#good on steph make that dough

[sillygreenrat]

when i tell you my response to the news was immediate......

whenever these puppies gettin shipped out it's all over

[deansdelicate]

we might just get away with it

dean ambrose x fem!reader

word count: [4.7k]

warnings: no use of y/n, mild cursing & sexual innuendos, in ring action (reader is a female superstar), overall two idiots being fluffy and in love <3

summary: the four times you and dean thought you were doing a good job at keeping your relationship under wraps + the one time you both ended up getting away with it.

The camera crew found themselves huddled in the narrow corridor of the arena, a likely place for them to be seeing as though The Authority loved to handle business backstage—but of course not without protection from the forces none other than The Shield.

The three men were already inside on their marks, probably talking amongst themselves with Steph and Hunter while you waited outside, preparing for your cue.

“We’re on in 30 seconds!” a stage hand announced, meticulously checking the stop watch and monitors, ensuring the cameras were in position and ready to roll once commercial break ended.

You bounced from foot to foot, getting yourself ready as time winded down. Glancing over at the crew who gave you a thumbs up, mouthing the final 10 seconds until the show was back on air.

“Action!”

Your fist came in contact with the door, pausing for a couple of seconds before hearing a voice say “come in” from the other side. The cameras followed as you twisted the handle, stepping into the ‘office’ and bringing the boys and bosses into the audience’s view.

The boys kept to themselves on the opposite end of the room, hardened gazes glued to their faces as they stared you down.

You rose your brows at the slightly, portraying your repulsion for the faction and their allegiance to the overbearing bosses. After a brief moment, you turned your attention to Stephanie and Hunter.

“Is there something we can do for you today?” Stephanie looked up from her laptop, shutting it with a sharp slap that made you flinch just a tad.

You shook it off, taking a deep breath before you spoke with the most confidence you could muster.

“I want a shot at the championship.”

Upon hearing your demand, Triple H even looked up from his own laptop, staring at you intently before turning to his wife. The two of them letting out strings of condescending laughter that had you furrowing your brows in annoyance.

“I love the confidence sweetheart, but I think you’ve forgotten how it works around here.” He smirked, bringing his clasped hands up to rest on the wooden desk.

“You can’t just barge into our office and demand a match for the title,” Steph started with a shake of her head.

“We’ve got bigger things to handle and maybe when you start acting like champion material then we can have a talk about a title opportunity.”

She wore that signature evil smirk, your jaw clenching as your rigid hands formed into fists at your sides.

“You bitc—”

Before you could swing, a set of hands wrapped around your waist and another grabbed your wrists, stopping them from crossing the distance to Steph’s cheek. You could feel them behind you, the three of them swarming in too close, making the already cramped room feel claustrophobic.

“Let’s not do anything rash, sweet thing.”

A voice spoke low, breath fanning down your neck sending shivers up your spine, leaving you frozen.

Yet you remained cool, your game face still on as Hunter stood up, shielding his shaken up wife.

“Get her out of here,” He demanded, pointing the boys to the door and scowling at you.

“I’m gonna get my match one way or another!”

You struggled and jerked in their holds, needing to be practically dragged across the room to where Roman held the door wide open.

Seth’s hold on your wrists retracted, pushing you out into the halls, but the pair of hands on your waist that belonged to none other than Dean Ambrose remained, not daring to let you go just yet.

His fingertips dug into the dough of your hips, curbing your fight and forcing you to meet his eyes.

“Next time you pull some crap like that, we won’t be so nice.” He murmured lowly, the two of you boring right through each other.

You scoffed, tongue running across your teeth before tilting your head at him, not making any move to remove his hands from your skin.

“That so? What are you gonna do about it? Power bomb me through a table? C’mon…hit me.” You dared, jutting your chin out though he retract.

Seth and Roman let out guffaws not phased at all, and Dean joined them a few seconds later, shaking their heads at how you managed to be standing in their presence without facing retaliation.

“The Authority and The Shield stand for the same thing: Justice. And whoever defies justice, man or woman, will get what’s coming to them sooner or later.” Seth declared.

You shifted your eyes up to his, “You mean The Authority made The Shield their bitch and now they do their dirty work for them?” You snapped back harshly, watching their faces fall with rage.

Roman grunted something under his breath, shooing you off. “Run along, you don’t want problems with The Shield.”

Dean laughed, squeezing your hips again, though the cameras didn’t catch it, your eyes drifting to meet his.

“What’re you gonna do? Send a little boy toy to get your justice for you?” He mocked.

You rolled your eyes before a small smirk came onto your face. Your eyes looking down between you both an innuendo that all the fans in the building laughed and hooted at.

“Trust me, you and I both know the boys I like are far from little.”

You roughly shoved his arms off of you and walked out of view while the camera panned to the boys peering down your path.

“Cut!” The stage hand called out, already getting the crew out of the tiny space in order to head to the next segment.

You waited patiently off to the side, passing each of the crew members a smile and ‘thank you’ before you skipped back over to the office where the boys stuck around.

“You idiot!” You screeched, drawing a weak fist to Dean’s chest as he snickered and wrapped his arms around your back, drawing you into him.

“I couldn’t help myself,” He shrugged, placing a chaste peck onto your lips, letting you kiss him despite some more not caring about the obvious lipstick marks left behind.

“Off script? Really, you two?” Steph crept up from behind, letting out a laugh despite trying to be serious because even she and her husband were notorious for doing the same back in the day.

Roman shook his head, light heartedly at you two. “I really thought I missed a line in the script.” He admitted, while everyone shared a laugh.

“Is that even PG?” Seth speculated, knowing Vince would have their heads on platters because you and Dean couldn’t help yourselves with a little sexual repartee.

Hunter snorted shifting his palm side to side knowing at the very least it could get flagged with a warning from the network, but it would definitely serve some entertainment from the fans and social media.

“You know one day the fans are going to catch on that this is really a thing.” He gestured between you and Dean’s bodies, the two of you still clinging to each other closely.

You rested your chin on his chest, looking up at him with a glint in your eyes that he returned just as passionately.

“We might just get away with it.”

Meet and greets were one of the more relaxing sides to the job and it was even better that you got to do it with your boyfriend sitting just a few chairs down.

Many fans, ranging of all ages took their time, greeting you with smiles, hugs, and funny stories, wishing you luck for a title match and you secretly knew was in the works.

A little girl approached you, her parents waving at you excitedly while they trailed behind her with a camera in hand making sure to document the moment their daughter got to meet her favorite wrestler. She sported your merch, alongside a title belt across her waist—the same one you were gunning after.

“You should’ve slapped Dean for not getting his hands off you!” she quipped instantly, hands on her hips, clearly disapproving of Dean’s behavior.

You bursted into a fit of laughter as did the other superstars around you, who high-fived the young gal, applauding her about the lesson Dean Ambrose needed to learn for messing with you. Being a baby face meant kids were especially protective of their favorites, and not wanting them to be tormented by ruthless heels.

“I really should have done that! I’ll remember for next time, okay?” You promised with a giggle, bending down to give her a warm hug.

She undid the belt around her waist, flipping it over so you could sign it. The two of you exchanging small talk before a familiar voice snuck in from behind you, prompting you both to shift your attention to the man himself.

“Hey! You planning on slapping me?” Dean declared, arms crossed over his chest defensively as Seth and Roman remained at his sides.

“Yeah! Don’t touch her again or else she’s going to slap you!”

The girl stood her ground, standing up straighter and glaring harshly at your boyfriend who played along, patting his cheek with a smirk.

“I don’t think she’d risk beating up a pretty face like mine,” he teased, looking over at you with a knowing smile that only you two could read into.

You grinned through the blush covering your cheeks, shaking your head, before pointing at the fan.

“I mean I couldn’t possibly ruin a pretty face like his, but maybe you could?” You suggested, watching as her jaw dropped.

“You mean I slap Dean?” She whispered in your ear, looking at you with hesitation.

You nodded assuringly, rubbing her shoulders like you were getting her pumped up for a fight.

“Yeah c’mon show him that no one messes with the future women’s champion.”

You hyped her up and soon all the superstars joined in chanting “slap him! slap him!”

Dean did his best to hold back a smile, getting down on his knees so that the girl could reach him. His arms spread wide, nodding and egging her on.

“You won’t hit me. Come on, I know you won’t—Oww!”

The slap was tame, even for a child, just a tap with a little force behind it. Instantly the girl cowered back, wrapping her arms around your frame hugging you closely as all the superstars and awaiting fans cheered her on for standing up for you.

“Way to go!” you praised, giving her a high-five and telling her how much she’d be a great wrestler in the future, maybe even the one to take the championship from you.

Eventually Dean slightly broke kayfabe, fist-bumping the girl and pinky promising that he wouldn’t put his hands on you again. All three men posed for a picture with her, frightened and panicky expressions on their faces as the girl held up a mighty fist.

She even got you and Dean to smile for a picture with her—and somehow no one noticed the dainty “D” initial that hung from the chain around your neck.

You sat in catering, joined by Naomi and Brie, the three of you catching up on life while tuning in to the match that played over the television. It was Seth versus Daniel, with Roman and Dean who got the chance to sit in on commentary for the night.

“I saw that interaction you and Dean had with that cute fan. You guys totally made her day.” Naomi grinned, noting how the little stunt you and Dean pulled was circulating around social media.

It was met with mostly positive lighthearted reactions that somehow didn’t revolve around the rumors that you were together in real life.

“Oh, she was adorable! I just wished she slapped Dean a little harder.” You shrieked, making the girls laugh thinking of how much fun this girl must have had.

Michael Cole’s voice drew your attention back to the TV.

“Dean last week you and the boys got into some stuff backstage with a certain female superstar. I suppose The Authority has you all on high alert after Steph nearly got attacked on your watch.”

The camera panned slightly to the commentators’ desk, where Dean’s fingertips tapped against his collarbones, seemingly forgetting the match in front of him at the mention of you.

“We’re used to threats of all kinds, but usually they aren’t this pretty or alluring. And she’s feisty, I’ll tell you that much, but I doubt she’ll want to mess with The Authority as long as The Shield is around,” he replied smugly, glancing over at Roman who nodded in agreement.

“She’s also got quite the smile, if you ask me! She’s drop-dead gorgeous,” The King, Jerry Lawler, jumped into the conversation, adding a whistle for good measure.

Dean’s face twisted in distaste as he shook his head at the legend, “Jeez, relax, would you, King? I’m sure she’s into the younger, more charming kinda guys—you know, piercing blue eyes, killer body, top-notch sense of humor?”

“Are you insinuating that—”

“What Dean means is that we’re not letting her distract us. In fact, she’s history from here on out.” Roman cut in.

Interrupting Cole from finishing his sentence that was sure to get Dean in hot water for making the entire match about his in real-life girlfriend whom he was irrevocably in love with.

The girls beside you whistled and giggled like middle-schoolers, knocking their elbows into your shoulders, knowing your boyfriend couldn’t help but get a little jealous even if it was just all for fun—what could you say? Your boyfriend was more than a little protective.

“Oh, he’s obsessed with you!” Brie teased, while you hung your head low, masking your blush behind your hair.

“What he is going to be is fired if he keeps it up.” You groaned half-jokingly, raising your head when you heard the bell ring and their theme song hit.

Roman and Dean slid into the ring, lifting their brother’s arm up in victory and celebrating together before retreating backstage through the crowd. But of course Dean couldn’t miss a poster with your name written across it, smirking at the fan who wore your merch and giving his nod of approval for support.

You quickly said goodbye to the girls, tossing your plate of food into the bins and heading towards the corridor where you knew they would be coming in from. When you arrived, they just so happened to get through the doors, arena security guards shaking their hands and posing for a quick picture and then heading off.

“Really? You know being on commentary means you comment on the match in front of you? Not your girlfriend.”

You crossed your arms across your chest, leaning against the walls as you gawked feigning exasperation.

Roman and Seth snickered, swinging their heads and heading off towards the carts to recuperate, letting you and Dean have your usual banter that turned into a love fest all too fast.

“Is there something going on between you and Jerry? Because I might just put him out of retirement.” He made his way towards you, lifting a speculating brow.

You let your arms fall across his waist, a cheeky smile seeping on to your features at the thought of him truly being jealous over Jerry Lawler, of all people. Yet you didn’t hesitate to iron out his worries, staring up at him fondly.

“It’s an honor to be one of his favorite female superstars, but I can assure you it’s all one sided. My sights are strictly set on a more younger, charming guy with piercing blue eyes and an impeccable sense of humor.”

You chided, poking at his cheek, watching the dimples form when he tried to hold back his smile.

“Some might even say good with the ladies?” He added with a wiggle of his brows while you threw your head back and laughed, pushing at his chest.

“Yeah, right. I’m the only lady he’s good with.”

He nodded in agreement, pulling you closer and placing a quick kiss on your forehead.

“Let’s get out of here before I do something else that gets me in trouble.”

You linked your fingers with his, the two of you strolling back towards the main area of the arena out of the public space.

As you made your way through the dimly lit corridors, a few fans who were taking bathroom and concession stand breaks caught sight of your backs. However, they didn’t recognize you out of your wrestling attire—curiously wondering who was the mystery lady was.

Dean watched the monitors intently, his knee bouncing up and down anxiously from where he was sitting in gorilla position tuning into your championship contender match against Nikki. The final minutes were winding down, and Brie had already been ejected, sent backstage after the ref caught her trying to aid her twin in the match.

“That’s my girl!” he clapped loud, standing up as you hit your finisher and got the pin—the rest of gorilla cheering for you, knowing it was a long time coming.

You hadn’t told him the outcome of the match, and no matter how hard he tried to get it out of you, it was all worth it seeing you celebrate and get one step closer to your first championship run. When you made it up the ramp and back through the curtain, you were instantly lifted off your feet, your arms clinging around his frame before being smothered in congratulatory kisses.

“I knew you were gonna win it.” He told you, setting you down and tucking strands of your hair behind your ear.

“I think I deserve a celebration tonight, don’t you?” You whispered secretly just for the two of you to hear, both of you sharing grins before he nodded, and placed a kiss on your lips.

“I say we get our segment over with, then get out of here?” He proposed, already hearing the stage hand calling out for the two of you to get into positions backstage.

“I’d like that a lot.” You agreed, taking his hand to where a stagehand was guiding you through the short segment.

Seth, Roman and Steph were already on their marks, greeting you with hugs and salutes before needing to step out of view while the cameras set up. They would be close behind Steph, acting as her personal security personnel for when she confronted you about your match on Sunday.

“Action!”

“Well, well, well,” Stephanie clapped her hands slowly, approaching you where you sat on the carts, icing your shoulder, “Congratulations on being the number one contender for the women’s championship, I guess you are champion material after all.”

You bit the inside of your cheek, grimacing at the strain in your shoulder before standing up to face her.

