#adjustable fly screen uk

[ughdontbeboring]

pain relief

Austin Butler x WoC Reader (can be read by anyone)

Reader is trying to hide her chronic pain from her man

warnings: chronic pain (migraines), insecurities, smutty

THIS FOR ALL MY CHRONIC PAIN GIRLIES!!

notes: WOW even with all the Austin wips in my notes this is my first one to be posted, wow idk makes me nervous 😅 yall I hope I did our sweet boy justice.

No description of ethnicity one comment of complexion that’s it but reader when I write is always written with myself in mind. It’s soooo self indulgent.

this is SUPER self indulgent, So I first thought of this from his interview with Jimmy Kimmel when they asked about the migraines as an excuse not to have sex and of course his response was spot on he said “I don’t know what a migraine is” and Jimmy said “of cour you don’t” lmfao bc idk if I’d even turn him down if I had one!

I had a really bad period of back to back migraines for a couple months and this is what my brain rewarded me with in between one. I really don’t know what this is yall lol so don’t ask idk if I’m actually happy with it but yea lol

I put x reader but idk I guess it can tell be read that way, I don’t have the energy to re write it y’all so

now that I’m starting to feel better I will be catching up on my other wips.

if you like it, love it, fuck with it leave some love. I DO NOT give permission for my shit to be used anywhere by anyone.

🤕

Don’t focus on the pain, don’t focus on the pain she repeated over and over again in her head from under the safety of the soft cool cotton comforter as if it would keep away the pounding pain, protect her from it. 

It would not. 

Even with the house dead silent, the fan on for a little noise and all the black out curtains drawn that her boyfriend insisted he buy when he learned about her diagnosis from childhood- she knew relief would not find her. She shifted trying to readjust and find a more comfortable position to lay in, the little pocket above her head letting much needed cool air into her little bubble. 

She knew a few weeks ago she should have reached out to her neurologist but she’d just been so busy it kept slipping her mind and the aspirin had been holding her over but this? no this one was a monster and it was full peak right now. It started almost a day ago after the LA screening for The Bikeriders and had not gone away.

It didn’t help that they also just got back from the UK press tour. All the flying, the red carpets, the flashing lights and noise was starting to take its toll. Recently her boyfriend of just a little over a year revealed to her how much he enjoyed having her accompany him and how he loves sharing those moment with her. Hence all the traveling she’d done recently at his side. 

They still believed in healthy space but they truly enjoyed being together as much as they could. 

Usually she’d fly out every 2 or so weeks to wherever he was since her job was more flexible, their relationship was long distance since she was still living in New York. Which they’d also discussed changing that status but they both agreed to iron out the plans once the tour was over and he had a few weeks of down time. They figured the actual move would happen after he filmed in NY the end of summer. Knowing summer was her favorite time to be home, ever the thoughtful boyfriend. 

Though she was nervous to tell her family. They adored Austin but they’re a very close family and not seeing them everyday would take a lot of time to adjust to but it was important at this point in their relationship to actually be together. He even mentioned he’d love to look for a New York apartment which she had thought was unnecessary they could just stay with any of her family members when they visited until he reminded her she wouldn’t want her family to know she was his pretty girl who got cock drunk and loud when he fuck her stupid. Yes their own place was necessary. 

She felt a sharp pain at her temple and groaned. It was like her brain was telling her to stop thinking about all the stress and think about the pain she was in, which she didn’t want to do either honestly. She wish she could sleep it off but it was impossible. 

She flipped her pillow to the cool side and once again tried to empty her brain. Deep breaths girl deep breaths, the pain isn’t forever. 

She heard the front door slam shut up, which made her curl up even more in a fetal position and the deep smooth voice of her favorite person calling out to her. That voice was her favorite in the whole world but right now she needed silence. She had hoped the migraine would have been over by the time he got back but she wasn’t so lucky. Now she would have to face the music.

She had been telling him the past couple weeks it was just little headaches nothing serious, he knew she got migraines but hadn’t experienced any with her so far. The past 2 years she hadn’t needed to be medicated, the doctor couldn’t tell her why they suddenly stoped and why she was only getting little headaches every once in a while. This is why she was so unprepared and completely out of her medication she hadn’t needed in so long; she truly thought they had finally stopped for good. 

She couldn’t have been more wrong with the pain that was throbbing in her head. The front of her skull a constant ache and the back at the base of her skull and neck a wicked throbbing. The pain in her neck and shoulders unbearable even right between her eyes a sharp pain. She felt like she was dying. The fatigue of the attack her body was under was starting to catch up to her. She was trying to hold back the tears but the sound of boots pounding up the stairs along with the call of baby had her on the verge of a tearful melt down. 

She wanted to avoid the conversation that would surely come after this, when he would witness her in a peak migraine state. She felt horrible because she knew he’d feel like it was his fault for encouraging her to come with him to all the press events but it wasn’t his fault. 

She was an adult and she should have addressed this weeks ago with him and her doctor when the headaches started and not try to hide it to avoid worrying him. 

She should have been honest and though she has no reason to be she was scared to tell him.  She was scared he may think she wasn’t able to handle this kind of life. What if he wanted someone who didn’t need to recharge so often? Or someone who could just do anything with him at anytime not be laying in a bed sometimes for more then a day in pain and grumpy. Someone who couldn’t be touched in this state or be the prefect girlfriend. 

She also knew she sounded ridiculous that wasn’t who Austin was but it didn’t stop the insecurity she had about her migraines and how they held her back from life sometimes. Held her back from being fully emerged into his lifestyle. The guilt wrecked her. 

She knew she was mostly feeling insecure about her migraines because of those comments. She wasn’t normally insecure but recently she had read some comments which usually don’t bother her, about her and Austin’s relationship and how unhappy she looked being on press tour and if she was so unhappy why not just leave so he could be with someone who was happier with him. Those people obviously ignored the photos that were not taking at events that showed how happy they were but not knowing or they probably didn’t care she couldn’t be happier than she was, she was just suffering from more frequent migraines. 

So of course they’d focus on the bad, not all the fans but some. A lot of fans, who she felt were real fans could simply see how happy Austin seemed again. She knew how that felt, she met Austin as a fan and all his relationships and flings after Vanessa seemed lackluster and without any real connection, so she got it. But some of the comments were really getting to her at this moment. Especially the ones about how he looked happier with Kaia (which she knew was a lie from hell, she heard all about that relationship from Austin, his last ex) and then the ones about Vanessa looking happy ALL the time, which was funny because Austin spoke to her about their relationship also and if fans only knew it wasn’t always perfect, yes they loved each other but still there was a lot of hurt in that relationship for Austin. 

Then when those things would pop up she’d think what she’d say to her mans ex’s if she ever met them or if she’d just ignore them. 

Her head throbbed hard from all the unnecessary thinking and stress she was bringing onto herself, things she normal never paid any mind when the bedroom door swung open. 

Baby? He called again, steps coming to a slow stop halfway into the room when she assumed he noticed the state of the room; all the curtains drawn, the TV and lights all off, no noise but the fan she placed near the bed even though the central air was on and the pile of blankets on the bed covering her balled up body. Not a single part of her visible as she quickly stuck her hand out the air pocket at by her head careful to not let any light in and weakly waved at him. She could hardly speak let alone move her head to acknowledge him anymore. 

“Baby you still in bed? It’s 10” He asked as he walked closer, not that he cared it was just unusual for her and caused a bit of concern to form in the pit of stomach. 

He watched the head or he’s assuming area of the blanket shake in a yes motion. Even with the black out curtains there was still just enough light to make out everything in the room. 

“Baby what’s wrong” he asked in a soft voice from the edge of the bed, his hand running gently up and down some part of her body under the blanket. Her body coiled away from his touch. He tried to shake away the slight sting it caused him.

“uh migraine” she whispered weakly, if he wasn’t mistaken he could hear the underlying embarrassment in her tone. What could she be embarrassed about? 

“Oh shit baby, you need anything? Anything I can do?” He genuinely asked in gentler tone, though she couldn’t see how his eyes soften knowing she was probably in an immense amount of pain. 

He felt useless. 

“Uh no, just gotta be left alone for a while” this time there wasn’t any embarrassment in her tone just guilt. 

Austin tried to school his own face and tone of disappointment. He know he couldn’t do anything truly to make it go way but he wanted to help, wanted to be there for her like she’d been there for him on all his overwhelming days and nights from filming and traveling. His sweet girl deserved that. Then he thought back to this one thing he’d came across when he was reading online about migraines when she first told him she got them pretty frequently in the past. He quickly dismissed that idea, a slight blush creeping up his neck, he felt a little embarrassed himself for even thinking to suggest that, who says that to their partner Austin? He thought. She clearly needed to be alone. 

“Ok I’m just head downstairs then, call me if you need anything”  

He took another moment eyeing her blanket fortress before turning and slowly heading Towards their bedroom door.

“Austin?” He heard her call shyly, her voice still muffled from the layers covering her.

“Yea?” His own tone was laced with curiosity.

“Uh…there…there is one thing you could probably do for me…if you don’t mind..if you do it’s ok-“ 

He was quick to be at her side, slipping out his shoes, ready for whatever. His stomach burned a little thinking she may ask what he thought of just briefly a moment ago.

“Anything” 

He watched her baby blue fresh set of nails slip from under the blanket and her hand reaching out for his. His own large hand was in hers before he even registered it moving. She tugged him lightly, his body following gently. He was careful not to touch her as he laid next to her, his chest near where her head was, he remembered her saying how she didn’t like to be touched when she was having an episode, everything felt more intense and for some reason it usually amplified the pain. 

“Can I use your hand for a while?” She asked shyly still under the safety of the blankets, he could hear her clearer through the hole she left at the top. 

He felt guilty at the blood that rushed his cock.

“Of course” He said squeezing the right hand that held his left one. 

He allowed her to maneuver his hand so that his left hand was under her head, she placed his fingers at the base of her skull, thumb on one side and his fore finger and pointer finger on the left side.

“Can you keep your fingers like this and apply as much pressure as you can? This are some of my pain points and the right kind of pressure can ease the pain a little, usually I tie a scarf but it isn’t always helpful” she mumbled weakly. 

He was confused. 

“Oh ok..I..I thought-“ 

This wasn’t something he read, though he seen something about heat compress. He was confused because he thought she was going to ask for his hand to give her an orgasm. That was something interesting that he had came across. It said it didn’t work for everyone hence why he was slightly embarrassed to suggest it, he didn’t want her to think he was only thinking with his dick. 

He applied the pressure anyway, happy to help anyway he could.

“Is that good baby?”

“You can press a bit harder” 

He did as she said, feeling her body adjust just the tiniest bit next to him. A soft sigh leaving her lips.

She soft voice thanked him. He hummed a response, his own body adjusting slightly to get more comfortable.  He would lay here as long as she needed.

After a few minutes of comfortable silence, she called his name.

“Yea?” He asked feeling more tired himself than what he thought he was when he got home.

“What were you going to say? When I asked for your hand?” She replied softly voice full of the need for sleep.

His felt that fire and a blush come back. He chuckled to himself. Now was good as anytime to confess his unconventional suggest and figure out if it was something helpful to her or if it was something she even heard of before. 

“Uh..I..I had been reading about migraines when you first told me you got them, trying to understand them better-“ He was cut off by a whimper she made, a pitiful sound of endearment. He knew what she was thinking, she was taken back by his willingness to be there for her however he could and that meant trying to understand what she would be going through. He kept going. “And I was reading how orgasms can sometimes help temporarily, but I didn’t want you to think I was just thinking with my dick” he concluded softly. Feeling better about just getting it out and in the open, it didn’t feel so dirty anymore, like he was taking advantage somehow. He knew her better than to think she would think that but it didn’t stop his insecurities about the topic. 

He felt her body stilled.

shit was she mad at him? He felt the slight unease creep into his stomach and his insecurities intensify at the thought that she would be mad at him for suggesting such a thing when he noticed her right hand slip from under the covers. 

Her soft palm facing up and open in a silent question and permission, are you still willing? And of course you can touch me. 

He let go of the breath he didn’t know he was holding and gave her his right hand, her soft fingers gently pulled his under the covers, her forearm resting ontop of his own as she slipped his hand under hers to be guided where he couldn’t see. Once his rough fingers tips ghosted over her wet pussy he didn’t need anymore guidance, he knew her too well, maybe better than she knew herself. 

She gasped at the first touch and her hand left his to grip his forearm, as he’d started to explore her wet folds.

“How are you this wet already sweet girl? Hmm? Just can’t help yourself around daddy?” Austin questioned softly from above her, awe clear in his voice. He stayed laid on his left side, careful his body other than his hands didn’t touch her. 

“Fuck” she groaned quietly from under the blankets. “Guess my body always needs you daddy” she moaned out. He groaned as his fingers applied more pressure and speed. 

He felt the twitch in cock as she coated his fingers and moaned softly and weakly. His fingers switching between slow and quick. He was so painfully hard. He had to stay focus this was about her but how could he when her tight wet warm pussy was calling him? Begging for him. Her body was hardly moving just her hips grinding slowly into him.

Even fully covered by a ton of blankets he was still completely in-tune with her body. He didn’t need to see her face though he wished he could to kiss her soft lips, to know the pleasure he was giving her, to know she was close. 

He blindly felt the warmth and wetness of her pussy driving into his hand slowly chasing the pleasure he was somehow able to provide in this state.

“Cum for me pretty girl, take it” he groaned lowly.

She moaned out, she sounded so exhausted and pitiful but he could tell she wanted this, needed it and he was more than happy to give it to her. 

She squealed softly as she rocked against his hand, her body exploding and the sweetness of her drenching his fingers, her face seeking the comfort of his embrace under the blanket, he moved over slightly as his left hand still pressed to the pain points guided her, help her her blanket covered forehead lay against his chest. Her hips kept rocking slowly chasing the feeling.

“There you go baby” his husky voice praised even with a migraine she was still his good girl. So wet and warm and tight for him.

Moments passed with his fingers still cupping her warm sticky folds and the other still applying the pressure she required, neither hand moved as he felt her drift of to sleep, her body finally relaxing from the endorphins of her orgasm. 

Austin woke to the press of a soft warm body slightly on top of his and light kisses and licks against his neck. He stirred and tried to adjust his eyesight to the darkness that had over taking the room. It must be late.

“Hey baby” her voice sounded softly, her lips suddenly near his own. She kissed his plump mouth, pecking kisses over and over. She sounded a lot better.

His arms moved to embrace her, pulling her further ontop of him and as close as he could get her. 

“Hey baby” he replied his eyes seeking hers. The dimmed light from the hallway allowed him to finally see her. Though he didn’t physically see her face earlier, he knew she looked more well rested than she had in the past day or two. Her eyes had a fatigue to them but he was sure that would clear up from the migraine once she got some more rest. All and all she almost looked back to her normal self. 

Her hand snaked up his chest to cup his face.

“Thank you, for everything” she told him a little emotionally.

He brought his lips to her for a passionate kiss, before laying his foreheads on hers.

“You don’t ever have to thank me, I’m yours, that’s what I���m here for, to take care of you” he whispered against her lips.

She pecked his again. 

“And I’m still going to say thank you” she mumbled.

He pinched her side playfully as she laughed and pushed at him.

They just gazed at one another and she had to blink to stop the tears. She had woke to Austin on his back, her body against his. She had unconsciously sought his while she slept as the tension faded from her body and to her surprise his hand was still gripping the back of her head. The pressure had loosed when he eventually fell asleep but his hand was still there nonetheless. She didn’t think she could love the man more and here she was slipping further in the ocean that was Austin and some how she was learning she could breathe underwater. He was everything to her.

“I have a surprise for you sweet boy” she said smiling at him like he hung the moon and she’d die on that hill that he did.

Austin’s chest ached in a good way. He never wanted this to end. Couldn’t imagine it being any other way. Everything that had failed for him relationship wise lead him to this moment with her. He was better for it. 

“Hmm, what’s that?” 

She nodded her head to the side of him and that’s when he noticed the en-suite bathroom door open and the soft glow of candles burning. The scent of oils and salts hitting him. He quickly turned back to her.

“Wh-“ 

“You were knocked out and I wanted to return the love” 

“You little sneak” he accused tickling her sides.

She was quick to scramble away from his hold and climb over him getting to her feet and out of his grasp when his hands followed her as she head toward the bathroom.

She stopped short of the door as she pulled her oversize graphic shirt over her head. 

“I would do that you know, sometimes, never with men though, I hated being touched during my migraines but when it was really bad and I had the energy I would do it myself to help ease the pain” she spoke from the doorway to the bathroom, the soft light surrounding her body, giving a even more beautiful glow to her brown skin. “I didn’t think it would ever work from someone else’s hand, not too sure what that means handsome” she smirked.

So she had done that before he thought but just never with man, no man had ever made her comfortable enough to try let alone achieve bringing her relief. Austin felt those butterflies in this stomach again, he felt a sense a pride swell in his chest. His cock was even stirring again. That’s exactly who he wanted to be for her, the man that gave what she needed, what others couldn’t, he wanted to be the one no other man could compare to. He wanted to be her all.

She smirked at him almost as if she could read his every thought and she could because they mirror her own and how she felt about him.

“Lets go loverboy, it’s time for the real show” 

X

X

ALSO yall don’t have to say anything abt it but i find it helps SOMETIMES but alone so I thought who could make this work for me with another person of course our boy Austin could bc he’s so perfect. He’s the only one I’d let touch me with a migraine lol

[lvnleah]

I've become obsessed with Dancing With The Stars and the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders because apparently I'm a sucker for American reality TV shows despite being from the UK and them being impossible to find half of the time 🤦‍♀️😂

So how about Leah with American reader who is a part of one of those?? Either a dancer for the DWTS or a cheerleader and just a fic about their relationship with the time difference, maybe Leah introducing her to the team and them going to a live show/'football' game

distance | Leah Williamson

thank you for this request! I loved writing it <3

It was a typical night, but you weren’t complaining. The late-night FaceTime calls with Leah had become the highlight of your days, no matter the time difference. You were used to it now—navigating your schedules, adjusting to the reality of a relationship in two different countries. But tonight felt special. It always did, knowing you’d soon be together again.

You stretched out on your bed in Dallas, feeling the weight of a long day of cheer practice and events with the Cowboys. It was your third season, and even though the intensity had become second nature, the exhaustion still crept up on you. Your mind was running, though, thinking about the months you’d spent apart from Leah and the fleeting moments you’d shared over the phone.

You glanced at the clock. It was nearly midnight in London, but Leah’s face was already lighting up your screen as her call came through.

“Hey, you,” Leah’s voice came softly through the phone, a mix of warmth and exhaustion. It was late for her, too.

