#Man she should get like..a pillow or somethin in there /j

[romanticscribblingof-alovedbug]

Oh geez… Glitch needs to wake up already!! Maybe then he can save you!!!

"Well, from what i've heard, glitch is back. But, he's sensitive at the moment, so i'd rather him get better first. And besides, im just a little stressed. Nothin' this cold room and some sleep can't fix. I hope."

[f10werfae]

Barefoot and Pregnant

pairing: Lumberjack!Henry Cavill x Shy!Pregnant!Wife!reader

summary: Henry and his cockdrunk wife go through an emotional love-making experience, after being pressured by her friends to give her husband a ‘hall pass’ because of her growing body (DILF!Henry) (Dom!Henry)

likes, comments and reblogs are appreciated🫶 Disclaimer 18+

Lumberjack Masterlist, Henry Masterlist, Full Masterlist

︵‿︵‿୨♡୧‿︵‿︵

“Baby bun? Why are you cryin’? Is there somethin’ wrong with our miracle?” Henry rushed placing both of his hands onto his precious wife’s four month bump: he had come home to see her sobbing her eyes out into her pregnancy pillow. “I-I have your b-birthday present, h-here” She cried handing him a crumpled piece of paper, “A fuckin hall pass? The fahk do I need this for?”

- A few hours ago -

“So Y/n, I know your man’s birthday is coming up soon, what are ya getting him?” Chloe smirked putting down her beer, she wasn’t really someone Y/n would hangout with, but considering she was friends with Stephanie it was kind of obligatory. Y/n shuffled uncomfortably as all eyes panned to her, this brunch with her girls had taken a weird turn, with them questioning her sex life and very clearly overstepping private boundaries. Y/n on the other hand was adamant that she would spill nothing, ultimately leading to the other women becoming increasingly annoyed.

“U-Uh I was t-thinkin’ of givin’ him the s-sweater I made him, a-and cookin’ him a m-meal” She whispered, pouting when she heard the others giggling and scoffing at her gift idea, her hand falling to her baby bump for comfort. Her little gemstone always had her back. Henry always loved her knitted goods, in fact most of his jumpers were ones she had made, and he never left home without a packed lunch from his woman.

“Girl, just cause you’re preggers doesn’t mean you can’t spoil him! Get him somethin’ better than some lousy knitted shit” Jenny giggled nudging Chloe playfully; Y/n’s hands now started to tremble, she had finally gotten used to nothing but praise thanks to Henry, but now that she was back in this toxic environment she could feel her anxiety start to swirl at the pit of her stomach. She wanted her Henry, and she wanted him now.

“B-but he usually likes m-my meals and h-he asked for a j-jumper” She whispered pursing her lips and clasping her hands together over her stomach, the lemonade she ordered now tasting like absolute poison on her tongue. “Why don’t you get him like a subscription to beer or somethin-“

“OR A HALL PASS? Omg a hall pass would be so good, because you’re obviously pregnant you should give him one, poor guy will need it” Chloe snickered interrupting Stephanie, “A-a hall pass? Whats t-that?” Y/n questioned tilting her head to the side like an adorable puppy, her hand softly rubbing over her stomach, her little miracle’s kicks following her hands every move.

“Basically girl, now that you’re pregnant, every man finds it harder to fuck his wife; let’s be honest it’s a very natural thing. A hall pass is like giving him a ‘get out of jail card’ like letting him fuck someone else for a night or something” She explained placing another chip into her mouth, as if she wasn’t just excusing cheating on Y/n. “B-But I don’t want him t-to” The smaller woman sniffled feeling tears already start to collect in her eyes, did Henry really find her unattractive now that her body was changing?

“I mean come on, are you really going to give him a lousy sweater? Here if it makes you uncomfortable for him to fuck someone else, I’m single!” Chloe joked motioning her hands to pretend she was sucking someone off, the rest of the girls giggling along with her, except for Stephanie who was disgusted by the whole exchange. If anything she was the only friend Y/n really enjoyed hanging out with, and the only friend Henry trusted her with.

“You guys need to knock it off and stop being disgusting shits, come on Y/n Henry texted me to get your somethin’ from the pharmacy” Stephanie grunted pulling Y/n up from her seat, scowling when Chloe tucked in a napkin into Y/n’s purse that said “Hall pass” followed by her own phone number. A poor sniffling Y/n, felt her own emotions starting to shuffle all over the place, her hormones truly had her. With her hand tightly clasped in Stephanie’s the both of them got into her car, when she finally let out a massive sob, wrecking through her smaller body; Stephanie reaching over giving her hugs and whispers to calm her down.

“I-I D-Do you t-think h-he should get a H-hall pass?” Y/n questioned wiping her eyes and nose onto a hankie, her hands smoothing over her stomach, her baby must have realised she was upset; the little thing was wriggling around like crazy almost as if it was trying to provide its momma comfort. “I mean I was gonna suggest beer or a razor, Chloe is just a bitch and insanely jealous because you two are an absolute power couple. Plus it’s not exactly a secret how much Henry is in love with ya” Stephanie smiled booping her on the nose, sighing in relief at the sight of a smile on Y/n’s face.

“B-but maybe he does find me u-ugly now, h-he even offered to shave me down there” She pouted looking down, “Girl he did it because he wanted you to feel more comfortable, you’ve always been the trim typa woman”

“I guess so, s-so what do we need at the pharmacy?”

“Nothin’ I jus’ wanted outta there, Ya sure you’ll be alright girl?”

“Y-yeah H-hen gets home soon a-anyway” After seeing Stephanie go off, Y/n bolted for the bedroom, even after all the comforting words from her friend; she still couldn’t help but feel unwanted and ugly. Would Henry find her pretty again if she let him fuck Chloe? Fuck, just the thought of it haunted Y/n’s thoughts, her man had always told her that he was only for her, and that she was only for him. There is no Chloe in the equation.

- Back To Present -

“A fuckin hall pass? The fahk do I need this for?”

Henry growled holding the napkin and seeing some random number beside it. “I-I” Y/n couldn’t even get words out without sobs shaking her whole body, leading Henry to pull her onto his lap as he sat against the headboard, one hand cupping her face gently while the other cupped his baby miracle. “Calm down sweetpea, tell daddy what happened to your n’ our miracle today”

“W-well we all went t-to that cafe b-by the s-square” She stopped, crying again

“S’okay sugar pie, breathe with me, m’right here and m’not lettin’ ya go” He whispered kissing her cheek softly, the hand one her stomach sneaking around and grabbing a cheek full of ass, making her squeak and gasp. “C-Chloe said t-that because i-i’m pregnant, you wouldn’t find-find me pretty a-anymore, a-and that I should l-let ya b-be with her for a-a night” She explained nuzzling into his palm, his thumb running over her cheek affectionately.

“Are ya fuckin’ crazy, you are the g’damn sexiest thing on this planet sweetpea, my sweet gorgeous wife. You’re takin’ care of our little baby in there, how could ya not be more beautiful? Ya shoulda jus told them we still fuck every night like rabbits-“

“Stoppp, s’embarrassing, b-but then why’d you offer t-to help me shave?”

“Cause baby bun, I know you’re not a grower, n’ I had an idea for ya”

“o-oh I see” She said now realising that her thoughts were jus messin’ with her, “I get so worried cus a forget how fast ya mind is runnin’, ya gotta keep me in the loop sugar, cause you’re mine” He explained leaning in and kissing her wet lips, his hands grasping her waist, kneading her skin.

“I-I know, m’sorry, she j-jus really freaked m-me out. C-cause you’re m-mine and I don’t w-want ya l-lookin’ at anyone else” She explained, Henry smirking at her shy nature, the way she shuffled closer ok his lap, her arms clasping around his neck. “Now ya understand how I get baby, we just need each other n’ no one else” He said lowly, his lips pulled up into an almost eerie smile, as he then stood up from the bed and walked them both towards the bathroom.

Nodding at his words she giggled at the cold feeling of the bathroom counter underneath her thighs, just letting her wild man of a husband rip off her underwear, his electric trimmer already laid out on the side. “W-what was your i-idea?” Her hips bucked as his fingers rubbed her clit slightly before turning on the trimmer, if her stomach wasn’t already huge she would have looked herself. “You’ll see baby bun, jus ta remind ya, of me” He laughed skilfully moving the trimmer around, with Y/n giggling every time he leant forward and kissed her inner thighs or her stomach, he just could not keep his hands off her.

“W-will you help me, r-rinse off after?” With her lips puckered out waiting for a kiss, Henry stood up, letting her suck on his tongue for a few seconds before pulling away teasingly: he had already planned on rinsing her off himself anyway. Lifting her onto the shower bench, he rinsed off her freshly shaven pussy, clearly proud at the thing he had engraved onto her nestle of curls. The letter ‘H’

“What ya think baby, are ya mine or what?” He sang snapping a picture of her pussy and showing it to her, it wasn’t unusual that during sex he would simply take pictures of him leaking out of her, or the faces she would make whenever he was cumming right inside her warm centre. “ I-I love it, m’all yours” She giggled watching him pat her dry with his towel, following him as he led her back into their bedroom, softly setting her on top of the array of cushions and blankets.

“Who made this blanket baby?” He said holding up a woollen baby blue blanket, “M-me” She whispered watching him pull up her dress over her body, leaving her body naked in front of him, his precious masterpiece. “Mhm ya made it for us, n’ our little gemstone, our little family. No one else” He grumbled kissing up her stomach, smiling every time his baby kicked up at him, he couldn’t wait to find out the gender in a weeks time.

“Our little family” She whispered, trying to hold back a smile as Henry peppered hundreds of kisses up her body, his hands grasping at her growing tits, kissing at her nipples and watching them harden. Every night Henry would treat her to a nice breast massage, claiming it would help the milk come in faster, now was that true? Y/n didn’t know but any excuse to have him touch her was a welcomed one. Frankly Henry didn’t know either.

“I’m not gonna fuck you tonight sugar pie, m’ gonna make love to my gorgeous pregnant wife, who is the most amazin’ woman av’ ever seen” He whispered directly into her ear, kissing the shell of it as he felt her hands splayed out on his chest. “R-really?”

“Mhm going to take it nice n’ slow, love on every single parta you, n’ show ya jus’ how much ya mean to me” Looking into her widened doe eyes, he gave her an eskimo kiss, then let their lips meet in a slow, long passionate kiss. Their lips simply feeling each other, their tongues gently massaging each other as she whimpered against him. “Love you so much, my baby bun, all obedient n’ beautiful; my wife, mother of my baby”

“I-I love you too, can’ wait to m-meet our little m-miracle” She hiccuped pushing forward for their lips to meet again, whining when Henry pulled away and turned her body so he could spoon her, placing a soft pillow underneath her bump to make sure she was comfortable. “Ya comfy momma?” “Mhm, miss holdin’ y-you though” She whispered, gasping when she felt Henry’s hand intertwined with hers, his head settled into the crook of her neck; his warm breath fanning her neck to make sure she knew he was with her. He was staying.

He whispered that he was momentarily going to let go of her hand to prepare her for him, his hands lifting her leg up slightly, to allow his hand to venture in massage her slick set of lips gently; her soft gasps and whimpers causing her to nuzzle back into his chest. His athletic shorts were easily shrugged off, revealing that he wasn’t wearing anything underneath, his cock already slipping itself through her folds. Y/n whined opening and closing her hand, clearly wanting to hold his again, smiling in relief as he held onto hers tightly.

Both of them breathing out as she took him inch by inch, bottoming out inside her as his balls rested against her ass, with Y/n holding Henry’s hand close to her chest; kissing his knuckles every so often. “Love this pretty pussy a’ yours, always so welcoming n’ warm, all for your husband isn’t it?”

“A-all for you, m-my husband” She whispered softly bucking her hips to let him know he could start going, and within seconds his hips started rolling against hers, slowly and deeply reaching every inch inside of her; dare I say he even poked her womb a few times with how deep he was going. Taking his hand he reached under his pillow and retrieved his phone, angling it in front of Y/n as he kissed her neck sloppily, taking a photo of her eyes rolled to the back of her head; her mouth agape and drooling onto Henry’s arm under her head.

