#(and by now michael has his own wedding ring with someone he can be confident and secure with <3)

[dawntainbobbynash]

I just really love the detail that Athena wore her wedding ring on duty while married to Michael, but she never wears it on duty after she marries Bobby. When she was with Michael, she needed that tangible proof of her marriage, she needed to have that ring on to convince herself and others that she and Michael were solid and gonna last as a couple. But now, with Bobby, she’s confident and secure in her marriage, she knows they really are solid and meant to last, and she no longer needs a piece of jewelry on her finger 24/7 to prove it

[mandoalorian]

Red Carpet [Maxwell Lord x F!Reader]

Summary: you attend an awards ceremony with your fiancée, Maxwell Lord. It’s nerve-wracking, but he knows how to comfort you, and you even meet a few celebrities along the way.

Rating: PG-13

Warnings: alcohol mention, allusions to sex

Word count: 2000

A/N: I wrote this while watching the BAFTAs and got inspired! Pedro looked so cute. Anyways there’s nothing better than some tooth-rotting fluff on a Sunday night. REBLOGS APPRECIATED.

Your heart was racing. You weren’t sure how he did it, or where he got the confidence from, but when you see him all suited up in his tuxedo and hair perfectly coiffed, you feel nothing but pride swell in your chest. You bite down on your lower lip and wrap your arms around him as he stands in the mirror and adjusts his black bow tie.

“You look amazing,” you coo, nuzzling your head into the crook of your neck but being extra careful not to rub your makeup on him. “Smell good too.” you hum, taking in the notes of sweet honey musk with a hint of spice.

He spins around and his hands immediately find your waist as his dark eyes rake your figure. You’re wearing a silver glittering gown that hugs your body in all the right places. “You look… breathtaking,” he murmurs, his warm breath fanning over your neck. When he pulls away from you, he sees the way you happily scrunch up your nose and his entire face lights up. “How did I ever get so lucky?” he asks.

You feel your cheeks flush with heat and you look down at the floor. You and Maxwell have been together for years now, but you still get a little shy whenever he compliments you. He finds it endearing though and his fingers tap at your chin, pushing it upwards so he can look you in the eyes again. He’s completely enamoured by you. You could do absolutely anything and it would capture him into a trance. 

Not once did he ever believe that he was someone capable of falling in love. That was, until, he met you.

“Are you nervous?” you ask, swaying your hips slightly. You’re nervous. You don’t want to say anything to worry him, but he can probably tell none-the-less.

“Not really.” he replies, checking his hair one final time. You’re glad he’s feeling okay. He’s always been good at talking to big audiences. You’re proud of him too. Knowing just how far he’s come.

“If there was a category for best infomercial, you would win.” You assure him and he lets out a laugh.

“Oh I agree,” He cheekily grins, linking his arm with yours. He’s not been nominated for an award, but he was hosting a category. Maxwell wasn’t exactly a A List Hollywood celebrity, but that didn’t mean he wasn’t famous. Everyone in the world knew his face and he was most certainly a household name. If it wasn’t from his commercials or speeches, it was from the lavish parties he held and all the reality TV guest appearances he starred in. “The limo is waiting. Are you ready?”

You grab your purse and nod your head. When you make your way downstairs to the car, his hand doesn’t leave yours once. You’re lucky enough to live in a pretty private enclosed neighbourhood with him, but the second you’re both in the city, there are flashing cameras everywhere.

The bright lights are overwhelming, and you wince as they blind you. He’s used to it though, and he makes full effort to shelter you from it. 

First thing on the checklist was to complete the red carpet. Knowing that there were so many cameras on you, and that your photographs would most likely be in the tabloids tomorrow, makes you feel uneasy. But Maxwell always knows how to calm you down. His hand rests on the small of your back and he whispers a few jokes in your ear now and again which force your lips to curl into a genuine smile.

If it was up to him, he’d spend every moment relishing the limelight and garnering attention. However, he knows you aren’t the biggest fan of it, so as you duck your head down, he makes it his goal to get you inside as fast as possible.

They’re all shouting his name and he politely waves. But once you’re inside, he makes sure you’re okay, and gives your arm a little squeeze. You can see him though, trying to take a peek outside. There are cameras and press waiting for him, you know that, and it was a big night for him. You’d hate to be the thing keeping him from enjoying himself.

“They want to see you,” you tell him. “You should go out and see them.”

“No,” he firmly states, shaking his head. “No. C’mon, I’ll take you to the bar.” He slips his hand into yours and goes to take you across the lobby. You dig your heel into the floor, refusing to move. When he looks at you, you’re smirking playfully.

“Just go. It’ll be good press for Black Gold. I’ll be fine.” you insist, flattening the palm of your hand against his chest. The material of his white shirt is soft and feels so luxurious.

He hesitates slightly, not wanting to leave your side, but he knows that there is no point in arguing. Besides, you have point. “I won’t be long.” he promises before kissing you. When he pulls away, you can’t help but grin, seeing your red gloss smudged against his own soft lips.

“Oh wait!” you laugh, licking your finger and wiping it off for him. “Okay, now you can go.”

When he heads back outside, they go wild for him. They’re asking him all these questions about what charities he’s considering donating to at his next fundraiser, or what his own personal thoughts are on the latest celebrity gossip. But, all he can think about is you.

“I always love chatting to you,” Maxwell flashes his charismatic television smile as he charms the journalist. “But my fiancée is inside waiting for me so I must be heading off.”

Maxwell realises what he’s done immediately after the words leave his mouth. Neither of you had come out and announced your engagement yet. Of course there had been rumours, when the paparazzi had caught shots of the enormous diamond rock on your finger, but nothing had ever been confirmed. The journalist looks overjoyed when he realises he’s the first to learn this information.

“Oh Mr. Lord!” he cries. “Congratulations. This is just terrific news. Do you have a wedding date yet?”

A pink blush crosses Maxwell’s cheeks at the thought of you on his wedding day. “Uh, no,” he answers. “But she wants a summer wedding.”

Maxwell finds himself gushing about you for a little longer than he intended, but he’s really not out there for too long. He’s inpatient to get back inside with you, and grab a drink. You already have a glass of whiskey waiting for him. 

You’re waiting at the high rise bar, your feet dangling from the stool you’re sat on as you sheepishly eye up all the famous guests who are waiting in the lobby. Maxwell jumps up from behind you and you almost fall off your chair, but in one swift movement, he steadies you and holds you tight.

“Maxie,” you mumble, thankful that he’s back with you. “I think I just saw Elton John.”

Maxwell gasps and looks around. “Where?”

You shyly point your finger into the corner, where a Elton John is standing, nursing a cocktail and speaking to--

“Is that Madonna?!” you practically yelp. 

Maxwell adores how excitable you get. “Why don’t we go say hello?”

You look at him as if he’s crazy.

“Max… that is Elton John and Madonna. I can’t--, we can’t… I’m--”

He shushes you and takes your hand. “But imagine how amazing it would be if we could get them to play at our wedding?” 

You feel your heart blossom at the thought but you’re still unsure. “I don’t know…” you trail off but he pouts and you take a deep breath. “Okay. Okay fine.” you sigh, giving in to his puppy dog eyes.

As it turns out, Elton John and Madonna were lovely people.

The awards ceremony is about to begin and you sit around a table which is relatively close to the stage. The seats are warm and made out of crushed velvet, and each guest is given a glass of the finest champagne. Around the table sit other celebrities.

Sure, being around Max means that you’ve met a lot of famous people in your time, but being in such close proximity to them would never not be scary. You weren’t born into wealth or success like the majority of people here were. As someone with a habit of being clumsy and easily flustered, you knew this lifestyle wasn’t for you, and you didn’t think it ever would be. But Maxwell was a natural and he fit in so well around these people. You’d always be there to support him.

You anxiously twist the engagement ring on your finger when he stands up and presses a kiss to the top of your head.

“I won’t be long,” he utters under the music. “Will you be okay?”

He’s due to go on stage in fifteen minutes and the crew has requested that he goes behind the curtains to prepare. You wish you could go with him. As long as you’re with him, you’re fine. You silently nod and he brings his hand down to your cheek, gazing at you with sparkling brown eyes. “Are you sure?”

“Go,” you laugh, swatting his arm playfully and then quickly rubbing out any crinkles you might’ve put in his suit. “I’ll be fine.”

He grins and kisses you one final time before disappearing into the crowd. When he’s out of sight, you decide to take a sip of your champagne, hoping the alcohol would relax you just a little bit. But then George Michael from WHAM! taps you on the shoulder, and you feel like your heart is in your ass.

“May I sit here?” He asks, pointing at the chair next to you. It’s unoccupied, other than your purse which was sitting on it.

“Oh! Sure!” you blurt out, doing your best to stay calm. The two of you sit in silence as you wait for the lights to go down.

“Do I know you?” George asks eventually, folding his arms across his chest. He looks somewhat bemused. “I feel like I recognise you.”

“Um, no. I mean-- you probably don’t know me. But I’m here with my fiancee, Max Lord,” you explain. “He’s presenting the ‘Best Actor’ category.”

“Oh!” George grins, slapping his thigh. “Of course I know Maxwell! He’s the oil guy!” George clears his throat before pointing his finger. “Life is good, but it can be better!” He impersonates one of Max’s most famous one-liners, and you laugh, nodding your head.

“Yep, that’s him.” you confirm.

“I actually invest in his business.” George tells you and you smile politely.

“Oh, well he’d be thrilled to know that.” you tell the star.

Not long after your brief conversation with George, the event begins. You’re so nervous for Max, but you know he’s going to do great. When he comes on stage, he’s just as bold and charming as you anticipate, and you have no doubt he’s swooning audiences all around the world. He winks at you before announcing the nominees, and you feel a flurry of butterflies erupt in your stomach. He’s in his element and you love nothing more than to see him do the thing he was best at.

Max announces the winner and offers her a hug when she comes to collect the award, but all he can think about is heading back to the table so he can be with you for the rest of the night. Sure, he enjoyed all of this. But he loved being with you even more.

When he sits back down next to you, his hand travels under the hem of your dress and up your thigh. His fingers trace loving patterns into your skin. “I was thinking…” he hums quietly, the vibrations of his low voice enough to make a shiver run down your spine. “What if we just skip the after-party and go straight home?”

You’re baffled by his suggestion and shoot him a bewildered look.

“What? But you love parties.”

“But I love you even more,” he reveals, grinning at you dork-ishly. “Besides, I’ve been wanting to get that dress off you from the moment I saw you in it.”

You giggle and lean your head on his shoulder. Events like this were always nerve wracking, but as long as you were with Maxwell, you were in your happy place. Still, the thought of getting out of here and spending some one on one time with your soon to be husband was more than appealing.

“Let’s ditch.” you tell him, and you live for the smile he gives you.

You couldn’t wait to marry Max and be with him for the rest of your life.

-—-—-—♡—-—-—-

Permanent taglist: @paintballkid711 @supernaturalgirl @phoenixhalliwell @ah-callie @stardust-galaxies @wickedfrsgrl @goth-topic @nerdypinupcrystal  @kiwi-the-first @pedroepascal @castiel-barnes @honeymandos @rocketqueen  @dybalalover10 @girl-obsessed-with-things @elena-myth @moth-guillotine @pedro-pascal-love @hayley-the-comet @pinkninja200 @maxiarapamaya @autumnleaves1991-blog @artsymaddie @harrys-stan @kennedywxlsh @cripplingmoon @cheekygeek05 @mrschiltoncat @rye-flower @theamuz @persie33 @sleepylunarwolf @martellthemandalor @pedro-pastel @steeevienicks @rrtxcmt @saphic-susperia @ladyjenny19 @readsalot73 @softmedics @jade10077 @dodgerandevans @planetariumx​

[sims-through-the-decades]

The Millard Family | 2010

As a new decade begins, the date of Adam and Kelly’s wedding grows closer and closer. The couple are excited to be getting married, and are confident that everything is going to go well for them: with Kelly’s money from her book sales and Adam’s money from his job, as well as a little help from their parents, they have finally been able to buy a house together.

Michael and Diane are just as excited for their daughter’s wedding as Kelly herself is. They are getting older these days, and they want nothing more than to see their younger daughter happy. When they see how much Kelly and Adam love each other, they know that they have absolutely nothing to worry about; they can tell that the two will be happy together.

Amy, too, is happy for her little sister. She is glad to see her settling down with someone she loves, just as she herself has already done, and she wishes her and Adam all the best in their life together.

Before long, Kelly Rachel Robinson and Adam Daniel Hughes are married in a small but romantic ceremony at the old village church. Their families watch with smiles on their faces as the young couple exchange rings.

Michael watches happily as his youngest daughter marries the man she loves. As he watches, he has no doubt in his mind that her marriage will be just as loving and successful as his and Diane’s own marriage has always been. Diane, however, watches the wedding with sadness in her eyes: of course, she is happy to see her daughter getting married, but she can’t help but feel a little bittersweet. Everything is changing so quickly for her family: it seems as though only yesterday, Kelly was just an innocent little girl, and now she’s a grown woman taking the next big step in her life.

Amy, too, is pleased to see her sister getting married, and she is even more pleased to see how happy the newly-wed couple are together. She wonders, though, if she and Jennifer will ever be able to stand under that arch and officially get married: a few years ago, that thought seemed like pure wishful thinking, but these days, she feels as though things are finally starting to change for the better in society.

Once the ceremony has finished, Michael reveals that he has a surprise for his daughter. For the first time in years, he picks up his old guitar, and plays some of Kelly’s favourite love songs at her wedding. Even after so many years, Michael hasn’t lost his touch: he’s still just as good as he was when he was a teenager, and everyone, especially Kelly, is both surprised and impressed by his skill.

Not long after their wedding, Adam and Kelly Hughes pack some of their things, say goodbye to their families, and move into their new home to start their life together - and to hopefully start their own family one day, just like Amy and Jennifer already have.

At the Robinson-Liu family home, meanwhile, Ellie asks her mothers why her aunt Kelly can get married while they can’t. Amy and Jennifer are forced to tell Ellie a difficult truth: that there are still lots of people who think that two women - or two men - shouldn’t be allowed to love each other or get married. Ellie doesn’t think that makes sense; she just thinks that everyone should be allowed to marry whoever they are in love with.

Little Noah, meanwhile, couldn’t care less about anyone’s wedding. He’s more interested in his toy dinosaur right now - though he is looking forward to joining his big sister at school next year, when he turns five.

And although they have had to tell Ellie some difficult truths, Amy and Jennifer are glad that she is growing into an accepting and open-minded young girl. They hope, too, that Noah will grow up to be just as understanding as his sister, and that one day - hopefully very soon - they, too, will be able to get married, just like Kelly.

[tabloidtoc]

National Examiner, March 29

You can buy a copy of this issue for your very own at my eBay store: https://www.ebay.com/str/bradentonbooks

Cover: The Jayne Mansfield only her daughter Mariska Hargitay knew

Page 2: They're Aging Like Fine Wine -- celebs reflect on the wonders of getting older -- Candice Bergen, Anthony Hopkins, Halle Berry, Diane Keaton, Jennifer Lopez, Sandra Bullock, Bette Davis, Reese Witherspoon, Sally Field

Page 3: Helen Mirren, Jamie Lee Curtis, Madonna, Sigourney Weaver, Michael Caine, Jennifer Aniston, Goldie Hawn, Diane Lane

Page 4: Warren Beatty's roles and costumes

Page 6: Since her 2016 split from Brad Pitt, Angelina Jolie has had to keep calm and carry on with six growing kids to think about and she admits the past few years have been pretty hard and she's been focusing on healing her family -- the six kids she shares with Brad, who range in age from 12 to 19, have been looking out for her too -- the 45-year-old is looking forward to her 50s and she feels that she's going to hit her stride in her 50s

Page 7: Canine Cuisine -- simple home-cooked fare for Fido

Page 9: Reach for at-home antibiotics

Page 10: When a Texas grocery store lost power during the devastating recent storm, they did something unimaginably generous -- they allowed all the customers to leave with whatever was in the shopping carts without paying for anything -- the shoppers at an H-E-B supermarket in Leander didn't even have to cough up a dime as they proceeded through the checkout lanes, even if they had hundreds of dollars' worth of food and supplies weighing down their wagons

Page 11: Your Health -- crying is healthy

* If you suffer from insomnia, try wearing socks to bed

Page 12: Hollywood Cemetery Shockers -- Elvis Presley, Marilyn Monroe, Whitney Houston, John Wayne

Page 13: James Brown, Michael Todd, Princess Diana, Sammy Davis Jr., Judy Garland, Steve Irwin

Page 14: Dear Tony, America's Top Psychic Healer -- the secret of life is so simple and attainable -- Tony predicts movie and TV star Robin Wright's move to being a director will be very successful and there will be many more films to come

Page 15: A Florida man just received the biggest surprise of his long life at the party to celebrate his 100th birthday -- someone had found and returned his wedding ring that he lost five years earlier while shopping at an Aldi's in Minnesota

Page 16: Kathie Lee Gifford: It's never too late to go after your dreams

Page 18: Happy Days mom Marion Ross is 92 now, but she still holds a memory about the legendary Cary Grant close to her heart -- back in 1959, when she was married to Freeman Meskimen, the actress was working on a film with the handsome star when she discovered she might be pregnant but she wasn't absolutely sure and so she didn't share her suspicions with anyone until one day, when a scene called for her to do something she wasn't sure a possibly pregnant woman should be doing, she revealed her secret to Cary Grant -- he sat down next to her, put his arm around her and said sweetly You're pregnant! and when she looked up at him, he had tears in his eyes; he was so excited for her and they had this marvelous moment together -- Marion said her husband was less than thrilled when her pregnancy was confirmed and they divorced a few years later

Page 19: An Indiana middle-school principal made the cut when he helped a kid out of a hairy situation -- when an eighth-grader at Stonybrook in Warren Township confided in Jason Smith he couldn't take his hat off because he was embarrassed about his uneven haircut, Jason offered to really straighten things out if he promised to return to class -- Jason has been cutting hair most of his life and he played college basketball and cut his teammates' hair before games, and he's been cutting his son's hair for 17 years and he had professional clippers and edgers at home, so he said if he went home and got his clippers and lined the student up, would he go back to class? and the student said yes, so Jason gave the kid a buzz and the happy student went back to class -- Jason says he knows a bad haircut may sound like a small thing, but to a boy that age, grappling with peer pressure, a bad 'do is a real don't

Page 20: Cover Story -- My mom Jayne Mansfield -- Mariska Hargitay reveals bombshell truths about the beloved sex symbol

Page 22: Use your noodle -- pool toy swims to the rescue

Page 24: Back when Calvin Tyler was in college in the early 1960s, he had such a hard time scraping together tuition money that he had to drop out before finishing his senior year and take a job as a UPS driver -- fast-forward a few decades: Calvin has just donated $20 million to Morgan State University in Baltimore, his alma mater

Page 25: A wounded veteran in Temecula, California, got the surprise of his life when he received a mortgage-free home courtesy of the Gary Sinise Foundation -- Josue Barron, who had joined the Marines at age 17, lost both his left leg and his left eye while serving in Afghanistan in 2010

Page 26: Dreamy hunk Patrick Swayze fell for one of his co-stars while filming the romantic movie Ghost, but the object of his affection wasn't on-screen love Demi Moore; it was Whoopi Goldberg

Page 28: 20 things you didn't know about James Bond actor Daniel Craig

Page 30: Spunky Hayley Arceneaux won a battle with bone cancer when she was 10 years old, and grew up to become a physician assistant in child oncology at St. Jude's Children's Hospital, where she was treated and if that wasn't enough, Hayley is going to blast off on a space flight -- the super survivor, who's now 29, was selected by the St. Jude's staff from hundreds of other employees to represent the famous hospital on the first-ever civilian spaceflight, arranged by the company SpaceX, to take place at the closing of 2021

Page 40: It's crystal clear -- the healing starts here -- crystals are very effective when it comes to healing, especially with one's emotion and they have special energies in different ways

Page 42: How to lower your COVID risk -- with new variants of the virus documented in the U.S., it's important to stay vigilant

Page 44: Eyes on the Stars -- Rebecca Holden of Knight Rider (picture), Lou Diamond Phillips of Prodigal Son in NYC (picture), Katharine McPhee admitted she was concerned with what people would think early on during her romance with 71-year-old David Foster, the daughter of John Travolta and Kelly Preston named Ella Blue Travolta is following in the footsteps of her actor parents by starring in Get Lost which is a modern-day retelling of Alice in Wonderland, Sarah Silverman recently apologized for mocking Paris Hilton at the 2007 MTV Awards, Nicolas Cage has tied the knot for the fifth time to Riko Shibata, Metallica have donated $75,000 to Feeding America via their All Within My Hands nonprofit and the funds are earmarked to aid folks in Texas who were affected by deadly winter storms

Page 45: Orlando Bloom running on the beach while vacationing in Hawaii (picture), Antonio Banderas (picture), Tom Jones takes the stage in the U.K. (picture), Robin Roberts near ABC's NYC studio (picture), Aaron Carter and fiancee Melanie Martin say they have a baby on the way nearly 10 months after she'd suffered a miscarriage, Dustin Diamond was never married to his galpal Jennifer Misner according to his death certificate, Liam Neeson attended a NYC screening of his new movie to thank viewers for coming to the theater on the first day Big Apple cinemas reopened after being shuttered by COVID-19 last year

Page 46: A single mom of three was struggling to do everything on her own, but there was one problem she lacked the skills and money to handle -- her house in Sudbury, Massachusetts was falling apart and that's when some kindly Good Samaritans stepped in with their toolbelts and performed the extensive home repairs she need at no charge

Page 47: Parenting Advice From the Stars -- Reese Witherspoon, Busy Philipps, Mark Consuelos and Kelly Ripa, Ryan Reynolds and Blake Lively, Jada Pinkett Smith and Will Smith, Sarah Michelle Gellar, Jennifer Garner

[the-homicidediaries]

Teka Adams

TW: cutting, baby abduction

•

•

•

I feel like this is such a crucial story to tell.

