#i felt the tension writing this

[poorly-drawn-mdzs]

We could have had it all...

[First] Prev <–-> Next

[broadwaybalogna]

Zutara prompt: While fishing, Zuko accidentally admits to Sokka that he like Katara.

STOP IT THIS IS SO CUTE OMG

-

Sokka didn’t exactly know how to bond with Zuko when they weren’t committing crimes or saving the world, so they went on an abundance of “bro trips” to find new hobbies for the two of them. There was golfing, swimming, and cooking, but they ultimately landed on fishing. The activity was a nice change of pace for their busy days, and it allowed them to catch up with each other without having to worry about anything else.

The sun was just beginning to set when Zuko and Sokka finally got their stuff outside and ready to set up. It had been a long day for both of them, but they tried to maintain their weekly bro hangouts as much as possible.

“So, how was your week?” Sokka asked once they had fully set up.

“Ugh, the usual. Making laws, opening borders, selling my soul. How about you? How’s Suki?”

“Suki’s doing great. I soar her every now and again-“

“And lose.”

“And allow her to take advantage of weak spots I didn’t know I had.” Sokka huffed. Zuko laughed. “And you? Any new girls in your life?” Sokka asked as he wiggled his eyebrows.

“Ah, no. Just the usual, haha.” He sputtered.

Sokka liked to think he and Zuko shared everything with one another, so when he sensed that Zuko was hiding something, he immediately pounced.

“Reaaaally….” He imposed, making the word long as he got up in Zuko’s face. “C’mon, you can trust me bro. Bro to bro, what’s my bro been up to?”

“That’s too many bros.”

“My bad bro.”

“And I’m not seeing anyone.”

“You so are.”

“Am not.”

“Are to.”

“I’m not.”

“You’re beat red! You very clearly are!”

“It’s not because of- Agni help me.” Zuko sighed, exasperated.

“Just tell me who she is!”

“I’m not seeing any girls. I wouldn’t be allowed to see her anyway.”

“So you DO have your eyes on someone! And why wouldn’t you be able to see her?”

“Why do you ask so many questions.”

“I’m a top tier wingman, I don’t know what else to say.”

Zuko rolled his eyes. “Look, her family is- er.. strict?”

“Is that a statement or a question?”

Zuko gave Sokka a look that very clearly said that he wasn’t playing any games. Sokka raised his eyebrows in surprise.

“Damn, you have some serious feeling for this girl, huh?”

“I suppose.” Zuko looked down at his lap, then out into the distance. There was this look in his eyes that Sokka saw and he knew Zuko saw her in the sunset before them.

“I’m sure that if her family see how much you care, they’ll come around.”

“I’m also afraid it’ll strain a relationship I have with one of my best friends.” Zuko finally said after a few moments.

Sokka thought for a moment. “Well, I’ll always be here to pick up the slack from whatever friend you’re talking about! Bros gotta stick out for each other all the time!”

Then Zuko looked over at him. And there was this look in his eyes that confused Sokka for a moment before the realization finally settled in.

“Do you?- my- Kat—? HER!?”

Zuko looked over to his fishing rod, nothing had been caught yet.

“How long, Zuko?”

“How long what?”

“Have you liked her!?”

Zuko flinched at the sudden loudness of Sokka. He couldn’t tell if his friend was angry, upset, confused, surprised, or a horrifying mix of it all.

“I don’t know. Maybe a couple years?”

“Years!?”

Zuko sighed, “Yeah.”

“Fucking FINALLY.”

“What?”

“I said ‘finally’, dipshit.”

“Yeah, I heard that. Why?”

“Because I’ve been so sick and tired of hearing her ramble on about you and how hot you are and blah blah blah!”

Zuko was in pure awe, “Seriously?”

“‘SeRiOuSlY’ my ass! You’re saying I could’ve avoided this for YEARS!?”

“Sokka, are you being serious?” Zuko had gotten closer to Sokka and grabbed him by his shirt.

