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immersed-in-mischief · 2 years

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The Choices We Make ( Tom Hiddleston x OFC) Chapter 1

Chapter 1

Even with a room full of people, the makeup trailer on set had never been so silent. There was no music playing today. There were no dance parties. No laughter. No joy. There was only tension and an awkwardness that hung in the air like a thick fog that surrounded the cast and crew.

Cassidy tried her best to ignore the stares from those around her that had become her friends over the last six months. Even with the weekend to prepare herself for this moment, she still wasn’t ready to face her new reality.

A reality without him.

“Ash, will you get started on Tom’s wig please? His call time got bumped up to 7 today to fit in the scene with Benedict and Evans. I’m nearly done down here, and I can help you with the other two.”

Scarlett looked up into her eyes with a look of question and concern before her eyes flashed over to the man at the end of the row. She watched as Tom’s focus left the woman finishing up her makeup in front of her and returned to his lap with a look of shame. Her phone on the vanity in front of her vibrated and she patiently waited until there was a break before reaching for it.

“You can take it Scar. I’ll be back in a few to do your hair. Let me get these guys situated first.”

As Cass made her way down to the other end of the trailer, she desperately tried to ignore the eyes that followed her in the mirrors as everyone seemed to hold their breath. With the subject of conversation now no longer standing beside her, Scarlett opened the text from Evans that was waiting for her.

Trouble in paradise?

After quickly typing out a reply, she returned the cell to the vanity face down in case he sent anything else.

Your guess is as good as mine. Those two were already radio silent when I got here this morning. I don’t like when Mom and Dad are fighting.

No longer able to watch her coworker and friend struggle anymore, she decided to be the bigger person and step in and help.

“Here, trade me places. I’ve got it. Evans, you’re all set. Can you let Rob know that I need him in his chair in twenty if we’re going to stay on time this morning?”

With a silent nod, he gladly took his exit from the trailer. Tom watched as Ashley moved down to work on Benedict and waited until she was a few feet away before he reached up and gently placed his hand over hers and tried to catch her eyes in the mirror in front of him. His voice was barely a whisper as he called out to her.

“Cass...”

He was only able to get the single word passed his lips before she shook her head and pulled her hand away from his and moved to gather her supplies from the counter behind him.

“Don’t… just… don’t.”

All he could do was sigh as he stayed silent and let his now ex-girlfriend do her job. His mind once again returned to their last interaction just two days ago…

FRIDAY NIGHT

Tom balanced his cell on his shoulder as he tried to get the key into the lock of his LA apartment. After a few drinks, it was harder than he had expected.

“I know, Luke. They just need to give me more time. Tell them I’ll have an answer to them by the middle of next week, alright? I just need you to push it off a few more days, mate. Can you do that for me?”

As he hung up on his publicist and unloaded his pockets onto the table of the entry way, he was startled when he turned and found her curled up on his couch with a glass of wine in her hand. The look on his girlfriend’s face was the reminder that he needed.

“Shit, darling. We had plans tonight, didn’t we?”

Cassidy simply nodded before returning to fidgeting with the glass in her hands. Tom felt like an ass and immediately went into an apology.

“I’m so sorry, baby. It honestly slipped my mind. Filming ran long and then the guys wanted to go out for a few drinks. We can still go out if you want. It’s not too terribly late just yet.”

He watched as she took a long sip from her glass and tried to plaster on a smile.

“I get it. Things come up… So, what is Luke pushing you for an answer on?”

Tom made himself another drink and tried to find a way to avoid the subject for just a little while longer. That was a conversation he wasn’t quite ready to have just yet.

“It’s nothing. Just need to decide on my next project.”

“That doesn’t sound like nothing, Tom. That sounds like a big decision about your future. Do you want to talk it out?”

He took a swig off the smooth liquid and tried to change the subject as quickly as possible.

“Not really… Filming doesn’t wrap for a few more weeks anyways. I have plenty of time to decide what’s next for me. It’s nothing that concerns you, darling.”

“Oh… I see.”

Tom closed his eyes and quickly realized the error in his wording. When he turned to face her, she was already standing and gathering her things.

“Cassidy, don’t go. I didn’t mean it like that.”

She had already placed her cell back in her purse and was looking for her keys by the time he got to her side.

“No, it’s fine. I should go. It sounds like you have a lot going on.”

“It’s not like that.”

He watched her stop and look up at him with a flood of emotions on her face.

“Then what is it like, Tom? Usually, you only tell someone that discussions about the future don’t concern them if you don’t see a future with them to begin with.”

When he opened his mouth to speak, he couldn’t find the words he was looking for and watched in horror as recognition flashed through her eyes. The silence between them had lasted a touch too long, unknowingly conveying a message to her that he had never intended to send. With a single nod and a forced smile, she stepped around him and disappeared into the master bedroom. By the time he had snapped out of his daze, she was returning to the room with her overnight back on her shoulder and quickly heading for the door after retrieving her purse from the counter.

“Darling, just wait, please. Let me explain!”

Even with her back towards him, he knew she was wiping away the tears from her cheeks as she tried to flee.

“There’s nothing to explain, Hiddleston. I get it. It’s a casual fling with a member of the crew. Filming wraps in a few weeks and then you’re on to your next project. I know how this plays out.”

“Cass-“

“No, it’s fine. We’ve had our fun. It’s better that we keep it casual. We don’t have to wait until filming wraps to call it what it is. It’s better this way. Less messy.”

By the time he reached out to her, she was closing the door behind her as she left.

“You should get to set. They’re waiting for you.”

Tom snapped out of his memory to find Cassidy walking away from him once again as she returned to the other end of the trailer to finish up Scarlett’s hair. He longed to go after her, but with others in the room, he knew it was better to just head to set. Without a word, he silently slipped from the room and gave her one last look before he closed the door behind him.

A few minutes later, Scarlett was done as well and Ashley and Cassidy were once again alone in the space. After collapsing down into one of the chairs that had previously been occupied with a cast member, Cassidy held her face in her hands and pulled her legs up to her chest as she tried to keep it together. A hand on her shoulder made her lift her head to acknowledge her best friend in the mirror in front of her.

“You want to talk about it?”

She wiped a tear from her cheek and stood to clean up the various supplies that were scattered across the vanities.

“What is there to talk about, Ash?”

“Oh come on, Cassidy! This is me you’re talking to. For starters, let’s talk about how you came back from telling Tom you loved him looking like he had shot your dog and then spent the rest of the weekend in bed drowning your pain in buckets of alcohol. What went wrong exactly? I thought you two were happy.”

After putting away the supplies, she went in search of cleaning wipes. Cassidy told herself it was all part of the job, but she was honestly just trying to keep herself busy.

“I thought we were happy too, Ashley. To be completely honesty, I’m not sure what went wrong either. I had an entire night planned out and then before I knew it, he showed up three hours late and then it was just… over. He’s entitled to his own feelings, and I can’t help it if his feelings don’t match my own. I’m just glad he told me the truth about how he felt, or didn’t feel about me, before I completely embarrassed myself and dropped the L word on him. I’ve been in this industry long enough to know how this works, Ash. I just never thought I would be one of those stupid girls to think that the big movie star could fall in love with the crew member. Just a few more weeks and we both get to move on. Tom Hiddleston can go find some other girl to sweep off her feet with those baby blues.”

Ashley reached out and stopped her from aggressively cleaning. Her voice was soft and comforting as she pulled her best friend down onto the couch beside her.

“I’m so sorry, sweetie.”

“Me too…”

The two sat in silence for a while as Cassidy’s tears started to silently fall once again. She let her head rest on her best friend’s shoulder and willed the pain to go away. Just six short months ago, she was a star struck fan who was surprised she was getting the chance to work on the set of the next big Marvel movie. By the end of the first week of makeup trials, she was already sharing lingering glances with Tom and spending the day laughing and flirting with each other. After making sure he was the last one to leave at the end of the day Friday, he had asked her out for coffee and the whirlwind romance had begun. The months of filming were spent sneaking away on set for hidden moments together and every weekend was filled with passion filled nights together. If they weren’t out with the rest of the cast and crew at group hang outs, they were together for over night trips up the coast or fancy dinners. While she enjoyed being wined and dined by Britain’s Sweetheart, the nights spent cooking together at his place or the casual dates on the town were her favorite. Just as quickly as it began, it was over. He was nearly done with filming and was certainly done with her. She had been wondering over the last few days if this wasn’t the first fling he had while filming. Did he do this on every set? Was it a common occurrence for him to find someone to keep his bed warm as he traveled for filming?

“Did you at least tell him about London?”

Wiping the tears from her face, Cassidy let out a quiet chuckle and shook her head.

“I never got the chance to…”

The next few weeks seemed to fly by and crawl at the same time. The day Tom had been dreading the most was here. It was the night of the wrap party and after tomorrow, the cast and crew would be going their separate ways. It was always a bittersweet time, but this time, it hurt worse than before. He wasn’t just walking away from those that had become friends and almost family over the better part of the year… he was walking away from the love he had found in the form of an amazing woman that took him by surprise.

“Still won’t talk to you, mate?”

Tom snapped out of his thoughts to find Benedict standing beside him. He was embarrassed to be caught staring once again. His gaze drifted to his feet as he took a swig from the cold beer in his hand.

“I really messed things up this time, Ben. How am I supposed to get on a plane tomorrow and just walk away from her?”

His best friend patted him on the back and followed his line of sight to the corner of the room where she stood laughing with various members of the cast and crew. After a few minutes, he nodded over his shoulder for Tom to follow him out onto the balcony nearby. Once the two were out in the privacy of the warm California night, he sighed and leaned against the railing to face him.

“I wished I knew what to tell you, Tom. I know you really care for the girl.”

“I more than care for her, Ben. I’ve never loved someone more. If only I hadn’t choked when I had the chance to tell her how I felt. I knew what she needed from me in that moment, and I hesitated. Before I knew it, she was gone. I did so many things wrong that night. I should have called and checked in with her or just not forgot about her to begin with. I should have taken the time to have the tough discussion instead of putting it off. I should have told her that I wanted her to come back to London with me. I should have told her that I loved her when I had the chance. When she wanted to talk about the call with Luke, I had the chance right there to say how I felt, but like a coward, I blew it off and ended up making her feel like she didn’t matter to me. I didn’t even realize until after she had left that night, that the dining room was set up with a romantic candle-lit dinner that she had cooked for us that must have gone cold hours before. It wasn’t even touched…”

Tom tried to hide the tears that threatened to spill over and looked down to peel the label from the bottle in his hand.

“I’ve spent the last three weeks trying to talk to her and she’s still shutting me out. Cassidy needed me to step up and make her feel secure that night and I failed her. How do I move on from someone like that, mate? She could have been the one, Benedict, and now I’ll never know.”

Inside the party, Ashley walked up to her and handled her another drink. With a questioning look to the liquid in front of her, Cassidy glanced around to make sure no one was watching them before she opened her mouth to speak. Her best friend and roommate spoke first in a hushed voice.

“No worries, girl. It’s just made to look like a cocktail. No alcohol. You’re fine.”

Letting the tension fall from her shoulders, she let out the breath she was holding and took a drink.

“Just because your secret is safe with me, doesn’t mean I’m going to drop the subject. He deserves to know, Cass.”

“Don’t do this, Ash. Just let it go. Please. Not tonight.”

After waiting for a group of people to walk by, she turned to face her with her back to the crowd.

“If not tonight, then when, Cassidy? You’ve known for two weeks now, and he is getting on that flight tomorrow and leaving this place. He deserves to know that he’s going to be a father.”

She had felt his eyes on her all evening from across the room. Every single day since those two pink lines had stared back at her, she had told herself that she would talk to Tom. He still tried to talk to her about that night, but she wasn’t ready to hear what he had to say. Knowing the bomb she was carrying only made the conversation that much harder.

“He didn’t want me, Ashley. A baby isn’t going to change things. I refuse to trap him with a kid that he didn’t ask for. Tomorrow, he gets on a plane to his next shoot and the week after, I fly out to London for the play. Hell, I still don’t even know what I’m going to do yet. Just drop it. Please.”

Ashley knew she wasn’t going to make any progress with her tonight. As she watched Benedict and Tom return from the balcony and head towards the bar, a few of the cast members approached the two woman to say their goodbyes before they left for the night. She watched as Cassidy put on her best fake smile and made small talk while fighting back the nausea that had been coming in waves all night.

After grabbing a fresh beer, Tom turned around to face them once again and leaned against the bar as he stared longingly at the woman standing beside her. Giving him a small reassuring smile when he caught her watching him as well, she turned towards her best friend and rubbed her back. Tom gave her a nod to acknowledge the gesture and turned on that signature charm when he was approached by a familiar face.

She knew that nothing was going to get resolved tonight with the stubbornness that filled the woman beside her. That wasn’t going to stop her from supporting her best friend in any way she could. After all their years together, she owed her that and so much more.

Choices:

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issaxcharlie · 3 years

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Ghost Of You 2/2

Pairing: Ghost! Luke Patterson x Fem Reader

Summary: Luke, Reggie and Alex have to assimilate their loss. For Luke of his girlfriend, and for the others of their best friend after suddenly learning that she didn’t have the future they imagined, and instead died 23 years ago.

Thank you to @cookiebuba for being the head of the entire idea and trusting me with it, and to Emy for almost holding my hand to force me to write🤣💜

PART 1 HERE

“It can’t be.”

“Luke, I-”

"No, Julie. You are not telling me that the woman of my life, the purest person who has ever stepped on this world, not only lost her partner and her best friends, but was only able to live her life for two more years and then ended in a horrible accident. It's as if life wanted to torture her before taking her too.”

“Love of ?... Zeppelin shirt you wore when you ran away. Of course.”

“I- It can’t be true, please tell me it’s not true, Julie.”

“Luke... she loved you so much.”

He falls on the floor. The impact is strong, as if his legs have stopped working.

"I know." He whispers slowly, his gaze empty as multiple tears fall from his eyes.

The rest of the gang threw themselves to the ground around him and hugged him with all their might, trying to unite his broken pieces without any success. Alex and Reggie each crying silently over the loss of their sweet friend.

“What day did she pass away? Alex whispers.

"Let me search, one moment." Julie gets up quickly and checks on her laptop to find a little note about the singer's death.

"The rising singer Y/N Y/L who had just released the biggest hit of her career passed away this afternoon in a terrible car accident after leaving the cemetery where her late boyfriend, Luke Patterson, was buried. Y/L was there in commemoration of the 2 years of the loss of the aspiring musician, who died from a sudden tragic intoxication along with the rest of his band. Something to rescue from this tragedy is that at least she's already reunited with her eternal love. May both rest in peace.”

“This can’t be. My Y/N can’t be gone. Not her, not like that.” Luke is still in denial, unable to believe that his little girl suffered such a terrible ending.

“Maybe she’s not. There's still a chance that she's also a ghost.”

“Yeah, Julie’s right. We need to look out for her, we can't write her off without trying to find her first.” Reggie's eyes sparkle with hope, rushing to cover Alex's mouth in case he says anything other than motivating.

Luke takes his flannel and disappears immediately. Both Reggie and Alex stare sadly at Julie who simply whispers a "go, he needs you." They nod and teleport to their friend.

As expected, Luke is in front of the window of an old music store. He met his girlfriend here so many years ago, the day his parents agreed to buy him his first guitar.

The store had a small section where customers could try out some instruments and she was playing the guitar they had there and singing for the small audience. It seemed like it was something she did often because both the workers and certain customers seemed familiar with the girl.

Luke was captivated by her from the first moment. The energy and passion that radiated from her in every move was unreal. He had never seen anyone happier, much less singing with a borrowed guitar from a small downtown store.

The store is completely abandoned, so without saying anything he comes in and walks towards the small stage.

The ghosts of two 12-year-old kids singing together into the microphone invades his memory. If they only knew.

"Do you remember what was the first thing she said to you?" Reggie and Alex sit next to him on the floor, looking straight at the very small stage. They both try to imagine what their friends must have looked like singing here together the first time. Luke totally invading little Y/N's presentation trying to captivate her with his 0% music experience and 100% of enthusiasm.

Luke laughs through tears. "You have the voice of a country singer."

Alex starts crying when he imagines her. He met her just a few weeks later so he knows exactly how she must have looked and sound.

Reggie smiles while shedding a tear, remembering all those afternoons Y/N convinced Luke to join them in their country sessions. He knows that's why Luke hasn't wanted to know anything about country or his songs since they got back. They remind him of his sweet girl.

“I was so offended. I still didn't know anything about music but I had already decided that I would be a rocker. If I hadn't already been so dazzled by her I would have left without looking back.”

“And what did you answer to defend your honor?”

"You think so?" The three of them start laughing while still crying. A heartbreaking mix of pain comes from their chests.

“C’mon guys, next stop.”

The three of them were teletransporting around the city during the day without any success. Luke's desperation increasing for every place the songwriter wasn't.

At night the three decide to go back to the studio. Luke is heartbroken, bloated after crying all day, eyes red and sore, and whatever it was that was driving him to continue, off.

His friends couldn't do much for him either because each was living the loss in their own way, concentrating on living their own pain until they could process it.

Julie wraps them in blankets on the couch and tries to fill them with love, making sure to hug Luke tightly, who seems about to fall apart.

“Does anyone want to talk about her? Maybe it could make you feel better.”

“She was my entire soul, the words and melody in each of my songs. I just, I love her more than anything in this world. I would give anything for her. My guitar, my voice, my songs, whatever it took for us to be together. I know it doesn't seem like it at this point, but we belong together.”

“We know you do, man.”

“I didn't tell you but I dream about her almost every night since we got back. It is always the same dream. She is in bed, leaving my side intact. She's wearing one of my shirts and hugging my favorite one while sobbing. She falls asleep listening to the ballad I wrote for her soaked in tears and no matter how hard I try to wake her up, I can't get her to see or hear me. I can’t get her. After a few minutes she gets up still asleep and begins to dance as we did so many times, but alone. Then she stops and starts crying again inconsolably. And that's when I wake up."

"I'm so sorry, Luke. She deserved so much more." Reggie walks over to hug him, his head resting on his arm while he sobs.

“We couldn't even say goodbye to her.” Alex cries, his eyes completely red.

“We already know that she visited your graves, perhaps we could do the same, dedicate a few words to her.” Julie offers in an attempt to help them find some peace.

Luke looks devastated, but he nods his head as tears continue to fall from his face, the ring that his girlfriend gave him going in and out of his finger. Alex hugs Julie while she strokes his hair in an effort to calm him down and Reggie runs up to get a notebook and pencil to start planning what to say to his best friend tomorrow.

The three of them hang around all night, crying, writing, hugging, remembering the spark of Sunset Curve. In the morning before going to visit her, they realize is exactly the 25th anniversary of that tragic night that changed the lives of the four forever. Luke nearly punches a hole in the wall upon hearing the sad coincidence.

Her grave is right next to Luke's, who has never been here before and can't help but feel a bit anxious.

“Don’t worry, I’ll start.” Reggie tells the guitarist as he takes a step forward, a small smile on his lips.

"Hello, princess. Long time, huh? I'm Reggie, by the way. In case you don't recognize me from the slight change in my hair. I am trying a little more gel, I want something more elegant and classic. What do you think? Yes, I also thought you would like it.” Julie and Alex smile at hearing him talk to her as natural as possible.

“I tried very hard to think of what to say, because if there is anyone who deserves my best words, it is you. And three things came to mind that I want to share with you.

First, the color yellow.

Yellow like the guitar you were saving for two years to buy. You did everything. You were a babysitter, you walked dogs, you worked in the school library, you sang with your old acoustic guitar in every cafe, basically everything that will let you win some money.

And the day before you could finally go buy it, my dad broke my bass in a moment of anger in one of his typical fights with mom that got really out of hand. At least he didn’t hurt her, huh? But when you're a kid you don't even think about the possibility that something like that could happen, you just focus on the broken instrument in your hand. I ran out and ended up on the stairs of your house with my face soaked and one of the broken pieces in my hand.

You hugged me and promised that everything would be fine. That I was always going to have you four and that we would always be family. You assured me that good things happen to good people. And I believed you, you know? You were always right. But now that I'm here, that I know you didn't have the happy ending you deserved, I'm honestly not so sure anymore.”

Luke and Alex start crying again, each hugging Reggie from one side. Reg tries with all his might to continue through the tears, while Julie looks at them with a broken heart.

“The next day when I came back from school a new bass was on my bed. You talked to Mom so she could take the credit for the gift, but coincidentally was exactly the bass that I fell in love with a year earlier when we went to check if your beloved yellow guitar hadn't dropped in price. Luke revealed to me a few months later that you had to borrow money from your mom in order to complete the exact money for that one.

How generous do you have to be in order to do something like that? how noble? How loving? How selfless? You were always more than I deserved. I was supposed to be like an older brother for you, but it was always you who took care of me. I have Julie and Carlos, and I'm trying to be with them as you were with me. I had the best step sister in the world to teach me, and I hope I can do you justice.” Julie starts crying too after hearing his words, and resists the urge to going to hug him because she knows that they need their space to let go all the suffering that they carry.

“Second, my leather jacket.

When we started the band we made a 100% commitment to being rockstars. And a very important part is the look. You accompanied me on a walk around the city looking for the right outfit to literally go sing to the people who were lining up in front of the clubs.

Anyone could have left me alone on that for multiple reasons, not even these two wanted to face the trouble. But you followed me without thinking twice.

The afternoon was over and we still haven't found anything. Our feet couldn't take it anymore and we had 10 minutes to run to the club. But we stopped by a little store that had a black leather jacket in the window and you said, Reg, this is it.

You excitedly took me by the hand and when I tried it on, the rest was history.

Then I tried to get the whole band to use them but these two boys without fashion sense didn’t want to. You, on the other hand, supported me and wore your leather jacket during all the Sunset Curve performances we had, convincing me that they were our good luck charms and that if we both used them everything would be amazing. Oh god, I miss you so much.

And third, a star.

I thought you were a star when I heard you sing for the first time.

I thought you were a star when you and Luke managed to write the whole Sunset Curve album in 2 months.

I thought you were a star when you bought me my bass, when you made Alex feel better after one of his strongest attacks, when you filled Luke with love and support when he needed it the most.

And I believe it now that I know you are gone.

If you are in heaven, you have to be a star. And not just a star, the brightest star of all. I promise to look for your light every night to wish you sweet dreams. I will also sing you some country since you were the only one who appreciated my incredible sound, I hope it makes you smile.”

“That was beautiful, Reggie. I’m sure she loved it.” Julie finally reaches out to hug him as Alex prepares to be next.

“Hey. I don’t even know where to start.

I- I guess I should start saying I could never pay you all the times you were there to pick me up when I needed someone the most. I went back to dancing a little again. It's not the same without you, but somehow it makes me feel you close. I also met someone, oh Y/N, he’s so special, I'm sure you would have loved him and I would have loved the opportunity to introduce him to you. You were always there.

You were there to support me when I decided to learn drums to cope with my anxiety. You sang the song I was practicing over and over to keep me company and reassure me that what I was doing sounded good.

You were there to support me when I told you I like to dance. We spent hours choreographing different iconic songs and just laughing and enjoying creating more memories together.

Not shocking at this point but you were also there for me when I confessed to my parents I’m gay and you gave me strength all those times that I wanted to fall because they no longer saw me the same way.

You were always my safe place. And I regret with all my heart that I couldn’t be yours.”

Alex breaks down. She kept them on their feet during her darkest days and they paid her off by causing her the most horrible pain imaginable. Julie and Reggie surround her in their arms while sobbing. The last one of the band standing moves closer to the grave and drops to his knees.

“I’m so sorry, my love. I’m so fucking sorry.” Luke tries to be strong, but tears start falling like waterfalls from his eyes, his face red in a mixture of despair, sadness and anger.

“I will never forgive myself for leaving you alone. Baby, I've been without you for only 1 month and I’m going crazy, even with the boys and Julie by my side. I don't even want to imagine what you must have been through those two years. My soul is shattered just thinking about it.

At first when we returned I imagined you were happy after having fulfilled all our plans with someone else. And I thought nothing could hurt me more than that, but obviously I was wrong. Because although it hurt me that I couldn’t be the one who was with you, thinking that you had been happy gave me the peace to be able to continue. Now that I know that life took away your opportunity, the only thing I feel is anger.

Anger towards me, anger towards destiny. Anger at not being able to be together even after death. Since we discovered where you are, I have only been able to think of cross over and finally be with you again.

Or at least go back to the night before everything turned into a nightmare. Fall asleep with you in my arms one more time.

I swear I even miss your snoring and you biting my cheek after your goodnight kiss, as you would say, in a gesture of love.”

“Hello again, my love.

I can't believe 25 years have passed. First of all, I want you to know that I'm okay. Or well, the equivalent for ghosts that are destined to haunt the earth alone for all eternity. I made a friend for several years, Rose. I told you about her, remember? I know you guys would have been good friends, she was a ridiculously talented musician. Since she died I no longer had the strength to go back to the studio, but for a long time I enjoyed her company in one of my favorite places. She promised to tell you that I'm waiting for you. I will wait whatever time is necessary, okay? I love you so much, baby.

You three are always on my mind, and I think I can finally accept that the pain is just never going to go away. But lately something super strange has happened to me, let me tell you.

Throughout these years, in the darkest days, I see you. But, they were always memories.

A month ago, I started to see you having other kinds of experiences and I honestly don't know how to feel about it. Am I going that crazy? I selfishly hoped that you too were ghosts for so many years. I looked for you 5, 10, 15, 20 years. And just as I decide to give up, my head imagines you all over the city.

The first time I saw you singing Reggie's jam on the beach. You guys looked so happy, love. It filled my heart with peace for a few seconds, knowing that somewhere up there you are enjoying life singing together all day.

Then I saw my beloved Alex with a cute boy. My heart melted, I can’t even explain how much I wanted to run to hug him and gossip about it.

Baby, he looked so peaceful. I always wanted that for Alex. I didn't know whether to be happy or cry because that didn’t actually happen, so I did both.

The penultimate time was a few nights ago when I was walking in front of the Orpheum and I heard your voices. How wicked my mind is, right? A knife to the heart would hurt less.

And now, I can't even get close to your grave because I'm imagining you all again.”

Y/N doesn't know what to do, if she gets close enough will they disappear? What If they don’t? Will she bear to see them up close? She has been dancing with their ghosts in her dreams for so many years, but It’s not the same as doing it when she is fully awake.

She is about to run out of there in fear when the silhouette of a fourth person catches her attention. She doesn't know why, but it immediately reminds her of Rose. Could it be that she is imagining her friend too?

Curiosity is stronger than fear, like all those times when she got into trouble with her boys. She walks carefully towards her grave which is next to her beloved Luke.

“I swear I even miss your snoring and you biting my cheek after your goodnight kiss as you would say, in a gesture of love.”