“Save it, Stephanie, and cut to the chase. What’s the catch? I know you wouldn’t make it this easy for me to get what I want.”

She frowned deceptively, “Do you really think I’m that cruel?” she glanced behind her, questioning the boys, “Can you guys believe that?”

They sneered at you, shaking their heads before Steph turned her attention back to you with a heavy sigh that always meant bad news.

“I’ll have you know that I always knew that you could do it, you just needed someone to light that fire underneath you. And I’m sure you’ll get the job done this Sunday. But just to be very sure, I think The Shield wouldn’t mind a front-row seat at your championship match.”

You clenched your jaw, glaring at her, “I don’t need them causing distractions.”

Dean snorted, gesturing to himself in a self-absorbed manner, “I’m flattered sweetheart, I really am, but your attention really should be on winning.”

You turned your nose up at him, looking the other way “Oh please, don’t let it get to your head Ambrose, you disgust me on many levels.”

Steph clapped her hands, looking at the faction, then back at you.

“Well, it’s settled. The Shield will be ringside for your championship match on Sunday. And I’ll be tuning in…champ.”

With that, she strutted away, leaving you and the boys behind with the camera still focused on you four.

“Stay out of my way,” you growled, eyeing each one of them down threateningly, not wanting your one championship opportunity to be at risk.

“Don’t worry about us.” Roman shook his head, walking off first.

“Wouldn’t want to let that championship slip from right under you.” Seth cackled manically, rubbing his hands together and following suit.

Only you and Dean remained, but this time instead of words being spoken aloud for everyone else to hear, his hands came up to cup around your ear, whispering words only two would ever know.

“I’ll be cheering you on. You know I always am. And you looked sexy out there, by the way.”

He backed off with a wink, leaving you flushed despite trying to play it off as hatred.

The crowd could only wonder what Dean had said to you, and it seemed like Cole and Jerry were just as curious, speaking over commentary about some ideas. Shortly after, the cameras cut, and once again, you were lifted off your feet, Dean hoisting you up a few inches off the ground to give you a proper hug after being rushed in gorilla.

“Congrats again, and don’t forget to go over the script changes!” Stephanie reminded, smiling as she waved goodbye to you and Dean, knowing you two would be pleasantly happy with creative’s turn on the storyline.

Dean raised an eyebrow, calling out to her “Script changes?”

Stephanie grinned, looking over her shoulder towards the both of you. “Just a little tweak for the next show. You’ll like it a lot.”

As she walked away, you and Dean exchanged curious glances not knowing what the script change could be on such short notice.

“Guess we better check those out,” you shrugged tossing the melted ice pack into a nearby trash bin.

He nodded, his hand finding yours again running his fingertips across your knuckles, leaning down to murmur against your lips.

“Yeah, but first, let’s get out of here and celebrate your win. And I meant what I said earlier…you look pretty damn sexy.”

“Lead the way, baby.” You leaned in, letting your lips brush his gingerly, a lingering kiss remaining until you were left to worship the rest of it in privacy.

“Get up, AJ!” you screamed, yanking her up by the hair and throwing her down into one of the corners of the ring.

Your boot met her midsection repeatedly until the ref pulled you back, giving her a moment to catch her breath while you and the official exchanged some words in the meantime.

The Shield boys kept to themselves, spread out on all three sides of the ring, keeping an eye on the entire match and most importantly, you.

To be quite honest, it was hard for Dean to hold back on his excitement, his tongue practically bruised from biting down on it, trying not to break out of character and into smiles or cheers when you got the upper hand in the match.

They were anxiously waiting for their cue; you picking AJ back up and throwing her towards the center of the ring, ready to go for your finisher. That’s when they got into positions, teetering up on the apron grabbing onto the ropes as if they were stalking their way in.

“What the hell is The Shield doing, Cole?” Jerry questioned, his voice filled with concern.

“I have no clue, but it can’t be good. We have to assume, ladies and gentleman, that Stephanie McMahon put them up to this,” Cole proposed.

You took notice of the men involving themselves in the biggest match of your life, brows pulled together in anger and frustration.

“Hey! What the hell is wrong with you guys?” You shouted, turning your attention to the boys who were now standing on the apron, sights set on you.

You walked towards Dean, and the ref headed towards Roman and Seth signaling for them to get down.

“Leave me the hell alone” You seethed, coming face to face with Dean. The only thing separating the both of you were the ring ropes.

“I know you like it.” He gloated, arms held wide, earning boos from the crowd.

You shook your head, turning away slightly only for the palm of your hand to meet his cheek with a harsh slap a few seconds later.

The crowd erupted in cheers as Dean pinched his eyes shut, shaking off the sting in his skin, putting on a cocky sneer that quickly had you angered again. You kept an eye on the titantron in front of you, aware that AJ would be coming in any second to catch you off guard, which was all a part of the finish.

Seth and Roman hopped back down onto the floor, while Dean took notice of AJ sprinting behind you. His arms shoving you out harm’s way in order to take the hit. Her legs knocking him to the floor, while she fell to the mat, unaware that you had backed into one of the corners, shocked at Dean’s sacrifice, but none the less not wasting time.

You quickly got to your feet, delivering a super-kick to her jaw before lifting her body into position for your finisher and hitting it in the center of the ring. You hurried into the pin, locking her legs and arm as the ref counted.

“1, 2, 3…ring the bell!”

Surprise and shock covered your features, your hands covering your face as you tried to hold back tears for backstage while the ref walked over to retrieve your title. AJ rolled out of the ring, giving you your moment to savor as the championship was placed in your arms and your theme song blasted through the sold-out arena.

You forced yourself off your knees, thrusting the championship high up in the air, gaining cheers and applauses from the audience who were on their feet. You swore you could jump into your boyfriend’s arms right then and there without a care in the world about scripts and keeping up the act—but you knew it’d all be worth it.

Seth, Roman, and Dean hopped back onto the apron, this time not faltering on letting themselves through the ropes, stalking their way towards you as your theme song suddenly got cut and the ref scrambled out towards safety.

“Uh oh, is The Shield going to spoil the best night of her WWE career?” Cole speculated.

“I hope not. The last thing we need is the new WWE women’s champ being put out of action all because of these three men.” Jerry added.

You swallowed thickly, clutching the championship to your chest, looking left and right for a way out that was impossible at this point. There was nowhere left for you to go, the crowd anxiously awaiting to see what was going to happen next.

Dean’s fingertips hovered over your face, clutching your skin delicately and forcing you to meet his orbs. You looked stunned, about to break in terror until suddenly a wide smile emerged across your features.

“Oh, my god! What the hell is going on?” The commentators cried out disturbingly.

Seth and Roman stepped back with laugher rumbling in their chests, clapping and pointing at the both of you as if they had known the real story all along.

Meanwhile, Dean closed the space between your lips, pulling you into a fervent kiss taking everyone aback. Your lips moved together in tandem, like they always did behind the scenes where no one had a clue you were flying right under their noses.

You both pulled away, smiling widely at each other, before he gestured towards you, reaching to grab your wrists and lifting it high up in the air, your theme song hitting once more, this time the crowd torn between cheers and boos.

Dean held you close, his pride evident in his eyes letting everything around him turning into white noise.

“My girl. My champ.” he whispered, speaking to you like you were the only ones in the world in that very moment.

You looked up at him, closing your eyes in bliss, before mouthing the words.

“We got away with it.”

💌 reblogs, tags, comments, + likes are greatly appreciated! leave a comment and let me know if want to be added to my taglist!! 💌

a/n: hi everyone!!! this is my first imagine/one-shot here on tumblr and im excited to be getting back into my wwe era. it's always fun revisiting my loves (aka: dean, roman, and seth), and i can't wait to mesh some stories with my fave taylor tracks. this one is loosely based off false god hehehe.

[snakeredbirdbatkatana]

It was another competion the entire family all shoving and pushing each other into the car to see more of Damian's art.

Tim is excited for Damian.

He knows what it's like, to stand there and have no one show up. To be there all by yourself for hours the only one to visit your booth being the art teacher.

Ms. Carrington who would ask questions and ignore the tears that pooled in his eyes before helping him pack everything up, sometimes even driving him home because of course neither his parents or Bruce could be bothered to pick him up.

He can't really help the envy that he can feel building in his chest mixing with a good chunk of repressed anger.

A elbow being jabbed into his ribs distracts him.

"Hey what's with the face? Perk up Boy-Loser it's Damian's night."

He turns to Steph the smile that he had been attempting to plaster on falling. It's such a stupid thing it's a nickname so what if it's demeaning, he gets called pretender or replacement by Jason what does it matter.

"Do you ever think it's kinda fucked up that not a single person in this family calls me anything that isn't an insult?" He snaps.

She looks shocked. How fucking dare he have an ounce of self esteem. Someone alert the Media Tim Drake isn't a dormat.

He turns away sliding into the crowd.

There's less then half an hour left before he can leave. Pratically throwing himself down in the empty hallway as far as he can get from this entire night.

"Baby bird and Timmy aren't insults? Or are they I can't seem to keep up with the kids these days."

He turns, of course. You might be able to run from Batman or lie to him, but you can never escape the grasp of Big Brother Nightwing.

"So your admitting that your old?" he joins the banter.

His muscles start to unclench another superpower only Dick Grayson seems to have.

"Never, something you want to talk about?"

Does he? No. Should he? Yah.

"Maybe I just don't want be insulted every day of my life. So weird who doesn't want to be reminded they suck?"

He can hear the whine, he can also hear that everything he just said isn't gonna matter. You don't take whiny little boys seriously. And that's what he is.

"Hmm you know I get called Dickhead or really a lot of just penis related jokes. Always hated them not that it really stops anyone."

He looks finally making eye contact with his big brother. Because he's right. How many times has he heard anyone in the family other than him and Damian call Dick anything nice. Never not once. Maybe Bruce but he can't really picture it.

"Also don't think I didn't notice how annoyed you are with Bruce about this entire night, which I don't blame you for. You know I love Damian kiddo, but yah Bruce is not winning a mug from me or you."

He doesn't really want to acknowledge any of that already exhausted and he will have to apologize to Steph and if he opens the box it will be a car ride from hell home.

"Luckily for you I have a car parked a block up we can escape get ice cream and have a nice sleepover in bludhaven."

He wants to so bad, he wants to throw himself at Dick who knows him so well, who followed him out here, who isn't blinking, the only adult who has ever not somehow fucked him over.

"What about Damian? He will be pissed at me for stealing you or something. He doesn't need another reason to stab me."

He turns to look back at the floor.

"Foolish Drake I will be coming with you Father is being insesently annoying and I much rather talk about art with someone who has a brain cell."

Both him and Dick whip around to see Damian standing there a slight blush on his face hesitation making the corner of mouth twitch. He sees Dick looking on unsure. He doesn't hesitate.

"Thank god I know a great place with that Vegan Cookie Dough you like. What you waiting for Big Bird? Let's go. "

Climbling to his feet he grabs Dick and Damian dragging them to the exit he hears Dick's confused muttering sharing a secret smile with Damian before ignoring it.

The night is finally looking up.

[honeyspawn]

Silly Assorted Hatchetfield headcannons part 2.

Brooke and Trevor are best friends, and Brooke's family is Rudolph's host family.

Alice and Grace used to have play dates when they were younger, but it was more because their parents were friends, and they didn't really hang out other than that.

Sycamore is a Catholic school. They are very small, with an average of around 40-60 students per graduating class.

Paul delivered pizzas (canon) for 6 whole years. He started when he was 16, almost right after getting his driver's license, and continued through college. He started working for CCRP almost right out of college.

Even though their coffee is bad, Beanie's hot chocolate is surprisingly good (aside from the fact that they spit in it).

Bill got really into stress baking after the divorce. He has a sour dough starter he's really proud of.

Bill's ex-wife is a fairly successful freelance programmer. The fact that she makes more money than Bill was a big contributing factor to their custody arrangement.

When Peter was 7, the Spankoffski's were having a family beach day, and Ted tried to scare him by telling him there were sharks in the lake. Pete proceeded to go into detail about why it is scientifically impossible for there to be sharks in Lake Michigan and why he's an idiot for even suggesting such a thing.

The ages of Linda's kids (at the time of Honey Queen): Trent- 13, Seaton- 12, Jordan- 8, and River- 6 (canon)

Steph has been playing the bass since she was 15. She only really plays for herself, though.

Because Steph was born in October (canon), she has a big costume party for her birthday. It's the biggest Halloween party of the year.

[yeeterthek33per]

Cookies and Misfits (Steph Catley x Caitlin Foord x Reader)

A/n Requested (was clearly drunk when editing 😂)

One thing Steph and Caitlin disliked on their scheduled days off. Being woken up before nine.

All they'd wanted was to stay in bed, curled up beneath a massive blanket, curled around their girlfriend.

Unfortunately for them, your energetic self had insisting on getting up to enjoy the day, despite the fact it was bucketing down outside and it was at an ungodly hour.

You'd left them in bed to go to the gym, and you return at about eight to shower and begin cooking.

The rain is hammering the kitchen windows, and there's an occasional sound of thunder rumbling the house as you flit about.

By the time they both manage to drag themselves out of bed, grumpy expressions at not getting their morning cuddles, you've got breakfast on plates paired with a steaming cup of coffee for both of them.

"Good morning, sleepyheads."

There's a soft teasing smile on your face as you slide their trays across the kitchen island to them. Steph shuffles tiredly around the island and pulls you into her with a small hum.

"Morning baby."

Her body is warm from having been cocooned in beside your other girlfriend, and her hair is messily put up. She's wearing an old hoodie, one that you often end up stealing. The sight makes you swoon as you let her bury herself into your hold.

Her fingers trailing up under the edge of your shirt leave goosebumps, and her breath on your neck is pleasantly warming. You sigh into her shoulder before giving her a soft nudge.

"Breakfast and coffee, baby."

Her head perks up at that like she hadn't noticed the tray on the bench at first.

Caitlin, however, hadn't hesitated in digging into the food, and you chuckle when you turn to see her already halfway through her plate, sporting an old hoodie of her own, though it looks like one of Steph's as well.

A sheepish smile appears on her face through a mouth full of food when she spots you looking at her with an amused smile.

You chuckle and urge Steph to take a seat and press a soft kiss to Caitlin's forehead.

"And good morning to you too, pretty girl."

Steph hums softly as you press a kiss to her temple as well, and you duck out of the kitchen to grab a few things.

By the time you're back, Caitlin is up, washing the dishes, while Steph sips on her coffee.

"Alright, so given it's freaking pouring down outside, and I don't feel like going anywhere else today, I don't know about you two, but I've got an idea for some stuff to do."

Steph perks up slightly, and Caitlin hums from her spot at the sink.

"So, baking day today?"

"Ooh, yes, please. I've been missing your cookies."