“Of course I am! I wouldn’t be this annoying if I wasn’t.” Zuko softly let go of the taller man and sat down in his chair beside his fishing rod.

“Holy shit.”

“You better tell her as soon as possible because I don’t know how much longer I can listen to her ramble on and on-“

“I thought you would hate me.”

“What?” Sokka was finally taken out of his annoying persona and thrown back into reality. “Why would I hate you?”

“C’mon Sokka, I like your sister. Most people would be at my throat if I said I liked their family member.”

“Yeah, sure, but— you’re my best friend. If anyone should date my sis, it should be you. There have been plenty of guys who have had a crush on Katara and believe me, not many of them have been all that good. So to know she has someone who I know is amazing for her. That makes everything a lot easier. Of course I’m glad you like her. I’m just upset you would think anything would make me hate you!”

Zuko laughed and Sokka continues to babble on. Zuko finally caught a fish and Sokka begged him to cook it for the two of them.

“Promise me you won’t hate me if I tell your sister my feelings and we start going out.” Zuko finally said after they finished eating.

Sokka thought for a short moment before responding. “Promise. Pinky swear.” He held out his pinky finger and wiggled it, urging Zuko to lock in own pinky with his. Zuko grumbled but ultimately folded.

“Thanks.”

“Of course, bud.”

[13eyond13]

love it when a character that's hard to read intuitively for you has like a dedicated fandom interpreter who can just glance at their blank face in a panel and then give you a 3k word essay on their innermost thoughts & desires & fears and neatly tie it back into the themes & whatnot as if it's the most obvious thing in the world

[aq2003]

i saw a post saying boom was good bc it feels like it could be done with any doctor/companion duo and honestly that was one of the things i felt was wrong with it

[hannah-heartstrings]

            The last of the rain stops dripping and for a moment the world feels too quiet and still.

[systemrestart]

[1tbls]

that house of the dragon finale

[cowes]

just finished under the bridge (2024) and wow... what a terrible way to handle such a sensitive topic. rebecca talking about her book is her/the writers talking about the series and i just don't think their vision came across as intended.

e.g. rebecca says it's about young girls of victoria - about violence and isolation. and one of the final ~poignant lines is "it's mercy and mercy alone that transforms the human heart". i see what they were trying to go for, a look into the psychology of what could make someone do that terrible thing and then the psychology of what could make you come to terms with that and forgive.

BUT it ended up being a lot of focus on how sad it made rebecca and warren feel. and that focus just got more and more intense the further into the story - like, as more about the murder was revealed, it became more about rebecca, rather than the killers and, crucially, reena. just bizarre.

in an episode (can't remember which), rebecca says that she doesn't want to write only about reena because that would make it just a sad story. and.

well.

it IS a sad story.

[fideidefenswhore]

[Henry] had asked Lady Shelton whether Mary [was] persisting in her obstinancy. Hearing that she was, Henry became certain that she was being encouraged by secret communication from Katharine. Lady Shelton thought the only possible messenger was Mary's chamber woman. In this she was correct. The maid had been smuggling letters in and out. She was dismissed, as was Mary's confessor, to be replaced by one whom Chapuys characterised as 'Lutheran'.

The King’s Pearl: Henry VIII & His Daughter Mary, Melita Thomas

[industria-adastra]

[Vampire Knight] If I'm to be reborn, I'll find you (again, again, again) - PROLOGUE: 'til death due us part - [1/4]

Next

-

Summary: What happens when the brightest star in a binary system ceases to exist? 

It's no secret that Kuran Yuuki was the apple of Kuran Kaname's eye. But few truly realised the depths of darkness he would plunge into for her. Even fewer saw the madman behind that intricately made mask of sanity.

