#he found some kind of fault in his room and went to file a complaint about it and somehow

[tarisilmarwen]

My brain made up a whole wacky screwball comedy anime for my dream last night and now I'm sad that it doesn't exist. :(

[sankyeom]

lullaby | j.b

pairings: jacob bae x reader genre: neighbour au, strangers to lovers, kind of implied that you both are in college summary: in which your new neighbour sings you to sleep every night since the walls in your building are so thin, and you fall in love with his voice word count: 5.4k series: sankyeom’s 2k followers celebration note: yes i’m in love with jacob’s a to boyz video. yes it inspired this fic. yes i’m going through it.

masterlist

When your old neighbour moved out, you couldn’t be happier at the news.

The girl living in the apartment next to yours used to blast her music late at night and into the early morning, and she always kept you up. Sometimes she did it just for fun, other times she did it to overpower the sound of her arguing with her boyfriend. Either way, you would be up at night wanting nothing more than to go over to your neighbour’s apartment and break her door down as a form of revenge.

But you didn’t, because you quite liked your apartment and didn’t want to give your landlord a reason to kick you out.

Instead, you and your other neighbours filed enough noise complaints to the building’s owner until the girl moved out on her own accord. If you had to pinpoint the worst three months of your life, it would be the time when that girl lived next door to you.

Of course it wasn’t entirely her fault; your apartment building had hilariously thin walls. Her music wasn’t the worst thing you had heard through the walls, but it was certainly the loudest and most consistent thing that bothered you.

For a few weeks, the apartment next to yours was vacant, and you were able to relish in the silence that you had been dreaming about for so many gruelling nights. One afternoon after you came home from your day of classes to find the elderly lady who lives a few doors down for you peeking outside her front door.

“Hi Mrs Kim,” you greeted her with a wave. Her eyes flitted over to you and she offered you a smile. Mrs Kim was your favourite neighbour by far. She always brought you treats when she made too many and made sure to check in on you regularly since you lived alone.

“Hi dear,” she waved back, eyes crinkling as she realised it was you.

“What are you up to?” you wondered.

“I’m just spying on your new neighbour,” Mrs Kim informed you, stepping out of her door frame to speak with you.

You sighed. “Another neighbour?” you echoed, craning your neck to see them move in.

If they were interesting enough to peak Mrs Kim’s interest, you wanted to see them for yourself. Alas, all you could see were boxes and bags piled outside the open front door of the apartment next to yours, the new tenant nowhere in sight.

“I was just getting used to having some peace and quiet around here,” you recalled as an afterthought, wincing at the memories of your last neighbour. Although you had no personal issues with her, you were glad to see the self-absorbed music-blaster go.

“I know dear,” Mrs Kim gave you a sympathetic smile, thinking back to how tired and cranky you were a while back. “But he looks kind,” she offered. “He greeted me very nicely and he even has a guitar! How wonderful.”

“A guitar?” you repeated, frowning. “Not electric, I hope?”

Mrs Kim laughed. “Don’t worry so much, Y/n,” she told you, patting your shoulder in an endearing manner. “He was quite handsome.”

You rose an eyebrow. You had been at the hand of Mrs Kim’s attempted set-ups many times before. “And that’s my cue,” you laughed, saying your goodbyes to Mrs Kim and making your way to your apartment. As you took your keys out and started unlocking your door, curiosity got the best of you and you tried to peer into your neighbour’s apartment for a sign of him. “What are you doing,” you muttered to yourself, scolding yourself for invading your new neighbour’s privacy and entering your apartment.

You awoke from your nap to the sound of music.

“Not again,” you groaned, thinking it was your new neighbour in your sleepy state. Soon, you realised that it was just your phone ringing, and felt a little guilty for immediately blaming your neighbour without even meeting him once. “Hello?” you picked up the call.

“Y/N!” your best friend Changmin yelled into your ear.

“Dude,” you groaned. “Why are you using your outdoor voice?”

“This is my indoor voice,” Changmin exclaimed, surprised that you had found him so loud. “You act like you don’t even know me.”

“Oh, my apologies,” you mumbled, putting your phone on speaker just to get it away from your ear. “What’s up? You woke me from my nap.”

“Mrs Kim told me that you have a new neighbour,” Changmin said casually.

You narrowed your eyes at your phone. “When did you talk to Mrs Kim?”

“I saw her at the convenience store,” Changmin happily informed you. “She said she’d give you some brownies for you to pass on to me in the next few days.”

You laughed at this. “How can you charm everyone around you, including the old ladies that live on my floor?”

“Never mind that,” Changmin dismissed. “New neighbour? What’s he like?”

“I don’t know,” you got out of bed to draw your curtains, letting what was left of the sunset brighten your room. You had fallen asleep while studying, and thus hadn’t set an alarm. “I haven’t met him yet.”

“Mrs Kim says he’s cute.”

“Mrs Kim says everyone is cute,” you scoffed. “That woman is a saint.”

“Alright, that’s fair,” Changmin giggled. “Why are you napping this late? You won’t be able to fall asleep tonight if you nap for so long.”

“I know,” you hummed, stretching out and relishing in how relaxed you felt after your nap.

Your best friend was right, though. Whenever you napped in the late afternoon, you always struggled to fall asleep again that night. Of course, this wasn’t a problem when your monstrous neighbour blasted her music every night anyway, but once she left naps and a good night’s sleep were finally possible for you.

“Maybe my new neighbour will play me a lullaby on his electric guitar,” you joke.

“He has an electric guitar?”

“I don’t know,” you admitted. “Mrs Kim says he carried a guitar into his apartment. I haven’t heard him play yet so I don’t know what kind. But I’m delighted to hear it.”

Changmin snorted. “Really?” he asked in disbelief, having been on the end of some rants about you possibly kidnapping your previous neighbour and threatening her to move out.

“Sure,” you exclaimed. “As long as he plays it during hours of the day where I want to be awake, I have no problems what-so-ever with a little rock and roll.”

“Hilarious,” Changmin said sarcastically. “Anyway, did you finish your Chemistry study guide?”

“Is that why you’re calling?” you wondered. “Pretending to be curious about my new neighbour just to steal my hard work and Chemistry notes.”

“You caught me,” Changmin said happily, no shame in his voice. “So?”

You flipped through your notes to see where you go up to before falling asleep. “Yeah I finished them. I suppose you want my Econ notes when I’m done with them too?”

“Forget Mrs Kim, you’re the real saint,” Changmin said in lieu of an answer.

“No need to butter me up, I’ve already agreed,” you rolled your eyes, grinning at your best friend’s antics. “I’ll text you pictures later.”

Once you said your goodbyes, you made your way into the kitchen to turn on the kettle for a hot drink before wandering back into your room to search for a sweater. Once your water was boiled, you made yourself a drink and snuck back into your bed to burrow under the covers and finish studying.

As you took a sip of your drink and flipped through your Economics notes, you heard the faint timbre of an acoustic guitar. Pausing, you stopped your actions and sat up straight, as if this would amplify the sound more so you could hear it.

You guessed your new neighbour didn’t have an electric guitar after all.

The warm chords that you could make out were soothing and whimsical, and you allowed yourself to get lost in your neighbour’s playing for a moment. Deciding that it would make good background study music, you set aside your headphones in favour of listening to your neighbour play his guitar.

Soon, you were already finished with your Economics study guide so you snapped a few pictures of them and sent them to Changmin, along with your study guide for Chemistry too. A quick glance at the clock told you that you had been studying for an hour and a half after napping, meaning that your neighbour was persistently playing for just as long.

Just as you started considering what movie to watch to kill time so you could feel tired enough to go to sleep, soft singing started to accompany the guitar playing coming from your neighbours’s apartment. His voice was rich and tender at the same time; filled with emotion and lyrics close to a mumble in terms of enunciating. Something about his voice made your heart flutter, just slightly. If you thought he was a good guitar player, you thought he was a phenomenal vocalist.

Rather than watching a movie, you tucked yourself into bed and went on your phone to scroll through social media for a while, just listening to the sound of your neighbour’s voice and the music he was playing.

It didn’t take long before your eyes started to feel heavy; lulled to sleep by the timbre of your neighbour’s voice and the warmth of the covers on your bed. Thanking your past self for already setting your alarm for your classes the next day, you were soothed into a deep sleep despite the fact that you took a lengthy nap that afternoon.

The next morning, you felt as though you had never slept so well in your entire life.

Your bed was almost impossibly cosy and you had to seriously motivate yourself to get out of bed and head to your lectures for the day. After getting ready and dressed for the day, you wrapped a scarf around your neck to fend against the biting cold autumn air. As you exited your apartment, you couldn’t help but linger your gaze on your neighbour’s door, wondering if he was still inside or if he had already left.

“He’s gone,” you yelped as Mrs Kim’s voice startled you out of your stare. She stood as if she hadn’t scared you, unfazed by your reaction. “He left two hours ago.”

You put a hand on your chest in an attempt to calm its erratic beat. “Mrs Kim,” you greeted. “You scared me.”

Mrs Kim ignored you, smirking knowingly at you. “So you saw him then?” she assumed. “You must have, if you’re looking at his door like you want him to come out of his apartment.”

“I didn’t see him yet, Mrs Kim,” you denied with a small smile. “I was in my apartment all night and I’m only just leaving now,” you added.

“Then why’re you staring?” she asked, bending down to pick up her cat from the floor.

“Just curious,” you said, which wasn’t entirely a lie. You wanted to know exactly who had sung you a lullaby that was so sweet it put you right to sleep. “Is he really that handsome, Mrs Kim? Not only did you tell me but you told Changmin about it too.”

“He’s very handsome,” Mrs Kim insisted, pushing a container into your arms with her free hand. “Speaking of your charming friend, that’s for him.”

The container had cut up brownies in it, and you almost laughed at how well Changmin and Mrs Kim got along. “Thank you Mrs Kim, I’ll be sure to give them to him today,” you promised, making your way down the hall and rushing to the bus stop so that you wouldn’t miss the last bus that would get you to college on time.

Somehow, it felt as though your new neighbour was avoiding you.

Either that, or the two of you just kept missing one another. Any time you had to leave, you could still hear him milling around his apartment. The only times you ever heard his front door open was when you were just getting home, or had no intention of leaving. Even Changmin, who was a social butterfly and constantly fluttered in between your friends’ places, never saw your neighbour when he came by to visit.

Without a fail, your neighbour played the guitar and sang every single night.

Sometimes he would play during the day as well, but he only ever sang at night. You assumed that he figured he could sing at night so that nobody else heard him, unaware of the paper-thin walls that separated your apartments. You wondered if it was because he was being courteous, or if he was just shy about singing when other people could hear. Either way, you definitely credited your neighbour to being the reason that you fell asleep peacefully every night.

You never had trouble falling asleep in general, but you mostly had very restless nights of sleep, even in the complete silence you heard when your neighbouring apartment was vacant.

Something about your neighbour’s voice just relaxed you to the point where you slept like a little baby.

The first time you met the owner of said voice, you were running late for class and cursing Changmin on the phone as he laughed at your misfortune. He had been teasing you all week about a presentation you were nervous about, saying that you were so well-prepared that the only thing that could mess it up was you missing the class entirely.

Then your alarm didn’t go off and you woke up half an hour later than you usually would on that day.

“Ji Changmin, you’re an ass,” you fumed, pulling your coat on as you opened the front door of your apartment. “You must have cursed me or something, or at least you spoke it into existence. I don’t know but if you don-“

“I’m so sorry!” a familiar voice exclaimed upon your impact with another body. Two hands reached out to steady you and prevent you from falling over, and your eyes met those of a brown-eyed man.

A beautiful, beautiful, brown-eyed man.

“Are you okay?” he asked, since all you had done since the two of you collided was stare at him. “You’re not… concussed, are you? Can you get concussed by bumping into someone?”

“I don’t think so,” you breathed out, taking in his sharp features and large, kind eyes. “I’m sorry. That was definitely my fault, I was rushing, and yelling at my friend,” you tried to explain, but were interrupted when he laughed.

“No harm done,” he assured you, a shy smile appearing on his face. “I’m Jacob. I just moved in next door, actually,” he introduced himself.

Jacob. Mrs Kim was right, he was very handsome.

“Hi Jacob,” you replied, holding out your hand for him to shake. “I’m-“

“Y/n, right?” he stated. At your surprised expression, Jacob only shrugged. “I talked to Mrs Kim from a few doors down. She told me all about you.”

“Oh gosh,” you laugh, covering your face with a hand. “I hope not everything. She’s seen me at my worst, let me put it that way.”

“All good things,” Jacob assured you in his velvety voice. “She speaks really highly of you. Says that you’re smart, kind, and that you have great taste in friends.”

You grin. “Ah, yes. My best friend seems to have charmed his way into her heart. That’s why he gets brownies in a Tupperware and I don’t,” you informed him. “I’m sure you’ll get there too.”

“I sure hope so,” Jacob nods. “I’m a terrible baker and brownies sound really good.” The two of you shared a laugh. “You said you were in a rush, right?” he seemed to recall, causing your eyes to widen.

“Yes! I need to run. I need to catch a bus, like,” you glanced at the time on your phone, realising how late you were and that you were still on a call with Changmin. “Twenty minutes ago.”

“Good luck,” Jacob smiled, waving at you as you said your goodbyes.

“Nice meeting you!” you called back to him, starting to jog down the staircase before bringing your phone up to your ear.

“Jacob, hm?” Changmin’s voice teased you.

“Watch it, Ji Changmin,” you warned. “You’re on thin ice already. Save me a seat!”

Other than being sung to sleep by him every night, your relationship with Jacob pretty much ended at your first meeting. The two of you always exchanged pleasantries when you passed each other in the hallway, and he had once informed you that he really had reached brownie-level friendships with Mrs Kim, but nothing beyond that.

You couldn’t say that you were surprised, considering how the two of you had such different schedules and you kept missing one another, but you somehow felt a little disappointed.

It felt a little bit like the two of you already knew each other, as you heard him sing every single night; hearing the emotion and vulnerability in his voice with every song. But you knew nothing about each other.

After a particularly gruelling day of your Chemistry lab class, you dragged your feet up the stairs to your apartment, feeling utterly exhausted and worn out by your class.

Your lab partner was the absolute worst. He was one of those types that thought he knew everything better than you because he was a Chemistry major, and he belittled you about every single step in the lab. Most of what he was saying was wrong, but he wouldn’t listen to you because he was sure he was right.

Half a semester later, you had just gotten your midterm back and found out that you failed because the data from your experiments were incorrect, and your professor couldn’t give you full credit for any of your answers. Frustrated tears built in your eyes as you made you way to your apartment door, rummaging through your bag for your keys.

“This can’t be happening,” you whined when you realised that your keys were nowhere in your bag, and you had left them in your apartment that morning. “Seriously? Today of all days?” you exclaimed, wiping your cheeks to dry your tears as you headed for Mrs Kim’s apartment to see if she was home. You had entrusted her with a spare key to your apartment since you knew you couldn’t take care of it yourself, and becomes she was so close by.

Realising she wasn’t home, you trudged back to your apartment and sunk onto the floor, burying your face in your knees and letting out a sob. Your day had been mentally and physically exhausting enough without having to wait outside your apartment, in the cold autumn air, to anticipate Mrs Kim’s return so you could enter your apartment.

The door next to yours opened slightly, a soft, concerned voice calling out to you. “Y/n?” Jacob asked quietly, wondering why you were outside. When he noticed your crying, he immediately stepped outside and knelt in front of you. “Are you okay? What happened?” You could only sob in response, not having it in you to explain your situation to him. “Why are you crying?” sniffling, you managed to raise your head and point weakly at your front door.

“You’re locked out?” he guessed, earning a nod. “Okay, let’s go to my place,” Jacob offered you, holding his hand out to help you up. “I just made hot chocolate, and I have Disney Plus so we can watch something while you wait for Mrs Kim,” he paused when you didn’t say anything. “Technically, it’s not my Disney Plus account, but I have my friend’s password. He subscribed just to watch the Beyonce album film,” you laughed tearfully, which Jacob considered a success.

“I don’t want to bother you,” you admitted in a quiet voice, slightly raw from your crying.

“You? Bothering me?” Jacob exclaimed. “Never. Now c’mon. Our hot chocolate’s getting cold.”

Grateful for his kindness, you accepted his outstretched hand and let him pull you to your feet, gently ushering you into his apartment and closing the door behind you. He motioned for you to take a seat on his sofa and you did so, taking off your coat and scarf as you adjusted to Jacob’s warm apartment.

“Here,” he placed two mugs of hot chocolate on the coffee table in front of you, taking a seat on a sofa next to you but giving you some space. You mumbled a quiet thank you before sipping on the hot drink, savouring the way it warmed your insides.

Spotting his guitar leaning against the wall next to the TV, you cocked your head in curiosity to see what it looked like. It was made of a light brown, almost yellow, wood and looked like it was treasured by Jacob. Not only was it in perfect condition, it also looked like it had been used for years already. You silently wondered how long he had been playing it for. “Do you play?” Jacob asked, noticing where your eyes were looking.

Shaking your head, you told him that you didn’t. “You’re really good, though,” you complimented before you could realise what you were saying.

Jacob blinked at you, eyes wide and lips pursed in surprise. “Me?” he echoed. “You’ve heard me play?”

Feeling stupid, you only nodded, sipping more of your hot chocolate as an excuse to think about what you wanted to say. “Um, yeah. Walls are kind of thin around here.”

Jacob blushed. “I’m so sorry,” he apologised. “I play until really late at night most of the time. I even-“ he paused, realising you had heard him sing. “I even sing,” he whispered, eyes flitting to the ground as his cheeks reddened further.

“You’re really good,” you complimented. “At singing, too.”

Jacob shook his head. “It must be annoying.”

“Not at all,” you denied. “My last neighbour used to blast angry-girl rock music. Now, I have nothing against angry-girl rock music, but I do when it’s being played at an ear-splitting volume into the early hours of the morning. That’s annoying. Your singing… It’s more like a lullaby,” you finished your thoughts in a whisper, shy at your explanation.

“Really?” Jacob was shocked.

You hummed in agreement. “I’ve never slept so well in my life,” you admitted with a small smile.

“Oh,” Jacob sipped on his mug to stop a huge smile from taking over his features. After meeting Mrs Kim for the first time, he was intrigued to meet the person she was speaking so highly of. When he ran into you, he felt flustered and excited because you were even more stunning than he could have imagined from Mrs Kim’s description. “I’m glad I helped, then. Even though the idea of you hearing me is mildly humiliating.”

“What!” you exclaimed, louder than you had intended to. “Why would it be humiliating? Your singing is… I can’t even describe it with words. It’s beautiful, Jacob.”

“You think so?” he asked in a disbelieving tone. Your eager nod made butterflies flutter in his stomach. “Thank you. That actually means a lot.”

“You don’t seem to believe me,” you observed.

“I’m not that confident in myself, or my playing,” Jacob explained awkwardly. “I’m more the quiet type, so it’s not so easy for me to put myself out there when it comes to music. I want my music to mean something to other people, and it’s how I communicate best, so…”

“Well, I can confirm first-hand that you’re amazing,” you offered. “I might not be as great of a musician as you, so my compliment might not mean anything to you, but I really believe it.”

Jacob bit his bottom lip, deciding to nod in response to your words, too shy to say much else. You took his reaction as a sign that he didn’t want to continue the conversation anymore, so you focused your attention back onto your hot chocolate. “Do you want to watch a movie?” he offered.

“I would love to leach off of your friend’s Disney Plus account,” you agreed, referring to how Jacob ranted a little about his friend. Jacob grinned, getting up to hang your coat and scarf up for you before he turned the TV on.

Being with Jacob in a more casual state was more fun than you had expected.

Once the two of you warmed up to one another, you found that Jacob was actually really goofy and fun when he got comfortable with you. He made terrible puns about the characters in the film you decided on, and his laugh made you want to squeal because he was so adorable.

Halfway through your second movie, you had fallen asleep as a result of the hot chocolate that had deliciously warmed your body, and the exhaustion from your emotional day. When Jacob noticed, he took one of the throw blankets form his bedroom and gently placed it over your body, getting up from the sofa to let you stretch out and get some rest.

The few times you woke up after falling asleep, you were lulled back to sleep and relaxed by Jacob’s soothing guitar playing and singing. Despite being tired, you were awake long enough to be pleased that Jacob seemed comfortable enough around you to play for you while you were still in his apartment, instead of just waiting until you left.

The next morning, you woke up to the sound of Jacob’s sweet voice gently calling for you to wake up. After opening your eyes, you saw Jacob kneeling in front of you with a bright smile and ruffled hair. “Hi sleepyhead,” he greeted, handing you a cup of tea. You sat up, rubbing your eyes with one hand and accepting the mug with the other. “Mrs Kim came by to drop off your key,” Jacob said. “I texted her last night.”

“Thank you,” you replied, surprised that he had gone out of his way to contact Mrs Kim when you were an emotional wreck who had forgotten all about it.

“She also said to wake you before noon because you have classes in the afternoon and you hate rushing,” Jacob added in thought, passing your spare key from Mrs Kim over to you. “Seems a little ironic since you and I seem to only ever meet when you’re rushing.”

You laughed at this. “What can I say, you always catch me on a good day,” you joke. “But seriously. Thank you. You really helped me out last night, I don’t know how I can repay you.”

Jacob waved you off. “No repayment needed. I’m just happy to get closer to you after being your neighbour for over a month already.”

His large smile was one that you hoped you’d be seeing more of. “Has anybody ever told you that you’re an angel?” you wondered, resting your head on your hand as you observed Jacob’s face. The fluttery feeling in your stomach didn’t surprise you anymore, not after he had saved you the night before. “Like an actual angel. Now that I’ve gotten to know you better, I think I see your wings.”

A giggle escaped the man next to you. “I’ve actually heard that before,” Jacob admitted sheepishly.

“I’m not surprised,” you hummed, sipping on the warm tea Jacob made for you. “What time is it?”

“Just after eleven,” Jacob recited. “Do you have to get going?”

You nodded, finishing up your cup of tea. “I do, unfortunately. I have to go see my Chemistry professor and do some serious begging and grovelling.”

“Sounds rough,” Jacob gave you a sympathetic smile. “Well, I had a really good time last night.”

You smiled back easily, unable to hold it back. “I had a really good time last night too,” you assured him. “I really can’t thank you enough.”

“Stop,” Jacob laughed. “Don’t even think about it. I was happy to have you over.”

“I was happy to finally hear your playing in person,” you replied. “I only really heard it in and out of sleep, but I was still glad to hear it. Also,” you paused, unsure if you were going too far.

“Also,” he echoed, curiosity piqued.

“You said last night that you wanted your music to mean something,” you recalled. “It does mean something. To me, at least. It actually means a lot.”

“I think I can see those angel wings you’re talking about,” Jacob said. “Except they’re on you.”

“Very funny,” you laughed, getting up and finding your coat. “I really need to get going, though.”

“Okay,” Jacob nodded, walking you to the door. “I’ll see you around?” he offered, insecure that you wouldn’t want to spend more time with him.

“I’ll see you soon,” you corrected, flashing him a wink before you let yourself out. Jacob closed the door behind you and you let yourself sigh in delight, relishing in the evening you had together the night before.

“What are you doing walking out of your hot neighbour’s apartment?” you jumped, surprised by Changmin’s sudden presence at your front door. He held out a take-away cup of coffee for you.

“You scared me,” you told him, ignoring his comment as you accepted the coffee.

“Don’t act like you didn’t hear me,” Changmin scowled, following you into your apartment after you unlocked your door. “You came to school in those clothes yesterday. Did you hook up with your cute neighbour? Jacob?”

“You ask so many questions,” you complained, making your way into the bathroom to wash your face and brush your teeth. “No, I didn’t hook up with Jacob. I locked myself out and he graciously took me in for the evening, despite my emotional ugly-crying.”

Changmin laughed. “You would go stay at your hot neighbour’s house after having the crappiest day in the world,” he said, pleased at the outcome.

“Thanks, Changmin. Now I need to change so that I have enough time to beg our Chemistry professor to let me do extra-credit assignments so I don’t fail the class,” you added, feeling gloomy about what happened with your midterm the day before.

“Sure, sure,” Changmin nodded, taking a seat on your sofa and taking his phone out.

You made your way to your bedroom to change your clothes, going as quickly as possible so that you still had time to neaten your hair a little. When a knock sounded through your apartment, you called out to Changmin to open the door for you.

“Oh, hi!” you heard your best friend say in his usual chipper tone. “You must be Jacob! I’ve heard so much about you,” at the sound of Jacob’s name, you dropped your hair brush and rushed to the front door, where Changmin was smirking at your neighbour.

“Hey,” you greeted. “Everything okay?”

“Yeah, yeah,” Jacob assured you, glancing nervously at Changmin, who was still grinning at him.

“Could you give us a minute?” you asked Changmin, raising an eyebrow at his blatant eavesdropping. He sighed, sad that his fun was over, before he walked in the direction of your kitchen. “What’s up?” you smiled at Jacob.

He took a deep breath. “Would you want to get dinner some time?” he asked, tapping his foot as a nervous habit.

His question both surprised and delighted you. “Like a date?” you asked, hiding your smile.

“Like a date,” Jacob confirmed. “If you want.”

“I want,” you agreed, showing your smile. “I want a lot.”

“Great,” Jacob sighed, relieved. “I want a lot, too.” You giggled at how strange the two of you sounded.

“If you guys are going to start kissing, I suggest you do it now because we have to go,” Changmin called from the kitchen, ruining the moment.

Jacob pointed in Changmin’s direction. “He’s not coming to dinner, is he?” he asked.

You grinned. “Absolutely not.”

“How does tonight sound?” Jacob suggested. “Or is that too eager of me?”

“Just eager enough,” you assured him. “Pick me up at seven?”

“Sure thing,” he agreed, beaming as he stepped out of your doorway to go back to his apartment.

“I hope you don’t get lost on your way to my apartment,” you teased. “It’s awfully far from yours.”

“I’ll just follow the sound of your wings,” he called, waving before he disappeared into his apartment.

Dinner. You liked the sound of that.

note: second fic in my 2k celebration series!! i know that this fic and the last didn’t end with a kiss or a relationship but i still think the ending is cute, i hope it satisfies you!

[godofplumsandthunder]

Twisted Fate

Pairing: Bucky Barnes x Reader

Warnings: Cancer, both Bucky and reader have cancer, Major Character death, brief hospital terms mainly reffering to cancer treatment. References to amputation.

A/N: This was written for the lovely @eurynome827​ 2k celebration. I got a lovely quote of lyrics from Hadestown, which I wanted to do something that was based off of the musical, but I couldn’t figure anything out. Then I had a big anniversary come up and this was came out instead. It’s very angsty, I cried a lot, and well I hope you like it.

The low, steady hum of the fan fills the awkward silence. The psychiatrist, newly assigned to the case, still doesn’t feel comfortable. “Case number 32557038” was widely known in the health care center. The whispers and rumors floated their way down the hall, past the copy machine, filling the office with this chilling tale. Some regarded it as a terrible series of bad luck, others thought it was an act of some benevolent God, pouring his rage on this poor couple. Dr. Breynord, after reading the notes on the file, Breynord knew that this case was perhaps the worst case of bad luck she ever saw in her career, and, maybe it was her stubbornness or naive belief in medicine, but Dr. Breynord was going to help this poor man get the peace he so desperately needs.