“I don't freaking snore, I told you a million times already... and now I'm talking with my imagination, great.”

The band turns in shock towards the fifth voice. That's when she can see the girl's face and realize who she is.

“Julie? But, how?”

“Y/N?” Alex whispers on the verge of passing out.

She starts to panic, just before the boys can do something about it, a new person appears behind her.

“Hey, you took a long time." She turns around and jumps into the arms of who has become her only friend in recent years.

“Phoenix, thank god.” Her body continues to shake but she clings tightly to her friend while crying uncontrollably.

To say the ghosts are confused would be an understatement. And apart from that, the guitarist is having many conflicts with the jealousy that he is feeling at the moment. They haven't seen each other in 25 years and when they finally do, she runs into someone else's arms and clings to him like her life depends on it.

What does that mean for them? Is it too late?

“Beautiful, what's wrong? Who are they? Oh, wait. You guys were at the club a few weeks ago, you're friends with Willie, right?”

Luke feels like dying all over again hearing him call her that. She continues to shake but finally lets go.

“What? You can see them?”

“Shouldn’t I?” He looks at her skeptical and shifts his eyes from her to the ghosts.

“I- Oh my god. I'm going to pass out.“

“Baby, look at me.” Luke’s voice is a mix between a plea and a demand. The terror of knowing that perhaps he has already lost her without having had the opportunity to fight for her clouds his judgment and tears begin to fall from his face again.

25 years. 25 years fighting not to forget his voice. 25 years having him only in dreams, in memories, in melodies. 25 years waiting for him. 25 years on her own.

She turns slowly to meet those honey-green eyes she craved for so long to see, a painful smile from Luke makes her smile through tears.

She carefully lifts her right hand and gently draws it to his cheek, almost exploding at the feel of it.

“You came back. Oh my, It’s really you.” She jumps to the guitarist, entwining her legs at his hips, her arms tangled with all her strength around him, her head buried in his neck inhaling his scent. Tears coming out as if to drown her, all the pain and suffering that she faced all these years finally leaving her body.

Luke wraps her tightly in his arms, still unable to process what’s happening.

Alex and Reggie begin to smile without fully assimilating what is happening, while Julie begins to jump of joy.

“Babygirl, I'm sorry to ruin the moment but I have to rush to the club. Will you be okay here?"

“She's always safe with me." The guitarist growls, and Y/N starts laughing when she hears it.

"The jealous, protective baby in the beanie is right, don't worry Nix. I’ll go and find you later."

Phoenix nods with a smile and disappears. Julie begins to scold Luke while Reggie and Alex approach to touch the cheek of their best friend, still in the arms of the guitarist who does not seem to have any intention of letting go.

“We should go home to catch up. Reggie and I will accompany Julie, it seems that you two should speak alone first." Luke doesn't think twice and disappears with her in his arms.

“Good things happen to good people.” Reggie whispers as he hugs his friends and they start walking home.

Luke and Y/N reappear in the studio and they are both shocked for a few seconds. The girl trembles again in fear of dreaming.

“Hey, come here baby. Shh, I’m here, I promise.”

“Don’t leave me ever again, please.” He can see that it is very difficult for her to understand that is really happening, and to think that she lived without him not 2 but 25 years makes him want to cry again.

“I won’t. I promise, beautiful. Never again.” Luke wraps her in his arms, but she lifts her head from his chest to push her lips against his. The kiss is urgent, but they both instantly recognize each other and fit in perfectly. Luke picks her up again and gently lays her down on the couch, both desperate to feel the other, to recognize every inch.

“I missed you so much baby, I love you more than anything.” Luke whispers between kisses, not willing to have her an inch away from him.

“I love you my love. I love you, I love you, I love you.” She says while kissing the love of her life, happy for the first time in 25 years.

Before things get to escalate, the rest of the band shows up in the studio followed by Julie who clearly walks through the door.

"Let go of her man, it's our turn!" Y/N gets up quickly from the sofa while her boyfriend complains and she throws herself at both of them who pick her up as best they can and spin her in the air.

They put her down and Julie and her stare each other, both raise their arms and meet in a quick but sweet hug.

“You said my name back there, how?” The question that she has stuck since she met her finally coming to light.

“I met your mom many years ago when I came to visit the studio and realized that she could see me. We were friends for many years and I had the opportunity to see you grow up, but I always made sure to be upstairs when you came in in case you could see me too.”

“Well, now I understand how Carlos felt when he found out that we lived with ghosts. And It sounds like mom watches over us both from heaven.”

“Yeah, I’m sure she does.” Both girls smile and hug each other once more.

“I can't believe I endured 25 years without having those beautiful arms around me.” She whispers as they both lie on the couch, Luke has her completely cornered in his arms.

“I’m so sorry, baby. It breaks my heart that you have suffered that much for so many years.”

“It was not your fault. You lost as much as I did that night. Besides, I always knew that you would find me sooner or later. We belong together.”

“We do. I, I k-know we have way more to talk about but, who was the dude from the cementery?”

The insecurity in his voice is evident and Y/N can't help but smile. His emotions are complex, real, and nothing can make her happier than that.

“I’ll tell you all about my friend later, okay? For now... dance with me? I want to dance with the real deal.” He smiles and they both stand up, hugging each other as they slowly move through the studio as they did many times before life separated them.

The Luke in her arms is her Luke, the same one she has been waiting for so many years, finally back in her arms. And just as she thought when she lived, she will dance with his ghost for all eternity.

Thank you for reading✨✨

Taglist: @writerinlearning, @ghostofmgg @strangerthanfanfiction713, @thebloodthirstyvampress, @kinda-really-lost, @kcd15, @magnet-girl, @aliandthephantoms, @stxrkspidey, @pinkrockstar19, @s0uz4s, @shycupcakealissa @cookiebuba, @fangirlangioma, @sageellsworth05, @twist3dtinkerbell, @sunsetcurvenotsunsetswerve, @caitsymichelle13, @ifilwtmfc, @luckylouiebug, @bibliophilewednesday, @totomoshi, @siennanoelle01, @lunashadow6955, @bookfrog247, @morganayennefertyrell, @kiss-themoongoodbye, @rachelle3musicals, @imsydneywalker, @really-dont-forget-it @agentstarkid @talksoprettyjjx @kaitieskidmore1 @lukeys-giggle @katie-navarro @crybabyddl @cocopuffs0211 @marvel-ousnesss @blackhood5sos @tessxblxckthorn

Goy tags: @eternalharry @xplrreylo

#luke patterson imagine #luke patterson fanfic #luke patterson x y/n #luke patterson x reader #luke patterson imagines #luke patterson fic #jatp imagine #charlie gillespie fic #charlie gillespie x y/n #charlie gillespie imagines #jatp luke

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sup-hoes-its-me · 4 years

Text

A Hero II (Shinsou x Reader)

A/N: I did not intend for this fic to be three parts, but it seems that I have been writing too fast to keep track of the word count. This chapter will have a little fluff with mostly angst. I promise though, the next part is entirely fluff and my favorite piece to date. Hope you enjoy and thank you so much for the support.

!!!Sort of spoilers but not really you’ll be fine

word count: 4350

Part One/Part Two/ Part Three

“Where are you?”

“I’m with Aizawa-sensei. Is everything okay?”

“Oh, that’s great. Do you mind if I come visit for a minute?”

“Uh, sure, but why?”

“I don’t know, I just really don’t feel good. I feel like crying and I need to see you.”

“Ah, okay. I’ll be waiting for you.”

“I’ll be by the classroom in like, five minutes.”

“See you in a little bit.”

Shinsou set down his phone after hanging up. “I’m really sorry for taking a call while we’re talking, sensei.”

The dark haired, tired teacher in front of him only sighed and shook his head. He really didn’t care if the kid took a phone call. He was more mature and obedient than the majority of his students, so it wasn’t a big deal. It was nice to take a break from teaching reckless wannabe heroes all day like Midoriya and Bakugo. “Someone coming to interrupt our lesson, I suppose.”

“Yeah, but just for a second. It won’t be an issue.”

“Who?”

“Y/N.”

“Bakugo’s adoptive sister, right?” he asked, exasperated already. He could only imagine the kind of person someone related to that blond devil would be, even if it wasn’t by blood. Just being around him for so long no doubt would corrupt anyone. Having one Bakugo around was more than enough, but two? Unmanageable. A good reason to quit his job.

Shinsou nodded. He fiddled with his neck wrappings, feeling himself getting anxious. He wanted to see Y/N, he really did. But in front of his teacher, someone he looked up to and didn’t want to see him go soft...not ideal. He just hoped she would talk to him outside in private and nothing be heard or seen. “Yes.”

Aizawa leant back against the blackboard, crossing his arms over his chest. Talking about his personal life could be useful too. He was curious about the kid. He was so ambitious and strong-willed, competent in a world of idiots. If this girl, whoever she was, made him happy, that would only boost his morale when fighting. It was a good thing for him to be lovesick, actually. Aizawa hummed, “Interesting. She’s in your class, I completely forgot about that. Didn’t think you were the type to have friends, honestly.”

“I’m not. It’s just...well, I can’t explain. She’s different.”

A head popped in the doorway of the classroom a moment later, and it was almost as if a cloud had formed on the ceiling. Her smile was obviously fake, and her eyes screamed with the shine of not-so-distant sadness. He had to close his eyes for a quick moment and take a deep breath to calm himself down. His face was heating up and his heart started to race again. She was so fucking precious, even when she was about to cry..

“Shinsou,” she muttered, not even bothering to step into the classroom.

“I’ll be back in a minute, sensei.”

“That’s fine. Take your time.” The man waved off his student, not wanting to bother him. The girl looked pathetic standing there with that fake grin. Already, he could tell she wasn’t much like her brother. He should have known that knowing Shinsou cared for her so much. He wouldn’t associate with people like the hothead. Aizawa also didn’t hate her upon first glance, and that was quite shocking. He really disliked everyone.

Shinsou stepped outside into the hall. She stepped forward to be closer to him just by a little, and her eyes flickered down to his hand. Knowingly, he reached out to take her hand in his, rubbing the backs of her knuckles with his thumb, just like he always did when she was sad. She was the first one to initiate it, holding his hand that time in the alleyway. Ever since then, she asked for him to hold her hand, to make her feel a little better.

“Did something happen?”

“No, not really. I’ve just had a really shitty day. I accidentally spilled fruit milk all over my homework and my brand new textbook. When I was walking out to the dorms, that little freak with the purple balls on his head tried to look up my skirt. My mom called and yelled at me because of my grade in mathematics, even though I told her you were gonna start tutoring me, but she didn’t even care. And then, when I got to the dorms, I tried to take a nap but I had this terrible nightmare where you died and stuff, and it’s just been a really bad day.”

“Wow, that does sound shitty, I’m sorry, Y/N,” he said. For a moment he paused, thinking through what he could do for her before asking, “Do you want to wait here and we can go out somewhere when Sensei and I are finished?”

“Maybe. I’d rather hang out with you the rest of the day then go back and wallow in my own self-loathing,” she answered miserably, letting her head fall to stare at her shoes. “I just don’t want to bother you, Shinsou.”

“Don’t say that. You’re never a bother,” he hushed. “Didn’t I tell you I would do anything for you?”

“You’re too nice to me.”

“Not possible. I’m just doing what I want.” He always said that. He was never doing her a favor, she was never making him go out of his way or do something he didn’t want to do. For some reason, he found that whatever she wanted, he also wanted. If she wanted to sleep in bed all day, so be it, that’s what he wanted to do too. If she wanted to travel the world, he might just drop everything in Japan and go with her. He felt ridiculous about it, but it was true. That’s how she made him feel.

Whenever she was happy, he was happy. So, all he wanted was her to be content.

“You’ll have to tell me more about your day and that nightmare you had later. Talking about it helps.”

“Okay.”

“Wait in the library until I’m done?”

“Yeah. I’ll see you later.”

He nodded, taking away his hand to step back into the doorway. He placed a hand on the doorframe and leaned into it. “Bye, Y/N.” His eyes trained on her face as she lifted her head to look at him, a small, genuine smile on her face this time. Maybe he was dramatic, but that girl was all he ever wanted to look at. That smile, it made him feel like a million bucks. He felt like a real hero whenever her lips turned up in that familiar way.

“Thank you, Hitoshi. Bye…” He turned to enter the classroom but she stopped him, grabbing his wrist before he could completely go. When he turned to see what she wanted, she pushed herself forward into his arms, wrapping her own around his waist. “I really wanted a hug.”

He sighed into her touch, wrapping his own arms around her shoulder and one to rest on the back of her head. “No problem.”

“Okay, now for real this time, bye.” Finally, the girl pulled away from his hug, waving to him with her now with a full bright smile on her face and a bit of pep in her step. For a moment, all he could look at was her going down the empty hall, he almost forgot what he was originally doing.

“You done?” a voice mumbled behind him, and he jumped. How could he forget that Aizawa was right there? He saw them hug and everything, how awkward. He felt like a real sissy boy in front of his idol.

“Yes, sorry about that. Won’t happen again.”

The man rolled his eyes, his lip quirking in the tiniest of smirks. “We both know you can’t promise that,” he said. “So what is she? Your little girlfriend?”

His mouth opened and he stumbled over words to say. “No-No, of course not. She’s my friend and that’s it.”

“I see.”

They went back to the lesson as normal, talking and discussing possible moves and tools that could be utilized with his quirk. Still, Y/N ran through his mind over and over. At this point, he felt like he was actually going insane. Why couldn’t he focus on something else for once? Had this girl completely consumed his mind? He just couldn’t shake the thought of her and how she looked at him. Did people normally feel this way for their best friends? He had no idea, he’d never had one to know for sure.

Nevertheless, he wasn’t going to tell anyone about how he felt. He wasn’t really big on talking about his feelings.

The clock ticked away quickly, and by the time he was focused on the lesson at hand, it was already over. Aizawa had to go home to feed his cat dinner, and the sun was just going down for the night. He gathered his things and started out the door, leaving his sensei behind.

“She’s cute.Your ‘not girlfriend’, that is. She’s not what I expected.”

“Yeah, I know. She’s kinda perfect.”

The older man only sighed, nodding to agree with the boy. “For you.”

“No, she’s just my friend.”

“Fine. She’s the perfect friend for you.” He waved his hands, motioning the boy to leave him the hell alone and go to the library. “Get going, your friend is waiting.”

Needless to say, that was one of the most embarrassing moments of his entire life.

_____________________________________________

The dorms had been around for a couple months now, that meant that classes lived together and saw each other much more often than they used to. Shinsou had to admit, he wasn’t upset about the change. He couldn’t decide what he liked better, waking up to see Y/N in the dining room in her pajamas and hair untamed, stuffing her face with sugary cereal, or her visiting his room late at night after curfew to watch movies and stare out the window looking for constellations.

God, seeing her every day, even on the weekends... It made him feel like this was worth it. It had been months and he hadn’t tired of her. Normally, he couldn’t stand the same annoying friends after a period of time.

He was nearly asleep when a soft knock sounded on his door, echoing softly in the dorm. Lazily, he picked up a pen from his side table and tossed it to the door with a quiet thud, signalling for the only person it could be to come in. No one visited him in his dorm, no one except her.

The door creaked open, followed by a girl slipping through the crack. A click meant the door had closed, and he let out a breath of relief. She was here again to give him company, something he desperately needed..

When she was with him, he felt so different. He felt special, like there was hope for him. He relished in the feeling, entranced by her presence alone.

"Hey," he breathed, rolling over in his bed to face her. She flopped down on the other side of the bed, face first into the pillows. “What’s up?”

“Lonely and missing you,” she told him. Again, his heart jumped at her words. She missed him. She always told him she missed him, when they were allowed to go home, when they had classes at different times, when she went out with her friend, on long weekends away from the dorms. She always missed him. He was almost sure she was exaggerating. How could she miss him that much? He wasn’t very exciting, just a friend. The only other person she often missed was her brother, who stayed across the yard of dorms.

“Well, what do you wanna do? Watch a movie or something?” he asked.

“Honestly, I just want to talk. I have so many things on my mind.” She paused, rolling over on the bed to face him, face sinking into his pillow. Her eyes held so much fear he thought she must be drowning in it. He had no idea what to expect when she came in that night. She hadn’t texted him or said anything earlier in the day during their classes.

He wanted to reach out to her and hug her, make her feel some compassion instead, but he thought that was too intimate. If there was one thing he was afraid of, it would be making her uncomfortable. Part of the reason he loved her company was that she seemed completely at ease in his presence and he in hers.

“It’s about this war,” she whispered.

“What’s worrying you?”

She shut her eyes, not wanting to look him in the eyes directly. Images of her friends and family lay dead in her mind, and she had to take a deep breath to calm down. “All I can think about is how many people we are going to lose. My brother is one of the strongest students here; no doubt he’s going to get dragged into this fight. Hell, he already has.”

Shinsou nodded, lost in a bit of his own thoughts. Everyone knew how dangerous the league was, how horrible the casualties would be. He tried not to think about it, but how can you not when everyone talks about it? When your teachers are preparing to die and leave you behind? “I know what you mean. Aizawa-sensei is in the same position.”

“It just scares me so much,” Y/N whispered, pressing her face deeper into the pillow, trying to find an ounce of comfort in the softness and the scent. Nothing was helping at this point. “What do I do if I lose Katsuki? What happens if they kill Hawks or Endeavour? What do we do then? Society can’t just expect kids to sacrifice their lives.”

“You just have trust in the ones stronger than you. I know it’s hard, hell, I just want to go out and fight alongside them,” he confessed. “But, I can’t, and you can’t.”

“I just hate it. I feel so fucking worthless, Shinsou,” she cursed, tears pooling at the corners of her eyes, soaking into the pillowcase tear after tear. “All Katsuki has ever done for me is protect me, fight for me; all my life he’s been this way. I hate that I’m not strong enough to help him now when he needs it the most. I'm so worthless.” her words began to shake, and toward the end, she choked down a sob. He watched the whites of her eyes fill with red, irritated from the tears and her squeezing her eyes shut to keep them in.

He lifted his arm, tucking the other under his pillow. Instinctively, she moved forward, pressing her forehead to his chest and curling her arms up in front of her to rest between. He held her to him, resting his chin on the top of her head, buried in her knotted hair. Her cries ran through her entire body, and he held her tighter to his chest in an attempt to ease the tremors. It seemed his instinct to hug was right. She needed this.

Fuck, he needed the embrace too, just to feel someone alive against him.

“Y/N, you’re not worthless. You give your brother hope and motivation just by being with him. He loves you, and wants to live another day so he can see his sister again. You know that,” he said soothingly, although he felt a tickle at the back of his throat, pain lurking up. “Besides, what would I do without you? I need you.”

“No one needs me, Hitoshi. Nobody,” she sobbed. How could she believe that? Both of the boys had saved her life multiple times, yet she had done nothing for them. “I’m just a background character. I’m nothing.”

He tilted his head down, his lips just skimming her hair. “You’re the only friend I have. You’re the first person who made me realize I could be a hero, that I wasn’t just a villain. Do you think that’s nothing? ” he muttered, “To me, you’re the main character. You’re all I care about and the only person I ever want to be with.”

“Hitoshi, you fucking idiot,’ she cried. He felt her hands grab handfuls of his shirt, clenching her fists so tightly her knuckles must have turned white. “Why do you care so much about me?”

He lied.

“It’s because you’re my best friend.”

It’s because I’m falling in love with you.

“I never want to lose you, Hitoshi. Promise me, you won’t leave me, promise,” Y/N begged, practically demanding him to give her that little push of assurance. She needed someone’s words to keep her going, to know it was okay.

“I promise.”

It seemed like, when he was with her, he made more promise than he ever had in his life. Shinsou never believed in making promises because he never really intended on keeping them, so he avoided them. Yet, he wanted to make promises to her. He wanted her to trust him, and find comfort in his word.

In this world, you can’t predict when you’ll die or how long you’ll live, but as long as he could, he would stay with her.

He danced around their friendship. It always felt like he would make a mistake and reveal how he really felt about her. He loved their friendship, cherished it with all his heart. But that didn’t stop him from feeling something much more intense. He didn’t know for sure how he felt, only he was attached. Maybe he was falling for her. It could have been a crush.

All he knew was that those feelings were real.

She lifted her head from his chest, and he pulled back to look down at her. She was puffy in the eyes and her cheeks stained with tears. He lifted his hand, gently bringing his thumb to rub against her cheek, pushing away the salty tears. His hand stayed there, fingers sliding against her skin so softly, almost ghostly.

Goosebumps rose up on her arms at the subtle touch, and her heart beat faster. His hand stopped moving to rest on the side of her face, fingers tucked back by her neck. He was so warm, and she leant into him. Her eyes met his dark violet ones ridden with deep bags from lack of sleep. Still, he was handsome, so perfect in her eyes. His face moved closer to hers, and her eyes flickered down to his lips. Her eyes shut, moving ever so slowly closer to him.

A loud chime rang out from her back pocket. Startled, she jumped away from him, her hand flying to her pocket to grab her phone and shut it up. It was probably just a spam call anyway.

Katsuki.

She sighed, sitting up on the mattress and swinging her legs over the edge. She turned back to the boy, but was unable to make eye contact. He laid there with his forearm resting over his eyes, not looking at her either. “Shinsou...I-I’m sorry but I have to take this. I’ll see you tomorrow in class, okay?”

“Yeah, no problem. I'll see you tomorrow then.”

“See you,” she said quietly as she walked out the door, answering the phone as she did so.

Once the door was closed, he let out a load groan, turning on his side and curling up around one of his pillows. What the fuck was that? Were they about to kiss or was that just his imagination? Why did Bakugo have to call at that very moment? He couldn’t have waited, like, another 10 seconds?

He felt so good, having her pressed against him, to hear her telling him she needs him, to hold her face in his hands. She was the most beautiful girl he’d ever seen, he was sure of it now. Even while she cried, she still looked perfect to him, like an angel came to Earth just for him. Maybe she was an angel after all. No other girl as wonderful as her would take interest in him. She was here to save him, bring him hope and love and make him feel something while he was alive for however long. He always longed to feel anything other than guilt and anger and sadness.

And his angel had brought that to him.

_________________________________

Y/N had gone out to the corner store for some snacks that afternoon instead of training, so he proceeded to sit and study. His quirk wasn’t really the best to practice alone, for obvious reasons. In the courtyard outside, he sat with his heavy books, math problems flashing in his mind.

He was smart, so this kind of thing was never an issue for him. For Y/N, though, they had to work on that. She despised mathematics with a passion to the point where he would have to bribe her just to get her to do her homework. It was sad, but quite humorous for Shinsou.

“Yo, loser.”

He lifted his head at the voice, his eyes trailing up to see Bakugo, slouched over in his messy uniform. “Can I help you?”

“Yeah, actually, you can.”

Shinsou prayed that there would be no violence here. But with how her brother was, it could go crazy really fast. It wasn't that he was afraid of Bakugo at all, in fact, Shinsou knew with his quirk he would win a fight. It would just make Y/N upset.

He set down his pencil and moved over on the bench to make room for the blond, who hunkered down beside him. He didn’t take his hands out of his pockets, and didn’t move to make eye contact.

"Well what do you want?"

He shifted, practically itching to walk away. Still he persisted. "Y/N talks about you so fucking much, you know," he finally grumbled. "Shinsou this. Shinsou that. Seriously it's annoying "

Part of the purple haired boy was flattered and frankly excited. She talked about him to her family? He was sure it was all good things of course, but to know that he occupied her mind when he wasn't around? It was amazing.

To be honest, he thought about her more than you normally would with just a friend. Her smile, her laugh, her voice. All of it just ran through his mind all hours of the day.

"Ah, okay."

"Listen, I'm definitely not here to be your friend, fuck that. You're a creepy ass dude." As usual, rude as hell with no filter whatsoever. Typical. "It's just that I feel like I should...ugh, thank you."

"Huh, never thought I'd hear that come from you, Bakugo," Shinsou replied with a smirk.

"Shut it." He paused, leaning back to stare up at the sky. "Y/N hasn't ever really had a friend, not one that was good to her at least. You're the first person to really bring her out of her shell. She's a hard-core introvert, I guess."

"Don't thank me. I'm not doing anything I don't want to."

"I know. It’s just that when I convinced her to come to U.A., she thought she would be all alone, you know, bullied and shit like before. I'm just glad someone's been there for her."

"I really can't see why people would bully her. She's kind and beautiful and smart."

"Yeah, right, I know. People just like to pick on little girls." Bakugo sighed, clenching using fists in his pockets. "I've just gotten so busy recently with everything, I haven't had the time to be her brother. You've watched out for her instead."

"She doesn't even need someone to watch out for her. She's not a baby, she's strong enough to handle herself now," Shinsou replied. "We all have our moment of weakness."

"Y/N told mom about how you got rid of that thug the day I was sick. Can't believe it," he muttered. "Nothing happened, but I swear if you weren't there and something did, I would’ve kicked some major ass. So thanks for that too."

"Like I said, you shouldn't thank me. It's just the right thing to do."

"Yeah, but you aren't just doing it out of the kindness of your heart, Y/N isn't a damn charity.” His face lightened for a moment, the scowl softening into a grimace. "You love her, any dumbass can tell. I'm not sure if she feels the same way, but, shit…I’ve just never seen her happier than when she’s hanging out with you."

Shinsou said nothing. What was there to say? Bakugo was right. He did love her. Maybe for a while he thought it was just a crush, but it wasn't. Sure, if that criminal were harassing anyone else, he would do the same thing for them. Only, he wasn't sure he would turn around from his walk home to make sure they were safe. He wouldn't let just anyone come into his room at any hour of the night for hugs and cuddles, or a shoulder to cry on. That just wasn't him.

So he felt comfortable being confronted with the fact. Because it was real. He really loved her, and he would never deny it.

"I've got a bad feeling, loser. A really bad feeling something is gonna happen to me. You have to be there for Y/N when it does. Swear to me," Bakugo commanded, turning to stare the other boy in the eyes. They weren't friends, it was true. In fact, Shinsou didn't like the guy one bit. But he could feel the pain and hopelessness in his voice, guilt that he might not be there anymore.

And so, he felt himself making another promise for her.

He nodded. "Yeah, I swear. I'd never let anything happen to her."

"Good. Glad to know there's somebody else out here in this shitty world that loves her."

"Me, too."

Part Three is up as well so check that out.

Taglist: @vicisbookishblog @annepamgkrth @smellslikenonsense

#bnha shinsou #shinsou x reader #shinsou hitoshi x reader #shinsou oneshot #shinsou hitoshi #mha x reader #mha #my hero academia #mha imagine #shinsou imagine #bnha imagine #shinsou hitoshi x you #x reader #bnha x reader #boku no hero academia #reader insert #mha oneshot

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365days365movies · 3 years

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April 12, 2021: Mrs. Doubtfire (1992) (Recap)

Hey, Robin Williams. Been a while.

