#i call and say hey my certificate is going to be coming late is this a problem and they say no its fine just send your diploma supplement

[cliveguy]

this uni is fucking me around so bad im about to become the joker

[dwobbitfromtheshire]

After Starcourt, Steve finally managed to get a date. He actually liked her, too. She was nice, smart, and completely smitten over the fact that he was fond of the kids he babysat. Apparently, she didn't take it too well that Dustin followed him onto his date. She left before Dustin came back from the bathroom.

"Hey, where's Lydia?" Dustin asked.

"Oh, her parents called the theater. Apparently, there was a family emergency," Steve shrugged.

"Oh, that sucks. You were really looking forward to it," Dustin frowned. "More popcorn for us."

He made his way over to the concession stand. Steve didn't have the heart to tell him the real reason why she left. Dustin's had a hard time lately since the mall, and from what Claudia told him, he's been having nightmares lately. He didn't have to say anything, but Steve figured the reason why Dustin's been clinging to both him and Robin lately was because he felt guilty about them getting hurt. Robin had agreed with him on that theory. He didn't mind it much. He loved spending time with Dustin, someone he thought of like a little brother, and he knew Robin had come to think of him like that, along with Erica. It was where Robin was currently at "babysitting" for the Sinclairs while they had their own date night. As much as she complained, Erica had wormed her way into Robin's heart. Once they got their drinks and popcorn, they found a couple of seats up front.

"Excuse me, is this seat taken?" A voice asked.

"No," Steve replied with looking, and he almost did when he felt leather brush up against his arm.

"Steve?" Dustin asked.

"Yeah?"

"Your date stood you up because of me, didn't she?" Dustin asked.

"What? No!" Steve said quickly.

"You're a terrible liar, Steve," Dustin whispered. "But that's okay, Steve, I still think you're my brother."

"Well, you know, if she doesn't understand that my little brother is important to me, then she's not worth my time," Steve whispered.

"You guys are terrible whisperers," a voice from Steve’s other side said. "Also, totally adorable."

Steve turned and found that Eddie Munson was sitting on his other side.

"Do you know this guy, Steve?" Dustin asked.

"Eddie Munson," the man himself introduced. "Didn't know Steve Harrington had a nerdy little brother."

"I adopted him," Dustin replied. "Besides, Steve’s not just a jock. He's a nerd, too."

"No, I'm not," Steve scoffed.

"Please, I found the comic books under your bed," Dustin hissed.

"What the hell did I tell you about going through my stuff, you little shit?" Steve hissed back.

"You really are brothers," Eddie grinned.

"Hey, Eddie, you're a guy," Dustin said suddenly.

"That's what it says on my birth certificate," Eddie replied.

"Do you know why a guy would keep his muscle magazines with his playboys? Do you think it's a jock thing?" Dustin asked.

"Oh my god!" Steve exclaimed, mortified.

Steve could feel Eddie watching him with curious eyes, and he waited for his reaction.

"You know, it must be a jock thing," Eddie said. "I think if I were your brother, I'd give you hell for digging through his private things."

Dustin sighed and rolled his eyes, but Steve took this as a sign that he's thinking about how wrong he was. The movie was about to start. Suddenly, Eddie leaned so close to him that Steve could feel his hair tickling his cheek, his breath in his ear.

"It's not just jocks who put their muscle magazines with their playboys," Eddie whispered and paused briefly, moving in closer until his lips were brushing up light against his ear. "Big boy."

Eddie sat back in his seat, leaving Steve flushed. His heart was pounding in his ears, and suddenly, his crush on Eddie came roaring back. Steve cursed mentally as he tried to focus on the movie and not on the fact that Eddie was leaning more heavily against his arm. His pinky was brushing up against his. At some point, Eddie started running over his hand, drawing circles into his skin. His touch was setting him on edge, and it was making his brain go all fuzzy.

"Bathroom," Steve said gruffly and stood up quickly.

He was grateful that there wasn't anyone in the bathroom when he went it. It allowed him to catch his breath. It was crazy how one single moment could bring out all of the feelings that he shoved inside of him when he was just a freshman, a freshman who has seen the most beautiful boy ever. He honestly hadn't felt this way since Nancy, and honestly, it was baffling. Just one little moment, and he was crazy about him again. Suddenly, the door opened, and Steve looked through the mirror as Eddie walked into the restroom. They made eye contact, and he raised a questioning eyebrow at him as he locked the door. Suddenly, Steve was moving and pressing Eddie up against the door as he kissed him. Eddie pulled him closer by his hips as he kissed him back. Of course, it didn't last long before someone wanted in. They broke the kiss, and Eddie quickly disappeared into a stall before Steve could unlock. The man walked in and frowned at him.

"Uh, the door got stuck," Steve said.

"I heard the lock, young man," he said.

Steve slipped by him and hurried back to his seat. Eddie soon came back, a grin on his face. He pulled a pen out of his pocket and started writing his number on Steve’s hand.

"Call me when you're ready to have a date without your brother," Eddie whispered. "I really do appreciate people who collect lost sheep."

Steve grinned. Things were looking up. Suddenly, he was very grateful that Lydia stood him up.

[absurdthirst]

Dieter's Daughter {Dieter Bravo x F!Reader}

Rating: Explicit

Word Count: 13.7k

Warnings: Dad!Dieter, mentions of drug use, unplanned pregnancies, freaking out, mentions of foster care, anxiety, lactation kink, babies, domestic bliss, falling in love, sudden marriage proposals, Dieter being a sap, adult breast feeding, oral sex (female receiving), face riding, vaginal sex, pregnancy

Comments: When a baby is dropped off on Dieter's doorstep, he is completely out of his element and doesn't know what to do. Attending a single mother support group meeting, he finds you. Begging you to become a nanny to his daughter.

Co-written with @storiesofthefandomlovers

**Follow @absurdthirst-writes and turn on notifications to stay up to date on all new fics.

|| MasterList || Dieter Bravo MasterList ||

Click Keep Reading only if you have read the Rating and Warnings and understand the warnings may not be complete to avoid listing spoilers. As AO3 says 'creator chooses not to use warnings'. You also agree that you're the right age to be consuming anything here.

It takes several minutes for the sounds of the doorbell peeling insistently to break through Dieter’s nearly catatonic state. Too much booze and too many pills are the result of another day of discontent and wishing that there was something other than numbness of life for him. Leaving him grumbling when one eye pops open and he groans when the cotton mouth and headache hits him. “Go away.” He huffs, knowing that there is no way that whoever is at the damn door would hear him all the way in his bedroom. Hell, the only reason he hears the doorbell is because it’s wired to the sound system in the house. Again the bell rings and like the dead rising from the grave, Dieter drags himself out of the safety and comfort of his bed. “Fuck! I’m coming! I’m coming!” The bathrobe he had tossed down last night is put over his boxers and he shuffles towards the stairs as fast as his lethargic body can go.

When Dieter opens the door, he’s shocked to see a woman standing there holding a baby. “Can I help you?” He asks, rubbing his eyes, and she snorts.

“You don’t remember me, do you?” She asks and Dieter squints, “am I supposed to?” 

She laughs humorlessly, “I shouldn’t be surprised, you could barely remember my name that night. I was just amazed that a big actor wanted to fuck me. Remember me? That cocktail waitress from the club you took home about ten months ago?” She says and Dieter scratches his neck. 

“Listen lady, I sleep with a lot of people. It’s hard to remember them all.” He admits with zero qualms. 

“Wow. You’re a fucking asshole. Anyway, I guess the condom broke because congrats, you’re a daddy. It’s a girl. Her name is Rosie. Her birth certificate is in the bag.” She holds the baby out towards him and his eyes widen, looking down at the baby bag in the ground.

”What? I- what the fuck?” He looks bewildered before he starts to laugh. “Good one. Real funny. What do you want? Money?” He scoffs and she shakes her head, tears in her eyes. 

“No. No. I need you to take her. I can’t afford her and I- I didn’t want her. When I found out - I was fucking eight months pregnant so it was too late to get rid of her and I can’t work so I can’t pay for my place. I can’t keep her. You gotta take her. She will be better off with you.” She says and pushes the baby into Dieter’s arms. 

He scrambles to hold the baby, not wanting to drop her and the woman immediately sprints off towards her car. “Hey! Wait! You can’t just- I don’t know how to look after a baby! I need you to - hey. Where the fuck- get back here!” He yells as she squeals off of his driveway and he curses himself for not fixing the gate yet. “Shit.” He hisses. He didn’t even get her name. Looking down at the baby, he sighs and knows he has to find her mom. He can’t be a daddy. He can barely look after himself. 

No, first thing is a damn DNA test and then he’s gonna find that bitch and give her back her baby. He’s gotta call the police after he cleans up his counters from the coke powder. “Fuckkkkk.” He groans, knowing his quiet day just got a whole lot busier.

****

“If we take her, Mr. Bravo, she’s just going to go into a state home. An orphanage.” Dieter frowns and wraps his arms around his chest, nervous for having the fucking cops in his house. Paranoid they were going to find the baggie of Coke he just remembered was in the little box next to his car keys. “You are listed on the birth certificate.” 

Snatching the paper from the officer he squints at it. “How the fuck is that legal?” He demands. “That means anyone could put me down as the father of their kid.” 

The officer shuffles, clearly uncomfortable and slightly in awe of being in the actor’s presence. “That’s for the courts to decide. Look,” he lowers his voice and looks around. “I don’t think you understand how bad the system is for babies.” He tells Dieter seriously. “Just- keep the baby with you, at least until the DNA tests come back. That way you don’t have to fight to get her back when she is yours. You already said you might have slept with this woman. Stranger things have happened.” 

Dieter huffs, upset by the idea of the tiny little human being in an orphanage. Even if she doesn’t look anything like him. He had found diapers and a can of formula in the bag that the mother had left with him but that’s it. He has nothing to take care of a child. “What am I supposed to do? I don’t know shit about kids.” He demands, making the officer chuckle. 

“Hire a nanny.” The officer suggests, smirking. “Isn’t that what you Hollywood types do?”

Dieter knows he can’t just ship the kid off. She’s so tiny and vulnerable. He can’t do it, even he’s not that big of an asshole. He will call his assistant to get a nanny in today. “Listen, do you, uh, know how much formula to use?” He asks the cop who nods and walks over to the counter to show Dieter. 

“One scoop for every two ounces of water. Get baby water but bottled will have to work for today. So four ounces, two scoops. And shake. After she is finished, shift her to your shoulder and gently pat her back to get her to burp.” He says and Dieter nods. 

“How much does she need?” Dieter asks and the cop chuckles, “she’s gonna be hungry a lot. I remember mine at that age. Endless bottles. Be sure to wash them thoroughly.” He says and pats Dieter on the shoulder and makes his way towards the front door of the Sherman Oaks mansion.

“Fuck.” Dieter groans, rubbing his cheek when the police leave and the baby starts to cry. He knows she must be hungry so he fumbles to open the container, grabbing the bottle to fill it with bottled water and putting two scoops in. “I’m coming.” He says, struggling to do the bottle up, and he curses again as he walks over to carefully scoop the baby up. “How do I-?” He struggles to get her to suck on the bottle and sighs in relief when she stops wailing and gulps down the milk.

Dieter holds the baby awkwardly, trying to remember how from that role a few years ago. The baby had been a prop doll, but they had shown him how to hold it. “Your name’s Rosie, huh?” He asks, looking down at the infant. According to the birth certificate, she’s only two months old. “I’m Dieter, but you don’t talk so why am I telling you that?” He huffs, but the baby gurgles around the nipple of the bottle and it makes him grin. “Did you like that?” He asks, lifting a brow. Apparently he’s a natural with kids. 

The baby grunts and the grin immediately slides into a frown. “What’s that?” He asks, feeling something moving. “What are you doing?” Instead of sucking down the milk, the baby is grunting and straining and Dieter stares in horror as the smell starts to reach his nose. “Oh shit! You shit!” He groans in disgust.

The baby starts to cry, unhappy with a full diaper, and Dieter is reaching for his phone. 

“Hello?” His assistant answers and Dieter is panicking. 

“I need you here right now. I need help.” 

Johan, his assistant, frowns, “is that- is that a baby?” He asks and Dieter groans, “get here now. And call a nanny service!” He demands and hangs up. “What do I do?” He asks the baby, shifting to lay her down on a towel so she doesn’t get shit on his expensive rug. “I- shit. You - fuck. That’s disgusting.” He groans and pulls his phone out. “YouTube! I’ll try YouTube.” He looks up ‘how to change a diaper’ and grabs the baby bag.

Dieter watches the video, studying it intently as he keeps a hand on the baby’s stomach. “Looks easy.” He frowns at the squirming baby. “But the doll wasn’t moving.” He sets the phone down beside the bag so he can see it and bites his lip as he tries to figure out the snaps on the onesie she’s in. “Holy shit.” He huffs, amazed at how easy it unsnaps. “I need this in a fucking adult version.” Wrinkling his nose when the smell gets even worse, he groans. “Wheeeeew, God you stink.” He nearly gags and pulls his shirt up over his nose. “What did you eat?”

Trying to plug his nose, he follows the YouTube video, wiping the poop off of her skin after rolling up the dirty diaper and putting it in the diaper bag. Anyone watching would think Dieter is dealing with a bomb. He gags when he pushes the wipes into the bag after cleaning her up and he grabs the rash cream, placing some on her bottom where the video details he should. He curses the new diaper, trying to figure out what way is the front until he sees it says “back” on it and he pulls it tight on her tiny body before he clips her onesies back into place. “Shit. That - that wasn’t too bad.” He murmurs, breathing in the fresh air and she hiccups, looking up at him with wide eyes.

“You’re kind of cute.” Dieter murmurs. “In a weird, ‘you don’t look like me’ kind of way.” He frowns when she grins at him, kicking her feet. “You’re weird.” He huffs, but she just waves her arms at him and squeals. Is she his? After all this time, did he finally fuck up and procreate? His mind spins and he wishes he remembers what the woman looks like better than he does but it had been early (for him) and he had just woken up. “We will have to find you someone who knows what they are doing kiddo.”

**** 

“What did you do?” Johan accuses Dieter who shakes his head, holding the baby in his arms and he looks at her, unable to deny that she looks a little like Dieter. 

“I don’t know man. Some woman, I- Jesus. She said I fucked her and don’t even remember her. I’m waiting for the nurse to come for the DNA test.” Dieter confesses, knowing he has to be sure before he does anything.

“Oh my God, Dieter.” She rolls her eyes and immediately steps closer to the baby, unable to resist seeing her up close. “This is why you said you needed a nanny?” 

Dieter nods and rocks his body as the baby’s eyes start to drift closed. “I don’t know what the fuck I’m doing.” He huff, looking around the house that is definitely not baby proof. “I don’t have anything. I need-” He shakes his head. “I don’t know what the fuck I need. More diapers? That formula?” He nods towards the diaper bag. “She didn’t leave me shit for this baby.” He growls, pissed off at the poor planning of that woman. Who just abandons their baby with someone they didn’t know? 

“Let me make a list and we can get what we need for her.” Johan says, knowing Dieter will not know anything that he will need. 

“I need help. And stuff. Like now.” Dieter says, feeling the need to use but he can’t since he’s responsible for a fucking baby now.

Johan nods and bites his lip. “I’ve got a call into a nanny service. They are going to send someone over today.” He knows Dieter will be relieved. “Maybe she can help us with what we need.”

“Let’s get her. I need help. I- shit. I don’t even have a crib or anything. I need you to go out. Take my card and get all the baby shit from the best store there is in town.” He orders, wanting the baby to have the best even if she isn’t his. She’s cute and she deserves a good start in this world. “I need - shit - I have no idea what I’m doing. Please help me.” Dieter begs, the baby falling asleep against his chest and he looks down at her, her lips pouting as she sucks on the pacifier he found in the bag.

Johan grimaces and nods, aware that he has even less experience with babies than Dieter does. “I’ll be back.” The other man promises, quickly making his way towards the door and out of the house. He had no clue what the hell to do for his boss, he’s gotten himself in a mess this time. As much as he wants to claim he doesn’t know that baby is his, it is. Dieter Bravo is a father.

****

“It’s nice to meet you. I’ve always been such a fan of your work.” The woman gushes. Dieter can barely remember her name. Violet, Vivian, or something like that. She seems nice enough and her qualifications from the service are good. He doesn’t really know what he’s looking for in a nanny except he desperately needs help. He’s waiting on the DNA results to come in but the little baby is cute and she listens to him rambling without complaints.

Viola looks around the house and wonders how the hell Dieter Bravo became an overnight father. “You must attend parenting classes.” She insists after Dieter finally runs out of steam and shuts up. “There is one I can sign you up for. It’s for new parents and you qualify.” She chuckles, shaking her head. “They have a meeting in two days, I can see about getting you halfway set up.

“What? No. I don’t need a parenting group.” Dieter scoffs and Viola raises her eyebrows. 

“Respectful sir, I think you do.” She offers him a wry smile when the baby starts to cry in his arms. 

“I’m hopeless, aren’t I?” He sighs, trying to rock Rosie and he is struggling to calm her. 

“Here. Can I-?” Viola asks and Dieter practically shoves the baby into her arms. 

“You’re hired.” He declares when Rosie calms down and the crying stops. He can’t do this alone.

“Mr. Bravo,” Viola frowns and shakes her head. “I’m sorry if you misunderstood. I am here temporarily.” She explains. “I have already signed a contract with another family. I came today because it was an emergency.” She wonders if he had heard anything she had said when she arrived, he had looked frazzled but she thought she had been clear. 

“What? No! You seem like such a nice lady and Rosie likes you. Please. I’ll pay more. I’ll do anything to get you to stay.” He pleads, “name your price. I’ll fucking pay it. Please!” He pouts, eyes wide and pleading. 

Viola shakes her head, “I’m so sorry. I can’t get out of the contract. I’ll help you as much as I can. Johan said you need help learning the basics so I’ll show you the basics and take care of Rosie while I can but you’re going to have to learn what to do.” She says, knowing it’s going to be tough.

“I can’t do this.” Dieter wails, knowing life as he knows it is over. Without someone here, he going to fuck it up. “Please, please, you have to stay.” He begs, making Viola shake her head. 

“I am here for one week, Mr. Bravo. Then it will be up to you to find someone to help you care for Rosie. Now, let me show you how to bathe your daughter.”

****

“She’s yours.” Dieter exhales shakily as Johan announces the DNA results. 

“Shit. I- I have a daughter.” He shakes his head and looks over at Rosie who is asleep in her bassinet. “What am I gonna do?” Dieter asks as reality sets in. He has a child that he’s responsible for and Viola is only here for two more days. “She’s - she’s so tiny and I’m gonna fuck it up. She’s gonna get fucked up because of me.” He starts to panic now that reality has hit.

“You are going to go to the parenting class tonight and we are going to continue to look for a nanny.” Johan tells Dieter practically. He’s been surprised that Dieter hasn’t done as many drugs as he normally does, even smoking weed outside because of the baby. “So far all the services I’ve called don’t have anyone available until next year.” He shakes his head. “Apparently it was baby season this year.”

Dieter groans, covering his face with his hands and dragging them down his cheeks. “I have pre-production for the movie coming up in a few weeks. I can’t take her with me to a table read.” He whines and Rosie shifts in her sleep, making Dieter’s heart melt when the movement catches his attention and he looks over. “Fine. I’ll go to the parenting class. Maybe…maybe someone can help me find a nanny there.” He says, determined to find help. 

****

Dieter walks into the church hall, surprised he hasn’t burst into flames. He hasn’t been to church since he was a kid. His mama used to drag him on a Sunday and when he became famous at ten years old, he managed to bail on church because he was working. He sits down in a seat, noticing how all the other attendees are women. Rosie is asleep in her carrier for now and he has the diaper bag at his feet. “Welcome ladies and - oh. Hi, we have a new member.” An older woman smiles at Dieter, “welcome to the single mom support group.”

“Oh, uh, I thought it was-“ Dieter falters for a moment, panicking about being kicked out of the group. “I thought this was a single parent support group.” He explains, shuffling. “I just- uh, the mother of the child- my child- I just got the DNA test back, dropped her off on my door with no warning.” He rambles, trying to explain why he needs to stay. “I don’t know what the fuck I’m doing.” He confesses, nearly sounding defeated.

“It’s okay. It’s okay. You can stay.” A few of the moms recognize Dieter and he looks exhausted. Rosie had kept him up half of the night since Viola has been weaning him off of her help, and he glances around. 

“I’m sorry to - shit. I can go.” He says and you are sitting next to him. 

“No, stay. It’s okay. We are all here to help each other.” Your own son, three months old, is whining and you sigh, pulling your tank top down and unclipping your bra to breastfeed him.

Dieter’s eyes widen at the sight of your breast and he can’t deny his cock twitches a little at the idea of drinking down some milk. Shit, when did that kink happen? “I appreciate it. I have no clue what I’m doing.” He admits again and all the women laugh, “none of us do. It’s instinct and a lot of books.” One giggles, “and Google.”

“I didn’t even know.” Dieter moans, shaking his head. “It was- it was a one night stand.” He feels bad about that, not even able to tell Rosie about his relationship with her mom when she gets older. “I’m trying to hire a nanny but all of them are booked up.” He shakes his head. “I don’t want to fuck her up. She’s so tiny. Two months old.”

“What’s her name?” You ask him, looking at the little girl asleep in her carrier. 

“Rosie.” He says with a soft smile, it’s hard to not love the little girl now that he knows she’s his. He wants the best for her, even if she’s stuck with a manic mess like him. “This is Oliver.” You gesture to the baby now asleep on your breast.

Dieter smiles and tries not to notice the grunting sounds the kid is making. Feeling guilty because he knows that he would be making the exact same sounds the kid is if he was sucking down milk from your tit. “That’s nice.” He offers. 

“So what is your name?” The woman in charge smiles fondly at him and he’s surprised no one recognizes him. 

“Uh, Dieter.” He offers, curling his shoulders slightly. “Dieter Bravo.”

“Welcome Dieter.” Several of the women say to him with a smile. 

“So do you have any questions?” Julia, the group leader asks. 

“Where the fuck do I begin?” He replies dramatically, making all the women chuckle. 

“Well, we are here to help each other so might as well start.”

“So my first question. So is their shit always gonna be that black color?” Dieter shakes his head, making a face as he remembers the last diaper he had changed. 

All the women laugh. “No that won’t last for much longer since she’s three months old.” 

Dieter rolls his eyes gratefully. “Oh thank God.” He chuckles. Looking over at you again. “You said your son is two months old? Is he sleeping all night? Is that something that she has to get used to?”

You shake your head, “he isn’t sleeping through the night yet. I breastfeed so he wakes me up every couple of hours. It takes a while for them to sleep through the night. Like six months or so. Have you read any baby books?” You ask and he shakes his head. “Oh you must read - you know what. I’ll send you a list. What’s your number?” You ask and the women all giggle, making you fluster. “I mean, to help. We have babies close in age. It’s good to have help.”

“Do you need a job?” Dieter blurts out, wondering why he hadn’t thought of it before. “I mean- if your husband doesn’t mind.” He corrects himself, forgetting it was a single mother’s group. “I'm just- I’ve got to start pre-production on the next movie and it’s going to be crazy and you seem like you’re perfect. You handle your baby so easily.” His eyes are wide and pleading, begging you to say yes.

Your eyes widen, "I- um, oh wow. A job?" 

The other women all nod, telling Dieter about your history as a teacher and how you know CPR. You fluster, knowing you need a job. Your maternity leave ended two weeks ago and instead of letting you come back to work, your job had fired you. Between losing your job and your landlord chasing you up on rent, you know this is too good to turn down. "I'm not married and um, what job do you have in mind?"

“Nanny.” He jumps immediately on your question. Knowing that it’s not a ‘no’. “I’ll pay you really well and you can- can you live there? I mean, I can have odd hours and you can stay at my place. You and Oliver.” He makes sure to include your son. “I have a big house. In Sherman Oaks.” As if that would sweeten the deal. “Help me with Rosie and teach me how to be a dad. How to look after her. I don’t expect you to do it all.” He clarifies, having already gotten used to the idea of being a ‘girl dad’. He’s watched a few Tik Toks about it and it looks cool.

You know it sounds too good to be true. A job and a place to live with your son. “I think we need to sit down and talk this through properly. You don’t even know me. Don’t you wanna do a background check?” You ask, knowing you’d be doing that if you were hiring someone to live in your house. “We have a lot to discuss.” You bite your lip and look around the room to see the other moms nodding to encourage you.

“Yeah. Yeah.” Dieter nods seriously. “My agent will have that done. Plus the NDA you would have to sign.” He’s grateful you are even thinking about it. “But don’t worry. Most of the tabloid stuff is bullshit. I’m not that bad.” He promises with a quick, charming grin. “We can hammer out the details after this, right?”

“Uh, sure.” You nod and Dieter winks at you before turning back to the women, their own babies in their arms and you know this is too good an opportunity to turn down. “You wanna go get a coffee?” You ask Dieter after Oliver is in his stroller and you look at Rosie who is still asleep, unaware of her father trying to hire her a new nanny. 

“As long as it’s quiet.” He says and you frown, “uh, sure. You said you are going into pre-production so does that mean you are an actor?” You ask, unaware of if he’s famous.

Dieter stares at you for a moment, wondering if you are just trying to play coy but you are just looking at him curiously. “Yeah, uh, I am.” He admits, finding it refreshing that someone on this planet doesn’t know who he is or have any expectations of him. “I normally do two or three movies a year, depending on how long they take to film or whatever.” He struggles with the carrier and the door, holding it open for you on the other side. “Gotta get one of those.” He tells himself, eyeing your stroller.

“We can make a list of what you’ll need. I’m guessing you have the basics but there’s so much stuff.” You sigh, knowing it’s not always been in your reach but someone like him could buy it all. 

“A list sounds good. Coffee?” He suggests, gesturing to the small coffee shop down the street and you nod. 

“Sounds good. I desperately need one. He kept me up all night. He was hungry last night and wouldn’t settle unless he was against my breast.”

Dieter keeps his dirty thoughts to himself, but he doesn’t blame the kid. He would love to sleep with a nipple in his mouth too. “We will make sure to get you an extra shot of espresso.” He promises, carrying the car seat and diaper bag as he walks alongside you. “I’m being serious. About the job, I mean.” He tells you. “I have tried every nanny service in the greater L.A. area with no luck, although I’m on their waitlist.” He sighs and shuffles the carrier when his arm gets tired in one position. “I have an in-law suite you and Oliver can use, if you want a little more privacy than just sleeping upstairs.” He knows he sounds desperate, because he is desperate. Johan knows less than he does about babies and has zero interest in watching the kid while he is busy.

“Let’s sit down with the babies and then we can order.” You suggest and he nods, guiding you over to a table in the back. Rosie is waking up and he panics when she starts to cry. “Oh hello gorgeous.” You murmur, leaning down to look at his daughter and Dieter is fumbling to get the bottle from the bag to make her formula. You sigh, sensing he needs help and you unbuckle the baby, Oliver asleep as you cradle Rosie, her cries settling a little and you stand up, rocking her and you reach for the formula Dieter has, a whole damn container, and work fast on a bottle. “My sister has kids. I used to babysit them.” You explain and work fast with one hand to prepare a bottle and bring it to her lips. “Here you go sweet pea.” You coo as she starts to gulp down the milk.

“You’re really good at this.” Dieter says in awe, watching you handle things so smoothly. “I’m just-I don’t know.” He sighs, feeling bad that he’s not good at this. 

“Babies sense the emotions around them.” You tell him quietly. “You panic, she’s going to become more frantic. Just talk to her while you are getting her bottle ready. Or have one already mixed up, ready to go.” You think about all the formulas that are already bottled and just need a nipple slapped on them. “We can find a routine that works for you.”

Dieter nods, “yes. Yes. God, please take the job. I need you.” He pleads and you shift Rosie into his arms, transferring the bottle to him. 

“I’ll take the job. On one condition.” You say, sitting back down and you rock Oliver’s stroller. 

“Anything.” Dieter vows. 

“You learn too. I don’t want you to just shove her into my arms at the first sign of difficulty. She’s your daughter. You need to know how to care for her, to bond with her. You can’t just hand her off and expect me to do it all. She needs to know her daddy.”

Dieter nods, knowing that he would do that if given the opportunity. “Okay.” He agrees. “I want you to help me become better at taking care of her.” He bites his lip and looks at you. “What do you want for pay?” He asks, listing off a number that the nanny services had given him. “Does that sound okay? Plus, you’ll have full use of the house. And a card for expenses. I don’t expect you to buy the diapers or wipes or any of that shit.”

Your eyes widen, it’s way more than you were making at your old job. Your landlord has been threatening you with eviction since you’re struggling to pay, and this almost seems like fate. “Wow. I- are you sure?” You ask him and he nods, “I’m absolutely sure.” 

You swallow and offer him a soft smile, “then I’m your new nanny.” He grins and your heart thumps in your chest at how handsome he is. “There’s something you gotta know though.” You sigh and Dieter nods, waiting for you to go on. “Oliver’s father. He - he died.” You feel yourself tearing up, “we - I was only a few months pregnant when we got into the car accident.  I didn’t even know I was pregnant at the time but Ollie- he- he died. We were- we were friends, friends with benefits and we got pregnant and he- he never got to meet his son.” You choke, the grief that’s consumed you threatens to take you again. He didn’t have any family left alive so Oliver would’ve been his only family.

“I’m sorry.” Dieter frowns, unsure of how to comfort someone about a death that meaningful but he feels like he should say something. “That is rough. Hopefully- hopefully this will turn into a good arrangement.” He offers with a small shrug, realizing that things could be worse. He can’t imagine what it would be like going through this alone. “After our coffee, do you want to come over? See the house?” He asks. “I can call my agent to draw up any kind of paperwork you want.”

You nod, sniffing to stop yourself from crying about Ollie. You loved him, he was your friend, but you were never in love with him. He had his problems and you had yours. It would’ve never worked. Oliver is here now and you have to be strong for him, to keep Ollie’s memory alive. “Yes. I- this is a lot but I want to change my life. I need a change. I want to work for you.” You say as the barista takes pity on you with the babies and comes over to take your order. “I’ll have a vanilla latte please.” You order and Dieter adds, “with an extra shot of espresso.”

After taking your orders, Rosie finishes her bottle and Dieter shifts to put her up on his shoulder to burp. “Hang on, you need a spit rag.” You insist, digging in your own diaper bag to produce one. 

“Huh,” Dieter huffs, “I just thought I was supposed to wear her puke until she stopped doing that.” He jokes, the stains on his shirt only partly from his daughter. 

“No, you always carry multiple burp clothes and changes of clothes, for both of you.” You tell him with a smile.

He nods, mentally taking notes. He has so much to learn from you to make sure his daughter is well looked after. He doesn’t want to fail at being a father. He wants her to know he did everything he could to be a good daddy. He knows you will be good for Rosie, for him too. He sips his coffee and watches you with Oliver, rocking his stroller, and he can see you’re a good mom. He feels comfortable with you. “Do you wanna come back to my place?” Dieter asks, realizing that’s the first time he’s asked that question without it being for sex or drugs

You bite your lip and look up at the frazzled, yet handsome man who is offering you a dream situation. A place to live and the ability to stay at home with your son while still earning money. You don’t know if you would ever get a better offer. “Yes.” You agree. “I’ll follow you? Maybe you can text me the address in case we get separated?” You want to look it up really quickly, just to make sure it’s a real place.