“My pretty girl, you’re doin’ so well for me, so prouda ya” He whispered dropping his phone, his hand landing onto her tits, grasping both of them in the middle of her chest, rubbing both nipples in a circular direction; his cock stuffed into her velvety walls, his rhythm staying the same. “F-feel you so deep, t-too good” She breathed out cupping her stomach which was now bouncing along with his thrusts, which caught Henry’s eyes as he then cupped the bottom of her stomach. That photo was definitely going to be his phone wallpaper

“Who knocked you up? Who got you this full n’ swollen?”

“Y-you did daddy, f-fuck, feel so full” She moaned, his hands rubbing up and down her stomach lovingly, the fact that she was holding his baby just made her that more irresistible to him; she was taking care of the perfect mix of them both, their baby miracle. “You dare call yourself ugly, you wouldn’t call our baby ugly would ya? So why would call its home ugly? You’re protectin’ them with this beautiful haven inside ya baby, you’re amazin’” He whispered, his hands flowing down to her pussy, feeling the pattern of the H, his fingers found her precious little clit, rubbing the sensitive button until he felt her clench around his length. “These beautiful tits are gonna feed and nourish our baby, n’ maybe me sometimes, how can you say they’re not sexy as fuck; how you’re able to do all these things naturally, as my woman” He joked nipping her shoulder, feeling her giggle and her hole clench at the idea of her own husband sucking on her hardened nipples.

“Can feel you gettin’ close honey” He whispered watching her face turn to the side, her hand reaching around to his head, her lips pushing his into an open mouthed tongue kiss; his thumb lovingly wiping her drool covered chin, his thrusts not letting down. “b-baby, beautiful, f-family” She said clearly cockdrunk, muttering out words that she had heard from her husband, “Yeah baby that’s right, now do ya think ya can let go for daddy?” He cooed letting her nuzzle her head back into her cushion, his smile softening at her smile and at the way her hand instantly reached to hold his.

“Am’ gonna cum H-Hen”

“S’okay sugar babe, m’ gonna cum too, together okay?”

Henry picked up the pace just for her, her whines and whimpers getting louder until finally he felt her creamy onto his cock, his own juices spurting inside her; causing her to breathe out happily at the warm stuffy feeling inside of her. “I love you, don’t ever fuckin’ doubt that, you have a nasty thought in your pretty head? You tell me n’ i’ll sort it out” He growled kissing her cheek as he turned her to lay on her back, with him propped up on his elbow as he traced over her stomach. “What are ya t-tracin’?”

“Hearts, so our mini baby bun knows what love looks like” He chuckled finishin’ his tracin’ looking up to his wife’s eyes, with her getting all giddy and smiley at his confession. “I-I already love ‘em so much, g-gon dress them so p-pretty. N’ w-we can play i-in the fields w-with them” She giggled playing with his fingers which were on her chest, the post sex haze doing nothing but accentuating their love for each other. “Pretty like their gorgeous momma” Henry whispered pecking her lips once more before he remembered something.

“Now how about I show ya somethin’, ya don’t havta walk, ill carry ya” He whispered as she nodded, the both of them trodding to the end of the long hallway towards his work room, her eyes widening at the site of two wooden bassinets sitting at the corner of the room. “Y-you made this for mini bun?! B-but why two?” She wondered looking up at his deep blue eyes, “m’ preparin’ for the next one bunny”

“t-two babies” She giggled whispering to herself at the idea of her big gruff husband handling two tiny tots at once, watching him dote on them like the protective man he was. “Mhm m’ gonna keep ya barefoot n’ pregnant, like ya this way baby bun, all swollen an’ big for me” He gruffed nuzzling his rough bearded cheek against her soft one, “Told ya, you don’t need those stupid friends a’ yours when you’ve got me sugar, m’all ya need and our mini bun right ‘ere”

———

PSA: Hope this is all good! I wanted to show a more emotional and loving side to their relationship 🫶 But still sprinkle a bit of dark!manipulative!Henry

library blog of works @f10werfaes-cosy-collection

Taglist (not accepting, use blog): @drewsuncrustables (thank you for the ‘H’ idea) @they-call-me-arte @helenaellie @pandaxnienke @thereisa8ella @kimhtoo17 @beck07990 @dumb-fawkin-bitch @madebylilly @kebabgirl67 @marvelgurl @uwiuwi @stormcloudss @misshale21 @hallecarey1 @nikkitc0703 @mischiefsemimanaged @oliviah-25 @aerangi @bookfrog242 @alina02 @alexxavicry @hp-hogwartsexpress @angelmather1 @acornacre @ggmimitf @thebaileybugle @p4st3lst4rs @kzhlvlysstuff @thoughtsofreid @cilliansangel @theekyliepage @cookielovesbook-akie @luvabellee @elenavampire21 @hoya122 @rosiesluv7 @yaminax @esposadomd @meyocoko @disaster-rose @severewobblerlightdragon @kemillyfreitas @adoreyouusugar @queensgirl718 @sweetybuzz25

Hope you all enjoy this instalment xoxo

[allyvampirelass29]

The Lost Boy

A NOS4A2 Fanfiction By: Allyssa J. Watkins

"Vicki? Where are you!? Vicki, come here!"

"You're scarin' her, Linda, all your damn screechin'! Brat? Baby, come back here."

"Yeah, sure, Chris, you're the one drinkin' and throwin' whiskey bottles, and actin' like a freakin' lunatic, but my voice is scarin' our daughter! GOD, Mister Hero, and I'm always the BAD GUY!!! Damn it, Vicki, I SAID come here!!!"

Eight year old Vic McQueen hugged her denim jacket with the pink sparkly stars on the shoulders, tighter around her, rolling her dark eyes, as her parents fought in the open doorway. Biting her lip, she snuck her way around the side of the house, climbing on her red bike, pedaling away, shooting a quick glance over her shoulder, to make sure she wasn't being followed.

"Do they always engage in so unsightly a row?"

Vic squeezed the brakes on her handlebars with a gasp, her unruly brown curls falling in her eyes, as she stopped short, swerving, just narrowly missing the older boy, standing in the street.

"Geeze, Pal, ain't your mother never told you not to play in the street? What? D'you want to get hit by a car or somethin'? What's that mean anyway, row?"

"Feisty for a girl, aren't you?" The older boy, about twelve chuckled, adjusting his red silk kerchief, and dusting off his black vest. Vic was sure she'd never seen him before, dark wavy hair, and them thick eyebrows, he sure didn't sound like he come from Haverhill.

"Yeah, what of it?" She shot back, raising her chin defiantly, balancing on her bike. "Girls can be just a tough as boys, y'know? Ask Danny Merckle, I popped him one good. And if row means raise the dead with a lot of damn noise, then yeah, they sure row a lot."

The dark, mysterious boy shook his head with a smirk. "Girls shouldn't curse, nor should they engage in fisticuffs."

"That mean scrappin'?" She asked, screwing up her little face. Geeze what an oddball, this guy.

"More or less," The boy shrugged his shoulders.

"Yeah, well, I ain't exactly the type to play with dolls," She shot back, and he smiled again, his head tilted.

"So I see...... Well, Feisty, to answer your earlier question, no. My mother practically told me to go play in the street, nor would she have batted an eyelash if I'd gotten run over like a stray."

"Man ALIVE, your Old Lady is worse than mine!!!" Vic gasped, and she couldn't help but notice how sad the boys eyes looked. Real damn sad.

"You have NO idea, he said with a sigh," And they both jumped as the front door to Vic's house slammed shut.

"That's my cue," She whispered, leaning forward to pedal away again, when the older boy, grabbed one of the handlebars. "Hey, watch it guy, cant'cha see I'm tryin' to make a break for it?"

"I'm sorry." He said softly, his eyes going all sad again. "I'm sorry, you have to listen to them fight, and throw things, but you don't have to be scared."

"I ain't- I ain't scared," Vic's shoulders bristled, and the boy watched unconvinced as her lip quivered, and the autumn light caught in her pink sequins.

"It's okay..... to be scared. I am, sometimes."

"Pshhh are you kidding me?" Vic scoffed, resting her arms on the handlebars. "What's a tall guy like you got to be scared of, huh? Yeah, your old lady sounds like a witch, but, c'mon she's still your ma. She might carry on, but they love us. They gotta, right?"

The boy smiled again, but it was very sad. "One can only hope, Feisty. May I....... accompany you, on your daring getaway?"

"If that's fancy talk for tag along, then yeah sure." Vic shrugged her shoulders. "Damn, you're sure different, most boys older 'an me just want to push me around, you know, pick on me."

Vic pedaled down the sidewalk, away from her house, the sun hanging low in the sky, as the boy in the red kerchief walked alongside her, fighting his smile.

"I can't imagine anyone pushing you around. You're quite the novelty to me too."

"Thanks....... I think," Vic looked at him, scrunching up her brow. "So you got a rough home life too huh?"

"Horrendously so...... Your father may take to the drink, but I have the great misfortune of living in a bar, surrounded constantly by drunkards, and my mother, let's just say....... has a lot of boyfriends."

"No foolin'? GOD, that's gotta be some kind of awful! Folks get bonkers when they're drunk, at least mine come home...... most of the time, anyways. Boyfriends huh? What about your old man? Mine's a drinker, yeah, but he ain't all bad. He makes me laugh, y'know?"

"I don't have one...... I mean, I do, of course, but....... his identity could never in probability be ascertained. Whomever he is, he sure did not want me."

"God....... That's real rough. Everybody needs a dad......."

Vic's front tire hit a rock, and she swerved, accidently slamming into the boy, and he groaned as he fell back hard.

"Yikes! Holy sh- Are you okay?" She yelled, leapfrogging off her bike, kneeling down beside him, reaching to help him up, when she saw them....... "Hold on, guy, there's something on your neck there......"

"I'm perfectly sound, just a little jostled, hey, stop that, what are doing?"

Vic pulled off his silk handkerchief, and his hands flew to his neck, nervously. "Give it back."

"Hey........" Vic frowned, pursing her lip, and the boy shuddered, as she leaned over him, and pulled down his shirt collar. "You're bruised somethin' awful....... Did I-?"

"No-" He snapped quickly, leaping to his feet, one hand still hovering over his neck, the other held out impatiently, wiggling his fingers. "That's mine, thank you very much."

"No." She shook her rebellious curls stubbornly, clutching the kerchief tight. "You're not getting it back until you tell me....... Who did that to you, huh? You get in one of them rows with somebody?"

"Something like that...... Now give it, before I take it from you......." He scowled, knitting his dark brow.

"Like to see you try it, Buddy," She snarked back, holding it behind her back. "Who whaled on you, tell me....... It couldn't have been your old lady, c'mon."

The boy tried to look angry, tried to hide the guilt, and shame in his eyes, but they pierced through the dark shine, and he sighed, hanging his head. It was then Vic noticed the cuff on his sleeve had inched up, revealing the dark circles of even more bruises.

She gasped, her little hand flying to her mouth, slowly handing him the kerchief, which he snatched back, and carefully re-tied.

"I take it back...... Your mother's a witch with a "b."

The older boy couldn't stifle his smirk, hastily pulling down his long, starch white sleeve, fiddling with it. "Quite so."

"My ma used to get mad, and slap me around sometimes when I was talking back, but....... she ain't never left bruises like that....... You got to get yourself the hell out of there.

"I will....... Someday." He shrugged, hands in his pockets, and Vic walked her red bike alongside him, the sun casting long shadows behind them. "Someday, I'll drive away, in a fancy car, somewhere no one will ever hurt me again.

"Sounds real good, guy. You ever need a friend, you got one in Vic McQueen."

"Who's Vic McQueen?"

"Me, Stupid!" Vic laughed, elbowing him in the ribs. "You got a name, Kerchief?"

The dark-eyed boy smirked, bowing graciously, with a flourish of his hand. "Charlie Manx, at your service."

"God, you are so freaking weird. Well, put 'er there, Charlie!" Vic beamed, holding out her little hand with a smug grin, and hesitantly, Charlie took it, with a firm shake.

"A pleasure, Victoria."

Charlie Manx awoke with a jolt, bolting upright in bed, his hands flying instinctively to his neck, and he shivered, the sweat cooling on his skin.

"What on GOD'S green earth was that......!?"

His palm slid slowly down his neck, and he felt the pale brunette slumbering beside him stir, but she didn't fully wake. He stroked her face, breathing heavy, envying her expression of heavenly peace. How perfectly dreadful....... How dare you, Victoria....... Damn you, invading my sacred dreams, unearthing my- my secrets and shames. He rubbed his neck again, finding it still bare, and free of bruises, his skin, of course, flawless.