Steph groans and slips off the stool.

You laugh as she peppers your face with kisses.

"Okay, okay, I haven't baked them yet. Thank me later. Don't forget, it's a joint effort. That means no stealing the cookie dough this time, missy."

Caitlin playfully scoffs. "I was taste testing thank you very much, that is helping."

"Uhuh, sure."

She chuckles and finishes scrubbing the last plate, letting it sit in the drying rack.

"Alrighty, so the good stuff starts now. I need the flour, brown sugar, white sugar, vanilla extract, eggs, butter, and... ah shoot, I'll have to run back to the store."

You huff, digging through the cupboard to no avail.

"Coulda sworn I bought the chocolate chips last week." It's said in a small mumble.

Caitlin covers a cough, turning away from the bench, and Steph laughs.

You roll your eyes at the guilty look on her face.

"Yeah yeah, I got it. Be back in a bit. Behave yourselves."

You kiss them both and duck towards the door, slipping shoes on and grabbing your keys and wallet, ducking out to your car through the pouring rain.

Twenty minutes later, you step back in the door.

"I'm back, and I come bearing gifts."

Steph pokes her head over the top of the couch.

"Ooh, whatcha get me?"

There's a playful smirk on her lips. Caitlin pops up from underneath her, with a smirk of her own, as you'd suspected.

You lean down to press your lips to Steph's.

"Mmm, sorry, I wasn't talking to you."

Steph pouts.

"Ha, called it. Whatdya get me, my favourite lover?"

You chuckle, leaning down to nip at her bottom lip.

"Cute that you think I was talking to you either."

You jog away from them with a laugh, leaving them both with adorably hung open mouths, calling back out over your shoulder.

"I was talking to the unmade cookies, now get your butts in here to help me, or neither of you are getting any."

"Yes ma'am."

They both scramble to get up from the couch, Caitlin crawling out from underneath the defender with a small playful shove.

"Hey!"

You just shake your head at their antics.

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

"Alrighty so- Caitlin."

"Hmm."

"Step away from the bowl with that spoon."

"I wasn't doing anything."

The look on your face makes her grumble and put it down again. At this point, you'd had to stop from her from stealing the dough at least four times previously when you'd made them, and Steph had unhelpfully resigned herself to be seated on the opposite side of the bench watching on in amusement.

Though a chuckle from her direction earns her a glare from the forward, and she has to cover another laugh.

"Alright, so next we beat in the egg and slowly add the flour. Nobody likes floury lumpy cookies."

Reaching into the cupboard, you pull out the sieve and turn back to the bowl, eyes catching Steph's, whose head suddenly turns up again. Ogling, as usual.

"You know you could be helping instead of staring at my ass every two seconds."

She shrugs.

"No idea what you're talking about, Puddin'."

"Don't you 'Puddin' me. I caught you." It's said between half giggles and a half scolding tone.

The blush on her cheeks tells you everything, so you just continue on with the task at hand, a small knowing smile on your face. Caitlin occasionally chips in, though at the tax of a kiss, and what she thinks is a sneakily stolen piece of chocolate.

It's after the third time you let it happen that you start smacking at her hand every time she tries.

"Stop it."

You grab the baking paper lined baking sheet you'd prepped earlier and start to roll the dough into balls. Not before sending the forward away with a smack to the butt and beckoning over the defender.

"Your turn, missy, you're not getting away with it this time."

She grins, rolling up her sleeves and moving to wash her hands before turning to stand beside you and help you roll out the dough.

Occasionally, you get a small hip bump or a kiss to the cheek that makes your heart melt just a little bit more at the domesticity of it.

You could probably count on a little over two hands the number of days you get per year that are just not filled with jobs to do for at least one of you so you truly treasured these moments.

Finishing with the first, you slide the tray into the oven and move to line another tray while you wait.

The second lot is formed, and you note you have about twenty minutes to kill before the first batch is done.

Steph's hands find your waist from behind as you start to clean up a bit, her head dipping to press featherlight kisses to the skin of your neck.

It sends tingles over your whole body as she presses into you from behind. Her lips move up to just under your ear, and you sigh happily as she nips softly.

"Our girl."

A hum vibrates in the back of your throat from her ministrations. You look up to see your other girlfriend watching you both with a look in her eyes that makes you swoon all over again.

"You know, you guys are gonna have to remember how to make them yourselves at some point."

"I know, baby, but they're so much better when you make them, plus neither of us can remember how to do it."

You knew damn well they had the recipe memorised front and back by now. Considering you'd come home at least once to some freshly baked ones on a bad day and also the number of times they'd automatically had the ingredients out ready to bake certainly doesn't help their case.

They tried to blame the former on having your mum instruct them but that was a lie considering your mother couldn't bake to save her life, it'd always been your dad that gave you your passion for baking.

"Uhuh, I'm sure you do."

"We do. We love everything you cook for us. Way to the heart is through the stomach, baby."

You chuckle as Caitlin moves to stand in front of you, hands settling on your hips just below Steph's.

"I swear it's like you save the best for us."

Your head leans back against Steph's shoulder, eyes drifting shut as the both of them now openly mouth at your neck. Caitlin at the column of your throat and Steph at the joint muscle between your neck and shoulder.

"Sweet talkers."

Practically putty in their hands, a whine escapes you as they press you completely between them, fully in contact with both of them.

They knew you loved the feeling of being trapped between them. The shivers that ran down your spine are obvious to the older of the two as she slips her hand beneath your shirt, grazing at the skin.

A hand on your cheek guides your head forward and lips connect with your own. Softly at first, then as you rock slightly into the striker, deeper, and she runs her tongue over yours, leaving you keening into the kiss.

It stays like that for a moment. With you just melting into the kiss further as Steph's hands play with the hem of your shirt.

The ringing of the timer on the oven startles the three of you slightly. With one final peck to Caitlin's lips, you pull out from between them, quickly pulling the tray out of the oven and replacing it with the other.

You slide the baked treats onto the rack to let them cool for a bit before letting the two of them have any knowing they'd risk mouth burns.

You move to pack away the spare ingredients, your back turned for a moment as you hear movement behind you.

"Hands off the goods, you pair."

There's a set whines behind you that makes you smile.

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

After a sweet filled early lunch, paired with a quick whipped up risotto to keep the girls from getting into too much trouble with their nutrionists, you're all cuddled up on the couch, beneath several layers of blankets.

Sitting between Steph's legs, Caitlin laying face down on your chest as the sugar overload processes between them, you run your fingers through the younger woman's hair, scratching at her scalp softly.

The domestic bliss between you settles heartily in your gut, and you just take in the moment, letting Steph press soft kisses to the side of your head as you rest fully back into her warmth.

God, you love them. You tell them as such.

"Love you too, sweet girl." Comes from just beside your ear as a murmur.

"Love you too, baby." Comes a mumble into the skin of your collarbone.

Contentedness takes over, and Caitlin is soon fast asleep in your hold, your eyes drifting shut on their own accord, more than happy to nap the afternoon away.

Steph's hands slowly still on your arms where they'd been gently caressing as she lets sleep take her own concious too.

The last thing you feel before darkness crosses your vision is the overwhelming warmth of the moment as it burrows deep into your heart as another blissfully loving memory.

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

There we go, guys, fluffy moment between the trio as requested. Hope y'all enjoyed. 😊

[xxgoblin-dumplingxx]

gentle giant!jason holding reader during their pms cramps bc im having the worst ones rn and would love some comfort 🥹

"You okay?" Jason asked, looking to where you were laying on the floor, face down- looking a little like a doll someone had been playing with and discarded. If he hadn't just heard you grousing at the TV, he'd have been a little alarmed.

"I will literally rip my uterus out and forcibly feed it to the next man who says something stupid," you grumble.

"Don't do that," Jason snorted, setting grocery bags on the counter, thankful, suddenly that he'd impulse bought things to make cookies when you sounded miserable on the phone. "Castrate them instead.."

When your only answer is huffing a laugh before pushing yourself off the floor with a groan, Jason shook his head and held his arms out, "Poor baby," he said, kissing the top of your head. "It's hell being a girl, huh?"

"Woke up to a murder scene in my underwear and I feel like I'm being stabbed. The only good thing is my boobs are bigger- not that anyone gets to enjoy it because they fucking hurt and all of my cute clothes are too much work." You pout and thud your head against him gently. "Fuck today."

Jason rumbled a laugh and kissed the top of your head again, squeezing you a little harder, "How about I make some cookies-"

"Do we have to bake them?"

"Cookie dough," he amended, smiling a little, "And we can watch stupid people put shiplap in every room of a house and call in a modern farmhouse or whatever."

You look up at him and squint slightly, "Okay. That settles it. You're not real-"

"Hey," he chuckled, bending his head to kiss you. "You can't help feeling like shit. And you get to do it every 28 days... That sucks. I can't think of a better reason to eat cookie dough and yell about tacky interior design."

"I think you just like watching those shows and don't want Steph to find out," you tease, grinning.

"Maybe a little that," he snorted, "But- you make for pretty good cover. AND I know you won't rat me out."

"Won't I?" you hum, snuggling against him.

"Nope," he chuckled, "Because I know where all your ticklish spots are now and I'm not afraid to use them."

[girderednerve]

list!!

okay i am heading into my last week at this job, which is also the last week of summer programming, so it is going to be busy & socially fraught (not excited about this!!). i have to make cookie dough and slime with children, and also get through my exit interview with my stupid boss who lied to my face & then impugned my professional integrity when i disagreed with him. HOWEVER this weekend has been pretty great: i made pizza with my partner, we went out to our CSA farm & picked cherry tomatoes & basil & tomatillos & late season blueberries, later we are going to make salsa & pesto & feast upon blueberry bounty. also we watched the gold medal men's basketball game, which was really fun. steph curry at it again, etc.

anyway here is a list of things i am thinking about doing with my pending unemployment, other than panicking about my future & feeling guilty for quitting my stupid job, and obviously applying for other, hopefully less stupid, jobs:

weaving! i got a second heddle & i am going to attempt simple 3x1 twill. i got yarn to make my partner a scarf & hopefully i will have managed it by fall, aka scarf szn. also i have to figure out what i'm doing with the baby blanket i am making for my friend: the fabric is off the loom but the two panels aren't quite identical, so i could either do a big hem (don't want to do this), do some surgery (nervous but probably best option), or wet finish it & then line it with some kind of cute fabric to hide its flaws (i'm considering a couple different spoonflower dragons?). feel free to weigh in if you have Thoughts™

sorting through our books for ones we no longer need & generally tidying up. i find this sort of thing very difficult but it will be good once it is done

drop spindle!! considering getting a cheap 3D printed turkish spindle & seeing if i like that, but also i got some dyed top so i'll be able to see what i'm doing when i try to figure out plying. my dream is to make reasonably cute textured handspun that i can weave into placemats and then mail to my mother

i'm gonna sign up for a class to learn how to do MARC records. i didn't take a dedicated cataloging class in grad school (not required in my program & offered relatively infrequently/at terrible times), just the required one about the general principles. i wanna know how the metadata works

looking at schools. nobody needs two advanced degrees but sometimes it turns out that i am nobody

baking projects! i want pavlova, which is in my opinion an objectively perfect dessert, and also it's coming up on apple season, which means mandatory galette

podfic. i have ideas but as always if you have a thing you want a recording of please feel free to ask

i owe at least one person a letter & i have a stash of fun stationery! i want to write LETTERS let me know if you want one & you might receive one in um. like. a calendar month. i'm a mess but letters are fun!

friend of mine is considering running an old gods of appalachia campaign and i could be annoying about it. i'm considering being soooo annoying about it, like have you ever heard of a better excuse to finish reading all of my appalachian labor history pdfs??

anyway i'm sure i'll end up doing maybe a third of this at best but it's good to have plans. i hope you also have time in your life to do things which are important to you! if you have hobbies you are up to please feel personally invited to tell me about them :)

[bestproteinbutter]

Nut-Free Delight: Tips for Enjoying Cookie Dough Spread without Nuts

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Tips for Enjoying Nut-Free Cookie Dough Spread

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Pair it with your favorite snacks: Nut-free cookie dough spreads well with various snacks, from fruit and crackers to pretzels and graham crackers. Experiment with different combinations to find your favorite.

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Try it in recipes: Nut-free cookie dough spread can be used in recipes like smoothies, energy balls, and homemade granola bars.

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Conclusion

A nut-free cookie dough spread is a delicious and healthy alternative to traditional spreads that can be enjoyed by anyone, even those with nut allergies. Follow these tips for enjoying a nut-free cookie dough spread and try Best of Steph's Blackout Cookie Dough Spread for a delicious and indulgent treat that's safe and healthy. Visit their website to learn more about their products and order your jar of deliciousness today!

[ljsstories]

Chapter Twenty Two: The Funeral

Jensen didn't know what to do, being totally kept in the dark then finding out from his driver while he was still in rehab was bad enough, but having this dilemma was even worse. He wanted so badly to go to the funeral, to be there for Jane and show her he cared, but would she want that? He found himself using the tools that Doctor Jenna had taught him more and more each day, especially when it came to Jane, he was going to get this right. How she must be feeling, he couldn't even begin to imagine. Listening to his siblings discuss the funeral was driving him crazy, not because they were both planning to go, but the fact that they didn't even consider asking him to tag along. He'd been deterred from contacting Jane while Jonah texted and called Eliza constantly, this was becoming beyond a joke! "Look if you want to go Jonah, I will sit with you so it doesn't look too weird, but you were her boyfriend! You have been texting and calling her now and again, it wouldn't be that unlikely that you would turn up for her mother's funeral to support her!"

"I suppose..."

"Jonah, if you feel in your gut that you need to be there, then go!" Sage advice from their big sister, would she agree if it was Jensen she was talking to? Maybe not.

"Um, I'd like to-to go!" He piped up in the doorway, looking like the eavesdropper that he was. Both his siblings turned to face him with bewildered expressions.

"Sweetie, you've just come out of rehab, I don't think it's a good idea!" Juliet waved a hand in his direction as if to dismiss him from the conversation, it was starting again. Jonah was becoming numero uno and he was being shoved out into the cold.

"But you said..."

"Jensy, please! Jane and Eliza have just lost their mother, don't make this all about you and your weird little obsession!" She snapped back at him before he could even finish his sentence as she rubbed her growing belly gingerly, morning sickness seemed to be kicking her ass all day which made no sense to Jensen, if it wasn't just happening in the morning then they should rename it.

"Jules that's not what I'm doing!"

"Look you're a grown man, you can do whatever the hell you want. I'm done trying to clean up your shit!" She stomped out of the room looking devastated, nauseous and furious at the same time as Jonah shook his head disapprovingly at him. She was also in a bad mood because she couldn't tell the rest of the family that she and Sweater Boy were engaged, after finding out about the funeral, she'd taken the ring off and kept quiet. Jensen admired her for that, but he was also mad at her for saying yes, he knew his sister and he knew she had doubts about her feelings for Charlie fucking Dean!

