#just had to argue with the pharmacy and now I’m gonna cry

[zackmartin]

.

[honey-dewey]

Lightning in a Bottle

Pairing: Trans Fem! Jack ‘Whiskey’ Daniels/GN! Reader

Word Count: 2,484 

Warnings: swearing, homophobia/transphobia, needles, hurt/comfort.

Permanent Taglist: @phoenixhalliwell @star-wars-hell​

It is week three of pride month! This is the third set of prompts that came from @flightlessangelwings and @autumnleaves1991-blog​ Pride writing prompts! I’ve never written Trans Jack before, and while I would typically headcanon him as trans masc, I thought this would be fun instead. 

Prompts: Glitter and/or “I’ll always be by your side”

You sighed, settled at Jack’s vanity as you organized her makeup. She was a menace when it came to organization, and more often than not, you were the one lining her lipsticks up in front of the mirror and putting the eyeliner pens back in their cup. After two years, you’d think she’d get the hang of this, but you’d be wrong. Even when she was away, like she was now, she couldn’t bother to put anything where it went before she left. You put her brushes back in their proper place in a drawer, absently checking your phone for the time or a text. Jack was due home any minute now, and even though she hadn’t been away for long, her absence had affected you. 

The front door creaked open, and you perked up, turning in the vanity chair so you could pay attention to the sounds coming from downstairs. 

“Hey babe!” Jack’s voice filtered up the stairs, and you smiled, hearing her take her boots off downstairs. “I’m home!” 

Standing, you abandoned the mini project you’d been working on in favor of walking to the top of the stairs to watch Jack shimmy out of her coat and hang her hat up on top of the coat rack. She was a picture of beauty, her back to you as she loosened the top buttons of her shirt and rolled her sleeves up. Turning, she caught sight of you, her face pulling into a wide smile. “There’s my baby!” She said, running up the stairs until she was on the landing. “Come kiss me. I missed you.” 

You ran down the steps, crashing into Jack and wrapping her in a hug. She’d been gone for two days, out on a mission for work. It was only two days, but you’d been grouchier than usual for those two days, and all you wanted was Jack cuddles. “I missed you too baby.” 

Jack scooped you up, carrying you to the bedroom and plopping you down on the bed. As you laughed, Jack pulled her skirt and petticoat off, leaving her in shorts and her button up. You smiled, gesturing her close. Jack didn’t argue, crawling across the bed so she could rest her head on your chest. It took a minute to find the best spot that wouldn’t send any of your limbs to sleep, but when you did find it, you knew Jack wouldn’t be getting up for anything. 

“Did you have fun?” You asked, gently tugging Jack’s hair ties out and undoing her two braids. “Where’d they send you? Wasn’t it Montana again?” 

“It was,” Jack said, eyes closed as you combed through her curls with your fingers. “Still as beautiful as ever. I’m gonna take you for our honeymoon.” 

You chuckled, blinking slowly. “If we ever get married,” you finished. 

“We will,” Jack promised, reaching up and trapping one of your hands in hers. “We absolutely will.” 

Almost an hour passed while you and Jack cuddled, both of you nearly falling asleep until you remembered something. “Ah fuck,” you grumbled, untangling your limbs from Jack’s. “I have to run to the grocery store. I forgot to do it yesterday. I was so hectic with this work thing, and then you called to tell me you were coming home, and it completely slipped my mind.” As you rambled, you pulled on a neater shirt, looking around for your shoes. 

“Can I come?” Jack asked, rolling over and sitting up. 

“When am I ever going to say no to that?” You pointed out, picking up Jack’s skirt and tossing it at her. “But you should probably cover your ass.” 

Jack laughed, leaving her skirt on the bed in favor of scooping up a pair of shorts. She loosely tucked her shirt into her pants, piling her hair up into a claw clip and watching as you finally found your shoes. “Big trip or small trip?” She asked, tossing you a pair of socks. 

“Medium trip,” you said. “I don’t need a ton, mostly just stuff for dinner and the odd thing or two. So we can go to Sam’s.” 

Sam’s market was a tiny mom and pop grocery store that hadn’t changed in decades, but you adored it. It was a ten minute drive, and you and Jack were there in no time. 

“Fucking love this place,” Jack said happily, reaching out to pet Claire, one of the resident cows. “Reminds me of my dad’s ranch.” 

You nodded, grabbing a basket and entering the store. Jack followed, immediately detouring to the pharmacy. You stayed nearby, half listening as Jack picked up her estrogen and made her way back to you. 

“I hate those things,” Jack said, putting her prescription bag in your basket beside a bag of dried apple slices. “They’re super gross.” 

You smiled. “You don’t have to eat them,” you said, linking your arm with Jack’s. “But I like them.” 

The trip around the store was quick, and in no time, you were up at the counter. Sam, the owner, grinned when you two came up. “Haven’t seen you two in a while,” he said. “How’s work?” 

“Good,” Jack said. “Just got back from a business trip, actually. It’s why I’m late on my prescription.” 

“Ah,” Sam said, pulling the bag out of the basket. “Jen was wondering why you hadn’t picked it up yet. It’s all still working out for you?” 

Jack nodded, opening her mouth to say something before a loud snort came from behind her. She turned, and so did you. Behind you was a young man with his arms crossed, looking between the two of you with a grin. “Did I interrupt?” He said in a thick southern drawl. “I’m sorry.” 

“No,” Jack said, drawing herself up to her full height and raising an eyebrow. “Do you have something to say?” 

The man shook his head. “Not to you, you freak.” 

Jack blinked, stepping back a tiny bit. She’d been passing consistently ever since her hair got long and she started to hit what she called second puberty, and it was rare anyone was able to tell right off the bat that she wasn’t a biological woman. You stepped in front of her, shielding her from the man. “You leave my girlfriend alone.” 

“That ain’t a girl,” the man jeered. “That’s a man in a skirt.” 

Your jaw clenched, and you were two seconds from punching the man square in the jaw when Sam stepped in. 

“Here are your purchases,” he said, handing you a bag. “And you,” he turned to the man. “Need to leave if you’re going to be harassing my loyal customers like that.” 

Jack gripped your hand as you quietly pulled her towards the truck. She was dead silent as you put your bag in the backseat and slumped over the steering wheel. “You okay?” You asked softly, not wanting to startle Jack. 

She shook her head, wiping away tears with the back of her hand. “I just wanna go home,” she said thickly, voice wavering. 

It took all of your willpower not to pull over when Jack’s crying didn’t stop, and when you were finally home, you immediately closed the distance between you and Jack, holding her tight against you. She collapsed into your arms, burying her face in your shoulder and sobbing. You rubbed her back, silently curing the man in the store. 

“Jack?” You said, still holding Jack close. “You know I love you, right? No matter what.” 

“But-“ 

“No.” You pulled away, putting your hands on Jack’s shoulders and making her look at you. “No! I love you, no ifs, ands, or buts. I will always be by your side Jack. I don’t care who you are or what you look like. I love you for you.” 

Jack bowed her head, face hidden by her hair. “You’re sure?” She asked, voice so small you almost didn’t hear her. 

“I’m sure,” you said. “C’mon, let’s go inside. It’s more comfortable than the bench seat of your old ass truck.” 

Jack stood, following you into the house. She trudged up the stairs, still holding your hand as she went. When you dropped the grocery bag by the bedroom door and tugged Jack inside, she didn’t protest, only looked at you, slightly confused. 

“I was going to wait until your birthday, because I know Statesman insists on that huge birthday gala for you,” you said, sitting Jack in her vanity. “But I think you should have this now.”

Jack watched you enter your closet, growing more confused by the second. “What is it?” 

“Close your eyes,” you said, grabbing a hangar. “It’s a surprise!” 

When you peeked out of the closet, Jack had her hands over her eyes, waiting patiently. You hung the hangar on the back of the closet door, smoothing out the garment and moving to stand behind Jack. You took her wrists gently in your hands, smiling. “Ready?” 

“As I’ll ever be,” Jack said, leaning back against your chest. 

You pulled Jack’s hands off her eyes. She gasped almost immediately, seeing the intricate and gorgeous dress hanging in front of her. 

“Happy early birthday,” you said. “I had Ginger help me with things like measurements, but it’s 100% custom made. I figured since you didn’t have a dress for your birthday party, I could get you one. What do you think?” 

Jack was speechless, turning around to hug you. “I love it,” she said, voice tight with emotion. “It’s perfect.” 

You smiled, kissing Jack’s cheek. “Every woman should have a fancy evening dress that makes her feel like royalty. Wanna try it on?” 

Jack was incredibly eager to put the dress on. You ushered her into the bathroom, carrying the dress and handing it to her as she ducked behind a privacy divider. 

“Oh my god!” You heard her say after you heard the zipper pulling shut. “It fits perfectly!” 

“Do you want shoes?” You asked, still not peeking around the divider. 

Jack was quiet for a minute. “Yeah. Those white ones.” 

You knew exactly what she was talking about and grabbed the aforementioned white shoes. Handing them to Jack, you waited while she finished getting dressed, barely managing to contain your patience. When you finally heard her heels on the tile, you looked up, fully breathless as Jack stepped out from behind the divider. 

She was gorgeous. The dress hugged her in all the right places, conforming to the curve of her waist and the slope of her hips as if it were a second skin. The heart shaped neckline and thin straps showed off what you and Ginger had both agreed was a very professional amount of skin, but still enough to make Jack feel sexy. The top of the dress was beaded with shimmering beads, each one catching the light and making Jack seem positively radiant. Even with minimal makeup and her hair haphazardly tossed up, she was the most beautiful thing you’d ever seen. 

“Oh Jack,” you said, standing in front of her. “I don’t- I can’t. You look. I don’t even have the words to say how beautiful you are.” 

Jack smiled, swishing the dress. “I love it,” she said softly. “Thank you. I feel like a princess.” 

“You look like a queen,” you breathed, putting your hands on Jack’s sides. “God above you look stunning.” 

You two stood there for a while, just holding each other, until Jack pulled away to take the dress off. You watched her go, silently gathering her pyjamas, knowing she’d want them. When you were done, you headed out of the bedroom, intent on putting away the groceries that had been left out in your eagerness to show Jack her dress. 

Jack came trailing down the stairs after ten minutes, wearing her Hello Kitty pyjama pants and an old Statesman distillery shirt that was a size too big. You kissed her and handed her a bag of apples as she entered the kitchen. “Put these away please?”

“Sure thing,” Jack said, moving around you to put the apples in the fruit bowl. “Can you grab my medicine?” 

You reached around Jack and grabbed her estrogen bottle and a syringe. She hopped up on the counter, tugging up one of her pant legs to give you easier access to her thigh. After having been shot multiple times, often fatally, needles were something Jack didn’t even blink at. Giving Jack her estrogen had been something you’d had to work up to in the first year, but now you could do it with ease. 

“Ready?” You asked, holding up the syringe. “Three, two,” you pushed the syringe into Jack’s leg. “One!” 

Jack made a face at you as you disposed of the syringe and pressed a Disney princess bandaid to the tiny puncture wound. “Your bedside manor is horrible. Could’ve at least waited until you said one to stick me.” 

You laughed. “You say that every time!” You said, taking Jack’s hands and helping her off the counter. “Bake Off or Friends?” 

“Can we watch Friends?” Jack asked eagerly, following you to the couch and grabbing the TV remote. “I’m in the mood to laugh.” 

“We can watch Friends,” you said, snuggling up next to Jack. “I’ll never say no to Friends.” 

While Jack cued up the show, you fell against her shoulder, already feeling sleepy. In a few hours, you’d have to get up and make dinner, and Jack probably had a report to write on her mission, but for now, it was completely calm in the house.

At some point during the second episode you watched, you must’ve fallen asleep, because one minute, you were sleepily watching Friends, and the next, you were opening your eyes to Jack holding two bowls of her famous cowboy mac-and-cheese. You sat upright, accepting the bowl with a small pout. “I was gonna make dinner.” 

“But you didn’t,” Jack pointed out, sitting beside you and taking a bite. “I swear, this gets better and better the more I make it.” 

“Don’t tell Tequila,” you said. “He would kill a man for this bowl of food.” 

Jack laughed. “He would,” she agreed. “Did you have a good day today?” 

“My girlfriend came home,” you said sweetly. “Of course I had a good day. What about you?” 

“Hm,” Jack hummed, pretending to think. “Well, I got to see my beautiful partner again, so that was good. But then a raging asshole yelled at me, and that was bad. But the dress made up for it, so all in all, a good day.” 

You smiled, leaning against Jack and gesturing to the TV. “I’m glad you had a good day. More Friends to finish it off?” 

“You know me so well,” Jack said happily, taking the remote again. “I love you.” 

“I love you too,” you said, turning your attention mostly to the TV. “No matter what.”

[extremelyblackandwhite]

handmaid - 31

PAIRING: mob!sebastian stan x ingenue!reader

WARNINGS: age gap

A/N: we’re going back to y/n’s 18th. so sorry for the 2 day delay. hope you enjoy this chapter x

NEXT CHAPTER

Y/N felt dizzy whenever she was surrounded by too many people, it almost felt unsafe, as if people could hurt her better if she was surrounded by others. After all, it was a sea of people with extensive knowledge in hurting someone or making them disappear without ever being known and despite living in that environment, she had a paranoid unconscious fear of being in the middle of so many people belonging to the mob, specially higher up members. 

She had managed to find herself a spot in the thousand of chairs speckled around the room, watching from afar as Gwen dazzled everyone in her new Ted Baker baby pink dress meanwhile Y/N was dressed in her high school dress uniform, not really having many dresses in her wardrobe that would suit the event or that would suit her. She continued with her nose stuck in her favourite book, her brain filtering out the loud partying sounds and focusing only on the sharp words of her pages. She would’ve continued this way had it not been for a strong coughing that came close to her. Y/N lowered her book to find the source landing on a man dressed like dandy, probably in his mid 60s, holding himself up on a dark walking stick and coughing onto a monogrammed handkerchief. 

     - Would you like to sit? - Y/N called out for his attention, immediately getting up from the chair. 

     - Please, darling, don’t bother. - he replied in an accent Y/N could maybe pin point to France or maybe Belgium. Nevertheless, she moved the chair closer to where he was, a small smile on her lips. - Are you sure you don’t want to sit?

     - I have good legs, I can stand. - Y/N leaned against the wall, hand gesturing towards the chair. 

     - What’s your name? - he questioned as he took a seat on the cushioned chair, too tired to argue with the girl telling him to sit down. She was probably right, he probably should.

     - Y/N. 

     - Michael. I’m Genevieve’s grandfather. Mother’s side. 

     - I’m Genevieve’s handmaid ... Or at least in training, Daniel says my true test will come up when we go to university. 

     - I’m assuming you got into Cambridge too then. - he admitted and Y/N nodded, very proud of her perfect scores and the letter that had come with the mail just a few days ago. - What are you taking?

    - English Literature. 

    - My daughter used to love to read. Would devour a whole library if she could. French, English, German, Greek ... languages didn’t really stop her. 

    - It must be hard for you. - his eyes seemed to focus on her eyes hidden by some mascara she had put on for the ceremony but still couldn’t completely hide the sheer beauty they seemed to hold. - Are you alright?

     - Yes, you just have some very familiar eyes. It’s uncanny. 

     - I just got told that today. - she played with her hair, a shy smile on her berry painted lips. - They’re not very remarkable really. 

     - They’re remarkable enough.

To say she had spent the rest of whatever was left of the morning in the bathroom either throwing up or urinating and whenever she wasn’t in the bathroom seemingly detoxing from whatever she had consumed last night which hadn’t sat well with her, she was exhausted, sleeping in her bed and swearing to herself never to eat anything from this hotel ever again.

She swore she didn’t remember seeing anyone this sick ever since Dan’s girlfriend became pregnant. Pregnant. That thought hit her like a freight train and as quickly as she had laid down to rest, she bolted from her bed and into her suitcase, reaching for her necessaire which showed her a full pack of pads. She was certain she had gotten the pack right after her last period which she was sure had been in November. She bite on her nails, getting up, eyes glued to the pack wishing that once she blinked it would be half empty. 

Shivering, she rushed over to her door, opening it to see if Elias was around and luckily he was. She was probably overreacting, she convinced herself, yet it was better to be safe than sorry. 

    - Are you alright, miss? - he questioned, noticing her uncharacteristic unresting look which seemed to haunt all her features. 

    - We need to go to a pharmacy. - she almost whispered the last word, afraid someone would connect the dots despite the pharmacy having several other things which would cater towards her. - The furthest pharmacy you know. Outside the Upper East Side. 

    - That wouldn’t be safe, miss.

    - Please. 

The bodyguard could do little to nothing to convince the young woman to stay within the city. Instead of fighting with her, both of them just got inside the car and started to drive as far away from the watchful gaze of the Upper East. Her mind was going over her biology lessons. Nausea could be related to anything such as food poisoning, flu, migraines and so on. It was probably just food poisoning or maybe a very very bad case of PMS. Nevertheless she couldn’t help but panic as she saw the safe environment of the Upper East disappear. Y/N didn’t want anyone to even dream of her buying a pregnancy test and as she reached the furthest pharmacy a car could take her to, she rushed like a bullet to the pregnancy aisle pulling one of every single brand into her shopping trolley. After a few minutes, she had at least 10 in her trolley and after avoiding several dirty looks from the people standing with her in line and the employee serving her, the handmaid returned to the car, clutching to the paper bag like a precious gem. 

Once she was back in her hotel suite, she dropped the bag on her bathroom floor, going through several and several tests, placing them away from her gaze as she convinced herself that this could be almost everything other than pregnancy. She wasn’t pregnant, she couldn’t be pregnant, she tried to convince herself once more as she looked at the first pregnancy test. Two lines. Well, it could be a faulty test. Another one, two lines and the same pattern applied to all of those following the one/two line system. The other ones all showed the word pregnant and as she read the last one, she could feel whatever resolve and structure she had within her slowly erode.

Pregnant. She was pregnant. Either that or more than twenty tests were giving her false positives which she found it to be not plausible. She slide down her bathroom wall, legs folded as she stared at the wall in front of her. She was pregnant from a soon to be married man. Mr. Williams words rang in her mind, mistress. She was the mistress pregnant with the bastard. At that thought, tears started to cloud her eyes and like a scared child, she hide her face in the middle of her thighs, hoping everything would go away, hoping all her mistakes and lack of judgments were nothing but a really, really bad dream. 

     - Angel? - she could hear his voice followed by knocking on her door. She cleaned her eyes with the back of her hand, grabbing every single stick and stuffing them in one of the bathroom doors. Elias had probably heard her crying and warned Sebastian about it. - Angel? Y/N? Open the door, please. 

     - I’m going. - Y/N turned on the tap, slapping her face with cold water hoping she would look less like a mess and more presentable. Raising her face to stare into the mirror, she told herself to calm down, she told herself to forget about the tests which were hiding in one of the bathroom drawers. She was fine, she was gonna be fine and as she convinced herself once more that she was fine, another knock took her off her mind.

With a strong will, Y/N gripped the knob of her bathroom, opening the door very slowly. Sebastian was standing behind it, dressed as poshly as he normally did however a bit more relaxed with the jacket being off and his dress shirt first buttons unbuttoned. A tense look seemed to dissipate as she held the door close to her collarbone, not having it fully opened.  

    - Are you still sick? - his hand raised to rest against her warm cheek, caressing it with her thumb. - Elias said he heard you crying. Are you sure you don’t want to go to the hospital?

    - I hate hospitals. - she lied, wishing nothing more than to go to the place which would confirm what she already knew. There was a great deal of worry and care in his baby blues, and she found herself avoiding them, afraid she would blurt out she was pregnant. - I’m fine, Sebastian, I really am. 

    - Okay, angel then look into my eyes and tell me you’re okay. - he picked her chin, softly pulling it up so her eyes looked into his. Even with that, she still managed to dodge his gaze. - Angel, what’s wrong?

    - Nothing’s wrong, I’m just ... I’m just stressed. - she smiled tightly, hands moving from his shoulders to his elbows, letting out a breathe that seemed to have been held within her for ages. However, it came out shaky, one that made her want to return to her self wallowing state yet before she could, he had already wrapped his arms around her figure, holding her as if he was his whole entire universe which, in some way, she was. - You really needn’t worry. I’m sure you have other more important things to deal with.

    - Wedding preparations will never be more important than you. - he kissed the crown of her head, getting lost in the scent of roses and lilies of her perfume. - Come on, lovely, whatever it is, it can be solved. 

    - No, I don’t think it can. - she mumbled against his crisp white cotton shirt, wondering if she closed her eyes tightly enough, things would seem to exist and she would wake up from the hell she had started to live in just a few minutes ago. 

   - Angel ... - he cupped her face. - It’s gonna be okay.

   - It’s not. - she could feel her eyes water as her mind rushed through all they could do which was nothing. She was now just another pregnant mistress, the other woman. - It’s really not. 

