#and my caroline muse came back

[mousy-nona]

First — I love your work and your account! Your characterization is incredible and I really enjoy your style. Second — Radioapple prompt! I know its a common one in the fandom, but I love the concept of them dancing/getting to know each other through mutual love of music. Not too specific, but I think it definitely has room to be cute! <3

A major sacrifice

But clueless at the time

Enter, Caroline

Just trust me, you'll be fine

“What is that noise?”

Lucifer turned around warily. It was always good to be wary around Alastor. “Music.”

Alastor gave him a Look. It was his “Don’t Be An Obtuse Idiot” look, the one he saved just for Lucifer. 

He sighed. “It’s a song. The humans come up with some interesting stuff when left to their own devices.” He waved to the radio sitting on his desk. “It took a bit of work, but I managed to figure out how to connect this old thing to some of Earth’s music stations.” 

Alastor’s ears twitched, a surefire sign he was interested and trying not to show it. He lowered himself down onto the other side of the sofa, and they listened in silence together. 

And when I'm back in Chicago, I feel it

Another version of me, I was in it

I wave goodbye to the end of beginning.

“I’ve never heard of these instruments,” Alastor mused. 

“Synth? It’s a pretty new invention. I believe it was heavily popular around the 1980s, and it’s gone in and out of style since then. What do you think?”

“It doesn’t have as much soul as a good saxophone or a piano riff, but it’s not horrible.” Alastor admitted. “I don’t suppose humans on Earth still listen to singers like Ella Fitzgerald?”

“Hard to match a once-in-a-lifetime artist like Ella,” Lucifer remarked. Alastor snapped his fingers, his eyes gleaming with pure, genuine delight. It was rare to see him so excited about anything that didn’t have anything to do with blood or death, and Lucifer drank it in like a man dying of thirst. 

“Exactly,” Alastor grinned. “I see you don’t have completely irredeemable taste in music.”

“She’s fantastic, but you will not believe some of the stuff they have up there now.”

Alastor glanced at him with poorly disguised interest. “You don’t say? Do you happen to listen to these stations quite often?”

“Every night.” 

Alastor paused, as if weighing his next words. “Would you mind a little company?”

The smile that exploded from Lucifer was unexpected – but not unwanted. And that was how the king of Hell and the Radio Demon declared a truce every night, between the hours of 12 AM to 1 AM.

—------------------------

“Boy, you’re in for a treat today,” Lucifer said as soon as Alastor walked in. “They’re playing electro swing on 58.3 The Breeze.” 

Alastor furrowed his brow. “Electro…swing?” He shuddered. “Sounds positively horrid. Why ruin a perfectly good thing with extra noises?” 

“Don’t be such a Debbie Downer,” Lucifer scowled. “Sit down, shut up, and give it a chance, will you?”

To his credit, Alastor did sit and shut up – for approximately ten seconds. Then he groaned. “This is a travesty. They’re calling this garbage swing?” 

“Electro swing,” Lucifer corrected. 

“No, no, enough of this swill.” Alastor snapped his fingers, and the song immediately cut off. “Let me show what true swing sounds like.” 

A moment’s pause, then a new song came on the speakers.

Heaven, I'm in heaven

And my heart beats so that I can hardly speak…

Lucifer perked up. “This is…Louis Armstrong?” Just the sound of his voice brought back whispers of slower times, of smoky jazz clubs and whiskey in crystal glasses, of dreams laid out on silver screens. Suddenly, it was the 1950s again.

Alastor bowed and held out his hand, every move so darkly dashing it would make Fred Astaire weep with envy. But his eyes gleamed with challenge.

Dance with me? Asked Louis and Ella.

Spellbound, Lucifer took the devil’s hand. He placed the other on his shoulder hesitantly, but Alastor’s grip was strong and sure as he slowly led him around the room. 

“I want my arms about you, the charms about you will carry me through,” Alastor hummed along. The old-fashioned words were perfect in his radio static, as if the song was made for the two of them, for this very moment. 

Relax, you silly goose. He’s just singing the song. He’s not talking about you, Lucifer tried to reason with himself, but it was exceedingly difficult to think straight with Alastor’s face so very close. His voice – oddly lovely for a man who specialized in conducting screams – cast a spell over them. Time stopped. And Lucifer relaxed, letting Alastor’s song chase his worries away. 

“Heaven, I’m in heaven!” 

—------------------------

And I don't want the world to see me

'Cause I don't think that they'd understand

When everything's made to be broken

I just want you to know who I am

“You’re listening to this again?” 

Lucifer blushed and scrambled to change it to another station, but Alastor materialized in front of the radio and covered the fast forward button with his hand before he could get to it. Damn those tricksy shadows of his.  

“I…I didn’t hear you come in.”

“Yes, that is one of the benefits of teleportation,” he said, as effortlessly smug as always.

“It’s not our usual time,” Lucifer frowned, peeking at the clock. 10 PM. Far too early for what was quickly becoming his favorite hour of the day, although he’d never admit it out loud. 

“Well, I heard a cry for help coming from this room, so I thought I’d be a good neighbor and pop my head in,” Alastor said.

“Cry for help–” Lucifer started indignantly, but Alastor put a finger to his lips. 

And the damn song was still playing. 

So when everything feels like the movies

Yeah, you bleed just to know you're alive…

Lucifer turned so red his entire face resembled a tomato on fire. “I can listen to whatever I want during my private time,” he spluttered.

“That would be true, but I can hear your ‘private time’ from the other end of the hotel.” Alastor sighed, as if no one else in the history of the world had ever experienced the pain of a noisy neighbor. “So I decided to check on you, just to make sure you hadn’t fully devolved into an angsty child.”

“It’s silly, I know, but sometimes listening to this stuff makes me feel…like I’m not so alone,” Lucifer admitted, not quite able to look the demon in the eye. “It’s been a tough couple of years.” Tough couple of hundred years, but who’s counting? 

Alastor didn’t say anything, but he didn’t leave either. Eventually, they turned the radio to another station – Billboard Top 100s, this time – and Alastor’s horrified face at “Think U The Shit (Fart)” made Lucifer laugh so hard water came out of his nose. 

He completely forgot about his depression. At least for the rest of the night. And that was enough. That was more than Lucifer had had in a long time. 

—------------------------

The next day, Lucifer came back to his room to find an old-fashioned ‘30s vinyl record player perched on his desk. A vinyl had already been set up, its arm perched delicately halfway through a song, ready for Lucifer to hit Play. 

Attached to it was a note.

As a thank you for all the new music. -A.

So Lucifer hit Play.

Immediately, the swing of the sax and Ella’s clear, dulcet tones filtered through the speakers. 

Blue days

All of them gone

Nothing but blue skies

From now on

I never saw the sun shining so bright

Never saw things going oh-so right

Noticing the days hurrying by

The record stopped there, as abruptly as if the entire track had been magically wiped. No matter how many times he tried to reset it and play it again, that was the only verse on the record. 

It didn’t matter. Had Alastor forgotten how ancient he truly was? Lucifer had been around for the dinosaurs, the age of ice, man’s first cities, and the launch to the moon. He remembered the greats, because that was his job. He was to live, and he was to bear witness.

He knew the rest of the song, even if Alastor had gone to such great lengths to erase it. 

Noticing the days hurrying by

When you're in love, my how they fly…

He smiled. And he sang along, letting the vinyl spin and spin until the words themselves were nothing but senseless sounds and only Alastor’s promise remained. 

“Blue days, all of them gone. Nothing but blue skies, from now on…”

[specialagentlokitty]

Klaus mikaelson x reader - pride aside

A/N: this is based on a dream I had last night ngl but like I changed it a bit

Seeing everyone at the ball dancing and laughing was great, but it hurt you a little bit.

Sitting on the stairs, you sighed softly and leant back on your hands as you tilted your head up to look at the sky instead.

“Not one for dancing?” A smooth voice asked.

You looked to your side to see Klaus stood there with some random girl attached to his arm.

“No one to dance with.” You shrugged.

“Come on now, I’m sure there’s a guy who’s just as lonely.”

With that, he smiled and walked away and you clenched your jaw in frustration.

That hurt, deeply. Is that how he saw you? Lonely?

Is that how everyone saw you? Just the lonely person that couldn’t find a date to a stupid ball you’d been waiting to attend since last year?

You only came back so you could help Bonnie practice some new spells, it’s the only reason you came to mystic falls again. You were happy at your families home a few states over.

Getting up, you made your way to the main doors and you slipped out and headed back home to throw on some more comfortable clothes and went straight to bed.

The next day, you were met with knocking on your door, so, with a small sigh of you walked over and unlocked it, letting everyone trickle in.

“When did you get home?” Damon asked, “I was supposed to bring you back.”

“Yeah, I left early.” You smiled.

“Are you okay?” Caroline frowned.

You nodded and smiled a little more, trying to force it as much as possible.

“Yeah, I was just tired was all.”

“She was sad and lonely.” Klaus mused.

You glared at him.

“Leave her alone Niklaus.” Elijah sighed.

“It’s true though, right love? You were lonely because no one wanted to dance with you.”

“Klaus!” Stefan snapped.

They bickered for a few moments and you decided to just ignore them.

“Oh come on! No one was desperate enough to ask her to dance! That’s why she left!” Klaus snapped.

And you snapped.

Raising your hand, you pinned him to the wall.

“(Y/N)!” Jeremy yelled.

You raised your other hand, gesturing for them all to be quiet as you locked eyes with the original hybrid.

“You know what Klaus, I’ve tried! I have tried to be nice, tried to be patient and understanding with you while all of this shit is going down. I have tried to protect you and Elijah as well as everyone else so you can all bring down the stupid ass witch that’s trying to destroy this whole place! But I’ve had enough!”

You swiped your hand to the side and sent in flying into some furniture.

“I have tried time and time again with you! And I’m done! I’m sick and tired of all of this, being ridiculed because unlike everyone else I don’t have anyone by my side to protect me! Because the one person I want to protect me is a pretentious dickhead who only cares about himself!”

You stared at him, and his hands covered his ears as he groaned in pain and no one dared to stop you.

“I’m done with you Klaus Mikaelson, and you know what? You’re going to die alone because you clearly can’t tell when someone loves you! At least I’ll be able to find someone unlike you.” You snarled.

Grabbing your car keys you made a gesture with you hands and a light blue barrier appeared in front of the doorway, blocking them all in.

“I can’t believe I was stupid enough to fall in love with you. I hope you get staked.”

Everyone begged you to let them go and you shook your head.

“It’ll fade in a few hours, don’t follow me.”

With that, you left and sped away from the town with fury burning through your veins and sadness dee0 within your soul.

How you even fell for him was beyond you but you hated it, you wanted to just go back and move on, find someone knew who would actually love you and care for you.

You were going to go home, and forget all about mystic falls.

You were done with that place and the memories it had.

Racing down a background, you mumbled out a spell and watched as a portal appeared in the middle of the road and you drove through it, driving up a dirt driveway.

Parking your car, you got out and walked up to the large house, kneeling in front of your porch you placed a hand on the ground and whispered a spell.

To stop them from being able to track you.

Then you whispered out another, watching as blue borders appeared around the edge of the place.

Any humans who didn’t know about the supernatural would just appear on the other side, and that do know or any supernaturals won’t be able to get in without your explicit permission.

With that, you walked inside.

“Back so soon?” You dad asked.

“I’m done with that place.”

“Is that why you warded the place?” Your mom asked, arms crossed over her chest.

You looked up at her and gave a small shrug.

“I’m taking precautions. I don’t want them to come near or find this place.”

“What happened?” You dad sighed.

You simply shook your head at them and went upstairs, hoping a bath would help erase some of the stress from the day.

For the next week your phone was blowing up with texts and calls, but the only person you would respond to was Bonnie, since you had a promise to keep.

Sitting on the front steps, you had your laptop on your lap as you spoke with her.

“Spells aren’t always about the words bonnie, you can still practice magic without reciting like you know. It’s not about who’s been doing it the longest, it’s about willpower. As long as you’re willing to protect, nature will provide.”

“We need the barrier spell you use, it’s the only way we can trap her.”

You sighed, running a hand through your hair.

“Bonnie.. that’s a spell my family created years ago to trap vampires.”

“Will it work for other witches?”

“It worked on you right?” You smirked slightly.

She laughed and nodded her head.

“I’ll teach it to you, but I’ll need you to come here.”

“And where is here?” She asked.

“Simple, turn around.”

You hung up and stood up, making your way down the steps, you opened a portal and waved her through it.

She was unsure at first but she slowly stepped through in amazement.

“Another spell my family made. But it can only be open for a few seconds.”

“Why?” She asked.

You closed it and turned to her.

“Essentially we’re cutting a hole in time and space, allowing us to move from one place to another. We can open it as often as we want, but we can’t have it open too long otherwise we’ll loose control.”

“Is thag how you got here so fast? Where is here?”

“In the middle of nowhere lovely, everything here is run by magic.” Your mom smiled.

She greeted Bonnie with a hug and handed you the family grimour.

“Teach her everything she needs.”

“Of course mom.”

“We’re heading out on business, but you know what to do.” Your dad smiled.

Nodded, you waved them off and you got to work.

Over the following week you had Bonnie practice trying to break out the barrier you put around her, but she couldn’t even crack it.

“It’s all about having nature on your side, you try.”

Bonnie recited the spell, a barrier appeared around you, and she smiled happily.

You gave a light knock on it and hummed with a small hug.

“Quite sturdy, I think you’ll be able to trap her.”

“I just need to keep practicing, right?”

“Yeah.”

“How do I bring it down?”

“Oh, don’t worry about that.”

Placing your hand on it, it shattered and you beamed and it.

That’s when you felt it, a disturbance at the far end of the one you set up, and you turned in its direction.

“What’s wrong?” She asked.

“Someone is here.”

“Want me to come?”

“Yes please, I may need your help.”

Opening a portal, you both jogged through and down the hill to the end of the barrier, but as you got closer you could see who it was and all you did was sigh.

