#he knows she is happy with mike and mia and will never feel the same way he does

[natjennie]

"thomas got no character development" maybe. or maybe the moral of his story is that it's irresponsible and unhealthy to attempt to completely deprive yourself of your feelings and much more productive to accept them as part of yourself and move on with your life from there. trying to go cold turkey on alison and then randomly picking another person to have a crush on only for it not to work is something we've seen thomas do before, which for some reason people decide to see as boring repetition rather than consistent characterization. but after that. did you miss the part where he stopped talking when she walked away, realized along with everyone else when fanny said "we're as bad as betty" and voted to go through with the proposal for alison to leave? did you miss the part where he happily waved her and her living family goodbye? did you miss the part where alison, old and gray, came back and mirthfully said "thomas, you flatter me" like. his passion for people and obsession with the idea of love wasn't gonna just go away. but he's learning to treat her with more respect, he didn't throw a tantrum or follow her around or go drown himself in the lake. just because he's not a completely different character doesn't mean there wasn't growth. watch season 1 episode 2 thomas say "divorce him, kill yourself, marry me" and then watch the christmas special again and tell me there was no development. come on now.

[guessillcallitart]

Blorbo Blursday 7/7/22

Thanks for the tag @athenswrites!

What is your blorbo's/blorbos' family like?

Do they have parents or siblings? Or is it more of an adopted/found family time situation? Tell us a little bit about the dynamics in their family!

"You're a brilliant artist already." Very small easily excitable, fair girl named Shannon) nickname, Skai) reached out for another paint brush feeling a strong surge of pride in her chest. Her freckled face and arms had a coat of lovely, teal paint on them. She applied the one last stroke on the canvas and stood back a little, examining the results. "It looks very life like." Spring Darling smiled brightly feeling very proud of her adoptive daughter. She remembered the day she had adopted Skai like it had been yesterday. Twelve years ago, around midday in thirteenth of June she had waited in the vast hall of the orphanage to be admitted in the matrons office. Her chest had felt tight with anxiety and her bright red hair had been tied in a high ponytail. She had tucked a single lily in her hair for she had always felt particularly lucky around those delicate, beautiful flowers. Spring's bright green eyes had shone in anticipation. The office door had swung open as someone left it and Spring had stalked in. The matron had been holding the baby in her arms. The beautiful, fragile looking, small creature with wide, attentive, dark blue eyes. The matron didn't notice it but just for a second they turned black. Spring's heart leaped. She had seen magic before. She knew the child was magical. Spring named the child Shannon meaning the wise, old river (she had always liked that name) and gave her a nickname Skai for those eyes resembled the night sky. Skai took these names with her when she plunged into the depths of the ocean, inhaling the salty waves. She didn't know this at the time on the Eve of her twelth birthday that a year later she would die being forced to leave her life behind, examining the ocean she had so beautifully painted on the canvas. With the same name, Skai woke up in a city in Australia, again thirteen. She missed Spring terribly, even more when she suffered neglect from her new, adoptive family. She rebelled, finding a way to get attention, again and again and again... She felt unloved and unwanted. Spring had cared for her and given her love her new family couldn't give. She lived in a shadow of her siblings: Mia who was older and Luca who was younger. But it wasn't all darkness. There were happy times: banter, going to the beach together to watch surfers fight through the salty waves, nights watching films and screaming along the songs in musicals. But Skai had found his real family and home: a rather awkward, tall and skinny Mike was, he made Skai feel safe. They had finally reunited after so much time of being apart. They made their way to a city of Cork in Ireland when Skai was near of turning eighteen for Skai had found an online friend, Cassie, to whom she had felt an instant connection to. They wanted to meet each other. Skai never knew if she would return to Australia at all. She ended up staying and living with Cassie's lovely family. Her parents were simply wonderful making Skai feel much wanted and loved. It was fun too living with Cassie's family with a lot of movie nights, chaos, messiness and family outings. Cassie had nine siblings who had their sorrows and problems but always came through. Skai loved children with all her heart.

After Skai left school she lived with Mike and still does, in his flat. It's like living with her best friend with a lot of laughing and just hanging out. She has never felt more loved. Mike takes care of her. Skai found her real family.

I'm tagging: @aloeverawrites, @albatris, @char-writes, @the-void-writes and anyone else who wants to do this :)

[bluesylveon2]

My My, I Could Never Let You Go

Summary: Sasha Zoe just wants her dad to walk her down the aisle. There is only one problem: she doesn’t know who her dad is! Sasha invites 3 men in hopes of finding out which one is her father. What could possibly go wrong?

Pairings: Levi x Hange, Sasha x Niccolo, and other background relationships

Disclaimer: This is a Levihan Mamma Mia au. This fanfic is inspired by Mamma Mia which is directed by Phyllida Loyd, written by Catherine Johnson, and uses music from the pop group ABBA. Attack on Titan is a manga/anime series written by Hajime Isayama and published by Kondasha

A/N: Sorry for the wait everyone! The last two weeks haev been hectic for me with finals and then graduation. Good news is that next chapter will come out very soon! Until then, enjoy this chapter. 

TW: Panic attack

Need to catch up? Catch up here!

Chapter 10: Voulez-Vous pt. 1

Sasha's girl friends were busy celebrating their recent success. Mike and Erwin were bound to stay now that they joined in on the fun. Well, this mostly pertained to Mike; Erwin was busy with Marie. 

Historia dances on top of a table with Mikasa until a random figure goes past her peripheral vision. Mikasa looks at her questioningly as Historia stops after noticing more figures heading in their direction. She squints just a bit to get a better look. She knew those figures anywhere.

Niccolo's bachelor party was here.

"Mikasa! Look!" she squeals and points to the newcomers. They began to climb up the cliff, and one of them playfully howled (it sounded like Connie)

Mikasa turns to where Historia was pointing at, and her eyes widen in shock. No way…

She was unable to formulate any words as Historia whistles to get the other girl's attention. They had also stopped after hearing the howling and were curious about what was going on.

"C'mon! We have some company!" she yells and jumps off the table and drags Mikasa down with her. She begins to head back to the courtyard, pulling Mikasa along the way.

The girls pile up in the courtyard as they wait for what was to come. The guys, now wearing masks to cover up their identities, watch the girls from on top of the roofs surrounding the courtyard. The girls squeal in delight (minus Annie because she was slightly irritated) as the guys used some rope to drop down to the square.

Moblit switches the song to a more upbeat one as the guys partnered up with the girls. Some of the guys remove their masks to reveal themselves, and the girls jumped on them with excitement. They begin to dance to the song once everyone was partnered up. He also adds strobe lights to create an effect of mystery and excitement.

Meanwhile, Sasha returns back from her talk Mike to discover the commotion happening during her bachelorette party. She laughs as she walks up to the center of the fun to meet her fiancee. 

"What is going on?" She says while attempting to look mad at Niccolo. 

Niccolo laughs at Sasha's face. "Well, I thought it would be more fun to combine our parties and…."

Niccolo smiles as he holds up a beautiful cord necklace with a small shell pendant. 

"I missed you," he adds, causing Sasha to smile and blush. She leans forward to peck Niccolo's cheek. 

"I missed you too." She says and turns around so Niccolo can place it around her neck. Her eyes meet Mike's proud face, and she smiles at him.

Once the necklace was secure around Sasha's neck, Niccolo turns her around and holds his hand out to invite her to dance. Sasha naturally obliges and dances along with her friends. The group moves in sync with the song, and Sasha was having the time of her life.

That was until she notices a figure enter the party. Her mom!

Hange and her friends, now dressed in party clothes, watch the fun happening in the courtyard. She turns to her friends and grabs their arms to drag them into the dance. What Hange does not realize is Mike beginning to head her way.

Luckily, Sasha was quick enough to act. "Go dance with mom!" she yells at Niccolo over the music and pushes him in her direction. 

Sasha, walking with determination, weaves past her friends dancing and towards Mike. Her eyes never leaving his figure as he was making his way to her mom. It was like a game of cat and mouse, all of it happening at the same time. Hange is unaware of what was going on and having fun. Mike is walking to her to talk. Niccolo is also heading to her because Sasha told him to. Sasha is trying to stop Mike from getting to her mom. 

She continues making her way to Mike but was stopped when a random person grabs her arm.

"Sasha. Come here." Levi said and pulls Sasha away from the crowd to talk. She glances behind her and lets out a sigh of relief. Niccolo made it to her mom just in time, and Mike was talking to Nanaba. 

Levi stops walking when they were in a quiet area of the courtyard. He turns to her with a relaxed face as if he had an epiphany. 

"I know why I'm here." 

Sasha stares at Levi with confusion. "You do?"

"Yes. Why didn't Four-Eyes tell me…How long did you know I was your father?"

The confusion turns into shock. "What?" She yells over the music, and Levi smiles at her. 

Oh my gosh, he actually smiled at her.

She couldn't stop herself from speaking. "Not long at all!" she exclaims with shock from the revelation and Levi's smile. What is she doing?!

Levi makes a move to go back to the party, but Sasha quickly stops him. "But Levi, my mom does not know that I know. So can we wait until after my wedding?" She begs him.

"Who's giving you away tomorrow?" Levi interrupts instead.

"Nobody." Sasha wants to slap herself now. What in the world is she saying?! Mike already agreed to walk her down the aisle! Why is she still blabbering to Levi?!

"Wrong." He points to himself, astonishing Sasha. "I'll be the one to walk you down the aisle. Let's keep it a secret until then" He smiles again and pats her shoulder proudly before returning to the party. Now he needs to find Hange.

Sasha stays in her spot in shock and frowns. Now Levi was joining too! How would that even work? She can feel all her hard work and happiness crumbling down and being replaced with shock, confusion, and fear. She can feel her heart begin to beat rapidly against her chest, and she begins to panic. 

She slowly walks back to the party, lost and confused. So many thoughts were running in Sasha's head that she could not focus on the party. What is going on? Nothing in her plans included THIS! She did not even feel like dancing with her friends. 

Niccolo, who switched from Hange to dance with Historia, notices his fiancee's distressed face. He pulls away from Historia so she could dance with someone else and makes his way to Sasha. He places his hands on her cheeks the moment he reached her. 

"Are you ok?" He asks with concern. 

"I can't breath!" Sasha yells and pulls away from Niccolo. She runs away from him and places a hand against her chest. Her heart was beating at a faster rate now, and her breathing started to pick up. 

---

Hange also notices her daughter's distress and pulls away from her current dance partner, Connie. He looks at her with confusion.

"Go dance with someone else! I have something to do," she calls back for reassurance. Connie nods and continues dancing with another girl.

Hange picks up her pace the moment she saw Sasha pull away from Niccolo. Something was definitely wrong.

She senses some movement in her right that was heading in her direction. She turns towards it and recognizes the man right away. She begins to panic.

Why is Levi trying to get to her now?

Levi, looking and walking towards Hange with determination, picks up his pace to chase after her. Hange, in response, picks up her pace too. She notices everyone beginning to switch partners again and comes up with an idea without raising any suspicions. 

She skillfully dances her way towards Eren and Armin, who were preparing to switch dance partners. "Dip me!" she yells out to them while trying to act natural.

The two boys grin, move to stand on either side of her and dip her to the ground. She can see an upsidedown view of Levi getting lost in the crowd as everyone switches partners. She lost sight of him after she was dipped.

"Thanks!" she pats the boy's shoulders and speedwalks towards Sasha, only to get pulled into a dance by another member of the bachelor party. 

Damn it. Hange curses to herself. Looks like she needs to develop another plan to get away from Levi and get to Sasha. 

She sighs as she enters the next dance with her new dance partner. 

Just be patient, Hange. Act natural first. 

---

Sasha walks around the dancefloor aimlessly. She feels lost and confused, but broke out of it when she accidentally bumps into someone.

"I'm so sorry!" she apologizes profusely.

She looks up to find a man wearing a mask. 

"Oh my God." 

Sasha shakes her head to attempt to convince herself the man was not Erwin but a dream instead. The man lifts up his mask to reveal his identity. Sasha's dream is already crushed by reality. 

"I'm your father!"

"Erwin!" she yells with surprise and confusion. What in the world is happening right now?!

Erwin, on the other hand, grins excitedly. "That's why you sent me the invites! You wanted your good ole dad to walk you down the aisle."

Sasha opens her mouth with shock. She tries to say something at least, but nothing comes out of her mouth. Sasha wants to move her body to shut Erwin up, but nothing happens. Her body refuses to cooperate no matter how hard she tries. Erwin continues talking anyway.

"I won't let you down. I'll be there!" Erwin yells before being whisked back into the dancefloor by her aunt, Marie. 

Sasha stands frozen in her spot. She starts to freak out internally from the confusion and anxiousness. Multiple thoughts were running through her head. This was not what she planned! How was she going to have 3 dads walk her down the aisle tomorrow? Her mom is going to find out sooner than expected! She feels overwhelmed by everything around her. 

She did not expect how the open courtyard felt like a small box with Sasha trapped inside. In reality, the entire party formed 3 rings around Sasha. She tries really hard to focus on something and her breathing to realize that her mother was trying to get to her. 

Sasha can feel her heart now pumping rapidly in her chest and the "box" she was in getting smaller and smaller and smaller. She cannot breathe. There is no escape, and she starts to hyperventilate. It was as if everyone was closing in on her. Her panic increases more and more as every second passes. 

Sasha tries to focus on one person as everyone circles around her.

Niccolo

Mikasa

Levi

Erwin

Rico

Nanaba

Historia

Mike

Despite Sasha's futile attempts, she can hear many voices in her head. The once happy music became a taunt for her. It felt as if everyone was expecting Sasha to answer her current dilemma when in reality, she did not know what to do. What will she do? It's such a big decision. She needs an answer now!

"Are you here for the wedding?"

"You have turned my world upside down."

"I'm your father!"

"How old are you?"

"How long did you know I was your father?" 

"I'll be there!"

"Who is giving you away tomorrow?"

Sasha can hear everyone's voices playing in her head. Everything around her became a blur. She starts to feel disorientated, and she can not focus on one thing. The box around her is now too small to handle.

Suddenly, she only saw black.

©: This is where I insert all rights reserved stuff. This story belongs to me. Do not modify or republish

This chapter and next are shorter than normal

Sasha’s panic attack is probably inaccurate. I did some research on it and hopefully I did it justice.

Next chapter is basically what is going on behind the scenes. The plot will move forward more in Chapter 12.

Leave a like or comment if you enjoyed it! :)

[just-some-fiction]

Just You and Me Part 15.3

At school

She was putting a book away when her locker was slammed shut. Sighing, she counted to ten in her head before turning to face her twin.

"Morning Carlos," she gave him a sickly sweet smile, "how have you been?"

"Where'd you disappear off to yesterday afternoon?"

She shrugged, "I got bored so I went to Chuck's," slinging her bag over her shoulder as she turned to walk to class.

"You were supposed to be at that meeting Lucia," he hissed.

"Why Carlos?" she turned to face him, as calm as ever, "Uncle usually doesn't care if I'm there or not, why now though?"

Her brother clenched his jaw before stalking off. Rolling her eyes she made her way to homeroom, taking a seat next to Mike, who smiled at her. She and Rio were not in the same homeroom, so she'd only see him later on in the day.  Setting her bag down she felt a pair of eyes on her, turning around slightly she saw Jenny Valdez eyeing her.

Rolling her eyes she turned back around and started a conversation with Mike. It was too early to have to deal with her psychotic brother and a petty bitch. Her phone buzzed and as their teacher wasn't there yet, she checked her messages, seeing a few from Rio who was still salty about her staying at Chuck's, as well as one from her uncle, who wanted to see her this afternoon after school.

Sighing she placed her phone back into her bag, turning to Mike, "You busy after school?"

"Nah why?"

"I've been summoned," she explained.

"Ernesto?" she nodded.

"I'll drive you," he said, "I got a text from him too saying I gotta make sure you come."

"Course he did," she rolled her eyes, pausing as she looked at him, "don't tell Rio yeah?"

"Lucia," Mike sighed.

"He has a lot on his plate," she said, "besides you'll be there," she shrugged, "and I can throw a punch if I have to."

He chuckled, "I know that yeah," being the only witness to her punching Rio that one time.

Later

She was getting a book out of her locker when she felt a familiar pair of hands around her waist. Rio kissed her neck and shoulder, before spinning her around.

"Hey babe," she greeted him, before his mouth covered hers, not caring that they were at school.

"There's my girl," he said, his voice husky, "missed you," he smirked, "guess what we have now?"

She rolled her eyes, "You're an idiot," shaking her head, she let him drag her to their little hideout, "we need to study."

"We got time," he shrugged as he shut the door of the never used utility closet. It was never being used cos he bribed Ricardo the caretaker.

"We got a free period for studying babe," she moaned as he kissed her neck. Ignoring her he undid her jeans and pushed them down. His hands splayed across her hips and thighs.

He looked at her body and smirked, this was all his. Pulling her panties down her legs, he knelt in front of her and proceeded to plant kisses and bites all over her pelvis and abdomen. Slowly he started kissing the top of her pussy, sucking on the junction between her pelvis and thigh, as he ran a finger through her folds.

"Look at that pussy," he groaned, as he spread her legs, exposing her to him, "so wet and sweet," he licked his lips, before licking her slit as his thumb rubbed her clit. Holding her in place, he hoisted her one leg over his shoulder and slid his tongue into her, holding her up and open for him.

"Please," she mewled as he ate her, his brow furrowed in concentration. Her hand was resting on his head, rubbing his short hair. His thumb still on her clit as he rubbed her thigh. She came soon and shuddered from the aftershock.

He stood up, pulling her panties and pants up, before resting his forehead against hers, "You're so good to me mami," he growled, devouring her mouth. For the rest of their free period they made out in the utility closet.

Solano House

Lucia walked into the house and made her way to her uncle's study. He was waiting for her, hands folded in front of him.

"Hello uncle," she greeted, moving towards the desk.

"Sit," was all he said in return, "I was initially going to reprimand you for disappearing yesterday, but decided against it after hearing something very interesting," he leaned back and looked at her, "from Christopher."

She froze and he smirked, "So when were you going to tell me you've been spreading your legs for Marcus Ramirez's brat?"

When she didn't reply he chuckled, "I always had a feeling," he looked over at her, "but hoped it was just my imagination, you see mija I had different plans for you," he stood up, "but now I have to change those plans."

Walking around the table he rested his hands on her chair, "I want you to convince him to agree to this venture I have with the italians," he grinned, "you see, I may be in charge now, but these fools and those fucking Italians have this fucked up code, about upholding legacies," he hissed, "and it seems Christopher is just as weak as his father and doesn't want to venture into something new."

"He won't listen to me," she said neutrally.

"I think he will," he chuckled, "he was the one who gave you the heads up about yesterday's meeting," he shook his head when she tried to protest, "you're his Yolanda after all," her uncle said the name with disgust, "just like his father, listens to the person who he puts his dick into rather than the ones loyal to him."

Stroking her cheek as he knelt down, "So mija, you are going to convince him to do this," he smiled, "I don't care how you do it, let him fuck your ass if he wants to, just get him to agree, or else, I'm going to keep you here and let Bennito Tucci have his way with you."

Throughout this entire conversation she kept her face passive. Her insides were screaming but she kept her cool and simply nodded.

"Good," he said, "maybe for once in your wretched life you can be of use to me."

She left the office, shaking a bit but still calm. Mike who was waiting in the lounge got up and looked at her.

"I take it he knows," he whispered.

"Yeah," she nodded, feeling a bit sick.

"You gonna tell Rio?" he asked. They left straight after school, not waiting for anyone. Throughout the meeting Rio has been texting him and calling him, but he's ignored them.

"Boy's been blowing up my phone."

She checked hers, "Mine too," she sighed as they got into the car, "can we just go get a coffee or something before you drop me off please?" he nodded.

Out of all of the guys who are loyal to Rio, Mike and her had a very close relationship. He was the most level headed and rational person in the gang, so it was easy for her to load off on him or talk to him without there being a major blow up. It also helped that to an extent they were both outsiders, him being Polish and her being the unwanted secret child of one of Marcus Ramirez lieutenants. They got two coffees and went to the park. Sitting on swings they just talked. Mike even rolled one up for them.

"He wants me to convince Rio to get on board with this whole brothel idea," she sipped her coffee.

"That's messed up," Mike looked at her, "you gonna tell him?"

"Have to," she sighed, "we need to make Ernesto think he's in control Mikey," he nodded in agreement.

They sat in silence for a few minutes, before Mike spoke up again, "Rio is probably shitting a brick right now," he chuckled, "two of us just went MIA for an afternoon."

"He'll get over it," she sighed, "just need a breather for two minutes."

"You realize we've been gone from 3pm and it's 7pm now right?" he checked his watch, yeah Rio was gonna shoot them, well him.

"Really?" she laughed, taking a hit, "This his good batch?"

"Yeah," he nodded.

"You're stressing aren't you?" she looked over at him.

"His girl and best friend, don't tell Mick," he added, "just disappeared for an afternoon without telling him and we've been ignoring his calls, that's bound to have consequences."

"True," she passed the joint to him, "but when last have you felt like a proper teenager Mikey?"

"We're from a world where you have to grow up fast," she watched him take a drag, "sometimes we can be selfish and just be irresponsible for a second while no one is looking."

He nodded, "What other irresponsible thing you wanna do?" he took another hit, "Drifting, cow tippin'," she burst out laughing, "skinny dipping?"

"He'd kill us, if we do that without him," she said and he laughed. They were so in their own zone, laughing and getting buzzed, they didn't notice the very angry gangster behind them.

"We should probably get going," Mike said, laughing as she bumped her swing into him, "very responsible Lucia," he joked.

"Nah,” she said, “what’s the worst that can happen if we gone for a bit longer?”

“I dunno,” came a voice from behind them, “you tell me Lucia.”

They froze, both turning around slowly and seeing the pissed off face of Rio. The look on his face though, made it clear that he was not happy at all. He was going out of his freaking mind looking for her, specifically after her uncle threatened her. When he couldn’t get hold of Mike, he started internally freaking out. However, when he realised that both of them were missing, had the same final class for the day and were not answering their phones, it clicked they were probably together somewhere. After driving around looking for them and asking his boys if they’ve seen Mike, a very tiny voice in his head planted an irrational thought which he tried to push away.

“Oh, my bad, am I interrupting something?” he asked innocently, hands in his pockets, “Here I was thinking, something terrible been happening to my girl and best friend, only to find them all cozy and stoned in a park,” he smiled, that hollow smile that he had when dealing with issues.

“Christopher,” she sighed, getting up to face him, Mike doing the same.

“Get in the car Lucia,” his voice left no room for arguments.

Rolling her eyes, she turned to Mike, “Thanks for the heart to heart Mikey, I’ll see you in class tomorrow,” she hugged him, which probably wasn’t the best idea, but she didn’t care, she enjoyed her afternoon away.