“James,” Dr. Breynord’s voice breaks the silence of the office, “I’ve read what my colleagues had to say about your case, but, I’d like you to tell me what has happened if you feel comfortable.”

Shifting in his seat, James sighs, with a small nod of the head, he starts at the beginning.

Bucky Barnes was used to change. Granted, it was other people’s change, but it was still change nonetheless. The poor folks that sat next to him each clinic visit changed, his caretakers changed, it seemed as if the whole world changed around him, while he was stuck in some perpetual hell. Every day dragged out in the same dull, and nauseating feeling, and at times, Bucky felt he was in an endless loop, forsaken by some deity he didn’t believe in. But, for however long Bucky has left in this fallen and cruel world, he’ll remember when you walked in, shattering the miserable purgatory he was banished to, he’ll always remember the day you changed his life.

It happened during his first transfusion session after his surgery. His arm, still wrapped in bandage, IV tubing leading straight to his heart, pumped his body full of liquids, as he waited for the toxic poison to enter his body. He always found it ironic, the “medicine” that was supposed to save his life, that was too dangerous for the nurses to touch with their bare hands, was willingly flushed into his body. Hair loss, mouth sores, and muscle aches were the better side effects. He can’t help but think about what is coming, especially as he sees his nurse, Thor, come over with the freshly made batch of poison [STRIKE THROUGH], chemotherapy as his doctor would want him to call it. Hanging the bag on his IV pole, Thor looks over at Bucky, giving him the “I’m going to go on a rant about something you should care about” look. 

“Now James, we’re getting a new patient today. It’s their first transfusion. They’re going to be sitting in the pod next to you. I swear to the gods, I best not hear another complaint about your attitude.”

“Me? An attitude? No, I think you got me confused with someone else. I’m the brightest little ball of sunshine here!” Bucky can’t help but chuckle. It’s not his fault he wasn’t a “warrior”, blasting “Fight Song” 24/7, as he sips on a kale smoothie with coffee suppositories shoved up his ass. T

“Yeah, yeah, yeah, Barnes,” Thor shakes his head as he cleans up his station, “don’t think I won’t throw your bald ass out of here. That cancer sob story, won’t work on me.” 

Bucky goes back to his phone, already feeling the effects of the chemo. No matter how many anti-nausea meds they fed him, Cisplatin always makes him sick. So, he had the right to act like a grumpy old grandpa. While he scrolls through his social media feed, seeing all the accomplishments, brags, and just shit of his friends, Bucky hears your sniffles, as you make your way down to the end of the Oncology clinic, taking a seat next to Bucky. Even if Thor hadn’t given him the heads up, he would have known you were fresh meat. One infusion, his mom asked him how he could tell. It was easy for Bucky, it all had to do with the eyes. A cancer diagnosis shatters you. It kills all hope, light, and goodness that’s in you. You turn completely numb to the world, to the point where your own wailing and sobs feel muted. Bucky saw all of that in your eyes. Behind the puffy, redness, saw the shards of hope, the fear of the unknown. Before you could reach your seat, you stumble, spilling your possessions that you carried all over the floor. Bucky watches quietly as you quickly pick up your items, collapsing into the chair next to him. 

“Sorry I couldn’t give you a hand, only have the one,” he wiggles his stump, and he's met with silence. Talk about a rough crowd, he thinks, his nephews love his stumpy jokes. “So,” Bucky continues, “what are you in for? I’m a sarcoma, in the arm.” You sniffle as you turn your body to look at this new man.

“Leukemia,” you confess, voice barely above a whisper. It takes a real effort to say it out loud because then it makes all of this real.

“That’s good then,” the “sarcoma” man says to you, and Bucky can see the confusion, and pain on your face.

“How is that good? How is cancer good?”

Using his arm, Bucky points around the room, giving you a tour of the room.

“See him, that’s Riley, he has an inoperable brain tumor. That young kid, with the Switch? His name is Peter, his body is chemo resistant. So yeah, leukemia is good. If you haven’t learned it yet, not all cancers are made equal.”

“Oh,” you barely make out. What were you supposed to say to that? 

=====

Much to Bucky’s surprise, he actually enjoyed having your company. Your treatments lined up and so you both got to know each other well. Bucky enjoyed having someone close to his age that understood his problems. And it also didn’t hurt that you had such a great personality, you got Bucky’s dark humor (and it went without saying that you understood it was his way of coping), and you looked great. Not many people can rock a bald head. And Bucky has seen his fair share, and he can say with confidence, you rocked it. Not covering it up with caps, scarves, or wigs. Because why should you hide away? For the first time since his diagnosis, Bucky had a purpose. So, while his immune system allowed him to leave the house, he picked up a bouquet of fake flowers (neutropenia life, am I right?) and a box of chocolates to take with him to the next transfusion. When he got to the clinic, Bucky was a bit worried to see that you weren’t next to him. Instead, there sat Barb, 75 years old with breast cancer. 

“Oh sweetie, are those for me?” Barb looks at the flowers in Bucky’s hand. 

“No!” He snaps, as closes the curtain that surrounds his chair. He hears some huffs and complaints from Barb, but frankly, he doesn’t give a damn. Bucky only has one thing on his mind: you. 

“Are you alright? You’re not here at Club Med” Bucky texts as quickly as his one hand would let him. Dropping his phone, Bucky stares at it all while the nurses prep him. And because of damn, HIPAA, none of the nurses can tell him where you’re at. Minutes turn into hours, and by the time Bucky’s infusion ends, you still haven’t responded to him or shown up at the clinic. 

“Hope you’re okay. Call or text me. I'm worried” Bucky sighs, realizing how much you made his chemo treatments more bearable. How your laugh could make him forget of the poison he had to take, or how the light in your eyes could make him forget, even just for a bit, how much his arm stump was hurting. You were a drug, more potent than any he’s had before, and Bucky was becoming addicted. He’s picking at the hamburger he got for dinner, not having much of an appetite when his phone goes off. Seeing it’s from you, he rushes to answer. 

“Y/N! I… Where were you? I missed you today. I had to sit by Barb and…” The sounds of your cries cut Bucky off. 

“Are you okay?”

“No, Buck. I… Got some bad news today.” 

“Where are you?” He asks. He knows you’re alone, and speaking from experience, you never want to be alone when you get bad news. He knows from experience.

“Buck…” you sigh, “It’s fine. Really.” 

“Please, Y/N, I know what it’s like to be alone after getting this kind of news. Please, let me be there for you.” Breaking further down into tears, you cry at Bucky’s actions, actions of love. 

“I’ll send you my address,” Bucky gathers the flowers and chocolates as he rushes to your apartment, breaking a few traffic laws to get there faster. When he gets there, the image of you, opening the door, eyes swollen from crying breaks his heart. 

“Oh, Y/N,” Bucky sweeps you into his arm, as he closes the door behind, “tell me what’s going on hun.” 

You both sit on the couch, the bag with the flowers and chocolate lay at your feet, as you stay in Bucky’s embrace. 

“I’m… I’m dying Buck!” You manage to say in-between odds. “Dr. Fair... gave me three months to live. There’s nothing else they can do.” You break down in his arms, that last straw finally breaking, as you tell your newfound best friend, the person you were supposed to beat cancer with. Bucky tries his best to remain strong, to be the rock, the foundation you need, but you’re not the only one that is losing a friend. You sit in each other's embrace, as you mourn. You cry for all the missed opportunities, laughs, and memories that won’t be made. 

“What am I going to do,” you whisper, your voice hoarse from crying. 

Kissing your head, Bucky pulls you in closer, “we, are going to make these three months, the best three months you’ve ever had.”

Bucky lives up to his promise, spending every hour he isn’t in the hospital with you. The time you spent together changed your relationship. Neither had to officially say the words to make your relationship official. It was just you, and Bucky. Holding each other close, as the tempest waged on, trying to beat you into submission. You go on walks in the park, picnics, and one night when you both had the energy, went skinny dipping. Your logic being, what are the cops going to do? Arrest two cancer patients, with one of them being terminal? You threw caution to the wind and simply lived. Lived, breathed, and loved. Things seemed to be perfect until reality hit.

Your body wasn’t keeping up. Your cancer was spreading faster than they predicted. The doctors couldn’t give you an explanation as to why the cancer was spreading so fast. It shouldn’t have been. Soon, home hospice came, to try to make you more comfortable. And like the good partner he was, Bucky spent every minute by your side. That’s why, when you felt the inevitable coming, you felt your body give in to the tiredness of fighting, you grab Bucky’s hand. 

“I love you, James Bucky Barnes,” you weakly say, giving him one last affirmation, as you went to sleep, for one last time. 

As Bucky wakes up from his nap, feeling your cold body, he tries to ruse you back awake. Once he realizes what has happened, the last bit of humanity inside of Bucky snapped. He lets out a blood-curdling scream, as tears stream down his face. He strikes your face, pleas escape his mouth. Pleas to you, to a God he has long stopped believing in. His body shakes, his tears wetting your hair, as he holds you for one last time. 

=====

“Oh James,” Dr. Breynord grabs herself a tissue before handing Bucky the box of tissues. “I truly am so sorry to hear that. I want you to know that I am here to help you get happy again, and to heal.”

Bucky sighs and turns away from the doctor as he wipes his eyes. “You’re just like the rest of them. You didn’t listen to me.” 

Breynord was surprised that this was Bucky’s complaint. The other doctors had warned her that Bucky could be sarcastic, standoff-ish, and even flat-out rude to them. Breynord thought she did a good job listening to his story, what did she miss.

“I… I don’t think I understand what you mean, James.”

Bucky lets out a heartless, empty laugh, “you want me to be happy again. I’m never going to be. Not only do I have to live with the guilt of surviving, when she died, in my arms, but I’ll also never find another soul like hers. We had a connection, you know. It felt like we met before. When I held her in my arm, and her arms would wrap around me, it felt like I had the whole world in my arms. I didn’t need anything else when I had Y/N.” 

“So tell me doc, what’s the point of carrying on?”

[dreamescapeswriting]

BTS Reaction | You’re Evicted [BFF Series] [Request]

Seokjin:

It was the only option you had left, everyone else was busy with their own problems to help you. You didn't want to turn to Jin for help but he was the only person you had, he'd always been the only person you had. So you were sitting on your doorstep waiting for him to show up and you were preparing yourself for the questions he was going to have for you. Questions as to why you were sitting on your doorstep surrounded by boxes of your things and wanting him to take you home to your family home.

"What-" He stopped himself from asking anything when he saw you wipe your face, you'd been crying and he didn't want to make it any worse for you so he silently took the boxes and started putting them into the car with you.

"Where to?" You looked at him, you sniffled a little.

"Home, my family home." It was going to b a long drive so it started in silence. Jin didn't want to try and upset you but you'd been best friends since you were 6 and you saved him from a giant bug.

"What happened?" He questioned when you reached a traffic jam on the motorway,

"I was kicked out. Stupid ex-boyfriend of mine started filing complaints and I got kicked out." Jin had never liked your ex but now he hated him even more.

"Where are you going?" You questioned when Jin turned up the exit towards his apartment.

"You can come and stay with me. I'm not letting you go home to that place, you hate it there." You shook your head at him.

"I love you Jin but I don't think your wife would like me staying with you," You laughed trying to make him realise what he was doing but he didn't care. He wasn't about to let his best friend go home to a house where she wasn't wanted and where no one had offered to go and pick her up.

"Jin, please...She hates me enough as it is." He didn't care, she would just have to get over it. You were his best friend for years and she had friends he didn't like but he never stopped her from seeing them.

"It's just for a couple of nights, I'll find a decent hotel and put you up there until you can find your own place." You knew there was no use in trying to fight Jin on anything, once his mind was set it was set on that one thing. It had always been that way even when you were kids, you smiled at him softly as he continued to drive in the direction of his house.

"Thank you, Jin." You whispered knowing there was nothing you were going to be able to do to make it up to him but you would thank him every day for the rest of your life if you had to.

"It's what any best friend would do." You smiled and stared out of the window feeling slightly better about everything but it was going to be a long journey ahead but as long as Jin was with you throughout it you knew you could do it.

Yoongi:

You pulled the hoodie strings tighter as you walked around the streets, it was starting to rain and you knew you were going to be stuck out here if you didn't find somewhere to go and soon but there was no one to turn to. Your mother told you that it was your own fault and you should be left to deal with the consequences and your friends had all turned their backs on you the moment that it happened. Well all of them except for your best friend Yoongi, you'd been best friends since you were kids but you weren't telling him about this. It was way too embarrassing for you to go to about this, you were evicted from your apartment because your landlord decided to raise the rent without telling you - which was illegal but because you were late on four payments before you didn't have any leg to stand on to hold it against him. The rain started to pour as you got onto Yoongi's road, it was on your way to the local shelter but you didn't want to go up there and tell him all of this. Tell him that you were kicked out because you couldn't afford to live, tell him you were fire a month ago. It was too much to dump on him,

"Y/n?!" You turned around to see Jungkook walking up to you, he looked like he'd just gotten back from the studio. He took one look at you and pulled you down the driveway towards their front door. You'd never really spoken to him before, just on occasion when you went to the studio with Yoongi but never enough for him to be concerned about your well being.

"Yes, Yes. Well if they turn up will you let me know?" You heard Yoongi's panicked tone as you walked through the door.

"Found them," Jungkook said pulling you further into the house, you took one look at Yoongi and knew he hadn't been sleeping well. His hair was a mess, he was in sweatpants and a tank top as he hunched over papers in front of him. The phone that was in his hand was dropped onto the coffee table and he rushed over to you, grabbing your face and turning it around.

"Where have you been?! We've been worried sick!" He yelled looking you in the eyes,

"You're cold," He started walking you towards his bedroom and sat you down on the bed while he went to turn on the shower coming back in to see you sitting in the same place he'd left you in,

"Get changed or you'll get sick." You turned your head to look at him and frowned,

"How did you know-"

"Your mum called me when she sent you away, she felt awful but you wouldn't go back to her. She thought you'd come here but you didn't, where have you been?!" You looked into his eyes, he looked terrified at what might have happened to you and he was. He was scared that something had happened, that you'd been killed while trying to make it to his or that you'd been kidnapped or something.

"I thought someone kidnapped you,"

"You know they'd bring me back within a matter of seconds, I'm too annoying." You joked and he smiled, ruffling your hair up glad to know that his best friend was still inside there.

"Get a shower, and then come and eat something with me...We'll figure all of this out together, okay?" You nodded and stood up, you were about to walk into the bathroom when you called Yoongi back,

"Yoongi?"

"Yeah?" He looked over his shoulder at you,

"Thank you."

"What are best friends for? Now go and have a shower, you smell like you'd rolled in something dead." You giggled softly at him and headed into the bathroom to change out of the clothes you'd been wearing for three days and then stepped under the water.

Hoseok:

Hoseok walked down the road to your house expecting to see your car in the driveway but the closer he got he realised that there was nothing in your driveway, the windows were covered by wooden panels and your front door had a huge metal door across it. You were standing there handing your keys over to a bald man,

"Y/n?" You turned not expecting anyone to call your name, Hoseok was standing there with a frown on his face.

"You're supposed to be on tour."

"What happened?" He questioned ignoring the fact that you'd pointed out that he wasn't supposed to be there, you ignored him but he only questioned you again wanting answers from you.

"I kicked her out. She never paid on time and when she did she thought I would brush it under the rug that she was short on her rent." Hoseok took out his wallet ready to pay for the rent until the man told him that it had been that way for months and you'd been behind for a while.

"Why didn't you tell me?" You shook your head looking at all of the boxes that were laid out on the driveway,

"Where's your car?"

"Impounded." You groaned. Instead of questioning you more and making the situation worse, Hoseok told you to wait there. He rushed off to go and get his car.

(X)

You explained everything to him once he got you back to his apartment and into some different clothes.

"Why didn't you come to me? I could have helped you with your rent?" You sighed looking at him and he knew what that look meant, he'd offered you money before and it started a week-long fight about not taking money from your friends. It was just something you couldn't do.

"Well you're staying here until we find you a new place, it'll be like one giant sleepover." You smiled at how enthusiastic he was about this it kind of helped make it all feel better.

"What about work? What happened there?" You sighed and rolled your eyes,

"I got fired for punching a customer but in my defence, he grabbed my ass so he deserved it." Hoseok smiled proudly, you'd always been able to look after yourself and he loved that about you, it was how you met. He was going to 'rescue' you from playground bullies when you were kids but you ended up rescuing him instead when they tried to bully him.

"I'll figure something out Hobi, letting me stay is more than enough-"

"I know Yoongi is looking for someone to be his assistant? Jimin is always looking for someone too." You knew he was trying to be nice by offering you them but there were more people with better qualifications for the job.

"I'll think about it, can I use the shower and go to sleep? I'm tired, I was up at 4 packing everything I owned up." He nodded and told you that you knew where everything was. He watched you leave and called up Jimin and Yoongi to tell them he would send over your CV and things for them to look at he wasn’t going to let you go through this alone and he was going to do anything and everything he could to make this easier for you, he loved you like a little sibling so he wasn��t going to let you struggle alone.

Namjoon:

First it was your job that you lost, you got fired because of low-income rate to the business and then your apartment followed. You were evicted due to not having the money for rent which you couldn't pay because you didn't have a job. Your life felt like it was falling apart and you had no one to turn to for help. You ended up finding a hotel that took you in, you took a job as a maid and you were working to keep a room and food until you could get back up on your feet, you told no one. You dropped off the face of the earth which is how Namjoon turned up at your empty apartment. The place was boarded up and he frowned having no idea where you had gone, he called up everyone you spoke to beside him but they hadn't heard from you in weeks. Panicked he turned to your landlord for help who told him you were working in a hotel on the outskirts of town.

"I'm looking for one of your maids-"

"Sir, we don't offer that kind of service here...Maybe you're confused."

"I'm not confused and I'm not trying to pay someone for sex. I'm looking for Y/n y/l/n, they started here around a week ago?" You turned around the corner to see Namjoon standing in the lobby of the hotel covered in sweat and turning red in the face from anger.

"Joonie?!" His shoulders relaxed once he spotted you and he rushed over to check on you,

"How did you find me?"

"I asked your landlord, what happened? Why did you disappear without telling anybody." People were staring at you so you took Namjoon to your room and sat him down on the bed.

"I got kicked out, I'm assuming you know that since you said about my landlord." He watched you walk around the small room and start cleaning up and he held out his hand to stop you.

"Why didn't you tell anybody..."

"Why would I? 'Hi yes, I just wanted to tell you that I got fired and I got kicked out all in the same week, why yes, you're right I am pathetic.' Namjoon I didn't want people to know." He could see where you were coming from with this but he hated that you were doing all of this on your own, he wanted to do something to help you. He'd been best friends with you for years and you'd always done everything you could to help him.

"Come work for me."

"What? Namjoon don't be stupid, I can't sing." He shook his head at you and told you to sit down.

"Work for me, be my assistant or something in the BigHit building." You thought about it for a couple of minutes, working for Namjoon would be weird but it would be a lot better than living in this tiny room.

"You can come and stay at the dorms until you can get your own place...We'll look after you." You thought about it a little more before nodding at him.

"Okay, well as first-order as your boss I order you to quit this job and go back to the dorms. You look like you haven't eaten anything in days, so we'll order a big take out tonight." You smiled to yourself about how kind Namjoon was, he'd always been this way with you it was just his nature.

"Thanks, Joonie," You whispered to him before leaving to find the manager.

Jimin:

Your mum was the one that called Jimin to come around and see you, you were staying at her place trying to get back on your feet but going from her place and to your job was taking up half of the money you earnt while the rest went onto food for yourself. She'd called Jimin because she knew he lived closer to your workplace and it would be much easier for you to stay with him than it would be for her but he had no idea you'd even moved back home.

"Mum what was the big emergency-" You stopped midsentence when you saw Jimin standing in your bedroom and not your mum.

"What are you doing here?" He asked looking around the room and then back to you. You walked further into the room and dropped your bag down onto the floor beside your bed.

"I think I should be asking you that." You shot back instantly feeling the need to be defensive about him being there but he was your best friend. He was just trying to look out for you and make sure you were okay and he couldn't do that if you didn't tell him when something was wrong.

"What happened?" You shook your head not wanting to talk about it,

"Well you're coming to mine, it's closer and I can help you find a place close by." You stared at him and then noticed your mum coming into the room with cardboard boxes,

"You're kicking me out too?" She sighed not wanting you to see it that way.

"I'm not kicking you out, I'm making you see that living with Jimin is the better option for you financially." She started packing everything up again and you stared at Jimin.

"We've been friends for years, did you really think I was going to let you do this alone?" You sighed knowing he was right, your mother slipped out of the room knowing you needed some time alone with him.

"I didn't want you to think I was dumb or weak for losing my place, so I came out here...Thought I could make it alone and I couldn't." He sat you down on the edge of your bed and pulled your head to rest on his shoulder.

"You just need a little help and I'll help, me and the boys will help you as much as you need." You smiled softly and looked around the room.

"I guess it will feel good not to be back here all the time." You groaned looking at all of the posters that you still had up from when you were a kid,

"If it'll make you feel at home you can put up a poster in your room at my place, I think I have one of me, your bias of course." You pushed him off the edge of the bed and started packing up everything you were going to need while you stayed at his.

Taehyung:

When Taehyung got to your front door he thought there was a birthday card stapled to it at first but once he got closer he saw that giant red writing on the front 'Eviction notice' was on the paper instead and your door was open slightly.

"Y/n?" You froze once you heard his voice and you turned around to see him standing there holding a present and card. You forgot today was even your birthday until you saw him staring at you. He watched as you tried to come up with some kind of excuse as to why you were packing everything you owned into boxes but instead of questioning you he placed his things down and started to help you.

"Clothes? Which box?" You frowned as he tried to help you, you had been friends for years.

"Any with the room, there's no organisation here." You whimpered trying not to cry in front of him but it was hard when he was just trying to help you without asking what was happening. Taehyung would act now and ask questions later, he'd always been that way since you were kids.

(X)

"Alright, well where are we taking them? New place?" You locked the door and posted the keys back through. He'd done his best not to question anything happening until now but he was concerned as to where you were planning on going.

"Mums got my old ready so pack up my car."

"You're moving all the way back out there?" You nodded,

"I don't have much of a choice Tae," He nodded and made you face him,

"Yes you do, move in with me. Until you get a place. You can stay in the spare room in my apartment. It's close to work and you won't have to take a long drive..." He stopped when he realised you were crying again,

"I don't have a job either Tae, I have nothing-"

"You have me, you have your best friend. I'm here. You're staying with me and I'm not taking no for an answer." He took the last box from your hand and put it into the boot of your car before taking your car keys and getting inside.

"Get in." He ordered and you got in without thinking about it. He drove off down the road and towards his place, it was closer to the town centre that your place was so there would be good opportunities for other jobs.

"I'm not letting you go through this alone, we're best friends." He whispered to you as you thanked him for doing this for you.

Jungkook:

Jungkook didn't even know that you'd applied to work at BigHit until he saw you running around late one night carrying coffee, he followed behind you and watched you walk into the main conference room and back out again. You came face to face with him and screamed a little,

"You work here?" You nodded showing him the small lanyard around your neck and he followed you down the hallway. You were his best friend and had been for years but you hadn't told him when you started working there.

"Since when?" You groaned about not having the time to talk about it right now,

"I have to take these to Namjoon and then I have to go to my second job." Second job? He followed you up to Namjoon's studio and made you stop in front of him.

"Second job? Y/n, what's going on?" You sighed turning to look around you and then to Jungkook.

"I can't talk about it Kookie-" You only used that nickname on him when you were upset about something but didn't want to talk about it and why would you? You were just kicked out of your apartment and working three jobs to try and keep the hotel room you were currently staying in.

"I'm your best friend, what can't you talk about to me?" You started tearing up as he stared down at you expecting answers but all you had was embarrassing answers.

"I got kicked out so I'm working here, the cafe down the road and a bar in town. I need the money so I can afford the stupid hotel room I have and I can't afford to waste time Jungkook." He took the coffee for Namjoom from your hand and told you not to bother going to the bar,

"Go to the hotel, get your things and come back here. Do I make myself clear?" You frowned at him and shook your head,

"Speaking as your new boss, I want you to go and get your things and come back here." You nodded and he watched you run down the hall and out of the double doors at the bottom of the hall that leads to the staircase.

(X)

Your clothes were all away in drawers in the spare bedroom of Jungkook's apartment. He'd told you that you were going to live with him and that you were going to work for him,

"Jungkook it's too much." You told him when he told you he wasn't going to charge you rent,

"You need help y/n, I'm your best friend I'm not going to see you struggle and leave you on your own." You smiled at him as he walked into the room carrying two cups of hot chocolate and your favourite movie from when you were kids. He'd done this for years, whenever either of you were upset about something you would have hot chocolate and watch the film together, it was traditional at this point.

"We'll figure it all out, one day at a time." He promised you, leaning over and hugging you while you watched the movie together.

Tagline: 

@writingdreamsnottragedies @yoongisdumplingcheeks @snowy-meowl @lynnthevirgo @jooniesdarlingdimples @lyoongx @mitzwinchester @fan-ati--c @rjsmochii @callingmyangel @kneel-begyourpardon​ @taestannie​

[chick-from-nz]

Paper, Scissors, Rank  (Ch: 7)

CHARACTER/PAIRING: Modern!Carrillo x Army!OC (eventually) 

WARNINGS: maybe some swearing, military slang, more military talk,  spelling and grammatical errors. Flippy floppy points of view and tenses. Could be very OOC/AU for some. Carrillo may not be narcos accurate as this is an AU. Some OC x OC 

AUTHORS NOTE: ok so idk how good this is, kinda just word vomited onto the page, tryna generate some emotion in there but lets see how it goes, thanks for reading peeps. I know I said I wasn't gonna post but middle of the night inspiration stuck so imma keep writing this 

WORD COUNT: 3.2k

CHAPTER: 7 OF ?

TAG LIST(OPEN): @girlpornparadise @1zashreena1 @xxidontwikeitxx @nicke0115 @allalngthewtchtower @lettherebrelight

The drive to the teams new base of operations was by no means short. While still being on defence land they were nearly three hours away from the main base, located in a flat valley in the hills and surrounded by greenery and training equipment. Ash had been here once before during a cadets course many years ago with her father, but it was vastly different now. The house had changed drastically from what used to be multiple cabins to what was now a single stand alone one story place. However while the accommodation had changed the grounds had stayed the same. There was an assault course set up that flowed into the trees to the south of the house and there was a pool to the west of the house, all in all, it was nothing to complain about. 

The house itself was relatively modern, having been rebuilt within the last few years or so. The entrance was sealed by heavy wooden doors that required a pin in order to access. Upon entry Ash took in the place, it was actually really nice. It was open plan living, the kitchen was directly to the right as you came in the doors, nice wooden benchtops and crisp new appliances. Directly in front of the breakfast bar sat the living room. Three nice couches surrounded a rather large square coffee table, laden with maps. The fireplace that the couches faced was made of a slate grey stone and sat underneath the rather large tv.  To the right of the fireplace was a door that she had been informed led to the only bathroom in the house that held a shower, while to the left of the fireplace was the door to Ash’s room.

