing more than to destroy her. 

Especially at the time, Catra could relate.

She was actually kind of interested to do this now just to see Adora go at it again.

And also Glimmer apparently had no experience with kids and Catra would kill to watch that skiff wreck. No, ugh, she had promised to help hadn’t she? Alright, no watching that skiff wreck unless it happened before she could intervene.

She snickered a little as, just like she used to, Adora gave the attention claps that none of these particular kids would know. Embarrassingly, the old rhythm still made Catra’s back straighten a hair just thanks to the amount of times she’d heard it. 

Adora’s voice rang loud and clear across the little fenced in area, “Atten-shun!”

The kids mostly stopped, but Catra had a feeling that was due to an adult shouting and not out of their training. Did rebellion kids have training? They had to get some kind of education for sure. Huh. Probably should look into that, like, now that it was post war and all.

“Hello, salutations, and greetings!” Adora started her old spiel as if she’d never stopped, putting on her ‘force captain’ voice which was almost a mockery more than anything else. Not that Adora realized that. “I am Adora, this is Catra, and this is Glimmer. Today we will be watching, caring, sharing, and not botching a wonderful day of enrichment with you. Starting now we will do our very best to educate, captivate, and celebrate without need to castigate! It is time to have fun and run, uh, under the sun! Can I get a hoo-ra?”

The part about their newly acquired sun was a nice touch, Catra mental gave Adora extra points for finally having learned to change it on the fly. Catra weakly lifted a fist to mutter ‘hoo-ra’ with a few confused kids. Oof. Rough, but not unexpected. These ankle biters hadn’t been trained to respond promptly and loudly to Horde commands.

Yet it still had about the same effect. The children were already split down the middle looking at Adora like she was a complete idiot or like she was the best thing ever. Soon more of them would think she was the best thing ever than not, kids loved Adora’s canned speech. It always got a few laughs. Kids were easily entertained by someone clearly putting on a show and rhyming. 

Adora put on an over the top look of bewilderment, putting her fists on her hips in some sort of quasi-power pose before asking, “What kind of hoo-ra was that? I want you to shout from deep in your lungs, you won’t sound dumb when it’s all in good fun! Now can I get a HOO-RA?”

Catra gave a slightly more enthusiastic call, and was delighted when Glimmer gamely screamed her head off and then blushed as the kids stared at her, because they had still not shouted. Alright, this had already paid off! Nothing better that watching Glimmer blush like that.

Adora was smiling warmly at the queen, that was always a good look on her. “I SAID HOO-RA!”

This time they managed to get most of the brats on board. A whole army of kids no taller than her waist who were thrilled to scream, a few even did it more than once. It was kind of nostalgic.

“THAT’S what I call a call! I am floored by this horde-” Adora’s eyes widened in panic as she tried to pivot her pre-written speech for a second time. “-o-of wards! Floored! I am floored!”

Aaaand twice was one too many alterations. As much fun as it would be to watch Adora fall apart over it, Catra knew it was mean. And she was trying to, you know, to be less mean.

“Ca-Adora,” wow this was harder than she’d thought. She hadn’t almost called Adora a Cadet in years. “Will be working with any of you who’d like to play a singing and marching game. Line up in front of Adora if you want to join.”

Catra grabbed Glimmer’s hand to pull her forward, which really was only for the benefit of getting to hold Glimmer’s hand. “Anyone who does not want to play a game can join us, we will be taking care of the infants so it’ll be quieter.”

She was not surprised when most of the children flocked to play. There were always a few quiet ones or nervous ones who would hang back, and she was counting on it. Sure enough four kids shuffled their way instead of towards Adora, who was already sorting her little platoon into rank and file, teaching them a quick sound off to learn their names.

Catra motioned between her and Glimmer, “You know our names, what are yours?” The kids shifted awkwardly, looking at one another to start. Catra smirked. “If you don’t want to say I will give you a nickname. For instance, this is now Sparkles.”

Glimmer glared at her, but Catra didn’t stop or let her get a word in edgewise. She pointed at the first kid with glasses, “You can be Specs, short for specification.” A bold faced lie if she’d ever told one. “Stripes, I like your shirt!” Less of a lie. “Flower Power just like Princess Perfuma,” she nodded to the boy with a flower crown. The last kid was nervously shifting hoof to hoof, “And Two Step you got some fancy looking moves.”

“And what do you all think we should call Catra?” Glimmer asked, grinning evilly, as if the kids wouldn’t just suggest kitty or fluffy or whiskers. Maybe tails if someone was feeling creative.

“Kitty!”

Catra chuckled, it was like clockwork. “How about Big Cat? It’s cooler than Kitty!” They nodded gamely to the change. “Cool. Now, does anyone want to help me with the babies? We just need to hold them.”

That was how Catra found herself leaning back against a tree with an infant sleeping on her chest after she’d situated Glimmer and the quartet. All while snickering at some of the concerned looks being shot their way as Adora got the platoon marching and singing. If they weren’t gonna get their asses in gear to manage all the hyper kids, then they could suck it up. Besides, it wasn’t even that intense of a song.

