#hey look ma i made it: hailey

[nxttheendxfthestxry]

Waylon finds Hailey and cuts right to the chase. "I think I know where your brother is."

- ( @storystartsanew )

Hailey has been pacing back and forth anxiously, tears in her eyes as she looks hopelessly at her phone, hoping for a text back. Hoping for him to finally answer her. She looks up, not at the approach, but at the words, immediately looking at him and launching to him, grabbing his arms. "Where is he what's going on what happened is he okay what do you know--?!?!"

[study-coffee-chicago]

1930s AU (A Halstead Brothers + Halstead Sister + Upstead AU for AU-gust)

A/N: Hopefully this one pops up in the tags now! Sorry to the few people who already liked/reblogged this, but it’d really help me out if you liked/reblogged this one since I’m deleting the one I posted last night. Anyway, the italics at the beginning are essentially "present-day" for the characters (which, in my time frame of the story would be 1945) and the regular font would be a "flashback"...but since the flashback is essentially the whole story which takes place during the early 1930s, I wrote it in regular font. Just didn't want you guys to be confused! Here’s the playlist I listened to while writing this if you want to listen while reading (did not create the playlist myself, I found it): an old fashioned diner jukebox. Anyway, enjoy!

You walked towards the little house that had been your home since you were six years old. "Hey old girl," you said as you petted your horse's head. "I'll see you in the morning, okay? I know Jay and Hailey are awake waiting for me and are probably worried, aren't they?" Your horse picked up her hoof and gave it one good stomp. "I thought so. I'll feed you some sugar cubes in the morning. I'll even give you extra because it'll be Christmas." You gave her one more caress and then walked up to the door of the house.

You used your key to unlock the door and were not at all surprised to see Hailey and Jay in deep conversation.

"Hailey, if she's not here in the next hour, I'm calling the train station. She was supposed to be here yesterday. And it's not like it's that long of a ride."

"Well, luckily you won't have to call," you said as you sat your two suitcases on the floor.

"Y/N! You don't know how worried sick we were," Jay said as he hustled over to you and pulled you into a hug.

"To be fair," Hailey began, "he was more worried than I was."

"Aww, you still worry about me when I'm nineteen," you said as Jay pulled away and Hailey hugged you. "I'm flattered, Jay, really."

"How's betternanian school?" Jay asked with a teasing glint in his eyes.

"Would you give that joke a rest? I was six and didn't know how to properly pronounce veterinarian."

"That probably won't happen."

"How's Natalie?" Hailey asked. "Is she doing okay that Will's away and all her kids are married or at college across the country?"

When you decided to go to veterinarian school, you chose one close to Will and Natalie and they let you stay with them. Then, World War 2 broke out and Will went overseas to work as a doctor in a combat hospital. Natalie's twin boys were both off at separate medical schools across the country, intent on following in their father's footsteps and becoming doctors themselves, and their daughter was married now and living with her husband.

"She's doing as well as expected," you told them. "It helps that Elizabeth and her husband, James, come over for dinner once every week so at least Natalie's seeing one of her children. And, I guess having me around helps mitigate the loneliness. The twins are home from college now for a month's break, so she'll have them there right now, too."

You looked around under the Christmas tree and you spotted a big object covered with a bedsheet.

"Is this what I think it is?" you asked as you walked closer to it.

"It is," Jay confirmed as you lifted the sheet and saw the old rocking horse you used to ride on. Jay had made sure to get you another one when you moved here as the one from Chicago you couldn't bring with you.

"I haven't ridden it since I was eight. You kept it all these years?"

"Right up in the attic," Hailey answered. "We figured it would be the perfect Christmas present for Lilly since she's six now."

"You want something to eat?" Jay asked. "We should probably get out of here and close the doors since all the gifts are wrapped in case Lilly or Anna come to find us."

You grabbed your suitcases and the three of you walked out of the living room and closed the doors.

"Mind if I eat a few of these?" you asked, pointing to the plate of cookies for Santa that Lilly and Anna had placed by the fireplace.

"Go right ahead," Jay told you. But then he heard giggles. "Wait."

You took a step away from the cookies and milk.

"I think we should go check on them," Jay said.

So, the three of you walked down the hall and to the bedroom that the girls shared. "I'll do the honors," you said.

You slowly pushed open the door.

"Now, girls, I thought you were supposed to be asleep."

Eleven-year-old Anna and six-year-old Lilly gasped. "Auntie Y/N!" they exclaimed and rushed out of their respective beds and you first gave Anna a hug and then crouched down to give Lilly one as well.

"Mommy and Daddy said you might not get here in time," Anna told you.

"They did? Well, I'm here now and tomorrow we can play all day with what Santa brought you. But right now, I think you two need to go to sleep so that Santa will come," you said.

"But you just got here!" Lilly complained.

"Yeah!" Anna agreed. Then she gasped. "Can you tell us a story, Auntie Y/N?"

You looked to Jay and Hailey, silently asking if it was okay to let your two nieces stay awake longer. Jay nodded.

"What story do you want tonight?" you asked as you sat down on the rug in the middle of the room and Lilly sat in your lap.

"How Mommy and Daddy met!" Lilly exclaimed.

"You already know that one, Lil," Hailey said as she and Jay sat down and Anna sat between her two parents.

"But it's so good, Mommy!" Anna said. "Please just one more time, please?"

"Oh, alright," Jay caved. "I don't know how much Aunt Y/N will remember since she was your age, Lil, but me and Mommy can definitely tell you the story."

Lilly leaned into you and you ran your hands absentmindedly through her blond hair while Jay started to tell his and Hailey's story of true love and hard times.

***

"Bye, Y/N, I gotta go to work," your big brother said as he woke you up.

"Is Miss Rosalie here?" you asked.

"She is. But, you can sleep longer. I'll be back in time for dinner."

"Why you gotta leave so early, Jay Jay? It's still dark out."

"Because I have to get the milk before the sun rises so the milk doesn't spoil when I'm bringing it to other people."

"Oh, okay." You yawned.

"Go back to sleep. I'll be back later tonight. Be good for Ms. Rosalie."

"I will. Love you, Jay Jay."

"Love you, too."

Then, Jay gave you a kiss on the forehead and grabbed his cap and satchel, said goodbye to Ms. Rosalie and thanked her as he always does, and left the house, the street lamps illuminating the way as he walked towards work.

As he was walking, Jay reflected how it had essentially gotten this bad. At least he had a job now, he used to not have one and you and him were living off of what little money your parents had left behind when they died...at least, the portion that the bank didn't keep.

He had essentially been your primary caretaker for two years. The stock market crashed in 1929, and your mom died a few months after when you were two years old. Not that she had a job though, so it didn't really matter money-wise. Your dad had died in 1931, the same year that Will had graduated from medical school and went to New York to look for a job as a doctor. Jay had worked in a factory at that time and had gotten laid off soon after. But, then he found a job as a milkman. He wasn't getting paid much, but it was enough to pay rent in the crappy and cramped apartment building you both lived in and put food on the table. But, sales were dropping now as no one had money to pay for as much milk as they used to. His sales were half of what they used to be. And, you were now five, six in two weeks, so you were growing and Jay knew that you'd be eating more soon.

When he started loading his company car with milk once he had arrived at work, his supervisor walked over to him and told him that he'd be picking up some of a coworker's route. Well, he was an ex-coworker now because they had laid him off. Jay was just glad he had a job and had enough money to support him and you...even if it was really tight. He hoped he'd be home for dinner like he promised you.

He started on his way and finally, after hours and hours, he was on his new portion of his route.

He made his way up the steps of a house on the corner.

"Good afternoon, ma'am," he said as he set the four bottles of milk down on her front porch. She was currently outside sweeping the porch, her wavy blond hair tied back in two braids. She was in a short-sleeved dress with an apron covering it.

She turned to him and stopped sweeping. "Good afternoon. You're not Jimmy, my usual milkman," the woman said.

"No. Jimmy doesn't work with me anymore. I picked his route. I'm Jay Halstead, ma'am," he replied while tipping his cap.

"Oh, I'm sorry. I didn't introduce myself. I'm Hailey Upton."

"Well, Ms. Upton, pleased to meet you. I'm guessing you have kids just based on me delivering four bottles of milk?" he asked. God, was she pretty. He was getting tongue-tied just looking at her! He knew it wasn't polite to ask that, but it just slipped out.

"No, actually I don't. I'm doing some baking today and that's why I need it. And please, call me Hailey."

"Well, Hailey, I hope it goes well. Should I put you down for four bottles tomorrow as well?"

"No, only one should do for tomorrow, Mr. Halstead."

"Please, call me Jay, ma- Hailey."

"Alright, have a nice rest  of your day, Jay."

"You, too. Again, I hope your baking goes well." He tipped his cap once more and headed off. That was his last stop of the day. You and Ms. Rosalie were back at home waiting for him.

***

Jay quickly opened his eyes the minute he felt your hand on his arm. "Jay Jay?" you whispered.

"I'm awake, pumpkin." Your mom had called you pumpkin based on the one time you picked up a pumpkin and dropped it and it splattered everywhere. And, this nickname just stuck.

"I- I know I'm not 'sposed to ask, but I'm real hungry," you said.

Jay didn't bother correcting you on how you didn't ask anything at all; you just told him that you were hungry. And, he was hungry, too. You were running out of food in the house and he needed to run to the market, but everything seemed to be too expensive, so he could only buy the necessities. And, you and Ms. Rosalie had made French onion soup for dinner last night, because that used very minimal ingredients.

Jay hated himself as he scooped out the soup after she left because he realized portions would only be 3/4 of what both of you were used to. He had toyed with the idea of giving you 1/4 of his, so you could have a full serving and he'd have half, but he figured he'd see what would happen. Tomorrow, he knew he'd be giving you a normal portion of whatever he had. After all, he could convince himself to go back to sleep, but you were just a child.

Your parents had always drilled into your head that it was breakfast, lunch, and dinner. And, Jay did his best to try to feed you enough to abide by that rule. But, it was getting harder and harder to do when the entire United States seemed to be going hungry.

"Pumpkin, it's late--"

Your stomach rumbled and Jay swore he felt tears prick his eyes. He couldn't expect you to go to bed hungry.

"Let's go get you something. I'm sure I can find something," he said as he got up.

You grabbed his hand and you two walked into the kitchen. He pulled the string to one of the dim lights, which barely illuminated the kitchen and dining area. Then, he opened the icebox and pulled out a hard-boiled egg and a bottle of milk. He poured half the milk into a glass and handed you the egg.

You went to stick it in your mouth when he stopped you. "No, you have to peel it." You held it out to him. "Do I need to start it for you?" You nodded and he took off a section of the shell and handed it back to you and you continued to peel it.

Normally, Jay would put salt and pepper on it, but you were very low on that as well. And, seeing how hungry you were, you started to eat it without asking for those two basic spices.

Then, you finished the glass of milk and Jay led you back to your bed and you fell asleep with a full tummy...well, as full as anyone in your position could get nowadays.

Unbeknownst to you, you had just eaten half of Jay's breakfast for tomorrow.

***

"How did the baking go yesterday?" Jay asked Hailey as he switched out her four empty milk bottles for one full one.

"It went well. Thank you for asking. I actually had a lot left, so here." She handed him a slice wrapped in tin foil. "It's strawberry pie."

"You didn't have to give this to me," Jay said, trying to hand it back to her.

"Nonsense. So many people are going hungry right now. I have no right to waste food."

"It makes sense when you put it that way. Thank you. My little sister will most definitely enjoy it."

"Oh, let me go grab you another slice so that you don't have to share."

Before Jay could protest, she ran back into her big house and grabbed him another slice.

"Thank you," Jay said as he took the other slice as well.

"You're welcome. No use letting it go to waste. How old is your sister?" Hailey asked.

"Y/N will be six in two weeks," Jay answered.

"Oh, I remember what I was like at that age. I was a little troublemaker, running around with my older brothers even when my mom and dad called me in. And then I'd always make messes in the kitchen."

Jay laughed. "I'd hope she's more well-behaved than that. But, I'd best get going. Thank you for the pie. Can I put you down for one bottle tomorrow?"

"Yes, please. Have a nice day."

Jay nodded at her and then reached down and grabbed the crate with the empty milk bottles. Then, he got in the company car and started on his way back to the factory and then home.

***

"Jay Jay!" you said as you jumped up from your seat at the kitchen table. "I missed you!"

Jay set his satchel, four bottles of milk, and the slices of pie on the counter next to the stove and picked you up and spun you around. "I missed you, too! Were you good for Ms. Rosalie?" He settled you on his hip.

You frantically nodded your head and Jay turned to the older woman. "She was an angel as always. I hope you don't mind, but I made French onion soup again for dinner."

"That's fine, thank you. Your two bottles of milk are right next to mine."

That's how he paid her: by buying her milk. He knew it wasn't a lot, but it's not like he could pay for a nanny. And, she was the one with the cheapest rate in the apartment building. Plus, she had known you since you were a baby, so Jay knew that you trusted her and he trusted her to look after you.

"Oh, thank you, dear." She picked up the two bottles and started towards the door.

"Oh, and tell Mr. Edward I say hello," Jay said, referring to her husband.

"Will do. Enjoy your evening."

Then, she left, and Jay put you down on the floor and moved to start dishing out dinner. When you were both at the table with the food in front of you, a smile spread across his face.

"Pumpkin, after dinner I have a surprise for you."

"Really?" you squealed.

"Yes, really. But, you have to finish your food first and then I will give it to you."

Jay chuckled at how fast you ate your food. He was usually done before you, but tonight you both finished around the same time.

"What's the surprise?" you asked as you set your bowl and spoon on the counter near the rusty sink by Jay's bowl and spoon.

He reached up into the creaky cupboard and grabbed two plates and then two forks from the drawer that would occasionally get stuck.

"How about you go sit at the table and I'll bring you the surprise. How does that sound?"

"Okay!" you scrambled back into your seat and watched as Jay put the things on the plates. He must really have wanted this to be a surprise because he positioned himself so that his back was towards you and you couldn't see a single thing he was doing.

"Now, I need you to close your eyes and I'll tell you when to open them," Jay said, still with his back turned to you.

You quickly closed your eyes and also put your hands over your eyes, causing Jay to chuckle.

He first set his plate with pie and a small glass of milk at his place at the table and then did the same thing in front of you. He crouched down next to you and put his hand on the back of your chair. "And, open."

You threw your hands down at your side and snapped your eyes open. You gasped and turned your head to look at Jay. "We get dessert?"

Jay smiled. "We do. It's strawberry pie from someone who I give milk to. Do you need help cutting it?"

"No, I can do it! Who gave it to you?"

"Her name's Miss Hailey." Then, he went back to his side of the table as you started to eat your pie. He was glad he had given you the bigger slice because you enjoyed it so much; he'd be sure to tell Hailey this.

***

Two weeks later

Jay sighed as he counted out what little money he had saved up in a lockbox under his bed. He barely had enough to buy you a few sugar sticks from the market after thinking about rent that needed to be paid in another two weeks. At least he knew that Will had sent you something because he told Jay in his letter from last week that he'd be sending you a gift along with your birthday letter. But, Jay still felt bad that he barely had enough money to buy you candy for your birthday. He knew you'd prefer chocolate over hard candy, but he also knew that he had to save money for rent and groceries, so when you both went to the market later, you'd only be able to buy a couple of hard candies.

The change clanked back into the box when he heard the sound of little footsteps coming towards him.

"Happy birthday!" he exclaimed as he picked you up and spun you around. Then, he settled you on his hip and walked into the kitchen. "Does six feel any different than five?" You shook your head back and forth frantically, causing Jay to laugh. "Now, what do you want for your birthday breakfast?"

"Hotcakes!" you exclaimed. Luckily for Jay, you didn't notice how his smile flattered for a quick second when you said that.

"Okay then, hotcakes it is! Can you go put on a dress while I make these?"

You nodded again and then Jay set you down and you ran to your room to change.

When you came back into the kitchen after you got dressed--and got distracted by playing with your doll--your pancakes were sitting on the table. But, you noticed there was only one plate.

"Where's yours?" you asked your big brother as you sat down in your chair and he started cleaning the pan that he had cooked in.

"I ate while you were playing. I didn't want to disrupt your game, pumpkin," he told you, with a smile on his face.

"Oh, okay. Can I eat them now?"

"Of course you can. And then, we'll go to the post office to see what Will brought you."

But, Jay hadn't actually eaten any when you were playing with your doll. There was barely enough flour to make you pancakes, let alone him. So, instead of depriving you of pancakes on your birthday, he just went without.

***

"Mail for Jay Halstead, please," he said at the window of the post office while holding your hand.

"Alright, just one moment." The teller went to the back and grabbed a letter and then handed it to Jay.

"Thank you."

"You're welcome."

"Jay?" a voice behind him said.

Jay turned, only to be met with Hailey Upton.

"Hailey, good morning. Came to pick up your mail I presume?" he asked.

"You presume correctly." She stepped out of line to stand with him. "And who might this be?" she asked, stooping down to your level.

You blushed and moved to hide behind Jay's leg. Jay chuckled. "Sorry about that. She's particularly shy around strangers. Pumpkin," he started, addressing you. "This is Miss Hailey. She's the one who made us the strawberry pie a few weeks ago."

"It was good. Thank you," you said as you peeked your head out from behind Jay.

"You're welcome. And you must be Y/N?" You nodded. "Jay's told me a lot of good things about you."

You looked up at Jay as if asking him to confirm it. "I've got nothing bad to say about you, you know that."

"I know. If you did, you wouldn't make me hotcakes today," you said.

"Can you tell Miss Hailey what today is?"

You finally moved out all the way from behind Jay. But you still held his hand as you answered the question. "It's my birthday! I'm six!"

"Wow! You're such a big girl! Are you doing anything special today?" Hailey asked, stooping down to your level.

"I'm gonna get some chocolate!"

"Y/N, what'd we talk about on the way here?" Jay asked.

"Oh." You looked down at your feet. "I'm getting hard candy instead."

Hailey looked up at Jay and saw the sadness in his eyes, something that you didn't pick up on since you were so little. She knew what that statement meant. Chocolate was more expensive than hard candies, so she knew the reason that you weren't getting it was because Jay didn't have any money.

"How about we see what Will got you so that Miss Hailey can get her mail?" Jay asked.