Across the small hallway was the Colonels room, which was attached to his office that was on the far end of the house. At the end of the small hallway was an open archway that, from what she could see, led to a gym. Stepping further into the house and left from the kitchen Ash noticed another two sets of doors. One that led to the boys room, containing four single military style pits and separate draws for each of them, while the second door opened up onto the workspace for them all, which had a door in the back right corner that opened up onto Carrillo’s office. All in all, Ash couldn’t find a single fault to the house, okay perhaps one bathroom to share was gonna be a little tough.

She was startled from her thoughts and exploring when Carrillo called out to her while making his way to his office. “There's some food in the fridge and everything is pretty easy to find so make yourself at home, the boys should arrive in around about five weeks. You’ve got the single room closest to the bathroom”  Ash nodded in thanks and watched as he disappeared into the teams workroom, no doubt going to his office to work through the enlistment papers for the rest of the team. Ash didn’t waste much time going to her room, she could eat later when hunger eventually struck her, she was miles too tired from the drive here and sore from moving about so much. Her room was nice. A large double bed sat in the middle of the room encompassed by grey side tables, each sporting a small lamp. In front of the bed sat a tall set of drawers and a small bookcase. Very homely indeed, thankfully, cause god only knows how long the team would be confined to the house doing research and/or planning and training for future raids.

Ash barely gave herself any time to get changed, haphazardly pulling on an oversized shirt and a pair of comfortable gym shorts, before she all but launched herself onto her new bed, grunting in pain when her left side made contact with the bed a little too harshly . She moved onto her back sinking deep into the comfort of the mattress. The bed was like heaven for her after sleeping on either a creaky army pit or the ground for the last twenty some weeks. If this is what she had to look forward to everyday her enthusiasm for work was about to increase ten fold.  The moment her head touched the pillow she was out like a light. Thankful for her own space and a bed big enough to move around on and toss and turn how she used to.

                                                            -------

As much as Carrillo enjoyed the rank he was and the respect that followed his name, the paperwork at this level was a nightmare. Especially due to the complaints Sinclair had lodged against him due to the incident  at the base hospital. Having to describe in detail the events that occurred between that despicable man and the young officer a mere few rooms over made his blood boil, yet again. He was starting to understand the warnings that came with being posted here, apparently work affairs between ranks wasn’t a condemnable act like it was back home in Columbia. An odd world indeed. Still, within his team he would not tolerate any kind of fraternization, hence his decision to cram the boys into one room together and give Greyson her own room, partly for her own privacy but also for his peace of mind.

Pushing the paperwork to the side of his desk, he sighed. That damn soldier might well be the best thing for the team but she sure came with some complications. He’d done extensive research into his team members upon his arrival to the base, most came from non-military backgrounds, a solid high school education or higher, and most but not all had been serving for at least four years and had seen some kind of fire fight. Then there was Greyson. Military background with files upon files that had been redacted and unable to be accessed by anyone in the force, no matter how hard he’d tried. Only the most basic of information could be found about the young soldier; graduated school with honors and received many scholarship proposals but turned them down, participated in many extracurricular activities before and after her education, applied to join the army as both a regular soldier and an enlisted officer as her father had served but yet again, any information surrounding him and his career or rank had been redacted. A Lot of mystery surrounded this soldier, a mystery the Colonel found himself wanting to solve, even if it did go against his own rule.

                                                          ------

When Ash awoke the room was bathed in light from the full moon outside, the sounds of the bush were a welcome homely feeling for her, nature was her comfort. She went to sit but was struck with immense pain. Both her stab wound and head injuries were sending waves of pain throughout her body, making her vision temporarily blurry. The need to puke was high but Ash pushed it down as far as she could. She was hungry, in pain and now cranky, she just hoped her medication would be easy to find in the kitchen. Stumbling like a newborn deer she tried to shake the dizzy feeling from her head, this concussion was a pain in her ass, but the medics did say the symptoms should be gone within the next few weeks, until then Ash would have to put up with feeling sick and dizzy sometimes.  Celebrating when she finally made it to the kitchen without falling on her ass, she then struggled to find the lightswitch, now that was one thing she really should have paid attention too when scouting the house when they arrived.

Having located the switch and turning on the lights she winced, they were just that tad bit too bright for a tired concussed brain. It was when she turned to grab a glass of water to quench her thirst that she noticed a glass already laid out on the bench, with what looked like her meds already measured out beside it and a note beneath the glass. Either she was hallucinating or the stoic Colonel had laid this out for her. Gripping the bench as tight as she could as another wave of nausea overtook her sense she moved closer to the glass, there were her meds. Perfectly placed atop a piece of paper that was covered in a rather elegant script. Each pill had the name and the purpose written next to it and at the bottom of the note were the words “Dinner is in the fridge, eat first. That's an order”  

Ash scoffed a little at the note, of course he’d write that, seemed the man was more by the book than she thought. She was silently thankful for his detailed note explaining her meds, if she had to pick them from the bottle she wouldn’t have known what to take. Opening the fridge and grabbing out the only covered plate she was surprised to find that the meal looked home cooked, Did this man really cook dinner? . It was safe to say she was shocked by the thought but proceeded to microwave her dinner anyway, leaning against the bench to keep herself upright, lest the Colonel come into the kitchen later in the day and find her sprawled out on the floor.

Ash all but devoured the food when it was ready, not waiting for anything to cool down, she was far too hungry. She couldn’t remember the last time she ate, or the last time she ate this good. She never would have guessed that Carrillo was this good at cooking, like sure she’d guess he cooked, but this was some next level stuff. Finishing her meal and cleaning up any mess she’d made was an effort at best, the dizzy feeling was getting worse every time she moved. Quickly she gathered the pills from the bench and downed them in one gulp, chasing them down with water, she hoped at least one of them would help with the horrible dizziness and the nausea that accompanied it. The need to sleep was beginning to overtake her again, something she figured would be common while she was recovering, as much as that might annoy her she’d be thankful for the rest.

Like clockwork she yawned, stretching her arms above her head in an attempt to shake the sleep from her body, only to regret the motion a few seconds later. The stitches in her side had pulled impossibly tight at being stretched, her side felt like it was on fire. She reached down to grab her side in pain and pulled her hand away at the warm feeling. Glancing down she noted the rapidly growing red spot seeping into the gauze pad. Of course she had ripped her stitches, she'd been warned by not only the medics but also Carrillo to not move around too much due to her side. Seems she really hadn’t been listening to the warnings. Deciding that she was entirely too tired to deal with the result of her stretching Ash just walked as calmly as she could back to her room and clambered into bed. There was always tomorrow to fix this. And with that, Ash was quick to fall back to sleep, her medication no doubt aiding her plight.

                                                    ------

It was the smell of freshly made coffee that had Ash climbing from her bed and shaking off sleep the next morning. Her medication had definitely kicked in, she could feel no pain from anywhere in her body and the nausea had disappeared finally. To her surprise, Carrillo was standing in the kitchen, dressed in a pair of grey sweatpants and simple white t-shirt that was entirely too tight, not the Ash was complaining cause the view from her vantage point was amazing. If Ash believed in a higher power she woulda thought that the gods had gifted her with the man standing in the kitchen. No man had the right to look so sinfully delicious in a simple white shirt like that. It was so tight that it clung to his sculpted upper body and left very little to the imagination The thin shirt was stretched thin across his chest, pecs struggling to stay contained. The fabric was stretched tight across his broad bulky shoulders, his biceps straining against the confines of the sleeves that were sure to tear if he were to flex just the right way. He reclined against the bench facing her but was wrapped up with whatever was on the tv. Ash was obvious in her gawking so it was only a matter of time before his eyes fell to her. When they did, his eyes widened comically in shock. Ash wasn’t sure why until his eyes travelled down her frame and landed on her side before a look of realisation overcame his face.  

He took a few quick paces towards her before turning to his right and disappearing into the bathroom with a look of determination on his face. Ash paid him no mind and made her way to the kitchen counter to pour herself a coffee before taking a long pleasant sip. It was a mere minute later that Carrillo was standing in front of her, a med kit laid out on the bench and an expectant look on his face. She looked at him long and hard before realising he was speaking, she gave him a questioning look, tilting her head to the side, before she heard him huff and repeat what he said.

“Greyson, I asked you to take of your shirt”  

It was Ash’s turn to gape at him, the audacity of this man, why would the most by the book man she’d ever met be so unprofessional. “Excuse me?” the disbelief in her words made him roll his eyes, if she wasn’t so confused right now she probably would’ve gone off at him for that.

“I don’t know what activities you got up too last night, but you’ve obviously torn through your stitches, despite the warning from both the medics and myself” He said with a small amount of annoyance while pointing at her side. Now that Ash looked down she realised he was right. Blood had well and truly soaked through her bandage and through the shirt she wore to bed, She was unsure how she didn’t notice this sooner because now that she was seeing it with her own two eyes, it was pretty obvious.

Begrudgingly she pulled the shirt over her head, unsure as to why she had to take it off completely before coming to the conclusion that the shirt probably should be washed. She had a second to drop her shirt before Carrillo was standing a mere few inches in front of her, slowly peeling the bandage from her skin before inspecting her wound, Since when was he a medic?, that thought had her laughing silently, or so she thought. Being this close meant that he heard her laugh so she was met with a raised eyebrow and a bored expression on his face, that surely ended her laughter. She was silent while he worked, wincing occasionally when he prodded a little too hard to see her reaction.

“You’ll be fine if you rest for the next few days, you tore the bottom few stitches. Don’t do anything stupid and the wound will be healed on time” His tone was definitive and the order was clear.

Ash groaned and rolled her eyes, a brave thing to do this close to the man.  He handed her a bandage then turned around to pack away the supplies from the kit. She quickly fixed the bandage and took off toward her room, coffee abandoned on the bench, she was well and truly awake now. New shirt now acquired and covering herself she returned to the main room, Carrillo now vacant from the space and probably in his office working. She snatched up the tv remote and flicked through the channels, settling on an old war movie before curling onto her side to relax.

She woke hours later, the movie long since ended and the daylight now darkness. A blanket had been draped over her in her sleep and her dinner was sitting on the coffee table with a glass of water and her medication beside it. She would forever be grateful for the subtle ways the Colonel looked after her, even if he would never admit to it. She at least knew he cared enough for his team that he’d go out of his way to make her feel comfortable and like she belonged, even if she was new to the force.

                                                                                                                                                                                          -------

Aside from the incident in the kitchen the rest of the week went pretty smooth. They’d developed some semblance of a rhythm. Both woke early, whoever made it to the kitchen first put the pot of coffee on and poured a cup for the both of them, conveniently they preferred their coffee the same way. Black with no milk or sugar. Then they usually sat at the kitchen counter to eat breakfast, cereal for Ash and whatever Carrillo cooked himself for breakfast, Ash really wasn’t one for a big meal in the mornings. After breakfast the Colonel usually disappeared into his office to work and the younger officer would clean up their dishes and then hog the shower for as long as possible, soaking in the opportunity to have a warm shower all to herself without limits. Ash would spend most of the day watching tv or reading one of the many military inspired books that occupied the wall mounted shelves on either side of the tv.

Carrillo would emerge from his office around sixteen hundred hours each day, and proceed to cook dinner for the both of them. Ash had tried once but burnt the steak and been deemed too inexperienced and untrustworthy in the kitchen, something she was silently glad for cause the Colonel was a better cook than she ever could’ve hoped. Again Ash did the clean up, a fair trade off for not cooking, while Carrillo once again disappeared, this time to the gym or for a run around the perimeter of the property along the treeline, a sight Ash loved to enjoy. Only twice  he had stayed to converse or silently watch the news beside her. Then like clockwork they would bid each other goodnight and retire to their rooms.

Everything was going perfect, the routine now something established and easy to work through, even if Ash did complain about being on couch/bed rest until either the medics cleared her or the Colonel deemed her fit enough to begin easing her way into training. It wasn’t until the Wednesday of their second week together that something changed between them, something Ash looked back on with a smile on her face and made Carrillo have conflicted feelings and wish he had just stuck to their schedule they had so easily adapted to around each other.

[shireness-says]

skating in circles (with no way to stop)

Summary: Anne Elliot likes her life just the way it is. The last thing she needs is her handsome, charming, professional hockey player ex... something to show up during lockdown and prove just how wrong she is about that. ~7.9K. Rated T for language. Also on AO3.

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A/N: For @welllpthisishappening, who is going a little stir-crazy during the NHL break. Also because it is absolutely her fault I ever thought “What would a hockey-flavored Persuasion AU look like?” 

Special thanks to @snidgetsafan for her beta skills. Any mistakes, hockey-type or otherwise, are absolutely my own. 

Tagging the potentially interested parties: @profdanglaisstuff, @thisonesatellite, @ohmightydevviepuu, @thejollyroger-writer, @snowbellewells. 