Note: I really wanted to explore a world where Yuuki dies (especially since I like her so much haha) before the whole parent metal furnace incident but it ended up more like a story about grief and mourning. Mostly because I was influenced by Miyashita Yuu's cover of "Condolences, and Then Life Goes On". It's a very sombre but beautiful cover. I feel like a world where Yuuki dies first would affect the vampires greatly, especially since she was so integral in many of his decisions.

This is also on ao3, if you prefer reading on ao3 instead.

Pairings featured: Yuuki/Kaname

-------

"Kana—me…" It's a minor miracle that she can even speak as clearly as now—the wounds she’d sustained would’ve been enough to immediately kill a lesser vampire. Even now, Yuuki struggles to breathe; each breath coming out in raspy, short intervals. She knows there is no saving for her, and Yuuki thinks that, from his slightly trembling hands to the anguish in his eyes (Those eyes which had always, always been gentle and kind to her), Kaname knows it too.

Who knew her life would be cut so short? Slowly, painfully reaching out, Kuran Yuuki cups her lover’s cheek, drawing him closer. 

“I…love…you…” She whispers, putting all her energy into this one final proclamation of love.

(She hopes that he will forgive her, for leaving him so soon, when she’d finally decided to stay.

She hopes that one day, Kaname will find peace after her death.

She hopes that, if reincarnation truly exists, they’ll find each other again.)

Yuuki smiles—radiant, bright like the sun.

And shatters.

[cantalwaysgetwhatyouwantbut]

Wilson fucking negotiating his fucking love life: give me more time 🥺 *strokes the sad old white fluffy cat in his arms* I am not emotionally prepared to be with anyone 🥺😣😞😿

House: 10 days >:(

Wilson: 😔 okay.

[musical-chick-13]

👻,✨️,🚀 for the fanfic writer ask game?

Thank you so much!!!!! :D

👻 What is your wildest headcanon?

In terms of "No one would think this other than me," this is probably a toss-up between "Genuinely completely for real, River from DW has Pure-O OCD," and "If Himeno CSM were not a devil hunter and could have a free choice of career, she would have been a pop musician."

In terms of, "No one would think this other than me and it has absolutely no basis in canon I can point to," Brienne has schizophrenia.

✨️ Out of the comments you’ve received on your fics, what are two or three of your favorites?

There was this one, that I got on my 2023 Christmas fic, that honestly made me cry (positive): "Oh my goodness. This feels so beautifully real and so them. I cannot describe the impact this has had on me. This is definitely one of those short fics I will be coming back to from time to time (or every christmas)."

As well as a lovely, thorough analysis comment from a dear friend of mine on the same fic (will not post the whole comment because it would make this post very long.)

There was also, "C'MON IT'S MIDNIGHT I CAN'T LAUGH" about one of the jokes in an old Adlock fic of mine (sidebar I really need to go back to writing them), followed by "smiling giggling kicking my feet."

One of the most impactful, though, is a comment I got on my Fleming: The Man Who Would Be Bond fic. I, again, won't post the whole thing for brevity's sake, but, essentially, it was about how this person was very moved by my understanding of Ann's character and my ability to articulate all of her conflicting emotions. And that, above all else, is what I strive for when I write. This comment also made me cry (positive).

And, of course, it is always an honor to receive a comment of any kind from The Bestie, nightingalesighs.

🚀 Do you like to outline your fic first or create as you go?

It depends on the fic. If it's something shorter, I'll usually create as I go. But if it's a multichapter fic, I do at least like to have some idea of where I'm headed. Even if I don't Specifically Make An Outline, there is one floating around in my head. It's probably more accurate to say that I'll write various passages of dialogue (or internal monologue) that correspond to important moments and then work to connect those passages together.

Fanfic Writer Ask Game

[susiequaz12]

Whumptober 27

No. 27: “You drew stars around my scars; But now I’m bleeding.”

Matches | Scars | “Let me see”

Day 27! A continuation of Marlowe and Solomon's adventure. Last part was in Day 24. CW: nonbinary whumpee, immortal whumpee, vampire caretaker, nudity (consensual), branding, scars, talk of past injuries, forced feeding, negative self talk and bad mental space. Some angsty fluff and awkward tension.