Fair warning, it’s very, very graphic and gory. The worst of the worst.

(Also very long, oops.)

This is the story of Teka Adams.

(The episode of I Survived is from Season 5, Episode 16.)

This story takes place in Upper Marlboro, MD in 2010, but I do want to give a small back story.

When Teka was younger, she defined herself as a rebel. She made some not very good choices and ended up living on the street due to her choices. Once she hit rock bottom, she knew she had to change her lifestyle, so she began staying at a homeless shelter to help get herself back on her feet. There, she met a young man named PJ. They fall in love and get married.

Fast forward to 2010, Teka and PJ are still living in the shelter.

When Teka is 7 months pregnant, she begins receiving phone calls from an unknown number. Even after she ignored the calls, they still continued. Reluctantly, she answered.

The woman on the other end said her name was Stephanie and she worked with a program that helped get homeless pregnant women clothes, car seats, clothes, anything a new mother needs. She tells Teka she has a warehouse full of new baby items and she would love to bring Teka by to let her pick what she would like for her baby.

Teka was so excited. This would be a huge help to someone like Teka who was at the lowest point of her life.

Immediately, PJ thinks something fishy is going on. He warns Teka to not rush into anything she doesn’t know about.

But Teka is so excited and tells him to have a little faith.

A couple of days later, Stephanie meets Teka at the homeless shelter. In the episode of I Survived, Teka said Stephanie was very, very nice and very soft spoken. They get into Stephanie’s car and begin driving towards the warehouse.

Teka begins confiding in Stephanie on the way to the warehouse, telling her how she’s so happy now that she’s married and she’s going to have a baby and she’s so grateful Stephanie was willing to help her.

But because Teka is talking to much, she realizes she hasn’t paid attention to where they were going and she has no clue where they are.

They end up at Stephanie’s apartment. Stephanie brings her up the steps and puts Teka in an unfurnished bedroom (😐), sits Teka down, and begins playing a movie.

Teka gets a call from PJ and he asks, “Where you at?”

Teka assures him she is fine because the truth was.. she didn’t know where she was. She didn’t want to worry her husband, though.

She soon realizes what a huge mistake she has made and begins to frantically worry.

Once the movie is over, Stephanie then puts on another movie.

As Teka is watching this movie, Stephanie comes up from behind her, throws a heavy blanket on her, and begins beating her over the head.

Teka suddenly jumps up, throws her hands up, and she said all she can see is blood.

She then starts running towards the front door. It’s locked three separate ways, so Teka was not able to escape before Stephanie grabbed her and dragged her back. They fall to the ground and begin fighting when Stephanie wraps her arm around Teka’s neck and begins to choke her. That wasn’t knocking Teka out, so Stephanie then grabs a fire poker and begins.. (😭) hitting Teka in the head about 40 times.

Teka passes out.

Teka comes to a couple of minutes later and she can feel Stephanie dragging her by her ankles to the kitchen.

Teka hears Stephanie rattling around in the kitchens drawers.

Next thing Teka knows, she feels a sharp pain in her side. She looks down and sees Stephanie holding a box cutter, stabbing Teka.

Even more blood starts pouring out of Teka.

As Teka is bleeding out, after being stabbed with a box cutter, Stephanie goes to the kitchen to pray.

“Lord forgive me, I’m a sinner. I’m so sorry.”

Teka has lost so much blood she is unable to move, but Stephanie begins to scrub the floor, cleaning the blood.

She asks Teka if she can get up, and when Teka says she can’t, Stephanie picks her up and carries her to the back bedroom, laying her on the mattress.

Stephanie then takes away Teka’s cell phone and turns it off.

Thankfully, Teka stops bleeding.

She starts thinking she can talk her way out of this situation and begins to try to talk Stephanie down. She tells Stephanie she wouldn’t tell anyone because she doesn’t believe in breaking families apart; Stephanie has children of her own.

Stephanie begins pacing in circles and murmuring to herself. Teka thinks she’s beginning to talk her down at this point.

(Plot twist, she definitely hasn’t.)

At this point, Teka has been nearly bleeding to death in this woman’s apartment for three nights.

On the third night, Stephanie comes into the bedroom with a metal bowl full of ice, rags over her shoulders, two box cutters, and a knife.

(This is where it gets so, so, so grim. I’m extremely sorry. If you’re squeamish, stop reading now.)

Stephanie proceeds to wrap Teka’s head in duct tape until Teka can barely breathe.

The way Teka describes the next part of this story in I Survived is:

“She just starts cuttin’.”

Stephanie starts at the top of Teka’s pelvic area and just starts cutting upwards.

Doing all of this with box cutters and a knife.

Teka states in the show that she can feel everything being done to her.

At one point, Stephanie was having a hard time cutting through Teka’s skin, so she started picking at it and then began cutting through Teka’s muscle.

Also, while all of this is going on, Stephanie was playing Michael Jackson’s This Is It documentary in the background. Stephanie kept rewinding to the songs as she’s cutting Teka up.

Teka, again, passes out.

When she comes to, she notices Stephanie is laying in the fetal position on the floor asleep in front of the door.

Teka realizes this might be her only chance to get away.

As she is trying to roll off the bed, the metal bowl is still on the bed with her and her wedding ring hits against the bowl, making a ringing sound.

Teka freezes, waiting to see if Stephanie will wake up or not.

Stephanie doesn’t.

Teka pushes herself up and begins quietly walking across the room, stepping over Stephanie, blood dripping over Stephanie. She froze again, for sure Stephanie would wake up this time.

Stephanie doesn’t wake up, so she begins tiptoeing down the hall to the front door.

Ask Teka is walking up the hallway, leaning to one side, all of the organs in her upper torso fall out of her body.

Teka picks up her organs and keeps going towards the front door.

She unlocks the three locks and finally gets out of the apartment!

She starts yelling for help and knocking on the other apartment doors, but unfortunately no one is coming to help.

She makes it to the bottom of the stairs and passes out again.

And who should show up and see Teka passed out at the bottom of the stairs?

Yup.

Stephanie.

Stephanie makes her way down the stairs, places her arms under Teka’s, and begins trying to drag her back up the stairs. Teka says she began fighting and biting Stephanie as she’s screaming for help.

Finally, a man comes out from his apartment and Stephanie proceeds to tell him that Teka is very sick, delusional, and she’s only trying to help her, that they’re sorry they were bothering him and to go back inside, everything was fine.

Teka looks up at him and says, “Help me, she’s trying to kill me.”

And although Teka had lost so much blood, and literally her organs, she man was staring at her in confusion because she was wearing a Navy blue shirt, so the blood wasn’t showing through the shirt.

So what does Teka do?

She raises up her shirt and shows him how her organs are falling out of her.

He quickly runs in and calls the police.

Stephanie looks at Teka with a death stare and runs away.

The EMTs showed up and nearly passed out when they saw the damage to Teka’s body.

She’s rushed into surgery.

When she wakes up, PJ is there.

She frantically asks the nurse if her baby is okay.

The nurse answers her, saying she gave birth to an eight pound, two ounce healthy baby girl.

(The baby was balled up all the way to the top of Teka’s womb as she was being cut and Stephanie was not able to reach her.)

Teka named her baby Miracle because they both survived.

What happened to Stephanie?

Wellllll

Her real name is Veronica Deramous and she called the cops on herself. She plead guilty to assault and was sentenced to 25 years in prison.

(They couldn’t prove attempted murder because Stephanie spun a story about offering to buy Teka’s baby for $5,000 and there was “no evidence that Deramous was trying to kill her.” So idiotic.)

Teka and Miracle face Veronica at the preliminary trial, mean mugging Veronica the entire time. She was not asked to testify against Veronica.

The most amazing part of this is that Teka made a full recovery.

At the end of the episode, Teka said she survived because she was coming to a point in her life where she loved and respected herself and cherish life. She said she loves God and her support system loves her.

“God looks after babies and fools. I had a baby, and I was a fool.”

Teka, PJ, and Miracle now live in an apartment in Washington, DC.

[deepbluexsea]

Task #1

Basic Information

Full Name: Jonathan Scott James-Michaels.

Nickname(s): Johnny, John, Jay (Briel only). D.A. James-Michaels.

Age: 47 years young.

Date of Birth: May 10, 1973.

Hometown: Manhattan, New York.

Current Location: Yep, you guessed it – Manhattan, New York.

Gender: Male.

Pronouns: Johnny goes by he/him pronouns only.

Sexual Orientation: Mostly gay. He has been attracted to women in the past, but it has been extremely rare.

Occupation: District Attorney of New York County, N.Y.

Living Arrangements: Johnny lives with Briel in the home they bought and renovated together in 2010.

Language(s) Spoken: English (native), French (proficient), Spanish (intermediate).

Accent: Typically, Johnny doesn’t have a very strong accent; as an attorney of 22 years, he has worked on having skilled vocal control. He also had voice lessons as a kid. However, when he’s not paying attention, not at work, or gets really into an argument, his accent is clearly NYC metropolitan. 

Physical Appearance

Hair Color: Dirty blonde/light brown.

Eye Color: Blue, very blue.

Height: 6′1″.

Build: Johnny usually maintains a fairly athletic and somewhat muscular physique.

Tattoos: Two. 1) A drunken “accident” in college that he now hides. Only Briel has ever gotten to see it. 2) His husband’s initials over his heart. 

Piercings: None. Never. And none in the future.

Clothing Style: Johnny is almost always found in a suit due to his profession. If he doesn’t have court, he’ll wear slacks and a button-up or a sweater. On his off days, he’s mostly business casual. At home, he dresses as most guys do (e.g., a t-shirt and jeans).

Favorite Accessories: His watch and his wedding ring.

Distinguishing Characteristics: Undeniably, Johnny’s eyes are hard to miss. People comment on his teeth/smile. Mainly, he’s noticed for the way he commands a room.

Health

Physical Conditions: None. Johnny’s physical health is good. He wears contact lenses and has a couple scars, but that’s it.

Mental Health Conditions: Alcohol Abuse Disorder - in remission.

Allergies: Some mild seasonal allergies, but nothing severe.

Sleeping Habits: Johnny typically goes to bed at or before 10:00 PM and wakes up around 5:30 AM (much to Gabriel’s chagrin). On the weekends, he’s a little more lax. One thing everybody knows about Johnny is that he can sleep anywhere, and will fall asleep when/wherever he feels the urge.

Eating Habits: Mostly healthy/balanced. He sticks to lean meats, veggies, etc., although he isn’t obsessed. Food just isn’t on his mind a lot. Johnny will often forget to eat if someone doesn’t feed him.

Exercise Habits: He enjoys running, boxing, and weightlifting a few times a week.

Addictions: None anymore, thankfully. He will smoke a cigar every now and again, but it’s far from an addiction.

Drug Use: In college, he experimented with psychedelics, molly, and weed. It didn’t stick.

Alcohol Use: Once or twice a year now that he is sober. One drink + water.

Personality

Label: It’s literally impossible to pick just one, right??? The Competitor (attorney + personality), The Advocate, The Liberator, and The Reformer (attorney), and The Thinker (personality). Different ones at different times, and sometimes a combination. 

Positive Traits: Intelligent, caring, hardworking, methodical, clean/organized, passionate.

Negative Traits: Competitive, stubborn, argumentative, blunt, relentless.

Goals/Desires: Taking an extended vacation on the boat. Seeing the aurora borealis. Raising/watching his kids grow successfully. Retiring and spending more of life with his husband. Seeing justice prevail more often than not.

Fears: Losing his family. Heights.

Hobbies: Watching the New York Yankees, taking care of and going out on his boat, playing with his pets + kids, cooking, reading, singing, traveling, taking Gabriel out.

Habits: Running his hands through his hair, chewing on pens, drinking when stressed (past).

Favorites

Season/Weather: Fall. Not too hot, not too cold.

Color: Probably blue. Maybe green.

Music Genre: Rock, singer-songwriter, classical.

Movie: Legally Blonde? He doesn’t watch a lot of movies because he doesn’t really have time, but when he does, he falls asleep during at least half of them.

Sport: Baseball, but he will also watch football.

Beverage: Coffee at all times of the day.

Food: Sushi? Pizza? Steak? Not picky.

Animal: Dogs. Definitely dogs.

Family

Father: Geoffrey Warren Michaels – former Wall Street analyst (deceased since June 2020).

Mother: Virginia Lorraine Matthews – former private practice attorney; current co-owner of Matthews & Wyatt, LLC. She resides at 305 West End Assisted Living Facility and is 87 years of age (although still sharp as a tack).

Sibling(s): None; a spoiled only child.

Children: Juliet Michaels (biological daughter), Andrew James (stepson), Constance James (stepdaughter), Arabella James-Michaels (adopted daughter, step-granddaughter via Constance).

Pet(s): Four dogs, two cats, a rabbit, a donkey, and an alpaca. The last two live at Gabriel’s place from when they were separated in 2018.

Other Important People: Sam Wilder – best friend. Joan Lourd (deceased; best friend for many years). His staff at the D.A.’s office. Gabriel’s friends and coworkers are also often a big part of his life (Nicola, Kale, Kid, Abby, etc.). 

Extra

Zodiac Sign: Taurus – smart, ambitious, stubborn, hardworking, inflexible, reliable, pleasure-seeking, resilient, blunt.

MBTI: ENTJ – The Commander. While Johnny wavers between introverted and extroverted, this personality type fits him best. “People with this personality type embody the gifts of charisma and confidence, and project authority. Commanders can be dominant and relentless. They are true powerhouses. They cultivate an image of being larger than life – and often enough, they are.” Strengths: strategic, efficient, strong-willed, inspiring. Weaknesses: stubborn, impatient, ruthless.

Hogwarts House: Ravenclaw – intelligence, knowledge, curiosity, creativity, and wit.

Moral Alignment: Lawful Neutral: The Judge – law, tradition, order, organization, reliable, honorable. However, Johnny would not fit with the weaknesses; he is very appreciative of diversity and freedom.

Primary Vice: Pride – excessive belief in one’s own abilities; also known as Vanity.

Primary Virtue: Diligence – no matter what stands in their way, one with this virtue will accomplish their goals + stay true to their core beliefs. 

Element: Earth – real, methodical, physical, bull-headed. Though Johnny has characteristics of Fire (natural leader, dynamic) and Air (clever, free-thinking), and he has wished to garner more Water characteristics, Earth fits him best.

[lowkeyhockey]

your name on my lips (tongue-tied) - freddie andersen

Summary: You’ve had childhood fantasies about this exact moment: Freddie’s hands on your waist, his lips pressed against the side of your head, a sea of white fabric spilling between the two of you. But the ring on your finger has nothing to do with him, and his own happily-ever-after had crashed and burned over a year ago, and you’re just - sorely in need of a stiff drink.

Author’s Note: I’m still debating whether to leave this short story as is or to expand it into a full verse, so hit me up if you’d like to see more of heartbroken!Freddie and confused!bride-to-be <3

Requested: Kinda. A lovely anon asked for an angst with happy ending fic, but because the planning for that’s taking me a bit I’m holding up this slightly-angsty with slightly-hopeful-ending short story as a humble offering :D 

"How did it feel?" you ask, voice barely above a whisper, voice halfway to not-existing. You could have said nothing at all, should have said nothing at all, because now he's looking at you in the mirror and you've never quite learned how to avoid his gaze. 

 His eyes, that deep brown, are the steadiest things you've ever known. Come flood or fire, heartbreak or fear of mortal peril ⁠— you know you can't look away. You've never managed it, so why start now? 

 Now, when everything's about ready to change, when his deft fingers are pulling back your hair in a gentle braid he'd learned when you were maybe five, and he just a few years older. He'd always been your go-to, for braids, and even for your bridal look you can't imagine tapping someone else in. 

 He's your go-to for most other things, too. Just not romance. Just not happily ever afters. Just not finding yourself under an arch, ready to exchange rings and vows and claim yourself as one another's. So why are you asking him this now? 

He's asking you the same thing with his eyes alone, and you manage a smile, or a weak apology of one. It's a topic he's never allowed you to cross into, or even pass by; some days you think he'd be happy if both you and The Topic stopped existing, so he could lock the memory of the pair of you in a box and keep you tucked away. 

 That's what Freddie does, with an ease that has always driven you mad with both annoyance and envy. He compartmentalizes, and what he doesn't want to think about he simply - doesn't. 

Like you. Like The Topic. Like his ex-fiance. 

 "Come on, Freddie," you say, and you should probably be thankful that you're only looking at him through the mirror. His hands have dropped from your hair to your hips, framing you like he's not yet ready to pull away, never mind what terrible questions you want - no,��have - to ask him. 

"You've done all this already," you say, and you have to wet your lips before you can continue, an unconscious darting of your tongue that you see his gaze dropping to follow. "Or - not this exactly, I don't think even this place has a dress that can fit you." 

 It's a joke, but a weak one, and he doesn't even try to smile for you. The bridal shop's not one for waifish instagram models, but you think even the overly-excitable shopkeepers here would have a hard time finding something to fit - much less show off - Freddie's broad shoulders and large, muscled thighs. He's so strong — it's too easy to picture him in your mind's eye, to want to lean back against him and feel that strength against you.

So stupid. You close your eyes anyway. You let the picture of him fuel you; it always helps, knowing that he's right there should you fall. You can hear the shopgirls chattering, but from a distance - the dress viewing room, with its small, circular stage half-surrounded by mirrors, is all yours for the evening, and Freddie had told them that you'd call for their help when you need them again. 

 He'd sounded so casual about it, so sure. But then, he's done all this already. 

 You take care to pitch your voice even lower than the girls', to make your words a  secret for just you two to hear. 

"You got the girl, the ring. The location, the catering, your parents were here."  You remember his mor's excited fluttering, how she'd danced around The Topic and tried to pretend she couldn't see how you'd been heartbroken at best, how she'd tried to include you in the planning anyway, like you were another of her daughters - like you were Freddie's sister - and not a girl who'd been half in love with her son for more than half your life. 

