#but it uh. quickly spiraled out of control!

[realjem-art]

"Weren't you the one who disappeared?"

[sigchimera]

Shinzou, a stickman/stickfigure OC

[yunwangja]

undercurrents | signal no. 17

masterlist

"i’m alisa. i was kuroo’s partner for his project."

you freeze. this is her. the girl from the date. your heart sinks as you picture them together, imagining all the worst possibilities.

did he leave his phone? why was she the one who picked up the call? is he still there? your mind begins to spiral, creating scenarios you can't control, each more painful than the last.

"oh," you manage to say, struggling to keep your voice steady. your throat feels tight, and your words come out slower than usual. "can i ask for kuroo?"

"uh, actually, kuroo left his phone here with me," she replies, "it’s a good thing you called - i couldn't open his phone on my own because it's password protected. i was thinking how to get it back to him. im at my place right now."

her place. your thoughts race, filling in the blanks with every worst-case scenario.

what does this mean? what the hell is happening? and what happened before this? and how could kuroo possibly accidentally leave his phone with her? the more you think about it, the harder it becomes to breathe.

"i can let his friends know," you force out, the words feeling heavy on your tongue. "they can come get it from you."

alisa agrees without hesitation, without ending the call, you quickly message the others, your fingers trembling slightly as you type.

after alisa says yes to the arrangement, you both settle to the conclusion that she'll call you back when she's arrived at the campus lobby where bo would be meeting her.

you sit in silence after the call ends, staring at your phone, thoughts swirling in your head. the quiet of your room seems louder now, every second stretching longer than it should.

where is kuroo right now? since she picked up the call at her place, was kuroo there before he left his phone? if they did, what did they do? does this mean he was that interested in her?

you try to shake off the uneasy thoughts, but they linger. you tell yourself not to jump to conclusions, but that’s easier said than done. your mind can’t help but imagine things of what might’ve happened after their date. it’s a battle between rationality and your emotions, and right now, the latter is winning.

then, your phone vibrates, pulling you out of your spiraling thoughts. kuroo's name appear on the caller id, and you assume it's alisa calling back, just as she promised.

“hello?” you answer, your voice a bit shaky but still composed.

“hey, i’m in the campus lobby,” alisa says. “bokuto isn’t here yet, but i’m sure he’ll be along soon.”

“thanks for letting me know.”

the silence stretches for a moment. it feels awkward, hanging between the two of you, and you can’t help but feel like you should say something - anything - to fill the void.

you fidget with your fingers, unsure of what to talk about. after all, you barely know this girl, and under any other circumstances, you wouldn’t be having this conversation at all.

alisa breaks the silence first. “so... are you and kuroo close?”

her question catches you off guard. “uh, yeah, i guess you could say that. we’ve known each other for a while.”

“that’s nice!" alisa replies, her tone friendly. “he’s been super focused on this project. it’s kept him really busy, huh?”

you nod again, though the weight of her words makes your chest feel tight. “yeah, he’s been juggling a lot.”

the conversation stalls again, leaving you with your thoughts. you’ve known kuroo’s been busy, but hearing it from her, someone who's been spending that time with him, feels like a punch in the gut. you hesitate before asking, “where is he, by the way?”

“oh, he didn’t say,” alisa responds casually. “he just told me he had to go and left. i noticed his phone when he was gone already, and i was going to chase after him but it was too late...”

you thought nothing suspicious about her answer, but nothing that assured you that nothing happened between them. the quiet between you both stretches again, heavy and uncomfortable, and you find yourself scrambling for something else - anything - to fill the silence.

“how’s the project been for you guys?” you ask, trying to make small talk.

“oh, it went really well!” she says brightly. “we worked hard, but it all paid off. i think kuroo was really happy with how it turned out.”

you try to smile at her words, but your curiosity is eating away at you. you feel the urge to ask more, even though a part of you is scared of what the answers might be.

your thoughts drift back to earlier, to the idea of them spending time together after their date, and your stomach knots with unease. but you have to know, even if the answer hurts.

desperate to distract yourself from the silence and your spiraling thoughts, you finally blurt out, “so... did you guys have a good time?”

it feels like a casual question, but the weight behind it is unmistakable to you.

alisa chuckles softly, "oh, it was nice. he’s really sweet, isn’t he?"

you force a smile, even though she can’t see it. the words feel like a punch to the gut, as if someone else is confirming how amazing kuroo is. "yeah, he is."

there’s a brief pause, and the silence returns uncomfortably. your mind is racing as you struggle to keep the conversation going.

"i’m glad you were with him while he was so busy. as i said earlier, he seems to take on a lot by himself." you say, trying to fill the void, but the words come out weaker than you intended.

"he really does," alisa agrees, her voice light, as if she’s completely unaware of the storm raging inside you. "we ended up spending a lot of time together because of it. it’s been fun. and he really knows how to make you feel at ease, doesn’t he?"

the words twist in your gut, and you have to bite your lip to keep from letting out a sound of distress. you know exactly what she means. you’ve felt it too; the way kuroo can make you feel seen and heard.

and now, to hear someone else describe it, to know that she experienced it too, feels like a betrayal, even though you know it’s not.

"yeah," you manage to say. "he’s always been good at that."

the conversation drags on, each passing moment feeling like a slow unraveling of everything you thought you knew. your heart sinks deeper, weighed down by the uncertainty, the fear that maybe you’re too late. the realization that someone else has shared in those moments with him, that she knows things about him you might never know, is almost too much to bear.

"i’m happy you guys enjoyed your date," you say, trying to sound normal, but there’s a slight tremor in your voice.

alisa laughs again, this time with more amusement. "he told you it was a date too, huh?"

you blink, caught off guard by her response. "wasn’t it?"

"no, not really," alisa explains, her tone light as if it’s no big deal. "i just asked him out to coffee because of the success of our project, nothing more. he thought it was a date until he thanked me and mentioned it. so i cleared things up."

you don’t know what to say, the relief washing over you in waves, but mingling with confusion. before you can ask what happened after, alisa interrupts.

"oh, bokuto’s here," she says, her tone signaling the end of the conversation. "i’ll give him the phone. thanks a lot,"

"okay," you reply, still dazed, your mind racing with all the things you didn’t get to say or ask. bo takes the phone and tells you everything’s good, but his words barely register. you nod, barely listening, too caught up in your own thoughts.

you’re left with a thousand questions, but no answers. you want to know more, to ask her what happened next, but you guess you won’t get to know anymore.

did they talk about you? was kuroo relieved when she clarified it wasn’t a date, or was he disappointed? the uncertainty gnaws at you, leaving you with nothing but doubts.

all of a sudden, there’s a knock on your bedroom door. your heart jumps into your throat. you hesitate, then get up to answer it. you bid bo goodbye on the other line and end the call as you approach closer.

maybe it was one of your roommates checking up on your or asking for an update about what has happened. you wondered who it might be as you opened the door.

and there he was.

kuroo, breathless and panting, his hair slightly disheveled as if he ran the whole way. his eyes lock onto yours, wide with urgency.

"kuroo," you begin, confused. "what are you doing-"

"i want you, y/n."

notes

YEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS

next signal will be LOADED also bc we will see kuroo's pov !!

idk if this was a long update or not (than usual) but yeah

i had to edit this a lot of times bc i had to make sure that everything would be laid out well

taglist: @lvtilzs @rarararararq @iamfontenlos @kurooswifeyy @secretsunsetsociety @kagsnumnine @yumiecheesecrackers @tojirin @jaynawayna @noxva08 @zahrawr-writes-fanfics @mawenskiblue @smellysluna @cccccccccccleo @winniethepooh-lover @akirqx @cupidsblonde @kukkurookkoo@emotiandon @urslytherin

[rainforest-daisies]

Day 12|strap-ons

Character: Hazel Callahan x fem!reader

Tags: strap-on use, praise,

A/n: i love this little queer woman right here

kinktober masterlist

Where did you get that thing?” a grin rose to your face, eyes trailing across her body, noticing the hot pink silicone strapped against her pelvis. The ribbed fabric that indented her gym shorts remained in place as she swung the dildo around, giggling at its motion. “I found it at Spencers.” her hands pulled at the straps, beginning to pose in an attempt to make you laugh.

You had been at her house, watching old horror movies, when she suddenly hopped out of bed, using the explanation of “gotta piss.” and shocking you when she came back with that over her shorts.

“And you just…bought it?” flexing her arm in front of you, putting on a serious face, she replied, “Uh…yeah.”

“I mean, I was kinda hoping we could use it.” her voice turned raspy at the end of her sentence, voice quieting in embarrassment as she moved back to a regular standing position. “I wouldn't hate using it…especially since it's strapped to you.” your words made her eyes light up. “really? I mean we don't have to, not that I don't want to! I really, really want to.” your body lifted from her bed, Hazel walking closer to you, hands meeting your waist. the feeling of the silicone pressing against your thigh made you giggle, prompting Hazel to do the same.

A sigh left her lips after the fit of laughter, parting her lips to speak, “Can I kiss you? And while I still have self-control, can I touch you too?” you answer her question by kissing her, and clutching her hand to drag it down your torso. her hand grazed the hem of your dress, pulling it up slowly, distracted by the sweet taste of your lips. yet, her fingers were quick to pull your panties to the side, the swift movement feeling like whiplash. “This okay?” she mumbled between kisses, “Mhm.”

Her skilled fingers toyed with your clit, dragging your hand up to press it against her chest, as if it kept you grounded, kept you from floating away in pleasure.

“C’mere, let's get up on the bed. get on my lap, honey.” her voice hypnotized you, nodding at her, desperate to get her lips back on yours. your hips met her abdomen, “do you think you're ready?” you quickly nodded, grasping the cock in your hands and positioning yourself to slide down on it.

The sharp sting of fullness in your cunt made your hands fall against her shoulders, “Go on, baby. You're doing so good.” your hips sank onto the silicone cock, lips parting to let out the cutest whimper Hazel had ever heard. ”so good.” her eyes were transfixed on your tits bouncing in your dress, holding herself from the urge of kissing you again, just to stare at them.

“Oh fuck- right there.” her hands guided your hips down on the plastic cock, unknowingly grinding the base of it against her own clothed clit in the midst of your desperate pleasure. her thumb trailed itself down to your clit, rubbing circles, following your body as it pushed itself up and down. “you close? yeah? I can hear those pretty moans getting louder.” her voice sweet-talked you, bringing you closer to your impending climax. your hips began to rut down harder, grinding harder against her, causing a drawn out moan to leave her lips.

Your impending orgasm soon came to its peak, clasping onto Hazel's shoulders as you moaned into her ear, hitting the perfect angle on her clit, sending her spiraling into orgasm with you. you held each other, listening to the heavy breaths of one another, hazel pulling away to kiss your forehead.

Your body rolled off of hers, chest heaving while trying to catch your breath. “Thank you for buying this stupid piece of plastic, I had fun.”

“Thank you for letting me use that stupid piece of plastic on you, i had fun too.”

[stsgluver]

synopsis. there’s just something about watching gojo put that blindfold on.

wc. 570

"it's bumpy at the back. "

"still? but i thought i fixed it?"

"well you clearly didn't. i think it messed up on the first wrap around, you might have to start again."

"can you take a picture or something to show me where it is? i can't feel it."

"no."

satoru turns to you and you don't need to be able to see his eyes to know he's got them raised suspiciously at you, if the smirk on his lips is anything to go by. "no?" he taunts, crossing his legs as you both sit on your bed facing each other. "why not? i've made the same mistake three times now. "

you shrug dismissively, "you're a big boy, don't give up now. i'm helping you." you cover your mouth and look to the side as if though that would stop satoru from hearing the small laughs.

maybe it's because it's so early, or maybe it is just that attractive, but there was just something about watching your boyfriend cover his eyes with bandages that just makes all the stars align.

he always holds one end of the bandages between his teeth, using both of his hands to gather up his undercut before he begins smoothly wrapping it around his head. he never makes a mistake. like everything else he's ever done, the outcome is flawless.

it doesn't matter how many times you've watched him do it, the butterflies that spiral in your stomach never cease.

however, admitting such attraction to such a mundane thing (that he has to do to y'know not deal with the skull-splitting migraines) is embarrassing. especially when you know satoru and the fact he will never ever let it slide.

the hope that maybe he'll be more disgusted by the fact you called him 'big boy' to press you further on the matter is quickly extinguished. "i think i already have," he counters in a sing song voice, "someone likes watching me!"

you almost choke on your spit, coughing as you check the watch on your wrist that's not there, "would you look at the time? you have class!" trying to slip off the bed is futile because satoru's reflexes are three times as quick as yours and he doesn't hesitate to grab your arm.

