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derangedangel · 5 years

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Secret Santa - Stiles Stilinski

Summary: The pack does Secret Santa for Christmas and Stiles’ has to get you the perfect gift

Stiles Stilinski x Reader

Word Count: 2,175

Author’s Note: I’m sorry this is late and I’m a liar and didn’t have both imagines done on time and queued up. A bit of writers block and laziness goes a long way in writing lol. I’ll do better next Christmas.

Lydia wrote down everyone’s names and placed them in one of Scott’s baseball hats. She shook it around a little then went up to everyone so they could pick a name out. You all sat around in Scott’s living room, some more eager than the others about doing a Secret Santa. Since you were all high school kids, and only Scott had a job, some of you thought it was best to get one person in the pack a gift instead of having the pressure to get everyone a gift.

Allison went first, then Malia, Liam, and finally it came to you. You reached into the hat, digging around a moment before you pulled out a name.

Stiles.

A smile tugged at your lips but you didn’t want to get to excited in front of everyone. You knew the perfect gift to get Stiles.

Lydia continued around the room until there was one left for her. Luckily, no one pulled their own names, so no one had to pull again. Lydia plopped onto the couch next to you and immediately asked, “Who did you get?”

“Lyds, it’s Secret Santa. I don’t want your smart brain figuring out who has you by the process of elimination.”

“So that means you don’t have me,” Lydia nodded with a smirk on her face.

“I didn’t-,” you started to say but Lydia gave you a look and you knew it was too late. “Fine, I don’t have you. Happy now?”

“Yes, that narrows down my potential gift givers.”

Meanwhile on the other side of the living room Scott got up to grab some cold sodas from the kitchen. Stiles quickly hopped over the couch to follow him.

“Are you Y/N’s Secret Santa,” Stiles asked when they were alone in the kitchen.

“You do understand how Secret Santa works, don’t you,” Scott asked opening up the refrigerator.

“I’m not an idiot, but I needed to get Y/N. It’s a crucial part of my make Y/N fall in love with me plan.”

“Exactly how is you getting Y/N a Christmas gift important to that plan,” Scott asked leaning against the counter. He had what he came to the kitchen for but he wanted to hear what his best friend had to say.

“Alright, so I get her the perfect Christmas gift. She gets all emotional and happy about it. She realizes I really know who she is as a person. I actually listen to her. Then she looks at me as potentially being more then just a friend. Then I ask her out and she doesn’t say no,” Stiles answered, his hand finally landing on his hips from them previous moving around a lot as he talked.

“Why don’t you just ask her out? I’m pretty sure she won’t say no,” Scott said picking the sodas back up and turning to walk away.

“I can’t just ask her out,” Stiles said offended.

As Scott began to walk out his kitchen, a crumbled up piece of paper fell out of his pocket. Before he could lean down to pick it up, Stiles swooped in and grabbed it.

“Ha,” Stiles yelled after he opened the paper. “You did have Y/N,” he said trying to whisper. Although you weren’t a werewolf, he preferred if the other wolves and one coyote in the room didn’t hear him.

Scott sighed as he shook his head. “Go ahead and take it.” Scott moved all the sodas to one arm and reached out to Stiles. “Give me whoever you got.”

Stiles reached in his pocket and handed over the slip of paper to Scott. “I’m sure Liam will love whatever you get him,” Stiles said then patted his friend on the back before making his way to the living room.

After everyone settled from finding out who they were getting a Christmas gift for, Scott popped in a movie.

Stiles was beginning to think getting you the perfect Christmas gift was impossible. He couldn’t just get you any regular old gift. Nothing from Bath and Body Works. No DVD box set of the complete series of your favorite show. A gift card wasn’t meaningful. It had to be special. Something sentimental. Something he could afford.

When Stiles finally realized what to get you, it almost seemed impossible to get. But werewolves were impossible too right? Stiles was very stubborn and determined when he wanted to be and this was one of those times.

The gift he wanted to get you couldn’t be purchased at any old store. He checked Amazon and Ebay. He searched local pawn and thrift shops next with no luck. He called nearby towns in between classes until he found a thrift shop three hours away with what he needed.

“Scott,” Stiles said after he ran up next to his friend in the hallway. “You want to go to Rosewood with me?”

“What’s in Rosewood?”

“Y/N’s gift,” Stiles answered smiling. He was excited that he finally found your gift and there was only a week until you all would exchange gifts.

“That’s like 3 hours away,” Scott said.

“Actually, it’s 2 hours and 40 minutes away.”

“That’s still pretty far for a Christmas gift, but I guess I’ll ride with you.”

“Great, grab your stuff.”

“What,” Scott asked looking at Stiles confused.

“I was planning on going now.”

“Now? We still have 2 hours left in school. Can’t it wait until the weekend?”

“No, Scott. The guy who answered the phone said he wouldn’t hold it for me and I have to get it before someone else does first.”

“Don’t you think we miss enough school already without us leaving to go pick up a gift,” Scott said closing his locker.

“Yeah, but this is really important. It’s the only place that I’ve found nearby that has what I need.”

“Three hours isn’t exactly nearby,” Scott pointed out.

“Okay, it could be a little closer. But I’m going right now and I thought maybe my best friend would want to accompany me on this possibly historic journey that is the future of me and Y/N.”

“Now you’re just being dramatic,” Scott said shaking his head beginning to walk down the hallway. “I’m not missing class, but if you have to go now, just let me know when you make it there and get back. You’re jeep isn’t the most reliable vehicle for trips like that.”

“Ugh, that jeep has been there for us through everything! Don’t disrespect him like that,” Stiles said offended while Scott kept walking down the hall. He guessed he’d just have to make the almost 3 hour trip by himself. But he would drive 6 hours to get you the perfect gift.

On Christmas Eve, the pack got together to exchange gifts at Scott’s house. You all took your usual spots in Scott’s living room excited to open your gifts. It was decided that everyone would open their gifts one at a time, then the Secret Santa would reveal themself after all the gifts were open.

So far everyone loved their gifts. Stiles was blown away by your gift; a mini replica of his jeep Roscoe.

You were the last one to open your Christmas gift. The box was covered in little snowmen with a huge blue bow on it. You pulled the bow off and ripped the paper open allowing you to open the lid. Your mouth dropped when you realized what it was.

“Oh my God,” you said tossing the lid aside.

“What is it,” Lydia asked from beside you.

“It’s a teddy bear I had when I was younger,” you answered while you stared down at the bear in awe. “It was practically glued to my hip until there was a fire at my friend’s house and I left him in there.”

The whole room was quiet as you took in the gift. Stiles eagerly waited for you to say something else. That you loved it. That it was childish and you out grew the toy along time ago. Something.

You took the bear out of the box carefully rubbing your fingers through the bear’s fur. “Who did this,” you asked looking around the room at all your friends. Everyone you made eye contact with shook their head until your eyes landed on Stiles.

He was staring right back at you, his whiskey eyes shining bright as the Christmas lights in the room twinkled. “Stiles?” He nodded his head a little to answer your question. “How did you...When? I mean... they don’t make these bears anymore. My mom checked after the fire. My grandpa gave me the bear and we could never find another one.”

“I did a little Googling and called a few thrift stores around the area,” he said shrugging his shoulders like it was nothing.

You were speechless at Stiles’ gift. Lydia looked between the two of you as you gawked at him in admiration. “Alright,” Lydia said clasping hands together, her holiday red nails sparkling as she moved. “I think it’s time the rest of us revealed ourselves to our Secret Santa gift recipients.”

Stiles and you stood up in what felt like slow motion then walked over to each other.

“Stiles... I love this so much,” you said squeezing the bear in your hands while you looked at him. “I can’t believe you did this. I’m still racking my brain for when I even told you about the bear.”

“Actually, I forgot about it until I was at the hospital with Scott when he was dropping some food off for his mom,” Stiles said as he rubbed the back of his neck. “I saw this little girl crying until her mom gave her this little brown bear and something in my brain clicked. I remember you mentioning it a few years ago when we had to go to the Hale’s old house. I think it reminded you of the fire at your friend’s house.”

“You’re an amazing guy, Stiles Stilinski,” you said grinning up at him.

Stiles grinned back at you like an idiot for a few moments before he spoke. “Umm I should probably find out who my Secret Santa is so I can thank them.”

“I know who it was,” you told him.

“Who?”

“Me.”

“You are? I should have guessed it,” Stiles said smiling at you. “Only you would be crafty enough to make me a scale model of my jeep.”

“So you really like it,” you asked not sure if he was just pretending like he liked his gift when he opened it.

“I love it. It’s amazing.”

“Great,” you said grabbing his hand. “I was a little worried my gift was going to suck,” you said slowly taking a step back making Stiles follow you.

“I’d love any gift you’d give me because it’s from you.”

Your smile grew three times bigger than it already was as you kept stepping back. “So it seems like we both know each other pretty well based off our gifts then.”

“I’d like to think I know you pretty well.”

“You do,” you said finally stopping. “But I think there’s still somethings about me that would surprise you.”

“Like what,” Stiles asked.

You stepped closer to Stiles and moved quickly before your nerves got the better of you. Your fingers wrapped around the back of his neck, pulling him closer. Stiles’ lips collided with yours, his minty breath mixing with your winter fresh one. Ignoring the stares you knew were coming from your friends, you wrapped your other hand around Stiles, deepening the kiss.

Pulling away slowly, your eyes stayed closed briefly as you hoped you hadn’t misread any of Stiles’ signals.

‘Umm,” Stiles said blinking a few times, “Not that I’m complaining, but what was that for?”

Your hands fell from Stiles neck to his shoulders. “For remembering something I said forever ago. For finding a teddy bear that I had when I was child. For going out of your way to get the bear because I know when you said you called a few stores, you meant you searched high and low until you found it,” you said then paused as you gazed into his eyes. “Also because we’re under the mistletoe.”

Stiles looked up finally noticing that the two of you had moved under the entrance way where the mistletoe had been placed by Melissa weeks ago.

“I always liked mistletoe. Incredible plant,” Stiles said nodding as he smiled.

You giggled at Stiles before you heard a cough and turned to look at your friends who were all looking at you.

“Does this mean you two are finally together,” Liam asked. “I swear if I have to smell that jealousy scent every time Stiles see you talking to another guy I’m going to vomit.”

You turned to face Stiles, a bit of shock on your face, “You were jealous?”

“What? No, why would I be...,” Stiles blabbered looking at you then turning to face Liam. “Liam would you like to find out what happens when a werewolf ingests mistletoe?”

#stiles stilinski x reader #stiles stilinski imagine #teen wolf fanfiction #teen wolf imagine #teen wolf

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g0dblessthefandom · 5 years

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Live! From New York: A Brittana Fanfiction Ch. 2

Listen... I know it’s been a minute, but I promise there won’t be as long a gap until the next update. I swear. Catch up on FF.net and AO3.

Santana had been to 30 Rockefeller Plaza three times in her life. The first was when she first got to New York, and she and some of her friend’s had stumbled across the crazy idea that they wanted to go ice skating during Christmas. Santana hadn’t really known how to ice skate, but she’d given it a try, and broken her wrist. The second time was three years later when her parents visited from California, and insisted on going for the tour of NBC studios. They were obsessed with Kathie Lee and Hoda on the morning show, and it didn’t matter how much Santana protested, they were going, so she tagged along. She’d resisted the siren song of network TV for as long as she could, but once the NBC page pointed out the wall of signed photos from former hosts of SNL, they had her. She spent nearly $300 in the gift shop on swag, and yes, Mercedes had laughed at her for her lack of willpower, but it’d had been well worth it. She’d considered for a moment wearing her SNL t-shirt, but after about thirty seconds of wandering around her apartment, she figured that maybe that was coming on too strong.

The host dinner on Tuesday night was a tradition. Santana didn’t need to be told that. It was her first chance to make a big impression on the cast, writers and some of the crew, many she’d only seen on TV, and it was pretty important. Rachel had given her a long list of places that would impress even the snobbiest of connoisseurs, and for once, Santana was glad to have a friend who’s insane dietary demands kept her on the cutting edge of the trendy eateries in New York. Rachel and Mercedes sat in her dressing room, Michelin Eating Guides open and surrounding them, both shouting out suggestions as best they could, but Santana had yet to hear one that just sounded right.

“Oooh, how about Le Papillion?”

“Rachel, I’m trying to blow them away, not put them to sleep. That restaurant looks like the kind of place you’d take your mistress so you could avoid running into your side chick.”

Rachel took the comment in stride, thumbing through a few more pages. “The Grange? It’s got this lovely hunter’s lodge motif. I don’t find it personally enjoyable, but the cast might.”

Santana grunted noncommittally and hit a few mindless notes on the piano she kept in the corner.

“Okay, how about the new Japanese restaurant by that celebrity chef? I heard that they flip the sushi to your table from across the room!” Mercedes said excitedly waving a glossy magazine high above her head.

Santana hit a few more notes, and suddenly closed the piano with a sharp snap.

She pointed to Rachel and Mercedes in turn. “I don’t want gimmicks. I don’t want tricks. I just want a place that will dazzle and inspire them!”

She stomped over to the couch and sat down in a huff, crossing her arms.

“Um, so…” Mercedes said, setting her magazine down and sitting forward to pat Santana on the leg. “I’m going to ignore that little outburst because you’re my girl, and I love you, but if you snap at me like that again, I’m gonna yank out your weave, and sell it on Ebay.”

There was a lightness in her voice, but Santana knew that she wasn’t far from the truth, so she grimaced and nodded, rolling her eyes for effect.

“Fine, ‘Cedes, but something has got to be perfect. If I can’t find it, I will never make this right.”

There was a whine in her own voice that Santana didn’t like, but she couldn’t help it. This was a big deal. This was a first impression, and in a lot of ways, it could be the first step on her path of Saturday Night Live fame. She didn’t want to want it as much as she did, but she did. She cleared her throat in an attempt to wipe the desperation away.

“I don’t know why you’re all worked up about this anyway, Santana.” Rachel said behind the latest copy of Fine Eats magazine. “It’s just a performance. You do it every night of the week and twice on Sundays. This is old hat stuff.”

“Yeah, but if she screws up it’s not just to the crowd of one theater.” Mercedes broke in from behind her own dining magazine. “It’s in front of hundreds of thousands. Or at least whatever is normal for a Saturday night, I dunno. Could be millions.”

Santana laid across the couched, nearly knocking the magazine out of Rachel’s hands.

Rachel raised it above her head with a sigh. “Even then, it’s not even prime time! I sang backup for Sia last year at New Year’s and there were probably more people in Times Square alone than-”

“What’s this?” Santana exclaimed, rolling off the couch, and grabbing a magazine from the stack on the floor near the couch.

“What’s what?” Mercedes and Rachel said, nearly in unison.

Santana pointed at photo in the magazine, tapping the magazine emphatically. “Blaine Anderson!”

Mercedes was by her side in an instant, and nearly grabbed the article from her hands. “No fricking way. Are you serious? Blaine Anderson? The guy from Newberry Park?!”

“It’s gotta be. I remember that dumbass cowlick from anywhere.”

“Perhaps you’d like to clue me in, ladies.” Rachel sighed, folding her magazine primly in her lap.

“Oh yeah, Berry, I forgot that it was only recently that you started stalking us.” Santana quipped.

“I know that you’re joking, Santana, but I think everyone in the company agreed that you’re ‘joke restraining order’ was beyond the pale.”

“He ran this food cart in Newberry park, in our old neighborhood in Queens. He had a bunch of Filipino food, and it was pretty much the most delicious thing we’d ever eaten in our whole lives. We basically went there every day for three years, and then one day he said he was shutting down, and was going to open a brick and mortar place. We told him we’d be first in line, and gave him our contact info, but we hadn’t heard anything since.”

“Maybe that was your favorite place to eat, Mercedes, but I like to think that I had a bit more class than some fly by night operation.”

“Oh, well, I guess all the times that you texted me desperately at midnight asking me to bring you some adobo chicken on my way home from work were hallucinations.” Mercedes shot back.

Santana buried her nose behind the glossy print, and wouldn’t meet Mercedes’ eye. “Yeah, well, whatever. It turns out he made it big, and now his place is one of the up and comers in Manhattan.”

“Well, good for him! I’m so proud. We should definitely make a reservation.”

Rachel stooped behind Santana and took a look at the magazine herself. “Filipino-American chef Blaine Anderson opens up Hapa an American/Filipino fusion restaurant that mixes both of Anderson’s heritages into one amazing dining experience. Good luck with that reservation, ladies, it says here that they’re booked out for the next six months.”

“Maybe for a peon such as yourself.” Santana snatched the paper away, and tugged on the page, tearing it out. “But we were there at the beginning, and I’m sure there’s no way he can refuse one of his original supporters a seat.”

Mercedes did some quick math. “It’s not just one seat, San, you’re taking the whole cast of SNL, probably plus some of the writers. That’s like 20 people.”

“Sure, I’m not saying that it’s going to be easy, but you’re talking to Santana Lopez. Writer and star of the most sought after ticket on Broadway. I’ll offer him a few balcony seats to Billie! and he’ll be sold.”

“I’m not sure if it’s going to be that easy, Santana.”

“Well, luckily Rachel, no one asked you.”

“Santana, she’s right.” Mercedes said. “And, if you remember correctly, it’s not like you and Blaine Anderson had the most cozy relationship.”

Santana smiled slyly. “And that’s why I’m not going to ask him. I’m going to ask the co-star of the most sought after ticket on Broadway. The woman behind the throne. One of the most talented, kind, and not to mention beautiful women that I know.”

Mercedes opened her mouth to reply, but Rachel interrupted her.

“Why Santana, that was the nicest thing you’ve ever said to me!” She swooned.

Both Santana and Mercedes gave her a glare, but moved on with the conversation.

“Flattery will get you nowhere, Lopez.”

“Aw, c’mon, ‘Cedes. You know how much this means to me. Having it at this place, this great, cosmopolitan establishment, on the rise, with amazing food… It’s a can’t miss! It would mean the world to me.”

“I don’t know, Santana…”

“And I would owe you one.”

A devious smile crept over Mercedes’ features, and Santana’s eyes grew wide. She was beginning to regret her decision, but Mercedes was already accepting, her hand out to accept Santana’s.

“Deal. I’ll get you and the cast into Blaine Anderson’s restaurant in a couple weeks, and you’ll officially owe me one.”

There was something about her tone that Santana didn’t like, but she was desperate. What she had said to Mercedes and Rachel was real. There was something in her that needed to make a good impression, and she wasn’t sure why, but she’d do anything to achieve her goal.

She swallowed audibly, but took Mercedes’ hand regardless. “Fine. Deal.”

Mercedes held her hand a bit tighter. “But you have to convince Emma to give up the tickets.”

Santana looked like she wanted to resist, but a thousand scenarios ran through her head and there wasn’t a single one where she figured she could refuse this request.

“Deal.” She said, defeated

Mercedes nodded with a satisfied smile, and finally released Santana’s hand. She stooped down and started gathering the magazines off the floor.

“Ooh, I can’t wait. I’m already thinking of what you can do.”

Santana bent over to help. “Yeah, whatever. You just focus on getting me in that restaurant and the rest will fall into place.”

Rachel had placed herself delicately back on the couch, and was fanning through a Vanity Fair.

“You do realize she’s probably just going to get you to watch the kids so she and the Mrs. can have a date night, right?”

Santana scoffed and watched Mercedes carefully. “Yeah, she knows that I would do that for free. I can already see that she’s got something more devious in mind. Deny it, Mercedes. I dare you.”

Mercedes laughed lightly, and placed her stack of magazines on the coffee table. The laugh took on an edge of the maniacal as she didn’t say a word, but just walked out of the room.

Leslie Jones and Artie Abrams both watched Brittany with a strange fascination. They talked, but didn’t bother directing any of their comments toward Brittany, who had been muttering to herself for the better part of an hour, and had been standing in the middle of her dressing room with a signed copy of the Billie! playbill for the better part of fifteen.

They watched her mutter for a few moments more and suddenly Leslie stood up from the couch.

“Girl, just leave it! Damn. I swear you’ve spent more time doing this than writing any sketch I have ever seen you in.”