Had been. Past tense. The burn of his hands on your hips couldn't - shouldn't - compare to the weight of the ring on your finger. 

Jesus, the boys had joked - when you first came to them with the news - that Michael was trying to buy you with the diamond he'd chosen and privately you had - almost? - agreed. It's not your style at all, too large, and you've cut your face more than once just from forgetting that you had it on. 

 But then, you have the rest of your life to get used to it. 

"Drop it," he says, his voice sounding like it's coming from right beside your right ear, but it came after a few moments of silence and it's almost as though he's giving you an out. He doesn't sound stern, or firm, or anything but tired - nothing of his casual confidence now, and hearing Freddie with his defenses down always manages to get your hackles up - like you now have to work twice as hard to protect the both of you. 

 "I won't, asshole. You know how long it took me to get here?" you ask, and you feel his lips against your hair - you have to bite back a smile, and this time, you'd bet anything on him doing the same. It's been a while since you'd snapped at him, and you - you think you both - have missed it. 

 And that - more than anything else - maybe meant that you were ready to ask. 

 "You were so ready to get married, Freddie. And then I woke up, and there was that text message from you saying that you'd changed your mind, that the wedding's off." 

 You open your eyes, then, aren't surprised to realise that there's a tear falling down your cheek when you do, aren't surprised when he takes one hand off your hip to wipe at it for you.

 Brides can get a little emotional, your mama had warned him, and he'd slipped a handkerchief into his pocket and winked at her, promising he'd put Facetime on again when you've narrowed your dress selection options down a little. He uses it to wipe your tear away, and you yearn for the brush of his calloused fingers instead. 

 "She was wrong for me, and we both knew it," he says, each word slow and measured, each word calm and steady - like he's been ready to tell you this all along, and you just hadn't been ready to hear it. "It just took some time for us to come to terms with it, to make it all stop. It's hard, when things are going 500 miles an hour." 

 Like this — you can relate, so maybe it's good that Freddie's kept the story secret for so long. You wouldn't have been able to before, wouldn't have understood how planning for the best day of your life could feel a little like drowning. 

 You lean back against him, and the hand holding the handkerchief drops from your face, wraps around your midriff instead. Holds you close. 

"Does it feel like that for you? 500 miles an hour?" he asks, voice soft, and you nod your head. 

And then: "Should it be?" 

You don't know if you'd thought the words or he'd actually said it, but your eyes are meeting his in the mirror once again and you know he's thinking it either way. 

 "I don't know," you admit, and even to your ears, you sound unhappy. Not flustered, not embarrassed, just - not happy. Not at all how a girl picking out her wedding dress should be. Maybe it had been a bad idea, you doing this with just Freddie, but with his crazy schedule you could either have all your girls with you or just him — and that hadn't actually felt like much of a choice at all. 

 You were always going to choose him. 

 You smile a little at him in the mirror - a little apologetic, a little sheepish about your dramatics, and he kisses the side of your head again before stepping back off the stage. The lack of him - the deliberate taking-away of the warmth of his chest against your back - makes you startle a little, but when you turn your head to meet his gaze directly this time, ready to ask him what gives?  he's giving you a sheepish little smile right back. 

 "Go and change back into your clothes, we can come again some other time if you want to. First, ice cream, and then vodka if you still need help figuring things out." 

You're breathing out a sigh of relief that you didn't know you'd been holding in you, feel your shoulders untensing as you take his hand and let him help you off the stage. His hand - calloused, warm - around yours feels more real than anything else of the last few months, and you know that whatever you decide, he'll be right there with and for you. 

[planetsam]

" I find it hard to breathe when you're around me, but it feels like i'm suffocating when you're not." For Malex please!

“No.”

“Why not?”

“Because—“ Michael fumbles, “because we’re not kids playing dress up. Because this is insane. Because I’m not wearing makeup!”

“My greatest regret is not getting to play dress up with Michael,” Isobel confides in him. Then she focuses back on Michael, “is this because you’re a boy?”

“What? No!”

This stand off would be funny in any other circumstance. Michael looks like a disgruntled poodle, his curls slicked to his skull and a towel on his hips. To bring back Max they need help and Alex thinks he’s located another alien. The man is a scene club owner. He’s already back in more black than he’s been in for a long time. He slipped in his septum ring and lined his eyes. It’s disconcerting to see himself in the mirror, like the old him and the new him have blended together. He doesn’t hate it as much as he thought he would, but he feels weirder than he wishes he did. Isobel cleans up the nicest, easily shifting chameleon like into the proper clothes. The purple wig disguises her platinum hair. The weak link, they both know, is Michael. Michael has never exactly had the money for clothes and they don’t push the issue usually. It’s Michael whose brought it up. He opens the door and they are fighting their way through it.

“Iz I have the leather pants, I’m on board with that—“ Michael motions to his outfit, “but makeup?”

“We’re not gonna push you but it will help make us unrecognizable,” she says.

“I don’t even know what I’m doing!” He protests again.

“I’ll do it for you,” Alex offers. They both stare at him, “I know how to do makeup,” he snaps under their eyes.

“I’ll leave you to it,” Isobel says.

Alex wants to call her back.

Michael fights the urge to fidget as Alex watches Isobel leave. He wanted this, kind of. Alex has been very, very careful about being alone with him. Michael is really familiar with Alex’s boundaries and this is a new one. Which maybe he deserves but it’s hard none the less. He’s been respecting it, but the man in front of him is a mash up of the man who can’t be alone with him and the man who Michael knows beyond a shadow of a doubt likes him. Alex gives him an almost pained smile and Michael straightens up.

“So, uh, keep it natural?” He says trying for a joke, “got any green?” Alex gives him his patented ‘I’m done with you’ look and unscrews a jar, dabbing his finger in. His nails are dry but he’s cleaned up his cuticles and the smell of Alex and Acetone is not helping. Even before Alex wipes something over his face and eyelids. He feels a press of something honey and chemicals on his lips, “whats this?”

“Moisturizer,” Alex says.

“Fancy.”

He hears his scoff and opens his eyes to see him picking up a stick. Logically he knows it’s eyeliner but he kind of jerks anyway. Which is fine because then Alex hold his chin. Michael feels the fishnets against his stubble and focuses very hard on breathing instead of on the tip of the pencil coming towards his actual eyeball.

“Look up for me,” Alex instructs. Michael does. The liner is gentle, but it’s a fucking weird feeling anyway. Alex lines both of his eyes, though he looks at his work it’s hard to make eye contact. He purses his lips and lowers the pencil, “Breathe, Guerin, it’s just eyeliner.”

Michael forces himself to breathe as Alex switches one pencil for another. Michael’s bi but this is a world he knows precious little about. Isobel may regret not playing dress up and she would answer his questions, but he’s never had any. Mainly because for him makeup will always be tied with Alex.

“How many kinds are there?” He asks nodding to the marker.

“A lot,” he says, “I’m using two. Close your eyes and try to breathe.”

Michael closes his eyes and tries to breathe. It’s not exactly easy. He knows it’s impossible for his other senses to heighten but he becomes acutely aware of Alex’s hand on his forehead, his thumb pressing to his eyelid. Alex draws a cool and wet line across one lid and repeats it on the other.

“Keep them closed,” he says. Michael nods and stays still as Alex moves through the items, “breathe, Guerin,” he says. Michael exhales. Something fluffy brushes along his brows and traces along his cheeks in a big 3 shape. He knows he’s concentrating but Alex presses his thumb to between his forehead, “relax your face,” he instructs, “this isn’t hurting you is it?”

“No,” he says quickly.

“You would tell me right?” Alex says.

“Yes,” Michael tells him.

He doesn’t quantify it. In this microcosm he can tell Alex if something hurts.  Maybe not in the rest of it, but here it’s okay. The fluffy brush dips along his jaw and then fluffy across his collarbone. He is about to ask where it’s going next when Alex leans closer and Michael can feel his breath on his face. The big brush becomes small and traces the Cupid’s bow of his top lip and the bottom swell of his lower one. His lips part in surprise.

“Good, keep them like that,” Alex instructs.

Michael focuses very hard on obeying, he hears something unscrew and braces himself for the brush. But it’s not the brush, it’s Alex’s fingers. They drag along his bottom lip and the acetone that clings his cuticles is cut with cinnamon that makes his lips tingle. It might be the most erotic thing that’s ever happened to him. Maybe it’s the fact that he can’t touch Alex, but he quickly decides that’s not the thing. Even if he could touch him, even if it’s been years since he’s seen Alex with eyeliner, he distinctly remembers not to interrupt. It’s fucking hard to hold still as Alex paints his lips with his fingers and just when he thinks he succeeded, Alex swipes his thumb directly across his bottom lip.  

“Okay open your eyes,” he says. Michael forces them open to see Alex with a weird looking brush, “look up and—“

“Breath, got it,” he says, his voice sounds wrecked.

“Are you okay?” Alex asks.

“I wanna see,” he says.

“Last thing,” Alex says. Michael remembers to look up and breathe as Alex combs his lashes, “done.”

“Awesome,” Michael says, “lets see the miracle of makeup.”

He gets the ‘done with you’ scoff as he tightens the towel and turns for the mirror. Michael’s attractive, but like in a scruffy cowboy kind of way. He plans to his strengths. He has no idea how Alex has done it but the man staring back is beautiful. It’s weird to see for sure but even he can’t deny the change. When he looks in the mirror, Alex is focused on him. It’s an odd contrast they make. Michael is painted in tones of bronze and gold, contrasting to the deep black that Alex has on. Isobel put something in his hair and his curls are defined and more honey colored than he’s seen them, possibly since her wedding. Alex is shadow dark and his hair is straight and spiked.

“Breathe, Michael,” Alex reminds him and the sound of his name makes him look from the mirror to Alex. Alex looks at him curiously, not expecting it since he’s still close, “are you okay?”

“I can’t,” He says abruptly. Alex frowns in confusion, “I can’t breathe when you’re this close,” he says, “and I can’t touch you. But I’m suffocating when you’re gone.”

Confusion morphs into surprise. Michael rarely initiates things like this. He wasn’t planning to in this moment. But the man Alex has painted him to be is someone who can be seen besides him. Someone who can say what he wants without expecting it to be thrown back at him. Alex’s eyes are bottomless on a non makeup day but now they’re fathomless in their depths. Michael stands up and Alex doesn’t move away for once. Actually for once he’s silent. And for one impossible moment, it’s like they are back in that toolshed with Michael’s fragile confidence meeting Alex’s sharp hope. He remembers what it’s like to kiss that Alex, just as much as he remembers what it’s like to kiss the Alex that got spat back by war and hurt.

“Guerin—“

“If you say we’re not kids anymore so what I want doesn’t matter, I’m going to ruin this towel.”

Alex blushes and glances down like he forgot Michael is just in a towel. Usually Michael hates being pulled back into the present when it comes to Alex, but at the moment when one of Alex’s hands shyly skins along the line of towel and skin, he can’t say he minds. It’s such a hot moment he expects it to get broken by the knocking. What he doesn’t expect is the frustration that flares along Alex’s face.

“We’re coming!”

“You better not mean that literally!”

He lets his forehead rest on Alex’s collar bone. Alex doesn’t jump back from the touch and Michael takes what feels like his first deep breath in far, far too long. Alex’s thumb circles his hip and while his hands are smooth and soft, because Alex takes care of such things, Michael can feel the start of a callous. One that mirrors his own that are forming. A new wave of want crashes over him even as he savors the air pulling in his lungs and the cinnamon on his lips.

“Does it hurt?” Alex asks.

“No,” Michael says and the microcosm expands.

[haloud]

take a chance and don’t ever look back -- +1

ao3 --- part 1

Early morning light sifts through the little window in Alex’s kitchen, and that pale, grayish glow turns the whole world floaty and dreamlike. Maybe that’s why Michael proposes, still soft-throated and slurring from sleep, at six in the morning on a workday while wearing nothing but Air Force sweats and mostly failing to scramble eggs. In dreams, Alex always says yes. Nothing to worry about.

In real life, Alex has two lines from the pillowcase cutting across his cheek, and he’s so busy gaping at Michael that he pours coffee onto his hand instead of in a mug where it belongs.

“Kinda hard to wear a ring if your fingers swell up,” Michael mutters as he holds Alex’s hand under the tap.

“Well a little warning would have been nice—I-I would have been ready—”

“I gave you warning! So much warning! I’ve been folding your underwear for months—”

“Sharing chores isn’t the same as—as—I could have already had a ring for you! Are we even going to wear rings before the wedding? How far ahead have you planned? How expensive are Isobel’s rates; god, I don’t even know that much! How—”

“Alex!” Michael says, and Alex cuts himself off, his lips parted, his eyes wide and startled and swirling in a shaft of sunlight. “You sayin’ yes to me?” His voice cracks halfway through, and he clears his throat, ducking his eyes away from that piercing gaze. Real daylight slowly fills the room, and it pops the drifting soap-bubble confidence of Michael’s half-asleep declaration. Hey, Alex, hey, wanna get married? We should totally get married. Lucid, his heart flutters nauseously in his chest, and he swallows bitter bracing himself for an it’s too soon or I’m not ready or let’s think about it and—it’s okay, it’s okay, it doesn’t actually mean Alex doesn’t love him or—or want to spend their lives together, it’s just a big ask and Michael wasn’t thinking and should have had a better case prepared. It’s okay.

Alex makes a strangled noise, seizes Michael’s hair in wet hands, and mashes their mouths together.

It’s the clumsiest kiss they’ve ever shared, even more than the first one when they were kids still growing into their bodies. Still, Michael bows into it, screws his eyes shut, sucks on Alex’s lower lip and drowns in the sensation of connection.

“Yes,” Alex breathes into his mouth, holding Michael’s head still between his palms. “Yes, yes, yes.”

They’re both late to work that morning, after they get too wrapped up in the kitchen to watch the clock, after trying to get dressed without taking their hands off each other, after Alex kisses Michael into a lingering breathless goodbye pressed up against the cab of his truck. That evening, Alex gets home before Michael, who stopped over to see Isobel and Max and tell them the news, and Michael barely gets a step inside before Alex has the door shut and Michael’s back against it, kissing the breath from his lungs all over again. He only pulls back in brief, scattered seconds to pant more questions like how was your day and when do we get started and Michael laughs from the bottom of his stomach and answers every single one with lips and teeth and tongue.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Michael was nervous before prom, both times; he was nervous on Isobel’s arm at her wedding in front of her new lawyer husband and the whole judgmental menagerie of Roswell elite society that attended just to say they were there. Nervous wouldn’t even cut it to describe how he buzzed and fretted before the first date of his and Alex’s new relationship.

Walking down the aisle to meet Alex in the middle, he isn’t nervous at all. At his own wedding, Max started sobbing openly as soon as the first strains of the wedding march began, but for Michael—today, under a cloudless sky, Alex looks exactly the same as he always has. It never gets any easier to look at him, to hold all that love inside his body and not explode, but if nothing else Michael has been practicing for this day since he was sixteen years old and his heart first fluttered for a boy with a guitar. Alex is a shock to the system, glowing and grinning and reaching his hands out to take Michael’s under the bright sun surrounded by people who love them, and Michael lets himself be shocked, takes that electric current into every single nerve ending, and feels like lighting up the whole damn world.

Later, though, the nerves come back. The feeling creeps up as the stars come out, as the band sets up, as the ring on his finger clicks against Alex’s as he tangles their fingers together and the whole brilliant forever soaks into his brain.

“Are you ready for this?” Michael asks, eyes fixed on the dark wood dance floor at the center of the ring of tables. He gulps, and—it’s so close, but at the same time it feels like belonging to a different body, the way he can already almost feel his feet move, hear the music, feel the wood solid beneath him and Alex solid in his arms.

Isobel has outdone herself. She knew even without asking that Michael wanted to be married outdoors, that he wanted to dance with his new husband under the stars. And not that Michael has noticed anything except Alex, but Isobel arranged everything so perfectly, tasteful and understated, dark wood and golden lights and the perfume of champagne roses, and she somehow knew exactly who to invite, even people Michael never would have thought of or expected to come—hell, even old man Foster, in a suit three decades out of style, showed up to guzzle a couple beers and slap Michael on the back. Arturo Ortecho had tears in his eyes, and he squeezed Alex by the shoulders and said over and over again how he was so proud, how Alex had grown into such a wonderful man. Lost in everything magic and surreal about this entire night, Michael doesn’t hear Alex respond to him until he repeats himself, a look of impossibly fond exasperation on his face.

“Ready? Isn’t this supposed to be the fun part? No ceremony, no pomp and circumstance…as beautiful as your vows were…” he kisses the bridge of Michael’s nose, “…it’s a cool night; everything’s been perfect…” Michael kisses him back on the corner of his mouth, and Alex wraps his hand around the back of Michael’s neck, “…now all we have to do is relax and enjoy a party that’s just for us. What’s there to be ready for?”

“Kinda feels like I’ve been waiting my whole life for this,” Michael replies, “I don’t want to step on your feet or something. Maybe we should’ve taken classes?”

“I believe in you.” And as the first warm-up strains of strings begin, Alex pulls Michael stumbling and flushed onto the dance floor. And once they’re there, at the center of all the light and all the attention and Michael swallows, making his throat bob and Alex lick his lips—Alex slides his hand onto Michael’s shoulder and rubs that tense muscle; he presses Michael’s other hand to his waist and holds it there.

The song begins, and Michael’s feet move with it.

 The music sloshes, joy-drunk, in his ears and in his veins; Michael giggles and pivots them, Alex smoothly mirroring the motion; he glides along like his feet don’t even need to touch the floor, and, tightening his arm around Alex’s waist, Michael guides them in a circle around the dance floor, a simple, synchronized give-and-take that’s natural for their two bodies with no experience between them. It’s easy to move with Alex in his arms. Always has been, and now—

Well, if there was ever a day to be cheesy, it’s this one.

Now, it always will be.

“You’re letting me lead?” Michael asks, and he rubs their noses together, reveling in the way Alex grins, so huge and beaming his eyes crinkle up and Michael has to kiss each dimpled cheek.

“Of course—I’m having a moment.” Alex lets himself be dipped then pulled back up into Michael’s arms, where he settles like he’s never left. “You think I didn’t watch Disney every single sleepover I had, dreaming about being swept off my feet?” His voice warbles; his eyes sparkle in the low, golden light, and Michael sniffles, laughs at himself, then sniffles again.

“You tryin’ to tell me I’m some kind of prince?”

“Maybe.” Running his fingers down Michael’s cheek, Alex twirls his finger in a single spiral curl and teases, “You crying on your wedding day?”

“Maybe,” bubbles out of Michael’s chest along with another elated laugh—and then they’re both laughing, fat, shimmering tears beading on Alex’s eyelashes, foreheads resting together as Alex slides his arms around Michael’s neck and they’re kissing, all movement slowed down to nothing but a gentle sway off-time with the music as the song draws to an end, the sound of strings lingering in the air like dust motes floating in the kitchen in the early morning. Around them, people applaud, and someone whistles, and over Alex’s shoulder Michael sees Max beaming and Isobel wiping away a happy tear and locking her arm with Maria’s. Maria flutters a little wave Michael’s way and gives him a thumbs up; then, as the next song picks up lively and quick, she’s the first to join them, tugging Isobel with her onto the dance floor.

More and more people fill up the space around them, but Michael and Alex are an island to themselves, apart from the crowd, apart from even the music itself—without a word, they switch positions with the new song, so Alex can take control and hold Michael up as he sways into him, trying to melt their bodies together. He’s boneless and breathless and barely even holding it together and how, how did he ever get here, how, days like this don’t happen to people like him, people like Alex don’t happen to people like him, but here Alex is, humming in his ear, heartbeat pounding next to Michael’s own, and Michael presses his mouth to Alex’s shoulder to quiet a tiny, hiccupping sob.

Shhh, Alex soothes, his hand stroking the length of Michael’s back; they’re almost standing still; people swirl around them but Michael has to stand still, dizzy and weak and so in love but so scared because he’s demanded forever out of Alex and—

“I love you, Michael Guerin.”

