#it's a whole thing but whatever i'll just pick whichever speaks to me

[iknowwhereyousleepatnight]

i'm going to reward myself for doing one project on time by doing another project that i've been neglecting

[angelsswirl]

Vellichor

The One With The Kick in the Ass

Rating: T

Wrd Cnt: 1k

Notes: 3 chapters left!

Always on the edge of something. Always on the edge of wondering why.

Yes. Irene knew exactly what would greet her when she entered her livingroom. But that didn't change the fact that she was hoping and praying the nightmare she was living would be just that, a nightmare.

"Do you know what vellichor means?"

Oh, no. This is unfortunately very real. Her prayers remained unanswered as she crossed the threshold. Being met with the ever increasingly pitiful sight of her best friend (on a good day) laying precariously across her brown leather couch.

"Not this shit again."

She rubbed her face in attempt to swipe away her tiredness or rub off her skin so she could be carted away to the hospital and away from whatever it was Jisoo was doing. Whichever came first would work really.

"It's that feeling you get when in a used bookstore."

"I very genuinely hate you." Irene sat down on the coffee table. Her head in her hands.

"I feel like vellichor."

"Our whole friendship is a joke."

"I don't think I can go on like this."

'Me neither.' Irene thought idly.

"I fucked your mom."

"What?"

"Now that I have your attention, how long are you going to sleep on my couch?"

"I dont know."

"You're making the house smell like assholery and desperation. Go apologize, have make up sex with your wife. Get her pregnant again for all I care, seems to be your kink anyway."

"You don't get it."

"Neither do you. She's sick right now. You know as well as I do that you're not supposed to stay more than three days away from your omega at once."

Jisoo fidgeted. The guilt about that was eating away at her, but she wasnt anything if not stubborn.

"Lia is there, she should be fine."

"Are you trying to convince me or yourself? So, she fucked another alpha 20 years ago. But she mated with you. Get. Over. It. And. Get. Out. Of my. House."

Irene pointed toward the door with a firm finger, not in the least bit surprised when Jisoo only sat up slowly.

"Do you think she hates me?" She asked softly. She stared at her phone. No missed calls from you, because you hadn't been calling. No missed calls from her children, because for them, Jisoo would always answer. Several missed calls from your mom. Jisoo was borderline terrified of her and was making it a mission not to interact with the older woman.

"Y/N? No. She knows you too well to hate you. She knows you're stupid and absolutely shit at handling your feelings."

"I am stupid. I'm so fucking stupid. I love her so nuch that even til this day I get so confused as to why she picked me. And why she's continued to pick me every year since. I'm stupid and a hypocrite and a coward."

Irene nodded along calmly, "Yeah, I've known all these things about you for a while now. So, for the final time. Get off my couch and go tell her that. Go get your wife back."

Jisoo made no effort to acknowledge Irene, but she did clamber off the couch with renewed vigor.

It had been a week and a half since you had seen Jisoo. Your heat had come and gone within the first three days. And in its wake had been the worst case of mate withdrawal you had ever experienced.

You had went through it before. Like that one time before you had officially gotten with Jisoo.

And that other time when Jisoo went to visit her parents in South Korea, and you refused to go with her out of principle that you didn't feel like going to get a passport.

In the grand scheme of things, you're still mad beyond belief at her. More so for leaving you, then because of anything she said that day. But you missed Jisoo like nobody's business and you just wanted her back.

And no, you haven't called to tell her that. Because you're stubborn and this was all Jisoo's fault in the first place. You were waiting on an unprompted apology and then you'll let Jisoo back into your bed so you can finally get a good night of sleep.

During the week, some days were better than others. Most days were just lethargy and other days were full on flu. You're not sure why the omega gets the worst part of mate withdrawal, but whatever.

Today, was one of those days where you were able to get out of the bed. And do things for yourself and clean. And parent. And do the things your children had been trying to do for you.

Bless their little hearts.

Speaking of your children doing the things you normally did, you eyed Peyton who was sitting on the couch, from your place behind the kitchen island.

Where as Ryland and Kaleb had been practically directly underneath you this entire time, Peyton hadn't been. And for Peyton, that wasn't really out of the ordinary, but she had almost been avoiding you.

You continued to stare at Peyton. Your children always thought they could get things passed you. You're not sure why because they never do.

That's when it hits you. You sighed loudly, alerting Peyton to your presence.

You rubbed your temples to stave away the oncoming headache.

"Did you use protection?"