As she walked to the car, Rio looked at his best friend, furious, “The fuck you doing?”

“I ain’t even gonna try and reason with you when you in this mood man,” Mike sighed, “Lucia can explain,” he turned on his heels and walked to his car.

Lucia waited in the car, relieved Rio didn’t punch Mike. He walked back to the car, an unreadable expression on his face. He got into the car, simply started it up and drove, not even sparing her a glance.

“Rio,” she looked over at him, “baby,” his knuckled tightened around the steering wheel, “can you just listen to me,” suddenly, something dawned on her, he never told her that her uncle knew, “why didn’t you tell me my uncle knew about us?”

The question threw him off, “Mike tell you?” it’s the first thought that crosses his mind, even though he doesn’t remember telling Mike.

“No,” she snapped, “my uncle did.”

He nodded, “When did he tell you?”

“This afternoon,” she replied, “he called me for a meeting and asked Mike to take me,” she saw his jaw clench, “I asked Mike not to tell you.”

“Uhuh,” he mumbled, “seems like something you’d do.”

She was starting to get annoyed now, “Know what, if you gonna be a dick, it’s not even worth explaining shit to you.”

He slammed on the brakes, pulling off on the side of the road, pursing his lips, he looked over at her, “I’m being a dick,” he laughed, “oh I’m sorry sweetheart, didn’t realise I was the one that went MIA for an entire afternoon.”

“It wasn’t even like that,” she snapped.

“Oh please explain then, how my girl and best friend just had a secret meeting with my boss and then disappeared.”

“We didn’t disappear and he wasn’t in the meeting,” she sighed, “you’re being dramatic now,” she was thankful that it was dark, because she didn’t want to see the look on his face, “my uncle wants me to convince you to get on board with this brothel idea,” she rolled her shoulders, “said I ruined his plans, so getting you on board, using any means necessary, would be my way of making it up to my family,” she decided she’d let him interpret the rest.

“Why didn’t you tell me he called you, would have gone with,” he sighed.

“That’s why,” she looked at him, “because you would have gone with me," she sighed, "baby you can't wanna be protecting me from everything, I gotta do things on my own."

"This ain't a game Lucia," he hissed.

“I know,” she snapped, “I’m in this as much as you are.”

He sighed, she was right, “Rio,” she turned his head, “it’s you and me, ok?”

“Lucia if anything happens to you,” he held her head in his hands, “I’ll burn this fucking city down.”

“I know you would,” she whispered, “and I’d do the same.”

He drove them back to his house, she didn’t say anything, just got out of the car. In his room, they got ready for bed, facing one another in the dark, her hand stroking his face. They didn’t speak, just held onto one another, until he rolled them over, slipping her shorts to the side before rolling a condom on and sinking into her. She could tell this ordeal with her uncle was bothering him, she could feel it against her, the tension in his body, his actions. Biting into his shoulder as she came, she tightened her arms around him, holding him closer as he fucked her. He shuddered as he came, his blunt nails digging into her skin.

“Ain’t let anything happen to you,” he muttered into her neck, “ain’t no one taking you from me,” he growled, smothering her lips with his. He got up and disposed of the condom, moving to his closet and taking out a wooden box. Turning the bedside lamp on, he sat down and placed the box between them. Opening it, he pulled out a chain with a lucky eye pendant on it.

“This was my pops,” he handed it to her, “said it was for protection, said I need to give it to my Yolanda one day,” he chuckled, “guy was a hardened crime lord but cheesy as hell,” he took her hands in his, “I know we young and anything can happen, but you’re it for me mami,” she smiled as he hung the chain around her neck, pulling her close and kissing her.

“You’re it for me too,” she whispered.

“It ain’t gonna be no easy life.”

“I’ll still be here,” she pulled him closer.

The next morning at school

Lucia was rummaging through her locker when she felt  a presence behind her. Turning around she had to suppress a sigh - why were people constantly testing her early in the morning. Jenny Valdez was standing against the locker opposite her, staring her down. She was one of RIo’s regularly hook ups, until a few months before they started dating, when he became celibate for her as he’d like to phrase it. Shutting her locker, she was about to walk away, when Jenny’s voice floated into the air.

“Morning Lucia.”

“Can I help you with something Jenny?”

“I was just wondering,” Jenny tilted her head, “when is he gonna fuck you out of his system?”

“Maybe you should ask him that,” she shrugged - it was the same story with most of the girls around her. Everyone wanted the perks of dating a crime lord, but no one wanted the responsibility. Then when they started dating, it was as if more girls thought they had a chance because he ‘lowered’ his standards.

“Maybe I will,” Jenny smirked, “remind him what he’s missing.”

Before Lucia could respond, Rio walked around the corner, bag slung over one shoulder, “Hey mami,” he smirked, as he walked up to her, ignoring Jenny.

“Hey,” she smiled.

“Hi papi,” Jenny flirted, pushing herself off the lockers, “it’s been a while.”

“Go bother someone else Jenny,” Rio sneered, pulling Lucia away.

“Nice chat Jenny,” Lucia winked at her as they walked away.

“She bothering you?” he asked as they walked into their physics class, “cos her ma’s been bothering my ma the last few weeks.”

“I can handle her,” she placed her notebook on the desk, “why’s her ma bothering your mother?”

“Why ain’t your son seeing my daughter, some kinda shit like that,” he shrugged.

She scoffed.

Later that day Rio had to go to a meeting, however as he left school, Ernesto sent him a message, ordering him to bring Lucia along. His jaw clenched as he leaned against her locker waiting for her to finish up. So lost in thought, he didn’t notice her walking up to him, until she had to gently push him to the side to get to her locker. He was quiet as he waited for her to collect all her things.

“Boss wants to see the two of us,” was all he said as he climbed into the car, his knuckles turning white as he gripped the steering wheel.

She turned his head to look at her, "Hey, it's gonna be ok yeah," she stroked his cheek, "you and me right," she pulled his head closer, placing a soft kiss on his lips, "it's my birthday in a few weeks," she reminded him, "eighteen years old, legally don't gotta go back."

He just nodded, jaw still clenched as he pulled away. When they pulled up to the house his blood turned cold when he saw the Italians' car parked outside.

Lucia whistled, "Who's overcompensating with this?" she chuckled, trying to lighten the mood.

When he didn't reply, she sighed, "Usually I'm the one people consider as morbid and tragic, why you tryna steal my thunder?"

Still nothing, "Baby, come on," she rubbed the back of his neck, "please relax, for me?"

Tilting his head, he looked at her, "He threatened you Lucia."

"He threatens me all the time," she reminded him.

"This was different, this was him using you as leverage," he ground out.

“Baby look at me,” she tilted his chin, “I wouldn’t be here if I didn’t think you’d keep me safe,” she stroked his bottom lip, “we protect one another, remember,” he nodded, still not relaxed, “baby you can’t go in there like this,” she reasoned and he sighed, knowing she was right.

“Come ere,” he pulled her head closer to his, kissing her softly, tugging at her bottom lip, “I love you,” he almost growled against her lips.

“Love you too Christopher,” she whispered, kissing him one more time, before pulling away.

They walked into the house, hand in hand, deciding that as the cat was out of the bag, there was no reason to hide anymore. Rio was his calm self externally as they walked into the lounge, where Ernesto and the two Tuccis were. He noticed the way Bennito’s eyes drifted down Lucia’s body and he had to will himself not to show any retaliation.

“Good afternoon uncle,” Lucia greeted her uncle, as she and Rio took a seat, next to one another, her hand resting on his thigh and his arm slung over her shoulders.

“Christopher my boy,” Ernesto smiled, his eyes darting to Lucia and her hand resting on his thigh, “Lucia, so nice of you to finally join us,” he turned to the Italians, “gentlemen this is my niece, Lucia.”

She nodded at them, her face passive as she noticed the younger man's eyes traveling over her body. The meeting was tense, Rio was not backing down and throughout it, Ernesto was sending her death glares.

Later

He fucked her from behind in his bed that night.

“Baby,” she mewled, too exhausted and overstimulated to lift herself up.

They had to be quiet, his mother and sisters asleep in their respective rooms. When they turned in for the night, his hands immediately pulled her towards him, kissing her roughly. He pushed her onto the bed, lifting her sleep shirt up, groaning at the absence of panties. Wrapping her legs around his waist she moaned at the friction of his briefs against her opening.

"Fuck," he growled, turning her onto her stomach, "gotta be quiet for me aight," he growled into her ear, placing a kiss against her neck as he reached for a condom. Sliding into her, his body flushed against hers, his face buried into the side of her neck.

When they were done, he disposed of the condom and  pulled his briefs up. They were both breathing heavily, sweat layering their skin. He pulled her closer, lifting her top up and placing kisses on her bare skin. Moving his head further down, he sucked into her swollen folds. Lucia's body jerked as he sucked, sliding a finger into her overstimulated body.

"Christopher," she whispered, her hands resting on his head. Using the tip of his tongue, he flicked her clit. It was getting too much, as she tried pushing his head away, but he wouldn't budge.

"Christopher please papi," pleading, "it's too much."

He ignored her as he continued playing with her clit, feeling her walls clench down on his fingers. Soon she was coming again, but he didn't stop, simply moving up to lay next to her, his fingers still moving inside of her. Tears were trailing down her cheeks as he held her arms above her head with one hand.

Lowering his head, he sucked a nipple into his mouth, before pulling away and sucking the skin of her breast. Lucia bit her lip to stop herself crying out. Rio lifted his head, mouth hanging open, eyes hooded as he watched her in the dark, the moon giving ample light.

"Look down baby," he whispered, "look at what I'm doing to you," his fingers curled. Looking down she sobbed as she watched his fingers disappear into her.

"Cold baby," she whined, scared someone may walk by and see them.

In a flash he pulled the covers over them, before returning his hands to between her legs. Growling when he was met with her closed thighs.

"Open," his voice went dangerously low.

"It's too much," she whispered, stroking his head with her now free hands.

"Open Lucia," he was already prying them apart, slipping two fingers into her. Soon she came again and again. Her last orgasm was on his dick again. She rode him, hands on his chest, head thrown back and his hands gripping her ass.

When she came, her entire body caved in and she collapsed on his chest, tears streaking down her face at the overstimulation. He held her as she shuddered, his orgasm following soon. After he disposed of the condom, she settled on his chest, a leg thrown over his abdomen.

"You ok?" he whispered, suddenly feeling bad at his aggressive behaviour, “Did I hurt you?”

She smiled, “No,” placing a kiss on his chest, grateful that it was dark, “I like it sometimes when you’re rough with me,” she felt him tense up, “like it when you lose control a bit and give it to me the way you want to papi,” she sighed, lifting up and kissing him.

Rio smirked against her lips, pulling away he kissed her nose. The pair dozed off.

Next day  

He handed her a pair of boxing gloves, biting his lip as he looked over her. Lucia rolled her eyes and ignored her boyfriend. Rio noticed a few of the other guys in the gym ogling her and he clenched his jaw.

"Ima show you a few sets and the correct form," they were standing at a punching bag, "you have power in your swing but you need to get your stance right."

She nodded and for the next hour they worked on her boxing. He was standing behind her, throughout the session she's been teasing him in her own way. It would be a squeeze of his bicep or she'd brush against him. Their session was almost over, when one of his boys signaled behind him. Turning his head, he groaned as Jarvi Arrabuena walked in.

He was next in line to take over his father's gang. A gang that was slowly trying to encroach on their territory. Jarvi went to their school and had his eye on Lucia as well. Rio was not in the mood for this entitled prick ruining his time with his girl.

"Let's go babe," he squeezed her hips.

"Yo Ramirez," Jarvi hollered just as they got to the exit, "how bout a sparing sesh?"

"Nah I'm good bro," Rio replied, rocking his jaw in annoyance.

"What you don't wanna get your ass kicked in front of your girl," he turned to Lucia, "hey mami, looking fine today."

Jarvi wasn't surrounded by anyone of his boys so what came out of his mouth next was incredibly stupid, "When you gonna let me take a ride."

The entire gym went quiet. Lucia could see Rio’s body tensing up, ready to strike, however, deciding that she had enough of everyone’s bullshit and disrespect, she beat him to the punch. Her hand hurt, but seeing Jarvi on the floor, blood spewing from his nose, made the pain worth it.

Rio smirked, “Your hand ok mama?”

“It was worth it,” she shrugged as they walked out, opting to shower at home.

Thursday

Seems like people were testing his patience today. Ernesto was on his case about the deal with the Italians, his boxing coach was breathing down his neck at school and now Jenny Valdez was trying her luck yet again. He was placing his books into his locker, getting ready to head to lunch and maybe drag Lucia to his car for alone time, when Jenny leaned against his locker. Clenching his jaw, he counted to ten, because in reality, it was his own fucking fault that she was so hung up on him. He made it clear from the start that it was just physical between the two of them, however, he failed to notice her ulterior motives before it was too late.

“Hey papi,” she reached over and stroked his arm.

“What Jenny?” he snapped.

"Why so tense baby," she leaned against the locker next to his and squeezed his bicep, "need a release?"

He glowered at her, "Back the hell off Jenny," he warned, "Lucia walks by and sees you, I ain't doing anything to stop her from gouging your eyes out."

"Come on Rio," she sighed, "when you gonna fuck her out of your system?"

He froze at the question and looked at her with a murderous glare, "Scuse me?"

"I mean I get it," she shrugged, obviously not reading the warning signs that she was crossing a line, "guys want fresh meat, wanna corrupt them a bit, but after a while they always come back to what they know," she smirked.

Rio straightened up, closing his locker calmly, before turning to face her, "Let's get one thing straight, yeah," he moved closer to her, "if Lucia ever leaves me, there is no way in hell that I'd come back to you," before he turned away he delivered the finishing blow, "and for the record, every time I was fucking you, I was thinking of her."

He walked into the lunch room, jaw clenched and a scowl on his face. Sliding into the seat next to Lucia, he sighed, wrapping his arms around her waist.

“Hey,” she smiled, turning slightly to look at him, before turning back and continuing her conversation with Chuck. Not liking the fact that her attention was elsewhere at that moment, Rio started kissing her neck, his hands roaming under the table.

“Yo Casanova,” Charlie hollered, “you mind?”

Rio ignored his friend and continued what he was doing, until Lucia nudged him, “Babe,” she laughed, “what’s up?” he huffed in response, tightening his grip around her waist, turning her face towards him.

“Someone needs attention,” Charlie rolled her eyes, “you’re like Tinkerbell, might die if you don’t get attention.”

Lucia laughed, stroking her boyfriend’s cheek. By now Mike and Mick were at the table too, along with some of the other guys.

“Wanna get outta here after lunch?”

“We have class,” she looked confused.

“Fuck class today mami,” he growled against her ear, his arms tense around her.

“Ok,” she stroked his forearms.

After lunch they hopped into his car and drove out of the school grounds. They drove to his house, pulled the car into the garage and went up to his bedroom. They laid on his bed and made out for the rest of the afternoon. Somehow her jeans was tugged off and he managed to pull her bra from underneath her top, leaving her in just her panty and long sleeve top.

“People be fucking around with me today,” he pulled away, rolling over and laying with his back against the headboard, “first the boss, then motherfucking Jarvi and then Jenny,” he hissed, clenching his eyes shut.

She straddled his waist, “Let’s not think bout them ok?” she took his hands and placed them on the junction between her thighs, letting them move up against her waist and under her top, leaning down she kissed his cheek, “Think bout me,” she whispered against his ear, “think about how good it feels when we’re like this,” moving her head to the other side, she kissed his other cheek and then down his neck and chest, flicking a nipple in the process, “how good it feels when you’re inside of me,” she sat up and looked at him, “how good it feels when I clench around you while you make me come,” she started unbuttoning his jeans, “or when you come,” sliding down and laying next to him,  she pulled him out of his boxers, slowly stroking him, “I used to think of lots of things before we were going out.”

“Yeah,” his voice was raspy, groaning as she licked her hand and started to pump him, “like what Lucia?”

Licking his ear, she pressed herself against him, “I’d think of what it’d be like to have actually said yes all those times you asked me out,” placing her kiss under his ear as she spread some precum over his head, “how it would be to let you touch me,” she squeezed his shaft lightly, "touched myself a lot pretending it was you," she bent down and kissed a trail from his navel to his shaft.

"One day," she came back up and kissed his ear, "I remember walking past the boxing ring at school and I saw you sparring," she moaned, "you looked so good baby, so powerful," she spread more precum over him, "I went home and that night I sat on by knees, took my toy and pretended you were taking me from behind and your hands, fuck baby I love your hands, they were holding me in place and you were telling me what a good girl I was," she pumped him with purpose, pressing kisses into his neck as she brought him closer to the edge.

" Fuck baby don't stop," he groaned,"just like that Lucia," his fist came to his mouth and he bit it.

"No baby," she whispered, "I wanna hear you papi," she proceeded to lick the shell of his ear.

"I'm cuming babe," his breathing become shallow, one had fisted into the sheets, as she lowered her head and sucked up, not stopping her pumping, "fuck Lucia," he growled, "just like that," he came in her mouth and she took every drop.

Putting him back into his briefs she smiled at him and kissed his cheek, “Feeling good?”

He simply rolled them over, pinning her underneath him and kissed her roughly, his hands disappearing under her top, eventually pulling it off of her. She was his and he was not letting her go, there was no way he’d let fuckers like Jarvi and Jenny cause trouble. This was something he’s been waiting for since  he was sixteen and now that he has it, there was no way he was going to let anyone come between them. Pulling her closer, he stroked her cheek, his jaw set as he looked at her. Lucia ran her fingers along his forearms, staring right back at him, before lifting up and placing a kiss on his lips.

“Where you going in there?” she asked as her hands rubbed his shoulders.

Shaking his head, “Nowhere,” leaning down to rest his head on her chest he sighed, “ain’t no place I wanna be than right here with you Lucia.”

[euphoria-svt]

Hesitate [Part 3 of Be Alright]

A/N: Long overdue but I’m finally done with my thesis so yay for that! This last part is inspired by Hesitate by Jonas Brothers because I had the idea right after I went for their concert I still miss them so much wow my pcd is horrible. Anyways I hope you enjoy this one! 

On a totally different note, I hope everyone is doing okay in their isolations! It’s not an easy time for the world right now but I hope there is something we can look forward to soon. Always remember to check in with loved ones and my ask/inbox is always open if you need a friend to talk to. Stay healthy and safe, my loves ❤️

————————————————————

Be Alright [Part 1] | Back to You [Part 2]

Word count: 2.4k

Being on the road was not as easy as Connor thought it would be. The more days he spent working and travelling, the lesser time he had on his phone. The first few months, he tried to check up on you almost every day. Although it consists a lot of saying ‘hey’ and getting a proper reply hours later because of the time zone, he made sure to send you updates and sometimes little snippets of the work he was doing.

You were proud of him. Extremely proud. You were happy that Connor got to live his dreams, get the exposure he was getting while working for Shawn and visiting beautiful places that he would never expect to go to.

But when the Asian leg of the tour kicked in, it became harder for the both of you catch up via Facetime and texts became less frequent. When it was morning for you, Connor was already fast asleep and vice versa.

And you didn’t mind it. You couldn’t keep depending on your best friend who was on the other end of the world. It was just a few months left until he would be back with you, Mike and Sam at UCLA and that was the one thing you would look forward to.

xxx

Connor was in the middle of editing a video backstage, a few hours before the concert started. The past few days has been rough on him and his sleeping schedule was screwed up.

He admits; the past few months have been such an opportunity for him but with a job this big meant the risk that comes along with it was big as well. He needed to follow certain schedules by Andrew, get things done on time, go around backstage filming for their ‘behind the scenes’, adjust his body clock to totally different time zones.  

He was really looking forward to head back to LA and spending time with his family, his friends, and especially you. Connor hasn’t spoken to you in over 2 weeks and he felt guilty that he keeps forgetting to send you a text before he’s piled with his work.

Connor shuts his laptop after saving his work and picked up his phone. Checking the world clock to confirm that he wouldn’t be bothering you when he called, he then switched to Facetime.

When you didn’t answer his call, he wanted to send you a text instead just to let you know that he hasn’t been dead for the past 2 weeks. As he opened your chat, he noticed the ‘last seen’ under your name was 3 days ago. Connor became anxious. You weren’t really the type of person to not check your chats daily.

“Hello?”

“Mike?” Connor sighed in relief when his best friend answered “Hey man, how are you?”

“Same old same old, Brash” He chuckled “Why are you calling me? Aren’t you usually working right now?”

“I was but then I realized I haven’t spoken to y/n in a while and I felt bad” Connor admitted “I called her but she didn’t answer and her Whatsapp said she’s been MIA for 3 days. Have you seen her recently?”

When Mike remained silent, Connor grew more and more nervous. He knew there was something that he didn’t know.

“Mike?”

“She didn’t tell you?”

“Tell me what?” Connor asked; feeling an uneasy feeling in his stomach “Mike, did something happen? Is she okay?”

“Nothing happened to her, Con” Mike reassured; already feeling that his friend was on the edge of freaking out even more “Con, her grandma passed away a few days ago”

And that, made Connor feel like the worst best friend in the whole world.

“I thought she told you, man…” Mike said with guilt “She headed back home last week because her mom said her grandma was in a critical condition and she wanted to be there for her in case anything happened”

“And you haven’t heard from her since?” Connor asked.

“She told Laila that she wasn’t going to classes for a couple of weeks” He answered “None of us has heard anything from her”

“Why didn’t she tell me?” Connor frowned “I’ve been here, totally oblivious to how she is doing when I should be there with her. I should be comforting her the way she was there for me when I was at my lowest”

“Con, you know this isn’t your fault” Mike insisted “Look, she understands that your job is pretty big right now and if she dropped the news on you, you’re going to want to come home when she knows you can get in trouble for it”

“I can’t sit here, Mike” He shook his head “You know damn well that I can’t continue with my job knowing that she needs me more than ever right now”

“I gotta go… I have to sort things out with my boss”

“Connor,” Mike sighed before Connor could hang up “Just… Don’t get in too much trouble, okay?”

“I don’t know, Mike” He muttered in return “But I guess I’d have to take the risk”

xxx

“No”

“What do you mean no?” Connor gawked. Shawn, who sat next to Andrew, shifted uncomfortably because he knew this was going to end bad.

Andrew sighs as he looks away from his laptop “Connor, look buddy, I get that it’s a difficult thing for you to not be there for her… But I cannot allow you to fly home when we need you around”

“Andrew, we have enough footages!” He reasoned back “Please, man. I just need to go home for a couple of days to make sure she’s fine”

“You signed a contract” Andrew said sternly “That said you would be working unless something happens to an immediate family. Since it’s not you grandma, I can’t let you leave”

“Andrew-,”

“No buts” He cut Connor off “I don’t want to hear it, Connor. A deal is a deal. We made an agreement that you signed to not go against. I can’t do anything about it”

Without another word, Andrew got up from his chair and left the room, leaving Connor angrier than ever.

