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herrmannhalsteadproduction · 7 months

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500 Miles (Chapter Nine)

Summary: This is Part Nineteen of my series A Herrmann/Halstead Production. It is an AU where Christopher Herrmann's mom had an affair with Pat Halstead resulting in a baby. The series follows this OC character (Rebecca "Bex" Herrmann) as she grows up and gets to know her brothers and the various Chicago teams. It is very much an AU, just to underscore that. It doesn't follow the same timeline and characters will follow different paths.

Click here for the Series Rundown where you can find the links to read all of the previous installments (which I highly recommend you do so that this one makes sense.)

Rating: Teen and Up

Relationships: Christopher Herrmann & Original Female Character, Jay Halstead & Original Female Character, Will Halstead & Original Female Character, Jay Halstead & Will Halstead, Greg 'Mouse' Gerwitz/Original Female Character, Will Halstead/Connor Rhodes, Assorted OC Couples

Warnings: Light Angst, Emotional Conversations, Dealing with Past Trauma, Minor Character Injury, Swearing, Implied Sexual Content, Kissing, An Unholy Amount of Fluff

A/N: To underscore my previous note, this is an alternate universe so things have unfolded differently. This will not follow the canon arcs exactly by any means. But I hope you'll still enjoy it!

Chapter One Chapter Two Chapter Three Chapter Four Chapter Five Chapter Six Chapter Seven Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chris

Kol did their team another solid by catching Olinsky’s hit for the third out. Hopefully he’d remember who fed him bacon this morning and go take a nap for the second half of the inning. (Chris made a mental note to remind the kids not to tell Will about that particular dietary lapse.)

21 hadn’t managed to get any runs so if 51 could get a few in, this was a chance to get ahead and stay there. Chris went over their batting order and swallowed a sigh. Capp was sitting out voluntarily due to last year’s black eye which was fine except for the fact that Tony was with him in solidarity. Guy wasn’t the fastest player, but he had a real Babe Ruth quality when it came to hitting balls out of the park.

Now instead of Tony, they had Sylvie who was a total wild card.

They could make this work.

Probably.

Casey was first up and Bex was immediately up to her shenanigans. “Don’t you have a canteen to run?” Chris hollered at her.

She ignored him, waving her friend Emery over to start up one of her chants. “Hey, batter, what’s the matter, can’t you stand a little chatterrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr?”

Chris swore she binged every sports movie she could before each Grudge Match so she could get refreshed on all the trash talk and whatnot that she possibly could. Points for commitment, but he was glad she usually used her powers for good.

Luckily, Casey was used to her by now and remained unphased. He hit a double off the first pitch and had all of 51 on their feet, cheering.

“Attaboy, Casey. That’s what I’m talking about,” Chris said, clapping a hand against his clipboard. “Good start, good start. Severide! Get in there!”

“Yeah, Severide!” Bex echoed. “Get in there and hit it right down the middle there. Kol’s waiting! He’s gonna get it! I can feel it!”

…and then the god-damned dog did exactly that.

Leapt up and plucked the ball right out of the air. Severide cursed as Dr. Abrams called him out—cursing again as Jay laughed his ass off at him while he walked back to the dugout.

“Daddy!” Annabelle squealed; Lee Henry lifting her up so she could hang over the fence. “Did you see that? Did you see? Isn’t Kol the best baseball player?”

“Yeah, I saw, honey.” Chris tried to inject some measure of enthusiasm into his words. “He sure is something.” Hiding a hand behind his back, he surreptitiously gave the finger to the Canteen Crew who were all loudly agreeing with Annabelle and cheering for Kol.

Brett was up next and Chris looked up to the heavens, praying for her to at least hit it away from the freakin’ dog.

***

Sylvie

So…the Grudge Match was intense…

The warnings she’d received had not prepared her for the sheer level of bonkersness that the day was bringing—and they were only in the first inning!

Now it was her turn at bat and Herrmann had told her to ‘just do her best’ and ‘have fun’ in a kind of manically casual way that was super reassuring. It wasn’t like she’d never played baseball before. It had only been fifteen-ish years…maybe twenty. But it was like riding a bike, right? Some things you never forget.

“Like riding a bike,” she whispered to herself as she stepped up to the plate.

She could see Bex and the rest of the Canteen Crew gathered near the backstop fence and she braced herself for their good-natured ribbing. Otis and Cruz had prepared her for the heckling as well as the whole Pick thing. She had to admit it’d been pretty entertaining so far.

Sylvie stepped up to the plate and nodded to signal her readiness. Sam Kent, a patrol officer from 21 and one of Bex’s many friends, was pitching. He had a mean fastball. Sylvie braced herself—

“Come on, Sylvie! You can do it!” Bex cheered followed by the voices of the rest of her gang. Sylvie’s head whipped around to stare at them in shock.

She was the Pick?

…she was the Pick!

“Aw!” She was totally and utterly touched. “You guys!”

“Strike one!” Dr. Abrams called out as the ball thudded into the catcher’s mitt.

Oh, crud.

Bex shook her head in a fondly exasperated way as Herrmann’s faint cry of “Brett!” made its way over to them and Sylvie smiled sheepishly.

“Come on, girl!” Bex called out.

“Second time’s the charm, Brett!” Connor hollered.

Sylvie adjusted her stance, properly ready this time. She kept her eye on the ball as it came winging toward her and—

Yes! Sent it sailing toward second base. Sylvie took off and ran as fast as she could, making it to first just after Jay had thrown the ball to Kevin.

“Safe!” Maggie declared and Sylvie did a little dance, waving at Casey who had made it to third.

“Nice moves, Brett,” Kevin murmured in her ear before tossing the ball back to Sam.

“Why thank you.” She grinned back at him, feeling the blush that always crept into her cheeks when he looked at her like that.

“Eyes on the game, people,” Maggie said, the laughter clear in her voice.

Sylvie bumped hips with Kevin, still smiling, but turning her attention back to their next player coming up to bat. “Woo-hoo! Yeah, Kidd!”

***

Hailey

Kidd managed another hit and Hailey could hear Trudy’s groans clear across the diamond from her spot on third base. Halstead tagged Brett out before she got to second, but Casey was racing toward home already.

All of 51 leapt to their feet as he crossed home. Bex and the Canteen Crew, inexplicably, threw their arms in the air and yelled “GOAL!” with varying levels of enthusiasm.

Hailey shot a look over at Halstead, hoping for an explanation, but his face was buried in his mitt as he groaned. She turned to Mouse over in the short stop position instead.

He huffed out a laugh at her wordless question, staring out a Halstead’s sister with that unbearably soft smile he’d been wearing more and more. “Bex started doing it to annoy her brothers,” he said and Hailey waved a hand at him.

"Enough said." Hailey had three older brothers herself.

Sometimes being annoying was reason enough.

***

Bex

Otis was two strikes in at bat and not being very appreciative of Bex and Emery’s encouragement to put his back into it.

They had a little dance move and everything.

He put almost as much work into ignoring them as he did focusing on the next pitch. And it paid off! He sent the ball flying off to centre field…

Right into Kol’s waiting muzzle.

Otis stomped his way back to the dugout when Dr. Abram’s called him out. “This is some Air Bud-level bullshit!”

Kol barked from his spot out by Al in centre field.

Bex pulled herself up off the ground where she was currently dying with laughter to yell, “Hey, Kol says watch your language,” and Otis leveled a murderous look at her.

Seriously. Best Grudge Match ever.

***

Will

Bex and Emery switched off with Devon and Isaac for the beginning of the second inning so the guys could have a go at heckling Sam when 21 took their turn at bat. She declared it their right as boyfriends.

The considering-slash-mischievous look Connor gave him was making Will eternally grateful Med didn’t have a team.

Bex then got into a discussion with Emery and Donna over how weird it was having Police Officer Sam Kent around at the same time as Dr. Sam Abrams and whether or not they should give them both nicknames.

A nickname.

For Sam Abrams.

Will and Connor steered clear of that chat, filing it firmly under the list of things only Bex could get away with.

The game finally started to heat up a bit and by the beginning of the third inning, 21 had pulled ahead four runs to three. (Jay scored one of them, pointing a sharp finger and mouthing ‘DON’T’ as he ran past them only to be blasted by extra loud cheers of ‘GOAL!’ as a result.)

Will and Connor took a little break from the canteen to watch for awhile, enjoying the shenanigans and keeping up the heckling when Bex prompted them.

They’d turned to head back and relieve Donna at the grill when a wave of noise went up from the crowd. Will looked around to see a foul ball come flying over the back stop, straight for Connor’s head.

He plucked it out of the air right as Connor looked up, eyes wide. Will grinned over at him.

“Saved your life.”

Connor rolled his eyes, but leaned into his side. “My hero.”

“It was for my own benefit, really,” Will said, tossing the ball back over for Abrams to catch. “Kinda like your face how it is.”

“Just kinda?” Connor arched an eyebrow at him.

“Kind of a lot.” Will leaned in for a kiss. “Among your many other excellent qualities.”

Bex brushed past them holding a tray full of popcorn bags and drinks. “Back in a sec! Keep heckling!!!”

“Where are you—” Will turned to Emery since Bex was already travelling at full velocity. “Where is she going?”

“Do any of us really know where we’re going?” Emery asked back solemnly.

“Em.” Will sighed as Connor snorted behind him.

“No clue,” she said with a laugh. “Bex is gonna Bex. She said she’d be back though.”

“Yeah, she mentioned that as she flew by.” It had to be something important. Bex wouldn’t abandon the Canteen ship so Will would just focus on keeping things organized in the meantime. “Alright,” he said. “Let’s see how we’re doing for supplies and figure out if we need grab anything before the fifth inning break.”

***

Bex

Bex carefully balanced her load as she made her way over to the bleachers on the CPD side of the field. She walked as quick as she could to avoid being pulled into a chat.

She was on a mission.

She’d spotted Mouse’s group sitting together at the start of the game, but none of them had stopped by the canteen yet. Bex wasn’t sure if they were hesitant to approach her or waiting until the break or…any number of the scenarios that she’d run through her brain.

In any case, this felt like the better plan. Break the ice with snacks.

Very high success rate.

Usually.

Don’t overthink it, she coached herself. These were Mouse’s people. She’d already met them once and they’d been lovely. They just wanted to get to know her a bit. Because they—

Oh, god, because they were Mouse’s family—she was meeting—capital M Meeting— Mouse’s family and they weren’t even technically, officially dating yet.

The tray wobbled.

“Cool,” she whispered to herself. “Everything is cool, cool, cool.”

Rounding the corner of the bleachers, Bex approached Mouse’s group. Ed spotted her right away and leapt up to offer his help with the tray.

“Hi,” Bex said, relinquishing her hold on the tray and giving the group a little wave. “I brought snacks.” Ugh. Excellent start, Bex.

“We were just debating when to get snacks,” Ed said, quirking a smile at her as he handed out the bags and drinks to the others. “Before or after the fifth inning rush.”

“Things definitely get a little hairy over there during the break,” she said. “But we always make sure we’re well stocked so they’ll be plenty left if you want to play it safe and wait for the start of the sixth.”

“We can always send Ed in,” Ada said, poking at his shoulder with a laugh. “His elbow game is strong. Good man to have in a crowd.”

“It’s not—I don’t—Ada—” Ed sputtered and Bex stifled a giggle. It was kind of nice to know the guy could get ruffled like a regular human. Every story she’d heard involved him being the calmest person on the planet which was slightly intimidating.

“Bex, join us,” Lucy said. She shuffled over with a warm smile. “Can the canteen spare you for a bit?”

“Oh, for sure.” She waved a hand over at the Canteen Crew. “I roped my brother in this year so we’ve got plenty of help.”

“Which brother is this?” Frank asked. “We’ve heard about Jay and he’s playing with Mouse on the CPD team, right?”

“Yup, so this brother is Will,” Bex said. “He’s two years older than Jay and a doctor at Med. My oldest brother is Chris. That’s him over there with the CFD team.”

The group peered over the fence to get a glimpse at Chris across the diamond. He was currently smacking his face into his clipboard so as far as first impressions went, it was…fairly accurate.

“Three older brothers,” Lucy said with a whistle. “I thought I had it bad with two.”

Bex laughed. “Yeah, that’s just my biological brothers,” she said. “Factor in all of my adopted brothers?” She waved a hand at the whole field. “It’s a little nuts sometimes.”

“Mouse says you’re an artist?” Chuck asked and Bex started telling them about her work and her projects she had on the go and then asking them about their jobs.

It went on like that for a while; all of them sharing pieces of their lives with her and her doing the same in return. She had them all laughing with the history of the Grudge Match game and the reasoning behind the Canteen Crews antics.

“We gotta join in with the goal cheer and wave our signs if Mouse gets a run,” Lucy said, eyes going bright with the idea.

“Oooh, perfect,” Ada agreed. She turned to Bex then and the change in the air was visceral. “Speaking of Mouse,” she continued. “What are your intentions?”

Her what?

“Ada,” Ed groaned.

“He’s our friend,” Ada said, ignoring the daggers Ed was shooting at her. “This is our job.”

Realization shot through Bex in a flash and her heart clenched, feeling so full she thought it might burst. “Is this—are you giving me the shovel talk?”

***

Ada

Bex went white for a moment before her eyes went wide and shiny as she took a sharp breath. Ada had half a second to worry that she had monumentally screwed up before a wide smile spread across her face.

“This is—oh, my god, this is so great,” she said, pulling Ada in for a tight hug.

Ada looked to the rest of the group for help as she was squeezed by someone a foot shorter than her, but they were zero help. Every single one of them looked as flabbergasted as she felt.

“Okay.” Bex pulled back, giving herself a shake and straightening her shoulders. “Lay it on me.”

“Well, it feels weird now,” Ada said, throwing her hands up and Bex’s face immediately fell.

“No! No, I’m sorry,” she said, reaching for Ada again and then stopping, planting her hands in her lap. “I’m just—it’s so great.”

“Great how?” Chuck asked slowly. He was eyeing Bex like he was putting together the pieces of a puzzle only he could see at the moment. Ada hoped he filled her in soon or that Bex did because she was very lost.

“Do you see that field?” She pointed out at the players running around and shouting. “Pretty much any one out there would give Mouse a shovel talk for me in a heartbeat. And there’s more people beyond that.” She sighed, gathering her words. “I don’t say that to brag or anything. I’ve been really lucky when it comes to…acquiring family members.” She smiled before looking back at them. “Mouse doesn’t talk to me about his family. Not yet, anyway.”

A slight nod to what they all knew he was working toward with the walks.

“I’ve always had the sense that they’re not really in the picture,” Bex said and Ada didn’t want to be speaking out of turn, but she knew her face was saying plenty. “Right,” Bex nodded. “So. when it came to having people—to having family—I knew he had Jay and he had me…” Bex slowly looked around at every member of their group, smile growing impossibly brighter. “But he has all of you too. You’re his family and that makes me—I’m so happy for him.” Her laugh came out a little wet and she shook her head before taking a deep breath. “Okay. Shovel talk. Let’s go.”

“I don’t know if I can do it now,” Ada began, but Chuck was already leaning in.

“Mouse is very special to us,” he said in that soft, calm voice of his. “We have been there with him through some of his darkest times and through all of the hard work he put in to pull himself through. It’s taking a lot for him to take these steps with you. All I ask is that you honour the effort he’s making and…give him time.”

Bex nodded solemnly. “I do,” she said. “And I will.”

“Don’t break his heart,” Frank burst out, surprising them all. “I know you can’t really promise that because no one knows how these things will turn out, but please. Don’t break his heart.” The last part was whispered, like a prayer Frank was sending out. The rest of them felt it echo in their own hearts.

“The last thing I want to do is break Mouse’s heart,” Bex said. She chewed on her lip for a moment before continuing. “I don’t know what you’d classify what we’re doing right now as—aside from ‘taking it slow’, but it feels like more than that. Because everything with Mouse is more for me.” Her cheeks went pink for a moment. “This kind of feels like something I should be saying to him.”

“You don’t have to explain,” Ed said and she held up a hand.

“I want to. At least a little bit,” she said. “I think the truth of it all for me is that no matter what, even if things don’t work out romantically between us—but I’m really, really hopeful that they will—like I said, Mouse is part of my family. I will always be there for him. Always.”

Ada caught Chuck’s eye and raised a brow. To be fair, Bex had kind of proven that already by not walking away from Mouse after the first round of horrific miscommunication.

Girl was pretty committed.

“We had a sense of that,” Chuck said, patting Bex’s shoulder and putting voice to Ada’s thoughts. “But it’s always nice to hear. Now.” He pointed out at the field. “What can you tell us about this fantastic dog?”

Bex’s laughter pealed out infectiously and she immediately began launching into the story of Kol the dog’s adoption by her brother Will and the many adventures he’d had since then.

Ada’s smile grew as she listened, making eye contact with the rest of the group and bumping shoulders with Ed. Even without talking, she knew they were on the same page. This was good, that they had come here today—that they’d seen for themselves.