“Klaus?” Bonnie asked.

His head shot up.

“Leave this place. I don’t know how you found it but you’re not invited.”

“Not until we talk.” He said.

“We’ve got nothing to talk about.”

“I’ll stay here if I have to, but I’m not leaving until we talk.”

“Bonnie you can head back, remember what I taught you?”

“Yeah. I’ll get dinner ready.”

Smiling thanks, you waited for her to leave before turning back to the hybrid.

You walked over and stood right in front of him, arms crossed over your chest.

“What do you want?”

He stepped back and held out his hand with a small smile on his lips.

“Dance with me?” He asked.

“Excuse me?”

“Dance with me.” He repeated.

“I thought no one was desperate enough to ask.” You snapped.

He flinched back slightly and sighed, letting his hand fall back to his head.

“No one is. But I am.”

“You’re desperate?”

“Yes. In fact, I’m desperate for you love. I want you, actually, rather, I need you. So no one may be desperate enough to ask, but I’m glad they’re not, since I’m desperate and perhaps foolish enough to ask after what I ask and did to you.”

“You’re right, you are foolish. Get away from my house.”

You started to walk away.

“What can I do to prove it?” He called.

You scoffed.

“Maybe if you got on your knees and beg mikaelson.”

His pride and ego was too big to let him to that. You were waiting for some sarky comment or an angry remark.

“If that’s what it takes.”

In shock, you turned around.

His eyes locked with yours as he slowly got down on his knees, hands in his lap as he stared at you.

“Here I kneel, my pride aside, for you. So I can tell you that I do in fact love you, but I wasn’t aware you felt the same, I didn’t want you to get hurt, and in the process I hurt you, and I never meant to. I will stay here all night if you wanted me to. If you told me to stay here I would, if you told me to walk to the ends of the earth for you I would.”

You were speechless, you didn’t think he’d actually get on his knees, you didn’t think he was capable of saying anything nice.

Staring at him for a few seconds, you walked a little closer.

“If you want me to beg for you then fine. I am begging you (Y/N), right here and now, to say you love me.”

He stayed on his knees and never moved and inch.

Turning around, you stared walking again.

You heard Klaus sigh, and mumble something about leaving you alone.

“Come on.” You called.

“Excuse me?” He asked.

“Come on.”

You stopped and turned to face him.

He was unsure at first, and he placed his hand on the barrier to show he couldn’t but he stumbled through it, and within a second he was right in front of you, your face between his hands.

“I will love you from now until the end of my life.” He whispered.

Leaning down, he softly kissed you and you quickly responded, arms going around his neck to pull him closer.

Klaus pulled away first, kissing your nose and forehead, before he smiled softly down at you.

“I’m sorry I didn’t dance with you.” He whispered, “and I’m sorry for everything I did and said.”

“I won’t forgive you so easily, but you can start making it up to me.”

“Anything sweetheart.” He smiled.

You nodded and took his hand in yours, opening a portal to take you both back to the house were Bonnie was waiting outside with a small smile on her face when you guys approached.

Klaus looked at you, and he couldn’t help but smile.

He hurt you, yes, but he was going to do anything he could, anything you asked to make it up to you. Even if it meant getting on his knees for the whole world to see and begging for your forgiveness

[lewmagoo]

the blessed dawn of christmas day | b. bradshaw

description: in which you give your husband the most precious gift of all

warnings: mentions of pregnancy, no smut but still 18+ because all my works are rated as such

pairing: bradley "rooster" bradshaw x f!reader (no use of y/n)

notes: oh no, another work i recycled from my old blog. anyway, i love the thought of bradley as a girl dad. you're welcome. also, this is the beginning of my holiday series. who knows how long or short the series will be, but you can expect at least a few more holiday pieces from now until christmas

Christmas morning was a morning that brought with it many different and unique sounds. Familiar sounds, sounds that made your heart swell with love and your lips curl into the biggest of smiles.

This morning, in particular, your ears were picking up on a few things. First was the sound of your husband snoring softly beside you, still sound asleep after a late night of wrapping presents with you. Second, was the sound of not-so-hushed whispering coming from outside your bedroom door.

"Mm, sounds like the littles are awake," a sleep-laced voice murmured against the back of your neck, followed by soft lips ghosting over the skin. You shivered from the contact, but at the same time, it warmed you from your head to your toes. 

"I'd say you're right," you replied, shifting to face him. There lay Bradley, in all his messy-haired, rosy-cheeked, skin-wrinkled-from-the-sheets glory. His face broke into a smile before he leaned in to kiss you sweetly, his mustache biting at your upper lip.

"Good morning, darlin’," he hummed against your mouth.

You snuggled deeper into his chest. "Good morning." You glanced at the door then. "Suppose we should let the beasts in," you teased.

“What if I don’t want to let you go?” He mumbled, tightening his grasp on you.

“They’ll probably head to the living room and start on the presents themselves,” you said.

He squinted at the door before nodding. “You’re probably right. Guess we should let them in.”

As you rose from the bed, Bradley closed his eyes, pretending to remain sound asleep as three very excited little girls bounded into the room.

Bradley began to dramatically snore, and squeals of laughter filled the room. "Daddy, Daddy, wake up!" Daisy, your youngest, exclaimed as she jumped onto the bed, roughly shaking his shoulder.

At that point, Bradley had all three of his girls piled on top of him. "You're pretending!" Caroline, the oldest, huffed, folding her arms over her chest.

Suddenly, their father cracked an eye open, and then gasped theatrically. "Wow! What brings you three to my bed so early in the morning?!"

Another fit of giggles, followed by the middle child, Grace, shouting, "it's Christmas!"

"Is it really?! Since when?" Bradley asked in surprise, dark eyes widening in shock.

"Since right now!" Daisy yelled, climbing into his lap and cupping his face in her little hands. Bradley smiled brightly at her, his own much larger hands coming up to rest over her own. 

The entire time, you silently watched the exchange, your heart warming at the sight of your family. Watching Bradley interact with his babies would never get old.

"Can we open presents now?" Grace questioned, nearly head-butting her sister as she jumped into Bradley’s lap.

Umber eyes flickered up to your own. "What do ya say, Momma?" he asked you.

"Give me a few minutes, let me make sure everything is set up," you mused, stopping to grab your robe from the bedpost, pulling it on as you headed out into the hall, strolling into the living room.

You paused to turn on the tree lights before making sure all the gifts were set out properly, all while listening to the over-excited laughter and talking that came from down the hall. You couldn't help but grow a little overcome with emotion.

Since your children had come into your lives, Christmas had gained a new meaning. It was no longer about you and Bradley. It was about them, seeing Christmas through their eyes. The joy and excitement it brought them made everything all worth it. There was something so innocent and pure about the way a child experienced Christmas, and even more so with your own kids.

Snapping yourself out of your slight daze, you carried on with your project, spreading out last-minute presents, and stopping to smile to yourself when you came across a small, neatly wrapped box, with a tag that read Bradley’s name. Your tummy fluttered with butterflies. Or maybe that was the little life that now dwelled there. Either way, you couldn't wait to present him with the gift, because you knew it would be the best gift he'd receive this Christmas.

Placed so carefully inside the box was a pair of baby slippers. You'd gotten them when you'd first found out that you were having another baby. They were the first present you wrapped, and the little package had been tucked away in your closet, and you’d been teeming with excitement ever since, so eager to give it to him.

There had been so many moments when you'd wanted to cave and just tell him already, but you'd forced yourself to keep your lips sealed. You wanted this to be special. It was unexpected, after all. You hadn't been trying for a baby. In fact, you hadn't even been talking about it at all, you’d decided you were done having children after Daisy was born. However, you really hadn’t taken any serious measures to prevent it, aside from taking birth control. So you weren’t entirely shocked when the pregnancy test you’d bought at the drugstore came back positive. 

But the news, when you'd received it, had been welcome. And you knew Bradley would be overjoyed, just like you were. He loved being a father, and would happily welcome another little one into your family.

"Mommy, can we come in yet?!" Came the voice of Daisy. Quickly, you knelt down to shove Bradley’s present to the very back of the tree before standing up and heading to the hallway.

"Yes you may," you announced, and within all of five seconds, the living room was overrun by squealing little girls. Your husband came strolling in behind them, smiling at you and hugging your waist as he kissed your forehead before joining the girls around the tree.

"Okay," he said aloud, "let's see who these presents are for."

As he began handing them out, you took a seat on the couch, watching fondly as he read the name tags dramatically. "To Caroline from Mommy and Daddy," he started, handing the oldest her gift, "to Grace from Mommy and Daddy…to Daisy from Mommy and Daddy…to Grace from Mommy and Daddy..." And so it went.

Once every present was passed out, save for the presents that you both would exchange together after the children opened their own, Bradley came to sit next to you and said, "alright, youngest first. Daisy, go ahead and open your present, baby doll."

With a musical laugh, she eagerly tore into the present that had once been neatly wrapped, discarding the paper carelessly and gasping in surprise when she saw the contents. "A baby!" She cried, holding up the packaged baby doll, a wide grin on her little face. "It’s what I always wanted!"

You laughed at her dramatic exclamation, settling into Bradley’s side as you watched your girls unwrap their presents. Grace was next, opening up a box of Disney princess themed crayons. She beamed, gasping out a "thank you!" Always the little artist, she loved coloring, painting, and everything of the sort.

Caroline was next in the rotation, opening her present of a holiday Barbie, at which her face lit up and she grinned up at you and Bradley. "This is the best! Thanks!"

“You’re welcome, baby,” you replied with a smile, your heart swelling at the sight of your children’s delight.

You cuddled up into your husband's side, humming softly as he wrapped his arms around you and pressed a kiss to your forehead. You watched your girls tear into the rest of their presents, giggling and shouting and making a mess of the living room. The sight was beautiful, though, and you wouldn't trade it for anything in the entire world.

The morning carried on, present after present opened and strewn across the floor. And once they were all opened, Bradley finally stood, stepping around the tree, where one last present was hidden, covered in a large throw blanket. "Girls, come help Daddy with this," he said, not bothering to hide the smile on his face. 

You immediately reached for your phone, intending to photograph this moment that the girls would likely remember for the rest of their lives.

Three little ones came rushing to help their father, and when the blanket was pulled off of the large object, more shrill exclamations of delight erupted, spurred on by the sight of an elaborate dollhouse that your sweet Bradley had spent hours putting together over the last few days, losing sleep in the process. "It's worth it for them," he'd said, when you expressed concern over his lack of sleep.

You watched it all unfold, and laughed in delight as Bradley was nearly tackled to the floor as the girls attacked him with hugs and kisses and thank yous. Once he was finally able to escape the small dog pile under which he’d been trapped, he rose to stand, and glanced over at you, a beam on his handsome face.

“Your daddy built that for you all by himself,” you informed the girls, which only further impressed them.

“You’re the best daddy in the whole wide world!” Grace exclaimed, wrapping her arms around his waist. Promptly, she pulled away to join her sisters as they explored the creation their father had given them.

You sauntered over to Bradley and leaned in to kiss him sweetly. "You did good, Daddy," you said, placing your hands on his chest. His own hands came to rest over yours, warm and familiar.

"Thanks, Momma."

"Want some coffee?"

"I think you know the answer to that question," he mused with a laugh, the smile lines around his eyes crinkling.

"That I do," you replied, soon pulling away from him to stroll into the kitchen. As you did so, Bradley was then bombarded with little girls wanting their toys taken out of their packages. Moments later, he came ambling into the kitchen in search of scissors and box cutters before disappearing back into the living room. He most certainly had his work cut out for him.

Shaking your head, you started on the coffee, setting out two Christmas mugs while it brewed. You didn't worry about starting on breakfast, because Bradley would do that a little later, as he always did on Christmas morning and had since you'd known him.

Minutes later, you came back into the living room with two cups of hot coffee, with yours fixed as you liked it, and Bradley’s black. You laughed at the sight you were met with as you set his coffee on the end table beside him. He was seated on the couch, fumbling with Daisy’s baby doll box as he tried to free the doll without damaging it.

There was garbage all around his feet. Boxes and zip ties and instruction papers. He was extremely focused on the task at hand, tongue sticking out in concentration as he cut and tore at the box.

"Why do they make these things so damn hard to open?" He grumbled.

"Daddy said a bad word!" Grace exclaimed, concern written over her face.

You tried to hide your smile, looking down at your husband as he paused what he was doing. "You're right, I'm sorry," he apologized. Grace immediately forgot about the offense as she began playing with her toys again.

Finally, Bradley got the doll out of its packaging and handed it to Daisy, who promptly hugged it to her chest happily and went to play with her sisters. Bradley let out a breath, falling back against the couch once the last package was finished, but not before grabbing his warm mug of much-needed coffee.

"Always forget how much of a pain in the you-know-what packages are to open," he huffed out, and you only smiled.

"At least they're enjoying their toys." You curled into his side again, coffee clasped in your hands. For a few moments, you sat together, enjoying your coffee and watching the girls play.

"Well, guess I should go start on breakfast," he mused, reluctantly pulling away from you in order to head to the kitchen. As he did so, Caroline came rushing up to you, sitting in Bradley's previous spot.

She held her Barbie in hand, showing it to you. "Look at the pretty headband she has," she softly spoke, marveling at the intricate tiara in the Barbie’s hair.

You reached out to run a finger over the doll's head. "It's beautiful."

"Thank you for the gifts, Mommy," she reiterated, kissing your cheek. Always the polite one, and always the momma's girl.

You kissed her forehead, brushing some of her sleep-mussed hair aside and gazing into her beautiful face. Oh, how she looked like her father. "You're welcome, baby girl."

"I am hungry!" Daisy suddenly announced, standing in the middle of the living room. Directly following, you could hear her stomach growl.

Giggling softly, you stood, lifting her into your arms. At four, she was still small enough to be carried. But you knew in a few months you would no longer be able to do so, because a pregnant belly would get in the way.