Michael gasps wetly and presses the heels of his palms against his eyes, trying to stop the tears before anyone sees. The motion traps his arms awkwardly between his chest and Alex’s, but Alex just holds him tighter, the warmth of his body wrapping Michael up.

“I have loved you. For over a decade. And you have loved me too.” Alex starts on a laugh at the vulnerable crack of his own voice, the giddy, open bareness. These words, they’re—they’re the same ones he said, their hands together, in front of everyone, the words that bound them together, and Michael drops his hands because he can’t do anything but look at Alex in the eyes as his love says, “And I will love you for a decade more, and a decade after that, until there are no more stars in the sky. And I will never, ever leave you, and I will never look away. Do you believe that? Do you understand me?” He grinds his forehead into Michael’s, his hands clutching his face.

“I do. I do,” Michael sobs, trying to nod for emphasis but he just clunks their heads together and busting out into peals of helpless laughter.

“Then dance with me,” Alex says, twirling them back into motion with everyone else around them, hopelessly out of time and Michael couldn’t care less at all as they whirl in each other’s arms.

“You sweep me off my feet, you know that, Captain?” Michael manages, and Alex actually lifts him, just an inch off the ground, just to prove a point. “You’ve already got me, you don’t gotta make me swoon like that—”

“I’ll do more than that,” Alex rasps right in Michael’s ear, his breath teasing the tiny hairs on the skin there and sending a hot prickle across the back of Michael’s neck. “I want more than a ring and vow from you tonight, Michael. I want all of you.” He slides their hands together and presses Michael’s, palm-down, over his heart. “I want you to mark me tonight. You’re going to feel me. I’m going to feel you. And I’m not letting you out of bed until we’re both feeling satisfied.”

Michael licks his lips and savors the taste of ozone and anticipation. “Can’t wait,” he says—and the next song Michael leads, until Liz and Isobel cut in to take their boys for a spin.

They find their way back to each other every time; their eyes follow each other across the wood floor, across every dancer in between them, until they come back together and lose the rest of the night to the music and the steps and all the magic they make together.

[spaceskam]

So Much Better (2/?)

My legally blonde au has continued 

(part one - part two)

[ao3]

“You look beautiful.”

“I know.”

Max rolled his eyes in the mirror, but Isobel ignored him. This was it, this was her time. She looked good, she felt good, and she was ready to get that goddamn ring on her finger. Next year, she’d be the fiance of a man in law school and life would be so good. Life is already so good.

“Where is Michael? He needs to be here to send me off with you!” Isobel said, checking her phone. He hadn’t even opened her message.

“If I had to guess, they’re probably having sex. They’ve actually been inseparable, it’s gross and weird,” Max sighed.

“You’re just jealous because you don’t have someone. When you have someone like, like me and Noah, for example, none of that is gross anymore. It’s like when you have it too, there’s no reason to be jealous, you know?” Isobel explained with a smile, double-checking her look in the mirror before she left to go meet Noah, “Besides, we should be happy for Michael! This is his longest relationship ever! I mean, ten days is an achievement for him.”

“Okay, okay, whatever,” Max sighed, smiling at her as he moved in for a hug, “I hope everything goes good for you tonight, Izzy.”

“It will.”

-

“Noah!”

The man of her dreams stood up from the table with a smile, letting her pull him into a hug.  He hugged her tight and it made her that much more excited to become his wife. She couldn’t wait to just be a wife. That’s what she had always been told she could be so good at and she really believed it.

“Come, sit, let’s talk,” he urged. Isobel tried to hold back her excitement, sitting across from him and taking a sip of the glass of wine he already had waiting for her. He bought a whole bottle. How sweet is that? “Look, I think we both know what’s happening today.”

Tightness formed in her stomach as she grinned wildly. She absolutely did.

“You came in here tonight, looking like, well, Isobel, and I thought for sure it would make me think… But honestly, it just made me so sure this is the right decision. So I need to be honest with you, take this a step forward,” he said. She smiled even brighter.

“I feel the same‒”

“I’m not done.”

“Oh, sorry, go on.”

Noah took a deep breath, seeming to gather his thoughts again. He reached across the table to grab her hand.

“My whole life I’ve known what I’ve wanted. Law school, become a senator, have a beautiful, smart wife on my arm. I’ve wanted a wife who was incredible and outstanding and intelligent to give me incredible and intelligent children. I’m gonna be the next JFK, and I need a Jackie,” he explained. Isobel sucked in a slow breath, nodding as she leaned closer. “Which is why I want to‒”

“Yes!”

“Break up.”

“Yes, yes, I‒”

Isobel paused once she finally registered the words she was hearing. Break up? Break up? The words didn’t really compute in her mind. She came here because he was going to propose. Why else would he have asked her choice of ring a few months back? Why else would they have discussed the kids they’d have and how lavish their wedding would be? It didn’t make any sense, absolutely none.

“Break up?” she asked, snatching her hand away. He smiled bleakly. “I thought you were going to propose!”

“My future’s all planned, I need someone‒”

“I am incredible! I am intelligent!” Isobel yelled, standing up and not even caring that the chair scraping across the floor. Noah looked around at all the people looking their way, but Isobel kept her eyes trained on him. “You can’t break up with me!”

“Isobel, please don’t make a sc‒”

“A scene? You don’t want me to make a scene?! Wow, okay, totally, I’ll listen to you! I can’t believe you’re dumping me!” she raged.  

“It-it’s just easier to go to law school single. UT is important to me and I can’t have a… Marilyn and not a Jackie,” he said. Isobel felt her eyebrows pull together in confusion. What?

“You’re dumping me because I’m blonde?”

And he laughed.

“Screw you, Noah Bracken!”

-

Isobel wasted no time in trying to go to her own dorm. She was crying way too much to risk passing a hallway full of girls who knew her. So, instead, she went straight for Max and Michael. Maybe they could go beat up Noah or something.

She completely bypassed the sock on the doorknob and didn’t even bother reacting being greeted by a bare ass. Michael quickly pulled Alex down beside him and threw the blanket over him as if trying to conceal some type of modesty.

“Isobel, what‒you’re crying. What’s wrong? Why are you crying?” he asked. She sniffled and wiped her eyes as best she could as she waited for them to get dressed. He only bothered to slip his boxers on before pulling her into a hug. “What’s wrong?”

“Noah broke up with me!” she sobbed, clutching onto him tighter. His hand went to the back of her head, cradling her close. Thank God for brothers. “He-he said he didn’t want me because I was blonde and stupid.”

“What?”

“Hey, you want me to go?” Alex whispered. Isobel just let a sob go through her before she reached out aimlessly, finding Alex and pulling him in to hug her too. “Or I’m doing this, okay.”

They both held her as she cried it out, softly shushing her as she rambled. She couldn’t understand what she did wrong. What he said couldn’t be right. By his standards, she’d been stupid and blonde their entire relationship. Besides, what was so wrong with being a Marilyn?

“Can I sleep here tonight?” Isobel sniffled, using Michael’s shirt to wipe her nose. He nodded.

“Of course.”

“Alex too. We’re friends now,” she added. Alex snorted as Michael gave her a bleak little look.

“Iz, that mattress is barely big enough for two people,” he tried.

“But I’m sad! I just got dumped!” she pouted, giving him the best set of puppy eyes she could manage. She watched the two boys have a mental conversation over her shoulder, still sniffling all the way. She had planned to be staying with her fiance tonight, but she was going to have to settle for her brother and his boy-toy.

“Okay, okay, fine, Izzy, but if someone ends up on the floor, it’s your fault,” Michael sighed. She nodded, wiping her nose on him again.

“Thank you. Can you change your sheets though? I don’t wanna sleep on your sex sheets,” she said. Alex let out a soft laugh as he grumbled and complied. The moment he let go, she sunk into Alex. He really was becoming a good friend. He picked out her gorgeous dress and everything. Oh my god.

How could Noah not want to propose to this dress?!

“Do you wanna talk about it?” Alex asked, stroking her hair. She didn’t know what to say. On the one hand, she did. She wanted to know everyone else’s opinion on what they thought. On the other hand, she didn’t want to be constantly reminded of her failure.

“I have never, ever been dumped before, you know? Never! I-I made it almost 22 years! And it has to happen now?! I mean, I’m not getting any younger! How am I supposed to find another guy, date him for two years before our engagement, be engaged for a year, then get married and wait two years before having our first child, and then still have time to have all three kids and not be old and gross?!” she scoffed. Alex exhaled really slowly for some reason, but she accepted it when he held her a little tighter.

“I was dumped once,” Alex said.

“Once?” Michael echoed, disbelief in his voice.

“Yeah, once. And it felt like the end of the world to me. Of course, I was 16 and we met at a Marine Academy summer camp and it only lasted four weeks, but I thought I was in love. He dumped me the night before we left and we were sitting by the fire and he said I was too feminine for him. I was so sad, but I couldn’t, like, cry because I was at a fucking military camp,” Alex rambled. Isobel sniffled as she pulled away.

“Does this story have a reason?”

Alex rolled his eyes and grabbed her shoulders. “I’m saying, life goes on. People are dicks about things like your appearance and the way they perceive you, but you shouldn’t take it to heart. You’re not like that.”

Isobel nodded slowly. Alex was right. She wasn’t like that. She just had to show Noah that she was exactly what he thought she wasn’t. Then she wouldn’t have to restart all over, she could just pick up where they left off.

“You’re so right,” Isobel said, watching as he smiled just enough for her to be one of the two people that could get a genuine smile out of him, “I just have to show Noah that I’m smart, then he’ll take me back. Oh, I know! I’m gonna get into UT and follow him to law school! Then he’ll have to see that I’m smart!” Alex’s smile fell and he shared a quick glance with Michael.

“Well, no, that’s not‒”

“I mean, you have to be smart to get into law school, right? Well, I am smart! I have a 4.0 GPA! I bet know didn’t know that,” she said. She was feeling a whole lot better now that she was getting a whole plan in action. Man, Michael had really chosen well. “Yeah, so, I’ll just apply to UT.”

“Iz, you know you have to take the LSAT, right? And, like, I’m sure UT won’t let you in unless you have over a 170-something on it,” Michael said slowly. She rolled her eyes, waving him off.

“What, like it’s hard?”

“Yeah, it is, I took it and I got a 130,” Alex admitted. She paused, staring at him for a moment before turning to Micahel.

“I have a literal genius for a brother, you can just help me study for it,” she decided, smiling confidently. Michael made a face, clearly debating. “C’mon, Michael! I need this! I need him to see that I’m smart!”

“Do you really wanna go through all that trouble just for some guy?” he asked.

“He’s not some guy! He’s Noah Bracken, the love of my life!” she pointed out. Michael reluctantly started to nod.

“Okay, fine. No promises, I don’t really know anything about law, but… I’ll see what I can do, I guess,” he sighed.

“Are you sure this is a good idea?” Alex asked. When she turned around to face him again, he was looking at them like they’d lost it. Isobel put on her pout.

“Oh, Alex, I need you to support me. You’re, like, my fashion guru and I need you to help me through this by, like, helping me chose the best things to wear to keep me amped up for this process,” she explained, grabbing his shoulders as he had just done with her. He still looked on the fence with the subject, but when he looked over at Michael, he folded.

“Fine, fine, whatever, but if this backfires, I’m not taking the blame.”

“Oh, thank you, thank you, thank you! You guys aren’t going to regret this!” she gushed, pulling them into a much happier hug than before.

That night, she fell asleep happily smashed between two of her biggest supporters and couldn’t wait to show Noah all that he had missed.

[let-it-raines]

Second in Command (Ch. 20)

Summary: Life as the "spare to the heir" isn't all that it's cracked up to be when you're the supposed screw-up of the family, but people don't know what really happens behind closed doors.

Rating: Mature

A/N: Full disclosure, I have never been huge on royalty. I’ve always thought it was interesting watching the glamorous lives they lead, but it’s not generally my cup of tea. That said, I somehow sat down and wrote all of these words about a fictitious royal family simply because I needed an interesting way to keep two characters from being together. Who knew it would spark my imagination and pique the interest of you guys the way it did?

So it started with a man getting caught in the rain and wandering into a pub, meeting a woman, and it’s ending with a woman wandering into a chapel, marrying a man. 

You guys are the best, and I can never thank you enough. This story is crazy and all over the place, and I most definitely put off writing this chapter because I didn’t want it to end...so look out for the small, multi-part epilogue because I have no chill. Seriously, thank you. 

Also, the cover is for those who asked for visuals. 

Found on AO3: Beginning | Current

Tumblr Chapters: |1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17  18 | 19 | 20 

Tag List: @nikkiemms @resident-of-storybrooke@kmomof4 @wellhellotragic @profdanglaisstuff @ekr032-blog-blog @bmbbcs4evr @onceuponaprincessworld @jennjenn615 @a-faekindagirl @mayquita @captainsjedi @captswanis4vr @teamhook @skyewardolicitycloisdelena91 @branlovesouat @dreadpirateemma @alys07

He cannot sleep, the anticipation of tomorrow morning keeping him up while Liam snores away in the next room. It’s not that he hasn’t tried to fall into a slumber, knowing that no matter how much adrenaline is running through him that tomorrow – or is it today now – will still be a long day. Because he has tried, lying down in bed and shutting his eyes as he endeavored to force himself into sleeping for hours on end. Giving up, miserable staying still as his entire body screams at him to move around, he gets out of bed, grabbing his phone and a sweater before going to walk back and forth out on his balcony.

It’s perfect for his pacing because no one will see him, and he can simply be alone. He doesn’t really want to be alone. He wants to be with Emma, but he can’t exactly do that right now. He can, however, text her. He doesn’t expect Emma to be awake. He wishes her to be asleep so she won’t be as bloody exhausted as he is tomorrow…today…but he’d really just like to talk to her right now.

Killian: You up?

He barely gets a chance to put his phone back into his pocket before he feels it vibrate against his thigh.

Emma: Why Your Highness, are you requesting a royal booty call the night before you’re to be wed? How scandalous.

He can just imagine her saying the words, teasingly batting her eyelashes as she twists her hair between her fingers and softly smiles at him. He chuckles to himself before sitting down on one of the lounge chairs and looking up at the night sky, inky black above the vast land that stretches out ahead of him, the only light coming from the stars above and lanterns at the corner of each balcony railing. He understands the tradition of being separated the night before the wedding, but he’s really hating it right now as he texts her back.

Killian: Not a booty call, but maybe just a call.

His phone rings within the next thirty seconds, and he answers immediately, propping his phone between his shoulder and his ear as he hears Emma’s voice.

“So you requested a call but not of the booty variety?”

A laugh passes through his lips while warmth settles within his chest. If he can’t be with her, this is good enough. “Why aren’t you asleep, love?”

“I think I could ask you the same question.”

“I can’t sleep,” he admits, a slight breeze gusting over him, and he idly hopes that the weather forecast for later stays pleasant and there’s no repeat of the rain from earlier.

“Me either.”

“Are you nervous, Emma?”

“Not nervous to be marrying you. Like, that part I’m okay with. You might even say I’m excited about it.”

“But?”

“I’m nervous because of all of the people watching. I just keep reminding myself that it’s just you and me, just us.”

“Just us.”

It’s silent for a moment, restlessness fading away as he stretches out on the lounger, before she speaks again. “Is Liam snoring?”

“Bloody hell, yes,” he snorts, curling his legs into himself, “but he’s in the other room. How are your roommates?”

“Fast asleep. I’m currently sitting in the bathroom talking to you.”

“Well, the acoustics are better there. I’m sitting out on the balcony.”

“Damn,” she laughs, the sound making him feel like maybe they’re not actually in two different places. “That would have been a much better plan on my part. There’s a couch in here, though.”

“A couch in the bathroom?”

“It’s a very fancy place your dad has me set up in. It’s almost like he likes me or something.”

“He’s not the only one.”

“Goofball.”

Eventually he settles back into the softness of the unfamiliar bed, the mattress dipping underneath the weight of his body, as he and Emma continue to talk until suddenly her voice goes silent on the other end of the phone, just soft breaths coming through the speaker until he disconnects the call and manages to fall asleep as well.

When he wakes a few hours later, his head stuffy from his lack of sleep, he still somehow feels calm and rested, like he could go days without sleep and be fine today, sod what his anxious self told him earlier this morning when he couldn’t sleep. He wouldn’t say no to some coffee, though, and when there’s a knock at the door of his suite and a tray of food with a pot of steaming hot coffee waiting for him, he thinks that it may very well be some kind of wedding day miracle, especially because Liam’s still asleep and Killian can keep this all to himself.

It’s a beautiful day outside already, the summer sun shining across the well-groomed grass and making the pool several floors below shine in his eyes while he goes about eating his omelet and fruit and drinking the sweet, sweet nectar that is coffee this morning. When he places his mug back down, he sees an envelope underneath his plate, a small bit of Emma’s elegant script poking out underneath it, and she seems to have had the same idea that he did this morning in sending breakfast and what seems to be a letter.

He smiles before opening up the envelope and pulling out a piece of stationary marked with Emma’s hotel and the slightest coffee ring stain.

Killian,

I finally feel as if my life is a bit of a fairytale, and before you get your hopes up that it’s you making me feel that way, it’s more the fact that I’m sitting in a bathrobe while my toes are being painted writing you a letter on actual stationary with a pen that might as well be a quill. It’s just missing a feather. It makes me feel as if I’m in one of those historical romances I so often force you into watching, but I also know that I’ll probably text you this morning as well, sending you my own little modern day love letter in addition to this one.

Or maybe just a text about how hungry I am because I’m not sure I can eat this breakfast you sent me.

It’s not that it’s not good food. My stomach is just doing summersaults with how excited I am.

The coffee is good, though. Thanks, babe.

I was woken up at five this morning after, as you know, just a few hours of sleep because I was on a “not booty” call until the early hours of this morning, and I feel like my body hasn’t been left alone since. Anyways, enough complaining about how the birds and deer are dressing me because I really did mean to write something actually romantic. You’re not the only one who can be a regular Mr. Darcy, babe.

Six years ago today, at about this time really, I was trying to fall back asleep after waking up and being just absolutely tormented with the fact that I’d kissed this guy who I really liked despite all of my attempts not to, and then my dad had walked in on us when things were really getting good. You’d gone away, to Scotland if I remember correctly, with your mom for a few days, and in that time I just completely lost it thinking about how the hell could I ever trust a man again with my heart, especially someone with your position in life. It was like torture, the war taking place between my heart and my head, and then you just showed up at the pub and all of my feelings spilled out because I was already so comfortable with you in our months of knowing each other…or bickering and teasing each other at two in the morning when we were both delusional and exhausted.

Telling you about my past that day, taking down a stone or two of my walls and reservations, was one of the best decisions I ever made. We met by chance, but we’re together by choice. Loving you and having you love me in return has been the greatest adventure full of laughter, hardships and heartbreaks, and most of all, happiness.

Killian Michael Philip Louis, my love, I love you with all of my being, and I’ll see you in just a few hours. I don’t think you’ll be able to miss me. I’m going to be in a very fancy white dress.

Love always,

Emma

He picks up his phone immediately, calling her with just the goofiest of grins on his face. He knows how much it means for Emma to be the one to write and say sentimental things. It’s not that she doesn’t do it, as she has grown in her confidence in her words the longer they’ve been together, but he still remembers the woman who only showed her true affection through physical acts instead of words.

“Hello,” she greets, but she’s yawning when she’s saying it so it really just sounds like one long lo. He can hear Ruby talking to Mary Margaret in the background as someone tells Emma not to move her eyelashes or the glue will be messed up.

“Hello, darling. You got any plans today?”

“Just a little thing, and then I’m free, ya weirdo.”

He hums before taking another sip of his coffee as the sun settles a little closer to the middle of the sky while the time passes on. Emma’s apparently been up for hours while he’s still in his pajamas and hasn’t seen a soul all day.

“Good. So I got a curious piece of mail this morning.”

“Did you now?”

“Yeah, it seems that I have an admirer who loves me very much.”

