#Marcus Moreno Fanfic (Mine) | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

melobee · 3 years

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Love Language + Pedro Boys

This idea suddenly popped into my head and I was curious to see what other people thought about this too especially Pedro boy writers.

Rules

Aim of the game is to say what you think each Pedro Boys love language is. EVERYONES opinion of this is valid so no hating on each other.

Don’t feel have to do every single one, I didn’t lol.Just the ones you know enough that you feel confident in answering 💕

You don’t have to write mini essays like I did lmao just as much as you feel like writing 💕

If you don’t know what a love language is it’s basically the way you naturally prefer to be shown affection and love. The 5 languages are...

Touch

Quality Time

Acts of service

Gift receiving

Words of affirmation

Without further ado here’s my take on the Pedro boys and their love language ...

Din Djarin | Acts of service

I have a feeling we are all going to have mixed opinions on this one lol, I know we love our touchstarved Din™️ I do too fanfics aside, I do have a feeling he’d be a lot more appreciative if you did more practical stuff to relief the pressure off him with his day to day routine. Doing chores, offering to do things for him, taking care of Grogu even when it’s his turn to do so, just so he can relax for a bit...he’d love you for it. Maybe after a very long time then he would be more open to touch... Din is the slow burn of the Pedro boys.

Ezra | Touch

Now THIS man would definitely appreciate touch a lot more than anything else. Being completely alone and isolated for months at a time and naturally wanting to be close with people he would love the feeling of you touching him not just in an innocent way ;) This man is 100% sex and touch deprived and just the thought of touching you in that way would have him reeling. Even the slight touches and just feeling you there with him would ground him and reassure him that this isn’t just a dream and that he isn’t alone anymore. You are here.

Maxwell Lord | Words of affirmation

Maxwell Lord wouldn’t need gifts...that’s for sure. He’s a bit of a tricky one to decipher but I’m going to base my decision on when Alister tells him he loves him regardless of what he’s done. He’s definitely the kind of guy who needs to hear it. He gets so caught up in his own head he needs words to pull him out, someone who’s not his own voice. Sometimes actions aren’t louder than words and for Max I feel that would rein true.

Frankie Morales | Words of affirmation

Frankie was by far the hardest one to figure out for me at least. This one needs love with all 5 senses he’s such a softie and fanfiction has engraved into me that he’s insecure as heck. I was tossing between touch, quality time and verbal cues and honestly I think this one needs to hear it too for different reasons. Sometimes actions aren’t direct enough for someone with insecurities, being blunt and leaving no room for interpretation with someone like this is the best thing for them. Saying things like ‘I love you’, ‘I’m here for you’ and ‘I’m so proud of you’ straight up, is what Frankie needs the most.

Marcus Moreno | Quality time

He’s a family man with a daughter who is bordering on her teen years. Quality time would be beginning to disappear as she gets older and being apart of the heroics never really allowed much quality time in the first place so I know that Marcus would definitely appreciate his time with you and Missy. The quiet moments in between the loud ones, being around each other and finding some sort of peace in between your chaotic lifestyle with them would be so important to him.

Javier Peña | Quality Time

Another quality time man but again for different reasons... This guy knows how to touch™️ but that would really be surface level for Javier. To him anyone can touch and have sex with another person, it’s become stress relief first and foremost, it would definitely take more than that to show him you care considering his past sexual encounters. I feel that Javier would appreciate the quality time he gets to spend with you REALLY getting to know one another past surface level. Getting into the good the bad and the ugly of each other. Just being with one another cause you want to. Plus with his demanding job those moments would be scarce. This man LOVES sex don’t get me wrong but sharing those vulnerable emotions with one another and just spending time together, forming that bond, would make the sex 1000x better, knowing your not just some fling...that you really do care deeply about him, Mind and Body.

Jack Daniels | Touch

I don’t know a lot about Whiskey but I’ve read a couple of fics on him and he seems to be the touchy type too. But honestly idk I could be completely wrong about this XD

Marcus Pike | Words of affirmation

I know a little bit more about this agent than Whiskey and like Frankie and Max words is key. He’s been burned more times than he should’ve been and after that terrible incident with Teresa, he’d be so cautious going into other relationships moving forward. He’d want that verbal confirmation to be sure this is what you want so neither one of you get hurt. Maybe in the past things like touch and acts of service definitely would have been his love language but being burned not once but twice in two serious relationships have changed that which is such a shame.

Tag as many as you want or none at all. Completely up to you! No pressure of course! Anyone else who wants to join in is very much welcome!

@jehdi-knight @littlemisspascal @buckypascal @smollyoda @dinthisisthe-wayson @buttercup--bee

Link here if you wanna find out your own love language. I think it’s pretty neato burrito. Mines verbal affirmation

#pedro pascal #din djarin #javier peña #maxwell lord #marcus moreno #ezra prospect #frankie morales #jack daniels #marcus pike #tag game

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criticallyacclaimedstranger · 2 years

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Tumblr writer tag

Tagged by sweet @floraandfrost

1) How many complete fics/one shots do you have that you have not published (yet)? I post everything when I finish it.

2) How many WIPS do you have right now? 11, some of them being worked on more actively than others.

3) Do you take writing requests or write original ideas, or both? Anyone is welcome to ask me for stuff at any point. I might say no but so far I've said yes.

4) If you do take requests, how many do you currently have? Don't have any at the moment.

5) How many fandoms do you write for? Pedro Pascal characters, mostly Frankie Morales.

6) Are there any fandoms you wrote for in the past that you no longer write for? Yes, I've been writing fanfic since before I knew what it was, or before I knew what the internet was. My first fandom that I wrote for was The X-files. Only a friend of mine read those.

7) Do you write for ships, reader inserts or other? I don't think I've ever written an established ship, canon or fanon? It's mostly reader inserts and OFCs. I'm good at OFCs.

8) Niche fandoms/characters you write for? I clearly have a thing for ex military OFCs...

9) Do you read fics as well as write them? Not really, no.

10) What is your favorite genre to write for? I don't think about genres, I just write?

11) What is your favorite trope (to read/write)? I haven't really thought about tropes when writing. I only recently realized Frankie x Lady is friends to lovers? I don't know, I just write. I'm sure my writing is riddled with tropes, but I don't actively choose them?

12) What do you do to get motivated to write? If I want to write, I sit down and write, even if it's just 30 minutes and what I write is a bunch of bollocks. Writing is a lot of revision. If I don't feel like writing, I do something else.

13) Is there a trope/genre you like to read, but not write? I'd like to write something in the style of Isabel Allende, or Donna Haraway.

14) Any characters/fandoms you want to write for that are never requested? I rarely get requests so I haven't had this problem.

15) How long have you been writing fanfiction? Some 25 years, off and on.

16) Did you read fan fiction before you started writing? Nope, wrote it first. Did read a lot of fanfic earlier, though.

17) Do you only post on Tumblr, or any other sites as well? I cross post on Ao3, not everything, but almost.

18) What do you personally consider the word counts of “Drabble”, “One shots” and “fics”? Aren't there inofficial rules about this? Isn't a drabble supposed to be exactly 100 words? And I thought a "one shot" was a standalone fic that's not part of series? HAHAHA OMG I've been using the term wrong for my whole time here. That's embarrassing.

19) Which do you prefer to write more? Oh, that varies. I'm always game for more Frankie x Lady, though. It's like revisiting a familiar old threesome.

20) Are there any stories you have discontinued? If so, why? The Instructor was at a stand-still for a long time, and I didn't really feel like finishing it. I think it was because Marcus Moreno was an early PP character for me, and I fell for him, but then discovered more characters that, to be honest, were better written and also not from a cringey kids movie. But I always felt bad about not finishing it. Now I am (I hope)!

21) What is one of your main “pet-peeves” as a writer on Tumblr? Lack of reader interaction. That's one (of a few) reasons I quit my previous fandoms, so I'm no stranger to doing it again. Sure, I write because I want to, but if I wrote for myself only, I wouldn't be here posting and wanting to talk about my fics, would I?

22) Do you write at a particular time of day? Mainly morning hours. Something during work hours, because my job is hella inconsistent, so sometimes I have nothing to do for hours.

23) Do you listen to music, ambiance/noise, etc to write or do you need silence? Mostly silence. When writing Misty I listen to Kate Bush's 50 Words For Snow album.

24) Do you outline your fics at all before writing? Never! I sometimes feel I should. No, it all starts with one single scene, or maybe just a line.

25) Do you post your writing as soon as you finish it, or do you schedule it to come out at a specific time/day? I always want to post asap but I've learned that, sadly, the time of the day seems to play a very large part of how much attention fics get, so I try to schedule them for the American mornings.

Too tired to tag anyone but feel free to snatch this if you want to!

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bluestar22x · 11 months

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Second Chance Addition

Second Chances (Part 10): Second Chance Addition

Summary: First comes love, then comes marriage, then comes... - Marcus and Elena POVs

Pairing: Marcus Moreno x OFC!Elena

Rating: 18+ series, 18+ rated chapter

Warnings: Plot involves labor, birth, and breastfeeding (nothing too descriptive, I swear, but we’re playing safe). Fluffy moments.

Word Count: 2,112

Author’s Note: This is done for now, but I could be persuaded to write more for the Moreno family in the future. Hint Hint (My asks are open, though I can’t guarantee I’ll write what you ask for or when I will.)

xxx

Series Masterlist

xxx

It was just after two in the morning when Marcus woke to Elena shifting uncomfortably on her side of the bed, a hand pressed to her belly.

“Are you okay honey?” he inquired, placing a comforting hand on her shoulder.

She met his eyes and sighed as whatever was bothering her left her suddenly. “I think I’m in labor.”

Marcus sat up in bed at that, concerned. “How long?”

“A few hours maybe,” she replied, sitting up too. He had to help her. “It was painless at first. I thought it was just those fake contractions the doctor talked about, but it’s been getting slowly more and more intense.”

“Have you been timing them?” he asked her, doing his best to sound calm, though he felt a familiar nervousness sweeping through him. This being Elena’s first pregnancy they probably didn’t need to worry about getting to the hospital anytime soon, but he knew tracking the time between her contractions was an important part of the waiting. He remembered hating the waiting part.

“Last was fourteen minutes apart,” Elena informed him with a sigh. “I used the alarm clock to time it. Still likely have a long time to go, like the doctor said it’d be.”

Marcus rubbed her lower back. “Anything I can do?”

“Nothing right now,” she replied.

“You should try to get some more sleep while you can,” he suggested.

She made a face at him. “By the time I fall asleep another one will wake me up.”

“At least try to close your eyes,” he told her. “I get it’s easier said than done, but you’ll need it.”

She nodded but a fear developed in her eyes. “What if my water breaks while we’re in bed?”

He laughed a little and kissed her temple. “We’ll get a new mattress. Don’t worry about it, honey. You getting whatever rest you can get is far more important.”

They both managed to get in short naps throughout the night, but they were up at the crack of dawn as Elena’s contractions started getting intense enough for her to feel the need to pace around. As she did so, Marcus packed whatever they’d need for the hospital into the car and made some calls. To the hospital, to let them know how far along she was, and to his boss, to let her know that he wouldn’t be going into work for the rest of the week or the next. All heroics were allotted at least two weeks to spend with their families when they had a new addition to them. It was far more than most men got in the US and he was grateful.

Once he’d done that and he and Elena had dressed up, he made them breakfast, eggs and toast, not sure if the doctor would let her eat once they got there. Elena was standing, bracing the back of one of the kitchen chairs, when Missy entered the room.

“I smell breakfast,” she declared, before the smile on her face turned into a frown. She’d noticed the pained expression on Elena’s face. “Are you okay?”

Elena gave her a short nod and breathed deeply as the contraction passed. “I’m okay. I’m just having contractions.”

“You’re in labor!” Missy exclaimed, wide eyed. “I thought your due date was only in two weeks?”

“Babies rarely come as scheduled,” Marcus informed her as he flipped the eggs in the skillet before him. He glanced over his shoulder. “In fact, you were a week late.”

“It’s close enough not to matter,” Elena finished, sitting down on the chair she’d been holding and taking a swipe at her sweaty forehead.

“Is it time to go to the hospital?” Missy asked.

Elena shook her head. “Still only eight minutes apart. But we’re getting there.”

“Eat up,” Marcus told Missy, shoving a plate in front of her and Elena. “After this I’m going to call your abuela to stay with you here. She’ll bring you to the hospital when visitors are allowed in the room.”

Missy’s eyes brightened. “So I can skip school today?”

It was March 30, and a Thursday, so her school was still in session.

“If you want,” Marcus decided. “I’m not going to force you to go and I think the teachers would understand if you’d be too distracted for it.”

“Yes!” she nearly shouted. “I don’t think I could bare listening to Miss Landry talk about algebra problems knowing my baby brother or sister could be born any second.”

“I’ll call it in then,” he promised as he sat down in between her and Elena, who’d already started shoving her eggs down. Probably wanted to finish her meal before the next contraction.

After she was done eating and Marcus and Missy were halfway done, she called her parents. They lived on the opposite coast, but they’d promised to jump on the next available flight.

Missy then did the dishes while Marcus made his planned calls. Anita showed up in record time.

“How far apart are they now?” she asked Elena, who’d since taken to the couch and the comfort of Marcus’ arms.

He was stroking her back when Elena answered, “Six minutes apart.”

Anita clicked her tongue. “That’s close enough. You two best be going. Keep me updated.”

They both knew better than to argue. “Will do,” Marcus swore.

She shooed them out of the house and they were on their way.

Five minutes into the drive, ten minutes from the hospital, Elena had another one. She reached out to him at a stop light and squeezed his arm tightly. Her grip was a little too tight, but Marcus didn’t care. He knew what she was going through hurt way more.

“You’re doing great honey,” he reassured her. It wasn’t a lie. She was handling this better than he’d expected, was being more contained than she needed to be. But he could tell by the way she chewed on her lower lip that it wasn’t for the lack of pain. “Breathe through it,” he reminded her.