You smiled, propping yourself up against the pillows. “Hey, babe. You look good, even for someone who just got home from a match.”

She grinned, rolling her eyes. “I wouldn’t say good, but thanks. How was practice?”

You laughed, a little embarrassed, “It was good. We’re prepping for the big game next week, so it’s a lot of rehearsals and stunts. You know, the usual. But honestly? I can’t stop thinking about you.”

Leah’s smile softened, “I miss you so much. The time difference sucks, but I wouldn’t change it for anything. This time apart is just… it makes me want to hold you even more when you’re here.”

You felt your heart swell with her words. “I know. It’s not easy, but it’s worth it. We make it work. We always do.”

You and Leah had met last summer in Ibiza, you weren’t very clued up on women’s football so had no clue who she was. However, she knew exactly who you were. You both hit it off instantly and before you knew it you’d spent the whole holiday together and were parting ways. 

Both of you stayed in contact and late-night FaceTimes became a regular thing. After a month of being apart, you flew out to spend the weekend with Leah where she took you on your very first date together. It wasn’t long before you were being split up again and your life in Dallas resumed. 

You didn’t see Leah for two months after that but you two were constantly FaceTiming. Leah managed to fly over to Dallas in January where you were able to spend two weeks together and that’s when things became official. 

After those two weeks together in Dallas, you and Leah kept FaceTiming constantly. You had date nights over FaceTime and often fell asleep with each other on the phone. 

Early February rolled around and your season was officially over. You had until May off so decided to fly out to London where you spent four months living with Leah. It gave you a proper idea of what life with Leah would be like in London and you completely fell in love with it. 

When May came, you flew back to Dallas and didn’t see Leah until August when Arsenal came to Florida for a preseason friendly. You were able to get those two weeks off to spend with her. Since then you hadn’t seen her but that was all about to change. 

It was now October and you had a bye week, meaning you had no games whatsoever so was able to fly to London to spend it with Leah. 

A comfortable silence passed between you two. You could hear the soft hum of Leah’s apartment in the background. “You still coming this weekend?” she asked.

You grinned, nodding eagerly. “Yes. I can’t wait. I’ve got a few days off, and I’m flying out to London. I’m counting down the hours.”

Leah smiled again, a glimmer of excitement lighting up her eyes. “It’s going to be so good. I’m going to make the most of the time we have.”

The conversation flowed easily from there. You caught up on each other’s days and talked about everything and nothing. As usual, the call was filled with laughter, teasing, and the underlying knowledge that you wouldn’t have to rely on technology for much longer. 

Days later, the reunion finally arrived. You stepped off the plane at Heathrow, jet-lagged but buzzing with anticipation. Your suitcase rolled behind you as you made your way through the terminal, eyes scanning the crowd for the woman who had stolen your heart.

And then you saw her. Leah stood there with that familiar smile, her eyes locking with yours across the crowd. She was wearing a simple jacket and jeans, but at that moment, she might as well have been wearing a crown—because to you, she was everything.

You dropped your suitcase with a laugh and rushed toward her, your heart racing as you reached her. She met you halfway, wrapping her arms around you in a tight, relieved hug. The scent of her perfume, the warmth of her body, the feeling of finally being together again—it was better than you had imagined.

“I’ve missed you so much,” Leah murmured into your hair, her voice thick with emotion.

“I missed you too,” you whispered back, holding onto her just as tightly.

The warmth of her embrace made everything else fade away, and for a moment, all that mattered was the two of you standing there, holding each other.

The next day, Leah took you on a tour around London. The day passed in a blur of laughter and sightseeing, but Leah had something else planned for the evening. She led you to Arsenal’s training ground, where you were about to meet some of the people who meant so much to her. Despite being together for a while you were yet to meet them properly. 

“Ready to meet the team?” Leah asked as she guided you through the familiar halls of the facility.

You smiled, feeling a little nervous, but mostly excited. “I think so. I’ve heard a lot about them from you.”

Leah grinned. “They’re gonna love you.”

You followed Leah through the training ground, her hand warm in yours as she navigated the halls with ease. The faint sound of laughter and chatter grew louder the closer you got to the team lounge. Your nerves bubbled under the surface, but Leah gave your hand a reassuring squeeze, her calm energy helping to steady you.

As you entered the room, a burst of energy hit you like a wave. Teammates sprawled on couches, some laughing, others mid-conversation, all looking completely at ease in their home away from home. The sight of Leah caused a ripple of acknowledgement to spread across the room.

“Look who finally decided to show up,” Beth’s voice rang out first, a teasing grin on her face as she spotted Leah. 

Leah chuckled and pulled you closer. “Everyone, this is Y/N. Be nice, or else.”

The room erupted in laughter, and you couldn’t help but smile at how relaxed everyone seemed. The first to approach was Beth, her grin warm as she extended a hand.

“Hi, I’m Beth. I’m sure Leah’s told you all about me,” she said with a wink, pulling you into an unexpected hug before you could respond. “It’s about time we met. She talks about you constantly.”

You laughed, surprised but comforted by her immediate warmth. “Good things, I hope.”

Beth grinned mischievously. “Mostly.”

Leah groaned playfully. “Beth, don’t scare her off.”

The introductions continued, each offering their blend of humour and friendliness. The team’s camaraderie was palpable, and though you’d been nervous, their welcoming nature quickly put you at ease.

As the evening went on, you found yourself in conversation with Beth, who was easy to talk to and shared a similar sense of humour to yours. Leah watched from a distance, her heart swelling at how seamlessly you fit in.

“I can see why Leah’s so smitten,” Beth said at one point, nudging you lightly. “You’re good for her. She’s been different—in a good way—since meeting you.”

Your cheeks flushed at the compliment, but you felt a sense of pride, too. “She means a lot to me. I’d do anything to make her happy.”

Beth nodded approvingly. “Good answer. But you’d better get used to having all of us around. Leah’s family now, and we’re part of the package.”

By the end of the night, you felt like you’d known the team for years. Leah pulled you aside as you were leaving, “See? I told you they’d love you.”

You smiled, leaning into her touch. “I can see why you love them so much. And I can’t believe I clicked with Beth so quickly. She’s amazing.”

Leah chuckled, wrapping an arm around your waist as you walked to the car. “Told you. Now you’re stuck with all of us.”

You laughed, resting your head on her shoulder. “I think I can handle that.”

The weekend soon arrived, and with it came a sense of anticipation as you made your way to the stadium with Leah’s family. You had attended a few matches with them before, and each time, you felt more at home in the chaos of the crowd and the electric atmosphere of the stadium. 

Leah’s mum, Amanda, greeted you with a warm smile as you arrived at the box. You had always got on with Amanda, her kindness and openness making it easy to feel like you belonged. She had a way of making you feel comfortable, even in the most high-energy environments.

“Y/N, it’s so good to see you,” Amanda said, pulling you into a hug. “I’m so glad you could make it today. It’s going to be a great match.”

“Thanks for having me,” you smiled, returning the hug. “I’m excited to be here, especially with all of you. I’ve missed this.”

As you walked into the box, you were greeted by Leah’s grandma, Berny, who was already settled in with a cup of tea. Her eyes sparkled with warmth as she waved you over.

“Come sit, love,” Berny said, patting the chair next to her. “We’ve got a good view for this one, haven’t we?”

You settled into the seat, and the conversation flowed easily. You and Amanda chatted about life back in Dallas, while Berny made lighthearted comments about the match that had everyone laughing. It felt natural like you had always been part of their little circle.

As the match progressed, you found yourself absorbed in the excitement, cheering with Leah’s family and sharing in their joy when Arsenal scored. The atmosphere in the box was electric, and you couldn’t help but feel proud of Leah, watching her play with such intensity and grace.

During halftime, Leah’s brother Jacob joined you all in the box after running a bit late. You had met him a few times before, and the two of you had hit it off instantly. His easygoing nature made it easy to get along, and today was no different.

“Hey, Y/N,” Jacob said with a grin as he stepped into the box. “How’s it going?”

You smiled, giving him a quick hug. “Good to see you, Jacob. How’s everything been?”

“Same old, same old. Just here to cheer on the sis,” he replied, plopping down beside you. “Nice to see you here!”

You chuckled, “Wouldn’t miss it for the world. And, of course, Leah’s match.”

Jacob grinned. “Yeah, she’s got a pretty good track record. Can’t wait to see her out there. She’s been on fire lately.”

You both turned your attention back to the game, cheering along with the rest of the family. The match was thrilling, and by the time the final whistle blew, Arsenal had claimed a solid victory. The excitement was palpable, and you could see the pride in Leah’s family’s eyes as they clapped and cheered for the team.

After the match, Leah made her way up to the box, her face glowing from the adrenaline of the game. She immediately caught your eye, and her smile softened when she saw you there with her family. She waved and made her way over to join you all, her arms wide open for a hug.

“Hey, babe,” she said, her voice warm and filled with affection as she wrapped her arms around you. “How’d we do?”

“You were amazing as always,” you said, squeezing her tightly. 

Leah beamed, clearly pleased by your words, before turning to her family. “Did you all enjoy the game?”

Amanda gave her a proud smile. “We always do. You were brilliant, sweetheart.”

Berny raised her cup of tea in a mock toast. “Couldn’t be more proud of you, darling. You played like the champion you are.”

Jacob grinned. “You were on fire, Le. I swear, every time you step onto that pitch, you get better.”

Leah laughed, clearly humbled by the praise, but you could see the pride in her eyes as she looked at her family. It was obvious how much their support meant to her, and how much she appreciated having them there to cheer her on.

The rest of the evening was filled with laughter and easy conversation. You could tell Leah was content, surrounded by the people who loved her most. And as the night wound down, you felt a deep sense of happiness—being with Leah, in her world, surrounded by her family, felt right.

Later, as you walked back to the car with Leah, she took your hand in hers, giving it a gentle squeeze.

“You did great today,” you said softly, smiling up at her. “It was so good to see you in action again.”

Leah grinned, her eyes twinkling. “Thanks, babe. But honestly, it’s just better when you’re here with me. Feels like everything’s right when you’re by my side.”

You leaned in for a quick kiss, your heart full of warmth. “Well, I’ll always be here. You’ve got me for good.”

The days flew by far too quickly, and before you knew it, your last evening with Leah had arrived. You both decided to keep it simple—just the two of you, no distractions, making the most of your time together. Leah insisted on picking up pizza from a local spot she loved, and by the time she returned, the smell alone was enough to make your mouth water.

You had already set up the living room for a cosy evening, draping blankets over the couch and lighting a few candles. Leah walked in with the pizza boxes stacked in her hands and a mischievous grin on her face.

“I got your favourite,” she said, setting the boxes down on the coffee table. “And maybe a little extra because I know how much you love pizza.”

You laughed, pulling her into a hug. “You know me too well.”

The two of you settled onto the couch, Leah pulling you close as you both dug into the pizza. The TV played softly in the background, but the focus was more on each other than anything else. You talked about everything—plans for the next time you’d see each other, the little things you’d miss, and the memories you’d made during your visit. It felt bittersweet, knowing this was your last night together for a while.

As the evening wore on, you found yourselves tangled up on the couch, Leah’s arms around you and your head resting on her chest. She absentmindedly traced patterns on your arm, her voice soft as she spoke.

“I hate that you have to leave tomorrow,” she admitted, her tone laced with sadness. “It feels like I just got you back.”

You tilted your head up to look at her, offering a small smile. “I know. I hate it too. But we’ll make it work like we always do.”

Leah nodded, her lips pressing gently to your forehead. “You’re worth it, though. Every second apart, every long-distance call… it’s all worth it for this.”

The two of you stayed like that for hours, soaking in every moment together. By the time you made your way to bed, it was almost midnight, but neither of you wanted the night to end.

The next morning came all too quickly. The soft light of dawn filtered through the curtains as you quietly got ready, trying not to wake Leah. But as you slipped on your shoes, you felt her arms wrap around your waist from behind.

“Trying to sneak off without saying goodbye?” she murmured, her voice thick with sleep.

You turned around, cupping her face in your hands. “Never. I just didn’t want to wake you.”

Leah gave you a sleepy smile, her hands resting on your hips. “You could’ve woken me. I don’t want to miss a single second with you.”

Her words made your chest ache, and you pulled her into a tight hug, burying your face in her neck. “I don’t want to go,” you whispered, your voice breaking slightly.

“I don’t want you to go either,” Leah admitted, her hold on you tightening. “But we’ll get through this. We always do.”

The drive to the airport was quiet, the weight of your goodbye hanging in the air. When you finally arrived, Leah walked you to the security checkpoint, her hand firmly in yours. The moment felt heavy, both of you trying to hold it together.

“I’ll call you as soon as I land,” you promised, your voice trembling.

Leah nodded, her eyes glistening with unshed tears. “And I’ll pick up, no matter what time it is.”

You leaned in for one last kiss, slow and tender, trying to pour every ounce of love into that moment. When you finally pulled away, you saw a tear slip down Leah’s cheek.

“I love you,” she said softly, her voice cracking. “So much.”

“I love you too,” you whispered, forcing yourself to take a step back. “Always.”

[uhuhmaries]

PART 5 (A.A.) — Worst Dinner

Warnings: NSFW, dominance/submission dynamics, rough sex, emotional CONFUSION (heavy on this)

Series: Almost Acquaintances

⊹ ࣪ ˖₊˚⊹⋆ ⊹ ࣪ ˖₊˚⊹⋆ ⊹ ࣪ ˖₊˚⊹⋆ ⊹ ࣪ ˖₊˚⊹⋆ ⊹ ࣪ ˖₊˚⊹⋆ ⊹ ࣪ ˖₊˚⊹⋆ ⊹

The first day after Harry leaves, you sleep in until the sun warms the side of your face. It’s almost noon. There’s a sense of quiet in your apartment—no rumble of his voice, no soft clink of rings against coffee mugs, no reason to get up right away.

He didn’t text.

You tell yourself he’s flying, he’s busy, he’s tired. You don’t want to seem clingy. You don’t want to care.

So you don’t text either.

Instead, you shower. You eat the leftovers Isla dropped off yesterday. You scroll. You wait.

Day two, Isla picks you up in her convertible and takes you thrifting on Melrose. You both get smoothies with ridiculous names and try on sunglasses you’ll never actually wear. You laugh. You feel almost normal. You remind yourself that this was supposed to be your time anyway—a month in LA, an adventure, a break.

Not a heartbreak. Not an expectation.

You don’t bring him up. Neither does she. But you catch Isla watching you from time to time when she thinks you’re not looking. You’re thankful she doesn’t say anything.

That night, you’re tipsy from two palomas and on Isla’s couch with a face mask melting off your skin when her TV auto-plays a YouTube video from some late-night UK talk show.

Harry’s face pops up on the screen.

Your heart drops.

He's in a dark green silk shirt, a couple of buttons undone. London backdrop behind him. His hair’s slightly shorter—styled differently. He looks polished. Cool. Detached.

“So, how was LA?” The host asks.

Harry smiles, slow and private. That same smile he gave you when you first straddled his thigh in his living room and unzipped your bodysuit.

“Sunny,” he says simply, with a laugh.

“And eventful, maybe?”

The crowd reacts, the host grinning now. “C’mon, don’t hold out on us. Rumors are swirling.”

Harry adjusts the mic on his collar, leans back. “I met… good people. Spent time with someone who reminded me what it’s like to feel a bit lost, but also found.”

The crowd oohs. The host pounces. “Is this a love story?”

Harry chuckles. “Not everything is.”

You blink, your heart in your throat. Was that about you?

Isla pauses the screen and turns to you. “What the hell?”

“I don’t know,” you whisper.

“Did he tell you he was going to do press right away?”

You shake your head. You haven’t heard from him since the morning he left. No calls. No messages. Nothing.

You check your phone again. Still nothing.

Later, when you get home and climb into bed, you stare at the ceiling and rehearse what you’ll say if he ever does reach out. You fall asleep mid-conversation with your pillow.

But on day five, it finally happens.

Your phone buzzes. Just once. A single message.

HS “Hey. Can I call you?”

Your chest tightens. You stare at the screen for a long time before replying.

You “You didn’t.”

It takes him exactly two minutes to reply.

HS “I know. I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to disappear. I just… needed a second to breathe.”

You “You said you’d call. You said we’d talk.”

HS “I wanted to. Every day.”

You lock your phone, press it against your forehead, then unlock it again.

You “So what now?”

There’s no reply right away. You stare at the bubbles as they appear. Disappear. Reappear.

HS “I don’t know. I miss you. I miss the quiet you brought into my life. The chaos, too.”

You “You can’t just ghost someone and then say you miss them.”

HS “I know. I’m not asking for a second chance. I’m just asking if I can hear your voice.”

You don’t answer. Not yet. You sit on the edge of your bed, heart clenching so tightly it hurts.

Because the truth is… you miss him too.

The warmth of his body behind you. The way he’d trace lazy patterns on your hip with his fingertips. The roughness in his voice when he was inside you. The softness in his voice when he said your name in the dark.

You miss all of it. But you’re not sure if missing him is enough.

And that’s where you leave it—for now.

Phone screen glowing in the dark, unanswered message waiting, and your heart pulled somewhere between the past five days and whatever happens next.

About two hours has passed, and you say yes to the call.

It’s late for him, early for you. A time zone limbo you both pretend isn’t as hard as it is.

His voice crackles through the speaker—soft, careful. He tells you he misses you. That London’s cold. That he’s trying to catch his breath after the tour. You say the same. You tell him the beach helps. That Isla’s been dragging you to every rooftop bar in LA just so you don’t rot in the apartment where his smell still lingers.

For a while, you try. Voice notes. Facetimes. The occasional selfie, half-dressed, sent at 2am. You play the long-distance game like you’re not already losing but Harry’s always busy. You’re always tired. He forgets to call. You stop reminding him.

The time between messages stretches like old gum. You go entire days without hearing from him. Entire weeks with just a dry “miss you x” and a heart emoji.

Eventually, you stop checking your phone so often.

And then one night—three weeks after he left and about a couple more days you're in LA—you’re out to dinner with Isla and a few others. Some new girls she’s friends with, a couple of guys from the music scene. You’re mid-laugh, swirling your wine glass when Isla leans in close and murmurs, “Don’t freak out.”

Your stomach drops. You follow her gaze across the room.

Harry.

He’s standing near the private dining section, flanked by people in suits and a very familiar face on his arm.

Cathy.

You blink once. Twice. As if you’re hallucinating. But no. He’s real. He’s here. And still, he said nothing.

You sit frozen, eyes locked on your plate as your heart starts to claw at your ribcage.

He spots you eventually. Of course he does. You’re not hard to miss in this dress.