“Funny, I got the same type of letter this morning. Though, I’m sure the one you received was much more romantic and well-written. Something that should be preserved for historical literary significance.”

“I’m thinking about having it framed.”

The two of them talk for a few minutes longer until Emma’s makeup artists tells her she can’t be moving her lips, and he lets her go, heading inside to his own room to find Liam standing there already getting dressed in his uniform for the day, buttoning his jacket and adjusting the medals on his chest.

“Well, good morning. Nice to see you’ve finally come inside from your sunbathing.”

“Don’t be jealous that I ate all of the food, brother.”

“There was food?”

Killian laughs before heading into the bathroom and hopping into the shower, letting the water wash away the day before and wake him up so that he can dress in his uniform, something more uncommon to him than his suits as he only wears it for special occasions and really only on St. Patrick’s Day. It feels different draping the red coat over his body and even weirder when the blue sash is put across his chest while gold pendants and multi-colored medals are attached to his chest and his shoulders. Liam’s wearing the same uniform but in black, and his medals include the honors he earned while serving instead of the ones he was granted by his father for simply being born.

He has to leave his phone with his aide before they walk out of the hotel, so he texts Emma one more time to tell her that he loves her and he’ll see her soon before handing his phone off and being disconnected from Emma until she’s at the alter with him.

God, until she’s at the alter with him.

He’s got to be at the Church grounds a little after eleven, an entire hour before Emma even arrives, and he and Liam are dropped off on one of the paths so that the two of them can greet some of the crowds gathered outside of the gates of the palace. It doesn’t seem to be too much of a crowd as he and Liam chat and wave while managing to move along so that they’re on time, knowing that this entire day is on a tight schedule, but when they turn the corner, he can see the long stretch of road on which Emma will ride down with David absolutely packed with onlookers who erupt into cheers when he and Liam come into sight. To put it in a word, it’s insane. There’s nothing else for it, and even if he experienced something similar on the day of Liam’s wedding, nothing could have prepared him for this mania surrounding him.

“It’s a bit wild, don’t you think, little brother?”

“Younger,” he corrects automatically, clapping onto Liam’s shoulder as they continue to walk, gravel crunching underneath their feet. “You have to call me younger from now on.”

“Maybe when you’re married, Killian.”

He laughs at his brother’s cheekiness before stopping to see a few more people, eternally grateful that they all care about him enough to wait outside for what he’s sure is hours or days ahead of time to stand here at the front of the path. He even spots a few people from last night, their clothes the same and hair a bit disheveled, and he makes sure to give them a wave and smile.

“Good morning, everyone,” he shouts, waving to all of the people outside, trying to avoid staring into the television cameras that seem to be as numerous as the crowd. “I’d stay and chat, but I’ve got someone who needs me inside on time.”

The waiting is pure agony, seconds feeling like minutes and minutes feeling like hours. Liam tries to distract him, chatting with Killian about anything and everything, and as much as he appreciates it, it doesn’t help. He’s honestly not sure what Liam’s said, the words flowing in one ear and out the other. He hears the music change before he sees Mary Margaret walk into the Chapel, a brilliant smile on her face as she takes a seat, giving him the most subtle of nods before straightening out the imaginary wrinkles in her dress. The anticipation only increases then because he knows that Emma is on the palace grounds with Abigail and Ruby and all of the children, and he feels like he may burst if time doesn’t pass more quickly. He probably looks like the most anxious man alive, all jittery and antsy, and he one hundred percent should have had a small glass of rum before showing up today.

When his parents walk in, he knows that they are the last to arrive before David and Emma, and this is the home stretch. He can do it.

A fanfare sounds to announce Emma’s arrival, and he cannot help the smile that blooms on his face as he waits for her to walk through the mahogany stained archway and onto the black and white tiled floor. When he sees the first hint of white, even if it’s not quite clear, his heart begins thumping in his chest, his entire body warming even as something pleasant becomes lodged in his throat. As she and David get closer, he beams, the happiness – and he’s sure that’s what the emotion lodged in his throat was now – radiating from him as she comes into view.

She’s gorgeous, her skin tanned against the white lace snugly covering her entire body, her blonde curls falling down her back as they’re pinned back by the tiara he knows is gracing her head. He can’t see her face quite yet, still too far away that he can’t see her through the sheer material of her veil. As she gets closer, he sees Alexander walking with all of the other children behind her, Ruby holding Emma’s veil and corralling the kids, and Killian knows that Alex is probably itching to be the one standing with Emma because he doesn’t quite understand what’s happening here. He’ll have to make sure to hold Alex later to make up for the confusion.

God, he loves her so damn much.

He can’t believe this is happening.

Finally, finally, finally, Emma is near the alter, her face completely visible to him, and she’s the most beautiful woman alive. Really and truly. Who cares how biased he is? He certainly doesn’t.

“Hi,” she mouths to him before she steps up onto the alter, squeezing David’s arm before he lets go and joins Mary Margaret in the pews.

Killian takes her slightly shaking hand, helping her step up where he is, and all of the anticipation has totally been worth it for this moment alone when he lifts the veil over her head and there are no barriers left between the two of them. “You look stunning, love.”

“You look – ”

“I know.”

She laughs the smallest bit before the Archbishop calls for their attention and the ceremony begins, the two of them being united as man and wife within the next fifty minutes as hymnals are played, sermons are preached, and vows are promised to each other.

“First,” the Archbishop begins, and Emma squeezes his hand just a little more tightly knowing what moment this is, “I am required to ask anyone present who knows a reason why these persons may not lawfully marry, to declare it now.”

The Chapel is blessedly silent, and while there was no real risk of anyone saying anything, with all he and Emma went through to get here, it’s a bit of a relief, Emma nervously chuckling when the Archbishop moves on.

“The vows you are about to take are to be made in the presence of God, who is judge of all and knows all the secrets of our hearts; therefore if either of you knows a reason why you may not lawfully marry, you must declare it now.”

When neither say anything, Killian knows that it’s his turn to make his vows, the schedule of the day drilled into his head even with the mess of emotions coursing through his body.

“Killian, will you take Emma to be your wife? Will you love her, comfort her, honor and protect her, and, forsaking all others, be faithful to her as long as you both shall live?”

“I will.”

Emma smiles at him before looking down, her eyelashes fluttering against her cheek, while she suppresses a laugh. He’s got no idea what she’s laughing at, but he has to bite his bottom lip to contain his own when she looks back at him with mirth dancing in her eyes.

“Emma, will you take Killian to be your husband? Will you love him, comfort him, honor and protect him, and, forsaking all others, be faithful as long as you both shall live?”

“I will.”

The entire congregation is invited to support and uphold their marriage before everyone prays and his mother’s cousin Lillith reads several verses in the Nave as the choir sings. Emma’s bouncing a bit even under the weight of her dress, and while he can’t hold her hand quite yet, they’re almost there.

“You okay?” he whispers when the song begins to wind down.

She simply smiles, and it’s the smile she reserves for him, soft and sweet and happy.

Finally, after her bouquet is placed on a side table, he’s able to take her hands, grasping them as they stand in the middle of the alter again and officially make their vows to each other.

“I, Killian, take you, Emma, to be my wife, to have to hold from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, till death us do part according to God’s holy law. In the presence of God I make this vow.”

Emma squeezes his hand before she begins, her thumb brushing over his knuckles, and it’s then that he realizes that she has on her sapphire ring on her right hand. He knows for a fact that she wasn’t supposed to wear any jewelry on her hands, even her engagement ring, and he smiles thinking about her likely slipping it on at the last minute.

“I, Emma, take you, Killian, to be my husband, to have to hold from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, till death us do part according to God’s holy law. In the presence of God I make this vow.”

The Archbishop prays over their exchange of rings before Killian slide’s Emma’s wedding band over her ring finger, his gaze only leaving hers to make sure that he doesn’t drop the ring or slide it onto her middle finger.

“Emma, I give you this ring as a sign of our marriage. With my body I honor you, all that I am I give to you, and all that I have I share with you, within the love of God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit.”

Emma beams at him, her smile practically reaching up to her eyes as she slides his wedding band onto his ring finger, holding it there as she repeats his words.

“Killian, I give you this ring as a sign of our marriage. With my body I honor you, all that I am I give to you, and all that I have I share with you, within the love of God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit.”

The Archbishop takes their hands, joining them together, and he runs his finger over the gold while their marriage is blessed to the crowd, and right now he really and truly hates that he cannot kiss her quite yet like every other man and wife would be able to do at this moment. Instead they’re hurried into a small room where they sign the registrar and officially become man and wife in the eyes of the law and of his father, their titles being changed into The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge. Emma’s hands shake a bit as she signs first with her given name and then when she signs with her new name and all of the history and responsibility behind it.

When it’s official, the two of them finally get to exit the room, everyone maneuvering around Emma’s dress and veil as they all exit the doors and walk back down the aisle, waving at everyone and smiling with Emma’s hand wrapped around his bicep while her other hand holds her bouquet as they exit the Chapel as husband and wife.

Finally.

“This is insane,” Emma gasps when they walk through the double doors and back out into the sunlight to the sounds of church bells and cheers of all of the people from his patronages that they invited to stand outside of the Chapel, and he laughs that Emma had the exact same thought they he had when he was walking inside with Liam. That seems like a lifetime ago, and maybe it was.

“I know, but a good kind of insane, yeah?”

“The best.”

When they reach the stairs, standing under the archways of green foliage mixed in with blooming white magnolias and a few of the flowers people gave he and Emma yesterday, Emma turns to him, leaning in close, before whispering, “Can I kiss you now?”

“Absolutely.”

They lean into each other before their lips finally press together for a fleeting moment, Emma as soft and as warm as she always is in this gentle caress. He knows there’s the sound of cheers and trumpets all around them, and while he can hear them, he doesn’t care. All he cares about is the fact that he’s currently getting to kiss his wife.

When they pull back from each other, instead of pulling away, Emma rests her forehead against his and speaks against his lips, “I love you.”

“I love you, my darling.”

They’re loaded into a red and gold laden horse-drawn carriage, with white horses leading them, and even as they’re driven into the crowds, more people surrounding them than ever before the further away from the Chapel they get, it’s the first time he and Emma have truly been alone together, relatively speaking, since their goodbyes yesterday evening.

“So, this whole being married thing,” he teases, interlacing his fingers with hers and bringing her hand up to press a kiss against her knuckles before resting it in his lap, “is it treating you well?”

Emma snorts, actually, legitimately snorts as her free hand waves to the crowd. “I mean, I think it’s going well, but who knows what’ll happen when we’re alone together without all of these people? I might totally change my mind. Though, I do love a man in uniform, so that may be working in your favor today.”

“You’re already the best wife, darling. I mean, I don’t have a lot to judge on, but you’re doing great.”

Emma turns from looking out at the crowd to looking at him, giving him the smile she reserves just for him again and returning his kiss to her knuckles by leaning down and kissing his shoulder. “You’re a pretty good husband, too.” She shrugs before winking. “Not a lot to judge on, but you’re doing great so far.”

Their ride is at least twenty minutes, and he just takes it all in. His life is not normal. He’s well aware of that, and if he wasn’t, the fact that he’s in a horse drawn carriage leaving his wedding and waving to the masses would be a pretty good clue otherwise. But it is normal in the way that he and Emma always have been. They love each other, and that’s all there is to it. About halfway through the ride, Emma leans over and starts questioning all of the different ways there are to wave, demonstrating them and laughing as he joins in. They look ridiculous, but his chest is heaving with laughter and a tear escapes Emma’s eyes for the very same reason.

Maybe it’s the sleep deprivation, or maybe it’s the jubilation at being here in this moment.

After their loop is finished, the two of them are ushered back into the Palace in order to take official portraits while their guests wait for them at their first reception. Emma has to have her makeup retouched while he goes to greet their families in the sitting room where they’re taking pictures. He sees Abigail first as she’s squatting down talking to all of the children, but she doesn’t see him. Alex does, though, squealing at a volume that could break glass over him being in the room.

“Hi, buddy,” Killian grins, picking him up and pressing a kiss to his cheek, “are you having fun?”

Alex shakes his head from side to side, and Killian has to laugh at the very honest answer of a toddler. He imagines it’s probably not fun for them to be stuck in small suits and dresses with no toys or entertainment for such long periods of time. Hell, there were times during the ceremony when he was bored out of his mind, and he’s nearly thirty years old, not three.

“Well, that’s okay. You’re almost ready to go home.” He places Alex back on the ground to join everyone else before pulling Abigail into a hug and kissing her cheek. “Hello, love.”

“Hello, Mr. Married Man. Where’s your bride?”

“Getting her hair and makeup touched up before the portraits because it was a little hotter outside than she was expecting. That, or she was just too nervous and started sweating.”

“She was as calm as a cucumber, Killian. Not even I was that calm. God, I was a mess before I got married.”

“You were beautiful, Abi dear. Thanks for being with Emma today.”

She squeezes his bicep and gives him a reassuring smile that settles somewhere in the pit of his stomach, his gratitude for this woman never ending. “I love you both. I can’t imagine having anyone else as my family.”

“I love you, too.”

He greets the rest of his family as the camera crew sets up, and just as things begin to calm down, Emma comes into the room, her train and veil still taking multiple people to transport while moving around. He has no idea how she moves in that thing, especially with how it clings to her body with every step, but she does.

“Oh my baby,” Mary Margaret cries, rushing over to Emma at the same time that Alex cries out an Emmy. “I can’t believe you’re married.”

Emma chuckles before grabbing onto her mum’s wrist and squeezing. “I know, Mom. But you were with me when we got here. You knew it was happening.”

“But you weren’t married then. It was so surreal watching the two of you up there.”

Emma goes around greeting everyone else, or really, they greet her while she stands in place for pictures. They’ve got to get everyone out of here before they take pictures on their own, and wrangling children is no small feat. But pictures are done despite that and his father’s joking around with David.

When everyone is shuffled out to the reception, he and Emma take their official portraits, standing together in stiff poses, before being moved out to the gardens to take more casual ones. It reminds him of their engagement pictures, the only differences lying in the fact that it’s bloody hot instead of freezing and that Emma’s dress is a little more complicated. She’s taken her veil off, their aides transporting it for safe keeping, but the tiara still remains in her hair, the sun glistening off the pearls and diamonds.

“How do you move in this thing?” he jokes while helping her sit down on a set of stone steps.

“Very carefully and without breathing. I’ve got a corset on under here, and that thing is going to be ripped open and never used again.”

“Well, I was planning on doing that, but it’s nice to know you agree.”

Emma scrunches up her face, her nose wrinkling and her brows furrowing together before she pats him on the leg and lets out a breath. “Get all of your inappropriate jokes out now so you don’t say them later.”

“Well, the same could be said to you. I say we sprinkle them in to prepare everyone for Ruby’s speech.”

“I’m pretty sure there’s no preparing for that.”

When they’re finished with pictures – at least for now as the photographer says – he helps Emma to the dining hall, stopping just outside and pressing her against the wall before running his lips against her jaw, never staying anywhere for too long before his lips finally land against hers, soft and sweet and everything he’s wanted to do since they were announced as husband and wife.

Damn is that still weird to think.

Damn is that nice to think.

“I love you, Emma. You are gorgeous and wonderful and amazing.”

“So are you,” she whispers before running her hands against his hair, pushing the pieces that fell against his forehead back and keeping her fingers against his hairline. “You ready to go have some more people stare at us?”

“And to eat some damn good food.”

“That too.”

The sounds of glasses clinking distract Killian from his meal and his conversation with Emma to see David standing from his spot at the other end of the table with a glass of champagne in his hand and a smile on his face.

“Good afternoon,” David begins into the microphone that’s been set before him, his voice shaking the slightest bit. Killian places his fork on the table before reaching over and twining his fingers together with Emma, running his thumb back and forth over her wedding band and recently added engagement ring. “First, I’d like to thank His Majesty for hosting this wonderful reception, even if we all know he’s not the one who picked out the food and flowers. And then I’d like to thank all of you for coming to the wedding of our daughter Emma to Killian. I’ve been told that I can drop the formalities with him, which is good, because I didn’t get to know Killian as His Royal Highness, I got to know him as Killian, frequent pub patron and rum drinker who happened to have a crush on my daughter. Now, I don’t know how many of you knew Killian at twenty-three, but he wasn’t nearly as smooth as he is now. And he most definitely couldn’t hide the fact that he was smitten with my daughter.”

Killian turns to look at Emma, and she’s watching her father with cautious eyes, like she’s not sure of what he’s going to do next, and a timid smile tugging at her lips. Honestly, Killian’s not either, but he trusts Dave not to say anything too embarrassing…at least not at this reception.

“Emma was the slightest bit better at hiding her feelings, but six years ago today, my daughter started dating her husband, who is, I think, more importantly my son-in-law and one of the absolute best men on the planet. And while I could go on and on about the adventures and misadventures of Emma and Killian throughout the years, I’m not. I’d simply like to wish them a blessed marriage, through the good, through the bad, and through it all.”

David raises his glass as everyone else does the same, all of them echoing “to Emma and Killian” before settling down to a hushed tone of chatter across the hall as he and Emma continue to eat. His father also makes a speech, but it’s more to thank all of the diplomats in the room before the luncheon goes on a little too long and everyone gets too antsy sitting around without anything going on.

“So,” Ruby drawls, coming to squat down between he and Emma, “how much longer is this thing going on before we get to the real party with, you know, all of the alcohol and the celebrities and the music? Because I know you guys tried to keep the fact that David Beckham and George Clooney are here from me, but don’t think that I didn’t see them. I’d like to meet them and dance with them both at one time.”

“Not that much longer,” Killian answers while Emma tells Ruby, “both of those men are happily married, Rubes.”

“Well, so is Killian, but I’m still going to be dancing with him tonight.”

“I’m looking forward to it, lass.”

After the luncheon, the two of them are allowed an hour alone together before having to get ready for the reception his brother is hosting for them at Frogmore house, and as soon as Emma’s dress has been removed and Ruby and her mother leave, he’s on her, cupping her face and running the tips of his fingers against the hair at the edges of her face before pressing his lips against hers and really getting to kiss her, devour her while her arms cling to his back. It feels like liquid pleasure running through him when she kisses him back, moving her lips with his, but they can’t go any further than that even with the hour alone so he’s forced to pull back.

“As much as I’d like to continue this particular activity, especially with what I know you have on underneath this robe,” he fingers at the silk material of her collar, revealing the white lace underneath that she put on after taking the corset off, “we can’t get sweaty. Plus, not to make you doubt my abilities, I’d really rather spend the next hour drinking coffee with you.”

“Babe, I think that’s the best idea you’ve ever had.”

It’s their first hour alone as a married couple, and the two of them are sitting in his room at Windsor in nothing but robes drinking copious amounts of coffee and filling each other in on how they spent their mornings when not with each other. He would say that it’s an odd choice, but it’s really not for them. He’s incredibly attracted to his wife…God, his wife…and he’d like nothing more than to plow into her and say sod to the next reception full of all of their friends and liked family. But what they’re doing right now feels right. It’s their wedding day, something they’ll never get again, and this will be the last time today that it’ll simply be the two of them and no one else until they’re back in his hotel room from earlier.

Plus, he really, desperately needed the caffeine after all of the adrenaline began to fade away.

“So we’re married, huh?”

He nudges his feet against Emma’s on the ottoman in front of the couch they’re sitting on, acknowledging her statement while he inhales the fresh aroma of his caffeine, the hot liquid running down his throat and causing him to think that this is equivalent to gold.

“We are,” he agrees. “Do you feel different?”

She laughs before putting her coffee down and resting her head on his shoulder and running her hands up and down his arm.

“Not in the slightest.”

“Yeah, but I can call you my wife now, so that’s something new.”

“I still accidentally called you my boyfriend last week, so I think it may take awhile for me to get used to our new names. Also, how weird is it that my last name isn’t Nolan anymore?”

“You’ll always be Nolan to me, love.”

“How much time do we have left before I’m forced back into a tight dress and heels?”

He pulls his phone out of his pocket to check the time, ignoring all of the texts filling up his home screen that he hasn’t checked since his aide gave the device back an hour ago. “Thirteen minutes.”