You nodded excitedly and Hailey got back in line. Then, Jay opened the large envelope and handed you a small pouch.

You opened it and looked inside. There were these little metal x's and a red bouncy ball. "Jay Jay, what's this?" you asked as you held the pouch out to him.

He looked inside and smiled. "That is jacks."

You cocked your head to the side. "Who's Jack? And why do I have his things?"

Jay laughed just as Hailey started walking back towards them. "It's the name of the game, pumpkin. You bounce the ball and try to pick up one of the pieces before the ball hits the ground. Me and Will played it a lot, but he always won."

"You lost?" you asked as your eyes grew wide. Jay never lost!

"I lost a lot."

Hailey was next to you and your brother now. "Jacks, huh?" Jay nodded. "Me and my brothers used to play it all the time. I'm actually quite good at it."

"Can you teach me, Miss Hailey?" you asked excitedly.

"I'm sure Miss Hailey has things she needs to do today, pumpkin," Jay said, giving Hailey a sympathetic look.

"Oh, it's no trouble. I've actually got ingredients for a delicious chocolate cake at my house if you two would like to come over. I can easily whip up a nice lunch for us, too."

"Hailey, I can't let you do that."

"Please, Jay Jay? Pretty please?" you asked, looking up at him and clasping your hands together to make it look like you were praying. "It's my birthday. Please?"

He looked to Hailey and she nodded once more. "Just because Miss Hailey said it was okay. Care to accompany us to the store to get her some candy before we go to your house?" Jay asked her.

"I'd love to."

***

You were so full after a delicious lunch of turkey sandwiches, potatoes, apples, and chocolate cake, that you had promptly fallen asleep at the table while you were waiting for Jay and Hailey to finish the dishes.

Hailey said it was no big deal, that she could do them, but you mentioned that Jay always washed the dishes and you always dried them. So, then Hailey finally gave in and let him help with the drying.

"Not to be too forward," Hailey began as she handed a plate to Jay to dry, "but is it just you and Y/N? I've just never heard either of you mention your parents."

"Uh, it's just the two of us. Mom and Dad died a few years ago. Will, our older brother, went to New York to become a doctor, so it's been the two of us ever since."

"Well, that little girl really seems to love you."

Jay sighed. "It's probably because she doesn't know any different. Mom died when she was two, so she barely remembers her. And Dad died when she was four, so two years ago. She remembers him a little, but for most of the past two years, I've been the one taking care of her. Along with our neighbor who helps out by watching her when I have to go to work."

"That's very kind of her."

"It is. So, what about you? What do you do to have such a big house? Secret baking company you run? Because I've had desserts you've made so far and both were absolutely delicious."

"They were nothing fancy."

"Oh, but to Y/N they were. She was so excited when I told her we'd be getting dessert. But, how did you end up here, Hailey?"

"In Chicago? Or in this house specifically?"

"Both," Jay said.

"Well, I was born and raised in Chicago. But, my parents are gone, too...not that I was ever too fond of my father. But, they had this house because they used to own a bar, which pulled in some decent money. They left the house to me and my brothers. All of them have their own families and are scattered across the country, so I got it."

"Would be a bad time to be in the brewing business right now, wouldn't it? With prohibition and all," Jay mused. "That might contribute to the high unemployment rates...but, I'm pretty sure that was mostly because of Hoover." He paused. "I'm sorry. I really shouldn't be talking about the complicated politics of our country right now...especially not in front of a lady."

"I have the right to vote now, you know. And have had it for thirteen years," Hailey said.

"I know. I didn't mean it like that. I think it's great that women can vote. I just shouldn't be talking about it that first time I'm in your home is all." He gestured to you. You were still asleep at the table, your head resting on your arms which were resting on the table. "Glad that little rascal gets the chance to voice her opinions."

Your head popped up. "I ain't a rascal, Jay Jay!"

"Oh really now?" He walked over to you and picked you up and started tickling you. "How about now?" he asked with a giant smile on his face while you laughed big belly laughs.

"Jay Jay! Please stop!"

"Only because you said please." He set you back down.

"Aw, she's so cute," Hailey gushed.

"Did you hear that, kiddo? Miss Hailey thinks you're cute. What do you say?" Jay asked.

"Thank you." You blushed. "Can you teach me how to do braids like yours?" you asked, referring to her French braids. "They're real pretty. Jay can only do plain ones."

She turned to Jay while she raised her eyebrows. "You know how to braid?"

He opened his mouth to dispute what you said, but you butted in. "He does! He braids my hair every day when he doesn't have to work!"

You spun around, giving Hailey a view of your braids.

"Okay, birthday girl," Jay said. "I think it's time we head home. We can play jacks there."

"Can we play checkers, too? I like checkers!"

"I know you do. Now, can you say thank you to Miss Hailey for lunch and for the cake?"

"Thank you, Miss Hailey! It was really good!"

"You're welcome, honey." She stooped down to your height and handed you two slices of chocolate cake wrapped in tin foil. "These are for you and Jay to take home. And, you get the bigger slice."

***

A month later

You had been six for a month, and Jay had known Hailey for around two months. The weather was starting to cool down as summer was turning into fall and there was a slight chill in the air. Because of this, Jay was spending more money on more firewood to place in the wood-burning stove because you now weren't just using it to cook, but for heat as well.

Ms. Rosalie had come down with a nasty cold and didn't want to get you sick. Jay had tried to find a last-minute babysitter for you last night by knocking on nearby apartments, explaining the situation, and even offering to buy them a bottle of milk for their troubles. But no one agreed.

So, Jay told you that you'd have to stay home by yourself. You asked if you could go to work with him, but he said no...even though he desperately wanted to bring you. But, he couldn't risk his job; it was the only meager income the two of you had. Jay needed that job to keep a roof over your heads and food in your bellies. Because of this, he taught you how to lock the door and had made you a quick breakfast and lunch and stuck them in the icebox so that you'd be able to eat while he was gone. And above all, he told you not to answer the door for anyone.

"Bye, Pumpkin," Jay said as he gave you a big hug. "You remember what I told you?"

"Yes. Breakfast and lunch are in the icebox and no opening the door," you answered as you sat up in bed.

"Unless..." Jay prompted.

"Unless it's you, Miss Rosalie, or Mr. Edward."

"Exactly. Now, go back to sleep. I'll lock the door on my way out. I love you."

"Love you, too, Jay Jay."

Then, he left, leaving you alone to go back to sleep.

***

"Halstead!" Jay heard his supervisor yell as he was stacking the last of his crates back at the factory before he hurried home to you.

"Yes, sir?" he asked.

"My office."

Jay swallowed but followed his supervisor.

He entered and closed the door behind him.

"As you know," his supervisor started, "milk sales have been declining at a steady rate as families don't have enough money to buy as much as they used to."

"I'm aware, sir," Jay said as he clasped his hands behind his back.

"This means that we need fewer workers."

No, this cannot be happening, Jay thought to himself.

"I'm sorry to say, but I have to let you go, Jay."

"Please," Jay begged. He knew begging was unbecoming and most likely wouldn't get him his job back, but he had no other choice. "I have a six-year-old sister. I'm the only one who takes care of her. Please sir, I really need this job. If not for me, then please do it for her. Please."

"I'm sorry, son, but I have to let you go. I wish you the best of luck on finding other employment."

Jay wanted to beg for his job back some more, but he knew it was no use. So, he just nodded and left the office, not knowing what to do next.

And, to make matters worse, his rent was already ten days past due.

***

Jay was about to walk into his apartment when he saw a yellow piece of paper nailed to his door. He ripped it down and scanned the big, bold letters.

An eviction notice. He was going to lose the apartment.

If he didn't come up with some money fast, then he and you would have to be out of your apartment in three days.

He sighed and folded the paper and stuck it in his pocket, and then unlocked the door and went inside.

He began to panic when he didn't see you right away, but then he heard a sniffle coming from your room.

You gasped as you heard someone coming towards you and quickly buried yourself under your covers and tried to stay as quiet as possible.

"Pumpkin?" Jay asked. "It's just Jay Jay."

You carefully peeled the covers back from your head. "Jay Jay?" When you saw it was him, you jumped out of bed and quickly crashed into his legs, and clung to them for dear life. "Jay Jay!" you cried. "I was so scared!"

Jay tried to pry your little fingers from his legs, but your grip was so tight that he knew if he tried any harder, he might hurt you and he definitely didn't want that. "Why were you so scared, pumpkin?" he asked as he placed a hand on your head and ran his fingers through your slightly tangled hair.

"There- there were people at the door," you shuddered. "And they made really loud noises and kept yelling."

"What were they yelling?" he asked gently.

"They were yelling for you."

"Did you open the door?"

"No, you told me not to, so I didn't."

"Good girl," he praised. He knew what you were talking about: the men who had nailed the eviction notice to the door of the apartment had probably yelled out his name a few times very loudly, which is what caused you to be scared now. "How about I make us dinner and then we can play checkers, hmm?" he asked. "How does that sound?"

You looked up at him, a few tears still rolling down your cheeks. You wiped them away with your little fists. You nodded. "Can you braid my hair, too? I tried, but I couldn't do it."

That explains all the tangles, Jay thought to himself. "I can do that."

He grabbed your hairbrush and then sat on your bed. You sat on the floor in between his legs and allowed him to brush your hair and start to braid. As Jay was doing this, he was wondering what he was going to do. He didn't have a job, he had an eviction notice, and he had to provide for you. Even though he liked to think he had great problem-solving skills, at this very moment, he had absolutely no idea what to do.

***

"Where are we going, Jay Jay?" you asked as you held his hand and walked through town the next morning.

"We are going to see Miss Hailey," he answered.

"Why?" you asked as you curiously looked up at him.

"Because I think she'd like to spend some time with you."

"Where are you gonna be?"

"I have to go run some errands."

"Can I come? I wanna come with you, Jay Jay."

"I wish I could bring you, pumpkin. But, this is adult stuff. You'd be really bored. You'll have much more fun with Miss Hailey."

You sighed. "Okay."

About twenty minutes later, Jay took a deep breath as he walked up the steps of Hailey's front porch. He hoped he was making the right decision by doing this. He knocked a few times and then Hailey answered the door.

"Jay? What are you doing here so early?" Then, she saw you and stooped down to your height. "Hi, Y/N. Did Jay wake you up to come see me this morning?"

"Yeah," you answered as you rubbed your eyes. You were still kind of tired. Jay didn't know if that was from lack of proper nutrition or general tiredness. He hoped it was the latter. "Jay Jay said he had to do adult things and I can't come with him."

She looked up at Jay and then back to you. "Honey, how about you go run inside to the sitting area and grab a deck of cards or another game we can play while I talk to your brother, how does that sound?"

You looked up at Jay and he nodded. Hailey moved out of the doorway. "Okay!" you exclaimed and then quickly let go of Jay's hand and rushed inside.

"Don't forget to take off your shoes before you get to the carpet!" Jay shouted after you, which caused you to stoop down and take off your shoes on the hardwood before you got to the carpeted areas.

"So, you needed someone to watch her?" Hailey asked.

"Yes. I'm really sorry, but you're the first person I thought of since our neighbor got sick and I need to run to the bank before it gets really busy--"

"Jay, it's fine. She's a little angel. I can take care of her for a few hours." She studied his face and his very worried expression. "Is everything alright?"

Jay sighed. "Hopefully it will be after I go to the bank. Thank you for--"

He was cut off by someone yelling at Hailey from the sidewalk. "Hailey! Still on for tonight?" It was Christopher Hermann, a firefighter.

"Uh, no I'm not baking anything tonight," she quickly answered.

Hermann gave her a confused look but quickly recovered as he realized what she was saying. "Okay, thank you, Hailey."

"You're welcome." Hermann tipped his cap at her before he continued walking. "As you were saying?" Hailey asked.

"I thought you said you didn't own a baking business?" Jay asked.

"I don't," Hailey said quickly. "Sometimes I'll just make some pies for him, his wife, and kids."

"Sorry if I wrecked your plans of baking by dropping Y/N on you. I can try and find someone else."

"No, it's fine. Good luck at the bank and I promise I'll take good care of your little sister."

"Thank you. I'll see you soon."

***

"Sir, I'm sorry," the bank teller told him.

"Please." At this point, Jay wasn't opposed to begging. "I really need a loan. Just a small one so that I can keep a roof over mine and my little sister's head and food on the table. She's just a child. Please."

"If I gave every person in here who had a sob story a loan, I would be out of a job and this bank would be out of business. I'm sorry, but I can't. Best of luck to you and your sister."

He moved on to the next person, leaving Jay close to tears. He was out of options. He was out of a job and he was about to lose the small apartment you two shared in the next two days.

He walked out of the bank with his head held low and tears pricked his eyes. The only option he had was to beg Will to let him and you move to New York to stay with him. But, even though he was a doctor, he still had to feed himself, his wife, Natalie, and his three children. He might not be able to take in two more mouths to feed.

The other thing Jay thought about as he walked down the street back towards Hailey's feeling like a disappointment was moving to a Hooverville. Those were camps set up by the homeless where they lived in tents. Because, in two days, the two of you would be homeless. He could try and sell everything of value he had in the small apartment, but it'd only cover this month's rent, if that, and then he'd just encounter this same problem again next month.

Jay knocked on the door of Hailey's house and she quickly answered it, you right on her tail.

"Jay Jay!" you exclaimed and quickly hugged him.

"Hi, pumpkin. It's time to go home now."

"But, me and Miss Hailey are in the middle of a game!" you argued.

"I've got no issue if she stays to finish it," Hailey said. "Y/N, why don't you go and make sure the pieces are where we left them while I talk to your brother?"

You ran off to go check on the pieces while Hailey stepped outside and closed the door behind her. She took a good look at Jay and saw the tears in his eyes that he was frantically trying to blink back.

"Jay, what happened at the bank?" Hailey asked gently.

"It's nothing I can't handle," he responded coldly.

"Jay, please, just tell me. Maybe I- Maybe I can help. I can't do that if you don't tell me anything."

"I'm just your milkman, well not anymore because I got fired yesterday. Why do you care so much, Hailey?"

"Because that little girl in there needs her big brother. She needs you to be rational about whatever's going on because I will not let her get hurt."

"I would never hurt her," Jay said quickly. "Where is this coming from?"

"Don't worry about it," Hailey said flippantly. "Just, tell me what's going on. Please, Jay. Not just for me, but for that little girl who loves you so much. Maybe I can help."

Jay sighed. "I got let go yesterday. And now I'm getting evicted from my apartment. I even went to the bank to try to take out a loan, but couldn't. I don't know what I'm going to do, Hailey. I really don't."

"Come with me," she said and opened the door.

You were focused on something in Hailey's sitting room, so weren't paying attention as Jay and Hailey made their way to the kitchen.

"I may not have told you everything about myself," Hailey said.

"Hailey, not to be rude, but what are you saying?"

"The reason I have this big of a house when I'm a single woman is because my parents used to own a very successful brewery. My dad, let's just say he wasn't that great of a man, so when prohibition hit, he didn't know what to do. So, he sold the brewery and they moved to another part of the country."

"And you got their house?" Jay asked.

"Yes, but I have to work to make sure I can still pay my bills."

"Then what do you do?" Jay asked. He knew she couldn't make enough money to pay for this place by working in a factory or being a seamstress, which is what most women did to support their husband's incomes.

"You don't know anyone in the government, do you?" she asked.

"No. If I did, they would've been my first visit when I saw the eviction notice, not the bank. Where is all this going?"

"Jay, if I tell you this, I need to know I can trust you, that you won't tell a single person what I'm about to show you."

"You have my word."

"Alright." She walked over to her huge, white kitchen island and pushed, revealing a staircase. "Follow me."

She pulled a string and the staircase became illuminated and Jay followed her. Once they got all the way down the staircase, she pulled another string and then a few more, making the secret basement become illuminated in light.

Jay looked around. There was a bar with glasses behind it and bottles of whiskey and other liquors. On either side of the bar, there were two huge barrels of what Jay assumed had to be beer. There were also three high-top tables with two chairs at each table.

Jay's jaw dropped. "You run a speakeasy?"

"I do," Hailey answered.

"B-But this is illegal," Jay stuttered.

"I'm very much aware."

Jay continued to look around in awe. He knew of course that speakeasies existed and that people had ways of getting alcohol from Canada, but he had never tried it since prohibition happened. Well, he did a few times. But, the minute his mom died, he stopped what little bit he did drink.

"Why did you bring me down here? To drown my sorrows in whiskey?" Jay asked.

"No, I have a proposition for you."

Jay raised an eyebrow. "A proposition?"

"Yes, would you like to hear it?" He nodded. "Since people can't appear drunk on the streets because they'll face arrest and could possibly tell the sheriff about my speakeasy, I need people here to make sure that they sober up before they leave here at night. One of the two people I hired for this job quit last night because his family is moving out west."

Jay nodded, still very unsure where this was going.

"I was wondering if you'd like that job?" Hailey asked.

"You're offering me a job?" Jay asked, trying to maintain his composure.

"Yes. You can have it if you want it."

"I'll take it. Not to be rude, but how much would I be paid?"

"That's just the thing," Hailey began. "Liquor is getting more expensive to smuggle in and brewing supplies are getting more expensive as well because it's all illegal. So, I can't pay you." Jay's face fell. "But, before you say you can't do this, let me tell you one more thing: I have two spare bedrooms in my house. They're yours and Y/N's if you take the job."

"Hailey, I can't put you out like that. You'll have to feed us and I can't let you do that."

"Jay, I have money to pay for more food. Just not to pay for another worker because they always want their wages high since what we do here is so risky. It's no problem. And, think of Y/N. She'd have a roof over her head and she could even have that strawberry pie you said she liked so much," Hailey explained.

Jay couldn't pass up this offer, not when he would be kicked out of his apartment in two days. "Okay, I'll get mine and Y/N's things over here in the next few days. You have no idea how much this means to me."

"It means a lot to me, too. Sometimes men get a little rowdy down here, which is why I have to close when there's only one to help."

"So, that's what that guy was asking about when he asked if you're still on tonight?"

"Precisely."

Jay and Hailey walked back upstairs after Hailey turned off all the lights. Then, she pushed the island back into place and Jay headed over to you.

"Will you play Go-fish with me and Miss Hailey, Jay Jay?" you asked as you held a deck of cards out for him to shuffle.