“I think that learning is cool!” The kids echoed after Adora. “Which is why I will stay in school!”

It was schlocky and dorky, if she’d been over there she’d have died of embarrassment already.

Still, Catra couldn’t help but melt a little as Adora exaggerated a high march and then kids behind her did basically whatever they wanted as she marched them around the nursery. It was nice. Even if it made Adora look really dumb, it also made her look happy.  Something Catra hadn’t seen a lot of from her in years. Oh no, she was getting mushy about this now? 

Disgusting. She needed a distraction stat.

“Anyone have a good story?” Catra asked and after a beat of silence, promptly ignored the kids as they started almost talking over each other to tell something about their day or who knows what. Thankfully Glimmer seemed interested even if a little stiff and awkward. Catra was grateful that her fur hid a sudden blush as she watched Glimmer holding a baby and being enthusiastically engaged in the kids' stories. 

Wow. 

She gets away from the Horde for less than a year, and now she’s getting sappy over Sparkles. 

Gross.

~

Adora, of course, had a plan. A good one with details and everything! 

She was using her patented IPPA (thankfully, things had to be going pretty bad for her to resort to Infant Pod Plan B) and so far things had gone well. She’d taught her platoon to march, even got them to make up some rhymes to sing for it (even if she’d had to backtrack after one of the boys said ‘butts’ and everyone then started to just scream sentences with little sense ending with ‘butts’). After a bit of that she got them doing some basic exercise with her. Jumping jacks and running, she’d then start a game of charge and was already wincing in sympathy pains as some of the kids hurled themselves full speed at the enemy team only to fold in half around their linked arms. Still, the point was to give them free reign here to lose their minds and wear out their bodies a little in preparation for a well earned nap or quiet play time.

After making sure that Catra had eyes on her group, Adora left to hunt down water for everyone, and maybe spent a little time making heart eyes across the field.

Catra, despite what she thought, was pretty good with kids. Especially little infants. Between her fluff, heat, and purrs she was an instant baby soother. Adora would know, she was once the only big baby that Catra would soothe the same way. When they’d been younger, Catra used to lose her temper during IPD, but the older they got the more she’d pull it together. There had always been something heartwarming about watching Catra sit down with a kid who was upset and listen to them intently. 

Then there was Glimmer. Gosh, she’d been so nervous going in, but seemed to be quickly becoming a favorite. Because Glimmer always listened to people, no matter their age, and her high energy responses appeared to be winning her fans. The more she integrated with the kids, the more she relaxed too. And there was something absolutely mind blowing about watching her bounce a little baby in her arms, while gasping in genuine delight at something a kid had scribbled into the dirt with a stick.

Adora didn’t even blush, didn’t feel a lick of shame as she quietly got affirmation that yes, girls.

“Ew,” one of the kids snickered after finishing their water, looking right at her before making a face. 

She smiled, shrugging and offered her best, worldly advice. “Girls are great.”

“Ew.” They repeated before giggling and skipping away to their friends.

Whether they eventually agreed with her, liked boys instead, like everyone, or even no one, Adora felt very assured in her assessment of wow girls pretty, so she let it slide.

Later, standing at the barrel and handing out gourds of water or helping kids re-apply their protective balms (the sun was nice, but the sun could apparently burn you which was insane), she did another check. Taking note of any particularly worn out kids to send over to Catra’s group, and was very pleased that no one seemed to be really injured. Man, this was way easier than manhandling Recruits who were about to be Junior Cadets. Maybe she could do this more often? Without all the jockeying for power and praise it was actually fun.

After another thirty minutes whizzed by according to her internal clock, Adora decided it was time to start her platoon’s cool down for water and snacks. Maybe a nap after that. It was all smooth sailing!

Adora managed to make eye contact with Catra, flashing a quick few hand signs they’d made up when they were eight and almost lived in the pods between Adora’s clumsiness and Catra’s random bursts of high energy. Catra nodded, both hands occupied as she bottle fed one of the infants, and Adora almost died. First of cuteness, because Catra was looking so cute! But also from laughter because Glimmer’s tongue was sticking out between her teeth in concentration as she carefully fed another infant. And also because she looked super cute doing it!

What a sight! It took her another minute to realize she was just standing there staring at them with a horrifically soft smile on her face. And Catra was staring back with an equally mortifying soft look. And Glimmer was now looking between them with her own embarrassingly tender look. 

So this is how I die, public affection.

For some reason this was the thing that set her off. Blushing as red as her jacket, Adora pivoted around to call the platoon to get some snacks and more water. Which, considering most of them were either still singing or making up marching songs, took a little bit to organize.

~

The snack and water break had been decently timed, they had just finished burping the last of the babies when Adora called all the kids over. Catra waited with Glimmer until everyone else had something to eat, before mingling as best she could. It was more second nature to keep her head on a swivel, making sure no kids were making a jailbreak and no one was beating someone else’s face in. Although that probably wasn’t a concern on the Rebellion side. Maybe she’d have to rescue a kid from suffocating under a bunch of hugs? 

