#because that kid has no filter and he has to explain that youre his wife

[pettyprocrastination]

whoever this beloved anon was I am so touched by your kindness! You definitely didn’t have to do this but I am so happy you enjoy this idea and I will happily expand upon it for you!

this is just a collection of word vomit bullet points for the time being but I will happily answer any and all questions about this pair!!

warnings: violence, angst, child death (Sarah Miller), foul language, the same warnings that apply to tlou, reader is Sarah's mom and described as having similar features to her. 

So the general Idea is that you and Joel are happily married before the outbreak. 

You had been Sarah's mother, his high school sweetheart he got pregnant when neither of you were old enough to have any reaction to the pregnancy test other than a fucking panic attack in one another’s arms. but you made it work 

you both worked but made time for one another and your sweet girl, going to museums every other weekend and joel insisting on swooping you off for a date every now and then 

nothing special. He knows you’re more of a diner gal than anything too fancy that makes you both feel out of place. 

On his birthday in 2003, you had planned to tell him that you were pregnant again. But the memories of your own fears of motherhood from all those years ago begin to swirl through your head again and you get cold feel. deciding to tell him the morning after

it is his birthday afterall, you want to focus on him. 

but when you’re woken up in the middle of the night because tommy needs to get bailed out, Joel kisses you sweetly one last time before promising he’ll be back and you can’t shake the feeling that something bad is happening. 

its you that shakes sarah awake that night. shouting at her to put on her shoes when she’s still rubbing the sleep from her eyes because you’ve been listening to the radio for the past two hours, calling joel again and again and again praying for him to fucking pick up but to no avail. 

Sarah, bless your little girl’s bleeding heart is the one who insists you check on the adler’s against your better suspicions and when you find the eldest looming over her daughter, blood and sinew dripping from her mouth, you grab your daughter hand and burst into a full sprint until something slams into your back and sends you tumbling onto their front lawn

its how joel finds you, struggling to keep the once sweet old woman, whose now nothing more than dead eyes and gnashing teeth straining to snap at your pulse point as you push against her while sarah shrieks before your husband runs forward and cracks her skull with a wrench. 

there’s hardly a moment of pause, just enough for him to pull you up and into his arms before he’s ushering you both into the car with an urgency. 

when the truck crashes, you get separated from them. Perhaps at Tommy’s side when the flames rise and create a wall, separating you from your husband, or maybe pulled into the mob of chaos when trying to escape from those already infected-

all joel knows is that you promise you’ll find him: just get sarah to safety and you’ll meet him at the river

Poor thing is already so frightened, held in her father’s arms with tears streaming down her face insisting they can’t leave you they just can’t but her father kisses her forehead and reassures her its going to be okay 

“we just need to be brave, okay babygirl? Your mama’s real tough, she’s gonna be alright.” 

he isn’t sure if he’s saying it to his daughter or himself. 

but when he comes to the river you aren’t there. Only a soldier who points a gun at the scared little girl in his arms and then he loses everything

its when the light is gone from his daughter’s eyes that he realizes. His voice cracked and raw from sobbing that he looks around to see his brother with drawn in shoulders and tears in his eyes but his wife is nowhere to be found. 

Tommy says you got lost in the chaos. Everything was so loud, so sudden that he turned around and suddenly you weren’t there. 

Joel wants to go back but its Tommy that stops him, that dulls the red in his vision to a sad faded pink because his brother points at the orange horizon not too far from them, so much of the city is already in flames. 

“We’re gonna find her, but not there.” 

So Joel searches. for the first year spent in the world post-outbreak its all he did. 

He became a smuggler because of it. 

Information came at a price and he needed to be able to fucking pay it, whether it be in blood or ration cards. He was willing to do anything to find you or any thin thread that lead your way. 

But it’s Tommy that asks him to give up. Not in those words of course. 

The youngest Miller knows better than to say something so cruel that would make his brother, the only person he has in this world turn on him. 

But his voice is worried when he asks him one night in Boston when he hasn’t even had the chance to wash the blood from his knuckles 

“You think she would have wanted this for you?” 

the fight that followed his words was brutal. Vicious insults and scarred fists slamming against each brother until they're both too tired and bloody to continue. Each leaning against a wall for support and Tommy’s wavering voice breaking the silence. 

“I don’t know where she is, Joel. But I do know you're gonna get yourself killed if you keep lookin’ for her.” 

All he can do is nod. 

It’s a few days later when he meets Tess. Who has heard plenty of stories about the elder miller’s brutality and wants him to put that muscle to good use for some extra profit. 

It begins his new life. One that empty and cold but one he can live. 

Until of course, Ellie comes along. The sweet and incredibly opinionated girl that makes him become something akin to the man he thought died twenty years ago. 

its when he’s traveling with Ellie, that it happens. When a warm familiarity has settled between the two because so much blood and pain has been shared he can’t help but see her as something close, something bright even though all he can force himself to utter in her reference is “cargo” 

when theyre traveling through the woods as Ellie chatters away, probing his memory about a movie that may or may not have existed thirty years ago because her descriptions of the plot are incredibly odd he hears a voice shout for them to stop and finds himself staring at a man- no, a boy- pointing a gun at them. 

Ellie stills, but Joel can see enough to know that from the lanky figure and dimpled face that he’s young. Maybe twenty, twenty-two at the oldest, but his eyes dart from Joel to Ellie with a pinprick of fear that allows Joel the time to charge forward and slam him to the ground before wrestling the gun from his hands. 

He has enough to time to tuck it under the stranger’s chin before he hears the sound of the safety being turned off and finds himself looking up and seeing a gun just inches from his face. 

Joel’s head whips around when Ellie’s voice calls out his name in fear, he turns to see another stranger holding her a gun point, shoulders drawn back and a shadow cast over their face by the had obstructing their identity. 

“You hurt one of mine, I hurt one of yours. That a fair deal?” 

Its takes him a moment to recognize you. It’s been so long since he’s heard your voice, the sweet tease when you would poke at him each time he woke up late despite the fact that you reminded him to set his alarm the night before, the times you’d chide him with a harsh “Joel Miller!” whispered in public anytime he was able to grab you a bit too passionately to be appropriate in public but the laughter in your voice let him know you were never truly mad at him. You didn’t know how to be. 

But that sweetness is buried under a cold rasp that cuts through the air as you point a rifle at the scared little girl in front of you.

“You think I won’t?” You’re older now, skin covered in scars from a life he didn’t know you got the chance to live and your eyes are cold as they regard your husband. “Put the gun down and get the fuck off of him, I won’t repeat myself.” 

Joel mumbles your name in awe. The woman he loved, the woman he mourned the one he fought so hard to find stands before him like some sort of hallucination and suddenly the world feels like its spinning until you bark orders at him again. 

“You’ve got five seconds Joel, make a fucking choice before I make it for you.” 

He looks down and realizes the boy under him, the one with the bleeding nose and snarling face has your eyes and his dimples. 

“One.” 

The one above him has Sarah’s hair. Soft brown curls that shine under the sun. 

“Two”

Wait. No, they both do.

“Three.” 

Twins. Jesus fucking Christ you had twins. 

“Four.” 

Joel holds the rifle up above his head and the one boy standing snatches it from his grasp, tossing it to the ground and kicking it far from his reach. He slowly stands, allowing your son- dear god your son- to scramble to his feet. 

Your voice softens just for a moment. “You okay, Duke?” 

Blood stains the bottom half of his face from where Joel slammed his fist into the boy’s nose just moments before, but he nods nonetheless. 

Now, they both stand on one side of you and he can see the resemblance clear as day the same way he would whenever Sarah was by your side.

When you order him to hand over his bag, he does so without question before telling Ellie to do the same. 

She watches him with wide eyes, her hands still up in the air but gaping at her companion as if he had grown a second head. 

“Joel!” “Just do it, alright?”

He doesn’t miss the way you watch their interaction with narrowed eyes until she tosses her bag to you and you slowly lower your gun. 

“Now, you want to tell me what the fuck you think you’re doin’ at my home?” 

[leclerced]

Lando’s kid would be totally unhinged. He’d just go around after a race and shit on Lewis because “my daddy was second and now he’s third because of you!” Then with Daniel calling him meanie cause what do you mean his godfather isn’t racing for the same team as his daddy. Tell Max it’s okay to retire because he heard he’s getting quite old and if he retired his daddy would win for sure. Then go to Carlos and tell him what does he think he’s doing with his fave uncle Oscuh??? Now he’s on the black list and won’t get a present for Christmas. Hug Charles after “the bad red team fucked up again” (they’re laughing and freaking out at the same time because he shouldn’t swear and Lando’s wife will cut off their heads if she hears that). Just a menace without a brain-mouth filter like his dad hahaha

okok i love this sm and i have one other ask of urs ab charles that im trying to do a one shot w but im trying to make it soft and lovey and thats hard for me so. its takin a min

daniel trying to explain that he used to drive for them but he drives for a new team. the kid eventually forgives danny when he says if he didn’t switch teams, oscar wouldn’t drive with his daddy. the kid immediately is like “oh im glad you left daddy’s team. i like osc-uh more than you.” and daniel’s a little happy his godson has forgiven him for switching teams, but also like hurt by the toddler saying he likes oscar more.

he definitely tells max to retire and he would definitely be like, going around telling everyone max is retiring so his daddy can win. oscar following him around apologizing to everyone like, “sorry he doesn’t know what he’s saying! ignore him, max is not retiring anytime soon.”

carlos crashing out and almost taking oscar out with him and he goes to the mclaren garage after his interview so he can apologize to oscar, lando’s girl is there with their kiddo and the kid is immediately like, “car! you are a meanie! why did you try to hurt my friend?” and carlos is still apologizing to the kid when the race finishes up and he has to apologize to oscar in front of the kid for him to accept it.

if he’s there when charles has a bad race, he’s taking his favorite toy and candy over to the ferrari garage to cheer him up. like he has a dnf and lando’s girl has to take him over there because he won’t stop crying until he sees charles. she’s holding his hand walking him over and he suddenly pulls his hand away and runs ahead when he sees the driver, and hugs his legs sooo tight. charles ruffles his hair before he picks him up and kiddo whispers in his ear, “sorry your team fucked up charlie! mommy said not to say that word but she said it first.” and charles sees her approaching and is like, “shh don’t let her hear you say that, she’ll blame me! but it’s okay they messed up, i get to see my favorite boy!” n kiddo giggling and hugging charles again

[13as07]

Bruised

(Shino Aburame)

[Artwork is not mine! Credit to Pixiv Id]

Requested by: Anonymous

Word Count: 3,530

Warnings and/or Pre-Notes:

Attempted Stabbing

PTSD Attack

Bruises

I fully believe Shino's hair type falls somewhere on the high 3 to low 4 ranking and you can't convince me otherwise

———————————————————————

     "Akimichi-San," I try to coo, my hands up as I slowly approach the elderly man. The elderly man is still built like the brick he was during his Shinobi days. "It's alright, do you know where you are? You're at the Konoha Veterans' Retirement Center," I carefully explain, my eyes flickering from the active PTSD episode patient and my fellow nurses waiting on standby to interfere.

     "Stay back!" The man yells, waving around the butter knife he's clinging to. The butter knife he was just using to split the biscuit he was going to have with his supper. Why doesn't anyone listen to me when I tell them not to give Akimichi-San any sharp object? 'He hasn't had an attack in four months it's fine so we're sure he's fine'. Obviously not.

     "Alright, I can do that," I say calmly, stopping in my tracks. "Everything is alright, Akimichi-San. At the moment you're having a flashback episode. I assure you that you are safe, that your wife is safe, your kids and your grandkids. You're all safe."

     "Stay back you trader! How could you betray your village?!" The man barks at me, eyes locked on me as he continues swishing the knife around. "You... you mind technique Shinobis always try to get in our heads. I don't have a wife! Let alone kids! Your, your, your little mind tricks won't work on me, trader."

     "Akimichi-San - "

     "Stop calling me that! It's Captain Akimichi. I worked hard for my title, respect it!"

     "Of course. My apologies Captain," I mutter, slowly bowing my head in apology. "I assure you I am unwaveringly loyal to both our village and our squad, my Captain."

     The nurse in the door throws his hands up, a nonverbal 'what the hell?' shooting from him. I shrug my shoulders and use my eyes to send back a 'I don't know, I'm just going with the flow I guess?'

     "No. No, no, no. You are not one of mine. You're a trader. I trader I say!" I'm yelled at again, this time paired with the man charging at me. Before I have time to react I'm slammed to the floor, Akimichi-San on top of me trying to stab me with the butter knife. Thank the Lord my coworkers react unlike me, hands flying around his wrist to keep the knife away from me as they attempt to pull him off.

The pain rippling through my body is so overwhelming that it's almost numb like I'm stuck underwater as my patient tries to stab me to death. The noise of my coworkers yelling, of me being yelled at and called a trader is muffled like I can't exactly make the sound out unless I actively try to.

At least it's all numb until an elbow is stabbed into my rib cage, Akimichi-San trying to stay on top of me, threats of my bone snapping hovering just as much as he is. I swear, at the very least I better be sent home early because of this.

————————————

     The more stairs I climb, the harder I breathe. The harder I breathe, the more my side hurts. They said my ribs weren't broken, but I don't exactly believe them at the moment. The pain rippling across my body, aimed at my chest sure makes it feel like something is broken.

     When I get to the top of the stairs - hunched over, panting for breath, and trying to will my body to stop hurting - the smell of cooking filters into the hallway. The single mother two doors down must be making her spicy curry again. It always makes the whole floor smell good.

I sigh as I dig through my pocket looking for my keys. The smell of cooking makes me dread the quick "just add heat" meal waiting for me. Shino has been busy prepping his students for graduation and I've been tied up at the Retirement Center pulling doubles and constant overtime. Our jobs haven't left us much time for each other recently, let alone the energy to cook or clean.

     The thought of our recked apartment only fills me with more dread. Our home most definitely has not been attended to in way too long. Though, since I'm on medical leave for the next week I suppose I'll have time to cook and clean for us. The thought makes the doctor's note ordering me to rest and take my pain meds burn in my pocket. I'll have plenty of time to rest. Spending the day tomorrow cleaning won't do too much harm.

...Or not.

When the door to the apartment swings open, I'm not greeted with the recent commonly placed piles of Shino's grading sheets, the occasional disregarded clothing, the layer of dust that's been building, and the small piles of nick-nacks dumped from my scrub pockets. The yummy scent coating the apartments' hallway seems to be wafting out from our home as well.

"Welcome home, Cricket," Shino mutters, tugging my attention toward the kitchen.

"You're home early," I call back, setting my bags down before my focus shifts to changing into my house shoes.

"I could say the same to you," he counters, walking out of the kitchen, and quickly beating me to the floor. Shino sinks to a knee, propping my foot on his bent leg so he can undo my laces for me. "I did not expect you for another hour or two. It's quite the damper on my day."

"How's it a damper on your day?" I ask, my eyes trailing after his movements. Foot propped, work shoe off, house shoe on, kiss, foot down, repeat. My lover has a bad habit of saying things that come off as mean without explanation; this is one of those times. It's taken some time but I've figured out he rarely if ever means it in a mean way.

"The reason being that I wanted to clean the bathtub before you got home. Everywhere has been cleaned but I've been putting off the shower. I also wanted dinner to be finished before you returned home," he answers, leaning forward to press a string of kisses to my knee before he sets my foot down. "However it is not the end of the world, I can still clean the tub," he adds, climbing to his feet before dusting off his pants.

"You cleaned the whole house, Shi, I can clean the tub," I counter, already heading towards the kitchen to grab the cleaning supplies.

He softly hums, a hand lounging forward to grab my waist. "No, I will clean the tub," Shino mumbles, pulling on me so my back collides with his chest. His head dips down, his nose sliding up and down my neck slowly.

My breath comes out rough, threatening to be a hiss because of his fingers digging into my side. "Okay," I mutter, my focus on not having a pain-filled break-down instead of fighting with him or the soft loving touch he's littering my skin with.

     Shino glances at me, a hint of curiosity in his eyes before he releases me, off to go clean the tub. He has the habit of feeling like he needs to do everything to show that he cares and I have the habit of fighting him on it, insisting that I'm capable of doing things for myself, the house, and us. After having him cling to my bruises, I hurt, and being hunched over the tub doesn't seem like the best idea to help with that pain.

     After a moment - and a pile of calming breaths - I make my way into the kitchen, nosing around to see what he's cooking for dinner. Karaage. I swear if I didn't know any better I'd think Shino is trying to make me plumper.

     "Cricket?" He calls the sound of his voice echoing through the house. "You should come sit with me."

     "Coming," I call back, turning on my heels to head toward the bathroom.

————————————

     "Alright," Shino whispers into my ear, stopping my led steps. "Open," he adds, dropping his hands from their wrapped position around my eyes.

     I know what it's going to be before I open my eyes. Shino's insistence that I stay out of the kitchen and almost locking me in our room were dead giveaways that he wanted to set something special up for our dinner tonight. Still, I can't help but feel giddy when I open my eyes.

     Our table is covered in a spotless white cloth, a thin red cloth lining the middle of it. Perfectly plucked and sorted flowers fill a vase in the middle of the table, my favorite flowers on display with almost sparkly fresh water. The vase is caged in by lit candles on either side of it, the soft flames being the only light in the room, eliminating the perfectly set up platings. Our main course and its sides litter the table, Shino's hard work ready to be enjoyed.

     "You're a doofus," I giggle, leaning back so I can be pressed up against him once again today. "A romantic doofus but still a doofus."

     "I will be more of a doofus later on," he mutters, arms snaking around my waist to pull me closer.

     My teeth clench, a softly hissed breath sliding out of my nose from Shino's usually comforting touch. "You're starting to make me believe I forgot our anniversary," I tease, shifting in his hold to hopefully get him to loosen it or at the very least take some pressure off my bruises.

     "It's not our anniversary," he mutters, eyebrows forwarded a bit as his arms relax, sliding down to my hips. "I have been busy with preparations and you have been busy filling in for the nurses on maternity leave. I enjoy waking up next to you, I do not enjoy it being most of the time I get to spend with you."

"Careful Shino, your emotions are starting to show," I continue to mock, getting a disapproving sigh in response, and his nose buried in my neck again. "How are you going to be more of a doofus later?" I ask, pulling myself out of his grasp and heading toward my chair.

     He moves forward, taking wide strides to beat me to the chair. Shino pulls my chair out, a hand propped out for me to take. I take his hand, letting him help me into my chair before I'm pushed in. "I have prepared us a nice bath to take after we have eaten."

     The thought of my bruised side flickers through my mind. The last thing Shino needs at the moment is to worry about my health. He's already stressed enough about work and when I'm hurt, his stress is at an all-time high. "I appreciate the thought but I think I'm going to bathe alone tonight," I mutter, keeping my focus on filling my plate.

     "What?" He asks, his tone soaked in surprise. "My little singing Cricket, I have not bathed alone for the majority of our relationship. How often do you randomly appear in the shower with me? Every time. Every day. Not today? Why not?" By the end of his ramble, Shino looks concerned, like he might burst into tears. The shadows of the room and the soft light of the candles don't help the upsetness coating his face.

     I reach across the table, wrapping my fingers around his as I rub my thumb over his knuckles. "It's nothing you did, Shi. I just... want to bathe alone. That's all."

     "But that is our time together. It is something we do together. Cricket?" He races out, his kikaichus starting to spill out and buzz around the more upset he gets. "I want to take a bath with you. Why don't you want to take a bath with me?"

