#Pouf sobbing on the floor

[ravenfeet222]

Thinking about Pitou stealing Pouf’s clothes to wear as pajamas and now Pouf is sitting there with all of his dark shirts covered in white cat hair, he’s gone through like 5 lint rollers and it’s not getting all of it off

[wolfsbanemanor]

So, how did they become vampires anyway? (Part 2)

Obligatory Link to Part 1

When Lilith brought him home from the hospital, Caleb wanted to take a long shower. It was all he'd wanted to do since the bartender found him passed out on the bathroom tile. (Before that, the thing he'd wanted most was to get away from his attacker. He had tried fighting her off, tried to run away, and he couldn't. He just couldn't.) He could still feel her hands all over him, and he felt so dirty. That invasive forensic exam hadn't helped, either. He had to remove every article of clothing he'd been wearing, even down to his earring. He had been photographed, swabbed, poked, and prodded everywhere imaginable for several hours, which was the last thing he had wanted. The nurse who performed the exam was as nice and gentle about it as possible, but there was no way it was going to be pleasant. It was almost worse than what had caused him to need this examination in the first place. He wasn't even sure if he wanted to go to the police. Would they believe him? He doubted it. Glowing green eyes, fangs, unnatural coldness, odd-tasting blood? Who could believe that? They'd probably think he was some Strangerville lunatic or something. Or they'd think he was a weakling. As far as Caleb knew, this sort of thing didn't happen too often in Simlandia (though precisely how often, he wasn't sure), but when it did, it usually involved a man forcing himself on a woman, not the other way around. And as far as Caleb knew, it didn't involve the man hypnotizing his victim with glowing green eyes, or forcing her to drink his blood, or cold...fluids that should have been warm. He had Lilith stand outside the door. Even though it was their home, he didn't feel safe alone. It felt like that woman was everywhere! And who knows, maybe she was? She had, after all, managed to get past a door that ordinarily only male Sims could get through, a door that Caleb was sure he'd locked behind himself when he'd gone in. (How that was possible, he wasn't sure.) Lilith obliged. When she heard the shower turn on, she sank to the floor, sobbing quietly. This was all my fault! she thought. If I hadn't been so selfish, if I had stayed with him, this wouldn't have happened! She thought back to when they were little kids. Caleb got picked on a lot. Mainly, he wasn't very good at sports, and he got really good grades. She would always step in and stand up for him. She got in trouble for fighting a lot at school. She had always protected him, but she couldn't protect him this time. (Of course, this always cemented in the other boys' minds that Caleb was a wuss, but Lilith was willing to teach them a lesson as many times as needed.) She had always been there for him, and the one time she wasn't, he'd been... In the shower, Caleb suddenly felt dizzy and unwell again. He sat down on the floor, letting the warm water rain down on him (something he almost never did, even as a teenager, when he would write sad poems, despite living a relatively happy and normal life) and leaned against the tiled wall, shower pouf in hand, waiting for that feeling to pass. When it finally did, getting up felt like a monumental task. And when he finally got out and into a fluffy bathrobe, the room started spinning again, and he sat on the lidded toilet with his head between his knees, waiting for it to stop. The last thing he needed was to take another header into bathroom tile. On the other side of the door, Lilith picked herself up, and dried her tears. She had to be strong for her brother. She couldn't let him see her like that. She made it look like she was concentrating really hard on a book, to hide the tear streaks, the smudged makeup, and the puffiness. When he walked out and into his bedroom, she went in and splashed some cold water on her face. She then got some bandages, and re-bandaged the wounds on his head and neck. When she shut the door, the emotion of the last 12 hours or so overwhelmed him, and he cried into his pillow until he was too exhausted and fell asleep.

[war-sword]

red caps

anonymous said: Ahhhh what should I request! Ehh... could you write something about a girl, who isn’t vulnerable or unable to handle herself, but who gets into some sort of danger which Draco then protects her/saves her. Possibly at the end she gets upset and he comforts her?

pairing: draco x female reader (unspecified house) words: 2.6k a/n: this is set in fourth year, during the time of the triwizard tournament, but it’s honestly only important to some aspects because i don’t mention the other schools. mostly just context. hope it’s not too short for you all! taglist: @accio-rogers @diademofdraco @mayorofzillyhoo @clockworkherondale(please comment on this post or send a message to be added to my overall taglist!) read the rest of my masterlist here

◈

“… And one last warning students, please be careful as you venture to outdoor classes such as Herbology and Care of Magical Creatures this year. Teachers will be waiting to escort students to these classes in an effort to lessen incidents, but I must ask that no one venture to unpaved areas when getting some fresh air. Our groundskeeper is working to fix the problem, but until that time, please exercise extreme caution. That is all!” Dumbledore clapped his hands together, dismissing everyone from the first feast of the school year.

You stepped up from the table with the rest of your housemates and made your way to the dormitories, gossiping about the unnamed threat Dumbledore had mentioned.

“This happens every year! We get here, first day, and get told ‘Don’t go on the third floor west corridor— you’ll be slaughtered!’ ‘Watch your step on the moving staircases, students, portable volcanoes sprouted up over the summer and we’ve yet to remove them. Sorry!’ Honestly, dad never told me it was this bad in his day,” your housemate, Evan, laments.

“We don’t even know what’s outside!” Your best friend Vivian adds. “If we knew, maybe we could be more prepared.”

“True,” you say. “I hope they take care of whatever it is soon. I don’t want to spend all my free periods in the stone courtyard.”

“What’d ya think it is?” Evan asks, poking you with his elbow. “Erklings? Chupacabras?”

“Oh shut up, Evan,” You say, poking him back. “Chupacabras don’t even live in Europe. They’re native to Puerto Rico–“ you trail off as your throat catches, due to your first sight of pale blonde hair.

Evan follows the line of your stare over to Draco and laughs. Vivian just groans. “Please Y/N, I thought you were over this!”

“Sorry!” You huff, crossing your arms as your face heats up. “Not my fault he gets more attractive each summer.”

“Well, don’t get your hopes up, I think Malfoy’s nose is too high in the air for him to see you,” Evan jokes. “Didn’t you hex him last year outside Charms? Whatever happened to that?”

“Yes,” you grumble. “Believe me, I’m well aware how annoying he is. I just wish he wasn’t so hot.”

Vivian feigns throwing up. “Please, quit while you’re ahead, Y/N.”

◈◈◈

As it turns out, Erklings end up in your Defense classroom as opposed to the sprawling lawns outside. Professor Moody has a taste for the hands-on that Professor Lupin did, but with a slightly more dangerous twist. Not that you mind, of course. When Professor Moody drops the cage onto the floor of the DADA classroom and asks for a volunteer, your hand is the first one up.

“As usual, Ms. Y/L/N is the only one of you who wants to participate!” His good eye focuses on you in almost a sympathetic way. “Let’s have someone else. Longbottom!”

Poor Neville. He was never ready, Professor Moody should know that by now. You wait patiently as he calls on several other students. Hermione is the most successful with the Erkling so far, using the Melofors jinx to encase it’s head in a pumpkin.

“Well done, Ms. Granger,” Moody says, using the Impirus curse to make the Erkling walk back into its cage. You shiver a bit— you’ve still not gotten used to seeing the former auor use unforgivable curses in classroom settings. “However, if this Erkling were larger, more powerful, it would still be able to sing loud enough to affect you even with its head covered.” His beady eyes scanned the group of you again, fixing on you at last. “Y/L/N, I assume you know the spell I’m looking for?”

You jump to your feet eagerly and head to the center of the classroom. Professor Moody opens the cage again, and out comes the Erkling, singing it’s eerie and hypnotizing song. The Erkling you’re working with is small and you’re old enough that the creature’s voice doesn’t affect you as much as it would a young child, but you feel your thoughts become a bit muffled anyway. You fight the feeling of passing out and put all your energy into casting.