The angry tears stung his eyes, and he wiped them furiously away, his thumb circling his wrist over and over........ He had to admit this miniature McQueen wasn't quite so irksome....... Little Victoria was so far removed from her scathing, impulsive, teenage self, that there was something almost endearing about her, fussing over him and his boyhood inflictions. “How odd to think of us together, Victoria, as children, the bruised yield of broken homes. What might you have thought of him, The Lost Boy without his Neverland? We might even have been friends.......... How's that for a scary thought?”

He slowly fell back back onto the bed, his silky raven head sinking into the soft pillow, and he froze as his sleeping beauty whimpered, and eased her body against his, skin melting against skin, laying her crown of shiny curls on his bare chest.

"This one......." Charlie breathed, flaring his nostrils in a sigh, his claws caressing her luxurious curls, letting them sift, one by one, through his fingers. "She had a much different upbringing than the two of us........ An ideal childhood, and I envy her, Vic........ I envied her, her happiness, yes, I watched her grow up, loved, cared for, precious in her mother's eyes, and I ached to know what that was like....... To flourish in a tended garden, instead of left neglected in the thistle........ Ironic, isn't it......? She would have had no need of me to come, and spirit her away to Christmasland, and yet you....... who despise it most of all........ were exactly the kind of girl I would have saved.

He ran his hands through his mussed coif, his obsidian strands damp with sweat. "Imagine us, Vic, as childhood friends, the feisty girl, and the dapper dan, creating together, walking worlds that others can't even imagine....... Look at us now, scrapping, as you so eloquently phrased it, for a chance to kill each other, and I feel the swelter of your hatred, but even you can't deny that we....... are not so different."

I'm going to have to kill you, there's no way around that, not now. And I'm going to enjoy it, have fun, get...... creative with your meticulous undoing. He chuckled to himself, winding one of Ally's ringlets around and around his finger, with a menacing smirk. But that does not mean I won't miss this, our delicious conflict, the obscene pleasure that comes in hating you, hurting you....... In a perfect world, I would have you both, my conflicting passions, satisfied, her pleasure, your pain, my ultimate fantasy. But this one....... She was made too tender, Vic. Where your parents' endangerment hardened you an edge, this one feels too deeply through another's heart, even yours. She couldn't love a man that inflicts pain with such indecent pleasure, courting her tenderly with the same hand that harms you. In time, she will beg me to stop, fling herself at my feet, sobbing bitterly while you bleed, and being so affected by her, I will grant her wish. I will grant yours as well, and finally finish it, quell your flame, waste all of that Creative potential, killing you in secret. Then I'll tell her, Vic, I'll tell her I let you go.......

Charlie felt his heart quicken, imagining Victoria's aghast face, as though she were listening to his thoughts, racing by in a frenzy. That's right, My Feisty One, I'll make myself the hero of our doomed fable, and say I've decided to give up our fantastic feud, all for her, because she's changed my heart, absolved me of my sins, and she'll love me for it, Vic, praise me, reward me, even while you lay dead in the frozen wilderness. He closed his eyes, with a dark chuckle, a sinful breath escaping. You'd hate that, wouldn't you, Victoria? ANSWER ME!!! Tell me how much you'd hate that.......

You're messed up, Pal. You do that, and you're worse than your slap happy old lady.

Charlie's eyelashes fluttered open as he heard Little Vic's angry voice linger in his mind.

That's enough out of you, Young Lady. Only good girls get to go to Christmasland, and you've long outstayed your welcome.

You want me to scram? Make me.

Oh, I intend to....... Consider yourself grounded.

He simpered, feeling blissful, pressed against his wife's womanly warmth, visions of battling Vic frolicking through his head, as he smelled Ally's hair. You make me so happy, the both of you........ In hating one, and loving the other, The Lost Boy became a found man. You might not be one to play with dolls, Vic, but I certainly am......... And I don't intend to share.

[lpdwillwrite4coffee]

BLOODY SUNRISE CHAPTER NINE

Run!

Caitlin jackknifed off the mattress, gasping like a drowning woman.

Drenched in a cold sweat, shaking violently… It wasn’t like her other nightmares.

She knew this one too well.

“Shh, hey, darlin’ you’re alright, hey…” Booker’s voice was in her ear.

Hands—calloused and warm—rubbed up and down her arms.

Absently she realized she was crying, but she couldn’t stop, couldn’t even feel the tears streaming down her face. She was too numb.

“Cae, you’re alright, you’re safe.”

She shook her head, trying to clear the fog, the panic, the disgust.

Booker’s hand cupped the back of her head, stroking her hair.

“I’m right here, you’re not alone,” he soothed, fingers tangling in her locks. “Take a breath sweetheart, please.”

Confused by his statement, she didn’t know she was hyperventilating. She was taking in too much oxygen, her lungs burned with it.

The dark room tilted. She felt nauseated.

“Caitlin, come back, darlin’, please,” Booker begged, hands firm on her arms, shoulders, neck. “Lay down, c’mon. Ease back.”

She didn’t fight him as he tugged her backwards. But she didn’t land on the mattress.

Instead he cradled her against his chest, turning her just enough to use him as a pillow.

“Shh, it’s alright,” he murmured against the top of her head. “You’re safe.”

Wet cheek pressed to his shirt, she focused on the strong beat in her right ear.

Lub-dub, lub-dub, lub-dub…

“J-jack?”

“Yeah, it’s me,” he said, and she felt the vibrations. “I’m right here.”

A fresh sob escaped her lips. “I was so scared…”

“I know, shh, I know,” he whispered.

At first, she thought she was hallucinating, a moment of sensory overload, but then he did it again…

Booker kissed the top of her head, brushing her hair back as he did so.

With one hand holding the side of her head, he traced patterns on her back with the other, calming and grounding her.

Quietly, he started humming, and Caitlin closed her eyes.

                                                               ***

Warm. She was so fucking warm…

Her hair was stuck to her neck uncomfortably, and her legs tangled in blankets, clearly from trying to escape the heat. But it was surrounding her.

Shifting against the pillows, she made a soft noise of protest at the back of her throat.

Something tightened around her, pulling her closer.

Even half-asleep, she recognized the movement and arched her back, pressing against…

Booker.

Her eyes flew open, fully awake now.

Soft puffs of air hit the curve of her neck. His arm encircled her, keeping them flush, back to chest, waist to abdomen, hips to—

Oh.

Caitlin shifted slightly and instead of helping, she was now intimately acquainted with what she guessed was not his belt buckle.

The breath against her neck faltered as Booker groaned in his sleep.

Shit, shit, shit…

Well, he definitely didn’t have anything to be shy over. Goddamn.

“Booker,” she whispered, trying to rouse him without any drama. “Booker?”

“Mhm.” He pressed his lips to her shoulder, clearly still in dreamland.

Caitlin shuddered at the contact. It felt better than she wanted to admit.

“Jack, wake up.”

His arm flexed around her waist, and for a brief moment she felt dainty, small, safe.

“Jack… Jack,” she urged, refusing to acknowledge how she responded to every shift against her. “Booker.”

He snuffled at her neck, lifting his head a fraction. “Wha-huh?”

One… Two…

“Oh shit.” He released her like he’d been electrocuted. “Cae, I’m—”

He rolled away, almost falling off the bed.

“It’s okay,” she said, throat tight. “Honest.”

“I never… I didn’t…” He cleared his throat. “I must’ve been dreamin’ or…”

She tilted her head to see him in the grey stormy light. “It’s fine, Booker. I’m not offended.” She laughed softly, trying to lighten the mood. “Would’ve been offended if you hadn’t had a… situation.”

Booker’s embarrassment was palpable.

“Felt that, huh?”

“Now I know why you’re such a smug jerk,” she teased. “Packing quite the hammer there.”

He groaned and covered his face with his hands. “Damn twin bed.”

She giggled, watching him turn four shades of pink.

Then she remembered how they’d even managed to be that close, and…

“Hey,” she said, sobering. “Last night…”

His gaze shifted, locking with hers. “Yeah.”

It was all he had to say really.

“Thank you,” she said, reaching for his wrist. “I couldn’t—”

“Shh, it’s alright,” he said, taking her hand and squeezing gently. “You’d do the same for me.”

He was right. She would do anything for him.

Not friends.

More than that.

More than words.

                                                                               ***

The rain came down in sheets, flooding the yard and tearing leaves from branches.

They’d never be able to travel in this weather.

Caitlin dug her nails into her thigh as she stared out at the foreboding storm clouds.

Trapped. They were trapped.

The day dragged on, no matter how many chores she helped Constance and the girls with. Eventually she spent a half an hour playing dollies with Mary until Jeremiah deemed the game too noisy.

Control. Micromanaging. Constant disapproval.

Caitlin offered the young girl a smile and whispered an invitation to color instead.

The sons asked Booker to help them clean the supply of weapons, and he agreed, nodding to Caitlin as he left.

She told herself he was still within ear shot. She was still safe.

But Jeremiah’s gaze was heavy, and hot with disdain.

He was reaching his own boiling point, for reasons unknown to everyone.

Caitlin knew the signs. He was fidgety. Annoyed with anything and everything. Breakfast was too hot, lunch was too cold. Sounds of joy from anyone were silenced by a harsh word and glare.

For a moment, Caitlin felt 14 again, balling up her fists and wishing he’d just explode already. Come after her, get it over with. She could take it. She’d been hit worse.

Their packs were stocked with stuff she’d managed to pilfer while no one was looking—fresh drinking water for 2 days, bread, a jar of peanut butter, cured meat, bullets for Booker’s rifle. She’d snuck them down in the morning and hid them outside, just below the porch stairs out of the rain.

The pocket knife Booker gave her was still in her sock, a weighty reminder than should worst come to worst, she’d shed some blood of her own.

Caitlin joined Constance in the kitchen, helping to prepare supper. They chatted about family, life before Geeks had stolen their daily routines and the world had begun to crumble.

Constance laughed at a joke Caitlin made and something slammed behind them, making them both jump.

It was a Bible Jeremiah dropped on the table.

“Lotsa racket in here for two women,” he snapped.

Constance shrunk in his presence. “We were just talkin’.”

“Maybe cookin’ would go faster if y’all weren’t jawbonein’ huh?”

The woman’s hands trembled, and Caitlin took a step closer to her.

Jeremiah watched her, eyes dark.

“I think I want green beans with my supper,” he said to Constance. “You run down and get a couple cans, alright.”

It wasn’t a request.

Constance did as she was told, leaving Jeremiah and Caitlin alone.

So this was it. This was how it began.

For the first time since they’d taken refuge, she felt calm. Bones turned to steel. Like staring down the center of a storm.

“Y’know, I’ve been thinkin’ extra hard about somethin’…” He lumbered forward. “About how you just don’t fit…”

She planted her feet, squaring off with him. He noticed.

“You’re nothin’ but a liar,” he whispered harshly. “A deceiver.”

Booker… Where was Booker?

“Proverbs 13:5, ‘The righteous hate what is false, but the wicked make themselves a stench and bring shame on themselves.’” He angled toward her, sneering. “And I can smell you, girl.”

Her pulse thundered in her ears. Her legs shook.

Run, run, run…

“I knew what you were the second you walked into this house,” he continued. “Nothing but a Jezebel.” His gaze fell to her breasts. “Sent to drag good men away from God’s grace.”

He crowded into her space, blocking her in.

“Seen plenty of you in my day,” he said, glare raking over her body. “All women like you… given a sinful form crafted by the devil to become stumbling blocks for your brothers.”

“Is that how you see your daughters too?”

The question flew from her mouth, vitriol dripping from every word.

“You little cunt, I’ll—” He grabbed her by the arm, almost hauling her off her feet, and she screamed.

Reaching behind her, she grabbed the nearest thing she could grab—a cutting board—and swung it at his face. It caught him in the temple, blood bursting across his left eye.

“BOOKER!” She screamed, fighting his hold.

She swung the board again, hitting him in the jaw that time.

“Stupid bitch!”

“JACK!”

Heavy footsteps clamored up the stairs from the cellar and around the corner.

The hammer of a pistol clicked.

“Let her go or I’ll blow your brains across this kitchen.”