   - Listen to me, angel. - he tried to remain calm but his resolve was quickly faltering as he stared at the tear tracks on her bountiful cheeks, so far from her soft and luminous smile. - We’re gonna be okay. Y/N, I ...

   - Y/N! - Y/N took a step back, her head turning to the door where Gwen was standing, her gaze more on her phone than the two of them. With a sigh of relief, the handmaid let a small yes slip her lips. - Bridesmaids dress try out, come on. You’re late. 

    - I’m really sick today, Gwen. Can’t we just postpone it? - Y/N still was unsure if her stomach could hold anything and being forced inside a dress sounded more like modern torture than every other thing she had her do. 

   - You’re on your feet, clearly not sick enough besides we need to get it done today. 

   - Gwen, don’t be cruel. - Sebastian added.

   - Shouldn’t you be trying your tux? - she fired back, almost like the whole conversation was a script only her had memorised and could now easily manipulate. - Or do you intend to look like a mess on my wedding day.

   - Our wedding day. - he corrected which greatly upset Gwen. - I’m sure a few days delay won’t ruin it. 

   - She’s my handmaid, not yours. - Gwen gave him a sarcastic tight smile, shooting Y/N a look which made her immediately walk to her side. - Your tux better not be loose. 

Y/N followed Gwen, head looking down but not before sharing an apologetic look with Sebastian. Instinctively, Y/N placed her hand in on her stomach as the two women walked into Gwen’s bedroom which seemed to have turned into an atelier with several women taking measurements and dressing other women in periwinkle dresses. 

An older woman grabbed Y/N, shoving her the same periwinkle dress in her arms, ordering her to try it on. However, as Y/N pulled the zipper past her waist she found it didn’t completely zipped up. Oh no. She tried to bring both parts of the dress together so it would zip up but nothing. Her dress fit everywhere but her bust which was bigger than before.

   - What’s wrong? - Gwen noticed Y/N struggling to pull the zipper up. - God, Y/N, I told you not to gain weight. 

   - It’s just my chest ... probably PMSing. - she lied, of course it wasn’t because she was PMSing. She wished she were, that would mean she had one less problem on her. - It’ll be fine in a week. 

   - It better be or you’re not attending. 

Joke or no joke, she’d rather not attend it. 

tag list: @lilya-petrichor​​​​ @xoxohannahlee​​​​ @irespostthingsiwanttoseelater​​​​ @nikkipea​​​​ @madisonpillstrom​​​​ @cevans98​​​​ @thelostallycat​​​​ @sideeffectsofyou​​​​ @anxiousdreamersworld​​​​ @captainchrisstan​​​​ @lookiamtrying​​​​ @sarge-barnes-sir​​​​ @stuffforreferences​​​​ @thebadassbitchqueen @sebastianstansqueen​​​​ @nsfwsebbie​​​​ @strangerliaa​​​​ @emzd34​​​​ @everything-is-awesomesauce​​​​ @dreams-in-blxck​​​​ @krismeunicornbaobei

[miekasa]

and i found them! the actual ac unit snippet was hiding with the last one, so i thought i’d just drop them both here 😅 your appreciation means the world to me 🌼

💉the broken ac unit snippet [not the previous choppy summary, but the actual snippet that was hiding with erwintholomew’s]

it’s summer—dry heat, humidity, and warm winds all around. oc has been working in the outdoor makeshift hospital for her month’s rotation shift. tents of covid cases have been overflowing. it’s patient after patient, and she’s in PPE—full-on hazmat suit for 8 hours (sometimes more). food and water breaks between shifts aren’t feasible because they’re saving suits, bathroom breaks are timed before or after she suits up. it was literally hell.

levi’s been noticing his roomie coming home even more exhausted than usual. sometimes, she just goes to the kitchen and drinks down two glasses of water before heading for a nap. he’d be lying if he said he wasn’t worried. she looked like she’s lost a bit of weight. she was always a little paler and seemed to be wilted these days. he’s been trying to quietly shoulder a bit more of her chores, but he’s also pretty amazed at how she manages to keep up.

it was on a saturday afternoon when he found out. he had work and errands to run and some packages to send to his mom. he knocks on his roomie’s door to ask if she wanted him to do anything for her. he’s willing to do her groceries or make her dinner if it meant seeing her eat something other than instant ramen or a peanut butter sandwich. her muffled voice bids him to come in.

oc: oh heya

she gives him a tired wave. she’s sitting on her bed, reading something on her tablet. the first thing levi notices is that it’s way too fucking hot. her room is neat with a bit of a mess, a few notebooks strewn around her bed and a shirt hanging on the study chair, but obviously clean. the fan she has turned on was doing nothing to alleviate the heat though.

levi: you know you can turn your ac up in this heat right?

oc gives a tired chuckle at that.

oc: it’s been broken for a few weeks, but don’t worry! i already got a new one

levi is pretty speechless, considering that the heat wave has only been getting worse for the past month. she points to the unopened giant box crowding the space by her work desk.

oc: work’s just been exhausti—busy lately, but i’ll get around to it. i just need to switch them out and take the old one to recycling downstairs.

levi honestly doesn’t have anything to say to that because what the hell—

oc: did you need something?

he snaps out of it.

levi: i’m—i’m going out for errands. want me to get you anything?

oc: oh, are you passing by the pharmacy?

he wasn’t planning on it, but levi nods.

oc: yeah hang on, lemme just write the prescription for my pills. thank you!

levi shuts her door and speedwalks to his room. he knows he’s being irrational, and he knows that it isn’t his fault but fuck, she’s been living like that for weeks on top of all her work. he turns up his ac unit, rolls down his blinds, and fluffs the pillows on his bed before pulling the covers down. he knows that he could offer the suggestion of sleeping on the couch in their living room (they had an ac unit there after all), but no. she deserves better than that.

when levi walks back to her room, oc’s head peeps out of the door.

oc: here, i just need three boxes and i can cashapp you the payment.

levi grunts, taking the prescription and folding it into his pocket.

levi: come with me.

oc is pretty taken aback at his gruff tone, and she wonders what’s gotten him in a twist. she’s on the verge of passing out because work has been brutal and she has a golden weekend, so she was planning to catch up on a lot of rest. she follows quietly, wanting to quickly resolve whatever this was. her roomie’s always been a little...weird. it gets weirder when she realizes that he’s leading her to his room. cold air hits her when he opens the door and ushers her in, and she feels reborn.

levi: you can rest here for now

oc’s eyes widen at that. they’ve been roomies for over a year now, and respecting personal spaces has always been a huge factor contributing to their civil harmony as roommates.

oc: levi, it’s fine! i can’t, really! i don’t want to intrude, and besides, it’s fine, i—i’ve been alright anywa—

she’s cut off when he starts nudging (pushing) her towards the bed.

levi: seriously, i’ll be out the whole afternoon.

her but’s and what-if’s and i’m-fine’s fall on deaf ears. her roomie maneuvers her expertly and practically trips her to make her fall onto the bed. when her back hits the soft mattress, she feels a wave of fatigue hit. then he’s guiding her head towards the pillows while she mumbles about feeling like she’s overstepping, but levi’s room was cold and comfortable. the bed was a cloud, cool and soft and dragging her further into sleep. she feels the covers pulled up around her shoulders, and darkness claims her.

levi leaves quietly after shutting down the fan in her room. his afternoon is spent running some on-the-ground tasks for projects for work and personal errands. he does take an impromptu trip to the old deli near their place to buy some cuts of beef and a cheap bottle of red wine for a stew. he wonders if he’s breaching boundaries, but he makes an impulsive decision for once. he’ll drag her to dinner if he has to, she looks like she hasn’t had a decent meal in days. when he gets home, it’s late afternoon, but the sun was still up in all its scorching heat. he disinfects the goods thoroughly before heading for a shower himself. oc is still sleeping soundly when he checks in on her [levi thoughts: good, she really fucking needs it]. he goes into her room and replaces her broken ac unit, easily installing the new one and padding up the sides tightly. he brings the old one down before sweeping up the dust in her room that has settled from his handiwork. he turns it on to test it, and her room cools in minutes. satisfied, he leaves the ac unit on and starts dinner.

oc comes to slowly, mind still clouded and heavy from sleep. everything around her is blurry and she’s engulfed in softness smelling of black tea and spearmint. the realization of where she is hits like a freight train and this wakes her right up. the time on the clock by the bed says it’s almost half-past seven, and oc panics. she’s overstepped, her roomie’s gonna be pissed, and oh god, she didn’t mean to take that long of a nap. she practically runs out of his room. levi is setting two places at their table when she dashes in. a pot of stew was simmering on the stove. he looks up and just points to her meds.

levi: it’s already been disinfected.

oc opens her mouth for what was going to be a long apology when levi interrupts her before she even begins.

levi: i also installed your new ac unit. the broken one’s already at recycling.

oc’s eyes widen and she can feel tears welling up because it’s been weeks of exhaustion and uncomfortable hot nights and she’s been trying to find enough strength to do that and—

levi goes tomato-red when his roomie launches herself at him and wraps her arms around his shoulders tightly. he can hear her voice quivering, tone hovering on about-to-blubber-and-cry, repeatedly thanking him and apologizing for overstepping and he kind of just stands there for a moment. he pats her back awkwardly, wondering how to respond to her and decides to keep quiet and let her break the hug first. she might actually cry if he pushes her away.

oc lets him go gently, a little embarrassed at her outburst but she gives him a small smile and mutters a soft “sorry.”

levi: cut the apologies, brat. i offered. it’d be inhumane to let you sleep in that heat.

oc is about to argue when he fixes her with a glare that makes her sigh. she presses her palms into her cheeks in resignation.

levi: come on, i made dinner. you really need to eat something other than synthetic garbage and peanut butter.

oc sniffles and giggles. levi sets the food down and takes a seat beside her. he freezes when she grasps his hand.

oc: really, levi, thank you

levi shrugs (absolutely melting at her smile). he doles out servings of stew and rice, and they have a quiet dinner.

💉erwin’s own private gym in his penthouse snippet [in which erwin’s not even in this snippet, but he and his gym are catalysts of sorts]

it’s a rare occurrence that oc wakes before noon on her days off. so when she bumbles into the kitchen at 7am, craving for some tea and the little tiramisu her patient from work gave her, she bumps into levi. levi—also fresh out bed and only clad in boxer shorts. plaid dark pink ones that did wonders for his ass.

oc, completely forgetting that she’s in an oversized shirt that goes past her shorts and that her hair is a mess, stops mid-stride. her jaw drops. levi is built. not to any extreme body-builder kind to any extent. but he was fit and holy fuck his back alone was oh wow. yeah, she’s awake. levi turns at the sound of footsteps and has to suppress his smirk because oc’s appraisal was very very distracting, affirming, and ego-boosting. he thinks his roomie doesn’t even realize she is gawking [levi thoughts: she looks way too fucking cute and soft for someone half dead from a toxic shift yesterday and he wants to run his hands through her hair and knead the knots out of her shoulders and feel those legs—].

he truly has to hold in his laughter when oc literally goes “what the fuck” while waving around her hands gesturing to his abs and pecs. oc squints in the midst of her appraisal.

oc: how do you maintain all that in a pandemic??

levi sets down another mug and pours out more tea while explaining that erwin, who lives in the penthouse suite of the complex, has his own home gym. levi, hange, and moblit have exclusive access to it because they’re friends, they live in the same complex, they all work from home plus they clean up and help him maintain it.

levi: it’s a lot safer than public gyms.

oc is still chewing on this information while now blatantly staring at his thighs.

levi: i’m pretty sure erwin will let you use it too if you’re looking for someplace to work out. i can ask him if you want.

he adds some milk to her tea before walking over to oc and handing her a steaming mug of chai. he does this on purpose just to get a reaction out of her because he is absolutely basking in this. she is usually very composed and almost nothing fazes her, and he thinks he’s never seen her flush this deep. oc snaps out of it as she thanks him for the tea. she just nods, her eyes a little glazed over and unfocused.

oc: oh, th—that’s nice. i’ll think about it.

she primly grabs her tiramisu and walks back to her room, leaving levi smirking in their kitchen. she has thoughts that need processing.

oc thoughts: erwin happens to be filthy rich and roomie-free and can afford a penthouse. he dedicated a room in his penthouse to a fully-equipped gym. this is some really good chai. she pretty much stared at her roomie, with his knowledge, very disrespectfully at seven in the morning. her roommate is hot. pretty. cute. sexy. his voice—how has she never noticed? arms? abs? those thighs?? all of the above??? anyway, that v down his hips, his chest—yeah, her vibrator’s batteries die that night, and she’ll have to remember to get new ones after work. this is very for her, very bad indeed.

this was the h-word snippet 🥵 LMAO i had to give oc a little something because this isn’t one-sided after all 😌

SDKJSGHLF;DS ANON YOU’RE OUT OF YOUR MIND YOU’RE A LITTLE GENIUS YOU KNOW THAT!!! INCREDIBLE!!

when levi walks back to her room, oc’s head peeps out of the door.

oc: here, i just need three boxes and i can cashapp you the payment.

levi grunts, taking the prescription and folding it into his pocket.

levi: come with me.

THIS PART!! IS SO LEVI!! I’M OBSESSED!! I’m obsessed with the whole concept of him just... affectionately forcing her to nap in his room because it’s the least he can do to help ease her pain, and show that he cares; but this right here!! The way he had no intentions of going to the pharmacy, but is going to help her out anyway!! Begrudgingly taking the perscription, and immediately changing the subject away from the topic of her paying him back!! So good!! (And why do I get the feeling that he never accepted her cashapp lmaooo). 

oc is about to argue when he fixes her with a glare that makes her sigh. she presses her palms into her cheeks in resignation.

levi: come on, i made dinner. you really need to eat something other than synthetic garbage and peanut butter.

oc sniffles and giggles. levi sets the food down and takes a seat beside her. he freezes when she grasps his hand.

oc: really, levi, thank you

levi shrugs (absolutely melting at her smile).

ALSO HERE!! I don’t know I don’t know I don’t know but the casual insulting her dinners lmaoo only to help her out; it’s the showing affection without outright saying it’s affection that’s so GOOD!! I’M OBSESSED!!

AND THE WHOLE GYM SEQUENCE!! YEAAAAAAAAAAAAH!! LOVE LEVI BEING JUST A LITTLE COCKY!! GOOD FOR HIM!! HE’S ATTRACTIVE!! HE SHOULD KNOW IT!! PLS but oc being just a little shameless and telling him how good he looks and just staring without feeling guilty LMFAOO GOOD FOR HER TOO!! GOOD FOR THEM!!

[stardust-walker]

High Hopes: Chapter 19

Previous Chapters:  1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18

word count:2564

___________________________________________

Julian hurried into the doorway; worry written all over his face as he brushed past Lori. "Anything," Glenn questioned the younger man.

Julian nervously chewed his bottom lip for a moment before he shook his head. "Nothing. My car's gone, though. Could've been him," he glanced over his shoulder at Lori. The brunette woman left the doorway without another word. He felt hurt that Hershel had up and left. Julian understood Hershel being upset, but he couldn't believe him; to just leave his daughters there after what had just happened? He placed a hand on Maggie's shoulder before he turned and exited the room.

It felt wrong to be going through the old farmer's things. It felt even more wrong when Shane lifted up the flask off the dresser and waved it around, "Seems like he found an old friend."

Julian let out a heavy sigh. "That was my grandfather's flask. He gave it to my dad when he died," Maggie explained.

"I didn't take Hershel for a drinker," Rick sounded a little perplexed.

Maggie turned on her heel, "He gave it up on the day I was born. He didn't even allow liquor in the house."

Julian's heart sank as he realized where the old man had gone. "What's the bar in town," Rick picked up on it too.

"Hatlin's," Maggie answered, "he practically lived there in his drinking days."

Julian cast a quick glance at Maggie before he spoke up, "You get me a map and I'll show you exactly where it's at. Best way to get there too," he fidgeted as Glenn spoke up.

"I think I've seen it before. It's by the pharmacy, right?"

Julian nodded his head. "Yeah," he cleared his throat as Maggie laid the map out on top of the small vanity. "You're gonna wanna take this side road if the main ones are blocked. I know you've only been getting there on a horse, Mags," he glanced at his friend as she nodded her head. "You can get around onto the main street from here," he pointed his finger on the map, "Should take you right up to the bar."

Rick clapped the younger man on the shoulder, "Got it. Thank you. Let's go, Glenn." He nodded at the Korean man and Julian's eyebrows shot up.

"What? No," Maggie protested. Julian frowned as he watched her try to argue, only to be stopped by Rick's promise to bring him back. As Rick exited the room, he motioned for Julian to follow.

He hesitated for a moment before he followed the sheriff down the hallway. "I wanna go with you," Julian started.

"No, too many people," Rick shook his head and turned to face him. "I need you here. You stay; take care of Beth, make sure Maggie's okay. You stay with your people. I'll make sure we bring Hershel back," Rick insisted. There was something in his voice that made Julian not even want to argue. Julian slipped back into the room with Beth to keep an eye on her as Lori began to argue with her husband in the hallway.

~

Dove laid in her tent and stared up at the roof of it. Carol wasn't back yet; she'd been gone when they got back from the funeral. It had already been a few hours, but she felt like she had to get moving. Her whole body felt heavy as she lifted herself up into a sitting position. Before she left the tent, she pulled her hair up into a ponytail and tried to ignore how bad her hands still shook. She peeked her head out first and only spotted T-Dog sitting outside of his tent.

T-Dog lifted his head up at the sudden rustle from the tent. It was silent between the two friends as Dove slid out of the tent, only to sit down right in front of the opening. Her hazel eyes closed as she allowed the light breeze to sweep over her face. Her thin fingers wrapped around the crystal that still hung from her neck. "Hey," her eyes snapped open at the voice. T was knelt beside her now. "You alright," he questioned and within a second, he's flinched at his own words.

Dove let out a short laugh, "Not sure I'll ever be alright again. I'm not much use layin' around cryin' all day. Might as well get out and do something." Dove shrugged her shoulders as she looked around. "You seen Daryl or Carol around?"

T-Dog just shook his head, "Haven't seen 'em. Daryl fucked off after the funeral, you saw that. Carol…haven't seen her since before in the RV." He placed an arm around his friend's shoulders and pulled her into a one-armed hug. "Don't worry. I'm sure they'll both be fine. Still not sure why you're worried about Dixon though."

Dove shook her head. "Not worried. Just don't want anyone else dyin' today," she blinked back tears before she raised a hand to wipe her eyes. T-Dog studied her face for a moment before he patted her arm.

"Alright, no more questions then," T-Dog mumbled.

Dove let out a snort of laughter, "Well thank you for taking pity on my with your interrogation."

It fell silent before there was a sound of movement behind them. The two turned to look and Dove's heart sank as Carol shuffled her way towards them. T rose from his spot and departed with a nod. Tension was thick in the air between the two sisters as they stared at each other. Without a word, Carol lowered herself to sit next to her younger sister on the ground. Carol's arm was around her now as Dove turned and wrapped both of her arms around her sister. In a weird way, it felt good to not have to grieve alone.

~

Inside the house, Julian felt like a caged animal. Maggie was upset about Beth and worried about Glenn. Beth had a fever and just seemed to be getting worse. What made it worse was there was nothing he can do about it. Jimmy walked out of the room and Julian perked up slightly. The younger boy sighed and took the hat off his head. "Still nothing. Maggie keeps tryin' to talk to her but…" Jimmy shrugged his thin shoulders.

Julian ran a hand through his curly hair as he shook his head, "We can't just stand around with our thumbs up our asses. There has to be something we can do, right?"

Jimmy looked uncomfortable, "I think the best thing we can do is wait around for Hershel."

"It's been hours, Jimmy. Hours. Who knows when they're gonna get back if nothing's happened to them yet," Julian lowered his voice as he stepped closer to the young man. "Now Rick left me in charge of the house. The least you can do is get your girlfriend a wet rag for her forehead. Don't want her to keep burnin up while we sit here just thinkin of something."

Jimmy frowned; his light eyebrows furrowed as he stared at Julian. Then he turned and stomped off towards the kitchen. Maggie stepped out of the room. "You gotta go easy on him, Jules." Julian pursed his lips as he stared down the hallway. "Don't think Beth would like it too much if she knew you were bein' mean to her boyfriend."

The corner of Julian's mouth ticked up in a small smile before he turned to face the slightly older woman. "Sorry," Julian frowned once more. "Guess I'm just a little stressed."

Maggie placed a hand on her friend's shoulder. "Sit with Beth. I'll go make sure Jimmy's following the rules and…I'll get you some water." She sounded nervous as she walked off down the hallway. Even though Rick had told him to look out for them, he knew deep down that Maggie was in charge. There was no reason to argue with her as he walked through the door and sat down on the bed across from Patricia. He folded his hands on his lap as he sat there and stared at them for a moment.