She nodded and did so until the wave passed. When it did, she splayed a hand out over the expansive mound at her waist and closed her eyes in momentary relief. “I knew it would hurt, but I didn’t think it’d hurt this bad so soon.”

“You can change your birth plan if you want,” Marcus told her. “Get an epidural. It’ll help.”

Elena shook her head, eyes baring iron will. “I refuse to get jabbed in the spine. And I’m strong enough to do this.”

“Didn’t say you weren’t,” he said as the light turned green as he drove forward. “There’s nothing wrong with making it easier on yourself.”

She shook her head again.

He sighed. A part of him wished she’d change her mind, but he also admired her stubbornness. She knew what she wanted and would stick with it until the end. Not many people were like that anymore.

Besides, there were other ways to help her deal with the pain, and he silently promised that he’d do everything in his power to make sure he and the hospital staff were doing everything possible to make it a little more bearable for her. It was the least he could do.

It was another seven hours before you heard your baby’s cry accompanied with a rush of relief, both mentality and physically. Seven hours of intensifying pain that you didn’t know could get worst until that day. Seven hours that blurred in your mind as soon as your baby was laid out on your chest by Marcus himself, who’d been allowed by the doctor to catch them at the last push, as you both had planned.

“We have a son,” he told you with tears in his eyes, and you cried with him, because finally your baby was here and he was as perfect and wonderful as any baby could be. Ten fingers and ten toes, a thick layer of dark head hair, and a set of lungs you knew you’d regret at night, but were grateful for in the moment. He was alive, he was healthy. That was all you’d needed after the last eighteen hours, particularly after the last hour of pushing.

You were riding high on emotions and hormones for a while after as the doctor and nurses checked out your son, cleaned you both up, and had a lactation consultant briefly come into the post delivery room to show you how to properly nurse him.

After you’d fed him you’d passed him over to Marcus, who gleefully took him in his arms for a proper cuddle. You couldn’t remember a time he’d ever looked so joyful, and it warmed your heart, combating the ache that had settled into every part of you. You were tired and sore, yet also content.

“Get some rest,” Marcus murmured, kissing you on the forehead. “I’ll take care of Teo.”

You smiled. Teo. You and Marcus had decided on that name for a boy about a month ago. You were glad you’d figured that out then. That way he didn’t have to go without a name while you rested.

When you became aware of your surroundings again, when you stirred from your nap, Missy and Anita were in the room, fawning over Teo, who was still in Marcus’ arms. You glanced at a clock on the wall, discovering that it had been three hours since you’d closed your eyes.

You’d awoken because Teo had started putting up a fuss.

“He’s probably hungry again,” Marcus guessed.

“Give him to me,” you ordered, and his eyes shot in your direction, surprised. He hadn’t noticed that you’d awakened.

“You’re going to need some food too,” he said as he hesitantly passed Teo back to you. You understood why he struggled with it. If you hadn’t been so exhausted earlier, you’d have wanted to cling onto Teo too. To stare down at his little face and figure out what parts of it belonged to you and what parts belonged to Marcus. You’d do it soon enough.

“I’ll let the nurses know she’s awake,” Anita declared, heading for the door, dragging Missy with her. “Come with. You didn’t eat supper either. Let’s find something in the café.”

“Hope you’re feeling okay,” Missy called back to you.

You couldn’t help but chuckle as she fought against Anita. “I’ll make it. I’ll see you in a bit.”

Missy nodded and obeyed Anita. After they’d left you guided Teo to your right breast and let him drink. You were thankful that he had a healthy appetite. It was one of those things you’d fretted about before he was born. If you’d be able to feed him and if he would suckle well.

Marcus sat down next to you on the full-sized bed and squeezed your shoulder. “You did amazing, honey.”

“I didn’t have much of a choice,” you countered with a laugh. “But I’m so glad he’s here. I don’t regret it.” You were a mom again. You’d given the human being in your arms life. Thinking about it made you a little breathless. Why did something so common feel so astounding?

Marcus smiled at you, having noticed the light in your eyes. “I’m glad.”

“Going to take time to wrap my mind around the fact that he is this big and yet he still managed to come out of me,” you said humorously.

It was his turn to laugh. “He’s seven pounds, four ounces. They said that was average.”

“Didn’t feel that way.”

Marcus smartly suppressed a second laugh, pressing his forehead to yours instead. “I love you so much, Elena. Words are not enough to show you how much you mean to me. You’ve given me more than I could’ve hoped for. When we first met I didn’t dare dream we’d get married, let alone have another child. I couldn’t have dreamed that I’d found the best person to share the rest of my life with. But I had.”

You tilted your head to kiss him on the lips, arms still holding Teo securely against your chest, though he’d stopped nursing. “I love you too, Marcus. And you’ve given me as much back. If I was your second chance, you were my first. And I’m so grateful for that, for the family we share together.”

He grinned and you felt your heart jump. You grinned back. You couldn’t imagine his smile ever getting old.

You knew life would never be perfect, that you and Marcus would have bad days alongside the good ones, but in that moment you also knew that come what may, you’d face it together.

#We Can Be Heroes #Marcus Moreno Fanfic (Mine)#Second Chances Series

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bluestar22x · 4 days

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Never Forgotten

Summary: Light pink carnations represent love and gratitude, appreciation of a mother, and never forgetting someone. That's why Marcus gifts them to both his wives on Mother's Day.

Pairing: Marcus Moreno x OFC!Elena (Current Wife), Marcus Moreno x OFC!Reina (Past Wife)

Rating: 18+ Series

Word Count: 2,800(ish)

Warnings: Romance, sexual tension, flashbacks, pregnancy, family life, mentions of cancer, sickness, death, mourning, angst, love, joy - it's a rollercoaster

Author’s Note: This takes place in my Second Chances verse, but you do not need to read the series to enjoy this! This was created for the Moth and Birdie's Mother's Day Fic Challenge by @mothandpidgeon and @ezrasbirdie. Went with something both sweet and angsty, but true to Mother's Day.

xxx

"Mommy, mommy get up!"

An excited young voice drew you from a peaceful night's sleep, leaving you drowsy and a bit mopey about not being able to wake up on your own terms that morning. It was rare you had a day off where you could do so. You had thought on Mother's Day you'd have a better chance.

Still, you smiled when your three and a half year old son (almost four, he insisted) ran into your view, looking as lively as ever.

"Morning, Teo," you mumbled at him.

"Morning, mommy," he greeted you back, beaming. "We have a present for you!"

"Oh? You do?" You and your husband Marcus had decided last year that outside of Christmas presents weren't really going to be a part of your holidays anymore, so you were curious what was in store for you.

Teo nodded at you enthusiastically. "Yeah! Daddy sent me up here to get you!"

"Well," you said as you sat up in bed and rubbed your eyes, "Tell daddy I'll be down in a minute. I've got to brush my teeth first."

And use the bathroom, but that was a given.

"Okay!" And just like that the young boy with wild curls left your room, flying off like superman, whose image was printed many times over on his cotton pajamas.

You made your way after him as soon as you could, having smelled your "present" before you even made it out of the master bedroom.

Marcus was making breakfast, and the kids were helping out, you could only assume. Knowing them, Teo probably came up with the idea, and Missy probably insisted Marcus not do it on his own. She knew very well how easily distracted he could get sometimes.

"Smells like burnt eggs," you joked as you strolled into the kitchen, stopping to pet Ginger, your Chihuahua, who was laying on her side on the bare floor, basking in the warmth of the morning sun.

"Not on my watch," Missy told you from her position by the stove, alongside Marcus.

"Hey," he protested. "I can and have cooked eggs just fine on my own!"

"So long as the TV's not on," you added, grinning. "So this is my present? Breakfast?"

"Brunch," Marcus corrected you as he shut off the stove top burner he'd been using. "It's ten-thirty, honey."

"I slept that long?" You gaped. "Why didn't you wake me earlier?"

"Part of your gift," Missy said, nodding towards the table. "We're also going out for supper. You're not allowed to cook today."

"Sounds good to me," you told her, going to sit at the kitchen table with Teo, who was already chowing down on a syrup covered pancake. "Can I steal a piece?"

"Of course mommy," he answered, pushing his plate towards you more willingly than you'd expected. The kid loved his food. "It's your special day."

"Just testing you," you declared, winking as you plopped a fresh pancake from the stack in the middle of the table onto the plate in front of you. "I can take my own."

Marcus and Missy placed more food on the table, eggs and bacon and breakfast potatoes as you poured a ton of syrup on yours, more than even Teo liked. You preferred your pancakes drowned in it.

As they both sat down with you and Teo, you took a moment to sniff the large bouquet of light pink carnations that were in a thin dark green vase in front of your spot at the table. "Mmm, these smell lovely."

Marcus smiled. "I'm glad you like them. Happy Mother's Day, Elena."

You covered his hand with yours and grinned back. "Thanks for all of this. Though the flowers could technically be considered a gift."

"I get some for Reina every year," he reminded you. "Didn't feel right not to give some to you too when you're not getting anything else."

"Are you visiting her this afternoon?" you asked him quietly.

"On the way to the restaurant, after we visit mom," he confirmed, squeezing your fingers with his.

Reina had been Marcus' first wife. The original Mrs. Moreno. She had passed away years before you'd even met Missy in the school library. You'd encouraged Marcus to keep up the tradition he had of visiting her grave around Christmas, her birthday, and Mother's Day, along with Missy, even when things got hectic.

Sometimes you hung back, giving them their privacy, other times you joined them in solemn silence.

You didn't know Reina outside pictures, stories Missy retold of her mother, mentions Marcus made of her, but you felt a kind of connection to her through them. A comradery of sorts, having both shared your lives with them.

There had never been a time where you'd even considered being jealous of her ghost. You knew Marcus loved you both, equally and differently at the same time, neither able to replace the other. And you were grateful to her even, after all, you wouldn't have Missy in your life if she'd never given birth to her. You couldn't imagine what the last five years or so of your life would've looked like if Reina had never existed.

A coworker had once asked you if you could bring Reina back if you would do it, and you'd said of course without hesitation. Even though it was a loaded question, the answer was easy because you knew how much Marcus and Missy still mourned her, and you'd have loved to meet her. You wouldn't let fear or insecurity make you selfish. You refused to have them, and you loved your family too much for that.

"Dig in before the eggs get cold," Missy warned, snapping you out of your thoughts.

You nodded and reached for the pan of scrambled eggs that was thoroughly mixed with herbs which made them look more tempting than ever. "They look perfect, Missy."

She shrugged. "I've gotten a lot of practice in college."

Though Missy was currently living in a dorm most days, she got cooking experience through the cafeteria job she'd picked up on campus at the tail end of the previous semester.

You took a good share of the eggs, though you made sure to leave enough for the rest of your family and shoved a mouthful into your mouth with your fork.

You closed your eyes and hummed at the delectable taste of them. "Holy...cow Missy. These are amazing! That's not standard for a college campus."

"I mix it up when they let me."

"I'll try not to take offense that you've never said that when I cook," Marcus teased.

"You have plenty of other talents," you assured him.

Some of which would be very inappropriate to mention here, you thought.

The way he grinned at you after, you were certain his mind had gone there too.

Later. Definitely later. Once you had privacy and the kids weren't likely to interrupt.

For now you were going to enjoy the family you both had cultivated together.

Visiting Reina's grave never really got easier for Marcus, but this visit was one of the hardest in a long time, even with Missy by his side and you and Teo waiting in the car.

This particular Mother's Day marked ten years of the holiday without Reina's presence. It meant Missy was well into having spent most of her life without her mother around.

That thought pained Marcus deeply as he set the flowers in his hands, ones identical to the batch he'd given you earlier, up against her headstone.

When he backed away a couple feet Missy stepped forward and kissed a couple of her fingers before pressing them against the top of the gray granite. "Miss you, mom."

Marcus felt his heart plummet at her soft, solemn words. For the first time in years tears threatened to surface.

No words were able to form on his lips, none he could think of seemed appropriate, so he thought about Reina instead.

He'd been training in the Heroics gym shirtless when they first met. She walked in all professional in a pencil skirt and white blouse, long dark hair pulled back in the tightest possible ponytail, not even batting an eye at the sight of his young sweaty form pounding on the punching bag before him.

"Mrs. Moreno wants to see you," she'd stated plainly.

"Hey," he'd greeted her, halting his activities and wiping the sweat off his forehead with a nearby towel. "Are you the new secretary?"

"Yeah, I am," she replied, pausing, "Sorry, it was rude of me not to introduce myself first. I'm Reina."

Marcus stuck out his right hand and she shook it. "Nice to meet you, Reina. I'm Marcus."

"I know," she said, "Your reputation proceeds you. Top of your Heroics class and your mother told me you're aiming for leadership someday."

He frowned. "She did now, huh?" His mother had been suggesting he to take her place from the start of his training to be a Heroic. She claimed he would be a great leader, but he still wasn't convinced after a decade of hearing it.

Reina must have heard the change of tone in his voice. "Is it not true?"

"It's an option," he told her. "I'm just not sure I'd be good at it. If I even want to be the leader."

She nodded. "It's not an easy choice."

"Speaking from experience?"

She shook her head yes. "My father's a lawyer. He was expecting me to lead his legal team someday. Instead I moved away from the countryside, to the city to be a little ol' secretary."

"You like the job?" Marcus asked.

She smiled, and it suddenly occurred to him that it just might be the most beautiful smile he'd ever seen. "Yeah. Your mother is nice to work for. Honest, brutally sometimes, but not mean. And I like the idea of helping you Heroics do your job, since I don't have powers myself."

"You don't need to be powered to be a Heroic," Marcus informed her. "Yes, the team's all powered at the moment, but there are no rules against non-powered people from joining."

"I'm more of a behind the scenes person," she said.

"I can respect that. We need people like you. You and the other secretaries are the backbone of this team."

She looked surprised. "You really think so?"

"We couldn't do our job without you," he added.

She smiled again, and he felt something akin to his stomach flipping witnessing it. "Thanks, Marcus. It's nice to hear. Can I tell Mrs. Moreno you're on your way?"

"Yeah," he said. "Is it an emergency, or can I shower first?"

"No emergency," Reina answered. "I'll tell her you'll be up in ten."