Bex was the right person for Mouse.

And Ada was pretty certain Mouse was the right person for Bex. Next time his doubts started to creep in, their group would have no trouble reminding him of that.

***

Jay

It was finally the end of the fifth inning. Break time.

Their team had held on to their lead, stretching it to eight to five at this point much to Chris’s despair. Jay had scored another one of those runs himself thanks to Kol finally deciding to take a break. Last Jay had spotted him, the evil beast had been snoozing under the CFD side of the bleachers while Annabelle decorated him with dandelions.

Maybe he could slip her five bucks to keep him there.

(He should have twenty ready because that kid could haggle.)

Jay lined up with the rest of the team to get some kind of snack. He was freaking starving. As he got closer to the tables, he grinned at the sight of the Canteen Crew bopping around as they hustled through serving everyone. Since the game was paused, Bex had turned the tunes on.

Strictly oldies.

It was the one genre they’d landed on that hadn’t caused an argument. The year they’d played classic rock had been a blood bath. Who knew Mouch had such strong feelings about Rush?

…everyone did, now, but at the time? Jay blew out a breath at the memory.

Nah, oldies were a safe bet. Plus, now he was treated to the sight of Will dancing around with Bex singing along to Rockin’ Robin as they handed out burgers and hotdogs.

Where was his phone? He needed a picture of this. A camera sound snapped to his right and he looked over to see Chris already taking care of it.

“Send me a copy?” Jay asked.

“Oh, it’s going in the group chat,” Chris said with a grin.

Jay kind of loved that ‘the group chat’ could mean anything from the one he and Will were in with Chris and Cindy and about ten other options ending with the one that had…pretty much everyone.

“What can I get you?” Emery asked with a grin when he stepped up to the table at last.

“Literally anything,” Jay said, eyeing the vast selections. “But definitely a burger if there’s one available.”

“On it!” She disappeared for a moment before returning with a heaping plate. He dug into his pocket for his wallet and she waved him off. “It’s on me,” Emery said. She nodded her head toward the end of the table and he followed. “I wanted to say thanks for checking out the places I was looking at.”

“No problem at all,” Jay said, picking up his burger and took a huge bite. He was hungry, okay? “Bex said you went with the house?”

Emery shook her head, laughing at his attempts to talk around his mouthful and giving him a very Bex look. “Yeah, I signed the lease and I move in on the 15th.” She looked like she wanted to say more so Jay waited her out. Still chewing.

“Thank you as well for the self defence class recommendations,” she said. “I looked into them and I found one with an instructor I really like. I start this week.”

Jay swallowed, wanting to be intelligible for this. It was a big step. “I’m really glad to hear that,” Jay said. “And seriously, I was happy to help. We all are. You need anything, you’ve got my number, right?”

“Bex gave it to me, along with possibly the number of every single person who works at your precinct?” Emery shrugged in that way everyone did when faced with a very Bex thing.

Jay was about to ask how, but decided he really didn’t want to know. Especially when the answer was gonna be one: something that skirted all kinds of rules or two: …Platt.

“I should get back to work,” Emery said, jerking a thumb over her shoulder. “But thanks again.”

“No problem again,” Jay said, already stuffing his mouth full of more burger. “And thanks for the food!”

He ambled over to the CPD dugout and listened to Platt talk ‘battle plans’ while he finished of his meal.

***

Bex

“Thanks, Bex,” Kevin said as he accepted his plate from her. “Hey, uh, got a minute?” He jerked his head to the side and Bex looked out at the dwindling line, deciding she did have a minute.

“What’s up?” Kevin looked uncharacteristically nervous. To the point where Bex was almost concerned about what he might want to talk to her about.

“Remember how Tay brought Shay to one of the game nights?” he asked, letting the question hang in the air.

“Yeah, because she wanted a ‘relaxed’ way to bring her into the friend group and I still say she was lucky the night turned out the way it did because historically game night—oh, my god—” The dots. They connected. “You want to bring Sylvie to game night.”

Kevin ducked his head with a shy little nod and Bex melted.

“She can totally come to a game night,” Bex said, reaching out to grab his arm and do a little happy dance. He didn’t join in, but that was fine. She could dance for two.

“Yeah?” Kevin grinned at her. “Good, that’s—hey, I was thinking though. She really likes outdoor stuff so maybe we could mix it up.”

Bex felt her smile freeze on her face. “Mix it up? Like…find a boardgame café with a patio?”

“Nah,” Kevin laughed. “Like that time we played ultimate frisbee. Or we could play touch football or have another baseball night? Something like that?”

“Those all sound like something. That could be done. By people.” Outside game night. Outside. Game night? They were words. But did they go together? No. No, they did not.

“Are you sure that would be okay because your voice got kinda high there at the end and I don’t wanna—I don’t wanna push or anything.” Aw, and now he was looking all nervous again and that was no good.

Ughhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh.

Okay. Bex could suck it up. She could do this. “We can absolutely figure out a fun—” (hngh) “—outdoor—” (oh, god) “—game night that you can invite Sylvie too and we’ll be fun friends and convince her that you’re actually cool.”

“If I needed to convince her of that, I wouldn’t be doing something with all of you people,” Kevin shot back. “Or at least not Ruzek.”

Bex swatted at him with a laugh. (Although that was fair.) “I’ll get a chat going and we’ll figure out some dates and ideas for you to take back to Sylvie, sound good?”

“Yeah,” Kevin said. “Really good. Thanks, Bex.”

“No worries.” She gave him a pat before he wandered off back toward the CPD dugout and sighed. The things she did for her gang.

Outdoor Game Night. Good lord.

“Come on, people,” Dr. Abrams called out. “Break is over in five minutes. Let’s finish this.”

***

Chris

By the beginning of the seventh inning, the clowns at 21 were still leading except now it was nine to seven. 51 was giving it their all. Still hustling as hard as they could.

Too hard, it turned out.

A gasp went through the crowd when Shay and Cruz both went the ball at the same time and collided in the out field. Hard.

Will and Connor were already jogging out onto the scene as if their whole team wasn’t made up of first responders, but the support was nice. Especially considering how much Shay’s nose was bleeding.

Not broken was the verdict. Which was good. Real good. But it meant Shay was out for the rest of the game.

She glared at him from her seat in the dugout. “It’d be nice if you could try to look less happy about this,” she sniped.

“I’m not happy! Not happy at all! I hate that you got hurt, Shay. It’s terrible. Want me to get you some ice?”

“Will’s already getting it,” she grumbled, waving him off. “Don’t worry about me. Just say it. What you’ve wanted to say all day.”

Chris fought back the grin that wanted to burst out as he turned to his two spare players.

“Tony. Get out there, man. You’re in the game.”

***

Connor

Everyone clapped for Shay when she came out to wave at the crowd and they announced that she was okay. Tony went out to take her place in left field.

Connor turned to Bex who was pretty vibrating with excitement beside him. “Are we happy with this turn of events?”

She made a face. “Not happy that Shay’s hurt,” she said. “Obviously. But we are happy that Tony’s in play. Wait until they’re at bat. You’ll see.”

The rest of the first half went well for the CPD team. They got another run when Mouse made it home. All of the spectators had picked up on Bex’s cheer by this point so he was faced with a rousing cry of “GOAL!” from all sides. Plus a crew of people waving signs with his name on them wildly.

He took it about as well as Mouse seemed to take any attention which was to duck his head with a little smile as he jogged back to the dugout.

That was the last of their luck though as three outs in quick succession had the teams switching places. Chris gave another rousing pep talk before 51 started up at the plate and that plus the addition of Tony seemed to have an effect.

Given how the game had gone so far, Connor wasn’t too sure how they were going to overcome a four run lead, but soon enough the bases were loaded.

But then Cruz stuck out.

And Stella stuck out.

One more out left and Tony was coming up to the plate.

Connor curled his fingers into the fence, holding his breath.

***

Chris

It wasn’t the be all, end all for them to win this game. It was for charity.

But Chris really, really wanted to win.

He wanted those bragging right and he wanted them bad.

Once Tony had been put into play, it seemed like they might be in reach, but now they were down two outs and Chris was praying to anyone who might be listening to throw a little luck their way.

Tony was finally up to bat. They could do this. “Come on, Tony,” Chris said, clapping his hands, getting everyone else to join in on the cheers. “You got this, buddy. You got this.”

The first pitch came through.

“Ball one,” Dr. Abrams called out.

Okay. Okay. That wasn’t a strike. That was fine. Tony was waiting for his pitch. Chris could respect that.

By the time they got through two strikes and two more balls, Chris was maybe starting to sweat a little.

“Tony!” Bex called out and Chris squawked at her. They did not need any trash talk right now, Rebecca Marie Freakin’ Herrmann.

She ignored him and waited until Tony turned to look at her. She nodded at him once. Slowly and silently. Tony nodded back. Just as slowly and silently.

What the—what the hell was that? Chris buried his face in his clipboard. He couldn’t watch this.

He looked up.

He closed his eyes.

He opened them and peered over the top of the clipboard.

Sam wound up and let loose with the pitch. Tony narrowed his eyes, adjusting his stance and—

—swung and—

CRACK!

Chris felt his heart stop until he caught sight of the ball in the air, flying, flying—straight out of the damn park. Mouch was slapping at his shoulders and people were cheering and his crew was rounding the bases—one, two, three, four! Four runs taking them to a total of eleven!

WHICH DEFINITELY BEAT TEN!

They won. They won!

Chris leapt into the fray, jumping around and cheering with the rest of his team as 21 clapped semi-reluctantly, but mostly with good-humour in the background.

They went through and did the good game handshakes and Chris was semi-certain he’d kept his grin to a respectable level of just a teeny bit smug.

Because they frickin’ won.

“This time,” Platt said, as she gripped his hand, apparently reading his mind at the same time.

“It’s the only time that matters until next time,” Chris shot back. Nothing was wrecking this high. Cindy and the kids came over to cover him in hugs and congratulations. Kol ambled up behind them, fully decorated with dandelions dotting his fur and a crown of them on top of his head. “You’re a good boy, Kol,” Chris said, crouching down to give him a scratch. “Even if you tried to destroy me. I forgive you. Yes, I do. You’re a good boy.”

“Daddy, can Kol sleep over again tonight?” Annabelle asked him, sweet as can be. Since they’d put their foot down about getting a dog of their own (not something they wanted to juggle with a little one on the way), Annabelle had been working double time on her efforts to have some sort of time share arrangement with Will over Kol.

Chris shot a look at Cindy who shrugged. Seemed like one more night would be manageable. “Fine by us, sweetheart,” Chris said, running a hand over Annabelle’s hair. “But you know who you need to ask…”

Annabelle was already off and running. “Uncle Willlllllll!”

***

Mouse

Now that the game was done, both sides were mingling, enjoying the last of the food from the canteen as the tunes started up again. Mouse leaned against the fence, smiling to himself as he watched Bex and Otis try to teach the Herrmann kids what he had to assume were dance moves from the fifties? Maybe the sixties?

The two of them had miles more confidence than skill, but the kids didn’t seem to care.

Especially since, as Mouse looked a little closer, it definitely seemed like Otis and Bex were fully making up moves now, egging each other on.

“Gonna join them?” Chuck asked, coming over to join him with the rest of the group close behind.

“I think you know the answer to that,” Mouse said and Chuck’s answering smile said he did.

“We had a lovely talk with her earlier,” Chuck continued and Mouse froze, then consciously tried to unfreeze because a talk was just a talk. It didn’t have to spell disaster.

“Our initial impression stands,” Ada said, jerking a nod at the Bex and Otis show. “We like her. A lot.”

“Glad to have your seal of approval,” Mouse murmured and he was. Their opinions held value for him. Held weight.

“Keep doing what you’re doing,” Chuck said, equally as quietly. Only for Mouse’s ears. “I have faith the two of you will get there in the end.”

Mouse watched as Bex threw her head back, laughing as she jumped around now with Boden and Donna joining the fray.

He hoped so. More than anything ever before, he hoped so.

***

Bex

“We took such good care of him, Uncle Will and he had so much fun and I promise we’ll take extra good care of him tonight,” Annabelle said, following Will around as they packed up the canteen supplies. “He probably won’t even want to come home…”

Bex could not even look at Will after that because she knew she’d burst out laughing. She could totally picture the look Annabelle was giving him right now. He didn’t stand a chance.

“You know,” Will began and Bex shook her head knowing already where this was going. And Chris said she was a pushover. “I think Kol would love to have another sleepover with you.” Careful pause. “But he should probably come back to my place after that because routine is important for dogs.”

Oooh, good save.

“Thank you, Uncle Will!” Annabelle wrapped her arms around his neck, strangling him a little, but Will didn’t seem to mind. He whispered something in her ear and she turned to Bex when she finally let him go.

And uh-oh. There was that look.

Will smirked at her.

“Auntie Bex,” Annabelle said, wandering over to her. “Uncle Will said you were sad about not coming to the sleepover last night but you can come tonight if you want? I know Mommy and Daddy will say yes.”

Like she would ever say no.

“Miss Annabelle, I would love to come over for a sleepover,” Bex said, reaching out for a high five which Annabelle happily slapped. “I need to run home and grab some stuff, but I’ll be over soon.”

Cindy and Chris would probably be happy to have the help kid-wrangling after the long day they’d had and she had plans to meet Chris for breakfast tomorrow anyway so this just simplified things.

“Hey!” Emery came up to grab another load for the car. “I’m headed over to Kira and Malia’s tonight. Girls’ night sleepover. Want to come?”

“I’ve actually received an exclusive invite to a Herrmann house sleepover complete with dogs and small children,” Bex said. “But thank you for the offer.”

“Next you’re going to tell me there’s a pillow fort to go with this exclusive invite,” Emery said, giving her a mock pout.

“I mean, it’s not out of the question.” Things could get crazy over there.

“Lucky!” Emery picked up one of the last boxes and started heading back for the car. “I’m texting Malia and Kira back. They need to up their game.”

Bex laughed, picking up the actual last box as Will and Connor took down the last table. She walked by them on her way to the car. “Looks like you have the place to yourselves tonight, boys.” She leaned in to whisper at Will, shaking her head. “As if that wasn’t your plan all along. Diabolical, sir. Di-a-bolical.”

Will didn’t bother to deny it. Just shot her a little smirk.

Whatever. He wasn’t getting a pillow fort.

Probably.

Hunh—nope, not asking.

***

Will

Will crowded Connor against the car after they loaded the last of their supplies in the trunk. “Did you hear that? Got the place all to ourselves.”

“I did,” Connor said, raising his eyebrows. “Neatly done, if not, as Bex said, fairly diabolical.”

“Well, I had plenty of motivation because certain promises were made this morning,” Will said, tugging at Connor’s cap. “About you…and this outfit…”

“Will,” Connor said slowly as he leaned in.

“Connor.”

“Sooner you get in the car,” Connor said, gaze heating up. “The sooner I can fulfill those promises.”

He was in his seat, buckled, and already reaching over to open Connor’s door before the man could blink.

Grudge Match Day was turning out to be not so bad after all.

Click here to read Chapter Ten. Click here to read Chapter Eleven. Click here to read Chapter Twelve. Click here to read Chapter Thirteen. Click here to read Chapter Fourteen. Click here to read Chapter Fifteen. Click here to read Chapter Sixteen.

Click here to read 500 Miles on ao3:

More to come in October! (I have to get a project handed in for the end of the month. *sad trombone*)

Here is the tag list (let me know if you wish to be added or removed):

@sorry-i-spaced, @thegirlwhowishedeveryonelived, @ivyalmighty, @thewannabewriter, @lexhalstead3, @multifandomgrl08, @sensitivemallysix, @thebewingedjewelcat, @emme-looou,

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hermitcraft-8 · 11 months

Text

lights of the city mini fics: ruby's story

...

Coming out to Casey was the easy part.

She was already a lesbian herself, and had actually been the one to suggest the nickname ‘Ruby’ ages prior, so chances were pretty good this wouldn’t be a problem. And it wasn’t! Ruby simply offhandedly mentioned she was a girl now, and she was also a lesbian, and Casey just nodded, a sort of smug, imperious look on her face, and moved on, unphased.

The hard part was coming out to her uncles.

It’s not that she was afraid of them, not at all, they were good men, regardless of their criminal enterprise. Mickey always took her shopping for new suits, even if he didn’t particularly care for fashion. Danny let her tag along when he went on walks, and explained the history of the hidden city as he went. Leonard- as much as he complained- still taught her to cook when she was bored as a child. As for Heinous Green, granted, he wasn’t exactly the most chatty man alive, but he was always willing to listen to her ramble about whatever wrestling move she’d picked up from her favorite human wrestler Ghost Bear. They were all good men.

But she really wasn’t sure what they’d think of this.

She knew that Mickey, at the very least, didn’t mind trans people. It’d come up during one of their dumpster diving trips, and he had, in his own way, admitted his support of the community.