He does that thing—tongue pressed to the inside of his cheek. A mix of guilt and ego and something you can’t name. You try not to look. You try not to care.

But when he excuses himself and starts walking over, your skin burns.

“Hey,” he says, stopping by the table. His voice is too casual. Too soft.

Isla tenses beside you. The others go quiet.

“Hi,” you manage. You don’t stand. You don’t even smile.

“I didn’t know you’d be here.”

You shrug. “I didn’t know you were back.”

“I’m just here for a few days. Work stuff.”

Your eyes flick to Cathy, still standing with the others. “Yeah. I figured.”

Silence wraps around you both like plastic. Suffocating and stiff.

He leans in just a little, voice low. “Didn’t think it’d be right to text. Thought it’d be… too awkward.”

You raise your brows. “Awkward?”

“I mean—things were intense. It didn’t feel fair to you. Or to her.”

A bitter laugh escapes your lips before you can stop it. “You think this is better? Saying nothing?”

“I didn’t mean to hurt you.”

You stare at him for a long moment, eyes sharp. “Whatever, H. Guess this is why your relationships never work.”

He flinches like you’ve struck him. His mouth opens, but no words come out. Eyes drop, the guilt—or maybe the rage—rising in quiet waves beneath the surface.

Isla senses it. Her hand finds yours under the table and squeezes. You squeeze back.

“Enjoy your dinner, Harry.” Your voice is flat. Final.

He lingers for a second longer. Then turns. Returns to his table, to Cathy, to pretending.

You sip your wine with a shaky hand. You don’t look back.

Later that night, you shower and slip into your usual sleep lingerie—a soft little thing you wear more for yourself than anyone else. You put on Gilmore Girls, crawling into the cocoon of your couch, letting the dialogue drown out the ache of disappointment blooming in your chest.

A knock at the door pulls you from the screen.

You assume it’s Isla. Of course she’d come by after all that. Of course she’d check in.

But it’s not Isla.

It’s Harry.

He’s still in his dinner clothes—creased suit, dress shoes still on—and his jaw is clenched like he’s been grinding his teeth all the way here.

“You seriously had the nerve to throw my past in my face in front of people?” He seethes, barging in before you can say anything, slamming the door behind him. “Didn’t occur to you cameras were there? That it’s all over the internet now?”

You blink at him, stunned. “Oh, so now you care about appearances?”

He paces. “Jesus—”

“Was I wrong, though?” You snap, voice icy. “Mr. Harry Styles. The womanizer. The emotional ghost. Tell me I’m wrong.”

He stops mid-step, eyes dark as thunderclouds. You stand your ground, even as your heart kicks against your ribs.

“You don’t get to play righteous when you left me hanging,” you add, your voice shaking. “You ignored me. For weeks and soon I'll be leaving.”

Something inside him cracks.

“You think I didn’t want to call? You think it didn’t fucking eat me alive?” He growls, walking straight toward you. “You— You drive me crazy. You don’t know what you do to me.”

He’s so close now you can smell the wine on his breath. You back up, refusing to let your voice break.

“Then show me.”

He does.

Harry grabs you by the jaw and kisses you like he’s punishing you for every word you said, for every moment you existed out of his reach. He presses you back against the wall, teeth clashing, hands groping. You yank at his blazer, toss it aside. His belt comes undone in one motion—slaps to the floor. His hand wraps around your neck gently but firmly, forcing you to look at him.

“You want to be right about me?” he breathes. “Fine. I’ll fuck you like I’ve got something to prove.”

He spins you toward the wall, pulling your panties to the side before even bothering to fully undress you. His fingers are rough—deliberate—as they drag through your folds. He doesn’t give you time to adjust before sliding in two fingers and curling them up with a practiced arrogance.

“Already this wet for me?” He hisses into your ear. “Bet you like me angry.”

“Maybe,” you pant. “Bet you like me calling you out.”

That earns you a sharp slap to your thigh.

“Don’t tempt me,” he warns. “I’m not in the mood to be nice tonight.”

And he isn’t.

He fucks you hard and rough against the wall, one hand over your mouth as you moan, the other pinning your wrists behind you. Harry grabs his belt to put your wrists hostage halfway through, and it only makes you wetter seeing Harry being in full control.

The only thing you can do is take it—his bruising rhythm, his grunts behind your neck, the way he pulls your hair back so you can hear his filth better.

“Fucking mine,” he snarls. “Say it.”

You shake your head, smirking through ragged breaths. “Make me.”

He growls like an animal, pulling out only to flip you onto the couch, bending you over the armrest. He presses into you again, deeper this time, forcing your legs to stretch wide.

“You want the world to think I’m a womanizer?” He huffs, pounding into you so hard your breath leaves in whines and gasps. “Then I’ll fuck you like I don’t give a shit about anyone but myself.”

And yet, even through the roughness, it’s so clearly about you.

When he finishes, it’s deep inside you, a possessive groan echoing against your back. He doesn’t pull out immediately. He holds you there, chest heaving.

Then finally, with a deep sigh, he unwraps your wrists from the belt. His fingers trace over the red marks slowly. Gently. Tender.

The contrast is almost cruel.

He cleans you up with one of your throw blankets and carries you to your bed without a word. He doesn’t try to talk. Just lays beside you, one hand resting on your stomach.

His thumb brushes the faint outline of his own bite marks on your hipbone.

You don’t speak for a while.

But even in the silence, you both know—

Something is breaking.

And you don’t know if it can be rebuilt.

⊹ ࣪ ˖₊˚⊹⋆ ⊹ ࣪ ˖₊˚⊹⋆ ⊹ ࣪ ˖₊˚⊹⋆ ⊹ ࣪ ˖₊˚⊹⋆ ⊹ ࣪ ˖₊˚⊹⋆ ⊹ ࣪ ˖₊˚⊹⋆ ⊹

📝 Author's Note:

OMGGGGGGGGG A COUPLE DAYS LEFT UNTIL THE NOTHINGNESS?????? I don't think I will survive tbh

@: @billweasleyswife

[kuciradio]

Neon Lights and Spectacular Sights Abound at Desert Daze 2022

By K. Chastain / Photography by K. Chastain

As I walk up to the sandy shore of Lake Perris, it feels too good to be true. The sun is just beginning to set, casting ripples of shimmering light onto the surface of the lake. This place is truly an oasis in the place you would least expect to find it – southeast of Los Angeles, out of reach of the sprawling city – and I always look forward to coming here each year. I’m joined by thousands of eager attendees who are spending the weekend camping here overnight, often traveling hours or even flying out to make sure they don’t miss the festival experience. And, as the sun sinks below the skyline and the sand starts to cool under my feet, I understand why.

The beach has been full of eager swimmers for most of the day, but many of them are now laying on towels scattered between the art installations that tower overhead. These massive sculptures are starting to shine even brighter under the darkening sky, and I can clearly make out the coiled shapes of neon lights bent into interesting shapes and refracting through glass panels. Old television sets flicker to life with oversaturated displays, and as a group of friends hurries past the display on the way to the main stage, their image is briefly displayed on each TV screen. These art installations are not just meant to be present among the attendees, but they were intentionally placed here by local artists such as Slim Reaper Light Show with the purpose of being interacted with. Some of them offer unique backdrops for photos, while others seem to beckon guests to sit on them or even walk through them as if they were portals to another dimension. And as I spot the main stage through a nested series of rainbow silhouettes, I realize that in a way, they are.

On the beachside stage, the graceful silhouette of UK-based singer Nilüfer Yanya emerges against a shimmering backdrop of rainbow lights. The stage lights draw everyone away from the water and towards the most intimate of the three stages at the festival as Yanya produces an electric guitar and begins to play. The opening riff of one of her most famous songs, “Keep on Callin’,” rings out across the beach as the crowd huddles closer together to share this special and intimate moment with Yanya. The British singer’s deep, soothing vocals wash over the crowd as she plays her way through much of her new album PAINLESS, which features a unique blend of folk and grunge rock. As the sky darkens, Yanya reaches the final song in her set, “Crash,” which she delivers with enthusiasm and energy to keep the audience excited for the next act.

Without missing a beat, Desert Daze’s second stage, also called ‘The Block,’ lights up in the distance. I realize Men I Trust, a spacey electronic trio from Canada, will be performing in just a few minutes and quickly make my way towards the center of the festival grounds. Emma Proulx, the lead singer and distinctive voice of the band, is adjusting her microphone, and I’m thankful they hadn’t started without me. As the crowd shuffles towards the main stage, a man prepares to stand on a surfboard while several others in the audience start to lift him up.

He’s somehow managing to balance himself, being passed around by the audience as if he were cutting through a real wave as the band starts to play the grooving bassline of “Sugar.” I couldn’t help but laugh behind my camera at the situation, as I had never expected a band with such a mellow sound to inspire crowd-surfing. Eventually, after the crowd calms down a bit, Men I Trust continues on to play some of their most beloved songs, including the dreamy “Show Me How” and my personal favorite, “I Hope to Be Around,” in which supporting member Dragos contributes incredible solos on keyboard. The audience huddles and sways under brilliant purple and white lights as their set finally comes to an end with the upbeat yet pensive “Say Can You Hear.”

As much as I am tempted to linger, I know that yet another band will be coming to play on the third stage at the festival. The solo project of Australian artist Kevin Parker, more widely known as Tame Impala, will be playing a special set that includes the entirety of his album Lonerism, originally released back in 2012 but still beloved as a cult classic. After glancing over the impressive variety of local vendors, I stop by my favorite vegan food truck just in the nick of time to see Tame Impala preparing to take the stage. Desert Daze’s largest stage, nicknamed ‘The Moon,’ has an impressive display prepared to accompany the arrival of such a renowned musical guest. 

The backdrop lights up with psychedelic visuals to accompany the entrancing combination of Parker’s synthesizers and the echoing, resonant instrumentals from his touring band members. Saturated, colorful images of rolling hills and ocean waves affirm the feeling that the audience has been transported to a rare oasis somewhere far away. As Parker reaches the most widely beloved track on Lonerism, “Feels Like I Only Go Backwards,” the crowd begins to sway and sing the lyrics back to him. Tame Impala continue onward, playing through the songs in their original album order, until they reach the grooving, upbeat track “Elephant.”

Both Parker and the crowd seem to revel in the sudden burst of energy resulting from the uptempo bassline in the otherwise laid-back set. Mixing in a few of his newer tracks after finishing his playthrough of Lonerism, Parker also plays selections from Currents and The Slow Rush to complete his performance. The indie classic “The Less I Know the Better” has everyone dancing instantly, while the more relaxed “Borderline” helps the audience start to wind down as the festival comes to a close. 

But it’s not over just yet. The stars are shining overhead, and they’re ready to turn in after such an impressive performance and begin to shuffle back to their campsites. They’re also excited, because it’s all going to happen again tomorrow.

[finelinevogue]

okay yeah… i had to do this one…

You waited as the FaceTime ringer sounded, checking your face on the screen. 

Just as you were about to hang up, Harry’s face popped up on the screen. He looked deliciously tanned on the face, perhaps even sunburnt on his little nose. He wore a T-Shirt that was in fact yours, but one that looked better on him anyways.

“Hi flower!” 

Harry smiled as you adjusted your hair in the view of yourself, noticing how some was out of place. 

“Hi sunshine.” You replied, minimising the picture of you and enlarging the one of him. 

He looked like he was in a hotel room, somewhere on the other side of the world. He was either in Los Angeles or Palm Springs, but you couldn’t quite remember. After the chaos of the new single dropping, he was quick to get on a plane unnoticed so he could get to America safely for Coachella rehearsals. You had a job to hold back here at home, so you were going to fly over later next week to catch him before his Coachella set. 

“Stop messin’ with your hair. You look beautiful.”

“Says you.” 

“Uh, yeah I do.” He laughed, fixing one of his headphone that was falling out of his ear.

“Harry, baby, why are you wearing those earphones? Surely Airpods or headphone are easier than getting tangled up in the wire?” 

“You know I have no idea how to use all that wireless tech.” He pouted, even though he did make a good point. 

He was genuinely terrible when it came to technology. It took your a good few days for him to get the hang of Instagram, but he hated how fiddly that it was that he quickly abandoned it and now it was run by his assistant. It was hard to believe that his new era was gaining a platform on Discord, because not even you understood how to use that social media. His fans seemed pretty clued up, but Harry was going to be a complete baby to it.

“Oh you poor old man!” You joked, making him pout even harder.

“You’re so mean to me.”

“Only ‘cause you’re so 70s.”

“Hey! That’s not even a bad thing.”

“Never said it was.” You smirked.

“Forgot you had daddy issues.” He made a jab at how you admitted you didn’t think him being an old man was a bad thing, making it now your turn to pout. At first your jaw dropped at how quick he had been, before pretending to be pissed off at him. 

“Oh piss off.” You flipped off the camera and watched as Harry reacted by screenshotting the pose. 

He had a really bad knack for taking photos of you all the time. Whether it was via FaceTime, like now, or just candidly during the day, he always made sure he was updating the bank of photos he had of you in his albums. He loved looking through his photos of you when you weren’t beside him, looking back on all the fond memories you share together to cure the void of being without you.

“You love me really.” He winked, the narcissist knowing just how much you did.

“First you steal my shirt and then you go make fun of me, what next? Have every right to give you the silent treatment.”

“Flower, I never said you having daddy issues was a bad thing did I?” 

That made you smile and Harry took another photo. Sometimes he even posted the photos to his family group chat, glowing in the fact that he had you for a girlfriend. 

“You doing alright?” You asked generally, knowing that the plane will have wiped him out a little. Although he had been doing the journey from the UK to the US for ten years now, it still never got easier for the jet-lag. 

“Jus’ tired. Gotta stay up to do some radio interviews.” He leaned back and yawned, leading him to stretch his arms upwards and letting his tummy pop out of the bottom of the t-shirt. If you were there with him you would have kissed that little spot, knowing how much he loves your touch. 

“Ooh, who are you talking to?” 

“Um, I’ve already spoken to Roman for Capital and Amanda for Heart. Gonna speak to Greg in a bit for BBC and Zoe too.” He bit the inside of his lip as he thought about his plans.

“Damn, I missed Roman.” You tutted, knowing that Harry knew why you’d made such a joke. You admitted when you started dating that you had used to have a crush on Roman for a while, so now you teased Harry about it at every given opportunity because it aggravated him so much. 

“Thank fuck.” 

It made you laugh at how defensive he got, only making him laugh too. What a smile that was, indeed.

“Were the interviews okay?”

“Yeah. I’m pretty excited, honestly. I feel really buzzed this time around. It was fun keeping it a secret, but it’s even better now that it’s out.” 

“Everyone loves it, and you, Harry.”

“Don’t care about everyone when I’ve got you.” He admitted, leaning forwards to give the camera a kiss. It was the best he could do given the circumstances, but you thought it was almighty romantic nevertheless. 

“Well, you know I already love it.” 

“I know.” He smiled, watching admiringly as you kissed your camera this time. It didn’t get better than this relationship you had with him, whereby no matter where you were you both completely loved each other always. No amount of distance would make you feel any different. In this world, it’s just you two.

“When’s your next interview?” 

“Like, five minutes or summat. Got time for you still.” 

You hummed in delight over his charm. There was a reason why the romcom claims never left him, because of how much he was a romantic himself. “Can’t wait to see you next week.”

“Miss you already.”

You had seen him not even 24 hours ago and yet you were already touched deprived of him. As much as you loved supporting him and what he was doing, sometimes you just wished you could hug him for a little longer. Squeeze him a little tighter. Love on him a little stronger. Obviously he knew how much you loved him, but sometimes you couldn’t help but feel like you needed to love him more purely from how much he loves you.

“Try not to think about me. You’ll get through the week quicker then.”

Harry laughed. “It’s funny to think that there’s ever a time I don’t think about you. You own my mind, flower. I’d get through the week quicker with you by my side.”

“I’ll be there soon, I promise.” You nodded and holding up your pinky to the screen. He held his up to and you both touched the cameras to seal your promise, it not being the first you’d had to seal this way.

“You better be.”

“Give my love to everyone out there, H, okay? I need to go defrost my burrito for dinner.” 

“I’m missing burritos? Worst day ever!” He joked, but also was being sincere.

“Harry.”

“You owe me burritos.” He warned you.

“And you owe me a hundred kisses.”

“Deal.” He said all too quickly.

“I love you.”

“Love you most. See you soon, flower.”

[watchmegetobsessed]

The best present - Harry Styles

Sequel to UPDATE

on demand, this is a fluffy little sequel to update, hope you’ll like it! tagging the people who asked for said sequel: @urdadbtch​ @f-vasquezp​ 

word count: 3k

masterlist

Harry has a soft spot for surprises. Especially if he is the one planning them for a loved one. The overflowing joy he sees in one’s eyes upon receiving a carefully planned surprise just gives him a different type of satisfaction in life, one he couldn’t live without.

His life has taken a pleasant turn ever since Y/N entered it, virtually and in a real dimension. It hasn’t been the easiest with his hectic schedule and her anchored life in Spokane, but with some time paid to adjusting to the situation they managed to make it work. He wouldn’t have settled for anything else, because he just simply couldn’t imagine his life without her anymore and luckily she felt the same way.

Harry fell in love with her quicker than what it took for the weather to turn cold in the fall. It felt like the most natural thing that has ever happened to him, to fall for her whole being, everything that’s her on the inside and outside. Harry often caught himself thinking what he did in life to earn such a beautiful person in his life. He hasn’t figured that one out yet.

Y/N was like a warm summer breeze on a hot august evening, easily charmed anyone and everyone Harry introduced her to. She slowly but surely met some of the most important people in Harry’s life and he just couldn’t wrap his head around the fact that it felt like she’s been part of his life since forever even on the first meetings.

“She is wonderful, I love her,” his mother told him when they finally had the chance to meet upon a weekend they spent in New York. It was a lucky time when both his mother and Y/N were free and he took the chance to cook up a mini vacation in the city right away. Anne was thrilled to meet the woman that had her son wrapped around her fingers even before meeting.

Harry felt like he was on the top of the world when he saw the two women get along like they’ve been friends for years, it filled his heart even more.

The situation was quite the same with Gemma, in just a blink of an eye they were making plans on their own not including Harry, which hit him a little hard in the chest, but he was happy knowing they found the common ground.

“You amaze me so much,” he once told Y/N when they were spending the night at her place, one of those weekends when Harry flew all the way to Spokane just to spend less than 48 hours with her. Even with the long flights and hustle that came with the traveling he wouldn’t have done it any other way. If he could see her smile for just ten minutes he would have travelled days.

“I do?” she asked smirking up at him, putting her book aside as she rested her chin on his tattooed chest.