She shrugged and got a gourd of water, barely finishing it before Two Step tugged at her hand. They’d only gotten more energetic the longer they’d been helping, so she wasn’t even surprised when they asked, "Can I pet your fluff!?"

Catra sighed heavily. This is what she got for wearing a crop top around children. She turned to look at the Two Step and smiled as best she could while also dying inside. If she didn’t let it happen following her own rules, many kids would simply find a way to make it happen anyways. Better to get it out of the way and without sticky hands. Seriously what do kids even do that makes their hands that sticky? "Sure, but only if I can touch your antlers, they look fuzzy."

They almost stabbed her in the stomach with said nubbly antlers in their excitement, apparently oblivious for at least a moment about how fragile they were. Two Step was still wiggling around the way they had the whole afternoon as they rushed to explain, "They are! They’re new and growing in bigger and my dad says that someday they’ll be HUGE like his!"

She ran a few fingers carefully along the warm velvet and nodded, it was softer than she’d actually expected it to be, and it almost seemed like she could feel the blood pumping in them? Or maybe her brain was messing with her? Either way, weird. "Neat. Your turn kiddo."

Catra did her best to not groan in annoyance when the girl simply leaned forward to rub her face on the fluffiest part of her belly.

"You said pet."

"I am petting!"

"Petting is done with your hands, not your face."

"Says who?"

Well shit, had her there. “...alright, well played.”

She glared as the trademark a high pitched whistling sound of cooing alerted her to Glimmer and Adora looking at her with hearts in their eyes and sparkles around their faces. Not literally, but she could picture it. The traitors. She could see Glimmer mouthing the words so cute and groaned. She was not cute! Ugh!

“Okay, I think that’s enough.”

Two Step grumbled but let go. “Thanks!” And with that they skipped away to hang out with the other kids. 

Oh yeah, definitely time to put the kids down for a nap if they could.

~

It had taken longer that Glimmer expected to calm down the kids. A small handful of them went tearing off around the field cackling like loons as Catra easily loped after them on all fours. Which of course resulted in more kids wanting to get chased for some reason, shrieking in delight each time Catra put on a hair more speed to tap their arms or legs. Eventually even they were exhausted and fell panting into the grass for Adora and her to watch while Catra continued herding. It was adorable and Glimmer was never, ever gonna let her live down her afternoon of being a sheep dog. If only Bow or Entrapta were here to take a picture!

Glimmer reluctantly left her post of watching and jeering at ‘Big Cat’ to help Adora get the youngest ones situated and sleeping rolls or blankets laid out. For the ones who refused to take a nap (whether because they weren’t tired or wanted to pretend they weren’t tired), Glimmer asked around to find a few decks of cards for them to use. She wrangled a promise from each group to be quiet so their friends could sleep, and by the time she’d finished that it was tempting to take her own nap.

Adora was efficiently sorting kids into sleeping spaces, and Glimmer smiled a bit at the way she let pairs and groups just pile up together. Having seen the impossible looking ways Adora and Catra could be found tangled up after a nap, she felt pretty confident that they knew what they were doing.

When Catra finally arrived with the last two kids, both of whom she carried under her arms as they giggled, Glimmer was grateful for the chance to relax a little with her friends. She nudged Adora’s side as they passed and whispered, “Maybe afterwards you can use She-Ra? You know, give them a climbing gym or swing them around.”

Adora blinked rapidly before breaking out in a huge grin and did a little over the top flexing before they made their way over to sit with Catra. And for a few minutes they sat in a peaceful silence, enjoying the sounds of the forest and leaning against one another. 

“Pssst,” Stripes rolled over to look at them, making huge puppy dog eyes before asking, “Sing us a lullaby?”

Glimmer’s eyes sparkled as she turned to watch Adora and Catra apparently debate the issue, because hello! Getting to hear them sing lullabies! They rapidly signed back and forth, faces squashing and stretching as they added emphasis to the conversation before they turned and nodded.

“Okay,” Adora said softly, “but you can’t laugh, we only know Horde songs.”

“The Horde had songs?” A little boy asked, popping up from his blanket with a huge smile.

“Yeah we did. To be fair, they’re not uh,” Adora faltered and quickly looked at Catra, which to be fair Glimmer hadn’t considered that the songs they knew might be inappropriate. She quickly decided that she also didn’t really care.

“Adults probably wouldn’t like them here.” Catra supplied with a mischievous grin, apparently knowing that the kids would all be desperate to hear them now.

“Catra!” Adora hissed in what was probably supposed to be a whisper.

“I want to hear!” Glimmer added fuel to the fire and snickered at the look of betrayal on Adora’s face. “What? I do!”

She threw her arms in the air before huffing in her fake annoyed voice, “Fine, I’ll sing a song!”

There was a moment before Adora shakily started to sing both a very familiar tune set to very different lyrics.

Hush-a-bye baby, your crying will cease For we will raise you, in safety and peace If the walls crumble, there’s no need to bawl We’ll burn the villains, princess and all

Glimmer sputtered, accidentally ending it before it even started, not just because the lullaby included a line about burning rebellion citizens to death including princesses. But also because her mother used to sing this to her! “Wait, wait, wait, that’s- that’s not how that song goes!”