"You've always gotta steal the show huh?" Sneering over at Jensen with his hands on his hips and shaking his head, Jonah looked just as annoyed with him as their sister, "Here's me worrying about showing up and causing Eliza even more pain even though I just wanna wrap my arms around her and make it all go away, then there's you who only ever thinks of himself and how he's gonna get close to Jane no matter what it does to her, you're a selfish human being Jensen! You make me sick!" Now it was Jonah's turn to stomp off, leaving Jensen alone in their mother's living room. When he sat down in the kitchen with Steph to tell her about it, she unsurprisingly agreed with his siblings.

"Jensen, darling boy, you never dated Jane! Jonah however did date Eliza and he feels the need to support her, it's totally different!" Why did everyone have to be so right all the time? Was he slipping? Should he call Jenna and talk to her?

"I just wanna support Jane too, what's so bad about that? She was glad I turned up at the hospital all those months ago, what's the difference?" Steph shrugged nonchalantly as she kneaded her lump of cookie dough.

"I get what you're saying honey I really do, but maybe give your brother this, huh?" Give him what? It wasn't a competition!

"Mom please! What will it look like if I'm not there?"

"And what will it look like if you are? A media circus? The paps are following you everywhere since you got out of rehab, you don't want to turn Mrs Thomson's funeral into a publicity stunt, do you?"

"No, of course not, that's..."

"Jensen, baby boy please just leave it!" But he couldn't leave it, he needed to be there for Jane, even if he hid at the back and slipped out before everyone else, he had to be there!

The day that Jonah was due to fly over to Scotland, Jensen went to his apartment with a card for the family, maybe he couldn't be there in person but there was no harm in letting Jane know he was thinking of her. Having talked it over with both Jenna and Sweater Boy, it was agreed that he wouldn't go. He wasn't happy about it, but he was taking his recovery seriously and would do anything that Doctor Jenna suggested. Letting himself in with his own key, the place was eerily silent, "Jonah? Are you still here?" Entering his bedroom, Jensen couldn't help but feel for his younger brother as he sat on his bed next to a large backpack staring at the ground pouting. "What's up?"

"I can't do this! I can't just rock up out of the blue!"

"Then text her, tell her you'll be there!" Jensen shrugged, what was the problem? As everyone was so quick to point out to him, Jonah and Eliza dated so there wasn't one.

"Am I crazy doing this?" No he wasn't, Jensen wanted so badly to take his place.

"Jonah, do what you feel is right, like Jules told you! If you want to go, then go!"

"Will you come with me?" Was this a trap? A couple of days ago he was condemning him for being so selfish and now he wanted him to go with him?

"Jonah you have Jules, you don't need me!" Best to play it cool, he was desperate to take him up on it but remembering what Jenna told him, he held back.

"Well you could hide in the back with us, I told Jules I'm not gonna make a show of myself. Eliza won't even know I'm there!" Funny, that was what Jensen had suggested he do when he spoke to their mother about it.

"I...I don't know!" He was dying to agree, but this had to look like a casual decision, not one that he leapt to at the first chance.

"Fine, whatever! I just..." He looked up at the ceiling with a long sigh, "...I just wanna hold her! I miss her so much!" Jensen brought the sympathy card out of his pocket and handed it to his brother.

"Will you give this to them for me?"

"What? I didn't get a card, shit!"

"It's fine, you don't need one! You're gonna be there for your girl!"

"She's not my girl anymore though, is she?" Who was he kidding? Eliza would always be his girl, whether they were together or not. Jensen planned for them to be together again eventually since it had been partly his fault that they broke up, and the fact that they were so good together. Jane would be happy to see her sister with the man of her dreams, that in turn would make Jensen happy. He tried to do what Jenna had taught him, don't always make it about Jane, try and help out the other people in his life like his little brother and Eliza without an ulterior motive, do it just because he cared.

"Jonah, just go to the funeral, stay out of sight if you want or go and show her that you're there. It's all up to you, don't let anyone tell you otherwise, okay?" Jensen patted him on the back as he nodded in agreement, looking a little more confident than he did a few moments ago.

"I-I'll tell Jane...well if I actually gather the courage to face any of them, I'll tell her you wanted to be there but had a prior engagement or something. That makes you sound caring and aloof all at the same time!" Jonah winked at him and elbowed his side softly.

"Don't mention me, unless she asks, then you can say what you like! I have to focus on recovery and making decisions for myself instead of...others!" Others meaning Jane, that was the deal, try and focus on the here and now, the people around him. It was hard, but he was trying. It was at times like these though that Jane surrounded his every thought, when she was hurting it was hard to ignore.

"Bullshit! You still love her; I know you do! You're as torn up about this whole thing as I am!" How true that was, Jonah wasn't just a pretty face after all.

"I gotta go, safe trip little brother! If you want to talk to Eliza, then do it. There's no harm in caring about your ex!" There was no harm in caring about someone who had changed your life either, even though they wanted nothing to do with you. How he wished that he could tell Jane how sorry he was, that he was there for her no matter what, all she had to do was snap her fingers and he would come running, fuck Jenna and Sweater Boy! She just had to say the word, he'd move heaven and earth for her, even now. His recovery was rocky, he was better that was true, but it was still all about Jane. It always would be, there wasn't enough therapy in the world to ever change that!

***

"What do you think of this one?" Jane kept running in and out of Eliza's room wearing different dresses. She wasn't really a dress kind of girl, but this was her mother's funeral, she had to look nice.

"It's..."

"What are you wearing? Maybe you can give me some ideas!"

"I dunno..." Eliza shrugged, still flicking through the television guide with no intentions of watching anything, "...clothes!"

"Liza please, help me? I'm no good at this!" Jane began to cry as Eliza looked up at her.

"Janey, just wear what you feel comfortable in, mum doesn't care, she's dead!" Jane gasped a little at Eliza's out of the blue statement.

"Eliza that's..."

"True? She didn't care when she was alive, she sure as hell won't care now!" Eliza had reacted rather strangely to Monica's death, almost as if she didn't care, but Jane knew that wasn't true. This was just a front so that she didn't have to feel, Jane wished that she had that option but she couldn't help but show her emotions, maybe it was a release of everything she'd been holding in over the past few months while caring for their mother.

"Well I care, so will you please help me?" Eliza sighed and threw the magazine aside, sitting upright and focusing on Jane's third dress.

"Yeah that looks nice!"

"You said that about the last two, please Eliza!"

"I liked the first one, there, you feel better?" Jane had a feeling that Eliza didn't even remember what the first one looked like. It seemed like she was on her own, she would have to pick out her dress herself.

"Remember that guy is coming over tonight, if you have anything you want him to say at the service..."

"No it's fine." Eliza just didn't seem to be interested in anything since their mother died, she appeared to be completely void of any emotion.

"Right, well I have a list of things..."

"Yeah okay, I'll go with whatever!" Jane didn't want to be in charge, but as usual this was what was happening. Ricky had dipped his head in the sand and Eliza had cut off all emotion, it was up to Jane to arrange everything.

"Eliza, she was your mum too! I can't be the only one contributing!"

"Janey I'm no good at this, you're the one who has a way with words. I'm sorry, I don't know what's...I just feel...numb!" Eliza hadn't cried yet, that was never good, bottling up feelings. She had done the same thing when she broke up with Jonah until she cracked in a big way, allowing Laura to take advantage of her and post those horrible photos.

"Okay, I understand. I would just appreciate a little input from you, can you do that?" Eliza shrugged, then nodded.

"I wish I could..." She trailed off, Jane wished that she could run away and avoid everyone who was going to be at the funeral, but that wasn't an option.

"Once it's done, it's done! We can do this! Now please, help me with the dress?" Eliza stood up and grabbed Jane's hand, dragging her upstairs to rummage through her wardrobe.

On the day of the funeral, perfectly timed, Eliza finally cried. The floodgates truly opened as soon as they stepped foot in the crematorium. "Janey!" She sobbed and hid inside her sister's embrace. Looking around at the small gathering, Jane was relieved that there weren't too many people to talk to and hear how sorry they were for her loss. They stood outside waiting, as Eliza dried her eyes and tried not to do too much damage to her pristine make-up, then the first song they had chosen played and everyone got up and headed through to the service.

***

It was a small crematorium with room for barely a hundred people. Jensen tugged nervously at his tie as he found a seat at the very back of the room. He looked down the aisle at the line of people seated, from where he was he could make out the three heads of the Thomson family, Jane was ten rows away from him right up at the front sitting with her father and sister. Across from him were his brother and sister, giving him glacial stares. "I thought you weren't coming!" Jonah hissed over at him, Jensen merely shrugged and placed his index finger to his lips as a man approached the lectern in the middle of the floor, right next to Monica Thomson, bless her soul. Jensen had been a tad late and missed the beginning of the service. Looking over at the coffin made him feel extremely sad, there was someone he knew inside it, someone who had been kind to him, someone who meant the world to Jane. The celebrant taking the service told Monica's life story, where she was born and her time as a district nurse and midwife, she really had lived an interesting life, it was like he was getting to know her, something he had wished he could have done when she was alive. There were a few little anecdotes and some laughs, it certainly was more of a celebration of her life than a sombre occasion. There were no hymns, no religious connotations, it was something Jensen didn't know about the family, were they religious or not? His question was answered now. Songs that meant something to her were played in between, In My Life by The Beatles played for a few moments as the coffin rolled out of sight, they were apparently Monica's favourite group, then the celebrant announced that he had something to read from Jane.

"Jane would like me to read something on her behalf; I remember love, warm hugs, a blue nurse's uniform with the unmistakable smell of disinfectant, or what I would call the smell of hospital. I remember you feeling guilty for being late to collect me at lunch times because you couldn't leave your patients, I remember feeling pride that I was lucky enough to have a mother who cared that much and treated everyone with respect and dignity. I remember hurting when you hurt. I remember being sad when you were sad. I remember blurting out the same sentences at exactly the same time and laughing. I remember sitting watching Call the Midwife together and crying, you through memories of your job and me because I cry at everything. I remember always being proud of you, and I always will be. You never really knew or understood just how amazing you truly were, or how loved and valued you were. I remember you said granny was your hero, that you wished you could be more like her. Well I wish I could be more like you. Someone who stood up for what she believed in, who wasn't afraid to speak her mind and tell the truth. You were strong, you were beautiful, you were brave, and you were everything to me. Your glasses sit on your bedside table and I feel so very sad when I look at them, and normally the first person I would go to when I felt like this would be you. But then I think of you telling me in Crosshouse before you came home for the last time; remember, no matter what happens I love you. And then the day you left me, I found this little rolled up note in your purse; I'll always need my daughter, she has made me laugh, proud, cry, hugged me, seen me fail, cheered me, kept me on my toes, drove me crazy. But my daughter is a promise I will have a friend forever! I feel you here, I feel you guiding me, leading me to all these little notes, a promise that I will have a friend forever! Someday I will look at your glasses and no longer be sad, I will smile and know that no matter what happens, you love me! But the important thing is that I remember that and so much more!" When the celebrant had finished, many people were drying their eyes, Jensen felt tears trickle down his own face as he looked over at Jonah who had his arm around Juliet. A few more words were said, then the celebrant told everyone that there was a table on the way out for donations to Marie Curie Cancer Care as per Monica's request. The last song was played, End of the Line by The Travelling Wilburys and everyone got up to leave, Jensen squeezed out the back door before anyone could spot him and his siblings were at his back moments later. Jonah had decided against making his presence felt. Once outside, Juliet gave Jensen a sisterly hug.

"Couldn't stay away huh?"

"No, let's go before someone sees us!" Jonah shook his head at Jensen.

"I can't, I wanna stay a little longer!" Both Juliet and Jensen agreed, but insisted that they stay out of sight, more for Jensen's benefit than anything else.

"It was a beautiful service, her mother sounded like a wonderful woman." Juliet tried to make conversation as they stood behind a large hedge outside the building.

"She was!" Jonah nodded, having known her better than Jensen, he could actually have an opinion on the matter. "I just wanna see Eliza's face, even if it's from a distance, y'know?" Jensen did know, and he didn't blame him. As people started to trickle out, Juliet spotted a dark haired man with a blonde girl on each arm, the Thomsons followed by another blonde who Jensen didn't recognise. Jonah watched them longingly as Jensen wrung his hands feeling anxious.

"Bro, I don't wanna be seen so..."

"I wanna talk to her, Jensen I need to talk to her!" They stood awkwardly for a few moments until Jonah took off, unable to control himself. Jensen hid even further behind the hedge watching Juliet follow Jonah as he stood in front of Eliza who's face lit up when she saw him, he'd done the right thing for once. He saw her lips moving, then they were hugging. Jane and Juliet hugged, the strange blonde girl and Mr Thomson both shook her hand, it all looked so friendly, he so desperately wanted to be part of it but he knew he couldn't. He was suddenly aware of Eliza and the other blonde girl staring over at him as he ducked out of sight, did they see him? Hopefully not! Jane had seemed happy for her sister; she was smiling when Eliza threw herself into Jonah's arms. Juliet had met Jane at last, they also seemed to be getting along well. What would they say about him? Why wasn't he there? Would Jane even notice?

On the plane home, Jensen was dying to ask either Juliet or Jonah if Jane had asked about him, or if any of the family had mentioned him, but Jonah was quite emotional having just reconnected with his ex-girlfriend for the first time since they broke up. Juliet was giving him plenty of hugs and reassurance as Jensen sat wondering what they all talked about when he was hiding behind a hedge. "So..." He couldn't stand it anymore, he needed to know something, "...how was Eliza? She seemed pretty happy to see you!"

"Oh she was!" Juliet beamed, stroking Jonah's hair affectionately as he lay his head on her shoulder, "I think they might just get back together, well when Eliza's feeling more like herself. She's still got a lot of grieving to do!"

"And how was Jane?" Very subtle, not, but he had to know. It was killing him not knowing.

"She's lovely Jensy, I can tell why you like her so much! Her eyes are really big, you were right! She asked us back to their house but I felt that this one had had enough excitement for one day!" Juliet pointed at Jonah, who was looking exhausted leaning against her as she cradled him like a baby. That wasn't what Jensen meant, he wanted to know more and Juliet knew it, that impish smile on her face was a dead giveaway that she was torturing him on purpose. "She thanked us for coming, she was really pleased to see Jonah there for her sister, wasn't she?" Jonah nodded, still snuggling into her, "We told them that you were still recovering after your stint in rehab, they seemed to buy it!"

"Oh, okay." Jensen nodded disappointedly, "Did Jane understand? She wasn't mad at me or..."