Enjoy, and let me know what you think!

~~~~~

Social distancing almost doesn’t seem so bad in weather like this, the snow outside Anne’s window falling in huge flakes more furiously each second. Weather like this is designed for staying inside, curled up in an armchair with a cup of tea and a soft knitted afghan. It’s almost enough to soothe the little voice in her head that chides her for not working; there’s genuinely little for Anne to do from home as a school nurse, beyond writing and filing the reports she usually puts off until the end of the year, but that doesn’t stop her from feeling guilty at not doing more. Even if she isn’t expected to. Even if she is actually supposed to bunker down. 

It’s been odd, adjusting to a life of jigsaw puzzles and overly involved embroidery projects and all the books she swore she’d read two years ago and never did. Hell, she’s even taken up online archiving projects after an old friend from school sent her a link, just for something to do. Her social life hasn’t particularly suffered; she’s a transplant to this town, anyways, drawn back by the memories of one beautiful, peaceful year, only really meeting with folks from work or her old roommate, and infrequently at that. Every few days, she’ll go through the motions of calling her sister Mary just so the younger woman can chatter away about all her own complaints; truthfully, that’s all the socializing she can handle. Anne has always kept to herself, and usually even likes it; the only difference now is that it’s by governor’s decree, not by her own introverted preferences. 

Way out here, it’s not surprising that the power eventually goes out; it’s not uncommon, when the snow gets too heavy on the power lines in heavy storms like this. This is exactly why she has a generator - it’s all but a necessity when you’re living here year-round. Sure enough, the generator roars to life a moment later - an auditory nuisance, for sure, but a necessary one when you like such things as central electric heating and wifi and refrigerated items not spoiling. 

The crunch of snow under tires outside her little cottage is more surprising, however,  especially under the circumstances. She hasn’t ordered takeout, or grocery delivery; there’s no reason anyone should be pulling up to her house, especially in this weather. Peeking out the window reveals the kind of SUV only people with money buy, and the last person in the world she ever expected to see climbing out of it; she’d almost think it a hallucination brought on by isolation, if she hadn’t already seen him from a distance at the grocery store, earlier in the week. 

Anne barely has a chance to pull herself together before the knock at the door sounds, bouncing off the walls of her little house. Opening the door reveals Frederick Wentworth, the dream she put away nigh on nine years ago, standing on her stoop in a ridiculous hat and a peacoat that’s not remotely suited to the practicalities of winter in rural New Hampshire. 

“Believe me, I hate this just as much, if not more, than you do,” he begins, plowing forward before Anne can even remember to reassure him that it’s not true, “but my power’s out, and I need your help.”

As it turns out, Frederick - her handsome, charming, professional hockey player ex… something - is all that’s required to upset any equilibrium the snow might have brought. 

———

Frederick Wentworth hadn’t intended to return to Kellynch, New Hampshire. Then again, he hadn’t intended to be sitting out indefinitely with the rest of the league because of the current pandemic.

New York just feels odd like this, the tourists all gone, the streets practically empty. Fred has never credited himself as one of those maniacs who claim that New York is the only city in the world, and there’s nothing like it; he’d been happy in a small town, and he’ll be happy in a different city if the worst happens and he ends up traded. That’s the way these things work. That doesn’t mean he hasn’t formed opinions over the last years about how this city is supposed to feel, and it sure as hell ain’t this. 

So he gets in his car, arranges for a rental house, and drives up to Kellynch. If nothing else, he hopes it will be easier to look outside in a place he’d expect to see barely a soul even under the best conditions. Nothing ever happens in Kellynch, after all; maybe that will include the virus too.

(Well, that’s a lie. Exactly two things have ever happened to Kellynch, and he’s one of them. The other… if they’re very, very lucky, they’ll never have to deal with egotistical directors and their ilk again. Even pretty, quiet brunettes aren’t worth that trouble; in fact, sometimes, they make things worse.)

The irony to all this is that usually, Frederick craves a little bit of solitude. He spends essentially his entire life around the same group of guys, at practice and in games and especially on the road, when he’s got to share a hotel room to boot. Hell, he even lived with them for years, sharing an apartment with Harville and Benwick. A man can be forgiven for wanting some time to himself.

And he’d gotten it, at least for a while. Harvey had met his now-wife and moved out, and now Benwick’s got a girlfriend who giggles and his own place to giggle with her in or whatever. Fred can finally come home and just collapse in the closest thing to silence one ever gets in New York, and truthfully, he’s been enjoying every moment of it.

There’s a difference, though, in solitude on your own terms and solitude on others’ terms, and Frederick can’t help but feel lonely as he remembers that in the middle of all this, his friends and teammates are cozied up with those they love, and he’s all by himself in the empty apartment he once yearned for. In Kellynch, at least, it’s a solitude of his own making; his parents are long gone, Sophie out in Virginia with her husband, and for the most part, he hasn’t talked to his old school friends in years. There won’t be this constant awareness of all the people he can’t see if there’s no one about that he’d want to. 

Maybe he ought to try dating again, he thinks as he drives. Obviously, there’s nothing to be done in the moment, what with social distancing and impending stay-at-home orders, but maybe later. Maybe Harvey’s wife has friends he’d like - he’s always liked Amelia and her steady personality and good-natured humor, so unlike Benwick’s high-maintenance Louisa and her ear-piercing squeals. Her friends have got to be similar, and Amelia would probably even be kind enough not to make him sound completely desperate. 

It’s not that he hasn’t found anyone interested in the past years; he’s got a decent face, after all, and a better paycheck. But the thing about that face and that paycheck is that it’s hard to trust that any woman is interested in him, him alone, the person he is without all that. It’s not a great way to live, but it’s hard to move past. 

There’s also the matter of the pretty quiet brunette who came to Kellynch when he was 16, seized his heart, and never really gave it back. Walter Eliot may have been an asshole - every cliche of the self-absorbed Hollywood director, convinced that their town was “quaint” and “just what he needed” to spark inspiration while demanding kowtowing and wrecking havoc wherever he went - but his daughter, Anne, had been of a different mold altogether. He’d met her at the annual Fourth of July parade, of all places. It was obvious she hadn’t intended to be noticed; indeed, she’d blushed and done her best to fade into the background while her father and older sister had made some kind of scene that Frederick can’t honestly remember anymore. He’d been too intrigued - and later, enchanted - by Anne to pay much attention to the rest of the fiasco she’d called a family. 

She’d probably felt then the same as he feels about people now - some strange boy coming up to her out of nowhere with mini-donuts, someone she’s never met but undoubtedly knows her and her family, stuck wondering if he was interested in her or all the rest of it. But it had always been her; she’d initially been fascinating just in the contrast, but as he’d talked to her Fred had gotten to see her sense of humor and her brilliant mind and caring heart, and been smitten with the whole package. 

That was, until she’d ended things between them, insisting that they’d never work across such a long distance, that she didn’t want to try. Maybe they’d only had 8 months, but he’d been all in, with all the conviction of youth that this was it for them, in some kind star-crossed true love way. She was the first thing, besides his family, that he’d loved more than hockey; truthfully, he still hasn’t found anything or anyone else to match that. It’s hard to move on from that kind of heartbreak. Maybe it’s finally time he tried. 

The house he’s rented proves to be up a winding, hilly road lined with pine trees stretching in every direction. The seclusion is its own kind of calming - exactly what he needs, when the rest of the world feels like it’s going to hell in a handbasket. There’s something about  being alone amongst the trees that feels comforting in a way that being alone in the city can never touch - almost like a hug. Or something else less weird-sounding. English was never his thing. The house itself is just a little two-bedroom cottage, but that’s more than enough space for just him. What’s more important is that there’s a TV and WiFi and plenty of blankets to bunker down with for however long this lasts. 

What he doesn’t expect is to see Anne Eliot - the same Anne Eliot who he thought had left Kellynch for good, who’d broken his heart - at the supermarket like any other local, presumably looking to stock up on supplies just like he is. He doesn’t think she spots him - Frederick ducks into another aisle as soon as he spots her - but just the briefest sight of her sets his heart beating faster in a way that he doesn’t really want to examine closer. 

(It would be ridiculous to still have feelings for her after all this time, even if that’s sure what it seems like.)

He tells himself that it’s just a fluke; that they won’t run into each other again; that they can avoid each other without any problems, given the situation. He is wrong on all counts. The cottage sits at the top of a hill, and on days where the fog hasn’t settled around the tops of the trees, he can see just a peek of a few houses and driveways down below. 

And just who should he happen to see wrestling with her trash bin one evening, but the woman herself?

(Some higher power really has it in for him, he’s certain of it.)

Still, they don’t call it social distancing for nothing. It’s easy to avoid the people you don’t want to see when you don’t even leave your house. He naps a lot and catches up on Netflix and even attempts a puzzle that he finds in the hall closet (though it just winds up abandoned on the dining table). 

In eight years, though, he’d forgotten about the weather up here. It’s late March, technically spring; the worst of the snow should be over. Should be over isn’t the same as is over, though, and he’d forgotten about the late-March snowstorms that pop up more years than not. They’d had them in Minnesota, too; the locals there had always joked it was because of the college basketball tournament. Well, the NCAA tournament may have been cancelled, but the weather sure didn’t get that memo, as the flakes start falling huge, heavy, and fast just outside the windows, almost pretty in a way that’s only possible when you know you don’t have to go outside in the storm. 

Fate has other ideas, though. At least, Frederick has to believe it’s fate, otherwise this is all a cruel, cruel trick, and he doesn’t like to think about what he might have done to deserve that. Where he’s going with this is that the power goes out, knocking out the heat and the lights, as well as all those systems he’d been so thankful for until now. There’s a fireplace, but he hadn’t planned for this, and there’s not enough logs and he doesn’t know where or how to chop more and as much of his life as he spends at an ice rink he is not prepared to spend the night in these kind of temperatures without heat and —

— and when he looks out his window, he can just see a hint of light from Anne’s house, just hear the hum of a generator.

And he really doesn’t have any option at all but to throw himself on the mercy of the last woman he wants to see. 

———

Anne’s house is neat, from what Frederick can see - small, but cozy, with everything obviously in its very particular place. It reminds him of her, in a way, or at least the her he remembers - quietly comforting and well turned out. It’s exactly what he expected, somehow - just the kind of house he’d expect her to inhabit.

The woman herself, on the other hand, looks tired - vastly different than what he remembered. Anne is worn down, somehow, in a way that makes her look older than she is. Frederick supposes that’s what happens when she’s undoubtedly been carrying her family members in the way she always has; it would exhaust anyone, especially under pandemic circumstances. 

“Nice place,” he comments as Anne leads him towards a promised spare bedroom once he’s retrieved his bag - more out of an effort to fill the empty space than anything. Anne was always quiet, but this is just unnerving in its discomfort. They’d always been able to talk, or at least exist contentedly in the quiet; this is the opposite of all that. 

“Thanks,” she replies. “I like it.” Just the kind of response a person makes when they don’t know what the hell else to say. 

And maybe that’s what makes Fred dive straight into topics they should politely ignore - the absolute blandness of everything else they could say. 

“I didn’t expect to find you here,” he tells her foolishly. 

“In my own home, during quarantine?” She says it with a slight smile and the tone of voice she’s always used to hide her sense of humor, and suddenly Frederick is hit with a powerful wave of nostalgia. 

“No, here. Kellynch here.”

The amusement flits away just as quickly as it had appeared, the smile turning polite and wooden. Another look he vividly remembers. “I didn’t plan to come back, either,” she tells him softly, “but I like it here. I got out of school and there was a position open and… it was too good an opportunity to pass up. I’m a school nurse,” she clarifies. “Over at the elementary.” 

And that… fits, in a way he should have realized. She’d talked about going into nursing way back when, back when they were still practically kids, but this makes a lot more sense than trying to imagine Anne in some busy hospital. More tender, more stable. 

“I bet you’re great at that.”

“Thanks. I like it. You’re… good at your job, too,” she finishes awkwardly. 

(Even if the words are halting, uncomfortable, they send a little thrill through Frederick’s veins. Does that mean she’s watched, sometime in these past couple of years? They’re decidedly out of Rangers country and New York broadcasting range, way up here, but there are ways around that and she’d said…

Had she watched? For him?)

“Just doing my best,” he replies, just as uncomfortably. What a pair they make now. 

“I don’t know if you’ve eaten already, but I was about to make up some dinner,” Anne tells him - an abrupt, but welcome, change of subject. “I’d be happy to do up another serving if you like.”

“That’d be great, thanks.” He has no idea what kind of meal he’s committed to, but who the fuck cares; right now, it’s a way to get a moment to collect himself. 

“I’ll see you in a little bit then.” 

(If he’s not mistaken, Anne flees the room with just as much relief as he feels watching her go.)

(Kellynch was supposed to be his getaway, his haven - but right now, all it seems like is a terrible mistake as Frederick wonders what the fuck kind of situation he’s gotten himself into.) 

———

Dinner isn’t exactly an illustrious start to this whole thing, to say the least. Anne stresses about every step of making spaghetti - spaghetti, for goodness sakes, jarred sauce and boxed noodles, nothing a normal person could possibly find a way to stress about - only to realize as soon as they sit down that this is what they really should have worried about: what in the world two people who have unwillingly been forced into the same space have to discuss. 

(“How’s your family?” he asks at one point - probably a subtle dig, if he’s remembering the same uncomfortable dinner that she is, in which her father had done his best to treat Frederick like an utter idiot. Fred had always thought she’d let them walk all over her, anyways - an accusation that isn’t far off.

“Mary is fine. She just got engaged to a lawyer,” Anne relates as neutrally as she can. “I don’t much talk with Walter or Elizabeth anymore.” There’s a variety of reasons for that - especially their tendency to never listen to a single word she’s ever said in her life and making snide comments about how she’d rather live in some backwoods nowhere than in someplace with civilization like LA or New York - but the memory of the way they’d treated Frederick, and everyone else not like them had contributed too. “And your sister?” That’s a safer topic; Sophie and Anne had liked each other. 

“She’s good. She lives down in Virginia now - her husband’s some big shot in the Navy.”

“I’m glad to hear it.”)

(And that had been the end of that feeble attempt at discussion.)

Anne thinks a lot that night about what she must have done to deserve this. Clearly, something terrible in some past life to have earned this particular variety of torment. Frederick is everything she remembered, only colder - not that she can blame him. After what she did, all those years ago, the way she broke them… she’s more than earned it. 

Still. She can be strong, Anne tells herself. She can remain detached, and collected, and unaffected by his presence. She’s had years of practice, after all, pretending that she still isn’t carrying a torch. 

(It was always a foolish idea to watch him play online - but then again, she’s always been a fool.)

It’s a little harder to keep up that calm facade, however, when Frederick is walking out of the bathroom in the morning with nothing more than sweatpants and wet hair. God, but he’s handsome, between that face and that wonderful smile and the fit frame he must be displaying just to taunt her, like a reminder of all she rejected. Naturally. It’s no more than she deserves. Her relief is near palpable when he emerges from the spare room in another bright blue t-shirt. 

It gets easier as the hours pass and one day bleeds into another. It’s not Frederick’s fault that she’s so shaken by his very presence, and he really is trying to be a good houseguest. He picks up after himself and helps with the dishes and doesn’t argue with whatever she puts on TV. It could be worse. 

Still, she can’t help but feel like everything from their past sits between them, unspoken, in every interaction. It’s the elephant in the room, the loudly unspoken words in every little mundane interaction they share. They can reach a point where they’re able to converse without the overt distrust and borderline hostility of where they started this, but comfort is too much to ask.

(Does he feel it too - the pressure of all the what-might-have-beens, pressing down upon them? Or is she the only one that’s haunted?)

She can do this - survive Frederick’s presence when every moment is a reminder of all she threw away. But that doesn’t mean it won’t just crush and kill her. 

———

Frederick finds that he doesn’t mind being cooped up with Anne, likes it much more than he anticipated or planned. It’s not that they do much of anything - there’s limits in a small cottage like hers - but the companionship is nice. As it turns out, he was maybe lonelier than he’d wanted to admit. Even the stupid jigsaw puzzles go easier in her company; she’s got a system of sorting that Fred never would have had the patience to implement. 

Really, Anne is better equipped, literally and emotionally, for this whole isolation situation. Frederick has always needed to be out and active and doing, little planning involved; Anne, on the other hand, has all the supplies she needs, and the temperament for these kinds of quiet, time-wasting tasks to boot. It’s so entirely in character; he should probably have guessed. Then again, he was trying very hard not to think of Anne until he was forced to show up at her door, practically begging for shelter. 

Anne, of course, has plenty of firewood, unlike him, stacked neatly under a tarp at the side of her garage where it’s protected from the elements. She lives here year-round, after all; unlike his own dumb ass, she obviously remembers that it’s not uncommon to receive snow all the way through March and into April, and planned accordingly. Her central heating works fine, obviously, but there’s something about this weather that calls for a roaring fire. Plus, retrieving the firewood gives Frederick a chance to think away from Anne and all her distraction.

He’s not sure what he expected of her - tears? Begging? Apologies? The kind of aloofness the rest of her family has so perfected? None of that is Anne; she’s always been too accepting of her circumstances, even to her own detriment. Once upon a time, Frederick had viewed that tendency with a kind of fond exasperation, had wanted to help her understand that she deserved more than she had always settled for; now it just makes him sad, and angry. She should feel more than this, should be angry or distraught or anything now that he’s here.

He should be paying more attention to the task at hand than the woman in the other room, unfortunately, as the end of a twig clipped off a log slices the skin of his palm as he deposits his load by the hearth, causing Frederick to hiss in surprise at the mild pain. It’s not a deep cut, or hurt that badly - he plays a contact sport for a living, for fuck’s sake, this is nothing - but he can already see blood starting to bead. After making sure the logs are stacked as best as he can one handed, Fred quickly crosses to the kitchen sink to rinse it out. Anne finds him moments later as he examines his hand for splinters. 

“Are you alright?” she asks, that soft voice filled with the kind of concern that sends a pang through his heart. 

“Yeah, I’m fine. Just scratched myself on one of the logs. No biggie.”

Still, Anne pulls his hand closer to examine the little cut herself - gently enough that he could easily pull away, but somehow, too tenderly for him to ever want to. This is her life now, Frederick realizes suddenly - scrapes and bruises and doubtless all other kinds of minor playground injuries that need more tenderness than true care. School nurse, after all. 

“I’ll get you something for that.”

“Oh, you don’t have to —” but it’s too late; Anne is already walking down the hall with her determined pace, disappearing into the bathroom. Resistance is futile, or something. Faintly, he hears the squeal of a cabinet hinge before Anne pads back into sight in her stockinged feet, carrying something he can’t quite make out clutched in her hand.

“Just a bit of neosporin,” she explains, tugging his hand back towards her to apply the cream before peeling open the wrapper of a band-aid - the skin-toned butterfly kind.

He nods towards the little adhesive. “What, no fun prints? I’m appalled.”

“Left all my princesses and superheroes back in my office at school,” she smiles back. “You’ll just have to make do, I suppose.”

“I guess I’ll make it, somehow.”

(When she smiles, the ridiculous urge to ask her to kiss it better pops into his head with an ease that nearly frightens him. With a care that would impress even her, he shoves it back down.)

———

It gets easier  to share the same space as the days drag on - to learn to expect another person in her space, to expect that other person to be him. It would be overstating the matter to say that she’s not affected by him anymore; indeed, Anne is almost painfully aware of his presence at every moment. But she can prepare to face it when she’s come to expect him, and that feels like a victory all its own. She is braced and ready, long since versed in ignoring and minimizing those feelings that still linger from so long ago. Frederick’s physical presence in her space is a complicating factor, but certainly one that she can overcome. 

If she can ignore the way her heart aches, it’s almost kind of nice, having him around. They fall into a pattern of meals and Netflix and quietly finding their own distraction in between. It’s the kind of mundane existence she could almost dream of sharing with him if she was foolish enough to entertain those thoughts.

(She can’t afford to be such a fool - not when it’s only a matter of time until the snow stops and the roads clear and he leaves once again. She likes her life as it is, and that will have to be enough.)

It’s probably inevitable that, on the fourth night, when the snow has finally let up but the temperatures have turned bitter and icy, they find themselves huddled up next to the fireplace with a strong drink apiece. Frederick sips on a glass of the nice whiskey Anne keeps in the back of a cabinet for occasions that call for a little something stronger, barely kissed with enough soda to call it a mixed drink; Anne, at least, pours the same stuff into a whole cup of tea. She’s never been much for liquor, especially straight, but there are occasions that call for it, and being cooped up with a man she never expected to see again is certainly one of them.

“What are the fucking odds?” Frederick declares after his second glass. “I come out here, trying to get away, and I find you. What are the odds.”

“Well, the last couple of years, I’d say pretty good. Since I live here and all.” He’s kind of cute like this - drunk and verbose. It’s something she never had a chance to see, before.

“Oh. Yeah. That.” He takes another swig. “Still. What are the odds that I came back while you’re here?”

“It’s a mystery, I guess.” Maybe it’s the last few days; more likely, it’s the drink. Whatever the case, Anne finds herself telling Frederick something she should never admit. “I’m glad you’re here,” she tells him softly. “I… missed you.”

He tenses up at the words; not the reaction she expected, honestly. A feeling of dread starts to bloom in her stomach instead. “Really,” he comments, utterly flat. 

“Well… yes. Is that so hard to believe?”

“A little bit,” he tells her bluntly. “Especially since you’re the one that wanted me gone in the first place.”

“It was for the best.” For him, that is; this was never about her, anyways. 

“Was it now?” His laugh is bitter, utterly devoid of joy. 

“Frederick…”

“I just want to know what the hell is going on here,” Frederick demands, a liquored slur rounding out his consonants. “Because I’ve been here for days, and I can’t get my feet underneath me where you’re concerned. You sit there with that sad smile and you say it’s for the best and yet you don’t seem happy. And I don’t fucking get it. You’re the one who wanted to break up, but you don’t seem happy that we did.”

“I wasn’t,” Anne admits softly. “I’m not.”

“Then why? Because I’ve been trying to figure it out for nearly nine years, and all I’ve ever figured out is that you must not have felt anything. And after a week spent here, I don’t know that that’s true. So tell me, why?”

“I did it for you!” Anne finally bursts out, more a plea that a shout. “And I know that sounds like a lie and an excuse, but that’s why. We were so young, but God, I loved you. And you loved me, so much that you were about to throw away your chance at everything, ready to find some lesser school near Kellynch rather than taking Minnesota’s offer just so we’d be closer to each other. And I wanted it too - God, Frederick, you don’t know how much I wanted it, how close I was to letting you do that, because I wanted that too. I wanted you close. I loved you.

“But then… it wasn’t even some big game, but you wanted me there, so I went. And you looked alive out there on the ice, throwing insults and elbows and grinning like a maniac. I realized… that’s who you were supposed to be. I couldn’t hold you back from that, just to keep you close to me. Minnesota was your path to the kind of career that would last. How could I ask you to throw away your future?”

“Why didn’t you just say that? We could have figured something out. Done the long distance thing, I don’t know.”

“And you would have been hopelessly distracted from the start. Your mind would have been halfway across the country when you needed to be focusing on hockey and classes and everything else.”

He doesn’t have any response to that, not that Anne expected one. Frederick has never been great at admitting to things he doesn’t like.

“It was never because I didn’t care enough, because I didn’t love you,” she finishes softly. “I did it because I could see everything you could be, and I love - I loved you too much to let you waste that.” God, Anne hopes he didn’t hear that slip of the tongue, even if it’s true. “We were seventeen, Frederick. Kids. There was so much still ahead for you. I couldn’t be the reason you hindered your own dream, or even let it slip away. And you made it, didn’t you? You’ve reached that dream. No matter what I wanted for myself… I had to. For you, so you could have this.”

“I wanted you more than any dream.” Frederick has practically collapsed in on himself in the armchair, the very same one Anne was occupying when he’d showed up and shattered her quiet little world. It seems almost fitting that he sit there while she does the same. 

There’s no words for this; nothing that could make it better. Telling him I wanted that too won’t fix what’s already been done, even if she wishes that was the case, even if that’s true. “Frederick…” she finally whispers for lack of anything else to say. 

It’s too late, though - though that’s not quite the right phrase, not when it was already too late before this conversation even started, before he even showed up at her door in the snow. Now is just when he pries himself out of her armchair, standing with a finality that’s impossible to miss. “I’m tired, Anne,” he tells her. Anne doesn’t think she imagines an extra level of meaning to his words. “Goodnight.”

There’s nothing left to say - and no use saying it to an empty room anyways as she hears the spare bedroom door click shut down the hall. 

There’s no changing the past, but not enough words to explain it either.

———

The next morning, the roads are finally clear, and Frederick can go back up the road to his own cottage. Anne watches silently as Frederick emerges from the guest bedroom, his duffle bag in hand. The silence only becomes more tense as they stare at each other, the luggage a physical barrier between them, both blessed and cursed. 

“I suppose I should thank you,” Frederick finally says, breaking the silence. 

Anne shakes her head. “It was nothing. Basic kindness. You don’t need to thank me.”

(Can he see the way this pains her? Read the plea in her eyes - for forgiveness, for understanding?)

After another beat of silence, Frederick finally nods decisively, turning towards the door. “Take care, Anne.”

“You too, Frederick.” It feels final; it feels like a farewell, of a permanent kind. 

And then, with a last soft click of the door, he’s gone.

And Anne is left to herself again. 

———

He should feel peace, now that he’s back in his own space, away from Anne and every memory that she’s dredged up.

He doesn’t.

Because now, back alone in the little house at the top of the hill, Frederick once again has to face the particular kind of loneliness that comes with knowing that it doesn’t have to be this way.

What it all circles back to is this: he should feel smug. After all, this is everything he’d wished for in his most bitter moments over the years: Anne, all alone, with no real support system, just living a quiet little life of little note and, to all appearances, little true happiness. 

But it doesn’t feel good - not even remotely. How has he suffered? Sure, he hasn’t had her, but he got drafted, went to a top rate school, wound up playing hockey for a living in the NHL. By any measure, it’s a damn good life - all while Anne has been left to become the shell of herself he found four days ago. 

And that shouldn’t be his problem. Technically, you could argue that she brought this upon herself; dug a hole of her own making. But that doesn’t mean he doesn’t feel… sad, he supposes, to see what she’s resigned herself to. Maybe a little guilty, even. 

And still, he can’t help but feel like there’s questions left unanswered. They’d talked plenty about the past, how they’d felt and why they’d acted the way they had, but that hadn’t touched on where they stand now. If there’s one thing he’s learned in these last few days, it’s that his own feelings aren’t nearly as dormant as he’s tried to convince himself all these years. If there’s any chance Anne might still feel the same… well, he owes it to them both to find out. 

This chapter of their history doesn’t seem quite finished yet, and Frederick knows exactly what he has to do. 

———

This time, she should have expected the knock on the door - social distancing be damned. 

It’s been three days since the storm’s finally stopped - three days since snowplows had cleared everything out, three days since Frederick had left, back to his own little house up the road.

She’d been content by herself for so long - happy with her plants and her books and all the little hobbies that take up her time in the evenings and weekends. Anne had even found a new kind of solitary contentment in the pandemic, discovering tasks to give her days purpose and goals. Frederick was here for a matter of days, not even a week; it’s absurd to think he could change any of that.

And yet somehow, he has.

Because Anne had been… content by herself for so long - not happy, per se, but satisfied - but the house feels empty now without him. Even when they’d barely talked, or were in separate rooms, he’d been there, the energy of another person making the whole house feel full. She’d grown used to him, she supposes; allowed herself to remember, for once, all the reasons she had loved him, and all the dreams she once had had of what a life together could have been like . 

She chose this life - here, in Kellynch, by herself. But for the first time in the only place that’s ever really been hers, she feels not just alone, but lonely. As much as she’s always claimed to like her life, just as it is, there’s no denying that the past days have illuminated all the ways that she’s been lying to herself. She tries to pass the time the same way she always has, but it’s just not the same; she even calls Mary at one point, hoping her sister’s dour moods might be an efficient distraction, but Mary is even more snippy than usual. It’s been days since Anne last called, and her sister feels an outsized outrage about the so-called abandonment; truthfully, Anne hadn’t even noticed it had been a week since her last call. Moreover, she finds that she doesn’t really care about Mary’s bad mood the way she always has, doesn’t feel the need to fix it or blame herself for the outburst. It’s easier just to hang up the phone. 

(Maybe this is the first step in moving on: accepting that you deserve more than you’ve ever settled for. That doesn’t stop the yearning; moving on isn’t the work of a couple days, especially when the man himself has only just exited her life again, and is staying just up the road.)

As if she’s summoned him, tires crunch on the drive outside, heralding his reappearance. It isn’t right, the way her heart lurches with happiness and hope and excitement when she peeks out the window to once again see his SUV, once again see him climbing out in that ridiculous blue hat and shuffle to her front door without once slipping on her icy walk. There’s a sense of déjà vu as Anne draws a deep breath before she opens the door. There’s only so many times she can go through this, be subjected to such a blast from the past, before it will eventually break her. And yet, like a fool, she keeps opening the door. 

“Can we talk?” Frederick asks. His hands are shoved deep in his pockets and his shoulders are hunched inwards, but there’s a look in his eyes that Anne is afraid to name. 

(It almost looks tender - almost looks like hope - but it will hurt far worse to be proved wrong if she allows herself to believe that.)