Marcus nodded. "Yeah, I'll be ready by then."

"Perfect," she said with a nod before spinning away on her six inch heels.

He watched her go, fully realizing he was interested in her, beyond pure physical attraction, but having no idea if they'd have a shot together.

Her looking back at him just as she opened the door to leave the gym space gave him hope.

"How was today?" Marcus inquired as he walked over to Reina, who was standing on their apartment balcony, apparently waiting for him to come home from work.

He banded his arms around her from behind and leaned down to press a light kiss to her jaw as his hands found the underneath of the expansive mound at her waist.

"Your daughter has been moving almost constantly all day," she told him, splaying a hand over his, the same one that bore the rings he'd given her the previous year. "And she insists on kicking my ribs at the worst possible times," she added with a hint of exasperation.

"Be nice to your mama, baby," he said sternly to his unborn child as she shifted under his palms.

Or he tried to at least.

Reina chuckled. "Guess I'll be the one disciplining her. Not that I'm surprised."

"You calling me soft?" Marcus asked with mock upset.

She turned in his arms to face him. "You are going to be like putty with her."

"Now, that's going too far."

She grinned at him, brown eyes bright and lively, and curled her arms around his neck so she could guide his head down to her lips for a warm kiss.

"I haven't been wrong about you so far," she whispered after, lips quirking upward.

He couldn't argue with that.

She looked as beautiful as ever, skating alongside little seven-year-old Missy, holding her hand gently and giggling as they both tried to keep themselves from falling over on the rough surface of the frozen lake.

Her hair hadn't grown back in well, so she was wearing a wig but it looked normal enough, she looked normal enough that Marcus could enjoy the moment, soak in the sight of Reina enjoying the sunny winter day with her daughter, despite it being as bitter cold as it was.

Watching her, watching them that day, Marcus had a hard time comprehending that his wife was dying right in front of him and he couldn't do anything to stop it.

For months he'd been at her side, every step of the way, holding her hand, her hair, as she suffered through radiation and chemo and a mastectomy, all in hope that it would cure her illness.

All of it had been for naught, her doctor having told her last month that they had no more options, that the cancer had spread to a whole slew of different places in her body, including her brain.

She could've continued chemo to prolong her life a little longer, but Reina had decided to choose quality over quantity. She hadn't wanted to live out her final days feeling as sick as chemo made her, so she stopped going to get treatments.

Marcus could only respect her wishes. He knew he would want the same put in her position, and a day like this was worth a lot more than a hundred of her lying in bed hardly able to move or clinging to the toilet bowl.

She caught him watching and they shared beaming smiles, hers natural, his a bit more forced, but it was still wonderful.

Going to the mountain lake for one last family trip had been her idea, and as per usual she'd been right.

They'd all needed it, and that was the memory Marcus had clung to most the week, the month, the year after her death.

That last truly good memory always made him smile through the tears.

And as he often did, he made a silent promise never to forget it that particular Mother's Day. To never forget her, as she was meant to be.

It was ten minutes before Marcus and Missy joined you and Teo in the car again, as usual more subdued than when they'd left it.

Missy buckled herself back into the seat next to Teo's as you rested a hand on Marcus' cheek, rubbing a thumb over it comfortingly. You could still see the lingering grief in his eyes, freshened by the visit to Reina's grave.

"You okay?"

He grabbed your hand and kissed the top of it, his love for you surging. "With you, always."

He slowly let go of your hand so you could rest it on your lap and you smiled softly. You had no doubt of how important you were to him, but it was still the best feeling to hear it.

He poured it into an intimate kiss you shared later on, after you got back home and the kids raced into the house together, anxious to rewatch a movie they both enjoyed together in Missy's old bedroom.

"You are the best wife I could've ever asked for," he told you, his mouth hovering just over yours, his hands on your hips. "Certainly the best mother."

"Just like Reina," you said, without a tinge of insecurity to it.

"I've been so damn lucky," he murmured, bumping his nose against yours, the edges of your glasses also hitting. "I got to share some of my life with her, and now I get to spend the rest of it with you. Two amazing women who gave me two wonderful kids. I'm beyond grateful."

"How much so?" you inquired, a playfulness to your words. Your hands traveled from his shoulders to his soft stomach, just above the waistline of his pants, fingers grazing the top of his belt buckle.

He hummed with peaking interest as he observed their new, tantalizing placement. "Way beyond."

You grinned widely at him. "Wanna take a shower with me?"

"Have I ever said no?"

You chuckled at that and guided him anxiously into the house to sneak past Missy's bedroom.

The sun may have set, but as far as you were concerned, your Mother's Day celebration was hardly near its end.

And you had a feeling it would be one of those nights not to be forgotten.

xxx

Tagged: @harriedandharassed

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Main Masterlist

#Marcus Moreno #We Can Be Heroes #MothandBirdMothersDayChallenge #Marcus Moreno Fanfic (Mine)#WCBH Fanfic #Pedro Pascal Character Fanfic #OC Fanfic #Fanfiction #Mine #Second Chances Series #Queue Me

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bluestar22x · 11 months

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Second Chance Life

Second Chances (Part 1): Second Chance Life

Summary: Marcus saves a stranger while off duty (aka Elena’s worst day ever) - Elena POV

Pairing: Marcus Moreno x OFC!Elena

Rating: 18+ series, 13+ rated chapter

Warnings: Foul language

Word Count: 1,144

Author’s Note: This flowed right out of me

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Series Masterlist

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Today couldn’t get any worst, you thought, pulling your right foot and the now sopping wet shoe attached to it out of the puddle you’d just stumbled into.

It was pouring rain out, it was cold, you’d forgotten your umbrella at home, and somehow that was just the tip of the iceberg of the worst day you could ever remember in your thirty-two long years.

You’d been forced to stay overtime. Getting out of the city middle school at six at night instead of your usual three o’clock sign out because of a last minute meeting all staff were forced to attend due to concerns over recent student behavior and new academic policies (you had no idea why you, the librarian, had to be there, but whatever).

Going back farther in the day, you’d been forced to confront a student trying to steal a priceless book that wasn’t supposed to leave the library (maybe that was why you were included in the meeting), and earlier still you’d been late to work because you’d forgotten to turn on your phone alarm. And to top that off, you’d stubbed your big toe when you had jumped out of bed in a rush. Hard.

It wasn’t like these events or similar hadn’t happened to you before, but it was dreadful that it had happened again, all at once, on the same freakin day.

Thank God it’s Friday?

You stomped over to the nearest crosswalk and slammed down the button that let the pedestrian beacon know you were there and that you wanted to cross the street (one more block until home sweet home) and tapped your dry foot impatiently on the wet asphalt beneath you, anxious to recline back on your couch in dry clothes with your dog Ginger and watch the Halloween movie marathon on the Freeform channel. You didn’t watch it all month long since it got repetitive, but you were looking forward to watching Casper that night.

You didn’t get to.

When the signal changed from don’t walk to walk you eagerly stepped onto the crosswalk, charging across it, failing to notice that the driver of the black Suburban in the right lane had ran the red light (what a dick) and with the slippery road conditions wasn’t going to be able to stop the vehicle in time to avoid hitting you (he hadn’t thought of swerving, the dumbass).

At the last second you noticed the massive SUV barreling down on you, but you had no time to react. There was only a flash of fear. You couldn’t even brace yourself for impact.

And then there was a loud squeal of tires as the vehicle was redirected very forcibly over and onto the sidewalk, the back end clipping you, causing you to lose your footing and fall to the road.

For a few moments you sat there, dazed and confused, pain flaring in your right shoulder, but nothing so bad as to suggest anything was out of place or broken (thankfully). You figured you could be wrong though.

“Are you okay?”

The voice was rough but warm and kind, and you could hear an honestly concerned tone to it.

You glanced up to see the face of a man in his early forties kneeling next to you, ignoring the rainwater soaking through his dark blue jeans because of it.

Maybe you’d had your common sense knocked out of you because suddenly all you could focus on was him. His short medium brown hair that slightly curled along the sides of his head due to dampness, his soulful brown eyes hidden behind thick rimmed glasses, his strongly curved nose and equally strong jaw gentled by a closely trimmed beard, his broad shoulders, his narrow waist, and his surprisingly large hands, one of which reached out to your good shoulder to give it a light squeeze, snapping you out of your ogling (not the time for that).

“A colleague of mine is in contact with 911,” he informed you calmly. “The ambulance should be here within a few minutes. What’s your name?”

You shook, finding yourself coming down from the adrenaline rush you’d gotten by nearly being run over. “Elena.”

“Hello, Elena,” he greeted you with a wryly smile. “I’m Marcus. Wish we were meeting under better circumstances, but here we are.”

You couldn’t help but smile weakly back. You got the sense that Marcus’ smile was a wee bit contagious. Or maybe it was just you. You tended to be that way around handsome men.

You got it in your head that you wanted to kneel too, to get your ass out of the water if nothing else, but as soon as you put pressure on your limbs to push yourself into that position, you immediately regretted it, hissing at the ache blooming from your bruised muscles.

Marcus noticed the noise and the wince that followed. “Are you okay?” he repeated again.

“I think so,” you responded, a hitch in your voice. “I’m just really sore. I don’t think anything’s broken, but I’ve never broken anything, so how would I know, right?”

His expression remained serious, but his eyes revealed amusement over you rambling on about broken bones.

You took a moment to glance around at the large crowd gathering, and at the Suburban that had nearly killed you. It had crashed into the nearest street lamp and the driver’s door was ajar. You surmised that the driver was probably long gone, not seeing anyone standing around like they owned the thing (Again, dumbass. Also, asshole.).

As if you’d been purposely blocking out all background noise, you could suddenly hear everything around you. The loudest noises being the people around you chatting amongst themselves and an ambulance that was fast approaching in the distance.

Something occurred to you as the sounds rushed back to you. You stared into Marcus’ eyes. “He wasn’t braking. He wasn’t swerving. How’d he avoid me?”

“He didn’t,” Marcus admitted. “I used my powers to redirect the SUV.”

You blinked up at him. He had powers? After that reveal, something started eating at you. You had the vague sense, the longer you studied him, that you knew him from somewhere.

When you figured it out, your eyes became saucers. “No way!” you exclaimed. Of all people to save you. “You’re a Heroic. Marcus Moreno, no? I’ve seen you on TV plenty. Almost didn’t recognize you with the glasses. Maybe Superman’s disguise isn’t so stupid after all, huh?”

He shrugged. “Unlike Superman I need mine.”

You wanted to ask him questions about his job, what the extent of his powers were, and most of all you wanted to thank him for saving your life, but then the paramedics arrived at your side in a rush and the next thing you knew he was gone.

It was kind of a bummer, but it was just that kind of day.

#We Can Be Heroes #Second Chances Series #Marcus Moreno Fanfic (Mine)

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bluestar22x · 11 months

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Second Chance Meeting

Second Chances (Part 2): Second Chance Meeting

Summary: Marcus meets Elena again in an unexpected place and Missy has a talk with him after - Marcus POV

Pairing: Marcus Moreno x OFC!Elena

Rating: 18+ series, 13+ rated chapter

Warnings: Brief mentions of grief and terminal illness

Word Count: 2,253

Author’s Note: I love that scene where Marcus hugs Missy sooo much. Also, tiny shift from canon - all the kids in the city go to the same schools, powered or non-powered.

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Marcus Moreno was always proud of his daughter, but there were times when he was especially proud of her, and this was one of those days.

Her seventh grade English class had just acted out an abridged version of Macbeth in front of all their parents and at the end when they all returned to the stage to bow he was the first on his feet to clap for them. To clap for her. Her lively brown eyes, so much like his own, found him in the audience and she grinned at him when he gave her two thumbs up. She waved at the crowd enthusiastically and followed her fellow classmates off the stage to join their parents.

Marcus was waiting for her with open arms and she all but jumped into them. “I did it Dad! I remembered all my lines!”

“I knew you would,” he claimed, smiling, remembering all the nights he’d spent recently helping her practice because Shakespeare’s fancy words had her tripping up. “You’ve always had a way with words that I’ve never had.”

“Don’t sell yourself short,” Missy scolded him, pulling away to place her hands on her hips and give him a stern look.

He chuckled, reminded of all the times her mother had done similar. “Alright. Alright. You ready to go home Lady Macduff?”

“When you are,” she declared, looping an arm around the bent elbow he offered her.

He led her out of the gymnasium the event had been set in and headed for the school’s main entrance, looking forward to a quiet Friday night watching her favorite Halloween movies (Hocus Pocus and The Haunted Mansion) before the weekend Halloween celebrations she had planned with all her friends – both powered and non-powered – kicked in.

They were passing in front of the main office when a woman bolted out the doorway into their path, bumping shoulders with him and nearly losing her grip on the pile of papers in her hands. Readjusting herself to prevent them from slipping away from her, she glanced up at Marcus and visibly paled.

For his part, Marcus felt his jaw drop slightly in surprise at the familiar bold dark eyes staring back at him. Her dark, wavy middle back length hair was pulled into a bun. Her delicate nose twitched and her thin lips were stretched into an o shape. She was wearing thin rimmed hazel colored glasses and a flowery blue dress instead of the jeans and blouse he had last seen her in, but there was no mistaking her. She was the same woman he had saved exactly a week ago.

“Oh my god.” She blushed. “Marcus. Hi. Sorry about that. I kind of have a bad habit of not paying attention to where I’m going. I mean, you’d know.”

He gave her a reassuring smile. “It’s okay, Elena.”

“You remembered my name,” she said, blinking up at him, clearly not having expected that.

He shrugged. “I’m good with names. And it’s hard to forget someone you nearly saw get hit by an SUV.”

“I…thank you for that, by the way,” Elena mumbled. “I wanted to thank you that night but then the paramedics came and you were…gone.”

“You’re welcome,” he said kindly. “It’s all in a day’s work for me. And sorry about just disappearing like that. I figured it was best just to get out of the paramedics’ way, and I was in a rush to get home to this one.” He gestured to Missy, who had been unusually quiet up until that point.