“I mean,” He’d said, picking up a bag of chips and sniffing it. “‘S long as it don’t hurt me or mine, ‘s none o’ my business, bro. D’you think Leonard would eat salt ‘n vinegar if we told ‘im it was just salt?”

And that was it.

So, he at least didn’t have a problem with them, but that didn’t mean he’d be fine with his nephew becoming his niece.

It was harder than she would have expected to get the four of them in a room together. Leonard was always sulking around and trying to look cool in some corner, Danny was generally pretty busy with something or other, and if you looked away from Mickey for five minutes he would generally disappear under your nose. Heinous Green was easy, though, he had a soft spot for Ruby, and always had.

And so, after a good hour of effort, she got them all to sit on the couch, and she stood in front of them, and she took a deep deep breath.

“I have… I have something to tell you? And… and you have to wait until I’m done to talk, alright?”

Mickey made a zipping motion across his lips, and the other three nodded, and she sighed, sitting up a little straighter, balling her hands in her lap.

“I think- no. I am a girl. My name is Ruby, and I use she/her pronouns,” She said, before hesitating, trying to think of anything else to say. “I… I have always been a girl, but I didn’t figure it out until like a month ago. This doesn’t change who I am, I’m still the same person, I’m just… I’m just a girl now.”

She finally focused on the expressions of the men gathered in front of her, and- oh. Oh that was unexpected.

Danny was grinning widely and sharply at her, Heinous was nodding slowly, Leonard looked wholly unsurprised, and Mickey… well, Mickey looked absolutely befuddled, which was hardly anything new.

“I could have sworn…” He muttered, shaking his head. “We looked it up and everything-”

“She’s trans, dipshit,” Leonard rolled his eyes. “She’s sayin’ she’s transgenda.”

“Ohhhh,” Mickey’s eyes went wide. “I thought-”

“Ruby,” Danny leaned forward. “Do you want to try estrogen?”

“Uh,” She blinked. “I don’t… I don’t know, should I?”

“It’s up to you,” He said, holding up his hands in mock surrender. “But I have been wanting to rob a pharmaceutical company for months now, and-”

“-And what he’s saying is, we support ya.” Leonard said, huffing. “If you’re a chick, then you’re a chick. Good on ya. You can still drive, right?”

“Yeah?”

“Then we have no problems with it. Right Green?”

Heinous nodded.

Ruby sniffed. “You guys… you guys mean it? For real?”

“We mean it,” Danny smiled. “For real.”

She launched herself forward, and Heinous caught her easy, picking her up and swinging around, just like he had when she was a little girl.

#lights ruby #lights of the city au #tango writes

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oh-three · 6 months

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Loki S2E5:

So, if the others got put back on the timeline, why is Loki still in the TVA??

Gotta say, the TVA is eerie af when abandoned.

Andddd, he's timeslipping again. Awesome.

Oh, that was odd. He got to see himself in present-ish time. Interesting.

SPAGETTIFICATION.

OG Casey is from prison ALCATRAZ, that's kinda unexpected. Frank, eh?

"IF THEY CATCH US, THEY'RE GONNA GUT US LIKE FISH." Omfg, they did not just do that 😭😂

I like how the universe just casually decided to keep Loki timeslipping only between places relevant to his TVA friends. Like, out of all the places in the universe....it's rooting for him, then?

DON. WHAT'S UP, MOBIUS?

Why would they make poor Don work six days a week????

EXCUSE ME, SIR, HOW MANY SONS DO YOU HAVE AND WHY ARE YOU IGNORING THEM?? So, he's a workaholic.

Timeline OB going by the library is the most in-character thing ever. Also- he's an author, neat!

They all have the personalities of their OG selves 😭

Dude was totally unphased by Loki's sudden appearance.

Flashbacks to when Loki tried to summon his weapons in S1E1.

OB is fucking amazing even without his TVA brain 🤣

Thank god for that silly little book.

"So, I am going to write a bestseller." THIS MAN IS PERFECT.

Single dad Mobius is such a human disaster, I love it.

LOKI, DON'T SCARE HIM AWAY.

OB WAS MARRIED????????? AND HE KEPT WORKING ON THE TEMPAD THROUGH HIS DIVORCE????

I like how the Timedoor just. Moves.

"I sell jetskis, man." 😭

WHAT IF MOBIUS ENDS UP REMEMBERING EVERYTHING AFTER THIS. HOW WILL HE FUNCTION KNOWING HE HAS TWO SONS OUT THERE.

Of course this guy would pull a one-liner about the name when he decides to go along 😭😂

THE GANG IS GETTING BACK TOGETHER ❤

Frank, put that back, you silly little thief.

And it's back to McDonald's! Which means Sylvie must remember everything, since she's originally from Asgard, right? Yep.

"Okay, get in the car. I'm buying you a drink." Lmaooo, most appropriate reaction to watching our poor guy timeslip.

Is she seriously trying to tell him to put them back and not fix the universe? I'm not surprised, but still. They failed. They need to fix this.

"I want my friends back." 😭😭

The first friends he'd ever gotten, and they were stolen from him because they went and fucked up the timeline.

"Without them, where do I belong?" ARE WE REALLY GOING BACK TO THE WHOLE 'LOKI WILL ALWAYS BE ALONE' THING??

Oh, Frank, what are you planning, my guy. DON'T TOUCH THAT.

She broke him 😭

UHM. SYLVIE, YOUR TIMELINE IS DYING.

That woman is very lucky she has that stupid watch.

Frank: i have to go BACK to jail now?!

GOOD. YOU NEEDED A REALITY CHECK, SYLVIE.

NO.

FRANK.

"It was a fictional problem." Famous last words.

The various reactions as they all spagettifi is heartbreaking 😭

"Do you think what makes a Loki a Loki is the fact that we're destined to lose?" WHY WOULD YOU DO THIS TO ME.

AYYY, TIMESLIPPING BACKWARDS NOW. PLEASE, CONTINUE.

Oh. That was a fucking conscious decision? Awesome. AND JUST IN TIME, GOOD JOB.

This right here, this is the team that's gonna save the universe. And Victor, because yeah, we saw midseason trailer footage of him alive and that has to be next episode. Down, but not out. Let's try this again.

#loki series #loki #loki spoilers #mcu

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ducknotinarow · 5 months

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2012 Raph Arnold ;3; - [☕] our muses make hot chocolate together

| SEND AN EMOJI FOR A STARTER ! ↳ winter season & holiday based

When Raphael reached Casey's place first he didn't go for the fire escape that lead to his boyfriends bedroom window like he usual always would and did. Raph didn't go for any windows at all, he was told the front door every once in a while was okay. Well that wasn't the wording he was told in. Guess another thing all the Jones' shared in common? They just seemed a bit unphased by the existence of well Raphael. The barely over five feet tall mutant ninja turtle. It was kind of a little taste of what being normal might be he sometimes thought. Teaming up with his boyfriends little sister to annoy him, being just as weak to the little girls antics unable to ever tell her no. Sneaking into his boyfriends room late at night, and having to sneak out the next day. Meeting the 'parents' deal and feeling dread on the possibility they might not like you. Feeling unsure what to call his boyfriends, Dad and such.

Funny enough it seems like such a smaller deal compared to the other shit he dealt with daily. Between family drama, alien invasions, evil ninjas, and just another mutant running and causing havoc in the streets. And yet? it was just as important just as world ending least in Raphael's mind. Though it was hard to say what put him through more an emotional whiplash. Standing before the Shredder or being alone with Arnold.

Glancing around as he slowly crept out from the nearest alleyway that Casey's room face out towards. The street was empty, so Raphael moved his way out to the sidewalk and casually stroll his way to the front door. It's kind of unnatural he admits not hiding in the shadows. Just walking up to a door like this and not sneaking in? Was kind of unnatural almost. It sometimes made like alarm bells sound off in the back of his head. Like exposing himself or leaving himself with out his sai. He knew they were on his belt and that did give him some comfort. Raphael knew it was just habit, near a decade of his life was spent hidden after all. And maybe he liked the chance for normalcy now and again. When he saw the silhouette of someone moving around inside he right away assumed it to be Casey waiting for him. Damn guess they did beat him despite the challenge given in their texts. Raph tried the door knob and found it wasn't locked and just made his way inside quick to shut the door behind himself. Just in case someone came back and saw a turtles shell.

"Man Case you would fuckin' believe the shit I-" Raph had began to speak following his assumption that it was Casey inside waiting for him but all words died in the air when he was instead facing Arnold. Mouth left agape as he had to catch what he just did himself. Internally dropping a million fucks in his mind over his slip up here. "Oh uh sorry Mr- Arnold. Sorry Arnold" Raph found himself floundering that was just great. Unlike April's dad who liked to go by Mr. O'Neil by the turtles over Kirby. Out of respect Arnold seemed more offended if Raph called him Mr.Jone instead. "Case not here yet?" he asks looking around a little before he moved to peek down to his phone. Guess he beat them in the end.

"I uh can wait up in his room, sorry didn' mean to uh ya know?" Raphael said shrugging off how he entered not that Arnold seemed phased in the slightest just offering that same expression they always seemed to wear when Raphael came around. Pft unlike some adults he knew. The turtle feeling stupid at what happened at best. Gaze downcasted he knows what Casey told him before Arnold wasn't going to go grasping at his pearls because Raph dropped a few cuss words after all. Only made him quirk his beak a little the sour feeling before he left the lair returning. Raphael been stewing in it since earlier that day and just wanted to vent but it wasn't something he could really text about. Taking the offer to go to Casey's place meeting up after he got out of practice.

Instead of a simple okay though they offered him something to help warm him up. Raphael's gaze lifted up at that offer noticing he been rubbing at his arms to warm back up, sure he was used to the cool night air but that didn't mean he was immune to being cold and with winter settling in the night air was far more cold. Following behind Arnold as they lead the way to the kitchen. Raphael sort of felt more comfortable in the kitchen considering Arnold let him use it to cook before and even to teach him a little. Raph half expected to see a kettle getting ready to be filed with hot water. That was the last thing he wanted to see in truth. But instead? it was a pot with milk? set on to the stove. Which drew Raphael over to the stove curious in the moment noticing he was being stared at he slightly shirked back out of habit. "You uh don' use water?" he asked looking up at Arnold. "We only ever use my dad's tea kettle. Mostly for tea, not really a fan myself." He slightly explains though there's an underlying bitterness he didn't mean to voice at the time. Even if it was true he didn't like tea all that much but especially now since it made him think of Splinter. The reason he needed to vent a little.

Push it away, stone in a river or whatever that shit is. He tells himself before looking back to the stove top. "how do you make it that way?" there was general interest on Raph's part, sure him and his brothers were not really suited for the kitchen. Well outside Mikey that was. Seemed enough to invite Raphael to try as he took over on the spoon and slipped into the place Arnold had been standing in before. Raphael couldn't explain it but it did sort of give him. Confidence in the kitchen how quick Aronald was to just let Raph take over. Listening on what todo as he slowly stried the milk watching for it to start to bubble as he was told before he was handed what looked like a disk of chocolate. Questioning it but still taking it. He undid the wrapping and dropped the tablet into the pot and went back to it as the milk slowly changed into a slight brown color. Chunks of the chocolate still needed to be dissolved before it be considered done.

Raphael always kind of waited to be told of he was moving his wrist wrong. If his forearm was to lose or his elbow needed to set into a certain spot? But Arnold didn't say anything just stood off to the side and let Raphael have at it. Which made him anxious about fucking up but also? Like Arnold didn't really mind if he did? His stare wasn't like Splinters during training. Observing and fixed on the smaller little misstep. Ready to point out a toe misaligned on his from. Arnold's eyes were on him but it was different he can tell. Thats when they ask how he was. Not been. Checking in on him. He really didn't need to do that. that was the turtles thought. Always quick to assume it some obligated politeness.

"Yeah fine, sorry 'bout eailer though it was Casey inside." He again apologized out of habit mostly but he still didn't mean to come in how he had. If this was Splinter? He be told off about his word choice and of course he be reprimanded for his anger. The thing he just never could seem to control and get rid of. No matter how hard he tried. Not like Splinter ever praised him for any progress he made. Maybe he didn't make any? When Arnold speaks again he slightly looks up at them not fully catching the question or whatever he knows they said something. " 'm jus' mad" He shrugs his shoulder up to dismiss it that usual works Raphael was kind of always mad. He had a more grouchy personality so it was an easy line to give to get the matter dropped. But Arnold was very much like Casey and seem to see the bullshit that excuse umbrella really was. Raphael mulls it over a moment as he continued to stare at the pot, he didn't want to burn the milk somehow. He was waiting for Casey to vent to course chances were by now he just push it away and say it didn't matter anymore. Or? he thought side glancing over to Arnold, maybe?

"I jus' had a-" he wanted to say a fight with Splinter but can you really call it a fight when Splinter never let him speak? "Disagreement with my Dad." More fitting if anything really. Though his tone did slip not held evenly like he meant for it to come out and the faint huff he breathed from his nostrils wasn't hard to miss either. Splinter and Raphael never really spoke after all. Splinter always had the final say in the end. And because Raphael struggle to speak sometimes his tone always harsh and volume loud? he was always being accused of being angry from the start. Which apparently voided any point he had. Raph wish he knew why he did that but sometimes he just got so frustrated! He couldn't help it it just happens. He tries so hard to hold his tongue and watch his tone but the moment it slips? "It uh got kinda heated" He states though he kits up his brow in annoyance, sometimes he wished they did yell. Then at least it feel like he wasn't talking to some wall. But that was that and it was the end of the conversation. Raphael deflated a little.

"So needed to jus' get way from home was all." He admits slightly confessing that meant running away to here. "Not really the kind of I wanna hit somethin' to feel better days." He also admits and owns up to. "jus' I dunno needed a get away I guess?" he tries to explain, "I think this is done?" he changes subject and slightly moves to the side for them to check. He did kind of like that Arnold didn't once muse over him just being disrespectful to his dad when he vaguely explained what happened. Then again he caught Raph when he first entered his home so he had a taste of the truth. Still he let him speak and well if Casey was still gonna be a bit? Maybe it be fine to talk a bit more?

#muse| hamato raphael #madamkezzie #aflockoffeathers #[ didn't know I was unconsciously looking for you -aflockoffeathers]#[new tag]#[2012 verse]#ic reply #winter season & hoilday meme #meme answers #stay queued #(( Raphs just an unheard kid who slowly trusting Arnold in turn ;3; ))

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masschase · 6 months

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i can’t remember if you talked about it before, but for the ask meme i’m curious about troy and casey. and if you have already, or feel like talking about more than one ship, what about casey and viola?

Ooh, OK! I thought I wasn't going to get any this time around so this is a pleasant surprise! 😊

Have your followers send in suggestions for ships for your OC, and you describe how good/bad/amazing/disastrous/hilarious it would end up.

Casey and Troy

So Troy and Casey is a definite no! At one point early on in forming my hcs I was going to have them be cousins, and while I have yet to give a definitive answer on whether they are or not, I've been shifting back in the direction that are, but that unlike my original hc, neither of them remotely know that in my main-universe. In fact, you know what? They are and I'm going to do a post on that later because I have more to say on it. 😁

However, speaking from a potential situation where they're not related... it's still not something I can see.

So just off the bat I don't ship Casey with anyone during SR1 because she's only 15 at the start(slight exception being in universes where she has Zoo as her co-boss and/or friend as they are the same age, so I shall allow them their little moments). The next youngest Saint is Dex who I hc as 21 and gay so... yeah, no. But I do have the thing of Casey having one-sided crushes on Johnny, Lin and Dex.

Why not Troy? He just wasn't someone she saw as "cool" like she saw the others, in fact he was quite protective and responsible with regards to her and this is why I see their connection as more familial and duty-based (because I believe regardless of Troy leaning towards the Saints overall he's had a keen sense of protecting civilians drummed into him since childhood) even if they aren't related by blood. When she starts to succeed in life, he feels pretty proud of her.

Additionally, while I see that Troy is a complicated and probably conflicted character, Casey takes a long time to get out of the mindset that he betrayed her. It's one of those things where she knows it's not entirely black and white but she can't quite shake the grudge she felt when she woke up from the coma and found out.

There is the brief and admittedly kind of silly thing about Troy having a wife who resembles Casey(referencing ONE mission and something I thought of bc of posts so far back I will NOT be able to find them but you know). I don't believe that's because Troy has some secret attraction to Casey, I think it's something he just doesn't really see because he doesn't want to. He sees them too differently.

So there just isn't a place and time for them, you know? But even if things were to align, I just don't think they're attracted to each other, sexually or romantically, so I can't really envision a ship dynamic for them.