- - -

They had finally made it across the river. The threat of the vampire encampment looming far behind them. It had taken another day or two to hike to the base of the mountain, where they had been camping for the past few days, regaining their strength before they made the trek over its peaks. 

Thankfully there was a small cave, hidden by some trees and bushes. Enough room to keep the sunlight out during the day, and the warmth inside during the night. A small creek ran by only a short trek away, filled with fresh fish and plants for Lo, and a source of clean water. 

It was perfect. 

Almost too perfect. 

But they knew they couldn’t stay there forever. The pair would take advantage of the amenities while they could. For Lo, that meant fishing and collecting as much food and drinking water as possible. For Sol, it meant ridding himself of the filth and dried blood that had been piling up over the past weeks of travel. 

He had barely managed to wash himself once they crossed the river, but they were pressed for time, trying to get to safety. And the river was too rough and dangerous to really take a beneficial bath. 

So now Sol was taking advantage.

The sun had just dipped below the horizon. Giving off enough light for the world to still be visible, but not enough heat to burn the vampire. It was the perfect time. 

He had stripped, wading in the shallow water up to his thighs, before lying down in the sand at the bottom and letting the water rush over his skin. He tipped his head back, feeling it soak into his long, dark hair, and carefully combed through with his fingers. He longed for some good soap- his hair had been greasy and tangled, and it was one of his proudest features. But the water would have to do as he soaked it thoroughly, combing out the knots. 

Sol flinched, ducking further under the water as he heard footsteps from down the creek bank. His heart paused its racing when he realized it was just the human, walking along the edge of the bank. 

Lo’s footsteps paused when they noticed the vampire soaking in the water- his cloak and clothes piled on a nearby rock.

“I- I’m sorry, I- I didn’t know you were over here, I thought-” Lo tripped over their words, averting their eyes.

“What are you doing?” Solomon asked, sitting up in the water. It barely rose over the top of his stomach when he sat down, baring his chest and shoulders to the open air.

“I’m just- just checking on my traps. I wanted to see if I’d caught anything I could eat tonight. I didn’t mean to interrupt-”

“You’re fine- you’re not interrupting.” Sol stated, moving back to work out the knots and tangles in his hair. 

The next few moments passed in an unbearable silence as Lo pulled the traps out of the water, revealing nothing but a few small crawdads and some weeds. The crawdads could be boiled, it’d give them a bit of meat. Better than nothing.

“Do you want to come in?” Sol mumbled, barely above a whisper. Before Lo could respond or protest Sol continued speaking. “The water’s nice, it’ll- it’ll be nice to wash off, I mean-” 

“Are you telling me I stink?” Lo teased, pulling the trap onto the bank. 

Sol flinched back, the water splashing lightly around him. “Okay, all humans stink. You have a certain smell-”

“A certain smell! What does that mean?” 

“It’s like, musky? Like earth, and- and firewood. It’s hard to explain.” Solomon glanced down at the water, seeing his reflection briefly below him, trying to find something else to say. There was a splash beside him as Lo entered the water, having quickly stripped of their clothes. 

“You- you seem to be moving around a lot better-” Sol mumbled. 

Lo nodded before diving fully under the water and bobbing back up, wiping their now wet hair from their face. “My foot’s nearly completely healed. It’s not perfect though.” 

“That’s good. We’ll wait til it’s perfect before we start the climb over the mountain.” Sol groaned slightly as he pulled at a particularly tricky knot. He really needed to brush through his hair more often. 

“Here- let me see.” Lo stated, and Sol felt the human’s presence at his back in the water. 

He didn’t resist as the human grabbed ahold of his hair, carefully unpicking the tangles and knots that he couldn’t quite reach. When the knot was released he felt Lo’s fingers combing through the strands, pulling them together at the nape of his neck, threading fingers through the strands at the top of his head.