“Mhm,” he hummed with a quirky smile. “In so many ways.”

“Write a song about them so I can listen to it,” she told him as a joke. Little did she know that not even a week later that’s exactly what Harry did. It was another addition to the endless list of songs she inspired.

December creeped its way around the corner faster than they were expecting and in a blink of an eye every store was filled with Christmas ornaments and wrapping papers, the most iconic Christmas songs were played everywhere, making those who work at retail want to throw Michael Bublé and Mariah Carey right out the window for every having the thought of recording Christmas music.

Harry and Y/N had plans for the holidays. They agreed on spending three days from 22nd to 24th with his family and then fly to Portland to be with her family from the 25th to 27th before they head to New York City to spend the last few days left from the year together and celebrate the new year at a party Harry was invited to.

These plans were set in stone right until Harry decided to surprise his lover with the best gift he could think about. It was a tough call and took him weeks to arrange but Harry was able to get Y/N’s brother to leave for the holidays earlier, on the 21st instead of just the 26th.

“Why are we changing it again?” Y/N asks curiously as she sits on Harry’s lap when they are changing their plane tickets so they could start the holidays at her family instead of his.

“Mom is not going to be home until the 24th,” he lies and then adds: “Gemma is also gonna only arrive on the 23rd. Figured it would work better. We would be at your parents’ from the 21st to the 23rd, go to the UK from 24th to 26th and there is an early flight so we would be in Portland by the time your brother arrives.”

He had spent a long time figuring out how to manage the dates so she wouldn’t be suspicious. Seemingly, it worked, because Y/N nods as she stands up and walks over to the kitchen.

“Alright. But isn’t that too much of a hustle to go back and forth two times?”

“Not that horrible,” Harry smiles in her way, his fingers moving fast on the keyboard to make the right changes for their trips before she returns and sees that the dates are not exactly the same as he told her. Luckily, she hops onto the kitchen counter as he finishes up and closes his laptop feeling ecstatic about the surprise he has planned for her.

“It’s gonna be busy,” she points out as Harry walks over to her, placing his hands on each side of her on the counter.

“But we will be busy together,” he grins leaning closer to steal a kiss.

As the days pass by Harry is growing more and more excited about the surprise. He almost slipped a few times upon talking about the holidays, but managed to save the situation just in time. Y/N had no idea what he had in store for her.

“That’s all your stuff for our trip?” Y/N asks when Harry arrives to her place with his decent, normal sized suitcase that has his essentials for the next about seven days while they will be on the road. He glances down at his bag before walking inside and setting it down in the hallway.

“Love, I’ve learned how to pack in a smart way,” he tells her teasingly before pecking her on the lips while he takes his coat off and hangs it in the hallway.

“Yeah, but it’s an entire week. I’m going with twice this much.”

“’Cuz you are packing for New York as well. We’ll be staying in my place, remember? I don’t need stuff for that time,” he reminds her and he is right, but she is still amazed at how he managed to fit everything he needs into just one suitcase.

That night Harry lies awake with her sleeping form next to him. Looking around the room he thinks about how this is the same place he fell in love with her, but it was through just a screen. All the plants, the furniture, the bed he saw behind her in the videos are now his reality as well and in just a few short months they have grown so close to each other, he couldn’t imagine his life in a different way.

“What’s the matter?” he hears her groggy voice coming from next to him and looking to the side he sees that she is blinking at him in the dark.

“Nothing,” he shakes his head, turning to his side to face her, noses almost touching on the pillow.

“Then why aren’t you sleeping?” she asks, sneaking a hand to his back under the covers and she starts to gently stroke his skin with his fingertips, sending a shiver down his spine.

“Just… excited about the holidays,” he whispers with a shrug. He can’t tell her that he is excited to meet your family, especially your brother since he is kind of the reason you ever got the chance to meet. He feels like he is too worked up about meeting her parents and cousins, but he can’t wait to feel like he is part of her family. What he doesn’t know is that she already sees him as part of it, has been since she realized how deeply in love she is with him.

“Mmm, excited about your gifts?” she teases him with closed eyes, but her fingers are still moving on his back. Harry lets out a soft chuckle.

“Especially about those.”

He brings his arm around her frame and pulls her to his chest as they make themselves comfortable under the covers, legs tangled, her face resting on his chest as he gently strokes her arms, soothing her back into sleep.

“I love you,” he whispers thinking she has already fallen back asleep. It wasn’t the first time he has said the words to her, but tonight just feels a little different.

“Love you too,” she mumbles back pressing a kiss to his naked chest before she sighs and lets herself fall back into sleep.

 Her family knew about the change in Sammy’s arrival, but Harry made them promise they won’t say a word to Y/N, keeping it as a surprise.

Her mother welcomes the two of them with warm excitement, the house already smelling amazing from all the different cookies she’s been baking, the dinner is also in the making on the stove.

“Finally here!” she hugs both of them, even though she hasn’t officially met Harry, only talked to him on the phone about Sammy’s early arrival. “Come on in!”

The two of them get rid of their winter attire before Harry turns to her mother holding out a hand to make their first meeting official.

“So nice to meet ya, I’m Harry.”

Instead of taking his hand her mother pulls him into another tight hug that he returns with a soft chuckle.

“I’m so happy you are finally here! I’ve heard so much good about you,” she tells him with a sly, knowing smile while Y/N is not looking. “I can tell you are a blessing to the family already.”

“Thank you,” he nods smiling.

Harry meets Y/N’s dad and two of her cousins who have arrived earlier and they all gather in the living room just talking at first, then soon enough they start playing board games. They get stuck on Activity, the pairs are Y/N and Harry, her mom and dad, and her two cousins. The competition is burning up the house, Harry can tell they all take the game very seriously.

Through the game Harry keeps glancing out the window, waiting for a car to park at the driveway. He has sent a car to pick Sammy up, but since he didn’t have his phone on him just yet he couldn’t let Harry know when he would be arriving exactly.

Just after he is done drawing in one of the rounds he sees the black car pull up at the house. Harry pretends to get a call and he can see the excitement grow in her parents’ eyes as they already know what this means, while Y/N is oblivious to anything that’s about to happen. Harry quietly makes his way out of the house hoping he didn’t draw her attention, and that’s when Sammy gets out of the car thanking the driver for the ride. As he turns around Harry is stunned to see how much the two of them resemble. He sees her eyes in his, their ears curl the same way and he has the exactly same hair color as her. There was no doubt the two of them were related.

“Harry, right?” he asks holding his hand out firmly that Harry takes smiling.

“Yeah. Sammy, I supposed.”

“The one and only,” he chuckles holding his bag’s strap over his shoulder.

“I would love to chat more, but I think we should move inside first,” Harry suggests and Sammy follows him up the few stairs that leads to the front door.

“Harry! Come on, we are up next!” Y/N calls out from the living room as the two guys walk inside.

She is seated on the floor, her back to the hallway so she doesn’t see when the two men walk in, grinning from ear to ear. She only notices something is happening when she sees her mother gasp happily at the sight of her son.

“What—“ she starts but turning around her words disappear as she stares up at her brother who she hasn’t seen in what feels like ages.

Harry overflows with joy when he sees how shocked she is, in the best way possible. He watches her leap to her feet and jolt right at Sammy, throwing herself into his arms as he lifts her up, twirling her around in excitement.

“Hi there, little sis,” he chuckles still holding her close as she is fighting with her tears upon the surprise she just had.

“How… What are you doing here early?” she asks in total awe as she tries to comprehend that he is truly here, in her arms.

“Ask you boyfriend,” Sammy chuckles looking in Harry’s direction. “He arranged an early leaving for me, I don’t know how, but he did,” Sammy adds letting go of his sister.

As her parents make their way to their son Y/N moves over to Harry, still in complete disbelief that he did this.

“How?” she asks, arms snaking up around his neck while his hands get a hold of her waist.

“I have… connections,” he shrugs shyly and she just shakes her head laughing before she pulls him down for the sweetest thank you kiss.

“I can’t believe you,” she sighs pecking his lips once again.

“What I can’t believe is that he could keep it a secret this long,” Sammy speaks up.

“Wait, how long have you known this?”

“A couple weeks. Got it finalized early December,” Harry admits, feeling proud that he could make this happen.

“So this is why we had to change the tickets!” she gasps in realization. “When do we have to leave for real then?”

“We are staying until the 25th, our plane leaves in the afternoon,” he smiles warmly as he sees her eyes light up. According to the original plans they would have had only two days with Sammy at home, but this way it’s almost four entire days. “This was the most I could get, Love,” Harry adds, feeling a bit guilty that they are leaving to see his family, but Y/N shakes her head.

“This is absolutely perfect. You gave me the best present,” she smiles cupping his face in her hands as she pulls him down for another kiss.

This Christmas goes down as the best one she has ever had. The time they spend with her family holds a special place in her heart, especially because she loves seeing her family and Harry get along so well. She now knows what he felt when she met his mother and sister. Seeing him be so kind to her mom and have loads of things to talk about with her dad and brother warms her in a way only Harry can make her feel.

The feeling doesn’t change when they arrive to his home. She feels like she is part of the family just as much as he is. They spend some splendid days with his extended family, enjoying the spirit of the holidays and she is almost sad when it’s time for them to leave.

“Come back soon, Sweetheart,” Anne tells her when they are saying goodbye at the airport.

“I will, if he is okay with bringing me next time,” she chuckles glancing at Harry by her side.

“Oh I sure am, Love,” he smiles kissing the top of her head.

Those couple of days they spend together in the city holds memories they will surely never forget. They finally get to spend time together without anything interrupting them, just enjoying the little moments, falling deeper in love with each passing day.

The last day arrives in a fast pace and neither of them can believe the year is ending so soon. They spend the day in bed mostly before it’s time to get ready for the party one of Harry’s friends is hosting in Manhattan.

It’s a nice way to end such a wonderful year, they mix and mingle with the guests but keep each other close, especially when they reach the last minutes of the year left. Harry takes her hand and pulls her out to the balcony to have some privacy before the countdown.

“Crazy how we are here,” he sighs as his arms are wrapped around her figure, warming her body as much as he can in the New York City winter time.

“Who would have thought?” she chuckles placing a sweet kiss to his jawline.

“Not me,” he admits laughing. “But I’m glad it’s my reality now.”

Y/N smiles up at him with gratitude in her eyes, just when the countdown starts inside.

“Have you ever had a New Year’s Eve kiss?” Harry asks as he pulls her closer, if that’s even possible.

“Sadly, I have not.”

“Then can I have the pleasure to be your first?” he smirks down at her and she just nods biting into her bottom lip.

“Three! Two! One!” the guests call out inside as the whole city erupts at the same time, fireworks go off and cheering echoes through the building, but it all fades into nothing as Harry leans down and kisses her sweetly. They spend the first couple of moments of the new year melted together until they pull back for air. The crispy winter air has turned his nose red quickly and she is lost in how adorable but handsome he still manages to look.

“Harry Styles,” she sighs feeling defeated by her own feelings. “You are one wonderful creature, you know that?” she wonders, as if she was saying her inner thoughts out loud. Harry chuckles as he presses a kiss to her forehead.

“That makes the two of us, Love.”

I’m opening a Harry taglist, let me know if you are interested in being on it!

[jupitermelichios]

Spoiler-free Eternals reaction

Well, I’ve finally seen Eternals, and I’ve gotta say... that’s a weird movie.

The first 2/3rds are some of the best stuff Marvel Studios has ever made, the last third drops the ball so thoroughly it may well retroactively ruin the first parts of the movie for you. What I will forever now think of as the Blade Runner 2049 problem.

Personally it didn’t ruin it for me, it was just disappointing that it didn’t live up to everything it set up in the first half, but my partner definitely feels like it did ruin it for him, so YMMV.

FYI for Marvel UK fans, Black Knight is barely in it, and while fun, isn’t recognisably Dane Whitman (he appears to be an entirely pleasant, well adjusted man, and definitely not the sort of weirdo who would get a mural of his coworkers naked painted on his bedroom wall, a thing comics Black Knight canonically has).

It’s diverse in a way the MCU has been dramatically failing at since the first film, and it doesn’t feel like tokenism. There’s a gay main cast member (we meet his husband and kid as well, it’s not just a throwaway line), a deaf main cast member, a mentally ill main cast member, albeit in a fairly comic book-y way but still, what may actually be intended to be a QP relationship? It felt very matter-of-fact ‘this is just what the world is like’ which was refreshing, and there was never any point where it felt the need to explain why it was diverse. There was never a ‘yes I know Salma Hayek is a brown woman but it’s okay she’s a good leader honestly’ moment, she was just the boss, and the movie expects you to just accept that.

Weirdest post-credits cameo since Guardians. I knew about Starfox, I did not know who else we would be getting, but I kind of dig it. It’s good to know that just because Gamora is dating Peter Quill doesn’t mean Adam Warlock will be single.

The CGI is mostly used judiciously in a way I liked. There’s a lot of actual location shooting, and more practical effects that you usually get. It would have been nice if the Deviants were practical effects, but (baring one more humoid one who should definitely have been doug jones in a suit) it didn’t bother me that they weren’t because of how complex the designs were, and the celestials are legitimately something that you could only do (in the way they did them at least) with CGI. Thena’s weapons are all CGI, and legitimately look super cool. Again, they’re the kind of thing you could only do with modern effects, and that’s what CGI should be for, the stuff that physically couldn’t be done any other way.

Richard Madden turns out to be fucking great at wire-work, this is the best stunt flying I’ve seen in a very long time. Scott Snyder wishes he could make superheroes flying look this good.

The costumes are really good. I’m still not 100% sold on their heroing outfits, but they can move well in them, they’ve got plenty of coverage to allow for stunt padding, and they look cool when they’re using their glow-y gold powers, so I don’t mind so much the rest of the time. But their civilian costumes are great. I think the last time I saw a woman just dress as normally as Sersi does in a movie was the first Twilight film.

I like how it handled the MCU tie-in elements - this is the first movie that actually feels like it was influenced by the events of Infinity War rather than just referencing them, and I know that doesn’t appeal to everyone, but I prefer it.

Every penny of the budget was on screen. It’s not unusual with modern blockbusters for me to come out of the cinema asking ‘how the hell did that cost $100,000,000?’ I did not have that question here. I know where every penny of it went. (Babylon, it went on designing and rendering the city of Babylon for a single scene).

The jokes basically all land, Kumail Nanjani is a great comic actor and he gets plenty to work with. I thought they balanced the tone well, mostly by not trying to make every character funny. There’s a lot less of the Wheadon-style quippiness that I know a lot of people hate, and more actual jokes.

There’s a lot about this movie to like, and I still don’t know if I can recommend it. The last third of the film doesn’t undo the good stuff - the effects are still good, the cast is still diverse, they do fun stuff with the powers - but it’s also just not good in a way MCU films have mostly avoided since AoU. Storylines just get dropped or wrapped up really unsatisfyingly because they ran out of time, the ultimate plot resolution is kind of unsatisfying as well, there’s a bunch of moral choices that absolutely need actually exploring but which don’t get explored. It’s kind of unclear with some of it what’s actually going on? I’ve seen much much worse conclusions to movies, but those were generally bad films, and Eternals isn’t, and that makes it way more jarring.

I hope Chloe Zhao gets to direct more movies for Marvel, despite the flaws. The elements that felt uniquely hers I like, and it definitely has the feel of a learning curve movie, and I’d like to see what she learned. It also feels like she was given her head as a director in a way franchise movies almost never allow, and I hope we see more of it going forward. That’s always been the MCU’s biggest strengths - the way they rely on their second unit directors to cover the action elements, allowing them to give non-action directors a creative freedom they wouldn’t otherwise have - and I hope they continue to lean into that.

[allie1804-fan]

Kerensa Part 2

This is a continuation of Kerensa Part 1 which you can find here

Kerensa (Part 1)

Chapter 1, Chapter 2, Chapter 3, Chapter 4, Chapter 5 , Chapter 6, Chapter 7, Chapter 8, Chapter 9, Chapter 10, Chapter 11, Chapter 12, Chapter 13

Kerensa (Part 2)

Chapter 1, Chapter 2, Chapter 3, Chapter 4, Chapter 5, Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Adjusting

The GP took Kerry’s details and suggested, given her age and history, that she use her private medicine to see a pregnancy specialist to get an early scan and review her care.

A week later, Kerry found herself sitting in the waiting room at St Mary’s Hospital Paddington. The consultant was a lady in her early 60s who asked her history and took all the details of the 2 miscarriages. Then she asked Kerry to pop up on the bed ready for a scan. She eased her jeans and knickers down and the consultant smeared on the cold jelly and started to move the wand over her belly. Kerry held her breath looking at the screen, remembering the times when nothing could be seen or a still image of a dead embryo was there.

After a few moments, the consultant announced

“There you are, little tyke hiding.”

Tears fell then as Kerry looked at the tiny kidney bean shape on the screen flickering away.

The consultant squeezed her hand, understanding the emotion of the moment.

Measurements were taken and they aligned with a pregnancy of 8 weeks. She could also see the signs of a condition called polycystic ovarian syndrome which does come with a slightly elevated risk of miscarriage, possibly explaining the first 2 lost pregnancies years ago as well as the struggle previously to get pregnant and the occasionally irregular periods. Kerry’s biggest fear was that it would happen again. The consultant’s main advice was folic acid and rest but based on how anxious Kerry was, she also suggested that she didn’t fly back to LA until she’d reached 12 weeks. This wasn’t due to any real risk but having experience of many pregnant women with fertility and or loss issues, she knew that they could blame themselves for a loss based on the tiniest thing that probably had nothing to do with it, but they would beat themselves up all the same.

“So go somewhere you feel calm - you said you’re a writer didn’t you?So I guess you can do that anywhere” Kerry nodded thinking of her argument with Keanu.

“and we’ll book you in for another scan at 12 weeks and after that, you can head back to LA and your partner”

A few days later, Kerry was on the train headed for Penzance. She’d had a few quick phone calls with Keanu since being back in UK – she was relieved that he hadn’t been able to video call as the only time that worked was when he was heading out to set at 7am their time as he wasn’t getting back til 10 at night when she would be asleep again, so quick phone calls were the easiest thing along with the odd text when he was waiting around on set. He had another couple of weeks on location which took them, unbeknown to him, to her 11th week. She said she’d try to schedule her return to coincide with his, counting on saying later that she couldn’t get a flight with the dog travel in time to get around why she wasn’t going to make it.

The consultant was right that being somewhere where she felt calm would help and Kerry settled back to her old Sennen routine of walks on the beach and writing. The sickness was pretty bad during weeks 9 and 10 but was settling as she headed into week 11. She even found herself hopeful enough to work out the due date of December 1st though she didn’t dare write it down anywhere!

