#i like to think that they all propose to each other with mona ring lights in the future. at the same time.

[deus-ex-mona]

o h to be able to bring your girlfriend out on a date to your girlfriend’s concert

uta and mikoto be living the life frrrr

[sunflowersteves]

honeymoon || n.r.

summary || a story of love, inspired by make me feel by janelle monae.

prompt || “Are you sure about this?”

author’s note || this is for @burninmatches​‘ writing challenge! happy v late birthday, poppy!! (I LUB U SO MUCH) am i evil for putting a flashback in the middle of smut? maybe.

warnings || fluff, SMUT!!! [18+ only], public sex, squirting, dirty talk, oral, fxf, squirting, dom x sub, minors do not interact

m.list // *bold means flashback

All of the feelings that I've got for you Can't be explained, but I can try for you

You pressed your elbows onto the hard metal railing, a smile drifting onto your face. You watched the orange and pink hues transform the sky as a small fluffy cloud sat on the bank of the water. In the very far distance, you could see a small fishing boat trying to reach shore before darkness took the air.

Everything was so content and peaceful. Your muscles felt relaxed from the salty air and warm weather. You could vanish right here and now, feeling the most content and relaxed you have ever been.

“Did I ever tell you how sexy you look in that sundress?”

You grinned as you continued to stare at the water, knowing exactly who was behind you. She closed the balcony door behind her, and she walked over to you, rosé in hand.

“Once or twice.”

You couldn’t see but you knew she had that smirk on her face, she always wanted to see you flustered no matter the time. She took small sips of the alcohol as she watched you, watching the sunset.

She couldn’t bore her eyes away from your content and happy figure, she felt that all too familiar fluttering in her chest. A few days ago, your wedding took place in New York. The whole team was there and your family also attended. Of course, Tony being Tony, he made sure that your wedding was the flashiest and most extravagant.

Natasha had never really told you, even during the wedding vows, that you were the best thing that could ever happen to her. Missions with The Avengers could get heavy, especially when the past of Hydra comes to haunt her. Many days she would come home, dark and menacing thoughts would take hold of her mind at the thought of the gruesome horrible things that she did in her past.

However, it was like the light had filled the air again when you’d walk over to her and cradle her in your arms. All those thoughts would cease when you’d whisper sweet thoughts in her ear. You saved her from many hopeless days.

She broke out of her thoughts and lifted her hand, wrapping it around your waist and pulling you closer towards her. You pressed a light kiss onto her nose, and she giggled, relishing in the feeling of being by your side.

Her lips are locked with yours now, fully forced and teeth clashing against each other. She tasted like rosé and mint, her tongue was sweet and dominant. Your heart fluttered at the fanning of her breath on your face, the radiating heat that left her body warmed your skin.

The kiss was bruising and passionate, your toes curling already at the thought of being on a honeymoon with her. You were in pure heaven, pure ecstasy to just be kissed by her red lips. She pulled back and chuckled at your whine and your lips turned into a pout.

She moved you so your back was pressed up against the railing. She smirked while lifting your dress, groaning at the absence of panties.

“Babygirl, is this all for me?”

You whimpered from the feeling of her thumb circling your clit, your hands holding onto the railing like your life depended on it. You sucked in a breath, you could hear your slick as she rubbed back and forth on the sensitive area.

“So fucking wet and it’s all for me,” she hums.

Your eyes couldn’t leave her blue ones as she slowly sunk to her knees, keeping your dress hiked up with her nimble fingers. All she wanted to hear for the rest of her life was your sweet, delicious moans and the screaming of her name.

A smile reached her face again at the thought of her proposal. You two were the happiest you had ever been but Natasha soon realized that it wouldn’t be. Fully making you hers with that diamond around your ring finger was it for her.

Should know by the way I use my compression That you've got the answers to my confessions

“Are you sure about this?”

She rolled her sweet blue eyes at you. She was currently on her knees, proposing to you in front of the whole team. Little twinkling lights fluttered around the ground, roses rested upon the concrete near the tower. 

Her plan was perfect. She had first taken you to where you met—in the tower when you spilled coffee all over her shirt. Next, she took you to the spot where you had your first date which was in a little Russian cafe. She then took you to a little pit stop where she kissed you underneath a tree in Central Park.

Throughout the whole adventure, Natasha told you something that she loved about you. Sometimes they made you groan as she stated how much she loved your stubbornness. Most of them, however, made your heart and stomach burst with happiness.

She then brought you back to the tower, talking about all the memories that you had made with the team and her. You saw the rest of them and waved, not even noticing Tony and Steve were crying.

You turn around back to Nat but you freeze, a gasp leaving your lips. There she sat on one knee with a box in her hand. She opened it up as tears ran down your face, and she asked the million-dollar question.

Although, your thoughts had gotten the best of you. You couldn’t help but think she was doing this because it felt implied. You knew she wasn’t the most affectionate person and you had never really talked about getting married. Well, you had always talked about it but Natasha never had uttered a word.

“What do you mean, baby?”

“Well, I just-” You sigh, watching as her hope started to falter. She closed the velvet box and stood up. Luckily though, she didn’t run away. She stayed right in front of you, eyes flickering to try to gauge what thoughts were running through your head.

“Every time we talked about it, it was only me. You never uttered a word and I just don’t want to force you into this. I shouldn’t have ever made you uncomfortable. If you want, we can take it all back, and act as if nothing happened.”

Her face contorted into an expression that you couldn’t quite make out. Her eyes were soft and clear as she lifted her hand to rest it on your cheek, gently swiping her thumb back and forth.

“Oh, babygirl, you didn’t force me into anything. I was always just so scared. I never thought that anyone would want to grow old with me or love me for who I am. I was always so shocked when you talked about these fantasies with me in them. I love you like my life depends on it. So please, marry me?”

That's just the way you make me feel So real, so good, so fuckin' real

“Nat, please-”

She decided to tease you, hear your whines, and press light kisses on your thighs. She giggled against the skin from your protests of her not delving right into your pussy.

“Patience, babygirl, or I won’t let you come.”

That shut you up real quick, and she couldn’t help but smirk, knowing just how good you wanted to be for her. She pressed her tongue against your slit, watching as your face contorted with pleasure.

You moaned as she poked her tongue in, you could feel her moan at your slick wetness. Your body practically vibrated with anticipation as she continued to attack your aching pussy.

“Fucking love this pussy,” her voice slightly muffled my being completely in your dripping cunt.

You could feel her tongue everywhere, she never stayed in one place long. She’d tease you with licking lightly around your slit and rubbing your cute little clit but then poke her tongue in ever so slightly.

She was playing her little game of teasing the shit out of you.

“Nat, fuck, please-”

Her tongue rolled over your sensitive nub which made you flinch. She inserted her index finger making you moan so loud that it echoed across the Hotel balcony.

This was so risky—you were completely out in the open, your pussy practically on display. Natasha would usually play you like a fiddle underneath the table while a few of the other Avengers were around. But were never you so out in the open like this.

But fuck, you’d be lying if you said it didn’t turn you on.

“Oh, you want to get caught, you dirty girl. You want the world to know you belong to me?

She smirked up at you and you nodded quickly. You couldn’t lift your gaze elsewhere so you watched her tongue circle your pretty bud. She started to pump her fingers slowly, staying with a rhythm, and then slowly inserting another finger. Your legs were fully shaking now, and your jaw was completely slack.

“Baby, I need you so bad. Please, Nat.”

You couldn’t help but squirm and moan and plea. You were squirming in the fucking air, you knew you probably looked absolutely ridiculous. Your dress was hiked up, Nat was buried in your pussy, and you were pressed up against the railing on the 4th floor of a building. But, you didn’t care. All you wanted was for Nat to fuck you like no tomorrow.

You needed her.

“If you don’t stop fucking moving, babygirl-”

You interrupted her with a whine and her face turned from a smirk into an irritated one. She growled towards you and with a yelp involuntarily leaving your lips, she forcefully grabbed your hips and pushed you harder onto the railing.

“You’re being a brat, you know that?”

“Well, if you would just get on with it, then-”

You closed your mouth so fast, eyes wide with regret. Her face became dark and stoic, which made you gulp in fear. You were royally fucked, totally and utterly fucked. You just had to be a fucking brat and open your mouth. You were so desperate that you couldn’t think about what words were rushing out of your mouth.

You held your breath as she stopped all movements and stood up, so she was towering over you. The sea breeze flowed past her hair and normally you would make a comment on how pretty she looked but now was definitely not the time. She grabbed your face, her fingers wrapped around your cheeks and squeezing slightly.

“Brats don’t get what they want, you know that,” she sneered.

She pulled you forward, her lips were just inches away from yours. You could feel her breath fan up onto your pleading face. God, she looked so hot. Her eyebrows were furrowed in anger but her eyes spoke of yearning and lust.

“Brats get punished but you like getting punished, don’t you babygirl? You like being fucked until you’re just a dumb baby, begging for me to get you off.”

Her eyes narrowed at the whimper that left your mouth. You rubbed your legs together trying to grab any friction that you could. She looked at you with raised eyebrows. You had never been so desperate as to disobey her again and rub your thick thighs together.

“You’re that desperate, huh babygirl?” She softened her voice slightly but not enough to let you know she was still irritated with you.

She never broke eye contact as she lifted your dress again and wasted no time in filling you up with her fingers. She gave you no time to react as she pumped her fingers so fast and hard.

You wanted to say something, anything but all that could escape your mouth was pitiful whimpers as your jaw was slack open.

“You’re doing so good, babygirl.”

You could hear the squelching sounds of your pussy around her fingers. You thanked whoever the fuck that none of your hotel neighbors had walked out onto the balcony.

“Fuck, look at that pretty pussy and it’s all mine.”

You yelped as she curled her fingers hitting just the right spot. Her fingers were long and thick, always reaching the places you couldn’t. With each fast thrust of her fingers, she could tell you were getting close.

“Should I let you come? Are you going to be a good girl? You were such a fucking brat.”

You begged so pathetically, yelling her name as loud as you could. You could hear it echo into the ocean and the vast void of the world. She watched as your eyes rolled in the back of your head, that coil built up in your stomach was on the brink of exploding.

You didn’t dare let it break because you knew she’d punish you if you came without her permission. You made eye contact as your pussy involuntarily squeezed around her fingers--making you cry out again.

“Alright, alright. I’ve played with you enough,” You could barely hear her over the pleasure that raked through your body. The wet, juicy sounds of your pussy around her fingers were getting too much to handle.

“Let it go, baby. Cum right on my fingers.”

With one loud, burning cry you came around her fingers. Your pussy gushed with wetness that covered her whole hand and splashed onto your thighs. Your body shook against hers as you could almost see stars around her face.

Her fingers never relented as they struck that spot over and over again. She rode your high like no tomorrow and the air had been filled with your screams.

You almost go limp, not being able to stand the pleasures that soared through your body to even stand up straight. Natasha caught you and chuckled, watching as your high slowly clashed back down.

Her eyes turned dark again, and she shoved her fingers in your mouth. You moaned at the taste of yourself around her fingers.

“Suck. We’re not done, babygirl.”

You continued to swirl your tongue around her fingers as she picked you up and carried you back into the hotel room. She placed you onto the bed and quickly stripping her clothes. She pounced on the bed and smirked at the cry you gave when she forcefully spread open your thighs.

This was going to be a long, very pleasurable week.

Mess me up, yeah, but no one does it better  There's nothin' better

[assomoir]

the sky might be falling; but the stars look good on you

Fandom: Ikemen Vampire

Pairing: Theodorus van Gogh x MC

Summary: A peek into a day of Theo’s life [and a reminder that she had her insecurities sometimes].

Note: Written for the @ikevamp-holiday-exchange​​ ! Hello @ceet​ , I enjoyed writing this (although writing non-smut was a challenge for me), so I really hope you’d like this too :) I saw your tags, so here’s to the both of us being fools for this man.

Title taken from the music of Ólafur Arnalds’ biography.

She slept in his room more often than not these days, and Theo’s morning routine shifted to accommodate her presence.

Between the two of them, he would wake up first. It’s a hard-formed habit carried over from the years before his death; one he sustained for many reasons, but also because she looked softer in the pale gray of dawn. Lights from his chandelier fell on her sleeping form, and he propped himself up as his eyes were inexorably drawn to the way the sheets shaped themselves over her waist, the drape of hair over her breasts, the trail of hickeys blossoming along her body—

She stirred under his gaze, and blinked her eyes open with a yawn.

“Theo..?”

“Yeah.” He leaned back on the pillows, enjoying the way her languid stretches shifted the covers and exposed more skin. “Good morning.”

The patches of red scattered on her neck seemed to call for his touch, because he knew they matched the curve of his teeth – remembered how she tasted on his tongue. When he reached out to touch them, she pressed a string of open-mouthed kisses on his palm, a pleased smile forming on her lips, the echo of flame dancing in her eyes.

(There’s something about her that, when seen in these quiet, intimate twilight hours, felt like something really close to perfection. He’d seen it in the way she lowered her lashes as she bent down for a kiss, or in the way her back arched as he drove her over that maddening edge for the umpteenth time in a night.)

(It still left him breathless every time.)

“…hey,” he half-heartedly asked— no, warned her, if she really wanted to rouse him so early in the morning, when the rasp in her voice is still so clearly audible and the marks she left on his back still tingled.

(He absently looked down to find that her trimmed fingernails had grown longer, and thought about how he would know about it; for he wore the shape of them in various parts across his own body.)

“Sorry, sorry,” she chuckled, “but ten more minutes, please?”

Theo hummed in assent, suppressing his smile. Kissed the top of her head and quietly let the fire, simmering low in his stomach, burn.

Most days, they work together. This cloudy Friday was one of those days.

Their only client that noon was an elderly nobleman in his late 50s, a Marquis Theo adored due to his kind disposition and shared appreciation toward the impressionist movement. Negotiations involving two of Vincent's paintings had gone swimmingly well, and as they stepped out of the gates, just before he hailed a carriage to take them home, she grabbed his sleeve and shyly asked if they could, perhaps, go for a stroll around the city? If he would like to have a little date before going back, because she had dressed up in a dress that matched his new suit, which would be wasted if they weren’t paraded around town for a bit, especially since the weather was nice albeit a little cold, and it would do him no harm to slow down because he had always been working hard, and—

"Sure," he said, effectively cutting her off, yet the fond amusement was plain to hear even for himself.

It's going to rain, he thought, glancing up at the sky overhead. We can go tomorrow instead, on our day off. But he went along with her plans anyway, mostly because Theo had stopped trying to tell himself that he still had any semblance of self-control around her months ago.

(That, and something about her had seemed a little sad this morning. It upset him in a way he couldn’t quite understand.)

So she took him to the Louvre, where everything began – saying that despite having visited the place many times over, he still owed her a proper tour of the museum. They ventured into the Assyrian Gallery, walking among creatures of black marbles and gray stones that left them more than a little amused. In the French Gallery, Géricault's Raft of the Medusa stole her attention at once – but when he explained the event depicted behind the painting, she had this extremely sad expression on her face – such that he had to practically drag her into the next gallery, half-panicked, so she wouldn't cry. It worked, though, because the mirror-like floor and gilded ceiling in the Gallery of Apollo fascinated her. They spent the rest of their visit admiring the artworks in Salon Carré: him explaining the Wedding at Cana, Pardo Venus, Soult's Virgin, Titian's Mistress, and them snickering in front of Mona Lisa and la Belle Ferronnieré.

By the time they stepped out of the Louvre, it was already half past three in the afternoon. The chilly November air had gotten even colder; the sky considerably darker.

(But her smile got a little wider, too.)

Expecting the rain to come any time now, he took her to this quaint café-slash-bookstore tucked in the corner of the 1st arrondissement. True enough, the storm started in the middle of their late-afternoon meal – and they watched the passerby bursting into a hurried frenzy all at once. After a little less than an hour it turned into nothing more than a light drizzle, but the streets had turned muddy and her skirt must be hiked up high when crossing Place Vendôme. The rain had not dampened her mood at all, though, for she kept humming happily as they passed through the high column overlooking the square.

“I assume you're no longer sad?”

She blinked at him. Once, twice, before timidly grinned. “I wasn't sad though. Things went smoothly at work, and you’ve been very indulgent today."

"...Has it ever occurred to you that those two things are probably related?"

The tinkle of her laugh filled the air, alongside the scent of petrichor as the shower ceased to an end. Rain had always lent the city some sort of a gloomy mood, but for the first time, Theo took a deep breath and let himself bask in it.

Maybe because somehow, the amber glow of streetlights looked a bit more somber than usual, and it bathed the city in a warm luster despite the crisp atmosphere. Seine was flowing by, where from this distance, they could see the turbulent waters moving below Pont Royal. The hustle of shops lined up on the other side of the street and busy traffic rumbled the sidewalk they were walking on, giving that distinct, noisy bustle he had grown to associate with the city.

She took his arm as they continued walking along the cobblestone, and he was struck quiet by the strange thought of how at home she looked like. As if she belonged right here, in 19th century Paris, all along—

"It's just— I was thinking," she suddenly murmured, "that I've been here for almost a year. Time flew really quickly. I'm still very happy, though."

It was almost imperceptible, the way she turned her head to glance at him – like she did whenever she was unsure about asking him something – but enough for him to press an encouraging kiss on her temple. Go on, he conveyed. I'm listening.

"...I hope you're still happy too, Theo."

Ah.

The faint kaleidoscope on the river was reflected on her eyes not unlike the starlight, and when the following silence stretched for a second too long, his next words slipped out without permission.

"I can promise you, I've never been happier in all my life."

A burst of giggle escaped her. His brain, half-relieved and half-caught off-guard, scrambled for a response, and ended up blurting the first thing that came to mind.

"Don't laugh! I'm serious."

"I know, I know, but it's adorable. You indulged all my wishes because you thought I was sad?"

"...It's because you did great today. That calls for some treats, no?"

She quickly recovered and playfully smacked his shoulder, but he inwardly cringed because it actually hurt. He deserved it, though. "Again! I'm not your puppy."

"Really? But puppies are cute, I love them."

"I'm cuter."

"Well yeah, you are."

She was clearly taken aback by this, and he couldn't help but snort at her flabbergasted expression.

"Theo!"

That evening, he kissed her hard and rough, tangling his fingers in the strands of her hair. I haven’t had dinner, he teased, voice low and tempting, his breath hot on her lips. May I? She couldn’t help but moan then, a hand fisted in the fabric of his shirt, the other pushing his head to her neck. Heat consumed them as he carried her to the bed, prompting him to strip her down and let his body do the talking for the next few hours.

Later, when the high had worn down, he pulled her into his arms – freshly bathed, smelling like roses – and she grew quiet, lulled by the distant thunder and the sound of raindrops. He watched the light playing tricks on her hair, heart softer than the spun silk of her nightgown, and thought—

If I could spend eternity like this—

“Theo, sleep.”

He smirked. “Why is the dog telling me what to do?”

“Because you’re thinking too loudly,” she smiled knowingly, and his own softened. “I love you, you know that?”

Sometimes Theo forgot just how easily she unraveled him in all the ways that counted, leaving him a flustered mess wrapped around her little finger. “…Cheeky hondje. I love you too.”

If he was any lesser man, he’d probably skip all those elaborate, carefully-crafted plan about proposing and just drop on one knee right there and then; the lack of ring be damned. But since he liked to think he still had a teeny bit of restraint (however small) a peck on her forehead was deemed enough, followed by drawing the cover higher over their bodies.

She’s here, he mused before drifting off to sleep. 

For as long as they had each other, he existed only in bliss.

[avasharpe]

It Takes Time

Chapter: Six of thirteen.

Summary: Now that Sara is 22 weeks pregnant and they are in the middle of a pandemic Ava is determined to get the nursery done. Plus, they might not be the only ones planning a family.

Fandom: Legends of Tomorrow.

Relationship: Sara Lance/Ava Sharpe, Nora Darhk/Ray Palmer, Charlie/Zari Tazari, Nate Heywood/Behrad Tazari, and John Constantine/Gary Green.