     "I want to, I do. I just... Shino it's not - "

     He stands up, the noise of his kikaichus getting louder. "It is a big deal. That is our 'us' time. We shower together every day. Every day. I do not understand why we would not today. What do I need to do to fix it?"

     I slowly blink, watching Shino hurry around the table. His hands land on me, starting to paw at me and toy with my clothes as he kneels on the ground. His eyes are swimming with concern, eyebrows forward still, and his chest pumping with quicker breaths. I didn't realize he was so attached to our daily shower. Though, he is a man of routine so I guess it's not that surprising.

     "Shino," I try cooing, my side getting irritated from the constant pressure being added and taken away from it. "I think you need to calm down a bit."

"How am I supposed to calm down when you won't tell me what I need to fix?"

"Shi," I try again, cupping his cheeks, softly stroking him as I lean closer to his face. "Calm down. I'm not leaving you, I'm not angry with you, you didn't do anything wrong," I mutter, brushing a butterfly kiss against his nose, hoping it'll help him calm down. It doesn't.

"Alright, so I need to fix an outside source. I still can't fix it if you don't tell me what's wrong," he mutters, nuzzling his nose against mine back. Shino has closed his eyes, his face has gone soft from my gentle redirection that I wasn't convinced would work.

     Looking at the outside layer of my boyfriend, you'd never guess how clingy and insecure the poor man is. I guess that comes with feeling and being treated like an outsider from your generation of Shinobis. I don't understand how my soft Shino could be so over-looked by his coworkers.

"I'm fine. There's nothing to worry about." Maybe it would be less stress on him if I just told him I was hurt... but then he'd stress about me getting hurt again and about my healing process. Why does Shino have to be such a worry-wart? "I'm just a little achy is all."

"From work?" He asks, clinging to my waist again, causing new sparks of pain to bloom.

"Yes," I mutter, tugging his hand down.

His eyes snap open, curiosity and worry flickering through them again. "Was there another incident?" Shino pushes, starting to slide the edge of my shirt up. I'm sure the anxious little cicada has his mind running in a million different directions.

"It's not a big deal," I try to downplay, tugging my shirt back into place. "Would you stop worrying so much? The more you worry the more I stress out about how stressed you are."

"I don't mean to make you stressed," Shino mumbles, eyes locked on me as his hand fights with mine, continuing to try and peel my shirt up. "I just want to fix what is wrong in any way I can. Let me fix it. Please?"

"Fine," I sigh, giving in and letting him raise my shirt. "No freaking out."

"I won't freak out." Shino's face fills with contentment, contentment that quickly washes away once he gets a look over my rib cage. His eyes flicker from my dark bruises to my face, his expression a mix of concern and anger. Well, as close to anger as he can muster. "You are... you are bruised."

"I am bruised," I echo, trying not to jerk away when he runs his fingertips over the marked-up skin. His eyes dance over my skin as well, getting more upset the longer he looks at the bruises.

     His mouth snaps open and closed a few times as he repeatedly blinks, struggling to form a sentence. "Cricket," Shino starts, his voice slowly rising with the nickname.

     "You said you wouldn't freak out."

     "I'm not freaking out," he mutters, letting my shirt fall back into place. "We will have a nice supper and a relaxing bath," he continues, muttering more to himself than me as he walks back to settle into his chair. Maybe I shouldn't have given in and told him.

I carefully watch Shino's body language, waiting for his calm composure to break as he fills his plate. "My students would like to know if you'll be attending their graduation." Maybe it will be okay. Maybe Shino won't have a meltdown over this, maybe he won't stress about it.

     "Of course, I will. I've already been approved for the time off."

     He falls silent, slowly blinking as he stares at me, our food forgotten. "I can't let it go."

"I figured."

————————————

     Shino's hands move slowly, using a towel to gently pat my bruises to dry them off with minimal pain being caused. His panic has gone down a bit since dinner, but he's still as attentive as the dotting boyfriend he is. "Does it hurt? Am I hurting you?" He asks, his touches stalling for a moment.

     "You're not hurting me," I hum, sliding my hand through his hair, being careful not to pull on any of the knots. Unlike the rest of him, Shino's hair is dry since it wasn't his hair-wash day. Despite not washing it, his hair is still knotted and needs to be picked through, though I doubt he'll let me do it for him at the moment. I don't he'll let me do anything for the next week.

     "Alright," he mutters, dabbing at me a few more times before he tosses the towel into the hamper. "Let's go lay you down now."

     "I'm not dying, Shi."

     "I know," he snips at me, ushering me into our bedroom. "You need to rest and your bruises need to be taken care of."

I let out a sigh, taking slow footsteps so I don't get 'yelled' at again for 'over-exerting' myself. Shino's hands wander over me, being careful to avoid my wounds. "Alright, lay down on your side. You're not hurt side, the reason being it is good to elevate bruises above heart level."

"I know, Shi," I giggle, rolling my eyes at him as I crawl into the bed, lying how I was told to. I swear, sometimes he forgets I'm a nurse.

"I will be right back," he tells me, peppering my cheek with kisses before vanishing. It's not long until Shino is back, smothering my face in small kisses again as he sets his supplies down. "Alright, I am going to coat you in some peppermint oiled lotion the reason being that it'll help you heal faster and help with the color. Then we'll start your cold compress," he mumbles, once again talking more to himself than me. "The reason - "

"- being that it'll help the swelling?" I cut him off, chuckling at him again. "I know, Shino."

He falls quiet, blinking at me a few times before he shifts into motion. "I know," he finally whispers, squirting some lotion on my side. Shivers spill down my back from the cold liquid. The soft clinking of glass follows, Shino adding a few drops of peppermint oil before his hands connect with me. His kikaichus start spilling out too, pitter-pattering between the two of us and crawling over the bed sheets.

"You are beautiful. You are outstanding. You are inspiring. You are brilliant." Compliments spill from Shino as easily as his breaths. His hands are nimble and warm as he carefully rubs the lotion into my skin, being sure not to press too hard as he soothes my bruises. The feeling is lulling and comforting, the same as his smooth voice. "You are my everything," he adds, his lips falling down my side, careful to avoid the tinted lotion being massaged with his hands.

"You're amazing too, Shi," I murmur, starting to fall asleep from his pampering. "Thank you. For everything."

"Of course, Cricket," he answers, a hand falling away as the other one crawls down my back, massaging a different area. His lips trail over my arm, twirling up it before connecting with my neck. More kikaichus spill out, tumbling over their master's fingers to explore. They quickly spread their wings, the smell of the oil scaring them off, pushing them to go adventure somewhere else in the room.

Soon, a cloth-wrapped ice pack is laid on my side, just a hint of pressure added to it. "I will be calling out of work tomorrow," he mutters, softly sucking on my skin. Shino is a health nut, obviously, so he doesn't suck longer than a few seconds before finding a different patch of my neck to focus on.

"I don't need you to call out of work. I'll be fine on my own."

"I will not be going to work tomorrow. I will be here with you all day," he grumbles, his nose bumping against my jawline. My throat quickly abounded for my jaw, kisses and soft suctions continuing.

"Why is that?"

"The reason being that I miss you," he whispers, slowly making his way up to my lips. "And I wish to continue pampering you. My pretty, uninformative, stubborn, bruised Cricket." A rare chuckle comes from Shino, soft and almost silent, but still there.

[she-wolf09231982]

Chapter 5: Christmas Boops

Summary: Most of the 11th Street Kids get into the holiday spirit except you and Harcourt due to your rigid past on missions during Christmas time. But that doesn't stop Leota and Adrian from decorating headquarters to get you out of your Scrooge funk.

Author Note: Adrian Chase X Fem Reader, Y/N, 11th Street Kids, A.R.G.U.S., Hallmark Channel level fluff, Explicit language/Cussing/Swearing, Celebrating Christmas, Christmas carol/song references, Mentions of multi-cultural holidays includes Hanukkah & Kwanzaa, Alcohol consumption, Implied nudity & sex, Karate Kid, The Grinch, Scrooge, Elf, Polar Express, & Christmas Vacation movie references.

No dogs were harmed or embarrassed during the making of this fanfic.

Italics indicate character thoughts & flashbacks

**The first Freddie Stroma gif chosen is how I imagine Adrian's face after reader 'boops' his nose**

**Second Freddie Stroma gif is obviously when female reader showers with Adrian. You're welcome**

~~~~~~~~

The ground once covered in fallen leaves quickly became a blanket of white as winter approached. You and Harcourt lost your lust for Christmas a long time ago. Probably has a lot to do with working for the government since you were overseas for quite a few of them and Emilia working for the gender bend ‘Scrooge’ herself (Amanda Waller) at A.R.G.U.S.  

Adrian and Leota, on the other hand, found this time of year to be thrilling. Adebayo and her wife, Keeya, had a whole wardrobe for their Yorkie, Emerson, dedicated to the season.

“He has the costume from the movie ‘Elf,’ of course Santa Claus…Oh! And there’s one that’s a Christmas tree where the lights actually turn on!”

Leota explained to Adrian while each of them carried a huge box of Christmas decorations and placed them on her desk.

The level of emotion about Emerson’s Christmas ensemble had yours and Emilia’s eyes rolling but had Adrian matching Leota’s excitement tenfold.

“No way!! I have got to see that!” Exclaimed Adrian.

“It’s bad enough that your dog is the size of a squirrel, but to also dress him up like a doll? He probably plans ways to off himself every day because of that, you know?” John said to Leota.

Leota rolled her eyes at Economos.

“I’ll have you know, he loves his outfits.” She stated.

“It’s not a real dog if they’re no bigger than a football.” Peacemaker interjected.

Economos snickered as Leota flashed her middle finger at Chris.

Harcourt shook her head and smirked. You stretched and released an evident yawn to showcase your lack of interest in the topic.

Adebayo turned and looked at you upon hearing your dramatic yawning.

“I beg your pardon, are we boring you?” She asked you sarcastically.

“She doesn’t like Christmas.” Adrian answered. “She’s my sexy little Grinch.” He proclaimed affectionately.

“I see,” Leota replied, “Well, even the Grinch eventually liked Christmas at the end of the movie!” She sang cheerfully as she sashayed across the room and draped a red, sparkly garland around your neck like a scarf.

Adrian chuckled, looking at you like a shimmering spectacle.

You gave her an exasperated look, “Don’t worry Adebayo, I won’t interfere with your Christmas spirit. I just choose not to participate, that’s all. Commence hollying and jollying.” You said with a weak smile, turning to your laptop.

Leota and Adrian continued to filter through the boxes, practically squealing as they discover a plethora of holiday decorations as they dig deeper.

~~~~~~~~

By the end of the day, Adrian and Leota had headquarters dripping in yuletide garnishing.

“Well? What do you guys think??” Adrian asked.

The four of you reviewed the area covered in half blinking, half burnt out Christmas lights, paper Mache cut into snowflakes hanging from the ceiling panels, different color sparkling garland lining the windows, and creepy Santa, snowman, and elf animatronic dolls that looked possessed scattered around the room. They even managed to have a Menorah and a Kwanzaa Kinara candle holder placed on each of the two filing cabinets, each baring all the proper colored candles. Leota even had a Polar Express replica traveling around beneath the starless Christmas tree.

“Not gonna lie, it looks pretty fuckin’ good, you guys.” Chris admitted.

Leota and Adrian beamed at each other bumping fists triumphantly.

“Yeah, definitely looks like Buddy the elf made his way in here.” John said.

Everyone chuckled together. Even Emilia smirked at Economos’ comment.

You only smiled so you wouldn’t be such a Debbie downer and ruin Adrian or Leota’s proud moment like you promised.

Adrian looked over at you, most likely waiting for your feedback. As he looked at you, so did the rest of the group. You blankly look back at everyone. You were genuinely clueless.

“Um, what?” You asked them.

“What do you think, Y/N?” Leota asked.

“Oh!” You say finally catching on.

“Well…” you take another look around the room. Adrian and Adebayo waited eagerly on your response.

You were genuinely at a loss for words. Your distain for Christmas outweighed your ability to pretend to like it. You felt a knot form in your chest, trying hard to swallow it down as it started to rise into your throat. It felt like an eternity trying to come up with a response heartfelt enough to satisfy Leota and Adrian’s expectations. Afterall, they did work really hard on the place, so you didn’t want to hurt their feelings by any means.

You released a deep exhale, “It’s everything what Christmas should be. It’s definitely going to be a shame to take it down after the holidays.” You finally managed to say.

Leota started clapping and jumping in place squealing with joy.

“I knew we’d get you into the holiday mood!!” She ran over and hugged you so hard you almost fell off your chair.

You struggled to laugh. “Uh, yeah… right, Leota…… ACK!!”

You grunted feeling extra weight bare down on you. Adrian had jumped and embraced you and Leota in an unexpected group hug.

Harcourt had began videoing the three of you from her phone when she saw Adrian make a running start towards you and Leota. Everyone was laughing enjoying the moment.

“Maybe this isn’t so bad.” You thought to yourself as you couldn’t breathe from all the weight sitting on top of you.

~~~~~~~~

The following weekend, the group decided to have a little holiday gathering at O’Rourke’s. You all pile in together on a cold Friday evening as flurries fell from the night sky. Chris without hesitation ordered up a round of drinks.

As the hours passed, the majority of you get rowdier as you play another one of Chris’ suggested drinking games. This game was Christmas themed of course. The bar had a different holiday movie playing on each of the flat screens, and Chris said anytime one of you notices a Santa hat appearing in the scene, that person calls out ‘Ho! Ho! Ho!’ as they point to three separate people (basically calling each of them a ‘hoe’) at the table and they have to drink.

Economos and Adrian ended up drinking more since John was very delayed catching any Santa hats, and Adrian just distracted by looking at you dreamily the whole night wearing a low cut red V-neck.

You look at him and whistle at him.

“Hey, buddy, my face is up here.” You say tilting his chin up making his eyes meet yours.

He snickered guiltily having been caught staring at your chest.

“I can’t help it! They’re perfect.” He declared.

You shake your head smiling.

“Well, I’m glad you think so.” He leaned in and gave you a clumsy peck bumping your nose quite hard.

“Ook, I think it’s time to go, Adrian.” You announced rubbing your nose.

“Yeah, I gotta get back to Keeya and the pups.” Leota checked her watch.

Everyone threw money on the table to pay the tab and exited the bar.

Everyone going their way to their car, you take the keys to the Vigilante-mobile and get Adrian into the passenger seat.

“Where’s the steering wheel?” Adrian asked.

You laugh, “It’s in front of me. I’m driving.” You told him.

“Ahhhhh.” He said booping your nose. “You’re cute.”

He placed the palm of his hand on the side of your cheek cradling your face. He musingly looked into your eyes, a wave of adoration pulsing through his veins. You leaned into his hand putting your hand on his. His touch sent a surge through your body.

“Let’s get home so I can love on you properly.” You said finally.

~~~~~~~~

As you drive past the park, Adrian suddenly perked up and demanded you to stop the car.

“WAIT WAIT WAIT!! Stop here!!” He shouted making your heart jump.

“What the actual fuck, Adrian??” You stop the car. “What’s wrong??”

He said nothing opening the door and started running towards the monumental water fountain in the middle of the park.

“Um, Adrian?” You call after him.

“Come on, Y/N!” He yelled back at you.

You get out of the car and run after him.

He stopped by the fountain in front of a fresh layer of fallen snow.

“Adrian?” You asked out of breath as you reach him.

“Ready?” He asked.

You look around you, confused.

“For?” You asked.

Adrian turned around and fell backwards onto the snow on the ground behind him.

“Holy shit!” You gasped, “Are you that drunk?”

“Snow angel!” He chirped at you, like it was obvious.

He started to move his arms and legs in a Vitruvian Man motion creating the angel shape beneath him on the ground.

You watched him awestruck…and slightly annoyed.

“You almost put me into cardiac arrest because you wanted to make a snow angel? Really?” You asked.

“Really really! Now get down here and make one with me!” He said disregarding your irritability.

“No, Adrian. It’s too cold and we’ve been drinking-“

You suddenly feel your feet kicked up from underneath you. You hit the ground hard as the air you did have left in your lungs was forced out as you land on your back next to your boyfriend. You cough a few times trying to allow your brain to catch up to the fact that Adrian had just swept your legs with his foot to get you on the ground with him.

“Did…did you just..?” you began to ask.

“Sweep the leg? Yep! Now that you’re down here, start angel-ing!” He replied with a tinge of pride in his voice.

You cannot believe he just took you out at the leg to get you on the ground to make a snow angel.

“Christ, the level of insanity…” You muse to yourself.

Nonetheless, you began to move your arms head to waist while closing and separating your legs to make the angel, obliging Adrian’s request.

He looked at you and smiled.

“Look at you! Being all Christmasy as fuck!” He gleamed.

He rolled over on top of you, pulling your face up to his, kissing you quite sloppily.

You giggle into his mouth.

“You are crazy, Adrian Chase!” You pull away to say as you continue to laugh.

He hovered over you, exploring your face with admiration.

You gazed back at him, his green eyes putting you under his love spell. And the smile his lips curl into when he looks at you that way has your heart melting every time.

You pulled him back down for another kiss.

The kiss so intense with passion you couldn’t even feel the cold you both are still laying in.

Adrian pulled back.

“See? The holidays don’t have to be bad.” He said with a proud smile stroking your hair.

You roll your eyes, “Yeah I guess this year is different since you’re around.” You say smiling back.

He booped your nose again and stood up pulling you along with him.

“Let’s go home and take a nice hot shower. Then, hot chocolate while watching some holiday movies! Starting with Christmas Vacation!” He said gleefully.

You walked side by side as he held your waist to make way towards the Sebring. He pulled you in tight against him to keep you warm, and to make sure you didn’t slip.

“And by hot shower I mean together.” He whispered into your ear.

“Of course.” You said booping his nose.

So Leota was right, you found your holiday spirit. This was how your Christmases were going to be from now on…

A little bit of second hand multi-cultural decoration, a side of alcohol with the 11th Street Kids, and a little nonsexual tussle with Adrian to get you to make snow angels mixed with sexual tussling after some hot chocolate.