“Lo- what are you doing?” 

“I’m braiding it. It’ll keep it from getting so tangled. You have nice hair, you should take care of it.”

Solomon scoffed, closing his eyes at the feeling of Lo carding through his hair. 

“It, it reminds me of my mother. But I never knew how to take care of it.”

Lo paused for a second before continuing to pull the strands through their fingers. “You had a mother?” 

“Of course. Vampires had to come from somewhere, we’re not born this way.” 

“I- I thought you- I-”

“There’s a lot of misconceptions. Every vampire is turned though, at some point or other in their life. My mother she- she had hair like mine. Longer even. But that’s all I remember about her- it was- a long time ago.” 

Lo’s hands paused- their mind flashing back to their own mother. Lo’s memory was faded and spotty over the countless lives they had lived, but they always remembered their mother.

Marlowe finished the braid in the silence, listening to the water rush around them. As they tied up the ends their eyes cast to the nape of the vampire’s neck, a circular brand embedded in their pale skin. They couldn’t help but let their eyes wander further- finally taking in a good look at the vampire’s body for the first time. 

He was no doubt muscular- strong, incredibly agile. But there were countless scars littered across his back. Whip marks, cuts, old burns, but the most prominent was the brand. Lo couldn’t help but let their fingers brush lightly across the raised marks, taking in the lines and curves of the symbol that they didn’t recognize. 

Solomon pulled away at the touch, splashing through the water as they turned around to face the human. 

“What the hell are you doing?” he snapped, instantly getting defensive.

Lo retreated away from them slightly, the light dimming further behind the horizon, the water suddenly growing colder.

“What- what happened?” Lo whispered. Their eyes automatically scanned towards the front of Sol’s chest, where just as many scars and lashes covered their body. 

Solomon sighed, turning away and pulling his knees to his chest. 

“It- it was a long time ago.” He whispered. His mind went back to the brand on his neck- the fire and racing pain that had grown in the pit of his stomach. Even now he could remember the pain- the shame and the agony as it had bit into his skin. Being held down by the others as they watched and laughed. Being told it was "a right of passage." "He should feel lucky." He hung his head on his chest, his voice soft and shaking.

“It was- part of the process. Of being turned. It’s done to all the new vampires when they find their tribe. It means they accept you- that you can trust and be trusted.” 

“That’s- that’s cruel.” Lo shuddered. They had felt a similar fire against their own skin. A branding iron. Or a match, or a torch. They just didn’t have the scars to prove it. “And the- the rest of it?” Lo asked carefully. Not wanting to push any more buttons or cross any more boundaries. 

Solomon’s voice got even softer and for the first time Lo could feel his vulnerability. 

“I- I had to learn. Symbols of- of my disobedience, and my mistakes. And now they’re- they're symbols of my betrayal.” Solomon clenched his hands in fists, watching the water rush around his skin. 

He had abandoned his family. Abandoned the only life he’d ever known with the only other vampires that had shown some semblance of care for him. For a human that he had insisted on saving.

Solomon brought his head back up as he heard a sniffle of tears from the human, Lo was wiping their eyes as they turned away from his gaze. 

“I- I’m sorry.” Lo whispered. Their breath light against the cooling air. “I can make it on my own, you don’t have to stay.” 

Solomon shook his head, the braid Lo had made falling over his shoulder. “Even if I wanted to go back I couldn’t. My fate would be worse than yours. Vampires don’t forgive easily.” 

Lo wiped away another strand of tears as the vampire moved closer in the water, grabbing their hand and pulling it away from their face. 

“Lo- I don’t regret taking you away from that place.” He whispered, leaning in so close that the human could smell the venom in his breath. “You deserved better.” 

Marlowe paused for a moment, holding their breath and taking in the closeness of the vampire, the nakedness of their bodies- the movement of the water around them, and Lo closed their eyes. 