Elena’s eyes sparked with recognition when she noticed his daughter at his side. “Missy! How’d the play go?”

Missy beamed up at her, chest puffed out. “Fantastically.”

“I bet,” Elena said, grinning back at her.

Marcus glanced between them, confused. “You two know each other?”

“I’m the school librarian,” Elena explained. “Missy’s been in a few times to study and check out books.”

“Miss Elena helped me do research for that project I had for history last month,” Missy chipped in.

Small world, Marcus mused. It seemed he had saved one of Missy’s favorite adults.

“I’d best get back to the library and close up,” Elena eventually said. “But it was nice to see you both again. Keep rockin’ Missy.”

“I will!” his daughter called after her as she strolled away without looking back. Unlike Elena, Marcus did, throwing his head over his shoulder to glimpse her unlocking a door to a room a few yards down the hall. He couldn’t help himself. She’d been notably pretty, even when he’d waited with her for the ambulance in the pouring rain, soaked loose hair plastered to her skin.

“We going Dad?” Missy inquired impatiently, cocking an eyebrow at him when his eyes wandered back over to hers.

He nodded quickly. “I am. Let’s go get comfy.”

She walked ahead of him the rest of the way to his Toyota car and hopped into the front seat, only buckling in once he was also inside the vehicle.

She was silent for a few minutes while he drove and listened to the radio, tapping his fingers on the steering wheel to the beat. He didn’t catch that she was observing him the whole time.

“You like her,” she stated plainly, like it was the most obvious thing in the world.

Was he that easy to read? (Must be getting rusty with age.) “I do,” he admitted, but in a tone that hid the feelings he had behind it.

Missy rolled her eyes. “I don’t mean like. I mean like-like. You have a crush on her.”

“I do not,” he protested, sounding a little too outraged by her suggestion.

“You’re a terrible liar, Dad,” she informed him, folding her arms. “So, what are you going to do about it?”

He glanced away from the road to look at her for a moment. “I’m not going to do anything.”

“I could tell she likes you too, by the way,” Missy added. “She was downright flustered when she saw you.”

Sometimes Missy was a little too insightful for his liking. (And since when did she know the word flustered?) “Even if she was, I’m not interested in that. You know I don’t need anyone but you and your grandma in my life.”

Missy shook her head at him and the expression on her face reminded him of his mother. Disapproval.

“Don’t make this about me,” she said. “I just want to make sure you’re happy.”

“Who’s making it about themselves now?” Marcus teased.

She huffed and he raised a brow at her. “Where is this coming from anyway?” he asked.

She lifted her shoulders slightly. “I don’t know. Slo-mo’s dad started dating someone he met at the supermarket a few months ago and Slo-mo said it’s been fun. She’s powered, but has no intention of joining the Heroics, and yet she’s helped him work on his abilities. He’s also just glad for his dad because she helps him out so he doesn’t have to do everything alone.”

“You help me out all the time,” Marcus argued.

“I do,” she said proudly. “But…” she trailed off and sighed. “I don’t know. Just…all I’m saying is if you would want to date Miss Elena it wouldn’t be the worst. I like her.”

Marcus pulled up in the driveway to their house and parked the car before twisting in his seat to face her. “When did you get to be so mature?”

“Probably around the time I saved you,” she boasted.

“I wasn’t in danger,” he maintained. “None of us were.”

“That doesn’t take away from the fact we had to rescue you all,” she declared.

“No, it doesn’t,” he agreed. He wished she hadn’t needed to, but the aliens had made their point.

“Just think about it,” Missy ordered. “It was one of Mom’s wishes, after all.”

At that, Marcus startled. “What do you mean?”

“I overheard Mom talking with you one night,” she told him. “You both thought I’d gone to bed, but I snuck back out to eavesdrop on the stairs, listened to you in the living room. She was…near the end, and you were talking about a lot of things I didn’t want to hear, but I couldn’t help myself.”

Marcus felt a lump forming in his throat. He was pretty sure he knew which conversation she had listened in on. It was the night after Reina’s doctor had informed them that there was nothing else they could do for her anymore. That her cancer had won. His eyes flicked to the wedding band still wrapped around the fourth digit of his left hand.

“She said she wanted you to move on someday,” Missy reminded him. “Whatever that means.”

“I’m not sure I’ll ever be ready for that,” he disclosed, feeling trapped.

She sighed. “Just think about it.” And with that, Missy left him alone in the car to watch her head into the house, using the spare key to let herself in.

Marcus’ gaze fell back on his ring and he used his right hand to play with it, twisting the sliver around as he mulled over Missy’s words and the fuzzy memory he had of Reina’s discussion with him, the one he’d have given anything not to have had at the time. The one he hadn’t wanted to entertain.

But now? He knew he could never get back what he had with Reina, and the last thing he wanted to do was replace her, but the more years that had passed since her death, the more he did wonder if it would be nice to have that kind of relationship again - with the right person. And what if Elena was the right person? He wouldn’t know if he didn’t take a chance with her and he wondered what he would regret more. Asking her out or continuing to hang onto the past?

He had the approval of his girl, so what did he really have to lose?

That Monday, the second day of November, Marcus dropped Missy off at school slightly early and followed her into the building. Her eyebrows had furrowed when she noticed he had joined her on the stairs to the front door, but thankfully she didn’t ask any questions, instead choosing to just give him one last wave and join her friends at the far side of the building.

Recalling the door Elena had slipped through before they’d left Friday night, Marcus strolled over to it and twisted the handle. It was unlocked, and when he pushed against the door it opened into a dusty but quaint little library filled with as many books and computers and desks as safety regulations allowed. There were only two windows, and they were covered, but the sunlight still managed to light the room up decently through the white shades.

Elena was there, sitting at the messy desk at the front of the room, an aged book open in front of her and a special glue bottle made for books in her left hand. She was fixing the binding, the pages having completely come apart from the book cover.

Marcus tugged self-consciously on his plain maroon v-neck and knocked softly on the door in attempt to let her know he was there without startling her. It didn’t work, but she recovered quickly.

“Oh, hi, Marcus,” she greeted him cheerfully. “How’d you get past the office?”

Non-employees weren’t typically allowed in the school unless there was an event or they had special permission from the staff in the principal’s office. Marcus wasn’t typical though.

“Heroics get a free pass,” he explained.

She nodded. “Of course. Silly me.” She freed her hands and pushed her chair away from the desk. “So, what are you doing here?”

He chewed his lip. It was now or never. “I was thinking over the weekend. If you don’t have any plans, I was wondering…”

She raised her eyebrows when he paused for several seconds to get himself together. (So awkward.) It had been too long since he’d last asked someone out on a date.

“Would you like to eat at a restaurant with me on Saturday night?” he finally inquired, hand shooting to the back of his head to rub his neck like that would relieve the awkwardness he felt.

She grinned and placed a hand under her chin. “Do you have one in mind?”

“Tyler’s.” It was the first restaurant that popped into his head.

She laughed. “The pizza place two blocks from here?”

He shifted subconsciously. Was she making fun of him? “Do you have a better idea?”

“No, I love it,” she told him. “Yes.”

Marcus straightened his stance, hopeful. “Yes?”

“Yes, I’ll go out with you,” she confirmed. “Would six o’ clock be good?”

“It would,” he replied.

Elena reached for a sticky note pad at the corner of her desk and the black ink ballpen alongside it, jotting something down onto the top sheet before lifting it up and reaching out to pass it to him. Marcus accepted the offer and swallowed when he recognized the written numbers on it as a phone number.

“Call me if anything comes up,” she said.

He met her eyes and flashed her a charming smile. “Will do.”

She smiled back at him. “Good. Now get out of here before you’re late for work.”

He chuckled. “Will do. Have a good day, Elena.”

“You too, Marcus,” she murmured.

And with that he left, grasp tight on her note.

#We Can Be Heroes #Marcus Moreno Fanfic (Mine)#Second Chances Series

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bluestar22x · 11 months

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Second Chance Love

Second Chances (Part 4): Second Chance Love

Summary: Confessions are made and Elena and Marcus live out a dreamy Valentine’s Day night - Elena POV

Pairing: Marcus Moreno x OFC!Elena

Rating: 18+ series, 18+ rated chapter

Warnings: Smut (nothing too explicit but it is steamy if I do say so myself); Marcus is an affection king

Word Count: 2,255

Author’s Note: I think outdid myself with this one. I think I found the perfect balance. I don’t know. I hope this reads like Marcus.

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Series Masterlist

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You’d never felt much one way or the other about Valentine’s Day. It was just never one of those holidays you’d paid much attention to beyond indulging in purchasing some of those heart shaped candies that were offered at every chain store for the occasion (they were one of your favorites if you were to be honest). You’d dated plenty of men in the past (to you, at least) but your relationships had never managed to overlap the holiday until you dated Marcus.

You’d been going slow and steady for three and a half months, neither of you wanting to rush your relationship. You especially didn’t want to rush Marcus. In January he’d finally entrusted you with memories of his wife Reina the week of the anniversary of her death, to explain why he wasn’t available for your usual Saturday date night (he was visiting Reina’s grave with Missy and they were going to go watch a movie at the nearest theater after). He had made it up to you the next day with an early Sunday brunch at his place and an afternoon of board games with him and Missy.

While you’d spent Thanksgiving and Christmas apart, choosing to only celebrate with your families, you’d become closer since then, Marcus inviting you to his house at least once a week outside of the usual date night. More often than not Missy was there too and you loved it. The girl was sharp and funny and reminded you of why you chose to be a librarian at a middle school instead of at a quieter institution visited only by adults.

Valentine’s Day was the first holiday you celebrated with Marcus. It was also one of the few times Missy wasn’t at the house on a Sunday night, her grandmother insisting she sleep over and promising to take her to school in the morning. You were pretty sure Anita was just doing it to give you and Marcus time alone at the house and the thought made you blush, but neither of you had fought her. You’d even charged a more than willing neighbor with the responsibility of watching Ginger that night – just in case. You wanted to see how the night went. Still afraid to push Marcus without meaning to.

Supper had gone well. You had helped Marcus make a lasagna using a Moreno family recipe (the secret ingredient remained a secret per Anita’s insistence) and you’d thoroughly enjoyed the meal at his kitchen table, bonding over the delicious food and frustrating bosses who refused to fund projects that needed funds badly.

After you’d both cleaned the table and washed the dishes, you’d found yourselves on the couch together, and as if it was the most natural next step you’d leaned in and kissed him. Fear spiked in you when he didn’t immediately respond to your lips, afraid he’d push you away, but it was unwarranted. His hands soon found your face and he was deepening the kiss, tongue slipping into your mouth and finding yours.

It wasn’t like you and Marcus hadn’t made out before, but it was the first time you’d made out at his house, and it somehow felt different. At first you couldn’t put your finger on the right word for it, but when you parted to take a deep breath and he quickly ducked his head back down for another thorough kiss the word lit up in your head like a neon sign. Hunger.

Marcus Moreno was kissing you hungrily. Like he couldn’t get enough of you. The thought made your stomach flip flop and as a flame sparked in you, three little words sprung from the back of your head.

They’d been sitting there for about a month, and you’d almost said it a few times before, but had always chickened out. Afraid of rejection, especially from this man. You’d wanted him to say it first, but you thought maybe he wasn’t capable of it. Maybe it was time you did.

“I love you Marcus,” you mumbled against his lips.

He sucked in a deep breath and jerked away from you, surprise written on his face. “What?”

You weren’t sure if he thought he’d misheard you or if he was just in shock, but you repeated yourself away, heart pounding in your chest as you did so. “I love you.”

His chocolate eyes widened and his jaw dropped. You glanced away, certain he was going to reject you, push you away. It was too soon, as you’d feared.

Except that wasn’t what happened. He reached out to cup a palm against your cheek instead and gently guided your face back towards his so your eyes could meet again.

“I love you too,” he said fiercely, though you could see a hint of fear in his eyes. Knowing that loving you made him afraid broke your heart a little. Of course it would, but still. You wished you could promise him that he didn’t need to be, but you knew you couldn’t. Instead you kissed him again, hugging him against you as you did so.

Once again he was the one who deepened the kiss and his hands roamed the back of your patterned button down shirt. You weren’t quite sure how far he was willing to go, but when he shifted and started pressing his mouth up against your neck, licking over your pulse point, you suddenly understood very well how far you wanted to go. You lolled your head back to give him better access and moaned softly. “Marcus.”

He hummed. “What is it?”

“I want more,” you admitted. “I want you.”

He stiffened in your arms and pulled away just enough so he could study your facial expression. “Are you sure?” he asked hesitantly.

“I’m sure,” you replied. “If you’re ready, I’m ready. If you’re not, that’s okay, but I just…I just needed you to know.”

The way Marcus’ eyes darkened with desire after your declaration was sinful. He pressed his forehead to your shoulder and sucked in a deep breath.

“I want you too,” he confessed, his voice raspier than it was seconds ago. There was so much need in those words you felt the flame catch something on fire in the pit of your stomach.

You threaded the fingers of your right hand through his messy hair and smiled softly. “Then show me to your room.”

He did not hesitant, leading you upstairs by your wrist, kissing you at the top of the steps. You were a tangle of limbs by the time you both stumbled into his room and he crowded you up against the wall by the door, arms encompassing yours, his lips back at your throat. You relaxed into his embrace, tugging at the short tuffs of hair at the back of his head and hooking a leg around his hip. He grinded against your still fully clothed body in response and you both groaned at the added friction. You let your head fall back against the wall and squeezed your eyes shut to focus on the sensation.

“Let me know if you change your mind at any point,” he murmured into your ear.

“Ditto,” you said breathlessly, desperately hoping he wouldn’t.

He pulled you away from the wall and the next thing you knew he was laying you out on top of his bed’s comforter and you were bringing him down with you, nails digging into the fabric of the back of his plaid shirt. You couldn’t wait for that shirt to disappear.

Marcus wasn’t as impatient as you were, despite having gone much longer without physical intimacy than you had. He removed his glasses and settled between your thighs, proceeding to kiss your lips until they were puffy and your neck until your heart was racing at a near terrifying speed. It took you everything not to beg him for more. Eventually, finally, his hands traveled further down than your shoulders, slipping under your shirt, and you helped him remove it before doing the same with his. He planted a kiss over your heart and caressed your belly as you reached for the button of his jeans. More. More. More.