"I most definitely will, pumpkin, " he said as he sat down on the floor and took the cards from you. "But, I have a question for you first."

"What is it?" you asked as you furrowed your eyebrows. Jay found it cute how concentrated you looked every time he said he had a question for you.

"How would you like to stay with Miss Hailey for a while?"

"What- What about you? You'll be here too, right? I don't want you to leave," you said as your lip started to tremble.

"Oh no," Jay quickly said. "I'll be here, too. I promise. We'll just be living here for a while. How does that sound?"

You nodded excitedly. "Can I bring my dolly, Emmy, here?"

Jay chuckled. "Yes, you can." He started shuffling the cards as Hailey walked back in. "Alright, time for a game of Go-fish."

As the three of you played the game on the carpet of Hailey's sitting room, Jay still couldn't believe it: Hailey Upton ran a speakeasy.

***

"What about this guy?" Jay asked as he held up an old stuff animal Dalmation that once belonged to Will that he found when he was cleaning out the apartment to move into Hailey's. "You want him on your bed, too?"

"Who's he?" you asked as you studied the stuffed animal.

"This was Will's, but I'm sure he wouldn't mind if you renamed him." He held the stuffed animal out to you and you took it and held it tight to your chest.

"I love him."

"What are you thinking for a name, pumpkin?"

You pursed your lips to the side, a telltale sign that you were in deep thought. "Spot."

"Spot," Jay repeated. "I think that's a perfect name. You think Spot and Emmy are going to be friends?" Emmy was the name of your doll.

"Best friends," you told him.

"Do you want to help me unpack my room or play in here?"

"Play in here," you answered as you picked up Emmy to play with along with Spot.

"Okay. I'll be right across the hall if you need anything."

Jay walked into his room where Hailey was already busying herself by making up Jay's bed.

"Hailey," Jay started, "you didn't have to do that. I'm perfectly capable of making my own bed."

"I'm not busy until tonight, so I figured I'd help you out. I can leave if you'd like some privacy while you unpack, though," Hailey replied.

"No, no, you're fine. This is your house after all. You're allowed to go wherever you want." Jay started busying himself with taking a few things out of a crate. "Can you tell me more about the job I'll be doing tonight?"

"So, tonight, people will knock on the back door. I usually let them in, but they have to say bakery because that's the secret word to be let in. If there's a new person, I'll grab you or Adam, the other guy who does the same job as you, to let him in because I don't know him personally."

"So, for your safety?" Jay asked.

"Exactly. Then, I make the drinks and one of you hands them to the customers. The other cleans tables once someone leaves. And, if the person still seems like a drunk before they leave, you have to stop them from leaving for a few hours until they're essentially back to normal. Typically, I'll explain this to them and it works fine, but sometimes I need some help because, well, I'm small and some of them think it's okay to get handsy."

"I won't let anyone lay a hand on you, Hailey. You have my word."

Hailey nodded. "Thank you. And, before you ask like Adam did about why I don't let you guys make the drinks, it's not that I don't trust you, it's that I know the proper proportions. And, if something happens and one of you is busy making drinks..."

"Something bad could happen to you. I get it," Jay said understandingly. "Being behind the bar is safest for you. You don't have to feel bad about putting your safety first, especially since what we are all partaking in is illegal."

"Thank you for understanding. Now, I'll let you unpack. Just yell downstairs if you have any questions. I'll be in the kitchen making something special for after dinner tonight."

"Please tell me Y/N didn't get a hold of you when I was outside and ask you to make strawberry pie."

"She didn't. And even if she did, I was already planning on making it. She's very polite, Jay. You don't have to worry about her not having manners. You've raised her quite well on that front."

"That means a lot, thank you. This all means so much, thank you."

"Hey, you needed help and I needed help. The feeling's mutual." With that, she left Jay alone to unpack and think about how he was staying with one of the most beautiful and kind-hearted women in the world.

***

"So how does this work?" Jay asked Hailey later that night after he had tucked you into bed.

"Jay, I already told you how it works. You just make sure I'm safe and no drunk customers leave or try to get handsy with me," Hailey answered as she was setting up the bar.

"I know that," Jay laughed. "I meant with Y/N. What do we do about her? She's sleeping in a place she doesn't know and I'm not in my room. I don't want her to get upset when she can't find us."

"Oh," Hailey said. "Guess I didn't think that far ahead." She paused as she thought about what she and Jay could do. "How about this: every fifteen minutes either you or I go upstairs to check on her."

"That works," Jay said.

There were thundering footsteps walking down the stairs.

"Hey, Adam," Hailey greeted when he got all the way down. "Jay, this is Adam. Adam, Jay."

Jay and Adam shook hands. "So you're the new replacement?" Adam asked and Jay nodded. "Don't worry, everything's pretty tame down here. There's just occasionally one or two rowdy newcomers because they haven't drank in a long time and forgot what their limits are."

"Good to know," Jay said.

"It's almost time to open, so how about me and Jay go upstairs for the first few customers so he can see how it's done," Hailey suggested.

Adam waved his hand. "Go ahead. Usually, I know most everyone's regular drinks, so I can handle bartending for a little bit."

"Thanks, Adam," Hailey said.

Jay and Hailey made their way upstairs and Jay went to check on you and then went back to Hailey.

"She still asleep?" Hailey asked.

"Out like a light," he answered.

There was a knock at the door. Hailey opened it a crack. "Bakery," the man said. It was the same one who asked a few days ago if they'd be open when Jay came over to ask Hailey to watch you while he went to the bank to see if he could take out a loan.

Hailey opened the door all the way and allowed him in. He came with a friend. "Christopher, Randall, welcome back," she said once they were all the way inside.

"Thank you," they both said.

"This guy new?" Christopher Hermann asked.

"Jay Halstead," Jay said as he stretched his hand out for Hermann to shake. "Pleasure to meet you."

"You as well. The real pleasure is being here where I can drink alcohol, am I right, Randall?" he asked as he turned to his friend.

"No doubt about it," he replied.

"Any stories from work today?" Hailey asked.

"No, just a simple cat caught in a tree. Nothing that caused somebody's house to burn and thank the Lord for that because of how hard it is to secure a loan for a house right now," Hermann answered.

"You two can make your way on in," Hailey said. "You know where to go."

"Thank you," Randall said and then the two walked away and towards the island that hid the speakeasy underneath.

"They're both firefighters," Hailey told Jay. "And, the one that Christopher kept calling Randall, well he told me that at the station they call him Mouch."

Jay furrowed his eyebrows. "Why? Why would a man want a nickname as silly as that?"

"Apparently it means half man half couch. But, just call him Randall. I'm not supposed to know about that nickname, but Hermann told me one night when he got a little too drunk."

"I'm sure Randall's wife is thrilled that he's a lazy bum," Jay said.

"Only at the station where he sits on the couch and listens to the radio until the bells go off. But, his wife, Trudy, can command a room."

Jay looked at his watch. "I should go check on Y/N again. Be right back."

He checked on you and you were still sound asleep.

After a few more customers came in, he went back downstairs and started his new job. It was hard not to like it when he got to look and talk to Hailey all night.

***

It had been a few months since you and Jay had moved in with Miss Hailey. Well, she was just Hailey to you now because she insisted you call her that. Jay insisted on you still calling her Miss Hailey, but Hailey had vetoed that decision.

Jay cracked an eye open as you excitedly pushed his door open. He quickly closed his eyes again and pretended to be asleep.

You pulled on his blankets. "Jay Jay! Jay Jay, wake up! It's Christmas!" He still pretended to be asleep. You pulled on his arm and he cracked his eyes open and rubbed them.

"Mhm, Y/N, what's wrong?" he asked.

"Nothing's wrong, Jay Jay! It's Christmas! Do you think Santa came?" you asked excitedly.

"I think so," Jay said as he sat up and stretched. "Should we go see if Hailey's awake and then we can see if Santa came?"

You nodded excitedly and he got out of bed and you grabbed his hand, practically tugging him out of his bedroom.

You saw Hailey walking up the stairs with a tray with three mugs on it. "Hailey!" you exclaimed and quickly let go of Jay's hand and ran to her. "Did you go downstairs?" you asked excitedly.

"I did," she told you, letting out a small giggle at your excitement.

God, Jay loved that giggle. Hell, he loved everything about Hailey, her heart, her looks, how she wasn't afraid to run a speakeasy when it was illegal. For all intents and purposes, she was a little rebel and he loved it.

"Did Santa come? Did you see him?" you rushed out excitedly.

"I didn't see him, but he came. There's lots of presents and your stocking is almost overflowing."

You smiled widely and squealed in excitement.

"Here," Jay said as he walked up to Hailey. "Let me take that."

"Oh, sorry," Hailey apologized. "I figured I'd make us some coffee and for that little angel, there's some hot chocolate with whipped cream and a candy cane."

"Hear that, pumpkin?" Jay asked as he took the tray from Hailey. "Hailey made you hot chocolate with all the fixings."

"Thank you!" you exclaimed and then tried to reach for your mug.

"Pumpkin, it's hot. I'm gonna hand it to you when we get downstairs, how's that sound?"

"Okay, Jay Jay!"

When the three of you got downstairs, you gasped. Hailey wasn't kidding when she told you there were lots of presents and your stocking was overflowing. "Santa came! Santa came!"

"He did," Jay said as he set the tray on the coffee table. "Do you want to open your stocking while your hot chocolate cools down?"

"Yes please!"

Hailey walked over to the radio and turned it on to a low volume while Jay helped you get your stocking down. Then, he handed it to you and he and Hailey sat down on the floor next to you as you emptied it.

"Oranges!" you exclaimed as you pulled out two of them. "Chocolate...and candy canes!" You pulled out two more things, too, a new hairbrush and socks, but you were more excited for the chocolate and candy canes. "Your turn!" you told Jay and Hailey.

Inside theirs were only oranges, candy canes, and chocolate. They had both agreed to spend the money on you and not on each other.

You opened your presents and you had gotten a stuffed animal Mickey Mouse from Jay and a pack of cards that were specifically for Go-Fish. They had different color fishies on them! You also got a new nightgown from him.

"What's that?" you asked as you pointed to an object in the corner under the Christmas tree that was covered by a bedsheet.

"That, is my present to you," Hailey told you.

"Can I open it?" you asked as you clasped your hands in front of you as if in prayer.

Hailey laughed. "Yes, you can."

As you had been asking Hailey, Jay was wondering where this gift came from. He knew Hailey had been in charge of your stocking, but he didn't think she had gotten you anything else...much less something so big that it couldn't be wrapped.

You tugged the sheet off and gasped when you saw what was under it.

"A rocking horse!"

Jay's eyes went wide. She wasn't even supposed to get you anything and here she was with a brand new rocking horse for you.

Hailey walked over to you. "There's even a pocket on the side of the saddle so that Emmy and Spot can ride with you," she told you as she pointed it out to you.

"Jay Jay! Can you help me get on?"

Jay smiled and walked up to you and picked you up. "One...two...three!" He set you down on the rocking horse, but not before he threw you up in the air once and then caught you and placed you on the rocking horse.

You started moving back and forth on the rocking horse and singing the lyrics to Santa Claus is Comin' to Town. Jay and Hailey just watched you while they drank their coffee, enjoying the morning and seeing you so excited.

"Where's your presents?" you asked after a few songs. "Santa didn't bring you any?"

"He only brings presents to good little children, pumpkin," Jay told you.

"But you were good, Jay Jay!" you argued.

"I know," he chuckled. "But I'm a grown-up, so is Hailey."

You scrunched up your nose. "I don't wanna be a grown-up. It doesn't sound fun." Then you remembered something. "What about the presents I helped you with?" You looked down at the red tree skirt. "They're right there!" you exclaimed as you pointed to the two gifts that were still waiting to be unwrapped. You pointed to one. "That once's for Jay Jay from me and Hailey!" You pointed to the last gift. "And that one's for Hailey from me and Jay Jay!"

Jay got up and grabbed both gifts. "After you," he told Hailey, his eyes twinkling because he knew what was inside.

She gently took the wrapping paper off and then smiled and looked up at him. "How did you know this was my favorite book?" She ran a hand over the cover of a brand new copy of Little Women by Louisa May Alcott. More importantly, she wondered how he could afford all this. She knew that she had started paying him a little a few months ago as prices for products dropped, but she knew it wasn't a lot.

"I noticed it on your bedside table one night when I brought you a cup of tea. I just assumed it was your favorite because of how worn the pages were. I'm glad I guessed correctly," he said.

"Thank you. This is- I love it," Hailey said. Her mom had given her a copy of that book once she reached second grade and her mom had helped her read it. She always remembered those good memories when she read it, which was why she's always read if she couldn't make it to the library, even to this day. "Thank you."

"You're welcome." His fingers brushed her hand.

Hailey turned to you. "Did you help your brother pick this out?"

"Yeah! I went to the bookstore with him! It was so big!" you told her as you continued rocking back and forth on your rocking horse. Jay had no doubt that that would be your favorite toy.

Hailey passed Jay his gift. It wasn't hard like her's had been, it was sort of flimsy as well.

"I wonder what it could be..." he trailed off, thinking that you would tell him.

"It's--" you clamped your mouth shut as you remembered what Hailey had told you. "Hailey told me I can't tell you yet! You gotta open it!"

"Okay, okay, I'm opening it." Jay also gently took off the wrapping paper so that it could be saved for next year's Christmas.

Jay removed the paper and saw what was inside: between two pieces of cardboard were two shirts. They were both made out of the same blue and white striped fabric, but one was short-sleeved and the other was long-sleeved. He held the long-sleeved one up to get a better look at it.

"Wow, Hailey, these are amazing. Did you make these?" he asked.

"I did. Y/N helped me pick out the fabric. She said you liked blue," Hailey said.

"Well, she's right. I do like blue."

"And, we figured we'd give you a long-sleeved one that can be worn almost any time and then a short-sleeved one for the summer months."

"You both made great choices. Thank you so much." He looked up at you. "Thank you, too, pumpkin. Now, can you get down and give me a hug or do I need to help you down?"

"I can do it!" You slid down off the rocking horse and then ran to Jay, barrelling into his open arms.

"Arghh, my favorite girls. No better way to spend Christmas."

Your stomach rumbled.

"I should get started on breakfast," Hailey said and stood up.

"I'll help," Jay offered. He let go of you and set you on the couch and then handed you your hot chocolate. "Can you do something for me?" he asked you.

"What is it?" you asked after you had taken a sip of your hot chocolate, getting whipped cream all on your upper lip.

"Can you not get on the rocking horse and stay here and listen to the radio until me or Hailey get back?"

"Okay!" You paused. "Can you put me on there now? I promise I'll be good," you pleaded.

Jay agreed, but only because it was Christmas. "Now, me and Hailey will be in the kitchen if you need anything. Merry Christmas, pumpkin."

"Merry Christmas, Jay Jay."

Jay handed you your hot chocolate to take one last sip and then you handed it back to him. Then, Jay and Hailey made their way into the kitchen to start on the Christmas breakfast.

Hailey opened the icebox as Jay began grabbing some plates...the fancy China ones that Hailey said she'd only get out for holidays.

"So, I'm one of your favorite girls?" Hailey asked while she took the cinnamon roll dough, which she had made a few days ago and rolled up, out of the icebox and set them on the counter.

"I mean, you are, but if you're uncomfortable with that...you know, I think I just meant to say favorite girl to Y/N, but I made it plural and--"

"Jay," she cut him off. "You're one of my favorite boys."

"Only one of them, huh?" he joked. "Who else is there?"

"The firefighters," she answered nonchalantly. "They were the ones who helped me with the rocking horse."

"I was wondering who made that."

"I just told Hermann one night that I thought Y/N would like a rocking horse, and he offered to build it with help from some of the other firefighters. All it took was a night of free drinks for each of them who helped."

"How'd you get it inside? It wasn't there last night."

"Hermann and some of the other firefighters stopped over early this morning and dropped it off. I just threw the bedsheet over it."

"So that's why you had coffee and hot chocolate all made up. You had been awake."

"Exactly right."

Jay opened the oven door turned the dial, then moved out of the way to allow Hailey to put the cinnamon rolls in the oven.

"You don't have to help me, you know," Hailey pointed out when she closed the oven door. She had never met a man so keen on helping her in the kitchen or with daily household chores before she had met Jay.

"Hailey, you tell me this every day. I've been used to cooking and cleaning for the past two years since it was just me and Y/N. I'm not going to wake up one day and stop doing that. Besides, I'm helping you out. You shouldn't have to do everything around here."

Hailey nodded and smiled. God, was Jay sweet and very handsome, too! "Well, in that case, do you want to get started on the eggs while I whip up the icing for the cinnamon rolls?"

"Uh, I was wondering if maybe you'd make the eggs?" Jay asked.

Hailey shrugged. "Okay."

"It's not that I don't want to do it," Jay backtracked. "Y/N just told me she prefers your eggs over mine."

"I think I know why," Hailey laughed.

Jay's eyes twinkled with humor as he looked at her. "Is that so?"

"It is so. It's because you whisk the eggs in the pan and not in the bowl before."

"So she likes the whites mixed with the yolks, got it," Jay replied and reached into the cabinet and grabbed Hailey a bowl. "In that case, care to pass me the icing recipe?"

She passed him a piece of paper and they worked in comfortable silence, the only noises to be heard were the sounds of whisking and sizzling and the faint sounds of the Christmas carols coming from the radio in the living room.

Hailey began plating the eggs and placed them on the counter. "I'll pop them back in the oven to keep them warm once the cinnamon rolls are almost done."

"Good idea. I'll go check on Y/N. Icing's finished as well."

Hailey nodded and then began filling the sink with warm water to start washing some of the dishes.

"I'll be back to help you dry in a minute, don't you worry."

"You'd never miss that," she joked and Jay shook his head as he walked over to go check on you.

When he saw you, he held back a laugh. You were still on the rocking horse, but your head was leaning against the horse's head, the reins loose in your hand, as you quietly snoozed away to the Christmas carols.

He thought about waking you up but thought that Hailey would like to see how adorable you looked as well. So, he walked back to the kitchen.

"Back so soon?" Hailey asked. "Where's my little angel?"

"She's asleep on the rocking horse. Guess waking up early and all the excitement of the presents really tired her out. She's adorable."

Jay waved his hand, signaling for her to follow him and she did.