"Let's go see what Daddy is making." You flounced into the kitchen, bouncing Daisy on your hip as you went, finding Bradley dutifully putting breakfast together, topped off with a red apron tied around him that had a Christmas tree embroidered into it.

Right at your heels were Grace and Caroline, curious as to what they would be having for breakfast. "Daddy, I wanna help," Grace announced, skipping up to him. Bradley smiled down at her, his eyes twinkling.

"Pull your stool over to stand on and you can help me all you want, baby doll."

Happily, she rushed to the corner of the kitchen, where a little red stool was placed, for occasions such as this. She carried it over, and once it was in place, stood proudly on top of it, eager to help her daddy with breakfast.

"Can we turn on some music?" Caroline asked as she sat at the kitchen table.

"We sure can," you told her, setting Daisy down before leaving the room. The record player Bradley had insisted you get when you were first married, sat in the living room, and beside it was a collection of vinyls. Your Christmas rotation was out currently, and you decided on a classic Nat King Cole Christmas album.

Once the music was playing, you rejoined your family in the kitchen, and the relaxed morning commenced, filled with more giggles, the sounds and scents of food cooking, and impatient children asking when breakfast would be ready.

You set the table while Bradley put the finishing touches on breakfast. You owned a special set of Christmas china that had belonged to his mother, used annually for this particular morning.

Once everything was set up, the five of you sat around the table to eat. The girls, anxious to resume playing with their toys, ate fast, so much so that you had to tell each of them to slow down.

"Mommy, can I go now?" Daisy asked you from across the table, eyes wide with anticipation.

"What do we say when we want to get up from the table?" Bradley asked her, raising an eyebrow. You were still in the process of teaching her proper table manners.

"Um..." She thought for a moment before a lightbulb went off. "Oh! May I be excused?"

"Yes, you may."

Then she was darting away from the table, dashing right back to the living room. The older girls both minded their manners, asking to be excused before running after their sister. Bradley looked at you then, a glimmer in his eyes. "You alright?" He asked, out of habit.

"Never better," you responded, rising from the table and pausing to kiss the top of his head before you began the project that was cleaning off the table. You left the dishes in the sink for later before heading to the living room together, ready to exchange gifts while the girls played.

You sat across from each other on the couch, legs crossed beneath you. A silly little tradition you'd started a few years back was writing cute nicknames on each name tag. Things like To: Mister, From: Missus, To: Beautiful, From: Handsome, and so on. It was cheesy, you knew, but you loved doing it.

The gifts he gave you were wonderful. A perfume you loved, a beautiful necklace with the birthstones of each of your children on the charms, a cozy sweater, and little bits and baubles he'd picked up in his travels with you in mind. You'd spoiled him with just as much, if not a little more.

Once all your gifts were exchanged, and thank yous spoken, you stopped him before he could clean up all the wrappings. "Wait, I have one more present," you murmured, gently grasping his wrist.

His eyes twinkled with curiosity as you rose from the couch. "One more? You've already spoiled me so much, darlin’," he stated, watching you flit across the living room, kneeling down to reach way behind the tree.

You emerged with that small box, wrapped so neatly in metallic paper. Bradley didn't miss the excitement in your eyes or the knowing smile on your face. He eyed you as you placed the box in his hand. "What did you do?" He asked, playfully suspicious.

You sat down across from him again, nodding at him. "Open it."

Gaze lingering on you for a moment longer, he then began tearing open the paper, a little too slow for your taste. In fact, you were certain he was opening it slowly on purpose.

But then, he lifted the lid, and the contents inside were revealed. He was silent as he tossed the paper aside. He looked down at the little box in his hand, and his fingers gingerly traced over the fabric of the little shoes.

You watched him, waiting for his reaction. When he finally looked back up at you, there were tears shining in his beautiful eyes. It was clear that he knew what it meant. “You’re pregnant?”

You smiled, your own eyes welling with tears. “I sure am.”

He glanced down at the shoes again before looking back up at you. "We get to have another one?" He whispered in awe. It made your heart clench in your chest as you nodded, your own eyes glossing over at how precious it all was.

He laughed then, airily, though the knot in his throat hindered it. "Another one." It was as if he couldn’t believe it.

"Yeah," you whispered, letting the tears slip down your cheeks then, freely and unabashedly. "Another one."

You watched this strong, beautiful man grow overcome with emotion in front of you, and he took you into his arms, crying quietly against your neck. However, the precious moment was interrupted by a little voice, riddled with concern.

"Mommy, Daddy, why are you crying?"

Together, you laughed and parted to look at a very fearful Grace. "Come here, baby," you said, patting your lap. At this point, the attention of Daisy and Caroline had also been called, and they both came wandering over quietly.

You wrapped your arms around Grace, turning slightly to face the other two girls as Bradley spoke. "We're crying happy tears. Mommy is going to have another baby."

At his words, the faces of your daughters lit up. "A baby?" Caroline whispered, eyes wide as saucers.

"Yes, a baby."

She began clapping in excitement then, while Daisy climbed up onto the couch, taking a spot in Bradley’s lap. "Where is the baby?" She curiously asked. Her father smiled, leaning down to rest his chin on her little shoulder.

"The baby is in Mommy's tummy."

It was her turn to grow wide-eyed, and she gasped, crawling over to you. She touched her hand to your stomach, not even showing yet. "In here?"

"Yes, safe and warm," you gently said.

"When will it come out?"

"In about nine months."

You sat there for a while, talking to your three awestruck daughters, and answering their childlike questions. You glanced up at Bradley in the midst of it all, and you found him gazing at you with such adoration, you were almost brought to tears again.

"I love you," he sincerely spoke over the hushed voices of your children. He couldn't imagine a better person to be the mother of his children. He would never understand how he'd gotten so lucky. If only his mom and dad could see him now. They’d be so proud.

"And I love you."

That Christmas went down as one of the sweetest Christmases you'd ever experienced as a family. You knew you would never forget the joy it had brought, and you were eternally thankful that you had been so blessed with a wonderful husband and three, soon-to-be-four, precious daughters. You would never take those blessings for granted, that was for certain. 

(As it would turn out, you would soon find out that you were expecting another girl, giving Bradley the permanent title of Girl Dad.)

-

taglist:

@halfway-happyyy @natasharomanoffisbaebby @oliviabelova @robertbobfloydlover @supernaturaldawning @marrianena @mys2425 @n3ssm0nique @ice-mans-world @lovemesomevesey @straightforwardly @mochi-de-bisou @christinafaucher @emmmaturtle @fantasias-creativebubble @worldmadeofmemories @tarohemianrocketmanapsody @m0chac0ffee @not-leaprvt @i-simp-much @soaharleys @colorfultyrantearthquake @obxsuperfan07 @juniebugg @marchingicenotes7 @airedale17 @jamiedontbeacracko @monosjoons @dilfsandtherapy @getmyprettynameoutofyourmouth @unluckymonaghan @utterly-in-like @chxosunbound @thesewordsareallihavetogive @unordinare @currentlybradshaw @elevens-strangerthing @the-hottest-lieutenants @glodessa @peachiestkeen @alexxavicry @cherrycola27

[purplesigebert]

WIP Wednesday #26 - DW Crossover

Hey everyone, as it's my birthday, I think I should give Caroline a break. @sergeantpixie said that Caroline needed a spa day; she's correct.

Let's meet Taylor Caroline at Midnight.

This was her happy place.

Whenever things went wrong, she was stressed, or there was inevitable Mystic Falls drama, and Caroline needed to escape - she always went to the leisure planet Midnight.   

Today was no different, and the staff at the spa knew it.  Caroline didn’t even have to say anything; they just booked her the works.  A blowout, manicure, pedicure, full body massage, a facial with ground up diamonds from the planet, there was an eye mask to keep diamonds from getting in her eyes.

With all the danger that had recently taken place in town, she felt the need to take control of her life, even by doing something dangerous.  She recognized the habit that was starting to form, what with deciding to complete her homework assignment on WW1 in the muddy fields of Europe, instead of at the library.  And the fact that there were now at least four different versions of herself running around London during the height of the Blitz.  When traveling to Midnight, she made sure to set her vortex manipulator to a date prior to her first visit with her dad.  The Midnight entity would be roaming around the planet, that was true, but not in the spa.

So it wasn’t like she was being totally reckless! Next time she was bringing Bekah with her. They could use some girl time.

In between all of the pointless plots and schemes of the past month (had it only been a month since Mikael died?) Caroline was having fun spending time with Rebekah and Kol.  Sure, the novelty of pretending not to know each other had been great at first, but now it was just frustrating. It did give her (relative) immunity from Elijah in terms of pranks, the look on his face when he walked into his study, and found all of his documents out of order, and his carefully organized closet was priceless.  It was a close second to the long game she played regarding his Bonfire Season presents in the fifteenth century; it would take a lot to top that.

But she missed Klaus.  She missed him knowing her, knowing the real her.  Five months ago, he was the one person who knew almost everything about her.  Caroline sometimes thought she could see something in his eyes, when she wore the perfume he had given her, or the earrings that he had given her on their anniversary.  She just didn’t know how to get his memories back.  Well that wasn’t true, the Doctor would probably have the answer she needed but that would mean explain the Klaus of it all. She had already made a pro/con list about telling Klaus, and the pros outweighed the cons - like by a lot.  It just came down to getting the courage to fight for what she wanted, and she wanted Klaus.

The sound of her phone ringing brought her out of her musings.  Checking the caller ID, Caroline rolled her eyes and tossed it back into her bag.  She wasn’t dealing with any Mystic Falls drama for at least the next week.  Turning onto her stomach, Caroline contemplated where to go for dinner - oh who was she kidding?  She knew she was going to end up at the anti-gravity restaurant.  She had even brought her own bib!

[butyou-callmewhenyourebored]

When We Are Together - Matty Blurb

Author's Note: Just a little something to tie you over whilst I try and spring some creativity from my brain and write my new Matty piece. A little blurb that stems from the When We Are Together imagine. p.s If you would like to discuss the playlist, I know some of them might not make sense, but I can tell you my reasonings behind picking the songs etc just send me an ask! Enjoy! x

Warnings: None really. Use of the word fuck if you'd like to be warned!

762 words

When We Are Together

Since finally getting with Matty, you had been essentially been MIA from anyone that didn’t have direct contact with you. Luckily for you, you were essentially shagging the boss so it didn’t really matter if you were late for work or not because he was the one who was making you late in the first place.

Your eagerness to always want to just be on him was easily accepted by Matty because the desire to have his way with you was constant. Much to your brother’s dismay but he kept his mouth shut because he had already given you his blessing but it didn’t stop you catching him looking at you like he wanted to gorge his own eyes out whenever he caught the two of you with your hands all over each other even if it was innocent.

The two of you were sat together on the sofa in the rehearsal room. The boys preparing for an upcoming performance on The Jonathan Ross Show. The boys out on a cigarette break/coffee run whilst the two of you sat intwined as he pottered about on his laptop. Your head on his shoulder, his hands rubbing soft circles into your thigh that were draped across him when a thought popped into your head causing you to sit up suddenly.

“Everything alright darling?”

“You said you’ve been writing songs about me for over a decade.”

“Yeah of course I have. I’ve been in love with you since I was 17 years old.” He laughed against your temple as he pressed a kiss to it.

“Can you tell me? Seeing as I’m such a muse for you rockstar!” You smirked pressing a kiss to his lips.

“I can show you, if you like? I’ve got a Spotify playlist.” Matty chuckled as he turned his laptop in your direction before passing it over to you.

You looked at his open Spotify profile for a moment before turning back to your boyfriend. “Am I supposed to guess which playlist I’m listening to or are you going to give me a clue Healy?”  You cocked an eyebrow at him playfully causing him to roll his eyes at you.

Reaching over you, Matty scrolled through his playlists before landing on one. Your breath immediately got stuck in your throat as you caught sight of the four word title.

‘Love of my Life’

Your eyes flitted to him for a millisecond before turning back to the playlist. Your hand flying to your mouth as you tried to process the information. “It’s in chronological order too.” Matty whispered, squeezing your thigh. You would have laughed if you weren’t so overcome with emotion as you read all the songs that you had inspired. You really were intertwined with every era of this band without realising.

Fallingforyou

Settle Down

This Must Be My Dream

I couldn’t Be More in Love

Be My Mistake

Tonight I wish I was your Boy

You and Me Together Song

Oh Caroline

All I need To Hear

When We Are Together

I’m in Love With You

Happiness

About You

“Seriously?”

You managed to choke out. Your eyes glossy as you turned to look back at him. He nodded. “But Fallingforyou came out like a million years ago!” You laughed through the sob that had erupted from your chest before falling against your boyfriend. 

“I told you, I’ve been in love with you for forever.”  

Which just made you cry even more.

Then the boys returned, your brother leading the troops. Two cups in his hand, your fave coffee order ready for the long day of band stuff they had ahead of them when he spotted you crying in Matty’s arms.

“Dude why the fuck is my sister crying? What the fuck have you done Healy?”

The anger bubbling in him, thinking he had hurt you in some way. Not wanting a fight to break out, you pulled away from Matty, sleeves of shirt wet from where you’d try to contain the emotions that were spilling out of you. When you finally felt composed enough to converse with Ross, he was already on his knees in front of you ready to comfort you. You reached out to hold his bearded cheek sweetly.

“He’s done nothing. He was just showing me this.” 

Dropping your hand, you turned the laptop round to show him what had made you so emotional. Your heart physically bursting from how much you loved this stupid curly haired man sat next to you. The two of you watched your brother flit his eyes across the playlist of songs before his eyes landed on you wide.

“Seriously? This entire time?”

Matty just smiled.

“The entire time.”

[countrymusiclover]

17 - The Auburn-hair Girl

Part 18

Family is More than Blood

@secretdreamlandmentality

3 months later

Getting out of the bed this morning I ran a hand through my hair so it wasn’t such a mess like it was when I first woke up. Klaus was already downstairs dealing with young Rapenzal and Charming who were going through the nightmare phase. Entering the spare bedroom near our master room I kept going in here seeing that someone used to have stuff in here. But it didn’t make any sense when I came across some pictures I didn’t recognize a few weeks ago after we stopped Triaid.