Artie waved his hands in solidarity. “Les, she can’t hear you, girl. She’s in La La Land.”

“Well, she better get her ass out of La La Land, because we’re supposed to be writing something to take to pitch tomorrow, and I can’t even think with her running around like this!”

The weeks before Santana Lopez’s arrival had slowly whittled down to days, and now they were only a mere 72 hours away from her arrival at Studio 8H. While not everyone in the cast knew (or cared too much) about Brittany’s fascination with Santana Lopez, they had all found a bit of humor in her worsening condition. It was like watching someone very, very slowly sink into quicksand that they only notice after the fourth or fifth day.

“What do you think she’s going to do with it in the end?” Artie asked, with a kind of quiet wonder.

“I dunno. She’ll probably try and eat it or something.” Leslie cupped her hands around her mouth. “She’s not going to care if you have a totally normal thing in your dressing room, Britt. Honestly, she’s probably not even going to come in here.”

That last sentence was directed towards Artie, but Brittany’s eyes snapped to Leslie. “You don’t think so? I mean, I wasn’t thinking that it would be a part of a tour or anything, but I’d really hoped that she’d stop by. I could show her my table, and my computer and stuff.”

“Britt. Girl.” Leslie deadpanned. “Santana Lopez, is like on a whole other level right now. She’s won like a million awards, and was friends with President Obama. She’s on a whole other level of cool, my dude.”

Brittany tried not to let her face fall too much, but she couldn’t help but be disappointed. “Yeah, no, you’re right. What was I thinking?”

She placed the framed Playbill on her desk with a soft slap. Artie pushed his wheelchair closer, putting a comforting hand on her shoulder.

“Nah, Britt, it’s not like that. I’m sure she’ll come by.”

“Yeah, Brittany, she’s a star, but she seems like a really down to Earth person, I’m sure it’ll be fine.” Leslie chimed in, quick to reassure her.

Brittany took a deep sigh, and dramatically slithered to the floor, her body in fluid motion, floating to the ground. Artie had to admit that he was always impressed with her control and grace. Even falling to the floor, she looked like a dancer.

One thing he did know from being her friend for just under a decade was how resilient she was. He leaned over and patted Brittany on the leg.

“It’s cool, Britt, don’t worry. How about we head over to Jane’s office, and see if we can’t make some comedy magic?”

Leslie and Brittany both looked up at him quizzickly.

“What?” He continued, puzzled. “I thought it would better than just saying, ‘Write some sketches.’”

“Yeah.” said Leslie, taking a large step over Brittany, and reaching out a hand. “You should probably stick to jokes, funny man. C’mon, Britt, let’s get out of here before we catch any of his bad jokes.”

Brittany took Leslie’s hand, but lingered a moment as she and Artie argued a bit as they moved down the hall. She would be the first to admit that she sometimes got caught up in her emotions, and maybe tended to exaggerate more often than not.

Maybe.

But, she was a performer, and she was a bit of a cut up, and it seemed sometimes that the only way that she could express herself was in a funny character, or voice or bit. She was like the world’s most outgoing introvert. But, at the end of the day, she really did want Santana Lopez to notice her. What came after that, she really had no idea. She stifled a heavy sigh that was escaping from her lips and took a right instead of the left, turning off into a less populated corner of 30 Rock.

It was nearly midnight, and the building was quiet, but that was par for the course. Most of the “late night” shows filmed at six in the afternoon, so around this time, it was usually only SNL writers left. They were still early in the week, so the crunch wasn’t on, but it wouldn’t hurt to hammer out a few sketch ideas before heading in for the night. Still, it was pretty early for the SNL folks, most didn’t get their motors really running until 10:30, and it seemed like a waste to stop working then.

Brittany snapped back into focus and looked around. Her feet had taken her almost all the way to her after-show-secret-hideout, but she frowned to herself. She hadn’t meant to come this way at all. How out of order did her brain have to be to bring her this way? She rocked quickly back and forth on the balls of her feet and thought for a moment. It was just a show, right? Just a show like any other? Then why was she so nervous? Why was she so worried? Why was she acting so weird? She frowned again to herself.

“A lot on your mind?”

The voice behind her nearly made her yelp, but she contained herself, and spun quickly to face it.

Sam Evans had been on the show for less than a year, but he was currently the resident heartthrob, and his abs brought a certain quality to the shirtless scenes, so Lorne was sure to make good use of them. Brittany wasn’t quite sure how she felt about him yet. He had to tendency to make sketches all about him, and was hired after his successful YouTube channel had several viral videos. He wasn’t a stand up comic, and hadn’t been to Second City, so he was a new beast entirely.

Brittany eyed him up and down. “Nothing to concern yourself with, Sam. Shouldn’t you be out vlogging or something?”

She kept her voice light, but there was a bite. She didn’t have anything against the guy, but it didn’t hurt to remind him who had seniority.

“Nah, I’m just working on some killer stuff for this week. Lorne couldn’t get enough of my stoner surfer guy on Update a few weeks ago, so I’m thinking of bringing that back.”

“Yeah, might want to watch out for that, don’t want it getting stale.”

A look of uncertainty crossed over Sam’s face before he spoke up again. “You don’t think it’s weird you’re wandering around on this side of the studio late at night? Not worried about ghosts?”

The last part of his statement came with the hint of a sneer, and Brittany had to keep herself from smiling. She and Artie had spent the better part of a month convincing Sam and Ego Nwadim (the two first years) that the studio was haunted. Ego had been humoring them (nothing wrong with a little hazing to promote team building), but it seemed to Brittany that Sam had actually believed her, and still refused to go in the third floor men’s bathroom alone.

“Whatever, Britt.” Sam said. The uncertainty had slipped away, and the cocky grin returned. “Hey, did you hear? Santana Lopez has sent out invitations for the Host Dinner. I just got mine a few minutes ago.”

He reached into his jacket, pulling out a gorgeous egg shell envelope. He waved it in front of Brittany and with a flash, she had snatched it out of his hands, and was pulling it open.

“Hey! That’s mine.”

She batted his hand away, and pulled the envelope open, removing a document that Brittany could only describe as ‘wedding Invitation fancy’.

“Holy hell. This is amazing.” She breathed, gazing down at the paper.

You Are Cordially Invited To Join Santana Lopez for the Inaugural Host’s Dinner

For Episode 848 of Saturday Night Live

Reservation at 6PM at Hapa

72nd and Columbus Ave.

Be there or be square!

Brittany clasped the note to her chest. “Oh my god.”

Sam’s eyes widened a little. “What’s wrong?”

Brittany sighed a little and smiled tightly. “She’s such a freaking dork!”

With that she raced down the hall, back towards the writer’s offices, doing a joyful leap every so often.

Sam watched her leave curiously. “But that was my invitation.”

#brittana #glee #santana lopez #brittany s. pierce #fanfiction #wlw #live! from new york brittana

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notbecauseofvictories · 6 years

Note

Could you write something about Alec Hardison and his nana? Maybe what she thinks about the leverage team?

Alec brings the boy home first, which makes Betty and Erna in her senior water aerobics class groan aloud when she tells them. It’s not that he’s a boy—Maeve’s got six children, all told, and Alec is the youngest; it’d be thoroughly unlikely for all of them to be straight. (Anjelica has been bringing her wife to Christmas services and Iftar dinners for years, and the biggest issue there was their children’s gluten allergies. How are you supposed to break fast without Pillsbury crescent rolls, Anjelica? They’re the right shape!)

The problem, the actual problem, was that Maeve knew Alec was serious about the girl. Even the boy seemed to know it, a solid bruiser of a man hunching his shoulders in a vaguely apologetic fashion as he offered out a covered dish.

“Kołaczki,” he said, as though this was an ordinary thing to bring to your maybe-boyfriend’s family Christmas.

“They’re cookies, Nana,” Alec volunteered, and Maeve took in the sight of him standing so close, how his hand reached for the bruiser’s shoulder and then shied away again. “With raspberry, your favorite.”

Maeve sniffed. “Gluten-free?”

The bruiser blinked. “Of course,” he said, and she decided to like him then. If she wasn’t going to meet the elusive ‘Parker’ who was blonde and inspired her youngest to recite twenty minutes of terrible poetry over the phone in her honor, then some nice Midwestern boy who made gluten-free cookies (and offered to wash dishes, afterwards) was certainly Maeve’s second choice.

If she stuck her head out the kitchen and found Alec and Elliot leaning in too close, as though they could breathe each other in—swallow, completely—without anyone else noticing, then that was none of her business. She went back to drying her mother’s china, and listening to the radio. Oh darling, say it’s true—there’s nothing like me and you—

“You’re very skinny,” Maeve observes, when she opens the door and there’s a white woman standing there, smiling like a cat who has swallowed the canary and also most of the local avian population.

“Thank you,” the woman says, flicking her hair over her shoulder. “Is Hardison in?”

Maeve narrows her eyes. “Are you Parker?”

The woman smiles in a condescending way that Maeve is definitely going to tell Betty and Marge about next class. “Not in the slightest. Is Hardison available?”

It’s Easter, so Alec kisses Maeve’s cheek as he bustles out the door. “Jesus is risen!” he shouts as the skinny white woman bustles him into the car.

“Halle-fucking-lujah,” Nana Hardison mutters. She glances skyward, where a light drizzle is starting to fall. “Sorry,” she adds.

Afterwards, once the last of her guests have left bearing tupperware full of ham, turkey, and various kinds of potatoes. Maeve smokes her annual cigarette on the front porch. Given that he’s risen now, she tells Jesus about her good-for-nothing-except-what’s-right son. Her strange and absolute gift. She almost envies the Catholics; she suspects Mary would know what she means. But Maeve’s church don’t pray to her, long-suffering mother she is. “Sorry, about before,” she tells Jesus. “But...not really.”

Finally, she grinds the cigarette under what passes for a heel given her orthopedic insoles. “Not sorry,” she decides finally. “Not even sort of sorry.”

(The less said about Jamal’s baptism, the better. Nathan Ford turns up, takes one look at the baby squirming its doting parents’ arms—and goes sheet-white and bolts from the church like Satan’s at his heels. Maeve hears from Cousin Leticia later, how Alec followed Nathan Ford out into the churchyard and they had a conversation that was all low voices and cigarettes and Alec looking scary, the way he only does sometimes, when it’s serious.

Maeve decides to hate him then: Nate Ford, who can’t even pretend to be joyous at some baby’s christening. Alec doesn’t protest.)

“James,” she says, when he comes into her shop. Cousin Rhonda took over most of the day-to-day management when Maeve got her diagnosis all those years ago, but Maeve still shows up sometimes, if only to poke at whatever knotty problem they’ve been dealing with. There’s something reassuring about the small, finicky details of a watch, its intricacy---Joel had always told her that every watch was a secret world, it had to be understood before it could be conquered. (Watches were the only women he ever loved, which is how Maeve had ended up with the store in the first place.)

She’s bent over a particularly intricate watch-face when the bell over the door rings, and doesn’t try looking up; these days it’s so rarely worth it. Someday, someone will burst into the shop with declarations about the end of the world that are actual, but then she will be dead. In the interim, she’s going to fix this silver Aristo so it can get back to its owner.

Maeve adjusts her grip on the the pin vise. “Is there something I can help you with, James?”

“I think I have the wrong location,” a man she knows is called Sterling says after a long, long moment. “My apologies, Madam.”

“Of course,” she mutters, ignoring the ringing of the door-bell as the strike team exits her shop, one by one.

Parker comes last, which—Maeve suspects she should have known from the outset. She didn’t and so the sudden appearance is surprising. Parker is pretty and blonde and twitchy, especially looking at Alec’s things, or the higher-end watches Maeve repairs for men with too much money. She wonders if letting Parker steal something—anything, even small and inconsequential—would suffice, or if it’s something in particular she’s looking for. (She’s had too many thieves under her roof not to know the look. Maeve waited through seven months of Jaymes taking anything not nailed down and hawking it on ebay before confronting him, Parker is small potatoes.)

“You have a beautiful home,” Parker recites from rote, like it’s something she’s been instructed to say.

If Alec were here, he could probably mediate between them. But it’s just Maeve and Parker in a parlor-hall-drawing-room, and Maeve is tired. She wants this girl to like her, because Alec likes her. “It’s haunted,” Maeve says. “It’s why I could afford it, back in the day. I’ve never seen any ghosts, but that’s what they say.”

Parker blinks. “Oh,” she says.

“Are you haunted?” Maeve asks, and is pleased to watch the way Parker twitches, half-consciously. At the very least, Alec deserves someone who knows what it is---to have the ghost of something dogging your footsteps. Maeve doesn’t know much about Parker’s story, but she can guess, from that flinch.

“Come on,” Maeve says, and Parker is nodding, before she finishes.

They sit at the kitchen table, which smells mostly of flour, and food. Burnt, where Maeve and her various children have set down too-hot pans. Parker chooses the seat where Alec used to sit, and Maeve isn’t sure whether that’s deliberate or not. (She’s too skinny, Parker; a photo-negative of Alec, pale where he was dark, but still the same shape.)

“He wanted to come,” Parker says, like she can hear Maeve thinking. “He did.”

‘I know,” Maeve says.

“He...” Parker traces a burn on the table with a finger. “He’s good.”

The conviction there is enough to inspire whole religions. Maeve can’t help but take it in, think---this is my son, given up. That a bruiser of bruised man comes from dinner, that a twitchy thief of a woman sits at a table and talks. Because Alec is good. Because Maeve took him in, and told him to be good.

Parker’s hands tremble, when Maeve touches them with her own. “Yes,” Maeve says gently. When she squeezes Parker’s hands, Parker ducks her head, but then---squeezes back. “He is. He is...very good indeed.”

Afterwards, Alec comes. For---some holiday, the next one. She loses track sometimes. (Between the children and the religions, there are a lot of holidays.)

Maeve kisses her son’s cheek, and says, “I like them,” in a fierce and decided tone. Watches Alec duck his head, and smile.

#chronic-warlock #leverage #listen I realize I made it up this exact second but nana hardison lives in the midwest and she started out as an assistant/secretary #to the only watchmaker in town and when he realized she was clever as all hell he took her on as de facto apprentice #because he knew he'd never have biological children #she nursed him through his AIDS; he gave her his whole business even though he knew that would be considered weird #she's adopted and fostered near a dozen children over the years in his memory; because he adopted her #so her family is a combination of adopted children and biological relatives; the mishmash of half a dozen different religious traditions #they all celebrate the jewish new year (they go to lay flowers on joel's grave) christmas (maeve's momma's favorite) and easter (maeve's)#plus all the different kids' religious holidays #adherents of the repeated meme

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tumblunni · 5 years

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Hhhh bunni legs pain accomplishment day

I HAVE FINISHED THE SHOPPING OF HELL

Tfw u only get paid 4 days before christmas and have to rush everything aaaa

It was bad enough today so i'm so glad i got it done before it got even more busy!

Misc boring essentials i bought for myself: new phone charger cos broken, new trousers cos i spilt hair bleach on my only two pairs, new shoes cos my left shoe literally snapped in half down the middle like wtf even happened there, cheap pink hair dye from a discount store cos i wanna try different colours but in a thrifty way

Now for EXCITING CHRISTMAS PRESENT TIME!!!!

First off SO MANY pc and xbox 360 games from Every Charity Shop In Cardiff, St Mellons, Rumney and Llanrumney. My sis has been trying to find some games to play but was like 'dont worry about it i can just wait til the charity shop gets something good'. So i thought i'd get some stocking stuffers via all the charity shops on my side of town. By our powers combined we will blitz the entire vale of glamorgan's discount gaming scene!!! I found SO MANY good stuff for £1/£2/£3 like holy shit i love when charity shops dont know the proper price for shit XD

speaking of which i also found a WEBCAM for £2! If its that cheap it probanly isnt great but itd still be fun to play around with! :D and the same store also had an old vintage G1 My Little Pony coffee mug in excellent condition. Oh god the nostalgia! My support worker gave me a lift to llanrumney so i had to awkwardly explain why i had an armful of weird 80s mugs and big teary eyes!

Speaking of vintage, i found this new vintage toys and games shop in cardiff called Galactic Attic! The name hooked me in and then they actually DID have pokemon inside! As well as all sorts of stuff ranging from 40s to 90s, wow! There was even a lil pile of old 90s gaming magazines in the corner, covered up by a bunch of boxes. I'm glad i noticed them! I got the announcemt issues for pokemon diamond pearl and platinum in a weird old pokemon fan magazine that i loved as a kid. Im kinda sad that nowadays we just have one official magazine fpr each console and not the wild madness of amateaur journalists failing horribly to get news from japan. Shame they didnt have Beckett Pokemon cos that one was infamous fot drawing its own terrible interpretations of pokemon sprites to avoid copyright. And speaking of terrible, they even had bootleg pokemon!! I talked to the cashier and he was like "you know those are fake right" and i was like "yeah its so nostalgic thats why i want em" and he was like "lol yeah they actually sell pretty well so i'm not mad my supplier ripped me off". It was a pretty good and awesomely terrible fake at the same time? There was this exact replica of some japanese display stand for the product and then the actual pokeball toys looked perfect BUT the mini pokemon inside were.. Really not. I am so damn happy with the surprise inside my one, surprise inside has never been more accurate! I can't take a picture now cos my phone is charging but REGICHEETO. Just..just imagine that, and whatever you're imagining it is probably worse. I love it so fuckin much. Also less hilariously there were some bootleg mini pika plushies with actually (as far as i can tell) their own unique design? They have cute lil winter scarves and an art style that reminds me of the Magical Pokemon Adventure manga. A really cute and good bootleg that i would have loved to see as a real product! The only way you can even tell its a bootleg is because there's no marking on the tail. I dunno, maybe if i still have some brown fabric in the cupboard i could fix it? Or maybe its unique tail makes it even more special! I mean there's Cosplay Pikachu with its double tail marking so maybe this is her cousin Accessory Pikachu with no markings? He just likes wearing scarfs and hats and stuff. OMG HE'S THE POKEMON GO EVENT PIKACHU!!!!!!

Along the miscness of finding a few things for myself, i also found: cute lil pokemon pencilcase, kingdom hearts blind bag, cheap copy of Fruits Basket volume 1 cos the new remake is coming out soon and i wanna Get Hype! The KH blind bag was really weird cos i didnt know they now have an entirely different set as well as the keychains i bought before. Its kind of a shame the art style doesnt match cos vexen is only in the keychains, alas! But i do really love these ones! Theyre apparantly made by funko pop but dont have the art style AT ALL, they just look like really accurate versions of the characters in mini form. Its kinda like the 'distance animation' style in steven universe? (Incidentally they also do SU ones but they missed the opportunitu to actually use the distance style, lol) I got a Sora in his kh2 outfit and i'm decently happy with that, its not one i really wanted but its not a bad one either. But i think now i've tried the fun of surprise once i'll just buy the actual ones i want off ebay later. They have roxas in his organization outfit! With a happy smile!!!

Oh oh and then EVEN MORE XBOX GAMES OF THE WILD THRIFT STORE VOID! i managed to find the whole fable series, two assassins creeds, saints row, gta, some misc shooter games and racers that she wanted but i dont know much about, mass effect 2 and ff13. I think maybe one or two others cos i cant fully remember right now. Theyre all in separate bags strewn across the room and my shoulders feel like death so i'll sort through them later.

Aaaand i wrote up like 14 paragraphs more but tumblr didnt save my draft fpr some fuckin reason and now im way too tired to do it again

Briefer summary:

* had a huge horrible panic attack getting stuck in a skyscraper shopping centre clothes place full of screaming and every perfume smell and WHY DO I HAVE TO NAVIGATE THIS HELL MAZE TO FIND THE ESCALATOR and seriously i was my most primal animalistic self and i went full fight or flight on this bitch

* had a lovely time visiting Cool Shop Grandma and rambled the story of how i met her and how we became friends but hhh too tired to rewrite. But anyway today i gave her a christmas pikachu plush as thanks for everything and cos her shop is moving on to its next location soon. She got really teary and gave me a big hug! She's gonna be at a comic con in march so i hope i'm able to go to that and see her again.