Characters: Sara Lance, Ava Sharpe, Nate Heywood, Behrad Tarari, Jefferson "Jax" Jackson, Mick Rory, Zari Tarari, Ray Palmer, Nora Darhk, John Constantine, Gary Green, Mona Wu, Gideon, and Kendra Saunders. 

Rating: Teen And Up Audiences.

Rating: Teen And Up Audiences.

Additional Tags: Pregnancy, Babies, Domestic Fluff, Legends shenanigans

Read at AO3

Read at FFN

Let me know what you think and please leave a comment!

……………………………………………………………………

April 18th, 2020. Week Twenty Two. 

Sara actually smiled as she watched her crew work. “Okay, you’re doing great Ray. I need you to take a left up ahead and Behrad watch your back.”

“Got it,” Behrad said as he turned around and took out the guy who was following him with a blast of wind. 

“Aye aye, Captain,” Ray said as he took a left and reached the door. A displaced young Charlotte Brontë was being kept as a playmate for little princess Elizabeth and her sister Margaret Rose. If they didn’t return her to her time, then the whole of section of literature inspired by her could disappear.

“Hello little Charlotte,” he said, picking her up the toddler. Charlotte let out a scream of protest as she was picked up and taken away from her play.

Her scream alerted the guards, but Ray quickly settled her in his arms, and Sara watched as he reassured her. 

“Hey, hey, It’s okay,” Ray said as he gently bounced her and carried her out of the room. “My name is Ray and I’m here to take you home. Back to your Mom and Dad and your sisters and who has a funny mustache?” 

Ray leaned over to tickle her cheek, earning a giggle from Charlotte after she had reached up to grab his fake mustache that he had worn for the mission and for Nora. Sara had seen the look they had been giving each other all morning. 

Charlotte was still giggling as Ray made his escape with Nora and Nate, keeping the future king and queen occupied. Sara looked back to see that Charlie, Ava, Mick, and Zari had all managed to keep the guards away from Ray, but there were several others headed toward him. 

“Ray time to go. Ava, Mick, I need you to catch up with Ray and head off the guards that are heading towards them. Everyone else get ready to go and head for the jump ship.”

They all split off and Behrad, Charlie, and Zari kept the guards running around so that everyone else could make their escape. Mick and Ava caught the guards and kept them from Ray in a team-up take down that reminded Sara of how far their friendship had come. The four of them made the jump with Ava’s time carrier. 

“Alright everybody, Charlotte and Ray are on the ship,” Sara said in her com watching as the guards gained on them. “Everyone else head back.” 

They all circled back to the Jumpship and soon they were all settled on the bridge. Sara managed to steal Charlotte from Ray and they both cooed over her, but Charlotte leaned over to play with Ray’s mustache. When they walked on to the bridge Nora came over to them and untangled the little girl’s fingers from his hair. Sara passed Charlotte over to Ray and watched them both gaze lovingly at the little girl as Ray put his extra arm around Nora.

“Do you two want to take her back?” Sara offered, seeing how smitten they were with her.

“If it’s alright with you Captain?” Ray said not taking his eyes off Nora and Charlotte.

“Go on,” Sara said, waving them off. “Just make sure you check in when you get back.”

Nora and Ray nodded, never taking their eyes off of Charlotte as Ray continued to bounce her. Nora procured a bit of magic that swirled around Charlotte’s head as she cooed and reached up to chase the wisps of blue. They both stepped through the portal and closed it behind them, and Sara turned around to look at the rest of the team. 

Most of them we’re out of breath, but whole and unharmed. “Well, I’d say that that was a huge success. Good job guys, I’m proud of us!” 

They all smiled and beamed at her praise and Ava came over to put her arm around her waist and gave her a gentle squeeze.

“All right go on get out of here,” Sara said as she turned to hold Ava’s hips and bring her closer, pulling Ava down to greet her with a kiss.

The Legends knew better than to stick around and soon they were all alone, except for little Laurel who moved around like a fish in her belly.

“That actually did go really well,” Ava said, putting her hands on Sara’s belly. 

The sweater Sara was wearing this morning was thick, but it barely hid her bump. At twenty-two weeks Sara was basically the size of half a basketball and her belly now curved out from under her breasts. Sara was still getting more used to Laurel taking over her abdomen.

“I guess I kinda overstepped, trying to take over for you, I’m sorry Sara,” Ava said, tilting her head and looking at her with soft eyes.

“Thanks, but It was nice to have you around, an extra set of hands has been really nice,” Sara said, leaning into her. “Even if you did go rogue and lock up the butler.”

“He was onto us.” Sara set her with a look and Ava looked down and bit her lip, but smiled. “Sorry, Captain Lance.”

Sara reached up and put a hand under Ava’s chin, tipping her head back up so she could kiss her. “You are always forgiven.”

Ava smiled and leaned back in to kiss her again. Their lips melted together and they enjoyed their passionate kiss. Their hands wandered under clothes and lips trailed down necks. Sara moaned and tugged at Ava’s blouse that just had to be buttoned up to her chin.

“Were back!” Nora announced, and she and Ray stepped through the portal and back onto the bridge. 

Ava spin around and groaned, shifting to stand at Sara’s side, but slipping them down to her rest on her waist.

Nora had a knowing and huge smile on her face, but Ray was mortified to know they had potentially walked into something. 

“That’s great, Ava time to go,” Sara said, pulling her away and opened a portal straight into their bedroom.

Nora laughed as she watched them go. “That’s not a bad idea, you know?”

“What is?” 

That was all he got out before Nora’s lips were on his and she was ravaging him. Nora pushed Ray up against the wall and he held her waist and welcomed her lips. She loved the feel of his mustache tickling her cheeks and her cupid’s brow. She loved the feel of his chest under her hands as she ripped open his shirt, letting the buttons fly. She loved the way his big arms wrapped around her, always making her feel safe. She loved the way his pants pressed against her, telling her exactly how much he wanted her.

Nora reached down to Ray’s pants, feeling him moan and melt against her. She had just pulled down his zipper when.

“Hey, your back. Have you told Cap yet?” Nate’s said waltzing back onto the bridge, completely oblivious to their actions.

“Well, yeah, I guess Sara knows we’re back,” Ray said fumbling with his words. All he could think about was where Nora was pressed up against him and what she was about to do. “What did you need Nate?”

“Oh well, Behrad and I were just wondering…”

“Sorry Nate,” Nora said rather curtly. “We’re busy.”

And with that, she pulled Ray away to their own bedroom.

……………………………………………………………………

Ava wiped her hands on the rag after setting the pot of soup on a hot pad on the table. She smiled down at the meal she had prepared. She had burned the meatballs, but the rest of the soup was cooked to perfection. Ava put her apron over her chair before heading upstairs to get Sara.

“Sara dinner’s ready,” Ava called out down the hall, walking over to the nursery.

“Okay.” 

She heard Sara’s broken voice and immediately dashed into the room. Sara was sitting on the floor next to the bookshelf they had put together that afternoon, silently sobbing.

“Sara, sweetie, what’s wrong?” Ava asked, seeing the light tears upon her cheeks.

“Oh, it’s nothing serious,” Sara said, looking down at her lap. “It’s just that my ring doesn’t fit.”

“Oh baby,” Ava said, kneeling down in front of her as Sara broke out in a fit of tears as she held her ring. Ava took a look at the ring that Sara tried to fit on her finger, but it refused to go over her swollen knuckles. Ava took ahold of Sara’s hand and brought it up to her lips, giving Sara a soft smile.

“I just want to wear it,” Sara said, wiping her eyes. “And these stupid hormones are making me cry at everything.”

“I know,” Ava said, pulling her in for a hug, and rubbing up and down Sara’s arms as she hiding her smile behind Sara’s shoulder. The tears were now a daily occurrence and it was all Ava could do not to laugh or cry with her at certain things. Even if it did break her heart. “I’ll tell you what, why don’t we get it resized? I’m sure Gideon or Ray could have it done in a day.”

Sara pulled back, shaking her head as she took the ring off her finger and threading it through the chain of her necklace. “What if my finger balloons up even more and what if it shrinks down after I give birth and I lose it?”

“You won’t lose it,” Ava said, knowing how important the ring was to her. “And I want you to be able to wear it, especially after we announce our engagement.”

“Yeah, we should probably do that pretty soon, especially since everyone thinks you’re a jerk for not proposing already,” Sara said, with a soft smile as she placed the ring and the necklace in Ava’s hand.

“What?” Ava asked, paling at the thought of what the Legends would do to her. 

Sara just shrugged and put her hand on Ava’s shoulder to help her get up because her belly had already put her off balance. “Come on you said dinner was ready and Laurel and I are hungry.”

“Sara, what do you mean the others think I’m a jerk? How long have they known I’m planning to propose?” Ava asked as she pulled Sara down the hall. She had only told Nora and Mona who had helped her pick out the ring and she made them promise not to tell anyone else.

Sara just smiled and giggled as they walked down the steps. “I don’t know I just heard something about Mick and my Dad sitting you down and having a talk with you about your intentions.”

Ava’s face fell as she put her arm around Sara. “Well, maybe I’ll have a little talk with them about biting into other people’s business.”

“Oh come on Ava,” Sara said, patting her arm. “It’s not that bad. I think they’re just excited.” 

“Well they can wait for us to announce it,” Ava insisted as she pulled out Sara’s chair for her. “But I’ll tell Nora to give Ray the hint to drop it.” 

“Uh hum.” Sara took Ava’s left hand and smiled at her thinking of a way that she could get the Legends to drop it.

Sara couldn’t help but think about how Ava’s finger was as empty as her own. She wanted Ava to have a ring of her own. A simple band that Ava could wear at work, perhaps one with a small diamond that would match her own ring. Something that would mean that Ava was her’s forever, something that Sara could give to her in front of everyone they loved as a declaration of their commitment to each other. She knew Ava was a sucker for grand proposals, but Sara loved their little intimate dates. Perhaps she could do both.

Little did Sara know that Ava was thinking of something similar. Ava’s original plan was to ask Sara out and propose to her in a simple, yet meaningful and romantic way. Ava loved being engaged to Sara and she was over the moon that Sara had said yes, but Ava wanted that meaningful moment. Ava wanted to make a declaration about her commitment to Sara and Laurel. Now that she had the ring back she couldn’t wait to do this and it meant the world to her.

“I’ve been thinking,” Sara said, interrupting her engagement planning and having pushed off her own until she could talk to Nora and Mona about a ring. “I think that we should come up with a nickname for Laurel. I love her name, but I just think it might get confusing when we get together with Laurel, and my mom and Dinah Drake.”

“We don’t have to, you and Quentin are really the only ones that call Dinah, Laurel, and technically if we do Dinah Laurel Lance.”

“The third,” Sara added.

“Yes Dinah Laurel Lance III, I want to use roman numerals it will be easier for her, but then Laurel is already a nickname for Dinah. It’s more confusing when it’s your sister Dinah, your mother Dinah and Dinah Drake who I suppose is our sister-in-law.”

Sara laughed at the little family joke about Laurel and Dinah being married. “I guess if it gets confusing we can use a nickname. I just kind of like the nickname Lulu and we need a non-name nickname if we’re going to keep her name to ourselves.”

They had agreed to keep Laurel’s name between the two of them. Mostly to avoid the drama of everyone else having an opinion about her name, but it also felt special. They had a part of Laurel just for themselves. So they had agreed to refer to Laurel as just the baby or little Lance, but it was so hard not to call her Laurel. After putting a name to their baby and calling her Laurel, it felt different in a way that Sara hadn’t expected. Laurel felt more real with a name, more like a person. Suddenly Laurel’s movements inside of her weren’t just that of a baby’s, they were that of her daughters’. 

“Well Lulu is nice and it technically doesn’t give away the name,” Ava said interrupting her train of thought as she helped Sara up. “We still need a middle name as well.”

“Dinah Laurel Ava Sharpe-Lance that’s her name I thought we agreed on this?” Sara said as she put down her spoon.

Ava avoided answering her. Instead, she took a piece of bread and buttered it. Sara sat with her arms crossed and ignored the soup Ava had set at her place. Ava huffed, put the bread down, and looked up at her.

“You don’t want her middle name to be Ava.”

Ava sighed and tried to think of a way to say this to Sara. “I like my name, for me. It fits and I like it, but I don’t want our daughter to have it.”

“Ava!” Sara said with intention, causing Ava to look up at her. “Do you know why you wanted to name our daughter Nicole?”

“Because I love the character. I mean Nicole Haught is amazing and it’d just be fun,” Ava said, blushing slightly at the fact that she originally wanted to name their daughter after a fictional character.

“Yes, because you loved Nicole Haught and you know that I love you. So every time that I say your name, I am filled with so much love for you and for your name. I want our daughter’s name to have the same kind of love. Look, you don’t have to agree with it right now, but just think about it okay?”

Ava smiled and looked down as she bit her lip before looking up at Sara. She reached out to her and came over to sit next to her on the bench. Ava pulled her in and they wrapped their arms around each other’s waist. It was a bit more difficult to press up against each other when it felt like there was a papaya, according to their pregnancy app, in between them. Nevertheless, Ava still managed to pull Sara into her lap like she always did. 

“I’ll think about it,” Ava said, leaning down to drop a kiss to Sara’s lips.

“That’s all I’m asking,” Sara said as she reached up, put her hand on Ava’s neck and pulled her in for a deeper kiss. “Now come on, I was promised dinner.”

Ava smiled and Sara shuffled off of her lap and sat next to her as Ava dished her up. She laughed as she watched Sara’s face lit up with joy. As she took a bite of the soup, Sara moaned as it hit her tongue. “How come you don’t make those sounds for me anymore?”

Ava raised her eyebrow at Sara, who opened her eyes and just looked at her. Sara’s smile grew as she burst out laughing and Ava couldn’t help but join in with her own giggles. Sara pulled her in for a kiss, which was one of the reasons they liked to sit next to each other at Ava’s long table. Sara moaned against Ava’s lips as she tilted her head to let Ava have access to her neck. Where Ava laid soft kisses down her throat as she nibbled on Sara’s skin. 

“How is that for pleasure Director Sharpe?” Sara said, as Ava pulled back to look at her. Ava looked into Sara’s eyes that sparkled with mischief as she ate another spoonful of soup. “Umm, but you’ll have to wait because Laurel and I are really hungry.”

Ava laughed again and putting one arm around her shoulder as she pulled her in close. “For you, I never mind the wait.”

……………………………………………………………………

April 25th, 2020, Week Twenty Three

Sara was definitely not hiding. She was just in the parlor hanging out, with the bridge doors locked, at a time when everyone thought she was at the Time Bureau with Ava. However, when you live on a ship with ten people, if Gary sleeps over, having alone time becomes trickier, especially when you’re the captain. Sara could have gone home to Ava’s house, but Sara was still getting used to attaching her name to the place she called home. Besides, she wanted to stay on the Waverider right now, as being home alone at Ava’s always felt too lonely. She wanted alone time not to be lonely.

One of the other upsides to living with a crew was that Sara was never lonely and she missed the little things about living on the Waverider. She missed seeing a friendly face around every corner, she missed eating meals with her family, and she missed being needed by her crew. 

They’ve tried to rely on her less and less in the field these days, but it also seemed to carry over in their personal lives as well. She knew they missed her as their Captain and she missed being a Captain to her crew, and Sara loved being the mom friend. 

Nonetheless, whenever they needed something, they would just start to ask her for help or begin a rant to her, and then they would just say nevermind. They would turn around and walk the other direction, which just made it worse. Sara didn’t mind helping. It was one of the few things she could do, regardless of her pregnancy. She just felt like everybody was treating her differently. Like she was fragile and breakable and one wrong move and they will lose her and Laurel. So for now Sara pouted, hid in her room, and enjoyed a whole box of egg rolls, because she was pregnant and she could.

Sara ate her egg rolls and had put on a horror movie that she was half paying attention to. She tried to get a few minutes of shut-eye, but something or rather someone was making it hard for her to nap. Laurel had decided to practice her soccer skills. While Sara loved feeling Laurel kick against her belly, she knew that soon she wouldn’t be so fond of Laurel kicking against her ribs or bladder.

Yet, for now, each little flutter of an arm or a leg made her smile. Sara closed her eyes again and tried to ignore the little movements in her belly and focused on the sound of the movie playing, letting it lull her to sleep. Her mind began to drift off and she started to slip into dreamland just as Gideon’s voice jolted her awake. 

“I’m sorry to bother you Captain, but I have an urgent call from Director Sharpe.” 

Sara sat up and stretched with a yawn. “Okay Gideon put her on.”

Sara smiled as Ava’s face appeared on the screen in front of her, but that smile quickly fell when she saw Ava’s worried look.

“Sara I need you to put the Waverider on lockdown right now and proceed with decontamination. Then you and your crew need to be tested for COVID-19. There has been an outbreak at the Bureau and so far ten agents have tested positive for the virus. We are on lockdown down here and are currently testing every single agent.” 

Ava took a deep breath as she finished, before looking up at Sara and trying to smile despite the worry that still hung in her eyes. “But I don’t want you to worry about me, okay. Miranda vaccinated us against this when you first got pregnant. So far it doesn’t look like this agent has come into contact with you or your crew, but he could have spread it to others who did.”

“Like Gary.” Sara trailed off as Ava mournfully nodded.

Sara took a moment to take her in. Ava looked so frightened as she spoke to Sara, but her voice never wavered, as she used her Director’s voice. She never did that anymore unless they were fighting, or when she was extremely worried. Sara stood up and took a step towards the monitor as if it could bring them closer together.

“Gideon put the ship on lockdown and began to sanitize the empty rooms. Tell the team what’s going on and that I’ll explain it further to them in a second.” Sara said looking over at Gideon’s halo projection that had appeared next to the monitor. 

“Of course Captain,” Gideon said, before disappearing.

The emergency door to the parlor closed off and Gideon tinted the glass walls black. Sara could hear the rest of the doors closing around the ship. The parlor’s glass walls tinted black to protect her yet, Sara turned away as the beam of UV light cleaned the bridge. Gideon would have to wait until she left in order to sweep the Parlor.

“How did this happen, I thought you were checking every agent as they came in the door?” Sara said, sitting back down on the couch and putting a hand over her belly as if it could add another layer of protection for Laurel. 

Ava huffed and put her head in her hands. She looked like she was about ready to cry. It took everything inside of Sara to hold herself back and not to portal into her office right then and there.

“We were, but apparently some other agents thought it was okay to portal straight into work, bypassing our security. We’ve been so careful. We’re down to the bare minimum of agents and everyone has strict instructions to only go from work to home and back. We’ve been testing everyone as they clock in, but,” Ava looked up at Sara and she could see the tears collect in her eyes. “I’m so sorry, Sara,”

“Hey,” Sara said, tilting her head and trying to comfort Ava as best she could with her words. “It’s not your fault. You did everything you were supposed to.” 

“But I could have been more strict with the check in’s and now I’ve potentially exposed your team and Gary. If he gets sick because of me...” Ava shook her head trailing off and put her head in her hands again. 

“Gary’s going to be fine, okay. Oh Ava, don’t cry. It’s not your fault and it’s all gonna be okay, worst comes to pass and Gary just has to spend a few weeks in the Med-bay being waited on hand and foot by us, he’d love it,” Sara said, trying to maintain her composure and not cry as well.

Ava chuckled as Sara knew she would, and Sara tried to give her a happy smile even though she was filled with worry as well. “You’re testing everybody right?”

“Yes, the medical team is coming through right now and testing everybody and then sending them home. I think now would be a good time to shut down the Bureau for a few weeks. The Legends should be able to handle anything that comes up in the timeline, and I’ll help out as well.” 

“Good,” Sara said with a nod. “You come here as soon as you finish, okay?” 

“I’ll stop by the house and change and shower, just as a precaution. Then I’ll be right over,” Ava said, nodding almost too fast at her. Ava tried to smile and straightened her jacket, a sign Sara knew all too well meant that she was trying to control the situation again. “I should let you address your crew.”

“Okay,” Sara said, reluctant to part. “I’ll be waiting for you to come home. You know Laurel has been kicking up a storm. She hasn’t let me sleep and the only thing that calms her down is you singing.”