“Pullus!” You whip your wand in an ark and the Erkling transfigures in a pouf of feathers. The cloudiness in your head fades, and you find yourself standing before an ordinary chicken instead of a child-eating elf. You smile as Professor Moody leads the class in hearty applause.

“Well done! You see, Erklings are very susceptible to the Pullus transfiguration. Even if an adult Erkling has a teenager such as yourselves under it’s spell, even a weaker version of the charm will be enough to allow you to gain the upper hand,” Moody explains.

You head back to your seat and ignore Hermione’s calculating stare. Instead you notice Draco watching you with interest. You glow anew, and take your seat next to Vivian. Everyone then takes turns transfiguring the Erkling with the Pullus charm. As Draco walks back to his seat after successfully transfiguring the creature, he catches your eye again. You turn to Evan behind you and tell him maybe Malfoy’s nose isn’t too high to notice you yet.

◈◈◈

In early December, cold rain is pelting the castle walls. The school is abuzz with talk of the Yule Ball, but you were more interested in the baby Kappas that Hagrid had mentioned you would be studying today. The rain was the perfect day for them to be observed swimming in puddles.

You’d almost made it to the alcove where your Creatures class met when you realized you’d left your outdoor rain cloak in your last class. “Bollocks,” you mumble. “Vivi, cover for me? I’ll be back as quick as I can.”

“But you can’t go down the path to the forest alone, Y/N!” Vivian argued. “It’s pouring, you’ll hardly be able to see as it is!”

“I’ll be fine, nothing bad has happened to anyone all term anyway. I’ll be okay walking to one class unsupervised, ” you insist, and sprint back up the stairs two at a time to the Charms classroom.

When you return to the alcove, your class is already gone. You secure your bag and slip your rain cloak on, fastening it tight, then venture out into the torrential rain.

You hate to admit it, but maybe Vivian was a little right. It’s hard to see ahead through the wall of grey the rain creates.  Water keeps getting in your eyes despite your hood. You pull your wand from inside your robes and prepare to cast the umbrella charm when something slams into your thigh, knocking you to the ground.

You scramble on the wet grass, trying to right yourself. The next blow lands on your upper back, and you cry out in pain. Your hood falls off and rain flows freely into your eyes, but you squint against it and let out a small growl of determination. Before the next hit can come, you roll to the side and raise your wand, only to feel instantly frozen in fear.

A very wet, and absolutely murderous Red Cap glares down at you, bone club raised and at the ready. You stare helplessly back at it, rain running straight into your wide eyes without you even noticing. You can only look at it’s dark and dirty hat, and think about how your blood is going to saturate it next.

“Titillando!”

The Red Cap collapses into a fit of laughter and falls to the ground, clutching its sides as it’s hit by the tickling hex. You hear another spell cast, and the Red Cap goes flying away from you in the opposite direction. As soon as it’s out of sight, you flop back onto the wet ground, still in shock. Someone comes running from the direction of the castle, and you didn’t think you could feel more surprised than when you see Draco Malfoy’s face hovering over your own.

“Y/N? Are you alright?” The hood of his own rain cloak has fallen back, presumably when he was running. His fine hair is getting soaked and sticking to his forehead, and his hand is on your upper arm, trying to get your attention. “Y/N? Are you listening? Can you stand?"

Instead of answering, you burst into sobs.

“Oh no,” Draco says. He puts his own wand back into his robes and grabs your shoulders to pull you into an upright position. “Y/N, come on, let’s get you back to the castle.”

“B-but the Kappas…” You sniff.

Through your tears and the rain, you barely make out his tiny smile. “The Kappas can wait. I think you’d better skip this class.” Draco finally is able to get you standing, and you lean against him as you continue to sob all the way back inside.

“It’s a good thing I was running late, too. You were the last person I’d expect would need help, though.” Draco says as he sits you on the first bench you come across.  “Do you need the hospital wing?”

You shake your head, finally calming down. “No, it only got me twice. Just a bad bruise, I’m guessing.” You pull off your rain cloak and take in your soaked clothes. You take out your wand, intending to charm all the water off, but your hand is shaking too badly. Your hand drops into your lap helplessly, and you sigh.

“Let me,” Draco says gently. He waves his own wand and you feel the water pull off both of your robes, and it collects into a ball that hovers in front of the two of you. Draco flicks his wand and it flows under the crack of the door and back outside.

“Thank you,” you say, suddenly becoming aware of your embarrassing situation.

“Anytime,” Draco replies. “What happened? You’re never one to freeze up in the face of danger.”

You play with the edge of your uniform skirt nervously. “Red Caps are my one fear. They killed my only sister when she was just a baby, while my family was on a camping trip.” You rub your nose. “I was too young to know any magic, and by the time my parents came it was too late to save her.”

“I’m so sorry,” Draco says after a beat. “That must have been very traumatic."

You give a small shrug. “I don’t remember much about her. I always tell myself I can take down any Red Cap I come across, because I can, but the times it’s happened since that day I always get scared and can’t move. It’s just frustrating.”

Draco scoots a little closer to you on the bench as a few more tears roll down your cheeks. “For someone as talented as you in Defense Against the Dark Arts, I’m sure you just need some practice.” He places a warm hand on your bare knee, causing your own palms to start sweating.

“I don’t think it’s a good idea for me to go wandering around our Red Cap-infested school grounds after what just happened,” you manage, despite your sudden breathlessness.

“As if I’d let you go alone,” Draco says with a hint of smugness.

Your jaw goes slack. “You’d go with me?”

“Sure,” Draco shrugs. “The two of us should be able to manage with no problem.”

“Um, you are aware even small Red Caps can kill you, right?” You scoff.

“So? I’ve already gotten rid of one with no problem.”

You bite your lip to keep from laughing. Draco had turned your mood around. “Alright. We can go out and hunt the Red Caps if you really think it will help.”

Draco beams a perfect pearly smile. “Wonderful.”

◈◈◈

Two days later, you sprint down the staircase to meet Draco for… whatever you’re doing. This is not how you had imagined finally getting to spend time with Draco, but you’d take what you were handed. Besides, this was a two birds with one stone sort of deal: conquering your worst fear, and hanging out with your crush. Normal stuff.

Today the sun is shining during your shared free afternoon block, and you feel a blush heat your cheeks when Draco takes your hand and leads your outside. After you make sure no teachers have seen you slip out, the two of you head to an open spot of grass.

“I don’t see any,” you observe, scanning the hills. “I can’t see any of their holes, either.”

“Do you reckon they live in the maze?” Draco suggests. “Maybe they’re part of that particular challenge.”

“But then wouldn’t they be magically contained inside the shrub?” You counter. “If the entire grounds are infested so bad we can’t go to classes, they can’t be part of the Tournament. Unless it’s something we don’t know about.” You add.

As you both look out across the empty landscape, the small knot of nervousness that was in your stomach starts to subside. Perhaps there were fewer Red Caps than you had been led to believe, and your attack on the way to Magical Creatures class had just been an unfortunate accident.

Draco suddenly grabs your arm. “There! Look! One is coming now!”

From far down the hill, a tiny red dot emerges from a tuft of grass. It’s lumbering up the slope towards the two of you, and almost instantly the ball of nerves returns. You feel like you’re going to throw up. No, you’re not going to do that in front of Draco. He’s right there, he’ll help you if anything goes wrong.

“I’m ready,” you say, trying to muster up some confidence by readjusting your grip on your wand and taking a deep breath.

The Red Cap disappears behind the curve of the hill. When it comes back into your line of sight, it’s much closer. And there’s about eight more with it, all looking deadly with their bone clubs and dirty clothes.

“Um, Y/N? Maybe we should go…” Draco whispers, his grip on your arm suddenly tighter. “Nine is a lot for just the two of us.”