Up until today, you would have told anyone that Peyton didn't have the ability to blush. But clearly, you would have been oh so wrong.

Peyton tried to sink deeper into the couch.

"I'll take that as a no." Normally, you would have to think about a way to break the news to Jisoo, but you're just going to let her figure that one out on her own.

"How can you even tell!?"

"I grew you inside of me for 9 glorious months then pushed you out of me for 30 horrible minutes. Your head was gigantic. All of that is to say, that I'm your mother. I'm always going to be able to tell things about you."

And with that, tears started to fall down Peyton's face.

You instantly gathered the girl in your arms, "Baby, why are you crying? I'm not mad at you."

Peyton buried her face into your neck, "It's been two days and she hasn't talked to me. She won't answer my calls."

"I'm fairly sure but just for some confirmation, we're talking about Maya right?"

Peyton nodded solemnly.

"Honey, don't take it to heart. I'm sure she's probably busy with her summer classes. Or maybe-" You're cut off by a resounding knock at the front door.

You went to open it with a frown.

"Speak of the devil." You mumbled, moving to the side so Peyton could see.

"Hi?" Maya pulled her arm from behind her back and scratched her head nervously. She forced the bouquet of flowers she was holding forward, "I'm sorry."

Peyton wiped her face. She walked toward Maya and took the flowers softly. She looked at them for a second before hitting Maya in the chest with them repeatedly.

"Ow, Peyton! Thorns!"

"Don't. Do. That. Again. I thought you didn't want me or something."

You shrugged at Maya's pleading look, "Don't look at me for help. If she hadn't done it, then I would have."

Peyton eventually stopped. Then pushed Maya back into the hallway, following her. She closed the door behind her.

And you were greatful for that. You didn't want to see them make up or whatever it was teenagers did either.

[ma-gic-gay]

"What happened, it happened. That's my feeling on it. Doesn't change how I feel about you, which is friendship. You're my best friend," Jason answers.

"Oh thank god," Carly says, engulfing him in a hug. "No offense or anything but I feel exactly the same way."

"None taken."

"Alright good, so let's keep this a secret. Not because it's an adulterous thing because it's not but because people are going to get the wrong idea about us if they find out we did it. Especially Sam and our kids. They've already asked if we're together."

"I was planning on keeping this to myself in general, Carly. Who do you think I'm going to tell?" He asks, raising an eyebrow.

"I don't know. Look, let's just not tell people unless it comes up in conversation. It's no one's business," she declares as Michael and Willow come in with Ophelia, Donna, and Wiley. "The kids will get confused and we don't want to give them the wrong idea about anything."

"What are you keeping secret? Does it have to do with Dad?" Michael asks after telling the kids to go play in Donna's room.

"We have to tell him now," Carly whispers to Jason.

"Yeah, we do."

"We didn't even last an hour!"

"Technically we lasted fifteen."

"Technically we're screwed."

"Is that really the expression we're going with, screwed?"

"Well what expression do you want to go with?"

"Literally any other expression."

"You didn't even last an hour with what? Are you two together? Like, romantically together, kissing and love and all that stuff? Dating? Romantic attraction?" Michael asks disgusted.

Both burst into laughter at the thought. "No, Michael, we're not dating. Nor are we romantically attracted to each other."

"Does it have to do with Dad?"

"No, it does have to do with us. There's nothing new on Sonny. As far as I'm aware, your dad is still most likely dead," Jason answers him, frowning.

"Then what did you two do you don't want us to know? I mean, you've done some fairly questionable things that I haven't judged you for in the past, what makes you think I'll judge you for something?" He questions seriously. "Did you two commit a felony or- oh my god. Did you two have sex?"

"How did he figure that out?" Carly marvels quietly. "Seriously, it's impressive."

"That's what you're focusing on here?"

"Well it's impressive!"

"Am I right? Are you two doing it?" Michael's voice is dripping with disgust as he asks them frantically, "Why are you doing that? There's plenty of people your age in this town to do it with!"

"Yes," Carly admits, "Jason and I did it. Once. Last night. That's all it was, it doesn't mean anything. It was a one night stand. Nothing more."

"What- why- Mom aren't you in- you two- sex- like- how children are made- you two- last night- why- what- how- when- Sam- I- you-" Michael stutters out in an effort to form a coherent thought. The effort appears to not really be a reality, but it's a good try.

"Take your time to pick a question, Michael," Carly urges her son.