I’m sorry that I haven’t watched your movies for a while, and that I always skip your comedy stand-up when my phone’s on shuffle. I just...let me explain. Since I was a kid, you were one of my favorite entertainers. That might as well have started the day I was born, because...well, we share a birthday, fun fact. But it definitely continued with the first movie I ever saw in theatres.

While I don’t quite remember the first time I saw it, Aladdin was one of my favorite childhood movies, and I knew that you were the voice of the Genie from an early age. You might have actually been the first actor I ever knew by name. Which makes sense, because your stardom during the ‘90s was nearly unparalleled.

The next film I remember seeing (and hearing) you in was Ferngully: The Last Rainforest. That also starred Tim Curry, who would also be a major figure of my childhood. It also wasn’t the best movie, in hindsight, but it is the only time I’ve heard you rap since.

But eventually, I watched your forays into live-action, too. Jumanji, Hook, even the objectively bad Flubber, are all movies that I vividly remember watching during childhood. I was really excited for Flubber, even, and I LOVED Jumanji growing up. I liked Hook, too, but I appreciated that more as I got older.

Of course, during this time period, you also made less family-friendly films. The Fisher King, Good Will Hunting, Dead Poets Society, Good Morning Vietnam, and What Dreams May Come were all very successful, and cemented your reputation as an actor. I also haven’t seen any of them. In fact...I don’t think I’ve seen any of your dramatic roles, and that’s something that I’ll fix this year. Hell, in a few days, I’ll watch The Birdcage, another of your big hits of the ‘90s.

But why haven’t I seen them up to now? Well...I was going to watch these films, about seven years ago. But...I haven’t been able to bring myself to do it. Because it hurts. A lot.

I know that this is a downer, but my relationship with Robin Williams today is tainted by his tragic death. I was fucking BROKEN when his death was announced, and I really haven’t been able to watch him since. I’ve seen Aladdin recently, but that’s about all I could stand to watch. I mean, the guy shares a birthday with me! I’ve always loved his comedy stylings, and his improvisational skills are something I’ve internalized to a certain degree.

So, yeah. This one’s tough. But, it’s about time I moved on, and celebrated the man’s career for what it was: stellar. And that also brings up an important question, that some of you have probably asked by now:

HOW HAVE I MISSED MRS. DOUBTFIRE, WHAT THE FUCK

I KNOW I KNOW OK?

Look, I’m not entirely sure how I haven’t seen this movie, because I’m MORE than aware of it! I remember it airing during the ‘90s, my Dad AND girlfriend love this movie, and I know FOR A FACT that my family owned both the DVD AND THE VHS of this movie! So, how? HOW HAVE I NOT SEEN IT BY NOW?

I honestly have no idea, but let’s fix it now, huh? Yet one more man-dresses-as-woman movie this month! And no, I am not watching White Chicks...because I’ve already seen White Chicks. Also, it’s...problematic.

SPOILERS AHEAD!!!

Recap

Daniel Hillard (Robin Williams) is a voice-actor, and a good one. Which, given that it’s Robin Williams, isn’t entirely inaccurate. He’s also a voice actor with a spine, as he morally objects to a scene in the cartoon that he’s performing for, in which the main character smokes. By the way, I’m 99% sure that this cartoon is animated by Chuck Jones, and it looks well-made.

Anyway, this leads to him quitting the cartoon altogether, and allows him to pick up his kids early from school. These kids are Lydia (Lisa Hykub), Chris (Matthew Lawrence), and Natalie (Mara Wilson), and it’s Chris’ 12th birthday. Daniel arranges a...surprisingly large party, given that it’s completely impromptu, and it comes with a petting zoo and complete trappings. However, it’s not a party of which his wife will approve.

This wife is Miranda (Sally Field), a successful architect and the breadwinner of the family. After getting a call from the neighbor about the party, she comes home and busts the outrageous party. And for the record, I’m entirely on Miranda’s side here. This party is INSANE, and very irresponsible, given the fact that Daniel currently has no job. And yeah, he’s a very loving father, and a good person, but...it’s too much.

Miranda feels the same, and after 14 years of frustration, she realizes that she no longer loves Daniel. In a genuinely sad scene, she tells him that she wants a divorce. And she goes through with it MUCH to Daniel’s detriment. He has no home, as he’s staying with his brother, Frank (Harvey Fierstein) and his partner Jack (Scott Capurro). He also still has no job, meaning that he has no way to provide for his children. This means that he has no ability to provide, and the judge awards Miranda full custody. Oof.

However, this is a conditional arrangement, as another hearing for joint custody will be held in 3 months, and if Daniel can get a home and job in that time, he has a chance. He performs a litany of voices and impressions with his court liason, Mrs. Sellner (Anne Haney), which amuses me, but not her, and he gets a job in order to be with his kids for more than one day a week.

Meanwhile, Miranda IMMEDIATELY starts dating fellow designer and old flame Stuart Dunmeyer (Pierce Brosnan), like, almost before Daniel leaves the house. He bids a heartfelt goodbye to his kids, with the promise that he’ll see them on Saturdays. And now begins the absolute hatred and petty bitchiness of Daniel and Miranda! Seriously, it’s...it’s fucking terrible, and it takes away from my sympathy from either side. I get that divorce is rough and ugly, but GODDAMN, neither of them perform the act with any form of tact or grace.

This is put on display during the kids’ visitation to Daniel’s semi-crappy new apartment, which doesn’t even seem that bad, to be honest. Miranda dropped them off late and picked them up early, as if to slowly starve Daniel of time with his kids, which is extraordinarily shitty of her, fuck me. Daniel’s not taking it well, understandably, but then does something...really dumb, when you think about it.

See, Miranda’s looking for a nanny, to help watch the kids and clean the house during the week. Daniel volunteers his services, which is actually a good idea, but Miranda says she’ll think about it, which we ALL know means no. I DO NOT like Miranda, even if I understand the initial reasons for the divorce. She’s being especially spiteful, and it’s not a good look.

Daniel’s stupid idea, though, is to change the phone number on the ad for the nanny, which Miranda shows him before she takes the kids. Instead, he calls her number, and pretends to be various terrible applicants, until finally supplying his own applicant: the completely fictional Euphegenia Doubtfire (Daniel Hillard).

Daniel plays Mrs. Doubtfire as an elderly British woman, and a seasoned nanny in her day. Which is why it’s weird to me that, when he does to Frank and Jack to help him make an elaborate disguise as Mrs. Doubtfire, that they go through various other impressions and get-ups. Which, yes, is goddamn hilarious, but also makes NO SENSE, given that they’ve already established her character to Miranda. Funny, but nonsensical.

But, regardless, Euphegenis Doubtfire comes into being, and introduces herself to Miranda and the kids. Mrs. Doubtfire is exactly what Miranda’s looking for, although the kids aren’t exactly overjoyed, ESPECIALLY the oldest, Lydia. Also, during this first meeting, Miranda openly bad-mouths Daniel in front of the kids, in just the WORST fuckin’ way. I genuinely dislike Miranda A LOT. Again, the divorce was certainly justified, but I REALLY don’t like her. Daniel loves his kids, and they’re HIS kids, TOO. Stop using them as weapons against him, OOOOOOOOOOOH I DON’T LIKE MIRANDA

Anyway, that evening, after she’s officially been hired by Miranda, Mrs. Doubtfire heads home, only to find court liason Mrs. Sellner waiting to speak with Daniel. After a litany of puns, and a humorous changing scene, Daniel accidentally throws the Mrs. Doubtfire mask out of the window, and is forced to improvise through equally humorous circumstances. Hence, the above meringue mask scene. Has anybody tried that, by the way? Could that work as a groundbreaking beauty technique? Or would the sugar just feed the skin bacteria and give you acne? Genuinely curious.

Now going between his job as Daniel and the nanny job as Doubtfire, Daniel’s not doing too badly for himself. The nanny job begins, and Mrs. Doubtfire IMMEDIATELY contrasts with Daniel, creating a disciplinarian atmosphere in place of Daniel’s formerly loosey-goosey attitude. Which is interesting, and it works! I mean, it’s not how I would parent, but it does work. Doubtfire makes the kids to their homework, rather than watch TV, and then attempts to make dinner. Instead, though, the dinner’s ruined, and Daniel orders takeout and makes it LOOK like homemade food. And it looks good, too! Daniel’s full of hidden talents.

After dinner, as Mrs. Doubtfire’s leaving, Lydia apologizes for backtalking her earlier, and thanks her for making her mom happy with everything she did that evening. he also says that she’s still a bit messed up about her dad being gone. And yeah, it’s sweet-but-sad.

Going forward (and in a montage set to Aerosmith’s Dude Looks Like a Lady), Mrs. Doubtfire takes care of the family, and Daniel even betters himself to become a better Mrs. Doubtfire. Which...to be honest, Daniel REALLY should’ve done this before. I get that he needed the pressure of losing the kids to do this, but...look, Daniel really wasn’t that responsible of a parent, and the fact that THIS is how he learns to be so is...not great. Like, here’s an example, OK: take Donald Trump.

Yeah, I know, what’s this politics doing in my peanut butter? And WOW, that reference is older than me, but anyway. Let’s say that, in two years, a new politician comes on the scene, and her name is Karyn Walldottir. She has somewhat centrist views, and behaves in a way that’s inclusive to the majority, and backs up her claims and promises with evidence (at least true enough for us to suspend our disbelief). This is, of course, Donald Trump disguised as a woman in order to gain custody of the United States of America again. Naturally.

Karyn Walldottir gets elected in 2024, and all of her policies are markedly different from Trump’s and Biden’s, but leaning closer to Biden in progressive standpoints (assuming that that worked for him come 2024). While Trump is doing this specifically to be president again, he ends up revising his personal policies, and being a better person and president for the country. A literal impossibility, I know. But suspend your disbelief to ask this question:

WHY THE FUCK WOULDN’T HE DO THAT IN THE FIRST PLACE? IT MAKES NO FUCKING SENSE!

OK, now that that dumbass (and mildly horrifying) thought process is concluded, let’s get back to Mrs. Doubtfire. In the process of Mrs. Doubtfire’s ingratiation with the family, Miranda’s been dating Stu, whom Mrs. Doubtfire subtly insults when they meet. And yeah, Daniel’s being a little petty here, but it makes a bit of sense at least.

That night, after an accidental intrusion by Chris when Mrs. Doubtfire is going to the bathroom, Daniel’s basically forced to tell Chris and Lydia his little secret, which Lydia’s happy about, but Chris is understandably weirded out about. But, they agree to keep the secret from their mom and younger sister.

At his OTHER job, delivering film reels from a TV station, he witnesses the filming of an extremely boring kids educational TV show, and comments as such to another man watching. As he quickly learns, this is the owner of the station, Jonathan Lundy (Robert Prosky), on whom Daniel makes a good impression.

In the meantime, Mrs. Doubtfire has a talk with Miranda about their love lives, real and fictional. Daniel realizes how badly Miranda had been suffering in their marriage, which she never told him because...well, he never seemed to take anything seriously. Which is entirely fair...but this is why Miranda’s a tricky-ass character. She’s got two sides: there’s the justified caring mother and strong woman, and there’s the PETTY ASSHOLE who genuinely doesn’t care about Daniel or his feelings AT ALL. Jesus.

And Stu...look, Stu is LITERALLY a Gary Stu, who’s mostly perfect. Sure, he’s not always been that way, but he definitely is now! He’s responsible, wealthy, in love with Miranda AND her kids. And yeah, at a country club that he’s a member of (OF COURSE he is), he privately badmouth Daniel in front of Mrs. Doubtfire, calling him a loser, and...yeah, he’s not really unjustified in that statement. Fact of the matter is, Stu is barely even a plot device.

Meanwhile, in Daniel’s day job, he finds himself alone in the studio, where the toy dinosaurs from the TV show are still sitting on the table. He plays with them, gives them voices, sings some songs, and impresses Mr. Lundy, who’s there in the shadows after all that. He’s impressed, and invites Daniel to dinner to talk about a potential future show at the network.

But then, it’s also Miranda’s birthday coming up, and Stu’s holding a dinner for her, to which Mrs. Doubtfire is invited. Trouble is, it’s at the OH FUCK IT. YOU know what this is. It’s at the same time and place as the Mr. Lund meeting yaddayaddayadda LOOK. We ALL know how this is going to end. It’s the GODDAMN LIAR REVEALED TROPE AGAIN. And here’s the thing:

I FUGGIN’ HAAAAAATE THE LIAR REVEALED TROPE

You know, that thing in movies (especially family movies of the ‘90s) where somebody starts off a situation with a lie, they get deeper and deeper into that lie, grow close to people under false pretenses, and then OH NO! THE LIAR IS REVEALED! And everybody’s angry and/or sad, the liar slumps off, defeated and broken, but then realizes the error of his ways, while everybody else realizes the same thing, and he comes back to vindicate himself, and is welcomed back with open arms. And it introduces unneeded tension AND I HAVE ALWAYS FUCKING HATED IT.

Let’s list the examples, shall we? A Bug’s Life, Aladdin, Mulan, The Road to El Dorado, Chicken Run, How to Train Your Dragon, Klaus, Madagascar 3: Europe’s Most Wanted, Megamind (SUBVERSIVE MY ASS), Over the Hedge, Rango, Toy Story, Steven Universe (the whole Pearl/Sardonyx arc, which went on for WAY too long), the list goes on and fucking on. And I GODDAMN HATE IT. Not to say it can’t be done well. Disney actually usually does a pretty good job with it, and Dreamworks uses it A LOT, but almost always pretty well. But sometimes...GOD. Either way, it’s still used FAR too fucking much. And look. Here’s another one. Joy.

Look, at this point...I will freely admit that I'm biased against this trope, but it’s also obvious where this is headed. Basically, Daniel switches back and forth between the dinner with the family, and the dinner with Mr. Lundy. With Mr. Lundy, he gets absolutely SMASHED. Great. Great decision, Daniel.

So, yeah, Mrs. Doubtfire’s also smashed, which is pretty goddamn apparent to them all. At this point, I’m wondering why Daniel, as Mrs. Doubtfire, didn’t just say she was sick as hell, and had to go home. Or, considering the fact that Daniel proposes her as a show idea regardless, the switch wasn’t even necessary! And that means that none of what’s about to happen, happens. Or, here’s a crazy thought, maybe Daniel shouldn’t have POISONED STU’S FOOD WITH CAYENNE PEPPER THAT HE’S ALLERGIC TO!

YEAH! Because that causes Stu to go into anaphylactic shock for a hot sec, causing him to choke. Mrs. Doubtfire does the right thing and gives him the Heimlich maneuver, and in the process, SURPRISE! IT’S BEEN DANIEL ALL ALONG! BUH BUH BUHHHHH DA DA DA DAAAAA DA

Yeah, so Miranda is understandably ENRAGED by this revelation, and it’s all over. Daniel represents himself in court at the custody hearing, but the judge deems his “lifestyle” dangerous for children. Which...yikes, Judge, that statement didn’t age well AT FUCKING ALL. But, given Daniel’s admitted stupidity with this whole idea, he’s not wrong about the dangerous part. But, I have to say, Daniel’s speech in his own defense is nice...although he also says he’s addicted to his children, so let’s throw a second yikes on there for good measure.

The speech moves Miranda...but not enough to prevent Daniel has his custody stripped away from him! GOD THEY BOTH SUUUUUUUUCK. Daniel’s a broken man, and Miranda and the kids are similarly broken without him and Mrs. Doubtfire. However...Daniel’s career isn’t broken AT ALL, as Mrs. Doubtfire is now a kid’s show host! Yeah! And she’s a hit! And again, it brings me to wonder why Daniel DIDN’T APPLY HIS OBVIOUS TALENTS LIKE THIS IN THE FIRST GODDAMN PLACE

Realizing that she made a mistake, she goes to the set during the filming of a show. She congratulates him on the show, and he replies by stating how broken he is now! Thanks, Miranda! Well, after an argument, and after Miranda sees how badly she’s messed up someone she used to care for, they come to an agreement: joint custody. FINALLY GODDAMN IT

And good, because I don’t want them back together. I have to give this film props for that: they acknowledge that these two are NOT good for each other, and they deliver a message in the end: families are families, no matter how they’re shaped. One mom, one dad, uncle or aunt, grandparents, adoption, two separated or divorced parents...oh, also, two dads or two moms. Yeah, that isn’t said in Mrs. Doubtfire’s final monologue, which is odd considering Daniel’s brother and his life partner...but it’s also kid’s TV in the ‘90s, so I guess that sadly makes sense. And with that, and their new family arrangement, Daniel takes his kids on an afternoon out, as himself.

...Look. That’s Mrs. Doubtfire, yaddayaddayadda LOOK. I don’t dislike this movie. In fact, here: have this mini-Review:

Cast and Acting - 9/10: Good, although Brosnan was a little stiff.

Plot and Writing - 5/10: It’s an idiot plot, what can I say? It’s actually based off of a book, which was a surprise to me, but it was adapted by Randi Mayem Singer and Leslie Dixon, and...eh. Still an idiot plot.

Directing and Cinematography - 8/10: It’s Chris Columbus, you get what you get. Definitely has that Home Alone flair to it.

Production and Art Design - 8/10: I mean, yeah, the Doubtfire disguise was good most of the time, but...I dunno, I could still tell it was Robin. But, still, it was good. Took 4 hours of makeup, fun fact.

Music and Editing - 8/10: Music by Howard Shore (ooh, Howard Shore!) was pretty nice, especially the ending theme. Editing by Raja Gosnell was...RAJA GOSNELL???

OH GOD. Yeah, OK, I see what happened here. Also, I didn’t know he was an editor! I just know him as the director of the Scooby-Doo films, Beverly Hills Chihuahua, The Smurfs films, Big Momma’s...

...OK, no, I am not doing Big Momma’s House OR the Madea movies. THE TROPE-BUCK STOPS HERE! I am moving on to something else! But, of course, I have to sum this up in a Review. See you there!

#mrs. doubtfire #mrs doubtfire #chris columbus #robin williams #sally field #pierce brosnan #harvey fierstein #robert prosky #mara wilson #comedy april #user365 #365days365movies #365 movie challenge #365 movies 365 days #365 Days 365 Movies #365 movies a year #moviegifs

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scarecoen · 3 years

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Trigger warning ⚠️ domestic violence.

I've typed this story a million times so I'm just going to summarize as much as I can.

A few days ago I was assaulted by my partner's family members. And as I've mentioned, I've typed this a million times and I'm honestly just exhausted thinking about it, but we could use some help.

My partner has always had a transphobic family. (I don't have anyone but my dad, who's in no position to help anyone.)

Her mom used her disability against her and manipulated her into giving her MOST of her checks. She's abused the system and my girlfriend.

When I met Jackie, she was with a terrible biggot. Jackie had came out, and her mother conspired with an abusive long distance ex, to fly her here, to stage an "intervention" and stop my partner from transitioning.

It worked. For years.

I met Jackie here on tumblr, we became good, SECRET friends because she wasn't allowed to talk to anyone.

I told Jackie openly about my views regarding gender and how I myself, was not cis.

Eventually she told her partner about us playing games together, which she responded to by harassing me.

Jackie ended up spilling the beans to me, about her mom, about the ex, everything. I realized that she had been extremely isolated and controlled her whole life.

So I intervened.

I got the two of them to separate, which wasn't smooth because Jackie was scared. She had been with her abuser for 9 years at this point. She's never known anything else.

The ex moved back to her state, and I started seeing Jackie, although she was stuck at her mom's... who was trying to play innocent at this time.

Eventually, I kinda just came and picked her up, she stayed the night, she didn't want to go back home. And I can't blame her. The house wasn't only disgusting, her family microagressed her all the time and they would tell her to pretty much stay in a dark room all day.

Ofc I didn't bring her back.

During early quarantine, we had a lot of self reflection and she started distancing herself from her mother, coming around to holding her accountable for her horrible actions.

Her mom messaged her things like "Why won't you talk to me? It's like you're trying to punish us!" Ect, just every fucking manipulative thing she could say, without ever apologizing.

Unfortunately the place we were staying fell through when my best friend's ex husband decided he wants a divorce and decided to throw in some transphobic hatespeach towards me.

We were all looking for somewhere to go.

I'm sure you know where this is going but listen, she told us EVERYTHING we wanted to hear. She told us she's not hateful now, told us she would go to trans support groups, pride, said she's realized how much she loves Jackie and it's time to accept her- and look- we had NO WHERE TO GO. We have 2 cats and at the time, a car that has no a/c or functional locks. AND I have a chronic autoimmune condition that I recently started taking chemo meds for. (Methotrexate.)

I'm too sick to be on the street, and survive. I had to think about me, Jackie, Zoe, and Boops.

And Jackie wanted to go..

I told her we'd be cautious and try to get out asap.

Well, looking for places right when the housing market crashed really fucked us up. That- and because I had only just finally got approved for disability, means I was set back in life- and had no credit to my name. No credit= no place to live.

I had almost built enough, but things went down hill very quickly with her family. Which leads us to right now:

After weeks of microagressions, giving us breakthrough covid cases, yelling at us to clean other's messes, and forcing us and our cats to isolate in our room, many broken promises, and straight up transphobic hatespeach (because she promised to get vaccinated but then said nvm as soon as we moved in and she went on vacation and got covid and gave it to us, which nearly killed me--) she said not getting the vaccine "IS A CHOICE, JUST LIKE YOU BEING TRANS AND TAKING *gestures to my testosterone* THOSE DRUGS."

We just were avoiding each other while I desperately try to gather resources for us to get out, NOW.

Of course, that wasn't good enough, so when her step father messaged her in all caps about our cats having to stay in our room and "I WON'T FUCKING TELL YOU AGAIN" my partner had a breakdown..

Her mom had let her step dad talk to her like this her whole life, basically.

Out of desperation, we went to her sister for help, maybe hoping she'd give us a place to stay for two weeks while we sign off on the lease for our new apartment.

She pretended to want to help and even said... something fucking weird? She made the comment that I'm a good person and I'm so much like her own boyfriend, that it's "scary"...

A few hours later she came to the house. She talked nicely to us, to gain access to our bedroom.

Then she attacked me.

I called the police right before, and was on the phone with dispatch when she lunged at me because she was aggressively trying to MAKE Jackie go into a separate room WITHOUT ME and Jackie was saying no, BEGGING her to STOP.

I wasn't going to let her take Jackie into that room. She looked fucking crazy.

All of the family came into our room, her two sisters, her mom, and her cousin- When they heard yelling.

It was actually me telling her mom that she's a terrible mother, that triggered her sister to try and attack me- although I knew she was planning on trying to from the moment she came into our room.

And that was after her mom was screaming in my face that if I have something to say, say it now.

Dispatch heard everything and sent emt as well...

But the police stayed outside, talking to them for a WHILE before even asking for us.

Her cousin is the only one that would have stood up for me, saying her sister never should have tried to hit me. But he was in the room with Jackie, giving her support...

I faced the cops alone.

He already had "that look."

He shined a light into my eye, letting the family stay on the porch, throwing insults and just letting it happen. He asked me where I'm hurt, and before I could even show him the scratches on my arm, he said "how do I know YOU didn't put those there?"

I wanted to fucking die in that moment.

This is a conservative city.

No one has equality stickers here. No one flies gay flags. People here that are lgbt- they LEAVE.

This is EXACTLY WHY.

I said "well is there any reason I should tell you anything when, clearly, you're already bias?"

I looked at the emts. I looked at his partner. I looked at all the lights and people coming out of their houses-

And behind me was her family.

Her sister that assaulted me, was laughing about having work in the morning.

All of them were looking at me, with hate in their eyes.

He tried to feed me bullshit about "well if I'm taking someone to jail, there has to be proof."

He dismissed everything I attempted to say, until I just stared at the ground and he decided he did his job here.

I told him my whole fucking body hurts because I had 4 people fucking toss my 100lbs ass all over the fucking room, which was a mess that he refused to look at.

He said "I don't see bruises."

I SPAT "BRUISES TAKE TIME?"

He retorted IMMEDIATELY- "YOU'RE NOT EVEN RED."

I asked what about the dispatcher- she seemed concerned- to which he said "you see, sometimes when people call us- they scream and be dramatic- for a quicker response."

I asked what we could do while the two weeks go by for our new place, and he fucking said "I DONT KNOW. BARRICADE YOURSELF IN YOUR ROOM OR SOMETHING."

Needless to say, we are now safe, in a hotel and I've gotten in touch with a few lgbt organizations that are attempting to help us get justice.

Unfortunately because it's a holiday weekend, all we can do is wait right now.

Our first order of business is getting a protection order, so that we can retrieve the rest of our things without her sister trying to attack us again. (I say us because she kept jumping towards Jackie, like she was threatening to hit her.)

I've been so gaslit and victim blamed that I was too scared to go to the er, even though this all happened in the midst of a flare, possibly including my liver health.

There's so much more to this story, as I'm sure other trans people can relate.. unfortunately.

The emts reluctantly offered to take me to the er, but I was like "and leave my partner here with them?" And he just fucking shrugged dude.

I hate this city.

I want out so bad but unfortunately I've committed to a year, but at least it'll be *our* apartment.

We could NOT stay there for two more weeks. Her step dad is a violent offender that has attempted to murder a homeless prostitute over some fucking pocket change- and he has a GUN in the house.

This hotel might run us into a hole, despite it being the cheapest, shittiest hotel in town, it's still going to be about 700$ for ONE week.

To ADD INSULT TO INJURY, SOMEONE ATTEMPTED TO STEAL MY VEHICLE WHILE WE'VE BEEN STAYING HERE.

I'm feeling incredibly paranoid and unsafe, but I'm on anxiety meds now at least and its SORTA helping us cope (My partner and I have the same Dr and she gave her permission to have some.)

The organization BRAVO is trying to help us with a hotel voucher, but because of all the natural disasters, it's hard to find room in charity for people like us, which is fair enough. We aren't immediately on the street, and for that I'm incredibly thankful.

However, if you or anyone you know wish to help you can donate to venmo: kittyzibby. Or you could just signal boost this.

If you can't help, I understand. And IF YOU'RE STRUGGLING FINANCIALLY, don't worry about it, for real.

Right now I'm just scared we'll go into debt before getting the apartment settled in.

I will update on things once our case moves along more, and we were already considering turning to OF sexwork before all of this, so if there could be support that way, maybe we'll get that going once we get moved in. That way, I feel good about providing a service in return.

Thank you so much for sticking with us during all of this. And really- we're doing much better today. We've given each other pep talks, but we are still determined to start our lives together.

Her family was merely trying to scare me away from her, but I got my girl's name tatted on me for a reason.

I know I'm not the bad person here.

Every time Jackie is feeling more gender euphoric, and showing me her changes, and seeing her get more confident, the more I know that what I'm doing with and for her, is right.

I love her so much. And I will never abandon her, like they tried to get me to do.