Casey and Viola

This one is interesting. I think Viola is incredibly grateful Casey allowed her to join the Saints, but her overall opinion of her is Boss first, friend second, and Casey reacts accordingly, so they're not super close friends. I can see some physical attraction between the two, more Casey towards Viola than vice versa(partly bc of Viola's thing for Shaundi, but also just in general). I don't think they ever hooked up but like they easily could have given the right situation.

Romantically, on the other hand, I can't see it at all. Viola and Casey are both, to me, "cool" characters emotionally. While they aren't unpleasant people I think both of them have a certain standoffishness, though Viola's would appear as more "professional/detached" and Casey's as "chill/unphased".

I think they both have a great deal of capacity for love. But I think they both need an emotionally warm character to unlock that. I think Shaundi for example is emotionally warm even if some of the barriers she puts up from SR3 onwards make it hard to see, which is why time and place dependant, she works as a ship for them both. For the record, they could potentially work as a triad. Maybe. But I also feel like there's also something about the Shaunvi vibe that Casey would just throw off completely. Maybe because she's almost the mediator between them so she might balance out what's passionate and interesting about them.

This is going a little off topic but I've actually wanted to talk about this aspect of Casey for a while because when you look at their first impressions you wouldn't get that she is the cold one and Matt is the warm one. Matt doesn't immediately come across as "warm" at all but I would chalk that up to fear and anxiety. In SR4 we get to see him acting a lot more openly emotional as well as passionate about things he cares about, because he's found a group of people he actually feels comfortable enough around to be himself. Leaning more towards headcanons (although maybe not so much when you see his rejected advances towards Asha in-game) I have him as quite physically affectionate/touchy feely. It's a combination of sensory seeking and not always being able to put his affection for people into words.

I don't allude to it here as much but in my writing I make frequent mention of it. Casey talks about how she's always cold and Matt is really warm as a justification for being physically close with him. I constantly have Casey tell Matt to relax/breathe when he's panicking and talk about how he finds her cool touch calming. That sort of thing. If you want to go one further there's the fact that Casey smells warm (cinnamon) but feels cold when you get closer, and Matt smells cold (lemon) but when you get closer he's physically warm.

But getting back to my actual point- Matt and Casey take a long time to get together because he's like a very persistant hairdryer melting a block of ice. But it works eventually. With Viola, Shaundi is more like a decent heat source which melts the ice very easily once her own barrier (in my hc, finding out in 2016 that Johnny isn't actually dead) is lifted. Viola and Casey on the other hand are just... two blocks of ice. It's a nice thought but it's just not going anywhere.

#i almost made the unintentional pun that they're two blocks of ice just like... chilling but i... could not.#thank you for the ask i really appreciated two i was able to say no to because like...#last time was shaundi and johnny!#which was fun but both boiled down to a yes under the right circumstances #like you've got someone casey has a history with and fricking gatboss and also... yep you guessed it..#they're both emotionally warm!#so i was kind of like yeaaah you're all going to think i just ship her with anyone #when actually i have my own probably entirely personal logic on these things #even if i hide it well with silly comments like “cop cooties”#sr boss: casey clark #troy bradshaw #viola dewynter #asks #ship dynamics #saints row

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obsidiancreates · 1 year

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1990 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Live-Action Movie Liveblog

HERE WE GO BABES TURTLE TIME!!!!!!!!!!! Secret of the Ooze is iconic to me so I have high expectations here.

Starting with some city shots, good start- THAT LADY'S COAT I LOVE IT

Is that April? Different actress than in Secret if so

PICKPOCKETING AND PASSING IT ALONG A SECRET NETWORK HELL YEAH- omg that kid is in The Foot? But he looks like a nerd

THEY STOLE THE ENTIRE DAMN TRUCK IN LIKE 5 SECOND LOL

THEY STOLE HER FUCKING TV PFFFFFFFFFFFTTTTTTTTTTTTTTT

There they are, the foot costumes, iconic.

DIGGING the music of this- WHOA SECRET LAIR all of these boys look like Cameron from Ferris Buller's Day Off but like, with different hair colors.

Why'd she make a Ghostbusters joke? They... don't solve robberies?

IT IS APRIL AN SHE'S WITH A DIFFERENT CHANNEL WHAT SHE'S WITH CHANNEL 3????????????

Would a New Yorker actually get that scared of a rat? I have my doubts.

GOD I love sound in 90's movies it so click-clacky

FUCK THEY ATTACKED HER- YEAHHHHHHHHHHH A SAIIIIIIIIIII YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS

MY BOYS SAVED HERRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR HI LIL' RAPH PEEKIN' OUT FROM THE GRATE HEY BUDDY

She grabbed the sai by the blade- HE CURSED RIGHT OFF THE BAT HELL YEAH

GROOVIN' MUSIC BABEY WHOO I AM HYPED SHOW ME THEM RUBBER COSTUMED YEAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH UNCHANGED LOGO FROM THE '87 CARTOON

HEY THIS DONNIE ALSO SHOUTS RANDOM WORDS AS CATHPRASES HE AND RISE COULD BOND OVER THAT

These costumes look super good considering like, what they are. Can the actors see out of those? They're moving so well and those suits must be thick as hell- WAIT RAPH'S VOICE IS WAY LESS DEEP AND RASPY THAN IN SECRET BASED ON THESE COUPLE LINES

You can really tell Jim Henson was involved in the suits once Splinter shows up, like "Oh yeah mmm-hmm he wouldn't even seem out of place in Dark Crystal."

AH THERE'S THE RAPH VOICE I KNOW AND LOVE

PFFFFFFFFFT RANDOM FIGHT WITH DONNIE- ANGY DONNIE

Reaching their pea- Splinter they're 16 and Mikey is ordering pizza instead of listening to you.

PFFFFFFFFFFFT HE LITERALLY THREW THE BOOK AT HIM AND MIKEY JUST THREATENED THE PIZZA GUY LOLLLLLLLLLLLLLL

One day you'll be gone but not in this damn era JUST 2012 GOTTA DEAL WITH THAT SHIT AT LEAST OUT OF THE TURTLES WHO WERE ON SCRE- wait nevermind I just remembered that Splinter bites it in The Next Mutation. That's- hmm. Well it doesn't count because that show was Bad.

DONNIE MIKEY SWEETHEARTS NO NOT THE TIME FOR A DANCE PARTY but again something 90's Donnie and Rise Donnie have in common

SERIOUSLY CAN THE ACTORS SEE WHAT THEY'RE DOING- AWWWWWWWWWW LEO'S LITTLE DANCEEEEEEEEEEEEEE LOOK AT HIS LITTLE DANCEEEEEEEEEEEE AWWWWWW DONNIE AND MIKEY IN THE BACKGROUND AWWWWWWWWWWWWW THEY'RE ADORABLEEEEEEEEEEE

Also just- Raph said aloud he's going to a movie and not only did Leo not mind, Splinter didn't care either

I much prefer the voice Donnie has in Secret but this one isn't bad.

I'M SORRY ONLY $10 FOR A WHOLE DAMN PIZZA?????? OH MY- DUDE I HATE CAPITALISM

Poor Splinter lol- OH MY GOD RAPH ACTUALLY WENT TO A MOVIE AND NO-ONE SAID A FUCKING WORD??????? HE FOR REAL WENT TO A MOVIE??????? I LOVE HIM

Ah it's Casey. You better be better than Out of the Shadows Casey. I actually just rewatched both Bayverse movies today for the first time in years and really enjoyed them for the most part except for 3 things. 1) The Megan Fox sexualization because I know it was Bay being creepy 2) Will Arnett's character didn't need to be here. Give most of his scenes/moments to April. 3) Fucking CW Arrow Casey Jones

Okay he's got more charm to him already, I remember him being sexist though

RAPH LET HIM BEAT THEIR ASSES- LOOK THEY GOT AWAY NOW

Did Raph just... insult his baseball team? Fascinating. I'll never be able to accurately write 90's turtles if this is the stuff they're saying. But I'll try.

Casey is... phenomenally unphased by the mutant turtle.

THIS IS SO GOOFYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY I LOVE ITTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTT fuck man how many sport tools does Casey have- HE SENT RAPH FUCKIN' FLYINNNNNNNNNNNNNNNGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGG RAPH IS STUCK IN THE TRASH OH NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO I'LL KILL HIM FOR YOU RAPH SWEETIE OH YOU GOT HIT BY A CAR NO THIS ISN'T YOUR NIGHT I'M SO SORRY BABY

PFFFFFFFFFFFFTTTTTTTTTT CAB DRIVER: UNPHASED

Damn he really loves the word "Damn".

Splinter now's not the time for a lecture he was hit by a car

Man. So every Splinter's just kinda been really unequipped to handle Raph's anger issues, huh? AWWWWWWWWWWW BUT HE'S TRYING HE'S HERE FOR HIMMMMMMMMMMMMMM AWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW

Oh damn April's boss is one of the Foot Kids.

FUCK UP THE POLICE WITH YOUR REPORTING APRIL I BELIEVE IN YOU oh no she's making "Speak English smart-man" jokes

NOT AGAIN NOT MORE MIKEY HAVING A CRUSH ON THE MUCH-OLDER APRIL I HAD ENOUGH OF THAT WITH BAYVERSE

NO THEY'RE ALL SAYING IT NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

OH THE CHIEF IS OPENLY RACIST OKAY WELL ACCURATE TO IRL I GUESS BUT SURPRISING TO SEE- RAPHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH WHY ARE YOU OUT IN THE DAYTIMEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE HONEY YOU'RE ASKING FOR TROUBLE

Oh she's alone in the Subway? FOOT BITCHES OH NO Sony payments? Wh- what? What were the 90's?

This April is a lot more feisty than Secret April, I think I like this one more so far. Foot Guy slapped her and she decided "Oh Imma have to kick your entire ass now" and maybe it's an unrealistic goal but I'm proud of her

Yeah she was knocked out instantly RAPH TO THE RESCUEEEEEEEEEEEE

RAPH MY BELOVED I CAN'T THINK OF A SINGLE BAD VERSION OF YOU oh but you are for sure being followed baby, you are for sure being followed

RAPH WAS JUST WORRIED ABOUT HER- Pffffft "I wanted to redecorate! You know, a couple throw pillows, a TV news reporter!" I love him.

Mikey no (cool to note though that it seems like 2003 Mikey's "Can we keep her?" line was a reference to this movie)

Ah not a. Not a good thing to wake up to. Reasonable response I think, to scream a lot. Though I do like that in 2012 they kept it nice and short to one scream and then almost-trust, and in Rise they said "Fuck it" and skipped the whole thing.

Yeah this April has way more personality than Secret Apri- PFFFFFFFFFFT "WHY DON'T I EVER DREAM OF HARRISON FORD"

THEM TURTLE BITCHES ARE MEANT TO BE 15??????????????

Oh yeah this one was Yoshi's pet, not Yoshi himself. PFFFFFFFFFT HE HAPPENED UPON THEM BY ACCIDENT

Splinter that. That is clearly not glowing.

OH FUCKKKKKKKKKKKKKKK NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO WHAT THE HELL ARE THOSEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE NOOOOOOOOOO WORST TURTLE TOTS DESIGNS EVER NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO BAD

Oh but they're all so cute as teens though, they look more like tots now than those bad actual-tots did.

Oh no that was a good joke whoever said that- Mikey I think? That was a good one.

SHIT HE POPPED OUT OF THERE LIKE MARIO

Mikey good joke baby I am so sorry she's not appreciating these- oh no celebrity impressions. Love that Raph is irritated by it, good exasperated brother moment.

SHE ALREADY LOVES THEM AND I GET IT THEY'RE ALL ADORABLE LIL' GUYS wait what was that face

OH SHIT THEIR HOUSE GOT BROKEN INTO FUCK IT'S TRASHED I guess this is why they have to find a new one in Secret- oh god Donnie dropped to his fucking knees THIS TONAL SHIFT IS WILD HOLY SHIT HOL SHIT THIS TONAL SHIFT RAPH'S FUCKING SCREAM

Oh ew why'd Leo say that like that. That was the creepiest way he could have said Splinter's name.

What a wild day for April. Why the HELL is her boss visiting her HOUSE

So is he trying to cover up his son's involvement?

IS HE CHECKING UNDER THE TAB- KID WHAT

WAS THAT LIKE 11 YEAR OLD SMOKING A FUCKING CIGAR

HOLY SHIT THE FOOT HIDEOUT IS WAY COOLDER THAN 2012 ND RISE THIS PLACE IS POPPIN' LIEK IT'S GIVING ALCOHOL AND CIGARS TO PRETEENS WHICH IS WACK AND BAD BUT IT'S A FUCKIN' PARTY HOUSE DUDE

Ah but then we find the child fighting ring

HEY THAT WAS A DIRTY MOVE TATSU FUCK YOU THAT KID WAS BEIN' RESPECTFUL

Oh the GONG is sounding time to stop PLAYING ARCADE GAMES I guess

This Shredder is always so dipped out dude. Silver tiger striped cape with shoulder pads? Are you kidding me? He's for sure gay.

Having some trouble with the costume there Tatsu? Having trouble moving that cape?

DAMN ND THE RED SEQUINED SPARKLY BODYSUIT THIS GUY'S DRIPPED OUT AS FUCK

Oh so he's just running a straight-up cult in this one okay.

Uhhhhhh Shredder? That one you captured is a rat. Not. A turtle.

MIKEY STOP CALLING HER A BABE

AWWWW YAY RAH DESVERED THAT THANKS AND HE'S SO HAPPY ABOUT IT- oh he almost cut Donnie's. Uh. Well I guess he doesn't have a D actually.

Oh poor Donnie and Mikey. "Fight?" "Fight." "Kitchen?" "Kitchen." They're too used to this. Cute bonding though.

OHHHHH RAPH IS DOING ANGY TRAINING ON THE ROOF NOW- oh hi Casey you've been oddly absent from this movie until now. Of course you just happen to see him- RAPH FUCKING FOOT NINJAS

MIKEY SAID DAMN NOW WHOO

"Where's Raphael?" GETTING HIS ASS WHOOPED- NEVERMIND HE'S WHOOPING THEIR ASSES DUDE THAT'S A REAL GUY DOING THESE MOVEMENTS AND FLIPS AND STUFF IN THAT GIANT SUIT HOW FUCKING IMPRESSIVE IS THAT LIKE DUDEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE I CAN'T GET OVER IT THAT'S A REAL FUCKING GUYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY

"How do you guys expect to beat me?" *like two dozen more guys with swords creep up* "Good answer. Good answer!" Raph I love you

APRIL OWNS THE ANTIQUE STORE??????????????? WHY WAS THIS ERASED IN SECRET

BITCHES RAPH IS GETTING KIDNAPPED- okay no he's fi- ALIVE BARELY?????????????????? FUCK

YEAHHHHHHHHHHHH SHOW THEM WHO'S BOSS MIKEY I love the lack of music over the Foot Guy to make him seem lame as hell

AND DONNIE FOR THE SURPRISE "FUCK UP YOUR FACE WITH A BO ATTACK"

*slap* *slap* *PUNCH* Leo you're a gem

PFFFFFT JUST SPITT WATER AT HIM YEAH DONNIE

THESE BOYS ARE SO FUN WHY ARE THEY ALWAYS LEFT OUT OF CROSSOVER FICSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS LOOK AT THEMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM

Shit April's apartment is fucked.

Yup there is goes. No more dead-dad antique store I guess.

FUCK 'EM UP BOYSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO DON'T USE DONNIE'S HEAD TO PLAY PIANO NOOOOOOOOOOOO

MIKEY YEAH USE THE CYMBOLS NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO MIKEYYYYYYYYYYYYYY RAPH WAKE UP RAPH WAKE UP-

CASEY?

CASEYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY fuck he was instantly sexist as soon as he saw April SYNTH MUSIC BABEYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY

OH FUCK IT'S BURNING DOWN PFFFFFFFFFFFFFT TATSU IS DISPLEASED WITH THIS FLAMING TURN OF EVENT BUT UNMOVED BY THE FIRE BOY GET YOUR ASS OUT OF THERE

Casey being an Instant Ally, hell yeah.

WHY THE HELL DID HE FIRE HER- FUCK CHARLES SUCKS

IT'S THE PARTY WAGONNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS oh and her house burned down that sucks yeah feel sorry kid BUT THEY WERE IN THE PARTY WAGONNNNNNNNNN

Oh Shredder is PISSED

DON'T PUNCH SPLINTER I'LL KILL YOU GET YOUR BLADES OFF OH MY GUY SPLINTER I'LL CUT YOUR THROAT YOU'LL WISH THE FUCKING GARBAGE TRUCK KILLED YOU YOU BITCH

Tatsu STOP fucking hell THOSE ARE YOUR OWN GUYS AND YOUR OWN EQUITMENT CALM THE FUCK DOWN MAN WHAT THE HELL

YEAH KID MAYBE THESE GUYS SUCK MAYBE LET THE RAT GUY GO

Splinter INSTANTLY decided to Dad this kid. I love him so much. He sees ANY person younger than him and decides "I'm your parent now"

Mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm Splinter I. "All fathers care for their sons" I get where you're coming from but. Not true. Not true. Not. True.