He was never a person to really pray, but there was no hurting anyone by starting.

~

Dove didn't really want to eat, and she had a feeling that Carol didn't either, but Carol was always good at hiding things. She hid it pretty well as she helped Patricia in the kitchen as Dove tried her best to hide how she just wanted to cry from spending time with Carl in the living room as they waited.

Julian stifled a laugh as Shane got scolded by Patricia for cussing in the house. "Tell 'em, Pat," he whispered under his breath as he walked behind the older woman to take his seat.

"Lori, dinner," Carol called into the hallway.

"She's not in there," Maggie answered almost instantly.

Dove's eyes narrowed as she looked around the room. "Where is she?"

"Carl, when's the last time you saw your mom," Shane asked in an almost too calm manner.

"This afternoon," Carl responded as clear panic began to sink in. Dove placed a hand on top of Carl's head as she shot a nervous look across the table at Dale.

"She went after them," Dale inquired.

"No one said that," Shane stood, "Nobody panic. Gotta be around here somewhere."

Dove pulled back her arm as Carl stood to follow Shane. It made her uneasy how the little boy followed Shane around like a little shadow. Part of her didn't feel like it was safe.

Julian stood up from his seat and pointed to Jimmy. "Go with Patricia. Help with Beth if she needs it, I'm going to help look for Lori." Before anyone could say anything, the young man was out of the room and running off into the night.

Dove rose slowly from her seat as she reached a hand out to Carol, "Listen, I'm sure she's…"

"I'm gonna go find Daryl, maybe he's seen her," Carol turned and was gone before Dove could even finish a thought.

Dove let out a heavy sigh and buried her face in her hands. Frustration weighed heavy on her as she lowered a hand and punched the table. "Damn it," she shouted. A sound from the doorway startled her as she turned and saw Patricia peek into the room. "Ah, sh…oot. Sorry," Dove trailed off as she made eye contact with the woman. It was just a second, then she looked away and followed the path her sister had just taken to leave the house.

Upon hearing about Daryl not going when Lori had asked him too and how this had possibly made her go on her own, her frustration grew. "What a motherfucker," Dove hissed through gritted teeth.

Dale raised a hand at her, "Now calm down. All of us fightin' isn't going to do anything to make sure Lori gets back."

The brunette shook her head before she trudged off back to her tent. Dale was right, but she didn't exactly want to give him the satisfaction of being told that he was right. Despite all of the respect she had for the old man, she was too angry right now to think straight. She was still mad at herself. She was frustrated at Lori for not asking for more help before she left on her own. More than anything, she was angry about Daryl as he had apparently decided to undo all the good he had done over the past few weeks in a matter of hours.

It wasn't too long later that Carol returned back to the tent. Dove picked up on the fact that something wasn't right and followed her inside. "Hey what's wrong?" Carol just sniffled in response. "Carol…Talk to me. What happened?"

Carol lifted her head up and wiped her eyes. "Daryl…I went to check on him again." Dove's stomach turned. "He's right. It's my fault Sophia's gone. All I had to do was watch her and I couldn't even do that," Carol's voice cracked and something inside Dove cracked right along with it. All the anger she felt that day boiled over and she saw red.

She heard Carol asking where she was going as she stormed out of the tent and stomped off in the direction she'd seen her return from earlier. Her hands balled up into fists as she drew closer to a fire. Daryl stood up from his spot by the fire as he caught sight of her as she approached. Any chance he had of starting an argument left as she grabbed one of the rabbits off the line he had it on and whipped it at him. It missed her target but hit him dead center in his chest. "What the fuck's wrong with you," Daryl snarled at her.

Dove pointed a finger at him, "I should be asking you that! You get your rocks off on being a fucking bully or something?"

Daryl took a step closer. "You don't know what the hell you're talking about," he snapped at her and waved his hand in an attempt to dismiss her.

"Oh, I think I know exactly what I'm talking about," Dove's voice got louder as she began to follow him through his small camp. "You feel guilty about what happened so you're taking it out on the easiest target. That makes you a fucking bully." She hissed at him as she stepped in between him and his tent.

"Out of my way," Daryl shouted as he turned on his heel and walked towards the fire again.

Dove let out an angry huff as she stalked after him again. "What? You can't handle it when someone gives it back to you? If I find out that you hit my sister or somethin, I swear to every God that I'm going to push your ass into that fire, Daryl Dixon." She stopped as she came back into the small circle around the fire.

"Didn't do anything like that. The hell you think I am," Daryl actually seemed offended by her words and it made her pause. She opened her mouth in response but couldn't get the words out as Daryl spoke. His voice was lower, but it was obvious he was still in a rage. "All you both had to do was keep an eye on her."

"You think I don't know that? You think Carol doesn't know that? Who gave you the right to say anything like that," Dove pinched the bridge of her nose and shook her head. Quiet fell over the small camp as Dove reached beneath her shirt. It took her a few seconds, but the second small chain around her neck was off and in her hand. "Here," she frowned as she tossed it at his feet. "Maybe it'll help you find your fucking sense of compassion," she spared one last look at the redneck before she walked back off into the darkness.

Daryl waited until he was sure she was gone before he leaned down to pick up the chain from the ground. He squinted in the dark, the thing glinted in the firelight as he held it up to his face. He let out a grunt before he kicked the discarded rabbit the woman had thrown at him to the side. It was no good anymore, anyway.

 ----

@crossbowking​ @momc95​ @chaotic-gary-king-stan​

[more-miserables]

I was trying to keep a steady-ish posting schedule but that hasn’t happened. I’m flakey as hell now I don’t have teachers and deadlines. I don’t know if any of you guys still remember or care about my pair of whumpees, but I was randomly inspired tonight. Hope you enjoy this anyway.

Tagging: @albino-whumpee @cubeswhump @liliability

Warnings for dehumanizing language, institutionalized slavery, boxboy universe, implications of past self-harm, implied and obvious abuse, implications of drugging, very brief implication of an eating disorder, panic attacks, lots of messed up stuff, you guys know.

Yates never seemed to get completely better after his illness. He stopped coughing, his fever went away, but he stayed very pale, and Ginger could hear how crackly his breathing was at night. His nerves didn’t seem to recover either. Yates’s hands shook now whenever Stanley gave him a task, and he became clumsy and jumpy, forever dropping things. Stanley stopped being so soft with him and started yelling, which just made things worse. Yates was a bundle of stress.

He cried bitterly every night, cradled in Ginger’s arms. “I’m a failure,” he sobbed. “I keep messing up. I don’t know what’s wrong.”

“It’s not you, it’s never been you. You’re just tired, that’s all it is,” Ginger insisted over and over, but Yates couldn’t seem to hear him.

Seeing Yates looking so pale and miserable all the time made Ginger burn with fury. He didn’t care about the pain in his head now; he was frequently spitting in Ivy and Stanley’s food, arguing back, slamming doors, doing anything he could to draw their attention away from Yates. He was disciplined over and over, in new and creative ways, until he was black and blue all over, but it was worth it to keep Yates safe.

The first time he swore at Ivy he was chained up in the garden all night, completely naked. Ginger drew his bare knees up to his chest and held them tight, shivering. English winter nights could grow cold enough to kill, especially when a person had no protection; maybe that’s what Ivy wanted.

Maybe that’s what Ginger wanted too.

“Ginger?”

Ginger jumped, his head snapping up off his knees. Yates was standing beside him, pale and anxious, carrying a blanket.

“What’re you doing here? How’d you get out of the room?” Ginger asked.

“Window,” Yates whispered, cuddling up beside Ginger and wrapping the blanket around them both. “I couldn’t just leave you out here. Give me your hands, I’ll warm them.”

“You’ll get into trouble if they catch us,” Ginger said, linking his fingers with Yates’s.

“I couldn’t leave you,” Yates repeated firmly. He clasped Ginger’s freezing hands between his own, rubbing them hard.

Ginger smiled weakly. Maybe he didn’t want to die just yet.

It was hard to hang onto that feeling during the day, even so. Ivy found fault with everything he did now, and Stanley was equally brutal with Yates. Ginger’s headache was constant, but he refused to lie down and take it. He argued, yelled, swore and spat like a wildcat, allowing Yates to creep around relatively unnoticed.

Ivy had taken to standing in the kitchen while Ginger cooked, peering over his shoulder and critiquing every single thing he did, even the most basic things like pouring water. Each correction carried its own insult.

“Stir that syrup, it’s sticking to the bottom of the pan! Are you blind as well as stupid?”

“I thought icing cakes was your speciality? Seems you only specialise in failure.”

“You’re too heavy-handed with that whisking. I don’t know why we ever bought you. You’re such a disappointment.”

Ginger knew Ivy was just trying to wind him up - but it was working. He felt like he was boiling along with the syrup. It was so unfair to be stuck making wonderful desserts for two people who told him he was stupid and useless and disappointing - and he couldn’t even spit in the food with Ivy hovering.

Ginger held his tongue, presenting Ivy with the finished cake. It was baked beautifully despite Ivy’s complaints, with pin-neat icing flowers and swirls, the buttercream smooth as silk. It was perfect - but Ivy sniffed scornfully. She gripped the plate and slowly pushed it off the counter, watching it fall face down on the floor with a depressing splat.

“Make another one,” she commanded, then turned on her heel to walk away.

Ginger felt like someone had ignited a bomb in his chest. He burned all over with rage. Without thinking, he grabbed hold of the egg box, took one out and pelted it with all his force at Ivy. The egg hit her squarely in the back of her head, splattering yolk down her back and in her hair. The force of the blow sent her staggering forward with a scream. She peered over her shoulder, looking bewildered. For a second.

Ivy’s face flushed a deep red, and she rushed at Ginger, gripping fistfuls of his red hair and slamming him against the kitchen counter. “How dare you!” she screamed, shaking him so violently he felt she’d yank out clumps of his scalp too. “I won’t stand for this. You’ll learn if I have to beat you till you piss blood!”

“Get off me!” Ginger yelled back. He tried kicking out at Ivy, but he was weak and undernourished, and Ivy was a big, strong lady. He couldn’t wriggle free.

“Give me your hand!” Ivy commanded. Ginger didn’t, so she took hold of his left wrist herself, dragging him over to the cooker. “I’m going to teach you a lesson you’ll never forget. You’ll be able to look at your hand every day after this and remember what happens to disobedient little pets.”

She swept the dirty saucepans away with a flick of her arm. The hob was still on, glowing bright red with heat. Ginger renewed his efforts to break free, but Ivy hung on grimly, battering him about the head with her free hand.

“Remember this,” she snapped, and pressed Ginger’s palm firmly against the hob.

The scream Ginger let out echoed through the whole house. It was barely human, like the howl of a dying animal in a trap. Ivy held his hand down for a good three seconds, though it felt like a lifetime to Ginger. He arched his fingertips, trying his hardest to escape the blinding heat, but Ivy had her hand pressing down on the back of his own, so Ginger’s palm couldn’t be spared.

When she finally let him go, Ginger collapsed in a heap on the floor, whimpering. He cradled the burned hand to his chest. It was bright red and already starting to blister. The kitchen was filled with a sickly sweet, burning smell, and he gulped in horror when he realised he was smelling his own cooked flesh. He couldn’t stop the tears this time, though he hated Ivy seeing how much she’d hurt him.

Ivy laughed heartlessly. “I told you so,” she said. She crouched down in front of him, her voice soft, menacing. “You’ll never win. You’ll learn to do as you’re told if it kills me - or if it kills you.” Then she stalked out the room, leaving Ginger sobbing on the floor.

Yates was horrified when he saw Ginger’s hand that night. He’d heard the scream, but Stanley hadn’t allowed him to go investigate. Ginger told him the whole story, whispering because his crying had left his voice raw and painful. He couldn’t remember how long he’d cried; it must’ve been hours. His hand was still so painful he couldn’t move it. His fingertips were mostly spared, though they were raw and red, but his palm was screaming and covered all over with throbbing blisters. He couldn’t even make a fist anymore.

“Ivy did this?” Ginger had never seen Yates look so angry. “That’s horrible! Oh, you must be hurting so badly. How could she?” He took hold of Ginger’s hand. “You poor thing... Here, I’ll help you. I’ll fix it.”

They sat up well into the night while Yates cleaned, treated and bandaged Ginger’s palm as best he could with the limited supplies. He didn’t have anything stronger than pharmacy painkillers and it barely touched Ginger’s agony. Before the burn was even properly dressed, Ginger had been begging Yates to stop for almost an hour. He was howling again, light-headed with pain.

“Stop, stop, please...” he moaned.

“I’m almost done, I promise,” Yates whispered. He saw Ginger starting to wobble and quickly pulled him close, right onto his own lap. Ginger was bigger and heavier so Yates must’ve been very squashed, but he didn’t complain. “Put your head on my shoulder. I don’t want you fainting. Your eyes keep losing focus.”

Ginger let his head fall on Yates’s shoulder with a thump, biting his shirt hard when the treatment continued and the pain returned with a vengeance. He managed not to faint, but the agony combined with his sobbing made him retch. He thumped Yates’s shoulder weakly with his good hand. “Le’ me up,” he gasped. “‘M gonna puke.”

“No, you stay there,” Yates said firmly. “I don’t care if you’re sick. Do whatever you need to. Vomit, bite my shirt, bite me if you need to. It’s alright.”

So Ginger stayed, and when he did bring up bile and spit all down Yates’s back and across their mattress, Yates didn’t even flinch. Ginger felt a soft hand rubbing up and down his back, a gentle voice shushing him when he groaned.

“I know, I’m sorry, but we need to make sure it’s treated properly,” Yates said, his own face crumpling whenever Ginger whimpered. “I’ll change your bandages every day, but it’s going to take a while before this heals. How’re you going to do any cooking and cleaning?”

“I’ll have to, won’t I?” Ginger sighed wearily. “Never mind that now. I don’t even care about the mess. Let’s just get some sleep, please.”

The next day was exceptionally difficult for Ginger. He supposed that was what Ivy had wanted. His bandages were cumbersome and clumsy, and the pain was still so terrible he couldn’t put any weight on the afflicted hand. Ivy made sure to give him every possible job that required two hands, eventually resorting to ordering him to move heavy furniture across the room and back with no real purpose other than to cause him pain. Several times Ginger’s knees buckled from the agony, his vision becoming dark and fuzzy at the edges, but Ivy’s shrill voice would always drag him back to reality. He vomited again three times before noon.

Ivy elbowed Ginger out of the way when he prepared Stanley’s lunch tray, piling it with half a dozen plates, cups, cutlery, even a teapot. She smirked, handing it to Ginger. “Be careful, it’s heavy!” she said in a falsely bright voice. “Hold it with both hands.”

Ginger couldn’t. It wasn’t even about defiance anymore, he really truly couldn’t. He was almost sobbing with the pain already, shifting the majority of the tray’s weight to his right hand. He couldn’t take this anymore. He wanted to run far away, across fields and over pavements and through cities. He wanted to lock himself away with Yates and never see another person again. He wanted to cut his own hand off to stop the pain. He wanted so many things and none of them were allowed.

Stanley’s door was closed. Ginger tried nudging it with his foot, but it didn’t budge. He didn’t know how he was supposed to get the door open with just one working hand. He knocked, but Stanley just barked at him to come in already and stop hovering outside. Ginger sighed, juggling the tray and trying to hold it just for a second with his left hand as he grasped for the door handle with his right.

Sharp pain surged all the way up his left arm in an instant. He stumbled through the doorway with a yelp, dropping the tray with a terrible clatter. Food splashed all across the linoleum and crockery shattered into shards of glass like glittering stars. Stanley and Yates gawped as Ginger landed on his knees on the bedroom floor, crouched in the midst of the mess.

“You stupid, clumsy idiot!” Stanley roared, his face flushing scarlet. He grabbed his walking stick and raised it to swing.

“Oh please, sir! It’s not Ginger’s fault,” Yates gasped frantically. “He’s hurt his hand, sir. He shouldn’t really be working at all. Please don’t hit him! He’s being so brave and-”

“Shut up, will you! You’re getting far too mouthy. Ginger’s a bad influence. You shouldn’t question me, boy.” Stanley paused, walking stick still raised like he was about to conduct an orchestra. He suddenly smirked, holding it out to Yates. “Okay. I won’t hit him.”

Yates took the stick gingerly. “R-really, sir?”

“Am I not a man of my word? You, Ginger!” he barked.

Ginger raised his head, glaring through his curtain of red hair.

“Hold out your hand!”

Ginger did as he was told.

“No, not your right hand. The one with the wound,” Stanley said, still smiling. Ginger did so, far more reluctantly. Stanley turned to Yates. “I won’t hit him. So you’ll have to do it for me. That’s what you’ve been trained to do, correct? So whack him six times on that hand with my walking stick. And don’t you dare hold back or I’ll double the punishment.”

Yates stared at Stanley, mouth gaping. “But... but he’s so badly hurt, sir.”

“That’s no concern of mine. Get to it.” He paused. “At once!”

Yates glanced at Ginger, helpless and terrified. Ginger tried to smile at him. It’s okay, he mouthed. He wanted to comfort him, but Yates’s eyes filled with tears - bad tears, that’s what they’d been taught. He’d never seen Yates cry properly.

“No,” Yates said quietly, his voice wobbling. He put the stick back in its usual place by Stanley’s bed.

“What?” Stanley snapped. “What’re you waiting for? Do as you’re told, boy!”

“I won’t,” Yates said. He blinked, and two fat tears ran down his face. “I’m not going to hit him, especially when he’s hurt.”

Stanley trembled with rage. He grabbed his stick and aimed a swipe at Yates instead, and Ginger hurried to his feet to drag Yates out of reach. Stanley shakily swung his legs out of bed, leaning heavily on the stick, practically frothing at the mouth.

“You disobedient little swine!” he yelled, pointing mutinously at Yates. “You’re more loyal to him than me, the man who feeds and clothes you and lets you live under his roof. All Ginger ever does is hold you back! How dare you! You’re not to answer to Yates any longer. I don’t want you attached to my name. You’re not worthy of it. You’re nothing.”

Yates was sobbing in earnest. “I’m sorry, sir, but I can’t hurt Ginger like that. I’m still loyal, I promise, I can still be Yates, I-”

“Shut up!” Stanley screamed. He turned to Ginger, crimson in the face and breathing heavily. “And you! You were a mistake right from the start. You’re the cause of all this!”

“What the hell is going on up here? What’s all the noise?” Ivy demanded, rushing into the crowded bedroom too. “Oh for God’s sake, look at the mess on the floor! And what’s your idiot blubbering about, Stanley?”

Stanley wasn’t listening. “Get him out of here!” he boomed, pointing at Ginger. He sounded so fierce that Ivy did as she was told at once, grabbing a fistful of Ginger’s hair and yanking him out the door.

“You just wait!” Stanley continued, staggering out into the hall and yelling down the stairs as Ivy pulled Ginger away. He was exceptionally wobbly without his wheelchair, supporting himself on his stick and the wall. “I’ll turn you out of my house without a care. You’ll die like a dog in the gutter, you’ll see. I won’t have you two together anymore. You’re getting in the way of Yates’s work. You need to be separated!” He wavered precariously, eyes wild.

Ginger felt sudden panic, raw and sharp. “You can’t split us up! We’re a pair!” he yelled.

“I can do whatever I want with you. You’re mine,” Stanley said triumphantly. “And you’ll do as I say, and be out of here by-“

Stanley was cut off by a sudden cacophony of bumps and thumps, then eerie, still silence. Ivy, almost back at the kitchen with Ginger in tow, quickly hauled him back to the bottom of the stairs.

They stopped short. Stanley was lying crumpled in a heap on the floor, one leg bent at an unnatural angle, head twisted uncomfortably and staring at the ceiling. There were shallow, rasping gasps coming from low in his chest. His eyes swivelled round frantically, the only part of his body still able to move freely.

Ivy started screaming. Ginger’s mouth fell open, but he didn’t make a sound. He looked up - and saw Yates standing there at the top of the stairs, face ghostly pale, eyes wide, outstretched arms shaking, like he couldn’t believe what he’d just done.

There wasn’t time to think. They couldn’t let Ivy recover from the shock. Ginger dashed up the stairs, grabbed hold of Yates and rushed him down past Stanley’s crumpled body, along the corridor and out the door. They ran like rats despite the hard pavement cutting their bare feet. They ran even though they had no idea where to go next.

[splendidlyimperfect]

It's been twelve weeks in quarantine and the boys decide to head to Gray's parent's cabin for a weekend of isolation.

Chapter Summary: The boys get to the cabin and talk about their future together.

Chapters (2/3): 1 | 2 Fandom: Fairy Tail Rating: General Audiences Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply Relationships: Natsu/Sting/Rogue/Gray Additional Tags: Alternate Universe - Modern Setting, Polyamory, Established Relationship, Fluff, Morning Cuddles, Morning Kisses, Lazy Mornings, Soft Boys, Dorks in Love, Sharing Clothes, Teasing, quarantine fic, weekends at the lake, Talking About The Future, mentions of depression, disgustingly sappy as usual

-----

Gray got the hoodie for the drive to the lake.