“Of course,” Anne says softly, stepping aside just enough to let him in. It touches a special little bit of her heart to see the way that Frederick carefully knocks the snow off his boots at the threshold as he pulls his hat off his head, trying his best not to track anything in to her rug and floors. It’s such a simple little thing, but it’s care for her home - and, in a way, care for her. More than she ever expected again from Frederick Wentworth. 

“Anne…” he begins, reaching out a hand for her, but she quickly takes a step back. Touch will be too much, too permanent a memory if this is the end. 

“I think we ought to keep a bit of distance,” she explains at his odd look. 

If anything, that only serves to confuse him further, his brow crinkling up in that endearing way she remembers. “We already spent days together. I think social distancing is kind of a lost cause, at least where we’re concerned.”

Anne shakes her head. “It’s not about the virus.”

She can see the moment it hits him, just exactly what she means by distance, as he physically flinches with the realization. She can also see the moment he decides to plow forwards anyways with whatever he came to say. 

“I’ve been thinking, these last couple of days,” he tells her, “and I’ve had a lot of time to consider things. Everything you said and did, the other night and way back when. And I realized… I did a lot of talking about what I wanted, and what I felt. And in the middle of all that shouting, I never asked about what you wanted, or want, or how you felt. And you never told me, because that’s what you’re used to - people not caring enough to ask. That’s on me, and I’m sorry. But —” he swallows heavily, as if he’s forcing down the nerves he evidently feels — “but I’m asking now. I want to know what our break-up meant to you. Because the more I think about it, the harder it is for me to believe you did all this because you didn’t care.”

Anne fights the urge to turn away from Frederick; he deserves that much, after everything. Meeting his eyes is too much to ask, however, and she fixes her gaze instead just over his right shoulder, crossing her arms over her body protectively. “I loved you,” she tells him quietly. “I knew what I had to do, but I loved you. I hated every word that came out of my mouth.” Anne smiles sadly. “You weren’t the only one who wanted. You were the first person - the only person to look at me and see something wonderful and worthwhile, and it killed me to throw that away. I’ve had to live with that ever since.”

“And now?”

Anne turns pleading eyes upon him, sure that every emotion is now splashed across her face and too distraught to care. How dare he do this? How dare he make her speak this into existence if he’s only about to crush it all? “Don’t make me say it,” she begs. 

“Please, Anne.” His voice is nearly as desperate - and that’s, ultimately, what breaks her, leaving the words to spill forth almost without her permission.

“And now… that doesn’t go away, you know. A love as big as that. You got to go be this success story, doubtless had all kinds of… distractions over the years, but when you have a quiet little life like mine, you don’t forget. It doesn’t go away. There’s a large part of my heart that is still yours - probably always will be - and I have to find a way to deal with that.”

“You still love me?”

Anne nods, whispering her response. “I do.”

She suddenly feels his hand trail down her arm, causing Anne to jerk abruptly to meet his eyes again. “Well that’s lucky,” he smiles down at her, achingly gentle, “because I haven’t forgotten either.”

Even as Anne’s heart lurches with hope, she shakes her head. “Don’t tease, Frederick. Don’t be that cruel.”

“I’m not,” he assures her, twining their fingers together. “Because you’re right, I’ve tried to distract myself, but… you have no idea just how unforgettable you are, Anne. How could anyone ever compare? And I tried so hard for so long to move on, to hate you, but I never could. You were a little spark in my heart that I could never quite stamp out. And now…” Frederick pauses as if to gather his breath, squeezing her hand as he does so. “And now, I hope I won’t have to.”

“You’d want that? You’d want to…” Even with new-found hope singing through her veins, Anne still hesitates to finish the sentence. This all feels like a wonderful dream; she’d hate to wake up and discover that’s all it was. 

“To try again?” he finishes. “Yeah. Yeah, I want that. The real question is… do you?”

And she does, she wants that so terribly much, so badly that it aches, even as she hesitates. How could he want that, after everything she’s done? When their separation was her fault in the first place?

“I don’t deserve you,” Anne murmurs into the miniscule space between them, caving to the urge to brush his hair back from his face. It makes him smile, just a little bit, just a twitch of his lips, but that more than anything else sends a flood of peace rushing through her soul. 

“I think we deserve each other,” Frederick tells her in return, his voice almost unbearably soft. “I believe that, and somehow, I’m going to make you believe that too. We deserve this, Annie.”

And he kisses her, like he wants to, like he’s thought about it just as much as she has. His lips are soft against hers - just like she remembers, all those years ago - but there’s a surety to his hands now that wasn’t there before, in the way he pulls at her waist to bring her closer and his fingers thread through her hair with purpose. There’d been a handful of ill-advised attempts at dating in the past eight years, but nothing ever came close to this joyful swooping sensation in her stomach or the feelings of safety and love and home. That’s something only he can manage; something that only exists between the two of them. 

Her hands find their way to his chest as the kiss deepens, becomes more passionate, heads adjusting their position to allow tongues to tentatively begin to prod and search. Anne had known the difference 8 years had made on Frederick’s body, had seen with her own two eyes the way he’d filled out with more muscle, but feeling it is something else altogether, even through his shirt where his coat gaps open. It’s a reminder that they’re not the same - they’re older and more mature and have experienced different things than they had at 17. But that isn’t necessarily a bad thing. Sometimes, change can be good; it’s brought them here, together, at what otherwise feels like the end of the world. 

Even as they break apart - to get a breath of air, to process what just happened - Frederick continues to stroke his thumb across the round of her cheek, like he can’t bear to stop touching her. It warms her heart in a whole new way, like it’s proof that he meant every word he told her - as if she needs any more after that kiss. It would be easy to let herself get swept away on that little touch, perhaps into another wonderful kiss, but Anne forces herself to meet his eyes. 

“Stay.” It’s more than a question, but less than a demand - a plea, the dearest wish of her heart that she’s never admitted, now given voice. 

“For as long as you want me, Annie.” His voice is tender and husky as he smiles down at her. “Because I really don’t want to ever leave you again.”

And that’s awfully lucky, as Anne doesn’t ever intend to let him go again. 

[voidcat]

of Pamphlets & Bass Guitars

– The Impromptu Debate

Word Count: 1.2k

I’ll add my actual Author’s Notes at the end to clear things up & not spoil the chapter.

Pamphlets (ch3) | chapter 4 | chapter 5 (coming soon)

ao3 – masterlist

Your eyes trail on the each face in the room. The group of boys first, they all look so smug and sure of themselves. You want to punch those expressions off their faces. Then the teachers and the vice principal, each with a face that says “I can’t believe I’m wasting my time here.”. Its still a wonder to you why some people choose a career involving the young and education when they clearly dislike it.

Eyes going through the room, examining one by one, avoiding the not-so-kind gazed of girls who only increase in minutes. With dread, your eyes find Oikawa’s at last.

Maybe a minute of staring and you sign in defeat. “Okay, go on. Tell me how you got that scar, you brave war hero.”

“So you see, it was around lunch break when I walked into those assholes with a scheme as low as themselves. Usually when a girl alone walked by, one of them drops something or pretends to walk into them, make something that will cause the girl to bend or pick something up from the ground. And the rest just enjoy- what did they call it again?... ‘The show’.” He says the last part with finger quotes.

“And what? You watched the pull this crap all break?”

“No, no! I came at them the moment I first saw it. I learnt the full story from one of them, during a poorly attempted comeback. And as you can see-“ hand showing his bruise again “-it ended in a fight.”

You just give him an unconvinced look. Just how stupid does he think you are, thinking you’d fall for such a badly written story…

“Look, believe me or not, it’s what happened. Hell! Ask Iwa-Chan, anyone knows he hates lying, he saw it happen too.”

“Oikawa, he is your best friend.”

“A best friend who never shows that to me obviously. He wouldn’t lie even if his life was on the line.” He has a point, you can’t help but think. Iwaizumi was known for always following the rules, despite being friends with that seaweed-for-brains.

“Whatever, I’ll mention this if I can find an opening for it. We need proof or a witness though and I don’t see Iwaizumi-san anywhere.”

“I’ll get him if needed, don’t ya worry your pretty head about it!- Ouch!” Maybe Not your strongest hit but a hit on the arm is enough to shut him up. From the way he keeps [ovalamak] his arm, it’s clear your message is received.

After a not so long wait, you begin speaking without addressing anyone in the room. If they want an unofficial debate, that’s what you will give them. No respect to those who don’t respect or care for others.

“I can begin my speech with years long of patriarchy and how it shaped and affected society. But it’d be too long and we’d all be dead before it could ever be finished. I can mention the long going cases of abuse, harassment, rape and murder. How it’s always the victim blamed when it’s convenient yet how everyone goes silent when the said victim is found in a “modest” set of clothing or make up. But this, is however, is a very grim topic and can affect some of us here badly. Honestly, it is quite unbelievable how we have to defend why we want more open clothing options. The other side are only here because they like to watch girls with long legs walk, they like to peep at our skirts, bother and harass us then go and say how it is not their fault since the skirts are too short. If I really have to present a recent harassment case like this, I have Oikawa Tooru as a witness and some girls who were direct targets. I’ve noticed how some of our teachers like to think we exaggerate the things we have to endure almost on a daily basis. Give the option of skirts and pants for everyone, equally. So the next time it happens, because it will happen, as sad as it sounds, we will have proof that we were never exaggerating in the first place.” By the time you’re done talking, you notice you’re out of breath.

Watching the teachers whisper among themselves and ‘the opposite side’ texting on their phones as if they’re here for nothing, you can sense Oikawa vibrating with energy and enthusiasm. “Good job cap.” He whispers your way. You just nod in response and turn to look at the girls here. Some of them have an incomprehensible expression on their faces. You can guess the why of it.

Half an hour of whispering and arguing, you get an answer as close to a yes. Everyone starts leaving one by one as you wait for the crowd to dispense. For some reason, so does Oikawa.

As you two walk outside, he crosses his arms behind his head, giving you a side glance. “So what do you say… Would you like to come watch me practice?” And as expected, he finishes with a wink.

“I’d rather get shipped to Antarctica.” With that, you walk away without sparring a glance.

“Hello Iwaizumi-san.” He looks surprised to see you. Makes sense, you suppose. You don’t recall a time you came to Seiji’s classroom to talk to someone that wasn’t him.

“Oh, hello. Did you need something?”

“In a matter of fact, yes. Yesterday when you were talking to Oikawa… Why did you act like that and sighed after seeing me?” He avoids your gaze at the question then sighs as if a long and tiring day at work has just come to an end.

“Nothing serious, really. Shittykawa here has developed a new, what I’m hoping to be another, short-lived obsession. This time on that anonymous writer.” He looks at you once before continuing. “Except, it has gotten worse in the past week. At first it was finding out the person behind it. Crazy theories and all. And now, for some reason, he is convinced that person is you. Naturally, when I saw him yesterday, I thought it was another attempt of his ‘undercover’ operations.”

You don’t breath out a single word during the entire time. You can feel your palms starting to sweat. Just how exactly did he get so close to it? Was that what yesterday was all about? How long have his undercover research or whatever been going? How much does he know? With a rushed ‘thank you’ to Iwaizumi and you walk out of the classroom.

Is that worry you’re feeling? Fear?

Why would you? What could he have against you to use?

You consider going to Seiji, discuss it with him, have a plan or a set of actions to follow. As you start walking, you’re stopped by a hand on your shoulder.

“There she is! The man of the hour! How are you today you feral beast? Oikawa told us how you lashed out at ‘em yesterday, givin’ a taste of your poison…”

You don’t respond. You don’t even hear Makki talk.

Eyes glued to a spot ahead of you, almost hidden by the shadows. And there stands Oikawa Tooru, staring at you with a look you can only call ‘hostile’.

 A/N: Hello! I think the “debate” or whatever you want to call it in this chapter may sound unconvincing to some people so I wanted to clear some things up.

I hope this doesn’t sound braggy but I was attending a high school that was in the top 5 in the country for years and most of our interactions with the administration went like this. Bureaucracy almost never worked, you could file in a report or a letter of complaint about an issue but it’d usually go unnoticed. (We legit protested the principal of that year one morning, it made the news and pissed of the bigots in the country ahahah.)

Also there was a harassment case one year, this happened among underclassmen (9th graders, I was a senior) and we didn’t hear of it until it was too late to do something. What happened was worse than what I wrote here but yea there was a fight involved too lol. So yeah,, my point is things like that happen. The teachers usually don’t give a shit about the students and some students look after one another to cover up their messes. I wanted the reader’s opening speech to be something better but with the recent news in the country, I feel emotionally and mentally exhausted, sorry. 

I hope this wasn’t so long and thank you if you read til the end. Feel free to send in asks, worries, talk about your day in the ask box etc etc. I’m always open to ranting & talking.

[insanitysscribblings]

Reyna Writes: High Hopes

Been a while!

Trying to get back in the saddle with this Claudeth thing that won’t leave me alone. So if you’re a FE3H fan, hope you enjoy! <3

~Reyna

________________________________________________________________

The folder thudded against the desk, the weight of its importance impressive...to anyone else. As it happened, his daughter just glanced at it before continuing on with the paperwork already under her nose.

“What’s that?”

“Your new contract.”

Byleth’s pen stayed, her dark eyes flicking up to meet his. Every day, Jeralt was stunned by the spitting image his daughter painted of his wife. Well, the painting was a forgery in one aspect--Byleth’s smiles were a work of fiction.

“I’m not taking new contracts.” Her tone, flatter than usual, brooked no argument. Jeralt frowned. He supposed it was his fault that his child had turned out so stubborn. He had done his best with her, of course, but even so...

When Byleth showed every intention of ignoring the file, Jeralt decided to level with her.

“Look, kid: I know your last contract didn’t...work out.”

Byleth’s brow furrowed ever so slightly. It was enough to let Jeralt know that he was treading into dangerous waters. They did not discuss the Blaiddyd contract in this house.

“But what’re you gonna do, not work for the rest of your life?”

Byleth spun in her chair, giving her father her back. He sighed and rubbed the back of his head. How on earth had his wife talked him into having children?

“Despite what happened, you’re still good at what you do, kid. Damn good. It’d be a shame for you to quit now.”

“I can get another job.”

The notion was half-hearted, and they both knew it. Jeralt seized that wavering tone he could sense just beyond her words.

“Aren’t you just a little curious? This offer came straight from Boss Lady herself.”

Byleth’s head perked up then. Jeralt smirked as she turned just enough to side-glance at him. As much as he hated the hold Rhea seemed to have over his daughter, he would admit that maybe this was just what Byleth needed to shake off the funk she’d been in lately.

“....” Byleth spun back around, her eyes bouncing between the file and Jeralt. Ah, there it was--that little spark of intrigue. That was all Jeralt needed.

“There’s been a stir in the politics game lately,” he explained, turning to the television in the corner of the office. He raised the remote and clicked it on, the sound muted. Sure enough, there he was, splashed across their chosen news station: his daughter’s new assignment. “He’s been saying a lot of stuff that’s a little too idealistic, if you ask me. But his charisma is unparalleled. People’re callin’ him ‘the face of Fodlan’s unification.’” Jeralt set down the remote and eyed his daughter. “Some of the stuff he’s been sayin’ has put a target on his back, too.”

Byleth’s gaze was more unimpressed than usual as she watched the young man onscreen gesticulate in front of an enraptured crowed.

“Is he a politician or a peacock?” she grumbled. Jeralt laughed at that.

“I’ll leave it up for you to decide.” Just as Byleth was slowly reaching for the file, however, Jeralt snatched it up, regarding her raised eyebrows grimly. “But I’m not gonna give ya the job if you’re gonna be half-hearted about it. If you’re gonna do this, kid, ya gotta be sharp. Understand?”

Byleth seemed to understand his meaning: as much as he wanted her to get back in the game, he would not encourage her at the cost of her life. If she wanted the job, she had to let go of the past.

That wasn’t always so easy to do--Jeralt knew that perfectly well. But as much as his own shadows haunted him, he’d be damned if he would let the same fate befall his daughter. He had raised her to be better than him, so better she would be.

Byleth straightened her shoulders and gave a firm nod. At that signal, it was only with the barest hint of concern that he handed the file back to her.

“Go get ‘em, kid.”

________________________________________________________________

For the life of her, Byleth just couldn’t understand why anyone believed buildings had to be this big. Did they fancy themselves close to their gods when they built structures that reached the sky? Did the Tower of Babel teach them nothing?

Shaking her head, Byleth quieted that ancient griping at the back of her head. Thoughts that went on diatribes like that often came out of nowhere; whenever she voiced them, her father would laugh and call her an ‘old soul’. That wasn’t quite it...but since she had no other explanation, she would just nod along. It was better than being the alternative.

Her new assignment was situated on the top floor--of course. Byleth suppressed her eye roll as she stepped into the elevator. The tinkling music playing overhead did nothing to settle her nerves, so she did her best to soothe herself with breathing exercises, measuring her breathing as the elevator changed floors. It didn’t bother to stop in between any other floors; Byleth wondered if the elevator she’d been directed to had exclusive access to the top floor, despite having buttons for every other floor. Or was it just coincidence?

Before she could figure it out--and it was part of her job to figure it out--the elevator chimed, and the doors opened right into a lobby of some sorts. As Byleth stepped out of the elevator, the pink-haired woman behind what was presumably the secretary’s desk hopped up in surprise.

“Oh, hi~! Um, excuse me, but are you lost? This is kind of a restricted floor.”

Byleth stepped forward, assessing the woman. Dainty, gilded, hardly a threat...at least, she wouldn’t be, if Byleth couldn’t see that can of mace hidden behind her back. A part of her was impressed.

“I’m Byleth Eisner,” she introduced herself, slowly retrieving her business card from her breast pocket so the ‘delicate flower’ wouldn’t jump the gun and do something regrettable. “Your boss is expecting me.”

The pink-haired woman’s rose-colored eyes took in the business card before she blinked up at Byleth, her lips pursing.

“Is that so...”

She sounded like she didn’t believe Byleth. It wouldn’t be the first time. A part of Byleth was annoyed by the perpetual underestimation she had to go through, but the more practical part of her did what any woman in her position would do: she used it to her advantage.

Before she could ask when she could expect to see the man in question, a door to her right opened, and the man himself stepped into the lobby. He was dressed smartly in a tan suit; Byleth could see the black vest underneath as he was shrugging his blazer into place. He wasn’t focused on the room; his eyes were staring in the distance as he was finishing a phone call.

“--as I said, Lorenz, you catch more flies with honey--yes, I know, he was abominably rude to you, but what do you expect from a dictator? Besides, we only have to make nice until he’s ousted, which from the protests we’ve been seeing, that won’t be long. Now please let it go. Yes, I’m on my way to see you now, when am I not? Honestly, with how much you demand me to see you, the tabloids will start stirring up rumors that we’re sleeping toge--I’m joking! Please calm down before you permanently furrow that alabaster brow of yours, all right? I’ll see you in twenty.”

He finally hung up his phone, tucking it into an inner pocket of his blazer as his eyes found his secretary.

“Lorenz is getting antsy. Can you forward my calls to my cell?”

“Sure, but...” the woman’s eyes flickered to Byleth. “You have a...guest.”

The man was in the process of putting on his sunglasses, so Byleth had to watch him do the exaggerated once-over over them as he took her in. His eyes were a deep shade of green; they reminded her of deep acres of forests, the kind that held ancient secrets hidden from the everyday view of the common man.

“I don’t believe I’ve had the pleasure,” he said, pulling his sunglasses off again as his face lit up in a hundred-watt smile. Byleth was interested to see that said smile did not reach his eyes; those remained distant, careful. Calculating. “How can I help you, Miss--?”

“Eisner. Byleth Eisner.” Byleth stepped forward, holding her hand out for a handshake. “I’m your new bodyguard.”

The man paused, reacting a little late in shaking her hand.

“Really?” He looked her over once more, as if he’d missed something. “You’re from Saint Seiros Co.? The woman they call ‘The Ashen Demon’?”

Byleth’s expression was neutral as she gave a nod. She wasn’t particularly fond of that nickname...but work was work.

There was one more glance-over--focused longer on her breasts than she liked--before his eyes met hers once more.

“Well. You’re not what I expected.”

Byleth’s eyebrows flicked upwards.

“I rarely am,” she admitted. That managed to get a genuine smile from the man, much to her surprise.

“I like you,” he decided, quite abruptly as he gave her hand a firm squeeze. “Claude von Riegan.”

“I know who you are.”

“I suppose you do,” he agreed with a laugh. He finally released her hand, carding it through his dark hair. “I suppose you also know why you’re here.”

Byleth nodded.

“You’ve been receiving death threats.”

Claude winced at the simple words, a hand over his heart like they were wounding him physically.

“Just a couple,” he agreed. The pink-haired woman scoffed.

“‘A couple’?! We had to order the post office to stop our mail for a whole month!”

“No one got hurt, Hilda.”

“Still,” she sniffed, her dainty nose wrinkling in disgust. Claude patter her head sympathetically, and was rewarded with a swat and a complaint of messing up her hair.

“So yeah, my granddad figured I could use some extra muscle.” Claude raised his eyebrows at Byleth. “Lots of scary letters threatening my imminent demise. That means papercuts. Thousands of ‘em. Think you can handle it?”

In that moment, Byleth cataloged several things at once: 

One, Claude von Riegan was not a very serious man. At least, he appeared not to be. His true nature had yet to be determined.

Two, it was most likely his grandfather’s idea for him to run for office--in Byleth’s research, she had taken note of the von Riegan family history, and concluded that politics ran in their blood. This most recent iteration of von Riegan was straying a bit from the party line, though...for what reason? Money? Publicity? She’d have to figure that out soon as well.

And three, whoever was taking the time to send him a never-ending barrage of death threats wasn’t playing games. They were serious about wanting his life. Which meant that Byleth certainly had her work cut out for her, whether Claude von Riegan knew it or not.

A shrill tune rang through the air. Claude tutted, frowning at the screen.

“I’d better go. Lorenz is going to start having kittens at this rate. Can you hold down the fort, Hilda?”

“Way ahead of you,” Hilda replied, sitting down at her desk once more and returning to the very busy work of filing her nails. Byleth spared her a glance before she made to follow Claude. This seemed to surprise him.

“Yes?”

Byleth stared at him. What did he mean, ‘yes’?

“I’m accompanying you.” At his blink, Byleth’s gaze went flat. “That is what a bodyguard does.”

“Oh, I’m just meeting Lorenz. There’s no danger there,” Claude assured her with a bright grin. Byleth remained unmoved.

“With all due respect, sir, I would be negligent in my duties if I did not accompany you from now on. What could just be a meeting to you could turn sour very quickly, if you don’t know what to look for.”

Claude’s smile faded, his eyes becoming critical again as he stared at her.

“I really think I’ll be fine,” he insisted. Byleth took a step closer to him.

“You will be,” she agreed, eyes never wavering from his, “because I will be there to protect you. Even if you find it unnecessary.”

Silence fell between them as they sized each other up, Claude testing the metal that surrounded Byleth’s resolve as she took shape of the glass he used to barricade himself from others without them even noticing. The staring match was only interrupted by the clearing of Hilda’s throat.

“Claude, if you don’t leave soon, Lorenz is going to start calling me.”

That must’ve been an undesirable situation; Claude shot her an apologetic grin over his shoulder before he returned to his stride to the elevator.

“Sorry, Hild. I’m going now.” As he pressed the button for the elevator, he turned once more to look at Byleth. “After you, Miss Eisner.”

“Byleth’s fine,” Byleth corrected him, preceding him on the elevator as he requested. His eyes twinkled with interest as he followed her.

“As you wish, Miss Bodyguard.”

Byleth leveled him a flat look. Something told her they were going to be having a lot more battles in this regard. She’d better get to work sharpening her blades.

[tentative-wanderer]

Shout My Love For You (Actually, No)

Grandmaster of Legal Cultivation 律道祖师 - Chapter 3 (standalone)

Valentine’s Day Special (a day and a half late)

Law Students + Flatmates AU (though the legal aspect isn’t apparent in this chapter)

I intended to write this for the WangXian Week prompt “Valentine’s Day”, but it evolved into something else. 

***

A heavenly aroma wafted through the kitchen as Xiao Xingchen pulled a tray of cookies out of the oven. His gaze raked over the black, white and grey lines and curves decorating each heart; the unconventional colour scheme worked surprisingly well. Biting into a cookie, he let the fragrant sweetness suffuse his senses and concluded that he was satisfied with the result.

It was a shame that Song Lan wasn’t here to taste his handiwork, but at least A-Qing would like them. Jiang Cheng, who lived in the opposite flat, would probably enjoy some cookies too—Xiao Xingchen guessed that as a currently single gentleman, Jiang Cheng was planning to spend Valentine’s Day with Netflix for company, so snacks would be in order.

At that moment, the doorbell rang and a bright voice sang out: “Gege! I’m—huh? Why are you...”

Xiao Xingchen was bemused for a second before a cacophony of screams penetrated the wooden door and rattled his soul.

His heart lurched. What on earth was going on? “A-Qing!” Dumping his tray onto the countertop, he raced to the front door, fumbled with the lock and slammed the door open.

A-Qing was right in front of him, but her back was turned. She was facing a young lad in a neat white shirt, whose cheeks were as pink as the delicate bouquet of roses he held. Behind him, a horde of boys vibrated in excitement, grinning from ear to ear. Half of them were still screeching until they locked eyes with Xiao Xingchen, whereupon they ceased abruptly.

An eerie silence rapidly descended on the scene as all the boys stared at him. The colour drained from the face of the lad with the roses. Clear as day, every one of their expressions read: I think we just botched our mission.

A-Qing noticed the change that befell them and whipped around to face Xiao Xingchen’s wild eyes and tense stance. “Gege!” She paused, noting that he was poised to beat the living daylights out of any potential threats, and continued in a more placating tone: “Gege, it’s nothing.” She gestured at the boys. “They’re my friends from school. Sorry for making you worry.”

Roses Boy regained his senses the fastest among the lot. He gulped, then rallied and bowed. “I’m sorry that we disturbed you! We didn’t mean to.” His buddies (including the Lan kids and Jiang Cheng’s nephew, Xiao Xingchen noticed) quickly chimed in with a clumsy chorus of apologies.

Xiao Xingchen’s brow unknitted. “It’s fine. I’m glad no one was being murdered outside my door.” He assessed Roses Boy. Despite his ashen complexion, the lad had a winsome air about him. There was an open, earnest look in his gaze that was offset by the nervous way he gripped his bouquet, lending his mien a certain charm.

Xiao Xingchen made a split-second decision. He flashed a reassuring smile at everyone and said, “I’ll go inside to pack my cookies. I’ll leave the door unlocked so you can come in whenever you’re done.”

After he shut the door, he heard a low bubble of very, very suppressed squeals and hollers, presumably as Roses Boy made his heartfelt declaration of affection.

Roughly twenty minutes later, the group of teenagers hesitantly filed into Xiao Xingchen’s flat and were treated to cookies. A-Qing, looking uncharacteristically shy, rummaged around in the cupboard for a vase for her newly-acquired flowers.

Xiao Xingchen had just found out that Roses Boy was the Ouyang Zizhen that A-Qing had been talking about for the past five months when a terrified shout ripped through the air.

It came from the opposite flat.

“Stay here!” said Xiao Xingchen hastily to the kids before rushing over to Jiang Cheng’s apartment.

He hammered on Jiang Cheng’s door. “Jiang Cheng? What’s going on?”

From this close, he could make out the content of the frantic yells. “Go away! Make it stop!”

To his surprise, that sounded like Wei Wuxian. Weren’t he and Lan Wangji supposed to be out on a date?

“Wuxian?” Xingchen called, but received no reply except panicked yelps.

After a number of bangs and scuffling noises, the flat turned quiet. Then the door opened and Wei Wuxian tumbled right into Xiao Xingchen’s arms.

Xiao Xingchen steadied him and gave him a once-over. He didn’t seem physically hurt. “Are you okay?”

Wei Wuxian shuddered. “No.”

Lan Wangji came out of the apartment. Running a hand across Wei Wuxian’s back in comforting circles, he enlightened Xiao Xingchen with one word: “Dog.”

Lan Wangji steered the quivering human-shaped jelly aside, giving the doorway a wide berth. Jiang Cheng exited the flat, somehow wearing a frown and an expression of resignation at the same time. A Shih Tzu wriggled innocently in his arms.

“I’ll take Dolly home.” Jiang Cheng stroked the lapdog soothingly in a way that was uncannily similar to how Lan Wangji was rubbing Wei Wuxian’s back.

Lan Wangji nodded. “We’re sorry for inconveniencing you.”

Jiang Cheng gave a small shrug. “Not a problem.” Grudgingly, he added: “Sorry for the scare. I didn’t expect you to be home until a lot later, so I thought I’d bring Dolly over to visit.” Even more grudgingly, with a look faintly reminiscent of someone having his teeth pulled out, he continued: “It’s decent of you to think of me and come back, though I really wouldn’t have minded if you two went for a good meal to celebrate.”

“...It’s not like Lan Zhan and I don’t eat together often,” said Wei Wuxian, eyeing Dolly warily from the safety of Lan Wangji’s arms. “I wanna watch the new episodes of Shadows of the Burial Mound with both of you. It’s fun to host a running commentary together throughout the show.”

This made Jiang Cheng’s semi-permanent scowl almost nonexistent—a rare and admirable feat.

“Mmh. I’ll be back soon.” He strode down the corridor, nodded to Jin Ling—who, alongside the other kids, was craning his neck to watch the drama unfold from Xiao Xingchen’s doorway—and vanished around the corner.

Wei Wuxian looked at Xiao Xingchen ruefully. “Sorry for the ruckus.”

Xiao Xingchen shook his head. “Don’t apologise. It’s not your fault that you’re afraid of dogs...Hang on.” He went into his flat and brought out a container of cookies. “Eat the remains of your shock away. Happy Valentine’s Day.”

***

When Xiao Xingchen resettled back onto his couch, his handphone rang. It was a call from Song Lan.

A-Qing eagerly grabbed the phone from the coffee table, pressed “accept”, and put it on speaker mode. “Song-gege, hi! Xingchen-gege baked cookies but you’re not here so don’t mind if I eat your portion!”

The response was a series of piercing shrieks which sent them all reeling backwards. Lan Jingyi gaped at the phone. “That’s one heck of an overreaction!”

Xiao Xingchen massaged his temples. Why was everyone screaming on Valentine’s Day?

Staticky crackles emanated from the phone, but they failed to completely obscure the voices crying: “Put the scorpion down!”

“EEEEYAAAAAGH!!! Song Lan, throw it away!”

“Shit, this is the biggest one so far, it’s almost bigger than his palm!”

“Why are you using your bare hands?!! Get the tweezers!”

Everyone in Xiao Xingchen’s living room felt their eyes widen inadvertently. Xiao Xingchen sighed.

Song Lan’s level tone cut through the clamour as smoothly as a blade cuts through tofu. “There’s no time to find the tweezers; it was almost in our food. Calm down, I’ll take it somewhere far away.”

The racket gradually died down to an indistinct hum as Song Lan put more and more distance between himself and his groupmates. Then the only sound left was Song Lan’s measured breaths, followed by a quiet “Off you go.”

Unbeknownst to Song Lan, his audience on the other side of the world let out a sigh of relief for him.

“Sorry, A-Qing. Dealt with some trouble just now. You were talking about cookies?” Song Lan resumed his phone conversation as casually as if he had merely stopped to tie his shoelaces.