* went on a wild goose chase looking for harry potter merchandise and eventually found a gold plated replica of the movie prop version of the time turner and HELL YES my sis will love it!

* rambled about several market stalls that were cool but i can make a separate post about that in the morning when i find their contact details to advertise them

* got a plushie delibird and decided to take selfies with it everywhere to try and fight my social anxiety somehow. We went to a neat lil restaurant and had cheesy fries and a coke float!

* asked for a refund on an item for the first time ever and im proud of myself

* went off on a mystery bus trip to buy a preowned 3ds and pokemon games from a lady in an online preowned stuff facebook group and it didnt go horribly and i am glad! She was really nice and i witnessed A Good And Smart Parenting Moment and man it healed my heart and i wish i'd been raised that way. Again i'll probably ramble about the details later when im less tired, it really touched my heart seriously! And now i have MANY GIFTS FOR SIS!

* in total i was out present shopping from 9am to 8pm and i clicked my shoulder out of its socket for a split second from.all the heavy bags. Now im in a lot of aches and i need a sleeps

The End

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maevefiction · 5 years

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Your Light in the Mist - Chapter 39

I dumped my bag and the baked goods on the counter, then leaned back against it.

“He never joins your family for the holidays? But this year…he IS? Did someone tell him that you all know what he did? What the actual fuck, man?”

He shook his head. “Em and Sarah insist they haven’t said a word, and I sure as hell haven’t, and I don’t think Mum has…so we’re all completely blown out of the water by this. He called Mum earlier and essentially said ‘I’ve decided to join you Thursday and Friday’ and that was that. After the divorce, he showed up two years running, but once Em was ten he decided that his presence was no longer necessary because Christmas was for children and surely she’d grown past such foolishness by then. He never even bothered to show up last year, when Sarah and Ansh were finally able to join us at Christmas for the first time since having Saachi.”

I crossed my arms. “So, he doesn’t turn up for a first Christmas with his only grandchild but this year, he does? Is it because she’s a little older, maybe? Eh, that sounds ridiculous so I’ll say that is totally not the reason. What’s your take on this? Any ideas?”

His gaze fell to the floor, then returned to my face. I didn’t wait for him to speak.

“Oh for fuck’s sake you think it’s me, don’t you?” My arms uncrossed, one hand rising to my forehead and resting there, palm down. “But WHY? Why does he give even the remotest shit about you and I, if he hasn’t cared about anything else…OH MY FUCKING GOD, IT IS ME, isn’t it? Jesus…listen, babe, if you want me to sit this one out…”

Closing the distance between us, he took me in his arms, resting his chin on the top of my head. “Not. A. Chance. If you don’t feel comfortable going, I’m staying right here with you.” He leaned back, staring into my eyes. “And yes, I do think it’s related to you in some way. I just can’t quite figure out how or why.”

“Is that what your mother thinks? Is that who you were talking to?”

His head shook again. “No, that’s not what she thinks…I was talking to her and my sisters on a conference call. None of them know what to think. They’re just trying to figure out how to flow with it and not let it ruin the holiday. Which is a challenge and a half, after this past summer.”

I released him and grabbed the bakery bag from behind me. “Let’s have some cookies and put on our thinking caps and try and puzzle this out.”

A dozen over-sized chocolate chip delights and an hour later, we were no closer to solving the equation, likely because, as Tony Stark explained in the Avengers, we didn’t have all the variables.

Tom’s head was in his hands, elbows on the dining table amongst the crumby mess we’d made, and he spoke without looking up. “Bottom line is no matter what the man throws at you, IF he throws anything at you, that is…I know you can handle it, Maude. You on your weakest day is a thousand times more powerful than him on his strongest.”

As he glanced through his fingers at me, across the table, I raised a brow. “Uh, a thousand? Hyperbolize much, Tom?”

He sat up, smiling. “I do not. You simply underestimate your strength, my love.”

I rolled my eyes. “Puh-leaze. Stop it. Honestly, it’s all totally confusing and makes no sense and I’m slamming myself up against a logic wall at this point. I guess we’ll just have to wait and see. Which, as you know, fucking drives me bat crap crazy so…feel like going out for some burgers and wrapping supplies?”

Standing, he stretched, arms up toward the ceiling, his lower belly and happy trail peeking at me yet again. It was a view I would never tire of, for sure. When my eyes made their way up to his face, he was grinning. Caught, I was…red handed. Eyed? Something.

“That sounds perfect, actually. I’ll go put some pants on.”

I bit my lip. “Good. You do that. I’m going to use the facilities.” His mouth opened, but I cut him off. “I’m PEEING. Nothing else, you bastard. I am capable of restraint, you know.” A chuckle. “Oh, MAN…”

He jogged up the stairs, and shortly thereafter we were out the door and on our way.

****************************************

My alarm went off at six AM on Wednesday, and I left Tom all warm and naked in our bed to grab a cheese danish and a cup of tea before heading downstairs. I’d wrapped my gifts for him last night, having locked myself in the over-crowded spare room. At points I could hear him breathing heavily outside the door, and knew he was doing it on purpose to distract me in hopes of getting a look at what I’d gotten for him. He gave up after three attempts, and I was able to continue in peace. Diana had come to my aid, providing me with a list of all she could recall of the Jurassic Park toys Tom had played with as a child. One by one I’d tracked them down on eBay and had them sent to the office, and Simon had hidden them for me in our flat while we’d been gone. I’d even managed to score the rare Electronic T-Rex, Jungle Explorer Vehicle and the Command Compound, new and sealed in their boxes. The action figures weren’t quite as hard to find, and I’d gotten a set that included five of the main characters still in their original packaging. In addition to those, as a sort of gag-but-not-really gift, I’d found a very cool strap-on set that included six dildos, sized from kinda small to bigger than Tom’s own cock. THAT one I put off to the side so I wouldn’t accidentally bring it with us to Diana’s house…plus, I was hoping he would want to try it out, like, immediately after opening it. Part of me wanted to save it for Loki’s next visit, but I’d been thinking about it for months, and he’d mentioned it several times, so, no time like the present, right? The pièce de résistance was obtained via the most convoluted network of human beings I’d ever had to wrangle, a daisy chain that included Stephen Spielberg which had started with me and ended with Harrison Ford writing a letter and signing one of the fedoras he’d worn in Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade. The only downside was that I was aware that it was likely a feat I would never, ever be able to top.

The shipment arrived as scheduled, eight AM on the dot, and the driver even schlepped it all downstairs for us. Everything had been prepped and ready to go, so Trudy and I set about getting all the servers in place so they’d be ready to connect once the utility company was done installing the T1 line…they’d turned up just after we’d opened the cartons. Everyone else was off for the day, so we cranked some tunes while we set up the network itself and installed all the software. As soon as our internet was accessible, we updated the newly-installed software, then began adding our own. Trudy and I had written the client management program together, though the base code was hers alone. It had functioned perfectly during previous testing, so we focused mainly on it running cross network and left it at that. Tom brought us lunch at around two, and after our break we dove into external DNS access, connectivity and security protocols. It was the most time-consuming and intricate part of the process, but by midnight we had a functional, locked down system that was ready for intensive testing, which was set to begin first thing Monday morning. From the look on Trudy’s face, though, I was reasonably sure that she’d be at it over the weekend if she got the chance. The only other remaining obstacle, other than testing, was the installation of security devices and alarms, and the company providing us with those was scheduled to come in on Tuesday. We celebrated our victory by inhaling an entire bag of truffles, high fiving each other and bragging about how we’d accomplished in a single day what Mark hadn’t been able to achieve in months. It was just after one AM when I dragged myself upstairs, then up the flat’s steps, stripped, and crawled in next to a slumbering Tom…and I would have thought he’d remained there for the entire day if it weren’t for the fact that he’d brought Trudy and I lunch.

Thursday afternoon found us on the road, quickly nearing Oxford, gifts tucked into the trunk of the Jaguar, our season’s greetings having been exchanged with Luke and Simon right before we’d left. They were spending the holiday with Luke’s parents, and Roland would be joining them for Boxing Day. U2 performing Christmas (Baby Please Come Home) was on the radio, and I was watching Tom’s hands as he manipulated the steering wheel. An elegant man guiding an elegant machine. The brief feeling of positivity about the holiday I’d experienced on Tuesday had faded after the whole ‘dad’s coming’ thing, and I really, really felt like asking him to turn around so we could go back home and have our own private, peaceful Christmas….but I knew he’d say yes, and I didn’t want to be the one responsible for him missing out on time with his family, which, in spite of all the insanity, had always been precious to him, even more so since he’d started travelling for his career.

He turned to me, smiling. “All set for your first holiday with the future in-laws?”

“Sure. Yep. You betcha.”

His right hand left the wheel and pressed gently into my thigh. “I’m sorry it’s gone a bit off the rails, my love.”

I snorted. “When we write our joint biography, that’s SO going to be the title.”

“Oh, I like that. Fitting.”

“Unlike this damn bra.” I reached down the V-neck of my blood-red sweater and shifted my boobs back into place. The color was the closest I could force myself to come to being festively dressed, whereas Tom was wearing a bright green monstrosity that his mother had given him last Christmas. Apparently, that was her thing…new holiday sweaters for everyone each year. Shaking my head, I reminded myself to be grateful that it wasn’t one of the infamous UGLY Christmas style sweaters, and also that I needed to say a hearty thank you and pretend to like the one that was surely lying in wait for me to open tomorrow. I heard a car horn honk, and realized that Tom had drifted off to the side of the road because he was staring at my tits. “Dude. Eyes on the road. EYES ON THE ROAD.”

“I know, I know. Sorry. But surely you can’t expect me to look away when you’re fiddling with them so artistically and they’re shifting around with such buoyance like…like…”

“Like, boobs?”

He nodded. “Yes. Boobs. Do shut up now, Maude. Safety first, you know.”

“Oh, safety…speaking of, you know this seat belt really rubs against them something fierce…”

“Behave, lest Father Christmas decides you belong on the naughty list after all.”

I sighed in mock exasperation. “You are really, really mean, you know? But let’s be real, I’ve GOT to be on that naughty list already because what I bought YOU is…”

“NO SPOILERS. WE AGREED NO SPOILERS.”

“But it’s…”

“My lord, woman, NO. NO NO NO NO NO.”

I chuckled, then reached over to rest my hand on the nape of his neck, rubbing gently with my thumb. “No spoilers, babe. I promise.” He moaned quietly as I pressed harder. “How are you coping with this? It’s all strange and new for me, but you’re used to it being a certain way. You okay?”

His right hand returned to my thigh as he turned onto the street that would take us to his childhood home. “You’re right, I am accustomed to the holidays being as they’ve always been since he stopped coming, and if I’m honest, it’s been vastly better that way. But it is what it is, and I’m just going to focus on the fact that it’s our first Christmas together and…well…fuck everything else.”

“Fuck everything else. Couldn’t have said it better myself.”

He grinned, rotating the wheel to the right as he pulled into the driveway, two other cars already neatly parked in front of the garage. “No, you couldn’t have…because it’s essentially the exact phrasing you would have chosen, is it not?”

“You are correct, sir. Did you perchance buy me a thesaurus for Christmas so I can expand my vocabulary?”

He put the car in park, leaned over and bit my neck. “I did no such thing. I happen to both admire and adore your vocabulary. Especially your habitual overuse of things like ‘oh yes’ and ‘oh god’ and ‘fuck me’.”

I bit my bottom lip and smiled, left brow raised. “I love you, you ridiculously horny dork.”

He laughed and pinched my cheek. “Lobbing that right back at you.”

We were grabbing our first load of stuff from the trunk when the yelling started. It was faint at first, and high pitched, and then I saw an adorable tiny human running towards us.

“Uncle Tommy! Happy Christmas! Happy Christmas!”

She was gorgeous, big dark eyes, dark brown hair, two shoulder-length braids bouncing and flying out behind her as she drew closer. I knew she was four, and thought she was probably of average height for that age, but in truth I had no fucking idea because children were like creatures from another planet to me. The way Tom squatted down to catch her in his arms then lifted her up, first spinning her, then popping her onto his shoulders and running a few laps around the driveway as he screamed ‘yay’ right along with her made my heart melt, and when I imagined him doing the same thing with our own child, I found it hard to breathe. Tom ran back to me, Saachi still on his shoulders, both of them grinning like fools. An unfamiliar voice caused me to inhale sharply, and I saw a woman approaching us quickly. She was about my height, though I was wearing my Diva Darcies so that stacked the deck a bit, slender, bearing a strong resemblance to Tom but with a different nose, a good amount of visible freckles across her cheeks and strawberry-blonde hair. I’d only seen her in pictures until this moment, and her hair had been much longer, down to her waist, as opposed to the chin-length bob she was sporting was now…but there was no doubt it was Sarah.

“Saachi, what did we decide? We decided that we’d wait for Uncle Tom and Aunt Maude to come INSIDE before throwing ourselves at them, did we not?”

Aunt Maude. Not helping with the breathing difficulties. Sarah strode toward me first, arms wide open, wrapping me in a snug embrace that I was barely able to return. She pulled back, hands grasping my forearms as she looked me up and down, smiling beatifically.

“Maude, it’s so nice to finally meet you. I’d like to formally welcome you to the insanity that is every single Hiddleston holiday. And pretty much every Hiddleston gathering, come to think of it.” Her hands slid down to hold mine, lifting the left one up to examine my ring. “My word, this is so unique and stunningly elegant.” She released me as she turned to Tom. “Well done, little brother. Saachi, have you said hello to Aunt Maude yet?”

Saachi shook her head, and Tom lifted her off his shoulders and placed her gently on the ground. She held out one tiny hand, looking up at my shyly. “Hello, Auntie Maude. ‘S nice to meet you.”

I leaned down and took her hand in mine, shaking very gently, terrified that I’d somehow break her. “Hi Saachi. It’s nice to meet you too.”

She paused, glancing down at my feet then back up at my face, nodding, still holding my hand. “I like your shoes. Come inside and help us decorate the tree. Grandma has lots of pretty things we have to hang today so Father Christmas will come tonight.”

And with that, I was led up the driveway by the adorable tiny human, her mother and uncle following behind me, both giggling, their arms around each other’s waists.

An incredibly handsome man with dark hair to his shoulders and nearly-black eyes was waiting in the doorway. He squatted down, hands on the knees of his jeans. “Well, my Saachi, I see you’ve brought us a new friend. Thank you.” He ruffled her hair as he stood, then extended his hand toward me. “Hello, Maude. I’m Ansh, but you likely knew that already. Lovely to meet you.”

We shook briefly, as Saachi was tugging on my other hand. “Good to meet you as well, Ansh. I’d stay and chat but I think someone has other plans…”

He laughed. “She always has some sort of plan. Gets that from her mother.”

Sarah and Tom had caught up to us, and she reached out and slugged Ansh in the shoulder. “If I didn’t always have a plan, where would you be, Ansh? Back home, that’s where. At the airport, eight hours late.”

He kissed her cheek. “You speak the truth, my love. I am grateful for your plans. Unquestionably.”

She chuckled, and they led the way into the living room. Saachi pulled me forward, and Tom took hold of my other hand. The staircase had been done up with fresh pine garland and white lights, and the tree was directly ahead, at the front-facing portion of the living/drawing room. It had white lights as well, and plastic tubs full of decorations were scattered around it, and on the closest couch as well. Diana was bent over one of the tubs, Emma was holding another and rummaging through it, and behind her was David, her fiancé. She’d shown me pictures of him on her phone, and I hadn’t thought he’d be so tall…same height as Tom, stockier build, and an honest-to-goodness genuine ginger with green eyes. He’d taken a single step toward me when Diana and Em noticed we’d arrived, both rushing ahead of David to dole out hugs. Diana reached me first, and Saachi let go of my hand in order to move out of the way, skipping over to stand at her mother’s side.

“Maude! Welcome, welcome! I’m so glad you came.” She squeezed me, then kissed my cheeks. “You look beautiful in that color. How are you? How’s your new project coming along?” Laughing and shaking her head, she released me. “You can answer over dinner…I’m sure you and Tom want to finish unloading the car and getting everything up to your room. Same as last time for you both so you have your own bath. Sarah and Ansh are in my room, Em and Dave are in Sarah’s old room, James will be in Em’s old room, and I’m in Tom’s.”

I could feel my eyes widen, remembering what havoc we’d wreaked on Tom’s bed during our last visit. “You know, we’d be just fine in Tom’s room…”

Diana grinned slyly. “No, no, it’s all right. I’ll be perfectly comfortable in the new double I had put in last week. Long overdue, truthfully. That old single had seen far better days.” She winked at me, and I tried to not die on the spot as she switched places with Em, who stared at my rapidly reddening cheeks, then giggled as she embraced me, whispering in my ear.

“Never underestimate Mum’s ability to find things out, Maude. She’s like Sherlock, but…worse.”

We released each other, my neck and chest now flushed as well. “Oh. My. God. Sooo…does EVERYONE know we broke the bed? Distant relatives? Friends from work? Random strangers? Should I start wearing a ski mask when I’m out in public?”

Em doubled over, laughing. “Oh, Maude…you are hilarious.”

Tom and Diana had separated, her attention diverted to Saachi, who was peeking out from behind Diana’s legs and waving at me. I waved back, feeling Tom’s hand come to rest on my lower back.

“What’s hilarious, Em?”

She pointed at me, trying to compose herself and failing. “Her. Ask her. I can’t.”

And with that I grabbed Tom, pulling him back toward the door. “Let’s get the rest of the stuff now, m’kay?”

As soon as we were outside he turned his head in my direction, in step with me as we headed for the car. “So, does our hasty exit have something to do with what was hilarious?”

I nodded. “Yup.”

“And?”

“And what?”

“And I thought this was the part where you tell me what was…”

“Your mother knows we broke your bed.”

We’d reached the car, and he had the keys in his hand, ready to open the trunk, but promptly dropped them onto the pavement upon hearing my words. His mouth hung open, then snapped shut before he reached down to pick them up, then spoke.

“I’m sorry…what was that again?”

“Your mother. She knows. That we broke your childhood bed. While having sex.”

He leaned on the car for support. “Well fuck ME.”

I snorted. “Exactly the root of the problem.”

He shook his head, eyes wide, now standing erect, hands out to the side at shoulder level. “And to think I spent all those years managing to not get caught tossing off, yet a single visit home with you…”

“Mmm hmm. Sorry, sunshine...joke all you like, but I have no idea how I’m going to go back in there.”

He reached out a hand, which I grudgingly accepted, then pulled me into his arms. “I’ll be right there with you, by your side, your eternal partner in familial mortification. We’ll take the mickey together.”

I sighed, gazing up at him. “This isn’t ever going to go away, is it?”

“Oh, no. Never. We’ll be a hundred and fifty and they’ll still be going on about it.” His eyes closed briefly. “My mother knows I had vigorous sex in my childhood bedroom with my wife-to-be. That’s not so awful, is it? I mean, it’s obvious that we HAVE sex, is it not? We’re adults, in our thirties, we live together…one should assume…”

“And your sister. Don’t forget about your sister. And probably your other sister. And…”

“Good lord, my sisters. Get in the Jag, my love…next stop, home.”

I pulled him down to me, kissing him gently at first, then sucking his bottom lip into my mouth. He groaned when I released him.

“Maude.”

“What?”

“Now I’m sporting a raging hard-on. Lovely accompaniment to my other problem, that.”

Grinning, I took the keys from him and opened the trunk, loading myself up with bags. “Figured maybe that would give them something else to discuss besides the bed, you know?”

“Fantastic.”

“I thought so, anyway.”

He rested one hand on my shoulder and I turned to find his face an inch from mine. “My mother knows I have sex.”

I nodded. “Your mother knows you have sex with ME. We’re just going to pretend this never happened and if anyone mentions it I’m going to feign a fainting spell and you can carry me out to the car and we’ll escape. Sound like a plan?”

“Yes, but then they’re likely to think you’re pregnant…”

“Shut the fuck up, Tom.”

Laughing, he kissed my cheek and grabbed the remainder of our luggage. “Yes, ma’am. Will do."