This was the beginning of your Christmas tradition with Adrian, and now you will always have a reason to look forward to the holiday’s thanks all of them.

~~~~~~~~

[calypsoff3]

Eighteen. Part 2

I am wondering where Robyn is, well my wife or ex-wife. I am so unsure of what she is to me, but I have learnt to let go if so, but I would love to know if she has so I can properly deal with it, licking my lips just feeling a little uneasy about it all, not in a bad way but just know that something will probably go off because I do have haters here, I know they don’t like me. I say they, I mean half of Robyn’ people. A lot has happened, publicly too “son, baby” looking to the side of me “mom” hugging her, she squeezed me so tightly. It is nice to see her here actually, I didn’t know she would be because if I was here I would have made sure but clearly Robyn made sure she was here and I am happy for her, I love that she is here. Moving back from the hug “Christopher, where have you been. Holiday? You have a tan” I laughed out “yeah mom, I have been in Jamaica all this time. I needed to be away, I needed to heal, I couldn’t be here and yeah. I have been through a lot mom, I have more to do but I came here for Rylee. I came here to see her, and I know she is happy” my mom smiled “but Chris, you left your wife with five kids” licking my bottom lip “I don’t know what she is, there is a lot I need to tell you” she doesn’t know half of it “but are you sticking around” taking in a deep breath “I guess but I have no home, I am staying at a hotel currently, but we will meet up. I don’t know, I may disappear for longer though, I just came for Rylee. To see the kids, I will explain to them too, soon of course. I just need to work on me mom, America is no good for me. It’s bad vibes” my mom sighed out “but the kids Chris, they need you” chewing on my top lip “I get it, but do they want the shit me or better me? I said I will speak to them and am sorry for dipping on you though” my mom smiled at me. You could have came to me, VA is always home for you baby” I chuckled “I know” Noella came over to us “we are surprising Rylee outside, you want to come?” nodding “for sure” gesturing my mom to go ahead, looking behind me and waving my gang over to come out with me,  I ain’t going to leave them behind.

I mean we are outside, so I lit my blunt up, shuffling to the side a little and then moved to the back. I am not going to push myself to be at the front, and for what. I don’t need to be there because this is all Robyn thing. I nearly choked on my blunt watching Herb pushing Taina to get at front “is this nigga drunk?” I asked “he is excited, so he says. Herb, stop being stupid” smacking the back of his head “I am supporting my niece, Rylee!” rolling my eyes, I did a doubletake and seeing Robyn finally with Rylee. She looks amazing, my eyebrows rose as I placed the blunt between my lips, she has lost a lot of weight. She really looks good, nodding my head being impressed with what I am seeing. Blowing the smoke out from my lips, seeing Junior in the arms of my dad. Looks like he is the assigned babysitter anyways “what made you want so many kids? Like be real?” Taina asked me, I laughed out “erm, sex is too good” I said honestly, Taina busted out laughing “ok, don’t hold back then. Protection is around you know” I shrugged “Rylee was going to happen, like that did happen. Tianna, she happened as soon as we had sex when she healed, Imani was another surprise because Robyn was busy anyways. And erm Junior was planned, we wanted a boy and Raihan again. She said she was taking plan B or whatever. So yeah” Taina’ eyes bulged out “a lot of surprises, so two kids would be perfect then?” nodding my head “but they here now” looking to where everyone was gasping, looking over to the car coming “no way mom!” Rylee spat, oh she got her a G wagon, I knew it would be a car because she did mention it.

Filtering back into the building, I just stayed back and let everyone go ahead “still stands right? Nobody?” Big D said “nobody” I said, walking off finally “Chris” hearing my dad say and now I get why he asked that because I didn’t see him there, Big D covered me and moved my dad out of the way as I got back inside “daddy” picking up Raihan “hey son” Noella smiled at me “the cake, you want to come?” I laughed “are you the announcer now” Noella rolled her eyes “don’t, I am tired. But you want to follow me” nodding my head, following behind Noella. This is going to be hard for me, I can see everyone is gathered. Passing Raihan to Big D, I feel it right now. Shuffling by everyone “uncle” looking to the side of me and seeing Melody “hey baby” hugging her, she is smiling bless her. Looking up and seeing Mel, this is awkward, but I shuffled by. Licking my lips looking to not get too close to Robyn, this is awkward. Crossing my arms across my chest, Rylee smiled at me and made her way over to me, she pulled a little at my arms “I am so happy you came” holding her hand “for you” I said laughing “turn around, they are doing the cake” twirling her around as everyone sang happy birthday to her. Robyn is just stood right there, it feels ever so weird and we very much seem like a divorced couple, I am thankful for the shades because I know we both looked at each other but looked away “happy birthday to you” I said the last part “blow the candles” I pointed, Rylee walked away from me “woo!” I clapped my hands “yay! Go baby!” I whistled making a lot of noise and then everyone else started to clap as she did blow the candles out. I am glad that part is done “pictures” I breathed out, of course pictures “pictures” I repeated, Dennis laughed as I shook his hand “and glasses off” shaking my head, he is asking for a lot now “pictures” Rylee said, I nodded my head shuffling a little, clearing my throat. Putting my arm around her but my hand grazed Robyn’ hand and I quickly to moved it back. Placing my arm just on Rylee’ upper back, taking my shades off as he asked “I like this hoop earring, tan looks impeccable” I laughed at Dennis.

I am glad that is over, picture time is awkward. Placing my shades on, walking by Rylee. Big D is always there, he is literally at my hip “watch out” I said rushing by, breezing by Robyn and we just looked at each other but it was quick. I need a drink right now “drink” I said to D, looking behind me. I just find it funny how my entourage move the same time as me. They are behind me like I am the mafia leader, I feel like I now have a tight circle now. They was all with me in Jamaica and mind you I did nothing but be in my room, so for the first month I did nothing, and they could have gone but no, some have gone home now that we are back in Cali but some stayed with me “are we going now?” Herb asked “erm, I need to see Rylee first. Give her the gift, just go and socialise or something, relax. I am good” I said to them, they all looked a little confused, but they moved “Nikita” I smiled at her “I was about to say, how do I get around these people” hugging her “yeah, they are a little attached, you want anything” I offered, Noella waved at me smiling “don’t tell me I have more to do? I am all out of smiles” Noella swatted me “no I just wanted to ask if you was ok” nodding my head “I saw that little hand hitting, like two little magnets” I snorted laughing “funny, I need to see Rylee actually” seeing her walking off “are you going so soon? You have been away for a long time” nodding my head “Rylee!?” I spat, seeing this nigga just block my view “can I have a picture?” staring at him “you the nigga that was in the school bathroom with my daughter” his face dropped “no, I told you the deal” nodding my head “what is your name again?” I asked “Melo” nodding my head “ok, hurry” I want to catch Rylee, he held his phone out to Noella to take the picture.

Placing the gifts atop of her new G Wagon “nice car, I am being honest. I have no idea what she bought you” I said to Rylee “I know” she laughed “you look beautiful, I am sorry that I haven’t been around” Rylee took in a deep breath “you have always been there dad, for the most important parts. You have been the best dad, I have always said that to you, have I not? I have always said that you have been there for us, juggling three girls. I don’t hate you; I hate the things you do at times, but I love you dad. I can bare witness to what you did for us, the confusion on your face for most part” putting my head down smiling “yeah, girls are just you know. Different, Junior I can play some wrestling shit and all that but you girls, tea party was at my expense and now y’all are growing up. I have enjoyed being a girl dad, now you going to get me emotional. But you know, I just want to make sure I love you so you know what you want in a man, and now you just grown” taking my shades off, wiping my tears “I don’t want you girls to grow up really” I am crying and for what “awww dad, stop” Rylee came over to me “I know it’s something I got to see but it’s hard” hugging Rylee close “I love you so much dad, and some things you can’t unwrite and it’s the love you have for us” I smiled closing my eyes, this means a lot to me.

I laughed breathing out “like you know when I was thinking of what to get you, I wanted to get you something big. Like your mom, get you something that means a lot and also expensive. Something you can always hold dear, and I got that” watching Rylee open the box “oh wow dad” she looked at me “a Patek Philippe diamond watch, like niggas get all the Rolex in the world but they ain’t getting that, you can do what you like and these sell well too if you ever want to do that, ok?” Rylee walked into and hugged me “I knew these are expensive dad, wow. Thank you”  hugging her close “it’s generational, remember that ok. You can always pass it down too” kissing her cheek as she moved back “this is fucking crazy dad, mind my language, I know these are thousands, hundred thousand’s. Wow are you leaving us now?” shaking my head “I am going home but not leaving, just going to see you all, meet up with you all. Talk to y’all about things” Rylee smiled at me “I love it, like the party. The car, and this watch, thank you” smiling at her “oh” looking up at Robyn, she came rushing out “I thought you was alone” she said, Rylee looked at me “speak to her” Rylee said to me “me?” I laughed “well who else” licking my top lip but when I looked up she disappeared “she went anyways” I said “you both love each other, the amount of times I saw mom looking at you. She is struggling with he boys, I try but Junior gives her a hard time and she needs you to be there. They are scared of you, but anyways. Let’s go inside, we can dance. Together” I groaned out, we are dancing together, this will be fun.

Watching Chris and Rylee dancing, which is sweet to see but then this woman, I don’t know who she is but she is pretty, and for him to bring her here has thrown me off badly. I am not happy; his ring is off too so yeah. Seeing Herb and that girl just recording Chris and Rylee, I clenched my jaw so hard. That is really fucked up “time to let him go” looking to the side of me, Clinton is here “he really got a new bitch here at your daughter’ party too” looking to the other side of me and Mel has piped up too “you can do better then my son, I keep telling you this” he looks so happy, they all look so happy and no wedding band “they are all happy like they did something, he left you in a middle of a divorce” putting my hand up “enough, just stop” turning away from it, I can’t stand seeing it anymore but I refuse to watch it. I refuse to see it, he moved on and I need to just accept that. I don’t know where he was or where he has been. He ran from me and came back taken; I am a joke. I just don’t care anymore “mom, is dad coming home?” Imani asked “no! I barked, I did it a little too loud and I shouldn’t have “sorry baby, no. He won’t be, go and have fun” walking off to see if Raihan is still in the stroller, he fell asleep on me. He was tired and getting very irritated, so I put him to sleep “hi, is he ok” peaking over “like the music isn’t loud or anything” I laughed “he hasn’t moved an inch, he is really tired” smiling at Raihan just asleep.

Closing the car door to the SUV “mom” turning around and moved back, Chris is just right there. I nearly hit into him there “can dad drive the G Wagon back to the house please” she asked, looking at Chris’ face. I would like to knock the shades off his face, looking behind him “just him, you can tell him that” Rylee laughed “he is right here” she said confused but I walked off, I don’t want to care, I don’t wish to care “Tianna, go with your sister. I mean Rylee not Imani” walking back into the building “fuck you” I said to Herb as he was about to speak to me “woah, what?” he said “you heard me, fuck you and him” walking to my brother “can you bring the cake back to mine thank you” feeling a tap on my shoulder “Rihanna, I just wanted to say thank you so much for the party, it was amazing and thank you for inviting me” I cooed out “you’re so sweet Melo, it’s ok. Any time, make sure you get home ok, are you getting a lift yeah?” he nodded his head “Rylee ran off with her dad, tell her I said thank you too” nodding my head as he hugged me “you better watch it with my niece” my brother said, “we are friends” he said as he walked off “damn, these kids know how to party don’t they” Rorrey said “they do” Rorrey pointed, looking to where he is pointing “Junior!? Who told you to come out” he pointed at me “I want you” shaking my head “right, and I said I was coming” he is grumpy too, he is tired so I know he will sleep straight away now.

I assumed Junior would be easy to put to sleep but no, he actually put up a fight, but I won this round. Leaving the door a little open as I sighed out, what a long day for me. I am tired, rubbing the back of my neck “long day” looking up at Jah “very, I will be-” I stopped speaking seeing Chris in the home, he walking down the steps “I will be with you” I rushed off, the nerve of him to be in this home. Seeing Rylee and Tianna looking as I followed him down, he is so nonchalant just walking down but then he stopped on the step as so did I, he didn’t even look back. He slowly walked down the last two steps and then turned to me, I felt my stomach drop but fuck him “the nerve of you to be in this home” I said “Imani asked me to put her to sleep, I am going now” he said, making my way down the rest of the steps “you are a real jerk, how can you just come to Rylee’ party with some girl. You really don’t care; you are a bastard. I really have to accept this, but I can’t because I fucking saw the better in you, everyone was right” Chris took his shades off “you mean Taina?” he said “did I fucking ask for her name, just get out. I am done, I want my ring back too. So I can give it to a man, not a jerk” I barked “that is Herb’ girlfriend she has nothing to do with me. She isn’t mine, and I took it off because I ain’t the one to be a dickhead and just walk in with a ring on now” squinting my eyes at him “I am for real, she isn’t nothing to do with me. I have been in Jamaica ever since, that ain’t mine” staring into his eyes “ok” looking away from him and seeing the girls “go to bed now!” I shouted, “and Jah!” I can see his bald head “I am going anyways, I have Rylee’ number. I will set up a day to see them” he walked off to leave, so he doesn’t have anyone and was in Jamaica all that time, I guess he does have that tan on him.

[ike-bana]

When their toddlers ask them where babies come from f.t Yuji,Megumi,Gojou,Geto,Nanami and Toge

cw: mild suggestiveness and nothing else. This is mostly just humorous and wholesome

summary : Your little curious toddler decides to ask their dad where babies come from, how do they respond?

A/N : All characters are aged up and your kids are 4-5 years old. Contrary to popular belief ,it is important to give your children sex education. But you can only talk to them about some certain concepts when they get to a certain age. This is just some random nonsense I thought of when I was doing the dishes on a random day. I may have used mommy and mummy interchangeably cause I'm used to the latter

Also thank you @trashbunnywrites and @sodium-noodlez for helping me out with this,love you guys!

YUJI ITADORI:

-He's watching a movie when his little toddler comes running up to him with a question in their mind

- "Daddy, where do babies come from" The little one asks with a glint of curiosity in their eyes

-He scratches his head nervously and thinks about what to tell the child

-He decides to tell them that crack story that some of our parents have probably told us. That one about storks

-He can see his kid's face glowing with fasciation as they listen to their father's farfetched story

-"wow, really daddy?, so can I ask Mr. storkey to give me a widdle baby brother/sister" They ask in their adorable baby voice

-"Ah sorry kiddo, gonna have to talk to your mom about that first" He pats their head and sighs in relief

MEGUMI FUSHIGIRO :

-He's just about to take a quick nap on the couch when he sees his little troublemaker come up to him. gets it from his mommy

.- " Daddy, daddy, daddy!" They practically scream

- ''Yes (child's name)" his face automatically morphing from a look of tiredness to one of fondness on hearing his child's voice

-"Daddy where do you get a baby?"

-Unlike Yuji, Megumi is a pretty straightforward person when it comes to this, he sees no reason to make up a story but he doesn't think they're ready to learn about this yet.

-" Don't worry (child's name),you'll understand this when you're older" He gives them a knowing look

- " But daddy, I'm a big boy/girl" They pout

-You hear their little convo from the kitchen and you decide to back your husband up.

-"Sweetie, your daddy is right, we'll tell you when you're just a little older, ok?'' you tell them

-"ok mommy'' they look down in defeat

-You lighten up the mood by bringing up something they can't resist

-"Why don't we go play with your barbies and dinosaurs while we let daddy sleep" toys have no gender, fight me on this

-"yaay" They scream in excitement looks like they need to be taught about decibel levels

GOJO SATORU :

-He's watching some random videos on his phone when his kid comes bursting in the room

- "Daddy, where do babies come from?"

-As we all know, this man has no filter so he doesn't hesitate to attempt to explain in lay man terms

-"You see honey, when a mommy and daddy love each other very much, they go into a room and fu-'' He get's cut off when a size 15 shoe comes flying across the room with a speed of 10m/s, knocking the white haired sorcerer unconscious

-"Not in my house you don't" You mutter

-seeing what happened caused your toddler to burst out in fits of laughter

-"ha ha, daddy got hit with a shoe"

-You turned to your little one with a smile and asked them if the want to get some ice cream, of course they joyously agreed thank goodness for the short attention span of toddlers

-You left the house with your child while your husband still lay dazed on the floor .poor Gojo

GETO SUGURU :

- I actually think Geto would handle this perfectly. Don't get me wrong, I haven't read the manga but he's clearly the bad guy. I just think he's an overall soft and gentle person when it comes to his wife and kid

- so when his little toddler comes running to him with their tiny feet asking him a question most parents are reluctant to answer ,he answers appropriately

-Unlike Yuji, he doesn't make up stories but tells them instead : "You see little one, when two people love each so much, they pray to God and he gives them a beautiful baby" still not the whole truth but whatever

-The child's eyes are filled with wonder and glee at what their father told them.

-"Really, papa?''

-He pats their head affectionately and nods to affirm his statement

-''woww, so you and mama got me like that?" They asked in their little baby voice

-"yes,my little prince/princess"

-You catch this spectacle when you descend from the stairs of your home

-Your heart instantly melts when you see Geto bonding with your child

-It's certainly heart-warming

Nanami Kento

- Just like our guy Megumi, he would see no point in lying to his child but he wouldn't tell them something like "You were made from love", like how Geto would

-He'd look directly into his child's bright big eyes and tells them firmly but gently

-''You see child's name ,there's this whole complicated process that adults do when they want a baby but unfortunately I cannot tell you about it till you're older"

-His child is a little disappointed and asks why he can't.

-"But daddy why?"

-''Because (child's name),it's grown up stuff, okay?" he says with a soft smile on his face while patting their back . Ugh, daddy material much

-am I gonna be a grown up one day?"

-Of course, little one, one day ,you will" He chuckles and continues rubbing their little back affectionately, trying not to think about how his little angel wouldn't be so little anymore

-"Yaaaaaaaayy, can't wait!"

Toge Inumaki

- This might be a bit tasking seeing as he has to restrict his speech but then again, I have a feeling that if he works on his technique he may find a way communicate without causing damage

-Nevertheless, assuming he could speak, I think he'd be the type to just say : " Go ask your mummy"

-Yeah, he's pushing it to you cause he doesn't want to say something he shouldn't least you kill him for corrupting your toddler

-And at the same time, I don't think he'd want to outright lie to his child about the origin of babies. He seems like a very honest and logical person so I don't see him doing that

- So when he tells his kid to ask their mum, the child comes running straight to you.

-"Mummy, where do babies come from?, daddy said I should ask mummy"

- Of course, you take it upon yourself to attend to your child's question (You can choose how you'll handle this 😉 )

- you glance at him but he just shrugs his shoulders, earning him a playful eyeroll from you

[edwardskhakipants]

Forks, Washington. August 2004.

Esme and Carlisle stood in the middle of their grand living room, waiting for their five vampire children to arrive. Alice arrived first—prompt as usual. She settled herself gracefully onto the tufted sofa Esme had recently acquired, only to be immediately jostled by Emmett who heaved himself onto the cushions. A breath caught in Esme’s throat—she had lost many pieces from her beloved collection by that action—but it looked like this one was still in one piece. For the moment. Jasper took Edward’s normal spot in the only armchair, forcing Edward to wedge himself between Alice and Emmett.

“What?” Rosalie grumbled as she perched on the armrest of the couch beside Emmett, “Are we having another one of those How to Respect the Telepath in Your Life meetings again?”

“No,” Edward answered, fully aware of the intent of this meeting since it hatched in Carlisle's mind two days prior. “But there’s never a bad time to bring that up. Christ, Emmett, if you’re going to have a song stuck in your head for over seventy-two hours, the least you can do is learn the correct lyrics.”