In the photo, a young Auburn-haired girl was standing next to Klaus and Me. I gazed at the photo deeply, getting a strange feeling from the girl as if I was connected to her.

I began to recall seeing tons of photos of the girl around our house. Which didn't make sense since I was fairly sure that we only had five children not six. But maybe my memory was going away. "Mommy, look." Henrik’s voice broke me from my thoughts seeing that he was carrying another drawing in his hands.

He handed it to me so I could see the same exact drawing like all the others. All matching the girl in the photos in the mansion. "Ah, I see what your father would call your muse. Who is she though honey?"

Henrik shook his head. “ I don't know, Mommy. I've been drawing her a lot recently."

I glanced down at the drawing tracing my fingers across it and got a familiar sensation from it. I was cut out of my thoughts by Henrik who was trying to get my attention. “Mommy, is everything okay?“ He asked.

I turned my gaze to my son, smiling at him. “ Yes, my sweet boy. Why don't you go take a shower, I'll start on breakfast."

Henrik nodded running up the stairs. “ Can you make toaster strudels?'

“That's too much sugar for you to consume in the morning.” I said.

“ Please.” He pleaded.

I signed, finally giving in to my son’s pleas. “ Alright, you can have half of it."

Henrik ran downstairs again giving me a big hug around the waist. “ Thank you, Mommy.” You’re the best."

With that, he ran back upstairs heading into his room leaving his mother to her thoughts. Vamping downstairs I found that Klaus was already in the kitchen. "So our little guy wants sugar this morning."

"Apparently yes. But we have to be quick about it. A supernatural school won't run itself. Especially today." I told him.

"Ah yes the game against the humans of this one pony town." Klaus nodded, sitting down at the kitchen table. "Who made the rule that they couldn’t use their powers?"

Tapping my fingers on the counter top I started gathering stuff to make breakfast before we went to work. "I think it was Caroline. Why?"

"I think it wouldn't be bad if we actually won a game for once don't you, Raelyn?" He sends me his devilish smile meaning he wasn’t up to good.

Nodding in agreement I finished the breakfast quickly. "Ah I'll see what I think." Grabbing my cameo jacket we arrived at the school seeing that everyone was already gathered in the main hall with the podium stand in the front of the room.

Moving up in front of it I tapped my foot on the ground getting their attention to focus on me. "Attention everyone, so as we all know today is the annual game between us and Mystic Falls High. And I know that in the past we would lose…until today that is. We will use our powers through the end of the game."

"So you’re going against my dad's wishes." Lizzie got up to her feet.

Nodding yes. "I am Lizzie. We shouldn't have to hide who we are all the time."

"Awe yes!" Kaleb got to his feet cheering. "Thank you headmistress Mikaelson."

Our group of kids headed to the field where I saw that Missy was talking with Ethan so I used my vampire hearing to eavesdrop. "Hey, so who's the new girl you were talking with earlier?"

"Uh, somebody new." He shrugs his shoulders. "She said her name is Hope Parker."

Knitting my brows together I felt uneasy hearing the name Parker on anyone. The entire Parker family was gone now so that couldn't be possible. "Hmm, that's weird. People in my moms family had that name." Missy responded back to the human boy.

"Yeah Maya has been talking with her more than me. You aren't jealous are you?" Ethan asked, chuckling.

She shook her head telling him otherwise but I knew she might be slightly lying. "Nah, E. Just curious cause I feel like I know her from somewhere."

"Rae, Josie are leading the team with Landon." Klaus came over to me with his hands behind his back standing beside me. "Jackson and Alina are going to play too. Hey are you okay?"

Shaking my head I clicked my tongue. "Uh yeah. There's apparently this new girl named Hope Parker."

"But all the parkers are gone besides you and your brother." He added into the conversation.

Putting my arms across my chest I tucked some hair behind my ear. "Yeah. It's just weird because she looks like the girl from Henrik’s drawings. I just don't recognize her though."

"We'll figure it out. Let's focus on the game." Klaus nodded before a whistle was blown signaling for the coin toss.

Missy’s pov

Shifting my gaze away from our team and to Ethan who was sitting on the side lines since he wasn’t going to play with having a scholarship and all. Standing beside my sister on the field we watched Landon tackle a girl with auburn hair where we almost got the ball. But Ethan’s sister got the ball and scored for her team. The whistle blew so I ran over with my sister seeing that Josie was off by herself focusing on Ethan. “I don’t like how she’s looking at him, Lina.”

“Are you saying you’re jealous?” She teased me but I wasn’t in the mood.

Crossing my arms over my chest MG was out on the field now about to get the ball until Ethan managed to knock the ball away from his hands. “I am not jealous, Alina. I just don’t have a good feeling about us using our powers against them is all.”

Lizzie threw the ball and Josie caught it but while she was cheering Ethan snatched the football from her hands. “Josie, what did I just tell you.”

“Hey I want to bury these guys too.” Josie snapped at her twin. “You think I did that on purpose.”

Lizzie and MG ran off the field where Alina and I stepped in their positions. Josie came back over while we saw Kaleb try and tackle my boyfriend but he dodged out of the way. Maya his sister hollered to him before I felt someone siphoning from me. “Ah Joise!” I winced seeing my cousin before she moved around my twin eyeing Ethan.

He halted about to throw the ball to his sister until I heard Josie mumble a spell. “Tenebris lapsus.” Ethan dropped the ball and held his elbow in agony.

“Oh my god.” His mother said, rushing to the field with Alaric in toe.

Whipping my head around to Josie I felt my fangs coming through where I shoved her onto the dirt field. “You son of a bitch. What the hell made you think that was okay!”

“Missy, I-“ She gets cut off when I attempt to vamp towards her while everyone is watching Ethan groaning on the field.

Alina grabs me by the back of my shirt managing to hold me back away from her. “Urgh let me go, Alina!”

“Stop it, Missy. Ethan will be okay. Go check on him.” She growled in my ear when I growled at my cousin knowing that I was right that something was going on with her today.

Shaking my head I ran over when it was becoming nightfall by the time the ambulance got there. Mom and dad come over to me where dad puts a hand on my shoulder telling me. “Go with them and compel them to forget that you give Ethan blood.” He whispered in my ear, squeezing my shoulder.

“Are we sure that’s a good idea. I mean giving him vampire blood without asking him. I mean what if something happens and he accidentally turns because of me.” I asked him searching for hesitation but he had none.

Mom came forward, taking my hands in hers. “Sweetheart it’s your choice to heal him or not. We will be here for you no matter what you choose to do.” She smiled and hugged me before I climbed in the back of the ambulance seeing that there were two medics and my boyfriend had his arm wrapped up in a black cast until we got to the hospital.

Waving my hand I quickly froze the medics leaving me alone to do whatever I chose. “Ethan, I am sorry about this. But you won’t feel anything after this…” Biting down into my wrist I drew some blood seeing him blinking his eyes.

“Missy…what are you doing?” He said in a raspy voice seeing that I was bleeding. “When did you get hurt?”

Sucking in a breath I felt the veins underneath my eyes trying to break through listening to his heart beating inside his chest. “It doesn’t matter now, E. I uh…I’m going to give you a choice. I can heal your arm or you can tell me no.”

“How can you heal me? Wait a second, do you have super powers or something?” He asked wincing when he slightly sat up on his none injured arm where I could see him smiling at me.

Lowering my bleeding arm I ran my fingers through my hair hearing the excitement in his voice rather than the terror I thought he would have if he ever found out. Leaning against the wall I gulped nervously. “Ethan, I…I told myself that I wouldn’t get you involved in all of this and then that new girl got Josie all riled up and she broke your arm.”

“Missy, woah I’m not going to freak out. So what type of superhero are you?” He asked, ignoring the fact that his arm had been broken for a few minutes.

Stepping up toward him I remembered when my father taught me another way around vampire compulsion. Where I didn’t have to make him forget everything. “Ethan, I’m going to give you some blood if you want me to heal your arm. But just so you know I am half witch and half vampire.”

“That’s cool as hell. How is that possible? Were you bitten by a radioactive bat or something else?” He began asking me with excitement until I saw the ambulance pulling up into the emergency parking lot.

Holding his shoulders I smiled making him look me in the eye panicking before I could give him any blood. “Ethan, I’m sorry but I have to go. I’ll explain everything to you at some point. Just listen to me very closely now….You won’t remember I am supernatural unless it’s just you and me alone. For your own good it has to be this way.”

“Missy, hopefully I’ll see you tomorrow.” He called my name when I jumped out of the back of the ambulance unfreezing the others with us.

Smiling at the human high school quarterback I vamped away when he was sent inside the hospital doors. “Don’t worry, E. You’ll be seeing me around.”

Raelyn’s pov

Alina, Henrik and Jackson were inside the hospital lobby waiting to hear what happened with Ethan. Klaus and I were standing outside the emergency room doors until I saw the girl with auburn hair from the game making me chase after her. “Hey, girl I need to talk to you.”

“Uh sure. I was just here to see how Ethan and Maya were doing after the game.” She responded by brushing hair from her face avoiding my gaze.

Crossing my arms over my chest I glared at the teenage girl. “I don’t normally judge someone before I know them but what exactly is Josie’s problem with you. Because she seems pretty angry when you and Landon we’re looking at each other.”

“All I can say is that he used to serve me milkshakes at the grill. I guess she’s just jealous for some reason. Hey um…I’m gonna go.” She slowly backed away from me without another word heading off into the dark parking lot.

Footsteps came up behind me. I didn't need to turn around knowing it was my husband. He stands beside me, hands in the pocket in his jacket. “Raelyn, why were you talking with that girl?”

“She’s the reason Josie broke Ethan’s arm. She’s also the girl from Henrik’s multiple drawings that he had given us. I just have an odd feeling about her.” Lifting my head up to him he tugs me into his side when I speak to him.

His eyes focused on mine before he kissed my head walking back into the hospital to look for Missy. “We’ll figure out who she is at some point, love. But we should check on the human boy. I can’t seem to find Missy in the room with him. So she must have gone back to school.”

“I’ll meet you there in a few seconds, Nik ... .who are you really Hope Parker?” Eyeing the direction she went I still felt off about the mystery girl so one way or another I would find out who she was and why I felt some odd connection towards her.

Comments really appreciated ❤️

[3terna15unshin3]

heyyyy bffs i feel like none of u know anything about me so here’s a little introduction post 🥰 open if u dare

🚨REAL LIFE MARCEY-LORE !!!🚨

To begin here is a Dreadful Face Reveal. Will probably end up deleting these after a bit just so the real ones can know me and then i can go back into hiding😌

the other pics are just ones i found in my camera roll of my room and things i like and that i feel like are the most me!

Okay now random facts

★ I’m Marcey J, 22, and use she/they pronouns :)))

★ Currently in college 👎 my major is Mathematics (ew)

★ I’m from the US but have constantly moved around my whole life, lots of my family is up in Canada so i spent a ton of time this summer there! but right now i’m in Minnesota. go Vikings (jk i am Gay and don’t want sports)!

★ speaking of gay i am very much queer/bi and have been out to my friends for a long time. but i’ve only just recently come out to my family because I am seeing a girl 😌

★ i’m very new to Tumblr and only made this blog in may i think? just to upload TBSG and find more fics since i used to only read and upload on AO3

★ before that, maybe since like 2018, stan twitter has been my home which I still frequent but i feel like that meme of the guy talking at a brick wall on there😭😭 which is why i love it so much here bc y’all are so nice and welcoming and interactive

★ I first found The 1975 back in 2013 when R5 did a cover of Girls… LOL. was a huge fan all through iliwys and the very beginning of abiior but then fell off.. So i missed the whole MFC era but pretty much still consistently listened to self titled and iliwys while they happened. Then being funny came out and i got sucked back in and HAD to catch up on everything!!

★ This is truly the strongest obsession i’ve had in so long like it was 0-100 i could not bear to listen to anything else😭 Fr i just checked and they jumped from my 29th most listened to artist up to #1 in less than two months back in 2022 .. god i need help

★ fav album is Notes

★ fav 75 songs atm are Be My Mistake, Happiness, Pressure, Frail State Of Mind, She’s American, Then Because She Goes (obviously), Pressure, The Birthday Party, You, and She Lays Down

★ my other favourite musicians are Hozier, HAIM, Taylor, beabadoobee, MUNA, Charli XCX, FIZZ, Lizzy McAlpine, boygenius, 5SOS, and Caroline Polachek

★ I’m also a very big bookworm! i work at a bookstore which is why i wrote TBSG it’s my fantasy…

★ Some recent fav reads are Giovanni’s Room by James Baldwin, God Is Dead by Nietzsche, Sirens & Muses by Antonia Angress, Body Grammar by Jules Ohman, and The Year of Magical Thinking by Joan Didion :))

★ i collect vinyl! it’s so fun! i only have 52 in my collection rn since it is a sickness that eats up all of my money

Anyway that’s it, thank u for reading i hope it wasn’t a complete bore! Please pls pls send me a message if u ever wanna chat i love meeting new ppl and am always down to get to know u better!!!!!!

XO Marcey 🌟🌟💖💖💖💖

[eternalxbarbie]

devil doesn’t bargain II LUCOLINE

It’s useless, don’t do this, it’s hubris to try. He’s ruthless, you knew this, I told you, didn’t I? He’s abusive, elusive, the truth is that he lies. I know you don’t want to let go and just like before, I can see that you’re sure you can change him but I know you won’t. The devil doesn’t bargain. 

Waking up was always the worst part of getting her neck snapped. That feeling of trying to force your vertebrae to feel like they were all aligned again was excruciating and if her body had been moved while she was out, the panic that set in during the first few moments of consciousness was overwhelming. She woke with a start, surprised to feel pain not in her neck but in her shoulders. Caroline whimpered as she tried to pull her hands down only to be met with resistance. Chains kept her arms outstretched over her head and her feet dangled about an inch off the ground making it impossible for her to get any leverage to break them. Terror was immediate and the more that she struggled against the bonds the more she could feel her shoulders separate as her arms began to pull from the sockets. 