"Jensen she'd just cremated her mother, she had nothing left in her to feel anger towards anyone!" Juliet sighed impatiently, "We gave her your card though, she told us to thank you. Honestly Jensy, the girls were just barely hanging in there. There's plenty of time for you to talk to Jane, that wasn't the time, you did the right thing staying out of sight." Did he though? Jonah got his big happy reunion, he'd been there for Eliza when it counted, all Jensen did was hide! He should have been able to talk to Jane, he wanted what Jonah and Eliza had, he was allowed to feel jealous. When they got back he was going to call Doctor Jenna, he wasn't in a good place right now and he needed to stay on track if he was ever going to win over Jane. Yes, she was still his end game, as Landon Ellis had put it, she was always going to be!

***

"It really was a lovely service!" Louise piped up as she sat next to Jane and Eliza on the large sofa in the front room. Ricky wanted to be alone in the back as the girls flicked through the television.

"Yes, I think mum would have approved!" Jane smiled off into the distance as Eliza was in charge of the remote, "It was nice to see Jonah there, wasn't it?" Eliza grinned at the mention of Jonah's name, yes she had been over the moon to see him, the fact that he'd flown all the way over there meant so much to her, and to Jane. Meeting Juliet for the first time was nice too, she was even prettier in real life, she had the same eyes as her brothers and the same facial features, they all looked alike. Jane thought about Jensen, hoping that he was doing okay since leaving rehab. He'd been in there for three months, she didn't know if that was a long time or not, all that mattered was that he'd got the help he needed.

"And Jensen!" Eliza piped up, what was she talking about?

"Oh yeah!" Louise pointed a finger at Eliza with wide eyes, as if she was remembering something important. "I thought he looked familiar! That was Jensen Reed!"

"Juliet was there, not Jensen, he sent a card!" Jane looked from Louise to Eliza feeling confused as Eliza corrected her.

"No, he was there too, he was just hiding bless him!"

"No he wasn't, no I..."

"Janey he was there!" Eliza insisted, "I saw him slip out the back at the end and then I saw him standing behind the hedge at the front gates!"

"You saw him at the service too?" Louise's eyes widened even more, "I only saw him at the gates, well, thought I saw him!"

"Oh no he was inside as well!" Eliza and Louise were having a little conversation between themselves as Jane sat feeling confused, why did Jonah and Juliet lie? They had handed her a card and told her he couldn't be there as he was still in recovery. Why didn't he want to see her? "Anyway, it was so nice to see Jonah, I missed him so much!"

"You'll see him again, he's so in love with you!" Jane was listening but not participating as her sister and best friend continued to chat. Louise was right though; Jonah was indeed madly in love with Eliza and hopefully someday soon they would be reunited.

***

"So how was the funeral?" Landon Ellis waved a hand in front of Jensen's face bringing him back to the real world.

"Hmm? Oh, um, it was actually a really nice service. Yeah!"

"Look we can do this another time if..."

"No, no sorry I'm all yours!" Landon looked him warily up and down, they had agreed to meet in this dimly lit restaurant in a quiet area of L.A. to discuss the script for this new project he had come out of retirement for. Landon was very hush hush about it, Jensen knew very little about it other than he was born to play the lead. Landon cleared his throat and adjusted his position, he seemed nervous which was a novelty to Jensen, he was always so laid back.

"Right, so I know I've been kinda mysterious about this but there's a reason for that. I was worried you might not take the part if I told you exactly what it is..."

"Okay..."

"The truth is that I've been working on my autobiography for a few years now and rather than write it in book form, it's more akin to a screenplay!" So what was the big deal? Landon was going to direct a movie of his life story; Jensen could get on board with that no problem.

"Yeah? Cool, so..." Then it hit him, if it was a movie about Landon's life, then that meant the lead character was Landon! He wanted Jensen to play him in a movie. Nerve wracking didn't even come close to describing how he was feeling at that very moment.

"You understand your assignment, don't you?" Landon smirked as the panic set in on Jensen's face.

"You want me to play you! What the fuck Landon?" The smirk transformed into a huge grin as Landon laughed softly and looked down at the table. "I can't do this, it's too..."

"You said you would!" Landon raised an eyebrow at him, "What's the problem? Your research material is right here!" He raised his arms still smiling, "What better guide to playing me than me?" He chuckled and brought out a wad of papers, "Here's the first half of the screenplay, I want you to read it, maybe it will convince you more than I can!"

"Landon, this is...well it's fucking scary! I'd be so self-conscious; how can I ever play you?"

"You're the only one who can kid, you already look like me, you can act and sing...you've got it all!"

"But..."

"If you don't wanna do it, then I'll understand!" He pouted a little for effect, "I'll stay retired and stick to my photography, no harm no foul!" He shrugged, was he saying that if Jensen didn't take the part he wouldn't make it at all?

"But you could find another actor..." Landon shook his head very slowly with his eyes closed.

"I want you or it's not happening! It was never going to see the light of day until I met you at the clinic!" The more Landon talked; the more stressed Jensen became.

"These are huge shoes to fill, I don't know if I'm...worthy!" Jensen wondered if it was hot in the restaurant because he could feel beads of sweat trickling down his back.

"There is no one else who can do this for me, kid you're my choice! It's my movie, surely I'm entitled to pick who I want?" He made a very good point; Jensen was running out of arguments.

"Yeah but surely there are far better qualified actors out there..."

"Jensen Reed, you have two fucking Academy Awards! One more than the guy you'll be playing!" Another very good and valid point, but Landon Ellis was a legend not only in the movie business but in the music business too. Nobody could ever live up to his legacy. "Listen to me, I was retired! Done, finito, off to pastures new! Then I saw you, this mirror image of myself from decades ago, you inspired me to keep writing and I did. My screenplay is finished after being half done for ten years! If I can't convince you to bring my masterpiece to life, then it's not meant to see the light of day!"

"What makes you think I'll do you justice?" Landon sat forward and stared intently into his eyes.

"Because you are me, I am you! I've seen your movies, you're an artist, just like me! Please do this, do it for me but most importantly do it for you. Like I said, you were born to play this part!"

Jensen took the screenplay home with him to read, he had a lot to think about. After a couple of hours of reading, it was apparent to him that their lives were eerily similar, right down to the divorced parents and the rebellious teenage years full of drug use and bad behaviour. After going through the whole first half that Landon had given him, he found himself completely drawn to the part, he was strongly considering doing it. When his cell phone rang, he almost jumped out of his skin, it was a strange number, similar to Eliza's, so he threw caution to the wind and answered it. "Hello?"

"Hi Jensen, it's Jane!" No, it couldn't be, was this a fucking dream? "Are-are you there?"

"What? Yeah, of course! Hello Jane!" He must have left a gaping hole of silence without even noticing, this had come as a complete shock, he'd had his fill of those for one day.

"I just wanted to thank you for coming to mum's funeral. It was really appreciated."

"Oh, uh, yeah, thanks-I mean, no problem!" Boy was he fucking this up, he was so nervous. "I-I didn't wanna get in the way so..."

"I wish I'd known you were there at the time; it was Eliza who told me. She and my best friend Louise spotted you." Ah, the blonde girl was her friend, the famous Louise that she had mentioned a couple of times at the cottage.

"Yeah like I said, didn't wanna get...in the way of...stuff!"

"Well it means a lot that you came, how are you doing these days?" Was this a conversation? With Jane? What was happening?

"I'm good, yeah. I'm reading a script right now for a movie so..."

"Oh that's great, I look forward to seeing it!" Seriously, what was this? Why was she being so friendly? Because she'd just lost her mother, she wasn't thinking straight.

"Well, I dunno if I'll take it! I really shouldn't be telling you this but Landon Ellis wants me to play him in a movie about his life, I'm terrified!" Why did he tell her that? Was that a breach of contract or something? Had he broken a rule that he hadn't agreed to yet?

"I think you should take it, if he wants you then it means you're meant for the part!" Wow, what were the odds of her calling and telling him what he needed to hear right when he needed to hear it?

"I'm strongly considering it. Anyway, enough about me, what about Joliza huh?"

"Um, what?"

"Y'know, Jonah and Eliza, Joliza?"

"Oh, yes. I was hoping the door is still open there, at least it is from my sister's side."

"It's wide open on my brother's side too! We should totally get them back together!"

"Yes, I agree!" This was just too good to be true, they were laughing together and making plans to reunite their siblings, a right pair of little match makers! "I'm glad you're doing well, you sound good!"

"I feel good right now..." There was a small silence, then Jensen filled it with words that just tumbled out of his mouth, "...I miss our talks, I miss you! Jane I think about you all the time, that hasn't changed! It's so good to hear your voice!"

"Well I have to go; this call is expensive so..." He'd blown it, again! "Good luck with the part, although you don't need it! Bye Jensen!" And just like that, she'd hung up, great job! Then the realisation hit him, she had called him on his personal cell phone, that meant she still had the letters! She could have passed a message on to him through Juliet, they were the best of pals lately, but she didn't. She called him, personally, to thank him, she wasn't mad or upset, she was thanking him! That was it, he was taking the part, if Jane thought it was a good idea then he was going to do it!

***

Jane was pleased to see Eliza regularly texting Jonah, she was hoping that someday they would get back together. Now she had Jensen on board to try and make that happen, hopefully they wouldn't make a mess of it this time. Talking to him had been nice, but when he started telling her how much he missed her and thought about her, it was overwhelming. Being trusted with the news that he was considering acting again also felt good, like her opinion mattered, especially since the news broke that he'd taken her advice and accepted the role. Jensen Reed was officially playing Landon Ellis in a movie about his life and Jane was excited to see it. There were several big names attached to the film, such was Landon's reputation, everyone that was everyone wanted a piece of this. The man himself was directing, he had also written the script, now Jane understood why Jensen had been so apprehensive about taking it on. Playing Landon Ellis in front of Landon Ellis would be very daunting, but if anyone could do it, it was Jensen Reed. Jane was still going through her mother's things; it had only been two weeks since the funeral but she was feeling like it should have been done already. Eliza was taking her time with it, reading their mum's old diaries, and rummaging through her jewellery box. To her it was a trip down memory lane and comforting, to Jane it was painful. Ricky wanted nothing to do with any of it and was perfectly content to let his daughters deal with it. Juliet would send the odd message here and there, it seemed like she wanted a woman's opinion on things and would ask Jane and Eliza what they thought of certain things regarding River Monster's big comeback. She had hinted that Jensen was back writing as well as rehearsing for the big movie, Jane hoped that it wasn't too much for him, the reason he'd gotten into trouble before was because of the pressure of fame. However having Juliet taking care of him was a plus, big sister would keep an eye on him. She would also talk about her pregnancy; she was excited and scared all at the same time. Jane envied her, since she was a child, she always knew she wanted to be a mother but after her PCOS diagnosis...it was going to be difficult! Juliet mentioned her engagement and that she'd said yes because her boyfriend had proposed in front of Jensen and she didn't want to give her brother the satisfaction of gloating when she said no. She didn't want to get married and she didn't know how to tell Charlie, her psychologist boyfriend who, if Jane was right, probably knew already. As Jane sat on her bedroom floor looking through old photographs, her phone rang beside her. It was a strange number, she didn't usually answer those but since taking care of her mother there were all sorts of NHS people calling her now and again, maybe this was one of them following up on something. "Hello?"

"Hi, is this Jane from Jane's Plant Bakes?" An English accent, an English stranger's accent!

"Um, y-yes I...it was! A while ago!"

"Oh, so you're not...I was hoping to make a small order for a gallery exhibit? Do you still do vegan baking?"

"I...uhhhh yes, yes I can..."

"Great, my name is Caroline Harris, I'm hosting an exhibit for Dexter Maloney in London next month and Gemma Lacey gave me your number. She has such good things to say and recommended you highly!" All Jane could think was wow, this was huge, maybe she'd get to meet her idol! It was a no brainer, she had to say yes. She'd just lost her mother though, she was still grieving, could she even do this?

"Well I...I recently lost my mother..."

"Oh, I didn't know, I'm sorry for your loss!"

"...but...next month you say?"

"If you're up to it, yes, I'd really appreciate it!"

"Will Dexter Maloney be there?" Jane held her breath for the answer.

"Yes, he's bringing the whole family! I can introduce you if you like?" She didn't have to be asked twice, this was a dream come true! As she ran through to Eliza's room giggling all the way, she couldn't wait to tell someone.

"Liza! Guess what?" Eliza frowned at her and took her phone away from her ear.

"Janey I'm talking to Jonah!" She whispered irritably.

"But..."

"No, this is important!" She hissed, covering the mouthpiece with a cupped hand. But so is this, she thought to herself, biting her tongue she nodded and left her sister in peace. She was going to meet Dexter Maloney; nobody could bring her down from that!

⏮️Previous/Next⏭️

[thatblondeperson]

maybe odd but how do you think meals would work between our lovely TimSteph. I imagine picnics and late evening dinners - both having perfected quick variations of different types of soup and mashed potatoes for when they just want to snuggle and sleep after a long patrol. I’m on team “Tim can cook” but I beileve in my whole heart Steph is the baker.

Oh man, good question!

Tbh I do love to picture Tim as someone who isn't great at cooking. Give him a recipe and he can follow it well enough, but leave him to his son devices and he burns toast.

This is a boy who has had people cooking for him his whole life, I just can't imagine he ever took time to pick up the skill.

Steph on the other hand probably does know how to cook. Her dad sucked and her mom wasn't always coherent, so she probably had to learn pretty young how to fend for herself.

And I absolutely do agree that she's excellent at baking which Tim loves. Nothing like the smell of chocolate chip cookies filling the apartment, but they both have absolutely caved early and eaten the cookie dough instead, salmonella be damned.

I think cooking is something they could have fun with together, Steph teaching Tim a few things here and there. I believe they're both one to surprise the other with dinner just because.

Fast food is a common staple when they're in the middle of a case. Can't really focus on making something or adhering to food groups when you're several hours into detective work. Food is fuel. French fries are a favorite on nights like this.

Love the headcanon that Tim likes to snack on marshmallows, so those are necessary to have around the house at all times. Comes in handy on hot chocolate nights.

While tea is the way they start their day and rely on for late nights, tea is also a love language. It's made in times of need for comfort. There's just something very intimate about snuggling on the couch with warm mugs of tea together.

They're not heavy alcohol drinkers. That's not to say they haven't absolutely gotten drunk together. They're both very affectionate, flirty drinks. Stephanie gets a bit too loud, Tim is a mess who can barely walk. It's a comedic mix.

Picnics, YES. But instead of in a park, how about on a rooftop? Sitting above the city, all the pretty lights, the terrible ambient noises, the threat of rain at any second all year round? Very romantic. Other options involve driving somewhere as far away from everything as possible, somewhere quiet and private and having a picnic on the hood of a car while they let their minds rest. It's necessary at least once a month, for their sanity.