Booker’s voice was even, calm… like he was giving someone directions, not threatening a man’s life.

It made the statement bone chilling.

He’d put a bullet in Jeremiah and not even blink.

The other man released her, and Caitlin slumped against the counter, dropping the cutting board with a thud.

Jeremiah attempted to laugh. It was grisly, bloodstained teeth flashing.

“It was a misunderstandin’,” he said. “She’s a nervous creature, I just spooked her is all.”

“Like hell,” she spat, tripping over herself to get away from him. “He grabbed me, threatened me—”

“Threatened? Nah, honey, I didn’t… I swear, I was just reaching for—”

Booker pressed the barrel of the revolver against Jeremiah’s forehead. “Did you touch her, yes or no.”

The family had started to fill the kitchen, the younger children crying out for their daddy and their mama. The older boys were stone faced, too old to believe any fairy tale their father was spinning.

Jeremiah sputtered, blood and saliva dripping down his chin. “I, well I—She hit me in the face! I had to stop her!”

Booker didn’t take his eyes off the man. “Caitlin?”

“He grabbed my arm.” Was about to do worse. It was unspoken but Booker knew. Of course, he knew.

The young girl, Mary, started crying.

Booker leaned closer, whispering, “’M not gonna kill ya in front of your kids. They don’t deserve that.”

In one swift arc, he brought the butt of the revolver down on Jeremiah’s temple, sending him to the floor in a heap.

“Go, go Cae,” Booker ordered, already pushing her through the group.

She bolted across the house, slamming through the screen door. She leapt down the porch steps, slipping in the mud but never losing her balance.

“Cae?”

My rifle?

“Left!”

Under the chair, to your left.

Crouching, she grabbed the straps of their packs and yanked them free.

“Jack!”

Catch.

His boots squelched in the mud, but he gained on her in moments.

Caitlin reached behind her, holding her hand out for him. Their fingers danced and latched on.

“Go, go,” he told her, voice muffled by the pouring rain. “Duck.”

The first perimeter line. He’d found where it was tied higher than the rest, enough for them to slip under.

A shotgun blast rang out, and Caitlin screamed.

“Run, go, Caitlin!”

Get out ahead, I’ll cover you.

She grabbed his jacket sleeve and didn’t let go. “C’mon!”

Not without you.

Another shotgun blast and they changed directions. Moving targets in torrential rain had better odds.

Booker slid in a thick patch of muck and Caitlin steadied him, keeping him on his feet.

Together. We run together.

They didn’t stop running until they were miles from the outer perimeter line. Miles from the cabin.

Miles from the landmine that finally went off.

                                                               ***

The rain had stopped, but that only spurred her on.

She’d been leading their trail for five miles, refusing to even look back at Booker, as if reenacting a Greek myth.

“Ain’t you tired?” Booker asked.

It must’ve been close to midnight, the only light guiding them from the nearly full moon that occasionally cut through the clouds.

“Nope.”

She was too angry to be tired. Too disgusted. Too mortified.

The pit of her stomach felt filled with tar. Boiling, thick, never dissipating.

“Alright, well I am,” he said, slowing his gait. “Meadows…”

She continued walking. If she stopped, she’d have to think. Have to feel.

And if she were honest, she’d probably punch Booker in the face.

“C’mon Cae—”

“I’m not tired.”

“Nah, ‘course you’re not, you’re too pissed at me to be tired.”

That made her stop.

Chest heaving, she turned to face him.

Booker was already sliding his pack off. “G’head. Say it.”

Rage burned up her throat like acid. “I told you. I told you!” She stomped forward. “I knew something was wrong with him. I told you I knew, and you laughed me off. You called me ‘darlin’ and pretended to listen when really you didn’t give a shit.”

She expected him to argue. But he just stood there, hearing her out.

“I gave you my reasons, I told you I had a bad feeling the second we met him, but no, you couldn’t pass up a hot meal and a comfy fucking mattress.”

In the moonlight, Booker planted his hands on his hips and hung his head.

“It took him threatening to rape me and calling me a cunt and grabbing me before you even believed me!”

Every breath she took scraped her windpipe.

“I had nightmares! Straight up PTSD flashbacks from shit I tried to put to rest years ago, all because I was trapped in that goddamn house with that monster!”

She could just barely make out the movement of Booker nodding his head.

“You forced me there, you convinced me to stay, you made me start to doubt myself, and look at what happened!”

Tears fell over her lashes, spilling down her cheeks. Her fury waned into all-encompassing grief. She stood there, soaked completely through, sobbing into her hands.

When she finally caught her breath, she wiped her face and looked up.

“You’re right,” Booker said quietly. “I didn’t see it until it was too late.”

She squinted at him in the dark.

“I made you compromise yourself,” he continued. “Your gut was tellin’ you loud and clear he was dangerous and I didn’t listen. You had insight into a situation I had no clue about, and I ignored it because I was too focused on what I thought was more important.” He took a step closer, and even though she couldn’t see him, she felt his stare on her. “I disregarded your instincts. I gaslighted you. And there is no excuse for it.”

Caitlin was stunned. Bewildered to her core.

“I’m sorry, Caitlin,” he said earnestly. “I will never do that to you again. Ever.”

She opened her mouth to speak when several twigs snapped nearby.

Geeks.

“Booker,” she gasped.

He was already rushing to her, pulling her close.

“I can’t see—”

“Shh shh…” They both held their breath as they listened. “I count five, maybe six.”

“Shit,” she exhaled. The urge to run made her legs wobble.

Booker was quiet as he reached back for the revolver. In the dark he grabbed her hand and forced the weapon into her palm.

“Remember what I told you?”

She nodded. “Pull the hammer back. Aim, fire, don’t get spooked.”

“That’s it,” he said, hand going to the side of her head, stroking once.

“You have your knife?”

She heard him slide a mechanism in his rifle. “Not really wantin’ to get that close to ‘em.”

They turned in sync, back to back.

Her voice quaked as she asked, “What if the gun fire brings more?”

“Guess we’ll cross that bridge when we get to it.”

Blindly, she reached behind her, fingers grazing his back. “Booker.”

“’S’alright, I’m right here.”

The first Geek stumbled forward, backlit by the moon.

“Steady now, follow the target a little and—”

She fired the revolver, clipping the Geek in the shoulder. It slowed him only a moment.

“Jack…”

“Try again.”

A second Geek emerged from the brush and Booker took aim. One shot and the creature was down.

She fired a second shot and by some miracle, it hit between the eyes. The Geek fell to the ground.

“That’s it, Meadows.”

Booker aimed at the third groaner. Headshot.

Scanning in the dark, she forced herself to take deep breaths.

A fourth burst out from behind the trees, moaning grotesquely as it lunged.

Follow the target. Aim. Fire.

The walking corpse was turned into a lump of dead flesh once more.

Behind her she heard the struggle.

A Geek had blitz attacked Booker, but he’d managed to swing his rifle to block it. The thing had a hold of the gun though and was reaching for Booker’s face.

All doubt leached from her body.

Caitlin lifted her revolver, lined up her shot, and pulled the trigger.

The Geek’s head blew apart like a rotten watermelon and it crumpled to the ground.

“You good?” She asked.

“Hell yeah,” he replied, grin audible.

There were seven in total—the last one was older and slower than the others and showed up a minute after they dispatched the sixth.

Caitlin took it out with barely a thought.

Yanking his pack over his shoulder, Booker chuckled. “Good to know you’ll still save my ass even if you’re pissed at me.”

She pushed the hammer back to where it needed to be for safe carrying and handed it to him.

“Not that mad anymore.”

Booker’s fingers brushed hers as he took the gun back. “Told ya you didn’t have it in ya.”

Rolling her eyes, she started walking. “Jackass.”

                                                               ***

“Meadows?”

Booker’s voice roused her from a restless sleep.

They’d found a dilapidated barn in the night and curled up under what was left of the roof to rest. She didn’t remember falling asleep, but her head jerked up from his shoulder as he spoke her name again.

“Hey, you awake?”

She nodded, rubbing her eyes. “Yeah, I’m up. What…”

“Here,” he said, handing her something. His revolver.

“What’s going on?”

The grey morning light hinted at the time—five am if she had to guess.

Booker shifted away, and she felt the loss of warmth immediately.

“I need you to listen, ‘kay?”

Caitlin blinked, stomach clenching. “Jack?”

His expression was grave. “I reloaded that for you,” he said, gesturing to the gun. “If I’m not back in two hours, you head out okay?”

She shook her head, understanding escaping her. “What are you talking about?”

“I’m leavin’ my gear. You take it. There’s a map, and more bullets—”

“Booker.”

“You head west and find an interstate, okay? Stay off it if y’can—”

“Jack, I’m not—”

“Don’t wait. Two hours, that’s it.”

“What are you doing?”

Booker cupped the side of her head, stroking her still damp hair. “I meant what I said last night.”

His thumb rubbed against her temple in deliberate swipes.

I hope this isn’t goodbye.

But if it is…

Survive. Survive for me.

Caitlin blinked again, disbelieving.

And then Booker was up and out of their makeshift shelter.

“Jack…” Her voice broke, not reaching full volume.

He was already gone.

                                                               ***

Grey dawn turned into a pink and gold sunrise, and then the world was lit once again.

Damage from the storm was evident in the fallen trees and strewn branches. The field they were in was overgrown and it didn’t even look like Geeks had stumbled through lately.

She was alone.

Two hours… He told her two hours.

If her estimate was right, she had thirty more minutes.

Half an hour left in a world with Booker. Half an hour to prepare for a world, for a survival without him.

Linear relationships didn’t exist anymore—not in this broken world.

It wasn’t about how long people knew each other, how many days crossed off on a calendar… It was about experiences.

How often did they lend a helping hand? How many Geeks did they fight off at the other’s side? How many times did Death cross their paths, only to turn left instead of right?

A week and a half of survival in zombie country equated to months of relationship building.

Caitlin didn’t know if she’d weather the loss.

Didn’t know if she wanted to.

The revolver felt like a hundred-pound weight in her palm.

Distantly she heard an engine, and for a moment she forgot where she was. A car engine was normal for the world before. Expected.

But in a field? With no one around?

The sound grew louder, and her heart leapt into her throat, all sorts of menacing explanations rushing through her mind.

Pushing onto her feet, she slung her pack over her shoulder and grabbed Booker’s, ready to bolt.

Then…

“I think that was my personal best!”

Her mouth fell open. “Booker??”

Emerging from the barn, she squinted in the bright morning light.

There he was, climbing down out of a canvas topped Jeep Wrangler and opening up the back-passenger door.

She dropped their stuff in a heap, too stunned and weak to hold it all.

“Whatcha think?” He called, grinning at her as if he hadn’t said a silent, heartbreaking goodbye hours ago. “I know she’s not the prettiest thing t’look at, but she’ll get us around.”

Caitlin just stared.

“Four-wheel drive, traction control. Plenty of storage space. And we can fold these seats back and—”

“Booker!”

He halted, turning towards her.

Words… So many words clawed up her throat. She wanted to scream at him for scaring her like that, for making her think about a world without him, for keeping this to himself, for…

She dissolved into a fit of giggles.

Booker’s grin was brighter than the sun.

“It’s perfect,” she told him, nearly tripping over to the Jeep. “Oh my God.”

She kept laughing as she inspected the inside. It was cleaner than she anticipated.

“Where did you find this?”

“Target parkin’ lot.” He leaned on the door frame. “Managed to slip inside and gather up some grub if you’re hungry.”

She smiled up at him, and then paused. “Wait… There weren’t any stores on our way out…”

He ducked his head and she knew. He snuck into one of the fenced off townships. The ones crawling with Geeks—whole populations worth.

“Reckless sonuvabitch,” she muttered, shaking her head at him. “Are you serious?”

His fingers tapped a staccato rhythm on the door. “Never gonna be at someone else’s mercy for shelter again,” he said firmly. “I promised y’that.”

So that’s what he’d meant…

Her chest tightened. “You could’ve gotten killed.”

“Could’ve.” He nodded. “Didn’t though.”

The pain and fear of ‘what ifs’ were too much, so she focused on the present. The tangible.

“I hope you syphoned enough gas for this thing.”

He smirked, and a shiver ran up her back.

“Oh yeah, dontchu worry.”

For the first time in four days, she didn’t.