“...Yes. Xingchen-gege baked Valentine’s Day cookies. I was going to eat your share but I’ve decided against it, because I hope the cookies can incentivise you to come back alive, preferably without missing an arm or an immune system. Are you sure you’re okay?”

There was a pause as Song Lan presumably checked his body for injuries. “I’m fine. I...” He hesitated.

“Please continue,” urged Xiao Xingchen.

“...I have one cut where the grave robbers tried to stab me when they tried to grab the artefacts we were transporting from Empress Minyan’s tomb, but it’s completely healed already. Just a scar.”

“What the hell,” mouthed Lan Jingyi silently to Lan Sizhui. Then he nudged Ouyang Zizhen and whispered, not too quietly, “Zizhen, this guy is gonna be one of your in-laws.”

Both Ouyang Zizhen and A-Qing elbowed him. “We aren’t engaged!” A-Qing hissed, also not too quietly. Even louder, she said, “Also, Xingchen-gege and Song-gege aren’t in that kind of relationship...yet.”

Xiao Xingchen wanted to bury his face in his palms. Song Lan probably heard that last part. It was devoid of all subtlety, volume and content-wise.

Song Lan asked: “May I talk to you in private?”

“Sure.” Xiao Xingchen picked his phone up and switched speaker mode off, ignoring A-Qing’s waggling eyebrows.

In the safety of his bedroom, he said, “I’m alone now. Zichen, are you hurt anywhere else?”

“No. Only one scar this time, and it’s painless.”

“Please be careful. Just let the scorpion eat your food, it’s better than risking a sting.”

“I can’t do that. This is the first proper meal I’ve had in a month. We mostly subsisted on canned food at the excavation site, but that’s over now.” Song Lan said all of this matter-of-factly, without a hint of joy or complaint. But he sounded more appreciative when he added: “Now we have proper showers.”

Xiao Xingchen felt a grin spread across his face. That was so like Song Lan; stoic in the face of danger, enduring challenges with fortitude, only allowing his mysophobia to surface once the need for grit in the circumstances had passed.

“That sounds very nice, after so long. And good job for completing your task. Proud of you.”

Song Lan was silent for a few seconds—Xingchen could imagine him almost-smiling—before he said, “I look forward to having your cookies, if A-Qing hasn’t eaten them all by then.”

“She won’t.” I wouldn’t have used the monochrome colour scheme that you like if I didn’t intend to save some for you.

“I have something for you too," Song Lan informed him. "It’s supposed to arrive in the mail at our flat today."

Right on time, a knock sounded once on his bedroom door before A-Qing bounded in. “Song-gege sent you something! Thought you’d want to see it before you end your call.” She dropped a package onto Xiao Xingchen’s lap.

Xiao Xingchen’s curiosity soared. He and Song Lan hardly ever did surprises, so receiving a mystery package was extra exciting. “A-Qing just brought it in. May I unwrap it?”

“Go ahead.”

Xiao Xingchen eagerly peeled away the layers of cardboard and cushioning material and pulled out a small rectangular picture frame. Splashes of purple, white, yellow and pink spread from one end to the other, a demure palette of tiny pressed desert blossoms.

A card was attached to it. High on anticipation, Xiao Xingchen flipped it open.

It read:

“I tried very hard to find flowers in the Gobi Desert, and I was lucky to have found them.

I hadn’t tried very hard to find someone I love among the billions of people in this world, so I am incredibly lucky to have somehow found you anyway.”

A-Qing was unabashedly peering over Xiao Xingchen’s shoulder and reading the card. Then she shrieked in his ear.

Dazedly, Xiao Xingchen thought again, today is full of screams.

“FINALLY! Song-gege, you finally found the guts to spit it out!” Bouncing on the bed, A-Qing grabbed Xiao Xingchen’s phone and yelled: “CONGRATULATIONS!”

Outside, Lan Jingyi commented to Ouyang Zizhen: “She’s a tad more excited now compared to when you confessed.”

Ouyang Zizhen ground his knuckles against Jingyi's abdomen, making him squawk. “That’s probably because I haven’t waited for years and years before saying the things I should say!”

Dimly, Xiao Xingchen noticed that his fingers were trembling. He put the card down and fumbled for his phone from A-Qing. He let out a helpless sort of chuckle, overflowing with fondness and warmth.

“...I love you too,” he said, a little hoarsely.

He thought he was acting in a frankly ridiculous manner—he already knew he held a treasured place in Song Lan’s life; it was evident in the way Song Lan treated him and looked at him (attentively, tenderly, eyes an inky, endless depth of unspoken but understood promises and everlasting faith), but he couldn’t help but metaphorically jump for joy to have those feelings irrefutably manifested in clear words.

He heard Song Lan let out a small gust of a breath, like a laugh, but one that was incomplete because he was too overwhelmed to do it properly.

When Song Lan spoke, Xiao Xingchen could hear the smile in his voice, a tinge of sunshine through the leaves. “See you soon.”

“Happy Valentine’s Day.”

***

Click my AO3 username in my profile to read the other standalone chapters in this fic :) Kudos and comments are appreciated! What do you think of this sort of Xingchen and Song Lan? Are their characterisations okay?

IS SONG LAN SMOOTH OR NOT? Because that’s how I’m gonna woo a boyfriend if I ever go to the desert ahahahahaha 😄🔫

[kolblooded]

The Brothers Grim || Klaus and Kol

Storm King is a tense place to live, especially for the Alpha and his second in command. Loyalties are in question and intentions revealed. But not all is icy tones and cold shoulders between Niklaus and Kol. There is hope for them. And, perhaps, for the entire pack. Written with my favorite @violent-nobility

Kol loved his family. And by family he meant his pack. Most of these people he’d grown up with, he’d witnessed their love and successes and heartache. And, like all of them, he had watched in agony as their family had split in two. The worst kind of divorce he could ever imagine, his heart remained in two places, with two brothers. But this one… this one had needed him. Klaus had told Kol that he was wanted, needed, desired as a part of Storm King. He had made it seem like Kol was vital to the pack’s survival. Which made little sense, because Kol was no alpha, nor would he ever be. And that was fine.

The week had been long. There had been the near drowning, and freezing, of the girls, then the celebration. Nik had been on edge with members of their pack spending so much time over at Paradise. Elijah seemed to be replacing each of them one by one with rogue wolves, and, Kol was certain Klaus feared, one day he would just start taking back what had originally been his. But here was what Niklaus failed to realize. Kol didn’t rightfully belong to anybody. He was a member of a pack, yes, but by choice. He had chosen this brother, and had stood firm in that decision through the gut wrenching loss of his other brother. Elijah was gone. That limb, cut off from the rest of his body in a way that no prosthetic could ever replace.

The beginning had been a nightmare. Klaus had been on edge, cranky — more so than usual — and paranoid beyond belief. He’d told Kol to “just go to Paradise, then” on more than one occasion, and Kol thought that, somewhere deep in the darkness of his heart, Klaus believed that Kol would actually do it. But through all this, all Kol really knew was his own pain and heartbreak. He didn’t sleep, volunteered for more patrols than was perhaps healthy — mentally or physically — and he barely ate, much to Lucas’ chagrin. He knew the rest of the pack was hurting, he could feel it, but all he thought about was his own grief and pain.

Sitting up one night, staring at an empty fireplace, long past the point of being able to make out shapes in the shadows, his heart broke again. But this time it was not for himself, not for the way he remembered combatting Elijah in their training circle, or watching as he became suddenly more private about his life, but Kol remembered the times that Klaus had felt the most like an outsider, and Elijah had been there for him. He remembered Elijah carrying Nik after the latter had tumbled down a steep slope and ended up gashing his leg open. He remembered the way they had been brothers, years before Kol had ever arrived, and now they were supposed to pretend they were enemies.

Kol stood, barely noticing the lifting of a wolf’s head in the back of the room, someone who had wanted to keep him company without being invasive, and then made his way back to Nik’s room. It was small but neat. Not as organized and well tended to as Elijah’s would have been. There were art supplies stuffed in cups along the back of his desk. 

He was quiet as he opened and shut the door, having no doubt that he likely woke Niklaus in the process anyway, but still wanting to disturb him as little as possible, and then he crawled between his brother and the wall. Nik had lost his best friend with the split of the pack. And all Kol could hope as a second in command was to some day be a mediocre replacement. Something to numb a little bit of the pain. Kol loved his family — and by family, he meant his brother.

Klaus's room was just as cold and forgotten feeling as most of the lodge, but it was everything he wanted it to be -- or so he told himself. There was a mess of files and papers all over, the fallout of his rather poor first season as a manager -- reminders of his failures.

All of them.

They stacked up in silence and accused when ignored. Some failures reminded him through printed paper - complaints and bills and unanswered questions, handwritten instructions on how to do it all right that he hadn't been able to read because that handwriting was Elijah's. Some failures found their voice in other ways -- the reality of how few had come to Storm King. The reality that Elijah clearly found them all entirely too replaceable. They had never been important enough.

He hadn't been. Not to Elijah. Perhaps if he were Finn, things would have been different. Elijah worshipped Finn. The bastard. The coward. The quietly vicious one. Elijah had never seen Finn's faults as long as he was alive -- but he saw Klaus's.

All of them.

He didn't believe in Klaus. In Storm King. Most of them didn't. Storm King had to seem like an experiment doomed to fail -- but it wouldn't.

The freshest canvas was nearly complete -- darkness, firs, night, jagged edges and aggressive strokes that should have looked bold, but instead came out a lone, unanswered howl in the dead of winter. The smell of the drying paint made the room better. His. His.

This was all his. Elijah couldn't take it away. He wouldn't... but how long until he tries?

Klaus's mind was a dark place these days, darker than it had ever been in his life, and he refused to seek out comfort. Maybe that refusal made him forget that others could need it -- could want it. Whatever it was, when Kol entered the room Klaus assumed something was wrong. His eyes opened and followed every shadowy movement -- and when Kol squished himself into bed, he didn't understand at first. He wanted to demand what Kol thought he was doing, or to ask if he'd forgotten the way to his own room, to remind him that he wasn't Elijah, but he bit his tongue. For a moment, his thin body was hard and tense. Then, with a sigh, he turned and put his arm around Kol and pulled him close.

Kol had come. If Elijah had asked him to stay, Klaus was sure he would have stayed... but he was here. His brother. This one was his. Elijah could never, would never, take him away.

No one would.

He touched the cold tip of his nose to the back of Kol's warm neck and didn't say a word.

There was a taught blanket which settled over them, nestling them both into this bed of tension and loneliness. Kol realized in the absence of the brother who had been the guiding light for both Niklaus and Kol, neither of them had really thought to turn to the other for comfort and solace.

In silence he waited for Nik to tell him to get out, or to make some quip about how Kol must be lost, that this wasn't their brother's bed, and he certainly wasn't Elijah. But as much as Klaus wasn't Elijah for Kol, neither was Kol for Niklaus. He tried to push away feelings of inadequacy -- smother them beneath the pillows until the morning light -- and settle beside Klaus until they were both asleep. The arm around his waist surprised him, and the gentle touch of nose to his neck was as much a gesture of acceptance for them now as it ever was as wolves.

Kol wasn't looking for conversation, but still he turned to face Nik, and buried his face against his big brother's neck, arms folded in between them. "I love you, brother," was what he whispered, unsure if it was loud enough to be heard, even in the silent judgement of this freezing room.

Kol needed his brother, and he needed to be needed in return. They were all each other had, ultimately. And Kol would not turn his back on Niklaus, now or ever.

Klaus should say it back. He knew he should, but he couldn't bring himself to. He tucked his chin over Kol's head and gave a long, slow sigh. There were a great many things he should say... but he couldn't afford any of them. Not one. He couldn't let any of them, least of all Kol, see him bleed. They would turn from him.

He tightened his arm for a moment, then rested his hand at the small of Kol's back. "Then you are where you belong," he finally answered.

He wanted to tell Klaus that there had never been doubt that he was where he belonged. Or he wanted to ask, what, then, did it mean that he still loved Elijah? Or that he could never stop loving their brother.

But none of that would help Klaus, and that was why Kol was there. For Nik's comfort as much as his own. Perhaps more than his own. Because, as much as Kol loved Klaus, he had never been good at comforting.

Tonight they wouldn't be alone.

Kol slipped one of his arms beneath Klaus' so that he could trace lazy patters over his back with fingertips. He sighed heavily and wiggled just enough to find the perfect grooves in Klaus' body for Kol to fit along. Somewhere in the back of his mind, a quiet tune played on the piano, something deep and melancholy. Something suited for them both. It took a couple hours, but finally, Kol slept for the first time in days.

Klaus never slept long. He was up shortly after Kol fell asleep, although he himself had yielded much sooner. At first, he stayed where he was, letting Kol leech heat from him like all good brothers must, but eventually it was too much, he was too still.

He slid quietly and carefully from the bed and paced through the lodge, checking on everyone sleeping there. He went to the Ice Hut and stood outside, watching those sleeping within, but watching through the window.

When he returned, he went back to his room. This time, he sat in a chair -- the cheap, padded, ugly looking one from the office he never used -- and turned on a small lamp. Its light was warm, gold. The warmest thing he had.

An hour passed as he sat in silence, just looking at Kol, and then another passed far more quickly as his pencil brought life to a sheet of paper, the old sketchpad no one was ever permitted to look at. He drew Kol -- his muscular shoulders, his smooth back, the way the sheets were draped. It would very likely have been an almost sensual picture if not for how he captured Kol's face. The expression was one of weary, heartbroken peace. Youth pushed into maturity too soon. Pain pushed away for duty and love. Something innocent -- sweet. Kind.

Love.

When he finished, he set the book aside, leaving it open for once, and turned off the lamp before crawling back in bed with his brother.

The return of Klaus to bed was a welcome one, and Kol struggled to open his eyes. The lids were too heavy now that they'd felt and succumbed to the sweet pull of sleep's gravity. Still, Kol managed briefly, looking at Klaus in a way that he likely wouldn't remember once he'd woken for good.

The younger brother smiled softly, and stretched to place a chaste but loving kiss to his brother's jaw, then immediately relaxed back into sleep.

It was another hour and a half before Kol finally woke with any semblance of longevity. Klaus was still beside him, which was surprising. He thought he remembered an empty bed, but now he couldn't be sure. Kol laid there with deep circles under his eyes, and a dark stare that somehow held more warmth for this room and his brother than any blanket or lamp could provide. He watched Nik for as long as he could get away with, before Nik's eyes met Kol's. "Thank you," he whispered.

He frowned, the ghost of suspicion immediately coming into his eyes. Klaus never woke slowly, he never drifted or day-dreamed. There was no soft buffer between rest and reality, and so the unexpected never felt soft or out of focus, but was always in sharp relief -- always a potential road to threat or betrayal or loss. There was no reason for Kol to be thanking him, and so Klaus looked at him for a long, searching moment before he turned away, consciously making himself stretch and relax again with his back to Kol, as if none of it might matter.

"For what?"

The silent rebuke was more painful than Kol would have expected, figuring himself to be used to Klaus' mood swings by now. Still, thirty seconds ago he had had a brother. Now... he didn't know.

"For allowing me to sleep here. I know you like your privacy. But I... being near you was a comfort."

With great hesitation, and the knowledge that Klaus would likely pull away or send Kol away, he extended an arm to wrap around Klaus' waist, still seeking his warmth.

Instead, Klaus gripped him by the hand and pulled him closer still, then kept his own arm over Kol's, holding his brother's hand against his heart.

"You should come more often, then." He tried to sound kind about it, at least. There was always a bite to his words these days, but Klaus did his best to lessen it, to make it sound more like an invitation than an accusation.

Kol smiled and scooched as close as he could, arm wrapping tight, hand straightening so that he could wrap around Klaus' torso and feel not just his heart, but every breath, and he hid his face between Klaus' shoulders.

"I will," he promised, already making plans for this to be a regular thing from now on. Not just once in a while or once a week, but every chance he could.

"Lock me out, if you ever want me to stay away. I will... not be offended. But being... here, sharing your bed, it is the first comfort I've found."

"It won't be enough," Klaus replied, speaking without thinking for once. He regretted it, but he couldn't take the words back. Closing his eyes, he held his breath for a moment, then sighed. They could never heal the wound Elijah's rejection left, not with all the love in the world.

To be fair, Kol had expected worse. He expected some kind of lashing out about why Kol needed so much comfort -- a denial tactic that any of them were truly hurting after the split -- and for them to fight about life here.

But he, perhaps, did not hear Klaus' words the way they were intended. He heard the insistence that no matter how often he came, he wouldn't be enough to help Klaus. But Kol had known that from the beginning.

"I will do my best to be," he said quietly, swallowing the emotion that threatened to surface. He'd been failing his alpha lately, letting him suffer alone. But he couldn't do that anymore. The alpha deserved to be uplifted and adored. Loved. Wanted. Kol would try to give Klaus all of that, even if he didn't readily accept it.

"Can I make you breakfast this morning? Whenever you're ready to get up."

"I've been up," he muttered -- growled really -- and then shoved his face into the pillow. "Make yourself breakfast, just not yet." It might have helped if he hadn't been completely muffled, but the message was hopefully clear: Klaus was in no way willing to think about either of them leaving the bed yet, no matter how alert he was.

That made more sense, that Klaus had been up already. But that didn't answer his question. "Brother, I don't care if it's at noon, and the hours you've been awake are irrelevant. I would like to... make a meal for you. Sometime today."

He wanted to express his love in this way, only Kol didn't know how to say that. But the offer had been extended, and he understood the words more from his arm being pulled than from the way they'd fit together in a vague and gruff sentence. Bed, now. Other things, much later.

Though he was essentially being held in place just beyond the stretch of his comfort level with the way Klaus pulled on his arm, Kol didn't try to relax back, but instead ended up gently stroking over Klaus' chest while they laid there, perfectly content to not move for the whole day.

This was nice. Eventually, Klaus relaxed again, making it more comfortable for both of then, leaning back on Kol once more. For a few minutes then, he let go of his worries. He let himself relax as much as he knew, let himself trust his brother...

Until he remembered the thing they did not discuss, the thing that had been gnawing at him like a hungry worm seeking his heart, reminding him that treachery was everywhere -- in everyone.

"It was gallant of Todd to rescue... Zandra and Carol, wasn't it? But he hasn't told the story. Perhaps you can tell me. What happened when they fell in the river, Kol? You two were.. there.. for quite some time."

"Apparently the girls were playing on the ice, and Z found a weak spot. She tried to swim until Carol could get her out. But even then, they were both freezing. Jason found them and went and got Elijah. When he'd been gone too long from his light patrol, I went in search of him. I was told the story second hand. Elijah invited Todd back to Paradis so that he could be thanked with a warm meal for helping the girls, and so he could know that they were going to survive. That his efforts had, indeed, saved them. I didn't think it appropriate for him to go alone."

"Mm. And how was Carol?" He was staring straight at the ceiling, and his voice had gone quiet, papery-thin.

Kol's stomach twisted. Klaus was asking because he had to somehow already know. But it didn't mean anything. It didn't... Well, at least it didn't mean that Kol was any less loyal to Klaus as alpha, no matter who Kol had slept with.

"Her feet were injured from the time she spent on the ice. And she was exhausted." He closed his eyes, not wanting to be forced to say it.

Please, Nik. Let this one go.

The silence stretched out and out. Klaus grew tense, even his expression hardening in its slow, subtle way, before he finally spoke.

"It makes sense, I suppose. She was brought from Craters for us. If Finn hadn't been born so pathetic, father would have expected him to breed the bitch. Keep her at his side, all of that -- nonsense. But he was what he was. And then Elijah. Well. Elijah is hardly interested in continuing the Mikaelson line, is he? And I'm certainly not mounting someone from another pack. Of course, it must have seemed natural. She is essentially Mikaelson property. Still. It would be a shame, wouldn't it, if you let her claim any part of you? One might -- wonder -- at your loyalty. And hers."

More than Kol resented his brother for he way he spoke about a woman, was the way he spoke about this woman. This woman who loved them, who had broken herself for them. This woman who deserved fucking better than to be spoken of like she was a mutt better suited for the pound.

"If you have a question, or an accusation, Klaus, I would much rather you be direct. And by that, I mean keep your hostilities aimed at the one with whom you are truly cross. If I had fucked some random wolf across the country, you would not question me. I've stood beside you through all of this. And you can resent me all you like. But I am not leaving your side."

It was easier to focus on the question of his loyalty, something which he had no doubt in, rather than the fact that Nik was insinuating that because Carol couldn't have better, because she couldn't have one of the elder, alpha brothers, she had settled for the bottom of the line, just to get her hands on a Mikaelson. Kol hated the way that picked at every insecurity he had about himself. He hated the way it framed Carol. He hated that he couldn't defend her without looking like a traitor.

"Not a question, brother, merely a suggestion. It would be best, I'm sure you can see, if it doesn't happen again. As my right hand, you really ought to set a better example of pack loyalty. Sleeping with strange wolves has always been against pack law. You'd do well to remember that. Still. I'm pleased you found something to entertain yourself with while Todd played hero."

Why had he done this? It would have been easy to just enjoy a perfect morning, to take comfort in Kol's presence. Now, he was angry and hurt, the ice creeping back into his heart, and he suspected Kol felt the same. Their little brother had always been as passionate as Klaus -- Kol just tended to show it less.

"She is breeding stock though, you know. It's the entire point of the Craters arrangement. I still remember the day father explained it.

"She must have been... fourteen, I suppose. He called Carol, Elijah, Finn, and I into the Paradise office. We'd been damming up a fork of the river earlier -- Elijah and Carol and I had, Finn watched. You were in town with mother. Lovely spring day. We thought we were in trouble. Finn seemed delighted. And then father explained -- that she was not to touch anyone but Elijah or I, that Finn was eldest, but not allowed." His stomach clenched and he shifted, beginning to look and sound deeply unhappy as he forgot to measure his speech, lost in the memory. "Had to keep the family strong. She stopped being quite so friendly to anyone after that. Oh, it had all been innocent before, we'd all played as siblings, but for weeks, she wouldn't speak to Elijah or I. You thought we'd gotten in a fight, remember? She followed Finn around, I suppose he seemed safe after that. I'm not sure they spoke to each other. What is there, a decade between them?

"I was sure we'd lost our friend -- our sister. And then one day, I came outside and heard you two playing. For a moment, Kol, I was so pleased that you'd somehow brought her back -- and then I hated that while you had done it so easily, I knew I never would have succeeded." His expression changed, still tight, but turning now to one of pain. His cheek twitched and he fell silent, considering all of the things it was easier to understand as an adult than as a child. The bitterness he'd felt a moment ago was gone, and he hoped that Kol understood. It wasn't anger, not really -- it was jealousy. Jealousy that once again, Kol could find the friend he couldn't have. It had taken until now for Klaus to realize it, and he turned to look at Kol, searching his eyes for understanding, forgiveness, anything.

Kol listened in silence, horrified for both his brothers, but mostly for Carol. To be told at her early teenage years that she had been not just abandoned, but discarded by her family for a purpose such as this. To breed. She had been sold into, essentially, a form of prostitution. In exchange for what? An alliance? A shaky one at best, that had all but dissolved the moment their parents had died.

Lying there, in his brother's bed, feeling the warmth of his body and the juxtaposing, chilling bite of his voice, Kol grit his teeth. His nostrils flared, and he stared, as he was, down at the mattress. He wanted to scream at Niklaus. At Elijah. At their father. They had done a great misdeed by that woman. And then Nik... could he have been so petty? Could his jealousy really have led him to be so childish? But he hadn't been much more than that at the time. Seventeen. A child.

But Carol...

"Nik," Kol said quietly as he finally made himself look up to meet his brother's gaze. "You have to know that Father robbed you of the potential of not only your friendship with that woman, but of the possibility of more. If she hadn't been told that, if they had let it blossom... At fourteen she had to have been mortified. And doubtless when it became apparent that not only was I not an option for her breeding, but that I hadn't been told of the situation, I had to be the only remaining option for a friend. Klaus, I wasn't..." Kol sighed. "I was a last resort. That's it. That is... likely all I will ever be. And until... she and I had never... I am sorry, brother, that I made you doubt my loyalty to you. Ever."

"I wanted to call her this summer. It wouldn't have been so difficult to discover which fire camp she was at. But you see now why I could not ask -- I could not ask her to come with us. It would only have looked like I wanted to use her for father's purpose."

Klaus stood up. His pants were low on his narrow hips and he slid them off and started dressing in proper clothes, his back to Kol, trying to hide the pain in his eyes. "She should be here, but now you know why she isn't -- why we've -- denied you your friend. Again.

"I want to be happy for you. But happiness is... somewhat harder to come by these days." There. The truth, bluntly laid out, more openness than he usually gave anyone, ever.

Sliding from the warmth of the bed, Kol stood behind his brother after he had half dressed, and moved around to face him. He wrapped arms around Klaus' shoulders and held him in a hug whether it was wanted or not, returned or not.

"There is nothing to be happy for me for," he said softly. "She and I are not a couple. And if we were, that would be more cause for grief than for celebration. Not because she's not worth celebrating over. But with the packs as they are, a union like that would only lead to disaster. I am your brother. I am your second in command. And I am not leaving your side. That is the only union I need." Kol stepped back, and toward the door. "I should get ready for the day. Is there anything specific you need from me?"

Klaus had accepted the hug with a stubborn silence and stillness, but when Kol stepped away and he realized how cold it was without his brother, how quickly the ache returned, he reached out and grabbed Kol by the arm. Although he couldn't say the words, the question was there in his eyes: will you stay?

The hand on his arm stopped him instantly and Kol looked at it for a long moment before he looked up at Klaus. There was the hint of a weak smile before he nodded once. "As long as you want me, I'll be here."

"I want you," Klaus said, his voice too tight to hide that he was close to tears. He pulled Kol close and wrapped his arms around him in a desperate embrace. "I will always want you, brother."

Admitting truths was never pleasant for Klaus. Affection came so easily to others, who gave and took it so freely, but it always felt like a compromise to him. To love or to be loved, either felt like foolishness, weakness, the loss of oneself -- but slowly, he was beginning to learn that the pain of trusting no one might, in the end, be greater.

The one person he could truly trust was right here, and Klaus knew he'd nearly alienated his brother. How like him, to destroy anything beautiful that came to his hands.

"I... need. I need you. Always by my side. Always mine. Always here." He ran a hand over the back of Kol's head, messing his hair up further, and pressed his chin a bit too firmly into his shoulder.

Kol sucked in a tight breath through gritted teeth as Klaus unintentionally dug his chin into the muscle, and quickly reacted as he would have as a wolf, first turning suddenly to bite at Klaus's ear, which he quickly turned into a playful, but loving kiss.

"I'm here, Nik. And I'm not going anywhere. You know. Except on patrols. And to fight off that fucking Craters pack who keep scalping our food. Clearly the exchange they made for the daughter wasn't enough to keep them from being... dead."

Kol had found two, and had reported only the second. The first was allowed to believe to be a mistake. But not this. This was a blatant breech. "And brother? I know you're wary about Jason, and his loyalties. But he saved two lives that day. He deserves a little leniency."

"He's an electrician and a gunman -- our only, in both cases. However I feel about him," he straightened up, "we need him. Now. I believe you said something about burning the kitchen down?"

Kol chuckled and bumped his shoulder against his brother's. "Excuse you. I'm a damn good cook when I want to be. I'm just... too lazy to care much about it. But..." his brows pinched and he looked down. "But I would like to do that for you. First, however, I would like to put some clothes on. It's getting fucking cold out there."

"And deny us the pleasure of such a view?" He smirked at Kol -- then abruptly turned and tore the morning's drawing from the notebook and handed it to Kol. "A view I appreciated already, I suppose. Go. Get dressed. Then be prepared to make good on your promise, Chef."

Kol had smirked at the initial comment, but when he was handed the picture, he stared at it for a long second, recognizing the figure, of course, but struggling to understand that Klaus had drawn him.

He took a deep, steadying breath, and then placed a hand at the side of Klaus' face, pulling him in so that Kol could kiss his temple. "Thank you," he whispered, then left the room to go change.

In the privacy of his own room, Kol looked again at the drawing, swallowed the lump in his throat, and then tucked it in a box he kept with his most prized possessions. He dressed quickly, then made his way to the kitchen to meet Klaus.

Klaus was already there when Kol came in, as was Jason -- who looked like he regretted being there. He had gotten the coffee started, but had also hoped to avoid Klaus. Instead of that happening, Klaus had walked in and bitten him on the back of the neck.

"Ah, the chef has arrived." Klaus sounded merry, as if none of the quiet pain confessed minutes ago had happened. He hopped up on the counter and crossed one leg over the other.

"Lucss?" Jason rubbed sleepily at his face. "Eh. Kol. What do you want?"

"Now, now. Is that any way to speak to my brother, Todd?"

Jason wasn't used to the playful side of Klaus and he gave Kol a worried look.

Kol smirked and waved away the concern. "I told Nik I would make him breakfast this morning. Would you like some."

Smacking Klaus in the thigh with the back of his hand, Kol reached around him to grab a skillet off the rack and then moved to the fridge.

"My brother and I were talking about... the river incident. And... we are over covered tonight on patrols. If you would like a day off, you can have one. Though, I know too many of us don't know how to relax for a full night, so I won't force you to stay home."

Klaus shot Kol a brief, considering look, but accepted what he'd said and gave Jason a nod. "You've been struggling to find time for target practice, haven't you?"

Jason's eyes lit up. "I'd love time to go shooting. Thank you. And uh, yeah, breakfast would be awesome if you're not gonna put me in it as some kinda Kol trick..."

The smile that crossed Kol's lips was pure happiness. Playfulness. "Listen, mate, I'm not looking to poison my brother," he exclaimed as if it was all the explanation Jason needed as to why Kol wouldn't be cooking him today.

When the other wolf's back was turned, Kol put a hand on Klaus' arm and gave him a look of gratitude. Jason needed the boost in morale after having gone back to see the kids. He needed a night to be himself and to know that good deeds and thoughts of the pack and of life in general did not go ignored. He was valuable. And he needed a day off.

Kol pulled down the waffle iron and grabbed the bowl of eggs. There was a little bacon left to be had, so he pulled that out as well, now tossing it in the hot skillet, stepping back as it sizzled.

"Do you want anything in your waffles? Blueberries? We have a couple options."

"Bacon," both Klaus and Jason replied. They looked at each other, and Klaus added: "And blueberries."

Jason snorted. "No blueberries for me. I'm not tainting precious bacon with that shit."

"All the more for Kol and I, then."

Kol nodded, cooked the bacon, mixed it in the batter and then put it on the iron. Then he added the eggs to the bacon grease, knowing it would add to the flavor. The first plate was soon done and he handed it to Jason. Then he added blueberries to the batter and started Klaus' breakfast with the eggs cooking.