Ava smiled, knowing it calmed Sara down as well. “I’ll sing for you both as soon as I get there.”

“Even if we’re in front of the whole crew?” Sara said with a teasing smile.

“I don’t know, my singing talents are just for you.” Ava laughed and seemed to relax back into her chair. "I’ll make sure my employees are tested and treated and I’ll be over there before you know it. Who knows maybe we will get done before you, and I’ll be the one waiting."

Sara nodded, the smile returning to her face. “I don’t know. Gideon is much faster than your crew.”

“Well, it looks like they’re approaching my office,” Ava said, looking past the camera and out her window.

“See you soon?” Sara asked, seeing that the worry had returned to Ava’s face.

“Promise,” Ava said, with a weary smile.

“We love you,” Sara said, feeling Laurel kick against her hand, she had been saying it to Ava for both of them as it just felt right.

“I love you both too.” 

Ava cut the feed and Sara stared at the monitor for a moment trying to get her nerves under control. She sat back down on the couch feeling light headed and took a few deep breaths. As soon as she felt like she could talk again Sara looked up at the monitor where Gideon’s face had reappeared, silently watching over her.

“Alright Gideon, show me the team.”

Gideon pulled up the rest of the team members on the monitor in front of her as Sara stood up again to adress them. As soon as they saw her they all started talking a mile a minute with questions of what was going on.

Sara watched as Ray and Nora just looked at her with their big sad eyes from the lab. She then turned to see Mona in a full-on panic as she paced in the library with the words coming out of his mouth a mile a minute. Nate was also there and was trying and failing to reassure her. Sara could barely catch a word Mona said other than that she was worried for them. Constantine and Behrad were also talking and so was Charlie as she quipped at them in the background, looking uneasy but trying to appear relaxed. Rory was in the kitchen and was yelling about the food fabricator being shut off.

It was dizzying to look at and on top of the worry Sara felt lightheaded and reached back to put a hand on the arm of the chair as she eased herself into it. That was when they all grew quiet as they watched her. 

“Sara are you alright?” Ray asked.

Sara put her head in her hands and tried to find the words to tell them what was going on. There was no easy way to say that they had been potentially exposed to a pandemic.

Sara looked up and took a deep breath. “I’m fine, but Ava just called and said that we have potentially been exposed to the COVID-19 virus.” 

It descended back into chaos and panic after that as everyone shouted in outrage and began talking all at once.

“I just would just like to remind everyone that although the pandemic is very serious and the COVID-19 virus does kill a lot of people in the year 2020. This ship is from the year 2166  we do have a cure for the virus as well as a vaccine to prevent it, which you will all be receiving after you test negative for the virus.”

Gideon’s calming words put them all at ease and Sara smiled as she looked up at Gideon’s face on the monitor. 

“Gideon is right,” Sara said, squaring her shoulders and sitting up straighter. “Now one at a time, you are all going to proceed to the Med-Bay to get tested, then vaccinated. Then you are going to go back to your rooms until Gideon has cleared everyone.”

“You should go first, Sara,” Ray piped up.

The rest of the crew immediately agreed with him in a chorus of voices that made Sara smile. “Guys relax, Miranda already vaccinated me and Ava against the virus at the start of my pregnancy.”

“Oh thank god,” Mona sighed. 

That’s when they all start talking again as they all expressed relief and joy that she and Laurel would be fine.

“I would kill the person that infected you and Ava,” Nora said with a stone expression.

“Well… I… wouldn’t help you!” Ray stated and then continued to fumble over a speech to her against murder.

“I would,” Rory said, nodding at Nora.

“Okay nobody’s murdering anyone,” Sara said, trying to get their attention again and failing. Laurel kicked around inside of her and Sara looked down at her little baby and whispered to them. “I know it’s weird, but it’s just them showing that they love us.” 

“Aw,” Zari cooed, leaning in closer as if she could see it. “Did the baby kick?”

“Oh I wanna see,” Charlie said, leaning in and presumably pressing her face up against the monitor.

“Hey me too,” Nate added. 

“Hey guys wait,” Ray said, turning away from Nora to address them on the screen. “You know how Sara feels about us asking to put our hands on her belly and I’m sure she feels the same way about showing us the baby’s kicks.”

“This is my baby,” Charlie said, reaching out and putting their hand on the monitor. “And ain’t nobody going to touch it.”

The whole crew burst out laughing and even Gideon had a chuckle. After they all calmed down Sara sent Mick down to get tested first as he was in the high risk bracket, due to the years of fire scarred lungs. She wanted so badly to be there, in the Med-Bay, to oversee everyone’s testing. Sara felt like it was her duty as Captain to be there and hold all their hands. Even for Mick and Constantine, who would definitely refuse, but ultimately let her do it. 

Despite knowing she had the vaccine, Sara still felt a twinge of worry. She knew that she couldn’t risk putting herself and Laurel in a position to be potentially exposed. So Sara just watched over everyone as they went and got tested and vaccinated before returning to their now sanitized rooms.

After Nate, who was the last person, tested negative and was vaccinated. Sara lifted the quarantine and had them all gather on the bridge. Their high spirits had returned and they were laughing and joking as they all walked into the Parlor. Zari and Charlie both skipped up to her with wide smiles. Which made Sara feel worse about her most recent decision, regarding their travel to 2020, as she knew it would be hard on all of them.

“Can we please feel her?” Zari asked.

Sara smiled, but didn’t move the protective hand from her belly that had been there since this whole thing started.

“In a minute, why don’t you guys sit down for a second?” Sara asked as she wanted to make her announcement before she let them gush over little Laurel.

“What’s wrong Boss?” Rory said mirroring her worried look.

“Look,” Sara said, crossing her arms and leaning against the table. “You all know that this is a worldwide pandemic. We got lucky that the outbreak at the bureau hasn’t transferred onto the ship and knowing all of this I should have vaccinated you guys sooner. I’m sorry, but I need to keep you all safe and sometimes that means making hard decisions that you guys aren’t going to like.”

“What are you saying?” Nate said putting his arm around Behrad as he looked over at her. Sara knew they were planning a wedding and that a lot of those plans hinged on them being in DC that summer.

“What I’m saying is that from now until the outbreak ends I'm allocating part of the Waveriders Med-bay for use to help find the current pandemic. S.T.A.R. Labs has already transferred over to help fight the virus and Anissa and Jefferson have set up a clinic in Freeland. I've already talked with Kara, Kate, Rene, Jefferson, Barry, and we are going to disassemble part of the Waveriders Med-bay and use it to replicate the vaccine and to treat current patients at a COVID clinic at S.T.A.R. Labs. Those of you who want to can help out, but because Ava has shut down the Bureau we need to be available to handle anything that comes up in the time stream.We keep half of the Med-bay up and running in case any of us need medical care while out on missions.”

Sara let her words settle over them and took in their faces as they processed everything that she had said. She looked pointedly over at Mick. He made a point to take Lita every weekend. 

“What about our families?” Mick asked, his brow furrowed. “We can vaccinate them, right?”

“We can vaccinate them. We will do Lisa, Ali, and Lita, as well as my parents, Jax, Kendra, and their families. Nate, your mom, and Zari and Behrad, your parents.”

"At least we can help some people,” Nate said, looking solemnly up at her. “I’ll help Jax and Barry.”

“Me too,” Behrad said, patting his knee. “I can see no better way to help out our community which is especially important now during Ramadan.” 

“We’ll help too,” Zari and Charlie said.

“Us too,” Ray and Nora added.

“Yeah,” Moan said, standing up.

“It’s not like we can get sick, ah,” Constantine said, with a shrug.

“I’m in,” Mick said.

“It’ll take a few days for the vaccine to work, but then we can all set up shop at S.T.A.R labs,” Sara said, smiling at them, so proud of her team for stepping in and wanting to help. “I know it will be tough, but I think we can do it.”

“Hey,” Ava said as she stepped through a portal and into the Parlor with wet hair. “Gary’s fine and he’s at home. How are you guys doing?”

The second Sara saw her it felt like a weight had been lifted off her shoulders. Sara was the captain of her ship, but Ava was her partner and she relied on her so much to help her with the emotional burden. Whenever Ava was around Sara felt like she could take a deep breath and let go, so that’s what she did. Sara took a deep breath and relaxed. She quickly walked over to Ava and wrapped her arms around her to just hold her.

“Can we make this a group hug?” Sara heard Mona ask and nodded into Ava’s shoulder.

“Okay, but not too tight,” Ava said.

“Good, because I really need a hug,” Mona said, going over and hugging Sara and trying to wiggle in on Ava’s side.

“Alright bring it in,” Ray said, grabbing both Nate and Nora, and soon they were all piled around each other, one big happy family hug.

……………………………………………………………………

May 4th, 2020, Week Week Twenty Four

“Hey remember that time we watched Constantine chug Rasputin?” Ava asked as she watched Sara eat.

Sara just nodded as she took another bite of her snack.

“Yeah this,” Ava said, gesturing to the mayo, orange juice, lime, and salsa mix that Sara was dipping her Doritos in. “Is worse!”

“It’s not that bad.”

“Babe, I made you a wonderful breakfast. After I burnt the first one, but this one is great. It’s my finest breakfast yet if I might say and you are eating…” Ava’s face was of equal disgust and concern as she watched Sara take another bite. 

Sara just laughed as she took another bite of her snack. She and Ava had decided to join the Legends for breakfast after Ava got distracted and ended up burning the pancakes. So they headed for the Waverider as they waited for the smoke to clear. 

In the past week, they had been partially docked at S.TA.R. labs, as they disassembled half of the Med-bay and moved it into S.T.A.R. labs. So far they had been able to replicate the vaccine and we're now in the process of sending it to several clinics all around the world. While they still worked on treating current patients, everyone had taken shifts at clinics set up in Gotham City, National City Star City, and Freeland. This morning everyone had decided to take a break and eat breakfast together, the first time the team had been together in a week.

Ray had made breakfast for himself and Nora, who wasn’t feeling good and was giving Nate a lecture on the benefits of butter in coffee. Charlie and Mona were now arguing with Ava over the requirements for a healthy breakfast. Mick was stealing from everyone’s plate, except Sara’s, as he talked with Lita. Gary was making eggs with Constantine, and Behrad and Zari had a typical sibling squabble over something involving her use of the totem on the last mission.

A normal person would see all this arguing as stressful and annoying, but Sara relished in this lovely bit of normalcy. She loved living in a house with Ava, but it was always just the two of them and things were quiet. Sara missed the non-stop rambunctiousness that came with a big family. 

“Sorry to interrupt,” Gideon said as they all looked up to pay attention to her. “But there is a magical anachronism in a hospital in 1983.” 

“A hospital, then it should be fine for me and Lau.. little one. The little one to tag along,”  Sara said, patting her belly after almost letting slip Laurel’s name as she looked anywhere but at her team. Miranda had okayed a few lighter missions for her, as her health returned and Sara was eager to resume her work.

“Just be safe okay,” Ava said, leaning over to put a hand over Sara’s and to kiss her lips goodbye. 

“I will, I promise,” Sara said. 

“Okay, you heard them, Get going,” Ava said, standing up and moving to put their dishes in the dishwasher. Ava turned around to see that they were all still eating and sighed. Ava had taken over Sara’s Captain’s duties for the heavier missions, but the team was always reluctant to follow her when Sara was there.

“Alright guys let’s roll,” Sara said, rolling her eyes as she got up and the Legends soon followed her. 

“I’m going to stay behind,” Nora said, giving Ray a tired smile when she didn’t get up.

“Call me if you need anything,” Ray said, kissing her head before joining the others. 

Ray sent Ava a glance and Ava nodded, letting him know that she would keep an eye on Nora. 

“I think I’ll stay behind and keep an eye on the ship,” Ava said catching Sara’s arm.

Sara smiled and glanced over at Nora, who was still sitting at the table. “Okay, I’ll keep you updated though.”

“Thanks,” Ava said, leaned in to give her another kiss before she left.

Ava waved as everyone walked away then looked over at Nora who caught her eye and gave her a slight smile. Ava watched her push the oatmeal around in her bowl.

“Ray says you’re fighting a cold or something, is there anything I can get you?”

“I’m not sick,” Nora said with a shrug. “I just...”

“Do you want to talk about it?” Ava asked, getting up and walking over to her.

“No, I think I’ll just go lay down,” Nora said, putting up and putting her dishes on the kitchen island with the rest of the food. Ava frowned as she watched Nora leave. Both Nora and Ray were adamant about rinsing their plates and putting them in the dishwasher before they left. Ava stared at the bowl of oatmeal that Nora left out and wondered what exactly was causing Nora not to feel good. 

…………………………………………………………………....

Ava knocked on Nora and Ray’s door with two mugs of tea in her hands. She’d admit that she just wanted to check in on Nora, but thought that the tea would be a good start.

“Hey, I thought you might appreciate this,” Ava said, offering Nora the tea when she opened the door.

“Thank you,” Nora said, taking a sip and smiling at the sweet and easy taste of the peppermint tea.

“Hey so whatever’s going on with you, if you want to talk about it I’m here for you,  you know that right?” Ava asked, leaning against the door frame. 

“It’s okay,” Nora said, looking down. “I don’t want to stress you out or anything. I know you’ve got a lot on your plate with Sara and the baby.”

“Nora,” Ava said gently. “That shouldn’t be your reason for not coming to me about anything, when I tell you I’m here for you I mean it.”

Nora nodded and stepped aside just enough for Ava to come in. Ray’s room hadn’t lost any of the nerdiness that it had before Nora moved in, as Nora had only added to his collection of Legos and books.

There was a loveseat pushed against the desk and Ava let Nora set down before taking a seat next to her. Nora just stared down into her tea, Ava patiently waited sensing the heavy topic. 

“So Ray and I bought a house in Star City.” Nora began.

“Oh,” Ava said, pretending to be surprised as she had already known about their real estate venture as it was the house across the street from them. Both she and Sara were thrilled at the prospect of having Ray and Nora as their new neighbors. 

“We have been talking about the future for a while, and we want to settle down and start a family. You know that we always thought about adopting or fostering some of my fairy god kids. That’s why we bought the house, but Ray wants to start trying for a baby as well.” 

That part Ava didn’t know about, but she kept her excitement contained, knowing that this was only a setup for what Nora actually wanted to tell her.

“So we threw all our contraceptives out and I thought I was ready and then this morning when I got my period. I was just so relieved,” Nora said, relaxing back into the couch. “And I know Ray was disappointed, but I couldn’t help it. I want to have kids too, but I just feel so ill-prepared. I’ve never even held a baby before. Let alone raised one. But the older kids, my fairy god kids, I love them and I know I can do right by then. I know what kind of parent I can be for them. I know exactly what kind of rooms I’m going to make for them. I know how I’m going to help them with their homework, and with their emotions, and I’m going to provide a stable house for them and I want that. I want to do all of that, but a baby? It’s just a whole different ballpark.” 

“Have you told any of this to Ray?” Ava said, putting her arm around Nora and scooting over to sit next to her. 

“No,” Nora whispered, looking down at her hands.

“Well maybe you should,” Ava said, trying to be as gentle as possible with her. “Because it kind of sounds to me like you’re saying you’re not ready for a baby.”

“How did you and Sara know that you’re ready for a baby?” 

“Well,” Ava said as she bit her lip. “We had talked about starting a family before and we both agreed it was something we wanted, but to be honest, this baby was a complete surprise. We weren’t trying at all and I got Sara pregnant by accident.”

“How?” Nora interrupted her waving her hands around with a look of confusion.

“Well there’s this toy that we used and basically it created sperm from my DNA and well I’m sure you know how the rest goes.”

Now it was Nora’s turn to bite her lip as she held back her laughter and covered her mouth. “You got Sara pregnant with a sex toy?”

“Technically yes,” Ava said tilting her head. “But that’s not the point. The point is that this was something we had talked about and agreed that we both wanted. So when Sara found out she was pregnant, we both knew that we wanted to keep it. We wanted to start a family and we were ready.”

“But how do I become ready?”

“I can’t tell you that, because that’s not up to me, but when you’re ready, you’re ready and if you’re not, then you should wait.”

Nora gave her a sliver of a smile and she reached out to squeeze Ava’s hand. “Thanks.”

“No problem,” Ava said, returning her smile.

“But if you want to at least get some experience with a baby, I might be able to help. Sara mentioned that Kendra, Jax, and Lily wanted to set up a virtual playdate using the Waverider’s holo system with some other parents. They invited Sara and I. If you want, you can come watch. I’m sure they wouldn’t mind.”

Nora took a moment to seriously consider the offer with a weary look in her eyes as she took another sip of the tea. “Um, I guess I could.” 

“Great,” Ava said with a smile. “If you’re ready, Jax should be by pretty soon to help set everything up?”

“Yeah just give me a second.”

A few minutes later Ava and Nora had cleared all of the furniture in the Parlor to set up for the hologram play date. Ava opened a portal for Jax who stepped through, carrying Martina with her diaper bag over his arm. 

“Hey, it’s good to see you Jax,” Ava said, walking over to greet them.

“Hey Ava, can I leave her with you while I go drop off the rest of the halo projectors?”

“Yeah, no problem,“ Ava said, taking Martina from his arms.

Ava sat down with Martina and got her entertained in a stuffed animal as Jax walked through another portal with the other halo projectors.

“Alright, I just dropped off the halo projectors for everyone and made sure they all got set up. We just need to start the connection here and we’re good to go,” Jax said, returning to the ship and looking around the parlor. “Where’s Sara?”

“Oh well, she had a mission…” Ava began to explain before she heard the telltale sound of a fight and a portal opened up on the bridge. 

They all watched as Mick, with his body behind Sara, guided her onto the bridge before disappearing back into the portal and quickly closing it behind him. Sara stood up straighter and dusted herself off before realizing Ava, Nora, and Jax were all staring at her and gave them one of her winning smiles. 

“Hey great, I’m back just in time for the playdate.”

Ava crossed her arms over her chest and raised one eyebrow at Sara. They had agreed that Sara wouldn’t get involved in any more fights, but with the Legends fights were a daily occurrence. 

“I’m fine,” Sara said, strolling up and greeting Ava with a kiss. “And the Legends are fine and they’re handling it. It’s just a little shuffle, I’m sure it’s already over. Look, I don’t even have a scratch and I got Zari to play Captain.”

“Okay.” Ava dropped her stern demeanor and wrapped her arms around Sara. Relieved to know that she was okay and that she was being safe. Besides, how could she be mad at that smile, especially when she knew that Sara was doing her best to stay safe. 

Sara pulled away from her and went over to greet Jax and Martina, because of the pandemic, they hadn’t been able to see each other for quite a few months. Sara missed her little brother and her goddaughter. Martina let out an excited squeal as Jax handed over the eight month old and she eagerly cooed in Sara’s arms as she greeted her. 

“Hey,” Sara said to her as Martina giggled and patted her face, Sara started making funny faces at the girls, causing her to break out in an ecstatic giggle.

“Hey,” Jax said with enthusiasm as Sara finally greeted him, looking down at her belly. “Look at you, you look amazing.”

“Thank you, I definitely don’t feel the glow, but everyone says I have it,” Sara said with a chuckle. “To be honest, I think they’re just trying to flatter me.”

“We are not,” Ava insisted. 

Ava looked back at Nora who had simply been watching them interact. Ava smiled at her and patted the armchair next to her. Nora slowly walked over as Sara and Jax both got settled with Martina on the floor with a few toys. 

Ava could sense that Nora was uneasy and quickly put her arm around her. “It’ll be fun I promise.”

Nora just nodded as they started. Lily was the first to appear on their right with Ronnie. 

“Hey,” Lily and Ronnie waved to them. 

“Hey guys,” Jax and Sara greeted them. 

“Lily this is Nora,” Ava said as she waved to them. “I think you guys have met before.”

“Yeah, I think we saw you with Ray a couple of times, but it’s nice to finally meet you,” Lily said, waving at Nora. “I guess we’re a bit early Ronnie.” 

“Hey look who it is,” Jax said as Barry and Nora appeared next to Lily. 