"class can wait," satoru lifts the bandages above his right eye, giving you a glimpse of his raw power as he eyes you playfully. leaning in dangerously close to you, his breath tickles you as he speaks, "c'mon baby, just admit it."

there it is. baby. the pet name is enough to shatter any self-control you still somehow manage to have left and you lift your head to try and kiss him. keyword: try.

"uh uh, say it," he teases, his tongue poking out to swipe across his pretty lips as he holds you back by less than an inch. if you wanted to swipe your tongue across his lips too, you could.

your cheeks heat up and you cross your arms with a huff, "i like watching you put your blindfold on. happy?" satoru thinks he's going to implode because he doesn't think there's enough space left in his body to cope with the sheer adoration he has for you. he settles for a

"ecstatic." satoru kisses you again, this time with more eagerly as he drags your body towards his lap just to have you closer to him.

[queer-n-here]

So uh, Siren Chuuya x Siren!Yander Reader?

I just think of your yandere x Chuuya, and i literally fell in love with it.

So, Siren, i think they are possessive and obsessive?

Maybe Reader is a child of the sea or sth? Experiment? Mythical creatures? Ability? But they just can control and know everything about the sea or involve the sea (Reader studies and research about it before)

They meet on time on one of Chuuya's mission? Or perhaps Reader is able to turn human for a amount of time but decided to explore human things and meet Chuuya at a wine shop? Or a hat shop?

And the reader take a liking to Chuuya, it slowly spiral to a healthy degree

The next is reader luring Chuuya with their voice, pulling and keeping Chuuya down by the sea force and make him stay with them? (Make a kingdom underwater too? Or turn Chuuya half-siren so he can breath and adapt well to the sea)

.....if anyone make a bot out of this, then i would totally eat it up :)))

Any, have a good day!

-F.S

Content: As described by the ask.

Warnings: Obsession, mentions of stalking, nothing light and hearty here.

Your ability was unique.

Sure, there was only one type of every other ability in the world, but yours was different. Yours changed your body, morphed it into some kind of unknown creature, so much so that it scared your parents enough to make them throw you into a river a month after you were born.

Luckily, your ability came to aid. It adjusted your body quickly, and within seconds you had developed gills and a tail. Your skin hid behind shiny black scales, and your small stub of a tooth turn jagged like a blade.

You never saw your parents again, and admittedly very soon you even forgot their mere existence.

As you grew up, you moved from the river to a sea, and then to an ocean. The world of water was yours and there was no one to stop you. You taught yourself to hunt for food, sometimes just corals when you were feeling lazy, and other days entire sharks.

Slowly, the other aquatic creatures came to fear you, respect you. As long as they heeded your words, you would protect them from the human fishers, and so peace reigned.

But at times you felt as though something was missing. There was something you wished for, something you yearned for, that you did not have yet. And so you began changing your form again, turning your tail into the human limbs you had been born with and returning to land for a short period of time.

It did not take you long to learn their language, but soon you realised they had more than one. It did not trouble you, you only found an excuse to spend more time in their midst. If, you told the other sea creatures, someday some emergency occured, someone should know how to talk their way out with the humans.

And so you kept visiting their world, alternating between your human and siren form, travelling between land and water. It did not seem to tire you out.

One day, as you walked through a busy market, you spotted in the distance a colourful hat. The colour was not what attracted you, it was the texture of it. It looked as if it were adorned with scales, the very ones that covered your skin when you were in you siren form.

You moved towards it almost involuntarily, and before you knew it you were standing before the hat in its glass display. However, right next to you, also slightly enthralled by the hat, was a human.

You turned to look at him.

He was not very big; he only reached your shoulder, in fact, but his expression was filled to the brim with arrogance. He had long orange hair, and in the sunlight they shone as he turned to look at you, too, making him appear heavenly. He had eyes that changed color with light, and as they fell upon you they were filled with slight reluctance.

"You like this one too, huh?" He said, jutting his chin towards the hat on display.

Slightly at a loss of words, you nodded.

He humped. "You've good taste. I'm gonna buy it, though."

You tilted your head slightly at that, a small smirk playing on your lips. This human was... intriguing.

You turned to look at the hat again. One pretty thing in exchange for another... not a bad deal. And so you let him have it.

Afterwards, however, you silently followed him back to wherever he was heading. You were drawn to him in a way that you hadn't been to anything in your life. You watched him enter a shady building, one that was suspected to be a warehouse owned by human orcas... they were called the Mafia, you heard.

It did not take you long to learn his name, and you returned back to the sea that evening feeling satisfied, but only for now. Chuuya Nakahara was not aware of what the future held in store for him.

You began spending more time on land than in sea, and it was somehow always spent watching Chuuya. You learnt of his job, of his friends, and of that bandaged brat Chuuya seemed to despise and care for at the same time.

Soon, simply watching him was not enough. You wanted him by your side, looking up at you with those gorgeous eyes and letting you do to him as you wished.

And so you prepared to use the one thing you never had before: your Siren voice.

You made sure he was by himself when you sang to him, standing at the balcony of his apartment, looking out into the sea. His eyes widened when your voice fell onto his ears, and reason exited his brain. You called him to the sea, and he obeyed, leaving behind his beloved hat and coat to join you where you stood upright on your fishtail.

You smiled. Chuuya looked ethereal even when he was drenched.

"You will stay with me." You said, and the spell that you had cast embedded itself in his chest, underneath the covers of his clothes.

That was how simple it was for you. You took him to an island no human has ever set foot on, and began working out a way to turn him into a Siren. He would rule the sea by your side, just as you wished.

It did not take you long to figure out how to do it. You simply needed to place a part of you inside of him permanently, so that you could morph it into a fishtail and gills.

Hungry with desire and endlessly insatiable, you decided that it would be your seed.

When you fucked Chuuya, he did not struggle. Of course, your spell was too strong for him to even think of anything but the pleasure you were giving him. You finished, and just then, activated your ability.

It was as you had envisioned. He looked prettier still with a fishtail, his bright orange scales matching his hair as they splashed into the water, and you took him to your home for the first time.

That was it. Happily ever after.

Chuuya never awoke from your spell. His friends attempted to find him several times, but you sent forth dolphins to hinder their progress, and slowly, as decades passed, they all died one by one.

The two of you ruled the world of water, and, finally satisfied with your new love, you returned to your daily duties of being the King of the Sea.

[shitsndgiggs]

Hey can you write were the reader and Kenan are co parenting their son and while their son is at Kenan places for the week he says something about the reader seeing someone and kenan gets jealous about he still has feelings for the reader

SHADOWS OF THE PAST - KENAN YILDIZ

When a comment from your son made Kenan jealous

Kenan Yildiz x co-parent! reader

︵‿୨♡୧‿︵‿︵‿୨♡୧‿︵‿︵‿୨♡୧‿︵‿

I pulled up to Kenan's place, feeling a mix of anticipation and nervousness. It was always a bit awkward seeing my ex, especially when we were exchanging our son, Emre, for the week.

Co-parenting had its challenges, but we made it work for Emre’s sake. As I parked the car and walked to the front door, I took a deep breath and knocked.

Kenan opened the door almost immediately, a warm smile on his face. “Hey, Y/N,” he greeted, stepping aside to let me in. “Emre is just finishing up his breakfast.”

“Thanks, Kenan,” I replied, stepping into the familiar living room. Despite everything, Kenan’s home always felt oddly comforting. “How was he this week?”

Kenan's face lit up with pride. “He was great. We had a lot of fun. He’s been talking about this new soccer trick he learned. Says he wants to show you.”

I smiled, imagining Emre’s excited face. “I can’t wait to see it.”

As if on cue, Emre came running into the room, his face beaming. “Mom! Look what I learned!” He proceeded to demonstrate his new trick, and I clapped enthusiastically, giving him a big hug.

“That’s amazing, sweetheart! You’re going to be a soccer star just like your dad,” I praised, ruffling his hair.

Kenan watched us with a soft smile, but there was a hint of something else in his eyes. Jealousy? No, that couldn’t be right. Why would he be jealous?

Emre suddenly looked up at me with his big, innocent eyes. “Mom, are you still seeing that guy you told me about? The one who gave you the flowers?”

I froze, my eyes darting to Kenan, who had tensed visibly. “Uh, Emre, we’ll talk about that later, okay?” I said quickly, trying to deflect.

Kenan’s gaze sharpened, and I could feel the intensity of his stare. “What guy?” he asked, his voice a little too casual.

“It’s nothing,” I said, waving my hand dismissively. “Just someone I met. It’s not serious.”

Emre looked between us, sensing the tension. “Okay, Mom. I’m gonna go pack my toys.” He scampered off, leaving Kenan and me alone in the room.

Kenan crossed his arms over his chest, his expression darkening. “You’re seeing someone?“

I sighed, feeling the conversation spiraling out of control. “Kenan, it’s not what you think. It’s just a few dates. Nothing serious.”

“Nothing serious,” he repeated, his jaw clenching. “Does he know about Emre?”

“No,” I admitted. “We haven’t gotten to that point. I don’t even know if I want to.”

Kenan took a step closer, his eyes flashing with anger. “Why didn’t you tell me?”

“Because it’s none of your business!” I shot back, my own temper flaring. “We’re not together anymore, Kenan. You don’t get to control who I see.”

“I’m not trying to control you,” he snapped. “But I care about you, and I care about who’s around our son.”

I could see the hurt in his eyes, hidden behind the anger. “Kenan, I appreciate that, but you have to trust me to make the right decisions.”

He looked away, running a hand through his hair. “It’s just… hard, you know? Seeing you move on.”

I softened at his admission. “Kenan, I’m not trying to hurt you. But we both have to move on at some point.”

He looked back at me, his eyes filled with a mixture of frustration and longing. “Do you still have feelings for me?”

The question caught me off guard, and I didn’t know how to answer. Did I? “Kenan, I…”

Before I could finish, he closed the distance between us, his hands gently cupping my face. “I never stopped loving you, Y/N,” he whispered, his breath warm against my skin. “Seeing you with someone else… it’s killing me.”

I felt my heart race as his words sank in. “Kenan…”

He didn’t let me finish, his lips capturing mine in a desperate, passionate kiss. For a moment, I was lost in the familiar sensation, my body responding instinctively.

But then reality crashed down, and I pulled away, breathless.

“We can’t do this,” I said, my voice trembling. “We can’t confuse Emre. We can’t confuse ourselves.”

Kenan’s hands dropped to his sides, and he took a step back, pain etched across his face. “You’re right. I’m sorry.”

I took a shaky breath, trying to steady my emotions. “We need to focus on Emre. That’s what’s important.”

He nodded, looking defeated. “Yeah. You’re right.”

Just then, Emre bounded back into the room, his bag slung over his shoulder. “I’m ready, Mom!”

I forced a smile, reaching out to take his hand. “Great, let’s go.”

Kenan walked us to the door, his expression unreadable. “Bye, buddy,” he said, ruffling Emre’s hair. “I’ll see you next week.”

“Bye, Dad!” Emre chirped, giving him a hug.

As we walked to the car, I couldn’t shake the feeling of Kenan’s eyes on me. I glanced back to see him standing in the doorway, watching us with a mix of longing and regret.

My heart ached, but I knew we had to take things one step at a time. For Emre’s sake, and for our own.

[seecarrun]

Eddie is a horrible, awful, absolutely despicable human being.

But in his defense, tele-therepy should be illegal for anyone as loud as Richie Tozier.

Eddie wasn’t trying to overhear Richie’s session, honest! But the laundry room is right next to Richie’s office, and when Richie wears his headphones, he has an even harder time controlling the volume of his voice than normal, allowing Eddie to hear just about everything said on Richie’s side of the conversation.

Eddie was in the process of switching over his whites from the washer to dryer when he hears him, muffled but unmistakable, in the next room.

“I mean, I can’t just tell him,” Richie says. And after a beat, totally scandalized and kind of bitchy, answers, “Uh, he could hear me?”

Eddie snorts to himself at that, tossing a pair of briefs into the dryer.

“He doesn’t,” Richie says now, matter-of-factly. “He won’t.”

Eddie tries to hurry along the process a little, beginning to feel guilty about ease-dropping, but the next thing he hears gives him pause, despite himself.

“I don’t want to ruin what we have with my stupid feelings. I just got him back, the last thing I want to do is push him away again.”

Methodically, Eddie shakes out a dress shirt, slower and quieter than usual. For….no reason.

“I’m not ‘using negative self-talk’,” Richie gasps, offended, “I’m being honest with myself, which is something you told me I need to practice in my day-to-day, Julie.”

Eddie rolls his eyes, absolutely siding with Julie on this one. Richie has the worst habit of going down doom spirals, concocting ridiculous and unfounded hypothetical scenarios to talk himself out of believing anything that could make him feel joy.