Jackie is taking a break from some socials, but she's given me permission to talk about what's been happening.

She needs justice too.

I will update as much as I can, but seriously, I think we both just have a fire under our asses now.

Mentally, we're stronger than ever.

Thank you for reading. My heart really goes out to the rest of the queer community that have experienced or are going through similar things.

It's really made me realize why we need to stick together and fight this bigotry bullshit! 🏳️‍⚧️🏳️‍🌈

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plush-anon · 3 years

Note

You worked at joanns? 😍 dream job

In all fairness, a large part (and I do mean a LARGE part) of why I enjoyed working at Joanns were the managers.

The store manager was a guy named Richard, one of maybe two or three men who worked there total, and this man was practically a saint as far as retail goes.

This was a man who would, with no hesitation, get on the floor to help customers, or hop on the registers to check customers' purchases out, or pop on to the cutting counter to cut fabric. He remembered the names of regulars, would chat and smile while getting shit done, and was the type of guy to speak slowly and softly when we had shitstains explode at us measly peons for not giving them the full cost of an item back in a return (ex $200) when they used a coupon to purchase an item to begin with and only paid a portion of the cost (ex. $150). No joke, this actually happened to me on Black Friday with a man who stood at about 6 foot with a crewcut and a snarl (the military Karen, if you would)

Richard, of course, stood at about 6 foot 5 inches, and reminded me of a ginger grizzly bear in some ways. Very few customers continued to be assholes when they asked to speak to the manager and Richard came over, smiling wide. He encouraged us to chat with the customers while we worked the cutting counter - it was a good way to learn about what they were making, encouraged general conversation and lent itself to a better environment for everyone, worker and customer alike, so we weren't just awkwardly standing in silence the whole time.

The assistant store manager (aka his second in command - we had two other assistant managers, but she wielded more power than both of them) was Farrah, and she was basically Cool Wine Aunt, but with weed. She was open about smoking it (but not in a pressure-the-underlings kind of way, but more of a 'yeah, it calms me down' kind of way) but never on the clock, and was just really chill in general. She was also a 'jump on the registers' type of manager, and on occasion would take the closing staff out to get a drink from the texmex place next to us in the shopping center, and cover one for each of us - particularly during the Holiday Clusterfuck of October, November, and December (their Frozen Kahlua Mudlslide was my alcoholic drink of choice - they also had these spicy chicken strips that were amazing with it, but I digress).

Both of them were amazing people who would support and back us up without hesitation (if they weren't dealing with corporate or stock trucks coming in), and both routinely worked 15 to 20 hours UNPAID overtime during the Holiday Clusterfuck so that we the underlings could get more hours without Corporate jumping up our ass about going over budget.

They were also refreshingly upfront in our monthly meetings about profits and meeting them, as well as why company policy was the way it was, and how to work within the boundaries so we got more hours. One of my favorite moments was when they said the fabric sales essentially covered their own cost (production and delivery); the rest of the cheap crap in the store was what covered our paycheck and electricity, so hawk it as much as you can if you want extra in the bank (paraphrasing here, but that's not that far off what they actually said tbh).

With some Karen-y exceptions, the customers were honestly pretty chill. There were two women from a nearby church who bought well over 200 yards of cut fleece to make no-sew fleece blankets for children and the poor in December (it took forever to do, but they were so cheerful about it and told some funny anecdotes in between, kept the counter clear as soon as they were cut, etc. Took them three carts to haul everything to the register XD).

There was the slew of quilters making everything from baby blankets to anniversary gifts to quilts for their grandkids attending the local university that they could wear to football games in the colder weather, while still showing team pride. They always bought quarters and eighths and the end of the bolt for half price, digging thru our remnants bin for something they might have missed they could get for half price. They always talked about what they were working on, and spoke in great detail on their kids or cousins or niblings or grandkids. I saw so many pictures on phones, in wallets, and they loved them to absolute pieces.

There were cosplayers making their first costume to comicon, halloween goers trying their hand at making their own outfits, and a few furries making custom suits for order or just updating their own personal outfit. There were the usual school and church Christmas plays that needed costumes, and folks making custom table runners and place settings for family holiday meals.

One notable young man bought out 30+ yards of our 65" inch wide bolt felt for JEWELRY projects he was making as a part of his business and as a part of his art program (you can major in art with a concentration in jewelry making, and he was using it for that). He didn't leave a card, but the pictures he showed us were STUNNING.

We had a few elderly mothers come in with their daughters, to pick out fabrics so they could make their own wedding dresses, or quinceanera outfits, or veils; they showed us the patterns they had, or the pictures they were basing the designs off of, and all of them were STUNNING. (One came back in with the finished dress in the bag, this intricately beaded poofy dress that had to have taken days, hot pink and shiny).

We had local restaurant owners pop in for re-upholstery projects and curtains and vinyl; same with teachers and deck dads and furniture restoration workers that would gush about the design, what they had planned. Some would bicker with their spouses on the pattern, but it felt good-natured on the whole.

We had some elderly men come in to peer over our sewing machines - "How much it run for? My wife's birthday is coming up and her old machine's about done, and I want to surprise her. She had a Singer, but she hates the electronic screens on some of these newer ones, they hurt her eyes." - and moms coming in to sew some custom bed sheets for their kids - "My son really likes the new My Little Pony show, but he's a little shy about it. Do you think the blue's okay? Only he like yellow more, but they don't have any back there and he doesn't MIND blue really but - Actually scratch that, how wide is the fabric? My pattern says it needs to be at LEAST 22 inches wide, does it say on the box?" - and people coming up with some WILD craft ideas that were always a delight to hear them gush about - "So this MAY seem crazy, but I can turn these plastic pumpkin trick-or-treat pails into SNOWMEN heads with felt like this. We fill them with treats for the kids since we don't have a fireplace and they like it fine, but someone said I should sell these on Etsy and people really like them! But I've run out of pumpkins, and you have NO idea how happy I am that you guys still have some left."

The group we had to work with was also pretty crafty; a few were chronic call-outs, some a bit lazy, some perpetually done-with-this-nonsense, but we were mostly on the same page on shift, and all of us were crafty as heck. The employee discount was a blessing AND a curse, lemme tell you.

Stock was the best part, for me. Hours before the store opened at 9 AM, we would rip open the boxes and stuff everything onto the shelves, organizing anything the closing shift missed the night before along the way, updating new stickers or shuffling pegs over for new product arrangement, etc. We could listen to music or podcasts as we worked, and I ended up impressing some of them bc of how fast I tore through everything some mornings (the music definitely helped out there).

I was actually about to be promoted to assistant manager after 6 months, but then I got my job with the university, and they had federal health benefits AND dental, so... yeah, no contest there. Richard actually laughed when I told him I'd been hired at the university and was giving my two week notice, since it meant he didn't have to do the slew of paperwork that accompanied new assistant manager hires. He congratulated me on the job, especially the health benefits - he said that was a perk worth leaving any job here for. I nearly cried with relief that he wasn't mad.

He and Farrah chipped in and got me a small music box that plays Man of La Mancha's Dream the Impossible Dream on my last day. It still sits on my desk at work.

It was honestly my favorite retail job out of the bunch I've suffered through. Surprising at first, since I initially received a rejection email bare HOURS after my interview with Farrah, but about a month later (as I trawled endlessly through interview after interview, desperate for anything those first few months ), I got a call back from them asking if I was still interested (which I was, bc hey a job!). They remembered me specifically bc I had missed my bus to the interview, called ahead to let them know I would be late, then walked the whole way there in the rain to get there. (It was only about a mile and a half away, so not a terrible journey, but flooding is an issue in our flat-ass city; I looked like a drenched afghan hound holding a useless umbrella, so enjoy that imagery).

They were particularly impressed by the calling-ahead part.

Unfortunately, both of them ended up moving on to different paths over the year after I left - apparently they had been friends with benefits (? I say hesitantly, since I ran into one of my coworkers at an art show later on and she spilled the beans there - she was a bit flighty in nature though, and got caught up in gossip a LOT, so who knows. Lovely brocade custom projects though), and his ex girlfriend had called corporate on them and got both fired.

I think Farrah came back some time later, but the damage was done after that - the new manager came in and operated SOLELY to corporate policy. A LOT went to pieces in terms of store cleanliness, order, and general camaraderie after that - the new fabric counter folks look and sound dead inside, and barely interact with customers (not even a 'whatcha making' in passing, which is kind of sad - the stories I got helped to pass the time, and kept me from using up all of my Set Conversation Phrases for customers that actually WOULD leave us standing in silence). Corporate also stopped some of the smaller store policies that made our job easier and gave the customers a little something extra (the 'end-of-the-bolt' discount - if, after the customer orders say, 2 yards of fabric on the bolt, and there's say, a half yard "remnant" left on the bolt, we can sell them the remnant for half-price. A LOT of quilters LOVED this, and we did too, since it saved us from filling out the remnant tag and printing a sticker later on).

Just goes to show how important good management is in a business; especially when it can kick a store previously part of the top 50 stores in the NATION (while being a medium store at that - smaller place, NOT Hobby Lobby size like the Large stores) to something much less pleasant. I could be rose-goggling the situation thought - retail is still retail, no matter how nice some aspects are - but it still sticks with me as to how good he experience was even taking into account that it WAS minimum wage retail.

Food for thought, lads, food for thought.

#plush gets personal #joanns #joann fabrics #employment #retail hell #or well #not so much hell for this one #retail... purgatory? yeah that'll work

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atlafan · 4 years

Text

My Everything - Part Five

A Take it Slow Sequel

What happens with Harry and Y/N after he proposes? How will the two navigate the engaged life while also continuing to juggle their jobs, friends, and families? Let’s find out.

Warnings: Little bit of angst, fluff, and smut (we got some butt stuff as well)

a/n: not proofread fam, I didn’t have the strength.

Masterpost

Harry was beyond excited to go to the Cape with you today, and just spend the day together as your little family. Buster was being a good boy in the back seat like always. There wasn’t much traffic like the two of you suspected. He looked really cute today, he was wearing a forest green sweater with a pair of loose jeans. His pearls out and proud.

The first location you’d be checking out was an inn with indoor and outdoor accommodations. It wasn’t right on the beach, but you could see it in the background, and that’s all that mattered to you.

“Here it is, love.” Harry says to you as he pulls into the parking area.

“It’s even prettier in person.” He hums in agreement.

You get Buster’s leash on and help him out of the car. You both head inside and tell the woman at the check in desk that you were there for a tour.

“Ah, the soon to be Mr. and Mrs. Styles.” A man says, approaching the both of you. “Welcome to our inn.”

“Thank you.” Harry shakes his hand and so do you.

“And who’s this little guy?”

“This is Buster, our little fur baby.” You giggle. “We’re hoping to have him bring the rings down the aisle.”

“Very cute, we see that more and more these days.” He pats him on the head. “Shall we?”

You both nod and follow him out to the main ballroom.

“So we accommodate both buffet and a served dinner. We know a lot of people opt for buffet these days because it is less expensive, but know we have the room for both. We can also set up the ballroom pretty much anyway you’d like. Nice round tables and what not. Typically we have the dancefloor over there along with the DJ.” He points to one end of the room. “The bar usually goes there.” He points to another direction. “But other than you have complete creative freedom.”

“Couldja see yourself dancin’ out there, babe?”

“Oh for sure. Aw, Harry, our first dance.” You hug his arm quick and continue to follow the man.

Harry completely forgot that a couple hundred people would be watching the two of you dance…he knew how to dance, but he wanted to make it really special for you.

“There’s a door that leads out here to a nice patio.” He opens the door for the both of you. “Folks can take drinks out here, but there is a gate that doesn’t allow them past a certain point. We can set up tables and chairs out here as well. It’s a beautiful view of the water, don’t you think?”

“It’s lovely.” You say.

He leads you out back through the ballroom and to where the bathrooms were. Then through another set of double doors to the outdoor space where the ceremony would be.

“That gazeebo is breathtaking.” You say as you walk up to it. You look out back towards the inn. “Looks like there’s plenty of room for chairs, sweetie.”

“Mhm, this is a gem for sure.”

“There’s a path down that way to the beach as well. Many couple do their first looks down there, and family photos since it’s a bit more private.”

“Good to know.” Harry says. “Are we doin’ that? A first look?”

“They’re cute, but I’d really like the first time you see me in the dress to be when I walk down the aisle.”

“I feel the same way actually.”

“Can you show us what a room might look like? Maybe a bridal suite as well?”

“Of course! Right this way, I’ll show the bridal suite first, it’s just down the hall from the ballroom.”

The bridal suite had a ton of chairs and mirrors and a bathroom. It was ideal. He shows you wear the groom and his party typically get ready as well, and then shows you what the honeymoon suite looks like.

“Will you two be having separate rooms the night before?”

“I think that’s the plan.” You say as you walk in. “This is lovely.”

“Jacuzzi tub too.” Harry says, poking his head into the bathroom.

“We have dog accommodations as well. We can make sure there’s biscuits and a bowl for water in whatever rooms you stay in.”

Lastly, you follow the man to his office and take a seat.

“I know it was a lot to see, and I’m sure you’re considering some other places.”

“We are.” Harry says. “Can we see your packages and stuff like that?”

“Of course.” He gets a piece of paper from his desk and explains the different packages and prices. It was honestly really fair and surprisingly enough under $10K.

“I’m just curious, could we see like when your open dates are? That might sway our decision in the end as well.” You say. You knew Harry would have a lot to discuss over lunch before going to the next location.

“Sure, when were you two thinking?”

“Ideally, next fall…” Harry says. That sounded really soon to you, and way too much to handle in a year.

“But we’re flexible.”

The man takes out a calendar and shows you both.

“As you can see, we’re completely booked through next fall already. I think people wised up that that’s a bit cheaper too. However…” He flips to April 2022. “If you’re looking to still save a few bucks we have some open weekends as early as April. It’s not terribly hot, but not too cold either.”

“Could I take a picture of that?” You ask.

“Certainly.” You take your phone out and snap a picture of the calendar.

After a few more questions you thank the man for his time, and head to the small restaurant the inn had to test out the food a bit. They allowed Buster to sit at your feet.

“So…what’d you think overall?” Harry asks.

“I love it, honestly. I wonder how the other place will compare.”

“You didn’t seem too, uh, broken hearted that it wouldn’t be able to be next fall…”

“Harry.” You sigh. “I just don’t think it’s realistic with everything else going on this year. Hell, I’m going dress shopping with Erica next weekend, and the weekend after that I’m supposed to meat El and her other bridesmaids for our dresses. I’d rather have a bit more time so we’re not stressed, you know?”

“I get it…felt sick when I saw 2022 though, I’m not gonna lie.”

“I know.” You laugh. “It feels really weird to wait that long, but I have a feeling it’ll fly by.”

“I’ll be twenty-eight by the time we get married…”

“Mhm, and I’ll be turned twenty-seven.”

“You really wanna wait that long?”

“Well…” You lean a little closer. “I could use that time to get off birth control so we could go on our honeymoon and we could…you know…” Harry sits back in his chair to contemplate all of it.

“I suppose it would give us more time to keep saving for all the things we want…” He takes a sip of his water. “God, what torture, havin’ a fiancé as sexy as you and not bein’ able to come inside yeh. Damn shame.”

“Harry!” You shush him. “Please.” You shake your head. “There’s other places on my body you can do that.”

“We’ll need to be really careful so you don’t get pregnant beforehand like El and Lou.” He laughs.

“Mhm, very careful.”

“Okay, I suppose that’s a good compromise. I wonder what dates the other place will have open. They could have some sooner, you know?”

“We’ll just have to see what they say.”

Needless to say neither you nor Harry liked the second venue nearly as much, and it was way more expensive. The dates were also farther out. Your choice was easy enough to make, so you decide to just drive back to the first place and talk to the man.

“Back so soon?” He says, delighted.

“We love it here.” You say, sitting down in his office. “And we didn’t want to risk not getting a good date. We think April 2022 is perfect.” You give Harry’s hand a squeeze.

“We’d like the package with the buffet…” Harry says. “The silver.”

“Excellent choice.” Harry writes him a check for the deposit. “We’ll be contacting you shortly to do a food tasting. Please take some time to look over our menu options. Did you enjoy lunch?”

“We did! It was delicious.” You say.

“Wonderful. We’ll help you every step of the way best we can. I’ll be your direct contact so please don’t hesitate to reach out with any and all questions.”

“Thank you so much.” Harry says and shakes his hand.

You both squeal once you’re in the car.

“April 18th, 2022…can you believe it? We’ve set a date!” You say.

“I’m so excited, baby.” He kisses you. “Let’s get home, I need to get in there.” He gives your thigh a squeeze and you giggle.

“Sounds good to me.”

“Harry, if I don’t get up now I’ll be late to Erica’s bridal appointment.” You giggle.

Harry wouldn’t get off of you, he had you pinned to the bed.

“But it’s our anniversary.” He mumbles as he kisses your neck. You look up at him and smile. “This day last year I asked you to be my girlfriend.”

“I believe your exact words were, am I your boyfriend?”

“And you said, would you like to be.” He kisses you again. “So, you can’t leave until I’ve had my way with you.”

“Of, is that so?”

“Mhm.”

“Couldn’t you have your way with me when I get back?”

“You’re not gonna be home until like dinner time.” He pouts.

“Baby, please don’t make me feel guiltier than I already do…besides, I need you to go on Vista Print today and see what you want the save the dates to look like, remember?”

“Fine, but we’re havin’ a quickie in the shower.” He looks down at you. “If that’s what you want of course.”

“I do.” You kiss his nose. “Thanks for double checking.”

Harry managed to suck a huge hickey on the back of your shoulder. You were just happy it wasn’t you who would be getting in and out of dresses today.

“Oh! That’s been my favorite so far, honey.” Your mom says as Eric comes out in her fifth dress.

You had stayed relatively quiet. You didn’t really like any of the dresses she picked out, but then again Erica wasn’t you, and she had a different sense of style. You look over at Bridget who was more focused on the flute of champagne the store provided. You roll your eyes and look back at Erica who was looking at you.

“You haven’t said a thing…”

“Sorry, it’s just, I’m not the one who’s going to be wearing the dress, you are. Do you like it? Is it comfortable, can you walk and dance in it?”

“I think I love this one. I haven’t loved the others.”

“Then you should get this one.” Your mom says. “You have to love it, especially at these prices.”

“Good point, this is it, this is the one.” She squeals.

You all go out for lunch after.

“When do you think you’ll wanna go dress shopping Y/N?” Erica asks.

“No idea. I have some time yet. Probably after the holidays.”

“That’s a good idea, that way that holiday weight will be gone.” Your mom laughs.

“I don’t typically gain a lot over the winter…besides I could completely change my mind and go shopping in London when Harry and I go again for Christmas.” You shrug.

“You wouldn’t want us there?” Erica asks, frowning.

“It’s not that-“

“And who would you go with? Anne and Gemma?” Your mom asks.

“Maybe. I’m not saying I would buy anything out there, but if I happen to walk by a bridal shop and see something I like I’ll probably go in.”

“Must be nice to just go to London whenever.” Bridget says under her breath.

“Well, that’s what happens when you have a real job and make a life for yourself and don’t live in your mother’s basement.” You huff.

“Y/N.” Your mom says.

“No, I’m sorry. We dance around this all the time, and no one ever scolds her for the comments she makes. I’m so sorry that your three younger siblings managed to get their shit together and you couldn’t, Bridget, really I am. But I’m not going to sit here and let you shit on the things I get to experience. And I don’t get to go whenever I want, and neither does Harry. He’d go a lot more if he could.”

“If you’re going to have an attitude like this then maybe I just won’t be involved with any of your plans.” Bridget says.

“Good, music to my ears actually.” You sit back and cross your arms.

“That’s enough girls.” Your mom says. “Neither of you really mean that-“

“It’s my wedding, I can do things how I want. Erica wanted us all here to help her find a dress, that’s great. But that might not be how I want to do things.”

“It’s not always about you.” Erica says.

“Really? Then who is my wedding about?”

“It’s about you, of course, but it’s also about the people that love you.”

“Well pardon me for not always feeling totally loved by own my family. You know if Harry had said he wanted to get married overseas I would’ve done it in a heartbeat, and then what you have done Bridget? Mum would’ve paid for all your accommodations, and you wouldn’t even offer to pay her back.” You look away from the three of them, and then to Erica. “I’m sorry, this is your day.”

“The dress shopping part was fun…I’m happy I finally have a dress. And you know what color I’d like the bridesmaid’s dresses to be, so you can shop with your friends how you like.” She smiles.

“So are we just going to pretend you two aren’t fighting right now?” Your mom says to you and Bridget.

“She started it…s’not my fault she’s bitter.”

“I’m not bitter, I like my life just fine, thanks.”

“Mhm.” You roll your eyes. “So, what’s next, what else do you need to get done?” You ask Erica.

“Well, honestly, not much. Venue and food is good to go. The DJ has been booked. All of the stressful stuff is done. Now we get to plan the fun stuff like the bridal shower and the bachelorette. But that stuff won’t be until months from now. Don’t you have another wedding you’re pretty involved in like a month before mine?”

“Yeah, our friends Louis and Eleanor.”

“Oh, they just had a baby over the summer right?” You mom asks.

“Mhm, Eliza May, she’s so stinking cute. Anyways, they’re getting married like exactly a month before you, and I’m in her wedding party. Harry is Louis’ best man.”

“Will Louis be his?” Erica asks.

“Yeah, but he hasn’t asked him yet. We’re going to ask Niall to officiate. We’re going to take him to dinner soon to surprise him.”

“I’m surprised Harry was okay pushing things off until next April since he was so eager to get engaged.” Your mom says.

“He really wanted it to be next fall, but with all of this stuff going on it would’ve been too much. I didn’t wanna take away from Erica. Plus, I still have so many classes to take. We compromised though…”

“On what exactly?” Bridget asks.

“Well…I told him I would get off the pill a little sooner so by the time we get married we could start trying for a baby sooner.”

“Isn’t that exactly how your friend Eleanor got pregnant?” Erica asks.

“Yeah, but they just weren’t being careful. And nothing’s happening just yet. It’ll probably be another year until I get off of it. He wants a baby so badly, so I think my promise of that perked him up.”

“I think it’s sweet he wants to have a kid with you, honey.” Your mom says. “It takes a real man to not be afraid of something like that.”

“Today is technically one of our anniversaries…he asked me to be his girlfriend a year ago today.”

“Why didn’t you say something?! No wonder you’re all pissy, you should be home with him.” Erica says.

“It’s okay, we’re going to hang out tonight.” She puts a hand on the back of your shoulder and you wince.

“Sorry, are you alright?”

“Yeah, I just…pulled a muscle at the gym the other day.”

When you get home you’re hit with an intoxicating aroma: tofu curry. Buster greets you and you walk into the kitchen.

“Hey baby!” Harry says just stirring the mixture before letting it simmer.

“It smells so good in here.” You give him a kiss. “I made sure to eat light at lunch because I knew you were going to make something yummy.”

“And I made chocolate covered strawberries for dessert.”

“Aw, remember the first time I made those for you? And you had to show me how to eat them properly.” You giggle.

“How could I forget, that was like the first time we really made out.” He wiggles his eyebrows. “How are your sister and mum? Erica find a dress?”

“Mhm, and it suits her really well. I got into it a little with Bridget at lunch, but other than that it was good, pretty normal.”

“Why’d you get into it with her?”

“Sometimes I just can’t bite my tongue, you know me. She made a comment and I chose not to ignore it. It’s fine, it happens.” You shrug. “Like I said, pretty normal.”

“Well, I’m glad you don’t bite your tongue. She’s thirty-three and you’re way more mature from what I’ve gathered.” He kisses your forehead. “Go sit in the dining room, I got it all set up with candles and everything.”

“You’re too cute.”

You go out and sit down. He set it up really nicely. A few minutes later he comes out with two plates full of the delicious curry, and the naan bread you both like.

“Mm, oh my god, you’ve outdone yourself.” You say after taking a bite.

“Glad you like it, baby.” He smirks and then he starts laughing.

“What?”

“Nothing, I just remembered what we did the night we made things official.” He takes a bite of bread and grins at you.

“Which was what?”

“You let me down on you for the first time.” You nearly choke on your food. The memory came flooding back to you. “You begged me to let you move yourself against me.”

“Harry, please, we’re at the dinner table.”

“So? Not like there’s any kids around.” He looks over his shoulder at Buster. “I know he’s a smart dog, but I don’t think he fully knows what we’re sayin’.” He winks at you and you nudge him.

“Sometimes I think it’s really silly with how timid I was.”

“You had good reason. It just made things more exciting and creative. Like sometimes I’d nibble on you and other times I wouldn’t use my teeth at all. I feel like I really got to learn what your body reacted to the most.”

“I’m happy I could help you conduct your study.” You shake your head and continue eating.

You help clean up and then you both sit on the sofa with the strawberries. You giggle as you feed them to each other. Harry slowly drags one around your lips before letting you bite down on it. He pulls you in for a kiss, sucking on your bottom lip. Your hands tug at his hair and he groans against you.

“Bedroom.” He says against your lips and you nod.

You both race down the hall and into the bedroom. You get all your clothes off and you both get onto the bed. He kisses down your body and spreads your legs apart. His thumb works your clit while his tongue licks into you.

“Fuck, oh my god.” Your head rolls back. “Been thinking about this all day, you have no idea.” He moans against you as you tug on his hair. He loved when you talked like this. “You really know what do with it, Harry, shit.” He rubs you really fast, making you come all over his tongue. He licks his lips as he sits up. “Your turn.” You grin.

He lays down and you get between his legs. You don’t waste any time getting your mouth on his tip. You suck on it while your hand works the rest of him. You cradle his balls while you take more of him in your mouth. You groan when you taste more of his precome. It wasn’t so much that you liked the taste, it was more that you loved making him feel so good.

“Y/N.” He moans. “Want you to come sit on my face.” You pop off him.

“But I already had my turn.” You say confused.

“Didn’t realize it was a one and done situation.” He smirks. “Get your ass up here.”

“Let’s do it at the same time.”

You crawl up his body and turn around so you can still suck his cock. You gasp when you feel his tongue on you again. You were a bit more sensitive now. After he makes you come again he has you lay on your back. You think he’s going to get his dick in you, but he starts fingering you instead. He spreads your legs really far apart as he curls his fingers up inside you. He takes his fingers out and sucks his pinky into his mouth before continuing. He looks down at you and sees how wet you are, and how it’s dripped down to your other hole.

“What? You’re making me self-conscious, what are you looking at?” You prop yourself up on your elbows.

“What do you say, can I get this in there while I finger you? You’re awfully lubricated for it.” He holds up his pinky and wiggles it at you.

“Okay…”

“Really?”

“Yes, but only your pinky, and don’t just stick it in.”

“Would you let me rub around it first?”

“Sure.” You put your hand on his shoulder and he looks at you. “Happy anniversary.”