Hailey cooed at how cute you were as the two of the them stood in the open doorway to the sitting room.

"She really is the cutest little girl alive," Hailey said.

"I'd do anything for that kid," Jay said.

"You're a good brother, Jay. Raising her to have manners and know how to behave, you did really well with her."

"Thank you. I just tried to do what my mother did for me and Will." Since their time together, Jay had told Hailey stories about his childhood and his parents. These were mostly told downstairs in the speakeasy when Hailey had allowed Adam to go home and it was just the two of them cleaning up together.

"Well, she'd be proud of you."

She looked up at his green eyes, which were gazing at her gently. Then, she looked up at the doorway and laughed softly.

"What?" he asked.

"Nothing, it's nothing."

Jay looked up and spotted the mistletoe. They had hung it up there a week and a half ago when they had decorated for Christmas. But, they never really did the tradition of kissing under it; it was solely for decoration purposes.

"I don't think we can avoid it now since it's Christmas," Jay said. Hailey furrowed her eyebrows. "Hailey, we've been avoiding the tradition since we hung it up." He took a step toward her and grabbed her hand. "You're beautiful and I've never met anyone as kind-hearted and sweet as you and we're underneath the mistletoe." He tucked a stray piece of hair behind her ear.

"That we are," Hailey agreed and smiled a toothy smile.

They looked into each other's eyes and all they saw was love and affection. So, Jay did what he wanted to do since they hung that piece of mistletoe: he leaned in and gave the most beautiful girl whom he had ever laid eyes on, a kiss and a Christmas kiss at that.

***

Winter had come and gone and spring was finally in the air. Jay and Hailey had finally admitted their feelings to each other and whenever they kissed, you always giggled...which caused Jay to pick you up and tickle you.

You were sitting in the garden with Hailey working on planting new flowers and vegetables, while Jay went inside to grab the three of you glasses of lemonade.

"Are these tomatoes, Mommy?" You asked as you picked up a package of seeds.

Hailey froze. Mommy. She most definitely wasn't your mommy.

"They are, baby. They'll be tomatoes once they get lots and lots of water and sun."

Jay was walking back at the same exact time you started to reply to Hailey. "Okay, Mommy! I can't wait to see them! I hope they're good."

"Hey, pumpkin," Jay said as he walked up to you and squatted down next to you. "You thirsty?" He sent Hailey a look that read that he had no idea what was going on with those names either. He held the glass of lemonade out to you.

"Thank you, Daddy!" you exclaimed as you took the glass of lemonade from him.

Jay's eyes widened and he looked at Hailey once more as you took big gulps of lemonade.

"Pumpkin, who are you calling Mommy and Daddy?" he asked gently, trying to word this as easy as possible so that you could understand it and so that it wouldn't upset you.

"You're Daddy and Hailey's Mommy!" you told him.

He furrowed his eyebrows. "I thought I was Jay Jay."

"You are. But you're Daddy, too," you told him.

"Pumpkin, me and Hailey love you so, so much, but we aren't your mommy and daddy. Mommy and Daddy died when you were little," Jay told you as he took the empty lemonade glass from you.

"I know that," you said as you started digging another hole for more seeds, not grasping how important this conversation actually was.

"Then why are you calling us that?" Hailey asked as she twirled one of your braids between her fingers.

"Because Annie told me all about her mommy and daddy and you and Jay Jay do the same things as them. So you're like my mommy and daddy." Annie was one of the neighbor girls you'd play with outside occasionally. Her dad also came to the speakeasy every Saturday night...but you obviously didn't know that. You didn't even know what a speakeasy was, let alone that there was a speakeasy in the basement of your house. You moved the dirt from the hole and to the side of you.

"Y/N, we love you so much, but you..." Hailey trailed off, not knowing how to tell you that you couldn't call her and Jay Mommy and Daddy.

"You can't call us Mommy and Daddy, pumpkin," Jay told you.

Your lip began to tremble. "Why not? You are my mommy and my daddy."

"Why do you want to call us that?" Jay asked as his heart broke when he saw the tears forming in your eyes.

"Be- because you do Daddy things like pick me up and spin me around. And wake me up and tuck me in and let me sleep in your bed when I'm- when I'm scared."

"And Hailey?"

"She does Mommy things like tuck me in and wake me up, too. She helps me with my hair and you guys always give me bedtime kisses and stories."

Jay looked at Hailey. He really didn't know how to tell you that you couldn't call them that.

"Is there anything else, Y/N?" Hailey asked, looking directly at you as she started to rub your back to hopefully stop you from crying.

"I don't 'member Mommy and Daddy!" you cried and hurled yourself into Jay's arms. "I don't 'member them and I want a mommy and daddy!"

"Oh, pumpkin," Jay said. He never really thought about the fact that you wouldn't really remember your mom and dad and how you might call him that because that's what he seemed like to you. He knew you'd have questions, but he didn't think you'd try and call him and Hailey those titles. "You do have a mommy and daddy. They're just in heaven, remember?"

"But I don't 'member them!" you cried again.

"I know, I know. Would it help if I show you pictures of them?" Jay asked.

"You have pictures of 'em?" you asked, removing your head from Jay's chest.

You had only seen a few pictures of them that Jay had in his room in frames and those were the ones that used to be in your old apartment, too.

"I do. What do you say we all go inside and look at them?" Jay asked.

"Okay."

He helped Hailey to her feet and then placed you on his hip and the three of you made your way inside.

You stayed with Hailey on the couch in the sitting room while Jay went upstairs to grab a box of old pictures.

"This is our mommy and this is our daddy," Jay said as he pointed out the people in the picture when he sat down a few minutes later. "See, you have a mommy and daddy. You just can't see them right now."

"When can I see them?" you asked.

"Not for a long time until you go up in the sky to heaven," he told you.

"Like all the old people?"

Hailey laughed. "Yes, like all the old people," Jay answered.

He pulled out another picture. "There's Mommy, there's Daddy, there's Will, and there's me," he told you as he pointed to the people in the picture.

"Where am I?" you asked as your fingers brushed the black and white photograph.

"You are right here." He pointed to your mommy's belly.

"But that's mommy's tummy, Jay Jay. I'm not there!"

"Yes, you are. You had to grow big and strong and then one day you just came here," he explained.

You placed your hand on Jay's belly. "Where's your baby, Jay Jay?"

Hailey held back laughter while Jay placed his big hand on top of your small one. "I can't have babies."

You cocked your head to the side. "Why not?"

"Because..." he trailed off, looking to Hailey for support.

"Y/N," she began. "That's a talk for when you're bigger." She grabbed a deck of cards from the table in front of you. "Do you want to play Go-Fish? I'll even get you some more lemonade."

That piqued your interest. "Yes, please!"

You slid off the couch and Jay breathed a huge sigh of relief. He had no idea what he'd do without Hailey Ann Upton.

***

"Wow," Jay mused as he looked at the morning newspaper while he and Hailey were sipping their morning coffee.

"What? Shocked that Y/N's still sleeping? Maybe she fell asleep late because she was so excited to go to the fair today," Hailey said.

"No, no," Jay said. "It's not that, even though I am shocked that she's still sleeping when it's eight o'clock already. But, no, they're thinking about ending prohibition."

"What?" Hailey gasped.

"Right here." Jay passed the newspaper to Hailey and pointed to the heading which is what told them that the US only needed one more state to ratify the 21st amendment, which at this point looked like it would be Utah.

Hailey skimmed the article. "Wow. You're right. I mean, I think we kind of knew this was coming, but I didn't think it would actually happen."

"Me neither. Do you know what you're going to do if it does become legal?"

"I mean, I've obviously thought about it, but not all the way if you know what I mean. I kind of wondered about it, but I never made a plan." Hailey tried her best to explain how she had been thinking.

"Do you want to stay in Chicago?" Jay asked.

"I don't know. I love the city, but I'd also like to have the country air. Give Y/N a big yard to run around in instead of the small one we have now."

"Jay Jay! Hailey!" you exclaimed as you ran into the kitchen.

"Speak of the devil," Jay laughed. "We'll talk more about it later." He turned to you as you pulled yourself up on a kitchen chair. "You excited for the fair, pumpkin?"

"Yeah!" you exclaimed. "I can't wait to see all the animals!"

"Which ones do you want to see the most?" Hailey asked.

"The piggies!"

"The piggies, huh?" Jay asked. "Why are they your favorite?"

"They're pink and they're fat and they're cute!"

"Pink, fat, and cute," Hailey repeated. "Great description of pigs. How about me and Jay Jay get started on breakfast and then we can get going. How does that sound?"

"Yay! Piggies!"

Jay laughed and got up to help Hailey with breakfast while you were practically vibrating in your seat with the excitement at the thought of seeing all the animals at the fair.

***

"Piggies!" you exclaimed as you saw them in their pen and tugged on Jay's hand to make him walk faster. "C'mon, Jay Jay!"

Jay laughed. "They'll still be there in a few minutes when we get there."

"There's chickens, too!" Hailey told you. "Maybe you'll see some babies, do you remember what those are called from the book we read about animals at the library?"

"Chicks!"

"Great job!" Hailey praised.

By now you had made your way to the pen and tugged Jay's hand when you walked into it.

"Piggy!" you exclaimed as you ran up to one.

"What sound does a pig make, Y/N?" Jay asked as he crouched down next to you to make sure you didn't put your hands near the pig's mouth.

"Oink oink! Mr. Piggy says oink oink!" you said, quoting the book you and Hailey read the other day.

"She must've really liked that book," Hailey said.

"Obviously," Jay agreed as you kept petting the pig. The pig made its snorty oink oink sound which caused you to pull your hand away and giggle loudly.

"Can we get a piggy, Jay Jay?" you asked.

"Not while we're in Chicago, Y/N," Jay told you.

"So if we go out of Chicago, we get one?" you asked hopefully.

"Maybe, pumpkin, maybe."

***

"So, what are you thinking?" Jay asked a few days later when it was he, Adam, Hailey, Hermann, and a few others in the speakeasy late at night.

"I don't know," Hailey said. "But, you saw how Y/N looked with those farm animals and how she loved petting all of them."

"So, you want to move out of Chicago?" Jay asked.

"I don't know, but it sounds like you've thought a lot about it. Care to enlighten me?"

"Oregon, Wisconsin, New York. Those are all options," Jay shrugged.

"I thought we were getting out of the city and not going into another one," Hailey joked. "So why New York?"

"Upstate New York, where there'd be all the forests and wilderness. Obviously, we wouldn't be living out in the middle of nowhere. I don't think either of us would enjoy that."

"No, not in the slightest," Hailey agreed.

Hermann walked up to them. "So, if you two leave with the kid, what's gonna happen to this place?" he asked.

"Didn't your mother ever teach that listening to others' conversations is actually quite rude?" Jay asked.

"Well, sorry. But all us firefighters will have to find a new place to blow off some steam," Hermann replied.

"We'll only be leaving if prohibition actually ends," Hailey explains. "Still waiting on one more state to ratify the amendment."

"So, if it does end, what are you thinking?" Hermann asked.

"Alright, spit it out already," Jay joked. "What are you thinking, Hermann?"

"Well, I'm thinking about retiring soon and if it ends, I'd love to have a business endeavor to throw myself into. If I don't have anything to work on, the missus will not be happy with me."

"So, what are you saying?" Jay asked.

"Hailey Upton, if prohibition ends and you and Jay decide to leave, would you allow me to buy this place and turn it into the most booming bar in all of Chicago?"

"I--"

"Excuse me?" A man asked rudely as he leaned over the bar. "I've been waiting on another drink for minutes now!"

"Sir," Hailey began, "I can only give you so much because we need you to be sober enough when you walk outside to leave."

"I'm paying for this! You can't tell me how much I can and can't drink!"

"Sir--"

"Make me my damn drink, bitch!"

He reached out a hand to grab Hailey's wrist, but she jumped back so she was out of his reach.

"Reach over that bar one more time and I will lay you out where you stand," Jay told him sternly.

"I highly doubt that," he scoffed and went to reach over the bar again.

But, Jay was too fast and landed a solid punch to the man's jaw.

"Son of bitch," he muttered as he grabbed his jaw.

"Believe me now?" Jay asked smugly. Then, he turned to Adam. "Care to take care of this?"

"Yeah, I got it." Then, he turned to the man who was still grabbing and massaging his jaw. "You need to go take a seat, buddy, while I get you some ice. Because, hate to break it to you, but we're not letting you leave for at least another hour."

The man groaned but reluctantly went to take a seat while Adam got him some ice...mostly because he didn't want another punch to the jaw from Jay.

Jay walked behind the bar. "Are you okay?" he asked Hailey.

"I'm fine. He didn't even touch me," she replied.

"Still," Jay said. "I'd really prefer if you went upstairs and went to sleep. I don't want anything to happen to you."

"Jay, I'm--"

"Hailey," Hermann cut her off. "I can make the drinks. You just go upstairs and get some rest."

"Hermann, I can't pay you for this. And, do you even know how to make all the drinks?" Hailey asked.

"I'm fine with not being paid, Hailey. I just want to help you out and make sure you're safe, just like Jay here. And, I've been here enough and seen you make the drinks that I'm pretty sure I can handle it."

"Okay," Hailey relented.

"I'll walk you upstairs," Jay offered. "Can you two handle it if I'm gone for a few minutes?" Jay asked Adam and Hermann.

The two said they were fine and Jay and Hailey went upstairs.

"If prohibition ends," Hailey began when Jay and Hailey were almost to her bedroom, "I think we should take Hermann up on his offer."

"Hailey, that's a big decision. Are you sure you don't want to think about it?" Jay asked as he grabbed her hand.

"Tonight opened my eyes. Late nights, the possibility of being in situations I don't want to be in. If we have kids, I'm going to need to be there with them."

"Hailey, I'd love to have kids with you. But, I'm lost. What does this have to do with selling the speakeasy to Hermann?"

"If we have kids, I want us to be there for them at night when they have nightmares, not one of us going upstairs every fifteen minutes to check on them like we do with Y/N. And, if it's all legal, we'll have more rowdy customers. I don't want either of us to get hurt and I also don't want one of the kids to walk downstairs, if we have kids, and see angry customers," Hailey explained.

"I understand that. It's your decision, though. You own the speakeasy. It's your decision. I'll be with you on whatever you decide to do."

"Jay, I love you so much and I never want to be without you. And if you want to move, I'm going with you. I'm going where you go."

"I love you, too. And, you're gonna have to put up with me for a long time because I'm not leaving you."

***

"We've got everything, right?" Jay asked as he and Hailey looked on to the house. Jay held suitcases in his hand and so did Hailey. You held Spot and Emmy close to you.

"You sure about this?" Hermann asked. "You still have an hour before the train comes to back out."

"We're sure, Christopher," Hailey confirmed. "Everything is ready for us in New York."

"My brother had a lot to do with that," Jay supplied.

Prohibition had officially ended a month ago and when Jay had told Will over a quick phone call what was going on, he was shocked, to say the least. But, he agreed to try and find a place for them in upstate New York. So, he took Natalie and his three kids on a day trip there where they looked at some houses and went through the shops and got ice cream. Then, Will told Jay he had found the perfect place. So, Jay and Hailey sent him the money and Will bought the house for them.

"Bar have a--" Jay was quickly cut of by you asking a question.

"What was Mommy's name?" you asked.

"It was Molly," Jay answered. "But, we don't interrupt, okay?"

"Sorry. But, Hailey told me she'd get me another dolly when we get to New York and now I'm gonna name her Molly."

"That's great, pumpkin, really great. Anyway," he started, turning his attention back to Hermann, "Bar have a name yet?"

"You know, I think Molly's would be a good name," he answered.

You gasped. "You're gonna name the restaurant after my mommy? Did you hear that, Jay Jay?"

"I did. Hermann, you can't. It's your bar."

"I know. But, if your mom didn't have you, then you wouldn't have fallen in love with Hailey, and I wouldn't be getting the most important thing to me: the bar," he told him.

"I'm telling Cindy you said that," Hailey joked.

"You wouldn't do that. You're too nice for that, Hailey."

"So, it's Molly's?" Hailey asked.

"The bar's Molly's."

"Well, take good care of it. I didn't run it illegally for years just to have it be destroyed by a regular."

"Don't you worry. And, if all else fails, at least the firefighters will come to it."

***

"This is our house?" you asked excitedly when Will picked the three of you up from the train station. Apparently, he and Natalie made enough money to feed them and their three children and still have enough money to afford a car.

"It is, pumpkin. And look over there." Jay pointed outside the car to a pen...well two pens and a chicken coop.

"Piggies!" you exclaimed. You gasped. "We get to keep them?"

"We do," Jay confirmed.

"There's even a horse that you can ride," Hailey told you.

"Like my rocking horse?"

"Just like that. But you can feed him and brush him. And we have hens, too. Those are the girl chickens."

"They lay the eggs?"

"That's right," Will said. "You sure know a lot about animals, pumpkin. Are you gonna be a veterinarian when you get bigger?"

"What's that?" you asked as you furrowed your eyebrows.

"So, I'm a doctor for people, but you'd be a doctor for animals."

You gasped. "Yay! I wanna be a betternanian!"

Everyone laughed at your pronunciation of the word veterinarian, but you were too excited to realize you had said it wrong and to even care.

As Jay grabbed a few things out of the car and made his way to the house, he reminisced on how he got here. If he hadn't had his route changed as a milkman, if he wouldn't have gotten fired and gotten an eviction notice, then he wouldn't have met the love of his life, Miss Hailey Anne Upton...even though he hoped he'd be able to change her title to Mrs. Hailey Anne Halstead in the next few months. And, even though he had to go look for a job tomorrow, he had a home with you and Hailey, you were happy with all the animals, and he was closer to the rest of his family in Will, Natalie, and his nephews and niece, and that was all that mattered.