“Connor” Shawn snapped him out of his thoughts “Go,”

“What?” Connor asked confusingly, looking over at his friend.

“I’ll handle Andrew” He assured “Go home. Take the week off and meet us in Australia, okay?”

“He’s going to be pissed” Connor stated.

“He’s being unreasonable” Shawn shrugged “Listen, I’ve heard you go on and on about this girl of yours so she must be really special. If she needs you, go be there for her”

“Thank you, man” He sighed in relief “Just… Thank you for letting me do this”

xxx

It was a day of long flights for Connor and his body was drained. He sent you a few texts last night but as predicted, the grey ticks didn’t turn to blue ticks.

With his little luggage, he dragged it behind him up to your driveway where 2 cars were parked, which meant you and your mom were home.

It took a few seconds after he rang the doorbell to hear footsteps approaching. When the door opens and your mom saw Connor standing before her, she was taken aback.

“Connor,” She said in a surprised tone.

“Hi Mrs. y/l/n” He greeted politely “Can I come in?”

“Yeah honey, of course” She answered and moved aside. Once they were in, she asked “What are you doing here? I thought you weren’t coming back until December?”

“I was” Connor nodded “But I also heard what happened”

Your mom could only nod understandingly “She told you?”

“Actually, no” Connor frowned “Found out from Mike but I’m really sorry for your loss. How have you been holding up?”

“I’m alright, honey, thank you” She smiled softly “It’s been a difficult time for us but we know she’s in a better place now”

“I’m more worried for y/n right now” Your mom continued. Connor could see the bags under her eyes and how strained she sounded “It took a toll on us but she’s taking a longer time to process it all”

“Do you mind if I see her?”

“Not at all, Connor” She replied “I know she’s always saying she doesn’t need to depend on anyone but we both know she relies on you a lot and right now, she needs you more than ever”

“I rely on her just as much” Connor chuckled softly “It’s the least I can do for her as well”

xxx

Connor knocks thrice on the door and waited for a response. He waited for another minute before knocking again but still didn’t get an answer. When he found the door was unlocked, he pushed it open; only to be met with a dark room.

Your bed was messy, curtains drawn and the only light entering the room was from the street lights outside. He watched you at your balcony; back facing him with your headphones on, which explained why you didn’t respond.

He slowly walked over to the balcony and stepped out of the room. He didn’t know how he could get your attention without scaring you too much so he rested his hand on your head.

You were startled when you felt something on your head and your heart starting beating faster. You slowly looked up and saw Connor instead, you let out a sigh of relief.

“Con?” You asked with wide eyes as you proceed to take off your headphones “What are you doing here?”

“Hey,” He greeted softly and slide down on the floor next to you “What? No hug?” He asked in a teasing voice.

You rolled your eyes playfully but leaned forward to give him a hug. Connor wraps his arms around you protectively and let you bury your head in the crook of his neck “Mike told me what happened” He said softly “I’m so sorry, sweets”

He hears your shaky breath and felt the tears on his neck. He rubs your back comfortingly, running his hand in an up and down motion “Hey,” He cooed “Let it all out, sweets”

“I just miss her, Con” You sniffled “I miss her so much”

“I know, baby” Connor pressed a kiss to your head “And I’m so sorry she’s not here anymore but she is always going to be looking out for you; no matter what”

There was nothing else he could do except let you cry it out while he holds you.

Out of everyone he knows, you were one of the strongest people he has met. To see you in a fragile state like this broke him. He wished nothing more to take your pain away. He’d take the pain for you if he could.

“You didn’t have to come back home just for me, Con” A few minutes later, you spoke softly.

He pushed you away a little so he could look at you and wiped away your tears “Of course I had to” Connor insisted “You’re my best friend and I would never hesitate for you, ever”

“Did you get in trouble with your work for it?” You frowned.

When he avoided your gaze, you sighed “Connor…”

“Look, don’t worry about it, okay?” Connor insisted “I’ll work through it when the time comes. The important thing is that I need to make sure that you’re okay”

You leaned your head against his shoulder “Thank you” You said softly “For being here with me”

Connor intertwines your finger and brings your hand up to his lips, pressing a soft kiss on the back of your hand “You’ve been there for me through my lows. Let me take care of you now”

xxx

It’s a few days later and Connor was dreading to leave you once again.

“Connor, I’m going to be fine” You reassured him as you both stood near the gates at the airport “Go, dofus” You chuckled softly “You’ll miss your flight”

“That’s a good thing, right?” He asked “I can tell Shawn I missed it and I’ll just have to stay”

“Connor,” You gave him a pointed look “You can’t avoid work forever. Go. I’ll be fine”

“100%?” He asked, biting his lower lips in hesitance.

“110%” You smiled “Now give me a hug and get your ass out of here”

“Bossy”

“Thank you for checking up on me” You muttered against his shoulder “I’ll see you in a month, right?”

“A month” He nods, wrapping his arms around you “Promise me you’ll eat and sleep regularly?”

“Yes, mother” You rolled your eyes playfully and pulled away “Call me when you land”

Connor waves to you one last time before he headed towards the gate. Every step he takes, the more he felt reluctant to leave you. He spun around and saw you in the same spot; watching him.

Connor sighs. Guess it’s now or never.

He rushes towards you, noticing your expression changed to confused.

“Did you forget something?” You asked once he was near to you.

“Can I just do something now that I may or may not regret?” Connor asked nervously.

You raised an eyebrow “That depends. Wait, what are you-,” Connor interrupts you by bringing his hands up to face, and pressing his lips against yours.

It felt like a split second to you. Saying goodbye to Connor, watching him run back to you, him kissing you, you kissing him back.

It felt like there was no one else around you and the world stopped working.

Connor takes a deep breath after he pulls away moments later and rests his forehead against yours with his eyes closed.

“Uhh… Well…That was…”

“If you say awkward, I’m going forget this ever happened and move to Japan” Connor threatened.

You let out a chuckle and shook your head. Your arms wrapped around his neck; fingers playing with the ends of his hair “Unexpected, that’s all” You answered.

“Felt like if I left you again without kissing you… I’ll never really tell you how I feel about us”

“Wow, hey there, Brashier. Don’t get ahead of yourself” You joked “You haven’t even taken me out on a date so there really isn’t an ‘us’ right now”

Connor rolls his eyes playfully “I’ll take you on all the dates when I get back”

“Deal… But for now, I’ll see you in month, okay?”

“It’s going to be the longest month ever”

————————————————————

Please reblog or leave a comment! ❤️

x rina

TAG LIST:

@vintagemarigold @connordavidscamera @r3ader @tinycertain @green-lxght @queenmendes @turtoix @zigzagsandzebras @btsbyconnor @heart-struck @enchantingbrowneyedgirl @shawns-swallow @imaginashawnns @zaahidahhh @vinylmendes @adelaidestreets @daisyangei @curiouslycryptic @sinceweremutual @fallinallincurls

*lmk if you want to be removed/tagged!

[cicici03]

Chapter 8- Just Listen

Tick.

Tock.

Tick.

Tock

It has been five hours since the incident.

The immediate family of Tre and Cierra was in the waiting room. All you heard was the clock ticking back and forth. With Cierra being in surgery for four hours, everybody was on edge. The person who was most on edge was Tre.

He sat over in corner and have not move from it since they been here. Looking out the window, Tre saw as a bunch of paparazzi sat outside. Even though Tre was a little bit more private about his life, Cierra was not.

He saw when The ShadeRoom post about Cierra’s accident. Also, with information of their being a riff in their marriage due to neighbors telling. He just sat their and just thought about his marriage since they took Cierra back.

Knowing that a divorce was the best due to arguing and anger that the kids felt toward both of their parents. That it was starting to riff the kids on choosing sides. However, he wanted his marriage to stay. Not because he wanted to be married, but Cierra was the woman of his dreams and love of his life. They were happy. He made mistakes and she made mistakes. Mistakes that could not be turn back, but that had to be dealt with now.

As he thought about his marriage, Mia, Jakob, and Amya sat on the other corner thinking too. Mia was angry with both of her parents. With her dad bringing the Target lady to the house to Mia not knowing who the lady truly was. To her mom talking to Mike and being hostile to her during these four months. Mia never have saw her mother so hurt and angry than these past four months.

Mia looked at her dad, and saw a tear fall down her dad’s eye. All of sudden her vision start clouding up. Mia quickly look down at her lap seeing her skirt had little tear drops on them. Mia was the child Cierra and Tre did not look much at. Mia always have been independent and want to things for herself instead of her parents. However, Mia still had feelings just like everybody else.

Amaya looked up from her iPad and looked at the tears on Mia’s skirt. Amya realize not to ask, or it was going to start a lot of commotion. Amya looked back on her iPad and look in the photos. She scrolled up to the one where she took of her parents in secret. They were laying on the couch, Cierra in between Tre’s leg, with Tre looking down at her with a smile while Cierra looked at the TV.

Even though, Amaya is young, she knew her parents were happy. Amaya held in the tears and look at Jakob. Jakob was looking at his dad, with the evilest glare, and just shook his head. Jakob was just angry with his dad so much. He was mad at his mom, but his dad hurt her so bad. From cheating on her when she was pregnant, to going with the lady who he cheats with to New York on their anniversary, to telling her that it was her fought she had a miscarriage. Jakob did not which he was supposed to be angrier at.

He looked at his dad, the person who taught him not to hurt the person that you love most, when you are going through trying times. To him hurting the person who he loves the most. As Jakob was thinking all this, Amaya kept looking at Jakob and saw the tears coming from his eyes.

“Ja Ja” Amaya quietly spoken to her brother, trying not to get much attention their way. Jakob looked at Amaya with tears coming down his eyes. He saw Amaya with the same tears, with her iPad facing up with the picture of their parents. To Mia, his twin, with her head down and tears falling down her face onto her skirt. He even got angrier with his dad and that was the fuse that took him off.

Jakob got up from the chair quickly, and ran over  to his dad with a bottle of water. Out of the corner of Tre’s eye he saw Jakob. He saw the anger and he saw him unscrew that top off the water bottle.

“ You fucking liar.” Jakob screamed at his dad, with the tears pouring down his face more than ever. All the family looked at Jakob, shock by his choice of words to his dad and the sadness in his eyes.

“ You lied. You told me to never hurt the person you love the most when you are having a hard time.” Jakob yelled even louder, that made Marcus come over their to his grandson. Tre looked at Marcus, giving the look to tell him everything is all good, and looked back at his son to see what he will say next.

“Guess what you did, your hurt momma! Your hurt dad! She hurt you! You both hurt each other!” Jakob exclaimed with each sentence. Ever word he said he sink more and more into the ground. After he was done, Jakob just laid on the ground crying.

With tears in Tre’s eyes he looked at his son on the floor. He got up and pick up and Jakob. He sat back down in his chair and hug him. Tre looked over at the girls looking at him and crying and holding each other.

“ My My and Mia.” Tre said with each word his voice crack. The girls look at their dad and ran over to him. Amaya sat on the arm of Tre’s chair and Mia sat on the chair right besides Tre. The family, sat their and cried together.

“ Daddy even though I said I wanted you and momma to get a divorce, I don’t! I want y’all to be happy again!” Mia said into her dad’s shirt. As Tre heard those words, the flood gate of tears that he had been holding in has burst. He realize that his kids saw everything. They saw the belittling of both of their parents. To the arguments that happen in the house.

Tre was a bunch of emotions.

Both Cierra and Tre hurt their children, which both didn’t want to do. They wanted each other to hurt for the hurt they have been going through. With that, Tre is stuck.

Divorce.

Or.

Work it out.

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

7:00 a.m.

Sunday

It has been more than 12 hours since the accident and there have still not been any word of Cierra’s condition. The kids were sleeping on some of the long couches in waiting room. With Cierra parents and aunt, Angelo, Logan, and Tre’s mom went to go get breakfast due to Tre not wanting to leave.

However, Tre was to only person who have not been able to sleep. He could not sleep due to not knowing what the condition of his wife was. Still sitting in the same chair, he looks outside and saw more than double the paparazzi than yesterday.

He shook his head.

He sometimes wishes he never done Moonlight, but with that much power behind the film he could not pass up telling the story. The kids started to wake up, just in the nick of time when everybody was coming back with breakfast.

“ We got eggs, sausage, grits, cheese grits, biscuits, and much more.” one of Tre’s aunt walked in with everybody that left. Tre looked away from the window and saw many more of his relatives and Cierra’s coming through the tiny, private waiting room door.

This warm his heart. No matter what he knows that his family and Cierra’s will be right behind. As the thoughts cleared out of his head, he saw a doctor walk in through the door. The short, black, doctor with her pixie cut and black scrubs walk around trying to find someone. Tre shot up and ran right to her.

“Excuse me, are you Cierra Rhodes doctor?” Tre speedily question the doctor. The doctor smile and shook her head showing Tre to a seat. As Tre sat down, the doctor sat down right beside him. Everybody started to take notice and started to quiet down to hear what the doctor was about to say.

“ Well, I have good news and bad news.” the doctor said while skimming the across the waiting rooms looking at the faces. As she turns back to Tre, she saw Amaya on his lap with Jakob and Mia behind him.

“ Well I am going to start off with the good news. She is perfectly fine.” ,when the doctor said that you could hear the relief in the room, “ We fix her broken knee and stop the internal bleeding in her stomach. However, she is going to have a lot of physical therapy. With me saying that, it is going be a long road.” the doctor finish with looking at Tre.

“ The only thing that matters is that she is alive.” Lisa exclaimed at the doctor. Even though her and Cierra was on the best of terms for most of her life. Lisa started to see that she was wrong and that had to happen when her daughter look like her time on Earth was about to end.

“ Can we at least go see her.” Angelo looked at the doctor while finally calming down from crying. The doctor look a little hesitant. With her talking to Cierra before she came out here, she told her to invite in a person that was hated by her entire family.

“ Well, there is one person she wants to talk to first,” the doctor gulped down “ Is their a Mike… or Michael in here?” the doctor said with many pauses in between. All of the sudden, the tension was more than thick.

It was suffocating.

“ That’s me.” Mike quietly said out loud with roses in his hand. With that people started to move out the way for him, which made him a path to the doctor and Tre. Mike carefully walked by without looking anyone in the face, but the doctor. He looked at Tre, who had Amaya in lap, and both was mean mugging me.

The doctor realize that the hate was real and walk Mike towards the back. Everybody looked at Tre and trying to read him.

They could not.

Tre was at a lost for words that his wife would choose Mike to come before the kids and him. Angry was not even the answer, more like disgust.

In Cierra’s hospital room, she looked outside the window seeing the same paparazzi, which have now triple, that Tre saw from the window in the waiting room. As she heard the knock on the door, she knew what she had to do.

As Mike walk in, he smiled at Cierra, which she did not return the favor. Mike sat on the end of her bed and looked at her: tired.

“ Well how have you been beautiful?” Mike grinned while looking at Cierra. Cierra saw the roses and was not shock he brought them.

“ Didn’t I tell you not to come that Monday night?” Cierra muttered still looking out the window. Mike knew what she talk about, the night the fight between Tre and Mike happen. As Mike was getting closer to Cierra’s house, he told her that he wanted to drop by. With Cierra repleying with a definite no.

“ Cierra,” before he could finish, Cierra continue speaking “ I told you that for a reason. With you coming that night, it have led to this event. The event of me being in the hospital, thinking about life, my life.” Cierra snapped while turning her towards him at the end.

“ I happy you came that night and sad. I am sad that you came that night because you showed me that my marriage was absolute shit. That I have been mad at my husband ever since he cheated on me. For almost thirteen years, and I let that stay in and didn’t open it back up.” Cierra sobbed turning her head back at the window.

“ However, I am happy you came that night. You made me realize that my feelings where kept in so long that I did not know how to communicate with people about my feelings. You made me realize that even through my marriage at the wit ends. Even through his mistakes and mines, I still love Trevante Nemour Rhodes,” Cierra pause while looking back at Mike, “ I know he still loves me too. With me saying that, I have cut the parasite that is ruining me.” Cierra boldly stated to Mike.

“ I am my parasite. I did not talk to my husband, and just listen to him when he needed me the most. I was too busy with Ebonixs and you. A man that gave me something that I needed. Somebody who have been through a divorce and still is hurt by his divorce,” Cierra stated still looking at Mike, whom was about to get strip down to his bones, “ A man, who need a woman, who was feeling pain and hurt by her spouse. A man, who still need approve from a woman to be himself. Lastly, a man who don’t know his damn worth in society.” Cierra said with authority.

Mike start bawling out of nowhere. Mike didn’t cry, and he definitely didn’t cry in public.

“ However, this man can change. A man whom loves his daughter dearly and is an fantastic creative brain. A man that knows what he want and will go after. Lastly, a man that knows that he can do better.” As Cierra said those words, Mike looked at her and shaked his head.

He understood that Cierra wanted her husband. Even though he kept saying he did not want Cierra to her, she knew he wanted her. Mike got up and hug Cierra. He left the roses on the counter, and went out the door with tears coming down his eyes.

Cierra’s doctor saw him and realize that her patient took her advice. Cierra’s doctor looked at Mike and he looked at her. She took him out the door not wanting him to get jump. As they walked out the door, everybody eyes cut back at Mike.

Mike looked around at the last everybody. Welp, I know that I can’t go to the cookout next year. Mike finally looked at the man. The man’s wife that he wanted to take for his own: Tre.

As Mike and Tre had a showed down, Mike finally spoke up.

“ Excuse me everybody, “Mike spoke loudly to the family in the private waiting room. Everybody looked at him with disgust, and Angelo spoke up too.

“ What the hell you want Red Power Ranger! You know I wish I could cut you. If I weren’t on probation, your ass would be cut up!” Angelo berated at Mike. Aunty Christy and Logan had to calm Angelo down.

“ Well, I need to say a few things to Tre and his family. Tre, I am deeply sorry for hurting you. By talking to your wife, to trying to end your marriage, and telling your business to your family which was not mind.” Mike declared to everybody still looking at Tre.

“ I will like to apologize to your kids, Amaya, Mia, and Jakob. I am sorry that I hurt your dad by physical and emotional means.” while looking at the kids, which Amaya was the only one looking to forgive.

“ With that, Tre, you have a good woman back there. Even though she made mistakes and you did too. Fight for it. Plus, your wife you and the kids to go in the back” Mike said putting emphasizes on the end of the last sentence. When he finishes, he follow the same path out, not knowing where life is going to take him.

When Mike left, Cierra’s doctor usher the kids and Tre back to her room. As they got to her room, Amaya bust to through the door to her momma.

“ Momma! I miss you!” Amya got on the bed, missing the cast on Cierra’s leg by an inch. As Amaya hug her, Cierra burst out in tears. Both Mia and Jakob ran to their mom and hug her too. They all were crying. Cierra looked up and didn’t see Tre at the door. As the kids let go, he appeared at the door.

They both look at each other. This time they both didn’t see sadness or tired eyes. They saw happiness. Tre walk over to her and look at her again.

All sudden, he busted out crying.

He bent down and grab his wife face and kiss her like he never kissed her before. It was tender, and gentle, but rough and nasty. After a while of kissing each other, Amaya said something.

“ Ummm daddy, I want mommy’s lips to still be on her face.” Amaya disgustedly look at her dad when he came up for air. Everybody laughed at her and the family was united again.

“ Hey kids, I know y’all want to talk to mommy, but we need to have a talk.” Trevante interrupted the laughter between the family. As the kids left to go the waiting room, Tre and Cierra looked at each other.

“ Cierra. I want to fight for us and I want us to be better. However, we put the kids through a lot and we both have wounds that need healing.” Tre muttered with tears coming down. Cierra shook her head while stating:

“ Well what do you think best?”

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

well, what is best?

counseling or divorce?

go to doctor stacey who is equivalent to iyanla

or

say goodbye to it?

tag list:

@l-auteuse @ljstraightnochaser @munteanhore @twistedcharismaaa @19jammmy

[the-type-a]

Can you post your Duncney playlist since I don’t have Spotify? Please!

Of course! (I might have to do it in two parts so make sure to check the RBs!)