They took in a shaky breath as the vampire's presence grew closer, the water shifting around them where they knelt. Marlowe opened their eyes to find Solomon staring into them, almost as if he was trying to read their soul.

“Thank you for, for rescuing me.” Lo whispered, finally matching the intensity of his gaze. “But can I ask one thing from you?” 

Sol responded with silence, and the human proceeded. 

“Feed from me. Please.” Lo continued before he could protest, cutting off his words. “I know you haven’t been feeding as much as you need to. You’ve been more irritable, and tired, and- and it’s the least I can do in exchange for the protection you’ve given me.” 

Solomon turned his head away, breaking the gaze the human had placed on him, even if just to hide his tears from Lo. He didn’t deserve to feed after everything they’d been through- after Lo’s countless injuries and deaths. The last thing they needed to worry about was having their blood drained by a blood-thirsty monster. 

He was forced to look back into the human’s eyes as they pulled his face closer, a small, gentle hand on his cheek. 

“Please, Solomon. I can’t see you starving yourself like this.” 

Solomon closed his eyes. The images of Lo’s body being torn apart by the vampires flashed through his mind. Their blood spilling out onto the ground. More images of Lo being pinned down and violated- drained of blood against their will while Solomon stood by, helpless to do anything. And then images of himself- capturing Lo that first night in the forest, keeping them tied up and drugged, leading them like a lamb to the slaughter to his camp of hungry vampires. 

Lo rose higher on their knees and leaned in, pressing their forehead to the vampire’s, their breath warm and steady against his face. Solomon choked back a sob. They didn’t want to hurt Lo- never again. 

“Please.” They whispered, before gently guiding his head to the side of their neck, Solomon shuddered out another breath. “It’s okay-” Lo whispered. “Sol I- I forgive you. Now eat, please.” 

There was a cry and a strangled sob as Solomon wrapped a shaking hand around Lo’s waist, pulling them closer to him in the water. And then the most gentle bite into their neck- so soft that Lo barely let out a gasp as his fangs slid into their flesh. 

Solomon began to drink as he pulled the human closer into him, his arm curving around their waist, the other reaching up to cradle their head. Lo settled onto his lap underneath the water, their thighs tightening against the vampire’s hips, Lo’s chest pressing into his. Warm skin against warm skin.

Tears leaked from Solomon’s eyes as he continued to drink, holding the human closer as the light grew dark- the moon and stars peeking out through the budding night sky. 

Lo let out a sigh, their body relaxing as they began to feel limp and they slumped forward in the vampire’s embrace as he held them tighter and continued to drink- hopefully until he got his fill of as much blood as he needed. 

When the vampire pulled away, satisfied with his meal, Lo briefly found the strength to lift their head and smile, before passing out backwards into the water behind them. 

Solomon quickly scooped the human up out of the water, pressing their naked body into his as he rose, climbing out of the creek. He collected their trap in one hand, holding the small human against him with the other, and carefully lifted them against his body, straddling their legs across his hips, his other arm bracing across their back for support as he began to carry them back to their cave, leaving both of their clothes behind on the rocks. He could come back for those later.

Once he reached their encampment inside the cave he realized how cold the human was- and quickly laid them down amongst the blankets, bundling them up gently before he started the fire. 

Sol threw on his extra change of clothes, and set a pot out to boil, using part of it to make tea, and the other to boil the crawdads like Lo had showed him. 

He had eaten his fill, so it’d only be fair for Lo to have a nice meal waiting for them once they woke up.

- - -

Tag List: @imagination1reality0 @thecyrulik @whumpsday @termsnconditions-apply @spectral-whumpy-writer @raddyscoops @whumptober-archive

[finalgirlkateausten]

“what are you doing here?” w cuasher pls!! maybe a lil exes moment if you’re feeling it (but no worries if not <3 it’s a fun prompt however you write it)

exes!cuasher is fucking COMPELLING bestie ty for the prompt. the first thing that came to mind for this was a version of my coparenting au with a full breakup in the beginning... this will def not be as soft or fluffy as that one but it will be baby fic angst 😈

It's an insanely rainy night in Chicago, the kind that makes Nellie want to have at least three blankets on top of her even if all she's doing is eating reheated leftovers on the couch and watching Jeopardy. She's quite comfortable, despite the rumbling storm outside, and so the sound of her doorbell makes her groan as she slides from the couch, heading for the front door of her rented duplex.