A/N I hope you liked the first AU of AU-gust! I think the next one I will be writing will be a high school AU. If you have any ideas for AUs, feel free to comment or send me an ask!  As always, thank you for reading! Don't forget to reblog/like and comment as notifications always make my day! And, if you like my writing, you can support me at https://www.buymeacoffee.com/Kayela It's only a dollar and it's through Paypal and any currency can be used, no subscription required! (I write these fics for free, so I figured I'd try this out!) Finally, if you want to be added to my taglist, just comment and I’ll add you!

taglist: @theambracer88 @virtualreader @kelelas-life @celyndavies @brookerz122493 @musicismyescape27 @anotherfan07 @thexplosivegirl @dreamingwithlens @xoxmariaxox @onechicago18 @iamasimpingh0e @i-like-sparkly-things @herecomesthewriterwitch @liampayne88

[allyvampirelass29]

A Shorter Way to Save Her

A NOS4A2 Fanfiction By: Allyssa J. Watkins

"Maggie, you've really done it this time, are you kidding me!? Just tell me this is a prank...... Hey you, Curlicue, she's kidding right.......?"

Vic McQueen and Maggie Leigh shared a glance, the purple-haired girl fighting her smile, but the fabulously florescent Mags, wasn't fast enough to stifle her snort with a cough.

"Yeah, we get it, you're a real crack up, Barney Fife, the name's Vic, okay, try to remember it? And no she ain't lost it, we're asking you for a favour."

"You're ASKING me to run a NATIONWIDE APB on a missing person, with no physical description, no last seen, not a damn thing to go on, except a lousy first name. Do you have ANY idea how many Allyssa's there are in the world!? This gaffe of hilarious proportions must be your guys' idea of a bad joke, huh? Pull one over on Old Joe, is that it? 'Fess up, was it Koalski or Maguire, put you two up to this?

"Joe, relax, okay?" Maggie sighed trying to calm everybody down. "I know it sounds crazy, I know we're trying to make bricks without clay here, but this girl is in real trouble, and she needs our help! It had been a huge risk getting Joe involved, Maggie knew that, and as dangerous as it was tangling yet another person she cared about in Charlie Manx's twisted web, he'd helped them catch a huge break before with that Wraith part in Denver, and with no leads, and dwindling time, stopping Allyssa Jane Doe from becoming the dreaded Mrs. Manx, was going to take all the help they could get. They'd done all they could with the impossible. It was time to turn to more conventional methods, to a force neither of them had ever really understood. The real, the possible, the police.

"Joe, please...... We're not asking for a miracle here, just something, anything you can do. Shake a few trees, rattle some cages, just help us find her....... before he does."

"I knew this was about that damned Wraith!" Joe sighed, frustrated. You girls need to give this up. Go to the mall, go on dates, live your lives! You're too young to be chasing criminal kidnappers, and too old for ghost stories. Charlie Manx is a myth, Kids, he ain't real, he can't hurt you. There is no Christmasland. There is no Santa Claus."

Maggie could sense the anger rising, coming off of Vic McQueen in waves, and she reached for her but it was too late........ Vic lunged, slamming her fists on the desk, rattling it, her eyes screaming violence. "Not real? Huh, WHAT a relief, Joe, GOD, that's swell!!! That means my boyfriend ain't dead, he didn't burn up alive in that damned car!!! Hailey's safe in her bed at home, instead of at the mercy of some sicko cautionary tale, her mother's alive, her freaking cat's alive, and I'm NOT fighting for my life, my sanity, my whole damn mind!!!!" She fumed, her eyes bleeding with pain, as the skeptical Sheriff was struck silent by her outrage. "You listen to me, you condescending piece of SHIT!!! Charlie Manx is real, Charlie Manx is EVIL, like you ain't even ready for, and unless you want to spend the rest of your career, watching mothers lose their kids, chasing your tail, because you can't wrap your head around anyone REAL being this damned effed up, you are going to help us get this girl, and save her from a hell, she ain't never coming back from........"

Joe stared Vic in the eyes, his expression hard, leaning over the desk, and in that moment Vic McQueen didn't care if she got arrested, she was so damn sick of Charlie getting away with actual murder, disappearing into a haze of obscurity, being written off as a Grimm Fairytale. Somebody had to SEE him, even if she had to make them see him. The devil was real, and he drove a 1938 Rolls Royce Wraith........

Vic didn't even flinch, glaring back at Joe, as he slammed a thick, red binder onto the desktop, never taking his eyes from hers, rifling through the laminated pages, and finally she glanced down at the whirl of pictures. "Do you know how many Missing Persons I have right now, just in the state of Massachusetts?" He asked, his voice low, emotionless, watching Vic's rage crack, as she shook her wildly curly head. "Ninety-two...... That's ninety-two mothers crying over their children, that's ninety-two people that ain't never coming home. How about the entire US, huh? Try, fifteen thousand, two hundred, and seven active cases. All of them, every one, with a full name, physical description, last seen, known associates, and still just as lost, as the mysterious name you pulled out of a hat. You want my help? Reach into your bag of tricks, there, and get me more information."

"Vic, can I talk to you a sec?" Maggie asked, calmly, and Vic reluctantly relented, scowling, as Maggie ushered her out of Joe's bland, depressing office, into the bustling police station.

"WHAT the HELL was that!?" Maggie asked furiously, clutching the purple velvet of her scrabble bag, raising her arms emphatically. "What part of, hey let's ask my friend, THE SHERIFF, for help, translated into you assaulting an officer!? Are you CRAZY!? We have a window here, Vic, a window that is about to be slammed shut in our faces!!! We don't have time for this troubled teen, fight the man, bullshit!!!!"

"This was a mistake, Maggie, I told you this was a mistake!!!! He thinks we're both freaking cracked, he doesn't believe Manx is real, let alone a threat, and he doesn't give a damn about this girl. Okay, yeah, maybe I got a little crazy in there, but somebody has to, Mags! One Manx has made my life a freaking Stephen King novel, okay, a She-Manx helping him grab up all these kids, that's only going to make things a hundred times worse!!! We gotta stop him, and we gotta do it now. I know I should know better, but have you tried asking the bag her last name?

Maggie's jaw clenched, her soft features hardening and she shook the bag in Vic's face clearly insulted. "Only about a THOUSAND times!!! Are you serious!? Do YOU want to try it!? Go ahead, be my guest, hell, keep it, if you think you can do better, but I just keep getting the SAME four letters over and over, and over. SPOILER ALERT, it's MANX!!!"

The silence spread between them, the lack of sound dispelling the anger, police officers passing by, shuffling papers, answering phones, trying to look busy as they tried not to wonder what had caught these two girls, and the Boss in such a stir. If they only knew........

"Mags...... hey, Maggie, I'm sorry, I get my mouth from my Ma, and I'm at the edge here, feelin' pretty desperate. Manx has taken everything from me, turned me into a damn basket case, I probably should have just stayed in that asylum, okay, because I don't even know what is real anymore....... But if I can save her, if I can stop him from doing the same, maybe even worse to this innocent girl, I gotta give it all I got......"

Maggie sighed, lowering her arm, and the bag, giving Vic a small, apologetic smile. "You're really living up to your name today, Brat, you know that, right?" She teased, and Vic smiled too, her eyes lighter, less intense. "Of course, I forgive you, Jerk, and I don't blame you, okay? We're both a little tense right now, and GOD, if we don't have every right to be!!!! There hasn't been a Manx sighting in months, couple that with being sleep-deprived from the night terrors, creatively spent from the search, add one crazy cryptic, terrifying message, it's a wonder we're not both in that creepy ass asylum!"

Vic snickered, still smiling. "Charlie Manx, making chicks crazy since 1885."

Maggie laughed, with a clever eyebrow raise. "You know it. C'mon, let's go back in, and at least try to play nice this time? I don't have enough money for your bail, today, Curlicue." She laughed again, playfully punching Vic's shoulder, as she turned her back around, towards the door. "Who knows, maybe your Dirty Harry moment inspired Poor Old Joe. We'll find a way to draw Manx out, and once he's proven to be flesh and bone instead of whispers and smoke, he won't be able to hide behind the guise of folklore anymore. The Bride of Chuck- I mean Charlie," Maggie snickered, "Might be just what we've been waiting for to take him down."

Vic stopped cold, her smile fading, snapping her chewing gum, as her eyes sharpened with razor focus. Holy Shit....... She grabbed Maggie's arm in a mad panic, her eyes widening. "Bride........" She whispered in barely a sound, her grip tightening. "That's it...... Mags, that's FREAKING it....... We got him."

Maggie cocked her head warily, confused, and more than a little freaked. "What's it? How do we have-? Vic are you, okay? Is it happening again, are you having another vision? Here........" She nervously looked around, hurrying Vic to a far corner, putting her arm around her defensively, her voice trailing off, as life in the police station continued to happen all around them, arrests, police investigations, parking tickets, all so mundane, while time itself had stopped dead for Vic McQueen.

Vic's smile returned, gripping Maggie's arm, her dark eyes crazed. "That son of a BITCH!!! Maggie, we did it, YOU did it! Don't you see? Our guy Charlie's getting married, and as much as I hate sayin' it, I know that SICKO, and if he's getting himself hitched, you can be sure as hell, he's gonna do it right. It's gotta take, it's gotta be legal, meaning........."

The colour drained from Maggie's mocha skin, her eyes wide with a wonderful, horrible realization. "Oh my GOD....... A license....... A M-Marriage License. We did it....... He just screwed himself, because we've got a name, an a-age, you can't be legally married unless you're......"

"Eighteen," Vic breathed, the gears in her head on overdrive. "She's gotta be at least eighteen, and somethin' tells me, that bastard Manx likes 'em young."

"Okay, think, let's estimate an age range here, let's say, eighteen to twenty-five. Maggie shook her head, tucking a stray violet curl behind her ear. "That cocky Christmas-Loving IDIOT, actually filed for a real world marriage license. Jane Austen wasn't kidding........ "We are all FOOLS in love........." We have got to tell Joe!!!!"

Vic nodded enthused, her grin smug, both of them, rushing back into Joe's office side by side, and Maggie, smacked right into him, as he cursed loudly and a lot, just barely able to recover the fumble on his piping hot cup of coffee.

"DAMN IT, MARGARET!!!!! Give it a rest, will ya!? I can't help you, okay? And you, I'd be really nice to me right now, Annie, I lock up little girls that get mouthy with cops."

"Sun'll come out tomorrow, Joe, but one more crack about my hair and my mean right hook's comin' out today."

"Joe! First off, don't be creepy it really doesn't work for you, and second, I need you to go through all of the Marriage Licenses from this month, every single state, that has the name Allyssa on them!!!!"

Joe stared back blankly, more confused than ever, slightly slack-jawed. "I'm sorry, did you just say........ Marriage License? What the hell- first this kid's kidnapped, and now she's getting married, well, which is it!?"

"Both, Joe, if Manx gets his way!" Vic snapped back, rushing behind Joe's desk to fire up the computer, pressing buttons.

"Hey! Knock it off! You ARE trouble, that's State Property, don't touch that!"

"I wouldn't have to, if you'd do your job, Officer, now how about gettin' on that database, huh? I'll say please if you want, or y'know other magic words."

Joe sank down, frustrated, in his office chair, eying Vic suspiciously. "I don't like this one, Maggie, she's a bad seed. Hey, I type your name in, Shirley Temple, any arrests come up?"

"Oh sure," Vic quipped back, her voice rife with sarcasm, leaning down to look at the screen. "Just the ones of my drunk old man, beating up on my white trash, batshit crazy mother, Go ahead, take a look."

Joe shifted uncomfortably in his seat, as Vic swiveled to smile at him, sardonic. Thought that might shut ya up, Mayberry.

"Right........ Is that Allyssa with one, "L" or two?" Joe asked firmly, typing furiously, deciding to actively ignore her snark for Maggie's sake.

"Two, "L's," and two, "S's," She shot back, still smiling. These guys were all the same. You take one look at me, and you see juvie stamped on my forehead, don't ya? I ain't the bad guy, here, but I'm sure gonna catch him.

Joe frowned, leaning in closer, his eyes narrowing at the screen, the name looking strange, all spelled out.

"You sure about that? That's a pretty.......... creative spelling........"

The word hit like a sledge hammer, shattering Vic's smile, the ice spreading through her body, crystallizing in her veins, as she shared an uneasy look with Maggie, both of them paralyzed by one singular thought, caught off guard by Joe's tragic word choice.

"Holy Hell........" Vic whispered under her quickened breath, so that Joe couldn't hear, her words frozen over with the fear that Maggie's expression was right now fighting hard. "Mags....... She's one of us........"

Maggie shook her head vehemently, purple curls dangling, banishing the thought, shooting a wary glance at Joe, to make sure he wasn't listening in. "We don't know that, Vic....... Don't go there. She could just be something shiny that caught Manx's eye."

"Yes we do!" Vic hissed back, insistent. "Think about it........ If I'm the most damned powerful Strong Creative in the whole freaking universe, would I go through all the trouble of yanking some Plain Jane, non-creative, nobody into my demon car, or would I make it count...... go after somebody with power, somebody worth taking and keeping, in that special, legally binding kind of way. There's a reason he wants her, Mags, and something tells me it's not just for her pretty face."

"No, no........ oh my god......." Maggie breathed, the icy chill infecting her next. She bit her lip, almost scared to say it out loud. "She's one of us....... She has to be....... A Strong Creative with a brand new power for Manx to exploit." She squeezed her eyes shut against the sinister possibilities. "Could this possibly get any worse!?

"Ladies, I really think you got the name wrong here," Joe called over his shoulder, oblivious to the reverberating revelation. "I don't see ANY Allyssa's from this month, not one "L," two "L's," or three. Nada. Maybe the Mary Poppins prop is past its expiration date, huh Mags?" Joe mused, chuckling. "You see, if I'm this incarnation of all evil, King of my cursed Christmas whatever, and I was wanting a woman, I don't think I'd go through all the trouble of filing a legal document. I'd just grab the little lady, and go!"

Vic walked coolly, over to him, her arms crossed over her chest, her dark eyes defiant. "Look again, Joe."

"What? Did you hear what I just-?"

"I said, look again. You don't know this Joker like I do, okay, he's not your everyday, zip ties, and ski mask, ransom-seeking hoodlum, this guy......" Vic's voice got quieter, and she swallowed hard with disgust. "He's method. He knew her, he followed her home at night, watched her fall asleep. He manipulated his way into her life, got her to trust him, and then he took her....... All that time, all that effort, watching her from windows, he'd make sure there was no way out, a failsafe, a legally binding tie. Go back three months.

Joe's expression was grave, and he nodded with a solemn intensity, the chill in the air positively paranormal. Maggie reached out to grab Vic's hand, looking at her with sad, thoughtful eyes, not saying a word.

"It could have been me," Vic whispered, with a shiver, her voice strained, trying not to break with her emotion. "He told me I belonged there with him, that he was gonna ride high into Christmas Hell with me at his side, and make me those kids' mother, that I had disappointed them, some shit about not being pure. That Craig- Craig had ruined me. He couldn't take a Bad Girl to Christmasland, so here we are. Enter Plan B......."

"We're GOING to get this guy, Vic," Maggie whispered, fierce and determined. "His Plan B is going to mean his Final Destination, I promise. She's the key, this mystery girl is going to be the reason Charlie Effing Manx goes under, and never touches another soul. You sent that Son of a Bitch to hell once, Brat, and together, we can do it again."

"Holy SHIT........" Joe stared incredulous at the screen, rolling his chair slowly backward, blinking his eyes, but the impossible did not disappear, and he raised his finger, transfixed. "Holy Sh- Charles Talent Manx, and Allyssa Jolene Watkins. Filed three months ago, on July 5th 2019......."

A hush drowned the room, the silence deathly, and Vic groaned, annoyed. "You've gotta be FREAKING kidding me!!!! Charles TALENT Manx!? His middle name is literally TALENT!? God, I'm never going to hear the end of that one........."

Joe ignored Vic's outburst, his stare still fixed, thoroughly disturbed. "Bastard used his real name, and everything........ How did- How did you know?"

He turned slowly to Vic, and she gave him a sad, sort of smirk. "I told you......... Manx has been haunting my dreams, taunting me, taking, and torturing me for as long as I can remember. His madness has poisoned my mind, and he's going to do the same damn thing to her, but even worse, because he's going after her heart. He's going to wither it from the inside, until it looks like his, ruin her for anyone else. No loopholes, no escape, and she's going to become a fixture of that god-forsaken place. It's going to happen........ just like he's got planned. Unless somebody finds a Shorter Way to save her."

Maggie felt her body seized with the intruding fear, the biting phrase, landing like a slap to the face. "Vic! Vic NO, listen to me, it's TOO dangerous!!! It almost KILLED you last time, you can't! I won't let you do it! It's not going to take you to Christmasland, and if you use it....... He'll know."

"Good," Vic shot back, with a raised chin. "I want him to know it's me! Me comin' to steal back Christmas, comin' to break up this damn wedding. Consider it my RSVP! She seethed, railing against Maggie's impassioned protest. "Craig didn't DIE for me, so I could do nothin', Maggie, this is my shot to fix it, to do what I couldn't do before, and use my inscape to freaking save somebody, instead of wasting it, finding loose change. It may not take me direct, but it'll take me to where she lived, and why he took her. I'll get to know this chick, find out who she is, what she can do. He doesn't get to win, Maggie, not this time."

"If you think I'm letting you do this alone, you really should be committed," Maggie answered back, fire in her eyes. "If you're going to break up the happy day, and go blind in the process, because you're too damn stubborn, I'm coming with you."

"Mags, you can't! You know what happened to Craig when he tried to follow me over, it's too dangerous, this is my atonement, not yours, got it?"

Maggie swung her scrabble bag, back and forth, as it dangled by its purple string. "Look at this, Vic....... Do you think I was blessed or cursed with this bag, to pass the time with the world's most BORING game!? I can help you! You don't ALWAYS have to rev up your engine, and tear off on your own!!! Finding people, saving people, that us, that's you and me. Our purpose. Together....... And unless there's something you're not telling me, Craig wasn't a Strong Creative! I am! It let you bring me once, you have to at least try again!"

Vic gritted her teeth, hating that Maggie was always right. Here's to the girl, left holding the bag....... "You've got all the answers, don't ya?"

"Uh yeah, in the bag." Maggie smiled, her brown eyes luminous. "Are we doing this or what?"

"Fine, Mags, you can come. But remember, my inscape, my rules. Your eye starts bleeding, your stutter gets worse, or any other pay to play shit, and we're done. I mean it."

"Deal," Maggie smiled brightly, and then her eyes flickered, the light burning out, her features somber, wondering if Vic had been so distracted by Charlie's revealed middle name that she hadn't noticed something even more worrying about the other......