She had known that physical pain was going to be part of this deal, but she hadn’t realized that Lucien wouldn’t even give her a moment to get used to her surroundings before they began. Caroline tried to take in as much of her surroundings as she could. trying to figure out where they were so she could get a message out if she had the opportunity. It was a warehouse, most likely abandoned. The scent of motor oil clung to the air, the floor stained with spots, and the lift that her chains were strapped to made her guess that it had been a mechanic shop at one point. There was a girl in the corner of the room, reading calmly as if this kind of event happened every day. She wondered for a moment if maybe she was compelled. “Hey,” Caroline whispered, not sure how far away Lucien might be lurking. “Hey, can you help me?” she asked, glancing up at the chains and then back at the stranger. 

“Don’t speak to my niece, Caroline.” came the voice behind her and she cringed just hearing Lucien speak her name. His voice grated like nails on a chalkboard and she defiantly wanted to tell him that she would speak to whomever she pleased. The blonde wasn’t stupid, however, and she knew that her stubbornness would only land her in more pain so she kept her mouth shut for the time being. 

“Let’s play a game,” Lucien offered, walking into Caroline’s line of sight now, clear spray bottle in hand. “I’m going to ask a question and you answer. If I think you’re being honest, no pain. But if I think you’re lying to me...” 

He trailed off, nodding at the girl that sat in the corner and she flicked her hand, magically opening the vents that lead to the outside. Sunlight streamed onto Caroline and she let out a howl as the rays burned her skin. She looked up at her hand amid the suffering, noticing that her daylight ring was gone. Terror was in her eyes as she looked down to try to see if her necklace was still on, only to be cut off by Lucien. 

“Fallon, close the vents,” he requested. The heretic was quick to appease the vampire and Caroline relaxed harder into her chains once the suffering paused momentarily. The smell of burning flesh was thick in the air and he took a step closer to Caroline with a smug grin in place. “The necklace was a clever move. Fallon’s using it to channel your daughter now. She recalled seeing it around sweet Lizzie’s neck during their time. How convenient that she spelled it and gave it to mummy? How sweet that she wished to protect you?” he mused. 

Self preservation went out the window and Caroline couldn’t control her rage. It took all of her strength but she spit in his direction as hard as she could, pleased when she watched her saliva spatter across his face. “Go to hell, Lucien.” 

“I’m sure I will one day, love. One day,” he answered. “But back to our game. I’ll make the first one easy: how does it feel to know that Niklaus chose Stefan’s safety over yours?”

Caroline, even in her weakened state, rolled her eyes. “It’d hurt if that was what happened but it wasn’t. I made this choice against his wishes. You kidnapped my mom and my boyfriend. Not like I had a lot of choices.” 

Lucien gave her a disbelieving look, shaking his head as he sprayed her directly in the face with his spray bottle. Annoyance turned to agony as her skin started to burn again and she realized it was vervain water she’d been spritzed with. Caroline lets out a growl of annoyance. “I answered the question, what the fuck was that for?” she shrieked. 

“You’re not being honest with either of us, darling. Sure, you made the choice but he let you go. Would he have let Stefan make the same choice? I don’t think so.” 

“Stefan’s human. It’s different,” Caroline protested, protective of Nik to the very end. 

“Stefan’s more important to him and we both know it. They have a history that you’ll never have. They have a bond that you’ll never have. You may be the flavor of the moment, Caroline, but Stefan has been his favorite for a century.” 

She hated that she believed there was truth in his words. He was playing into the worst parts of her, the parts that she had tried to bury since becoming a vampire, the tiny voice in her head that promised her that she would never be good enough. “He loves us differently but he doesn’t love one or the other more,” Caroline answered defensively. 

Lucien nodded. “I believe that you believe that,” he muses. 

Caroline glares but doesn’t respond, keeping her mouth shut to avoid any further unnecessary pain. “Now, question two,” Lucien starts, walking around her in circles so that she can’t keep his gaze. “Who owns the deed to the new house?” 

Caroline didn’t answer, shaking her head. Lucien rolled his eyes at her childish answer. “I already know it’s Stefan, Caroline. Just say it and save me the trouble of having to listen to you scream.” 

“It’s not Stefan!” she answers, lying through her teeth but hoping that the anger in her eyes read as sincerity instead. 

Lucien sighs, nodding to Fallon and the vents open once more. 

Caroline closed her eyes as she prepared for the pain, remembering her mother’s advice. Her mind flashed back to happier days. First to that day on the quad when Stefan had finally said that he loved her, then the night in the hotel when Nik had danced with her in front of the open refrigerator because he’d taken the time to listen to the little things. To Jeremy’s face the first time he saw Lucky. Then the pride-filled smile her mother had worn the day she graduated. To the first time that she had held every single one of her children. She listened to Liz and she lived in those moments, blocking out Lucien’s voice and the pain she was suffering through. She wasn’t sure how many of his questions she’d ignored when finally he said something that snapped her out of her reverie. 

“No matter, darling. If you refuse to talk, I’ll just have to take more drastic action. Stefan will be joining you soon and you have no one to blame but yourself.” 

“No,” Caroline said quickly, struggling again against the chains that held her in place at the idea of Stefan being strung up next to her, suffering next to her, because of her. “No, Lucien, stop! STOP! I’LL TALK! DON’T TOUCH HIM. DON’T YOU DARE TOUCH HIM!” 

Her throat was raw from how loudly she screamed, tears streaming down her cheeks even as her face was distorted with anger. 

Lucien smiled. shaking his head. “Love, if I got that kind of reaction just with a threat, I can’t imagine how much I’ll get when it’s happening right in front of you. Hell, Nik may even just beg me to break the sire lines by the time it’s over. I, for one, can’t wait.” He grinned as he walk towards the door of the shop, beckoning Fallon to join him. “Enjoy your night, love. The fun is just beginning.” 

[carolinemillerbooks]

New Post has been published on Books by Caroline Miller

New Post has been published on https://www.booksbycarolinemiller.com/musings/a-passage-to-america/

A Passage To America

In my mid-forties, one of my duties as the head of a local teachers union was to attend a national convention in Florida.   My mother, in her sixties at the time, and, always eager to travel, suggested we take this opportunity to make a cross-country motor trip together. Though different in many ways, the pair of us were amiable traveling companions, preferring by-ways to highways, so I agreed. The journey had its challenges. Our rental car suffered a flat tire along a seldom traveled country road;  a sudden storm forced us to take lodgings in a place that might have passed for the Bates Motel; and one afternoon, we found our road-weary selves seated in a  restaurant that served cold biscuits and omelets crisp enough to break apart with our fingers.   The time was somewhere in the 1970s, a period when an AAA trip tik served as automotive navigation. Not only did the thick pamphlet contain maps of our route but it provided information about lodging and places to eat along the way.  Having served us well on the outward-bound leg of our journey, we were confident when the time came for the return trip. Even so, somewhere in Florida, I took a wrong turn and found myself in an area where billboard messages were written in Spanish. My mother could read them, being born in Costa Rica, but I could not. Afraid I’d speak English with an accent if I were bi-lingual, my father refused to allow me to learn my mother’s native language.  So, on the day she and I were lost, I relied upon her translations to find my way.  Unfortunately, these directions always came after the fact, making them useless. “You should have turned right two blocks ago.”  Eventually, I pulled the car to the side of the road in front of an eatery that was ablaze with light. Perhaps a waiter could guide me.       Trip tik in hand, I entered the premises to the sound of a bell jangling above the transom. Though not much larger than a thimble, it made a piercing sound, like a kettle on the boil, so I was not surprised when the restaurant’s patrons looked up from their plates with startled expressions.  Not wanting to remain the center of attention, I hurried toward the cashier standing behind a counter. A man somewhere in his early fifties with a crown of black hair and a girth to suggest he never said no to a tamale stared at me with the same expression as his customers. When I pointed to my map and asked for the way to the road north, his eyes became more vacant.  Repeating my question failed to garner a response other than to cause him to scratch his head.  Either he was deaf or did not speak English. Rather than guess, I turned to two men seated at a nearby table.  Did they know how to reach the northbound freeway? Like the cashier, they answered me with silence, their expressions suggesting that if I wanted conversation, I should try the morgue. “Wake up and come with me,” I said as I rapped on the car window behind which my mother was snoozing.  “No one inside speaks English.” A cat-like grin stretched across her face which I found annoying but she was quick to follow my steps to the restaurant.  The bell overhead rang a second time, and as if a spotlight had flared on center stage, my mother came to life.  I don’t know what she said to her audience, but after some well-chosen words, the diner filled with laughter. The young men I’d spoken to earlier scrapped back their chairs in response and came toward us.  Their heads almost touched as they studied my trip tik, joined by the cashier who seemed eager to add to their consultation. They murmured to one another for some time, though I was unable to understand their conversation. Eventually, the cashier lifted his head to address me and then used his pen to trace a route on my map for me to follow. “The freeway’s not far.  Maybe five minutes. You can’t miss it,” he said. His English was flawless.  After a cursory, “Thank you,” I stormed from the restaurant. “What was that about?” I snapped to my mother as if she were to blame for what had occurred.“Why did they treat me like I was foreign?” I turned the key to the car’s engine hard enough to make a grinding noise which seemed to amuse my mother. “Pay no attention, Petunia. They’re Cubans. Not like the rest of us Latins.”  I tell this story because if the goal of our county is to embrace inclusion, people of all social and ethnic cultures have to make an effort. That steamy day in Florida, when I was made to feel like a stranger opened a wound. Particularly when the prejudice came from a segment of society that I least expected.  The child of an immigrant, I understand why ethnic enclaves exist. People build barriers when they fear rejection or want to feel safe. But,  Before I built a wall I’d ask to know what I was walling and walling out.* Solid fences can become prisons where the landscape offers a dreary sameness. Take food for example. Who wants a steady diet of biscuits and gravy when they could add pizzas? Or curries?  Or Gveltifisch? Well, maybe not Gveltifisch. But Baklava, yes!  As a writer, I appreciate the foreign terms that enrich our language.  Hopefully, English may one day become as varied as that of the  Inuits. They have dozens of words for snow. Why should English struggle with less? Ezra Pound peppered his poetry with foreign terms. English, he decided, was too spare.  I agree. Sometimes I’m tempted to invent onomatopoeic words to express my meaning the way Lewis Carroll did in Jabberwocky. A blend of different cultures also helps expand our horizons. Getting Lost to Find Home cites several East […]

[occvltshine]

💋  —  never been kissed?     a headcanon about my muses first kiss, who it was with and how they felt about it.

🎒  —  packed a bag!       for a headcanon about what my muse carries with them in their bag, or would pack with them on a short trip.

🧨  —  a long fuse!    a headcanon about my muse and their temper, and a time when they lost it.

(Pretend this is from Erin's blog)

💋  —  never been kissed? 

Moth's first kiss happened when he was fifteen and it came as one hell of a surprise. Really, he didn't even know anyone liked him like that. It was just a new friend's birthday party--roller rink, their name was Arden, they sat next to him in chem, he didn't even know they thought he was cool enough to invite--he just showed up in a button down shirt and jeans after two hours of feverishly rifling through his closet. He just brought a carefully wrapped little gift to lay on the table with the others, a fair few of them neater, artfully so. He didn't know anyone there further than passing names and faces, aside from Arden, if he could even say he knew them.

And then there she was. Caroline, she said, call her Linnie. Moth wondered why she went by Linnie instead of Cari or Carol, but then he remembered that he had asked Arden to call him Moth, short for Timothy. Her lips were shiny when she held his name in her mouth, like she was testing the shape of it. Linnie asked if he wanted to skate with her, and despite how awkward his feet felt jammed into those stiff old rentals, he said yes. Halfway through their first lap around the rink, under the shifting and flashing colored lights, Linnie reached for his hand. Moth very nearly tripped; he was suddenly very aware of how sweaty his palms were. She didn't seem to mind, though, and as a song faded--the first, or the second, he lost track trying not to bust ass--she swung a smooth arc to skate in front of him, backwards. Before he could process how impressed he was by the whole thing, Linnie had leaned in and planted a quick, playful kiss right on his lips. Moth learned that it was watermelon lip gloss that made her lips so shiny. The thought was still processing as his eyes went wide and he lost all coordination and frantically released her hand as he fell on his ass, hard.

By the time he'd picked himself up and licked his wounds, Linnie was nowhere to be found. Their cousin, Arden said, from out of state. Visiting only for the weekend, she soon went back home, and though he considered it a few times, Moth never asked Arden to pass his number along to her. He's seen her a handful of times since though and there's nothing but friendly greetings to be had.

🎒  —  packed a bag!

Moth is a big believer in backpacks. He'd like to say it's because he comes prepared, but really, it's a void for him to stuff whatever he fleetingly thinks might belong inside it. There's a phone charger, always, one for his current phone as well as one tangled up at the bottom from the iPhone he had a fair few years ago. There's snacks, folded closed and partially powderized goldfish crackers and the like. There's papers, flyers, maps, a couple pens, really anything at all that had once ended up in his hand that he wanted to stick out of the way. Headphones, earbuds, loose change, and battered paperback horror novels might be found within.

On a short trip, Moth is utilitarian. He packs enough shirts and underwear and socks, with a couple pairs of pants he plans to just rewear. Aside from the clothes and the toiletries, the contents remain overall the same as previously mentioned. If it's a long trip, though, he might pack two books to occupy his time.

🧨  —  a long fuse!