“Hey,” Barry said as he greeted all of them. “This is so cool I can’t believe we didn’t think of this earlier.

“Barry, you remember our Nora right?” Sara said, looking up at her with a smile.

“Oh yeah,” Barry said holding up 11 month old Nora West Allen. “Nora meet Nora.”

“Hi,” Nora waved. 

“Hey, I thought that John and Felicity would be joining with their kids?” Lily said as Ronnie tried to pay with baby Nora. 

“They were but little Sara, Connor, and JJ had school work to do and Felicity just got Mia down a nap,” Sara explained as Martina crawled out of her arms. “But Kendra and Hector should be joining soon.”

Martina crawled over and sat in front of them as Ava leaned down to pick her up.

“Here,” Ava said, popping Martina into Nora’s arms. 

Two of them eyed each other warily for a second until Ava tickled Martina’s sides and the little girl laughed and broke out into a wonderful smile. Martina babbled to Nora about nothing and Nora nodded along as if it was the most fascinating thing she had ever heard. 

“See,” Ava said, nudging her shoulder. “You’re a natural.”

“I don’t know about that,” Nora said, not taking her eyes off of Martina. “She hasn’t cried yet.”

“Just take it one step at a time.”

“Oh, I bet that’s Kendra,” Lily said as Kendra and Hector’s holograms came into focus. “Ronnie look, Hector’s here.” 

They all watched as the three year old boys tried to hug each other and simply gasped the open air. Ronnie and Hector were the same age having been born only a few months apart and were inseparable. Although they were disappointed, the boys quickly brought over a few of their own toys to show to each other and quickly became engrossed in their play.

Ava chuckled as they played and looked over at Nora who still seemed nervous. 

“Hey,” Sara said, as Kendra came to sit down next to her, leaned back and held her t-shirt over her stomach to outline her baby bump.

“Hey, look at you,” Kendra said with excitement. “You look amazing.”

“I do not,” Sara laughed.

“Yeah, you do,” Jax insisted.

“Yeah, you’ve definitely got the glow,” Berry added.

“See that’s what I told her!” Lily said. 

They all dissolved into a light-hearted argument over Sara’s pregnancy glow which soon turned into more baby talk. Ava looked over at Nora as Martina babbled at her excitedly. Baby Nora walked over on wobbled steps and waved around a teething ring. 

Martina tried to reach for baby Nora’s teething ring and was getting frustrated she couldn’t hold the hologram toy. She soon began to cry and a flustered Nora put her back into Ava’s arms. Ava gently bounced her and looked around and reached to grab another one of Martina’s real toys, a stuffed giraffe, and waved it around to get her attention. Martina quickly calmed down as she took the toy and immediately put it in her mouth. 

Baby Nora looked up at them and thrust her toy into Nora’s lap.

“Hi,” Nora said to her.

“Hi!” baby Nora excitedly said, before trying to grab Nora’s knee and fell through and just sat on the floor as she half babbled half talked to Martina. 

Ava turned a girl around so she could sit in her lap and talk to Baby Nora and watched as Nora let out a deep breath.

“Are you good?” Ava asked.

“Yeah, I mean holding Martina was surreal and I still don’t feel any more ready, but this is nice,” Nora said, looking away from the girls and over at Ava. 

Ava smiled and leaned over to hug her. “Good, I’m glad you’re happy and I’m so excited for you and Ray to be our neighbors and have a family of your own. You deserve it Nora.”

Nora smiled as she looked around the room at all the kids. “Yeah.”

……………………………………………………………………

May 9th, 2020. Week Twenty Five

Sara opened the box for Laurel’s dresser. Why did everything have to come disassembled in a box, she deeply regretted not paying extra for assembly right now. She pulled out all of the little bags of screws before looking over the instructions. Sara soon had everything laid out in front of her, the tools, the screws, the instructions, and the pieces all in sections. She was determined to do things right and build it properly. 

Dressers were a huge danger for babies if not built properly and secured the wall. Sara’s own mother liked to tell the story of when Sara was an infant and had ended up climbing her dresser drawers like stairs. The whole thing had almost fallen on top of her.

Sara took a deep breath. If she could fly the Waverider through time without a navigation system, code Gideon to respond to specific voice commands, and learn the ins-and-outs of how to fix a 22nd century ship, then she could build a dresser.

Ava with everything going on wanted to be extra prepared for Laurel and had gotten a head start on the nursery. They didn’t have everything they needed, but they were putting together most of the furniture and painting the room. Sara loved the fact that her family was able to help her put together the nursery. Even if her original plan was to wait until after the baby shower to do the nursery. 

However, with the current pandemic, she didn’t think she would be able to have the shower. Instead, they had posted their wishlist online for friends and family to order from and have things delivered to their house. Ava and her mom had promised that they would do a shower after the pandemic had ended Sara knew that wouldn’t be until after she had given birth. 

Sara grabbed the front and left side of the first drawer and reached for the screwdriver only to come up empty. “Hey, who took my screwdriver?” 

“Ray has it upstairs. They needed it for the crib.” Zari said, not looking up from her phone. 

Sara sighed and looked over at Charlie and Zari who were given the easiest task of putting together the mobile, as neither of them were very handy. Ava had insisted that the shapes mobile would be educational and soothing. They had all the shapes, wooden hangers, and strings out, but were consumed by the new app on Zari’s phone. 

“Hey,” Sara said, snapping her finger at them. “Please put that together and then you can either go help paint or play on your game.”

Zari rolled her eyes. “I was just showing Charlie this new thing. It’ll only take a sec.”

“Okay, but then can you please get to work? I want all the nursery furniture set so it can go in as soon as they’re done painting.”

“Why?” Zari asked looking up at her phone. “Won’t the walls still be wet?”

“Yes, but I just want to get an idea of what it will look like?” 

“But you can’t even see the color when it’s all wet and stiff?”

“Please you guys,” Sara pleaded, putting her hand on her chest. “This is really important to Ava and I’ve helped you, Zari, redecorate your room four times since you started living on the Waverider.”

“Well one can’t live in the same boring room every season,” Zari said, as if it was obvious.

Sara dropped her hands back into her lap and set them both with a hard look. 

“Okay.” They both quickly agreed and got to work on the mobile. 

Sara smiled as she looked back at the dresser drawer. She located all of her pieces, and all she needed was the screwdriver. Sara looked around but didn’t see it. “Hey, did you two take my screwdriver?”

Charlie snorted as Zari just looked at her perplexed. “Ray just came by and took it a few seconds ago remember?”

“Oh yeah, right, of course,” Sara said, trying to play it off even though she only had no memory of it. “I was just talking about the other one?”

“What other one?” Charlie asked, mirroring Sara’s confused look. “We’re using the Phillips head, remember?”

“Whatever,” Sara said, getting more frustrated as her memory failed her. “I’m just going to go look for another one.” 

It had been happening more often lately. Sara would forget little things like where she put things, like her phone, the jumpship keys, or the remote. She charged up the stairs, determined to get the screwdriver, but was stopped by Mick at the top.

“Where do you think you’re going?” Mick said, crossing his arms over his chest. 

“I need the screwdriver!” 

He gruffed, but didn’t move. “I’ll have Haircut bring it down and help you build the dresser.”

“I don’t need help and it’s perfectly fine for me to be around house paint!” Sara insisted, crossing her arms. “I need a screwdriver.”

“It ain’t about the paint, Pantsuit told me not to let you see the nursery, as she wants to surprise you. So Haircut will bring one to you later,” Mick said, shooing her off with a wave of his hand.

Sara scoffed. “So you’re going to listen to her over me?”

Mick didn’t reply, just gave her a grunt, and stood firm in his place on the stairs.

Sara growled in frustration and stormed back downstairs. All she wanted to do was put together the stupid dresser and while she might not be able to do it here, there were extra tools on the Waverider. Sara tried to bend down to collect the pieces for the dresser, but it was a little more difficult as her growing belly put her off balance and she ended up falling on her butt. 

“Let me help Cap,” Charlie said, taking some pieces from her. 

“No I got it,” Sara snapped at them and jerked back.

“Okay, no worries,” Charlie said, holding up their hands, they looked briefly offended, but quickly school their features.

“I’m sorry Charlie. I didn’t mean to snap at you,” Sara sighed and then tears collected in her eyes. She didn’t want to be angry like that and snap at her friends, but her emotions seem to be getting the better of her these days. It was a crazy roller coaster of highs and lows that she was struggling to deal with.

Charlie and Zari exchanged a look, unsure of how to help, but Zari stepped forward to lay a hand on her shoulder. “There, there, it’s okay.”

“I’m going to go put the dresser together,” Sara said as she brushed off her hand. 

She collected a few pieces of the dresser before quickly opening a portal onto the Waverider’s lab and promptly closed the portal behind her, not waiting for their response.

Once she was on the Waverider Sara took a deep breath and spread out all the pieces. However, she quickly realized that she had only grabbed a few random pieces and not even enough to complete a whole drawer. Sara’s tears finally broke free and she cried into her hands, letting herself truly sob as she knew no one was around. She walked over to the couch and laid down as she cried herself out. 

Sara felt like she couldn’t do anything on her own anymore, and it made her so frustrated. She soon felt a kick in her belly as Laurel started moving around like she always did whenever Sara lied down. Laurel’s kicks had become stronger and more frequent. Sara wiped her eyes and put a hand on her belly and focused on Laurel, but the tears wouldn’t let up and Sara continued to sob. 

After Sara had cried herself out, Laurel decided to do jumping jacks on her bladder and Sara quickly got off the couch and made her way to the bathroom. Afterward, Sara got hungry and went over to the kitchen, opening the fridge door and cruising the available options and quickly grabbed some nuts and berries. 

Sara was about to sit down as she heard another portal opening in the hall and turned to see Ava step onto the ship. Sara smiled at Ava’s cute look. Her hair was tied back in a low bun, there was a hat on the top of her head and she was wearing a dirty old t-shirt and a pair of overalls spotted with paint. Ava looked around before spotting Sara in the kitchen and walked towards her.

“Hey you,” Ava said, returning her smile. “Charlie and Zari said you’d ran off with part of the dresser, after yelling at them and then almost crying?”

“Yeah,” Sara said, looking down at her food and picking at some almonds.

Ava didn’t say anything, she just stepped forward and was about to wrap her arms around Sara’s waist, but then stopped. Ava looked down at her paint covered overalls and Sara’s clean shirt. So she settled for merely putting her hand on Sara’s back and rubbing soft circles over her shoulders. 

“My emotions have just been so up-and-down the past few days.”

“I know,” Ava said, having watched Sara’s emotion flip flop and knowing how Sara struggled to remain composed during such times. “I know you’re trying your best not to lose your cool with anybody and I’m proud of you for trying to do so. So you just take as much time as you need and we are all going to give you the grace you deserve.”

Sara smiled and looked over at her for the first time since Ava stepped through the portal. 

“Thank you,” Sara said, leaning up to give Ava a quick kiss.

“Of course, do you want me to go get the other pieces and help you assemble the dresser in the lab?”

“Is the nursery all painted?”

“Not yet, but I think the others can handle it.” 

“Okay,” Sara said, as she took Ava’s hand and let Ava lead her into the lab. While Ava was getting the rest of the pieces to assemble, Sara gathered all of the tools they would need. Once Ava returned they quickly got the dresser put together. As Sara stepped back to look at the dresser. She was reminded of the time they built the wardrobe in purgatory. She looked over at Ava and knew she was having similar thoughts.

Ava came up behind her and wrapped her arms around her waist, settling them on Sara’s belly. “I’m happy you’re on my team.”

“I’m happy you’re on my team too,” Sara said, resting back against Ava’s chest. 

“And I’m really happy with the life we’re literally building together,” Ava said, as she rested her chin on Sara’s shoulder.

“I hope you’re only talking about the dresser because I’m the only one pregnant here,” Sara said, as Laurel started kicking inside of her again and Ava moved her hands to feel her. 

“I know, I know,” Ava said with a chuckle.

“I hope you know because I just put blood in her capillary blood vessels.”

“Did you now?” Ava said in the tone that was slightly serious, but mostly playful.

“Yep,” Sara said, pretending to be very serious. “And because of that, her skin is turning pink.”

“Wow that is pretty impressive,” Ava said, nodding her head. 

“Yeah, I downloaded an app,” Sara said, pulling her phone out and showing Ava. The app told them how big Laurel was inside of her, what kind of fruit to compare her to, and some facts about how their baby was growing, along with what Sara would expect week to week.

Sara could feel as Ava smiled against her shoulder as she pressed her lips into the skin exposed by Sara’s tank top. Ava just hummed and Sara melted further into her arms. 

“You are amazing,” Ava said, her voice genuine.

“Thank you,” Sara whispered, not feeling the need to speak higher as Ava was so close. “You’re pretty amazing too, you’re just not building a baby right now, so.”

Ava scoffed at her and stood up straighter behind her. “Ah excuse me.”

“Well it’s true,” Sara said, defending her words.

Sara could practically hear as Ava rolled her eyes. 

“I hope your behavior improves before Laurel is born because I do not want our child to be a brat like you are,” Ava said pinching Sara’s hip.

“Ow,” Sara shouted and spun around away from her. “I can’t believe you just pinched your pregnant fiancee.” 

Sara tried to be playful with her, but it had really hurt and she was more sensitive these days. Along with the fact that she had already been crying, it was easy for the tears to slip out. Sara hastily wiped them away with her hands.

“Oh my god, Sara. I’m so sorry, I didn’t mean to hurt you. I was just teasing you.” Ava did a complete 180 and walked around to face her and rub her hands up and down Sara’s arms.

“It’s okay,” Sara said to her sniffles “I was teasing you too. I just keep crying today.”

Ava just shook her head and pulled her in as she continued to rub her hands up and down Sara’s back until Sara was able to calm down and pull away. 

“Are you ready to take the dresser to the nursery and see how the painting is going?” Ava asked when the tears had subsided.

“Yeah,” Sara said trying to smile. 

Ava nodded and opened a portal into the living room again. Sara was surprised to see that no one was there. However, the lovely smell coming from the kitchen told her that the Legends were not very far, as they were not ones to stray far from a fresh meal.

“I’m going to pop upstairs and see how it’s going,” Ava said, squeezing her hand once again before letting go and heading up the stairs. Ava turned back to look at Sara when she was at the top of the steps and Sara gave her a reassuring smile as she wandered over to the kitchen.

Ray must have been the one cooking because there was what looked and smelled like a zucchini pasta casserole in the oven with just a few minutes left on the timer. Sara looked over to the dining room table to see that it had already been set, along with a plate of roasted vegetables. Her favorite, as well as some garlic bread. Sara snagged a spoon from one of the place settings and reached over to steal a bite from the plate of vegetables. Sara closed her eyes as she savored the warm and wonderful taste. 

“Sara!” Ava scolded her as she quickly descended down the stairs. 

Sara just smiled knowing she would get away with it and put her hand on her belly, if only for added effect. “What, we were hungry.”

Her tone was seemingly innocent and Sara accompanied it with a soft smile. Ava saw right through her, but sighed as she approached her and swiped Sara’s nose with her finger. 

“You are too smooth,” Ava said, leaning in to give Sara a quick peck on the lips. “Now come on. We have something to show you.”

Ava smiled as she took Sara’s hand and lead her up the stairs. Sara’s brow furrowed as she wandered what Ava could possibly have in store. They couldn’t have possibly finished the nursery in such a short amount of time, but Sara trusted Ava unconditionally. They reached the door to the nursery and Ava hesitated, but smiled and looked over at her. 

“Do you want to close your eyes or just walk in?” Ava asked her. 

Sara knew that she wanted her to close her eyes, but Sara wasn’t very fond of being blind. Ever since she was blinded after Charlie’s sister Atropos showed her her true form, Sara hated to be blindfolded. Ava knew this and was always gentle with her when it came to her sight. 

“Can I just walk in?”

“Of course,” Ava said as she put her hand on the door handle. 

Sara smiled and bit her lip in anticipation. Although it was quiet, Sara could still hear her family, waiting for them in the nursery. 

Ava pushed open the door and put her hand on Sara’s forearm as she stood behind her. Sara stepped in to get a better look and was greeted with all the Legend’s smiling faces.

“Surprise!” They all shouted and parted to the sides of the room to show her. The white modern crib had been put together and made up with a fresh gray sheet, as the shapes mobile hung above it. There was also the bookshelf and dresser that she and Ava had to put together.

Sara looked around the room, it was painted a shade of olive green. It was still pretty bare with just the few pieces of white furniture, but there were a few books on the shelf that made it look more made up. It was the beginnings of a nursery and now Sara could see more clearly what it would look like. Sara quickly became overwhelmed as tears filled her eyes and she put her hand over her mouth.

“It’s perfect.”

Ava came over and put her hand around Sara’s shoulders to comfort her. Sara didn’t realize she was crying until Ava reached out to wipe away her tears with her hand.

“Here Sara, sit,” Ray said as he stepped aside to reveal a recliner chair and Sara teared up again. It was the exact one that she had been looking at online a few days ago, she didn’t even add it to her wish list, but somehow they just knew. It’s a slim chair with soft tan fabric that gently rocked as Sara sat in it.  

“We thought the bookshelf looked a little empty so Dad and I got you this,” Lita said, handing her a hardback picture book with a painted picture of the Waverider on it. Sara flipped through the pages. It was the story of the Legends, a bit more kid friendly, but with all of their adventures, leading up to the addition of a baby girl, their Laurel. “Dad wrote it and I did all the illustrations.”

Lita beamed with pride as Mick an arm around her shoulder smiling as well. Sara looked up at all of them, her family, as they stood before her in the room that they made for her daughter. 

“Thank you.” Was all she managed to whisper.

“We were happy to help,” Ray said.

“Yeah, of course, anything for you boss.” All of them said, as they nodded and smiled at her.

They’re all distracted by the kitchen timer and everyone filed out of the room eager for food.  Sara took a moment to look around the room once more and Ava hesitated in the doorway, but Sara nodded at her to go. Mick was the last one there and stood in the doorway as well, watching over her. Sara got up and walked over to him, she just smiled.

“Yeah, um, but that wasn’t my idea I was roped into it,” Mick said, looking down at the ground.

“Sure,”  Sara said, just shaking her head. “You know, after watching you be a father to Lita, I’ve never seen you happier Mick and I hope that you’ll be a part of my kid’s life as well.”

Mick just nodded and he didn’t have to say what she already knew. They’ve been friends since the beginning although they had their ups and downs, she knew that he was always there for her, like the big brother she didn’t know she needed. 

He looked down at her belly and Sara nodded as he reached out to place a hand on her stomach. Sara pulled it over to where Laurel was kicking her left side. Mick laughed as Laurel kicked particularly hard against his hand and gave her belly a light pat. It felt like she was being poked from the inside, but it didn’t hurt and Sara smiled as well. 

“Come on we better get downstairs before they eat all the food,” Mick said, heading out of the room, but looking back to wait for her to follow.

“Don’t worry they’ll be hell to pay if they eat all the food before me,” Sara said, giving him a sly smile and pulling a knife out of her jeans, just to joke with him.

Mick let out a full belly laugh and put a hand around her shoulders. “You gonna let the kid keep knives on them?”

“Probably, but only once they get older,” Sara said with a shrug as they walked down the hall. “I mean you let Lita use the heat gun all the time.”

Mick just shrugged. “A girl’s got to know how to defend herself, yeah.”

“Yeah,” Sara said, putting her knife away and settling her hand over Laurel.

When they got down to the dining room Ava got up and pulled out Sara’s chair for her. They had already dished her up a full plate and just as she and Mick had anticipated, the majority of the food was gone as the Legends had thoroughly dug in. Sara watched everybody talk, there was one large conversation going on with little pockets of people turning to talk to each other. 

Ava put her arm around her and pulled her chair closer and Sara smiled. She looked over at her and Ava leaned in to press a kiss to her cheek before she turned back to resume her conversation with Nora. This was her family and Sara wouldn’t trade it for the world.

[sunriseverse]

me? writing even more newmann fic? it's more likely than you think!