“Couldn’t have asked for a better present to be honest.”

“I get to do it to you after.” You pout. “Pleaseeee.”

“Already a step ahead of yeh, I showered already and everything.”

You smile and lay back down all the way. You feel his fingers lightly graze around your little hole and it doesn’t feel that bad. You had let him rub the tip of his dick against it enough times that this really wasn’t that much different. You feel him insert his middle and index fingers back into your core to further relax you. You gasp when you feel his pinky go inside your ass.

“Okay?” He looks at you.

“Mhm.”

“Could you…unclench so I can move it?” He chuckles.

“Sorry.”

Harry uses his other hand to rub slow circles on your clit and you’re able to relax a little more. You truly weren’t sure what the appeal of doing this to a girl was, but as he continued to do what he was doing, you felt stimulated in a way like never before.

“You’re so fucking wet, you like it, angel?”

“Feels good, yeah. Make me come, Harry.”

“Yeah, you want me to make you come again?”

“Please.”

His fingers pump faster, and you grip the sheets until you cry out. He was really giving you a good time tonight, but then again, it was an anniversary.

“Can I just fuck you for a bit before we get to all the other stuff?” He says.

“I need your dick so bad, please, put it in.”

He smirks and does as you say. You both moan once he’s all the way in. You hold him close to you and wrap your legs around his waist.

“I’m gonna come if you keep your legs like that.”

“Good, I want you to. You’ll get hard again, don’t worry.” You bite down on his shoulder and he loses it.

When he pulls out he sticks his fingers right in to collect the mixture and he hold them up to your mouth for you to suck on how you like. You lap around his fingers and suck them clean.

“Yup, that didn’t take long.” He looks down at himself and you both laugh.

“Go get the towel while I grab everything else sweetie.”

He nods and grabs his towel to lay on the bed. You grab the lube and the strap and place them both on the bed. Once you get him fully prepped and stretched, you get the strap on, and thrust into him.

“Holy shit.” He groans. “Hit it right away, angel.”

“I did? I must be getting better at this.” You smile and lean down to kiss him quick.

You stroke his cock while you rock in and out of him.

“You look so fucking good like this, Harry.”

“So do you.” He grits his teeth and you can tell he’s getting closer.

“Wanna make a mess, Harry? Wanna just come all over me?”

“Fuck, yeah I do.”

His come spurts out in ribbons all over your necks, chest, and stomach. You wait for him to catch his breath before pulling out. He props himself up on his elbows to look at you.

“You’re absolutely filthy.” He tuts his tongue a few times. “Gonna have to take a good, long bath to getcha all clean.”

“I guess so.” You smile.

Harry sits behind you in the tub as you lay your head on his shoulder.

“You’re so special to me, Y/N.” He coos. “My special girl.” He kisses your temple and you look up at him. “Love you more than anything.”

“I love you too, Harry.” You give his thigh a little squeeze. “I feel really lucky.”

You and Harry barely had a fight since you got engaged. It was like you were in this new honeymoon stage where you were always on each other’s side. Not that you were looking for a fight or anything, but the two of you had just been way more agreeable lately. Maybe it was your meds doing their job, or maybe it was the excitement of planning the wedding of your dreams with your soulmate. You loved the feeling of not being able to wait to see him, and you loved even more feeling so wanted the minute you stepped through the door. There wasn’t much more you could ask for.

#harry styles #harry styles fic #harry styles imagine #harry styles x reader #harry styles x y/n #harry styles y/n #harry styles angst #harry styles fluff #harry styles smut #harry styles angst fic #harry styles fluff fic #harry styles smut fic #angst #smut #fluff #enjoy!#feedback is always appreciated!!

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gay-kurapika · 3 years

Text

Ah I’m having a manic episode I can now see that. At least I’m aware I guess? But the current symptom is that I’m irrationally angry at my roommate and I’m not going to act on it because getting in a fight helps no one but I really want to find some way to make her feel bad too. But I won’t I swear. Just…she never apologized to me for the shit she said during our fight and I did apologize for what I said and I want an apology. One of the things she did, and remember this is a woman whose turning 47 in 8 days, was say to me, a 25 year old, “Oh go ahead and call your mommy” when I said I wanted to call my mother about the terms of her eviction because my mother is the co-signer on my loan for my condo. I don’t think it was a mature thing of her to do, she’s nearly twice my age, why try to guilt me out of talking to my parents for financial advice if you’re not trying to financially take advantage of me? I did call my mom by the way and discussed the terms of eviction. For now my roommate isn’t going because we’ve sort of worked things out but if she leaves she’s definitely not getting her deposit back since she broke a cabinet and dented the wall by throwing glasses at it when she was drunk and all of that is going to cost waaaaay more to fix than her deposit. I’m harboring a lot of anger towards her that needs to be resolved. She broke my stuff, insulted me repeatedly, yelled at me, told me no one likes me and she’s my only friend which is so manipulative and untrue, and also she owes me a LOT of money that I’ve waved off because I thought we were friends but she is a terrible friend and I’m done with this honestly. She’s projected her own shitty past onto me, she treats me like I’m her ex girlfriend that screwed her over when I’m literally the person who spent 4 months paying for her to live here for free and have never charged her a late fee. I’m her free dog walker—she’ll pay the 9 year old across the street $5 a day to walk him for 5 minutes but won’t pay me anything for a 40 minute walk every day! And doesn’t clean up his shit if he shits inside so if I don’t take him out I just have to clean up dog shit in my own house! We got gnats because she will never put her disgusting dirty dishes in the dishwasher (that I have already emptied it would take 5 seconds to rinse and put them in there) and then blamed the gnats on me for not vacuuming often enough. Fucking stupid bitch you leave a watermelon cut in half on the counter uncovered for 8 hours with the screen door open and a full sink and you think not vacuuming caused the gnats? Just. Literally I’m a nice person, I’d forgive all of this if she’d suck it up and apologize to me, but I’m not going to get an apology am I? She was probably too drunk to even remember what she said, but I don’t get to forget.

#maybe I’ll do something small to relieve the anger tomorrow #accidentally break one of her ugly ass coffee mugs or something #I figured it out what my silly petty revenge is going to be #this is hours later lol #my mom gave me a quilt about 6 years ago that I loved #but it didn’t fit my bed at my current home so I stored it in a closet for winter #my roommate took it without my permission and has been using it and I’m taking it back tomorrow while she’s at work #it’s not a spare blanket it’s a gift from my mom.

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oboevallis · 3 years

Text

a christmas to remember pt 2

December 20th

"Why did you let me agree to this?" Amelia complained as she zipped up her suitcase.

"It's your family, and they haven't even met Scout yet. It'll be nice, and it's Christmas."

"It's Christmas with my family, it's not going to be nice I assure you it will be chaos"

"It'll be fine I'm more than excited to experience the chaos. And look on the bright side, it's our first Christmas as a family."

"It could be our first Christmas as a family, here. In Seattle." Amelia smiled trying to be as cute as possible.

"It's too late to back out now. If it's really really terrible we'll leave and have pizza and doughnuts in the city."

"Deal." Amelia smirked.

_______________________________________

"That was a flight from hell." Amelia said as the couple waited for their luggage on the revolver.

"I'm almost positive the airline's gonna cancel our tickets back home, I don't think Scouts ever gonna stop crying." Link said bouncing the inconsolable baby up and down.

"God I feel terrible. I always hate it when people bring babies on flights and their crying the whole time." Amelia said covering her face with her hands.

"It's fine, no one seemed that mad. But I honestly didn't think Scout was going to react like that, that one time we took him on a flight he was completely chill."

"That was a two hour flight, this was closer to five hours." Amelia said before she spotted their luggage and picked them up.

"Well it's over now. It's going to be perfectly fine."

"How is it going to be fine he's still crying." Amelia sighed, walking in front of her boyfriend before she abruptly stopped and turned around. "You don't think he's sick do you?"

"I think he's just tired. Let's just get to your moms and get him to sleep." Link suggested as they stepped out into the frisk New York air. They had caught a late night flight so the airport was relatively quiet for New York at Christmas time, which surprised Link.

"My moms over there." Amelia pointed to her mother's car and started to go towards it with Link following behind. She opened the trunk, and threw their suitcases in.

"Hey Mrs Shepherd." Link greeted as he struggled to secure their sons car seat as he was still crying.

"Please call me Carolyn. It's good to see you as well." She patted the passenger seat signaling for her daughter to come sit next to her.

"Hey it's good to see you." Amelia greeted as she hugged her mom awkwardly leaning over the console. "Thanks for picking us up, you didn't have to do that."

"Yeah thank you, we really appreciate it." Link chimed in, whilst trying to calm their son down.

"Of course. I'm glad I did, you two may of lost it trying to go through the subway with a crying baby. Was he crying on the flight too?"

"Yeah, this is him calmed down." Amelia confessed looking behind her to check on her son. "It was terrible on the flight, which was surprising because we took him on a flight a little while ago when we went to Links parents wedding and he was perfectly fine."

"Well babies are unpredictable. I'm sure once we get home he'll go right down, poor guys probably exhausted from all that crying." Carolyn tried to comfort her stressed out daughter.

______________________________________

"Thank god he went down." Amelia whispered as the couple watched their son sleep.

"I don't know how much longer I could've taken that crying." Link chuckled, wrapping his arm around her.

"I call bottom bunk." Amelia announced walking over to her childhood bunk bed.

"Can't say that I'm surprised." Link smirked as he climbed the ladder to the top bunk. "I'd give you thirty minutes before you fell off the top, I don't think I've ever met a more restless sleeper."

"Hey I'm not that bad." Amelia defended herself, before she started to drift off to sleep.

"Amelia?" Link whispered as he leaned down to look at his girlfriend, he tried again louder. "Amelia."

"What?" Amelia asked groggily, she knew she was too exhausted for whatever her boyfriend was about to propose.

"Can we sleep on the floor?"

"You can sleep on the floor."

"I want to sleep on the floor with you."

"You've lost your mind."

"I don't like sleeping without you next to me." Link shyly admitted, to this his girlfriend playfully groaned.

"Fine, but if I wake up in the morning and I've thrown out my back it's on you." Link smiled and jumped off the top bunk taking the blanket and pillow down with him. He laid the blanket down onto the carpet, and Amelia's to make a makeshift bed. He laid down on the floor and patted the space next to him so his girlfriend would lay down next to him.

"Hmm, I love you." Amelia sighed as Link wrapped his arm around his girlfriend.

"This is much better." The couple drifted off to sleep, exhausted from their flight and fussy baby. After a couple of hours Link woke up to being kicked in the shin by his sleeping girlfriend, something he was accustomed too at this point in their relationship. He turned around expecting to see their son sleeping in his pack and play, but he wasn't in there. He shot up and shook his girlfriend awake. "Where's Scout?"

"5 more minutes." Amelia mumbled into her pillow.

"Scouts gone."

"What?" She shot up in a panic, she quickly made her way to the bedroom door and went down the stairs Link right behind her.

"You know you two didn't have to sleep on the floor, the guest room was prepared for you two." Carolyn said as she sat in the living room giving her grandson a bottle.

"Thank god." Link sighed once he saw his son was safe.

"You could've woken us up mom." Amelia said walking over to hold her baby and finish up feeding him.

"You two were exhausted, and it's been awhile since I've had some baby time." Carolyn admitted handing her grandson over to his mother.

"Oh wow it snowed." Link commented, walking over to the window.

"Did you not grow up around snow?" Carolyn asked, she was still learning about the man Amelia had tied her life with.

"No ma'am."

"Please, there's no need to call me ma'am. It makes me feel old."

"Right sorry." Link apologized.

"Want to go out in it?" Amelia asked playfully.

"What?"

"Yeah, like play in the snow. You've never done it before."

"What would we do?"

"You'll see." Amelia stood up to hand her son to her mother. "Would you mind watching him?"

"Not at all." The neurosurgeons mother smiled, while she took the baby.

________________________________________

"Hey, what the hell was that?" Link asked once a snowball hit him square in the face.

"What was what?" Amelia asked innocently.

"Your gonna regret this." Link stated as he leaned down to collect some snow to throw at his girlfriend. When he went to throw his collection of snow it crumpled before it was able to hit his girlfriend.

"How did you even get a job with the Mariners? With a throw like that?"

"Your gonna regret that." Link told his girlfriend as he ran over to her to pick her up. "And I was just their surgeon."

"Okay, okay, put me down." Amelia laughed as he spun her around.

"Sorry." Amelia gasped before running into her mother's back yard. "Amelia is everything alright?"

"Follow me." She skipped into the backyard and entered her mother's sheds

"You don't think we're having sex in here, do you?"

"Oh shut it." Amelia laughed whilst she was digging around looking for something. "Found it!"

"A sled?"

"Yep, a sled." She took his hand and lead him out of the backyard and up the street until they got to a school that had a large hill near it.

"Are you sure about this?" Link asked nervously as he sat behind his girlfriend on the sled holding her tightly.

"Oh stop being such a baby." Amelia said as she pushed them down the hill causing her boyfriend to gasp out of shock. As they got to the bottom of the hill, Link collapsed onto her leaving them in a compromising position.

"Okay, okay." Amelia giggled pushing herself up. "Ready to head back?"

"Can we go again?" Link asked as though he was a small child.

________________________________________

"I hope he wasn't too much trouble." Amelia whispered as she walked into her old room to see her mother rocking Scout to sleep.

"Not at all. Just a little bit fussy. He's seems to be calm now."

"Do you think he's okay?"

"He's just fine, I'm sure it's just the time difference and the new surroundings."

"Was it stupid to bring him here. Is he too little?"

"He's nearly 10 months, I think it's just fine. Don't worry about it, and don't let what your sisters say hurt you."

"Do you think this is going to be a mess?"

"I think it'll be just fine. Are you nervous? There's no reason to be, we're your family." Amelia chuckled slightly, sure they were her family but she considered Maggie and Meredith more of her sisters than her biological ones.

"I'm more nervous for Link. He's an only child and his family wasn't really close, I just don't want him to be overwhelmed by all the people and chaos we bring."

"If he can deal with you I'm sure he can deal with the rest of us." Carolyn remarked jokingly. "He seems like he's the one."

"I think he is."

"Would you mind setting up the ping pong table in the basement with Link?"

"Nope, we'll go do that now."

"Okay, great. I'm off to bed then. Good night Amy."

"Good night mom."

________________________________________

"Oww, damn it Link be careful." Amelia complained as they pulled the table out of the closet, and the sharp edge hit her stomach

"Sorry, are you okay?"

"Yeah." They placed the folded table down in the empty space they cleared.

"Do you know how to do this?"

"Of course, it's just like putting a normal table together. Except we put a net up down the middle."

"Whatever you say." Link smirked, knowing this would probably be a fiasco. As it was, but they eventually got the table assembled. Once they finished they laid next to each other on the basements large couch. "You definitely didn't know how to put that table together, did you?"

"I thought it was self explanatory, but I guess it wasn't." Amelia smirked, leaning against her boyfriends chest. "Are you nervous?"

"For what?" Link asked playing with his girlfriends hair.

"My family. Your Christmases were always quiet and calm. This is going to be loud and chaotic."

"I'm ready for a change of pace."

"You say your ready, until the fighting starts."

part 3

#amelia shepherd #amelink #atticus lincoln #baby amelink #greys anatomy #mama shepherd #greysanatomy #carolyn shepherd #scout lincoln #greys fanfic #greys anatomy fanfic

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thehopeofitalll · 3 years

Text

2. enchanted.

THEY MEET! THEY MEET! anyways...just a suggestion, but you should probably listen to taylor swift's "enchanted" because, well it's an amazing song, what more can i say?

read it on ao3.

“Look who’s here!” Thalia said, grinning. “My…” She drummed her fingers against the table, making up for an imaginary drum roll, as a figure walked towards Annabeth, Jason and Thalia.

“...girlfriend!” Thalia finished, a rare smile on her face that she always showed to her aforementioned girlfriend.

“Reyna!” Annabeth exclaimed, smiling as she stood up to hug her friend. “You’re back? I thought you said it’d take you a few more months!”

“As you know,” Reyna began in a horrible imitation of a British accent, struggling to hold back her grin. “I am very well versed in the art of lying.”

“One of the truest things you’ve said in, like, your entire life I think,” Thalia added, getting a playful punch from her girlfriend.

“Still know how to be a badass, Chase?” Reyna asked, raising an eyebrow.

Annabeth smirked. “You should have figured that being a badass has been in my blood since I was born,” She replied.

“Maybe I could race you,” pondered Reyna. “It’d be fun to see you lose.”

“Hey! That’s not fair,” Annabeth muttered, folding her arms. “You’ve literally got a sports scholarship based on your running, and I bet you’ve practiced a lot all the way back in Berkeley.”

Reyna shrugged. “Yeah, you'd lose either way. So, it’s been a few years since we’ve seen each other and things have certainly changed. Someone’s got a little famous.”

“All because of her wonderful manager,” Thalia said, proudly.

“Oh shush,” Annabeth said, folding her arms. “Also, Thalia, about the whole getting-away-from-the-world-for-a-few-hours thing, I’m planning on sneaking away to Coney Island.”

“Coney Island?”

“Hey, I’ve wanted to go see it for a long time now, and this might be the perfect opportunity,” Annabeth reasoned.

“But so many people there could see you!” Thalia argued. “Like, thousands! It isn’t exactly the most secluded place for someone who wants to be anonymous and all that shit.”

“Relax, you know how good I am at disguising myself. I promise not to let the paparazzi get a hold of me. Okay?” Annabeth asked.

Thalia hesitated, then sighed. “Well…” she began. “Okay, fine. But you better be careful, young lady.”

“Yes, mom,” Annabeth said, rolling her eyes in Classic Annabeth Style, her voice dry with irony.

Usually it was Annabeth who was called “The Mom Friend” of the group (though she preferred to be the one who always advises her friends to not do the dumb shit they eventually end up doing. It wasn’t her fault she was the only one who had common sense).

“So?” Annabeth asked. “What’s the schedule for today?”

“Well, I’ve managed to give you around roughly two to three hours of free time, but besides that we’ve got the usual shooting. Thankfully, I think you have only a few scenes today, and I’m guessing the other stars are shooting most of their scenes today,” Thalia said, whipping out her clipboard.

“Fun.”

—🎡—

“Late to work again, Perry Johansson?” Mr. D exclaimed, with a groan.

“Sorry, Mr. D!” Percy said, sheepishly. He’d thought it was a Sunday morning, pressed the snooze button on his alarm five times and was late to the cafe for work. “Won’t happen again!”

“That’s what you told a week back!”

“Rough morning, huh?” Percy’s best friend, Piper McLean, asked, her eyes surveying his more-dishevelled-than-usual hair.

“That would be an understatement,” Percy replied, groaning.

“Nightmares?” Piper asked.

He nodded, as she gave him a sympathetic look.

It was common knowledge to all of his friends that he had nightmares, caused by his abusive past. Sometimes he woke up, sweating, his throat sore after yelling in his sleep. When he stayed with his mom, and his stepdad, she would usually rush into the room as soon as the screaming began. But once he moved out, he learnt to calm himself down. It didn’t help though, he found himself having panic attacks while thrashing around in his bed.

“And, hm, let me guess,” Piper began, feigning to be in deep thought. “You stayed up all night painting?”

He rolled his eyes, confirming that she was correct. “The nightmares were getting too much for me,” he mumbled.

Piper nodded, staying silent. She, and all of his friends, knew about his past. It wasn’t exactly easy to hide the long scar that ran down your back, when you were the captain of your swim team back at school.

“Well,” he said, drawing out the l. “How are things with Jason? Didn’t you tell me that you started dating?”

“Yeah…” Piper smiled. “He’s amazing, Percy. He cares a lot about me. I think he’s...perfect.”

He grinned. “Well, years of screaming at both of you to date each other finally paid off,” he said.

“Yes, Jackson, I truly appreciate it,” Piper said sarcastically. She turned around to greet the customer who had just come in, with a perfect smile on her face. “Hello and welcome to Olympus!”

Percy pulled out his phone, scrolling through his nearly non-existent proof of his social life, not really paying attention. He eyed a few messages from his cousin, Thalia Grace, planning to reply to it later, when a single word caught his eyes:

Annabeth.

Wait, what about Annabeth? he typed back hurriedly, fixing the typos that came along the way.

She replied almost immediately.

Knew that would catch your eyes, Kelp Head. - Pinecone Face

He let out a soft huff, but grinning affectionately nevertheless. He could literally hear the smirk in her message.

We’ve talked about this, Thalia. But what did she say?

Don’t worry, she didn’t say anything. I just mentioned her while reminding you about how dad wants you to come to dinner. And I know you well enough to figure out that you’d never check a message the first time you see it, unless it mentioned someone like, you know, Annabeth. - Pinecone Face.

You’re an asshole, Thals.

I know right! It’s one of the many things I’m good at, thinking of adding it to my resume~ - Pinecone Face.

He resisted the urge to roll his eyes. His eyes were trained on his phone as Thalia continued to be typing something more.

Don’t forget about the dinner! Dad specifically requested that you and Nico must be there, or something. - Pinecone Face.

He was going to type back a quick yeah, okay and head back to the front, where Piper was greeting customers, when another message from Thalia popped up.

Hey, if you’re lucky, we might even run into Annabeth ;) - Pinecone Face

Not the winky face, he replied, unable to stop the grin from coming on his face.

—🎡—

There I was again tonight forcing laughter, faking smiles Same old tired, lonely place Walls of insincerity Shifting eyes and vacancy vanished when I saw your face All I can say is it was enchanting to meet you. —🎡—

Percy yelled, “I’m leaving as soon as I finish three more orders, you hear me?”

“I hear you, alright!” Piper yelled back, as she picked up her phone and walked towards him.

“I honestly wonder why I’m such a good friend,” Percy said, leaning against the counter. “Why am I always the one who covers the last 15 minutes of his friend’s shift?”

“Because you love me, and think I’m the most amazing person to ever walk on earth,” Piper replied, grinning proudly, as she flicked her dark brown hair over her shoulder.

“Of course I do,” Percy said, his voice dripping with sarcasm. “Now, go meet Mr. Loverboy.”

“And you?” Piper asked. “What are you gonna be doing this evening?”

“Visiting the Ferris wheel in Coney Island,” Percy replied.

“Again?” Piper asked. “You were there, like, three weeks back. You need to get a social life, Perce.”

“Mm, I was just planning on spending my life with blue cookies,” he said. “And, it isn’t a waste of time. I learn more about landscapes and silhouettes, you know.”

“Ah yes, painting stuff,” Piper summed up. “Honestly, I don’t understand you at times, and we’ve been friends for so long.”

“I’m an artiste, Pipes,” Percy replied, grinning, with a terrible French accent on the artiste.

“Mhm, sure,” Piper mumbled. “Okay, don’t mess up the rest of the orders. I’ll see you soon.”

As Piper made her way out of the shop, Percy sighed. While he lazily waited for someone new to come in, he found himself bored, again.

He could blame his restlessness on his ADHD but in reality he never wanted to work here, he just needed some money while he struggled with becoming a popular artist, and he had to work here until the aquarium nearby finally accepted his resume. Then he’d be out of here.

He was tired. Tired of faking smiles, tired of seeing people bustling around in here, tired of vacant spaces. He couldn’t wait to leave this place behind him.

While he ruminated about this, another customer walked in, wearing a dark blue hoodie, with the hood pulled all the way down to their nose.

Percy stifled a groan and took his place at the counter. “Hey, welcome to Olympus Cafe. What would you like today?”

“One Chocolate Creme Frappuccino, please,” came the woman’s voice. He nodded, slightly pleased that he wasn’t the only one in the world who liked that drink off their menu.

He went inside to prepare her drink. When he came back, she was resting her head on her palm. “Name?” he asked.

“Oh? Uh, Annabe-Annabel,” she replied, stuttering a little bit.

He raised an eyebrow, but didn’t question her. Writing Annabel on the cup, he pushed a straw in her drink. “That’ll be $4.95,” he said.

She nodded, reaching to her pocket. Percy always hated this part of delivering an order: that awkward silence while the customer got out their money.

He looked at the woman before him, as she fumbled around while bringing out her wallet. He could barely see her, but she had tan skin and maybe he caught a few wisps of golden hair. A five dollar bill fell out of her wallet, floating towards the ground.

“Shit,” she muttered.

Percy tried to hide a smile at that. He didn’t know why a random woman before him mumbling profanities was amusing to him. She bent down to pick up the dollar, and when she stood up her hood had fallen. Percy looked at her, then suddenly stopped fidgeting around.

Was it…? It was.

He knew how she looked from their time in high school. Stormy grey eyes. Honey blonde hair. He definitely knew her, knew her all too well.

She quickly pushed the bill towards him, and pulled her hood back up. A faint flicker of recognition passed through those intimidating eyes, as he took the dollar.

He picked up the cup, and handed it to her. She reached out for the cup, her fingers slightly brushing against his. A little spark seemed to drive up his arm, and despite himself, he grinned goofily.

“It was enchanting to meet you,” He said, then winked at her.

She rolled her eyes in annoyance, a faint blush of red coating her cheeks nevertheless. “That’s the cheesiest thing I’ve ever heard,” she said, her voice low.

He continued to grin as she looked up, sea green eyes meeting grey, then turned around to leave the shop. There was no mistake about it. It was her. Annabeth.

Annabeth Chase.

#percabeth #percabeth au #the fast times #coney island #maybe i'm just biased but enchanted is an amazing song #still horrible at tags

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adolanables · 4 years

Text

Bleed - (G.D)

Masterlist

A/N: Based off the song Champion by Elina

“Do you get high when I hit my lows? I hope you feel like you’re a champion when you break my heart once and for all.”

“Seriously, Grayson?” The irritation in Ethan’s voice rang loud and clear down the short hallway near the front of their house.

“The fuck is your problem?” Shooting his twin an annoyed glance as he peered towards his room to make sure his door was still shut.

“That’s the third girl this week.” As Ethan folded his arms, Grayson managed to move past him to head back to his room. He had left briefly to get two glasses of water, expecting to have a long night ahead of him.

“And?” Taking a sip of water and shrugging his shoulders, Grayson nudged the door open with his shoulder.

As Ethan watched his younger brother disappear into his room, he couldn’t help but feel like maybe some of this was his fault. They had always done everything together, but recently, Ethan has been extremely preoccupied with his new girlfriend. Since they’d moved to California, neither of them had ever been in this serious of a relationship. Sure, they’d had some flings here and there, but none of them had turned into what Ethan and Maria had. Every single night, Maria was in Ethan’s bed - she was there for breakfast every day. Grayson liked Maria, don’t get him wrong, but he missed having his twin by his side - fully to himself. It didn’t help that Grayson’s very best friend Roxie had been gone for the last month visiting her family. Ethan was convinced if Roxie had been here, this entire scenario could have been avoided.