"Jolene," She said sadly, watching as Vic's eyes threatened tears. "Her middle name is Jolene."

"Yeah, I-I noticed......" Vic said softly, wiping at the corner of her welling eye with her thumb, taking a deep breath. "No way in HELL is that a coincidence........."

"Damn this guy knows what he's doing," Joe huffed, slamming keys on his computer. No driver's license on record, every picture on file, magically disappeared. It's like this girl......... doesn't even exist........"

Vic nodded, gritting her teeth again. "He's good....... But I'm better. In his twisted mind, Allyssa belongs to him now, to Christmasland, meaning he's got to get rid of any evidence she existed outside of his inscape. He may be immortal, but he's not infallible. He's going to miss something, slip up, just once, and I'm going to be the one to catch it. He's going to make sure she's got nothin' to come back to....... and I'm going to make sure she'd rather die, than stay.

[52weeks52scenes]

Week 1- Assertive

Growing up, I had a neighbor who I barely saw. Once or twice at parties, and I caught a glimpse of her walking to her front door when I got off the bus sometimes, but I barely knew anything about her.

All I knew was that she was a hell of a woman.

“She owns a business downtown,” my mother would claim, “I don’t know much about it, but I’ve heard she rakes in a lot of cash. Ruthless, too.”

My father said similar remarks: “She’s greedy, Katie. Doesn’t pay her employees a cent above minimum wage, from what people say. Takes as much money for herself, all the while working her employees to the bone.”

When I asked my older sister, though, her answer was equal in judgement, but with a slight twist: “The business is just a front. She’s actually a secret agent, using brutal tactics to find and expose secrets from the mayor.” That was usually followed by some sort of bragging about how she knew secrets that I didn't know, or her pushing me out of the room, but the words still stuck in my head.

Things like that were common, words such as “ruthless”, “brutal”, and “greedy”, though the context of which may change. Business woman, secret agent, communist spy, cultist, there were many different negative settings to her supposed cruelty. It made me fear her as a kid, but as I got older, I grew curious of her strange ways.

So, one day, I decided to wait for her. 

There was a tree in the middle of our two houses, most likely older than the houses themselves. No one actually knew which property the tree was on, which would be a problem later, when it died, but for me, it was perfect. I sat underneath that tree on a late August day that seemed a bit too cool, calmly doing some puzzles out of a book I got for my recent birthday. 

Obviously, that is totally something that the average seventeen-year-old does, but I was seventeen at the time, so it seemed innocent enough to me. 

I was probably there for about an hour before a car pulled into my neighbor’s driveway, which was when I realized that I didn’t exactly know her name. I put my book down for a second, looking over at the car as it idled for what felt like forever. My palms were getting sweaty, as it suddenly felt really hot and sticky, even though I knew it was cool and misty at this point. 

Then, the car door opened.

“Hi, ma--” I stopped myself, as another one of the car doors opened, and I heard some sort of argument. As the driver stepped out, I was able to recognize her as my neighbor, but a man that I didn’t know stepped out of the front passenger side. Either way, I was able to hear more of what they were arguing about. 

“For the last time, I don’t care what forensics says, this case is not cold and I fully intend on pursuing this killer,” my neighbor said, closing her door a bit too roughly, as the car seemed to shake a little. “You can join me if you want, but your decision is not affecting mine.”

“Tracey, please, you need to reconsider.” The car did not shake as the man closed his door, though it was still pretty loud, too loud. “This case isn’t just about being cold or hot, or caring about people.”

“I know, I know, we may find something we shouldn’t, and it could become a huge thing that gets us killed. I’ve heard all about it from every single person I’ve had this conversation with.” Tracey slung her pocket book over her shoulder, her back still facing towards me. “It’s all the more reason to take this case on.”

“And what about our reputations? You realize how little we’re trusted already?” The man walked towards the front of the car, and I began to wish that I could turn invisible. I knew that I shouldn’t be hearing this, but I couldn’t get myself to get up and go back into my house. That would make me look more suspicious, anyway.

“I don’t give a damn about my reputation, and you know that.” Tracey locked her car, making me think I was in the clear, and that they wouldn’t notice me at all. Then, she continued, “you hear that, kid?”

I froze as Tracey turned around, looking at me with a sharp look in her eyes. I probably looked so small, huddled up against the tree, but she suddenly became absolutely terrifying to me. Maybe it was the aura that seemed to be hovering around her at that moment. Maybe it was the guilt of eavesdropping on her conversation.

“Sorry ma’am, I, well, I didn’t mean to overhear.” It had nothing to do with the actual question she asked me, but I just felt really bad. 

“I don’t care about you overhearing.” Tracey’s tone was cold, but she walked over to me with something that I would normally call a kind smile, if I weren’t in my current circumstances. “You’re one of the Birmingham kids, right?”

“Yeah, I’m Alex.” I looked at Tracey as she sat down next to me, looking over at my book. 

“Puzzles?”

“I’m good at them.” I didn’t know why I said that, but I wasn’t prepared for her to just walk up to me like that. “I, um, I want to be a detective when I grow up.”

“A detective?” Tracey suddenly broke into laughter, freaking me out a little bit. I glanced over at the man she had been arguing with, who seemed just as confused as I was. “Hey, Jake! I told you!”

“You, you knew? I mean, how?” I felt my face turn red, even more as I heard my mother yelling from the house.

“Alexandra Hailey Birmingham, get in here right now!” She full-named me. I was definitely in trouble, most likely because I was talking to her so-called “ruthless business woman”.

“I have to go, maybe I can talk soon, Ms., um…” I realized that I learned her first name, but not her last. 

“Eline.”

And for over ten years, that was the last that I had ever heard of her. Apparently, she had moved away while I was in college, so I never got to talk to Ms. Tracey Eline again.

One day, though, I got a new case. It was about seven months after I established my own private detective practice. A quiet, elder man walked into my office, looked around nervously, and handed me a thin manilla folder before I could say anything, even ask him his name. I opened it, feeling his anxiety begin to become my own. It held a few papers; sparse information, the usual for me. A murder case, completely normal. But, then a name caught my eye, and I felt my heart drop to my stomach.

Tracey Eline: murder victim

[hereticpriest]

Suit and Tie Chapter 3

Warnings: Gun kink, gunplay, NSFW

They did not survive. Fifteen minutes later, Natalia groaned as she heard a knock on the front door and some cooing at John’s adorable pittie. She recognized the voices as her parents and possibly her brother, which made her try to squeeze underneath John to try to hide. His deep laughter had her whining and giving him a gentle shove.

“Nattie! We saw a car pull up, and we were going to leave you alone but we’re so very excited to meet your boyfriend and it’s been quite a while since you arrived!” Her mother shouted through the door. Natalia could hear her father gently reprimanding her mother for being nosy and slid her arms around John’s waist, using his solid form like a shield.

“Nattie! Don’t ignore us! I know you’re in there. I want to meet my sister’s boyfriend, give him the old talk!” Ethan shouted, and that certainly got Natalia up.

“Ethan, you little brat! You will do no such thing! I’m your older sister, and I am an adult, and I don’t need you giving my boyfriend a talk like you’re even slightly intimidating! All five foot nine of you!” Natalia yelled back, which had John covering his face to hide his laughing.

“Hey! I’m 5’10, you asshole!”

“Ethan! Do not call your sister an asshole. You’re embarrassing us in front of your sister’s boyfriend. Do you know how long it’s been since we got to meet one of those?!”

“Yeah, same amount of time it’s been since she’s had one.” Ethan retorted.

Natalia shrieked, throwing herself off the bed and straightening out her clothes, checking her appearance in the mirror before stomping out into the front hall.

“Ethan Samuel Jamieson! I will tie you to an anchor and throw you in the lake!” Natalia threatened, only to be scolded by her mother. Her father stood by watching it all with a small, fond smile. Used to the madness by now.

“It’s my wedd-“

“I know! You don’t get to use Amber as an excuse, you twit! Just because it’s your wedding week, whatever the fuck that is, doesn’t mean you get to be a dick!” Natalia flung open the door, chasing after Ethan as he ran away, yelping when she managed to briefly catch the back of his shirt and yank him over. They wrestled on the grass while their parents watched in dismay.

“Gentle, Nattie! You can’t give him bruises before the wedding!”

“Ethan, I swear, you better not hurt your sister!”

Clearly Deidre and West Jamieson had very different priorities. John soon joined them at the door, cleaned up like he hadn’t facefucked their daughter dizzy less than half an hour ago. It stung a bit to notice that he was only a decade younger than her parents, but he forced that down at the sight of her rolling around with her brother, shoving his face into the dirt when she got the upper hand. Ethan was a lighter ginger than his sister, and his eyes were a greener shade of blue, but his skin had a bit more of a tan and less freckles. He was also less bulky than his sister, but John assumed that had to do with the fact that Natalia worked out and had a gymnastics background. From what she had told him, Ethan was an accountant for a large tech company.

Natalia’s parents showed that it was clear genetics were in play. Her father was strawberry blond with a bit of a ginger beard, touched with white to show his age. He was darker like his son, tanned from time in the sun, and had grey eyes. He was clearly a man who had worked late into his age and had always been quite physical. Her mother, on the other hand, had auburn hair and green eyes, and a fuller frame. She had clearly once been beautiful, likely with the same shape as her daughter. She still was beautiful, honestly. Deidre had just aged and had two children. She obviously didn’t look the same.

“Natalia Serenity Jamieson, how is this going to look to your boyfriend when he sees you covered in grass stains and being such a ruffian?” Deidre called, hands firmly on her hips.

“He’d think she looks beautiful in anything, even grass stains, and that this is typical behaviour of siblings.” John replied from behind them, offering a small smile. Both of her parents looked shocked that he was able to sneak up behind them. Natalia spotted them from her place kneeling on her brother’s chest, holding his arms and making him smack himself. She lit up immediately, doing a little flip up that looked rather badass without the context of her having been in gymnastics nearly her entire life. Natalia practically bounced over to John, leaving her brother panting in the dirt, and leapt into his arms. He caught her easily, brushing her dress down and laying a quick kiss on her forehead.

“Mom, Dad, this is John. John, these are my parents, Deidre and West.” Natalia introduced them all, leaning her head against John’s shoulder.

“Oh, hello John, dear.” Deidre smiled warmly, taking his hand and shaking it, “Sorry for all the fuss. We’re a bit of a wild family.”

“That is understating it, darling.” West hummed, reaching out to shake John’s hand as well, “Lovely to meet you, John. Will you be joining us this afternoon?”

“Joining you?” John asked, raising a brow. He glanced at Natalia, but she looked just as clueless.

“Oh, Nat, did we not tell you? Uncle Thomas has gotten a time slot at the shooting range for us all.” West replied. Natalia laughed, then pointed to Ethan who was slowly pulling himself to his feet and brushing his clothes off.

“I get to kick this kid’s ass? Hell yes, I’m down!” Natalia cheered.

“You guys shoot?” John asked, surprised by the little thrill that went through him at the idea of his tiny, beautiful girlfriend holding a gun.

“Yeah, most of us. Since the kids were old enough.” West agreed, laughing at the look Deidre gave him, “Okay, perhaps before they were old enough. Safely, of course. Have you ever been to a gun range?”

“John is a marine vet, Dad.” Natalia replied, running her thumb in little circles around John’s knuckles, threading her fingers through his. West instantly looked impressed, nodding and thanking him for his service, which Deidre and Ethan echoed. Noticing that John looked a bit uncomfortable, Natalia set her sights on her brother.

“Hey, Ethan, I bet John and I can get more perfect shots than you and Hailey.” Natalia waggled her brows at him, clearly trying to goad him into a competition. Ethan rolled his eyes.

“Nattie, that isn’t going to happen. I’m not stupid.” Ethan replied, snorting, “He’s a vet. Even if you manage to suck, I doubt he will.”

Natalia pouted, giving John’s arm a quick tug, “What about you, handsome? Bet you I can beat you.”

John laughed, quite loudly for him, though that wasn’t much compared to anyone else. Natalia pouted, giving him a firm swat to the ribs that had him lifting her off her feet, kissing her nose. Her parents were both smiling warmly at the sight, though Ethan was studying John closely.

“I’m gonna kick your ass.” Natalia informed him primly, pecking his cheek, “Ma, Pa, gremlin monster creature, I’m going to change. John and I will join you guys in a few minutes to get ready to go to the range.”

Ethan rolled his eyes at the nickname, flipping her off behind her parents back, then waving at John. “Good luck with that one, bud. See you in a bit. Mom, Dad, come on.”

West and Deidre followed their son, waving goodbye to them. Once they were gone, Natalia found herself pressed against the wall just inside the door, her legs around John’s waist.

“Shooting? Seriously?” John growled.

“Yeah, it’s a family hobby. We hunt and stuff, but we’d have to all get licenses if we wanted to go.” Natalia murmured.

“Fuck, you are seriously testing my control, kitten.” John nipped her ear, carrying her into the bedroom and dropping her on the bed, “Am I going to have to deal with you wrestling with your brother every five minutes?”

“I wouldn’t say every five minutes.” Natalia replied, tugging her dress over her head, throwing it into a corner. John took a moment to pull the front of her panties down enough to see the JW carved into her skin, then kissed her softly. Natalia kissed him back delicately, running her fingertips over his short beard, enjoying the scratchiness. After earning a purry growl from him, Natalia stepped away to get changed. After humming and hawing, Natalia chose a pair of black skinny jeans and a Punisher tank top that had had super low sides. It showed the sides of her bra, and only had a 2-inch-thick strip of fabric securing the front and back on both sides.

“Come on, John, we can take the bike over to Ma’s.” Natalia hummed, ignoring the heated look that John was giving her. She knew he loved it when she wore clothes like this, and that he loved it even more when she went on motorcycles with him. Checking all the boxes today, apparently. John helped her get the bike ready, getting on behind her after a staring contest that he perhaps could have won, but didn’t want to. Not when he saw the way she looked in those skin-tight jeans, stretched out over the bike.

Thirty minutes later, after checking in at the main house and a short drive to the gun range, John helped his girlfriend off of her bike and kicked the stand down. They locked their helmets to the bike, then headed hand-in-hand into the range. Nat’s family soon joined them, while John was signing paperwork and Natalia was pretending that she wasn’t groping his ass.

“Nat, honey!” A cheery voice sounded behind them, and Natalia spun to give Hailey a hug.

“Hailey, doll, it is SO good to see you. This is John, my boyfriend. John, this is my brother’s fiancée. Please do not ask me how he hooked her, I know she is absolutely fantastic and he is a gremlin that was fed at night.” Nat hummed.

“Nattie, shut the fuck up, you’re such a dickhead.” Ethan protested, though Hailey chastised him with a look.

“John, pleasure to meet you. Natalia, where can I get one?” Hailey giggled, tossing her blonde curls over her shoulder. Nat laughed, while John rolled his eyes at the attention and signed off on the paperwork.

“Nice to meet you, Hailey.” John said quietly, letting the rest of the family scoot by him. Natalia snagged John’s hand, leading him towards the gun cage.

“Vic, honey, John and I get first choice!” Natalia called, to a chorus of complaints from the family.

“Of course. You and your beau can pick first, since you were hear first.” Vic replied. He was an older gentleman who owned the gun range and often worked the cage. He let John and Nat in, and Nat skidded past John to grab a Heckler & Koch P30L handgun. John raised his brows, smiling appreciatively as he watches his woman walk around the room picking out rifles. She chooses a Ruger M77 as well, followed by a Benelli M2 Super 90.

John chose a Glock 22, a TTI SIG-Sauer MPX Carbine, and a Glock 34. He carried his choices into the next room to get set up and stock ammo, tapping Natalia’s ass on the way. She followed him shortly, sitting at the table next to him and starting by taking her handgun apart to clean and check it. They made quite the pair, each efficiently cleaning their weapons. John obviously moved faster than Nat, but he happily watched her once he was done. It was a bit of a turn on to see her so confident. A nice surprise, too. Feeling his stare, Natalia glanced up at him briefly.

“I used to want to join the military. I was always a good hunter. Good at physical stuff. I worked hard. When gymnastics fell through, I wanted to join up even more, but my injuries kept me out of that. I still go to the range because it helps me deal with my emotions and stuff.” Natalia informed him quietly, snapping the last piece into place on the Ruger and getting up. John noted that her family hadn’t joined them yet and tugged her into his lap, stealing a hungry kiss. His hands skimmed up over her thighs and squeezed her ass, trailing his mouth down over her neck.

“Do you have any guns at home?” John asked quietly.

“Yeah. Have to clean them, actually. You can help if you want.” Natalia purred, arching into his hands like a cat being pet.

“Mm, when we get back. And your family isn’t around.” John replied, and that gave Natalia an idea for later.

Just as her family came out of the gun cage, Vic brought John and Natalia ammo and cleared them for ranges 1 and 2, spacing them out away from her family a little bit just like he did with Ethan and Hailey. They began soon after, and John was impressed by how good Natalia was. She started with the Ruger on distance targets, and he quickly realized that his woman had talent. That innate calm that she was able to cultivate within herself clearly aided her in steadying her aim.

He figured a bit of practice wouldn’t hurt him, especially off-hand shooting, so he worked with the Carbine first. He could see Natalia eying him out of the corner of her eye, but he simply winked over at her and took a shot.

“Nat, doll, do you want a course?” Vic’s voice came over the speaker between shots, and she beamed.

“Hell yes Vic! Thank you!” John sighed. This woman was going to kill him, he just knew it.

“Man, only a couple points lost there, Nat. Too bad you decided on a marine, huh? He wiped the floor with you.” Vic offered Natalia a smile, handing her a USB drive for review and nodding at John, “Good on you both.”

Natalia pouted, taking John’s hand and kissing his gunpowder covered fingers. John growled at her, and she giggled, nipping the pad of his fingers and leading him out to the motorcycle.

“Ma, John and I are tired. We’re going to have dinner in the summer house and get an early night. I’m going to show him around the property a bit too.” Nat called to her parents.

“Okay, you better show up for breakfast tomorrow! It’s served at 7 and if you don’t show, I’m putting your bed in the lake.” Deidre warned, drawing a snort from John.

“That sounds like something that has happened before.” John hummed inquisitively.

“Once or twice.” Natalia replied, getting onto the motorcycle and sighing happily as John’s arms circled her waist.