“Alright, babe. I’m going to make out with you one more time and get you all hot and bothered before you have to change into your tux.”

“You’re evil.”

“I love you,” she laughs before taking his drink out of his hand and straddling his thighs, “and your discomfort is a cross I’m willing to bear.”

He never thought he’d be so thrilled to put on tuxedo, but he is absolutely delighted compared to the uniform he had on earlier. It’s much less stuffy, and his shoulders don’t feel as heavy with all of the tassels and dressings of his earlier outfit. Emma’s still having her hair curled and makeup redone while he simply sits on the bed and waits for her. He’s got a pair of diamond earrings in his pocket that he should have given her when they were alone, but it somehow slipped his mind.

They’re his grandmother’s, and while Emma never got to meet her and he was never particularly close to her, he thinks that they’re very much Emma’s style. Simple and classic and entirely unassuming even with their shine.

A bit like Emma.

Damn is he sentimental and overly gushing today.

“You’re looking a little bored, Killian.”

“It’s riveting watching your hair curled, love. I’ve never been more entertained.”

“Do you guys see why I married him?” She asks her hairdresser, the girls giggling with her. “He’s totally kidding, but I’m going to choose to think that he actually finds this entertaining.”

When Emma’s finished getting ready, her hair pulled into a high ponytail with tendrils framing her face, she slips into her new dress, this one a strapless lace gown with a scalloped top and a cinched waist. It’s gorgeous, but then a white cape is added over her shoulders, making her look like some kind of bridal superhero.

“A cape, darling?”

She shrugs, raising her arms so that the cape moves with them. “I thought it was unique.”

“It is. You going to take it off for the dancing?”

“After I twirl around once or twice, you bet your ass I am.”

He gifts her the earrings before they leave, and the smile on her face warms his heart. She immediately takes out the earrings she had on before, replacing them with the small studs, and presses a kiss against his cheek before straightening his bow tie.

“You look so handsome. I’m glad we went with the blue tux.”

Before loading up in the car to drive to the reception, they stop and wave for the photographers, knowing that this is the last time they’ll have to do that today. After they’ve posed enough, Isabelle telling them to go on, he opens Emma’s door and helps her in before walking around to his side and driving them away, a tent full of the people they love waiting for them.

When they walk into the tent, his eyes trail upward to the lights strung across the tent’s ceiling, casting everything in a soft white glow while the sun sets outside in a mixture of pinks and oranges. When he looks down, he can see columns with greenery wrapped around them, tall vases of colorful flowers sitting at all of the round tables while people mill around talking and chatting, the band playing softly in the background.

He only gets a moment to look around before they’re noticed, cheers and wolf whistles mixed in with the sounds of hands clapping together as he takes Emma’s hand and raises it in the air between the two of them, the cheering only increasing as they fully step into the tent and walk through the people until they reach their families at the center. This is the one thing he and Emma didn’t completely plan themselves, and taking it all in, he feels every weight he’s ever had on his shoulders drop away.

They’re here. They’re together. They’re married.

It’s everything.

After Liam greets them, clapping Killian on the back and pressing a kiss against Emma’s cheek, Liam gets up on stage, asking for the microphone from the band leader before speaking.

“Good evening, everyone! I hope everyone hasn’t already imbibed too much that you’re all not interested in what I or anyone else has to say. Somehow Killian and Emma have so many people who like them that there’s a lot of people making speeches. Or maybe everyone just wants to embarrass them. After all, Killian is so handsome when he blushes.”

Emma snorts beside him, and he wraps his arm around her shoulder before pulling her closer and kissing her temple, resting his cheek there while they watch Liam.

“Now, Killian is quite a bit younger than me, and while we haven’t always gotten along, we do now. At least most of the time. He ate all of the bloody breakfast this morning, and he’s got on quite a bit of makeup covering the black eye that’s blooming on that handsome face of his because of that.”

“Bloody wanker,” Killian mumbles under his breath, and Emma laughs against his shoulder, pressing another kiss there like she’s been doing all day.

“Killian’s always been known to bat a little above his league. There were the sports he tried to play, the novels he’d read when he was seven and had no idea what was going on, lasses he’d ask out while in school. But there has never been a time he’s batted so much above his league than when it comes to Emma. She has been kicking his ass for six years, and she’s been kicking my ass for the past year. She’s a bloody brilliant spitfire, and not a one of us in this family deserves her. Well, maybe my children, but that’s it. So everyone go get something to drink, and let’s celebrate Killian and Emma.”

“That was really nice,” Emma whispers, but he can barely hear anything over the sound of the people around him and the sound of his heart beating in his chest. Liam may have glossed over some things there, but Killian knows that every word he said, he meant.

“Yeah, yeah it was.”

When Liam reaches them, he’s got a broad smile on his face, and Killian immediately envelopes him in a hug, burying his face in his shoulder and holding him there for a minute. “I love you, Liam.”

Liam rubs his back up and down before patting him and pulling back, and Killian sees his eyes when he says, “I love you too, younger brother.”

“Look at that. You said that right words.”

“Well, I did say I’d call you that when you were married.”

Liam lets him go, turning to find Emma behind him with two glasses of champagne in her hands while she talks to a few of his friends from University, Robin included, and he takes a glass out of her hand, taking a sip while they talk. For awhile, it’s person after person, each one wanting to talk to them and give them their congratulations. He knows all of them while Emma doesn’t, but you’d never know with the way that she’s comfortable speaking, not freaking out or shaking as she speaks to some of the well-known guests like Ruby’s personal favorites of George Clooney or David Beckham (he sees Ruby circling around trying to find a way to look talk to them, and he hopes that conversation is somehow recorded and mass released).

She’s amazing.

Always.

Emma’s hand never leaves his, and as they’re asked to walk to the dance floor for their first dance, her fingers only tighten around his while they begin to move back and forth, taking small steps and twirling in circles. He spins Emma around as How Long Will I Love You is sung in the background. He likes to think that their dancing has improved, that they know what they’re doing out here, but he doesn’t really care. And as the song goes on, Emma drops all pretenses of trying to dance, releasing his hands to wrap her arms around his neck and sway with him, their bodies pressed together while they chat with each other. It’s quiet and intimate, and no part of him is focused on the people watching him.

When they finish their dance, he leads Emma up to the stage, the blush rising on her cheeks visible under the white lights surrounding them. She hooks her arm around his while he moves to the microphone.

“Good evening. I promise this is going to be the last speech of the night. I know most of you have probably been bored to tears all day, but after you all let me wax poetic about my wife, feel free to drink and dance and play any of the games we have set out in the back. I know some of you may think games at a wedding are a little odd, but we’re mixing in tastes here. If you hate it, blame Emma.”

She squeezes his arm before leaning over and speaking into the microphone. “Hey, beer pong is a hell of a lot of fun when you’ve had a little bit too much to drink. Of course, that was supposed to just be a ping pong table, but Ruby’s already taken over.”

“Damn right,” Ruby yells from the crowd, everyone erupting into laughter.

“Anyways,” Killian calls coaxing everyone’s attention back to him, “we will get to all of the beer pong in a minute. So I know that everyone in here was a little shocked when they found out I’d been dating someone for so long, but I like to think it worked out. In Emma, I found a friend, a confidant, a lover, and as of today, a wife and lifelong partner. She’s an ordinary woman who is actually quite extraordinary. She’s beautiful, and she’s shown herself to be resilient in all of the hardships that life has put her through, both before me and because she’s with me. She’s also shown herself to be witty and passionate and kind. Mostly, she’s shown me that I can have someone love me and face the world with me, hand in hand.”

The room erupts with the sounds of clapping and a few yells of kiss her, but before he can dip his head and kiss her, she’s grabbing his cheeks and pulling him in for a searing kiss before pulling back and resting her forehead against his.

“I love you, too. I wish that I had said something other than defending beer pong.”

“Well, I’m sure if you tell everyone they’re free to go have a good time now, you’ll be a huge hit.”

“I was talking about saying nice things to you, but that sounds like a good idea.” She leans over into the microphone, “You guys ready to celebrate?”

The rest of the night is a blur of talking, drinking, and dancing. There’s a dinner served, but he and Emma never get to eat it, always be dragged somewhere else by someone who wants to talk, drink, or dance. It’s crazy, it’s fun, and the hours pass with the sun completely setting outside so that the lights inside the tent reflect off of the darkness outside. He and Emma play cornhole against David and Mary Margaret, her parents absolutely crushing them as they toss the bags, before moving along to play the aforementioned beer pong, Ruby leading the game only to be dragged away by George to dance. Emma laughs so hard at the face of shock Ruby makes that she leans over on the table to hold herself up with tears coming out of her eyes. The laughter is contagious, and he loses it along with everyone around them.

Eventually his parents leave along with Emma’s, and they’re left with the sounds of the band and the movement of all of their guests. Sweat pools at his temples as he and Emma dance with everyone, Ruby twirling him around like she promised she would. When Ruby moves on, Emma comes to wrap her arms around his neck as she moves against him, his hands splayed against her hips while they talk to everyone around them, but always coming back to each other.

When they walk out of the tent, it’s to fireworks going off in the sky, his brother’s penchant for the dramatics really showing, and when Emma whispers to him that the fireworks were most definitely Liam’s idea, he barks out a laugh before kissing her and leading them to the car that’s going to drive them back to their suite.

It’s long past midnight when they walk back into the suite, and instead of being rushed to strip each other out of their clothes, it’s slow getting there. He guides Emma into the room, holding her hand while she takes her heels off, her dress dragging along the floor as she shrinks next to him. She excuses herself to the bathroom while he sits down at the edge of the bed, kicking his own shoes off and slipping out of his jacket, laying it over a chair as he unbuttons the rests of the buttons on his shirt that Emma didn’t get to at the reception. Before he can slide the material off of his shoulders, Emma comes out of the bedroom, her dress still on but her hair falling in soft waves across her shoulder.

He beckons her closer, and she comes to stand between his splayed knees, her palms coming to caress his face. He tilts his head and kisses her palm, lingering there and breathing her in before he grabs her wrists and slides his fingers into hers, his thumb soothing her knuckles and running over her ringers. When she begins to move away, he tightens his legs around her, keeping her there so that she looks back down at him with her lips tugging up on one side.

“What are you doing?”

He simply hums, staring up at her and admiring her beauty. They’d both imbibed with alcohol tonight, but neither of them is drunk. Maybe a bit dulled and exhausted, but he’s aware of every one of Emma’s movements and the way that her breath catches when he leans forward and kisses her knuckles right above her wedding ring.

“Killian?”

“Yes, darling?”

“Will you help me out of my dress? I tried to do it in the bathroom, but I couldn’t get the buttons undone.”

He chuckles before pressing another kiss against her skin and spreading his thighs apart so that she can turn around and he can deftly unbutton the clasps on her dress, the white material falling from her body and exposing the tan skin and white lace underneath it. He’s seen her like this more times than he cares to count, but it’s no less of a stunning sight watching her hair fall against her nearly bare back. She’s so beautiful, so wonderful, and he wonders if he’ll ever fully adjust to this woman being married to him.

It’s only been a few hours, and it all feels like some sort of surreal dream.

She turns around when the dress hits against the floor, her hands on his shoulders underneath the material of his shirt while her head dips to capture his lips with hers, soft and smooth and tasting of wine and the lemon cake she grabbed on their way out of the reception. When she pulls back, she stands up to her full height and smiles down at him. His hands move from her hips where he’s been fingering the lace of her thong, up her waist, feeling the smooth, soft, muscled skin of her stomach until his fingers rest just below the scrap of material that barely passes as a bra.

“You should wear things like this more often, darling.”

“Well, mister,” she croons, pushing his shirt off of his shoulders so that it falls against the mattress, “you are in luck because I have lots of little things like this for the honeymoon.”

“Do you now?”

“I do.” She traces his skin with her fingers while his thumbs begin to trace the tops of her bra, pulling the material down so that his fingers can rub in circles against her nipples, hardening them while Emma gasps underneath his touch. He can feel his length hardening in his pants, the pressure beginning to build in his spine as he watches her chest heave and thinks about what she just said. “But also unfortunately for you, those pretty little scraps of fabric go away after that and it’s back to my ugly white bra and mismatched panties.”

“You tease.”

“Nope. You married me bud. I don’t have to be sexy for you any longer.”

He laughs at her teasing and pulls her closer so that his lips can press against the skin of her stomach, his tongue following behind them as he traces the lines of her muscles with the freckles scattered across her skin like a constellation of stars. His hands move back down to her hips, pulling her forward and on top of him until he rolls her onto her back, crushing her body into the mattress while he presses himself into her, rolling his hips into hers and allowing the friction to build the pressure, savoring every movement and every sound.

Emma’s quiet tonight, so he makes up for it by constantly whispering things to her, different words of affection mixed in with dirty little nothings echoing throughout the quietness of the room as they move together in a dance they’ve done much more often than their wedding dance. He stands to undo his pants, letting them fall to the ground with Emma’s dress as Emma unclasps her bra, her breasts exposed to his gaze while he’s entirely exposed to hers. Grabbing her ankle, he begins kissing up her leg, only stopping when he gets to her inner thigh so that he can slide the lace covering her down her legs, the both of them bare before each other.

His fingers find their way into her folds, feeling the slickness that’s gathered there while Emma gasps at his touch. He teases her for awhile, slightly thrusting into her while his thumb runs against her bundle of nerves and his lips kiss her hips. Just as he’s about to replace his fingers with his lips, Emma grabs onto his hair, pulling his gaze up to hers.

“Not right now, babe,” she smiles, encouraging him to climb up the mattress so that his length presses against her thigh and his lips against her cheek. “But later, okay. We’ve got all of the time in the world.”

Slowly, slowly, slowly he slides into her, gritting his teeth as he braces himself against the mattress, palms digging into the sheets while Emma throws her head back against the pillow, hips arching up and driving him absolutely mad with pleasure. She’s so warm, always so warm and welcoming, and his body hums at finally being connected to hers after this day. She reaches up to hold his biceps, running her hands back and forth over his muscles while he begins to rock inside of her, the hair of his chest brushing against her hardened nipples.

He’s deliberately unhurried in the way that he moves inside of her, letting the both of them enjoy this moment and this time together. He could do this for hours, moving against her and staying connected in this way. They know each other so well by now, only the occasional instruction needed as to how to please the other, but tonight, there’s none of that. Emma trusts him as he sets their unrushed pace, her tongue caressing his in a languid motion that matches his thrusts.

Emma wraps her legs around his ass, pushing him further inside of her so that he’s tightly buried within her core. Emma moans into his mouth as her nails dig into his shoulder blades, leaving crescent moon scars in his skin while his own mouth moves to leave a mark against pulse point, her skin tasting of sweat and smelling of her flowery perfume. He could get lost in it, lost in her, but he wants to be here for every moment of this.

“You’re so perfect,” he whispers into her ear, making sure that his scruff rubs against the sensitive spot below her ear. “I don’t know how, Emma, but you are. You’re so bloody perfect for me.”

Emma gasps before moving her hands from his shoulder blades to his hair, fingers caressing his strands until she grabs onto his scalp and pulls his lips back to hers. “I love you,” she murmurs against his lips, the sensation of them touching almost feeling like brushes of air.

“I love you, sweetheart.”

He continues to slowly push and pull inside of her, Emma’s reactions only spurring him on, and when she begins to tremble and shake beneath him, her walls contracting around him, he moves against her at a furious face, letting her hold onto him tightly as she falls apart, soft sounds emanating from her lips as she whispers and curses his name and her love for him to his neck. Her reaction increases the pleasure and pressure that’s been building in his spine, spurring him on while Emma comes back to herself. She’s kissing him when he falls apart, pulsing inside of her and spilling himself into her while her lips slant over his to capture any words that he could have possibly said in the midst of his orgasm.

Afterward, he rests his head in her lap while she plays with his hair, stroking his cheek with her other hand while he holds onto her wrist and keeps her hand there. He’s exhausted, but he in no way wants to sleep. In a few hours, he’ll have been up for an entire day, Emma too, but he’s content to stay in this hazy state of bliss that they’re in.

“You know,” she murmurs, her hands still moving in his hair, “this has been a pretty fantastic day.”

“A fantastic life, really.”

She slaps the back of his head. “You’re a cheeseball.”

“I’ll have you know,” he rolls over until he’s propped up beside her, the comforter pooling over their waists, “you are every bit as much of a cheeseball as me. And you married me.”

“That I did.”

“Any regrets?”

“Not yet. Give me a few hours though, babe.”

He laughs before they both crawl down into the bed, finally letting sleep wash over the two of them as their voices quiet and are replaced by the soft sounds of their breathing. When he wakes in the morning, Emma’s wrapped around him, their legs a jumble of limbs beneath the covers, and he feels every bit as warm and as happy as he did yesterday. Her eyelashes flutter against her cheeks, lifting to reveal her emerald eyes staring up at him. He brushes her hair behind her ears, his thumb running underneath her cheeks and brushing away flecks of mascara that remain there.

“Still no regrets, my love?”

She hums before pressing up and kissing his chin. “Just the one.”

“And what’s that?”

“You haven’t gotten me breakfast yet.”

They eventually scramble out of bed, wasting too much time in the shower exploring the lines of their bodies that they already know by heart. He can’t stop smiling, not quite believing that his life is real and that this woman has agreed to be by his side forever. He loves her so damn much, even when they’re arguing and don’t like each other very much, and he’s forever thankful for his partner in life. The water begins to cool, Emma shivering with it, and so they step out, getting ready for their flight while eating the breakfast he ordered.

Emma takes longer than he does to get ready, as always, but when she comes out of the bathroom with her damp hair twisted into two braids that run down her oversized sweater covered chest, he smiles thinking about how beautiful she looks just like this. She was stunning yesterday, something he hopes to never forget, but in all honesty, he prefers her like this. He can’t help but stare as she crosses her purse over her chest and puts on her sneakers. He knows that she can feel his eyes on her by the way that blush rises on her cheeks and her eyes roll as she ties her laces. He’s being, as Emma would say, cheesy. But he doesn’t care.

When she comes to stand next to the door with him, threading her fingers between his, her palm as warm and soft as always, he inquires, “You ready to go, my love?”

Squeezing his hand, the tightness lingering a second too long, she answers, “I’m ready.”

[rainbowglittr]

Through the Dark: Sneak Peek

Prologue

"The couple has elected to prepare their own vows. Jesse you can start." He passed Jesse the Mic. Jesse grabbed my hand.

"Jaleia, from the first time we met I was drawn to you like a magnet. Even as an eleven year old, I knew you were someone I wanted to be around forever. As the years passed my love for you not only grew but I knew that I didn't just love you but I was IN love with you. Unfortunately we drifted apart and moved away from each other. But what is meant for you will always find you as we found each other at that Starbucks. Ever since that day I knew I couldn't let you slip away again. You are beautiful beyond imagination, intelligent beyond belief, funny beyond comparison, and the only person I want to love for the rest of my life. I want to grow with you, love you, and cherish you for the rest of my life. I know we haven't seen the darkest hours yet or the roughest waters of our lives yet,  but there's no one I'd rather navigate the seas with.

Jaleia, I promise that I will always be worthy of your trust, considerate of your feelings, that I will never stop getting to know you, that I will allow myself to be vulnerable with you like no one else, and lastly that I will always put your needs ahead of my own. I love and accept everything about you, the good and the bad. I love you, Jay. I promise to love you, protect you, listen to you, and elevate you, for the rest of my life. I love you and everyday I thank God that I met you and that he made us for each other. Thank you for joining me on the crazy journey we call life. I am so blessed to love and to be loved by you. I love you. I'm done now."

Everyone laughed. I wiped the the tears from my eyes. I was so nervous. But hearing Jesse declare his love for me it warmed me. All the months of planning, sleepless nights trying to make it work, and now here we are dedicating our lives to each other.

"Jaleia, your vows."

"I should've went first, how, how can you follow that up?" I said. Jesse laughed along with the guests. I held his hand and felt him squeeze it.