The shoot was over and Keanu was due home, but she hadn’t spoken to him in a few days since the end of the shoot was frantic, followed by a wrap party and then he had to travel home. When he finally called, from LA this time rather than Florida, he was disappointed that she hadn’t made it back. Kerry finessed her excuse about the flight saying she’d been about to book the one to be there by now but Scout had got an abscess on her paw and she wanted to be sure he was fully recovered before booking the flight. He accepted this and offered to get his PA on the case to help secure something as soon as she was confident that Scout was OK. When he did call his PA though, he had a different idea. He hoped Kerry would like it. She hadn’t been very chatty on their call and he worried that absence hadn’t made the heart grow fonder or that she’d realised she preferred life in Sennen alone to life in LA with him.

Truth be told, she was still concerned about their relationship, could they make it work with their work commitments? Had it been a flash in the pan, a whirlwind romance and not true love? But she missed him so much and she could see the care in his eyes when they spoke – her worries based on Autumn’s comments had eased and she planned to make arrangements to fly back to LA as soon she’d had the 12-week scan.

3 days later, Kerry took Scout for her usual late morning walk and tired them both out with the fresh air and exercise. After a quick sandwich, she lay down on the sofa for a nap and Scout curled up in his basket.

Keanu’s car pulled up at the house in Sennen at 2pm. He thanked the driver, hauled his bag from the car boot and made his way to the kitchen door. It was a warm day and he found it open. He called out but nobody answered so he dropped his bag and went in search of Kerry. He found her still sleeping on the sofa, a snuggle blanket draped over her and her hair held back in a loose ponytail. Scout was still sleeping, fortunately, so there was no excited barking to disturb Kerry’s sleep. She looked different to him somehow but he couldn’t put his finger on it. He thought it was probably just being out in the sea air more that had given her cheeks a soft glow.

He decided to leave her sleeping and make himself a coffee so he crept back to the kitchen. The sounds of him finding a cup and filling the kettle floated through to the living room and Scout stirred making a quiet bark as he trotted through.

“Hello boy, it’s just me” Keanu cooed in a low voice giving him a rub on the head. He went to the fridge to fetch the milk and stopped in his tracks.

That’s how Kerry found him as she stumbled through sleepily wondering what the noise was.

@fortheloveoffanfic @kindainlovewithkeanu @omg-imagine @keanureevesisbae @penwieldingdreamer @paperplanesandwallflowers @witty-wallflower @karlee1225 @bitchyslut99 @toomanystoriessolittletime @ladyreapermc @kissmyromanticquote @tacticalchics @utterlynuts @kylosbitch @thebigbubowski @thelightnessofthebeing @gatsbynouvel @keanuficfiles @fanficsrusz @jardaniswife @cheezbort @mazzylana97 @maggiemoo1892 @girlfriday007 @siriussnape07 @yomnaislame @soarocks @fadingkideclipseempath @franny-banks-world @keanulowe @babylovejongin @lucky134ever @jasmindaughteroftheworld @tomorrowsanotherday @fokinqueen @littlefreya @leftyreea @wheretheriversrunintothesea @iworshipkeanureeves @fics-not-tragedies @ficsnroses @fickenstein @popacherryvisitalibrary @aah8903 @thethirstyarchive @cynic-spirit @australianpsychos @meetmeinthematinee

[larryfanficwriter98]

Chapter Six

Louis jumped when his phone started ringing and he looked at it to see a facetime request from Harry. He grinned and answered it leaving the living room to enter the kitchen. Harry was outside in sunny Los Angeles with Hollywood hills behind him from a patio.

"Do you realize the shitshow you have caused on my picture?" Harry greeted him clearly amused, letting Louis know he wasn't upset at all. "I woke up on Christmas Day to this. You have the nerve to comment on my picture and not follow me then you turn your profile on private so I can’t stalk you? Really? I have to have permission to look at your modeling pictures. You're a dick. An absolute dick." Louis laughed covering his mouth with his hand that was currently covered in Harry's pink merch sweater. "You didn't even follow me."

"I'll follow you I promise. I'll do it now, look I’m grabbing my new fancy macbook and logging in.

"You better. Jerk. I'll follow you after you follow me. Some boyfriend you are." Harry said, making Louis shake his head as he logged in and got on his Instagram account, then he went to his notifications and his eyes widened.

"I have 147 follow requests." Louis told Harry before he clicked on one of the notifications of a reply on his comment. "Holy shit. They're crazy."

"Yeah no kidding." Louis went to Harry's profile and followed him, "finally." Not a minute later Harry sent a request to follow him that he accepted immediately, "there's my hot boyfriend."

"Stop it." Louis said blushing as he commented on Harry's newest picture from a few days ago. It was of the view from his plane as they flew over the ocean to California. He commented "When I asked you to send pics this was not what I was talking about.👀.". Harry looked off to the side from the screen to his mac-book that was beside him on a side table, he frowned for a second then he laughed.

"Louis! No.." Harry said laughing as he turned a deep red, "you're gross." He said even though Louis could see him typing on his laptop. Louis waited then he got the notification and he laughed as he read the reply from Harry reading,

''This is a family friendly account. Go away.

.

.

.

.

.

I'll send some more later. I'll be sure to wear that hat you like.🤠"

"I think we broke your fans." Louis said laughing

"We should get off before you go and get a ship started."

"A ship?"

"Just wait."

~~~~~~~~

It took a few weeks for it to really sink in for Louis that he was dating Harry Styles. That he was dating an international award winning popstar. He was dating a Gucci model. He was reminded of this when he had stumbled upon a few of his photos. He and Harry talked daily and even facetimes for both of their New Years Eve, Louis had to wake up for Harry's but it was worth it. Recently on occasion one or both of them could be caught looking longingly at the screen, but they always did something to cheer the other one up.

Louis had a countdown on his phone so anytime he looked at it, it would tell him how much longer until Harry was back in the UK. Harry would still be busy and have things to do until March when his tour ended, but he would be here and Louis couldn't wait. Harry often talked about missing home, especially when it got to the last leg of the tour, said it always got harder, but it was even worse now.

After a lot of talking Louis and Harry finally made the decision to make Louis profile public after many flirty comments to each other in Harry's posts. Louis had even made a Twitter account just so he could attach a photo of their facetime one day and tell Harry how cute he looked when he had eye crud. Harry hadn't liked that picture at all and told Louis there would be payback.

The payback had been a video of Louis when he was drunk in January and was shaking his ass on a table. Liam had recorded it laughing his ass off as he, Zayn, and Niall kept men away from him. Louis had been wasted that night and didn't remember it at all, but there was video evidence and now it was all over twitter. That video has caused a lot of fans to talk about his ass which had Louis bushing as he read the tweets.

So Louis made his Instagram public and posted a picture of him in Harry's lilac sweater standing in front of his floor length mirror. The sweater fell to his thighs, just long enough to cover everything that needed to be covered since he didn't have anything else on. It was a side view so his ass curve was visible and he made sure to stick out just a little bit more. In the caption he wrote,

Okay, but why do I have thousands of teen girls asking about my ass? 👀

Harry was the first one to like the post and commented,

👀 that's a nice sweater. Mind sharing? It's a bit chilly over here.

Send me new ones and we can discuss potentially sending you this sweater.

You realize my house has a closet full of sweaters. And my laundry detergent. As well as my cologne.

👀...You don't say...and for no particular reason...what's your address?

😂 I've conveniently forgot.

🖕🏻🖕🏻🖕🏻🖕🏻🖕🏻🖕🏻🖕🏻

LEWIS! How dare you. This is a family friendly account

Yours is family friendly. Mine is not.

~~~~~~~~~~

Since October Louis' Instagram had been filled with a lot of things that involved Harry in some way. Most of it was pictures of the gifts Harry sent, now it was of their screenshot facetime calls or pictures Harry sent through texts. It was also of Louis posting his new flowers biweekly that was delivered to his house by a florist employee.

Occasionally it was regular things like a selfie or a picture of him and the lads flicking the camera off on a group shot. His middle finger apparently became a "thing" that Harry's fans loved, he didn't exactly know why nor did he really care. His family had taken the news to him dating Harry Styles pretty well all things considered as did the lads.

"So I've been thinking." Louis was pulled away from his phone by Liam speaking

"You didn't hurt yourself did you?" Louis asked

"Ha ha. I was thinking we all have vacation time and Valentine's Day is next week. How about we fly out to Orlando, Florida to see your boyfriend." Louis tensed, "if that is something you two are ready for."

"You want us to fly out to Orlando for Valentine's Day so I can meet my international popstar boyfriend for the first time? While he just happens to be in one place for a week."

"Without telling Harry. Yes. He gave you the address to his Orlando home to return the sweaters didn't he? Just bring them in person."

"But what if-"

"No what ifs. Come on Lou let's be impulsive one last time." Zayn said, "let's go to Orlando and have fun and meet your boyfriend."

"Alright. How much is a flight-"

"Nope. Not happening. We are all pitching in to buy your flight. It's our gift to you." Niall spoke this time grinning. "Besides thanks to you and your paranoia we all have a few thousand in our savings."

"What? No. I am buying my own-"

"No you're not. We got this. Now call your boss and tell her you need vacation for next week."

Louis grinned and went to his contacts thinking about how he got so lucky to have three amazing best friends. They have noticed that lately the distance has been affecting Louis more than he was willing to admit. The few times they all facetimed with Harry Louis knew they could see the longing in Harry's face too whenever he and Louis looked at each other. After getting the vacation he had until Saturday at 4am to keep it a secret from Harry.

Departure was 4am Saturday (11pm Friday Orlando time), the flight was 9 hours long so they would stay up all night Friday and sleep on the plane. Landing will be 8am Orlando time (1pm Manchester time). However since they were sleeping the flight down they were going to be adjusted to Orlando time. It was genius the way the lads had planned it, the return flight was the same, flying during the night so they landed in the morning at Manchester. Louis didn't know how he was expected to keep it a secret. He was terrible with secret keeping.

[mymelodyheart]

Starting Over Chapter 24 ~The Heart of the Moment~

"Jamie! Wake up!"

Jamie jolted awake, his sleepy eyes colliding with hers. Momentarily confuse and bewildered, his brows knitted together, probably taking in her morning wild hair appearance. She wouldn't be surprised if she'd shocked him into a heart attack. It wasn't her best look, as Frank had often enough pointed out in the past, but she didn't care. Claire cared more about telling Jamie about the award he'd missed. Surely, he should've known he had been nominated for the award. How could this have happened? His moment of glory gone because they've decided to leave the awards early last night.

Jamie adjusted his focus, and as he gradually lowered his eyes to her naked breasts, a slow, slumberous smile began to spread across his handsome face. He looked so soft and boyish in the morning sunlight streaming in from the window, making his eyes almost translucent.  Damn!  Her heart skipped a beat, and her mouth went dry, already forgetting what she wanted to tell him. His hair, wild and unruly, was lazily mussed and intertwined into beautiful coppery chaos reminding her of burnt orange sunset over Cullen Bay. Before she could utter a word, he suddenly yanked her against him.

"Jamie ..." she protested, her voice sounding whiney to her ears. She barely had time to register what he was about to do next when she was suddenly pushed onto her back and her wrists pinned above her head. He settled between her legs, making her aware of their nakedness and his impressive erection. "Jamie, we don't have time for this. We need to ..."

"Good morning," he whispered, bracing himself on his elbows and nudging his nose onto hers.

She twisted in his hold. "Good morning to you too, but let me up first and let me get my phone. I have to show you something."

"No!"

"Jamie!"

"Sassenach," he said, in a warning tone. "This is not up for discussion, especially at this time of the morning. I've been looking forward to this weekend, and we have naewhere to go to. I'm no' letting ye out of this bed anytime soon. Ye can either get on board with that, or I'm going to have to subdue ye. Understood?"

"Jamie ...you don't understand. The news ...I was just reading ..."

"I dinnae care about the news." He lowered his face, his lips brushing hers. "I ken already we'd be on the papers after last night. Ye shouldnae be reading it. I'm already expecting a lot of speculations from those reporters because they didnae get an interview from us."

Jamie's phone rang from the bedside table.

"You better get that. It's probably about the award you ..."

Ignoring his phone, he growled and shoved his face into her neck, and she wriggled and laughed as he nipped and bit at the sensitive skin. When she continued to struggle, he laid his full weight against her to keep her still.

"Yield," he ordered into her ears.

"Never in your life!" She tried to buck him off, but it was an impossibility. With all those hard muscles and his height, he weighed a ton. She huffed in defeat and went still. "Fine. You win."

"Good lass." He gave her a self-satisfied smile before rolling off and pulling her back into the cage of his arms. One hand slid down her back and slapped her bum. "On a related note, how suspicious do ye think everyone would be if we both turn off our phones, sneak out of Glasgow and fly to Paris?"

She smiled. "Very. But it might be worth it to avoid all the questions that are about to come your way. But imagine all the speculations you'll stir if we go missing, not to mention how worried your family or my uncle would be."

He closed his eyes and held her tighter. "Och aye? What speculation do ye think the reporters will come up with this time?"

She lightly ran a finger over his shoulder and watched in fascination as goosebumps appeared on his skin. "They'll probably think we've eloped," she whispered. Realising what she just said, her eyes widened.  Oh, fiddlesticks!  Claire hadn't meant to say that, but it just came out of the blue. With Frank, she always had to be careful what came out of her mouth, but with Jamie, it was so easy to speak her mind.

He cracked one eye open and grinned. "Now there's a thought." 

She'd half expected Jamie to jump out of bed, after that comment she made, but surprise, surprise, he didn't. "It was a joke!" she grumbled, annoyed with her slip-up.

"Jokes often have hidden meaning."

"Not this one!"

"How come ye're blushing then?"

"It's warm, and you won't let me go!"

Jamie chuckled. "Ye want to marry me," he teased.

"No, I don't!"

He arched an eyebrow, his lips twitching in amusement. "Ye don't?"

"Nope!"

"Ye'd be the first then."

Arrogant bastard!  She slapped his arm and tried to wriggle out of his hold once more. "Jamie, enough of this silliness and let me up. You have to read the news. You're never going to believe this ..."

He looked down at her and seized her chin. "Stubborn woman, what shall I do about ye, huh?" he murmured, against her lips. When she continued to struggle, he lowered his head and kissed her softly, deep and languorous until she softened in his arms and the world fell away. When they finally drew apart, she was breathless, and he was smiling. "So ...now that I've had my morning kiss ..." he whispered, in between teasing her with his lips and tongue, "...what is it ye so badly want to tell me? Mind, whatever the press wrote, I wouldnae be surprised. Nothing shocks me anymore with those lot."

Claire took a deep breath and put a hand on his chest to stop him from distracting her any further. "You won an award last night, and we left before they could present it to you," she blurted out really fast, in case he interrupted her again mid-sentence.

He frowned and went quiet. 

"Jamie?" She palmed his cheeks, relishing the feel of his stubbles against her hand.

He sighed, flopping onto his back and pulling her into him. "That's impossible, Sassenach. There were only eight awards. By the time we left, seven had been already announced, and the final award couldnae have been for me. I havenae played rugby for over a year. There must have been some kind of mistake or misunderstanding. That Quincy bloke did go over the top when he called me up on stage to present the award like I was the one receiving it."

She grinned. "You really have no idea how special you are. There were two more awards announced after we left. And the very last one was for you. And it was Prince Harry who announced and presented it." Before he could tighten his hold on her, she scrambled away and grabbed her phone from the foot of the bed. She swiped the screen and opened the link Geillis had sent her. "Here, read this."

Sitting up and leaning back against the headboard, Jamie took the phone from her hand and read the headline. Claire watched the confusion unfold on his face. "B-but there's nae such award ..." he muttered.

Claire snuggled closer to his side and looked at the screen of her phone with him. "Ssshh! Just read it!"

    JAMES FRASER DISAPPEARED WITH RUMOURED GIRLFRIEND BEFORE HE WAS ANNOUNCED BBC SPORTS PERSONALITY OF THE DECADE

  Scotland's former rugby union star and captain, James Fraser rode a wave of public support to become the BBC's Sports Personality of the Decade, the first award of its kind to be presented by BBC.

Fraser has been shortlisted several times for BBC Sports Personality of the Year since the beginning of his career and came second of the public vote two years in a row before he was forced into retirement due to a sporting injury. When it was announced in the press Fraser was bowing out of rugby union, his fans united behind the sports star by garnering more than 70,000 signed petition sent to BBC requesting to acknowledge his dedication and contribution to sports.

The petitions didn't only come from fans but from various sports foundations supporting youth around the UK and social media platforms with the popular hashtag #scrumitlikefraser. It was only recently reported that Fraser, over the years, often donated a considerable amount of money and offered his time to give a speech of encouragement to underprivileged youths without any press coverage. Fraser's charitable works were never made public as he'd requested in return for his time and money, reports of his activities on social media were to be prohibited, essentially not wanting to draw news outlets' attention to himself.

A spokesperson for the BBC revealed, the 29-year-old received endorsements from several big names in sports who knew about his aid work despite him not having played rugby for over a year. Jonny Wilkinson, a former English rugby union player and a 2003 winner of the BBC award, amongst others on social media, helped to rally the vote and the fans' petition, surpassing the public vote on Mo Farrah, this year's BBC Sport's Personality of the Year winner.

After Prince Harry gave a passionate motivational speech to end the evening's sports event, he surprised the audience by revealing the new category to the award and announcing Fraser as the winner. Unfortunately, the former rugby union star had already left after presenting an award himself earlier that evening. Realising Fraser wasn't there to claim his trophy, the young prince grinned for the camera, and gave his parting words, "James Fraser, wherever you are, congratulations, and I hope you're enjoying your win."

 Jamie dropped her phone on the mattress after he was done reading the news article and let out a long whistle.

"Well?" Claire breathed. "What do you have to say about that?"

He gave her a lopsided smile as he settled her at the crook of his arm. "Weel, upside to leaving early, I didnae have to do tedious interviews. Might as well, as the reporters would have been more interested in asking who ye are than about my win."

"That's probably true. But what I was trying to point out was, you have real fans out there who admire you for your achievements in sports and charity, and they're the ones who pushed BBC to recognise that. Those fans knew the real you. I had no idea you were helping some sports foundation. I bet the news outlets hadn't a clue as well. They're more intent on digging stories about your private life than concentrating on your contribution to society."

He stroked her hair. "It doesnae matter, Sassenach. That's the nature of being a public figure. I will release a statement later on Twitter thanking the fans and BBC, but I will not be doing any interviews. I will no' have much to say to the press anyway, other than what I will write on social media."