A long fuse is right. Moth isn't quick to anger, and when he does, it's typically a sign that he's been very upset for a very long time, or the transgression is severe. By far, he prefers to deal with the emotions that precede anger and circumvent the damage that can be done with a lost temper. If he's in a particularly bad state of mind, though, he's fully capable of going off. One such incident happened in high school, as his parents were mid-divorce. Accepting your muses as essentially part of the fabric of his canon, a combination of the growing distance between him and Erin, the distress of the divorce, rising pressure from his mother, and his father's apparent apathy all came together to culminate in the first and only fight he has ever started. Some kid, some boy, spewed vile things about her, what he'd taken from her, what she'd done, to a cluster of guffawing peers. Moth had never thrown a punch before, and he wasn't particularly good at it, and he got his entire ass handed to him. Wasn't sorry he did it, though; he was only sorry he wasn't a foot taller and something stronger than the weird misfit kid. A quarterback, maybe. An MMA fighter. Anything that would have made them bleed more. That urge to break them open makes him seriously uncomfortable in hindsight, and he doesn't want to end up in that mental place again.

[multi-royalty-arc]

🙌 ( for care, it’s not even a grab. I’m thinking it’s just placing her hand there to see her reaction 🫢 and she’s grinning about it )

send 🙌 to grab my muse by the throat

She'd greeted Krissy as she always did when the brunette had let herself into Caroline's small college dorm room. The blonde was yet to turn and face her friend, for she was reorganising the way her jewellery sat across the mantel piece, and while she expected to hear Krissy climb onto her bed and ask what they were doing for the afternoon , the question didn't arise. Instead the vampire could feel every encroaching step Krissy was taking until she'd blocked some of the light from the window and was standing right beside her friend. Slowly the blonde turned to face her, an unreadable expression crossing Krissy's face.

"Kris? is everything okay..?"

Without a response brows furrowed as Krissy continued to step into the blondes space,, though there was little room for her to escape Caroline took a step back, meeting with the wall, the brunette stepping forward again had Caroline's eyes widening as a hand is reached out. Gently twirling a lock of Caroline's hair without a word.

Caroline wasn't sure what was happening, but her emotions hit peak when Krissy had slowly wrapped a hand around her neck. There were so many thoughts running through the vampires mind yet she was frozen on the spot, unsure of her friends true intentions. The most daunting thought being that someone had managed to compel Krissy to kill her.. to reveal that she was a vampire and potentially ruin their friendship.

Heart pulsing faster than what she'd deemed to be possible, the blonde nibbled on her lip. Krissy's smirk was growing, still no leeway as to what she was playing at. The vampires other option being that she pushed Krissy off of her, and sped out of the way, but that came to the same conclusion. Her supernatural identity being revealed.

"can you say something... you're kind of scaring me now?"

[specialagentlokitty]

Damon/Stefan/Elijah/Klaus x reader - choices

helloooo! can u write about damon, stefan, klaus, and elijah fighting for reader’s attention??? like they’re very smitten and soft for her - Anon💜

You sat at the grill, watching as Damon and Stefan had a heated argument about which one of them should be able to escort you to the ball.

“You’re taking Elena!” Damon yelled.

“I haven’t even asked Elena, I want to take (Y/N)!”

You rolled your eyes and lent back in your chair, crossing your arms over your chest.

“I’m not going with either of you.” You called over.

“That’s you two told!” Bonnie laughed.

Jeremy walked over and placed a hand on your shoulder and gave it a small squeeze, setting your drink in front of you.

“They’re not the only two.” He whispered.

You rose a brow in question and he pointed to the door where Klaus was walking through and straight for you.

The hybrid sat in front of you and gave you a small wave and a charming smile.

“Morning love.” He beamed.

“Klaus Mikaelson, you know if they see you you’ll be in trouble.” You mused.

“Oh believe me, they have way more important matters apparently.”

You scoffed and shook your head at him as he grinned wildly at you.

“Why’re your here?” You asked.

“I’ve come to ask you to join me to the ball, if you would allow me.” He spoke quietly.

You sighed and crossed your arms over your chest, shaking your head at him as you looked to the squabbling brothers.

“Believe me Klaus, you’re not the only person to ask me. But no, I’m going on my own.”

“Oh come now love, that’s no fun.” He replied.

“Welp, that’s my choice Mikaelson, like it or not.” You whispered.

Standing up, you downed the rest of your drink and you left the grill, making your way home.

You thought you finally had a break from it all but when you saw Elijah walking over to you, you knew you clearly hadn’t.

He stopped and you stopped in front of him.

Elijah offered you a charming smile and you gave him one back.

“I’m not going to the ball with you Elijah.”

“I know, I’ve heard you’re taking yourself to the ball.” He smiled.

You smiled back and nodded your head.

“Yeah. It’s easier.”

“I understand, I simply came to bring you this.”

He handed you a small box, and you took it in confusion.

With another smile, Elijah gave you a small nod of his head.

“However, if you change your mind, or you’d perhaps like a dance, you know how to find me.”

With that, he leant down, kissed your cheek and he walked around you.

Blinking in confusion, you shrugged your shoulders and made your way back home.

While outside, you grabbed your mail, and there was a few other packages in there which confused you even more.

“I’ve been waiting for you!” Caroline yelled.

“Oh, sorry.” You smiled.

You let her inside and you both headed to the kitchen where you set the boxes down.

“You need to stop ordering stuff.” She laughed.

You looked at her.

“I didn’t.”

“What?”

“Well, this is from Elijah, he gave to me outside.”

“And these ones?” She asked.

You looked at them all, each wrapped up different but still beautiful as the one next to it.

“Well, going by the choices of wrapping paper, Damon, klaus, Stefan.”

She nodded her head and watched as you unboxed them all.

Each one was was a stunning piece of jewellery, some sort of bribery gift in order for you to agree to go to the ball with them.

“You’ve got to pick one.” Caroline sighed.

“I’m going on my own.”

She sighed again, and gave you a weak smile.

“Well… Mrs Lockwood changes the requirements…” she whispered.

You sat on the bar stool and punched the bridge of your nose exactly what had gone on.

“Klaus…” you grumbled.

“Yeah… Elena rang me and said she saw him leaving.”

You groaned, you couldn’t exactly skip the ball, you were part of one of the founding families and you had to be there in order for the event to go on.

Klaus would have compelled her to change the rules, so you would have to choose one of them to go with you, since they were now the only four who were left.

Everyone else had a date to go with, it was up to you to decide who you were going to allow to accompany you.

“I don’t know what to do Caroline. Elena is in love with Stefan, and Damon and Klaus aren’t exactly the best people to be with… and then there’s Elijah… he’s sweet and all… but after what he let happen to Jenna… to Elena…” you sighed.

Caroline smiled, walking over she placed a hand on your shoulder and gave it a light squeeze.

“Pick who you think is best.” She whispered.

The ball was a month away, but you were still getting texts and gifts from them all.

You thought having lunch with the four vampires one at a time would help you, but it didn’t, you were still at a loss as to who to choose.

“You have to decide.” Bonnie sighed.

“I just wanted to go on my own…” you mumbled.

“Well unfortunately Klaus made that impossible. Caroline and I are going together, Bonnie and Jeremy are going together, you have to pick one.” Elena said.

“You don’t want to go with Stefan?” You asked.

“He’s not interested in going with me, he wants to go with you. And if you pick him I won’t be mad.” She smiled.

You nodded and pinched the bridge of your nose looking at your bed.

You only had a few hours to choose.

You had all the gifts, the outfits they sent for you and the accessories all set out in their respective piles.

Sighing you walked over, running your fingers along them all before you picked up your phone, sending a text.

You turned to the other three girls and smiled.

“I’ll see you three there.”

They beamed and left, leaving you to get changed.

Once you did, you looked at yourself in the mirror with a heavy heart.

You felt bad, but you feel like you made the right choice, if you were being honest, you cared for them all, but you only loved him.

When your door went, you took a deep breath and walked down the stairs and opened it with a smile on your face.

“You came…” you breathed out

[multi-royalty]

💋 (reverse) Roommates verse

send 💋'reverse' to have my muse kiss yours

⸻⸻ Caroline wasn't feeling like herself , recently she'd been dealing with multiple mixed emotions when it came to Katherine. The only time before now she'd come close to accepting that she liked girls too was with Elena, and that was - hurdle number one.

D o p p e l g a n g e r s

Katherine and Elena had the same look about them, that was part of the curse something the blonde was heavily trying to contemplate when trying to decide if she could possibly have developed feelings for Katherine or not, although doppelgangers by looks was where there similarities ended. Katherine's personality was a lot sharper than Elena's, and at first Caroline had found it crude, but now having lived with her for a few months, she liked to think she and Katherine had some kind of understanding of each other. Somewhere along the lines of an unwritten rule book.

Caroline needed to find a definitive with her thoughts, and whilst walking back to her dorm room from her last class of the day she'd made a hasty decision. She assumed that if she was open with Katherine about the way she felt it would leave her susceptible to being teased and or lead on, something she didn't want to pave the way for. Caroline also wasn't trying to scare Katherine off, they'd made a comfortable living environment for the two of them, and while Caroline doesn't admit it, she does like having Katherine there.

"good afternoon" she says whilst closing the door behind her but before giving Katherine a chance to answer Caroline is right beside her. Vampire speed was perfect for a sneak attack, though that wasn't what she was trying to do. In her mind with was a now or never situation, and without thinking any further on the matter Caroline was almost haphazardly bringing their lips to a collision.

With her eyes closed, lips locked with Katherine's, Caroline took a moment to breathe her in, allowing her skin to flush warm and for her shoulders to melt before moving back across the room as fast as she'd came.

"I'm sorry- I can explain , but if I didn't do it then , I never would have and I think now, I have the answer I was looking for"

[damonalbarn]

Hey I was wondering if you knew the article that Justine spoke about suzi in?!

It was in The Guardian in 2000. Here you go:

Sweet revenge

In the mid 90s, Justine Frischmann and Damon Albarn were the First Couple of Britpop. Then he used a Blur album to rake over their break-up, while she languished in obscurity amid rumours of heroin addiction. Now she's back with a new album, and it's her turn to exorcise her demons.

Caroline Sullivan

Friday March 24, 2000

As Alison Moyet once said, it's hard to write a decent song when you're happy. Rock bands thrive on romantic turmoil in their private lives, without which they would be reduced to padding out lyrics with football scores and the weather.

Thus it was for Blur's Damon Albarn in mid-1998 when he sat down to write what would become the 13 album. His eight-year relationship with Justine Frischmann of the chart-topping Elastica, whom he once described as **"the only person who's ever been completely necessary to me" **had just ended, at her instigation. Pained and humiliated, he decided to exact revenge by exposing their most intimate details to public scrutiny.

The outcome? Embarrassment for Frischmann, a number one album for Blur and a bit of a result for Albarn.

Break-up albums are by definition both embittered and yearning - in the case of Marvin Gaye's vindictive Here, My Dear, they're just plain nasty - but 13 got more up-close and personal than could be considered gentlemanly. Albarn portrayed his former partner as neurotic, even slipping apparent drug references into the single Tender: "Tender is the ghost, the ghost I love the most/Hiding from the sun, waiting for the night to come". Frischmann was the ghost, supposedly, who was on the verge of being consumed by what one music paper euphemistically called "the darkness at the heart of Elastica".

Frischmann's response can be found on a song called The Way I Like It, which appears on Elastica's first album in five years, The Menace (out next month): "Well, I'm living all right and I'm doing okay/Had a lover who was made of sand, and the wind blew him away".

This is unlikely to be her last word on the subject. As she ambivalently begins her first round of interviews since 1996, she's finding that everyone has the same three questions. Why did Elastica nearly sabotage a promising career by taking so long to follow up their million-selling debut? Had Frischmann taken leave of her senses when she walked out on Mr Britpop? And what about the drug rumours?

"One journalist said to me, 'Dahling, I heard you were on heroin - Mahvelous!' " she says with some amusement. "Drugs are around, but I'm not that interested and never have been, although there have been elements of party animal in my band. The rumours are a lot to do with rock'n'roll mythology, where people want to believe you're having a more exciting time than you are."

The only drugs on her person today, as she perches on the edge of an armchair in her publicist's north London living room, are Marlboro Lights. Her other indulgences are two cups of herbal tea and a Cadbury's Flake cupcake, which she nibbles with well-bred pleasure. Her dark eyes are clear, and her long, tanned body is a testament to the virtues of a daily swim in a pool near her Notting Hill home. Only Elastica know whether they really succumbed to heroin and hedonism after their self-titled debut made them more famous than they'd ever expected to be, but if they did, Frischmann, 30, seems little the worse for it.

Given the current predominance of damnable boy bands, the Britpop mid-90s are beginning to seem like a halcyon period for English music. It was a time when the underground went overground, and a self-described "little punk band" like Elastica could sell 80,000 albums in a week.

More than a few loser guitar groups saw Britpop as a licence to print money, but Elastica, led with cool elan by the androgynous Frischmann, were one of its gems. The Blur connection was a marketing godsend (Frischmann and Albarn met on the London indie circuit, she as guitarist in an early line-up of Suede and girlfriend of frontman Brett Anderson, he as a cherubic baggy hopeful), yet the spiky-haired Elastica LP embodied that euphoric time like nothing else.

Frischmann, guitarist Donna Matthews, drummer Justin Welch and bassist Annie Holland were unprepared for the album soaring to number one in its first week. When they signed their record deal, Frischmann, whose great-grandfather was a conductor of the Tsar's orchestra at the Summer Palace in Byelorussia, was five years into an architecture degree at London University. A liberal north London Jewish upbringing - her engineer father built the Oxford Street landmark Centrepoint - had instilled expectations of success, but the reality of being photographed in the supermarket and having her rubbish stolen was a shock. Fiercely independent, she also resented her unsought role as half of Britpop's First Couple.

There was more. Two of Frischmann's musical heroes, The Stranglers and Wire, decided that two Elastica songs were suspiciously similar to two of their own tracks, and won royalties. Meanwhile, there were malicious rumours that Albarn had done much of the work on the record. He hadn't, but he did find Justine's success in America, where she was substantially out-selling Blur, hard to endure.