It’s infuriating, especially because Eddie knows he does the same.

“You’d understand if you met him,” Richie continues, sounding sad and almost…wistful? “There’s no way Eddie could love me back.”

Eddie immediately slams the dryer door shut and bolts from the room, not even turning the dryer on in his haste to get as far away as quickly as possible, overcome in a mixture of guilt, shock, panic, and, he flushes, excitement.

Holy shit.

[kedsandtubesocks]

dance away your cowboy blues

Country Singer!Joel Miller x F!Reader

summary: who knew the man with the voice of an angel could break your heart this bad?

warnings/tags: 18+ ONLY MDNI, modern/no outbreak AU & Joel has both his daughters, exes to lovers with eventual husband!Joel, angst followed up by good sweet fluff, concert venue, light drinking mention, Joel being stubborn & bad at feelings, hints of spice, fools in love, reader is addressed as ‘honey, darlin,’ use of song lyrics in fic, Pearl Jam & Taylor Swift song mentions, soft & heartbroken!Joel, lovesick!Joel

word count: 6k

a/n: here we are - the last installment in our ‘Let’s Rodeo’ series & I’m so incredibly grateful to finally make it here, also this is my mini tribute to our boy and his SAG award! The main song Joel sings is this one and I highly recommend! Thank you to my forever babe @the-wild-wolves-around-you for letting me scream about plot holes & aiding my Joel brainrot, @tightjeansjavi for always being down to chat about Joel, and to @lowlights & @ahauntedcowboy for being my ever guiding forces for this series, thank you all… And finally to you reading this, thank you so much ♡

A year ago, Joel broke up with you on a warm early spring morning.

He arrived at your apartment, sat you down and shattered your world. You felt every range of emotion as he simply stood there like a man of steel.

So upset and angry, you wanted to rip your heart out and throw it at him.

Then later that week you found out his record was officially getting picked up and you crumbled.

Ending your relationship simply because he was about to step into true proper fame - you never took Joel to be a man so somberly callous. However, you began wondering if that’s what fame sometimes did to people.

When curiosity gnawed too hard, you’d Google him or even check Spotify. Simply catching glimpses of how big he’s gotten sent you spiraling. Last Thanksgiving, your favorite aunt threatened to lock your phone away when she found you upset in the bathroom after discovering Joel was performing at the Dallas Cowboys holiday game.

From that point on you refused to even check any amount of social media or update on him.

A few clunky first dates and a couple of ghosting experiences later, you’ve now decided to simply work on yourself and embrace the selfcare of being single.

It’s why when your best friend called you earlier today eagerly explaining how her parents had extra tickets to the Rodeo tonight, she playfully teased how she knew you didn’t have anything planned for this Saturday night.

You almost hung up on her, but you excitedly scrambled to get ready.

Now the smell of fried foods, popcorn, and beer cloud the air. The fairgrounds hold a chaotic but controlled lively energy. You never knew so many cowboy hats could exist in one space.

Once you meet up with your best friends' parents, you’re transported to a whole new area you never believed could exist during a rodeo. Lux and cozy, the VIP lounge gleams with its elevated experience. You knew your best friend’s mom worked for the construction company managing the arena. You just didn’t realize how big of a hookup it was. The VIP tickets allowed for full premium dining along with a couple of free drinks.

More importantly - it came with the best concert seats.

“In the dirt” is how they’re described because the tickets are literally stationed on the floor, in the dirt of the rodeo stadium, right by the stage.

Ecstatic and bubby energy now fills you. The food being served is divine and you gladly enjoy the free various drinks.

“So wait, did we figure out who’s performing?” You ask curiously while you lounge taking advantage of the nice seating area.

“Uh, I think my dad said it’s that band named Midland is performing today.” Your friend answers but then is quickly pulled away to meet more of her mom’s coworkers.

You’ve never heard of the band, but for a free concert you’re open to enjoy some live music.

It’s a trait you gained from Joel.

Because of him you grew to love music performances, the energy that comes with hearing the band, being among the hum of the crowd. The trips around Austin seeing not just him perform, but enjoying other concerts with him, let you appreciate and admire live shows.

Waiting for the concert allows you to enjoy some of the actual rodeo event. But the main performance of the evening soon arrives.

“You kids go enjoy! We’re getting a little too old and are just gonna stay back and enjoy the free food.” Your best friend’s mom grins with a wink.

The ticket advertisement wasn’t joking when it said close to the stage. The ground level truly sits on the dirt floor. The arena swallows you whole surrounding you like a strange fishbowl. A small crowd already lines the front railing closest to the stage. However sneakily you find a nice open spot by the side that gives a clear sight to the stage.

Even if you don’t know the band, giddiness bubbles in you electric.

You take in the massive general admission floor section already packed full. The band must be popular. So you take plenty of pictures and happily enjoy the time with your dear friend.

The lights dim and excitement crackles in the air. The stage lights up. The large backdrop screens on the stage flutter to life beginning to showcase different picturesque black and white shots of Texas.

Midland, you remember, is a city in Texas so the images make sense. A low strum of a guitar begins playing. The melody dances soft but in a quick beat, a hypnotic tune trying to rev up the crowd.

The tune brews up its intended magic that you even get swept up in the anticipation. The sound gets faster and the strumming is rather simple but so striking.

Then the music stops. Suddenly the lights of the entire stadium shut off. Wild galvanized screams erupt.

The lights brilliantly dance forth back to light. They all focus now on the performer who, like magic, now appears on the stage with the rest of the band.

And the lead singer is Joel.

Your knees almost give out.

Dressed in the most dangerous plaid green button up, it so simple yet beautifully compliments him. More grays pepper his beard and highlight his tousled curls. The brilliant stage lights bask him in a heavenly glow.

Your soul momentarily leaves your body the minute his voice sings his first note.

Instantly your best friend whips towards you panicked. She rapidly screams asking if you’re okay as she apologizes over and over.

“My dad must have gotten the dates wrong! God I should’ve fucking doubled checked or some shit!” She cries deeply apologetic and hurt.

You earnestly tell her it’s not her fault and it’s alright. It was just an unfortunate mixup.

“Do you wanna leave?” Your friend leans closer to you. Her eyes shine understanding and considerate. “We didn’t pay for these tickets and I promise you my parents will completely understand. We can say fuck it and bounce.”

You haven’t even completely processed it’s Joel. It’s like your brain went cloudy and now blinking out of the fog, your eyes return to the stage.

Joel isn’t an extroverted man. He’s reserved, quietly charming, even holds a gruff but poised grace. But right now, he’s an absolute sun on the stage. He’s radiant, naturally swaying to the music while singing his soul soul.

Maybe it’s the piece of you still horribly in love with him, or just the curiosity to see how this goes, whatever it is - you shake your head no.

“We can stay.”

Your best friend’s eyes go wide as saucers hearing your answer.

“Are you sure?” She presses and you nod your head.

“Yeah, let’s stay. Afterwards we can laugh about how old he’s gotten.” You laugh bitterly about him looking more aged even after a year.

When truthfully the stronger wrinkles around his face, the vibrant grays, all of his aging only intensifies his striking looks.

A canyon wide sized hole rips through your heart.

The song flutters to an end and the crowd claps with a thunderous roar. With a reassuring squeeze to your shoulder your dear friend nods then turns back to the concert.

You pray this isn’t the worst decision you’ve ever made.

Then Joel speaks.

“Howdy everyone,” his voice is still so devilishly thick and smooth as a shot of moonshine. His accent does his home state proud. The crowd absolutely adores him, screaming loud just hearing him speak.

“Thank y'all for comin’ out tonight. I’m Joel Miller and m’here to sing y’all a few songs.” So simple, casually eased, and it’s so Joel.

His gruff southern charm made you fall in love with him so fast and now it’s a unique brand of magic charming everyone under his spell.

Joel strums a few notes, rapidly shifting the tune and transitions into the next song.

You now fully soak in Joel.

He seems otherworldly, a god of music reincarnated as a Texan cowboy. You think back to the days sitting in his living room and listening to him play. You were honored to see that side of him, to hear him strum to life so much magic.

During the holiday’s Joel’s daughters, Ellie and Sarah, would often pester him to sing silly songs. He’d grumpily obliged but you knew he basked in their attention and love.

He loved to sing. You always knew he was destined for the stage like it was woven into his veins.

You still remember the day one of Joel’s acoustic performances blew up online gaining so much attention. The excitement and absolute joy you felt then still lingers in the corners of your heart. Although, those feelings have been gathering cobwebs.

There’s of course a bitterness seeing him, but also, an unbearably small twinkling pride knowing he’s here living his dream. The song finishes and again the stadium rumbles in applause.

“How y’all doin’ tonight?” Joel asks and your heart jumps hearing his voice again.

The crowd cheers back at him.

“Good good, let’s keep it goin’.” He yells back and then strums the guitar sharp.

That’s when the stage slowly starts moving.

It’s slow but with the surprise purpose to look out to the entire crowd. For some reason you almost laugh thinking of that man, who couldn’t even remember how to FaceTime on his ipad, on a full rotating platform.

However, the lyrics start and you realize he’s singing a heartbreak ballad.

If you’re going out with someone new, I’m going out with someone too…I won’t feel sorry for me, I’m getting drunk but I’d much rather be somewhere with you…

It’s hard hearing him now with how exhilarated the crowd screams at the stage moving. But you try to hear how the rest of the song unfolds.

At the chorus, your throat tightens.

I can go out every night of the week, can go home with anybody I meet, but it’s just a temporary high… ‘cause when I close my eyes, I’m somewhere with you

The words sting every inch of you, but you believe it has to be just a simple heartbreak story and isn’t about you, isn’t directed at you. Yet the words feel like sharpened edges of a broken mirror that seem to reflect every moment of your time with him.

Then the stage rotates to your side of the floor.

There’s no way he can see you or will even spot you. There’s a whole crowd stretching before him. You’re just a fish in a sea of fans.

Joel continues strumming, allowing his voice to so beautifully carry the emotion.

The stage, in its slow movement, is now front and center to your line of sight. Some girls at the very direct front of the railing scream and wave frantically at him.

A small smile tugs at Joel’s lips as he waves back. Joel’s eyes scan the rest of the crowd -

And that’s when he spots you.

Quickly, you rationalize he could be staring out behind you at someone else alongside the side railing.

But Joel’s eyes even narrow trying to focus more. Your gaze stays on him, like something inside of you refuses to waiver.

His eyes flicker with realization then turn into full moons.

He knows it’s you.

Joel continues singing the chorus but emotions cloud his face. His brows are furrowed hard, almost confused like he’s trying to really comprehend what’s going on.

You understand. You’d be so confused too if you were in his position. You’re still even baffled as to why you stayed in the first place.

The stage starts shifting back to the main center direction

But Joel cranes his face to the side, refusing to have his eyes leave.

His focus stays on you.

It’s obvious enough that your best friend now shakes your body.

“Is he staring at you?!” She tries to whisper but she ends up partly screaming.

You think maybe it’s a hallucination.

Yet Joel’s deep inky eyes stubbornly stay locked on you as he sings now.

If you see out on the town and it looks like I’m burning it down, you won’t ask and I won’t say… but in my heart I’m always somewhere with you…

Your world twists warped, melting into a sea of so many emotions you can’t stay afloat.

Joel finishes his song and the crowd enthusiastically cheers. Yet, it sounds muffled as a numbness crawls over you like a thick soupy fog.

You should leave. You need to. But you’re here now. And decide to see the end of this. If he’s singing about someone lingering within him, then you might as well make true to those lyrics.

Joel lowers his face for a moment and shakes his head. The mic faintly picks up his cough of a disbelieving laugh and your heart sinks.

“Alright folks, let’s jam.” He announces composed and brings his guitar to life.

He’s beautiful walking around with it. Strums effortlessly until he shifts from one guitar, his classic, to a more sleek all black styled one.

Joel lets the music and band take over while he makes the switch. He also leans in to whisper something to the stage hand.

Then as if nothing, Joel steps back into the limelight and illuminates the stage.

He walks around freely now that the stage stopped rotating. The current song is lively with a great beat and you hate how badly you want to bounce around to its infectious sound and the way Joel’s voice elevates the tune.

Caught up in the melody, you don’t notice until it’s too late. Joel walks over to the side of the stage directly facing you.

The guitar carries a large piece of this song’s bridge allowing his eyes to flicker across the crowd.

Until they return to your gaze. Stuck in his stare, Joel suddenly cocks his chin towards you.

Most of the crowd around you screams at his simple action. Even your best friend yells out a loud ‘holy shit’ but you stay quiet.

Not knowing how to react, all you do is stupidly shrug.

It’s awful, not even the best reaction you can give.