Roxie had moved in with the twins a little over six months ago when her apartment experienced a pretty nasty flood that ruined practically all of her belongings. The boys insisted she come stay with them for a while, but every time she tried to look for a new place since then, Grayson had convinced her to stay. Roxie works as a makeup artist for practically anything anyone asks her to do. It’s her passion and she adores it, but it doesn’t always make the best money; so having a free place to stay was definitely not a bad thing.

Roxie and Grayson were nearly inseparable. Before Maria, Ethan always complained that Roxie had pretty much stolen his twin. They were attached at the hip and seemed to have the same type of telepathy the twins shared. Grayson knew what Roxie was feeling before she even felt it sometimes - and vice versa. She was one of the first people the twins had met when they moved to Los Angeles years ago. Grayson was entranced with her immediately. The brightness that shone through her eyes and her wide smile made him feel safe every time he looked at her. She had been there for him and Ethan every single day since they met and Grayson really didn’t know how to live without her. Having her gone for an entire month was wearing him thin.

At her dad’s home in Tennessee, Roxie felt just as lost without Grayson. Roxie had spent her entire life in Los Angeles with her mom; her father had moved to Nashville when she was fourteen. Until she turned eighteen, she spent every other summer at her dad’s home. It had been years since she’d spent so much time in Nashville, but her dad insisted she come back for a bit since her work had slowed down.

The first few days Roxie was gone, she and Grayson had facetimed for hours every night just talking. It was common for them to get caught up in conversation - even in person - and stay up for hours. The longer her stay lasted, the shorter the calls got. At the end of the month, the calls weren’t even coming anymore - it was so strange that Roxie had reached out to ask Ethan what was wrong. Ethan didn’t feel like he could tell Roxie that Grayson had bought a one-way ticket to pound town, so he settled for telling her she needed to come back ASAP.

Two days later, that’s exactly what she did.

“Rox!” Ethan’s voice drew Roxie’s attention as she walked out of the airport - if she were being honest, she was a bit shocked. She couldn’t remember the last time Ethan had picked her up from somewhere on his own - Grayson was always there.

“E!” Slapping a fake smile on her face, she tossed her bag into the backseat of the shiny white Tesla and sliding into the passenger seat. It’s not like she wasn’t excited to see Ethan, it’s just… she was expecting Grayson. It was always Roxie and Grayson.

“I can’t explain how glad I am that you’re back.” Chucking softly, Ethan rolled his eyes slightly before heading back to their house. He could tell Roxie was upset seeing him instead of Grayson, but he understood. The relationship between Grayson and Roxie was unlike anything he had seen before - he couldn’t really understand how Grayson could miss picking her up after not seeing her for a month.

“I’m glad to be back too.” She rested her head against the cool glass of the window and glanced down at her phone, her face falling slightly as she saw no notifications. As badly as she wanted to ask Ethan where the hell her best friend was, she figured he would have told her by now if he could have.

“Did you all get a new car?” Roxie glanced at Ethan with an eyebrow raised as they pulled into the driveway. A shiny beamer was parked next to Grayson’s porsche.

“Uh - no.” Clearing his throat awkwardly, Ethan shook his head and turned the car off. It was almost midnight, so he wasn’t really sure how to explain away the car. It was definitely not Maria’s and her red Camry was in its usual spot. He watched as Roxie just nodded softly, taking the hint that she probably didn’t want to know the answer to whose car it actually was.

As close as Grayson and Roxie were, every time either of them had a boyfriend or girlfriend, their relationship got… rocky. Ethan absolutely dreaded those times. The second Roxie started showing interest in someone, it was like Grayson turned into a monster. He was grumpy and pissed off, putting on a fake face for Roxie, but even she could see through it. When it was Grayson, Roxie was a little better at pretending she didn’t mind. She was able to smile and be friends with the new girl, only letting her guard down when she got some alone time. During those times, Roxie and Grayson barely spoke to each other genuinely. Every conversation was fake, every interaction was forced - both sides knowing their friendship was suffering. With that being said, Grayson had never been a fan of hookups. He liked to know the person - wanted a connection. Roxie was grateful for that - if he wanted to, Grayson could have any girl in LA. Neither would ever admit that their past relationships had ended because of each other. For Grayson, he always claimed the girl was not as serious as he was about her - in reality Grayson couldn’t mentally check in for anyone that wasn’t Roxie. For Roxie, she always got her feelings hurt, hoping every boy would make her feel the way Grayson did and being devastated when they couldn’t. She blamed it on picking terrible guys - and she did - but the choices were purposeful. She would never pick someone who could possibly live up to Grayson.

“Um…?” Roxie shot Ethan a concerned look as they shut the front door behind them to hear what sounded like an injured hyena. She wasn’t stupid - she was 20 years old living in Los Angeles with two of the hottest men on the internet. It’s not like she hadn’t heard Grayson having sex before - or walked in on him - but something about this time rubbed her the wrong way. She had just been gone for an entire month and he couldn’t take even a few minutes to welcome her home.

“Sorry, Rox…” Ethan sighed as he watched his friend duck her head and shuffle off to her room. He was so pissed off at his brother. When he had told Grayson that Rox was on her way home, he didn’t even seem excited. He shrugged his shoulders at the mention of picking her up and rolled his eyes when Ethan asked if he was having a girl over tonight. Honestly, Ethan didn’t think Grayson had it in him to have a girl in his room when Roxie walked in. Clearly, Ethan was wrong - and he could not figure out why.

“Morning,” Grayson’s raspy voice interrupted the smooth pour of Roxie’s coffee. Her dark eyebrows furrowed together as she looked up at the shirtless man who had a pair of sweatpants hanging dangerously low on his waist. His hair was tugged up in a million different directions that Roxie recognized all too well. Over the years of their friendship, there were times when they definitely crossed the line with each other. Two attractive people with that kind of connection were inevitably going to at some point. Roxie and Grayson may have crossed it a little too far, a little too often.

“That’s all you have to say?” Roxie scoffed as she slammed the coffee pot down and stirred in a spoonful of sugar. As nice as she was to Ethan, she wasn’t going to hold back her anger with Grayson. With the rare occasion of pretending to like Grayson’s girlfriends that never seemed to last that long, Roxie was incapable of lying to him.

Grayson rolled his eyes at her comment, blowing hot air out of his nose at the disgust in her voice. Her slender frame hunched over the counter in a small pair of cotton shorts and a tank-top made Grayson even more annoyed with her. If he was being honest, he didn’t really understand why he was so pissed at her. It’s not like she had really done anything wrong, but he just didn’t get why she left for SO long.

“What, did you expect me to have some long speech prepared?” He clenched his jaw as he rifled through the fridge, knowing his attitude was unnecessary, but his lack of sleep and irritation couldn’t be tamed. He had been up all night trying to get the girl he invited over to actually leave after he was done with her. She had finally caved and left around 6 AM.

“Rude ass.” She grumbled before shuffling off back to her room with her mug of coffee tucked tightly in her hands. Another day, maybe she would’ve given into Grayson’s attempts to start an argument. Right now, she wasn’t in the mood - she was still trying to recover from the disappointment of last night.

With tired eyes, Grayson watched her tangled black bun on the top of her head disappear down the hallway. Roxie had gone to visit her dad every summer the first few years they knew each other, but over the last two years things had changed. The pair had always been close, but after the twins’ dad got sick it was like Grayson couldn’t function without Roxie. She was the only person he let himself break down in front of - she understood what he needed. This was the first time she had been gone for so long since their father’s diagnosis and Grayson hadn’t adjusted well. The facetimes they had the first few nights when she had first left only made him miss her more - not being able to see her smile in person, not smelling her vanilla perfume wafting through their house. The more he missed her, the angrier he got. He couldn’t understand why she had to be gone for so long, but he wasn’t going to call and tell her she needed to come home early because he couldn’t behave normally without her here. No - he’d never tell her that. So, Grayson decided to try something new - one night stands. He had a list of so many “mutual friends” who had been thrown in his face over the last few years, he figured there was no better time to run through it. Maybe he’d get lucky and meet someone who made him feel the way Roxie did - if not, at least he was getting his dick wet.

“Was Rox just out here?” Reaching over Grayson’s shoulder to grab the almond milk, Ethan shoved the question in his brother’s face knowing the answer already.

“Yeah - making coffee.” Grayson just shrugged and ended up grabbing an apple before turning on his heel to head back to his room.

“She had that look on her face when I picked her up -” Ethan started, making Grayson stop and turn around with an eyebrow raised. “You know - the one where it looks like someone just killed a puppy in front of her? Bottom lip all puffy and her eyes squinted.”

“Why are you telling me this?” As much as Grayson wanted to walk away like he didn’t care, he and Ethan both knew the soft spot he had for Roxie wasn’t going to go away that easily. Picturing her face falling in disappointment when she realized he wasn’t there to pick her up made his stomach churn.

“I don’t know, dude.” Ethan shrugged and pushed past him to go lay back down with a bowl of cereal in hand. “Hoping maybe you’ll snap out of whatever bullshit trance you’ve been in.” He had slammed his bedroom door shut before Grayson could snap back at him - probably for the best.

He stood in the hallway for a second, chewing on his apple and thinking about what to do. Part of him wanted to go knock on Roxie’s door and just talk to her - let her know he was glad she was back and fall back into the routine he loved so much. Another part of him wanted to go to his room and keep adjusting to his new routine. He didn’t like how he felt when she left him - could he really not function on his own? He never wanted to be so attached to someone that wasn’t his own twin, but here he was. Roxie was practically half of his own body and mind and he wasn’t sure he liked that. Maybe he needed to learn how to do things on his own even when she was here, so the next time she leaves he doesn’t feel as lost.

Shaking his head to clear his thoughts, he decided to just let it be for now - stalking off back to his bedroom to get some more sleep.

Grayson was sure he was choking on his water as he watched Roxie rub tanning oil into her skin by the pool. He had just woken up from his nap and it was already 2 PM. She was wearing what he was sure had to be the tiniest silver bikini to ever exist - hiked up on her waist to show as much of her ass as physically possible. Her jet black hair was falling perfectly down her back, contrasting with her already tan skin - Grayson was so annoyed at how she looked.

Ethan was sitting on the lounge chair across from her, arms lazily wrapped around Maria who was laughing at something Roxie had said. The three of them looked like they were having so much fun, he wasn’t sure he was even welcome to go outside. If Roxie didn’t look like a shiny silver goddess out there, he probably would’ve stayed in bed, but his body was making the decision before his mind could react.

“Nice of you to join us.” Ethan’s voice was dripping with sarcasm as Grayson emerged from the dark house, a pair of baby blue swim trunks hung on his waist.

“Yeah, yeah.” Rolling his eyes and sitting down on the edge of the pool, closer to Ethan and Maria he felt Roxie’s dark eyes staring daggers into him. It didn’t take long for Ethan and Maria to get caught up in each other, fingers intertwined and small whispers letting Grayson know they were no longer paying attention to him.

“No.” Roxie snapped as Grayson dropped himself into the water and started to swim towards her. She pulled her feet up and walked back towards the chair her towel was on, eyebrows tugged together in a scowl as Grayson rested his head on his hands on the edge of the pool. His golden eyes were wide as he lifted his eyebrows up innocently, a small smirk tugging on his red lips.

“What, Oxy?” The nickname he had for her that he saved for moments like this only made her sigh in frustration. “Aw… come on.”

“You don’t get to be nice to me now.” Burying her head in her phone and swiping through her Instagram feed, she tried her best to ignore him, but the large, wet man who was now sitting right next to her was making it difficult. “Grayson, seriously? You’re getting everything wet.”

“Oh, am I?” As he nudged his elbow into her side, she let out a groan and stood up, shoving her feet into her sandals and angrily walking back inside. He knew he should go after her - and he was going to - right after he watched her bouncy ass jiggle side to side with each step.

Ethan rolled his eyes at his brother before pulling Maria in for a kiss - thanking god he met someone like her who wasn’t going to complicate his life even further.

“Rox - “ Grayson was going to knock on her door, but it was cracked open slightly so he decided to just push it open.

“Grayson - jesus.” Reaching up to cover her bare chest and turn away from the door, Roxie shut her eyes tightly. Grayson could usually read her like a book - he should have gotten the hint pretty easily that she didn’t want to talk to him at all.

“Oh, relax - it’s nothing I haven’t seen before.” His lips pulled up in a smirk as he plopped down on the edge of her bed, fluffy grab robe draping over his tanned legs. “Talk to me, Rox.”

“Talk to you?” She seethed, barging into her bathroom to quickly grab her robe and wrap it around her before turning back to Grayson who she was finally looking in the eye. “You’ve been a dick and you know it - and now I’m supposed to talk to you?”

“Oxy -”

“Don’t Oxy me.” Manicured finger extended mere inches from his face in accusation, Roxie narrowed her eyes at her best friend. “I go away for one month and you turn into a new person - the fuck is that about?”

“I’m not a new person.” Grayson shot back, going on the defensive.

“Hm - let’s see: didn’t pick me up from the airport, stopped answering my calls, had a fucking booty call instead of welcoming me back. Not the Grayson I know.” Her voice was loud as she listed off the mistakes Grayson had made and it was only making him more irritated.

“Am I supposed to apologize that my life isn’t revolving around you anymore?” Pushing himself up off the bed, he stood toe to toe with her - towering over her easily but Roxie wasn’t intimidated. “You fucking left - not me! You were doing just fine in fucking Nashville - but here I was-” He was yelling now, eyes wide as Roxie stared at him with her jaw clenched, not budging as his hot breath washed over her face with every syllable.

“Shut the fuck up.” Her voice was soft, but firm - a contrast to Grayson’s loud shout that had made Ethan and Maria turn back to the pool when they attempted to come inside for a late lunch. “You don’t get to blame me for going to see family - I tried to talk to you - you stopped answering - you-”

Grayson let out a huff of irritation before he used his knee to nudge Roxie’s body backwards into the wall, strong tan hand coming up to wrap around her throat. She was caged in by his left arm that was leaning up against the wall and his right knee tucked in between her legs. His eyebrows were tucked together, jaw clenched, dark eyes traveling up and down her face as he breathed out of his nose. Roxie was pissed as hell at the way Grayson was holding her - his fingers were just barely tightened around her throat, but the point was still there. This wasn’t uncommon - their arguments often turned into knock-down dragouts. One - or both - of them leaving with hoarse voices from yelling so loudly or sometimes a bruised hand from punching the wall. Every emotion with Roxie and Grayson was multiplied - happiness, sadness, anger, everything.

“Get your fucking hands off of me Grayson Dolan.” She seethed, glaring at him as he tightened his grip around her throat and smirked.

“Those little bikini bottoms are soaking wet and you didn’t get in the pool.” His look of frustration had turned into one of mischief as he nudged his knee up, the pressure making Roxie take in a deep breath. Before she could argue, Grayson’s lips were on hers - a clash of lips and teeth melting together angrily. His hand that was once wrapped around her throat was now ripping the bath-robe off of her, an animalistic moan leaving his mouth as her perky tits came into view.

Roxie was quickly doing the same, shoving the gray robe off his shoulders and watching it pool on the floor - Grayson standing at full attention before her. Not bothering to put on a pair of boxers. Everything felt like it was moving in high-speed - Roxie wasn’t even sure how she ended up naked on her bed with her ass in the air and her face pressed into the mattress. Grayson’s thick fingers were pumping in and out of her, rubbing up against the spot deep inside of her - his other hand pressed onto her upper back holding her down. Just as she was about to fall over the edge, Grayson was yanking his fingers out and replacing them with his achingly hard dick.

“Fuck.” His jaw fell slack as he bottomed out inside of her, hands gripping her waist roughly as he let her adjust to him. Both Roxie and Grayson had been with a multitude of other people, but neither of them could ever find someone who could fuck them the way they were used to with each other. “Missed this - pussy.” He bit his lip as he started to pound into her, soft yelps leaving her mouth each time their hips connected. The pair didn’t do this that often, considering they lived together and could be doing this every night. At the most it was happening once a week - a good month for them would be only once that month. The more arguments they got into, the more they fucked. Unhealthy? Absolutely, but it seemed to work for them. Sure, there had been some moments where they weren’t angry fucking, but the majority of the fucks were argument induced.

“Gray- Gray - Gray - Ah!” She screamed, body collapsing as she came, her legs were shaking and she had lost all control of her arms. Grayson grunted as he rolled her over, nearly cumming right there as he saw her face all fucked out and in a pure state of pleasure. He didn’t take long to admire her though, holding her legs up to her chest and slipping back in - her mouth fell open as Grayson pumped in and out. It didn’t take long for him to cum, curses leaving his mouth as he busted inside of her - a feeling he had missed with all the girls he was fucking with a condom. He knew Roxie was on birth control and trusted she wasn’t carrying some disease.

“Still mad at me, hm?” He leaned over her pretzeled body to press a kiss to her soft lips, smiling softly as he felt her giggle against him.

“Yes, but maybe I just needed the attitude fucked out of me.” She rolled her eyes as Grayson pulled himself out of her and waddled into the bathroom to get a towel to clean up. As he wiped her down, she stared at him - eyes hooded as she traced over his perfectly sculpted chest and floppy brown hair. Her eyes quickly landed on a faint bruise on his collarbone. “What’s that?” The words left her mouth before she could decide not to ask - she knew what it was.

“Hm?” He tilted his head at her, eyes following her finger down to the very obvious hickey on his skin. “Oh,uh… last night I guess.”

Roxie just nodded silently, scooting up the bed away from him before rolling off to grab her robe and wrap it back around her. Usually, they cuddled after sex - rationally talking about whatever it was that had made them rage fuck in the first place. She stood by the edge of her bed, lip tucked between her teeth as she tried to sift through her feelings before she tried to explain them to Grayson. Sure, she’d known about Grayson’s sex life with his girlfriends, but this was the first time she’d ever known him to have a one night stand. Then he came in here and fucked her not even 24 hours later - she wasn’t sure how to tell him what she was feeling.

“What crawled up your ass?” He joked, tossing the towel into the laundry and plopping down on the bed, his naked body reaching for her. “C’mere.”

“Um - I think I’m gonna shower.” She stumbled over her words as she backed up into the bathroom, unsuccessfully shutting the door before Grayson was barging in.

“What did I do now?” There it was again - the defensiveness. She knew why - there was no doubt in her mind that he knew exactly what he had done wrong.

“Nothing, Gray.” She shook her head, letting out a puff of air as she willed herself not to cry. As often as the pair fought, Roxie rarely cried. She just wasn’t much of a crier - her sadness usually playing out in screaming and cold shoulders.

Grayson’s shoulders fell as he watched her suck in her bottom lip and take in a deep breath, eyes steadied on the bathroom counter she was gripping tightly. “Hey… don’t cry - please.” His voice was gentle as he tapped her shoulder, trying to distract her from her thoughts. “They didn’t mean anything, you know that - I just… needed distractions.”

“There was more than one?” She managed to look Grayson right in the eyes, her voice cracking as her eyes glossed over. He felt his heart fall into his ass as a tear rolled down her red cheek and she looked at him like he just broken her heart. He knew how much his actions would hurt her if she found out, but he invited the girls over anyway. Why did he have to take such care around her? They weren’t dating.

“Yes, Roxie.” He nodded, his demeanor changing from one of kindness to one of irritation. “I can fuck whoever I want - if you don’t like it then don’t spread your legs for me so easily. Shit.” He turned on his heel, quickly wrapping his robe around him and shutting her bedroom door shut just quickly enough to only hear the beginning of her sobs.

“Hey.” Ethan’s voice was soft as Roxie rounded the corner of the kitchen, her face was puffy and her hair was tangled - a tell-tale sign of a Grayson fuck up. Maria was tucked into his side at the island, shooting Roxie a sympathetic smile as she poured herself a glass of water. “You hungry?”

“No - thanks though.” She shot them a fake smile before turning on her heel to go back to her room. Just as she was leaving the kitchen, a knock sounded on the door that had Grayson shuffling out of his room. As he glanced up at Roxie, his face fell slightly, but he kept walking, opening the door to reveal a tall girl in booty shorts with her makeup done to perfection. It was almost 10 PM.

“Rox-” Ethan spoke up as Grayson guided the girl to his room and shut the door without sparing another glance. Roxie didn’t look back at Ethan, just took a deep breath and took off to her room - hot tears running down her face as she heard the girl’s loud laugh echo through the house.

As she shut the door behind her, she sunk to the floor and buried her head in her hands. Throughout their extensive friendship, Grayson had never done something to purposely hurt her like this - and done it multiple times. He knew these new random hookups hurt Roxie’s feelings, but she hoped he would at least maybe stop now that she was back. Clearly, she was wrong - she wasn’t sure how much longer she could stay here if this was the new normal.

#grayson #grayson dolan #the dolan twins #dolan twins #grayson dolan fanfic #dolan twin fanfic #grayson dolan smut #grayson dolan fluff #grayson dolan angst #the dolan twin angst #dolan twin #grayson dolan imagine #grayson dolan ethan dolan #adolanables #bleed!grayson #roxie

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geek-gem · 4 years

Text

My Dog Passed Away Today

....I just want that title out of the way......but I wanna say something too. I’m not a guy while I do talk about my life sometimes or so. But I’m not a person who reveal big details. Especially of what I look like because I have some personal issues. Including you just wanna be careful with the internet. Despite two of my best friends talking about how it’s okay to show your face.

But.....something happened today and it’s that title. Today we were having this huge party. It was for the graduates that graduated this year. Especially me, and many people were in the pool. It went on for I think 2 hours my mom said. It was a lot of fun. At one point our dog Jojo, an American Bulldog was let out of this area we put him in. He got in the pool twice.

The first with many people in the pool. Basically that I recall they were cheering and glad he was in there. The second time he got in, two kids one of them being my niece was trying to water him and give him water. Despite it looked like she was trying to feed him water with a shovel. But it was nice to see him get that love and even being petted. But someone I knew but forgot said he seemed really hot. I think one of my family friends or my cousins girlfriend but I think family friend.....

So afterwards he was laying down under a palm tree. Then later I got out and was sitting on my towel on a couch...but when one of our family members or whoever was checking on him. She was having her kid play on a swing that I recall. She was wondering about him and I thought he was tired. But when I got there and just well...he wasn’t moving. She even felt him and said I think it didn’t seem like he was breathing. I even checked him and hoped I would hear a heartbeat....it felt like nothing. I even rubbed his stomach with my left hand.....then people were gathering and wondering....I was just outside. Even with my mom and dad checking on him...

I didn’t wanna believe him...I hoped it wasn’t true. But I was glad we had one of my family friends who was visiting saying stuff like he laid under a palm tree or something just this is too much details.....

When I got out there and I needed to know....heard my mom sniffing or so....she looked at me(and think she looked sad and might of sniffed) and said he passed away.

Even when I was inside....I told myself we should of let him inside more, Including I even told this to my mom and me saying I was a terrible owner, that I thought he may of never loved me. That I never prepared for something like this. I was guessing we would of put him down later in life. But she told me he was a 100 in well dog years which I asked or something......

I was actually crying....if I recall my mom said it was okay. But I said I was nearly 23 years old. With me again saying I don’t think he may of loved me. Because I mainly just fed him. She didn’t want me to look at dad holding him by what appeared to be his legs. Told her I was expecting him to carry him bridal style. I even offered to carry him but they didn’t. He put Jojo in the back of his truck.

Yet my mom was helping me or so. I said I am a man but she said it’s okay for a man to cry. But it’s the fact that I even said I handled myself better when her father died. Even told my mom, “Fuck the Summer” and that even before then the Vets should of been opened. His right eye looked weird.

Listen he was a big dog, I didn’t play with him much. He was I guess kind of lazy but I shouldn’t say that. But if I recall my mom and others told me he lived a full life. Again he was a 100 in dog years. I mainly fed him every day as much as I can. I worried and thought if I fed him too much. But just....it’s hard.

I am grateful my family and family friends were there to offer some reassurance. But I just felt angry....even said pain, misery, and suffering...I didn’t want the kids to see me like this. Luckily I took a shower. My dad told me they were gonna bury him in the backyard. But heard him mention backyard when I was done in the shower. Even asked my mom what do they do with a dead dog when I was outside....

While I didn’t see my brother much. Looked like he was affected too. He saw his corpse, but my brother was hanging out with his friends. His eyes were red and I even told my mom when the reveal was still fresh. I was telling her it shouldn’t end like this. I’m talking about the party....

I’m just grateful many people were helping out my mom clean up...even my nana was upset. Even mentioned the five stages of grief or so and I may of passed them already. But I’m just still upset.

But I’m just grateful and it feels symbolic that his last hour or his last moments. It was being surround by love, and he had got under a palm tree. I recall my mom telling me he died in his sleep. Think I even said at least or so that’s better than being put down.

I’m sorry this is long. At one point told my mom’s sister I might start drinking yet I’m not too serious. Yet she said no don’t drink or so. Even told my mom I don’t even know or just how do you tell the kids(my niece and nephew).

Again people were supportive. I felt a bit upset when my dad confirmed he didn’t have his fair share of pets dying when I asked if he had that happened. But my mom’s sister has had some pets died. My mom just came in to see if I was okay. Told her I’m doing okay I think. Yet also told her I’m gonna be in my room for a while. Along with her saying she’s out there if she wants to talk that I recall.....

Here are two photos I took of him that I would of shared with someone on Twitter of them asking to see pictures of our dogs to make him happy.....amazing this is sadly perfect timing.

The first was taken June 4th, and the second was taken June 18th.

He loved laying down there in the heat. Kind of like chilling in the sun. Especially on those rocks. The past some days he was being let in because it was getting so hot....I’m glad I kept these images...I’m definitely not gonna take a picture of his corpse because that’s fucked up. But I may take a picture when he’s buried.

Told my mom when we were outside I think at least no it was I don’t want another dog after this. I remember that I didn’t want a dog. But it was surprise that my dad got him.....I didn’t know how old he was but 100 years.....they said he lived his full life. That’s appreciated honestly. Think I may of said at least I don’t have to feed someone everyday but I forgot and that sounds stupid.......

He was a good dog. Oh my eyes a bit at times when making this. Even though I guess he was a lazy dog. But again he was a good dog. I’m sorry to say this but I felt I may know the pain Doomguy felt with Daisy....

Rest in peace Jojo. It was nice having you.

I’m wondering if I should tag this with my username tag and Jojo. But jojo is a tag and just....it’s maybe best or so not to. I just wanted to share that with all of you if I may not post some things or whatever else. I’m sorry this got long.

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darling-i-read-it · 4 years

Text

DAR Girls

Dean Forester (Gilmore AU) x reader

Word Count: 1.k

Warnings: none I don’t think

Author’s Note: I hope you enjoy and this is what you wanted!