As far as what they eat, I think they're both pretty open to trying whatever. Steph can handle more spice than Tim. They both have a major sweet tooth, but they also both eat relatively healthy on a more regular basis. Besides the quick bites of greasy food, they both have to stay pretty healthy to keep up their lifestyle. It's canon by RR that Tim has a focus on health, and I can't imagine Steph being all that different.

But comfort foods are still indulged in often as well. Tim with his gross pizza concoctions, Steph with her mountain of mashed potatoes. Tim definitely craves greasy fried foods every now and again, Stephanie has been caught eating frosting with a spoon late at night. Tim has a popcorn machine which comes in handy for movie nights, but they both enjoy seeing what kind of weird toppings and mix ins they can put on it. So far the only failed night was the night that neither of them knew that the other had already salted the popcorn, and the batch had to be thrown away.

Steph sings while she bakes. Tim is mesmerized by this.

Tim has danced while cooking on a number of occasions. He looks a bit ridiculous but Steph finds it adorable.

THANK YOU FOR THIS!!! It was really fun and cute to think about!! ❤💜

[empyreanwritings]

Oh my goodness Mob Monday is back! I was just thinking about this the other day too!! So excited for this to come back. Can I request a check in with the Stark!Reader clan? How are they doing with the baby during quarantine? Is Tony enjoying time as a grandpa? Honestly I don't mind what you write with that group as long as it's fluffy. Thanks lovely Steph!

Steve sat back in the recliner, letting out a content sigh as his body instantly started to relax. Bucky was already fast asleep in the recliner next to him, and you were in the kitchen, humming along to something playing on the radio. He glanced down Sarah, who was also fast asleep on his chest, and smiled to himself. It was the perfect day to do absolutely nothing. 

When the numbers started to rise again, you decided it would be a good idea to spend the next few months in the Stark cabin. The only time you ever made contact with the outside world was for work - always virtually - or when your parents would deliver the groceries. It was a hard decision to make because you didn’t want to be cut off from your friends, but you needed to take care of Sarah first and foremost. 

Despite the initial stress of working from home, the four of you settled into a rather nice routine. There was always a sense of peace hanging over, and it was something you had to be grateful for. 

“Sweetheart?” Steve called to you as quietly as he could. 

“Yes, dear?” 

“Can you call your dad and ask him to add cookie dough on the list? I think I want to introduce Sarah to the joys of edible cookie dough.” 

You rounded the corner so quick, an unimpressed look on your face as you looked at him. He had been trying to sneak grown up food with Sarah for some time now, but she was stubborn. She preferred being breast fed most of the time, which wasn’t a big deal according to your doctor, but you doubted cookie dough was a good place to start again. 

He looked up at you sheepishly. He lucked out that she was sleeping on his chest because you probably would have smacked the side of his head. Gently, but still. 

“Okay, so maybe I want the cookie dough.” 

“Mhm. It better just be for you, Mr. Barnes-Rogers,” you huffed before going back to the kitchen. 

“You’re hitting me with the last night? That’s painful.” 

“You’ll live!” 

He let out a little whine, and you laughed. You weren’t sure who was going to be the toddler first - Steve or Sarah. You put your bets on both of them. 

[rainygothherowolf]

Jasonette/Daminette- Little Sister Pt.2

Previous ~ Here ~ Next

Marinette was in the kitchen, preparing herself some hot chocolate. After the drama at Wayne tower, Jason insisted she stay with his family. Her older brother seemed to loathe the class with a passion, refusing to let her near them. Marinette's parents were hesitant at first, not trusting some random Gotham boy to take care of their daughter but eventually they were persuaded. Where she would be staying was definitely a factor, where could be safer?

"I don't see how you could stand to drink such sugary poison." Damian stated making her jump, he was right behind her. He reached past Marinette and to the cupboard she was in front of. He grabbed a teacup before pulling his arm back, his eyes never straying from her own.

"Well then... what do you suggest I drink?" Marinette's hot chocolate sat on the counter behind her, forgotten, as she turned and faced Damian. The Parisian crossed her arms defiantly, Damian looked down at her like she was a cute puppy.

"Tea has been known to calm frayed nerves, perhaps I could prepare you some?"

"W-why would I need to calm down? I feel perfectly fine!" Marinette declared, refusing to give in. Her stubbornness seemed to amuse Damian, he reached out and just barely brushed her cheek with the back of his hand.

"Well, you've been blushing since you noticed I was here, for one. Now, would you like some tea? How do you take it?"

"I don't usually have tea. I tried making myself some a few times but always thought it tasted like bitter water."

"You haven't had my tea yet." Damian challenged, "You wouldn't be scared to try something I made, would you?" Marinette was coherent enough to see what he was doing, even if his imposing and, frankly, distracting physique was only a hair's breadth away.

"Only if you have my hot chocolate. Or are you scared of the 'sugary poison'?" Marinette offered, Damian leaned his head down just a fraction of an inch closer to Marinette before catching himself pulling away. He retreated back a few feet before turning to the sink.

"Alright then, it's a deal. I'll try the wretched holiday drink if you have my tea." Damian spoke with his back to her as he filled a kettle with water.

"Deal." Marinette agreed before heading to refrigerator, she's get him to admit her hot chocolate was good. No one called her favorite drink 'wretched' and got away with it.

"Deal." Damian reaffirmed.

By the time the drinks were done Marinette was thirsty, she would have had her own hot chocolate but Damian demanded she leave it, claiming it would cloud her pallet. She rolled her eyes at that but by the time she finally got past Damian's joking defense the drink was cold.

Marinette sipped from her cup first, Damian watched, both amused and attentive as she took a sip of the tea.

He laughed at her wrinkled nose, just for a moment- one could hardly call it a chuckle, before adding the cream.

"Try it now." Marinette looked at Damian hesitantly before taking another sip, this time he noticed her relax as a small smile graced her lips. Damian smirked at his little victory.

"Alright, your turn Monsieur." Damian rolled his eyes as Marinette watched him lift the mug. He felt she looked over excited for something so silly but found it strangely endearing.

The warm, smooth liquid made it's way past his lips and while it was a little too sweet for his liking, it was still good and he told her so.

"Fine, it was adequate." Marinette rolled her eyes before taking a taunting step toward him.

"Yeah right! That was some of my best work, you don't get to get away with calling it 'adequate'" Damian scoffed, taking a more intimidating step towards the short girl, one upping her in their little game of chicken.

"Then what do you suggest I call something I found too sweet but bearable?"

"Good! You call it good, it's important to be polite, Damian!" Marinette took another step forward forgetting how close they already were, refusing to back down. Damian had to look further down than usual to meet Marinette's passionately determined eyes.

He took his opportunity, using his right hand to tilt her chin upwards, smiling slightly, only slightly. They were so close, he could feel the warmth of her body from where he stood. Damian was about to speak when they saw someone walk into the kitchen, it was Jason.

The teenagers separated themselves quickly but it was too late, the damage was already done. The taller boy immediately scooped Marinette up and slung her over his shoulder. Jason was glaring daggers at a smug Damian before waking out of the room with Marinette. Damian waved goodbye to a blushing Parisian, she followed her old brothers lead and glared at the annoyingly smug boy.

The rest of Marinette's stay was an amusing balance between getting to know the Wayne's, spending time with Jason, and sneaking off with an unrepentant Damian.

Whenever Jason was around they kept their distance but were caught more than enough times.

"And you eat this?" Damian asked, bewildered at how anyone could consume something so unhealthy.

"Yes. It isn't that bad if you have it every once in a while. Sometimes the calories are worth it! Worth the satisfaction of indulgence." Damian scoffed from his seat on the counter opposite to Marinette, who was baking chocolate chip cookies.

"Why don't you help me? That way they're done sooner." Marinette offered, not realizing how disastrous the question was.

"I think it would be best if I didn't. Things tend to go wrong when me or my siblings attempt to do anything in the kitchen." Marinette giggled, she thought Damian was great. He was a good listener, funny, smart, and on top of that he was drop-dead-gorgeous. Marinette knew he wasn't just being friendly, no, he'd made his intentions perfectly clear when they first met but she didn't want to become a problem. Jason seemed to hate the idea, so she did her best to keep it friendly- unfortunately, Damian was persistent.

"It's just rolling the dough into balls, it's not even real cooking!" Marinette countered and Damian relented, getting up and watching her roll the dough before following suit.

At first, everything went suspiciously well. Damian did a good job rolling the dough and there was a period of comfortable silence, the problem with that was that it was too comfortable. Marinette began to hum, softly at first before it got a little louder. Damian didn't comment but eventually Marinette realized what she had done and blushed, her hands going to her head- accidentally getting flour on Damian's (NOT distracting) tight black turtleneck.

Marinette apologized repeatedly but noticed Damian was trying to smother his laughter.

"What? What is it?" The Parisian demanded, her accent thickening as she got more and more worried about what he was laughing at. As it turned out, the in her state of embarrassment she had not only dirtied Damian but also herself. She had cookie dough smeared across both cheeks. She blushed a deep red, making the cookie dough even more visible.

Eventually, Marinette moved past her embarrassment and spoke to a working Damian as he loaded the cookies in the oven.

"Oh Damian~" The boy turned, his eyes still amused.

"Ye-" Damian was cut off by a cloud of flour, she'd thrown the powdery substance at him as he turned. While blinded by the thick cloud of white Marinette was able to get close enough to get some cookie dough on his forehead.

"Oh it is on, little one, and I don't loose." They spent the next ten minutes throwing flour, extra dough, and water at each other, in a world of their own.

Reality didn't come crashing down on the teens until they saw the flash of a camera.

It was Tim and Stephanie.

Marinette blushed as she tried to dust the flour off herself, embarrassed that she'd made such a mess in someone else's home. Damian seemed to be torn between being amused at Marinette's embarrassment and trying to salvage what was left of his reputation.

"Jason's gonna lose it."

"Todd doesn't need to know."

"What's in it for us?" Stephanie countered, using her hand to lower Tim's hand as he tried to call Jason.

"Cookies?" Just as Marinette spoke the timer went off and she went to take the treats out of the oven. The warm chocolate-y smell filled the room as both Steph and Tim began to drool.

"Todd doesn't need to know?"

"Jason doesn't need to know." Tim seconded as Marinette fanned the cookies. When they were cool she handed them all the cookies on a plate. All but one that she negotiated for Damian to try.

Dick, Tim, Steph, Selina, even Bruce found it hilarious, they understood why Jason hated it, but they also saw that she brought out the best in Damian. It pissed Jason off, Marinette was off limits. Damian was frustrated because had Jason not been so annoying he'd have asked her out already, but watching the second robin get so riled up also made the chase that much more fun (not that Damian would even consider perusing her without her explicit encouragement).

Damian was taking Titus out for a walk on the grounds when he heard a familiar hum, he followed the high, sweet tune to the rose gardens where a small Parisian sat, sketching.

Marinette sat on a small bench for two, her hair in loose waves. She wore a black skirt that ended just above her knees and a deep red halter top with matching red flats. She looked stunning, surrounded by the vibrant rose bushes. He studied her for a moment more before making his presence known.

"What are you drawing?" Damian asked as he approached the girl. Marinette wasn't as jumpy as when they first met, getting used to his sudden appearances.

"A new design, a dress." Everyone knew she wanted to be a designer but no one knew she was MDC yet. Marinette convinced herself that was because it hadn't come up yet but in reality she was embarrassed. She'd heard Tim say they were his favorite designer and that if he ever met them he'd either fall in love (Stephanie slapped him across the head at that) or pass out.

Marinette didn't look up until Damian's shadow blocked the light. Marinette decided to tease him and ignore the boy in favor of his dog.

"Hello again, Titus! What a good boy, so cute!" She poured all her attention onto the animal who took it in stride. Damian didn't like being ignored but humored her, petting Titus.

"You like to design." It wasn't a question, Damian remembered what Grayson told him about conversation. He tried to find a relevant topic that would allow him to compliment her.

"May I see your sketch?" Damian asked, still paying attention to Titus. Marinette blushed as she quickly shut her sketchbook.

"Uh... hehe- maybe another day." Her logo was on the corner of each page and Marinette didn't want to risk it. Damian thought she looked adorable, blushing deeply, but he also thought it was uncalled for- he hadn't begun his teasing yet. This caught his attention and curiosity, he had to see the book.

"What? Why are you blushing?" Damian teased but he saw she was getting uncomfortable, he had done it in good fun but he saw he'd overstepped.

"Apologies- I'm sorry if I crossed a line I was just teasing, you don't have to show me- I didn't mean it." Damian was at a loss, he didn't think before he spoke and ended up stringing together apology after apology. Marinette giggled.

"It's okay, you don't have to blush!" Damian hadn't even noticed how hot his face was, this only embarrassed him further.

"Oh~ Do you need some tea? To calm the nerves?" Marinette teased, earning a half-assed glare from Damian, who was still trying to fight his blush. Finally, he got it under control. Despite the sidetrack Damian persisted, trying to start up another conversation just like Grayson told him to. He sat next to Marinette on the bench.

"The gardens are beautiful this time of year, are they not?" Damian offered. Marinette hummed in agreement, studying her surroundings before her eyes met Damian's.

"Breathtaking." Damian complimented, making Marinette blush heavily. Damian glanced at her full, pale rose lips, unconsciously licking his own. The Parisian seemed to notice and she tilted her head upward slightly, only slightly, with her eyes half-closed.

Damian summoned his courage and leaned in closer, they both closed their eyes. Just as they were about to close the gap, his hand was about to hold her check. Damian swore he felt her soft lips barely brush his when they heard Jason yell.

"AH! Get off her! NOPE NOPE NOPE!" Jason was a few meters away but both teens obeyed, embarrassed. Jason grabbed Marinette’s hand and quickly, but carefully, pulled his little sister away from Damian. "From now on, you two aren't allowed in the same room anymore. Except diner. Keep away from Nettie, Demon Brat."

Damian saw Jason's face, this wasn't just because he thought it was weird to see Damian try to date someone he saw as family- no, it was something else entirely. It was because he saw Marinette as too good, too pure for Damian.

Jason didn't want Marinette to be dragged into the mess that was Damian's life.

Jason didn't want Marinette to suffer because Damian didn't know how to deal with his emotions.

Jason didn't want Marinette to be hurt by Damian, he didn't want to see someone he loved hurt. It wasn't just because it was Damian, it was because he didn't want to see Marinette's heart get broken.

Damian, shockingly, backed off- hardly even acknowledging the girl on the few occasions they crossed paths. He wasn't outwardly rude like he was with his siblings but Marinette seemed to catch on. At first she was a little dejected but was adamant about keeping positive.

Jason spent as much time as possible with his little sister, making sure to watch movies, tour the city, and just hang out all the time. He also made sure that she got to know the rest of the family, except Damian. And the fourth robin let it happen, he kept to himself and let her spend time with everyone else.