But Joel barks a laugh, a true laugh that thankfully happens at the tail end of the song, but your knees go weak.

You made him laugh.

On stage.

Heartache finds its way back into your system fiercer than ever and it poisonously tastes of adoration as well.

Joel transitions into another song. This time moving around the stage more towards the other side.

Yet, either his eyes flicker back to you, or he ends up walking to your section.

A part of you wonders if he’s doing this now to mock you, almost showing off how good he is knowing you’re here. You don’t believe Joel would be that heartless, but you hate how that option still lingers.

“He’s been walking over here a lot.” Someone even behind you even notices.

“Well he is old.” Someone yells back. “Maybe he’s just trying to keep his joints in shape.”

You almost want to snap back that he’s looking damn good for his age and in good enough shape that he kept you bent like a pretzel for practically a whole weekend, but you swallow back the protective bite.

You simply go back to enjoying the show, and it’s fantastic. You can’t deny that. Joel is a performer, keeps the crowd focused and engaged. He isn’t showy or dramatic but takes control of his presence on stage.

You think of the days seeing him at small bars around town, sitting on a stool playing till his heart's content.

Then he booked Stubb’s in Austin and when you watched him own that stage - you knew this was meant for him.

You’re reminded of that so vividly tonight.

“Alright, gettin’ to the end here.” He announces and the crowd sounds heartbroken.

“I know, i know,” he coos back soft and low. “But just wanted to say y’all have been lovely.”

So many shrill shrieks crack in the room and you almost roll your eyes.

Your best friend snickers beside you. “Gotta give it to him, man can work a room.”

She’s right of course. Though it’s still so surprising for a man grumpily reserved and introverted at times.

“This next one I hope maybe some of y’all will know.”

He strums the cords to Pearl Jam’s ‘Alive.’

What gained Joel traction online was his renditions and covers of various songs. He added his own country twang and twist to all the songs he covered.

Pearl Jam happened to be one of Ellie’s favorite bands. A hollow nostalgia rip through you, thinking of the two girls you miss.

The crowd ignites recognizing the familiar rock ballad now turned into the tune of a country song by Joel’s touch. He owns the solo and his husky voice melts into the lyrics beautifully.

Under your breath you sing along. You used to sing along when you cooked breakfast at his place or during drives with him and the girls.

It’s a beautiful fondness, yet one still barbed and so aching.

The song ends with the intense but small burst of fireworks that has the stadium cheering. You even clap.

“Appreciate y’all.” He addresses the crowd. “That’s a one of my daughter’s favorites so always means a lot when I get to play it.”

A smile you can’t fight tugs at your lips at the mention of Ellie.

“Now my daughters, they’re like night ‘n day.” Joel continues and your heart fills up so overwhelming fast for those girls.

“One of them, like I said, loves some Pearl Jam. Now my other daughter…” Joel pauses.

“She’s a big fan of someone by the name of Taylor Swift.”

The crowd absolutely explodes and you think you even feel the arena shake. Sarah honestly was a big fan and Ellie loved to tease her about it so much.

“Normally for this next and final song, I’d play ‘‘shake it off.’” Joel had a few songs of hers that he covered. That one was a fan favorite.

“But tonight, I'm itchin’ to play somethin’ else.” He continues.

You even perk up curious.

“So let’s end this on a high note, yeah? Sing along if you know this one.” Joel concludes.

Then the drums begin and the song bursts to life.

The stadium swims in a dizzying frantic energy.

The way Joel sings, he’s pouring his heart out. He’s memorizing. Utterly heart wrenching.

This is the finale, the end of this strange unreal dream you’ve wandered into. You wonder if he feels it too.

The song’s chilling bridge comes and Joel walks to stare directly at you.

I thought I had you figured out, can’t breathe whenever you’re gone. Can't turn back now, I'm haunted…

His eyes never leave yours.

The lyrics sear through your heart. You think about screaming the song to back him. He’s the one who left, the one who’s ghost lives among your ribs.

Then Joel hits the final high note, lets his voice carry the powerful finale, and the crowd roars in earth shaking excitement.

It’s magical, magnetic and utterly devastating in both the best and worst ways. Another few sets of indoor fireworks go off and the show ends.

Joel wishes the crowd a beautiful night and you’re left in a tangled web of emotions.

Your best friend immediately turns to see if you’re okay. While the crowd starts leaving, you and her take a moment. Out of the edge of your focus, you notice a crew member of the arena approaching the side of the rail. You don’t think anything of it.

“Excuse me,” until that crew member stands in front of you on the other side of the barrier.

Blinking absolutely confused you turn towards the man.

“I’ve been asked to escort you backstage.” He explains and your best friend gasps.

You wonder if the ground opened below and dropped you into a free fall.

Quickly you stammer out that you couldn’t. There's no way. Maybe the man must’ve mistaken you for someone else.

“Mr. Miller said you’d say something like that.” The crew member says reaching into his pocket to hand you something.

It’s a keychain.

Not just any keychain, but the one you gave Joel.

It’s a cartoon armadillo, dressed up as a cowboy, holding a guitar. When you first saw it you immediately thought of Joel. His daughters got a kick over it, giggled at how cute it was, and your heart had bursted when you saw it constantly among his keys.

Now the worn little cowboy creature sits waiting for you. It’s sweet marble like eyes stare up at you like a day hasn’t gone by since you gave Joel this.

Your best friend gasps, maybe not fully recognizing the keychain but understanding the significance.

You ask the crew member if your friend can maybe accompany you backstage, but he shakes his head a sad no.

“Then I…I can’t.” You shakily breathe out.

“Yes you can!” She interjects. “You gotta at least hear him out!”

You turn to her and find determination fiercely burning in her eyes as she nods.

“But what about you? I don’t want you or your parents waiting around for me.” You urge.

“Don’t worry about me or especially about them!” She reassures, even offering to wait for as long as you need.

You’re grateful, unbearably so and embrace her tight.

“You call me if he gets stupid. I don’t care backstage or not, I’ll go get you.”

You laugh watery at her well meaning threat and thank her. With a quick sweet goodbye, you follow the crew member along the rails until exiting.

The walk out to the backstage area fills you with a hurricane of emotions. What else could Joel say to you? A part of you wonders if he’s going to be cruel about this, having you simply show up to his dressing room just to laugh so arrogant and smug about how wonderfully famous he is now.

No, Joel isn’t that type of man.

Or you hope fame hasn't warped him into that type of man. Arriving at the green room door, your heart races loud in your ears.

The crew member knocks and before you can compose yourself, Joel opens the door.

He’s bathed in the golden amber light of the backstage room. It highlights all those grays again but also illuminates more of the time passed on his face. More winkles line against his eyes and when he fully stares at you, you wonder how different you might look in his eyes.

A jackrabbit like urge rushes over you to maybe flee, call your best friend to come get you.

“Thanks for comin’,” he mutters out. “Was worried ya wouldn’t show.”

You want to bitterly joke that you didn’t want to, but the armadillo keychain you hang onto holds the truth.

The door closes leaving you and Joel alone. Awkward stale air chokes the space.

You simply keep your attention on examining the room. His classic weathered jacket rests thrown over the couch. The rider is stacked with so many classic Joel snacks like his favorite jerky, popcorn, and even a few familiar favorite treats his daughters love.

Then your eyes catch the mug on the counter and you grin softly.

It must be filled with Joel’s classic drink - chamomile and ginger tea with honey for his throat.

“It’s…yeah. That’s it.”

You didn’t even realize you said anything out loud until Joel replies casuing your heart to jump. Finally your eyes find his.

It's a curse that your greatest heartbreak is this handsome. Exhaustion weighs in you and feels ancient, like if you carry the sum of so many lifetimes before.

“So…You wanted to talk to me?” You speak first, trying to keep yourself strong.

“I…uh yeah.” Answering so cryptically, his shoulders deflate. “How ya been?”

“Good.” You answer simple, curt almost.

There’s too many things that could’ve slipped out if you said anything more. Like how you selfishly kept one of his shirts and hate that the smell of him on it has faded like a wistful memory. Or how you can barely listen to Dolly Parton or Johnny Cash anymore because you’re reminded of Joel singing along to their songs.

So you turn the conversation back to him.

You ask how the girls are and Joel perks up, eyes shimmering with fatherly pride.

“Good, yeah they’re good. Uh, Ellie’s playing softball for the school again ‘n Sarah’s busy with student council. They’re still just bossin’ me all around.”

“As usual.”

You both say the same line at the same time and it chokes you up.

Joel inhales and his lips press tight, a hard line. The air tightens. No one says anything and now annoyance, frustration and maybe even a bit of panic claw at you.

“Joel, why am I here?” You ask him again.

Sighing, so weary and tired, he looks down.

Feels like ages pass between you and him. The faint noise of the stadium leaks into the room muffled.

You think of your best friend waiting and of your own heart waiting to end this.

“Look, it was good to see you,” you half lie. “You did great, hope you and the girls take care”

You turn to walk out.

That’s when he blurts out your name and you stop.

“I miss you.” He exhales.

“Miss ya so g’damn much. Every fuckin’ day.” He mutters.

When you turn back around, he stares at you unwavering. You don’t know what to say.

“Seein’ ya out in the crowd…thought m’heart was gonna give out.” He barks a weak laugh.

“Almost stoppin’ the fuckin’ show just to make sure it was you… y’look beautiful as ever.” His eyes haze over slightly, almost nostalgic.

Suddenly a heated spark rips into your chest, jagged edged and angered.

“You broke up with me.” You snap, voice already raw.

“I know,” Joel nods. “Worst damn decision of m’life.”

Your lips tremble. Everything hurts like a live wire is burning up your veins.

“Then why? Why did you do it?” You croak. You want to scream, maybe even storm out and not even give him the chance to speak.

“What? Did Mr. Big Country Star hate having a partner that wasn’t famous too?” Venom leaks bitter and poisonous in your mouth, choking your throat.

“Y’know god damn well that ain’t it.” He snarls back hard.

“No actually I fucking don’t know Joel.” You reply with a fierce bite. “You so conveniently left out any real damn reason why you were breaking up with me.”

“I said our paths were going in separate directions.” He glares hard at you now.

“And that’s about it!” Your voice raises and you hate it.

The tears come quicker than you hoped for and you hate that more.

“No real explanation,” you exhale, wanting to stay as calm as you can. “You couldn’t even give me that…what else am I supposed to think?”

Even dabbing away your tears, your composure is slowly slipping.

“I couldn’t do this to you,” he breathes out and it’s broken. His eyes are shimmering obsidian pools.

“This life, all the fuckin’ mess that comes with dating someone in the limelight, I couldn’t just throw that on ya.” He explains and the truth rings out a quiet hum.

“And you didn’t think to talk to me about this?” You whisper out now hurt. “Joel, I thought we were a team.”

“We are- were.” He slips and corrects himself fast. “I just knew if we fuckin’ talked about it you wouldn’t have understood.”

“Understood what?” You’re frustrated and it leaks into your voice.

“That I didn’t want ya fuckin’ hatin’ me!” He finally screams the weighted truth.

Stunned quiet but still slightly confused, you ask Joel what he means.

Pain travels across Joel’s handsome face as his jaw clenches hard.

“This shit…it takes away a lot.” He croaks out. “Hell I’ve even missed things with the girls. Didn’t want ya sacrificin’ your life or wakin’ up one day and realizin’ how much you’ve lost ‘cause of me…couldn’t let myself do that to you.”

Your chest aches like a rocket got shot into you. You’re angry he took that chance for you to decide, but you understand.

Joel never wants to be the cause of pain to others, especially those he loves.

He agonizes so much over his decisions and how corrupting he believes he is. When in reality every action he takes you know simply stems from his endless deep devotion to keep those he loves safe.

His decision to end your relationship was him, in his own frustrating Joel way, trying to keep you safe. Even if it was from himself.

Your lips tremble and you cuss bitterly hard under your breath.

“You damn stupid man.” You hiccup. “I didn’t…I don’t care what life fame would’ve given me with you. I would never resent you. For better or worse I just wanted a life with you, that’s all I ever wanted.”

Through a few sobs, you wipe the tears fogging up your sight.

Before you can see it happening, strong sturdy arms suddenly wrap around you and shock you breathless. Curled in Joel’s arms, it’s like a sad coming home party and you cry even more.

“M’so sorry, my darlin’.” Joel whispers against your forehead.

“I hate you.” You don’t. Even on your hardest days, you never could.

“I know, hate my fuckin’ ass too.” Joel replies.

His arms squeeze you tighter.

“Never stopped lovin’ you. Never will.” His voice wavers and now your arms wrap around him.

“You left.” You whisper back so small while tears continue to prickle in your eyes.