"It was very hard for him to deal with and he's very confrontational," she says, with the flattering openness of someone who prefers interviews to be more like conversations. She admits she often says too much, but in an era of image control and spin, her honesty makes her a one-off. Not that she's likely to land herself in it too badly - she possesses the intellectual ammunition to look after herself, which must have been instrumental in attracting two of rock's more articulate stars, Albarn and Anderson.

She's been accused of being a professional rock girlfriend, though it was probably they who were lucky to get her. She spent the cab ride over reading the Sylvia Plath letters in Monday's Guardian, and muses on the irony of the poet's subjugating herself to Ted Hughes when she was the more gifted. (Her new boyfriend, by the way, is an unknown photographer, "though that'll probably change, because men seem to get famous when I go out with them".)

"I reacted the way a lot of women do, by being passive," she continues. "He put a lot of pressure on me to give up Elastica. He said, 'You don't want to be in a band, you want to settle down and have kids.' " In so many words? "In so many words. He kept putting on pressure till I started to believe him." She adds bemusedly: "I've met his new girlfriend, and one of the first things she said was that he wanted her to give up travelling with her work to stay home with the baby [Missy, born last autumn]. I'm surprised he's got away with being thought of as a nice person for so long."

After 18 months, during which they did seven American and three Japanese tours, Elastica came off the road to record company demands for an immediate second album. Annie Holland's response was to quit the group, while Donna Matthews became renowned for hard partying on the nocturnal west London scene. They lethargically recorded some demos, but their heart wasn't in it. By 1997, when a second album should have been ready to go, Frischmann and Matthews were barely speaking, and there was nothing useable down on tape.

Holland's replacement, Sheila Chipperfield (of the circus Chipperfields), was deemed not good enough and left by mutual consent. By 1998, their continued lack of productivity was being likened to the Stone Roses' lengthy and ultimately self-destructive holiday between their first and second LPs.

"I didn't think Elastica were going to continue at that point, and we did kinda split up," she says, absently stroking her publicist's cat. Frischmann is a cat person; she's owned a tabby called Benjamin since she was 10. "Unconditional love," she coos. The pet's place in her life is so assured that prospective boyfriends are subjected to his feline scrutiny before she'll go out with them.

On top of everything else, in early 1998 her relationship with Albarn was in trouble. Frischmann retains enough of the indie ethic to detest the phenomenon of celebrity couples, and was dismayed when they became one. "I really hated the tabloid interest, and I went out of my way not to be photographed with him. Only about three pictures of us together exist, I think. In many ways, I think the media interest broke us up, because it made me feel the relationship was quite ugly, and I had to get away from it. There were other factors, too, obviously, because we were together for eight years, and I finally felt it was better the devil you didn't know, really."

Albarn's ego seems to have been severely undermined by having a girlfriend who was nearly as successful as he was, and something of a sex symbol to boot. Despite adopting a resolutely boyish T-shirt-and-jeans uniform, she's thoroughly feminine, a mix that got her voted fifth most fanciable woman in a lesbian magazine.

"I'm completely heterosexual, so I didn't know how to take that. It scares the shit out of me, the idea of being with a girl. I'm glad I've narrowed it down to half the people in the world."

She seems to view Albarn with indulgent exasperation these days, simultaneously praising his intelligence ("The Gallaghers just couldn't compete") and ticking off his flaws. "Damon adores being in the press, and sees all press as good press. He orchestrated that rivalry thing with Oasis. He really wanted kids, and I didn't feel our relationship was stable enough. He was a naughty boy, and he wasn't the right person to have kids with. I had this cathartic moment..."

At which point they split up. Albarn wrote 13 and then met Suzi Winstanley, an artist. "She was pregnant within three months," Justine observes wickedly.

Of the acclaimed 13, she's tactful, describing several songs as "really lovely". She studies her cigarette for a while before adding, "but I'm cynical about selling a record on the back of our relationship". But you're doing the same now. "It's true, but at the time I had no right of reply."

Elastica finally pulled themselves together last year, just as the music industry was about to write them off (their American label had already "very kindly let us go", as she puts it). Holland rejoined, Matthews went to Wales to sort out her life and the band banged out an EP and played the Reading Festival. Things came together quickly after that. They spent the last £10,000 of the recording budget on re-recording a dozen tracks, finishing the album, after years of procrastinating, in six weeks. They've called it The Menace "because that's what it was like to make".

It's dark and resolutely uncommercial - all wrong for 2000's pop-oriented climate. It's unlikely to match the success of the first one, which is fine with them. Call it (though Justine doesn't) their White Album. Its 70s punk aesthetic brings to mind angry girls such as the Slits and the Au Pairs, although the defining mood isn't anger so much as catharsis. None of the songs is specifically about Albarn, she claims. "The dark feeling is due to the sense of isolation, tasting success and getting frightened by it. I was questioning whether I wanted to be in a band any more, and there was no one I could ask for advice. Getting success and everything you ever dreamed about is hard to handle, and makes you question everything."

She's better prepared for success, if it comes again, this time. Already the privacy-preserving barriers are in place. The next interview of the day is with Time Out magazine, which wants a list of her favourite restaurants. "I'm not telling them where I eat," she says reflexively. "I'm gonna lie."

[heauxplesslydevoted]

Then & Now (Ethan x MC)

Summary: A particularly difficult case forces Ethan to confront a blast from his past

A/N: This popped into my head and I had too much fun writing it. I will loosely incorporate some of the themes from book 3 and make them better, but this is mostly an AU.

A/N 2: Yes I’m writing another multipart fic while actively ignoring my others. The muses spoke and I had no choice in the matter. Enjoy!

~v~

“Would you like some more coffee, Dr. Ramsey?”

Whatever line he was reading in his textbook blurs as does his vision. Ethan looks up at the face of the newest member of the team, a young resident, Isabelle. He takes the cup, not missing the way her eyes light up as he does so. What is it with residents and their incessant need to kiss-ass and be people pleasers?

“Thank you, Dr. Proctor.”

“Of course! I figured we’d need all the caffeine we could get our hands on with this case.”

Ethan doesn’t respond with words, only offering the young woman a hum in acknowledgement. Instead his eyes land on his coworker, Harper Emery. “Harper, has your team been able to come up with anything new?”

“Nothing,” Harper replies with a resigned sigh.

“You have got to be kidding me.”

“I’ve run as many tests, MRIs and CT scans as I could, and none of them came back with anything conclusive. We’re officially back to square one.”

Ethan hasn’t been this stumped in years. A week ago, a patient came to Edenbrook after waking up without being able to feel anything from the waist down. A young, relatively healthy 25 year old with no extraordinary medical history, no recent reports of any TBI, nothing. He assumed with Harper–one of the nation’s greatest neurosurgeons–on the case, that this would be a simple fix.

As painful as it is to admit, he’s wrong.

They’ve gotten nowhere with the case, they’ve made no progress, and to make matters worse, he has Leland Bloom and the board breathing down his neck because it’s been years since the team has spent more than a week on a case, so a week with no news reflects poorly on them—on him, as the team’s leader specifically.

The last member of the team, Tobias, clears his throat. “Did he ever mention getting into a fight? Maybe he took a hit to the head, and just doesn’t want to admit it?”

“Maybe, but like I said, none of the CT scans or MRIs showed me anything out of the norm,” Harper says. “I can always ask him again.”

“That’d be ideal–”

Ethan’s sentence is cut off as the door to their office is thrown open, and in walks Leland. “Hello, team!”

The most senior members of the team stay silent, but Isabelle gives a slight wave. “Hello, Mr. Bloom.”

“Dr. Proctor,” Leland greets in turn. “Nice to know at least one of you has manners.”

Ethan checks the time on his watch. “What are you doing here, Bloom?”

“Last time I checked, I owned this entire building and I didn’t need to ask your permission to be here.”

“We’re nearing midnight,” Ethan adds. “What are you still doing here, and not at home? I’m sure Mrs. Bloom would enjoy seeing you.”

Leland ignores the mention of his wife Caroline, pretending like she wasn’t mentioned at all. “I just stopped by your patient’s room to see how he was doing. And then I decided to drop by to check in with you guys. Are there any updates on the Miller case?”

“I’m not discussing patient information with you,” Ethan says.

“Well, I am your boss.”

“And until you go to medical school, graduate, become a doctor at this hospital, and join in on this case, I don’t have to tell you anything. You may own this hospital, but I do not have to discuss my patients with you.”

“Okay, so you guys have no new information,” Leland concludes.

Ethan pinches the bridge of his nose in annoyance, this conversation giving him a headache even though it just started. “We were actually in the middle of a brainstorming session before we were interrupted, so if we could have some privacy again, that would be much appreciated.”

Ethan’s tone causes Leland to drop the veneer of kindness, the smile dropping from his face only for a second before he catches it. He looks away and sniffs haughtily. “Fine. I’ll check in with the patient tomorrow for a status update, since it’s clear I won’t be getting it from my employees. Thankfully, his father and I go way back.”

“I can’t stop the patient from divulging his own information.”

Leland glances around the room one more time, his gaze lingering on Ethan a bit longer than it does on the other occupants. “Goodnight, doctors.”

Once Leland leaves, Harper turns towards Ethan. “You act like it would literally kill you to be nice to him.”

“Be nice for what? Bloom thinks we owe him undying loyalty and infinite ass kissing because he bought the hospital. He’s pulled a lot of nonsense since moving into this position, but he’s not worth breaking any laws over. My patients deserve their privacy.”

“And I agree, but the extra hostility isn’t needed. The last thing we need is World War 3 with you and Bloom tearing down the hospital. Just be nice.”

“Okay, are we getting back to work or calling it a night?”

The rest of the team glances around each other. Pulling an all-nighter with Ethan while he’s in a foul mood sounds like a nightmare.

“We’re calling it a night.”

~v~

Ethan ends up falling asleep in the office, finally dozing off around 5 o'clock in the morning, surrounded by a mountain of books and the harsh light of his computer screen. The sleep is short lived though as the sound of his pager wakes him up.

He jumps up with a start, and checks the time on his watch before checking his pager. He only managed to get two hours of sleep, but he can’t dwell on that. The page is a 911 alert to his patient’s room.

“Shit!”

He takes off to the 4th floor where his patient is housed, thankful that the early morning hour means the hospital is not yet flooded with people.

Isabelle, Harper, and a nurse are already in the room when Ethan finally makes it. “What’s going on?”

“He had a seizure,” Harper explains.

“How long did it last?”

“Around 50 seconds. We administered lorazepam into his IV.”

“Could this be a new symptom?” Valencia asks. “Or something else entirely?”

Harper shrugs. “I don’t know, but I’m going to take him down to radiology for another CT scan. Hopefully this next one can actually yield some results.”

Ethan nods. “That sounds like a plan. In the meantime, Dr. Proctor, add seizures onto the list of symptoms to broaden our search criteria. Maybe that’ll help.”

“Gotcha.”

“We’ll reconvene when Tobias comes in and once we get the new CT scans back.”

There’s a knock at the door and Ethan bristles when Leland’s loud voice calls out to him. “Dr. Ramsey, can I speak to you out in the hallway?”

“With all due respect, I’d rather not.”

“It wasn’t a request, doctor. Hallway, now.”

Ethan shoots Harper a look, and she gives him a quick sympathy smile before he and Leland step out into the hallway.

They move a few feet away from the patient’s door, out of earshot before Leland lays into Ethan. “How in the hell is the patient actually managing to get worse under your care?”

The question actually takes Ethan aback. “You can’t possibly be saying his condition is my fault?”

“I’m saying he’s been here for a week now, and he’s no better off than where he was. You don’t have any information to give him or his family. Do you know how many phone calls my assistant has had to field because they want to get him transferred to a different facility?”

“We are giving him the best care possible, Leland. Just because you and his father belong to the same country club or whatever, does not mean there’ll be some instant diagnosis or treatment that he can buy...or steal. We need to do our due diligence.”

Leland is smart enough to know when a dig is being lobbed in his direction. His eyes narrow. “What are you trying to say, Ethan?”

“Exactly what I just did. Besides, why do you have such a vested interest in my team and what we do? I’m sure you have other businesses and people to micromanage these days.”

“You guys don’t make me any money yet remain my biggest cost. The least you can do is be efficient and answer my questions when I ask.”

“And like I told you last night, I know you own this place. You never let me forget it. But you buying this hospital does not mean I am here at your beck and call, now does it mean I have to be governed under anything that isn’t set forth by the American Medical Association. Now, me team is the best this hospital and this city have to offer, so back up and let us do our jobs.”

“You guys are the best?” Leland chuckles humorlessly. “Act like it. Or I’ll find someone else who can.”

The threat causes Ethan to pause. “What does that mean?”

“You heard me loud and clear, Dr. Ramsey. Loud and clear.”

~v~

“You idiot! Why on earth would you get into a fight with Bloom in the middle of a hallway?”

Ethan doesn’t try to school his bored expression as Tobias paces the entire length of the office, huffing and puffing as he does so.

“I didn’t get into a fight with him,” Ethan amends. “It was an exchange of words.”

“A loud exchange of words,” Harper adds. “In front of our patient’s room, might I add.”

“I had plans for this day to be productive, but the minute that man opens his mouth, I just–”

“We get it, you don’t like him,” Tobias interjects.

“Disliking Leland is an understatement.”

Isabelle stays silent, unable to find a good place to cut in, despite having questions. Ethan’s dislike of Leland Bloom is the hospital’s worst kept secret, but the contention has always been passive aggressive at best. And as a second year resident, she doesn’t have any background knowledge on why the relationship is the way that it is.

“I don’t like him either, but you don’t see me needling him in front of the nurse’s station!”

“Sure Leland is...obnoxious at times, but I don’t understand any of it,” Isabelle says, finally speaking up. Ethan looks at her as if he’s just now remembering that she’s been in the room the entire time. “What happened that caused this much animosity?”