On her porch, she finds the last person she would've expected. Hannah Asher is hunched against the wind, her raincoat dotted with droplets and her hair plastered to her face. Nellie schools her expression into blank neutrality as she greets her ex-girlfriend. "What are you doing here?"

"I broke up with Will," Hannah blurts.

Nellie can't stop her displeased frown. "Huh. Didn't realize you were actually together. I thought it was just hooking up, but no, you were having an actual affair with him, while you were with me?"

"No!" Hannah looks like she's been slapped. "I wasn't. I mean, it was just casual. But I realized today, I had to be done with him for good. He's not good for me, and I can't trust him enough to have-- to be vulnerable with him, not really. Not like I can with you."

"Congratulations," Nellie says flatly. "Is this you apologizing?"

Now Hannah is scowling. "I did apologize, Nell. A hundred times over. But you didn't want to hear it."

She's not wrong, and Nellie feels a pang of guilt at that, not to mention the salt in the wound of hearing the familiar nickname from Hannah's lips again. "I know you're sorry," she concedes, trying to take slow breaths and exhale all her bitterness, "but you can't just... it's not like you physically being with Will is the only obstacle we've had in the past few months."

"I know," Hannah says, biting her lip. Her hands are shoved in her pockets, and she looks cold, but Nellie can't stomach the thought of inviting her in just yet. "I'm not here to, like, win you back, Nell. I just want you to know, I know I fucked up. I'm trying to do better. And I wanted to know if... it what we had is at all fixable, not because I want another chance, just because... I miss you."

Nellie swallows hard around the lump in her throat. "I miss you too," she says. "And I don't want to lose you. I don't know if we could be friends yet... it's so hard, Hannah. I was in love with you, and you couldn't handle that." She doesn't let herself look at the surprise on Hannah's face; she's never said that out loud before. "And I've spent the last month and a half desperately hoping those feelings would go away."

"I'm so sorry," Hannah says, her voice cracking. "You didn't deserve any of this. I'm sorry."

"I think I can accept your apology, now," Nellie says carefully, "but I think you should go."

Hannah nods, stepping back. "Nell, there's, um, one more thing. In the spirit of being honest with each other if we're trying to be in each other's lives again."

Nellie nods for her to go on, keeping her expression guarded.

"The last straw for me breaking up with Will, when I knew I had to cut him off for good... I just found out I'm pregnant."

Nellie doesn't know what she'd expected, but that isn't it. "Congratulations," she says, her tone not as flat as she'd expected.

"I don't know how this is going to go yet," Hannah admits, "but I've been thinking I'll keep it."

"You'll make a really good mom," Nellie says, and this time she can't keep her voice from going soft. "Really, Hannah. I'm sorry we've had to go through all of this just to arrive here, but... I think it'll be good for you."

Hannah's face splits in a grin Nellie sorely misses. "You mean that?"

Nellie nods. "I do."

Finally she steps off the welcome mat, moving closer to Hannah as the blonde freezes in place. Carefully, she brushes a kiss against her cheek, nothing more, nothing less. "Good luck," she murmurs. "I'm glad you stopped by."

And she is.

Hannah's smile and wave as she leaves the porch is burned in her mind for the rest of the night.

[oakwolves]

I keep forgetting Train Chasers is written in past tense because I'm used to writing in the present tense

[sunfoxfic]

anyway we stan the next editor-in-chief for my student newspaper. she's literally so nice and I love her so much and I'm so excited for her to be EIC