The ride home was short, but it was still long enough for John to be a bit tense, especially with Nat wiggling her butt into his hips whenever she could. The two parked and covered the bike, then fetched the gun safe from the locked shed, bringing into the house. John set food out for the dog, dumped a couple indoor and outdoor toys out for him, and gave him a massive antler to chew on that should keep him out of trouble. Probably.

The couple settled on the bed with the gun safe on the floor nearby, having retrieved a Glock 22 that Natalia informed John was her first ever gun. John held her close to him, nearly in his lap while she disassembled, cleaned, and reassembled the gun. Once it was reassembled, she checked the safety and turned a bit in John’s lap. He watched her with dark eyes, nearly black from how blown his pupils were. She knew him too well, he decided, when she flicked the tip of her tongue over the muzzle of the gun. John groaned audibly, watching her trace kitten licks up the barrel, her eyes locked with his.

“Made for me, kitten. Fucking made for me.” John muttered, taking the gun from her and checking it once again, before tipping her head back and slipping the gun into her mouth, twisted sideways so that her jaw wouldn’t be straining to hard. Natalia held still, letting out a moan around the gun, looking up at John with pleading doe eyes as he fucked her mouth.

“Natalia, baby, I’m going to fuck you with this gun. Will you let me do that? Do you want it?” John asked, forcing the gun a bit deeper into her mouth and smirking when she gagged around it. Natalia caught herself and nodded carefully, moaning around the barrel of the gun. John smirked, taking another photo of her in all of her glory. Natalia blinked up at him, waiting until the gun was slipped out of her mouth before getting up to undress herself.

“I trust you with those.” Natalia informed him quietly, watching him flip through his library of filthy photos of her. John offered her a small smile, then turned his attention back to flipping through photos. His favourite was probably one in which he had cum all over her face and was holding her head up by her hair to show her off. He moaned, dropping his phone, reaching out and yanking Natalia over to him. She hadn’t gotten her underwear off yet, but he hastily ripped them down her legs, throwing her onto her back on the bed. The muzzle made slow circles around her cunt, swiping through her wetness. John spread her open carefully, slowly guiding the barrel of the gun into her.

“You’re taking it so well, kitten. So well. I know it must feel weird. God, look at you.” John murmured, an endless stream of filth and sugary sweetness as he pushed the barrel of the gun as deep as he could, then gently began to thrust it in and out of her. He could see she was shaking a little bit, desperately trying to keep her legs spread for him despite the desire to curl away from the gun. He dipped down to place a kiss next to his initials, then pressed another upon her clit, swirling his tongue around it while he thrust the gun in and out of her.

Natalia’s muscles clenched, her back arching and toes curling on the sheets. John smiled. He was hoping for something specific from her, and he had a feeling that it was going to happen this time. She was wiggling on the bed, whimpering and gasping his name, her whole body tense as he sucked at her swollen clit. A loud whine escaped her lips, followed by stuttered pleading, and then she arched dramatically and screamed. He slid the gun free and lapped at her as she came in a gush, the sheets soon soaked along with his beard.

“Well fuck.” Natalia panted after a minute of ragged breathing. John grinned, wiping his mouth against his sleeve and crawling up her body, leaving kisses in his wake.

“Well fuck.” John agreed, yanking her out of the wet spot and onto his body. The gun lay forgotten at the foot of the bed, in dire need of another cleaning.

[guccifloralsuits]

hailey ? please 🤘✨💕

Got you!!!

H: Hey Look Ma, I Made It // P!ATDA: Arabella // Arctic MonkeysI: In One Ear // Cage the ElephantL: Lonely Boy // The Black KeysE: Eyes on Fire // Blue FoundationY: You Should See Me in a Crown // Billie Eilish

Send me ur name and I’ll make a playlist out of it!!!

[kyshiwarrior]

Get To Know Me Tag!

I was tagged by Hailey aka @superficialsunsets bc shes an angel obviously. 

name: Rey is what I go by , Marie is my legal name

height: 5’6

put your music on shuffle, what are the first four songs?

my entire Spotify:

“Everybody” - Logic. 

“Dancing On My Own” - SMASH Cast

“R.E.M.” - Ariana Grande

“One Last Time” - Hamilton Cast

my main playlist: 

“All I Need” - Hayley Kiyoko

“Alexander Hamilton” - Hamilton Cast

“Hey Look Ma, I Made It” - P!ATD

“Voices In My Head” - Be More Cool Cast

ever had a song or poem written about you?

    I’ve had a poem written about me in the 8th grade from my friend because I was moving.

last time you ever played the guitar:

  Last year but it was because I was waiting for my friend to get ready so my ADHD mind went ‘oh look a guitar’

celebrity crush(es):

    ladies who can honest to god step on my face it’d be an honor: 

Zendaya

Lady Gaga

 Fran Drescher

Sandra Bullock

Natalie Dormer

Nicki Minaj

Krysten Ritter

Taylor Swift

Larua Prepon

Blake Lively

Gal Gadot 

Jodie Whittaker

 why you gotta tho...why you gotta take advantage of my gay heart like this? 

Camila Cabello

Hayden Panettire

Kate McKinnon

Britaney Snow

Lindsey Morgan

Hayley Kiyoko

Lindsey Morgan

Marie Avgeropoulos

Kristin Stewart

Hayley Willaims

  platonic crushes who I’d watch anything they were in bc like maybelline they’re worth it:

tyler young

troye sivan

daniel sharmon 

ryan reynolds

pete davidson

will smith

john mulaney

barock obama < 3

a sound you hate: 

LOUD BREATHING. I CAN’T FUCKING DO PEOPLE WHO LOUDLY BREATHE

a sound you love: 

the sound of Obama laughing 

do you believe in ghosts? 

depends... is it Ryan or Shane asking me this?

do I drive? 

I drive to Taco Bell every week as though it will fill the void in my soul so...yeah

last book I read: 

my college brain just shut down sorry try again later

do I like the smell of gasoline: 

no it makes me dizzy and sick  

worst injury I’ve ever had: 

one time when I was five I got hit with a metal baseball bat straight to the face. I got so many stitches

do I have any obsessions right now? 

Andi Mack, Doctor Who, and making sure Pete Davidson is doing okay

do I hold grudges? 

I’ve got bpd, what do you think? lmao I’m working on it though. 

in a relationship? 

no because I'm still healing from a toxic relationship and finding self-love. I’m moving, too, so I don’t want to get attached if I’m just gonna break up. Besides, I dated half the girls in this town and not interested in their games.

Tagging:

@strangepurson , @solastatyrus , @muffin-jandro , @iwishiwascorpius

[noahbanfieldfestival-blog]

Fyre festival - Peter

The Fyre festival was a massive disaster, 

When promotions for Fyre Festival first appeared on Instagram feeds in December of 2016 - showing Kendall Jenner, Bella Hadid and Hailey Baldwin frolicking in the Bahamian paradise of Pig Beach - it looked like any millennial influencer's dream weekend.

Guests were promised private planes, yachts, villas, wellness activities, free-flowing booze, and the chance of expanding their Instagram following by a few thousand.

Instead, they arrived to find the "exclusive villas" were FEMA tents and the promised meals by a celebrity chef were sad cheese sandwiches.

ADVERTISING

inRead invented by Teads

What had been billed as the ultimate case of #FOMO immediately became a late-night punch line. "If you had thousands of dollars to go on a trip to see Blink 182 that's on you. That is Darwinism at its finest," comedian Ron Funches joked.

As two new documentaries on the festival disaster drop on Netflix and Hulu this week, we asked people who were there what the scene was like on the ground. Buckle up...

"It looked like The Hunger Games. People were running around everywhere screaming, ‘Turn around, don't get off the bus!’"

Jon Dykert went with friends after buying tickets during the flash sale

I had a buddy who saw this Instagram marketing promotion and it just said "all you can drink, all you can eat, concert tickets," with a few of the headliners, all these things free, and it was a flash sale. Within two hours we had all Venmo-ed [our friend] $400 and he put it on his credit card.

The whole time none of us really knew what we were getting into. On the drive to the airport, all eight of us were making jokes that we were going to show up and no one would be there.

We arrived at the same time that almost everyone from Fyre Festival was showing up, so that was a good sign. But already it wasn’t quite how they had described it. They said they’d pick up the bags at the airport then drop them off at the luxurious cabin in the Bahamas. They promised charter planes, but it was just a normal airline with a bunch of kids on it. We were promised a limo but a really junky bus picked us up.

They had only two Fyre Festival employees telling everyone what to do, so it was just a bunch of rich kids trying to work out what they were doing.

We got to the gate and that’s when rumors started popping up. Blink 182 had apparently canceled, but we still figured some bands would be there.

We pulled up in this bus to what looked like a war zone. Our extravagant cabins were FEMA tents. It was just a bunch of igloos on a massive plot of land close to the water - not a great spot on the island at all.

It looked like The Hunger Games, people were running around everywhere screaming, "Turn around, don't get off the bus!"

Billy McFarland was standing on a table trying to delegate. All the furniture that was supposed to go in the tents was in Ikea boxes, it wasn’t set up yet.

They told us to pick our own tent and then tell [the organizers] our number. In the meantime, they were giving everyone free bottles of Casamigos tequila. They were trying to calm people down but it didn’t really work. Like the actual Hunger Games, people were fighting for tents, ripping mattresses out of them and bringing them to other tents to fit more people. We went back to tell them the number, but no one was there so it didn’t matter.

It got really rowdy as soon as everything shut down. There were a lot of kids ripping mattresses and throwing them into the ocean, floating on them, making fires on the beach.

We talked to some kid who loaded $11,000 onto his festival bracelet [to buy food and experiences guests were told to put thousands of dollars on their "Fyre Bands," since it was a cashless festival] that he was afraid he wasn't going to get back. Kids were going through withdrawal - they'd brought drugs in their luggage and lost it - they were freaking out. Some girl was freaking out so much she got completely naked on the beach and ran into the ocean.

Two trucks pulled up with tons of suitcases on the back that they then dumped in a pile on the ground. Everyone was sprinting over and looking through the bags. One guy was the security guard but he wasn't doing a thing. People were just scrounging, probably stealing things.

Even the bars and the snack shops that were supposed to be set up in a really cool way were halfway done. The food was in cardboard boxes. There were no people there so kids were ripping the boxes open and taking the candy, bags of chips, Gatorade, doing whatever they had to do.

A ton of people immediately left that day - their daddy flew them away on a private jet, or they'd come on yachts and left, or went back to the airport.

Late at night, we all got the first email apologizing from Fyre Festival, saying it was canceled and they were going to work as soon as they could to get everyone off the island. We had a moment of silence in the tent. We decided to stick this out until they kick us out.

We were the last eight on the island. We waited until they forced us to leave. They wouldn’t let us stay any longer. They said the government is issuing a shutdown for Fyre Festival and had to charter everyone home.

It made for a really good story. We ended up having a ton of fun. We had a free trip to the Bahamas, free drinks, and free food. We eventually got all of our money back too.

Unfortunately though, all eight of us did come down with food poisoning when we got back to the states - it wasn’t the sandwiches.

"I got a call from a publicist the night before and she basically begged me not to come"

Todd Plummer is a freelance reporter who was covering the festival for a national outlet

From the beginning, I was a little skeptical about the attention to detail. Originally, I was meant to stay in a hotel on site with all the other media. The people who invited me and were coordinating all the travel were from a huge reputable PR firm that does celebrity entertainment, not emerging music festival PR.

Two days before I was supposed to depart, I was notified that the accommodations were moved to a boat. The words they used were “luxury cruise liner anchored just off the main festival.” I’ve never met a luxury cruise liner I didn’t like, but changing accommodations three days before media is supposed to show up is a huge red flag that things weren’t planned.

I was supposed to be on a 6am flight out of JFK that Friday to Miami, then catch a plane to Exuma. I happened to be up late when I got a call from a publicist the night before at about 11:30, and she basically begged me not to come. She'd just got there and said it was not what I thought it would be.

My plus one had put money on her Fyre Band that I believe she has not been refunded to this day. About six weeks later in June, I was at St Ambroeus and saw Billy McFarland from across the room. I didn’t say anything but immediately after I left I emailed him [to ask for her money back], “Good afternoon, Billy, I hope you’re enjoying lunch” I wrote. He responded right away within an hour. Then there was no refund.

Billy did answer our follow ups four times - he did appear to be trying to make things right, but after a certain point, he just stopped.

"There’s absolutely no one in charge, pigs are squealing and pooping on people, and people are trying to take their picture"

Tyler went with co-workers after buying flash sale tickets

My group of friends is very fun and chill, so in full disclosure: we had a pretty enjoyable 36 hours on the island.

There was literally no communication beforehand. [I got frustrated and] emailed the people and basically lied, saying that I was some reporter who had questions. They responded right away very defensively. I also knew someone who worked for one of the architecture firms who had a last minute contract to build the site. He told me that it was a s*** show.

If the tents at the festival been spread out on a nice, grassy lawn, that would have been one thing. That’s what everyone was expecting, they were going to make them look nice, like glamping. In reality, they were put on an old construction site. There wasn't even dirt, it was hard clay, the tents were on top of rocks.  

We were held on the tarmac because it was raining on the island and the airport was so small they couldn’t land the plane in the rain. New York socialite Dori Cooperman was on our flight. I sat next to her and she was making polite conversation, but she ended up getting out of her seat and going up to the front and asking the stewardess to make an announcement. She said, "Hey, everyone, I’m friends with Billy McFarland, everything’s fine."

We fly in and the airport’s a room. This festival guy says, "Hey, welcome to Fyre Festival, I should know more information but I don’t. Good luck."

They brought us all to this random beach bar and no one was there, so they dropped us off while they figured out what to do. There was no food, no water, nothing. All of a sudden, random festival people showed up with cases of tequila and champagne. You could tell they were under express orders to get everyone super f****d up. They ended up just passing out the George Clooney tequila, not even making margaritas.

We pulled in and it looked like a massive shitty parking lot with rows of unmarked white tents. We slept eight people in a tent meant for four.

To go to Pig Beach they were trying to charge $1,000 a person beforehand, but once we were there it reached a point where they were just trying to keep everyone happy. It wasn’t officially canceled but everything became free. All these boats showed up and everyone piled on and went over to Pig Beach super blacked out. I saw a girl get tusked in the forehead and she was bleeding profusely. I was dunking her in the water - it probably looked like a weird baptism. There’s absolutely no one in charge, pigs are squealing and pooping on people - and people are trying to take their pictures. We finally got the girl back to the main island, which wasn't that much better.

It became Lord of the Flies, everyone milling around without direction. That’s when people realized there was no one in control.

We stayed that night and the next day people were freaking out trying to get off on the phone with the embassy. There were no more workers at the festival because they weren’t paying anyone. They had brought in tequila, Veuve champagne, and you could take whatever you wanted. You could go behind the bar and take champagne to the beach.

There was someone wheeled off of our airplane with a sea urchin in his foot. To remove it you need a certain syringe that dissolves it because it has serrated blades. They had to leave it in his foot on the flight to Miami.

There was this three-ring notebook piece of paper floating around. We had to sign it for a seat on the plane. We thought that didn’t make any sense but we signed it just in case. We got to the airport, which was super disorganized, and they were calling names off of the three-ring notebook. There were people who hadn’t signed it who had to stay on the island.

“I don’t mean to say it was really sinister fakery, but it was a very sexy version of what an experience is”

Nicco Quiñones is the filmmaker behind Under the Influence, which documents first-hand Fyre Fest stories. He didn't attend the festival but was on the ground in Miami and interviewed attendees once they landed

When you give it a couple of minutes of thought, the mystical experience [Fyre Festival promoters promised] doesn’t exist. From a professional perspective, I’m a little more familiar with smoke and mirrors. I don’t mean to say it was this really sinister fakery, but [the promotion] was a very sexy version of what an experience is. It was a concept of an experience, not an actual experience.

I think Billy [McFarland] said, "Let’s just do it and be legends," and that’s very emblematic of the times.

From what I heard from the crew who made the promotional video for the festival, Billy was very informal, he was talking about buying islands on a boat. It was just a joyride for this dude.

[nxttheendxfthestxry]

Double Open Starter: Not It (Hailey/Nova)

“WHOO HOO!”

The cheer echoes through the air from seemingly no source. Hailey, however, looks up, seeing her brother on his solar surfboard again. She smiles a bit. Good. It was good to see him having fun like that.

The blonde who’d stopped beside her at the cheer, looks at her and then follows her gaze, laughing softly to herself. “It figures.”

“You know him?” Hailey glances over in surprise.

“I do. You?” The other turns to her, catching her expression.

“Yeah. He’s my little brother. I’m Hailey.”

“Nova,” the girl introduces, and the pair look up in time to see him, high, high up, close his sail and start to fall, turning and twisting as he goes, catching the sail abruptly as he drops below one of the buildings and launching off again with another cheer. Before crashing into a tree.

“Not it,” they both say together, sharing a look and laughing a bit.

[mxkingsofgreatness]

"Hey. What's up? You look upset." - a gay vampire- I mean, Liz

Hailey blinks, stopping her practice and looking over at the door. “Hey. You okay?”

Setting her guitar aside, she gets up and runs over quickly, looking her over, brushing the girl’s hair out of her face, and pulling her into a hug. “I-- Celena stopped by. Made some threats. I thought, I worried--”

She pulls back a moment and looks over over again before pulling her in and kissing her.

[nxttheendxfthestxryarch2]

“Oh, who am I kidding? I have absolutely nothing figured out yet.”

[notfotun-blog]

Campiiux Chronicles

Yes I know it could be better please feel free to criticize. If anybody wants  to, they can make art about it or not, that;s cool too.

I wake up to the constant beeping, every day. I talk to the same people, say the same things, and go to the same places.They kick me down, mock me, and use me. Then, on Monday, January 1st 2018, the music stopped and the grey turned red, I was weak, and my heart was racing. The adrenaline empowered me. I screamed in agony, but no one came to my aid. The red turned black and I was asleep. I woke up on a large, round, metal platform, and I was going up. Despite my knowledge, i knew exactly what to do. I saw a huge metal humanoid-like contraption piloted by a familiar face, pulling me up by a chain. I looked behind me too see a barren sky. We were in air. I looked down, but saw no bottom. Only a dirty brown. Were we in a sandstorm? When she said jump, I jumped towards the end of the wing, but was snatched by tight grip of the air in a second. Before I could regain my thoughts, I saw a large metal hand; bending the air around it as it flew. The fist impaled my chest completely, and my vision narrowed in seconds before turning Blackish-blue. The last thing I saw was her face, a familiar yet aggravating sight.