“I know honeydew, ‘n I’ll never forgive myself for it.” He replies fiercely like a strike of lightning with its bright force. “Been a fuckin’ mess without ya. Tommy would be the first to agree and the girls too.”

You absorb his words, basking in the safe haven that is Joel. Hours, maybe days pass just in his arms.

“Please forgive me, baby.” He whispers hoarse against your head.

You nod a soft yes.

Because even the part of you that wants to yell and stubbornly say no knows the ultimate answer is, and always will be, him.

“Of course…I love you.” You mutter half dazed against his strong chest. “Love of my life.”

Pressed so close to him, you feel how hard he swallows and his arms squeeze you impossibly tighter against you.

He says your name and you hum out a soft noise.

“Marry me.”

Your eyes, which have sort of glazed over, snap open wide.

“What?” You mutter out, maybe think you misheard him.

“Marry me.” Joel repeats himself.

You practically squawk like a confused bird and scramble in his arms.

“Joel Miller, you can’t be serious?!” You shriek through the tears still lingering in your voice.

Your face snaps up to him. His face is composed, almost serene in a way as he look at you with molten eyes.

“Serious as that g’damn ring I bought ya.”

His words are a mumble but so soft and unwavering. Your soul leaves your body like you were thrown into a cold lake.

“You what?” You stammer out.

“Y’heard me.” He nudges his chin to you. “A ring. Bought it after you dropped everything to go take care of the girls when they got sick.”

Too many emotions overwhelm you and the tears return with a vengeance.

Joel, like a steady man in the storm, places his warm hand on your face to gather you back into his embrace. He places the softest kiss to the side of your head.

“We gotta have a chat about discussing your feelings with me more, Miller.” You manage to chide him through your tears.

“I know.” He mutters against your skin while he continues softly kissing you with utter tenderness. “‘N I’m not lettin’ ya go again.”

You squeeze him hard, trying to burn his memory into your arms worried you’re going to wake up and find this is just a heartbroken hallucination.

“Baby,” he begins.

“Hm?”

“Stay with me for the night.” He urges. “The bus got plenty of room-”

“Ooo, is this what you say to all your groupies, Mr. Miller?” You tease with a snort.

“Behave.” His hand playfully squeezes your hip but his underlying somber tone even with his chuckle ignites a familiar heat brewing in you of the times he’s reprimanded you like that before.

“No groupies.” Joel reassures you. “Only you sweetheart, only ever gonna be you.”

His words flutter into your heart and make a nest there.

Gently you draw back to stare at Joel. Your hand moves to his face, aching to just touch him. Even in his arms you’re waiting for him to vanish from your touch as if he’s a figment of your wrecked heart, a ghost of lovers past haunting you now.

But his stubble tickles against your palm. Running warm as usual, his face feels like a soft morning sun. Your thumb strokes his cheek and his eyes close, melting into your hold.

Gently you place a soft kiss against the corner of his lips.

Joel now tilts his head so he can deepen the kiss before you can even draw away.

It’s not a consuming passion that you expected. No frantic fierce clash of lips or an overflow from a year passed between you two.

Instead it’s a soft welcome home. It’s a kiss you’ve given him when he’s come home late or when you leave for work.

Because his blood, his soul, you believe are simply stitched into the very fabric of you. It’s like a piece of you is returning back to you, or maybe back to your other home with him.

“So you gonna stay with me?” He mumbles against your lips.

“I don’t know Miller, you haven’t even offered to sign anything for me. What kind of famous country singer are you?” You smirk against his lips.

He laughs, hearty, a true wild deep one sweeping you into its joy.

“Hell yeah I’ll fuckin’ sign something for ya, our marriage certificate.” He snaps in classic grumpy Joel fashion and you almost think about dragging him to a courthouse.

You text your friend a million apologies and even take pictures of all the signed merch you’re bringing back to her.

Now in the cocoon of Joel’s cozy bed on his tour bus, among the warmth sheets, you hold the ring up in the dim light inspecting it. Because of course your secretly romantic man kept the ring with him.

“You sure you weren’t keeping this around for someone else?” You ask.

“Fuck no.” He growls low. “S’yours…only yours.”

From behind his arms slide around you and you’re encompassed by his swallowing presence. His beard scrapes against your shoulder.

“If ya don’t like it, can get ya another one.” He mutters casually but hesitant softness peeks out from under his gruff tone.

“It’s perfect.” You reassure him.

It’s the ring Joel got you then and it’s the ring you want now and always will. You even tell him that.

The kisses places on your bare shoulder whispers of his devotion.

“Honey.” However, his voice now is hesitant and makes you pause on your ring inspecting.

“I gotta ask…but do ya have my armadillo keychain?” Joel asks with an utter somberness.

You burst out laughing and it shakes your body.

“Honeydew, I’m being serious!” He growls out. “Want that lil’ fella back!”

Wheezing with giggles you lean back against Joel, floating so blissfully floating in renewed adoration.

Twisting in his arms your lips find his.

“Tryin’ to distract me ‘cause you lost him, huh?” He mutters.

You snort, shaking your head.

“No I just love you so much, you dumb cowboy.” You tell him.

“Your dumb cowboy. For better or worse.” He vows, kissing you back firmer now.

“For better or worse,” you nod breathing into him.

In this carved out slightly cramped space it feels holy, sacred, chapel like. You’re even afraid it might be gone tomorrow morning. However, the ring on your finger is the steeled reassurance it isn’t going anywhere.

But, just in case, you gather this glory and Joel into your arms with the promise of never letting go.

[epickiya722]

I feel like things are gonna... spiral out of control next chapter, am I right?

Ha ha! Yeah, no, forgive me for that one, folks. I deserve tomatoes for that one.

But, I quickly got interested in seeing the spiral case at the end because uh... that's not the first time something was spiral shaped in this story.

Remember the Uzumaki Kenjaku executed in Shibuya? It was spiral shaped! Of course, for those who aren't aware, this is paying homage to Junji Ito's Uzumaki. (Also the school's symbol kind of looks something like a spiral.)

Now, like many, spirals can represent many ideas. Such as the cycle of life and growth. The journey in which one will face changes in their life. A path to enlightment. Relevant to the story as the characters, especially Yuji, do go through changes and grow.

However, given that Akutami-sensei makes a reference to Uzumaki, I thought what if the meaning to the Spirals in that story can be applied to JJK, too? Sometimes, more than one meaning of something can be applied to a story.

So going back and refreshing my mind on the story, the Spirals in Uzumaki represent the twisted reality of which the characters face. Opposite of the hopeful feeling that spirals usually will give off. The Spirals represent the moral code in which is abandoned throughout the story.

Which happens in JJK, doesn't it?

Moral code is often abandoned by the characters of JJK. They face curses and curse users and in order to beat them and be rid of them for good, the choice to take is go as low as they do. You have to do things that may feel wrong.

The other meaning is also present here. Twisted reality.

From having fake memories to practically bending the real world to your will to create funny scenarios (Takaba), twisting reality happens. Actions by someone affects everyone, no matter how far down the line and create a twisted reality of what could have been. (Think of what if Toji didn't shoot Riko.)

In another post, I made a guess that Yuji's Domain may be one where the target's memories are shown. Thinking about it, I realized that in 265, Yuji actually warped reality. He may have shown Sukuna (possibly) real memories, but in doing so his Domain is him shaping the real world to do it.

Twisting reality!

The next chapter may start off with a flashback as to where they found the last finger that was later consumed by Rika. It's a stretch, but I'm imagining a scenario of Yuji showing Sukuna this last finger that may lead into Yuji confronting Sukuna once more on how he views the world. I don't know how. (I did a Cursed Finger Count.)

EDIT HERE: Okay, that's not Sukuna's Finger... IT'S YUJI'S! (Check out this post!) But I'm still going to say this...

Tying into the multiple meanings of a spiral, including from Uzumaki, what if Yuji will be twisting reality to enlighten Sukuna for a possible last time?

Also, looking back at Yuji's eyes in this post ,I realized while they may look like rings... so do spirals. Spirals from a top view are just never-ending rings.

[mammons-lover]

Continuation of this, It's an Au where the brothers don’t fall into devildom, but they fall into the human realm and land on Mc’s house. Part 2

While the brothers had gotten used to staying at your house, they couldn’t shake the feeling that they hadn’t truly shown how much they appreciated your kindness. So, they decided to surprise you with a homemade dinner while you were at work. It seemed like a foolproof plan… at least, in the beginning.

“We should make the Bloody Terrine that Barbatos made for my birthday,” Beelzebub suggested eagerly, his stomach growling.

“No, Beel,” Satan countered, shaking his head. “Let’s go with Zebra Bacon Sandwiches. They’re easy, affordable, and way quicker.”

What started as a simple suggestion quickly turned chaotic as each brother began talking over the other, naming increasingly extravagant dishes. Asmodeus wanted something glamorous and aesthetically pleasing, while Leviathan muttered about making a dish inspired by his favorite anime. Belphegor, half-asleep, barely contributed, nodding off while leaning against the kitchen counter.

Lucifer pinching the bridge of his nose. “How about this: everyone makes their own dish. That way, we can each have what we want, and MC will have plenty of options.”

“I like this idea,” Leviathan said, nodding.

“I’m gonna make the best dish!” Mammon declared proudly.

“This isn’t a competition,” Lucifer sighed. “Just make something edible.”

With that, Lucifer left to pick you up from work, leaving the rest of the brothers to tackle the kitchen. Things started smoothly enough—until Beelzebub, unable to resist, began sneaking bites from everyone’s dishes.

“Mammon, stop being so stingy!” Beel complained, reaching for some food from Mammon’s pan.

“Get lost, Beel!” Mammon snapped, swatting him away. In the process, he knocked over a bottle of oil, sending it splashing into the flames of the stove. Immediately, the fire flared up, spreading quickly.

“Mammon, what the fuck?!” Asmodeus shrieked, grabbing the nearest pitcher of water and tossing it onto the fire which only made the flames worse.

“Why are you throwing water on the fire, you idiot?!” Belphegor yelled, still half-asleep.

“Someone put it out already!” Asmodeus panicked, his voice raising in pitch.

“I’m trying!” Mammon shouted, grabbing a dish rag and waving it over the flames.

“Why the hell are you airing the fire?! Are you fucking dumb?!” Satan growled, his patience running thin as the chaos escalated.

Just as things seemed to be spiraling out of control, you walked through the door. Freezing for a moment, you took in the scene—your kitchen engulfed in chaos, the brothers yelling at each other, and the fire still raging on the stove.

“Guys, what the hell?!” you exclaimed, rushing over and grabbing a lid to smother the fire.

Lucifer walked in moments later, his gaze narrowing at the sight of the mess. “What happened?”

Immediately, the brothers pointed fingers, each blaming the other for the disaster. But Lucifer wasn’t interested in assigning blame. “Did you at least make something edible?” he asked, exasperated.

The brothers exchanged nervous glances, looking at the half-finished dishes scattered around the kitchen.

“Uh… we just need a little more time,” Mammon said, rubbing the back of his neck awkwardly.

“Go wash up, MC,” Beelzebub said quickly. “We’ll finish everything up while you’re gone!”

Once you had washed up, everyone gathered in the living room. Some sat on the couch while others, like Leviathan and Satan, sprawled out on the floor around the coffee table. Each brother eagerly presented their dish, shoving plates toward you in an attempt to get you to taste theirs first.

You laughed at their enthusiasm, trying to keep up. “I swear, it’s all equally good! You’ve all done an amazing job.”

As they ate, the atmosphere in the room grew more relaxed. Lucifer, finally feeling like the chaos had settled, spoke up. “They wanted to do this as a way of thanking you for letting us stay here. We know it’s cramped, and we haven’t exactly made it easy for you.”

You smiled at the sentiment. “Honestly, I love having you all around. Just… maybe try not to burn the house down again. And no more property damage, okay?”

The brothers grinned, a sense of relief and appreciation hanging in the air. Sure, they’d nearly set the kitchen on fire, but somehow, through all the chaos and misunderstandings, they were starting to feel like they really belonged in this strange, temporary home.

[hazelvrr]

Under the desk ;)

Pairing: Hazel callahan x fem cheerleader reader

Summary: you and hazel are sitting in class when you start to feel a hand running up your thigh

Contains: smut- fingering, thigh riding, face riding, masterbation, public sex

Word count: 2.6k

Start notes: If anyone has any suggestions of what to write, just let me know, and I will write it

18+ under the cut

___________________________________________

You and hazel are sitting together at the back of mr g's history class mindlessly staring into the abyss as mr g is going off on a tangent about the history of feminism boring the whole class to death, which was probably your own fault since you, pj and josie got mr g involved in fight club in the first place sending him into a downward spiral of feminism and womens rights.