Your eyes feasted on every inch of new skin you exposed on Marcus and it did nothing to sooth you. It only made you more eager.

You would’ve gladly just gone for it, quick and dirty, but Marcus wasn’t the type. Instead, he continued taking his time even when you both were completely bare, his rough hands tracing every single one of your curves and dips until you felt near boneless underneath him, brimming with the pleasantness of it.

You didn’t know how long it had been since you’d first laid on the bed, but you noticed while in a haze that Marcus had taken his hands and mouth off of you and was leaning to the right, stretching out to open the top drawer of his nightstand and pluck a wrapper covered condom out of it. As he tore the package open and applied it to himself heat bloomed between your hips in anticipation and over your acknowledgment of him having purchased condoms. He’d bought them for you. The idea that he’d planned on this happening eventually made you burn like someone had poured kerosine on the flame already flickering inside you.

When he slipped inside you it was with a gentle roll of his hips and the motion sent a jolt of pleasure up your spine. This was a dream, you had decided then. It shouldn’t have felt that good, that fast. But it did.

You hummed happily into his mouth as he scooped you up slightly off the bed to cradle you in his strong arms and when he began to move, you immediately joined in.

Together you found a steady, gentle rhythm, one that was neither too slow nor too fast. His hands stayed splayed against your back as yours danced over his wide shoulders, down the narrowing plane of his back, and over his waist, eventually pulling back up to only repeat taking the same path.

“Hermosa,” he panted into your ear. “I love you so much.”

You grinned though he couldn’t see it, knowing enough Spanish to understand that first word. “Love you too, handsome.”

The last word was almost knocked out of you when he picked up the pace, enough to really start building you both up. You kept in time with him, whispering in his ear how good he felt inside you until you were too overwhelmed with it to speak, until all you could do was close your eyes and concentrate on the coil tightening inside you.

Marcus never stopped kissing you. His lips roamed your mouth, jawline, neck, and chest even as he moaned and heaved breaths.

You felt tears prick your eyes at the sheer tenderness of it, and you fought it away successfully, only to lose control of the rest of your body, reaching a sweet release that sent Marcus off the edge not long after you.

You’d remember the blissed out expression on his face in that moment for a long time after, eyes shut tight, eyebrows knitted as he shuddered and slumped down into your arms to nuzzle his nose into the crook of your neck. It made your adoration for him only grow stronger.

He playfully peppered kisses to your face after, making you giggle, especially since his beard tickled you in some of the more sensitive spots, but you let him do it anyway, soaking up all the attention like a wilted flower in sunlight. You couldn’t remember anyone before being this affectionate with you.

With your conception of time having been completely wrecked, and the lack of a working alarm clock on Marcus’ nightstand (it needed new batteries), you couldn’t guess when, but Marcus eventually separated from you to stand, looking regretful about it, and disappeared into the master bathroom. He returned with a warm wet washcloth in hand and you watched as he gently cleaned you up, surprised by his doting. You knew you shouldn’t have been because it was Marcus, but you just were not used to it.

After he’d tossed the cloth away into a hamper you opened your arms to him and he sunk back down on the bed to curl up in your embrace, his bare hips hugging against one of yours, and he tugged his throw blanket over you both before you could start shivering. You’d forgotten it was winter. (It rarely snowed in the city, but it was chilly that night.)

“You are…amazing,” Marcus told you, and you got the sense that he felt the descriptive word fell short.

You smiled and pressed your forehead against his cheek. “You too.”

You both stayed like that for a long time, stroking each other’s arms, before you had to get up to use the bathroom and when you returned, you found that he had unmade the bed and was already fast asleep. You leaned on the doorway between the bedroom and bath for a brief time, a smile plastered on your face as you watched the quiet rise and fall of his chest, then studied the peaceful look on his face fondly. You continued your way back to the bed, carefully climbing in so not to wake him, and turned your back to him, more than ready to sleep yourself.

You could feel him shift in the sheets as you started to drift off and the last thing you were aware of was his arm wrapping comfortingly around your waist.

#We Can Be Heroes #Marcus Moreno Fanfic (Mine)#Marcus Moreno x OFC #Second Chances Series

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bluestar22x · 11 months

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Second Chance News

Second Chances (Part 7): Second Chance News

Summary: Marcus has been here before - Marcus POV

Pairing: Marcus Moreno x OFC!Elena

Rating: 18+ series, 13+ rated chapter

Warnings: Mentions of pregnancy symptoms

Word Count: 2,371

Author’s Note: Yes, I picture his reaction when he puts two and two together being exactly like in that gif above. Same expression, different emotion behind it.

xxx

Series Masterlist

xxx

“Marcus Moreno!”

Oh oh. If there was one thing Marcus knew was absolute, it was that it was never good when a mother or a wife used your full name.

“You’re leaving a trail of mud behind you,” Elena notified him, pointing at the floor he’d traveled over.

He glanced back and cringed. He’d only wandered a few feet off the doormat to hang up his jacket, but he had indeed left quite a mess behind him.

“Sorry,” he apologized, immediately kicking off his shoes and placing them back on the mat. “I’ll pick up my mess after I talk to Missy.”

“What do you need to talk to Missy about?” Elena questioned, back turned to him as she stirred the pot of soup she’d been cooking on the stove.

“The Heroics are having a meeting tomorrow and the bosses want all the kids there too,” Marcus informed her.

He heard whining by Elena’s feet and peered over the island in the center of the kitchen to see Ginger sitting there, staring longingly up at the pot of soup.

“Ginger, would you stop?” Elena snapped, glaring down at the dog before turning back to face Marcus. “Can you take Ginger with you upstairs? And tell Missy to stop sneaking her table scraps. She’s starting to beg again.”

“Sure thing,” he said, walking around to scoop up Ginger and quickly exiting the room to climb the stairs.

He glanced down at the little dog and raised his eyebrows. “She’s not having a good day, is she?” He’d have to ask Elena what was eating at her later. It wasn’t like her to be so short tempered with him, let alone Ginger, and usually it was his mother who hounded him about keeping the house clean. She’d gone behind his back many times to clean his house after he’d become a widower.

He knocked on the closed door to Missy’s room and she yelled, “Come in!”

When he did, he found her sitting up on her bed, cross-legged, playing some sort of mobile zoo game on her phone.

“What’s up?” she inquired, dragging her eyes away from the screen.

“I wanted to let you know that Berkely wants everyone at the meeting tomorrow,” he replied, “Including you.”

She perked up, always excited to be more involved with the Heroics team. She reminded him of himself before his family became his priority. “Awesome. Are they going to talk about getting us better suits?”

“I don’t know about that,” he said, shrugging. “They never really tell me anything beforehand.”

“Sometimes I think they forget you’re the leader of the team,” Missy told him.

“I think so too,” he agreed with a laugh.

“Why are you carrying Ginger around?” she quizzed.

Marcus deposited the dog on her bedspread and his daughter pulled her close to pet her. “She was getting on Elena’s nerves. You’ve got to stop giving her human food Missy.”

She flashed him a guilty look. “Sorry. It’s just so difficult. I mean, look at this face.” She gently framed the dog’s head so his eyes could meet Ginger’s.

“No more,” Marcus said firmly. He couldn’t blame his daughter for feeling guilty for not sharing her food with the dog, but it wasn’t good to teach her bad behavior either.

Missy sighed and let Ginger go. “Okay, fine.”

“Keep her in your room until supper,” Marcus ordered her.

“Yes, sir.” A little bit of rebellious teenager tone had seeped into Missy’s voice but he ignored it and headed for the door.

He paused before he could step out into the hall. “Missy?”

“Hmmm?”

“Does Elena seem off to you today?” Marcus twisted in his spot so he could see her reaction.

She shrugged. “Not really. Maybe she looks more tired than usual?”

He hummed at that. Something must’ve happened.

“Why?”

“She seems to be on edge tonight.”

“She did seem stressed out earlier,” Missy told him. “When she picked me up at Abuela’s house she mentioned that she’s overhauling the library at school. Said they made a mess of it when they did repairs last month. She also said she has to work on getting some new books and update the programs on all the library’s computers cause the tech guys are busy enough with the office ones plus the student laptops so they won’t have time for hers before school starts back in two weeks.”

That explains it.

“We’re on clean up duty tonight,” he declared.

“Fair,” Missy agreed.

Marcus arched his brows. Elena must have really sounded stressed out earlier for Missy not to protest. He made a mental note to be extra attentive that night.

After supper was eaten and the dishes were clean, Missy and Ginger returned to her room while Marcus and Elena plopped down on the couch to browse the TV.

She passed him the remote and curled up with her head on the armrest opposite to the one he was leaning against.

He frowned. “You don’t want to pick the channel?” Usually he let her choose because she was fussier about what they watched, but she shook her head at him.

“I’m a little queasy right now so I’m just going to close my eyes and try to sleep it off for a bit,” she told him.

“Oh? Did you eat something questionable today?”

Elena shook her head again. “I don’t think so. I think it’s from staring at the computer screens too long. I have a headache too.”

Made sense. “Alright, I’ll let you be.”

Elena mumbled a thank you to him and shortly after he found a show on the science channel to watch he noticed that her breathing steadied out. He watched her sleep for a moment, wishing silently for her sake that the city’s middle school would be a little more organized. If she was already in as rough shape as she was at that point, what would she be like by the time the school year officially started?

He eventually turned to focus on the TV, knowing there was nothing he could do about the incompetence of the bosses at the school, but he couldn’t keep it from eating at him. And, he realized, that wasn’t the only thing eating at him.

As far as he knew this was the first truly stressful day Elena had endured since summer vacation had begun, and it wasn’t like her to be worn down so fast. She was usually a high energy person. Not that she was hyper, but rather she could function longer and better than most people without an ounce of coffee in her system. And it was so unusual of her to let work get to her. The two weeks of prep for the school year had been fairly rough last year too, but she hadn’t complained at all.

And then there was the headache and queasiness she’d just mentioned. Yes, it wasn’t uncommon for someone to feel that way if they were staring at a screen for too long, but usually Elena wouldn’t sit long enough at a desk to get eye strain that badly. He’d seen her at work before. She tended to go back and forth between her book and online duties even when she was busy.

The neon sign of it all though was her moodiness. Elena wasn’t quick to anger, even when stressed out. She’d be more likely to cry out of frustration if anything, and even that was rare. And when she had a period? Marcus could never guess it unless she told him about it. She’d told him once that it was mostly thanks to the Midol pills she loyally took during that time. Not being in any pain did wonders for her.

If any one of the symptoms would’ve been missing, if he hadn’t seen Reina deal with similar ones, Marcus would’ve probably second guessed himself, but all together he could only come to one conclusion.

Elena was pregnant.

He looked down at her then, his mouth forming an “o” as his eyes trailed down her body for any physical signs. There weren’t any, not yet, as far as he could tell, but his gut instinct was screaming that he was right. It just made too much sense.

He wasn’t really shocked. He and Elena had stopped using protection well over three months ago, they’d been hoping for this to happen, and their chances had been high, but that didn’t stop his stomach from fluttering a bit at the idea that he was going to be a father again. That he and Elena had created a new life together. Awe sprouted from that thought and he wondered how anyone could not feel like the world had shifted after having that kind of revelation. He grinned.

It had been over fourteen years since he’d shared a home with someone pregnant, but he still remembered it fairly well. And while some days had been pretty rough for Reina, there had been a lot of good days too. He couldn’t wait for Elena to have those good days, to see her eyes light up with the kind of joy he’d once seen in Reina’s. The joy that made it all worth it.

He hoped for it at least. He knew that not every mother experienced pregnancy the same way as Reina, that some had it rougher, but it was no use worrying about it. He knew Elena wanted to get pregnant, and that would be enough for the moment.

Marcus felt like he wanted to burst having figured it out, but he refused to let himself wake her over it, so he settled for resting a hand on one of her lower legs and using his fingers to draw circles onto her skin as he anxiously waited.

It was nearly an hour later when she stirred, slowly sitting up and shaking the fuzziness caused by her nap out of her head. As she blinked away her lethargy, Marcus couldn’t help but smile at her.

“What?” she asked when she noticed.

“I don’t think you’re just tired,” Marcus told her, placing his hand on her knee and giving it a gentle squeeze. “I think you’re pregnant honey.”

She sucked in a deep breath and her eyes brightened. “You think so? Today was so awful and this last week I’ve had my head at work nearly full time…I didn’t consider it. Now that I think about it, it wasn’t just today. I’ve been more tired for a while now, just not bad enough for me to think something was up. And my period is late by a few days.”

“You should go take one of those tests you got when we started trying,” Marcus suggested. Not that he thought he might be wrong, but he couldn’t wait for his suspicions to be confirmed.

“They recommend taking those in the morning,” Elena informed him. “Less chance of a false negative.”

“Do you want to wait that long?”

She chuckled. “God no.”

She stood and Marcus followed her upstairs to their bedroom, where he waited on the edge of the bed as she peed on a couple sticks. After she was finished she joined him, waiting for the alarm she’d set on her watch to go off.

They both jumped a little when it started beeping, and Elena quickly shut it off before strolling over to the bathroom sink. Marcus trailed behind, stopping in the doorway.

When Elena clutched one of the tests to her chest, a wide grin on her face, he got all the evidence he needed, but she still presented both sticks to him after. Each test had two blue lines running through their result windows.

“I’m definitely pregnant,” she declared.

He beamed at her. “Yes you are.”

“We’re having a baby.”

He nodded and she threw her arms around his neck. “God, I’m so happy I don’t know what to do with myself,” she admitted.

He laughed joyfully as he wrapped his arms around her waist. “Me neither honey.”

When she pulled away slightly he leaned down to kiss her and she melted into his touch, letting herself drink in the moment as much as he was.

Eventually they separated and Marcus rubbed both of her arms up and down, wondering how he was going to convince himself to keep his hands to himself for even five minutes during the rest of her pregnancy.