“Wha- yes it is!” Adora huffed, arms crossing as she blushed, “I said you couldn’t be mean!”

“First of all, you said I couldn’t laugh and I didn’t! Secondly,” Glimmer cleared her throat to sing her version. She’d always loved singing, even took lessons when she was younger before deciding she’d rather do it for fun. But what was the point of being able to sing flawlessly under pressure if not to flex on your crushes?

Rock-a-bye baby, thy cradle is green; Father's a nobleman, mother's a queen; And Buckley’s a washer, who wears a gold ring; And Tambour’s a drummer, who drums for the king.

Not that she got any further than Adora did before being interrupted as well.

“Ew, it’s all princessy!” Catra jeered playfully getting a few giggles from the kids.

“Uh, yeah, my mom sang it to me when I was a baby!”

“Gross. Ours is better!”

Adora laughed nervously, apparently unsure what to do as their play fight went down in front of a room full of impressionable children. Which, really, was her own fault for not expecting it.

Glimmer puffed up and leaned forward, tapping Catra on the nose just to be a brat before issuing the challenge she knew would get results. “Prove it!”

Ah, the good old stand by of “prove it”, as equally effective as a double dog dare!

So Catra, looking genuinely affronted, took a breath and sang in a wholly and unfairly good voice.

Hush-a-bye baby, your crying will cease For we will raise you, in safety and peace If the walls crumble, there’s no need to bawl We’ll burn the villains, princess and all

Baby is drowsing, valiant and brave With Hordak’s power, disorder we’ll stave Though cadet’s sleeping, her dreams we all share For order and harmony’s, our duty to bear

Hush-a-bye baby, do not you fear Never mind, baby, your squad is right here Strong little fingers, but eyes must shut tight Stay sound asleep now, until morning’s light

“People sang to you as babies about Hordak’s power and burning people?” Glimmer asked, both perplexed at the Horde-ified version and slightly disturbed. No wonder some of their soldiers bought the Evil Horde’s propaganda if this was what they were taught from the cradle!

“Glimmer, I love you, and I say this with as much respect as I can,” Catra said without an ounce of respect in her body or soul, “We grew up in the Fright Zone under the eyes of commanding officers of the Evil Horde. What did you think they sang to us about?”

Well shit, had her there.

[bijoharvelle]

doing these prompts! today is “early morning walks while it’s still cool out” & its dedicated to @nesnej bc she’s having a time <3

Look, if you told Dean that he would have ended up in New Jersey, of all places, he would asked you what kinda drugs you were on and if you could get him a hit. But their little rural-suburb township was quiet with shady maple trees and too many deer. There was a farmer’s market every Saturday and the library had a summer program for kids and Cas volunteered a few hours a week, reading to the smaller ones. He loved it, the kids loved it (he’s very good at doing the voices, apparently), and the librarians who fawned over him definitely loved it.

That market and the library were all part of the town square that was really just a cluster of municipal government buildings and a gazebo high on the corner that banked up against one of the busy main streets. The courthouse was there, and the community theater, the senior center, the animal shelter (where Dean volunteered once with Sammy and had looked at the trembling chocolate Labrador knowing he didn’t stand a chance in Hell. Colt was far from a guard dog but she ate Dean’s vegetables for him).

A sleepy town like this, it doesn’t start filling up until a little after nine, when things are finally opening. So, when Dean and Cas go for their walks early in the morning, it’s silent and empty. Just the two of them padding through the first break of morning sunlight, Colt loping happily at their heels. It’s warm, the kind of warm that holds the promise of heat and humidity in the later hours but for now it’s just warm and bright and nice. Dean can wear his tee shirt and flannel and not feel like he’s suffocating. Cas is in a floppy chambray shirt that he’s been favoring lately and it’s unbuttoned too many buttons which Dean favors.

“Are you reading to the ankle-biters today?” Dean asks as they pass by the library. Colt’s tail goes straight up, an excited little wag at the end of it as a chorus of barks start up from the animal shelter.

“No,” Cas answers and he loops the leash around his hand another time -- Colt seems to think every dog (or person, or bird, or pile of trash, or puddle) is put on Earth for the sole purpose of being her Friend. Dean has tried to explain to her that not everyone wants to be her friend and in fact some dogs are bigger and would like very much to bite her, but she just cocks her head and then licks at his neck. “I was going to try and wrangle the roses into submission. And then I was mostly going to lay in the hammock and read my book.”

Dean smiles. He pulls up so Cas walks past him, hops so he’s on Cas’s other side, so he can hold Cas’s hand. Colt is whining and panting, putting a strain on the leash, so Cas deals with that a moment (she responds, for some reason, to the calming Enochian he mutters to her) and then he laces their fingers together.

It’s still cool enough out that their hands aren’t sweaty, it isn’t unbearable to be standing so close, to press his side into Cas’s, to tuck his face into Cas’s neck and nose along the messy hair behind his ear. Cas stops and Colt sits, happy to bark in response to all her Shelter Friends, and Dean winds around to kiss Cas properly.

A lilting breeze makes the trees drift and Dean smells pollen and heat on the air.