And then family night reared it's ugly head.

Marinette was sitting with Alfred the Cat and Cass on the sofa, Jason on a chair near Marinette, waiting for everyone else to arrive for the movie.

The Parisian beamed when she met Kor'i and Mar'i, quickly bonding with both. Marinette was quickly dubbed Auntie Nettie by an Auntie Steph and Uncle Timmy. Dick was about to play the first movie when Kor'i spoke up.

"Where is the little D?"

"Yeah! Where's Uncle Dami?" A four year old Mar'i asked from her father's lap. Jason scoffed, he was about to speak when someone walked in.

"Has anyone seen Alfred the Cat?" Damian asked, before he saw Jason and Marinette. Damian was about to say never mind- noticing Alfred purring in Marinette's arms, but Mar'i beat him to it.

"Uncle Dami!" The half Tamaranian announced, jumping from the couch and flying into her uncle's arms. Marinette was quick to catch onto the families nightly activities and let them catch her talking to Tikki. Jason clearly wasn't happy, neither was Damian, but on the bright side they didn't have any secrets. Kor'i and Mar'i were briefly discussed but Marinette didn't pry.

"It's been forever, like a whole week! You have to come watch the movie with us, it's family night! You can sit next to Marinette! Isn't she pretty? And nice?" Mar'i chattered and waited for Damian to respond.

"Yes, she is very nice." Damian spoke as carried his niece to her father who gave him an encouraging smile before Damian sat between Marinette and Cass. Mar'i spoke up just before Dick could play the movie.

"And pretty! Right Uncle Dami? Isn't she really pretty? Like momma!" Kor'i gave her daughter a quick kiss on the cheek, distracting the girl from Damian and Marinette's panic- and Jason's low growl.

Dick played the movie and gently shushed his daughter, stopping her from asking Damian again. Telling her she did a good job and would get extra popcorn.

The movie was some children's story that Damian couldn't seem to pay attention to, all he could seem to think about was the Parisian next to him- cuddling Alfred the Cat with her knees practically tucked to her chest, her back to him.

Damian took notice of Marinette's drooping shoulders and yawns as the movie progressed, but he hadn't expected for her to suddenly turn and cuddle onto his side, grabbing his arm as she and Alfred slept. Jason clearly didn't like it but Marinette was immovable, sleeping peacefully against a tense Damian. The boy did everything in his power to not sink into the warm sofa and nap alongside her, exhausted. He fought his tired eyes as best he could but it was a losing battle.

Eventually the movie faded away, his head rested upon something soft.

Jason wanted to be mad, he wanted to move Marinette so she rested against him- she always used to as a little girl but he saw she was clinging to Damian, whether it was intentional or not. Jason knew Damian hadn't done anything to give Marinette reason to cuddle him, finally understanding that Jason just didn't want to see Marinette hurt. Unfortunately, neither could do anything about it. 

Jason also knew he couldn't blame Damian for passing out, knowing as well as anyone that finals and patrol were a bad mix but that didn't mean he didn't want to slap him for passing out and unconsciously cuddling with Marinette.

Alfred the cat eventually woke from his nap and moved from his warm spot between the two teenagers and left the room to do only God knows what. The sudden lack of warmth seemed to stir both Marinette and Damian. The Parisian whined softly as she nuzzled closer to Damian, her legs ended up across his lap as they snuggled closer. Jason clenched his fists and jaw before bringing his attention back to the movie, trying to think of what to do.

By the time the movie ended, Jason was at a loss- at some point Cass left the room so Damian and Marinette were literally lying on each other, limbs entangled as they slept, blissfully unaware of their compromising position. Everyone softly laughed and took pictures of Damian sleeping and Marinette lying carefully on top of him, his arms wrapped around her with her head tucked under his chin. Their their legs tangled.

"Jay, I'm sorry but they're so cute together. And they really seem to like each other, I know it's weird for you but let them be." Dick tried, he'd been rooting for them since Damian started to ask about how to start a conversation, lines you don't cross, how to tell if a subject is off limits. The first robin prayed to whatever god was out there that his brother would finally see that their dating wouldn't be the end of the world.

"I know." Jason noticed Damian back off when he realized why Jason didn't want them to date, it wasn't just because Damian was an ass, if something ever happened to Damian- Marinette would be a mess and he couldn't stand to see the broken look in her eyes ever again. Jason knew it was a shitty reason, she'd probably be a mess no matter what, but he couldn't help it. He just wanted to protect Marinette. Jason finally knew what to do, but until then he'd let them sleep.

Jason walked out of the room, annoyed- the brat won. Damn their stubbornness. Hopefully it would make Damian more bearable...

Damian woke up with the sun, but for once wanted to stay in bed. He was warm, and a calming, steady breathing tried to lull him back to sleep- wait. Why would he feel someone else's breathing?

Damian's eyes snapped open and scanned the room, he was lying in the living room with a blanket on him and- 'No. No. No. Of all the times to pass out, of all the people-'

Damian's mind went into overdrive trying to remember how he'd gone from sitting with Marinette leaning on him to falling asleep with her. He knew he was dead, but suddenly his mind focused on the even sound of her breathing, she was still sleeping- dead to the world. There was no reason to wake her, so Damian closed his eyes, pulled Marinette closer, and allowed himself to go back to sleep. Enjoying his last moments in the land of the living.

Something made a noise, Damian opened his eyes again. This time Marinette awoke with him, propping herself up on his chest and rubbing her eyes with a tired yawn.

"Good morning." Marinette froze at the sound of Damian's deep, rough, sleep-filled voice as she took in a messy haired, tired Damian. She blushed, hard, morning Damian was officially her favorite Damian.

"D-Damian- w-what happe- did I- I'm so sorry!" Marinette sat up, not thinking about what she was doing. She continued to apologize while Damian panicked, if Jason walked in right now- he'd die for the second time. Breaking the family record, sure, but that certainly wouldn't be worth it. Well... No, not worth it- unless someone brought him back again... No, no, Todd would likely make it painful. Definitely not worth it.

"Marinette-"

"No, this is totally my fault! I'm so sorry. I really didn't mean to fall asleep on you, you were probably really uncomfortable with me leaning on you like that!"

"Marinette really it's alri-"

"No, Damian! It's not alright, I- Jay probably got really mad at you, I'll- I'll talk to him make sure he knows it wasn't your fault."

"Marinette?" The Parisian seemed to be done with her ranting and was staring at Damian again, she for some reason, hadn't noticed earlier but Damian wasn't wearing a shirt. In Marinette's sleepy state she just stared unabashedly. Damian's voice seemed to get her attention.

"Perhaps you shouldn't sit like that..." Damian refused to call it what it was. Had he wanted to be more accurate, and he didn't, he would have asked her to stop straddling him.

Marinette froze, blushed, and then started whining in embarrassment. Her head in her hands. Damian was having a difficult time holding back his own blush but was managing alright.

"Marinette?" Damian asked, she peaked out from between her hands and realized she had yet to get off him, finally he sat up on his own and gently pushed her off him. They sat next to each other, Damian refused to look at Marinette in her beautifully flustered state.

Jason walked in with his arms crossed, he leaned against the door-frame.

"Awake are we?" He asked, not expecting an answer, he didn't get one.

"Well, Demon Spawn, let's just say your reputation is effectively ruined. Steph and Selina got more than enough pictures to get even you to blush." The two teenagers refused to look at Jason, he pinched the bridge of his nose, letting his annoyance surface.

"I can't even-" Damian waited for the inevitable outburst, for once. " I can't believe I'm fucking doing this- You two were cute or whatever but word of the wise, brat- hurt her and I'll kill you. Got it?" Both teenagers heads snapped up, Marinette blushed. Damian nodded a mischievous sparkle in his eyes.

'FINALLY' Was the only thing Damian thought in that moment before he began to plan how to ask her out. He needs to speak to Grayson again, unfortunately.

And with that, their banter and teases began again. This time there was no bribery to keep Damian's siblings quiet and no Jason to stop their kisses. The young couple went on dates, watched movies, laughed at the put off look Damian’s family would have when he said something awkwardly funny. Of course, Jason was still insistent on sibling bonding, stealing Marinette as often as possible- that became their new game: who could get Marinette for the day.

Of course, there were some close calls. Jason had walked in on Damian and Marinette kissing... for an extended period of time... he stood frozen and watched in horror as they made out on a chair in Damian's room, Marinette's hands in Damian's hair with his hands at her hips, keeping her pressed against him as her legs bracketed his hips.

Damian noticed Jason first, immediately pushing away and inwardly cursing. Marinette blushed furiously and had to stop Jason from killing Damian but her messy hair and slightly swollen lips didn't help.

Of course, everyone else thought it was hilarious.

As they say, all good things must come to an end. After three weeks of freedom from her class, their trip finally came to an end and so did Marinette's reunion. By the end of her stay Marinette knew why she'd be okay, from now on she had a family four times as big as before. The Parisian couldn't be happier: she reunited with her brother and has an adoring boyfriend. All she had to do now was survive the last few weeks of the school year before transferring to Mme Mandeleiev's class.

I’m gonna be okay, Marinette thought that to herself as they made their way to the airport. Damian didn't want her to leave, no one did, he held Marinette's hand while she spoke to Jason who promised to visit often.

Everyone hugged her goodbye or said so from a respectful distance before she passed through security and rejoined her class.Both Damian and Jason glared at the class in warning, they still seemed to be reeling from the discovery that the Italian was a liar. People called out to the girl, shouting apologies. Marinette just walked past as if she couldn’t hear a thing. 

And then she was gone. Damian and Jason pouted, they already missed her, luckily summer was right around the corner. They'd get her to visit soon, or if they had to they'd go to Paris.

After all, family is supposed to stick together. And despite their attempts at denying it, they were clingy.

[danny-chase]

Hello, are there any Cassandra Cain fans/stans that could help me out with her characterization? I’ve just started to get into writing fanfiction (I haven’t posted any, and am working towards getting more confident with writing the characters in general so hopefully I’ll post some someday) and I haven’t been in the fandom long. Cass is a confusing character for me to write, mostly because I feel like she’s written differently in everything she’s in. And her personality absolutely got erased and overhauled in the New52. I’ve read some of her Batgirl run (it was awhile ago ngl) and I read the storyline where she was introduced in the New52 and the Rise and the Fall of the Batmen (I think that’s the arc she’s involved in with Detective Comics). Idk, more under cut.

My goal in writing Cass is to make her seem like a real person and I’m drawing more on pre-New52 than post-New52. I feel like she used to have so much more to her than just being like a perfect person and the sweetest person in general. Not that she can’t be sweet (I love cinnamon bun Cass too), but she used to have much more grit to her personality it seems like. I’m blending the two personalities, and I’d really like to focus on her love for dance, it’s one of the changes I really liked, and of course her connections to her siblings because I love sibling dynamics. Currently I’m working on a fic where she ends up dancing with each of her siblings. I like the idea of writing her as a bit snarky or sassy (the kind of person that just stares at you with the “really” expression when you do something dumb), more introverted, a bit of a little shit, self deprecating, but genuinely kind hearted, driven, and a perfectionist. I also don’t want to write her as being a magic character that instantly knows what’s wrong with a character. Yeah, she can read body language, but her family is good at hiding things, they’ve been trained recognizing body language and I’m guessing some of them have worked to have good control over their own. My interpretation is she can tell what people are feeling but not why, and how they’re going to move. I’ve written a little bit of the fic so far (um please don’t feel obligated to read through it, any comments on how you think Cass should be written is helpful) so I’ll post it below. Thanks for reading this far if you made it XD.

I don’t have a title for this lmao but the fic starts here:

“Hey.” Dick gently placed a hand on her shoulder as he hopped down from his spot on the water tower. “You know who’s my most favorite, strongest, most beautiful, spectacular-”

Cass groaned; he was making the face. He was wearing his Nightwing mask, but as she turned to look, she could already tell he was making the face. Dick ignored her groans and continued “-most perfect, amazing, gorgeous, sweetest, nicest, kindhearted, thoughtful-”

Cass pulled away; she would not be doing what he asked. Nope. The last time she heard Dick talking like this, Barbara ended up agreeing to dog sit for Titus. The dog chewed everything in the clocktower; they were still finding ripped up socks in various locations. “He’s so well behaved” he said. “It won’t be for that long” he said. “You’re the best thank you so, so much” he said. On the bright side, Dick had bought her new ballet shoes to replace the ones Titus tore through. But they’d taken weeks to break in and-oh he was still talking.

“-smartest, wisest, funniest, loveliest, badass, awesomest, funnest-” Cass placed her hands on her hips and stood up to meet him. The stakeout had been going fine on her own, at this rate she probably didn’t need his backup anyways, so if this was something stupid, she could always tell him to leave. She gave him her best “bat-glare” as he continued to mumble on compliments. “fantastic, reliable, trustworthy-” his voice grew smaller as she continued glaring. He cleared his throat “sister of all time?” He finished.

Cass sighed and leaned back against the tower’s support. “What do you want?” Dick gave her a weak smile, embarrassment radiated off him. That couldn’t be good.

“Look, I’ll cut to the chase.” Thank heavens for that. “But like, just know I love you so much.” Cass wished she could stick her tongue out, maybe the domino mask was the way to go. She settled for lightly shoving his shoulder. He grinned at her, doing his best to seem casual, but slight tension in his neck gave away his discomfort. Dick was always hard for her to read, he was a performer from birth, and had excellent control of his posture and facial expressions. He gave himself away in movement, in the lack thereof. He could paint the perfect mask, but it slipped slightly when he moved. He was nervous, anxious, exasperated, and worried. Cass was intrigued.

“What is it?” She said, more gently than before, turning back to watch her mark. She could hear Dick let out a deep breath.

“It’s Da-Robin. He got invited to a formal.” Cass turned back and cocked her head. “Don’t give me that look, you know how he is.” He said, shifting his weight. “It’s a school event, so they’ve been learning ballroom dance in gym. But I got a call the other day from the gym teacher saying he’s not participating.”

“Why should he?” Cass asked. “You shouldn’t force people to do things they don’t want to do.” Living with the family long enough had taught her that. If the kid didn’t want to dance, he shouldn’t have to.

“Yeah, I know.” Dick replied a bit flatly. He moved to crouch where she had been sitting and focused on the building across the street. “But I don’t know if he doesn’t want to, or if he’s just embarrassed.” Cass thought for a moment. “I don’t suppose he grew up with many dance lessons.” He added a bit apologetically. She shook her head.

“Have you talked to him?” She asked. Dick sighed.

“I tried. But he kept switching topics and when I pressed it, he locked himself in his room. Which is why I’m concerned.” Cass hummed in affirmation. It made sense.

“Why haven’t you tried teaching him?” Dick wasn’t a bad dancer, and he’d always performed quite well at the galas.