IT'S THE FUCKING FARMHOUSEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE ET'S GOOOOOOOOOOOOOO BUT RAPH IS THE ONE IN THE COMA NOW FUCK DUDEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE THE FARMHOUSEEEEEEEEEEEEEE 2012 USED THISSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS

Casey JUST met these people and he's like "I'm your family now" BROADZILLA?????????????????? WHAT CASEY WHAT WAS THAT FUCK YOU FOR THAT ONE

Mikey and Donnie continue to be the best duo. I do miss this in 2012, they aren't as close as I wish they were.

DAMN SHE'S A GOOD ARTIST

HEY THE INSULT GAME YAY THEY REFERENCE THIS IN 2012 TOO

Fongoid? ... Like the Ratchet & Clank species?

DUDE 2012 LITERALLY- THIS IS THE FARMHOUSE ARC WHAT THE HELL

Oh that is a bad pose- why'd they do that to Raph? Why'd they put him in the tub like that? That can't be comfortable. That's a terrible position to stick him in.

This movie has more Severe Tonal Shifts than a single conversation with me does.

THERE'S WATER IN THA- HIS FACE IS DOWN THERE HE'LL FUCKING DROWN'

And after that... flirting with Casey. TONAL SHIFTS GALORE where the fuck did Casey go in Secret. Oh nevermind maybe April killed him for his sexist pet names.

RAPH WOKE UPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPP YAYYYYYYYYYYYY AND HE'S QUIPPING ALREADY YAYYYYYYYYY HE'S OKAY OH AND LEO IS SO HAPPY I'M GETTING EMOTIONAL OVER HOW HAPPY LEO ISSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS I LOVE THEMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM THEY ARE BROTHERSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS BROTHERSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS AWWWWWWWWWWWWW THEY HUGGEDDDDDDDDDDDDDDD I'M WITH DONNIE AND APRIL I'M TEARIN' UP

WHATTTTTTTTTTTTTTT THE FUCKKKKKKKKKKKK IS WITH THE SHOUT OF SPLINTER FROM THE ROOFTOP THESE DRAMATIC-ASS TURTLES I LOVE THEM

"Hey. Why're you so pressed about the turtles, Shreddy my man?" "Reminds me of a guy I killed." "Oh okay."

FOREST TRAININGGGGGGGGGGG is Casey using Leo's katana to very poorly cut carrots first thing in the morning? EW EW HE MANHANDLED APRIL INTO A MASSAGE I HATE THIS GROSS

Awwwwwwwwww But cute brother moment between Raph and Mikey, that was good.

FUCK SPLINTER IS SO COVERED IN BLOOD OH FUCK

Awwww they're playing Trivia! Oh I love them.

TIME FOR THE SPIRIT FIRE- DUDE LITERALLY THE WHOLE DAMN FARMHOUSE ARC FROM 2012 IS IN THIS MOVIE FOR REAL

Donnie with the marshmallows yessssssssssss

THERE HE IS BLUE FIRE SPLINTER SPIRIT DUDEEEEEEEEEEEEEE THIS SLAPS

HELL YEAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH TEAMWORKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKK

Is it love? Familial love? IT'S LOVE HELL YEAHHHHHHHHHHHHHH IT'S FAMILIAL LOVEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS

OH THE BOYS ARE CRYING OH SOMEONE HUG MIKEY AND RAPH OHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH MIKEYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY OH THEY'RE SUCH SWEET BOYSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSI LOVE THEMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM

DON'T GO FROM THAT BEAUTIFUL SCENE WITH SPLINTER AND THE BOYS TO CASEY AND APRIL'S LIKEWARM FLIRTING

Casey's having a weird time dude. He's insta ride-or-die but he's gonna be upset about it the whole time.

PFFFFFFFFT "Don't shoot!" *looking at the sword* "I don't think it's loaded, kid." RAPH I LOVE YOU

90'S CASEY HOMOPHOBIC?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?! WHAT THE FUCK-

YES YOU DO YOU HAVE TO TAKE THIS ABOUT BEING AFRAID YOU SEXIST HOMOPHOBIC ASSHOLE

I'm sorry, sleeping in the truck is better than sleeping in the sew- well actually I'll cut myself off there

KEEP THE- KID WHAT THE HELL WHY DO YOU WANT THOSE DRAWINGS KID YOU ARE FUCKED UP

Awwww they're having a funeral for the pizza. I love Donnie and Mikey's dynamic in this movie.

Casey just like. Get a motel or something. I can feel the back pain in my own back?

Danny are you possessed

These turtles are way too fucking trusting.

Well I wish I could root for Casey here but he's a homophobe. Kind of ruined him for me, that one throwaway line.

CASEY CAN JUST WALK IN TO THE FOOT HIDEOUT?!?!?!? NOBODY'S GUARDING THE DOOR?!?!?!?!?!?!?!

SPLINTER LOOKS SO CUTE IN THIS MOVIE HE'S GOT SUCH BIG EYES AND THEY'RE SO WET AND SAD LOOKING HE'S JUST A LIL' GUY

AWWWWWWWWWWWW LOOK AT PRE-MUTATION SPLINTER DOIN' HIS LITTLE MARTIAL ARTS IN HIS CAGE

Well I guess Tang Shen and Yoshi didn't end we- FUCK SAKI MURDERED HER AND YOSHI HOLY SHIT HOLY FUCK WHAT THE HELL HHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH HIS LITTLE CUDDLE OF YOSHI'S HAND OH SPLINTERRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR SPLINTERRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR OHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

Damn Casey pulled a Like Skywalker

YEAH ID YOU'RE IN A MURDER CULT- OH FUCKKKKKKKKKK SHREDDER CAUGHT HIM FUCK FUCK HE'S GONNA KILL THIS KID

NOOOOOOOOO THE DRAWINGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGG

CASEY YOU DON'T EVEN KNOW SPLINTER- DUDE HE'S JUST INSTANTLY TRUY RIDE OR DIE LIKE WHAT THE HELL XD

PFFFFFFFFFTTTTTTTTTTT THE FOOT GUYS WIGGLING INTO THE STORM DRAINNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN

THEIR DOOR!!!!!! HASN'T IT BEEN THROUGH ENOUGH!!!!!!

YESSSSSSSSSS BOYS FUCK 'EM UPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPP WHOOOOOOOOOOO THOSE FOOT GUYS STOOD NO CHANCEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE

Fuck there are more, Raph you curled a finger on the monkey paw or whatever the saying is

"Who the fuck are you" "Uh I met your sons and their reporter friend and then lived with 'em for a few days and I guess I'd die for all of you now. I don't have a lot else going on in my life."

THIS APRIL IS SO MUC COMPARED TO SECRETS APRIL

I am not upset about Casey being punched repeatedly. That's what you get for the sexist and homophobic and I think he was just Racist?

GOLF CLUB HOT DAMN HE SENT THAT GUY FLYING TOO HOW FUCKING STRONG IS THIS CASEY

YES DONNIE SKATEBOARD THROUGH THOSE TUNNELS DESTROY THEIR FACES

LISTEN TO THE DYING RAT YOU KIDS YOU CAN BE BUDS WHILE NOT LIKE MURDERING GUYS

PFFFFFFFFFT FLEEING BACK OUT THE STORM DRAIN AND MY BOYS ARE PURSUING THEM RELENTLESSLY WHILE MAKING PUN ATTEMPTS YES I FUCKING LOVE THIS OH MY GOD I LOVE THIS I NEED THE NEXT TMNT TO HAVE THIS KIND OF ENERGYYYYYYYYYYYYY THIS ENERGY IS SO FUNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN BRING BACK SYNTH MUSIC

MIKEY AND DONNIE'S DYNAMIC IS THE MVP OF THIS MOVIE LIKE IT'S ALL GOOD BUT THEIR DYNAMIC IS TRULY *CHEF'S KISS*

THERE ARE REAL FUCKING GUYS IN THOSE SUITS DOING THOSE MOVIES

HOLY FUCK SHREDDER DROPPED FROM THE SKY IN HIS SEQUINED BODYSUIT AND ALL DONNIE HAD TO SAY WAS "Who is this?" DESTROYYYYYYYYYYYYEEEEDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDD

LEO WHAT THE HELL WAS THAT MOVIE YOU JUST JUMPED AT HIM love that Shredder let them do the rock-paper-scissors

DONNIE NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO OH SHIT MIKEYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY OH NO NOT RAPH RAPHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH STOP BEATING MY BOYSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS OH SHIT OH SHIT CASEY SAW THE GARBAGE TRUCK OH HELL YES I AM READY

LEO YOU CAN DO THIS NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO OH BUT HE GOT A GOOD HIT IN

OH SHIT HE PISSED OFF LEO BUT IT DID NOTHIGN LEO IS ABOUT TO DIE NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO FUCK OBVIOUSLY HE WAS GONNA KILL HIM ANYWAY

YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS SPLINTERRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR KICK HIS ASS MY GUY KICK HIS ASSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS OH SHIT SPLINTER SCARRED HIM UP REAL GOOD HELL YEAH HELLLLLLLLLL YEAHHHHHHHHHHHH

OH SPLINTER DIDN'T EVEN FLINCHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSS DROP HIS ASS YESSSSSSSS DEATH COMES FOR US ALL BUT SOMETHING MUCH WORSE COMES FOR YOU FUCK YEAHHHHHHHHHH GOOD LINEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE

YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS FUCKING CRUSH HIMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS HE IS SMUSHEDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDD I KNOW HE COMES BACK BUT YESSSSSSSSSSSS

AWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW FAMILY HUG FAMILY HUGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGG THIS MOVIE FUCKING RULES I LOVE THIS MOVIE I LOVE MY 90'S BOYSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS

I like Secrets April, despite how little she's really in the movie, but this April is better for sure. Way more fun, way more spark to her.

Casey now is not the time. Leave her alone. WHERE DID THE KISS ME REQUEST COME FROM WHAT I will never understand

Awwww it is cute though that the turtles are so happy for him, that's adorable.

SAY IT SPLINTER SPLINTER SAID COWABUNGAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA I LOVE THIS MOVIEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE THIS IS A GOOD MOVIEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE

This credit song isn't great but THE MOVIE WASSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS WHY DON'T MY 90'S BOYS GET ANY OF THE MULTIVERSAL CHAT FIC LOVE

#tmnt #tmnt 1990 #sid blogs live

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polyghostfacehours · 3 years

Note

Hi! I was wonder if I could request a Poly!Ghostface x GN!Reader x JD Relationship Headcanon? Like how they met and stuff like that? I saw that you reblogged something like that and I was hoping you could put your spin on how they got together in the first place? I really like your work and regularly go through your blog! I hope you have a good week! And thank you in advance even if you arent interested in doing this!

AAAAHHH THANK YOU. Sorry for taking so long to get to this request, but no worries I was absolutely interested in doing this. Just like Poly!Ghostface x Reader x Jennifer Check is my jam, Poly!Ghostface x Reader x JD is also *chef's kiss*. Anyway, let's get on to the quad! Went SFW with this. Lemme know if you want to hear the spicier details too!

TW: one bullet point is NSFW

Poly!Ghostface x GN!Reader x JD

So I feel that Stu would be the first person interested in JD. He'd go up to him on campus after seeing him in the cantina or library or something and just be insta-attracted. Stu is weak for the bad boy/bad girl aesthetic/vibes lmao.

JD would introduce himself as moving from Westerburg. He'd be drawn to Stu's lack of fear in approaching him. Would think he's cute too (unlike Billy, this bad boy doesn't have any internalized homophobia. He knows he's attracted to men too and he isn't ashamed of it.)

He'd keep his little crush a secret, since he loves you and Billy so much and would never even think of leaving you guys for some silly infatuation.

Eventually, he'd introduce you and Billy to JD. It'd be at a party or get together.

Billy is not a fan of JD initially. Thinks he's pretentious as fuck. JD, though, is amused by Billy's cool and aloof exterior.

JD thinks you're p damn attractive too. Tbh he's most attracted to you initially. Especially if you give off Veronica-esque vibes (headstrong, "different", free-thinker in his eyes etc.)

As JD slowly becomes a part of your lives via coming to hangout at your place more and more often, Billy would warm up to him over the course of a year and a half. They'd have long conversations about how shit society is and how everyone around them just doesn't get it. Billy will slowly fall for JD and, like with Jennifer, begin getting angry at himself for falling for someone else while in a relationship (like his dad) and start pushing JD away via bitchiness.

Unlike Jennifer though, JD is unphased and continues trying to interact with Billy, which frustrates him. Billy is just like "Fuck off." and JD is just like "No. lol"

At JD's insistence (and by pulling a Billy by climbing in Billy's window, which nearly gave the poor boy a heart attack), they have a talk which you and Stu join since JD had mentioned his plan of cornering Billy (which you werent sure was a good idea, but Stu was excited for and JD insisted in.)

It's a long talk that ends up with feelings being admitted all around. Billy doesn't have a break down this time, unlike in Jennifer's scenario, because it wasn't in the midst of a bad argument.

Again, Billy isn't comfortable right away bringing JD into the equation since it's been you, him, and Stu since high school. JD is impatient but agrees. You and Stu also, of course, go at Billy's pace. Like I said before, poly relationships are especially delicate and all parties involved need to be on the same page.

So the four of you spend another half year together, getting to know JD even more intimately. JD opens up about his ex, Veronica, and how badly everything that happened in Westerburg affected him. Stu gets it because of shit that happened between him and Casey, and Billy gets it because he also felt betrayed by Sidney once Roman showed him the video of his girlfriend's fucking mom going after his dad (JD doesn't get how it's Sidney's fault, like at all, but he knows its a sensitive subject for Billy so he wisely says nothing lmao)

If you go by the events of the movie, JD is internally kinda miffed that Billy and Stu killed their own girlfriends. If this is an AU where they didnt end up killing Sidney and Tatum for whatever reason, JD just goes on a tangent about how disappointing it is to think someone is different or like you and then them being not that.

Billy and Stu open up about being "survivors" of the Woodsboro massacre via convincing ass crocodile tears from Stu. Their involvement in it and the way you open about it and your relation to it is up to you and whatever AU (or not) you decide.

Billy and JD also bond over mommy issues lol, and how shit their fathers are.

Eventually, you do a little extra research about Westerburg and and eventually ask JD about what happened there. JD trusts you enough to let you know about his criminal activity (it's been 2 years of getting to know each other at this point) and you let Billy and Stu know later.

Billy and Stu are floored. Another person who was a homicidal teen? Fucking sick. Stu wants to tell JD right away but Billy is a little more reluctant.

Eventually everything comes to a head when Billy finally decides he loves JD too and wants him to be apart of your relationship. You and Stu are ecstatic. You let JD know and wham bam yes ma'am you guys are now a quad.

Eventually Stu lets the stuff about Woodsboro "slip" (he totally did it on purpose) and JD is like woah same hat?

JD and Billy do have some ideological arguments about killing. JD killed to prove a point about society, whilst Billy killed for revenge (and Stu did too, with Casey). But in the end, they both acknowledge that neither have room to judge the other, so they drop it most of the time.

The sex is wild. Like jfc. Like with Jennifer, Billy fights with JD for dominance and you and Stu are just like "ooookay anyway we'll just be over here fucking dont mind us." (spoiler alert, once they realize you two are ignoring them and too focused on each other they double team the two of you and hooo boy is it so sexy, especially if restraints are used on you and Stu.)

Overall, enjoy your 3 murder boyfriends, because they sure will enjoy you and each other.

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jerzwriter · 3 years

Text

Delaying the Inevitable: Chapter 24 - Changes of Circumstances

Book: Open Heart 3 (Post Series)

Pairing: Tobias Carrick x MC, Ethan Ramsey x MC

Rating: Chapter: Teen

Summary: Extended Series WIP – Love Triangle. In this chapter: Ethan discovers the truth just as he’s moving toward a new start; Casey and Tobias’s relationship continues to blossom, even with Vivian’s party to contend with; Ethan confronts Tobias and it seems as if things are going well, or are they?

Category: Extended Series (WIP)

Warnings: Language at some points

A/N: Hi all! Back from hiatus, and I hope you enjoy this new chapter.

A/N 2: Leaving the standard reminder from before break: This is a love triangle – that means Casey loves more than one person in this story. I’ve said it a million times, but here is a million and one, she won’t make her choice until the final chapter. So no, it’s not a foregone conclusion. And while Team Ethan, and Team Tobias, and Team God I’m Torn exist out there, there is only one that matters to me and that is Team Casey.