Emmett’s eyebrows knit together, asking his brother a silent question.

“It’s ‘mulatto, an albino, a mosquito, my libido,’” Edward answered.

Emmett’s brow furrowed doubtfully.

“No.” Edward shook his head, answering Emmett’s thoughts. “Why would he eat a beetle?”

Emmett grinned playfully and tilted his head towards Edward.

Edward wasn’t amused. “You know what it means.”

A silly grin plastered on his face, Emmett elbowed Edward in the ribs, silently egging him on.  

Edward’s eyes darted to Carlisle, then Esme, and he shifted in his seat. “Sexual desire,” he muttered.  

Emmett howled with laughter and clapped his hands once, “Wow, Eddie! You’re just going to say that in front of Esme!?” Edward scowled as Emmett’s bouts of laughter echoed through the room.

Esme ran a hand through her youngest’s ginger hair. “Boys,” she warned, and Emmett sucked in his laughter.

“Our meeting today has to do with all of you,” Carlisle began.

“We simply wanted to go over the rules of attending school with you kids before you start your second year at Forks High School,” Esme explained, unfolding and re-folding her hands in front of her. “There are already whispers, and we don’t want those whispers to turn into rumors.”

“I thought the only whispers about us at school were whether or not Edward liked girls,” Rosalie said, earning an eye-roll from Edward.

“No,” Alice chirped,” Some kids think we’re a cult.”

Jasper leaned back heavily in his chair. “We haven’t heard that one since the Seventies.”

“Kids are getting more creative these days.” Emmett nodded appreciatively.

Esme held up one, delicate finger. “Which is why it is best to take preventative action.”

Carlisle took the floor. “We thought a few reminders would be helpful before you started your first day of your second year,” Carlisle said. “We don’t want another incident like the one we had at the end of last year.”

Every head in the room turned towards Emmett.

“What?” Emmett threw up his hands in exasperation, “The water gun fight was the senior prank—I wasn’t the one who brought them to the school. Hell, I wasn’t even the only student who got suspended!”

“That’s true,” Carlisle agreed, “but you were the only student to shout, ‘Sit down, kids! Daddy’s gotta tinkle,’ and shoot the stream of the gun from your crotch.”

Jasper snickered—the sound was immediately silenced by a single raised eyebrow from Esme.

“I still don’t see the problem,” Emmett continued, “That’s not necessarily a vampire thing.”

Edward—who often mistook himself as the third vampire parent rather than the youngest son—sighed, “Yes, but it brings unnecessary attention to the family. Which is the first rule: do not bring attention to yourself.”

Esme ran her fingers through her son’s hair once more, “Yes, darling, you are especially good at keeping to yourself.” Edward’s eyes widened, despite Esme’s gentle touch, already aware of where her point was headed. “So much so, that I have been given the names of several child therapists to help my son through his depression. One was recommended for his exceptional work on spotting and treating the early signs of sociopathic behavior.”

Esme grabbed her son’s chin and forced him to look at her. “You have to talk to other people.”

Knocked off his high horse, Edward flinched back from Esme’s hand. “Friendship with humans never bodes well for us.”

“We’re not asking you to create lifelong friendships with humans,” Carlisle clarified, “We are simply asking you to be likable.”

“A nearly impossible feat for Edward.” Rosalie grinned. The comment went unnoticed, save Edward’s slight flinch. But the quick, little tick was satisfying enough for Rose.

“Look at your father,” Esme gestured towards Carlisle, “At every hospital he works at, he goes out of his way to ensure he is well-liked among his colleagues. He forces down countless lunches and coffees, solely to make sure they’re comfortable around him.”

Carlisle took over. “And your mother, a beloved member of her gardening club and a prized member of the PTA.”

“And neither of us have rumors started about us, and do you know why?”

All five teenagers grumbled the ingrained response. “Humans don’t want to spread rumors about people they like.”

“Exactly.” Esme nodded.

“I try!” Alice whined, “But Edward never lets me talk to any humans.”

“That’s because every, single thing that is about to come out of your mouth is incriminating. You might as well walk around with a neon sign that says, ‘I’m a psychic vampire’.”

Alice scoffed, “Is not!”

“You wanted to tell Nihal Howard not to audition for the musical.”

“And he broke his leg on opening night,” Alice challenged.  

“You were going to tell Christiana Ward that pink was not her color.”

“And she lost prom queen to Ashley Kirby.”

Jasper put a comforting hand on his wife’s knee. “Maybe try not to meddle so much, darlin’. Natural relationships, first.”

“They would have been!” Alice wailed, “I would have played it cool and casual and made friends and you all would have seen it! But everyone’s hurt and I have no friends at all because Edward won’t let me try!”

Edward rolled his eyes.

Carlisle suppressed a heavy sigh. “You have to let your sister try, Edward.”

Edward’s mouth fell open. “You cannot seriously be siding with her on this!”

But Carlisle stood his ground. He and Edward stared at one another for a few seconds, engaged in a silent conversation. In the end, Carlisle tilted his chin and Edward slumped back. Victorious, Alice used both pointer fingers to jab Edward in the side several dozen times at vampire speed.

Rosalie flipped her golden locks over her shoulder. “I don’t know how you all struggle so much. I have no issues with becoming well-liked at school while remaining inconspicuous.”

“Oh yeah, you’re so inconspicuous,” Edward grumbled, now extra-petty that he had been called out two times in one meeting. “You dress like you're on your way to brunch at your second husband’s country club in Beverly Hills and you make out with your foster brother. The perfect picture of discretion in Forks High School.”

“At least I don’t dress like a sad, old man.” Rosalie grimaced, disappointed in her comeback. The light, humorous insults that were required in family situations were Emmett’s forte; Rosalie’s insults were meant to emotionally cripple a person.

Edward sat up in his seat on the couch and turned to face Rosalie. “I think you missed the main takeaway in that you make out with your foster brother.” Edward turned back. “I can read your minds, and I still don’t understand what made either of you think it was okay to bring your relationship to school?!”

Emmett smiled, unperturbed. “It’s hot.”

“It’s disturbing,” Edward disagreed.

Esme frowned, “You kids don’t really do that, do you?”

“Would it help if Jasper and I became an official couple too?” Alice suggested.     Jasper perked up at the idea of being able to hold hands with Alice in public again.

“No!” Edward yelled at the same time Emmett and Rosalie muttered their acquiesce.

“It wouldn’t seem as weird if there were two couples,” Emmett agreed.

Edward dug his fingers through his hair. “Oh my god!”

“...maybe not, kids,” Esme intervened, but was ultimately ignored.

“So should we come out today like it happened over the summer, or make a little show out of it?” Alice asked Rosalie.

Rosalie waved a hand in the air. “Oh, it’s way more fun if you play up the theatrics.”

“A little more realistic, too,” Emmett agreed.

Alice looked to Jasper for his opinion. “It might be better if we were discreet about it,” she said. “Like we knew it was wrong, but we wouldn’t let anything stand in the way of our love.”

Jasper scooted forward to the edge of his seat. “Or we could let it be quiet and drawn out. Let others see our mutual pining, and root for us to be together.”

Gazing deep into the golden eyes of her soulmate, Alice sighed, “I love that.”

“If people wanted us to get together, it would normalize Emmett and Rosalie’s relationship.”

“Or Rosalie and Emmett could stop,” Edward suggested, bitterly. “That would be normal, too.”

“Oh, Edward,” Alice patted his shoulder, “You’ll find love someday, too.”

“That is not at all what bothers me about the situation.”

Carlisle made the decision for everyone. “Rosalie and Emmett, break up at school. Alice and Jasper, remain friends and siblings.”

Disappointment filtered into the room through Jasper.  

“I heard that,” Edward grumbled at someone’s thoughts.

“You were supposed to,” Rosalie shot back.

“We are also initiating a new rule,” Esme brought the room back to the conversation at hand, “No more correcting your teachers.”

A chorus of complaints rang from the couch.

Esme clicked her tongue, “I’m tired of defending you all from entirely preventable issues. I have emails from curious teachers wondering why my foster daughter is taking French 101, when she already appears to be fluent.” Esme looked at Rosalie, who immediately tucked her bottom lip between her teeth. “Or why my son, at the tender age of sixteen, could not only deadlift three hundred pounds in his first weightlifting class, but also give his coach tips on improving his posture.”

Emmett glanced over at Edward before he realized Esme was, in fact, addressing him. “What!?”

Jasper snorted. The sound was a mistake, for it brought Esme’s wrath onto him. “And not to mention the emails from not one, not two, but three teachers warning me that my foster son has an intimate understanding of the mechanics of a point fifty-eight caliber rifle-musket.” Esme held out her hands, almost pleadingly, “How does that subject keep coming up, Jasper?”

A noncommittal grunt was the only answer Jasper had for that question.

“No more,” she commanded. “You can get good grades but keep your extra knowledge on any subject to yourself. Whatever your teacher teaches is all you know. Understand?”

“But what if we—” Edward started.

“Understand?” Esme repeated.

The five teenage vampires understood, even if they didn’t want to. 

“I believe that all five of you will graduate from Forks High School!” Esme cheered.

The kids stared back, unable to muster the zeal Esme had over the prospect.

“Meeting adjourned!” Carlisle announced, and faster than fast vampire speed, the kids bolted from their seats. 

Esme was able to get in a few more reminders as her children flitted around the house and filed out to the silver Volvo.  “Remember to buy lunch with cash and not your credit cards. Emmett, please do not joke about being mauled by a bear. Do not address your teachers by their first names—I don’t care if you’re older than they are, Edward. Alice, please wear something a bit more causal, pet.”

When the house was finally empty, Carlisle pulled Esme backwards into his chest and began massaging her temples. The gesture wasn’t needed, but any touch from her husband was always welcome.

“Do you think they’ll listen?” she asked her husband.

“Not a chance.”

[babyloposts]

Jealous Baby Bakugou

Head empty no thoughts just my manz Dilf!Bakugou tryna find love but his daughter is not having it

(Photo creds @/cammmy_chan on Twitter)

————————————

For 7 years of his daughter’s life Katsuki had been happy just doing the dad thing. Sure it was hard being a single father on top of being a high-ranking pro-hero, but who would this man be if he didn’t take on challenges

But as his baby grew older and wasn’t so much of a baby anymore Bakugou’s friends pushed him more to start dating again (mainly because knowing all of the actresses and schedules of his daughters favorite shows was getting to be a bit sad) either way with a bit of coercion and confidence boosting Bakugou started to date again.

Now Bakugou should have known that bringing just any woman around his daughter was not a good idea, she was raised by him the girl has no fucking filter.

“Daddy she looks corny.” She would whine when Bakugou brought home a woman that he had saved while he was working. They had hit it off pretty well and the job had ended with her slipping her phone number into his pocket before leaving in an ambulance.

Anyways baby girl was not rocking with her. To her defense the girl was corny looking and she didn’t like kids, she was a clout chaser who wanted to be the only woman in Katauki’s life, so suffice it to say corny bitch #1 did not last long

After that incident Bakugou learned to bring women to the house only after at least three dates and knowing that they weren’t opposed to kids (he took finding love very serious and couldn’t get down with any lady that wasn’t down with his number one girl)

It took a few more failed attempts before he found you. You both had a total meet-cute moment in a park or something cliche like that and after a few coffe dates, a dinner, (and several sneaky links here and there) Katsuki was finally ready to introduce you to his daughter.

Off the bat the vibe was immediately better than the first go-round. “Daddy she has curly hair and skin like me! We look like we could be sisters.” You ofc thought the interaction was adorable, but that wasn’t the impression he wanted to give off. After explaining your relationship to the little girl it was all attitude and sass all the time.

You weren’t expecting her to warm up to you immediately, but you hadn’t expected her to be so territorial. The only alone time you and Bakugou could get was at your place, which he had gone to less and less because of work and after school activities. But your seldom moments of intimacy only brought you two closer and closer til one day you both realized you were in love with each other.

The day of reckoning was upon you and Katsuki as you told his daughter that you two were going to have some changes.

“Princess, Y/N is gonna be coming around more. And I know it’s going to be a big change, but we’re gonna take it slow and you can tell us if you’re not comfortable with anything.”

Baby girl took the news hard. Hysterics, tantrum and all. You couldn’t be mad though, it had just been her and her dad for so long. It could be hard to share. So when she calmed down you shooed Katsuki out of the room to have some girl talk.

“I don’t want you to take my daddy from me.” All the attitude was back and she sported the cutest lil pout.

“Oh honey. I would never try to take your daddy away from you. I know you love your daddy very much and I’ll never try to get in the way of you and your dad. I just want to know if it’s okay that I give him some love too. Between us girls he needs all he can get.”

“You love Daddy too?”

“Yeah I do. Very much.”

“Are you gonna be my new mommy then?”

There it was. You never imagined being a stepmom, but it just happened to be in the cards for you and Bakugou’s little family. “If you’ll let me be, I’d love to.”

She didn’t answer. Just gave you the biggest hug her little arms could muster. That was answer enough. As you embraced you saw Katsuki’s head peeking from around the corner smiling at you two. You beckoned him over back into the room.

“You’re such a helicopter parent Katsuki.”

“No I’m not.” He huffed and that caught the attention of his princess. She bounded into his arms eyes full of excitement and ideas about family life with you in it.

“Daddy, Y/N is gonna be my new mommy. Is she gonna be your wife? And can she do my hair like hers? You’re not good at braids and she is. And can I be in the wedding? I think we would look cute in the pictures. And me and y/n could match. And she can live here with us! As… as long as I don’t have to share my room.”

You and Katsuki were both laughing at this point. You don’t know how lucky you got to have found a great man, with a great daughter. You also didn’t know where you’d found an eight year old wedding planner, but you sure were grateful for the family that found you.

A/N: ahhhh I’m losing my fucking mind also in this au baby girl’s mother is not around at all. Maybe she died, maybe some other traumatic event ion know. But yeah lil mama doesn’t know her biological mother. Just thought I’d throw that out there

Kinda feeling like creating a continuation of this, but I’ll see how it’s received first

[captorsicallfriends]

"problematic representation of the gods" You mean taking a bunch of guys who, in their mythology, often amounted to a collection of petulant, violent, lecherous, holier-than-thou assholes on their best days and filtering that though modern-day perspectives (namely a somewhat jaded teenage boy)?

*sighs*

look anon, idk who you are, and frankly, idc. because whether or not it's on purpose, this is one of the most blatantly disrespectful asks i've gotten.

Now i'm gonna start this off by saying that it is completely okay to like pjo (in fact you see me reblog this content on the daily) but you have to acknowledge that it got a lot of shit wrong. and you know what? i'm happy i got sent this ask because i will be able to explain in depth all the things rick riordan got wrong (which is a lot, so i might not get through it).

Let's start simple, first imma talk in a broader sense, then i will digress into the most problematic depictions in my opinion.

In a broader sense, you shouldn't apply human values and ideas to gods. Hellenisimos is a rather small religion and imma just say, if any major religion was represented like this, no one would even go near rick riordan. But people think it's okay to shit on a group of people who worship and work with these gods and find these depictions very offending. More often or not, the people who shit on the Greek gods have only the smallest understanding of mythology and use western retellings as sources, which, imma say it, is a coloniser move because you are disrespecting a beautiful culture and religion by making stupid assumptions based on your small-minded mindset. Think of it like the Europeans colonising places like the Americas and Asia and spreading lies about the indigenous cultures, but instead it's the Romans colonising Greece and butchering their myths. I am not Greek, nor am I a Hellenic polytheist (tho the religion and practices really draw my interest and i'm absolutely in love with it), but I am educated enough to do my own research and actually give respect to all religions.

Now moving on to individual depictions, which I think are the most problematic.

Zeus- I have seen Zeus hate everywhere, including in the general community. In fact I used to hate Zeus as well, until i started following a Hellenic polytheist on tiktok (@/sappho.wannabe) and they explained what's wrong with this problematic mindset and also what's wrong with pjo. Zeus is depicted as abusive, a bad dad, and a haughty, power-hungry ruler, a rapist, and a bad husband (and this is also the general depiction). He is NOT any of that. "Oh but he cheats on his wife and has a bunch of kids" he does this because of prophecies given by the Fates about demigod heroes and frankly, Hera understands this. Lemme just say that when the Age of Heroes ended, he stopped hooking up with other women. "He's a rapist!" This mindset is completely out of context. Think about the culture in which this is written in. The Ancient Greeks did not see it as such and it's considered a huge blessing to bear a god's children. This idea may also have come up due to mistranslations. "He's a bad king and the gods wanted to overthrow him" Yes, that myth of Hera, Poseidon, and others joining forces to attempt a coup is correct. But after that incident, Zeus swore on the river Styx to be a good husband to Hera, a good father to his Olympian children, and a better king. And he lived up to it. About him being a bad dad, he made some decisions that he absolutely did not want but he was the king of the universe; he has to do what's best for it. Frankly, his depiction in pjo is based on western, colonised retellings and stereotypes.

Hera- Imma start by saying that all the goddesses' depictions are sexist. Hera in pjo is a cruel bitch who hates her husband and his lovers. HONESTLY PEOPLE WHO THINK THIS STFU AND DO SOME RESEARCH! "She tortured her husband's lovers!" She punished the lovers who thought they were better than her and yes, she was jealous at times BUT THAT DOESN'T DEFINE HER AND THAT OVERALL MINDSET IS SEXIST! "She hates her husband and is in a loveless marriage" Oh my fucking gods, you think that the goddess of marriage and patron of wives would stay in a loveless marriage?? NO. She loves Zeus with all her heart and yes, she gets mad at him for cheating but like i said, she knows it's for the prophecies. And lemme just say, she's allowed to feel upset about that. But in modern days in a religious context, their marriage is rather healthy as the Age of Heroes has come to an end.

Athena- Lemme say something. How dare Rick write in a maiden goddess having children? Idc how she conceives them, she swore an oath of chastity, which means no children. So essentially, the mere existence of the Athena campers is problematic and disrespectful. Now moving on to her personality: she is depicted as haughty, mean, and cold. Especially in Mark of Athena, like wtf?? Athena would never treat someone like that out of the blue. And her sending off demigods to die just to retrieve a statue?? Also lemme take this moment to say that the myths about Medusa and Arachne are not Greek. They are Roman. And also written by Ovid, someone who hated the gods and authority in general and essentially colonised the myths and wrote them to make the slander the gods, especially Athena and Poseidon because he was kicked out of Athens. In Greek myths, Medusa was born a gorgon, she wasn't transformed. And I don't think Arachne even appears in Greek myths.

Ares- Okay, wow. So Ares in pjo is abusive and sexist. Which is absolutely NOT him. He's literally the patron god of the Amazons, a group of women warriors who rebelled against the patriarchy, how would he be sexist?? And Ares is arguably one of the best dads on Olympus and is in a healthy relationship with Aphrodite. He may be the god of war but he doesn't use violence inappropriately and is not a dumb brute.

Aphrodite- Once again, this depiction is extremely sexist and rick really let all his misogyny into this, didn't he?? In pjo, Aphrodite is a catty bitch who hates anyone pretty and sees people as objects in exciting stories. First of all, just no. Aphrodite is one of my favourite goddesses and i hate the misinfo spread about her. She doesn't hate pretty people, she hates people who use their beauty to compare themselves to a literal goddess of beauty. Mortals comparing themselves to gods in any way is extremely disrespectful. And she lets those people know it. Also, when Aphrodite is a goddess of love, that includes self-love and a lot of people, myself included, see her as motivation to practice self care. May I also say that Aphrodite was worshipped as a war goddess (Aphrodite Areia) in Sparta, comparable to Ares. Sparta, the most warlike city in Greece, respected her as a war deity and a love goddess. Athens didn't do this because they had the sexist mindset that a goddess couldn't be extremely feminine and warlike at the same time.