“We should tell Missy,” Elena decided.

Marcus frowned. “Of course we will.”

“I mean right now,” she explained. “Missy’s a smart girl, and if we don’t tell her about it before she figures it out she’s going to be hurt.”

Elena was right. And it wasn’t like Missy didn’t know that they were trying for a baby. They’d been upfront and honest with her about their intentions of having another child, and she’d been supportive of it, whether or not she actually wanted to be a big sister.

“Alright, let’s go.”

Marcus led her to Missy’s room, his hand clasped with one of hers, and knocked on the door for the second time that night. Like the first time, she shouted for them to come in.

She was at her desk this time, watching a movie on her laptop. When she saw the serious expressions on their faces she looked nervous. “Everything alright?”

Elena gave her a reassuring smile. “It is. More than alright. Your dad and I just have some news to share with you.”

“Oh?”

Marcus and Elena shared a glance before he continued, “Elena just finished taking a couple pregnancy tests and they were both positive.”

Missy’s eyes widened like saucers and her jaw dropped as she stood and turned to Elena. “You’re pregnant?”

“I am,” she confirmed.

“I’m going to be a big sister?” Missy sounded more and more excited with every word.

Elena nodded.

“Oh my god,” Missy howled out. She sprung into her arms and Elena laughed.

“I take you’re happy,” Marcus teased, a hand on her back.

“Wait until I tell Guppy I got a little sibling before her,” Missy said, smirking.

He shook his head at her in disapproval, but he couldn’t help but smile after.

He couldn’t have asked for a better night.

#We Can Be Heroes #Marcus Moreno Fanfic (Mine)#Second Chances Series

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bluestar22x · 11 months

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Second Chance Date

Second Chances (Part 3): Second Chance Date

Summary: Marcus and Elena go out on their first date - Marcus and Elena POVs

Pairing: Marcus Moreno x OFC!Elena

Rating: 18+ series, 13+ rated chapter

Warnings: Mentions of grief and mourning. First date sweetness.

Word Count: 1,614

Author’s Note: I’m on a roll. The worst part is finding appropriate gifs now.

xxx

Series Masterlist

xxx

They had been married for nine years, and had known each other for twelve, ever since Reina had been hired as a secretary for the upper management at the Heroics headquarters. Marcus had once joked that she married down, since at the time she had technically outranked him, an amateur Heroic with a lot left to prove before he gained any real respect from his coworkers let alone the leadership position. She had countered that since she was not powered that they were on even ground, but he never saw it that way. In his eyes he’d always been unworthy of her and their abilities or lack of never came into the equation when it came to their relationship.

Theirs had been solely built on unconditional love and trust. She had been his best friend, his heart, the center of his world (along with Missy after she came along) – and then she was gone. Nothing but a memory, a ring, and an image on a few prized photographs. A ghost he could only see through a seven-year-old girl with her face and his curls.

Removing one of the few representations he had of her from his finger felt wrong, even after five years of mourning her. Of keeping to himself. Focusing all his energy into work and taking care of Missy, who was now old enough to look after herself most of the time. After all, she had saved him, and she’d been itching for more and more independence ever since then, having even insisted on joining him on missions a couple of times. He’d only agreed to it to keep his promise to her.

Marcus’ eyes flicked between the silver ring in his palm and the open black safe box on his bed and he sucked in a deep breath. It was time. If he was going to follow through on this date with Elena, he had to put the ring away. No one deserved to be with someone who refused to be with them in the present.

He pinched the ring between two fingers and gently dropped it into the safe, closing the lid and locking it before he could change his mind and carrying it to a hideaway in his closet.

Once that was taken care of Marcus strolled into the master bathroom and took another look at himself in the mirror, double checking that he was all set to go. He was dressed in dark blue jeans, an ironed out beige button-down shirt, and a pair of his go-to date night shoes (he’d had them for at least a decade). He’d styled his wavy hair off his forehead like usual, had trimmed his beard as neatly as possible, and he’d traded his glasses for contacts (unlike Superman he wore his glasses for comfort rather than as a disguise). He’d even sprayed some cologne on, something he didn’t think he’d worn since before Missy was born.

He was as ready as he’d ever be.

Marcus shut the lights off in his room and headed downstairs to join his mother and Missy in the living room.

“I’m headed out,” he informed them, playing with the long sleeve covering his watch. He turned his focus to Missy. “Be good for your abuela.”

She nodded at him. “I will.”

His mother, Anita, smiled at him brightly. “You look so handsome miel. Have fun. Don’t worry about us.”

“Thanks,” Marcus said awkwardly, feeling like a schoolboy going to prom. “Contact me on the watch if anything comes up.”

Missy held up the wrist that held her bracelet and Anita gave him a curt nod. “Of course.”

He bent down to kiss them both goodbye on the cheek and went on his way, doing his best to fight down the butterflies in his stomach.

You shivered in the chill of the autumn night and glanced down at your watch. It was two minutes before six, but the paranoid part of you still worried that Marcus wasn’t coming.

He had called you a few days ago, realizing he hadn’t asked where you lived, wanting to pick you up for the date. He’d sounded nervous but committed to it then, but he could’ve changed his mind since you knew.

You shifted in your flat heel shoes and chewed your lower lip. It was more likely he wasn’t an early bird like you. That he’d show a few minutes late with an apology, muttering about traffic or a stubborn lock of hair.

Those thoughts should’ve reassured you, but it wasn’t until Marcus’ car pulled into your apartment building’s parking lot that you breathed a sigh of relief and a different kind of nerves set in.

He stepped out of the vehicle and waved at you. “Hi, Elena.”

You felt your lips tug upward at the awkward motion. You wondered if he’d always been that way with dates. “Hi Marcus.”

You moved towards him and he gestured for you to follow him to the passenger side of the car, opening the door when you were a few feet away. You smiled widely at the old fashioned notion and slid inside. He shut the door as you buckled in and before you knew it he was driving you to Tyler’s Pizza House, both hands on the wheel at the appropriate heights.

“That dress is nice,” he eventually commented at a stop light.

You smiled again and glanced down at the simple sleeveless gray dress you were wearing. “Thanks. I like your shirt too. Hopefully you don’t get sauce on it.”

He chuckled. “I would prefer to avoid it too, but there’s always stain remover if not.”

You didn’t say much in the car after, but once you arrived at the restaurant and thought to ask about Missy the conversation turned out steady. Unsurprisingly Marcus could’ve probably talked about his daughter all night and honestly, you loved it. Loved listening to a man whose world clearly revolved around his family. That was how it should be. How your own father had been with you.

Between bites of pepperoni pizza he did think to ask you a few things about yourself and you answered him cheerfully. You talked about living in your apartment with your long-time friend Jennie, and Ginger, the three-year-old Chihuahua you’d adopted last year from a couple who realized they didn’t have the time to take care of her properly. You talked about what had drawn you into working at the school as a librarian (books, duh), and about your favorite authors. It turned out you and Marcus shared a couple.

By the time supper was over, you had covered the basics in a surprisingly almost completely natural conversation, but you were still grateful to get the trivia out of the way. You had an idea of what you wanted to do next.

“I was thinking,” you hesitated, worried about your suggestion being rejected even though you’d told yourself it wouldn’t be a big deal, “There’s a bar that plays live music two doors down. Would you be up for drinks and a dance?”

“What about a drink and several dances?” he offered instead.

You grinned. “Even better.”

And that was how you found yourself shuffling around on a dancefloor at eleven at night, looped in Marcus Moreno’s strong arms, his heat radiating off his body and warming you as you allowed yourself to rest your head on one of his shoulders. So caught up in the moment you didn’t fully comprehend that you were dancing to a slow version of Holding Out For A Hero.

Marcus must’ve, because when he dropped you back off in front of your apartment building at midnight he was frowning.

“What’s wrong?” you asked, concerned. Had you said or done something wrong?

“You’re not just with me because I’m a Heroic, right?” He paused. “I’m not just imagining what I’m feeling between us?”

Your heart nearly stopped at his admission about feeling something. It was just your first date. Weren’t feelings supposed to come after? But you had to admit to yourself as you studied the unsure expression on his face that you did feel something between you and him. That you already had feelings for him of some romantic sort.

“I would never date someone just because they had powers,” you assured him. “I wouldn’t even do it because they saved me.”

You weren’t upset that he’d suggested you’d said yes to a date because you liked that he was a superhero. You were sure many people would date someone for those reasons in a heartbeat, you just weren’t the type.

“And I do think there’s something between us,” you added at a whisper, closing in on him. “I’d like a second date, if you want one too.”

“I would,” he said softly, smiling, eyes flicking down to your delicate lips.

Usually you weren’t a first date, first kiss kind of person but that night you indulged in it, pressing your lips against his before he could make the move or back away. His mouth still vaguely tasted like the beer he’d nursed all night and the pepperoni pizza from earlier, but you didn’t mind. In the moment everything tasted sweet. You could’ve kissed him all night, but he pulled away at a respectable time, a palm still against your cheek.

“Saturday?” he inquired, a little breathless.

You nodded at him more eagerly than you’d intended.

One side of his mouth curved upward. “Your turn to pick the place. Text me the details.”

“Okay,” you said.

He dropped his hand and backed off a bit. “Goodnight Elena.”

“Goodnight Marcus.”

Never had shared goodnights ever sounded more like the beginning to something.

Holding Out For A Hero by Ella Mae Bowen

#We Can Be Heroes #Marcus Moreno Fanfic (Mine)#Second Chances Series

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bluestar22x · 11 months

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Second Chance Proposal

Second Chances (Part 5): Second Chance Proposal

Summary: Marcus has questions to ask both Missy and Elena - Marcus POV

Pairing: Marcus Moreno x OFC!Elena

Rating: 18+ series, 13+ rated chapter

Warnings: Fluffy fluff fluff

Word Count: 2,045

Author’s Note: We all know Missy’s the boss here but at least she’s a sweet one. I hope everyone who reads likes this one. I kinda had a rough go here.

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He’d been thinking about it for a while, a couple months before he bought the delicate diamond ring hidden in his sock drawer and another month since then. Marcus had been dating Elena for almost ten months and he wanted more. He wanted to commit to her in the most official way he could. To put it simply, he wanted to marry her, and he was pretty sure if he asked she would say yes. He knew what it felt like to be loved like that (and wasn’t he lucky to experience it twice?).

The only reason he hesitated was because of Missy. Getting engaged to Elena and asking her to move into the house wouldn’t just be an adjustment for him, it would also, arguably, be an even bigger adjustment for Missy. Missy and Elena adored each other but hanging out a few times a week was different than living with each other. The implications behind Elena becoming her stepmother were not trifle either.

So Marcus had sat on the ring and the big question for a while. But as Elena’s birthday neared, he got more conscious of it, like it was burning a hole in his drawer. Proposing to her on her thirty-third birthday would be too good of an opportunity for his romantic heart to pass up. But he knew the only way he’d get the courage to do it was if he talked to Missy about it first.

It was on the first of August, ten days before Elena’s birthday, after a Taco Tuesday supper, that Marcus sat down at the kitchen table beside Missy, who was busy reading a biography her English teacher had forced upon her class over the summer, and tried to figure out how best to start up the conversation.

Missy was bothered by his looming presence long before he could. She peered up from the book and raised an eyebrow. “Yes?”

“I have something…hypothetical to ask you,” he told her, letting the fingers of his right hand tap on the tabletop.

“Shoot.”

“Hypothetically, if I got married to Elena, would you be okay with that?” he inquired.

Missy’s eyes lit up. “You’re thinking of proposing to Miss Elena?”

Marcus was surprised by her excitement. “Yeah, I am. But I wanted to make sure you’d be okay with it.”

“Why wouldn’t I be?” she asked, beaming. “She’s great, and that’s an understatement.”

“I just thought,” Marcus paused, hesitated, “I just thought you’d feel like I was trying to replace your mom, and that’s not my intention.”

Missy rolled her eyes. “I’m not a little kid anymore Dad. I’m thirteen years old. And I’m the one who encouraged you to date her, remember? It’s cool. If I’m going to have a stepmother, she’d be my first choice.”

Marcus relaxed into his seat. He should have known Missy would be mature about this. She was wise beyond her years.

“I just have one condition,” Missy decided after a moment of contemplation.

Marcus arched both his brows. “Oh?” He had no idea what to expect.

“That I’m there,” she said, pointing to herself. “I’ve had a hand in this from the beginning after all.”

He chuckled, glad the condition wasn’t too serious, and lifted his hands up, feigning defeat. “Alright. Alright. I can work with that. Have you got any ideas how I should go about it?”

She sighed heavily and stared at him. “Do I have to do everything for you?”

He laughed harder. “I have some ideas!” he protested. “I just want to hear yours too.”

“Well then,” Missy mused, “I’ll finish this chapter and then we can talk. Deal?”

“Deal.”

They shook hands and he smiled at her as she returned to her assignment. He was lucky in so many ways.

Everything was perfect, or as perfect as it could get. Marcus had reserved a table at a semiformal rooftop restaurant in the center of the city and planned with Missy what he would wear (tan slacks with a button-down navy blue shirt) and what he’d do leading up to the big question. She’d suggested a vase of Elena’s favorite flowers (African Violets) for on top of the table and the restaurant owner had been more than willing to set it up for him after finding out his plans. They’d made other accommodations he hadn’t expected as well, one being that their table was in a more secluded spot, away from prying eyes, since he knew Elena wasn’t the type for big public announcements. She preferred inmate things. It had been easy for the restaurant staff to set it up with Elena’s birthday being on a Wednesday. The restaurant wouldn’t be jam packed like it was on the weekend.

Elena by coincidence matched Marcus that night, wearing a recently bought navy blue summer dress with white floral designs to the restaurant, while Missy had picked out a cute little white dress with laced edges, despite her declaration that she was NOT a lacy dress girl (she was making an exception for the occasion). Anita might have had something to do with that. Actually, Marcus was pretty sure she did. No one could say no to his mother.