3:00am - Finding Hope

5 O’Clock - T-Pain, Lily Allen, Wiz Khalifa

7 Things - Miley Cyrus

About You Now - Miranda Cosgrove

Alive - One Direction

All I Ever Wanted - Basshunter

All I Do is Dream of You - Emilie Claire Barlow

All That Matters - Justin Bieber

Almost is Never Enough - Ariana Grande

A.M. - One Direction

Amnesia - 5 Seconds of Summer

Anaconda - Nicki Minaj

Animal - Neon Trees

Animals - Maroon 5

Apologize - OneRepublic

As Long As You Love Me - Justin Bieber

A Thousand Years - Christiana Perri

A Whole New World - Mena Massoud, Naomi Scott - Aladdin

Baby Boy - Beyoncé, Sean Paul

Backseat - New Boyz

Back to Sleep Remix - Chris Brown, Usher, Zayn

Back to You - Louis Tomlinson, Bebe Rexha

Bad Boy - Cascada

Bad Decisions- Ariana Grande

Bad Liar - Selena Gomez

Beauty And A Beat - Justin Bieber, Nicki Minaj

Beauty and the Beast - Ariana Grande, John Legend (also Disney Version)

Bedrock - Young Money, Lloyd

Bedroom Floor - Liam Payne

Behind These Hazel Eyes - Kelly Clarkson

Best I Ever Had - Drake

Better in Time - Leona Lewis

Better Than Revenge - Taylor Swift

Better Than Words - One Direction

Bound 2 - Kanye West

Bow Chicka Wow Wow - Mike Posner, Lil Wayne

Boyfriend - Ariana Grande, Social House

Boyfriend - Justin Bieber

Break Your Heart - Taio Cruz

Can I Have This Dance - High School Musical 3

Can’t Stand It - NeverShoutNever

Chasing Cars - Snow Patrol

Check Yes, Juliet - We the Kings

Close - Nick Jonas

Closer - Ne-Yo

Closer - The Chainsmokers

Cold - Maroon 5

Come Back to Me - Vanessa Hudgens

Come & Get it - Selena Gomez

Complicated - Avril Lavigne

Confident - Justin Bieber

Contagious - Avril Lavigne

Controlla - Drake

Corazon Sin Cara - Prince Royce

Crazy - Prince Royce

Crazy in Love - Beyoncé, Jay Z

Criminal - Britney Spears

Crush - David Archuleta

Dangerous - Prince Royce, Kid Ink

Dangerous Woman - Ariana Grande

Dear John - Taylor Swift

Dear Maria, Count Me In - All Time Low

Despacito Remix - Luis Fonsi, Daddy Yankee, Justin Bieber

Dile al Amor - Aventura

Dirty Little Secret - The All-American Rejects

DJ Got Us Fallin’ In Love - Usher

Does He Know? - One Direction

Doin’ Dirt - Maroon 5

Don’t Forget - Demi Lovato

Don’t Stop - 5 Seconds of Summer

Don’t Stop the Music - Rihanna

Down - Jay Sean, Lil Wayne

Drunk In Love - Beyoncé, Jay Z

Dusk Till Dawn - Zayn, Sia

Earned It - The Weekend

El Amor - Tito “El Bambino”

El Amor Que Perdimos - Prince Royce

El Malo - Aventura

Eres Mia - Romeo Santos

E.T - Katy Perry, Kanye West

Everytime We Touch - Cascada

Fallin’ For You - Colbie Caillat

Familiar - Liam Payne

Feelings - Maroon 5

Fifteen - Taylor Swift

First Time - Liam Payne

Flicker - Niall Horan

fOoL fOr YoU - Zayn

Fool’s Gold - One Direction

For The Nights I Can’t Remember - Hedley

Friends - Justin Bieber, BloodPop

FU - Miley Cyrus, French Montana

Genie In a Bottle - Christina Aguilera

Get Back - Demi Lovato

Gimme More - Britney Spears

Girls & Boys - Good Charlotte

Girls Like You - Maroon 5, Cardi B

Give It Up To Me - Sean Paul

Give Me Everything - Pitbull, Ne-Yo, Afrojack, Nayer

Gives You Hell - The All-American Rejects

Good Girl Gone Bad - Rihanna

Good Girls - 5 Seconds of Summer

Good Girls Go Bad - Cobra Starship, Leighton Meester

Gotta Go My Own Way - High School Musical 2

Half a Heart - One Direction

Handcuffs - Prince Royce

Hands to Myself - Selena Gomez

Hate That I Love You - Rihanna, Ne-Yo

Heartbreak Girl - 5 Seconds of Summer

Heartless - Kanye West

Hearts Don’t Break Around Here - Ed Sheeran

Here We Go Again - Demi Lovato

Hero - Enrique Iglesias

Hips Don’t Lie - Shakira, Wyclef Jean

History - One Direction

Hold It Against Me - Britney Spears

Home With You - Liam Payne

Hot Mess - Cobra Starship

Hot N Cold - Katy Perry

I Don’t Wanna Live Forever - Zayn, Taylor Swift

I Fall Apart - Post Malone

If I Can’t Have You - Shawn Mendes

I.F.L.Y - Bazzi

I Hate Everything About You - Three Days Grace

I Knew You Were Trouble - Taylor Swift

I Know You Want Me - Pitbull

I Like It - Enrique Iglesias

I’ll Take You There - Sean Paul

I Love You 5 - NeverShoutNever

I’m a Slave 4 U - Britney Spears

I’m Yours - Jason Mraz

In My Feelings - Drake

In My Head - Jason Derulo

Into You - Ariana Grande

Iris - The Goo Goo Dolls

Irreplaceable - Beyoncé

I See the Light - Mandy Moore, Zachary Levi

I Think We're Alone Now - Tiffany

I Wanna Love You - Akon, Snoop Dogg

I Won’t Give Up - Jason Mraz

I Won’t Say (I’m in Love) - Hercules

Jealous - Nick Jonas

Juego Prohibidos - Nicky Jam

Jungle - Drake

Just Like You - Louis Tomlinson

Just the Girl - The Click Five

Keep Holding On - Avril Lavigne

Kill My Mind - Louis Tomlinson

Kiss Me - Ed Sheeran

Kiss Me Kiss Me - 5 Seconds of Summer

Kiss Me Thru the Phone - Soulja Boy, Sammie

Kiss the Girl - Samuel E. Wright - The Little Mermaid

Kiwi - Harry Styles

La Bella Y La Bestia - Romeo Santos

Last Kiss - Taylor Swift

Let Me - Zayn

Let Me Love You - DJ Snake, Justin Bieber

Let Me Love You - Mario

Lights Up - Harry Styles

Like I’m Gonna Lose You - Meghan Trainor, John Legend

LIKE I WOULD - Zayn

Listen To Your Heart - DHT, Edmee

Little of Your Time - Maroon 5

Little Things - One Direction

Love While We’re Young - One Direction

Llevame Contigo - Romeo Santos

Love Me Harder - Ariana Grande, The Weekend

Love More - Chris Brown, Nicki Minaj

Love On the Brain - Rihanna

Love On Top - Beyoncé

Love Song - Sara Bareilles

Love Story - Taylor Swift

Love The Way You Lie - Eminem, Rihanna

Love You Goodbye - One Direction

Love You Like A Love Song - Selena Gomez

Lucky Strike - Maroon 5

Mad - Ne-Yo

Makes Me Wonder - Maroon 5

make up - Ariana Grande

Mercy - Shawn Mendes

Midnight Memories - One Direction

Mine - Taylor Swift

Mine - Beyoncé, Drake

Misery - Maroon 5

Miss Independent - Ne-Yo

Miss You - Louis Tomlinson

Moments - One Direction

Mr. Brightside - The Killers

My Boo - Usher, Alicia Keys

My Favorite Part - Mac Miller & Ariana Grande

My Happy Ending - Avril Lavigne

Nice To Meet Ya - Niall Horan

Needed Me - Rihanna

Need You Now - Glee Cast

Neighbors Know My Name - Trey Songz

New Rules - Dua Lipa

Next To You - Chris Brown, Justin Bieber

Night Changes - One Direction

No Air - Chris Brown, Jordin Sparks

No Control - One Direction

No One - Alicia Keys

Odio - Romeo Santos, Drake

OMG - Usher, will.i.am

Once in a Lifetime - One Direction

One Dance - Drake, Wizkid, Kyla

One More Night - Maroon 5

One Thing - One Direction

One Thing Right - Marshmello, Kane Brown

Only Angel - Harry Styles

Only Girl - Rihanna

On The Loose - Niall Horan

Ordinary People - John Legend

Paralyzer - Finger Eleven

Partition - Beyoncé

Payphone - Maroon 5

Perfect - One Direction

Perfect - Ed Sheeran

Photograph - Ed Sheeran

Picture to Burn - Taylor Swift

PILLOWTALK - Zayn

Pills N Potions - Nicki Minaj

Please Don’t Go - Mike Posner

Polaroid - Liam Payne, Jonas Blue, Lennon Stella

Pop Princess - The Click Five

Potential Breakup Song - Aly & AJ

Princesita - Aventura

Promiscuous - Nelly Furtado, Timbaland

Promise - Romeo Santos, Usher

Propuesta Indecente - Romeo Santos

Red - Taylor Swift

Reply - Iyaz

Right Here, Right Now - High School Musical 3

Right Now - Akon

Rocket - Beyoncé

Rock Me - One Direction

Rock Your Body - Justin Timberlake

Rolling in the Deep - Adele

Rude - MAGIC!

Rude Boy - Rihanna

Same Old Love - Selena Gomez

Say OK - Vanessa Hugdens

Senorita - Shawn Mendes, Camila Cabello

Set Fire to the Rain - Adele

Shake It - Metro Station

Shape of You - Ed Sheeran

She Looks So Perfect - 5 Seconds of Summer

She’s Kinda Hot - 5 Seconds of Summer

[serendipitous-magic]

Pay no attention to the sneak-peek behind the read-more line...

-_-_-_-

Dustin’s duffel bag thwumps onto the mattress, bouncing slightly.

Home sweet home.

He punches a button on his radio and flops down onto the edge of his bed, rubbing at his eyes as the local radio personality announces Small Town Boy by Age of Consent. He takes a big breath - in and out. It is eight hundred and nineteen miles from Camp Know Where to Hawkins, Indiana, and Dustin just spent the last two days travelling them in a small car with his mother. Which was fun at first. Impromptu sing-alongs with his mom have been a staple of driving to and from summer camp for years. They got Frosties in the drive through, they talked about camp, they played the alphabet game while they made their way across three states... Good times. He didn’t even mind being stuck in a confined space with a parent for their mini-road-trip - much. That part wasn’t so bad. It’s just the last leg of the drive that got a little bit less than awesome. Mainly because it would seem that his friends have forgotten about him. 

Eight hundred and nineteen miles, and the Party should have been in range of his supercomm for at least two or three of them. 

You know, he always kind of forgets what his home town smells like until he’s been gone for a while. It’s like the way you don’t realize what your own house smells like until you get back after vacation. Granted, it’s no bed of roses. Hawkins tends to have a sort of... aroma. Like the farms on the outer edge, and like the forest that grows thick and green during the summer, and dusty, cracked asphalt in need of repairs, and humidity, and hay, and old brick buildings. It’s not exactly a scent you’d find in a candle. But it’s not bad, per se, and moreover: it’s home.

“This is Gold...” he starts to say, but halfway through the hail, his voice stalls. 

This new hat isn’t quite molded to the shape of his head yet, like his old one is, and he keeps reaching up to adjust it. Tugging it down over his forehead, then pushing it back. This time, when he reaches up, he snags his headset and tosses it onto the bed. What’s the point?

He drove his mom up the wall during the last fifteen minutes of their journey, trying to get in contact with the Party.

“This is Gold Leader returning to base, do you copy? Over.” 

He must have said that at least two dozen times. He could feel his mom glancing at him as she drove, but he just ran his tongue over the rough string of braces on his lower teeth and leaned forward anxiously, as if tilting forward in his seat would help him see around the curve. The bobblehead cat on the dashboard headbanged along to the oldie on the radio as he tried again. 

“I repeat. This is Gold Leader returning to base. Do you copy? Over.” 

Silence. Silence, and static, and the car radio bopping along to the beat. Come on. Come on. He jammed the talk button hard enough that the plastic edge dug into his thumb. 

“This is goddamn Gold Leader -” 

“Dusty!” his mom chided, and he slapped the supercomm into his lap. 

“What?” 

“Relax. For goodness sake.” 

“I’m in range, they should be answering.” 

“You’ve been away a whole month, honeybun, maybe they just...” She wiggled her shoulders with a tilt of her head. “Forgot.” 

She didn’t mean him. Of course she didn’t mean that they forgot him. She meant the radios; she meant they forgot what channel they’re supposed to be on. Or that they forgot what day he was coming home. She didn’t mean that they forgot about Dustin himself. 

It’s just, it’s not exactly reassuring, you know? It’s the middle of summer already. All the roads are lined with tall, dark weeds. In a few days, everything will smell like sparkler smoke and kettle corn from the annual 4th of July fair. When he left it was barely June, and the weeds along the roadside were barely sprouts. What else has happened since he left? What else has changed?

A muffled little tink draws his attention to the vivarium on his left, where Yurtle is bumping against the side, stumpy little legs flailing as he fails to comprehend glass. Dustin grins at him.

“At least someone’s happy to see me.”

Yurtle continues his mission to pass through the solid glass wall, unperturbed by his complete lack of success. Determined little guy. Never gets very far, but he tries.

Dustin isn’t worried about it - the Party, that is. Honestly, he’s not. It’s not like they’ve all been acting weird for the past few months anyway. It’s not like ever since El reappeared Mike has been MIA more often than not, visiting her at the cabin for as long as Hopper would allow. It’s not like Max and Lucas have developed their own little language and routine together - not just boyfriend and girlfriend, but best friends. It’s not like Will has been a slightly different person since... well, since everything. It’s not like he misses how the Party used to be.

But Dustin doesn’t like to mope. He slaps his thighs and stands up, reaching into the vivarium to turn Yurtle around. Yurtle lumbers off towards his pool, apparently assured that his ability to move is due to his own success, and Dustin hums along with the radio as he unzips his duffel bag with a flourish. Who is he to complain? He just got back from possibly the most amazing summer camp ever. He’s got the whole rest of the summer ahead of him. He’s got things to do. Places to go. Popsicles to eat. (You know what they don’t have at Camp Know Where? Otter pops. Unbelievable, right? Three hundred acres, over five hundred campers and dozens of counselors, and not a single person could produce even one pack of sugary, brightly colored frozen goodness.) 

He’s got plans. Specifically, an invention to get up and running - and he has the perfect place in mind. He bets he can get the gang to help him set it up - if they’d just answer.

Okay, maybe he’s a little unsettled. The Party doesn’t just go radio silent on each other, okay? Because when a Party member goes radio-silent, it usually means that something is wrong. Really wrong.

His eyes slide over the stain in his carpet. It’s a barely-perceptible rusty brown, now, blending in with the striped carpet unless you know just where to look. He had to tell his mom it was spaghetti sauce.

His toy robot starts marching out of the corner just as Dustin turns away, chattering unintelligibly in its perpetual-low-battery fizzle, red eyes glowing.

Wait.

What.

Dustin turns back, slowly, and this time the robot is joined by a toy tank and R2D2. 

Now, he’s no expert, but in Dustin’s fourteen years of experience on earth, toys don’t come alive. So he’s understandably befuddled when he closes his eyes, counts to five, opens them again, and is met with a small crowd of miniature robots, vehicles, and one small mechanical dinosaur all moving with apparent purpose towards his bedroom door.

Okay. Cool. So either he’s dreaming, or he has to burn the house down and salt the earth. He’s seen Poltergeist. He knows how this ends.

Hopping carefully over a hotwheels car, Dustin grabs the first weapon he lays eyes on: a heavy, solid can of Farrah Fawcett hair spray from his dresser. R2D2 whistles cheerfully, as if beckoning - and, like the idiot that dies first in a horror movie, Dustin follows.

His hat slips down a little too far over his forehead, and he shoves it back as he creeps along in his socks. He has got to adjust the band on this thing.

“It’s just a dream,” he mutters to himself. The shiny plastic robot at the head of the small army bumps into a wall, adjusts its trajectory with an affronted little grumble, and leads its followers across the hallway. Through the house. Into the living room. “You’re dreaming.”

The feeling of being watched makes his skin crawl. He swears, in about five seconds he’s gonna punt one of the little - 

They stopped.

Dustin freezes, eyes flicking over the now-inert toys. Then he darts forward to scoop up their leader, turning the robot over in his hands, inspecting it. An electrical disturbance, maybe...? He picks at the battery panel. That still wouldn’t explain the -

Fweep!

The shrill blast pierces the air directly behind him and he screams, spins, and deploys his weapon - directly into the eyes of his best friend.

Lucas screams. Dustin screams. Lucas screams louder. Dustin realizes he’s still spraying the hairspray and abruptly lets go, dropping the heavy can on Lucas’s toe. Lucas screams again, hopping sideways, one hand over his eyes and one still clutching the Welcome home Dustin! sign that Dustin has just taken note of. Lucas then trips and hits the floor with a thump. The rest of the Party, who Dustin now sees behind him, gawks - and then explodes into guffaws.

Mike and El are holding hands, El hiding behind Mike’s shoulder from the spray of Farrah Fawcett, laughing around the noisemaker in her mouth. Max’s hair blazes down around her shoulders, the burnished-copper-red slightly frizzy with the humidity, her face screwed up in helpless bouts of belly laughter as she holds her stomach and watches her boyfriend roll around on the floor. Will’s hair has grown out maybe half an inch since Dustin last saw him, the straight line of his bangs creeping towards his eyebrows and the fringe of his hair warped slightly where it gets caught on his ears. For a split second it gives Dustin a sinking feeling - like that’s just one more thing that’s changed since he left. But then Will laughs, that exact same chortling laugh he’s had since they met in the fourth grade, and Dustin’s face splits into a grin.

“Guys!” he yells, throwing out his arms, and they dogpile him.

From the floor, Lucas groans, “Welcome home, asshole.”

[luv4fandoms]

The Crüe Girls [Ch 4]

The Crüe and I finally got the inspiration up to work on the story more! Life has been busy for a lot of us, and motivation has been low. I think from now on instead of trying to plan out super long chapters we are just gonna go with the flow of what comes to us. So here is Chapter 4! As always this story stars myself (Liz), and these lovely ladies! @xxmotleyfuckingcruexx @rockersbox @livingdeadharley @miamc2282008 and @an-occasional-dreamer .

Warnings: Cussing? Lol

Word Count: 1,932

Part 1, Part 3, Masterlist

“Guys...I think I'm in love” Tommy sighed while sitting on the couch.

“You say that every time a girl comes along”Mick stated, looking over at the dummer who had sat next to him.

“Yeah but this time it's different, I'm gonna take Giulia out on a date soon, I really think she's the one” Tommy explained.

“That's what you said about Erica” Vince stated from chair.

“And Sophie” Nikki added from the kitchen.

“And-” Mick started but Tommy cut him off.

“Ok I get it, you don't have to be assholes”

“Sure we do” Nikki smirked, returning with a beer.

“You sure Harley would like that?” Tommy teased, causing Nikki to simply roll his eyes while he say down.

“Unlike you, I'm not going to change myself for a chick”

“Who said I'm changin? Giulia likes me how I am”

“She hasn't had to deal with you for long” Mick spoke before taking a drag of his cigarette, and earning a laugh from Nikki and Vince.

“Whatever man” Tommy brushed it off.

“And besides. Harley's got a wild side to her, I can tell, she just hasn't embraced it” Nikki smirked.

“Oh, we all can see you wanna embrace more than just her wild side” Tommy laughed, earning a shove from Nikki but a smirk nonetheless. Mick just shook his head, which caught Vince's attention.

“You seem awfully quiet over there Mick” the statement causing everyone to turn to their guitarist.

“Yeah dude, what about Liz huh? Think she's a secret party girl?” Tommy laughed.

“I think she's a lot more mature than you three”

“So she's just your type then” Nikki chuckled

“So you gonna try to get that?” Tommy asked, earning a glare from Mick.

“You three idiots do realize that it's possible to enjoy someone's company at times where you don't have your dick in them, right?”

“Yeah but where's the fun in that?” Tommy asked earning laughs from Nikki and Vince. Mick simply shook his head and took a drink from the vodka bottle, muttering about stupid teenagers.

“So, think you'll get any further with Mo?” Nikki asked, turning his attention to the blonde.

“Man I don't know what the hell her problem is. There is no way a chick can stay that angry about something stupid like knocking them over, for this fuckin long” Vince sighed.

“Maybe you are the one who should try not being yourself” Nikki stated, pointing his beer at Vince.

“Fuck you Sixx” Vince replied earning a chuckle from the man.

“They said she was the type to hold grudges” Tommy added, earning a groan from Vince.

“Why do you care?” Mick asked, causing Vince to look at him.

“what is the real reason you're so angry at the fact that she isn't falling to her knees for you” he added, Vince simply rolled his eyes at what he was insinuating.

“There is no reason, it's just annoying” Vince replied. 

"Whatever you say kid" Mick added, before Nikki spoke up.

"I think you want her because she doesn't want you"

"The thrill of the chase" Tommy laughed.

"Why would I go out of my way to get a girl who is clearly blind, when I have girls falling for me every night?" 

"Don't know man, that's your problem to sort out" Nikki shrugged, before the conversation turned to new songs.

Razzle's pov

I hung up the phone and sat down with a sigh, the smile never leaving my lips.

"I don't think I have seen you frown in the past four days, not that I'm complaining love" Mike said while sitting next to me on my hotel bed. We had finally stopped for our next gig and I had called Mia as soon as I could.

"Is it that obvious?" I laughed.

"That you are bloody head over heels? Crystal mate" Mike laughed. 

"I just haven't been able to get her off my mind" I blushed.

"Little Razzle is in love!" Mike exclaimed causing me to roll my eyes.

"Come off it mate"

"Never" he smirked before adding sincerely.

"I'm happy for you love" 

"Thanks" I smiled

"Just don't get too distracted, we are still on tour remember" he winked while standing up.

"Of course" I laughed.

"Get some sleep Romeo" he laughed while closing my door, I looked at the phone once more, the smile returning.

Liz's pov

A few days had passed since we chilled with the guys, and every night Mo had been sneaking out. On the first night I simply thought she needed air so I fell back asleep, but when I heard the door open again the clock read almost four in the morning! The next two nights were the same, and tonight I was determined to find out where little Mo was running off to. The other's hadn't seem to notice yet, so when it came time to leave that evening I wasn't shocked by Mo's quick excuse.

"I think I'm gonna head out and see some of the town instead" she replied when Giulia asked if we wanted to tag along. Nikki and Tommy were wanting to hang out, according to G, Tommy said Vince wouldn't be there, and to relay that to Mo in case she wanted to come. Mick was back at his house since he didn't live with the other three, and I didn't want to be a fifth wheel of what I knew was sort of a double date, so I simply stated that I was going to stay at the house. After the girls had left I waited a couple minutes before I left as well, and it didn't take long to spot Mo down the road.

"Where are you sneaking off to every night?" I asked no one as I made my way after her, ducking down alleys when she would glance backwards. I saw her duck into the rainbow and I quickly made my way over to a window. Glancing inside I watched her walk up to a table that held four very familiar looking guys.

"No fuckin way" I breathed as I looked over four of the original five members of the one and only Guns N' Roses. 

"So this is where you've been sneaking off to? Why wouldn't you tell us?" I wondered out loud as I thought over my options. I could either one, walk back to the house and wait, or two, walk in and let her know that the cat's out of the bag and ask why she felt the need to keep it a secret….

Looking myself over in the reflection for a minute, I nodded, option two it is. I made my way inside and spotted Mo at the bar, making my way over to her I stopped right behind her.

"So this is where you have been sneaking off to" I smirked when she jumped, before spinning around.

"Liz! What are you doing here?!"

"Following you"

"I knew I felt someone behind me!" She stated, more to herself.

"So you have been sneaking out at night to hang out with Guns n' Roses?" I asked before ordering a drink.

"Maybe" 

"Why?"

"Because Axl wanted to get to know me" she stated.

"I was asking why you felt the need to sneak out, but holy shit really?" I asked before taking a sip of my vodka and coke.

"Yeah, the day Mia and I went to the record store, we met and he said he wanted to get to know me, but we all know the rumors about him and his temper, so I didn't want you all to get over protective, so I figured that-" I cut her off by raising my hand.

"Has he been treating you good?" 

"Yeah"

"Then that's all that matters"

"You act like we're dating" she stated.

"Wouldn't blame ya if you tried" I winked.

"I have a feeling you would rather try with someone else, or should I say some others" she said while glancing back at the table.

"You wouldn't be wrong" I laughed remembering just who was at the table.

"Come on, Harley and Giulia won't be back for awhile," she smiled.

"This is true" I laughed, turning and following her back to the table, but not before earning a laugh from her when I asked.

"When did you become the bad influence?"

"Guys, this is my friend Liz. Liz this is Izzy, Duff, Slash, and Axl"

"Nice to meet ya" I smiled.

"You too" Axl smiled while Mo took her place beside him.

"Have a seat" Slash said while scooting over in the booth, I smiled and sat down, catching Duff sending Slash a quick glare before turning to me.

"So you're one of Mo's roommates?"

"Yup, decided to come see what L.A's nightlife had to offer" I smiled while looking over at Mo while Axl draped his arm across her shoulders.