Artemis- Lemme clear up a big misconception about Artemis, she is not aroace. People want to use her as aroace rep but she's not. If you want aroace, look at Hestia (not Athena because she did have romances with Pallas and Myrmex). Artemis is in fact sapphic (not saying lesbian bc i don't wanna label the gods' sexualities). The vow swears off men, and that allows the loophole of dating women. In fact, the entire point of her hunters is a group of queer women who can escape the patriarchy. Think of the myth of Artemis and Callisto; Zeus chose to take the form of Artemis when approaching Callisto, and this would never have worked if Artemis and Callisto were just friends. THEY WERE DATING! And in the rrverse, it shows Artemis kicking out two lesbian hunters, like wtf?? Finding sapphic lovers is the whole point of the Hunters, why would she kick out women for doing just that??

Hades- Pjo seems to imply that Hades would cheat on his wife to have kids. NO HE WOULDN'T. He loves Persephone SO MUCH, he would never do that to her. And also the insinuation of him siding with the Nazis?? Omg this is just another depiction trying to vilify Hades.

Okay, that's probably the most problematic inaccuracies there (and perhaps the most common). And if you were simply uneducated, you should understand now, but if you're just being disrespectful, fuck off from my blog.

[ashintheairlikesnow]

Learn to Fly

CW: Self-loathing, some internalized victim-blaming, references to parental death and grief, VERY vague reference to past noncon once or twice

Note: I made a decision to switch a little of the timeline around, so Laken and Chris’s breakup at this point happens after the original conversations about the Speak Out Arc start happening but before the Olympics themselves. I’m folding this bit into the larger Speak Out Arc.

Follows Time Apart and It Doesn’t Work As Well As You’d Hoped

-

He curls up on the couch in the coffeeshop, sipping something warm he barely tastes. It might have coffee in it - he feels a little drowsy, and that usually happens when there’s just a little caffeine.

Maybe that’s just because he hasn’t slept since Jake was hurt, not really. And he’s slept even less since... since he and Laken broke up.

Outside, there's unseasonable heavy rain. The clouds are low and heavy, a deep gunmetal gray that blocks out the light and has the streetlights on at 9:30 in the morning. The raindrops seem less to fall than to slam into the ground with terrible violence. 

The baristas talk in low voices about how grateful they are for the rain, burying the wildfires outside the city in a deluge the heat can’t overcome. Chris likes the rain, too, if only because it reflects the inside of him, suggests that the world can tell he is a storm within himself and reflects it to him.

He takes another sip.

He hasn’t showered in three days. His hair is dulled with it, like a penny left too long in the dirt.  He’s dressed himself like he used to, back before when he was still learning he was a person and not a pet - in one of Jake’s hooded sweatshirts over his compression shirt, so oversized on him it’s nearly a tunic, and a pair of mesh basketball shorts. His knees still look knobby, he thinks.

He can see the ghosts of the bruises there that used to never quite heal before his Sir sent him to his knees and made new ones to lay over them. He can see a couple of scars, some from training when the baton would crack into the backs of his legs and send him dropping like a stone, some from gymnastics, some from just being a kid.

Chris’s eyes lower, to look at his own hands holding his coffee cup. He put star stickers on his nails last night, and a few of them have already peeled off. Those that remain glitter, just a little. 

Something about the sight of it - the memory of when he put star stickers on Laken’s cheekbones at a concert until they sparkled under the starlight, laughing, a blur of bright eyes and dark hair - makes his throat nearly close, sends a new rush of tears to burn hot behind his eyes.

He has to close them to hold them back.

“You’ve had a hard time of late, have you, then?”

The voice is a rumble, cracked with decades of cigarettes and too much liquor, but Chris remembers it, anyway. At least, he remembers it now.

He turns to look up at the old man, in his shirt and slacks, a bit bent with age. There’s a merry twinkle in his slightly rheumy eyes, though, that shows that a young man is still there, under an old man’s experiences. There’s a slight smile on his face, warm and welcoming. 

Chris swallows, struggling to find the words. They flit away from him, he has to chase them down, but eventually he manages to clear his throat and says, “I, I, um. I know you. You, you, you knew my dad.”

“I did, at that. Worked with him for years.” The old man settles onto the other end of the couch, giving Chris plenty of space, a nice wide berth for safety. “What’s got you looking like a television commercial for depression, hm, Tristan?”

No one calls him that. 

Chris feels his heart twist, a little. 

By the time they saw the meteor, Tris, it was already too late for anything but a blink or two. When it touched down into land, it was so big the end of it was still in space. Can you imagine anything so big? Can you?

No, Dad.

 The earthquakes alone would have been immense thousands of miles away. Imagine, you’re eating leaves, living your life, and you see a shadow - and then in an instant, the world is shaking and you’re breathing glass. How does life go on after that?

I, I, I don’t know, um, um... how how does it?

It just does. That’s what’s amazing, Tris. It just goes on.

“Nothing. I, I, I broke up with my, my partner is all.”

“Hm, that nice young person who comes with you to the shops?” The old man nods, slowly. He’s got his own cup of coffee, plain black, steaming gently into the air-conditioning. Outside, the rain creates a curtain that walls them off from everything else. Chris can’t even see all the way across the street. He can barely see a woman with an umbrella racing from her car into the nail salon place off to the side. 

“Yeah, them. I’m, um. It wasn’t anything they they they did.”

It’s something I did.

It’s something I am.

It’s something I’ll never stop being.

“Well, breakups do happen now and again. Usually the one who does the leaving isn’t the one who does the moping about and staring at rain, though.”

“I didn’t want to.” Chris sits back, keeping his coffee cup in one hand. The other drops to his stomach, to tap, soothing his nerves at being so close to a man he knows and doesn’t-know. His memories are there, fuzzy and hazy from being overwritten by fear and pain, but they’re there. He knows this man, Mr. Malley, who would watch him sometimes when his parents went out, or when his father needed to stop by work.

The memories are there, but they still hurt. 

His head starts to throb, a pulsing pain behind his temples. 

“I didn’t-... I, I love them, I d-didn’t want to.”

“Well, now, that’s a conundrum, isn’t it? Are you moving, then, Tristan?”

It hurts to hear his name, but it hurts in a way that feels good. He was that person, too, before he was Chris. He hums, low under his breath. “No. I, I, I just… you know, um, I’m just. I’m… hard. Difficult. To, to, to, to be with, to, um, to-... there’s a bunch wrong with-... with me.”

“You sound like your dad.” Mr. Malley laughs, a deep chuckle that rumbles more in his chest than out of his throat. “You know that? You sound just like him.”

Chris ignores the pain in his head and he turns, now, to look fully at Mr. Malley, blinking rapidly. “My, my, my dad?”

“Yep. Paul was a good man, and a good dad, but before he was that he was a scared boy with a baby on the way and a plan that might not work.” Mr. Malley sighs. “A scared boy who’d always had it a little rough, trying to make the world work for him when it did nothing but work against him. You were always his spitting image. He’d probably be tickled to see you still are.”

There is a sense, in Chris’s mind, of a blurry man with short red hair, sitting near him but not quite touching him, speaking with animation about how there are dinosaurs that lived closer to human beings than they did to other dinosaurs.

He remembers a man whose eyes sparkled with animated focus when he talked about the world millions of years ago, who loved him by sharing the information he held within his own mind.

He and his dad had understood each other, in ways that no one else did but his mother, and Chris was beginning to see that it had been her determination to know him that had fueled his mother’s actions, her endless support. The same way Jake and Nat were determined, and stubborn, and kept trying even when they got it wrong. 

Everyone gets it wrong sometimes, but that doesn’t… that doesn’t mean they aren’t trying. 

Maybe he got it wrong.

“He never broke up with your mom, but oh, he thought about it. You know, when he came to work with us, he had a plan. But plans… they have a way of going off the road and into a ditch. He worried he couldn’t make it work, he worried that it would be too hard for Ronnie to be with him and have a child, too.”

Ronnie.

Chris’s throat closes up, and he closes his eyes. 

All right, Tris, I got you these so the noise won’t bother you so much. We’re going to have a good day at the parade, okay?

“Her family never liked him, for one. That’s a rough spot to be in, I think.” Mr. Malley is quiet for a moment, sipping his coffee and watching the rain fall. “Ronnie didn’t see it that way, of course. That woman was a freight train and God help anyone who got in the way. My late wife, God rest her soul, helped Ronnie with some things when her own family wouldn’t. She’d come over big as a house, eyes sparkling. You were a kicker, she used to say, kept her up all hours of the night. Just a girl, still, your mom, but she had a steel spine and she wasn’t going to live any life but the one she wanted. But your dad… he worried, that it would be too hard on her.”

“Having, um, having me would?”

“No. Having him. Paul was a smart man, you know. He knew his job would be trouble. He gave her chance after chance to go, if she wanted. But that’s the thing, isn’t it? She didn’t.”

Chris looks at his phone, lying on the little table in front of the couch. There’s some text messages he hasn’t looked at. Couple of voicemails he hasn’t listened to. 

“Maybe he, he, he didn’t want to keep hurting her,” Chris whispers. 

“Hurt’s a part of living, lad, take it from someone who’s given out his fair share of it and more.” Mr. Malley hums. Outside, a car pulls up, almost bumping the curb. “Perhaps you’re meant to separate from your young partner, Tristan, perhaps not. It’s like I told your dad, way back in the Stone Age. You choose if you love someone, to be sure, but they choose if they love you back. You can’t decide that for them.”

“But, but I’m-... but, but I’ve been… what I am, it’s-”

“I know what you’ve been made to do,” Mr. Malley says gently. “You don’t have to explain, lad. We knew.”

Chris’s lips tremble. He doesn’t want his coffee any longer. He sets it down next to his phone, on the little table. The baristas talk quietly about a date that one went on the night before, there’s a low sound of machinery. It all filters into Chris’s mind, a cacophony of sound he picks apart or doesn’t. Right now it’s hard for him to think around all the sound, but he tries. “Then, then, then why… if you knew, um, why… didn’t you-”

He can’t finish the question. 

Why didn’t you save me from it?

“We couldn’t. It’s shite, is what it is, but we couldn’t. And by the time we could, you were with that nice young man who you live with now. I’m sorry for the time you lost, Tristan, and sorrier still I can’t give it back to you somehow. You’re your dad’s child through and through, but you’ve got your mother in you, too. You know what Ronnie did when there was something she couldn’t get through?”

Chris turns to look at this man, who knew his mother and father in ways he never could have. He swallows. “What?”

“She went over it. Or around it. Or blew it to smithereens and went through the wreckage. Whatever it took. They tried to kick you out of school when you were a wean, she fought them ‘til they realized they’d never win against her. They tried to tell her you wouldn’t read, she told them to go, well, to go sit on a thing or two and not to tell her what her boy could or couldn’t do.”

Chris thinks of Nat sitting next to him on the floor, patiently encouraging him to keep trying to turn the letters into words, despite his headaches, his tears, his certainty he’d never get reading back.

You will, Chris. I know you will. Just keep fighting for it. They won’t take anything from you forever, I won’t let them and you won’t let them either.

Don’t let them keep you from yourself.

“They told her she’d never have a happy life, having a wee one so young, but she built that happy life anyway with her own two hands and dared anyone to try and knock it down.”

“Someone… some, someone did, though.” The gunshots, his mother’s eyes going dull and blank, her whispered I love you so much, Tris…

“Sure. Yes.” Mr. Malley’s expression goes serious, and sad. “But it took breaking into her house at midnight and bullets to stop her. You’ve got plenty of your mom in you, lad. Plenty of your dad, too, he was always a stubborn git himself. Do you love this person you’ve broken up with? Hm?”

“Yes.” The answer comes without hesitation, even though his voice shakes and his heart races. “I, I, I do. That’s, that’s why I don’t want to-to keep hurting them by, by, by by being messed up from what, um, from what happened to me, I don’t… I don’t want to keep h-hurting them-”

“Let them decide how they feel about that,” Mr. Malley says, voice gentle and low. “Plenty of people are hurt and find their way forward together after.”

Jake and Kauri, laughing in the kitchen as Jake spins Kauri around in a circle, dips him backwards, presses a kiss to his nose that has him giggling. 

Antoni at the stove, sighing but with a smile on his face, watching them. Being pulled into the hug not quite against his will, all three of them laughing then. Kauri bright and sparkling, Jake a deeper harmony, Antoni soft and genuine. 

“Maybe it won’t last, maybe it will - but don’t let a hard past keep you from the people who love you. I’ve seen many ruined by believing you may only be loved if you’ve no pain inside you. We’ve all got pain, lad. Carrying it together’s a sight easier than trying to go it alone.”

From the car parked right outside, an elderly man unfolds himself, opening an umbrella to shield from the driving rain. Mr. Malley looks up and smiles. “Ah, right on time, must be ten sharp. That’ll be Cilly. D’you remember Cilly, lad?”

Chris looks as the man shuffles his way inside, pushing open the door. The little bell over the top jingles and the baristas cut off their conversation, standing up straight to call out a familiar greeting to a regular customer. 

He squints.

“Not… not very well,” He confesses, a little ashamed.

“Ah, well, that’s not a problem. He and I’ve known each other a long time. I was an angry man for a while after my wife died, you know. Seemed a crime that I should outlive her, when Christa deserved to live to a hundred and six if she so wished. Cilly helped me carry that anger when I needed to be angry, and he helped me put it down later on.” 

He gives a wave to the man - to Cilly - who looks at Chris and then back to Mr. Malley with clear surprise, then heads towards the counter to make his own order. 

“Be angry, Tristan,” Mr. Malley says, a little heavily, leaning over to him on the leg as he pushes himself, with a grunt of effort to his feet. “You may need your anger, in the days ahead. But if you’ve a love to help you carry it, who wants to help you carry it and who will be angry right there with you, and you love them back… well… don’t let the wickedness of others keep you from the happiness you could have. You’ll be a poorer person for it.”

Mr. Malley walks away without another word, leaving Chris by himself again on the couch, tapping at his stomach, thinking. He keeps looking at his phone, thinking about all the texts he hasn’t read, the way he’s refused to call them back when Laken kept trying to reach him.

He leans over to reach out.

He stops, hand hovering just above the plastic with its colorful case, the sensory sticker on the back of it that Laken had bought him. 

What happened after all the dinosaurs died, Tristan?

I, I, I don’t know, Dad.

Trick question, buddy. They didn’t. Paul’s eyes, bright and vibrant, gesturing to a bird in a tree nearby. Nothing stays the same and lives forever except alligators and sharks.

Right because, because they’re perfect.

Exactly. Dinosaurs died, sure, but they didn’t die, too. They just changed to suit the world after the one they knew how to live in was gone. Imagine, Tris. 

Imagine what?

Imagine the world destroyed and in darkness, buried in ash. Everything you know is gone, ruined, wrecked beyond repair. And imagine… imagine that you learn to eat seeds and little mice instead of big animals and leaves. Imagine you become smaller and smaller. Imagine that your arms turn to wings, that your bones hollow out to carry you higher above the piles of ash that turn to grass and to life again.

What? I, I, I don’t, um, I don’t understand-... Dad, um, I don’t, I don’t... know what you mean.

Right, sorry. Just... imagine you’re a dinosaur.

He’d laughed. Okay.

Now imagine your dinosaur family is gone, and you have to become something else. What do you become? Being a dinosaur means dying, right?

Um. Right.

So imagine that you look at death and say, no thanks. No, you’re not going to be over. This isn’t it for you. Even a meteor the size of the entire sky can’t end you. Instead of dying out, no, you look at history, at geological time, and you say…

Paul had trailed off.

Say what? What, what do I say?

Don’t tell your mom but-... you look at the end of the world and you say... fuck this, I’m going to learn to fly.

Chris picks up his phone, finds Laken’s name and photo in his contacts. It’s a photo of the two of them together, Chris and Laken smiling and laughing as he smears whipped cream on their nose and they smear a cross of fluffy white into his forehead. 

He dials.

They pick up on the third ring.

“Chris? Oh my God, Chris, are you okay? Are you-... are you okay, baby?” Their voice shakes, and he closes his eyes. 

This time, he lets the tears slip out and run down his face. “H-Hey, Laken, um, I, I, I-... I’m… I wondered if you, um, if you could, uh… are you busy?”

“Am I-... Chris, where are you?”

“The, um, the coffeeshop-”

“I’m on my way. Don’t you dare fucking move.”

At their usual table, at their usual time, Cilly and Sean Malley start to talk amicably about the week ahead. But he keeps an eye on Paul’s boy, where he speaks a few sentences and then hangs up the phone, looking out the window at the rain.

It’s twenty minutes before a new car pulls up outside, and umbrella-less, the partner Sean has seen with Tristan before comes racing inside, a blur of black clothes and black hair and brown skin. Paul’s boy stands, and his partner throws themself at him so hard the two of them fall backwards onto the couch.

They start laughing, and shortly after to cry. 

Their hands come up to either side of Tristan’s face, and they lean forward to kiss the scar on his forehead. He can’t hear what they say to each other, but he doesn’t need to. 

Ronnie, he thinks, would like this spitfire person that Paul’s boy is so in love with. 

That’s one wrong put right, at least for the moment.

One more to go.

Sean smiles and sips his cooling coffee.

-

@burtlederp @finder-of-rings @endless-whump @astrobly @newandfiguringitout @doveotions @pretty-face-breaker @gonna-feel-that-tomorrow @boxboysandotherwhump @oops-its-whump @cubeswhump @whump-tr0pes @downriver914 @whumptywhumpdump @whumpiary @orchidscript @nonsensical-whump @outofangband @eatyourdamnpears

Just Go On from Kimmy Schmidt

[undercoveravenger]

Sensitivities

Pairing: Jacob Black x Male!Reader

Requested: Yes

Original Request: “May I request Jacob from Twilight with a m!reader that has heightened sensitivity? Like, m!reader can feel emotions from people, objects, or places by touching them.”

A/N: Hope you don’t mind, but all I could think of was reader and Jasper being empath buddies and Jacob being the bf who’s jealous because now you have someone who understands you in a way that he can’t. I hope you like it!

-------------------------------

If you were being honest, you hadn’t expected the day to go well. You had felt the prominent discomfort and the simmering anger that each of the Quileute wolves around you felt as they made their way over the treaty line and to the clearing where they were meant to meet up with the Cullens for training.

You hesitated before stepping out of the tree line and coming to stand beside Jacob, smiling as he wrapped his arm around your waist. “It’ll be okay,” you murmured softly, reassuring yourself as much as him.

One of the vampires caught your eye as you looked up, arching a perfectly shaped blonde eyebrow as she crossed her arms over her chest, “I didn’t know dogs were allowed to have pets of their own.”

Jacob snarled at her from his place beside you, only settling slightly when you reached out to place your hand on his shoulder, though you could tell he was still itching to tear the blonde apart for her snide comment about you.

“I probably wouldn’t insult him again if I were you, Rosalie,” one of the other vampires chimed in, chuckling quietly as his golden eyes darted between you and your boyfriend. “He’s Jacob’s imprint and he’s here because he can-” He cut himself off, brows furrowing as he turned to look at you, “You can really feel other people’s emotions?”

You glanced over at Jacob unsurely, but when he nodded you knew that the vampire could be trusted. “Yes, I’ve been able to since I was a little kid. How did you know that?”

He smirked a little, tapping a finger lightly against his temple to make a point, “My name is Edward, and I have the ability to read minds.”

“O-oh…” Now that you thought about it, you remembered Jacob telling you about the vampire that the girl he’d been crushing on before he met you was dating, and that the whole family had ‘freaky powers.’ “That makes sense, I guess.”

Edward grinned at you, though he paused as an idea seemed to strike him. He glanced around the clearing quickly, as though he was looking for someone. His smile widened as his gaze locked onto a shaggy-haired blond vampire lingering near the edge of the forest and he called him over. 

“This is Jasper,” Edward explained as the stranger came to a stop beside him, “I think the two of you will be fast friends, what with those powers of yours. You’ve got a lot in common.” With that, Edward dismissed himself, moving to join the small huddle formed by most of the rest of the Cullens, as well as a brunette girl who you assumed to be Bella.