He nods, taking your number to text you his address. He is anxious for you to see the house, hoping you love it and it helps to get you to take the job. You strap Oliver into his car seat while Dieter does the same to Rosie and soon enough, you’re driving to his house.

“I, uh, I’ll ask the housekeeper to come in more than once a week.” Dieter offers, climbing out of his car as you do the same. He doesn’t want you to think that it’s all going to fall on you. “Oh, Johan told me about a diaper delivery service. All natural diapers? That’s better, right?” He asks, anxious about doing the right thing. He had read about the chemicals used in the nappies he currently has.

You smile at his anxiety, wanting the best for Rosie, and you know he’s going to be a good daddy once he gets his feet under him. “Johan?” You ask and Dieter nods, “my assistant. He’s - he is my lifeline.” Dieter confesses and you nod, understanding he lives a completely different life to you. He needs an assistant to manage his schedule. You take Oliver out of the car in his carrier and follow Dieter into the house, your eyes wide at the gorgeous home he owns. “This is - wow.” You exhale as you enter the grand property.

“Thank you.” Dieter shows you the bottom floor and opens the door to his study. “I have all this shit I don’t know what it’s for.” The room is filled with boxes of toys and jumpers, cribs and carriers. Johan had gone overboard but Dieter had wanted to make sure that he had everything he needed. Your eyes widen and he blushes, “I was trying my best.” 

You nod, understating he has struggled since Rosie was dropped on his doorstep. “We can get everything set up. Does she have a nursery?” You ask and he shakes his head, “she’s been in my room. I- I haven’t really slept. I’ve been trying to watch her sleep in case, you know.” 

You understand, knowing you stay awake watching Oliver breathing. It’s a lot of anxiety being a first time parent. “We will get her nursery set up and then you can keep her in your room if you want but then she has somewhere to nap and call her own.” You smile and rub his shoulder after you set Oliver down in his carrier, he’s asleep. “It’s gonna be fine.” You promise him, glancing around the beautiful living room. “It’s gonna need some baby proofing and, uh, that needs to go.” You gesture to the powder packet on the counter.

“Oh, I, uh-“ Dieter rushes forward and grabs the packet to sweep it off the counter and into his pocket. “I haven’t- that’ll be put away.” He promises, cursing himself for leaving it out. He hadn’t taken any lately, not since Rosie arrived because he’s too fucking scared of something happening to her while he’s bombed. “Sorry.” He hopes you don’t decide to leave him high and dry because of that. “Do you want to see the rooms you and Oliver could have?” He asks desperately.

You stop him, “I- I am taking the job but you won’t do drugs in this house with the babies. If something happened or they got hold of it - I couldn’t - no drugs in this house. Period. You wanna go get high somewhere else? Fine. But your daughter comes first, you understand?” You ask him, knowing you won’t risk your own son around that kind of bullshit.

Immediately nodding, Dieter understands what you are saying. “I haven’t- not since she’s arrived.” He confesses. “I’ve been too scared to even try in case something happens.” He’s not stupid enough to think he won’t do drugs anymore but he does want to be there for his daughter.

You nod, knowing it’s not ideal but it will have to do. As long as they aren’t kept in the house and he doesn’t do them around the children, it’s his business. You are just his employee. “Okay.” You pat his shoulder and he guides you to the guest suite. “Dieter…this is…wow.” You gasp at the massive room, “this is - this is a lot. Are you sure - there’s no other room you want me to have?” You ask, knowing this room is the size of your apartment.

“You need room for you and Oliver.” He shrugs, not wanting to say that he doesn’t have guests unless it was someone from a party. And he doubts he’s having those here anymore. “This way you have privacy and your own bathroom.” He knows that is important and figured this would be perfect. “And using another room for Oliver is okay too.” He doesn’t want to suggest the nursery can be shared, but he wouldn’t mind. “Will this work?”

You smile, reaching out to pat his arm, “this is more than enough, Dieter. It’s perfect.” You promise and he grins, pleased that you are happy. He sighs when Rosie starts to cry and Oliver follows suit, both babies waking up. “Come on daddy, let’s go feed the babies.”

He feels more confident with you beside him. Even if it’s just your presence reminding him that he should test the bottle on the inside of his wrist before popping the nipple in Rosie’s mouth while Oliver is greedily suckling at your breast for his own meal. “That wasn’t too bad.” He grins down at his daughter, eyes wide but slowly starting to close as she gulps down the bottle. “How often do you have to feed Oliver?” He asks, trying to keep his eyes on your face respectfully. You aren’t giving him a show.

“About every one and a half to two hours. Depends on when he’s hungry. He lets me know.” You chuckle and watch your son as his gulps turn into suckles which lead to him falling asleep against your breast. “It’s - it’s exhausting but he’s worth it.” You smile at Dieter who is rocking Rosie. “You’re getting better already. We will make a list of everything we need for you and, um, I guess I better go and pack.” You smile bashfully, knowing this is a big move but it’s what’s best for you and Oliver.

“Why don’t we hire someone to pack you?” Dieter asks with a frown. You have your hands full and he knows that it will take a lot to take care of your son and try to pack. “I’ll pay for it. I don’t mind. That way we can get the nursery set up.”

“Are you sure? I- I don’t know if you’re gonna find someone so late notice. I don’t have much. And I will need Oliver’s crib and -” 

You don’t get to finish because Dieter is pulling out his phone to call Johan and arrange for your things to be moved today. “Whatever it costs.” Dieter says and you swallow, knowing Dieter has more money than you could imagine if he can waste it like that. 

“Thank you.” You tell him, cradling Oliver who is fast asleep.

“It’s nothing.” Dieter waves away the thanks and looks down at Rosie as she finishes the last of her bottle. “Okay little girl, let’s get you to burp, and then maybe a nap?” He asks, grinning. “She has the manliest burps.” He brags, astounded that something so small could make such a racket. “I have the other cradle thingy if you want to lay your son down.”

“The bassinet?” You smirk and he shrugs one shoulder, “I’m still learning.” You nod and let him guide you to the bassinet and you carefully lay Oliver down before adjusting your shirt after clipping your nursing bra. Rosie burps and you giggle softly, liking how proud Dieter is of her and you watch him lay her down in the cradle next to Oliver. “Maybe they will be best friends.” You whisper, leaning closer to him.

“That would be cool.” Dieter imagines it, his own childhood lonely and isolated. There were times he had wished desperately for a built-in friend. “Let’s get out of here before we wake them up.” He has learned that Rosie is cranky if she gets woken up before she’s ready and he doesn’t blame her, he’s the same way. Maybe she got it from him. “So, uh, since there’s two kids….just, um, we’re gonna need that double stroller thingy, right?” Dieter asks as he walks down the hall with you. “And can you show me that carrier thing? The one you have the baby wrapped to your body? That looks cool. Oh, and uh, the diapers. The service, when we get that set up, use it for Oliver too.” He adds. “No need to have two different types of diapers, right?”

You nod, realizing it’s best not to argue. “Let’s leave them to sleep and we can work on getting the nursery set up. I- I really appreciate this opportunity, Dieter.” You tell him and lean in to kiss his cheek. He blushes as you set your phone up as a makeshift baby monitor, calling his phone, and you leave the babies to sleep. Dieter follows you, his eyes dropping down to your ass, and he curses internally when he realizes he finds you hot. 

****

“Dieter!” You call out, trying to find your boss. Oliver and Rosie are having tummy time on the play mat and you need your breast pump. It’s been a couple of months since you moved in with Dieter to become his full time nanny and it’s been surprisingly nice. Rosie is a good girl and you’ve grown to fall in love with her, making sure her and Oliver get equal treatment. “Can you get my pump?” You ask when he doesn’t respond.

“Yeah!” Dieter reluctantly lets go of his cock and tucks it away in his dress slacks. He had been trying to tug one out before he had to go to court, formally getting custody of his daughter. Nervous and not able to get high, jerking off had become even more of a habit than before now he had started thinking about you while he was doing it. You’re so fucking pretty and kind. Looking like an angel as you take care of his daughter. Dieter knows that he’s falling in love with you but he can’t do anything about it. Not willing to risk you leaving and denying Rosie the best nanny in the world. Washing his hands quickly, he rushes to the kitchen to grab the pump where you had cleaned it last night while he sterilized bottles. “Here it is.”

You thank him, breasts aching and you attach the suction, not thinking about Dieter as you sigh in relief at the milk finally being pumped. “Shit. That feels good.” You groan, the whooshing of the machine pumping and you have been pumping enough for Rosie to have milk too. It’s been a lot but you love the babies. “What time do you have to leave?” You ask Dieter, catching him staring at your tits and you hate that it thrills you. He’s so sexy, unintentionally so, and goofy as hell. He’s good with his daughter and you’ve grown close, raising the babies together, and you know it’s getting harder and harder to deny how you feel every day.

“Oh, uh, I gotta leave in twenty minutes.” His cock is still hard in his trousers and he twitches at the groan you make. Every day you pump, having no modesty around him now and you shouldn’t - it’s natural but Dieter still thinks it’s sexy. “I’m nervous.” He admits, glancing over at Rosie as she squeals and waves her arms on her tummy. “I know that my lawyer said it’s a formality, but what if the judge doesn’t like me? What if he takes Rosie from me?”

You shake your head and reach for his hand, squeezing it. “I promise you, it’s gonna be fine, D. You’re a good daddy and that will be shown. I know your past hasn’t been ideal but you got this. You’re a good man, Rosie is lucky to have you. We all are. It’s gonna be fine. I promise you.” You offer him a soft smile and squeeze his hand again.

“I’m more nervous than the night I won my Oscar.” Dieter confesses with a nervous chuckle. He doesn’t tell you that he was high, sure that you could guess that, although he has done anything more than hit his weed pen since you’ve moved in. Rosie is surprisingly therapeutic, although he’s glad she doesn’t understand what he talks about during the nights he gets up with her. The movie is almost halfway done shooting and he’s going to make sure that once he’s done, you get a week off so you can veg for more than a night. He looks down at your joined hands and smiles. “I’ll call you when I get out, okay?” He asks, and you nod, letting go of him. “And eat that kale and beet salad in the fridge”, he throws over his shoulder as he rushes towards the door. “It’s supposed to help the milk supply.”

You roll your eyes playfully, looking back at the babies. “Daddy is silly, isn’t he?” You talk to Rosie and look at Oliver, saddened that he isn’t going to know his father. You wonder what Ollie would think of Dieter. They are similar in a lot of ways but Ollie was always practical, making sure you weren’t in a relationship because of his strenuous job as a firefighter. He didn’t want you to be one of those women sitting around waiting for him. You sigh and wonder what you are going to do about Dieter. It’s too comfortable with him. 

****

“Dinner’s ready!” You call out. The babies are now six and seven months old. Sitting in their baby bouncers, watching you setting the dinner out for Dieter. He’s finished filming and you want to celebrate. The nice bottle of wine on the table alongside his favorite pasta.

“Oh my god, you spoil me.” Dieter groans as he comes into the dining room, freshly showered and in comfortable clothes. Rosie squeals happily and so does Oliver, both of them in their high chairs. Dieter grins leaning in and blowing a raspberry on his daughter’s cheek and then on your son’s. He never thought he was a kid type of person, but his playfulness extends to your son. He’s a good kid and it would not be right when you are so good with Rosie if he ignored the little guy. It makes him imagine that the four of you are a family, a real one and he was coming home from work to all of you. “You didn’t have to do this.”

You shake your head, enjoying the way his hand finds your waist as you reach for the parmesan on the counter. You turn to face him, cupping his cheek, “you just finished filming. You deserve a treat.” You smile, caressing his cheek and your eyes dip down to his lips for a second. He stares at you and you clear your throat, lowering your hand, “let’s eat. You must be starving.” You set the cheese down and glance over at the babies, you fed them while dinner was cooking so now you and Dieter can enjoy your meal.

“How was your day?” He’s finding that this, fatherhood and responsibility, is grounding for him. Not just concentrating on his whims and trolling through boredom. Every day is different and challenging with kids, especially when he’s trying to make sure that none of his own parents' mistakes affect Rosie. “The kids were okay?” He asks, pouring more wine into each of your glasses. You hum in protest but Dieter shakes his head. “Just pump and dump. You deserve more than one glass.” He huffs.

You sigh but let him pour some more wine, it’s been stressful with the babies today. “Rosie decided to throw up all over Oliver and herself so both of them needed a bath and then Oliver managed to get his diaper off in his onesie so he needed another bath and then Rosie wouldn’t stop crying because Oliver wasn’t next to her. It’s been - it’s been a day.” You sigh and Dieter nods, reaching for your hand. It feels so normal, like you’re complaining to your husband about your hectic day over wine and you look up at Dieter, “I love them both so much but today was…it was a lot.”

“I can imagine.” Dieter squeezes your hand gently and once again thinks that it’s odd that you don’t feel like his employee. You feel like his wife, although he’s never kissed you, or touched you like he’s imagined. “Let me take both the kids tonight.” He offers. “I’ve got the next week off before I have to do all the press bullshit for the other movie coming out in two weeks. Why don’t you take a little vacation? A spa or something?” His parenting skills have improved drastically and there have been times where he’s watched Oliver for you. Like when you had to go for another postpartum checkup.

You groan, letting go of his hand so you can continue eating. “I won’t lie…a massage sounds good. My back has been killing me.” You confess, twirling the pasta around your fork and you bite your lip, wondering what a massage from him would be like with his hands. “I wouldn’t mind going to the mall. I need some new clothes that aren't leggings.” You chuckle, “and I need some new underwear.” You sigh before you chew on the pasta.

Dieter’s cock twitches at the thought of your underwear. Not that he sees them. You’ve taken over doing the laundry even though he offered to have someone come in. Or he could help. Insisting that it was no problem. Johan had even commented that you made his house seem like a real home, and Dieter couldn’t deny that. “You could do all that.” He promises. “I’ll watch the kids. I want to spend some time with R and O.”

You feel guilty leaving the kids behind but you trust Dieter, something you never thought you’d say, but he has proven himself to be an amazing father. You smile, “thanks baby.” You tell him and he swallows the wine down. It’s getting harder to deny how you feel. After finishing eating, Dieter helps you clean up while you have the babies in the play pen. “Bedtime for the bubbies.” You coo, picking up Rosie and kissing her hair. “Daddy is gonna change you, baby girl.” You slide her into Dieter’s arms and pick up Oliver.

“Why don’t you go take your own bath?” Dieter offers, grinning down at Rosie. “You’ve had them all day and you said it’s been rough. Go take a bubble bath. I can get them ready for bed.” He’s made huge strides as a father, as a caretaker and now that he’s more confident, he finds he likes it. Kids are fun. And easy to learn how to please. “I can rock them both and get them settled.”

“Are you sure?” You ask, trusting him but you want him to be comfortable. 

“I am for this.” He promises and you nod, “you got this. I- I can feed O before they get to sleep.” You say and he shakes his head. 

“No. I got it.” He promises, knowing he can warm up your milk. 

You lean in to kiss the babies’ heads, “goodnight my loves. I love you so much.” You say to them and you look up at Dieter, offering him a grateful smile. You make your way into the bathroom, sighing in relief when you sink into the tub.

Dieter hums to the babies as he warms up their last bottles of the night. Changed and in clean onesies, they are ready for that last bottle. Smirking to himself as he tests the breast milk on his wrist and barely resists licking it. He wants to try it, but he feels like that might be crossing a line. Getting both of the babies settled in each arm and they can hold their own bottle now with a little help. “You two are like twins, you know that?” He coos at both of them, settling in the rocker on the nursery while they eat. Watching their eyes grow heavier as they suck. You had both decided to keep them in the same nursery, letting them bond and it has worked out so much better than he had ever hoped. He loves Oliver like Rosie and when they fall asleep at the same time, he’s grinning as he holds them for a little longer before shifting to put them to sleep in the same crib. They cried if they were separated, curling up together during the night as if they were twins.

You sigh, relaxing in the hot water until you decide to get out and say goodnight to the babies. You shrug your robe on, tying it as you make your way to the nursery as Dieter leans over the crib. “They asleep?” You whisper and he nods. You caress their heads, loving how they are asleep together, keeping each other safe. Sometimes you see them holding hands in the night. It’s adorable. You rest your head on Dieter’s shoulder as you watch them for another moment and he turns his head to kiss your hair. It makes your heart pound and you pull away, letting the babies sleep with the white noise machine running.

Dieter’s hands seem to be twitchy as you walk out of the nursery in front of him. He knows that you are only dressed in a robe and he wants nothing more than to strip you out of it and touch you. Make you shake in pleasure. “Do you want to have a drink?” Dieter asks. “Or are you calling it a night?”

“A drink sounds good. Relax after a long day.” You smile, walking into the kitchen to open the second bottle of wine you’d bought earlier. You work fast to open it, pouring a glass and handing it to him before you settle on the sofa. “You wanna continue watching that show on HBO?” You ask, knowing he hates it when you watch an episode without him.

“Yes!” Dieter lights up and he narrows his eyes at you playfully. “You better not have already watched it.” He threatens playfully, handing you the remote. He likes when you relax and loves that you feel completely at home here. It is your home. He leans towards you and takes a sip of the wine. “What do you think is gonna happen, this episode? The previews looked good.”

You nod, shifting closer towards him. “I promise you. I haven’t seen it yet.” You assure him and have another sip of your wine. You love and hate how relaxed you are, how easy this is. How real it feels. Like you’re a proper family. The baby monitor is on the coffee table and you rest your head on Dieter’s shoulder as he presses play. You barely watch the show, too focused on the way Dieter feels pressed against you.

About halfway through the show Dieter shuffles, throwing his arm around the backside of the couch and around you. Letting you slide down against him more. You pull the throw blanket over your legs and he smiles, wondering how you are always cold but it’s a cute quirk he’s noticed.

You snuggle into his side, hand finding his chest and you caress the skin under the shirt he always has half buttoned. He sighs and you breathe him in, pleased to feel his heart thumping under your touch. This intimacy, it’s what keeps you satisfied when you yearn for more but you can’t risk it. Your job. Your home. Your life is connected to his and you can’t afford to mess it up. 

“Marry me.” Dieter says and you think you misheard him. 

“What?” You ask, not moving. 

“Marry me.” He repeats and you jerk back from his side so you can look him in the eyes. 

“What- did you just ask me to marry you?”

“I did.” Dieter nods, turning towards you and reaching for your hand. “I love you. I love how you make this house feel like a home. I love how you care for Rosie and I love Oliver.” He adds. “I love coming home to you and I want this-“ he motions around the house and between the two of you. “To be real. I want to touch you, kiss you. Make love to you.” Dieter isn’t a man who talks in terms like ‘making love’ but that’s exactly what it would be. “I think you love me too, don’t you? I know you do.”

You shake your head, wanting to tell him you love him. He’s crazy, he leaves his socks everywhere and he has so many holes in his shirts but he’s kind and whacky and so damn funny. You love him, you’re in love with him, but to marry him would be a bad idea. You can’t risk this life you’ve created together. “Dieter.” You sigh, pulling your hand out of his. “We can’t. We can’t risk the babies. We - if it all went wrong, then I’d be moving out with Oliver and Rosie loses him and vice versa. If it all went wrong, I’d be homeless and I wouldn’t have anything. I can’t risk that for my son. I can’t. I’m sorry.”

His heart breaks but he’s determined to convince you this is a good thing. Latching onto what you said about being homeless, his eyes widen. “I’ll buy you a house.” He bursts out. “In your name alone. It’ll be yours. Completely.” He nods to himself, grinning like an idiot and picks up your hand again. “It won’t go wrong, you’re perfect and I love you. I want to be with you and our babies all the time and fuck, I want another baby when you’re ready.” He missed everything about Rosie’s birth and he wants to see your stomach large with a baby, his baby. “But if it did-“ he stresses the word ‘if’, “-you would have a house for you and Oliver. And you could rent it out right now. The money would be yours. Totally yours.”

Your eyes widen and you shake your head, “I can’t - that’s too much. A house here is insane. That’s a crazy amount to put into this. That - a whole damn house? That’s what you want to do?” You ask incredulously and he nods. 

“All I know is that I can’t stop thinking about you. I need you. I love you.” He promises and you swallow harshly, tears stinging in your eyes. 

Your heart yearns for him yet your head tells you it’s too much of a risk. “Dieter…” You trail off and he frowns, pulling away slightly, sensing your rejection. “I love you.” Your eyes water and a sob escapes your lips as you start to cry. No one has ever been so kind to you. To know he loves you enough to buy a house so you feel secure in case something goes wrong. It has you sobbing.

He lunges forward, crushing you to him in a comforting hug. “Don’t cry baby, please don’t cry. I never want you to cry.” He pleads, sure that he’s messed up somehow. “I’m sorry, I just can’t stop wanting you. Seeing you with our babies, I think- I wish they were ours. Our twins and we had them together.” He rubs your back and pets your hair as you sob into his chest and he tries to think of how he could make you feel better.

You sob into his chest at his words, wishing they were true but it’s not and that’s okay. The babies brought you together and you know you and Dieter would’ve never met if it weren’t for that single moms group. “I - I love you.” You offer him a watery smile as you pull back and he reaches out to gently wipe your tears away. “I love you and I want you to be mine. I want to be yours. I love you Dieter.” You confess, cupping his cheeks.

Dieter’s smile is slow, soft and he can’t believe that you are saying yes. He leans in and presses his lips to yours softly. Loving how you immediately open for him to slide his tongue against yours with a groan. Pulling you close against him again, this time shamelessly pressing his body against yours. “I love you.” He promises, kissing down your jaw line. “Do you want to have sex with me? Or do you want to wait?” He wants you in his bed, but if you wanted to wait until the deed to the house was in your hands, he would understand that. He would go out tomorrow and buy you the best house he could find.

You know you’ve spent far too much time thinking about him, having him inside of you, pressing against you, and you know you should slow down but you can’t. “I want you. I don’t want to wait. I want you now.” You tell him breathlessly and you press your lips to his, cupping his cheek while you slide your tongue against his.

Groaning, Dieter pulls you closer and starts to lean you back against the sofa, knowing that he needs to take you to bed but right now, he needs to feel you under him. “So beautiful.” He praises, kissing your chin and nips your skin with his teeth.

You sigh, loving how it feels to have him touch you. His hand sliding along your thigh and you whimper, “Dieter. Please. I want you to touch me.” You plead, guiding his hand to the tie of your robe while your hands caress his chest under his ratty t-shirt.

He hums, twitching against your hip and he leans back and grins at you, “I’m going to, baby. I’m going to make sure you know exactly what you are getting from me.” He pulls your robe open and groans at the sight of your tits. Looking back up at you. “Can I taste?” He asks. “I’ve dreamed of tasting your milk.”

Your cunt clenches around nothing at the thought. “You’ve imagined it?” You ask breathlessly and he nods so you move fast to straddle him, his cock hard against your thigh, and you lean in towards him to kiss him as you shrug your robe off of your shoulders. “You can have a taste.”

He knows your tits are tender, hearing you complain and watching as you sometimes have to massage them. He cups them in his hands, groaning at how full they are, grinning. “Fuck, I can drink it all since you were going to dump it.” He realizes as he leans forward to wrap his lips around one nipple.”

“Oh shit.” You gasp, groaning softly at the relief and arousal coursing through you. You love it. Tangling your fingers in his hair, you watch him gulp down your milk and you’re amazed that he enjoys it. “Oh God baby.” You pant, feeling the relief of your milk draining and the way he sucks on your nipple, biting it now and then.

“Shit.” He gasps, feeling his cock throbbing. “It’s better than I expected.” He moans, switching to your other breasts and he knows this will become a favorite thing for him now. One hand slides down between your thighs and he is so fucking happy to find you wet.

“Dieter. Please.” You beg, needing more from him. It’s been so long since someone touched you. Not since Ollie. You rock down onto his fingers, loving how he rubs your clit while his lips suckle on your other breast. “Oh fuck, D. So good.” You whimper, caressing his shoulders.

“What do you want, baby?” He pulls off your nipple with a pop. “You want me to eat your pussy?” He groans at the thought. “Want to sit on Dieter’s face? Smother me with your cunt?”

You giggle breathlessly, “that’s the only way to shut you up?” You tease and he nods, “one of the few ways.” 

You laugh and he moves fast to shift, laying down and he pulls you over to hover over his face. “Shit baby. So good to me.” You gasp when he drags you down on top of his face.

The first taste is always amazing. Sliding his tongue though your folds as he pulls your hips down onto his mouth. Holding you there as he licks and then sucks on your clit.

You whimper, “baby. Oh baby.” You moan, grinding down onto his face. “So good. So fucking good.” You moan, loving how enthusiastic he is and he squeezes your ass, encouraging you to move. You do, rocking your hips down even more.

He doesn’t care that you two are on the couch or that he is throbbing in his pants. All he cares about is making you moan his name. He knows he will slide inside you as soon as you cum for him. He moans against your clit, loving how you are smothering him just like he wanted you to. Using him for your pleasure.

“Fuck. Fuck. It’s so good, baby.” You pant, lost in the pleasure of his mouth on you. You rock on top of his mouth, his nose pressing against your clit as his tongue pushes deep. “Fuck baby. Yes. Yes. Yes. Keep - keep going.” You beg, moaning his name.

He can’t breathe, but he doesn’t care. Too busy licking into you to feel your walls start to convulse around his tongue. Moaning when the first rush if your juices hit his mouth and your moan of his name almost makes him cum in his pants. Digging his fingers into your hips, Dieter doubles down on making you shriek his name.

You throw your head back as he makes you cum, moaning his name as you clamp down around his tongue. “Fuck baby. Fuck. I- I love you.” You whine when he works you through it and you whimper, lifting off of him when it becomes too much.

Panting like he was the one who had cum, Dieter licks his lips, completely pussy drunk as he caresses your side. Enjoying the boneless way you collapse on top of him as you try to catch your breath. “I love you. Fuck, you’re my new favorite meal.”

You inhale deeply, shifting off of him and you waste no time in tugging his shirt off of him. “Baby. I want to see all of you.” You tell him, tossing the ragged shirt away and you pull his sweats down to expose his cock. “Holy - that’s what you got?” Your eyes are wide at the girth and you wrap your fingers around him.

Dieter groans, bucking his hips and biting his lip in pleasure. “Fuck, is that not enough?” He gasps out. Normally women have no issue with his size but maybe your Ollie was hung like a horse.

“Not enough? Dieter, baby, I’m gonna feel you tomorrow.” You assure him, “I’m gonna need - wow. You might have to get some lube.” You admit and you start to pump him, in awe that your fingers don’t touch. You know it’s been so long since you’ve had sex and he is thick. You’ve always preferred girth over length anyway. “You’re big.” You promise him, leaning in to flick your tongue over the leaking slit.

He preens at your praise, eyes rolling back in his head at the feel of your tongue. “I’ve got lube.” He promises, reaching down and cradling your jaw. “Use it all the time, jerking off thinking about you.” He’s not ashamed of masturbating while thinking of you. “Baby let's go to the bedroom. You can ride me if you want more control.”

You want to suck his cock but you know you’ll have plenty of time to do that later. Right now, you need him inside of you. Releasing his cock, you pick up the baby monitor and stand up, smirking as you make your way to his bedroom. He’s scrambling to get his sweatpants off and you disappear down the hall, throwing over your shoulder, “don’t keep me waiting, Bravo.”

“Shit.” He hisses, eager to chase after you. Noticing that you are headed to his bedroom and not your own. “I’m coming baby, fuck.” He watches your ass shake as you sway your hips. “Gonna buy you the biggest fucking house I can find.”

You giggle, setting the monitor down on the nightstand and you gasp when Dieter’s hands grab your hips, pulling you back into him. You quickly spin and wrap your arms around his neck, pressing your lips to his. “I love you.” You murmur against his mouth, his hard cock pressing into your stomach.

“I love you too.” Dieter moans softly, sliding his hands down and squeezing your ass. “Do you- do you need me to wear a condom?” He asks, sure that you aren’t wanting to get pregnant so soon after having your son. It wasn’t like you two had discussed birth control.

“No. I- I got an IUD put in. Figured they might as well do it while I was there and it wasn’t painful. I’m clean too. Not been with anyone since Ollie.” You promise and wonder if he’s clean. You don’t know when he slept with someone last. Maybe after you arrived. You don’t know. It’s not like it was your business when you were just his nanny.

He nods. “I uh, I haven’t been with anyone since Rosie has shown up. I’m clean.” He promises, eager to slide inside you and feel you without a barrier. “I didn’t want to do that kind to shit around her. Give her a good example. Don’t want her to be like me.”

You cup his cheeks, “you’re a good father and she’s gonna be just fine. You’re doing a good job.” You remind him, leaning in to kiss along his jaw. “Come on baby, you want me to ride you?” You ask and he nods. You let go of him and he walks over to his nightstand to grab the lube while you kneel on the bed. When he’s laying down, you grab the bottle and squirt some into your hand, wrapping your fingers around his cock to coat him before you swipe your fingers through your folds to make sure you’re slick enough. “Fuck, you’re gonna stretch me out.” You tell him as you straddle him.

“Want to see it.” Dieter pants, chest heaving as he watches you position his cock at your entrance. Moaning your name as you start to sink down on him, he can feel his entire body light up in pleasure at the hot clutch of your cunt. “I love you. I fucking love you.” Dieter cries, his fingers digging into your thighs as you slowly take him deeper, watching your mouth drop open and loving the way you moan his name.

Your eyes close as you slowly sink down onto him. He’s so thick, it stings, but you like that. It’s been so long since you had sex and this is the man you love. Your heart pounds in your chest as your thighs meet his, his cock fully inside of you, and his fingers sink into your flesh. “Shit. Shit. Shit.” He grunts and you giggle, leaning down to kiss along his jaw. “I fucking love you too.” You murmur, licking along his neck until you are biting his earlobe so you can give yourself a moment to adjust to him.

He whines, unable to stop himself from lurching up in pleasure. “Oh did you like that?” You giggle breathlessly, making him moan and turn his head so you can do it again. 

“More baby, fuck. Want you to mark me up.” He begs, so starved for attention that he needs to drown in it. His hand squeezes your ass again and it takes concentration to not urge you to move, your walls fluttering so deliciously around him.

You love how desperate he is for you. Biting down on his earlobe again and his cock twitches inside of you. You take pity, finally feeling comfortable, and you shift, rocking on his cock while you nibble on his ear, whispering “you’re mine. I’m gonna make sure everyone sees it.” You smirk as you kiss down his neck, sucking and biting on his skin.

“Fuck yes, I’m yours, I’m yours.” Dieter chants, rocking his hips up to chase your cunt when you lift off of him. Hating even the brief few seconds where he’s not buried inside your warmth. “All yours baby.” He groans, closing his eyes at the pure bliss of being able to touch you, to tell you what he’s thinking without worrying about offending you. “Gonna marry you. Give you everything.” He gasps out.

You moan, “I’m yours too. Been yours since I moved into this house. I’m gonna be your wife.” You promise and he groans, hands caressing your back. You kiss his collarbone and shift back, making his cock sink deeper and you grab his hands to help you balance as you ride his cock. “Fuck. Yes. God, so good. So good inside of me.” You ramble, squeezing his hands as you start to pick up the pace.