"What did you find?" Slash asked, resting his arm on the seat behind me. I smiled, my eyes glancing from him, to Duff and back.

"Found out I may have to come out more often" I smile, earning laughs from the boys.

 The saying "time flies when you're having fun" never made much since until tonight. Before I knew it, it was almost four a.m. and we were all either well buzzed or drunk. I still couldn't figure out of Mo and Axl were close friends or on the verge of dating, but she wouldn't stop smiling, so either way, I was happy for her. As we exited the bar Axl asked us once more if we wanted him to walk us back to the house. 

"We're fine sweety I promise" I laughed.

"How come he's sweety?" Duff asked, coming up behind me and wrapping an arm around my waist.

"You're all sweety, it's a southern thing" I laughed.

"So now that you've seen what L.A has to offer? You gonna come out more often?" Slash asked, coming up on my other side while lighting a cigarette.

"Maybe" I smirked.

"Let us know when you want to, we can show you all the cool places" Duff smirked.

"I'm sure you two could" I nodded.

"But we better get home before the others have our heads" I laughed, Duff and Slash gave me a quick hug while Axl said his goodbyes to Mo.

"It was nice meeting you all" I smiled at the group.

"You too, let's do it again" Axl nodded.

"Lets!" And with that the boys walked one way while we walked the other.

"Ok spill, is there something there?" I asked Mo once we were far enough away.

"You two were pretty cozy tonight, and as an outsider it looked like y'all were together" I added.

"Honestly...I don't know" Mo replied.

"Do you want there to be something?"

"I mean...I wouldn't be mad" she laughed but added.

"But like I said, I just don't know"

"That's understandable, y'all just met what? Four days ago? No need to rush. Take it from me, rushing into something never ends well" I told her.

"Says the woman who was flirting with not just one, but two guys." She laughed.

"Harmless flirting. I refuse to be the Yoko of GNR" I laughed.

"So if Duff or Slash asked you out?" She smirked.

"Shit don't put me in that predicament!" I laughed as we made our way up to the house. We quietly entered, but as soon as we shut the door the light turned on, and we were met by four curious pairs of eyes.

Well there is chapter 4! I hope you all enjoy it! If you would like to be added to the perm taglist for this story just ask.

(Perm taglist)

(For some reason it is not coming up with some people when I type in their blog names)

@supersoldierballerina @bllrklv @xxbookqueenxx @kingbouji3 @redhotvinyl @letslyn @sixxmarz @anxious-diabetic @dopplebeater @ceruleanrainblues @criminalyetminimal @pfft-halsey @grxvityb @the-tiny-writer @not-so-quality-imagines

[closetofanxiety]

Beyond Wrestling: Americanrana 18

I got home after 1 a.m. today and woke up at 6 a.m. Then it was a full day of home improvement stuff. I’m tired. I’ve got ice on my bad foot. But I have some thoughts and impressions about the hottest US independent wrestling show of, uh, the month of July, at least. 

Big crowd: This was Beyond’s biggest live gate of all time, and at the same time the most-watched live stream in the young life of Powerbomb TV, AND the single event responsible for more new subscribers than anything else they’ve shown so far. At the venue, a Polish-American club in Worcester with oil paintings of the Old Country on the walls, people were berserk for almost everything that happened during the night. I don’t know how it came across on TV (or whatever, screen, I’m talking about watching it on a screen), but people were loud and excitable. Dan Barry got the biggest reaction Dan Barry has possibly ever had. People reacted to the surprise appearance of Anthony Green  like he was Mike Bailey, and they reacted to the surprise appearance of Mike Quackenbush like he was Steve Austin. It’s so much fun to be with a crowd of people who are just going nuts for professional wrestling.

Final appearance: Matt Riddle had what is almost certainly his last-ever Beyond Wrestling match, getting pinned by Nick Fuckin Gage during a tag match that pitted Gage and Matt Tremont (the New H8 Club) against Riddle and Filthy Tom Lawlor. It’s wild to think that a year ago he was putting his undefeated streak on the line in the main event at Americanrana 17, and this year he was in a mid-card tag match where he ate a pin. He’s headed for big things, though. Gage is great as the fan favorite, thanking people for willing him onto victory, and looking genuinely delighted when he got the pin. Awkward moment: the crowd, excited at the announcement that the winning team was now called “the New H8 Club,” started chanting “C-Z-Dub! C-Z-Dub!” despite Gage having gone over to bitter rivals GCW and Tremont wrestling his final CZW match on Saturday night. Just chant “Nick Fuckin Gage! Nick Fuckin Gage!” Speaking of which ...

Working blue: This was the sweariest Beyond Wrestling show I can remember for some time. They had pregame interviewers with Wrestling Social Media Personality Alicia Atout in front of a fancy Beyond/Powerbomb backdrop, and Janela and ring announcer Rich Palladino, of all people, kept using the word “fuck” like a comma. Kids in the room, gentlemen! 

Unpopular Opinion #1: I like intergender wrestling a lot, but in order for it to become a normal part of pro wrestling, promotions and wrestlers have to stop loudly drawing attention to the fact that THEY AREN’T AFRAID TO HAVE INTERGENDER WRESTLING, DAMN IT. The opening match on the show was a terrifically fun four-on-four pitting Team Pazuzu against “Team WWR”: Kimber Lee, Jordynne Grace, Mia Yim, and Skylar. It was fun and crazy, as you’d expect from that cast of characters, and Skylar did a good job of keeping up with wrestlers who are much more experienced and established than she is. But then after the match, Chris Dickinson cut a promo about how HE RESPECTS THESE GIRLS SO GODDAMN MUCH AND INTERGENDER WRESTLING IS HERE TO STAY. Good! I like that! But the more you act like it’s some remarkable anomaly, the more people are going to treat it like that. It’s just another variety of match, like tag team wrestling.

Oh, also: There was a GREAT moment in the match where Dickinson was about to give Jordynne Grace a Pazuzu Bomb, but she was saved by Kimber Lee, who then stared Dickinson down. This was a callback to the spot in Beyond years ago where Dickinson waffled Lee with a chair and then hit her with a crazy Pazuzu Bomb in a clip that went viral and gave both of them some not-entirely-wanted exposure to the wider world. The crowd, happily, recognized this immediately and went APESHIT. I loved it!

Loco spotfests: There was an announced four-way tag match with Team Tremendous, the Gentlemen’s Club, the Beaver Boys, and the recently renamed Massage Force. There was also an unannounced Chikara showcase, with Solo Darling, Fire Ant, someone working a “Dasher Hatfield’s kid” gimmick, and Quack himself against a Dungeon of Doom-esque cast of characters. Also Travis Huckabee. I honestly groaned when I heard “Chikara showcase,” but they tore down the house. Quackenbush may be a guy who talks like Darril and wants to turn wrestling into TED Talk fodder, but he’s one of the most important US indie wrestlers of all time, and I had never seen him wrestle in person before. At one point, a sea creature or maybe the Gimp or someone picked Quackenbush up by his feet and heaved him backwards over the rope, and he sailed higher and farther than any person I’ve ever seen launched out of a wrestling ring. It was just a hugely fun match, and the four-way tag managed to top it. There was no “storytelling” or “psychology” in either match, and honestly, that’s fine for a big-spectacle show like Americanrana. Just have a bunch of talented people come out and do stuff they don’t normally do in a show, and go wild.

The plot thickens: The big news from the four-way tag is Dan Barry’s betrayal of beloved partner Bill Carr (there was a loud, enthusiastic chant of “Bill Carr fucks! Bill Carr fucks!” after the big man launched himself through the ropes. “Oh my God, I love it! I love it, you guys!” he yelled back. He is like a big happy golden retriever and it’s impossible to think negatively about him). Betrayals don’t always work on the indie level, and I’ve seen my share of partners turning on partners that are greeted with shrugs by the crowd, but people went NUTS after Barry screwed over Carr. A louder, more sustained negative reaction than I’ve ever heard in Beyond. Should be a hot feud! In further plot twists, MJF was injured and couldn’t wrestle Gresham in their blowoff, so Trent was drafted as a surprise Dream Team member. The match ended in a DQ and Gresham roughed up Stokely Hathaway while MFJ watched helplessly from the outside. THIS SETTLED NOTHING. Presumably. 

Unpopular Opinion #2: I think PCO’s run as the TV veteran who has inexplicably become an indie darling is nearing its conclusion. I also think that run does not sit as well on PCO’s shoulders as it would Gangrel. It should be Gangrel out there, getting the big paydays and the crazy receptions from crowds. PCO does not have a lot in his toolbox, if I’m being honest. He had a sloppy, overlong match with Brian Cage that was full of blown spots and awkward pauses. Let’s all focus on Gangrel from now on. 

A new favorite: I’ve done a total 180 on “Hot Sauce” Tracy Williams, who used to bore me to distraction. I really like him now. I think it’s because I’ve heard him on commentary a bunch, and he reminds me of friends who lived in squats and punk houses in the 1990s but who now live in Brooklyn and have respectable jobs in the low six figures, but who are still capable of smashing a bottle in the face of a Nazi skinhead. 

Mayhem: What can I say about the main event, a no-ropes barbed wire death match between David Starr and Joey Janela, to settle a feud that’s been simmering on and off for years? It was extremely violent and bloody. It lasted 22 minutes but felt like 10. Starr won, and cut an absolutely searing promo afterward, calling Janela “a glorified stuntman” who only came to prominence because someone else made goofy Internet videos about him; seriously, it’s one of the best promos I’ve heard an indie wrestler give. Bile and bitterness from a man covered in his own blood; there would be no Triple H Handshake of Respect between these two gladiators.

Grace notes: This was the most efficiently run Americanrana I’ve ever attended. The doors were supposed to open at 6:30, and they opened EARLY. An indie show! This was good, but it trapped one of my friends outside, because he had gone to a bar, assuming it would take forever to get inside the building. I mean, he made it in eventually, he just had to wait at the back of the line ... There was a nice shoutout to Dominki Dijakovicokowiczogonov, gone but not forgotten from Beyond: during his match with AR Fox, Anthony Greene did the Feast Your Eyes and hit Dijakulakovich’s poses while the crowd chanted ���Feast Your Eyes! Feast Your Eyes!” ... Chuck Taylor hit a Rainmaker during the four-way tag match and screamed “This one’s for you, Little Kazu!,” which is a reference to an ongoing Twitter joke that I’m almost ashamed to have recognized ... I bought a hat from David Starr and we talked about the need for national healthcare, which is a conversation topic that wouldn’t work with most wrestlers .... I don’t know why or how they do it, but Americanrana really feels special. Everyone seems to raise their game for the show, and the fans are really in a holiday mood. It’s not a show I ever want to miss ... The crowd went from skepticism over the Chikara wrestlers - one guy grunted, “Fuckin’ Vince Russo gimmicks” when the bad guys came out - to joyous acceptance, capped when the same guy yelled at the sea monster character, “Look at this big green bastard! How’s he able to breathe on land?” ... One of my favorite parts of the day was sitting in the bar downstairs while they broke down the ring and set up the barbed wire. Just seeing a bunch of the wrestlers relaxing and enjoying themselves, having a (non-alcoholic) drink with my friend Mike, enjoying the air conditioning on a summer night: this was a good night ... after the show, we stopped at a service plaza on the Masss Pike to get some unhealthy snacks and use the bathroom, and on our way in we passed Solo Darling. “Great match tonight,” we said. “Thank you!” she said. On our way out, we passed a much less happy Solo Darling as she walked over to the counter to give the McDonald’s people hell. “I distinctly said no cheese on ...” she began, as we hurried out. 

Final thought: There was a 20 or 25 minute break before the main event, where they set up the barbed wire and all that. Mike and I went downstairs to the bar while Mark stayed up in the hall. The first person we saw in the bar, sitting by himself at one end, was David Starr. He was hunched over a glass of water and a shot glass and staring into the middle distance, at nothing in particular. In a few minutes, he was going to walk upstairs and wrestle the most violent match of his career in front of 500 people and you could see the concern on his face as he went over the possibilities: barbed wire, steel chairs, staple guns, cinder blocks, baseball bats. One spot that goes a little sideways and someone leaves the building in an ambulance. That glimpse of David Starr brooding put the whole night - put all of wrestling, really - into perspective. This wasn’t an angle, this wasn’t a promo, he wasn’t in character: this was a man working up the courage to do something reckless and potentially dangerous because he wanted to do it more than anything in the world. It was the look of a man who has willingly taken a great weight onto his shoulders, as many of us have, or will have to one day. It was a wordless rejoinder to all those snide comments about how wrestling is fake: looking at David Starr’s face, sitting alone and being left alone by his friends and peers, his staring eyes showing exactly what he was prepared to do, one thing was clear to anyone who was paying attention - nothing is more real than wrestling.

[emmvee93]

I am having another hard day. Idk why. Not as bad as Tuesday though. I’m like sick to my stomach. Idk. If I eat then I just feel sick. So I have no idea what’s going on. I feel anxious. Like about going to the gym. I don’t think he’s ever going to go anymore but I am nervous. I do still wish he’d show up. I miss him. But like why? He was so awful to meeee. I walked on eggshells. I was unhappy. I think I’m still mad that I didn’t do it first. And I’m mad at myself that I am like bargaining. Saying stupid things like oh well I loved him and I was trying. Like was I? I wanted to break up with him. Was I going to? Idk. I was waiting for something to happen I guess. I downloaded bumble and that wasn’t a good decision. I think that’s why it made me feel worse. I’m not ready for that. I do need to be single. It’s nice talking to Mark but I don’t even think that will go anywhere. Like it just doesn’t feel natural. Somehow Mike felt natural. Blake didn’t though I guess. Idk. I’m just worried about how to do this again. Like why is that important though? If I want to be single that shit will happen when I’m ready. I’d give anything for him to change though. But I know he isn’t going to. He never did. I wish my heart would get on the same page as my brain. Like what’s fucking me up is I want to take care of myself. And to me that’s like going to the grocery store and like buying real food. But then I’m reminded of how we always went together. And like we just did all the basic shit together. And I want that back. Having someone to do life with. I mean that’s what we did. Gym, grocery, whatever. I just feel like I’ll never find that again. I mean he lived so close too. Idk why I’m so concerned about that right now. Because I need to be single and be happy alone. I’ve already figured out that I don’t want to sleep around. Like I knew that but I just reaffirmed it. I feel guilty about that still. Like now I’m worried that Alex knows. She’s been kind of MIA from the group chat stuff. But that’s like all the lies and shit the devil is feeding me. Seriously. I’m so in my head. I want to get out. I keep trying to like give it to Jesus. And it’s like I can say those words but how do I just give it when I keep thinking about it? Like what else can I do or say? All of my friends don’t live very close so it’s hard to hang out with people. And then I’m frustrated that I want to get in shape but I also don’t want to do anything. Like I want to just eat junk but I know that isn’t going to help me. Like what the fuck am I supposed to do? Lol this is ridiculous. I’m worried I’m not going to be okay at Disney. Cuz this was supposed to be our trip. I just need to shit talk with someone. Idk. Because talking about all the negative stuff helps I guess.

[bluesylveon2]

My My, I Could Never Let You Go

Summary: Sasha Zoe just wants her dad to walk her down the aisle. There is only one problem: she doesn’t know who her dad is! Sasha invites 3 men in hopes of finding out which one is her father. What could possibly go wrong?

Pairings: Levi x Hange, Sasha x Niccolo, and other background relationships

Disclaimer: This is a Levihan Mamma Mia au. This fanfic is inspired by Mamma Mia which is directed by Phyllida Loyd, written by Catherine Johnson, and uses music from the pop group ABBA. Attack on Titan is a manga/anime series written by Hajime Isayama and published by Kondasha

A/N: Another chapter y'all! I was supposed to publish this yesterday with ch 10, but I needed to edit it. Also, there's a thunderstorm happening rn in my area so I’ll update this on AO3 later. Enjoy!

TW: mentions of a panic attack

Need to catch up? Catch up here! 

Chapter 11: Voulez-Vous pt. 2

Annie can not believe what she was seeing.

One minute, she was sneaking away to the bar despite the awkward interaction with Erwin earlier. The next minute, Hitch (no surprise) drags Annie to the courtyard. Now here she is, watching Niccolo's bachelor party looking at Sasha's bachelorette party like prey while said party screams their butt off.

She really needs a drink after this.

Annie watches as the girl's screams increases as the males swing down to the courtyard. She watches Mina and Hitch magically make their way to their respective partners based on their squeals and jumps of excitement.

She watches her friends pair up, unaware of the male landing behind her. She feels someone tap her shoulder and her instincts kicked in.

Annie immediately turns and kicks the male's side hard, causing him to fall to the ground. 

She moves in a defensive stance, ready to strike again when the male removes his mask—Annie gasps in shock.

"Armin?!"

"Hey, Annie," he replies weakly and groans with pain.

She leans forward to pick up her boyfriend off the ground. "I am so sorry, Armin! I did not know." she apologizes and blushes with embarrassment.

Armin laughs and waves her off. His face winces slightly. "Hey, it's ok, Annie. It's my fault for surprising you like that."

He extends an arm out for her to take. "You can pay me back by dancing with me."

Annie smiles, forgetting her initial plan to let loose and have fun. "Of course."

---

Mikasa stares at the male in front of her. She is too focused on paying attention to her friends pairing up and beginning to dance around her. She knew who he was even before he took off the mask covering his emerald green eyes.

She runs into his open arms.

"Eren!" She says gleefully as she jumps into his hug.

Eren chuckles and spins her around, careful enough to not have Mikasa accidentally hit anyone nearby. 

"Mikasa!" He sets her down and looks down at her with admiration. 

"What are you doing here?" she asks with shock. First, Sasha's dads appear and now Niccolo's bachelor party! Today is just full of surprises.

Eren laughs at the look on Mikasa's face. He admires her surprised look and everything about her. Of course, Eren had a crush on Mikasa ever since they first met.

She is so cute

"Well, this was all Niccolo's idea. Everyone else joined in to prank the girls, but I wanted to see you again." He confesses bashfully and rubs the back of his neck in embarrassment. 

Mikasa grins at Eren's bashfulness. 

He is so cute

"I'm glad to see you, too." 

This causes Eren to blush and look away from Mikasa's eyes. It was then when he realizes what he needs to do next. He extends his arm out to Mikasa and bows slightly. 

"Do you want to dance, my lady?" he grins boyishly and with a terrible British accent. 

Mikasa laughs and places one hand on top of his. "With pleasure."

Eren grins as he leads Mikasa to the dancefloor. 

---

"Rico is not here at the moment. Sorry about that lover boy, you're stuck with me." Hanami glances around the dancefloor in search of Rico. She should have been out now, so Jean can dance with her. 

"Hey, it's ok." Jean smiles and takes off his mask. It's a good thing Hanami didn't freak out and recognized him immediately. It was probably from his facial hair.

(It was actually from their height difference)

"Let's dance for a bit, ok?" 

Hanami smiles. "Ok."

She starts by twirling first, followed by Jean. They both place one hand on the other's shoulders and the other on the other's waist. Both of them move their hips to the beat.

"You're not as stiff as before. You have improved." Jean compliments Hanami's dancing.

She chuckles and winks at him. "That's because I had a good teacher."

They continue dancing until Hanami notices Hange and her friends enter the scene. She excitedly grabs Jean's shoulders, causing the both of them to stop dancing. She points to where Rico was.

"Jean, look!. Rico is here! Now is your chance to go speak to her!" she says with excitement in her eyes and starts pushing him in Rico's direction. 

However, Jean did not share the same sentiment. He does not move and looks at her worryingly instead. 

"What about you?"

Hanami stops and frowns a bit. "What about me? I appreciate your worry but worry about yourself right now. Your plan is almost done, Jean!"

She searches his face to see if he was convinced. He is not.

She sighs. "Look, I got this under control. Go and have some fun with Rico." She places a hand on his shoulder reassuringly and looks into his golden-brown eyes. 

"I'll be fine. I already talked to Colt earlier, so I'll have a dance partner."

Jean sighs, finally giving in. "Ok. I trust you, Hanami." Hanami chuchles in relief.

"Thank you. Now go have some fun." Hanami grins, and Jean smiles as well.

He leaves Hanami to go search for Rico. It is part of the plan, after all. He only turns around once to find Hanami getting swept away Colt and back to the dancefloor. 

---

Rico watches everyone while Hange and Nanaba go their separate ways. She watches like a hawk watching its prey. She is searching for one man ever since the big revelation from Hange. 

Her eyes scan for Erwin since she last saw him in the crowd. Her eyes widen when she spots his disheveled blonde hair and the woman laughing next to him.

Does she know who she is sitting with?

Does she not recognize him?

Rico laughs to herself and crosses her arms across her chest. Of course, Marie does not notice who Erwin is. The Marie she knew back in university would go guy hunting with Rico, but it seems she grew out of it now. She does not keep up with the "Most Handsomest" magazines anymore.

She smiles at Erwin and Marie's interactions. She is happy for her, really. Although, Rico wants to talk to Erwin at least once during this trip. 

"Ahem."

Rico turns to the source to find the same male from earlier at the bar. Ah, it's Jean.

"Hey," he says nervously.

"Hey to you too," Rico smirks and uncrosses her arms.

Jean shuffles nervously in his spot, causing Rico to laugh. She places one hand on her hip.

"Are you inviting me to dance with you?" she points her nose to the courtyard where everyone is dancing.

Jean rubs the nape of his neck and nods his head. He then extends a hand out for Rico to take.

"Yeah, so do you want to?"

Rico smiles. She will let Jean entertain her for a bit.

"Of course." 

She takes Jean's hand and lets him lead her back to the dancefloor. The two get into position and begin moving to the beat.

"You're an excellent dancer, Jean," Rico compliments after he twirls her. 

Jean chuckles. "Learning and teaching dance can do a thing or two for someone."

Little did Jean know about the two pairs of eyes; briefly look at him in shock as he laughs with Rico. The two did not notice a third pair watching the other two with suspicion on her face. 

---

Nanaba excitedly leaves Hange's side in search of one man, Mike. She knows Rico would scold her for even looking for him. She just wanted to catch up with him. 

Yeah, catch up.

Mike is Nanaba's first love. It was more than love at first sight or the face that Mike owned a yacht. She fell for his personality, charm, and his quirks. He was the ideal man in Nanaba’s eyes. She never told him her feelings since her eyes were focused on Hange. She's not mad about that, though.

Luckily for her, it does not take her long to find him. He was heading in her direction (Hange is a few feet behind her).

"Mike!" she calls out and waves her arm to get his attention. It breaks Mike out of whatever he was in earlier to look at Nanaba. His eyes widen with recognition as he walks up to her. 

"Nanaba. I didn't expect to run into you." He chuckles. He notes how she still smells the same as before. 

Nanaba laughs and looks up at Mike. 