Jasper grinned a little, striding closer to you. He stopped a few feet away, raising his hands placatingly as Jacob growled at him. “Easy there, I don’t have any intention of putting the moves on your boyfriend. I was just curious to meet another empath.”

“Another?” You’d never known someone that shared your ability before, even if it operated slightly differently. You moved to step closer, intrigued by the promise of getting to know someone who experienced the world the same way you did, only to be stopped by your boyfriend’s grip on you. “You mean you can?” “Feel other people’s emotions? That’s about right,” Jasper grinned, golden eyes twinkling in the afternoon sunlight as it filtered through the trees, “And right now I’m getting the feeling that your boyfriend doesn’t like me all that much.”

“Would you look at that? He’s right,” your boyfriend huffed, arm tightening around you to pull you close to his side as he glared at the vampire.

You rolled your eyes, twisting in Jacob’s hold to ruffle his hair playfully, “Shouldn’t you go help Sam with the rest of the boys?” You cut off his inevitable protest by tugging him into a brief kiss, “Go on,” you prompted, “We’ll be fine over here.”

Jacob grumbled, but eventually relented, stealing another quick kiss before jogging off toward where the rest of the pack had gathered.

“Sorry about him,” you told Jasper, “He’s always been the jealous type; he’s lucky I think it’s cute.”

Jasper grinned, waving off your apology, “My wife, Alice, gets like that too.”

“Your brother wasn’t kidding when he said we had a lot in common, was he?” You chuckled, locking eyes with the man you’d mentioned. Your smile widened at the knowing smirk he shot the two of you.

“Guess not,” Jasper grinned, laughing along with you, and in that moment, you wondered how you had been so wrong about how the day would turn out.

You’d woken up expecting spilled blood and dismembered limbs, and instead you got a new best friend and some jealous cuddles from your boyfriend when you got home.

[mysticalrambling]

Love Eventually Wins (A.B) Part 2

(Part 1)

Andy Barber Fanfiction (Fanfiction Master List)

Warnings: Angst but eventual fluff.

Summary: dad! Andy Barber x female reader. You juggle in the hospital between your dad and your son. You haven't forgiven Andy for what he said to you but you guys talk it out in the end and it's all eventual fluff.

._._._._.

“Dad, you are going to be fine. We are all going to wait for you after the surgery.” Gently kissing your father on your head, you held back your tears because you didn’t want him to back down from his decision. You just prayed to God that this operation would be successful because you had already lost your mother to a car accident when you were four, so it was just you, Julie and your dad. You could not afford to lose another family member and you wanted Gabriel to know his grandfather when he grows up.

“Okay, sweetie. Will see you after.” He looked so pale and sickly just lying on that uncomfortable hospital bed. Silently kissing him on the forehead, the nurses took him away to the operation theatre.

When you got out of the room, your little sister immediately took you in a bone crushing hug and started sobbing uncontrollably. “It’s all going to be okay, Julie.” You tried to console her but there wasn’t much you could say to convince her when you yourself were worried.

After about half an hour, you finally got her to quiet down and then went to check up on your son in the pediatric ward. The receptionist pointed you towards a NICU ward that kept babies from the age of six months to two years and you didn’t know why he was admitted in to the hospital so you internally freaked out on the way there.

“Hi. The doctor said that Gabriel had some kind of stomach infection so they will have him on IV drips and antibiotics for two days.” Andy explained it to you as soon as you entered the room and went to your son’s crib. He was in the crib in a small hospital gown and God, you hated this sight. Touching his forehead, you realised that his temperature was higher than when it was at home.

“His fever is way too high right now.” Looking at your husband, you felt so helpless because your father and your son were sick and you didn’t know what to do.

“The doc said that it will return back to normal in no time.” Andy was observing you from the moment you entered the hospital room. Puffy eyes, rosy cheeks and a tear stained face was a completely new look for you. He wanted to be there for you but he knew that you had still not forgiven him. It was not easy to forget the things that he said, even if he didn’t mean it.

“Oh okay. I am just going to sit here with him.”

“I will bring you some coffee because you haven’t eaten since morning.”

“Non-”

“Non filtered, without sugar. I know.” He lightly kissed you on the forehead but was slightly hurt when you didn’t give him a smile like you always did. He could feel a wall separating the two of you and the only thing that he wants is to tear that wall down. Why could he not keep his mouth shut and let you talk? Everything would have been alright then.

“Hey, baby. I need you to be fine really fast, okay. Mommy needs you to get through all of this and I love you so much.” Gripping on to his little hand, you gently rest your head against the crib. The nurse came after sometime and you asked her is she could stay with Gabriel for sometime. Everything was too much for you and you just needed to vent it all out in private.

“Hi. Where is my wife?”

“She said she needed some fresh air.”

“Okay, I am just leaving the coffee here. You are going to stay with him, right?”

You were just looking at the stars and remembering the time when you spent countless college nights with Andy on the rooftop, just staring at the stars. It quickly became your thing and now you were sitting here all alone. A few tears escaped you when you remembered all the things that your husband said. It was still too much to comprehend.

“Please, don’t cry. I am truly sorry for all the things that I said.” Sitting next to you on the bench, he didn’t have the power to look you in the eyes. He was too embarrassed. It was his job to let no harm come to you but now he was the one who is causing the harm. He just wanted someone to beat the crap out of him and punish him for making you feel unworthy.

“I know you said that you didn’t mean a word of it but I know that’s not true. I know you better than you know yourself.” You looked at him from under your eyelashes and saw a look of realisation cross his face. Andy thought that he could just hide it from you because of all the things that you have been going through. He sometimes did forget that if he could easily read you then you could do the same.

“So the district attorney has been telling me that I am not doing my job properly because I am a family man now. I am too distracted on my job and the last case, the witness didn’t show up and Jacqueline just laid it out on me. She even gave my next big case to Carter and I just lost it on you. I am so sorry.”

Tears welled up in his eyes when he realised how innocent you were in this whole situation and he had no right to make you feel so bad about yourself. He didn’t dare move his face away from the stars and you knew the guilt was eating him up inside.

“Hey, look at me.” Gently placing your hands on his bearded face, you made him look at you. “I was being genuine when I said that you can take a break from us. I won’t mind.”

“No, I don’t. It was all said out in anger and you don’t know how sorry I am. Please don’t think like that because you are my whole world.” His heart was tearing up in pieces and you were the only one who could fix it.

“Okay but what about Jacqueline then?”

“I will take care of her. She can not just assume that I would be the same Andy after having my own family to look out for. You don’t worry about anything.”

“Okay.” Kissing him under the stars was your favorite pass time and you wouldn’t change it for the world. “Let’s go check up on our baby right now.”

“No, you go to your sister because your dad is going to be out of surgery in sometime and you should be with her. I will check on Gabriel and then come to you.”

“Let’s check on Gabe together because I won’t stop worrying until then. God, I just want this day to end already.” Hand in hand, you got up from the bench and went to meet your son.

Gabriel was slightly waking up by the time you entered his room and you immediately went to pick him up. Keeping in mind to not touch his iv drip, you cradled him to your chest. Your heart ached for your baby boy because he was always the one to cause trouble and never sit still in one place. “Mommy, hurts.” A whimper escaped him and he clutched on to your shirt with his tiny fists.

“It’s going to be okay.” He looked so small in your arms and you were barely holding yourself together because you didn’t want your son to cry after seeing you.

“Give him to me.” Andy carefully took him from you and tried rocking him back to sleep. By now, he was full on crying and trying to take his bandage off. Your husband took Gabriel’s hand in his hold but the kid did not quiet down for one second. You tried to give him his lion pacifier and he just turned his head the other way round. The doctor came in when he heard the commotion and quickly inserted some sedatives in to his IV drips.

He told you both that Gabriel would be alright in a few days and he will stay with him so that you both can go check up on your father. Gabriel was going to sleep for some hours so it was okay for you guys to stay with your dad until then.

“The doctor said that the surgery went well and we can see him after they transfer him to ICU.” Your sister filled you in as soon as she saw you both walking down the corridor. Ecstatic, you hugged Andy tightly and believed for the first time in all night that everything is going to be okay.

“I love you.” You whispered affectionately in to his ears.

“I love you too.” Kissing you softly, he tried to express his love with his actions.

Hope you guys enjoyed it!!

._._._._.

A/N: Here's part 2. I loved watching Defending Jacob so I came up with this plot. Andy Barber has my whole heart and I hope you guys liked it. Tell me what you think and message me if you want to be added to the tag list.

Like, comment and reblog.

Tag list: @kalopsia-flaneur, @fantasywriter104, @justile

._._._._.

[mendesblurb]

Show me your phone

GIF CREDITS TO OWNER AND MAKER @dreamofwonder

Shawn Mendes x female reader

Warning: fluff, maybe grammar error and maybe some punctuation errors

Oh My God!  You thought to yourself. This was the day. Its finally here. The day you and your husband had been waiting for a while now. It was finally here.

Your nerves were absolutely racking and your heart was beating fast. the test showed you 2 lines. YOU WERE PREGNANT.

You looked at the pregnancy test again and the other two that sat on the vanity, all positive. Now it was time to tell Shawn the news.

“We’re going to have a what?” Shawn asked, his face turning up toward you. 

He was sitting on the bed with his back against the headboard, having some much needed relaxing time after being in the recording studio all day.

You’d discovered you were pregnant this morning after he’d left for work and decided to keep the news until he was home.

For the time being you kept your news a secret from the media, afraid of the possibility of things happening on the first trimester. So you started going out in baggy clothes so the paparazzi will not know and throwback photos became a thing in your Instagram feed.

However, you knew that sooner or later it would be discovered, it didn’t worry you too much, but you wanted to feel comfortable first with the idea of having a growing human inside your belly and also because Shawn and you are a pretty private couple.

————————-FOUR MONTHS LATER————

Tonight , Shawn was going to be interviewed on Jimmy Fallon’s late night show because of the recent release of his album “wonder.”

It was a routine that before one of you came on, the other would send a text message of encouragement and an occasional “I love you ” were sent along with it.

You: enjoy the talk show with Jimmy 😙

Shawn: thanks baby, love you 😘

You: love you too ❤️

Shawn: see you at home ❤️

You: send image

This time you decide to send a pic of you and Tarzan at the living room couch and the pic also displayed your growing bump.

You: see you at home Shawnie❤️, lots of love from me, Tarzan and little Mendes

As the crew began counting down the seconds before going live Jimmy sat down slowly and Shawn adjusted his jacket as he got comfortable in the chair.

“Now Shawn…” Jimmy started, leaning on his desk casually. “quite a bit has happened since the last time I saw you.”

He nodded slightly, a ghost of a smile on his lips, “Yeah it’s been a while dude.”

Jimmy laughed partially, “that’s right… the last time you were here you were single, and now you’re married.”

Shawn nodded as Jimmy continued, “now Wonder just came out a few weeks ago and it was a huge hit..”

Shawn smiled, “yup it did alright.”

The rest of the interview was great, Shawn talked about the highs and lows he experienced when creating the album and how all his songs were about you and how grateful he was to have you by his side through it all.

That night both Shawn and Jimmy were going to play ‘Show me your phone’, a game where they had to show whatever was hidden on their smart phones.

As the game was about to start, Shawn realised he wasn’t prepared at all. At this point he knew your secret is about to be exposed, I mean your whole relationship was not a secret but it was mostly private.

Both of you seem to have a habit of dropping the bombshell to your fans. Like that one time you finally made your relationship social media official, another time you secretly got married and now you’re secretly 4 months pregnant.

Now sitting across from Jimmy, Shawn could feel his heart pounding , and his hand began to feel clammy.

In front of them there was a red button, in the centre a tripod that will act as a phone holder and next to it was an electronic panel showing all the possibilities that could come up.

There was the icon for messages, Safari, photos , Instagram, Twitter, mail and call.

“Okay, you ready?” Jimmy asked and Shawn just nodded his head.

“Okay, for anyone who don’t know, here’s how game works. Shawn and I will take turns pressing the red button we have here, which will randomly select one of these icons we have on the board.”

After He explained how the game works , then he opted for Shawn to go first as he was the guest.

Laughter was heard among the audience as they saw the nervous glances that was displayed in both Shawn’s and Jimmy’s faces.

“FYI, neither of us know what’s behind each icon.” Jimmy looks at Shawn who was now laughing. “Let’s go and explore our phone.” Jimmy said

“Let the adventure begin,” Shawn said while trying to hide his face. “I think I forgot to clean my phone before the game.”

“You and me both dude,” Jimmy said laughing along with him. “Alright, here we go. Since you’re the guest you press first.”

“I am honoured ,” Shawn said sarcastically , which drew another laughter from the audience. “Here goes nothing!”

Shawn pressed the red button and quickly the icons on the panel began to light up and the light stopped specifically on the Safari browser icon, so that a text was displayed that said 'Show and tell us your last Google search’.

“Shawn if you could please show us your last Google search my friend.” Jimmy said while trying to control his laughter.

“Okay!” exclaimed Shawn grabbing his phone and heading to the app. “If I’m being honest I forgot what my last search was… Oh never mind!”

Shawn started laughing and tried to hide his phone, which only caused the audience to laugh hilariously.

"Okay, fine,” Shawn said as he put the phone down on the small platform. “I was just trying to do a kind gesture.”

The camera pointed straight at him, checking that his last search had been ‘nearest grocery store with Oat milk’.

The set erupted in laughter, Jimmy clasped his hands to his chest, laughing his head off.

“This- This is actually funny because it’s so specific but it’s actually very thoughtful,” he said between guffaws. “Did you end up buying it though?”

“I did!” Shawn said. “I found two brands and you know I was just trying to buy it because Y/N being a good wife she is wants me to start living a healthier lifestyle.”

“Awww,” Jimmy said . “Come on! Here we go. My turn.”

The panel came back on, the light moving between icons until it stopped on the photo app. Jimmy frowned, and the panel informed him that it should show the last picture he took on his phone.

“Come on, show us!” exclaimed Shawn encouragingly.

“I’m extremely scared,” said Jimmy with a serious and comical look on his face, reaching for his phone. “I am deeply embarrassed … Oh!” he began to laugh. “Okay, okay. This… is me trying to be a good Dad, don’t judge me.”

The picture showed Jimmy trying to pose with a random Snapchat filter and the caption was ‘Goodnight Frances & Winnie’ . In response the audience started laughing.

“All right, all right,” Jimmy held up his hands. “I have an explanation . The other day my wife said my kids won’t go to bed until I said goodnight to them and I was still on set.”

“That’s actually cool man!” exclaimed Shawn.

“Anything to put your kids to bed,” he laughed and picked up his phone.

“Show us your last text message” Jimmy read out eliciting cheers from the audience. “Come on!”

“Okay,” he began to laugh nervously. “It says there the last message I sent, in details too?”

“Well, just put the phone down,” Jimmy laughed.

“Okay,” Shawn started to look up. “Last text message…” he took a breath and looked at Jimmy hesitantly.“Oh here we go…”

Your last conversation appeared before everyone’s eyes, showing only the last photo you had sent him with Tarzan and your growing bump was present and the caption was the true bombshell of all.

“Wait, wait back up Mendes,” Jimmy said looking at him and questioning “little Mendes? Is this why she’s taking a break?”

The audience exclaimed a sweet 'aw’ again when they got a glimpse of the photo and Shawn was just widely smiling.

“This is really sweet!” said Jimmy looking at Shawn, “This is the best news ever.”

“I know, I know,” Shawn commented and nodding his head slowly.

“Do you know the gender?” asked Jimmy hesitantly, to which Shawn took another breath before replying.

“Yes we do,” Shawn laughed nervously. “We are going to have a baby girl.”

 “There you have it, folks! The show is about exposing secrets! Thank you for watching, let’s all patiently wait for the arrival of baby Mendes.”

Shawn was seen hugging Jimmy as the camera flickered off, the curtains closing - concealing them from the screaming audience.

Taglist: @holland-styles @itsalwaysbeen305 @nervousmendes

TAGLIST & REQUESTS ARE OPEN

[casifer-is-king]

I'd Never

Pairing: Javier Peña x fem!reader

Summary: It’s not that Javier isn’t interested in you, but there are some lines that can’t be crossed. Especially when you’re his partner’s wife’s best friend in Bogatá and he’s a DEA agent with a bad track record with relationships. But there has to come a breaking point, and this is it.

Rating: M

Warnings: curse words, alcohol and cigarettes (don't smoke kids), jealousy, a tiny bit of fem!receiving oral. If there's anything else I missed call me out.

A/N: This started as a simple little thing about why Javi avoids relationships. Then it turned into a "what would be the breaking point of that avoidance, though?" And it turned into this whole big thing lol. No beta we die like men. Please leave me feedback and reblog if you like 🥺💖

It’s been two hours since Steve called Javier and told him Connie was dragging him out to the bar and Javier was coming too. Steve told him exactly when to be there and Javier showed up only five minutes late. That was an hour ago and he was currently wishing he had just stayed in his own apartment…

Finally, the bedroom door opened and Connie stepped out. She had on a short dress and some strappy heels, her hair curled and makeup done to perfection in dark, smokey colors.

“Can we leave yet? The bars are gonna be closed by the time you’re ready,” Javier quipped.

“Sorry to keep you from your drinks, Javi, but this woman’s hair would not cooperate.

It was only then that Javier saw you, stepping out behind Connie and dressed up similarly. Your dress was black, strapless and fitted at the waist, then flowing out into an a-line skirt that accented the curve of your hip. Your makeup was lighter than Connie’s, but the bright red lipstick brought attention to your mouth and had Javier licking his own lips.

“Sooo, are we ready or what?” Connie pulled Javier out of his reverie. She already had Steve by her side, helping her into her jacket by the door.

“Ready,” rasped the brunette, pulling a cigarette from the pocket of his shirt. He escorted you and Connie to the front of the building while Steve went to bring the car around.

“Can I have one?” You asked from Javier’s right.

He immediately offered you the one he had lit and watched as your much smaller fingers took the cig from between his, brought it to your crimson lips and inhaled. You let the smoke roll out of your mouth before handing it over to him again. Taking it back, his dark chocolate eyes observed the red stain on the filter before he inhaled the last drag. Dropping the butt to the ground, he dug for another, lit it then handed it off to you immediately.

It was a practiced action between the two of you by this point. Ever since Connie brought you over for one of those weekly dinners she insisted Steve invite him to - “or he’ll never have a good meal, Stephen” - almost three months ago now. Javier wasn’t sure if you never actually had cigarettes of your own, or if you just made it a habit of stealing from him specifically, but you always asked for one and he never said no. At this point, he was certain he wouldn’t say no if you asked him for most anything.

***

At the bar, Steve and Connie go to find a table while Javier and you go up for the first round of drinks. The bar is crowded, but Javier easily carves out a spot for the two of you to wait for one of the bartenders.

It’s only a few minutes before a guy sidles up to your side and begins a conversation with you. Javier tenses, but the bartender distracts him for the moment as he gets everyone’s order in and waits. When he turns to hand you your drink, the guy is still there and you seem to be happily having a conversation, letting him lean in close to your ear so you can hear him over the music. With your drink in hand you give the stranger a smile and a nod before turning to Javier.

“I’m gonna go dance,” you say over the music.