I wake, floating down a canal dodging lights with 3 other people.I was seen and had things thrown at me. When I reach the close of the canal, I close and open my eyes and I find myself in a wheat field. The terrain only being lit by the moon, casting a bluish-black upon the cursed land. I find myself holding a weapon and then see an ocean of yellow ooze thundering towards us. Yet when it has surpassed us, we were completely unscathed. We go into the travel mechanism and is surrounded by hundreds of slender beings, waiting there. Their mouths were agape. We could barely see them; they were encased in darkness. Then, they sprint towards us. And then we let loose with our weapons, killing one left and right. Whenever we would down one, it would dismantle into a cloud of yellow dust. After that, we saw humans walking towards us. Their eyes yellow, with dark, infected skin. They would be “cured” upon human contact . e were about to leave, but one of us have left to the town. “Hailey” I whisper silently. I make travel to the village. When I did, I saw a cherry tree in the middle of a small pond. Diagonally left from the tree, I saw a red door. I opened and everything turned white.

I wake, in the same place I started. I see Blake and Austin, I told Blake to follow me, he said “No”. I told him over and over to try. But all I got was no. Then Austin told me to leave him alone. The same anger I have drowned in before fills my throat and takes control of my brain. I feel my eyes dilate, the muscles under my eyes strengthen, I let go. I walk away. I am disappointed with myself. They ask me what happened. Why I was gone for two months, why I look less tired. I ignore them. I go to Amber, and I ask her to believe me when no one else does. We exchange stares for a long time, awkwardly shifting. She asks if it will be dangerous, and I say yes. She says no. I go to Branden, he we exchange “I missed you”’s and I ask him to come with me. To forget everything. To never be tired. “Please” I ask, my voice shaking. I have longed for someone I know, not being with people who know me.

“What do I do?”

“You will…” I pause, afraid

“What?”

“You will have to hurt yourself”

“No”

“I’m telling the principal. You need help.” He said, getting up and leaving.

“Hey, you won’t see me tomorrow.” I go back inside, and sit by Amber. “Please, let me explain” and I did. I told her about what I did. I told her why I was gone. The music, the alarm clock, the repetition. And to bash down all skepticism, I roll up my sleeves followed by “ I am a ghost. You can be one too.” Her voice was afraid. “You are not real” And almost on cue, He walked in. “The fuck are you doing, Ma-”

“Shut up” I hate that name. The adrenaline that once ended me filled my veins filled them again. My eyes filled with a fiery rage I could not contain. My pupils dilate, and the fight was on. He lets out a scream, something that would have normally unnerve me. He darts towards me, I let him do it. He got closer, and closer. Once he was upon me, I let loose. I ran towards him, not afraid of what was to come. He hit first, a valid invitation. I let the rage consume me. I hit him again, and again, and again. I couldn’t stop. He was crying, but did not say “You win”. I hit harder, then the principal intervened. I pushed him aside, it was not my fight. But it gave Austin enough time to stand up, so while he sprints I run behind him and kick the back of his leg. I grab the principal’s pen the second time he intervened and looked straight at Amber and said “I’ll be back and you see” and as the pen cuts across my wrists, I looked at Austin and saluted. Then, I vanished.

I wake in a frozen hell. I say nothing, and I hear the souls. Where am I? I would guess the Armue colony, a solar system of small planets surrounding a Dwarf star, but i hear words spoken by souls. I hear a million screams of relief as a glacier cracks open. With every step, I feel as if a hundred souls are released from this domain. With the constant sound glaciers opening, a fear grew over me as the glaciers were rupturing closer and closer. Almost s if something was hunting me. I walked for an eternity, growing more insane with every step. Then, my fears came true. A loud eruption came from behind me. A massive snake broke out of the ground. It was Noxle. The World Serpent-esque giant snake. Every one of his scales was replaced with massive Ebony plates, due to a murder of the innocent. He was blinded with human skin, enchanted to never rot. He was not always a snake, though. He was actually a living star yet,he killed Billions simply because they would not worship him. His ego was bigger than his foresight. He jumps around before sensing my presence in which he halts. I speak

“Who are you, snake?”

“You know who I am, Human”

“I bet you would love a human after a few million years”

“But you are a mortal”

“That is where you are wrong,Occisor”

“Smart Human”

“Well, let’s get it on then”

“Campiiux, you are a waste” and with that he bellowed a melonous war cry as he slithered towards me. I waited until he was a couple hundred feet away from me and ran towards him. Noxle lost where I was due to his head. I climbed his Ebony plates, one at a time. When I reached his head, I could see all of his eyes.

“Campiiux, I am a star. I can no longer die, Campiiux.”

When I reached his eyes, I made a hole in his thick Ebony headplate to shield myself when reacts to losing an eye. I jump on his eye, punching and punching until I flew off, followed by gallons upon gallons of a yellow ooze that seemed familiar. But instead of falling down, it rose out of the atmosphere into space. Noxle’s last words were “Thank you, Campiiux” And then Noxle combusted and the blast shredded me to bits.

I wake in a white plane.

[graciedroweuk]

Resumão! Tudo o que rolou ‘Radio Music Awards 2018’

Rolou na noite deste domingo (11), em Inglewood, na Califórnia, a quinta edição perform “iHeartRadio Music Awards”, premiação que consagra os artistas que mais se destacaram nas rádios norte-americanas. Direto perform “The Forum”, a musa Hailey Baldwin e o craque DJ Khaled comandaram that a cerimônia, marcada por boas performances, merecidas homenagens, lançamento de videoclipe e muitas estatuetas, claro.

A premiação foi bem equilibrada, digamos… Ed Sheeran; Cardi B; BTS e Luis Fonsi se destacaram levando cada um, dois troféus. O ruivinho foi eleito, o “Artista Masculino do Ano” e faturou também “Melhor Música” por “Form of You”. A rapper saiu vitoriosa em “Artista Revelação” e “Artista Revelação de Hip Hop”, enquanto os meninos perform BTS em “Melhor Boyband” e “Melhor Fanbase”. Luis Fonsi, por sua vez, terminou a noite com duas estatuetas: “Melhor Artista Latino” e “Melhor Música Latina”, por “Despacito”.

E pela primeira vez, uma brasileira saiu vitoriosa da premiação. Anitta venceu, com o voto hot, and a disputa na categoria “Estrela das Redes Sociais”. Infelizmente, a fofa não conseguiu marcar presença no bapho, por questões de schedule, mas deixou um vídeo de agradecimento.

Além dessas, outras três estatuetas pra lá de especiais foram entregues durante a cerimônia. O talentoso Chance the Rapper recebeu das mãos de ninguém menos que Pharrell Williams, o “Innovator Award” por seu vanguardismo na indústria. Já nosso cristalzinho cubano Camila Cabello se tornou a primeira a ganhar o “Fangirls Book”, que “reconhecerá mulheres que expandiram fronteiras com sua música e sua mensagem além de inspirar seus fãs ao redor do globo”.   Por fim, os caras perform “Bon Jovi” foram homenageados banda o “Icon Book” por toda a contribuição da banda ao mundo da música nesses 35 anos de carreira.

Outro ponto alto da noite ficou por conta Taylor Swift! A loira escolheu a premiação para fazer a estreia de seu novo videoclipe, o quarto da era “Reputation”. Oficializada como single, a ótima “Delicate” ganhou um tratamento visual dirigido pelo parceiro de longa information, Joseph Khan. No more vídeo, extremamente coreografado (eba!) , a loira se torna invisível de uma hora pra outra e passa a fazer coisas que normalmente não pode fazer por aí… A gente adorou; assista:

Né ?!, A fofa na coreo E se Taylor, por conta de sua turnê, não pôde dar uma passadinha no palco do bapho artistas subiram até lá e entoaram seus grandes sucessos. Camila Cabello, por exemplo, fez uma nova e ótima performance de “Havana”; Cardi B apresentou um medley de “Bartier Cardi”; “Motorsport” e “No Limit”, essa com o G-Eazy e o Bon Jovi mandou ver em “It Is My Name” e “You Give Love a Bad Name”. Também tivemos performances de “Wait”, do Maroon 5 ; “The Long”m do Charlie Puth Portable de “Perfect” perform Ed Sheeran. Assista às principais e confira na sequência a lista completa de vencedores:

Cardi B Portable G-Eazy — Bartier Cardi”; “Motorsport” e “No Limit”

Camila Cabello — “Havana”

Eminem e Kehlani — Nowhere Fast

Bon Jovi — “It’s My Life” Portable “You Give Love a Bad Name”

Confira a lista de premiados:

Música do Ano “Despacito” — Luis Fonsi Portable Daddy Yankee feat. Justin Bieber “Form Of You” — Ed Sheeran — VENCEU “Something Just Like That” — The Chainsmokers e Coldplay “That’s What I Like” — Bruno Mars “Wild Thoughts” — DJ Khaled feat. Rihanna e Bryson Tiller

Artista Feminina perform Ano Alessia Cara​ Halsey P!nk Rihanna Taylor Swift — VENCEU

Artista Masculino perform Ano Bruno Mars Charlie Puth Ed Sheeran — VENCEU Shawn Mendes The Weeknd

Artista Revelação Cardi B — VENCEU Niall Horan Luke Combs Christian Nodal Judah & the Lion Ozuna Khalid

Melhor Grupo/Duo perform Ano Imagine Dragons Maroon 5 — VENCEU Migos Portugal. The Man The Chainsmokers

Melhor Colaboração: “Despacito” — Luis Fonsi Portable Daddy Yankee feat. Justin Bieber “Do Notna Know” — Maroon 5 accomplishment. Kendrick Lamar “Something Just Like That” — The Chainsmokers Portable Coldplay — VENCEU “Stay” — Zedd e Alessia Cara “Wild Thoughts” — DJ Khaled campaign. Rihanna e Bryson Tiller

Artista Revelação de Pop Camila Cabello Julia Michaels Liam Payne Logic Niall Horan — VENCEU

Música de Rock Alternativo perform Ano “Believer” — Imagine Dragons “Feel It” — Portugal. The Man — VENCEU “Thunder” — Envision Dragons “Walk On Water” — Nine Seconds To Mars “Wish I Knew You” — The Revivalists

Melhor Artista de Rock Alternativo Cage The Elephant Imagine Dragons — VENCEU Judah & The Lion Kings Of Leon Portugal. The Man

Artista Revelação de Rock/Rock Alternativo Greta Van Fleet Judah & The Lion — VENCEU K.Flay Rag’n’Bone Man The Revivalists

Música de Rock perform Ano “Go To War” — Nothing Longer “Assist” — Papa Roach “Run” — Foo Fighters — — VENCEU “Rx (Medicate)”” — Theory of a Deadman “Song #3” — Stone Sour

Melhor Artista de Rock Foo Fighters Highly Suspect Metallica — VENCEU Papa Roach Royal Blood

Música Country perform Ano “Body Like A Back Road” — Sam Hunt — VENCEU “Dirt On My Boots” — Jon Pardi “Hurricane” — Luke Combs “Small Town Boy” — Dustin Lynch “Unforgettable” — Thomas Rhett

Melhor Artista Country Blake Shelton Jason Aldean Luke Bryan Sam Hunt Thomas Rhett — VENCEU

Artista Revelação de Country Brett Young Jon Pardi Kane Brown Lauren Alaina Luke Combs — VENCEU

Música Dance perform Ano “It Ain’t Me” — Kygo Portable Selena Gomez “No Promises” — Cheat Codes accomplishment. Demi Lovato “Rockabye” — sterile Bandit e Anne-Marie feat. Sean Paul “Something Just Like That” — The Chainsmokers Portable Coldplay “Stay” — Zedd e Alessia Cara — VENCEU

Melhor Artista Dance Calvin Harris Cheat Codes Kygo The Chainsmokers — VENCEU Zedd

Música de Hip-Hop perform Ano “Poor and Boujee” — Migos feat. Lil Uzi Vert “Bodak Yellow” — Cardi B “HUMBLE.” — Kendrick Lamar “Rockstar” — Post Malone “Wild Thoughts” — DJ Khaled accomplishment. Rihanna e Bryson Tiller — VENCEU

Melhor Artista de Hip-Hop DJ Khaled Drake Future Kendrick Lamar — VENCEU Migos

Artista Revelação de Hip-Hop 21 Savage Cardi B — VENCEU GoldLink Lil Uzi Vert Playboi Carti

Música R&B perform Ano “B.E.D.” — Jacquees “Location” — Khalid “Love Galore” — SZA feat. Travis Scott “Redbone” — Childish Gambino “That’s What I enjoy” — Bruno Mars — VENCEU

Melhor Artista de R&B Bruno Mars — VENCEU Childish Gambino​ Khalid Rihanna The Weeknd

Artista Revelação de R&B 6LACK Kehlani Kevin Ross​ Khalid — VENCEU SZA

Música Latina perform Ano “Despacito” — Luis Fonsi Portable Daddy Yankee — VENCEU “El Amante” — Nicky Jam “Hey DJ” — CNCO “Mi Gente” — J Balvin feat. Willy William “Súbeme La Radio” — Enrique Iglesias

Melhor Artista Latino CNCO J Balvin Luis Fonsi — VENCEU Nicky Jam Shakira

Artista Revelação de Música Latina Abraham Mateo Bad Bunny Danny Ocean Karol G Ozuna — VENCEU

Música Regional Mexicana perform Ano “Adios Amor” — Deadly Nodal “Ella Es Mi Mujer” — Banda Carnaval “Las Ultras” — Calibre 50 “Regresa Hermosa” — Gerardo Ortiz “Siempre Te Voy A Querer” — Calibre 50

Artista Regional Mexicano perform Ano Banda Carnaval Banda Los Recoditos Banda Sinaloense MS de Sergio Lizarraga Calibre 50 Gerardo Ortiz

Artista Revelação de Regional Mexicano Christian Nodal — VENCEU Edwin Luna y La Trakalosa de Monterrey El Fantasma Ulices Chaidez y Sus Plebes

Produtor perform Ano Andrew “Pop” Wansel along with Warren “Oak” Felder Andrew Watt — VENCEU Benny Blanco Justin Tranter Steve Mac

Melhor Letra — voto favorite “Bodak Yellow” — Cardi B “Despacito” — Luis Fonsi Portable Daddy Yankee “There’s Nothing Holding Me” — Shawn Mendes “Look What You Made Me Do” — Taylor Swift “Perfect” — Ed Sheeran “Slow Hands” — Niall Horan — VENCEU

Melhor Cover — voto popular ” We Got” — Shawn Mendes “Poor Liar” — HAIM “Issues” — Niall Horan “Lost” — Khalid “Say You won’t Let Go” — Camila Cabello Portable Machine Gun Kelly “The Chain” — Harry Styles — VENCEU “Touch” — Ed Sheeran “The Tribute Song” — Thirty Seconds To Mars

Melhor Fã-Base — voto favorite Arianators — Ariana Grande Beliebers — Justin Bieber BTS Army — BTS — VENCEU Camilizers — Camila Cabello EXO-L — EXO Harmonizers — Fifth Harmony Lovatics — Demi Lovato Mendes Army — Shawn Mendes Mixers — Small Mix Selenators — Selena Gomez Smilers — Miley Cyrus Swifties — Taylor Swift

Melhor Clipe — voto favorite “Poor Liar” — Selena Gomez “Bodak Yellow” — Cardi B “Despacito” — Luis Fonsi e Daddy Yankee “I am The Only One” — DJ Khaled “Look What You Made Me Do” — Taylor Swift “Malibu” — Miley Cyrus “New Rules” — Dua Lipa “Shape Of You” — Ed Sheeran “Sign Of The Times” — Harry Styles — VENCEU ” Sorry Not Sorry” — Demi Lovato “Swish Swish” — Katy Perry “That’s What I Like” — Bruno Mars “There’s Nothing Holding Me” — Shawn Mendes

Estrela das Redes Sociais — voto popular Andrew Huang Anitta — VENCEU Christian Collins Conor Maynard dodie Gabbie Hanna JoJo Siwa Mariah Belgrod Max & Harvey RoomieOfficial

Melhor Animal de Estimação de Artista (categoria nova) — voto popular Batman — Demi Lovato Bear Rexha — Bebe Rexha Nugget — Katy Perry Olivia — Taylor Swift Pig Pig — Miley Cyrus Toulouse — Ariana Grande — VENCEU

Melhor Boy Band (categoria nova) — voto popular AJR BTS — VENCEU CNCO In Real Life PRETTYMUCH The Vamps Why We Are

Melhor Artista Solo — voto popular Camila Cabello Harry Styles Liam Payne Louis Tomlinson — VENCEU Niall Horan

Melhor Remix (categoria nova) — voto popular “Bon Appétit” — Katy Perry, Migos e 3LAU “Despacito” — Luis Fonsi e Daddy Yankee feat. Justin Bieber “do re mi” ” — blackbear feat. Gucci Mane “Friends” — Justin Bieber Portable BloodPop com Julia Michaels “Havana” — Camila Cabello e Daddy Yankee “Homemade Dynamite” — Lorde, Khalid, Post Malone e SZA “May I Have This Dance” — Francis & The Lights feat. Chance The Rapper “Mi Gente” — J Balvin Portable Willy William feat. Beyoncé “Reggaetón Lento” — CNCO e Small Mix — VENCEU

por Pedro Hosken, 12 de Março de 2018

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from network 4 http://www.brownandbrownrecording.com/resumao-tudo-o-que-rolou-radio-music-awards-2018/

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"Just because I haven't said anything doesn't mean I don't know."

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"See, my brother's not perfect, far from it honestly. But don't ever speak down on him around me."

[nxttheendxfthestxry]

Open Starter: No Good (Hailey)

“Oh, uh– y’know, y’know what? I’m not very good.” Hailey’s hand awkwardly reaches back to the case her acoustic guitar is in. “I’ve never had, y’know, much time to learn or anything. Other stuff to do. You probably wouldn’t… want to hear me play.”

Of course, that’s not saying that, also, she’s felt awkward about playing it because it was a gift from her mom that she received in the mail when she turned fifteen. She clears her throat awkwardly.