But while Draco was faltering, you only felt more determined. “Nope, I’m doing it.” You pull free from his grasp and take an offensive stance at the oncoming wave of Red Caps.

“Merlin,” Draco mutters, but he pulls out his own wand and stands beside you.

The first Red Cap starts running, and you hit it with a stun jinx. Draco follows by casting Expelliarmus, and the creature and its club go flying in opposite directions. Once the first Red Cap is down, the others start to charge. You and Draco take down a few more, but there’s still five left and they’re closing in fast.

“Run for it!” Draco drags you away, and together you sprint back towards the castle. You keep looking behind you, throwing jinxes at the remaining Red Caps running after the two of you. One throws it’s club, which narrowly misses Draco’s head.

You stumble up the steps towards the entrance back to the castle, but your toe catches on a wonky stone and sends you flying down the corridor, taking Draco with you. You both land in a heap. As you scramble across the floor to get further away from the grass, you spare a glance over your shoulder. The remaining Red Caps have stopped where the lawn ends, and just stare angrily back.

“Draco, look, they’ve stopped,” you pant.

Draco follows your line of sight, and you watch the Red Caps disperse before collapsing onto the floor on your backs.

“I did it.” You smile to yourself as you stare at the stone arch above you.

Draco turns his head to look at you and you do the same. He gives you that same breathtaking smile from two days ago. “You did! Wasn’t so bad, was it?”

You can’t help but giggle, and Draco joins you. “Honestly, it really could have gone much worse!” You admit.

“Do you feel better?” Draco asks.

You think on it for a moment, lost in his pale blue eyes. “Yeah, I think I do.”

[pasteldnp]

Sea of Love

By: pasteldnp 

Rating: T (for some cursing)

Length: 6.3k

Summary: After years of preparation, planning, heartbreak, and waiting, Dan and Phil finally get the call that there is a baby for them to adopt.

Note: This fic was written for the @phandomficfests kidfic fest. Thank you so much to my amazing beta @whiskersandquiff for working (and crying) with me over this fic.

The title of this work is inspired by this song; I recommend listening to it during or after you read because it goes with the tone and is a beautiful song.

AO3 or read below

It was another sleepless night and Phil found himself in the nursery. Lately, he wandered into the incomplete room instead of going to the lounge. On more than one occasion, Dan’s found him asleep in the gliding armchair, feet propped up on the pouf, head lolled to the side. It was a shame for such a nice chair to go to waste, but they couldn’t find it in themselves to move it downstairs. It belonged in the baby’s room, even if there was no baby.

Maybe they had gotten ahead of themselves when they decorated the room all that time ago. But they were just so happy; there was no way of knowing how much pain would soon come. After much deliberation, Dan and Phil had agreed to go with an ocean theme for the nursery. They chose pale, sea blue walls with sandy tan carpeting for the floor that Martyn helped install. Cornelia found stencils and painted brightly colored coral, fish, whales, and sea creatures of all kinds on the walls.

Only the best, most stylish furniture was bought, which they struggled to assemble together. The wardrobe was stocked with onesies, booties, bibs, and burp cloths of all colors and designs. Dan steadfastly refused to stick to any gender or style of clothing. A sturdy changing table was prepared with diapers and wipes, a mobile with smiling ocean critters dangled above the crib. Undoubtedly, it was the nicest room in their quiet little house on the outskirts of London.

If only there was a baby to make their home a little less quiet.

They never blamed the first mother, Leann, for deciding not to go through with the adoption. Her precious baby boy was adorable, and after nine months of bonding with the unborn child she just couldn’t give him up. But it hurt. It hurt so much.

Phil still vividly remembered that day. There would be no baby for now, the agent said. But they could try again with another mother, or a closed adoption, maybe an older child; they could try the international wait lists, apply to be a foster family, or perhaps try another agency. There was still hope, still opportunities, the agent said.

Was it so wrong of them to still want the newborn they were promised?

The silence of the house when they returned from the adoption office was too much. Dan made a bee-line for their bedroom, and Phil followed, but they were both brought to a halt in front of the nursery. It was the first room to the left on the second floor, right next to the master. They couldn’t ignore it with the lights on and door open, all prepared and inviting for a tiny new occupant that would never arrive.

Dan slammed the door shut so hard that a photo fell in the hallway. “It’s not fucking fair!”

*

It was several months before they tried again. And the door to the nursery stayed shut the entire time.

They didn’t know this mother as well as Leann, they didn’t even know her first name. The agent said she was young, a teenager in fact, and she wanted a private, closed adoption. This was supposed to work in their favor; statistically, she would be less likely to fall through. So once again, they got their hopes up.

Cautiously one day they opened the door to the nursery. Dan stood behind Phil, one hand clinging to his waist. To see the room, as happy and beautiful as they left it, as if it was trapped back in time, was a punch to the gut. There was even a fresh onesie still laid out on the changing table. The hand on Phil’s waist squeezed tighter as Dan choked back a sob. But they had to do this. They cracked the windows and aired out the space, the breeze bringing with it new life to Dan and Phil.

“We’ll have a baby this time,” Phil whispered. And they allowed themselves to truly believe it.

When the second mother went back on the adoption, they were less forgiving. She was still a kid, with a whole life ahead of her, and Dan and Phil were adults with settled lives. They wanted that baby. They deserved that baby. It seemed like the whole world was working against them to keep them from becoming the parents they desperately wanted to be.

They couldn’t bear to go through another failed adoption. The nursery was shut away again. Dan went through a particularly rough spell with his depression, and Phil felt a crushing meaninglessness surround him. They didn’t try again with a different mom, they didn’t go to a new agency, they didn’t look internationally. There wasn’t a point if their child could just be taken away from them.

*

Dan was the one to open that cursed door again. It had been over three years since they first applied with an agency, almost one year since the second failed adoption. Phil wasn’t sure why Dan went into the room in the first place, and maybe there was no real reason, but he found his husband sitting in the center of the floor.

“Love, what are you doing?” Phil asked, peering in from the entryway.

“Sitting here.”

“I see that,” he walked in and sat down next to Dan, “I thought we didn’t come in here.”

“Yeah, but that seems dumb. It’s a whole room of our house.”

“A room we don’t have a use for.”

Dan turned and looked at him straight on, a challenging look in his eyes. “Do you still want kids?”

It was the ultimate question they never dared to ask each other. Was he willing to go through everything again? Was he willing to go through the files, paperwork, lawyers, social workers, and mothers and babies; to lay his hope, heart, and home bare, when there was still a chance it would all be crushed?

Phil collapsed into Dan’s side, burying his head in Dan’s shoulder. “Yes, I do, so much.”

“Do you want to try adopting again?” Dan asked, his voice barely a whisper. He could hear how the fear was gripping at Dan’s lungs, stealing his breath.

“I just… I don’t know if I can make it through that. I can’t go through another lost adoption, it would truly kill me,” Phil sighed. Why did it have to be so hard for them?

Dan lightly shrugged Phil off his shoulder so they could see each other, and he brushed his fingers along Phil’s cheek and up through his quiff. “How about this; we keep the nursery door open from now on and we think about it. If it’s too much we’ll give away all this stuff and redo the room, or we’ll make an appointment with the social worker and see what our options are.”

“I like that idea.”

*

Eventually, they decided to try for one final time. Dan and Phil met with Kate, their new agent, and a social worker visited them, and they were approved once more for adoption. The plans were in motion now, but they held back from rushing to choose a new mother. In the meantime, their name was put on a list to be called if a newborn was found for them, but they were told that was unlikely. So that was how Phil found himself sitting in the nursery tonight, flipping through a thick file of mothers expecting a child they didn’t intend to keep.

Sometimes it was too much – all the sad memories suffocating him in a room meant for joy. But times like tonight, it filled him with peace. If they never got their baby, they would be okay. Life went on. But as they neared that dream again there was still hope for them. Still a final chance for it all to come true. Yet they were hesitant to believe in it.