Javier nods, but his mouth is curved down into a frown as he juggles three full drinks to the table that Steve and Connie claimed. He sits and glares out across the dance floor while the married couple next to him have a quiet conversation all their own.

He watches you as you dance with the stranger, his hand on your waste and head ducked toward your neck. He’s obviously saying something into your ear, and whatever it is makes you smile. As the guy turns your body so your back is pressed to his front, Javier feels a rolling, burning feeling in his stomach. He has no right to feel this way, he tells himself. You aren’t his to be possessive over.

It’s not that Javier isn’t interested in you, but there are some lines that can’t be crossed. Especially when you’re his partner’s wife’s best friend in Bogatá and he’s a DEA agent with a bad track record with relationships.

Javier isn’t good at long term relationships. He knows this well. It's the reason that he keeps his interactions with women strictly business, both professionally and sexually (though sometimes those two things can be one in the same in his job). It’s the reason he left Lorraine on the day they were to be married and ran away to Columbia. And it’s the reason he keeps you at a distance when all he wants is to hold you in his arms and smudge your lipstick across your lips as he kisses you. Because you deserve better than a fast burn relationship that leaves you broken, and he knows better than to think he can get it right this time.

Instead, he watches your body as it melts into this random, watches as your hips meet his and you both move in time to the tempo of the song. And he glares. It isn’t a conscious action, but he glares across the room as he absently drinks his beer.

"If you glare hard enough maybe the whole place will burn down," comments Steve with a knowing smirk. “Or maybe he’ll just disappear and you can finally just make a move.”

Javier turns his glare to his partner. “Very funny, Murphy.”

Connie stands and places an arm on his shoulder. “Just go out there, Javi. Dance with her,” she urges him before turning to her husband. “Come on, babe. Buy me another drink and come dance with me.”

Steve turns blue eyes to meet brown. “Meet ya out there?” he asks Javier with a snarky little smile.

“Yeah fucking right,” Javier mutters to Steve’s retreating back, eyes quickly finding their way back to you. He watches you. Watches as you embrace Connie and pull her in to dance. Watches as that stranger’s hand finds it’s way over your stomach and up, up, up until he’s grazing the bottom of your breasts. Watches as he finds himself pushing through the crowd, getting closer and closer to you, and as his own hand engulfs your wrist and pulls you away from the asshole.

“What the hell, Javi?” you exclaim, spilling a bit of your second drink between the two of you.

Javier doesn’t answer; he silently accepts the car keys from Steve and nods at his partner's brief, “we’ll catch a cab home, man.” Then he leads you through the bar, draping his leather jacket across your bare shoulders before you even hit the doors, and continues to lead you to the car.

“Javier! What the hell?” you reiterate. You don’t fight him, though, and you accept his chivalry when he opens the passenger door and helps you into the seat.

He mutters some excuse that you barely hear before he shuts the door and jogs over to get in the driver’s seat. He pulls out of the parking lot with only a muttered, “I’ll drive you home,” but stays quiet other than that. He barely remembers walking out onto that dance floor, doesn't know why he dragged you away, and has no words to explain himself to you. He knows he owes you more than that, owes you some sort of excuse that he can’t give. Not without opening a door to something that he’d never be able to take back.

He tries not to look at you sitting next to him, swamped in his coat with confused eyes and a pout on your painted lips. Instead, he focuses on his driving, focuses on the dark streets in front of him, and focuses on bringing his emotions back in check. Building his walls back up so that he doesn’t hurt you.

He lights a cigarette, taking two drags before silently handing it to you. You accept the smoke, finishing half of it before passing it back without a word. You both smoke two more cigarettes like this before Javier pulls up to your building.

“I’ll walk you up,” he finally breaks the silence. And so he escorts you all the way up to your door without so much as another word. In the harsh fluorescent lights, he can feel you observing him, knowing you can see the hardening of his brow over his stormy eyes, the way his mouth is turned down into a pouty frown and the hunch of his broad shoulders.

At your door, you pause and Javier knows you want him to say something. Anything at all to make you understand. But when he doesn't, you unlock your door, hand resting on the doorknob.

“You know what? No, Javi. I’m not going to let you just leave me here like this without an explanation,” you finally explode. “What was that about back there? Why did we leave early?”

Javier huffs, but his eyes refuse to meet yours. You won’t back down, though. “Please talk to me,” you practically begged now.

He has thought about this moment a lot, how he would respond if you finally confronted him about this push and pull that you both engaged in. The light flirtations that he allows himself to indulge in without ever letting it advance to the next step. Light touches as you pass the cigarette back and forth between quiet banter, eyes meeting across Steve and Connie’s dinner table, a fluttering of your lashes and the twist of his lips into a grin just for you.

Javier makes the mistake of meeting your eyes. “I didn’t like seeing that cabrón all over you,” he finally spoke through clenched teeth. “I don’t like seeing any man looking at you the way he was, or dancing with you the way I should be.”

“The way you should be...?” you trail off, trying to understand what he’s saying.

“The way I want to be,” Javier adds.

There is a heavy pause between the two of you for a long moment, then you’re in Javier’s arms, eyes searching his expressive ones and looking for a sign that it’s ok to move forward. Javier answers that question by leaning down and capturing your lips with his - tentative, waiting to see where it goes. Wanting to see if he was really going to take this step after talking himself out of it for so long now.

You don’t give him too long to think about it, pressing into his chest and deepening the kiss. Javier pushes back, feeling your curves pressed into his torso as your back hits the door behind you. Your mouth tastes like tobacco with faint undertones of the alcohol you had been drinking and Javier finds himself falling into it. Any reason he has created to convince himself to keep you at arms length is crashing down around him.

Breaking the kiss when air becomes a necessity, Javier grasps your chin where your lipstick is smeared, wiping along the red stain before bringing his lips to yours again. Then it’s the fumbling to get into your apartment, the frantic removal of shoes and hands roaming skin. Making your way through the dark apartment, lit only by the orange streetlights filtering through the windows, Javier kisses every bit of skin he can find from your face to your shoulders. He takes note of all the noises you make, from the quiet gasp when he finds the soft spot behind your ear, to the giggle from that spot on your shoulder where his mustache tickles you.

Javier is pushing up the skirt of your dress, caressing your sides as he explores with his mouth, fingers dropping under the band of your panties and beginning to ease them down. Halfway down your thighs, Javier grasps your hips again and lifts until you are seated on one of the stools at your kitchen counter.

Kneeling between your legs, Javi looked up at you, eyes reflecting black with lust. “I want this all for myself,” he rasps out.

“It’s yours,” is your response, voice husky and dark.

At your word, Javier wastes no time latching his mouth to the soft skin of your inner thighs, exploring this new expanse of skin slowly. By the time he reaches his intended destination, he has you squirming in the seat, leaking onto the fabric beneath you and begging him to hurry up. And being the weak man that he is when it comes to you, he gives in easily and finally delves into the sweetness of your core.

He tries to take his time still, savoring in the moment. But you are impatient now, bucking into his face and letting out a constant stream of commentary, “please, Javie. So close. Please don’t stop.” And how could he stop when he finally had you here? Finally gets to hear your moans and taste you on his tongue. By the time your first orgasm has washed over you, he has already decided to see how many times he can make you beg in one night. How many times he can say yes to you and earn his name on your lips.

By the time you are both spent, he's lying with you in the crumpled sheets of your bed. He basks in the afterglow as you cuddle into his side, head resting on his chest and his arm around your shoulders tracing patterns across soft skin. Once he is sure you have fallen asleep, he begins to ease his way from under you. He doesn’t get far though, as your hand reaches out to grasp his larger one.

“Please say you’ll stay,” you whisper sleepily. Javier instantly relaxes back into your pillows, hand shifting to encase your much smaller one in his.

“I’d never say no.”

[raleighcarrera]

best of me

ride or die | logan x mc (ellie wheeler)

a picture of logan and ellie in their thirties for @rodappreciationweek and the time capsule challenge 🌼

tags: @choicesarehard ; @lovehugsandcandy ; @pixeljazzy ; @troublemakerinspace ; @zigtheeortega ; @jaxmatsuo

~2.3k words | T

“mr. wheeler!” 

logan looked around the parking lot, squinting into the sun. one of his students was running at him full speed, holding his cell phone aloft and waving it around excitedly. “what’s up, alex?”

alex drew to a stop in front of him breathlessly. “i got in,” he said, lips splitting into a big grin. “cal tech, i got in.”

“hey, that’s awesome!” logan said, reaching out to clap the student on the shoulder. “congrats, alex. that’s a huge accomplishment.”

“dude, thank you so much for your recommendation,” alex said, nodding enthusiastically. “you’re honestly the best teacher i’ve ever had.”

“give yourself some credit,” he smiled, “you worked hard, and cal tech is lucky to have you. just don’t forget to come back and visit, yeah?”

“for sure,” alex agreed. with one last grin, he was gone, and logan finished getting his things in the car so he could head home, the rest of the students and faculty in the parking lot of mar vista high well used to the roar his devore’s engine made by now, after three years of teaching.

ellie’s car was already in the driveway when he arrived back at the house, and logan frowned when he parked on the street and jogged up the walk to their front door. it was early for her to be home; usually his day ended well before hers. as he walked inside, he wondered absently if the fact that she’d had an early afternoon meant she’d started dinner, and if he was possibly lucky enough that she was making that noodle thing he liked so much.

“ellie?” his keys landed in the bowl by the door with a familiar clink, his shoes kicked off one by one on the mat. “babe?”

“in here!” the stressed-out voice of his wife filtered in from the spare room. as soon as logan took a step towards the hallway, there was a sudden and aggressive rapid tap-tap-tap on the hardwood floor, and their dog ran at him at full speed, jumping up onto his legs with an excited bark.

“hey, clark,” he said gently, bending down to scratch the dog behind his floppy ears, “everything okay in there?”

the pointed silence that followed seemed to speak for itself. he followed the hallway down to the spare bedroom and found ellie sitting on the floor, surrounded by ripped-open cardboard boxes and indistinguishable small plastic pieces.

before logan could ask what she was doing, she frowned up at him and said, “i’ve been trying to put this baby carrier together for three hours.”

he arched his eyebrows at her, looking over the small mess she’d created in the middle of the room. “you’ve been here for three hours?”

ellie pulled a face at him, her lips twisted into a grimace. “morning sickness that lasts all day again,” she explained, scrunching up her nose. “jack caught me coming out of the bathroom and sent me home after lunch.”

“oh, no,” logan said sympathetically, dropping down onto his knees on the one free space of carpet. “i was hoping that’d’ve gone away by now.”

“you and me both,” ellie sighed, puckering her lips at him for a quick kiss. “i guess it was too much to hope for a baby without a rebellious streak a mile wide.”

“i’m still holding out for your dimples,” he grinned, “and that laugh. as long as the baby gets both of those, they’ll be set for life.”

“the baby is five minutes away from sleeping on the floor. i’m about to trash all of this and go take a nap.” the downtrodden expression on ellie’s face tugged at his heart in a way her cute little sighs always seemed to manage to. logan was already smiling when she squinted up at him hopefully and asked, “will you help me try to put it together?”

as if there was ever a chance he’d say no. “’course,” logan answered, “two heads are better than one, right? although you are an engineer...”

“believe me, graco is going to be hearing from me,” ellie grumbled, rolling gingerly to the side to shuffle awkwardly out of the way of the pile of pieces she’d already started putting together. she was just a few months along but already starting to show and moving about differently for it, unaccustomed to her new shape. “there is no reason these instructions should be more complicated than my master’s thesis.”

logan laughed, leaning over to take a peek at the paper spread out between her legs. “hey, they’re not so bad.” he easily snapped two pieces into place, forming the base of the carrier. “there we go.”

“show off.” ellie rolled her eyes, pushing another piece his way with a disdainful sniff. “i’m still calling them to complain.”

“and you totally should,” he said easily, “because they suck and you’re brilliant.”

“exactly,” she agreed. without looking up he could tell that her eyes were narrowed, her lip curling further with every piece he added onto the carrier, the methodic click of each settling into place ringing out loudly in the silent room. finally, ellie groaned, “god, i hate you. i knew this would be so easy for you.”

“okay, but that’s what i’m here for,” he reminded her with another soft smile, reaching out with his free hand to squeeze her knee. ellie huffed when he continued to turn a plastic screw one-handed. “to handle all this shit for you so you can relax. i know you have the hardest job, here.”

“you are the most annoying person i’ve ever met.” ellie’s sigh sounded wistful. when logan lifted his gaze he found her staring at him adoringly, her eyes wet. “i love you.”

“i love you too, baby. any idea what you want for dinner?” he looked away to concentrate on lining two tiny pieces up, frowning when they wouldn’t stick quite right. “come here for a sec, yeah? need some tiny fingers.”

ellie shot him a look, but leaned over anyway, wiggling her hand in the tight space he indicated until the two pieces sealed together with a pop. “maybe i don’t need a refund on my degree after all.”

“they should’ve paid you to take it,” logan agreed indulgently, nudging his shoulder gently against hers. “dinner?” he prompted again.

his wife groaned theatrically, flopping back onto the carpet. her arms and legs spread out like she was making a snow angel, disturbing the bubble wrap and cardboard that littered the room. “i want sushi,” ellie said sadly, “and a wine spritzer.”

“what about apple cider?” he asked gently, eyes still on the baby carrier even as one hand felt blindly for her calf and dug its thumb into her muscle for a massage. “it’s almost the same thing.”

“it’s not even close,” she sighed. “but fine. thank you.”

“you got it. why don’t i finish up in here, and you see what we have in the kitchen? it’ll just be a few more minutes.”

“rub it in,” ellie muttered, rolling slowly to sit up. “okay. i feel like i should do something nice for you. maybe i can make that noodle thing you like.”

logan beamed at her, leaning in to steal a kiss. “that’s sweet of you, babe. thank you.”

ellie laughed, kissing him back before she asked, “why do i feel like this was all an elaborate set up to get me to make your favorite dinner?”

“because you’re a naturally suspicious person?” he guessed, lifting his hand to smooth her hair back off her face. “i don’t know.”

“i think it’s because you’re too charming for your own damn good.” but ellie was smiling when he pulled away, and that was all that mattered. it was the only goal he ever had. 

“no such thing,” logan smiled back, gently nudging her away. “i’m right behind you.”

“yeah, yeah,” she said, waving dismissively, “show off.”

he watched her walk away, staring until she disappeared around the corner, and then turned back to the mass of plastic and screws that was slowly starting to resemble an actual baby carrier. squinting down at the instructions, it was only a matter of minutes before he had the rest of it assembled, and then a few more while he backtracked, checking over his work to find where he’d missed the one remaining piece that had been left over.

he took the time to clean up in what was eventually going to be their nursery, eyes sweeping over the boxes and gifts that cluttered their spare room. there was a ways to go before they were anything even close to ready for the baby, and he knew ellie’s due date would be here in the blink of an eye.

would he ever really feel ready? it seemed insane, when he sat and thought about it -- he and ellie were going to be parents. more than home or dog owners or two people with jobs and bills, it seemed like a responsibility he felt no where near prepared for or equipped to deal with. sometimes he still felt like a stupid kid himself.

though he had absolutely no doubts about ellie. ellie took to every kid she met like a natural -- his students adored her, riya’s twins thought she was the greatest thing in the world and were still only lukewarm where he was concerned. the kids in the program they volunteered with couldn’t get enough of her.

she kept their house running and all their plants alive. she kept him so happy he was delirious with it, in a way that had felt utterly foreign at first but now seemed so common. 

enviously, he knew she’d be mother of the year without even having to try.

the rest of the room was tidied on autopilot as logan remained lost in his thoughts, and when he finally made his way into the kitchen it was, to his delight, to the tune of ellie in the middle of making his favorite dinner, the room smelling as amazing as the sight of her rushing around so domestically looked.

his heart gave a weak lurch as he stepped up behind her at the counter and wound his arms around her waist. his nose pressed into the dip at her shoulder with a sigh. “all done. next stop... crib.”

“don’t remind me,” ellie groaned, “my dad has been on my ass for weeks.”

logan winced. if there was one thing he knew about detective wheeler, it was that he was just as opinionated as his beautiful daughter. “maybe he could come with us to pick it out.”

“maybe he could mind his own business,” she suggested instead, stirring the boiling pot of pasta on the stove. “he acts like he knows everything there is to know about babies.”

“well,” logan said, nosing at the hair at the nape of her neck, “he did raise the most amazing person in the entire world. maybe we should give him some credit.”

“okay, kiss ass,” ellie laughed, “he can’t hear you. but fine. if you really want, we’ll all go next weekend.”

he shrugged. it was personally something he felt indifferent towards, but a few extra points with ellie’s dad never hurt. most of the time he was pretty certain detective wheeler still wanted him dead. “i think that’d be nice.”

“i bet you do,” she murmured, twisting around to hold the spoon she was holding out. “taste.”

he did, chewing and swallowing slowly. “it’s done,” logan said sadly, knowing the words meant he’d have to move away. ellie laughed as he pulled his arms back and went to set the table instead.

he headed to the fridge for the bottle of sparkling cider, making a show of popping the cork like champagne and pouring ellie a generous amount into the giant wine glass she hadn’t been able to use in awhile. she rolled her eyes at him as she put the serving bowl on the table. “it’s not the same.”

“it’s pretty close,” he argued, lifting his own glass up and swirling it like he’d seen many pretentious people at restaurants that made him uncomfortable do. “it’s a beautiful vintage,” he declared, as though he had any idea what that was supposed to mean, “with notes of... apples.”

gratifyingly, ellie dissolved into giggles, shaking her head. “i can’t stand you,” she said fondly, all smiles. he grinned back at her, lifting his glass to his lips. 

“to the baby,” ellie said suddenly, lifting her glass, too, and bumping it into his.

“to you,” logan corrected her, clinking his glass into hers a second time.

ellie narrowed her eyes at him. “to you.” their glasses knocked again.

“nuh uh,” he countered childishly, “you’re the baby’s mom.”

“you’re the baby’s dad,” she laughed, bouncing up on her toes to try to get at his glass even as he lifted it above his head and twisted out of her way.

“this is ridiculous,” logan grinned, “just let me toast you, oh my god.”

“no, it was my toast,” she said, jumping up and splashing apple cider out of her glass and onto the floor, “stop trying to hijack it!”

“okay, okay.” he held his hand out to concede, backing away to drop into his seat at the table. ellie followed suit, smirking triumphantly at him. she still loved to win. “to all of us, jeez. me and you and the baby.”

“to all of us,” ellie repeated, and this time, their glasses touched gently, the sound barely audible over the giggles that were building up in her throat again.

he flashed her a goofy grin before he tipped his head back and drained all his cider in one go. 

sure, it might’ve been nice to have had something stronger, but --

“mmm,” ellie sighed, smacking her lips as she set her glass down, “you were right. this is so much better.”

[isthisthingeven0n]

yellow : s.r

after a mission that targets couples, spencer realises how much you truly mean to him back home (4.1k oops) 

shameless plug but i have an etsy shop (10% off on tote bags until 2nd december!) 

criminal minds masterlist 

(also the case idea is just something i came up with! please do not steal my ideas/work or repost elsewhere without permission. thank you!) 

Warmth. That was the first thing you noticed when you woke up. Warmth radiating from the sunlight filtering through your blinds, warmth from your boyfriend who you were curled up against and warmth from your cheeks as the events of last night replay in your mind.