Request; by anon, This might be to weird, but could you do a Gilmore Girls AU Dean is Rory's twin brother and reader is Deans nerdy girlfriend? And Dean takes reader to Friday night dinner and Emily decides to take reader on a Shopping spree? Then Emily introduces Reader to her DAR girls as "future Mrs. Dean Gilmore/ her future daughter in law"?

Summary: the request

Genre: fluff

(not my gif)

“Dean I don’t know…” you trailed off. Your boyfriend Dean had just asked you if you wanted to join him and his twin sister at Friday night dinner with his grandparents. You had heard from Rory that they weren’t really something that you would enjoy. In fact the two of them complained about it often.

But he told you that his grandparents were dying to meet the girl that they had heard so much about. You were still pretty hesitant, you weren’t great meeting new people. But for Dean you supposed you outta give it a shot, even if just for a night.

So there you were, standing with Dean, Rory and their mom Lorelai outside of a huge house. Dean had told you that his grandparents were living comfortably but not this comfortably. You looked down at your dress that you had thought was too much but now it seemed just about right.

The door opened, revealing a small older lady. You figured this was Emily Gilmore. Behind her was who you assumed was Richard.

“Hello! Come in, come in.” You all hurried inside and hung up jackets and took off shoes while you admired the interior of the house.

“You must be Y/N. We’ve heard so much about you. I’m Richard and this is my wife, Emily. Here come, dinner is almost ready,” Richard said, placing a hand behind you to lead you to the dining room. You smiled as Dean stayed beside you. You sat beside each other at the table, Lorelai and Rory on the other side and Emily and Richard as the head of the table. The food was already being served by the time you all were sitting down.

Emily wanted to get to know you right away. Dean had warned you that they might be nosy and rude but you expected that of all grandparents. They were probably just protective.

“So, Y/N. How’s school?” she inquired.

“Good!”

“What's your grade point average?”

“Mom!” Lorelai protested. You shook your head and smiled.

“Its alright Lorelai. I have a steady 3.9.” Dean had basically prepared you for the questions. He held your hand on the dinner table for some reassurance but you didn’t need it. You were answering her questions honestly with a steady voice which she seemed to appreciate. From what you could tell she really liked you so far.

Liked you enough where no one had intuprupted your conversation yet.

“Would you like to go shopping with me Y/N?” she asked when the dishes were being cleaned. This made most of the house stop. Richard had stopped mid getting up, Lorelai had her coat half on, Rory only had one shoe on and Dean had nearly fallen out of his chair. You smiled at her.

“Yes I’d quite like that,” you told her. She nodded and handed you your coat.

“I’ll see you tomorrow then. 7am sharp here?” You nodded and glanced at Dean.

“Mom, why didn’t you ever take me shopping?” Lorelai joked. Emily pursed her lips and looked at you.

“Sorry, I don’t remember you getting a 3.9 GPA ever in your life Lorelai,” she snapped which caused her daughter to roll her eyes. You walked with Dean out the door then and got in his car while Rory and her mom got into their car. He started it up and looked at you, smiling.

“She really liked you,” he said. Your eyes widened.

“Well I hope so. She invited me shopping tomorrow at 7 freaking am Dean on a Saturday,” you told him. He was still smiling and you were just glad you had made him happy. You would go tomorrow to shop with Emily Gilmore even in you had to drink four cups of coffees from Lukes to do it.

The next morning you knocked on the large door a coffee in hand (your 3rd). Emily walked out and lead you to the door and then drove you away to God knows where. You went shopping at the mall for a while and when she seemed to find a few acceptable outfits for you, she lead you to morning tea with her friends.

On the way there she explained to you her DAR group of girls and your anxiety heightened. You could handle Emily but handling like 4 Emilys? That's a lot. Nevertheless you tried to suppress your nerves and let her order you a cup of tea when she introduced you to the girls.

“This is my grandson Dean's girlfriend so in a few years time she will be taking up some places here as the future Mrs. Dean Gilmore,” she said with a smile. The girls flocked around you and started asking questions but you were still flustered about Emilys ‘Mrs.Dean Gilmore’ comment.

You managed to get through the rest of the morning and flopped beside Dean on his couch that Saturday afternoon.

“She called me Mrs.Dean Gilmore,” you told him as you took off your terribly tight high heels. He raised an eyebrow and leaned forward, rubbing your back.

“Well I suppose if anyone was going to propose to you for me it would be my grandmother. Give it a few years, she’ll get on her knee before I do,” he joked. You turned to him and smiled, taking a few clips out of your hair.

“You wanna marry me one day?” you asked. He nodded like it was a stupid question.

“‘Course. Maybe after we graduate and stuff but one day you’ll get to be a DAR girl full time,” he said with a smile. You rolled your eyes and leaned back on the couch.

“Please don’t make me Dean,” you murmured. He rubbed your arm with a chuckle.

“I won’t but Emily Gilmore might.”

Part 2

#dean forester imagines #dean forester x reader #gilmore girls imagine

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zankivich · 5 years

Text

Neighbors: Shawn x Plus-Size Reader: Epilogue Part 2: The End

a/n: I can’t believe this story is done. It gave me so much happiness and so much goodness just to get to know these two characters and to get to be a part of how they loved. When I first started this story I really just wanted to see myself. I had just started liking Shawn and I couldn’t envision myself in his world yet, not that I need to be there, but that a part of my young little fangirl heart really needed. It was such an honor to write this story. I hope it meant something to you. It sure as hell meant something to me. K bye.

*Shawn’s point of view*

When the morning sickness comes, it comes with a fucking vengance. It’s like clock work. Every night by three am she’s up out of bed, with her head in the toilet. So, every night by three am he’s got her legs in his lap while her head is in the toilet. For a while she can’t keep anything down, and it worries him endlessly. She loses some weight, which just seemed like the opposite of what was supposed to happen, so he begs her to go to the doctor, and she obliges him. He switches to flying exclusively on the private jet, just so she can come with him on the off chance he needs to leave home. At that point he would’ve done anything to make her more comfortable.

And that’s the good news. He read horror stories about the strain that pregnancy could put on a marriage or a relationship. Mostly because he was buying any pregnancy book he could get his hands on at that point. His own mother had told both of them a detailed account of the time she threw a sandwich at his father’s head because it didn’t have mayo on it. A sandwich. But y/n seemed to lean on him more than ever. Instead of pushing him away, she felt like she could rely on him, and she wasn’t afraid to ask him for things anymore. He loved it.

He’s in a studio session with Teddy and Scott trying to figure out how to do whatever it is that they do again when she calls him. He’s in the booth, mid vocal and everything, but he leaves his phone on just in case she needs him.

“Baby? What’s wrong, is the baby okay?” he asked slipping his headphones off to hear her better.

Her voice is small like she might get in trouble.

“Yea, the baby is fine. Sorry, I know I keep scaring you every time I call.”

“No. No, I want you to call every time. No matter what. What’s up?”

“Well….it’s just that I was really craving french fries.” She mumbled. “And so I was kinda hoping you might want to meet for lunch today?”

Literally the cutest human on the face of the planet.

He chuckled. “I’d love to. Where you do you wanna go?”

“We can figure that out when you pick me up from work, just bring the fries with you.”

“You want the fries before lunch?”

“Yes. Yes. I do.”

Of course she did.

“I’ll be there in an hour okay?”

“Okay. I love you.”

“I love you too sweetheart. I can’t wait to see you.”

He gets off the phone and finally stares up through the window of the booth where his friends have all heard him completely ditch his recording session to take his person french fries. He smiled and waved, but they were not impressed. And thus were the trials of pregnancy.

***

y/n’s pov

No one prepares you for the sex thing. In all of the stories from Shawn’s parents, from Zubein and his wife, hell even your mom on occasion, no one had ever mentioned that you were going to turn into a boarderline sex addict in your second trimester. And certainly no one told you that your person, your human, your love, was going to not want to touch you. No one ever told you about that shit.

When the morning sickness lets up, and you can finally stomach food again, some cravings naturally start to pop up. Not that nasty pickles and peanut butter shit, but like real food. For instance once at four o’clock in the morning, you needed to have your famous yellow cake with chocolate swiss meringue, which meant Shawn needed to make it for you right there and then. It was terrible. He nearly set the kitchen on fire. But he took you to a 24/7 diner and bought you chocolate chip pancakes and let you snuggle into his sweater, so honestly it was a win win type scenario. After the weird cravings comes an absolute fire in your loins. Your lobido fucking skyrocketed and there wasn’t much you could think of to help besides him.

Morning times meant sharing the shower with each other to spend time together before you both went to work. When you see him standing there beneath the showerhead, his curls soaking wet and the water flowing over his belly and down his thighs your body naturally had questions of the dick variety.

You wrapped your arms around him from behind, lips pressing against his skin into a smile.

“Someone’s happy this morning.” He chuckled.

“You have no idea.” You hummed. “Shawn?”

He turned in your arms, hands immediately going to your belly instead of any other part of your body.

“Yea, sweetheart?”

You frowned slightly and lifted up onto your tiptoes to kiss at his jaw. “Can we have a little fun before work? I don’t have any meetings this morning.”

“O--Oh...But I gotta get to the studio, honey.”

You shook your head tugging him closer. “It can wait. Please? It’s been a while.”

You weren’t used to having to...beg. It felt kind of beneath you. Years of Shawn getting a whiff of your shampoo and knocking you into the headboard had made you grow soft. Shawn had never turned you down before. Not without it eventually leading to sex. This was your new territory. And quite frankly you were not a fan.

“I’m sorry, love. I really do have to go the studio okay? We can talk when you get home from work.”

He kissed your forehead and leaned down to kiss your stomach before he was out of the shower so fast you weren’t so sure he’d been there to begin with. It was….odd.

You had like...girlfriends now. After your reawakening at twenty-six, you had taken it upon yourself to be more intentional about creating relationships with people. It resulted it in some really incredible friendships. The kind of friendships where you didn’t feel bad relying on people, didn’t feel like a burden on them because they never let you. Enter your friends Cynthia and Taylor.

y/n: Can we do a woman’s lunch today tbh? My person is ruining my life.

Cynthia: WHAT HE DO? You want us to cut him?

Taylor: Down kitty. You have to stop threatening to cut people. Let’s do lunch, you can vent to us. We’ll fix it!

y/n: God, I love you both. Yay.

You leave work early and wobble your ass off to lunch with your bitches. Shawn texts to check in twice before noon, but both times are of the baby variety and nothing more. You get a little angrier each time. And then you sit down at lunch and your best friends order cocktails and you get even angrier. Ugh.

“I can’t believe I let a man impregnate me.” You huff stabbing your fork into your salad. “I really let him catch me slipping. The patriarchy. Disgusting.”

Taylor snorted. “I quite love the fact that your second trimester is full of feminist rants by the way. I find it to be very entertaining.”

“Well I’m glad that we’re all revelling in my misery. I’m glad I’m providing quality content for the both of you.” You grumbled. “It’s fucking cold. My tits are numb and I hate everything.”

Cynthia chortled. “Girl you are on one today. Why don’t you just tell us what the hell happened?”

You squirmed slightly in your seat. The frustration was taking its toll on your body and your emotions. You’d had enough and it wasn’t even just Shawn at this point. You were just...angry.

“I have an eight ounce sirloin steak kicking at my uterus. I’ve gained twenty pounds. My mother-in-law sewed spandex into my jeans the other day. I ran into a door and my boobs are so sore I cried for thirty minutes. And I haven’t even been at work for four hours. I’m annoyed okay. And all I wanted ...the only thing I really wanted was an orgasm! Is that too much to ask for?”

Cynthia, and this is why you loved her with everything in you, followed you for every word. As if she just knew what you were saying and agreed with you endlessly. She was a ride or die through and through. A beautiful, ethereal black woman with a brilliant afro and these badass circular rimmed glasses that were gold and complimented her skin perfectly. She was beautiful. And vibrant. And loud. And completely unapologetic.

“Yes. I mean that’s what you deserve. For sure.” She shrugged. “So, he couldn’t make you cum, is that it? Men. The worst.”

“”Couldn’t?!’ He didn’t even try. He won’t touch me unless it’s my stomach, or talking to the baby. I am no longer his life partner, I am no longer his lover, I am just a vessel for a baby. And that’s it.”

Taylor was the thinker of the group. She was damn near a philosopher. When you needed advice, she was the one you went to. Taylor was Canadian born and raised, but her parents were turkish immigrants. She was similarly incredibly gorgeous. She was thick in every sense of the word. Thick in her thighs. Thick in her hair. Thick in her eyebrows. She was a beautiful Brown dream. And you were just quite honestly stunned by their beauty most of the time.

“So… let’s backtrack. You’re frustrated, of course. You’re in the middle of your second trimester. Emotions are rampant. Let’s focus on what’s really irritating you.” She murmured.

“Shawn. Shawn is really irritating me.”

“Okay. And Shawn is really irritating because why?”

“Because...Because I need to cum.” You sputtered. “He’s always made me cum. Why would he choose now of all times to not make me cum.”

“She’s got a point. They have more sex than an episode on Showtime.” Cynthia butt in.

You nodded in agreeance.

Taylor rolled her eyes. “Well yes. I understand. Why do we think that he’s not making you cum? Have you talked to him about it?”

“Maybe it’s because I look like a beach whale?”

“No negative self-talk!”

“I have got to get a friend who is not a therapist.” You whined.

“You need me. You’re lucky I don’t charge your asses. Now think it through. Talk it out. There’s no wrong way right now. Shawn isn’t here. You can be honest with us.”

Taylor was genuine. And most geniuses are often times unappreciated in life.

You reached for your iced tea all frowns and indigestion.

“I think, based off the signals that I have been receiving, that he isn’t attracted to me like this. I think that he sees me as a mom now, and not at a sexual being.” You said honestly. “He’s just always touching my stomach and always talking to my stomach, and always talking about the baby. Sometimes I feel like I don’t exist anymore.”

“Awww babes, that is so sad.” Cynthia murmured reaching for your hand.

Taylor nodded. “That’s fair. So let’s unpack it. How do you view your body right now?”

“Oh, T, can we please not analyze me right now? Please? I just need you be my friend right now okay? I didn’t come here to get my problem solved. I came here to eat lunch with my friends and complain a little bit.”

“Fine, fine! My bad.” She raised her hands in defense. “Why don’t we just talk about what it is you want instead? No filter. Just go.”

“Thank you.” You smiled softly at her. “I really...just want him to rail me like a car hitting a light pole at maximum velocity.”

At that very moment, your waiter arrived with the check, and seemed to blush head to toe. Whoops.

“She’s pregnant.” Cynthia explained. “It’s the hormones.”

Friendship.

***

Shawn’s point of view*

“I don’t care about what they want, Andrew. I’m thirty years old for Christ’s sake, I’m not a teeny bopper anymore.” He grunted trying to balance the groceries and still unlock the front door.

“Yes, no I understand. They just want to manage the sex appeal a little bit. Timberlake, Bieber, Mayer, doesn’t matter who you are. It’s important to remind the female dominated fanbase that you’re...you know? A sexual being.”

Listening to andrew try and explain concepts that he himself wasn’t even interested in was always a hoot.

“A sexual being? I’m having a goddamn baby, Andrew.”

“Yes well, the public doesn’t know that yet. Maybe just a photoshoot? A magazine cover? You wouldn’t even have to leave Toronto. It’ll get them off our backs and you can just finish up the album you wanna make, yea?”

He headed straight for the kitchen where the tea kettle was going, but his person was mysteriously missing from her cup.

“Babe! I’m home!” He called, setting the groceries down, finally. “Whatever. Send me a proposal, I guess, and I’ll look over it. I’m not guaranteeing anything. My fans have seen my abs before, I don’t think it’s gonna sell more records than we’re already selling. I’ll talk to you tomorrow, alright?”

“Sounds good. Love you man.”

“Yea, love you too.” He sighed ending the call. “Babe?! Where are you?”

He hears the door to the downstairs bathroom open, and she walks out in this adorable dress with her fleece lined leggings. She looks soft and cuddly and he’s already hopeful that she’ll let him snuggle her into the couch and watch a movie after dinner. He’s kind of obsessed with her. Like always.

“This child is literally sitting on my bladder at this point.” She groaned rubbing at her stomach.

He reached for her immediately, his hands cupping at her now unhidable baby bump that drove him crazy on a daily basis.

“You gotta let mommy have a break, little one.” He hummed peering down at her bump. “We don’t wanna tire her out too much before you arrive.”

She lets out a little breath and pulls away from him to go back to her tea. He went for the groceries to begin putting them away, and set aside what she’d asked him to grab for dinner.

“Hey I thought we could do a movie night on the couch after dinner? Cuddle a little bit?”

“I don’t know. I’m kind of tired.”

“Oh. Okay. Well we can watch them in bed too. I don’t mind where, just wanna be with you.”

“Yea, maybe.”

He paused by the cabinet with a box of pasta in one hand and flour in the other. She was on the other side of the kitchen pouring water into her cup. She set the tea kettle back and immediately left the room. He could practically feel the emotion coming off of her. The silent treatment certainly wasn’t subtle either.

“Hey,” He asked softly plopping down on the couch. “Are you feeling okay? Everything alright with the baby?”

She rolled her eyes and let out a sarcastic snort. “The baby. Is. Fine. Shawn. They’re fine.”

“Okay, well is something else bothering you that you’d like to let me in on?”

“I don’t know, is there something you want to tell me?”

He raised an eyebrow. “No? Is there something you would like me to tell you?”

“No. I guess not. “

His person, and she was his person for sure, was a little hard to read sometimes. And by hard to read, he definitely meant incredibly easy to read, and so deeply difficult to get through to. Perhaps pregnancy simply amplified emotions, because she might as well as had a neon sign that said, “I AM PISSED AT YOU” on her forehead.

“Look in the interest of time, and both of our headaches, why don’t you just tell me what I did wrong so I can get to apologizing already.”

Mistake. Total mistake. You can love someone for years and you can learn and grow together and allow yourself to be vulnerable with them in every way. It doesn’t mean you’re always gonna get it right. That’s never guaranteed. Clearly.

“No! No you don’t get to just make me share my emotions before I’m ready! I’m a goddamn human being, alright I’m not just a reciprocal. I’m not just a place for you put it! God, Shawn. You are such an ass.”

And then she’s off the couch and stomping up the stairs in anger. She definitely also quoted Lady Gaga’s documentary. He made a mental note to stop watching documentaries before bed. It never went well. Last month she woke up in the middle of the night, thought he was a prison guard from a documentary on the prison industrial complex in the states, and definitely jabbed him in the throat. Documentaries. Big no no.

He figures that’s his cue to make dinner. She almost never let him cook, but he knew she’d be even angrier if there was nothing to eat when this was over. He spends a little time trying to figure out what he could have done. But things had been going so well, that he’s truly at a loss. They both went to work every day. They spent their evenings together. He rubbed cocoa butter on her stomach every night for Christ’s sake. He spent hours whispering to her belly and playing guitar so that their baby would know the scales straight from the womb. What could possibly be wrong?

He makes her famous spaghetti bolognese and only burns the garlic once, so that’s a first. He leaves the food on the stove and heads for the stairs in the hopes that she’ll be ready to talk to him. Outside of their bedroom door though, there’s the sound of crying and his heart just instantly breaks. He doesn’t do well with a sad y/n. Ever. It killed him. This was a well known fact.

So maybe he burst into the room and collapsed a little bit at her feet. Who was keeping track? Not him. That was for damn sure.

“Hey, please don’t cry. Please, I can’t watch you cry. Whatever I did just--just tell me and I’ll make it right. I never wanna hurt you, you gotta know that.” He begged.

“It’s stupid. This is stupid!” She sobbed.

“Okay. Okay, this is new for us. I am just slightly freaking out that I may have broken you! Please talk to me!”

“You’re not attracted to me anymore!”

That certainly gave him pause.

“That’s crazy, sweetheart. What are you even talking about?!”

She keeps sobbing. Her face is red. Cheeks wet. And his heart is exploding in his chest. He’s got no fucking clue what he’s supposed to do. He broke his person!

“I looked like a whale ate Kim Kardashian when she was pregnant with North West! My shoes don’t fit anymore, and my goddamn feet hurt. I feel like Mike Tyson has been punching my fucking tits. And you don’t wanna have sex with me anymore, now?! Out of all the times in the world? Now I’m so fucking repulsive that the love of my life won’t even touch me?! I JUST NEEDED DICK OKAY?”

She keeps crying , and his heart keeps hammering, and he knows that he has to figure something out, or this isn’t going to get any better. She’s in absolute hysterics and it is somehow, even though he was still struggling to figure that part out, completely his fault.

He reached for the box of tissues and patted gently at her eyes to get rid of some of the wetness. He held another tissue to her nose and ordered her to blow, which somehow only made her cry more. It is the most heightened expression of emotions he had ever seen from her. And it’s awful, and he hates it, and he just needs to make her smile. So, he wraps her up in his arms and he shhh’s her as he rocks her gently back and forth waiting for the sobs to subside before speaking.

“Honey, I don’t know what I did to make you think I’m not attracted to you.” He murmured playing with her hair soothingly. “But I’ve never not been attracted to you. From the moment I laid eyes on you, I’ve always thought you were the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen. I love you so much.”

She pulled just slightly away enough to look him in the eyes, her own red and swollen with a sadness in them that cut him deep.

“Then why haven’t we had sex in over a month, Shawn?” She sniffled. “You’re repulsed by me. Just admit it.”

He sighed peering down at his person who he’s somehow managed to deeply hurt without even being aware of it. He felt like the world’s biggest asshole.

“How could you say to me?” He asked. “I’m not repulsed by you, y/n. I just...I just I don’t wanna hurt the baby.”

She bit her lip, her sadness turning to anger like the flip of the switch. She yanked herself from his arms and moved to the opposite side of the bed.

“That’s exactly what I’m talking about! You don’t even view me as a human being anymore. I’m just a casing, I’m the thing that holds the thing you really care about.”

“What the hell, y/n; where is this coming from?”

“It’s coming from the fact that you don’t treat me like anything other than the thing that’s holding your baby anymore. You don’t talk to me, you talk to my stomach. You don’t look at me unless you’re mentioning the baby. What’s the fucking point anymore. Why don’t I just lay down in bed for five more months and maybe the baby will roll out and you can go live happily ever after.”

He’s admittedly angry at first. Angry because his person is telling him something he doesn’t want to hear. That he’d failed somehow at loving her, had let her down and made her believe that he didn’t want her the way that he used to. He’s angry because she’d reverted back to a place they hadn’t been in years, a place of being unable to be honest and upfront with each other. She hid it away until it boiled, until it was undisguisable, until she literally exploded, and he hated when she did that.

But he’s older now. He’s a little wiser. Maybe. He at least knows her better. Understands her better. It’s when he takes a deep breath and just allows himself to actually absorb what she’s told him that he understands. This is about insecurities. It’s about fears that had been eating her up inside for who knows how long, and her not wanting to admit that to herself, let alone him. He’s in the wrong for not explaining himself, and he can see how he fed into her insecurities. It’s both of their faults, as it so often the case in these scenarios. But, he’ll do just about anything to make it better. Always.

“Okay. I--I understand. I see that I’ve hurt you, that I haven’t been treating you the way that you want and deserve. I’m sorry.”

Her arms are crossed and she tilts her head in his direction, but still barely looks at him. He takes a chance and scoots a little closer.

“Y/n...At the risk of sharing too much information in the wrong moment. . . I haven’t been able to masturbate to something that isn’t you since our four month anniversary.”

Her eyes widen and her anger falters.

“W--What?”

“Trust me, I’ve tried. My dick is kind of emotionally invested in you, and it hasn’t been the same since.” He shrugged. “I am...so incredibly in love with you. I’m never going to want anything else. Even when you’re screaming at me until you’re red in the face, I’m still gonna want you. The only reason why I haven’t wanted to have sex is because I don’t want to hurt you, or the baby. I know it’s silly. I’ve read the books. But you are the most important thing in my life okay? You and this baby are all that I have; you’re all that matters. I need you to believe that. Tell me you believe that.”

She bit her lip, fingers picking anxiously at the skin of her nails that sat in her lap. He moved even closer and wrapped his arms around her.

“You’re gonna be the mother of my child, y/n. That is literally the sexiest thing I could think of. I don’t hate your body. I love your body! And I’m so sorry I haven’t been showing you that. I thought that by showing you how much the baby meant to me that I was showing you how much you mean to me. I understand now that it needs to be seperate a little bit, that you’re still a person too. These are the last months we’re ever gonna have to ourselves, and I should be cherishing the hell out of you. I’m just--shit I’m sorry, okay?”

He tugs at a strand of her hair, and she peers up at them with those big ass eyes and he just falls all over again. He means every word, and he means it more when she looks at him like that. When he pokes at the dimples in her cheeks and she finally smiles, he feels accomplished in life.

“Why didn’t you just say that a fuckin month ago.” She whined.

He snorted softly. “Why didn’t you tell me I wasn’t keeping you satisfied a month ago?”

“Excuse me?! I tried! I practically begged your ass. What did you want me to do, get on my knees?”

“Well it wouldn’t have hurt.” He joked.

Something in her broke. Maybe not in that moment. Maybe it was the time her blatter turned to the size of a pea, or when her breasts turned into over abused punching bags from hell. Regardless in that moment she seemed to think of nothing more reasonable in the world than twisting his nipples. And thus she did. And thus he was in pain.

“Y/n what the fuck!” He cried covering his chest. “That hurt!”

“Haha motherfucker!”

Wow.

“I’m pregnant, dammit; I cannot be held accountable for my actions.” She shrugged.

“Jesus Christ.” He huffed. “How much longer are you going to be pregnant?”

“You did this to me! You and your fucking ‘holier than thou dick’ that just had to bring another child into this fucked up world. Deal with it, alright?”

“You’re...so scary. Can we please stop fighting now? I don’t like it.”

He tucked her into his side hugging her tightly against his body. She hid her face in his neck and he could smell the scent of lavender and cocoa butter. And his heart felt like it expanded against his ribcage. How dare she ever think he couldn’t be attracted to her. He was obsessed with her. Had been since he laid eyes on her.

“Can you just kiss me for once? And not my stomach. Me.” She whispered.

He reached for her face, fingers tracing at the shape of her jaw as he pulled her close. He poured himself into the kiss as much as he could. She’d always been an incredible kisser, always gave just as much as she received. He knows that he’s got her, when she does this little whimper and her shoulders relax. He kisses her with tongue and with his teeth and with his hands on the back of her neck. Granted it’s a kiss they haven’t shared for some time now, but it’s still one he’s always willing to give her.

She’s the first one to pull away and it’s only because she’s out of breath. He presses his forehead against hers and smiles a little dopely.

“I love you.” He mumbled. “Always. Please believe me?”

“I believe you. I do.”

***

*y/n’s point of view*

“What are we gonna name ‘em?” Shawn asked.

It was on a random Tuesday dinner date. You tried to go out and spend time together outside of the house whether it was bowling or food or random art fairs. You prefered the food ones obviously.