****************************************

We shot right upstairs to our room upon re-entry, sat on the bed for a few minutes, then walked down the stairs to meet our fate. Everyone was busy decorating, and we helped hang ornaments, Saachi picking them out and instructing me where to place them. Just when I thought we were in the clear, Tom pressed against me from behind to put a fragile bauble higher up and I lost my balance, falling forward and almost taking out the eight foot spruce. He caught me by quickly wrapping one arm around my waist, but the tree was left shaking like mad.

Sarah broke the brief silence that followed in my clumsy dork wake. “Easy there, you two. Beds we’ve aplenty, but there’s only one tree.”

Everyone burst out laughing, including the man holding my sorry ass up…though he tried to disguise it, I could feel his chest vibrating against my back. I was in the middle of turning around to take a bow when the doorbell rang and the room fell silent yet again.

Diana cleared her throat and spoke, her voice bright and cheery. “Well, that’s Dad, then. I’ll see him in.”

My eyes met Tom’s, then noted him swallowing repeatedly before smiling at me. I stood at his side, our arms around each other’s waists, waiting, listening to distant voices that drew ever closer until their source came into full view. Tom’s father was around his height, strikingly handsome, hair gone completely white. I could see bits of Tom in his face, and similarities in the way he held himself. Elegant, just shy of regal. He was wearing a light blue button down shirt under a navy blazer, paired with khaki slacks and toffee brown deck shoes. His accent, though not as strong as it likely was before relocating to England, was still present, and the melodic Scottish lilt combined with the pitch of Tom’s voice reminded me of Sean Connery.

“Hello, all. Happy Christmas.”

His greeting seemed to hang in the air, creating an undercurrent of tension, awkwardness and uncertainty. No one replied, except for Saachi.

“Happy Christmas, Granddad. Your hair is very white. Mummy says we’ve met before but I don’t remember because I was a baby then and babies aren’t good at remembering.”

He went to her instantly, squatting down before her and taking her hand, then planting a kiss on the top of it.

“My, you’ve grown into a beautiful young lass, Saachi. I’m very glad to see you.”

She giggled and pulled her hand away, eyes narrowing. “Have you brought me a present?”

Sarah groaned. “Saachi, remember your manners, please.” James stood, and Sarah embraced him tentatively. “Hello, Dad. Good to see you.”

Ansh garnered a handshake, as did Dave, and Em was the recipient of a hug, which she returned with visibly shaking hands. That left Tom. And me. James closed the distance between himself and us in four striding steps. He reached out and patted Tom’s upper arm.

“Thomas. How are you, son?”

Tom returned the gesture. “Fantastic, Dad. You?”

James nodded. “Quite well, quite well.” He turned to me. “And you must be Maude.”

I faked a smile. “Lovely to meet you, Mr. Hiddleston.” When I extended my hand, he accepted and shook vigorously.

“The feeling’s mutual. And please, call me James.”

I nodded as he released me and turned to Diana. “I believe I was promised some of your famous fish and chips, Di. It’s been far too long…”

She rolled her eyes. “All battered, the fryer’s been ready for an hour, waiting on you.”

He laughed, she laughed, and the rest of just stared at each other, heads tilted like a pack of confused puppies.

Dinner was delicious, but the undercurrent of strangeness permeated the atmosphere. Desert was assorted puddings served with coffee and tea, as well as the sugar cookies Diana had baked and decorated to make me feel more at home, as it wasn’t part of their tradition. Saachi decided that from that point on, they would be. She began to doze off at nine-thirty or so as we all sat in the living room after a round of caroling, her head bobbing and finally coming to rest on Sarah’s upper arm. Ansh scooped her up, and when she woke briefly she mumbled something about presents then was out cold again. When he and Sarah came back downstairs after tucking her in, James cleared his throat and stood, moving to the center of the horseshoe of couches, hands extended, palms up as he addressed the room.

“Well then. I’d imagine you’re all wondering what in heaven’s name I’m doing here, and I aim to explain as best I can, but wanted to wait until the little one was off to bed first.” No one moved, no one spoke, and after he was certain things would remain as such, he continued. “Simply put, your mother invited me to join the family for Christmas.”

Sarah, who was seated closest to Diana, turned to her, eyes wide. “Mum. You invited him? Is he serious?”

Diana nodded. “Yes. I did. He is.” She glanced pointedly at each of her progeny in turn. “And as a favor to your Mum, I’m requesting that you please allow him to continue.” Sarah returned her gaze to James, nodding curtly along with Tom and Emma.

James cleared his throat again. “Back in August, she reached out to me and asked me over for dinner so we could discuss a few…things. She advised me of what you all had spoken about, making it clear that the reason for our divorce was no longer a matter just between the two of us. Since then, we’ve been talking frequently. About the past, mainly, but also about the future. And we’ve…well, we’ve become rather decent friends.”

It was Emma’s turn for an outburst. “Friends? Surely you’re joking. Or I’m dreaming, or I’m in some parallel universe. Friends? Mum? Have you both lost your minds?”

Diana laughed. “Sometimes I wonder, love. But yes. We’ve spent a good bit of time going over everything, from the moment we met until we divorced, trying to figure it all out, what went wrong, the why of it, and…it just seemed it was something we needed to do, once and for all, I suppose.”

Sarah shook her head, eyes on Diana, left index finger pointing at James. “After everything he’s done…you’ve FORGIVEN him?” Her voice was raw, full of emotion she was struggling to contain.

Diana shook her head as well. “Sarah, it isn’t always about forgiveness. Sometimes it’s about closure. And acceptance.”

James nodded, his expression grim. “I would never, ever expect your mother to forgive me for my actions. They were unconscionable. Indefensible. Deplorable. Nor would I expect any of you to forgive them. That’s not why I’m standing before you. I’m here to apologize, though I understand that such a thing is likely too little and too late. But I’m doing it anyway. Sarah and Emily, I’m sorry you lived your lives without me when you needed a father most, though perhaps you were better off, and I’m sorry you were left wondering what went wrong between your mother and me. It was wrong, of both of us, to deny you your own closure, to not tell you the truth. And Tom…the way you found out what I’d been doing, that you carried that with you for so long, a burden so heavy, all on your own…and that you thought at some point you were to blame for the divorce…I…” He cleared his throat, overcome with emotion he likely didn’t want to display. “The three of you deserved better. Your mother deserved better. Over the past few years, as I’ve begun to not recognize the old man I see in the mirror every morning because he can’t possibly be ME…I started to view the past with new eyes. I can see my selfishness, the pain I’ve caused, the destruction I’ve wrought. I’ve lain awake many a night wishing I could go back and change it. But I can’t. And that’s the worst of it. I can’t take it back, I can’t make it disappear. And I’m not going to make excuses for myself, but I feel that I need to be honest, for a change…my first marriage ended, but the hurt…didn’t. And that was not something a man like me admits, especially to himself. So I told myself that love was useless, that it was pointless frivolity. And I believed it, like a religion. From that point forward, that’s how I lived my life. I liked, respected and enjoyed your mother, but I wouldn’t allow myself to become emotionally attached. Same thing with all of you. I focused on my career, and I permitted myself to indulge in the pleasures of the flesh, but love…that had left me betrayed and broken, and I maintained a firm, albeit foolish, resolve that I was never going to let that happen again.”

Again, silence fell over the room.

“So. Here we are. I suppose the point of what I said there is that what I’ve learned is that allowing your past to walk with you in the present does irreparable harm to the future, and not only yours, but that of those around you. As I said, I expect no forgiveness from you. I’m unworthy of it. But I came, because…because I wanted to tell you, in person, that you three, my children, you are all intelligent, talented, loving, caring people. And I am grateful for that now, each and every day. And I thank your mother for doing all the work of raising you, for being there for you, and teaching you how life should properly be lived. It’s not about money, it’s not about success, it’s not about power…it’s about the connections you form with the people around you. It doesn’t matter so much when you’re young and you have, seemingly, nothing but time…but when you get to be my age, time is short, and you look back and see all you missed, all you wasted…” He paused, inhaling deeply before continuing. “And now, all of you have your own connections, love in your lives. I’m grateful for that too. And I know it’s far too much to ask of you, after everything, but I shall do so anyway as your mother said I should, but if you would allow me to participate in events such as this, and, perhaps, eventually, to get to know you again, to learn all the things I should already know…well, I would welcome the opportunity. Very much so.”

And with that, he sat back down, arms crossed in front of him. What he’d said about the past walking with you in the present struck a chord with me, and I focused on that for the moment. It was still completely quiet, Tom’s hand now in mine, his eyes fixed on the floor, jaw clenched. Diana rose from her spot.

“Well, what say we put presents under the tree?”

Sarah got up so quickly that Ansh jumped, startled. “Great idea, Mum.”

And then, as so many families do, we simply carried on as if none of it had ever happened.

****************************************

Sarah and Ansh said goodnight first, reminding us that Sacchi would likely be up at a ridiculously early hour, which led to a mass exodus toward the second floor. There were hugs all around, but for James hanging back, and good tidings shared. After closing the door behind us, Tom half-jogged to the bed, sat down and rested his head in his hands. I walked to sit at his side, placing one hand on his lower back, then slowly circling, hoping to soothe.

“Maude. Did…I just…I really don’t know what to DO with all of this. I’m not even sure what I heard. This is…it’s…”

“Don’t put any pressure on yourself to do something right now. Take your time. Process it.” I snorted. “Said the woman who took an eternity to come to terms with her own familial bullshit.”

He lifted his head, a tiny smile upon his lips. “I adore you.”

“Of course you do.” I reached out with my free hand and cupped his chin, thumb gently stroking his stubbly cheek. “In all seriousness, though…how can I help? Do you need to vent? Rant?”

His head shook back and forth. “Not sure what I’d rant or vent about…too confused, because I just received an apology that I never saw coming nor ever imagined getting. I truly believed it would be about you, his reason for being here. But I think that might have been because of my own fear, that my father wouldn’t like you, that he wouldn’t approve of you, and it makes me sick to think that after all he’s done and all this time, that deep down, his opinion matters to me and I still crave his approval and his respect and his blessing and…and…” His voice broke as he began to sob. “And…and…his…lo…love.”

I wrapped my arms around him, pulling him to my chest, and he wept upon my shoulder, uncontrollably, struggling to silence himself but unable to do so completely. Every time a gasp or muted wail escaped him I had to rein in a wince, as it reminded me of how both he had broken down in our hotel room in New Orleans and how I’d done the same at my mother’s house. This time, at least, I was fully present and able to offer him comfort. He clung to me as I stroked the back of his head and rocked him, and as he began to calm I whispered in his ear.

“I’m here. It’s okay, baby. I know. I know how it hurts. I understand. I love you.”

My sentiments were repeated until he spoke, his face buried in the crook of my neck. His voice was ragged, but soft. “Thank you. I’m sorry. I love you too.”

Just as I opened my mouth to say for what seemed like the millionth time that he need not apologize I felt his own mouth open, teeth sinking into my flesh, lips pressing, followed by suction so powerful it made my toes curl.

“Well hello there, Hiddleston. Damn. This is…unexpected. But please, do continue.”

He growled, fumbling with the hem of my sweater, working his hand inside to caress my left breast through the satin of my bra. Right after he began to pinch my hardened nipple, he pulled away from me, yanking his own sweater off over his head and blowing his nose in it. The snarky comment on my lips was suppressed by his tongue thrusting into my mouth as he guided me into a standing position. I bit down on it and he moaned, hips jutting forward and grinding against me. The kissing continued, sloppy and wet, a long string of saliva still connecting us when we finally came up for air and attempted to separate. Neither of us said a word, the only sound in the room the discordant noise of us removing our shoes and stripping off our clothes as quickly as humanly possible, flinging them everywhere. I looked away from my bra hooks for a moment to find him watching me, pupils blown, jaw clenched. My nether region did some clenching of its own as I completed the task at hand, spun the bra around on my index finger, then let it fly through the air to land on the dresser top. He remained where he was, and I strode toward him, biting my lip as I noticed his cock twitch. Leaning forward when I reached him, I blew on his chest hairs, the initial shiver intensifying as my tongue snaked out and circled his right nipple, then his left. When I added teeth, he pushed me up and off him, then walked me backwards to the bed. His voice was dripping with desire when he spoke, as was his cock.

“Hands and knees for me? On the bed?”

I nodded, mouth agape, panting at the thought of him taking me from behind. While there wasn’t a single position I didn’t like, doggy style was one of my favorites. Just a flash of what it always felt like, his hips slapping against my ass, was enough to cause a rush of wetness that began to trickle down my thighs. I turned and clambered onto the bed, scooting up far enough so he had room to join me, wiggling my own hips suggestively and peeking over my shoulder back at him. He was on me in a heartbeat, pulling my cheeks apart, one nimble finger dipping into me, then pulling out to circle my clit.

“The view from back here, woman. I wish you could see it, see yourself spread wide…open and ready. Ready for me. For my cock. Are you ready for my cock, Maude?”

I whimpered, quietly, I thought, but he heard me anyway.

“Oh, I’m of a mind that you’re MORE than ready.” The head nudged my entrance. “Are you? More than ready? Have you reached the point of desperation? Is it driving you mad, feeling me so close but not where you need me to be most?”

With that I slammed backwards, taking him all in, and the sound he made was half scream, half moan and entirely too loud. He grabbed my hips and began thrusting, hard, fast, and grunting with every single re-entry. I felt his fingers intertwine with my hair, then tugging on it gently but firmly and holding my head in place. He slowed, regaining some semblance of control, which I snatched away by rolling my pelvis and pushing back against him, parrying his thrusts. The hand that had been in my hair disappeared and his arm wrapped around my chest, pulling me up and back, until my ass was resting on his thighs, my knees bent and spread wide, feet resting on either side of him. He ran his tongue up and down the back of my neck as he began to massage my clit, and I squealed. His response was a whisper, and his hot breath on my ear making me clench around him.

“Ride. Me.”

“Yep. Sounds good. Will do.”

I lifted myself off his cock slowly, then sank back down, then again, and again and again, my tempo increasing with each instance as I drew closer to orgasm. As it began he propelled us both forward again, me coming to rest on my elbows with my cheek pressed to the bed, him on top of me, body covering me like a blanket, holding himself up with one arm at first so he could continue playing with my clit, then shifting as the need for additional support arose when he came, hips jerking erratically, mouth open and lips on my shoulder, moaning and whimpering as he spent himself inside me, my walls squeezing and pulsing, leaving me without words, or thoughts, feeling nothing but the pleasure in that moment.

We remained as we were until our panting returned to simply breathing, his chin resting on my shoulder. Tom regained the power of speech first, which was not a single bit surprising.

“Sorry if the timing of that appears questionable. I just…I…”

I pushed myself up on my hands, and he lifted himself off me and rolled us over. I pulled away from him, his cock slipping out of me as I did so, then rolled again to face him, index finger tracing the line of his jaw.

“No need to say it. I understand what you ‘just’.” And I did, absolutely. Receiving comfort, wanting to lose your pain in pleasure, the desire for closeness, fulfilling that desire via the act that brings you as physically close to another human as you can possibly be, reminding yourself of what’s good, affirming that you love and are loved.

He reached out to bring me closer, and I buried my face in his neck, and he buried his in my hair, stroking my back as he murmured how much he loved me and I did the same. It seemed like we’d just fallen asleep when we heard Saachi screaming excitedly out in the hallway.

“It’s morning! It’s morning! Father Christmas came! And he left presents! PRESENTS FOR ME!”

Tom and I donned our pajamas and robes, which I’d made sure to bring when he informed me that no one in the Hiddleston house dressed on Christmas day until it was time for dinner, which was actually lunch. No official breakfast, either, just chocolates and sweets and fruit and caffeinated beverages, which sounded acceptable to me. As we descended the stairs the smell of roasting turkey hit my nostrils and my stomach growled loudly. Tom snickered, and I punched him in the arm.

“It’s like, not even 6 AM yet, dude. How long has your mother been up?”

Diana’s voice sounded from below. “Birds went in the oven at 4:30.” She came into view as we reached the bottom few steps, standing in the living room doorway, wearing a Christmas apron over a fluffy green robe. “This lot is not exactly patient when it comes to food, sad to say. Happy Christmas, Maude. And you too, son of mine. Treats are all laid out…grab a handful and come on in and see what Father Christmas brought for our darling girl. Or our tiny whirling dervish, which is more fitting for today.”

We were the last ones down, everyone else seated either on one of the couches or on the floor, all pajama-clad. A group shout of ‘Happy Christmas’ ensued, and I felt like I was starring in the British version of A Christmas Story, which was amusing until I realized that I was the prime candidate for pulling a Ralphie and saying fuck. Tom and I sat on the couch facing the fireplace, next to Dave and Emma. Sarah and Ansh were on the floor, helping Saachi with her gifts, among which were puzzles, books, various stuffed creatures, and an iPad. Sarah noticed me staring at it, not realizing it was with awe.

“I know, I know…we’re going to limit screen time, but we just think there’s so much for her to learn…”

I blinked, slowly comprehending what her comment meant. “Oh, sorry, Sarah…not why I was gawking. I just really, really love the design of Apple stuff. It’s like high art…flawless, seamless, feels as if it’s an extension of you when you hold it.” Tom chuckled, and I elbowed him in the ribs. “The kid stuff…no clue. But I guess I need to GET a clue.”

Emma shrieked. “OH MY GOD, MAUDE, ARE YOU PREGNANT?”

My brain short-circuited, and I realized Tom hadn’t been kidding about them thinking that if I fainted, and he graciously jumped in to do damage control.

“Christ, Em. It’s too early for that decibel level. No, she’s not.” He turned to me, silently asking if I thought it acceptable to discuss our plans. Though it made me incredibly nervous, it being said out loud, and the fact that it would now be obvious if we weren’t successful, it was my own carelessness that had opened this particular can of worms, so I nodded for him to continue. “Or I should say, not yet. We’re going to start trying soon, once I’m done filming, most likely.”

Within seconds I found myself being hugged and kissed by all of them in succession, with the exception of James, who simply said ‘jolly news’ but remained seated, drinking a glass of milk. Saachi rescued me by stating that all her Father Christmas gifts had been opened and now it was time to see what we’d all gotten for her. Tom went to the tree to retrieve our gifts, and she followed him back to the couch and climbed into his lap, tearing open the first one before she was fully seated. It was a giraffe-printed T-shirt with a cartoon giraffe on the front, munching on some leaves.

“Oh, a giraffe! Look, Mummy!” She held the shirt up. “It’s beautiful!”

Next came matching pants, sweatshirt, and sneakers. Tom saved the best for last, and when she removed the paper and saw a plain cardboard box she gazed up at him. “I do like boxes very much, Uncle Tommy. Thank you.”

The room erupted in laughter, and I reached out to help her open it. When she saw what was inside she gasped, reached inside and pulled out the eighteen-inch high plush giraffe I’d found for her. Unlike most, its proportions were correct, which she noticed immediately. “Oh, he’s just like a REAL giraffe.” She turned to her parents. “I have my very own real-like giraffe. His name is Charlie, and we’re going to be best friends.” Snuggling him to her chest, which was adorable because he was so giant, she turned back to me. “Thank you, Auntie Maude. I love you now.” And with that, she hopped off Tom’s lap and onto mine, hugging me tightly, Charlie between us. As I returned the embrace, the fragility of her, the smallness, this little person, putting her trust in me was incredibly overwhelming and I found myself both struggling not to cry and beaming like an idiot.

She left me soon after when Ansh said her iPad was ready to use, and the rest of us began to open our presents. There was no rhyme or reason to it, other than Diana matching gifts with each individual and piling them nearby. Tom and I were lost in our own little world, choosing to open our presents to each other before ones from family. He insisted that I go first, and I argued, but he smiled that smile and I had no choice but to give in.

The first was a team Jersey, navy blue, and I wondered if he’d lost his fucking mind until I unfolded it and saw my name on the front left breast in white, with the number 31 smack in the center. The back was the same, but across the top over the number was ‘TEAM HIDDLESTON’. I stared at him, and he grinned.