The weather had been the most unpredictable thing in the entire plan, but that was why he’d picked a restaurant that still had an overhang to cover the outdoor dining area. He needn’t have worried though, the sky that night was clear, and as they finished their meals of steak, chicken, and salad, they were witnesses to the start of a beautiful sunset, several shades of orange light streaking through a few fluffy white clouds over the hills that surrounded the city to the west.

“Sometimes I forget how beautiful this city can be,” Elena had murmured, eyes staring into the distance in an almost dream like manner as they waited for dessert.

With her distracted, Marcus decided it was the perfect moment, and he signaled for Missy to excuse herself from the table to go get their unknowing accomplice to his staged proposal (Missy’s idea).

She quickly returned with a petite red long coated Chihuahua in her arms, grinning widely. “Look who I found.”

Elena twisted around to face her and lit up with surprise. “Ginger! How’d you get her in here?”

“The restaurant owner was nice enough to give us special permission,” Marcus explained. “And your neighbor Jamie was beyond willing to bring her over when I asked her to.”

He was pretty sure Jamie had a crush on him, even though she knew he and Elena were dating. When he’d shown up at her door she’d recognized him right away, because of his occasional speeches that were broadcasted on the news channels and the picture on the shelf in Elena’s living room. She had babbled a bit about how great he and the rest of the Heroics were before agreeing to drop Ginger off at the restaurant at eight o’clock, no questions asked. He got the sense she’d probably guessed what he was planning by the way he was acting (nervous), but luckily didn’t seem to care. When you were famous, whether you be an actor or a singer or a heroic, most fans thankfully tended to be that way.

Missy handed Ginger over to Elena and the dog licked her owner on the neck, exposing her own and revealing the black box that was taped to her green collar.

“What’s this?” Elena frowned, peeling the tape off and cradling the tiny black box in the palm of her hand.

“Open it!” Missy exclaimed, not being able to contain herself.

Marcus wasn’t sure if Elena had her suspicions at that point or not, but she still looked shocked enough when she snapped the lid open and the diamond engagement ring sparkled at her.

She covered her mouth with one hand and stared over at Marcus with wide eyes. He was already sliding down onto one knee in front of her.

“Will you marry me, Elena?” he inquired, his breath a little shaky. He’d done this before, and he was pretty sure he’d get another yes, but that didn’t make him a confident man. Not when it came to moments where he had to put his heart on the line.

Elena’s eyes were glistening a bit when she nodded. “Of course I will Marcus!”

He felt all his tension disappear at the words and he grinned at her, warmth flooding his chest. At the sight of his joy, she placed the open box with the ring still inside on the table and let Ginger down gently on the floor before throwing her hands around his neck gleefully. When she pulled away slightly it was to cup one hand on the back of his head and pull him in for a long, sweet kiss. She didn’t let him go until Missy cleared her throat.

“Sorry,” Elena said, blushing as she glanced up at her.

“Don’t mind me,” Missy told her. “I just have something for you too.”

Marcus grinned again, remembering what Missy had picked out last week at the jewelry store five minutes from their house.

“Oh?” Elena pushed herself back onto her feet and Marcus followed suit.

Missy dug into a sneaky little pocket in her dress (Marcus hadn’t known dresses with pockets existed until she had shown him it) and handed a black box - slightly bigger than the first - to Elena, who was surprised for a second time that night.

“Now what’s this?” she asked, a smile playing on her lips.

“You have to look for yourself to find out,” Missy declared, gesturing for her to do so.

Elena lifted the lid up and plucked a silver bracelet out of it, examining it. “This looks like your bracelet,” she observed.

Missy gave her a curt nod and raised her arm to show off hers. “That’s because it is an identical one. I figured if you were going to marry my dad you should have one too. That way we can all communicate quickly if there is ever an emergency.”

Elena looked touched by Missy’s consideration for her. “You came up with that all by yourself?”

“She did,” Marcus confirmed. He was proud of his daughter for coming up with it first. He’d only bought Missy her bracelet after Reina had died, and he regretted not getting it before. It had been useful more than once, especially during times when carrying a phone around wasn’t convenient.

“Can I hug you Missy?” Elena inquired quietly, eyes brimming with tears.

“Sure,” she answered, flashing her a smile.

Elena leaned down and they embraced, Missy tucking her face into her hair and squeezing her tight. “I’m glad you said yes.”

Elena pulled away to look her at her face. “Yeah?”

“Yeah,” Missy parroted, a glint in her eyes. “You’re too nice to become an evil stepmother.”

Elena snorted. “We’ll see how you feel about me a year from now.”

Missy appeared a bit horrified by the suggestion, mind probably wondering about what Elena could have planned, but she relaxed again as soon as she saw her lips quirk upward. “Ha. Ha. Good one.”

Elena winked at her and dropped down to sweep Ginger back into her arms, kissing her on the top of her head. “They even included you in this conspiracy, huh?”

Marcus laughed. “Missy’s idea.”

“Of course,” Elena said. “She probably agreed to this for Ginger.”

“She is a benefit,” Missy agreed. “So, when are you moving in with us?”

Judging by her face it was clear Elena hadn’t considered that part of the equation yet, but she didn’t look the least bit hesitant or concerned about it. “Anytime, really. Are you two ready for me to move in?”

Marcus and Missy both nodded at once and she beamed at them. “Alright then. I’ll start packing and moving things over this weekend. It’ll take a month to get out of my contract with my landlord, but that doesn’t mean I can’t move in sooner, as long as you’re good with that.” She met Missy’s eyes again.

“It is,” Missy promised her.

Marcus felt his mouth pull upward at that, grateful as ever that Missy was who she was. He wouldn’t have had this second chance without her.

#We Can Be Heroes #Marcus Moreno Fanfic (Mine)#Second Chances Series

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bluestar22x · 11 months

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Second Chance Spirit

Second Chances (Part 9): Second Chance Spirit

Summary: A night of decorating the Christmas tree becomes extra special - Elena POV

Pairing: Marcus Moreno x OFC!Elena

Rating: 18+ series, 13+ rated chapter

Warnings: Pregnancy talk, lots of fluff

Word Count: 1,245

Author’s Note: Christmas in June! It’s not as catchy is it? But I had to include my favorite holiday in this series. I am a Christmas romantic.

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Series Masterlist

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“A little to the right, back a little, never mind, a little more forward again, no, wait -”

Marcus cocked an eyebrow at his daughter. “Are you messing with me?”

Missy laughed and you joined in as well. He huffed at the both of you and used his own eyes to help him adjust the star on top of the tree.

It was a week before Christmas and as custom in the Moreno household the decade old six-foot artificial tree had been dug out of storage, along with the appropriate decorations, and been set out in the living room after you’d all slipped into comfortable night wear. You’d helped Marcus and Missy weave the colored lights in and passed them the gold garland but had sat down to watch them add in the ornaments and top it all off with the golden star topper.

You were nearly five and a half months pregnant and round enough at your middle for people to notice from a distance and for long-term standing to do a number on your swelling prone ankles. You’d insisted on helping decorate, but you’d known your limits.

“It’s good Marcus,” you assured him from your spot on the couch, hand wrapped under the bulk of your belly.

He pulled away from the tree and studied the star for himself and nodded. “Alright. That’s it then. Just have to throw the wreath on the front door later and we’re good.”

“Can we open the gifts now?” Missy asked.

Another tradition in the household. Marcus had told you last year, the first time you’d spent Christmas with them, that Missy had been very impatient about presents as a little girl and he’d caved in every time they decorated the tree and given her one gift to unwrap early. It had been a tradition for nearly a decade since and no one saw the need for it to end.

“Pick out one for me, one for Elena, and one for you,” Marcus told her, plopping down on the couch next to you, an arm slinging around your shoulders.

Missy bobbed her head at him and got to work, carefully eyeing the dozen or so gifts under the tree. Where a younger Missy would’ve picked out the biggest gifts, she chose similarly modest sized boxes out instead.

She handed Marcus his gift, then you yours.

“Go first Elena,” she prompted.

You rolled the gift in your hands, noting that the nametag listed her as the gift giver. “What did you get me?”

She shrugged. “You’ll have to open it and find out.”

You tugged and tore into a corner until the package was unwrapped enough to reveal a mini teal colored photo album in your hands.

“It’s to put all the baby’s photos you said you were going to take,” Missy explained.

You beamed at her appreciatively, surprised she’d remembered the quick comment you’d once made a few months ago. “Thank you, Missy. It’s perfect.” You eyed her package. “Why don’t you open yours next? It’s from me.”

“I know,” she said, sitting cross legged on the floor before ripping into it. She jumped for joy when she saw it was the latest book in a series that she loved. “Thanks, Elena! I guess I know what I’ll be doing this weekend.”

You chuckle. “You’re welcome.”

“That leaves Dad,” she declared, staring up at Marcus. “That one is from me.” He pulled away from you to open his present at a speed that was perfectly in between yours and Missy’s.

His gift had turned out to be in the same wheelhouse as yours, a fancy photo frame with a picture of you three at your wedding, standing in front of an evergreen tree and a glorious sunset. “For your desk,” Missy told him. “You haven’t updated the pictures on there in forever. I was practically a baby in them.”

Marcus grinned at her. “Thanks honey. I’ll make sure to change them out on Monday.”

Missy stood and wrapped her arms around his neck. “Love you Dad.”

He closed his eyes, enjoying the warm embrace, and squeezed her back. “Love you too, Missy.” You watched them silently, smiling, knowing how much these moments meant to them both.

When Missy eventually pulled away, you were also swept up into a hug and you felt honored. You and Missy had become close in the few years you’d known each other, you’d become an unspoken mother and daughter duo, but you never took it for granted.

“I’m going to go choose out the movie for tonight,” Missy announced as she backed away.

“Something Christmas themed,” Marcus requested, calling after her.

“Okay,” she yelled back as she disappeared up the stairs to their old DVD stash.

Marcus placed both your gifts on the coffee table in front of you and the baby took the moment of quiet to become active, rolling inside you like an acrobat. The movements had started out as barely noticeable flutters about a month and a half ago and had steadily become stronger. Not strong enough for Marcus or Missy to feel yet though, although you realized, maybe tonight would be different. You could swear you felt one of the baby’s limbs jab the side of your belly a little. One of your hands flew automatically to the spot and you waited to feel more. Marcus only had time to lean back on the couch when you did.

You reached out for his nearest hand and guided it to your stomach. He glanced over to you, dark eyes curious.

“Just wait,” you ordered him.

He nodded and patiently did as told. A minute or so later there was another quick jab under his palm. His eyes darted from his hand to your face. He beamed at you. “I felt that one.”

You smiled back at the wonder in his eyes. You guessed that this was one of those experiences parents got that never grew old for him. “Strong like their daddy.”

He shook his head and kissed you lightly on the lips. “I may have powers, but I’m not the strongest in this house.”

“No, cause that would be me,” Missy stated as she walked into the room, a DVD in hand. She frowned at them. “What did I miss?”

You waved her over as Marcus pulled away. “Come here.”

She walked over a little cautiously, like she wasn’t sure what to expect and you pointed to the spot on your mound that the baby seemed to have deemed a target. “Put your hand here.”

Missy gave you both a questioning look but did it anyway, and she didn’t have to linger long before the baby tumbled again.

“Woah,” she said, eyes wide. “Does that hurt?”

“No,” you answered simply. “Not right now. Maybe if the baby hits the wrong spot it will, but mostly it just feels funny.”

“Understatement,” Missy decided as she removed her hand and you laughed.

“Maybe. But I think it’s pretty cool.”

Missy nodded. “Totally.” She turned away to power up the TV and DVD player and you felt Marcus enfold you again.

“I love you so much,” he murmured in your ear. “And I can’t wait to meet our baby.”

“Four or less so months to go,” you reminded him, placing your hand over his on your baby bump.

“And they’ll be good ones,” he promised, kissing your jaw.

You agreed wholeheartedly. As long as you were all together, it would be.

#We Can Be Heroes #Marcus Moreno Fanfic (Mine)#Second Chances Series

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bluestar22x · 11 months

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Second Chance Changes

Second Chances (Part 8): Second Chance Changes

Summary: It’s Missy’s first day of high school and it’s also time for Elena’s first sonogram - Elena and Marcus POVs

Pairing: Marcus Moreno x OFC!Elena

Rating: 18+ series, 13+ rated chapter

Warnings: A little bit of angst, fluff, and pregnancy stuff; mentions of vomiting and menstruation

Word Count: 2,005

Author’s Note: I’m so soft for dads lately, it’s not even funny. Anyway, this is a big day for Marcus (and Elena). So many different emotions.

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Series Masterlist

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You’d known your adopted daughter Missy a full year longer than you’d known your husband Marcus. She had regularly visited the library with her class for the middle school’s mandated weekly hour and for research projects. She had always been one of your favorite students to interact with – intelligent, calm, wise beyond her years. She’d had a bad habit of talking out of turn or too loudly in certain situations but had always managed to look bashful about it after. She’d been mature for her age, but still just a kid.

Three years had changed everything, or at least a lot. Missy had retained much of her personality, but she was bolder, prouder, and even more opinionated. She had a much better grasp of what she wanted in life and was more confident as the friend and leader of the other Heroics’ kids. She no longer could be called little either as she passed her fourteenth birthday. She’s grown five inches since you first met her, and she’d filled out in every way into a teenager. It felt like the change had happened in a blink of an eye. It was surreal to you, but it was harder for Marcus.

“You sure you have enough money on you for lunch?” he inquired. “Your schedule? All your notebooks?”

“Yes,” Missy answered with a huff. “I checked my bag last night and this morning. I’m all set. I promise.”

“Okay, then,” Marcus said hesitantly as she slid out the car. “Contact me if you need anything.”

She waved at him as she backed away with her school bag slung over her shoulder. “Bye.”

“Bye Missy,” you shouted back at her. “Have a good day.”

“Love you,” Marcus called out a little too late. Missy was already eagerly running up the front steps and into the city high school.

After she disappeared into the building you heard a hitch in Marcus’ breath and twisted in the passenger seat to face him. The smile he’d worn had fallen and both his hands were gripping the steering wheel a little tighter than they needed to be.