He looked back at her sheepishly. “I gave it a go last time I was at the manor. But he stormed off before we could get anything done. Something about me being an embarrassment to the family.”

Cass rolled her eyes under the cowl. “What did you do?”

“I just wanted to do some jazzercising to warm up, what’s wrong with that?” Dick spluttered in response. Cass lightly smacked the back of his head. “So anyways, I lost my chance at it. I can’t even play music without him running away.” He continued, ducking away as she tried to tap him again. “Besides, you’re probably a better height to practice with for him.” She scoffed in response.

“When’s the gala?” She asked. It slipped out without her permission. She wasn’t getting involved. The kid could figure it out on his own. Couldn’t he?

“It’s next weekend.” He replied and sighed. “I don’t want him to miss it. He never does stuff that’s age appropriate.” Oh, no. Not that card. Cass would not be involved, she had work to do. She stepped back to lean against the tower again and bit her lip. “And some girl in his class asked him to go. Her name’s Maps and she’s a really good influence on him.” She crossed her arms tighter. Damian was rude to her. He called her Cain. Not. Getting. Involved. “She’s so energetic, it helps him loosen up-” Damnit.

“Fine.” Dick whipped around to look at her, not bothering to hide his disbelief. She squirmed internally. It wasn’t that she didn’t care about the kid. It was just easier to spend time on her own. The kid was better off without her influence anyways.

“Are you sure, I could ask Steph or I don’t know-” He continued.

She cut him off. “I’ll do it. I don’t mind.” The others wouldn’t work. Dick knew that going into the conversation. They were too…loud in their judgement. Steph would laugh at the wrong time, Tim would say the wrong thing, Jason didn’t have the patience for the kid’s temper, and Duke would be a safe bet, but was away on Outsider business for the next two weeks.

Dick practically melted in relief. “Thank you so-”

“You owe me, big brother.” Cass reminded.

“Anything you want, little sister.” He promised. “Are hugs acceptable as a down payment? I could kiss you right now.”

“Eww.” Cass made a face under the mask but strode forward as he opened his arms and stood for a hug. He eagerly wrapped her in a bear hug. She couldn’t help but laugh.

“You’re winning sister of the year award.” He said as he released her.

“You’re making me cookies.” She retorted. Dick grimaced.

“Can I buy them?” He asked hesitantly. She shook her head.

“Homemade, with love. And I’m watching.” She added, smirking under the mask. Dick sunk back down into position.

“I’ll do my best.” He promised. Cass snickered. The last time Dick tried making cookies, he apparently caught his oven mitts on fire. There was still a bit of cookie dough on the ceiling he hadn’t noticed yet.

A flash of movement jolted her back into reality, their mark was making his move. She shot her grapple, and Dick quickly followed suit. “I’ll text you the plan tomorrow.” He promised as they leapt into the night.

Thanks so much if you read this far, and please comment or send me feedback directly if you have the time and don’t mind. I’m sorry if you completely disagree with how I characterized her (or Dick/Damian for that matter) I’m mostly relying on Damian’s canon interactions with her and Dick’s half canon half fanon personality (I know they don’t get on great in the comics...but sibling dynamics) and the rest of this portion of the fic would focus on Damian earning more respect for her (and learning to call her Cass - not Cain).

[whumpbby]

So uhh.... how would you feel about a BruJay single dad x nanny au? Just picture it Bruce Wayne single father of four (Dick, Cass, Tim & Dami) hires Jason to be his nanny only he didn’t expect to catch feelings. But how can he help it? Jay’s so pretty and smart and amazing with his kids and those thighs Jesus Christ. Bonus points if the kids are totally down for Jay to be their new mom and have some matching making schemes. Jay, as always, is oblivious to this entire situation.

How would I feel? 

My friend, I AM A YES!!!

Listen. 

I have to make it an ABO, because that’s how I roll nowadays.

Bruce is Batman. But he’s also a dad of 3 (let’s say 3 so far, Dick, Tim and Damian - respectively 7, 5 and 4). Steph is his Robin and Cass is the Batgirl (adopted by Jim Gordon and his wife, older sister of 8yo Barbara;]), and Bruce is about 29-31 in this story:] Duke is leading the Titans - not a Robin, but B trained him. They have a colloquial relationship of a mentor/student. 

Now, because B has 3 boys, each of them a horror of their own, and because he loves Alfred too much to leave him in charge of them, he scouts around for a nanny. 

Except it’s not easy, because B is notoriously suspicious, and Damian is notoriously hard to please - he won’t accept a woman in the house that isn’t his mom, or an omega, and the kid has lungs of steel. So, as of now, B relies on daycare and upscale agencies, but there is always some snag. 

Enter Jason Todd, a new temp cleaner at the nursery Dami and Timmy go to. Jason is aiming for a job a s teacher and the nursery job (he landed by accident) is a good  way to make some money through the Summer. He’s 20, big and buff, and with a chip on his shoulder. And on the first day of his shift he accidentally ends up stuck between two Wayne brats trying to kill each other. He just needed to clean up the playroom during the nap - the kids had a muffin day and left a lot of dough everywhere - that these two brats seemed to skip to fight over a stuffed toy. There’s just him and his bucket, and no carers in sight, and the boys are really getting aggressive. 

And he has no idea who the kids belong to, he’s exhausted and short on patience, a week from his heat, so he’s not afraid of grabbing them both and stuffing them both into timeout - Damian lands himself in a baby ballpit until he stops trying to bite and Tim gets sat down at a table with a colouring book and crayons, and a big angry man showing him carefully how to draw a spider. The toy lands on the top of the cupboard until further notice. 

A couple minutes later, after Jason makes sure that Tim has a firm grip on the number of legs a spider should have and is on the way of populating his little notebook with an arachnid family - he goes to check on Damian, who stopped yelling. The boy is sitting in the ballpit, looking lost and confused. No one ever just - no one treated him like that. No one apart from Alfred, that is. Certainly no one at the nursery. Apart from this person who looked at him expecting better behaviour and Damian is confused. 

He wants his toy. Please. 

The boy’s speech is slurred and barely legible, but Jason understands the little tacked on ‘please’ and okay, once the kid stopped screaming, he’s pretty cute. Just very snotty. So, Jay pulls him out of the ballpit, gives him his toy and wipes his little face. Then he sits him in the play corner and goes about his cleaning. 

Five minutes in he notices that he now has two little shadows - the boys are trailing behind him, watching him work: Damian with a stuffed dog under his arm and a thumb in his mouth, Tim with a toy-camera, taking ‘stealthy’ photos of Jason. It’s amusing so Jay lets them. 

It lasts until a rushed career runs into the room, terrified that she’s lost the Wayne boys again! And who are you, a strange man?!

Jason introduces himself and explains the situation, and watches bemused as the career tries to bundle the kids away, back into the nap room and that is it. 

Except it isn’t. Because the Wayne boys are smart and from that point on all Bruce hears about from these two is “Jason”. Every morning Damian goes to the nursery he expects to see the “’aison” and every time he doesn’t, he grows grumpier and grumpier. And Timmy employs all of his detective skills to discover who is the Jason and where is he? 

It’s adorable, but a bit concerning, so Bruce does a bit of research into that Jason. Because Jay is a temp there’s not much on him in the nursery’s database, but what there is sounds harmless, so Bruce leaves it at that. 

Until the fateful day when the nursery is invaded by criminals who are there to kidnap Wayne boys and, well, since the boys were currently busy trailing behind Jason, and the omega gets defensive, and well, gets himself bagged alongside the kids.    

And now it’s down to Batman to save his kids and their accidental babysitter. 

[audiovisualrecall]

I wish I could write, I'm not good at it and I would love to write a book and publish it

I also want to really work on my etsy and sell more things, like clay stuff

I also really want to paint plein air, and paint more in general, I think I want to try gouache again

I really want to get really good at baking challah (my recent ones have turned out really, really delicious, but I mean I want it to be easier and to solve some of the issues braiding the dough that I have, stuff like that) and sell them....somehow...

I want to bind more books...fanfic books...sketchbooks...

I want to paint my bathroom, me and steph had a plan before she moved out and I keep not doing anything about it.

I want to learn to carve wood and make things and do woodworking but like, furniture or boxes or stuff

I want to take a class on ceramics and a class on photography so I can take better photos and I want to go for art ed too but money and I don't want to go to grad school

And I want to make more things in general!!!! I want more time to make things!!!

....I really wish I could write, though. I'd love to write a book. A story. Something..

[choco-glow]

Fall Like Rain On Sunday, Pt. 6

Jason paid the check while Steph visited the bathroom, watching her purse with a careful eye against his side, entirely uncaring of the snickering little fucks two tables over. They couldn’t be more than sixteen, with girlfriends a tad younger, which already was making Jason’s blood heat as he stared them down with his best “Get Fucked” glare. They ordered expensively, which set his hackles up, and when their waiter, Geoff, came back with his card, Jason quietly asked the older man to wait.

“Hey, Geoff, quick question.” He swallowed, looking faintly worried, and Jason gave him a smile as he signed the card slip, a huge tip on the tip line and adding it up in his head with ease. “Those kids been in here before? I know it’s a trendy place, but it ain’t cheap.”

“…No, they haven’t, and I’m worried they’re going to dine and dash. We just got a new kitchen manager, and he’s adamant that any dashers come out of your tips…and we can’t run after them.” Jason nodded, and handed the slip back…as well as five crisp hundreds, much to Geoff’s wide-eyed shock.

“If they do, take it out of the tip I gave you on the card; I know they tax you guys on that, bullshit as that is. This is yours, though; if you wanna share with anyone who needs it, go for it, man, but I’ve watched you haul ass around her all night on a bad leg; my girl and I think you’re awesome, and we’ll be back again next week.” Jason murmured, and Geoff swallowed thickly, his eyes misting over before he shook his head, clearing his throat.

“…Sir, if you’d be so kind to give me your name, I’ll make sure you have a standing reservation at this booth.” Jason beamed up at him.

“Jason Wayne; I think Bruce Wayne’s a regular too, if I’m not mistaken? He’s my old man.” Geoff brightened at that, even moreso, which hardly surprised Jay. Bruce might be a bit of an ass to his kids, but his long-standing choice to write “put your current debt here” in the tip line is very well known among the waitstaff at these places. One of the few things we don’t fight over these days.

“He is, and I thought I recognized you, Mr. Wayne…”

“Please, just Jason; I have pretty humble roots back on Fourth and Ash.” He murmured, and Geoff’s eyes warmed even more.

“Absolutely, Jason. And your date?”

“Stephanie Brown.”

“I’ll make sure you two are in the reservation book. Saturday night still work?”

“It should, but I’ll call a few days ahead to change it if we need to. If we don’t show for some reason, by all means, fill the booth; I’m not going to be upset.”

“That’s what your dad says. That…helps. Thank you, Jason.”

“My pleasure, Geoff; hope the little shits behave, but if they don’t, you’re covered now.” He grinned, neatly trimmed salt-and-pepper beard and mustache curving up, and Jay thanked him again, standing up when Steph made her way back, looking just as radiant as before. “Hey baby, we’ve got a standing reservation now, if you’re cool with that?” He murmured, and Steph leaned into his chest with a happy sigh, kissing him in a way that had those girls swooning and the boys looking down at her plates now, which made Jay grin against her lips.

“I’m so good with that. Where to now, handsome?” He grinned and offered her his arm; she took it with a happy laugh, and they made their way out of the restaurant to the evening sunshine outside. Sunshades of every color in the rainbow protected tourists and locals alike from the harsher rays over their heads, rippling softly with the sea wind blowing through the streets and canals. Here was a look into both Gotham’s past…and its future.

The canals, much like Venice half a world away, had gondolas brought over by the Italian families and operated along Amusement Mile, where the Gotham River met the Atlantic Ocean, powered by the long guide poles and clever little electric motors as needed nowadays, full of romancing couples and delighted tourist families, and Jason admired the hard work alongside Steph, both of them happy to see something other than gentrification rebuilding their beloved city.

“Those are the new solar power shades, right, Jay?”

“Yup, Lucius had them put up a couple weeks ago, and so far, they’ve managed to cut the electric costs to the Mile by over half…” He murmured as they ambled along, neither of them in a rush to brave the heavy crowds heading in from the carnival to eat and drink and make merry. Steph gently tugged him to the back part, where the fishing docks lay quiet and calm, some leisure craft roped to the ancient oak pillars and walkways, but mostly, it was just a few people looking to escape the rush.

He breathed a sigh of relief alongside Steph, and they walked in the shadows together, comfortable in their surroundings. The Joker rarely came out of the Dixon Docks area of town anymore, and frankly, though Jason would have preferred to see him dead…seeing him without much of his support and former allies did help. Up here, at Amusement Mile, where he’d hated being for so long…he found he didn’t mind as much, with Steph by his side.

Of course, no one in their right mind had clowns out and about anymore, so that helped too. No, this carnival was a permanent one, with hand crafted trinkets and a few games, and several fun rides. The jewel of the Mile was the newly built replacement to the old Ferris wheel, this one a little smaller, but no less glamourous, and Jason caught Steph’s eye, nodding to the wheel with a grin, and she chuckled.

“Maybe later…still walking off that food baby, because damn did they give us our money’s worth.”

“You got it, babe, still wanna keep walking before dessert?”

“Is dessert those fuckin’ delicious paczki that I keep smelling?” He snickered, and she punched him lightly in the arm, still laughing. “I take that as a yes.”

“Yes, it’s paczki, you really think being a street kid wasn’t all about earning that sweet dollar-eighty to buy a bag of hot fried dough with jam?”

“Considering both Bruce and Alfred looked at me like I was crazy for craving them while I was pregnant, yeah…” Jason’s eyes softened and Steph sighed. “…I’m glad you knew that already. I don’t…like going over the details.”

“Can’t say I blame ya, Blondie…but yeah, I know. For what it’s worth, though…you’re an awesome mom.” She blushed, but the tiny smile she gave him when she looked back up made Jason’s heart beat a little faster, and he gently tugged her into the shadowy recess of one of the game buildings, the CRACK of hard rubber balls hitting the metal milk jugs hiding any sound they might have made. “I mean it…” She stopped him with a kiss, pressing her curvy body to his, and Jason leaned back against the support, pulling her as close as he could to kiss her back, losing himself in her soft warm lips, the little noises she made, the way she hugged him so tight.

“…Thank you…” She whispered when they both pulled back just a little for air, and Jason felt his heart flip-flop at the smile on her lips.

“For you, sweetheart, anything.” Steph sighed a little, happily, as far as he could tell, and he shifted her closer, tucking her under his chin and kissing her hair softly. “You okay?”

“…With you? I will be.” She murmured, and Jason felt his heart leap like he could fly.

“Then you got me, babe. For as long as you want me.”