“That’s your team jersey. We’ve all got one. The number is…”

“My birthday.”

He nodded. “Yes. Your birthday.”

“All the swear words.”

His head tilted. “What?”

I raised my left hand, palm towards him. “That’s me using profanity without using profanity.”

“Oh, I like that. Here, do this one next.” He handed me large, flat object, heavier than I expected. I removed the wrapping, and realized it was a frame. Inside was a poster. A movie poster. The Matrix. One of my very favorite films. And when I finally really LOOKED at it, I noticed that there were signatures. Three of them. Keanu Reeves, Carrie-Anne Moss, and Laurence Fishburne.

“Thomas. Are these real? They can’t be real. Are they REAL?”

He nodded again, chuckling and licking his lips.

“ALL THE SWEAR WORDS TIMES A MILLION. How did you…my god, this is AMAZING. You are amazing. Thank you. Wow. I cannot EVEN.”

There was one more for me, a small item, the size and shape of a CD case. I peeled back the paper, and there I was, mid-song, from Hawaii karaoke. Down at the bottom was my name, with the words ‘Back to Black’ under it, and a logo. Skrillex. My mouth dropped open. “Dude. What. Is. This.”

“That’s you. From Kauai, doing Back to Black. Remastered by Skrillex. If you’ll look at the back you’ll see he did a remix for you as well.”

“NO HE DID NOT.”

Tom laughed. “Oh yes he did. Shall we listen to it now?”

I threw my arms around him. “Hiddleston, you are so thoughtful and kind and sweet and I love you, you bastard.” He hugged me back, and I pulled away. “But no, we’ll listen to it later. You have to open your stuff now. Plus I don’t think I want present company to hear me singing about a dude keeping his dick wet.”

“Excellent point. In addition, your voice does things to me…”

“Yes. Duly noted. Later. Anyway. Open the giant box first.”

I’d put all the Jurassic Park toys inside a single box, because I felt if he saw one it would be like he’d seen them all and let’s face it, there’s nothing quite like a box full of toys just waiting for you to love them. He peeled back the paper, popped the tape, lifted the flaps and the expression he wore when he realized what was inside filled me with such joy I thought I’d burst. He turned to me in disbelief.

“How did you…where did you…are these really…” He removed the electronic T-Rex from the box. “IT IS. ORIGINAL.” The rest followed suit quickly, and he placed them gently on the floor after giving them the once-over, alternating between grinning, giggling, and shaking his head. “Maude. It’s like I’m a kid again. On Christmas. This is incredible. Thank you.” With that, he kissed me, and it went on long enough for Sarah to feel the need to tell us to get a room already.

We laughed, blushing, and I decided to fess up. “I can’t take all the credit, you know. Your mom made me a list of what she could remember you having. All I did was find the stuff on eBay.”

He pinched my cheek. “Yes, but you’re the one who thought to do it.” He glanced at Diana. “Thanks, Mum. You’re becoming a regular Sneaky Pete, aren’t you?” She nodded, and I pointed to the other box, smaller than the first.

“Dude, open it. I can’t stand waiting another second.”

Of course he removed the paper at a snail’s pace just to torture me, and then pretended to not know how to get the lid off properly. His face lit up like a thousand suns when he saw the fedora.

“My very own Indiana Jones fedora. I hope you realize I’m going to where this everywhere we go forever and ever from this day forward.” As he lifted it out of the box with the intent of putting it on, I figured I should draw his attention to what he was actually holding. I reached out and grabbed his wrist.

“You might want to take a gander at the inside before you wear it.”

His puzzled gaze met my mildly impatient one, and he flipped it over.

“My god. Oh my god. OH. MY. GOD.” He stood, hat in his hand, his last comment so loud that everyone was staring at him. Emma snorted.

“Tom. It’s a hat. It’s lovely. Pipe down, won’t you?”

Tom shook his head. “It’s not just a hat. It’s a fedora signed by Harrison Ford. Indiana Jones.”

I tugged on his robe but he didn’t notice, so I stood, pausing to pull out a framed letter I’d hidden under extra tissue paper in the bottom of the box. He read it quickly, and when I saw his Adam’s apple bob I knew he was holding back a sob. A deep breath followed, then he spoke.

“It’s a note from Harrison. It says ‘Tom – Steve told me how much Indy means to you, but what really sold me was the story from your fiancée about you cutting off your sister’s braid and using it as a bullwhip. Here’s a hat. Wore it for the Last Crusade. You do good work, kid. Keep it up and you might be able to buy a real, actual bullwhip someday. – Harrison’.”

He sat back down, hat in one hand, frame in the other, staring at them both as his siblings and their significant others came over to get a better look. I sat as well, and as I did so he looked up at me.

“You did this. For me. How? How did you pull this off? I would have never expected this, for him to send one of the fedoras he actually wore. I…my god…my mind. So completely, utterly blown.”

I grinned. “I am tenacious and don’t take no for an answer.” He laughed. “Actually, I had lots of help. Friend here, client there, Steven Spielberg, and here we are. You like it, then?”

“It’s the best present…and it has a deeper meaning than me just being a huge fan, because of how we met, and what I said, and…I love you.”

My grin widened and I patted him on the shoulder. “I know.”

He roared, catching on to my Star Wars reference, and I joined in, Saachi finally looking up from her iPad to comment.

“I want a funny hat next year, please.”

Everyone laughed at that, and once the giddiness wore off it was back to the matter at hand. We’d gotten Diana a set of eight mugs, two tote bags and four T-shirts with her art printed on them, which she marveled at and said she finally felt like she might actually be a genuine artist. For Em and Dave we’d purchased a couples spa weekend, and for Sarah and Ansh we’d arranged for a date night out to see a show and spend the night at a five-star hotel in London, grandma set as the babysitter.

Diana put together a beautiful photo album that included pictures of Tom as a child, as well as other family shots for us, and she’d done a painting on canvas of Tom and I on the red carpet at the Cube gallery. And, as predicted, there was my Christmas sweater, bright blue with snowmen on the front. It was actually kind of cute, and I thought it might even be fun to put it on our first married people Christmas cards next year. Then I shook my head and decided I was going insane and that I needed some more tea immediately. Before I had a chance to get up go grab it, Diana handed me a thick greeting card envelope.

“Here, love. This one’s from me, Emma and Sarah. Technically for you and Tom, but mainly for you.”

I opened it slowly, reading the brochure and the open-ended tickets and where to call to book dates, not quite understanding what I was looking at straight away. It was something I’d never thought of, never would have thought of on my own, but wished I had and was grateful someone else had done it for me. They’d arranged for a week-long vacation for us at the Fitzpatrick Castle Hotel. Which was in Ireland. In Dalkey, Ireland, to be exact. Where my father had been born and lived until he met my mother and moved to the US. I didn’t speak. I couldn’t speak. The idea of seeing where he’d grown up, walking the streets he’d walked, visiting the bar his family owned…MY family owned? I didn’t know. He’d cut all ties with them, likely at my mother’s insistence, and that’s all I knew. Did he have siblings? Were his parents still alive? He never spoke of family, not once that I could recall. I’d been so angry, so hurt, that it never occurred to me that they could be out there somewhere in the world. And that they were my family, too. Which led me to the next step…what of my mother’s family? They knew there was a child, that I existed, both sides, but did they know it was…me? Suddenly, and much to my surprise, I felt compelled to find out.

Diana was standing in front of me still, her face full of concern as I looked up at her.

“Maude, if that was too forward of us, I’m terribly sorry…we just thought you might want to, since you’re close by now…”

I passed the papers to Tom, who had been reading them over my shoulder, stood, and wrapped my arms around Diana, a muted ‘thank you’ spilling from my lips before I began to weep. Sarah and Emma made it a group hug, and I realized that while it would be wonderful to have my questions answered, it would be icing on the cake, as they say, because I’d already been blessed with a family, the people right there in that room, who had opened their lives and their hearts to me, because I loved their brother, their son, and he loved me. And what a miracle that was, especially on a day made for such things.

#your light in the mist #chapter 39

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dommomdeals-blog · 5 years

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Christmás

Each year we spend more and more during the holidays. The month of December hits our wallets hard not only in the heating bills but also through parties, events, and of course the gifts. It seems the perfect time to start a 2019 resolution just a little early. A new blog on the art of thriftiness. Soon Christmás becomes Christmas again and our wallets fatten up instead of our waistlines. (results not guaranteed- those cookies will get ya Santa.)

This year we bought for 20 people. This includes all the trimmings for our preschooler who wholeheartedly believes in the magic of Santa. The total cost was just under $250. Here are are a few of my tips*

Combine Vacation Souvenirs and Gifting: Each year we go to a few new spots. This year was Florida and with a child this is almost a given that we spent a day at Disney. Every year part of our tradition is to get ornaments for each other and for our son. These often come from gift shops on our travels and this year is no different. the roughly $10 an ornament we spend allows us to have a memory to share and keep the house uncluttered. Plus it’s fantastic reminiscing while putting up the tree. If you have kids small memorable toys or clothing from your trips is another way to maximize. This year he is getting a monorail toy from Disney that plays to his love of trains and a memory of his mindblowing trip. I always enjoy the travel souvineer myself and have received ornaments and things from my family’s travels over the years. Thus if you see a scarf or a token that is perfect for so and so on your list you can pick it up and save it for this end of year madness. Which brings me to my next tip.

Buy Year Round: We buy on our trips but also through clearance sales and buy sell trade boards.(see below) By spending a little year round we end up getting the most bang for our buck. I keep a dresser in the basement to store the items I find. I will note though that I sometimes find I overbuy because of this so I end up selling a handfull of items at most at the end of the year at the same cost to me. This year’s examples include a Thomas Karaoke machine and a box of playdoh.

Shop clearance: This year we hit it big since Toys R US pranked us all with going out of business sales (They are bringing Geoffrey back if you haven’t heard) We looked for deals on the things you can’t often find 2nd hand or on sale. I.e. Lego, Thomas the train wooden trains, Coloring sheets, playdoh, and more. We spent about $30 here and I admit I over bought a bit, but because of the great deals I got I was able to resell the items on local BSTs for what I spent or more.Which would be the next tip.

Buy 2nd hand when you can: BSTs, Craigslist, Ebay etc. can allow you to get a wanted item for a fraction of the cost. This is something I do year round not only for Christmas and Birthday gifts but also for clothing and other needs (especially for the kids!) An example of such a find might be the Thomas puzzle from Ebay or the Paw Patrol toys in his stocking this year. I personally use the BSTs so much that I now admin a few. There are free groups as well which is where I sourced the items I filled both hubby and my stockings with. (Got to keep the magic alive folks) Then of course there are thrift stores which are fantastic for kids items or the random houseware item your MIL wants. Many items are donated still in original packaging unused! I can also promise you that kids care about the item not the package it comes in so it’s a great spot to update their wardrobe or find a gently used toy. My wonderful wool winter coat cost me $2 this year at the thrift! I personally like the local thrifts or Volunteers of America here. While you may not have a VOA there are often city/ state local stores like it. We personally find that some larger branded thrifts no longer compete in the pricing to the others nor do we feel the money is doing the most good in comparison. That’s a story for another day though. At the end of the day I always remind people to donate to charity where they wish and regard thrifts like you do any other business rather than a charity. The savvy shopper cares more about the benefit to them in this regard. Where are the best prices and selection?

Bargain Stores: Outside the thrift store, (which is honestly where I shop most) the Dollar Tree, Five Below and I are the 3 shopeteers. These are the best spots for stocking stuffers. With young kids it’s even possible to get them items for under the tree. This year a few PJ Masks puzzles made their way under the tree as Five Below gets closeout deals on things. The Dollar store is great for things like close out books, washcloths that grow in water, treats, and more. They have character lines of most major kids shows that make it easy to fill a stocking and match your child’s interests. While on this topic this is also the best spot to get your gift wrapping. This year he has PJ Masks paper which is easily $3 to $6 in other stores. Reusing bags and tissues is always the way to go but also having a cheap source is handy. They will discount their paper the day after Christmas if you are like me and want a bigger discount. While I don’t shop them often myself I think it’s worth mentioning stores like TJ Maxx, Tuesday Morning, and Ollies. I suspect as he gets older I may end up at these spots more for their close out deals. Ollies had the remaining Toys R Us stock this year at steep discounts!

Black Friday: Lets get a few things out of the way. The only reason you should go out on Thanksgiving is because you haven’t had any other human interaction. I am 100% for companies moving back to 4,5,6 am Black Friday start times instead of starting some crazy hour on Thanksgiving. Now obviously I am talking shopping here in the States but for others I believe this is the equivalent of Boxing Day (Though I am all for some after Christmas shopping too.) A few tips to maximizing your deal. Shop Online- Most stores offer free shipping or they offer free in store pick up. It is also easier to Google the item and see who has the best deal. This is how I buy for most of the extended family. The best deals this year were a cardigan for my MIL and a set of monogrammed hand towels for my mother at Kohl's. Total cost for both was about $7 (originally $50.) I waited in no lines and was able to quickly pick up the items I ordered when the stores didn’t offer free shipping.

Get Crafting: What is your talent? I am definitely creative so there is always some sort of craft to be done. One that we do annually with our son is an ornament. We make one for each family so about 12 total. This year it was glitter glue (dollar tree) and Pine-cones to make Christmas trees. Age appropriate and cheap! I also bake lots of goodies so that there is enough to take a tin to each preschool teacher and some to fill whatever I find for the mailman (typically a thermal mug of some sort etc) using your creativity goes a long way in the savings game.

HAND ME DOWNS: My favorite. While we don’t really use this method yet ourselves (our son is the youngest of the cousins) we do benefit from it. Great example: Thomas Wooden railway (now known as Wood) is a timeless classic that many boys enjoy and that my son is obsessed with. Last year he received several special pieces of track and a few trains that were hand me downs. HE WAS THRILLED. The year before he received a hand me down Trackmaster set. I don’t think I can say it enough. KIDS DON’T NEED A PACKAGE!!!! This is a win win win because it costs you nothing, purges outgrown things out of the house, and the recipient gets a great gift! Which brings us to the next tip.

Santa Swap: I love this for so many reasons. 1- It costs me nothing. 2- It purges things before more stuff comes into the house. Here is how it works (there are several versions online) At the beginning of December I get a trash bag out. My son and I work together to fill a sack for Santa. We put these unwanted, outgrown but usable toys and clothing under the tree for his elf to pick up (no we aren’t a Elf on the Shelf family but there is a version of this if you are) I then host a meetup with other moms who bring their sacks and we swap stuff. Leftovers are donated to local charities who use the items for the less fortunate. This year Santa will be bringing him a Green Toys Fire truck which I got free from this type of swap. I also got the gifts for the cousins we don’t see often nor have a list for through this. I purged about 3 boxes this way and only brought in a handful of items. That is a mom win folks.

White Elephant: Have you thought about how hard it is to buy for Uncle so and so or even how hard it is to come up with a list for yourself? My husband’s family found the perfect solution years ago. Find like new items you aren’t using around the house and the adults can enjoy a fun game of White Elephant after the kids have opened their gifts. The game is a blast and we save on buying for about 5 people. This means that I can re-gift or purge and it costs me nothing! This is also great for work where I often re-gift something for our holiday exchange. There are many ways to play, a quick google search will give you tons of options. Another idea related to this is a Secret Santa. Everyone draws a name and you buy for that 1 person. A Secret Santa is a great way to cover lots of kids too by each child pulling a name. A friend does this so they buy 4 gifts and each of her 4 kids receive 1.

SELL: BSTs aren’t just for buying, it’s also a great way to purge and make a little cash for your holiday shopping! This year I brought in just under $100 from old housewares, clothing, and TOYS that we had outgrown or no longer used. That’s almost half of what we spent!!! I do sell year round as I purge and while I don’t keep track it brings in $15 to $100 a month for stuff I no longer need. It’s easier than a garage sale! Ebay, Poshmark, and other sites are also great for this.

So that’s our holiday saving habits. What things do you do to save?

*I do not own nor am I affiliated with any of the characters or companies mentioned in this post. None of these companies have sponsored or paid for this post. This is a personal post referencing companies I have personally used. This is not an advertisement or endorsement of any brand or company.

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sjrresearch · 4 years

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Five Best Historical Board Wargames Currently in Print

It is that time of year again, and everyone is going gaga with gift ideas and gift needs. Board games have become wildly popular with all of us in quarantine these days. They can be played over Zoom, VASSAL, or Tabletop Simulator, to name a few mediums that immediately come to mind. They are all a one-stop-shopping package, unlike miniatures where you are buying bits here and there to fill out an army. I am not decrying it. Certainly, I am a miniatures gamer, so I rather enjoy that aspect of the hobby. But for all the hex-and-counter fans or their significant others casting about for a hobby gift idea this year? This one’s for you.

For those older grognards who haunt eBay, BoardGameGeek, or CONSIM World, do not fear as I will be doing a similar writeup for out of print games one can still find on those places. What you might pay for them is another matter!

Twilight Struggle by GMT

If you have not heard of Twilight Struggle, well, my friend, you might have been hiding under a rock. For a while, this game was the game on BoardGameGeek. I mean, look at the awards this thing has won?

Charles S. Roberts Award for Best Modern Era Board Game 2005

The International Gamers Award for General Strategy, Two-Player 2006

The International Gamers Award for Historical Simulation, 2006

The BoardGameGeek, Golden Geek Award for Best Wargame 2006

The BoardGameGeek, Golden Geek Award for Best 2 player game.

Nominee Games Magazine Best Historical Simulation 2007

Nominee Origins Awards Historical Board Game of the Year 2005

#5 on 3 Minute Board Games List of Top 100 Games of All Time

But it is not just about the awards. Twilight Struggle is my go-to game for when a bunch of us wargamers get together and just want to play something. The rules are not that hard to pick up, and even better, there is a mobile version and a PC version out there that play virtually identical to the board game. In short, this game took the board gaming world by storm?

It did so because it had a compelling subject, and its card-driven mechanics make every game different and tense. I have never won a game of Twilight Struggle, but the game is so compelling, and for a “wargame,” it really discourages war (Though you can dance close to the brink. Glen, you maniac! You blew it all up! Sorry, flashbacks to a game I almost won). The game’s simple but genius design makes you always come back for more. It presents players with the same options that presented the United States and the Soviet Union during the length of the Cold War and does so with surprising fidelity, but it never plays the same way twice.

In short, if you do not already have this game and love the Cold War, it is the game to get. GMT is on its 7th Printing and has released multiple variants and other bells and whistles for this game. And, at $65.00, it is a steal!

Iron Curtain

This has become one of my favorite “Cold War Gone Hot” games. The Standard Combat Series rules have always been a hit with me due to being fast, violent, and simple to play. All I can say after having played this thing is: Why didn’t this happen sooner?! We have all read my review, and you know what I think of this game. I think for all of you Cold War gamers, this is the game to get for your Christmas shopping. MMP has a real hit on their hands in this game, and it is my new favorite SCS game, even supplanting Yom Kippur, which is a tough feat. (Speaking of which, MMP is selling copies of Yom Kippur in Ziploc (no boxes) for $20, so I would strike while the iron is hot, folks!)

But that said, I would encourage folks to get this game. There is a VASSAL module, and I am sure Tabletop Simulator is coming shortly, so quarantine play is very possible for this game. Heck, my own review was based on a VASSAL playthrough. I really liked it, and while MMP’s price tag of $85.00 is a bit high, you can bargain hunt and find the game for cheaper with all sorts of outlets and Black Friday deals. I personally encourage Naval Wargames Store. Curt runs a great shop, and he has never failed to meet my wargaming needs (which in this current COVID environment is a tough thing to do.)

You could not go wrong purchasing this game for the Cold War wargamer. You could do a lot worse than buy this for Christmas!

The Kaiser’s Pirates

What can I say about this game? It is simple and great fun and is probably one of the best World War I naval games I have ever played. The basis of the game is simple. Each player is playing both the surface raiders and the British fleet hunting them. The idea is to get your merchants safely to port while hunting down the other fellow’s merchants and capturing/destroying them. It really has a lot to offer. The system is quick, simple, and has a ton of chrome and random events. I like the split nature of the game, as it forces you to think in both roles as the hunter and the hunted (which, considering the nature of the war at sea, could often switch roles).