She slid her arm across his waist and laid her head on his chest. "You're amazing, you know that? That's why I love you."

As soon as she said those words, he tipped her chin, his face a moving range of emotions. "A lot of people say that to me every day - people who don't even know me. But ye ... ye're the one person I crave to hear it from. I wouldnae mind if ye say it more often." He cupped her face and stared into her eyes. "I used to think that I'm no' meant for a relationship like Jen and Ian or my ma and da. But I have a feeling that fate brought us together. Because of all the people who had to be there as ye were trying to jump out of the church window on yer wedding day, it had to be me. I sort of knew it already that day ye kissed me in Lallybroch, but ye were too bloody stubborn to recognise it, and ye had to run away. But I'm glad I found ye again."

He kissed her and pushed her onto her back, covering her body with his. When Jamie was like this, it was almost too hard to handle. There were so much strength and vulnerability wrapped around his sweet heart, she wanted to weep.

"You do say the sweetest things, Mr Fraser," she whispered, feeling breathless. "Keep it up, and I'll never be able to resist you."

"Mmmm ..." He dragged his lips along her jawline and pressed his erection between her legs. "So does that mean if I asked ye to live with me when we get back to Edinburgh, ye'll say yes?"

She laughed, lifting her hips and urging him forward. "How about we start off with sleep-overs at each other's places and take it from there?"

"Sounds fair," Jamie replied, his voice sounding tight. He let out a quiet moan as he slid inside her before going still. "Does that mean I get a key to yer wee cottage too? It does need a lot of repairs, like yer wonky curtain rail and a missing hinge in yer kitchen cupboard."

He began to move, slow and restrained, and she breathed in time with his thrusts. "A-an excellent deal ...a key for repairing bits and bobs around the house. I definitely can't turn that down."

He leaned in to kiss her. "And I can cook too." He closed his eyes and muttered a curse when she grabbed his buttocks and pressed him deeper against her. "And make mean pasta sauce ..."

"And you talk too much." She gripped his hair and pulled him for another kiss to shut him up. They made long, sweet love all morning. It was one of those moments where everything else other than him retreated into the background, and he came into perfect focus - beautiful, hopeful Jamie. Even though she knew they have to sort through a few messes along the way to make their relationship work, she was convinced more than ever Jamie was here for the long haul.

..........

The following weekend, they all piled out of two taxis and stood outside Lulu Nightclub at George Street. They as in, all the Fraser siblings, Ian, Geillis and a handful of Joe's friends from work. They've just had a lovely dinner celebrating Joe's birthday at Bodega, a laidback Mexican restaurant in the busy port district of Edinburgh, Leith. With the night still young and Margaritas humming in their veins, they all decided to extend Joe's birthday celebration at a club.

There was already a throng of people waiting to get in by the time they arrived at their destination. With everyone in their own party loud and buzzing with excitement, it didn't take long before they caught the attention of a handful of clubbers and Jamie was recognised. Despite the unwanted attention, being a minor celebrity also came with handy perks.

The moment the bouncer saw Jamie, they were all quickly ushered in before they could be swarmed. It may have been unfair to those who had been waiting in the queue, but chaos was instantly prevented.

Taking Claire's hand in his, Jamie put his other hand at the small of her back and guided her through the club, the rest of the group not far behind. They were approached by a smiling beautiful blonde who ignored her and had eyes only for Jamie. By now, Claire was used to it.

"Good evening, Mr Fraser. What a surprise! My name is Morag, and I'm here to take care of yer needs," the blonde cooed, fluttering her eyelashes seductively. It seemed the security had been quick to alert the staff of their arrival and blondie looked thrilled to be assigned as their hostess.

Claire tamped down the urge to roll her eyes as Morag continued to openly flirt. As if reading her mind, Jamie curled his arm around her waist and pulled her in. "We're a party of twelve. If we can have a private room or an area with some privacy, that would be grand," he replied.

Giving Claire a dismissive glance, Morag kept the smile plastered on her face. "Very well, if ye can all follow me, this way please," she said before turning to lead the way.

Although the flashing lights were distracting, Claire noticed the gold velvets, cut glass lighting and state of the art, backlit wall. In as much as she appreciated the decor, she wasn't used to nightclubs and had always favoured pubs to over-priced establishments. R&B music blasted through the speakers, as gyrating bodies jammed the dancefloor and staff shimmied in and out of the crowd.

By the time they all made it to their private room, she relaxed a bit and sat at one of the high tables, while the rest of the group plonked down at the plush sofas. She was surprised it wasn't cut off from the rest of the club. There was a glass wall that gave you a perfect view of the dancefloor. She wondered if people from the outside could see them.

"There is a bouncer right outside, and ye'll have yer own bartender to prepare ye whatever you want from the bar," Morag explained. "The champagne we've placed on the table is on the house. If there is anything else ye need, just ask the bar staff or ask for me."

Jamie thanked Morag and turned his attention to her, wrapping his arms around her waist. "Happy?" he murmured next to her ear. She turned her head and felt his lips tipped up into a smile against her neck. 

"I'm happy when I'm with you," she replied, feeling the music working its way into her bloodstream. "But this place is so posh. The drinks must cost an arm and a leg."

He pulled her against him, resting her head on his chest as she watched the dancers on the dancefloor. "It's a one-off, Sassenach. We're not only celebrating Joe's birthday, but we're also celebrating the end of yer temp job."

"And your award from last week," she added, smiling. "But I'm officially unemployed. Again!"

"About that," he started, linking their hands together and pressing kisses at the side of her neck. "I'm going to see my lawyer, Ned first thing Monday morning. There's a possibility ye could go back to the Royal Infirmary to finish yer residency."

"But Frank ..."

"I ken," he said, tightening his hold around her. "We'll see what Ned says and take it from there. There are other hospitals where ye can apply for yer residency program. All I know so far, Frank is suspended and still under investigation by the board."

"Good." She closed her eyes and tried to relax, but she couldn't help the shudder that coasted down her back. 

"I won't let anything harm ye, ye know that don't ye?" he murmured.

"I know," she sighed.

Geillis suddenly appeared in front of them, breaking their connection. "I was gonnae say, get a room, but I want my friend, Jamie. Ye've been hogging her all week."

Jamie laughed out loud. "By all means," he said, unlinking their hands and hesitantly stepping away. "As long as ye both dinnae get into too much trouble." He turned to Claire and gave her a brief kiss. "I'll be with the lads."

"I'll join you later. I feel like trying the dancefloor..." Claire trailed off as Geillis started to pull her away from Jamie and tug her out of their private party room.

"C'mon lass, let's go to the main bar. It's the only way I'll find my own Jamie," she shouted over the loud music.

Claire rolled her eyes. "Fine, but it's my treat."

"Suit yersel'," Geillis grinned. "Yer the one with a millionaire boyfriend."

Claire glanced back at their glassed private room as they walked further away to the main bar. Although it was dimmed, Jamie and the rest of the group were still visible to the outsiders. She could only hope no one would notice Jamie and that the bouncer would be enough to keep any lurkers at bay.

The main bar was crowded, but they were served swiftly enough. After getting two Dirty Martinis, they settled on the barstools and turned their attention to the dancefloor.

"We'll dance in a bit, aye?" Geillis chirped.

Claire was only half-listening as she saw a familiar figure on the other end of the bar. "Oh fuck," Claire muttered. With so many bodies moving about, she wasn't quite sure if he was with someone.

"What? What is it, hen?" Geillis craned her neck forward and tried to follow the direction of her gaze.

"Jamie's ex-agent," Claire shouted to her friend's ear.

"What? Where? That hot blond there?"

Claire nodded. "Don't go near him, Geillis. He might be easy on the eyes, but he's a rat!"

Geillis took a sip of her drink and slumped. "Ah, bloody hell! All the good looking guys are either taken, a rat or gay."

Claire waggled her eyebrows. "Willie is single," she suggested.

"Not my type," Geillis grumbled. "I like 'em dirty blonde."

"You like them dirty, period," Claire laughed, turning sideways to face Geillis so that Forbes wouldn't see her. She was about to take another sip of her drink when her phone started to vibrate in her purse. Holding up a finger to her friend, she answered her phone and began to move towards the main entrance. "Mrs Crook? Sorry, give me a sec. I'm in a club, and I'm just heading out."

Geillis followed her outside. When they finally faced each other, her friend's brows drew together, giving her a questioning look.

Claire listened to her uncle's neighbour, who she only knew as Mrs Crook. The elderly lady rambled about her uncle collapsing outside of his apartment and being taken to the hospital. 

"What? Which hospital?"

"At the Royal Infirmary, dear. Please hurry. I dinnae ken what's wrong, but he was complaining about a pain in his chest. The ambulance has whisked him away."

Claire tried not to panic, as she took huge calming breaths. "Thank you, Mrs Crook. I'll head immediately to the A&E ..." Without warning the battery on Claire's phone suddenly died.  Ah, bloody hell! Just what I needed.

Claire looked at Geillis. "I have to go. My uncle was taken to the hospital. Please tell Jamie I'm heading to the Royal Infirmary. I can't call him. My phone battery is dead."

"No fucking way ye're going alone. Frank could be there. I'm coming with ye. I'll call Joe to tell Jamie where we're going."

Claire didn't bother explaining to Geillis that Frank was suspended from work, too worried and numb to think of anything else. Uncle Lamb was her only family, and she hoped and prayed she wasn't too late.

Geillis hailed a taxi, quickly hopped right in and before long, they were heading to her former workplace.

[odinsonsobsessed]

Beautifully Complicated || Chapter 15: Moving On

A Tom Hiddleston x OFC Matchmaker AU series by @odinsonsobsessed and @mrshiddleston-uk

Kate Rees just wants some romance in her life, but she hasn’t had the most pleasant dating history. After yet another date gone wrong, she nearly gives up until her work colleague mentions a matchmaking website she’d seen an ad for. Little does she know, the mystery man she’s been matched with is handsome, rising star, Tom Hiddleston. And that’s when things get complicated.

Rated M (18+) || Word Count: 7.3k || Warnings: Swearing, NSFW

A/N: Look what miraculous thing happened this week! Another update! This chapter was another emotionally rough one to write, but it had to be done! I was made aware that the last chapter should have come with a tissue warning, so here it is! This chapter may require tissues, so please have some readily available during visual consumption. Enjoy! ;)

You can also find us on AO3:

@odinsonsobsessed - Mischievousbellerina

@mrshiddleston-uk - Crimson_peak

Likes, Comments and Reblogs are always encouraged and appreciated! Enjoy!

Series Masterlist

The sound of Bobby's distant bark from outside snapped Tom's blank stare at the door, pulling him out of his state of shock. He took a deep breath and let it out before making his way over to the back door to let his dog inside. He'd let him out just before Kate got there in preparation for their lunch date, which he assumed would take a while. How long had he left him outside for? 

The moment Tom opened the door, Bobby raced inside, sniffing around and lingering near the front door as he caught on to Kate's scent. He lifted his head to follow Tom's movement across the living room to plop onto the couch. As if sensing his owner's distress, Bobby trotted over to him and sat at his feet, looking up at him curiously. When Tom didn't acknowledge him like he always did with a smile and scoop him up, Bobby let out a low whine and jumped onto the couch next to him. He curled up next to his side and put his head on Tom's lap, laying there quietly while Tom continuously replayed his break up with Kate. This wasn’t part of the plan for today, this wasn’t supposed to happen. It had come so out of the blue… He thought he and Kate were happy, he thought they were in love. He didn’t know she‘d been thinking something completely different. He knew Charlotte was a touchy subject, but all the other stuff Kate had said about him never being around… he had no idea. Why hadn’t she told him it was all getting too much? She'd always assure him that she was fine, but… had he really made her suffer?

Tom should never have let her leave. He should have tried harder to make her stay, so they could talk and work it out. But he’d been so surprised when she’d told him that she was breaking up with him that he couldn’t think straight. It was like he’d gone into shock. Why had he let her go? His eyes darted around the room in search of his phone. He couldn’t see it anywhere.

“Where the fuck is it?” He growled, launching himself off the sofa, causing Bobby to bark in surprise and run off. He stormed towards the kitchen and straight away he caught sight of his phone lying on the counter. Snatching it up, he tapped at it impatiently, pausing only briefly to check his email notification - details of his flight to America in the next couple of days. Fuck, he was flying out of the country to look at apartments to rent short term while he was filming the movie. Right now he didn’t give a shit about flights, apartments or movies, his thoughts were only filled with Kate. His fingers moved quickly over the screen as he called up her number and let it ring. As he lifted the phone to his ear he realised his hands were shaking. He was a huge ball of nervous energy, shifting from foot to foot as he waited for the call to connect. 

“Hi, this is Kate. I can’t take your call right now, so please leave a message!”

Tom cursed under his breath and ended the call quickly. He didn’t want to leave a message, he wanted to talk to her, ask her to reconsider. God, he’d beg if he had to. He waited another minute before pressing redial and started to pace the kitchen, praying that maybe Kate had just been out of range and that this time it would miraculously ring, rather than going straight to voicemail. But as Kate’s cheerful voicemail message cut in again, he groaned in frustration and hung up again. 

Maybe she just needed some time alone? It wasn’t unreasonable for her to have turned her phone off after what had just happened between them… perhaps he should respect that and leave her alone for a bit. 

Tom sighed, running a hand through his hair as he reasoned with himself.

Maybe if he gave her a couple of days to think about everything, she’d realize how much she missed him? What was that saying? If you love someone, set them free. If they come back, they’re yours, and if they don’t, they never were… 

Tom shook his head at the thought, tears back and ready to fall.

This couldn’t be it, this couldn’t be the end. He just needed to give Kate a couple of days to get her head straight, and if she hadn’t called him by the time he arrived in LA, he would call her again. He just had to try and stop himself from going crazy until then.

The next couple of days were hell. He fought himself every step of the way not to pick up that phone and call Kate. But he promised himself to give her some time. That and he needed to sort through his own thoughts to be able to speak with her properly.

The night before he left for America, he tossed and turned, unable to sleep. After settling on his side, his hand splayed across the empty side of the bed, the side where Kate slept. There was still a faint trace of her perfume on the pillow. He stroked softly over the sheets as he thought about how he loved waking up with her. The way she’d blink sleepily at him and immediately reach for him, nuzzling into his neck as her breath tickled his ear. His bed was so cold without her. He let out a shaky breath which caught in his throat as a tear trickled down his cheek and hit the pillow. He missed her so much his body actually hurt. 

Tom must have eventually fallen asleep because the next thing he knew, his phone was ringing on the cabinet next to his bed. He groaned and rolled over, groping around with his eyes still closed until his hands closed around his phone. He squinted at the display and swiped the screen across, "Yeah.” He mumbled, blinking a few times as his eyes adjusted to the light streaming through the cracks in his curtains. What time was it?

“Good afternoon, Mr. Hiddleston. Just confirming I will be there to pick you up in an hour." His driver replied politely.

An hour? But he wasn’t going until three o'clock that afternoon … Tom turned his head to glance at the clock in confusion and his eyes widened as he bolted upright,  “Fuck." He cursed under his breath. It was nearly two o'clock. 

“Is everything okay, Mr. Hiddleston?”

“Yeah. Yes, everything’s fine. I’ll see you in an hour.” He said quickly and hung up, dropping his phone on the bed. He threw the covers back and swung his legs off the side, getting to his feet and hurriedly grabbing his suitcase from the cupboard. He had to pack, shower, drop Bobby at the dog sitters, and be back in an hour. Yet still in his panic to get himself sorted, all he could think about was Kate. When he got in the shower, her shower gel was on the shelf.  When he opened his cupboard to get out a clean sweater, one of Kate’s blouses was hanging there. When he went to get Bobby's lead to run him around to the sitters, Kate’s umbrella was standing by the front door. She was everywhere. 

The drive to the airport from Tom’s house didn’t take long thankfully, as surprisingly Tom wasn’t ready when his driver arrived. It was nearly a quarter to four when they left and Tom’s manager Luke spent the first ten minutes of the journey reprimanding him for his timekeeping. Tom was sure he wouldn’t have been so hard on him if he’d just told him why, but he wasn’t ready. He didn’t think he could bring himself to utter those words - 

Kate and I have split up. 

Instead, he just stared into his lap and nodded at the appropriate moments as Luke ran through his itinerary for when they landed in L.A.. They pulled up in front of the departures terminal at Heathrow and climbed out of the car, helping the driver with their luggage. As he stood on the pavement, Tom habitually patted his jeans pocket to check for his phone, and his blood ran cold. His pockets were empty. 

“My phone.” He stuttered.

“What’s that?” Luke replied, walking towards him after waving their driver off.

“My phone, it’s still at home. It’s on the bed where I left it when I woke up. Dammit! Get him back!!!” Tom gestured after his car which was now almost out of sight, heading towards the exit. He turned towards Luke with distress clear on his face. “Luke, get him back here! I need my phone!”

He could feel panic rising in his chest. He couldn’t go without his phone. What if Kate tried to call? Shit, he was meant to be calling her after he'd gotten situated at his hotel! He couldn’t leave without it. 

“Mate, we don’t have time! Come on!” Luke was pulling on his arm, practically dragging him onto the terminal.

Conscious of not drawing attention to himself, Tom tried to resist as he pulled back against Luke. “ I need my phone, I-"

“Tom." Luke interrupted him, fixing him with a stern glare. “I don’t know what’s gotten into you today, but we’re already late! We do not have time to go back and get your phone, okay?”

Tom could see people glancing at them as they walked past, and it was only a matter of time before someone recognised him, and he really didn’t need any more shit to deal with today. He reluctantly started to follow Luke towards the terminal. As they were guided through the VIP check in, his manager sighed and shook his head as he caught Tom's deep frown. "Look, we're so close to missing this flight as it is and I really need you to work with me here. You can just use my phone when we arrive in L.A. if it's so important."

Tom didn’t know Kate’s number, not off by heart anyway. “Do you have Kate’s number?” He asked him, already knowing the answer. By now they were being guided along a corridor towards the plane which was already boarding.

“No. Is that what’s got you so antsy? Because you won’t be able to talk to Kate? Just send her an email, tell her you’ve forgotten your phone." Luke replied nonchalantly as they were shown to their seats and stowed their bags in the overhead compartments.

“You don’t understand, it’s not as simple as that. I need to talk to her. I…" 

Tom stopped and huffed irritatedly as he threw himself down into his seat as Luke sat down next to him and chuckled. “You really have got it bad, haven’t you?!”

Tom scowled and turned his head to glare out the window his head a mixture of frustration and anger. Luke didn’t know the half of it.