"Morning, sleepyhead," Newton says; his voice soft, fingers playing across Hermann's back.

"Nng," Hermann replies, opening his eyes a crack, and rolls over, coming face to face with the other. "It's so early," he complains, "did you have to get me up?"

There's a quiet hum, and then the other says, "It's not that early. It's past ten."

It's wonderful. Hermann can't imagine his life without this; waking up in the morning with Newton by his side, eyes glinting and a smile quick to appear on his face.

The phantom of his wedding ring, sitting, now, on the bedside table, is still on his finger, and Hermann imagines, in his mind's eye, again, the image of Newton's proposal; of the earnestness in his tone when he said, "Hermann Gottlieb, will you make me the happiest man alive and marry me?"

The thought of it warms him; sets butterflies alight in his stomach even now, almost a decade later; the joy of it coming to him suddenly in quiet moments like these.

As if on cue, Newton says, "I can hear you thinking."

"You cannot," Hermann shoots back, and opens his eyes; shifts so that he can look the other in the eye.

"Drift-bond," Newton says with a grin; easy and soft.

"A tale for fools, as you well know," Hermann points out. "The Drift doesn't work like that, liebling."

"Shh," Newton says, and presses a kiss to his cheek; hand finding Hermann's and entangling their fingers. "Stop being such a wet blanket, Hermann."

"Doctor Gottlieb," Hermann says, and they both smile at each other; the words more of a gentle ribbing now than the pointed, pained attempt at distance they were so many years ago, for Newton has grown on him, and Hermann has grown with him, and they now grow together.

Hermann squeezes the other's hand in his; says, quietly, then, "Good morning, Newton."

"Good is subjective," Newton shoots back, because of course he does, and Hermann huffs and turns away. "Nooo, man, come back," Newton protests.

"Absolutely not, Newton."

"C'moooooon," Newton says, and shifts, the action making the covers rustle, and then, a moment later, he's propped up on his arm over Hermann. Hermann puts on a mock-scowl, which dissolves mere seconds later as Newton peppers his face with kisses, light and quick, and when Newton pulls away, he instinctively leans up, chasing the other's lips.

Newton grins at him; hair sleep-tousled and eyes mercurial, shifting grey-green-blue in the morning light; grins at him like he's seeing the Mona Lisa for the first time, expression awed; grins at Hermann like he's a revelation. Hermann loves him.

"Gotcha," he quips, breaking the moment, and Hermann groans; not terribly annoyed, really; and rolls over.

"Newton," he says, tilting his head up at the other as innocently as he can manage, and Newton caves; captures his lips in a kiss; unsuspecting.

With near-vicious glee, Hermann presses in, hard; hears Newton's half-swallowed squeak of surprise and takes it like a trophy; kisses him, messy and inelegant and not at all chaste in the slightest; tastes victory as Newton gives a sigh of content and reaches his hand up to grip the nape of Hermann's neck; pull him in closer.

When they break apart, just far enough that they can breathe, Newton gives him a dazed look. "What's that for?" he enquires.

"Nothing," Hermann says, simply, and then: "I love you very much."

"Mm," Newton hums, "love you too, Herms."

Hermann reaches out with the intent to brush a lock of hair from his forehead; winds up carding his fingers through the other's hair instead, relishing the soft hum of content Newton gives at the action. "I need a haircut," he murmurs, the sound half-muffled by how quietly it's spoke, but Hermann hears him clearly, this close.

"A cut?" he says, "not just a trim?"

"...you just like my hair longer," Newton accuses.

Hermann hums. "Well; it is rather becoming," he says.

"You think it makes me look roguish," Newton counters.

"Shush," Hermann says, scowling. "That is slander."

"Mmhm, sure," drawls the biologist; eyes half-lidded. "Whatever you say, Herms."

Hermann scowls harder; feels his cheeks and ears heating under the other's gaze. "You're awful," he says, and starts to continue when he notices something odd on the other's face. "Newton," he says, slowly, "is that blood?"

"Huh? What?" the other asks, giving him a puzzled look, and it wavers for a moment before solidifying in his gaze.

"Your eye," Hermann breathes; ringed an angry red, it gazes at Hermann balefully, the iris almost lost with how widely the pupil is dilated. His other eye is normal. "Newton, what—?"

He reaches out and finds he can't touch the other; his hand goes through the biologist's shoulder like some sort of projected image. "Newton?" he says, again, half-panicked, "Newton—Newton!"

"What's wrong?" says Newton, but—no, no, that isn't Newton, that cannot possibly be Newton, because there's something very, very wrong with it. It's got his face, and it's giving him a puzzled look, but it's wrong, and when it reaches out, its fingers bear sharp, inky talons that rip into his flesh like heated metal. "What's wrooooooooooooooooooooong?" he—it repeats, mouth opening in ways no human mouth should be able to. "What's—w—what's—what's wrong—what's wrong—whaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaat's wrooooooooooong—"

Hermann recoils, horrified, as skin folds in on itself and dissolves like it's been doused with acid, leaving nothing but a skeleton laced through with bright, white-blue veins.

White-blue.

Even in a state of panic, the colour triggers some forgotten memory in his mind.

"Drift," he murmurs, the word soundless, and everything collapses around him. "Oh, God," he says, floating, now, in a boundless, empty world, stretching on forever in every direction, up not discernible from down, "Newton."

And suddenly, he's clutching the rim of a sink and dry-heaving; legs and arms shaking.

Finally, he gains enough control to look around. His head pounds—with what, he can't remember, other than that it was terrifying. A dream—that must be it. No; a nightmare. He must have been remembering something from the collective kaiju consciousness, from when he—when they Drifted.

Something warm and coppery slips down his throat, and he winces; tilts his head forward again, watching blood drip into the sink. The sight reminds him of things he can't remember, of shadows, and darkness, and a laugh he's never truly heard; the press of lips he's never truly felt.

By the time he gets out of the bathroom, the sun is rising; casting a pale, washed out light over his barren quarters.

He checks his phone. Five thirty; February seventh, 2034. A Saturday.

He sighs and crawls, exhausted, back under cold covers.

[allisonbaelfire]

Remember To Breathe

Pairings: Jason DiLaurentis x Reader

Summary: “A” finally made it to bring your friends and you behind bars - you thought, until you woke up and found yourself in a dollhouse.

Word Count: 3,163

Authors Note: This is based on 5x25 and 6x01 - I already wrote a fic similar to this one but I was never satisfied with it so I rewrote it and hope you’ll like it! (The old one was “Kidnapped”)

___________________________

DiLaurentis House:

“Toby, Lieutenant Tanner,” Jason sighed, he seemed pissed as he stepped outside the door. “how can I help you?” He looked at Tanner. “I mean you’ve my sister and now my girlfriend, so what else could I possibly give you?”

Toby looked worried. He didn’t know how to tell Jason that the Van, which was supposed to transfer you and your friends into a different prison to separate you all from Alison, crashed and that you girls are missing.

Tanner noticed that Toby was overwhelmed by the situation, his girlfriend was missing too and so she stepped in, “Mr. DiLaurentis, I’m very sorry but I’ve to inform you that Y/N and her friends are missing.”

Jason listened. Toby didn’t know how to interpret his expression, was he shocked because of you missing or was he mad and about to yell at Tanner and him?

One thing Toby did know was that Jason loved you, at least as much as he loved Spencer, and that he could relate to Jason’s feelings, no matter how he’d react now.

Jason started laughing sarcastically. “Th- This is all your fault.” He couldn’t stop himself. “She came to you! Y/N, she tried to tell you and you didn’t listen - even Hanna tried and you didn’t care.” Jason became angry. “And now you lost her. This is on you and this stupid town.”

“Mr. DiLaurentis, I understand that you’re upset but we try our best to find them and if you could help us in anyway, it’d be-”

“No.”

Tanner looked at Toby because she thought she didn’t hear right. “No?”

“No, I think you should leave my property.” Jason crashed through his door and slammed it behind him.

                                    ~*~

You and Jason had been a couple for a few years now, you two somehow already lived together and had planned a future, one that Jason wanted to make official with proposing to you, after everything with “A” would finally be over - but maybe now it was to late.

Jason tried to hold it together but as he stepped into the living room and saw a picture of you and him his body tensed and he couldn’t hold back some tears. 

He went over and took the picture into his hand. Jason smiled as he remembered the moment the picture was made. You were should met his family for the ‘first’ time. You actually knew them, when you were friends with Alli but this was different and you were so nervous before. It turned out it was the best evening he ever had with his parents. 

Jason took his phone out and called Caleb. He knew Caleb had probably looked for Hanna already and besides Toby, he trusted him. You were always honest with Jason and told him everything about “A”, no matter the danger that came with it because you knew, you two would deal with it. Jason knew, Hanna told Caleb too.

“We’ve to find them on our own.” He said in a serious tone. 

                                   ~*~

In the Dollhouse:

You woke up when the sun was shining on your face. You were not quite awake yet but you already noticed that something wasn’t right. 

Usually when you woke up, you’d find Jason right beside you, still asleep... but now you were all by yourself and this never happened, you were always the first to wake up.

“Jason?” You called for him. 

It was still possible that he might fell asleep on the couch or had to use the bathroom.

Then you remembered. Your friends and you had a car crash and someone shoot a smoky gas. 

You stood up immediately. You noticed that someone put a lot of effort in the room you were in, to make it look like the same as the real one but as you saw the camera above you, you were sure that this wasn’t your home.

Your hands shook and your heart thudded in your chest. Where were you? Where were your friends? The tension in your body started to grow. You were trying to find a way out but all you found out was that you were a prisoner in a room that looked like your home and there was no way out.

“HEEEEEEEEEEEELP!” You screamed with all the air you had in your lungs and hammered with your fist against the door until it hurts.

After minutes, which seemed for you to be hours, a woman’s voice ring out of the loudspeaker. She greeted you in different languages and told you to exit your room.

                                   ~*~

You stepped out of your room and into a nearly dark hallway, where you finally saw all of your friends. You ran over to them and pulled them into a hug. All of you were still in in those orange suits they gave you before you got into the van. You were glad that you weren’t alone in this nightmare anymore but your body was still on alarm.

“What is this place?” Aria asked. She seemed like she hadn’t slept for days.

“I think that this is ‘A’s House.” Hanna replied with the same tired look in her eyes.

“More like ‘A’s Dollhouse.” Spencer added.

Emily looked at you. “Yes, and we’re the dolls.”

You started to take short breaths and your heart was pounding faster.

While the others looked around to find away out or to see anything that could help escaping, Spencer noticed your breathing and took your hand. “Calm down Y/N, we’re all here.”

Hanna was confused. “What is happening to her?”

You realized that everything around you slowed down but your movements became faster. You had a panic attack. You had those before but with different triggers. Spencer was the only one who knew about them.

“Y/N, look at me. You’re not alone and we’ll get out of here!” She tried her best to sound convincing. “You’ve space, you can move. Everything will be alright.” 

You breathing didn’t stabilized. Spencer knew that you had those panic attacks since you got locked up by ‘A’ in a box at the train-party, Jason told her. He asked for her help as you became afraid of small rooms or feeling locked up in anyway, because it happened a lot by the time and for him, Spencer was the closest of your friends.

Spencer suddenly had an idea. “Think about what he’d tell you.” 

And you did as she told you. You remembered Jason’s voice and tried to hear it as clearly as you could. You nearly could imagine how he’d look at you while trying to calm you and this actually calmed you down.

“How did you do that?” Aria asked Spencer.

“Y/N, are you alright?” Emily placed a hand on your shoulder and you nodded.

“Please, follow the lighted pathway.” You hear the loudspeaker-female voice again.

You looked at each other. All of you were confused and angry at the same time.

“Please, follow the lighted pathway.”

Hanna clenched her teeth. “We heard you, Bitch.”

You wrapped your hands around her Hanna’s arm and all of you followed the lights, that were placed near the ground on each side of the walls that surrounded you.

                                   ~*~

You entered a room that looked exactly alike to the DiLaurentis living room. You saw a woman- at least you thought it had to be a woman, as you saw the long blond hair, you thought for a second it could be Alison - but she had a mask on, so you couldn’t see her real face. She way playing a classical piano song, which sounded familiar to you...

Emily took a step forward, “Ali, is that you?”

The woman stopped playing the piano and pulled off the mask she wore.

You looked at each other in disbelief. It was Mona. You thought she was dead for so long but seeing her alive and well was a relieve, even when it shocked you at first.

Mona was dressed like Alison, in the night she disappeared. She also acted like her, which confused all of you more than the whole situation already did.

                                   ~*~

Caleb’s House:

Jason entered Calebs room and saw him sitting on his computer, probably trying to track all of you.

“Hey Man,” Caleb said. “I’m sorry.”

Caleb and Jason got along pretty well. Caleb was the only one who knew about how serious the relationship to you was for Jason, and that he planned to propose to you.

Jason nodded thankfully. “Anything yet?” 

“Caleb got into the P.D.’s command center.” Toby replied.

Jason walked over to the boys and watched carefully what Caleb was doing. Even when he had no idea of hacking, he hoped to see anything that could lead to you.

“And if you cross check the vans GPS system with the P.D.’s system, it goes dead right here.” Caleb pointed to a map on his monitor. 

Toby nodded. “On Route 30, near the railroad crossing.” he looked at Jason, trying to read his mind as he stared on the monitor.

Jason noticed Toby looking at him. “Toby, I’m sorry for the way I acted. I was-”

“Don’t mention it. I get it and I would’ve done the same.” 

Jason appreciated Toby’s words, probably more than Toby could know. Jason hated it when he behaved like this, because of you he became a better man but sometimes his old manners and his temper would take control over him.

“Okay, so what does us tell this?” Ezra asked.

Jason was so focused on what Caleb might have found out that he didn’t even noticed Fitz being there.

“That’s when ‘A’ hacked into the system of the van and took control over the vehicle.” Caleb answered.

Jason tried to listen what else they’ve found out but it was hard for him to concentrate when all he could think about was what ‘A’ might do to you or if you would be still alive.

                                   ~*~

In the Dollhouse:

Mona, or Alison how she calls herself, offered all of you some Tea and cookies. She spoke and continued to act like Alison, also the way she treated you all were the same way Ali would’ve treated you.

Emily looked at her, she still couldn’t believe that Mona was alive. “We really thought you were dead.”

“Thank god for Mrs. Grunwald.” Mona sighed. “I don’t know how I’ll ever repay her for saving my life that night.” She sat down between Hanna and Emily. “I’m so happy to see you guys.” Mona smiled.

“Cut the crap Mona.” You scowled. The others were surprised by your words.

You couldn’t handle the way she acted and even when you had a panic attack a few minutes ago, you could breathe fine now and were done with the shit that ‘A’ was doing with all of you already.

Hanna placed her hand gently on Mona’s knee. “I’m really happy to see you too, Mona.” She said soft.

“Do not call me that again.” Mona threatened. “You know how much I loathe that Bitch.”

Emily touched Mona’s hair. She was desperate to know if it truly was her hair and it was. Emily looked at Spencer shocked and somehow you couldn’t hide a small smirk.

Suddenly you heard the loudspeakers again, a bell chimes and Mona leaves the room. You and the girls followed her, obviously confused. 

                                   ~*~

She leads you into another room and she sits down with a board game. The room looked like a child’s room. You felt that your body tensed again, it really creeped you out seeing all this dolls around you.

“We need to start the game,” Mona looked at you and again you hear chimes,  “four chimes means it’s game time.”   

Mona opened the board game and you and your friends sat down at the table. She tried to explain how to play the game but all of you were distracted or confused. Mona opened  a “door” on the board and you all could see a picture of Ezra where he was on the Ice Ball.

“No, I’m not gonna sit here and play this stupid game.” Aria panicked and you could see the fear in her eyes.

You heard the chimes again and Mona stood up and got all of you a letter by ‘A’. In it was an invention to prom.

“We’re playing the game to see who our prom dates will be.” Emily said.

You were the same opinion as Aria. You stood up and looked at the other pictures until you found one of Jason. You threw the invention away. 

“We’re not playing this game, do you hear me?” You shouted as you walked over to the camera that was watching all of you..

Hanna also stood up and looked into the camera above. “You win, you can have us as your precious dolls... but if Caleb shows up here and if you do anything to hurt him-”

“-it won’t.” You throw in.

“How can you be so sure?” Hanna looked at you in disbelieve.

You looked at the camera, “because if I see Jason and this thing hurts him, I will kill it myself.”

“Y/N!” Mona tries to calm you.

“No, Y/N is right. You’re not Alison. You’re Mona, okay?” Hanna snaps at her. “And this is not your house. You’re not here alone anymore. There are six of us.”

“And just one of him, her or it, bitch!” You hissed at ‘A’ and looked right into the eye of the camera.

“They’re right. Let’s find a way to get the hell out of here.” Emily suggested and the others, except Mona, agreed.

“Mona, let’s go.” Spencer said soft.

“I’m Alison. Alison DiLaurentis.” Mona replied with a worried look.

“Mona, let’s go!” Hanna yelled and a loud alarm started wailing.

All of you tried to cover your ears. It was a sound that was alike to a fire alarm but much much louder. 

Mona ran out of the room and told you all to follow. She ran into a room that looked exactly like Alison’s.

She turned around and looked at you. “It won’t stop until you’re all in your rooms.”

You did as she said and ran into your rooms, the door shut behind you and after a minute, the alarm stopped.

And again, you were alone. 

                                   ~*~

Hours past and you couldn’t tell what time it was by now. Your thoughts were racing, first about who was torturing you and your friends, if the police would ever find you, if they were even looking and then you thought about Jason and what he might do, if he couldn’t find you.

At first you didn’t want to lay in the fake bed in your fake room but you couldn’t help yourself. You were exhausted and eventually, you felt asleep.

You heard something whirring because you woke up. Short after, Mona came into your room.

“We’ve got three Minutes, come on.”

                                   ~*~

Calebs House:

Meanwhile, Caleb retrieved the footage from the traffic camera.

Toby looked at the monitor in confusion, “What the...?” he asked as he saw a cartoon.

“‘A’ must’ve found a way to override the camera.” Caleb explained.

Jason tried to hide his anger but Ezra couldn’t, he was so upset by ‘A’ mocking them with a cartoon that he kicked against a wall.

Caleb, Toby and Jason shrugged but as they saw that Ezra was hurt, they tried to comfort him.

“Are you okay?” Jason asked worried.

“I’ll get you some ice for that.” Toby offered.

“I don’t need ice.” Ezra shouted in anger. “I need to find Aria and we’ve got nothing. Nothing.” He yelled.

Caleb looked thoughtful at his computer. “If I find the right code, I’ll write a program that’ll pinpoint the source of the signal.” Then he looked at Ezra. “That’s all we need to prove to Tanner that ‘A’ took the control over the van.”

Jason nodded. “Do it, Toby you call her.” 

                                   ~*~

In the Dollhouse:

You followed Mona and woke up the others. You walked behind her as she brought you to some sort of crossing.

“Every night the generator shuts down like a clockwork.” Mona started. “It takes exactly three minutes for the backup power to kick in. I’ve run in 90 seconds in each direction,” She stopped walking. You took a look around and saw a door. 

“I’ve found the way out, but there’s an old silo at the end and one has to climb up. There is a ladder there, but it’s about 50 feet to the top and one cannot get to the top before the power turns back on.” Mona explained in a hurry. Then she pointed to the other side, where you were standing. “The other way leads to a big empty room and past that room is a sealed steel door, like that of a vault, at the end of the hall.”

“Like a bank vault?” Spencer asked.

“And whats on the other side?” You questioned and hoped to here that this was an actual exit for this hell hole.

“I’m dying to know too, but I’ve never made it inside by time.” She replied.

“What do you mean ‘by time’?” Hanna looked at her in fear.

“It leaves you without food or water for days.” Mona answered. “It blasts the siren until you’d rather die than listen to it one more second. And on a loop, ‘A’ plays a recording of her loved ones crying.” She was scared and also hurt by the thought of her mother crying.