“I don’t like driving,” he said as he leaned on the counter and watched Natsu pack the cooler. “It makes me feel better.”

For a second, Natsu was concerned. Gray hadn’t had any nightmares lately, and it wasn’t close to the anniversary of the accident. He was about to ask what was going on when saw the tiny smile pulling the corner of Gray’s lip.

“You’re the worst,” he said, shaking his hand and throwing a banana at Gray. “Pulling the trauma card is my trick.”

Continue reading on AO3

“Hah, so you admit that you’re perfectly capable of loading the dishwasher then?” Gray tossed the banana back and Natsu caught it in midair, then added it to the pile of food for the cooler.

“Look,” he said, opening the fridge and grabbing a six-pack of beer to toss in the cooler. “I had a traumatic brain injury.”

“Yeah, two years ago,” Rogue said from in the pantry where he was searching for granola bars. “Sting’s the only one who falls for it anymore, love.”

Sting, who was still packing in the bedroom, stuck his head out the door. “I don’t fall for anything,” he insisted, and Natsu blew him a kiss.

“How does a brain injury prevent you from loading the dishwasher, exactly?” Gray asked. “And don’t you dare try to say it hurts your hip to stand for that long because you went to see Taylor Swift and stood in that crowd for four hours, and you were fine.”

Natsu sighed in defeat. “Fine,” he grumbled. “But reading still sucks.”

“That’s because you’re dyslexic,” Gray insisted. “The neurologist said your brain is fine, so don’t even.”

“Says mister ‘I-have-PTSD-and-can’t-drive-so-I-should-get-the-hoodie.’”

Gray rolled his eyes, then leaned forward and reached over the counter to grab Natsu’s arm, pulling him in for a kiss. Natsu hummed happily, returning the kiss and rubbing his nose against Gray’s. “You’re in a good mood,” he said softly.

Gray nodded, pressing their foreheads together. “The meds are helping,” he said. “The new ones, I mean. They taste gross but I feel better.”

“Good,” Natsu said, running his thumb across Gray’s cheek. The teasing tone faded from his voice as he added, “I was worried about you.”

Gray sighed. His depression had been wavering on unstable before the lockdown, but after two months of being stuck in the house, it had gotten so bad that he’d spent most days either irritable or in tears. He’d finally called his psychiatrist after Sting had found him crying in the shower at two in the morning and had had to carefully talk him down from, I don’t even want to be alive anymore.

“I know,” Gray said, and Natsu kissed the pink flush that crept across his cheeks.

“Don’t be embarrassed,” he said. “We love you. And you’re not the only one who takes meds, right?” He gestured to the basket of pill bottles to the coffee machine that contained his ADHD pills, Sting’s anxiety medication, and Gray’s antidepressants.

“I still think the pharmacy should give us a group discount,” Rogue said, coming around behind Gray and wrapping an arm around his waist.  

Natsu laughed, kissing Gray’s cheek again before leaning back and returning to filling the cooler. “I tried telling that to the pharmacist last time I was there, but I don’t think she thought it was very funny.”

“She probably wasn’t taking you seriously because you were buying Disney-themed gummy vitamins,” Gray suggested.

“Mm, and the bottle is suspiciously empty, so I know I’m not the only one who’s been eating them.”

“They taste good!” Sting insisted from the bedroom. “Except the pineapple ones.”

“I like those ones,” Rogue said.

“Aha! So you are eating them.”

Rogue shrugged and Natsu stuck his tongue out at him, then closed the fridge and the cooler. “All right, I think we’re good,” he said. “We ready to go?”

“All good,” Sting said, coming out of the bedroom with two duffle bags. The contested sweater was draped over his arm and he looked back and forth between Natsu and Gray with his eyebrow raised.

“Gray can have it,” Natsu said as he headed for the front door and grabbed another sweater from the rack. “I’m just gonna steal his instead.”

~

The drive to the lake took nearly three hours, but Natsu’s Spotify playlists kept them entertained. The sky was a bright, clear blue, and trees lined the highway, occasionally giving them a glimpse of the Georgian Bay. They stopped in Parry Sound for Starbucks, and by the time they reached the lake, even Gray was singing along to Kesha.

“God, I love this place,” Natsu said as they unpacked the trunk. Gray’s parents had owned the tiny cabin since he was a kid, and the four of them typically visited at least twice over the summer. The lake was visible from the front porch, bright blue water stretching out under a cloudless expanse of sky.

“Burgers for lunch?” Sting shouted from the porch, gesturing at the barbeque.

“Hell, yes,” Natsu said, grinning. “I’m starving.”

“We literally ate breakfast before we left,” Gray said, fond exasperation in his voice as he bumped shoulders with Natsu. “How are you already hungry?”

“How are you not?” Natsu argued. He gestured for Gray to grab the other handle of the cooler and help him carry it into the cabin. The inside was rustic and welcoming – all wood beams and handmade curtains sewn by Gray and Silver.

“Who’s sleeping where?” Rogue asked, dropping one of the duffel bags in the middle of the living room.

“Dibs on the big bed,” Natsu said, pointing to the master bedroom. The other two beds were twin-sized ones where Gray and Lyon used to sleep as kids. “Sting, you with me?”

“Actually,” Gray said, “can I, uh… be with you?” He gave Natsu an uncertain look. “I don’t wanna sleep alone right now, and I swear I’m not playing the trauma card for the comfy bed.”

“I know you aren’t,” Natsu reassured him, leaning over and kissing his cheek. “Of course you can.”

Rogue gave Gray a fond look, then grabbed one of the bags and headed into the ‘kid’s room.’ Sting started unpacking the cooler, tucking everything neatly into the fridge and leaving out the ingredients for lunch.

They ate on the deck after Gray and Natsu had wiped down the table and cleared the spiderwebs from the deck chairs, and Sting sighed happily, leaning back in his chair. “Can we just live out here for the rest of our lives?”

“Mm.” Gray hooked his foot around Sting’s ankle under the table. “I think the kids at the daycare might miss you. And there’s no coffee shop out here for Rogue to work at. Plus, you’d miss having internet after a week.”

“Fiiine,” Sting said, sighing dramatically.

“We could retire here,” Rogue suggested.

“Pff, in what, forty years?” Natsu snorted, taking a sip of his beer.

“You’re telling me you’re still gonna work in a daycare when you’re seventy?” Gray raised his eyebrows.

“Okay,” Natsu conceded, “Maybe a little earlier than that.”

Sting looked thoughtful and Gray nudged his foot. “What’s up, sunshine?”

Sting smiled at the nickname. “Nothin’,” he said, reaching out and taking Gray’s hand. “Just thinking.”

“About what?”

“Just…” Sting stared at their joined hands. “About us. Being… I dunno. Forever.”

Natsu raised an eyebrow. “What do you mean?”

“Just… I mean I know we can’t all, um…” Sting’s cheeks started to turn pink and he ducked his head, trying to hide his blush behind the hair he’d been growing out. “Y’know. Get married.” He ran his thumb over Gray’s ring finger. “And that’s fine—I just, talking about retiring together, it’s… nice. Knowing that you guys want this forever.”

“Of course we do,” Rogue said, leaning against Sting’s shoulder. “I’ve never wanted anything else.”

“Don’t worry, we’re all gonna be grumpy old men together,” Natsu teased, but Sting could hear the fondness in his voice. “Who else is gonna put up with me?”

“Don’t be ridiculous,” Sting muttered as Gray squeezed his hand.

“I don’t…” Gray hesitated. “I dunno what I’d do without you guys. And I mean that in a lot of ways.” Natsu made a soft sound and reached out to rest his hand on Gray’s leg. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to—I just…” He looked up and gave them all a soft smile. “I love you all. A lot. And I know I don’t say it as much as everyone else does, cause I—we all know I suck at this shit.”

“Gray—” Sting tried to reassure him, but Gray shook his head.

“No, it’s okay. I just mean that talking about feeling is hard for me, but I love you all, and I want this forever.”

“Good,” Natsu said. “’cause you’re stuck with us.”

“I think I can handle that,” Gray said, laughing.

Rogue kissed Gray’s cheek. “It’s so good to see you happy, love,” he said. “I love your laugh.”

Gray groaned in embarrassment and turned his head, pressing his face to Rogue’s shoulder. “I am happy,” he said quietly.

“Okay, now that we’re getting into ridiculously sappy territory,” Natsu said, “I love you all too and you’re my absolute favorite people in the world.” Gray glanced at him with a small smile on his lip. “You had enough talking about feelings?” Natsu teased.

“Mm.”

Sting kissed the top of Gray’s head. “Why don’t we head down to the lake?” he said, gently changing the subject. “It’s hot as hell out here and I wanna go swimming.”

“Excellent idea,” Natsu said, nodding and standing up to clear off the table. “I get to cool down and check out three hot shirtless guys.”

Gray rolled his eyes, squeezing Sting’s hand and kissing Rogue’s cheek before getting up to help Natsu.

“You want me to do your hair?” Sting asked Rogue, gesturing to his messy ponytail. Rogue nodded and shifted over, tugging out the elastic to let Sting braid it.

“You’d better hurry up,” Natsu said as he nudged the door open with his foot to head into the kitchen. “’cause the last one into the water is cutting firewood for tonight!”  

[littlemeowyoons]

Bonded

A/N- Extra sorry for the late update, I’m still in school and the new semester just got started. Hope you understand for the slow update. :(

Pairing: Yoongi x Reader

Genre: Fluff(lots of them), a drop of angst, Single Dad! AU, College! AU, Introvert! Yoongi, Tutor! Y/n

Word Count:3.2k

Synopsis: Yoongi found a basket left in front of his dorm room one day, and turns out it was his daughter, left alone crying. Puzzled and scared was an understatement. When his 4 semesters roommate Jimin left for his hometown, he was left with the last straw of help, turning to his physics tutor a.k.a friend-that-I-only-know-name-but-have-no-interest-in-knowing-more; you.

Series: Masterlist l Part 1 l Part 2 l Part 3 l 

                                 Pt 4: Lie Honestly

                                              °•. ✿ .•°

“Are you sure about this?”

“I’ve never been this sure ever since I made up my mind that blue looks good on you.”

“Come again?”

You let out a hearty chuckle, repositioning Inara on your lap when you feel her sliding down.

“Nevermind, don’t worry, just go attend your class, it’s starting!”

“I can’t stay calm if I’m not sure both of my girls are okay.”

“We’re okay. It’s just Inara’s getting her monthly shot and a checkup, they’re recording her weight and such. It’s gonna be fine, I assure you.”

“If you say so… just…call me if anything happens.”

“Will do Yoongs, now shoo”

You felt a tug on your arm so you lower down your hand that’s holding your phone, reaching to Inara’s level and she eyes the device with her doe eyes. Maybe hearing her father’s voice is what perks her interest in the first place. She pressed the speaker button-which surprises you the most-then started to mumble and throw in, again, incoherent group of words and soon you hear Yoongi laughing at the end of the line.

“See, even your daughter said we’re fine.”

“I think it’s more like ‘dad stop calling’.”

“Look, I know you’re worried but there’s honestly nothing to.”

“Thanks Y/n”

“No sweat.”

“No I mean…thanks for, like, everything you did.”

It was silence at the end of the line before Y/n spoke again, voice lower than before, “Does calculus had fried your mind into speaking nonsense? I think I’ll ask for an appointment for you too.”

Yoongi let out a hearty laugh louder than what he usually did, amused by your words, or rather smitten.” I have to go, take care you two and also, Inara…”

You lowered down the phone, not that it’s not lowered enough for Inara to hear, before Yoongi continue, “be nice to Y/n okay little one?”

Inara ignore Yoongi and continue to munch on her kitten squeaky toy.

“Spark is a little occupied Yoongi. Call later and maybe she’ll spare you a glance.”

After another laugh Yoongi bid his goodbye and ended the call. You found yourself smiling like a fool, or maybe you are, you thought.

“Min Inara”

“Come on spark, your turn.”

You walk up to counter and the nurse behind the table smiled politely, “Right this way Mrs Min”

She lead the way and you were more than grateful she did because you’ll be too shocked to function properly if you’re the one in front. Mrs Min? As in, the mother of Inara? As in…wife to…Yoongi? It sounds weird, but rather- this part scares you the most- sound neutral. Can you really see your future with Min Yoongi, being his wife, becoming a part of this family? No, no you shouldn’t put your hopes up, you thought.

 You’re part of this family because you want to, not that you were forced. You should’ve left after feeding Inara that day, that damn fucked up day. You should’ve left everything behind. Maybe Yoongi didn’t have the gut to kick you out, you heart spoke, you keep coming back to the dorm how can he, an introvert, find an excuse to not hurt your feeling by being direct? It’s not like he can just come up to you and say, ‘leave you’ve done your part’. Oh you wanted to, not being caught up in Yoongi’s mess, it was his to deal. But the thought of you leaving him struggling on his own didn’t sound right to you. Are you helping him as a friend? Or maybe, as a person who has a little bit of knowledge in this babysitting more than him? Or… is it that you didn’t want Inara to have the same fate as you, left alone without parental support at a young age, losing everything before even knowing you own it in the first place? You feel angry at yourself, you feel hurt, disappointed, sad.  

But most of all, you feel like a fool.

==

“That would be all, take care.”

“Thank you”, you bow politely to the doctor, flashing her your smile before exited the door with a drowsy Inara in hand.

You sit back in the waiting room, cradling the sleepy child back and forth.

“Tired huh?”

She replied, whining shortly, almost as if she understands you. You give her a soft peck on the head, and that’s all it takes for her to drift to dreamland. You were holding her close, when suddenly a hand rustles your hair lightly and a man crouched down to give Inara a small kiss on her forehead.

You smacked the man on his arm, “You scared me.”

Yoongi let out a deep chuckle, smile so wide you wonder if his cheek hurts, because somehow the deep of your stomach does. It was doing somersault of its own. Is he really happy to meet you? No, he’s here for his daughter, get it together Y/n.

“All done?”

You nod, “The doctor left some medicine though, and the bill” you reached into your handbag to pull out a purse, when Yoongi’s hand engulf yours.

“What are you doing?”, Yoongi eyes you deeply.

“Umm the bill-“

“I got this.”

You raised an eyebrow at him, but seeing him unbothered by it, you give up. Instead, you ushered Inara to him, “Here, hold her. I need to go to the restroom.”

Yoongi silently took her away and both of you swapped places, he sit in your seat and you walk away to the nearest toilet.

“Min Inara”

Upon hearing his daughter’s name being called, Yoongi walked up to the small window pane beside the counter, a huge sign read ‘pharmacy’ in blue and white writing sit at the top of it. The nurse spare him a good few seconds glance before getting back to click away some things on the computer.

“You must be Mr Min.”

“Ah yes that would be me”, He smiled politely, bowing a little while struggling to cradle a sleeping kid in his arm, “Is that medicine for my daughter?”

He eyes a few colourful tablets on the desk, already worrying how he gonna get his daughter to eat that. As much as his daughter is curious, he had to admit she was never a fan of sweet things, just like him.

“No no, it was for Mrs Min.”

“Mrs…Min?”

“Yes, your wife, the one who brought in your daughter this morning. Anyway, this is Folic acid tablets…”, the nurse showed him a  dozen red coloured pills in a sachet, “-for her red blood deficiency, two tablets a day after meal.”

She the push to him another sachet of tablets, this time in pale orange, “And this is vitamin C, three tablets a day after a meal.”

Yoongi just watch in silence as the nurse packed in all the tablets away into a small bag. Did he hear her right? Why does his heart flutter this hard? And most of all he’s worried, Y/n had been suffering deficiency? She’s low on red blood cells….and he didn’t even know about it? What kind of friend is he? Maybe she just discovered it today, he hoped, maybe she didn’t tell because even she is clueless about it. But to think that she’s sick right under his nose, he feels awful. He had been too focus on his daughter, that he has forgotten about the one who had been taking care of Inara too.

“Yoons?”

Her voice caught him off guard, he let out a small gasp and quickly turn around.

“What’s wrong? Oh, you got the medicines already. Let’s go, let me take her. You come with a  car...right?”

He didn’t realise she had been talking to him for a while, he had been too lost in his own trance. When he felt a hand laying on his shoulder, only did he snap back to reality.

“Huh?”

“Are…you okay Yoons? You seem out of it. Did they told you something’s wrong with Inara?”

“Ah no no…no. What…were you saying just now?”

You were sceptical but you repeated your question, “You come here with a car right?”

“Ah yes, Jimin’s actually. Come on”

Yoongi lead the way out, barely glancing back, not until you’ve arrived at the car. Yoongi opened the door for you and you slipped in, not forgetting to cushion the back of Inara’s head with your hand as you enter. A few moments later, both of you were on the road in silent. You sense something is bothering Yoongi, at this rate he can’t hide anything from you anymore. You are aware of his small habits he does, like rubbing his thumb against the back of his forefinger, eyes can’t seem to stay on the same spot more than a few seconds, it had been too easy, he was like an open book to you. Now, if only you were brave enough to prompt him about it. The silence had been too thick if no one speaks, it’s gonna drown both of you, so Yoongi started, “Do you have class today?”

“Yoongi…it’s Saturday. Only you have class because your prof couldn’t make it next week.”

“Great, we’re gonna do some grocery.”

You were about to argue, that you had been a burden to him, you were sure you were nothing to him, considering that he ain’t sharing no shit with you, but you were cut off by a loud gurgle.

“Well, hello to you too spark. Look who’s here”

You picked her up to sit on your lap, facing the man beside you and as that her hands shot forward, smile present on her face you could see her gums and a few small bumps of white- she’s gonna grow her teeth soon!!

“Hey little one. Daddy want nothing in the world but to hold you right now, but daddy’s driving.”

“You know driving?”, you speak to her and her eyes shifted to you, those doe eyes that could spring smile onto your face in a record speed, there’s nothing more you love to see then that kid’s smile, that and Yoongi wearing all black from head to toe. You swear you were a sucker for those two.

You spelt out for her and spoke the words very slowly, watching in awe as her small mouth tried to mimick yours while pronouncing it. Her words after comes out in a jumble and sounds nothing like the word driving.

“We could work on that. Now since your father finished his class, we’ll go grocery shopping. You ready for your first grocery day spark?”

Inara let out a deep chuckle, funny, hers sounded just like Yoongi’s.

==

“Do we need bread?”

You turned to face Yoongi, who shook his head, “No we already have it, but we do need jam.”

“One jam of chocolate and peanut butter coming right up.”, you walked down the aisle and grab the jar before heading back to Yoongi, putting it in the trolley.

“It’s your favourite right?”, you glance up to Yoongi, smile still there.

“Yeah…how did you…”

“Know? Yoongi, you served us toasted bread with chocolate and peanut butter jam ONLY on every tutor hour. I started associated physics with chocolate and peanut butter jam.”

“Sorry”

“I’m just joking Yoons, relax.”, you reposition Inara in your arm, her weight is starting to get to you but you don’t want to pass it to Yoongi just yet, holding her gives you sanity rather than thinking 101 reasons why you shouldn’t do grocery shopping with Yoongi. It feels too domestic, and domestic is bad in this case, there shouldn’t be any feelings involved, Inara is your main priority so for now you wanted to believe your fast beating of heart is caused by the joy of holding Inara close.

“What else?”

“Cereal, and milk while we’re at it.”

“On it, the honey one or the wheat one?”

“Y/n, every cereal is made out of wheat”, he chuckled, amused by the girl in front of him.

“The honey one then. I was just making sure if there’s any cereal without-“

You words were cut off as you spaced out, eyes froze on something. Yoongi glance to the same direction but he failed to locate what had made you go speechless.

“Inara”, you squealed, “Look, banana crackers!”

You run (read as walk) to the shelf and pull out a yellow box, handing it to Inara.

“I promised banana crackers right? Here you go.”

Inara spare a glance to the box before hugging it tightly to herself, you nuzzled into her neck, planting a soft kiss along. Yoongi felt like he could melt right then and there, his two most favourite girls are having fun with each other. He feels warm all inside, it was like a dream of his own, Inara is his daughter and you are…his wife.  Yes, he would really want that.

==

“Something happened at the clinic right?”

“I have no idea what you’re talking about Miss Y/L/N”

“Then why did you-“, you turned around carefully, not wanting to disrupt Inara having her own euphoric moment nibbling on her banana cracker, to see a lot of plastics. Your eyes catch the faint image of spinach and beans. Right beside it is cow beef wrapped in its container. You glance back to Yoongi whom eyes set on the road ahead but you were sure he steals a glance at you just now.

“Are we having a welcome party or what…That’s a lot of foods. Foods for…”

It didn’t take long for your mind to piece the puzzle together, “So you do know!”