The moment Tom landed in L.A., he wanted to jump on the next plane back to London and see Kate. How could he have been so stupid? So careless? And why the fuck didn't he memorize Kate's number? He was an actor for God's sake, he was brilliant at remembering lines, so why not a simple phone number? Perhaps he thought he'd never need to, as it was easy to scroll through his phone and click on her name. He should have memorized it or wrote it down anyway and stuck it in his wallet, in case of an emergency. God he couldn't think straight when it came to that woman. However, if he didn't at least screw his head on straight while he was there, he would be miserable during his stay while filming if he didn't pay attention and pick the right apartment. Not that he was exceptionally picky, but he was going to be there for months. His stomach turned at the thought. He should be used to this by now, he'd done it plenty of times. But it was different this time. Kate was in the equation now. Or, she was. He wanted her to be.

Why did this have to happen now? Of all the times, it had to happen just before this damn movie. His time to fix this was narrow before things would get even more complicated. And here he was halfway across the world looking at bloody apartments. Tom was so close to snapping at Luke when they pulled up to the tenth complex. He wanted to tell him to just pick one for him and be done with it so that he could go home. He was tired, he was antsy and just fed up. 

He tried to turn his mood positive and pass the time on the plane ride back by thinking that he might come home to texts and voicemails about Kate making a mistake and wanting to talk. Maybe the last few days of a break gave her enough time to think it over and reconsider?

By the time Tom flew into Heathrow, made it back into town and picked Bobby up from the sitters, it was getting late and he was wiped from the travel and time change. There was no way it'd be a good idea to go and see Kate until he had gotten some sleep in an actual bed. When he returned home, he eagerly checked his bedroom for his phone, finding it on the bed where he'd left it and quickly plugged it in, as it was long dead after having been abandoned for a week. Once his phone had enough juice, he powered it on and waited for his notifications to come through. There were dozens - of course - but the more he scrolled through them, the more disappointed he had become until finally he'd gone through every message, email, and voicemail. That's when his heart sank. Nothing from Kate.

Why hadn't she called, or even texted? She was clearly devastated when she broke up with him, it was clear she cared for him, but he couldn't help but wonder what this meant… Was she moving on? 

He had to find out tomorrow. 

Tom had to make sure he was there for when Kate finished work. On his way to the museum, he stopped at a florist in to get her some flowers. He spent quite some time studying the various bouquets, wanting to pick something perfect. Should he go all out and pick the biggest arrangement they had or should he go for something a little more understated and subtle? After standing there pondering for what seemed like ages, he picked a small bouquet of roses, chamelias, lavender and eucalyptus.

The closer Tom got to the museum, the more nervous and anxious he got to see her again. How would she react to him showing up out of the blue? Would she like the flowers? Would she throw her arms around him and tell him that she missed him? Or would she ignore him and walk the other way? Thinking back, he probably should have called her first… but there was no backing out now. 

With the bouquet of flowers in hand and having just turned onto the street, he saw the museum come into view. Just another minute and he'd be there. Just one more corner and across the street. He could feel his heart starting to beat faster as he glanced at the bouquet and smiled. He knew roses were Kate’s favourite flower and she had a little window box of Lavender in her flat, so he was quietly confident the flowers would be perfect. As he rounded the corner opposite the museum, he stopped dead. 

There, waiting outside the exit, leaning casually against the wall was Zack. No. No, no, no, NO. He couldn’t talk to Kate while Zack was there! Tom tried to think quickly. Maybe he could duck around to the other side of the museum and try to catch Kate before Zack got to her? Suddenly out the corner of his eye he saw the door to the museum open, and Kate emerged with Roxy. 

Seeing her again was like a dagger straight through his heart. His stomach flipped as he watched the two women share a brief exchange before laughing. Kate gave Roxy a wave goodbye, and turned towards Zack. As she approached him, Zack pushed himself off the wall and smiled at her, opening his arms and hugging her for several moments. He frowned, trying to lip read what Zack was saying, but with his face half obscured by Kate’s hair it was impossible. 

Tom took a couple of small steps back as Kate and Zack started to walk away from him, Kate linking her arm through Zack's, both of them completely oblivious to the disappointed, broken man standing there watching them from the pavement opposite them. As they disappeared from sight, merging into the other crowds of people making their way home in the rush hour, Tom turned away and began to walk slowly back home, his head down and his shoulders slumped. 

Of course she was going to be spending time with Zack. Tom wasn’t his biggest fan but he was Kate’s best friend and obviously one of the first people she would have turned to when they broke up. Tom tried to ignore the thoughts of Kate and Zack spending their evenings together, curled up on her sofa eating takeaways and talking for hours, almost certainly about him. How much had Kate told him? What advice had Zack given her? Perhaps she was okay without him, perhaps she was already over him and enjoying being single again, spending time with her friends and go out and do whatever she wanted. The thought of Kate having forgotten about him already made Tom feel sick.

Arriving home, Tom wandered aimlessly towards his kitchen with the flowers still in his hand. He looked down at them, wondering what to do with them. He ended up just sticking them in a jug of water and leaving them on the counter while he busied himself making some dinner and seeing to Bobby, and definitely not thinking about Kate.

The next week was a blur of final meetings and arrangements before Tom left for LA to start filming. Yet still Tom’s thoughts were all consumed by Kate. He still hadn’t heard from her, and he’d been so ridiculously busy that he hadn’t even had a moment to himself to try and speak to her again. But he knew that he couldn’t leave without seeing her, without trying to make this right. By Thursday evening he finally had some time to himself and he knew exactly what he had to do. It was time for someone to make a move and possibly sort this out, or at least be able to put it past them.

He knew Kate would be at home that night, she never liked to go out too much during the week as her job was so busy that she preferred to spend weekday evenings just relaxing and unwinding. Checking the time as he pulled his jacket on, Tom was sure she would be home by now - it was nearly eight o'clock. The flowers from a week ago had become a brown, wilted mess and since then been thrown out, so he decided to stop by the supermarket on his way to Kate’s flat and pick up a bottle of wine instead. They could sit down, have a drink and talk this all through. They could make this right. Picking up his keys and his phone from the side, Tom hesitated - should he call her first? No, he was past the point of wanting to call her, he needed to see her. If he called first, would she just ignore his call or refuse to answer the door, knowing he'd just try to reach her? He wanted to catch her off guard, so he could gage her true reaction to seeing him. They’d be fine, it was all going to work out, he was sure of it. 

Tom walked quickly down the road towards Camden. It was a relatively short distance and he figured the walk would help him get things straight in his head and work through all the things he wanted to say. His only stop was at Tesco to get the wine. He took his time in choosing the right bottle - a nice Rioja, not too dry because Kate hated dry wine. She would screw her face up and shiver as she swallowed, and Tom had thought it was adorable and hilarious all at once. Clutching the bottle tightly and still smiling to himself as he remembered Kate’s dislike of dry wine, he made his way towards the till. Tom was paying very little attention to people around him and distracted by his thoughts, until he knocked into someone and nearly sent the wine smashing to the ground.

“Oh, I’m so sorry." He mumbled, regaining his grip on the bottle and looking up at the person he had pretty much head on collided with. As their eyes met, both their expressions turned from apologetic to something a little darker. They stared at each other for a moment before the other man spoke first.

“Hello Tom.” Zack said, his face straight and hint of disapproval in his voice.

“Zack… Hi.” Tom stuttered, taken aback at seeing him again. Real smooth, Tom.

They stood in silence for a few seconds, almost squaring up to each other, although Tom had a good few inches on Zack. The air was loaded, filled with things both men wanted to say to each other yet neither started to speak. Eventually Tom shifted uncomfortably, rubbing the back of his head.

“How, um… How are you?”

Zack observed him silently for a few more moments before he replied flatly, “I’m fine."

“And Kate?” The words were out of Tom’s mouth before he could stop himself. He inwardly cursed as he tried to read Zack's expression but he remained straight faced. 

“She’s fine, too. I’m actually just on my way back to her place now, I’ve just popped out to grab a few bits for dinner. I’ve been staying with her, you see.” He added smugly, with a small smile.

“Right.” Tom mumbled. He didn’t know what to say, he didn’t know what to think. Zack had completely thrown him. He could usually handle situations like this easily but right now he was at a loss for words and feeling irrationally intimidated by the guy. 

“I can only assume that’s where you were heading next, too." Zack said, glancing down at the bottle that Tom was gripping so hard, his knuckles were turning white.

“I… um…"

Zack took a step towards Tom, “Let me save you a trip, mate. She’s not interested. Don’t humiliate yourself by going round there and begging for her to take you back. You were too stupid to see what an amazing woman you had and now it’s too late. You let her go and she’s better off without you.”

Zack looked him up and down one more time and stepped back, bending over to pick up his basket and starting to walk away.

“But I didn’t want any of this! She broke up with me!” Tom blurted. 

Zack stopped and turned back to Tom. “She did. And she’s moved on. She doesn’t need you anymore."

“Are you…” Tom started as Zack walked away without looking back. Now he understood - Kate had moved on and he was pretty sure she’d moved on with Zack.

By the time Zack got back from the shop, Kate had decided that he needed to go home tonight. It was time for her to be brave and get on with her life without Tom. She reminded herself that this was her doing, so she had to deal with the consequences. That didn’t mean it hurt any less, or that it was going to be easy. But she couldn’t keep relying on Zack anymore. She’d nearly single handedly ruined their lifelong friendship earlier tonight and as soon as he walked back through the door she began apologizing again, even more so when she noticed how on edge he seemed to be as he busied himself preparing their food.

“Kate, honestly, it’s okay. I understand." He assured her as he emptied ingredients into the saucepan for their stir fry. Kate hovered nervously as he stared at the pan, seemingly avoiding eye contact with her.

“Are you alright?”

“I’m fine.” Zack sighed and finally looked at her, “I guess we’re both feeling a little weird after earlier, and then when I was at the shops I ran into…” He paused and glanced at the floor.

“Into who?” Kate pressed him to finish.

Looking back up at her, Zack shook his head, “Just this guy I know, but don’t really like. It was nothing. Don’t worry about it, it’s not important.” He reached out and patted her shoulder reassuringly “Go grab me some plates, this is just about ready."

Thinking nothing more of it, Kate laid some plates out on the table and opened a bottle of wine as Zack served their food and they sat down to eat. They chatted for a while about work and the series they’d just finished watching on Netflix and as they fell silent again, Kate knew she had to broach the subject of Zack going home.

“Hey, Zack? I was thinking earlier…”

Zack looked up and her and frowned, “Wow, did it hurt?” He smirked and Kate giggled as she tried to kick him under the table. 

“Stop it, I’m being serious!”

Zack put his knife and fork down and leaned back in his chair, picking up his glass and taking a sip, “Sorry, Sorry! Do go on. You were thinking…?”

“Maybe it’s time for me to be me again. I can’t keep you here with me forever in case I have a wobble. I think perhaps you should go home.”

Zack watched Kate intently before nodding slowly “Yeah, I mean, if you’re sure? I don’t mind saying here with you for as long as you want me to.”

Kate reached across the table and squeezed his forearm, “I know, and I really appreciate it and it’s been great having you here. But I think it’s time I try to get back to a normal life without you holding my hand the whole time."

Zack smiled and closed his hand over hers, “But just remember I’m always here to hold your hand if you need me to, okay? I’m only ever a phone call away.”

Kate felt tears stinging at her eyes as she smiled at her best friend. After everything she’d done earlier, he was still so understanding and supportive. He was her best friend.

“Thank you, Zack.”

They ate the rest of their dinner and then Kate helped Zack pack up the few of his bits that were scattered around her flat. He stayed for a little while longer while they finished off the bottle of wine and watched a couple of episodes of Friends, and by then it was quite late. They said their goodbyes and after agreeing to talk the next day as they usually did, Zack was gone and Kate was alone. She could do this. Life went on, with or without Tom.

For the next couple of weeks, life did indeed go on, and Kate started to believe she was getting through this. She started to smile more, laugh more. She realised she wasn’t thinking about Tom quite as much. He was still there, firmly in her mind and she still missed him like crazy, but it was bearable so she was taking that as a positive. 

When the text came, Kate was thirty seven pages deep in an article about lace preservation, her glasses propped on top of her head and her pen in her mouth as she chewed on it absentmindedly. When her phone bleeped she glanced at it disinterestedly, before going back to her article. Suddenly her eyes went wide and she looked back to her phone as her brain registered who the message was from. She made a noise which resembled a cross between a suffocating whale and a strangled cat, starting to flap her hands erratically as she stared at the screen. Opposite her, Roxy looked up in confusion,

“What the fuck? You okay there girl?”

“Tom!” Kate stuttered, “I’ve got a text from Tom!”

Suddenly taking more interest, Roxy bolted upright, “Shit! What does it say?”

Standing up so quickly that her chair tipped over backwards, Kate started pacing the small area around her desk “I don’t know!”

Roxy laughed at her, "Well, don't you think you ought to take a look?"

"Well yes, but…" Kate glanced at her phone again and chewed on her bottom lip.

“Do you want me to read it?” Roxy asked, getting up and walking around to Kate’s desk.

“Yes… no... Oh fuck, I don’t know!” Kate ran her hand through her hair as Roxy picked her chair up and guided her back down onto it. "It's-It's been over a month since I've heard from him! And-"

“Kate, breathe.” She picked up her phone and held it towards her, “Read the text."

Kate took a deep breath and gingerly took the phone from Roxy, who then perched on the edge of her desk with her arms folded, watching Kate. Her hands were shaking as she unlocked her phone and opened the message.

Hi Kate, I hope you’re well. I’ve found a few of your things at my house and was wondering if you needed them. I could drop them round tonight? Tom.

Kate turned her screen around and held it out to Roxy. She read the text and raised an eyebrow as she looked back at Kate, “So what’s your answer? Did you leave stuff at his house?”

Kate shrugged, “Probably. I think there’s a blouse and I think I left one of my umbrellas…? Maybe some shower gel and a toothbrush?”

Roxy nodded, waiting for Kate to go on. All Kate could do was stare at her phone and try to control her breathing. This was the first contact her and Tom had had since their breakup. 

“What do I say?” She squeaked, looking back to Roxy.

"Well, do you want your things back?"

"I mean… it would be nice to have them, yes."

"An even bigger question… Do you want to see him?"

Kate blew out a deep breath and tipped her head back, closing her eyes. After a moment she opened them again and looked at her friend, “I think I do want to see him.”

Roxy eyed her cautiously, “Do you want me to come back to yours with you so I can be there when he comes round?”

Kate shook her head, “It’s okay, Rox. I need to do this alone. Maybe we can talk. Maybe…” She paused and shrugged, “I don’t know. Maybe I’m getting my hopes up for nothing.” 

"Just meet with him and see what happens. He's going away to film for a while, right? Don't regret passing up an opportunity to see him before he leaves."

"You're right." Kate hit reply and quickly typed out a message.

Hi Tom. If you could drop them over tonight that would be great. I’ll be home at the usual time. Kate.

Tom’s response was almost instant.

No problem. See you later.

Kate didn’t get to page thirty eight of her article. She spent the rest of the afternoon unable to concentrate, her head filled with thoughts about that evening. Were her things just an excuse for Tom to see her? Was he going to tell her how much he missed her and beg her to reconsider? Again her head fought her heart as she desperately hoped he might ask her to work things out and then she reminded herself there was a reason she’d done all this in the first place. She was just starting to get over him, and this meeting could wreck everything. 

Despite all this, she found herself ducking out of work early and rushing home as quickly as she could so that she could get changed and touch up her hair and make up. She didn't want to regret refusing him, just as Roxy had said.

Kate sat impatiently on the sofa, fidgeting constantly and checking the time, wondering when he would arrive. When her bell finally rang, she practically sprinted to the door. She checked her reflection in the mirror and took several deep breaths to try and calm her nerves. Slowly, she opened the door and there he was. 

“Hi.” He gave her half a smile.

“Hi.” Kate replied, as she tried to focus on her breathing. He looked as incredible as ever, even in a simple navy sweater and dark jeans. She stepped back, opening the door wider and gesturing for him to come in. He moved forwards into the flat and Kate closed the door behind him, following him towards the living room where he was standing, looking a little uncomfortable. He turned as she walked towards him and held out a bag.

“I’ve been packing and getting ready to go to LA, that’s when I found your things.”

Kate took the bag from him, the tips of their fingers just brushing against each other, but still sending that familiar spark through Kate’s body. As she made eye contact with him, she was hit with a longing of being able to wake up to those beautiful blue eyes staring back at her. When his fingers would skim across her hip and light up her whole body. When a soft smile would stretch across his features and whisper that sexy little Good morning, Kate.

“I think that’s everything.” Tom added, pulling her from her thoughts. Oh God, she had been staring. She realized he wasn’t smiling. In fact his, expression seemed solemn and emotionless.

“Thanks.” Kate replied, cheeks tinted pink. As he plunged his hands into his pockets, he looked around the room uneasily. 

Come on Kate, say something! 

“So, when do you leave?”

“Friday, so just a couple of days away now."

“Exciting.” Kate added, although she didn’t mean it. It was selfish, but she didn't want him to go.  She didn't want him to go and get on with his life. She wanted him to miss her as much as she missed him and that he wanted to work things out.

“Yes. Yes, I suppose it is.” Tom replied, yet he seemed not to think so either.

Kate watched him silently for a few minutes as his eyes darted around the room before settling on the floor. God, this was awkward. She’d never seen Tom like this before, even when they first met and they hardly knew each other. Was he just as nervous as her? She didn’t know what else to say or do. 

Should she bring up their relationship and the last time they saw each other? Perhaps they needed some alcohol to loosen them both up a bit. Tom didn’t look like he was in a rush to leave, yet at the same time he didn’t really look like he wanted to be there. Kate knew him well enough to be pretty certain there was something else he wanted to say though.

“Would you like a drink?” She asked.

Tom looked up from whatever he had been staring at so intently on her carpet and half smiled again. “No, thank you. I really can’t stay, but I needed to say something. Can we sit down for a moment?” He gestured towards the sofa and Kate nodded. Silently, they both moved towards it and Tom waited as Kate sat down before sitting on the edge of the sofa opposite her. 

Kate’s emotions started to build and get the better of her. Was he about to declare his undying love for her? Was that why he was being so weird, because he was nervous? Did he think she was going to reject him?

She watched expectantly as Tom picked at his thumbnail, like he didn’t know where to start. After a few moments he eventually spoke. “Listen, Kate, I…" He took a long pause, "I just wanted to say that there’s no hard feelings.”