Your body started to shiver and your hands began to shake. Usually you were tough, at least you made everybody think you were, but this was too much to handle. Only the thought of hearing Jason or your family cry because they’d think you’d be dead, made you wish you’d actually die. 

You were also afraid what would happen here to your friends, if they wouldn’t do what ‘A’ wants them to do. You looked at the others and saw that they felt the same way you did. You took Aria’s and Emily’s hand and tried to comfort them as much as you could. Also you hoped that this would prevent you, from another panic attack.

“It wanted me to become Alison, so that’s who I am when it’s watching.” Mona continued. “It thinks it beat me. But I’m still here. I’m the one who’s winning the game.” She tried to sound confident.

You were so much in your thoughts and tried to get everything that Mona had told you, that you didn’t listen to anything else anymore. But your body was on high alert, whenever you heard something unfamiliar, so you shrugged as you heard a clicking noise.

“Did anyone here that?” You asked.

Mona looked at you in fear. “We’ve got 17 seconds. Run!”

You did as she said and you could’ve sworn, each of you never ran that fast. You were running for your life.

[infinite-inferno]

Death of a Bachelor

Human AU. If anyone is interested here’s the song also disclaimer I have never been to a Panic! concert so if anything in here isn’t how a concert would work sorry 

Ship(s): Prinxiety

“Almost ready Edgar Allen Woe?” Roman called out to his boyfriend of 5 years now. Roman managed to snag tickets for the Panic! at the Disco concert nearby. Their seats were in a spot where they had a good view of the stage but easy access to outside with fresh air and less people in case Virgil got overwhelmed by the crowd - it was perfect. 

Virgil ran out of the room, slipping his black, high top converses on as he made his way towards the door, eager to get there. He looked like he raided Hot Topic, wearing every Panic! merch he owned (”I spent money on all this, might as well wear it all”), with the only non-merch things being his ripped black skinny jeans and his shoes. Roman was wearing a t-shirt that said “I’m Pretty. Odd.” with a lightweight jacket with the logo on the back and deep inside and outside pockets. Roman grabbed the rainbow pride flag on the table as the couple made their way to Roman’s car, blasting Brendon Urie’s angelic voice from Virgil’s Spotify. 

They weren’t driving for too long before they got to the venue (stopping for McDonald’s first because food) and neither one could contain their excitement - especially Virgil. 

“I don’t think I’ve ever seen you this excited for anything - it’s really adorable,” Roman commented, giving Virgil’s face a light blush. 

“I think the only thing that would top this is if My Chemical Romance got back together and I got to see them! Thank you so much by the way Ro. I’m so happy I got to see my first concert with you.” The couple smiled, walking in to get to their seats. There was still about 15 minutes before the concert was supposed to start but it already looked like most of the seats had been filled. 

They talked until the openers got on stage, shaking with anticipation for Brendon Urie to come out. 

The entire crowd cheered and hollered when they heard the beginnings to Don’t Threaten Me With a Good Time, screaming the lyrics with the performer, Virgil and Roman included. The concert went on and despite the crowds Virgil looked right in his element, and Roman couldn’t help but shoot him loving glances as the emo belted The Ballad of Mona Lisa, or screamed “Are you nasty?” during Miss Jackson (Roman was doing the exact same thing). 

Roman heard the opening chords to Death of a Bachelor and felt a wave of anxiety go through him. He grabbed Virgil’s hands, causing him to look away from Brendon and at Roman as Roman sang the lyrics to him. After the second verse, Roman gave him a little twirl, causing a giggle to escape Virgil as Roman went down on one knee, reaching into his jacket for the little black box stashed in there, opening it up to reveal a ring. “Can you be the cause of death for this bachelor?” Roman asked, and despite the loud environment they were in, Virgil could perfectly make out what he was saying, giggling slightly at the phrasing because it was so cute and so Roman, nodding and kissing him, not caring that the teenage girls in the row behind him were taking video captioning it “SO CUTE” or “#GOALS” or something similar on their Snapchats. All they cared about was each other, kissing and embracing until they heard the end of the song. 

The rest of the concert they were attached as they continued singing and screaming lyrics whether by just holding each other’s hand or Roman snaking his arm around Virgil’s waist, the shorter man leaning into his side. 

It was the best proposal Virgil could’ve ever dreamed of.

[derangedangel]

Hold You to It - Stiles Stilinski

Summary: Stiles makes a promise to you on your second date

Stiles Stilinski x reader

Word Count: 1,290

Author’s Note: This one came out smooth like melted butter lol. Short and sweet. I love when I get out of a writing slump. Thanks to the people who still write for Teen Wolf because I got this idea after I read another Stiles imagine. 

The look Stiles was giving you was one girls dreamed about. It was adoration. It was how you look at the Mona Lisa for the first time in person at The Louvre. It was awe and wonderment all at the same time. Like looking up at the sky on a clear dark night while all the stars are shining. 

This was only the second date though. Stiles had known you for a while and finally got the courage to ask you out. The first date went great and you liked the conversation the two of you had, so the second date was a given. 

“I’m gonna marry you one day,” Stiles said out of no where. You were talking about this movie that you wanted to see next week and Stiles just blurted his inner thoughts out.

You laughed lightly. It wasn’t creepy coming from Stiles. You knew he liked you way before he asked you out. It was kind of sweet, but still a little embarrassing.

“Umm, I totally didn’t mean to say that. Just ignore me. Continue with what you were saying. This never happened,” Stiles said fidgeting in his seat across from you.  

“Get back to me in two years,” you said with a small smile on your face.

“Wait, what,” Stiles said shocked and confused at what you were possibly implying. 

“It’s a little too soon for marriage, but get back to me in two years.”

Stiles tilted his head to the side slightly, a large grin forming on his face. “I’ll hold you to it.”

For some reason, Stiles had a late dinner reservation for the two of you. His excuse was that he knew he was going to work late that day, but he wanted to take you out. Two years later and Stiles still wined and dined you. Could he be any more perfect?

You were old fashion, so the two of you didn’t live together. That was a husband privilege. But you did spend a ton of time at each other’s places. Stiles could have changed at your place since he had enough clothes there, but he chose to go to his then swing by and pick you up.

The restaurant Stiles was taking you to was pretty small, but still fancy. You thought your favorite little black dress would be great for the occasion. No matter how many times you wore the fit and flare dress, Stiles’ mouth dropped every time. 

It was Thursday night but you were still surprised about there only being a few other people in the restaurant. The waiter walked you to a table in the middle of the small restaurant and handed you your menus. The two of you ordered your drinks and the waiter left. 

“You look gorgeous, Y/N,” Stiles said while you looked over your menu.

You tilted your menu down some and looked up at your boyfriend’s face. “You said that when you first saw me this evening.”

“That I did,” Stiles said as he admired you. His whisky colored eyes still shined bright in the dim restaurant lighting. 

“Thank you. I’m not going to turn down a compliment no matter how many times you give me them in one night,” you said smiling while you gazed back into his eyes before you went back to your menu. 

After you both finished your meals and got to dessert, it was just the two of you in the restaurant. 

“Are we staying too late,” you said in a low voice. “We’re the only ones here. I don’t want to keep everyone late just so I can finish the rest of my cake.”

Stiles smiled and shook his head. “No, the place doesn’t close for another 30 minutes. I guess it was just slow tonight.”

“But maybe we should hurry up, baby. I don’t want to be those customers. They probably want to close up early.”

“Or they want to stay the rest of the 30 minutes and get all their hours.”

Your face scrunched up slightly in thought while your fork played in the frosting of your cake. “Maybe so. But I still feel weird being the only two in here.”

“We’re almost done, honey.”

When you finished your dessert and wiped your mouth with your napkin, Stiles asked you a question.

“Do you remember our second date?”

You smiled and thought for a second. “Yeah, it was here actually. I didn’t even think about that when you said you had reservations for this place.” 

“Do you remember what I said that night?”

You let out a breathy laugh. “You said a lot that night. You’ve been known to blabber.” 

Stiles rolled his eyes. “Think about it.”

“Umm... we talked about you sitting on the bench when you were on the lacrosse team,” you said giggling. “Uhh our favorite movies.”

“Marriage,” Stiles said, a serious tone in his voice that wasn’t there before. 

The quiet ambiance music that was playing stopped and you heard a piano and violin. You looked over in the corner where the restaurant had a piano and saw a man on the piano and another playing the violin. 

Come What May.

It was your favorite song from Moulin Rogue. You always said you wanted that to be the song you walked down the isle too. It was so beautiful. 

You looked back at Stiles and his eyes were already set on you. “I said ‘I’m gonna marry you one day,’ and you said to get back to you in two years.”

“And you said you would hold me to it,” you said softly. 

“It’s been two years from that date exactly,” Stiles said as he stood up and walked closer to you. He pulled your seat back so you were facing him instead of the table. 

“You remembered that, huh,” you said starting to get emotional at the realization of what was about to happen.

“Yeah, I did,” Stiles said getting down on one knee while he pulled out a small velvet black box from his pocket. 

You let out a shaky breath as tears pooled in your eyes. 

“Y/N, if I could have asked you to marry me two years ago in this restaurant I would have. I know love at first sight is real because I felt it when I saw you.”

Now the tears were falling from your eyes and running down your face. Your smile was wobbly as you tried not to sob.

“I’m ready to start my life with you. To come home to you. You are all the best parts of me. You’ve seen the worst in me but you still stick around. You don’t argue with me when I tell you I’m going to help Scott in a supernatural fight. You bring my dad healthy lunches even though I know he tries to persuade you to get him curly fries. And you haven’t asked me to trade in Roscoe for a new model,” he said as he laughed a little.

Stiles opened the box in his hands but you didn’t take your eyes off of his. 

“I love you so much. Y/N Y/M/N Y/L/N, will you marry me?”

You were speechless so all you could do was nod vigorously.

“Yes,” Stiles asked happily.

“Yes,” you yelled. Stiles slipped the ring on your finger and the both of you stood up. Your lips quickly collided with Stiles in a passionate kiss. The tears streaming down your face made the kiss salty, but Stiles nor you didn’t mind it. You pulled him tight against your chest and you felt the rapid beating of his heart. Stiles had been nervous but there was no way you would ever turn down a marriage proposal from Stiles Stilinski. 

[marvelouspotterhead]

Lock To A Heart

Alec Huttner travels the world to remove love locks from the world’s surface. During his travels, he meets Sophie, who takes pictures to post on her famous social media accounts. Intrigued by Alec’s strange antics, she decides to help him with his quest. Removing padlocks has unsuspected consequences, which both of them couldn’t even have foreseen.

Warning: Heart Break | Romantic Novel | Word Count: 2,068

Prologue

At this point, Alec hadn’t known it yet; known that everything would go down the drain. He was happy to be in this city with Maddie. The last city of their travel through Europe - the city of love Paris. Where else would he take his girlfriend to prove his undying love and ask for her hand in marriage? In his pocket, he could feel the soft outline of the black velvet box. Once again his hand brushed over the bump in the pocket of his jeans. It wasn’t the best ring he could’ve chosen for her. Their travel through Europe had swallowed most of his savings. So, he had chosen an equally as beautiful but not as an expensive piece of handwear. It would do its job, and eventually, he would be able to get her everything her heart desired.

France’s capital was different than Alec had imagined. It wasn’t as beautiful as Hollywood movies or pictures painted it to be. It had left a particular impression on him: being able to see the Eiffel Tower from everywhere, a very fashionable and clean city and of course those beautiful Parisian women. Both Alec and Madison walked along the river Seine. He hummed as he looked at his beautiful girlfriend who walked excitedly in front of him. Her shoulder length black hair flowed slightly in the soft afternoon breeze. “Alec, there they are,” she called out and hurried even farther away from him. She pulled him out of his thoughts with the immediate call. Alec smiled though and sped up his pace.

Finally, they would be able to place their last public proof of love during their vacation: A small padlock with their names engraved. So far they had been in Venice, Frankfurt, and Amsterdam. Everywhere they had gone, they left locks at other bridges amongst others. A symbol of their undying love and it reminded him so much of the movies he loved to watch. It was just one of his pet peeves. Everything romantic was up his sleeve and he lived on it.

Madison pulled the padlock out of her purse and grinned at Alec. “Let’s do this and take a picture,” she told him and almost sounded bossy like he didn’t want to do this just as badly. Instead of mentioning something, he ignored her tone of voice and looked over all the padlocks that symbolized the same as theirs. Compared to most padlocks, theirs was relatively simple. Most bolts had a crazy color with some sort of design some sketchy seller tried to give to tourists. Both Alec and Maddie had been prepared in advance and chose a more simple look to it. It was silver and had their initials ‘A&M’ engraved. Prior to their travel both had discussed how they wanted to draw attention to their love whether it should be glamorous and pompous or just flashy in color. But in the end, they decided to go for the classic chic.

“You ready?” she asked him with a smile and took the padlock, locked it into place. Without asking where to place it, she merely locked it in place.

“Wait-” he murmurs pulling out his phone. A small sigh left his lips, as she went to attach it without him.  

“Can we at least take this selfie together?” he asked Madison hopeful and smiled friendly at her. Rolling her eyes, she fixed herself. By now, she was already over the initial idea of taking a picture and just wanted to leave. Compared to her, Alec was just so slow. “Okay, but only because the lighting is still good,” Maddie agreed and reapplied some red lipstick before she smiled for the camera.

Alec moved his arm around her and held her proudly against his side. Maddie held up the key and presented it to the camera as she posed. Just as he pressed the small button at the bottom of his phone’s screen to take the picture, Madison threw the key over her shoulder into the river. Swallowing down another comment, he wondered why she couldn’t just wait for him to do all these things? It was their last destination, and the Pont des Arts bridge was most known for all of this. After all, such little details shouldn’t just ruin his mood. He had planned the big picture and a discussion between them would only end up in a fight and that certainly was counterproductive to his engagement idea.

They did some more sightseeing by going up the Eiffel Tower and enjoying the magnificent view over the Champs-Élysée as well as the streets of Paris. They also visited the Louvre to look at the Mona Lisa. It was far smaller than he had imagined the painting to be. Everyone had great zooms on their cameras nowadays and could make anything look as fabulous and detailed as in the movies.

Alec intended to finish this vacation with a bang. He did look forward to their last dinner together before life went back to normal in Cardiff. But somehow Maddie seemed to have other plans because despite having booked a table before their vacation, Alec needed to remind Maddie every single day on their special dinner in Paris. It was getting exhausting for him and unmotivating.

By the time of dinner, the two of them felt aggravated. The couple didn’t talk much with each other anymore, and Alec was fidgeting with the box in his pocket. He had secretly ordered two flutes of champagne to their dessert. So, he would be able to propose, and they could celebrate together. The dinner was a silent matter as well and Alec’s heart sunk a little. He didn’t like the way things turned out for him.

“Do you like our last few days before the usual madness starts again?” he asks her. He runs a hand through his untamed hazel brown hair. It was hard enough for him to maintain his chin long hair as it was. After all, his curls did what they wanted anyway. Madison though seemed more concentrated on their dinner than the question he had asked. Perhaps it was better like that. After all, Alec had never been the smooth talker he believed himself to be. It was more of an awkward mumble jumble most of the times.

“What were you saying?” Madison asked him somewhat careless and looked bored at her boyfriend. With a sigh, she moved a bit on her chair and looked annoyed at him. Part of Alec felt like Maddie was ignoring him and it irritated him. But the patient person who he was he simply put on a smile and repeated himself “I asked if  you enjoyed our  vacation.” - “Sure,” was her short lipped answer before she pulled out her phone to look on the screen before she added, “Do you think we can go back to the hotel, I don’t feel good.”

Alec frowned over how Maddie sounded. It was almost like she was bored and even he could tell by now that proposing might not be the best idea right now. It was too late though as they brought out two pieces of cake. Their waiter had a huge smile on his face as he stepped away from them to get the champagne flutes.

“We didn’t even order some dessert,” she huffed annoyed and looked after the waiter like he was crazy. Alec gulped nervously and fidgeted around once again. “Well, actually-” he said trying to get his nerves under control “-I ordered them. I thought it would be a nice way to celebrate our last night together.” He smiled at the woman, but she just huffed and told him off “I told you I was on a diet! And the first thing you do is order some cheap ass cake?”

A bit speechless he stared at Madison and looked both disappointed and nervous all of a sudden.

But instead of being able to explain himself, she kept on nagging “You know what? I thought I could wait a bit longer until we get back to Britain, but this is too much, Alec! You do all of this without even taking me into account! I didn’t want to go out tonight. I wanted to stay at the hotel and sleep. But you dragged me here, and I thought let’s be nice-” she rambled on as Alec stared at her not knowing what to do “-I can’t do this any longer! I’m sorry, Alec. But we are done! This is enough - you are such a...I can’t even describe it! You only think of yourself without caring about how other people might feel about certain situations! I wanted this vacation to be nice for the two of us, but instead, all I got was your constant groaning and moaning about how shitty everything is! I’m done! We are done!”

“Mad...baby?” he asked her and took her hand into his, but she just hissed at him and rose to her feet and snatxhed her hand back from him. He frowned and was about to follow her as she walked out on him just like that. The waiter came over, holding both glasses of champagne, just as Alec wanted to run after her. But he stood there both embarrassed and shocked as he stared at no one in particular but the door, swinging silently back into place.

Suddenly he noticed the waiter next to him with a tray of two glasses of champagne. He smiled professionally but the sympathy in his glance told Alec all he needed to know: the man had witnessed the whole scene. But before the waiter was able to hand him both crystals, Alec took one from the tray and downed it in one go. The waiter didn’t wait for more to happen though and just handed Alec the second glass of alcohol with the ring in it without another comment.

Alec mumbled that he wanted the tab. Slumping down on his chair again, he could feel the other customer’s stares on him. His cheeks flamed on as the whole situation just dawned on him slowly. He stared at his hands and suddenly felt the overwhelming urge to throw a glass against the wall. Instead, he downed the second glass of the expensive champagne at once. There was nothing for him to do about it anymore. Instead, he finally fished the costly ring out of the champagne flute.

He stared at the crystal-studded ring. It had one big stone in the middle and small ones around it. The small rocks were real diamonds and sparkled more than the big stone in the middle. It had been a fake glass stone, but he had planned on exchanging it with a real diamond eventually. Just that he hadn’t had enough money at the moment. Of course, Alec knew it wouldn’t have sat well with Madison, but he had thought it wouldn’t matter. Perhaps it was his fair share of karma? He was sure that if he had gone out of his way to buy the big diamond she deserved to own, Madison would’ve stayed and agreed to marry him.

After all of this drama, he was on his way back to the hotel. He didn’t know where to stay. What if Madison was still in their hotel room? He wouldn’t be able to stay there and look at the woman he loved with all his heart. The person whom he had thought he would spend the rest of his life with. The reality of what had happened slowly sank in, and he felt his heart slowly crackling and breaking into many, many pieces. He didn’t even feel the cold wind blowing through his hair. It gave him goosebumps, but the lump in his throat and pain in his chest was numbing all of the exterior stimuli. He stumbled over into the hotel as suddenly tears were burning on his cheek.

Alec managed to get into the hotel room before he could damage something. Each time he got this desperate, his anger was threatening to take over, and it never ended well for any fragile thing around him. He threw the black velvet box at a wall, and the box opened the ring falling out of it with a small rattling noise. But the sound was swallowed by the carpet that was lied out all over the floor.

a/n: I want to thank @t-o-n-y-s-t-a-r-k for going through this and giving me the courage to actually publish this on Tumblr. Also a special thanks to @frozenfellow for beta reading this in the early stages. This whole plot went through far too much drama already. Please go follow those two lovelies! Anyways, if you enjoyed the story - let me know if you want to read more. Tags are always open.

[dragon-fics]

S&H: Ch. 24 The Big Day

Chapter summary: Molten and Zion finally get to have their big day.