The gentle rock of the glider was swaying Phil to sleep when he heard his phone vibrate on the side table. The call was from a number he didn’t recognize immediately, and it was the early hours of the morning. Fear rose up in his stomach as worst-case scenarios flashed through his head. Calls at this hour never meant anything good.

“Hello?”

“Hi, Phil, this is Kate from the London Private Adoption Centre,” a perky, female voice responded.

“Oh, Kate, hello,” he said, a bit confused.

“I’m so sorry for calling this early, I hope I didn’t wake you. But it’s a time-sensitive matter.”

“Um, it’s fine, what is it?”

“Well, I know you and Dan were taking your time to look over the applications, but you did place your name in our active waiting registry, and you’ve been matched with an infant for adoption.”

Phil swore he could feel his heart stop beating in that very moment.

“A healthy baby girl was unexpectedly placed up for adoption with our agency last night. She was born yesterday, doesn’t have a name yet, and the birth mother has expressed her desire that the child is placed with loving parents who haven’t gotten a baby yet. I’m with them now and I think she would be the perfect fit for you and Dan. If you’re interested-”

“Yes, yes, of course, we’re interested.” Phil didn’t let her finish the sentence; he didn’t even let himself think about what he was saying. Dan was still in the other room asleep; this was something they needed to agree to together. But instinct told him that he had to say yes, that this was right.

Kate laughed. “You can come to hospital in the morning, meet her, and speak with a social worker and myself. The child will be placed with a temporary family until you’re ready. And if you decide it’s not right, we can continue with the other plans just as well.”

“Can we take her home today?” The question didn’t sound real coming from his lips.

“You’ve already had a home visit and been approved, so yes, but it’s entirely okay if you need more time to make arrangements. Or you can wait to come to hospital until later in the afternoon if you only need a few hours, there are no visiting restrictions for-”

“Does now work?” He interrupted again, filled with a sudden sense of urgency. There was a baby that could be theirs waiting for them.

“Yes, you can take her home now, I think she would like that just fine,” Kate agreed happily. She finished giving him the information for the hospital, which Phil put in the notes on his phone, and then they hung up.

He sat in the armchair, frozen. The nursery was still dark, but the first rays of sunrise peeked in through the curtains, casting a shadow on the wall across from him. Phil stared at his shadow and tried to breathe, clutching his phone tightly. Only a few minutes ago he was enjoying the comfort of a possibility that was now rapidly becoming a reality: they were getting a baby.

“Oh my god,” Phil whispered before springing up into action. “DAN!” He rushed into their bedroom.

“Bloody hell Phil, is the house on fire?” Dan said groggily, turning over in bed. “It’s four in the morning.”

Phil kneeled by Dan’s side and clutched his arm to get his attention. “The adoption people just called.”

“What?” Dan’s scraggly morning voice caught in his throat and he looked over his shoulder at Phil with surprise.

“They found us a baby, Dan, a baby girl. Kate said she was perfect for us, she just got put up for adoption and she needs a family. They called us because we were on that list thing and we were a match. I said we would go see her and take her home, like, now.” His words were rushed, and Dan looked more confused than anything.

“A newborn?” Dan asked.

“Yes.”

“For us?”

“Yes.”

“Now?”

“Yes.”

“Holy shit.” Dan kicked the covers off and sat up on the edge of the bed. His eyes were wide and afraid. “Are we even ready for that? Can we just take home a baby out of nowhere?”

“This is all we’ve ever wanted. We have a whole nursery and everything we need all waiting there, and we did want to go on the list. This feels right, doesn’t it?” Phil desperately wanted him to agree, for it to be definite that they would adopt this baby.

“No one can take her from us?”

The same fear nagged at Phil too, born out of the devastation of two failed adoptions. But he shook his head. She was all theirs.

“We’re going to have a baby.” A wide, unbelievably happy smile slowly spread across Dan’s face. It had been a long time since Phil had seen him smile like that, and he leaned in and kissed Dan, off-center and full of so much delight that they broke apart grinning like idiots.

“We need to get ready, I said we would be there soon,” Phil said and pulled Dan to stand up.

“Christ, Phil, why did you say that?! We don’t have everything together; the car seat isn’t even installed!”

“It’ll be fine. I’ll get a bag together in the nursery, you get our things and the carrier.” They left their bedroom to prepare, and Phil hurried into the adjacent room, but Dan ran past him and down the stairs. “Dan, where are you going?” He called out over the railing.

Dan stopped at the foot of the stairs, and looked around frantically, before turning and calling back, “I don’t know!”

“You’re still shirtless, get dressed!”

Frazzled, they rushed around getting ready. Phil found a diaper bag in the wardrobe and stuffed it with everything he could think their baby might need—nappies, a binkie, a soft onesie to change into, and a blanket. Kate said they would have formula and some other extras to send home with them as well. Dan shoved their electronic accessories in the bag, complaining about hospital wait times, and then threw jeans at Phil for him to change into. Dan took the bag and found the carrier sitting in a corner, shouting that he would take it all out to the car while Phil finished getting ready.

When Phil made it outside, carrying the keys Dan forgot, he saw his husband hanging out of the back seat, one leg kicked in the air behind him.

“Babe, come on, we need to go,” Phil said.

“I can’t get the damn car seat in place,” Dan grunted, as he jostled the plastic base around.

“Someone there can help us, I’m sure.”

Dan abandoned the task and turned to face Phil with a puff of breath; car seats were not easy. They stood there for a moment, and Dan shifted under the intense, dreamy gaze Phil was giving him.

“What?”

“Let’s go meet our baby,” Phil whispered excitedly and leaned in to kiss Dan’s cheek. He slipped the keys into Dan’s palm as he did, and then pulled away and walked to the other side of the car.

The first half of the drive was silent except for the occasional map directions speaking from Dan’s phone. Phil’s eyes were fixed on the road, but his brain was entirely somewhere else. That wasn’t unusual for him, but now he wasn’t sure if he was even on the same plane of existence as he was a mere hour ago. He ran through several mental checklists, trying to remember if they forgot anything, what they needed to get, and who they needed to call the moment they had a chance.

He forgot to pack a hat. Babies needed hats, right? They always seemed to come wearing one. It was only September, but what if her head was cold? There was also a long list of things to buy, and it lengthened by the minute. More clothes, more bottles, more nappies, more toys, more of everything. The list of people to call was easier. Dan’s mum first because she was the closest and could come by almost immediately if they needed. Then Phil’s mum right after, and texts to their respective siblings. Between just those four, they could get the word to all their other family members. Their manager and closest friends would be the last to contact, but he remembered to put Louise high on the list of friends because she would have lots of hand-me-downs that she would be glad to give them.

But the to-do lists were just an easy way to occupy his brain. There was a litany of “ we’re getting a baby ” repeating in the back of his head, but much louder was the worried “ we’re raising a baby .”

“Are we crazy? We can’t raise a baby,” Phil blurted.

Dan glanced over at him. He didn’t look any more confident, which his strained grip on the steering wheel suggested. “You’re going to be the most amazing parent, Phil. You’re so sweet and loving, and caring; she’s going to be so loved by you and safe with you.”

Phil looked away with a tiny smile and rose-tinted cheeks. After 16 years, Dan still made him blush so hard it hurt.

He reached out and rubbed Dan’s arm and quietly said, “You’re going to be incredible too.”

“We’ll be the best damn parents in this whole world.”

Phil giggled. He wasn’t too sure of that- there was still a matter of clumsiness that no number of parenting classes could help him overcome- but the confidence was in the right place.

As they turned into the hospital car park, Phil’s anxiety spiked.

“Oh shit, this is real,” Dan said, pulling into a spot.

“Yeah,” Phil breathed.