[bee-kathony]

McTavish & Beauchamp

McTavish & Beauchamp | Ch. 18 “Trust in that”

a/n: Hello! I’m glad to have a chapter I’m happy with, I love this story and I can’t promise to have a new chapter every week, I will try my hardest! Thank you as always for reading <3

Masterlist here

Scotland - 2 years later - December 1746

We would be having a harsh winter by the looks of it, the snow was already sticking to the ground and it was mid-November. I had been wary of Jamie taking the kids out to play in the snow, only because I didn’t want them to catch a cold, but as I stood on the front steps of Lallybroch, I couldn’t help but smile.

Faith’s red hair was flying all around her as she chased after Jamie, trying to hit him with a decent sized snowball for a three year old. Jamie was trying his best to run slow so that she could catch him, and I laughed as he “fell over”, landing on the fresh snow. I crossed my arms, shivering slightly as the wind blew.

William was struggling to even stand up amidst all the slippery wet snow, only just having learned to walk properly on solid ground a couple months ago. Wrapping my shawl around me, I braved the cold and went to help my son stand up.

“Hi Mam, are you goin’ to play wi’ us now?” Faith said, pausing in mid throw.

“First I’m going to help your wee brother stand up, so then we can all play.” I smiled, picking up William’s still chubby little arms and bringing him to his feet. I had attempted to wrap them both in as many possible layers to keep the cold out, but there just wasn’t anything like the marshmallow snow suits here in this century.

“Sassenach, yer nose is quite r-red.” Jamie laughed from his position on the ground.

“Aye, my lad. A regular Rudolph the red-nosed reindeer!” I poked my nose, making both Faith and William giggle.

“Rudolph? That’s the deer that could fly, aye?”

“That’s right. He flew Santa’s sleigh on Christmas Eve, helping deliver all those presents to the good boys and girls,” I said and I had captured Faith’s attention.

Over a long talk with Jamie two years ago, I had told him all about Santa and the traditions of a modern Christmas.

“A big fat man comes down a chimney and puts presents under a tree? Now… why would he do such a foolish thing, Sassenach? All the trees are outside,” Jamie squinted his eyes, trying to imagine what I was explaining.

“Well, that’s the other thing. There’s a tree that comes inside for Christmas, and you decorate it with lights and baubles, and even popcorn and cranberries!”

“This is somethin’ ye did as a wee lass?” He smiled, stroking my small bump.

“Well, not exactly,” I sighed, “When my parents died and I traveled with Uncle Lamb, we celebrated Christmas of course, but not with a tree or really any presents.”

“’Twas hard while ye were travelin’?” He asked.

“Yes, it was. Most of the time, I never really knew what day it was. And I preferred it that way actually,” I smiled, remembering the time I had spent with Lamb. “It was always an adventure of sorts.”

“I like hearin’ about yer time before, Sassenach. I learn somethin’ new about ye.” Jamie kissed me softly. “Ye ken though that Christmas isna a big day for Scots… it’s Hogmanay, the first of the new year.”

“Oh yes,” I rolled my eyes. “I am well aware of how Scots like to celebrate on Hogmanay.”

“Ye’ve only had one Hogmanay, mo nighean donn, and that was a wee bit rowdy… even I can admit that!” Jamie laughed.

“I still don’t think I’ve seen Jenny as drunk as she was since that night,” I joined in his laughter, “She’s always so… controlled.”

“Aye, she is, but Hogmanay is Jenny’s favorite time of the year. We always had such big parties here and invited all the tenants of course.” Jamie said, rolling in to his storyteller bravado.

“There was always singin’ and dancin’,” he turned to face me, “as ye recall, Sassenach. And lots of good food and drink to be sure. It’s one of the few nights when everythin’ feels as it should be. And I suppose Jenny was happy last Hogmanay because it was the first year in awhile that I was home.” He smiled wistfully, “And I had my bride and my bairn too.”

“Oh Jamie,” I kissed him. “I don’t want to leave for the colonies.”

“That’s quite a change in subject, Sassenach,” Jamie smirked.

“I meant that I don’t want to go… not just yet. You’re finally free and yes there’s the threat of the battle of Culloden coming close to us and we will feel the effects of that, trust me.” I rolled onto my side, and he slid his arm around my waist. “But we’re here with your family, my family, and I want to raise the children with their aunt and uncle and cousins!”

“Aye,” he kissed me, “So do I, mo cridhe. If the time shall come that we do need to go to the colonies, if it becomes unsafe, we will go though, aye?”

“Yes. To protect our family.” I moved my hand slowly over my growing belly. “Whither thou goest,” I said. “I will go: and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God: Where thou diest, will I die, and there will I be buried.”

++++++

An hour later, and Faith and William were both dry and tucked under Jamie’s arms for warmth. They simply wouldn’t sleep before Jamie told them a bedtime story, and it was always interesting to listen to what Jamie came up with each night. Tonight was no different as he lay on Faith’s small bed, his feet hanging off the end. William had his cot on the other side of the room that I would put him in later.

I sat in a chair in the corner of the room, near a small hearth, attempting and failing to knit a scarf. Jenny had showed me how to do it several times, but each time I wound up getting tangled in all the yarn.

“There was a fairy, with curly brown hair,” Jamie began his story, capturing our children’s full attention. Jamie loved to tell the story of our life to the children, of course with a few twists.

“She was the most beautiful woman in all the land,” Jamie smiled over at me, winking slightly. “The fairy roamed the land, searching for her warrior. She spent years in search, and one day, when she thought all hope was lost… he found her.”

“He found her?” Faith squeaked, “But she was lookin’ for him.”

“Aye, she was lookin’, but no in the right place. Ye see, mo chuisle, the fairy wasna expectin’ to find the warrior that found her. She was lookin’ for someone else… someone less dashin’.” Jamie laughed and I couldn’t help but roll my eyes — he thought highly of himself.

“So the warrior found her, and protected her from the evil fairies that were out to get her,” Jamie said in a soft voice. “They stuck together and fought off the bad fairies, and conquered the land.”

“Did they live happily ev’r after, da?”

Jamie placed a kiss on the top of Faith’s head, his hand softly stroking William’s arm. “Aye, they did. They lived a good, and lovely life, wi’ bairns just like ye.”

“Fairy bairns,” Faith yawned.

“Aye, fairy bairns.” Jamie moved his arm carefully and Faith laid her head back on the pillows. I stood and picked up an already sleeping William, carrying him over to lie in his cot.

Jamie placed a kiss on both of their heads before joining me out in the hallway, closing the door softly behind him.

“We’ve got two pretty good bairns, don’t we?” I smiled, and leaned into his open arms.

“Aye, Sassenach. Thank ye.”

“For what?” I turned my head to look up at him.

“For bearin’ my children, I dinna want ye to ever think that I’m no grateful for all the pain ye’ve gone through. And with William… it was so close, Sassenach.” Jamie kissed me deeply. William’s birth had been hard on me and him. If we were in my own time, there would have been no problem, but there were complications with the umbilical cord being wrapped around him. Thankfully, and by the grace of God, his brain wasn’t damaged beyond repair. It took me a lot longer to recover, however than it did with Faith.

“That’s partly why I’m scared to have another baby, Jamie.” I said into his chest.

“I ken that, mo nighean,” Jamie moved his hand slowly down my back. “I dinna ken what I would do…” his words got stuck in his throat and I looked up to see him crying.

“Oh, Jamie. I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to bring it up.”

“Och, no tis fine. I just canna bear the thought of losin’ ye is all.” Jamie kissed me, and then we headed in the direction of our room for an early night. There wasn’t much one could do in the winter months, except stay inside.

“And I canna keep my hands off of ye,” Jamie moved his hand over my arse as I opened the door to our room. “If only bairns were made a different way,” he laughed, deep in his chest.

“But it’s quite enjoyable, no?” I turned around once the door was closed, my eyes lingering on the bulge under his breeks. After Culloden, tartan had been forbidden, and it saddened me to see this part of Jamie taken away, as well as it saddened me the loss of the easy access to my husband’s anatomy.

“Aye, tis.” Jamie started to untie his neck kerchief, unwinding and pulling at the soft fabric.

“It’s been more than a year since William was born…” I said, my hands untying the strings of my bodice as Jamie worked on pulling off his breeks. “We aren’t exactly… abstinent.”

“Och, no and thank Christ for it,” Jamie chuckled, and nearly fell over trying to pull his large feet out of the leg of his breeks.

“I’m honestly surprised I was able to conceive rather quickly after Faith,” I untied my skirt, letting it fall to the ground. “What I mean… is that I want another child with you, Jamie. I want as many children as I can give you.”

Jamie pulled off his shirt and stood before me, naked and bare. “Aye, I want that too… verra badly.” He crossed the room and helped to pull my shift off. “There’s always a risk, Sassenach.”

I leaned up on my tip toes, brushing my nose against his. “There is, Jamie. Is it a risk you’re willing to take?”

“I need to be inside ye like I need to breathe, mo nighean donn, and I dinna think it would be verra healthy to avoid beddin’ ye,” he smirked.

“In life, we aren’t guaranteed anything.” I said, my lips just touching his, “But I took a risk on you, Jamie. And I’m willing to risk it all again…” I kissed him softly, “and again.”

Jamie slid his arms around my waist and I shivered at the heat coming from his body. “I love ye, so much, Sassenach. When ye do bear another child, I promise to protect ye from what I can control.”

“I love you, Jamie Fraser.” I kissed him deeply, opening his mouth with my tongue. After several years of marriage, I still wanted him just as badly as I did the first night we came together that night at Leoch.

Jamie lifted me up and carried me to the bed where he laid me out on my back, but I quickly rolled over on my stomach and moved down to the edge of the bed. I turned my head to look back at Jamie who was grinning from ear to ear. “We havena done it like this in a long time, Sassenach.”

“I want to feel you like this,” I wiggled my arse and pressed back into him, feeling his length throb against me. “It’s so deep, please…”

“Anything,” Jamie ran his hand lightly from the base of my spine to my neck. “Anything, Christ.”

I spread my legs on the bed, and pressed my chest down on the bed so that my arse was high in the air for him, in the right position for his cock to easily slide in. Jamie placed both his hands on my hips, holding me tightly and pushed himself against my center, but not inside of me. He started to grind his hips against me, his cock sliding against my slit, and I moaned, craving for that initial feeling when he would thrust it all the way.

I heard him sigh behind me, and I turned my face to lay it on the bed and saw him with his eyes shut, and a grin on his face. “Jamie…” I sighed.

“Mo ghraidh,” he groaned and then I felt his fingers touch my arse and finally he took hold of his cock and eased it inside of me. Once his cock opened me up, I cried out, relishing in the feeling of being consumed by him.

Jamie slid one hand to cover my flat belly and held the other on my hip. At first he didn’t move, just let me move back against him, drawing him in and out of me at a maddening pace. Then all at once, he slid almost out of me and slammed back into me, pushing me forward.

My breasts brushed against the rough sheets and I bit my lip, sweat starting to collect at the base of my spine. “Jesus, Claire.” He groaned, folding his body over mine, wrapping both his arms around my stomach to hold me closer. With his feet planted firmly on the ground, Jamie began to relentlessly thrust into me, making my body wrack with pleasure and something akin to pain.

It was almost too much, to have him so in me, enveloping everything I felt. I fisted my hands into the sheets and turned my face once again to the side and watched as Jamie fell apart on top of me. He hit just the right spot inside of my walls and I clenched around his cock, squeezing my thighs and feeling that burn in the pit of my stomach.

Jamie pressed his stubbly cheek on my bare back, his breath hot on my skin. Slowly, agonizingly, he straightened and pulled out of me, then joined me on the bed, pulling me against his body. I tucked my head into the crook of his neck and breathed in the scent of him. My husband.

“I don’t think I’ll ever get tired of that,” I sighed, content.

“Och, me either, Sassenach,” Jamie let his hand rest on my arse, not in a suggestive way, but simply to better hold me to him.

“It’s… intoxicating. When you’re inside of me, Jamie. I feel almost drunk with it.” I laughed, feeling foolish.

Jamie chuckled and I turned to look up at him, “Tis the best feeling in the world for a man to lay wi’ his wife. And I ken no’ everyone has a wife as bonny as ye… wi’ yer sweet round arse and supple breasts.”