“Know what? I know nothing.”

“Yoongi…”

He froze in his seat, you rarely call him his real name, not until the words that’ll come out of your mouth will mean some serious business.

“You don’t have to”

“I want to”, he glance at you for mere moments before focusing back on the road.

“But this is too much.”

“No it’s not, this is only a quarter of it. I’m gonna make sure you eat all of those a lot, your body will be full of blood cells.”

“It doesn’t work that way Yoons.”

“I’m gonna make it work that way.”

You feel miserable, now Yoongi is tangled in your shit. You’re not surprised when the doctor diagnosed you with low red blood cells, you had been skipping breakfast for a while now, had lunch on some lucky days and dinner if you remembered. The stress of catching up with due dates and classes and unwritten assignments were getting to you. You should be the one taking care of yourself, not others, you’re not a kid anymore. You don’t want to be a burden your whole adult life, it’s enough that you did so your whole childhood life. No you have to fix that, need to, desperately.

“Up for another stop?”

==

“Any reason why we’re here?”, you eyed him suspiciously, just what else is he plotting?

“Do we need reason to enjoy a cup of coffee?”

“No but…”

You glance around, eyes only seeing a handful of people in the shop. You’ve never been to this particular shop, but you gotta admit they make good hot chocolate, you know you’ll be up in your seat soon to order another one.  But it’s not the fact that the café is almost empty except for some talking figures in the far corner of the shop, but rather it’s the small pounding in your head. It’s an early sign that you’ll get a headache soon which could lead to fever if you’re not rested enough. The doctor’s right, you thought. You had been stressing over so badly these past few weeks, food is not an option anymore to keep going but rather painkiller does. You know it’s bad but you can’t seem to avoid it. The only thing that pushes you is Inara, Yoongi and the constant reminder that this pain will pass.

You were deep in thoughts when you spot a fluffy figure making it’s way to you. You pull out your shirt’s ribbon out of Inara’s mouth and lower her down until her eyes spotted the figure walking on its four legs.

“Look Inara, what’s that?”, you cooed in a baby voice.

Little that you know, the man in front of you had his eyes wide open, start struck by the made up voice that you made which he think is fucking cute, he’s wheezing.

Inara eyed the magical creature (read as cat) snuggling in her open palm, and as that she clenches her hand into a tight fist and yank the domestical mammal tail nearer. You quickly pulled her hand away as the orange tabby cat backed away to another table, probably trauma after the encounter with the kid in a grey banana printed dress.

“Woah there tiger, no no. You don’t go around pulling cat’s hair.”

“And what about you, you shouldn’t go around shoving my daughter’s face to a cat”, Yoongi huffed, pushing his wrist lightly on his cheek, elbow on the table.

“Look Inara, there’s a grumpy cat, you can pull all the remaining hairs off him.”

“Don’t teach nonsense to my child, seriously…”

“Hush Yoongi, between both of us, I know better about children psychological development”

You eyed him sharply, then reached out into your bag, pulling out a cat-shaped rattle and wave it in front of Inara.

“Looook, what’s this?”

You’re more than happy when Inara’s eyes widen, hand sticking out to reach the baby rattle in your hand, then continue to shove it in her mouth. Her hand swinging the item, producing bell sound as there’s a tiny bell tied onto the cat’s neck.

“My daughter is much more intelligence than playing with a bell.”

“I’m trying to train her cognitive Min Yoongi, I would appreciate it if you keep your comments to yourself at the moment.”

“How do we even know it’s working?”

As then, Inara let out a loud laugh and continue to tossed the toy, which headed straight to Yoongi’s forehead. 

“Ouch!”

You know it’s rude to laugh at other’s misfortune, but oh you wish there was a reply button in life, you just got to watch Yoongi’s face another time!

“Inara! Bad girl,”, your words come out between short laughs, “pity, you should’ve aimed for the head”

“Y/n!”

A cherry laugh escaped your mouth as your eyes turned crescent from the way you had been smiling so wide. You find this situation very amusing.

“Ohh cut down some slack yoongs, at least now we know it’s working, we gotta work on her aim though.”

“Y/n…”

Yoongi just let you laugh some more, the frown on his face just now slowly morphing into a soft smile, but when you lean your figure forward, oh boy…mayday mayday code red, abort mission Min Yoongi!

You gently lay your palm onto his face, shining orbs scanning his face, “Nothing’s broken though,”, you chuckled, “You’re okay.”

But he’s not okay, at least the outraging heartbeat in his chest said so.

==

[supernaturallyobsessedchic]

Littlest Winchester - Part 2

[this gif makes me laugh]

Part 2 – Typhoid Mary

Summary: Sapphire is sick while her dad and uncle are out on a hunt. She thinks she’s well enough to help find Jack.

Warnings: sick OC reader, puking, tooth rotting fluff.

a/n: Reader/Sapphire: 11 years old; Set during Season: 13

a/n #2: Figured I’d write a fluffy fic for Jen @supernatural-jackles​ one of my favorite fan fic authors on this platform, and one of a few who have inspired me to write, hopefully this helps put a smile on your face and feel all warm and fuzzy. :3

~

When she woke up, it was later than usual. But Dean and Sam left a note for her for when she did wake up.

Hey Blue,

Uncle Sammy and I are helping Cas on a case that might involve Jack. If you could look up some stuff on the case that would be much appreciated. Sam left you his laptop in the library.

Call me if you find anything. Love you Princess.

- Dad

She could feel pressure in her head, her nose stuffy and runny, her eyes even itched a bit. They felt watery. And she had a pretty nasty cough. But she felt fine enough to sit and chill out at the computer all day to help her dad on the case.

She made herself a hot chocolate, warming up some milk, tossing in some marshmallows. She went into the library ready to go.

-

The case was a bust, no sign of Jack. Cas left to see if Heaven could help. Sam and Dean rented out a motel for the night, ready to leave for the bunker in the morning.

Her coughing fits got worse as the day progressed. Her headache got to the point it has made her cry. A constant fill in pressure, her eyes felt like they were gonna explode and if she couldn’t smell a thing. Her stomach decided to add to the torment and not agree with her, period.

Her stomach did a flip after said coughing fit. She leapt from her seat running for the nearest bathroom. Only to make it to the trashcan in the kitchen. Puking whatever contents in her stomach there was. Brushing it aside, she not only brought the trashcan with her, she headed back to the library, sat at Sam’s laptop and got back at it.

Sam had gone to bed early, Dean was looking at cases involving Jack. And then his phone rang. It was Sapphire.

“Hey Blue, found anything?” Dean asked.

“No, nothing.” She said. Her voice sounding rough, and clearly sick.

“You sound awful, you okay?” Dean asked.

“It’s just a cold, I’m fine, I’ll live.” She said.

“Don’t lie to me baby, you know what I said about that?” Dean said knowingly.

She sighed.

“My head feels like it’s gonna split in two, my nose is stuffed up, my throat hurts, and I threw up…twice.” She says.

“Alright.” Dean goes. powering down his laptop. Getting up to wake up Sam. “I’m waking up Sam and we’re leaving, now.” Dean says. “I’ll be home soon.” He adds.

As he nudges Sam’s shoulder harshly, waking him. “What Dean?” He goes, annoyed.

He points to his phone.

“No, Daddy, I’m fine. I made it this long being sick.” She says.

“We’ll hand whatever case to another capable hunter, right now, my daughter is sick. And I’m heading home to help her.” He says. “Now, power down Sam’s laptop, and get to bed.” He tells her.

“Okay daddy.” She says. Sounding tired and exhausted.

“You’ll be better in no time.” He says. Before exchanging I love you’s and hanging up.

“How bad?” Sam asked as he got dressed.

“I won’t know until I take her temp, she says she’s got a headache, stuffy nose and she puked a couple times.” Dean says.

“Sounds like the flu.” Sam goes.

“Maybe.” Dean agrees. “But, let’s get going.” Dean urges. Having already packed his stuff and is loading the impala.

She sat in the library, too tired to even move. She just closed out of the databases that were being used to find Jack, and opened up Google Chrome and began watching Markiplier on YouTube.

-

Her dad must have been speeding or was not that far from Lebanon, Dean came walking down the halls after dropping his bags off to his room and not seeing Sapphire in her room, he headed to the library. He saw her sitting at the table, on Sam’s laptop, watching a dude playing a video game. His antics making his daughter giggle.

“Hey baby girl.” He says upon entering.

“Hi daddy.” She said. She sounded weak and exhausted.

“I’ll have Sam get this laptop hooked up in your room, but let’s get you to bed.” He says.

He works her into his arms, and he carry’s her effortlessly to her room. She had dozed right off in his arms.

He lays her down gently, so as to not upset her stomach. He moves her heavy blankets to her feet, leaving her in the sheet blanket. He heads to the bathroom grabbing the thermometer. Coaxing her awake enough to get it in her mouth.

After a few minutes Dean pulled it out.

104.

Most fever reducers have doses made for kids 12 and over. Sapphire just turned 11. She’s still a bit young to be taking that kind of medicine. Sam decided to make a run to a nearby Pharmacy, grabbing a kid friendly fever reducer for kids 12 and under.

Dean gave her, her first dose. He grabs one of her chairs in her room, an oversized bean bag chair, and sat next to her bedside, keeping watch over her.

Sapphire slept soundly despite her symptoms. She woke up to her father, sleeping in the bean bag chair, holding her hand.

She still felt sick, but at least she didn’t feel like throwing up.

She wiped her eyes with her free hand. Waking her father.

“Hey Princess, how you feeling?” He asks. Gently brushing her hair from her eyes with his free hand.

“Egh.” She groans.

“Still crappy, huh?” he asks. she nods.

“Well then, we’re taking off today to take care of you.” He says, getting up.

“I’ll have Sam go get us some soup, crackers, meds, the works.” He says. “You just rest up in bed. ‘Kay?” he goes.

“Okay.” She says. How can she argue when she feels this sick?

And Dean goes to the kitchen to tell Sam exactly what he told her, and with that Sam is out buying canned soup, meds, and Dean is disinfecting the bunker.

“Dean, I have news.” Cas says, entering the kitchen.

“It’ll have to wait Cas.” Dean says.

“What are you doing?” Cas says, looking confused.

None of the Winchester brothers ever got sick, and Sapphire hardly ever got sick. But ever since she started up with school after summer break, it just popped up out of nowhere.

“Just disinfecting the bunker so no one catches whatever she’s got, miss Typhoid Mary in there.” Dean jokes, half kiddingly. Pointing to Sapphire’s room.

“It’s just the cold Dean, it’s not all that contagious.” Cas says knowingly. Causing Dean to look unamused at the angel.

“I’m not taking chances Cas, just go on your lead on Jack, I’ll have Sam help you when he can, ‘kay.” Dean says. “But I’m staying here with my girl, making sure she gets better.” Dean says.

Cas nods. “Very well Dean, I’ll call if anything changes.” He says.

“Sounds good Cas.” Dean says.

After cooking the soup, Dean enters her room, seeing her watching YouTube again.

“Why not just ask uncle Sammy to get you a console, and some games and play these yourself?” Dean asked, as he sat her dinner tray near her on her bed.

“These are PC games Dad, I’d need a gaming computer.” She says.

“We’ll get that too.” Dean says.

“Dad, it’s fine. I like watching it. it’s funny seeing him fail.” She says giggling at Mark failing at FNAF Help Wanted VR. “’Sides, I’d be cheating.” She says pointing at the video.

“Yeah, I guess.” Dean says. Just not getting it, how she finds that entertaining.

“Mind if I hang out with and watch?” he asks.

Might as well see what all the fuss is about though. He thought.

“Sure. If you don’t think Typhoid Mary here’s gonna get you sick.” She says, eyeing him. Making him chuckle.

“I was just joking around with Cas.” Dean says, setting in behind her. kissing the top of her head. “I love you baby girl.” He says.

“I love you too daddy.” She says as she dug in her bowl of chicken noodle soup.

~

Copying and reposting someone else’s content is plagiarism and illegal. This work is property of supernaturallyobsessedchic. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. These works contain material protected under International and Federal Copyright Laws and Treaties. Any unauthorized reprint or use of this material is prohibited. No part of these works may be reproduced in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system without express written permission from the author / publisher. An electronic reference link to the original posted work may be provided for purposes of promotion or assistance of publication by the readers discretion, if proper credits are given to the author in the re-post. 01/11/20

-

Feedback is always appreciated!

And I hope this helped Jen! You’re awesome, and I just hope this helped you feel fluffy warm. <3

[freddiesaysalright]

Catching Up Part V

A Joe Mazzello x Reader Story

Summary:

Reader is a writer for an entertainment news network and after Joe comes in to do an interview, they reconnect.

Word Count: 3K

Tag List:  @crazylittlethingcalledobsession, @jennyggggrrr, @somethinginthewayiam, @grandaddy-roger-trash, @rogerloveshiscar, @hopefully-aesthetically-pleasing, @danamaleksworld, @mrsmazzello, @reedusteinrambles, @rexorangecouny If you want to be added, let me know!

Part I  Part II  Part III  Part IV

Christy looked at the pregnancy tests spread across the bathroom floor. She held out a pint of ice cream and a spoon to you. You looked at her through watery, helpless eyes.

“Ice cream?” you said.

“When there’s nothing to be done, you might as well have ice cream,” she said simply.

You took it from her. She opened her own and started eating as she sat down on the side of the bathtub. You opened the container shakily and took a small bite. You had to admit, the chocolate tasted great.

“There is something to be done,” you said. “I have to tell Joe.”

“Do you?” she returned. “If you’re going to get an abortion, he doesn’t need to know.”

“I don’t know if that’s what I want,” you told her.

“Y/N, are you serious?” she said. “You’re really thinking about having this baby?”

Tears filled your eyes again as you nodded. You remembered Russell, the boy Joe had entertained in the restaurant, and words Nancy said to you. Joe would be a wonderful father. But you were still so new into the relationship and this was a lifetime commitment to make. More permanent even than marriage.

“You and Joe hardly know each other,” she argued.

“We love each other,” you said. “I’m not saying I definitely will keep it. It’s just an option.”

“You need to go to the doctor,” she said with a sigh. “Find out how far along you are and get the regular tests. That might help in your decision.”

You nodded, a bit lost for words. She put a warm hand on your shoulder.

“And whatever you decide, Y/N,” she said. “I’ll support you. I promise.”

“Thank you,” you said, choking on your emotions again.

When you went to the doctor, they confirmed you were pregnant and had a healthy baby. You were early in the pregnancy, only about seven weeks or so. You almost laughed when you heard that. It meant Joe probably knocked you up the first time you had sex.

They did an ultrasound and you looked at the screen. The doctor pointed out to you exactly where your baby was inside you. It didn’t look like a baby. It looked more like a bean. You watched in awe as you saw a small flicker. A heartbeat.

“That’s it?” you wondered. “That’s the baby?”

The doctor nodded. “That’s it,” she said. “It’s healthy so far. But if you plan on keeping the pregnancy, I’d like to recommend some vitamins and other supplements to help your body through it.”

You continued to gaze at the screen and that little flicker. You looked down at your tummy. It was still its usual shape, but it felt different.

“I’d like your recommendations, please,” you said.

She smiled, and rattled off a few things you could pick up at any pharmacy. You jotted them down in your reporting notebook, and went by the store before work. You also carried the sonogram she’d given you. There were arrows pointing to the baby. When you took a seat at your desk, you looked around carefully to be sure no one could see you and pulled it out again just to look at it. You had made up your mind.

When Joe called you that night, you were in bed. You didn’t tell him about the baby. It wasn’t the kind of information you could share over the phone. He talked about his day and you listened, adding comments here and there to make him laugh.

“What’s going on with you, babe?” he asked when he finished.

“Not much,” you lied. “Just work, same as usual. I finished my article on women directors. My editor liked it, so it’ll be going out in next week’s magazine.”

“That’s great!” he praised. “Anything else from my competition?”

You had eventually told Joe about what happened with Don. To your relief, Joe laughed, but now he jokingly referred to Don as his “competition” and kept saying he’d have to stay on his best behavior in order not to lose you to Don.

You wished he could hear you roll your eyes. “Nothing. He’s still avoiding me as much as possible. He was pretty nice yesterday, though.”

“Oh, how so?”

You mentally kicked yourself. You came up with something quickly. “I just got food poisoning and he let me go home.”

“That was nice of him,” he said.

“I miss you,” you said suddenly.

“I miss you too, baby,” he replied.

“Could we...facetime?” you asked sheepishly. “I wanna see you.”

“Sure!” he said enthusiastically. “You call me, though, I want you to feel in control.”

You smiled at his thoughtfulness before hanging up. You stared at his contact in your phone for a moment, your heart rate quickening as you took deep breaths to try and stay calm. You pressed the video call icon and saw your image reflected at you on the screen. You looked ready for bed - hair in a messy bun, clean face, and in a cotton pajama set. Joe picked up after two rings and his face appeared in front of you.

He grinned widely at seeing you. “You’re so beautiful! Look at that face!”

You giggled through your nerves. “Are you alone?”

“Ben’s here,” he told you, turning the phone so you could see Ben lounging on the other bed in their hotel room and scrolling through his phone.

“Hi, Ben,” you said, waving.

Ben turned and smiled at you, waving back. “Hello, Y/N! You’re doing great!”

“Thank you!”

Joe turned back to himself. “It’s true. You hardly look nervous. In fact, you’re glowing.”

It felt odd to be looking Joe in the face and not tell him this huge piece of news.

“Can you set the phone down, sweetie?” he asked. “Your hand is shaking.”

You pulled your knees up and rested your hand against them, holding the phone directly in front of you.

“Better?” you asked.

He nodded. “I just love seeing your face. Thank you for trusting me with this. Feel free to hang up if you get at all overwhelmed, I won’t be mad.”

“Thank you, Joey,” you said. “I’m nervous, but I still have feeling in my fingers. That’s a good sign.”

“Definitely a good sign.”

You continued to talk well into the night. As usual, he kept you laughing. Your nerves melted away. You rested your hand on your tummy, where the baby was. Looking at Joe’s face and holding his child made you feel like this was the beginning of your family.

When you hung up, you looked down at it. “That was your daddy,” you said. “You’re gonna meet him soon.”

You fell asleep with the sonogram beside you on the pillow.

Two more weeks went by, and finally, Joe was coming back. You insisted on picking him up from the airport. You wanted to see him so bad. When you laid eyes on him, you broke into a run through the airport. He dropped his bags as you came barreling into him. Your lips crashed into his as he wrapped his arms around you. You kissed him with such intensity people actually were staring. You ignored them.

“I missed you too,” he whispered when you came up for air.

“I missed you more,” you returned.

Rami, Gwilym, Ben, and a woman you didn’t know approached. You smiled, and released Joe to embrace each of them as well.

“I’m Lucy,” the woman told you.

“Y/N,” you replied, shaking her hand. “It’s wonderful to meet you.”

“Lucy plays Mary Austin in the film,” Rami explained.

“She’s also Rami’s girlfriend,” Joe added, teasing.

“That’s wonderful!” you said sweetly, and Lucy smiled.

You were actually picking them all up and were going to dinner before you were taking them to their hotel. Of course, Joe would be coming home with you. You miraculously got all of their luggage into your trunk. Joe got into the passenger seat while the other four squeezed into the back. Lucy ended up on Rami’s lap, but neither seemed to mind.

You drove to the restaurant, but found yourself wishing you had just called an Uber or a cab because all you wanted to do was look at Joe’s face. His real face. Not through a camera or a screen. He was here with you once again. He took your hand and kissed the back of it. Your heart felt like it was going to leap right out of your chest with joy. This what was you had waited for. It was worth the wait.

You parked and you all went inside. You’d made a reservation, and the hostess assured you it wasn’t a problem to add one more. When you were seated, the waitress came over to take drink orders. When you just ordered water, Joe shot you a questioning glance.

“Are you sure?” he asked. “I know you’re driving, but you can have a glass of wine.”

You shook your head. “Really, I just want water.”

He shrugged. “Suit yourself.”

It was so nice to catch up with everyone and hear the stories from their travels. But you couldn’t take your eyes off Joe. You kept picturing all the different ways he could react to what you had to tell him. You didn’t think he’d be angry. He would certainly be shocked. But what else? Would he want you to keep it? Would he want to get married? Would he want nothing to do with you and the baby? You shook your head to rid it of that thought, closing your eyes as you went. A tear slid out that you didn’t know had formed, and you tried to wipe it away quickly. You were so tired of crying.

“Hey, you okay?” Joe asked, and you hated that he noticed.

“Yeah,” you said, taking a deep breath. “I’m just so happy you’re here.”

“I’m happy to be here too,” he returned, kissing your cheek. “No more tears.”

You nodded and smiled. The food arrived shortly after. You ate a few bites, but you didn’t have much of an appetite since becoming pregnant. You figured that would change once you were past the morning sickness stage. Speaking of which, nausea was coming at you suddenly like a freight train.