It’s been recently reprinted and is going for $59.00 at GMT, so it’s pretty affordable as wargames go these days. It has got living rules online for download, and I happen to like that there are VASSAL and Tabletop Simulator modules, as well as solitaire rules. It is the ultimate quarantine friendly wargame. I very much encourage folks to buy this game as it’s worth the cash and is very repayable.

Undaunted: Normandy

Undaunted is, in my mind, one of the cleverer wargames I have come across. I have only played it a few times, but it plays like a firefight should. Set in the heart of the bocage fighting that characterized the Normandy campaign, the game is everything it should be. It is wild, wooly, and with a simple deck-building premise and some beautiful geomorphic maps, this game is a great way to introduce younger gamers to wargaming. The action is fierce from the start, and the game can often go down to the last die roll.

I rather like the game, but I will admit, I have been lax in picking up a copy. I have often played it with friends, and there’s not been the impetus to pick up the game as much as I probably would have with other titles, but the Osprey sale is offering it at $28.00 from it’s usual $40.00, and I would say, this is a great game for chasing away the quarantine blues. Furthermore, they’re releasing a North African variant that has piqued my interest, as it’s featuring the SAS and their raids in North Africa.

I have seen a couple of Tabletop Simulator modules if you want to play online, but, unfortunately, nothing for VASSAL as of yet. Hopefully, someone will rectify that!

Paths of Glory

Paths of Glory is a lot like Twilight Struggle and almost as popular, considering the subject matter. It gives you the entire European theatre of the First World War and makes it an exciting and playable game. It may take a bit of time, but it is worth the investment. I used to own a copy but lost it to my everlasting regret in a move. But I have plenty of friends who own the game, so I am not in any real hurry to get a new copy. That said, it really does have it all, with a fairly simple system of cards and operation points to make you make decisions that have real strategic weight.

It’s a popular game amongst wargamers, and though the price tag is a bit weighty ($79.00), it’s worth every penny. There is a huge community online, and there are VASSAL and Tabletop Simulator modules to be found so you can play online. Make the investment; this game is worth it.

A Note to Readers:

Hello all, COVID’s been a rough time for us all. And economic times for some have been hard, and many game companies, even before the pandemic, were kind enough to put their rules online in a living format so people could get the latest copies with the errata included. Sadly, some souls have taken to downloading the rules and the VASSAL or Tabletop Simulator modules and then not buying the game.

Might I ask a favor? Please do not do that. These companies operate close to the margin as it is. If you like a game, buy it if you can, and if you can’t, then at least game with a friend who does have a copy, so the game publisher and the designer get the money they’re due. We can all use a little extra help this holiday, so support your Friendly Local Game Store (FLGS) and your wargame companies.

Thank you.

At SJR Research, we specialize in creating compelling narratives and provide research to give your game the kind of details that engage your players and create a resonant world they want to spend time in. If you are interested in learning more about our gaming research services, you can browse SJR Research’s service on our site at SJR Research.

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(This article is credited to Jason Weiser. Jason is a long-time wargamer with published works in the Journal of the Society of Twentieth Century Wargamers; Miniature Wargames Magazine; and Wargames, Strategy, and Soldier.)

#wargaming #board games #hobbies #history

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jads1000 · 7 years

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Steroline Appreciation Week 2017 (#scaw17) The Snow Globe: An Origin Story

What do you do when you can gif for toffee and your photoshop skills are woeful, but you want to still appreciate your OTP?

This story has been buzzing about in my mind for a while so I decided to write it down. It’s set some time in S1, Lexi is dead, Grams is alive.

Thank you to @lightninginmyeyes for the encouragement (you’re my writing inspiration!) and @mediocreplayweight for all the crazy fic ideas we have come up (one day I might actually finish something). This is dedicated to you two.

***

"Take a name!" Caroline waved the envelope aggressively under Stefan's nose.

"I'm sorry?" He replied, confused.

"Don't be." She snapped. "Take a name."

As Caroline Forbes was a force of nature, he decided to do as she said and meekly drew a slip of paper from the envelope. He unfolded it, taking in the name written in neat cursive hand.

"Don't tell me. It's meant to be a secret as in SECRET Santa. Didn't they have that in whatever podunk place you were living before? Whatever. It's a $15 limit.” She waved a hand dismissively and sauntered off.

Used to her hostility, partly due to his rejection of her advances and partly because Damon was his brother, he wondered how the hell he was supposed to buy something half way decent for so little money.

***

It was T minus two hours to the Secret Santa gift exchange. Stefan felt a bit of a heel leaving it so damn late, but he had had to order something from eBay and the seller had been slow to post. Fortunately, he just about had time to sort it. Stefan had decided to get creative; his room, full of nick knacks, was a treasure trove of cool stuff carefully collected over 150 years.

Sat at his desk, his fingers brushed over the vintage Disney snow globe. He remembered buying it in Florida with Lexi who had told him he was the biggest cheese ball ever and he needed to get over himself. It still hurt to think about his best friend. The tale of Peter Pan, the boy who never grew up, had spoken to him since the 1900s when he had read J M Barrie's first edition. The globe contained his favourite character from the film and was the absolute best fit for the recipient of the gift. She had had a hard time recently and deserved something special.

Unfortunately, being nearly 40 years old, the contents had turned murky with slime so Stefan had carefully levered it open, emptied and cleaned the glass globe and just needed to refill it with a concoction of glycerine and glitter. He grinned as he slid the bung back into bottom, his task complete. The globe was the good as the day he had bought it.

"For pity's sake, Stefan." A sneery voice echoed from across the room. Why did he constantly forget to shut his door? "You're a vampire, not an eight-year-old girl."

"Well, brother. You wouldn't know a classic tale if it smacked you in the face." He snarked back. "What do you want?"

"Aside from ensuring your eternity of misery continues, I wanted to find out how far you had got with the Bennett witches. Have you found the grimoire?"

"No." He half lied. "Not yet."

"I don't believe you." Damon's lips twitched nastily. "You never were a good liar, Stefan." He vamped into the room and snatched the snow globe from his brother's hands. "I'll ask you again. Where is the grimoire?"

"I. Don't. Know." He replied trying to keep the tremble from his voice as he attempted to swipe back the globe.

"Tut tut. You know it does work like that. You have something I want and I have something you want. Care to trade?"

"For the last time, I don't know where the grimoire is. Now give that back." Stefan growled.

Damon smirked, knowing he had him. "Too bad. I'll just have to hold onto this..." He tossed the ornament up into the air. Stefan took his chance and flew in trying to grab it, but Damon was quicker and he batted Stefan away. It fell to the floor shattering into a thousand pieces.

"Oh dear." Damon smirked, over his shoulder as he left. "Someone's not getting their Secret Santa gift. Remember, I know everything. You don't want to cross me."

The threat still lingering in the air, Stefan attempted to clean up the mess while frantically wondering where he was going to get a new gift from at this late stage.

***

Caroline kept a tight ship when it came to event planning. She expected perfection both from herself and everyone else involved. She had eye rolled when Elena had suggested including the boys in this year's Secret Santa exchange. Caroline had made sure that her friend hadn't pulled Stefan's name and vice versa. Other than that, she had no idea who had who. For her, finding out who the identity of the mystery gift giver was as exciting as receiving the gift itself.

So, she was beyond pissed that, Tyler, Jeremy, Elena and Stefan were all late.

"Quit stressing, babe. They'll get here when they get here." A pair of arms wrapped around her waist. She found it more irritating than comforting.

"It's just..." She sighed. "Why can't people follow instructions?"

Matt didn't bother answering as Tyler walked into the Mystic Grill and he obviously felt bro hugging him was more important.

"Sorry, Care. I'm sure Stefan, Elena and Jer are on their way." Bonnie was trying to placate her, but at least, she was being kindly about it.

"Thanks Bon. How are you...." Her question was interrupted by Elena and Jeremy. Everyone gathered round the Gilberts greeting them warmly.

"Where's Stefan?" Caroline huffed, desperate to get the show on the road.

Elena tossed her hair. "He called me earlier to say there's been some sort of emergency." She replied vaguely.

"Well, if he's not here in five minutes, we'll have to start without him."

Elena blinked her big doe eyes and cocked her head to one side. "But surely that will just ruin everything."

Caroline seethed. Elena was right, but that didn't mean she had to like it. Bonnie, scenting drama, quickly stepped in. "How about we order some chilli cheese fries and play some pool while we wait for Stefan?"

"Good idea, Bon. He won't be long." Elena breezed off to the bar to order, all self-assurance and annoying perfection.

Caroline felt her face twist sourly, but she kept her true feelings at bay. This was supposed to be fun. So why didn't it feel that way?

***

Half an hour later, Bonnie was crowned the undisputed pool champion. Tyler had vowed to 'go easy on her' so Caroline had her suspicions about just exactly how Bonnie had won, but she kept it to herself. Finally, Stefan appeared and dropped an attractively wrapped gift into the box Caroline had prepared to aid anonymity. Clapping her hands, she gathered the reluctant participants around and started to dole out the gifts,

As the present pile got smaller, Caroline's hope that Stefan would be the one who bought her gift started to rise. She was excited, he was great at that kind of thing, thoughtful and sweet. The other boys had gone jokey. Matt had bought Tyler a mankini and a bottle of lube, what Tyler bought Elena should never be talked about in polite company, even Jeremy who had the unenviable task of buying for the guy who has everything bought Stefan a joke book to go with the latest John Grisham. Caroline, however, couldn't imagine Stefan not taking this seriously.

"Last but not least." She squealed as she picked out her gift, even if the rest of the table had since lost interest. Eagerly, she opened the box and started to root around in the shredded tissue paper. It wasn’t easy to locate, but her fingers finally located something round and plastic-y. She frowned a little, but gamely persevered lifting out the object.

It was a key chain.

A snow globe key chain.

Of Mystic Fucking Falls.

"Oh dude." She heard Tyler say.

"Cheers Stefan. You just made my life so much easier, setting the Christmas present buying bar that low!" She could hear the smirk in Matt's voice.

She composed herself. "Thank you, Stefan." She said tightly. "At least, it's useful." She let out a tinkly laugh, hiding her humiliation. "Who's up for another game of pool?" She heard whoops and hollers and felt Matt press a distracted kiss to her cheek.

"I love my bracelet. Thanks again. Are you okay?" Bonnie asked, the only one left behind.

"Of course." More tinkly laughter. "Why wouldn't I be? Go on, Bon. You have a title to defend."

When everyone was gone, she picked up and twirled the snow globe. Her mom would probably say 'you don't give to receive', but that didn't make this feel any less shit. As no one was looking, she decided to get some air. As soon as she left the Grill, the mask cracked, she buried her head in her hands and let the tears roll unchecked down her face. She had had such high hopes for junior year. Where the hell did it go so wrong?

"Caroline?"

Oh fuck. The one person she did not want to see was stood directly in front of her. She kept her hands to her face hoping he would take a hint and sling his hook.

He didn't.

In fact, he put his hand on her forearm and said her name again.

She looked up.

"I'm sorry. Look, I screwed up. I had another gift and I misplaced it. Quick Stop aren't the best for last minute gifts." He smiled apologetically.

"It's alright." Being mad at Stefan was hard work.

"No, it really isn't.” He said earnestly. “So, I bought you this as well, but it was a bit over the limit and I didn't want to embarrass anyone." He seemed to magic a huge box of her and her mother's favourite chocolates out of thin air. She imagined the two of them sitting down together watching Dancing with the Stars while passing the box back and forth. "The snow globe was a bad idea?"

Surprised to see the offending item still in her hand, she held it up. "I mean maybe if it was from London or Stockholm or Rio de Janerio, it might have been cooler."

"But Caroline." He fixed her with his serious look. "In 18 months’ time, high school will be over and you'll be leaving Mystic Falls, off to college, travelling or just taking on the world. I guess I thought this way you could take a bit of home with you."

She looked up at him and they locked eyes for a second. Her heart fluttered under the warmth of his gaze. Looking at Stefan Salvatore should not feel this good. He was out of bounds and she had a boyfriend.

"It's still a shit gift!" She exclaimed, breaking the tension.

He chuckled. "Come on, it's cold out here. Let's go and watch Bonnie kick Tyler’s ass again. Her talent is almost supernatural." He winked at her. And despite the chilly in the air, Caroline felt warmer than she had in a while.

AN: I have an idea for a second part. Let me know if you guys are interested.

#Steroline #scaw17 #steroline fanfic #Stefan Salvatore #caroline forbes

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galaxymamacathy · 4 years

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Lovevery Box 3 (The Sensor Playkit for ages 5 - 6 months) - Recreating the Box

I truly believe that Loveevery is a great brand, I believe it sends wonderful, high-quality toys that are great for a child’s development and I have absolutely nothing against the brand… except for the price. One Lovevery box costs $106 to have delivered to Canada, which in my option is A LOT. So, I set myself to the task of re-creating the Lovevery boxes for my daughter myself with a budget of $106. I started with the 5/6 month box as I felt my daughter had enough toys now, and didn’t see the need in re-creating that box. I will give two cost breakdowns in this blog post, the cost I paid to re-create this box (I got some of the items used and was gifted two of them), and the cost if a parent were to purchase all the items new. My rules for myself were to only suggest plastic toys if there was no wooden or natural option, as I understand much of the appeal of the lovevery box for many parents is the wooden Montessori style toys

1. Spinning Rainbow

I could not find something EXACTLY like this. The closest I could find was the TAG Glitter Drum, but the only place I could find it would have cost the same as the whole Lovevery box. Similar toys are also available on Etsy, but again at a very high price tag. I did find the HAPE Pull along snail. The HAPE Snail had a drum for a shell that spins allowing the colours to move along as it is pulled, it can also be spun but the child as the shell moves independently to the base of the toy. However, it does not spin smoothly and my daughter was not interested (yet). I’m still trying some other spinning toys with her to see what she likes. The next toys I’m planning to try with her are the PlaySkool: Chase N Crawl Duckies (free from my parents’ house, this toy belonged to my brothers so I’ve just brought it out of storage) and the Sassy Whimsical Wheel.

Unfortunately, the PlaySkool toy appears to be discontinued, and neither option is plastic-free, and my goal is to provide plastic-free options. Personally, I will purchase plastic toys for my Little, however, I try to purchase plastic toys used and try to go for options that don’t require batteries.

The Sassy Whimsical Wheel is about $15 and is available at Walmart, Large Loblaw’s Locations like Zhers and Fortinos (in the baby section) and on Amazon.

2. Magic Tissue Box

I have little understanding as to why a special box might be needed for the functionality of this toy. I took an old, used up Kleenex box and put my magic tissues in that. Reusing the tissue box cost me nothing.

3. Magic Tissues

The magic tissues I decided to make myself taking six baby washcloths, using a stitch ripper to remove their tags and sticking four Velcro stickers to each one.

For me, the washcloths I used were extras at the bottom of our washcloth bin as Little was kindly gifted a plethora of wash clothes at her baby shower, and the Velcro was $1.25 from the Dollar Tree. I did not use all the Velcro in the pack.

If you did not have extra washcloths to use, a pack of baby washcloths is $9 on amazon for 10 washcloths, however, I have seen packs of washcloths for much cheaper at stores like Winners

4. Montessori Ball

For the Montessori Ball, I picked the Sassy Developmental Bumpy Ball which is $14 on amazon. I have not yet purchased this item as I have my eye out for it used. I will be doing my math as if I purchased the ball new though, as I will closer to when Little is 5 months old if I still have not found it.

Edit – I found this at Zhers but all of the balls there seemed very dirty like they got thrown on the floor in the warehouse. I like to avoid shopping on Amazon when I can, so I’m holding off on buying this until I can check a few more Zhers locations to see if I can find one that doesn't look dirty. For now Little is absolutely loving the texture balls I bought her for Christmas (https://amzn.to/2HYcTXE) so I don’t feel the need to buy this right away.

5. Parts of Me Book

This particular book is a Lovevery exclusive, so without getting the box, it will not be possible to get this exact book. However, the book “My First Body” from DK appears to be very similar. I borrowed my copy from the library, however, if you’re interested in owning the book it is available on Amazon and at chapters for $7

6. Play Socks

The play socks are another item that I made myself. I purchased some black and white baby socks from Giant Tiger ($3 for a 2 pack, but any baby socks will work fine), and I added some pom-poms with some of the leftover Velcro from the magic tissues. The pom-poms came from Dollarama and came in a pack with googly eyes and pipe cleaners for $3.50

Edit – The pomp oms fell off the socks with the Velcro so I will be attempting to sew the pompoms on the socks.

7. Tummy Time Wobbler

This is another one of those “tricky” items on my re-creation. If you’re looking for something that can be easy to find, I would suggest the Hape Tummy Time Wobbler Penguin. He is $20 from Mastermind or $29 on Amazon. While writing this article, I checked Facebook Marketplace and didn’t retrieve any listings with him in it, but Facebook Changes every day and you never know what you might find at value village or other second-hand stores.

For my personal re-creation, I “borrowed” the Fisher-Price Happy Apple Chime Ball (1973 – 1984) from my parents’ house. I got mine for free finding it at my parents’ house, but they are also available on eBay for a verity of prices. If you’re looking at vintage toys, Little also likes the Fisher-Price Rocking Horse Chime Ball (1966), however, that toy lives at my parents’ house for play there.

8. The final item in the box is a PLAY GUIED. I did not try to re-create this, as I do not know the contents of the book, however, with a quick google search, there are plenty of articles on how to play with a 5-6-month-old Little.

With what I recommended, the cost of the re-created box if one were to purchase everything new (but at the lowest possible price) is $62.75, which is significantly lower cost than the Lovevery Box. That being said, if you’re willing to shop used, have items that can be re-used, and borrow from the library your cost for the box could be closer to my cost which was $21.75.

And What Does Little think of all these toys? Little has not yet seen the Chase N Crawl Duckies as I won’t be picking them up from my parents’ house until Friday, but judging how much she likes to spin the blue square on the Vtech Singing Cow toy I’m guessing that she will like the duckies a lot. I have not yet pulled out the magic tissues for her as it doesn’t seem like something she would be interested in yet, as she cannot sit. She is just starting to like her texture balls this week, and I really think she will like the bumpy ball when I get around to buying it for her, I will likely put it in her Easter basket. The parts of me book was pretty unsuccessful, she wasn’t interested when I tried to read it to her, but she just might not be ready for it developmentally. She absolutely loved the play socks and had a blast playing with her feet when we put them on her. She likes the fisher price rocking horse chime ball at my parent’s house but seems indifferent to the apple chime ball we have here.

*I am not sponsored by any brands mentioned in this article

#loverey #recreate #parenting #play

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whimsically-ominously-auspice · 4 years

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"Sabrina You're sitting here all working with billionaires and shit all we don't need donations then in the second breath. My kid used second hand from the thrift store! We was so scared going to the store and we thought it waa a trick to get arrested so we got the whole hood and went together and broke down in no smaller than groups of 5 people in each to make sure we would be alright!"

I'm really proud of that. He was scared. They all were. I probably would been, too. But I, the President, Snoopy, and the news and the military on the street said to. So i would been alright but uneasy probably to go until i got home. So I'm really proud they took time to gather forces and protection to defend themselves if something went down. I think that's smart.

He says when they got home they were whooting and hooting and celebrating but before it was like a secret mission to enter Hell and left the elderly and children at home. And they took NOTES giving permission for them to get goods with a list from the little ones with their ages and names and reason why they wouldn't go "scared" or "my dad said" lol

That was very wise and I'm very proud of that.

Matt wrote that as a suggestion so I wss probably sleeping so im glad he looked out for y'all.

Matt said he thought like me, filled up all thr bases then filled in the sidelines so no one could get to center field and catch the pitcher. Cause i taught him war like baseball. Every single person on the planet is our pitchers and the bases and sidelines is us or our plans that stand in for us where we can't be there physically to defend so we have to use what can be consisted of legalization.