A/N 3: Thank you to @liaromancewriter for helping me brainstorm during the hiatus. Very appreciated! :)

CHARACTERS BELONG TO PIXELBERRY STUDIOS

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SERIES MASTERLIST

It was a freezing, grey January morning. Tobias had agreed to cover for Harper on her late shift, the opposite of the plan he had jokingly proposed. So, Casey traded the plush, heated seats of his car for a cold, chrome rail to hang onto as she tried to remain standing on the jostling train. She knew he’d be upset, he told her to wake him if it was too cold, he’d drive her, or at least call a car; but one thing Casey wanted to avoid was being too comfortable. She felt that way when she was with Ethan, and she felt it again now that she was with Tobias.

Most mothers would be elated if their daughter ended up with such financially successful men, but that’s not how Rose MacTavish operated and that’s not how she raised Casey to be. She reminded her daughter of their humble beginnings and how the family struggled to get to where they were today. Casey never had a silver spoon, she got her through college, an Ivy League med school, and into one of the top residency programs in the world because of her own drive and dedication. She had actually become fond of the mornings when she commuted to work; they served as a reminder of who she was and where she came from, it kept life real. So, when the other commuters squawked at the conductor’s announcement that their normal station was closed, meaning a longer walk to work, she remained unphased. Casey MacTavish knew who she was, and she knew she could handle it.

She kept that positive attitude even as she began to shiver under the many layers, she packed on for added warmth. The wind was wicked today and the real-feel temperature was below zero. Since she left with plenty of time to spare, she decided to make a pit stop into Derry’s on the way. A little self-care, not to mention thawing out, was needed.

She wasn’t alone in her thinking. As soon as the doors opened, she could see that the lines were much longer than usual. She pulled out her phone to read as she waited her turn, oblivious to the chaos that surrounded her. Several minutes later, she stepped up to the register to order.

“Hi, I’ll have a …”

“Casey, correct?”

Her brows knitted together; this wasn’t a barista she knew.

“Yes?”

“Just making sure I have the right person,” the young man smiled. “That guy over there, by the window? He said to give you this, it’s on him.”

Casey turned and saw Ethan sitting at the table that they had shared together so many times in the past. He nodded in acknowledgment and turned his head back down to his reading.

“Well, thank you,” she said handing him a tip. “Just in case he didn’t take care of you,” she winked.

“Oh, he did. And ma’am?”

“Yes?”

“I do think you’d make a striking couple.”

“We already tried that, and it didn’t work, but, thank you.”

She walked toward Ethan, it would be rude not to thank him. She had planned on staying to thaw out a bit, did she do that now? The best-laid plans…

“Hi,” he smiled as she approached.

“Hi. Thank you, you didn’t have to do this. It was nice of you.”

“It’s nothing. Hoping it will keep you warm, it’s bitter out there today.”

“It is,” she said lingering, not sure if she should take a seat or not. Noticing her hesitancy, Ethan pushed the chair next to him out with his foot and smiled.

“Care to take a load off?”

“I was planning on taking a few moments. My thoughts were as soon as I can feel my limbs again, I should head out again.”

“It does seem like prolonging the agony, doesn’t it? Yet, how many of us are in here doing just that.”

Casey placed the bag on the table and removed her drink.

“I assume you still drink Espresso Romano.”

Casey’s smile faltered a bit. “On occasion. I really have become more of a tea drinker.”

“Oh? You were always such a coffee addict, any particular reason why?”

“No. I just tried it one day and found I had a liking for it. I ran out and got all the supplies that weekend, my kitchen is now filled with these little tea presses, and canisters of loose teas and…”

She looked up and saw the wistful, faraway look on Ethan’s face. Without wanting it to, his mind went to his kitchen, picturing all the paraphernalia scattered around on his counter. He wondered if she was, in fact, with Tobias and, if so, did he do what Ethan would have? Did he get every tea trinket available and lean over the breakfast counter watching her as she giddily experimented with each one? The answer was, yes, he had, but the only thing Ethan knew for a fact was, he wished he had allowed those joys to remain his.

Casey stopped talking when she realized Ethan was not hearing a word she said.

“I’m sorry, I’m probably boring you to tears.”

“No, not at all,” he lied. “Oh, by the way, I saw your time off request come through and, it’s approved.”

“Oh, thank you.”

Don’t ask. Don’t ask. Don’t ask.

He asked.

“I … uh, saw Tobias has the same days off. Are you…”?

“We’re going to his mother’s home for the weekend. Vivian invited me down for her post-holiday party this year. I told her if I could get the time off, I would be happy to go.”

“Oh, Vivian. So, you’ve met her?”

“I have,” Casey smiled, “she is…”

“She is something.”

“I should have known you knew her from when you and Tobias were… well, back during your med school days.”

“Yes. DC wasn’t far from Hopkins, so we’d go down there quite often. Sometimes when she wasn’t home to see what we could get away with.”

“With Vivian, I’m sure that was next to nothing.”

“Well, you’d be surprised but… by and large, you are right.”

He wanted to ask, but he didn’t want to be too forward. She considered telling him, but she still believed that she and Tobias deserved the chance to settle into their new relationship before sharing it, though, she acknowledged to herself that they hadn’t done the best job at that. Her stomach was turning a little as she attempted to decide.

“Casey, I want you to know that…”

“Hi, I’m so sorry I’m late. The T is an absolute mess this morning! Oh, Casey, hi. I didn’t know you’d be joining us.”

“Oh, Floria, hi. I just happened to stop in, I didn’t realize you had… I won’t stay, it was…”

“Casey, take it easy. Floria and I were just grabbing coffee before work. We thought it would be easier to discuss the budgeting that our teams would be sharing here. As a member of my team, you’re more than welcome to be here.”

“Oh, I see. Well, isn’t Tobias involved in those discussions? I thought you would have…”

“When Tobias and I… interact… it never tends to go very well,” Floria grinned. “Ethan and I talked about it and felt we’d do the high-level overview before Tobias and I are forced to endure one another.”

“Oh,” Casey grimaced, uncomfortable with the fact that Ethan seemed to be getting so close with Floria, and not all that pleased that they seemed to be pushing Tobias out of a project that was his to manage.

“Well, as much as I’d love to sit in on this, I do have an early morning consult with the parents of one of my younger patients, so I’d like to get in and set up. But I must admit, I think Tobias should be involved in the discussions, even if they are high level. It doesn’t seem fair being that this is his project.”

“It’s not solely his project, Casey, plus I hope you know I will be above board with him and share whatever we discuss here.”

Casey looked directly across at Floria with a poker face. “I do. I trust you in this matter, I hope I didn’t insinuate otherwise. Now, if you’ll both excuse me.”

“It was lovely seeing you, Casey.”

“Yes,” Casey half smiled as she rushed to the door.

She was so eager to leave that she left her scarf and gloves off, choosing to put them on in the cold air outside. As she made her way to the hospital, under even grayer skies than before, she felt ill at ease but couldn’t pinpoint the reason. She didn’t trust Floria, she still felt that was not Ethan in a place to make the best choices, but she also knew that she didn’t have the right to intervene.

____________________

Ethan had therapy later in the day, and, perhaps his subconscious, wished to mend some bridges before he spoke with Dr. Fernandez. First, the peace offering of sorts with Casey this morning, and now he had asked Tobias if he would pass by his office at 3:00. It seemed a little suspect to Tobias, they hadn’t had any individual cases together, and Ethan had been avoiding him ever since their frank chat about his feelings for Casey.

“Hey, boss, unexpected meeting. Is everything OK?”

“Yes, but please come in, sit down.”

“That sounds like the 'you’re being fired' starter,” Tobias joked trying to lighten the mood.

“Well, I see no need for that at the moment,” Ethan replied. “I wanted to let you know that I met with Floria at Derry’s this morning to casually discuss the interdepartmental budget, I wanted to let you know about it and fill you in on what we discussed.”

“Oh,” he said slightly taken aback, “is there any reason why I wasn’t included in those talks?”

“Honestly, because you and Floria can be… combative… I thought it would be best if I got a feel for where their department stood before we went any further. I didn’t want you to think I was stepping on your toes, and I didn’t want you hearing about it from Casey and thinking I was trying to hide it from you.”

“From Casey?”

“Yes, she ran into us there, and, well, she didn’t seem very pleased that you weren’t invited.”

Tobias looked at his watch, it had to be at least seven hours since that occurred, he was surprised she hadn’t reached out to him.

“Well, I appreciate the heads up. Care to share if any developments were made?”

“We’re on the same page more than we are not, at this point, and, frankly, that almost concerns me a bit. I just don’t expect it to go this easy.”

“I don’t expect it to go this easy at all, but who knows, though I am loathe to admit it, perhaps your strategy of keeping me and the soon-to-be-former Mrs. Dawson apart may be the way to go. Granted, she’s only relaying Reynolds wishes, but sometimes putting us together in the same room…”

“You are going to have to work on that, Tobias. Like it or not, she’s here to stay and we will have to work in tandem. It’s best to at least establish a professional relationship.”

“Perhaps, but… it might not be my place to say but, your relationship with her, it seems to be… warming. And I just hope that you’re being sensible, I still don’t trust her.”

“I’m not asking you to trust her, to like her, to have dinner with her. I’m asking you to be cordial and figure out a way to work together. Outside of that, I am respectfully telling you that as your relationships are none of my business, mine are none of yours. But, for the record, no, I don’t have a relationship with Floria, except perhaps a budding friendship.”

“I’m not trying to intervene in your life, Ethan. I’m just telling you to be careful. Despite everything that has happened between us, I still give a shit about you, whether you chose to believe that or not.”

Ethan took off his glasses and rubbed his eyes. “Believe it or not, I do. And, while I admit it will be an uphill challenge, if I can have a budding friendship with Floria, perhaps we can work on reestablishing one between us. I’m starting therapy today and, well, you were one of the people who encouraged me to do so. I wanted to let you know.”

“I’m glad to hear that. For what it’s worth, I’ve never stopped considering you a friend, even though things are…”

“Yeah, they just are… one day at a time, Carrick?”

“One day at a time, Ramsey.”

“So, Casey tells me you are heading to DC for the post-holiday bash. That always was a good time.”

“Oh… she did?”

“Yes, when I saw her earlier today, I mentioned that I approved the time off requests you both submitted. I didn’t realize she met Vivian. I’m sure your mom is enchanted with Casey. I remember how she was even when you had a woman who was fairly unremarkable as a friend, and Casey…”

“And Casey is certainly remarkable. Yes, she is besotted with her, then again, I expected no less. One of the reasons I attempted to keep them apart as long as I could.”

“Really? Given your feelings for Casey, I would have felt that you would encourage it.”

“Ethan, I really don’t think….”

“Look, I’m sorry, if you think this is overstepping, I will stop.”

“Thank you. Now, unless there is more to discuss, but my rounds are pretty busy today...”

“No, of course, and, Tobias…”

“Yes?”

“This was nice. Thank you for being amenable to speaking. I hope we can do this more.”

“You’ve got it.”

Ethan sunk back in his chair once the door was closed. He turned to stare out the window and notice that snow had begun to fall from the sky, blanketing the city streets below. This wasn’t going to be easy, and he didn’t know how things would work out. But if he was going to try, he was going to try, and today was the first step. He smiled, proud of himself for taking it even before he entered Dr. Fernandez’s office.

____________________

Tobias hung back around the nurse’s station, knowing that Casey would be in the area soon. His eyes darted around stealthily, or so he thought, looking for her.

“Looking for Dr. MacTavish,” Barbara, a young nurse, smirked. Rumor had it that she had a crush on Tobias, something Casey teased him about relentlessly.

“Excuse me?”

“Dr. MacTavish? I noticed that you keep looking around and I figured you were looking for her.”

“Not that I see why that would be any of your business. But why do you find the need to ask?”

“Well,” she said rolling her eyes, “Word on the street is you two are a thing. Are you?”

“On the street? Or in the halls?”

“You know what I mean.”

“The relationship between Dr. MacTavish and me is between Dr. MacTavish and me. And it’s really not your place to be asking.”

“Just trying to be friendly,” she smiled, “… and trying to see if you’re still on the market.”

“Whoever said I was on the market to begin with?”

“Can’t fault a girl for trying?

Casey approached raising her eyebrows at Tobias and nodding her head for him to join her as she walked down the hall.

“So, secret admirer?” she teased.

“Well, one could argue that it’s not a secret anymore.”

“She’s too young for you.”

“Too, too young… as if that should be your first thought! Do you seriously think I’m interested in anyone other than you?”

“Hey, don’t get upset, I’m just teasing you. You’re quite sexy you know; I am aware that I will always have some competition.”

“No, you won’t,” he said very seriously, even though Casey was obviously teasing. “Let me be clear, I can’t stop anyone from being interested in me, but you will never have competition. Do you understand?”

“There is no need to get upset, hon. I know that. I trust you. I was only teasing.”

“I’m sorry, I just never want you to think…”

“I don’t.”

“Besides, it’s not like there aren’t a hundred people lusting after you in this place, but I know my girl is not interested.”

“You’re damn straight she’s not; but if we keep talking like this here, the whole hospital will know our secret within the next ten minutes.”

“Heh, now that you mention it, I really don’t know how much of a secret is anymore. The rumor mill is churning and during my little conversation with Barbara back there, she started out by asking about us.”

“About us?”

“Yeah, we’re big news.”

“Oh.”

“Does that bother you?”

“Bother? No. We just planned on laying low for a bit; but I suppose it’s our own fault, we haven’t exactly been doing a great job at hiding it.”

“Maybe we shouldn’t?”

“Maybe we shouldn’t. Why don’t we get through your mom’s party, and then we can take it from there?”

“I like that approach. Hey, why didn’t you tell me about running into Floria and Ethan this morning?”

“I intended to, but it’s been a hectic day. I figured I’d let you know back home tonight.”

“He also mentioned you told him about my mom’s party?”

Casey stopped in her tracks and turned toward him. “Tobias, does this bother you?”

“No… I guess it just goes back to, are we keeping this a secret or not, because it feels like we’re not.”

“I think Ethan suspects that there could be something between us, especially since someone told him that he loves me. But he has known we are friends for a long time, and he knows I’m living with you, so it didn’t seem like such a stretch that your mom might ask me.”

“Yeah,” he chuckled, “but Ethan knows Vivian, and I’m sure he already surmised that she’s planning our wedding, whether he knows we’re together or not.”

“So, then this is a trend for her? She just needed a warm body, I’m not all that special?”

“Oh, no. You are special. Trust me, she’s never been as excited and pushy as she has been for you. I know you’ve been so good-natured about it, but if it ever gets to be too much, you have to let me know, OK?”

“Why? Do you really think you can reel her in?”

“Absolutely not. But I can at least try,” he grinned.

“Better,” she smiled.

“Since I’ll be home late again, why don’t we meet up for dinner. I’m sure I can get out of here for a little longer tonight. What do you say?”

“Sure, but don’t you think you and I being spotted sharing a plate of spaghetti over the table will just raise suspicions further?”

“Not that I really give a shit, but you have a point. There’s a place called Audubon, it’s down by Kenmore. We can get a cab and be there in ten minutes and it’s far enough away that not every eye in Edenbrook will be there. What do you say?”

“I say we have a like a plan! I’ll meet you in the lobby at 6:00?”

“Sounds good. You know I wish to God, I could kiss you right now.”

“Well, we wouldn’t likely be doing that at work, even if we were in the open.”

“Wanna bet?” he winked as he walked away.

____________________

Ethan got in his car and began driving toward his appointment. He was frustrated because the snow seemed to cause everyone in Boston to forget how to drive.

“Come on people! It’s Boston, you should be used to this. For Christ’s sake!”

It would have been easier for him to go to a therapist affiliated with Edenbrook, but one of the things that was appealing about Dr. Fernandez is that she worked out of Mass Kenmore. He was not ashamed, but a little anonymity given his position and his proclivity to privacy seemed like a good idea.

Eventually he realized that he could walk the remainder of the way faster than he could drive. Since his appointment was nearing, he parked on the street and began his trek. Although he was freezing, the snow was beautiful, making everything look like a winter wonderland, so he didn’t mind.

____________________

“So, should I get a new dress for this soiree, or do you think I should just wear one in my closet.”

“Well, as unbelievably hot as you look in everything you own, I’d kind of like to spoil my girl. What do you say we go shopping this weekend, you could put on a fashion show for me until you decide what you want?”

“You want to go dress shopping with me?”

“Hell yeah! To be honest, it sounds pretty hot. And, who knows, maybe we can see about crossing doing it in a dressing room off our bucket list.”

“I don’t recall seeing that on our bucket list,” Casey laughed.

“Well,” he smirked wiping his lips, “it is now. Oh, waiter, can we have the check, please. Some of us have to go back to work.”

“Hey, I didn’t tell you to cover for Harper.”

“But it was the right thing to do.”

He leaned over the small table and gave Casey a soft kiss on the lips.

“It’s still hard for me to believe that we’re here, like this, together.”

“It can be pretty heady,” she smiled.

“I’m glad you think so too.”

“Of course, I do! But we better go, you need to get back to work. I’ll take the Uber back with you. It’s easier for me to get the T back home from Edenbrook.”