“Excuse me,” you muttered to the table, and jumped up to find the bathroom.

You felt their concerned eyes on your back as you left. You shoved the bathroom door open, chose a stall, and slammed it shut, locking it with shaking hands. You hurled into the toilet, even though you had so little in your stomach.

“Y/N?” Lucy’s voice called as she entered the bathroom. “Are you alright? Joe asked me to check on you.”

“Yeah,” you said, struggling to your feet to flush the toilet before emerging from the stall.

“Were you throwing up?” she asked.

You nodded. “Yeah, but I’m fine, I promise,” you said, retrieving a mint from your pocket. “I came prepared this time.”

“This time?”

“I haven’t been feeling well lately,” you said quickly. “I have a doctor’s appointment soon though to see about it.”

“Okay,” she said, her eyes questioning your sanity. “Well, you want me to tell them you’re good or are you coming out now?”

“I’m coming,” you said.

You followed her back to the table, apologizing once again as you sat down. Joe reached out a hand, and you took it, your palm sweaty against his.

“You okay?” he asked.

You nodded. “Fine. Really.”

He frowned, not believing you, but he didn’t press you for any more. Suddenly your pleasant evening felt heavy. Like the pressure to tell Joe about the baby, and the fear that came with that, was wrapping around you and squeezing you tight. You took another deep breath to fight it off. You faked your way through the rest of dinner. Joe never let go of your hand.

When you dropped the others off at the hotel, wishing them all a fond goodnight, you and Joe sat in silence for a moment. He scrolled through Instagram and showed you a few things he thought were funny. You laughed and reminded him you had to keep your eyes on the road.

It wasn’t far to your apartment. When you parked and turned the car off, you looked at Joe. He lurched forward and grabbed your face, pulling you in for a sloppy, needy kiss. He laced his fingers through your hair as he deepend it. You opened your mouth to allow his tongue in and you moaned when he went for it. You could already feel the dampness forming between your legs at his kiss. That was another side effect of pregnancy. Just the thought of Joe was enough to make you squirm. Now he was actually here and you felt like you might orgasm just from him kissing you.

“Joe,” you breathed, stopping him. “Can’t we at least make it inside?”

“We can come back for my luggage,” he said. “I need you so bad.”

You nodded, and you both scrambled out of the car. You locked the door and then you jogged into the building, Joe taking your hand again. You giggled together as you hurried down the hall, stopping every few feet to kiss. He always brought your closer to the edge, either grabbing a handful of your ass or grazing your breast with his thumb. You actually jerked against him one time after he pinned you to the wall and kissed your neck.

“So sensitive,” he observed.

“We’re literally three doors away from my apartment,” you panted.

“Think you can make it?” he teased.

You rolled your eyes and pushed him away, leading him through your door at last. When you closed the door, he moved toward you, but you stopped him.

“Let me get some water, okay?” you said. “Go ahead into the bedroom, I’ll meet you in there.”

He pecked your cheek and disappeared into your room. You grabbed a water from the fridge, cracking it open and taking a sip. The cool liquid slid down your throat and eased the growing tension in your lower belly.

“Y/N,” Joe called from your room, and you heard him coming out of it.

“Yeah, baby?” you asked, turning to face him.

As soon as you saw his expression, you knew he’d discovered it. The paper in his hand told you how. You forgot you left the sonogram on your pillow from where you had it beside you last night. It felt like your blood drained from your body as you waited for him to say something. His brow was furrowed and his mouth was turned down, deep in thought, but you couldn’t discern what his thought was.

“Y-you’re pregnant?” he said in an almost inaudible whisper.

You nodded slowly. “I meant to actually tell you, but I forgot about the picture….”

Before you could say anymore, a smile erupted across his face. He crossed the room in three strides, picking you up in his arms and spinning you around, laughing with pure joy. You held tightly to his shoulders and joined him in the celebration.

“Are you really happy?” you asked as he set you on the counter.

“Are you kidding?” he returned. “I’m thrilled! I’ve always wanted to be a dad!”

“But, it’s so unexpected, and we’re not married or anything,” you reminded him. “We’ve only been dating a little over two months.”

“Those things don’t matter,” he said. “Not when you’re really in love.” He kissed you sweetly on the nose. “And technically, we’ve known each other for two decades.”

You chuckled. “Fair point.”

“As for the marriage thing,” he said. “Do...do you want to get married?”

“Yeah, someday,” you told him. “I don’t think we need to go to the courthouse tomorrow or anything. But honestly, I just want to be committed to each other for now. I don’t need any big promises right away.”

“Alright,” he agreed. “We can cross that bridge when we get there.”

“Sounds good,” you said.

“So, do you know if it’s a boy or a girl?” he asked eagerly.

You laughed. “I’m only nine weeks along! You don’t usually know that until twenty weeks.”

“Twenty weeks?!” he cried. “I can’t wait that long!”

“You’ll have to, honey,” you replied.

He rubbed his hands on your thighs as he stood between them.

“I’m glad you’re keeping it,” he said.

“I considered the alternatives,” you told him. “But I want this baby. I want your baby.”

He closed his eyes and hummed at the words. “Our baby.”

You ran your fingers through his hair before he held up the sonogram again.

“I can’t believe this,” he said. “I’m so happy I could explode.”

“Me too,” you told him. “But we can’t tell anyone yet. Not until the twelve week scan.”

“What?!” he gasped. “You haven’t told anyone else?”

“Christy knows, but only because she was there when I took the tests,” you said. “So to be fair, you can tell one person.”

“I’m telling Rami,” he decided.

“That’s a good choice,” you said.

You both just looked at the photo for a few moments more. He placed his hand on your tummy, before bending down and pressing his lips to it. It tickled so you couldn’t stop the giggle that escaped you. He kissed it again mischievously, and you laughed. He straightened up and smiled at you again.

“I hope this doesn’t mean sex is off the table,” you said. “Because I have honestly never wanted you more.”

“Oh, hell yeah,” he said. “We can have all the sex you want, babe. And I won’t even have to wear a condom!”

“Well, you gotta take me to the bedroom now because you standing there is driving me crazy, Joey.”

He didn’t wait a single second before grabbing your firmly by the ass and carrying you into the bedroom.

[daryls-dixon-antoni]

Chapter 29.) Twice as Far

"You're getting big," Daryl comments.

I pause, staring at him a moment as Mason laughs. "Excuse you?" I ask, taken aback.

"Your stomach, it's growin'."

"Dude, run while you still can." Mason warns.

"Why, your pregnant, your s'posed to get fat."

My mouth drops, and Mason leaves the room mumbling something about homework before work. "So I'm fat now?"

"Yeah, so what?"

"Wow, Daryl... just, just wow."

"What?"

I put my hands up, standing from my stool mumbling "Wow," under my breath as I walk outside to go cover my watch shift.

When it's over I find Daryl staring at the figure the blond man had given us in exchange for insulin.

"You still think about them?" I ask, walking over to him. He got his bike back when they took down the Savior's compound. Some asshole was riding it.

"Yeah, you still mad?"

I shake my head, "No. You didn't mean it," I quickly put a hand up to stop him from speaking and say, "And don't say anything otherwise; because if you did mean it, I really don't want to know."

"Kay." Is his only response.

"Didn't even notice," I hear Carol say as she approaches us. "Got your bike back."

"Yeah," Daryl nods.

"You got another one of those?" He asks, noting the cigarette in her hand.

As she starts pulling one out, I ask, "Mind if I snag one as well."

"No, you ain't smokin'" Daryl says, while lighting his up, I roll my eyes and huff, but can't fight his logic.

"Those people you met," Carol says, changing the subject. "The ones in the burnt forest, they took it from you?"

"Yeah. Left me to carry Anne."

"You saved them, right?"

"Yeah, he did." I agree.

"Sorry," Carol responds. "It's who you are. We're still stuck with that."

"No, we ain't," Daryl contradicts. "I should've killed them."

Carol stands up, not responding, so Daryl says, "Hey. The ones that took you and Maggie what'd they do to you?"

"To us? They didn't do anything." She then walks away.

"Your worried about her?" I guess, observing his gaze.

"Yeah, she ain't the same since."

I put an arm around his waist, "She'll come around. She's tougher than any of us here, she'll persevere."

"Yeah." He agrees, but doesn't take his eyes off the direction she left in.

"Hey," I say gently, and he looks at me. "She'll be okay, really."

"Yeah." He agrees, and then Denise and Rosita approach us.

Denise shows us a map, explaining, "After I got out of DC, I just drove. I remember seeing it right when I realized I had no idea where I was going. Edison's Apothecary and Boutique. It's just this little gift shop in a strip mall, but if it's really an apothecary, they had drugs."

"How do you know they still got 'em?" Daryl asks.

"It isn't that far. I just wanna check. And you and Rosita aren't out scavenging or pulling shifts."

"We'll go," Daryl agrees.

"Can I come?" I ask, looking between the three.

Daryl's jaw clenches, but we made a deal. He doesn't boss me around anywhere but the bedroom, and I try not to be stupid and impulsive. "If it's just a small run to check for any medicine, it shouldn't be too dangerous. Especially not when I'm with you and Rosita. Please, Daryl."

"Actually, I wanted to check." Denise says. "I just wanted to help."

"How much time you spend out there?" Daryl asks.

"None."

"Forget it."

"I can ID the meds. I know how to use a machete now. I've seen roamers up close. I'm ready."

"You good with this?" Daryl asks Rosita.

"No," she responds.

"I'll go alone, if I have to." Denise threatens.

"You'll die alone," Daryl responds, simply.

"I'm asking you to make sure I don't."

"I'm not babysitting her by myself," Rosita says.

"I'll go," I volunteer, looking between the three.

We end up in a junked up old truck, Daryl is not happy about it, and I know I'll be hearing about it later. But I'm just happy to be out of the walls.

Daryl obviously has very little experience driving a stick, which becomes incredibly obvious to all of us as he continuously strips and grinds the gears.

"It... the-" Denise cuts herself off.

"What?" Daryl snaps.

"Forget it," Denise mumbles.

"No, what?"

"I think maybe you're disengaging it too soon. I've been driving stick since I was 15, usually beat-up trucks like this. I mean, before... you know, before I left home. My brother taught me, so I just know."

Daryl continues to grind the gears with a painful sound for a while longer until we reach a place in the road with a knocked down tree.

"Daryl," Rosita warns to which he replies.

"Yep." He comes to a stop and says, "Stay here."

Both he and Rosita get out, so I look to Denise, "You hate watching as bad as I do?" I ask.

She shakes her head, and then Rosita opens the passenger door, "Come on, it's clear."

"What'd you find?" Denise asks, as we exit the truck. "Bottles of booze. Any takers?"

"Pregnant," I respond, shrugging.

Rosita nods and then offers to Denise who responds with, "No, thanks."

"For later. I'm not bringing these to the pantry." Rosita says.

"I'm good. They were kind of my parents' thing. Which is why they aren't mine."

"That truck ain't gonna make it past this tree," Daryl observes. "Come on, let's walk."

"Hold up," Denise stops him, "Looks like a straight shot if we follow the tracks."

Daryl and I exchange looks before he says, "No. No tracks. We'll take the road."

"That's twice as far," Rosita argues.

"Go whichever way you like. I ain't taking no tracks."

"I'm with him," I say, hearing my son tell me the horror stories they went through in the back of my head. I follow Daryl and it isn't long before I hear Denise behind us.

We meet back up with Rosita once we hit the town, and she grumpily says, "About time."

Daryl and I keep walking as the girls hang back.

We make it to the shop, and Daryl knocks before looking to me and Denise, "All right, me and her are gonna do this. You two're gonna stay back, got it?"

I purse my lips; but don't argue. I'm lucky I made it this far.

Daryl crowbars the door open.

He goes in first and Rosita, Denise and I follow, Denise gagging at the smell.

"We gonna find out what you had for breakfast?" Daryl asks.

"Oatmeal," Denise mumbles. "Just so you know."

I shake my head at her, but don't say a word as we peer around the shop.

"Hey," we hear Rosita call, and when I look up, she has her flashlight pointed at the writing on the wall saying 'Pharmacy'. "Nice one." I compliment, as Daryl starts to open the slide down window lock.

"You want me to hold your bags... or?" Denise asks Rosita. When she doesn't get an answer she just whispers, "Yeah."

I watch as Daryl gets the window locks open and slides them up revealing rows upon rows of medicine bottles, "Jackpot," I say, cheerfully.

Daryl hops over as Denise says, "If you set 'em on the counter, I can tell you which-"

Daryl cuts her off as he helps me and my pregnant waistline over, "No, we're gonna take it all."

"Are you sure?" Denise asks, sounding uncertain. "Because-"

Rosita cuts her off this time saying, "No, it's fine."

We start collecting medicine when we hear a distinct thumping.

"It's just one," observes Rosita.

"It sounds like it's stuck," agrees Daryl.

The three of us continue collecting the medicine.

All of a sudden, we hear broken glass and when we rush to look, Denise has ran into a display case with glass bowls on it.

"What the hell are you doing?" Rosita chastises.

"Nothing," is her quick response before she goes outside.

Daryl and I exchange looks before going back to our task.

When we've finished we leave to find Denise sitting on the ground crying.

"Hey," Daryl says, getting her attention. "You did good finding this place."

"Tried to tell you you weren't ready," Rosita says. "We all did."

"I know," she mumbles.

On our walk back Daryl breaks the silence asking, "So was he older or younger?"

"Older," Denise responds. "By six minutes. My parents came up with the Dennis/Denise thing on one of their benders. Hilarious, right?"

"I guess, but I wasn't the one stuck with a rhyming name." I respond.

"You had brothers, right?" She asks.

"Ten of them, I had a twin, too. Also older." After a moment I ask, "What was Dennis like?"

"Nothing scared him. He was brave. He was angry, too. It's kind of a dangerous combination."

"Sounds like we had the same brother," Daryl says.

"I had a few of them," I agree.

"I'm glad there was only one Meryl."

I scoff, "Hey, it was occasionally entertaining having multiple angry persistent brothers. Never had a dull moment in our house."

When we get to the train tracks, and Daryl turns onto them, Rosita call out, "Hey." To him.

"This way's faster, right?" He asks. I shrug, and we follow him.

We get to an area where a few cars seem to be run off the tracks, why they were on the tracks in the first place is beyond me.

As we keep walking we suddenly hear Denise yell, "There's a cooler in there! Might be something we can use inside." She's near the cars and pointing in one.

"We got what we came for," Rosita states.

Daryl agrees with, "Nah, ain't worth the trouble, come on."

We keep walking, I can feel my feet swelling up and I am very excited to make it home. That's when we hear the struggle.

So we begin running back.

When we get there and are ready to jump in to help, Denise yells, "No, don't!"

She then stabs the dead guy and I shake my head in frustration. Just what we need, an amature trying to show off that she has what it takes when she clearly doesn't.

Which is proved as she suddenly upchucks.

"Oh, man," she mutters. "I threw up on my glasses."

Then she opens the cooler to see a six pack of soda.

"Hot damn," she says, pulling it out.

"What the hell was that?" Daryl asks, finally snapping. "You could've died right there, you know that?"

"Yeah, I do." She responds, much too calmly.

"Are you hearing me?"

"Who gives a shit? You could've died killing those Saviors, both of you, but you didn't. You wanna live, you take chances. That's how it works. That's what I did."

"You takin' chances and puttin' my pregnant girlfriend in danger for a couple of damn sodas?" He seethes.

"Nope," she responds, holding up an orange crush. "Just this one." She then walks past us.

"Are you seriously that stupid?" Rosita asks.

"Are you? I mean it. Are you? Do you have any clue what that was to me, what this whole thing is to me? See, I have training in this shit. I'm not making it up as I go along, like with the stitches and the surgery and the..." she turns to Daryl, "I asked you to come with me because you're brave like my brother and sometimes you actually make me feel safe." She turns to me, "I wanted you to come along because you let me believe if this wouldn't have been how the world turned out to be, that my brother would have eventually been happy!" She turns to Rosita, "And I wanted you here because you're alone.

Probably for the first time in your life. And because you're stronger than you think you are, which gives me hope that maybe I can be, too." She looks at all three of us. "I could've gone with Tara. I could've told her I loved her, but I didn't because I was afraid. That's what's stupid. Not coming out here, not facing my shit. And it makes me sick that you guys aren't even trying; because you're strong and you're smart and you're all really good people, and if you don't." An arrow goes right threw her eye and my heart stops as she continues, "wake up... and face your..." she then falls, Daryl orders me to get down so I do. Crouching next to Denise's quickly dying body.

"You! Drop 'em now!" My heart drops right to my stomach as I recognize the man, who is also holding onto Eugene. The man we traded the figurine with. The one who stole Daryl's bike and crossbow.

Daryl and I exchange looks, and I can tell he's pissed off.

"Well, hell." Daryl mutters.

"You got something to say to me?" Blondie challenges. "You gonna clear the air? Step up on that high horse? No. You don't talk much. That's the girls job. Looks like you got her knocked up as well, nice one." He has a smirk on his half burned face. Something he didn't have last time we saw him. He gestures for his men to check us for any weapons, which of course we have.

He then glances at Daryl's crossbow saying, "Still getting the hang of her. Kicks like a bitch, but-"

"I should've done it," Daryl interupts him.

"Oh, what's that? Seriously, I didn't catch what you said."

"I should've killed you," Daryl clarifies.

"Yeah, you probably should've. So, here we are. Kind of begs the question, right? Who brought this on who? I mean, I get that you'll just have to take my word for this, but she wasn't even the one I was aiming for. Like I said, kicks like a bitch. It's nothing personal. Look, this isn't how we like to start new business arrangements, but, well, you pricks kind of set the tone, didn't you?"

"What do you want?" Rosita demands.

"I'm sorry, darlin', I didn't catch your name. I'm D, or Dwight. You can call me either. So? What's your name?" He prompts.

"Rosita. What do you want?"

"Well, Rosita it's not what I want. It's what you and Daryl are going to do. You're going to let us into your little complex. It looks like it's just beautiful in there. And then you're going to let us take whatever and whoever we want or we blow Eugene's brains out. And then yours. And then hers. And then his. I hope it doesn't come to that, really. Nobody else has to die. We just try and start with one. You know maximum impact to get our point across. So what's it gonna be? You tell me."

"You wanna kill someone," Eugene says, a quiver in his voice. "You start with our companion hiding over there behind the oil barrels. He's a first class a-hole and he deserves it so much more than us three."

I glare at Eugene, unable to believe he'd sell one of our own out like that; and if memory serves me right, I think Sev had mentioned Abraham was going to be going out with Eugene today.

"Go check it out," Dwayne demands. Some of his men do, and to my surprise, while we're waiting with held breaths, Eugene bites Dwayne right in the crotch, causing Dwayne to start screaming.

We then hear the gunfire, and not from oil barrels.

Daryl is able to stab a man and get his gun from him, Rosita and I both find ours on the ground and start shooting.

The noise begins drawing the dead out to us, and as we shoot up Dwayne and his men, I hear Dwayne yell, "Fall back! Fall back!"

As they retreat, Daryl grabs his crossbow and goes to run after him.

Rosita and I call his name, but he seems to ignore us.

"Daryl, please!" I beg, and he stops, coming back to us.

I notice Eugene's been shot, and it takes Abraham who came from the woods, Daryl and Rosita to carry him along, I go to grab Denise but Daryl gruffly orders me to leave her. I shoot him a glare, but listen, following after the group.

"Rick's coming," I hear Abraham say as he walks into the infirmary. I don't even glance at him as I'm stood by Daryl, both of us looking out the window.

"How is he?" Abraham asks.

"Bullet just grazed him," Rosita explains. "But it's a good thing we got him back when we did. Antibiotics we picked up could save him from an infection. Could save his life. That's what Denise did."

I hear the coughing and Rosita ask, "You here?"

I hear Eugene respond, "Present."

"Good."

"I was not trying to kill you. I was looking for a moment."

"You found it," Abraham states.

"Do you apologize for questioning my skills?"

"I apologize for questioning your skills. You know how to bite a dick, Eugene. I mean that with the utmost of respect. Welcome to stage two."

"Don't need to welcome me. I've been here a while."

Daryl went back for the body, he and Carol bury her, neither will accept my help, but Daryl does start drinking the mini alcohol bottles Rosita had found.

I glance at Carol, begging her with my eyes to help fix him.

"You were right," she starts. "I knew it when you said it." She doesn't continue. And watching Daryl continuing to bury Denise's body hurts me in ways I couldn't have predicted it would.