Paperwork isn't quite legal from an 8 year old. Because they have to be 18. But a 16 year old can legally work. And a document in a child's hand writing stating i am participating but i have a handicap and should not be excluded from the event gives a voice to an important person.

I was 2 when I became important and working on my own for free. A baby's cry is legal and bruises are, too. Legal enough for a child to go to foster care. So dam right take a document from a child to support and care for the child the way the child wants. Better than how i buy groceries or gifts! Surprise! This is dinner!

Usually my kid is happy tho. Because i listen. Sometimes i mess up but.

But yeah my kid was solely raised on thrift store goods. The only brand new items we had were gifts, diapers, wipes, her bouncer (factory 2u), stroller (Sears), breast pump (Wal-Mart) and bottles and nipples (mixed).

Clothes she didn't get new until she was a toddler and they came from Wal-Mart or factory to you.

I did get her a little fold up sofa new when she was about 9 months and a table and set of 4 chairs when she was one and then later at 4 a kitchen. And all the time Happy Meal toys like 4 times a week.

And now for Christmas she got 4 t-shirts ($80), 2 used books ($7 total), 9 bath bombs ($10) and the Harry Potter wands ($50) so literally less than $150.

There's been Christmas where she has got $1,000 of stuff when i was married with 2 incomes. But i can't work and I only get child support and food stamps. So i started in November and ended on Dec 23.

Usually i start in October. But.. As i get older it starts later..

And she knows, too

New games are from Amazon or eBay used to save money. Sometimes i can get a digital code and have it instantly and if its like just a few bucks more or she been asking a long time ill get it.

Oh and she did get a Christmas sweater i gave her in the beginning of December that was $30 but she doesn't ask for a lot So i got just exactly what she asked and it looked worth $30 on her.

She wanted a coloring book and pajama pants which i didn't get to. But i told her after Christmas. And she's also used to that.

Sometimes it's really the thought that counts. ;)

But definitely yeah. I know Oklahoma couldn't buy online or have things shipped in. But i was happy for them to have shopping sprees.

I was happy i was able to afford my daughter's gifts. Although she didn't get everything she wanted. She got what she wanted and an extra t-shirt that she likes and 2 extra books she was surprised with. And 10 bath bombs when we ran out like a month ago amd only bought one here and there, that's a smile.

I got my Uncle Dad a bunch of little bottles of hot sauce all wrapped in brown paper and bundled together to look like TNT. Little Chris the same box of soft mints he got last year and 2 lighters. Denise white chocolate covered walnuts and Nathaniel caramel M&Ms a big $3 bag. So $25

When used to would be $75 on uncle dad. $35-50 on Denise and then $20-30 on the brothers.

So it's like they appreciate it or i can give nothing is my thought. Usually i do Do better for Nathaniel and Denise but ... I found put who they are so not this year, usually i spend like $10-15 on energy drinks for him. And her a box of Whitman's chocolates.

This year once again I found myself at the register forgetting their shit again, so i just got what was stocked down there. Instead of going back and making an effort.

Then Denise went with my Aunt Cousin Georgia to a foster kid thing and brought home gifts and so I'm just giving them to my kid with some added chocolate covered cashews and eyeliner from Rimmel that was on sale for $3.50. It has nice shit. A makeup bag and a $40 bracelet from Kohls and other makeup in a stocking and some kitten plates. I took the cotton pads for my nail polish removing and the Revlon nail files since she chews. So when she wakes up she will get her "Santa gift" which is actually really a Santa gift. lol

So even I am using free stuff to give my kid.

So there's no shame or anything to hide.

I spend as Much as I can on my kid. Just now I have less to spend.

And I didn't want to ask anyone to get her any thing. Like Denise although i almost did ask her to get a few Harry Potter wands because they were on my mind.

Christmas i think is about that dumb spending of money .... Thats just fun. So while she got books and baths and clothes... She needed that "dumb" fun. Its a child's Christmas right.

And so we are all happy and proud of that. :)

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arplis · 5 years

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Arplis - News source https://arplis.com/blogs/news/tempting-beautiful-throw-pillows

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tanishabougourd · 5 years

Text

Card Stores and Companies

Nearly every store you go into will sell some sort of greeting card whether it be for birthdays or for christmas. Each store you go into will have a set of unique cards, usually you won’t find the same sort of style of card in the same store unless they are very unique.

Here is a few stores that will be most commonly know:

Paper chase

Whsmith

The card factory

Typo

pound store/land.

Here is a few websites that also sell cards:

Funky Pigeon .com

Moonpig,com

Etsy

Depending on where you go depends on the price you will pay for a card, such places can be fairly expenses jus down to the , size, paper and also fonts and colours they use and just like fashion designers and artists the brand also make it expensive. If you go to places such as Typo or paper chase you are looking good quality cards however at an inflated price just because of the cards that they design, they have a mixture of cards they do sell which can be different from the above provided, later on in the post I will show you a few examples. Generally when I go look for a card I will go into paperchase just down to the fact they design creative and humorous cards that I know all my friends enjoy. These certain cards can be priced between £3-4 depending on what you would like to buy.

Whsmith is a good supplier of batch produced cards especially for christmas, where they will hav a pack of three different cards which are helpful when you have multiple people to send cards too, but you don't want to pay out on individual cards. Although there selection of cards are good they can just be a bit plain and not exciting enough, I would see these cards being used for people who like a simple touch something not to ‘in your face’. These can be seen as being delicate and pretty. These cards can be also highly priced around the same as paper chase however they commonly price them around £2-3 to make it accessible to everyone.

Sometimes in the pound store and in the card factory you can find a good bargain on a card and not pay to high a price, however these aren’t usually the best put sometimes you can find a good card that will be meaningful to them. These are usually just priced around £1-2 depending on the size of the card.

Online card suppliers have now become a huge thing you can look to get a meaningful card and also right a meaningful message inside and then have it sent straight to their doorstep. There are so many options to choose ranging from birthday cards to congratulations. The good thing about the online sites is that you can also send a box or chocolates or flowers with them as they sue local businesses to do this, Making them very popular if people have forgot a special occasion last minute, as they get sent straight to the door of the sender you wish to send it to.

The great thing is that the cards are batch manufactured as they will only make so many of one card before it goes out of style and then they will create new and exciting cards.

Local artists are also good because they can create hand written cards however they can sometimes be more expensive depending on what they create, apps such as etsy are where people can sell their own designs on things such as bags, clothing, shoes and also cards. Depending on what you want.

Here below are a few examples of the type of cards these companies/ stores create:

These above are the type of cards paperchase would look to create, Ones that are pretty but also can be humorous at the same time. These can also be aesthetically please to the eye and this is why they are bought a lot by the general public. The one thing I have always liked about the paperchase cards is because of the fonts they use. These are aesthetically pleasing and are also eye catching. The font is bold and is all done in different fancy styles such as:

Lucida Handwriting

Papyrus

Silam

Ayuthaya

As you can see I have managed to find more cards for whsmith on the internet than paperchase, (I do apologise about the quality of some of them) but these as you can see aren’t as unique as the cards from paperchase, they use simple colours and designs, as well as sometimes adding too much into the card. When looking at these cards I do notice that sometimes the simplistic looking cards can sometimes be the best ones. As they are still including the below main feature:

The subject and image can relate.

It has a big header, in a nice elegant font.

it uses subtle colour drawing you in to the card

Lastly it has a heartfelt message in side.

As much as anyone I love going to the store and picking the perfect card for a loved one, I love looking through all the different colours and different ways they can say ‘Happy birthday’ or ‘congratulations’ and I think it is a truly magical thing to be able to do. However there are many artists out there behind creating these cards, and some make their own business by creating handmade and drawn cards for people to enjoy, Although this can only be seen as one off’s unless they use programs and apps to create the same piece over and over again creating batch designs.

Alot of these artists you can see on sites such as Ebay or Esty and sometimes can be down the nice artist shop down the road where they can feature some pieces. Here I have attached a few of my favorite cards I have seen on these sites and why I like them:

The reason I like this card is because it can be personalised, The ‘scratch to reveal your surprise’ will always stay the same however the hidden message can be different creating a different way to make cards exciting, by giving a feature that can be used, however only once. I like the idea of making the person get involved with the card, making it not so open and the close. This is something I will have to think about when making my own cards.

This cards is very simple as it has the message in white set back on a flower background. Although it is simple it has the nice little detail of using the white front of the card to cut the message out leaving the background behind it exposed. The small detail that has been added gives the card a bit more interesting image rather than it just having mum on the background, in bold black italics. In my next post I think I should look more on things I can do with the card, like having a word cut out in the card, or a pop up feature.

I think this card is very different to the cards you have previously seen above, although it is very simple it is funny and also has a badge as one of the cards features. This is a leaving card, for someone who is changing jobs or just moving away altogether. I think having the badge in a different colour against the brown background makes it seem less boring and brings something different that can be kept.

Card Companies

As you would know there are multiple card companies big and small all over the world that distribute cards every day, and a lot of stores that sell cards now usually have their own brands just due to the how big the company is such as paperchase. I have looked at a few large companies that deal in the mass manufacture of greeting cards such companies like:

Hallmark cards

American Greetings

Which are two large american companies that are huge producers in the world today. These companies have grown and become these huge companies that are world known, but may have started small such as Hallmark cards this was founded in 1910 founded by Joyce Hall an has been one of the oldest manufacturer in the united states. As big companies evolve they take on new missions and acquire new addons to the business, Hallmark even do wrapping paper, gift items and also stationary.

FACT OF THE DAY: In 1987 Hallmark took on a company called Binney and smith which is a stationary company, which everyone now know as Crayola which is one of the highest used stationary item in the world used by nearly every child on the planet, and still used by some adults also.

Hallmark cards also have multiple licenses to use certain brands in there cards, as you may have seen sometimes on a child's birthday card you may see them with a favourite child character such as a disney princess or marvel super hero character, these can make their cards more interesting and appealing to there certain ages ranges that they have for their cards. However they can only use these as long as they have a valid licence to show the on there card if not, it could be deemed as copying.

In one of next posts I will look mor ein to licences and copyrights to see why and how you can get these and why they are necessary on certain products especially if you create your own cards.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Now that I have looked at different types of cards and have partly touched on how some are made e.g mass, batched and one offs. I am going to look next at features such as pop up cards, badges and cutting out of cards to create a different image through the one bit of paper I use and look at fonts and different styles I could use in my final design piece and which work best with the subject I have chosen.

#GraphicDesign

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dannifielding · 7 years

Text

The Time Child Rewrite

Alright, I can’t stop thinking about this. I can’t promise that I’ll continue, or when the new chapters will replace the old ones. I, at the very least, want to get a few built up so it seems less... I dunno, messy when I do update.

But check under the Read More. Read the first chapter on FF.net and then this one and tell me what you think.

For as long as she could remember, which was maybe the last seventeen of her twenty-two years of life, Danni had always loved Christmas. Not just the day, although it was always fantastic getting presents, but the entire Christmas period. Spending time with friends and family, the music, the general atmosphere, all appealed to her and she always felt her happiest in the last month of the year.

This year it had actually snowed, in the UK, on Christmas! Well, alright, it was maybe a day or four beforehand, but it was the closest she had ever seen since she was a baby. She couldn't stop the grin on her face as she trudged through the couple of inches on the floor, heading towards her best friend Claire’s house for their pre-Christmas meet up. For the last couple of years they had met up a couple of days before the big day to exchange presents before Claire headed down south to her parents and Danni went slightly north to her parents. It was one of the joys of being a university student; you were now considered old enough to cook your own food and wash your own clothes unless you went home to your parents, so no one ever stayed in the vicinity unless absolutely necessary. She knocked on the front door of the red brick house, managing to hide the gift bag she was carrying behind her back before it flung open. Claire was still in her pyjamas, blonde hair sticking up in every direction, in contrast to Danni who was in her big coat and matching scarf and glove combo with her deep red hair sticking out from underneath her woolly hat in pigtails.

“I am so sorry; I was up all last night because next door decided to have a bloody party without warning. Again!” Claire screamed around the doorframe at her bothersome next door neighbours. Danni’d had many encounters with them in the past, and it was generally known that they were inconsiderate party animals. It always made her slightly glad that she’d stayed in halls for her third year rather than in the house as Claire had suggested that summer. She’d never lived well with people anyway, but for the most part people left the halls to get drunk and rowdy.

Danni shrugged. “No problem. Let me in, it's freezing.”

Claire did just that, giving the finger to the house next door, like it would have made any difference, as she headed back inside. Danni took a moment to take her coat and shoes off in the hallway, she didn’t want to trudge snow in through the house, and then she headed to the living room.

Claire was the last one out of her housemates to go home for the holidays, so Danni flopped down on the well-loved sofa and pulled her feet up on it without worrying about encroaching on all the free space. Claire had disappeared for a moment but followed shortly afterwards now wearing an oversized Christmas jumper and carrying a gift bag.

Danni grabbed the one she’d brought and they held them out to each other, getting straight down to business so they could spend the rest of the day watching TV.

“So here it is, Merry Christmas!” Danni sang out loudly as she pulled out a box-shaped present from the bright bag Claire had given her. It was too fat to be a DVD or book and she tore into it with the enthusiasm of a small child. Claire did the same with her small present and squealed at the silver necklace Danni had bought her.

“Oh my god I love it!” she cried. Danni laughed joyfully at the Doctor Who box that had be wrapped in shiny paper. She held it up to her chest as she turned to her friend.

“You know the way to my heart,” she complimented her friend as she gazed down at River Song, who was looking back up at her with a smirk; all bushy hair and full of sass. Inside the dark blue box was a faux leather Vortex Manipulator, with built in calculator and time and date display. She ripped it out of the box and placed it on her wrist.

“Where on earth did you get this?”

“EBay,” Claire replied simply. “I think it came over from America. It must of, it took like a month to arrive. I didn't think it was coming at all to be honest. That's why there's something else in there.”

Danni hadn’t even noticed, but inside the bag was another wrapped up gift. She tore the wrapping off and found a child’s Eleventh Doctor dress-up kit. She quickly took the red bow tie out and placed it around her neck with the same eagerness Claire had done with her necklace.

“This is the best thing ever!”

The friends hugged tightly, then Claire joined her on the sofa, grabbing the remote as she did. “I think there’s a movie on BBC1,” the blonde told her.

~0~0~0~

As the credits of Toy Story 2 began scrolling down the screen Danni stretched and turned to her best friend, who was curled up on the opposite side of the sofa hugging a cushion to her chest.

“So, Miss Claire Watson, now what?” Danni asked, placing a faux posh accent on her friend’s name.

“Dunno. I'm thirsty though, what time is it Miss Danielle Fielding?” She replied in the same style. Danni flipped open the toy on her wrist and showed it dramatically to her.

“Well, this is flashing 12 am because I haven't set it yet, and personally I think 12 am means only one thing,” they both threw their arms up in celebration.

“Snowballs!”

Claire jumped up from the sofa. “I'll bring the stuff!”

Danni smiled warmly as she watched her friend run out of the room. They were only visiting their families for a week or so, but she was really going to miss her. She looked down at the Vortex Manipulator, poking a few of the buttons to try and change the time and date but all that happened was she found out 2312 minus 2012 was 300, which she did actually know. She frowned and looked around.

“Where's the box for this thing? I want to set the time on it,” she called through to the kitchen.

“Down the side of the sofa. I had to move it ‘cause it was digging into my back,” Claire replied and she pulled it up and took out the instructions. After flipping through the manual to try and find the English instructions she opened it up and did as it said. Press the red button, type in the date first then the time and press the red button again. She typed in the 25th of December 2012 and grinned to herself.

“Oh I wish it could be Christmas every day!” she sang loudly and Claire's laugh floated through. She then pressed the button on the remote to bring up the time on the television. 14.40; that was typed into the pad and she looked at it with a thoughtful frown before checking the instructions to clear the screen then typed in 14.40 on the 25th of December 2006.

“I'm just off to 2006, won't be a moment,” she called into the kitchen.

“Bring back some lemonade with you. I can't find any anywhere,” Claire called back.

“Will do.”

Danni giggled to herself, sometimes it was so much fun being a grown-up child, and forcefully slammed her finger onto the red button. She gasped then groaned in pain as it felt like she had been punched in the stomach. Her vision went white, and she curled up as she felt herself drop to the ground with a thud.

~0~0~0~

Danni winced as a female voice rang through her head, waking her sharply up from her sleep. She hated being woken up, mornings were never something she wanted to live through. She opened her eyes and found herself not in her bed, but on a metal floor in a room she could not place, but seemed familiar.

“Who are you?!” Danni sat up and saw a ginger woman in a wedding dress screaming furious at a man in a pinstriped suit. Not just a ginger woman, Catherine Tate. Catherine Tate was stood in front of her screaming at David Tennant.

“But...” he looked around the console room dumbfounded.

“Where am I?” Catherine shouted again.

“What?” He seemed to be rather confused and she smiled at the look on his face. She had no idea what was going on, but she loved this part.

“What the hell is this place?”

“What?”

Danni pushed herself up. Maybe she got an electric shock from the toy. That must be it. She's unconscious. She laughed in relief; oh thank god for that. The pair turned to look at her and David grinned happy at her.

“Danni, are you alright?” He rushed over and helped her steady herself as she seemed to be rather off balance.

“Yes, yes I'm fine. This is just the best dream ever,” she replied with a grin.

“Where were you? Did you just come from the 1950's?” he asked hopefully and she laughed.

“No, sorry mate. 2012 through and through here. I'm guessing I'm heading back there in a few moments when Claire finds me on the floor unconscious,” she motioned to Catherine who just seemed to be getting increasingly angrier at the fact that she was being ignored. “Don't let me interrupt you, David. Carry on, I love this episode.”

He looked her up and down, taking in every detail. “Is this your first time here?” he finally asked and she nodded.

“Unfortunately it is.” He closed his eyes as if he was in pain then they shot open and he looked at her confused.

“Did you just call me David?”

Danni shook her head in exasperation and pointed behind her. “Aren't you forgetting someone?” He jumped in realisation and spun back around to face Catherine, who stared back at him aggressively.

He then turned back to Danni, still not quite able to shake the confused look on his face. “Are you wearing a bowtie?”

She reached up around her neck, nodding to herself as she did. “I guess I am,” she agreed before smirking at him. “You always liked a bowtie.”

“What does…” he started before sighing. All she would do would be to throw that ‘spoilers’ word in his face and he wouldn’t get anything else from her about it. Sometimes he really hated not knowing what she did. He preferred when he was the cleverest person in the room.

But, she was right, and he turned his attention back to the bride who had appeared out of nowhere. She looked furious about being ignored, but that was the least of his worries right now.

“You can't- You can’t just appear in the TARDIS,” he accused. “I wasn't... we're in flight! That is-- that is physically impossible! How did--??”

As he fell back into the situation, a stutter in his voice, Danni had to marvel at how her brain seemed to be able to recall the script and yet edit it to allow for her own intervention. Maybe she was some sort of dream genius. That would be awesome.

She’d also added in the details of the console room. There was no crew, no cameras. Just more railings around the edge to create the circle of the elevated platform they were on. But that wasn’t particularly awesome, after all she’d seen many a set photo in her time. The console room was complete, with her own dream Doctor and Donna to join in. She giggled to herself; Doctor-Donna, even.

“Tell me where I am. I demand you tell me right now - where am I?” Donna cried agitated. Danni couldn't blame her, she was getting married after all.

The Doctor just stared at her as if it was obvious. “Inside the TARDIS.” Danni shook her head; even if she hadn't seen the episode she could see where this was heading.

“The what?”

“The TARDIS.”

“The what?”

“The TARDIS!”

The Doctor turned back to the controls of the ship but his words were just gibberish to Donna. “The what?”

“She’s called the TARDIS,” Danni chipped in, wanting to get the most out of this situation while it lasted. She couldn't wait to tell Claire about this. She was have a fit that she hadn't experienced it.

Donna glared at her angrily. “That's not even a proper word. You're just saying things,” she exclaimed.

“How did you get in here?” the Doctor tried again, still trying to work out how she had suddenly appeared in the TARDIS.