Leland’s kidney disease wasn’t a major secret. Most medical personnel that worked at Edenbrook and the larger Boston area remember the huge media blitz, and all of the pomp and circumstance surrounding his hospitalization early last year. And the official story is Leland got a kidney from a family member who wished to keep their identity a secret from the public, and everyone ate it up.

Only a handful of people know the truth. That a few well placed phone calls and dollars exchanged got Leland to the top of the donor list within a day, stealing a second chance from the true person at the top of the list: a 14 year old girl.

“So long as there is breath in my body, Leland Bloom and his ilk will never get an ounce of respect from me, and I’ll just leave it at that,” Ethan says cooly. “And that’s all you need to know, Dr. Proctor.”

“Okay.”

“I’m just saying man, Bloom is petty,” Tobias adds. “Men like him, who think the rest of us should bow at their feet, don’t take kindly to getting told off, especially in public. Underneath the billions is a tiny ass, fragile ego. Can you just keep a low profile and be quiet for the next day or two, so Bloom doesn’t dismantle this team?”

“I’ll be as cordial as Bloom is,” is what Ethan settles upon. “Nothing more, nothing less.”

The only thing that can rival Ethan’s intelligence is his stubbornness. Tobias knows it’s the best he’s going to get out of Ethan, so he relents. “Okay.”

“Good. Now can we get back to work and stop talking about Bloom?”

His team nods and Ethan sighs in relief.. They still have a chance to turn things around and actually have a good day.

They fall into a productive routine, tossing around different theories, sharing research and narrowing down ideas. Too bad that only lasts for about half an hour before there’s a knock at the office door. A few seconds later, Naveen pokes his head in.

Ethan smiles because part of him was expecting Leland to show up again. “Naveen, this is a nice surprise! Don’t tell me you’re ready to get back in the saddle.”

Naveen laughs good-naturedly at his mentee. “Not quite.”

“Well what brings you down here?”

“I wanted to talk to you for a second, Ethan,” Naveen says.

“Is everything okay?”

“Yes. It’s not about me, it’s work related. Team related news, that I wanted to tell you personally,” Naveen explains, fully entering the office. “Is there any way I could steal you for a few minutes?”

“If it involves the team, I think we can have the conversation here. Is this about my...spirited discussion with Leland?”

“No, it’s about the case you’re working on.”

“Now I know we don’t usually work on cases for this long, and we’re working on it.”

“I know. That’s what I wanted to talk to you about. Leland has some concerns about how long it’s taking you guys to treat this patient, and he told me that he wants to outsource some extra help to speed things along.”

“No thank you.”

“He’s already made phone calls. I’m just here to give you a heads up about who he picked.”

“A heads up?” Ethan scoffs and rolls his eyes. Who on earth could Leland think of reaching out to that Ethan would need a warning about? “Who is he asking for? Mendoza from MK? Catherine Morgan from Stanford? The Boogeyman?”

“I don’t think I’ve reached Boogeyman levels of infamy. Well, at least not yet.”

The voice makes the hair on the back of Ethan’s neck stand up. It’s a voice he hasn’t heard in close to three years, one that he thought he’d never hear again.

His eyes snap up, locking with the large brown ones staring back at him, and all of the breath leaves his lungs at once. The last time he looked into these eyes, they weren’t full of humor like they are now, but pure fire. His chest constricts, inhaling suddenly the most difficult task in the world.

The entire room goes silent, everyone watching as Ethan and the woman stay locked in their staring contest. Isabelle’s eyes dart back and forth, hoping someone can clue her into what’s going on, but Naveen, Harper and Tobias offer zero assistance.

Isabelle takes the quiet time to appraise the stranger. She’s petite, almost a foot shorter than Ethan even with her sky high Jimmy Choos on. The second thing that catches her attention is the mess of dark curly hair spilling over her shoulders, and the amused smirk on her face, like a cat that got the canary.

The woman breaks eye contact with Ethan to look past his shoulder. “Harper, Tobias, hello. Long time no see.”

When he regains the ability to speak, Ethan grits out, “Naomi, what on earth are you doing here?”

“I got an interesting call from Leland Bloom this morning, saying that the diagnostics team was in dire need of some assistance on a particularly difficult case. Within the hour, his private helicopter was picking me up.”

Ethan takes a sterling’s breath and silently counts to 3 before talking again. “I’m not working with you.”

“You don’t have a choice. Not unless you quit.”

“Don’t tempt me.”

Naomi rolls her eyes. “Drama was never a good look on you, darling, I was always better suited for it.” She turns her attention to the young resident gawking at her, turning on her megawatt smile. “You’re new. I don’t know you.”

“Um, n-no you don't. I’m Dr. Isabelle Proctor.”

“Isabelle,” Naomi repeats slowly, letting it roll off of her tongue. “What a pretty name.”

“Thank you.”

“I’m Dr. Naomi Ramsey.”

The last name catches her attention. Her eyes flicker over to Ethan’s face, catching the way his jaw ticks as female Dr. Ramsey talks.

“I can see the wheels turning in your head as I talk, so I’ll clear things up for you right quick,” Naomi continues. “No, the last name thing isn’t a coincidence. I’m Ethan’s ex-wife." She sticks out a hand for Isabelle to shake. "Nice to meet you.”

~v~

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[storiesofsvu]

Playing With Fire Ch 7

Rita Calhoun x fem!reader Warnings: language.

You only paused briefly enough outside of Lucia’s office to knock on the doorframe, shooting her a warm smile as you entered.

“You working through lunch too? I swear this entire school is overworked. Isn’t recess supposed to be time for you to get up and stretch your legs, be active?” You teased and she scoffed.

“Did you really come all the way down here to tease your Abuelita?”

“I brought lunch?” You suggested, holding up the bag.

“And for that? I thank you.” She smiled, accepting the container and utensils you passed her.

“What?” You asked, your brow furrowing as you settled into a chair across from her.

“You’re practically glowing.”

“Thank you?” You cracked open your takeout container, digging into your lunch.

“It means I think you look happy.” Lucia smiled across at you, “I take it you came from your girlfriend’s?”

“Are you gonna lecture me about living in sin?” You asked dryly, pulling a chuckle from the older woman.

“I think it’s a little late for that.” She smiled, “at least I know you’re not going to show up pregnant out of the blue.”

“Got that right.” You chewed over a bite of food, “and yes…I technically came from her place.”

“She makes you happy?”

“Yeah.” You smiled fondly, “she really does…she’s really great. Surprisingly very sweet.”

“She seems to be taking very good care of you.”

“Yeah.” You ducked your head as you felt your cheeks heat. You were incredibly thankful that you’d always been pretty open with Lucia, you had been with your Mother too. Both of them provided a lot of support and advice over the years, after your Mom passed that tended to all fall on your Abuelita. While Rafael was always still around and willing to help you out whenever you needed it, it was just more comfortable talking to someone else, especially when it came down to relationships. “Terrible at first aid though. She sliced her hand this morning and didn’t even have bandaids in the house.”

“I guess you’re taking pretty good care of each other then.” Lucia chuckled.

“Guess so.” You cast her a warm smile.

“So when do I get to meet her?”

“You uh…already have…”

Lucia’s hand dropped to the desk with a clunk,

“Oh please don’t tell me you’ve gotten back together with that Caroline girl. She was terrible, and not good for you.”

“No! God no….last I heard she moved out to California anyways.”

“Well it clearly isn’t someone from the hospital…” she mused, racking her brain of all the friends of yours she’d met while she chewed another bite of food. “Someone from college?”

“Nope…” you could feel your heart practically racing in your chest, praying that this wasn’t about to end disastrously.

“I give up, care to give me a name?”

“Rita…” you winced slightly, instantly occupying yourself with your food while Lucia tried to figure out who you were talking about. It took her a moment, but she finally spoke again,

“The only Rita I can think of is Rafi’s friend.”

“That….would be the one.” You mumbled, risking a glance up at her.

“Oh.” Her eyes widened for a split second before her brows dropped and she got lost in thought for a moment, “that is…older…than I expected.”

“Is now the part where you yell at me?”

“Chica, why would I yell at you?” She laughed softly, “you’re allowed to make your own decisions about your own life, you may be my grand baby but I’m more than well aware you’re an adult. Ms Calhoun is a lovely woman, I’ve always liked her, she’s one of the only people who can put Rafi in his place.” You laughed at the truth behind that statement, “as long as she makes you happy, and she’s treating you well, then I’m happy for you.”

“Thank you.” You smiled.

“You are happy right?”

“Yes.”

“Those designer shoes make a lot more sense now.” She teased and you laughed, “I’m assuming Rafi doesn’t know yet?”

“No.” You huffed, “Rita and I have been keeping things kind of on the down low? I mean, it’s not like she’s keeping me hidden away or anything, we still go out together, just…with her work Rita doesn’t really want things to be overly public, says it’s easier to keep me safe that way.”

“She cares about you.” Lucia smiled warmly.

“Yeah…” you felt your cheeks heat again, “guess she really does.”

“Why don’t you bring her with you to dinner on Sunday?”

“You really think that’s a good idea?”

“All things considered I’d like to get reacquainted with her. Get to know her as your girlfriend, plus then you’ll have a little more back up when Rafi finds out.”

“I’ll talk to Rita. I’m not sure what her schedule’s like.” You jumped at the sound of the school bell going off suddenly. “Guess that’s my cue.”

“Thank you for lunch.” Lucia stood, pressing a chaste kiss to your cheek that you returned while you moved to the door. “Chica?”

“Yes Abuelita?” You turned back, brow raised in question.

“You’re missing a bracelet.” She gestured.

“Fuck.”

“Language!”

“Sorry.” You muttered, “I took it off when I showered, I’ll put it on once I get home.”

“Thank you. I don’t need you dying on me just because you forgot it, you really need to be better at that.”

“I know, I know.” You pulled the door open, “I’ll see you Sunday?”

She nodded briefly to you, watching as you did your best to slip through the hallways before they were swarming with kids. You were impeccably happy that she’d taken it so well, you knew that she normally supported you, and let you live your life how you wanted, but part of you had still been worried. You knew that she probably did have her reservations over the entire thing, the age gap was pretty substantial, but at least for now she was keeping her thoughts to herself. Letting you figure things out for yourself, and wanting to see you and Rita together before she really made any judgement calls.

*

“Hey!” Rita’s voice broke through Rafael’s grumbling as they rounded a corner of the courthouse, “just because the Judge ruled in my favour doesn’t mean I’m against making a deal.”

“For what? Assault two? Fat chance.”

“Sexual misconduct. He’ll go on the registry, community service, no jail time.” She offered and Rafael huffed, turning to her as he hit the elevator button.

“Fine.”

“Thank you.” She half rolled her eyes, sliding her books back into her purse, wincing as her hand flexed over the pile.

“What happened to your hand?” He raised a suspicious brow as the two of them stepped into the empty elevator.

“Gashed it on a broken coffee mug this morning.” She sighed, leaning back against the elevator wall. Rafael gently reached out, examining the bandage, “what?”

“This is some medical grade quality for someone who didn’t even have bandaids at Harvard.”

“I…had some help.”

“You had company at seven thirty in the morning? Sounds like someone got laid last night.” He teased and she laughed.

“What, you jealous Barba?”

“Are you really out there picking people up on a Wednesday?”

“I don’t pick up strangers.” She shot back, rolling her eyes, “besides, when have I ever let a one night stand spend the night?”

“So you’ve got yourself a girlfriend who’s good at wrapping injuries.”

“That’s not all her hands are good at.” Rita smirked.

“Jesus…”

“I think I’ll keep this one around a while.”

“You gonna bring her by some day?”

“You know I don’t like mixing business and pleasure.”

“Aw c’mon. Your firm does more than enough fundraisers, and you do that yacht party every year.”

“You want to meet her that badly?” Rita raised a brow, wondering how far she could push it before Rafael realized she was talking about his niece.

“I’m just curious what kind of woman it takes to tame the Calhoun beast.”

“Oh come on.” She scoffed, swatting at his arm. Before he could retort, her phone buzzed with an incoming text, she smirked seeing your name on the screen, though she did shield it from Rafael, hoping to keep a little bit of privacy for the both of you.

‘Abuelita wants you to come to dinner Sunday, if you’re free?’

‘I’d love to. Does she know that it’s me?’

‘Yeah. Seemed surprisingly okay about it, said you’re lovely and wants to get to know you as my girlfriend instead of Raf’s friend.’

‘That’s sweet. What time?’

‘Six.’

‘Added to the agenda.’

‘Perfect. How’s the hand?’

‘Not as bad as I thought it would be.’

‘Good. I know you’re in court today, but I left a present on your desk.’

She smiled warmly at that, unaware of Barba’s eyes watching her as the elevator continued it’s decent.

“Who’re you texting?” He teased, his hand making a swipe for the phone. Thankfully, she recoiled quickly enough to keep your privacy, but not quickly enough to avoid Rafael’s hand colliding with the cut.

“Fuck!” She winced and Rafael immediately apologized, shirking at the well deserved hard glare she shot back at him, “you know, if you would mind your own business for once in your life, the world would be a better place.”

“Okay, okay.” He surrendered as the doors slid open and they slipped out onto the main floor, “I’m just glad to see you happy, whoever this mystery girl is, she’s clearly good for you.”

‘Give it three days..’ she thought, shaking the thought off as they pushed out of the courthouse doors, “yeah…well if you’re nice enough to me maybe you’ll actually get to meet her.”

“I’d like to.”

“I’ll see you around Barba.” She cast him a coy grin as she turned down the street in the direction of her firm. She wasn’t particularly nervous over revealing to Rafael who she was dating, she was more concerned on your behalf. She knew that you were worried, especially considering it had come up when you were talking about deal breakers before you officially agreed to be together. She cared about you, she did, and she didn’t want to see you upset or hurt, and she had a feeling that Sunday might be a little bit of a disaster.

Then again, maybe it was better to just get it out of the way now, let Rafael sulk if that’s what he wanted to do, as long as the two of you were happy, that was all that really mattered, right?

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