[zealusts-blog]

❛ ⋆ ․˙✰ nora grace nguyen is graduating in a month with plans to attend harvard in the fall to study law and political science. four years complete and she’s leaving the hamptons being remembered as the zealous, which makes perfect sense considering how articulate, venturesome, pugnacious, and unpredictable she is. that title landed them the senior class superlative of most likely to be arrested for organizing a sit- in protest at the local kill shelter. you’ll know they’re around when you hear hierarchy - cailin russo coming from a car this summer. speaking of summer, i hear their plans are to spend it doing a part-time internship at a law firm. morning coffee and afternoon boba, shiba cuddles, sitting in during public court cases, and plaid skirts with oversized knit sweaters.

hello it me ellie (she/her/hers pronouns) and this is nora! i havent done an intro or been in a rp in 10 years so please excuse this post if its awkward n stuff im cringing just writing this bc i forgot how awkward an intro post is like wow... ANYWAYS! i’m vv excited to b here and rp with u guys, love u guys, b here w u guys, all that nice cute stuff w u guys!!! 

u can read nora’s stats here and learn more about her here but like that page is  really long n lengthy so i’m gonna some her up for u guys as best as i can but if its gets long n lengthy too pls forgive me thank u im trying 

her family is wealthy bc of their role in pharmacy work. their family owns  a couple pharmacies (mainly in new york, new jersey, n rhode island) and has some investments in other companies as extra money

theyre wealthy and could stop working for like maybe 10 years if they pleased, but the nguyens dont rest and thats y nora’s parents are absent alot 

bc her parents r absent since theyre always working, nora had to grow up faster to b independent and also raise her younger sister, daisy jane

shes mature but only bc asian parents love handing off parenting duties to their eldest daughter and that happens to b nora! it’s only two of them but still she gave up part of her childhood to p much raise daisy jane on her own despite her parents being alive n healthy

shes a big time activist and feminist and is very upfront about how she feels about certain things and about policies and regulations she thinks should b changed/fixed/removed/etc. 

her dream is harvard and thats been her only dream and plan since she was born. her parents gave it to her and she’s never changed it bc (1) her parents r strict n (2) she craves their acceptance and wants to make them proud and if it means listening to what they want from her then she’ll do it 

shes v open about what she believes in and will talk about it and will also fight for it. 

shes always willing to fight someone and have a debate over anything like it’s more fun for her if its something surrounded politics or stuff going on around the world but also if u wanna argue about how people who aren’t lactose intolerant are abnormal then she’ll b a square bc its literally not normal for ur body to still b able to breakdown lactose enzymes 

shes somewhere in the top 10/15 of the entire class, but shes worked hard to get where she is. studying doesnt come easy to her and she doesnt have photographic memory. she feels really dumb bc of that and hates how she has like... work to get the grade bc she wishes she was smart n could read the textbook once and get it but shes not wired like that n so  a bitch struggles w that n feeling like shes not as smart as her parents want her to b n it doesnt help that her parents let her know that

shes v sarcastic n argumentative and funny and sometimes sexual but she’d never act on those sexual things she says shes an innocent n too shy to b upfront like that u feel 

like she never deters from an argument n hates losing but if u say something too sexual for her n make an initiative to do it then she’ll back down n shy away like thats the only way u can win an argument w her otherwise she’ll keep pulling shit out of her ass until she wins or u call some truce (but in nora’s mind she won bc who backs away from a fight? hm not her!)

nora struggles talking about her feelings and will literally not talk about deep shit about herself like  ya she’ll voice her opinions n fight for it n shit but if u wanna talk about her parent’s incoming divorce, her academic struggles, her need for her parents acceptance, n shit like that then good luck trying to make her talk n shit  bc she wont unless ur close to her and have her 100% complete trust 

this is already long and im blanking on what to include bc idk whats important important about nora that i need to include here but! feel free to read the tidbits page for her u’ll get to know nora better n  know lil like... things about her like hades, veganisms, protests, driving, etc. 

i’m also a slut for plots so if u wanna plot with me for ur chara and nora then please reply to this with a word or something so i know and i’ll come to u!! id tell u guys to like this post n then i’ll come to u but sometimes im not sure if people  r liking the post so its like.. an acknowledgment or bc they actually wanna plot idk if that makes sense pls help me?? ANYWAYS below r some connection ideas that i thot would b cool for nora aha x 

neighbors! 

(1) theyre friendly and hung out a lot bc u kno neighbors n its easy to go to each others houses. the person would also b friends w nora’s little sister daisy jane bc when theyre home and nora is on parent duty she n daisy jane r a duo 

(2) theyre not friendly n they cant stand each other we love a good notp! we can expand more  on this if ur interested but rn my mind is blanking

childhood besties:

(1) maybe things went sour and now theyre enemies like maybe its a betrayal or something but like! besties for the resties to besties for never r always so beautiful im a slut for those type of connections

(2) things didnt go sour but they just drifted and now theyre kinda awkward but try really hard for it to not b awkward??  they knew each other like the back of their hands and now theyre kinda like?? r u still the same or did u change?? whats up whats happening??? 

one sided crush: nora could have a crush on them thats ongoing or is new, but its just a crush and nora actually acting on it is so so rare like she’ll punch someone for saying some racist shit to her but will cry if someone forces her to shoot her shot

(1) maybe the person knows and teases her for it n nora hates them for it but is also like :) but also :( u feel like does that even make sense? 

(2) the person doesnt kno n is kinda just like what the fuck y is nora so timid n shy around me when she just decked a guy for blatantly littering at the beach and saying the beach should b more trash cans if they didnt want people littering 

enemies! 

friends!

tutor: maybe a tutor?? like nora isnt dumb and shes not failing like she’s in the top 10 of  the class but that doesnt mean she’s the smartest person and not struggling trying to keep her grades up. having someone she can study with n can like. help her would b really good for her 

(1) twist is that it could b secretive bc maybe nora doesnt want people knowing that she has a tutor or that the person tutoring her is her tutor for whatever reason. again i can expand on this if ur interested!!!!

bad influence: someone to get her to wild n out n like tell her to forget her parents n responsibilites n shit. maybe make her hoe it out so she can stop getting cold u feel what im saying?? idk if u do im literally just rambling at this point im so sorry

i’m out of connection ideas rn but! if none of these r interesting enough for u then we can do something else like if u have a connection u want filled or like??? we can just think of something else that’ll b more fitting im down for anything n everything 

[losers-text-posts-blog]

Ben’s Story

Benverly Ben’s 3rd P.O.V. 

Also, trigger warning: a bunch of angst and it does mention eating disorders and depression.

“It started 20 years ago, kids. I came to a small, little town called Derry, Maine. I ran into this incredibly gorgeous young woman. She was charming. She took my headphones and laughed at me, I don’t blame her considering that I was listening to New Kids On The Block. After a short interaction she left with me struggling to fix my history project. Later that day, I saw her in the back of a pharmacy. After that, her, Bill (ugh), Stan, Richie, Eddie, Mike, and I met up at the quarry. We swam for what felt like hours. It was one of my favorite memories in the town so far, probably because I was never able to stay in a city long enough to make real, genuine friends, like these guys. I also gave the girl a poem, ‘Your hair is winter fire, January embers, my heart burns there too.’ Later that summer, I saved her from a clown with a kiss. Unfortunately, shortly after she kissed Bill, but its okay because we found out later that Bill was gay and he ended up dating and later marrying Stanley. Anyways, the years went on. School started again and I gained enough confidence to ask her on a date. I took her to a carnival. I won her a big teddy bear, by knocking over the bottles with a baseball. And on that night we shared cotton candy on the Ferris wheel, which also happened to be the same place we shared our first kiss. The kiss felt like love, what I mean by that is it felt like every emotion I’ve ever felt increased by a thousand. It was powerful and filled with passion. Even though it only lasted a couple seconds, it was wonderful; I don't think I had ever blushed so hard in my life. Since then we were inseparable. We had our occasional hiccup, but for the most part we were happy. She never cared that I was overweight and discouraged me when I lacked self-confidence. I didn’t really like her smoking, but everyone has their flaws; and that was her only flaw. I constantly bought her gifts, wrote her poems, and we’d go on movie dates all the time. She gave me gifts and we’d bake together and do our homework together and we held hands and cuddled after school on Mondays. I loved her so much and she shared the same emotions. We talked on the phone whenever we were apart. We did all the good things that couples did. Then, we had our first big fight in our Senior year. It was my fault. My self-esteem sunk very low due to bullying. I started starving myself, making myself throw up, and exercising to the point where it was unhealthy. She constantly got on me about it. She tried so hard to get me to stop, but I was too far gone. I couldn’t stop myself. I didn’t recognize myself. I was getting so thin. It was incredibly unhealthy. I caused her drinking and her smoking to get worse and she said it wasn’t my fault, but I knew she was lying. I stopped hanging out with her because even though I loved her and missed her even if she was right next to me I couldn’t bear to be the reason why she was getting like she was. We argued and argued about it and to this day I still regret it, then I just cut her off, I made sure to avoid her, not pick up her calls, I even stopped hanging out with Mike and Stan because I couldn’t stand them badgering me about it. My problem only stopped when I sensed that I was gonna die. It was hard to quit, especially because I had no one to help me. I had blocked out all my friends and I grew incredibly depressed from only having books to distract me from my problems. Then one day I had enough, I saw her for the first time in months on a Tuesday and I had decided I would try to remake that bridge especially considering that I was at my worst; I was getting so depressed and I couldn't fix the damage that I caused to my body. I needed help and I knew she was my best option. So, I walked to her house when it was pouring rain, hoping to get her back. Her aunt said she was at the quarry with Richie. I wasn’t really accounting for that, but I was sure Richie would give us some privacy. I walked there and was climbing up the rocks when I saw that she had moved on. She was sitting on some guys lap, making out with him, and he was taking her shirt off. I was in tears when I walked home and I hate to say it, but I grew progressively suicidal. I knew that I shouldn’t and even if I wanted to, I couldn’t leave my mom alone. So, the next day I went to her house, it was raining again. I threw a couple rocks at her window, you know, the usual romantic cliche. She opened up her door, and I won’t lie to you kids, I was crying. It had been so long since I had seen her face that I was very emotional, then I saw her hair. I said to her, ‘Your hair is winter fire, January embers, my heart burns there too.’ She let me in and grabbed me towels, blankets, and clothes. I changed and I told her everything how I loved her and missed her and how I only left her to help her and how I couldn’t do this alone and how I thought such horrible, sad thoughts and how I was so sorry for leaving her. She told me how she was sorry for moving on and I told her not to worry that it was my fault for leaving her and that I would quit if she would help me and I was rambling and shivering and she kissed me and it felt just as it did on the top of the Ferris wheel. My heart was racing and her mouth tasted so familiar. When we broke apart I calmed down and I told her that I loved her more than the number of stars that are in the sky. I had stopped sobbing and we had fallen asleep there on her bed. We went to school the next day and it was as though nothing had changed. We were inseparable again, hanging out with Richie and Eddie and Stan and Bill and Mike. When the school year finished we ended up getting accepted into the same college. Me for my history smarts, and her for her art skills. Sadly, Richie and Eddie and Stan and Bill weren’t as lucky, but after four years they were reunited with their soulmate. Stan and Bill got happily married with three birds, two dogs, and a child. Richie and Eddie also got married and adopted four dogs. After a couple years, Mike found a wife that goes by the name of Olivia, they had five kids and are slowly getting more and more grandchildren. But anyways, a couple years into college and I had asked her to marry me. We had nothing to rush but I couldn’t let it happen again and we loved each other so much that it was impossible not to make our love official. We eloped that week. Months later she was pregnant and a couple more years later all of you guys were born. That’s right, the girl was your mom and there isn’t a day that goes by where I don’t thank god for allowing me to meet her. I’m so glad I changed because now I’m healthy and I can care for you and your mom and I have a future as a poet and I can see your guys’ faces everyday. So, that’s my story, kids, and I can’t wait to see yours as you grow up," said Ben with heartfelt in his voice.

Author’s note: I really hope you like this and if not please give me pointers, tips, and/or suggestions. Also, don’t be afraid to ask me to write something. 

[chwepen]

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 ↘︎ pregnancy au, domestic/marriage au ○ pairing: vernon | reader ○ genre: fluff ○ word count: 2.9k ○ summary: kids weren’t in the plan so soon, but the love you share makes any beautifully unexpected circumstances faceable with him.

Lay your head down on my shoulder, honey I won't ever let go. Because you pulled me like a magnet, now I'm right where I belong. I'm gonna love you the same for the rest of my days, and on and on and on.

A pregnancy test on one end of the kitchen table with day-old takeout on the other makes you question how you came to this Saturday morning.

Getting married almost a year ago took your relationship to a new level of possibilities, but having children so quickly wasn’t in your sights. You wanted more time before any kids came into the picture, partly because having Hansol to yourself was something you wanted always. While it was amazing imagining being parents in the future, it was the future. Not the now.

Minutes pass before you look down at the stick, two horribly pink lines sitting inside the plastic, confirming your fears, and giving them a new face. It leaves a dark twist in your stomach when one of the faces taking shape is of your husband. Your cheeks aren’t wet and you don’t feel the need to cry, and your mind knows you’re saving the feeling for when you tell him the news.

Despite the fear, you’re happy. Over the moon, schoolgirl crush happy. Marriage was one piece of proof of how much you loved Hansol, and another physical representation of that love grows from the two of you. Even if it’s a new turn, sharp and out of the blue, you’re ready to take the journey and find something beautiful on the other side.

Like clockwork, he comes home with music in his ears and a grin on his face. The slight gleam of his wedding band catches your eye, and he pulls you in with a kiss to your lips once he takes the ear buds out and greets you. In that instant, he feels every nerve in your body burning with something he can’t place, almost like each one is his own. “Baby, what’s wrong?”

You’re mouth opens slightly, and you hope the words come out without hesitation. Unfortunately, your fears keep them all in.

“What’s that,” he asks while sitting his backpack down on the kitchen countertop. You hold the stick in your hands like it’s a hot coal, wanting to chuck it and forget it exists. It would be easier that way, but it’s not just a test. It’s a new truth, a fact that can’t be hidden, erased, or thrown away.

“I thought I would get my period two weeks ago, but it never came. Then I threw up this morning,” you start quietly, unsure how to give him the answer he wants without the fear he’ll react in the worst way possible, “and I drove to the pharmacy because I thought maybe it wouldn’t be bad to check. I would’ve called you, but you were working and I didn’t want to bother you. So, I took this test and...I’m pregnant.”

The pause in the room leaves a bitter taste on your tongue, every limb shaking from the inside out. Your bottom lip stays between your teeth while your nostrils flare, readying the tears as you stare at him, unsure if he’s ecstatic, terrified, or both.

“I know it’s fast, and it feels like we got married only seconds ago, but I hope that you’re okay with it because I’m really really okay with it. But if it’s too soon to even think about I understand. I just know this is something I want with you and—”

He silences you with a soft clutch on your hips and the press of his mouth to yours, flooded with emotions you thought he might not feel at the surprise. He smiles between your lips and gives an expression that says your existing doubt was ludicrous.

“Are you kidding me? Having this with you is completely okay and incredible. Yes, it’s a bit sudden, but I’m so happy. We’re gonna be parents.” His joy is unmasked and palpable, stuffed to full capacity and meant for the two of you. It tells you the news is an absolute reminder you both created something worth all your happiness.

“We’re having a baby, baby.”

You come to find the worst part of pregnancy is the incredibly early morning sickness. Almost every day of the first two months, you’re attached to the bathroom in the mornings and feeling early bouts of nausea at night. You already love your child wholeheartedly, but the hell of eating and having your food come back up is unavoidable thanks to the baby.

Hansol pats your back through it all and never leaves your side, always keeping a bottle of doctor-recommended stomach tablets nearby so you don’t feel completely awful. Even though he worries, he tells himself it’s normal and it won’t last the entire nine months.

The weirdest thing to take in is the weird cravings you have. Ice cream and crackers, mustard and eggs, and marshmallows with peanut butter are only a few combinations he thinks of to show how random your tastes are with the pregnancy.

Ready for breakfast and glad you don’t feel like running to the bathroom, you grab a box of cocoa cereal and fill your bowl until it’s full. Suddenly, the desire to grab some ice and plop it into the milk makes you hungrier. 

By the time the third ice-cube goes into the bowl, Hansol’s at the end of his rope with your weird tastes and mixtures. “Ice in cereal? What has our baby done to you?”

You laugh and stir your spoon into the milk before grabbing some cocoa chunks. “I wanted ice cubes in my cereal, so they’re in my cereal, and you’re just gonna have to deal with it. And babe, could you buy more marshmallows? We ran out.”

While Hansol heads to the store with a carefree chuckle, the words our baby leave a flutter in your chest so big you can’t miss it, and you beam as you dip your spoon into the cereal again, mixing the milk with the ice cubes.

Scheduling your appointment for the ultrasound, the topic of gender comes into conversation once you realize you’ve never discussed the topic before. “Do you wanna know,” Hansol asks while you type “nursery colors” in the browser’s search bar. Maybe it’s cliche, but you love surprises, and your first child shouldn’t be an exception.

“Not really. I mean, we’ll find out the day the baby comes, and won’t it be fun to know that second instead of being boring and already planning for it?” Maybe it would be too many reveals at one time, but the thought of revealing the day of delivery gives you a small sense of excitement.

“But how are we gonna paint the room when we don’t know, baby?”

“We’ll go purple! Who could hate purple,” you wink, looking through paint colors and names on the website you clicked, glad to see a few shades that catch your eye, Skimming them, you find a color that’s not too light or dark, and you envision the guest-room-turned-nursery painted with it and feel satisfied. But, like your husband would, Hansol searches for green samples and points to one that he likes.

“Oh, but I love Forever Lilac!”

“I like Kiwi.”

“That’s too green, Han.”

“It’s a nice green, though!”

The arguing doesn’t go past cute banter, but you agree Forever Lilac is the best shade for the baby’s room. While bickering about colors ends, you continue talking about names and other minuscule things, all until the baby’s gender comes back into question.

“Han, if you had to choose, what would you want the baby to be?” You stare as he rubs the bottoms of your feet, calm and relaxed before thinking of his answer.

“Having a baby with you matters more to me than the gender. But if I had to be honest, I want a girl. Just as breathtaking as her mother.” A shy smile accompanies his words that makes your heart flutter in your chest, not surprised he still finds ways to make you blush. “What about you?”

“A heartstopping boy,” you reply in response with a mirroring smile, “just like his father.”

He laughs and pulls you closer, thighs now resting on his and your faces close together, forehead to forehead just how you like it. “Let’s save a boy for the second try,” he whispers before kissing you with all the love he has, newly spaced for three. Second. 

Kids were never in the forefront for the next year or two, but this new life inside of you changed your plans so much that picturing two kids with Hansol sounds like a delightful future.

Hansol didn’t expect you to explode in anger over one mishandle of a fake baby, and neither did the couples instructor. She told you it was normal to get it wrong on the first few tries, but it felt like the end of the world. If you couldn’t hold a mechanical baby properly, how could you hold your own child without doing it horribly?

Coming home, you storm into the bathroom and close it hard, angry at your husband for the same confusion the instructor experienced. Maybe you’re overreacting, but you’d yell at a thousand inanimate objects if it meant you were assured you’re doing everything right, especially as a mother. Feeling inadequate makes the waterworks come, knees sinking into tile and soft whimpers reminding you of all you’re terrified of and what you’re worried you’ll become.

“Baby, can I come in?” The softness in his voice tugs at your heart, and while only a high-pitched sound comes out of your mouth, he excuses it as a “yes” and sit downs next to you against the tub once he comes in, placing your hands in his on his lap. “You cry too much. I don’t like it.”

“My hormones are all over the place, Han. I can’t help it.” There’s light humor in your voice, but it’s washed away by the sinking in your chest at the thoughts telling you every worry will come true.

“What if I can’t do this? What if people say I’m a bad mother, or I feel I’m messing this up, or I ruin our kid’s life all because I didn’t know what to do,” you sob, hands now resting on the new curb of your belly as he pulls you to him, your head on his shoulder.

“Who cares what anyone else thinks? You’ve read every parenting magazine man could create, you’re always mindful of your health and making sure we go to those parenting classes, and I think you’re dying without caffeine but you gave it up for the baby. Just because you didn’t hold that machine correctly or maybe you won’t change a diaper right at first doesn’t mean you’ll be a bad mother. Parents always hit roadblocks. That’s inevitable, but I have no doubts our kid is gonna think the world of you whether you mess up or not.”

You sniffle and wipe your eyes, feeling better after your husband’s declaration, but he knows he can do better. Placing his hands over yours on your stomach, he comes so close to your belly his mouth is practically brushing the cotton of your shirt. “Hey baby, can you do daddy a favor? Tell your mommy it’s okay she didn’t hold that hunk of junk right.”

Before you can joke about the baby’s inability to answer back, a sharp kick to your stomach makes you sit upright and gasp, unsure if it was an accident or not. Another kick comes in the same place, leaving the two of you mesmerized and delighted by your child’s physical response.