“God, fuck, your pussy is gold.” His toes curl and he loves how you start to bounce on his cock. Making your tits away heavily and he watches with them unabashed lust. “So fucking gorgeous.” He pants. “Can’t wait to see you pregnant, riding my cock.”

“One day.” You promise with a grin, breathless from how good this feels. You let go of his hands, leaning back to grab his knees, and you grind down onto his cock, hitting just the right spot to make you gasp. “Fuck, baby. Oh my - I’m - it’s gonna make me cum.” You confess, reaching down to rub your clit.

Dieter frowns and slaps your hand away, pouting up at you. “Let me.” He insists, pressing his thumb to your clit and rubbing a tight circle over the bundle of nerves while you bounce on his cock. “Fuck baby, cum, please cum. I’m gonna -“ he hisses. “Not gonna last. Too fucking tight.” Your walls clenching down around him every other bounce is getting to be too much and he grits his teeth, praying he lasts long enough for you to soak his cock.”

Your moans are getting breathier as you struggle to breathe from the pleasure. “Oh fuck. Oh fuck. Dieter. I’m gonna - oh!” You moan, clamping down on his cock and soaking him, his thumb still working your clit until your thighs are shaking. “Cum for me.” You beg breathlessly, wanting to feel it as you convulse on top of him from your orgasm.

You don’t have to say anything else. His entire body is aching to cum, gripping your hips harshly as he starts to thrust wildly up into your body. “Oh shit, oh shit, oh shiiiiiiiiiit.” Dieter whines, burying his cock half a dozen more times before his back is bowing and he is crying out your name, filling you with hot spurts of his seed.

You pant, collapsing onto his chest as his cock twitches inside of you, and you kiss along his neck. Unable to speak, you enjoy the aftermath of your orgasms. The connection you feel to Dieter has you on cloud nine. He’s a good father and a good man, despite what the paps print. He’s changed for his child and that makes you love him more. “Good?” You ask breathlessly, hoping he enjoyed it as much as you did.

“So fucking good.” Dieter’s eyes are closed and his expression is one of pure relaxation. Enjoying the way you feel on top of him. “God, you’re spending the night right here. Every night from now on.” He slides a hand up and down your back, enjoying the feeling of your slick skin under his palm. “Now we just need the kids to sleep through the night.”

“Soon. They are getting better. And you want another one to keep us awake?” You tease, giggling when his cock twitches inside of you. 

“I do.” He promises and you caress his cheek, leaning back to look into his eyes. “Me too. One day.” You lean in to softly kiss his lips, knowing you want this man to be your husband, to be everything. **** 

“Diet, babe. Can you get me that - shit.” You hiss after you feel the baby kick your ribcage. 

“Bad word mama.” Rosie points at you and you nod, “sorry, love. Mama needs to sit down.” You tell the three year old. Ollie comes over to sit down on the sofa next to you, his small hand on your belly as he leans in to talk to the baby in your belly. Rosie follows suit, wanting to do what her brother is doing. 

“Hello baby. It’s me. Your big brother-” 

“and sister.” Rosie adds as she leans in to press her ear to your stomach. You smile, tears in your eyes and look up to see Dieter walk into the living room. 

“You called baby?” He asks, paint splattered all over him from painting the new nursery. 

“Yeah. I’m sorry. Can you- can you get me some ice cream?” You bite your lip, knowing he’s been run ragged with your cravings.

Dieter grins, shoving his hand through his paint flecked hair, although he teases that the gray is because of you and the babies. “What kind of ice cream do you want, babe?” He strides over and rubs your bump before dropping a kiss on your lips. “Rocky road or are you wanting that cheesecake strawberry swirl?” He knows you will probably text him with more cravings, but he doesn’t mind. You are carrying his baby and you get what you want.

You smile at him, loving how flustered he looks when he has to go get your cravings, and you run your fingers over the kids’ heads before they look up at Dieter. 

“Can we have ice cream, daddy?” Rosie asks, that pout she definitely got from Dieter on her face. 

Oliver nods, “yes! Vanilla.” 

Rosie shakes her head, “chocolate!” 

You giggle and look at your husband, “I’ll have rocky road. Guess it’s an ice cream day.” You say and the kids cheer, excited to have ice cream.

“Vanilla, chocolate and rocky road.” Dieter nods, smiling down at the kids. He could never deny them much and while they would be considered spoiled, they were very well behaved. “Oh-“ he snaps his fingers. “Before I forget. The management agency called. They found another renter for the house and said that the repairs for the house were minimal, just paint to freshen up.” 

True to his word, he had bought you a house, deeded it in your name and hired a management company to handle the day to day issues and repairs. All of the profits were deposited into a bank account that was solely yours, even though you had access to everything of Dieter’s. “So that’s a weight off before the baby comes.”

The money going into that bank account is going to pay for the kids’ college. You won’t use it for yourself, not when you are happily married to Dieter. “Yes. Glad they managed to find another tenant.” You smile, reaching for his hand to kiss the back of it. 

“Daddy!” Oliver rushes over to him after shifting off of the sofa. 

“Yeah, buddy?” Dieter groans as he bends over to pick him up. 

“Can I come? To get ice cream?” He asks and Dieter nods, “of course.” You smile, loving how close Oliver and Dieter are. You adopted Rosie and he adopted Oliver not long after you were married. It felt natural and meant to be. Your little family, complicated but perfect. 

“We will be right back. Rosie, you wanna come?” Dieter asks and she shakes her head, climbing onto the sofa. 

“I wanna stay with mommy.” You pull her close, “we can watch our show while the boys are out.” You tell her in a playful whisper and she grins. 

“We will be back soon.” Dieter promises and you smirk at him, “after ice cream, the kids need to nap. Mommy needs ‘nap time’ too.” You say to Dieter and he smirks back at you, “what mommy wants, mommy gets.” He promises, knowing he wants you to moan his name while the kids are asleep. From Rosie getting shoved into his arms on a random day, to having a family with a baby on the way. Dieter never imagined being a family man but now, he wouldn’t have it any other way.

[writtenonreceipts]

Rowaelin Month Day Fifteen: Meet the Parents @rowaelinscourt

Month Masterlist Hey, Neighbor Masterlist

The titles for this are getting increasingly more stupid.  My humor is also getting increasingly more stupid.  Anyways…please forgive the crummy formatting...

*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*

Hey, Traitor

>>Aelin: can i ask you for a favor?

Rowan stared at the message for longer than was necessary.  He’d had Aelin’s number for a while now, and she’d had his.  But their texting hadn’t been anything worth mentioning.  In fact, he’d wondered if Aelin had regretted exchanging numbers.  But here she was at eight in the morning requesting his help.

Sitting back in his seat, Rowan glanced at his phone one more time before answering.

<<Rowan: What’s up?

>>Aelin: If I leave a key hidden outside my door, can you check on Fleetfoot for me tonight?  Something came up and I won’t be back until late. She’ll be cooped up all day. <<Rowan: Yeah, not a problem. >>Aelin: Are you sure?  I only have time to swing back home for a minute for the key thing.  I know you're busy. <<Rowan: Aelin, it’s fine, I don’t mind. <<Rowan: … is everything ok?

She didn’t respond as quick as the other times and it wasn’t long until Rowan got distracted with other things that had come up. 

He was off for the next two days, which he wouldn’t complain about.  The ski slopes and trails had been getting dumped with snow over the last several weeks which had made for long days of rescue and clean up.  It was the first break he’d had in ten days and while he was eager to simply relax--he owed it to Aelin to help her out.

After a quick home workout followed by a smoothie, he was going to get started on some paperwork for reapplication on his certifications.  There were things for his firearms, physicals, and CPR renewals.  They always ended up needing to be taken care of around the same time.  It didn’t help that he tended to put it all off until the very same day.

His phone lit up with an incoming call and Aelin’s name flashed on the screen.

“Galathynius,” he greeted.

“Rowan,” she said, the usual lilt of amusement to her voice was strained but all he could really focus on was the way she said his name. “Fleetfoot is in a mood, so I’m sorry about that.  But I think I should be back by seven tonight.  If you could just make sure she gets food at five?  I’m sorry again to ask you—”

“I have the day off,” he said, gently cutting her off.  “It’s really not a problem.”

Aelin exhaled slowly as she considered what to say next.  Rowan thought about teasing her—it was so unlike her to be speechless and frazzled, but he thought better of it.

“Alright,” she finally said. “I’ll let you know when I’m back.  Her treats are in the cupboard above the sink.  Don’t let her fool you, I do not starve her.”

Rowan chuckled at that. “Noted.”

“Thanks,” Aelin said, Rowan heard the ticker of her car go off quietly in the background. “I can pay—”

“Knock it off, Aelin,” Rowan said.  He was a bit firmer on this than he meant to be, but hell--this was probably the least inconvenient favor someone could ask of him. “I’ll go pick the demon up now.”

A small pause. “She’s an angel, but alright.”

“Bye.” Rowan hung up before she could try and offer to pay him again.

He shook his head before standing and heading to the door.  No use letting Fleetfoot be by herself when he was home anyways.  He crossed the hall and started to unlock the door when he heard the dog on the other side, nose snuffling at the bottom door jam.

Rowan barely had the door open when Fleetfoot wedged her way through and tried barreling into him.

“Demon dog,” he muttered.  Fleetfoot wiggled excitedly and bumped into his legs.  Crouching down, Rowan gave Fleetfoot her scratch after scratch.  “Yeah, yeah.  Attention starved, just like your momma, huh?”

Fleetfoot whined and tried licking his face.  It was only ten in the morning and Rowan suspected the dog hadn’t even been left alone very long, but she was already eager for company.

Rolling his eyes, Rowan ushered the dog back inside Aelin’s apartment.

“We’re going on a fieldtrip, girl,” he told Fleetfoot.

The dog, simply happy to have the company, pranced around the apartment as if showing off every corner to Rowan.  She even grabbed one of her toys laying on the floor and brought it over to him.  She dropped it at his feet before running off to find another toy.  And another.

Hanging on a hook next to the door was a leash, studded with chew marks, that Rowan grabbed.  He also took the small roll of poo-bags on the entry table.  There was no way he would make it through the afternoon without getting Fleetfoot outside.  And he figured Aelin wouldn’t mind if they just took a quick trip around the park.

The apartment was a mirror of his own, but Aelin had obviously gone through more of an effort to make hers a home.  Between the dozens of pictures hanging on the walls, the large bookshelf stuffed full of books and bookish paraphernalia--Aelin had gone through a lot of effort in making things comfortable and real.  Rowan had always been moving or too busy to ever stay in one place very long.  Hell, the two years here in Terrasen were the longest he’d been anywhere that he could remember.  He didn’t even have a picture hanging up aside from a gag gift his cousin got him ages ago.

Shaking his head, Rowan went to the kitchen and grabbed the treats that Aelin had indicated.  And then, because Fleetfoot sat so neatly before him, he tossed her one of the treats.  He also made sure to grab Fleetfoots food and water dish with the portioned cup and a half of dog food.

Fleetfoot seemed to gather something new was going on because she kept dancing around the kitchen whining.  

“Let’s go,” Rowan encouraged and Fleetfoot bolted for the door. “Easy now.”

He made sure he had everything he needed before slowly cracking the door open.  Despite her rambunctious energy, Fleetfoot behaved and waited for him in the hall while he locked up Aelin’s place and led the dog to his.

As Fleetfoot explored all the new smells and sights of his apartment, Rowan stored the gathered items and made sure he set out fresh water.  He’d never had a pet himself, the closest he’d gotten was when he was a kid he’d tried to capture a hawk out in the woods.  All he’d succeeded in doing was getting burs all over his clothes.  But it had also given him a love for the outdoors.

Now as Fleetfoot bounced around his apartment, Rowan found he didn’t mind the extra company.  

“Wanna go for a walk?” Rowan asked.

Fleetfoot froze, nose buried between the cushions of his couch.  Her ears perked up and her tail twitched.  

“Let's go,” he encouraged.  And that was all the dog needed.

…

Aelin’s phone buzzed once more as she piled into her car after the miserable day of screaming clients and incompetent bosses.  She expected it to be another picture of Fleetfoot—Rowan had been keeping her well supplied with them--but instead saw it was her mother calling.

Hell.

“Hey mom,” Aelin said into the phone.  She balanced it against her shoulder as she settled into her seat.  “Can I call you back—?”

“Your father and I are coming over.” Evalin spoke over Aelin, likely not ever hearing her daughter to begin with. “We have another box of your old things.”

“Now?” Aelin asked.  Of course they had to pick the worst times. “Mom, it’s been a long, miserable day.  I just want to snuggle my dog.” She started the car and waited for the Bluetooth to connect. “Can’t you come tomorrow?”

“We’re already on our way,” her mother replied breezily. “Tell Rowan we’ll see him soon!”

“Love you, Fireheart!” her father yelled from the other line.

“Wait!” Aelin yelped but the call was already disconnected. 

Why did the universe hate her?

Cursing the entire way that she drove home, Aelin debated what do to.  She doubted she would make it to the apartment first and if Rowan were watching her dog, she wanted to give him a heads up for her parent’s arrival.  Not that it was a big deal.  Even if her parents were still under the impression that she and Rowan were dating, watching someone’s dog for the day didn’t mean anything.  And Rowan had actually gone out into the mountains to run Fleetfoot through the trails, he probably wasn’t even home.  The last picture he’d sent her was of Fleet devouring a pupcup from Starbucks.  So maybe he was out of the house.  Which meant she had nothing to worry about.

Right?

Still, as she parked her car and ran inside her building, Aelin tried to call Rowan.

“Pick-up, pick-up, pick up,” she chanted as the call continued to ring through.

She slid into the elevator that an older woman held for her.  She smiled gratefully as she entered.  When she was going to press the button for her floor and found it already lit.

“Oh,” Aelin said in surprise.  “Hi.”

It wasn’t strange to have someone book the same floor, but Aelin had never seen this woman before in her life.  Except there was something…familiar about her…

Hell in a handbasket.  

Aelin fumbled with her phone and spat out a text.  

>>rOWAN?? I tnk we have a shitation

She didn’t care for the errors or messed up spelling.  Because if there was one thing Aelin would recognize anywhere--it was those pine green eyes.

>>ROWAN >>ROWAN >>RO

“You wouldn’t happen to know Rowan, would you?”

Aelin nearly dropped her phone, trying to wipe the guilt from her face.

This had to be worse than nearly falling down a ravine.

“Yeah, actually, we’re neighbors,” Aelin said.  She even managed a smile.  Though she was seconds away from crawling out the top emergency hatch of the elevator.  She could do it she watched plenty of crime shows, how hard could it be?

“He’s lived here two years and hasn’t had me over.” Mrs. Whitethorn rolled her eyes. “Though, I do live across the country.”

“It took me a full year to actually learn his name,” Aelin said, “he was really cranky for the majority of that time.”

Mrs. Whitethorn laughed. “He’s always been difficult.”

The elevator pulled to a stop as Aelin’s phone buzzed with a text.  Rowan had gotten back to her, too late.

Rowan: Help.  Crisis.  You know how I feel about socializing. Rowan: AELIN?!

The doors opened and Aelin fought against every cell in her body to not burst forward and streak down the hall to her apartment--only to find that the hall was filled by her parents.  And Rowan.  And her dog who was far too overjoyed by being surrounded by so many people.

Fleetfoot whined and tugged against her leash.  Rowan glanced up at the commotion and the look of relief at seeing her followed immediately by existential dread that Aelin wished she could have enjoyed more.

“Ma?” Rowan’s strangled voice rose at least two octaves as he stared at his mother getting off the elevator beside Aelin.  

“You have to start answering your phone dear,” Mrs. Whitethorn said.

“I was busy,” Rowa replied, his words stilted as he looked to Aelin for help.  But truth be told she was going to be useless in saving them from this mess.

When Fleetfoot gave another hard tug on the leash and Rowan released her.

The dog barreled down the hall to Aelin with barely constrained enthusiasm.  Aelin gratefully took the opportunity to ignore everyone and come up with a plan.

“Hi sweet girl, did you have a good day with Rowan?” she asked as she gave Fleetfoot a good pat down.  The dog only wiggled and yipped and tapped her paws. 

She had to come up with an excuse something to say because her parents, who thought she and Rowan were dating, stood in front of her apartment sharing significant looks and Rowan’s mother was now starting to look at Aelin with new interest.  This was going to turn into a cluster.  And absolute cluster of all fu--

“Ma,” Rowan said again when it was clear Aelin was going to be the problem child in this situation. “You met Aelin, these are her parents, Rhoe and Evalin.”

The brief greeting gave both Rowan and Aelin a chance to collect themselves and have a brief staring contest that miraculously resulted in a form of communication.

No this was not going to end well.  The lie must persist.  I am so sorry.

“Please call me Iona,” Mrs. Whitethorn said as she shook Rhoe and Evalin’s hands.  Her gaze immediately cut to Rowan. It was a look only a mother could give her child.  “I’m just making sure my son hasn’t gotten into too much trouble, seeing how busy his schedule’s gotten.”

Aelin swore she saw Rowan’s cheeks redden.  Oh she did like the woman.

Rowan looked ready to die as he ran a hand through his hair. “I was helping Aelin out today with Fleetfoot.”

Miraculously the dog remained on her best behavior as she leaned into Aelin’s legs, accepting head scratches.

“Because he’s such a good boyfriend,” Aelin added. She wasn’t exactly sure why they had to continue this facade; it wasn’t like her parents would actually care (aside from trying to start setting her up with other men again).  But it seemed like a natural thing to do and Rowan didn’t put up a fight.

“It wasn’t a problem,” Rowan said, “once I remembered Fleetfoot is exactly like you and needs constant snacks, we were fine.”

“Haha.” Aelin would have flipped him off if the circumstances were different.  Instead she settled on a smile that promised payback in one form or another.  She waved her keys in the air. “Let me get Fleetfoot inside and I’ll get that box from you dad.”

Maybe it was cruel to leave Rowan in the hall with the two mothers, but Aelin was still trying to figure out a way to end this mess without getting roped into any other appearances as a couple.  Plus, she just wanted to snuggle her dog.

“It’s just some of your old trophies and awards we didn’t want to throw out without your say-so,” Rhoe said, settling the box on Aelin’s couch.  He glanced back at the open door then at Aelin. “You only let Aedion watch the dog.”

“He was busy,” Aelin said.  She made sure Fleetfoot found her favorite toy before facing her dad. “And Rowan owed me a favor.”

Maybe.  She couldn’t remember exactly what the tally was.  Maybe they were even now.

“Right, sure,” her father simply nodded along, obviously unconvinced by her words.

“So you drove all the way out here to drop off a box of crap?” Aelin asked.  She nodded to the hallway. “Aren’t meddling or anything?”

Rhoe only laughed and came over to drop a kiss to Aelin’s forehead. “Us, meddle?  Fireheart, we wouldn’t dream of it.”

It was the biggest lie he’d ever tried to tell her.

After that it was easy enough to get her parents out of the building, they were going to meet friends for a late dinner and drinks.  Aelin was never more grateful to send them off far, far from here.

When Iona tried to invite Aelin over to Rowan’s for ice cream (Aelin highly doubted Rowan knew what ice cream actually was) she was able to finagle out of it.  Rowan insisted Aelin had a long day and needed the rest of the night to relax.  Aelin had never been more grateful.  

As lovely as Iona was, Aelin wasn’t sure she could spend any more time pretending about her and Rowan’s relationship.  It seemed…wrong to do so.  And, really Aelin didn’t much like lying.

So when she was finally back in her apartment and able to collapse on her couch with a bag of chip and glass of wine—Aelin finally felt like she could relax.  And she needed it.  Her day had been long and stressful after several clients hadn’t finished there edits on time causing a pushback in the next addition of the magazine.  Meaning Aelin had to spend more of her time editing instead layout design and her own writing.

It simply had felt like nothing could go right.  So now, curled up on the couch, Aelin let out a long sigh.

Fleetfoot lay in her bed across the room, letting out a long huff.

“C’mere, baby,” Aelin called, holding out a hand. “Come snuggle.”

Fleetfoot ignored her and instead huffed again.

Sometimes the dog got an attitude, but after the entire day apart Fleetfoot usually enjoyed settling on the couch beside Aelin for a lazy night.

Aelin glared at her dog. “You want to go see Rowan don’t you?”

Fleetfoot’s ears perked just a little as her dark eyes shifted to the door.

“Traitor,” Aelin said.

She took a long sip of her wine and started one of her shows.

Not long later, her phone buzzed with an incoming message.

Rowan: that could have been worse Rowan: a lot worse Aelin: ehhh, my dad may try inviting you over for sunday dinner soon. Aelin: he’s very tired of the fact mom and i don’t watch football Rowan:we can move to Washington. They have mountains and forests and coffee Aelin: oh you're in on this now? Rowan: my mother has sent me ten messages in the last three minutes, all about you…I think she likes you more than me

Aelin grinned at her phone, unable to help the warmth seeping through her body.  She tugged her sweater up, gnawing on the seam as if trying to keep that smile secret even if she was alone in her living room.  She hadn’t made the joke about randomly moving to the middle of nowhere, but the fact he remembered and brought it up just hit different in that moment.

Fleetfoot whined from the floor and gave Aelin a significant look before trotting over to the door.

Aelin: yeah well my traitor dog is pining after you. Rowan: please your dog is an angel

She couldn’t help the laugh that bubbled up even as she pressed her fingers firmly to her lips.  This was ridiculous, she was acting like a twelve-year-old girl with her first crush.  But as Aelin stared at the messages and pictures Rowan had sent her throughout the day, she found that the bit of joy sparking in her chest wasn’t entirely bothersome.

Aelin: thanks again for the help with fleet today Rowan: anytime

A part of her wanted to keep messaging, to keep talking with him, but she knew she couldn’t.  He didn’t think of her as anything more than a neighbor, maybe a friend.  And she didn’t want to push any boundaries and risk anything.  She sighed and let the message dangle on read before pulling her blanket up her legs and turning on her tv.

As she settled into one of her shows, her phone vibrated with one more message.

Rowan: have a good night, fireheart

.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.

love yall, hope you enjoyed!

[sjhhemmings]

Evermore Pt.1

Intro: hi all💫, so I’ve been wanting to write a long series for a while now, but i wanted to establish a footing/ platform with one shots and other content before I attempted this 🥰🥰. I got this idea from watching Chicago PD, it might be a little overused but this is my take on it. I’m hoping for this to be 15-20 parts😅? We’re still in the planning phase so some things are still undetermined. What i’m hoping for is that you guys can give me some feedback/ ideas of what you guys want to see happen, so feel free to let me know in the comments! My messages are also always open! I hope you all enjoy! 🥹💋

Major Character Relationships: Hank Voight/ Daughter!OC, Gabby Dawson(bff), Erin Lindsay(sister/bff), Jay Halstead(bff), (Who she ends ups with is TBA, but she has multiple relationships/ hookups ;)

Love interests: Jay Halstead, Mouse, Connor Rhodes,

Summary: Cassidy Voight is the daughter of ‘dirty cop’ Hank Voight. Cassie takes pride in her multitude of skills and opportunities resulting in her abilities to do (almost) whatever she wants career wise. When Cassie makes the decision to change careers (again), she will soon find out how loyal her ‘friends’ truly are. This story will follow Cassie and how she adjusts to her ever changing connections and relationships.

word count: 2.7k

wattpad: sjhhoran

The date is October 24th, 2012 and Cassie couldn’t have asked for an easier shift. 2 hours away from clocking out and absolutely no calls.

Cassie basically held a knife to everyone’s throats once they got halfway through shift. She couldn’t have anyone jinxing them. Not this late in the game. Threatening them one last time before she decided to turn in, she made sure to get extra comfortable.

But all good things must come to an end. Sleeping like a baby in the bunk room, Cassie gets woken up by the call alarm. Just her luck.

Jumping up in a rush, Cassie sleepily shoved her boots on and ran her hand through her hair.

As Cassie ran out to the apparatus floor, she heard an asortmant of sarcastic remarks towards the candidate. Of course he was the jinx.

“Nice goin!” , “Thanks a lot, Candidate.” , “Great job bud!” Most of Truck 81 said as they were gearing up.

“I knew I shouldn’t have fallen asleep.” Cassie said tying her hair back into a low pony before putting the rig in drive.

“Hey, at least you get to test out your new paramedic certification!” Gabby cheered enthusiastically.

“Yeah, yeah, but you’re still my PIC and I wouldn’t trade that for the world.”

“Oh my heart!” Dawson playfully adds as they pull up to the scene.

Analyzing the car wreck in front of them, the girls jump out of the rig and into action.

“This isn’t going to be good,” Cassie says quietly to Gabby as they wheel the gurney to the worse car.

“Happy Birthday.” Gabby mutters back making Cassie’s heart drop. Immediately recognizing the car that’s better off, Cassidy begins cussing under her breath before directing her attention back to the people in need.

“61 to main, we’re gonna need another ambulance.” Cassie calls into her radio once they arrive at the car that’s currently upside down.

After a lot of hardwork, and multiple scares, Cassie and Gabby finally get one of the more stable victims to the ambulance.

“Hey Dawson?” Cassie asked anxiously after shutting the door.

“What’s up? We gotta go-”

“My brother was in the accident. I’m gonna guess he was driving the other car, would you be able to take this one back to the hospital? I really need to see him Gabby. I can catch a ride with truck or squad when we’re done-”

“Go.”

“Thank you. So much.” Cassie says running towards the other car she saw her brother step out of.

“What the hell happened!?” Cassie yells shooing off the officer currently trying to talk to him.

“Ma’am, we need to-” The officer tries to butt in,

“Back off!” Cassie yells earning a stern look.

“3 minutes.” The officer says warningly.

Taking a step closer to Justin, Cassidy pulls his shoulder so he’s fulling facing her. Immediately catching the stench of alcohol on Justin’s breath, she freezes.

“Justin!” She whisper yells finally getting eye contact from his end.

“What?” He asks through gritted teeth.

“What the hell happened?” She asks again hitting his shoulder.

“Just- Get out of here! I d-don’t need you, and you’re s-stupid pep talks right now.” He slurs belligerently.

“You’ve been 21 for two weeks Justin. Two weeks, and you can’t even drive sober on my birthday!? What if you were the one half-dead, hanging upside down over there, hm? You think-” Cassie stops talking at the swift thwap ringing through her ears.

Feeling her hands now on the ground, she registers the stinging metallic taste in her mouth. After a few seconds of gathering her thoughts, Cassidy stands up straight. Touching her bottom lip and looking at her fingers, she realizes she’s the one bleeding. Blinking a few times, Cassie looks back at Justin who’s face is truly blank. Unreadible.

He hit her. He fucking back handed her. Cassie looks down at the class ring on Justin’s right middle finger, now laced in blood. Chuckling a little at his audacity, Cassie turns around slowly because she can’t look him in the face right now.

It all happened so much faster than the slap. She didn’t even feel herself wind up, but she did feel the connection of her fist with Justin’s nose, Justin who is now knocked on his ass. Solely because he’s drunk and doesn’t have much balance. Stopping at the 180 mark that Cassie threw her body in, she goes back around bending over holding her fist.

Looking slowly at her hand that is now purple and swollen Cassie lets out a slow hiss. Probably broken.

“Hey Lady! What the hell!” The officer from before says picking Justin up and walking him over to a nearby bench.

“Cassidy!” She heard an all too familiar voice call out. Too busy nursing her hand to truly turn around and give him the time of day she settles for rolling her eyes.

“Cassidy Jordan!” The voice calls out again, but this time closer and still approaching.

Finally standing up and looking at her father, Cassidy frowns once she meets his eyes.

“What the hell is going on!” His raspy voice yells, making her slightly wince.

“Over here. Now.” He says more quiet this time and walking away. Mindlessly following him Cassie begins walking.

Expectantly looking at Cassidy once they’re in a more private location, Voight eventually scoffs.

Still giving no reaction Cassie frowns at the ground.

“Don’t give me that.” Voight says pointing a finger at her.

“I didn’t even do anything!”

“Right, and your busted lip and probably broken hand lives up to that huh?” He asks with a raised brow.

“Justin is drunk off his ass and caused a car accident, yet you’re over here scolding me for retaliating in self-defense?” Cassie asks trying to turn this around of her father, unsuccessfully.

“I know what Justin is, but you know better. What were you doing over there anyway, didn’t your partner leave?”

“Yeah. But I wanted to check on him at least. He’s a screw-up but he’s my brother that’s a screw-up.” She says crossing her arms and looking away.

“Look. I know this is not the most ideal way to spend your birthday, I get that-”

“Do you though? Do you get that? Because for all we know, this could’ve been reversed and Justin’s car could’ve been the one hanging upside down off a pillar.” She says back at her father.

“Yes. I do know. I will handle it, Cassie.” Voight says unconvincingly at his daughter.

“He fucked up. He’s been 21 for two weeks and this would be considered what? His fourth or fifth DUI? He’s been on this road since he was 15! But this time don’t forget the possible vehicular manslaughter if either of those victims die!” Cassidy finally screams at her father.

“You need to stop.” He says looking around at all of the eyes on you guys, despite being in a private location.

“You need to do something about this, or I will.” Cassie threatens.

“What do you mean, you will?”

“I’m working this scene Dad. I have to make an incident report. You need to let the cops take him in now, or I will say everything that needs to be said in that report. Your choice.”

“Cassidy, you will do no such thing. Do you understand me?”

“You need to let him learn! You can’t be there everytime he screws up to save his ass! He isn’t going to change knowing Daddy’s going to bail him out everytime he gets in trouble. We both know it, so help him.” Cassie finally scolds leaving Voight speechless. It’s not often his daughter talks to him this way.

As Cassie starts to walk away, her father’s voice stops her once again.

“Don’t do anything Cassidy. I mean it. I’ll take care of it.”

Pausing in her steps at his words, she lets them sink in until she keeps walking.

Finding lieutenant Casey to ask him for a ride, she stops behind him and the cop from earlier.

“Look. Detective Voight, behind me - the guy in the jacket. That was his son driving the car.” Cassie overhears the cop tell Casey.

“Voight? Like Cassidy Voight?” Matt asks not knowing you’re behind them.

“Yep. Can’t tell you how many incidents that detectives gotten his kids out of.” The cop now says walking away making Cassie roll her eyes. The only thing Hank Voight has bailed Cassie out of was shoplifting a chapstick in the 6th grade.

“Hey, Lieutentant Casey? Can I catch a ride with 81?” Cassie asks startling Matt out of his transe.

“Where’s Dawson?” He asks now walking away from the car and Cassie.

Quickly following behind, Cassie catches up to him.

“Um, she took one of the crash victims to the hospital. I stayed behind.” She says not disclosing anymore information.

“Hop in.” He says once they reach the truck.

A few days later Cassie still hadn’t heard from her father or her brother, and at this point she didn’t know what to do. Once she got to the firehouse though, she needed to figure it out.

“Voight, Casey, my office now.” Chief Boden said causing the pair to briefly glance at each other before following Boden into his office.

“I don’t have either of your incident reports from the crash last shift. Is there something I need to know?” He asks causing them to glance at each other again.

Before either of them were able to say anything he pointed to his desk, “Get it done. You have until the end of shift.” When Boden glances away from them, Cassie takes this as her chance to leave.

“Cassie, wait up.” Casey said calling after her.

Cassie finally stopped in front of Casey’s room and waited for him to lead the way.

“Okay, you need to explain,” Matt started as Cassie stared at her shoes.