“Well, obviously, when you kidnapped me. Who was it? Who's paying you? Is it Nerys? Oh, my God, she's finally got me back. This has got Nerys written all over it.”

The Doctor turned to watch her rant, looking her up and down as if the answer would just pop out of her. “Who the hell is Nerys?” he asked her as his curiosity got the best of him.

“Your best friend,” she snapped back.

“No, that's her,” he pointed to Danni, who blinked at him in confusion. He shot her a grin then turned back to Donna. “Hold on, wait a minute - what're you dressed like that for?”

“I'm going ten pin bowling,” she told him sarcastically. “Why do you think, Dumbo? I was halfway up the aisle!” The Doctor began fiddling with the console as Danni watched Donna begin to rant. “I've been waiting all my life for this. I was just seconds away! And then you-- I dunno, you two drugged me or something!” The Doctor looked startled.

“Hang on a minute, I haven't done anything! You watched me appear!” Danni exclaimed, feeling slightly offended at being brought into her accusation. Donna didn’t care that she’d upset her, though, and just shot her a dirty look.

“We're having the police on you! Me and my husband - as soon as he is my husband - we're gonna sue the living backside off ya!” the Doctor didn't reply and Danni didn't really know what to say as Donna noticed the TARDIS doors. She rushed over to them and threw them open, despite the Doctor's protests. She gaped as she saw the supernova they were floating around, her wind taken out of her at the sight outside. Danni had to agree, it was pretty spectacular. It definitely looked better in person than when the Doctor had been saying goodbye to Rose.

Danni’s mouth fell open slightly. Oh, he’d just said goodbye to Rose, hadn’t he? She looked at him again as he approached the magically appearing bride. Poor Doctor. She hated seeing him hurting on the television, in person it suddenly seemed a lot worse.

Suddenly the way he walked over seemed a lot sadder. She knew that this episode seemed like a giant distraction from the pain that he’d faced, and she’d always seen it as that, but suddenly this dream was making that seem less likely. Her heart ached for the lonely time traveller. Would he let her give him a hug?

“You're in space. Outer Space,” the Doctor explained to Donna gently. “This is my... space-ship. It's called the 'TARDIS'.”

Danni walked over to join them, slotting herself in the other side of the doorway. She knew how this would go, however she just wanted to take another look at the outside before she woke up. She wanted to try and commit it to memory. It made her seem so small, made Donna’s anger seem so pointless. It truly was awesome.

“How am I breathing?” Donna asked, also in awe of the sight outside.

“The TARDIS is protecting us,” Danni replied without thinking, barely paying attention at all. The Doctor smiled down at her, a fond look she missed completely. That was the Danni he remembered. Always knowing more than she should.

“Who are you?” Donna asked the Doctor again. This time she was calmer as the realisation of how far from home she was hit her.

“I'm the Doctor, and she's Danni,” the Doctor introduced quietly. “You?”

“Donna.”

He looked her up and down. “Human?” he enquired.

“Yeah,” she replied before turning to him, a suspicious look on her face. “Is that optional?”

“Well, it is for me.”

Donna glanced around at them, casting her gaze up and down the two individuals. She tried to be surprised, but suddenly nothing seemed like it could be too far-fetched. “You're an alien.”

“Yeah,” he simply replied.

She took a moment to process everything, pondering on what to say next. Her Granddad had always said alien’s existed, but even he would struggle to believe this. “It's freezing with these doors open,” she settled on and he slammed the doors shut then ran back over to the console.

“But I don't understand it and I understand everything!” he exclaimed, rambling as he tried to grab some thought of an idea that might explain what had happened. “This-- this can't happen! There is no way a Human Being can lock itself onto the TARDIS and transport itself inside. It must be...”

He grabbed a device out of a tool belt he seemed to have lying around – usually very convenient Danni had always thought as she’d watched the show – and held it up to look into Donna’s eyes.

“Impossible. Some sort of subatomic connection? Something in the temporal field? Maybe something pulling you into alignment with the Chronon shell,” he lowered the device and Danni could see Donna’s hands clenching at her side. While on the show Danni had always found the slap very funny, because he could ramble for an age if he wasn’t stopped, knowing that Rose had just left him made Danni step between them both.

“Doctor,” she stated firmly, catching his attention with a pointed look. If he wasn’t careful he was going to get himself slapped. “Maybe we should take her to her wedding,” she reminded him pointedly. “She’s in her dress. Examining her when she’s stressed isn’t going to give any proper results.”

She blinked, surprised by how the reasoning had just rolled of her tongue. Maybe she’d picked up more off the television that she had always suspected. And they said that television wasn’t educational.

The Doctor, now broken from his ranting, took a look at Donna over Danni’s head. While part of him tensed at listening to her, he fought to push it away and nodded in agreement. “Fine,” he grumbled and Danni smiled at him as he turned to the console.

Danni turned back to Donna, who looked rather annoyed that she had stepped in. “Thank you,” she grumbled begrudgingly and Danni shrugged.

“I’m sure he means well,” she replied, after all she only had a TV show to go off for his motives. “You’ve just excited him.”

Donna gasped in indignation. “Is that why I’m here?” she exclaimed. “Have you- you kidnapped me to breed with me?”

The Doctor shook his head. “Of course not,” he snapped. “I’ve got better things to do than kidnap some human and breed with it. Where is this wedding?”

“Saint Mary's, Hayden Road, Chiswick, London, England, Earth, the Solar System,” Donna snapped out as she walked away from him around the console. How dare he not want to breed with her? He shouldn’t be turning his nose up at her. When Lance heard about…

Her angry thoughts tapered off as she spotted something on the railings. Danni watched her reach over to it and almost groaned; it was Rose's top, the one she left behind. Donna snatched it up and stormed over.

“I knew it. Acting all innocent,” she sneered accusingly, showing him the blouse, shaking it in her anger. “I'm not the first, am I? How many women have you abducted?”

Danni felt her heart tighten slightly as he looked up at the garment with a confused look, before taking it in and his face fell. He was so hurt. “That's my friend's,” he replied forlornly.

“Where is she, then? Popped out for a space walk?” Donna asked sarcastically.

“She's gone.”

Donna just looked more enraged than comforted by his answer. “Gone where?” She was obviously scared at her situation, Danni couldn't blame her but her attitude towards him was starting to grate on her nerves. He had just lost Rose, after all, her brain should have calmed her down a little bit. She was never going to watch this episode the same again.

“I lost her,” he replied after a pause.

“Well, you can hurry up and lose me!”

The two women watched him for a moment, Donna expecting denials and Danni wondering yet again if it would be weird to give her dream a hug. Donna suddenly seemed to realise that there was something more in his answer than he was letting on.

“How do you mean, 'lost'?” she asked, a little bit more sensitively. The Doctor stared at her then stormed towards her. Donna looked slightly scared as he snatched Rose's top off her then made his way towards the door.

“Right! Chiswick.”

~0~0~0~

Donna stormed out of the TARDIS as they landed, looking around at the tall, nondescript buildings. The Doctor followed behind her, and Danni slowly behind him. She looked upwards, it all seemed so real. She really should have woken up by now. Feeling the chill of the winter air, she rubbed her arms to try and gain some body heat. Would she remember all this detail when she woke up? Or would it be like the rest of her Doctor Who dreams, where she’d remember she had them but be frustrated by how little she remembered?

“I said 'Saint Mary's'. What sort of Martian are you?” she snapped, “Where's this?” The Doctor turned and faced the TARDIS, stroking it almost tenderly and ignored her completely.

“Something's wrong with her...” he replied, concerned for the spaceship. Donna rolled her eyes at him. “It's like she's... recalibrating!” Danni stepped out of the way as he ran into the TARDIS.

Danni didn’t follow him in, instead staying with Donna who seemed to realise that she’d walked out of a rather small blue wooden box. She backed away slightly, staring up at the TARDIS in shock.

“It's alright, you know? She’s supposed to be like that.” Danni told her gently, but Donna just shot her a look of disbelief and began pacing around the TARDIS. She reached out, touching the wooden walls as if she didn't believe it was there.

“Donna? You've really gotta think. Is there anything that might've caused this?” the Doctor called from inside. “Anything you might've done? Any sort of alien contacts? I can't let you go wandering off in case you're dangerous. I mean, have you... have you seen lights in the sky? Or... did you touch something? Something-- something different? Something strange? Something made out of a sort of metal or... who're you getting married to?” Donna chucked her hands over her mouth in horror at what she had just seen. Danni stepped closer to her but she just turned and ran the other way.

“Donna! Wait!” Danni cried and began chasing her. She knew the Doctor would catch up in a moment, but this was a dream and not the actual episode. If she didn’t follow Donna would that mean that she’d disappear and the whole scenario would change? Or would she just jump to a point where they were together again? She’d never really had much control over her dreams in the past.

But if she was going to lose one, she definitely didn’t want it to be the Doctor. She turned her head, slowing down but the Doctor came running out of the TARDIS and she smiled in relief. Oh good. He was the best part of any dream.

He fell by Donna’s side, barely having to walk fast to keep up with her. She only spared him a glance. “Leave me alone. I just want to get married,” she pleaded.

“Come back to the TARDIS,” he suggested instead but she just hitched her dress up slightly so she could walk faster.

“No way. That box is too...” she paused for a moment to find the right word to describe the impossible box she’d stepped out of. “Weird.”

“She’s just bigger on the inside, that’s all,” Danni tried to reassure her but Donna shot her a look.

“Oh! That's all?” she retorted sarcastically. She continued on but checked her watch, tears appearing her eyes. “Ten past three. I'm gonna miss it.”

“Can’t you phone them? Tell them where you are?” the Doctor asked.

“How do I do that?” she asked, distraught.

“Haven't you got a mobile?”

Donna came to a stop, turning to him with an angry look on her face. “I'm in my wedding dress,” she explained sharply. “It doesn't have pockets. Who has pockets? Have you ever seen a bride with pockets? When I went to my fitting at Chez Allison, the one thing I forgot to say is ‘give me pockets!’”

The Doctor nodded to himself. “... This man you're marrying, what's his name?”

The anger immediately fell from her face. “Lance,” Donna replied dreamily.

“Good luck Lance,” he replied and Donna glared at him, almost shaking with rage as she pointed at him.

“Oi!” she exclaimed. “No stupid Martian is gonna stop me from getting married.” She hitched her skirt up. “To hell with you!”

She turned and ran off, the Doctor sighing heavily in resignation. “I'm-- I'm not... I'm not... I'm not from Mars,” he muttered to himself. Why couldn’t he have a random bride who took to the whole ‘time travelling box and alien’ thing a lot smoother? Like Danni. She wasn’t complaining at all about it.

The thought had him turning to her, suddenly concerned by just how easygoing she was being about the whole thing. If this really was her first time in this universe she should have been much more upset about it. Was she in shock? He needed to remember to take better care of her now.

“Are you okay?” he asked her, concerned.

She shrugged. “I'm just getting a bit worried. I thought I'd've woken up by now,” she confessed. There seemed no point in lying to him, after all. He was her subconcious, he probably knew that anyway. It was nice, though, to see the Tenth Doctor looking at her with concern on his face.

“Woken up?” he asked, confused.

“You know? Cause I'm unconscious? This is all a dream,” she replied. He blinked for a moment, as if realising something before his look turned distinctly apologetic. That look on the Doctor’s face that would appear when he had to tell someone that something terrible had happened.

A cold rush went over her. The fact that, so far, everything was going just like the episode hadn’t bothered her but now that he wasn’t running after Donna she realised just how strange that was. “What’s going on?” she asked him.

Where did he start with that? He opened his mouth to reply when his brain caught up with him. The reason that he’d even been thinking of Danni was because of Donna. He jolted, turning around.

“Donna!” he exclaimed, taking off after her and leaving Danni to stare.

She could feel herself starting to panic, and it had nothing to do with what was going on around her. This was turning into a bad dream. She didn’t want it to. “No, wait!” she cried as she ran after him. “Doctor! Please!”

“Why do they always run off?” he snapped as they headed onto the highstreet.

“Do you blame her?” Danni replied, panting in a way none of the companions ever seemed to do when meeting the Doctor. “No one would appreciate being zapped somewhere they didn’t know without warning.”

There was that look again. Almost pitying and she really didn’t like it. Luckily he spotted Donna and rushed off before she could question it further. She wasn’t hard to miss, stood in the street in a wedding dress while everyone around them was bundled up against the cold. She was trying to call down a taxi but nothing was stopping.

“Why's his light on?” she exclaimed in annoyance as one drove past.

The Doctor immediately set off in a run neither women could keep up with. “There’s another one!” he cried but even though all three of them waved it down it just drove by.

“Oi!” Donna called after it before setting her sights on yet another taxi. Once again it didn’t stop for them.

“Do you have this effect on everyone?” the Doctor asked her as they took a moment to stop of the pavement. “Why aren't they stopping?”

“They think I'm in fancy dress,” she reasoned uncertainly. A taxi that drove past honked its horn and the driver inside made a drinking motion as he drove past.

“Stay off the scotch darlin'!” he called and Donna chucked her arms into the air.

“They think I'm drunk.”

“You're fooling no-one, mate!” A couple of young men in a blue car called out as they drove past.

“They think I'm in drag!” Donna exclaimed, hands out by her side, offended and a little hurt. The Doctor looked her up and down as if to check and Danni caught the look. Donna was already having a bad day, there was no need to add to it.

She smacked him on the arm. “Oi, rude,” she scolded and he grabbed where she’d hit him. He still grinned at her with that cheeky grin that she’d loved to see on the Tenth Doctor and, try as hard as she might, she couldn’t surpress the one that would appear on her face in return.

“Hold on, hold on,” he said, turning to the street and looking for the next taxi coming towards them. He put his fingers between his lips and whistled, much louder than a human possibly could and the two women had to cover their ears to protect them from the high-pitched noise. It worked, though, a taxi stopped in front of him. They all climbed in; Donna first, then the Doctor and then Danni.

“St Mary’s, in Chiswick, just off Hayden Road,” Donna told the driver quickly. “It's an emergency, I'm getting married! Just... hurry up!”

“You know it'll cost you, sweetheart? Double rates today,” the driver replied, looking at the trio through his rear view mirror.

“Oh, my God!” She turned to the Doctor. “Have you got any money?”

“Um... no. And you?” he replied.

She stared back for a moment before waving up and down herself. “Pockets!” she reminded him. They both turned to Danni, who just held her hands up in front of her.

“Hey, don't look at me, I'm just here for the ride,” she told them. The taxi skidded to a halt and a moment later the three were unceremoniously chucked out. The Doctor slammed the door shut as Donna made a rude gesture at the driver.

“And that goes double for your mother!” she yelled angrily as the taxi drove off. “I'll have him. I've got his number. I'll have him. Talk about the Christmas Spirit,” she ranted as the Doctor looked around in slight surprise.

“Is it Christmas?” he asked happily. He’d always liked Christmas. Danni had too, if he remembered correctly. It made sense that this was when she’d first landed.

“Well, duh. Maybe not on Mars, but here it's Christmas Eve,” Donna retorted. Danni frowned. That wasn’t right, though, was it?

She opened the flap on the vortex manipulator and saw the screen was completely blurry, like someone had broken a calculator. She had typed in Christmas Day. She was sure Donna had gotten married on Christmas Day, but maybe she hadn’t. Either way the screen didn’t look healthy.

“There's something wrong with this thing,” she stated.

“You have no idea,” the Doctor replied under his breath and she glared up at him, hand on her hip.

“And what is that supposed to mean?” she asked angrily.

“You'll find out soon enough,” he replied vaguely and she poked him hard in the arm.

“No, you listen here Spaceman,” she started. “You will tell me right now what the hell is going on. You’ve been looking at me sadly since the moment I arrived and I know for a fact you shouldn’t be. It’s freaking me out. Tell me what is going on!”

“I will,” he promised her. “But not yet. We have other things to worry about.”

He nodded towards Donna pointedly but that wasn’t good enough for her. “Oh no, now mister.”

He placed a hand on her arm in an attempt to calm her down. “Let's just get Donna home, then I'll explain. I promise,” he told her with a calming tone and she relaxed slightly, nodding.

“Alright. But you promised, and I expect you to tell me.” He nodded and made two crosses on his chest, one over each of his hearts and she couldn't help but grin at his cuteness. Donna suddenly hit him on the arm, much gentler than maybe she would have before.

“Phone box!” she told the, pointing at the ordinary phone box off one of the streets and they all rushed towards it. “We can reverse the charges!”

“How come you're getting married on Christmas Eve?” the Doctor asked, intrigued. Christmas was a time for families and domesticity on Earth, but it seemed a bit odd to be getting married when there was a holiday happening around them.

“Can't bear it. I hate Christmas. Honeymoon in Morocco. Sunshine – lovely.”

The Doctor held the door open for Donna, but stood in the way before Danni could get in as well. She frowned to herself, feeling rather left out all of a sudden. This was her dream, right? She crossed her arms.

Donna picked up the receiver before turning back to the Doctor. “What's the operator? I've not done this in years. What do you dial? 100?” she asked, still panicking about making it on time. The Doctor pulled out his sonic screwdriver and pointed it at the machine, setting it off with a quiet buzz.

“Just-- just call the direct,” he told her before pocketing it again.

“What did you do?” She demanded.

“Something,” he paused for a moment wondering if he should explain it to her. He decided against it. “Martian,” he settled on instead. “Now, phone. I'll get money!” He ran off and left Danni watching Donna try and ring someone at the wedding.

“Ohh, answer the phone!” Donna exclaimed to herself before trying another number. Danni watched as she suddenly took a breath, ready to speak. “Mum, get off the phone and listen,” she told her mother’s voicemail. “I'm in-- ” she paused. She had no idea. She turned to Danni, who also shrugged. She was a Northern girl, she’d never really even been to London before. She was no use.

Donna turned back to the phone, still panicking. “Oh, my God-- I dunno where I am!” she exclaimed. “It's... it's a street. And there's WH Smith... but it's definitely Earth,” she assured her mother’s answering machine. Danni couldn’t help but giggle slightly at the words. Donna shot her a dirty look as she slammed the receiver down.

“Bloody use you are,” she snapped before she stepped out into the street again. She looked around, looking for her best bet, before approaching a woman with a few shopping bags.

“Excuse me... I'm begging you,” she said almost breathlessly. “I'm getting married, I really am and I'm late and I just need to borrow a tenner and I'll pay you back I promise and it's Christmas.”

The woman smiled and nodded, handing her a note and Donna could have hugged her. Danni glanced down at the Doctor, who was still waiting impatiently for the ATM machine. She couldn’t let Donna go. She’d just get caught in the taxi with the santa robot.

“Look, just wait for the Doctor,” she said to try and convince her to stay. “He'll be back in a sec with money.”

Donna ignored her and, hand full of money, called the first taxi that drove past down. Danni quickly glanced into the front seat and saw the Santa robot and grabbed Donna’s arm.

“Look, Donna, just look in...” she started but Donna pushed her off and onto the floor.

“I don’t have time to play around,” she snapped. “If you wanna follow him, fine, but I’m going to my wedding.”

“Will you just look?” Danni tried again as she scrambled up but Donna opened the back door, climbing in. Danni turned back to the Doctor, who was finally finishing up. “Doctor!”

The Doctor looked over at them and his eyes widened. “Donna!” he exclaimed but the taxi just drove off. He rushed over to Danni’s side and she tapped his arm.

“It's worse than you think.” She told him, pointing at the Santa's playing trumpets behind them. He watched as they move to hold the trumpets as if they were weapons. “There was one driving the taxi Donna got in. I tried to stop her, but she wouldn’t listen.”

She reached into his pocket and pulled out his sonic screwdriver, pointing not at the robots but at the cash machine he’d been using. Money started spewing out and she grinned up at him as people starting running to grab the flowing cash.

“Just point and think, right?” she recalled cheekily.

“Are you sure you’ve not been here before?” he asked in return and shook her head.

“Never,” she promised. With another shared grin, they turned and headed back to the TARDIS while they still had the chance. This was more like it. The Doctor and Danni running away from bad guys. This was what her dreams were normally about.

#danni #the time child rewrite #tester chapter

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