You began taking notes about the suffragettes in your notebook when you feel hazel reach her hand over to your leg and push your cheer skirt out of the way starting to rub your thigh with her right hand in circular motions, the sensation of her dull nails scratching against you and her cold silver rings against your bare skin made you gasp. She continues rubbing your thigh making her way up when she finally gets to your panties, gently runs her index finger over the black lace finding you soaking wet, quivering under her touch. She turns, licks her lips and looks up at you with a smirk on her face beginning to slowly pull your panties to the side under the table as you look around the room, crossing your legs in attempt to stop her.

You thought that it would remind her that you were in public and make her stop but instead she leans into your neck and whispers in your ear "you're so naughty, I can feel how wet you are for me and I've barely even touched you yet, so desperate, now be a good girl spread your legs for me," her warm breath on your neck as you felt a shiver run down your spine. You knew she was right, your pussy was throbbing in pain, just begging for attention. But not here. You couldn't. "But what if someone sees, we shouldn't be doing this" you whisper back to her with a worried expression that just seems to please hazel more, "we shouldn't be doing this, but it's just too much fun watching you squirm in desperation."

You hesitate for a second considering the consequences of getting caught but you needed her, you couldnt wait any longer to have her inside of you. You nod to her in confirmation before un crossing your legs as her hand creeps back over to your legs, slowly caressing your thigh as it makes its way back up to your wet aching pussy. She slowly slips her hand into your panties and you sigh at the touch whilst staring straight ahead, trying not to draw attention.

You whine as shes running her finger around your clit not applying any pressure. "Youre such a tease hazel, please keep going, make me want you even more" you whisper, smiling to yourself then all of a sudden she slips a finger inside of you, "ahh fuck!" you whimper at the sudden sensation but she quickly kicks your leg to stop you, "we wouldn't want anyone to find out that you were so desperate for me you couldn't wait till class was over now would we? So shut up and don't make a fucking sound, do you understand?" She whispers whilst inserting a second finger and speeding up the pace.

For some reason her words only made you drip in arousal, which would have gone unnoticed if it wasn't for the fact that her fingers were currently inside of you pumping in and out curling them, feeling your pussy clench and push your juice out, making your thighs glisten from your wetness. You bite down on your bottom lip, trying to keep quiet but unable to contain your whimpers "fuck, yes, i understand hazel, please just dont stop" you hold your breath as her fingers pump in and out of you "fuck, you feel so good," you whisper under your breath as you start to grind against her hand, getting more and more turned on. "Uh uh don't be so eager now, i'm in control here and I tell you when you can cum. You're mine and you will do as I say, got it?" You whimper and nod as you try to focus on what mr g is saying to distract yourself but the waves of pleasure washing over you are too much, making it impossible to think about anything but cumming with hazel inside of you. She continues to pump in and out of you, slowing down, finding a rhythm that makes your thighs tremble, "you feel so tight and wet, just like i imagined," hazel whimpers becoming wet herself, knowing how shes making you feel. you start to feel a warmth growing as your climax is building, you start to become desperate trying to hold off your orgasm as it approaches trying to plead with hazel "please, let me cum. please. I'm so close." As hazel looks over at you about to speak, you hear your name called, but not by hazel, by mr g.

You had almost completely forgotten that you were sitting in your 3rd period history class when he called out your name. You look up trembling, struggling to compose myself with hazels fingers still inside of you. "Who was the first suffragette? You sit there in silence, too scared to say anything as youre holding off youre climax as the teacher looks at you in confusion.

He repeats himself once again, eyebrows raised as the whole class turns round to hear you answer. Hazel is still touching you under the table, so pleased with herself and the effect she has on you as shes trying to hold in her laughter. "um its emmaline pankhurst, sir." You squeeze your eyes shut, trying to hold it together as her fingers continue to pulse deep inside you. "Are you okay?" he asks, looking extremely confused. "Mhm" you hum forcing a smile as everyone turns back towards the board and mr g looks back to the writing on the board and writes Emmeline pankhurst on the board.

Hazel giggles and looks over at you as you thighs begin to jerk and shake. Hazels fingers curl once more, hitting your g spot and sending you over the edge. You let out quiet whimpers and sob as the pressure in your stomach builds until you're cumming all over hazels hand. You sigh in relief and look over at her, lips still trembling "shhhh it's okay, you did so good," she whispers in your ear as she pulls her fingers out and quickly sucks them clean. "mmm oh fuck, that was so close. i can't believe we did that in class. but it was so worth it," you say, feeling satisfied.

Hazel looks at u with a menacing grin, "oh I'm not done with you just yet. Ask to go to the bathroom and meet me in my car, I will be there soon," handing you her car keys. You shudder from how bold she is, not realising just how much you like it. You raise your hand and ask to go to the bathroom. Mr g says yes and as u leave the room, he hands you 3 tampons and 2 pads, "here you go, feel better?" You sigh as you can hear hazel cackling at the back of the class and then close the door behind you.

You go out to her car, and open it, sitting in the backseat. You sit in silence for a moment waiting for hazel. She's taking so long, you think. She wouldn't mind you convince yourself as you slide off your lace thong halfway just so you have better access to your clit and spread your legs. You start circling it with your finger, sighing at the touch. You increase the speed and pressure, moaning hazels name imagining it was her, breathing heavily not taking any notice of what's going on around you when you hear the car door slam.

There hazel is, sitting next to you on the backseat of her car. "Tut tut, such a little slut, couldn't even wait for me. "You know you can't just touch yourself without my permission, I'm going to have to punish you for that, see I was gonna fuck you, but now I'm going to make you ride my thigh and imagine what it would have felt like to have me bucking into you with my strap." You beg her, "please hazel I need you," as you drip onto her seats, she just smirks "so eager, you're such a naughty girl, you didn't follow the rules and now you have to be punished."

You waste no time, climbing on top of her and resting yourself ontop of her thigh one knee either side of hers. You kiss her passionately, not caring about being messy as you move down to kiss her neck, sucking gently and then licking over the marks you make to soothe them. You slightly press your knee into her which causes her to throw her head back in pleasure, you get the hint that she needs some attention so you sit her up to help her pull her shirt and sports bra off and throw it in the front seat. "Wow you're so beautiful," you say taking her in before asking "Can I?" and looking down at her tits. She quickly nodded and you began to kiss down from her neck to her tits, sucking leaving hickeys everywhere, marking her to show everyone who she belongs to. "aren't people going to see those?" She asks concerned, "what, you don't want people to know how good your girlfriend fucks you?" She giggles "everyone is going to know soon when they hear you begging for more," you say and without hesitation you take it in ur mouth, she gasps and arches her back again, quietly sighing at the pleasure. You swirl your tongue round her nipple, gently nibbling at it and sucking, paying close attention to how her body reacts. You start to play with her other breast gripping it and lightly grazing over her nipple with your thumb.

Before you could move over to begin kissing her other breast, she grips your wrist hard and stops you, "Remember what you were doing?" You look back into her ocean blue eyes looking back at me intently, "but I could practically feel your pussy throbbing, I thought-" She interrupts, "Careful now, don't be so eager, we will get to me but right now let's just focus on making you cum all over my car seats, mmm how i love it when you lose control like this, for me." If there was one thing you knew about hazel, it was that she always made sure you came first, you weren't quite sure why, maybe it turns her on or something, or maybe she just liked being in control.

Either way, you listened to her and lowered yourself down onto her thigh. You angle your hips so that when you grind your hips onto her thick thighs, your clit can rub against her leg muscles. You start to grind up and down on her thigh, soaking it in your own arousal. "I'm so wet for you hazel," you moan whilst humping her leg, hearing you say her name whilst getting using her to get yourself off must have turned her on because she started moaning too her voice becoming shaky. "Such a pretty pussy, look how easily youre sliding up and down," she groans watching as your slick coats her thigh.

You speed up the pace and she leans towards you and pulls off your shirt and then unhook your bra, carelessly dropping them on the floor. She stares at you as your tits are bouncing up and down whilst you're fucking yourself on her. Your hips move faster when she wraps her hands around them to guide them her cold rings stinging her skin, pulling them up and down crashing down onto her thigh. "please baby, cum all over me, please," she says reaching down to her dripping wet pussy and slips her fingers in, curling them as she focuses on your tits. "I'm so close already," She says, embarrassed of how wet you made her. "Let's cum together" you moan and then go quiet as the sound of wet slaps now fill the car, "I need you to cum first," you say as you move your hand down to play with hazels clit, going in small circular motions, sending her over the edge, she lets out loud moans echoing through the car and cries out as the pressure in her stomach builds, twitching until her mouth opens wide and her eyes slam shut, coming all over the car seats.

Hearing her beautiful voice moaning your name and begging for you brings you closer to your climax and your thighs jerk and shake against her thighs, when she places a light smack on your ass, hard enough for it to sting, it sends you over the edge as you sigh and cum all over her thighs, soaking them so much that your cum is dripping off them onto the car seats, your juices mixing together. "you did so good," she whispers in your ear, "you have made such a mess of me and my car, I do hope you plan on cleaning this all up," she raises her brows. You grin at her and begin by licking up and down her thigh, making sure to suck and leave marks. "Oh wow, watching you taste yourself is making me even wetter than I already am," She sighs. "Want to taste?" you say as you bring your fingers to her lips and she begins to lick all around your digits, collecting every last drop.

You continue to clean up, licking your combined juices off the seat not taking your eyes off hazel. "Hazel you're just making more mess on the seat," you say looking down at her pussy, juices soaking through her boxers, I'm going to have to clean you up too am I?" You lay back on the seat and get her to move over so that she was straddling your face. You pull her boxers down, noticing a string of slick connecting her pussy and her boxers and wrap your hands around her hips, pulling her down onto your face, so that she can ride you. You grip her ass, squeezing it. She begins to grind her clit on your nose, moaning from the sensation.

Your tongue then slips inside her entrance, licking her juices and her moan grows louder as your motions speed up slightly, eating her out like youre starved. "You taste so good," you say, "keep going, I know you can cum for me one more time." You carry on pulling her down on your face as you eat her pussy, tasting her on your tongue and placing a smack on her ass, and she moaned loudly not expecting to like it as much as she did, making her thighs tremble and shake, squeezing her thighs so hard you thought she was going to crush your head when her orgasm washes over her and her pussy contracts, spilling all onto your face.

"Oh my god, that felt so good," She says as I lick her clean, and she collapses next to me. "Youre such a good girl, making me cum all over you," as she looks over smiling at you, licking your lips clean and wiping her cum off your chin. You lay down next to her still panting and place your head into the warmth of her neck, "I love you," you say for the first time ever, you don't know what came over you but you just felt like you needed to say it, "I love you too," She replies kissing my forehead.

___________________________________________

@iloverubycruzz on wattpad

@hazelcallahansgirlfriend on a03

@sltfr on tiktok

[thebeast-dennis-etcetera]

Eye Opener

Prompt: After a nasty argument between your son and Gibbs, he runs away.

Notes: Ends on a good note. Also, I gave the son a name for the sake of writing. It would be a little difficult and confusing if I kept putting S/N, Y/N, etc. Let me know if anyone doesn’t like that. 🙃

You tried his cell again but had no luck as it went straight to voicemail. “Dammit Noah.”

The next number you called was Noah’s best friend. Thankfully, he picked up on the second ring.

“Hey Seth, is Noah with you?”

“Uh, no. I haven’t seen him since school ended today. I asked if he wanted a ride but he was gonna take the bus.”

“Ok, well he calls or comes to your place will you please let me know? Thank you.”

You hung up with him and bit your lip nervously. You didn’t want to call Jethro and get him worried but it was extremely unusual for your son not to come home after school, let alone not answer his phone. He knew the rule to always let one of you know where he was.

You suspected his behavior had something to do with the argument him and Jethro had last night over career choices. Noah wanted to join the Marines but Jethro was adamant on not letting him, telling him that it was too dangerous and not worth throwing away his academic achievements. You knew he was just scared of his son getting hurt, maybe even killed in the line of duty and was trying to protect him but Noah didn’t see it like that. All he saw was his father being a hypocrite and control freak.

Deciding that you couldn’t wait any longer without letting your husband know, you got in your car and drove to the navy yard, getting your visitor pass and taking the elevator to his floor.

You spotted the familiar grey-haired Marine standing beside Bishop as they both stood in front of the plasma tv that showed a picture of a random Naval officer and made your way over, ignoring Tony’s wave.

“Jethro, I need to talk with you please,” you said, making him turn around. The team just stared in silence as you both walked off to the hallway, not sure if their boss was in trouble or not.

“What’s the matter?” he asked, seeing how distressed you were.