“I don’t know what to do.” Cassie finally whispers, voice slightly breaking.

“What do you mean?”

“I mean, I love my brother and my father, don’t get me wrong. They’ve been my only family my whole life. Especially since my mom died 10 years ago, but I can’t help but feel so guilty for the other family.” Cassie finally breaks. Tears flowing down her face, Matt stood up to give her a hug before she pushed him away and wiped her tears.

“I told my dad that he needed to do something this time. He couldn’t just bail Justin out, Justin needed to learn. I told him that if he doesn’t then I will, that I will write the report and submit it as the truth. But he shut me down. I don’t know what he would do if I did, I can’t do it, Matt.” Cassie finally says looking up at him.

“Cassie, yes you can. If we both tell the truth in those reports then that family can finally get justice.” Matt said sitting back down at his desk looking up at Cassie.

Taking a few seconds to let his words sink in. Cassie realized she can’t betray her family like that.

“No, Matt, I can’t. I want nothing more than to bring justice to that family I really do. But I can’t be the reason my family breaks. Call me selfish, but I can’t bear the pain of being shunned by the only two people I have left. I’m sorry Matt.” Cassie finally says leaving him speechless. Then leaving his room.

A little while later, Cassie went to go talk to Boden. To tell him the truth and maybe ask for a little advice as to what to do. But to her surprise when she came to his office. She found Detective Antonio Dawson, Matt Casey, and Boden all having a little chat. Knocking on Boden’s door, he glanced at the Lieutenant and Detective before waving her to come in.

“Cassie,” He started but was quickly interrupted by her.

“Chief, I want you to know I’m on your side. I know what kind of things my father has done to bail my brother out of his idiotic mistakes, and I don’t support it. But you guys sitting here and gossiping about my family is a new low. If you guys are planning something, I at least need to know.”

“Why? So you can turn around and tell him everything?” Antonio speaks up earning a glare from Cassie.

“No. So I can help you guys do it right.”

“And why don’t you help? You know what really happened so report it.” Boden says making Cassie glance back at him.

“Look, call me selfish, but they’re my family. My only family. I can’t in good conscious turn my brother in and have my father hate me, but I can’t in good conscious let that family suffer from my brother’s wrong doings. Let me help you guys. That way justice is being brought for that family, and my brother finally gets punished for his actions. But not because of me.” Cassie finally says crossing her arms over her chest.

“Alright, well a buddy of mine who works out of Voight’s precinct said nothing’s come up in witness statements.” Antonio says

“So you’re trying to tell me no one else saw his kid drunk.” Boden adds making Cassie bite her lip anxiously.

“Hell yes, other people saw his kid drunk. But they were other cops who weren’t about to go up against Voight.” Antonio

Still listening Cassie opts to pace in the open part of Boden’s office. It’s what she does when she’s thinking.

“Well I would rather my guy not be the only one with his head above the foxhole on this one.” Boden says to which everyone agrees with.

“Look, and I’m not proud to admit this, but if Gabby were in your shoes for this one. I would tell her to stay out of it.” Antonio says now looking at Cassie.

“The passenger in the other car isn’t going to walk again.” Matt speaks up with news Cassie hadn’t even heard yet.

“Antonio’s right. Going against my father is a death wish. But it needs to happen. Justin is…Justin is sick. He needs help. I think this might be the only wake up call he’ll be able to have.” Cassie finally admits making herself tear up again.

At that a call for Ambulance 61 had Cassie rushing out of the room with an anxious feeling eating her from the inside out.

“Greg Duffy? I guess he was in a car accident the other day that you guys responded to?” Nicki comes in and announces to everyone in the common room. Cassie and Gabby had just gotten back from the call, to which Gabby ignored her for the majority of.

Peaking Cassie’s attention she gets up and follows everyone else out to the apparatus floor.

“Sorry to barge in on you like this, but my wife made this for you guys. We really appreciate what you did. And we know damn well it could’ve been worse If the car had tipped over, so thank you.” Greg says making Cassie’s heart sink as she looked at the beautifully homemade chocolate cake he had in front of him.

“How’s your son?” Matt asks looking over at you then back to Greg.

“Yeah, well…Mikey’s got a tough road ahead of him. But we’re gonna make it. We’re gonna be all right.” He says sorrowly looking down at the fresh cake his wife had baked for them.

“The other reason I came here is, I don’t know if theres anything you guys do in terms of what you saw, or piece together, based on what the accident scene looked like. But, the police report came back saying I ran a red light causing the accident. And uh, that’s, that’s not what happened, and I’m kind of at a loss in terms of how to fight it.”

At Greg’s words, Cassie knew what she had to do. She couldn’t be selfish any longer.

With Casey in Boden’s office they both finished their incident reports with Boden to proofread them after.

“Last paragraph.” Matt said as both him and Cassie hand Boden their papers.

“Visibily drunk. Smelled alcohol on his breath. Saw open containers on the passenger seat,” Boden said looking at Matt then taking Cassie’s paper.

“I can assume it’s around the same thing for you?” He asks to which she quickly nodded.

“Yes sir.”

[squided]

Has anyone else experienced their parents getting progressively more rude, intrusive, and hypocritical as they got older? Like my mom had me pretty late in life (she was 37) so I recognize I have an older mom than most. And yeah during my teenage years and stuff I thought she was annoying but she was genuinely a good and caring mom. But honestly I've noticed since she's hit her 60s and went through a bad second marriage, she lashes out a lot, expects me to be productive 7 days a week, essentially work all day long, spend 1 hour of relaxation, and then sleep. Anytime this gets me agitated, she goes on about how she needs to work two jobs and 7 days a week and SHE never gets rest and I don't see HER complaining (she is literally complaining about it all the time). Essentially since ive had to live with her again temporarily I've put up with it and have taken on the same workload as her and I've discovered.... there's no way to please her. Every day I should be studying so I can get certifications, I should be looking at new jobs because she doesn't approve of how my managers treat me at my minimum wage job (every job I've had so far), I need to clean the house and my room, I need to go to work, I need to look at universities, I need to make 10 phone calls that will keep me on hold for an hour at a time, I need to pull the weeds in the yard. If I fail a single task, it's met with disappointment and talking about how much work she does and how little I do. If I do all the tasks, then come a list of questions: how's my money doing? Have I been saving it or spending it recklessly? Have I tried quitting smoking yet? Have I cleaned some obscure thing she mentioned a month ago and I forgot about? This keeps going until I give an answer she doesn't like and then we are back at my generation being so lazy, how the younger people just don't work as well as her generation did.

And the thing is... she never used to talk like this. She was always far left, full equality, against classism and ageism. But then the "unbiased" news changed. It stopped covering certain things the US didn't want covered. Suddenly I'm explaining to her that in Israel, people will have parties while watching the bombs drop, there are "settlers" going into Gaza and just claiming other people's land. And she says that's not true, she didn't see it on the news, she looked it up online and the major news sites never covered it once since 2014. Every time I bring up some horrible thing that's definitely happening, she just says I've become a conspiracy theorist and MY thinking is really dangerous and she's worried about me (at which point I snapped a bit and told her that actually her willful ignorance is extremely dangerous and what leads to all these atrocities getting swept under the rug. She threatened to kick me out for being so incredibly disrespectful to her).

I don't know what the point of this post is anymore. Maybe I just wanna ramble about someone I truly respected slowly becoming someone I can barely stand to hold a conversation with. Maybe it has something to do with how people are told to only trust big news organizations for real news and then they censor it so all real news looks like conspiracy theorist trash. Or maybe it just has something to do with age, some sort of thing that naturally occurs as you approach a certain age, and the only way to prevent it is to be aware it's occurring and reject its falsehoods. Or I don't know dude... I've been stuck inside for a month... I think I just needed to fucking vent to the Great Void. If you're listening, hey there Great Void, I hope you're doing better than I am.

[denkisauce]

📕

oo okay okay okay young eraser mic raising shinsou fic 😮😮😮😮 so it starts with aizawa in high school, hes gets switched into a new foster home and befriends this really cool girl that goes to a nearby school in the neighborhood. she has purple hair and she’s super sarcastic and has a telepathy quirk 👀👀 she can read surface thoughts and communicate back! they get along really well and one thing leads to another and they sleep together 🫢 this is shoutas first time and it leads to a panic that holy shit, he is not into girls and he freaks out and totally ghosts her which is not the best thing to do but he’s 16 and freaked the fuck out!!!!! he goes to his best friend yamada and this leads him to be like oh my god am in love with my best friend??

flash forward six years and him and hizashi are 22 and just started dating. it’s like three months in and new and fun and pretty casual. but then aizawa gets a phone call!!! a whole bomb dropped on him all at once 🫢 the girl, shinsou, was killed in a villain attack and her son is at the hospital. she had cut ties with her family and aizawas name was on his birth certificate so they called him. aizawa goes to the hospital and there is just!! a little purple haired six year old who looks just like him 🥺🥺 mama shinsou cut ties with her family bc they were all scared of shinsou when his quirk manifested and she wasn’t having any of that. she never reached out to aizawa bc he ghosted and she had a clue of what was going on and knew he wanted to be a hero and she didn’t want to mess up his chances. she believed in him!!! the hospital ask aizawa what he wants to do and there’s no way he’s letting this kid go into foster. he doesn’t really have family of his own to help him out but he’s a hero, and if he can’t save this kid then what’s the point?? so now he’s 22 with a six year old and a crappy apartment and he’s just like. um okay. he calls hizashi and is like. hey um can you pick me up from so and so hospital. i’m a dad. and hizashi is like???? but obviously comes to pick shouta up. hizashi is like thee definition of ride or die he’s like yooo whaddup little dude!! shouta is like WHAT AM I GONNA DO and they make the chaotic plan to just. raise a kid together. 3 months into a relationship and 22 let’s gooooo 🫠🫠🫠

they move in together because they’re doing this. right??? right. they’re both pretty broke so moving in together and combining their $$ and time is the best way to do this. coparenting okay. alright. at least they can sell one of their beds and furniture and shit to buy kids stuff because! wow yeah. fully living together after three months. right yeah. this wont take any getting used to. both super protective and love shinsou but i imagine it being absolute chaos!! just a story of two dudes who are suddenly dads and have NO idea what they're doing and theyre simultaneously raising a kid and figuring out their own relationship??? they’re like Not that good at parenting but also very good ykwim?? they’re like hey hizashi 6 yes old is old enough for coffee right? hey shouta idk what to do hitoshi keeps trying to play with knives and my hands are full im just gonna put him on the fridge for a while?? i’m sorry i couldn’t think of anything else. it’s 3 am and aizawa and shinsou are in blanket burritos watching jackass* mic walks in and is like “shouta…. I don’t think 6 years should be up this late?” “says who” mic takes shinsou places to take trendy pics for instagram. gets mad at shinsou for not being good at taking pictures “shinsou, daddy needs the right angles, try again!!!” agdjfjsjdj i just want a story about aizawa and present mic being so chaotic and falling in love while raising a kid and shinsou slowing coming out of his shell 🥺 also when he does get more comfortable he’s a MENACE

[askthechronoverse]

This is the third supplemental story out of four. It's a good idea to read everything in order, but at least have read "A Call to a Different Kind of Adventure" first.

A light breeze caressed Rex's face as he watched the calm water out into the soft late afternoon horizon. This place was advertised to him as the most perfect spot on the Unikingdom coast and he could understand why. The view from the path he took to get here was picturesque and it only got better when his feet hit the sand. Behind him, his raptor crew was setting everything up with the help of some very frazzled caterers in suits. Each raptor had a bowtie around their large necks to match. One headed over to her captain and growled something softly.

"Yogurt, tell him he probably looks fine. He needs to stop worrying. Remind him that it isn't too late to go to Syspocalypstar and just get a marriage certificate. Pretty sure we can refund the whole thing and take a year long honeymoon with the cash." He stroked the raptor's snout and took a deep breath as the large lizard left.

The clouds blocked out the sun, but it was more of a blessing than a curse in the middle of summer. The whole event was going to be outdoors, on a beach far removed from the rest of the tourist laden coastline. The most they were going to have were tents, which the raptors were building behind him. He heard a shout and turned to face it's source.

Unikitty flew over to her friend, her dress billowing around her. She rushed to give the man a hug. "Hey, Rex! Are you as nervous as Richard is right now, because I think he swallowed a whole butterfly hatchery."

"Can't say I'm not a little nervous. But-"

"You just pick a direction and act like you're sure, right?" A voice came from the sandy path. From the path came Emmet, dressed like he fell out of a romantic Victorian period piece. "This is the one time I gotta agree that's the right call.”

"Yeah. I have no reason not to in this case, though. After all we've been through, he's the only person on this planet I could see myself with. And you can tell him that, Yogurt." The raptor was breathing down Rex's neck by the time she was referred to. The raptor growled some more and Rex laughed. "He went with what that pushy saleslady said and went for a smaller size, right? Get Brock or Doctor Fox to lace it like I showed you. That should fix it. Tell him I can't love him any more than I do. I know this is his dream wedding, but we could go. I'd be happy to just have a paper saying we got this done."

"You'd deprive us of seeing the two of you get married, RJ?" Unikitty moaned playfully. "Your best man and his family flew all the way over here!"

"I'm just letting him know I'll marry him no matter what. I know he's nervous. He keeps sending Gerty to make sure I love him every five minutes. It's both endearing and slightly annoying. But I'll say it again: he's my missing piece and I'm going through this."

"We're all just glad you're willing to take that next step with someone, RJ!" Emmet pulled Rex in for a crushing bear hug. Lucy came up the path behind Emmet and hugged Rex as well, but more gently.

"Looks like you can stop pining over me. You're going to be a taken man in a few hours." Lucy said teasingly, smirking as she took a step back.

"Oh, I think you've been pining for me." Rex winked. "But yeah. I'm seein' someone else. Someone who needs to be reminded that I am still here and I'm not gonna just run out on him on his wedding day." He shook his head, feeling the hot breath of his raptor down his back once again. The raptor growled a long rant, which caused Rex to laugh. "He knows I can't come over there and kiss him. He's the one who decided he wanted to do the whole "can't see your bride on the day of the wedding" thing. Let him know I love him every time he asks. I want to be with him. Also, remind him that we still needed to find something borrowed and something blue. He won't take my old vest because it's "against his aesthetic"." Rex turned around and adjusted Yogurt's bowtie. He stroked the raptor's snout tenderly. "Tell him I can't wait until I can hold him in my arms and I can tell him all of this in person."

"I never pegged you as the type to get this sentimental." Lucy adjusted her tie. "Why are we dressed like we're on the set of a black and white movie in the middle of July, anyway?"

"Compromise. He wanted a large destination wedding, I wanted something smaller and more private. I got the guest size, he got the theme." Rex shrugged. "We've got plenty of water so people don't pass out."

"Is there anyone else coming, RJ? I didn't really see anyone else come through that pathway on the way up here." Emmet sounded a little concerned. He looked around, counting the miniscule number of guests within his head. It alarmed him slightly that the only other person besides the people around him now he really recognized was Benny, who was looking out at the ocean.

"Honestly, there shouldn't be that many people at a wedding. I'm not doing this to show off. Besides, if I had my way, he and I would be married by now and on a beach somewhere with a bottle of wine between us." Rex shouted over to a raptor to move a large white arch a little closer to the now set up chairs.

Just beyond the path, out of the way from the actual venue, sat a decent sized white tent. It had no windows or any way to see through it, but it looked like it fell out of a children's fantasy popup book. Doctor Fox stood inside it with her back to the entryway, folding her arms. She looked at the lacing of a stubborn corset and shook her head. She looked over to Brock, who shrugged.

"I don't think this is going to work, Richard. We may need to try taking some of the less essential seams out or maybe some of the boning. You do plan on keeping this dress, right?" She moved a straight pin she had in her mouth with her tongue from one side to the other.

"But the saleswoman on Syspocalypstar said it would fit without issue." Richard's monotone quivered as he adjusted the hem of his dress. "Why did I let her talk me into this?"

"I have no idea, but I can find out with a brain scan after this is over." Doctor Fox moved as Yogurt rushed into the tent and over to Richard. She growled low and softly, like she would her own mate. Richard's eyes became watery.

"He does? Oh, but I said I wanted to take this role and I need to do it right. He knows that. We discussed this. He's respectful of it..." He began to cry a little, stroking the muzzle of the raptor gently. "He needs to stop insisting I wear his old vest. It clashes with everything in this wedding." He adjusted the corset, undoing the work Doctor Fox and Brock had done in the back. Brock groaned and went back to lacing the corset. "Is everything set up? Has Emmet and Lucy arrived? Does Rex realize that he and I are getting married and that he can't take it back during the ceremony?" The raptor almost purred the replies, trying her best to mimic how his captain would answer. "Good. Good." Doctor Fox looked down at the sparkle matter that had fallen from her friend, which looked like a bag of mixed gems had fallen in the sand.

The raptor moved away for a moment, standing next to Richard. Doctor Fox also took a step back when she was finally done. "I'm a scientist and this is beyond me. What do you think, Yogurt?" The dinosaur's throat rumbled, but the fox gave no response.

"Do we even have time to do that? What time even is it?" Richard floated over to a box that was resting on a decent sized vanity, the dress long enough that it still scraped the sand. He opened the box and his eyebrows furrowed. He pulled out the contents: a small crown worn by a young Puppycorn, long before the dawn of the New Unikingdom, a necklace with a small heart shaped gem that seemed to glow in the dim light... and Rex's infamous vest. It was blue. He did borrow it. But it looked so wrong next to all the white and lace he was wearing. "Would Rex be mad if you did that?" The raptor seemed to almost laugh as she took the vest and handed it to Brock, pointing at a pair of scissors.

"Does she want me to do something with that?" Brock picked the scissors up, lifting an eyebrow.

"She wants you to craft a shawl out of it. I still think it would clash with the dress, but if we do this right, it won't look too bad. It should also hide how terrible the corset looks from the back if it's cut long enough." Richard floated down so his feet touched the ground. "I'm not going to get used to this."

"Then why do it? You can float and that's clearly more natural for you." Doctor Fox questioned as Brock kept Richard steady.

"It's symbolic. We are on equal footing in this relationship." Richard tapped his foot, though it was impossible to see this because of the dress. "I'm not ready for this. This... There isn't a step much larger than this."

"I would say you weren't this nervous with the comet ball, but I recall that you were. There is a step that's higher than this, if my knowledge of domestic science is correct: being a parent." Doctor Fox said the last sentence offhandedly, which didn't help Richard's nerves.

"Oh, yes. Sharing our love with a child would be the biggest step we could take together. It's doubtful that's in the cards for us, however. My beloved and I have a lot to work on together." Richard put the necklace and crown on, adjusting the headpiece so it was on his head just right. Yogurt growled calmingly. "Thank you. I needed the reminder, and I'll probably need it again." The raptor glanced over to Doctor Fox, shaking her head. She simply shrugged and began to get ready herself.

Emmet tried to map out the guests once more in his head. There was a flamingo with a turtle shell and a creature similar to Hawkodile, but beyond them, the people he already knew about, and Unikitty's friends, it seemed like this event was overly exclusive. He guessed he couldn't blame Rex for not including Batman or Metalbeard in the event, since he wasn't all that close to them. But the dozen or so guests made him wonder how well Rex actually adjusted to his life out here. He then looked over to Rex, who was talking to the two strange creatures. He was animated, speaking fast and gesturing wildly. There was an aura about him that screamed out his happiness.

He turned his attention to Unikitty. Considering what she had been through, she looked overjoyed. She also looked so regal. She stood at the archway, speaking to Queen Wa'nabi's butler. What was he doing here, Emmet wondered to himself. He was startled out of his concentration by Rex, who put his hand on his shoulder. When he jumped, Rex laughed.

"Bro, you're way too jumpy." He adjusted his tie, the only outward sign of his nervousness. "It's almost showtime. Ya ready?"

"I should be asking you that. It's your wedding." Emmet's face softened. "Are you ready?"

"As ready as I'm gonna be. I'm sure seeing Rich for the first time all day is gonna help the heavy feeling I have in my stomach." Rex shook his head.

"Why is Watevra's butler here, by the way?"

"He's here to make the whole thing officially recognized by the Systar System. Rich wouldn't let Unikitty do it because it felt too… nepotistic, I guess? I dunno if that's the word I'm lookin' for. I swear the ice cream man keeps glarin' at me, but I… can't blame the guy."

"Most of us have forgiven you. You know that, right?" Emmet's voice was softer now.

"Not the queen or her court. Ya know how many times PC had tried to get an official pardon for me? Too many." There was a resignation in Rex's tone.

"RJ, she just hasn't officially said anything. That doesn't mean anything." As the two spoke, a slightly older Puppycorn wandered over to the two. "Oh! Hi, Puppycorn!"

"Hey, Emmet! Did you bring me a present?" The young dog's tail started wagging.

"Sorry. I didn't. Maybe next time?" This didn't disappoint the dog for too long.

"Hey, RJ. Do you know where the rings are? I'm supposed to have them, right?" Puppycorn rubbed his neck, moving the bowtie he was wearing to one side.

"Pretty sure Rich has 'em. Don't think he'd trust me with something that important." Rex laughed, which seemed to hold some nervousness.

"You know you can do this. You're strong and brave." Puppycorn smiled, picking up on his closest friend's worry. "Besides, you and Rick are inseparable at this point. Isn't this just a formality for you or something?"

"Yeah, but it's important to him. I can't be the one who messes this up for him." He felt a tap on his shoulder and almost jumped. He turned to see a rather impatient ice cream cone, who cleared his throat.

"Are you ready? We need to start soon." His voice was clearly holding back some annoyance, but he wasn't sure if this was his normal state or if it was some disdain from the last wedding he officiated that Rex was involved in.

"Yeah... I think."

"You can't just think. You need to know. Are you actually ready to take this step? I won't tolerate uncertainty at this stage. Especially not from you." The butler's eyes looked right through Rex, the words spoken came out curtly and sharply.

"Yeah. I'm ready." Rex's voice held less nervousness, but that could be an act to get the sentient ice cream cone to stop glaring at him.

"Good. I'm doing this as a favor to your fiance, so try to take this seriously. Take your places, all of you. We should be ready to start." The butler hopped away to his place at the center of the now flower laden archway.

"Guess this is it. Let's not keep that butler waiting. I think he's gonna throw down if I wait any longer." Rex and Emmet made their way to the archway, Rex trying to ground himself so he didn't just run. Emmet took his hand and the act seemed to calm him. He took a breath and took his place in front of the arch

Somewhere in the distance, music began to play. Something about it felt grand and elegant, like a royal march from a time and place that was lost.. Rex chose to looked everywhere but the center aisle until he heard the sound of silk softly scraping the sand. The nerves were coming back with a vengeance and no amount of breathing was making that go away. His heart was invading his throat by the time Richard, who was escorted by Unikitty, stood in front of him. The two looked into each other's eyes and the pounding in Rex's throat became louder and harsher.

"It's not too late to run out of here and-" Rex whispered this, but Richard put a finger on his lip, almost in tears. He shook his head and glanced over to the butler, who rolled his eyes.

"Are both of you ready, Richard?" Richard nodded in response to the butler, flashing Rex a reassuring and excited grin. "Good. Now then..."

It was hard for Rex to pay attention at this point. He just kept staring at his fiance, lost in the sparkle in the other man's eyes and just wanting to kiss him right then and there. He leaned over to Richard and whispered softly.

"You look beautiful, babe." This caused Richard to start crying again. "You always do, but today? It's extra special." He couldn't help but notice that, overtop of the beautiful lace dress was a shawl that was cut from his old vest. It didn't really hide what it once was, but it was definitely transformed. "Thought you said you weren't gonna wear that." The two heard a throat clear behind them and Rex straightened up.

"Can you please keep him from interrupting the proceedings, Richard? You're clearly the more responsible one here." Another nod from Richard, who took a few breaths to gain his composure. Rex adjusted the crown on his lover's head and took the opportunity to whisper in his ear.

"I love you, R." Richard mouthed that he loved Rex and sniffled.

Charles simply rolled his eyes again and continued to talk.

"The union of two souls is a sacred and serious task that can only be undertaken in perfect love and trust. In order to make sure you two are ready to take on this task..." He took a breath, burying some disgust. "Richard. Do you take Rex to be the one you spend your life with as your partner, to remain by his side forevermore?"

Through tears, Richard nodded. "I do."

"Rex... Do you take-" The butler paused when a loud hum filled the air. Everyone gathered looked up to see a large black ship hover over them, blocking out the sun. Rex could swear that Charles seemed less surprised, but waved it off quickly. Richard's pupils shrank as he grabbed Rex's hand, dropping a bouquet of beautiful crystalline flowers that sparkled as they hit the ground. He buried his head in Rex's chest, Rex putting his arms around him. Hawkodile, Flamurtle, and Eaglator got up and took up fighting stances, ready to take down the invaders. A few shots were fired from the ship, making sand fly everywhere.

"Hey... Hey now... Don't cry, babe." Rex held Richard close, slowly pulling a Lazer gun out of his pocket. This made the stoic ice cream cone butler lift an eyebrow. He looked up saw two figures drop from the low flying ship.

Hawkodile and Flamurtle flanked the two crashers and stopped when they got close. Hawkodile bowed and Flamurtle got out of the way.

"Hey! I don't care who you are! You're scaring my husband." Rex tried to point the gun at the two, but Charles grabbed the weapon out of his hand. "Hey!"

"I thought we agreed on not having weapons at this wedding." Charles threw the gun aside. Rex just held Richard close and swayed a little, humming a caling song while the two wedding crashers rushed up the aisle. One of the two was a woman made of many colors who wore a familiar dark blue safety vest. She had a wide, wild grin on her face as she hugged the two grooms.

"Hello, boys." The woman was suppressing laughter, something Rex would have done himself if his partner wasn't on the verge of tears and he wasn't in a complete state of shock. A

"Wait... Is that Queen Wa'nabi?" Richard looked up at the large woman, eyes wide.

"You look like an angel in that dress, Ricky!" Queen Wa'nabi's words and smile were warm enough to disarm Rex and loosen Richard's grip on him. She let go of the two of them, while the other crasher laughed.

"We're never gonna be even, Dangervest, but this feel great!" He continued to laugh. Rex groaned when he saw who it was: Batman.

"No, we won't. You traumatized Richard. Look." Richard's eyes were still wide and his left eye was twitching. "It's okay. Babe, it's okay."

"It isn't, but I can't tell the Queen of the Systar System off." Richard took Rex's hand while Queen Wa'nabi gave him the bouquet that was still on the platform. "Nor can I punch Batman's face."

"Oh, you wouldn't be able to touch me, Unikitty's Alfred." Batman smirked cockily. "You probably have the upper body strength of a soft pillow."

"I keep telling you: his name is Richard, Batman!" Unikitty chimed in. "And he's my dad slash advisor!"

"Yeah, whatever. I don't care slash- HEY!" Batman lifted his arms instinctively as a bundle of flowers went flying towards his face. No matter how fast he was at blocking, the bouquet still managed to find its target.

"Don't talk to the princess like that." Richard hit Batman a few more times with the bouquet. His monotone held a fury Rex never thought he'd hear from his lover. "You crash my dream wedding and disrespect my princess... How dare you."

"Rich, relax. He's not worth ruining your beautiful bouquet over... Or losing your beautiful smile." Rex held Richard close again, partially to comfort him and partially to break the two up before someone ended up in the hospital… and his money would have been on Batman. He looked over to Charles, who seemed to have a smirk on his face. Queen Wa'nabi had taken a place in one of the chairs in the crowd, patting a seat next to her for Batman to have a seat. Once Batman finally started down, Charles cleared his throat and the small wedding party took their places once again.

"Now that the queen has joined us... Rex, do you take Richard as your life partner, to remain by his side forevermore?" Charles said Rex's name like there was something stuck in his throat.

"I do, and always will." Rex took Richard's hand softly, trying to keep from crying to not set Richard off.

"Alright. Where are the rings?" Charles asked almost impatiently, watching as Puppycorn rushed down the aisle, two rings on a soft white pillow in his paws. The rings looked like golden snakes, the eyes were inlaid emeralds and sapphires. The rings look like they came together, the two serpents coiling in opposite directions and could conceivably wrap around each other. He sat between Rex and Richard, just happy to have done his job well enough to get the rings over to them.

"Take the rings. Once you're ready, you can say your vows." Charles put his hands behind his back now. He focused his gaze at Rex, who felt that look deep in his creative spark.

Richard picked up the ring on his side of the pillow and Rex did the same. Richard opened his mouth to speak, but no words came out. Rex took his free hand and spoke.

"This ring is an outward symbol of my love to you and my desire to always be there when you need me. You're the sun to my moon, the star I navigate with to find my heart's north. I can't promise the road in front of us will be smooth and idyllic, but I'll continue to be in your corner when things get scary. I put this ring on your finger to remind you of this whenever you look at it." He slid the ring on his partner's finger, who looked like he was going to melt in a puddle at this point.

"This ring is an outward symbol of my love to you and the path we're on together. You have grown so much since we first met. You went from an unreliable stranger to my unconditional support, someone who saw me at my darkest and didn't give up on the man you knew I could be. You are my soulmate, someone I would give everything I care about to be with. I put this ring on your finger as... as a reminder of this undeniable fact." With shaking hands, Richard attempted to put the ring on Rex's finger. Rex put his free hand on the one Richard was using to put on the ring and helped keep his hand steady. When it was finally put on, Rex smiled softly.

"Now, with the blessing of the Empress of the Systar System and the Princess of the Unikingdom, this union of souls has been concluded and you are now together forevermore. You may now kiss for the first time as life partners." Charles remained stoic as he spoke.

Rex pulled Richard close, aware of the height difference between the two of them. The two fell into a deep kiss, twin heart shaped pieces of sparkle matter forming above their heads. They glowed softly as they fell next to each other in the sand.

When the wedding concluded, the guests were ushered away from the main part of the beach so the raptors could set up for the reception. When the guests were allowed to return, the whole area was set up in a way that was elegant and lit with twinkling lights. Two sparking haired vampires set up turntables in a corner close to the woods while Yogert finished her work setting up the dance floor. The tables were a simple wooden design, clearly made to be set up and hauled away quickly. Each table had an ivory name card and a vase with hydrangea and fern in the center. The wedding party was seated in the center of the tables with the wedding cake at the center of that. The raptor watched the guests take their seats as he moved to stand guard over the wedding gifts.

The wedding party was introduced and led to their places. It wasn't a large party, but the table was filled out with plus ones and the royal families of Syspocalypstar and the Unikingdom. After all were seated and settled with drinks, one of the vampires gestured to the other to set up some lights around the dancefloor.

"Hello there, ladies and gentlemen." The vampire spoke into the mic in front of him with a smooth, almost hypnotizing voice. "The guests of honor are still getting ready, so I'm going to spin something to set the mood and give them time." He began to play soft instrumental music while he had his partner check a small tent behind them.

While the wedding party waited, money began to be thrown around over the song for the first dance. It had to be something old and grand for the grooms to get ready for it. This started out as a joke, but soon, money was pooled in one of the vases.

After what felt like an eternity, the vampire returned. In the now twilight, two silhouettes faced each other from opposite sides of the dancefloor. "Alright, ladies and gentlemen." As he spoke, the area became silent. "For the first time as a couple, please put your hands together for RJ..."