"From one father figure to another, Mom! You really have a type, don't you? I mean, I could understand if you hadn't been in love with Dad all year but you claim to still be in love with him and then you go and sleep with Jason, knowing that would hurt him the most! No matter what, this is the thing that would cause him the most pain." Michael exclaims angrily.

"Honey, it just happened. Much like Ophelia," she answers and that doesn't help his anger.

"Do you think you're pregnant?" He asks, looking like he's about to pass out. "I can't believe I'm about to ask this but did you two use protection last night?"

As if this situation couldn't get any more awkward, Josslyn walks in right as that question is asked. "I'm sorry, am I interrupting?"

"We're terrible at keeping this quiet."

"Thanks for the newsflash, Jason."

"The whole town is gonna know by this time tomorrow, aren't they?"

"Yeah."

"This can only end terribly."

"Well, for once we won't be blindsided by the current drama."

"That's because we're going to be the main focus of it."

"There's this thing called a positive outlook. You should try it sometime."

"I'll think about it when you agree to no longer cause public scenes."

"I don't do that. Often."

"Define often."

"Okay so maybe I do it regularly but only for really good reasons."

"Mhm, sure."

Laughing, Michael says, "No, you're not interrupting anything, Joss. But apparently Mom and Jason did it last night. I'm currently worried whether or not they used protection."

"Michael! Yes, we used protection," Carly answers his question.

"I'm sorry, did you just say that they did it? As in, had sex?" Joss asks.

"Yes, that's exactly what I said! I can't believe it happened," Michael exclaims.

"Michael, you can feel whatever you're feeling but you can't act like you weren't expecting this to happen. I'm honestly more surprised they're not dating," the younger blonde says. "Wait, are you two dating?"

"No, we're not dating. We're friends, it was a one night stand. That's all," Jason reminds her.

"Can it be a one night stand? You two have known each other forever. You're best friends. He basically lives here- not that there's anything wrong with that, there isn't- and you depend on each other. Whether or not you'll admit it. Besides, it's not like you'll never see each other again. Your lives are intertwined and I don't think you can go a day without speaking to each other. Are you just going to forget that last night happened?" Joss asks calmly. She's taking this news fairly well, in a surprise for the others in the room.

"Yes, it is. We're not going to forget about it, but we're not going to dwell on it. There's no attraction there," Carly assures her daughter.

"If there's no attraction, you wouldn't have had sex. That's not how it works; there, on some level, is a subconscious attraction," Michael interjects. "Mom, you sound crazy talking like that, saying that there's no attraction. You're clearly attracted to each other, no matter how much you claim not to be. This is just evidence of that."

"Friendly attraction," she agrees. "Nothing more than that."

"Sure. He steps up and spends more time here, consoling all of us. Makes sense, he's your best friend. You were weirdly close anyways, so no one really thought anything of it. But then, it started to feel like you two were together. Nothing like this, of course, just the way you acted. There was kind of... A shift. I don't know if it was because you two became practically inseparable or because of something else you're not owning up to right now, but something changed. Not in a bad way, of course, but there was a definite change," Joss counters.

"Nothing's changing. We're friends," they both insist.

"Friends who did it last night," Michael argues. "That's not exactly the most friendly thing to do, is it Joss?" His sister nods her agreement and he continues, "No one will blame you two for whatever you decide. Look, we all know about the unbreakable bond you have. The very strange situation where he was kidnapped by Russian mobsters didn't even strain it. But sex isn't something you have with your best friend. Not unless you have feelings of attraction, in some way, for them. People don't just go and do it with their friends spontaneously or randomly. It wouldn't make any sense."

"Well that's what happened here."

"Look, this is none of my business, but I don't think that you're going to be crucified if anything happens with you two. This is a thing that primarily affects you two, so whatever happens I know it'll be fine, but we're right. Something's happening here," Joss says before leaving to go up the stairs to her room.

"How do we prove it to you two that we're not into each other? Seriously, it's seeming less and likely we'll be able to," Carly asks.

"Maybe that's because you're not not into each other," Michael muses.

"We just went through this, we don't like each other like that." Jason reminds him.

"I've got an idea of how you can prove you're not into each other. Or officially figure out you are. Whichever happens, it'll be fun to observe."

"And what is this idea?"

"You're gonna hate it."

"Try me."

"You sure?"

"Just spit it out already."

To be continued when I'm not as sleep deprived because I'm going to bed at 2:30 am this is healthy :)

ah