“It’s Noah. He never came home from school and he’s not answering his phone. I called Seth to see if he was with him but he says he hasn’t seen him since school. You know he always lets us know if he’s not coming straight home. And after the argument last night-.”

“Alright, alright. It’s gonna be fine, we’ll figure it out,” he comforted, pulling you into his arms and hugging you tight, stopping your spiraling. You took a deep breath, Jethro’s presence calming you down immediately.

“Let’s see if McGee can help,” he said softly, giving your temple a kiss and pulling away. You followed him back into the squad room and smiled lightly at the team.

“McGee, I need a trace on Noah’s phone.”

“On it boss.”

“What’s going on? Everything alright?” Bishop asked with concern.

You explained the situation as McGee’s computer beeped.

“Alright boss, his phone is at the corner of 18th and M street.”

“What’s over there?” you asked. Jethro’s face became hard as he grabbed his jacket and began walking off. “Recruitment Center.”

————

The car screeched to a stop in front of the building and Jethro exited the car aggressively. You got out quickly and tried to stop him before he got to the door but it was too late. Ripping open the door, he stepped in and we saw Noah sitting at a desk with a Marine in uniform across from him.

“Get up, now,” Jethro growled at your son who looked just as angry.

“No. It’s too late. I already signed the papers.”

Jethro went to reach for the papers but Noah grabbed them and stood up, challenging his father. Both you and the recruiter just watched as the two Gibbs’ bored holes into each other, neither one willing to back down.

“You don’t know what you’re getting into Noah. You’re throwing away a perfectly good education,” Gibbs argued.

“I know exactly what I’m getting into dad. You can’t make all the decisions for me, I’m 18 now. I wanna fight for my country-

“And what if you die fighting for your country?! What then?! I’m not letting you go, so that I can lose you!”

“You’re gonna lose me if you don’t let me do this!”

You put your hand on your husband’s shoulder, trying to simmer the fire between the two stubborn men and added your piece.

“Jethro, he’s right. We can’t force him not to do something just because we’re scared. It’s not fair to him.”

He didn’t say anything but continued staring his son down, a battle going on behind his eyes. A second later, he grabbed Noah and pulled him in for a bone crushing hug, arms wrapping around his body and gripping his jacket tight.

Noah hugged him back and your eyes stung with tears threatening to fall.

“Why do you have to grow up so fast,” Jethro whispered, letting him go and putting his hands on Noah’s shoulders. “As much as I don’t want you to do this, I get it. I felt the same way when I was your age. Just promise me you’ll be smart. And you’ll call us every week, come hell or high water.”

Noah nodded, wiping a couple tears away and cleared his throat, trying to be stoic. Now it was your turn to hug him, relieved that he was safe but sad that you only had little time left to spend with your little boy.

Noah gave the recruitment papers to the Marine and you stood by Jethro, hugging his arm and resting your head on his shoulder as they finished up the paperwork. Once everything was done, you all got into the car and began driving home.

“Don’t think that you leaving for boot camp gets you out of being grounded for making your mother and I worried about where you were all day,” Jethro said, looking at your son in the rear view mirror.

“I’m sorry about that but I knew Uncle Tim would pull through,” he replied with a small smirk.

“Well since you have such an allegiance to Uncle Tim, you can babysit the twins this weekend and mow his yard as well.”

The smirk left Noah’s face and appeared on Jethro’s as he looked over at you and gave you a wink.

[philtstone]

title: so here we are again

Summary: In the aftermath of each time Shawn fails her, Juliet thinks hard about what she needs most in life.

how long have you all known me? the kidfic was inevitable. the m rating a little bit less so, but we're broadening our horizons here at philtstone dot tumblr dot com. shoutout to @firstelevens for inspiring the title for this WIP doc and for helping me think of an appropriately nicknamable baby name. as always zainab ur a real one i had the idea at one am a month ago and it quickly spiralled out of control. writing it was a bit outside my comfort zone for many reasons, and i am a bit nervous posting it, but i have a huge soft spot for the last scene in particular and i really hope yall like it too.

Excerpt:

Standing by the bougainvillea bush, Juliet realizes something kind of annoying: her hands are still shaking.

Lassiter gives her the weirdest look possible after they finish it all up. More specifically, his expression takes on all the qualities of a constipated squirrel, and he hovers at the door to his car without getting in for like, three beats too long. It occurs to Juliet – belatedly, because she’s still kind of reeling from the whole “got a literal axe swung at my head fifteen minutes ago” thing – that he’s worried about her. 

It’s kind of sweet. 

“So,” he says awkwardly. “You’ll, uh … you’ll be – uh, yes. Right?”

“Right,” Juliet agrees, only twenty percent out of pity.

Shawn and Gus left about an hour ago bickering over what pancake place they were hitting up and Alice Bundy has long since been driven away in the back of a cruiser. She and Carlton are the last two people left. She stands at the curb for a few minutes staring into space after his car peels away. The giant abandoned mental health asylum behind her is marginally less scary when she’s not inside, and she’s not actually looking at the thing, and there’s that bougainvillea bush right beside her wafting pleasant smells over her head. Juliet’s always been a perfume girl. She’s been a girly-girl, point blank, which has proven frustrating to manage against the onslaught of clueless male sensibilities surrounding her at all times – she does want to be taken seriously, after all – so in a weird and somewhat pathetic way, Mary Lou’s headbands and handbags were a nice little reprieve. She got to be sort-of-herself without the baggage and the constant need to prove something. Her only real complaint was the degree of uptalk required to pull the whole thing off.

Also, near-death. By axe. Hm.

Her phone rings. Juliet startles more violently than she should at the sudden sound, then feels her eyebrows go up in surprise: Shawn’s ID is flashing in the little green screen at the top. A part of her wonders if something is wrong. Another part of her – a bigger part of her – fills with an odd sense of relief. She flips the phone open.  

“Hello?”

“Picture this: you are on the most platonic, least sexy date of your life, and you are trying to subsequently match the mood. If you had to pick between AC/DC’s Thunderstruck or the Southern Culture on the Skids Classic Camel Walk, which one would you choose?”

Juliet stares at the bougainvillea bush, her mouth a little bit open. 

“Shawn,” she says. “It’s past midnight.”

READ THE REST ON AO3

[i-guess-im-into-this-now]

The Apothecary Diaries

S1E15 First Watch

Here's where I watch The Apothecary Diaries for the first time and give my thoughts, analysis, predictions, and occasionally I stumble into a joke.

To start at the beginning:

Episode 1

My character/locations cheat sheet

Suiren - Jinshi's attendant

Lakan - mysterious officer

Lihaku - the military officer who took Maomao out of the Rear Palace

Basan - an officer who works in the palace

Xiaolan - Maomao's servant girl friend

Palace gossip! Lihaku has done a good job handling the fire investigation. But he had help from Jinshi's personal assistant! Didn't Jinshi just buy a beautiful courtesan from Verdigris House?

This shit is worth sitting up for. Master Lakan, who's peaceful nap was interrupted by gossipy military bitches, would like to hear more about Maomao. Should I be worried about this guy's interest in Maomao?

Gaoshun would like Maomao to look into an old case. If you want to close a cold case, then Maomao is certainly the one to ask.

Side note: Gaoshun just offered to take Maomao to a restaurant to eat raw pufferfish. Is Gaoshun going to get a date with Maomao before Jinshi does? Bwahahaha!

So Gaoshun was asked to investigate this case years ago. Which makes me wonder what his position is/was. I thought it was mentioned that he has been with Jinshi since the day he was born, but that can't be right either, or he would have noticed the baby swap. Unless, I mean he is not always around Jinshi, so maybe the swap happened when he was out investigating a case? Also, can people not recognize one baby from another? Or did the swap happen so quickly after the births that people really didn't know what their child looked like. Whatever, the details probably aren't that important.

So after hearing about Jinshi's new servant/concubine who can solve mysteries, Lakan approached Jinshi's man, Gaoshun, to ask for help solving a case. Uh yeah, that dude knows a thing or two about strategy and maneuvering others. Is this guy dangerous?

A similar case has arisen, a bureaucrat has fallen into a coma after eating raw pufferfish.

Maomao: Master Gaoshun. Forgive me, but is it appropriate for you to be discussing this with me? Gaoshun: It won't be an issue. Unlike certain individuals, you understand your position.

What a loaded response from Gaoshun.

He's clearly taking a dig at Jinshi. Gaoshun was frustrated when Jinshi was assigned to care for the Rear Palace, and thinks that using his appearance as a test against the concubines is beneath him. But he also has been witnessing Jinshi spiral further and further away from propriety with Maomao, and can't approve of it. I thought Gaoshun had decided to support Jinshi and Maomao when he intervened to get Jinshi to Verdigris House and rescue Maomao. But, perhaps his motives weren't to support a romantic relationship between the two, rather to bring Maomao back to the palace where she would be under their protection and within their control. The second half of his statement to Maomao, "you understand your position," is also a bit of a reminder or perhaps a warning to her. He's also saying don't try to exceed your station. Gaoshun is delusional if he thinks the situation between Maomao and Jinshi can be maintained as it is.

Gaoshun lays out two similar poisoning cases. Maomao's keen mind is already rolling through the possibilities and she asks for some more information.

Jinshi scares the living shit out of Maomao when he startles her by asking what she was talking about with Gaoshun. I find it interesting that this request came directly through Gaoshun via Lakan, and that Jinshi was not aware of it. Why not inform Jinshi? I had wondered before about Lakan, if he might be some kind of rival of Jinshi's, since he seemed to take such an interest in the gossip about him. That Gaoshun, avoided informing Jinshi about this, makes me think there is something between those two gentleman, that isn't friendly. This scene also shows us that Gaoshun does sometimes operate outside of Jinshi's domain. We saw that in the past he was an investigator, and that now he sometimes does tasks that aren't given by Jinshi. Also, Jinshi is in casual robes, with wet hair. He clearly just got out of the bath. Was Gaoshun trying to have this conversation with Maomao while Jinshi was busy. Was he trying to hide this from Jinshi?

Jinshi: You seemed to be listening quite intently to Master Gaoshun's story.

Jinshi has become a bit possessive where it comes to Maomao. We saw that when he brought her back from Verdigris House, and again when Gaoshun gave Maomao a cloak last episode. Here it is again, with her having an intense conversation with Gaoshun. I wonder what Jinshi's actual thoughts are on his possessive actions. I mean I can see that his emotions for her are making him jealous and he's not bothering to try and hide that, but in his mind, does he think he has a claim on Maomao? He may actually have a legal claim since he did buy out her contract at the brothel, but in what way does he intend to exert that claim? Does Jinshi see Maomao as something he owns? Is his jealousy connected to that? Is he frustrated that he just bought a concubine and she wants nothing to do with him romantically? Or are the feelings of jealousy that we're seeing simply from his attraction to her? Does he simply wish her to return his feelings, and want to keep other guys away from her, so they won't get a chance to pull her attention away from him?

Maomao: People tend to pay attention to stories they actually find interesting. Jinshi: Now hold on. Is that why you frequently cut me off midsentence- Maomao: Oh dear. It's getting late. I suppose I'd better take my leave.

So the ambiguity of the relationship between Maomao and Jinshi has not affected their ability banter. Maomao is still teasing Jinshi, even if the conversation may indicate that Maomao has been avoiding Jinshi. Is she afraid they may have to talk about what it means that she's had her contract purchased and is living in Jinshi's house? Is she afraid her feelings may tip over into something that is even more difficult to hide from? Is she afraid she'll have to confront Jinshi's true identity and all the repercussions that come with it? All of the above? This situation feels so untenable.

Jinshi: Come back here. I'm not done talking with you- Suiren: And I have not finished drying your hair. Hold still

Suiren really controls everything that happens in this house doesn't she? What are this lady's goals? What does she think about Jinshi and Maomao?

Jinshi watches Maomao walk away and rumbles in frustration. He's ever trying to get closer, while Maomao keeps her distance. What will it take to change this?

Gaoshun returns with the details Maomao requested.

Maomao: I knew you would deliver.

There is a real trust and comradery developing between Gaoshun and Maomao. She doesn't have the same reservations she has with Jinshi and she isn't nearly as critical of Gaoshun. Indeed, she routinely views Gaoshun with glowing praise. In many ways he's the ideal man in Maomao's eyes, even if she doesn't see him as a match for her personally. I wonder how she would accept knowing Gaoshun's true identity.

Jinshi is delighted to come upon Maomao and Gaoshun discussing the poisoning mystery. He can't resist teasing Maomao for getting stuck on this case. It's rare that she doesn't figure out the solution right away, which means she probably hasn't had all the clues presented to her yet. Not only is she very good at solving mysteries, she's very perceptive and good at recognizing clues. So far everything she's been presented are clues gathered by other people. I have no doubt she could solve this if she were able to investigate herself.