Notes, Ch. 1, Ch. 2, Ch. 3, Ch. 4, Ch. 5, Ch. 6, Ch. 7, Ch. 8, Ch. 9, Ch. 10, Ch. 11, Ch. 12, Ch. 13, Ch. 14, Ch. 15, Ch. 16, Ch. 17, Ch. 18, Ch. 19, Ch. 20, Ch. 21, Ch. 22, Ch. 23, Ch. 24, Ch. 25, Ch. 26, Ch. 27

Molten combed his damp hair slowly. Fireworks erupted in his stomach as the teeth ran through his strands of hair. He was dressed in a crisp white shirt and black suit trousers—the most formal thing he had worn since Ember’s christening. He stared back at his reflection in the bathroom mirror. It was ten in the morning, just an hour before he’d be standing in front of the altar, waiting for his beloved Zion to arrive.

He thought back to his early days of being a DJ, how he’d often be around wedding parties. He remembered how happy the newlyweds looked, sitting side by side at their table. He hoped that Zion and he would be that happy today.

Once he felt he had fixed his hair enough, he entered his hotel room. On the bed lay his suit jacket, tie and a set of horn cuffs—a piece of jewellery worn by married dragons. This set was silver, with a gold band above below the silver on the band. An icy blue sapphire set in each, to match Zion’s engagement ring. The rings matched the wedding ring Zion would give Molten today—it just wouldn’t have a stone in it. Their ring bearer—Kate—had their wedding rings. It just so happened Zion forgot the horn cuffs. And by Roanain tradition, neither groom could see the other during the week up to the wedding. So Molten was begging that fate would let them give the rings to Kate before the wedding began.

Molten picked up the white box and looked in at the velvet embraced jewellery. He blew on the cuffs and clicked his fingers. A small blue flame ignited between his fingertips. The silver and gold reflected the blue light shiningly, while the sapphire reflected it glowingly. He nodded approvingly at their shine and closed the box. He placed the box back down and started on his tie.

“Molten?,” called Flame from outside the room. “We’d better get moving soon; just remember that we still have to travel to Askel.” He strode into the room as Molten fiddled with the tie. He sighed quietly and did it for him. “You nervous?” he asked.

“A little,” Molten admitted.

“Good,” Molten looked at his sire, confused. “It means you care about him—” he pulled the knot tight “—and that you’re in love." Molten pulled on his jacket and Flame brushed it off. “Now, we better get going,” he said, grabbing the jewellery box and leaving the room.

“Right,” Molten whispered. He spun on the spot, looking around the room before leaving.

The next time I’ll be entering this room, I’ll be carrying Zion in my arms.

*-*-*-*

Zion sat in front of his dresser, a hairdresser trimming his blonde strands. Under the hairdressing cape, he twiddled his thumbs, fighting the urge to mess with his hair out of nervousness. He allowed the hairdresser to finish and leave the room before standing up. He was nervous, excited and anxious. He knew he loved Molten, and he knew Molten loved him. He just wasn’t sure if it was the right step. He was 25, Molten 24. A year after they had moved into their new house, two years since Molten proposed and three years since they’d met.

His thoughts interrupted as his sire entered the room. Already dressed in his best of royal suits.

“I knocked,” Arryn said.

“Sorry, I just...”

“Panicking?”

“... Yeah.”

“Don’t. I’ve seen how you two look at each other, how you are together. And I know for a fact you’ll be both very happy today,” he said softly, fixing Zion’s white tie around his black shirt collar. “And I’m sure he’s just as nervous as you are right now.” He rested his hands on Zion’s shoulders and pulled him into a hug. “And I know she’d be happy for you.”

Zion knew who he was talking about; his dam, who was rarely ever mentioned. He gripped his sire a little tighter. “Thank you.”

And then they were interrupted by another knock on the door.

“That would be your maid of honour,” Arryn said, as he they released their embrace. “And don’t forget your crown,” he said, leaving the room.

As soon as her sire had left, Mona rushed into the room, seeing Zion in only his white suit trousers and black shirt.

“You jacket and tie?!” She exclaimed in a rush. “Have you seen the time?! And we still have to get to the church through the massive crowd of people who want to see a royal wedding!” She was practically yelling at him.

“Alright, I’ll hurry.”

*-*-*-*

Molten stood in front on the huge white alter at the front of the Roanian church. A mass of mumbling echoed through the church filled with high lords of Roania, Molten’s family, and journalists. Compared to the Wyrmian churches, the stone wasn’t laced with gold wire embroidery or scattered with gems, instead it was engraved with messages in Old or New Roana—the native language of Roania—or basic tongue. There were also pictures from their religious book, which—after a bit of inspection on Molten’s part—wasn’t very different to the Wyrmian religious book.

It was about ten minutes past eleven, ten minutes behind schedule. And Molten really wasn’t sure what to do. Not much could’ve gone wrong. Right? He had got from the hotel in north Shovania to the church without running into crowds. Then again, he came from Wyrmia, not Roania. And he knew Zion’s sisters wouldn’t let him fall behind schedule... Well, not by a huge amount, anyway.

He glanced back to his family sitting in the front row, unease resting on his face.

“Relax,” CJ whispered beside him, He was his best man. “He wouldn’t do this purposefully.”

“I know, I know,” Molten whispered back, but his voice contradicted his words. Then the muttering was silenced. Molten looked around. The royal families of both Roania and Wyrmia had arrived; this wedding was more than a show of love between a couple, it was a sign of peace between two segregated countries. While the families settled Molten saw Kate take the jewellery box from Flame.

At least that’s sorted(I), CJ said to him. Molten smiled and drew in a breath.

Then the organist played Bridal Chorus. Molten had never felt so relieved at the sound of an organ play.

About time!

He saw CJ’s lips curl.

A lifetime seemed to pass as Zion walked up the aisle, Mona by his side. He wore his white suit proudly, along with his silver crown. What Molten didn’t know was coming was that Zion had taken some artistic liberties in wearing a shoulder-length veil, because same-sex weddings weren’t traditional, and that there were no rules in place.

So when he joined Molten at the alter, Molten was somewhat surprised, but he liked it.

“Hey,” Molten whispered as the Archbishop made his way out.

“Hi.”

*-*-*-*

The ceremony itself wasn’t all that long, a basic wedding ceremony, but what happened after took the more time than expected. Pictures. Goddamn pictures. The one thing Zion and Molten hated more than anything else in the world. But they had expected it, and Molten had brought his iconic shades, so there wasn’t much worry on that part. But the newlyweds still had to pose for dozens of photos, say thank you to the high lords and royal family of Wyrmia, sign autographs and had to make their way to their Rolls Royce stretch limo. The ceremony and escape route took the better part of an hour, and Molten was sure his family had escaped unscathed long before that. Well, he hoped, because they were never as keen on paparazzi either, and no fan truly knew who Molten’s family was—apart from Mona.

It took another hour to get to the reception at the hotel Molten had stayed in the night before. Most of the guests were already there, chatting away, so the couple freshened up quickly before they had to face the crowd.

The couple stood in front of the door for a moment as Molten unlocked with his key card. As soon as it was open he turned to Zion, a somewhat devilish look on his face.

“Go on,” Zion sighed. No sooner as Molten got permission, he scooped Zion up and carried him—bridal style—into the room. He then placed him down.

“So what dis hold you up?” Molten asked, checking his tie in the mirror.

Zion nudged him over a bit, so he could fix his crown and hair after removing the veil. “I got distracted by my dear sire, that and the hairdresser took forever.”

“In other words; you slept in? Or you procrastinated? Which?”

“I hate you,” he said, looking up at Molten. He looked back down at him.

“No, you don’t. Otherwise we won’t be wearing matching rings.” He smirked. Zion snorted, but his lips curled into a smile. Molten pressed his lips against Zion’s.

“I think we have some guests to see to,” Molten said.

“Ugh,” Zion groaned. “Fine.” He said starting towards the door. At the last second, he picked up his veil. “Can you put it in for me?” Molten took the veil from him and slid the ‘comb’ into Zion’s hair behind his crown.

“That ok?”

Zion tapped the veil. “Yeah, I think so.” As they left the room and started down the corridor, Zion slid his hand into Molten’s. “So us your war veteran, racist, homophobic, sexist grandsire gonna be here?” He asked.

Molten sighed. “Yep, but after our last encounter with him, I think he knows that today is the worst day to voice his opinions.” Zion smiled.

“But we are going to kick him out if it happens?” Molten looked at him.

He hesitated. “I... I.”

Zion laughed. “We’ll just try to enjoy today,” Zion stopped in front of Molten. “Okay?”

“Yeah, okay.” He pecked Zion’s nose. They looked at the double doors to the ballroom. They could hear the bubbling atmosphere inside. Molten walked in, still holding Zion’s hand, but didn’t go straight for the guests, instead going towards the tiny appetisers laid out on a line of tables.

“Molten!” Zion hissed.

*-*-*-*

It had been a few hours since the meal had started. Molten and Zion had escaped for a few minutes onto the jetty by the ballroom. The air near the sea was cooler than that of the city, and the sun held a warm evening-like glow almost constantly at this place in Wyrmia.

The sound of water lapping up against the wooden posts of the jetty tickled Zion’s ears as they both faced the water. Molten held his arm around Zion’s waist. He nuzzled his hair to get his attention, before spinning him around, as if they were dancing, to face him. Zion looked up at him and looked at him to say he wanted to tell him something. Molten leaned his ear close to his mouth.

“I think its time for the cake,” he said.

Molten laughed. “Yeah, I suppose so.” Zion tugged Molten back towards the ballroom.

The cake stood on its own table beside the head table where both of their families sat. One side of the cake was black with white sheet music printed on the icing, the other was white, with black speckles on the icing, to represent stars. The divide between the colours was a curve, hidden by flowers made of icing, all lined up to look like a rainbow—or as others might see it, the stereotypical pride flag. The colour either side of the cake represented the grooms’ suit, and the printed music notes and stars represented their passions.

They made their way towards the cake. They went for a piece from the divide in the cake. They went for a 5 tier cake, each tier was a Victoria sponge. Most of the room took photos or a video of them cutting it. So once they were done, they took it back with them. The waiters cut and dispersed the cake. They seemed to relax a bit.

“Just out of interest,” Lika started, “Is this an actual song or is it a random mix of notes?” She asked as she ate her piece.

“It’s an actual song,” Molten assured.

“What’s it called?” Came Sarabi.

“What was my last album called?”

Mona squealed with her mouth closed. “That’s adorable.”

Zion looked at him questioningly.

“He doesn’t know your album name?” CJ asked.

“My dear husband isn’t so keen on my mixed music style.”

Zion looked to Mona.

“The title of his album and one of his songs was called Zion.” She said, looking to Molten. He smiled, embarrassed.

“I had to alright?” he said at Zion’s dumbfounded face.

Mona slapped Zion on the back. “How did you(I)—” she poked his chest “—not know that?”

Zion raised his hands up in defence. “I have my taste in music!”

“He’s your fiancé-now-husband!”

Molten chuckled at the twins’ argument. Zion whipped his head around at Molten.

“Aren’t you gonna defend me?”

Molten sighed and shrugged. He turned to the DJ, who had been playing soft music in the background. He gestured for him to play their song. The DJ nodded and Molten stood up.

“C’mon,” he said, holding out his hand. Zion smiled a little and took his hand. As they walked passed Molten’s family, Molten flicked Ember’s hair, making her giggle. They walked onto the dancefloor, in between the DJ and the guests.

“Ready?” He whispered.

“As I’ll ever be.”

[diversegaminglists]

Games with on-screen kisses

Should be considered story spoilers (except for maybe dating sims), so browse at your own peril.

On-screen means a visible kiss on the lips, in-engine, cutscene or, in the case of visual novels, CG art. Games with descriptions of kisses in text only do not count.

This is far from complete but I think I’ve got most of the obvious ones, as always, suggestions and corrections encouraged (but no suggestions for games featuring unavoidable rape please).

I could really use more examples for the M/M only section as it’s currently mostly porn games in there (where all the smoochy games at?). :/

M/F:

Akatsuki No Goei (M/F)(Hentai game)(CG)(Translation patch)

Always Remember Me (Otome CG)

Alpha Protocol (Several kisses with optional romances as leads into fade-to-black sex scenes.)

Amagami (CG)(Translation patch)

Aquaria (Naija and Li)

Assassin’s Creed 3 (Kenway and Kaniehtí:io/Ziio, Myriam and Norris )

Assassin’s Creed 2 (Ezio and Cristina)

Assassin’s Creed: Brotherhood (Ezio and Caterina)

Assassin’s Creed: Unity

Batman: Arkham Knight (Batman and Catwoman)

Binary Domain (Dan and Faye)

Broken Sword: Shadow of the Templars (George kisses Nicole while she is tied up and she gives him a rightful bollocking for taking advantage, but later forgives him.)

Brütal Legend (Eddie and Ophalia)

Catherine (Anime style cutscenes)

Contract Marriage (CG)

Dandelion (CG)

The Darkness (Jacky and Jenny)

Dead Rising 3 (Nick and Annie)

Disgaea 2: Cursed Memories (In the good ending Adell and Rozalin smooch, CG art)

Dra+Koi (M/F)(CG)(Hentai)(Translation patch)

ef - a fairy tale of the two (dating sim, cg art)

Enchanted in the Moonlight (CG)

Fahrenheit aka Indigo Prophecy (Two optional, one unskippable, two leading into terrible sex scenes, one of which involves QTE thrusting, because of course it does it’s David Cage.)

Final Fantasy VIII (Rinoa and Squall finally smooch in the ending cutscene)

Final Fantasy X (Story cutscene while flying around in a magical lake, very Japanese.)

Final Fantasy XIII (Snow and Sera)

Final Fantasy XV (Noctis and Luna)

GoldenEye (James Bond and Natalya)

Hakuōki Franchise (Otome game)(CG)

Heavy Rain (depends on what choices you pick but they’re all awkward and creepy in context anyway)

Indiana Jones and the Fate of Atlantis (In the middle of a fight Indiana smooches Sophia, how rude!)

Kaleidoscope Dating sim 1 & 2 (CG)

KatawaShoujo (Hentai game, CG art)

Kissed by the baddest bidder (CG)

LEGO Batman (Batman and Catwoman)

Lego Batman 3 (Poison Ivy)

Lord of the Rings: The Third Age (seemingly out of nowhere romance plots with very little build up or logic but does have awkward ps2 facesmushing)

Max Payne 2 (Max and Mona)

Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater (Snake and Eva before a sexy time)

Metel Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots (Meryl and Johnny)

Metro PD: Close to You (Otome, CG)

Middle Earth: Shadow of Mordor (Press X to kiss your wife)

My Guardian Angel (CG)

My Sweet Proposal (CG)

Nameless: That One Thing You Must Recall (CG)

Nicole (CG)(I believe F/F content might be planned in the future)

Office Lover (CG)

Onimusha 2 (Oyu & Jubei)

Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time (Story cutscenes)

Princess Evangile (CG)(There are both All-Ages and uncensored versions of this game)

Psychonauts (Raz and Lili)

Resident Evil 2 (Leon and Ada)

Royal Midnight Kiss (CG)

Sakura Wars: So Long, My Love (CG)

Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World (at the end of some levels)

Shall We Date Franchise (CG)

Shira Oka: Second Chances (CG)

Sonic the Hedgehog (2006) (Infamous scene where a human princess has to smooch an unconscious Sonic)

Snow Sakura (CG)(Hentai game)

Spiderman: The Movie (Spiderman and MJ)

Star Wars: The Force Unleashed (Starkiller’s pilot Juno plants one on him)

Storm Lover (Otome)(CG)

Sunrider Academy (CG) (Hentai game)

Sweet Scandal (CG)

Telltale’s Batman (Bruce and Selina)

To Heart 1 & 2 (CG)(All ages and uncensored versions)

Tokimeki Memorial Girl’s Side Franchise (Otome)(CG)(Translation patch)

Uncharted 2: Among Thieves (Nate and Chloe smooch fairly early on. Nate and Elena finally smooch on screen at the end.)

Uncharted 4: A Thief's End (Elena and Nate again)

Until Dawn (Optional between Chris and Ashley)

Valkyria Chronicles (Welkin and Alicia)

Valkyria Chronicles III (Kurt and one of two possible girls)

War: 13th Day

Wing Commander: The Kilrathi Saga

The Witcher Franchise (usually before a sexytime)

Wolfenstein: The New Order (Anya and BJ)

Yo-Jin-Bo (Otome game, CG art)

F/F:

Flowers -Le volume sur printemps-

Her Tears Were My Light

Highway Blossoms (Both all ages and uncensored versions available)

Kindred Spirits on the Roof (CG art)

The Last of Us: Left Behind (T_T)

A Little Lily Princess

Love is Strange (Life is Strange fanfic)

Nurse Love Addiction

Slumberparty

Starlight Vega (warning for one step-sister romance route)

why is this dragon so fucking cute?

M/M:

Animamundi: Dark Alchemist (CG)(Adult game)

Bacchikoi! (CG)(Adult game)

Coming Out on Top (CG)(Adult game)

Hetalia Sim Date (CG)

Lamento – BEYOND THE VOID – (CG)(Adult game)(Catboys)

No, Thank You!!! (CG)(Adult game)

Silver Chaos (CG)(Adult game)(Translation patch)

Sleepover (CG)(Adult game)             

Combinations:

Assassin’s Creed: Syndicate (Roth and Jacob, Evie and Henry)

Backstage Pass (CG)

Bully (M/F and M/M kisses)

Dragon Age: Origins (repeatable smooches wherever)

Dragon Age 2 (Only in romance cutscenes)

Dragon Age 3 (combination of the two, but repeatable kisses only in Skyhold)

Fable Franchise (social actions)

Fire Emblem Fates occasionally gives your player character first person kissing scenes with your chosen S-rank partner.

Heilleen (CG art F/M and F/F)

Hustle Cat (Main character is NB by default)

Injustice 2 (Poison Ivy has a kiss attack)

Jade Empire (Though please note that the same-sex kisses need a mod to display properly without fading to black, see the mod section below.)

Life is Strange (There are options for Max to kiss Chloe and Warren depending on their relationship values.)

LongStory (CG)

Loren: The Amazon Princess (CG)

Lovestruck (This is Voltages’s newer app for games like Astoria and Castaways) (F/F F/M F/NB) (CG)

Magical Diary: Horse Hall (F/M & F/F CG)

Mass Effect (Cutscenes)

Saints Row IV  (Parody of romance cutscenes ranging from romantic kisses, to rough BDSM, to implied robot oral)

The Sims Franchise (So many different ways to smooch!)

Singles: Flirt Up Your Life (This is a game about boinking your room mate, but there’s also smooches and 1 M/M and 1 F/F option each)

Shoujo City 2D (F/M F/F)

Spelunky (Rescuing “damsels” will get you a kiss and an extra hitpoint at the end of the level, you can choose from a lady, a dude, a pug dog, or a combination of all three in the game options.)

Stardew Valley (You can smooch your partner)

Starwars: The Old Republic (Many M/F love interests in the main game. The expansions added some M/M and F/F)

Telltale’s Tales From the Borderlands (Several M/F and one F/F depending on paths chosen)

Mods:

Jade Empire Gay Romance Fix

Kissing - Immersive Lover's Comfort (Smooching mod for Skyrim, no other mods required.)

Icha Love (Alternative Kissing Mod for Skyrim, page is in Russian, requires FNIS, SKSE, and SKY UI mods)

Kiss Em All (Yet another Skyrim kissing mod, requires SKSE)

Kiss Em All SE (Port of Kiss Em All for Skyrim SE, also available for XBox1)

Bastila Romance Enhancement (Adds a visible kiss between Bastila and PC to Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic)

Carth Romance Fix (Adds a visible kiss between Carth and PC to Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic)

Juhani Romance Enhancement (Adds a visible kiss between Juhani and PC to Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic)

Kiss (Adds kissing to Fallous: New Vegas, hosted on an adult site, which needs an account to access downloads.)

Caricature animation (Adds kissing to Oblivion, requires OBSE20)

Special Mentions:

Exstetra is a JRPG where kissing everyone is a key game mechanic, but it’s only been released in Japan and unlikely to be localised into English.

KissMe - Adds Kisses to Minecraft but I don’t know if it’s text only or animations.

LovePlus - First person M/F kissing, only available via translation patch.

nummyz dating sims - Needs more research

Paranormal Kiss - Not in English yet.