I blushed, always amazed at his ability to make my cheeks turn red, even after years of hearing these bold statements.

“Jamie…” I said softly a moment later.

“Aye, Sassenach?” He breathed deeply and I knew he was on the edge of sleep.

“Can you touch me?” It wasn’t long after he was inside of me, that I always craved to feel him again. Sometimes I didn’t even need his cock, which was nice, but sometimes just to have his hands or mouth on me… to know that he was giving me pleasure.

Jamie kissed the top of my head before rolling me to lay flat on my back. He raised up on his side, his head resting in his hand that was propped up. “Soft?” He asked, laying his fingers on my collarbones, “Or firm, Sassenach?”

“Soft,” I sighed. “At first.”

“Aye,” Jamie said. His fingers traced a delicate pattern along my chest, ghosting over the skin and I felt it prickle at his touch. He cupped one breast, feeling its full weight in his hand before circling my nipple with his forefinger. I watched him in fascination as he did the same to the other one, and then pressed his thumb on my hard bud.

“Ye always taste so good, Sassenach.” Jamie smiled almost lazily, drunk and bent his head to take my nipple in his mouth. I let out a sigh that sounded similar to when he entered me, and ran my fingers through his curly locks. He flattened his tongue, pressing firmly and leaving a trail of saliva to the other breast.

Jamie hollowed his cheeks, sucking and nibbling while his hand traveled south, pressing down on my flat stomach. The tips of his fingers graze my pubic hair and I couldn’t help but flex my hips towards him, but he pushed me to lay flat. I felt him chuckle, and pulled on his hair.

“Dinna fash, mo nighean,” Jamie placed a kiss to each nipple before moving down on the bed and maneuvering himself between my open legs. His face was so close to my pussy that I felt his hot breath and squirmed, desperate.

I was becoming self-conscious the longer he stared between my legs, and I felt the heat rise over my chest and to my face. Jamie moved one finger slowly up my slit, and rested the pads of his fingers over my pelvic bone.

“The smell of ye,” he sniffed and I clenched my thighs around his head, “enough to make a man drunk.”

“Jamie,” I laughed, and then groaned as he swiped his tongue along my center folds. He had years of experience now to learn my body and he knew just what to do. With his hand splayed across my belly, he pushed down all while sliding his tongue in my pussy and swirling it around, tasting me.

I pushed back against the pillows, biting my lip hard as he continued to flick his tongue. I think I might have kicked my leg out and hit him in the shoulder whenever he pushed a finger inside of me, but I wasn’t sure. Soon he pushed another finger in, going slowly, stretching me. His tongue flattened against my clit, and my hips bucked. Jamie was a good lover, a generous lover… mine.

“I can’t… Jamie…” I moaned, trying to keep my eyes open to watch him. There was something about seeing him between my thighs that drove me over the edge every. single. time.

“Come, Sassenach,” his mouth vibrated against me, “Let go, I’ve got ye.” He began flicking his tongue quickly on my clit and I felt my walls clench around his fingers, trapping them. My breath was ragged and heavy, my mind hazy and my body languid.

“Jesus H. Roosevelt Christ,” I sighed, pushing my now damp curls off my forehead.

Jamie kissed his way up my body, hovering just over my lips, “I ken I’ve pleased ye well when ye sat that, Sorcha.”

“You bloody scot,” I laughed and pulled his face down to mine. “I never want to be parted from you.”

He pressed fully against me, almost crushing me, but it was a comfort to feel his presence. “I will never leave ye, Sassenach. As long as you and I shall live, nothing can separate us from one another.” He kissed me deeply, “Trust in that.”

[taviewritesstuff]

You’ve Got to Remember

A/N: Oh, look, a new Blazin’ Trails snippet. And one with even more suffering!

I wrote this last year, but I never got around to posting it, mostly because I’m not finished with the overall plot. I will say that this was inspired by a Gunsmoke episode known as “Matt’s Love Story”, but not fully. 

Disclaimer: I don’t own Ricochet Rabbit and Droop-a-Long obviously. But I do own my OCs, Denise Falconeri and Jeb Forrest. 

Pain greeted Droop-a-Long when he stirred at last, his head pounding in time with his heart. Where was he? And how did his head start hurting anyway…?

“Droop-a-Long!” Three voices called at him, and he cracked open his eyes.

In front of him were three people—two rabbits and a human. The rabbits were the closest to him, namely the white-furred one with the purple hat, yellow eyes narrowed into a small frown. Next to him, a dandelion furred rabbit in orange and green looked at him, her eyes red from crying. The human male with the short brown hair and green eyes stood a little farther away, but he looked just as concerned.

“Droop-a-Long! Thank God, you’re okay!” the woman cried, her face breaking into a smile.  

“Ya had us real worried for a moment there,” the human said.

“Droop-a-Long, are ya alright?” the white rabbit asked.

Droop-a-Long blinked a few more times and then sat up. He stared at the three of them, his aching head making it hard to think.

These people knew him. They must’ve helped him somehow. And he was expected to know them…

But…

“W-Who…” He started and then coughed because of the hoarseness of his voice.

“H-Here, Droop-a-Long. Have a glass of water,” the white-furred rabbit said, handing him a cup.

“T-Thanks…” Droop-a-Long guzzled the drink down, although the rabbit was quick to point out that he needed to slow down. After clearing his throat, he looked at the rabbit, cocking his head in confusion. “W-Who’re you? And why’re you helpin’ me?”

The whole room went silent at that question. Droop-a-Long looked at the three, who looked at each other with shocked expressions. The white-furred rabbit looked like he’d been slapped senseless.

“D-Droop-a-Long, Ricochet’s your best friend,” the human said. “He’d help you whenever you needed it.”

“R-Ricochet? What kinda name is that?” Droop-a-Long said. “A-And he’d help me?”

“D-Droop-a-Long,” the woman started, and he looked over at her. “Don’t tell me you don’t…”

“I don’t what?”

“T-That you don’t remember your best friend,” she finished. “O-Or…or any of us…”

He looked at them, noticing that they were all staring at him with horrified stares. Was it something he’d said?

“I-I…s-should I know you guys?” he asked.

The woman trembled in her chair. She jumped up abruptly and hurried out of the room, a hand over her mouth.

The human looked at him. “Droop-a-Long…y-you’ve gotta stop jokin’ like this,” he said.

“Jokin’?”

“You’ve got a weird sense of humor, but even you should know not to make your girlfriend cry…”

“G-Girlfriend?” Droop-a-Long asked. “I-I was a-courtin’ her?”

The human stared at him, eyes wide with disbelief. “Y-You…you can’t be serious-”

Droop-a-Long started to say more, but that was when the other rabbit—Ricochet, he remembered—quickly crawled over and seized him by the shoulders, his hat falling off in the process. The anger in his eyes chilled him.

“S-Sir…d-did I do somethin’ wrong?” he asked.

“If you call makin’ Denise cry like that, you bet you did!” Ricochet said. “What possessed you to do that whole ‘I don’t remember you guys’ bit anyway?”

“S-Sir…R-Ricochet, was it?” Droop-a-Long said.

“Yes, it’s Ricochet!” Ricochet replied. “Stop actin’ like you don’t remember me and-”

“Mister… I-I don’t remember you at all…”

That stopped Ricochet cold. “Y-You don’t…?”

“No…or the nice-lookin’ young fella by the bed, or that pretty rabbit that was here a moment ago,” he said.

“H-How…” Ricochet looked down at his lap, a whirlwind of emotions in his eyes. “H-How is this possible?”

Droop-a-Long shook his head slightly. “I don’t know…”

“Droop-a-Long…you’ve gotta try to remember,” Ricochet said, looking up at him again. The desperate look in his eyes scared Droop-a-Long. “We’ve worked on over a hundred cases together, you an’ me. We’ve been through darn near everything together. You couldn’t have forgotten that you were my deputy…”

“I-I was your deputy…?”

“Yeah! You worked with me in keepin’ law and order in Hoop ‘n Holler!”

“H-Hoop ‘n Holler…?”

“That’s the name of the town you’re livin’ in! I’m the sheriff here, and you worked as my deputy!” Ricochet said. “And you’re my best friend!”

“Is that so…?” he said. “Why would I make friends with a rabbit, Sheriff?”

Jeb’s eyes went wide, but nobody more so than Ricochet. “D-Droop…you and I have known each other for years. I treat you like my brother in all but blood!” Ricochet said. His grip on his arms tightened. “You can’t just forget somethin’ like that on the basis that I’m a rabbit!”

Droop-a-Long quickly pulled away, confusion and fear on his face. Ricochet stared back, shock and hurt on his face.

“Droopy…” Ricochet started.

“D-Droopy?” Droop-a-Long said. “I’m not Droopy. I’m Droop-a-Long…or at least, that’s what you kept callin’ me.”

“Droopy was your nickname. I-I called you ‘Droop’ a lot, but I also called you Droopy,” he said. Swallowing audibly, he said, “Droopy…you’ve gotta remember who I am…Y-You’ve just gotta!”

More than anything, Droop-a-Long wanted to remember him. He looked so distraught and desperate that for a minute he considered saying yes. The human and the other rabbit—Denise—had looked just as upset. He didn’t want these people to be sad because of him.

But he couldn’t, and thinking too hard was making his head hurt. He shook his head. “I-I’m sorry, Sheriff. I can’t say I do…I-I don’t know the young lady or the young fella, either.”

The young man said, “I-I’m Jeb. Jeb Forrest. Y-You saved me from drownin’ years ago, and you became one of my best friends…”

“I-I did…?”

“Y-Yeah…and I started workin’ as Ricochet’s other deputy…”

Droop-a-Long sighed. “T-This is a lot to take in…I-I don’t know what to think…”

“Tell you what, we’ll leave you be for now,” Jeb said. “Sheriff Ricochet and I will be outside talkin’ if you need us.”

“OK,” he said. He looked at Ricochet, who was staring down at his lap, distressed. The look on his face made Droop-a-Long’s heart sink, and so he reached out and gently patted him on the head, right between his ears. Maybe this would help him feel better.

Ricochet jerked up, staring at him with wide eyes. Despite the pain in his head, Droop-a-Long offered a small smile. “Don’t cry, Mr. Ricochet,” he said. “There’s no need for ya to cry…”

Ricochet’s face twisted, and he quickly removed himself, heading for the door. Droop-a-Long stared at him, surprised. “S-Sheriff…?” he started, causing Ricochet to stop outside the door. Did I do somethin’ wrong?

“J-Jeb…I need to speak to ya in my office,” Ricochet answered. He didn’t even acknowledge Droop-a-Long.

“R-Right…” Jeb sent an apologetic glance to Droop-a-Long. “I’ll come back later, Droop-a-Long.” He soon followed Ricochet out of the room, and closed the door as quietly as he could.

Are they mad at me? He remembered Ricochet’s pained look. He hadn’t meant to cause him pain; he’d thought he’d comfort him a little, if it helped relieve his sadness. And Jeb had looked like he was going to cry, too.

Are…are these strangers really people I knew? He stared down at his lap, where Ricochet’s purple hat lay; in his haste, he’d forgotten it. The rabbit’s insistence and the desperate look in his eye came back in painful flashes. How was I friends with a rabbit? And when I was courtin’ another one? When did I make friends with a human? And was I really like a brother “in all but blood” to the sheriff?

Head pounding, he sank into the pillows, closing his eyes. It all doesn’t make sense…

Denise jumped upon hearing the click of the door closing. She turned around to see Jeb standing there, gripping the doorknob tightly and looking down at a hatless Ricochet. They both looked on the verge of tears.

She ran over to them, heart in her throat. “What happened?”

Jeb turned away, sadness in his eyes. She looked at the sheriff, who stood with his back to her. “Ricochet…?”

“H-He…” Ricochet struggled to get the words out. “H-He doesn’t remember anything.”

Denise felt her stomach drop. “W-What?” she said breathlessly.

“H-He doesn’t remember anything!” Ricochet snapped suddenly, spinning around to face her. The desperation and anger in his eyes made her step back. “He doesn’t remember anythin’ about you, about Jeb, about me, about anybody! He’s lost his memory!”

“Ricochet, you’ve gotta calm down,” Jeb said.

“H-How can I?” Ricochet said. “H-How can I when Droop doesn’t remember a thing?”