He didn’t move to leave the car once it was turned off, and neither did Dan. They were both desperately trying to get their nerves under control, or at least to a point where walking through the front doors didn’t feel like the most daunting task imaginable. This was the Before, on the other side of that threshold was the After.

“Are you ready?” Dan asked.

“God no.”

“Neither am I.”

They turned to look at each other at the same time; a shared life of moments like this coordinated their instincts. Scared-but-excited smiles pulled at both their lips.

“I’ll get the baby bag,” Phil said.

“And I’ll get the carrier,” Dan finished. “Let’s fucking do this.”

Adrenaline took over as they got their new baby’s belongings and entered the building. A lady at the big desk in the front lobby told them where to go, and up a lift they went. They wove through the corridors of the second floor to a nurses’ station between the maternity ward and the NICU. A man was there, and he tried to understand them as Dan and Phil failed miserably at explaining themselves before Kate found them.

She was a tall woman in her forties, with straightened brunette hair and matching dark eyes. Cranberry red lipstick matched her blouse, which was paired with a black blazer, dress pants, and pointy heels.

Kate greeted them warmly, almost as excited as they were. She guided them to the side of the nurse's station where there were chairs for them to sit. A different woman took their information and asked them questions, beginning the long chain of paperwork in the final stretch of the adoption process. At last, she printed off chipped ID bracelets that corresponded to their baby’s bracelet so they could all leave together.

Baby Lester-Howell .

Dan and Phil both gasped quietly, as the anxiety suddenly overpowered the adrenaline, and they were hurtled back into reality.

“Have you thought of a name yet?” Kate asked.

Phil knew they forgot something more than a baby hat. They forgot to discuss names.

“Umm…” Dan blanked.

Both Kate and the woman taking their information laughed.

“That’s okay,” Kate said, “you haven’t even seen her yet, I think that might help you come up with a name. Are you ready to meet your baby?”

“Yes,” they both said eagerly.

Kate motioned for them to go, and they scrambled to pick up the bag and carrier that Kate had already assured them was great.

They were led down another corridor and the agent explained some more to them, bouncing along the hall.

“We’ve moved her to a private room for you; a nurse is there now. The birth mother declined to meet you both, which as I said on the phone to Phil, was to be expected. Baby should be sleeping now and depending on how quick the paperwork is processed, you should be able to leave within the hour while she’s still sleeping. Or at least, that’s the goal. If not, I’m sure a nurse would be glad to help you feed her. Speaking of, we have a little goody bag for you boys to take with you.”

She slowed down in front of door 2817. Dan and Phil were holding hands, and their grasp on each other tightened. Phil’s breaths were quick, and he could already feel himself start to shake, and he wasn’t sure if that was from excitement or fear or both. But he had Dan’s touch grounding him, reminding him that they could do this.

A fundamental change in the fabric of their lives was about to happen. And they were more ready for it than they ever knew.

She opened the door into a small, dimly lit, pink room. There were some chairs, a counter and cupboard, and a glass bassinet. A young nurse stood over the bassinet and gestured for them to enter.

At 5:42 in the morning on the 19 th of September 2025, Dan and Phil saw their newborn baby girl and fell in love.

So overwhelmingly, unbelievably, and truly in love.

Nothing else mattered anymore, only this tiny, precious human they were forever devoted to. They never wanted to look away from her.

“Would you like to hold your daughter?” The nurse asked the couple.

They nodded their heads eagerly and Dan stepped forward. Phil was okay with that; his hands were still shaking and he didn’t want to mess up holding the fragile newborn in front of Kate and the nurse.

Carefully, the woman picked up the child and transferred her into Dan’s arms with practiced ease, and Phil heard him gasp quietly with awe. Seeing his husband hold their daughter- it took the breath right out of him. He never knew it was possible to be this in love. There was Dan, with his messy, curly hair, and a wrinkly jumper fished out of the laundry basket, and their baby, swaddled tightly in a pink-and-green-striped white blanket. Phil wrapped his arm around Dan’s waist, and they stared in wonder at their sleeping little bundle.

She was so small, smaller than a loaf of bread, nestled safely in Dan’s cradled arms. Her face was flushed pink, and tiny crescent eyelids were shut peacefully. Her little button nose was adorable, and her wrinkled lips were open so slightly in a sleepy pout. A pink hat was pulled over her head to the tips of her ears (he was relieved she already had a hat), but he could see dark curly hair escaping from under it. He hoped so much that her hair would stay like that, like Dan’s.

“We’ll give you two a moment,” Kate said before she and the nurse quietly left the room.

It was just the three of them now. Dan, Phil, and baby Lester-Howell. The new family of three. Nothing could compare to the surge of emotions Phil felt. Not their tours, coming out, or even their wedding day. It was the two of them, stood in a strange hospital room very early in the morning, both scared shitless, holding their daughter, that was the best moment of his life.

“She’s perfect,” Dan gasped. His voice was shaky, and Phil saw welled up tears clinging to his eyelashes.

He brushed them away for Dan, and said, “And she’s ours,” in complete disbelief.

With the hand not holding the infant, Dan gingerly stroked her arm that was tucked away in the blanket and started to speak to her.

“Hi baby,” his voice cracked, “we’re your dads.”

Phil leaned his head on Dan’s shoulder. “I’m sorry we don’t have a name for you yet.”

“Yeah, I promise we’ll think of something as perfect and beautiful as you are.”

“I think Phillipa is a great name,” Phil joked.

Dan laughed softly. “Don’t worry, I won’t let him name you that.” He paused and sniffed, and Phil could tell he was also fighting off the urge to cry. “And I promise that you are so loved. From the very moment we saw you, we loved you, and will never stop loving you.”

His heart melted with Dan’s incredibly sweet words. Phil took Dan’s face in his hand and turned it so they could kiss, tears falling down their cheeks and into the cracks of chapped lips. He tried to communicate the indescribable feeling of love he felt for his husband in the firm, passionate press of his lips and a tight hug.

They both broke away to look back down at their baby – nothing could stop the intense need to stare at her for every possible moment. There was a faint knock at the door shortly later, and Dan quickly wiped his tears away as Kate and the nurse walked back in.

“The paperwork is done. Once you’re ready, you can dress her and take her home,” Kate said, gesturing to the bag and carrier that they set aside.

“Did you hear that baby? You get to go home ,” Phil told her, his voice light and happy.

Dan set their child back down in her bassinet while Phil dug into the baby bag for an outfit. He held up the footie pajamas once he found them, which were purple with white polka dots.

“Are you okay to try dressing her yourself? I can help if you need.” The nurse suggested.

“I think I’ve got it,” Phil said. It had been a while since they had taken the parenting class, but he was determined to get this right. With Kate, the nurse, and Dan watching he really didn’t want to mess it up.

Slowly, he unfolded the blanket that she was swaddled in. Underneath she was only wearing a thin, short-sleeved onesie, which definitely wouldn’t be warm enough to take her home in.

“Look at those tiny little baby toes!” Dan squealed in a high-pitched voice. He reached out and ran his finger along the bottom of her foot, and her toes instinctively curled inwards.

“That’s one of her infant reflexes,” Kate pointed out, “she’ll do the same thing if you put your finger in her hand.”

Dan did what she said and, sure enough, the baby’s hand grasped around his pinkie. Then Dan leaned over and pressed a kiss to the back of her hand, and Phil wasn’t sure how he was going to survive if every moment like this made his heart beat three times faster.

Once his husband stepped aside, Phil continued to change her into her outfit to leave. The nurse helped show him the best way to support her head and how to guide her hands and feet through the holes. She was so delicate, her skin so soft; Phil was afraid he was going to hurt her with his awkward clumsiness. But Dan looked on from behind him and pressed an affirming kiss on his shoulder when he successfully zipped up the pajamas.