He’ll help Cas with the roses, maybe try his hand at one of those little baby rocking chairs for Sam and Eileen’s kid-on-the-way. He’s thinking about sandwiches for lunch and shrimp for dinner and that iced tea that Cas makes special. Mostly, though, he’s thinking about laying in the hammock with his skin sticking to Cas’s, half in the shade, half in the sun, reading his own book or just dozing on Cas’s chest while he reads with the pages propped on Dean’s shoulder. Mostly, he’s thinking about this, now, seven in the morning with Cas against him and their dog about to lose her mind. They’re only a mile and a half from their house, their home, the possibilities for the day are as endless and warm as the dawning sun.

tags under the cut, as always pls let me know if you wanna be removed or added!

@prayedtoyou • @folklorecastiel • @good-things-do-happen-dean • @cas-you-assbutt-dean-needs-you • @nesnej •  @bianca29753 • @spaceshipkat • @601218764 • @nickelkit • @dizzypinwheel • @epple-benene • @kayrosebee • @feraladoration • @queenvee08 • @destielangst • @destiel-is--real • @brazencas • @destielle

[nalgenewhore]

Slipping Through My Fingers - Five

masterlist - ao3 - last chapter - next chapter 

warnings: none 

an: this chapter is ALSO a s h a w t y (wit a body ody ody) cause we gotta just flesh it out u kno ~development~ before the big ol shebang yerd? also spanish children’s songs go HARD. 

“Alright, friends,” Elide said as she passed out a little packet of laminated letters to every student. “Today we’re going to start on our ABC’s. Who can tell me what ABC’s are?” 

“Ko-Ko knows!” Esther shouted, always cheerleading her quiet friend. The redheaded five-year old was practically bouncing in her seat. 

Elide bit down her smile and laugh, “Esther, remember our inside voices, ok? Kohana, do you want to share?” 

He glanced unsurely towards Esther and she nodded, encouraging him. “ABC is letters. Ah-phabet.” 

“Good job, Kohana, exactly. ABC’s are the letters that make our words,” she said, smiling at him. A little grin appeared on his face and Esther gave him a subtle high five. They were the cutest. “So, with our letters, friends, we’re going to learn the sounds they make!” 

The rest of the morning went swimmingly and Elide was pleased with herself, with the success of her lesson. She sent her kids off to recess after lunch, waving goodbye. A hand tugged on one of the deep pockets of her painter-overalls and she looked down to see Kohana standing there, worry creasing his brow. “Elide, I don’t want it to rain.” 

Elide glanced outside and saw the slight overcast. “Me neither. I don’t like the rain. Do you?” 

He nodded slowly and Esther popped out of the cubby room, decked out in the brightest, sparkliest gumboots, a polka-dotted raincoat, and a rain hat to match plopped onto her crazy curls as well. “I love the rain! We’re going to make soup, right, Ko-Ko?” 

Kohana looked up at Elide, his face brightening, “But I only like the rain sometime. I like the rain ‘cause me an’ my dad stay inside and we gots to watch a movie. Essie come over and watch movie too.”

“Oh, wow, I love movies! What’s your favourite?” 

“Like Space Jam. Dad likes MJ. I likes Buggsie Bunny, Essie likes Buggsie Bunny too. But she like other movie too.” 

“Oui, j’adore Buggsie Bunny!” 

Kohana giggled and Esther hooked her arm through his. “Bye bye, Elide!” She was dragging Kohana out behind her before Elide could wave good-bye. 

+*+*+*+*+*+*

Rolfe smiled as Kohana and Esther raced each other to reach him, their little backpacks slapping against their backs. “Rolfe!” “Papi!” 

He waved to Elide, indicating he got the little ones as he crouched and hugged them. “What’s up, munchkins? How was school today?” 

“We learned letter sounds,” Kohana said, taking the hand Rolfe held out to him as he stood up, Esther taking his other hand. “ABC sounds.” 

“Was that fun?” 

“Yeah, but me and Essie already knowed that. A is ah, B is buh, C is cuh or kah. Blah.” 

Esther giggled and let go of Rolfe’s hand to jump in a shallow puddle, barely a splash under her boots. Quickly, she ran back to Kohana and her father, walking to Rolfe’s car. “We goin’ to uncle L shop?”

“You know it,” Rolfe said, easily buckling the two of them into their booster seats. “Are you little devils hungry? Want some chicken nuggets?” 

They squealed and nodded, babbling to each other as Rolfe slowly pulled out of the parking lot, turning onto the road that would take him to the nearest fast food place. 

Soon enough, Kohana and Esther were happily munching on their snacks and sipping from the drinks he’d gotten them. “So, how’s school going, guys?” Rolfe looked into the rearview mirror. “Es? Ko?” 

“Elide is so nice, papi. She lets me and Ko-Ko sit together all the time and we gets to be buddies for everything! I like playing time and Ko-Ko like reading time, so he sits on the mushroom and I sits with the dinosaurs and I talk and Ko-Ko looks at the books, right, Ko-Ko?” 