“Sheriff,” Jeb said quietly. “Y-You’ve gotta understand, he’s hurtin’-”

“And so are we!” Ricochet shouted again. His voice would go hoarse from it, Denise knew. “We’re hurtin’ just as much as he is! The Droop-a-Long we know an’ love isn’t there!”

There was no arguing that. “Sheriff…” Jeb started.

“I-I know I shouldn’t be this upset, but I-I can’t help it. There’s a chance that Droop-a-Long might never…”

“Don’t say that.” Now Denise had to cut in. “Don’t say that, Ricochet.”

“What else can I say?! He didn’t remember your relationship! He didn’t remember savin’ Jeb’s life! He didn’t remember workin’ with me as my deputy, or how we became friends!” Ricochet continued. He averted his eyes from her, his angry gaze filled with hurt. “H-He didn’t even remember his old nickname…He doesn’t remember a thing about us, y-yet he still…!”

“He still?”

“H-He still…tried t-to comfort me…”

“He did?” Denise asked, turning to Jeb.

“I was there,” Jeb said, nodding. “He gave him a head pat…”

“He’d do that s-sometimes when I was upset. N-n-not always, ‘cause he knew I didn’t like him touchin’ my head…but he’d do it w-whenever he’d try ta make me feel better. H-He even said, ‘D-Don’t cry, Mr. Ricochet. There’s no need for ya to cry’…”

Denise felt her heart twist at that. “Oh, Ricky…”

Swallowing hard, he said, “I-I have to get out of here. I-If I stay any longer, I’m gonna lose it…”

He hurried past Denise, wiping his eyes as he did so. Denise watched as he raced for the edge of town, so fast he almost took people with him.

She couldn’t blame Ricochet for taking this hard. It was well known throughout town that Ricochet and Droop-a-Long shared an iron bond, built during the twelve years they worked together. They knew each other like the back of their hands…and now, after that accident, Droop-a-Long didn’t even know his own name, let alone Ricochet’s nickname for him. No wonder he’d left after Droop-a-Long tried to comfort him. Comforting others was such a Droop-a-Long thing to do. Hearing him say it when he barely recognized them felt monstrously wrong.

“Miss Denise…?” Jeb asked quietly.

Denise turned around to face Jeb, and found his spotted handkerchief in his hand. In his green eyes were unshed tears. “I think you need this more than I do,” he said.

Wetness seeping into her fur caught her attention, and she nodded, the sobs she’d been fighting finally finding their way through. She wiped her eyes, sniffling. Droopy…why’d you go out there alone? You should’ve waited for Ricochet or Jeb to get there!

Seeing Droop-a-Long in such a state broke her, too. After their whirlwind of a relationship had finally, finally been accepted by her parents, Denise was ready to spend some quality time with Droop-a-Long. And she’d heard rumors that he’d been planning to propose to her, which had made her gleeful when she heard it.

She could only imagine what everyone would think. How could she explain that the Droop-a-Long they loved and respected was no longer there? That he no longer remembered who they were? That they would have to build their relationships with him all over again?

“Miss Denise?” Jeb asked quietly. “W-What do you think we should do?”

Sniffling, she looked up at him with blurry eyes. “The one thing we can do. Pray that his memory comes back,” she said. She didn’t pray much herself, but she had to keep herself from going crazy. “That’s the only thing I can think of.”

Jeb nodded solemnly after a few moments. “I don’t think I’ve heard a better idea.”

Date Written: August 21st, 2018

[stimmypaw]

stimmypaw reads Shattered Sky, a late tumblr post

I just, forgot to post this for some reason. It’s me writing my thoughts on the third book of A Vision Of Shadows, I also did that with the first and second ones! Very full of spoilers, enjoy!

Omg.....meet Darktail's Kinnies... someone should name their wc kin server that its a great name, most of them seem to have wc names tho I thought he was a whole gang?? Did more of them get wc names or have already than we knew???

Oh no I barely got to see echosong :c I hope the others are okay, frecklewish is a wonderful name

Chapter one they already have all of the clans going 2 fight???? This absolutely won't go well and that terrifies me

Onestar realized Darktail has a beautiful voice :/ and he feels bad battling him /j

Yup just as I expected, awful loss. Plus Twigpaw was sure her sister was gonna kill her which killed Me

Alderheart parent mode

YASSSS ITS TIME FOR SKYCLAAANNNNNN

obviously the clans are pissed why the hell did they have this as a secret bro!!! why?? bramblestar was just ashamed now firestar???? bro WHY i seriously need to read firestar’s quest I just don’t get it

scenes of elders being cared for by apprentices is always so comforting, seeing it being interrupted and taken from violetpaw feels awful

WHO THE FUCK IS THISTLE he isn’t in the allegiances??????????????????? HELLO ah okay the rogues are showing up slowly ok

Violetpaw did a u-turn to her character here it seems?? She didn't find the elders were lecturing her at first, was Darktail's lil speech about how she was brave enough to convince her they are wrong??? A few compliments couldn't possibly be enough for that. Plus again she is seeing Darktail brutally murder someone and how despite seemingly treating each other nicely these cats are ready to betray each other anytime. Surely this would be enough for her to feel like the elders are still right and she can't trust these cats???

Hope she doesn't start seeing this violence as normal

I'm so sorry for blossomfall I can't believe she got with thornclaw of all cats

LIONBLAZE JAYFEATHER CINDERHEART AND TAWNYPELT, ALL JUST CASUALLY LISTENING TO GOSSIP. ABSOLUTELY SCANDALOUS I LOVE THEM

I love like how the book will take breaks every now and then to show for a millisecond ivypool being mad at tigerheart or vice versa and dovewing looking at tigerheart or vice versa and have the POV go "wonder what thats all about" and just proceed with the plot. Wonderful

Twigpaw :c

"A "mrrow" of welcome" has got to be my favorite line on this book

The cats complain there's already enough plots going on.

Whitewing is a very nice background cat and I appreciate her. But God Omen of the Stars only proved Starclan is just a bunch of old dead cats and that can be both good and terrible. Her argument is needed tho.

The others have a point tho, how can they leave the clan with less cats right now? I guess they would come back with more but what if they're not strong enough to defend themselves? A lot of trouble could happen with Skyclan coming as is to the territories and its understandable for the cats to be concerned

Violetpaw and Needletail cope with trauma as best they can and thats not a lot

I hope Violetpaw at least realizes how fucked up it is that they are scared of their leader who is supposedly their kin and the one who they should be the most loyal to

Oh Boy kittypets!

I love kittypets so much they're always fun. Darktail is so creepy tho I read some quotes he said to my girlfriend and she said he sounded like GLaDOS and yeah he's creepy I can feel it without Violetpaw agreeing with me that she's scared of what will happen next. Where did Darktail get that blood thing????

I like Zelda. She seems to be Violetpaw's age I hope she is so they can kiss. ALSO THIS IS KINDA LIKE MENTORING??? Violetpaw should get a warrior name

TWIGPAW PUT A PILLOW UNDER HER BLANKET SO NO ONE WOULD NOTICE SHE LEFT AHAHAHHA I bet she went to find Skyclan didn't she

PURDY

NOOOOOOO PURDYYY NOOOOOOOOOOOO NOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

my gf said indigestion can sometimes have those effects on a cat if its really bad i didn't know that

PURDY CANT BE GONE PLEAS

I am SO sad I knew this was coming and I hated it terrible awful

I never saw a vigil so sweet. We Are All Love Purdy.

OH RIGHT TWIGPAW GSGWHAHAH

I appreciate no one is annoyed or pissed theyre all just worried, I am too

Apparently Alderheart and Bramblestar disagree lot? They seem to get along great though. And uh I guess Bramblestar doesn't always take his advice but, that doesn't mean much they like talk about stuff and Bramblestar forms conclusions taking in consideration the stuff his son said and all. Idk, feels like a weird statement Twigpaw something tells me the Erins are failing to send a message somewhere

Fuck I hope someone finds twigpaw soon, her adventure has been fun but I'm terrified for her

Violetpaw seems to be having a hard time too, not only is everything awful and terrible plus we had a time skip of a few days so who knows what happened to Twigpaw. Anyways Violetpaw having to care for Needletail like a mentor is like a young teen having to care for a young adult's mental health and that always sucks for the kid, there's not much else that can be done though Needletail probably doesn't want to worry

Violetpaw :C

This is so sad and terrible, I wish Violetpaw could be with Twigpaw right now she wouldn't be starclan knows where if they were just together!!! I hope the other cats don't start saying nonsense about Violetpaw now. She's scared she won't be accepted in Thunderclan and doesn't see herself as worthy of acceptance, and feels responsible for her older friend. I'm :CC

PAGGDHAHAHA Zelda is a trash cat and I love her

Violetpaw is suffering so much and Darktail is absolutely brainwashing her ass and she can't understand how he is to blame for everything.

Oh boy when she does.

This is such a good story God im like very tired and in need of sleep but I can't stop reading

Oh God so much has happened, this is so terrible, I love that Mothwing and Alderheart are hanging out tho I forgot what a fun character she can be!!!

Thinking about how so much would be easier since book 1 if Onestar agreed to lend a helping paw. Thinking about the begging dying bodies piling up at his door. Thinking about onestar.

Oh scratch what I said earlier guys WHEN VIOLETPAW FINDS OUT DARKTAIL KILLED DAWNPELT OH BOY

Its terrible knowing dawnpelt isn't there and like, so far thinking she was in thunderclan, only to have thunderclan cats wonder if she's in shadowclan like oh God oh fuckle this is IT

I feel so bad for Loki and Zelda :c I would give them treats

What the fuck Darktail

Holy shit Darktail

I am noticing like, cats making seriously spot on assumptions of things that happened out of small information and idk if that really isn't realistic and just a way to make cats realize things or if I'm just too autistic to relate

I'm so glad the medicine cats treat anxiety. Last time I remember that happening was the prophecy begins but I might be forgetting somethin

The fear these cats have of the clans ending feels so real I am absolutely terrified for them and I love it

It doesn't make sense for twigpaw 2 die so I'm not buying it but wow this hurts

Violetpaw time

I am itching for them to find skyclan so bad

Violetpaw you're not Squirrelpaw or Leafpaw in the new prophecy you wouldn't have felt if Twigpaw died :P

Bro Needletail :c I miss when she was a wild free creature

This prisoner smuggling deal is so fun I am absolutely excited about everyone's plans, it can't all go well so soon though.

TWIGPAW YESSSS BABY I MISSED YOU

Twigpaw lactose intolerant moment

omg she had a vision

Vision cat be nice 2 my baby she is dying

TWIGPAW FOUND SKYCLAN YESSSS YES YES YES

OMG......HAWKWING.....AAAAAAA THATS HER DAD BRO SHE FOUND HER DAD IM YESSSS YEAYESYESYEYD

This is so good im so happy

This is so awful I'm so sad WHERES THE CLAN CATS they were supposed to show up when they were asleep right????? Fuck!!!

This is so scary

NEEDWETAIL IM

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA

Violetpaw definitely could have used a better friend at times, but God was Needletail good im so sad

Bramblestar: alderheart we need a point of view from thunderclan of what's happening so you're coming to the battle

OMG THEY DID IT!!!! I DID NOT EXPECT THAT WROW VERY NICE

Oh this is so exciting, how will they get Windclan back????

Twigpaw baby you always had your place here

I think they should both go to Skyclan but I understand if Twigpaw is indecisive she has always had a good life in Thunderclan.

Nononono Rowanstar, Scourge is the villain from the The Prophecy Begins here, your guy is named Darktail

Ominousnestar

I have been vaguely spoiled about Onestar being related to Darktail but I have no clue how

I can see Onestar's, Smoke's and Darktail's designs rotating in my mind its beautiful

I'm loving this story this is so cool

You dare challenge the warrior cats Fandom?