"I can't top your vows, I won't try I mean you're a song writer...so no competition but I am going to speak from my heart.

As much as I can try to be the most confident person in the room, I'm not. And I needed someone to understand that. To find someone to be vulnerable  with, someone that loves me without question, that I can trust with the craziest and darkest parts of me, means everything to me and is so rare. You are so unselfish, loving, talented and amazing. I am so amazed at how we complement each other. There are no words to explain how much I love, value, and trust you. I love you and all your annoying habits like how you can never match your socks by yourself. And I mean never. I also love how you learned how to cook Sheppard's pie at three in the morning because I had been working for twelve hours straight and craved it. Because of you I've never been scared to follow my dreams or be successful. And by your side I can't wait to encourage and support yours. I love you and I can't wait to spend the rest of my life with you. I thank God everyday for you and I am so happy to be your wife. I promise to love you, encourage you, and support you. I love you, Jess." As I spoke tears followed down my face even though I promised myself I wouldn't cry my eyes out. Jesse squeezed my hand again and mouthed "I love you." I mouthed it back.

"Now it's time to exchange the rings. Can we have the rings please? Jesse take this ring and place on Jaleia's finger." Jesse took the ring and slid it on my finger.

"Do you, Jesse Kendrick Thomas,

Take Jaleia Serena Michaels as your lawfully wedded wife,

To love, protect, and cherish,

For better, for worse,

For richer, for poorer,

In sickness and in health,

Faithfully,

Til death do you part?"

Jesse looked in my eyes and said

"I do."

"And Do you, Jaleia Serena Michaels,

Take Jesse Kendrick Thomas,

As your lawfully wedded husband,

To love, protect, and cherish,

For better, for worse,

For richer, for poorer,

In sickness and in health,

Faithfully,

Til death to do you part?"

I put the ring on Jesse's finger and looked him in his beautiful eyes.

"I do." As I said it a loud sigh erupted from Jesse's mom. Jesse squeezed my hand again. He looked at me as if to say ignore it, and then smiled.

"Then by the powers vested in me by the state of New Jersey, in the presence of God, I pronounce you husband and wife. You may now kiss the bride."

The guest cheered. Jesse lifted my veil and kissed me. I wrapped my arms around his neck. I never felt as happy as I was in this moment. Our noses touched as we stared into each other eye.

"We're married now babe. I love you." He said.

"Yeah we are, I love you." We turned to face all of our friends and family. Everyone was clapping and cheering except for Jesse's mom. She had a sour look on her face. I don't know why it bothered me so much I knew she didn't like me but, couldn't she fake it for one day, a moment? But I smiled brighter and felt the energy of the room fill with love.

"For the first time, let me introduce you to Jesse and Jaleia Thomas!"

We walked down the aisle hand in hand, smiling and dancing to the cheers of all our friend and family. I kissed Jesse on the cheek. I really felt so warm and loved and happy, I started to cry again. When we got out the ceremony room, we walked out to one of the side rooms. We still had to take pictures while our guests had Cocktail hour.

"You know you're supposed to be happy right, not crying?"

"Yes I know, stupid. I love you husband!"

"I love you too, my beautiful wife." He leaned into me about to kiss me but I leaned back.

"Before you do that, we have pictures to take! You cannot mess up my makeup! "

Jesse sighed, "Ughhhhhhh...."

"Why do you hate taking pictures so much?"

"I don't, it just takes forever. I'm hungry. Can't I just-"

" No, if something gets on your tux, I'm going to be pissed. "

"Fine, let's just get this over with."

" You're so dramatic! " I rolled my eyes at him.

"I'm dramatic? Please, have you met yourself?"

I stood up, pretending to be offended. Then I thought of something.

" Babe, is your mom-"

"I don't care what my mom is doing as long as she's doing it quietly and it's not disruptive. Today is about us. Just us. I just married the most beautiful, sweetest, sexiest, amazing woman in the world. And I want to spend the rest of the day celebrating that. Also half drunk. More like in a comfortable buzz. Either way my mom can't ruin anything if we don't let her, okay? I love you and that's all that matters. Just us. Okay?" He said while holding my hands. I smiled and straightened his tux.

"Okay. You sir, are not too bad yourself. Ready for pictures?"

"Yes, let's go. But first-" Jesse caught me off guard and kissed me. His hands were on the sides of my face. My hands were on his chest and neck. It's like he put all of his love in this kiss. His lips moving slowly and sensually against mine. I felt warm and tingly all the down to my toes. We took a quick breath as looked into each other's eyes. Suddenly the door banged open.

"Guys, we are on a schedule! There is no spot on the schedule for secret hookups! There is a spot however, for pictures. We've been looking for you for like ten minutes!" Kiara said exasperated. As the Maid of Honor, she was also the "Wedding Director" making sure that I was staying on schedule, which I knew I wouldn't because it's my wedding day and time is irrelevant to me so she was tasked with keeping time.

"Sorry. We're coming! And we were not hooking up." I said, grabbing Jesse's hand and walking towards the door.

"That bright red lipstick on Jesse says otherwise. "

"Jesse! I told you!"

"What did I do?"

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

[blue-skies-are-alright]

Terrible Things (Luke Hemmings)

Warnings: There are triggers. Suicide is insinuated. So read at your own risk.

By the time I was your age, I'd give anything To fall in love truly was all I could think That's when I met your mother the girl of my dreams the most beautiful woman that I'd ever seen...

I'm going to tell you a little story about how I and your mum met. I was in a little coffee shop. I was watching all of these couples having lunch together, and I remember thinking that day I wish I could have a love like that. I mean, they looked so happy. Laughing together, looking at each other as if they had stars in their eyes. Where I was in a band though, schedules would clash, I would always be on tour, or doing promo, there was just never enough time to start something new. But then I looked at your mother. She was so beautiful. She looked up and smiled at me. I held my breath. She started getting up and...

She said "boy can I tell you a wonderful thing I can't help but notice you staring at me. I know I shouldn't say this but I really believe I can tell by your eyes that you're in love with me"

She walked over, sat down, and then she said "Hi. I'm Y/N. You kind of looked like you could use someone to talk to." I gave her a shy smile. She said, " So what's your name?"

 I clear my throat and say "Luke. Luke Hemmings,"

 "Hello, Luke." She says with the type of confidence that I only show on stage.

 "Hi?" I say more as a question, “Aren’t you going to ask for a photo or something?”

 “No, why would I do that?” 

“Nevermind,” I say quickly, a bit embarrassed.

 There were a couple seconds of silence. She leans in and whispers " You know if you'd like to come and sit with me, I'd love the company." I looked at her, aghast.

 "Wha- huh?"

 She giggled, "It's okay. I won't bite." 

"Oh. Um, yeah. Sure." I said, as my ears and the back of my neck, for some reason was getting hot and red with embarrassment. I got up and stumbled a little on the way to her table. She pulls up a chair and starts talking on and about a project she has to do for her Psychology class. The thing was, was it was nice. It was a new pace that I could get used to. It was- normal.

Now, son, I'm only telling you this because life can do terrible things

When you're in love you may think that you'll be together forever. But that's a lie. All of the shit they tell you in fairy tales, about how you live happily ever after, it's all a lie. It doesn't happen! It'll only lead to heartbreak.

Now most of the time we'd have too much to drink And we'd laugh at the stars and we'd share everything Too young to notice and too dumb to care Love was a story that couldn't compare

I remember our first date like it was yesterday. We had a picnic under the stars; we sat on a cliff with a blanket spread out underneath us with a view of the ocean. It was mid-June. So the weather was just perfect. It was slightly windy, blowing a cool summer breeze. I took in a deep inhale of the salt air surrounding us. Pulling out the food and wine I packed for us. I broke open the seal on the wine and pulled the cork and immediately poured her and I both a glass. Let's just say we got a little bit drunk. Drunk enough to where we were laughing about anything and everything. Drunk enough to where we didn't care if people stopped and stared. We were just two dumb kids. We were in love.

I said girl can I tell you a wonderful thing I made you a present with paper and String. Please open with care now, I'm asking you, please? You know that I Love you will you marry me?

On our 3 year anniversary of dating, I had a surprise.We went to the spot we had our first date. As she was looking for a cork screw in the basket, I said "Y/N, can you look at me for a second." As she did, I got on one knee. She audibly gasped throwing her hands over her mouth. I continued on. "We've been dating for exactly three years now, and you have no idea how happy you've made me. That day in the cafe, I'm pretty sure if you weren't there then I would be a mess right now. Every time I was feeling down, you'd be there to pick me back up. When I was angry, you'd give me space. And I am so, so, so thankful that you came into my life. I mean you didn’t know I was a famous musician, you just wanted to talk to me. And for that, I am also thankful. So, if you're ready, I would like to update your contract from being my girlfriend to being my wife, so will you, Y/F/N Y/M/N, marry me?" I said finishing up my speech.

 "Yes! Of course!" She stutters, tears sliding down her rosy cheeks. She took the box untied the little bow I wrapped around it. I reached over and took out the ring, took her hand and slid the ring on. She flung herself at me, causing me to fly back on my back, and wrapped her arms around me. As she hugged me she  whispered little "I love you" in my ear. The September of the next year, we had the wedding and we found out that we were having a baby. Which was you. We were so thrilled when we found out.

Now, son, I'm only telling you this because life can do terrible things You'll learn one day and I'll hope and I'll pray that God shows you differently

You were born nine months later. And we couldn't have been happier. Or so I thought. Now, son, there is a lot of horrible things that happen in life. But there is also a lot of good things that happen in life. It's just sometimes God chooses to give you the most horrible thing out there. But don't worry I'll hope and pray that he didn't do it to you.

She said boy can I tell you a terrible thing It seems that I'm sick and I've only got weeks Please don't be sad now I really believe You were the greatest thing that ever happened to me

I remember when your mother got sick and when the doctor gave your mother's diagnosis. I really wish I didn't. My heart was shattering with each word, I was getting light headed. I felt as though I were about to pass out. She told us that she had stage four leukaemia. I passed you to your mother. I asked the doctor if there was any way to treat it. She said with regret, that there wasn't. It had spread too much.

Slow. So slow. I fell to the ground. On my knees.

I couldn't believe it. One of the only good things that happened to me in a very long time is going to die. I fell to my knees. It felt like ages, but it only happened in seconds. I felt tears running down my cheeks. I wiped them away before anyone could see. I just couldn't believe it. About a month later your mother passed away. You and I stayed at your uncle Ashtons house for a while until your grandmother asked if she could take you in for a little while so I could cope with this. Go see a therapist. At first, I refused, but I eventually gave in. I couldn't do it. I couldn’t deal with all these emotions alone. I told her I would go see one. Your  uncle Michael and Calum went with me a lot for emotional support. These are probably the best people you will ever have in your life. I hope you can find friends as loyal and supportive as them, one day.

So don't fall in love there's just too much to lose if you're given a choice then I'm begging You choose to walk away, walk away, Don't let her get you Cause I couldn't bear to see the same thing happen to you

Son, if you find a girl, don't get too close. It'll just cause you pain. Trust me, I know. I got too close to your mother. Sometimes it makes me regret ever meeting her. Sometimes I wish that she never caught me staring at her. And other times I just sit there and replay all of our old memories together. Like our first date, when I proposed, when we found out we were having you. But then I just get that empty feeling again and wish that I never met her all over again. Just don't, I'm begging you! It's too painful!

Now, son, I'm only telling you this because life can do terrible things.

Now the reason you're probably reading this letter is that I went through with it. I went to the spot where I and your mother had our first date and did it, I jumped. And you're probably wondering what happened. What really happened. Son, I really hope you're not mad. But what I hope most is that you're careful of who you fall in love with. Because life can do terrible things. ****************** Hi!!! So I hoped you enjoyed it!!! I'm sorry for all of the feels!!! #sorrynotsorry Anyways to ta loo!!!

@thruheavenandhighwater @myboyfriendsadrummer what do you guys think?

[justanothercinemaniac]

Epic Movie (Re)Watch #186 - The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement

Spoilers Below

Have I seen it before: Yes

Did I like it then: I think so.

Do I remember it: Better than I did the 1st one, which isn’t saying much.

Did I see it in theaters: No

Format: Blu-ray

I nominated the recap for the first Princess Diaries to @princessofsunnydale because she nominated it for my (Re)Watch so I thought I’d do the same for this post. Thanks!

1) I think it was a wildly smart decision to move the setting of this film from San Francisco to Mia’s often spoke of but rarely seen dominion of Genovia. It’s an organic next step to her story. We saw her learn how to be a princess in San Fran, now we see how she actually adapts to her home country (which is a lively character in its own right). The decision to jump ahead five years ahead instead of three (the number of years between releases) I think also is nice. Mia is more comfortable in the agency she gained in the first film, the relationship with her beau Michael is not hanging over her head, it just allows the film to not be dogged down by some plot points from the first film.

2) Sir Fat Louie? Did they knight him? Can you knight a cat?

3) I didn’t remember this line before I put in the movie but I do now.

4) Shonda Rhimes co-authored the story AND wrote the screenplay? Huh.

(I don’t actually watch any Shonda Rhimes shows, now that I think about it.)

5) Chris Pine as Nicholas.

There is a strong initial chemistry Pine has with lead actress Hathaway, allowing the audience to grow invested in their relationship quickly. Even/especially when they’re not getting long, you can just fell the sexual chemistry in the air between them. It’s fun, making the film stronger because of it.

Chris Pine on his own is as charismatic and interesting as ever. In lesser hands the character of Nicholas could be an even bigger jerk and while there are antagonistic qualities to him the audience UNDERSTANDS his motivations. He is trying to honor what he believes his dead father wanted, he believes he’s trying to do what’s best for Genovia. And when he sees he was mistaken, he tries to step aside. There’s a nice honesty to Pine’s performance. He doesn’t play Nicholas as an over the top mustache twirling villain. All in all, Pine does a fine job in this film and helps support it.

6) Except for one black guy, Genovia’s parliament is made up of all white guys saying they don’t want a woman to rule unless she has a man by her side.

I think Queen Clarisse has the perfect response to that.

The law is severely sexist and antiquated. One of the members of parliament claims it should be respected because it is 300 years old. Saying a law is that old is not an effective argument for it as much as it is AGAINST it. 300 years ago in 2004 that’s 1704. That’s slavery, that’s a fundamental lack of women’s rights across most countries. Don’t use the fact a law is old to argue for it. Laws should evolve as the world does.

7) John Rhys Davies is a wonderful character actor who plays Nicholas’ uncle as a holier than thou elitist arrogant jerk. I love to hate him in this, but I might need to watch Lord of the Rings or Raiders of the Lost Ark next to balance out my feelings.

8) Hey guys. Remember that time Catwoman stomped on Captain Kirk’s foot in front of Gimli and Mary Poppins?

I’m sure someone has made this joke before, but still.

9) The last film was largely about Clarisse putting her duty as queen aside to be Mia’s grandmother, a relationship which is as strong in this film as ever.

Clarisse [after Mia stomped on Nicholas’ foot]: “As a grandma I say right on.”

10) Like the first film, this movie’s biggest flaw is definitely pacing. Many scenes serve no purpose for the larger plot and instead distract from the main conflict. But - like with the first film - these scenes are also some of the most memorable. So…I’m not sure what to say then. I’m just going to move on.

11) I dig this.

Matarazzo is a continued treat in this film as she was in the first, stealing a number of scenes and infusing some quality humor into the plot. The way she mixes with Genovian life and culture can lead to some nice fish out of water observations, and Matarazzo plays the role with as much commitment and heart as she did in the first film. God bless Lily.

12) The bachelor selection scene is - by far - one of my favorite moments in the film. It is directly related to the plot and has an incredible amount of humor to it. Also, it’s not nearly as long as I remember.

For those of you who didn’t watch the clip above (or even if you did), here is my favorite moment from the scene.

(GIFs originally posted by @ezrajamessharkington​)

I mean it’s small, but I appreciate that both this film and its predecessor acknowledge the LGBTQIA+ community more than other Disney films did at the time.

13) Callum Blue as Andrew Jacoby.

Much like Michael from the first film, Andrew is able to be a good guy while avoiding the trope of Nice Guy™. There is a respect he has for Mia, an understanding and a fondness. They clearly have a connection and appreciate each other’s company, but it is clear that neither of them love each other. And Andrew does not force this on Mia. He’s pretty much at her service, ready to respect her wishes without being a total pushover. He’s a good guy, someone who could have easily been a jerk or a bully but the fact Mia could plausibly end up with him just ups the stakes.

14) The fan scene is a nice moment of chemistry between Hathaway and Andrews, which (much like in the preceding film) is one of the strongest elements of this movie.

this film one of those moments is when she is reduced to tears because John Rhys Davies spooked her horse and revealed that - SHOCKER - women actually prefer to not ride side saddle. I suppose it’s better that she’s too hard on herself than not hard enough though, as she will be queen.

16) Damn, Joe is a badass.

Mabrey: “Sir, you will find that the word ‘fear’ is not in my vocabulary.”

Joe: “Perhaps. But it’s in your eyes.”

17) Hey look! The foot pop!

18) Okay, Nicholas is being creepy with Mia at the fountain. Yes, they kiss. But then she says no to him. Multiple times, too. Yet he keeps groping at her and chasing her around the fountain until they both fall in. And MIA’S in trouble?

19) The parade.

By far the strongest moment in the film. It shows off not only the agency Mia gained in the first film (she has the confidence to stop a parade), but also her incredible heart. She shows off such kindness and care for the people of Genovia, accepts her role as a leader, and is able to create a positive change through the sheer depth of her heart. Also, little Abigail Breslin is very cute.

20) Holy crap, Paul Williams is in this movie.

What is this movie?

21) The bridal slumber party is another scene which doesn’t really add to the plot and it goes a little long. BUT - again - it is wildly memorable. Especially seeing Julie Andrews surf on a mattress after giving a wink to her most iconic character.

22) Julie Andrews’ song.

Julie Andrews underwent surgery in 1997 to treat what she referred to as a muscular striation on her vocal cords. She emerged from the surgery with permanent damage that hurt her singing voice and gave a rasp to her speaking voice (for which she sued the hospital for malpractice two years later). Julie Andrews basically lost her singing voice. Her song “Your Crowning Glory” was the first time she sang on screen since the surgery. Although it was set in a limited range to accommodate her voice, she was reported to have nailed it on the first take and brought tears to the eyes of crew members on set. Raven Symoné - who duets with Andrews on the song - was so moved when she told she’d be singing with the legend that she too was reportedly brought to tears. If for no other reason, I am grateful this movie exists for all of that.

23) Nicholas is very ready to step aside and let Mia rule.

Nicholas [after his uncle notes all their work would be for nothing]: “It wouldn’t be nothing. Genovia would in good hands.”

I love that. I love that he’s true to his beliefs about doing what’s right for Genovia, NOT himself.

24) So there’s a slight bit of foreshadowing here.

Nicholas [at Mia’s window]: “Rapunzel, Rapunzel…”

Chris Pine would later go on to play Cinderella’s Prince in the 2014 film adaptation of Into the Woods, which also featured the characters of Rapunzel and her prince.

25) I’m surprised Paolo’s back. I mean, Larry Miller is great. But didn’t he totally betray the trust of the royal family in the first film? And also, why is he suddenly kinda bad at styling Mia?

26) Bless whoever made this

(I just found this on google. If this is your’s and you want credit let me know and I’ll be happy to give it.)

27) Um, guys…

What the heck is Stan Lee doing in The Princess Diaries 2? Is Mia going to join The Avengers? Is Genovia a part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe? What is happening!?

All humor aside, as I understand it Stan Lee will cameo in any movie asked as long as he gets his standard fee. I think he wants to have the record for most cameos ever.

28) I dig it, Andrew.

Andrew [after Mia calls off the wedding]: “Uh…thank you. Thank you for saving me from doing the proper thing for once in my life.”

29) Much like the first film, it is Mia who must take her own fate in her hands. She’s the one who argues against the marriage law, she’s the one who convinces the people and parliament to strike it down (although the Prime Minister is again incredibly supportive and I love that). It’s her taking charge of her life, which I think is absolutely great.