“So precious. Just pop her into the carrier and we can be on our way,” Kate said. “I’ll help and follow you down to your car, make sure you have everything you need, and you’ll be free to go home with her.”

“Um about the car seat-” Dan started.

“I think we need a little bit of help trying to get that secure,” Phil finished for him, remembering Dan’s fight with the cumbersome plastic base and seat belt.

Kate laughed lightly. “That won’t be a problem, they’re a bit difficult to figure out the first time around. Let me know if you have the same problem with the pram.”

Kate and the nurse waited for them to move her into the carrier, and Phil stalled. He still hadn’t picked up their baby yet, but everything felt like a test with the two women watching over them. Could they figure out the most basic of parenting tasks without screwing up and looking like failures who didn’t know how to take care of their child? He knew it was all in his head, and they were there to help, but Kate had two sons and the nurse was an actual baby professional. They knew what inadequacy looked like, and had the power to determine that they were indeed inadequate.

Phil looked over at Dan, who heard his telepathic call for help, and took charge. His husband didn’t look any less nervous, but he was the more practiced of the two at holding babies. Phil made himself look helpful by pushing back the arm of the carrier and gathering their bags, while Dan slowly moved her from her bed without waking her.

“Thank you,” Phil whispered so only Dan could hear.

They left the room and the nurse waved goodbye and headed elsewhere. He wished he remembered her name, she was so kind and helpful, but his mind was a bit preoccupied with baby names. Kate began explaining their next steps to them again, making sure they were prepared for the rest of the process.

“Today begins the 10-week intermediate period. There will be a social worker to visit you in the next few days to check up on how things are going. You’ll also need to be in contact with your lawyer, who can also explain to you what to do once you’ve picked a name. And once those ten weeks are up, you can apply for the adoption court order.”

She continued on, but Phil wasn’t paying attention. Too much needed to be done, and all he wanted to do was stare at their sleeping bundle of joy. She was undisturbed by the busy corridors and jerky movements of the lift, peaceful as she swayed back and forth with Dan’s stride. Kate helped fix their car seat and showed them how to latch the carrier into their base, and gave them a bag of baby things to help get them started. It felt as if she had told them a million times now that if they needed anything or had any questions to give her a ring, but finally they were leaving.

Phil was sitting in the back seat next to the baby, and he occasionally saw Dan glance at them through the rearview mirror.

“This is unreal,” Dan said, “I can’t believe this.”

“Neither can I,” Phil sighed, his eyes not leaving their daughter.

“We have a baby .”

Phil stroked her soft pink cheek. “And she’s perfect.”

“We’re parents to a perfect little baby girl.”

Phil’s eyes widened as the weight of it sunk in. They were parents now. He really wished he had gotten sleep last night, he had no idea when he would get to sleep again. “I literally can’t stop staring at her.”

“I can’t stop staring at you.”

Phil smiled and looked up at Dan through the mirror. “Keep your eyes on the road, you spoon, we’ve got precious cargo.”

Phil’s teasing didn’t phase Dan’s sappiness. “I love you so much.”

“I love you too.”

They weren’t too far from their street when Phil noticed the baby start to wake, and suddenly he was met with two tired blue eyes.

“She opened her eyes!” Phil gasped, “Oh, Dan, they’re so pretty and blue.”

“What? She’s awake?” Dan glanced over his shoulder, but he had to keep driving.

Her eyes shut again and she flailed her arms, her delicate features scrunching up.

“Oh no she’s not happy.”

A piercing cry filled the car, and their new parent bliss was now new parent panic.

“It’s okay baby. Shh, shhh. Everything must be so new and scary, yeah, I know. But I’m your dad, and your daddy is driving us home. It’s okay, shhhh.” Phil tried to comfort her. “ Dannn , it’s not working.” He said to his husband, stressed and worried.

“Shit, I’m turning the corner we’re almost there.”

“Dan! Tiny baby ears!” He scolded.

“Fuck- no- crap, I’m sorry.”

Their baby was still crying, and Phil was doing everything he could think of to quiet her while they were still in the car. Dan made suggestions from the driver's seat as he sped up faster and faster. He remembered what Kate said about her grasping reflex, and Phil tried to hold her hand, but she would not quiet.

The minute the car stopped in front of their house, Phil unbuckled her and picked her up. All he wanted was to hold her close and comfort her, completely forgetting about all the anxiety he had earlier when they were with Kate and the nurse.

Her tears wet his shirt as he held her against his chest and bounced a little in his seat. Dan leaned around from the front, arching awkwardly as he helped push the binkie that he fished from the baby bag into her mouth. Together they had stopped her crying, and although she was still fussy, she was quiet.

“If you get the door, I’ll just carry her inside. Oh, and get the carrier and the bags too,” Phil instructed Dan. He didn’t know where his sudden confidence came from, but he wanted to keep her quiet until they could make a bottle.

Dan helped him out of the car and carried their things to the front door, gracelessly dropping it all once they got inside, turning his attention Phil and the baby. “Do you got her? Is she okay?”

“I think so, yeah.” He looked down at their daughter, who was clinging like a koala to his chest. “This is your new home,” Phil whispered to her, turning so she could look around.

“Oh, Phil, her eyes look so much like yours.”

“And did you see she has curly brown hair like you.”

It was only a coincidence, but they smiled widely at each other. They would spend a lifetime pointing out every way that she reminded them of each other. Maybe they weren’t biological resemblances, but she was still their daughter in every way.

The baby rubbed her head against Phil’s chest, losing her pacifier, and fussed. The brief moment of tender calm gone, they went back to work. Dan made a bottle, checking and rechecking the instructions on the side of the formula can. Phil walked around their lounge, bouncing the baby, and stopped at anything that seemed to catch her attention.

Dan handed Phil the bottle when it was done. “Do you want to go upstairs to her room and feed her? I’ll start some coffee and call my mum.” He pressed a kiss on the baby’s head, and then another to Phil’s cheek.

*

There was something entirely different about being in the nursery now. The morning sun was high in the sky, and his shadow stretched across the floor. Only a few hours ago he was sitting in the same glider in the same room, but the shape of his shadow was childless.

Now he had a little baby in his arms, happily sucking at her bottle. It took a few tries, but eventually, he was able to get her to latch on and start eating. Phil couldn’t begin to describe the overcoming emotions he felt. He was proud of himself for getting her to calm down and eat, and even picking her up and holding her felt like a victory. Some kind of fatherhood instincts Phil never knew he had kicked in and taken over his insecurities. He was also unbelievably tired, and he gratefully listened to the sound of Dan making coffee downstairs. And Phil was happy. More than happy. His heart felt full of life and joy and promise. Everything was finally right as Phil looked down at his daughter, who he loved so much he didn’t even know how it was possible.

Phil must have zoned out while staring at her, and looked up in surprise when he saw Dan leaning against the door frame. He had two mugs of coffee in his hands and was watching Phil and the baby with the most adoring gaze.

Despite the love practically pouring out of Dan’s eyes, Phil felt insecure again.

“How am I doing? Does this look okay?” He asked Dan, unsure of how well he was holding and feeding her.

“Aw, Phil,” Dan cooed. He set their coffee down and pulled the footrest up to sit beside him. “It’s just right. She’s happy and eating, and you did that all by yourself.”

“But you have so much more confidence with this stuff than me. I don’t wanna mess it up, and there’s so much to do. We don’t even have a name.” He sighed, worry tugging at his brow.

Dan squeezed Phil’s arm comfortingly. “I don’t wanna mess her up either. I’m so so scared. But I know we’ll figure it out together, right?”

He nodded, so grateful for Dan. They were great partners- in comedy, business, and life- and now they would be great partners at parenting. He knew that to be a fact.

“And actually, I think I have a name,” Dan said.

“You do?”

He whispered the name in Phil’s ear, and as they looked down at their newborn baby girl together, they knew the name fit.