"I see you're still tall as always." Her eyes scan the rest of Mike's body. His clothes looked slightly wrinkled compared to when she saw him earlier.

"Did you get jumped while I was away?" she teases him and places her hands on her hips. She leans forward a bit to examine him. 

"More or less." Mike and Nanaba laugh.

Both of them turn to the crowd where everyone dances. Mike turns to Nanaba and notices how she watches the group with a longing look. He extends a hand out to her.

"Do you want to dance? Miss Best Selling Author?" he smirks, and Nanaba looks at him with shock. 

"I didn't know you knew about that," she blushes and places a hand on top of his waiting one. 

"Of course I know. You’re pretty famous and your books always sell out before I can get my hands on a copy." He and Nanaba get into position and begin dancing with everyone else.

"I'm proud of you." he quietly adds for only Nanaba to hear. Everyone else is too busy dancing to even listen to what Mike said.

Nanaba swears that moment was the moment where she could not stop blushing. She also prays that Mike could not hear her heart pounding in her chest.

---

"Sasha!" Everyone yells as Sasha faints from all the pressure. 

Hange pushes the nearest person away and runs towards her daughter. Luckily for her, Niccolo was fast enough to catch Sasha before she hurt herself. Hange sighs in relief, but she still had a frantic look on her face. 

"Everyone, make some space," she calls and turns to Niccolo.

"Niccolo, check to see if Sasha is breathing or look for a pulse."

She turns to Sasha's friend's nearby and points to the males first. 

"You, prepare Sasha's room and get a lot of water and some food for her. Niccolo, you go with them too."

Niccolo nods and sets Sasha down with Historia, who sat next to him. He follows the rest of the group back into the hotel.

She points to the females next. "You all can reposition Sasha and check on her breathing to make sure she is ok. You do know what to do, right?"

The girls nod in understanding.

"Good."

The girls run off to do their duties. Hange stands up and turns to the crowd, who was watching in silence. 

"The party is officially over. I want everyone to go back home and rest for the big day tomorrow." 

She turns to Rico and Nanaba, who is standing nearby. "Go escort everyone out of the hotel safely."

Rico and Nanaba nod along and head off to their respective station.

Hange turns to her ex-lovers with an angry face. The aura around her changed from tense to cold. She points to them, causing the men to flinch.

"I want to talk to you three. Alone," Hange says in a calm but chilling tone. The men shiver in fear.

She walks away from the trio and starts heading out to a private area. Hange stops and turns around when she notices that the men were not following her. 

"C'mon. I don't have all day." 

She gestures for them to move, and so they did. Mike gulps in fear. Levi sighs and guides Erwin along. He has experienced Hange's anger before, and Erwin is too drunk to make any comments. 

The group walks away from the crowd, unaware of the pair of eyes watching them worryingly.

---

"WHAT WERE YOU THINKING" Hange yells, shocking Erwin and Mike. Hange had stopped walking once they were far away from the party. She let out her anger the moment she decided she walked far enough. 

"Could you three not tell that my daughter was stressed. I don't know your goal, but stop being selfish and open your eyes for once! She was fine before you three decided to show up!" 

Hange huffs from her yelling, and a moment of silence pass between all of them. The trio was too intimidated by Hange to say a word. She begins pacing around and running her fingers through her hair, making her hair even messier than before. 

Erwin, being a brave soul, decides to speak up first.

"Hange, We're sorry for-" 

Hange's head shoots up and glares at Erwin. Levi notices the stress and the tears threatening to fall down on her face. Levi steps in and grabs Erwin's shoulder before Hange decides to yell at them again.

"Erwin. I think it is time for us to take our leave."

Erwin and Mike look at Levi with astonishment. Why is Levi trying to stop them? Meanwhile, Hange taps her foot anxiously, waiting for Levi's response. 

"But Levi. We should at least apologize to her."

Levi nods in agreement. "I agree, but trust me. Hange is in distress right now, and we should not be selfish. Besides-"

He points to Moblit, standing off to the side watching the scene. Moblit flinches from Levi, noticing him, and he moves his stance to show that he is ready to intervene.

"Hange is in good hands."

Erwin moves his mouth to argue but stops after seeing the look in Levi's eyes. Levi looks down at the ground with sadness and defeat. Erwin understands what Levi was dealing with.

"Ok." he nods. "Let's go." 

Erwin and Mike begin heading back to the yacht, with Levi following a few feet behind. His head was down, and his bangs cover his eyes. Yet, Erwin and Mike make no move to ask. They both understood with one look. 

Moblit immediately jumps in and checks up on Hange, asking if she is ok or needs anything. Hange nods and begins heading back to the hotel.

Levi stops and turns to watch Hange's figure get smaller and smaller, his heart aching from sadness, guilt, and defeat.

---

Erwin, Mike, and Levi walk back to the yacht in silence. They were almost at the dock but stop when they hear the sound of footsteps running their way.

"Erwin! Stop!"

Erwin knew that voice from anywhere. "Marie?"

Levi and Mike stop and look at Erwin in shock. 

"You know her?" Mike asks.

Erwin nods, his shock never leaving his eyes. 

"We met at the party." He says. His eyes never leaving Marie's figure, getting closer to them every second.

Marie stops running once she is in front of the trio. She stops to catch her breath before speaking.

"I saw you all leaving with Hange. You don't have to tell me what happened, but I want you three to listen to me."

The three nod their heads, and Marie smiles. Suddenly, her happy demeanor changes to a stern one. 

"I don't know what you guys did to make Hange mad, but you guys better not think about leaving this island with your tails tucked between your legs."

She walks up to Erwin and looks at him deep in his blue eyes. 

"Apologize to Hange, separately." She jabs a finger on Erwin's chest

"If she ends up the same way as Sasha earlier-"

She brings her finger in front of one side of her neck and quickly moves it to the other side as if she is cutting something: the trio, especially Erwin, shivers in fear.

"I will not hesitate to make your trips end terribly. Do you understand?"

The trio nod in agreement, and Marie smiles. She stands up straight and sighs in relief.

"Anyways, I am parched from all of this running. Can I get some water before I head back to my hotel room?"

Mike and Levi look at her in shock. To them, Marie was like a rollercoaster. She started off sweet, then went to threatening them, and now she is back to being sweet. They look up at Erwin to see if they share the same opinion. Apparently, Erwin did not. He looks at Marie like she is Aphrodite herself.

Erwin clears his throat and gains back his composure. 

"Of course. We have some on the yacht. I can also walk you back to your hotel room after." Erwin smiles at Marie with his charm that impresses both Mike and Levi. Erwin extends a hand out for her to take.

"I can take you there now."

Marie looks at Erwin's hand and then back at Erwin. She smiles and nods in agreement.

"I would like that," she says as she grabs his hand. Erwin leads her back to the yacht, and Levi can swear she can see a pink cloud forming around their bodies.

Mike chuckles at the potential new couple walking away. Levi watches them leave while silently wishing it was him and Hange in their place. 

"Look at Erwin growing up. Earlier this morning, he was hesitant to take risks, and now look at him. He is now becoming more spontaneous every hour."

Mike grins like a proud dad and turns to Levi. He notices an imaginary storm cloud forming on the tip of Levi's head. An idea forms in his head, and he elbows Levi.

"How much do you want to bet that Erwin is getting laid tonight?"

Levi looks up at Mike with disgust. "Get your mind out of the gutter, Mike. Let's call it a night before I have to clean you as well."

Levi begins walking back, and Mike laughs instead. "You never answered my question, Levi. Do you want to put in 100? 500? 1000?"

Mike continues to list numbers while Levi continues his trek back to the yacht. The couple is now long gone to hear Mike's antics. In reality, Levi is ready to jump or push Mike into the sea. Either one works for him. At least it slightly suppressed his depression from earlier.

Yet, Levi can still hear Hange's words and see Sasha fall replay over and over in his head.

©: This is where I insert all rights reserved stuff. This story belongs to me. Do not modify or republish. Hanami is my OC and she belongs to me. 

I originally intended for Nanaba to stop the trio, but it would not make sense so I switched her for Marie.

I added the Annie part to give a realistic POV of what would happen if some guys randomly crashed a party.

The plot will move quicker next chapter! We will even get to see Pieck and Porco!

[agentsphilinda]

5 + 1 Times People Found Out About Sara and Jeffrey

Woohoo! First fic in the fandom, I think. Big thanks to @tonksiefea for her help in writing this. Some mentions of sexual situations. Also, the text of the article is the same text used on the show.

1. Mike

Mike was shocked when he saw Sara and Jeffrey together, but he knew he shouldn’t have been.

Jeffrey had gone through a hard time, losing Mia. That wasn’t lost on him. And, while a public figure, the man didn’t have many friends or anyone he could confide in - Mike was the closest to that, he suspected, and even then, Mike wasn’t exactly warm and friendly. Then when Jeffrey proposed the idea of Sophe, he’d brought Sara along, and Mike had simply been glad that he had someone to talk to.

A relationship between the two of them… It complicated things.

He trusted Jeffrey and knew the man wouldn’t be taking advantage of her - as far as Mike knew, looking at his employees had never been an issue. Hell, Jeffrey had been a passionate man but never about romance - from what he knew about his relationship to Alex, their relationship hadn’t been half as deep as the one look he saw between him and Sara. He wasn’t the kind of man to take advantage of someone who worked beneath him, even if Sara was really more of Jeffrey’s equal in Sophe in all but title.

However… He didn’t know much about Sara. She seemed sweet, but what would happen if their relationship went badly? What if Jeffrey screwed up and Sara, one of their most valuable assets, quit? What if she took them to court? She didn’t even have a contract, and Jeffrey had said it wasn’t an issue, but now...

He looked at the two of them, behind the glass walls of the office. He could see it on Jeffrey’s face - a sense of peace he hadn’t had in years, of longing, of absolute and infallible love.

Even if Mike had advised him not to pursue a relationship with her, he knew it was useless - he knew Jeffrey wasn’t going to be swayed away from Sara just as much as he wouldn’t be swayed from the belief that Carlos Ochoa was innocent.

2. Tariq

Sara really needed to learn to wear makeup. Either that, or Tanner should get better at biting places that were easy to hide.

Despite her sweater, the hickey on his boss’s neck was rather obvious. Sara had been tugging at the material, trying to hide it, but it was obvious.

The other telltale signs of a relationship were there, and it almost hurt that they were so bad at keeping it a secret. Sara getting in early was a dead giveaway - it was obvious she’d never even left. And, by the fact that she still wore different sets of clothes, he was sure she spent almost all her time at his place, if they weren’t already living together.

Jeffrey wasn’t as obvious, especially because his stubble and clothing hid any possible marks much better. But then just seeing the way he looked when he so much as glanced at her - or the way they fought like they just wanted to bone each other - was plenty a sign. The man was whipped.

3. Josh

Running up to Jeffrey’s flat above the office, Josh used his key to enter. Tanner had asked him to grab a bottle of champagne he kept up there, now that they’d apprehended multiple murderers and Cavanaugh hadn’t been killed in the process.

When he hadn’t expected to find was a mess of clothes on the floor. Right by the door was a jacket, and another was a few feet away from it. Two pairs of shoes - one a set of loafers and the other heeled boots - by the table, from which several envelopes had obviously been shoved off of. Closer to the desk was a shirt, a delicate lace bra on top of it. He picked up the shirt - obviously not Jeffrey’s, it was made of a silky pale purple material and was definitely a woman’s.

He held it up to the light, immediately dropping it and turning bright red when he recognized it as Sara’s shirt, and the trail of clothes were a mix of Tanner’s and hers, and… Well, shit.

He owed Tariq five bucks.

4. Prudence

Prudence stared at her phone in her lap, contemplating giving Sara a call. Work was getting worse - it wasn’t so bad, but even as a filing clerk she was still called rude names by the perp and occasionally even by the officers. She wanted to work in a place that empowered women, and even though the station had come close, it wasn’t the work she wanted to be doing.

Gathering her courage, she pressed the little green call button, and soon enough Sara picked up. “Hello?” She asked, her British accent just slightly thicker than Prudence had heard before. Was it because of the phone conversation?

“Hey, Sara, it’s, um… It’s Prudence? Josh’s friend?” Well, she hoped they were more than friends. Josh didn’t seem to know what he wanted.

“Oh, right, the - “ Sara made a strained noise in the back of her throat. “The girlfriend?” She asked, sounding just slightly out of breath.

“I wouldn’t call us that. At least not at the moment. Is this a bad time?” She asked.

Over the phone, she heard muffled voices and one she recognized, not as Sara’s, but as Jeffrey Tanner’s. She looked up at the clock - did Sara work till ten at night? She nearly jumped when she heard a chuckle from the older woman, followed by a deep laugh from the man she was sure was Jeffrey. “It’s not great.”  Sara said, and Prudence was sure she heard the slightest hitch in her tone. “How about I call you - “ Sara cut off and Prudence could hear it - she was biting back a noise and it came out as a muffled groan.

“Doctor Morton is preoccupied at the moment.” Tanner said, apparently having stolen the phone. He seemed equally out of breath. “She can call you in the morning?”

“Y-yeah, that would be fine. Thanks.” Prudence said, ending the call quickly to consider that conversation. Were Sara and Tanner sleeping together?

She considered this. It hadn’t been long, but Prudence had honestly begun to see Sara as a kind of role model - the woman was in the tech world, completely brilliant, and even Tanner despite being her boss had seemed ready to wax poetic on Sara’s accomplishments. Did that come from Sara just giving a man what he wanted, what it sometimes seemed was the only way to get ahead as a woman in tech?

No. That wasn’t possible. Sara was a strong woman who had made it clear she took no shit from anyone. And the way Tanner looked at her…

If anything, Sara was in charge of him, not the other way around.

Also, Sara had gotten her doctorate? What a complete badass.

5. Nell

“Did you get those pictures of the girl breaking her restraining order?”

Nell was sitting at her desk late at night, having called up the PI she’d hired to track Sara Morton once they’d set up the restraining order.

“Yes, and I got something even better for you.” The PI responded.

Nell raised an eyebrow. “It’s gotta be pretty good to top that.” She said.

He chuckled over the phone. “Oh, it is. You’ll want to see this. But make sure you’ve prepared yourself for it. Sending the pictures over now.” The PI said before hanging up. She hung up as well, checking her email and her smile breaking into a full blown grin of triumph before saving the pictures - she’d only share them if she wasn’t able to convince Jeffrey Tanner’s plaything to return to AllSourcer. She cracked open a bottle of champagne, pouring herself a glass and savouring the feeling of victory.

Taking down Jeffrey Tanner was going to be a breeze.

6. Alex

Alex looked down hearing her phone buzz. She was in her office after a late night meeting.

have you seen this?

It was a text from her publisher, along with a link to an article on BayAreaCelebs.com. The site was full of gossip, but she knew their work was usually well sourced. And, while this article seemed to be trashy journalism, they seemed to have the evidence to prove it.

Did Sophe’s Top Woman Earn the Title on Her Back?

In the latest shocking yet not surprising news to come out of silicon valley, it seems that Sara Morton, the British wunderkind behind Sophe Crowdtec (Jeffrey Tanner’s crowdsourced crime solving app) may have gotten the position by using the oldest algorithm in the book - sleeping with the boss. that’s right, Sara Morton is in a relationship with Jeffrey Tanner. Behold the proof:

A picture that was very clearly Jeffrey and Sara - a woman she’d only very briefly met once, though Mia had mentioned really liking her - kissing on a bed, Jeffrey still wearing a shirt and Sara topless. To the left of those images was one of Jeffrey’s head on her breasts, and the other very obviously kissing his way down her stomach, making his way to - well. That was very clear from the image.

YOWZA! Hot as these pictures may be - this girl definitely does yoga - it’s a damn shame because a revelation like this throws everything into question. Did she actually create Sophe Crowdtec? Or did Tanner throw her a bone after a particularly good night in bed? you know how tech CEOs love to “mentor young women.” (Wink, wink.) And what kind of woman swoops in on a grieving father after losing his daughter? Was she planting the seeds before Mia was even murdered? maybe Sophe Crowdtec should take a look at her for Mia Tanner’s murder. This should make for some interesting crime solving at Sophe Crowdtec, don’t you think? Makes you wonder how the rest of the company feels about the boss playing favorites.

Alex put down her phone to consider the article. As much as she often hated Jeffrey, for what he was doing and for the way they’d stopped loving each other, she also was a feminist who was insulted by the idea that the only way Sara could have gotten where she was was through Jeffrey. Jeffrey could be an asshole, sure - even he’d admit to that. But he could recognize good talent and would follow that. Hell, he was attracted to that.

She glanced at the photo again. Even before they’d divorced, the two of them hadn’t had sex in over a year, and he’d never looked that happy in bed with her. Happy wasn’t even the right word - he looked downright reverent. And while she’d never been that into it, he’d never been too enthusiastic about oral sex for her, either.

Dialing BayAreaCelebs.com, she decided to comment. She might not support Jeffrey - especially if he was going to screw up by sleeping with a much younger woman who he worked with - but she wasn’t going to standby and watch another woman with him now be mocked, and she would never believe that Sara Morton, a woman who Mia had said she thought was ‘awesome’, be dragged through the dirt.

[bringmetolife-pwff]

Part One: Chapter Eleven - The Late Princess Diana’s Concert

July 1st, 2007

Today was a big step in her friendship with William.  Not only would she get to meet some of his family there but she would know him on a much personal level as well.  She was anxious.  Evelyn had decided to wear a bright yellow sundress and tan wedges for shoes.  She had long tresses down in soft waves, flawless skin, a small winged eyeliner with her eyelashes coated in black mascara.  

It was a nice day and Evelyn wanted to be comfortable as the concert was going to be at Wembley Stadium.  Once she felt she looked good enough, she left the apartment and headed to Clarence House where she would be arriving to Wembley Stadium with William, Harry and Chelsy.  Her family meeting them there.

***

As they were at their destination, Wembley Stadium, William turned to her with all seriousness.  Any sense of humour that he had was now gone and only concern was held in his blue eyes.

"If at any point you feel as though it's too much or you get slightly overwhelmed tell me, alright?  I love my family but meeting loads of them at once can be a bit much for some."

"I will," she nodded her head giving him a smile.  "Now come on, you, let's go in already," she said excitedly as she unbuckled her seatbelt.  

"All right, all right," he laughed shaking his head as they both walked out the car.

Before arriving, the night before, William had briefed Evelyn on how to formally greet his Granny, the Queen, and certain members of the Royal family.  It was going to be a lot but Evelyn was quite excited about the day.  Knowing that Chelsy would be there as well made her feel a bit better about everything.  She would be meeting the majority of his family today -- the Queen, cousins Princess Eugenie and Beatrice of York, their mother Sarah, Duchess of York, Zara and Peter Phillips, Mike Tindall and Autumn Kelly.  He advised her the best he could.  She would also be meeting members of the Spencer family as well as his ex-girlfriend, Kate Middleton, and her family.

"You must be the famous Evelyn," a tall blonde commented at Evelyn as she was with a very muscular man next to her.  Both of them holding hands.

After introductions were made Evelyn found out that Zara was an equestrian and an Olympian and that Mike was a rugby player.

"Have you ever been to a game before?" he asked her curious.

"I haven't," she shook her head.

"Well, if you're ever interested you should come to one of my games."

"Will do," she smiled at the guy.

It wasn't until later that William had found out that his Granny was at the stadium.

"Granny," William called for his grandmother once she was done talking to someone Evelyn didn't know.  "I have someone I want you to meet.  This is Evelyn Bennett."

Evelyn curtsied to the Queen, "Your Royal Highness."

The Queen was impressed with her curtsy as she smiled at the young blonde.

"Are you the fashion designer whom William went to your show months back?"

"Yes, ma'am," she nodded her head.  "My brother, Eric, is in the same unit as William and we had met a couple times before."

"I must say your line for this year was very nice.  I was quite pleased with the turn out."

She had no idea that the Queen had known about her or her fashion line.  She supposed she needed to if her grandson was friends with her.  Blushing, she took the compliment.  

"Thank you, ma'am."

William cleared his throat as the two women looked up at him curious to hear what he had to say.

"Granny, Evelyn was the young girl who gave me the forget-me-nots at mum's funeral."

Realisation dawned on the Queen as she remembered all those years ago.  They weren't her fondest or proudest moments and if she could take back how she treated Diana, she would in a heart beat.  But, from now on she promised to do better.

"Oh, yes, yes.  Of course.  I remember now.  I thought I recognised you a bit, or at least knew you from somewhere," she smiled at the woman.  "Now I know," the Queen said as she walked to the young blonde and took her hands in hers.  "Thank you for providing comfort to William on that day.  It was a lot for our family but especially the boys."

Evelyn felt a lump in her throat as she could feel her eyes start to tear up.  Shit, shit, shit!  She was not planning on crying today and she tried her damn near best to not let the tears spill.  Thankfully, they held up to their end of the bargain.

"I remember how I felt when my granddad died, ma'am, and I just felt as though he needed some comfort.  Someone to know that there were others like him out there."  

"Very brave of you, indeed.  Your curtsy has improved by now I see."

"Thank you, ma'am," she smiled bashfully.

"Please, call me Elizabeth."

"Alright, ma'- Elizabeth," the two women smiled at each other as it felt as though a bond was starting to form.  

What kind of bond?  They weren't sure.  But the Queen was sure that she would be seeing more of this blonde as she could see how close her and her grandson were.  Plenty of introductions were made that day, as she was meeting the rest of William's family and his ex-girlfriend; along with her family.

"William this is my mum--Natasha, dad--Peter, Jake and his girlfriend Mia along with my two adorable nephews Samuel and David," she said tickling Samuel's stomach making him squirm and laugh as she held him in her arms.  "You already know Eric, Noah, Theo and Vivienne; who you already met."

"It's nice to meet you all," William said after shaking all their hands with a smile on his face.  "And so incredibly glad to have you all join us for this event."

"Oh we wouldn't miss it for the world," Natasha said warmly with a kind smile.

"Please enjoy yourselves and just have fun that's all my family and I ask of you," he politely smiled at her family.

William suddenly noticed a familiar tall brunette whose dimples showed as she smiled, talking to one of his friends, and her sister Pippa next to her.  His demeanor completely changed.  He no longer had a relaxed posture or that smile that seemed to light up his blue eyes.  He now displayed a slight frown and seemed more closed off; stoic even.

"Right then," he told her family.  "Evelyn, there's one more person I would like you to meet."

Her eyes moved to the direction that he followed and she sucked in a breath, nodding her head.  She handed Samuel to Mia and followed William.  She knew that Kate would be here and felt as though it would be better to meet her right away instead of later.  Evelyn wondered if he had seen Kate since he ended things with her but guessing by his changed behaviour, she guessed he hadn't.

Evelyn saw William's friend who she met last night, Michael, raise his eyebrows and glance at them.  Kate saw the gesture as well and stopped laughing as she saw her ex walk up to her with another woman.