Suiren: Careful, or you'll ruin your appetite. Jinshi: I'm a grown man. Maomao: Highly debatable from what I've seen.

Okay, I'm going to side with Jinshi on this one. Like, let the man eat if he's hungry. Also, isn't this his house? Why does everyone get to have an opinion on when and what he eats? Or how he behaves. Jinshi already lives in a fishbowl with eyes on him and every action he takes. It would be nice if he could have a little slack in his own home. But that is not his fate. He's destine to be slowly driven insane by endless demands and expectations.

Finally, Maomao will be able to see the kitchen where the poisonous meal was prepared. No doubt she'll be able to solve this now.

Maomao meets up with Basen. And it took me a moment to remember where I heard that name before, but this was the officer Jinshi was sparing with (shirtless!) way back in episode 5. He was kind of a hot-headed fighter, but was humble enough after Jinshi kicked his ass. He's being a dick to Maomao here. Now I just want to see Jinshi beat his ass again. Maomao says she's never seen Basen before but that he looks a bit familiar. What the hell? Like, is he related to someone she knows? You know what, I'm already working on trying to figure out Maomao and Jinshi's parentage, I'm not going to waste thoughts for fricking Basen.

I lied. This is actually going to bother me.

The only thing I can think of off the top of my head is that he has crazy hair just like Lakan, but Maomao hasn't met him, so how can he look familiar. Fuck it.

So Maomao and Basen take one step into the kitchen and a dude runs up and demands they leave. It's not at all suspicious.

Damn it Basen does look familiar doesn't he? But like who?

Maomao finds the seaweed that is out of season and steals some on her way out. Thievery is becoming a habit for Maomao. She explains that the seaweed was improperly prepared before being shipped to this region, so it was never detoxified. She implies that it may have been intentional and the others know what to do from there.

We see a humous scene of Maomao explaining that the seaweed is toxic and proceeds to eat it. Jinshi is about at horrified as he can be. To be clear, he has the appropriate reaction for when someone consumes something poisonous. Jinshi forces her to take an emetic agent and vomit it back up before she can allow her experiment to begin. Once again we see her disregard her own wellbeing to pursue her study of poisons. It's reckless behavior. I understand that she doesn't have an ethical way to run these experiments, but one doesn't risk their own life or health for the pursuit of knowledge without having a pretty messed up sense of the value of their own life. She could have done this experiment in private and tried to hide it, but instead chose to do it in front of Jinshi and Gaoshun. I wonder if she was curious to see their reactions, or if she was even hoping they would respond this way. That they prevent her from hurting herself is a sign of their care for her. Will she be able to understand that and internalize it? I'm not hopeful.

Oh, that not at all suspicious younger brother was the culprit who bought the foreign seaweed? You don't say. Okay so he felt he wasn't treated well as the younger brother. Is this the same dude from the end of the last episode when someone was whining about being "worthy too?" So the mysterious guy who happened to be around the night Sir Kounen died, was also around to suggest to this murderous little brother, that he import toxic seaweed from the south. What is that serial killer up to? Does he have a larger goal? Is he part of a conspiracy?

Maomao, I think is tidying up Jinshi's bedroom, and is in a terrific mood, dreaming about how to use her caterpillar fungus. She accidentally is overly welcoming to Jinshi, and it is too much like a scene from one of his fondest dreams, so he smashes his face against the wall. These two cannot keep going on like this. Jinshi is desperate to move things forward with Maomao, even if he is holding back for now. And Maomao cannot pretend to be oblivious to his feelings forever.

Jinshi is exhausted. He has a lot of work to do, and Lakan has been making his life harder than usual.

Finally we get more information about Lakan. He's past forty, a high ranking military office, and a weirdo. I'm always looking for long lost parents, and this guy is a prime suspect. And he could work for Maomoa, Jinshi, or Basen. The fact that he's a "weirdo" makes me lean towards Maomao. Also, his strategic mind. Though I suppose that could be descriptive of Maomao or Jinshi, I think it fits Maomao better.

Jinshi says he thinks Lakan has it out for him, because he keeps causing trouble, plus the man has been in his office for the last few days. Probably ever since he heard about Maomao.

Jinshi is opening up and sharing his frustration about something going on in his life, and Maomao decides it's not her problem, so she doesn't need to care.

On the one hand I get it, she's trying to stay out of things that aren't her business. We see that consistently with how she avoids gossip. She may also feel that since she is merely a servant, that her opinions wouldn't be welcome here. But either way, Jinshi has decided to open up and share something, and she just disregards that. Frankly, it's rude.

If a friend wants to share something with you, you should make some effort to listen, it's how you build and nurture relationships. Of course that is likely the heart of the problem here. Maomao is terrified of intimacy, and this is a lot like actually being friends. She can't allow it. At least not with Jinshi.

We have seen Maomao sit and listen to Xiaolan, chatting about all kinds of different things, and I'm trying to remember specific examples but I think she would be willing to listen to the ladies of the Jade Pavilion or Verdigris House. I at least don't remember her ever straight up bailing on a conversation like this. It's really only Jinshi that gets this kind of treatment, and it's because he's the biggest threat.

She could be friends with just about anyone else, but with Jinshi, it's a slippery slope. If she allows a deeper friendship to grow, what's to stop her from continuing to tumble, until she fall completely in love?

Foreshadowing:

Maomao: Enough of that. It's not like it affects me, right?

Right.

And for as much as Maomao would love to check out of what Jinshi was saying, in truth she's bothered by it. The skies are cloudy, and Maomao's got a bad feeling about Lakan. She's worried about Jinshi. I wish Maomao had a therapist.

So we finally get a scene between Jinshi and Lakan. And what a scene it is!

Lakan arrives with fake smiles and words with hidden meanings. Jinshi is on guard from the start.

Lakan wants to talk about Verdigris House. He had a connection with a courtesan there who was a master at Go. Lakan lost his chance to buy her when her price went up during a bidding war. The courtesan he's talking about was an interesting one, who sold her skills but not herself, and wore a haughty expression. Jinshi unwillingly relates to Lakan when he describes the joy of being glared at.

Jinshi can't help himself and keeps asking questions even though he is aware that Lakan is luring him deeper into this conversation. Does Jinshi have an interest in this conversation? What Lakan's goals are here, Jinshi doesn't know, and I don't either, but Jinshi and I are both pretty sure it has to do with Maomao.

Lakan did something to the courtesan to lower her value, but doesn't want to reveal his misdeeds without a favor. Lakan asks to meet Maomao, and refers to her as Jinshi's servant rather than his concubine, which is interesting, following the conversation that preceded this ask. There is a mystery that Lakan wants to get to the bottom of, and he wants Maomao to take a look. Jinshi allows it. Maybe trying to find some peace from the endless trouble that Lakan has been causing him, or maybe he is agreeing to something, something mysterious that was being discussed in this conversation, that wasn't said aloud.

So time for a wild theory. I'm wondering if Lakan is Maomao's father and if the courtesan might be Maomao's mother. The thing he did to lower her value may be to impregnate the woman. Was he able to purchase the woman? Did he move her into the annex? Is Lakan a rotten piece of shit, and Maomao's mother faked Maomao's death and asked Luomen to help get her away from Lakan? If so, and Lakan suspects who Maomao may be, then his conversation with Jinshi may be a chance to see what Jinshi knows. Lay out some pieces of the story and see if Jinshi reacts.

And now I wonder, just how much does Jinshi know?! Does he know about Maomao's parentage? Is that why he couldn't help asking more questions? Is that why he agreed to allow Lakan to see Maomao. Is this some kind of tacit agreement, like fine you can see her, but don't tell her any of this shit?

In the final scene the rains have come. Trouble has arrived.

To start from the beginning:

Episode 1

Next Episode:

Episode 16

[fordchen]

You deserve someone worth the effort

Prompt: Tim and Ashley broke up after his spinal surgery yet Chris and Lucy are still dating. 5x08 where Chris is looking for houses and Tim decides it’s time to have a conversation with his colleague… Please feel free to leave some feedback! you can also send me ideas :)

—

Today seemed like another day at the station. Tim arrived early as usual and got into his uniform, preparing himself for yet another busy day in Los Angeles. He met with Sergeant Grey for their daily briefing before heading to the roll call room to brief the other patrol officers. Everything is normal until now.

Well… that’s what he thought until he walked to the shop and met a rather distant Lucy. She seemed far away, lost in her thoughts which made him a bit suspicious. It caused him to now overthink too about the reason for Lucy's spiral. He walked closer to her and cleared his throat to signal his presence, seeing her snap out of her thoughts immediately.

“Ready to roll?” He asked after seeing that she had set the shop for them, watching her give him a small nod.

They both got into the car and began their patrol, doing some small talk before Lucy’s phone rang. Chris was FaceTiming her to show her a house for sale. He could not help but feel confusion as he heard the two talk. They both seemed on two very different pages. On one hand, Chris seemed excited about visiting potential houses to buy, and on the other, Lucy seemed much more reserved about the whole thing. Once they hung up, Tim glanced quickly over at Lucy, unable to shake away his confusion. “Are you and Chris moving together?” He asked after a few seconds of silence, feeling his heart tighten in his chest.  

“No, uh… It’s not…” Lucy mumbled, unable to get her words together. “Yet, he seems to think you are.” Tim said, almost cutting her off. He quickly looked over at her again, noticing how tense Lucy looked. That sight caused his heart to break a little. He hated to see Lucy upset. “Yeah, I mean, he kinda sprang it on me this morning…” Lucy added, playing with her fingers as an attempt to control the anxiety she felt in the moment. Tim nodded and after some silence, he let out a sigh. “You two are happy right? Those are the obvious next steps for you.” He asked but before Lucy could answer, they received a call about a few bombs placed around people’s necks and immediately went to deal with the situation. Tim realized they needed to have a conversation about her and Chris’ relationship but knew that now was not the moment. They had to focus on their jobs.

—

They controlled the situation along with other officers and were now headed back to the station. It felt rather tense in the car as they silently sat together in the shop until Lucy’s phone rang again. Chris called to check on Lucy as well as to let her know about a property he had heard off. Sensing Lucy’s discomfort, he intervened in order for her to get off the phone, receiving a kind smile from her as a thank you. “Lucy, look, if you don’t want to move, just tell Chris that.” Tim broke the silence between them, sensing that Lucy needed some help processing everything happening. “That's... The question is, why don't I want to move in? I don't get what the problem is. I mean, Chris is great. We're great together. We never fight.” Lucy said as she looked out the window, trying to clear her mind and put her thoughts all together. Tim found a place to park and stopped the car, looking over at Lucy. She looked surprised at his action but he knew that they both needed that conversation in the moment. 

“Lucy, maybe that’s the problem. But do you guys not fight because you don’t disagree on things or because you don’t think it’s worth the bother?” Tim asked and Lucy felt speechless, unable to answer his question in the moment — something that actually answered it perfectly. “Lucy, you deserve someone that’s worth the effort.” He added, a soft smile forming on his face. He meant every word. Lucy had been through hell and back ever since she became a police officer and he needed her to realize her worth. Lucy nodded at his words but stayed silent, trying to collect herself. But deep down, she knew that she had made her decision. She was scared. Of course she was. A relationship with Tim meant taking a risk that could change her life forever — for better or for worse depending on the outcome. Yet, he was worth the risk.

—

The next morning, Lucy found Tim in the Watch Commander’s office. He was replacing Sergeant Grey who was on vacation in New York with his wife to visit their daughter. She knocked on the door softly before walking in, still wearing her casual clothes as she was early for her shift. “Lucy?” Tim asked as he looked up at her, gesturing at her to close the door behind herself. He stood up and smiled at her, glad that the station was still empty at this hour.

Lucy walked closer to him and took a deep breath. “You were right yesterday about Chris and I. I was too scared to admit that we weren’t working out and felt guilty about what Rosalind did to him.” She began, looking up into Tim’s blue eyes, giving him a soft smile. “I broke up with him last night. You helped me realize that I needed better than Chris, someone who treats me right and makes me feel like the most important person on Earth.” Tim searched Lucy’s face as she spoke, feeling speechless. He could feel tension between the two, like electricity. He wanted to kiss her but knew that it wasn’t the right time. Before Lucy could add anything else, he smiled a bit wider. “Lucy, would you like to go get dinner tonight with me?” He asked.

“Yes, Tim, I do.” Lucy answered and let out a giggle, feeling like a teenager all over again. She glanced out of the office’s windows to make sure no one was watching before she kissed Tim’s cheek. “I guess I’ll see you tonight in the parking lot.” She said before walking out, leaving a blushing Tim behind. —

Years later, at their wedding, she would conclude her vows by saying: “Tim Bradford, you are worth the effort.”