Kate’s stomach dropped as she looked at him as he continued “It’s good that you’ve moved on, and I’m pleased for you. I only ever wanted you to be happy and I honestly hope that everything works out for you." Tom finally looked up at her, meeting her gaze. “I really do mean that from the bottom of my heart. You’re one of the sweetest, most caring people I’ve ever met and you deserve the world. I genuinely wish you nothing but the best. I guess some things just aren’t meant to be and you know, you have to accept that and move forwards, and we’re both doing that." He paused and shrugged, “So… yeah. I just wanted to say that.” 

“I…” Kate tried to talk but she couldn’t. Tears started to prick at her eyes as she realized that today hadn’t been about Tom wanting her back, it had been about Tom wanting closure. She couldn't break down again, not in front of him and especially not after the speech he’d just given her. His expression remained stoic as he sniffed and got to his feet. He looked towards the door, avoiding eye contact with her again. 

“I should probably get going. I have a lot to do before leaving.”

Kate knew if she tried to say anything she’d just break down, so instead she nodded and stood up, following him towards the door. He paused with his hand on the handle and looked back at her, and she wasn’t sure if there were tears in his eyes too. 

“Goodbye Kate." 

He opened the door and ducked out, closing it again behind him as Kate stood there speechless. God, she was so stupid. Why had she let herself believe that they were going to get back together? She thumped her fists on the door with a frustrated shout before turning around and leaning back against it, sliding to the floor as the tears started to spill down her cheeks. 

Kate couldn’t believe she’d agreed to this. After her meeting with Tom a couple of days ago, she felt like she’d taken two steps backwards in her efforts to get over him. In an attempt to cheer her up and take her mind off it, Roxy and Zack had decided to take her out for the evening. As she stood at the counter of the packed bar waiting to be served, she wished she’d never allowed them to talk her into it. Her dress was too tight, her heels were too high, and her make up was too heavy. She just wanted to go home and change into her tracksuit bottoms, pull her hair up into a messy ponytail and fall asleep on the sofa watching reruns of Friends. The only saving grace for the evening was the cheap alcohol, and even that wasn’t really raising any enthusiasm in her. But she would try and enjoy herself for the sake of her friends, after everything they’d done for her over the last few weeks, it was only fair. And while she just wasn't feeling it, she appreciated the gesture.

Finally making her way to the front of the queue, Kate ordered their drinks and fought her way back over to the table where Roxy and Zack were deep in conversation, giggling away together like a couple of school kids. For every one drink Kate had, that pair had had two, and they were well on their way to being pretty drunk. Kate was taking things much slower, not trusting herself to get too over emotional if she got drunk. The last thing she wanted to do was end up calling or texting Tom with some declaration of drunken unrequited love. 

As she squeezed into her seat, Roxy nudged her with a grin. “That guy over there has been watching you all night.” 

Kate looked in the direction of Roxy's inebriated pointing, and caught the eye of a dark haired man standing near the DJ. He smiled and winked at her, but Kate quickly looked away again.

“You should go talk to him!" Roxy encouraged.

“Too soon Rox, too soon.” Interrupted Zack, taking another sip of his beer. 

Roxy turned to him, frowning. “It’s just harmless fun! It’s not like she has to marry him or anything!”

Roxy turned back to Kate, waiting for her to say something. She shook her head and stared into her wine, “Zack’s right, Roxy. It’s too soon. I can’t…..” She sighed and tucked her hair behind her ear. She was not going to cry in the middle of this packed out bar. “I just don’t feel ready for that yet - any of that. Not even talking.”

“Let’s dance then!” Zack bellowed, spreading his arms wide. Kate rolled her eyes as Roxy cheered and stood up. Before she knew it she was being pulled to her feet. 

“Guys. Guys, wait!" She raised her voice a bit so she could be heard over the music as Zack tried to spin her around. "I think I’m gonna call it a night.” 

Zack stopped and looked at her sadly, “But it’s only early!”

“Zack, it’s gone midnight. My feet are killing me and I’m pretty tired.” She looked between her two friends as they pouted at her like sulking children. “You two should stay here and enjoy yourselves."

"No, I'm walking you home." Zack made a movement for his jacket, but Kate put her hand on his forearm. 

"It's okay, Zack, really. Don't make Roxy party here by herself. You should stay and have fun."

After studying her for a moment, his shoulders relaxed as he sighed. “Will you be okay walking home on your own?” Zack was so protective, always looking out for her.

Kate reached for him and gave him a hug, “I’ll be fine. I could do with the fresh air."

“Text me as soon as you’re home." Roxy butted in, shoving Zack to one side so she could hug Kate, too. A few minutes later after a few more reassurances that she would be ok, Kate was finally on her way home, walking barefoot with her shoes in her hand. 

Within ten minutes she was home, dropping her shoes by the front door and heading straight for her bedroom to peel off that damn dress and get into her comfy clothes. She took her contact lenses out and pulled her hair up into a bun on the top of her head and collapsed on the sofa with a satisfied moan. 

Reaching for her phone, she sent Roxy a text to say she was home safely, and then started to scroll half heartedly through the days news. Politics, crime, celebrity gossip, just the usual stuff. Kate kept scrolling until one story made her freeze. Before she could stop herself she’d clicked on the article and was staring at a photo of Tom. Her eyes skimmed over the caption underneath -

Upon arriving in LA, Tom Hiddleston looks tired and miserable from his long flight from London, but the moment he sees his costar, Charlotte Harper, he's all smiles.

Kate drew in a breath as she continued reading - the article went on to describe how Tom had looked glum as he few out of London that morning but was met by Charlotte at LAX where he was suddenly seeming to be in a good mood as they greeted each other affectionately. Kate looked at the photos, examining them closely. Tom was practically beaming as Charlotte approached him. The following photo of them hugging made Kate’s stomach turn. She threw her phone down on the sofa and bit her lip, fighting back yet more tears. Only two days ago, Tom had told her he’d moved on, and this was obviously what he meant. Tom had moved on with Charlotte.

@fandom-and-feminism @fadingcoast @igotloki @nikkalia @manager-of-mischief @spidey-bites @dangertoozmanykids101 @xxloki81xx @furstinnajoelle @just-the-hiddles @wholelottatiffy @libbymouse @kitsuneharo12 @michelegurl @I-cant-remember-my-old-login @thathedonistgirl @vethrvolnir2 @fairlightswiftly @jessiejunebug @ihthr @devilbat @exbandragirl @joyofbebbanburg @sabine-leo @mandapanda8 @officiallyunofficialperson @wolfsmom1 @littlefrogstuff @writingmi @drakesfiance @scorpionchild81 @little-moonbeam--666 @canadianjelly @originalsoulcollector @gorgeous1974 @teylacarter91 @stubby-toe-589331 @kcd15 @sterwild

[moshymosh]

Feel the beat of my heart 3

Photo credit: First pic: Late Night Discoveries via tumblr, (Found it on WeHeartIt, and the credit was given to them.) Second pic: dont-try-to-pursue-the-happines on tumblr (Found this on WeHeartIt as well, the credit is listed to this person.)

Pairing: Bucky Barnes x Deaf!Enhanced!Reader

Series Warnings: SMUT, Past abusive relationship, depression/ depressing themes/thoughts, Fluff, Angst, Mutal Pining

Warnings: Mentions of domestic violence (massive trigger warning, please read the A/N.) Slight Fluff, Panic attacks, mentions of some non-domestic violence, Angry Bucky

A/N: If you’re in a domestic violence situation, there are people who want to help you get out of that. Here is the domestic violence hotline number 1-800-799-7233 (this is the US one I could not find the one for Canada and the UK) In NO way am I trying to make fun of the victims of these situations, its a very real thing. I want to give hope to those that are in these types of situations, give them hope that you can get out. That being said this is the third part, this part is a doozy I had a little trouble writing the ending because it made me think of all the men and women and non-binary people who feel as if they can’t escape something like that. Some feedback about this part is really encouraged due to not getting many likes on the last part, if the same happens here this may be put on hold for a later time or never picked up again. Again here is the Hotlines number 1-800-799-7233

Y/N woke up to the lights flickering in her bedroom, a glance at her clock on the side table told her it was two in the afternoon, getting up with a sigh, she went to the panel on the wall. When she got there, the screen lit up with the picture version of F.R.I.D.A.Y. who greeted her.

"Good morning, Y/N. My records say that today is Y/B/D. So Happy Birthday Y/N. This series of flashing lights is to let you know that your presence is requested in the gym. Steve said that they want to see how much training you require to get you mission ready. There will be an interpreter there, so there is easy communication between your teammates." A.I. signed to her. F.R.I.D.A.Y. gave her directions to the gym, and Y/N went to her closet to get changed into workout gear instead of her embarrassing bunny slippers, old pink Juicy sweatpants and matching pink shirt.

Y/N was walking into the gym as she pulled her hair up into a messy bun on top of her head, her black hearing aids visible. She noticed the interpreter and went over to greet her, and the whole team minus Tony, Clint, and Banner. Peter was off at school.

"Hello, I'm Y/N." She signed her sign name and spelled it out, so the female interpreter, Sarah, knew what to call her. "What's up? I was told to come here by F.R.I.D.A.Y." Little did Y/N know that this interpreter was also the A.S.L. teacher that Tony hired to teach them.

"We want to see what all you can do, minus the full extent of your powers. We know you can feel the vibrations of the people in the room, even without them moving and without seeing them." Steve said, and the interpreter followed along with him, telling Y/N what he had said.

"Ok. Where do you want me, and who all am I supposed to be fighting?" Y/N signed with a small smirk on her face, thinking about the self-defense classes she took after her ex got arrested. Sarah relayed what she signed.

"Just stand in the middle of that large mat, and you'll be fighting all of us." Steve said, watching Y/N take off her hearing aids, the sound as she took them off her ears, almost like the sound of microphone feedback before she switched the power off. She walked her way to a small table that held towels and water bottles, setting the black pair against the table's surface.

"Don't let me forget those. They might be old, but I paid a lot of money for them, and I don't want to lose them." Y/N signed to Sarah so that she would remind her about them. When she got a nod from Sarah, she turned in walked to the middle of the mat, stretching her shoulders and neck as the team formed a large circle around her. She looked at Steve signing as she closed her eyes, knowing Sarah would say her words for her. "Bring it on then."

As she closed her eyes, she automatically distinguished who she was fighting from all the people in the room. She felt one presence sprinting towards her, their hands raised as if to punch her. She grabbed their wrist when they got in range of her and sent an uppercut to their jaw, sending them flying onto their back all within an instant, barely breaking a sweat. She continued fighting all her teammates, all while keeping her eyes closed, moving around smoothly as if she was doing this with her eyes open. She was countering whatever attacks were thrown her way and so on.

Y/N huffed as she felt Sarah's hand on her shoulder, knowing to open her eyes. When she did, she looked at all her teammates lying on the floor around her, and her eyes gravitated to Bucky, who was laid on the floor in a starfish position looking dazed as he panted softly. Steve was the first one up, rubbing his jaw and neck as he walked over to her. At this motion, she deduced this was the person who she sent an uppercut straight to his jaw.

"If I were a normal person, my jaw would've been broken." He said, smiling widely. Y/N looked at Sarah and grinned.

"I'd say she doesn't need a lot of training, maybe only on how to shoot a gun if needed." Tony said as he came up behind her squeezing her shoulders. Y/N flinched slightly and tried to shrug it off as she was stretching, but everyone noticed, minus Bucky, who was still on the floor.

"Is Bucky ok?" Y/N signed and looked at the lump of a man that was Bucky on the floor which held up the universal sign for 'i'm good." At this, Y/N giggled and nodded as she headed back to her hearing aids. She slid the molds into one ear and fitted the rest around her ear, turning the first one on, she pushed the second one into her other ear, knowing that the other one would sync up to the beginning. Y/N started making a clicking noise as she adjusted the sound volume on the first hearing aid. Once it set right, she looked at everyone who looked at her with questioning looks on their faces, even Bucky, who was now propped up on his elbows.

"What?" Y/N signed as she looked around at everyone.

"Why did you make that clicking noise when you were messing with your hearing aids?" Natasha asked. Natasha knew that it was unusual to hear because Clint didn't do that when he turned his on.

Y/N's face held a smile as she looked down bashfully, looking back up she started to sign." I was adjusting the volume on them because when I turn them off, they automatically go back to no sound. Part of it's because they're old and part of it's because they're broken. I click because if I can hear the clicks with the hearing aids, I know I set it loud enough, but since my sounds are different than yours. All your voices are much louder than my clicks."

Everyone nodded in understanding before Tony held a finger up. "I can make your hearing aids for you."

Y/N shook her head "No because you'll make them so powerful that I'll hear if Sam farts five stories away from me." She signed with a laugh, everyone following her. A "Hey!" coming from the man mentioned above. "If you make me some, make them the same as these just not as shitty."

Bucky was now stood up, giving a knowing nod at Tony. Bucky took a deep breath then signed, not as well as Y/N and Sarah but well enough for someone who only had one long class of A.S.L. "Want to go to the kitchen, we can all sit and chat there."

Y/N looked at him, her mouth agape, eyes wide in shock at the fact he was signing at her, she then turned a look to Tony. Who, with everyone in the room began to spell out their names in the A.S.L. alphabet.

"Woah Woah Woah! Time out! Whose idea was this, and who taught you in what a matter of a couple of hours?" Y/N signed out her hands, shaking from excitement and shock. She looked at Sarah, who raised her hand.

"I taught them." Sarah signed.

"It was my idea." Bucky signed as he came up beside Sarah He grinned as Y/N's hands came up to cover her mouth, physically saying a muffled and distorted 'Oh My God.'

After the shock was over, the whole team headed to the kitchen that was attached to the common room. All the way, Y/N had a full conversation in sign with Bucky. The two were shyly throwing flirts back and forth in their discussion. When Y/N stepped into the room, being that she and Bucky were the last to leave the gym. She looked at the dimmed lights and then to the faint glow of Pepper, with the help of Tony, holding a large cake that had "Happy Birthday Y/N!" written on it with lit candles dotted around the cake.

Y/N began to shake with fear, a panic attack soon hitting her as she shook her head side to side, tears streaming down her cheeks. She began to back out of the kitchen into the hallway, signing "No." over and over. Bucky looked at her, then the cake making a connection. He then slid around in front of her. Her back was now facing the room as she struggled to calm her breathing.

"Hey, Y/N," Bucky said softly, knowing she could hear him with the help of the amplifiers in her ears Y/N looked up at the tall man who was now soothingly rubbing her upper arms up and down. He pulled his hands back, formulating the signs in his head. "Is it the cake or candles?"

Y/N signed a shaky "Candles." Bucky relayed the information to the shocked group of people still surrounding the pair holding the cake. Tony then quickly blew the candles out and removed them before setting the cake on the counter. Bucky steered Y/N to the couches and sat with her, beginning to rub her back in circles as her panic began to subside.

The team began to sit down around her, in worry for the shook up girl who was curled up on the couch, knees tucked up under her chin. When Y/N felt like she was sufficiently calmed, she untucked her knees and looked down at her friends. "Something happened to me involving candles." She said, folding her hands down on her lap, looking at Bucky for some comfort, wishing he could engulf her into a tight hug and never let go.

Y/N sighs as she looks back down at her hands. Bucky could sense her discomfort and continued to rub soothing circles on her back in an attempt to calm her down and comfort her.

"Hey Y/N, you don't have to tell us if you're not comfortable." Natasha signed to her when Y/N finally looked up.

Y/N shook her head, signing, "No, It's fine. I think it's time I told someone what had happened. I didn't have anyone to tell. I never told my own family the whole story, and I even told them that it was my fault about the bruises and broken bones. I trust you guys." Y/N looked around at all the new friends she amassed recently. "I dated a man about two years ago. Before I moved to New York. Like any relationship that escalates to domestic violence, it started ok." She took a shaky breath and continued

"Then everything turned for the worst about around the one year mark. We moved in with each other, and my silent life became a loud nightmare. My pained screams fell on deaf ears of people who could very much hear them." Y/N rubbed her hands together in an attempt to calm her startled nerves of thinking back on the memories of her time with the man. She looked over at Bucky, who gave her a sad smile and nodded his head slightly, mouthing 'It's ok.'

"The night I got him arrested was on my birthday two years ago. He decided he wanted to play a 'Joke' on me." Y/N signed putting air quotes around the word joke. " He pushed my face into the cake, I know it would've been funny if I was with anyone else but him. He put those stupid trick candles on it, the ones that you can't blow out." As Y/N signed, this Bucky looked at her face noticing the silvery signs of a scar that he never saw before. Bucky began to grow angry at the sight, having to unclench his fist that wasn't rubbing her back in fear of breaking his hand.

"The left side of my head caught on fire... " She trailed off as she took another shaky breath " He just laughed, but he was an idiot. He didn't notice that I had someone install security cameras around the apartment."  Y/N smiled at the memory of the look of shock on her ex-boyfriend's face when she told the officers about the cameras and where to find the backup videos. If he wasn't in handcuffs, she was sure at the time that he would've killed her.

"I had them installed because some of my more valuable things started to go missing. It turns out that my ex and his buddies were pawing my stuff for drug money." She felt Natasha laugh beside her and smiled back at the redhead who looked at her with smug pride at her actions.

"I got out with my life and my mental state semi-intact." Y/N signed and then turned her head to show everyone who had the looks of a mixture of anger at the man who could do things to someone so kind and pride at her actions to get away from that type of person. Y/N turned her head to the right so that the left side of her face was to the group and lifted her Y/H/L Y/H/C out of the way, revealing her burns scars. These scars covered the left side of her temple and spread back to just past her left ear. The silver scars and the bald spot from the scars that reached into her hair on full display for her new family. "My hair will never fully grow back in that spot if it grows back at all."

Bucky felt the anger he still held in his body towards the man who hurt Y/N, subside slightly at the pride he felt for her brave actions and how she always holds herself high after all the hardship her ex put her through. At the sight of her scars, he itched to kiss the silvery lines and run his fingers through her hair. He wanted to do this in hopes that he could ease some of her pain away, to give her form of comfort. He suppressed the feeling because they were not a couple, as much as they both wished they were. Bucky had no idea of Y/N feelings for him and Bucky's feelings for her.

Y/N was saying thank you to whatever gods and their saints that blessed her with the comforting feeling of Bucky's warm hand rubbing soothing circles on her back, that's what grounded her to complete her story without panicking and crying again. Bucky was smiling at her as she leaned into his touch, giving him a sideways hug. Bucky knew the feeling of how perfectly Y/N's body fit up against him that he was thoroughly in love with her.

Bucky vowed to himself and her, at that moment, that nothing would ever hurt her again if he had a say in it.

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A/N Pt 2 : I know I made the reader put her hair up in the gym, everyone could have seen the scars but they way I wanted to write it and hopefully achieved that, is that they were too busy to notice it, or thought that it wasn't important or caused by her hearing aids