“It’s perfect.”

*

A lot had gone into their nursery.

There was paint, carpeting, and furniture. But there was also tears, joy, disappointment, anger, love, and four long years of waiting.

The name Clara was stenciled in on the wall above the crib where Dan and Phil’s daughter now slept.

The room, and their family, was finally complete.

[hornsbeforehalos]

Hunter and Arrow

Pairing: Daryl Dixon x OFC Warnings: Language, the fact that I wrote it. A/N: I do not own TWD or any of it’s characters besides the OFC’s I’ve created. Do not repost my work anywhere without my permission. 

TAGS: @make-things-beautiful2 @reigningqueenofwords @srj1990 @jesbakescookies @aquivercactus @daddy-kink-confirmed @kellyn1604 @reedusteinrambles @dragongirl420 @addiction-survivor25 @through-thesilver-lining

Rick and Daryl had been on a week-long scavenge mission away from Alexandria, digging away through an abandoned mall, that was surprisingly clear of the dead, when the bolt nearly went through Daryl's head. 

"What the fuh-" Daryl started before another one landed on the opposite side of his temple as the first one. "Drop the fucking cans, on yer knees" The woman's drawl echo'd through the large hallway. Daryl let out a low growl, but did as he was told, him and Rick's backs both to where they could sense the woman approaching. "What are you doing here?" She demanded, her high tenor voice making Daryl’s lip twitch and eyes widen in memory. "We're from a community-" Rick began, but was met with an arrow tip pressed against his shoulder blade from what felt like to be a very impressive crossbow.

"So you've come to steal my shit?" She asked sarcastically. Daryl tilted his head slightly to see if he could take a look at the woman, but she was too far behind him for him to really get a peek. The only thing he could see, though, was a curtain of extremely familiar red hair. She seen him move to look at her and instantly moved the arrow tip away from Rick's shoulder to his own. She looked down at the man's back, cocking her head to the side as she stared at the angel wings crossing his shoulders. 

"Where'd you get that fuckin' vest?" "Well, if yew'd let me fuckin' tern 'round, bitch, yew'd find the fuck out." Daryl growled, smirk playing on his face as he shifted his eyes to where Rick was looking at him like he'd lost his damn mind. The way he said the word 'bitch' hit her in the face with recognition. She snorted at him and dug the bolt a little bit further into the worn leather as she couldn't help but roll her eyes. "Yer hair’s gotten longer, prick. I like it.” Rick's skin prickled at her use of Negan's favorite nickname for him, scared out of his mind that they'd stumbled on one of his Saviors while trying to scavenge for themselves. He watched as Daryl relaxed, though, his shoulders shrugging back and his hands lowering from where he'd been holding them up back down to his sides. "We're in fer it now, brutha." Daryl grumbled, chuckling slightly as he rolled his eyes and let out a breath of relief. Rick still was giving him that crazy eyed side stare of his. She moved the cross bow away from Daryl's shoulder completely before turning on her heels and stalking off in a huff. The two men got to their feet and turned to watch her walk away as she shouted behind her "You two dumb asses comin’, Prick?" "You know her?" Rick questioned, brows furrowing in confusion as he looked back and forth between the exiting red tresses and Daryl's smug face. The woman stopped suddenly, turning her head so Daryl could see her for the first time in the years they'd been apart. Her eyes were just as vibrantly green as he remembered, and he could make them out in the pale light shining through the broken windows just as clear as he could have in the middle of the sunshine. 

"You could say that." She snarked, looking Daryl up and down with a gleam in her eye that only he understood. Daryl sighed, scrubbing his face with his hands before sticking his thumbnail in his mouth to give it a gnaw. He shook his head and removed his finger from his lips before muttering, "This's Huh’ner." "Hunter?" Rick repeated for confirmation, eyebrow quirking and hip popping out to rest a hand on it. "Yes, Hunter. Name's Hunter. Hunter Dixon." "Dixon?" Rick mimicked again, confusing still contorting his facial features. Daryl put his head down and scrubbed the floor with his boot shyly. " 'S my wife." The archer grumbled. "Wife?" "Jesus Christ, Dare, your boyfriend part fucking parrot?" Hunter teased, head tilting as she chuckled at her husband only. "Shuddup. Quit walkin' the fuck away, bitch, 'n come're." "Make me, Daddy." Daryl narrowed his eyes at the woman with a growl, shaking his head again as he returned his attention to his best friend, who was still staring at him in disbelief. Rick's eyebrows had basically taken up realty at his hairline as he choked out, "You never told me ya's married, Daryl?" Hunter snorted, shaking her own head at her husband, "Of course he wouldn't. Fucking Prick."

"Ya see why, don’cha?" Daryl grunted, hand waving in his wife's direction. "Still a fuckin' prick, I see." "Still a fuckin' bitch too, huh?" He grinned at her, taking a step forward and lowering his own bow off his back and spreading his arms wide, "Now git yer ass over here." She dropped her bow instantly at his command, sprinting back towards the two men quickly before launching herself into her husband’s waiting grasp. She wrapped her legs and arms around him as he held her up and kissed her deeply, tongue finding it's way into the back of her throat shamelessly after years of depravity. She pulled away after a moment and landed a cracking smack to the side of his face with the palm of her hand. "The fuck 's that fer, bitch?" he grunted, pushing her off of him with his irritation. "That's for leavin' me fer fuckin' dead, ya fucking douche bag!" She screeched, pushing his chest and making him step back. "I couldn' find yer dumbass! Runnin' though the fuckin' woods like a feral damn bitch all the Gad damned time!" He roared, shoving her back. Rick wanted to get in between the two but he wasn't exactly sure that was the best idea. "Yeah, well you left this bitch in the god damn Apocalypse pregnant with yer fuckin' pup!" She screamed, balling her fists at her sides before pummeling his chest over and over again as her composure finally broke and tears and sobs wracked her body. Rick and Daryl had both froze at her words, Daryl snapping out of it long enough to grab her arms to keep her from hitting him again, "Whut tha fuck ya jus say to me, girl?" "Ya fuckin' heard me, you God damned prick!" She yelled back, fighting against this hold on her again before finally succumbing to it and letting him crush her to his chest. "Why ya hurtin' my mama?" They heard the small voice calling out before a pouf of messy red hair made it's way towards them. Bright blue eyes shined up at Daryl, the man's breath hitching as he pulled his wife away from him. "It's fine, baby girl. I'm okay." She spoke softer than Daryl had ever heard her before in 10 years he'd known her as she crouched down infront of the tiny child. "That man hurt mama?" The little girl asked, cute little angry expression on her face as she glared at the two men. "No baby, Mama's fine. This is Daryl, and his friend, Rick." "Daryl?" The little girl questioned, eyes brightening at the sound of the familiar name. "Yeah, baby, Daryl." Hunter promised, eyes welling up again as a smile crowded her face. She stood back up, holding the child's small hand in her own, and turned to her husband, "Daryl, meet your daughter, Arrow Rae Dixon."

[escapingreality1992]

Wedding Date Emergency Ch. 4

Wedding plans were coming together nicely. I had my dress picked out, Wanda and Natasha were my bridesmaids, the venue – the beach, the Outer Banks to be specific – finalized. Bucky had got a tuxedo and everything else was planned with the help from Tony. The food and reception were to be held in the massive house we had rented for a few days, which came with a huge recreational room for dancing and hanging out with our friends, our family.

           It appeared to be coming full circle, from the wedding date where we became official to now and I couldn’t be happier. Though, I had a secret to share with Bucky, but I wanted to wait until we were alone together to share the news. We had only been dating for a year, engaged for a month; it felt right, like we were meant to be, even if it meant having trials of our own. We didn’t really argue much, except the fateful night when I thought he’d been avoiding me and mistaken it for Bucky not loving me anymore. All he had wanted to do was propose, but he didn’t want to reveal the secret until the perfect moment.