Breakfast only took a few more minutes and then they all had plates and warm syrup and orange juice or chocolate milk and he moved to a table. "See. No burning the house down. And no poison. Have a little more faith in me."

Jason was trying not to drool by the time Kol was done. He had to wait for both Kol and Klaus to start eating, and Klaus seemed to want to wait until Kol was ready. Once they were all sitting at the table and the brothers had dug in, Jason did as well.

"Fuuuuck.... okay. You can stay, Kol. This is good. What the.. mm." Jason often had a rude mouth, but he occupied it with food.

Klaus looked amused -- happily so. He met Kol's eyes and gave him a small nod. Thank you.

Kol had a little syrup dripped on his chin and he grinned in response, stealing a particularly crispy piece of bacon from Klaus' plate and plopping it in his mouth quickly, almost giggling as he did so.

Last night he had slept.

This morning he'd broken through a wall with his brother. He was happy today. He nodded at Klaus in return

[iannoyinglysweetstudent-blog]

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I went to a dentist, and was ordered a Full Mouth Debridement (D4355) for $202.00. I have no idea of what exactly they have to do but they explain that it's different from a regular cleaning and my insurance will not cover such thing. I have no idea of how much is it cost on average dentist and I said yes to have it done on me. When I went home, I realize that some dental office offer it less than what I'm paying. Should I file a complain? If I should, where can I bring my complaints to.? I live at area code 92126.""

Where can I find cheap auto insurance?

I will be looking soon for auto insurance for my first car. I have bad credit, no driving record(I am just about to get my license within the next couple months), and am 26. Where can I find an insurance company with an affordable premium?""

How can someone get health care if insurance denies them?

My mom was seeing a psychiatrist and on lots of meds a few years ago. She since lost her job and kaiser and all the insurance companies won't cover her. She's been sick for two weeks and had to go to the emergency room yesterday. She can't afford to get care without insurance and I'm really worried about her, she's throwing up and passing out with a fever and all the emergency room gave her were antibiotics and said it might be a kidney infection. I told her to go to Mexico to find an affordable doctor but she can't even get out of bed. Any suggestions? I'm thinking of taking next semester off and giving her my student loan as a last resort.""

Is there any low health insurance with low deductible?

I already have an insurance, but my parents don't and my dad can't really afford paying high prices, especially now. I was looking for affordable health insurance with low deductibles because my mom needs to see a doctor really soon and I don't want to delay it because of money issues. Please if you know of any affordable plans tell me. Thank you""

Car insurance?

ok well im 16 and a male. my mom just bought me a 2007 lexus gs for my bday. i havnt gotten in any accedents, so i wanted to knw how much my car insurance would be. my mom said she spoiled me enough by giving me the car, so she wont help with the insurance.""

Allstate car insurance raise my rates has anyone experience this?

im from miami last year i paid 148 now this year i pay 169 what are some ways i can lower insurance each time i talk to the lady that handles my account she invents things or can i talk to anyone from allstate?

Will adding factory bodykits affect your insurance costs?

Ok so i was just curious to know that if i buy the new Seat Ibizia 1.4 (09-onwards) in the SE trim level, with an insurance group of 3, if i was then to add a factory fitted bodykit from SEAT to replicate the Cupra model would this rise the insurance group and costs? This is what i was thinking of getting for it: http://seatepac.gedas.co.uk/productdetail.aspx?p_no=ZGB6J3071670""

Can I get an insurance quote if I am not 16?

Today, I got a moped so that for my birthday, I can go and do my CBT on the day. I want to get a rough price of what I would have to pay for insurance. I would like to know what I would have to pay but as I am not yet 16, I cannot yet get a quote. Does anyone know how to get round this as I do not want to lie about my age. Thanks.""

Will i get any payouts on my car insurance?

hi there i had an accident back in december 2012 that was NOT my fault but did not declare any points om my licence when i took my insurance policy out, becaus this was not my fault will i still get payed out for my car or any compensation claims elsewhere to thatr accident""

I'm in college with no health or dental insurance... What are my options?

My parents don't have any health insurance either, so being on one of their plans isn't an option. I'm kind of stressed out because I have asthma and my wisdom teeth are starting to really bother me, but I don't make nearly enough money to take care of either problem. As of today what are my options for affordable health/dental care until I graduate and can afford life?""

Premium vs deductible? Health Insurance?

I'm really confused by everything having to deal with Health Insurance. I know a deductible is what you pay before the insurance company pays the rest. But what is the premium? And are these two related?? Please Help.

How much would motorcycle insurance cost for a 17 year old with a Kawasaki Ninja 250 in Texas?

How much would motorcycle insurance cost for a 17 year old with a Kawasaki Ninja 250 in Texas?

Reasonable health insurance in CA??

My step-daughter, husband and I are currently insured trough Blue Shield of California. The Deductible is $7.500 annually and we are paying $520 a month. Whenever we are going to get my husbands prescription drugs, we have to pay 100% out of pocket, whenever my husband has to go to a doctor we have to pay %100, whatever we do, we have to pay 100% ourselves, when does the insurance come in??? Every year, we have to pay $7.500 out of pocket till we can expect the insurance to even consider covering anything, who has that much money to spend every year on health insurance?! Recently my husband started having kidney pain, hernia, heart problems... but we can't go to a doctor because after paying the $520 a month to the health insurance we are simply left with nothing. I have not been to a doctor for 8 years, now I am very frustrated, I really need to take care of my husbands health but every insurance is just a ripoff. Can anybody help me with some advice...or a good insurance with low deductible or none at all (if that even exists).""

Which car is the cheapest to buy and who are the cheapest to insurance with?

i thinking of taking my driving lesson!! i just wonder which car is cheap and who is cheap to get insurance with!

How much is for insurance for 18 year old people and for a used car?also do u pay each month or 6 month?

How much is for insurance for 18 year old people and for a used car?also do u pay each month or 6 month?

Where can I purchase affordable dental insurance that is effective immediately?

I would like to get braces or Invisilgn=]

Will Getting a license in a different state lower car insurance?

If you originally have a drivers license in one state, and move to a different state and get a drivers license there, can it lower your car insurance. I've heard from some people that it can because when you apply for car insurance they won't see any tickets you may have had originally, but I've also heard that no matter what they can see your driving history.""

Will the check from the auto insurance company be in my name or my mom's?

under name of insured it has my mom's name and my name. the car is in my name. I hit a car and the insurance company is sending a check for the repair costs after the deductible. will the check be in my name or my mom's name??

Can you get medical or medicade if you are pregnant and MARRIED?

My friend is married and pregnant but she recently lost her job and her insurance. Her husband is the sole provider and he makes 45,000 a year before taxes but she is not on his insurance. can she still get her pregnancy covered by a government program. We all live in California if that helps. Anyones stories would be greatly appreciated.""

How do i find out if a car insurance company is a real company?

I have Geico right now.Got into a reck they raised my insurance 3 times is much i was paying. I found a company Colorado Casualty,They said they will give me insurance at a good price less than i first started with Geico 4 years ago.S o i want to check this company out ,but don't know how.""

How does health insurance work - when insurance premium can generally increase?

If family of two have health insurance, and one of them decide to use it for couple medical procedures will insurance policy premium go up? Please advice. Thanks.""

Which company offers the cheapest car insurance for a 17 year old male?

im 17 and i need insurance and wanted to know the cheapest

Which car would cost the least for insurance for a 16 year old male driver?

2000 Chevrolet Camaro Coupe  V6   1996 Cadillac Seville STS Touring V8   1999 Ford Mustang convertible V6

Where can i find cheap no faught insurance in Detroit Michigan?

Where can i find cheap no faught insurance in Detroit Michigan?

Cars cheap on the insurance?

I will be buying a car soon and need advice on which ones are cheap on the insurance for the first couple of years. I like the Toyota Yaris and kind of had my heart set on one of those. Is this cheap?

Is auto insurance cheaper for trucks?

I have a turbocharged hatchback now, thinking about upgrading to a larger vehicle.""

Need help to get the cheapest car insurance possible for a 17 year old?

I just turned 17 and I am gutted because I have had to hold off on my driving lessons as I have the money for the lessons and the car but the insurance is WAAAAY too expensive. for cars like a ford KA or a smart car the insurance is between 3500 and 5000! is there anyway to lower this? how much would it go down by if i went on a family members insurance etc. please help. what kind of car will have low insurance.

Premium vs deductible? Health Insurance?

I'm really confused by everything having to deal with Health Insurance. I know a deductible is what you pay before the insurance company pays the rest. But what is the premium? And are these two related?? Please Help.

Do i have to have collision insurance for a financed used car?

My coworker told me that I would have to have collision insurance if I want to financed a used or new car. Is this True? Can I just put it on liability even if the car us only 6000 and not payed off yet?

What Car Insurance Company will offer the Cheapest Insurance for an 18YO Male?

Looking for the least expensive.

Do libs honestly believe that car insurance is analogous to health insurance?

Beware of these guys; they are dangerous... In my state alone you don't have to buy car insurance if you can post a bond or if you have a fleet of cars i.e. if you can SHOW YOU HAVE THE ABILITY TO PAY FOR any damage you cause with your car. If I can pay for my own health care, why would I buy health insurance?""

Cheapest car for a learner driver to insure?

my mums insurance wont insure anyone under 21 and my dads insurance want just under 3000, so i wondered which would be the cheapest car for a learner driver to insure? thanks xxx""

Cheap car insurance for 21 yr old?

I have a 2003 Grand Am. I've had it for a year. Until recently I had it in my mothers insurance policy. But hers has expired now and I would like to have it put under my own policy. I've had my license since I was 19. I've never had any violations, not even a speeding ticket. What are some cheap car insurance for my situation. I live in Kentucky.""

Can a ticket for no insurance be reduced?

Friend of mine got a ticket for no insurance 9 yrs ago.....i know long time......but after all this time is there anyway a good lawyer can.get the ticket reduced to a lesser one?

How long does it take for auto insurance to pay out for no-fault accident?

Hello - I was involved in an auto-accident in March of 2006 in which both insurance companies (mine and hers) agreed that it was the other party's fault and I was a zero-liability. Their insurance company (let's call them Venus , of ease) has asked for receipts ($1000 in rentals which my coverage does not cover), my deductible amount and any other amount which I had to put out (total is about $1,700). I have waited since April for them to pay me. I get letters from Venus every other week saying they are pending further investigation - but, I am at wits-end and want my money which I had to pay-out for an accident that everyone acknowledges is not my fault. Does anyone know what the law/rules are in California and how long they can take to pay after they find the other party is at fault? Also, what can I word in a strongly worded letter to get this finally paid. I dont want to hire lawyer for such a low amount - but, that extra 1700 sure would be nice at the moment. Thanks! Chris""

Who are the best insurance companies for young drivers?

Who are the best insurance companies (in terms of low prices) for young drivers?

Why did the emergency room need auto insurance?

We slammed on brakes to avoid car running red light no collision hospital made copies of auto insurance for dh headache and sore neck why and will insurance be notified and will rates go up live in northern Minnesota

How much would I be paying in insurance if I become a CRNA?

How much would I be paying in insurance if I become a CRNA?

What is electronic insurance?

details about electronic insurance

Anyone have advice on what affordable health insurance company I should choose?

I don't want a deductable. And I want it to cover everything if I'm hospitalized.

If my gf and i have full coverage car insurance but not by the same company?

me and my gf have full coverage car insurance on our cars, but we have different car insurance companies. would she be able to drive my car as well as i drive her car? If we were to get in an car accident will our insurance cover it? even though we are driving different cars?""

What CAR Should A First Driver GET ? Also What Company For The Insurance To Be The Cheapest ?

Passed My Driving Test 2 Days Ago ! I am 22 ! what car should i get that is cheap on insurance too ? Please give me the names and for the insurance companies :)) Thanku

What is the cheapest car insurance you can buy?

Age 20's, I want to buy cheapest insurance possible. I don't care about coverage for myself, I just want it legal to drive.""

Does my insurance go up after I get a ticket in someone else car? Or the owner of the car insurance goes up?

I got pulled over for speeding and the officer never asked for the insurance card. Since he didn't ask for the insurance card, does that mean my pay rate will be the same? Or can the insurance company find out by the tag number? Please inform me because this is my first time. Thanks! Also remember I was in someone else car.""

How do i get insurance?

ok i saw one i like what should i do next ? should i call them ? and i want to pay monthly, and how soon do you think my insurance can be started? and can i start today?""

Average insurance rate for a taxi?

in bakersfield ca

Insurance cost on Audi TT 16yr?

I currently drive a Jeep Grand Cherokee (2002) to and from school but im in need of something that gets better gas mileage... I am currently very interested in an Audi TT because it is an inexpensive fun looking car and gets approx 28mpg. I am looking for around a 2000-2002 model Hard Top. How much would insurance cost for a 16yr Male Good Student while driving an Audi TT? Is there a huge difference between that and driving a Jeep Grand Cherokee? Thank You

""How do I obtain cheap, good health insurance in South Carolina?""

I currently live in Conn. but I am moving to SC in the middle of Oct, but I won't have health insurance when I get down there because I am currently on state insurance, which is up at the beginning of Oct. But I really need insurance because I have monthly prescriptions that I need. So does anyone know how I can get insurance just intil I get a job with benefits.""

Which car would cost the least for insurance for a 16 year old male driver?

2000 Chevrolet Camaro Coupe  V6   1996 Cadillac Seville STS Touring V8   1999 Ford Mustang convertible V6

How much will your insurance go up by if you get a brand new car?

im thinking about getting a Honda civic 2012 and if my insurance is going to rise like by 100-150 $ im not going to get it but i was wondering how much will it rise by if a get a new car i also have been in minor accident and my insurance is about 250 one way and it is with statefarm im a toronto citizen so only in toronto prices

Insurance on a 2006 Jeep Commander?!?

I am turning 16 in December and I am probably going to get a 2006 Jeep Commander! I was wondering of anyone could estimate how much insurance would be on it?! Thanks!

Has anyone insured a 17yr old learner driver if so where?

Hi I want to insure my 17 yr old son 18 this year he is about to learn to drive on my car insurance, I rang my insurance they said they dont insure anyone under 25yrs it it due to run out in may so i will be going elsewhere any ideas where would insure someone of that age and how much did it cost many thanks""

I have progressive and how much do you think the insurance would cost to get my son a 2013 Camaro v6?

He has no tickets and has As and Bs in college. Its a boy.

What cars are best to have for the lowest insurance?

I am 21, and I am rather sick of catching the bus everywhere lol, especially this past winter. I know my insurance is going to be high, It's also pretty hard to keep a job since many buses stop running around 9pm. My friend told me any time after May is a good time to buy a car because most people already got their refunds. I am willing to take out a loan if a new/newer car is the best to go with since I have pretty decent credit (724 Experian). If I have a car I could work and go to school more easily. What year, make, model, etc. I also want to save on gas. For the new cars, I would like the Chevy Volt, the Ford Fiesta, Honda Civic (hybrid if possible), or the toyota prius (hybrid maybe). For used, I am not sure since I don't know what year to look in, but I was looking at the Honda civic, toyota prius, and the mazda mazda6. I also don't know if foreign cars would raise the premium. I read that if you are getting a car around 10 years old, only buy honda or toyota cars. Also should I look into mechanical breakdown insurance and/or should I get a warranty for the car along with the auto insurance? How much do they cost? Thanks.""

Insurance price for a 16 year old?

I'm 16 live in Minnesota and i want to get a car maybe around $5000 just wanted to know how much a month it would cost for insurance with and without my parents

""Why do i pay $400 a month for car insurance, is it cause its my first car?""

Why do i pay $400 a month for car insurance, is it cause its my first car?""

How to get cheap car auto insurance?

How to get cheap car auto insurance?

Fronting car insurance?

I made a separate thread about me being a second driver but owning the vehicle,i wont actually be using the vehicle as much as the main driver,Hence me being the second driver.The answers i got back were You're fronting and its fraud blablabla . Is it fronting if i am a second driver but own the vehicle?Surely if i dont use the vehicle as much as the main driver then reguardless of who owns it thats correct..?""

Car damage from freeway road hazard. Will my rates go up if i fix thru insurance?

While driving on the freeway, a metal object from car in front of me fell and damaged the front of my car. Will my insurance raise my rates or negatively effect my insurance record if I go through insurance to get it fixed? I use Mercury insurance in California and I have standard collision coverage. Thanks""

Buying auto insurance?

Is it possible for someone to buy auto insurance with their brother?

What is the cost of average home owners insurance?

I bought a new home, (foreclosure from the bank). I bought it quickly, and didnt have time to shop around for home owners insurance so I went with the first company who I called. I just wanted to see if this average, or too high, because if it is, I can start shopping around now. I bought a 227K foreclosure. The appraised value is 280K. I put 75K down on the house. my mortgage insurance per year is 1030 dollars. 6 bedroom/4 bathroom 3 acre home, 2400 sq feet. Is this high/average? Should I bother shopping around?""

How do I prove auto insurance to MN DMV?

My license is revoked and I need to prove to the state of Minnesota that I am insurable. I do not have a vehicle to insure right now, and don't understand why it would be necessary to get insurance for any period of time since I don't have a vehicle, but it is mandated by the state that I prove I have insurance. All the insurance companies I have talked to say that I need to have insurance for a year or the state will take my license again. Is there a way around this or is there an easier way to prove I am insurable without having to pay $1200 for a year of insurance when I don't even have a car?""

How much will my Insurance be for a 1970 SS Chevelle 427?

I want this as a 2nd car, i got my eyes set on one for about 18k...I don't think im gonna like the answer :(. theirs a few factors im scared of insurance 1st. Im 17 in california! 2nd. Im 17 in california....with an Accident on record. 3rd. Im 17 in california...with a pending speeding ticket (ima beat it tho :) 4th. IM 17 IN CALIFORNIA!""

Insurance question?

i need insurance and basically what i need to know dose any insurance cover dermatology?

Auto insurance and Car payments?

I am looking to buy a 4x4 truck or mini suv of some sort ranging from $3000 to $7000. I know this is a hard thing to answer but if anyone can give me some tips and rough estimates that would be great! Im 19 years old, I have 3 credit cards all payed on time and a cellphone contract. I have a 600 something credit score and I am wondering how much a car payment would be without a co-signer? Also what is up with insurance companies? They want to charge me $300 to $400 dollars a month on any car year make or model monthly without even checking my back round...Is there some place where I can get cheaper rates? I cant afford that crap. Any help is appreciated, thanks!""

Would insurance on a 95 Mustang GT be extremely high?

Would insurance on a 95 Mustang GT be extremely high?

What is the cheapest insurance for a teen?

what insurance company will be more affordable for a teen

Classic car insurance?

I'm a young driver, no previous accidents, honor student, plan on driving something close to, if not exactly, a 1965 Type 2 Volkswagen Bus and can't find much information on insurance. I've queried my insurance agent, but I'm a bit impatient for results, haha, and also I'd like to see what other people with classic cars have done about this dilemma. :) Thanks for reading.""

Is a hatchback (3 door car) considered a sports car with insurance?

if not what is it considered and is the cost higher than a sports car

How much will my insurance go up?

I got a ticket today for reckless driving (drifted coming out of school.) I'm only 16 and I'm a male, so how much will my insurance go up?""

I'm a first-timer with cars and insurance?

I was trying to research car insurance and taxes but came up with no clear answer. My probem is that I am looking to see how much it would cost for me to buy a cheap car (preferably a Mini or a Beetle) and what the insurance would cost. Can anyone point me in the right direction? I'm trying to work out how much I have to earn this summer so I can own my first car.

Need advice on qualifying for subsidized health insurance?

I'm an older full-time college student and my husband works full-time at Walmart. In the past three years, I've been through 4 cancer related surgeries, which were paid for by the breast/cervical cancer Medicaid program. Unfortunately, follow up care and monitoring aren't covered and I was dropped from Medicaid. I'm now on my husband's health insurance, which is basically worthless because our income is under $20,000/yr and the policy has a $4500 deductible plus 20% after. I haven't seen my oncologist for over a year because we can't afford the expensive scans, biopsies, and lab work associated with cancer follow-up with a deductible that high. I thought my situation would change in 2014 with Obamacare. I recently learned from the healthcare.gov website calculator that our income is low enough to qualify for expanded Medicaid (which our state decided not to expand), but I don't qualify for the health insurance subsidies I desperately need because the outrageous deductible health insurance from my husband's job covers spouses. How can a couple with an income so low they would qualify for expanded Medicaid be ineligible for subsidies? I am completely devastated over this and I don't know what to do. Not being able to afford cancer follow up care is putting my life in danger. Even if my husband's employer (Walmart) quit covering the spouses of full-time employees, I think that would only apply to new hires because of the grandfather clause. If getting subsidies was based on income alone the way it should be instead of access to employer provided coverage, I would qualify for a zero deductible policy and $3 co-pays with a monthly premium of around $60. I could then afford the expensive health care I need. We live in a college town so if my husband got a different job, he'd make even less than he does now and we would probably end up homeless. If my husband transfers and we move to a state that's expanding Medicaid, I'll have to quit school and get rid of my German Shepherd and Siberian Husky since it's almost impossible to find a landlord that allows them. We thought another option might be to get a divorce on paper and co-habitate until our situation changes (completing my degree and getting a good job so I can afford the deductible), then re-marry. When I asked about that, someone actually accused me of wanting to commit fraud! How can anyone think of something like fraud when a situation is endangering someone's life? I am desperate to somehow qualify for health insurance subsidies without lying, which could get us in trouble. Any ideas?""

""I bought a good life insurance for my family, Just how much does McCain loves 303 million Americans?""

I bought a good life insurance for my family, Just how much does McCain loves 303 million Americans?""

Why is it illegal to drive without car insurance?

I have heard rumors that it is illegal to drive without car insurance; first of all, is this true? Secondly, if this is so, why? Many individual American motorists experience between 0-2 minor accidents in their lifetime, some of which are very minor (where both cars still run fine and there's just a bump or so). Any information would be useful.""

Which car would cost the least for insurance for a 16 year old male driver?

2000 Chevrolet Camaro Coupe  V6   1996 Cadillac Seville STS Touring V8   1999 Ford Mustang convertible V6

Name of the Insurance Company?

Orange and Halifax insure phones/laptops ect... However who is the actual company who the insurance is ? I mean it is Orange and Halifax but who is the real insurance from who take the commission or what ever it is.

Can an insurance company drop your auto insurance any time?

I have had 3 claims in 4 years. The first two claims where while living in another state. I since moved and just put in my third claim today (first claim with this company). My insurance payment really isn't all that high, about $75 monthly. The lady told me today that it would go up 10% if the cost was over $750. (it will be) She said this didn't effect my insurability or anything, but what if I had another accident in a year?? The real question is, can an insurance company drop you for any reason at any time? Some have said no, only within the first 60 days, others say yes, absolutely any time. What's the right answer?""

""Health Insurance, Texas?""

OK I'm 20 and have a part-time job, I don't have health insurance and don't know much about it. Anyway I mainly doing it to see a docter, to see if I have any problems like adhd, bipolar or whatever, which I THINK I may have. Anyway whats a good/affordable plan if thats all I want to do? Maybe something that will cover prescription drugs, if needed.""

Cheapest way to get car insurance?

we know of a family that is going through tough times. Mom works 3 jobs, daughter (18 y.o. works 2 jobs and goes to school full time) while the dad has two DUIs on him. Of course the daughter can't get insurance(because its too expensive). Around $2k a year. Know of any other viable options?? Its in California. Thanks!""

Insurance Question.?

Can anyone give me an estimate on how much car insurance would be on a 2005 mustang V6. About $12,000. 3rd car. Thanks""

How much is non owners SR22 insurance in Florida?

My license is suspended because of 12 points in 12 months. I am required to have SR22 non owners insurance and i do not have a vehicle. I don't even know where to begin with all of this. Are there special insurace companies that deal with this sort of thing? Please help!

""Car insurance, accident & medical bills?""

I was in a car accident a month and a half ago. I went through my insurance to get my car fixed. My insurance dealt with his insurance & they accepted full responsibility. I went to the hospital immediately after the accident because I was afraid I had a concussion. I had mentioned to my ins company that I went to the hospital & asked what to do with my ambulance bill. I was told that wasn't covered under my insurance & his insurance would need to contact me. The ambulance company asked for my car insurance info & I have not received a bill, so I'm assuming my insurance company took care of it. However, I now have copays for physical therapy for my neck & back. How does this work? Do I need to contact his insurance or will his insurance be contacting me? I assumed I would hear from them, so I'm a bit confused by the process.""

19yrs old car insurance?

Im 19yrs old and I got into a bad car accident when I was 15/16 yrs old. It was my fault so I went to court and they told me if I do community service and take a drivers ed class it will be cleared. As if the accident never happened. So now I want to get my own car insurance since I don't have anyone to get it for me. Will it so show that I got into a car accident ? Do I answer yes I've been in a car accident in the last 5 years? This has been the only car accident I've had so far.

Do auto insurance companies have authority to require social security numbers for policyholders?

In applying for auto insurance, I note that several companies want social security numbers from applicants. Is this a legal requirement for obtaining auto insurance? or is it the policy of the insurer? or is it optional?""

18 year old male trying to find the cheapest auto insurance in NY?

im trying to get it in my own name for the lowest price possible. but i really need help because i have quite the record. i dont need collision or comprehension coverage.... and i want state minimum bodily injury. i dont care what insurance or anything, just as long as i can slap a registration sticker in my window then i am happy. any help/advice is greatly appreciated. thank you""

Why quotes from Insurance advisers and comparison sites are significantly different in price?

I've contacted two advisers regarding life insurance and critical illness cover. Both of them suggest difference insurers and their price is significantly different than the comparison sites. Do they get commission from insurers companies depending on their suggestions?

Universal Health Care- Insurance Companies?

Will private insurance still be available if the US becomes a single payer health care? If not, what will happen to all the insurance companies, will everyone be laid off?!?""

""Car insurance, and registration in illlinois.?

hey. i was wondering how much would the avg price be for car insurance for an 89 acura legend 2 door for a 17 year old boy? and how much would it be to register a vehicle in the state of il? also are there any places near or around chicago that sell reposed vehicles. answer to either questoin will be very much appreciated.

Car insurance and accident investigations?

My Gf was driving on the freeway going home from school. While driving about 10 car lengths ahead she saw that car were swerving out of the way. There was a stalled car in the number 2 lane. She had enough time to slow down and change to the number 1 lane without any incident when she was suddenly rear ended on her back right bumper. That force sent her into the ceneter median aand hit her front driver side hard enough that it spun her around and faced the opposite direction (facing traffic). Long story short she has severe front and back end damage on a Brand New 2008 Civic that she is leasing. After speaking with the appraiser of the he mentioned that it is likely a totaled loss. Ahe has full coverage insurance with AAA but don't think that she has GAp insurance. How is this going to affect her lease that she just entered a month ago. She was not at fault and the accident report hasn't been finalized. Will this affcet her in getting a new car and insurance?

I NEED HELP WITH MOTORCYCLE INSURANCE!!!!! PLEASE HELP?

Hi there, I expect to buy my bike for next march of 2012. I am Going to buy a 2009 suzuki GSXR-600.....The problem is that I am only 18 years old and my insurance quotes are roughly $1000 a month. Is there any way I can go around this problem or lower the insurance?""

""I make $1500 and still live at home, is a $400 car payment plus $200 for car insurance too much ?""

I only pay for my cellphone bill which is $80 a month. I still live at home and i'm 20 years old. I will be making a lot more money within the next year. The car i want is a 2011 gti base model, which is top 10 in consumer mag for most reliable, practical, fuel efficient vehicles for this year. I want to drop $5k down which will be around $350 a month, but the insurance is $190 a month since i'm only 20. I've driven two used cars and they are just a headache and so i want to drive something fun, practical (4dr) and fuel efficient. Is this a good look?""

How Much Is the insurance going to increase?

Today I hit a car :( and although it was minimal damage, he decided to report it. I wanted to know how much is the insurance going to increase. Take in that i'm not in the policy its under my mom's name.""

What is the cheapest car insurance? PLEEASSEE HELPPPP!!?

I have searched around, i'm 18 and male I know it's going to be expensive and it changes daily BUT if there is any companies at all that people know are relatively less expensive than others? would be great :)""

Looking for the best prices in auto insurance and Quick!?

I know there are some reliable auto insurance companies out there with killer rates. Anyone know something good?

Looking For Cheaper Car Insurance Quotes?

I am trying to beat my best quote so far and I wanted to ask if anyone knew of anyone I could try or some brokers who could get the price down a bit for me. Here are my circumstances. 18 years old Full licence for 9 months 0 NCB Live in east sussex no claims or convictions car is kept in a locked garage looking for upto 4000 annual mileage will be using car for pleasure and commuting My car is an Renault megane coupe 1.6e sport My best quote so far I got from moneysupermarket which is 1560 and that was from swinton. I just wanted to ask If their was anyone I could try, like good brokers who might be able to get that quote down a bit. I am really looking at no more than 1400 . It doesn't matter how big or small they are I will give anyone a try. I have tried most of the major companies but none of them come close to my best quote so far. Also is it worth putting my best quote down when filling in online forms. Does it make any difference?""

Whats the cheapest auto insurance plan?