Sim Girls Franchise - Needs more research

[genjasolstice]

Resurfacing a piece gifted to Genevieve and Sunja following their wedding day a year ago. Happy Anniversary to the both of you.

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

We were due for a Genja Solstice. 

I remember meeting the both of you for the first time. Genevieve, popping up near my desk, new from New York and more professional and tenured than the entire GREYSF staff put together (...we’d find out ...sorry, MJ), and Sunja coming to meet us in those first few days, hanging out near the window at work, catching up in the light of the sun and on whatever drama that particular day served up. I remember the friendship growing, mostly through G at work. And by way of being her work wife, falling in love with Sunja in parallel. You cannot hear the way G talks about Sunja and not - the depth of her caring is so evident in how she speaks of him. We have unbelievable memories from those first 2 years; from 2am pitch nights to 2am hamburgers.

I also remember Genevieve's feeble attempt at conniption fit over a New Years Eve - just wanting a proposal, a ring - to be Sunja’s wife. Pouting outside of the Make Out room trying to make a point - I’m laughing right now recalling it. I remember feeling that Sunja’s greatest art was his romance to Genevieve - the art pieces, the jean jackets, the hours toiling at night in secrecy to bring these things to life - and asking him to push a deadline up on the most precious form of romance and commitment - a proposal - would go against every fiber of his creativity. Good things take time.

Well thank the Lord you did it Sunja, and made way for us to have a front row seat to what would be one of the most iconic weddings I’ve attended in my lifetime.

Genja Solstice was the first break in the hiatus of weddings I’ve experienced for the last 4 years. I’ve never been able to complain about how many weddings/ showers/ bachelorettes I’ve got to juggle physically and financially for the summer – I just don’t have enough close friends. I’m okay with it. This past weekend in Dripping, though .... was a hell of a falling off the wagon.

I love you, Genevieve, and I love Sunja. Both magical in your existence, unapologetically yourselves, and unsparing in doling out your love for each other in personal, non-flashy ways. It feels so real. In Talib’s foreword, I registered with the notion of G being “scared to introduce her friends to Sunja… out of fear they would like him more.” He is a fresh thing, untarnished by the outside world, blossoming and loving and gentle. He is so damned likeable. And, as previously mentioned, he will forever be my Burger King - the only man I’ve truly ever eaten in non-tensioned silence with - peeling off to a relic burger joint two doors down while the rest of our friends partied for a birthday.

Genevieve, you command any room you enter, squinty-eyed as you hone focus on your next victim (you refuse to wear glasses whaaaaaat whyyyyyyy),** let laughs escape from deep in your soul, and are forward and open and strong in your convictions. I have once, rather famously said “To Genevieve, fact and opinion are the same.” Genevieve, if you were a professional athlete, I whole heartedly believe you’d play scrappy ... for the sheer fun of it.

Your bachelorette was the event I began to believe in humanity again. Before I touch on the supernaturality of the friend group, do know that I am a generally fear-laced, anxiety-prone human. I need alone time. I need sleep. I need deep and constant hydration. I need to talk about these things with whoever will listen. The love and fun of G’s friends that weekend taught me I might not need any of those things if I am enjoying myself and the company I keep, enough. The group of friends should be studied closely, appreciated for the individual traits and how they contribute to the ecosystem of the group. I felt like I was on safari, but if you got to hang out with the animals close up and they give you lots of compliments. People in the crew do what they want when they want to do it, with the team behind them cheering them on - usually with a “FUCK ME UP!”. They make decisions, and laugh together at the wrong ones, and prefer anything that makes for a better story.

G’s friends are family. There are actual real-life family units within this chosen family, but the sibling connection you feel and the peace a loving one provides is palpable. It contributes to the strength of the tribe. There is no competition. If there are big feelings, the words associated with them are released immediately - unsavory sentiments do not stay trapped within this group. I could speak on their beauty and palate of ethnicities and skin tones and hand movements and hair textures that I am absolutely mesmerized by; how they speak so freely, handle their business and work, and never seem tired. About how every conversation is a deep one. How intelligent each of them is - another thread of similarity none of them seem acknowledge but all just know. They understand life is for living, and they lean into experiences with reckless abandon. I learned this weekend they all said yes to moving to New York some years ago while rolling to Boyz Noize. They actually did it. I’m still shaken up.

The wedding weekend started slowly for me, at my weekend cottage, so beautiful and out in the open that I felt as though I was checking into rehab. I could have stayed there for 3 months of summer, easily. Doing nothing and losing my edge. There is a bench swing attached to an oak tree that I will bring my morning coffee to and swing for about an hour. After a stint of getting unreasonably lost with Uber (Does this story belong here? Probably not), I make way to the event, excited to see everyone but somehow overwhelmed by anxiety. Bird, my guardian angel, pulls me aside for a conversation that becomes something much bigger. About my thoughts holding me back, what I have to offer to this world, and how to tap into strength and be my own source of abundance, acceptance and love. It will trigger me to go home that night, stay up 3 hours listening to The Women Who Run with Wolves (completing the book by the end of the weekend), and decide I am going to make some cataclysmic changes in my life to direct it where it needs to go. Weirdly, I’m realizing, the weekend does become a rehab.

Saturday is a day and night out in Austin with new friends. I am out eating lunch alone, in one place, in all of Texas, and I see them outside. I had been texting with Amber and we had planned to meet up later, but by some stroke of luck, mid-bite of brisket, they materialized in front of me. Of all the restaurants, of all the cities, of all the people. They were only outside because Rachel wanted to buy a homeless woman food. The day was more good conversations, sugary shots from the bartender at Jackalopes Scates took $120 from the night prior, which would turn to me playing dice with Scates and 5 beautiful, dangerous, dirty, tattooed men (I thought Austin was going to have more cowboys?), bars bars bars, vegan bowls and drinks and dancing at gay bars. We become part of a block party on 6th Street while walking and eating pizza and checking out some snakes.

We find out the next day Courtney will much later lock herself out of her hotel room in the middle of the night while naked, and have to yank down a common area curtain to go speak to the concierge. You cannot repeat this story unless she brings it up because I don’t even think I am supposed to know it. In any event, Genevieve has more wonderful friends who I also want to be friends with for as long as they’ll let me.

Saturday is the wedding. G, despite it being your fucking wedding weekend, you make it a point to think of me, text me how much I mean to you on Friday night, and graciously extend an invite for me to come whenever. So, beyond thoughtful. I take up the opportunity after lunch in Drippings with Courtney, Rachel and Sarah, who got rear ended an hour before by a 16 year old named Luke Harrison Ford who was late for his summer lifeguarding job… truly. We do make-up to Staple Sisters, people have wine to kill the nerves that hangovers have generously exacerbated, and we head out. I head down to the area G had toured me the night before with her sick ass pony, to have my breath taken away by the backdrop of the ceremony and the weight of realizing... it’s here. Baby’s breath peppers the alter that will frame the ceremony of two people I love, and behind them, a crystal clear creek with cattails, sweet little frogs, and ciccaedas chirping. We have a warm breeze (is there anything better in this life?), and New York style park jazz playing for us.

Sarah and I keep looking around (why? we still don’t know). We are talking to each other but neither of us are listening. And then the moment is here. The xx plays, and lithe, beautiful Talib appears, his shoulders back and down, gliding along the white rose petals, to the archway he will officiate from. He is the perfect entity to accept and deliver the responsibility of officiating a wedding and a lifetime of love together. He professes on the subject of Love. It sounds metaphorical, it is not. You could register for one of his courses. For this - it couldn’t be more meaningful. Sunja surfaces in a suit that makes me want a suit - mauve crush velvet. His skin is glowing. Next is Mona and Austin, followed by Bella and Jared, Sunja’s siblings, and the Plahey girls. When Ajinder and Parmeet surface, I have goosebumps. For most of this 95 degree event, I will be showing anyone who will give me the time of fucking day, that I have goosebumps. Women are so beautiful and powerful, and knowing the heart of the bride is in both these girls hands and safe forever. I think of the secrets and stories and laughter they have shared in this lifetime. These are the girls. They sit down in front of Sarah and I, with their thick, tousled hair, in their blush chiffons, fanning themselves in the heat and air that is rich with love.

After what felt like eternity, escorted on each side by her loving parents, Genevieve emerges.

I do not plan on crying at this wedding but will end up crying violently at this wedding. It is not me, watching Genevieve walk down the aisle and imagining myself – something that triggers crying so often for people. No. This is me, seeing Genevieve, the bride who is so beautiful and has wanted this since she was itty bitty and embodied what it means to be a good partner whole heartedly. She is walking down that aisle and passing the threshold, no matter her fears and hurts and worries that day or that lifetime has served up to her, knowing she can handle it and that her marriage will continue to conquer these hurdles that she is challenged with, and she will chose to show up anyways. Knowing how important this day was and her friendships were there, did it for me. It was at this wedding that I got it.

The vows are beautiful – and I refuse to say which was better even though I know Genevieve is reading this hoping I will reveal it. I will not. It was Sunja’s.

In all seriousness, the vows were exactly what we hoped for and what we needed. Each were laced with words that spoke as much to the person reciting them a as the person they were meant for.  And when the you both faced us and acknowledged the crowd, something I had never seen before, it felt so, so meaningful. I was absolutely honored to be there.

And when it was time, Talib, whose cadence and low voice guided us so eloquently and calmly through the ceremony, announced you both life partners. I was deeply moved. 

There are moments in a wedding that you feel that what you are watching is some kind of a movie, show, or form of entertainment. The bride is with you but mentally on to the next table, conversation, or portion of the evening, playing out everything in her head, the angles for the camera, making sure nothing about the evening is out of place or captured incorrectly. There is a high alert. It feels like you are observing a celebrity amongst common folks. There are outfits, customs and traditions that are reserved for weddings that don’t make much sense outside of them (or in them for that matter), but this wedding had none of that. There was a moment, where myself, on the other side of the room, waiving at G, and honestly dumbfounded when I saw her wave back at me. How was she even noticing me right now? So beautiful and glowing and in the spotlight. But GENEVIEVE ALWAYS NOTICES. And I know it would have been so easy to embody the alternative, I appreciate Genevieve so much during this wedding for stepping outside of the standard bride role and being who we came to support all along – her.

We have a bit of well-timed southern summer rain, some wine, some more excellent music choices. Grimes??? I’m shaken. And the dances. In a very moving moment, Sunja’s mother joins him standing, and supported by him, for a single song. I can only imagine what this meant to each of them. I look at Amber, a table over, who is crying into the sky. You cannot prepare for how these moments will take you away. 

We have incredible food and BBQ from the famed Salt Lick. This also leads me to my next tangent - almost everything that has been served up to me, from the locations of these bachelorette and wedding events, to the food and experiences at them, WAS STUFF I WOULD HAVE GONE LOOKING FOR ON MY OWN. It felt like you guys were truly looking out for our best interests and offering experiences you we would enjoy doing. It was such a gift. 

The speeches delivered from Adela, Parmeet and Ajinder were windows into G’s former adolescent and collegiate life. Each breathed to life with the personality of the story teller, including Parmeet’s impressive 6-page narrative, which allegedly when confirmed by the wedding coordinator, Genevieve approved with negative hesitation.

As one may expect, once the dance floor opened up we about blew the roof off the place. Most of us were busting at the seams waiting for gen pop to get the okay to infiltrate. I danced with Joe, I danced with Jake, I danced with Talib and almost died from cardiac arrest in the process of keeping up. Sometimes it was all too much for my little heart to handle that I had to face on the goddamn window to settle myself the hell down. Everyone at that event held their own. Everyone at that event realizes their power as individuals is as important as their power as a group. No place is as telling as this as a dance floor. It was the most beautiful way to share the evening with people. 

On that note, I want to thank both you and Sunja for this window into your life and love beyond what I already knew. Outside of the wedding itself, which I would lift directly and replicate for myself if I could, you are living out a truth in love that is honoring you as individuals as much as it is as you as partners. I want that. It was clear as day to me that my current path was not this, and I guess Ajinder felt it too, because we both went home and broke up with the people we were seeing. When it’s real, it’s real.

At the end of the weekend it was very clear to me what was important in this life - it is the relationships those who you surround yourself with on this journey. You are truly blessed if you get to laugh with them, which we both know, YOU ARE. You have not only incredible friends, Genevieve, but the most incredible best-friend to call your husband. I am honored to have witnessed this evening, considering it a pivoting moment in my own realization for the life I want to lead, and look forward to seeing the rest of your story unfold.

May we dance on many more floors together.

Love you both,

T

6.22.19

**((update here G came over last night and now she wears very cool, very hip tortoise shell glasses) 

[dragon-fics]

S&H: Ch. 20 Drastic Measures {pt. 2}

Chapter rundown: After a year of dating, Molten pops the question

Notes, Ch. 1, Ch. 2, Ch. 3, Ch. 4, Ch. 5, Ch. 6, Ch. 7, Ch. 8, Ch. 9, Ch. 10, Ch. 11, Ch. 12, Ch. 13, Ch. 14, Ch. 15, Ch. 16, Ch. 17, Ch. 18, Ch. 19, Ch. 20, Ch. 21, Ch. 22, Ch. 23, Ch. 24, Ch. 25, Ch. 26, Ch. 27

Zion stood on the Lover’s Bridge, looking out at the setting sun hovering on the surface of the Steed’s Sea. On the mesh railings of the bridge hung hundreds upon thousands of padlocks, each one representing a couple that had ‘tied the knot’ on this bridge. And how he wished he was one of them. He knew from the beginning that they were made for each other, but he also knew that Molten wasn’t planning on getting married anytime soon... whether or not there was a tradition in place. He focused on where the mouth of the river ran into the sea, as he heard someone else come closer on the bridge. He didn’t pay much attention, not until they stood beside him. He looked at the person’s hands; blue and scaly—Molten.

“I haven’t seen you all day,” he said, looking at Zion who was still focused on the body of water. Molten stayed looking at him.

“Probably because you’ve been setting up a concert in the Arena,” Zion stated in a low mumble.

“And you’ve been avoiding me,” Molten added. Zion looked to him.

“And?”

“I want to know why,” Molten said. This time he looked out at the water. He felt around his back pocket, feeling an open padlock and a ring box in it. Zion still didn’t respond.

“Listen, I knew about the tradition,” Molten said, looking at his reflection. Zion looked to him. “I have for a while,” he reached for the box, holding it in one hand for a moment. “And seeing as we have been dating for a year-ish, and that we’re made for each other, I’d say now is a good time as any to follow the ‘year-after-meeting’ tradition.” He turned to Zion and got down on one knee, showing Zion a red velvet box.

“Zion Lindsay Baird Zirnen, will you do me the honour of marrying me? A year and two weeks after we met in that forest,” he looked up at Zion, who looked back at him stunned. He looked up at the other side of the bridge. There stood CJ, Lika, Mona, Kate, Sarabi and his sire Arryn, all waiting patiently—if you count Lika looking at her nails as being patient. He looked back down at the box. In it sat a white gold ring with a light blue stone. He looked back at the group on the other side, particularly to his twin Mona and his sire. Mona looked at him, smiling proudly and nodding her head continuously. While Arryn looked on proudly. Zion knew that he must have considered this moment special if his sire had his wings showing, making him an alicorn for the time being. And he’d only show his wings if he considered something special. His furled light grey wings reaching over the top of his shoulders.

Zion processed this before looking down at Molten again, who was still on one knee, who hadn’t spoken, who hadn’t tried to rush him, who waited for the person who truly loved to say one of two words; yes or no. He looked at his eyes, how they seemed to smile but begged for Zion’s response. He looked at the ring one last time.

“Yes,” he replied quietly. Molten looked at him. “Of course I’ll marry you,” he said as if he hadn’t kept Molten waiting on the bridge for a solid 2 minutes. Molten pushed himself to his feet and wrapped his arms around Zion. They melted into a passionate kiss. They parted so Molten could put the ring on his finger. He smiled down at it.

“You took long enough to reply,” Molten half-joked, half-complained. Zion smiled.

“Sorry, just had to make the right choice.”

*-*-*-*

Molten woke up, bleary-eyed and physically exhausted, like he’d worked out for hours and fallen into bed. He looked around as his vision cleared up, though it was still a little hazy without his glasses or contacts to help him see. He was in one of the guest bedrooms in the Askal Castle. Then he noticed it; the annoying sound of something beeping at the same constant pace. He looked to where he heard the sound; it came from a heart monitor, linked up to Molten. Then he noticed more things; like the glittery haze around his body, keeping him in his human form: the oxygen mask on his mouth; the cast on his upper arm; the thin layer of soot on his skin; and feeling like there was lots of phlegm around his voice box.

What the fuck happened? He asked himself, not remembering anything other than his proposal.

Then the door to the room opened. In came a young mare, dressed in a nurse’s uniform. She came over to him and without a word took out some needles and sensors were from Molten’s body. She replaced the more fixed oxygen mask with a less obstructive one. Molten followed her every move, wanting to ask so much but not knowing where to start. She then left, just as quietly as she had entered. Molten raised his arm and attempted to get her attention, only releasing a low croak through his layer covered voice box. She didn’t hear his croak and closed the door.

What happened?

*-*-*-*

Molten had had a few visitors come in and check on him, mainly doctors who changed his drip and checked on his oxygen intake. One nurse had been nice enough to allow him to communicate with him telepathically and to turn on the TV for him. According to news reports, that morning, when Molten would have been heading back to Wyrmia, a large thunderstorm had set forests ablaze and a lightning bolt had hit a wall that held back boulders in the valley that joined the two lands. Large amounts of destruction had occurred, but it injured very few. A few dragons tried to hold off some boulders while emergency services got across either side.

In the mix of it all, the royal family had shown up to help where they could. The unfortunate part was that Zion was standing in the wrong place at the wrong time; a boulder had slipped past the dragons on one of the valley’s walls and fell towards the prince, who had his attention towards the emergency crews. Molten wouldn’t have known about the boulder had something not sent a panic through him, a similar one to that when he had first met Zion... That much he could remember. According to the report, Molten had run from where he was holding a boulder off, on a leg that was broken in his beast form towards Zion and with the all the magic he had protected him from the boulder; that’s all the report could tell him.

Molten lay in the bed. After he had figured out that much he had one thing in mind: Zion. Had he saved Zion? Was he all right? Where was he? And why was Molten in one of the castle’s rooms rather than the hospital?

He closed his eyes for a little while. It was hard looking around while being half-blind. He was nearly back asleep when someone else came into the room. Molten opened his eyes a little, expecting it to be another doctor or nurse. Instead, he was surprised to see Mona and Arryn come in. He opened his eyes fully and turned to them.

“Go get him,” Arryn whispered to Mona. She nodded and left the room. Arryn came over to Molten. “Before I say anything else, I want to thank you. Yet again, you’ve saved him from near death. We really owe you,” he fell silent. Molten’s eyes softened and reached for the oxygen mask on his face.

“Is he alright?” He croaked.

Arryn nodded. “Yes, he’s fine.” Molten sighed with relief and coughed afterwards. He let the oxygen mask return to his face. The door opened again and Arryn looked to it before making his way out of the room. Molten sighed, feeling his throat burn. He swallowed hard, hoping to numb the pain.

Then the door opened again, and quick footsteps followed. Molten looked over and Zion sat on the bed. He looked at Molten’s arm and then moved up towards his soot-covered shoulder, neck and then towards his face. Everything about his face was dull, Zion could see he was in pain. He took his hand.

“Thank you,” he whispered, feeling a lump in his throat. He kissed Molten’s forehead, smelling the ash and soot still in his hair. Molten looked back at him.

“I had to do it,” he croaked, “I can’t imagine living without you.” Tears spilled from Zion’s eyes.

“How do you think I’m feeling now?” He added with a slight laugh, wiping away his tears. Molten forced a smile and reached for Zion’s cheek. Zion pressed his hand up it and held it there.

“I’m going to need your help with something,” he said.

“What do you need me to do?”

“My throat’s pretty much on fire,” Molten stated, followed with a dry cough. “And I know a quick method that should at least help with the pain.”