“And I sure don’t mind the company.”

They bundled up and headed outside into the snowy weather.

“Thirty minutes,” he scowled.

“It’s bound to happen, that’s why I said we should leave. It’s a good thing you listened to me.”

“I never deny that. Do you want to wait back inside the bar area? I don’t want you to be cold.”

“Well, you can warm me up a bit. Plus, we haven’t had a lot of snow this season, it’s so beautiful and I”d like to enjoy it a bit.”

“In that case, let’s take the bench across the street.”

Tobias sat down at the corner of the bench and Casey snuggled in against him. He kissed the top of her head as he brusquely rubbed his hands over the arms on her coat in a futile attempt to keep them both warm.

“Are you sure you don’t want to go inside?”

“Tobias Carrick? Are you afraid of a little snow? You grew up in DC? Man, I always knew you all were weaker than us Philly folks, but come on!”

“Oh, you think so?”

“No, I know so!”

“Those are fighting words, ma’am!” He grinned, “You better be prepared to back them!”

Out of his sight, Casey had been sneakily collecting snow in her hand and, once she had amassed enough, she pushed it together. Before he realized what was happening, he was hit square in the nose with a snowball. Casey bolted from the bench and ran the second it hit, laughing hysterically along the way.

“Oh, you are so going to pay for that!” He yelled.

“First you’d have to catch me,” she said with quite a bit of leeway.

Fortunately for Tobias, his morning jogs had really been paying off and he gained speed, swiping his hand along a car on the way, then hurling a snowball in her direction. Casey taunted him when it missed her by a mile.

“You’re going too far away! The Uber is going to leave without us if we’re not there,” he yelled.

Oh, crap! He is right!

Turning around to look at him she waited until he was almost upon her, then she swerved and ran in the opposite direction.

“Hahaha, youth will get you every time,” she giggled.

She turned around to see how far behind he was and she was shocked as he crashed right into her.

“Ahhh! You creep!” she yelled hitting his chest. “How did you catch up to me?”

“It seems your old man has it going on after all, doesn’t he Dr. MacTavish?”

“Oh, he’s decent, I guess,” she agreed.

“I love you, Casey.”

“I love you too.”

He grabbed her by the waist and pulled her into him, arching her backward as he gave her a passionate kiss.

“That’ll help warm you up,” he smiled.

A car honked and Casey looked over, realizing it was the Uber. Pointing she replied, “Yeah, but that will warm us even more, let’s go!”

Tobias trotted over in front of her, opening her door.

“After you, gorgeous.”

She reached up and held his face, giving him a quick peck on the lips before sliding in the backseat. The two cuddled for warmth as the driver set off to Edenbrook.

Across the street, Ethan stood leaning against a light post, unbeknownst to the happy couple, he had witnessed almost their entire exchange. Shocked would probably be the wrong word, as he had suspected, distraught may have been too harsh, as he had begun to prepare himself for the reality, but now that his suspicions were confirmed, crushed seemed to fit, perhaps even despondent.

This was his goal, the day he sent her away, this is what he had lied to her and himself about and said that he wanted, though it was never true. Could he fault her? No. Could he blame him? Absolutely not. Did it hurt like hell, nevertheless? It sure did. Yet, he couldn’t allow himself to believe that Casey, his Casey, was gone forever, it just could not be so.

____________________

Ethan took the elevator to Dr. Fernandez’s office, he knew Kenmore, he was familiar with the building, but he felt lost. It wasn’t really a shock, but it was. Why hadn’t they told him? They each could have. It wasn’t possible it just happened today. Yet, he knew they were not obligated to come to him. He opened the door and tumbled into a waiting room chair.

He was in such a fog that it was a good ten minutes before he noticed he was not in the office alone. A young woman peeked over her magazine and smiled at him.

“Oh, I’m sorry. I didn’t think there would be people here.”

“Well, yeah, people are typically therapist’s clients, so…”

“Oh, did I get the time wrong? Are you seeing Dr. Fernandez now?”

“No. I’m seeing Dr. Porter, they share offices.”

“Oh, I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to pry, I just thought...”

“First time?”

“Is it obvious?”

“Blatantly. Try to calm down, it’s not that scary. And, Dr. Fernandez, I’ve met her in passing, she seems cool.”

“Cool? Forgive me, but I’m looking for a qualified therapist, and the best you can come up with is… cool?”

“Hey, you have her credentials, she is clearly qualified, but isn’t it good to know that she’s someone you can be comfortable with. Take it easy over there.”

“I’m sorry. I’m having a shit day.”

“Most of us are, that’s what keeps them in business. It’ll get better. It always does. I’m Sonia, by the way, and you?”

“Do we have to give names?”

“No, of course not. I was just being social.”

“I’m not very good at that.”

“Well, then I guess it is for the best that you’re here.”

Their conversation stopped when the door opened.

“Ethan Ramsey?”

“Dr. Fernandez?”

“Yes, it’s a pleasure to meet you. Come this way.”

“Nice meeting you Ethan Ramsey,” Sonia smirked.

“That’s entirely unfair.”

“Don’t worry, I’ll forget it within the next hour.”

“Nice to meet you, Sonia.”

_____

“So, Dr. Ramsey, it’s a pleasure to meet you in person.”

“Thank you, same here, Dr. Fernandez.”

“I should tell you, I typically take a more casual approach with my clients, it helps breed familiarity, create a connection. Of course, each person is different, so would you like to go by Anita and Ethan?”

“Let’s go with Dr. Fernandez and Dr. Ramsey.”

“Of course,” she smiled.

“So, we had a pretty good intake on the phone, which is always beneficial. But I always consider the first few visits an exploratory time, where we get to know one another better and determine if there is a therapeutic bond. Based on that, I always allow my clients to decide how much they want to tell me. I understand that they may not want to open every box they need to unpack, only to find that they don’t feel I’m a good fit and have to do it all over again with another therapist. So, it’s completely up to you. Of course, if after a few sessions we decide to proceed my advice to you is this. I can only help you with what I know, which means for this to be successful, you will need to be as forthcoming as possible, if you are not, then, I’m afraid we would be wasting each other’s time, and we’re both busy physicians, I don’t think either of us wants that.”

“No, I don’t.”

“Excellent. So, why don’t you start, tell me a little bit about you and what brought you here today.”

“I came here today because I thought I’d like to have my life back. I realized something other than me took it over. I wanted to feel in control again, wanted to feel like I could live again. To stop the damn demons from the past from popping in and, frankly, destroying me. It’s not a way to live.”

“Well, I think you’re taking the right first step in that. But I have to ask, you said you “thought” you would like to have your life back. I would expect to year “I want” to have my life back. So, why am I not hearing that from you?”

“Why?” he said sighing and rubbing his hands down the front of his face, “Why? Because on the way here, I saw something that made me feel like, the life I wanted is gone anyway. It was before today, don’t misunderstand, but now, I have all the confirmation I need and… it’s gone.”

“It’s? Are we talking about an it?”

He shook his head. “No. We’re talking about a who. We’re talking about the one woman that I ever truly loved. The one person who moved the boulder away and dragged me out of the cave that I had buried myself in, the one who showed me the light outside and a better way to live.”

“And I’m assuming you’re no longer together.”

“That would be correct.”

“Why?”

“Because I told her to leave. I threw her out. I told her that I was over her and I wanted her to move on with her life, to find someone else who could love her the way she deserves, and… she did. She appears to be in love with my former best friend, and I know for a fact he is in love with her. So, she’s gone. My life, the one I hoped to get back, it’s gone now.”

“That’s a terribly sad story. I’m concerned that you pushed her away when it’s pretty clear that you did not want to. That’s a big hurt and it will take some doing to get over it. With that said, she was a part of your life, she was not your life. No one can, nor should, ever be our whole life Dr. Ramsey and, deep down, you know that. But you suffered a great loss today, so it may take some time to see it. But you will.”

“Yeah, it’s going to take a little time for me to remember that.”

“That is perfectly normal and it’s honestly a good thing that you can see that. However, in the end, you must understand that therapy won’t work, and your life won’t get better if you’re here for someone else. No matter how much you love this woman, being here to appease or to please her, or to try to win her back, that will backfire. You can not put your wellness, your recovery, in the hands of anyone other than yourself. If there is anything you can take from today’s session, I hope it is that. Even if you can’t believe it today, you must believe that it will come to be. Do you think you can do that?”

“I think I can work toward that. Can you help me work toward the regret that I will have to live with for the rest of my life, knowing how much I screwed this up?”

“Yes. I know I can.”

“Well, then, I think you and I will be able to work together. I understand you’re three sessions thing, but in all reality. I’m ready to begin the work if you’re ready to work with me.”

“Dr. Ramsey, I am confident that this is the beginning of a very productive relationship.”

____________________

“Babe, did you pack my cufflinks by any chance? I can’t find them anywhere.”

“Babe,” Casey answered sarcastically, “I know at times it might feel like we’re an old married couple, but truth be told, we’ve been together three weeks. I don’t even know where you keep your cufflinks.”

“How do I know you haven’t been snooping through my stuff,” he smirked.

“Because if I were that kind of woman, you would have never fallen so in love with me.”

“You’ve got a point. I can just bring a shirt that doesn’t need cufflinks. I think my mom will look past it this time. With you on my arm, she won’t be as concerned with what I have on my wrists.”

“Well, that’s good to know. But can you please pick up your pace? We have to get to the airport soon.”

Vivian apologized profusely for not being able to pick them up at the airport, even as Tobias reminded her that she hadn’t picked him up herself since he was 22. Vivian reminded him that now he has Casey with him, so things are different.

“She really does love you more than me,” he teased.

They arrived at the townhome and Casey wished Tobias would have better prepared her for what she was going to walk in on. Tobias’s condo was extravagant. But this made it look like a dreary flat in comparison. The home was simply breathtaking, and it oozed of old money. She almost felt as if it were insulting to enter wearing nothing more than her jeans and an old sweater. Tobias's brow furrowed when he noticed the overwhelmed look on Casey’s face.

“Hey, you OK?”

“Yeah, but… Tobias… this is where you grew up?”

“Mostly. We spent time at some of our other homes, but this was where we usually were.”

Casey fell back into a chaise lounge at his words but quickly jumped off of it.

“Casey, you’re acting weird.”

“Oh, it’s just that I bounced into that like I was collapsing on the couch in my old apartment. Meanwhile, it is probably a priceless antique and a gift from the Ambassador to France or something.”

“Actually, he was the Ambassador from Canada.”

“Oh, is that all.”

“He and my grandfather were golf buddies or something, I don’t know. But Casey, you need to chill out. I know it’s… a lot… but it’s just a house. I used to slide down that banister when I was a kid.”

She turned to look at the imposing carved oak staircase leading upstairs from the foyer, and it was hard to imagine anyone walking down it in anything short of formal evening wear, the thought of a young Tobias sliding down the railing felt unrealistic at best.

“Our lives were very, very, very different.”

“Well, they’re not anymore. We do the same thing, at the same hospital, work the same long hours, and go home to the same house. Don’t let this frighten you. It doesn’t define me.”

“Oh, Dr. Carrick,” a voice called.

“Gerald! It’s great to see you old buddy! How are you doing?”

“Very well, sir and it is delightful to see you again. This must be the lovely young woman Mrs. Carrick has been going on and on about.”

“Uhm, I’m Casey and it’s very nice to meet you Gerald and you are…”

“Gerald is the household manager.”

“In the old days, I would have been called the butler.”

“The but, but, but…”

“Butler, Casey. The butler. But we prefer household manager,” Tobias smiled.

“Young lady, why don’t you let me show you two to your room.”

“Wait, we’re not staying in my old room?”

“With a full-size bed and with no en suite? Now that you have Casey with you? Your mother wouldn’t dream of it. You’ll be staying in the guest suite.”

“The guest suite?”

“Casey, you’re going to have to stop repeating everything,” Tobias smiled. “Follow me.”

Casey sat on the edge of the bed, afraid to touch anything. While Tobias found this cute, funny even, at first, he was growing concerned. He sat beside her.

“Hey, you’re worrying me. Talk.”

“I hope you don’t think I’m being ridiculous, but this is just all… overwhelming. I mean, your condo….”

“Our condo…”

“OK… our condo… even that was overwhelming, but this… this is another life Tobias… this is not next level, it’s next, next level, and … do I fit in here?”

He looked at her stunned, “Case.. Casey! Of course, you do. You fit in wherever you are, you fit in wherever I am, don’t you ever feel like you don’t belong.”

“Tobias it’s just, I was joking that we were going to be partying with Senators and Ambassadors but, we are actually going to be doing that, aren’t we?”

“Yes, but they’re people, just like you and me. And you’re smarter than most of them, definitely more beautiful than all of them. You have nothing to worry about.”

“Except which fork to use.”

“That’s what you have me for.”

“T., I would have never imagined you came from this world?”

“I only did part of the time. My mother has certainly assimilated here, but her family is far more real, and I was blessed enough to spend a good chunk of my time growing up with them. Honestly, this was not my preference. Except for my mother and a few relatives on my father’s side, none of my family lives in DC anymore, but I can take you for a spin around where they used to live. Let me take you on a tour of the places that made Tobias… Tobias….”

“The Tobias I know and love, or the one that was a bit of an asshole.”

“Both,” he grinned. “Come on, let me see if Queen Vivian can join us. I know you are familiar with the town, but I’m sure there are places you’ve never seen.”

“I’m sure of it.”

“Why don’t you freshen up and meet me downstairs after?”

He saw the look of consternation on her face.

“Casey, you have to get used to it. Trust me, the mahogany paneling doesn’t bite.”

“If you say so.”

Vivian was still out making plans for the party and being quite cross with everyone she encountered because she was so anxious to get back home to see her son and Casey. She only settled down when he assured her that he would show Casey all she needed to see and keep her happy until they would all have dinner together later tonight.

They proceeded to spend the afternoon taking in the sites, the touristy spots where Tobias learned just how much appreciation Casey had for history and how she had spent hours upon hours reading at the National Mall on her visits here in the past. They lunched at a trendy café in Adams Morgan. They walked around Howard University where he shared all his college stories, some that he was very proud of and some, not so much. Then he took her to see the home where his mother’s parents and his other family members lived when he was a child. All in all, it was a wonderful afternoon, leaving Casey with a much better appreciation of who Tobias was, and a little less afraid of the opulent home they were returning to.

Vivian was waiting with open arms.

“Tobias! Casey! Oh, come over here and let me look at you!!!”

“We look the same, Ma.”

“Oh, I’ll be the judge of that!”

She gave Casey a warm embrace, before stepping back and holding her hands to the side, staring at her fondly.

“Oh, my dear, you are just so lovely. You were always beautiful, but I swear, now that you are with my son, you are even more radiant.”

“I think what my mom is trying to say is that, somehow, having sex with me has made you even more gorgeous than you were before.”

“Tobias Carrick!” Vivian yelled smacking his arm, “That is not what I said!”

“Oh, it sure sounded that way!”

“Hmmm. Now, you, on the other hand, my dear boy, you are definitely more handsome since you have made this official. Love does that to a person and, my dear Casey, you should know, I have never seen this man so in love. Now, I should apologize. I'm so sorry I couldn't join you today, dear, I hope Tobias did a respectable job of showing you around the city."

"It was more than respectable. But I've spent a lot of time in DC in the past, I've always loved it here."

"Oh, is that so," Vivian eyed Tobias. "You know, my brother-in-law is on the Board at George Washington University Hospital. And this townhome technically belongs to Tobias, I could always downsize..."

"Mom...."

"I'm not suggesting anything, dear, I'm simply providing Casey with information you are already aware of. You never know if she might find it helpful one day. Sometimes a change of scenery can do a world of good."

“Mama, first, stop scaring my girlfriend away, second, you know the DC life it just, it’s not where I’m meant to be.”

“Humph. So, you say. Sometimes you don’t know where you’re meant to be until you are there, my child. You’ll learn that one day. Now, Gerald has a simply lovely dinner planned for us, but you must be exhausted. Do you want to rest a bit beforehand?”

“That actually sounds like a wonderful idea.”

“Then why don’t you two go rest up in your suite, I’ll be waiting for you at six o’clock sharp.”

“Oh, thanks for giving us the suite, Mom, I finally get to christen it!” he winked.

“Oh, Tobias, please stop talking like this in front of your mother!”

“Why, this is exactly what she wanted,” he said as they bickered walking toward the steps. “You know she was all but pushing you into my room back in Boston.”

“I don’t think she specifically was thinking of it in terms of us having sex T., I think she just wanted us together.”

“And that’s part of being together….” his voice trailed off.

Vivian watched them walking up the stairs, a satisfied smile on her face.

“Isn’t she just lovely, Gerald.”

“She certainly is. A lovely couple indeed.”

“Oh, I can’t wait to show them off at the party.”