As he said the first name, a green spotlight fell on the side of the dancefloor closest to the forest. Rex wore a white sweatshirt and faded blue jeans. His head was down, but one could swear he was grinning with a toothpick in his teeth.

"... And Richard Brickowski!"

Now, a blue spotlight shone on a blonde wigged Richard. He adjusted his forest green leg warmers, slowly straightening his back as the two men looked at each other from across the dance floor. The gathered party gave an admittedly lukewarm applause, but the chosen attire of both grooms was unexpected.

"And now, the moment we've all been waiting for: their first dance as a married couple!"

As the music started to blast, Rex threw off his sweatshirt to reveal a white sleeveless undershirt. He grinned as he and Richard rushed to meet at the middle of the floor, just in time for the lyrics to start.

The two men danced with no regard or concern for the audience watching in awe. The song was an 80's synth rock song, one that felt nostalgic somehow. There was something almost magical and mesmerizing in their dance moves. They seemed almost in sync with one another, not taking their eyes off each other as they moved. It almost felt like they could become one being if they got close enough.

When the refrain was sung for the last time, a small amount of glittery and shiny star shaped confetti fell over them. Rex grabbed Richard and spun him before kissing him passionately. By this point, the party had gathered around the dancefloor and started clapping to the drum beat.

When the song ended, the applause was far more enthusiastic. From the wedding party's table, Puppycorn counted his winnings.

[traumasurvivorshelpingsurvivors]

in need of advice please

recently I dropped out of film school because I realized it wasn't something I wanted despite working for years to get in, and I was also so deep in depression just being there it was horrible. I understand college is difficult but that was different, it felt like I was working towards a goal I didn't even want. I nearly killed myself six times and just it was horrible.

I now want to study psychology and work my way up to either a child psychologist or a psychologist in general. I have no clue where to start, I trained my whole life to become a designer/props lead and while I really want to do this career path, I have anxieties that I'm already too late. I turn 21 soon so I suppose I still have some time but if anyone has advice on starting my degree for child psychology or even getting a foot in the door please let me know. I have no prior degrees at the moment, just credits

- fig

hey fig,

First of all, good for you for recognizing that it isn't for you and dropping out. That must not have been easy.

That's a lofty and admirable goal! I know it feels huge right now and perhaps overwhelming, so break it down into smaller chunks.

Honestly, I know it does not feel this way, but 21 is so, so young. It's the very beginning of your adult life. I know many people who haven't even considered post-secondary education in their 20s and 30s. There are many paths, and most people don't go to school right after high school and get their degree and then start work. It's rare for that to happen. It takes time and hard work for sure, but you can do it!

Depending on where you live, I'd say the first step would be to visit some college/university websites and look at their psychology programs. Get contact information for the department and see if the school has info sessions coming up, online or in-person.

Consider what the specific certifications you'll need are. Do you want to be a registered clinical councilor? It may be called something else where you live. To practice therapy sessions would take a bachelor's and then a Master's education or similar program. Then work your way backwards from the job you want. What do the people with the job you want have under their belt?

You can email different schools' admissions offices and inquire about these things. All of this, of course, depends where you live, though, so take this with a grain of salt.

It's okay to be anxious about this. It's a big step and it takes a lot of work! But you can do it. When you start to feel anxious, remind yourself of this and breathe.

Misa

[aestheticsuwu]

Sweet like Marshmallows (Baby Project part 2)

@sassycobra I know it’s late but I finally got around to tweak it up and finish writing it. I hope you enjoy it like the first part.

@shortkingkeene thank you for always patiently waiting for me to upload.

Robby Keene x Doug Rickenberger

Demetri Alexopolous x Eli Moszkowitz

Sam LaRusso x Tory Nichols ( If you squint)

Miguel Diaz x Kyler ( kinda i guess but not really)

Yasmine x Moon mentioned ( @demetriandelibinaryboyfriends got me hooked on these two. .)

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Previous Summary : Robby and Doug get paired together for a project to look after a fake baby .

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Almost everyone had passed the probation week , Today being the last day to carry around their filled rice baby. Suprisingly his friends managed to maintain the 'baby' intact . Even one time the two besties ,being Hawk and Miguel ,had argued over the fact Diaz had knocked over Hawk’s baby .

Which, Robby thought it was hilarious witnessing that whole scene.

"Hey! what the fudge, man . Do you want me to kick your ass for dropping my kid."

" Calm down , it was an accident . Its just a bag of rice."

" How dare you insinuate that about Phoenix, Your just jealous my baby is badass unlike yours . "

" Oh , you wanna go there because i will end your career in this moment hoe. Samantha hold my child." Miguel took the baby and handed it over to start to throw hands.

"I think its my time to step in." Demetri says and drags Hawk by his shirt before they cause a scene.

Both teenagers didn’t talk in between periods until after school , it was weird watching them fight over something stupid and he didn’t want to mention the blanket Hawk made Demetri carry the baby in . It was tiny birds all over and it was yellow.

Tory and Sam was a different story , the girls just wanted to pass this project but sometimes they forget their grades and end up arguing about simple things like who spent less time with rice or who was being a whiny short princess. That was mainly coming from Tory side.

Robby decided to name it if it was a girl, Luna, and Doug got to chose a boys name which he still didn’t know . The students  needed to have two options because once they were handed a baby stimulator and Birth Certificate  they would know the gender .

Mr.Rodriguez gave them a pep talk and started to call out the parents to pick up the baby and the certificate  .

When Mr. Rodriguez had called out his last name and Doug had went up and recieved the box for the two of them, Everyone had started to open the cardboard box and examine the doll .

He watched Doug unboxed the baby and pull it out , in which was covered in simple white and blue blanket and had an instuction manual .

" i need to tell you something...," Scratching his temple, indecisive in how to tell Robby , he kinda fucked up . Robby raised his eyebrow in Dougs direction,

" Remember when i was joking about naming the baby Swayze ? "

"Doug please tell me you didn’t." Robby closed his eyes not ready for whatever next comes out of the boys mouth.

"I didn’t but you’re going to prefer it once you see the name i choosed ." Doug chuckled nervously.

Robby snatched the certificate out of his hand and read the font letters that clearly spelled out, Marshmallow Keene .

"Why would you name our kid marshmallow!." Robby yelled getting looks from the class and a disapproving look from the teacher . His shoulders shrunk.

"I forgot to pick a name because i had soccer practice and stayed up late playing video games online with Mikey and Hawk till midnight and when Mr.Rodriguez asked for the form i freaked out and all my mind could come up was you eating marshmallows in booty shorts ." He explained, panic written all over his face.

" Why would i eat marshmallows in booty shorts ?" Even saying it out loud sounded ridiculous to Robby.

"Why wouldn’t you ?" Doug ask making Robby actually pause to think about it for a second like it wasn’t crazy thought. I mean he could totally pull it off if he wanted to , Lately he’s been having a confidence boost. He does have a pair—

"Lets focus on the real problem Rickenberger." Robby shakes his head to snap out it and focus.The boy tries to hide his smile when he realize the short boy was actually thinking about it . Doug actually lied, there was a bag of marshmallows on the teachers desk.

“I mean I think marshmallow is a cute name. Kind of reminds me of you.” Doug cheerfully said with a cute grin . Cuteness never stopped Robby from wanting to commit murder.

“ I can’t believe I’m stuck with a baby that’s named after a sweet.”Robby grumps dropping his head into the desk.The desk makes a sound when his forehead touches the surface.

“ You should be happy I didn’t name it with something worse. ” Doug winces when the brunette kicks his leg. “At least I didn’t put something like Doug.”

“I think your name is cute.” Robby eyes widen at the words that slipped out without his consent. Doug looked surprised and tries to fight off the smile .

Robby looked a few tables ahead to not get distracted by the boy who is making him say things he is not ready to say.

He can see Tory and Sam discussing but it was more of Sam talking than the blonde since she was just staring with a unreadable look in her eyes.

That was different. He had to go back to that later.

The teacher warns Eli to calm down , the Mohawk boy seemed ecstatic like if the plastic dolls were really real . Which is creepy. Demetri didn’t look bothered or embarrass like last week , what was obvious was the heart eyes he was throwing at Eli.

He looks back at his partner who was intently reading the manual .His long fingers flipping the page over , He really has nice hands . He compared his hands with his . He wondered how can this big guy can seem so angry but in reality was like a … marshmallow ?

“And this is why we’re divorced !” Miguel shouts at Kyler making the whole class stare at their direction . Kyler tried to hide in his chair, slipping down to hide but it wasn’t working.

Reason like these , School should be shut down. They bring out the worst in them.

…

It didn’t take long for Rickenberger to notice Robby was upset with him. The pout more prominent, the constant eye rolling that sent to his directon, the tense jaw and the vigor steps that his short legs let him make.

So maybe he wasn’t putting his effort in this like he promised he would , it wasn’t like he was trying to ruin this for Robby, it was just hard to be serious when he has to carry a bag of rice meanwhile people around him act like it was truely a human baby.

It was only yesterday that he watched Miguel and Kyler argue in a way he never thought he would. It was like watching ping pong. Following the ball to one direction to the other.

“If I have to raise this baby by myself , I will !, Honey, I was raised by a strong single mother and I can be one too. I don’t need to depend on a guy to raise Marisol Guadalupe Diaz.” Miguel yelled making Kyler stunned. He finish by simply snatching the baby and walked away. Kyler looked lost and maybe in the brink of tears but still chased after Miguel .

He should probably talk with Tory.

……

“ That explains a lot . The guy been in a grumpy mood.” Says Tory after Doug finished. She was trying to make ‘Artemis’ burp. Sam was really proud in choosing the name which Tory found it really stupid and not at all endearing.

“My question is .” Pausing to adjust the baby,She continued ”When did you become so stupid. “

He would’ve felt offended but lately he’s been asking the same thing to himself.

“ What do you think i should do.” He avoids answering Tory .

“ You can ask the teacher if you could change the birth certificate. LaRusso convinced him when she had the dumb idea to name our baby “Theodora” . “

“ Well she probably was able to do it since everyone likes her Dad.”

“ Sam actually did it on her own and not by dropping the LaRusso card.” Tory was quick to Sam’s defense which made the boy raise his brow at that.

“ Oh it’s Sam not LaRusso “ Doug teased the girl and maybe for the first time Tory was blushing.

“ Oh shut up . Who names their kid Marshmallow.”

“ Who names their only child Theodora.”Doug shoots back.

“You got me there , I can’t defend her.”Tory shrugs .

“You admit you were defending her— OW!” He shouts when Tory throws the bottle at his head. She really has good aim.

———————————————————————————————

Robby was over Doug naming the baby Marshmallow. As long the guy didn’t drop it or do any harm to it. The next day he was walking through the hallway looking for him .

He stops when he steps on a plushie. A phoenix plushie, to be exact. A pale hand reaches for it and yanks it from under his foot.

“ Dammit Robby!. I have to wash it now. Do you know how many germs it has now.” Hawk cried out. Demetri gave him a sorry look .

“Do you know how stupid you look.” Robby retorts. The guy had a baby wrap making him look ridiculous. Hawk mocked Robbys laugh and gave him a menacing glare which didn’t look terrifying , Hawk turn to whisper to Demetri. “Do I look dumb” — “Of course not, Honey.” Demetri whispered back without a beat.

“ Robby is right .Some us don’t need to try hard.” Miguel speaks up with a toothy grin and not to far behind Kyler had an expression like he wish the ground would swallow him up to disappear. He was carrying a pink baby car seat where the baby was placed and a bright pink diaper bag .

Robby was 3 seconds away in from bursting out of laughter.

“ You know Miguel , Maybe you should put all that energy in your co-parenting.” Hawk sneered back. Motioning with his fingers bunched up.This had been going on lately and it felt like everyone is on crack to Robby.

“ Maybe you should check in with your boy. It’s not all transparency ,Demetri hates the name Phoenix . “Miguel reveals, Demetri winces and made Eli gasp .

“Sorry Demetri “ Miguel apologize not even looking apologetic with that proud evil smirk.

“ I can’t believe this is happening .” Robby really can’t but maybe he can ,his friends are weird. Kyler looks like he feels the same.

“ Your right . Peoples true colors are coming out.” Hawk say dramatically. Miguel squints at him like he was a traitor.

“ To think I was going to ask you to be Marisol godfather.” Miguel confess with a dramatic tone of voice.

“ Really ?” Hawk ask surprised .

“ Of course dude . I couldn’t think of anyone else.” Miguel says truthfully making them both get emotional.The change of emotions almost gave Robby whiplash.

“ Dude your my first choice too.” Hawk lets out a smile and rushes to Miguel. Making the rest feel they were intruding.

They hug , Miguel being careful with Phoenix . Their grinning at each other when Demetri speaks up and sigh “I’m right here.”

……………………………………………………………………

Robby: need to talk. Where are you?

Doug: Learning how to clean with a tiny brush.

Robby: What?

Doug : Nothing. Meet me at my locker . I have a surprise .

…………………………………………………………..

Robby was glad he didn’t have to wait . The second he arrived in less than a minute Doug arrived with messy hair and a boyish smile . Wearing one of the baby backpacks and Robby is not willing to admit out loud but it kinda made his stomach flip at the sight.

Is not like Robby doesn’t want to accept he has feeling for the boy but he is trying to be single this year, no relationship that will just make him crumble down. He was focusing on fixing himself.

So that’s why he will keep these feelings in a box until further notice.

“ I fucked up. No surprise there. I gave you my word so here I am trying to make this up to you because I … ,” Doug cut himself off before he looks pathetic in saying he likes Robby . He can get a hint. Robby wasn’t into him. That’s fine.

This isn’t the time to have a mental breakdown.

“ I want to actually commit and do what I say. That’s why I asked Mr.Rodriguez for a redo.” Doug eyes are shining in hope wanting Robby to be less disappointed.

Handing over the sheet to Robby. Who reads it with disbelief ,his eyes widening in surprise and maybe a hint of happiness.

“ I thought we weren’t allowed to change . “

“ We are not but I pulled a few strings .” When he says a few, he’s lying. Mr.Rodriguez made him sign a slip in agreeing to clean the bleachers, the gym and the classroom after school. But hey ,what’s a little scraping gum under every desk when Robby is smiling up at him making him do crazy shit for this tiny guy.

“ Thank You. “ Robby say sincerely, grabbing his hand and giving a squeeze. They held hands a bit longer until the bell rang for the next period .

“ I’ll take the baby for today . “Doug offered.

“Okay , be careful . Did you read the instructions I sent you.”

“Not really . I have a baby brother I think I can manage with Baby Keene.”

Robby watched as the boy walked away carefully with the fake baby and a smile crept up on him . He reads the certificate one last time. Robby bites his lips to refrain himself from grinning like lovesick fool when he sees his name right next to Doug’s .

……….. Keene

Parent : Robby Keene

Parent : Doug Rickenberger

Gender: Boy

He just has to pick a name now .

……………………….

He chooses to name the baby Nariyoshi in honor of Mr.Miyagi. When Daniel found out he got a look in his eye that made Robby feel he did the right choice. Doug liked the name and gave the baby a nickname , Yoshi.

Everyone had been calling the baby by Yoshi. The teacher thought it was from the Mario brothers character and Robby never in his life gave a full long speech on anything just to correct someone. And he does not regret a single second of those 30 minutes of his life.

Today Doug was coming over . Robby made sure to clean the whole apartment which thankfully wasn’t that big of a mess. His room wasn’t much since he recently moved in, the walls were bare , the bed was a twin size and a nightstand and a counter where he placed all his clothes . And a brand new desk made from scratch that his Dad made for him since he learned he liked to draw.

Everything was going well . Robby was coming back from a quick trip to the store to buy some drinks and snacks when baby Yoshi was wailing.It had been an hour and nothing seem to make the baby stop crying . He changed the diaper , fed him, burped, and swaddled but nothing seem to work .

Robby ears felt like they were going to pop. He tugged on his hair in frustration . “Why don’t you stop crying !!!” His lip wobble making him more frustrated. Robby wasn’t one to have a breakdown feeling pressured or frustrated so he tries taking deep breaths . But having a semi-new born was taking a toll on him. He felt drain.Robby hasn’t had a good 8 hours of sleep. He was not going to cry. He was not going to cry . He was not going to cry. He is a bad bitc- Fuck it ! ,he’s-going to cry.

Yoshi cried louder . And then there was knock at the door. Getting up from the floor , he rushes to open the door managing to trip over on his way with the remote control on the carpet. Swinging the door open , Doug winces at sound of Yoshi crying .

Robby lets out long exhale and flings himself to the boy making Doug stumble backwards. His hand were awkwardly hovering the short boy back who was burying their face in his chest and hands were gripping his shirt .

“He bjdjjdjdk crbhdjdkdk and I doljdhdj Knowggs what to do and now am dbbdjjdjdndnn.” Robby mumbles through the shirt not making any sense to Doug.

“ I didn’t catch a word you just said.” He said confused but it only made Robby stomp his feet and made a sad sound.

“How about we go inside and figure why both of my babies are crying.” He strokes Robby’s hair while the rubs soothing circles at his back.

Once inside , Robby wipes away the traitor tears and pulls Doug from his shirt to his room where the baby was. He told explain everything he did but still failed to make the baby to stop crying.

“ Have you tried a pacifier ?” The question made him dumbstruck as to why didn’t he think of that. Finding the pacifier and giving it to the baby and suddenly the cries were gone.

Robby sits down at the corner of the bed feeling quite stupid . He can’t believe he cried and in front of Doug. He flushed now thinking how childish he acted . He even stomp like a toddler. Get a grip of yourself , pretend that never happen. He called you baby.Climb that boy like you were starving koala wanting some eucalypt leaves. His mind said in a creepy way, sounding a bit like Miguel and Hawk.And being honest he is not taking any advice from those two.

Can you believe this dude?, Let’s go somewhere were they will appreciate are generous advice.

“ I think we might’ve lost a few points but we can make up the points with the days we have left.”

“ I just can’t believe i didn’t think of a pacifier.”

“I wouldn’t have either if Yasmine wouldn’t have told me about how she lost hers today and had borrow someone’s boring one for the baby”

Yasmine? This was the first he mention her around him. And he was not jealous. Why would he . Doug can talk or like anyone he wants to.He’s going to keep it cool.

“ I didn’t know you were friends.”Robby cringed at how accusatory it sounded.

“I wouldn’t say we’re friends.” Doug had that smile Robby knew too well. It was the same one he used to give him when he would flirt with him. Thinking now , the tall boy stopped his usual flirting and calling him pretty boy.

“Whatever I don’t care. Lets go fill in our report.” Scoffing at the boy who was still smiling . He moves off from the bed and heads to living room . He brings his stuff to the kitchen table , Doug behind him follows his lead. Robby takes a chair and sits.

He side eyes Doug who takes a seat way to far and starts writing on the sheet of paper. He can’t help but notice the huge gap between them , a few weeks ago the guy would take the opportunity to be as close as possible.

His leg started to bounce and his hand shook his pencil back and forth while his eyes tried to stay glued on the sheet. Doug kept glancing at his phone every time it pinged alerting him he got a text.

“If it’s important you can answer.”

“ Nah it’s just Yasmine.”

Robby rolled his eyes and pushed out his lips in a pout in annoyance. Whatever he doesn’t care. What he does care is finishing this report and getting a good grade at this project.

After finally sharing their information and progress over the almost two weeks of having Yoshi , they placed their information on their report. He helped Doug pack and handed the baby over and everything he needed .

“I guess that’s it . Guess you can finally answer Yasmine now that your free even though you could of answered when I told you.”

“ I guess I prefer doing homework.Even if you cried all over me the second I arrived. Just know your an exception , Robby.”

“Robby?.”

“Don’t tell me you miss being called pretty boy ?” Doug chuckles at the boys eye roll .Amused at the silence from the short boy , he decides to go for it . Hoping Robby wouldn’t kick his ass after.Lunging forward and plants a chaste kiss on Robby check .

“See ya!” Walking backwards with that stupid smirk of his , Robby waits until he can’t see him to get back inside.

Robby only brings a hand to his face when he closes the door . It felt warm and tingly. Yeah he might have to revaluate his plan for this year.

………………………………………………….

Robby was fucked. And not in the way he imagined—He is spending way too much time with Hawk, he is getting sidetracked . The point is that his heart has betrayed him . He wasn’t dumb he knew the tall boy had snuck his way under his skin but it wasn’t to his knowledge that he manage to sneak his way to his blood pumping heart.

And it was all because of this damned project, because he spent 2 weeks with the guy he’s been pushing away and now it seems like he has to now fight Yasmine to have him. Ever since the day Doug had came over , Wherever he turned to look, Yasmine was hanging off of him .

Robby could’ve easily confronted both Doug and Yasmine but that was too easy so he did what he did best . He wallowed . For a one day. Ehh that’s a lie . Well the whole week when he realized Doug had been trying to cheer him up. So yes. He manipulated the guy to spend more time with him and just by pulling the saddest puppy eyes.

The guy took over his duties as parent and kept stealing flowers from the school office to cheer him up. And even brought him a rose that he bought when Robby subtlety mentioned no one has ever given him flowers. He showed it off to everyone-And when he says everyone he means Yasmine.

Whenever he catch the blondie coming his way he would pull Doug closer , throw the guy arm over his shoulder , he even hold his hand making the latter stumble over his words. And Robby would just smirk at Yasmine.

He maybe gotten on her nerves since she was now standing in front of him and pulled him away from his group of friends , Eli was fighting with Tory about who’s baby is the best and no one was trying to get in the middle of it. Miguel and Sam were slowing trying to slip away together. And Demetri was ready to call the principal on them.

“We need to talk.”

“Do we? Because I can’t think of anything that has to do with me and you . ”

“ I’m going to be nice, since your Demetri’s friend and Moon thinks I shouldn’t let bad vibes ruin my aura so… Tone down the attitude a bit. I’m not into Rickenberger , Athough last year me would’ve jumped at the shot but Moi is in a thriving passionate relationship with Moon.”

That kinda left him dumbstruck like a fish.

“What ?”

“Yeah, get on the news , peep squeak.”She says flickering her perfect hair away. Robby had to think for a second, to make sure he heard right.

“ I’m not short and I’m taller than you.”

“Aww that’s cute no wonder Rickie calls you Pretty boy. Your beauty truly outshines your shortness .Oh got to go My gorgeous girl needs me , And please do us all a favor and just date the guy .” She flashes her shiny white teeth and rushes to Moon who is carrying their baby . The couple hold hands and kiss each other as they walk down the hallway .

Huh. That wasn’t what he was expecting.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Robby didn’t make any move . It was frustrating but he wanted to see if he let things flow all on its own. So that’s what he’d did. Their Co-parenting was going amazing even to the point Miguel was now throwing attitude towards him instead of Eli. And he kind of threw some back and as silly it seemed , it was funny to banter with his friends even it was about a fake baby.

The day before the last day of their project , He invited Doug over since they should spend their last day with the doll. Crazy as it seemed , he got a bit attached to it . He wondered briefly if Miguel or Eli would burst out crying tomorrow in class.

His Dad was on the couch with Daniel watching the tv , Top Gun was playing . His Dad was making snide commentary and Daniel nodded along pretending to listen when in reality he was paying more attention to Val Kilmer.

“I invited a friend to go over some minor details about the project.” Robby interrupts his dad, making Daniel send a smile at his way.

“No funny business alright . “Johnny faces Robby with a stern look.

“No promises.” Making Johnny do a double take.”I’m kidding.”He enjoys teasing his Dad .

He steps out and shuts the door behind him. And sits down on the stair step. Less than 5 minutes Doug arrives with the baby. He looks good. Even if he’s just wearing sweats and simple tee.

They don’t get to go inside. Doug starts telling him how Yoshi kept him and his family up all night. Robby notice the dark circles. And teases the guy about how it wasn’t as easy as it looked.

Doug talks about his baby brother who just turned 2 , and Robby is trying hard not to let it show by how he is smiling, that he might’ve fallen for him. The topic changes about their friends and how chaotic they have been the past 2 weeks.

“Miguel and Eli has been on my mind for way too long.”Robby grins as he controls himself to not burst out into laughter again.

“Don’t say that, It will make me jealous.”

“Trust me , I find myself thinking about you more times than I can count.” Robby smiles falter a smidge, knowing he went there.

Doug sheepishly smiles, “Oh really” And leans a bit forward. Robby wonders when did they got too close.

This would’ve been the moment for his first kiss with Doug. He just had to lean an inch closer and both of their lips would’ve been touching .Except Robby opened his mouth and words tumbled out .

“Why do you like me ?”

Doug brows furrowed and lips were parted but now cause of confusion. His shuts his jaw tight and fumble with the keys in his palm that slipped out. “Is there supposed to be a reason . Can’t I just like you.”

“ I guess it just means your just interested in my looks . As soon you will get bored , this silly crush will be over.” Robby insecurity gets the best of him. If the guy can’t tell him why he’s interested then it will just end up having his heart broken.

“You’re kidding right.” Doug is stunned. His eyes are wide like he’s been struck.

“No . Does it look like I’m laughing .” Robby says bothered.

“I don’t get you. You show no interest in me only when someone else does. You say that I’m not serious yet you play with my feelings and I allow it because I’m stupid enough to think that you will notice I’m sincere.” Hurt is written all over Doug’s face making feel Robby bad.

“That’s not my intention . It’s just hard to believe— “

Scoffing he interrupts him , “ Your compassion ,Robby.” Doug looks intensely at him,“Tory was failing history class , she was stressed for a week ,since the exam was near and it was her last hope . You helped her study and memorize dates, events and names , Even babysat her brother. “Robby shoulders fall already regretting what he said.

He continues, “You have a day solely for Demetri, you learn and read about his favorite comics and hang out with him so he won’t feel left out when his boyfriend hangs out with Miguel.” Doug looks down at his hands feeling shy making Robby stunned, “Your put your all to fix your relationship with your dad. To make up the lost time. You gives so much to everyone and I foolishly thought I could give it to you .” Doug voice turns into disappointment , like he was foolish to think that. Robby watches him spring up from the ground and leave.

“Doug!” Yelling his name doesn’t make him stop or turn around but it makes Yoshi cry. Making him sigh in defeat.He walks back in ignoring his dad questions.

……………………

Today was the day to turn in the babies in. The teacher would call out their names and the student would have to turn the baby in , along with the reports and essay of how if felt to be a parent . The day felt slow for Robby . It could’ve been the school hours , since time went by slow, or maybe , it was the fact the 6ft tall boy has been ignoring him like he was not there.

Robby wouldn’t have minded the peace and quiet if the events of yesterday didn’t occur . But no matter how hard he tried to concentrate on pretending to act like he was doing his work and actually doodling in his paper.

He actually paid attention on the other details he never focus on. Like how in sync Demetri and Hawk are, one does not make a move unless the other does. Tory and Sam are the opposite yet they made a better team than any one ever thought could be possible. Weirdly, Yasmine is more easier to be around when she is not trying to put up a front, He guess they can thank Moon for that .

Miguel and Kyler. That’s another situation. Miguel proved that Kyler isn’t the leader or this tough guy he is , since he was forced to do everything Diaz told him to do. It was quite funny.

Robby also notice he doesn’t have a pencil or a pen. Thinking clearly now, he never had one because he’d end up chewing it down to keep him from biting his nails. Doug always slipped him a pencil or those high priced pens that wrote smoothly and the ink didn’t smudge .

Or how when his antic of his leg bouncing stopped for a while. The taller boy would notice and tap his foot against his making him feel grounded.

Or maybe he was just thinking too much. Robby should focus on finding the equivalent of x and y or whatever your supposed to in math. Fuck , how did you do that again. What happen to the math problems where Pablo or Timmy had way too many watermelons.

Next period was it. It , being Mr. Rodríguez class. The teacher was giving the lesson, and Robby was sort of paying attention. Tory and him started playing tic tac toe and he is about to win for the third time.

He tries not too jump out of his seat when he wins and Tory does her best to muffle her giggles with her hand at his dance of victory in his seat.it more wiggles than dancing.

The whole class start talking when the teacher is pulled out of the class by another teacher. Robby wanted to keep playing tic tac toe but Tory had other plans.

“What’s going on with you and grumpy.” Her eyes flicker for a second to a few tables ahead.She knew the gist but she wanted Robby to tell her.

“We had an argument. He basically said he likes me and I told him , that what he felt was a fleeting crush that will go away.”Robby explains .

“You know, Swayze, If you don’t like the guy just tell him . You want me to do it for you.”Tory offers like the best person she is .

“It’s not that.” Robby sighed .

“You like him too.”

“Ehhh.”

“Do you or do you not? Your giving me mixed signals .”Tory felt confused , she was now understanding the tall guy. Her friend was a confused mess.

“It’s not that easy.” Robby leg started to bounce and brought his fingers to his lips.

“It’s not that easy or your scared to admit you like a guy that you promised yourself not to like.”Tory slaps his hand away.

“When did I allow you to get in my brain.”Robby smiles at her which she quickly returns one.

“It was part of the contract when we agree to be friends.” They laugh as quiet as they could . They tend to laugh way to loud like hyenas.

“So can we talk about the thing you have for Sam or…”Robby teases making Tory punch his shoulder.

“What thing ? There is no thing. I just learned she isn’t what I used think about her and vice versa.” Tory said calmly , but she started biting her pen .

“If you say so.” Robby decided it was better left alone.

“Okay class , quiet down . Lets get back into your seats with your project partners.”Mr.Rodríguez clapped his hands and went behind his desk. Robby decided to go to the taller boy instead of the other way. Grabbing his papers , his bag and the project.

He waits for Mikey to get up , he smiles at the shorter male and tilts his head at the wave of the guy.Making himself comfortable as he can get with the plastic chair and the stuffy air that lingered with awkwardness .

“I-uh-, I want to apologize.”

“Don’t. It’s fine. It won’t be the first or the last time someone won’t reciprocate how I feel. I get it, you don’t like me in that way. “ Doug says dryly .

“Doug, That’s not-“

“Robby.” Cutting him off , Doug turns to him“It’s okay. Lets leave at that and not make into a big thing than it needs to.” He says it kindly this time.

Doug acted like everything was fined. They traded any last minute information , read each others reports and discussed about the project. No joke was said nor silly banter was thrown. When it was time to give back the baby, Robby felt upset. He had gotten attached to the fake baby like the rest of his classmates.

He was going to miss the sleepless nights, the constant crying, and the dumb excuses he used to have Doug around.

“Bye Yoshi. We’re going to miss you baby.” Robby voice cracked and handed the finished project over to the teacher who offered his a sympathetic smile. They went back to the table and maybe Doug saw him really upset because he places his arm at the back of his chair that he leaned into. It made him feel better.

The bell rang making everyone sprung out their desk and leave to lunch. Robby tried again to talk to boy , but he fled like a man on fire.

…………………………………………………….

“So what was this fight about?” Eli ask, everyone head turn to look at Robby, who has been quite all lunch period.

“What do you mean? What fight?” Robby asked confused.

“You and Rickenberger “ Miguel chimed, a fry hanging out of his mouth and ketchup on his cheek that Sam was wiping away with a napkin. Tory stole a handful of fry’s from his tray.

“We’re not fighting.” Robby crossed his arms.

“Yeah right. The whole school even knows.” Sam scoffs , the rest nodded along .

“I think you all are way to invested in my life.” Robby said in concern . He thinks they need to put some space in their friendship , he even knows way too much that goes on with Demetri and Hawk. And Sam with Miguel. Or Tory and Sam.