She had recognised her.  Not only for her name--being a Bennett family member all of them were very well-known but also for seeing her on the front cover with William as the two looked very comfortable outside of the club, Boujis.  For a split second, Evelyn saw hurt in the brunette's eyes.  As fast as it came was as fast as it went.  Instead, stood a woman who was trying to look strong and brave in front of her ex-boyfriend.

"Kate," William greeted his ex.

"Will."

It felt as though to Evelyn that she was invading this very personal conversation and it made her feel a bit awkward, like she didn't belong.  She and Michael stood there watching the two ex's as William cleared his throat.

"I wanted to thank you and your family for still coming to the concert to honour my mum."

"Of course," she gave a tight lipped smile.  "We wouldn't not come.  After all, you did ask me to come before we broke up."

Ouch.  Evelyn wasn't sure who those words hurt more. . .  Her or William.  

"Right well I wanted to introduce you to Evelyn.  Evelyn this is Kate," he gestured.

Kate raised an eyebrow at the blonde as she looked at her.  She noticed the apprehension in her and liked feeling as though she was above the blonde somehow.  She had already known William's friends and family for years and was good friends with them.  Whereas this Evelyn woman was still meeting all of them.  Still trying to find her place.  

"Pleasure," she said abruptly, no hint of a smile shown.

"You as well," Evelyn replied quietly as she wrung her hands together.

"Evelyn, why don't we go have a chat with Sebastian and his wife Elisabeth?  They've just arrived and I'd hate for them to not have anyone around," Michael suggested allowing the frosty behaviour.

"Are they really?" she asked genuinely interested now.  "I'd love to see them."

Since she had met Elisabeth that night at Boujis a few weeks ago, they had kept in touch in the meantime.  Making sure to check in on Evelyn and wanting her to feel welcome.  Elisabeth had such a warm and inviting presence about her that was intoxicating.

"I'll come find you later," William told Evelyn to which she nodded her head and he gave her a small smile of reassurance as which she reciprocated.

***

William eventually found Evelyn and looked infinitely better than when she had left him.

"Are you okay?" she asked concerned as worry filled her eyes.

"Perfect, never better."

After Evelyn had left with Michael, he and Kate had a small chat about what they were up to now and how they had been.  It may have been superficial but he didn't need any heavy talking with Kate tonight, if anything that could be for another time; if it needed to be at all.

"Evelyn, there's someone very special I want you to meet," William said as he guided her to a man who was shorter than William and had shaggy blondish brown hair.

"Elton," William called him and suddenly Evelyn sucked in a breath, releasing it.

The man turned around and Evelyn took notice of his appearance. He was a bit chubby and wore small framed glasses that seemed to have a bit of a rosy tint to them. He seemed like a very happy man. Evelyn and she couldn't believe that she was actually meeting him. She had heard of Elton John from her parents as they very much liked his songs.

"Evelyn," William paused as his hand was on her back in a supportive manner. "This is a dear family friend who was best friends with my mum for years. Evelyn this is Elton John."

"Hello dear, how are you?" He asked with a very sweet, warm and welcoming smile after he shook her hand, he took hold of them in his.

"I'm well, thank you. And you? It's an honour to meet you, sir."

He had a hearty laugh at the word 'sir.' His eyes dancing with gleam as his whole body shook with laughter.

"Please call me Elton! No one has called me 'sir' in years, unless it's business. Are you here for business, dear?" He asked to which her eyes widened with shock.

Even though he was granted the title 'sir' by the Queen, he never truly liked to be called it.  It was an honour to be granted that title but he felt it should remain that for him--a title.  

"No, I'm sorry, Elton," she apologised.

"It's no problem at all," he waved a hand. "I've been looking forward to meeting you," he told her releasing their hands. "I've heard lots about you."

"Well, it seems as though you were the only one," she teased.

"Keeping her to yourself, hm?" He asked turning to William to which earned a laugh from both William and Evelyn.

"What can I say? She's just so lovely, I couldn't share."

"Oh stop," she told him jokingly.

The three of them had a chat for a few more moments before Elton was called for soundcheck as he was going to be opening up to the song Your Song.

***

The piano started playing and the crowd cheered, especially loud were the family and friends sitting in the Royal box, wanting to support their dear friend.

Elton's face appeared on the screen and he smiled, Diana's picture as well as Evelyn looked over at William and smiled at him, squeezing his hand in support.  As he started singing the opening lyrics to the song Your Song, he received a standing ovation from everyone in the stadium.

It's a little bit funny, this feelin' inside I'm not one of those who can easily hide I don't have much money, but boy, if I did I'd buy a big house where we both could live

If I was a sculptor, but then again, no Or a man who makes potions in a travelin' show Oh, I know it's not much, but it's the best I can do My gift is my song and this one's for you

After Elton John's song, William and Harry both walked on stage as they shook hands with the family friend and waved to people. The crowd cheering for Elton John, Prince William and Prince Harry and the two prince's walked to the microphones.

"Hello Wembley," Harry spoke loudly into the microphone as the crowd cheered some more making Evelyn laugh with Chelsy.

"It's great to see so many of you here today, supporting this very special show. Of course, when William and I first had this idea we forgot that we'd end up standing here desperately trying to think of something funny to say. Well, we'll leave that to the funny people."

"I'd just like to tell you," William spoke up. "why we're all here tonight. This evening is about all my mother loved in life. Her music, her dance, her charities and her family and friends," the crowd cheered as Union Jacks were flying by fans holding them swaying their arms side to side.

"I'd also like to take this opportunity to say hi to all the guys in Ace Squadron Household Cavalry who are serving out in Iraq at the moment," Harry said and the crowd cheered again. "I wish I was there with you, I'm sorry I can't be. But to you and everybody else at operations at the moment we'd both like to say stay safe."

"So for now," William concluded. "We'll see you later on. We just want you to have an awesome time and enjoy the line up here today. Speaking of which, we have the greatest pleasure in introducing one of our mothers favourite bands -- it's Duran Duran."

Duran Duran performance went fantastic as everyone loved the song.  Other artists sang their songs as well.

Natasha Bedingfield was now on stage and the instruments to the song Unwritten started to play as Evelyn let out a gasp and looked to William.

"Are you only joking?" she asked.

William knew exactly what she was going on about.  This was the first dance they had danced to at Boujis a few weeks ago.

"Did you tell her?" she asked him.

"No," he grinned at her.  "Honest.  Is it okay?"

"More than okay."

I am unwritten, can't read my mind I'm undefined I'm just beginning, the pen's in my hand Ending unplanned

Staring at the blank page before you Open up the dirty window (window, window, window) Reaching for something in the distance So close you can almost taste it (taste it, taste it, taste it)

She raked her hands absentmindedly through his sandy blonde hair as they swayed to the slow song.  His strong arms wrapped around her tiny frame from the back as she leaned against his chest.  They were lost in their own little world oblivious to Harry's smirk at the "friends" and the side eye glances that Eugenie and Beatrice were giving each other.  They missed the knowing glint that Natasha gave Peter and the sweet smile that Zara gave them as she cuddled next to Mike.  Chelsy had decided to take a picture of the two of them--his arms wrapped around hers as she leaned into his chest, both having big smiles on their faces as they looked onward at the music playing.  

Feel the rain on your skin No one else can feel it for you Only you can let it in No one else, no one else Can speak the words on your lips Drench yourself in words unspoken Live your life with arms wide open Today is where your book begins The rest is still unwritten

William and Evelyn sat in the crowds as he put an arm around her shoulders as they danced to the music.  She loved the feeling of being so close to him.  The warmth is body radiated.  The safety she felt as she looked into his blue eyes and felt his sandy blonde hair in between her fingers.  Natasha spoke into the mic.

"Come on," and raised her hands above her head clapping and everyone followed.  

Your lips It is It is On your lips On your lipsStaring at the blank page before you Open up the dirty window (window, window, window) Reaching for something in the distance So close you can almost taste it...

Evelyn forgot that she was with the Royal family and looked at them as normal people--friends.

The rest is still unwritten.

When the song ended, the crowd cheered and Evelyn leaned her head on William's shoulder as he wrapped a protective arm around her, wanting to keep her close.  

Eventually Kanye West performed as William and Evelyn were shouting the lyrics to the song.

"Gotta testify, come up in the spot looking extra fly," William and Evelyn shouted at the same time while dancing and laughing.  "For the day I die I'mma touch the sky.  Back when they thought pink polos would hurt the roc, before cam got the shit to pop, the doors was closed."

"I felt like bad boy's street team, I couldn't work the locks," William shouted as Evelyn recorded him shouting lyrics word for word.

The concert had come to an end and good nights were said to family and friends.  The two were at William's car as he pulled her close to her.

"Stay with me tonight?" William asked Eve as he held her hand.

"Yeah," she nodded her head with a smile.

***

The four were now back at Clarence House having enjoyed the best time.  They were going over the final result of how much money they had made from the concert.  Evelyn just knew that regardless of how much they made, Diana would be proud of her sons for the men they had become and honouring her memory as not only a Princess but as an influential person and a mother.

"One point two million pounds," Evelyn said wide eyed as she looked at the two prince's and Chelsy.  "Holy shit!"

"Well done, everyone," Evelyn told the three of them.  "Your mum would be proud," she told the two princes.

"You look like you had a good time," William pointed out to Evelyn as they were alone for the first time all day.

"I had the best, thank you for inviting me," she smiled at him.

"It wouldn't have been the same without you," he told her honestly.

"I'm sure it would have, but thank you for making me feel better."

Harry and Chelsy had now retired to his room leaving the two alone.  Chelsy had made sure to send the pictures she had taken throughout the night to Evelyn including the ones of Eve and William together.  The young blonde wasn't sure what they were but whatever they were, she was glad to see them both enjoying themselves.  She wished everyone could experience love or romance.

"Am not joking," he shook his head.  "It would've been all right, I s'pose.  But being with you is the most relaxed and fun I've had in ages.  I never wanted this night to end."

***

"You leave tomorrow," as realisation hit her and they were alone in his room.

He nodded his head.  For the first time he wasn't wanting to.  He wanted to stay and now it would be months possibly before he saw her again.  

"I like you Eve," William said to her as he took her hand in his.  "I think I always have, from the moment I met you.  But it was never the right timing for either of us and -"

"I like you too, Wills," she told him honestly.  "From the very first moment I met you all those years ago when you were only a boy, there was something about you.  Your eyes held such kindness and truth.  It made me want to get to know you more."

"Can I kiss you?" he asked gently to which she nodded.

As soon as she felt his lips press to hers, it was soft at first, almost as though it were like a feather blowing in the wind.  His hand making its way to her thigh, trailing up her waist, arm and then making its final destination to her cheek.  Feeling encouraged by this, Evelyn applies a bit more pressure to his lips, enjoying the feeling of his lips on hers.  Like she can feel her whole body awaken.  Then he slows it down and detaches his lips from hers, resting his forward against hers as they try to breathe normal.

"We finally admitted to liking each other and now you're leaving tomorrow. . . Where do we go from here?" Evelyn asked leaning against the couch as he pulled her to him wanting to feel close to her.

"I know I probably have absolutely no right to ask you this but I was wondering if you'd wait for me?"

His blue eyes held such hope, thoughtfulness and consideration. They had no idea what the future held but they had hoped that it held the two of them together.

"Of course," she laughed happily as a tear slid down her cheek hugging him. "Of course, I'd wait for you. You didn't even have to ask."

"Oh Eve. . ."

He pulled her to him as he breathed in her scent smelling a fresh smell of possibly fresh citrus.  His head now in the crook of her neck as he peppered soft kisses down her neck, her hands making their way into his sandy blonde hair as she enjoyed the feeling.

Slowly he picked her up as her legs wrapped round his waist and he carried her to his bed laying her down as laughed lightly.  Both her hands moved to his face as she leaned forward with more aggression, more assertiveness than she had felt in ages.  

"Are you sure?" He asked her softly as he hovered over her on his bed.

"More than anything," she promised him as her hands moved her hands under his shirt, feeling his skin for the first time.  

The slightest touch making him shiver.  His shirt being removed and tossed to the side somewhere, neither of them caring in the slightest.  Her hands ran up his back, round his broad muscular shoulders, slowing making their way down his chest then his stomach.  Leaning down he pressed his lips to hers, clothes being removed.  Reaching for protection, he slid into her allowing her a few moments to adjust.  

Heavy breaths and moans were heard as they made love to each other.  her fingers scratching up and down his back as he whispered sweet nothings to her.  She felt whole.  For the first time having this feeling.  She felt loved and taken care of and doing the same for him.  

After finishing, the two fell asleep in each other's arms.  Her head on his chest as he held her tight.  

Neither of them wanting to let go of this.

[historyrepeatsitself-phff]

Chapter Seventy-Six

A/N: This is a pretty long chapter, so I hope you enjoy.

I know I say this every time, but please please please let me know what you think of the chapters. I think I speak on behalf of every fanfic writer when I say that even the smallest message makes our day!! You can send me the simplest thing like “that was good” or “i liked it” (or also “that was shit” if that’s how you feel 😄)

I love writing the story for you guys, but hearing what you think makes it even more enjoyable for me. Please don’t be shy, and please don’t worry about language issues, I’ve lived abroad before, I know how hard it is to speak in a second language and I would never judge anyone for it 💖

On the morning of the 5th of February, Harry awoke suddenly, eyes finding Emmy who was in a deep sleep beside him. She was curled in a ball, tucked under the cover, and so Harry hastily slipped out of bed to comfort Grace before she could wake her mother. Grace was crying, face scrunched up and arms flailing, and Harry lifted her into his arms. Her wails faltered for a moment, happy to have company, before she continued screeching again. Harry lifted her, sniffed, and then made a face. She needed changing.

“Alright, baby, I’ll change your nappy,” he murmured, taking her out into the nursery and shutting all the doors behind him. He recalled Emmy getting up in the night to feed Grace, and he wanted to let her sleep as much as possible. Emmy had had a busy few days, not only with preparing for the christening – three days earlier she’d accompanied Harry, William and Kate to a Heads Together training day for the London Marathon, and only the day before Emmy had visited Macmillan’s Cancer charity. He was not surprised she was exhausted.

“You can stop crying,” he teased Grace gently, setting her on the changing table. “I’m doing it, alright?”

He wrinkled his nose as he removed the soiled nappy and then started to clean her. Grace stopped crying now, silent, watching her daddy with wide, blue eyes. She was being difficult, kicking her legs whenever he tried to grab them and wipe under them, and he scowled at her, as though she was doing it on purpose.

“There,” Harry said finally. “All done.” He scooped Grace up into his arms, resting her head on his shoulder, and he rubbed her back reassuringly as he took her downstairs. “Let’s see what the score was last night, shall we?”

He settled himself on the sofa in the living room, with Grace sprawled on his chest, her eyes drooping closed. Grace loved laying on her daddy’s torso like this, and his heartbeat would calm her, the gentle rise and fall of his breathing would settle her. She laid there, content, as her father absentmindedly stroked her back with his fingertips and watched the results from the premier league football games the night before.

Eventually, Emmy awoke, immediately stressing that she should’ve been woken earlier, and their busy day began. Emmy got herself ready while Harry looked after his daughter, and then Claire watched the little girl while Harry himself got ready. Grace had a few tears throughout the morning, and she didn’t like the frilly christening gown as Emmy gently forced her into it. But she had recovered by the time they set off for St James’ Palace, and she was smiling once more as they arrived.

There were lots of crowds gathered outside the palace as the car swept through the gates, and they waved and cheered, trying to catch a glimpse into the car. From the passenger seat, Emmy smiled out at them, knowing they couldn’t see her due to the tinted windows. Then she glanced round into the back of the car, where Grace was cooing in her car-seat.

“You excited, Grace?” Emmy said to her, and her daughter’s eyes flickered to hers. The little girl broke into a smile. “It’s your christening, today is all about you.”

Harry pulled into one of the parking spaces in the car park round the back of the palace, where dozens of vehicles were already parked. All the godparents and most of the family had been told to arrive before them, and so only Elizabeth and Phillip would be arriving afterwards. As the car slowed to a stop, Mike and Zara were just getting out of their car, with little Mia with them. Zara was to be one of Grace’s godparents, and she beamed as she saw who was arriving.

“Why hello,” she said, grinning, as Harry hopped out of the Jaguar. “Nice day for a christening.”

Harry chuckled, moving round to unbuckle Grace from her car-seat as Emmy carefully got out of the car, worried about nudging her hat or creasing her skirt. She was wearing an Alexander McQueen skirt and matching top, pale pink, fitted so that it highlighted her slender curves, but it had an appropriate neckline and the skirt fell to her knees, so it was formal and followed all the rules. It was probably too fitted, but Emmy wasn’t showing much skin and so she hadn’t wanted it to look frumpy.

“Em, you look lovely,” Zara said to her, as Emmy came round and waved at Mia.

“Thank you, so do you,” Emmy said. “Both of you, that’s a very pretty dress.” She was smiling at the little girl, and Mia looked delighted.

“Thanks,” Mike said. “It’s couture.”

Emmy giggled at him as Zara rolled her eyes. “He doesn’t even know what that means,” she said, smirking at her husband.

Harry joined them then, with Grace in his arms, ready in her vintage christening gown – the very same that all of her cousins had worn at their own christenings. She leant into her father’s chest, sleepy.

“Hello Grace!” Zara said, coming over to tickle the little girl. “Hello! Aren’t you pretty today? Aren’t you?”

“She’s always pretty,” Harry replied, somewhat indignantly, and Zara rolled her eyes at him.

“You know what I meant,” she said. “She gets blonder by the day.”

“It’s more a strawberry blond,” Mike mused, taking Mia’s hand as the six of them made their way into the palace, followed by Rick, Kev and Brian.

“Golden, I like,” Emmy corrected.

“Gold? Yeah, I see it,” Mike said, grinning at her. “So, Em, how stressed are you on a scale of 1 to 10?”

“I’m fine,” she answered, surprised.

“Really?” His eyes widened in surprise. “God, Zara was pulling her hair out all day, and Mia wouldn’t stop crying.”

“Well now I’m stressed,” Emmy said, with a laugh. “After that reassurance.”

“Grace will be fine,” Harry said, a hand rubbing her back. “If anything, she’ll fall asleep.”

“She sleeps a lot?” Zara asked. “Why doesn’t that surprise me, she’s your daughter after all?” She grinned at her cousin, who grinned back.

“Explains why Mia’s so naughty, huh?” he retorted.

“I no naughty!” Mia said, scowling up at Harry.

“I hear you are,” he replied playfully.

“No way!” she said, looking offended.

“Alright, I believe you,” he said, ruffling her hair. She ducked away from him – her favourite game was getting people to chase her.

“Don’t do that, Harry!” Zara complained, groaning. “Do you know how many times I’ve done Mia’s hair today?! And you just messed it up!”

“Sorry,” he said, hastily combing Mia’s hair back into place with his fingers. Again, she ran away. Emmy laughed lightly at the little girl.

“There you are, I thought I heard voices,” William said, emerging from a room up ahead. He grinned at them all, and then his face softened and his voice rose an octave as they approached. “There’s my little niece, there she is!” he cooed, coming over and reaching for Grace. Harry gently handed her over, and William nuzzled her to him. “Hello, Grace! Hello, Grace! You going to show me that beautiful smile?” He held her up in front of him, making funny faces, and she giggled. William gasped. “You can giggle now, huh? Oh you have such a lovely little giggle, yes you do!” He pulled her back into his arms, cuddling her close, and Harry smiled at the sight of them together.

“Everyone is just in here,” William said, leading the way back in. “I see you invited a lot of the family.”

“Hmm, we wanted them all to be here,” Harry said. “Not just the godparents. But there’s not that many of them.”

Emmy followed Mike and Zara into the room, and she was immediately intimidated by all the people there. When sending out all the invitations, the thought of all of Harry’s family in one room hadn’t been nearly as daunting as it was to see them all, alongside her own family. Their friends were there too, Jake and Zoe, Guy and Lizzie, Chris, even though they weren’t godparents; they were stood graciously with Taylor and Skippy.

“There’s my little goddaughter!” Beatrice sang, dancing over and taking Grace from William, wanting cuddles. Grace was comfy in her uncle’s arms, and she looked disgruntled to be passed around again, but Beatrice started tickling her to the point that she didn’t care, she just enjoyed the attention. “Oh, you get prettier every day!”

Beatrice and Dave had been stood with Eugenie and Andrew, and they all came over to see baby Grace again. Eugenie and Andrew hadn’t seen her since Christmas.

“She’s growing fast,” Eugenie mused. “Oh, her hair’s a lovely colour.”

“It’s ginger,” Beatrice said smugly.

“It’s golden,” Emmy corrected. “Not ginger.”

“Determined to make that stick, aren’t you?” Harry teased her gently, and she blushed, moving slightly into him as he snaked an arm round her waist.

“You look lovely, Emmy,” Beatrice said to her. “No way you gave birth three months ago!”

Emmy blushed even more deeply. “I, er, I’ve been running quite a bit.”

“It’s not fair, is it?” Zara mused, still stood with them. “I’m still not back to my pre-baby weight.”

“Maybe it’s all those pizzas,” Mike said, grinning. She elbowed him with a scowl.

Emmy took Grace back into her arms, for she had just seen her father and she wanted to go and see him, let him see his granddaughter again. So she left Harry’s family to it, crossing the room to where he, Chelsea, John, Tara and Rosie were all stood. Rosie, the little seven-year-old, came running over.

“Hi Emmy, hi Emmy!” she sang, jumping up and down.

“Hey Rosie,” Emmy said, with a grin. “You okay? How’s school?”

“It’s boring,” she said, yawning as though to emphasise. “And Daddy says I’m not allowed to talk about Grace to anyone, but loads of people keep asking.”

“No, you have to keep her a secret, okay?” Emmy said to her youngest half-sister. “It makes her more special.”

“She can hardly get more special, though,” Alexander murmured, as he took Grace into his arms and gently stroked her blond hair. “Hello darling.”

Emmy smiled. “I think she’s a bit sleepy, but I doubt she’ll get much sleep with all this racket.”

“No,” Alexander agreed, frowning around at the room before returning his gaze to his granddaughter. “She’s grown even since I last saw her.”

“She laughs now.”

“Really? Oh, that’s wonderful.”

A hand on the small of her back made her jump, but before she could spin round Harry had come to stand beside her, managing a smile for his father-in-law.

“Alexander,” he said in greeting.

“Henry.” Alexander nodded his head. “Oh, that was a yawn, yes it was. Are you sleepy, Grace?”

Even Harry couldn’t hate Alexander when he was being so nice to Grace, and his fingers traced absently along Emmy’s back as he watched them. Emmy, however, was looking round the room at the other guests. She smiled at an elderly woman coming over.

“Nana!” she said, moving to kiss her cheek in greeting.