I hate insurance. I have no reason so far to need it. I'm a safe driver and i do not want my money to be drained into some company, which in time, will get more money from me than they spend to fix whatever may happen to my car. I don't want a flashy car. I only need a cheap one. So i could care less about dents and stuff. What is literally the cheapest auto insurance plan i can get in California? cheapest dollar for dollar.""

Why is older cars like a 1970 camaro cheaper on insurance then a new one like a 1996 camaro?

Plz need help on this

Can we get a tax break because our insurance is so costly?

My husband only takes home about $2400 per month (after health insurance is deducted from his check) and $300 in savings from a shared family income property. Our health insurance is almost $800 per month for us and our 2 children- a toddler and an infant. We are barely getting by. We pay $1700 in rent and utilities plus our other regular bills such as food, fuel and phone bills. I just started an evening job 3 nights per week making minimum wage to help, but is there any way we can get some of the health insurance cos ts back? I know Obama Care is available, but is there any other program or tax credit we could apply for while still keeping our health plan? I have a preexisting condition FTR.""

How much Would car Insurance Be for me If Im 18 in California?

And have a 08 or 09 Honda Civic brand new(going to be buying a car) And going to college(since I hear most insurance Companies discount kids under 20 who are going to college) Is it really expensive? Also I hear its lower then before since economy is down.

Can i extend my insurance quote?

I have a quote and it expires on the 27th this month. When i try and get another quote its 3 times as much. I would get it now but i will have 1 years ncb on the 7th of oct. If i rang them up do you think they would extend the quote expirey date? Or do u think they might accept my 11 months and 2 weeks ncb? Or even make me pay an extra 30 or so to start the insurance now then send them proof when i get the ncb

Which car would cost the least for insurance for a 16 year old male driver?

2000 Chevrolet Camaro Coupe  V6   1996 Cadillac Seville STS Touring V8   1999 Ford Mustang convertible V6

https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/texas-can-deny-u-car-insurance-alexander-sharpe/"

[dangerouscrusadefire-blog]

How is the auto insurance for a Mazda 3i?

What are my best options for self-employed health insurance with maternity in Illinois?<br/>I am leaving a well paid corporate job with great benefits to work for myself. I was recently married and my wife wants to have children soon. She does not have benefits through her job so I need to ensure we are covered well. What are some great options for affordable health coverage in Illinois that includes maternity and whats the time frame before maternity coverage kicks in?<br/><br/>BEST ANSWER Try this site where you can compare quotes from different companies: http://saleinsurancequotes.xyz?src=scoop<br/><br/>RELATED QUESTIONS<br/><br/>I need pictyres of my car for insurance where do i go in ny?<br/>I need pictyres of my car for insurance where do i go in ny?<br/><br/>What kind of insurance should I get?<br/>I need dental braces but can t afford them. Is there dental insurance that I can get so that I wont have to spend so much out of pocket??<br/><br/>Affordable medical plan for newborns?<br/> i know there is WIC to cover if dont make enough money to pay for alot of food besides the bills, and the childs shots are covered through the pregnancy medicaid (if you have it) for so long but what cheap plans are there to cover for afterwards, what are you paying for your child to have medical insurance? such as the remaining shots they may need, if they are sick or what not.    I live in NC and am not pregnant (not yet anyway lol) but i am curious as to how to pay for medical costs for my child when i do have one, i dont have medical insurance for myself.   thank you for any information that can be given <br/><br/>Does anyone have the Mid-West Live insurance company of Tennessee?<br/> An insurance agent sold this to my parents and I wish they put everything into layman s term.    They bought this through a group called the Alliance for Affordable Services.    They have a $5000 deductible but the policy reads like this:   Hospital room/board has CoInsurance of 100% with Maximum up to $1000 per day.    What is Coinsurance? Do they still have to pay something after their $5000 deductible?    Thanks in advance.<br/><br/>Health Insurance Florida?<br/> is there any health insurance available for a 23 year old in the state of Florida I make $600 a month but I don t have much leftover after I pay bills and the free clinic is always very crowded I can never see a doctor and I know my health is very bad so is there any health insurance that is similar to Medicaid I used to have that when I was a kid and you were able to see a doctor with that I am hoping to find insurance that s is affordable and doctor offices will accept   thanks in advance<br/><br/>Can I buy health insurance from a different state?<br/> So the Feb. 15th deadline is approaching to buy health insurance from the marketplace. I have been living in NYC for a year now, and have been living out of my home state (TX) for a little over 4 years now. The thing is that I have not legally changed my residency, so I still have a TX drivers license with a TX address. When I go to healthcare.gov and I select my state as NY   it redirects me to the NY state healthcare website and plans on there start at $300 and increase from there. When I select   TX   it asks me my expected income and than it shows me cheaper plans that are subsidized.    So my question is: Even though I currently live in NYC and have been living out of state for 4 years <br/><br/> Insurance scam, could this work? <br/>What I do is I buy a box of some of the finest cigars on the market.   About a month later, I file an insurance claim saying that the cigars were Destroyed in a series of small fires     Lol what would come of that?   <br/><br/> I m just wondering, is there anyone here who can t get health insurance? <br/>Without question, I think we need some reform on health care, I just don t know if this is the right way. <br/><br/>When can you get a loan on your globe whole life insurance policy? ive had it since i was born im 22 now.?<br/>When can you get a loan on your globe whole life insurance policy? ive had it since i was born im 22 now.?<br/><br/>Can you legally use a different address to get cheaper ..insurance?<br/>Can you legally use a different address to get cheaper insurance?<br/><br/>AAA car insurance wont return my phone calls?<br/> i was in a car accident on the fourth of july and the guy ran a red. he hit my car and totaled it leaving me injured and now out of work for almost a month. the police report was sent to both insurances (mine & his) saying he is at fault. i and my insurance (state farm) have tried calling his AAA agent several times and they still have not called back. i have also called the supervisor with no returned phone call from her as well. ive asked my insurance and they basically told me to wait for them to call. im getting impatient and i was just wondering if anybody else has ever had this problem? im frustrated and not sure what to do.<br/><br/>How can you buy home owner s insurance without a house?<br/>We are trying to buy our first home, and now before we even know if we will get financed, they want us to BUY home owner s insurance?  How? Why? Wouldn t that be done once we buy the house?  Especially if it s escrowed in to our monthly payments? <br/><br/>How much does health insurance cost on average per person?<br/>How much does health insurance cost on average per person?<br/><br/> Anyone know of an affordable individual health/dental insurance plan for Brooklyn, NY? <br/> I no longer have school insurance and my work does not offer insurance. I am looking for an affordable health/dental insurance plan in Brooklyn, New York. Is dental included in medical insurance or is that separate? I don t want to spend $600-$1000 on a premium for an HMO, but would rather spend a few hundred a month while getting a decent amount of benefits. Also, does anyone know of a comparison chart online regarding details of insurance providers including premiums and benefits.  All I can find are complaint comparison charts for insurance providers.  Any kind of help would be greatly appreciated. Thank you! <br/><br/>Do you have to have car insurance to get a drivers license?<br/> i live in north carolina and i have been meaning to go get my license, i called the dmv were i plan to go get it and they told me i needed to have car insurence or at least be added to one, but my friend recently got her drivers licence at the same place and she didnt have car insurence nor was added to one...so im a little confused do i, or do i not have to have car insurence? <br/><br/>What is a good car insurance for someone with a lot of speeding tickets?<br/>What is a good car insurance for someone with a lot of speeding tickets?<br/><br/>Life Insurance?<br/> Trying to figure out what kind of Life Insurance to get.    I m a soon-to-be mother, not married, but with the baby s father & a possibility of marriage within the next couple of years.    Anyway, I m a NJ resident, 28 years old, in healthy condition, I rent an apartment & don t have any major assets.  Of course I hope to have a house, etc. in a couple of years.    Some people have been telling me go w/ WHOLE insurance & others TERM.    I do not plan on taking money out of this account in the future.  Plan to use it for what it is really for - which is just in case if something happens to me, my family will be taken care of.    Any suggestions on which way I should go w/ Life Insurance??    HELP !! <br/><br/>If i am a beneficiary on a relatives insurance policy and they die will i be contacted?<br/>If there was a living trust and the insurance money went in to the trust, and I was still a beneficiary and the uncle was still the executor of that trust who will notify me the brother who is the executor? <br/><br/>My license suspended cause of insurance payment were can i get a very cheap car insurance?<br/>please help<br/><br/>How much would a dr s visit cost without insurance?<br/> I live in the state of KY. I m in between insurances right now so I don t have coverage yet. I ve really been sick for the last 3 days. My throat hurts and I have a terrible earache. I ran a fever the first day. It went up to 102, but I haven t had one since. I am so sick and need an antibiotic. How much would a regular s drs visit cost me. I m sure they will swab for flu and strep.    Just wondering.    Thx <br/><br/>What are my best options for self-employed health insurance with maternity in Illinois?<br/>I am leaving a well paid corporate job with great benefits to work for myself. I was recently married and my wife wants to have children soon. She does not have benefits through her job so I need to ensure we are covered well. What are some great options for affordable health coverage in Illinois that includes maternity and whats the time frame before maternity coverage kicks in?<br/><br/>What is the cheapest auto insurance in the state of Florida?<br/>What is the cheapest auto insurance in the state of Florida?<br/><br/>I have a Suzuki GS500 now & want upgrade. What is the cheapest sportbike on insurance 1998-2006?<br/>Thinking of maybe a Yamaha R6 or R1, Ducati Monster, Buell Firebolt, Kawasaki Ninja, Honda 599 or 919 <br/><br/>Need help about home insurance?<br/>Im buying my dads house and my insurance will not cover the home becuase the roof on the garage is bad. I would like to no where I could get insurance just for the home alone, does not have to cover any belongings of mine just something so I can get the loan for the house. I live in baltinore, Md, thanks for any help. <br/><br/>Health Insurance (Prescription insurance denied) Why?<br/> Bad title for this question I know.     I have never really had to go to the doctor for anything, ANYTHING. Recently I went to go see one because my energy level has been horrible, and I am always fatigued. After seeing the doctor, and getting lab work done, I had spent almost a $1000 dollars. But still, I m okay with that, if its like one visit every six months or so, so what.     Anyways, they found my Testosterone levels to be really really low. So they put me on a medication called androgel. Let me tell you, I can only get 15 days worth of this medication at a time, but every time I go to Walgreens to get a refill, I spend hundreds. Tonight when I picked it up it cost me $268.41. I called everywhere to see about health insurance, even though I only need help with prescriptions.     I dont know what to do. I dont need all out full fledge health insurance. But apparently if I tried to get it anyway, I would be denied due to a pre-existing condition ((WTF))!! Apparently the only people who can qualify for health insurance are those who dont need it to begin with. And those who need it are denied because of a pre-existing condition.     They are no programs that help with prescriptions that I know of, that dont require tons and tons of paperwork, audits, background investigations, and appointment after appointment. I am really upset and am lost with regard to getting the medication my doctor says I need, reduced in price. I cant afford almost $600 a month. But if even if I try to get health care, i will be denied.     Could someone please help me out : )     Thanks for checking out my question     I dont have health insurance because I never needed it. Plus I have always been responsible with my money <br/><br/> I need to cheap insurance, like say, $50 a month. Anybody out there have any ideas?<br/>It appears I neglected to include the fact that I need CAR insurance.<br/><br/>I m 17 - Insurance on a 1985 Corvette? - Please help!?!?!?<br/> Hey all - i have a quick question..   I want to know how much insurance would be if i get a 1985 Corvette -    - i am 17 years old   - i am a male   - i live in New York   - i have VERY good grades (i heard you can get discounts if so)    And just to get everyone off my back now (lol) -.... I AM going to be paying for the CAR as WELL as the insurance.. i just worked my butt off this year and managed to save up around 10k for a car / insurance - so please dont state how i am just spoiled using my parents money and etc.    I am responsible and i DONT need to read about how its a fast car and what not. This has been my favorite car for years now and i want to have it not to race, show off, impress others.. but just to collect it as a goal that i have had and use it as a daily car to get to school and work!     I dont need sites where i can get quotes, because i already know all that gibberish (lol) - i just want a close estimate of how much it can be for full insurance on a 1985 corvette if i am 17, male, in NY, with very good grades.     Thanks so MUCH in advance!  <br/><br/>Motorcycle or Scooter Insurance in London?<br/>How much would the insurance be for a motorcycle or scooter worth less than 4,000GBP in London?    I m hoping that it would be a lot less than a 50cc scooter in Dublin worth about 400GBP costing 200GBP for insurance per year. <br/><br/>How much would i pay for car insurance? Estimate?<br/> I know that it depends on a lot of factors but can you estimate how much i would pay for car insurance on a monthly basis    - I am 18 years old    - will be driving either a 1999 or 2000 model    - will be attending college after the summer    - clear background    - this will be my first car    - I live in a very wired and exotic place called MARYLAND<br/><br/>What is a reasonable cost estimate of business insurance for a cafe?<br/>I m working up some numbers to determine the financial feasibility of opening a small (1000-1200 sq ft) cafe.  Starting out with myself and no more than 2 part time employees, what should I estimate for combined liability, equipment, workers comp insurance? <br/><br/>Does anyone know about kit cars and insuring them?<br/>I am a younger driver and was told  my insurance wouldnt be as much if I was to buy a kit car.    Anybody know about this?<br/><br/>Should I tell my boss I m sick to study for my exams?<br/> I work 20 hours a week with an insurance broker (as an assistant) and I m taking 17 units at my university (6 classes). This week is torture and I feel so behind even though I haven t been procrastinating. It s just I have so little time to do all my work.    I have two exams - one on Friday and one on Thursday. I have an essay due on Thursday and I have two readings - one due tomorrow and another due Thursday as well.    I think I might tell my boss I m not feeling well today and miss out on 4 hours of work this morning to study and catch up on the readings at least. I ll still go to my two classes today.   Is this bad? I m 19 and in my second year of university by the way. I just feel so overwhelmed right now. : (<br/><br/>Will getting married affect me being on my parents car insurance?<br/> Will getting married affect me being on my parents car insurance?   My mom knows we are engaged   my dad won t even know that until December. My husband and I just got married yesterday but our ceremony is not until August. I realized today I am on my parents car insurance. Am I still going to be on there or are they going to send a letter to them saying I am married or something? He already paid the premium until April 2012 with me on it so I don t think they can take me off til then? Maybe at the end of the 6 months I should tell them since I am getting married in 4 months I want to get my own car insurance since it wont be the full cycle done before I am married. IDK I just wanna know if the company will say your married daughter cannot be on your insurance??? I am kinda freaked out.   <br/><br/>Does taking drivers ed lower insurance rates?<br/>Im 18 and still in high school and already have my license I live in Florida if I take drivers Ed will it lower my insurance? Or Is just for people getting their permits?<br/><br/> I am considering buying home and car insurance with Allstate but , should I? <br/>I have been told that it is not a wise idea to keep my home and car insurance together, even if I get a discount. Can anyone tell me why, please?! Thank you!! <br/><br/>Not sending counterpart to car insurer?<br/>I have convictions that a year from being spent   I can t send off my counter part as the insurance will go up 3 <br/><br/>Would the insurance company find out if you modify ur engine?<br/> im gettin an accord nd i wanna add performance to it bc i aint a ricer nd ma dad doesnt want me to nd i was wondering if the insurance company would find out by themselves if yu mod your engine and increase the rate. my insurance company is geico nd my dad pays for it so i dnt want him to be like why is the rate going up nd find out tht i added turbos nd air intakes nd ****<br/><br/>New HOME OWNERS INSURANCE MAKING ME FIX GUTTERS/SAUFETS/FACIA?<br/>I JUST MOVED TO A NEW HOME..AND HAS NO GUTTERS...ALLSTATE IS MAKING ME (WITHIN 2 MONTHS ) FIX THE GUTTERS ETC... OR THEY WILL CANCEL ME..CAN THEY DO THAT ?<br/><br/>How much would US insurance cost?<br/>I am driving across america with a friend in a 1975 Camaro so I need us car insurance.   I am 18 (Full UK licence) and have had no claims.   However I only need insurance for 3 months.<br/><br/>How is mandated health insurance a stepping stone for universal health care?<br/>Doesn t it just make the HMO s/insurance companies more powerful (which will make them more influential)?  Won t it just be like mandated car insurance--but much more expensive?<br/><br/>Whats a cheap insurance car to buy?<br/>I just turned 18 and just passed my driving test, so i want to buy a car since i m the only person in my home whole has a driving license, but i want to buy a car that will be VERY cheap to insure. So many people have told me different things and I m really confused. <br/><br/>What are my best options for self-employed health insurance with maternity in Illinois?<br/>I am leaving a well paid corporate job with great benefits to work for myself. I was recently married and my wife wants to have children soon. She does not have benefits through her job so I need to ensure we are covered well. What are some great options for affordable health coverage in Illinois that includes maternity and whats the time frame before maternity coverage kicks in?<br/><br/> Would something like an older, heavier car get me a better insurance rate? Any insurance lowering tips also? <br/> I m a 16 year old teen guy (I know, I know) and I m getting a car. Would an older, heavier model of car, like a large van or something, reduce my incredibly high rates? Looking an an out here. I don t have enough money to pay for it all. Any insurance lowering tips, besides drivers ed and good (already qualify) would be great. <br/><br/>Riding a 125 motorbike on fully comp car insurance?<br/>hi does anyone know, if you can ride a 125 motorbike with l pates and cbt  on a fully comp car insurance,  i know i can drive other vehciles on fully comp insurance but it turns into third party only , can it be done with my motorbike ,  thanks . <br/><br/>Motorcycle Insurance?<br/>My brand new motorcycle has got stolen today. I bought it 5 days ago and only paid the first payment of the insurance which is 432$ . What I want to know is do they cover the whole price of the bike? Thank you<br/><br/>What is GYNECOMASTIA?<br/>What can be done and if Health Insurances cover it.   How much Would it cost?<br/><br/>My husband and I have 3 kids and we re in our early 50 s. Do we need life insurance at this point?<br/>We own our home and have approximately $75 000 invested.<br/><br/>Will home-owner s insurance cover a dog attack?<br/> My friend owns a house. His friend, who lives with him and pays rent, owns a pit bull who also lives at the house. Today, the pit bull got out of the back gate and attacked a passerby and another dog. How does this work? Could my friend, who owns the house, get sued? If so, would his home-owners insurance cover anything? Is the roommate, who technically owns the dog, at all responsible? <br/><br/>Just got my UK Provisional driver s license. Can I drive now with an L plate?<br/> Just got it through the post today. And I am desprete to get out there with my dad and learn the basics and start learning how to drive.     Questions:   1) Is it legal for me to drive with my dad in his car with an L plate or do I have to be with an instructor?   2) Do I have to have insurance to drive even if I am only a provisional? Because I saw in my theory book that I can get cheaper car insurance if I do pass plus (which I know comes after I pass my test). So does that mean that you only need to be insaured once you pass?   3) What other legal requirements do I need for driving as a provisional learner. e.g. paper docs etc. apart from my prov. license ofcourse.    Thanks! Note: Please don t post unhelpful answers, if you are not sure what I mean then read it again because it tends to happen I explicitly wrote the question but some people didn t read it. <br/><br/>GTP vs Camaro Insurance?<br/>Hey guys,   Looking at a 95 Z28 Lt1 Camaro or a 01 Pontiac GTP, Which one would have the cheapest insurance? If you own one what are you paying? <br/><br/>In california can i report an accident but pay for it in cash ? or when i report it auto contact my insurance?<br/>like if i was in an accident and i reported to the dmv i can still pay it in cash right and the insurance doesn t have to raise the money ? state ur source please<br/><br/> Car accident, expired insurance? <br/> I am a student. My father pays for my car insurance, and the car I drive is registered in his name. I was involved in a car accident today where another driver hit my open car door while I was parked on a residential street, and about to get out of my car. There was minimal damage to the other car (mostly just scrapes on their passenger side doors), however it was a brand new luxury vehicle which I am sure will be expensive to repair. We exchanged insurance information, but it wasn t until I arrived home and discussed teh situation with my dad that I became aware of the fact that my insurance had expired two days earlier, as my father had failed to pay the premium. At the time of the accident I was completely unaware that my insurance was expired so I had no idea that I shouldn t have been driving, or that when we exchanged insurance information my policy wasn t current. My question is what happens now? I knew my family finances were not looking good lately but I had no idea that our situation was so dire that critical bills (such as car insurance) were not being paid on time. If the other driver tries to collect, I doubt my parents will be able to pay, nor do I have such funds at my disposal. Can I be sued over this? Or could my father be sued as the car and insurace are under his name? Any insight is greatly appreciated. <br/><br/>Why do you have to pay Mortgage Insurance on top of Home Insurance??<br/>I m a new Buyer w/ an FHA Mortgage. I know it is required but I m wondering how many years...the Broker says 5 but I m reading otherwise...<br/><br/>Can you have more then 1 life insurance policy?<br/>Can you have more then 1 life insurance policy?<br/><br/>Life insurance?<br/>Life insurance?<br/><br/>Health Insurance?<br/>I m shopping for health insurance and am a bit confused by all the terms,Can someone tell me the difference between HMO s,PPO s,Network s,And Indemnity s and which is better? <br/><br/>Let my insurance broker have collision agreement paper signed privately?<br/>I had a minor collision and I paid cash 1400 to other guy and we both signed paper saying no more money asking and no insurance claimed for this collision. My broker wants me to fax him this paper. Would it be ok? Won t my insurance rate go up because of this privately written and signed paper?<br/><br/>LOW car insurance for a 19 year old Male?<br/> I have been looking to buy my first car (1.1-1.4L) but all insurance companies I have checked are really high like 3,000-6,000 per year. Are there any cheap insurers out there and what are they? Please help, I am really wanting a car but the prices of insurance are holding me back :(     What are ideal 1st cars (low insurance) ? <br/><br/>Cost of health insurance for children in houston?<br/>Hi, can anyone advise what is the average cost of health insurance to buy for children, and what factors might affect the cost. Thanks. <br/><br/>How much would my car insurance go up if I got a mustang?<br/> I m 24 years old, have a good driving record, and I am currently on with my dad s insurance.   I have a 2005 chevy aveo right now, with almost 75,000miles; and I pay $110 a month for insurance.   Unfortunately, my car may be reaching it s end, and I may have to get a new car.   I ve found a used 2002 ford mustang, 2 door and 14,633 miles on it.   How much do you think my insurance would go up?   My dad says it would sky rocket... But I figure I d ask anyway!   Thanks! <br/><br/>Can you get car Insurance with No Bank Account?<br/> My question is would it be a problem to obtain car insurance without having a bank account,   my credit is in the toilet because someone ran up my debit card and the over draft fees forced the account closed, and now the bank is asking for $600.00, and I can t afford to pay that off with the kind   of salary I have, so can anyone let me know if their would be any difficulty in just paying in cash or perhaps money orders or even a check in someone elses name?? thanks <br/><br/>Why can t I get car insurance?<br/> I passed my driving test on the 11/10/12 I am not the registered owner on the V5 Log Book, my father is already insured on the vehicle that will be handed over to me as a shared car yet, I can t get my own insurance because I had one claim as a provisional license back in 2010, would it be better to go as an additional driver on my fathers policy or somehow resolve the problem as be the policy holder myself.    Also my father admits he will be no longer needing the car when the insurance expires, but what do I do? just to be able to drive my car as I ve only recently passed and want to go out for a drive!!!!    Will the log book eventually need to be in my name so I can insure it?   Also I m having great difficulty with the claims, I can t seemed to be insured just because of a motorcycle accident claim that wasn t even my fault!    thanks. <br/><br/>What are my best options for self-employed health insurance with maternity in Illinois?<br/>I am leaving a well paid corporate job with great benefits to work for myself. I was recently married and my wife wants to have children soon. She does not have benefits through her job so I need to ensure we are covered well. What are some great options for affordable health coverage in Illinois that includes maternity and whats the time frame before maternity coverage kicks in?<br/><br/>How long does a person have to turn an accident in on your insurance?<br/> I was in a fender bender in a long line of traffic.  The front car decided to not use a turn signal and lock up his brakes, causing a chain reaction of everyone having to lock up their brakes.  I locked mine up, and my car skidded into the person in front of me. We will car it Car B.  Well, Car B was very close to the car in front of him already and Car B hit Car A.  The driver of Car B said that there was little to no damage on the rear or front of his car, so he didnt see any means to get the police or insurance involved.  Car A has a few tiny marks due to the screws of Car B s front lisence plate. He says that he wants to show it to his parents this weekend, and will let me know Monday. But he has my insurance information. I m assuming that I would be responsible for his car also.  But i m just wondering how long does he have to turn this in on insurance?  I m afraid that if something else was to happen to his car, him having my information, he could turn it in on something completely unrelated later on. <br/><br/>What are my health insurance options as a student?<br/> I m 22 years old and a full-time student at a California State university. Last month and without warning, my dad cut me off of his company s insurance and is refusing to put me back on because he claims we have no relationship and he essentially wanted to be spiteful as he has done since my parents divorced. My question is this: Can he even legally do this? As a full-time student, isn t it my right to be covered by his insurance? I can t get any insurance through my mother as she is unemployed. Because I m pulling 19 units at school, I can t take on a full-time job to get health insurance. So what are my options? Is there a way to force my dad to put me back under his plan? If not, what should I do? I m confused and scared because just over a month ago, I had to go to the ER because I broke my nose. Two days later was when my dad cut my insurance. Now I don t even know if that ER visit was covered because he didn t warn me before he cut me off. If someone could please help me figure out what to do in this situation, I would be very grateful! <br/><br/>Whats the cheapest auto insurance companies for 18 year olds?<br/>I m driving a 2010 Scion TC without any wrecks or anything.<br/><br/>How would I find out if I got left money from an insurance plan?<br/>How would I find out if I got left money from an insurance plan?<br/><br/>How much will my insurance go up?<br/> about 3 months ago i got a ticket for going 23 over and went to court. the judge gave me a $40 fine and said if i didn t get another ticket for 6 months that the first ticket wouldn t be on my record. this morning i got a ticket for going 10 over. it was really stupid because i was going the speed limit and had cruise locked on but it was a downhill and i got going. the ticket is $20 and i dont have to appear in court. Will my insurance go up? if so how much should i expect. the judge told me last time that if the insurance company doesn t look at my driving that they dont send them notification.<br/><br/>Life Insurance.?<br/>Me and my partner would like to get life insurance.I m 22 and my partner is 50. We don t know where to start. We don t 100% understand how it all works or what companys are best.   We can t afford alot each month.    We would be grateful for any advice    Thanks X   (uk)<br/><br/> What is the best home insurance (in southern america GA, AL, MS, LA any of these) that you found to be best?<br/>any of the southern states really. What have you found is the best home owners insurance?<br/><br/>How much should i pay for old car insurance?<br/>how much the cheapest insurance for old car?   i have a used honda.<br/><br/>Can my friend make a claim if she s not insured on her car?<br/>My friend had an accident, it wasn t her fault a car went into the back of her. She s thinking of making an injury claim but she s not insured on her car that she drives (to be changed) can she do it? Claiming through a lawyer or something <br/><br/> What does 100,000  300,000 coverage mean for auto insurance? <br/>Does that mean 100,000 per person injured?  300,000 max per accident? <br/><br/>What affordable health insurance would you recommend for my uninsured 21 year old daughter?<br/> She works full time but her employer charges an outrageous amount of money for health insurance.  I know there are many many young people who don t have health insurance, mostly because of the cost of high insurance premiums.  But my daughter really needs it cause she has some health issues that will stay with her for a lifetime. <br/><br/>I want to buy life insurance policy for my family. So which company I should choose?<br/>I live in United States.<br/><br/>How much is Jay Leno s car insurance premium?<br/>How much is Jay Leno s car insurance premium?<br/><br/>When buying life insurance what is the best affordable option?<br/>I am 37 with 2 kids I currently have term life on me for 250,000.00 and 100,000.00 on each of the kids.   Now there are tons of different life insurances out here is one really better than the other?   I currently have it thru met life does it really matter? <br/><br/>How much does a bank insure?<br/>Chase told me only interest bearing accounts when I called.  So a free checking is not coverred right?<br/><br/>Can i get cheap car insurance at 18?<br/>i have been driving for 5 years and i just want insurance so that when a police stops me i have proof it s not my car but it s my step dad s car it s a yaris and i live in florida  (i only go to work with it mostly)<br/><br/>Where can I get cheap car insurance?<br/>I am a beginner driver and I am looking to get car insurance for the first time. Where can I go? How much will it cost? Any answers would help a lot..Thanks<br/><br/>Insurance For Aprilia RS50: Im 16?<br/>im 16 and im going to get an aprilia RS50 and i was woundering how much the insurance would be??    also? how much would the insurance be on a 50cc moped?<br/><br/>Who has the cheapest health insurance?<br/>I m in LA,CA.    I know blue cross is $67 for cheapest   And healthnet is $47 for cheapest.    I am so broke dude, And I need to find the cheapest. I am a 21 year old male.     Thanks people. <br/><br/>Insurance company will not pay medical cost?<br/> I had a wreck at the first of the year which the other person was at fault.  I have about $4,000 in medical cost and the insurance company has not paid the medical bills yet and I am starting to get collection notices for the bills.  The lady and I both have the same insurance company so I really can t go through my insurance company to pay this...what do I need to do? <br/><br/>What are my best options for self-employed health insurance with maternity in Illinois?<br/>I am leaving a well paid corporate job with great benefits to work for myself. I was recently married and my wife wants to have children soon. She does not have benefits through her job so I need to ensure we are covered well. What are some great options for affordable health coverage in Illinois that includes maternity and whats the time frame before maternity coverage kicks in?<br/><br/> https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/selling-kurt-boutte