“Oh please, is not like you are the most interesting person in the friend group to keep tabs. We just know because you and Tory can’t whisper for shit. “ Eli says making Miguel snort and Demetri chuckle.

“Shouldn’t you be crying over Phoenix .” Robby snarks making Eli dramatically gasp.

“Low blow Keene, that’s still fresh for everyone.” Miguel said shaking his head in disappointment . “I miss my baby Marisol “ he mutters sadly.

“We’re going off track , let’s go back to Robby and Rickenberger.” Tory stirs the conversation back.

“Not you too Tory.” Robby throws his head back.

“I think we all collectively want you to stop being mopey and all …” Demetri trails off and points at him being slumped over his seat.

“We got a plan.”Miguel slams both hands on the table and clear his throat “It includes ; Seduction, Flowers, leather jacket and a skirt.”

“No !” They all screamed in protest except Robby and Miguel who are confused .

“That plan was executed remember .” Sam reminds him with wide eyes , communicating with their eyes .

“Ohhhhhh.”Miguel stretched out the world “Okay minus the skirt , you ready ?”

“ I’m legit scared to hear it.”

“Just listen to him, if you really want to be with him , Swayze .”Tory holds him hand in comfort.

Robby sat there and listened with an open mind knowing his friends they probably created something wild.

——————————————————

The next day he walked into school with slight puffy eyes since last night he stayed up all night with those dorks that he called friends.

Miguel and Eli actually spent the whole time reminiscing about the ‘babies’, worse thing Sam, Tory and Demetri slowly joined in too. And Robby actually confessed he really missed Yoshi.

But aside from that , Tory and Sam picked out an outfit . Miguel and Eli gave him a few pointers on what to say . Demetri told him not to take anything serious that came from their mouths.

Robby was nervous as hell. Is was like 90 degrees today, he was wearing all black including the leather jacket , he forgot the words to the speech he had plan to tell Doug, and he was running on 5 hours of sleep.

Luck was not in his side today, since he hadn’t been able to find Doug. He either skipped classes he shared with Robby or he didn’t come to school .

After walking around campus and not one trace of the latter , he was giving up. Maybe it wasn’t meant to be. Just because now that Robby wanted to be with Doug , doesn’t mean Doug wants to be with him now.

With a frustrated sigh, he whips out his phone. Sending a text to the group chat that he was backing out.

Patrick Swayze: I’m out. I can’t find him . This was a waste of time.

Toryminator: Wdym? He must be here.

Demi-Lovato : ^

Demi-Lovato: I saw him near the bleachers for PE.

Demi-Lovato: Who changed my name!!!

Samwich: You can’t give up now. We can’t take anymore of this . So be a big boy now because your getting with Rickenberger.

Samwich: Dont be a pussy!

El Serpiente : ^^

Toryminatior : ^^^

Hawkeye: ^^^^

Demi-Lovato:^^^^^

Patrick Swayze : Wow . Miguel and Hawk were all busy until now 🖕

Patrick Swayze : He is probably avoiding me.

Torymimator: I got a plan. After school , I’ll will check the east wing.

Toryminator: Demetri and Sam will check the west wing.

Toryminator: Eli and Miguel will go to the bleachers .

Toryminator: Got it ??

Samwich: 🫡

El Serpiente : 🫡

Hawkeye : 🫡

Demi-Lovato: 🫡

Patrick Swayze: what do I do ??

Patrick Swayze: Hello ?

Patrick Swayze : fuck my life 🙃🙃

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Robby waited. And waited. The school bell rang and the hallways flooded with tennagers trying desperately to flee fast as possible .

Robby stayed back until it cleared. He wasn’t in the mood to be pushed to the ground or having his shoulders knocked over.

Robby waited 5 minutes to collect his bag and notebooks and left the class. He saw no signs of blonde locks, a Mohawk, curly brown or ebony hair .He told them it was a lost cause.

Squinting his eyes when the sun hits directly at him , he covers his face with his notebook . And there he was. There was no mistaking him.

His almost 6 feet self, wearing his signature red hoodie, his backpack had a sticker in pink letters ‘babygirl’ that Hawk sticked at the right bottom . Robby tried moving his legs but they seem stuck .

Doug was not alone . He was with another boy. He looked familiar but Robby couldn’t remember where he seen him. The boy had blonde hair that was pulled into two braids and was wearing a lace top that was see through.

Robby knows the school rules of clothing and that boy was breaking them. He was also short , the boy probably thought he looked cute having to look up at Doug.

Robby unglued his shoes when he sees the blondie placing a hand on Doug’s forearm .

“Hey. Can we talk” Robby cuts in.

“I’m kind of busy but you can call me later. You still have my number right?” Doug turns to look at him but with a closed off expression . Which pissed him off since he was being all smiley with that blonde.

“My phone is broken. And is urgent.” Robby didn’t exactly lie. His phone was semi working but not broken.

“I can go.”The blonde guy offers kindly and Doug tries to stop him but that was not happening on his watch. The guy could look for another 5’11 guy.

“No-“

“You read my mine! That would be best, Thank you !” Robby gave him a fake ass smile and waved him goodbye. He had manners.

“I will see you around.” Doug says making the guy smile way too hard making Robby roll his eyes.

“Or not.”Robby is still smiling but the blonde guy gets the hint and leaves finally.

Doug shoots him a glare. He waits until the guy is out of earshot .

“What’s up.”

“We need to talk about us.” Robby stutters but he manages to let the words out.Damn. Where’s the bitch attitude when he needs it. Oh well , here it goes.

“Keene, really , like I said yesterday—“

“That’s the thing. I don’t want things to stay the same or try to act like this awkwardness is not between us anymore.”

“I can change classes and then we don’t have to avoid each other in the same room.”Doug pathetically offers , it seem like he really didn’t want to be here.

“Thats not what I’m saying. I don’t want that you idiot.”Robby huffs .

“Well I can’t change schools , you short stack of pancakes !”Doug voice raises making few heads turn to them.

“Lower you voice , giraffe. I don’t want the whole school to hear us!”Robby fights the urge to scream back and stomp his foot. But he was in public he had control himself.

“I don’t have time for this.” Doug shakes his head and laughs dryly .

“Oh but you had time for that guy that you were letting touch you all over.” Robby voice dripped in jealousy.

“You seriously can’t be jealous right now .”Doug said incredulously .

“I can if I want to .”Robby was determined and he was not giving up without a fight. He knows the last time Doug told him Robby only tries to show his feelings when he was jealous but this time he is going to confess. But his tall guy didn’t know which drove him crazy.

Doug screams in frustration and turns around to leave but he comes to a halt seeing Miguel, Hawk, Sam, Demetri and Tory blocking his way.

“Can you guys move”

“No can do , amigo .”Hawk says unapologetic but still offered him a thumbs up for good luck.

“You have to deal with this this today we are tired of seeing you guys do a terrible job of being in love “ Miguel sighs wanting this to be over . He was starving .

“Just listen , Rickenberger. Your not going to get hurt , trust me.” Tory try to reassure him. Maybe the guy was avoiding Robby because he was tired of getting his heart broken from Robby’s multiple rejections. Understandable but he is not this time.

“I’m here. Go on.”Doug deeply sighs like it hurt him . He stood looking at him patiently. There was a couple of seconds of awkward silence. Doug raised his brow in question.

“I had this speech prepared—“ Hawk coughs , Robby rolls his eyes ,” We had this speech prepared. And I don’t know if you would love it or hate it. I can’t tell you it because the moment I saw you with that guy it immediately erased from my brain.”

“Robby , I know that I told you no matter how many times you reject me I wouldn’t give up but I think I can’t take another.”Doug frowns and fidgets .

“Just wait here” Robby pleaded.

Robby waited for Doug to nod so he could run off inside the school. He couldn’t understand why the words couldn’t come out. Why he couldn’t blurt out the words that screamed out , ‘I like you!’ . So he did what he did. He ran back in .

He dodged a couple that he almost toppled over and he accidentally hit his shoulder on the locker when he took a turn. Robby was panting like a dog when he was in front of the office. Walking in he smiled seeing everyone was occupied , sneaking to the front desk where the flower vase stood, beautiful fresh sunflowers waiting for him to be picked. Stolen, borrowed , or whatever you want to call it.

Having the flower in hand , Mrs. Gomez made eye contact with him and flashing her his best smile Robby ran the fuck out of there. Walking out the exit , he wasn’t as graceful and missteps a stair and went tumbling down.

That was embarrassing. He makes a whining noise when he notice he kind of crushed the sunflower. Fuck.

“Shit! Robby are you okay?Is something hurt?” Doug shouted , running up to help him while his friend laughs but stopped to glare whoever were laughing that weren’t them . At least they got his back on that.

“My pride .” Robby wince feeling his back scream at him for moving since he landed on his back .

“Here. Do the thing.” Robby shoves the flower in Doug’s hand . And waited with a pained expression.

“What thing?”

“The thing. Your thing.” Robby huffs impatiently he did not almost break his back for the guy can’t remember about their moment.

“Robby ….” Doug look so confused , he looked behind his shoulder to get help from them but they were useless .This was not part of the plan.

“Tell me what you told me when we first assigned as partners .”Robby nervously reminds him making the latter snort.

“Here ,” Doug breaks the long stem and places the flower behind his right ear, he gives him a wobbly smile feeling embarrass ,” A pretty flower for my pretty boy .”

This time Robby doesn’t blush nor pushes down his feelings. Okaaaaaaay, maybe a little, but he will blame it in the sun.He’s the one to take a step closer “You better shut your mouth, Doug.” Robby tried to fight off the smile but seeing Doug flush and smile bashfully just is driving him crazy.

“How about use those damn lips to keep me quiet ." Doug finally pulls out his cocky smirk from that day. No trace of shyness from second ago .

“Okay. If that’s what you want.” Robby shrugs nonchalant and leans up to kiss him . Doug froze but kiss backed , thank God because it could’ve been weird just him doing the kissing.

He thought of slipping his tongue and all but Robby thinks it better like this , especially if people were still watching them. Maybe recording them. He wraps his arms around Doug’s neck and feels being pulled in closer and hands on his waist to host him up . Wrapping his legs around Doug hips he hears his friends cheer.

“Omg my seduction plan worked! Told you that leather jacket is the shit!!”That sounded like Miguel.

“You climb that boy, Robby, like your a starving koala wanting some eucalypt leaves.” Hawk yells , Miguel laughter sounds way too close with how loud he sounds.

Robby pulls away in bewilderment and ask Doug,” You heard that too , right ?”

“The seduction or the koala part.” Doug laughs and his pink lips distract him , Doug puts him down and hugs him close.

“I think I need some time apart from them.”

“From who?” Hawk comes up from behind scaring Robby. Tory slaps the back of Hawks head .

“From you and Miguel.” Robby chuckles watching the two boys reaction.

“Fine we’ll find someone who appreciates us , let’s go , dude.” Miguel sasses . Demetri and Sam pull them aside to give him and Doug a minute. Robby looks at them , they really are in his head.

“I’m really happy.” Doug says bringing him back . He grins and leans up again to kiss him. Yeah, he’s not getting tired of kissing him.

“I hope so because I think Hawk has a video of me tripping so it better be worth it. And the school might call my dad today.”

“They caught you stealing . ”

“Shut up and just kiss your boyfriend .”

“Whatever my pretty boy wants.” Doug swoops in and making him breathless . Who needs air? Not Robby. But he can’t have his moment because Hawk interrupts him .

“Sorry to interrupt but we deserve some pizzas after getting you guys together.”

“That is the package deal of dating Robby Keene, you got to carry us around.” Tory winks , the rest make noises of agreement . He lets it pass, the nerves made him hungry so he led them lead the way as hold his boyfriend hand.