           I was ready to spend the rest of my life with, create a family of our very own, though I wasn’t sure if he even wanted children. I was nervous, but I didn’t doubt our love. I knew in my heart that we were meant to find each other, to be together until our dying breath. I was ready to be surrounded by our version of family, among friends to celebrate this day with us. If Bucky was nervous, he didn’t show it, spending more time with me as it got closer to our wedding day. I guessed he wanted to have enough of my love before having to disappear the night before the wedding. Traditional, I know, but it’s what we wanted.

           He did, however, leave for a little while one day allowing me to have some fun with Wanda and Natasha, inviting the newcomer – Carol Danvers – along for the ride. I also invited her to the wedding because she was friendly and knew how to have a good time, especially when it came to parties, though she wasn’t part of the main entourage. I didn’t know her well enough to consider her to be a bridesmaid; I did enjoy her company though.

           “I can’t believe you got together at a wedding and now are coming full circle to get married. You’re even getting married at a beach. Must be some love story,” she said. We were hanging out in the compound talking, enjoying the time together.

           “Oh, believe me, it is. I think the award for cutest couple goes to them. Though I think, Wanda and Vision could be their competition. I won a bet regarding those two. Emma and Bucky are meant to be, trust me,” Natasha said, winking at me.

           “They have really good chemistry. I’m only surprised they didn’t get together earlier than they did. Though, I sometimes wondered if she really liked Steve. The three of them make a good trio,” Wanda interjected.

           “Believe me, it was always Bucky. He’s irresistible to me and I’d rather not be without him. He’s my whole world,” I said.

           “Where did he go anyway? He’s been out for a while,” Wanda said.

           “He wouldn’t tell me. Said something about having errands to do. Maybe he’s taking care of more wedding things,” I answered. At the same moment I stopped talking, the elevator doors chimed and captured our attention. They opened, Bucky inside them. He stepped out looking devilishly handsome. My jaw opened at the sight of him walking towards us. He’d gotten a haircut and shaved making him sexier than he already was. Heat and wetness pooled at my center as his bright blue eyes met mine as he approached. Bucky leaned down to capture my lips in a sweet and delicate kiss.

           “Do you like it? I thought it was time for something new,” he greeted me, pulling away from the kiss.

           “Yeah, I do. You look hot. Not…that you didn’t before, but damn, it’s made you hotter. It’s like the haircut amplified the hotness by ten. Look at this. You’re making me absolutely flustered,” I replied, heat rising onto my cheeks. He flashed a smile that did nothing to stifle the arousal in me.

           “Good. Ladies, may I steal my fiancée for a few hours? I’d like to take her to dinner, maybe a movie afterwards,” he said.

           “Sure. She’s all yours. But we’re stealing her tomorrow for the bachelorette party and then heading down to the beach. Enjoy tonight while it lasts because you won’t get to see her again until the wedding,” Natasha said. They dispersed and I got up, walking around the couch to be closer to him. He linked his arm through mine and we went downstairs to head out.

              “Our last night before we get married. I’ll soon be able to call you my wife,” Bucky said at the restaurant; we went with sushi because it was our usual go to dinner when we went out.

           “I know. A complete circle. I can’t wait for what our next adventure holds for us,” I said linking our fingers. I, of course, knew what was next. It was currently residing in my body. Not tonight. Just wait, I thought to myself.

           “Maybe we’ll have a kid or two. Who knows?”

           I arched an eyebrow at him. This was the first time he mentioned anything about children. Clearly, it was something he wanted. A family.

           “A kid or two, hm?”

           “Or none if…”

           “I was thinking more along the lines of three,” I said, earning a wide grin from him.

           “If you want three, then we can definitely do that. Whatever you want. Hell, if you want five, then we could have five,” he stated.

           “Well then, Mr. Barnes. I guess we should start preparing for that as soon as possible,” I told him, leaning into kiss him. The possibility of having kids with him had crossed my mind a few times and I was thrilled he wanted them as much as I did. We finished up dinner and went to see a movie at the small theater a block away from the restaurant. During the movie, we shared a few kisses and I rested my head on his shoulder, enjoying his presence for the last night before the wedding. Little did we know, catastrophe would strike after we sealed the marriage.

  Wedding Day

           The bachelorette party was fun, the girls and I going out for a spa day and clubbing instead of to a strip club. We’d gone down to the beach ahead of the men, gorging ourselves on popcorn and movies, laughing the night away.

           “Are you going to tell him after the reception? I don’t understand why you want to wait to tell him then. Why not now?” Wanda asked me. Of course, they knew I was expecting.

           “I wanted to be alone with him. I want him to have fun and enjoy himself before we jump into any more responsibilities,” I said.

           “I’m happy for you two. A family. One started before Pepper and Tony,” Natasha said.

           “I hear she might be expecting too. Maybe we’ll have kids together,” I said.

           The boys arrived the next day, sticking to one side of the house until it was time for the ceremony. My dress, white of course, was a princess ball gown with a medium sized pouf at the bottom, a little modernized. I had lace sleeves which had an intricate pattern sewn into the lace. My hair was pinned up in a plaited half chignon, the rest falling in waves over the dress.

           Natasha and Wanda wore strapless, silver, knee-length dresses, their hair styled however they chose. Carol was in a purple, floor length dress that had a slit that came to rest mid-thigh. Since I had no one to walk me down the aisle, Tony agreed to do it, linking his arm through mine, once Natasha and Wanda had taken their places. The ceremonial music began, my cue to walk down the aisle. I had chosen Clair de Lune by Debussy, a favorite classical piece of mine and already tears were flowing.

           We walked up the aisle made of sand up to where my true love stood, Bucky’s eyes sparkling with tears of his own, a huge smile etched onto his lips.

           “I’m happy for you two. Have a nice life with each other,” Tony whispered handing me off to Bucky. Tony sat down next to Pepper and the ceremony began.

           “Emma, I’ve longed for this moment ever since the first time I met you. You’re my best friend and more. I can’t wait to spend my entire life with you. My whole world wouldn’t be complete without you in it,” he said. Now it was my turn.

           “Bucky, I’ve loved you always. Now I’ll love you forever. Our relationship began with a wedding date and now we are getting married to each other. It continues with an eternity spent with you. One I’ll cherish forever. You’re my best friend, my true love, my only love. I refuse to be parted from you for as long as I live,”

           We exchanged rings and the priest went on asking if we take each other as husband and wife.

           “I do,”

           “I do,”

           He pronounced us as man wife and then the words were spoken.

           “You may kiss the bride,”

           We leaned forward, our lips melding together and sealing our marriage. We broke apart and…

           The sky darkened.

           The wind picked up, ruffling our hair. We looked at each other, at our friends.

           The temperature dropped, chilling us to the bone.

           “Emma?” Bucky questioned, turning his attention back to me. I looked at him, eyes widening at the scene in front of me. He was fading, dusting to my horror.

           “Bucky?” I asked as he faded completely. Gasps echoed around me; Steve Natasha, Tony looked on as our friends started fading as well.

           “What’s happening? What did we miss?” I asked, tears filling my eyes, a sickening feeling my gut that wasn’t the morning sickness.

           “Thanos,” someone said; Stephen Strange said as he too faded to nothing. My chest constricted. I fell to my knees, the sobs starting to come.

           “Emma! Hey, try to breathe,” Steve’s voice said.

           “I can’t. He’s gone. Bucky’s gone. I don’t understand. Why didn’t we see this coming?” I said. This couldn’t be happening. We were alone. Nausea built up and I released the vomit onto the sand. The fear settled in the sadness. We had prepared. Bucky and me. It hadn’t been nerves. I had known. I had planned on telling him in the bedroom. All the talk of children. I’d known for two weeks. Why didn’t I tell him sooner? We were…pregnant.