You reached over to squeeze his right arm comfortingly. “You going to be alright?”

“Of course,” he said, voice low and unsteady, “It’s just…she’s already a Freshman. How does that make sense?” You could see tears welling up in his eyes and your heart broke for him.

You knew it wasn’t easy for most parents when they realized their child was growing up and would be an adult before they knew it, and you’d had a feeling it would be particularly tough for Marcus. He and Missy had always been close, especially after her mother died, not having much other family outside Anita. The way Missy had left had to have been a little rough on him too. You remembered a time when she never forgot to say “I love you” back to him.

“Time flies,” you declared softly, unsure of what else to say in the moment. You’d never really had a way with words, and you figured they wouldn’t comfort him anyway. He just needed time to get used to it, before she turned eighteen, went to college, and his whole world turned upside down again.

Hopefully having another child to look after would make it a little easier on him (and you), though you weren’t sure what you both were going to do when they were also out of the house.

Now is not the time, you thought before you got emotional too, they aren’t even born yet.

You glanced down at your watch. Seven-fifty-two. Though it was the first day of school for everyone involved with it, you’d been allowed to take the morning off to see an obstetrician for your first sonogram (it was the only time they could see you within the next month), and the appointment was at eight-thirty. The office wasn’t too far away, about twenty minutes, but the doctor had asked you to get there a bit early to fill out paperwork, so lingering in the school driveway wasn’t an option.

“We have to go Marcus, or we’ll be late,” you reminded him.

He nodded and cleared his throat before switching the gear of the car and driving towards the exit.

“Think you’ll be okay until we get there?” he asked you, eyes momentarily darting to the hand you had pressed gently against your lower abdomen.

You sighed heavily. “I hope so. I’m not nauseous right now. Keeping my window down should help.”

Since you’d found out you were pregnant two weeks ago, you hadn’t really gotten morning sickness, per say. Yes, you sometimes got queasy in the morning and later at night, but you’d never gotten close to throwing up. The ache had always been manageable - unless you rode in a car for longer than fifteen minutes. You’d grown out of your childhood motion sickness, but it had come back with a vengeance since you’d found out you were pregnant.

You could only hope you’d make it to the doctor’s office, for once.

Marcus’ mouth twisted in sympathy and you gave him a reassuring smile. You didn’t want him to feel bad about it, even if it did suck. When you’d decided to try to get pregnant, you had been fully aware that feeling sick often came with the territory, and you’d told yourself you weren’t going to complain too much about it if it happened to you. It was just another sign from your body that you were growing a baby inside you, and that made it worth it.

Elena made it all the way to the hospital without vomiting and Marcus couldn’t help but be relieved by that. He’d known she’d likely get sick while pregnant, but he still hated seeing her that way just as much as he’d hated it when Reina had gone through it. He had remembered a lot from the first time he’d been a partner to someone pregnant, but he had forgotten how helpless it made him feel sometimes. He always wished he could do more for her than hold her hair back as she puked and pass her water after.

After he parked the car he reached over the console and laid a hand over the one she was still holding against her smooth stomach (she often did that, even when she wasn’t queasy) and murmured, “You alright?”

She nodded then flashed him another beautiful, honest smile. “I’m good.”

They headed into the hospital side by side, his hand occasionally ghosting her hip out of habit, and Elena picked up several papers at the front desk to Dr. Woods’ office before they settled into seats in the waiting room.

She filled out the questions herself, but there were a few she had to ask him, mostly things about his family’s medical history.

By the time she got through the stack one of the nurses was calling her in and Marcus followed close behind.

The nurse had Elena step on a scale then led them into one of the exam rooms. After she’d settled on the exam table the nurse took her blood pressure and asked a few more questions before stepping out to go get the doctor.

“Are you nervous?” Elena asked, rubbing her hands on her jean clad thighs anxiously.

“More excited than anything,” he replied. He hoped they’d see the baby that day but it depended on how far along Elena was. “Are you okay?”

“Yeah,” she answered, meeting his eyes. “I just hope the baby is too.”

He felt his heart tug at that. “I’m sure everything’s fine honey.” He knew there was always a chance they weren’t but reassuring her wouldn’t hurt. He gave one of her knees a squeeze and sat down in the chair closest to her.

Moments later there was a knock at the door and a woman in her forties dressed in a white coat strolled into the room.

“Hello, Elena, I’m Dr. Woods,” she informed her. “How are you feeling today?”

“Nervous, excited, a little sick to my stomach,” she admitted.

“Perfectly normal,” Dr. Woods stated with a grin before turning to acknowledge Marcus. “And you must be the father?”

“I am,” he confirmed.

“It’s my first, but not his,” Elena informed her. “We have a fourteen-year-old at home.”

Dr. Woods raised an eyebrow. “How’d they take the news?”

“Well,” Elena responded, “She’s actually quite excited about it.”

“That’s good,” Dr. Woods said brightly as she took a stethoscope out of one of the drawers in the corner of the room. “I’m going to start by listening to your heart and lungs.”

“Okay.”

Elena flinched as the cold metal pressed against her skin but otherwise remained still as she obeyed the doctor’s orders on when to breath in and breath out and how deeply. Her eyes didn’t leave Marcus’ during that time and they shared a smile just because.

Once Dr. Woods was done she laid the stethoscope out on the counter and sat on a stool in front of Elena. “So, you wrote on your chart that back in July you had your period, but it was lighter than usual?”

Elena nodded. “Yeah.” She looked a little confused and so was Marcus.

“How long did it last?”

“Maybe a couple days,” Elena replied.

Dr. Woods hummed. “And was it more like spotting than anything?”

“Actually, yes.” She frowned. “What does that mean?”

“I’ll have to confirm with the ultrasound machine, but based on all the information you gave me, it sounds like you are probably around nine weeks,” Dr. Woods told her. “See sometimes when a fertilized egg implants in the uterine wall it causes a little bit of bleeding. It’s nothing to be concerned about though.”

“So, she’s far enough along for the regular sonogram?” Marcus inquired.

Dr. Woods nodded. “Yes. I’ll get it set up and ask a few more questions then we can take a look; sound good?”

Elena grinned. “It does.”

It was another five minutes before Dr. Woods had Elena lay back, unbutton her jeans, and lift her shirt so she had a good amount of space to move the ultrasound wand over. When she squeezed the gel over Elena’s lower abdomen Marcus stood to take her hand in his. Elena glanced up at him quietly for a moment before turning her focus to the screen and his eyes followed.

It took Dr. Woods a record short time to find the location of Elena’s uterus with the wand, and when she did Marcus instantly recognized the familiar pale shape against the black backdrop immediately. There was no mistaking that little blob with its big head (in relative proportion to their body) as anything other than the baby. Their baby. He could hear Elena’s little gasp as he stared at the screen marveling over the sight, tears threatening to fall for the second time that morning. He squeezed Elena’s hand and brought it up to his lips before meeting her eyes.

Unlike his, her tears were free flowing, and the sight of her overwhelming joy made his heart skip. “That’s inside me,” she told him.

He chuckled and leaned over to kiss her forehead. “Sure is.”

“And he or she looks quite healthy,” Dr. Woods declared. “They’re the right size for a nine week old fetus. You know what that means?”

Elena shook her head.

“That means we should be able to hear the heartbeat if we’re quiet,” she explained.

Elena beamed. “Really?”

Dr. Woods confirmed it by nodding. “I just need to turn up the volume.”

And with that a rhythmic whooshing sound filled the room, a tiny heart pumping fast. Marcus swallowed hard as a wave of protectiveness flooded through him.

“Oh wow,” Elena said breathlessly. “How fast is that?”

“One hundred and forty beats per minute,” Dr. Woods answered. “Perfectly normal. Congratulations.”

His wife turned to look up at him. “You hear that?”

He slipped an arm around her shoulders and smiled broadly. “Loud and clear, honey.”

#We Can Be Heroes #Marcus Moreno Fanfic (Mine)#Second Chances Series

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bluestar22x · 11 months

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Second Chance Family

Second Chances (Part 6): Second Chance Family

Summary: It’s movie night at the Moreno house - Elena POV

Pairing: Marcus Moreno x OFC!Elena

Rating: 18+ series, 13+ rated chapter

Warnings: Cuteness overload and contemplation over the future

Word Count: 1,317

Author’s Note: I just really love Marcus and Missy and this family unit I’ve created in my head.

xxx

Series Masterlist

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Friday nights had been movie night long before you met Marcus Moreno. You’d started the tradition in college, not sure what else to do while you waited for your washer and dryer to clean the clothes you’d used during the week. You’d been lucky to get an apartment that came with appliances and grateful you didn’t need to waste hours in a laundromat. Back then you’d had one close friend and sometimes she would visit you to share your cheap microwave popcorn and humorously commentate on any movies you’d both seen before. It was the only real time you’d had together that wasn’t spent at school or at the dance club she insisted on going to every Saturday night (even though that wasn’t your thing – she thought it was the only good way to meet guys).

After college, after your friend moved away to the coast for a job, it was just you for a while, then it was just you and Ginger, and through all those years and changes Friday movie night persisted.

So it wasn’t a big adjustment when you started getting serious with Marcus and began joining in on their Friday movie night tradition. There wasn’t much of a difference except you were leaving your apartment to join them at their house and laundry was left for the next morning.

And after you accepted Marcus’ proposal and moved into his house? There was basically no difference at all besides his and Missy’s (and Ginger’s) consistent company. You still ate cheap popcorn and waited for machines to ding and listened to commentary every once in a while from the intelligent, young teenager that you shared a couch and a life with.

The day of your wedding had been the one exception, since you’d been forced to schedule it on a Friday or not get the venue you wanted (a tent in the city park put up for that exact purpose).

And then the next week you were right back at it. This time with a new last name and a promise that you were officially a member of a family you’d chosen. Not that you didn’t love your parents and the dozen or so other blood related family you had, but there was something extra special about having chosen to be a part of one and them having chosen you.

The four of you had plopped down on the couch all together, Missy in the middle, Ginger on your lap and Marcus had gotten the old DVD player running as you and Missy immediately started chowing down on the popcorn (sometimes Marcus had to pop another bag in order to get more than a handful). The movies picked that night were Moana and Ghostbusters Afterlife. You’d seen Moana with them on at least six different occasions since you’d met Marcus, but it was one of Missy’s favorite movies so you and Marcus always indulged her.

She’d been engaged in it from the start, commentary occasionally flowing from her lips (I love this part! This is my favorite song; the drums are cool. I love that rooster so much. For a chicken he’s got a lot of lives.). You don’t mind cause it’s Missy and you love hearing her talk and be a happy careless kid. You knew she couldn’t always be that way.

The Ghostbusters film however, was a bust with her, but she insisted you watch it anyway, knowing both you and Marcus wanted to see it. By then the popcorn bowl shared between the three of you was long empty and tossed aside so she sprawled out on the couch, her head on Marcus’ lap and her feet curled against your hip. The movie had only been running for about a half hour before she slipped into a peaceful sleep. The hand Marcus had curled over her waist didn’t even twitch once during the rest of the movie. You noticed he was careful about any movement he made after, afraid to wake her up and ruin the moment.

After the movie ended Marcus gently scooped Missy up into his arms and carried her up the stairs to her bedroom without a word to you. You were compelled to follow, for no other reason than to just observe.

When he reached her bedroom he carefully deposited her onto the bed, throwing her favorite blanket over her to keep her warm through the night and giving her a feathery light kiss on the forehead.

All you could think about as you watched was how good of a father Marcus was, and you couldn’t help but let that thought roll into one about having a baby with him.

As far as you’re concerned, Missy is also your child, in every way but blood, and that part wasn’t important to you, you’d be satisfied with her if that’s all fate had in store for you, but you couldn’t help but want another during moments like this. To know what it was like to carry a child and raise them with Marcus from the beginning. To make him a father again and give Missy a little sibling to bond with. You had a feeling she’d be a good big sister.

You’d once discussed it with Marcus, briefly, and he’d told you that he wouldn’t mind having another if that’s what you would want, but you had been the unsure one at the time. Insecure, mostly. You hadn’t interacted with babies much in your lifetime, and you’d secretly been afraid you’d fail as a mother.

But with Marcus at your side, how could you? Seeing the way he interacted with his (your) daughter, your insecurities melted away. You could do it, and if you faltered, you’d have him right there at your side to help. It wasn’t like all the responsibility would fall into your hands – and that made it a lot less intimidating.

When Marcus was done tucking Missy in he joined you in the doorway and kissed your temple sweetly as he rubbed your upper back with one of his hands. “Ready for bed?” he asked at a whisper.

You nodded and closely trailed him into your bedroom, all the way to the door of the bathroom. He had begun applying paste to his toothbrush when he noticed you lingering in the doorway.

He frowned. “Is something wrong?”

You shook your head and smiled at the concern written on his face. “Nothing’s wrong. I just was thinking.”

“About what?” he inquired, standing taller, eyes on you.

“Do you remember when we talked about maybe having another child back in September?” (Had it already been eight months since then? Time really flew.)

“Yeah.” You could tell Marcus wasn’t sure how you were leaning but understood that you’d come to a decision if you were bringing it up then. He was waiting patiently with a trained face, not willing to give away any emotion.

You would’ve been worried that maybe he wouldn’t want to start over with another kid at his age, with Missy being a teenager, but you knew him well enough at that point that it wasn’t a concern. You were certain of what kind of reaction you’d get.

It made telling him easy.

“I’ve made up my mind,” you informed him slowly, wanting to tease it out, build up anticipation. You liked doing that sometimes.

“And?” he prompted anxiously.

“I’d like to have a baby with you Marcus,” you declared, grinning at him.

As expected, he lit right up and abandoned his toothbrush to embrace you. “Are you sure?” He pulled away to study the expression on your face and you nodded at him.

“I’m sure.”

He beamed at you and bent to kiss you on the lips. “I’m glad honey. I’d love to share that experience with you.”

You flashed him an amused smile, one triggered by the word that popped into your head.

“Ditto.”

#We Can Be Heroes #Marcus Moreno Fanfic (Mine)#Second Chances Series

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