30) I 100% forgot that part of this film ended with Clarisse and Joe getting married. I am very okay with that.

31) OH MY GOD YES! PARLIAMENT IS MORE DIVERSE AT THE END! THERE ARE SO MANY WOMEN AND EVEN WOMEN OF COLOR AND IT’S JUST BEAUTIFUL AND DIVERSE AND I NEED MORE OF IT! THANK YOU!

Like the first film, The Princess Diaries 2 held up surprisingly better than I was expecting. Obviously it’s aimed at a younger audience than me but it was pretty enjoyable. Anne Hathaway is strong as ever, as is Julie Andrews, while Chris Pine is a welcome and fitting addition to the cast. The themes are nicely feminist as is the ending. Overall I just find it an enjoyable film worth the watch.

[bachelorbro-blog1]

Season 13, Episode 1 (The One Where Blake K Doesn't Get a Rose)

Welcome back, Bachelor Nation! I’m super excited about this season of the Bachelorette (mostly because Rachel is not Nick Viall and will never be Nick Viall). You all know how I feel about Rachel (and that I knew she’d be the next Bachelorette since the first episode of last season), so I won’t wax poetic about her. Instead, I’ll just start this recap. Let’s go!

The episode opens with Chris Harrison talking about how much we all love Rachel. Duh. Obviously. Let’s move on. 

Rachel does some street dancing, plays basketball alone, “goes to court” (by which I mean she performs in an instructional video about what lawyers do as directed by someone who doesn't know any lawyers), flashes back to meeting gross Nick (complete with beignet eating and limo crying), takes a plane with her DOG WHOSE NAME IS COPPER (!!!), poses for some pictures, chats with some grandmas, and finally drives up to the mansion. 

Time to meet some guys! 

Pretty Boy Pitbull Kenny King is a wrestler. He is very sweaty and panty for a solid chunk of his intro video and has a very tall ten year old daughter. (Is Rachel ready to get engaged to a man who has a ten year old child and possibly be that child’s step mother?). He makes a pun about rings.

Jack Stone is a lawyer (like Rachel), is 31 (like Rachel), and is from Dallas (like Rachel). He talks about the passing of his mother while staring out at some water and then plays with a dog. 

Alex would like to let you all know that is not a meat head. He likes books and coding and learning and Rubiks Cubes. Ok? Those are things meat heads don't like! Only nerds like those things!

Mohit is a start-up guy. He loves dancing with his family in his living room. 

Alright. Here he fucking is. Whaboom -- a manboy named Lucas who frequently wears shirts that have cartoon versions of his own face on them. This guy is going to be either my most favorite or my least favorite.

Blake E (omega Blake) is a sports nutritionist and certified lunatic. He works out on the beach and talks about how amazing his penis is (by which he means it’s slightly below average). Fuck this guy.

Next up is Diggy, who loves clothes and has 575 pairs of shoes (or 1150 individual shoes). Diggy, you see, is a fashionista. He also has a dog, but we don't get to know how many pairs of shoes the dog owns. 

Josiah makes me cry. Top 5, easily. E A S I L Y . His older brother killed himself when he was younger and Josiah had to cut him down from the tree that he hung himself on. Josiah has an amazing story and is either this season’s winner or next season's Bachelor. 

A meeting of the minds commences. Among Rachel’s panel of advisors is Astrid (who I forgot about), Whitney (who everyone forgot about), nanny-having Corinne, dolphin lady Alexis, Raven (the true winner of Nick Viall’s season of The Bachelor), beautiful princess Kristina, and Jasmine G. (the one who choked Nick -- big fan). Everyone loves Eric, Raven believes that DeMario is amazing (but Whitney thinks he’s THERE FOR THE WRONG REASONS™️), and some ill-advised voice likes Dean (the one who made the “I’m ready to go black and I’m never going back” comment). 

Time for the men to come out of the limo. Finally.

First out of the limo is Peter. He is wearing a nice jacket and doesn't say anything awful. Congratulations, Peter!

Next is Josiah, this season’s winner. He makes a lawyer joke. Smells like a wedding to me!

Out comes chiropractor Bryan. He speaks Spanish and looks like a much more attractive version of my neighbor. 

Kenny calls her “Pretty Rachel” and then dances with her. I am overcome with grief. 

Rob doesn't get much of an introduction, but who cares?

There is also a man named Iggy. Diggy and Iggy. Fine.

Bryce, the transphobic firefighter, lifts Rachel off of her feet. Get out, Bryce.

Next out of the limo is Steve Urkel, followed by Stefan Urquelle. His real name is Will. As in when Will this end?

Here comes Diggy, who loves The Devil Wears Prada. He makes a pun based off of his name. 

Kyle shows Rachel his buns. Who is Kyle?

Blake K (alpha Blake) talks about his grandparents who recently celebrated their 65th wedding anniversary. Big fan of Blake K. Huge.

Brady shows up with a sledge hammer. He is immediately terrifying. He “breaks the ice” at which point I feel he should be lead away from Rachel with his hands behind his back. He is also possibly wearing lavender lipstick. 

Dean, who made that cringe-worthy comment when he first met Rachel, is shaking and grinning. Rachel lies about loving the comment. This is your season, Rachel. You do not have to lie to anyone.

Here comes Eric, my first round draft pick. Now I find him boring. 

DeMario, who brought plane tickets to Vegas to his first encounter with Rachel, looks forward to more “first moments” with her. His confidence is overwhelming. 

Gross Blake E arrives with a marching band. Do less, Blake E. I implore you. (Side note: Blake E’s hair is straight up disgusting).

Let’s make misogynistic comments about Rachel! A smart and funny woman? How is that possible? No woman has ever been smart AND funny! There must be some sort of catch! Several men’s heads explode. 

Fred, who knew Rachel in elementary school, brings a yearbook. Rachel remembers his bad behavior. I sincerely hope he becomes this season’s Liz the Doula. (Miss you, Liz!)

Jonathan, the tickle monster, makes me scream into a pillow. If anyone ever tried to tickle me upon meeting me I would actually knock them out. Not appropriate, creepy Jonathan. 

Lee, whose guitar lets me know it’s alright to hate him, wastes no time in introducing himself as a monster. He is a self-proclaimed singer/songwriter, and a me-proclaimed douchebag.

Alex the Mensa genius brings a vacuum because why not?

Milton, who literally admitted that he wanted to be discovered by a talent agent, takes a selfie with Rachel. Bye!

Adam brings a mannequin named Adam Jr. Adam Jr. (AJ) will more than likely compete on Bachelor in Paradise because Rachel hates him. AJ is left in the corner where he conspires against all of the other men in the house whilst Jonathan tickles people. 

Matt is a penguin. Can’t wait until Alexis decks him on Paradise. 

Grant arrives in an ambulance. 

Anthony is wearing a beige suit. Different!

Jamey is unsavory upon first sight and unsavory upon further inspection.

Jack Stone has a great (crocodile) smile. Maybe he uses it to bite people. 

Mohit makes some kind of comment about her having the upper hand. Is he a dom? A misogynist? Both? Neither? Where are his dancing family members?

A man whose legal name is Jedidiah quotes a Bible verse about crying. He is not wearing a full suit. 

Michael brings a brownie. I pick him.

The men wonder who will go crazy. Here’s Whaboom. He is contractually obligated to show up when someone says “crazy,” “maniac,” “Whaboom,” or “testicles.” He turns bright red while yelling and carries a megaphone. Can't wait until he’s full drunk.

All 31 men (and 1 mannequin) are now in the mansion. Time for Rachel to like actually kind of meet them, but not really because chances are they’ll speak with her for like 10 minutes each and continuously steal her from each other. 

Josiah tells Rachel his story, but she's only kind of buying what he's selling. It’s ok. They just need time to fall in love.

Dean and Rachel build a sand castle together. Dean, the youngest man in the mansion, thinks this is cute. Rachel is his babysitter.

Rob brought a baseball card with Rachel on it. 

Anthony would like to understand Rachel.

Eric and Rachel dance again, but the spark is gone. 

Someone gave AJ a glass of champagne. He is a child! He cannot drink! 

Matt the Penguin asks if Rachel prefers Michael Jackson or Prince while AJ (who, like a clown, is hilarious and terrifying) (mostly terrifying) professes his love for Rachel in French.

Rachel remembered Fred the moment she saw him. He’s the top 5 guy who makes her feel comfortable, connected to her past, but he won't win. 

Bryan steals Rachel. He is mature and handsome and surely top 5 material. His confidence, unlike DeMario’s, is endearing because it’s over-the-top in a funny way. You can tell he doesn't really believe all of these things about himself. (I hope). Rachel and Bryan kiss. She didn’t want to kiss anyone tonight, but says that she enjoyed him. 

The first impression rose is brought out. Everyone starts sweating (and drinking). Let’s be honest. Bryan is getting the rose. No one else spent that kind of time with Rachel. And, as a first impression rose winner herself, she knows who’s real and who’s fake. 

DeMario talks a lot, according to Josiah. Rachel is impressed by his confidence. 

Jamey mentioned that his suit cost $2,000. He is Gob Bluth and I was right to hate him.

Men swarm Rachel. She is starting to get nervous. Cancel the season! Send everyone home! Let Rachel have fun in the mansion by herself. 

Mohit is drunk and can't seem to find the right way to steal Rachel. 

Rachel tells Peter that she doesn’t like chocolate while Whaboom narrates through a megaphone. 

Blake E hates Whaboom so I officially love Whaboom. I would very much like to see Whaboom deck Blake E. I would very much like to see anyone (especially Rachel) deck Blake E.

None of these men seem to realize that they can only have a few minutes with Rachel. There are 31 of you and her time is more valuable than all of yours combined. Get with the picture. 

I also just realized that Alex brought a vacuum because when we first met Rachel during Nick’s season she danced with a vacuum. Fine.

“Cash me outside, how bow dah?” asks Josiah. Oh, Josiah. I was rooting for you. 

Kenny brings up his daughter -- his favorite person in the whole world. Maybe I was wrong to judge him. He’s a good father. 

The first impression rose goes to Bryan because duh. Mohit gasps. He is the DGAP.

it’s finally time for the first rose ceremony!

Roses go to: 

- Normal Peter

- Will Urkel

- Smiley Jack Stone

- Slimy Jamey

- Forgettable Iggy

- Dance Machine Eric

- Confident DeMario

- Jonathan the Creep

- Transphobic Bryce

- Alex the Mega Genius

- Kenny the Wrestling Dad

- Baby Dean

- Matt the Penguin

- Anthony (and his eyebrows)

- Brady the Lip Gloss Aficionado

- Josiah the Future Winner 

- Hatable Lee

- Fashion-forward Diggy

- Fred from Camp

- Adam (but not Adam Jr, which is rude)

- Blake E who is more than likely sticky 

and last, but certainly not least

- Whaboom (because this is reality television)

Roses do not go to:

- Bland Rob

- Drunk Mohit

- Forgettable Kyle 

- Blake K (who actually voluntarily left to see his grandfather in the ICU -- i.e. the true winner of this season)

- Grant, who was not on this episode

- Bible-quoting Jedidiah

- Milton, who will never get the chance to be famous now (FIRST CRY OF THE SEASON)

and

- Brownie-bringing Michael

Alright, the season has begun. Who will win? Who will lose? Who will beat the crap out of Blake E? Here’s to finding out!

[minimin1993]

S/M 55

Warning: Finally.

“Well look who finally blessed us with their presence.” Anthony said raising his eyebrows at the pair who finally got dressed and came back out to their friends who were all sporting the same smirk on their face. 

“Come on don’t be jealous, if I had a girl like that I would have done the same thing.” Toby said winking at Sebastian who sits down pulling Min on his lap again. “But I gotta admit you guys are not trying to even hid it, god damn look at those marks.” 

“What can I say, my girl likes it rough.” Sebastian said grabbing his drink. 

After that the pair just starts to enjoy the rest of the night which their friends certainly made it interesting when they both got put on the spot when 2 strippers came in dressing in a skimpy Bucky and Linda outfit for their lap dance, before the night came to an end with everyone clearly drunk out of their minds.

Wedding day 

“Damn Sebastian stop pacing you are going to put a hole in the floor.” Sebastian mother said as all the groomsmen watch Sebastian pace almost frantically around the hotel room. 

“Ma, what if she gets cold feet and doesn’t show up? What if she realize what a mess I am and doesn’t want to marry me anymore? Oh my god… What if….” 

“Sebby calm down, anyone with eyes can clearly see how much she loves you. Funny enough I already knew she was going to be the one the first time I met her. So don’t worry because when the time comes she will be walking down that asle.” 

“Thank you ma.” Sebastian said giving his mom a kiss on her cheek.

“Now if you excuse me I have to go check my soon to be daughter-in law.” 

Gloria excused herself from Sebastian room heading over to Min hotel room only to find all her bridesmaid knocking frantically on the bathroom door. “Minnie come out, everything is going to be fine.” Tiffany said trying to calm Min down who can be heard crying on the other side of the door. 

“What happen?” Gloria asked walking over to Tiffany and others. 

“She scared.” Tiffany sighed. 

“Let me talk to her. You guys wait and get ready in the other room.” 

“Thank you Gloria.” Tiffany said as they head to the living room to finish getting ready.

“Min dear open the door its Mom.” Gloria said softly, hearing the girl on the other side sniff and unlocks the door. Gloria walks in and sees the girl's eyes buffy looking sad and lost giving her a hug. “What's wrong dear?” 

“I’m scared that the moment I walk out there Sebastian will realize he doesn’t want me anymore because of how broken I am.” Min cried out hearing Gloria laugh lightly. 

“Oh dear, you and him are almost identical it's hilarious.” 

“What do you mean?” Min pulled away looking at Gloria who was softly wiping away her tears with a smile on her face. 

“When I was over their with Sebastian, he was pacing the entire room going on about what if you get cold feet and not show up.” 

“Really?” 

“Yes, and guess what my dear. In the years I have watched my son grow up I have never seen him this happy nor talk about anyone like he does about you. Trust me when I say this that boy loves you with everything he's got and he isn’t going to stop anytime soon if ever.” Gloria said pulling the girl out of the bathroom to the vanity where they were dolling her up for the wedding. “Now if you agree let's finish getting you ready before we give that boy a heart attack thinking you won’t show up, even though I think he still might have one from how beautiful you look my dear.” 

“Thank you mom.” Min smiles brightly at her. 

“Anytime.” Gloria said before calling in the bridal team back over to finish the girl up. 

When it was time for the Ceremony to start Sebastian was a sweating mess but his boys assured him everything is going to be alright. After Sebastian walked down the aisle with a huge smile on his face looking at his friends and family in the crowd he watches their groomsmen (Chace, Chris, Charles, Ethan, Paul, Will, and Toby) and bridesmaid (Tiffany, Jennie, Key, CL Eunji, Jin, and Linji) walk down the aisle looking dashing as ever.

(Bridesmaid dresses, minus Key who is in a suit)

His brain was starting to get negative thoughts once again until the music changed and everyone turned to look at the door. The moment the door opens, Sebastian swore his heart stopped and nothing around him existed but Min.

Min had her head bowed down nervously gripping Mr. Hwang's arm until she looks up and looks eyes with Sebastian who had the most beautiful smile on his face causing her to break into a huge smile herself. The closer she got to him the more her heart was rapidly beating until Mr. Hwang handed her hand over to Sebastian.

“She is all yours now son.” He said before taking a sit next to his wife. 

“I love you beautiful.” Sebastian whispered smiling down at her twinkling eyes. 

“I love you too handsome.” Min winks at him causing him to chuckle before they both look over at the priest. 

“To all present I say: We are gathered here, not to witness the beginning of what will be, but rather what already is! We do not create this marriage, because we cannot. We can and do, however, celebrate with Sebastian and Min the wondrous and joyful occurrence that has already taken place in their lives, and the commitment they make today. I have been told that they have written their own vows. Sebastian would you like to start us off.” The priest gesture to Sebastian who turns back to Min grabbing both her hands taking a deep breathe. 

“I remember the first day I met you and I swore since that day you are going to be the death of me and till this day I still stand by that and more because I have never expected that that was the day I met the love of my life. Growing up I never imagine myself ever getting married but dam was I wrong, here comes this 5’3 girl who snatched my phone out of my hand and ran around the studio so fast I never expect to catch her. But here I am standing under god promising myself to her because I have caught something more valuable. Her heart; even though I still wonder why on earth did this woman choose me when I have nothing to offer her. I promise to be the best husband I can be even though I have no stinking clue how to do that. I promise to love you and cherish you till the end of time and more. I promise you my mind, body, and soul even though you already owned that like how you already own my heart. I can’t imagine my life without you and I can’t wait to continue this crazy journey with you by my side forever. I love you.” Sebastian vowed wiping the happy tears that Min was slowly shedding. 

“Wow that is such a tough one to follow. And like your mom had told me how we are identical because I also started my vows with the first day I met you too. I remember how I was talking to Chris and Kevin when this perfect specimen walks over to us with the cutest smile I have ever seen and lets not let me forget the most gorgeous pair of eyes I will never get tired of looking into. But like you said I also never expected to meet the love of my life. Throughout my life I have gone through many horrible things and if I was given a choice to redo everything I will still choose to go through that again if it leads me right back into your arms. I promise to be the best wife I can be to the best of my knowledge. I promise to love you with everything I have and more because you deserve someone better than me but you still somehow decided to choose me. I promise you my mind, heart, body, and soul because I would be nothing without you by my side. Sebastian Stan, I love you.” Min said now wiping Sebastian tears.

“You've both chosen to wear rings as a reminder of these promises. People often say wedding bands are a perfect circle, with no beginning and no end. As you look at these rings over the years, I hope you remember that. You've created something invaluable, and just as I know you'll protect these rings, I'm confident you'll protect the commitments you've made to one another today. Sebastian, as you place this ring on Min’s finger, repeat these words after me: This ring symbolizes my love for you and the commitments we made today.” The priest said as Sebastian slips the ring on Min finger repeating the words. “Min, as you place this ring on Sebastian's finger, repeat these words after me: This ring symbolizes my love for you and the commitments we made today.” 

“By the power of your love and commitment to each other, and by the power vested in me I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may now seal your vows with a kiss.” Sebastian was beaming with happiness and joy as he pulls Min close to him dipping his head down to give her a kiss that their friends and family started to hoot and holler nonstop. “Congratulations. Family and loved ones, I now present to you the newly married couple and . Let's hear it for 'em!” 

“I love you Mrs. Stan.” Sebastian whispered into her lips who was grinning up at him. “I love you too Mr. Stan.”   

Reception

“I am blessed to know these 2 idiot for a decade and lets just say that it has been a journey for sure waiting for them to admit their feelings for each other. I have watched them start out as just friends pretending to not acknowledge that they literally needed each other presence like water. Even when they both were in other relationships they still can not lose the other person, like come on who has each other house keys to even having a personal closet in each other's house. Sebastian I hope you know you are one lucky ass person and I swear if you ever hurt our little princess which I know you won't but you will have the entire Marvel family come after you. I love you both and I wish you both nothing but the best. To Sebastian and Min.” Chris said raising a toast to the newlyweds for everyone to join in with him.

“Now if the time is right I welcome the bride and groom up to have their first dance.” The MC announced as Sebastian pulls up a blushing Min over to the dance floor and the music starts to play. Julia Michaels Heaven. 

Heaven ^^

(Listen to the song in this part, it literally how I describe Sebastian Stan and this whole story was inspired by this song. Even if I didn’t portray him as a bad guy but you know what I am talking about *wink*) 

“I love how this song kind of represents our relationship in a way.” Sebastian said as they swayed to the music. 

“I can’t help it, you are my bad boy who brings heaven to me.” Min said smiling up at him. 

“So you would do anything for me?” 

“Would you do anything for me?” 

“Without a question babygirl.” Sebastian said looking at Min in her eyes, she pulls him down and gives him a loving kiss that took his breath away.