“Yup! I looked at a book with bears today,” Kohana said, looking pleased as he sipped on his apple juice. “Do you like bears, Rolfe?” 

“I do,” he hummed, winking at Esther, “but you wanna know what my favourite animal is?” They looked at him expectantly, their eyes wide wide open. “Sharks!” 

Esther giggled and Kohana stared, “Sharks are scary.” 

His bestest friend wiggled and began to sing a song about a shark that tried to trick the fish. “Tres pececitos se fueron a nadar, el más pequeñito se fue al fondo del mar… El tiburón le dijo ven acá…”

Rolfe watched his daughter show his nephew of sorts how to make a fish with his hands and the actions that went along with the song. 

When they got to the mechanic shop, Kohana and Esther strained under their restraints, their empty food containers discarded on the floor. Rolfe didn’t mind it, if anything he was beaming at Esther’s influence on Kohana. The kid was itching to act out, even in such a simple way. 

His serene behaviour was a worry for Lorcan. 

Rolfe quickly unbuckled them before they hurt themselves and they were off, weaving and racing through the shop. They sought out Malakai first, who was sitting behind the front desk - fashioned out of the front end of a ‘57 Chevrolet Bel Air - sipping his coffee and reading the newspaper. 

“Grampy!” They yelled in unison, launching themselves into his arms. At their voices, Ansel and Lorcan popped their heads out of the back office, smiling fondly at the sight. They strolled on out, Ansel wiping her hands on the pants of her navy blue coveralls. She had the sleeves tied around her waist and wore an old white wifebeater as her top. 

“Hey, kiddos,” Ansel said and they hardly acknowledged her as Malakai withdrew two lollipops for them. She laughed and walked over to Rolfe, “Hello. How were the little ankle biters today?” 

“Esther sang a very educational song about not trusting sharks and they chowed down on some chicken nuggets and apple juice,” he told her, pulling her closer with a hand on her waist and a hand cupping her face. “How was your day?” Ansel kissed him softly. 

“Good, it was good. I think I figured out that engine block so,” she said, stepping back when Esther called for her. “Yes, my darling?” 

“I need help!” 

“That’s my cue,” Ansel quipped, saluting the two men as she went over to her daughter. 

Lorcan rubbed the back of his neck, “So how was he?” 

Rolfe nodded, “Good, he was good. He talks a lot about his teacher, you know? I think she’s really good for him. And Ess too.” Relief flashed over Lorcan’s face and Rolfe clapped his shoulder, “Hey, man, you’re doing a good job.” 

Lorcan opened his mouth to say something when his son crashed into his legs, one hand reaching up to tap Lorcan’s hip and the other holding Ko’s prized candy. “Hi, Dad!” 

Smiling, Lorcan leaned down and scooped him up, propping him on his hip. “Hey, kid.” 

“Look, Dad, gots a candy!” 

“Oh, cool, where’d you get that?” 

“Grampy.” 

Lorcan raised his voice, “Well that’s funny, I could’ve sworn Grampy knew that candy makes you hyper and makes me want to cry later at home.” Kohana just shrugged and popped his lollipop back in his mouth while Malakai laughed loudly, the sound coming from his belly. “How was school?” 

“Learned ah-phabet sounds. I ‘ready know ah-phabet sounds,” Kohana said, resting his head against Lorcan’s shoulder. “Can I help you with a car?” 

“Always, bud,” Lorcan said, nodding at Rolfe and the others before carrying Kohana away. “Hungry?” 

“Nope, got chicky nuggies. And A-for-Apple juice,” Kohana babbled, subconsciously switching his language and kicking out his legs. “Look, até, gots frogs on my boots. I eated with Essie and then we ‘plashed in puddle and made soup-soup and Essie played with dinos and I looked at a book of bears. I like bears, do you like bears?” 

“I do like bears,” Lorcan replied, keeping his voice even even though internally he was ecstatic at the amount Kohana was talking right now. He didn’t know how much influence was Esther’s or Elide’s, but he thanked the gods for them, no matter the awkward and stilted relationship to the latter. “What else did you get up to?” 

Kohana shrugged and wiggled to be put down. Lorcan obliged and they walked together into Lorcan’s car bay. “Not much, Dad. Gots help Essie with inside voice, but Essie help me with outside voice. Much louder now, when we go outside, do you wanna hear my outside voice?” 

“Of course,” Lorcan replied, his heart cracking just a bit more. Kohana stuck his lollipop in his mouth and clambered onto the cushioned stool by the tool cart. Every morning, it was meticulously organized, but by the end of the day, it looked like a tornado had gone through it. Lorcan took the other stool by the open hood of one of his regular’s cars. Each repair was futile, merely putting off the inevitable, but the man tipped well, listened to Lorcan’s instructions and didn’t argue with anything he was told so, Lorcan had no complaints. 

He glanced into the engine, sussing out which tool he would need and then the reachability of his son’s arms, trying to decide what he could make do with. “K-Man, pass me that socket wrench, yeah?” 

“Here you go!” Kohana chirped, shoving off the cart with his two feet on the rolling stool after he grabbed the shiny tool. “Here you go, Dad.” 