“Huh?” You asked over your pasta.

“The baby? We never really discussed it.”

Shawn reached for his pellegrino, because if you weren’t drinking he sure as hell wasn’t, as you took a second of pause. You’d unanimously decided not to know the sex assigned at birth until...well the sex was assigned at birth. It meant a lot to you, to try not to enforce gender norms as much as you could, and Shawn was just as supportive if not more after growing up being called a girl for five years when he decided he wanted to sing.

“Hmmm I guess you’re right. Anything in mind?”

“Shawn Jr sounds good to me.” He grinned.

You rolled your eyes. “Anything else in mind?”

“...I really like the name Penelope. I think it’s cute. Or, Isabella maybe? We could call her Izzy.”

“You think we’re having a girl, aye?”

His cheeks turned red and you remembered that you loved him more than anyone could ever love.

“N--No. I just...you know I’d love any baby in the world that we made.I just certainly would not be mad if that baby happened to be a little girl.” He shrugged.

“And you don’t think that it will be too much estrogen? Too much femininity around you for the rest of time? Periods and uncontrollable emotions and what not?”

He rolled his eyes. “What is it the seventies? You’re the strongest person I’ve ever met. The strongest people I’ve ever met are always women. I’d be lucky to live in a house where we get to raise another one.”

You couldn’t help the smile that grew wide and full on your face. He was cute. And mature. And smart. You were kind of obsessed with him. And still...where did he come from?

“Penelope, aye?” You hummed.

His eyes widened and he smiled nodding in that very goofy way of his that had his curls flopping this way and that.

You loved him far too much for your own good.

***

*Shawn’s point of view*

8 months. 8 months of buying a new bed because the old one made her back hurt. 8 months of baby proofing a house that was suddenly way too big. 8 months of pancake runs at two in the morning. 8 months of massaging her feet for forty minutes because every time he touched them she grew physically repulsed by the thought of someone touching her feet. 8 months of some of the most trying arguments they’d ever had. Yes, choosing between lavender and grey or yellow and grey as a color scheme can wind you up sleeping in the guest bedroom. Who would’ve thought that the greatest argument they would ever have would be over her working? Oh wait, literally anyone but his moronic ass. Of course.

“Babe, the tension in your shoulders is insane.” He grumbled digging into her back. “I really think it might be time to start slowing down.”

She rolled her eyes. “Slowing down, eh? And just where do you want me to slow down Shawn? You already do everything. I haven’t been allowed to do laundry since I could no longer see my toes because of my belly and not my boobs for once.”

“I think...I think maybe we should broach the topic of you taking some time off work again.”

“Nope. Absolutely not. I’m not taking time off.”

He sighed. “Honey, your job offers 15 weeks of paid leave. We don’t even have that much time left at this point. And even if it wasn’t paid leave, I am an actual millionaire. The baby is going to be here soon. Maybe you should rest yourself while you can.”

She tugged her way out of his arms, flustered and frustrated immediately. He could feel even more tension coming off of her. It was the absolute opposite of what he wanted, but with y/n it was also sort of inevitable.

“I don’t need rest, Shawn! It’s not about the money; it’s the principle. You think my mother took maternity leave when she was raising four kids with a husband who was a filthy drunk?”

He scooted a little closer and reached for her hands, fingers intertwining stubbornly. But she’s got that furrow in her brow, and that firm set of her lip that she always gets when they fight. And he hates it because she still wants to kiss her and it always makes his brain very confused in these moments.

“Your mother was in a completely different situation! We are extremely privileged and extremely lucky to bring a kid into this world in the healthiest way that we can. I want you to be the healthiest that you can. Now you have fought me every step of the way, but please just--can we please just look at how many hours your putting into this place?” He huffed. “Because whether you want to believe or not, when we’re parents you’re going to have to cut back regardless.”

“Cut back?” She asked softly.

His person had the ability to be more terrifying than a hitman sometimes. This was most definitely one of those moments.

“I have to cut back? What the fuck are you going to be doing, aye? Are you cutting back, Shawn? Are you gonna stop touring? Stop doing promo tours for weeks at a time? Why does the woman always have to cut back?! How fucking dare you.”

“This is not that! Don’t make it out to be some attack against your womanhood. You’re pushing a human being out of your hips, y/n! I get a cold and I’m down for a week, one might think that BIRTHING A HUMAN deserves some recovery time!”

“It’s my fucking body! Why don’t you let me decide me what the hell I do with it, aye?!”

“Because if I left it up to you, you’d be working more than an eight year old in a sweatshop in Taiwan! It’s not just your body anymore. We’re about to be parents, y/n. Every decision we make has to have another human at the core of it. We don’t get to come first anymore. Not our careers, not our wants, none of it. You working your body into the ground isn’t an option!”

When her eyes well up it’s the worst thing ever. The amount of time he spent trying to balance her emotions was enough for him to recognize when he was doing a really shitty job at it. Not that it changed how he felt. Y/n was the hardest working person he’d ever met. She worked harder than he did, and that was saying something. She was so important to him though. He didn’t quite know how to explain that as much as the baby mattered, as much as the baby was already infinitely important, the baby wasn’t there yet. All he had was his person, his love, his light. And he’d do anything in the world to protect her. Anything.

“Great so… I am a shitty mother already and apparently a shitty person.” She mumbled tears dripping over her cheeks. “I’m really glad we had this talk. I’m going to take a shower.”

“Y/n. Y/n, baby please. Please just let me talk to you.” He begged. “That is not what I’m saying and you know it.”

Even with her adorable pregnant waddle and her hands up on her lower back to support herself, she gets to the bathroom and locks it before he can get to her. Which just leaves him on the other side of the door calling out for her.

“Sweetheart, please open the door! I--I didn’t want to hurt you. I just want to talk like adults, okay? I just, I’m worried about you and I want you to be safe.”

The water turns on to the bathtub instead of the shower and he knows he’s in for the long haul tonight. He’d be lucky if she came out of there by the weekend.

*Four hours later*

He’s woken up by the door opening. He must have fallen asleep against it because he nearly falls when she opens the door. Not that that mattered in the slightest to y/n who simply stepped over his body and kept it pushing. She gets dressed in their closet in silence. Doesn’t acknowledge him in the slightest. It’s like walking on eggshells. And he honestly doesn’t mind. Her emotions had been out of whack for the duration of her pregnancy. If she needed to be mad at him, that was okay. He just couldn’t go to sleep without letting her know that he loved her. It was their thing. No matter how angry, how annoyed, how tired. They had to tell each other they loved each other every night.

He finds her in their closet, big t-shirt stretched over her stomach with her belly button sticking clear out. When he makes eye contact with her, she immediately looks away.

“Move, Shawn.”

He moved his arms to either side of the doorway, only blocking her further.

“No. Not until you tell me you love me.”

Her eyes turned to slits. “Excuse me? That’s not fair and you know it.”

“What’s not fair y/n? Asking you tell me you love me? Are you really so angry with me you can’t say it, cause if so I think that’s something I deserve to know.”

She tugged at her hair, fingers knotting in the strands anxiously.

“I just don’t want to be pressured into saying it. Is that too much to ask?”

He bit his lip stepping closer so that her stomach was pressed to his.

“But...we never go to bed without it. I’m not saying we need to fix it all tonight. I’m saying, I just want the love of my life to assure me a little that we’re still in this together. Is that too much to ask?”

She rolled her eyes so hard he worried they might pop out of her head. And then she pushed forward, knocking him out of the way so that she could get out of the closet.

“I love you. And I am pissed at you. And I don’t want to speak to you for the rest of the night.”

He knew he was in deep shit when her body pillows had been stacked into a literal barrier between his side of the bed and her’s. She always let him hold her at night. She said the baby tended to sleep closer to him, as if they knew their daddy was close by. It was the sweetest thing in the world anyone had ever said to him. He cried for like an hour over it. Now he was left staring at a pillow that entirely covers his person. Wonderful.

***

*three days later*

He’s at the gym with his trainer trying to push out his fifth mile when his phone rings. It’s summer in Toronto and his view of the sun from the gym is just enough to keep him motivated to keep running. His air pods are already in so he takes the call trying to push through the wall that says, “ five miles is dumb, please stop”. His phone is still in his pocket, so he doesn’t get to see who the number is before he answers.

“Hello, is this a Mr. Shawn Peter Raul Mendes?”

“This is he.” He huffed, stilling running.

“Sir, I have you listed as the emergency contact for a Ms. y/f/n y/l/n. Your wife was admitted to St. Joseph’s Health Centre this afternoon. She--”

“Y/n?! W--What happened?! Is she okay?”

He went to jump get off the treadmill, tripping just enough on the mat to send him scraping against the machine with his shin. It doesn’t matter though, he’s up immediately. Nothing else matters in that moment. He doesn’t even tell his trainer goodbye, is already running to find his keys before the voice on the phone can even get a word in.

“Sir, she experienced a fall at work it seems. The doctors are running tests to check on your wife’s pregnancy as we speak.”

“I--I’m on my way! I’m coming right now!”

It’s a thirty-six minute drive to the hospital from his gym and his heart is racing the entire time. He stupidly tries to call her phone only for it to go to voicemail five times over. His hands tremble against the steering wheel so bad he’s afraid he might crash. It doesn’t occur to him to call his parents, call her mom, call anyone. He just has to get to her. He really needs to get to her.

He almost left the keys in the ignition, car still running, and had to run back to get to them. It only eats up more time. He still has zero idea how serious things are and there are a million and one thoughts of how bad it could be running through every nerve ending in his body. He needs her. He needs to see her. Now.

“I--I’m here to see y/f/n y/l/n?!” He gushed at the desk, his heart rampant in his sturnemum. “Please. Please it’s my person. She’s my person I--I have to see her.”

“Sir. Calm down. I can’t understand a word you’re saying.” The nurse shushed.

He shook his head voice on the cusp of begging. “Ma’am, please. Please just take me to see her. You--You called and said that she was in pain, that she fell. She’s pregnant. Please, ma’am just tell me where she is?”

“Okay now just take a deep breath. What’s the last name again?”

“y/l/n!” He replied impatiently, no breaths to be taken.

Her fingers begin working on the keyboard, and he nestles his fingers along the swallow necklace he still wore to try and calm himself down. It didn’t work.

“And sir what is your relationship to the patient? Are you her husband?”

“I--I...she’s my person. We’re not married, but we’ve been together for over six years.”

“Are you her emergency contact? You’re not technically immediate family, sir.”

It’s definitely not a great moment for him. Y/n is hurt and no one can seem to tell him anything that isn’t prolonging his eyes being on her. He’s frustrated and his blood is rushing through his ears. He’s terrified. Actually terrified. And this just happens to be the straw to break the Canadian kindness’ back.

“I am the only goddamn family that matters! Now you called me. She’s in pain. She’s hurt. You called me, and I need to see her. She’s holding our baby and I want to see my person! Now dammit!”

*y/n’s point of view*

There is something truly remarkable about the way he runs into the room. Maroon nike running shorts. Tube socks. Head band firmly in place. There is blood running down his leg and he looks as scared as you felt that morning. Something about seeing him run into your hospital room with some tiny woman chasing him with a clipboard of paperwork is actually the funniest thing you may have ever seen in your life. So, excuse you if after a somewhat tragic day you can’t help but giggle in the face of his fear.

“Are you okay?! Are you okay? Oh my god, let me hold you.” He sighed taking you into his arms immediately.

Your giggles died down as he quickly began to inspect you with cautious, tear glazed eyes. His palms cupped your cheeks, his lips frantic against yours, and still not stopping there. He touched you everywhere. His fingers dipped hesitantly over your shoulders and down to your stomach cupping it softly. You pressed your forehead against his and breathed deeply as each of you let a few tears escape. It had been an event free pregnancy all things considered, and a scare now was perhaps the worst thing imaginable for the two of you.

“Are you okay?” He whispered. “I--Is the baby okay? Please talk to me.”

“We’re okay.” You assured him. “Everything’s okay.”

When his lips find yours a second time, it’s a lot less frantic and a lot more loving. You tuck yourself into his hold, fully content with the way he’s breathing life back into your being. His tongue teases your bottom lip and it all feels better instantly. He does a familiar dance of rubbing your thighs in his too large hands, and you practically purr. And then the doctor clears her throat.

“So sorry to interrupt!” She smiled. “I’m Dr. Cohen.”

Shawn pulls away with a bit of a huff, his entire body still blocking you from view from anyone else. It’s possessive and needy and everything you could ever ask for.

“I think we have to get a marriage lisence, or I might actually have to commit murder.” He grunted.

You raised an eyebrow. “Did you just propose to me? Also why are you bleeding?”

“Maybe. Probably.” He shrugged. “I fell on the treadmill when I got the call. Needed to get to you. The nurse assumed I was your husband because I’m your emergency contact, but when I got here and she realized the last names were different, she didn’t want to let me get to you.”

Another giggle passes through your lip. Of course this was the love of your life. An actual, genuine fucking dork. Thank god.

“Let’s unpack that later.”

“Okay.”

Shawn refused to take the seat that Dr. Cohen offered him, choosing instead to squish beside you on the examination table, hands touching or rubbing some part of you at all times. You don’t mind. After the morning you had, you thought maybe being in his arms forever was all you needed.

“Alright, Mr. Mendes. Your wife wanted to wait for your arrival to discuss what happened.” She explained. “She fainted in the middle of a meeting at work. Luckily a coworker was able to catch her and help her in time, so that no damage was done to the baby.”

He immediately looked worriedly over at you, his eyebrows and forehead wrinkled as he squeezed tenderly at your fingers.

“W--Why though? She’s never fainted before. Not once. Is it the baby?”

Dr. Cohen smiled reassuringly. “So, technically, yes it is the baby. But neither the baby or y/n are in any danger. What happened to you is actually fairly common. Basically what’s happening is that your blood vessels are widening and relaxing so that enough blood can get to your baby to keep them healthy. Really helpful for the baby, but it takes a longer trip now to get back to mommy. Usually this just means a little dizziness, but y/n in your intake paperwork it says you had been leading a workshop at the time you fainted is that correct?”

You raised an eyebrow in confusion. “Yes. I’m always in charge of training our new higher level managers who come in.”

“Mhm. And how long were you on your feet in the midst of this training?” She asked.

“I--I don’t know. Maybe one and a half, two hours? Why?”

“Because the longer you’re on your feet? Especially without movement, the worst the circulation of blood becomes. What probably happened is that you first started to experience some dizziness, but maybe you fought through that. These aren’t really the type of symptoms to fight through though. You needed to rest.”

There’s an image somewhere in the film of How the Grinch Stole Christmas. It’s the moment where the grinch comes up with his evil plan to steal happiness and joy from all those around him. He smiled a smile that pulls at all of his features squishing his face into this truly horrid little grin. This. This is the smile that Shawn gave you in this moment. The smile of a man who was finally right about something for once. The bastard.

“Wait, I am so very sorry,” Shawn interrupted. “Are you saying that all she needs to do is rest?”

You turned to him with a look so hot you could feel it sizzle in your eyeballs. You had still not exactly forgiven him for the last time you had this conversation. He was walking on thin ice.

Dr. Cohen nodded. “Yes, I am. Typically at this point in the third trimester, especially depending on the patient? I don’t even recommend for my patients to take the stairs, let alone work ten hour days. Y/n I’m afraid if I have any recommendation for you it’s going to be bed rest. I can write a letter for your work if need be, but with your high position in the company I doubt that would be necessary..”

It’s like your stomach just drops. With one month left in your pregnancy you didn’t even know how to go about not working. Working gave you purpose outside of being pregnant. It was what got you through the long days. You didn’t know how to take a break anymore than you knew how to stop loving Shawn and we all know how well that went the one time you gave it a shot.

“B--Bed rest? Like I can’t leave my own fucking bed? I--I’m not broken here!”

“Honey,” Shawn sighed taking your hand in his. “It’s alright, okay? Just let the doctor explain.”

Dr. Cohen smiled softly. “I understand. I know the prospect of taking time for yourself is hard. They had to pull me out of the hospital when my first was born, literally. But in these final weeks I want you to think about yourself for just a moment. There’s no harm in taking a rest, y/n. You’re about to be a mother for the rest of your life, believe me when I say these days to yourself will be magical, okay? I know it’s hard, but I need you to do it. For yourself and for the baby.”

And that ladies and gentlemen is how you ended up in your house on a Thursday afternoon lying in bed like you were on the verge of death, while your dumbass smirked at you like you didn’t know how to kill a man with a remote. It was actually your definition of hell. Sitting there wondering what the idiots at work were doing, who was fucking up what, and who was going to add more work to your plate for when you got back. You hated it. But what you hated even more was the image of Shawn walking slowly into your bedroom with a cup of chamomile tea to make sure it didn’t get spilled. You hated the way he slid into bed and wrapped his arms around you like you were the most precious thing he’d ever laid eyes on. And you hated the way that your body just completely gave into him because how could you ever want or need anything else with him beside you?

“I’m sorry you can’t work until the baby’s born, sweetheart. I know how important it is to you.” He hummed tucking a strand of hair behind your ear.

You snorted. “What happened to all the excitement you had at the doctor’s office?”

“I’m excited you’re safe, and that I get to spend time with you relaxing until the baby comes. I’m not excited that you’re upset, honey. I could never feel that way.”

You bit your lip softly and nuzzled a little closer to your person.

“Relaxing?”

He nodded with a smile. “I’m not going anywhere. I thought we could...visit my parents? Maybe ride up to Vancouver for a weekend? There’s this cabin Brian and I went to once in Whistler when I was young and stupid with my money, but it’s just as beautiful in the summer as it is in the winter. I’ve got plans. I don’t expect you to stay bedridden until you give birth, my love.”

“That actually sounds really nice.” You giggled.

“Yea? Can we give it a shot?”

“Yea, Why not?”

“Good. Come kiss me already.”

Finally.

***

Leave it to your kid to come out in Pickering, Ontario of all places. Shawn had kept true to his word. No label meetings, no photoshoots, do endorsement deals until after the baby was born. And it was perfect. You cooked together and watched movies together and went on walks and to the beach. He took pictures of you for no other reason than to remember your time together. It was a moment of serenity, of reflection, and of love.

That night, he sat beside you in bed and rubbed cocoa butter over your belly just like always, kissed your stomach and sang the baby to sleep just like always.When it was time for the two of you to go to bed, he ran his thumb along your cheek and kissed you goodnight.

“I love you so much.” He whispered. “I can’t wait to spend forever together.”

You smiled and kissed at his thumb upon your cheek.

“Me neither. Kinda weird. I can’t believe we made it all this way.”

“But we did. It was meant to be. And we worked damn hard for it.”

You fall asleep, like you did most nights now, with Shawn’s wrapped around you and your handy dandy pillow below your lower back. It’s just like every other night. Until it isn’t…

*four hours later*

“Baby….Sweetheart ...Y/N!!”

“What. What is it?” You muttered still very much asleep.

“I think you peed the bed, honey.” Shawn whispered.

Your eyes fluttered open in the dark and there was the love of your life, People’s sexist Man Alive three years ago, saying that you had essentially pissed yourself. And they say romance isn’t dead?

“Are you fucking kididng me?” You huffed. “Oh my god that’s so fucking embarassing.”

He went to reach for you only for you to pull away. The last thing you needed was for him to help you out of a puddle of your own urine. Jesus Christ.

“Sweetheart, It’s okay. I--I don’t care. You know I don’t care.”

You leaned up out of bed and all of sudden there was a pretty bad pain in your stomach that left you a bit winded and unable to get up.

“Well shit, that fucking hurts.” You whined.

Shawn flicked on the light on the bedside table.

“What hurts?”

You took a deep breath like your doctor instructured.

“Fucking contractions are starting up again.”

The room goes silent as you breathe through the pain. It lasts far longer than you’re used to and hurts like a bitch, but with the breathing technique it isn’t unbearable. And then...he loses his fucking mind.

“OH MY GOD!”

“What?! Why are you yelling?!” You gasped.

“WE’RE HAVING A BABY. OH MY GOD. HOLY SHIT!”

He went to stumble his way out of bed, only to fall flat on the floor. That didn’t stop him from jumping right up and running around in circles. You know? Like a lunatic? So much for the lamaze classes.

“Shawn. Shawn! SHAWN! Calm the hell down.” You yelled rubbing at your belly.

“Sweetheart it’s your water. It’s your water, not piss. We’re having a fucking baby!”

“Excuse me, I’m aware! It’s inside of me. I’m fine. Everything is fine. Go wake your parents, I’m gonna call the hospital.”

Shawn nodded taking some deep breaths of his own before turning to wake his parents. You barely rolled over like a bowling ball on the bed before he was back, this time a lot calmer thankfully. He reached straight for your face, warm hands stilling you instantly as he kissed you like you were all that mattered.

“I love you. We’re gonna have a baby.” He whispered, a smile so big on his face that it felt like it radiated within you.

“We are.” You chuckled. “I love you too.”

***

*Shawn’s point of view*

Something shifts drastically in the car. In the house, he could barely tell she was in labor except for every few minutes when she would have contractions. By the time the doctor told them to head to the hospital it was three in the morning. His dad drove, mum in the passenger seat. It meant he got to sit in the back with her and hold her hand, rub at her back, whisper how much he loved her even. And for a while it was fine. But then all of a sudden hell descended on earth and it was fully and deeply embedded in the love his life.

She let out a sound that was maybe the most painful sound he’d ever heard in his life. It was high pitched and bone deep and it rang out so loud his ears hurt. But that was nothing in comparison to the feeling of the bones in his hand crushing beneath her grasp.

“Ow! Oh my--Fuck! Sweetheart my hand!”

“I’M DYING! FUCK YOUR HAND!” She cried. “AHHHHHHHHHH!!

A vein appeared deep in the middle of her forehead as she sobbed and panted against the back seat. It was as hard to watch as it was to let her break every single bone in his goddamn hand.

The last thing he remembered before they got to the hospital was her turning to him, cheeks tear stained, and lips panting as she told him:

“Shawn?”

“Yes, honey? What can I do? Is there anything I can do?”

She nodded her head softly and swallowed.

“Yes. You can absolutely never fucking touch me again!”

His mum thought it was particularly funny if her snorts from the front seat were anything to go off. His fragile, overworked heart did not think it was so funny.

“Yes. Okay. Never touching you again. Got it.” He mumbled continuing to rub at her back.

He was certainly in for a night.

It takes twelve hours to bring their baby into the world. And they’re the longest hours of his life. He had to watch her be in pain, watch her struggle and flail and cry, all while knowing there wasn’t a damn thing he could do about it. He hated every second of it. It was the most helpless he’d ever felt. His parents were amazing running off to make calls to the rest of their family, which left him directly by her side. He would’ve stayed another twelves hours too if that’s what it took. Anything for her. Anything.

Another one of those moments that he’d be able to recall on the last of his life is the moment he heard his child cry for the first time. It was as if his center of gravity shifted. He was completely and utterly transfixed. He changed instantaneously in that moment, never to be the same again. It was one of the most magical moments of his life.

They go to lay the baby on her chest, y/n exhausted and red faced and so utterly happy, and his heart sores.

“This is your little baby girl.” The doctor told them.

“Shawn. Look what we did.” y/n whispered. “Look.”

His hand covers her entire back. She’s tiny and crying and wiggly and slimy. She’s beautiful.

“That’s our baby.” He sniffled just in case it might not be true. Just in case someone might have to correct him.

It’s easily the greatest day of his life.

***

He doesn’t sleep. And how could he? There’s a human in his hands. A tiny human. One that squeals and yawns and flails. She’s already immediately like her mother. Can’t sit still even in sleep, though y/n was so exhausted that she hadn’t moved in hours. But that’s okay. Everyone’s okay.

At one point, she wakes up and he freezes. In every movie he’d ever seen this was the moment that surely his daughter would begin to scream her head off like a lunatic until she turned twelve. Not quite. Instead she peered up at him inquisitively with this sort of searching look, a knowing look. This too reminded him of his love, of his person. And so he loved her infinitely already.

“You’re so fucking small.” He whispered to himself. “Shit, I said fucking. Who are we kidding your mother is gonna make sure your first word is dumbass before I ever have anything to do with it.”

Her thumb was in her mouth and she flailed sporadically in his arms as if she wanted to explore the world already, as if his arms were too much containment already. He wondered if maybe she got that from him.

“Penelope Ivy Mendes. You’re gonna have the best life a baby could ever ask for.” He assured her. “Your mom is so smart. Like one of the smartest people ever. And she’s funny. And she’s pretty, you’re really pretty too by the way. She’s gonna teach you all sort of stuff. And I’m gonna teach you too. Wait till I play you your first John Mayor record. You’ll love it so much honey. I played Continuum for your mommy when I first met her when she definitely broke into my apartment. And I played it for you when you were in her belly. It’s the greatest album maybe ever. We’ve got so much to talk about.”

She listens to him speak with wide, gentle eyes. Her skin is warm and soft, and rubs gently at her cheek with his palm. He thought he’d be overwhelmed. Thought that he’d mess something up, or that his daughter wouldn’t like him straight from the womb. But, it’s not that way at all. He could talk to her for days, he thinks. Just him and his daughter and his person. His family.

Eventually she starts to cry because she’s only been alive like eight hours and that’s a lot to put on a kid.

“You tired of hearing me talk huh?” He cooed rocking her gently in his arms.

“Did it happen...Did you break her?” Y/n mumbled from her hospital bed.

He chuckled softly slowly slipping out of the chair to move closer to her.

“Look who’s awake. I don’t think so. The nurse said she’s gonna wanna eat like every one and a half hours. She’s like her papa already.”

“Oh wonderful. Give her to me?”

They pass her easily, Y/n lifting her hospital gown to let her little mouth go searching for her meal. With the baby preoccupied, he’s allowed to check up on his other human. She’s really beautiful to him, hair bed crazed, eyes still sleepy, cheeks a little rosy. Something about their daughter on her chest makes him overwhelmed with love though. It’s different. She’s different. Perhaps they both are.

“Are you okay?” He whispered cupping her cheek gently in his palm.

She leaned into his palm.

“‘M okay. Lots of pain though. Lots of soreness.”

“I’m sorry. I really hated watching you in pain. The whole baby part is really beautiful. But the labor part? Not so much. Want me to take the next one for us?” He joked.

Her eyes widened. “The first one isn’t a day old Shawn. My vagina is still bleeding, maybe we wait a few weeks.”

“Kidding, y/n. Totally kidding. I just want you to be healthy and safe and I want to hold you. Both of you.”

She smiled dopely up at him with eyes that he loved and lips that he loved and a heart that he loved with everything in him.

“Yea?”

“Yea. I love you more than anything.” He assured her, his eyes watering quickly. “So, so much.”

“I love you too. More than anything. Both of you.”

“And forever.”

“Forever.” She agreed.

That sounded plenty fine to him.

The End.

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