SKYCLAN, DROP YOUR CATS

RIVERCLAN, GET THE BUCKET

WINDCLAN, GRAB YOUR LEAFBLOWERS

THUNDERCLAN, GRAB YOUR LIGHTNING RODS

SHADOWCLAN, IDK MAN SAY BOO OR SOMETHING AHHAHA

I'm glad this is the prophecy this series really is Tumblr vs 4chan

Oh my god

This is so surreal

What an astounding battle wow and what an ending

I loved it

That was so so good

Everything here was fantastic, looking back its hard to believe they managed to fit so much plot into one book and like the pacing was Very Good this was just good writing wow? The development of Darktail, everything with Onestar, very fun I was on the edge of my seat through the whole thing it was incredibly fun. I’m very excited for what’s to come too, I worry it probably won’t be as fun and exciting as this since they already got rid of the biggest threat, unless they get another, but still like I really wanna know what’s gonna happen with Skyclan! And Violetpaw and Twigpaw!!!! How will the clans cope with all this loss and receive a new clan in the territories??? There’s a lot of good build up that I don’t know if it will live up to all that happened so far, but I think it can be very good and I’m excited, lots ahead of us!!! Oh boy!!

[bee-kathony]

The Holiday | Connections

Thank you @jules-fraser for this moodboard! 

Chapter 1: Home Exchange | Chapter 2: Unexpected

Chapter 3: Connections 

JENNY FRASER

I had lost all sense of time while I slept in Claire’s comfy bed, surrounded by fluffy white pillows and cozy quilts. Why the bloody hell would I ever leave this bed?

Looking over at the clock on the nightstand told me it was now 9:37am… the next day. I had slept for almost 16 hours after the flight from Scotland. And my stomach was making enough noise to tell me how I had neglected it during my slumber.

Venturing downstairs, I found some bread and jam and settled on a quick, easy breakfast before I would go into town and stock up on groceries. Never good to go grocery shopping on an empty stomach.

An hour later, I step out of Claire’s incredible shower with one of those rainfall shower heads and dress in my warmest layers as I look out the window at the snow.

“Potatoes, veggies, some fruit,” I make a list of what I need at the store, “Wine, eggnog, whisky, more wine and then maybe some vodka.” I laugh and write down the last bit and tuck the list into my purse. Just as I reach the door, a knock comes, making me jump back.

“Christ!” I shriek and compose myself and open the door.

“What bloody good timing you have,” I say to the man standing on the front step, “I was just goin’ out the door when I heard the knock, nearly scared me half to death.”

The man smiles and then I shake my head, “Oh yes. I’m Jenny Fraser,” I offer my hand in introduction, “And you are?”

He shakes my hand firmly, “Ian Murray, nice to meet ye,” he says with a thick Scottish accent.

“Och, so ye’re from Scotland then? Or are ye just makin’ fun of my accent.” I crack a smile and then invite him in to the house from the cold.

As I shut the door I turn and notice just how handsome he is. “Aye, lived in Scotland all my life until a few years ago when I got the job offer to teach at Harvard,” He smiled, “How could I say no to that?”

“Is Claire here?” He asks. Oh right. Of course, he’s not here to see you Jenny.

“I’m afraid she’s no’, she’s in Scotland actually.” I say and put both hands on my hips, “Can I help you wi’ somethin’ though?”

Ian shook his head, “Oh, I was just comin’ to get some of Frank’s things. He’s a colleague of mine at Harvard.”

“Right! Claire told me someone was comin’ by to pick up something. Stay there, I’ll go get the box.” I held up a finger for him to wait and went to Claire’s office where she told me she put a box of her ex’s things.

“Here ye are, Ian,” handing him the box, our fingers brush. “Would ye like to stay a bit? I can fix ye a cup of tea or maybe coffee?” I turn towards the kitchen.

“That sounds lovely but my girlfriend Hannah is sittin’ in the car waitin’ for me, so best not keep her waitin’.” He smiles and I open the door for him and then spot his girlfriend in the passenger seat of her car, I wave but she doesn’t seem to see me.

Pausing on the last step, Ian turns back to me, “I might take ye up on that cup of tea another day though, Jenny, if ye dinna mind.”

Blushing, I gather my thoughts, “Och, yes! I dinna mind. Drop by anytime Ian, it was nice to meet ye.” I watch him leave and sigh. Of course he would have a girlfriend. I bet she’s some American trollop too.

Distracted from Ian’s arrival, I suddenly remember that I was going to get groceries. “Stop thinkin’ about him, Jenny.” I say to myself and leave out the front door.

CLAIRE BEAUCHAMP

He said he would leave before I woke up so why am I so hurt that he actually did leave? Is it because when he said that we hadn’t slept together yet? We hadn’t kissed and laid all night in each other’s arms…

“You’ll never see him again, Beauchamp, it’s for the best.” I mutter to myself and slide on my pyjamas to go downstairs and grab a cup of coffee before I need to head to the airport.

“Good mornin’, Sassenach,” I hear a deep voice say as I enter the kitchen. Jamie. He stayed.

I realize that I’m standing in the kitchen with my mouth slightly ajar when Jamie repeats himself, “Good mornin’, Sassenach — ye sleep well then?” He smiles smugly and takes a sip of coffee.

I can just tell that my cheeks are bright red from the attempted wink he gives me. Going to stand next to him near the coffee machine, I reach out my hand to the cup he offers me, “Yes. Quite well actually.” And I take a sip of my coffee, giving him back a smug smile.

“Ye dinna have to worry about a thing, Sassenach. With us,” Jamie puts his hand down on the counter, his fingers dangerously close to mine, “I know ye’re leavin’ today but for the record… yer ex is extremely mistaken.”

I bite my bottom lip like a flirty teenager and move my fingers to touch his, “You were very drunk,” I laugh, “You couldn’t remember if I was any good or not.” I whisper and look down at our hands.

“I remember,” his voice causes me to look up, “I canna forget ye. I willna forget ye.” I think he’s going to kiss me again but he pulls back and crosses the room to reach for something in his jacket.

Jamie pulls out a pair of wire rimmed glasses and sets them on the bridge of his nose. God, if he wasn’t already attractive, now he has to pull out those.

“I couldna see ye properly. Lost my contacts last night — somehow.” This time he blushes and walks back over to stand in front of me, his hand reaching to cup my cheek.

A phone rings and it breaks the spell. Picking up the phone I get a glance at the contact name, “Faith,” I say and hand him his phone, “Sorry. Didn’t mean to read it.”

“It’s alright. I’ll call back.” He sighs and then moves to put his coat on. “I guess ye’ll be going to the airport today?”

I nod and wrap my arms around my chest, wishing that it was his arms that were wrapping around me instead.

“Well,” He says, wrapping his scarf back around his neck, “I know you’re not interested in gettin’ involved but you should know that things in my life are a wee bit… complicated.”

“It’s okay, Jamie. I’m leaving so…” I say and regret it instantly when I see the hurt look in his eyes.

“I just want to assure ye is all, that ye’re better off,” he turns to leave but then pauses at the open door, “I just want to be sure ye’re okay, Claire. I tend to hurt the people I’m with simply by bein’ myself.”

I move to stand closer to him, “I’m not going to fall in love with you Jamie Fraser, I promise.” I smile and he nods in return.

“Nicely put, Sassenach,” Jamie still doesn’t move, “What if I wanted to call ye? If ye change ye’re mind and stay…” He moves his hands to settle at my waist and I shiver, from the cold coming from the open door or from his touch, “Meet me at the pub down the road. Tonight.”

“I’m lea—“ I start to say again.

“Ye’re leaving. Aye… I know,” he runs his hands through his curly red hair and adjusts the glasses on his nose, “Then if this is goodbye, ye’re lovely, Claire.” He leans down and gives me a kiss on the cheek and I shock myself and him when I grab his face and move my lips to his, savouring the taste of his mouth.

“Please stay,” he whispers when the kiss breaks.

“Goodbye, Jamie,” I force myself to say and he turns and leaves. I stand in the kitchen for way too long, just staring out the window in the direction he went.

“Time to leave, I guess.” Sighing I head upstairs to finish packing.

JENNY FRASER

On my way back from the store, I noticed a man standing on the door step. What is it with Claire’s house attracting men to her door?

As I got closer, I noticed it wasn’t Ian but an older gentlemen. “Hello, can I help ye?” I asked as I climbed the steps.

“Hello,” he said in a straight Boston accent, “I’m Joe Abernathy.” He shook my hand, “And you must be the woman staying in Lady J’s house this Christmas?”

I nodded and unlocked the door, “Yes, I’m Jenny Fraser. Lady J is Claire, I take it?” He followed after me and I set the bag of groceries on the front table near the door.

“The only and only,” he smiled warmly and immediately picked up the bag I had just sat down and proceeded to take it to the kitchen, he knew where he was going apparently.

“I bet you’re wondering what I’m doing here, Jenny?” He laughed and I nodded, turning to the kettle to fill it with water.

“I live next door to LJ and I can’t seem to find my keys. She has a spare key to my house,” He said.

“Do ye know where it is? I dinna know if I can help ye find it if ye don’t,” I shrugged and set the kettle to boil.

“Yes,” he smiled, “She told me she keeps it in the drawer in her study, would you mind getting it darling? My knees are real weak and I’m afraid by the time I climb up and down those stairs it will be Easter.” He laughed and I gave his arm a light squeeze.

“Of course, Joe. I’ll be back in a second,” I said and went find the spare key.

“Here ye are,” I handed him the key. “Would ye like a cup of tea?” I ask as the kettle whistles and I pour myself a cup and when he says yes, I pour him one too.

“I love a good cup of tea,” he lets out a deep breath and takes a sip, “Tell me something, Jenny.”

“What do ye want to know,” I said, coming to sit beside him at the kitchen island.

“Do you have any plans for dinner tonight?” I shook my head no, “Then would you want to go to dinner with me?” He asked, “I know I’m an old man but it would be my honor.”

I didn’t have any plans for this holiday at all. There would be no risk in falling in love with him as he was a bit too old for me so what was the harm in making new friends?

“I’d love to Joe, ye’ve got yerself a date!” I smiled and squeezed his hand that wasn’t holding the cup.

“A date? I haven’t had a date since my precious wife Gayle passed. It’ll be one you never forget.” He winked and I couldn’t help but smile. Joe Abernathy must have been the real charmer back in his day.

After the cup of tea, Joe went back to his house and I said I would swing back around in a few hours to go to dinner.

“What I don’t understand Jenny is why a beautiful young woman like yourself would spend a Saturday night with an old almost retired chief of surgery like me?” Joe said once the waiter finished pouring the wine.

“Because you asked me,” I joked, “I just needed to get away from all the people I knew. Obviously I’m no’ from here as ye can tell by my accent,” I smiled and took a sip of wine, “It’s one guy actually that I needed to get away from.” I felt myself getting emotional, “An ex boyfriend who just got engaged for forgot to tell me.” I sniffed and finished the glass of wine.

“He’s a damn shmuck.” Joe said flatly.

“Well yes, how did ye know?” I laughed and wiped a finger under my watery eye.

“He let you go.” Joe smiled, “No real man would let someone like you get away from them.”

“Ye must be the kindest man I’ve ever met Joe, if only ye were forty years younger!” Laughing we continued the conversation about our lives. I told him how I worked in a book publishing company and that was how I knew Oliver.

I learned that Joe was a colleague of Claire’s, her Chief of Surgery in fact. I didn’t know much about the medical field but I knew that was important.

“Ye’ve worked in that hospital for more than fifty years?” I gasped, spinning pasta on my fork and taking a bite.

“Indeed, I went in as a fresh faced medical student and worked my way up. Never had any other kind of job. That’s where I met Lady J,” he took a bite of his steak, “Well, I first met her when she moved in next door but then at work. A fine Doctor, that girl is.”

I saw Joe up to his house and made sure he was good before I walked the few steps next door. Unexpectedly, my “date” with Joe had been one of the best nights I’d had in a long time. Maybe it was because I wasn’t worried what he thought about me.

My phone rang just as I settled into bed. “Oliver Bloom” the screen read and I bit my lip, deciding whether or not to answer it. My heart gave in and I put the phone to my ear, “Hello?”

“Jenny? Ah, good to hear ye’re voice,” he said on the line, “Darling, I know ye’re away but I’ve just got stuck on this one part of my book, ye know, the one ye helped me write —“ I made a yes sound, “Well I was just wondering if I could email you what I’ve got and you could help me out a bit?”

This damn fool, calling about work. Of course he wouldn’t even mention that fact that he’s now engaged and only gone and ripped my heart out.

“Sure,” I answered before I had time to think, “You know my email, Oliver. Goodbye.” I threw the phone to the end of the bed and closed my eyes, not caring what time it was, I needed sleep and I needed it now.