Yet, as always, those are short lived once your alarm clock sounds.

Spencer stirs upon hearing the repetitive beeping. His arm tightens around your waist as you move away to press snooze and his breath fans across your neck as he chuckles.

“Good morning,” He whispers, shuffling to kiss your jaw sweetly until you turn to face him. “every morning I’m amazed at how beautiful you look.” Spencer admits candidly.

“That’s because I haven’t opened my mouth yet and you can’t smell my morning breath.” You mutter, unable to take him seriously as his curls point in every direction and sleep laces his tone. “You’re something else, you know that, Spence?” You chuckle, lifting an arm up as you brush your hand across his face.

Humming in response, Spencer begins to open his eyes. “You know, around 50% of adults in America suffer from morning breath, the ADA has researched it’s caused by bacteria in your mouth building from food particles between your teeth, gum line and tongue.” He explains, watching as you roll your eyes. “And yes, I do know I’m something else, you tell me most days, except yesterday.” A smile lines Spencer’s lips as he pictures the exact moment. “Yesterday you called me a fucking God.” He chuckles as you groan, lifting your hands to cover your face.

“Please, just forget that.” You tell him through your hands whilst Spencer shuffles as his body rests above yours.

“Y/n, open your eyes.” He whispers, and as you move your hands Spencer leans down, kissing you softly. Pulling away, he sighs happily. “I love you, but I need to brush my teeth.” He announces and rises from bed, heading to the bathroom as your laughter lines the corridor.

The sound of your phone buzzing interrupts your thoughts as you reach over and unlock it. For a moment you allow your eyes to adjust to the brightness glaring into your retinas.

“Spence?” You call out as you force yourself from the cocoon of your bed as you shove your feet into your slippers.

As you exit your bedroom, you meet Spencer halfway to the bathroom as he looks at you with wide eyes whilst a toothbrush hangs out of his mouth, toothpaste marking the corners of his lips.

“Penelope texted me, she assumed your phone was downstairs,” Which was true, and Penelope knew Spencer well enough to know such. “you’ve got a case.” You tell him with a heavy heart as Spencer’s face falls and nods.

Retreating back to the bathroom, Spencer spits the toothpaste out as he looks at his reflection. He knew this was his job, and you both knew the hours weren’t the typical nine to five. But for once, Spencer wanted to be selfish and stay with you for the weekend that he promised you.

“Hey,” You speak up as you wrap your arms around Spencer’s waist as you rest your head on his back. “it’s okay, you can make it up to me another time.” You reassure him as you rise to your tiptoes, kissing his bare shoulder. “I’ll go make you a coffee.” You add as your arms slink from Spencer’s waist as he finishes brushing his teeth and turns the shower on.

“Or, you could join me?” Spencer pipes up, a mischievous smile lacing his lips as you pause before turning on your heels.

“Spencer Reid, are you suggesting I accompany you in the shower?” You feign shock, resting your hand on your chest as your lips part whilst Spencer’s tongue glides over his lips for a moment, that rare glint crossing his gaze.

“I’m suggesting we save water, last year alone over 2.5 billion people were living in areas of drought, and that’s not including-” Cutting Spencer off, you remove your dressing gown and slippers.

“Alright, I give in.” You wave him off. “It’s too early to listen to your statistics.”

*

“Morning, sorry to call you all in during the weekend.” Hotch starts as everyone takes a seat around the table, Spencer trying his best to suppress his yawn as he drinks the coffee you made him just before he forgot it as he left. “Garcia?”

“Right yes,” Penelope gathers herself as everyone opens their tablets whilst Spencer flicks through the physical case file. “over the last two months, there have been three murders of married couples,” Penelope begins to explain as she displays images of the three couples. “our first couple were newlyweds, married for two weeks before they were kidnapped and tortured before dying from lacerations to their throats which I will not be looking at on the screen.”

“Same MO for all three couples?” JJ asks, and Penelope sighs as she nods in response.

“That is correct, our latest couple were discovered placed back in their bedroom this morning when their daughter arrived home from a sleepover to discover her parents,” Penelope trails off as Hotch rises to his feet.

“Wheels up in 15, we’re going to Phoenix.” Hotch states as he walks out of the room, slowly followed by everyone else.

“Take it your romantic plans aren’t happening, kid?” Rossi speaks up as Spencer follows him out from the conference room.

Spencer shakes his head. “We’re going to try again next weekend if we can,” A sigh leaves Spencer’s lips as he grabs his go back, throwing it over his shoulder. “but she’s just, so understanding.” He admits, and Rossi whistles.

“Says more than my ex-wives.” Rossi comments.

“How is my sweet Y/n?” Penelope asks as she follows the team toward the elevator, JJ chuckling with Tara.

“She is just fine, Penelope. But she does miss you, don’t worry.” Spencer tells Penelope who beams happily as he makes it into the elevator.

“Well, I’ll make sure she’s safe whilst your gone, goodbye my crimefighters!” Penelope waves as the metal doors close on everyone, and that familiar silence falls over all of them as they begin to pick apart the case.

*

Arriving in Phoenix, Hotch splits the team up and Spencer is paired with JJ to go to the morgue.

“Based on victimology, our unsub targets the wives first, looking at our first victim, Charlotte Yestley, the bruising on her wrists and ankles is much darker than her husbands.” Spencer explains as the ME returns with the reports.

JJ hums as she leans closer. “But overall the damage on Charlotte is cleaner than on Michael. The laceration on Charlotte’s neck was done in one motion, whereas Michael has multiple lacerations and stab wounds covering his torso.”

“Cause of death for both was the loss of blood from the laceration to the neck.” The ME states. “Charlotte Yestley died within minutes whereas Michael would’ve bled out for at least an hour.”

“So he’s torturing the husbands, could be symbolic? Maybe our unsub was married, lost his wife and is looking at couples who have what he no longer does?” JJ suggests.

“I’m not sure, I’ll call Garcia and see if she can find anything out about the Yestley’s.” Spencer exits the room as he calls Garcia, leaving JJ to discuss with the ME the toxicology report.

“Go for Garcia,” Penelope answers the phone.

“Garcia can you look into the Yestley’s personal life, considering they were newlyweds there must be something online about them.” Spencer asks as Penelope types away.

“I’ve got hundreds of photos appearing across social media platforms from the past five years of them both. It seems they met in college and then split up after they graduated, got engaged two years ago and were married at the Hillsong Church. Intimate celebration, close family, two bridesmaids and a best man.” Penelope reels off, and Spencer nods to himself.

“I’ll call Hotch, see if we can talk to the bridesmaids and best man,” Spencer tells Garcia. “thanks, Penelope.”  

After investigating further, the team had conducted it wasn’t all sunshine and rainbows between the Yestley’s. In fact, days before the wedding it was nearly called off by Charlotte as she caught her fiance with another woman.

“What if that’s it?” Rossi speaks up as the team sit in the room the local PD helped them set up. “Cheating, being disloyal.”

JJ glances over to Spencer, seeing the cogs whirring away in his brain. “Rossi, you and Lewis spoke with the Littlewoods daughter, right?” Spencer asks as he walks over to the board, looking through all of the photos.

“Yeah, she said how her parents weren’t sharing a bed anymore, they were in the process of separating.” Tara comments and Hotch straightens up as Spencer turns on his heels.

“Rossi is right, it’s all about being disloyal. The unsub is projecting onto these couples, finding out about their personal lives or seeing snippets of them and punishing them for cheating or harming one another.” Spencer explains, and Hotch nods as he glances around at the rest of the team.

“I think we’re ready to deliver the profile, guys.” Hotch states as he closes his case file, heading out to speak with the deputy.

*

“So, how’s it going?” Your voice filled with curiosity is the only thing that can soothe Spencer’s thoughts as he lies down on the firm hotel mattress.

A long exhale leaves Spencer’s lips. “We’ve delivered the profile, now we’re just trying to narrow the search down.” Spencer explains, hearing the faint sound of the TV playing in your house. “How was work today?”

“Same old same old.” You chuckle as you busy yourself, unable to sit still without him at home with you. “My Mom came by earlier, she says hi.” You add shyly, despite having been together for two years, your parents visiting was an infrequent occurrence.

A small smile forms on Spencer’s lips as he listens to you, the normality he craves in his life. “How is she? Did your Dad abandon her like last time at the airport?” He asks through the line as he closes his eyes, listening to your story as you ramble on about all the things your Mom picked out about your house and about Spencer.

“And then she had the cheek to say you’re never here! Like, where is my Dad?” You scoff, hearing a gentle hum on the other end of the line. “Sorry, I got a bit lost there.”

“S’okay.” Spencer mumbles, his eyes unable to open again. “I’m hoping we’ll be flying back within the next week, sorry.”

You finally pause as you rest your hand on the back of Spencer’s beloved armchair beside his old bookcase. Forcing your smile to remain in place, you nod to yourself. “I get that, serial killers don’t have a care for date nights and the lives of others.” You laugh dryly, something that doesn’t go undetected by Spencer.

“I’ll make it up to you, I promise.” Spencer whispers to you, picturing you in front of him when he opens his eyes, only to be greeted by the tap leaking in his bathroom sink.

“Just, keep safe and find the son of a bitch, yeah?” You mutter. “I love you, Spencer.” You add, moving to sit in his armchair as you wrap his blanket around him, his aftershave weaved into the fabric.

“I love you too.” He whispers.

As you hang up, the tiredness Spencer previously had has vanished as he faces the ceiling, staring at the Artex wishing you could be by his side.

*

“Another couple has been taken from their home,” Hotch announces as he enters the conference room, everyone turning to look at him. “Maria King, 81 and Jacob King, 85. Their neighbour suspected something was wrong when they noticed their front door was wide open.”

“So our unsub has taken them to a secondary location?” JJ asks as Hotch nods in response.

“We’ve got a lead currently on where they might be held, but we’ll have to move quickly.” Hotch states as he exits the conference room, the rest of the team filing out straight to the lockers.

There was an unsteady tension in the two SUV’s on the drive to the abandoned farmhouse. Everyone was thinking the same thing, why the unsub would take an elderly couple.

“He’s clearly escalating from our profile.” Tara states as she sits in the passenger seat. “Garcia, was there any sign of an affair from either Maria or Jacob King?”

The sound of Penelope rapidly typing echoes through the line until it suddenly stops. “Nope, Maria and Jacob recently celebrated their sixtieth wedding anniversary, and it seems they’ve never been more in love.” Sadness coats Penelope’s voice as she looks through the photos of the couple. “The owner of the farmhouse is Tyler Edwards, however, Edwards sold the property last month to Lewis Wise. Unlike his name, Lewis was not the wisest in life. It seems that his wife, Clara, was on her way home from a business trip and died in a car crash.” Penelope explains, but a small gasp leaves her lips.

“What is it, Garcia?” Spencer chimes in, and the sound of typing increases.

“Well, turns out Clara was not coming back from a business trip, but instead her lover, Daniel Lovatt.”

“That could be our trigger,” Tara states. “Wise loses his wife and discovers she’s been having an affair.”

“How long ago did Clara die, Garcia?” Hotch asks, nearing the entrance to the property.

Humming, Penelope quickly answers. “Two months ago.”

“Same time the murders started.” Spencer mutters as they prepare to exit the SUV.

“Please let them be alive.” Penelope mutters to herself, closing the photos of the elderly couple from her monitors.  

Arriving at the farmhouse, the faint sound of screams could be heard as the team exit the SUV’s.

“JJ, you, Lewis and Rossi take the back entrance, Reid, we’ll go through the front.” Hotch explains, and with everyone in understanding, the team split up.

Following Hotch, Reid tried not to focus on the cries for help from the strained voices inside.

“Just, shut up!” The unsub exclaims.

“Please, my wife, she’s hurt. We need help.” A new voice, Jacob King cries out to the unsub.

“She won’t need help for much longer, I can promise you that.” A sick laugh follows and Hotch kicks the door down, running forward with his gun aimed at the unsub.

“FBI, drop the weapon!” Hotch yells as the unsub is standing behind Maria, his knife against her neck as her eyes continue to drop, she’s already losing blood.

“Lewis, just drop the knife. This couple, they’ve done nothing wrong.” Spencer speaks up, seeing the rest of the team enter from the back of the farmhouse, slowly walking forward, guns aimed at Wise.

“They have! Look at them, they, they hate each other!” Lewis spews as Jacob sobs quietly, his fingers intertwined with Maria’s.

“No, they don’t. Lewis, I know what happened to your wife, and I’m so sorry.” Spencer hesitantly steps forward, Hotch keeping his eyes trained on Wise. “But you don’t have to do this, there’s another option.” Spencer’s voice remains soft as he glances down to the couple and flashes a brief smile.

“I can’t, they need to be punished.” Lewis states as a whimper leaves Maria’s lips.

“Lewis, just put the knife down and we’ll talk.” Spencer reasons. “Here, I’ll put my gun down, how about that?” Spencer slowly lowers his gun to the floor, ignoring the worried looks from his team behind Lewis.

“But they are bad people.” Lewis repeats, his eyes darting from the couple to Spencer. “I, I won’t let them get away with it.” Lewis yells, and before he’s able to apply more pressure to Maria’s neck, shots are fired and Lewis falls backwards.

“Oh my god,” Jacob cries as his wife falls into his embrace.

“We need medics here, now!” Hotch speaks into his earpiece whilst Spencer rushes over, quickly followed by JJ.

“Medic’s are coming, you’ll both be all right.” JJ assures the couple as Maria looks up at Jacob with such adoration as he wipes her tears.

“I’ll always love you, Maria.” Jacob tells his wife as she shushes him. “No, no let me say this,” His voice cracks, and JJ looks up at the sound of sirens in the distance. “you were my first love, and you’ll always be my last.” Jacob sniffs as Spencer keeps pressure on the stab wound on her side, trying to ignore how blood is seeping through her top.

“I love you,” Maria breathes out as her eyes start to close, but Jacob protests.

“Don’t go yet honey, there’s so much more for us to do.” Jacob cries out, just as the medics arrive.

Stepping back, JJ rests her arm on Spencer as she guides him out from the farmhouse as they join the rest of the team, witnessing Lewis Wise being taken away.

“You okay, Spence?” JJ looks up as Spencer focuses on the police car as it drives away, his gaze shifting to the Kings sat in the back of the ambulance, still together, holding hands.

“Yeah, yeah.” Spencer nods, tearing his eyes from the couple as the image of you crosses his mind. “Just thinking about a few things, that’s all.”

“Wanna share?” JJ enquires, raising a brow to Spencer.

Yet, a small smile forms on Spencer’s lips as he shacks his head. “Maybe some other time, let’s go.”

*

For the entire flight home, Spencer could only think of one thing; you.

As soon as they arrived back at HQ, Garcia enveloped the team into a tight hug. “Oh thank god, you’re all safe and home.” She gushed as the team entered the bullpen one by one, Spencer last.

“Our angel came in yesterday for a visit.” Penelope speaks up as she walks alongside Spencer into the bullpen.

“She did?” The surprise is evident in Spencer’s tone, in the two years you’ve been together, you’ve visited the bureau a grand total of three times.

Penelope nods, trying to hide her growing smile. “She erm, left you something on your desk.” With that, Penelope rushes over to the others, having a hushed conversation whilst Spencer nears his desk.

Standing in front of it, nothing looks out of place. He knows exactly where he left the seventeen case files on the right-hand side just below his phone set. The pen pot still has three blue pens and two black, his monitor is off and the keyboard is parallel to the mouse.

“What did she leave?” Spencer calls out to Penelope as he spins in his chair, looking over as the team stand together, trying not to make it obvious they’re spying on him.

“Erm, try the second drawer?” Penelope answers and Spencer nods before turning back to his desk and opens the second drawer down.

Inside is an envelope with his name written across the front. Lifting it up, Spencer wastes no time opening it like a child on Christmas day, revealing an invitation for dinner, tomorrow night.

Unable to hide it, a blush rises through Spencer’s cheeks as he chuckles under his breath. You always have been one for extravagances, but that’s just one of the many things he loves about you.

Rising to his feet, Spencer slips the invitation into his satchel. “I’ll see you guys tomorrow.”

“Bye, Spencer!” Penelope waves as Spencer tries to hide his eagerness to get home as he lightly jogs to the lift, his foot tapping against the floor as he waits for the doors to open.

Once they do, he slides in and once out of sight, the team turn their attention back to Penelope.

“What was in that envelope?” Rossi raises a brow to the tech wiz who merely shrugs her shoulders.

“I have no idea, Y/n knows better than to tell me these things.” Penelope explains, but there’s a hesitance in her tone the team know all too well. “But I may have taken a look at her recent search history and found out she’s booked a table for 7pm tomorrow evening at Spencer’s favourite restaurant.”

JJ chuckles to herself as she pats Penelope’s arm. “Couldn’t keep out, could you?”

Lowering her head in defeat, Penelope nods.

“Come on, how about a drink to celebrate another case?” Rossi suggests, and the team all gratefully agree. “And maybe Penelope will spill what else she knows about the future Mr and Mrs Reid.”

*

Pulling up outside of your apartment building, Spencer releases a shaky breath as he heads up to your floor, having the route memorised after your third date together.

As he stands outside of the apartment door, he reaches into his worn satchel for the key as music begins to play inside.

He doesn’t recognise the tune, but the faint sound of you singing along is something ingrained in his mind and hopes to never forget.

Unlocking the front door, Spencer quietly steps in as your singing becomes louder and more energetic as the beat of the song increases.

Unable to wipe the smile from his face, Spencer wanders through toward the kitchen and hovers in the doorway. There you’re dancing, holding a spatula in one hand as a microphone whilst wearing one of Spencer’s old shirts. You’re so carefree, without worry or sight of the missions Spencer endures, you’re not exposed to the graphic crime scenes or twisted minds of their unsubs. You are just you, and Spencer adores it.

“And it was called ‘Yellow’ So I took-” Turning on your heels you yell, throwing the spatula at Spencer. “Christ, Spence!” You laugh, running your fingers through your hair as you exhale shakily. “You scared me, when did you get in?”

Rushing over to him, you wrap your arms tightly around Spencer, burying your face into the crook of his neck.

For a moment, Spencer just holds you close, not wanting to respond. He always misses you when he goes away on cases, but coming back to you is always bittersweet.

“A few minutes ago, I could hear you singing and wanted to witness it without interruption.” He explains as you loosen your grip around him, relaxing your hands on his hips as you look up at his tired face.

“I missed you, goof.” You mutter as Spencer’s hand rises to your cheek, caressing it softly as you hum, leaning against it.

Faintly, the radio continues to play as you sway with Spencer before he leans down and kisses you. As always with Spencer, it begins as a delicate kiss as if he could break you, but as your arms rise to behind his neck, it deepens into something more passionate.

You smirk at the sound of him moaning quietly before pulling away. “Come on then, we’ve got time before dinners ready.” You wink, guiding him up the stairs as he chases behind you.

Lying in his arms, slightly sweaty, Spencer moves your hair from your face. Your eyes are growing heavy, and suddenly the words from Jacob King cross his mind as he held Maria in his arms, begging her to stay awake.

“You were my first love, and you’ll always be my last.”

Spencer mutters your name as you hum in response, opening your eyes as you look up at him. Outside, the sunset is peaking through your blinds, but this time it’s blinding you instead of him.

Squinting up to him, Spencer breathes a laugh. “I just want you to know, you’re my everything, and I know we don’t do emotional speeches because neither of us can finish without crying, but I love you, Y/n. And, I always will because you’re my sunshine, you’re the stars that glow in the night sky, though stars don’t actually glow as they’re mere-”

“Spence,” You mutter, shuffling in his arms to lean on your elbows, paying close attention to him as his eyes flicker over yours.

“Sorry, I, well, you’re my yellow. You radiate joy when I come home from missions and you never pry, you always give me time to explain when I’m ready. My family, the BAU adore you, I’m pretty sure Penelope might book us a wedding venue and arrange a wedding soon.” You laugh lightly, knowing it would be the case with Penelope. “And I just love you.”

A tear slips from Spencer’s eye, barely having a chance to fall before you wipe it away.

“I love you too Spencer Reid.” You sniff, tears glazing in your eyes as they glow in the sunlight. “And I’ll forever be grateful to be your yellow.” You whisper, curling up into his arms as he kisses the top of your head, wishing this moment would never end.