Lorcan chuckled and kissed his son’s forehead, “Thank the Creator for you, kid.” 

+*+*+*+*+*+*

@mythicaitt @tinywolfofeyllwe @schmlip-scribble @the-regal-warrior @empire-of-wildfire @rhysands-highlady @shyvioletcat @alifletcher2012 @tangledraysofsunshine @ttakeitbacknoww @tswaney17 @ourbooksuniverse @flora-and-fae @thesirenwashere @queenofxhearts @maastrash @mynewdreamwasyou @cursebreaker29 @superspiritfestival​ @empress-ofbloodshed​ @queen-of-glass​ @sleeping-and-books​ @beccasophia95​ @exersize-me-i-dare-u​ @thewayshedreamed​ @hizqueen4life​ @ifinallygavein​ @bat-wing-rhys​ @awkward-avocado-s​ @b00kworm​ @mu-si-ca-l​ @lovemollywho​ @tacmc​ @soitsgorgeous​ @staarligght​

[hannahindie]

At the End of All Things: Chapter 2

Characters: Dean Winchester, Sam Winchester x Amelia Richardson

Word Count: 1,780

Warnings: Amelia. That’s literally the only warning there is. Because she is the literal worst and writing her made me angry, so just prepare yourselves for that.

A/N: This is an AU/Crossover between Supernatural and Walking Dead. I’ve brought some characters back from the dead since it is an AU, and it’s going to be chock full of ships. I’ve always wondered how the Winchesters would make it in a world full of walkers, and what Rick’s crew would think of them, so this is my take on it. If you would like to catch up on Chapter 1, you can do so here!

Thanks to two of my favorite people in the world for beta’ing this for me! You two help make my words way better than I could dream of them being.

@trexrambling- “Come on, Sammy. Even you don't like her.” @pinknerdpanda- “ Ugh! I just hate her.”

As always, tags are at the bottom, and if you’d like to be added or don’t see yourself, please let me know! If you do not like The Walking Dead, AUs, or crossovers, please let me know and I can remove you from future tags. Any feedback is welcome. :)

Westgate: Columbus, OH

Dean leaned against the trunk of the Impala and looked over the little town they'd managed to build up over the past few years. It had been six years since Zach had zapped him into the future and shown him what their destiny was. Six years since Dean had said ‘screw you’ to destiny and told Sam that they may be each other's weaknesses, but they were stronger together. That one decision had changed the course of not just their lives, but of every single person they had with them now.

Dean had known the consequences of their actions if they had stayed on their original path; Jo, Ellen, Bobby...all of them would be gone. Sam would have said yes, and Dean would have died along with the rest of their slowly shrinking group of friends. But here they were, their family mostly intact, although maybe a little worse for wear.

Cas had still fallen victim to his dwindling grace and had consequently succumbed to popping whatever pills he could find and having orgies, but the angel seemed happy. Happier than Dean had ever seen him, if he was being honest. The end of the world should have spelled out the end of them, and somehow it had marked a beginning that none of them could have dreamed of having.

He smiled as he watched Chuck walk across the road, his eyes on the clipboard in his hand and muttering quietly to himself. Dean’s eyes traveled to the house across the street from his, where Cas was sitting on the porch surrounded by several women, the sound of laughter floating across the empty street. Cas looked up and met Dean’s gaze and smiled, then waved and went back to talking to the women currently sitting around his feet. Further down, he could see Jo walking with Ellen, and Dean couldn’t help but chuckle at the little bit of a waddle she had already started to develop due to her growing stomach.

“Sure you want to do this?”

Dean looked over to see Sam walking into the garage. He caught the lukewarm beer Sam tossed to him, cracked the seal, then grimaced as he took the first swig.

“At this point, anything would be better than this beer. Where’ve you been hiding this?”

“Ash made it in his shed. Didn’t have time to refrigerate it yet.”

Dean rolled his eyes, “Not gonna lie to you, Sammy, I don’t think Ash needs to worry about wasting electricity on that. That...that was awful.”

Sam shrugged as he took another sip, “Yea, it is. I thought you might be of the opinion that terrible beer is better than no beer, though.”

Dean smirked, “You aren’t wrong.” He braced himself and took another sip, “Wow, no, that’s really terrible. For the first time in my life, I think I might prefer no beer.” He looked down at the plain brown bottle and rubbed his thumb over where the label would be. “I’m sure, Sam. Not sure about everyone going with us, but I don’t think we have much of a choice in the matter. Not that I’d ever admit it to his face, but I’m pretty sure Bobby could still kick my ass.”

Sam nodded, “Yea...but I think I might be more scared of Ellen.”

Dean laughed, “That’s a fair point.” He glanced at Sam from the corner of his eye, “What about Amelia? Is she going to stay here with the others?”

Sam took a long drag from his beer and smacked his lips together. Dean couldn’t tell if his brother’s eyes were narrowed because the beer was so bad, or because he was contemplating how he should answer. “The short answer, for now, is no. She’s planning on going.”

“Sam-”

“I know. It’s a bad idea, and I tried to explain that to her. She says she’s ready, that she can handle it.”