Doug has never seen his wallet emptier before but he guess he has to get a job after today.

~~~~~~||||~~~~~~~~~|||~~~~~~~~~|||~~~~~~||||~~~~

The moment Robby open his eye , he groans. The blaring alarm is already causing him a headache . He debates on throwing his phone against the wall but decides not since is kind of hanging by a thread. He really has to get a new phone.

His bed is telling him to stay in and sleep but he throws the blanket aside and goes to the bathroom to get rid of his cotton mouth.

Dressed and ready to go to school he grabs his bag and goes into the kitchen where he finds Daniel with a box of donuts . Yes!

“Where’s dad ?” Robby ask before he takes a huge ass bite of a donut . It’s bad manners but Daniel has gotten used to it. He shoves the other half in his mouth and steals Daniels coffee .

“Still acting like a child !” Daniel yells the last part for Johnny to hear. Johnny shouts something incoherent back.

“I can’t believe he is jealous over Iceman.” Robby gives back Daniel’s cup . He didn’t get his dads obsession on hating that movie. Robby actually liked the movie and the hot RIO ,Slider.

Daniel pushed the box towards him and Robby happily grabbed another donut. They were fucking good. He could probably eat half a dozen. Or maybe a dozen if he puts his mind to it.

“You want a ride to school , Johnny is taking Miguel , Hawk, Sam and Tory . Carpooling .”

“Not really big fan of being squished in but I rather do that than walk.”

Johnny drops them off and bid his goodbye . They dusted off and wiped their faces from any remains of donuts.He ditches them when he sees Doug waiting for him at the entrance.

His boyfriend pulls him in for a kiss and throws his arm over his shoulder and walks him to his locker. Robby was stupid trying to not admit his feelings for the guy. Having a boyfriend is the best, it’s actually kind of the same how Doug would treat him except now he lets the tall boy kiss him and sometimes,sometimes , grab his butt .

It feels like deja vu when he’s in 4th period . He’s hunched over his desk drawing in his notebook a cartoon version of him and Doug holding hands. Robby couldn’t pay attention to Ms.Casado, she was the drama teacher and was substituting Mr.Rodríguez class . Turns out his wife was expecting and had asked for two weeks leave and since he’s good friends with the principal , it was granted.

That’s what he gets for making them underage parents. He has to endure what he put them all.

Tory was snoring away not even bothering to be discreet . He doubts Ms.Casado will notice since she’s busy introducing herself—including her childhood.

Upfront he can see Demetri and Hawk deep in conversation and kissing in between. Hawk is still kicking the boy chair but Demetri is unbothered .

Miguel calls Demetri and Hawk with his phone out to take a selfie. When Miguel points the phone towards him , he makes a peace sign and sticks out his tongue .

Finishing his drawing , he shuts his notebook and starts whispering Sam’s name. When she didn’t turn around he rips a paper out Tory’s notebook and crumbles it and throws it at her head.

“What!?” She hisses and throws back the paper that lands on Tory disrupting her shut eye.

“Watch it.” Tory glares at them making them laugh.

“Switch with me.”

Sam rolls his eyes and gets up. The teacher had moved them around and Sam had gotten the seat he wanted. Next to his boyfriend .

“You’re really ditching me .”Tory grins .

“We had a baby , that doesn’t go away. Luv you !” Robby smirks and ruffles her hair and leaves .

“Hey.”

“Hey.” Robby says softly and kisses Doug . “I missed you , bunny.” He scrunches his nose which Doug plants a peck making him smile.

“Missed you too, Pretty boy .” Doug mumbles ,his face burried into the side of his neck making him ticklish.

Robby is showing him the drawing when Ms.Casado shouts “Project Time.” She ask Demetri to handout a big wad of sheets of paper that could easily break his arm.

“You’ll all audition for a play ! There’s a list of options you can choose !” She announced with too much excitement , when the class begins to mutter their displeasure , her smile turns sharp “It will be graded. Keep quiet now and read your lines.”

The class turns silent.

Great . Another project .

1. Grease

2. Romeo and Juliet

3. Dirty Dancing

4.

Robby stops reading . He is not doing this he rather he get handed back Yoshi and deal with the craziness that came with having his friends having a fake baby.

Sam sends a text to the group chat.

Sandwich: Memorize all the lines to Grease. We’re going to kill this.

Robby eye twitches and looks at Doug who is looking at him in horror when he opens his mouth , “Have you seen Dirty Dancing or Grease?”

“Baby, Pretty boy , the love of my life, I’d rather get a F than to act.” Doug looked deadly serious. He really didn’t want to do this. Nothing was going to get him on that stage wearing tights or nada. He’d rather jump off a bridge before bright caught dead on that stage.

Robby hums .

“By the law of my middle name I have to. So unless you want me be paired up with someone else and let someone kiss—“

“Are you trying to manipulate me?” Doug looked at him surprised.

“Is it working?” Robby asked.

“Yes.” Robby smiles proudly at his cute boyfriend . Well he has to get started on Grease. Having his mom play Dirty Dancing is really paying off.

TBC

Sidenote: it took me awhile to finish this. I left an open ending , since in school there’s always doing projects lol. I hope you guys like this . I kinda ship Sam and Tory but also Sam and Miguel, so I kind of left it open for you guys to interpret . If I ever pick this up again I might have to pick a ship unless I make it a poly. But idk. I also had to throw in some lawrusso and some Top Gun because I’m obsessed . Gotta throw in some love to Iceman and Slider lol.

I added Yasmine and Moon because I like that ship too. I had to have some parallels to the first part of Baby Project. And also because I was listening to Deja Vu by Olivia Rodrigo. Every time I write Miguel , I give Xolos personality lol.

[honeypiehotchner]

Don’t You (Hotch x Fem!Reader) -- part two of Bye Bye, Baby

I love how this mini-series was totally impromptu but happened so fast. Gotta love my brain!

Loosely based on “Don’t You” by Taylor Swift! xx.

Summary: Aaron wants to talk. Do you?

Warnings: ANGST

Word Count: 2k this time oop

Bye Bye, Baby (Part One) || That’s When (Part Three) || Hotch Masterlist

Hey/I knew I’d run into you somewhere/It’s been a while

The text message from Aaron has sat glaring at you on your phone screen for the past hour.

Hotch (BAU) Sorry for hitting you with my cart earlier.

You don’t know what to make of it. It’s obviously an attempt to start up a conversation after four years, but why? Why, after all this time, does he think this is okay?

It’s 1 a.m. when you call Dannie.

“I would tell you to go to sleep, but I just got in bed, so I can’t talk.”

You chuckle quietly. “Better than me. I’m still on the couch.”

Dannie exhales. “Did Jules stay up late again?”

“No, no, she… She passed out around nine.”

Dannie sighs. “What’s wrong with you?”

“I saw Aaron today,” you blurt, quietly, not wanting to risk Juliet hearing even a whisper of this.

“Aaron?” Dannie asks. “Like...Juliet’s dad, Aaron? That one?”

“Yep,” you mutter, rubbing your forehead. “The one and only.”

“Where?”

“The grocery store,” you say. “Our carts bumped into each other. I wasn’t watching where I was going, so it was definitely my fault, but he texted me a while ago apologizing for it.”

“Woah, he texted you?”

“Unfortunately,” you murmur, hating that you feel tears pricking at your eyes. “I don’t know what to do.”

“Have you texted him back?”

“I don’t know if I want to.”

“I understand,” Dannie sighs. “Maybe just say it’s okay? Leave it short.”

“Yeah,” you nod, sniffling, wiping a tear away. “God, I’ve been fine all evening and it just...hit me when I saw his text.”

“You had to keep it together for Jules,” Dannie reminds you. “What did she say about him?”

“Oh, nothing,” you say. “She really wanted cookies, so she was focused on getting vegetables for dinner so she could have them.”

Dannie laughs. “That sounds like her. Did she eat all her vegetables?”

“Even the broccoli,” you grin. “So she got an extra cookie.”

The two of you laugh lightly, letting the silence settle.

“What do I do if he wants to get to know her?” You break the silence with the one question that’s been on your mind all night. “I mean, he’s a profiler. There’s no way he doesn’t know she’s his.”

“Okay, first of all, she’s yours,” Dannie says firmly. “Second, it’s all up to you. And her. If she wants to get to know him, then ultimately it’s up to you to decide if that’s a good idea and where would be safest for it to happen, if you want it to.”

“Thank you.”

“Don’t stress about it tonight,” she says quietly. “Text him back in the morning.”

“Okay.”

“Want to surprise Jules with brunch tomorrow?”

You smile almost immediately. “Of course.”

+++

You wake from a restless sleep to Juliet climbing into bed with you.

“Good morning, munchkin,” you whisper, kissing her forehead. She’s still sleepy and will probably sleep for another hour in your arms, but you wouldn’t trade it for the world.

As expected, Juliet falls fast asleep with her head on your chest. While she’s snoring softly, you grab your phone and text Dannie about brunch. And that’s when you’re reminded of Aaron’s text.

Quickly, before you can think twice, you reply. It���s okay.

And you move on to text Dannie, letting her know you’re awake and so is Juliet. After making plans to meet for brunch in an hour and a half, you lightly shake Juliet awake.

“Psst, munchkin,” you murmur. “Wanna have brunch with Dannie?”

Juliet pops her head up almost instantly. “Really?”

“Really really,” you nod.

She grins wide and your chest aches for a moment. She’s always had his smile, but you never realized how much it’s his smile until today.

Juliet scrambles off your bed to get dressed, and you take a deep breath before getting up, too.

+++

The entire day passes without a reply from Aaron. You don’t know what to make of it, but you do your best to ignore it.

Thoughts of him keep you awake almost all night, so by the next morning, you’re dying to get your coffee before you walk into work.

You drop Juliet off at daycare, then park your car at work, with somehow enough time to spare to walk to your favorite coffee shop before clocking in.

You spot Aaron as soon as you walk in.

“You better not be following me around,” you mutter as you stand in line behind him.

He spins around, his face softening when he recognizes you. “Hi. I’m not trying to, I promise.”

You nod slowly.

Don’t you/Don’t you smile at me and ask me how I’ve been

“How are you?” He asks hesitantly, hands stuffed in his pockets.

“Good,” you reply. “You?”

“Good,” he pauses. “Busy.”

“Me too.”

The awkward small talk is ended by the line moving forward, putting Aaron at the front. He orders his usual, and steps aside. You order your usual, with a pastry, too, as a sort of condolences gift to yourself for the bullshit you’re enduring.

When you step to the side to wait, Aaron tries again.

“Sorry again for hitting you in the store with my cart,” he says. “I wasn’t paying attention.”

“It’s okay,” you say, keeping your eyes away from his. “In your defense, I wasn’t paying attention either.”

He chuckles quietly and the sound sends a dagger right to your heart.

When his coffee is ready, he grabs it, and you internally beg him to leave without another word. But he doesn’t.

Sometimes I really wish I could hate you/I’ve tried, but that’s just something I can’t do

“This is probably too forward of me, but—”

Your coffee is up.

You step forward to grab it, and damn you, you look at him to ask him to continue.

“Can we talk?” Aaron finishes.

“Right now?” You question, following him to the door. He holds it open for you and you hate that you almost smile. “I have to get to work.”

“Me too,” he says, stopping on the sidewalk with you. “We could get dinner tonight.”

“I’ll think about it.”

“Okay,” he nods. “No pressure. Just text me if you want to.”

“Okay,” you exhale shakily. “See you.”

You turn on your heel and nearly sprint down the sidewalk, chest heaving and tears welling in your eyes.

+++

“What do you want to do?” Dannie asks.

You met her for lunch to discuss your encounter with Aaron this morning, and so far you still don’t know what the hell you’re going to do.

“I want to tell him to leave me alone and never come near me again,” you blurt, but then you sigh. “I don’t mean that.”

Dannie smiles sadly. “I know.”

You don’t/You don’t know how much I feel I still love you

“I think I want to talk to him, but...I don’t know, I’m scared. I don’t think I can do a dinner. I’m sick to my stomach just thinking about this and I mean...I hate that I still love him. After all this I can’t even hate him.”

“It’s hard to hate someone you love.”

“Yeah,” you sigh. “Wanna help me text him?”

“Of course.”

After some trial and error, you and Dannie settle on this message.

Hey. I’d like to talk, but not dinner. What about a walk instead?

Aaron replies quickly.

Hotch (BAU) That’s perfect. Where is best?

+++

The park you chose is, regrettably, the one where you and Aaron had your first date.

In your defense, it’s closest and safest. And quiet.

Aaron doesn’t seem to mind the location, though, when he walks toward you. You’re sitting on a park bench, one that must be new because you don’t remember it.

As he gets closer, you see he has two cups of coffee in hand.

“I got your usual,” he says softly. “If you want.”

“Thank you,” you murmur, taking it from him, careful not to let your fingers touch.

Hesitantly, he sits next to you.

The two of you sit in silence for a while. You can’t bring yourself to say anything, and apparently, neither can he.

After too long, though, you break the silence. “Ready to walk?”

“Sure,” he replies, standing with you.

You venture down the trail, grateful that you changed into your sneakers before coming. It takes another few moments before the silence is broken -- by Aaron this time.

“Is she mine?”

You sigh heavily. You should’ve known he’d ask that first.

“Technically, Juliet is mine,” you reply. “But you are the father, if that’s what you’re asking.” You pause. “You’re the only one I was with, so there’s no doubt.”

“I wasn’t worried about that,” he says quietly. You can tell he’s looking at you, but you don’t look at him. “Why didn’t you tell me?”

“I tried,” you admit. “I called three times. I got your voicemail.”

Once: When you decided officially to keep the baby. You were three months pregnant. You had almost thought he picked up when the line clicked, and then you heard his voicemail. You hung up and took a bath instead, phone forgotten in the living room.

Twice: Dannie was beside you. You were seven months then. You had caved and asked if it was a boy or girl. After hearing it was a girl, a part of you desperately wanted to tell Aaron. You remembered him saying he always wanted a baby girl. Your heart still ached from when he broke it, but you wanted to tell him. You got his voicemail.

The third time: You had just given birth. You named her Juliet. You wanted to tell Aaron. You wanted to know if he should be on the birth certificate. You wanted to tell him you had a baby girl. When he didn’t answer, the nurse gave you a sad smile, and left the line blank. Dannie held Juliet for a while so you could cry.

“You never left a message,” he replies, sounding offended.

“Did you really want me to break the news in a voicemail?”

“No,” he shakes his head. “But you could’ve said it was something important. I would’ve returned your call.”

“I called three times,” you remind him. “You’re a fucking profiler, Aaron. You think three calls meant it was unimportant?” You pause, grounding yourself. “I figured you were out on a case. I don’t blame you for that. I understand, I’ve been there. But after calling three times and not getting a single reply, I figured it was useless. I didn’t have the time or energy to worry about it anymore. I had a newborn to take care of.”

He’s silent for a while.

“How is she?”

“She’s fine. She’s with her Godmother. Probably watching Frozen.”

“That’s good.”

You can’t do this anymore. “If that’s all you wanted to ask, then I need to get going. No offense, but I really don’t have the time for small talk.”

“I understand, but…” He stops walking, staring down at his feet before locking eyes with you. “Would you— Would you be willing to give me a second chance?”

Don’t you/Don’t you say that you miss me if you don’t want me again

“Why are you doing this?” You ask, angry tears pricking your eyes. “Why?”

“I’d like to be a part of Juliet’s life. And yours. If you’ll let me.”

“I’ll ask her,” you reply. “But you can be a part of her life without being a part of mine.”

“You know that’s not true,” he says. “You chose this park for a reason today.”

“No, I chose it because it’s close,” you hiss. “Don’t you dare profile me. Don’t you dare.”

“I’m sorry,” he says, and for a second you think he might have tears in his eyes, too. “I’m sorry, you’re right, that was uncalled for.”

“Thank you,” you murmur. “I really do need to go.”

“Can I at least walk you to your car?”

After a moment of thought, you nod. “Sure.”

My heart knows what the truth is/I swore I wouldn’t do this

[moonlit-imagines]

Misbehavior (Part 1)

Jason Todd x batkid!reader

warnings:

a/n: tysm anon!!

prompt: anonymous: “Hello Lacey! Hope your doing great! Could I please request a bat family x batsis!reader where the reader is Kind of the middle child (I was thinking older than Damian but younger than Tim) and she’s always forgotten and in the back. Maybe some scenarios can be that no one listens when she talks or they forget to invite her to do stuff. So then one day she acts up in school like maybe punching someone for no good reason because she’s craving attention but instead of Bruce showing up to get her Jason shows up and he sees that she’s actually really sad and starts to question her until she tells him everything and maybe spills some tears and it ends with just Jason comforting her and cheering her up. Just some soft Jason for my soul! Also have a great day and I hope that you feel better and more motivated now after your break! 😘”

part 2

No matter what you did, none of your deeds went unnoticed. Good or bad.

You always heard how Dick was so independent, the one everyone should use as an example.

You always heard how Barbara could do it all, she never failed to impress.

You always heard how Jason was reckless, someone who needed to get his act together.

You always heard how Tim was such a prodigy, he was one of a kind.

You always heard how Steph was so determined, she had such amazing goals.

You always heard that Cass was perfect, they’d never change a thing about her.

You always heard that Duke was so strong, he’d never give up no matter what stood in his way.

You always heard that Damian was dangerous, a kid that needed to be guided.

But what about you? What did they hear about you? Nothing. No one ever spoke of you, they didn’t have the time. It seemed as if you were just unimpressive, there wasn’t one thing that needed to be mentioned. Stuck in the middle of a bunch of bats and birds, no way to stand out in the crowd.

Maybe not in a mask or a cowl, a dress or a suit, behind a computer or among the darkness, but there was one place you couldn’t be ignored...

You sat at your desk, picking at old tape with the tip of your fingernail. The teacher had nothing interesting to say, so what was the point of being here? What made Gotham Academy so special that you just had to attend this place?

The uniform was overkill, the classes went nowhere, the students were too preppy, and you didn’t have a single thing in common with anyone here.

Anger was starting to bubble inside you as you continued your internal self-loathing. Your mind was only focused on the negative, but it was shifting from school back to home.

No one was ever there for you, not even on patrol. You’d called for backup several times on missions and nearly lost it all when you had to go in alone. If it were anyone else, a teammate would have met them in a heartbeat.

Your plans were always overshadowed whenever you tried to set up a mission or even just a day off. You wanted cookies? Too bad, Tim wants brownies. You wanted to watch a movie? Too bad, everyone chose a TV show. It was the little things that irked you the most. Half the time, you never even got the memo.

And what about when you all come back from patrol with all sorts of injuries and Alfred comes to patch you up? Well, not you. He’ll run to check on cuts and scrapes. Meanwhile, you had a broken wrist and a black eye.

You’d finally run out of things to pick at around your desk which resorted in you tapping instead. There was a brief bit of zoning out as you remembered the time that Damian’s plan for evading Killer Croc’s attack was to push you in the way. Or the time that Jason hid his guns in your bed for reasons he didn’t care to explain. Or when Dick drank the last of the milk and didn’t tell you until after you poured your cereal. Or when Tim told you that you weren’t fit for the mission he had been planning. Or when Bruce blatantly ignored the story you told out of pure excitement, giving you nothing but a “sounds like you had fun.”

While you were in a horrible daze, you felt a hand on your shoulder that snapped you out of it faster than the Barry Allen. Without even evaluating the situation, your reflexes caused you to turn and twist your classmates arm backwards as he screamed.

“Hey! Stop, ow, that hurts! Stop! Stop it!” You processed his words too late and knew exactly what was coming next.

“Y/N L/N!” You teacher shouted as you drew your hand back. “Dean’s office. Right now.” Her sharp voice sent a chill down your spine, not even the Joker could do that. You’d be able to explain the situation pretty easily, you just didn’t want to make it worse. But there was one ankle that sent you off the edge. Another student tripped you on your way through the aisles, and that student caught a fist to the face. The audience gasped and shouting from your teacher ensued, but you didn’t listen, you’d take the punishment at this point. So you walked right out and headed for the dean’s office without so much as a hall pass.

“Mx. l/n? What’s this about?” Dean Williams was surprised to say the least, you’d never been sent in for discipline before. Was there a certain way to do this?

“Well, I zoned out and some kid behind me grabbed my shoulder, I accidentally twisted his arm.” You retold your story, the abridged version. “But on my way out I punched a kid in the face because he tripped me. That one’s on me.”

“...Well,” the dean frowned at his obligations, but had to go through with some kind of punishment, “I’m going to have to suspend you for physical contact with a student. I’ll call your father to come pick you up.” You shrugged and slouched back in your chair, giving up on any hope of talking your way out of this. It might as well just happen. You listened to the clicking of the buttons on the dean’s phone as he typed in the Wayne Manor phone number, obviously reaching Alfred almost immediately.

“Wayne Manor.” You eard his faint voice through the speaker.

“Hello, this is Dean Williams from Gotham Academy, may I speak to Mr. Wayne? I have his child in my office.” Your dean explained over the phone, peeking back at your for a split second. You were completely unbothered, it was baffling.

“Is it Damian?” You heard him ask, causing an involuntary eye roll.

“Y/N, actually.” There was a long pause before someone else picked up the phone. “Mr. Wayne, this is Dean Williams at Gotham Academy. I have y/n sitting across from me right now, they seemed to have gotten themself into a physical altercation with two separate students, I have no choice but to suspend them.” You heard a deep sigh over the phone, then the handheld piece was handed to you.

“Bruce?” You asked.

“Really? Fighting at school?” He sounded unimpressed. Nothing new, even when you do something new.

“Something like that. Whoops.” He hung up on you right after that, so you handed the phone back and told your dean, “Guess they’ll get me soon.”

“You call your father by his first name?” Dean Williams had nosily questioned.

“I’m adopted.” He obviously didn’t know you as well as your more troublesome sibling, it was time he just minded his business.

After a good thirty minutes of silent waiting while listening to keyboard clacking and papers flipping by the front desk, the office door opened, and to your surprise, it was one of your brothers.

“I’m here for y/n.” He mumbled, signing the piece of paper and showing his ID.

“Alright, Mr. Harper, I just have to check some paperwork really quick...” The receptionist went into your file and checked for your emergency contacts. “You’re all set. Now, y/n has been suspended for two weeks. I suggest you get to the bottom of their little ‘outburst’ before they’re able to come back to school.” It actually pissed Jason off to hear her say that.

“I’ll keep that in mind.” His sarcasm wasn’t subtle. “Come on, kid.” Your brother gripped your arm and led you out of the office, noticing your bitter expression that he couldn’t even rationalize. Was that normal? “So what happened. Bruce just told me to come get you.”

“Of course he did.” You rolled your eyes on the brink of tears, he didn’t even come to get you himself. Jason opened the car door for you and nudged you inside, slamming it once you were clear.

“You better have a good reason,” he warned as he started the engine, “I was in the middle of a poker game.”

“Oh, yeah, ‘cause I’m such an inconvenience.” You were starting to remind him of himself. That was never a good thing.

“Okay, my bad. I didn’t mean it like that.” Jason began speeding down the block, you’d never once seen him obey a speed limit. You’d think someone with a fake ID and a death certificate would want to avoid any run-ins with the cops, but Gotham was just one of those cities.

“Yeah, right.” You reached for the radio knobs and felt Jason’s hand wrap around your wrist.

“No music until you explain yourself.” You fell back into your seat to pout, muttering some curses under your breath. “I won’t tell Bruce or anyone. I swear.”

“I just zoned out. Reflexes.” You bluntly replied.

“What?” He still didn’t have any context to go off of.

“I twisted someone’s arm backwards. Honest mistake.” Jason knew there was more to this story. “But on my way out of the classroom, I punched this kid who tried to trip me. That was on him.”

“As much as I condone payback, you can’t do that at school.” He sighed. “You’ve never been sent home before. That I know of. So why now?”

“Yeah, you know, maybe that’s the issue? You couldn’t tell me if I’ve ever gotten in trouble before. None of you could. You couldn’t tell me a definitive thing about me. When’s my birthday, Jason?” He was at a loss for words. “That’s what I thought.”

“So this was all for attention?” Jason asked. “There’s a hell of a lot of better ways to go about that.”

“Tried them all, this one barely even worked.” You replied with a crack in your voice. “How come none of you care about me? Why am I always looked over? I’m just like the rest of you. I put on that stupid suit every night and kick ass, I get my job done, I get good grades, I’m resourceful, I’m special—” You’d let that last one slip in your rant to your older brother, it shocked him so bad he stopped the car.

“I know what you mean.” Jason stared straight ahead at the empty road. “I felt the same way when I came back. After everyone was used to me being back, it was like nothing ever happened. Bruce just went back to calling me careless, irresponsible.”

“At least you get noticed, Jason. Your identifiable.” You turned to him with a pained look and he risked his confidence to look you in the eye. Once he did, he couldn’t look away. It hurt him to see someone so familiar to himself have tears running down their face because they felt forgotten. No kid should ever have to feel like that. That was why Bruce took him in. That was how Jason became Robin.

“Fuck this.” Jason hit the gas and turned the car around. “We’re getting ice cream. Do you like ice cream? That’s a serious question.”

“I...I guess.” You were somewhat confused by his sudden literal change in direction.

“Good. You’re my kid for today, all my attention goes to you. I’m sure Bruce won’t notice if you’re gone for a few hours.” Jason’s jaw dropped at his last comment. “I didn’t mean it like that.”

“No, you’re right and you should say it.”

taglist: @thatwaspossession // @ravenmoore14 // @thisetaernallove // @kinoko-kai //

[cockslutpadalecki]

New Rules (1)

Summary: Y/N and Dean are strictly “Friends with Benefits”, however she soon finds herself falling in love and does her hardest to keep Dean at a distance to save herself from getting her heart broken, but he can’t keep away which just makes her mission practically impossible.

Characters: Dean x Reader.

Words: 5265.

Warnings: angst, age gap relationship (ish), squirting, female masturbation, multiple orgasms.

A/N: Based on song of same name by Dua Lipa. And yes, this has been adapted from an old fic I wrote for Negan eons ago which has been rewritten and split into two parts. Betas: @winchest09 and @deanwanddamons, but all the general bullshit is entirely mine. While likes are gold, feedback is golden. Masterlists can be found in my pinned post. Subscribe to Patreon and get access to fics, just like this one, two weeks before Tumblr for as little as $3.

The dull buzz of your cell vibrating against your nightstand pulls you from your already disturbed slumber, head slightly fuzzy from the one too many wines you had with dinner. Rolling over, you lazily reach for it and turn it on its side, the glare from the screen completely absorbing every ounce of sleep from your eyes. A too-familiar name flashes across it, and the pit in your stomach begins to flutter. You can never tell if it’s from excitement or dread due to the fact you know exactly why he’s calling.

Dean. 

You tap the screen almost cautiously, and bring it to your ear. 

“Yeah,” you mutter sleepily.

“Hey darlin’.” His voice purrs like a kitten and you know the tone in it instantly— one too many whiskeys as usual. “What’re you doing?”

Glancing at your alarm clock, you notice it’s far too late for this charade, and let out an uptight exhale. “It’s 2am, Dean, what do you think I’m doing?”

“Thinking of me?” he chuckles, and you’re thankful he can’t see you roll your eyes through the screen— you know exactly what thinking is code for.

“De—”

“Come over,” he interrupts rhetorically. 

“It’s the middle of the night.”

“Hasn’t stopped you before.”

“That was before I knew better,” you sigh. “Look, you’ve had a few, go to bed. You need sleep, okay?”

“I need your sweet little pussy,” he cajoles, and the way the word rolls thickly off his tongue down the receiver makes your cunt clench around nothing. Normally, you’d be telling him the same in return, but you remain tight-lipped— he doesn’t need extra fuel to get him even more fired up. 

“You need sleep,” you repeat, choosing to ignore his comment.

“Y/N—”

The way he says your name makes your chest ache, while your mind screams at you to hang up, and go back to sleep, but deep down you know that’ll never happen. Not now you know he’s at home desperate for you when you’re aching just as much in return. But when it comes to Dean, your body and mind are clearly on two very different wavelengths.

“I promise I’ll make you come real hard,” he begs, voice heavy with solicitation.

Sighing deeply, you quickly search for an excuse that would placate him, but nothing would come. However, if you take Dean on his word— which was usually gospel, you could be coming within an hour if you gave in to his dulcet insistence.

“I’ll see you in twenty minutes.”

-

Your obsession with older men began when you were sixteen. Infatuated with actors and musicians twice your age, you adopted the same ideology when it became time to start dating. Purposely seeking out relationships with those of a more experienced calibre, that tenet followed you right into your mid twenties, a small string of ex-boyfriends trailing behind you with the combined age of a hundred.

Dean Winchester was no exception. In his early 40s, he was at the older end of your spectrum of lovers, but with his rugged charm and audacious attitude exuding from every pore, he came across much younger than his birth certificate stated. With the considerable age gap there were moments when it showed— like trying to introduce to bands you’d never heard of, but with the relationship you have, that’s as deep as it got. 

You say relationship, but really, you mean complicated. Friends with benefits. Fuck buddies— whatever you wanna call it, that’s what Dean thought. You, on the other hand, were unreservedly and irrevocably infatuated by him and he knew it— using your inability to say no to him to get what he wants, and after he’s satisfied, you’re sent on your way until he calls again, expecting you to cave in instantly. And you usually do, much to the dismay of your own brain, but you can’t deny the unimaginable electricity and heat between you, pulling you in like a magnet, unable to detach yourself from it.

The first time he caught your eye across the dimly lit bar, raising his whiskey tumbler in your direction as the bartender placed a fresh glass of wine in front of you, muttering almost incoherently of where it came from, you were left completely blindsided. It wasn’t the gesture that made you weak, but the cocksure smirk that followed. 

You met in the conventional way—  you were out with friends, celebrating one of their birthdays, and while Dean had been accompanied by his buddy Benny and brother Sam to “shoot the shit,” as Dean so eloquently put, it was you he spent the majority of the night hovering around. When the time came, you ended up sharing an extremely heated cab ride home before fucking on his couch until the sun came up. 

Neither of you really expected for your rendezvous to lead anywhere, and it didn’t. You stayed friends, occasionally meeting up for a casual hook up, but it wasn’t until a couple of months later when you happened upon each other by accident at the same bar, and Dean spent the night fawning over somebody else that you realised you felt more for him than he did you. Jealousy bubbled up inside you watching him flirt unabashedly with the blonde, and when a offhand comment was made about you being his daughter, you left in a hurry. 

He had called you later that night, after his attempts to bed her had failed, and came crawling to you for release. You knew then in that moment when Dean pushed you up against the wall— not even bothering to take your panties off as he bottomed out inside you, that you were nothing more to him than just a piece of ass when he couldn’t score anything better. Used was the only word to describe how you felt as he fucked you that night— the first time you had ever failed to come for him.

That had been a year ago, and you were yet to learn your lesson. 

Dean still calls in the middle of the night, and you still always answer.

1. Don’t pick up the phone, you know he’s only calling cause he’s drunk and alone.

-

“Seriously, you need to tell this asshole to just keep it in his pants, and stay outta yours.” Your best friend Jo grumbles at you, amid mouthfuls of your homemade bologna. Since you met Dean, she ends up at your apartment most nights, if not for a detailed breakdown of her day and the never ending tales of her boss’ messy divorce, but to eat you out of house and home. In all honesty, you’re just happy for the company. 

“It’s more complex than that,” you grumble. With the back of your fork, you mindlessly move the food around on your plate, despite the gnawing hunger eating away at your stomach. 

Two weeks have passed since you crawled to Dean’s, and you’re still punishing yourself for being so weak. It didn’t matter how satisfied you felt in the moment— Dean deep seated inside you as he fucked away your melancholy. What mattered was the cruel ache that sat in your chest when you left. The one that feels like you’ve been doused in acid, crumbling into pieces the further the distance between you and Dean becomes. 

“You gotta tell him how you feel,” Jo states matter of factly.

You scoff. “I can’t, he’ll laugh in my face. I’m just an immature little kid.”

“Well I’m here to remind you that you’re not,” she clarifies, “and that you’re really gonna have to start using night cream to, y’know-” using her fork, she points it at your face, and swirls it around in circles, “-work on those wrinkles.”

You raise an eyebrow at her, trying to stifle a smile. “Bitch.”

She laughs, lifting another forkful of spaghetti to her lips before steering the conversation back to Dean. “You can’t spend your life pining for this guy. He clearly only cares about getting his dick wet.” 

Listless, you watch her eat, wishing you had the same voracious appetite as she does, your stomach rumbling as if to taunt you further. You let out a little sigh, hating that she’s right. She always is. 

“Maybe I’ll just start dodging his calls until he gets the message,” you mutter jokingly, unsure who you’re trying to convince more— you or the blonde sitting opposite you.

“Ah! You cracked it,” Jo rejoices as you look at her quizzically, and she winks, adding, “you’re finally thinking like a man.” 

You both burst into a fit of giggles as the hunger pangs in your stomach overwhelm you just enough that you give in, and bring your fork to your lips, not before flashing Jo a smile to match hers.

-

An hour later, you wave the small blonde off, watching her drive down the street, as you hug your arms around you in an attempt to keep out the cold before stepping back into the warmth of your apartment.

Letting the door snap closed as you slump against it, a feeling of loneliness washes over you, suddenly wishing you’d asked her to stay the night. 

Get your shit together, your brain berates harshly. Stop acting like a lovesick teenager.

Pushing yourself from the wood with the intention of soaking in the bath with a fresh glass of wine, the sound of three small knocks against the door prevents you from moving more than two steps.

You turn back around quickly, grabbing the door handle and pull it towards you, half expecting to see Jo, but the face you’ve been trying to shift from your thoughts for days stares back at you.

"Dean, what are you doing here?” The shock is evident in your voice. He never shows up at your apartment. 

In fact, you don’t think he’s ever made it to your door— the sidewalk was always as far as he got on the rare occasion he’d actually care to drop you home. You figure it’s a power strategy— if he calls and you go running, he’s in control. But having him standing on your doorstep, it must be so far out of his comfort zone that you can’t imagine he likes it much.

“Can’t I come and see my favourite person?” Dean compliments, flashing you his trademark smirk. He leans forward to kiss you gently on the cheek before stepping inside without invitation, and as he passes you, the heady scent of his fading aftershave highlighted with soft hints of whiskey absorbs into your pores like a damp mist. 

In a daze, you shut the door behind him, and stand aghast at the audacity of the man before you— not only for showing up unexpectedly, but for assuming you were going to allow him inside in the first place. He starts casually looking around, no doubt judging your taste in possessions as you watch him eye with intrigue the Salvador Dali piece hanging above your fireplace. 

“You sure you’re at the right apartment?” you ask, a little guarded. 

The truth is, him being in your home has instantly put you on edge. What’s the motive here? There has to be one. Dean Winchester doesn’t just turn up out of the blue. He simply laughs as he shrugs off his jacket, and hangs it haphazardly on the back of a chair.

“What are you really doing here?” you question, tentatively following his footsteps.

Dean turns, slinking back towards you like a panther with eyes on its prey, tongue tucked subtly between his teeth. As he reaches you, he slowly stoops his head, and brings his lips to yours. “Well, you sure as hell can’t fuck your own brains out.”

Your knees almost give way hearing the words tumbling from his lips, and the combination of his breath on your neck. You strain to speak, but Dean’s mouth is already on yours and his hands are at the buttons of your oversized shirt, hurrying to undo them. 

Y/N, kick him out! your brain screams. Don’t do this. Don’t let him win. Stop him—

Your thoughts are too easily drowned out by the blood thundering in your ears as you hungrily kiss back, snaking your hands around his neck to pull him even closer against you. Dean groans as your tongue slides past his lips, and he suddenly leans down, grabbing hold of the backs of your thighs to lift you up around his waist. 

Everything around you melts into one big blur as Dean carries you into the lounge, practically running to get you to the nearest surface he can lay you down on. The couch is the closest, and he slumps against the cushions as you straddle his lap, accentuating the roll of your hips to make sure your damp cunt catches his swelling length through his pants just right. 

You know you should stop him— the ethical voice inside your head tells you so, but by the time he’s pulled your panties to the side, cock nestled deep inside your pussy, you’re too bewitched by his touch to conceivably think about stopping him from doing anything except fuck you.

2. Don’t let him in, you have to kick him out again.

-

Almost three months pass without a word from Dean, and you’re struggling to the point where you actually crave a phone call at 2am. You even itch for him to show up at your door, and nail you into the couch as you come screaming his name.

Each night you go to bed hopeful that maybe tonight he’ll make contact, but you find yourself lying awake, staring impassively at a blank screen until you fall asleep from sheer exhaustion, tears drying on your cheeks. 

You do what you can to take your mind off of him, even going as far as hooking up with someone else on a rare night out with Jo, but it failed to do anything. Didn’t even come close. His lips weren’t soft like Dean’s, his touch lacklustre in comparison, and the meagre orgasm— which you had to see through, with thoughts of Dean between your thighs, left you feeling more frustrated than satisfied. And as you walked home, leaving your one night stand passed out in bed— still in the same position he rolled off of you into, you resigned yourself to the fact that while Dean is in your life, or lack thereof, you’re destined to be alone. 

You’ve never been so happy to lay your eyes on your parked car after leaving a particularly hectic day at work, beyond ready to drive home, and polish off the bottle of white sitting in the door of your refrigerator. 

With your hand firmly wrapped around the door handle, you bring it towards you as a palm slams against the window, startling you. You glance up, about to give the arsehole a piece of your mind, but the sight of Dean standing beside you knocks you for six, and despite being dressed in a suave black suit, he looks horrendous. His usual stubble has grown to give his beard more definition, but it’s unkempt and in disarray while his eyes are red and bloodshot, not to mention the fact he stinks of alcohol. 

"Dean, what the— are you alright?” you ask shakily, your heart still thumping hard against your rib cage. Stumbling towards you with a lazy smile, the whiskey cloud above his head completely engulfs you. 

“Just,” he hiccups, “great.” 

“Well you don’t look it.”

"You mean, you don’t want this?” He slides his hand down his torso, grabbing his crotch with a smirk. 

“Oh, I’m certain,” comes your clipped reply.

Carefully you open the door, using it to create a barrier between you— the more distance the better, but seeing him look so dishevelled and somehow a little… lost, you take pity on him, and find the next words slipping past your lips before your brain has a chance to register them. “C’mon, let me take you home, you’re in no state to be wandering around on your own." 

What was that about the more distance the better? 

"I’m fine,” he spits defensively.

“Dean, get in the fuckin’ car." 

"No,” he huffs, face stiffening as he stumbles backwards to walk off, but you’re faster than he is in this state, and manage to grab him before he falls flat on his face. 

The whiskey smell is overwhelming, but through the alcohol, you can just make out his own scent — that sweet mix of leather and cologne, and it warms you in a way you wish it hadn’t. 

You struggle against him for a second before he gives up, allowing you to help him to the passenger side without a fight. You pull open the door, and he slumps down into the seat with a sickly groan. 

He better not throw up in the footwell.

You shake your head in silent rebuke, cursing yourself for being so concerned about the cost of getting vomit out of your carpet, as you slam the door behind him and round the car to get in yourself. You glance over at him as you switch on the gas, watching his chest rise and fall with shallow breaths. With his eyes tightly closed, mouth slightly agape, he’s practically unconscious as you slowly manoeuvre your way out of the parking lot.

-

Dean falls onto the couch with a loud thud, your arm aching from carrying him in from the car. As you leave him lightly snoring, you give your bicep a soft rub as you head to the kitchen to fetch him a glass of water. 

The ride back to his apartment was peaceful, but you were so aware of him next to you, it was difficult to concentrate on the road, your thoughts continuously reminding you of what a bad decision it was.

You’re dangling yourself like a piece of meat in front of a starving lion that’s ready to pounce and devour you at any moment. 

Walking back into the lounge, you nudge him gently with the back of your hand. 

“Hey, wake up,” you say soothingly despite the slight grit of your teeth. “You need to drink something.” 

Nothing. 

Letting out a defeated sigh, you decide to change tactics. 

“Oh Dean, my pussy’s so wet for you,” you purr, bending to kneel at his feet. “Aching for your big hard cock.” 

Well, it’s not exactly a lie...

His eyes stay closed, but the sides of his lips pull up into a smirk. 

"I knew it, I can practically taste you from here,” he grumbles, shifting his weight onto his left elbow, his eyes slowly fluttering open. His jade stare keeps you at his feet and you hand him the glass, careful not to let his fingers brush yours. 

"Drink." 

He takes it, downing half in one go, his eyes on you the whole time. You suddenly feel uneasy— like you need to go and take a long, cold shower. 

"So, are you gonna tell me why you’re drunk at five in the afternoon?” you challenge. Dean fidgets against the couch, clasping the glass tight between his fingertips. 

"Nope,” he mutters defiantly before taking another swig, pulling a face as he swallows the final gulp.

“No?”

His lips draw into a tight line. “I don’t wanna talk about it.” 

“Gotcha,” you reply curtly, and push yourself to your feet.

“Stop,” he snaps, reaching out to grab your hand. “Stay.”

You look down at him, trying to gauge and somehow predict his next mood, but his face remains impassive. “Not until you talk to me.” 

He sighs, “we are talking." 

“Forget it, De.” You attempt to snatch your hand from his grasp, but he’s holding onto you too tightly. 

“Okay, okay,” he surrenders, placing the now empty glass onto the coffee table before motioning for you to sit down, which you do hesitantly.

It doesn’t escape you that last time you sat on this very couch, you had your legs spread while Dean had his face buried deep in your cunt. You do your best to make yourself comfortable despite the very uncomfortable heat blooming beneath your clothes as he turns to face you. You can see from the anxiousness in his features that he’s toying with his words— opening and closing his mouth repeatedly, but nothing comes out. 

“I was at a funeral,” he eventually manages to croak, glancing down at his hands to avoid making eye contact with you. 

“Oh,” you say. “I’m sorry. Was it somebody close to y—”

He interrupts, the words coming out like vomit. “I had to bury my best friend in front of his entire family and kids.” 

Benny? 

“He had his whole life together, and poof-” he snaps his fingers, “-snuffed out just like that.” He takes a moment to glance up at the ceiling in an attempt to compose himself, but you can see the way his eyes glass over as the next words from his lips tumble out. 

“I have no-one.”

“I’m so sorry about Benny.” You gingerly reach for one of his hands, and entwine your fingers within his, watching as Dean’s eyes cast down at the simple act of reassurance in his lap. "But you have Sam,” you remind him, and after letting out a deep breath, you finally add, “and me.” 

His eyes flicker towards you— relief with a dash of confusion muddying his features.

Taking a second to look away, you immediately regret your words, wishing they hadn’t come out so… desperate. You glance back, prepared to give him a comforting speech before making your excuses to leave, but everything happens too quickly. 

Dean lunges forward, mouth hot and feverish against yours while his tongue seeks out relief past your lips, as his hands roam your hips edging towards the zipper on the back of your skirt. You find yourself reacting in a similar way— your hands hurriedly peeling off his jacket before urgently reaching for his suit trousers.

You can’t help yourself. Three months you’ve been craving just a slither of his touch, and now you’ve got a taste you’re like a ravenous animal who hasn’t eaten in weeks. 

Breaking the kiss, Dean slides off the couch, this time kneeling at your feet and strips you of your skirt, as you slump back against the cushions, watching him in awe as he expertly tugs the black material down your legs.

In your haste, you grab one of his hands, and guide it against your soaked core, allowing him the opportunity to tease you through the damp seat of your panties. Dean flicks a lazy finger up over your clothed clit, and you buck into his touch, urging him to continue with a frustrated whine. 

He smirks at the sound before pressing his lips to your thighs, placing a soft trail of stubbled kisses against your fevered skin, as the hand focusing on your heat moves to join the other working your panties down your quaking legs. 

Once exposed, you watch Dean pause, eyes trained firmly on your bare cunt before he kneels up, landing sporadic kisses to the small peeks of flesh available to him as he travels further up your torso— a delicate placement on your navel, a hungrier taste to your breast as he tugs your shirt and bra out of his way, tongue flicking masterfully over your pebbled nipple.

Your fingers snake around his neck when he finally reaches your lips, capturing them with prurient impatience. He grinds against you, the heat and thickness of his cock prominent through the fabric of his trousers. You buck against him once more when a perfectly placed roll of Dean’s hips catches your bead just right, and you clutch fervently at his tie, giving it a sharp yank in the hopes your rising coveting is obvious.  

He lets go of a small moan against you before pulling back, his lips still skimming yours as a small unscrupulous smirk spreads across his face.

“You like that?” His voice is crisp, ragged and with all the roughness of gravel, it sends ripples straight down to your core as Dean does it again. There’s always been a deftness to the way his hips move that never failed to take your breath away, and it’s no different now. A strangled inhale catches in your throat as he repeats it for the third time, and on this occasion his thumb accompanies it, rubbing over your throbbing pearl. 

Somehow you’ve forgotten how to speak. 

“And this?” he husks, tongue tugging at his bottom lip while his fingers nestle between your folds, tips breaching your heat until he’s knuckle deep. 

“Fu— ck,” you choke, feeling your eyes prickle hot with tears when Dean crooks his fingers inside you. 

“Right there, isn’t it?” 

You try to shake your head, but it’s no good. You swear he’s intent on breaking you apart one piece at time as his digits retreat before he’s duplicating the movement once more. Each nerve, cell and everything in between seizes inside you at the pressure and Dean’s chuckling against your lips. 

“Knew it.” 

He withdraws his fingers, a tumble of complaints falling from your mouth on a loop before you catch him suckling on them as if they’re covered in honey. It’s entrancing really, watching his tongue dart in and out of his lips while he licks your sweet elixir from his flesh, his jade eyes never leaving yours. 

Leaning forward, Dean’s mouth captures yours once more, the slightest hint of sweet brine clinging to his tongue reminding you of where his fingers have already been, and where you desperately ache for his cock to go. You claw between your legs, reaching for the open V of his trousers, hands eager in their search of the swollen length that feels like it’s been burning into your thigh like a brand this entire time.

Beneath his crinkled dress shirt, you fingers finally curl around his shaft, causing a low growl to rumble from the depths of his chest, and as you pull his throbbing shaft free from the confines of his boxers, his teeth tug gently on your bottom lip letting it pop back into place before he catches your lips in a zealous and messy kiss. 

Wet heat pulses against your own, a frantic pressure manipulating its way through your folds as the head of his cock breaches your entrance, and he slides inside you like he was made to fit. 

You cry into his mouth as Dean moans back, unable to stop himself from responding to the way your cunt spasms around him as he powers his way home, one delectable inch at a time. 

Despite the fervid haste to get you both to this very position, he takes his time in pulling out, making sure you feel every bump and ridge as he does so. You whine when you think he’s going to leave you bereft for good— knowing it would just be your luck to have him inside you for all of five minutes before he came to his senses and saw you out the door, more concupiscent than ever.

But just as unhurried as before, he drives himself back inside you and waits a few seconds— a lifetime to you— before ever so delicately, he begins to move his hips in that same agile way that almost has you coming before he’s even fucked you six ways from Sunday. Carding your hands through his hair, his head droops onto your shoulder, spreading soft kisses and starved nibbles along your clavicle. 

You whimper in delight when Dean suddenly leans up on his haunches, and with his hands curled around the meat of your hips, he practically tugs you off the side of the couch, all the while still impaled on his cock. Your feet lay flat against the plush carpet, knees clamped either side of his hips as he rises up between your spread legs, the shift in position leaving you vulnerable and completely at his mercy. 

The disparity in depth, the change in angle, even the way Dean adjusts the movement of his hips— it all merges into one flawless surfeit of sensations, ones you can barely piece together into a singular coherent feeling.

You know you’re not going to last— three long months without this level of stimulation, you’re going to come quick. And unforgivably hard. 

“Oh shit, De... I’m… fuck, I- I’m gonna... cum,” you keen, back arching off the couch. Dean mutters something in response, but you don’t quite catch it, only feeling the way his grips tightens around your waist and the rhythm of his onslaught increases. 

Three more bestial and vehement thrusts come in hurried succession, each more powerful and damaging than the last. You count each one pillaging your body, your limbs weak as you strain against him, struggling to hold on, but the last of the three is quick to claim you.

You fall silent as rhapsody rips through you, surrendering entirely to it as if you actually had a choice. Dean doesn’t let up, using the moment you’re at your most defenceless to fuck into you even harder, which in turn only causes your delirium to multiply and you find yourself coming again without warning.

You don’t know when you blacked out, but the next moment you’re aware of he is squeezing at your tits. His thumb and forefinger pinch your hardened nipple as he uses the grip to pull you off his cock before slamming home, while the thumb of his other hand is placed perfectly between your thighs, working your clit in a lazy figure of eight.

It’s too much. The overstimulation almost buries you into the couch cushions as a guttural scream bursts from your throat. All the bliss still left inside you squirts all over Dean’s cock, dripping down his thighs and onto the floor beneath you. 

As your body begins to cease its convulsions, his rhythm starts to slow and as if to marvel the mess between your legs, he glances down, a cocky smirk pulling at the corners of his lips. 

“What’re… you so… smug about?” you ask, voice thick and lust-dumb through his deliberate thrusts.

“Knew I’d… make you… cum that… hard one day.”

You return his proud smile as he slumps over you, placing another slew of sloppy pecks to your damp lips. You pull back, begging in his ear to come inside you and as you close your teeth around his earlobe, Dean does just that. 

He empties into your womb, hot and wet, trembling in your grasp. As he leans up on shaky arms, he regards you in a way he never has before— there’s a softness in his features, a longing behind his eyes and when he finally dips his head, he kisses you with an alien tenderness that leaves your lips bruised.

-

You wake the next morning in a daze, bed covers tangled around your feet, jolting upright in an attempt to try to figure out where you are. The dresser is familiar, but it’s not yours and neither is the closet on the other side of the room. 

Fuck. 

You know exactly where you are. 

Craning your head slowly to the right, your fears are confirmed. Dean’s sleeping soundly next to you, laid on his back with one arm above his head, his bare chest rising and falling softly in sync with his shallow breaths. 

3. Don’t be his friend, you know you’re gonna wake up in his bed in the morning.

***

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[favefandomimagines]

Why? (t.h.)

Summary: you and tom broke up at the young age of 21, after the success of Captain America: Civil War. now 3 years later, you run into him again with your three year old son

AN: more angst than fluff that’s for sure and here’s a twist: Evans!Reader (i’m also really bad a writing how toddlers sound so use your imagination)

When you imagined having a baby, you thought of the basic evolution of adulthood. Meet, marriage, then kids. Not meet, date for a year and a half, then baby. A baby who you were currently raising on your own. 

The breakup between you and Tom was the opposite of mutual. You didn’t want it. You wanted to be with him even before you got pregnant. But he wanted other things. 

He wanted other people. And that’s the part that broke your heart. 

“I don’t understand. You have never mentioned this before.” You said to him. “Y/N, it’s not you, okay? It’s just, we’re young. We’re 21 years old, our careers are just taking off. Don’t you want to be free?” Tom explained. 

“Free? You think I’m tying you down?” You questioned. “That’s not what I said.” Tom rebutted. “That’s exactly what you said! You think being in a relationship with me is tying you down. Well, fine Tom. If this is what you want, this is what you’ll get.” You snapped. 

You began to pack up everything you could fit in your small, weekender bag. “I’m going home and I never want to speak to you again.” You sneered. “No, Y/N, don’t do this. We can still be friends.” He told you. “No we can’t. Because I can’t be the friend who’s hopelessly in love with a guy who doesn’t love her back.” You said. 

“I do love you-” He started before you cut him off. “Don’t lie to make yourself feel better.” You sneered. You walked to the door of the hotel you were staying in and slammed it shut. 

You were a mess after the breakup. Physically ill is how you described it to people. You never left your room most days and when you did, you glued yourself to the couch. You lived off of Ben and Jerry’s and The Notebook.

Your friends tried to get you out of your apartment. But you didn’t feel like going out and facing the paparazzi. Especially when every time you stood up, you felt sick to your stomach. 

Even your older brother stayed with you most days. He didn’t want you to be alone. 

That’s when your friend suggested something. “When did you get your period?” She asked you. When she asked, you couldn’t remember when. You chalked it being late up to the stress you were feeling because of Tom and being cast in a new TV show. 

But, your friend bought you the test anyways. And it was positive. Your world was crumbling around you and now you had to fend for a baby. Tom told you he wasn’t going to leave you so you didn’t use a condom. And you couldn’t be on birth control because of underlying health issues you had. 

You were pregnant and you were going to have to raise a child by yourself. But your family was there through it all. Chris came to every doctor’s appointment with you, already earning the title of ‘world’s best uncle.’ 

You were about four months along when Kevin Feige called you about shooting an end credit scene for Spider-Man: Homecoming. How were you going to hide a baby bump from the cast and crew? But the only person you needed to keep it from was Tom. He didn’t want you so why should he be apart of the baby’s life? You would ask yourself that simply out of anger. There was no logical reasoning behind it. 

You shot the scene while pregnant and quickly left Atlanta before anyone began asking any questions. The main one being: who’s the dad? 

The night you gave birth, your entire family was at your side. Throughout the entire 20 hour labor before you welcomed a baby boy into the world. Theodore Evans-Holland was the newest member of the family. But Holland was only on the birth certificate. 

__

Three years had passed since you gave birth to Theo and when they said being a working mother was hard, they weren’t lying. Word spread that you got pregnant but the identity of the father unknown by the public. Including Tom. When asked about Theo in interviews you say it was a one night stand with a friend and that you weren’t together romantically. No one questioned a thing. 

On the set of Infinity War and Endgame, your mom brought Theo to visit often. He got to see his mom and his uncle Chris be superheroes.

“And cut! Let’s take a quick break! Y/N needs to go be a mom.” Anthony Russo joked. You smiled brightly at the three year old who was sitting on your makeup artist’s lap. 

You picked him and placed sloppy kisses all over his face, making the little boy laugh. “Are you having fun?” You asked him. “Yes!” He replied loudly. “Uncle Chwis!” Theo yelled, pointing to his uncle across the set. You couldn’t say no to him so you brought him to his uncle who was talking to Chris and Robert. 

Tom watched as you brought your child over to the three men. He didn’t know you moved on so quick. But he didn’t have a right to be mad. He broke up with you, not the other way around. Though a part of him couldn’t help but wish it was his son. 

You and Theo had decided to have a fun day since it was relatively nice in LA. You took him to the zoo and the aquarium before stopping at the Starbucks close to your house as a nice treat. 

Theo was a big fan of their frappucinos. 

You were holding him as he was beginning to get a little bit fussy after such a long day. 

“Y/N?” You heard from behind you. You turned around and saw Tom in the line behind you waiting for his name to be called. “Oh, uh, hi Tom.” You greeted him. “How are you?” He asked. “I’m fine. Just waiting on our order.” You answered. 

“Mommy, that’s spider-man.” Theo whispered to you. “Yes, baby, that is spider-man.” You spoke to him. “Hey little man.” Tom greeted the young boy. “You two have the cutest son. He looks just like his dad.” An older lady commented on the two of you. 

“No, he’s uh, not mine.” Tom quickly corrected her. The lady looked from you back to Tom before giving a pretty fake smile. “We, uh, we have to go. Theo needs a nap.” You said quickly, grabbing your drinks and making your way towards the exit. 

“Y/N, wait!” Tom called. You stopped a turned around to look at him. You and Tom looked at one another for a few moments before he looked at Theo. You could see he was doing the math in his head and analyzing Theo’s facial features. 

It was true though. He did look just like his dad. Same hair, same eyes, he had your nose though. 

“See you around, Tom.” You said breaking the silence before walking back towards your car. 

__

Later that evening, you were sitting on the couch with Theo watching Captain America. It was his favorite movie at the moment because he got to watch uncle Chris be a superhero. 

You were alerted by the sound of the doorbell and wondered who would be at your door at such an odd hour. “Stay here, buddy.” You told your son as you got up to answer the door. 

And when you did, you were very tempted to close it right in his face. Because Tom was standing on your doorstep looking completely distraught. 

“What are you doing here?” You asked. “He’s mine, isn’t he? Theo’s my son.” He said. You were quiet for a moment before you stepped out on to the porch so Theo wouldn’t hear. 

“Yes. Theo is your’s.” You answered quietly. “Why? Why didn’t you tell me?” Tom asked, the anger in his voice very evident. “Because, Tom, you didn’t want me anymore! A kid wasn’t going to change that! It would tie you down even more than I did.” You replied. “I had a right to know. I’m his father.” He said. 

You ran a hand through her hair as you squeezed your eyes shut trying to make the tears go away. 

“You didn’t want me, Tom. You didn’t want to be with me and a kid wasn’t going to magically fix that. Who’s to say you were going to want to be apart of his life if I told you? Like you said that night, we were 21, our careers taking off. I gave you the freedom you asked for.” You spoke. 

“I messed up, okay? I knew that the second I woke up the next morning and you weren’t there next to me. It was stupid of me to even think that. We could’ve been regular 21 year-olds together.” Tom said. “But at the time, you meant it.” You said. 

The silence that fell upon the two of you was awkward and uncomfortable. The only sound coming from the TV inside seeping through the cracked front door. 

“I need to know him. I know I hurt you and it was the biggest mistake I’ve ever made. But I need to know my son, Y/N.” Tom begged. 

You looked at the man in front of you and didn’t see who you were in a relationship with three years ago. Maybe because he’s had to grow up faster than the usual person. Or maybe because you had to grow up faster and raise a child. 

“You can meet him. But we need to take this very slow. Theo is my entire world and I will not have him end up heartbroken like I was.” You finally spoke. 

Tom’s eyes lit up at your words and he rapidly nodded his head. You slowly let him into the house, Theo entirely unaware that anything was happening. 

“Hey, bud. There’s someone I want you to meet.” You said to the small boy. You sat down next to him, him taking the liberty of crawling onto your lap. 

He stared at Tom warily, wondering why a stranger was in his house. He knew. that he was spider-man but to him spider-man was a stranger. 

“Theo, you know how I told you that daddy was an astronaut exploring space?” You questioned. Theo nodded his head looking up at you. “Well, he’s back from space now. Theo, I want you to meet your dad.” You told him. 

The brunette boy looked from you up to Tom. “My daddy’s spider-man?” Theo questioned. “Yes, your daddy is spider-man.” You confirmed. “That’s why he was in outer space! Helping Iron Man!” Theo shouted. “That’s right bud. I was gone for a while, but I’m here now.” Tom finally spoke. 

Theo left your lap and launched himself at Tom. You didn’t know you would feel so emotional when Theo finally met Tom as his father. You just thought it wouldn’t be until he was older so you weren’t prepared for it. 

“Are you staying, daddy?” Theo asked the man. Tom felt like all of the oxygen was knocked out of his body when Theo called him that. 

He looked over at you and you reluctantly nodded your head. “Yeah, buddy. I’m staying.” He answered. Theo jumped up and down on the couch before you scolded him. 

“Hey, hey, we don’t jump on couches anymore, remember? Besides, it’s past your bedtime.” You told him. “I wanna show daddy my room.” Theo. “He can put you to bed. Now go get your PJs.” You said. 

Theo got off the couch and ran down the hallway towards his room. “He’s going to want to show you all of his Marvel stuff but only for five minutes. After that, tuck him in with his Black Panther stuffie. Then you have to read him a story or he’ll never fall asleep.” You explained to Tom as you stood up. 

“You did a really good job with him.” Tom commented. “I know.” You smiled fondly. “I don’t have to stay if you don’t want me too.” He said. “You’ll sleep in the spare room. He wants you in his life so you have to be here. And tomorrow, we’ll go get Tessa.” You told him. 

Tom smiled at you as you retreated to the kitchen to pick up a bit before bed. Tom walked down the hallway towards Theo’s room and found him all tucked in bed with various pieces fo Marvel collectibles. 

“Daddy, daddy! Come look at the things mommy and Uncle Chwis got for me!” He said to Tom. Tom happily obliged and sat on the edge of the bed as Theo began to explain what everything was. 

You leaned against the doorframe and observed the two together for a short while. You had a lot of healing to do with Tom but you couldn’t deny the fact that Theo needed his dad, despite Tom’s past mistakes. 

[marauderundercover]

This Side of Normal Ch. 8

AO3

Prev

Marinette was seriously considering murder. She was pretty sure Jason would be able to help her hide the body, he was a lot stronger than her. But murder was seriously on the table. Why has she decided to break that one golden rule, you might ask? Lila Rossi. The bane of her existence. The very reason they were spending two fucking weeks in the crime capital of the world instead of their original destinations. But no, Lila just had to convince Mme. Bustier to take them to Gotham. And then, as if making Marinette plan a million things last minute wasn’t bad enough, Lila decided to talk. Nonstop. Throughout the entire first half of their tour of Wayne Enterprises. The only thing keeping her from strangling the girl right now was the promise of coffee in the cafeteria. She didn’t need food, she needed coffee. And then she’d go right back to plotting murder. Would anyone look in the river for her body? 

“Whatever you’re thinking, I’m sure you shouldn’t do it.” Adrien says, pulling her out of her murder plot. She glares at him. 

“I’m planning a murder, and I don’t appreciate you interrupting me.” She deadpans. 

“Murder’s bad, Mari. We don’t murder people.” Adrien sighs, throwing an arm over her shoulders. 

“Maybe you don’t murder people. I’m thinking about branching out.” She hums, getting in the line for coffee. Adrien huffs and grabs her arm, tugging her behind him. She immediately starts whining, reaching out towards the coffee booth. 

“Mari, you need actual food. You can have coffee after you eat something. I know for a fact you didn’t eat breakfast.” He says, staring her down. She huffs, crossing her arms. 

“You’re not my dad.” She mumbles, turning away from him. 

“Why the hell are you all pouty?” Jason asks, walking up to the two. Marinette smiles briefly, then drops her face back into a scowl. 

“Someone is keeping me from my coffee.” She says. 

“Good job kid!” Jason says, high fiving Adrien. Marinette’s jaw drops at the betrayal. 

“Honestly rude. Guess I’m not gonna ask you to help me anymore.” She says, sighing dramatically. 

“Help with what?” He asks, frowning. 

“Murder. She wants to commit a murder.” Adrien says, rolling his eyes. 

“Who’re we killing?” Jason asks. This time it’s Adrien’s turn to drop his jaw, Marinette laughing loudly. 

“Ha! I told you Jay would help me!” She cheers, shooting Adrien a smug smile. 

“Marinette! Lila needs your help carrying her tray.” Mme. Bustier instructs, walking over to the trio. Marinette immediately frowns, looking over at Lila who was carrying a tray. Just fine. 

“Uh, looks like she’s got it.” She says, nodding towards the liar. 

“Well, she got it okay, but she needs someone to carry it to her table for her.” Mme. Bustier says, frowning. 

“And one of her friends can do it. I’m not getting out of line for my own lunch just to carry Lila’s tray Mme. Bustier.” Marinette argues, crossing her arms. 

“Marinette-” She starts, then stops when she realizes Jason isn’t one of the students. “Very well. But we’re going to talk about this later.” She adds before walking away. Marinette rolls her eyes. 

“Is she the one we’re murdering?” Jason asks, leaning down a little so he could whisper. 

“Nope. The one whose tray I was supposed to carry is the one on my list.” Mari says, nodding towards the girl who was now fake crying. 

“Jesus. How does anyone put up with her?” He asks, face curling in disgust. Marinette shrugs. 

“At first I thought she was Meta. Now I think my classmates are just idiots.” She says simply. Jason snorts. 

“I believe that. I’m gonna go grab you a coffee. As much as I’d love to help you commit a murder, pretty sure the boss would be pissed.” He says, ruffling her hair before walking away. Marinette turns to Adrien and gives him a smug smile. 

“Ha, bitch.” She says, snorting as he starts spluttering. 

“You can’t just say that, Bug!” He whines, before turning to order his food. Marinette snorts. 

“Sure I can.” She says in English, before quickly switching to Mandarin and lowering her voice. “I’m a seventeen year old ex-superhero, I’m allowed to say bitch.” Adrien just snorts, thanking the lady and grabbing his food so that Marinette can order. Once she has her food, she follows Adrien to an almost empty table in the corner farthest away from their classmates. She smiles at the person at the other end of the table, Dick Grayson. He was their tour guide and had dealt with their annoying ass class surprisingly well. She was tempted to make him a certificate if he lasted til the end of the day without losing his sanity. Plopping down in her seat, she starts eating her food slowly, watching Jason across the room at the coffee booth. 

“Mari, he said he would get you coffee. He’s gonna get you coffee.” Adrien says, nudging her side to try and get her to actually eat. 

“You don’t think he’d get me decaf, do you?” She asks, remembering the time he’d brought coffee to one of their late night training sessions. It was decaf then, he claimed that she needed to be able to sleep after training. She argued that she needed to stay awake and do homework and commissions and some lameass decaf coffee was not going to help her do that. She just hoped he would take pity on her and get her actual coffee this time. 

“I think I’d get you decaf,” Adrien starts, dodging her attempt to whack him. “But, I think Jay’s a little nicer than me today. Probably since he hasn’t seen us in awhile.” He muses. Marinette stops trying to attack him, nodding in agreement. He’d be more likely to give her decaf tomorrow than today. So it was still safe to trust her coffee order to him. For now. 

“I’m sorry, did you say Jay?” Mr. Grayson asks, catching her attention. She glances at Adrien who just shrugs. She knew the two had talked earlier, but she really didn’t want to accidentally get Jay in trouble. 

“Uh, yes?” She says, wincing at the awkwardness. 

“You know Jason.” He says, and she nods, frowning. 

“Yeah, we got to know him last year when he was on a business trip in Paris.” She explains, dodging around the whole ‘he trained us as heroes and then found out our identities and helped us take down a supervillain’ part of it. “We ended up getting close and we’ve kept in contact over the last year.” Mari adds, confused as to why Mr. Grayson looks so lost. 

“Really?” He finally asks. 

“Yeah. He’s basically like our big brother.” Adrien adds, obviously sensing that Marinette was getting uncomfortable. 

“Hey Dick, long time no see.” Jason snarks, putting Mari’s coffee in front of her and plopping down in the seat next to Adrien. 

“Jason. So you have two new siblings?” He asks, gesturing to Mari and Adrien. Jason nods. 

“Yup. And they’re loads better than you lot. Pixie Pop here even said I could help her with her first murder.” Jason teases. Marinette’s face instantly heats up, as she turns her glare to Jason. 

“Jason!” She hisses. He’s lucky he’s on the other side of Adrien. 

“Wait, you two are brothers?” Adrien asks, and Marinette blinks. Oh, yeah. Wait, what. 

“You didn’t know?” Dick asks. Adrien looks at Mari who shrugs. She definitely hadn’t known. She’d assumed Dick was one of Jason’s bosses. 

“Yeah, unfortunately this dipshit is my older brother. Adopted, of course.” Jason says. 

“We also have two other brothers and a sister. And some unofficial siblings.” Dick adds, making Mari raise an eyebrow. 

“All adopted?” She asks. Adoption was no joke. It was crazy expensive in the US. 

“All but one. B kinda adopts every dark haired, blue eyed kid with trauma that he meets.” Jason says, smirking at Marinette’s face. 

“I’m feeling attacked right now. Are you attacking me? If anyone has enough trauma to be adopted by a serial adopter, it’s Adrien. Not me.” She says with a pout. 

“Hey!” Adrien objects. Marinette looks pointedly at his arm. 

“Your arm was cut off by your supervillain father who was an emotional terrorist for over three years. That’s a shit ton of trauma.” She says as he pouts. 

“Yeah, but if I get adopted in the US, I’d never see you anymore.” He points out. 

“But you’d see me all the time.” Jason teases. Adrien grins. 

“That’s right! Okay, sorry M, I’m gonna get adopted here.” He says with a wide grin. 

“Traitors, the both of you. Mr. Grayson, how’d you like a new little sister? I’m officially disowning both of these losers.” Marinette says, ignoring the indignant squawks from Adrien. Dick snorts, a wide grin stretching across his face. 

“Sure kid. And call me Dick. Do you happen to know any acrobatics?” He asks with a teasing grin. Mari smirks. 

“As a matter of fact, I do.” She says. Dick freezes before a huge smile makes its way onto his face, his whole body shaking in excitement. 

“Wait, really? You’re serious?” He asks. She nods. “That’s awesome! Sorry Jay, I’m stealing this one.” He says. Jason scowls. 

“I don’t think so. I’ve known Pixie Pop longer, therefore, she’s my sister.” He says. Adrien clears his throat. “Our sister.” Jason amends, nodding to Adrien. 

“But she’s an acrobat! You know I’ve been looking for someone to teach trapeze to!” Dick whines. Mari’s eyes light up and she starts bouncing in her seat. 

“Wait, trapeze? Seriously? Where? Oh my god, that would be so much fun!” She squeals, suddenly actually excited about being in Gotham. 

“We have one at our house, you guys have to come over! I could show you the basics.” Dick suggests, still grinning. Marinette turns to Jason, waiting to see what he’d say. If Dick didn’t know Jason, she’d never consider going over and learning trapeze. But since he’s Jason’s brother…..

“Ugh, fine. But if B ends up trying to adopt both of you, you can’t blame me. I wanted to keep you away from him. You’re the one who got suckered in by the damn trapeze.” Jason gripes, leaning back in his seat. Marinette just grins at him before turning back to Dick to figure out the specifics. Maybe this trip wouldn’t be that bad.

Next

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[snusbandxknifewife]

stickyfickystickyfickystickyfickystickyfickysti

What is this? Lex writing something after a literal fucking year? It’s more likely than you think.

Sticky ficky 10 (yea boiiiiiis)