“Hello dear, you look lovely, so grown up!” the lady said. Harry recalled meeting her on the odd occasion – she was Emmy’s mother’s mother, Maureen. “Let me meet your little one, then.”

Emmy led Maureen over, and Alexander showed her the little baby. Emmy looked delighted when Maureen cooed that she was a beautiful baby, that Sophia would’ve been proud, that she looked just like Sophia had when she was a baby. And then Maureen looked at Harry.

“Nana, you remember my husband,” Emmy said to her gran. “Harry, you remember my Nana.”

“I do, of course,” Harry said, ducking to kiss Maureen’s cheek. Then he kissed the back of her hand too. “Nice to see you again.”

“He’s as charming as before,” Maureen said to Emmy, who smiled. Harry felt himself blushing. “You’re very lucky, dear, I told you before.”

“I know, Nana, I am,” Emmy said, throwing Harry a smile.

Emmy’s other grandmother, Alexander’s mother, Rose, was also there, and her reaction to seeing Harry again was similar to Maureen’s, except a lot more inappropriate.

“Oh yes, the handsome one,” Rose said, pulling Harry down into a hug once Emmy had introduced them again. She pressed a smacking, wet kiss on his cheek, and he forced the smile to stay fixed on his face, laughing awkwardly.

“Harry,” Charles said then, coming over and, to Harry’s relief, giving Harry a reason to leave the Farringtons. He took Grace from Alexander and then followed his father over to where he and Camilla were sat, talking animatedly to Anne and Timothy.

“Hello Grace, little darling, hello,” Charles cooed at his granddaughter, taking her into his arms and tickling her gently.

Anne smiled at Harry. “Thank you for the invite, Harry. It’s nice for there to finally be a family christening.” He swore her eyes went to where Kate was stood, talking to Guy and Lizzie.

Then he frowned. “Are George and Charlotte not here?”

“No, Kate didn’t want them here,” Charles said absently, then he fixed his younger son with a significant look. “She doesn’t want them in any of the pictures.”

Harry stared at him incredulously, then glanced over at Kate again. No, maybe she just didn’t want them playing up. Maybe she just didn’t want them taking attention away from Grace. Surely it wasn’t something as petty as the pictures!

“It’s a true family gathering,” Timothy agreed with Anne. “I was just speaking to Alexander, I’ve never really managed to meet him, he’s a nice chap.”

“Hmm.” Harry was not going to argue, not now, although he did want to.

“Emmy looks lovely,” Charles said to him then, distracting him. “Very nice choice of attire.”

“Yeah,” he replied, turning to find Emmy and letting his eyes sweep over her, feasting on her tiny waist, the curve of her hips, her tiny calves. A jolt somewhere behind his naval forced him to stop looking at her, for fear of losing himself in the sight of her body. “She’s beautiful.”

Camilla smiled at him. “And how are you both with Grace?”

“Good, we’re coping quite well, I think,” he said, nodding.

“Please don’t hesitate if you need someone to babysit,” she added. “Charles told me about your desire not to hire a nanny until she’s a little older.”

“Yeah, thank you,” he said. “We want to raise her ourselves, you know? Emmy wants to be the main woman in her life right now, because she’s so young.”

“Hmm, it’s very nice, but I wonder how long it’ll last,” Anne said. “Just beware. When things like Trooping the Colour come up, you may struggle to find babysitters.”

Harry nodded. He knew that. “Shall I take her back from you, Pa? I think the christening must be starting soon.”

“Of course.” Charles handed Grace back, and Harry gently curled his arms round his daughter. Grace’s eyes went to his face, and she broke into a smile, one of her hands reaching up as though to brush along his beard. He smiled down at her.

“Hello baby,” he murmured, lifting her only to kiss her forehead. He stood there for a few moments, gently rocking Grace, for she’d grown quite agitated what with being handed round everyone, and he let his gaze rove the room, seeing who was there, wondering whether they were missing anyone.

Beatrice, Eugenie, Dave and Andrew were stood talking. Zara and Mike were still with William, and they were talking to Peter and Autumn, as Savannah and Isla chased Mia round their legs. Harry’s Uncle Edward and Sophie were stood with Louise and James, James dressed in a cute little suit and tie. Emmy’s brother Benedict was stood with her sister Lucy and his wife Susie, with his little girl Felicity toddling round their legs, cooing. Benedict was another of the godparents.

Two other godparents, Taylor and Skippy, were stood with Jake, Zoe and Chris, chatting animatedly. Harry hadn’t seen Chris for a long time, but he knew Chris had moved away, unable to stay in London after what had happened with Kian. Guy and Lizzie were stood near them, talking to Kate who looked lovely in a peach ensemble that Harry was sure the press would adore. Then Harry’s secretary Edward was there, dressed smartly in a suit and tie, with his wife Rachel. He looked somewhat nervous, but also proud – he kept glancing round the room, as though knowing that Claire was in charge today and wanting to help her with the responsibility.  

Then there was Emmy’s father, Chelsea and her step-siblings, along with her two grandmothers, and her aunt Maria. Maria had been her mother’s sister, and Harry had only met her once, at their wedding. Her daughter, Bella, who was a few years older than Emmy, was stood with her.

And then, Harry’s eyes fell on the final godparent. Who was coming towards him.

“Seeiso!” Harry crowed, beaming at him.

“Harry, how are you, my friend?” Seeiso said, delighted. Seeiso was a prince of Lesotho, and had co-founded Sentebale with Harry. The two had been friends for over ten years, ever since Harry had visited for the first time.

“I’m very well, again, thank you for coming today,” Harry said. He knew Seeiso had had to cancel a few things, but Seeiso waved it off.

“I could hardly miss it, could I? Such an honour.” He smiled, and then his eyes dropped to Grace. “Hello little one, nice to meet you.” He took one of Grace’s tiny hands, and shook it. She frowned, pulling it from his grasp, and he chuckled. “Oh? You don’t like me?”

“I think she’s just tired,” Harry said. “She’s been quite sleepy this morning.”

“Does she keep you up at night?”

“Not as much as Emmy,” he replied, with a grin, and Seeiso roared with laughter.

“Oh, how I have missed you, cheeky Prince,” Seeiso guffawed. “Where is your lovely wife? I must say hello…”

“She’s just over there, catching up with her family,” Harry said, nodding over, and Seeiso gasped.

“She looks lovely!” he said. “Harry, I feel truly blessed to see you so happy.”

“I feel blessed myself, but thanks Seeiso,” Harry said, smiling.

“I’ll say hello to Emmy afterwards,” Seeiso mused. “I think we will start in a moment, no?”

“I believe so, just waiting for Granny,” he answered.

“Well, I’ll leave you to get ready,” Seeiso said, patting his arm. The two princes shared a smile before Seeiso left him be, and Harry rocked Grace back and forth again, only eyes for her now. She gazed up at him, and as he broke into a smile, she copied. She let out a coo, and he chuckled, drawing a tiny laugh from her.

“How is she?” Harry jumped at Emmy’s voice, and she laughed at him. “Sorry to scare you.”

“No, it’s just me daydreaming,” he replied, grinning. Emmy moved close to him and peered down at Grace, receiving a smile and some excited babbling as Grace’s eyes went to her. She beamed down at her little girl, leaning closer to tickle her tummy and then to brush her nose against Grace’s, an eskimo kiss. “I think she’s okay, she seems a little sleepy every now and then.”

“Hmm.” Emmy stroked her fingertips along Grace’s forehead. “Maybe she’ll fall asleep?” She sounded hopeful.

“As long as she’s awake for the photographers,” he said. “Somehow I don’t think they’ll appreciate if she’s asleep again.”

“Who cares?” she said playfully, then smiled at him. “Can I take her?”

“Sure.” He carefully handed Grace over, and Emmy cuddled her close.

“Hello darling, you’re with mummy again now, yes you are,” she whispered, rocking her backwards and forwards.

“Harry, Emmy.” Edward had joined them now, looking concerned. “Is Claire doing okay? Does she need my help with anything?” Behind him, his wife, Rachel rolled her eyes.

“Ed, just chill,” Harry said, with a grin. “You’re godfather, you’re not on duty today.”

“But if she needs help-”

“She’s fine,” Emmy said reassuringly. “Today you’re not secretary, you’re just Edward.”

He managed a smile for Emmy, before turning still-worried eyes to Harry. “I honestly don’t mind, if Claire can’t cope-”

“Who says I can’t cope?” said a voice, and the four of them turned to see Claire there, grinning. “Your faith in me is touching, Ed.”

Edward grinned sheepishly. “It says more about me than you, trust me.”

“Oh, for sure,” Claire replied. “Okay, if your guests want to make their way into the Chapel Royal. Your grandparents have just arrived, Harry. The press are set up in the adjacent drawing room, they’ll photograph your entrance into the chapel and then your exit also.”

Harry and Emmy waited with Charles, Camilla, William and Kate for Elizabeth and Phillip while the rest of the guests made their way to the chapel. Edward seemed very confused to be leaving with them rather than staying with Harry and Claire, but he did so nonetheless. Eventually, the Queen arrived.

“There’s my little great-granddaughter,” Elizabeth mused, beaming at Grace in Emmy’s arms.

“Hello little one,” Phillip said to Grace, while the family greeted Elizabeth with kisses, bows and curtseys. Emmy smiled at him. “How is she getting on?”

“She’s very well,” Emmy said. “She laughs now.”

“Really? Wow, that’s advanced, marvellous,” Phillip said gruffly.

“Emmy,” Claire said gently, as the family caught up with each other and Elizabeth interrogated William and Kate about the absence of George and Charlotte. “It’s time to go in now.”

“Of course,” Emmy said. She guessed that Claire did not want to interrupt the Queen. Then again, neither did Emmy. She nudged Harry. “It’s time to go.”

He winked at her. “Okay, everyone, we need to head to the chapel now. We’ll talk about all this later.”

William grinned at his brother as they followed their grandparents and their father out of the room. “You saved my ass there, Harry.”

“You should’ve just brought the kids,” Harry replied. “It would’ve been nice to have them here.”

“I know, but there were too many photographers, you know.” He shrugged, and Harry looked away, unamused. Too many photographers, huh? When were there not going to be too many photographers?

Harry turned round then, looking for Emmy, and he smiled, waiting for her and entwining a hand with hers. “You okay?”

“Yep, she’s fallen asleep,” she told him, casting an adoring look over Grace, who was dozing soundly in her arms now. “Hopefully she stays that way for the service.”

He threw her a smile, his hand going to the small of her back and rubbing reassuringly as they followed the family towards the photographers.

“She was very well behaved, wasn’t she?”

Emmy had lost track of the number of times someone had said that to her, but it never stopped making her proud. Grace had been well-behaved. She had slept soundly and had only awoken when the archbishop had flicked the water over her. Even then, she had only cried for a little bit, until Harry and Emmy had quickly soothed her, and she finished the service with a smile on her face, enjoying the attention.

Now, she was sat on the opposite side of the room at Clarence House, cuddled in Daddy’s lap as he spoke to Peter and Jake. Emmy scanned the room for her friends, seeing Taylor talking to Lucy and Chris chatting to Benedict. She’d just finished talking to her own grandmother, and now she briefly checked that everything was in order before slipping from the room and heading for the bathroom.

As she walked along the corridor, she heard voices, and she paused – one of them was slightly raised, sounding upset, and the other was a soft murmur. She quickly realized that it was William and Kate, tucked in a room a little away from the party. Emmy wondered whether she should be listening, but curiosity got the better of her.

“She was being so mean to me!” Kate was saying, evidently crying.

“Just ignore her, love.”

“I can’t, she was asking me why they aren’t here, she kept asking, as though my reason wasn’t good enough!”

“Hey, she’s old-fashioned, you know she is. She doesn’t believe in privacy for the kids-”

“She kept asking, William. Interrogating me! As though I’d done something wrong!”

“They wanted the kids here, they wanted people to see all of us together, I didn’t realise how important it was to them-”

“Why are they blaming me?!” Kate wailed. “Why were they bullying me, not you? It’s because it’s all my fault, isn’t it? I’ve never been good enough for you in their eyes-”

“Stop it,” William said forcefully, and then his voice softened. “Kate, don’t you dare start saying that. They adore you, how could they not? And they know how much I love you, that’s all that matters.”

“I’ve never been good enough,” she sniffled. “Never. Especially not since Emmy’s come along, she can do no wrong in their eyes, can she? Even when we go over to your grandmother’s, she can’t stop telling me that Emmy did this and Emmy did that.” She finished bitterly.

“Don’t, alright?” William said. “Just don’t. Emmy has been able to do more because she didn’t have kids. Now that Grace is here, just you watch. People will lose interest, of course they will. She won’t be out and about as much. Don’t hate Emmy, it’s not her fault.”

“You know I don’t hate Emmy,” Kate replied indignantly. “She’s lovely, I just get very tired of being compared to her.”

Emmy stopped listening then, for a door opened down the way and she spun round, terrified at having been caught eavesdropping, but it was only Claire. The secretary rose her eyebrows in surprise, and Emmy hastily put a finger to her lips, before gesturing for her to follow her down the corridor.

“What is it?” Claire asked, once they were well enough away. “What were you doing?”

“William and Kate were in there,” Emmy said, her heart hammering at Kate’s words. “And Kate…Kate was saying that the family are always telling her how much work I’m doing.” She looked delighted.

Claire smiled in surprise, and somewhat confusion. “That’s…great, Emmy.”

“I know, can you believe it? Kate said she was tired of being compared to me,” Emmy added, encouraged by the words she’d overheard. “Me! The Kate said that.”

“I thought she wasn’t the Kate anymore,” Claire said dryly. “But I’m happy for you, at least the family acknowledge how much work you’re doing.”

Emmy clapped happily, relieved and delighted by this news. “I can’t believe it. I mean, I guessed I was doing okay because I never got told off for much but I never thought-”

Claire grinned at Emmy as she trailed off happily. “Look, we better get back to the party.”

“I’m going to the bathroom, I’ll be right in.”

Harry was talking to Benedict with Grace cuddled in his arms when Emmy returned. She made a beeline for Harry, eager to tell him what she’d heard, but then she saw William and Kate. Kate was talking animatedly to Zara and Autumn, her earlier tears forgotten, or perhaps merely masked. Emmy decided to wait until they’d got home to tell him, and she swallowed her delight.

“Hey Mummy,” Taylor said, with a smirk, and Emmy smiled. “Want a drink?”

“Still breastfeeding,” Emmy said, shaking her head. “Have you tried some of the Fondant Fancies? They’re to die for, I had some before.”

“No, I think Mike’s already eaten them all. How are you? How are things?”

“They’re good,” she replied, surprised by the serious turn in the conversation.

“How are you and Harry?”

Emmy rolled her eyes. “We’re fine.”

“Especially now the six weeks is up, huh?” Taylor grinned.

It was recommended to wait at least six weeks after the birth before having sex again, and Harry and Emmy had waited over that, for Emmy still felt too sore to entertain the thought of it. By the time she was ready, Harry was desperate.

“Yeah,” she answered with a laugh. “It was really hard for him, I think. And he couldn’t say anything, because he knew it would’ve been painful for me, but I could tell he was pretty desperate.”

Taylor snickered, looking across the room to where Harry was stood, now chatting to Susie as well, and Grace was being introduced to Felicity. The little toddler looked curious to meet her new cousin. “How’s he as a dad?”

“He’s amazing,” Emmy said. “He’s just…he’s been fantastic.”

“Still very much in love with him then?”

Her smile disappeared. “Why?”

“Just checking, I worry about you sometimes, you know.” Taylor patted her arm gently. “He does so many engagements, I worry that you’re on your own too much.”

“I’m fine,” Emmy said. “Now that Grace is almost three months old, we’re going to start taking it in turns. My schedule’s a bit busier, and we’re going to organize it so that one of us is always home to look after her.”

“You don’t want a nanny?”

“Not yet,” she said. “I want Grace’s earliest months to be just with me and Harry, you know? I don’t want any other woman confusing her.”

“That’s fair enough. If you ever need someone to babysit, I’d be offended if you didn’t ask.”

“I know, I will, thank you.” Emmy smiled at her best friend. “I mean, it’s your duty now. You’re her godmother.”

“I know!” Taylor beamed at her. “I’m so excited, I’m going to be the best godmother ever!”

Emmy laughed lightly. “I remember Skippy saying something similar.”

“Yeah, we’re both super excited,” Taylor said, and her eyes flickered to where Skippy was stood on the other side of the room. Emmy watched as her expression softened slightly, and her eyes lingered.

“Ahem.” She cleared her throat, and Taylor, startled, turned back to her. “Sorry, was I interrupting you and your gazing?”

“Gazing?” Taylor feigned nonchalance.

“At Skippy.”

“Pfft.” She turned away, rolling her eyes. “You really will make something out of nothing, won’t you?”

“Nothing? I saw the way you were looking at him!” Emmy giggled. “Tay, you can tell me.”

“Tell you what?” Taylor asked innocently.

Emmy rolled her eyes now. “Just tell me! I’m your best friend.”

“Stop nosing if you want to keep that title,” Taylor teased.

“Wow, death threats?” Harry had just joined them, baby Grace curled in his arms, and he smirked at the two of them. “Taylor, am I going to have to report you to Rick?”

“I’d like to see you try,” Taylor replied, grinning. “And I wasn’t threatening to kill her, I was threatening to renounce her as best friend.”

“Oh yeah? What’s Emmy done now?”

“Hey!” Emmy said, pouting at him, and he chuckled, leaning over to kiss her in response. She turned her face away, and his lips met her cheek. In retaliation, he kissed her neck instead, and her squirm made him laugh. “You’re so annoying.”

“So you keep saying,” he replied, as she gently took Grace in her arms. Then he snaked an arm round her waist and pulled her to him, kissing her cheek again.

“Ugh, give me a minute, I’m going to go throw up,” Taylor said.

“Go on then,” Harry replied. “At least you’d be leaving us be.”

She glared at him, outraged, then the two of them laughed together. “Alright, I’ll let you guys catch up with your families, I’m going to go see Chris and Skippy.”

“Oh yeah?” Emmy said, raising an eyebrow and smirking at Skippy’s name.

“Fuck off, Emmy,” Taylor hissed, blushing and giving her best friend a scowl before she left them to it. Harry frowned at Emmy.

“Was there something I missed?”

“No, just a little joke we have going,’ Emmy explained. “Anyway, how are things?”

“Good, I was just chatting to Benedict,” he said. “You know, he’s really not that bad. He might just be the one member of your family that doesn’t make me want to stab myself in the eyes.”

She rolled her eyes. “Speaking of brothers I, er, overheard your brother talking to Kate just now.”

“Eavesdropping, huh?” he teased, tickling her lightly. She squirmed away, trying to stay serious.

“Not purposely,” she insisted. “Anyway, Kate mentioned that your family are always talking about me to her! She said they’re always going on about how good I am on engagements and stuff!”

“That’s great,” he said. “Although I knew you were good already.”

He didn’t seem totally surprised. She frowned. “Yeah, but it’s your family that said it. Not you. You’re biased.”

“I know, it’s great, babe.” He leant down and kissed her gently.

He couldn’t tell Emmy, but he knew how much his father and his grandmother went on about Emmy to Kate. It was, in fact, very difficult for Kate to accept it. William had told him recently how much it was upsetting her. Rather than being openly criticized or told what she should be doing differently, she was having passive aggressive comments about Emmy thrown in her face in an attempt to motivate her to work more. And that was having the opposite effect that Harry’s family were hoping for – instead of being encouraged, Kate now felt as though she could do no right and was trying to avoid the few engagements she already did for fear of upsetting the family even more. William had told Harry that it was not a good time for Kate in that sense.

Harry looked over at Kate now, laughing with Camilla and Sophie. Absently, his hand rubbed along Emmy’s back, as he realized just how lucky he was that it was his wife that was doing well.

Although Harry knew that his grandmother had her own views about Emmy, and there were things that she thought needed to change. But that was for another day.

He dropped his gaze to Grace, who was awake and now smiling up at Emmy from her arms. He smiled too, receiving his daughter’s piercing blue stare and then her cheeky beam. He reached over to gently tickle her, and she giggled in response, arms flailing happily.

“That is the sweetest laugh,” said a voice.

“Bella!” Emmy said, beaming at her cousin. “How are you?”

“I’m very well, a bit stressed, you know.” Harry vaguely remembered that Bella was getting married in a few months’ time – they’d received the invitation at the start of the year. “But everything is really well, it’s just all so expensive.”

“Hmm, I know,” Emmy said seriously. “I can’t wait to see your dress!”

“It’s really nice, it’s the one thing that I don’t think is overpriced,” Bella said, with a laugh. “I’d pay anything for it, I love it.”

“Oh that’s good,” Emmy said. “What colour are your bridesmaids?”

“Pale yellow,” Bella said. “It’s a summer wedding, I couldn’t go for anything else, really. I want sunflowers everywhere too, but the flowers are so expensive.”

Harry got lost in the wedding talk, and he moved away to go and bid goodbye to Seeiso, who was flying back to Lesotho.

“He must be very proud to be godfather,” William mused, as he and Harry watched Seeiso leave.

“He is, I think. He sounded really surprised when I asked him,” Harry said, then hesitated before adding, “Look, William, I hope you’re not offended-”

William shook his head with a grin. “Harry, if you’re about to apologise for not making me godfather, save your breath. I’m not offended in the slightest. I’ll see enough of Grace anyway, I’m her uncle.”

“That was my thinking,” he replied. “That’s the main reason we made Benedict one, because he lives in America so he won’t see her as much-”

“Honestly, Harry, it’s fine.” He grinned at him. “How are you coping with the sleepless nights?”

“They’re not too bad, to be honest,” Harry said. “She’s doesn’t cry much, mainly if she’s hungry or if she needs changing. She’s a pretty good baby.”

“You’re getting off lightly,” William said. “Wait til she starts teething.”

“So I’ve heard,” Harry said, laughing. “Look, Emmy said that Kate was upset earlier-”

Surprise registered on William’s face, but then he waved it off. “Oh yeah, don’t worry, something that Granny said, is all.”

“You know,” Harry said slowly. “You should’ve just brought George and Charlotte.”

William met his gaze. “Trust me, I know. But Kate understands them better than I do, she knows when they’re not in the right mood. She was worried about all the photographs.”

“Hmm.” Harry had nothing to say to that, so merely nodded.

“Anyway, forget George and Charlotte,” William said, with a smile. “Today’s all about Grace, isn’t it?”

“Yeah,” Harry said, grinning openly at that. “She’s been really well-behaved, I’m really proud of her.”

“You should be,” he answered. “She’s lovely, Harry. She really is. I’m proud of you.”

Harry smiled, embarrassed. “Thanks, Wills.”

“Mum would be proud,” he added, rubbing his brother’s shoulder. “She really would.”

“Of both of us,” Harry replied. The two brothers shared a small smile, before they headed back into the party.