____________________

Casey stood in front of the full-length antique mirror in their suite. She was dressed and ready, just waiting for Tobias to zip the back of her stunning blue satin gown. Vivian insisted on having a stylist come to the townhome to do her and Casey’s hair and makeup, the result was sleek, elegant curls that Casey knew she could never replicate. She barely recognized herself when she looked in the mirror, but in a good way.

Tobias stepped out of the en suite adjusting the cuff of his shirt when he saw Casey across the room. He stopped in his tracks; his breath literally taken away. Without saying a word, he slipped up behind her and pushed her long hair to the side, leaving trailing a line of kisses down her neck. He wrapped his arms around her waist and held her close, then she felt his warm breath in her ear.

“My God, you are exquisite,” he whispered, his voice filled with desire. “I can’t believe I get to walk downstairs with you on my arm.”

Casey leaned back and lifted her hand to his cheek. She stared at their reflection in the mirror and smiled.

“I think we look really good together.”

“Baby, it’s called perfection,” he said before kissing her again.

“T.,” she giggled, “I think you need to zip me, and right now before we never make it downstairs.”

“Well, you know the effect this dress has on me.”

“Hmmm. One item crossed off your bucket list, and now we are forever banned from using the fitting rooms at Saks Fifth Avenue.”

“Well worth it and I’d do it again,” he laughed, “don’t worry baby, there are more stores we can get banned from together in Boston.”

“Noted. Now zip me.”

“Fine!” he said, almost in protest. “But only because I’m so anxious to show you off. I think even more anxious than my mom.”

“Oh honey, I think that may just be next to impossible.”

“You might be right. But I have talked to her and told her to go easy on us.”

“Think she’ll listen?”

“Not a chance,” he said with that smile that made her heart skip a beat. “Shall we,” he said offering his arm.

Just before they made their way down the stairs Casey took in the scene below. A string quartet played in the corner, as tuxedoed waiters carrying silver trays filled with hors d'oeuvres made their way through the crowd, the room was filled with a loud hum from the many conversations taking place, and Vivian, who hadn’t spotted them yet, was holding court among some of the biggest movers and shakers in the DC set.

“You OK?” Tobias asked.

“Yeah, just, don’t let me fall down the stairs.”

“I wouldn’t dream of it.”

Casey hoped that their entrance would go relatively unnoticed until she became accustomed to the room, but there was no way that the striking couple was going to go unnoticed.

“Tobias,” a refined older man in an elegant suit called. “It’s a pleasure to see you again, and who is this lovely young lady.”

Tobias smiled proudly, “This is my girlfriend, Dr. Casey MacTavish.”

“Girlfriend? I had no idea someone had taken you off the market!”

“Well, clearly you haven’t conversed with my mother recently.”

“No, no, I can’t say that I have. But it is a pleasure to meet you, and doctor?”

“It’s lovely to meet you as well, and, yes, I work on the same diagnostics team as Tobias.”

“Beautiful and brilliant! Tobias, you’ve done well!”

“I dare say we both have,” Casey smiled while holding his arm a bit tighter.

They moved through the room, with many similar introductions took place. Tobias removed two glasses of wine from a passing tray. He whispered in her ear as he placed a glass in Casey’s hands.

“For someone who was so nervous, you’re a natural. You have charmed the hell out of everyone who has come into your path.”

“You exaggerate, I’m just being polite.”

“Polite, poised, charming, and delightful.”

“Oh, you’re in love, so of course I seem perfect to you,” she teased.

“While that may be true, he is also speaking the absolute truth,” Vivian smiled before air-kissing Casey on both cheeks. “Everyone I have spoken to is simply bowled over by you dear. I assure you, if you lived in DC, the invitations would be flowing, and your social calendar would be packed.”

“Well, then thank heavens we don’t live in DC,” Tobias smiled raising his glass.

“Tobias, what I have been unable to teach you in thirty-seven years, this beautiful woman has learned in a night.”

“Have you ever heard me say that I’m better than her in any way? I assure you, you haven’t.”

“Oh stop, you two place me on such a pedestal and you seem to forget I’m afraid of heights. If it’s all the same with you, I’d like to be down on the ground.”

“Impossible, dear. Even the way you just verbalized that answer illustrates what I am saying. You’re a natural. I assure you, you will be back in the spring for at least a tea or two.”

Tobias chuckled, “I knew you’d be a hit, dear. And, mom, I must give credit where credit is due, you haven’t announced our engagement or hinted at save the date cards being mailed, I’m beyond impressed.”

“Well, you should be it has not been easy. Though Senator and Mrs. Johnson and I had a lovely conversation about what stunning grandchildren I will have, and The Fitzgeralds did offer up their estate in Great Falls, should the need ever arise.”

“Then I stand corrected. You have failed at the simple mission I gave you after all.”

“Simple? There has been nothing simple about this. The fact that I have not once introduced Casey as your fiancé, in my opinion, has made this a fait accompli! Did you seriously think I wouldn’t say anything to anyone? I limited it to closest friends, who are discreet, and who will receive the very first invitations. Now, enough of this! Go and mingle and I will continue to brag about what a handsome couple you are and how delighted I am to have Casey join the family, and you can’t stop me.”

“Mom, if you’re saying that last part, you’re essentially saying…”

“Nothing at all, son. Don’t worry, I’m not announcing an engagement until after Valentine’s Day. Casey, I will be expecting another selfie sent to me that evening,” she winked as she walked away.

“Your mother is persistent.”

“I gave you plenty of warning.”

“I can no longer tell, is she serious?”

“Casey, I’m starting to get confused on the matter myself. But, now that I’m fairly confident that there will be no mention of our betrothal in tomorrow’s Washington Post, can we put this aside so that I can enjoy a dance with you.”

“I think that can be arranged.”

They took to the floor, lost in each other, they didn’t notice that all eyes were upon them, including Vivian’s.

“I still can’t believe that you didn’t ask me to dance at the holiday party.”

“Are we ever going to let that go?”

“Maybe someday, but no time soon.”

“I promise to dance with you at every event, hell, I’ll dance with you every day to make up for my transgression, would that help make it up to you?”

“It might,” she smiled.

“You know, my mom mentioned Valentine’s Day, this the first time in my life that the day actually means something to me. Why don’t we do something nice, maybe get away for a weekend?”

“Tobias, as lovely as that sounds, we were both able to get these two days off of work, I think accomplishing that again in the near future would take an act of Congress.”

“Well, in case you haven’t looked around this room, I think I could actually pull that off.”

“You’re insane,” she laughed.

“But we could make it super special in Boston. I can rent a limo, take you to the fanciest restaurant in town, shower you with gifts.”

“Or… we could fill the condo up with candles, cuddle on the couch, order in a delicious meal, no phones, interruptions, just you and me doing whatever comes to mind.”

“Yeah, well, you know where that will go.”

“Several times over.”

“Tobias Carrick looking forward to Valentine’s Day. I don’t know who you are Casey MacTavish, but you sure do know how to work magic.”

“Damn right she does,” Vivian said as she danced by them.

“Inescapable,” Tobias laughed shaking his head.

_____

The next morning Gerald arranged their suitcases by the front door.

“I’d still prefer to carry my own luggage,” Casey whispered as they walked down the stairs.

“Gerald would be mortified if you didn’t let him do his job, Casey.”

“I could never get used to this life.”

“Yes, you could.”

“Nope.”

Vivian emerged from the kitchen, keys in hand.

“You’ve actually made him punctual too, Casey. I never thought I’d live to see the day.”

“Mom, why do you have keys in your hand?”

“Because I watched Ghostbuster’s last weekend and now I’m cosplaying as the key master and in search of the gatekeeper. What the heck does it look like I am doing, Tobias? I’m driving you and Casey to the airport.”

“Again, you have not driven me to the airport since I was 22 years old.”

“Again, this is the first time you have brought an absolute angel to my home, and forgive me if I want to spend every last second with both of you. Besides, I can tell you all about your reviews on the ride over.”

“Reviews? Like Broadway or movie reviews?”

“Absolutely, my dear, and yours are stellar! Tobias, yours weren’t too shabby either. Now,” she said walking out the door, “the Fitzgeralds were not joking. I don’t know if it would be the best idea, I personally would prefer having the event in DC, not outside of DC, but it’s good to know that it is an option.”

“MOM!”

______________________

The next morning a very tired Tobias was making a cup of coffee in the diagnostic team’s office when Ethan arrived.

“Hey, Boss,” he said, the exhaustion apparent in his voice.

“Good morning. Well, you sound like you had a relaxing weekend,” Ethan answered sarcastically.

“You’ve met my mother, Ethan. At any point did you think heading to her home for one of her parties was going to be relaxing?”

“No,” he chuckled slightly, “I can’t say that I did. Did Casey come in with you today?”

“Uh, yeah. I think she and Jackie headed down to the cafeteria, but I couldn’t swear to it. It’s not my turn to watch her,” he smiled.

“Really? I assumed that would be your job going forward.”

“Excuse me?”

“You, watching over Casey. Making sure she’s safe, cared for. Isn’t that what her boyfriend is supposed to do?”

Tobias studied Ethan, silently challenging him to continue. Ethan quickly replied.

“The other day, I had an appointment at Kenmore. The day that it snowed, I was walking and… I saw the two of you, the snowball fight, the kiss. So, I got all the confirmation I needed.”

Tobias lowered his cup to the table and momentarily gazed up at the ceiling.

“Ethan, I…”

“No. You don’t owe me an explanation. You were not obligated to tell me. But I do wish I could have found out another way.”

“Ethan, in all honesty, would there have been any way where it would have been easier for you. Honestly?”

“No. There would not have been.”

“It wasn’t done to hurt you, I swear.”

“Well, I didn’t think that the two of you were putting on a performance to hurt me. I’m not quite that self-centered.”

“The truth is, we just decided we wanted some time to simply be before we had to deal with all that we knew would come after. I want to say I’m sorry for hurting you, and I am. I almost feel compelled to say that I’m sorry for falling in love with her, Ethan, but I can never do that.”

“I understand. Now, especially given the awkwardness of our teams dynamics, I am going to ask the two of you to disclose to HR, it is hospital policy. I’m telling you rather than Casey because, well, Naveen is still technically her boss and, it would be a bit too uncomfortable for me, so can you…”

“I’ll make sure it is taken care of.”

“OK.” Ethan took a moment, waiting until he knew he could speak without his voice cracking. “Tobias.”

“Yes?”

“Promise me that you’ll be good to her, look after her. Promise me that you won’t hurt her,” he swallowed hard, “like I did. She deserves better than that.”

The two men stared at each other for a brief moment, the silence and their expressions spoke more than words could say. There was no anger, no malice, just two men, two friends, trying to come to terms with the changes that had taken place. Neither expected it to be easy, and they had yet to understand how it could happen, but in that moment they realized, not only did they both share an unending love for Casey, but the bond between them was just as unbreakable. Somehow, they had to make this work.

Tobias began to nod slowly.

“I promise. I promise.”

“Thank you.”

Their heads turned toward the door as Casey and Harper approached, laughing and engaged in an animated conversation. Their conversation came to a halt as soon as they entered, sensing the tension in the room.

“I’m sorry,” Harper said, “did we interrupt something?”

“No, no. Everything is fine. I’m glad you’re both here so we can get our morning started,” Ethan said through a forced smile.

Casey’s eyes met Tobias’s and he nodded. He didn’t need to say a word for her to understand. She didn’t flinch, but she didn’t notice that she diverted her eyes from Ethan’s for the remainder of the meeting.

___________________

“Do you think I should say something?”

“I don’t know, Casey, I’m going to leave that up to you.”

“I know I shouldn’t feel bad, not after everything that happened, and how it happened. I know I shouldn’t but… I kind of do. Is that wrong?”

“No, I get it firsthand, kid. I know it’s uncomfortable, but Casey, we didn’t ask to fall in love and, I’m sorry for the mess, but I’m never going to be sorry for falling in love with you, I’m never going to be sorry for having you in my life, I just wish things were different. But we’ll adjust, all of us will.”

“I know we will, I think I’m…”

Casey looked up and saw Ethan walking in their direction, his eyes locked with hers.

“I’m going to go chat with him, OK?” she whispered.

“OK, good luck, baby.”

“Ethan…” she yelled after him as he passed, “could I have a few…”

“You don’t have to, Casey,” he answered somberly, never looking her way.

“I know I don’t, but I’d like to. Just a minute or two, I won’t keep you any longer. I promise.”

“Of course.”

He looked around and noticed an empty patient room and nodded in its direction, they entered, closing the door behind them.

“I… I just wanted to say…”

“Casey, before you start, we really don’t have to discuss this.”

“Ethan, please. Let me continue. I almost don’t know what to say. I really never expected any of this, starting with you and me not being together, but…”

“But I shattered that vision, now, didn’t I?”

Casey swallowed and decided at that moment, she would be kind, but she would not evade the truth.

“Yes,” she whispered, “you did. Before you and I… before we ended… I never would have thought that I’d be here, with Tobias; but we learned firsthand, we don’t control who we fall in love with, even if the circumstances are less than ideal. I’m not going to be ashamed of, and I’m not going to apologize for what I share with him, but I don’t like the fact that it must be so difficult for you.”

“Casey, the night I… the night I broke up with you, I told you I wanted you to go on and I wanted you to be happy. And, though it will be harder to watch than I imagined, I’ll adjust and so will you. The truth of the matter is, I never expected you’d be alone forever, I didn’t necessarily think you’d be with… Tobias… but life has a way of working out and I’ll be ok.”

“You will,” she smiled, “I’m sure of it.”

“You’re happy though, right? You’re happy.”

“I am.”

“Then that’s all that matters. So, why don’t you go and do your job, MacTavish, you’ve wasted enough time here with me.”

“Time with you is never wasted, Ethan. I hope you know that.”

“I do. But, please, go.”

She smiled wanly and turned to leave, looking at him one more time before she closed the door.

Ethan hoped that telling her to go and watching her leave would become less difficult in time, but he doubted that it would.

__________

The following week saw the extreme awkwardness that developed dissolve into an uncomfortable new normal. Harper did her best to try to keep the group focused on the future, reminding each of them, individually, that she knew a thing or two about working with a former partner who moved on to another co-worker. Of course, she was not friends with Casey when Ethan fell in love with her, but she still had the means to make this transition smoother.

Everyone seemed to be relieved that there was no anger, no snide remarks, no appearance of retribution, it almost seemed too easy. Tobias happily accepted the way things were going. Casey was pleasantly surprised but hesitant. She could not fight the feeling that the other shoe was about to drop. Tobias tried to calm her apprehension, he really felt it would all work out.

“So, what are your plans for the big day?” Barbara asked.

“Excuse me?” Casey replied.

“The big day, Valentine’s Day. Now that you are official-official, you can spill the tea,” the young nurse smiled.

“Barbara, I don’t recall making any announcements and my Valentine’s Day plans are no more your business than yours are mine.”

“But you are with Dr. Carrick. I’m not wrong.”

“Barbara, he’s not on the market,” Casey said snidely.

She turned to walk away, nearly crashing into Ethan.

“Oh, Ethan. I didn’t know you were….”

“Just heading to the office, MacTavish.”

Casey grimaced realizing he likely overheard the exchange with Barbara, who was really becoming a thorn in her side. Casey had been going out of her way to avoid rubbing her new relationship in Ethan’s face, and she didn’t like other opening the door to it. She would have to become more adept at shutting it down before it happened, it was all part of adjusting to her new life.

____________________

Later that day:

“This is just ridiculous! There is nothing that can be done.”

“No, there really isn’t”

Casey flicked on the lights to the team’s office and stomped inside, throwing her binder onto the table.

"I just don't understand, in today's day and age, we have to be there! This can't just be done over Zoom, at least my portion?”

"Casey, you don't get an invitation of this caliber and follow up with "would it be OK if we did this via Zoom”. I understand your trepidation, but I assure you..."

"No, you don't understand. We've worked together for almost four years now, Ethan, and I've had to go on exactly one trip with you one. And we both know how spectacularly that went!”

She hastily began making a cup of tea.

“And why are you insisting that it must be me to accompany you? Why, Ethan? And over Valentine’s Day weekend! Like you didn’t realize that.”

“I know the timing is…”

“Suspect. The timing is suspect!"

“Look, Casey, it is what it is, and you will be going. Clearly, I’ll see to it that there are no screw-ups this time around, so we will have separate rooms this time. There are no ocean breezes, no balconies to be found and I’m well aware that you’re with someone else, but we will be going on this trip and I am sure that you and Tobias can make due with celebrating your Hallmark holiday a few days later.”

“But you still haven’t explained, why me. It doesn’t….”

He turned and walked out of the office, leaving Casey mid-sentence.

“Uuugh!” She yelled falling back into her chair.

“Shoe dropped!”

A/N: After this chapter, a reader requested I write out the dressing room *cough* incident *cough* that Casey & Tobias discussed in this chapter. So, here it is. This is 150% 18+, so only read if you are an adult: A Formal Affair

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