You weep happily at the sudden jolts, already knowing your baby will love you regardless of the slip-ups you might make down the road. The encouragement from both your husband and child bring the assurance you need to soothe your worries. Hansol grins at the movement against his hand, kissing the spot between your eyebrows. “We’re gonna be great at this. I know it.”

Six months in, seeing your baby’s ultrasound brings a new overflow of happiness, as though you’re a child again sitting under the Christmas tree and anticipating a new gift. The surprise doesn’t ween the day of, but it only builds when the machine starts and reveals an unexpected turn of events: two tiny bodies. You feel yours floating, eyes lit up as the outline of your children ground you to the exam table. Twins. Twins to love, care for, and share with the man you love.

You don’t ask to know the sexes, sticking to the original plan you two had, but the possibilities leave you in lighthearted suspense. Hansol’s hand doesn’t let go of yours until you come home. He’s quiet, a bit too quiet for your taste, but his eyes zone in on the nursery and take his feet to the door. You waddle behind with all the strength you can, ankles aching in protest.

The lilac of the walls makes you smile, amused in recalling the months-old memory and your talk about what the baby would be. Who knew you would have another baby to fit inside the purple room.

He touches the pieces of the crib in the center of everything, colored white and made of solid wood, matching the rest of the furniture and decorations you picked out together. Although he’s shocked, the still glee in his eyes and deep love in his heart, now built for four instead of three, gives you comfort in the happy reveal. “Two babies.”

You trail behind him, your arms wrapping around his front as best you can, your stomach making it difficult to hug him completely. But it doesn’t stop you from embracing him softly and nuzzling his back. “Having cold feet, Han?”

He laughs softly and turns around, cupping your face with tenderness. “Nope. They’re toasty warm.” The first time you saw him cry was the day he proposed, nervous hands and promises of a love you wanted to give to him the same way he gave it to you. This time, watching him fall apart with tears in his eyes over your children makes your heart double in size for him and how far you’ve come.

“Guess we’ll need to buy another crib,” you comment, water in the corners of your eyes mirroring his. The thought of a future reshaped by another child, another one that is all yours, leaves a hole that will only fill and fall away once they arrive. Months before, you were terrified to imagine a child in your arms. Now, not having them is a distant thought you never want to consider again.

“Do we have the blankets? Pillows? Robes? Socks? Oh, and the camera,” Hansol stuffs all you essentials in the carrier at once, still rattled from telling his family and his twelve closest friends you’re heading to the hospital. The morning sun hits his hair as it ruffles in all directions, and you know despite his preparation he’s as tired as you are. Unfortunately, your babies aren’t patient enough to wait any longer.

“Hansol, yes. Let’s hurry please, my body feels like it’s gonna explode.” He pulls the bag over his shoulder before he puts one hand in yours and the other on your back. He’s both anxious and jumping from the ceiling, knowing by the time you come back to the apartment, you’ll have two new people living inside of it.

“Ready to do this, Chwe?” You’re still sleepy and ready to fall back in bed, but you still smile at him and the bundle of animated nerves living in him. He kisses the top of your head before opening the door and helping you through it. Even though you’re tired, knowing you’ll meet your children soon leaves you elated.

“Really ready.”

They come into the world after ten hours of worrying, pushing, and crying, a boy and a girl with all the love you’ve built entirely for them pouring out in little cries. Hansol paced the room hundreds of times before the delivery came. And once he held his children in his arms, leaving you to rest and finally saying goodbye to the many friends and family members who visited, his heart was so full and complete with two more people in his world to love.

“We’re parents, Han,” You grin, holding onto your daughter swaddled in pink and sleeping peacefully. Her fist is only a minimal fraction as big as yours, but she’s already strong and determined to stay dreaming. Hansol sits by your side, his son looking away in the distance but quiet and content.

“They’re gonna need us to tie their shoes, take them to school, pack their lunches, hold them when their hearts break,” you cry while nuzzling your daughter’s cheek, making sure the droplets don’t touch her beautiful skin. They’re both perfect, you tell yourself. Absolutely perfect and equal pieces of you and him, an example of the love you’ve created in the life you’ve built together. “They’re you and they’re me, and knowing we made something this special is the best thing I’ll ever know. I’m gonna love them always. And I’m glad I can share that love with you.”

You think you see a few more tears escape his eyes, but he wipes them away before you say anything and inhales a shaky breath, undoubtably filled with unshakable happiness. “Always. They’re ours forever,” Hansol smiles, red eyes and swollen cheeks painting his face while he holds you, your son, and your daughter, the three most precious things he’ll ever have.

They were never in the plan, but the plan changed to mold perfectly around all four of you, and you wouldn’t see your life any other way.

[onewfantaesy]

Hi hope you're well~ About divorce au, does taemin eventually move back home and go to the doctors? I'm really curious as to how it all happens! Also I really like this au, it's angsty and great

can you write about taemin finding out he’s anemic? like maybe heechul is the one who has to take him to the appointment or somth???

Taemin had moved back home two weeks after Jessica came back. Heechul was still living there, but he was more actively searching for a new place to live, so Taemin guessed that was an improvement. Plus, the only reason he had really gone back home was because his Auntie Krystal had insisted, saying that it was the only way Jessica would make him a doctor’s appointment, and he supposedly desperately needed it.

And now, a week after that, Heechul was the one taking Taemin back to the doctor’s after his blood test results had come back. Taemin was not amused, especially when Heechul was told by the doctor to come into the room with them. The doctor was quick about the diagnosis. Taemin had iron deficiency anemia, it wasn’t that big of a deal, and iron supplements would help him feel better. She also said Taemin should either take a vitamin C supplement with it, or take the iron with a glass of orange juice.

“The vitamin C helps you absorb the iron better,” the doctor explained.

“He’ll take it with orange juice,” Heechul said.

“I hate orange juice,” Taemin grumbled.

“Why do you always have to be difficult?” Heechul asked, sending a hard stare in Taemin’s direction.

The doctor explained that she wanted Taemin to get his blood checked again in another couple months, to see if the iron levels improve, and that Jessica could call the office to make another appointment for the blood check. Heechul nodded his head, listened to what the doctor said about making sure Taemin takes the iron every day, and then left with Taemin to go to the pharmacy.

“She said to take it with vitamin C,” Taemin said, holding up the bottle of vitamins.

“I’m telling you to take it with orange juice,” Heechul said. “Put that back, hurry up.”

“I don’t like orange juice,” Taemin said. “It’s gross. Just let me get the vitamin.”

“Why are you being so difficult about this?” Heechul asked. He yanked the bottle from Taemin’s hands and put it on the shelf before going to buy the bottle of iron.

“I’m gonna throw up if you make me take it with orange juice,” Taemin warned him. “It’s disgusting, I hate it, it makes me gag just thinking about it.”

“You’re being a drama queen.”

“I have something wrong with me!” Taemin argued, his feet staying planted firm on the ground. “I have something wrong, and the doctor said what to do and you don’t even care! You’d be happier if I was dying and she said there was nothing you could do to make me better.”

“That is not true,” Heechul hissed, grabbing Taemin’s arm. “Now stop causing a scene; you’re acting like a two-year-old.”

“Let go of me,” Taemin cried, tugging his arm out of Heechul’s grip. “I hate you. I wish I was dying.”

“You’re anemic, it’s not the end of the world,” Heechul said. “Now stop talking like that right now. It’s not funny, Taemin.”

“No, it’s not,” Taemin said. “I wish I was dead, and you don’t even care.”

“Hey,” Heechul said, his voice softening as he looked at Taemin and held his cheek in his hand. “Hey, look at me. That’s a very serious thing to say.”

“And you don’t care, do you? You’d be happier.”

“That is not true.”

Taemin wouldn’t look Heechul in the eye, and his gaze fell off to the side as Heechul’s hand lingered on his cheek.

“I have a headache,” Taemin choked out. “Can we go home?”

Heechul sighed, but he grabbed the discarded bottle of vitamin C, put his hand on Taemin’s back, and went over to pay for the two bottles as Taemin stared at his own feet.

When they got home, Taemin took the stairs two at a time and slammed his bedroom door without saying a word to Heechul. Jessica wasn’t supposed to be home for another couple hours, and after a few minutes alone in his bedroom, Heechul knocked on the door. 

Taemin listened to his bedroom door open while he faced the wall, his head buried in pillows and a blanket bunched up and held against his chest.

“Do you wanna talk about what you said at the pharmacy?” Heechul asked.

He hadn’t sat on the bed like Jessica usually did.

“No,” Taemin said in a breathless voice.

“Do you wanna talk about,” Heechul paused, “anything?”

“No,” Taemin repeated. “I have a headache. Leave me alone.”

“Taemin,” Heechul said, “you know that I love you, don’t you?”

Heechul had knelt next to the bed, and his hand hovered over Taemin’s shoulder.

“No,” Taemin said. “I know you don’t. But it’s okay.”

“Taemin-”

“Please,” Taemin choked out. “I’m tired. Please just leave me alone.”

“I’m not going to leave my child alone when he’s obviously upset.”

“It’s never stopped you before.”

“This is different.”

Neither of them said anything for a while, but Taemin eventually got sick of it and rolled off his bed.

“Then I’ll leave,” Taemin said.

Heechul tried to stop him, but Taemin pushed him away until he was stuffing his feet in his shoes and walking down the street. His head was pounding, his eyes felt heavy, and the street was tilted a weird way, but he made it to his aunt’s house. Krystal let him inside, and she followed him as he walked over to the couch and fell onto it.

“What’s wrong?”

“M’head hurts,” Taemin mumbled, acting like tears weren’t falling down his face as his eyes squeezed shut. “That’s all.”

“Are you alright?”

“Can I just sleep here for a while?” Taemin asked, his voice cracking.

“You can sleep here anytime you want,” Krystal said, and she knelt next to the couch and rubbed his back. “We’ll have dinner a little later.”

“Okay.”

Krystal watched Taemin curl in on himself, watched him act like he wasn’t crying, but all she could do was be there for him. He would tell her what was wrong in his own time. 

[veealbizo-blog]

“The Innocent Other Woman”

In a far from the city where there is only a white sand and a clear blue water that surrounds the island with greenly forest view and a fresh fruits hanging on top of it. A young man living in a big beautiful house alone, his name is Jason. He likes seeing nature with his two squinty nice eyes. Living alone with no one is around is what he really like, Jason love to swim and dive in a deep blue sea and sometimes he go on fishing with his spacious yacht. One day, when he was about to swim inside the cave, he saw a young woman swimming it’s a cave where tourist often visit and take a dip. The lady is all alone swimming; her name is Trisha a pretty woman who has a perfect body and white skin. She’s a happy go lucky girl. Jason was mesmerized by her beauty and watches her swim. When Trisha caught him sneaking, Jason quickly went out of the cave but the woman call him and ask him “Who are you? Are you one of the tourists?” Jason reply “No, I lived here in this island" the two were staring at each others eyes. And the lady ask him to join her to swim. So they swim together and had a bond a little like they know each other for a long time. Jason ask her number since he was alone in this island. And Trisha didn’t hesitate to give her number, she kissed Jason and went back to her friends place. The night is coming in a very quiet place that only crickets and the wave of the sea are singing. Jason was thinking about the girl he met in the cave. “She’s awesome and witty! I think I like her!” with a smiling face. Suddenly he felt bored, so his thinking about having a party in his house but he has no friends in this island. He try to call Trisha and invite her to come over his place, since there is no restaurants and bars in the island. “Hi Trish is it okay if I invite you for dinner? Your friends can come if they want” the handsome man asked. “Yes! Sure! Where?” the lady quickly replied. The young man was so excited and fetch Trisha. The party started; They had some drinks and food while playing Jason’s playlists everybody got drunk and slept on. Jason and Trisha went outside the house and they go near the sea shore, Jason was making a fire with dried woods while Trisha is staring at him imagining how handsome he is. His face and body is so perfect that every woman could dream, they talk and ask questions to each other. Jason shared about his life. He was already married but separated 3 years ago his wife was in rehab for some medication because of having a psychological disorder. Her wife is a drunkard and into drugs as a result of losing their child. He always dreamed to have a child but circumstances deprived him. Aside from losing their child , he actually don’t have any feelings to his wife Jenny, his father wants their marriage, he was just forced because of business purposes and Jenny took advantage of it. Jason didn’t take all the bad situation, that’s the reason why he broke up with his wife and live his life alone and chose to stay in the island to escape and move on from his dilemma. Trisha felt pity for him. After his sharing, Trisha do the same thing also she shared and talks about her life…Trisha has no parents left her mother died when she was still 14 because of cancer and his father died too because of car accident. She lives on her aunt Maria, who took care of her since her parents died. She loves to travel, exploring and experience new things. The two feel sleepy but had enjoyed their conversation. They went back to the house where Trisha’s friends were there. Trisha wakes them up and says goodbye to Jason but before saying goodbye Jason kissed her on the cheek and said “thank you for the time". Early morning Trisha came to his house but no one is around she explore the house since no one is answering. She saw Jason’s collections; he’s collecting a small toy vintage yacht. While touching it, Jason holds her arm and got surprised that she accidentally fall the toy yacht on the ground. She faced Jason and said “sorry if I entered your house I tried calling you but no one answered “its okay Trish I was at the attic finding some stuff" Jason replied. They were smiling it is like there smile has something to tell about their feelings. Jason immediately grabs her waist and kissed her. Trisha was on shocked but she didn’t hesitate to participate and plays with Jason’s kisses. They’re intimate to each other and had have expressed their feelings. After what happened they fall asleep overnight.

The morning comes out Jason is awake he went to the kitchen to cook some breakfast for Trisha, he’s smiling while cooking maybe he’s imagining of what happened to them last night. When Trisha wake up she can’t find Jason and then she went down to the kitchen and there she saw the man who took her innocence but she did not feel any regret or something; They’re taking breakfast together with such clingy behavior. “The sunshine rise let’s go fishing?” Jason asked Trisha. So they go on fishing riding a yacht the lady enjoyed it and jump to the sea with Jason. They swim and go back to the yacht waiting for a fish to catch. They bond often like every day the lady stayed in Jason’s house because her friends went home to their places. The two were getting attached to each other and fell in love. Jason didn’t think of the consequences they might face when his wife get discharge from the rehabilitation. They just only think about what they feel for each other. The two were really thrilled of their affair. Gloomy afternoon when someone is knocking on the door! Jason! Jason! Open the door let me in! Let’s talk. Jenny show up and was looking for Jason. The guy was surprised! He’s not aware of Jenny’s visit. “Whose knocking at the door?” Trisha asked. “oh god! That’s Jenny! Why she’s here! It’s impossible!” Jason was struggling. “What? Your ex wife? I thought she’s in rehab? And why would I hide?” Trisha angrily replied. “Please, I need you to hide you don’t know her! This is for your own good!” Jason begging. He hide Trisha under the bed. He went down to open the door and talk to Jenny. “Oh! What a surprise! When have you been released? Are you okay now?!” Jason feel tense and worried. Jenny came in and talk to Jason. “Yes! I’m okay now and I’m ready to be your wife again Jason, I will do everything to make it up to you. I’m change woman now" Jenny insisted. “NO, I don’t love you anymore Jenny I hope you’ll understand. Years passed and I moved on already from you and to our child. I’m done! So please leave me alone. You can live with your own and start a new life without me Jenny” Jason suggested. “Oh please! Give me another chance please Jason! Just one chance! We can live here and start a new life my husband. Will make a child and I surely promised to take care of it. What’s wrong with you?” Jenny was begging fearfully. “I need space and time for myself Jenny", the guy replied. Trisha heard them arguing “What the hell am I doing here, this is so wrong!” Trisha felt guilty. The young woman jumped off the ground and sneaking out of Jason’s house. Trisha running away with guilt and felt pity for herself. Jason is trying to call and texted her but she didn’t answer the phone. She go back to her place and leave the island. The poor lady is trying to calm herself and forget what had happened to the island but her mind always reminding her about the guy she felt in love with. Days passed, Trisha woke up and notice that there’s something wrong with her. Because she frequently feel dizziness, sleepy and eat more often, she puke and went to the bathroom. Her phone rings. Jason is calling her! But then she rejected it. Trisha freshen up and went to the pharmacy to buy pregnancy test. She tested it and the result was undeniably she’s pregnant. The young woman felt mixed emotions and don’t know what to do with it. The phone rings, flooded with text messages Jason is trying hard to communicate with her to get back to her. The young man found Trisha’s house so he came and knock the door. “Hello! Is Trisha there? This is Jason!” the lady freak out and sneak on the window.

“Oh gosh! What am I gonna do?” Trisha had mixed feelings. She opened the door and there Jason is standing in front of her. “What are you doing here? How did you find my place?” the lady asked with nervous. I have connections that’s why I found your house. Jason excitingly answered. The guy came inside and they talk. “I just wanted to see you because I miss you so much! I do love you Trisha!.“

The lady was confused if she should tell the truth or not and she started crying. “I know and I’m aware of your situation but I still keep on seeing you and make love with you, and now it happened. I’m pregnant Jason”. Trisha screamingly crying.

“Oh really? Thank god! I’m now a father! Yoo-hoo!” Jason reacts happily overjoyed. But Trisha is doubtful thinking that it is a difficult situation to handle, he still married not yet annulled and his wife wanted him back. The guy hug and kiss her. “Don’t worry my love we can handle this, I will file an annulment since Jenny and I are not living together and were separated for years it would be easy for us. I want to live with you and our child forever.” Jenny get depressed again and begin to hurt herself. She plans for stalking and follow Jason everywhere he go. She appears every place where Jason is. Jenny received an annulment papers and ripped it. Calling Jason often to find out if who is the girl who replaced her.

To the mall where Jason and Trisha were having fun choosing stuff for their coming child. Jenny saw them and confronted them “So you’re the girl! You steal my husband from me! You both will pay for this?” she threatens them. She pulled Trisha’s hair and hurt her! Jason immediately stopped her and grab her arms. “Stop it Jenny! Stop it!” Jason was begging for her and bring her to the parking area. “Leave us alone Jenny! Don’t bother us again or else I will hurt you!” the guy warns her. Jenny cries and plans for revenge.

Trisha was crying while walking . Thinking that he loves her man very much especially her child. “I need to be brave and support my boyfriend, this is just a trial for us. I know things will get better soon" the girl motivates herself. And then Jason went back inside the mall and get Trisha. “Sorry my love, sorry for what she had done to you. Don’t worry I will protect you from her. I’ll promised that to you.“

Before sleeping Jason played Trisha’s tummy and listen to the sounds coming inside he felt so happy and excited to know what the baby would be. “I love you baby” the father talked to the baby as if it’s listening to him.

Early morning Trisha prepared her boyfriend a breakfast in bed. “I’m very excited later my love" Jason excitingly expressed his feeling. Trisha’s OB-Gyn touches her tummy with tool to see the gender of their baby. And it’s a boy! “your baby is a boy Jason! Congratulations to the both of you.“ They happily went home with a smile on their faces.

Jenny was outside there house watching them angrily. “There will always be no happy ending” (evil laugh)

The couple are having their dinner. They’re planning to go to the house of Jason’s parents and after to Trisha’s aunt. They will surprise and tell them about their baby boy.

While washing the plate Trisha is looking at the window. She saw someone outside there house. But then she ignores it. She continued washing the plates. Jason hug her and kissed her on the neck. She felt tickling that’s why she accidentally fell the glass on the ground. “See I told you to stop teasing me love.” They were laughing. Jason picked the pieces of the broken glass and got wounded by the sharp piece of it. He throws the garbage outside there house. He saw someone watching him staring at there house. He can’t see it clearly, only the shadow of that someone. He went back inside and locked the door.

While sleeping the phone rings.. Jason answered it. “Hi Jason this is Mental Hospital. Have you seen Jenny? Is she with you now? She escaped 4days ago. Please let us know if she’s with you already. Jenny is still not okay Jason we need her to come back here". The caller fearfully frightened the guy. Jason feel worried and didn’t wake up Trisha. He went down to get some water.

While drinking, he saw the door was opened already! Jason was starting to get worried and nervous. He went outside but no one is there! He quickly close the door and locked it. When his about to go up, someone beat him on the head with hammer. So he collapsed. The intruder went upstairs and wakes Trisha with hammer touching her face. Trisha screams very hard asking for help! Screaming Jason’s name. “Don’t kill me, I’m pregnant! Have mercy on my child! The killer hit her with hammer 5 times on her head and 8 times on Trisha’s tummy she was bleeding so heavy and died.

“The killer was Jenny, she’s laughing very hard wiping the blood on her face and taste it”.

And the police came after the crime. They caught Jenny and put her back into the mental hospital.

Jason is in the I.C.U recovering from what happened. He got amnesia. And don’t remember anything even his girlfriend and the child.

The poor innocent other woman and her child was resting now and buried beside her parents grave.

—THE END—

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