“Has she been training?” Dean asked as he walked over and sat his beer on the workbench.

Sam rolled his eyes, “You could call it that. She’s going to training, but it doesn’t matter if she could nail every move. She’s reckless, she has an attitude...” Sam sighed, and Dean allowed his brother a moment to collect his thoughts. “I’m not being fair to her. She feels like an outsider, and she kind of is. The rest of us have been through so much together, even before all of this, and I don’t think she understands that. I just...I don’t know that she could protect herself, much less everyone else.”

“Sam, you need to talk to her again. We need people to stay here anyway...maybe if she realizes that’s important, she’ll stay. And when you do it, try not to make that face you always make when you think you're right and the other person is wrong. It doesn’t help.”

“What face are you talking about?” Sam questioned as he dumped out the rest of his beer and tossed the empty bottle in the trash.

“That face, the one you’re making right now,” Dean emphasized with his pointer finger. “You mean well, but you sound a little condescending when you’re trying to convince someone your plan is the better one. So just...don’t, okay? I don’t know how to tell you how not to do that, but just try, man.” He clapped Sam on the shoulder, “Good luck. You’ve got about twelve hours to convince her.”

“And if I can’t?”

Dean shrugged, “She comes with us, and she’ll learn to do her part. Everyone has to pull their weight, even baby Winchester.” Dean winked as he pulled the garage door shut, and Sam gave him a tight lipped smile.

“Yea, you’re right. It’ll be fine. I’ll see what I can do.”

Sam walked off, his hands shoved in his pockets, and Dean sighed. Sam was going to need all the luck he could get.

“I am going!” Amelia hissed, her hands on her hips. Sam leaned against their kitchen counter, his arms crossed tightly across his chest. He had thought he had the conversation planned out well enough that he could avoid the argument that was probably inevitable, but as soon as he said ‘Amelia, we need to talk’, she had interrupted him and not quit talking. She had finally stopped and now waited expectantly for his response. He stared at her for a long moment as he carefully considered what he should say, Dean’s warning of keeping his face in check echoing in his mind.

“Sam!”

He sighed, “Amelia, I understand why you want to go. You want to be helpful and contribute, but the best way to do that is to stay here. We need people to stay behind and keep this place running until we get back. Risa and Jane are staying behind, so is Kevin-”

“I don’t give a shit who is staying behind. We’ve gone this long without anything going wrong, why do I need to stay behind and protect it? This place is the most fortified camp in the tri-state area. I’m assuming Jo is going, despite the fact that she’s five months pregnant? But I guess that’s because her husband wants her around.”

Sam looked at her in surprise, “That’s the exact reason why we need people to stay! Eventually, someone is going to find this place. They’re going to want to take it. We need people to make sure that doesn’t happen, and that those that can’t travel stay safe. And Jo going is between Jo and Dean, it's not our business. What the hell is wrong with you?”

“You’re leaving me! You want me to stay here because you don’t want me to go with you. I’m just some girl you saved because you had to, and now you’re with me because who else are we supposed to have? Quit being a chicken shit and just tell me that’s what’s going on, but quit trying to talk me out of going and giving me bullshit reasons! ” She looked up at Sam, her lip quivering and her eyes brimming with tears, and Sam’s resolve broke.

Sam couldn’t deny what she said was at least partially true. He remembered the day he had found her, surrounded by the dead and alone, half-heartedly swinging a machete and sobbing. He had known he couldn’t let her die, and he had somehow managed to kill every single biter before she had been torn apart. She had looked at him with a shine in her eyes ever since, like she was looking at her very own knight in shining armor. He had tried to ignore it, but their camp had still been small then, and being in such a confined space it had been hard to stay away from her. Over time he had grown a fondness for her, and although he was sure that it didn’t match how she felt about him, he’d decided that it had been enough for both of them. Dean had been right; it was more a relationship of convenience, but Sam did love her in his own way, and it occurred to him that he didn’t always show it.

He sighed and held out his arms, “C’mere, I’m sorry, Amelia. You know that’s not true.” She fell into him, and he could feel her shoulders shake as she cried against his chest. He wrapped his arms around her and tucked her head under his chin, “I’m sorry, babe, you don’t have to stay. I just...I trust you to take care of our home. If you want to come with us, you can. Okay?” He gently moved her out to arm’s length and looked her in the eyes, “But you have to be ready for anything. It’s not going to be an easy trip, it’s going to be dangerous, and you have to be ready to fight for everyone not just yourself. You know? It’s not just about the two of us. It’s about our family.”

Amelia nodded and wiped her tears away with the back of her hand, “I know, I understand. I can do it, Sam. I can.”

Sam smiled at her gently and brushed a few rogue strands of hair behind her ear, “That’s my girl. We’re leaving tomorrow, so get packed up, okay? Keep it light, just the important things.” She nodded and left the room, and Sam collapsed heavily into one of the kitchen chairs.

That went about as well as he had expected. He ran a hand across his tired eyes and wondered if he was going to regret his choice to let her go.

Read Chapter 3 HERE.

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At The End Of All Things: @jellersquad @babeonthebike