~~~~~~~~~~~~

Weeks had passed, time moving a little less slowly now that Jude and Heather were spending time with one another. She discussed her difficulties adjusting to the mortal world, Heather aired her confusion about Faerie, and they both staunchly ignored discussing their respective ex-partners. It was a happy, almost easygoing friendship; something Jude never thought she’d get to experience.

It was because of this that Jude had started to come out of her little hobbit hole of a depression cave and it was because of this that she started to frequent the local kite shop that Heather loved so much.

It was because of this that Vivi knew where to call when an emergency came up.

“Is he alright?” Jude asked, all but yelling into the kite store phone and her mind going frantic as Vivi told her that Oak needed to be picked up from school.

“From what the principal said, he doesn’t feel well, but I haven’t gotten much in the way of information,” her older sister sighed. “I’m out of town today so I can’t go get him. You’re on the pickup list. Everything should be ok.”

Jude nodded. She had a vague recollection of how to get to Oak’s school, having been there already for one play that his grade put on. She knew how to get there and—as long as the bus wasn’t late—it shouldn’t take her very long.

“Yeah I can get him. I’ll head that way now.”

She didn’t waste time waiting for her sisters response; she simply hung up the phone as wished Josh—the store’s middle-aged father figure of a cashier—a good afternoon on her way out.

The trip to the school was quiet and uneventful, exactly how she liked things and also exactly how she didn’t. It’s nice not to have to deal with attackers jumping out of dark corners to ambush you at every turn, but a lifetime of being raised to search for them leaves her antsy when they don’t appear. By the time she made it to the school, her hackles were up and her teeth were gnashing.

“I’m here for Oak Duarte,” she told the unassuming secretary, shoving her hands into her coat pocket and searching the office for her brother. “I’m his sister, Jude.”

“Can I have some form of ID?” The woman’s fake-chipper voice put Jude even more on edge, especially considering she had no form of ID. Missing important documents like your birth certificate and social security card tended to get in the way of shit like that.

But, thankfully, before she had the time to say anything, a door swung open and Oak came bounding out.

“Jude!”

“Hey, Oakling,” she accepted his hug with a gentle pat of his shoulders before nodding to the secretary. “This fine woman wants to see my ID.”

Understanding the assignment immediately, Oak turned and glamoured one of the secretary’s business cards into a fake license and Jude was in.

They were out the door and halfway to the bus stop, Oak excitedly pulling her the whole time, before Jude remembered exactly why she was there.

“I thought you were supposed to be feeling poorly,” she observed, one eyebrow cocked as her brother skidded to a halt, looking like a cat caught mid-air as he aimed for the family parrot. “What happened to that?”

He looked around him for a way out, only to half-heartedly cough into his arm.

Jude couldn’t help but snort. “Look, I know faeries can’t lie, but you’ll need to get better at faking it before you go back to Elfhame. That was pitiful.”

“What can I say? I feel much better now that I’m not in school.”

“Nice try, acorn,” Jude caught him as he turned to make for the bus stop once more, pulling him back to face her. “What’s in school that’s making you feel worse than out here?”

“Well math is rather boring,” Oak tried.

She rolled her eyes. “I don’t play games, Oak. I want the truth and I want it now.”

He sighed, clearly giving in, before motioning that he’d like to sit on the bench at the bus stop.

Jude watched her little brother as they walked, saw how he hunched into himself and frowned as he worried over whatever was bothering him, and it hurt her heart. Clearly, he was struggling with something, and it angered her that he’d likely been dealing with it while she was off in her own head, too preoccupied with herself to help her baby brother when he needed it.

They sat down and she turned her full attention to him as he played with his hands.

“The kids at school are mean to me,” he finally admitted.

“What happened?” Jude instantly zeroed in. “Did they try to drown you in the pond by the playground?”

“No.”

“Did they poison you?”

“What? No!”

She searched her memory for another possible option. “Did they make you strip naked while your teacher did nothing?”

“You know your experiences aren’t universal, Jude,” he crossed his arms. “Mortal school has, like, conflicts of identity, not literal murder attempts.”

“Fair,” she nodded, remembering why they sent him to the mortal world in the first place. “Please, continue.”

His righteous indignation was almost immediately replaced by that quiet concern of moments before as he looked to the ground. “They say I’m weird.”

“Weird? How?” Jude gently probed, doing everything in her power to avoid mentioning that, technically, her fae brother was strange by human standards.

“When we’re playing at recess,” he continued, “they always separate into boys and girls. I don’t know how to play the sports the boys enjoy and when I went with the girls I got teased.”

She frowned, reaching back into her memory for her time in mortal school, back when the biggest threat to her life was a missing cooties shot.

“I remember having boy and girl friends when I was in school. Surely they aren’t all strict about this self-imposed gender segregation.”

He huffed angrily, throwing down his arms like she just wasn’t understanding. “That’s the problem! After a few days, when I finally got the girls to trust me, it all got worse! I can’t play like them.”

For just a moment, her heart soared at the idea that this was the struggle her brother was facing. Schoolyard teasing was nothing compared to violent bloodshed and upheaval.

But then she saw his face, saw how his eyes glistened with unshed tears, and she cursed herself for even feeling a moment of relief. He’d been right, her experiences weren’t universal, and she was wrong to judge his pains by her tolerance.

“Oh, acorn,” she pulled him into her side. “What do you mean?”

“They spend all of recess galavanting about, spinning tales about how I’m a princess in a castle of ice or I’m a sorcerer who can speak to animals,” his voice was muffled by her light jacket, but she could still hear the thickness in the back of his throat. “And I’m not allowed to tell them of Elfhame, so I can’t join in! I can’t dance the day away on falsehoods like they can, so they don’t want me around.”

Something deep and personal in her chest broke as she held her brother. Looking down at him, at his golden curls and his little horns and those sharpened ears that she’d currently despise seeing on almost anyone else; she was hit by the realization that he was much a stranger in a strange land, just as she’d once been.

He looked up at her, likely drawn by her silence, and scrunched up his face as he wiped his eyes. “I’m not sure what there is to smile about at this moment, my life is in shambles!”

“I’m merely proud, Oakling,” she said, attempting to pacify him. “Proud that you did not simply glamour the problem away the second it popped up.”

“I don’t see how glamouring myself a friend would help here. What good is a friend that you essentially have to create by yourself?”

That caused her to pause as the bus arrived.

“Acorn,” she asked as they got on, glad they were the only passengers. “Did you not have an imaginary friend when you were younger?”

He spun on her, looking something between puzzled and offended. “Whatever do you mean?”

“An imaginary friend,” she continued. “Someone that you talked to and played with when you were alone. Did you not ever make up an imaginary friend?”

“Who would do that?” He scrunched his nose up, looking, for just a moment, every bit the spoiled royal that his blood unfortunately made him.

“I did, Taryn did.” Jude tilted her head and studied him closely. “We’d tell lavish tales of their backgrounds when we played, making up everything along the way.”

“I can’t do that!” He sounded more frustrated than I’d ever heard him. “That’s the problem! I can’t tell the story of something that isn’t real.”

He spun, arms crossed once more as he glared out the window.

“They were real to me.”

She said it softly, more soft than possibly anything she’d ever said to him before, and she thought that he hadn’t heard her.

Until his head turned just a sliver, and she knew he was listening.

“I once asked Vivi why faeries could tell stories, even when they weren’t reading them off a page, and she told me that there were lessons in stories, and those lessons were enough of a truth for a faerie to be able to speak it,” Jude kept talking, looking ahead to give her brother the room to study her if he wished. “I suppose I liked the idea of that, because it made the fae and humans seem just a little more similar.”

She let the silence hang, waiting for him to take the bait.

“How?”

Hiding a smile, she went on. “Humans find truths in stories too, that’s why your classmates are so passionate about pretend. The sorcerer who can speak to animals? That likely comes from a love for her pet that’s so strong would give anything to be able to understand what it said. The princesses? Little girls who are learning to harness a power that within that they aren’t sure they understand yet. She wants to speak out and to lead and to be heard, so she is a princess because a princess does all of those things.”

She turned back to him, watching him from the corner of her eye as he pondered her words.

Then, as the bud stopped, she stood.

“Where are we going?” Oak rushed to grab his school bag and follow her.

“To the toy store, we’re making imaginary friends.”

She gave no other information as she led her brother into the tiny toy shop by the grocery store, even though he did his best to quiz her into submission. No, it wasn’t until they stood in front of a wall of stuffed animals that she spoke again.

“Choose something, a base, and I shall teach you how to play pretend.”

He frowned at her, then at the wall, and then back at her. “This is absurd.”

“I said the same thing about learning the language of birds when I came to Elfhame,” she laughed. “If you wish to survive in a strange place, you must be willing to unlearn your concept of absurdity.”

And she moved deeper into the toy store, studying dolls that she remembered from her childhood and electronic knickknacks that she’d never be able to work properly.

Oak followed behind aimlessly.

She was starting to think that she’d have to choose for him, to give him that extra little push he needed, when her eyes landed on something that made her gasp.

“Oh my god, I remember these stupid things!” Jude couldn’t help but laugh as she moved forward with the kind of speed that only a former spy could manage.

When she spun the package around, Oak made a face.

“Worm on a string?” He sounded more confused than before. “What is that supposed to do?”

“It’s this dumb little toy that you were supposed to be able to make look like it moved on its own,” she looked back to it. “I could never make them work. Vivi could, but I think it was glamour.”

Oak stepped forward, grabbing a package containing an orange worm. “So it’s just a fake worm and,” he squinted his eyes, “fishing line?”

“And googly eyes!” Jude nodded enthusiastically, gesturing to her blue worm like Vana White. “The height of early-twenty-first-century entertainment.”

“This is so stupid.” He shook his head.

But didn’t put the worm back.

“It’s so stupid,” Jude probed, “and you want it anyway.”

He scowled at her. “If you insist on this foolish imaginary friend agenda, I suppose a worm is a non-offensive start.”

Jude grabbed the orange worm and headed to the counter, letting Oak cross his arms and continue to act like this was all beneath him.

Once they made it home, she tore open the two packages and sat on the floor in front of the coffee table, already fussing with the tiny cardboard card that you were supposed to hide in your waistband and failing to make the worm move in what she considered to be a natural method.

Her brother watched from the edge of the living room, still clinging to the idea that this was dumb.

“Come on, acorn,” she shook the little orange worm at him. “Your friend is waiting for a name.”

“A worm doesn’t need a name.” But still he relented, walking over and sitting by her.

“Nonsense!” Jude exclaimed, brandishing her blue worm at him. “See? I’ll prove it. This is Fweej, they’re an alien from a different planet, set on conquering the world and bathing in the blood of their enemies.”

“But it’s literally not.”

“Oh, Oakling,” she sighed at him. “I’m going to need you to work with me here. The worm is your imaginary friend, you get to decide everything about it.”

He rolled his eyes, but looked to the orange worm all the same. “Fine. Can I just name it Orange?”

“Oak, that would be like if Oriana had named you Blond,” Jude fixed him with a tired glare. “Don’t you think your friend deserves a fancier name?”

“But oranges are called oranges and nobody’s ever had a problem with it!”

“I thought oranges were actually green and they changed it to make them look more appealing?” She looked back to Fweej, pulling him across the tabletop.

“Wait, what?”

“Not important,” she waved him off. “Name the worm, acorn.”

He frowned at her again before glaring at the worm once more.

“Clementine.” He finally announced.

Jude smiled at the little win, pulling Fweej over to her brother.

“Why hello, Clementine,” she said grandly, moving Fweej for emphasis. “I am Fweej, and I am so pleased to make your acquaintance. Would you like to be friends?”

Silence descended, and she fought the urge to look over and nudge her brother.

Then, finally…

“Hello, Fweej,” Oak started, his voice quiet and unsure. “I would love a friend.”

~~~~~~~

The rise of FweejTM

Lmao sorry I literally went MIA for like 10 months college has me seconds away from grippy socks jail 🤪

Also before anyone is like “but the nerf war was oak playing pretend!” No my friends that was Real and our favorite ten year old was literally ready to commit both murder AND treason

Tag list: @cardan-greenbriar-tcp @hizqueen4life @slightlyrebelliouswriter23 @thewickedkings @aelin-queen-of-terrasen @cheekycheekycheeks @queen-of-glass @b00kworm @doingmyrainbow @andromeddea @jurdanhell @thesirenwashere @illyrianwitchling @courtofjurdan @clockworkgraystairs @st00pid231 @booksandlewks @fateandluminary @addies-invisible-life @nahthanks @dirigibleddinosaur

If anyone else wants to be tagged in the dumb, let me know. Also @jurdanhell the platonic love of my life is helping me with a list of links to each of my fics so y’all don’t have to keep scrolling.